Euthanasi Assisted Suicide - 1252 Words

Giovanni Gomez Tammy Jonhson English 2 B 14 November 2014 Euthanasia: Assisted suicide Which is better - suffering, pain, and holding onto life for a period of time or just being laid to rest in peace? Nine out of ten people would pick the latter (Georgia State University) if just asked that question without a scenario, but when given the scenario and thinking about their family they might change their opinion. Euthanasia is related to this because it is the destruction of life, and in today’s society, medications can help with pain and suicide is typical due to the amount suffering for depression. Therefore, there is no reason why euthanasia should be illegal at this point. â€Å"No human being with a spark of pity could let a living thing†¦show more content†¦Meanwhile, there is no reason why euthanasia should not a viable option to people that want it. Also, euthanasia is a way out of a life of pain and misery, to take in fact â€Å"Un-responsive individuals† or â€Å"Brain dead individuals†. What kind of quality of life is that, be confined to a wheel chair and having to idea in the world what is going on. I think it should be an option to love ones and the person themselves if they what to turn to euthanasia as an option of relief. Euthanasia, like many things, can be for the better of man or its worst enemy. Euthanasia is pain relief, from a life confined to a mobile chair with no sense what so ever. Ask yourself what kind of life is that, would you want to be in this role for the rest of your life? In light of this, these kind of living arrangements can put great strain on a family and love ones. With the legalization of euthanasia, this can act of a relief to some families and the patient. In the normal course of an illness, loved ones, friends, and family are all going to be involved in the dying process. Having to watch a loved one s symptoms get worse, sometimes over a long period of time, and can be very harrowing. If assisted suicide

Surviving the Spanish Conquest Free Essays

Life before the arrival of the Spanish was very pleasant. My husband Maita and I, plus our two children, Tupac (our six year old son) and Urpi (our four year old daughter) all lived happily together in the city of Nazca. Maita was a high priest and I was an Acllyacona otherwise called a chosen woman. We will write a custom essay sample on Surviving the Spanish Conquest or any similar topic only for you Order Now Together this made us very high in society. Being an acllyancona I served as a weaver. I prepared textiles of llama and alpaca cloth. This was an essential part of Inca life. As Incas, we used these textiles as payment for the warfare or as gifts to high classed people. Also I made the clothes/garments for the Sapa Inca and for ritual use. As an acllyancona, I had many advantages to society. I didn’t have to perform hard labour in the fields, which most Incas did and I always had enough food and clothing. But my pleasant life all changed when the Spanish arrived, it became very unpleasant. The Sapa Inca called Maita and many other high priests and priestesses to travel with him to Cuzco, to visit the Spanish intruders. Majority of Incas such as Maita and I, had not even seen the Spanish yet and did not know who they were. When Maita left to go to Cuzco that was the last time I ever saw him. The chasqui (messengers) told us that the Spanish killed nearly everyone there in the city of Cuzco and took Sapa Inca as hostage. I was so upset that Maita was dead. As the Sapa Inca was hostage, he offered a room full of gold for his release freely. He kept his word however the Spanish did not. They killed him, took the gold and fled. A little more then a year had passed and the Spanish apparently had not come back to our Incan Empire, until they appeared in my city. They appeared as strangers, protected by wearing full metal amour. They charged at us on huge animals, (which none of us had ever seen before) called horses. There was so many of them and each one of them was armed with gunpowder, guns and steel weapons. It was all very terrifying and I was so scared. The Spanish had absolutely no respect at all for our religion of worshiping the Sun. So they tried to change our religion to there religion of Christianity. Plus they let fire and destroyed buildings. Large numbers of people died, as 9 out of 10 Incas did. This was huge, because our Incan population suffered a dramatic and quick decline following contact. People died of different causes but all linked to the Spanish. Such as†¦ -The Spanish went on rampages through the city murdering chiefs, plus anyone they did not like. -Several people had no resistance to keep on living as we were treated very unfairly and died. -And the main cause of death was from disease, which the Spanish brought. I’m really angry at all these causes of deaths from the Spanish especially because unfortunately Urpi died from disease. I was petrified, of the Spanish but was not going to let Tupac and myself die because of them. I had a strong will to survive and to keep on living. Life after the conquest was very cruel and barbaric. The Spanish literally worked us to death. We were like slaves for them. All aspects of our culture were destroyed and the building materials were used to construct churches and cathedrals. There was destruction of everything which had given our life meaning and purpose. Now we were at the bottom of the Spanish empire, with a new language, religion, laws and way of life. How to cite Surviving the Spanish Conquest, Essay examples

Clouds Socrates Unjust Speech free essay sample

Aristophanes’ play, â€Å"clouds†, there is a battle between the â€Å"old† and â€Å"new† way of going out about life. This can be seen through the â€Å"just† and â€Å"unjust† speech, whose argumentative outcomes dictate the way in which society should go about educating its citizens. The â€Å"unjust speech†, which is a heavy logical and manipulative approach to thinking about life (â€Å"new†), seems to subvert the â€Å"just speech†, which appears to rely on moral and mythical justification (â€Å"old†). Pericles, a prominent and influential Politian in Athens, has argued that democracy is the best form of government because it fairly produces the most educated and excellent citizens, through freedom to act as they please, which will eventually shape there soul into a great person (Warner 145). Thus, if citizens are allowed to wonder freely and be tolerated with respect by fellow citizens as Pericles describes, and if Socrates (a Greek philosopher) and the â€Å"thinkry† spread their â€Å"unjust speech† rhetoric, Pericles’s platform for greatness will not make the Athenians the most excellent and educated citizens. In fact it is going to make them into worse people, people who are going to fundamentally question the value of their institution. Ultimately, Aristophanes suggests that democracy cannot work in unison with â€Å"unjust speech†, which undermines Pericles argument that â€Å"unjust speech† should be tolerated under democracy, because â€Å"unjust speech† uses its persuasive power to disassembles the collective wisdom democracy has built and allows the few who understand its power to create an unequal society (West). Aristophanes argues if a democracy is faced with a society of unequal powers then it could transform the democratic system Pericles drew up, where all powers were to be divided equally among citizens, into an oligarchy or tyranny, with the citizens using unjust speech to gain majority power and dictate policy (West). Whenever policies are designed by a few in power they tend not to reflect or benefit those in the larger majority without power. If policies don’t benefit and represent as many people as possible then they are ineffective policies. This educates the citizens of Athens to become one of the elites because policy and power will favor them more then others. Aristophanes doesn’t believe that is the best or fairest form of education. Therefore, unjust speech can’t operate in union with democracy because it turns an egalitarian society into unequal powers and causes ineffective policies to be implemented. Aristophanes is concerned with what kind of government it is and how it’s designed. Pericles address that concern when stating, â€Å"Our constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people† and â€Å"everyone is equal before the law; when it is a question of putting one person before another in positions of public responsibility, what counts is not membership of a particular class, but the actual ability which the man possesses†(Warner 145). Aristophanes undermines this by arguing if what counts is the ability which the man possesses, then unjust speech allows that membership to form through mans ability to manipulate and win arguments, which gives unjust speakers more power then other citizens and they are now unequally advantage against the law and have the power in their hands instead of the majority (West). Pericles also states, â€Å"In public affairs we keep to the law†(Warner 145), Aristophanes argues that citizens capable of unjust speech have the power, the people in power have a stronger voice, the stronger voice makes policies, and thus citizens engaged in unjust speech make the laws (West). The people who make the laws usually do so in a way beneficial to them â€Å"in public affairs†(West). Unjust speech has the power to diminish the collective wisdom the Athenians have built up by pointing out small contradictions and using manipulative reasoning that just speech can’t defend through logic. Just speech can only be defended through the centuries it has successfully survived and through the strong bond each citizen shares with each other (West). Therefore, Aristophanes argues through â€Å"clouds† that unjust speech has the ability to break down collective wisdoms, win arguments, create unequal powers, and ultimately dismantle democracy (West). For example, unjust speech states, â€Å"I quite deny that Justice even exists†(West 902) to which just speech replies â€Å"It does with the gods† (West 904), then unjust speech ask the question â€Å"then why didn’t Zeus perish when he bound his father? To which just speech replies â€Å"give me a basin: to vomit in†(West 907), basically stating if just does exist within the gods then it makes no sense because the gods are not just themselves. In this case unjust found a logical approach to dismiss the presences of just speech. This small contradiction discredits just speech as a whole, aids to the confusion of just speech, and gives power to unjust speech. This result causes just speech to through its cloak to the audience and storm out. Another instance seen where unjust uses its power to discredit just speech is when Strepsiades ask Socrates, â€Å"And who is it that compels them to be borne along? Isn’t it Zeus? †(West 378), to which Socrates replies â€Å"Not in the least. Its ethereal Vortex†(West 380). In this instance, Strepsiades is convinced through logic and science that Zeus doesn’t make it rain by â€Å"pissing through his sieve†(West 373). Eventually this leads Strepsiades to become more ambiguous about his institutions collective wisdom, and once again it aids to more confusion for just and power for unjust speech. In the case of Strepsiades, it leads to utter perplexity, which later causes him to burn down the â€Å"thinkry†. Furthermore, these two examples are analogous with the contemporary Gay Rights movement we see today. Gays not being able to get married stems from religious values (just speech), which say people are only supposed to be with opposite sex. Many Americans have built this into our collective wisdom, especially in the South. However, homosexuals challenge these religious ideologies with logic (unjust speech), which tries to persuade a religious conservative that just because god stated something doesn’t make it true or reasonable. The homosexual community, who may have a point, is challenging and manipulating the conservative wisdom through unjust speech, and if homosexuals win than more power represents their group then before. The result is another tradition (religious conservatives) is weakened, a new identity (Gays married) is formed/strengthen, and the collective wisdom of all citizens under that democracy is now diminished and more segregated. The three examples show how unjust speech has the ability to break down collective wisdom, win arguments, create unequal powers, and ultimately dismantle the democracy Pericles drew up and cause chaos and/or violence. Strepsiades ends up burning down a building and Socrates’ students gain more power, the just speech violently throws its cloak to the audience and storms off leaving unjust speech with more powers, and religious conservatives have heavily protested, some with violence, against homosexuals (the outcome hasn’t been determined so power hasn’t shifted yet). This proves Aristophanes argument that unjust speech undermines democracy by getting citizens to question their government’s collective wisdoms, which has the ability to shift power (West). If enough questions are raised then new paths will be forged and the core bond that once held the state together is now weaken. Aristophanes argues that knowing how the â€Å"Vortex† works or how some other trivial scientific knowledge operates is not what makes a society great, but rather keeping the core identity and wisdom together is how one maintains greatness and keeps democracy alive (West). However, the damage of unjust speech in a democratic society doesn’t stop there. Unjust speech also has the ability to open the window for morally unsound decisions, which have the potential to construct terrible policies. As explained by Aristophanes, unjust speech has the ability to break down collective wisdoms, win arguments, and create unequal powers. The last part is what concerns Aristophanes because unequal powers open the door for political and moral corruption. Whenever policies are designed by a few in power they tend not to reflect or benefit those in the larger population without power. If policies don’t benefit and represent as many people as possible then they are bad policies. For example, when Pheidippides engages in a physical altercation with his father Strepsiades, he employs unjust speech to make his actions appear moral. This is seen when Pheidippides states, â€Å"did you beat me when I was a boy? †(West 1408), to which Strepsiades replies â€Å"Yes, I did; I was well-intentioned†(West 1409), then Pheidippides use the unjust speech by stating â€Å"isn’t it also just for me likewise to be well-intentioned toward you and beat you, since in fact to be well-intentioned is to beat? (West 1410-1412), Pheidippides adds on, â€Å"Old men are children twice†(West 1417), and lastly â€Å"I’ll beat mother too, just as I did you†(West 1443). Pheidippides logically makes sense by basically saying that if Strepsiades, his father, beat him when he was younger in order to discipline and shape his character, wouldn’t it only make sense for Pheidippides to beat his father who is old and undisciplined. Furthermore, Pheidippides argues through unjust speech that when he is done beating his father that he will go on to beat his mother. Morally, Strepsiades and us intuitively understand that beating our father is wrong, and if not our father then beating our mothers is definitely wrong, but it is hard debating it through just speech. It is best explained through the collective wisdom that our institution has handed down over the centuries, which has successfully stood the test of time and deserves to be respected. This is a specific case of unjust speech challenging a societies collective wisdom, then manipulating, winning, and using the argument to gain power, which opens the door for a morally unsound policy that a majority can’t defend against. Another instances where unjust speech was used to manipulate and open the door for a morally unsound policy was Strepsiades convincing the creditors he owes nothing. Strepsiades uses unjust speech to fluster the first creditor by ridiculing him because of his belief in the gods, â€Å"Zeus is laughable to those who know†(West 1241) and for believing in the â€Å"old† reasoning behind the way in which society operates (West 1225-55). Again Strepsiades uses unjust speech with the second creditor by manipulating his new knowledge, â€Å"do you believe that Zeus always rains fresh water on each occasion, or does the sun draw the same water back up from below†¦Then is it just for you not to get your money back if you know nothing of matters aloft? This undermines Athenian values, which clearly have moral rationale but lack transparent logic. The creditors have no real answer for Strepsiades other then it is wrong to not pay back debts for the reasons it is wrong to beat your mother up. Unjust speech has the power to confuse people by breaking down collective wisdom, win arguments, and create unequal powers, which opens the door for a few to create a terrible policy that affects many. The two examples clearly show how unjust speech has the power to undermine just speech. Aristophanes argues, that unjust speech can’t live in unison with democracy because the few who know how to deploy it can gain unfair power and create terrible policies that only reflect the few elite without justly representing the majority who have less power (West). It is evident that Aristophanes prefers to operate with the â€Å"old† system. He clearly sympathizes with the reasoning and moral implications of just speech, and argues that democratic societies need it to be successful. Conversely, unjust speech according to Aristophanes is a systemic threat to anything ruled under democracy. It has the ability to undermine equality and produce ineffective policies. This runs contradictory to Pericles’s argument about democratic characteristics, mainly freedom to have meaningful impact and mans abilities is what counts, which make citizens great and educated people (Warner 145). If unjust speech is abused in democracy, unequal powers are inevitable. However, I think Aristophanes would recognize Pericles’s point, and acknowledge there are issues with the traditional system. A traditional government left unexamined might lose touch with the principles upon which it was established.

Memoirs of the innocent Essay Example

Memoirs of the innocent Essay I jolted, as I felt a wet, slippery canine tongue slide down the side of my polished cheek. Are you ok, Emily? My mother enquired, with concern. Fine mum, Basil just scared me. Thats all, I replied, wiping my cheek of the thick slobber down the side of my face. Something had obviously excited Basil. Nearly there, I can already see the mailbox outside our new home. My mother enthusiastically shouted. We will write a custom essay sample on Memoirs of the innocent specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Memoirs of the innocent specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Memoirs of the innocent specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Bet it feels just like home, doesnt it dad? I asked, knowing well that he and mum used to live in this village, years ago. Indeed, He plainly replied. He never wanted to move back, not after Sophies death, it was always Mothers plea that made him agree. I never knew why though, it was described to me to be such a communal and bliss town, and I was never really told what happened to Sophie, she would have been twenty four this year. Describe it to me, mum. I want to know everything. I pleaded, joyfully. I heard the car window unwind. Ok dear, on either side of the long, concrete path leading to our wooden front door are two, great oak trees, surrounded by two fields, covered vastly with lush green grass. I sat anxiously, visualising the home, and beautiful surroundings in which soon, I would be able to gaze upon with my own eyes. I felt the car grind slowly to a halt. Here we are, your dad will help you out of the car, My mother calmly muttered, in her attempt to conceal her utmost excitement. I sat silent for seconds, before my dad retracted the door gently from beside me. I felt a cold, yet sweaty hand pull gently on my arm. Out you get, nice and gently, dont forget your cane now, My dad told me. I grasped my stick from my seat and placed my feet firmly on the warm, rough Texas ground. I was hastily followed by the energetic, panting Golden Retriever Basil. My father led me along the path, as Basil brushed his soft, matted hair against by bare legs. I occasionally poked my cane against the floor as I created a mental image of my surroundings. My father stopped me at the door, I heard my mother frantically in her excitement jostle her key in the large oaken door; and heard the heavy swoop of the door as my mother forcefully pushed it open. I took a step inside: My mother gasped. Its beautiful, absolutely beautiful! My Mother cried. She took her satisfied hand to mine as she led me towards a small, spiral staircase. Basil frantically ran up the staircase, and I heard a piercing bang onto what I assumed to be my new bedroom door. I squeezed my mothers hand tightly, and with one hand clasped tightly on the rough banister, made my way up the staircase. I got to the top and removed my cramped, cushioned trainers, to feel the brush of the smooth cotton carpet underneath my perspiring feet. Your room is just down the corridor Emily, Get some sleep; you have a big day tomorrow. Ill get you to your bed. She guided me down the corridor and helped me undress in my room. I put my nightdress on, placed my guide stick on my window sill and climbed into my bed. Night darling, sweet dreams, My mother murmured through my door, closing it behind her. I tilted my head back onto the pillow, and closed my distorted eyes for the last time. I felt Basil jump onto my legs, and settle calmly. CHAPTER 2 I woke, opening my eyes languidly, only to feel the heavy blow and foul stench of Basils breath against my face. I called for my mother. Im awake! I shouted emphatically down out of my door, and down the wooden staircase. Moments passed. Finally I heard my Mother, hastily pacing the length of the corridor leading to my bedroom. Morning Emily, She called. What times my appointment mum? I replied, as I heard her unzip my suitcase. In two hours darling, so Ill get you dressed, we can have some breakfast and well get going, ok? She replied, exultant in her refrain. I pushed Basil from my bed, and retrieved my walking cane from the window sill. My mother dressed me, and took me to the kitchen. I managed to make it there successfully without bumping into anything, I felt somewhat at ease, knowing that these could be my last moments without vision. Cornflakes? My Father questioned, grumpily. He wasnt a morning person, always stubborn and cantankerous when tired. Ok. I replied, simply. I heard my mother sip the last of her tea and leave the room. Moments later she came back in rattling her keys. Come on then Emily, She called; placing her hand on my arm. I took one last mouthful and dropped my spoon into the milky bowl, and picking up my cane I stood up, rigidly from my seat. Out of the door she guided me, as the potent smell of lavender and fresh grass filled my sinuses. I thought to myself, if only I could witness the beauty of which I already understood so well. We got into the car, and drove off into the horizon. A flutter of adrenaline rushed through me as I pondered on what was to come. The car finally grinded to a halt. I opened my door and felt the touch of my Mothers calming hand upon my skin. We walked. Nearly there Emily, once we get in, well be able to see the doctor, Dr.Burkala. My mother assured me. We stood stationary for a split second, before I heard quiet mechanical doors open violently. We made our way through, and with my cane I felt a few chairs to the left of me, and a large wooden desk to the front of me. Name? The female receptionist asked politely. Emily, Emily Stanford, here for her eye implants. My Mother replied, somewhat assertively. Ok, would you like to go through the corridor, and its the second door on your left, Dr.Burkala will be waiting for you. The kind voice directed. My mother helped me through a sea of chairs and through yet another automatic door. Down the corridor we paced, by this point my heart hummed fiercely, and pounded loudly as a brash battle drum would. I felt my mother stop, and her tight grip loosen, as she opened the door before me, and guided me through gently. Afternoon, take a seat. The doctor stated, in his foreign Asian accent. I shuffled my stick around the cold, laminate flooring, to find the hollow teak legs of what, when I perched myself upon it, I found to be a gloriously quilted, chez-long sofa. I sat comfortable and nervously upon the sofa, waiting for the silence to be pierced. Ok Emily, I trust your Mother has told you of the events to come? The doctor enquired, I took a moment to comprehend and understand what he said, and replied in an eager and patience less tone. Yes, I know everything, I just want vision, Dr.Burkala paused for a moment. I heard the rustle of sheets of paper and eventually he stopped, and read the following aloud: The eyes you will be receiving during this operation are those of your sisters, who with the consent of your mother and father offered herself and her body to the cause of scientific research. Success is not always assured during these operations, and your health is not of our liability, before, during or after the procedure Your mother will have to sign this on your behalf, and we can crack on with the operation. The doctor cosily told me. Here, here, and here. The doctor told my mother, passing her a pen. I heard the pen gliding across the paper, and with each swoop I felt nearer to vision my dream. My Mother was silent, obviously recounting the hazy events of Sophies death, I heard her sniffle, and the pen scratch the paper for the third time. Ok Emily, Ill bring the nurse through and shell help you onto the bed, and well get going. The doctor told me, as I heard the door behind me swing open, and felt the nurse lift me from my chair. She walked me six paces to my left; I heard the curtain rain clank behind me, she helped me into my robe, and laid me down onto the smooth bed. For a while, I lay there thinking. Thinking of the sister I never knew, the sister I now loved unconditionally for the gift she was unconsciously bestowing upon me Sight. Out of the door in which I came and down a long, winding corridor. I felt a heavy jolt through the operating theatre doors, and we halted. My mouth dry, and my hands, drenched in sweat, I lay nervously in anxiety and elation of what was to come. This will only prick for a second, Emily. The tender nurse explained, as she punctured a needle through my moist skin. Youll start to feel dizzy, and then youll be off to sleep, youll be able to see after all of this, Emily. Butterflies filled my stomach, as I felt a surge of numbness creep up my arm. CHAPTER 3 I awoke, with my Mothers vernal hand clenched tightly upon my own. It was still dark. I felt my heart in my throat as I drew my hand to my face to feel a light, cotton bandage ravelled around my eyes. I felt a hand, the hand of Dr.Burkalas gliding up through my hair, and onto the bandage. He rolled the bandage off of my head, and with each circular motion I felt an ominous glow seep through the . It was off; a massive array of light bombarded my eyes. I blinked heavily, to see the tearful face of my Mother before me. Beauty was merely elementary to what I saw before me. The room, the doctor, myself. I looked now, down upon my turquoise robe, and pulled my feeble, pale white hands into my wonderful line of sight. I looked over to my mothers beautiful face. Thank you, Thank you so much! I cried, as I felt a cool, salty tear drop down my cheek. Exhausted, I laid my head back onto the white, cotton pillow and took a calm moment to reflect upon this gift, bestowed upon me. Before I knew it, I was sat, comfortably, in my Mothers car, waiting anxiously to gaze upon the house described to me so beautifully well. Your father said hell give you a tour of the village; when you get in. He knows the area well, he used to live there yknow. My mother spoke, happily. I looked over to her, slouched elegantly in her long, white, frilled linen dress; with her hands, perched gently upon the leather coated steering wheel. I glued my face to the window, gazing readily out, and admired the scenery, the landscape, the artistry. It was only now that I fully recognised the beautiful pure nature of nature itself. I saw before me, winding valleys, scattered leaves and elegantly dancing trees. The car eventually pulled up beside our house. I withdrew myself confidently from the passengers seat, to see a rather large, slim faced and bearded man with dark long hair casually dressed staring gleefully towards me, on the porch balcony. I knew it was my dad. I sprinted into his arms, repeating joyously; I can see Dad! I can really see! I know dear, I know. So how about that tour youve so patiently waited for, aye? My father squeezed me tightly in his arms. First, I want to see our garden! I heartily replied. Alone, I made my way through the house and into the garden. I stood at the back door, astonished. Flowers blossomed with unimaginable colour, trees danced in the wind, and grass grew lushly upon the stretch of land before me. Though, beautiful as it was, it laid barren. Apart from a large, empty stable barn to the back of the garden, I could only just make it out through the vast leaves of the trees scattered before it. I started making my way towards it in curiosity. CHAPTER 4 Emily! My Father cried from within the house. Come on, you dont want to be late, the sweet store will be shut! I pulled my eyes from the barn and made my way back through to the front of the house. He took me by the hand, and led me down the path into the village square. We went, hand in hand around the village square. Through sneaky alleyways, and over dew sparkling meadows, until we came to a halt close to the edge of town. We stood upon a large field; facing toward a small, aphetic shack, and to the left of us sat a grand, weary graveyard. The grass seemed to become browner, and darker, the closer the shack it came, and a shroud of dense, polluted fog organised itself in an almost human spectrum surrounding the shack. I could just make out, through my primarily squinted eyes; the figure of an old and frail woman standing inanimately on her door step, facing into the dark cosmos. My father turned towards me, perch on one knee and, as though he was whispering, told me. That there, what you see before you, is the house belonging to the witch-doctor. Possessed by an anti-ageing divine spirit; she is able to utilize godly powers. She specialises in devil worshipping and otherworldly experiences. Promise me; promise me Emily, you will never go near that house, promise me I glanced over to the house once more, pulling my eyes from my fathers. Ok dad. I sighed. He pulled himself from the ground and we continued in the opposite direction toward the graveyard. Time to meet your sister, My father said, almost artificially. Really? I cried, once again gripping tightly my fathers hand. He didnt reply, he only walked me towards the graveyard, surrounded magnificently by large aesculus trees, and neatly arranged, small potted plants. My Father creaked the gate open, and led me through the winding graves, onto a small plot of land. The land had upon it a moderately sized, gravestone reading: In memory of Sophie Chelvase. Who was murdered age seven, upon this very Texas plain. Loved, and never forgotten. I knelt upon the grass before me and felt my eyes swell with tears for a sister I never knew. How? I cried; looking up at my Father. He simply placed his hand upon my shoulder, and looked towards the grave. I burst into tears, and fell into my Fathers arms, mortified by the thought of what Sophie had experienced. Come on dear, lets go. I Father sympathetically muttered. He grabbed my hand tightly and lead me back through the graveyard, and back through the wooden slatted gate. We walked solemnly into the town centre, where my Fathers mood quickly changed. We stopped outside a terraced, thatched cottage general store, surrounded by pretty potted roses. Now, lets try the sweets, aye? My dad suggested, with a brimming smile on his face. He slowly walked me in. All around me I paid witness to mountains upon mountains of sugary treats, all around me, lay colours of which I never imagined possible. My Father ran gleefully straight to the counter, where awaited a young, almost teenage woman: Waiting to fulfil my Fathers elementary wishes. My father dug his hand deep into his suede pocket, to reveal a fifty dollar bill, slammed it down upon the table, and told the shocked woman behind the counter; Thirty dollars, of anything, and twenty of whatever it is my daughter wants. I was still stood speechless on the entrance mat, gasping in astonishment. I made my way to the counter, looked high above the woman, and pointed. Those, I cried, pointing toward a large box of strawberry cables on the top shelf. She gathered our sweets while my father stood, fidgeting, awaiting the sweets hed splashed out for so willingly. Finally, after frantically collecting and weighing various sugary treats, she handed us a huge bag, filled to the brim. We made our way home, a different way to the way we came, scoffing hastily the sweets we had just purchased. For the third time I found myself making my way up the beautiful pathway to my old, rustic home. To bed now, Emily My Father, intoxicatingly said. I tutted. Ok. I bluntly replied, as I made my way up the stairs and into my bed, already half filled by Basil. I undressed myself, for the first time and got myself into bed. I knelt upon my bed, and gazed through my misty window. Thoughts filled my mind, of my sister, and her death, I felt an urge to wander back to her grave, an almost alien urge. I blinked heavily, trying to remove the urge from myself. I wondered, a feeling of curiosity consumed me. I pulled myself from the window, and forced my eyelids shut, and with that, drifted willingly off into the darkness. CHAPTER 5 I felt a hand grip my throat, I shook, and I ran. Along a meadow I sprinted with intent away from my home Pointless. You little slut! The young man screamed. I felt my body pulling itself away, but to where? Too late. I felt the pull of my blouse from my body. He slapped me, and dragged me fiercely back, into a small, isolated barn. He slapped me again. I cried. You will learn! He shouted again, ripping my top from me, revealing my shivering flesh. I felt his hands rummage up my stomach and onto my breasts. I screamed in discontent, and tried to fall to my knees. He pulled my skirt from me and violated me. I shook, and shook, in a desperate attempt to break free. There was no use. Yet another clenched fist threw itself at my body, I vomited, as I felt a foreign object penetrate me. He pulled my feeble hands to himself and tied them, then the other end to the roof. I hung. I hung by my hands from the ceiling, two feet from the floor; as I felt this animal brutalize me. He stopped. Silence. I hung, loosely. Until I felt the sharp sting of a blade slice my windpipe. I tried to scream, only to conjure blood from my inners. Nothing more. I felt my mothers caring hands grasping my arms, and shaking me gently. I opened my fluttering eyes, to see a tear drop cascaded down my mothers face. You were shaking, My Mother cried. A horrible, horrible nightmare, I replied. Almost real. My Mother clasped me tightly to her bosom, I explained my dreamful ordeal to my mother. Its o.k. dear, go back to sleep. It was just a dream. my dad was staring, bewildered from my door. I fell back into my pillow, and felt my mothers hand caress my hair, as I fell back to sleep. I slowly drifted back into reality, and was more alert than ever before. The door was still purged open, hanging slightly off its hinges from the night previous; from when my Father answered my unconscious screams of displeasure. I jumped from my bed, and opened the linen drapes, to be blinded by a stream of sunlight streaming through my window, I blinked heavily, and walked slowly towards my wardrobe, opening it to reveal a huge array of colourful, and pretty garments. I scanned the contents heartily, to find a small, pink dress from the far left of the wardrobe. I removed it and dressed myself. My mind still focused on what I referred to as my dream, I couldnt help but be tempted to visit Sophies grave yet again, and I had a slight feeling that my dreams bear some resemblance to her. What if she was in fact the girl in my dream, what if that was how she was murdered? I slumped back onto my bed, bearing the thoughts of Sophies death, it couldnt be true. I had to find out for myself. I made my way confidently down the corridor towards the oaken spiral staircase, I heard whispers from the kitchen below me as I made my way down, I heard my name being mentioned occasionally as I made my way toward the kitchen, and as I pushed the door to, the room momentarily fell silent. Morning Emily, how are you feeling? my Father said as the silence was broken. Anxious, I bluntly replied. How was it you said Sophie died? I demanded, as I made my way over to an invited bowl of sugared porridge. I sat down on the opposite end of the table of my Father, peering along it towards him and my Mother; I felt the sun warming my neck through the window behind me. Emily, you know youre Fath- My Mother was interrupted. It doesnt concern you! My Father aggressively shouted, staring directly towards me. My Father seemed slightly taken aback by my questioning and stern in his refrain. I slumped back into my bowl of porridge. CHAPTER 6 A figure of a long black haired man appeared before me, holding a knife towards me. I blinked to find myself back in my kitchen, staring down at my empty bowl. I gasped, I darent say anything to my parents, instead I made my way toward the sink, placed my bowl effortlessly beside the draining board and walked out of the kitchen. Where are you going? My Mother pleaded as I stepped through the archway. To clear my head I falsely pleaded in return, knowing fully I was going back to Sophies grave. Dont be long She cried, as I pulled my shoes over my cotton socks. As I shut the door behind myself I sprinted through the warm humid haze and through the town centre, I knew the way, I couldnt forget it. As I ran my mind filled itself of thoughts, impossible thoughts; why wouldnt my Father tell me? What was he hiding from me? I had to find out, I would find out. I found myself once again standing through the narrow under path gazing upon warm, dew glazed field, I glimpsed toward the witch doctors shack as a thought became me: Maybe she could help me? By this point I cared little of what my Father expected of me. I peered closer and closer towards the darkened shack, I saw her; still standing almost thoughtlessly out of the door of her shack. My quickened pace shortly became a sprint as I endeavoured fully to reach the house, I finally came within the dingy cloud surrounding the shack, and turned to look behind me, then back again. The old lady was gone. The door was closed and there was no sign of life with in the small house. I slowly walked towards the door and raised my hand to knock gently upon it I felt a hand upon my shoulder, and as I turned to look it was the hand of a frail, old woman dressed almost elegantly in purple robes and petite ribbons. I looked up towards her face, to see that frighteningly, she had no eyes. I darent say a word of it.The skin on the face staring towards me sagged motionless, almost dead, and as she pulled her chapped, slim lips apart to speak I gasped I-I-Im sor- It is o.k She replied in a tender, caring voice, fitting that of a princess. I sense you need my help? She enquired, taking her hand from my shoulder and placing it by her side. Well. Its my sister, Sophie Sophie, we share the same name. The woman replied, facing towards me, staring at me from her empty eye sockets. Sophie Chelvase. I told her. Chelvase?! The woman interrupted, the girl murdered not far from this very plain? She is dead The woman interrupted. On this very plain? I replied, anxiously. At the back of a young mans house, her Fathers old house, your Father? She asked. Yes, that makes perfect sense, he used to live here. In that house, hes home now. I replied. But where? Where exactly did it happen, I dream of my sisters death, have flashbacks, I see her being raped, I feel her. The old lady gasped, and turned away from me, looking over the field and towards the graveyard. I am weak, She said. I can take you to the barn in which she was killed, but not much further, you will find more there, maybe envision her killer. She turned back towards me and placed took my hand in hers. For I am but a ghost, trapped within this realm of mortals, I too was killed as a young girl She solemnly told me. I chose to walk this earth as a soul, protecting the innocent. I cant usually talk to the mortals, but you, youre different. I feel a bond to you. She placed a stone into her palm and placed my fingers onto it. You will soon know your sister, I can sense it. Only in death do things seem clear. CHAPTER 7 Close your eyes I felt a spiral of winds churning me, and found myself in a small barn, filled with hay, and ropes. An awful aroma of excrement filled the barn. I must go I heard. As I turned to see the woman, a cloud of white, fluffy smoke stood in her place. I saw her go, but still felt a presence in the room, I ran to the large oak door at the front of the barn. I pushed it open to reveal a glimpse of my garden; I went to walk through the door but felt a hand pull me back by my blouse. I saw the figure of the killer in my dream before me, I blinked, to see the figure of my Father standing before me. NO! I screamed, as he pushed me to the ground. I scuttled backwards on my backside. I knew youd find out, one day. He shuddered, twitching his neck and revealing from behind him a small, sharpened axe. You will share her fate The figure told me. Walking towards me slowly. He grabbed me by the throat; I straggled, and broke free. I ran screaming towards the house. I made it inside, and sprinted into the front room, where my mother was sat knitting. What ever is wrong? She cried, placing down her yarn. I watched out of the back window, my father walking in through the back door, still holding the blade. Its dad! He killed Sophie! Hes trying to kill me! I screamed, in complete disgust. Oh its ok dear, come here. My Mother held out her arms and pulled me in tight towards her bosom, still sat on the sofa. I heard my Fathers footsteps as he walked into the room. I tried to break free of my Mothers arms, but she held on tight. I struggle for freedom. I felt the axe penetrate deep into my back. As I regurgitated blood from my inners I felt my Mother push her fingers deep into my eye sockets, I watched my body fall limp to the floor. As my parents lifted it and left the room with it, I kept screaming, I watched my own body being mutilated, but felt no pain. I felt if anything, solemn. I embrace the moment, devastated, yet calm. And with that, I walked slowly toward the door, to where my parents took my body. I floated to the door, and before I could leave, a bright white cloud appeared before me. It vanished, to reveal the old lady with no eyes from before. She began to change, and within seconds, before me, appeared a young lady before me. Hello She said, in the same voice as the old ladys. Its me, your sister.

Consistent Style Sheet Eliminates Value Judgments

Consistent Style Sheet Eliminates Value Judgments Consistent Style Sheet Eliminates Value Judgments Consistent Style Sheet Eliminates Value Judgments By Maeve Maddox One of our readers, Pankaj, has asked for clarification on the posting called The Gentleman Fled on Foot. Was I addressing a matter of diction, or was I advocating the denial of respect for persons in unfortunate circumstances? Some publications and newsrooms have a policy of referring to people by surname only, once the full name has been mentioned. Others have a policy of adding the honorific to the surname every timeor for a set number of timesafter the full name has been mentioned. In either case, I see no problem. When a policy is in place, the writer knows whether to use Mr/Ms/Rev/Dr with the surname, or to go with plain Jones. My post was concerned with a practice that Ive observed often enough to regard it as a trend. Apparently many news sources have no set policy because they sometimes refer to people by surname only, and sometimes with the honorific plus surname. I first became aware of this strange practice several years ago when my dissertation adviser was murdered in his campus office. Ill call the professor Jones, and the man who killed him Smith. One of the articles published in a local paper, having named both men in the lead, went on for several columns to refer to the professor, who had a Ph.D. and was usually called Dr. Jones, as Jones, but referred to the other man as Mr. Smith each time he was mentioned. It could be that the tendency to be super-polite when talking about criminals grows from the knowledge that anyone who has yet to be convicted must be referred to as an alleged whatever. Perhaps writers who call bank robbers gentlemen are just being cautious. I dont know. In any case, the question forced me to look at why this inconsistency of diction bothers me. Ive had to conclude that Mr. Pankaj is a more accepting person than I am. In the absence of a style sheet rule, Id be inclined to leave off the Mr. when it comes to perpetrators of the more horrid crimes. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"Do you "orient" yourself, or "orientate" yourself?People vs. Persons

Should You Become a Special Education Teacher

Should You Become a Special Education Teacher Are you ready for a very demanding, challenging yet very worthwhile and rewarding career? 10 Questions 1. Do you enjoy working with children with special needs? Are you committed to helping those in need achieve their potential?Some of the types of disabilities youll be working with include: learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, mental retardation, emotional disturbance (behavioral, mental FAS etc.), multiple disabilities, hearing impairments, orthopedic impairments, visual impairments, autism (autism spectrum), combined deafness and blindness, traumatic brain injury, and other health impairments. 2. Do you have the required certification? Certification/licenses to qualify you to teach?Special education certification will differ according to educational jurisdiction. North American Qualification 3. Do you have endless patience?I spent many months working with a child with Cerebral Palsy with the main goal being achieving a yes/no response. After months of working on this, it was achieved and she would raise her hand for yes and shake her head for no. These kinds of things are often just taken for granted, this was a very big learning leap for this child and made the world of difference. It took endless patience. 4. Do you enjoy teaching life skills and basic literacy/numeracy?Basic life skills overview here. 5. Are you comfortable doing the ongoing and what seems like endless paperwork required? IEPs, curricular modifications, referrals, progress reports, committee notes, community liaison forms/notes etc. 6. Do you enjoy assistive technology? There are more and more assistive devices available to students with special needs, you will be on a continuous learning curve to learn about the technologies available to students. 7. Are you comfortable with the inclusive model and teaching in a variety of settings? More and more special educators are supporting special needs student within the regular classroom. Sometimes, teaching in special education could mean having a small class of all life skills students or a class with students with autism. In some cases, there will be a variety of setting from small rooms for withdrawal combined with special and the inclusive classroom. 8. Are you able to handle stress?Some special educators burn out easily due to the additional stress levels caused by heavy workloads, administrative tasks and very difficult to handle students. 9. Are you able to develop good working relationships with a wide range of professionals, community service agents, and families? It is important to be empathetic and very understanding when working with the many individuals involved in the students behalf. The key to success is often a direct result of having exceptional relationships at all levels. You need to feel that you have a very strong ability to work as part of a team in a cooperative and collaborative manner. 10. The Bottom Line: You need to feel very strongly about your ability to impact the future of children with disabilities. If your main personal goal is to have a positive impact and to make a positive difference in the lives of children with disabilities this may well be the profession for you. It takes a special teacher to become a special education teacher.

Saguaro National Park Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Saguaro National Park - Research Paper Example The Northern part of the State’s claim to fame is that of the Grand Canyon, the most recognizable Wonder of the World; the White Mountains’ sprawling ranges are peppered with vast stands of Ponderosa Pines, historic Western towns, and ski resorts. Additionally, Monument Valley, which stirs up awe in anyone who crosses it, has appeared in several films; and boating enthusiasts from different parts of the State frequent Arizona’s Lake Powell (Joyce, 2). Moreover, of great significance is Saguaro National Park, formerly Saguaro National Monument, which is the focus of this paper. History of Saguaro National Park Saguaro National Parkis made of 91,327 acres and is made up of two separate sections namely the Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East) and the Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West) (Shannontech.com, 1). The significance of this national park lies in the rich Sonoran Desert’s diversity life found within a framework of prehistoric and historic human occupation (Colostate.edu, 13). Historically, Saguaro has evidently had human habitation for as long as twelve thousand years ago. During that time, the region was much wetter as opposed to the way it presently is. It supported habitation by such animals as the bison, mammoth, among other mammals. The Hohokam people settled in Saguaro roughly 2300 years ago and they had learned to carry out agriculture by 700 AD. For many centuries, these people thrived in the Santa Cruz Valley (where Tucson is presently situated) but in the fifteenth century, they vanished (Shannontech.com, 3). Saguaro national park became a national monument in the year 1933 following a presidential proclamation by Herbert Hoover. It became the first monument reserved to protect a plant species. In 1959, there was need for extra effort to prevent people from exploring the opening part of the park's area for copper. Towards the end of the year 1961, President Kennedy signed a bill that expanded the monument by adding Tucson Mountain district’s 15,360 acres to the monument. Later, twenty-one thousand more acres were added to this district. In October 1994, following a bill signed by President Bill Clinton, Saguaro National Park was established as the United States’ 52nd national park (Shannontech.com, 6 & Uhler, 1). Plants Although Saguaro National Park is situated within a desert, there is a profusion of life. The park has magnificent examples of Sonoran Desert ecosystem that include various desert plants, as well as the renowned saguaro cactus, an American Southwest symbol (Shannontech.com, 1). Braun explains that plants foun d in this park vary from desert vegetation such as cacti, creosote and ocotillo in the lower elevations to Douglas-fir oak, and ponderosa pine in Rincon Mountains’ upper elevations (10). Plants that grow in Saguaro National Park are adapted to drought in such a way that they go dormant to conserve their water in periods of long dry seasons. Many plants seem lifeless during these periods but they are capable of coming to life budding new green leaves soon after a rainfall. For instance, a plant called ocotillo transforms from what was seemingly a handful of lifeless sticks into a sunny shrub with its branches tall and green within only forty-eight hours following a rainfall (Nps.gov, 1). Uhler explains that the saguaro cactus has been portrayed as the king of the Sonoran Desert, as a plant with personality, as the supreme symbol of the American Southwest, and as a prickly horror. It is famous for the variety of odd, with the shapes that it assumes inspiring fanciful and wild i maginings and some assuming all too human shapes. At times, giant saguaro cacti attain a height of 50 feet. These plants are unique to the Sonoran Desert.

Stress and Strain Physics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Stress and Strain Physics - Coursework Example Strain is a measure of any particular change in the shape of an object while stress is a measure of the strength of a particular material. Because of this research problem, we will incorporate the concept of elastic modulus to help understand the problem and address the research question. Elastic modulus is a measure of the amount of the stress required to make a change in the shape of an object (Redman, 2006). The question of research The major research questions that this research seeks to investigate and address are the concepts and the basic terms of stress and strain. The research will also look into various types stress and the mathematical formulae and equations involved in understanding the concepts investigated. Finally this research paper will look into the stress strain curve. This research paper will help us understand the variability and relationship between stress and strain, this will enhance our ability to standardize the equations and the variables involved in the co ncepts of strain and stress. The main objective of this research papers is to shed light on the concepts of strain and stress and to address the relationship between the two terms. The equations and formulae involved are just to help us conceptualize and master the two concepts in addressing our research problem stated in the introduction above. ... On the other hand, strain is a deformation due to a twist of a solid due to the action of stress. This gives the extent to which an object is stretched due to stress. Hence strain in a product of stress or rather stress causes strain. As stated earlier in the introductory part of this research paper, we will look into various types of stress which will be elaborated in the subject of research area. Generally there are three distinct types of stress that results from subjecting an object to stress. If an object is compressed or stretched, that particular object is subjected to what we refer to as a tensile stress. If another object if put under a force a long a whole surface and the volume of the object is altered, then we refer to that particular experience as a bulk stress. Lastly, it acts tangentially to the surface and results into a twist of the object, then we refer to that as a shear stress (Tipler, 1995). As the major objective of this research paper, we are going to investiga te some of the major concepts of stress and strain that will help us as students to understand the two terms. Some of the major concepts that we as students may find challenging when learning about stress and strain include: Deformation of rocks; we often difficult for us to realize that rocks too get broken or bent. It is also challenging to realize the forces responsible for events such as faults and folds. This can be seconded by those who live in areas which are tectonically stable and have never experienced any such thing as tremors. If we have to understand the basic terms of strain and stress, we must therefore rise above this barrier because it will not be easy to understand the conditions and causes of deformation if we cannot comprehend the word deformation itself.

Tilting Trains Essay Example for Free

Tilting Trains Essay The technology involved in TILTING TRAIN is that when ever the trains pass over the curves and turnings of the railway tracks the compartments of the train is tilted to a certain angle by which the trains can travel with no reduction in speed. By adopting this technology of TILTING TRAINS the fuel consumed by the trains can be saved ,the passengers can feel comfort and also time can be saved. CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Problem with corners 3. What is tilting train? 4. Why tilting helps? 5. How do trains tilt? 6. Problems associated in tilting the track 7. Passenger comfort ness 8. Countries who developed the tilting technology 9. Advantages and Disadvantages of tilting trains 10. Summary 11. Bibliography INTRODUCTION Train is a mass transporter, which transports humans and goods from one place to another place. We have trains, which run by diesel and electricity. Among goods and passenger trains the most concerned one is passenger trains. The passenger train should move quickly with high speeds. The rail road will not be always straight it should pass through curves and turns. We all know that if you are driving in your car and you take a turning at speed you feel centrifugal forces. Well it is no different from trains, if a train takes a turning at speeds centrifugal forces will be experienced. The major problem for any trains is to pass over the curves and turns of the railroads. If the train moves with the same speed at the curves and turns the train may slip from the track, so the speed of the train will be slowdown drastically to avoid slip. This results in wastage of fuel and in turn reduces the speed of the train, which is main consideration for the passenger trains. One of the solution found to avoid this situation is the tilting trains. PROBLEMS WITH CORNERS We all know that if your driving in your car and you take a corner at speed you feel centrifugal forces. Well it is no different from trains; if a train takes a corner at speed then centrifugal forces come in. Often train operating companies face a decision for building a high speed railway transport system hey can either invest money in the train to make it tilt but use existing railway lines, or they invest money in a new railway but dont need to spend money on expensive tilting mechanisms. This is why TGV, and ICE and bullet trains do not tilt, because they have their own dedicated high speed railway lines where curves are built with very high radii. It is worth pointing out that the centrifugal force is a function of v2/r where v is the velocity and r is the radius. This means if you double the velocity, you quadruple the centrifugal force. Similarly, if you want to triple the velocity but keep the centrifugal force the same, you must increase the radius by a factor of nine! Something not always possible. This is why even apparently gentle curves can be much more of a problem with high speeds than one might thing, because the force rises with the square of velocity. WHAT IS TILTING TRAIN ? Tilting train consists of a tilting mechanism that enables increased speed on regular tracks. In the upper part of the tilting trains that is in which the passengers are seated can be tilted sideways. During the motion of the train if the train has to steer to left in a left turning the coaches of the train will be tilted to the left in order to compensate the centrifugal push to the right and conversely during the right turn. These trains are constructed such that inertial forces which cause the tilting can be controlled by a computer. If the trains travel at speeds more than the specified speeds at the turnings of the railway tracks their will be centrifugal forces acting on the train. Due to these centrifugal forces the train may slip and push out of the tracks. But in case of tilting trains which will not happen, because of the reason that centrifugal forces will be compensated by tilting mechanism. WHY TILTING HELPS? When sitting on a corner going at speed there are two forces acting on you, gravitational force and the centrifugal force which is accelerating you into the corner. In physics when two forces act, then this causes a resultant force. The resultant force will push you into your seat and to the side. However if the train is tilting, then the normal contact force of you on your seat will be the same as the resultant force you are experiencing. This means as far as the passenger is concerned he or she is just being pulled into his or her seat, and he or she is used to that so no discomfort is felt. This is true also of aero planes, commercial planes tilt a large amount, up to 30 degrees when going around corners in some cases to cater for passenger comfort. As the tilting of the aero plane is to get rid of the problem of centrifugal forces, or more accurately to disguised the centrifugal forces as a part of gravity as far as the passengers are concerned. The only way you know if the aero plane is tilting is to look out of the window. Trains that tilt can go up to 25% to 40% faster around curves than conventional trains without upsetting the passengers, and as mentioned before this can significantly increase average speeds and cut journey times. HOW DO TRAINS TILT? Carriages have tilting mechanisms. Obviously the bogies cannot tilt because they ride on the track and must follow the path of the track. So the coaches have to tilt on the bogies. The way they do this is simple, the bogie acts a fulcrum in the center and it is free to tilt either side. Then pistons control how much the coach tilts. The pistons are controlled by a small computer, which uses a spirit level. The spirit level is used to check if things are horizontal remember, i. e. at right angles to the resultant force acting. Normally this force is gravity, but when going round a corner the resultant is a combination of gravity and centrifugal forces. This means the spirit level indicates it is no longer horizontal, so the computer adjusts the pistons until horizontal is read. Again this will not be horizontal to the ground, but as far as anyone on the train is concerned it will be horizontal, keeping the passengers happy. In the early days they tried to use inertial force to let the trains tilt†¦ i. e. hey would have no mechanism to make them tilt but the carriages would have a low center of gravity so centrifugal forces on the carriage would cause them to tilt. This proved unsuccessful. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED IN TILTING THE TRACK Well on high speed lines the track in the UK is heavily banked up on corners, although going in a high speed train you dont notice it at all. Occasionally when a high speed train in the UK comes to a stop because of a red signal or something on a curve you can really notice how much its slanted, on a stop on a curve put a bottle on the floor and will slide across to the other side. However there are limitations with tilting tracks, first of all the banking has to be designed with a specific speed in mind. A banked up track meant for 125mph trains is going to cause discomfort to passengers in a local 75mph train, as when a slower train goes round a banked corner it will make passengers feel like they are falling to a side. Of course you could build dedicated high speed lines, but then you would engineer them without tight curves. This limits the extent to which tracks can be banked up. If the rack is banked too much for really fast trains, then if any train comes to a stop on the curve due to a red signal the slant will cause discomfort to passengers. Also arranging for the overhead pantrograph to make proper contact with a wire above a banked curve is a little tricky. Clearly trains themselves need to tilt, then you get the double benefit of tilted track and tilting train, and the train can tilt to exactly suit the speed it is going at. PASSENGER COMFORTNESS On e might think it is not safe to push a train round a corner at high speed. Indeed that is true. However the crucial thing is that the speed at which it becomes unsafe, i. . the speed at which there is enough force to push the train off the track is incredibly high. In fact the force needed would be enough so that all passengers on the train couldnt move and would be stuck to the sides of the train. This implies that there is scope for increasing the speed of a train round corners a great deal without it becoming unsafe, however passengers will object. There are two reasons why it is bad for passengers. I have been on a late running Inter City 125 and it took a corner at some speed although only about 90mph and the corner wasnt tight enough to say see the train at the other end by looking out of the window. The corner wasnt tight enough to notice turning either. However you could feel the forces definitely, and empty cups rolled across tables, bags creaked and I felt pushed against the wall. Any faster and it would be extremely uncomfortable for passengers and they would rather the train slowed down and take a little longer. Also companies dont like to run trains at speed round corners because it upsets passengers, as when exposed to turning forces they may become worried the train is going to fly off the tracks (which incidentally has never happened). This might make people nervous about traveling on high speed trains. The reason no one is ever nervous about traveling at nearly 200mph on a train is because it is smooth and constant. If it was doing corners at these speeds people wouldnt like it. People get freaked out doing 50mph on a roller coaster which involves tight curves, imagine how they feel when serious speed is involved! Its all down to the forces a passenger feels, if a passenger feels a lot of strong forces then he or she is going to be nervous, and may avoid traveling on the train, or just choose a slow train. COUNTRIES WHO DEVELOPED THE TILTING TECHNOLOGY Britain The UK was interested in developing the advanced passenger train for quite a while France The development of the tilting train in France began in 1956 when eng. Mauzin built and experimented a single car unit that used inertial (non-assisted) tilting. This experiment were suspended because a natural tilting proved too difficult to accomplish. France preferred to built a vast network of high speed lines and the development of TGV started in the early seventies with a two-car modified turbo train. Today GEC-Alsthom has decided to start the development of a tilting TGV that has been delivered few weeks ago for testing and trials. Spain With the ETR-401 Fiat delivered in 1976 a wide-gauge version to Spain that was designated Tren Basculante (RENFE Type 443). However like its Italian sibling it remained a single vehicle. Later Spain developed a tilting version of its own Talgo train (talgo pendular) that so far has proved itself the only successful example of natural tilting and has met with a huge success. USA/Canada The first experiments were carried over in the thirties with non-powered cars (called pendulum), but the first successful tilting train in the USA was the Sikorsky Turbo Train which incorporated an inertial tilting mechanism. Later, in 1973 Amtrak tested an active tilting train called LRC (Light Rapid Comfortable) made of ten cars, that unfortunately had no success. Today Amtrak is trying again with the American Flyer built by Bombardier using some TGV-derived technologies. Sweden ABB developed in the early seventies an active tilting mechanism that was alternative to the Italian and British ones. This was tested in the X15 vehicle and implemented in the X2000 series train that so far has had a good success. One curious feature of this trains is that the tilting mechanism is applied only to the passengers cars and not to the driving motor units. Switzerland As a part of the IC-2000 project the Swiss railways are developing a tilting train that has the provisional designation ICN-2000 and will be built by SIG. Germany Germany has adopted tilting technology on its 610 and 611 class series EMU and will built the ICT for long-range intercity services ADVANTAGES 1. Fuel consumed by the trains can be minimized. 2. Speed of the trains can be maintained constant and hence time to reach the destination is minimized 3. Their will be Comfort ness for the passengers. DISADVANTAGES 1. Very costly to manufacture these kind of trains. . If the coaches do not tilt then it is dangerous. SUMMARY While the Very high speed trains like the TGV could be regarded as the Rolls Royce of trains, tilting trains could be thought of as the cheep and cheerful mini metro. The price differential is fairly similar too, it costs about 20 times more per unit distance to build a dedicated high speed line than it does to upgrade existing lines for tilting train s. This is what makes tilting trains extremely attractive. However there are disadvantages. 140mph or 230km/h is about as fast as trains go when not on dedicated lines. And then they have to be fitted in with slower moving traffic. With rail travel growing all over Europe, the problems of railways reaching saturation point has forced new lines to be build. This is why despite the success of the Italian Pendolini a new high speed line with 300 km/h trains is being built, because existing lines are at saturation. BIBILOGRAPHY Theory of machines KHURMI . R. S Railway Engineering PROFILLDIS . V. A www. goggle search. com TILTING TRAINS [pic] TILTING OF TRAINS WHILE TAKING RIGHT TURN IN THE TRACKS [pic] TILTING OF TRAINS WHILE TAKING RIGHT TURN IN THE TRACKS

The Oppression of Women Drives The AIDS Epidemic in Africa :: Disease AIDS Essays Africa Women

The Oppression of Women Drives The AIDS Epidemic in Africa Africa is facing a devastating crisis with respect to the AIDS epidemic, currently accounting for over 70% of the world's HIV-positive population. There are, of course, many factors that drive the explosive transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, but in the tangled web that is the epidemic in Africa, many of these issues share a common thread. The oppression of women in Africa can be considered the virus' cultural vector. Females are rendered powerless in African societies, and existing gender inequalities are largely responsible for the spread of the disease. Females' disadvantaged position in society is intrinsically linked to the subordination of women in their relationships with men. In order for progress to be made, an examination of gender relations and empowerment for women must take place. To be successful, AIDS campaigns must be built on the existing organizational skills of women, but must incorporate men as well. The blatantly skewed distribution of power in Afri can patriarchal societies makes women extremely vulnerable but has dangerous implications for all. To examine the forces that steer the epidemic down its course, the epidemiology of HIV and AIDS in Africa must first be considered. More than 80% of all HIV infections in Africa are acquired through heterosexual contact. This statistic is grossly out of balance with the 13% rate of infection through heterosexual contact in the United States. Vertical transmission from mother to child is the second most common route for the virus to take in Africa (Essex et al., 158). These rates are generally much higher than in the United States and Europe, where the use of a drug called neviropine has drastically reduced mother-to-child transmission. This disparity is a direct result of differences in the nations' wealth. African nations simply cannot afford to provide the drug to infected pregnant women. The continued transmission of HIV through contaminated blood during processes such as blood transfusions is another dismal consequence of poverty and inferior health services in many African count ries. This method accounts for the third most important mode of transmission, one that has been virtually eradicated in many countries because the technology is available to prevent it (Essex et al., 159). Part of what makes the situation in Africa so devastating is that the primary roads the virus travels in Africa were shut down long ago in other countries. Much of the world's population already takes many of the roadblocks for granted.

A Research on Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Academic Performance

Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of high school students who consume alcohol. Based on a study conducted by Harvard School of Public Health (1999), 44% of the students studied consumed alcohol and 23% consumed alcohol frequently.Alcohol consumers are likely to be involved in some alcohol related problems such as violence, car accidents, being injured and likelihood of losing responsibility in school performance. (Pullen, 1994). Alcohol consumption can lead to reduced class attendance, poor performance on tests and projects and inability to concentrate on the class work. The research paper therefore would like to find out whether alcohol consumption among high school students has an effect on academic performance.AbstractThis paper discusses the effects of alcohol consumption on academic performance among high school students. The paper aims at finding whether those students who consume alcohol perform better than the students who do not consume alcoho l and vice versa.Literature reviewAlcohol consumption is among the unhealthy behavior among the high school students that may affect their academic performance. Alcohol consumption is associated with behavioral problems such as poor academic performance.Many researches have been conducted to show the effects of alcohol consumption on academic performance among high school students. (Pullen, 1994).  There are no controlled studies on the effects of alcohol on academic performance. This is because it is illegal to provide alcohol to minors. Research done on adults revealed that alcohol consumption disrupts learning on adults and their ability to remember. However, the effects may be for a short period of time and their severity depends on the frequency of the drinking and the amount of alcohol consumed. (Pullen, 1994).In addition the few correlation studies that have been conducted to find out the relationship between alcohol consumption and academic performance among the high schoo l students has produced results that are inconsistent. (Pullen, 1994).On one side of a   national survey conducted, it revealed that heavy alcohol drinkers had a high likelihood of missing classes, having reduced responsibility on class work and also having poor performance on the tests done and the class projects than non heavy drinkers of alcohol. Other surveys have also revealed that alcohol consumption led to reduced grades in the class work as the students committed few hours on the class. (Pullen, 1994).On the other hand of the survey which was conducted between 3 different learning institutions, they produced varying results. Two of these studies credited that alcohol consumption and academic performance was as a result of differences among the students.There was a strong correlation of 0.32 of students who involved in alcohol consumption and the subsequent academic performance among the 444 in mid western University. However, this correlation was not significant when contr olling for school rank, academic aptitude and other variables. (Pullen, 1994).In the second study, it was revealed that the students involved themselves in heavy drinking but this did not affect the school performance. Centrally, the third study found a negative association between alcohol consumption and poor academic performance among the 754 students in the North Eastern liberal college.TheoryTo show the effects of alcohol consumption on academic performance Grossman model will be employed. This model shows that those individuals who invest less in their early lives’ health will not be productive and will be less successful than those who invest more in their health lives early in their lives. (Pullen, 1994).Basing this prediction to our study, it could therefore be assumed that those people who consume less alcohol in their early lives will be more productive academically than those people who consume a lot of alcohol in their early lives. It would be easy to assume that alcohol consumption reduces the student’s health on a long term basis.A lot of time is lost I alcohol consumption that the students only place less time in their academic work. These short term effects of alcohol could lead to poor academic performance, poor health and disruptive social behavior. (Pullen, 1994).It can therefore be concluded that alcohol has negative effects on academic performance. Students who consume alcohol in the evening have high chances of missing classes, spend little time studying, have poor academic grades and are most likely to experience education related stress. (Pullen, 1994).MethodParticipantsThe study will consist 120 students from the high schools in New Orleans. The rank of the students varied from those in the first years to the senior students in the school. The ages of the students ranged between 14 to 20 years. Both male and female students were included in the study. ProcedureThe study is no experimental in that it uses the correlation d esign to study the academic performance of the students’ inn relation to alcohol consumption.The students will sign up for the study or they will be recruited by the researcher when they attend meetings for the various students groups in the schools with the consent of their teachers. Because of issues of privacy, the students will not be required to sign the consent sheet.The students also will place the filled questionnaires in envelopes that are unmarked and the researcher will debrief them. The questions from the questionnaires will be coded and then analyzed to find out whether there is any relationship between alcohol consumption and academic performance.

“Eating green” by Margaret Lundberg Essay

In Margaret Lundberg’s short story â€Å"Eating green† she has a theory about the planet becoming a healthier place to live if everyone became a vegetarian, which I believe is true. Lundberg talks about her childhood and how right off the bat her mother had her eating healthy food and that pretty much stuck with her through out her whole life. â€Å"We had two vegetables with every meal, ate plain yogurt for breakfast, and excercised with jack LaLanne.† If most families started off like that it would be easier for kids to enjoy eating healthier food now instead of them liking junk food. Most people do not realize that what they eat does effect the planet and how we live on a daily basis and how badly it effects our health. If everyone became a vegetarian the rates of obsesity, diabetes, heart disease and other illness might become lower. The process of getting meat is causing some severe problems on earth such as pollution, global warming, and the dependence on f ossil fuels. â€Å"The energy it takes to raise, package, transport, store and prepare food is not the single largest contributor to global warming.† (Kate Geagan) If all those problems could be solved by switching some of the things we eat, why not do it? It would definitely be hard and a cultural shock to Americans but if it can help our future loved ones I would be with it. The meat that is produced is not how it once use to be. Cows do not live their lives on Pastured lands eating grass anymore they are now fed a diet that is not intended for them; fed corn in a short time as possible to speed up the process of being slaughtered and sold. That doesn’t sound so healthy or appetizing after reading those facts. â€Å"Livestock raised for meat production are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions-more than the cars we drive.† Not only is it Some what unhealthy for us to eat but for the world we live in also. Meat all together is not competely horrible for you it’s the portions we eat. Meat has nutritional value and even the fat in meat are sometimes healthy. The stearic acid found in fat in meat can actually lower blood cholesterol levels. With the pros there’s the cons as well, â€Å"Americans are now eating nearly 200 pounds of meat, poultry and fish every year; an increase of 50 pounds per person in the last 50 years† ( Lumdberg) some very high numbers for what the appropriate amount should actually be. Farmers do not want to be looked at as the bad guys in all of this, which they aren’t, everyone has to make a living. A group of New York farmers thought of an idea to work with General Electric to produce  renewable energy from cow manure. That is a pretty good idea to try and atleast get something good out of the slaughtering of the cows to try and help the planet Earth out. If successful the dairy industry would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent in 2020, basically the equivalent of getting 1.25 million passenger cars of the road every year. That is a good idea but it still does not solve all the other major problems that switching your diet could help. In conclusion, I personally feel that it will not hurt to try something new. Like I mentioned earlier it would be extremely difficult to get used to but if it is benefiting you, others and the planet might as well take a chance. Why wait till it is to late to change your habits of wanting a 16 oz steak over a green salad knowing how many pros it would be to choose that salad. If things continue to go as they do, there will be no more places to raise these cows to produce meat because global temperatures are raising, causing serious climate changes In places that are specifically used for farming. Eventually there will not be enough meat to feed everyone leaving everyone to forcefully change their diets, why not do is a choice and not because you have no other options.

Free Essays on More Than Base Ball

he loves to pitch so that the batter doesn’t know what he is throwing. â€Å"His technique how to vary the avoidance,† (L4) is saying that he has to pitch different pitches that will keep the batter from making contact with the ball. In lines five and six Francis writes, â€Å"The others throw to be comprehended. He throws to be a moment misunderstood.† By that, he is talking about the other players on the field. They throw simply to another player, not strategically throwing the ball to make a batter a moment off guard. In the next two lines of the poem, Francis uses connotation and alliteration. â€Å"Yet not too much, Not errant, arrant, wild, But every seeming aberration willed.† (L7-8) The use of errant and arrant is both connotation and alliteration. Connotation is the significance of a word in addition to its actual meaning. T... Free Essays on More Than Base Ball Free Essays on More Than Base Ball More Than Baseball Pitchers and poets all have the same goal; to be eccentric, avoid the obvious, to be a moment misunderstood, and no to be errant, arrant, or wild. Robert Francis’ poem, â€Å"The Pitcher,† (653) uses these words to describe a baseball pitcher. Not only is he describing a pitcher, he is describing the criteria of writing a poem. This poem was published in 1953 during baseball’s peak in popularity and back when the game was still innocent. Francis’ use of the paradox in â€Å"The Pitcher,† seizes this normal poem about a baseball position and coverts it into something much more unique. This poem describes the pitcher in all of its lines. In the first four lines, Francis reveals the pitchers art, aim, passion, and technique. â€Å"His art is to be eccentric† (L1), which means that his art is to be odd or to act different. â€Å"His aim is to not hit the mark he seems to aim at,† (L2) meaning that he is aiming at the strike zone, but throwing where the batter will miss the ball. â€Å"His passion is to avoid the obvious,† (L3) in other words he loves to pitch so that the batter doesn’t know what he is throwing. â€Å"His technique how to vary the avoidance,† (L4) is saying that he has to pitch different pitches that will keep the batter from making contact with the ball. In lines five and six Francis writes, â€Å"The others throw to be comprehended. He throws to be a moment misunderstood.† By that, he is talking about the other players on the field. They throw simply to another player, not strategically throwing the ball to make a batter a moment off guard. In the next two lines of the poem, Francis uses connotation and alliteration. â€Å"Yet not too much, Not errant, arrant, wild, But every seeming aberration willed.† (L7-8) The use of errant and arrant is both connotation and alliteration. Connotation is the significance of a word in addition to its actual meaning. T...

Society of United Irishmen

Society of United Irishmen The Society of United Irishmen was a radical nationalist group founded by Theobald Wolfe Tone in October 1791 in Belfast, Ireland. The groups original purpose was to achieve profound political reform in Ireland, which was under the domination of Britain. Tones position was that various religious factions of Irish society had to unite, and political rights for the Catholic majority would have to be secured. To that end, he sought to bring together elements of society which ranged from prosperous Protestants to impoverished Catholics. When the British sought to suppress the organization, it transformed into a secret society which essentially became an underground army. The United Irishmen hoped to gain French aid in liberating Ireland, and planned an open revolt against the British in 1798. The Rebellion of 1798 failed for a number of reasons, which included the arrest of United Irishmen leaders early in that year. With the rebellion crushed, the organization essentially dissolved. However, its actions and the writings of its leaders, particularly Tone, would inspire future generations of Irish nationalists. Origins of the United Irishmen The organization which would play such a large part in Ireland of the 1790s began modestly as the brainchild of Tone, a Dublin lawyer and political thinker. He had written pamphlets espousing his ideas for securing the rights of Irelands oppressed Catholics. Tone had been inspired by the American Revolution as well as the French Revolution. And he believed reform based on political and religious liberty would bring about reform in Ireland, which was suffering under a corrupt Protestant ruling class and a British government which supported the oppression of the Irish people. A series of law had long restricted the Catholic majority of Ireland. And Tone, though a Protestant himself, was sympathetic to the cause of Catholic emancipation. In August 1791 Tone published an influential pamphlet setting forth his ideas. And in October 1791 Tone, in Belfast, organized a meeting and the Society of United Irishmen was founded. A Dublin branch was organized a month later. Evolution of the United Irishmen Though the organization seemed to be little more than a debating society, the ideas coming out of its meetings and pamphlets began to seem quite dangerous to the British government. As the organization spread into the countryside, and both Protestants and Catholics joined, the United Men, as they were often known, appeared to be a serious threat. In 1794 the British authorities declared the organization illegal. Some members were charged with treason, and Tone fled to America, settling for a time in Philadelphia. He soon sailed to France, and from there the United Irishmen began seeking French help for an invasion which would liberate Ireland. The Rebellion of 1798 After an attempt to invade Ireland by the French failed in December 1796, due to bad sailing weather, a plan was eventually made to spark a rebellion across Ireland in May 1798. By the time for the uprising came, many leaders of the United Irishmen, including Lord Edward Fitzgerald, had been arrested. The rebellion was launched in late May 1798 and failed within weeks from lack of leadership, lack of proper weapons, and a general inability to coordinate attacks on the British. The rebel fighters were mostly routed or slaughtered. The French made several attempts to invade Ireland later in 1798, all of which failed. During one such action Tone was captured while aboard a French warship. He was tried for treason by the British, and took his own life while awaiting execution. Peace was eventually restored throughout Ireland. And the Society of United Irishmen, essentially ceased to exist. However, the legacy of the group would prove strong, and later generations of Irish nationalists would take inspiration from its ideas and actions.

Determination of Proteins Using Biuret and Lowry Assay Techniques Essay

Determination of Proteins Using Biuret and Lowry Assay Techniques - Essay Example Protein assay is critical in the analysis of agricultural, industrial and biotechnological products. As argued by Bama et al. (2010), it is also important for research especially in analysis of enzymes, lectins and antibodies. This paper covers two kinds of assays used in quantitating total proteins. These includes the biuret and lowry techniques. Biuret assay, which is the least sensitive assay is among the coulometric methods (Quereshi et al. 2010). It is mostly used due to its simplicity and less susceptibility to chemical interference. The assay is dependent on polypeptide chelation of cupric iron in strong alkali. According to Mizuta et al. (2005), most biuret assays are used in samples containing 1 to 10mg protein/ml, which is then diluted five-fold by other reagents to form deep purple color. On the other hand, the Lowry method is a colorimetric assay that is based on folin-ciocalteau reagent and cupric ions of phenolic groups (Muyonga, Cole & Duodu, 2004). It is a popular pro tein estimation procedure even though highly susceptible to discerning compounds that interfere and distort solubility of insoluble proteins. The assay starts with copper ion complex that has peptide bonds, which are stabilized by tartrate in alkaline environment popular known as biuret chromophore. Gornall, Bardawill and David (1949) pointed out that biuret reaction is reduced under alkaline conditions of folin-ciocalteu reagent. Copper ions are used to enhance the reduction process. However, the principle chromogenic groups consist of the peptide linkages that reduced blue molybdotungstates, which catalyses polar amino acids, tyrosine and tryptophan. Nonetheless, the sensitivity of this test is based on protein composition and products of chemicals reaction resulting to the heteropolymolybdenum blue solution after being in absorbance condition of approximately 750nm, a wavelength that is out of range of many interfering colors (Layne, 1957). In these two experiments, the basic law of light absorption, popularly knows as Beer-Lambert law is used to explain the linear relationship between protein (collagen) concentration and absorbance (Cliche, Amiot & Avezard, 2003). The yield of collagen is calculated using the following lines equation: Y=(VxC)/ W Where; Yis the yield of collagen in mg/g Vis the volume of collagen solution in ml C is the concentration of the derived solution in mg/ml Wis the lyophilized weight in g Materials used: 1. Protein sample of unknown concentration 2. Standard BSA 3. Distilled water 4. Lowry reagent 5. Test tubes 6. Label 7. Test tube rack 8. Pipettes 9. Pipette bulb 10. Vortex mixer 11. Spectrophotometer 12. Cuvettes 13. Gelatin : 100Â µg cm-3 14. Globulin: 100Â µg cm-3 15. albumin: 200Â µg cm-3 Methods Lowry Technique: Procedure: 1. Prepare samples with up to 100 ?g of protein 2. Label the 9 test tubes as (1 to 10) and place them in a test tube rack. 3. Add water as provided in the instructions. 4. Prepare diluted Folin-Ciocalte u reagent and the Assay Mix. 5. Add 0.5cm3 of the protein solution to tubes (2 to 10). 6. Add gelatin solution to tube 7 and 8 only. 7. Then add 2.5cm3 of solution D to each tube and mix well and leave the mixture at room temperature for approximately 10 minutes.

Origin and Development of Pop Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Origin and Development of Pop Art - Essay Example Before the movement, people never thought that art was something that anyone could do. The movement, therefore, brought about a revolution in the West and the western culture went pop crazy within a few years. This work gave birth to realism in pop art. Hamilton developed his art from commercial art sources. This was a time when the influences of advertising and mass communication was setting an important stage in America there were numerous television stations and newspapers that were being published daily. In addition, movies and plays theatres were open at any hour of the day or night, and this served to encourage artists during the 1950s. Besides the visual arts, the Pop Art movement, from 1960s incorporated pop music, mainly rock and roll music. The initiation of this era was a result of the attempt of the US artists to borrow from blues to create a musical style that was impressive to the new movement and its related generation. In the 60s and 70s, the Pop Art development was faced by opposition from the community who found the rebellion of the teenagers as negative to the social structures. However, the gains by the music entrepreneurs and the artists’ promoters made the movement even more strong to the extent that it became relatively acceptable. However, it was still associated with the young and revolt generation that was out to gain independence from the family. This is due to the complete originality and freedom of innovation that has characterized the culture.

Autoimmunity and risk of cancet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Autoimmunity and risk of cancet - Essay Example Discussion Stimulation of T-cell leads to maintained survival of T-cells when stimulated by self-protein MHC. Lymphoproliteration results if T-cell homeostasis is altered. Moreover, in certain circumstances, an interaction between activated T-cells and B-cells (e.g CD40L-CD40 interaction) may lead to autoimmunity (Rose & Mackay, 2006). Sometimes, the presence of self-antigen may become the cause of stimulation of T-cells; this activation is tolerated by phenomenon like anergy or deletion (Mak & Saunders, 2006). It therefore follows that failure to achieve deletion in this scenario may cause an autoimmune process to flourish. Moreover, defectively matured dendritic cells might interact with T-cells to generate a class to T-cells that are directed against self-antigens. Upon infection by a foreign pathogen, T-cells are activated and various clones are generated. Some of these clones can possibly cross-react with self-antigens resulting in transient or permanent autoimmunity (Ohashi, 20 02). In normal cells, the process of production of cells is tightly regulated by a number of very important mechanisms. Moreover, the new cells which are produced become differentiated and specialized to perform the function for which they are produced (Sherwood, 2012). This controlled multiplication of cells when becomes defective leads to the production of cells which are uncontrolled; cells start producing in an uncontrollable fashion. Therefore, due to this type of defective mitotic process, the cells that are produced are 'de-differentiated' and unable to perform their desired function. This results in a neoplasm. Neoplastic tissue demonstrates a growth rate that exceeds the growth rate of normal healthy tissue of the body (Stubblefield & O'Dell, 2009). For this reason, it manifests as a mass which is often referred to as a tumor. Since cancerous cells are not the exact replicas of the normal healthy cells of the body, they fail to mask themselves from the functioning immune sy stem of the body (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010). Certain signals are 'flagged' on the cell membrane of cancerous cells that invite cells of the immune system to target such cells; therefore in most cases they are destroyed prior to the formation of their clone; cancerous cells are monoclonal in origin (Tobias et al, 2010). Inflammation brings about a number of changes to the vascular and epithelial tissues. Moreover, it affects the function of immune cells. This is the result of a complex interplay of molecules like cytokines, growth factors and chemokines (Jabbour et al, 2009). Furthermore, chronic inflammation due to irritation or infection has been accepted as a cause of cancer. Persistence of inflammation has been related to tumorigenesis and progression of cancer (Coussens & Werb, 2002). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a vital role in mediating inflammation by causing tissue destruction as well as recovery. The actions of TNF result in fibroblast growth which can destroy blood ve ssels and at the same time contribute to angiogenesis (Kollias et al, 1999). As far as the etiology of cervical cancer is concerned, the causative organism has been identified to be Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Studies have shown that E6 and E7 oncogenes are incorporated into the genome of the host (Radosevich, 2012; Robertson, 2011; Stanley et al,

Philosophy Essays Platonic Epistemology Socratic

Philosophy Essays Platonic Epistemology Socratic Platonic epistemology seeks answers to key questions regarding the nature of reality, man, mind/soul, knowledge, being and becoming. The nature of this paper allows only the broadest brush strokes across the Platonic canvas. However following a brief introduction in which I will discuss the Socratic method and its influence on Platonic philosophy. Plato like his predecessor and mentor Socrates, aimed to identify the world around him using a more in depth methodology, from others that had been employed previously. The more Humanistic nature of Socratic enquiry was in marked contrast to the pre Socratic Naturalist approach. In The Republic Plato sets about an examination of specific concepts presented as a serious of dialogues or in a dialectic style. Through various metaphors and dialectic prose Plato delineates theories of reality (including the world of forms and being), the doctrine of Recollection, the roles of dialectic and aporia, and the tripartite structure theories of man and state. Benjamin Jowett in his edition of The Republic suggests the greater aim of Platos work is the â€Å"search after justice† embodying the fields of reality, man and knowledge discussed â€Å"On the basis of proverbial morality by Socrates and Polemarchus then caricatured by Thrasymachus reduced to an abstraction by Glaucon and Adeimantus† all based on the constructs of man and state as delineated by Socrates Influenced by his mentor Socrates and other Greek thinkers mentioned by Jowett. Platos work is still applicable today in a priori philosophies; Idealists concepts such as the tripartite nature of Man and State would have remarkable relevance in modern political theories including Utilitarianism and Communisms. Andrew Levine in his book Engaging Political Philosophy postulates: â€Å"Rousseaus investigation in The Social Contract was the realm of Platonic ideas or forms in contrast to the world of appearances, where de facto legitimate states exists† Any discussion on Platonic epistemology must inevitably weigh the influence of the Socratic school. Platos Socrates is the key to understanding the complexity of Platos thought. Socratic contrarianism and its methodology of aporia, a sort of constant intellectual [foundational] doubting, left Socrates free to claim that he was the wisest of men and was at the same time ‘wise in no way great or small. Platos later theories and epistemology would develop with Socrates almost rebellious dialectical style, questioning the accepted traditional beliefs of Greek intellectual society. (The historic Socrates stood trial and was sentenced to death for preaching his philosophy publicly; he refused to discontinue the practise) Platos adoption of Socratic contrarianism pervades much of his writings, especially in concepts as fundamentally abstract as his denial of knowledge through empirical observation; As witnessed in the Theaetetus when the Socratic midwife prepares to assist the young Theaetetus with his labours while delivering a reply to Socrates question â€Å"what is knowledge.† When questioned Theaetetus equates knowledge with perception, after intense dialectical questioning, during which Socrates successfully refutes arguments that perception is (biconditional) knowledge Theaetetus finally agrees, (with restrictions) that perception is not knowledge. So commences the search for an answer to the question Socrates asks, â€Å" what is knowledge?† Plato rejected all empirical claims to understand the true nature of knowledge â€Å" Knowledge is not constituted by sense impressions, but by the inferences we make about them, by that means being and truth are attainable, in the other way it is impossible† In the Theaetetus Plato demonstrates the concept of being as â€Å"fundamental and universal† Socrates points to the specialization of bodily sense organs. If we ask which organs enable us to formulate opinions or judgements that range across more than one field of sense-experience, we cannot identify such a grouping. â€Å"the things you perceive by means of another for example, that objects of hearing can not be objects of the seeing and vice versa?† The possession of mathematical knowledge or the ability to formulate judgements does not reside in some empirical â€Å" Sorting office†, Socrates states in the Meno, â€Å"Then knowledge is related to what is and knows what is and is as it is. The objects of mind are eternal; those of the senses always changing. Knowledge never changes; opinion, which is not tied down, is subject to change.† It now seems clear that what the mind knows is being, that which is eternal and unchanging, while the senses inform us concerning the â€Å"intermediate flux† The realm of being is comprised of ideas or forms and that of becoming by changing things. â€Å"Aporia and refutative cross examination serve to purify ambiguous formulation by excluding false and misleading interpretations and opening the path to true ones† reflects Rosemary Desjardins, in Logos in Platos Theatetus. Platos dialogues may indeed be aporetic but by subjecting both his interlocutors and readers to elenchus and meiutic method he hopes to lead from gross perceptibility to finer cognition. The relentless inquisitiveness of the Socratic method in conjunction with aporia lends to a degree of abstraction in the nature of Platos philosophy (referred to in Jowetts introduction to The Republic) evidenced by the allegory of the cave, the doctrine of recollection, the nature of reality, the concept of the divided line, and the theory of forms. The allegory of the cave allowed Plato to postulate several ideas archetypal of Platonic philosophy. The allegory of the cave describes the limit placed on mankind, by an over reliance on sensory perception, and the subsequent systems of knowledge that relied on empirical evidence alone to deduct truths. For Plato, the resultant effect of mans self-shackling (empirical observation) is described in Book VII of The Republic. Plato views mankind as: â€Å"living in a underground [den] which has its mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the den; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and neck chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads† Plato does not give a finite explanation of enlightenments form nor does he give an example of reality, what he demonstrates in the allegory of the cave is a clear method or path, that man and society must pursue to achieve deeper knowledge of reality. Like the prisoners emergence from the cave, enlightenment at first will be difficult to understand, like the temporary blindness they suffer when first exposed to sunlight, its an arduous path that takes time, patience, temperance and practice, with the temptation for a return to former ignorance always present. Ignorance when lifted will deliver us into the Real world of philosophy with man finally comprehending his own place on the path to true knowledge. Plato delineates this movement with mathematics through the image of a straight line. He divides this imaginary line into two unequal segments, the large segment represents the intelligible world, and the smaller the visible world. He further divides these segments in the same ratio as his first division. The division in the larger segment represents the world of higher and lower forms (ideas). The division in the visible world represent visible objects and the lowest segment represents their shadows and reflections (imagination). For Plato the line represents the levels of cognition available to man and society. Socrates avowed mission was to educate the Athenian populace up until the last days of his life. He likened his mission to that of a gadfly, ‘stinging the lethargic Athenian horse into wakefulness through the application of philosophical dialectic (Socratic method) Plato believed if entered into in good faith, this method would ensure a cognitive assent along the divided line. He believed until individuals and society, collectively questioned the political, ethical, and moral status quo, conciousness would remain in bondage much like the prisoners restricted mechanical life in the cave. Answering his critics regarding the phenomenon of knowledge Plato states that the soul is immortal â€Å" the soul, since it is immortal, and has been born many times, and seen all things both here and in the other world, has learned every thing that is† Plato offers proof of the souls immortality, in the Phaedrus he postulates that its the nature of the soul to initiate its own changes, in effect to be self moving, rather than moved by an outside agency. Therefore the soul cannot be destroyed nor can it come into being. ‘It was not, nor will be, but always is, one whole continuum. (Parmenides.) To contemporary ears the Platonic soul bears great similarities to the Christian Soul unlike his Doctrine of Recollection or anamnesis; Platos Socrates denies his own wisdom; in the Apology he states, â€Å" human wisdom is worth little or nothing† he merely asserts that he is a â€Å" midwife† assisting in the â€Å"rebirth† of knowledge lying dormant in the mind Opinions proven wrong in the course Socratic investigation, does not demonstrate lack of knowledge, but rather, the clouding of mind on account of sensory perception. Platos Socrates asserts that dialectical investigation (with its constant questioning) would lead the inquiring mind towards clues, allowing it a recollection of what was already known through the many cycles of rebirth. Although considered a Platonic absolute the Doctrine of Recollection cannot be contested or proved. Platonic abstraction, denies legitimate validity to Empirical investigation. The a priori solution given by the slave boy in the Meno to the mathematical question posed by Socrates, hardly resolves this problem. Tying into the Doctrine of Recollection and the minds compromised judgement on account of sensory perception, Platos Theory of forms plays a greater role in the Allegory of the cave, where the impressions cast on the caves wall are believed to be real. For Plato the shadows on the wall were a reflection of empirical reality, which in turn was a reflection of a Reality whos dwelling lay in the realm of Forms (ideas). Platos theory of Forms is base on the notion that all things in the world share in common with a greater abstract (ideas) that in turn embodies all things in the empirical world. For example a small red chair, sharing certain physical characteristics in common with a large white chair, is not a real chair, but the perception of the abstract â€Å"chair† in which the white chair and all other chairs mimic. Plato translated his notion of the intangible into the Tripartite nature of man; man Plato contended, was comprised of physical material (the body), and the abstract immaterial (soul and mind). While co-dependant, the two parts ¾ matter and form ¾, function separately of each other.