HUM1000 - Introduction to the Humanities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HUM1000 - Introduction to the Humanities - Essay Example I married, climbed the ladder of success and then wham; just when I thought it was all coming together nicely, there was my epiphany moment. How sad to have spent my entire life merely existing when my soul was dying to live! Such is life; full of surprises and lessons to learn. It’s amazing to see how fragile and unpredictable life is, full of twists and turns in the unexpected. We think we are living our lives in the utmost way, yet we’ve not begun to live at all. Existence carries a heavy price for everyone. There is the life we didn’t live, and all the joy missed along the way, as well as the life we endured, with all the misery and suffering like â€Å"a stone falling downward with increasing velocity.† I really didn’t know much about bringing my family close to me; most people were respectful and polite in families when I grew up. Honestly, I thought that’s how it was done. I was a good man, a good provider; I always tried to do the right thing at the right time, a proper life I lived. Isn’t that what good men do? Yet, I see â€Å"my life was not real at all but a terrible and huge deception which had hidden both life and death.† To live a lie is not to have lived at all. I would give anything to be able to go back and embrace my family; to be close to them, to really know them and have them know me. If only I could hold my children one more time, I would bring them close and tell them to love with all your heart, make each day the best day of your life, and most of all, choose people over things. Don’t worry so much about the things that don’t matter, the petty things that don’t really add quality to your life; those silly, small things will take care of themselves. The real world is the world of right now, today is all there is. Live your life on purpose, making each day a real part of your dream. Don’t wait until tomorrow

Blood Donation Essay Essay Example for Free

Blood Donation Essay Essay As you are listening to me, you might not think that today is the day that you will save a life. It is quite easy to save a life any day and it only takes a little bit of your time. I’m not talking about being a paramedic or fireman; I am talking about the simple act of donating blood. Almost anybody can donate blood but in order to do so, you must be fit and healthy. In other words; you’re not suffering from a cold, the flu, or any other illnesses. Also, it is extremely critical that you meet the ideal weight which would be anything above 45 KG. You must be between the ages 16-70 if you wish to donate your blood. Make sure that you eat a healthy meal before your donation and that you are drinking an ample amount of liquids preferably juice or water (and absolutely no alcohol) 3 hours prior to donating. [1] There are four key tips in order to have a successful blood donation. Make sure to keep yourself hydrated, wear something comfortable, bring a list of medication that you are taking (as it is important for the doctors to know about any prescription and/or over the counter medications that may be in your system) and lastly, make sure you maintain a healthy level of iron in your diet before donating your blood. Most importantly, you have to relax and feel at ease! Blood donation is an extremely safe procedure and there should be absolutely nothing to be concerned about. [2] Why should you donate blood? The answer is rather quite simple; safe blood saves lives and improves health. Your bloods main components: plasma, red cells, and platelets are vital for plenty of different uses. Plasma provides the body with plenty of nutrients and protein. Red blood cells are used predominantly in treatments for blood diseases along with cancer. They also help in the making of treating anemia. Platelets contribute to helping repair any signs of damaged body tissue. [3] The donation process from the time you arrive until the time you leave takes about an hour maximum. The donation itself is only about 8-10 minutes on average. The nurse will be sure to cleanse an area on your arm and then insert a sterile needle into it for the blood draw. This shot feels like a  quick pinch and is over in a matter of seconds. Certain donation types such as red cells, platelets or plasma can take up to 2 hours. The nurse draws approximately a pint of blood from you during every donation period. [4] So that now you know how easy it is to donate blood, it’s time to take action. After all, you have plenty of blood, so why not share? When you do, you will feel good about yourself and you will save a life. By giving blood, every donor is contributing to a nation-wide challenge to provide life-saving products whenever and wherever they are needed. Citation: [1] Australian Red Cross Blood Service â€Å"Am I eligible to donate blood?† http://www.donateblood.com.au/who-can-give/am-i-eligible Web. 2014. [2] The American Red Cross â€Å"Donation Process† http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/tips-successful-donation Web. 2015. [3] â€Å"Why give blood?† http://www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/why-give-blood/ Web. [4] The American Red Cross â€Å"Donation Process† http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/donation-process Web. 2015.

Fuel Cell Technology :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Fuel Cell Technology Fuel Cells are a hot topic these days between the soon to come fuel cell cars that Toyota and Honda plan on unveiling this year and the $1.2 billion president Bush announced he would dedicate to fuel cell research during his State of the Union address. The least efficient of these electrochemical energy converters are at least as efficient as internal combustion engines and many are doubly as efficient when using special techniques. Exhaust from fuel cells is extremely clean, often consisting only of water. Although some use hydrocarbons, fuel cells give off around one one-hundredth of the pollutants given off by an internal combustion engine using the same amount of fuel (Fuel Cell Technology Handbook). Unfortunately some engineering and infrastructure problems, especially costs, are keeping fuel cells from commercial viability right now. A Brief History of Fuel Cell Technology The ideas behind fuel cells have existed for around one hundred and sixty years. Sir William Grove is cited as the first person to think that one could produce a current by reversing the electrolysis of water (SAE.org). However, it was until fifty years later that the term ‘fuel cell’ was coined by two researchers, Charles Langer and Ludwig Mond, trying to invent the first viable fuel cell fueled by coal gas (SAE.org). The technology lay dormant for most of the early twentieth century because of great advances in the use of internal combustion engines. It wasn’t until 1959 that practical fuel cells were first demonstrated. NASA quickly took interest in the technology for the Apollo missions and since there has been a renaissance in research and development of fuel cells. Currently, there are on the order of hundreds of fuel cell generators in operation world wide, cities such as L.A., Chicago, and New York, own fuel cell powered public transit vehicles, and both Honda and Toyota plan on making fuel cell powered car commercially available within one year (fuelcells.org). How a Fuel Cell Works A fuel cell is an energy converter that uses electrochemical energy to create an electric current. Because they use electrochemistry for power, fuel cells are often likened to batteries that run on fuel. This description is not a bad one, but to be more precise, a fuel cell creates direct current by ionizing a fuel and then moving those ions through a circuit. The three main components are the anode (negatively charged piece), cathode (positively charge piece), and electrolyte (medium for the transfer of ions). Fuel, typically hydrogen, is ionized at the anode by a catalyst (substance that can change an interaction, but does not change the chemistry of it).

Gay Marriage is Immoral Essay

The debate over the acceptability of the same sex marriage in today’s world has raged on for a number of years now. Both pro and anti same sex marriage activists have been locked in a perpetual tug of war over whether this marriage is ethical or unethical or whether it should be legalized or outlawed. Since the first same sex marriage was given a formal recognition in Denmark, efforts have been stepped up by gay activists to have the same replicated in Europe and in the United States and with considerable success though. The term same sex marriage is used to denote a civil union of people from the same sex, recognized by law and accepted by the society. With all the controversy that has raged over this debate and after a clear analysis of the arguments and counter arguments, this paper maintains that same sex marriages are immoral and defy the natural order of the society. There are a number of reasons that indicate that gay marriages are immoral and should not be in any way recognized by law or by the society. The traditional stand and definition of marriage, a definition that has stood the test of time is that it is union of two consenting people, a man and a woman and not a union of two men or two women. This is the same stand taken by the two important Holy books; the Bible and the Quran. For the law to recognize same sex marriages or the society to purport to support gay unions, it is to go against the conventions as set by religion and traditions. Islam is vehemently opposed to same sex marriages. In the Quran, Muhammad Abu Zahra defines marriage as a contract between a man and a woman with an intention of living and assisting each other. Ibn Uthaimeen also takes a similar comprehensive perspective in regard to marriage seeing it too as a mutual contract entered into by a man and a woman with the sole purpose of bringing up a family. Procreation is core to marriage from an Islamic perspective. Christianity is against the union of gays in a marriage. The motivation behind this opposition stems from the book of Genesis where it says that God created man and a woman so that they can live together and assist each other. God saw that man had grown lonely in the garden of Aden and thought that He could give him a helper. This helper turned out to be a woman. According to the bible, homosexuality is a sin and will be highly punished. The Bible seems to lump homosexuals alongside murderers and thieves, meaning that it highly disapproves of such tendencies. It hence would be a contravention of Christianity for the same church to go ahead and bless same sex marriages (Caramagno, Thomas C, 34). There is a ranging controversy in the modern world when the issue of the same sex marriages comes up especially amongst Christians. Many liberal churches have gone ahead and blessed same sex marriages purporting to get the justification for this from the bible. This is not possible as the bible strongly condemns it, referring to it as an abomination. The new liberal churches are just consumed by the desire to appear modern and accommodating but not driven by the motivation to fulfill bibles promises. The Catholic Church for example has maintained its conservative stand on these issues quoting verses from the bible and not willing to conform to modernity, this is in spite of the fact that a number of bishops and presents have come out in a strong support of same sex marriages. It should be emphasized that in spite of the modern views on gay marriages, the bible still sees it as an immoral practice. The only union that Christianity should recognize is the marriage between a man and a wife (Robert P. George, Jean Bethke Elshtain, 46). A look at the various cultures in the world indicates that they are against homosexuality and by extension same sex marriages. A look at the history of homosexuality shows that it has always been frowned upon in the society, a concept referred to as homophobia. The mid of last century was full of hostilities towards homosexuals who were being subjected to all manner of injustices in the society. This sort of discrimination was cultural based; traditions were against homosexuality in the dominant feeling that it was immoral and also an abnormal practice. This is a notion that still stands in many cultures. Only in the last decades of the last century did this discrimination subside. Cultural relativism posits that our beliefs and practices are direct products of our culture. The dominant cultures are against homosexuality and hence no more accommodating towards same sex marriages. Emmanuel Kant’s philosophy on categorical imperative states that humanity should â€Å"act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law† (James welling, 1993) According to Kant, what is considered moral is one which can be done by everybody under all circumstances. Same sex marriages then are not acceptable if interpreted alongside this line of thinking. Traditionally, the real essence of marriage is procreation. This is something that can be achieved through same sex marriages. Emmanuel Kant could not have approved same sex marriages on the basis that they can not be taken up by whole or greater portion of the society. Similar to the cultural relativism principle is the virtue theory that seeks to lay great emphasis on virtues. The society has clearly demarcated virtues from vices. Stealing and promiscuity are vices that are frowned upon by every orthodox society. Homosexuality has been traditionally considered a vice and hence same sex marriage according to the virtue theory is also unacceptable. There is also the concern that allowing same sex marriage is tantamount to signaling the end of the world in terms of population density. It has been mentioned that religion and traditions recognize procreation as a key factor in marriage. This is one aspect that is clearly missing from gay marriages. It is important to note though that there are laws in some states and countries that allow same sex partners to adopt children. Sociologists have questioned the rationality of such an idea and whether such children will be able to grow up like normal kids. Perfect families comprise of both man and wife who come together to bring up children giving them both maternal and paternal love. Same sex marriages deny children the rights to enjoy this kind of love. There are a number of arguments that have been put forward by the proponents of same sex marriages. One of them centers on freedom association as a basic right. Freedom of choice movement and association are basic rights enshrined in the bill of rights. Discrimination is also an issue tackled in the same breath when human rights come up. By failing to give recognition to same sex marriages, the law and the society are discriminating against the minority. They go ahead and argue that homosexuals are human beings in need of recognition and liberty to do what they see fit without any form of discrimination. To deny them the right to marry like the heterosexuals is a contravention of their rights, privileges and benefits accessible to heterosexual partners in marriage. This is their basic human right (Wolfson, Evan, 19). Proponents of same sex marriages also use the evolution theory to justify its appropriateness. They have noted that the society and traditions have undergone an evolution and the society is gradually becoming more accommodating. Some held notions traditionally have ceased to hold. Polygamy was acceptable in the past but it is frowned upon nowadays. Homosexuality was seen as illegal but now it has become an acceptable practice. Having children out of wedlock is not considered a cardinal sin anymore. Proponents are saying that the same case should happen to the institution of marriage. The traditional idea of marriage as being a union of a man and a woman should also change to include same sex partners to ensure that many people join this holy institution Homosexuality too they argue is not unnatural, it is not unusual as some people claim it is. Homosexuality is a natural behavior deeply ingrained in a person’s genes and hence cannot be controlled. Prohibiting same sex marriages on the basis that people can change their behavior is wrong as it denies them a chance to be in a lasting, loving and faithful relationship as sexual orientation is incontrollable (Chauncey, George, 19). On the issue of its legalization, proponents of same sex marriages scoff at the idea that religion should have a say on whether it should be legal or should be prohibited. They claim that separation of states and religion is a key ingredient to any progressive and democratic nation. The government hence should not have a say on who one should marry or should not marry. This however is an argument that does not hold any water. Though they are right in their claim that the church and the state should be separated, this separation however does not delink totally religion from the process of law making. Laws and government legislations are a product of traditions and practices which to a certain extent are inspired by religion. Religious views have to be incorporated to ensure synergy. The argument on the evolution of societal practices is ill advised, just because changes have occurred and some things frowned upon have become acceptable does not mean that the society has to accept every thing that comes its way even when its inappropriateness has been recognized. Proponents of same sex marriage when they advocate against discrimination and decry their human rights violation. Discrimination against any person for his sexual orientation or gender is not acceptable, but this does not mean that same sex marriage is acceptable, but this does not mean that same sex marriages should be recognized. The societal traditions and values have to be upheld. In conclusion, it is important to note that prohibiting same sex marriages is not in anyway contravening fundamental rights of same sex partners, it is just a way of upholding values, beliefs and ideals entrenched deep in the society. Same sex marriages are immoral as they go against the conventions of the Bible and the Quran, both of which consider it immoral. Same sex marriages go against the traditional institution of marriage as they do not conform to one of its core essential, procreation. Legalizing same sex marriage is tantamount to sanctioning moral erosion and contravention of societal values and ideals. Works Cited Kant, Immanuel; translated by James W. Ellington [1785] Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals 3rd ed. Hackett. 1993, p30. Wolfson, Evan . Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People’s Right to Marry. New York: Simon & Schuster. 2004, 19.

Operation Gomorrah Essay

â€Å"Operation Gomorrah† Ingram recalls her childhood experiences of war within her home city of Hamburg, Germany. The writing techniques and detailed descriptions within the autobiographical narrative reflect Ingram’s sensitive nature and the emotional link she has to her childhood because of this traumatic event. â€Å"I was eight years old and a respectful, obedient child. But one day in late July my mother asked me to do something and I disobeyed her, and I shall be forever glad that I did.†(Marione Ingram 123) Usually a boy who is only 8 years old should be naughty and mischievous. However, at the beginning of the story, the author tells us that he was thought to be a respectful, obedient child by others. The plot that Ingram does not want to sent his baby sister Renate to his cousin’s apartment (123) indicate that Ingram has his own thoughts, has his likes and dislikes. But he is so sensitive that he cares too much about what others think. He loves his mother, he does not willing to let her down. So, although he does not want to go outside from within, he tried (123). We can imagine that how much joy and pleasure of childhood he has lost to force himself to live up to this reputation to be respectful and obedient. This is too cruel to this little boy. But he was thrilled to be outdoors (123). At that moment, there must have been an intense internal conflict in his heart. On the one hand, he does not willing to destroy his reputation to be obedient as well as let his mother down, but on the other hand, he cannot manage to overcome his internal fears. After a struggle, he turned back and then began to hurry to home (123). When he thought back to the whole story, he found that if he had followed his mother’s direction to carry his baby sister to his cousin’s apartment and he himself stayed there, he would not have experienced the great disaster: the Operation Gomorrah. For the obedient child, he regrets for his whole life for that only one resist. His sensitive makes him a person who always thinks too much. That he always considers the feelings of others, regrets the past and be worried about the future makes him a shilly-shally and inner-turmoiled person. Ingram states â€Å"I pulled mother away from the stove, tugging first one limp arm and then the other. I managed to get her head and a shoulder into the  dining room†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (124) â€Å"I was sitting on the floor with her head in my lap, trying to think what to do, when coming from the bottom of the stairwell where I’d left the pram I could hear the faint sounds of my baby sister’s whimpering†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (124) â€Å"There were no air raids to disturb us, though I woke up often to see if she was still unconscious†¦ † (125). When his mother was ill, the 8-year-old lithe boy took the responsibility of taking care of his mother and his baby sister. His behavior described in this part gave me the feeling of unreal. He took care of his mother and baby sister so carefully that he can even hear the faint sounds of his baby sister’s whimpering from the bottom of the stairwell. He was worried about his mother and baby sister and tomorrow’s l ife, so he woke up often during that night. It is totally not like a little boy’s behavior. All of these plots indicate that Ingram has subtle nerves. He is sensitive to environment. â€Å"I looked at mother and I understood† (Marione Ingram 125). What did this little boy understand from two adults’ conversation? At first reading I do not understand what he got. But then I understood that Inge was reluctant to help them during that desperate situation. From Inge’s talk, emotion and action, he and his mother understood the key point. He is so smart and sensitive to things. His sensitivity inspires his thinking. He is good at observation and analysis. I have to admire the little boy’s understanding. But the little boy did not show any unhappiness or lose his temper about his cousin’s attitude. He was so quiet just keep his thought in his mind. As for the disaster, Marion Ingram used abundant detail description to show the chaos scene. He describes his former playmate like this â€Å"She was holding her favorite doll, holding it tight and turning slightly away as if she feared I might try to snatch it from her†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (127). The description showed a girl’s behavior in desperate situation vividly. There are also many environmental descriptions during the bombing. â€Å"A false dawn lit the southeastern sky, rouging mother’s cheeks and painting the walls of buildings on our side of the street a lurid red†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (128). At one point between life and death, Ingram still have one part of his heart concerning his mothers’ emotion and remember forever. When he was in his mother’s arm, he was observing how other people trying to survive. â€Å"Then a woman carrying  an infant came running down the street along the same route we had taken. She was followed by a young man dressed in the khaki shorts and shirt of a Hitler Youth. I thought they must be fleeting from a bomb shelter that had been damaged, possibly the one mother had been heading for when we first left our apartment building†¦ † (131). There are abundant psychological and action descriptions. â€Å"I thought they must be fleeting from a bomb shelter that had been damaged†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (131). â€Å"I thought his difficulty might be the hot wind roaring down the avenue in front of us and almost expected to see him lifted up as he ran†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (131). â€Å"I thought I could hear their screams and ducked down into the crater with my eyes closed and my hands oter my ears.† (131). â€Å"When it seemed that I was about to suffocate, I pulled the blanket away and stuck up my head†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (131-132). â€Å"When I closed my eyes it felt as if we were lying between railroad tracks while an endless train rumbled over us so swiftly†¦Ã¢â ‚¬  (132). All these descriptions are so fine, specific and smooth that almost give us a movie picture. Sensitive and delicate as he is, he is able to remember every single detail, every change in emotion, every piece of his thought. In conclusion, Marione Ingram concludes abundant detail descriptions in this essay that even gave readers the feeling that this story is not his own story. In this way, the author shaped a sensitive character from different point of view. And because of his sensitive nature, he is also a shilly-shally person who always suffers intense inner struggle, he is a good thinker and observer which made him a good writer, he is a very kind person who would consider for others at every minutes.

how Alfred changes in the contender Essays

how Alfred changes in the contender Essays how Alfred changes in the contender Paper how Alfred changes in the contender Paper How Alfred changes what kind of changes does Alfred go through in the book The Contender by Robert Lipsyte. what he does to change himself throughout the book. the first change that he makes is that he disciplines himself. How Alfred disciplines himself is that he gets up at five A. M every morning. Then he goes out to train by Jogging around his neighborhood every single day. He then gets ready for work which is something he did before. The second change in Alfred is that he is more confident, and he stands up for himself when he is getting bullied. He finally says no to Major,when he asks Alfred to disable the burglar alarm. MaJor was shocked that Alfred would say no to him,He was shocked because Alfred never talked back to Major and never said no to him before for anything. MaJor then says to Alfred that he will give him a few days to change his mind. The third change that Alfred becomes a well rounded person with many new friends to help him out. Also (its the Effort and not the win that makes the man). Alfred has now found a purpose in life and he considers going back to school instead of being a chool dropout. His goals are now to go back to school and try to graduate and become more successful throughout his life. In conclusion Alfred has evolved into a mature,selfless adolescent who seems destined to apply what he learned from being a boxer. And to know what it means to have a bright future ahead of him while trying to save his best friend from dying or killing himself from some stupid decisions from doing drugs without knowing the side effects from them. And from continuing a life of drugs and being self destructive.

Heres the catch essays

Heres the catch essays I would have to say that Joseph Hellers Catch-22, was at least enjoyable to read. There were several aspects about it that made it good and bad at the same time. First, I think the most important thing aspect to look at, is that Heller makes death, a traditionally sickening topic, a humorous event. It is humorous because of the way he illustrates who is crazy. I assumed that Yossarian was the insane one in the beginning. Now, I cant say that I am sure. I like how this book makes the reader think. Who really is crazy? Does anyone know? Yossarian is doing anything he needs to, to survive. Does that make him insane? In my eyes, he is living on instincts, the way he should. The threat of death keeps him going. He is not insane. So who is insane, the reader, the writer? I dont feel that I can answer that. If anything, I think all of the above. It is neat to see how one would act when faced with death. I think what Heller was trying to say is that when someone knows they a re dying, nothing makes sense to them. When we see people that know they are dying, we think that they dont make sense. So, we cant really know who is making sense. Its very tricky in that way. This at least kept me awake and thinking while reading it. I think the main conflict of the story, was between humanity and the rules. We are forced to do something by law then we pay the ultimate price for it. The best part is that we do it all for the idea that we are protecting those laws. The idea of a Catch-22 is interesting. Its like saying, A person has the right to do anything that another person cannot stop them from doing. This catch appears throughout the entire book. It was quite evident when the Italian woman is talking about the Military Police. It is also clearly evident when Yossarian is walking down the stairs. He is cursing Catch-22, although he doesnt believe in it. Ther...