IMMIGRATION AND ASSYLUM (UK) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

IMMIGRATION AND ASSYLUM (UK) - Essay Example ASYLUM PROCESS If Mr. Kibi is residing in UK and now if he fear returning to his home country because of his maltreatment which he will face in Eritrea he therefore qualifies as a refugee. He may be granted refugee status in the UK and on the basis of which he will be granted permission to remain in the UK for five years. After the completion of this period the person can still ask for UK’s protection and now this time he will be granted permanent stay in the UK. In order to meet the criteria as a refugee, Mr. Kibi needs to convince the authorities if he fulfills the definition of refugee, as written in the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. This definition entails that individual is required to demonstrate that he has a well founded fear of prosecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of social group or having specific political opinions about your former home country. The protection which is provided to a recognized refugee is called asyl um according to which the UK officials agree not to send you back to a country where you will be subjected to such persecution. The application procedure which Mr. Kibi can follow while residing in UK is to make application to the Home Office by attending an Asylum Screening Unit. These units are located in different areas of UK. It is essential for Mr. Kibi to contact a lawyer specializing in asylum law to assist him throughout the process. Mr. Kibi will be called for an in-depth interview after submitting the application. The interview will be conducted to inquire Mr. Kibi about the fear of persecution and he will also be provided a questionnaire which needs to be filled out as quickly as possible. Mr. Kibi will be required to give detailed statement about his fear of being persecuted and he will also be required to provide details about his persecution experiences that you have suffered in the past. Mr. Kibi will be required to provide objective information which can be presented to human rights organizations or to the press and various other media sources that can prove that the kind of persecution Mr. Kibi has experienced were against the human rights. Mr. Kibi solicitor can greatly help him in accessing this information. Mr. Kibi should provide information regarding his military service in 1997 and his involvement in the fight on front line at Bure in 1998. He should clearly explain that in 1999 he was detained for three days for refusing to obey commands and further in 2000 he unfortunately received an injury to his thigh whilst fighting and then he was hospitalized for three months. Mr. Kibi must mention in his application that in 2002 he was detained for two weeks when he inquired about his expenses and then in 2005 he was stationed near Adi Quala where he was again injured fighting. At this point he was sent for hospitalization for one year and from there he was moved to Keren where his time was assigned to work for military hospital and part time fo r military camp. In his interview with case owner, Mr. Kibi should also mention that in 2008 he wrote an article for criticizing the government on their attitude towards military members when they get injured during their service period. Now he should also clearly elaborate to his case owner during the interview that at this point, as a result of the above consequences Mr. Kibi felt that it is no

Urban Nomadism - Tecno Nomadism - Neo Nomadism Thesis

Urban Nomadism - Tecno Nomadism - Neo Nomadism - Thesis Example A nomadic life can give you every freedom you wish to access in life. There is no tension about office work, boss firing and other daily tensions. Driving out to the open road is not a mere imagination now and it has turned to be a reality with the technology favoring the aspiring generation. In this urban environment, an individual or a family has the right to choose nomadism as their culture and it is appreciable and acceptable in this mobile world. However, nomadic lifestyle is considered as an uncivilized way of living by the sedentary society. What could be the reason behind this? There might be different reason for people to switch over to this type of living style. Some of us consider the style during the retirement life, this is the time when we wish to be free from homely tensions and want to enjoy life. Another group of people are those who are homeless and have no other option than choosing nomadic life, also fly out to road. However, the case is different with modern noma ds, who also consider about earning, living, saving as well as connecting to people along with enjoying the fun on being free. Nomads love to have freedom, fun and more space for relationships and want to stay away from day to day tensions. Luckily, the present day technological efficiency has made it easy for anyone to be anywhere both virtually as well as physically at any time and thus, techno nomadism is a reality. Though, the life of nomads are filled with fun and adventure, they need to face numerous challenges primary areas that influenced the modern nomads are the prototype of free venture and marketing that offers a better economic prosperity. However, the initial point that arises in a nomadic mind is the transportable tools and environment. What are the best types of transportable tools that are ideal for a modern nomadic lifestyle? As a solution to this haunting question, a wide study is performed and discussed here. The most wonderful point of discussion is the architec tural creativity that made a space for easy transportation and survival for the modern as well as the post modern nomads. This paper purely talks about the emergence of neo nomadism with respect to the technological effects and the means of leading a nomadic culture. The significance of nomadic atmosphere and architecture suitable for a modern, comprehensive and rapidly growing mobile community is studied and discussed. A thesis focusing on the methods and architectural problem associated with a modern nomadic lifestyle is included. The tools that are crucial and adjustable to a logical transportable environment are studied while focusing on a hybrid infrastructure, service and efficacy. It also discusses the perfect solutions and the effective utilization of simple architectural tools and construction techniques to lead a modern nomadic life. Along with a simple transportation, easy construction and wonderful nomadic lifestyle, a person also needs to consider the chances of a great earning. This can be achieved to specific tools and effective communication networks. Excellent ideas and solutions are discussed here that can help the nomads overcome all the challenges related to transportation, communication and earnings. Now, let us see how nomadism is ruling this modern world and how the nomads are overcoming the challenges that face during their adventurous life. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW Ancient world witnessed the nomadic culture

Flamingo Essay Essay Example for Free

Flamingo Essay Essay Bonny Sim Flamingo Essay July 12, 2012 Did you know that flamingos were the inspiration for the phoenix? Pheonicopterus is another name for flamingos in Latin, which means crimson wing. Flamingos live in warm places like South Africa. They are usually near salty lakes or rivers. Flamingos are one of the most amazing creatures on Earth. Flamingos’ bodies are mostly pink. Their beaks are brownish black and the inside parts of their wings are black feathers. However, their eyes, legs, and feet are all pink. They have long, pink chopstick like legs, and big, webbed feet. Flamingos are usually 120cm in height, and weigh 2~5 kg, with an average wingspan of 140cm. Flamingos are pretty tall, mostly because of their long legs and neck. What do flamingos eat? What eats the flamingos? Flamingos have a very special tool for eating: their beaks. They stamp their large feet in the mud of the lake or river to stir up food from the bottom. They usually eat brine shrimp and blue-green algae, filter fed. Also, flamingos are very sociable birds that group in communities that can reach into the thousands. Flamingos group together for predator avoidance maximizing food intake, and finding the best nesting sites. They can be eaten by mongooses and marabous. The unique thing about flamingos is that they are crimson colored. However, the baby flamingos are born with grey feathers. There are carotenoid proteins in aqueous bacteria and beta carotene that causes this pink and reddish coloration. Female flamingos are more attracted to vividly colored, healthy, and enchanting males, when they are finding their mates. The flamingo dance, as we call it, is for finding a mate. They raise their neck high, and twist their heads from side to side. Randomly, they flap their wings. First, the flamingos divide themselves into groups of 15~50 birds. When they find their mate, their female chooses a spot for the nest. Next, they build the nest out of mud and salt. Another pair sometimes tries to steal the other couple`s nest spot if they want it. The female flamingo lays the egg, and it hatches after a month. Thee chicks are born gray, with spots of white. Because the flamingos have a hormone called prolactin, they create crop milk to feed their chicks. The crop milk contains red and white blood cells. The family stays in the nest with the chicks for six days, but after 7~12 days, the chicks venture around. Two weeks later, the chicks become a part of microcreches, and their parents leave them in these groups. Soon, the microcreches come together to form creches, which can consist of thousands of chicks. Creches are meant to protect the chicks from getting eaten by the predators. In conclusion, the life cycle of flamingos, is so awe-inspiring. The way they filter feed, and how they group themselves, is so unbelievable. Did you know that flamingos were the inspiration for the phoenix? The chicks that learn to walk really fast are amazing, too. Let`s protect them from being endangered, by keeping the lakes and rivers clean. Also, it might help the flamingos if we stop the global warming.

Malaysias Relationship with the US

Malaysias Relationship with the US Case Study Tense ambivalence under Mahathir During Mahathir’s premiership (1981-2003), Malaysia enjoyed a cooperative relationship with the US was on economic and security front. Politically, however, there has been much tension between the two states. On the economic front, the US has been one of Malaysia’s most important trading partners. In Mahathir’s final year as prime minister, the volume of two-way trade amounted to US$34,352.5 million[1], with the balance of trade in Malaysia’s favour. Additionally, Malaysia has traditionally relied on US foreign investments, particularly during the former state’s rapid economic mobilisation from the 1970s to the end of the 1990s. Malaysia, a former colonial state which inherited a dwindling, natural resource-dependent economy from the British, achieved unprecedented rate of growth under Mahathir’s developmental plans. Malaysia’s economic development achieved its zenith in the 1990s, hailed by the World Bank as an `economic miracle’ in the developing world. During this course of development, the US played a pivotal role via its foreign investments. For instance, US investments in Malaysia tripled between 1990 and 2000, from US$1.5 billion to US$6 billion, of which 57% was in manufacturing, 21% in petroleum and natural resources, and 22% in services and related industries.[2] In terms of security, Malaysia under Mahathir has seen much cooperation with the US in matters of counter-terrorism. Malaysia had become a vital partner in combating terrorism due to Malaysia’s leadership role in the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) at a time when the region was dubbed the `second front’ in the war against terrorism due to links between its regional militant groups and Al-Qaeda.[3] Moreover, Malaysia’s status as a Muslim nation was crucial as the US was looking for a Muslim ally in Southeast Asia. As Malaysia practices moderate Islam, The US hoped that it could be a good example for other Muslim nations to follow. As such, both countries thought that this security partnership could improve relations between the United States and other Islamic nations, and could greatly help with America’s global fight against terrorism. Politically, however, Mahathir’s premiership was marked with bilateral tensions between Malaysia and the US. In 1990, Mahathir proposed the creation of an East Asia Economic Grouping (EAEG), a regional trading bloc similar to the European Union (EU) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In order for Mahathir’s proposal to seem less of a trade bloc and more of a forum for discussion, it was officially renamed by Asean as the East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) in 1991, at the Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting, before formally endorsing the EAEC in 1992 at its Fourth Asean Summit in Singapore. [4] However, tensions arose regarding the EAEC since membership was accorded only to East Asian countries, therefore excluding the United States and its political presence in the region. One of the biggest tensions between the two states arose during the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis. Specifically, there were disagreements over the causes of the crisis. US policymakers blamed it on the Asian economies’ structural deficiencies, underdeveloped financial systems, strong links between government and business, opaque business dealings, corruption, and cronyism. Mahathir, on the other hand, blamed it on international factors, namely international currency speculators and hedge funds.[5] There were also different views on how to respond to the crisis: Mahathir believed in currency and capital controls to jumpstart the Malaysian economy, whilst the US believed in reform proposals by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, which proposed reforms through fiscal restraints and the cutback of subsidies. Malaysia nevertheless instituted its currency and capital controls and while it did work for Malaysia, Mahathir was criticised by the US. [6] Bilateral relations were further tested in September 1998 when Mahathir dismissed Anwar Ibrahim, the deputy prime minister and finance minister, on charges of corruption and sexual misconduct. This was because, during the financial crisis and before the implementation of Mahathir’s currency controls, Anwar (in his capacity as the finance minister at the time) went against Mahathir by proposing contractionary financial policies which closely resembled the proposals set by the IMF. In November 1998, these tensions were exacerbated following comments by then US Vice-President Al Gore at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur, praising `the brave people of Malaysia’ for seeking reform.[7] Relations would then worsen when Anwar was sentenced to six years in prison for corruption in April 1999. US officials considered Anwar to be a political prisoner in this case as they considered the charges against Anwar to be trumped up. Unsurprisingly, when Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced in August 2000 to an additional nine years in jail for sodomy, a US State Department official stated that the US was `outraged by Anwar’s conviction’ and that the `co-operative relationship with Malaysia has been impeded by Malaysia’s poor record on human rights.’[8] As a result, an annual human rights report released by the State Department in February 2001, contained criticism of Malaysia’s handling of the Anwar case, citing political motivations and questioning the independence of the judiciary. Criticism was also directed to Malaysia’s use of its Internal Security Act (ISA), dubbed by the US as `draconian,’ since it allowed for detention without trial. For instance, the Malaysian government had used the ISA in July 2000 after it had prevented an arms heist by a militant group, Al-Ma’unah, which had links to Al-Qaeda terrorists. Additionally, the 9/11 attacks on New York’s World Trade Center and the US’s subsequent ‘War on Terror’ would further strain Malaysia-US relations. In March 2003, Mahathir vehemently condemned the US and the UK’s decision to go to war against Iraq. Bilateral tensions also arose over Mahathir’s anti-Jewish remarks at the summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Kuala Lumpur in October of the same year. Mahathir had said, ‘The Europeans killed six million Jews out of twelve million, but today the Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them.’ The US State Department deemed these comments offensive and inflammatory, stating, ‘We view them with the contempt and derision they deserve.’[9] Moderation Under Abdullah Under the premiership of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (2004-2009), Malaysia-US relations saw a continuation of cooperation on economic and security fronts. Within the economic sphere, bilateral ties remained crucial. In 2004, Malaysia was America’s tenth largest trading partner, with more than US$39 billion a year in bilateral trade[10], whereas the US was Malaysia’s biggest single investor and the largest market for Malaysian exports.[11] That same year, Malaysia’s GDP grew by 6.8% its highest rate in four years.[12] Additionally, to deal with a budget deficit that spanned six years since 1998, Abdullah exercised fiscal restraint which included measures such as the postponement of costly projects. However, during Abdullah’s Prime Ministership, the ringgit peg of RM$3.8 to the US dollar was removed in July 2005 – seen as a move to make Malaysia more independent and self-reliant vis-à  -vis the US. This measure of currency control had been in place for nearly seven years, as part of Mahathir’s currency controls to stem capital flight and speculative attacks during the 1997/98 Asian Financial Crisis. The peg was removed after Malaysia became more concerned about the state of the US economy at the time and the instability of the US dollar. Moreover, it was also because the government felt assured enough to make the change due to its own economic growth. Malaysia’s cooperation in the realms of security also continued under Abdullah. A marked difference under Abdullah was Malaysia’s enhanced international position, strengthening Malaysia’s role as a partner to the US. For instance, from October 2003 to March 2008, Malaysia served as Chair of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the largest federation of Muslim nations.[13] This made Malaysia a key partner in the Muslim world at a time when the US was particularly concerned about the terrorist threat in many Muslim states and valued having a strong Muslim ally in the region. Abdullah held increased stature as a Muslim leader in his role as the OIC Chair leader and was able to express the OIC’s views on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. For instance, he stressed the need for peace brokers to be fair and unbiased to both sides and for Palestinians to present a united front by finding ways to end their internal divisions. In recognition of his enhanced position, Abdullah was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine’s December 2004 and was hailed as a leader who forged a moderate brand of Islam and who was capable of mending the divide instigated by radical Muslim movements in the region.[14] Thus, Malaysia’s role as a security partner of the US was solidified over this period. Tensions on the political front, on the other hand, continued under Abdullah, albeit there was not as much hostility and confrontation as it was under Mahathir. Malaysian opposition to US policy included condemnation of Israel, a country that Malaysia does not share a diplomatic relationship with. When Israel invaded Lebanon in 2006, Abdullah and his Foreign Minister urged the US to push for an immediate ceasefire while UMNO Youth held an anti-Israel protest. Another change under Abdullah Badawi was that he removed a predominant strain in Malaysia-US relations since 1998 — the Anwar Ibrahim issue. After the ruling National Front coalition won a landslide victory in the 2004 national elections, Abdullah – confident of his position and not wanting to remain in Mahathir’s shadow – was emboldened to go against his predecessor’s wishes about freeing Anwar. Hence, in September 2004, Malaysia’s highest court reversed Anwar’s convictions of sexual misconduct and freed him after nearly six years in jail. However, tensions on this matter resumed in June 2008. This time, there was criticism by the US over allegations that Anwar had sodomised one of his male aides. By then, Anwar was no longer barred from entering politics and he had won re-election in a by-election in August 2008, allowing him to return to Parliament as the opposition leader. The US government maintained their stance on the issue, bel ieving that the sodomy charges were politically motivated – especially as they appeared so soon after Anwar’s gains in the March 2008 general elections. With Anwar’s comeback in Malaysian politics coinciding with the National Front’s substantial losses in the March 2008 general elections, Abdullah faced mounted criticism from within his own party – especially after the party lost its hold over five states and its two-thirds majority in parliament. Abdullah’s predecessor, Mahathir, was particularly critical as he had started finding fault with Abdullah long before the general elections. Hence, calls for Abdullah to step down escalated, from both within the National Front and from opposition parties. At first, Abdullah said that he would do so in 2010 but brought the date forward to early April 2009 after facing surmounting pressure from within his party. To summarise Malaysia-US relations under Mahathir, there has been a continuation, if not an increase, in cooperation on economic and security fronts. Although there were lingering political issues between the two (such as the Anwar Ibrahim issue and conflicts in the Middle East) a marked change in the US-Malaysia relationship was Abdullah’s different brand of leadership. While Mahathir was blunt, confrontational, and often anti-West in his rhetoric, Abdullah was mainly calm and diplomatic – allowing for a more amiable relationship. The US welcomed this change. As a secret US Embassy cable unveiled by Wikileaks, revealed: ‘Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is a breath of fresh air after the long serving and ituperative Mahathir Mohamad, who retired in late 2003.’ The cable also added that Abdullah was ‘publicly committed to fighting corruption and reining in costly mega-projects, though his government’s follow-through has been disappointing.â€℠¢[15] Pragmatism under Najib Since assuming the Prime Ministership in 2009, Najib Abdul Razak’s policy has been implemented in a broader and more sensible way, with marked improvement in Malaysia-US relations within the spheres of economy, security, and politics. On the economic front, the Najib government has made efforts to increase bilateral trade and investment flows. During a week-long working visit to New York in April 2010 for a Nuclear Security Summit hosted by Obama, Najib had his first ever meeting with the US president on the side-lines of the summit. He also held discussions with key officials of the administration in Washington, and met with American business leaders to promote his newly-launched New Economic Model (NEM).[16] Najib returned to the city on 17 May 2011 to attend the New York Invest Malaysia 2011 held at the New York Stock Exchange, before returning on 20 May 2012 to meet with business leaders of various Fortune 500 companies at the prestigious Harvard Club.[17] This is largely a continuation of the amicable economic relationship between Malaysia and the US as the United States has consistently been an important economic partner for decades and has been Malaysia’s largest foreign direct investor. In 2011, even though America was experiencing slower growth, it remained Malaysia’s top foreign investor. [18] Hence, bilateral trade was robust, with total trade between the two countries totalling to US$33.68 billion in 2009, before increasing to US$39.98 billion in 2010 and US$39.99 billion in 2011.[19] On the security dimension, the Najib administration has pursued a deepening of Malaysia’s military partnership with the United States. For instance, Malaysia upgraded its participation in the Cobra Gold multilateral military exercises[20] from an observer to a participant. Malaysia’s Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi commented in June 2010: â€Å"As a participant of the exercise, Malaysia can obtain valuable experience on defence strategy, technology, training and operating sophisticated equipment.†[21] In February 2011, Malaysia was involved in the Cobra Gold as a participant for the first time in February 2011. However, the starkest changes in Malaysia-US relations have been political. Soon after assuming his post in 2009, Najib articulated his resolve to enhance Malaysia-U.S. relations. In June 2009, approximately two months after taking office, Najib took the opportunity to offer an olive branch when he responded positively to Obama’s speech in Cairo, where the new president discussed ‘new beginnings’ between the US and Muslims all over the world. Recognising the U.S. leader’s reference to Malaysia as among the ‘progressive and developed Muslim nations’, Najib praised the US president’s for reaching out to Muslims and offered to assist his administration in forging better ties with the Muslim world.[22] Additionally, a closing of these political ties has resulted in more regular visits by leaders and key officials of Malayia and the US. In September 2010, Najib and Obama met again at the second ASEAN-U.S. meeting during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. On 2 November of the same year, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Malaysia for three days in an official visit – a significant milestone as it marked the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to Malaysia since Warren Christopher in 1995. Clinton’s maiden trip was followed up by the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates on 9th November 2010.[23] The frequency of high-level exchanges and meetings was maintained up by both sides the following year, witnessing a number of visits by senior US officials to Malaysia, including the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Robert Willard in June 2011, and the Deputy Secretary of State William Burns in December 2011. At a roundtable in Kualal Lumpur organised by the Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Burns defined America’s relationship with Malaysia as a vital part of U.S. strategy to engage the Asia-Pacific, remarking: â€Å"For decades, this relationship did not realise its potential. We all too often found ourselves on different sides of geopolitical fault lines, and at times, in the past, have struggled to rise above mistrust. And yet today, this relationship has become one of America’s most promising in all of Southeast Asia.†[24] In summary, it is evident that Malaysia’s policy towards America has undergone considerable changes since Najib assumed the Prime Ministership in 2009. Whereas Mahathir often adopted a rhetorically confrontational and politically controversial approach towards the US, Najib’s policy is centred on increased cooperation and more pragmatism. [1] The Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1990-2011 (Washington D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau) [2] Sodhy, P. (2012). [3] Gershman, J. (2002) ‘Is Southeast Asia the Second Front?’ Foreign Affairs, 81:4. [4] Sodhy, P. (1998) ‘The East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) Controversy in ASEAN-US Relations,’ Western Pacific Journal, 4. [5] Ping, L.P. Tham S. W. (2007) ‘Malaysia Ten Years After the Asian Financial Crisis’, Asian Survey, 47:6, University of California Press. [6] Jayasankaran, S. (2002) ‘Malaysia Turns Around,’ Far Eastern Economic Review. [7] Sodhy, P. (2012). [8] Ibid [9] Sipress, A. (2003) ‘Malaysians Calls on Muslims to Resist Jewish Influence’, The Washington Post, 17th October, A21. [10] The Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1990-2011 (Washington D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau). [11] Sodhy, P. (2012). [12] UN Data (2014) [13] Sodhy,P.(2012) [14] ibid [15] http://www.malaysia-today.net/us-viewed-pak-lahs-reform-a-failure/ [16] Samad N. (2010), ‘Najib set for talks with Obama,’ New Straits Times, 11th April 2010, p.12. [17] http://www.1malaysia.com.my/en/speeches/new-york-invest-malaysia-2011/ [18] Damodaran, R. (2011) ‘U.S. investment trend in Malaysia to remain strong,’ New Straits Times, 23rd August 2011, p. B4. [19] The Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1990-2011 (Washington D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau). [20] A command post exercise aimed at cooperation in building regional readiness for future missions. [21]David A. (2010) ‘Lifeline for our Nuri copters,’ New Straits Times, 4th June 2010, p.15. [22] Kuik, C.C. (2012) ‘Malaysia’s U.S. Policy under Naib: Ambivalence No More?’ RSIS Working Papers, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Singapore. [23] ibid [24]http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2011/12/20111215111225su0.7890393.html#axzz25xvpdcp8

How does a CD work? :: essays research papers

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................pg. 2 Factors Creating the Demand For Secondary Storage ............................pg. 2 Why Buy Optical ........................................................................................pg. 3 CD Physical Characteristics.......................................................................pg. 4 How Does a CD Work.................................................................................pg 5 What is a CD-R............................................................................................pg 5 What is CD-RW...........................................................................................pg 5 How Does A CD-RW Work .......................................................................pg. 5 Advantages of CD-RW ..............................................................................pg. 5 DVD.............................................................................................................pg 6 DVD VS. CD...............................................................................................pg 6 Glossary ......................................................................................................pg 7 Questions .................................................................................................... INTRODUCTION The use of optical storage continues to grow at an incredible pace. The word optical in the computer industry refers to any storage method which uses a laser to store and retrieve data from media. This term includes such devices as CD-ROM , rewritable optical, WORM, CD-R, and optical jukeboxes or autochangers. Most of us are familiar with CD-ROM, but other terms such as rewritable optical, WORM, and CD-R, may be foreign. Rewritable optical devices use media that allows data to be written repeatedly, while WORM technology writes data permanently to disk. CD-R , stores information permanently to a compact disc and is read on low-cost CD-ROM drives. These devices are currently sold as single or standalone items. The continuing development of optical technology has opened up many new avenues and created limitless possibilities. Migration software now allows unused data to be moved from its original location to an optical device where it resides until it is needed. Since the only thing that touches the media is the laser, it is the most durable way to store and archive data. Optical storage solutions are also used in a wide variety of applications such as document timing, records retention, backup systems, and desktop publishing. FACTORS CREATING THE DEMAND FOR SECONDARY STORAGE Because of its high capacity, low cost, durability, and random access to large amounts of networked information, secondary storage satisfies an essential need of data intensive organizations. This need for secondary storage arises from a number of factors: Digital convergence. The move towards graphical user interfaces and the success of operating systems, such as Windows, Windows 95, and Windows NT, have resulted in a significant increase in the average size of a stored document. Industry estimates indicate that the average document size has grown almost tenfold (PC Magazine, 03/10/98, "To Write or Rewrite?") The information superhighway. The explosive growth of on line services, led by the Internet, has resulted in unprecedented use of such services to reach potentially huge new customer base. Another consideration for the need of reliable secondary storage is the increasing cost of managing storage on network servers. According to Strategic Research Corporation, as storage requirements explode, organizations are finding that the cost of managing the storage is almost four times the cost of the actual storage due to server downtime, backup procedures, and hard disk failures.

Mischels Greenhouse :: Creative Writing Story

Mischels Greenhouse While working at the brand new Mischels Greenhouse I found out it was different from any other job I ever had. It was one of the most responsible jobs so far of my life. Four thousand lives were almost totally in my exchange sisters, Tanya, and my hands. By us watering them daily. Because it was so hot out-side, the greenhouse was stifling. Watering mums was a very tedious job be-cause it was repetitious. I started daily at 9 A.M. my whole day consisted of taking care of Forty thousand mums. They sat on top of many benchtops collecting sun and, heat rays waiting for us to water them. After watering them, John, (My boss), would go behind me and pull flowers. Which means picking out the best plants. Then Tanya and I would pick them up and put them on a rack 5x5 and then shrink wrap them. Shrink-wrapping was mainly my job throughout the day. I would load an 8 foot tall rack then I would wrap the rack full of mums so the mums would not fall off. Then I would take the palette jack and pick up therack, and load it into the Ford truck. Loading is hard because I have to make sure they go all the way to the back and to the side of the truck. It can't be one inch off otherwise it could hurt the plants (They could rub together) and the racks wouldn't fit side by side. It's a endless cycle, day after day, until all the mums are gone. When the mums are all gone, it's a glorious feel of relief. All the benches had to be cleaned to get ready for poinsettias. Tanya went back to Belarus to live with her real family so I asked my friends if any of them wanted to help and only one said yes. I told my boss and a week later my friend was working with me It was my job to "show him the ropes" with the poinsettias. After he got the hang of things it was smooth sailing, to load poinsetias. We did everything the same as the mums except we put eight plants in

Love in the Western World

This paper will trace in general the different views on love as expressed by the different speakers in Plato’s Symposium and explore in detail the theories of Eros, Philia, Storge and Agape and the bearing it has on the notions of erotic love, filial love, sacrificial love and spiritual love. Another area that will be drawn into focus is the theory of â€Å"platonic love† based on Plato’s hypothesis. The context of the symposium is a get-together of the students of Socrates who get to talking and decide to take turns and speak in praise of Eros, the God of Love. Of the speakers Phaedrus speaks first and talks about the virtuosity Eros promotes in those who experience love. He talks about the awareness that true love can inspire in humans so that man becomes conscious of the noble qualities of honor, loyalty, courage and fidelity. Pausanius is the next to speak and dwells on the different kinds of love, from the common banal love to the higher, spiritual kind of love. The earthy love is not as noble as the intellectual love which is more faithful and elevates the mind and is completely devoid of desire. According to him the pursuit of higher knowledge and wisdom is the more honorable and the wantonness of physical love is shameful. Eryximachus talks about the concept of good love that helps man to be judicious and methodical. Eryximachus is a doctor and philosopher and talks about love beyond relationships, about intellectualism, the love of ideas, concepts and the fine arts like music. He speaks of the advantages love brings to humans, the most important being the ability to discern between honor and dishonor. He believes that there are opposing kinds of loves in every living being including animals and plants. However, true love is achieved through a synthesis of these opposing elements and that it can be the fountain and source of power, friendship and happiness (Plato’s Symposium). Aristophanes, the jester and humorist came up with the concept of love as man in search of his soul mate and partner in order to feel one complete whole. He talks about man being split into half by Zeus for threatening to over run the Gods. Later Zeus modified his terrible act and allowed the two halves to marry as man and woman. It is said that ever since the two halves have been in search of the other. Socrates himself speaks last of all and talks of love as being the human desire for knowledge, wisdom and beauty. Love is the desire for what is beautiful and may not necessarily mean beauty in itself. According to Socrates love is the mere interface between what he desires and the object of his desire. When man has achieved real love he will be able to create beauty, conceptualize perfection and become wise and virtuous. In Greek mythology Eros is one of the three oldest Gods along with Cronos and Chaos and stands for love. The word ‘erotic’ is derived from the God of love, Eros, who encourages and endorses all those who seek him to perform acts of virtue and merit. As has been mentioned before, all those present at the party or symposium have laid down their postulates and have spoken about different kinds of love and what it does for man. To further explore the concept of the various kinds of love let us consider the broad definition of these categories: Agape, Storge, Philia and Eros. Agape stands for spiritual love, the kind of love God has for his creatures and the love man strives to return. This kind of love transcends physical boundaries and is a higher form of love which finds fulfillment in just being there. It kindles spirituality and is perfection itself. Nothing can tarnish this kind of love and to most mortals seems almost impossible to attain. We can find examples of this kind of love in Christianity. In literature, I have found this kind of love being depicted in certain kinds of love lyrics that belong to the Renaissance age. In Petrarch’s poetry for instance, the poet’s object of desire, the enigmatic Laura, is continually shown as someone unreachable. Laura’s eyes are compared to stars; her face is often described as being so radiant as to make looking at her impossible. This imagery often ties up with how the apprehension of God is described in Christianity. Here, the conflict between Eros and Agape is continually present. The poet often feels helplessly tied between the demands of the earthier, physical Eros and the spiritual, the allegedly purer kind of Agape (Houston). Storge is synonymous with love that engenders sacrifice and purity. This is the kind of love parents feel for their children. This kind of love does not wait for reciprocity to grow and is there notwithstanding. The story of Abraham and Isaac is an interesting biblical instance of these two kinds of love where Storge is compelled to be sacrificed for the greater Agape. In order to prove the full extent of his Agape, his total devotion to God, Abraham is asked to sacrifice the thing he loves most. This happens to be Abraham’s son Isaac, the person for who he feels the greatest Storge. In the biblical context, Agape is undeniably higher than Storge. Abraham is therefore first made to prove the full extent of his Agape before God relents and lets him keep the object of his Storge. Other instances of pronounced Storge in literature include the love Cordelia feels for her father, King Lear in Shakespeare’s play. In this case however the Storge is made to complete its sacrifice in a sense because both the king’s beloved daughter and the king himself die in the end. Philia, or brotherly love, exists between friends, brothers and neighbors. This kind of love helps people to bond closely without being passionate or amorous. This kind of love prompts the feeling of camaraderie and brotherhood. A good example at hand would be the kind of love soldiers have amongst each other, where they bond intimately and share their joys and sorrows together without a hint of any physical attraction or manifestations. In Greek history, I have noticed the love depicted in the story of Damon and Pythias to be of this form. In the legend Damon and Pythias both survive Dionysus’ wrath because of their intense love for each other. But in another tale from the bible, the ending is not nearly as fortunate. Cain and Abel, sons of Adam and Eve, at first loved each other in the truest sense of Philia. However, with the preference God showed for Abel’s sacrifice of animals over Cain’s agricultural offerings, Cain’s love turns to intense jealousy and he ends up killing Abel. This is possibly the best known example of Philia getting overturned. Eros is passionate love, which can in most cases be closely linked to physical attraction and sexual love. Eros is often closely associated with the animal kingdom and therefore classically considered to be a lower form. Eros can often contend with Agape as we have seen earlier. And a popular example of this is in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The love that the two young nobles feel for each other is no doubt arising from a certain attraction, or Eros. And yet the manner in which they express their love for each other in a language that is similar to that of Agape. Romeo and Juliet address each other in abject terms, making it a love not of equals but of one subservient to the other. This of course is one of the most common features of Agape. Although classically Eros is considered to be a lower form than Agape, as we have seen discussed in the Symposium, I personally feel this is not entirely fair. It is true that people often consider it nobler to love a person without wanting to possess him or her in a physical or earthly way. By implication this means that a person loves someone for more than their physicality, that is to say a love founded on something deeper than superficial beauty. This is true in theory, but not always in practice. We often find that the Agape is more often than not directed towards someone of higher social standing, or towards a woman who is unreachable, like a noblewoman or even the queen. This amounts to nothing short of sycophancy sometimes. Is it then less hypocritical than loving someone for their appearance? Eros is also equated with the animal kingdom and is therefore considered â€Å"lower. † But why should something, that takes place in the natural world, be considered lower? If animals love each other erotically, does it not make it a more natural, or even a â€Å"higher† love? After all this kind of love is based on the truth of the body’s responses to the beloved; if someone is beautiful and attractive physically, why should it be wrong to feel attraction or love for this person? Even if it is based only on appearances, Eros is more genuine. There is no verbal intrusion that allows lovers to lie to each other or praise each other in hollow terms. Philia too I think is often under-rated in the present generation. Friends can often feel a lot of love between them without it being the Erotic or even the Agape type of love. We have been brainwashed by popular movies and books into always expecting friendships to turn into love as that fits in with the perfect happy ending of the plot. But why should this be? Why is simple, platonic love that expects nothing physical or romantic in return be less of a love than any other kind? After all, is it not nobler for two friends to love each other in spite of the fact that they have nothing physical or romantic to gain from each other? Storge also is often under-appreciated in popular culture. Love that exists within families has become such a rare instance in the days of divorce and estrangement that perhaps more of art needs to depict it now, more than ever. People seem to forget that our families are what we are born into. We carry our parents’ genes and share them with our siblings and nothing or no one else can ever change that. It is true that we are often unfortunate in this regard and there are many children brought into this world in an unloving family, but even so the love that exists between members of the family is something that precedes life itself. Just to think about what a pregnant mother endures for nine months and so many years following the birth, is enough to prove the argument. In conclusion, I think it is fruitless to spend hours debating on which form of love is higher than the others because each kind of love, whether borne out of devotion, lust, filial ties or friendship, is a distinct kind of love. A sort of love that is unique to itself and therefore deserving of special attention. Instead of trying to compare them it is perhaps best to be grateful to know that they all exist.