The Titanic Essay Thesis Example For Students

The Titanic Essay Thesis On April 14,1912 a great ship called the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage. That night there were many warnings of icebergs from other ships. There seems to be a conflict on whether or not the warnings reached the bridge. We may never know the answer to this question. The greatest tragedy of all may be that there were not enough lifeboats for everyone on board. According to Walter Lord, author of The Night Lives On, the Titanic could have been saved in the very beginning of the crisis when the iceberg was first reported to the bridge. If First Officer Murdoch had steamed right at the iceberg instead of trying to avoid it, he might have saved the ship. The author feels there would have been a loud crash and anyone within the first one hundred feet would have been killed, but the ship would have remained afloat(82). This view was entirely speculation and we will never really know if this would have happened. In contrast, Geoffrey Marcus, author of The Maiden Voyage, suggests that the b ridge did not receive warning of the ice from the very beginning. One of the messages received was from the Masaba warning the Titanic of a mass of ice lying straight ahead. According to Marcus, the message never reached the bridge, but instead was shoved under a paper-weight (126). At 10:30 p.m. that evening, a ship going the opposite direction of the Titanic was sighted. This ship, the Rappahannock, had emerged from an ice field and had sustained damage to its rudder. The vessel signaled the Titanic about the ice and the Titanic replied that the message was received (Marcus 127). At 11 p.m. another ice report was received. This one was from the Californian. This liner had passed through the same ice field that the Rappahannock had reported to the Titanic. Like all the other warnings, this warning never reached the bridge though it was known to both of the Titanics wireless operators (Marcus 128). By the time the bridge realized the ship was about to hit an iceberg, it was too late . Quartermaster Hitchens tried to turn the wheel hard to the starboard. Twenty seconds later, he had an order for full speed astern but the iceberg was too close. The starboard side hit the iceberg, bringing a block of ice onto the deck (Pellegrino 21). After the collision occurred, there was only one thing open for Captain Smith to do. It was almost midnight and he gave the order to take to the lifeboats (Lord, Lives On 82). This decision brought Captain Smith face-to-face with the fact that there were 2,201 people on board and enoughlifeboats for only 1,178 people (Lord, Lives On 83). The Captain was going to have to make a choice as to who would be the first allowed on the lifeboats. Around 12:30 a.m. the bridge informed the crew that only women and children would be loaded on the lifeboats (Eaton,Haas,152). By 1:30 a.m., there was panic among some of the passengers. One example was on the port side of the boat. A group of passengers threatened to jump into a boat full of passeng ers. To scare them, one of the officers fired three shots on the ships side. The warning proved to be successful. Nobody was injured and the passengers calmed down (Eaton and Haas 154). At the last moments with only forty seven available spaces on the last lifeboat, the crew instructed everyone to form a circle around the boat. Women and children were the only people permitted to pass through the circle. A little while after the last lifeboat left, the stern lifted clear out of the water with more than 1500 people still on board (Eaton and Haas 157-161). The climatic moment came at 2:20 a.m. The Titanic stood perpendicular to the water. As people in the lifeboats looked on, they noticed the ship stayed perpendicular for a minute and then disappeared to the bottom of the ocean (Lord, Lives on 137). Captain Rostron of the ship Carpathia determined the distance to the Titanic and quickly calculated the course to answer the Titanics distress call (Eaton and Haas 177). Once the Carpathia reached the lifeboats, it did not take long to load the passengers on board. It was 4:45 a.m. when the last lifeboat was loaded on board. The survivors peered around the Promenade Deck, searching for family members lost (Lord, To Remember 152-53). Why wasnt their enough lifeboats for everyone? The Titanic came under a regulating board that made laws for vessels over 10,000 tons. In 1894 only twenty lifeboats were needed. This number was never changed when the size of ships increased, and because of this, over a thousand lives were lost (Lord, Lives On 84). Another problem with the lifeboats was that there was no consistency in loading them. To Officer Lightoller, women and children first meant no men were allowed to board. In many cases this meant many lifeboats were not filled to maximum capacity. Officer Murdoch put men on the lifeboats when there were no women around. Therefore, a mans life or death , depended on what side of the ship he was standing on (Lord, Lives on 116). On a luxury ship, lifeboats for everyone would mean less room for games and sports on the upper decks. Passengers would have had to give up play areas for lifeboats (Lord, Lives On 85). White Star line tragically sacrificed safety for luxury. The question remains whether or not first and second class passengers received preference on the lifeboats. The White Star line claims there was no distinction between the three classes of passengers, however, only 25 percent of third class passengers were saved compared to 53 percent of first and second class passengers. The White Star line explained that third class passengers were more reluctant to leave the ship and they did not want to part from their belongings. The surviving crew of the Titanic also claimed that there was no discrimination. Yet at the British Inquiry of the accident, not a single third class passenger was called as a witness (Lord, Lives On 93-94). One aspect of the tragedy that the White Star line can be proud of is the fa ct that the Titanic was spared a panic. The crew did not try to go on lifeboats ahead of the passengers as they did when the French liner La Bourgogne went down in 1898. Most of the passenger remained calm and the crew did their duty ( Lord, Lives On 127). One of the most intriguing mysteries of the tragedy was surrounding the ships band. It is believed the band played right to the end. Where or what they played remains a great mystery, as eyewitness accounts vary greatly (Lord, Lives On 135). Five days after the Titanic sank, the Bremen was on its way to New York. The passengers saw victims of the Titanic in the ocean. We saw the body of one woman dressed only in her night dress, and clasping a baby to her breast, one the passengers recalled. Another passenger of the Bremen later reported : Close by was the body of another woman with her arms tightly clasped around a shaggy dog We saw the bodies of three men in a group, all clinging to a chair. Floating by just beyond them were the bodies of a dozen men, all wearing life belts and clinging desperately together as though in their last struggle for life. (Ward 180) The aftermath of the disaster changed the way people thought about the sea and ships. If one lesson was learned, it was that there needs to be enough lifeboats for everyone on a ship. Luxuries should always come second to a passengers safety. Since the time of this disaster, every ship has enough lifeboats for everyone on board and also performs mandatory lifeboat drills. Walter Lord, the author of A Night to Remember , remarked that :The Titanic has come to stand for a world of tranquillity and civility that we have somehow lost In 1912, people had confidence. Now nobody is sure of anything and the more uncertain we become , the more we long for a happier era when we felt we knew the answers. (170) In 1985, Dr. Robert Ballard of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts set out to find the Titanic. That summer, he went aboard the U.S . Navy research ship Knorr. The ship used its sonar equipment to explore eighty percent of the ocean floor where the Titanic was believed to be. On September 1, after studying the video screens, Dr. Ballard discovered where the Titanic was lying. On a second expedition made in July of 1986, Ballard brought his small vessel called the Alvin to the site. His findings were as follows: Contrary to a long-held belief, the Titanic had not been sliced open by the iceberg. Instead, the researchers found that the ships starboard bow plates had buckled under the impact of the collision, thereby opening up the ship to the sea. Another major discovery was that the stern of the Titanic had wrenched itself away from the rest of the ship in its descent to the bottom. (Ward 186) The last survivor of the Titanic recently died in her home in Massachusetts. With her death, many of the unanswered questions of the Titanic may have also died. Hopefully, a tragedy like this will never have to happen again . As stated before, ships are now expected to have enough lifeboats for everyone on board. Ships also route their lanes farther to the south during iceberg season. .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 , .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 .postImageUrl , .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 , .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99:hover , .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99:visited , .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99:active { border:0!important; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99:active , .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99 .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4439df8c91109af474305058d73a2f99:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Exile or Revelation? Sample Essay We will write a custom essay on The Titanic Thesis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Hopefully in some small way this will make a difference if such an accident at sea should ever occur again. Work Cited Eaton, John P., and Charles A. Haas. Titanic: Triumph and Tragedy. New York: W. W. Norton ; Company, 1986. PP 152-184. Pellegrino, Charles. Her Name Titanic. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, 1988. PP 20-21. Marcus, Geoffrey. The Maiden Voyage. New York: The Viking Press, 1969. PP 35-128. Lord, Walter. A Night To Remember. Mattituck: American House, 1955. PP 152-170. . The Night Lives On. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1986. PP 82-137. Ward, Kaari, ed. Great Disasters. Pleasantville: The Readers Digest Association, Inc., 1989. PP 180-87. *****************************************************************

Education of Indentured Servants Essays - Debt Bondage, Free Essays

Education of Indentured Servants Essays - Debt Bondage, Free Essays Education of Indentured Servants Misericordia University Education of Indentured Servants Indentured servants were a large part of the making of the United States. They helped increase the population, thus improving the likelihood of the survival of the colonies. Early in history indentured servants received little education, but as time continued the role of this class of society began to change. Education brought about a new era giving servants the means to become independent once their term was finished. The Apprentice Versus the Indentured Servant Apprentices and indentured servants have some similarities but are not entirely the same. Indentured servants often came to American previously knowing a trade such as farming but could not afford the costs of the voyage to America (Snyder). In order to make the voyage they traded years of service to wealthy plantation owner for passage to America. Apprentices however, didnt know a trade. They became apprentices in order to learn a trade in which they could earn a living such as, metal working or carpentry. In short the difference was knowing the trade versus needing to be taught the trade. The Appearance of Indentured Servants As mentioned earlier indentured servants came to America from European countries. Passage to America was an expensive journey to say the least and many people couldnt afford the cost of the journey. This is one reason why many became indentured servants. They swore their service to the person or colony that brought them over, thus making a social contract with each other. The terms of this contract for many was that after serving their term they were to be released with some tools and clothing that would help them to make a living. Poor Education Education wasnt a priority during this time, in part to the need for farmers at that time. This need for farmers reduced the need for tradesman, thus reducing the need for indentured servants to receive an education. Education wasnt a priority, however for some of the indentured servants education was in the terms of their social contract. It states in the article that German servants often entered into indentures providing that they be taught to read the Bible in English(Snyder). In the Chesapeake Bay colonies education was largely decided by the wealthy and powerful. If you were a servant or slave, education was not available to you. As the need for indentured servants dwindled away due to the slaves being imported from Africa, the world of apprentices emerged out of necessity for more tradesman. Apprentices and Education Apprentices were born from the need for tradesman and because the number of children born in America increased. Parents from the colonies wanted the same for their children that the parents of today want, and that is to have a better life than that of their parents. Many parents sent their children to masters to learn trades such as blacksmithing and carpentry in exchange for a predetermined amount of money. Over time it became the masters duty to provide an education beyond that of their particular trade. This education mainly happened during the off season of their particular trade. This is the events that are believed to have given birth to the public school system. Evaluation and Opinion The article The Education of Indentured Servants in Colonial America written by Mark R. Snyder was an informative article. I personally found the article very interesting and intriguing. The author gave clear definition of what an apprentice is in comparison to an indentured servant, while showing how one slowly became the other as history continued. The author showed clearly how the indentured servant slowly slipped away when slave trade with Africa increased. He explained because of this that the apprentice emerged and began to creep into a trade school, which then turned into what the author believes is the public school system. I appreciated the form in which the article was written and how the overall concept of education among indentured servants was broken down into the steps that created the whole historical story. I would love to read more articles from this author and expand on his view of other topics. References Snyder, M. (2007). The Education of Indentured Servants in Colonial America. The Journal of Technology Studies, 33(Spring 2007). Retrieved September

History and Members of The Warsaw Pact

History and Members of The Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact was established in 1955 after West Germany became a part of NATO. It was formally known as the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. The Warsaw Pact, made up of Central and Eastern European countries, was meant to counter the threat from the NATO countries. Each country in the Warsaw Pact pledged to defend the others against any outside military threat. While the organization stated that each nation would respect the sovereignty and political independence of the others, each country was in some way controlled by the Soviet Union. The pact dissolved at the end of the Cold War in 1991.   History of the Pact After  World War II, the Soviet Union sought to control as much of Central and Eastern Europe as it could. In the 1950s, West Germany was rearmed and allowed to join NATO. The countries that bordered West Germany were fearful that it would again become a military power, as it had been just a few years earlier. This fear caused Czechoslovakia to attempt to create a security pact with Poland and East Germany. Eventually, seven countries came together to form the Warsaw Pact: Albania (until 1968)BulgariaCzechoslovakiaEast Germany (until 1990)HungaryPolandRomaniaThe  Soviet Union The Warsaw Pact lasted for 36 years. In all of that time, there was never a direct conflict between the organization and NATO. However, there were many proxy wars, especially between the Soviet Union and the United States in places such as Korea and Vietnam. Invasion Of Czechoslovakia On Aug. 20, 1968, 250,000 Warsaw Pact  troops invaded Czechoslovakia in what was known as Operation Danube. During the operation, 108 civilians were killed and another 500 were wounded by the invading troops. Only Albania and Romania refused to participate in the invasion. East Germany did not send troops to Czechoslovakia but only because Moscow ordered its troops to stay away. Albania eventually left  the Warsaw Pact because of the invasion. The military action was an attempt by the Soviet Union to oust Czechoslovakias Communist Party leader Alexander Dubcek whose plans to reform his country did not align with the Soviet Unions wishes. Dubcek wanted to liberalize his nation and had many plans for reforms, most of which he was unable to initiate. Before Dubcek was arrested during the invasion, he urged citizens not to resist militarily because he felt that presenting a military defense would have meant exposing the Czech and Slovak peoples to a senseless bloodbath. This sparked many nonviolent protests throughout the country.   End of the Pact Between 1989 and 1991, the Communist parties in most of the countries in the Warsaw Pact were ousted. Many of the Warsaw Pacts member nations considered the organization to be essentially defunct in 1989 when none assisted Romania militarily during its violent revolution. The  Warsaw Pact  formally existed for another couple of years until 1991- just months before the USSR disbanded- when the organization was officially dissolved in Prague.

Vulnerability assessment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Vulnerability assessment - Research Paper Example Connecticut is named after the Connecticut River which bisects it. Hartford is the capital city of this state. Hartford has a total area of 18.0 square miles in area, 0.7 square miles is covered in water while 17.3 square miles is covered with land. It is the second most populous on the Connecticut River with an estimated population of 124,775 as per the census carried out in 2001, translating to  7,025.5 persons per square mile (Grant, 2006). The city is bordered by the following town: Windsor, South Windsor, Newington, Wethersfield, West Hartford, East Hartford and Bloomfield. Moreover, Hartford boasts of a vast array of resources, such as Wadsworth Athenaeum  Museum of Art  located downtown on its main street. This museum was the first of its kind in the U.S the Stone Field Sculpture  is yet another of many outstanding resources in the city. The Riverfront Recapture and Park, which connects the downtown to the Connecticut River, is known for its various scenic wonders. The neighborhoods in Hartford are both diverse and historic, with the central business district housing a wide range of museums. Hartford city has a well established transportation system, ranging from air, road and railway transportation. The city is home to three significant airports with an estimated average departure of 100. Buses run through the city at regular intervals, Hartfords Union Station serves many residents through railway transportation. The city’s economy is significantly boosted by its various insurance companies. Hartford experiences humid continental climate which increase the likelihood of hurricane occurrence significantly. The city residents and authorities are always on high alert of hurricanes, especially during the hurricane season. The city is protected by over three hundred professional fire fighters of the City of Hartford Fire Department HFD) and over four hundred sworn

Finance research project Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Finance project - Research Paper Example To do the analysis about the current situation of the company a ratio analysis has been performed over the 3 years financial data of the companies. The various ratios that have been calculated are Profitability Ratios, Asset utilization Ratios, Liquidity (Solvency) Ratios, Debt Utilization Ratios and Market Value Ratios. We shall now discuss the various ratios in detail. These are the ratios which show the ability of a firm to earn profits (Profitability Ratios, 2010). It helps to calculate the profit earning capability of a company with respect to the sales, assets and other such expenses. The various ratios under this are: This calculates the amount of earnings for a company from every dollar of sales (Peaveler, 2010). This is calculated as net profit divided by the revenue or sales (Profitability Ratios, 2010). The higher the profit margin the better the company and its operations (Profitability Ratios, 2010). This ratio basically calculates the efficiency with which a firm uses its fixed assets to generate profits (Peaveler, 2010). This can be calculated by dividing the net profit by the total amount of fixed assets (Peaveler, 2010). The higher the ROA the better the company and its management are (Profitability Ratios, 2010). This ratio calculates the profit that a company is earning over the investment of shareholders (Peaveler, 2010). This can be calculated by dividing the net profit by the total shareholders equity of the firm (Peaveler, 2010). The higher the ROE the better the company is (Profitability Ratios, 2010). These ratios tell the management how well they have been using their assets to generate sales (NIMS, 2010). They give valuable insight about the internal operations of the firm and thus the management could take the required steps to improve the same. The various ratios have been discussed hereunder: This ratio indicates as

Prisoner Rights Essay Example for Free

Prisoner Rights Essay Of all forms of punishment, the death penalty is by far the most controversial and also the most rarely used. Capital punishment was once almost the only penalty applied to convicted felons. By the time of the American Revolution, the English courts had defined more than 200 felonies, all of which were â€Å"capital offenses†. However, many death penalties were not carried out; instead, offenders were pardoned or banished to penal colonies. Over time, courts and legislatures began to recognize other forms of punishment, such as imprisonment and probation. In the times of the American colonies, capital punishment was used extensively in England and in the early American colonies, as many crimes other than murder resulted in a penalty of death. Corporal punishments, often very brutal, also often resulted in death as the imposition of such torture severely injured the offender. Both torture and executions were often carried out in public, as a deterrent to others. The idea was that if others saw what the punishment was for such a crime, that perhaps the said crime would be prevented from happening altogether. Public executions, however, were ceased in 1936 when several thousand people witnessed the execution by hanging of a black man convicted of raping and murdering a white woman in Kentucky. Prisoner rights are based on a general principle that each prisoner will be deprived of liberty, but will still be entitled to basic human rights. Many advocates for prisoner rights will argue that many prisoners are deprived of the basic human rights. Many people believe that the prisoner should not be entitled to any rights and the only exception to this belief is that the prisoner may not be put to death without a fair trial (Net Industries, 2011). The most common view of society is that a prisoner is sentenced to prison as a way to pay for their crime. Prisoner rights are necessary to avoid violations under the law of the United States. Even though these individuals have committed a crime against the law he/she is still a human being and under the United States laws he/she is still entitled to individual rights on a basic level. It is crucial to be aware of what is a violation under the United States law of a prisoners right. The Eighth Amendment recognizes that a legal precedent for prisoners and acknowledging that prisoners are not exempt from being treated fairly. The Eight Amendment recognizes that the prisoner still has the right to be free from inhumane conditions. The Eight Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the united State Constitution states: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments imposed (Article Myriad, 2010).  For several centuries this amendment did not apply to prisoners, as they were not considered eligible for this right. The main purpose of this amendment is to ensure that the prisoner is treated in fairness and humanely. Many prison systems provide the basics of everyday life to accommodate this Amendment. Some examples of this are toiletry items, food, basic shelter, basic clothing, medical assistance, and minimal recreational options for mental and physical well-being. As the prisons accommodate the Amendment the prisoners are served according to the conditions of the Eight Amendment. Prison can have both positive and negative effects on an inmate. As the prisoner begins his/her sentence the reduction of rights can have positive and negative effects. The positive effects that result can include a chance to learn new ways to conduct themselves behaviorally upon release, rehabilitation for drugs or alcohol, and significant reduction in responsibility of everyday life that cause stress and adverse behaviors. More commonly prisoners will have a negative impact by becoming incarcerated. By having such drastic restrictions in a very short period many behavioral changes can occur. Some of these behaviors include prison talk (altered communication style), increased hostility, violence, gang affiliation, and a gradual disconnect from any societal influences (family, friends, etc.) (Uplink.com, 2010). Another common adverse effect of prison is that of the sudden confinement, which leads to possible psychological detriments, altered self-perceptions, and can exacerbate pre-exiting mental illnesses increasing risks to the well-being of the prisoner (Uplink.com, 2010). There was a common distress among prisoners of feeling as if their rights had been violated by and official of the state or federal systems. In the 1970s-1980s a common lawsuit was pursued called the Section 1983 lawsuit (Burk Foster, 2006, p. 332). It became one of the most influential civil rights litigations of the period and is still pursued to this day. This lawsuit states Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom or usage, of any State or Territory, subjects of causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States of other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities security by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit at equity, or other proper proceeding for redress.  (Burk Foster, 2006, p. 332). This was often a result of a government official accused of depriving a prisoner of constitutional rights. This has impacted the policies and procedures of contact between government officials and inmates. The implementation of prisoner rights is important, but needs to be limited as the purpose of prison is to punish an individual for wrongdoing against society. If more than the basic human rights are adhered to the prisoner would be receiving no form of punishment, in my opinion. As stated before, prisoner rights are necessary to avoid violations under the law of the United States. Works Cited: Article Myriad. (2010). What Rights Should Prisonerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Have?: An Analysis of Issues Surrounding Prisoner Rights. Retrieved from http://www.articlemyriad.com/31.htm Burk Foster. (2006). Prisonerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Rights. Retrieved from Burk Foster, CJS230-Corrections A World Apart website Chapter 12 Net Industries. (2011). Prison-Prisonersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Rights. Retrieved from http://law.jrank.org/pages/9386/Prison-Prisoners-Rights.html Uplink.com. (2010). The Psychological Effects of Imprisonment. Retrieved from http://www.uplink.comau/lawlibrary/Documents/Docs/Doc82.html

Writing and Reading for a New Generation Essay -- Internet Cyberspace

â€Å"Writing and Reading for a New Generation† In the past decade, the Internet has taken over. Everyone from young children to senior citizens can communicate, send e-mail, or look up any bit of information in seconds. Because of the overwhelming shift to Internet technology and communication, many aspects of writing have been forever changed. Writers often write differently for the Internet than they do for a physical publication. Readers often read differently on the Internet than physically written text. Within the forms of Internet writing exists one unlike the others and that is personal publishing web sites, such as blogger, live journal, diary land—the list goes on. By allowing any individual to publish anything onto the web, the traditional ideas of writing and reading are automatically forfeited to a new generation of writers. The first thing to understand about personal publishing sites is their uses. What the site will be used for can also dictate which site a person will utilize. For instance, something like diary land (diaryland.com) is typically used strictly as an online journal. People record their thoughts, what they’ve been doing, and what events are coming up in their lives. Like a personal web site, users will personalize the layout of the â€Å"diary† including pictures, borders, etc. Other sites, like blogger (blogger.com), can be used for personal means or professional ones. In the case of my English 328 class, blogs can even be used as a place to respond to writing prompts for homework. In looking at these sites, I noticed that blogger more than the others also had blogs specific to certain interests. For instance, one blog was dedicated solely to lovers of palm pilots. The wa... ...sible to imagine a world in which books were an outdated, archaic technology but as we push further into the future and the future of writing, the possibility looms as a larger and larger force to be reckoned with. Works Cited Bradbury, Grace. â€Å"Diary of a Call Girl.† The Times(London). 10 Mar. 2004, n.68019. T2, p.4. Tribble, Evelyn B. and Anne Trubek, eds. Writing Material: Readings for Plato to the Digital Age. New York: Longman, 2003. Landow, George. â€Å"Twenty Minutes into the Future, or How Are We Moving Beyond the Book?† Tribble & Trubek 214-226. Sosnoski, James. â€Å"Hyper-readers and their Reading Engines.† Tribble & Trubek 400-417. Wagner, Erica. â€Å"A High Price to Pay for Sex Without Love.† The Times (London). 10 Mar. 2004, n. 68019. T2, p.5.

Queer Culture in Southeast Asia

When discussing queer culture In modern times, It is automatically classified as a western Idea. Queer Identities and queer struggles are associated with whiteness, as a white concept. This is one of the many causes of colonization, and how in some way it erased the history of oppressed communities. However, pre-colonization history indicates that queer culture had been developed within ancient civilizations. If we look at ancient civilizations in Latin America, societies had a different ideology of what ender was, and were open to the idea of same-sex Interactions.It Is no different of Southeast Asia. As we examine several cultures we see that queer culture has a historical context within marginalia communities. The Business people are an ethnic group of South Usualness, which is a providence in Indonesia. Their origins trace back to 2500 BCC as being ancestors to people with an Stationeries background. Gender, for this ethnic group, is seen as fluid. There are five genders within t his ethnic group: male, female, Calais, Calais and Bissau. The Business people, like other ethnic groups, believed that male-female Identities helped with the structure of the universe.Thus, ritual specialist exalted androgynous characteristics in order to communicate with spirits. The Bissau, an example of ritual specialist with androgynous characteristics, have the main purpose to give blessings to people, since it is believed that they are possessed by spirits. This ethnic group believes that the Bissau came to be when Bator Guru was sent down to create life in the planet. However, since he was not the best at organizing, so two issue were sent down to help Bator Guru create a culture that would blossom. In this sense. The Business people acknowledge that this culture was created, by two gender non-conforming aides.The Bissau influenced, is also connected to the modern- day Wars of Indonesia. Part of the connection between the Wars and the Bissau is that they are completely diffe rent from Western concepts of transgender culture. Even though I was unable to find much history of the Wars, due to geographical location, It makes sense that a connection does exist between the Wars and the Bliss. Bator Guru, a deity In several Indonesian mythologies, Is a Hindu God. This means that this notion of gender fluidity goes back to Hinduism. However, it Is soul extremely difficult to find any history of queer culture before colonization.Third-gender identities are now more evident in modern day and post-colonial times. The Philippines are an example of this, but as mentioned before, to find much history of when they came to be Is an extremely difficult task. Malaysia, and the Make Young Is another example of queer culture Is Southeast Asia. This form of traumatized once Is believed to be almost 1000 years old. Now a days, It Is Just seen as any other regular performance, and its roots from queer culture have been neglected, but it's known that the Make Young and other c ommunities in Malaysia were mainly made up of gender fluid and queer members.There's history of queer relationships in the Han Dynasty and Chou Dynasty. Emperor Ai (27 BCC-I CE) and Duke Ling of Wee (534 BCC- 403 BCC), respectively, are example of these cultures. Even though we find these forms of relationships In Ancient South Salsa and East Asia, Southeast Salsa is still hat colonized settlements had been exposed to their own queer culture and queer identities, neglects and oppresses people from those ethnic back grounds, and formulates this idea that within the LIGHT+ community, brown bodies are being saved by colonization, from their â€Å"homophobic† cultures.When thinking of modern day queer culture, and how it intersects with race, I personally think that it's important to be critical of the history of pre-colonization. Queer identities have been around for years, and they do not belong to western cultures, as we have been taught to believe.

Characteristics of a Person

Characteristics of Personhood Rationality The ability to reason is seen as being one of the defining characteristics of personhood. Rationality can be summarised in our ability to make considered choices and decisions at a higher intellectual level. Rationality is illustrated in our ability to justify our thoughts and actions through reason, scaled to emotional or practical variables. Aristotle considered that the thought-processes that precede our actions are pivotal to personhood.Such thought-processes generally involve evaluating the positive and negative consequences of our actions, and deciding whether the ‘reward’ is worth the ‘cost’. This ability to predict consequences of our actions isn’t shared by the lower animals, and is pivotal in making the distinction between a person and a non-person. We have the ability to justify our beliefs and actions and to enter into reasoned dialogue with others. Rationality also leads to the ability to evaluate experience and draw logical, considered conclusions which will influence our actions in the future.The lesser animals lack this capability, a view which is illustrated in the following example: the squirrel stores food for the winter in order to survive, however the squirrel does not store food because it knows that food will be scarce in the winter; the squirrel stores food because of impulses governed by animalistic instinct, and nothing besides. The squirrel could not consider the possibility of an abundance of food in the winter, and decide that it did not wish to store food for the winter, and is confined to the demonstration of instinct.To further illustrate this point we could say that dogs have desires but they do not have choices. For example, when a piece of meat is left unattended, a dog would see it and eat it straight away because it desires the meat and has no regard as to whom it belongs or whether eating the meat would be of benefit to it. In this sense, animals suc h as dogs act on the basis of their desires. On the other hand, we as humans would firstly deliberate between the pros and cons of what to do with this piece of meat, taking into account the various factors and potential consequences of eating it.Humans will not simply act on the basis of their desires but will make a decision and then perform an action according to the decision that we make through our rationality. Possessing a network of beliefs Possessing a network of beliefs is a characteristic that predominately distinguishes humans as persons, as opposed to animals. A network of beliefs can be formed on the basis of reasons in accordance with our rational nature as persons are able to reflect upon the relative strengths and weaknesses of the evidence of these beliefs, basing our belief system on what others tell us and on our own experiences.It is believed that in comparison to most animals, humans have a much more complex network of beliefs. For example, a dog may avoid eatin g chocolate because of a bad experience devouring a whole box – but it is doubtful that the dog is able consciously to hold the belief that â€Å"chocolate makes me sick†. A human, however, has the ability to make a rational decision from past experiences and act upon this belief.For example, if a person eats chocolate and is allergic to it and is thus made ill by it, through a network of wider beliefs such as â€Å"allergies causing illness†, â€Å"the feeling of being ill being horrible†, etc a person can deduce that â€Å"chocolate makes me sick and therefore I won’t eat it again†. Unlike animals we can have beliefs about the past and future and refer to these beliefs as the past and future; an animal may remember something as a belief from the past such as the chocolate but can only see how it will affect the present.We can also have beliefs about beliefs; humans have the ability to hold beliefs about possibilities and things that may ha ppen in the future, whereas animals can only have beliefs about the actual and fact. Language User Language users are beings who can communicate with others through a range of mediums. This means that they are able to talk about ideas in the abstract. Furthermore, language is necessary for the possession of genuine ideas and concepts about the world. Language allows people to understand their desires; without language, beings would be unable to communicate and request their desires.For example, a cow can feel hungry and desire grass but it doesn’t know that it desires grass and feels hungry because it does not have those concepts. These concepts are human linguistic concepts. A creature’s mental horizon is broadened by the ability to represent the world by signs. Language gives the user the ability to express thoughts about an infinite number of things. Furthermore language allows the intelligent construction of arguments; it allows the user to criticize and justify. M oreover, language permits a new king of socializing, based upon discussions.It allows interaction and develops personalities. Language broadens people’s knowledge and their emotions. All of these examples mean that one is a person if one can use language. This is because language allows you to formulate your thoughts and having thoughts and self-awareness means you have the capacity to understand the thoughts of others. This means you are a person. Self Awareness Self awareness is the ability to experience and do things whilst understanding what it is that’s going on and having an awareness of the fact that it is ‘I’ that is having the experiences.Descartes defines self awareness as having a conscious mind. He believed that using speech and reason were good examples of the mind working. He uses this theory to eliminate animals from what he classes as a person, and in turn describes them as ‘nothing more than a complex machine. ’ However, altho ugh we are unable to know whether an animal is self-conscious or not, they are clearly conscious in the sense that they are aware of their surroundings and at times can be unconscious. However, consciousness is not the same as self-consciousness.Another way in which self awareness can be described is by a person’s ability to talk about themselves using words such as ‘I’ or ‘mine’. It is the ability to describe ones mental state to others and to understand them from the first-person point of view. Looking back upon your memories is another example and knowing that it is ones self that has experienced these memories. A good example to illustrate self-awareness is the ‘mark test’. This is where a mark is placed on the head of a participant who is then placed in front of a mirror.If the participant tries to wipe the mark off their reflection in the mirror, then it is argued that they do not recognise the reflection in the mirror as them and therefore lack self-awareness. If, however, they wipe the mark off their foreheads, then clearly they understand that the reflection in the mirror is them and they therefore have a sense of self. Infant humans beyond the age of 24 months, as well as some animals such as apes, dolphins and elephants, can successfully complete the test whereas other animals are not.This shows that self-awareness is not a characteristic that can be associated with all animals and as such may be a way of distinguishing between animals and persons. Social Being One characteristic that is thought to be essential for personhood is that of being a social being. Humans, unlike other animals, have a â€Å"prior awareness† of the existence of other human beings. We identify ourselves in the context of our relationships with other human beings and through our various roles in society. Arguably, we can only recognise ourselves as a person if we have prior awareness of the existence of other such persons.T hroughout life, humans form complex social relationships with others which they often maintain and develop. Human beings have a more developed society than animals such as dogs and horses due to the fact that humans have plans, intentions and schemes. They are individuals but this individuality stems from society. This inherent social nature is dependant upon our ability to communicate, allowing us to establish social roles and connect with others. Through this we see our own identity, as belonging to groups: work, culture, nationality and so on. Arguably, our â€Å"persona† might be largely formed because of these networks.To have a good life, we must interact with others in order to be able to reflect upon our own selves. In this sense, persons depend on society for not only specific ambitions and goals but also for language, beliefs and to compare themselves to other individuals. It is through this that we can discover the best way to live and therefore hopefully live a go od life. We cannot achieve a good life in isolation as we cannot share our thoughts and feelings with other people. Human beings are social animals and it can be argued that being a person necessarily involves having complex relationships with others.Penguins huddle together for warmth, instinctively, not for any reason more complex than this. They don’t have meetings, parties or â€Å"heart to hearts†, and wouldn’t later reflect upon this, or develop because of it. Creativity, autonomy and individuality Autonomy is the ability to reason about whether to perform an action or not and suggests that persons are not controlled by our natural instincts, unlike animals. It appears that a person is not entirely influenced by basic instinct, and can refer to more complex thoughts and ideas in decision making.This is shown through the example that a dog does not reflect on whether to bark at the stranger in the street, or continue to go about its own business in the shad e, whereas a person will often reflect upon the reasons for and against acting upon their immediate desires. A person is able to rise above their basic animal drives and take a measure of control over their own lives. By enabling us to reflect on how to act, reason gives us some mastery over our passions, elevating us above the level of creatures of instinct.The capacity to reflect and reason gives us a measure of autonomy or self-control. Individuality allows each person to identify and emphasize the uniqueness of each of us and it is argued that an individual person is defined not so much by their shared human essence as by the particular characteristics of his or her own nature. Human beings in all societies give themselves proper names which uniquely identify them as individuals and some philosophers have argued that it is a natural tendency for all human beings to construct a unique personality.Also, animals appear to have no concept of creativity or imagination and only experi ence things for what they are. For example, an animal would not understand metaphor, because a metaphor is a representation of something else, and an animal cannot fathom this concept. Yet, people do have the ability to be creative and imaginative. Moral Sense Having a moral sense means that we are able to decide what we should and shouldn’t do, to identify what is good and bad, and to label actions moral or immoral. Kant says that a person uses their moral principles and this determines their actions.He also says that we, as moral persons, are able to recognise what our duties are and then we can further choose whether to act in accordance with these duties. Acting in accordance with our moral duties rather than our desires is what makes our actions truly free as we can transcend our desires in order to do what we see we ought to. For example, although we may not want to give ? 5 to famine relief, we realise that we ought to and recognising this duty can motivate us to act o n it. Morals tend to be related to humans, as animals don’t have the notion of orality. For example, in the case of a lion killing an antelope for food, we see this as an act of survival; therefore we cannot blame the lion for being immoral. However if a human killed an antelope for sport it could spark a moral debate, as some people would agree with it and some people would think it immoral. If we can’t attribute morals to animals, but we can attribute morals to humans, then there is a distinct difference between the two. This distinction illustrates that maybe we only attribute morals to persons.

Negative Opinion about Abortion

Negative Opinion about Abortion Free Online Research Papers I am almost eight months pregnant at this moment in time. After having my first child I discovered that I could not reason with anyone who would want to abort their pregnancy. I feel that a woman is the one who gets herself in the situation to begin with because not enough precautions were taken. Women and men are both educated on the consequences of unprotected sex throughout their lives. This may be on television, in school, or even through the media. Those sources â€Å"pound† it into our heads every day that unprotected sex could result in not only unplanned pregnancy, but also sexual transmitted diseases. After having the information, facts, and education on unprotected sex, there should be no reason why women or men should have a reason to want to need to abort a pregnancy. I think that some mothers think of abortion as an easy way out. Each year over a million abortions are performed because of unwanted pregnancies, inability of taking care of the child, rape, or birth defects. (WebMD, 2008) Unwanted pregnancies, as I explained above, should be no excuse nor should the inability of taking care of the child. There are many options to help take care of your child such as adoption, WIC, food pantries, food stamps, and Medicaid. Rape and birth defects, in my opinion are two reasons that I could come to and understanding with. Those situations are uncontrollable for the most part. Adoption, in my opinion is the best alternative to abortion. There are many positive aspects to adoptions. The main advantage would include being able to pursue your dreams and goals you had before you got pregnant. Some others might include; not having the financial burden of caring for a child, not having to worry about a sitter so you can practice your social life, and knowing that your baby is in a loving, caring, and stable home. (abortionfact.com) If you decide to abort, you would always ask yourself â€Å"what if?† That’s something that might haunt you the rest of your life. Why should you put yourself through that if there is another alternative? There are many medical complications that a woman might have due to an abortion. Some of these complications include; blocked fallopian tubes, weakened cervix, and damage to the reproductive organs. Having damage to the reproductive organs could cause stillbirths, miscarriages, tubal babies, and hysterectomies. (DSilva, 2007) I think most women are not informed about the risks involved in the abortion that pertain to themselves. Some women are probably only aware and concerned that the fetus will be killed, but not aware and concerned about the long-term affects it will hold on their bodies. About 90% of abortions are performed within the first twelve weeks. (WebMD, 2008) There are different types of procedures to remove the fetus from the womb. The first procedure is called medical abortion or most commonly known as the abortion pill. This is an option up to eight weeks of the last menstrual period and it taken in a pill form at a clinic. This causes the uterus to contract and push out the tissue. Most women prefer this method opposed to others because it is more â€Å"natural and private† although the side effects are cramping, bleeding, diarrhea, and nausea. Two other procedures are called vacuum aspiration and IPAS syringe which involves an injection to numb the cervix, and insertion of a tube to suction the fetus out of the womb. (Services, 2009) Not many people realize that a fetus’s heart starts beating within the first trimester. All of these procedures occur within the first trimester. Therefore, wouldn’t this be considered murder? The definitions of murder are; the unlawful killing of one human by another, to kill unlawfully, to put an end to or destroy. (Dictionary) As long as the heart is beating, I think that the fetus would be considered a human. It’s just a human who is inside another human. According to the definition of murder it is unlawful. It would be unlawful for a woman to kill their baby once they are born, but according to abortion being legal in all fifty states, it’s legal for a woman to kill their baby before it’s born. To me, that makes no sense whatsoever. Some abortions are performed later in the pregnancy. Another procedure that is used after 20 weeks of gestation is called DX or partial abortion. This is a very gruesome and I think unethical procedure. Because of how developed the fetus is, I think it would be very painful for it. During the DX procedure the doctor uses an instrument and reaches in the uterus to pull the feet towards the cervix. Since the fetus is not completely developed the body parts could be dismembered during the process, including the head. After the skull and brains are sucked out of the uterus, the baby is delivered dead. Since this procedure is performed in the second trimester, it is more likely that the fetus does feel pain since general anesthetic is not used. (Deem, 2006) I think some women make irrational decisions when it comes to abortion. I honestly do not think that they know exactly what happens during these procedures because of lack of education on abortions and the effects of them. Before I did the research on abortion, I did not know exactly all of the different ways that it could be performed. It was very disturbing to me once I was â€Å"educated† about it. If clinics would have more information about the actual procedure, maybe some women would change their minds. If the clinics made a patient watch a movie or read a book before making a decision, maybe that would cut the percentile of abortions down. One woman that decides not to have an abortion is one life saved. References Deem, R. (2006, April 20). godandscience.org. Retrieved from godandscience.org/doctrine/fetal_pain.html Dictionary, T. A. (n.d.). thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved from thefreedictionary.com/murder DSilva, R. (2007, May 18). buzzle.com. Retrieved from buzzle.com/articles/antiabortion-arguments-reasons-against-abortion.html abortionfact.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from abortionfacts.com/literature/literature_9338aa.asp Services, F. (2009, April 1). fwhc.org. Retrieved from fwhc.org/abortion/ab-procedures.htm WebMD. (2008, September 29). webmd.com. Retrieved from http://women.webmd.com/tc/abortion-reasons-women-choose-abortion Research Papers on Negative Opinion about AbortionPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesGenetic EngineeringRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenLifes What IfsCapital PunishmentResearch Process Part OneTrailblazing by Eric AndersonThe Fifth Horseman

Adding Images in Microsoft Word

Adding Images in Microsoft Word Adding Images in Microsoft Word From company logos to detailed scientific illustrations, there are many reasons to add an image to a Microsoft Word document. But how does this work? And how can you ensure your finished document looks professional? Check out our guide below for a few tips. Adding Images in Microsoft Word You have three main options for adding images in Microsoft Word: Adding an image from your computer Adding an image from the internet Using the â€Å"Shapes† and â€Å"SmartArt† available via MS Word You can access all these options by going to Insert Illustrations on the main ribbon. This tab is also where you can find options for adding charts and tables to your document. The Illustrations section of the ribbon. 1. Adding an Image from Your Computer If you are adding images from your own computer: Place the cursor where you want to add a picture Go to Insert Illustrations Click Pictures to open a new window Find and select the image you want to use on your computer Click Insert This will add the picture (full size) in the place selected. You can also add an image from your computer by dragging the thumbnail into the document. 2. Adding an Image from the Internet This option lets you import an image directly from the internet. To do so: Select where the image should go with the cursor Go to Insert Illustrations Click Online Pictures Search for a picture using Bing Image Search (keep Creative Commons Only selected if you will be using the image for commercial purposes) Select the image(s) you want to use and click Insert Selecting an online picture. This will add the selected image to your document. It will even add a makeshift caption, including the license for the picture. However, make sure you’re familiar with the rules about using copyrighted and Creative Commons images before you add other people’s pictures to your document. 3. Shapes and SmartArt For simple images, such as flow charts or arrows, it may be easier to use the â€Å"Shapes† and â€Å"SmartArt† in Microsoft Word. These are pre-set graphics that you can add at the click of a button: The Shapes include arrows, boxes, speech bubbles and other basic geometrical shapes and graphics. You can access these by going to Insert Illustrations Shapes. You will then need to click and drag to set the dimensions of the shape selected. SmartArt uses predesigned combinations of the graphics from the â€Å"Shapes† menu. This allows you to add an entire flowchart in one go, for example, which you can then adjust as required. These options offer a simple way to add visual elements to your document. SmartArt options. Formatting Images We won’t go into all the image formatting options available in Microsoft Word here. However, there are two main factors to consider when adding images to a document: Image size and position – You can resize an image by clicking and dragging the circles at its edges. To move an image, moreover, you can click it and drag it around the document. Text wrapping – This controls how the image is positioned in relation to the text. You can access these settings by clicking the image and going to Format Arrange Wrap Text. You can also access image layout options by clicking an image and selecting the icon that appears next to it. These options will help ensure the image looks tidy on the page. To remove an image from a document, meanwhile, simply select it and hit delete or backspace on your keyboard.

The place of music in my life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The place of music in my life - Essay Example I was born in China in a city called Ningbo in the northeastern of the Zhejiang province. Ningbo is a vibrant Hemudu Cultural Center dating Centuries back. In this culture, music is an essential ingredient only next to the martial arts. The two forms the way of life in the Ningbo neighborhood and China at large. However, at the age of ten my parents had to move to yet another cultural city of China called Hangzhou, the biggest and capital city of Zhejiang province in the east of China. With inspiration from the big cultural dances and dominance of the local music, I embraced the culture by accepting its lessons and joined the band. The lessons that I have learned and the life experiences have not only formed an excellent source inspiration but also fundamentally a source of motivation in my studies. In the spirit to venture more to music, I joined Hangzhou Foreign Language School for middle school. I sought this as a source of prosperity in the future study. In this, I ignored other choices that I was being pressurized into, for instance, my father wanted me to be a physician just like him. However, as the majority of the Chinese, my family embraces culture as the way of life so does everything that comes with culture. I knew language could give me more insight to music, especially the international music. This is why when I got a chance in as an international student I knew music would form a significant part of my life. It developed an opportunity to transform me from my music genre of choice.