Life or Death free essay sample

A detailed paper about physician assisted suicide (euthanasia). Makes reference to laws, specific cases from Dr. Kevorkian, and much more. This paper argues that euthanasia, otherwise known as assisted suicide, is terribly wrong and immoral. However, there are times, the argument claims, such as when a patient is terminally ill, where the practice could be justified. A close look is taken at Dr. Jack Kevorkians career, with specific attention paid to a number of his patients. The paper criticizes some of the patients deaths, while justifying others. Finally, new individual state laws on the matter are briefly discussed. Taking someones life is murder and is not founded unless the person dies on their own and in their own time. This woman was not going to die from her condition. She was in no physical pain and was not hurting anyone else. She in no way had the right to take her own life through Kevorkian. We will write a custom essay sample on Life or Death or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Life or Death free essay sample Some of my earliest memories are of my grandmother and me. I had always thought about her being here for my high school graduation, my wedding, and every other important milestone I may face. That fantasy was shattered by the news that she had cancer. Growing up, I spent many a weekend at my grandma’s house. We made cookies and bread from scratch, something my mom never did. Being the only grandchild that still qualified as an actual child, I lapped up all the attention I got from her. Of course, as an only child I had my parents’ attention too, but they also had to discipline me, my grandmother’s only concern was loving me unconditionally. By the time I was in high school, my grandma had moved in with my aunt and uncle, not out of necessity but just to make her life easier. I still went to stay with her during school breaks. We will write a custom essay sample on Life or Death or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Even though I could tell she was getting older, and in the back of my mind knew that she wasn’t going to live for eternity, I always focused on the now. During one of these trips, she was having trouble seeing out of one eye and had made an appointment to see her doctor. While everyone around me kept talking about how it was probably nothing these reassurances had the opposite of the desired effect. I felt more worried and conscious of everything my grandmother did. A few weeks after the visit I came home from working and was told that my parents had some ‘news’ to tell me. My grandma had been to several doctors appointments since the initial one about her eyesight and while that was no longer an issue, another thing was. They had found a spot on her lung that, as I later found out, was cancer. My parents said we could talk about the news after dinner, but I couldn’t eat, I was so anxious to hear what was happening. When they told me that she had cancer, I was numb for a long time. Since I didn’t see her as often as I once did, it was easy to put it out of my mind. As I realized that this wasn’t something I could run from, I was forced to deal with the harsh realities of life. I didn’t always deal with the emotions of possibly losing my grandmother in a good way. I let my grades slip even more than they already were and frankly didn’t even really care anymore. I finally forced myself to get up in the morning and do better in my life. While it seemed that my life was collapsing around me, I knew that I had to stick it out no matter how hard it got. My whole high school career has been a test of my strength and perseverance, but these months in particular proved to be the hardest of my entire life. I am more determined than ever to fulfill my hopes and dreams and not let anything get in the way.

Sugar essays

Sugar essays I thought the performance of the actors and actresses in the play Sugar was an electricifying and exciting piece of theatre performance. Although, my theatre experience is limited to attending live performances, I so really enjoyed myself at the theatre. The personal exchange of chemistry between performer and audience was magical and left me with sheer excitement and amusement for live theatre. It created a special relationship to my spirit, Theatre the lively art. Though the atmosphere was just a final dress rehearsal for opening night, it felt as if it was opening night to me. Being in the outdoors, inside the amphitheatre, on a beautiful spring night with a chill in the air, reminded me of Chicago the Windy City. When the curtains were open and the lights came on it seem as if the stage came to life, with all of the performers bringing their characters alive. The very air itself moved with the electricity of expectation from scene to scene. All of the performers onstage presented their character in dramatic action and moved in ways that convey an image of the person they were portraying. The transformation which took place between the performer and character was amazing for my eyes to behold. One of my favorite performers and they were a few, was Deane Calvin who played Sweet Sue. In addition to her native talent, Ms. Calvin was poised and had a present of authority onstage with her character. She used both her voice and physical training with flexibility and control. Ms. Calvin was able to make her voice heard in a large theatre even when speaking in a regular tone. Also, Ms. Calvin created believability and showed lots of emotional truth to the character she was portraying. I believe Ms. Calvin expressed the emotion and thoughts of how Sweet Sue was thinking and feeling when it came to running her business in the prohibition time of the 20s. Another performer that caught my attenti ...

Islam Compared to the Orthodox Church Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Islam Compared to the Orthodox Church - Essay Example The essay "Islam Compared to the Orthodox Church" talks about the two religions - Islam and Orthodox comparing their beliefs and origin. The history of Islam includes Prophet Muhammad striving for a society in which the Arabs, who were a divided nation who indulged in several vices, to be united into one nation. And that was his mission and he is the role model and founder of Islam, creating unity and the belief in a dole God and the establishment of laws according to this belief. This movement has led to a vast fraternity over the years, to become a Muslim brotherhood. He also believed that morals and values should be simple and everyone should be able to follow them and this made life easier for the Arabs to accept this new religion. The Muslims were to believe in something credible and it was easy to accept his religion. On the other hand, the Orthodox Christians had to believe in a miracle, and the Incarnation of Jesus Christ who was the son of God, which was beyond the limitations of the human mind. It is his belief that wine becomes Divine Blood as you consume it even in Church and bread is the ‘Lord’s Risen Body.’ There is no such aspect in Islam to believe in the miraculous aspect of this, even though there have been many miracles in Islam as well. There is no aspect of veneration even though there are saints that are heard of in Islam as well, but not as commonly in Christianity. Holy Prophet simply conveyed God’s message to the Muslims and they had to commit to him and follow him.

Ethics and Corporate Responsibility in the Workplace and the World Essay

Ethics and Corporate Responsibility in the Workplace and the World - Essay Example 151). As such, case studies are a valuable tool to gauge the ethical behavior of a company and to determine what course of action should be taken as future events dictate. PhramaCare is a factitious company, yet the situation presented can be considered likely to happen to almost any type of company, anywhere in the world. This paper will detail various ethical issues ranging from the treatment of indigenous populations to the methods of handling and dealing with whistleblowers. All the while, decisions made will be analyzed and potential consequences discussed. PharmaCare’s Treatment of Colberia’s Indigenous Population Regardless of the economic or political reasons governing a firm’s entry into another country, they have the ethical responsibility to act in the best interests of their host. In this case, PharmaCARE failed to abide by this code of responsible conduct. While there has always and will always be a disparity of wealth existent in the world, PharmaCA RE’s lack of compassion in dealing with the indigenous population of Colberia is particularly egregious. Rather than doing their small part in raising the standard of living among the people, they succeeded at continuing to keep the people of the country mired in poverty while they reaped the benefits. A responsible company sees their employees as partners, and even shareholders. As they contribute to the success of the company, they should be properly compensated. Naturally, few would argue that the people of Colberia should receive the same wage as those in the Western world, but they are certainly entitled more than $1 a day, particularly given the backbreaking work they were partaking in. In the end, however, there is little wrong with the executives of PharmaCARE living in luxurious compounds in Colberia. This is a standard practice with international corporations, as many employees leave their home country for years at a time, so they are granted living conditions simil ar to those that they are used to. This is does not excuse, however, the unethical treatment in terms of salaries and working conditions that the company was engaging in. Actions To Take Against Donna, Tom, and Ayesha Deciding to fire workers is often a painful decision, and one that potentially carries legal ramifications. Since New Jersey is not a right to work state, the situation becomes a bit more muddled. Without having the benefit of reading the contracts of employment for each respective employee, it is difficult to make a determination as to the legality of these particular firings, but in essence they could be termed legal. Donna had begun to develop poor attendance records and, even though she made the claim that it was due to mold in the work environment, Allen could argue otherwise. By properly documenting reported absences, if Donna lacks adequate proof the work environment causing her absentee rate to rise, the firing may be legally justified. It is also generally acc epted that companies can protect their reputation against employees who set out to damage it in the public. If the claims made by Tom end up being true, he would certainly have a case against an unjust termination. Barring that, however, Allen would likely prevail in a legal proceeding based on the comments he would make about the company in public. Likewise, Ayesha would need to prove that she was fired based on religious discrimination. If Allen can prove otherwise and demonstrate a history of poor performance, once again he could justify the legal

Contracting with the Federal Government Term Paper

Contracting with the Federal Government - Term Paper Example Contracting by Simplified Acquisition Procedures, FAR 13 This rule involves the government purchase of tools that are less than the value of $150,000. The government purchase of this equipment is considered micro purchases. The involved procedures do not require competitive bids or quotes and the involved agencies can buy through credit cards or the Government Purchase Card. In addition, it is not necessary to involve the procurement officer. However, most of the government purchases are in this category since most of the products purchased do not involve a lot of money. An example is the government purchase of office equipment such as chairs, tables, and computers. This category comprises of more than 70 per cent of all government purchase dealings. According to government statistics, this category involved a total sum of $19 billion dollars. The increase in government transaction in this category is because the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act made several amendments to the act thus eliminating limitations on government purchases under $150,000. This means that agencies can be allowed to use abridged processes for soliciting and assessing bids worth up to $150,000. However, it is mandatory for the government agencies to publicize all deliberate procurements over $25,000 according to Federal Business Opportunities or on the government website, which enlists all the available procurement opportunities. One main advantage of this easy purchase processes is that they require fewer governmental details, less endorsement levels, and fewer documentation. However, these procedures require all the government procurements above $3,000, but under $150,000, to be kept back for small companies. in addition, the small businesses has to apply for the purchases except if the assigned agent cannot get proposals from two or more minor businesses who are competitive on price, quality and distribution (Government Contracting 101; Worthington & Goldsman, 1998). Contracting by Negotiation, FAR 15 This government rule requires that the government agencies to use negotiation as a contracting method. In order to do this, the federal agencies have to issue a request for proposal (RFP) or Request for Information (RFI) or Invitation for Bid (IFB).  Unlike the previous rule, this rule allows for, communications, Clarifications, and discussions  in the selection procedure and the government might permit for last proposal amendments.  In order for a company to be selected, some factors such as best value and trade-off processes are evaluated. This occurs depending with the interest of the government to contemplate issues other than the lowermost price or utmost technical rating, or the lowermost price that is technically appropriate source for selection, where the solicitation highlights the marginally suitable standards and the selection is founded on a price assessment amongst all suitable bids.  This rule applies mostly to contracts above $150,000, and extremely technical products and services are being pursued (Worthington & Goldsman, 1998). Contracting by Sealed Bidding, FAR 14 The Contracting by Sealed Bidding as described by the rule consist of making and advertising an invitation for bids (IFB). It also involves receiving the proposals, opening them openly, assessing them without negotiations with the bidders, and giving the agreement to the accountable and responsive bidder founded on price and

Classification Of Network Topology

Classification Of Network Topology The term topology refers that way in which the end points, or stations, attached to the network are interconnected or it is the arrangements of systems in a computer network. It can be either physical or logical. The physical topology refers that, how a network is placed in a physical way and it will include the devices, installation and location. Logical topology refers that how a data transfers in a network as opposed to its design. The network topology can be categorized into bus, ring, star, tree and mesh. Hybrid networks (They are the complex networks, which can be built of two or more topologies together). Bus Topology A bus topology is characterized by the use of a multi point medium. A long and single cable acts as a backbone to connect all the devices in a network. In a bus topology, all computers are stations attaching through the tap (an interfacing hardware to connect to the network) and it connects directly to the bus network. Datas are transmitting and receiving to the bus, by the duplex actions between the tap and the device. Devices in the bus topology send a broadcast message to the other device for communications. But the proposed device can only accepts and processes the messages. Advantages Bus topology can install very easily on a network. Cabling will be less compare to other topologies because of the main backbone cable laid efficiently in the network path. Bus topology suited for a small network. If one computer fails in the network, the other computers are not affected they will continue to work. It is also less expensive than star topology. Disadvantages The cable length will limited and there by limits the number of stations. The main cable (backbone cable) fails, and then the entire network will fail. It is very difficult to trouble shoot. Maintenance cost is very high in a long run. Terminators are required for both the ends of the cable. Ring topology The ring topology is the network consists of dedicated point to point connection and a set of repeaters in a closed loop. Signals passing through ring in a single direction until they reach to its final destination. It may be clock wise or anti clock wise. Datas are transmitted in the form of frames. These topologies are used in school campuses and some office buildings. Advantages It performs better than star topology under heavy work load For managing the connection between the computers, there is no need for the network server. It is cheaper than star topology because of less wiring. By adding the token ring in the network, can create large network. Very order network because all the devices has a access to the token ring and opportunity to transmit. Disadvantages A failure or break in the ring, it can disable the entire network. It is much slower than an Ethernet network with under normal load. Any moves, changes and ads of the devices can affect the network. Network connection devices like (Network adapter cards and MAU) are much more expense than Ethernet cards. Star Topology Star topology is the network in which each station is directly connected to a central connecting node called hub. In star topology all the devices are not directly connected to one another. All the devices are connecting to the central server (switching hub). This topology does not enable the direct traffic between the devices in the network. A controller act as the interface between the devices. A star topology feature, each device needs only one link and one input/output port to connect the number devices in the network. This type of topology is used in local area networks (LAN) and sometimes high speed LAN often uses a star topology with central hub. Advantages If anyone connection is fails in the network, it will not affect the entire network. Only that connection or link affected. It is easy to identify the fault and fault isolation. Easy to expand the network in the star topology. No failure to the network when connecting or removing devices. It is very easy to manage because of its simplicity in the function. Disadvantages In a star topology, if the central connecting device goes down, the entire network will fails. It requires more cable length compared to the linear bus topology. Star topology is more expensive than bus topology because o the connection ports like hub. Tree Topology Tree topology is the generalized form of the bus topology. It integrates the multiple star topologies together on to a bus. The data transmission of the tree topology, through the cables with closed loops. The transmission medium is a branching cable with no closed loops. The layout of the tree topology is beginning at the head end. These layouts have many branches and these are quite complex layouts in the topology. Any transmission from the device is going through the medium and it can receive by all other devices in the tree topology network. Tree Topology will give the expansion of the existing network. Advantages Tree topology is well supported by the hardware and software vendors. Point to point wiring for each and every segments of the network. It is the best topology for the branched networks. Disadvantages It is more expensive because more hubs are required to install the network. Tree topology is entirely depends upon the backbone line, if it fails then the entire network would fail. It is very difficult to configure and wire than other network topologies. In a tree topology, the length of network depends on the type of cable being used. Mesh Topology In a mesh topology, every device has connected to each other or a dedicated point to point link to every other device. (Dedicated term means that the traffic links only between the two devices it connects). To find the number of physical links in a fully connected mesh network with n nodes, we first consider that each node must be connected to other node. Node 1 must be connected to n-1nodes, node 2 must be connected to n-1nodes, and finally node n must be connected n-1 nodes. If each physical link in the network can allow the communication in both directions, we can divide the number of links by 2.In other words we can say that in a mesh topology, we need n (n-1)/2. Suppose if we are connecting 15 nodes in a mesh topology, then the number of cables required; CN = n (n-1)/2 CN = Number of cables = 15 (15 1)/2 n = Node = 15*14/2 = 15*7 = 105 Therefore, the total number of cables required for connecting 15 nodes = 105. Advantages There is no traffic problem because of the dedicated link in the mesh network. Mesh topology is very strong. If any link becomes not active it does not deactivate the entire system. Point-to-point links make full identification and fault isolation easy. Security or privacy for data travels along the dedicated line. Network can be expanded without any disruptions to the users. Disadvantages Installation and reconnection are difficult. Mesh topology required more cabling and the number input/output ports comparing with other network topologies. Sheer bulk of the wiring can be greater than the available space can accommodate. The hardware required to connect each link can be prohibitively expensive. Hybrid Topology A network can be hybrid, which uses two or more network topologies together in a network. An example of hybrid technology is the star ring network. OSI Model in the Network The OSI model was developed by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) in 1947, as a model for a computer protocol architecture and as a frame work for developing protocol standards. The purpose of the OSI model is show how the communications are going through in a network between different systems. The OSI model is not a protocol; it is a model for understanding a network architecture .This model is flexible, very strong and interoperable. The OSI model is a layered frame work for the design of network systems that allows communication between all types of computer systems. OSI model contains of seven layers, each of which defines a part of the process moving information across a network. The OSI reference model has been divided into two categories according to their specific functions in the network architecture; upper layers and lower layers. The lower layers are used to allow traffic through the network to the other system. The other four layers are used to complete the process to the other system. The Advantages of the OSI model are given below It helps the user to understand the whole features involved in networking OSI model gives a better understanding to the users that how a software and hardware components working together in the networks. Troubleshooting in the OSI model is easier as it breaks the network into usable layers The basic functional relationship terms are defined so that it can be used by network professional on another network The users can understand new technologies as they develop in this model Upper Layers of the OSI Models are; Application layer Presentation layer Session layer The upper layers have act as an interface between the end user and the applications. It consists of all the issues about the application, presentation and sessions and these layers are applied in software only. The application layer is more close to the end user. Examples of upper layer technologies in the OSI model are SNMP, FTP, and WWW etc. Lower Layers of the OSI Model Transport Layer Network Layer Data link Layer Physical Layer These layers provide network specific functions like data transport issues (flow control, addressing and routing). The bottom layers in the OSI model (physical layer and data link layer) can use in software and hardware also. TCP, UDP, IP, IPX are some examples for the lower layers. Application layer The application layer act as the interface to the end users can access the network. Application layer is the layer the user sees in contest of loading an application such as e-mail, supporting the file transfer, ability to print on a network, surfing the World Wide Web etc. These layer have another specific functions like network virtual terminal, access and management, mail services and directory services. Protocols used in this layer are SMTP, Telnet, FTP, and SNMP. Presentation layer In the presentation layer, the application formats the data to be sent out on the network depending on the presentation layer. The presentation allows applications to read and understand the data or message sent.The presentation layer is also responsible for the translation, compression and encryption. Messages are sending between the layers. Presentation layer will translate data into understandable for the transmission. This layer also handles the encryption, decryption, data compression and decompression. Session layer The session layer is the network dialog controller. It establishes, maintains and synchronizes the interaction among communicating systems. This layer is responsible for opening, using and closing session. It handles the remote procedure calls. Session layers are communication through the gateways and application interfaces. Session layer will also places check points in the data flow. Examples for the session layer are SQL, ASP, and RPC etc. Transport layer The transport layer offers end to end communication between the two end networks devices in a network. The transport layer is also responsible for the delivery of a message from one process to another. A process is an application program running on a host. The transport layer ensures that the whole message arrives intact and in order, overseeing both error control and flow control at the source-to-destination level. Transport layer gives a type of address to the data called port address. Transport layer also have the responsibilities of detecting transmission error and the proper sequence. This layer divides the messages into smaller packets and it controls the data flow. Network layer A Network layer provides the end to end (source to destination) delivery of a packet, across the multiple networks (links). This layer ensures that each packet gets from its point of origin to its final destination. Network layer gives logical addressing, so that endpoint (receiver) can be identified. During a packet delivery process it send messages and report errors. This layer also defines the routing works and how routers can learn how a packet can deliver. Examples for network layer protocols are IP, IPX, and TCMP etc. Data link layer A Data link layer transforms the physical layer, a raw transmission facility, to a reliable link. It makes the physical layer appear error-free to the upper layer. This layer divides the datas into frames and gives the physical address. It uses the MAC address for define a hardware or data link address .Data link layer handles the flow control, error control and the access control. This layer can identify the specific computer on the network. Data link layer contains two sub layers; Logical Link Control and Medium Access Control. LLC is the upper layer and which maintain and establish the communication links to the device. And it also responsible for the frame error control and addressing.MAC is the lower sub layer of the data link layer. It controls how the devices sharing the media channel. Physical layer A Physical layer is used to define the connector and interface conditions, also the medium requirements which are cables. The Electrical, Mechanical, Procedural and Functional conditions are also defined by sending a bit stream on the network. This layer defines the characteristics and different types of medium. Physical layer defines the data rate i.e. the duration of a bit or how long they will exist. Physical layer will tell the transmission mode between two devices. Examples for the physical layers are Cables, hubs, switches, repeaters etc. Conclusion Network topologies helps the user to understand the whole features involved in networking and also how the software hardware components together in networks. Network topology provides easy to trouble shooting the OSI models. Users can understand very well about the new technologies in the OSI model. Resources I have searched various websites and books for gathering information about the network topologies and OSI model. Strength of the project I have studied the assignment very deeply and did very hard work for doing this assignment. I collected different type of resources for getting the information for this project like books, journals and websites etc. The project has been completed with the support of my lecture by giving some useful tips. Effective time scheduling really helps me for doing the project. Weaknesses of the project It was very hard to find out the important information for this assignment. Lack of experience for doing these kinds of assignment. What I learned from this project Project planning is very much important for doing a successful project. If we can spend relatively more time on our project, it will be much better for the project. I have learnt how to work under pressure and how to complete the given project in a scheduled time.

Uncle Toms Cabin Essay example -- Uncle Toms Cabin Essays

Harriet Beecher Stowe was born June 14, 1811 in Litchfield, Connecticut. She was the daughter of a Calvinist minister and she and her family was all devout Christians, her father being a preacher and her siblings following. Her Christian attitude much reflected her attitude towards slavery. She was for abolishing it, because it was, to her, a very unchristian and cruel institution. Her novel, therefore, focused on the ghastly points of slavery, including the whippings, beatings, and forced sexual encounters brought upon slaves by their masters. She wrote the book to be a force against slavery, and was joining in with the feelings of many other women of her time, whom all became more outspoken and influential in reform movements, including temperance and women's suffrage. The main point of Harriet Beecher Stowe in the writing of Uncle Tom's Cabin was to bring to light slavery to people in the north. In this she hoped to eventually sway people against slavery. The novel Uncle Tom's Cabin focuses on the lives of two slaves, who both start under the ownership of a Mr. Shelby, who is known as a man who treats his slaves well. Mr. Shelby, however, was indebted to a man of the name Haley, who is a slave-trader. In return for the debt owed to him, Haley wants two slaves one being the son of a beautiful mulatto woman named Eliza, and the other the devout Christian Tom, who is called Father Tom because of his sermons. Eliza is also a Christian, as are the rest of the slaves on Shelby's farm. Eliza loves her son dearly and rather than lose him to the slave-trader she takes him and heads to Canada, where she can be free. Haley follows but can't catch her before she goes from Kentucky, the state of the Shelby Farm, to Ohio. Haley then sends slave-catchers after her. He also goes back to the farm, and brings Tom on a steamboat to the South, a place where slaves are known to die, but Tom meets and makes a great impression on a little girl, Evangeline S t. Clare, or Eva as she is called, and she persuades her father, Augustine St. Clare to purchase Tom. Augustine is a man against slavery, but too intelligent and idle to openly oppose it, instead choosing to let his slaves run freely and do whatsoever they please, within reason. Tom is bought as a man who works at the stable, and is the private driver of Marie St. Clare. Marie was a conceited woman who is too busy worrying... ...s towards going against society, seen in St. Clare. She made the slaves more human and the slaveholders appear to be morally wrong, but not by always using morally correct slaves and masters without morals. For example, Stowe creates a character, Adolf, the overseer of sorts for St. Clare. Adolf is a slave who is not morally correct he steals from St. Clare often, yet he appears more human for doing so. The slaves or human but not divine, as are the masters, creating a sense of equality, which Stowe wanted to put across. She wrote the book well, choosing where it was best to put which idea, and making many allusions to historical events around the time, which made her book more popular to the people of her time by involving other things they knew of into the story. Overall, Uncle Tom's Cabin was well written, organized, and historically accurate. Harriet Beecher Stowe used her knowledge of the past to write a clear argument for the abolition of slavery, by creating an interesting enough book to get her ideas to the common people. Her book was influential because it not only told her ideas, but because it states her ideas understandably, something not all writers are able to do.

Country Lovers Essay

The farm children play together when they are small; but once the white children go away to school they soon don’t play together any more, even in the holidays. Although most of the black children get some sort of schooling, they drop every year farther behind the grades passed by the white children; the childish vocabulary, the child’s exploration of the adventurous possibilities of dam, koppies, mealie lands and veld—there comes a time when the white children have surpassed these with the vocabulary of boarding-school and the possibilities of interschool sports matches and the kind of adventures seen at the cinema. This usefully coincides with the age of twelve or thirteen; so that by the time early adolescence is reached, the black children are making, along with the bodily changes common to all, an easy transition to adult forms of address, beginning to call their old playmates missus and baasie—little master. The trouble was Paulus Eysendyck did not s eem to realize that Thebedi was now simply one of the crowd of farm children down at the kraal, recognizable in his sisters’ old clothes. The first Christmas holidays after he had gone to boardingschool he brought home for Thebedi a painted box he had made in his wood-work class. He had to give it to her secretly because he had nothing for the other children at the kraal. And she gave him, before he went back to school, a bracelet she had made of thin brass wire and the grey-and-white beans of the castor-oil crop his father cultivated. (When they used to play together, she was the one who had taught Paulus how to make clay oxen for their toy spans.) There was a craze, even in the platteland towns like the one where he was at school, for boys to wear elephant-hair and other bracelets beside their watch-straps; his was admired, friends asked him to get similar ones for them. He said the natives made them on his father’s farm and he would try. When he was fifteen, six feet tall, and tramping round at school dances with the girls from the ‘sister’ school in the same town; when he had learnt how to tease and flirt and fondle quite intimately these girls who were the daughters of prosperous farmers like his father; when he had even met one who, at a wedding he had attended with his parents on a nearby farm, had let him do with her in a locked storeroom what people did when they made love—when he was as far from his childhood as all this, he still brought home from a shop in town a red plastic belt and gilt hoop ear-rings for the black girl, Thebedi. She told her father the missus had given these to her as a reward for some work she had done—it was true she sometimes was called to help out in the farmhouse. She told the girls in the kraal that she had a sweetheart nobody knew about, far away, away on another farm, and they giggled, and teased, and admired her. There was a boy in the kraal called Njabulo who said he wished he could have bought her a belt and ear-rings. When the farmer’s son was home for the holidays she wandered far from the kraal and her companions. He went for walks alone. They had not arranged this; it was an urge each followed independently. He knew it was she, from a long way off. She knew that his dog would not bark at her. Down at the dried-up river-bed where five or six years ago the children had caught a leguaan one great day—a creature that combined ideally the size and ferocious aspect of the crocodile with the n an interview published in Women Writers Talk (1989), edited by Olga Kenyan, Nadine Gordimer had this to say about the political evolution of South Africa: [TJhere are some extraordinary black and white people who are prepared to take a Pascalian wager on the fact that there is a way, that there must be a way. It goes be’ yond polarisation, it cannot happen while the situation is what it is. It can only be after the power structure has changed. But the fact is that if whites want to go on living in South Africa, they have to change. It’s not a matter of just letting blacks in— white life is already dead, over. The big question is, given the kind of conditioning we’ve had for 300 years, is it possible to strike that down and make a common culture with the blacks? Since 1953, when she published her first novel, The Lying Days, Nadine Gordimer has been aligned with the liberal white consciousness of South Africa. She was born in the Transvaal in 1923. Her father was a shopkeeper, her mother a housewife. A childhood illness kept Gordimer out of school until she was 14, by which time she was already an avid reader. By 15 she had published her first short story. It was not until she was somewhat older that she became aware of the South African political situation, and it was not until she was 30 that her first novel was published. Beginning with A World of Strangers (1958), Gordimer’s novels focus directly on the South African racial situation. The most famous of these works include A Guest of Honor (1970), The Conservationist (1974), Burger’s Daughter (1979), July’s People (1981), A Sport of Nature (1987), My Son’s Story (1990), None to Accompany Me (1994), and The House Gun (1998). Gordimer has also published 10 volumes of short stories, as well as several volumes o/non/iction. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1991. Asked by Olga Kenyan what it means to be a white South African, Gordimer responded as follows: You have to shout that you support change. In my case that you support a complete revolution, if possible a peaceful one. I use revolution in a broad sense, a complete change of the whole political organisation, from grass roots. It’s not enough for a white to say â€Å"Right, I’ll be prepared to live under black majority rule,† and sit back, waiting for it to come. Yow.also have to work positively, in whatever way you can, as a human being.

Paleontology and The Evolutionary Theory

Paleontology and The Evolutionary Theory Introduction Paleontology is a wide field of study that is filled with a long and fascinating past and â€Å"an even more intriguing and hopeful future† (UCMP, n.d, p.1). A large number of people think that this field involves just the study of fossils but it is much more than this. According to UCMP (n.d), paleontology is defined as â€Å"the study of what fossils tell us about the ecologies of the past, about evolution, and about our place in the world† (UCMP, n.d, p.1).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Paleontology and The Evolutionary Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This field of study takes in knowledge from other fields such as anthropology, biology, and computer science as well among others, in order to have the understanding of the processes which have contributed to the coming about and ultimate destruction of the various kinds of living organisms, beginning from the time life s tarted. The field of paleontology is traditionally broken down into a number of sub-disciplines and these include; palynology, vertebrate paleontology, invertebrate paleontology, micropaleontology, paleobotany, human paleontology, paleocology, taphonomy, and ichnology (UCMP, n.d, p.1). In this paper, the discipline of paleontology is going to be explored and the main concern will be on looking at paleontology and how it relates to the Darwin’s evolutionary theory. In the discussion, the background information on the fossil record is going to be given and this will be followed by the main discussion on paleontology and the evolutionary theory. The conclusion section will give a summary of the discussion. Fossil Record Before embarking on the main discussion, we need to consider what the fossil record is because the discussion is going to be based on this to some extent. The fossil record is defined as â€Å"the collective accumulation of artefacts which have been fossilized a ll over the world† (Fossil record, 2003, p.1). When looked at as a whole, there can be offering of very interesting information by the fossil record concerning how life evolved on earth. The scientists can make a decision to engage in studying the fossil record in its entirety or may chose to go to a specific period, in an effort to get information about the earth’s history and the living organisms that dwelt on it (Fossil record, 2003). A large number of fossils, amounting to millions, which are found in rocks, exhibit forms of evolution through time and also exhibit a large number of transitions that take place in species. In the year 1831, Charles Darwin commenced on assembling a huge bulk of evidence and in turn engaged in assessing and analysing it for over one and a half decades before keenly deducing a fresh rule of â€Å"descent of organisms with no modification† (Calabro, 2000, p.1).Advertising Looking for research paper on archeology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The fossil record is clear on the evolution of life beginning from simple forms of life to complex forms ones. The fossil record has been seen as having been very important in the development of the evolutionary theory by Darwin. However, it was pointed out that the fossil record was incomplete and Darwin criticized it for the weaknesses associated with it (Calabro, 2000). Paleontology and the Evolutionary Theory According to Sepkoski (2008), there exists a direct relationship between the health of a scientific discipline and the quality of its data sources. The discipline of paleontology â€Å"has a rich source of data in the fossil record†(Sepkoski, 2008, p.27). However, there has been contradictions in opinions in the course of time in regard to the completeness of the fossil record and the sufficiency it has for making conclusions on the evolutionary trends and patterns (Sepkoski, 2008). In t he more recent times, experts in the field of paleontology have had enthusiasm about the fossil record quality and there has been optimism about its approximations and the completeness it has (Benton, 2003; Jablonski et al., 2003, Foote Sepkoski, 1999). However, In the course of the last one century or even more, after Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’ publication, there was strict hindering of the capability of paleontologists to take part fully in the discussions concerning the evolutionary theory by perceptions that, â€Å"the fossil record was not a complete or reliable source of data† (Sepkoski, 2008, p.27). While paleontology developed its professional distinctiveness in the course of the 1900s, the critical task for the experts in this field was to set up the sufficiency of the data they had to give answers to questions raised about the authenticity of the contributions made by paleontology to the evolutionary theory. This program involved carrying out determination of the appropriate connection between paleontology and the biology and geology fields, which are its very intimately related sister disciplines. It is pointed out that, in the absence of this backing on behalf of its data, â€Å"paleontology might never have claimed a place at the ‘high table’ of evolutionary biology, and the modern discipline of paleobiology might never have existed† (Sepkoski, 2008, p.27). During the start of the 1800s, at a time paleontology methodology and discipline orientation were coming up, the current fields of science as we now know them were not there. In the year 1859, such a term as ‘biology’ was at that time still a relatively new innovation and even Charles Darwin himself did not utilize it in any of his editions of â€Å"Origin of Species† (Sepkoski, 2008, p.27). At that time, the term ‘paleontology’ was in general use.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample o n Paleontology and The Evolutionary Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One of the scientists, Charles Lyell, during that period gave a definition of this term as â€Å"’the science which treats fossil remains; both animal and vegetable’ .but it would have been quite unusual for a scientist to identify solely as ‘paleontologist’ or even ‘a geologist† (Sepkoski, 2008, p.28). Hence, the paleontology professional position, especially when compared with the biology field, is a debatable issue in the course of the time those fields had turned out to be generally recognized as independent fields. However, it is pointed out that the geological as well as paleontological evidence were of great significance to Charles Darwin in setting up the evolutionary theory (Sepkoski, 2008). This was mainly for the reason that the fossil record historical evidence made it possible for him to present arguments for chron ological evolutionary succession. In the initial edition of the Origin and those that followed, Darwin engaged in the extensive discussions about the importance of fossil succession, and it is not to overstate by pointing out that paleontology was a backbone of the argument he presented for evolution. However, it is pointed out that Charles Darwin’s conservative evaluation of the fossil record completeness hindered the capacity of the paleontologists that came thereafter to totally engage in joining in the development of the evolutionary biology community (Sepkoski, 2008,). Among the greatest fears was the idea that â€Å"the ‘incompleteness’ of the fossil record would be used to criticize his theory† (Sepkoski, 2008, p.28). The dilemma that Darwin faced, then, was that he was concurrently needed and faced embarrassment caused by the paleontological evidence found in the fossil record. As on one hand Darwin almost surely had no intentions of diminishing th e status of paleontology, on the other hand, the diagnosis he undertook of the limitations which the fossil record had, had precisely that effect for almost a century after the Origin publication. Darwin wrote about the weaknesses in the fossil record. Whilst he presented the case that the fossil data were essential for a clear understanding of the organic history, he pointed out that â€Å"the absence of transitional forms between species is an inherent and insoluble problem for paleontologists and geologists† (Sepkoski, 2008, p.28). However, it is pointed out that the theory presented by Darwin of evolution brought in a revolution in paleontology for the reason that the fossil record turned out to be the only possible source of evidence that evolution had actually taken place. In the absence of evolution, paleontology just â€Å"made interesting, descriptive observations about the form and distribution of once living creatures; without paleontology, there is no concrete ev idence that evolution happened† (Sepkoski, 2008, p.29).Advertising Looking for research paper on archeology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More But paleontology, on its own, could not independently contribute towards the theory of evolution because this theory relied on evidence which came from such fields as geology, biology and heredity among other fields in order to bring meaning to the paleontological data (Sepkoski, 2008). This means that, in the absence of the theory of evolution to paleontology, this field of study (paleontology) could not find a solution to issues concerning the organic nature history; it called for the Darwin’s theory of evolution to carry out the contextualization of the contributions it had made while excusing its shortcomings. Darwin had relatively pointed out that paleontology had already offered all it was possibly to give to having understanding of evolution. Therefore, for those who supported Darwin, there existed no immense necessity to examine the fossil record. In actual fact, those who supported Darwin were much more likely to have a wish to engage in pushing â€Å"paleontology i nto the background† (Sepkoski, 2008, p.29). For instance, Colman (1971) presents an argument that â€Å"to the biologist that fossil record posed more problems than it resolvedthe incompleteness of the recovered fossil record, in which a relatively full historical record for any major group was still lacking, was the very curse of transmutationist† (p.66). Hunt (2010), also citing the weakness in the fossil record as diagnosed by Darwin, points out that; in responding to the lack of â€Å"absence of species-levels transformation† within the fossil records, Darwin presented an argument that that â€Å"the fossil record was too incomplete, too biased, and too poorly known to provide strong evidence against his theory† (Hunt, 2010, p.61). Hunt (2010), in his research, carried out the evaluation of this view of the fossil record in light of a period of one and a half century of the paleontological research that followed. He points out that even if the assessme nt carried out by Darwin of the â€Å"completeness and resolution of fossiliferous rocks was in several ways astute† Hunt (2010, p.61), in the current day, there is much better exploration of the fossil record and there is also better documentation and understanding of this record than the way it was way back in the year 1859 (Hunt, 2010). More specifically, a logical big set of studies which seek to trace â€Å"evolutionary trajectories within species can now be brought to bear on Darwin’s expectation of gradual change driven by natural selection†(Hunt, 2010, p.61). Conclusion As it has been looked at in the discussion above, it can be concluded that, paleontology is a very wide discipline and has been there for a long time. This discipline has played a very important role in the evolutionary theory, which was set up by Charles Darwin. The fossil record enabled Charles Darwin to develop this theory. But over time, different views have come up concerning the com pleteness of the fossil record and its satisfactoriness for drawing conclusions on the evolutionary trends and patterns. For instance, Darwin’s conservative assessment of the completeness of the fossil record hindered the capability of the successive paleontologists to entirely engage in joining in the development of the evolutionary biology community. However, it is important to note that Darwin’s evolutionary theory caused a revolution in the field of paleontology and this was because the fossil record turned out to be the only available source of evidence that indicated that evolution had actually occurred. Yet paleontology, standing alone as an independent field, could not contribute to the theory of evolution and this is for the reason that this theory relied on evidence that was obtained from other fields which include the biology, geology and heredity fields or disciplines among others in order to make the paleontological data to turn out to be of significance. References Benton, M. J. (2003). The quality of the fossil record. London, England: Taylor Francis. Calabro, T. (2000). The fossil record and evolution. Retrieved from https://carnegiemuseums.org/ Coleman, W. (1971). Biology in the Nineteenth Century: Problems of Form, Function, and Transformation. New York, NY: Wiley. Foote, M. J. Sepkoski, J. (1999). Absolute measures of the completeness of the fossil record. Nature, 398(6726), 415-417 Fossil record (2003) Retrieved from https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-fossil-record.htm Hunt, G. (2010). Evolution in fossil lineages: Paleontology and the origin of species. The American Naturalist, 176 (1), 61 – 76. Jablonski, D. R. Kaustuv, J. W. Valentine, R. M. Price, Anderson, P.S. (2003). The impact of the pull of the recent on the history of marine diversity. Science, 300(5622),1133-1135. Sepkoski, D. (2008). Evolutionary paleontology and the fossil record: A historical introduction. Wilmington, NC: University of North Carolina Press. UCMP. (n.d). What is paleontology?. Retrieved from https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/paleowhat.html

Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem

Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem In his book Fortress of Solitude, Jonathan Lethem tells the story of two boys Mingus Rude who is black and Dylan Ebdus who is white. These two boys are friends, but the difference in their races makes their friendship quite hard.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The two live in a Brooklyn neighborhood where most of the inhabitants are exclusively black. In this novel, Lethem tells the story of America in the 1970s when a lot was happening concerning racial issues. The reader can also relate this novel to the 1990s when no one seemed to care about the other person. Fortress of Solitude is the story of racial tension and this paper will focus on analyzing this theme and how this book relates to the American Dream. This novel concentrates on issues of race, gentrification, music and culture. However, the theme of racial tension dominates the b ook especially with the story being centered on two friends who have racial differences. Although Dylan is white and his friend Rude is black, both boys share similar tastes in music and comic books. Dylan is a white kid living in the midst of a black community in Brooklyn and just like the other children in the neighborhood he attends the public schools. Dylan’s childhood is demonstrated as one filled with â€Å"public embarrassment, yoking, and bullying† (Lethem 3).It is clear that there exists a racial tension between the society, Rude and Dylan and as a result their relationship has to be kept a secret. Dylan’s experiences while growing up gives a clear picture of racial tension; he and his parents Abraham and Rachael belong to the â€Å"self styled gentrification project† that is led by a white woman named Isabel Vendle. According to Lethem gentrification means â€Å"uncool† therefore this project demonstrates blacks as â€Å"uncool† (1 2). The intention of Isabel to start the project was to change Gowanus into Boerum Hill by having the brownstones â€Å"figuratively bleached of their colors, and the Puerto Rican and black populations yielding to richer whites† (Lethem 13).Advertising Looking for book review on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Dylan was impressed by the gentrification project and this is evidenced through his refusal to play with a black girl simply because she is of a different race which is said to be uncool. The girls’ description in the first few lines of the novel indicates racial tension; â€Å"the two white girls in red vinyl roller skates with white laces on a cracked blue slate sidewalk looking like a match struck in a darkened room† (Lethem 3). This description casts a picture of contrast between light and dark in the terms of race. Dylan’s friendship with Mingus Rude can be viewed has a pole which he uses to triangulate his own racial identity. With the fact that he is a white boy living in the middle of a black neighborhood whose amusements include muggings and bullying, his friendship to Rude is a gift to him from the heavens. In such a neighborhood and the fact that he is white, Dylan needs a lot of protection from the blacks; this can only be achieved through befriending Rude who is black. As a matter of fact, Mingus Rude is a good friend as well as a role model to Dylan. Dylan depends on Rude for protection and his entrance to power structure of Dean Street. As their friendship progresses, the two boys get attracted to each other romantically. The tension in racial relations here can be thought as the relationship that is expected to exist between a white and a black; a relationship of master-servant. Racial tension is seen where Dylan befriends another white boy Arthur Lomb so as to get through the school years normally. The difference comes in w here both white boys take different approaches towards life. Dylan decides to go to a white and elite high school while Arthur chooses to hang out with black kids. Arthur befriends Mingus Rude and Robert Woolfolk who become his role models teaching him â€Å"niggerfication.† Dylan believes that, the contrast found between being black or white does matter even where it is expected not to. About the Chinese children, Dylan says that â€Å"the Chinese children in school weren’t white and they weren’t so that was a plus† (Lethem 32).Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He continues to say â€Å"anyway it wasn’t their fault they were Chinese† (Lethem 32). It was not Dylan’s fault as well; his cultural inheritance of being white gave him class and racial dislocation. For this reason, Dylan emulates t he black culture by listening to black music, keeping an â€Å"afro† and having a black girlfriend (Lethem 56). In this case, Dylan seems to deny his race thus causing more racial relationship tensions between the black and the white community. The opposing irony of Dylan being white seems to torment him most of the times. His life as a â€Å"white boy† is met by endless humiliations (Lethem 56). All the same, his â€Å"whiteness† also affords him an opportunity to leave the oppressive black neighborhood to a richer and famous one in Vermont. Racial tension is seen where even with white children surround him, Dylan does not actually fit in. when Dylan attends the college party, he says â€Å"that easy appropriation of dance-floor funk was a first taste, for me, of something I desperately wanted to understand: the suburban obliviousness of these white children to the intricate boundaries of race and music which were my inheritance and obsession. Nobody here care d it was only a danceable song† (Lethem 59). This quote illustrates the racial tensions which may exist between people of the same race. Although racial relations are the main theme of this book the characters play roles that seem to be predetermined. All blacks in the novel are sentimentalized despite their varied occupations; whether a mugger or a musician, if the person is black, he o she is sentimentalized. As a racial experiment, Dylan fails when he decides to adorn â€Å"black leather jackets and white boy rock† to be a part of the Stately Wayne Manor band. Discrimination against the black community is evident where Rude is left to be â€Å"a prisoner of the streets† (Lethem 66). At this point, the reader can tell that there exists a racial tension between Dylan and Rude; Dylan exclaims â€Å"hey, it’s not racist to find blacks earnest as hippies, broad, and embarrassing as a comic book these boys are punks and punks sneer that’s what they do deal with it† (Lethem 66).Advertising Looking for book review on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The American dream promises success and prosperity for any citizen of the US despite their racial background. On the other hand, the American Dream suggests that for people to succeed, they must work hard. In the novel Fortress of Solitude, the American Dream of equal rights for every one is found to fail. There is rampant racial discrimination in the Brooklyn neighborhood which makes it hard for the minority to live the American Dream. It is stated in the American dream that â€Å"all men are created equal† but in Dylan’s society there are people who are â€Å"more equal than others.† In conclusion, Fortress of Solitude is a book that explains tensions that exist between people of different races especially the black and the white community. The author Jonathan Lethem actually tells his own tale when he was growing up in Brooklyn and his expectations of the American Dream as a descendant of Greece. The relationship between the main protagonist Dylan and Mingus Rude clearly demonstrate the tension in racial relationships. The race difference in these boys leads them to totally different worlds in the end. While Dylan becomes a journalist, Rude ends up in prison. This is the picture in our modern world especially in countries where racial discrimination is evidenced. Work Cited Lethem, Jonathan. The Fortress of Solitude: A Novel. New York: Doubleday, 2004. Print.

Waikato River settlement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Waikato River settlement - Assignment Example Partnerships normally offer great opportunities to increase the availability of knowledge and the available resources and this opens up opportunities for development of an area which is more inclusive and unified as it brings on board all the concerned parties. Bodansky in his research states that there are a number of economic activities practiced by the Maori including forestry, fishing and agriculture and they normally account for annual income of between 1billion US dollars and 1.9 billion US dollars in their economy but this source of livelihood is under threat from the destruction of the environment and unsustainable use of the environmental resources. This paper takes a comprehensive overview of the Maori and Crown people scrutinizing their worldviews on different issues including their customary rights, ownership and stewardship. Finally we shall survey the issue of sustainability and how this important issue is under threat and finally recommend solutions for a better and mo re sustainable environment within the Waikato Basin. Until the year 2004, the Maori people have had a greater control on the management of resources and decision making than it has ever been during the colonial past periods. A number of treaty settlements have been used to bring the economy of the Maori people into the modern world market as well as the global economy (Selby, 2010). According to a recent analysis, forestry, fishery and agriculture account for about 1-1.9 billion US dollars of the Maori economy every year (NZIER, 2003). However, study has also indicated that this source of livelihood for the society is under threat from unplanned and unsustainable use of the available resources. The Maori leaders are expected to be conscious of the unique relationship they have with the environment and also of the ways in which long term sustainability of the environment, the society, the economy and the cultural values can be ensured. It is however not enough to simply achieve

Occupational stress in Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Occupational stress in Nursing - Essay Example It is important to note that nursing is one of the crucial subjects of the occupational stress studies. A large number of studies have been conducted to understand and bring to knowledge the reasons resulting in the causation of stress and the factors that can help lower the possibility of presence of these stress inducers. The present paper considers the contribution of some recently published papers to the growing body of knowledge on the subject of stress at work place. The paper examines the complex issue of stress from different important facets and presents a constructive criticism of the research done on the topic in view. We shall focus our attention to the recently published important scientific studies that have contributed to the understanding of occupational stress in nursing. Our objective is to analyze the studies as per their level of relevance and objectivity of application to the subject. One such important study was performed by Stordeur and experts (2001). They worked to characterize the presence of stress based on the severity of its induction. Thus, the severity of stress induction has been ranked as the amount of workload, disharmony with other colleagues (nurses, physicians), lack of completeness in knowledge and thus possible blurring of the tasks required to be performed or goal expected to be achieved. A ranking was also given to the head nurse who is responsible to closely monitor the performance of the staff members to locate the spot of deficiency in service provision and thereby plan and implement corrective measures for better and more competent performance. However, in additio n to the identification of the sources of stress inducers, it is also important to distinguish between the factors that are probably responsible to results in emotional exhaustion and job disengagement. It should be noted that this important feature was not included in the studies and research performed by Stondeur and his colleagues. Demerouti (2000) made an address to this feature in his article. The published paper adds to the knowledge the facts not presented by Stordeur' in his article on occupational stress. Sirkka Billeter-Koponen Hfa (2005) and colleagues in a qualitative interview studied about nurses' experiences of long-term stress, burnout, and patient-nurse relations. The objective behind this study was to obtain an in-depth knowledge about the mechanism of long-lasting stress and burnout induction in the nurses. The focus of research was held on professionalism and patient-nurse relations. In order to analyze the open interviews, the Grounded Theory methodology was used. The participants selected for the study were 10 nurses belonging to the age group of 36 to 61 years. The nurses were holding their professional status in different care