Ethical Issues Faced by the Accountancy Profession Essay

Ethics plays an essential and integral part in the accountancy profession. Professional conduct plays an important role in establishing public trust in financial reporting and business practise. Yet this can and has come under threat when clients and employees are exposed to the risk of fraud when accounting ethics are not adhered to. Codes of ethics are adopted to ensure the reliability, comparability and integrity of financial statements. Ethical standards exist to safeguard the fundamental principles of accountancy and recognize threats to these principles so judgement can be made to resolve ethical dilemmas. However an accountant frequently faces ethical issues due to their work and not always stays vigilant to the manipulating†¦show more content†¦In recognizing the importance of ethics to the accounting profession, many colleges and universities have incorporated ethics into the accounting curriculum in recent years to meet industry demands. Somers, M. (2001) found that a growing interest in codes of ethics is evident in organizations over the past few decades. In his article, Somers outlines the influence of codes on employee behaviour in organizations. He states the effects of the growing adoption of codes of ethics in organizations is not being addressed as unethical perceptions and behaviour continue. Somers carried out a survey of a sample of management accountants in the U.S and he found that respondents in organizations with formal codes of ethics were less aware of unethical activity in their organization compared to respondents in organizations without a formal code of ethics. These results indicate that neither the presence of corporate codes of ethics nor a high level of familiarity with the institute of Management Accountants code of ethics had any influence on employee propensity to report observed wrong doing. Somers then surveyed whether or not the respondents had personally observed or obtained direct evidence of financial fraud in the present organization within the last five years. Nearly 56% had observed wrong doing and around 35% ofShow MoreRelatedthe legal ethical and technological conerns paper1087 Words   |  5 Pages The Legal, Ethical, and Technological Concerns Paper For as long as businesses have existed, so has accounting. With time, it has become more complicated and detailed, but it is still a process of keeping financial accounts in order. Through accounting, or financial reporting, a system is set up to keep track of, maintain and audit the financial proceedings. Because accounting and financial reporting of a business is so important for its accuracy and in general, a lot of ethical, technologicalRead MoreEthics : The Principles Of A Culture Individuals, Organisation Or Groups814 Words   |  4 Pagesbe. Ethical behaviour is very important to business as it may bring significant benefits to the firm and its workers, such as attracting customers to their products by increasing their trust through ethical behaviour which will increase their sales and profits. Ethical behaviour also attracts more talented and well educated workers which means not only can the firm increase its productivity but also boost their success through having more qualified workers. However if a business lacs ethical behaviourRead MoreWhat Is a Conceptual Framework and Why Is It Needed1135 Words   |  5 Pagesfinancial reporting. Differences in financial reporting have developed from a complex array of factors that include: dissimilar legal systems; differences in the way industries are financed; differences in taxation treatment; the status of the accountancy profession in relation to the capital market; the extent to which accounting theory has developed; accidents in history; and language limitations that have produced difficulties in translating and understanding financial concepts and phrases (ElliotRead MoreThe Audit Expectation Gap Analysis1922 Words   |  8 Pagesaudit expectation gap The meaning of the expectation gap involves argument concerning the contradictory meaning of what an audit is to user of financial statement, the public and the audit profession. Expectation gap is the difference between what the public assumes to be the role of audit and what the audit profession claim their role is in carrying out the audit function. . All the theories above describe the expectations the stakeholders have of the auditors, including protection against fraud, warningRead MoreOrganizational Behaviour Issues1427 Words   |  6 PagesFinal Report- Organizational Behavior â€Å"Issues in Organizational Behaviour based on own experiences† Student No. Structure: 1. Introduction 2. Main Body and Recommendations 3. Conclusion 4. References What is Organizational Behaviour? Organizational Behaviour is nothing else than developing our understanding and development of people skills. A multidisciplinary field devoted to understanding individual and group behaviour, interpersonal process and organizational dynamics. DifferentRead MoreThe Rise of Enron Essay examples1632 Words   |  7 Pagesof this decade ethical scandals erupted though corporate America. Corporate Leaders from major companies such as Enron were caught up in scandal’s ranging from fraud, conspiracy, grand larceny to obstruction of justice† (Cross, 2011, p. 76). At the time, the Enron scandal was considered to be one of the most notorious and compelling business ethics cases in modern generations. It’s was a textbook version of what can go wrong in an organization that lacks a true culture of ethical standards. InvestorsRead MoreEvolution of Accounting Thought6174 Words   |  25 PagesHendriksen and Michael F. van Breda, Four Thousand Years of Accounting, Chapter 2 of Accounting Theory, 5th edition, Irwin, 1992 Accountancy, from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accounting. Retrieved January 20, 2011. Contents of lecture notes: 1. Introduction 2. Why bother with the history of accounting? 3. The beginnings 4. So what is ‘accounting’ (or ‘accountancy’)? 5. Double-entry accounting 6. Why double-entry accounting? 7. The period 1500 to 1800 8. The period 1800 to 1955 9. The periodRead MoreInternal and External Auditors2105 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction..................................................................................................................2 2. The role of internal and external auditors in corporate governance..............................2 3. Difficulties faced by auditors in contribution to corporate governance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....4 4. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.6 5. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.7 1. Introduction Corporate governance involves measuring, reporting, transparencyRead MoreGuidelines For Format And Content Of The Thesis3172 Words   |  13 PagesGUIDELINES FOR FORMAT AND CONTENT OF THE DISSERTATION CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY Background The accounting profession was founded on the basis of public trust; the public must have confidence in the services provided by public accountants. Scholars agree accounting ethics education is one way to solidify public trust in the accounting profession. (Mastracchio Jr, Jimà ©nez-Angueira, Toth, 2015). In the aftermath of accounting scandals of the previous decade - specifically, thoseRead MoreLakeside3416 Words   |  14 PagesLakeside Company: Auditing Cases, 12th edition, has been updated in light of the accounting scandals of the early 2000s, the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the renewed interest in ethics within the accounting and auditing profession. Sarbanes-Oxley issues have been incorporated in two ways. First, case content has been altered to include Lakeside’s consideration of financing expansion through an initial public offering, and the resulting impact such a decision would have on Lakeside

Graduation Speech High School - 1956 Words

Society then and now is filled with people that chase their dreams of being famous, smart, or a pro sport competitor. What separates those who succeed and fail is the amount of dedication they put in, whether or not it started early in their life. For me it began when I was a freshman in high school. I was very active in playing in the marching and concert band. I played the saxophone and impressed a few other students during class. About a week later, after my class period ended, two friends of mine came up to me and suggested that I try out for the show choir band. I asked what it was and found out that it was a band playing with a singing and dancing choir. I was not at all hesitant to say yes and I remember having to ask my mom if it was okay that I was trying out for the band and she surprisingly said yes. I was filled with excitement being offered an opportunity like that and so I quickly walked to the choir room after the school day was over, played my audition piece, and in t he end I made the band. Later on I talked to a few of my other friends from band and encouraged them to try out and so they did. They all ended up making the band as well and so the beginning of a new show choir band began. Once all of the try outs were concluded my friends and I were all given a schedule and informed when the first practice was. I looked at the schedule thinking that practices were not going to be long, but looking at the first practice made me realize that this band is going toShow MoreRelatedGraduation Speech : High School934 Words   |  4 Pageslife would be graduation. For many people, graduating from high school is an objective. It takes a lot of time, effort, and determination to accomplish that goal. For others graduation is the end of high school, and the beginning of a new chapter in life. When graduated people feel as if adulthood has begun. In the long run, graduating opens a lot of opportunities for people to thrive. I can almost reminisce the day as if it was yesterday. I was sitting in bed like any other school day. It seemedRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School852 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to a report from Thomas Nelson Community College website, 15.7 percent is the graduation rate in 2010. 84 percent of students failed to receive their degree. That’s beyond sad. College can be difficulty especially with everyday life is getting harder to main family life work and financials. Because college is challenging, I know that I have issues that I must overcome. I told myself the more patient s I have the better success I will have. Although college will be difficult my goal isRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School Essay2254 Words   |  10 Pages The day I graduated from high school The High school graduation day is a life full of journeys for everyone, high school life is a memorable time for most people, for me as well. High school can be filled with lots of good memories for some people and it could be filled with bad memories, for me it was both I had good times and I had bad times. The High school Graduation day should definitely be the best day of your life because that means no more high school, no more having to wake up at 6Read MoreGraduation Speech : High School Graduation854 Words   |  4 Pagesfail High School graduation can be an exciting time in a student’s life. It is a time in their lives where they begin to experience the kind of freedom that comes along with growing up. This freedom allows students to choose the type of college or University they would like to attend. It is necessary that they understand how responsible they need to be with the freedom that is being offered to them. When choosing what college or university to attend it may be tempting to want to go to a school thatRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School Graduation1507 Words   |  7 PagesForest English 1010 9/9/2014 Graduation During our lives, most of us have hated getting up early. Whether we as humans enjoy mornings or not, we’re always looking forward to that unforgettable day. That special is high school graduation for me. Graduation is a ceremony that recognizes students that have excelled through school. Graduation was one of the best days of my life, perhaps even better than the day that I started college. There is no other day like graduation where there comes this feelingRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School Graduation933 Words   |  4 PagesHigh School Graduation With regards to high school graduation, Balfanz, Herzog, and Iver (2007) followed 12,972 Philadelphia students enrolled in traditional middle schools from six grade (1996-1997) until 1 year beyond their expected graduation from high school (2003-2004) in order to understand what indicators would affect their projected graduation date. Unlike many of the early K-8 schools, the population Balfanz et al followed consisted of 64% African American, 19% White, 12% Hispanic,Read MoreGraduation Speech On High School Graduation851 Words   |  4 PagesThere Is No Success Without The Opportunity to Fail High School graduation can be an exciting time in a student’s life. It is a time when they begin to experience the kind of freedom that comes along with growing up. This freedom allows students to choose the type of college or University they would like to attend. It is necessary that they understand how responsible they need to be with the freedom that is being offered to them. When choosing what college or university they would like toRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School997 Words   |  4 Pagesup, I loved going to school and dreamed of one day attending college. Attending school every day and receiving good grades had become my top priority from K-12. I excelled from K-8th grade, but entering into high school was completely different than primary school. The atmosphere and environment was new to me, I was free to roam the halls or walk back out the door without any repercussions. This began my downward spiral in high school. My freshman year was by far the best school year for me becauseRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School897 Words   |  4 PagesHigh school was one of the most challenging moments in my life. Not only did I have to deal with the academic pressures and social issues from my peers I had external factors that were heavily impacting me as well. During my junior year my mom separated from her husband and me and my three little brothe rs ended up staying house to house with close relatives. Shortly after that time at the beginning of my senior year, my mom was sent to prison. In the midst of dealing with all of the demands thatRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School Essay1434 Words   |  6 PagesWhen I was in high school I had one goal, I would graduate top of my class and go to the University of Florida for pre-medicine, then onto their medical school. I never considered that I would want anything else, so I went to a specialty high school that would allow me to specialize in Biomedical sciences(STEM) and never even thought about the possibility of a life other than the one I had so precisely planned out for myself. When my nephews were born my sophomore year all of my priorities changed

Codification Master Glossary Essay Example For Students

Codification Master Glossary Essay Question 1 Is the Enterprise a VIE as defined in the Codification Master Glossary? If so. what standard cause it to be deemed a VIE? Assume that ( 1 ) the Enterprise does non measure up for any range exclusions and ( 2 ) the equity investing by the Nominee Shareholders in the Enterprise represents equity investing at hazard. The endeavor is a VIE as defined in the codification of the maestro glossary. From the narrative. nominee equity holders do non absorb the losingss of the endeavor and make non profit from the residuary addition the residuary addition instead goes to the WFOE. The nominee equity holders though they own 100 % of the portion can non run the activities of the endeavor ; the activities are run by the WFOE as they provide the rational belongings. employees. resources and other services to run the schools. The nominee stockholders every bit pledge their equity rights to the WFOE and can non reassign. sell or give their equity for burden. This descriptions in the narrative are in line with the definition of a VIE as per ASC 810-10. Question 2 If the Enterprise is deemed to be a VIE. would the WFOE ( excepting any related party or de facto bureau relationships ) consolidate the Enterprise? The WFOE would consolidate the endeavor following ASC 810-10-25-38 because it says a coverage entity shall consolidate a VIE if the coverage entity has a variable involvement that absorb a bulk of the VIE’s expected losingss. receives a bulk of the VIE’s expected residuary income or both. The WFOE receives a bulk of the endeavor residuary income and so should consolidate the endeavor. Question 3 What impact. if any. does the POA understanding have on the decision reached in Question 2? The POA does non alter the decision reached in inquiry 2 because the campaigner stockholders still move on behalf of the WFOE and the commissariats that made the endeavor a VIE does non alter with the POA 4. Does the accounting analysis or decision alteration for each of the inquiries above when analyzed in conformity with IFRS? IFRS does non hold VIEs they have particular intent entities which are similar to VIEs. Harmonizing to IAS 27 SPEs should be consolidated where substance of the relationship indicates that the SPE is controlled by the coverage entity. This may originate even where the activities of the SPE are predetermined or where the bulk of the vote or equity are non held by the coverage entity.

Where is the Child’s Environment A Group Socialization Theory of Development by Judith Rich Harris Essay Example

Where is the Child’s Environment? A Group Socialization Theory of Development by Judith Rich Harris Essay Judith Rich Harris maintains that children are more often than not, influenced by their peers more than their parents. Her article Where Is the Childs Environment? A Group Socialization Theory of Development, published in Psychological Review expounds on this theory. She starts right off as she recounts the history of what she calls the â€Å"nurture assumption.† The nurture assumption presupposes that parents give the environment where most of the child’s personality develops. Before Freud, the role of parents was not that emphasized. However, as time progressed, the assumption then became implanted in one’s social consciousness. According to Harris, parents spend years loving and raising children. Children turn out to be much like their parents but the environment, especially his peer groups are big influencers of a person’s actions. Some experts elucidate the issue deeper by asking why siblings turn out to be different from one another if they have the same parents with whom they grow up with. If the parents do not influence much, Harris maintains that the â€Å"group socialization theory† posits that children do not necessarily bring the learned behavior from one context to another. The author argues that children are able to fit their personalities depending upon the context to where they are exposed. This only goes to show that children naturally imitate adults where they imitate their actions and become happy when they receive approval. In the homes, parents are in charge, but when children go out into their schools and see their classmates, they prefer to play with them than their parents . We will write a custom essay sample on Where is the Child’s Environment? A Group Socialization Theory of Development by Judith Rich Harris specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Where is the Child’s Environment? A Group Socialization Theory of Development by Judith Rich Harris specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Where is the Child’s Environment? A Group Socialization Theory of Development by Judith Rich Harris specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer After some time, these children find that socialization becomes more sophisticated. They usually adopt the group’s styles of speaking and dressing. The author even states that older children are able to find some children in school with whom they pattern their actions. Even the academic performance of a child changes to fit the group to where he or she belongs. Thus, this contrasts with the view that the home environment is the main determinant of academic performance. The urge for independence and achievement can be a highly motivating drive for a child. When children challenge themselves and each other, during their socialization, they usually will go only as high as they feel safe. Wise teachers stay close by when one child is encouraging another child to go beyond where that child feels safe, because this is a situation that often creates fear, and the child may let go if scared. Adults should avoid motivating one child to achieve heights or speed just because another has.    If a child is prone to show off to other children or to adults, this too is a situation of danger. Once a child learns a skill, they need to find a new feat that is now appropriate. The parent or the teacher can then help their children to develop the foundation upon which good values are built. The guidance of the teacher should be very personal—given directly to the child in quiet, reassuring tones. Shouts across the play yard are usually totally ineffective. Children do not know that one means the shouts for them, and they may actually not hear what is said. Harris’ belief that peer influences are now more than what parents show can have several implications.   The author maintains that the children are able to blend in a group and learn many things from individuals in that context.   Children play a role in their own socialization. As most parents will say, children are sometimes the ones responsible for how they are treated by others. One knows that if he smiles, he is more likely to get a smile back. The way one socializes with children often is influenced by their reaction to the other person.   They respond differently physiologically to various experiences. This is evident because children have individual differences in activity level, adapting to new situations. How other children respond to another child’s temperaments influences the socialization process. If there is a â€Å"goodness of fit† between a child’s temperament and his or her caregivers, then socialization is likely to proceed smoothly . An example is if the child does not get used to new things slowly, then socialization is likely to be smooth. If, on the other hand, the fit between the child’s temperament and the caregivers’ is poor, socialization is likely to be rough. For example if the child is very active, responds intensely to people and things, and is moody, and the caregivers force him or her to sit still, punish him or her for crying or being frightened, and demand   a smile most of the time, then socialization may turn out to be a battleground of wills. As infants become children, adolescents and then adults, they interact with more people and have more experiences. In so doing, they acquire skills, knowledge,   Ã‚  attitudes, values, motives, habits, beliefs, interests, morals and ideals. One may learn to read from the first-grade teacher. Thus, from the point of view of society, individuals are socialized to fit into an organized way of life. And from a personal point of view, socialization has enabled them to discover their selves—their potentialities for personal growth and fulfillment. By going to school, children not only gain knowledge; they also find out in what subjects they do best. As members of a peer group, they not only learn to cooperate; they find out whether they are leaders or followers.

Proof and Prove

Proof and Prove Proof and Prove Proof and Prove By Mark Nichol The following words are related to each other and to words based on the element prob-, seen in a number of words ranging from probe to probable and derived from the Latin verb probare, meaning â€Å"demonstrate† or â€Å"test.† The noun proof refers to evidence or something that makes an assertion certain or valid. It also applies to a test of an object or substance to evaluate its quality. The term also pertains to the alcoholic strength of a beverage, to a special collector’s issue of a coin (but originally in reference to coin production as a test run), to a test impression or print, or to typeset material produced for correction before a final version is published. As a verb, proof refers to activating yeast, strengthening something, or correcting text; proofread is an alternative to describe the last action, the activity is called proofreading, and one who proofreads is a proofreader. The word functions as an adjective in references to resistance (for example, â€Å"Education is intended to be proof against ignorance†), which is condensed in compounds such as foolproof. Prove (by way of the Old French verb prueve) means â€Å"check,† â€Å"test,† or â€Å"verify,† or â€Å"show that one is capable or worthy.† The past tense is rendered as either proved or proven, and the adjectival and adverbial forms are provable (or proven or, rarely, proved), and provably, while one who proves is a prover, and the quality of being provable is provableness. Other than the past-tense forms and the adjectival form provable, these words are not common. Approve (by way of the old French verb aprover) originally was simply a variant of prove, but it later developed the sense of â€Å"agree to,† â€Å"allow,† or â€Å"sanction.† The action is approval or, more formally, approbation; the noun approver, the verb approbate, and the adjective approbatory are all rare. To reprove is to censure, correct, or scold; the action is reproof. One who reproves is a reprove (though that usage is rare), and one may be described as scolding reprovingly. These words stem from the Anglo-French verb reprover and ultimately derive from the Latin verb reprobare, the source of reprobate. (The family of related words that retain the prob- element are discussed in this post.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:25 Subordinating Conjunctions50 Idioms About Arms, Hands, and FingersConfusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns

Colonization In The Theme Of Conrads Heart Of Dark Essays - Fiction

Colonization In The Theme Of Conrads Heart Of Dark Essays - Fiction Colonization In The Theme Of Conrads Heart Of Darkness And Swift's A Modest Proposal Joseph Riley McCormack Professor Alan Somerset English 020 Section 007 Submission Date: March 22, 2000 Colonization in the Theme of A Modest Proposal and Heart of Darkness Starting at the beginning of the seventeenth century, European countries began exploring and colonizing many different areas of the world. The last half of the nineteenth century saw the height of European colonial power around the globe. France, Belgium, Germany, and especially Great Britain, controlled over half the world. Along with this achievement came a notable sense of pride and confident belief that European civilization was the best on earth and that the natives of the lands Europeans controlled would only benefit from colonial influence. However, not everybody saw colonization as positive for all those involved. Some of the most notable writers of the time produced works criticizing the process of colonization. Two of the most significant works in this area are Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness and Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal. Although these pieces of literature both criticize colonization, they have different themes. The theme of A Modest Proposal could be described a s the negative effects of colonization on the colonized, while the central idea in Heart of Darkness is the negative effects of colonization on both the colonized and the colonizers. The differences in these themes are significant to the strategies used by the authors to explore the adverse effects of colonization. Swift makes great use of irony and imagery, to accentuate the plight of the Irish. Conrad comments on the frightening changes that people involved with colonization can go through by exploring character development and detailing a narrative of oppression. Swift uses irony in A Modest Proposal because it allows him to highlight the emotional detachment felt by the colonizing British towards the Irish. It is this emotional detached feeling that lead to the atrocities committed against the Irish citizens. The irony in A Modest Proposal is evident right in the title. There is certainly nothing modest about the proposal of eating the infants of impoverished Irish citizens. The irony accentuates how cruel and uncompassionate the powerful British Imperialists were, towards the destitute Irish population. The reader must realize that Swift is operating independently of the narrator in a covert manner (Phiddian 607). He develops the persona of the proposer to say exactly the opposite of what he feels. While the proposer suggests eating poor Irish children is particularly proper at merry meetings, particularly weddings and christenings, this could not be further from the opinion of Swift. Nor does Swift actually believe that this plan will incr ease the care and tenderness of mothers toward their children. (NA 1052) Moreover, the whole topic of cannibalism, is discussed with tongue in cheek and is meant to suggest that the British were devouring the Irish. Images of cruelty and evil put, forward by the narrator, weigh heavily in the theme of A Modest Proposal. Throughout the pamphlet, the reader is bombarded with disturbing imagery of Irish people and their children being treated like livestock raised for consumption. The narrator refers to the parents of the children as savages (NA 1050) and breeders (NA 1051) and dams (NA 1048). Then he compares the children to roasting pigs (NA 1050) and continues as if he were writing a cook book. He speaks of how delicious he thinks these infants would be whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled (NA 1049) or served in a fricassee or a ragout (NA 1049). He describes how the carcasses (NA 1050) of these babies could be nicely seasoned with a little pepper or salt (NA 1050) and will be in season throughout the year (NA 1050). Flaying the carcass and using the skin of these babies to make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen (NA 1050) is another suggestion he puts forward. He expands beyond just slaughtering the infants for food and leather products by suggesting the possibility of hunting the adolescents for sport. He dismisses this idea because he imagines the flesh of the adolescents would be too tough for eating and because hunting them would reduce the breeding stock. He also has concerns that some scrupulous people

Comparison in Political Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparison in Political Philosophy - Essay Example His recognition that knowledge is limited and all he know is that he don’t know anything is based upon recognizing the limits of wisdom and morality. His take on virtues was relatively different from others as he argued that best way a person can live is through the self development rather than possession of material wealth. The given quote to be discussed in this paper therefore is also relatively focused upon the notion of self development and making a person to judge the virtues based on his inner-self rather than focusing on the outer reality of a person. For Socrates truth lies beneath the existence and it is the responsibility of the Philosopher to actually show the way to the people. This paper will discuss one of the statements of the Socrates and will make a comparison of the same with the philosophy of Machiavelli. Socrates’ Statement The statement made by Socrates appeared in the Republic written by Plato and is described in following manner: â€Å"And Justi ce was in truth, it appears, something like this. It does not lie in man’s external actions, but in the way he acts within himself, really concerned with himself and his inner parts† Socrates philosophy was based upon the truth and justice therefore the above statement indicates that there is noting right or wrong in its absolute nature. Actions which are beneficial therefore should be taken and those which are not beneficial, a person should refrain from the same. (Porter) With this statement, Socrates therefore attempted to dispel the notion that truth and justice cannot be the advantage for stronger. It therefore does not lie into the person’s external reality but is based upon the notion of finding it within the inner parts of a person. Here Socrates also seemed to have given a clear indication of two parts of an individual i.e. the body and the soul and outlines that each part actually is its own master. Socrates also seemed to hint that it is the individual who actually can drive the self and therefore commands the body and the soul. It is therefore within this perspective that truth and justice lies within a person and not in his external actions which is often against the conventional wisdom. It is also important to understand that Socrates has viewed the just man in a relatively different manner. He outlined that a just person cannot harm because for him receiving and giving harm is relatively more painful. This line of thinking therefore is clearly associated with the alignment of the ideas of justice and just person with the assumption that the justice and truth is within a person. The above statement may also be viewed from the larger point of view taken by Thrasymachus who maintained that justice is what is advantageous to the stronger. Socrates however seemed to disagree with this and suggested that justice is within a person and is not directly correlated with the person’s external status. It is because of this reason that Socrates accepts that in truth and justice, a person really acts for himself. Machiavelli and Justice One of the key aspects of this debate will be based upon how Machiavelli and Socrates actually view the individuals. According to Socrates, a just person cannot harm others and justice is therefore based upon helping others. Machiavelli however, seems to disagree with that and suggest that a Prince can adapt to cruelty to his subjects while at the same time

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 13

Journal - Essay Example Its own history has combined these factors to produce the present generation of poverty, nonexistent infrastructure and an inefficient state that cannot handle natural disasters in the most basic ways. From these points, I believe the Haitian people are falsely portrayed by the media as the world’s most resilient. They are poor, but we are told they do not complain. They are directly in the path of the region’s earthquakes and hurricanes, but we are told they survive. The truth is that the people of Haiti are suffering from the lack of vision, policy and strategy by its political leaders. Under the 18th century French rule, Haiti was among the French empire’s richest islands, exporting over 60 and 40 percent of the coffee and sugar, respectively, which Europe consumed. It does not matter that the close to one million African slaves that worked to produce the wealth did not have a share in it, but it remains that the wealth was there. I see the downfall of Haiti starting from the revolution that earned it independence. They were free, but the leaders destroyed its plantations and infrastructure. Their former French colonists contributed to the calamities of the new nation by demanding 150 million francs in order to grant them diplomatic recognition. That was already too costly for the country, even without considering half of it that was later demanded in 1830. The present-day Haitians are in difficult times, but I concur that they are only victims of historical circumstances. France has been wringing reparations for more than a century from the country until 1 947, forcing it to take loans from foreign banks at inflated interests. To finance the loans, 80 percent of Haiti’s national budget was being paid out to the foreign banks by 1900. From then, the modern breed of leaders started giving up on servicing the repatriations or solving the problems in Haiti, and instead shifted their focus to looting for personal

Software Requirement Specification Essay Example for Free

Software Requirement Specification Essay In existing system, professor takes the attendance manually and records the details of absentees or presenters. Using this records professor stores the student’s attendance in each day in the attendance list and calculates the attendance percentage manually. In this system professor must consider each student separately and keep this list safely. It takes lot of time. Professor must spend more time to record the each student’s attendance in the attendance list. The project aims in implementing software that helps professor to take the attendance using mobile phone. For this mobile must support java application. This project is based on J2ME technology. Professor enters the attendance to the mobile using keypad. It is a manual process. After saving the absentees or presenters in to the mobile, teacher can edit the attendance list in the mobile. And this attendance details can send to a computer using GPRS. After sending the files to a computer, attendance list must be updated automatically. Modules 1.User Module: The main purpose of the user module is to provide security. This module is specially designed for staffs, which use mobile phone to take attendance. Each staff enter username and password before enter in to attendance list. If username and password cannot match, he/she can’t enter in to attendance page. 2. Attendance Entry Module: The purpose of Attendance Entry Module is to mark the attendance using cell phone. In this module Lecturer takes the attendance using the cell phone. Lecturers select the branch, semester and year. After this session he enters in to attendance page. Here staff makes a mark on the absentees. 3. GPRS connectivity Module: The main function of GPRS connectivity module is sends attendance list to the server database by connecting cell phone with the server through GPRS. In this module attendance list in the cell phone is sends to the database. 4. Updating the Database Module: The first function of this module is to update the attendance list from the cell phone. When the attendance list from the cell phone receives, server automatically updates its database. The server updating the database whether any change from cell phone occurred. 5. Display Module: The Displaying attendance list Module deals with the WEB application of CBAS. In this module Students can view their attendance through WEB. Student must select the branch and year then they get the attendance list of the class. 6. SMS Module: The main advantage of SMS module is that the Students can know their attendance by sending SMS from anywhere. Students send a SMS to the server with their register number. If it is in correct format, the server will replays the attendance of corresponding student through SMS. Otherwise sends an error message.

the machine that one the war Essay examples -- essays research papers

In the next couple of paragraph’s, I am going to be explaining the themes of irony and conflict in the short story, The Machine That Won the War, by Isaac Asimov. The setting of The Machine That Won the War is the future of the earth, and a great war had just been won against the enemy race. Two men, Swift and Henderson, are the main characters, and are debating over who really won the war for earth. They are discussing whether or not it was the giant strategy computer known as Multivac, or the men in charge of making the maneuvers and programming the computer. The author Isaac Asimov is using description and argument as his modes of discourse for the story. In the story, Henderson who is an excitable man, explained that the fact that Multivac was nothing more than a large machine, only capable of doing what it was programmed of doing. Henderson explained that some of Multivac’s data might have been unreliable. The great computer was capable of creating a direct battle which earth forces could be used to attack their enemies. However, with Henderson imputing faulty data, this caused some of the battle plans to be unreliable. Henderson’s internal conflict between himself losing his job and wanting to keep it made him jingle with the programming until it seemed right. Quote from The Machine That Won the War, on page 201. â€Å"Since the war is won, I’ll tell you what I did. I corrected the data.† â€Å"How?† asked Swift. â€Å"Intuition, I presume, I juggled them till they looked righ...

Ethical Theories Essay

Ethical egoism or egotism (also known as egoism) is the normative ethical arrangement that ethical agents have to do what is in their personal self-interest. It is different from psychological egoism, which declares that persons simply perform in their self-interest. Psychological egoism or egotism is the outlook that individuals are always aggravated by self-interest; even in what appears to be actions of altruism. It states that, when individuals decide to assist others, they do so eventually because of the private benefits that they themselves anticipate to get hold of, directly or indirectly, from acting so. It is indeed a non-normative vision, as it only makes arguments about how things are and not how they should be; it is conversely, linked to numerous other normative shapes of egoism, for instance ethical egoism and rational egoism. (Lundy, 2009). A quarrel for psychological egoism advises is that individuals just do what makes them sense fine, thus making all actions self-centered, for instance, you may help a turtle across a road because if you did not you would be upset about its well-being crossing the road. So in turn to sense good physically, you assist the turtle. The issue with this is it sounds like it is defining a generous person, one that gains contentment from serving others, a selfish person most probable would not have been dreadfully worried for the turtle in the first instance. Furthermore, if we glance to the deeper stimulus of the turtle helper’s actions, as the psychological egoists are likely to do and inquire why the individual derives pleasure from serving others in general and the turtle particularly, you will most probable run into the wrapping up that the individual cares about what comes about to others. This line of quarrel is actually a perplexity of the object of aspiration and auxiliary results of the consummation of that need; if once you get wedded you are enormously satisfied, that does not inevitably suggest that you got wedded with the wish for that pleasure in mind, rather the contentment is a purpose of your desire for wedding and would not be otherwise. Ethical egoism is the normative assumption that the encouragement of one’s own good is in accordance with morals, in the strong side, it is held that it is for all time moral to encourage one’s own good and it is by no means moral not to encourage it. In the weak side, it is supposed that even though it is for all time moral to promote one’s own good, it is not inevitably never moral to not. Explicitly, there might be conditions in which the evasion of private interest may be a moral deed. Ethical egoism states that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest. It differs from psychological egoism, which claims that people do only act in their self-interest. The principle of psychological egoism is non-ethical, supported by the idea that the reason that drives us is the hunt of our own wellbeing, to the barring of anybody else’s, it is just how we are, entirely self centered. Freud (1923) defined ego as â€Å"the mind-ful rationalizing segment of the mind. †, so each action reasoned out has deeds to serve the self. On the contrary, ethical egoists suppose that the moral significance lies in glancing out for yourself and when provoked this way, each action, even serving others, takes you further down the road to attaining your own finest interests. The difference would appear to lie in the entire selfishness of psychological egoism as opposite to the helping of other’s wellbeing while focusing on one’s own, this appears equally beneficial and enhanced for society. It is uncertain whether each theory can be held as a factual ethical philosophy, if the classification of self-centeredness is applied, meaning that we always repudiate to judge others in favor of our own satisfaction, aggravated by our needs only, then facts of misleading notion has shown this to be incorrect. Self-interest portrays an individual who is engrossed in what he perceives to be what serves up his interests best, if applied to ethical egoism, there is proof to knock over this as well, it would require to be a general concept to have the power to stand as a moral assumption and it is not. The proof of altruistic instincts and integrity of concern for others is more general and stronger than either of these two above mentioned theories. It is more probable that we all own elements of self-interest and self-conservation, but are intrinsically willing to help and get by with others in society; nevertheless, it is in our best concerns to do so. (The internet encyclopedia of philosophy, n. d. ). Frequently attacks of self-interest are leveled alongside anyone performing in their own advantage as if no one should be concerned for themselves; I suggest that there is a distinction between self-centeredness and self-interest, self-centeredness is performing in your benefit with no regard and sometimes hurting other individuals. On the contrary, self-interest assists society flourish, self-interest is performing in your benefit but with reflection of others needs. Self-interest for a person, corporation or state is crucial for endurance. Reference Lundy, A. (2009). Psychological and Ethical Egoism. June 30th, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. socyberty. com/Philosophy/Psychological-and-Ethical-Egoism. 508525 The internet encyclopedia of philosophy. (n. d. ). Egoism. June 30th, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. iep. utm. edu/e/egoism. htm Vita, L. E. (2007). On Selfishness and Self-Interest. June 30th, 2009. Retrieved from: http://ethanleevita. blogspot. com/2007/12/on-selfishness-and-self-interest. html

Nature of Creativity

Creativity has been defined in many ways but one feature that is always mentioned is novelty (Sternberg, 1988). That is, the product of a creative endeavor should always be relatively unlike what has been done before. Novelty presupposes that creativity is a process that allows the mind to work out new solutions to problems, to be innovative and to be original. Just how the brain works so that the individual can become creative has been the subject of debate for a long time, creativity is often thought as a component of intelligence wherein highly intelligent persons all seem to be creative thus Guilford (1989) have argued that creativity can be assessed as part of intelligence tests. Creativity as a process involve factors like fact-finding, problem-finding, solution-finding and acceptance-finding (VanGundy, 1987). This implies that creativity is a complex process that can only be arrived at if the mentioned factors have been satisfied. Like when a writer desires to start on a new book, he/she must first research the existing facts about the topic he wants to write about, then he/she goes on to look for the issues or problems within the facts and start writing from that angle, in writing she is starting to form solutions that are different from what has been existing and then scrutinize what has been written to determine if it is acceptable to him/her and judge whether it is creative or not. Creativity is also facilitated by cognitive skills such as visualization, imagination, expressiveness, flexibility, fluency and openness (Finke, Ward & Smith, 1992). This would mean that creative thought process can only occur if the person is able to make use of the said cognitive skills. When a child is asked to come up with new arrangements of blocks, he/she must have an understanding of what blocks are and then to be able to visualize the possible arrangements, to imagine how he/she would build the blocks, to maybe express her thoughts by acting on her imagination like moving the blocks, and to arrange and rearrange it as being flexible and open about how he/she could accomplish the task. These skills can be developed through training and learning or it can be inherent personality traits that a person is born with. Creativity has been compared to problem-solving since it involves the same cognitive skills and process, but creativity is different from problem-solving in the sense that creativity is finding an original solution to the problem. Problem-solving on the other hand has to rely on previous learning and understanding of the situation and to logically solve the problem. Wherein, a person who has been asked to solve a mathematical problem has to consider the laws of numbers and to rationally find the solution to the math question using principles and concepts that govern the field of math. If it was a creative endeavor, then the person can approach the same problem in different ways and come up with the same answer. In short, problem-solving usually follow the correct way of arriving at the answer, while creativity make or develop its own and original solution. Creativity can also be a social process, this mean that creativity is enhanced or developed by the immediate environment of the individual (Amabile, 1983). A company that values creativity encourages the individual to engage in creative thought, while a rigid and structured work environment leaves very little opportunity for creativity. Moreover, a child that grow up in a family where creativity is reinforced and appreciated would more likely become creative in their own lives and parents who stifle their child’s curiosity and punishes creative behavior would be less likely to express their own creativity. Developing Creativity It is important to realize that creativity is a process and that it can be developed in children and adults alike. Practical ways of training a person to become creative involves asking the person what he/she is passionate about, what he/she wants to do that makes him/her happy and which tasks challenges him/her. In this way, the person becomes aware of his/her interests which will serve as the training ground with which creativity can be geared at. For example, the thing that the person loves doing is preparing slide shows for presentations, then the next thing to do is to give the person the opportunity to work on a task that would require him/her to be creative, like asking him/her to create a presentation that is different from the previous one he/she have presented. Another way is to instruct the individual to generate a number of ideas and to explore each idea and find out which is novel and original. The individual’s attempts at being creative should also be recognized and appreciated which would reinforce creative behavior, this is important because to produce something that is creative is subject to how people will react to it and whether it is novel or not, if the individual is praised for showing creativity then he/she would be able to differentiate what is creative thinking. The environment of the individual should also be changed to facilitate creativity, materials for creative thinking should be readily available, he/she should be able to express his/her ideas freely and to be given ample time to work on tasks. The individual can also learn from role models who can be identified as creative personalities. The way these people create new ideas and or things can show the individual how to become creative. By providing him/her with examples, he/she would come to understand what creativity is and what behaviors are indicative of creativity. Lastly, personal traits like being open-minded, flexible, curious, not afraid of change or of doing new things and being excited at creating something should be developed in that person. These attitudes are important because it facilitates brainstorming, innovation, discovery and critical thinking that are necessary for creative thought processes. Helping an individual become creative can only be successful if the person has the willingness and desire to explore his/her creativity, thus even if one provides every opportunity to enable them to become creative is useless if they are not interested in enhancing their creativity. References Amabile, T. (1983). The Social Psychology of Creativity. New York: Springer-Verlag. Finke, R., Ward, T. & Smith, S. (1992). Creative Cognition. Cambridge: Bradford/MIT Press. Guilford, J. (1986). Creative Talents: Their Nature, Uses and Development. New York: Bearly Ltd. Sternberg, R. (1988). The Nature of Creativity. New York: Cambridge University Press. VanGundy, A. (1987). Creative Problem Solving. New York: Quorum.

Timeline of the Algerian War of Independence

Timeline of the Algerian War of Independence Here is a timeline of the Algerian War of Independence. It dates from the time of French colonization to the end of the Battle of Algiers. The Wars Origins in French Colonization of Algeria 1830 Algiers is occupied by France. 1839 Abd el-Kader declares war on the French after their meddling in the administration of his territory. 1847 Abd el-Kader surrenders. France finally subjugates Algeria. 1848 Algeria is recognized as an integral part of France. The colony is opened to European settlers. 1871 Colonization of Algeria increases in response to the loss of the Alsace-Lorraine region to the German Empire. 1936 Blum-Viollette reform is blocked by French Settlers. March 1937 The Parti du Peuple Algerien (PPA, Algerian Peoples Party) is formed by the veteran Algerian nationalist Messali Hadj. 1938 Ferhat Abbas forms the Union Populaire Algrienne (UPA, Algerian Popular Union). 1940 World War IIFall of France. 8 November 1942 Allied landings in Algeria and Morocco. May 1945 World War II Victory in Europe.Independence demonstrations in Stif turn violent. French authorities respond with severe reprisals leading to thousands of Muslim deaths. October 1946 The Mouvement pour le Triomphe des Liberts Dmocratiques (MTLD, Movement for the Triumph of Democratic Liberties) replaces the PPA, with Messali Hadj as president. 1947 The Organization Spciale (OS, Special Organization) is formed as a paramilitary arm of the MTLD. 20 September 1947 A new constitution for Algeria is established. All Algerian citizens are offered French citizenship (of equal status to those of France). However, when an Algerian National Assembly is convened it is skewed to settlers compared to indigenous Algerians two politically equal 60-member colleges are created, one representing the 1.5 million European settlers, the other for 9 million Algerian Muslims. 1949 Attack on the central post office of Oran by the Organization Spciale (OS, Special Organization). 1952 Several leaders of the Organization Spciale (OS, Special Organization) are arrested by French Authorities. Ahmed Ben Bella, however, manages to escape to Cairo. 1954 The Comit Rvolutionaire dUnit et dAction (CRUA, Revolutionary Committee for Unity and Action) is set up by several former members of the Organization Spciale (OS, Special Organization). They intend to lead the revolt against French rule. A conference in Switzerland by CRUA officials sets out the future administration of Algeria after the defeat of the French six administrative districts (Wilaya) under the command of a military chief are established. June 1954 New French government under the Parti Radical (Radical Party) and with Pierre Mends-France as chairman of the Council of Ministers, an acknowledged opponent of French colonialism, withdraws troops from Vietnam following the fall of Dien Bien Phu. This is seen by Algerians as a positive step towards recognition of independence movements in French-occupied territories.

Free Essays on Bill Clinton

Born on Aug. 19, 1946, in Hope, Ark., William (Bill) Jefferson Blythe IV grew up in a troubled home. His father had died in an automobile accident three months before his son's birth, and his mother later was forced to leave her two-year-old son with his grandparents when she moved to New Orleans to pursue her nursing studies. The family settled in Hot Springs, Ark., after his mother married Roger Clinton, whose surname Bill later adopted. As a young man, Bill was determined to succeed and frequently earned academic honors, including selection as a delegate to the American Legion Boy's Nation program in Washington, D.C., where the 16-year-old Clinton met Pres. John F. Kennedy and determined to embark on a political career. Attending Georgetown University to study international affairs, Clinton served as an intern for Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas before receiving his B.S. degree in 1968. After winning a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University, Clinton returned to the United States to enroll at Yale Law School. In 1972 he helped to manage presidential candidate George McGovern's Texas campaign. After graduating from law school in 1973, Clinton returned to Arkansas to teach and to plan his political career. On Oct. 11, 1975, he married Hillary Rodham, a fellow law student he had met at Yale. After 12 years of Republican control of the presidency, Clinton came to office amid high expectations for fundamental policy change. Early in his administration he reversed a number of Republican policies. He ended the federal prohibition on the use of fetal tissue for medical research, repealed rules restricting abortion counseling in federally funded health clinics, and used his appointment power to fulfill a promise to place many women and minorities in prominent government positions. Although backed by a Congress controlled by the Democratic party, Clinton found it difficult to change the course of national priorities during his firs... Free Essays on Bill Clinton Free Essays on Bill Clinton Bill Clinton President Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe IV on August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas.President Clinton was born three months after his father died in a traffic accident. When he was four years old, his mother wed Roger Clinton, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. In high school , he took the family name. He was a smart student. He was a very good saxophone player and once considered becoming a professional musician. As a member of the Boys Nation while in high school, he met President John Kennedy in the White House Rose Garden. Ever since that day he wanted to become President. Clinton graduated from Georgetown University and in 1968 won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University. He received a law degree from Yale University in 1973 and entered politics in Arkansas. He was defeated in his campaign for Congress in Arkansas’s Third District in 1974. In 1975, he married Hilary Rodham. Hilary graduated from Wellesley College and Yale Law School. Clinton was elected Arkansas Attorney General in 1976 and won the governship in 1978. In 1980, Chelsea their only child was born. Clinton and his running mate, Tennessee’s Senator Albert Gore Jr., who a t the time he was 44, represented a new generation in American political leadership. For the first time in 12 years the same party held both the White House and Congress. He was the first Democratic President since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second term. He could point to the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the lowest inflation in 30 years, the highest home ownership in the country’s history, dropping crime rates in many places and reduced welfare roles. In 1998, as a result of issue surrounding personal indiscretions with a young woman White House intern. Clinton became the second U.S. president to be impeached by the House of Representatives. He was tried in the Senate and found not guilty of the charges brought against him. He apologized to the nation for his... Free Essays on Bill Clinton Bill Clinton Introduction Born on Aug. 19, 1946, in Hope, Ark., William (Bill) Jefferson Blythe IV grew up in a troubled home. His father had died in an automobile accident three months before his son's birth, and his mother later was forced to leave her two-year-old son with his grandparents when she moved to New Orleans to pursue her nursing studies. The family settled in Hot Springs, Ark., after his mother married Roger Clinton, whose surname Bill later adopted. As a young man, Bill was determined to succeed and frequently earned academic honors, including selection as a delegate to the American Legion Boy's Nation program in Washington, D.C., where the 16-year-old Clinton met Pres. John F. Kennedy and determined to embark on a political career. Attending Georgetown University to study international affairs, Clinton served as an intern for Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas before receiving his B.S. degree in 1968. After winning a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University, Clinton returned to the United States to enroll at Yale Law School. In 1972 he helped to manage presidential candidate George McGovern's Texas campaign. After graduating from law school in 1973, Clinton returned to Arkansas to teach and to plan his political career. On Oct. 11, 1975, he married Hillary Rodham, a fellow law student he had met at Yale. After 12 years of Republican control of the presidency, Clinton came to office amid high expectations for fundamental policy change. Early in his administration he reversed a number of Republican policies. He ended the federal prohibition on the use of fetal tissue for medical research, repealed rules restricting abortion counseling in federally funded health clinics, and used his appointment power to fulfill a promise to place many women and minorities in prominent government positions. Although backed by a Congress controlled by the Democratic party, Clinton found it difficult to change the course of nationa... Free Essays on Bill Clinton Born on Aug. 19, 1946, in Hope, Ark., William (Bill) Jefferson Blythe IV grew up in a troubled home. His father had died in an automobile accident three months before his son's birth, and his mother later was forced to leave her two-year-old son with his grandparents when she moved to New Orleans to pursue her nursing studies. The family settled in Hot Springs, Ark., after his mother married Roger Clinton, whose surname Bill later adopted. As a young man, Bill was determined to succeed and frequently earned academic honors, including selection as a delegate to the American Legion Boy's Nation program in Washington, D.C., where the 16-year-old Clinton met Pres. John F. Kennedy and determined to embark on a political career. Attending Georgetown University to study international affairs, Clinton served as an intern for Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas before receiving his B.S. degree in 1968. After winning a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University, Clinton returned to the United States to enroll at Yale Law School. In 1972 he helped to manage presidential candidate George McGovern's Texas campaign. After graduating from law school in 1973, Clinton returned to Arkansas to teach and to plan his political career. On Oct. 11, 1975, he married Hillary Rodham, a fellow law student he had met at Yale. After 12 years of Republican control of the presidency, Clinton came to office amid high expectations for fundamental policy change. Early in his administration he reversed a number of Republican policies. He ended the federal prohibition on the use of fetal tissue for medical research, repealed rules restricting abortion counseling in federally funded health clinics, and used his appointment power to fulfill a promise to place many women and minorities in prominent government positions. Although backed by a Congress controlled by the Democratic party, Clinton found it difficult to change the course of national priorities during his firs...

Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Business Ethics - Essay Example The main body of the essay will be structured using the STAR format. According to Kotler & Armstrong (2004, p. 127), â€Å"written regulations cannot possibly cover all potential marketing abuses and existing laws may be difficult to enforce. However, beyond the written laws and regulations, business is also governed by social codes and rules of professional ethics.† Therefore, companies that are enlightened always encourage their managers to focus on doing the right things always for the betterment of the company. It is imperative for businesses to try to create a balance between the goals of the organisation as well as its CSR initiatives. Careful consideration should always be taken given that there are often conflicting interests whereby certain situations can give rise to disagreements about the right course of action that can be taken in a given situation. Ethics Basically, business ethics refers to the values, principles and standards that operate within business and th ese attempt to make a distinction between something that is morally good from bad (Rossouw, 2004). As such, values can be described as the â€Å"essential and enduring tenets† that help define the company and are â€Å"not to be compromised for financial gain or short term expediency,† (DesJardins, 2006, p.5). Cultural environments in which organisations operate shape the values of the organisations given that there are many forces that affect the way people behave such as perceptions about situations, preferences as well as attitudes which influence people to behave in a particular way (Kotler & Armstrong, 2004). It can be noted that there are different types of values in the organisation such as financial, political, historical as well as cultural. Corporate social responsibility On the other hand, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) suggests that there is need for an organisation to establish goodwill with the values and norms of a particular societ y in which it would be operating. Whilst there is no agreed definition of the concept of CSR, it has been defined as a function that transcends but includes making profits, creating jobs and producing goods and services that satisfy the needs and interests of the stakeholders (Oketch 2005 as cited in Smith 2003). Strydom (2004, p.11) suggests that â€Å"CSR is the concept that maintains that businesses are part of the larger society in which they exist and are accountable to the society for their operations.† This means that there is need for the organisations to try to build a relationship between the goals and objectives of the organisation, needs and interests of the stakeholders and the society at large. This concept is also related to ethical issues in the organisation. Situation In this particular case, Gino, the CEO of DMBC intends to divide the windfall of the company between the new CSR program focused on Batten disease and employee bonuses. This follows the diagnosi s of his daughter with Batten disease and this is the major reason why he is pushing for this initiative. However, of notable concern is that the company had not given any pay rises to the employees for almost three years and in some instances, it had been forced to cut salaries for the employees but it seems that Gino is more concerned about the welfare of his daughter at the

Process of exploring acomplex situation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Process of exploring acomplex situation - Essay Example Each of these categories has their own matched occupations. For example, the realistic type is best suited to be a mechanic, drill press operator, assembly-line worker or a farmer (Robbins 2005, p. 39). These classifications lend understanding on how individual behave towards their work and other people. Hence, choosing the most appropriate motivation tool can be applied to that individual. Central to the effectiveness of motivation is its definition. Motivation is the "willingness to do something and is conditioned by this action's ability to satisfy some need for the individual" (Robbins 2005, p. 48). The needs of the individual which must be satisfied are identified through the understanding of the individual's personality. Lukes, Gaventa VeneKlasen and Miller explained that there are three faces of power: visible power which is the first face of power, hidden power which is the second face of power and invisible power which is the third face. More specifically, an example of invisible power is culture which means the "invisible power concealing behind concretely visible things and it will influence people's behavior" (Chang and Lee 2007, p. 300). Power visible is the ability to influence decision making and thus, can be observed. This power is sourced from specific mandates, for example a company's Chief Executive Officer's power is visible and inherent in his position. Power invisible, on the other hand, is not always observable. It is the shaping of people's wants and needs which is normally embedded social, cultural and ideological norms and values. For example, in the early 1970s, an American manager deployed somewhere in Japan has no visible power to fire an employee because of the cultural and social norm in the county of 'life time' employment. Question # 3 Part A Figure 1 Spray Diagram Part B 1. The Community - being the most affected by the wastes and toxins emitted and discharged by the United States' healthcare systems. The people, as the community, are directly affected because of the diseases resulting from exposures to toxins released by the healthcare system. This considering the rising cost of healthcare. 2. The Healthcare Systems and its Components - if the healthcare system doesn't shape up in light of its impact to the environment and to the community, affected stakeholders such as the community and the government will likely demand penalties. The Healthcare System is composed of clinics, hospitals, doctors, suppliers, pharmaceuticals, incinerator operators, and its employees. 3. The Government - as the overseer of the whole system which includes the healthcare system and overseer of the welfare of the average American, the government can not help but to take a firm hand on how the healthcare system manages its wastes. Part C Based on the discussion and the spray diagram, surely I am as much at risk as the average American. The effects of exposure to toxins such as the chlorine content of polyvinyl chloride or PVC and mercury are not selective. These toxins can affect anyone, anytime. Chlorine from PVC "forms cancer-causing dioxin as a byproduct when manufactured and incinerated" (HermanMiller 2007, p. 4). Most of the diseases resulting from exposure to the toxins and dioxins released from the wastes of the different components are fatal while all of them requires high amount of money to cure. In my opinion, the Hippocratic Oath of physicians should be expanded and include the well being not only of individual

Weekly Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Weekly Reflection - Essay Example The rights of the suspected criminal are guaranteed by the 4th, 5th and 6th amendments of the constitution of the United States (Miller, 2011). Substantive law originates from the legislative statues and the common legal system. On the other hand, civil law is recognized as the branch of common law which deals with the relations between institutions and individuals. This law entails certain rules, which are used by various jurisdictions in order to determine the sentence for a criminal offense in regard to the relationship between an institution and an individual. According to various scholars, these regulations are designed in order to ensure justice in the courts of law (Miller, 2011). Civil law can be distinguished from substantive law. In fact, civil law defines the procedure which allows the action of the law. Lastly, there are civil rights, which are closely interrelated to the civil law. Some of these rights include the right to life, justice and education among others (Miller,

The Life of Jonathan Swift Essay Example for Free

The Life of Jonathan Swift Essay Life has always been filled with people who have given much in their lives to contribute to the betterment of society. They surpass the boundaries that have been set by the government and the people around them, just to make a difference in the world. One of these people was Jonathan Swift. Jonathan Isaac Bickerstaff Swift was born on November 30, 1667 in Dublin, Ireland. He was the only son and second child of Abigaile Erick Swift and Jonathan Swift. Since he was named after his father, he was often called Jonathan Junior or simply Junior. Before he was born, Jonathan’s father died. His other relatives were of great assistance just so he could have a good education (Incompetech website, n. d. ). In 1686, he was able to graduate from Trinity College in Dublin. He immediately went to England to open new doors, and was fortunate enough to be accepted as the secretary of Sir William Temple. Living with Sir William paved way for Jonathan to meet a young lady, who later became an important part of his life. He met Esther Johnson and became her tutor. In between his sessions, he would scribble down his thoughts and ideas, but eventually burned them. Upon Sir William’s death, Jonathan was jobless and eventually became a fashionable satiric writer for Dublin (Incompetech website, n. d. ). Soon after, Stella, as he fondly called her, moved to Ireland just so she could be near him. Their relationship was a source of all gossips in town, because of their difference in age. Some said that the two lovers were even married in 1716. When Stella died in 1728, Jonathan Swift was desolated, and hid a lock of the lady love’s hair in his things until the day he died (Pegasos, 2000). His political ambitions were never taken aside. When Queen Anne was in position, Jonathan became the vicar of Kilroot. He then wrote for the Tattler, a newspaper, from 1708-1709. His writing skills were tested further when he became one of the founders of the Scriblerus Club. He worked together with the Pope, Congreve, and Robert Harley (Pegasos, 2000). The years 1713 – 1742 were the years when Jonathan was dean of the St. Patricks Cathedral. He became deaf in his early twenties, and many people thought that he was insane. During one of his conversations with Edward Young, he said that he would be mentally incapacitated when he reached the age of fifty. Basically he was ready to face this mentally challenging state early on in his life (Pegasos, 2000). He died on October 19, 1745 in Dublin Ireland due to Alzheimers disease. He died leaving behind his legacy through the numerous poetries and proses written in pamphlets (Pegasos, 2000). 1726 was another great year for Jonathan Swift. This was the time when he wrote and published the famous prose entitled, Gullivers Travels. At first reading, the book may be classified as a childrens book, although the writer had an underlying meaning behind each even in Gullivers life. The book showcased most of Jonathans feelings and emotions about the social problems at that time (Incompetech website, n. d. ). One of Jonathans works was evident in the proposal he wrote about the children in 1729. Entitled, â€Å"A Modest Proposal: For Preventing The Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being Aburden to Their Parents Or Country, and For Making Them Beneficial to The Public† (Art-Bin, n. d. ), focused on how the children of their time suffered the hardships in life. From the title alone, we can see that Jonathan wanted the children to live normal lives before they had to endure the hardships and realities of life. His main purpose in writing the proposal was to help uplift the lives people had in their society at that time. He had no children of his own, so the proposal he wrote was not of great bearing to his life. All he wanted was for people to first realize that the children should not be placed in situations that could ruin their lives, and eventually their futures (Art-bin, n. d). Although Jonathans book, Gullivers Travels, was well received by many, he always stood for his beliefs and oppositions on the inequalities of the government towards his native land. When he finally decided to run for politics, he kept his distance form the Whig and Tory parties. He wanted to be individually known for his works and accomplishments, other than the association that may be given to him by either parties. His writings were mostly satiric, meaning they made use of sarcastic words, and exposed the hard realities of their life at that time. Although the book was creative in manner and well suited for children, many were alarmed by his writings, for they opened new ideas for people (Westchester University, n. d. ). His writings were not only isolated to proses. He also participated in writing papers involving ecclesiastical matters, such as the â€Å"Three Sermons and Prayers†, which he wrote in 1744. Some of his other works were included in his book, The â€Å"Writings on Religion and the Church†, which was finally published in 1898 (Merriman, 2008). It was said that Jonathan had published a collection of his works three years before he slipped into senility. Eventually, he suffered from a paralytic stroke in 1738. The people close to him started to care for the ill Jonthan Swift. In 1742, his belongings and affairs were soon cared for by appointed guardians (Victorian Web, 2000). His life was lived to the fullest, and he made sure that people remembered him as someone who had hoped for the upheaval of society in Ireland. He left behind his legacy through the numerous poetries and proses he wrote in pamphlets. He died on October 19, 1745 in Dublin Ireland due to Alzheimers disease. (Pegasos, 2000). Jonathans remains were laid beside his beloved wife, Stella, inside the St. Patricks Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland (Merriman, 2008). With his own epitaph written, Jonathan became successful in accomplishing his dreams of being a well known person. He is in fact, forever remembered by his countrymen and of the whole world, forever. Jonathan Swift may have suffered before he died, but he was able to open the eyes of the people to the reality that was happening right before their eyes. He was an enemy to some, but an inspiration for many. His works will forever be present to inspire us and the children of the future to go on and be someone. References (. n. d. ). Jonathan isaac bickerstaff swift. Incompetech. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from http://incompetech. com/authors/swift/. West Chester University. (n. d. ). Jonathan swift: A modest proposal 1729. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from http://courses. wcupa. edu/wanko/LIT400/ireland/jonanthan_swift. htm (2007). Ireland. MSN encarta. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from http://encarta. msn. com/encyclopedia_761566701_9/Ireland. html. (n. d. ). A modest proposal. The art bin origo. Retrieved May 3, 2008 from http://art-bin. com/art/omodest. html (2000). Books and writers. Pegasos. Retrieved May 3, 2008 from http://www. kirjasto. sci. fi/jswift. htm (2000). A chronology of jonathan swifts life. The victorian web. Retrieved May 5, 2008 from http://www. victorianweb. org/previctorian/swift/chron. html. Merriman, C. D. (2008). Jonathan Swift. The literature network. Retrieved May 5, 2008 from

Buck versus Bell Essay example -- Supreme Court Sterilization Essays

Buck versus Bell During the early twentieth century, the United States was enduring significant social and economic changes due to its transformation into a commercial and industrial world power. As the need for labor escalated within many urban areas, millions of Europeans emigrated from Southern and Eastern Europe with the hopes of capitalizing upon these employment opportunities and attaining a better life. Simultaneously, many African-Americans migrated from the rural South into major cities, bearing the same intentions as those of the European immigrants. The presence of these minority groups generated both racial and class fears within white middle and upper class Americans. The fervent ethnocentrism resulting from these fears, coupled with the Social Darwinist concepts of Herbert Spencer, would ultimately spur the American eugenics movement. Originating from the theories of Sir Francis Galton, the cousin of Charles Darwin, eugenics is the study of human heredity and genetic principles for the purposes of improving the human race by limiting the proliferation of defective gene pools. Charles Davenport, the founding father of the American eugenics movement, was one of many elite Americans advocating for the incorporation of the ideals of this new "science" into society. The work of Davenport, which became known as eugenic principles, would not only have an impact on public education, but a legal impact as well. By 1931, thirty state legislatures had passed involuntary sterilization laws that targeted "defective strains" within the general population, such as the blind, the deaf, the poor, and the feebleminded. Virginia, one of these states, held the position that involuntary sterilization would not only benefit the overal... ... People With Mental Disabilities: Issues, Perspectives, and Cases (Westport CT: Auburn House, 1995) 22. Works Cited Buck v. Bell. 274 U.S. 200, 205. No. 292 US Supreme Ct. 1927. Brantlinger, Ellen. Sterilization of People With Mental Disabilities: Issues, Perspectives, and Cases. Westport CT: Auburn House, 1995. Larson, Edward. Sex, Race, and Science: Eugenics in the Deep South. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995. Macklin, Ruth. Mental Retardation and Sterilization: A Problem of Competency and Paternalism. New York: Plenum Press, 1981. Reilly, Phillip. The Surgical Solution: A History of Involuntary Sterilization in the United States. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991. Shapiro, Thomas. Population Control Politics: Women, Sterilization, and Reproductive Choice. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1985.

Basic Parts of Computer Essay

Introduction Almost everyone uses a computer daily, but many don’t know how a computer works or all the different individual pieces that make it up. In fact, many people erroneously look at a computer and call it a CPU or a hard drive, when in fact these are just two parts of a computer. When these individual components are connected together they create a complete and working device with an all encompassing name of computer. As a computer user it is important that you have a basic understanding of the core components that make up your computer. This knowledge will prove invaluable if you decide to upgrade your computer or if a piece of hardware breaks and you need to purchase a replacement. The purpose of this is to discuss the basic pieces in every computer and their function. HISTORY OF COMPUTER The computer as we know it today had its beginning with a 19th century English mathematics professor name Charles Babbage. He designed the Analytical Engine and it was this design that the basic framework of the computers of today are based on. Generally speaking, computers can be classified into three generations. Each generation lasted for a certain period of time,and each gave us either a new and improved computer or an improvement to the existing computer. First generation: 1937 – 1946 – In 1937 the first electronic digital computer was built by Dr. John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry. It was called the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC). In 1943 an electronic computer name the Colossus was built for the military. Other developments continued until in 1946 the first general– purpose digital computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was built. It is said that this computer weighed 30 tons, and had 18,000 vacuum tubes which was used for pr ocessing. When this computer was turned on for the first time lights dim in sections of Philadelphia. Computers of this generation could only perform single task, and they had no operating system. Second generation: 1947 – 1962 – This generation of computers used transistors instead of vacuum tubes which were more reliable. In 1951 the first computer for commercial use was introduced to the public; the Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC 1). In 1953 the International Business Machine (IBM) 650 and 700 series computers made their mark in the computer world. During this generation of computers over 100 computer programming languages were developed, computers had memory and operating systems. Storage media such as tape and disk were in use also were printers for output. Third generation: 1963 – present – The invention of integrated circuit brought us the third generation of computers. With this invention computers became smaller, more powerful more reliable and they are able to run many different programs at the same time. In1980 Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-Dos) was born and in 1981 IBM introduced the personal computer (PC) for home and office use. Three years later Apple gave us the Macintosh computer with its icon driven interface and the 90s gave us Windows operating system. As a result of the various improvements to the development of the computer we have seen the computer being used in all areas of life. It is a very useful tool that will continue to experience new development as time passes. The Outside of your Computer When you look at your computer what you are seeing is actually the computer case. Inside the case are all of the individual components that when connected together create your computer. On the outside of the case you will see various external ports that you can plug devices into as well as the ability to access your optical devices such as your CD and DVD drives. Front of a Dell Inspiron DesktopBack of a Dell Inspiron Desktop On the front of the computer you will commonly find a CD or DVD drive that can be opened by pressing a small button near the door of the drive. This will eject the drive tray where you can place a CD or DVD disk. When you press the button again, the tray will slide back into your computer so that you can access it from within your operating system. On the front of the case, you will also typically find USB ports and media readers. A USB port is a small opening on the front of your computer that allows you to plug a USB device or cable into it. You can usually determine if a port on your computer is USB as it will have the logo next to it. Common devices that you would plug into USB ports are iPod and iPads, flash drives, and external hard drives. The other common ports that you can find are for camera memory media. These media readers allow you to remove the memory card from your camera and insert it into the computer so you can access the images stored on it. On the back of the case are connectors that are typically only used when you assemble your computer for the first time. These connectors allow you to connect external devices such as your printer, monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers. The back connections will also include an Ethernet port that will allow you to connect your computer to your network. Last, but not least, there will also be more USB ports available in the event that you need more USB connections than are available on the front of your computer. The Inside of your Computer Now that you know how to connect your various external components to your computer case, let’s take a look at the inside of a computer as this is where the magic really happens. To open your case, you will need to typically unscrew a side panel or press a button on the bottom of the computer to open the computer like a clamshell. Once you can see inside a computer, you will see various individual components connected via cables or plugged directly into a large board attached to the side of the case. This board is the motherboard and is used to connect all the individual devices inside your case into a single computer. These individual devices and the motherboard they plug into can be seen in the image below. As you can see from the image above, there are various components all connected to each other. Every device must be connected to the power supply unit , which provides electricity to various components. The add-on cards, each performing their own function, are inserted to the motherboard so that they can communicate with it. When all of these components are properly connected to each other, they can then communicate with each other and the computer will operate properly. In the next section we will discuss each individual component and what function they serve. The individual parts of your computer As already stated, a computer is nothing more than various individual hardware components connected to each through cables and the motherboard. These devices are then given electricity by the power supply unit so that they can function. In this section we will discuss the individual components and the function that each performs. * Computer Case The computer case, also called a chassis, houses and protects other core parts of the computer. Computer cases come in different sizes and shapes in order to accommodate the various environments that they will be stored in. These shapes are: * Tower – A tower case is vertical and usually sits on the floor. A tower case comes in a mini, mid, and full size, with the larger sizes being able to hold more components. * Desktop – A horizontal case that is designed to rest on a shelf or sit on your desk with the monitor on top of it. * Rackmount – Rackmount cases are horizontal and are typically used for servers. These servers will then mount in a rack so that there are stacks of computers in one computer rack. Full Tower CaseRackmount Case Computer cases also need to support the largest component that resides inside it, which is typically the motherboard. The motherboard can come in many different shapes and sizes, called form factors, and the specifications on a computer case will state which form factors can fit inside it. Virtually all modern cases have: * Power switch * Indicator lights such as disk activity or network activity. * Back panel that contains holes to expose external ports. * Metal framework to house the PSU and hard disk/optical drives * Mounting points to secure the motherboard * Vented panels to allow airflow through the case Depending on the model, some cases have other features as well such as headphone jacks or USB ports. * Motherboard The motherboard, or mobo for short, is perhaps the most critical piece of the computer. It is a relatively large, rectangular board filled with various circuits, chips , and slots that you plug things into The motherboard serves two functions. First, the motherboard is home to a number of chips that dictate how the various components of the computer will talk to each other. It also has special slots that allow you to plug expansion cards in that add new or improved functionality to your computer. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, the motherboard is the connecting point for all of the other pieces of the computer. Without the motherboard, the different parts cannot communicate with each other, and the computer cannot function. Computer Motherboard Motherboards come in a variety of sizes, or form factors, such as ATX or micro ATX. Generally speaking, the larger the form factor the more devices can be attached to it. Motherboards connect with the other devices in your computer using a set of special slots and connectors called ports that are located on the top and back edge of the motherboard. The ports on the back edge of the motherboard protrude out of the back panel of the computer case and allow you to connect external devices to the computer. Virtually all modern motherboards have one or more USB ports and an Ethernet port mounted externally to allow connection to the internet and external devices. Additionally, all modern motherboards contain at least one IDE or SATA port to allow the connection of a hard drive. * Central Processing Unit(CPU) The central processing unit, or CPU, is at the core of every computer. Functioning as the â€Å"brain† of the computer, the CPU performs basic mathematical and logical functions as instructed by a computer program. The CPU is located on the motherboard and is connected to it through a special port called the CPU socket. When the CPU is in use it generates heats, which must be transferred away from CPU chip so that it is not damaged. This is accomplished through the use of a heat-sink and fan which draws the heat out of the CPU chip and transfers it into the case instead. computer’s CPU A CPU has a maximum speed at which it can safely process instructions. This speed is called the clock rate and is measured in hertz (Hz). Some CPUs will allow a user to raise the clock rate beyond the speed at which the CPU is safely rated. This is called overclocking, and can provide increased computer performance at the cost of potential system instability or damage. Due to the complexity of overclocking and the potentially destructive side effects it can cause, overclocking is a technique not recommended for average or professional computer users. A relatively recent development in the field of CPUs is the multi-core processor. Having many processing cores in the CPU effectively multiplies its potential by allowing the CPU to simultaneously process as many instructions as it has cores. However, the OS must be designed to make use of multiple cores for this ability to take effect. The CPU of a modern PC will likely have anywhere from two to eight cores * Power Supply Unit All parts of a computer require electricity in order to operate. The part of the computer that provides this electricity is called the power supply unit, or PSU. The PSU receives electricity from an external source, which is usually a wall outlet, and changes it into power that the other parts of the computer can use. Power Supply A PSU is necessary for two reasons. First, computers require direct current, or DC, power. However, electricity is supplied by power companies in alternating current, or AC, form. The PSU takes the AC electricity and converts it into a DC form so that the computer can use it. The second reason is that computer components use electrical power of relatively low voltage, while the electricity that comes out of a wall socket is of a significantly higher voltage. The PSU converts the higher voltage energy into a low voltage form that the computer can properly use. Power supplies are classified by the maximum amount of watts, such as 500 or 650 watts, which can be supplied to your computer system. The amount of electricity that is required to power a computer depends on what components the computer is using. For example, if you are using a high-end processor and a high-end video card your power you may need a more powerful PSU to support these power hungry devices. Therefore, when buying n ew components for a computer you should always look at the specifications for these devices to determine how much power they need and whether or not your PSU can support it. * Hard Disk Drive The hard disk drive, or HDD, is the primary source of secondary storage in modern computers. Secondary storage is any device where information is stored when it is not needed for immediate use. An HDD uses magnetism to record information on a rotating disk of magnetic material. It uses a moveable arm containing a device called a drive head to read from and write to different portions of the disk.. Since the disk remains magnetized even after power is removed, information is not lost when you turn off the computer. One downside of HDDs is that they are very slow compared to other devices in the computer. This is because the drive must position the arm and disk in the correct position in order to retrieve a particular piece of information. Hard Disk Drive Modern HDDs have three major variables. The first is the drive capacity. This is how much information the drive can hold. Drive capacity is measured in either gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB). One terabyte is equal to one thousand gigabytes. The second variable is the rotation speed. This is how quickly the disk inside the HDD can rotate, and is measured in rotations per minute (RPM). The faster the disk spins, the more quickly information can be retrieved from it. The final variable is the type of interface the HDD uses. The interface is the part of the HDD that connects to the motherboard and is how the HDD sends and receives information. Most modern HDDs use SATA or SAS interfaces, although HDDs using IDE interfaces are still somewhat common. It is important to know which interfaces your motherboard supports when purchasing a new HDD. A recent addition to the personal computer market is a technology called a solid state drive, or SSD. While not technically an HDD, SSD’s fill the same functions. The difference between HDDs and SSDs is that while an HDD uses a spinning disk to store data, an SSD uses special microchips. Due to this, SSD’s are less susceptible to physical shocks such as impacts and falls compared to a HDD. Additionally, SSDs run silently and can access data more quickly. However, SSDs have a higher cost per gigabyte than their HDD cousins do. * Optical Disk Drives An optical disk drive is a component that uses a laser to read from or write to an optical disk. Examples of optical disks include CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays. An optical disk drive writes to a disk by using a laser to etch tiny grooves into the surface of the disk. The disk is read by using a different, low-power laser to detect those grooves. Modern optical disk drives usually have reading and writing (burning) capability. Additionally, most optical drives are backwards compatible, which means that a new technology can read the media from an older technology. For example, a Blu-Ray drive can also play DVDs and CDs. Optical Drive Optical disk drive speed is measured differently than HDD speed. While HDD speed is measured in the number of RPMs, optical drive speed is measured by the maximum rate at which data can be read from the disk. For each technology (CD, DVD, Blu-Ray) there is an industry-wide standard data rate that serves as a benchmark by which drive speeds are measured. The speed listed is put in terms of multiples of that base speed. For example, the base speed for Blu-Ray technology is 6.74 megabytes per second. Therefore, a drive rated at 52x can read data at a maximum rate of 52 x 6.74 = 350.48 megabytes per second. * Cooling Devices As a computer runs, it generates a lot of heat. One or more cooling devices are part of any modern computer in order to keep the machine from overheating. The two types of cooling devices that are in almost every modern computer are heat sinks and cooling fans. Heat sinks are small metal structures that conduct heat well. They function by absorbing the heat produced by a component and efficiently releasing it into the air, or a liquid in certain special situations, similarly to how the radiator in your car works. Cooling fans work by removing warm air from components or heat sinks and pulling in cool air to replace it. Fans are available in a variety of sizes that determine how much air they can move within your case. When adding a fan, it is important to ensure that you purchase a fan that is compatible with your motherboard, since different fans have different kinds of power connectors. CPU Heat Sink and Fan Some extremely high-end PCs have liquid cooling systems which use tubes of flowing water or coolant instead of or in addition to cooling fans. These systems are more effective, quieter, and more efficient than air cooling systems. However, they are complex, expensive, and carry the danger of a coolant leak which can damage the system. For a typical PC, air cooling systems are sufficiently effective. * Memory Random Access Memory, or RAM, is the part of the computer where information is stored while it is being used by the computer’s processor, operating system, programs, and other devices on your computer. RAM is designed so that any of the information stored on it can be read in any order without losing performance. This makes RAM faster and more efficient to store data compared to slower devices such as an HDD or CD-ROM. Computer Memory When you are using your computer it copies information that it is currently using, such as parts of the operating system or currently running programs, into RAM so that it can work faster. The more RAM that the computer has, the less often it needs to get information off of the much slower HDD. To use a comparison, think of your HDD as a well. The information on the HDD is the water in the well, and the RAM is a bucket. The bigger your bucket, the fewer trips you have to make to the well to get the water you need. One characteristic of RAM is that it is volatile. This means that when you turn off the computer, any information in the RAM is erased. To protect against loss of information, an operating system will copy any data that it needs to the HDD so that it is available the next time you start the computer. RAM comes in different speeds and types. When you upgrade your computer’s memory, it is important that you ensure that you choose a speed and type of RAM that is compatible with a computer’s motherboard. A great tool for finding out what kind of memory your computer uses is Crucial’s Memory Advisory. * Expansion Cards An expansion card is a device that is inserted into special slots on the motherboard and provides the computer with additional functions, resources, or features. There are a number of different kinds of expansion cards available; two of the most common being video cards, which provide increased graphics processing ability, and sound cards, which enhance the audio ability of the computer. Some expansion cards such as video cards also include their own processor, memory, and even cooling devices such as fans or heat sinks. When purchasing expansion cards there are a number of important factors to consider. First and foremost is the type of connection that the expansion card requires. There are a number of different standards for expansion slots, and motherboards have only a limited number of each kind of slot. Before purchasing you need to ensure that your motherboard has the required slots available for use. Another important factor is the size of the expansion card. The card needs to be able to fit inside your computer case, and should not make contact with any other parts of the computer except for the motherboard. Finally, you should ensure that your PSU can output enough power to support all your connected expansion cards. If the PSU cannot supply the computer with enough electricity then one or more of your devices will fail to function. Two common types of expansion cards are sound and video graphic cards * Sound Cards Sound cards are a kind of expansion card which deals with audio input and output. Sound cards generally fill two functions. First, sound cards enhance the sound processing capability of the computer, allowing for the creation and output of more complex sounds. Secondly, sound cards often possess input and output ports that allow for other audio devices such as microphones or speakers to be connected to it. Sound Card * Video Cards A video card is a type of expansion card which increases the computer’s ability to handle different kinds of visual output. Video cards have two main functions. First, while nearly all modern motherboards have some basic graphics capabilities built in, a video card can handle graphics issues much more effectively than the graphic chips built into the motherboard. As a result, a video card allows for the creation and display of more complex and detailed images without putting an additional strain on the CPU. Additionally, since many video cards have their own memory, this leaves more of the general computer memory available for other purposes. Second, many video cards add additional functions to the computer such as video capture, a TV-tuner which allows you to watch TV on your computer, or the ability to connect multiple monitors to the computer. Video Graphics Card * External Ports As mentioned above in the motherboard section, a number of connectors on the motherboard are accessible from the back panel of the computer case. These connections are called external ports because they can be accessed from outside the computer case. There are a number of different kinds of connections available that include: * VGA or DVI Connector- These ports are used for connecting a monitor or other display device to your computer. * Ethernet Port – This port allows you to connect your computer to a network or the Internet. * HDMI – Allows you to connect your computer a High Definition display or TV. * eSATA – These ports allow you to connect an external SATA hard drive to your computer. * USB Port – A common connector for external devices. More information about USB ports can be found below. External Ports on the back of a computer Virtually every modern PC also includes one or more USB, or Universal Serial Bus, ports. There are two primary kinds of USB ports in use right now: USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. USB 3.0 ports can move data much more quickly than USB 2.0 ports. However, the connected device must be designed to take advantage of USB 3.0 technology in order to use the increased speed. USB ports and devices are both backwards and forwards compatible. This means that you can plug any standard USB device into any standard USB port, and the device will function. However, if the USB version of the device and the port do not match then the device can only transfer data to and from the PC at a maximum rate set by the lower of the two versions. For example, if you connect a USB 3.0 device to a USB 2.0 port, the device will only transfer data at a maximum rate of 60 megabytes per second, which is the maximum rate for USB 2.0 technology. When purchasing an external device such as a monitor, keyboard, mouse, or printer it is important to ensure that you have the correct kind of port available for use. Otherwise you will be unable to use the device. Conclusion As you can see, a computer is more than that box sitting on the side of your desk. In fact it is a very complex machine comprised of numerous parts, cables, and devices that all need to properly work together in order for the computer to operate correctly. Having this basic understanding of the parts of your computer is important for any computer user. Whether you need to purchase a new one, upgrade an existing one, or repair a broken one, you now have the knowledge to understand what you are looking at.