The Promise of Ending

The Promise of Ending DID YOU KNOW? Female komodo dragons can apparently have immaculate conceptions. No, really. So I was just sitting here this evening (dont you mean this morning?) watching a biblical archaeology special on The History Channel that was trying to determine the precise location of Sodom and Gomorrah when I decided to check my grades, like I do, you know, every 20 minutes. Because there might still be someone in the Student Services Office working really hard to get those grades in right now! Anyway, when I logged into WebSIS, I took special notice of a link that had been there for the past three years: Hmm. thought I. I guess thats me. I noticed that it had to be in by February 9 or I would suffer a $40 fine, so I figured thered be no harm in doing it tonight. A few moments later, I had produced this image, a diploma mock-up for illustrative purposes only: Three and a half years, 17 GIRs, 8 PE points, 50 sleepless nights, and 10,000 miles paid for by MISTI. Now all thats standing between me and an MIT diploma is ICE 2. I remember lounging around my suite with a roommate named David and a sophomore named Katy about this time my Freshman year. Wow guys, said Katy, Youre one-eighth of the way done with MIT. How does that feel. Now, in my mind I know that it was a long time ago because Katy moved in with her boyfriend two months later and we never saw her again (shame, because I think that to this day I owe her a raw chicken breast). But my heart, Anita, but my heart, FEELS like it was just yesterday. And now Ive got one-eighth of the way left. Man Im old. SUPER SORRY about the lack of blogging for the past month. I promise to write retroactive entries on everything that kept me too occupied to blog, including using 22 M formic acid to fuel you cell phone, a song written on an e e cummings poem, being called ingenious by a Pulitzer Prize-winner, going to Blue Man Group, and flirting with Ina Garten.

Dantes Inferno Dantes Journey Toward Enlightenment Essay

Dantes Inferno: Dantes Journey Toward Enlightenment While reading Dante’s Inferno I couldn’t help but draw parallels between the journey of the protagonist and the belief system of the Buddhist religion. Dante believed we must understand sin before we can reject it, and Buddha believed that before we can reject sin, we must suffer also. Examining these two tenets side by side makes the similarities undeniably apparent; they both seem to be purporting the message that there cannot be pain without pleasure, truth without dishonesty or enlightenment with suffering. Dante’s version of hell is based on that of Medieval Catholicism, which professes to be quite divergent from the Buddhist faith. Yet the similarities are actually quite†¦show more content†¦Both view the spirit guide as a counselor and a guardian that is far wiser than any mortal being. Both attach the figure of the spirit guide to divine characteristics, and both use the figure pervasively throughout their narratives. However it is important to note that there are also some discrepancies between Dante’s Christian spirit guides and those revered in Buddhism. Buddhists believe that every human being is a spiritual being as well as a physical being, and that by exploring the spiritual sphere of ourselves we can have a guiding hand in our own destiny. In The Dhammapada, one of the best loved of all Buddhist scriptures, Buddha proclaims in verses 116-119: Make haste in doing good; check your mind from evil; for the mind of him who is slow in doing meritorious actions delights in evil. Should a person commit evil, he should not do it again and again; he should not find pleasure therein: painful is the accumulation of evil. Should a person perform a meritorious action, he should do it again and again; he should find pleasure therein: blissful is the accumulation of merit. Even an evildoer sees good as long as evil ripens not; but when it bears fruits, then he sees the evil results. [1] On the contrary, Dante’s interpretations of medieval Catholicism purported that the hand weShow MoreRelatedThe Divine Comedy Illustrates Dante Pilgrim’S Heroic Journey1230 Words   |  5 Pages The Divine Comedy illustrates Dante Pilgrim’s heroic journey that is commonly displayed in numerous other epic poems of his time. However, Dante cannot begin his journey through his starting place in Hell, which is where his beloved Virgil comes into the text. Inspired by Virgil’s writings, especially the Aeneid, Dante willingly accepts to follow Virgil on a journey into an unknown world. Dante as a character develops his personality as he nears Heaven, which makes him consider Virgil to be lessRead MoreEssay on The Allegory of the Cave and Dante1251 Words   |  6 Pagesthe poet Dante Alighieri, writer of The Inferno in the 1300s, because it asserts the need to establish oneself as a contributor to society. Indeed, Dante’s work contributes much to Renais sance Italy as his work is the first of its scope and size to be written in the vernacular. Due to its readability and availability, The Inferno is a nationalistic symbol. With this widespread availability also comes a certain social responsibility; even though Dante’s audience would have been familiar with theRead More Analysis of the Inferno of Dante Alighieris Divine Comedy Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of the Inferno of Dante Alighieris Divine Comedy The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is considered by many as the first great poem in the Italian language and perhaps the greatest poem written in Medieval Europe. The poem is so famous that one of the minor characters, Capaneus the great blasphemer, has his name on a mesa on one of Jupiters moon Io (Blue, 1). Also, the poem is divided into three canticles, or sections, Inferno, Purgatorio, andRead More Perception Dante Alighieri’s in The Inferno Essay1321 Words   |  6 PagesThe Inferno In The Inferno, Dante Alighieri, the poet, places a strong emphasis on perception; it is through sight that Dante the pilgrim can acknowledge and learn from his experience in hell. Sight plays an especially crucial role in the work because Dante, the pilgrim, is often captivated by an image of some kind. The sight of the sinners transfixes Dante; and the sinners are, in turn, captivated with Dante and Virgil. It would seem that everything Dante observes through his journey wouldRead More Dante’s Inferno - The Evolving Relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide2167 Words   |  9 PagesDante’s Inferno -   The Evolving Relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide       In Dante’s Inferno, the relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide is an ever-evolving one. By analyzing the transformation of this relationship as the two sojourn through the circles of hell, one is able to learn more about the mindset of Dante the Poet.   At the outset, Dante is clearly subservient to Virgil, whom he holds in high esteem for his literary genius.Read MoreSt. Augustine s Confessions And Dante s Inferno1746 Words   |  7 PagesIn St. Augustine’s Confessions and Dante’s Inferno, the central characters in their respective narratives are presented a message from which induces distinct reactions. More importantly, their reactions are reflections of their perspective concerning the Christian outlook towards life and passion. In Book VIII.xi (29) the reader finds St. Augustine in a state of despair and anguish because of his ongoing internal struggle between his mind and body. Afterwards, he undergoes a surreal experienceRead MoreLearning From The Journey : Dante And Odysseus Enlightenment Through Their Physical And Metaphysical Journeys1518 Words   |  7 Pages27 July 2014 Learning from the Journey: Dante and Odysseus’ Enlightenment Through Their Physical and Metaphysical Journeys Traveling from one place to another, physically moving, is beneficial in changing scenery and changing perspective however, physical travel is not the only travel that brings about a positive change in people. Metaphysical travel, also known as a mental or spiritual exploration, is just as powerful as a physical one. Dante, in his epic poem Inferno, and Odysseus, in the epic taleRead More Comparing the Struggle in Dante’s Inferno and Book VI of The Aeneid4312 Words   |  18 PagesInfernal Struggle in Dante’s Inferno and Book VI of The Aeneid Does hell have its own history? For Dante, the structural and thematic history of ‘hell’ in the Inferno begins with the Roman epic tradition and its champion poet, Virgil. By drawing heavily from the characteristics of hell in Book VI of The Aeneid, Dante carries the epic tradition into the medieval world and affirms his indebtedness to Virgil’s poetry. Moreover, Virgil becomes a central character in the Inferno as he guides DanteRead MoreBorn Into Families Without Great Wealth Or Notable Prestige1599 Words   |  7 Pagestheir generations and experienced transformations in their lives bringing about personal spiritual enlightenment. Affected by the state of the church, Christianity, and their moral indiscretions, both Dante and Augustine wrote responsively towards their personal beliefs and values shaped by distinctive circumstances. The compositions of Confessions and The Divine Comedy highlight the spiritual journeys of these two authors. In addition, these c ompositions provide an insight to their convictions becauseRead MorePunishment for the Sinners in The Inferno2138 Words   |  9 PagesDante begins The Inferno by embarking on a journey to Hell with his poet guide, Virgil. Along the voyage, the reader gets a taste of the gruesome imagery and depictions of the punishments for the different levels of sinner. Throughout this journey Dante encounters many sinners whom he knew or knew of in the real world, and in the beginning the sinners wanted their name to be spread in the world when Dante got out of Hell. But, as Dante explored further and further into the underworld, the sinners

The Pros and Cons of Owning a Cell Phone - 790 Words

The pros and cons of owning a cell phone Broc Barchard COMM/112 April-08-2013 Kerry Moquett The pros and cons of owning a cell phone Annotated Bibliography: Are cell phones controlling us? I generally like this source because it goes into great detail about the evolution of cell phones. Starting back in 1984 the first cell phone was basically a brick, and now the cell phones used today are way smaller. Also this source talks about devices becoming more sophisticated. They talk about other functions of today’s cell phones, like being used as watches, internet stations, credit cards, mp3 players, digital cameras, dictionaries, alarm clocks ect. This source seems to be a well respected Asian†¦show more content†¦In this case they have published a really nice article that talks about finding a cell phone/service that is best for each individual person. For example some people may need internet on there phone so spending the extra 30 dollars a month on cell phone internet would be a good choice for them, but some people just pay the money but do not actually util ize what they are paying for. So downgrading to a cheaper plan of service or provider would be best for them. They talk about all types of providers and what they can offer to help people find what phone is best for them. Yip, P. (2012, Jun 03). Avoid cell shock. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1018216991?accountid=35812 CELL PHONE DRIVING This is an article that is very important to contributing good studies and information related to driving while using a cell phone. This source states that this is a very big issue that is overlooked by politicians because it does not do much for them in the polls. They are more focused on other topics, such as assault rifles laws because those crimes are publicized more then the silent killer (cell phones behind the wheel). This is a well put together article that was published by the Idaho state journal. I cant wait to use this information in my research paper. Cell phone driving. (2013, Feb 13). Idaho State Journal. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1287045816?accountid=35812 CellShow MoreRelatedCell Phones for Young People Useful or Distracting?1031 Words   |  5 Pages There has always been controversy as to whether texting and cell phone use can cause young people to be less likely to be able to concentrate and focus. As young citizens we have the right to be able to own a cell phone and not be criticized using it for educational reasons. Phones give you access to the internet, teach responsibility, and is an emergency access to contact parents; however it can cause cheating in class room areas by sharing answers, it can distract people from doing work in classRead MorePros And Cons Of Teenage Cell Phone Use1023 Words   |  5 PagesDecember 2014 Pros and Cons of Teenage Cell Phone Use Cell phones have become a major part of people’s lives. They are probably one of the biggest inventions when it comes to communication because of the many functions that they are capable of performing. The use of cell phones has become especially popular among teens as it is a major part of teenage social life. 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There are many pros and cons to children having cell phones in their possession at school. According to Maya Cohen, a 2010 Pew Research Center found that 65 percent of cell owning teens bring their phones to school despite any bans that may be in place. It is up to the child to know the rules and regulations when carrying a phone at school, and it isRead MoreCell Phones: Friend or Foe?1037 Words   |  5 Pages In this day in age refusing to assimilate to at least some form of modern living is simply not an option. One invention causing controversy today that has yet to cease being alter, modified, and â€Å"improved† since its debut is the ever present cell phone. Even as I sit here typing this paper, my own shiny, rectangular piece of molded plastic and metal lies inches away from my fingertips, beckoning me to use it. Looking out the window, one of the first sights I see are people walking with oneRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Cell Phones Essay1043 Words   |  5 Pages In this day in age refusing to assimilate to at least some form of modern living is simply not an option. One invention causing controversy today that has yet to cease being alter, modified, and â€Å"improved† since its debut is the ever present cell phone. Even as I sit here typing this paper, my own shiny, rectangular piece of molded plastic and metal lies inches away from my fingertips, beckoning me to use it. Looking out the window, one of the first sights I see are people walking with oneRead MoreDesigning A Final Portfolio Mobile Application903 Words   |  4 Pagesto not scroll. Therefore, the information will have to be added after project is finalized to become a final portfolio mobile application. Mrs. Schachinger refers there are pros and cons of â€Å"infinite scroll† and mobile development. Time is changing very quickly along with accessibility standards. The â€Å"infinite scroll† pro are not limited to ease of pagination, fast access, less clicks and good for web explorers (Search Engine Watch, Feb 2015). If a site is developed for goal oriented tasks, infiniteRead MoreText Messaging’s Effects on Our Society Essays1345 Words   |  6 Pagesmajority of Americans owning cellular phones use today. Text messaging has definitely made a tremendous impact on our society, both positively and negatively. Text messaging began in the early 1990s, beginning with the first text message being sent from Neil Papworth to Richard Jarvis in 1992. This was certainly the start of an era for a new way of communication. Texting was initially intended for use on land-line phones to help the elderly who could not hear over the phone very well. That ideaRead MoreThe Social Life Of Todays Generation1290 Words   |  6 Pagessocial network usage, single people interested in meeting you, updates from companies interested in you for a job on LinkedIn, and even email alerts from other account users. Although benefits of smartphones on social life seem to be endless, there are cons and side effects of this technology. As often as people express their pleasure and satisfaction, there are numerous disadvantages and negative aspects of smartphone technology in a person’s social life. First, smartphones realistically hinder theRead MoreLife Without Cell Phone1399 Words   |  6 PagesLIFE WITHOUT CELL PHONES Introduction We have become a society that is totally dependant on communication devices to make our world go round. We have technology today that allows us to keep in almost constant contact with one another. We communicate through cell phones that use a network of specialized base stations called cell sites, but many people now are using cell and mobile phones that use a satellite signal for their connection. The phone, TV, personal computer and Internet have

Meat and Maggots Free Essays

This week we were asked to attempt a scientific experiment, I attempted to observe 2 jars, in each Jar I put a piece of meat. On one of the Jars I placed a stopper and on the other I left it open so that the air can get to the meat. I then watched for 3 days to see what happens. We will write a custom essay sample on Meat and Maggots or any similar topic only for you Order Now The question that I was trying to find out is do flys contribute to maggots forming on meat, if meat is exposed to the air and not covered do maggots develop? As I watched the meat I found that the meat that is exposed to the ir has been in contact with flies and maggots are forming in the meat. The meat that has been covered is still rotting because of the temp in the room but it is not forming maggots. What I think has happened is that as the flys come In contact with the meat they cause the maggots for form In the meat. After the meat was out for 3 days the experiment showed that the meat that was exposed to the flys and to the air has maggots. The conclusion is that If meat Is uncovered and exposed to the alr and has been In contact with flys that It developed maggots which concludes that the flys laid eggs on the rotting meat and caused the maggots. How to cite Meat and Maggots, Papers

The True Nature of Human Beings free essay sample

Many have wondered what the true nature of human beings is. The true nature of human beings can be found on religious ways or on their actions. In William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, he writes of a group of boys that get stranded on an island without any adult. In three documents using knowledge from religion psychology and actions from people we can see that the true nature of a human being is good. Evil is the intent to terrorize or target a helpless person. â€Å"Ted Bundy with the blood of 24 women on his hands called his victims ‘cargo’ and ‘damaged goods’†. People with evilness don’t see that they are not only hurting that person but everyone around them. Evil is when you make the attempt to make someone feel scared, the people with evil doing, do not care about the person being harmed. The result of being evil comes from a young age. We will write a custom essay sample on The True Nature of Human Beings or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"But abuse also seems to leave a physical trace on the developing brain, assaulting it with a constant barrage of stress hormones†¦ Sadists and coldblooded killers, show virtually no response to stress-no racing heart, no sweating, and no adrenaline rush. † People that are abused physically and verbally later on can turn violent themselves. This can show that people are good when they are young but when they are treated badly their perspective changes and they turn into a bad person. People can be changed into bad if they are treated badly. Help comes from being good and the people at the Boston Marathon Bombing truly showed the good in them. â€Å"By the time I got there, there were so many first responders and volunteer physicians. ’ He said. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it in terms of the quickness of the response to that tragedy. ’† Any person with medical education rushed quickly to the scene and helped everyone. This matters because the people risked their lives and decided to help and respond quickly. Another example, â€Å"Arrendo is seen in a video, wearing a cowboy hat, helping National Guard troops, Police and firefighters wrestle a fence open to allow emergency responders to reach the dozens of wounded people bleeding on the Boston sidewalk. † This matters because the man is a normal civilian who rushes to help the officials open a fence. He sees the importance to open the fence and doesn’t care about his own safety. The Jewish religion has a specific view of the nature of a human being as shown in the document â€Å"Human Nature: Inherently Good or Evil? Ethics of the Fathers 1:7†. â€Å"All Israel have a portion in the World to come. † This means that people are good and they have a place of True Reward and they will keep it if they do not do something bad to change it. God has given the people the direct opening to True Reward and they will not go if they do bad things. â€Å"And God saw the great evil of man in the world and that the entire impulse of the thoughts of his heart were evil all day. † The interpretation of this verse is that people are inherently good. Their heart has no bad in it but the thoughts that come to the heart are what make it evil thus, making a person not inherently bad. People are only evil because their thoughts are evil. In the novel Lord of the Flies it is shown that evil is not something that humans are born with. ‘â€Å"You knew didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are? †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢(Golding 133). The Lord of the Flies is the monster and the monster is just a mental figure created by the little children. The evil of the monster is just an evil thought which was not born with them. ‘â€Å"Just a game,’ said Ralph uneasily† (Golding 106). The kids start playing a game where one of the kids pretends to be the pig and everyone else tries to kill him, literally; this shows that there evil did not come from their heart to kill the kid. The thought of killing a pig and to pretend to do it in a fun way shows that they did not do it because they have that quality inherited but only a thought. These quotations connect to the document of Jewish religion, that people are not evil inherently evil it is only the thought of evil that comes up. With all the evidence taken in mind given from the novel and documents, it is clearly shown that human beings are not inherently evil. They are inherently good. People help others when they need it, risking their lives or giving their life away. People might be bad but it is only because they have the thought of evil, it does not come from the heart.

The Existence Of God Essays - Religion, Philosophy, Free Essays

The Existence Of God Essays - Religion, Philosophy, Free Essays The Existence Of God Philosophy as defined by our required text is said to be the love of wisdom. It is the search for the larger picture, the demand for knowledge. There are many questions in philosophy, many involving the subject of religion. Does God exist? Should we believe in God? Is belief in God justified? These are just some of the questions attempted to be answered in philosophy. Every philosopher has a different opinion on the existence of God. St. Anselm (1033-1109) was a Benedictine monk; his philosophical views were very much influenced by Plato (Mavrodes 26). His greatest works were Monologium, Proslogium, Cur Dues Homo. St. Anselm had many views on God and religion, but instead of asking if God existed, he asks if the nonexistence of God was conceivable (Mavrodes 26). To proof this statement he followed it up with several statements such as: Truly there is a God, although the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. In addition, God cannot be conceived not to exist. God is that, than which nothing greater can be conceived. That which can be conceived not to exist is not God. This is also known as the ontological argument. St. Anselm argued that if there was a being that nothing greater could be conceived to exist, that it cannot even be conceived not to exist; then this being has to be God. Therefore, God must exist. St Thomas Aquinas (1226-1274) belonged as a member to the Dominican Order as a university lecturer. He wrote a lot, and of those many works his principal ones were Summa Theologica which is said to be the most comprehensive official theological statement of the Roman Catholic Church and the Summa Contra Gentiles (Mavrodes 42). Aquinas also believed in the existence of God, with this he formulated five proofs of God's existence. Of this the most widely known is the cosmological argument, this states that everything must be caused or created from something else. Therefore, there must be a first cause, and this is God (Soloman 90). Another well-known argument is the teleological argument. The basis of this argument for the existence of God is the threat against the finite structure of being, against the unity of polar elements (Tillich 210). This argument has also been called the argument from design. Due to the fact that the universe has been designed by a great architect is to assume a great part of the conclusion is to be proved. In this argument the author also argues that the author of nature is somewhat similar to the mind of man; though possessed of much lager faculties, proportioned to the grandeur of the work he executed (Mavrodes 109). There is also belief in the existence of God through the process of evolution. Almost all species have gone extinct at one time. The only species that survived were the ones headed to evolve a brain. Only God could have done this. If everybody knows who God is, then obviously God must of put the idea of himself into our heads because he is infinite. In philosophy, there are many theories about the existence of God, some more reasonable than others. Every philosophers has developed their own proofs and opinions on the subject, and until God comes down to earth or gives proof of his existence, then their will still be arguments on his existence. The Ontological, Cosmological, and Theological are all well known proofs, this proofs have brought much light and controversy to the argument, and as well as provoking the question to the existence of God.

How to Grow Color Change Crystals

How to Grow Color Change Crystals If you enjoy growing crystals, try this simple project that produces large crystals that change color from yellow to green to blue depending on light and temperature.   The crystals grow over a few hours to overnight and are sure to amaze! Color Change Crystal Materials Two chemicals react to produce the color change in the crystals: 10 grams potassium alum (potassium aluminum sulfate)3 grams red prussiate [potassium hexacyanoferrate(III)]50 milliliters hot water Alum is easy to find, but youll likely need to order red prussiate online. Another option is to simply order a color change crystal kit. The one by Thames and Kosmos is reliable and includes a total of three experiments. Prepare the Solution and Grow Crystals In a small clear container, simply dissolve the potassium alum and red prussiate in 50 milliliters of hot water. It make take a few minutes for the salts to fully dissolve. If you still have undissolved material after a couple of minutes, you can carefully set your container inside another larger container of very hot water, to act as a hot water bath and help the salts dissolve.Once the chemicals are dissolved, set your container of chemicals in a location where the crystals can grow without being disturbed.Youll start to see tiny crystals after 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Crystal growth should be complete overnight to a couple of days, depending mostly on temperature and the humidity of the air. At this point, the crystals will be yellowish green or green, depending on the temperature at which they grew.When you are satisfied with the crystal growth, use a spoon to remove the crystals from the container. You can set them on a saucer to dry. Dispose of the chemical solution by pouring it down the drain and rinsing with water. The easiest way to observe the color change is to divide the crystals between two containers. Place one container in a dark cabinet or closet and put the other container on a sunny window sill.Check on your crystals each day. Over time, the crystals in the sunlight will change color from yellow to green to blue. The crystals in the dark will remain yellow. The color change could take a couple of days, but in my experience, you see it within an hour or two. When I took the photo, the crystal on the left was canary yellow, but darkened to yellowish green under the bright lights How Color Changes Crystals Work Light and heat supply the energy to cause  a chemical reaction between the alum and red prussiate to produce Prussian blue or Berlin blue. This is an iron-based dye still in use today for blue ink cartridges and paints. Make Prussian Blue InkUse Prussian Blue in a Crystal Garden Safety Information The chemicals used in this project are safe to use, but you should wash your hands after handling the crystals, because the red prussiate and your crystals contain iron, which can be toxic if you get too much. Keep the chemicals and crystals out of reach of pets and young children for this reason. The kitchen is a perfect place to mix the solution and grow crystals, but be careful you dont get burned by the hot water and be sure to keep the chemicals and crystals away from food. Rinse any kitchen cookware you use so it doesnt have chemical residue. More Chemicals That Grow Crystals