Exploring Chance In Pushkins the Queen of Spades Essay

Exploring Chance In Pushkins the Queen of Spades It is said in The Bible that God has given Man free will. Unfortunately for Man, The Bible does not entail exactly what free will is. Some speculate that there is a force called Chance. These people believe that through a serious of coincidence, luck, and their own choices, they can control their future. Others believe in a force known as Fate. With this line of thinking, everything has a goal, and those goals will be met eventually. This gives the believer a sense of inevitability and they tend to be more laid back due to the philosophy of least resistance. Least resistance is the idea of its going to happen anyway, so there?s no real point in pushing back. In Pushkins†¦show more content†¦All this was set up for her to continue living the life she was accustomed to and by doing so gave birth and had assistants, and lived to be very old. This set up for the rest of the events to take place. At times, it appears that everything is happening for a reason; as if a coin were fl ipped and it was known what the result would be and due to the result being pre-ordained and not left to chance, something would happen. Or to relate more to the story, had she never learned the secret, she wouldn?t be killed because of it. ? ?Money is not necessary,? replied St. Germaine: ?be pleased to listen to me.? ?Then he revealed to her a secret, for which each of us would pay a great deal (Pushkin, pp. 3) But discussing fate as an inevitability goes against the notion of free will. If we cannot escape our fate, are we actually making the choices at all? Instep the third force. The Puppeteer. God. If fate has goals, who sets them? When this question is asked, another force happens to be created. When this happens, chance and fate may be more easily meshed. God set a goal for Fate to strive toward. Fate achieves this by acts of Chance. Acts of chance are based on our decisions. With this line of thinking, fate and free will can exist. Some would argue that if God is setting our goals, then we have no free will. A rebuttal to that would be that we have the freedom to choose how

Manchus and Qing Dynasty Essay Example

Essays on Manchus and Qing Dynasty Essay The paper "Manchus and Qing Dynasty" is a good example of an essay on history. The areas of Asia, Russia, and Europe all underwent transitions in ruling during the times of the mid-1600s leading right up to the 1800s. The Chinese had a strong ruling with the emperors of the Qing dynasty and it led to the west, joining the Russian Empires and Central Asia while the British too were expanding. Many varying factors led to the expansion of all of these areas were subject to growth, change, commercialism, trade, military influence, interactions throughout the different cultures socially and control over the land territories that had previously not been occupied prior to expansion.   The Qing Empire began its development in 1636 and carried until 1783. Manchu rules had overtaken China and the Empire began to expand larger than any other group of people that currently lived on that land. This made the Qing emperors extremely influential in the decisions that were made in that vicinity. Some of the people tried to get along with the emperors that had helped to expand and keep it peaceful by following their policies and the Great Wall served as a division for many of these people. The Russians eventually were expanding into Central Asia and it created problems between those that fought for the religions to which they were each devoted. Trade increased between China and Europe, especially due to Chinese handmade silk. During this time, Russia was expanding due to its fur-trapping territory. Art, fashion and luxurious lifestyles also became predominant as Russia grew under the influence of Catherine the Great who married into a Russian royal family. The British also b ecame more commercialized and some of the customs that they had picked up in Asia were also integrated into their own lives such as playing polo and smoking from a hookah. Each of these expansions created cross-cultural socialization that still held its own original cultures intact.

Atomic Structure Free Essays

The Rutherford Model of the Atom 1. In 1911 Rutherford proposed the nuclear model of atomic structure. He suggested that an atom consists of a central nucleus (where most of the mass of the atom is concentrated) having a positive charge, surrounded by moving electrons carrying negative charge. We will write a custom essay sample on Atomic Structure or any similar topic only for you Order Now Geiger and Marsden carried out an experiment to verify his proposal. The Geiger/Marsden a Particle Scattering Experiment 1. The apparatus is illustrated in the diagram below. | 2. The apparatus was in an evacuated container. The detector was a ZnS screen observed through a low power microscope. Each time an alpha particle hit the screen, a small flash of light was produced. 3. The detector was mounted on a support such that it could be rotated to measure the angular deflection of the alpha particles as they passed through a very thin sheet of gold. They measured the numbers of particles deflected through various angles. 4. It was found that most of ? particles pass through the gold undeflected; only a relatively small number are deflected (scattered). 5. Their results were considered to confirm Rutherford’s model and allowed them to estimate the size of the nucleus (greater than 10-14m) and the size of the atom (greater than10-10m), thus producing the slightly surprising conclusion the most of the space occupied by an atom is empty space! Closest Approach of an Alpha Particle to a Nucleus 1. For a given speed of alpha particle, the closest approach to a nucleus, rmin, will occur when the initial direction of motion of the particle is along the line joining the centers of particle and nucleus. 2. In this case, at the point of closest approach, the speed of the particle is zero. 3. As the particle approaches the nucleus, kinetic energy is being converted to electrical potential energy. K. E. lost = E. P. E. gained| 4. Electrical potential at a distance r from a point charge Q is given by | 5. For a nucleus of atomic number Z, the charge is Ze, where e is the magnitude of the charge on one proton (the same as the magnitude of the charge on an electron). 6. The magnitude of the charge on an alpha particle is 2e 7. Therefore, the energy, w, possessed by an alpha particle placed at distance, rmin, from a charge Ze is given by | 8. So, we have | which gives | Millikan’s Experiment to Measure the Charge on one Electron 1. The diagram below is a very simplified representation of Millikan’s apparatus. | 2. Small drops of oil were allowed to fall into a region between two metal plates, (the top plate had a hole in it). 3. Some of the drops became charged by friction. Further ionization was caused by a beam of x rays. 4. Millikan measured the terminal speed of a drop as it fell through the air, with V = 0. From this he could calculate the radius of the drop (and hence it’s mass). He then applied a voltage, V, to the plates and measured the new terminal speed of the same drop. 5. The change in the terminal speed of the drop was used to calculate the magnitude of the charge on the drop. 6. When many measurements had been done, all the charges were found to be integral multiples of a basic unit of charge, assumed to be the charge on one electron. 7. The value, e, is approximately -1. 6? 10-19 C. 8. A simplified version of Millikan’s experiment can be done by finding the voltage needed to just hold an oil drop stationary between the two plates. 9. Consider a drop having a charge q and mass m. | 10. If the drop is stationary, then the two forces acting on it have equal magnitudes. where E is the field strength. 11. Now, , where d is the distance between the plates, Therefore The Electron Volt (eV) 1. The electron Volt is a unit of work (or energy) much smaller than the Joule. 2. If 1electron moves through a potential difference of 1V then 1eV of work is done. Relation between the Joule and the electron Volt 1. Potential difference is work done per unit charge so, . 1 J is the work done when 1C moves through a p. d. of 1V. 2. The charge on one electron is -1. 6? 10-19 C. 3. Therefore 1eV is the work done when 1 ·6? 10-19C moves through a p. d. of 1V. This means that . 4. To convert energy in J to energy in eV, Experiment to measure the Charge to Mass Ratio of Electrons 1. The method proposed here is similar to that used by J. J. Thomson in 1897. Electrons in an evacuated tube (a â€Å"cathode ray tube†) are sent towards a region of space where there are electric and magnetic fields at 90 ° to each other. If the field strengths have a particular ratio then charged particles can pass through them undeflected. | | | 2. In the following analysis | | | V = voltage accelerating the electrons and producing the electric field between the plates| | v = speed of the electrons| | m = mass of one electron and e = charge on one electron| | E = electric field strength (E = where d = distance between plates)| | B = magnetic flux density| 3. If the electrons pass undeflected (magnitude of electric force equal to magnitude of magnetic force), then it can easily be shown that | 4. To find the speed of the electrons, remember that during acceleration the electrons are losing electric P. E. and gaining K. E. | | E. P. E. lost = K. E. gained| eV = 5. Therefore, | | | 6. Combining equations 1 and 2 to eliminate v gives, | | | | 7. Thus, using his experimental apparatus, Thomson was able to determine the charge-to-mass ratio of the electron. Today, the accepted value of is C kg-1. How to cite Atomic Structure, Papers

Finanace for Cash management

Question: Discuss about the Finanace for Cash management. Answer The cash budget for the period January to March 2011 is presented below: Jan 11 Feb 11 Mar 11 Opening balance -$10,800 -$34,200 -$12,600 Income Cash sales $20,000 $30,000 $30,000 Credit sales $7,500 $10,000 $15,000 Credit sales $5,000 $7,500 $10,000 Legacy $40,000 Total income $32,500 $87,500 $55,000 Expenses Cash purchases $6,000 $9,000 $10,000 credit purchases $10,000 $12,000 $18,000 credit purchases $8,000 $10,000 $12,000 Cash Wages $15,000 $10,000 $10,000 Credit wages $10,000 $15,000 $10,000 Variable overheads $5,000 $8,000 $6,000 Fixed overheads $1,900 $1,900 $1,900 Fixed assets $30,000 Total expenses $55,900 $65,900 $97,900 Net Cash flow -$23,400 $21,600 -$42,900 Closing Balance -$34,200 -$12,600 -$55,500 (Calculations given in annexure) Cash budget is related to forecasting the various cash inflows and outflows of a business for a future time period in order to plan and control the use of cash (Jain and Khan, 2008) Cash budget helps in identifying any excessive or shortage of cash in the future so that decisions that can be taken to put them to better use or to raise the required funds respectively. Also a safe level of cash can be maintained which ensures smooth running of business activities. Like in the above case, the company has negative cash balance at the end of each month; hence it can take loan to ensure smooth functioning. Also cash budget helps in deciding the credit to be extended to debtors in order to ensure no liquidity problems and having a control over the business (Gatewaycfo, 2011) The various ratios for X BHD and Y BHD are given below: Ratio X BHD Y BHD Gross profit 17.20% 26.88% Net profit 6.64% 10.63% Expenses ratio 10.56% 16.25% Stock turnover 9.4 7.3 Return on capital employed 45.11% 76.23% Current ratio 2.11 5.24 Acid test ratio 0.95 1.03 Debtor/sales ratio 24.04 55.17 Creditor/purchase ratio 11.11 7.58 (Calculations in annexure) The performance of a company can be measured through ratio analysis in which the ratios can be categorized into profitability ratio, liquidity ratio, efficiency ratio and capital structure ratio Profitability From the above ratios we see that Y has a better profitability as compared to X. It has a higher gross profit and net profit ratio. However, Y also has a higher expense to sales ratio. We have taken the administrative expenses in this ratio. Since Y has higher administrative expense as a percentage of sales, the ratio is higher. Also Y has a higher return on capital employed. This means Y is utilizing its capital more effectively in generating revenues and making profits. This ratio is particularly important for investors. Liquidity The liquidity is measured by the current ratio and quick ratio. Company Y has a very high current ratio as compared to X indicating enough current assets to meet its current obligations. However, the acid test ratio of both the companies is almost same. This means Y has most of its current assets in the form of inventory. This makes the immediate liquidity of the company low. A lot of funds are tied in stock which the company cannot liquidate immediately, hence resulting in low liquidity. Company X has ideal liquidity ratios in both current and quick ratio. Efficiency Company X has a higher stock turnover ratio as compared to X. This means X is able to convert its stock into sales faster as compared to Y. Also X has a higher accounts payable ratio. This means the company pays off its suppliers more quickly than Y and is more regular in paying the bills. However, company Y has a higher debtors turnover ratio indicating the company recovers cash from its debtors more quickly. This results in more free funds for the company which it can use in its business. Even company X has an impressive debtors turnover but Y is better. Overall company X is more efficient in managing its working capital as compared to Y (Petty, Titman, Keown, Martin, Burrow, 2011) Company Y is better in terms of profitability whereas company X is better in terms of liquidity and efficiency. Reference Khan, M.Y., Jain, P.K., (2008), Cost Accounting and Financial Management, 3rd Edition, CA Examination Series Gateway CFO, (2011), Why a Cash Budget is Important What It Should Look Like, accessed online on 25th January, 2017, available at https://gatewaycfo.com/2011/10/why-a-cash-budget-is-important-what-it-should-look-like/ Petty J.W., Titman, S., Keown, A.J. ,Martin P., Burrow, M., (2011), Financial Management : Principles and Applications, 6th Edition, Pearson Australia

Barnados free essay sample

Thomas Barnardo’s established his charity in 1870; even then did it cause accusations. Barnardo’s opened many projects such as ‘Believe in Children’ and ‘Child Poverty’ and many more series of campaigns. During 2002 Barnado’s launched the campaign ‘Stolen Childhood’ to help children up to the age of 18, who have been abused through prostitution. Complaints said audiences were left feeling disconcerted and disturbed. But making calls to stop child prostitution was a target for Barnardo’s; they wanted to create a new law allowing child prostitution to end. Barnardo’s produced posters for advertisements about the prostitution of children and altered their faces to illustrate the pain that they are going through. Noticing the complaints, has risen, Barnardo’s defended the decision to use shocking images: saying that these changes allowed them to get the message across to many people and allow Minsters to act quickly, providing enough protection for children. We will write a custom essay sample on Barnados or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In this particular advert, it contains a picture of a little girl sitting on a sofa. Her face is digitally grotesquely old, but has a young body. Standing behind the sofa is part if a man and his fingers are running through her hair. The background is a subtle yellow, with curtains that are drawn. The advert includes a catchy slogan and information on how to donate or get supplementary information about the campaign. The man in this image is placed behind a sofa, with his back towards a window. This arrangement gives me an idea he is hiding or protecting the little girl away from the public. This unknown man cannot be identified because the image does not allow the viewers to see his face because his face is deliberately hidden- this sets the audience eager to see his face. We are also not able to see his bottom half, as he is straightened up behind the sofa- Which suggests that the man may not be wearing any trousers. You can see the hairs upon the man’s chest, (as his shirt is seen to be undone) this straight away gives me a sense that this man is way beyond the age to be sexually connected with young girls. Plus I can identify that he is wearing a wedding ring which states the man might be either married or divorced. This proves that anyone can act in this behaviour, whether or not you’re married. Clenching his hand on the sofa expresses that the man is in anger and has force over the young girl. However, he is probably satisfied as well as incensed because, his other hand is touching the girl’s hair. Reminding ourselves that his shirt is undone, this can calculate that he may be ready to sexually abuse her, or that he has already done so. The terrified girl in the foreground is cramped up in the corner of the sofa: this shows that she is probably afraid and is trying to keep away. She looks as if she is trying to protect herself by holding both arms firmly around her. Through this I can sense that the girl may be in danger in some way perhaps, as she like to keep her self to herself. Her world might be very dark and cold so, therefore holding both arms is a way of keeping her pain within herself. Yet sitting in this position is also covering the lower part of her body, as she may not be wearing anything. This then shows me the young girls sensitive and emotional side as she may be a very shy person. The purple bruises on her legs must have a horrifying story behind them- A story that involves physical, brutal abusing conflict between the man and her, or maybe be she has self harmed herself which might be a way to relief her pain. The top that the girl is wearing stands out to me, it appears to be quite rigid as it looks almost washed out form a bright pink colour, this suggests a soft girly side that she once had, and has all been taken away from her. I can clearly say that this image of her clothing gives a sign of purity and innocence to contrast with her reality and the callousness of the room. Yet viewers who look at this poster are straight away drawn directly to her face. Her digital altered face appears to look old and wrinkly. Bug, heavy bags under her eyes are lined up with dark bruises, making her look stressed and tired, almost as if she has spent her hours crying with lack of sleep. From her droopy expression her mouth is weighed down with many defined lines which appear to be baggy wrinkles forming under her lips. Which is exaggerated on the amount of sexual abuse that she gets, hence it is equivalent to a life time and maybe it is difficult for her to relax and get some rest. This all results to how the child is being taken care of by the man –Not only does he abuse her but has no intention on her health and strength, she is some sort of shield for him, were she is being brutally knocked over, while he is safe ly fulfilled. The girl who once lived a happy life, with smiles and laughter, has almost faded away with a broken soul of worries, fear and pain. I think this altering of her face may reflect what she may look like in the coming years. The image of this lonely victim has been adjusted to make her look old with strands of grey hair. By doing this digital alteration the audience are led to believe that this young girl has been traumatised by suffering from too much sexual abuse from the man, resulting in ageing and loss of childhood. This image captures only a certain part of the room; this creates suspense and gives the audience thoughts about who else might be in the room nother abuser, or another child in a similar situation? The colour of the wall reflects the carpet, creating a sense of calm and a neutral atmosphere. This matches the colour of the curtains, and gives me an understanding that the main person living in the house has a sense of style, therefore can live in a decent looking way. Thus the soft colours clash with the situation of the trapped, dark story held between both characters in the image. Her disappointmen t and fear does not fit in well with the surroundings of the scene, which makes her prominent. Everything is in contrast to each other, the bright clean room to the dark filthy routine he portrays. Yet one may wonder what is really going on behind those doors and drawn curtains, where a little girl is forced to love with a man. There area different levels positioned in this photograph. The man in the background is standing behind her dominantly as if he is in control of his powerful actions committed against the frightened girl, (through his level of height) as she is sitting and being touched by him. Abuse through prostitution STEALS CHILDRENS LIVES’ is a slogan used in the poster. These effective, emotive words make the audience want to put a stop to prostitution, to give everything the child need which has been taken away from them. Their hope would want the audience to act quickly and efficiently, due to words ‘prostitution and children’ oddly put together (which is normally not relevant to children) it is a short powerful message that loiters onto to y ou after you have read it. The slogan also highlights the key points about the campaign, letting the audience know what prostitution can lead to. In this poster there is enough information needed, for instance the image is very vivid, followed by a catchy slogan, symbolising that the audience’s awareness can make a difference. Overall, Barnardo’s feel they can be more daring with their use of images to a younger age group. Even though, the text on this advert is very limited, the images illustrate an understanding of the charity, as it is well explained, using lack of words. I agree with the fact that Barnardo’s has used visual distressing images- this will encourage and expose how neglect and abuse can bring horrifying consequences to children in the UK. The resulting of the poster will wake the public up, to the children’s distress. If not, the charity still received publicity through the complaints that were made, and will acknowledge them. However, this advert revolts me, and makes me aware of what is actually happening around me. I feel sympathy for the young girl; trying to understand what its like to be in her position and in this uncomfortable situation. No child should experience an outrageous, despicable act like this! The poster lets the viewers create the rest of the room in your mind. Which makes me think that the rest of the world might me suffering from the same situation? This sets me a sudden erg, an eager to help the juvenile girl, and try to stay connected to her, letting her know that there can be help being made. In addition to this, I reckon the more eye-opening and clear the advert is, the more successful that campaign will be!

Stakeholders are people or groups who can affect o Essays

Stakeholders are people or groups who can affect o Essays Stakeholders are people or groups who can affect or are affected by the achievement of an organisations objectives ; groups vital to the success and survival of the organisation (Fontaine, Haarman and Schmid, 2006) . This essay voices the concerns of Uber drivers regarding the biased company policies towards them . I will further use the Utilitarian theory and a cost benefit analysis to support my argument. One of Uber ' s key stakeholders are its shareholders. Shareholders are peopl e or groups that own shares in the company. Uber ' s key shareholders include Gold man Sachs, Microsoft and Travis Kalanick. Shareholders aim to cut costs and maximise short and lo ng run profits to get the highest possible return on their investment. They may also attend annual general meetings where they can appoint directors and managers to run the business in the upcoming year. Another key group of stakeh olders are competitors. Ubers main competitors a re Taxify, Lyft and limsy cabs. Uber heavily invest money and their workforce to introduce new services and improve existing ones , trying to increase their share of the market. Similarly, its competitors' decisions are also influenced by Ubers actions as they try to provide similar services such as ride sharing and by pricing their services in line with or below those of Uber. Drivers are arguably on e of the most important group of Ubers stakeho lders; revenue generators of the company. Uber send fares to th eir drivers through their app and d rivers get to keep seventy five percent of every fare they complete. Good performance of their drivers is vitally important for Uber as a good Uber ride will make passengers feel safe r and more comfortable in us ing Uber on a regular basis, ultimately creating brand loyalty . However , the massive influx of new drivers gives Uber drivers very little say against the managements decisions and the company 's policies . Uber drivers are concerned about the consistent decrease in their earnings. Uber have continuously slashed fares and hired more drivers to get an edge over their competitors. In addition, they have increased their cut from 20 to 25% per fare, transferring all the burden on to drivers (Huet, 2015) . Edward Freeman believed that the success of a firm is dependent on the synergy between all of its stakeholders. Drivers being Uber's revenue generators' contribute a significant amount in the achievement of Uber's goals therefore their needs should be given equal importance by the management as those of shareholders when setting out company policies. In an attempt to increase competitiveness, Uber have employed a disproportionately high number of drivers causing the supply of drivers to outnumber the demand for Uber taxis (Knowles, 2015) . Consequently, drivers who used to work for fifty hours a week now have to work up to one hundred and twenty hours a week especially d uring surge pricing times in hope to get better fares. This can further be extended to the network stakeholder model because not only do drivers' actions affect Uber, they also affect the performance of other stakeholders (Fontaine et al, 2006) . One passenger, Emma Davey, suffered a life-threatening injury as a result of her Uber driver falling asleep behind the wheel because of working for long hours (Randhawa, 2015) . This mishap would not have happened in the first place if Uber considered their drivers' concerns whilst deciding their policies. Unfortunately, an incompatible stakeholder relationship with their managers won't affect Uber because a few drivers refusing to work will not disrupt Ubers taxi services however it will affect drivers as they will end up losing their job. D espite the court case of Aslam, Farrer and others v Uber where the judge deemed all drivers as employees, Uber treat their drivers as independent contractors (Ferris , 2017: 2) . Drivers must have their own car, pay for fuel, insurance and maintenance. By doing so, Uber disregard the principle of corporate legitimacy . T he company is managed solely to benefit its shareholders and d rivers are no longer protected against the company through a legally binding contract , resulting in them being deprived of essential rights

Stem Cell Science Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Stem Cell Science - Case Study Example While many teams carry on to improve and develop the role played by bone marrow and cord blood stem cells in their frontline uses in blood and immune ailments, several others are considering to increase the uses of the different types of stem cells for instance, embryonic stem cell that can be used in the curing of diabetes. On the 16th April 2009, Dr. Carlos EB Couri and associates from the College of SÃ £o Paulo carried out an experiment to show how stem cell transplants can aid patients with diabetes. The study involved 23 patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, a medical condition in which the human immune structure quickly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The stem cell transplants seemingly work by rearranging the immune scheme so that the body halts attacking the pancreas. The study used follow-up figures on 16 patients who were initially transplanted with stem cells in an experiment that was earlier conducted and published in 2007, and then joined it with eight more recruits who joined the study up to 2008. The scientists had follow-up data for at least seven and 58 months on all the 23 patients who received the transplant. In the findings, they established that 20 patients with no prior ketoacidosis and had no use of corticosteroids throughout the preparative routinebecame free of insulin injections. Twelve patients continued to be insulin-free for a mean period of about 30 months, despite eight patients reverted and restarted insulin use however at a lower dose. Wainwright, S., Williams, C., Michael, M., Farsides, B., & Cribb, A. (2006). From bench to bedside? Biomedical scientists’ expectations of stem cell science as a future of therapy for diabetes. Social Science & Medicine , 63,

Contemporary Hero's Quest - Harry Potter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Contemporary Hero's Quest - Harry Potter - Essay Example In spite of them being from the wizarding world just like Harry, their efforts unfortunately, cannot match that of Voldermort’s powers. They, therefore, give up and later earn his trust and further help and prepare him for the journey to the unknown world to seek help (Campbell, 2003). In the initiation, the hero experiences trials on the way that makes him weak and vulnerable to the evil forces. He undergoes a change where he discovers a new self with divine supernatural ability. The hero meets two goddesses; the first enlightens him of his new adventure while the second tries to mislead him to give up his quest. Through separation, the hero becomes aware of the new forbidden wizarding world. He enters a threshold-entrance to the wizard world of his destination. Transformation occurs after he crosses the threshold, moves into the world of darkness where he undergoes a rebirth and his old self-dies (Campbell, 2003). He eventually receives a prize he has longed for and reluctantly returns with his new found powers and wisdom from forbidden world. He encounters a chase by the evil forces on his way back, but he quickly adapts to his new self and survives the chase crosses the threshold back to the new world. The power that the hero returns with eventually saves the world from the evil forces (Campbell,

Buying a Computer Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Buying a Computer - Term Paper Example This paper intends to analyze two computers of similar ranges and decide on the best possible option for a particular user. Description of the Chosen Computers The two computers that have been selected to analyze prior to purchase are HP Pavilion p7-1515 Desktop PC and OptiPlex 3010 Desktop by Dell. Both these computers come below the range of US$800 and have certain attractive features in them. Both the personal computers are capable of performing various tasks and are quite user-friendly. Furthermore, both the products come from well known brands and have good brand value. The most important aspect of both the machines is that they will be quite affordable in terms of budget of people as they come at a reasonable price for buyers. Analysis of Both the Computers From the above observation, it has been noted that both the computers i.e. HP Pavilion p7-1515 Desktop PC and OptiPlex 3010 Desktop by Dell have certain attractive features that can draw people quite easily. However, it impo rtant to understand that features of any computer should be capable of fulfilling all the requirements of the users. Thus, it is vital to analyze both the machines and depict whether they would be able to meet the requirements of users or not. ... Furthermore, an in depth analysis of HP Pavilion p7-1515 Desktop PC suggests that the machine is inbuilt with Intel ® Coreâ„ ¢ i5-3470 (3.2 GHz ) and a supporting operating system of Microsoft Windows 8. The speed of the processor is 3.2 GHz which will allow users the opportunity to get work done at a considerable speed. The hard drive of the machine is 1 TB 7200 rpm SATA which is quite impressive for a machine that costs less than US$800. In addition to this, the optical drive of the computer has provides SuperMulti DVD burner that will enable users to perform tasks like reading data and listing to any sort of audio at a rapid speed. Moreover, the user will also get networking feature at 802.11b/g/n along with 4 USB 2.0 which will ensure a better working experience for them. Moreover, USB optical mouse and keyboard are also provided (HP, 2013). Subsequently, the software package that comes with this particular model will catch maximum attraction of people. The inbuilt software with the device includes software package of Norton Internet Security 2013 with an availability of 60-day subscription period among others. Moreover, Amazon Kindle e-reader, CyberLink PhotoDirector, HP Connected Remote along with Photo which is powered by Snapfish, Netflix, CyberLink PowerDVD among others are other pertinent and attractive software offerings. The price of the product is US$669 which is among the vital attractions of the product (HP, 2013). OptiPlex 3010 Desktop by Dell Similar to the above discussed product, OptiPlex 3010 Desktop by Dell also possesses similar sort of features that will attract users. The package can be purchased along with 17 inches Flat Panel monitor of Dell that ensures high quality view to the

An Ethical Evaluation Of The Israeli Palestinian Conflict Religion Essay

An Ethical Evaluation Of The Israeli Palestinian Conflict Religion Essay The Middle East is perhaps the most important region in the world. For followers of the three monotheistic faiths, it contains several holy cities, with the most important being Jerusalem. The violence in the region, specifically in Israel-Palestine, makes it difficult for observers of these religions to worship as they please. There have been many efforts to resolve the conflict begun in the first half of the twentieth century, from peace talks to international laws. However, nothing seems to have helped. The solution needs to be one that benefits all in the region and is ethical. It is impossible, however, to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the current definition of ethics being used ethics of obligations, rights, and claims. Instead, a new ethics of fairness and forgiveness needs to be followed. Memory also needs to experience a shift from a focus on vengeance to a focus on remembering justly. Terms Defined In order to better understand the terms used by different groups examined within this paper, it is necessary to define basic terms and indicate in which ways they will be used. Israel will be used when referring to the present country of Israel. This does not include the occupied territories and is limited to the present day land. Eretz Israel will be used when necessary to describe the historically Biblical land of Israel. Any other forms of Israel discussed will be defined by the year or another trait. The occupied territories (OT) as a term will be used when discussing both the West Bank and Gaza Strip or, in different time periods, any of the lands Israeli forces occupied. If this is the case, the year will be given as well as a geographical description. During the Six Day War in 1967, for example, the Sinai Peninsula would also be an occupied territory. The West Bank was conquered by Israeli forces during the 1967 Six Day War and have been in relative control of the territory ever since. Current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning yet more Israeli settlements within the West Bank. However, international organizations such as the United Nations believe the continued settlements to be illegal.  [1]  The Gaza Strip was controlled by Egypt until the 1967 war, when Israeli forces invaded and conquered it. In 1994, the Palestinian Authority (the governing body of the occupied territories) took political control of lands in the strip not being used by Israeli arme d forces or settlers. East Jerusalem was taken over by Israeli forces during the Six Day War. According to UN Resolution 181, Jerusalem is supposed to be an international city, with a special international regime which shall be administered by the United Nations.  [2]   Fundamentalism is defined by the Encyclopedia Britannica as a type of militantly conservative religious [and/or political] movement characterized by the advocacy of strict conformity to sacred texts.  [3]  To the American public, this term generally is associated with Islamic fundamentalists. Within any religion, however, there can be different groups of fundamentalists. Islamic fundamentalists often restrict themselves to very literal interpretations of the Quran, their main holy text, and the Hadith, a book about the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Islamic fundamentalists are often associated with Islamism. Not all Islamic fundamentalists are Islamists, but generally speaking, all Islamists are Islamic fundamentalists. Islamists want a religious state, with Islamic law, or Sharia, replacing secular laws. Islamists also promote the notion of pan-Islamism, or the unity of all Muslims, and the elimination of non-Islamic influences, such as western ideals, practices, and more.  [4]  For many, this means waging a holy war against outsiders, known as a lesser jihad in mainstream Islam. Jewish fundamentalism is a little more difficult to explain. Gush Emunim is an example of one such group. Zionism is the notion that the Jewish people need to reestablish their homeland in Israel. After the founding of Israel, Zionism evolved into the thought that the Israelis have the right to occupy the entire land of Israel. For some, this means Eretz Israel. There are Zionists who support the state of Israel without religious views coming into play. These are not usually fundamentalists. Zionist fundamentalists are those who use religious viewpoints to support an extreme Zionist cause one that usually involves the occupation of lands in Eretz Israel and the expulsion of all non-Jewish people from Israel, specifically Muslims. The Current Problem with Ethics in the Middle East The area of ethics is difficult to define. The average person tends to believe that it involves laws and/or religions. However, ethics can be better defined as standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues.  [5]  Religions and philosophies do serve as moral compasses for many individuals, but people who do not subscribe to any particular religion still can be ethical and moral. Ethics can be situational or static, and, like other values, can be compromised. Ethics is also involved in notions of justice. While ethics deals with notions of right and wrong, justice utilizes ethics and law in order to come to a fair conclusion regarding specific cases. Highly publicized viewpoints on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, such as those presented by groups like Hamas, often cite a problem of retribution and justice when discussing relations with groups on the other side. There is too much of a focus on achieving justice, or retribution, for past actions. For many, this justice is a requirement for future peace negotiations. However, retribution is not always the right way to achieve a just end nor is it always an available option. There is also a problem with the use of rights. Each group to be evaluated claims the other has no right to exist, whether it is through their actions or ideologies. Israel should not exist, say those who agree with Hamas and Hezbollah, because the inhabitants had no right to occupy the land held by the Palestinians. They believe that they are defending their homelands against Israeli invaders and use this to justify their actions. Many Israelis believe that groups such as Hamas have no right to exist because of their ideological and physical attacks against Israel. These groups create a security problem for Israeli citizens, so Israelis believe any actions against the Palestinians are justified. The problem with claiming that one group has more of a right to exist in an area than another is that rights are very tricky: Rights are, in the words of the legal philosopher Ronald Dworkin, trumps over all other claims. They can also become barriers to compromise and to peace, since it is more difficult sometimes impossible to give up rights than to give up mere preferences of other claims.  [6]   Current peace-seeking groups do try to address some of these problems. Gush Shalom, for example supports a Right of Return for Palestinian refugees where the Israeli government will help to set the Palestinians up in Israel, or even another country. Palestinians can also choose another method of compensation. However, until the work of groups like Gush Shalom can become more mainstream, it does not seem like the above problems can be rightly addressed. From the current ethical standpoint, no one can win. The Middle East has been in turmoil for many years and, as a result, thousands of lives have been lost in the violence. There can be no justice, in the traditional sense of the word, for these victims. There is no way to muddle through the claims on all sides to determine exactly who started what first, or to get retribution for all those who have hurt and suffered. Justice can only occur once we alter our current stance on justice. Presentation and Evaluation of Group Ideologies Each of the following groups has been chosen because of their fundamentalist ideologies and their popularity among the common people within their countries. Hamas has gained political power in the Gaza Strip, giving them legitimacy amongst people residing there. However, their link to terrorism as a result of their ideological beliefs has limited the ability of other countries to recognize Hamas right to lead. Hezbollah faces a similar problem within Lebanon, on a more violent scale. Gush Emunim is the only group to have virtually ceased to exist, except in acceptance of ideology. The beliefs of this group have now become the norm for many living within Israel. Hamas was founded in 1987 and grew out of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood. The next year, however, Hamas published their charter one that began to separate itself from the nonviolent message of the Muslim Brotherhood.  [7]  The group slowly turned into a combination of Islamic fundamentalism and Palestinian nationalism.  [8]  The organization gained power through its extensive social programs. The bulk of their current budget goes to schools, healthcare, soup kitchens, and other social services. Since coming to power in the Gaza Strip in 2006, Hamas has consistently attacked Israel and other Palestinian groups who recognize Israels right to exist through media and physical means. Hamas charter calls for the destruction of Israel and the creation of an Islamist state in its place.  [9]  It is only this, they believe, that will cease the colonization and western influences in Middle Eastern lands. Hamas refuses to recognize the right of Israel to exist. This combined with terrorist links have caused several countries to refuse to recognize the right of Hamas to lead. These counties have since ceased all funding and support. Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political group in Lebanon created as a result of the 1982 invasion of Lebanese lands by Israeli forces. Hezbollah won popularity within Lebanon through their social programs. Their political leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has a very religious background, but does not serve as the religious leader.  [10]  Hezbollah sees the destruction of the Israeli state and the replacement of Israel with an Islamic state as a long-term goal.  [11]  More immediate goals include the establishment of an Islamist state within Lebanon and the expulsion of western powers and influences.  [12]  The main idea is that an Islamist state is the only one which an outside western force will not be able to invade and take over.  [13]  Hezbollah sees violence as a method to bring about the change that they seek. The group itself is quick to point out, though, that they have moved to a less violent and imposing platform based on political action instead of terrorism.  [14 ]  Hezbollah has indeed taken to involvement in political life within Lebanon. It remains a minority group within the Lebanese Parliament. In August of 2008, the Lebanese Parliament approved a national unity cabinet, giving Hezbollah veto power with eleven of thirty seats.  [15]   Both Hamas and Hezbollah have taken extreme positions against Israel. These groups have resorted to violent means in order to get their point across in the past, and continue to do so today. Ironically, these actions have only gotten these groups condemned by international organizations. Violence causes more problems for the people they are trying to help as well as harming others unnecessarily. Hamas has focused too much on their claim to the land which now makes up Israel. From a logical standpoint, there is no way to de-establish Israel and give what Hamas would consider ample justice or retribution. Founded in 1974, Gush Emunim subscribes to an extreme form of Zionism, which calls for Israeli control over Eretz Israel. The group is theological in nature, though this does not make it exclusively religious. The Jewish people have been chosen by God, according to the Bible. The goal of Gush Emunim is to establish settlements in the Palestinian territories in order to eventually regain control of the lands given by God, as well as to promote this goal among others. For members of this group, there is no room for compromise, and to give up the control of any part of Eretz Israel would be blasphemy and a sin against God.  [16]   Gush Emunim began to set up settlements in the occupied territories in the mid to late 1970s. Due mainly to ideological issues, the settlements ended up facing a large amount of resentment and problems with the nearby Arab settlers. They asked for the Israeli government to step in and, eventually, the government felt as though it was forced to do so due to public opinion and violence around the settlements.  [17]  Gush Emunim then set up more settlements in order to reach its goal. To further complicate peace talks and other negotiations in recent years, former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been purported to be a big supporter of Gush Emunim.  [18]   Gush Emunim focused too much on the right of the Israeli people to rule over all of Eretz Israel and not enough on the possible consequences of their actions. While they did come close to achieving their goal, supporters of Gush Emunim forced the government into an awkward position and ended up alienating Palestinians. Using religiously-related rights to these lands also put outside groups in an awkward position. Who is the United Nations to say that God did not give all of Biblical Israel to the Jews? Movements for Peace The following groups have been chosen for their peace-achieving efforts in the Middle East. Gush Shalom is a predominantly Jewish organization, having starting in Israel. The International Solidarity Movement is Palestinian-based. However, like other peace-seeking groups, members of both organizations come from a variety of places. Both groups support the Palestinian struggle. However, the connections between the International Solidarity Movement and possible terrorism are pushing people with the potential to make a difference away. Founded in 1993, Gush Shalom is a very well known peace movement group active within Israel.  [19]  The group is extremely concerned with the treatment of the Palestinian people. They recognize the problems caused by Israeli forces and focus on creating a partnership between the two countries in order to have a more prosperous future. The groups main goals are related to ending the occupation and bringing peace to the region. Unlike other groups, Gush Shalom recognizes the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees, allowing each refugee to choose freely between compensation and repatriation to Palestine and Israel, and fixing by mutual agreement the number of refugees who will be able to return to Israel in annual quotas.  [20]  Even more than that, Gush Shalom has proposed that Israel could help set up Palestinian refugees in another country.  [21]  No one within the organization is paid for their work, as all involvement with Gush Shalom is voluntary.  [22]  The o rganization has won several awards for its efforts to bring peace to the region. The group also works closely with the Palestinian Liberation Organization. This relationship even led to a draft of a peace agreement between the two organizations.  [23]  In this agreement, a two-state solution was discussed, wherein the border of the Palestinian state was defined as the lines of the cease-fire agreement of June 4, 1967.  [24]  A council would be established for Israelis and Palestinians to rule Jerusalem, the capital of both states, together.  [25]  This was first brought up by the United Nations.  [26]  The most interesting part of this document is how Gush Shalom handles the refugee problem. As mentioned before, Palestinian refugees have a choice between staying in Palestine, moving to Israel, or establishing lives in another country.  [27]  A truth commission of historians would be established, whose report on the major problems in Israel and the occupied territories would eventually placed in the textbooks of both countries.  [28]   From an ethical standpoint, Gush Shalom is pushing a new, radical point of view. Other peace groups advocate for the equality of Palestinian peoples and the establishment of a two-state solution. However, this is the only public organization that has made it a priority to investigate the problems inherent in the Middle Eastern conflict and publish them for future Israelis and Palestinians to read about and learn from. Gush Shalom is also one of the only Israeli-based groups petitioning for a Right of Return for the Palestinian people. They recognize the need for massive negotiations and compromise in order to achieve peace. If political groups can take the ideas and positions given here by Gush Shalom, peace could be possible. The biggest problem standing in the way of politicians and groups is how to get elected in Israel while running on this kind of platform. The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) was founded in 2001, with the express mission of assisting the Palestinian people in gaining support for their cause, as well as offering a degree of protection and a way to voice their opinions.  [29]  The ISM promotes nonviolent forms of fighting the occupation, like protesting, marching, and documenting problems between Palestinians and Israeli armed forces (IDF).  [30]  Perhaps the most important part ISM plays is the assistance they give to Palestinians during emergencies, like escorting ambulances through checkpoints.  [31]   In recent years, there has been some controversy over ISMs possible support for suicide bombings. There have been several poorly worded documents in which ISM leaders and other ISM-related people have seemingly supported suicide bombings carried out by Palestinians.  [32]  There have also been some connections to terrorists.  [33]  However, ISM states that they oppose the tactic of suicide bombings, especially those that have been carried out against civilian targets. We dont however think that it is a more brutal tactic than dropping a bomb from a fighter plane on a civilian-occupied apartment building, firing a tank shell down a crowded city street, or placing dynamite in a family home. They are all brutal and repulsive acts.  [34]   ISM also goes on to say that suicide bombings are simply weapons of desperate people who just do not have access to other weapons. While they believe these bombings are reprehensible, it is, in their opinion, an understandable move by an oppressed people fighting for their basic rights.  [35]   While this group is doing very real things to help the Palestinian people within the occupied territories, it is also far too focused on being anti-Israel. There are not a lot of occasions where the ISM and Israeli groups can work together, because of the problems within the ISM handling publicity issues. The poorly worded documents and possible ties to terrorism referred to above have a lot to do that. Despite ISM issuing statements to counter these claims, there are still a lot of concerned people and organizations who are leery of being involved with ISM. ISM workers also face a lot of danger, and many have been killed as a result of their work mostly by the IDF.  [36]  Because of these problems, it is also difficult to say, from an ethical standpoint, how helpful this organization is. It does provide helpful services to Palestinian farmers, like help with harvesting and protection from the IDF. However, there are just too many warning signs for this group to be fully embrace d. A Change in Ethics Evaluating the situation in Israel-Palestine using the current system of ethics does not work. The ethics of rights, obligations, and duties, brings with it too many questions and too many opportunities for disagreement and exclusion. Rights bring up claims which cannot necessarily be disputed or worked with. Obligations and duties require more of a direct acknowledgement of wrongs one group has perpetrated against the other. Unfortunately, in this conflict, there just is no way to keep score. Details of conflicts are too murky in most cases to concretely say which party started what problem. With that in mind, how can it be determined which party owes the other more? This task would be so time-consuming and tedious that there is no way it would benefit those currently in the situation. And so, the world must find a different way of viewing the ethics of this conflict. In his book, The Prophets, Abraham Heschel comes to the realization that there is a better form of ethics, one based not on obligations but instead on fairness. This is based on his unique understanding of the link between justice and righteousness. In essence, they are separate ideals, though they are linked: Righteousness goes beyond justice. Justice is strict and exact, giving each person his due. Righteousness implies benevolence, kindness, generosity. Justice is form, a state of equilibrium; righteousness has a substantive associated meaning. Justice may be legal, righteousness is associated with a burning compassion for the oppressed.  [37]   Justice, then, is more concrete and straightforward. It is something that is currently rewarded, but instead should be automatic.  [38]  However, it can be misused and corrupted.  [39]  This corruption can lead to a perversion of justice, where oppression is rampant.  [40]  Righteousness is needed to help keep justice pure. It involves the quality of a persons character.  [41]  Righteousness is what helps to give justice a more personal touch, moving from a notion of retribution to one of satisfaction and assistance. Justice involves the claims of one person or group and the responsibility of another person or group to answer that claim.  [42]  This works because of the sense that each person in a community is tied together.  [43]  What one person or group does to help another also helps the community as a whole. Righteousness is what helps people to give to the community and to assist each other. In the traditional sense of the word, justice requires retribution jail time, fines, or other punishment to fit a crime or wrong-doing. However, there are situations in which the classic notion of retribution is unthinkable or improper. If one of the parties has died, it becomes more difficult to seek justice for him or her. It is also difficult to handle justice when there are too many conflicting stories to produce proper retribution. Both of the above occur in the Middle Eastern conflict. As exemplified in the story of Cain and Abel, sometimes options other than punishment must be explored: Cain, slaying his brother, does not receive the punishment he deserves. Though justice would require that Abels blood be avenged, Cain is granted divine pardon and protection.  [44]  Here, in a situation where retribution may have been understandable, God instead decides to forgo this form of justice for one of protection and forgiveness. Forgiveness does not dictate that retribution be gi ven for an action, but instead requires a surrendering of grudges and anger. It should be personal and conditional: We may forgive the criminal; is it right to forgive the crime? I may forgive a wrong done to me; but do I have the right to forgive a wrong done to others? Unconditional forgiveness may be found in Pandoras box, a fine incentive to vice. Anger is a reminder that man is in need of forgiveness, and that forgiveness must not be taken for granted.  [45]   When this is applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the real importance of this distinction takes shape. An outside entity cannot fix the conflict, or bring it to an end. It is not the place of the United Nations or other countries to forgive the Israelis and/or the Palestinians. In order for peace to occur, a Palestinian may have to forgive the Israeli people as a whole for wrongs done to them in the past, just as an Israeli may have to forgive the Palestinian people. Does this forgive the crimes themselves? Absolutely not. Does this justify what has occurred between the two parties? Again, the answer is no. However, it is only with this mindset of starting anew that the people involved in this conflict can move beyond past actions and start to look ahead into the future. According to Heschel, then, justice does not have to involve retribution. His ethics of justice involve fairness, righteousness, and forgiveness instead. Using righteousness, Heschel acknowledges the necessity for a personal touch to how justice is carried out. Forgiveness gives us the idea that it is acceptable to forgive a wrong instead of seeking retribution, and that it is a God-like quality. Forgiveness does not dismiss the wrongs committed, but simply clears both the aggressor and victim of some level of guilt and pain. Heschel worries a lot about the misuse of justice. When the human factor is removed from consideration, the compassion that righteousness brings into the equation is gone and no real justice can be had.  [46]  Righteousness must accompany any form of justice, because There are many ways of evading the law and escaping the arm of justice. Only a few acts of violence are brought to the attention of the courts. As a rule, those who know how to exploit are endowed with the skill to justify their acts, while those who are easily exploited possess no skill in pleading their own cause. Those who neither exploit nor are exploited are ready to fight when their own interests are harmed; they will not be involved when not personally affected. Who shall plead for the helpless? Who shall prevent the epidemic of injustice that no court of justice is capable of stopping?  [47]   Israelis, then, can be seen to be the skilled exploiters, while the Palestinians do not possess a real ability to fight for themselves. The international community does not help out, unless their well-being is threatened. The United States will hold peace talks, but beyond that, little governmental help is offered to the Palestinians. What the Palestinians need is a prophet of sorts, someone to voice the problems they face. Where Can the Alternate Understanding Be Seen Today? Former President Jimmy Carter could be the Palestinians prophet. He was instrumental in bringing about a more peaceful period in the Middle East when he hosted the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978. In the end, three different conclusions were made. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank were to be given the opportunity to rule themselv

Narrative Structures in Zadie Smiths White Teeth and Toni Morrisons B

Narrative Structures in Zadie Smith's White Teeth and Toni Morrison's Beloved The novels 'White Teeth' by Zadie Smith and 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison both explore many different issues. However, a principle theme that appears to be common in both is the way in which the past influences the present profoundly and both authors use the narrative structures of the books to present this idea to the reader. The exploration of the relationships between characters through time, the past haunting the present and the way in which history and culture is revealed through the past are important devices used to show the emotions and further the plot. Each author does this in a very different way though and this is the power of the narrative structure and the way in which it can be used in a variety of different manners in order to achieve a similar effect. The narrative structure of 'White Teeth' is very logical. The novel is divided decisively into sections in order to present the reader with the emotions and views of the main characters. The four sections 'Archie 1974, 1945', 'Samad 1984, 1857', 'Irie 1990, 1907' and 'Magid, Millat and Marcus 1992, 1999' provide the reader with a clear cut structure to the novel, with the past and present accurately intertwined. The separate 'books' in the novel help the reader to understand how each character feels about the others, and therefore explores their relationships between time. The main example of this is the fact the Archie and Samad have been best friends since the Second World War. However, their friendship is based on a lie that Archie killed a Nazi scientist who was helping to develop the Master Race. The separate books help the reader to understand this and the... ... way in which mistakes and horrific events can consume the mind. Two novels, which primarily appear to be about the struggle of races and racism in society are in fact also about the importance of time. Smith writes at the beginning of the novel: 'What's past is prologue' from 'The Tempest' perhaps suggesting that the novel is in fact based upon the idea that the past and the present are essentially intertwined and play an important role in modern day life. The way in which the past can haunt the present, have a negative and positive influence on the way in which characters react and the plot develops in both 'White Teeth' and 'Beloved'. It is an essential element of both novels which helps to create a layered structure and give depth to the plot so that the events of the present have a past: a basis which creates a more profound effect of the reader.