What picture of Victorian life is created by the novel A Christmas Carol Essay Example

What picture of Victorian life is created by the novel A Christmas Carol   Essay The Victorian Age was one of change and development but will always remain a focal point of our history. Family Life for the middle and upper classes was very important, as each family was a large one, living in comfortable houses when life was enjoyable and where children were taught to know their place. In contrast, for poor or working classes families the biggest fear was ending up in the workhouse. If this did happen families split up and were led regimented lives as they were made to dress in uniform and to have short hair cuts. For many children in this class of family life was not a good style of living, living off scraps and conditions were certainly no better. Many children died from scarlet fever, measles, Polio or TB. They were given foul drinking water from open drains and there was a distinct lack of toilets this meant that disease was quickly spread We will write a custom essay sample on What picture of Victorian life is created by the novel A Christmas Carol   specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What picture of Victorian life is created by the novel A Christmas Carol   specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What picture of Victorian life is created by the novel A Christmas Carol   specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The father of an upper- class family was most definitely the head of the household and was strict and obeyed by all family members. The children were taught to respect their father and called him sir. Often the father would retire to his study when wanting quiet and the rest of the family were never allowed to enter. The mother of the family was very much the organiser of the family, planning dinner or parties. She would not be expected to do manual work around the house like washing, cooking or cleaning. She would be called mama and saw upbringing as an important responsibility. Between her and the father they believed firmly that a child should be taught the difference between right and wrong and a child should be punished for his own good. Spare the rod and spoil the child is a quote often used by parents of that time. The children of such aristocratic families saw little of their friends and from an early to a late age spent most of their time in their nursery. They were brought up by their nanny and saw their parents a measly once a day. The children were allowed downstairs for one hour in the evening and some mothers taught their children how to read and write and sometimes even Latin. In most occasions boys were sent away to boarding schools where they would learn discipline and the true realities of life. Only the boys worked while the female side of things stayed at home with mama and were expected to marry as soon as could be arranged. Education was a changing system in the Victorian age as children spent less time at work and adults felt that children should be prevented from working. Their were major changes in the development of schooling as the son of wealthier parents often attended boarding school. Some of the less wealthy children attended dame schools and Sunday schools were set up. However some children were considered too ragged to be allowed into any school and therefore stood no chance of learning anything. This led to the establishment of ragged schools. As I mentioned this was a period of change and in 1870 an Education was passed which changed many peoples wavered views on the subject and people began to look up to it with some pride. It would make an interesting task to compare schools of this age to schools of that age. From the book A Christmas Carol I have noticed how relevant the information above is to it. For some life was snug, warm, dry and bright as is witnessed by all the work people at the party for them. They had dancing, more dancing, a cake and a cold roast. There were mincepiesand plenty of beer. This was a time when the lower or working classes became upper class people and could the true delights of life. Times were jolly for these people as she wished him or her a Merry Christmas There are many comparisons between the life as an upper class man/ women to that of a lower class man/women but family life has to be a key issue. Using the book I can now compare what I have written above to what is written in the book. Scrooges Family is a prime example of a middle class family struggling to make ends meet. They were in another scene; a room, not very large or handsome but full of comfort which is a quote that pretty much sums up the character of the middle classes, not good conditions to say the least but there is so much love and commitment to each other that the family could stick together through thick and thin. Another example of this is, forty children conducting themselves like one, but every child was conducting itself like forty ;showing that the lower classes had big families and all acted the same way in a rabble; but the mother and daughter laughed heartily as it was all a joke in the end and was no different to the behaviour they were used to. The Father came home attended by a man laden with Christmas presents and toys which shows that they had some wealth and the actions of the children is almost comical at times as they rush towards the defenceless porter There is joy and gratitude and ecstasy showing the true spirit of things in this household at Christmas. The Cratchit family is a prime example that is shown in the book of a lower class family. The mother dressed out poorly in a twice turned gown, but brave in ribbons . There was lots of screaming as people danced about the table . These are all examples of the poor conditions they were under but were still able to have fun in their own unique way. The family again shows love when Mrs Cratchit says kissing her a dozen times which is a theme throughout the Cratchit household. The family wear threadbare clothes darned up and the first time Tiny Tim is described he is said to bare a little crutch, and had limbs supported by a wooden frame which immediately lets the reader know his poor state and how he needs help. Another example of the love that encircles the cratchit is when Bob hugged his daughter to his hearts content . When the goose for Christmas dinner is brought out the cratchits naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve attitudes to real life are stated as it is described as such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all birds as they have never seen something like it before. Although they are a poor family they have good manors, characteristic of everybody at this time, grace was said . As the meal is being eaten surveying one small atom of a bone upon the dish is a quote that sums up how they are desperate to eat everything up and not to waste a thing, as they cant afford to do so. After the meal they have chestnuts on the fire that spattered and due to these warming games a homely loving atmosphere is created, as there is a comment on the fathers feelings dreaded that he might be taken from him. This again shows the natural loving nature of the family. Next the family is described with jobs such as a poor apprentice and that Martha the daughter with this job needs a good long rest, as it is a very tiring job, characteristic of those times. The family is not well dressed; their shoes were far from being waterproof , and there clothes were scanty showing the state of living of the cratchit family. Apart for these nasty conditions they are described as being happy grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time. Which is a classic example of the attitude towards each other although under disheartening conditions. At the family of Scrooge who are middle class citizens are also very happy, they laughed and encouraged them in their merriment, and passed the bottle, joyously and then listen to some music so obviously they have some money but live by lamplight . Ailo they are well educated as Scrooges niece played well upon the harp and they played such games as blind man s- buff. The conditions that Bob cratchit lives in under scrooge are shocking. He lives in a dismal little cell, a sort of tank and was copying letters . The clerks fire was so very much smallerand couldnt replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal the coal- box in his own room which shows us the cruel harshness of Scrooge. To warm himself up Bob cratchit would try to warm himself up by putting on his white comforter but he was not a man of strong imagination so he failed . At the time of Christmas there were many Christmas traditions, like festivities in the street with people proffering their services to go before horse and carriages and some labourers were repairing the gas pipes, and had lighted a great fire in a brazier, round which a party of ragged men and boys were gathered, warming their hands and winking their eyes before the blaze in rapture. Other traditions mentioned in the book are the brightness of the shops, where holly sprigs and berries crackled in the lamp heat of the windows and the Lord Mayor gave orders to his fifty cooks and butlers to keep Christmas as a Lord Mayors household should. These are all examples of the jolly and old-fashioned Christmass that were a characteristic feature of Victorian life. Although these great traditions streamed from the streets every night Scrooge still worked hard and says Its enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other peoples which sums up his negative, cold hearted feelings towards Christmas. He shows ill- will towards Christmas and gives the clerk one day off in a crude manor and its not fair. If I was to stop half a crown for it, youd think yourself ill-used, Ill be bound. Which means that he is grudgingly giving the clerk Christmas day off. This shows us that money is very important to him and gives us an insight into why the ghosts come to haunt him. Other traditions include Blind mans buff and snap dragon, both of which his model lower class father, Bob Cratchit, runs home to play on Christmas day. By the end of the book these attitudes change and he is made to question his attitude by the experiences here is a quote that at the end of the book that says just that I dont know how long Ive been among the spirits. I dont know anything. Im quite a baby. Never mind. I dont care. Id rather be a baby. The novel A Christmas Carol concentrates very much on the experiences of the working class, but it wasnt like this for everyone for example the middle classes or the upper classes. If you belonged to this social sector you saw the finer things in life at that time and enjoyed the best of life but for many illustrated in this book life was very much harder.

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Namun begitu, umat Islam tidak harus lupa bahawa kehidupan di dunia merupakan tempat untuk menguji tahap keimanan seseorang. Di dalam al-Quran dijelaskan: Bermaksud: Patutkah manusia menyangka bahawa mereka akan dibiarkan dengan hanya berkata: Kami beriman   sedangkan mereka tidak diuji (dengan sesuatu cubaan). Demi sesungguhnya kami telah menguji orang-orang yang terdahulu daripada mereka, maka (dengan ujian yang demikian), nyata apa yang diketahui Allah tentang orang-orang yang sebenar-benarnya beriman, dan nyata pula apa yang diketahuinya tentang orang-orang yang berdusta. Harus diingat, di dalam mengejar kepentingan keduniaan, Al-Quran memperingatkan umat manusia agar tidak terperangkap dengan nikmat-nikmat dunia. Ini jelas di dalam firman Allah s.w.t: Bermaksud: Katakanlah bahawa ( yang dikatakan ) kehidupan dunia itu tidak lain hanyalah ( bawaan hidup yang berupa semata-mata) permainan dan hiburan ( yang melalaikan ) serta perhiasan ( yang mengurang ) , juga ( bawaan hidup yang bertujuan ) bermegah-megah di antara kamu ( dengan kelebihan, kekuatan dan bangsa keturunan ) serta (berlumba-lumba memperbanyakkan harta benda dan anak pinak; semuanya itu terhad waktunya ) samalah seperti hujan yang ( menumbuhkan tanaman yang menghijau subur ) menjadikan penanamnya suka dan tertarik hati kepada kesuburannya, kemudian tanaman itu bergerak segar ( ke suatu masa yang tertentu ), selepas itu engkau melihatnya menjadi kuning, akhirnya ianya menjadi hancur bersepai, dan di akhirat ada azab yang berat ( disediakan bagi golongan yang hanya mengutamakan kehidupan di dunia itu ), dan ( ada pula ) keampunan besar serta keredhaan Allah ( disediakan bagi orang-orang yang mengutamakan akhirat ). 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Pembersihan jiwa juga dapat dibentuk dengan mengikis sifat bakhil dan kedekut, tamak haloba dan eksploitasi serta diganti dengan sifat pemurah dan dermawan, zuhd dan qanaah di samping kompromi dan pengagihan sama rata serta sikap saling bekerjasama dan membantu. Pembersihan interaksi dan kemanusiaan dapat diwujudkan dengan peluang-peluang sama rata dalam aktiviti ekonomi atas jalinan silaturrahim tanpa ada unsur-unsur pilih kasih ataupun kerana darjat. Keluhuran konsep ini menjadi natijah daripada pelaksanaan konsep rububiyyah. Segala aktiviti di dunia perlu dilihat dari segi nilai kini bagi natijah pada Hari Akhirat. Oleh sebab hidup di dunia ini berupa cubaan untuk menguji sesiapa yang terbaik amalannya, sama ada amalan keagamaan ataupun keduniaan, dan semua pemberiaan yang tersedia kepada manusia adalah dalam bentuk amanah, manusia bertanggungjawab kepada Allah s.w.t dan kejayaan pada hari Akhirat nanti bergantung kepada prestasinya di dunia. Kerana di dunia ini aktiviti ekonomi merupakan salah satu daripada unsur-unsurnya. Maka soal amanah dan kebertanggungjawaban tidak dapat lari dari dipersoalkan pada Hari Akhirat kelak.Manusia sebagai khalifah Allah merupakan pemegang amanah yang bererti memakmurkan dunia yang masih tidak terputus daripada hubungan dengan unsur-unsur tauhid dan rububiyyah. Tatacara perhubungan sesama manusia adalah asas satu unsur persaudaraan dan kesamaan. Ini akan mendorong kepada nilai-nilai murni dan merujuk keamanan sejagat. Juga harus diingat, dunia ini kepunyaan Allah s.w.t. H arta kepunyaan manusia bukanlah bersifat mutlak, bahkan ia menjadi ujian dan amanah Allah s.w.t Kesedaran pemilikan secara ini akan menjadikan manusia menguruskan pemilikannya secara yang diredhai oleh Allah s.w.t. Prinsip Ekonomi Kebebasan Terhad dan Menurut Nili-nillai Akhlak Islam tidak sahaja memberi kebebasan dalam bidang-bidang ekonomi tetapi ia juga memberi perlindungan terhadap apa yang telah diperoleh. Nilai-nilai akhlak dan sifat-sifat terpuji menjadi asas pengisian prinsip kebebasan. Segala amalan ekonomi yang bertentangan syariah Islamiah dianggap menyalahgunakan pengertian kebebasan.kebebasan. Oleh itu, amalan ekonomi tidak boleh menyalahi peraturan syari ah Islam. Hak Milik Swasta atau Awam Cara mendapat harta haruslah dengan jalan halal (bukan dengan melakukan amalan riba, penipuan, penindasan, rasuah, eksploitasi dan cara-cara lain yang bertentangan dengan Islam). Hasil pendapatan swasta ataupun persendirian hendaklah dikeluarkan zakat atau cukainya untuk sumbangan ke jalan Allah s.w.t. (seperti sedekah, pembinaan sekolah dan sebagainya). Dalam agihan milik swasta hendaklah dielakkan hal-hal yang boleh mengakibatkan perluasan jurang pendapatan dan membahayakan orang lain atau alam sekitar. Campur Tangan Pihak Pengguasa Syari ah Islamiah mengharuskan konsep campur tangan pihak pemerintah dalam kegiatan-kegiatan ekonomi, sama ada dalam bentuk pengurusan, penyusunan, agihan dan perancangan. Dengan kuasa politik di tangan pemerintah, ia berhak campur tangan dalam ekonomi Negara untuk melindungi dan menjamin kestabilan dan keadilan sosial, dengan syarat ia mesti bersandarkan syari ah. Pihak penguasa yang diberi kepercayaan oleh rakyat bertanggungjawab menjaga dan memelihara peraturan masyarakat secara akhusus untuk menegakkan keadilan Ilahi. Prinsip Keadilan Sosial Prinsip ini ialah asas yang dinamik untuk mengatur dan melaksanakan urusan ekonomi dalam sesebuah masyarakat. Kecemerlangan sistem ekonomi memerlukan sistem penyusunan kegiatan ekonomi yang berteraskan semangat keadilan. Semangat ini memberi ruang kepada semua individu untuk berfungsi secara positif dan optimis. Pengendalian ekonomi dan mekanisme kegiatan ekonomi mesti dapat menuju kea rah wujudnya keadilan ekonomi. Sesebuah Negara pula hendaklah dapat menyediakan keperluan hidup asasi individu melalui pencapaaian-pencapaian berikut: a. Pemeliharaan penghayatan keagamaan melalui penerapan nilai agama dalam semua urusan hidup. b. Menaikkan taraf daya berfikir masyarakat dan kualiti ilmu. c. Memberikan kebebasan dan jaminan perundangan kepada masyarakat supaya menyuarakan pendapat sesuai dengan prinsip shura. d. Jaminan dalam menentukan kebebasan kerjasama pihak swasta dan kerajaan, dalam ataupun luar Negara dalam usaha mengaktifkan modal dan mencetuskan kegiatan dan peluang ekonomi. e. Membina tamadun yang kukuh agar generasi mendatang terus mengecap kecemerlangan. Prinsip Kemuafakatan Islam menekankan semangat muafakat untuk mengurangkan pertelingkahan antara pasangan-pasangan unit ekonomi seperti majikan dengan pekerja, penjual dengan pembeli, pengeluar dengan pengguna, dan sebagainya dalam sistem ekonomi yang berasaskan tauhid. Ini kerana semua unit ekonomi tersebut mempunyai matlamat dan arah yang sama, iaitu mengabdikan diri kepada nilai keadilan dan muafakat yang dituntut oleh agama. Pendekatan ini sekeras-kerasnya menolak pendekatan hidup dalam sistem ideology secular sepertu yang terkandung di dalam falsafah struggle for existence. Islam menekankan cooperation for existence sebagai asas pegangan hidup yang bersesuaian dengan falsafah tauhid. Prinsip Istikhlaf Manusia ialah khalifah Allah di atas muka bumi ini dan pemegang amanah untuk memakmurkan dunia. Semia di dunia ini menjadi hak milik mutlak Allah s.w.t. dan dicipta untuk keprluan manusia. Manusia bertanggungjawab kepada Allah s.w.t. dan apa yang diusaha dan dimiliki. Prinsip ini menggariskan pemilikan harta hendaklah memalui cara yang diredhai Allah s.w.t. penggunaan harta untuk kebajikan pemiliknya dan juga masyarakat, juga melibatkan pengaliran harta dalam apa jua bidang ekonomi. Prinsip Bekerja dan Ganjaran Penglibatan dalam kegiatana ekonomi merupakan ibadah. Setiap penglibatan mestilah diberikan ganjaran yang setimpal. Pemerintah mestilah mewujudkan peluang pekerjaan kepada masyarakat. Riba pula terkeluar daripada prinsip ini kerana ia diperoleh tanpa usaha. Konsep kerja ini akan membawa kepada peningkatan taraf hidup masyarakat yang disertai dengan keadilan pengagihan harta dan kekayaan. Prinsip Keuntungan dan Kerugian Prinsip untung dan rugi adalah lumrah dalam muamalat Islam, bahkan ia juga menjadi asasnya. Berdasarkan prinsip ini, mekanisme seperti mudarabah dan mushakarah digalakkan dalam aktiviti ekonomi. Ia menjamin keadilan di samping menegaskan konsep saling memerlukan antara pengusaha dengan pemilik modal. Prinsip Menjauhkan Pembuatan Merosakkan Islam menganjurkan segala bentuk keruntuhan akhlak, kerosakan diri, kerosakan masyarakat, kepincangan keluarga dan kerosakan alam persekitaran hendaklah dijauhi dalam kegiatan berekonomi. Oleh itu, terdapat perkara-perkara yang diharamkan oleh Islam seperti penindasan, penipuan, pencurian, pencemaran alam, pembaziran dan sebagainya dalam sistem ekonomi Islam. Islam dan Perebutan Peluang Peningkatan Taraf Hidup Islam mengajarkan bahawa dalam melakukan amal ibadah dan menuju ke alam akhirat, dunia ini janganlah diabaikan. Dunia ini menjadi lading ataupun jambatan, manakala matlamat akhir segala aktiviti manusia adalah untuk kejayaan dan kebahagiaan di dunia ataupun akhirat. Firman Allah s.w.t.: Bermaksud: Dan carilah pada apa yang telah dianugerahkan Allah kepada kamu (kebahagiaan) di akhirat dan janganlah kamu melupakan bahagian kamu dari   (kenikmatan) duniawi dan berbuat baiklah (kepada orang lain) sebagaimana Allah telah berbuat baik kepadamu, dan janganlah kamu berbuat kerosakan di mukabumi. Sesungguhnya Allah tidak menyukai orang-orang yang berbuat kerosakan. [Surah Al-Qasas: 77] Islam juga mengajarkan kita agar merebut segenap peluang yang ada bagi memajukan diri, masyarakat, negara dan agama sebelum terlambat atau terlepas peluang-peluang itu. Dalam satu sabda Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. diperjelaskan yang maksudnya berbunyi: Rebutlah peluang lima keadaan sebelum datangnya lima yang lain keadaan mudamu sebelum datangnya keadaan tuamu, dan keadaan sihatmu sebelum datangnya keadaan sakitmu, dan keadaanmu dalam keberadaan sebelum datangnya keadaanmu berhajat, dan keadaan lapangmu sebelum datangnya keadaan sibukmu, dan keadaanmu masih hidup sebelum datangnya matimu. (Riwayat Al-Tirmizi) Malaysia sedang mengorak langkah untuk menjadi pusat perkhidmatan kewangan Islam global yang mampu bersaing di persada kewangan antarabangsa. Kita bermula dengan penubuhan Bank Islam Berhad dan kita sedang menuju ke suatu arah yang jelas untuk dicontohi oleh negara lain terutamanya dalam aspek kewangan, perbankan dan ekonomi Islam. Malaysia kini sedang menjadi perhatian negara-negara Islam lain dan menjadi contoh untuk diambil pengajaran oleh negara-negara lain. Bukan sahaja dalam aspek ekonomi Islam kita sedang dipelajari, bahkan Malaysia merupakan peneraju kepada Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam (OIC) yang mana YAB Perdana Menteri adalah pengerusinya. Kita juga adalah negara Islam contoh dan kita juga adalah model negara Islam bermasyarakat berbilang kaum dan mempunyai pelbagai agama. Kejayaan negara kita mengekalkan kestabilan dan keharmonian antara kaum adalah satu rekod yang perlu kita pertahankan dengan kompleksiti kepelbagaian kaum. Dasar-dasar sedia ada di negara kita telah terbukti dan mampu mempertahankan rekod kejayaan keharmonian perpaduan antara kaum yang cukup baik. Kita juga berharap semoga rakyat semua akan dapat bersama Islam Hadhari bagi merealisasikan pemupukan integrasi nasional dan meningkatkan tahap kesetiaan kita kepada negara dan kepatuhan kita kepada undang-undang dan perlembagaan negara. ISLAM HADHARI DAN PERSPEKTIF PENGURUSAN NEGARA ISLAM SERTA PEMBANGUNAN BERSEPADU Pembangunan bersepadu ialah pembangunan yang berasaskan kesepaduan iman, akhlak, kerohanian dan kebendaan. Ilmu-ilmu dan objektif yang berkaitan dengan pembangunan, negara, kemasyarakatan dan manusia tidak dipisah-pisahkan antara satu sama lain. Pembangunan bersepadu juga bersangkutan dengan pembangunan insan yang berpegang pada prinsip-prinsip peraturan Allah dalam hubungan manusia dengan Tuhan, manusia sesama manusia, manusia dengan alam sekitar dan manusia dengan makhluk-makhluk ciptaan Allah. Dalam konteks ini juga, manusia sebenarnya adalah pemegang amanah Allah. Dunia ini adalah amanah Allah untuk dimanfaatkan dan dimakmurkan mengikut ketentuan yang Allah perintahkan. Usaha-usaha manusia harus dilakukan mengikut landasan-landasan yang ditetapkan oleh Allah s.w.t.. Islam memberikan perhatian yang serius kepada pembangunan insan berbanding dengan pembangunan-pembangunan lain kerana di tangan insanlah terletaknya inisiatif dan perlaksanaan membangunkan bidang-bidang lain. Secara dasarnya, apabila baik (muhsin, muslih, soleh) insan itu maka baiklah juga perlaksanaannya menurut tuntutan Islam. Walau bagaimanapun, ini tidaklah boleh diertikan Islam sebagai mengenepikan pembangunan-pembangunan lain. Islam juga mementingkan pembangunan material, negara, masyarakat dan keluarga. Justeru itu, bidang-bidang ini mesti disepadukan dengan pembangunan insan tadi.   Taqwa merupakan ciri terpenting yang patut terdapat dalam pembangunan. Pembangunan bertaqwa ialah pembangunan yang menjuruskan hati, perasaan dan matlamat kehidupan untuk mematuhi titah perintah Allah s.w.t. dan menjauhi larangannya. Taqwa merupakan paksi pembangunan perspektif Islam. Setiap perbuatan dinilai baik-buruknya berdasarkan neraca Allah s.w.t. dan bukannya manusia. Firman Allah s.w.t.: Perbandingan syurga yang dijanjikan untuk orang yang bertaqwa itu ialah mengalir air sungai di bawahnya, makanannya tidak habis-habis, begitu juga naunganNya. Begitulah kesudahannya orang yang bertaqwa, dan kesudahan orang yang kafir itu ialah api neraka. Menurut Islam, Allah telah melantik manusia sebagai khalifahNya di atas muka bumi ini. Manusia diberikan beberapa kualiti untuk mentadbir dunia dan hal ehwalnya, diberikan tanggungjawab dan amanah untuk memenuhi tuntutan-tuntutan Allah dengan bentuk fizikal yang terbaik dan bersesuaian.   Justeru itu, pembalasan-pembalasan baik dan buruk akan diberikan oleh Allah s.w.t. berkenaan dengan perlaksanaan tuntutan-tuntutan Allah tadi. Manusia akan dipersoalkan oleh Allah di Akhirat kelak untuk segala aktiviti-aktivitinya yang dijalankan di atas dunia ini. Manusia patut menggunakan seluruh keupayaan akal dan potensinya untuk mendapatkan keredhaan Allah s.w.t. Ringkasnya, segala tenaga dan keupayaannya patut ditumpukan pada membangunkan dunia ini menurut kehendak Allah s.w.t. mengikut cara yang dikehendaki olehNya. Manusia patut bersedia menjawab persoalan-persoalan yang akan ditanya oleh Allah s.w.t. di akhirat kelak berkenaan dengan dirinya, keluarga, jiran, masyarakat, aktiviti ekonomi, pekerjaan, pendidikan, perundangan, penguatkuasaan undang-undang, urusan pemerintahan, negara, peperangan dan sebagainya. Kejayaan sebenar(Al-Falah) dan pembangunan hanya akan dapat diraih sekiranya manusia memberikan sepenuh tumpuan kehidupannya untuk menjawab persoalan-persoalan ini.  Ã‚   Misi para Nabi adalah mensucikan diri manusia dalam proses-proses pembangunan yang dialami oleh manusia. Konsep (Tazkiyyah) mengambil kira penyucian manusia dalam hubungan-hubungan manusia-Tuhan, manusia sesama manusia, manusia-makhluk dan manusia-alam sekitar. Konsep ini akan mengharmonikan kesejahteraan alam semesta dan manusia dan mempertingkatkan hubungan-hubungan di atas untuk mencapai kejayaan di dunia dan di akhirat. Pembangunan dalam Islam berasaskan Tauhid iaitu hanya Allah s.w.t. dan tiada lainnya yang menjadi dasar keyakinan, objektif hidup dan motivasi memajukan kehidupan, usaha dan perbuatan. Berasaskan paradigma tauhid, segala aktiviti manusia didasarkan kepada otoriti Allah s.w.t. kerana Allahlah sahaja yang mempunyai otoriti mutlak menganugerahkan sesuatu atau menarik balik nikmat itu. Justeru itu, segala aspek berkaitan dengan pembangunan itu mestilah dilandasi mengikut kehendakNya. Islam menganjurkan keseimbangan (al-Tawazun) antara tuntutan dunia dan akhirat. Keseimbangan juga dituntut antara pembangunan rohani dan jasmani, sprituil dan material, akal dan nafsu. Persoalan pembangunan seimbang akan membawa kita kepada persoalan nilai antara dua elemen asas dalam keseimbangan pembangunan menurut perspektif Islam. Tuntutan dunia dan akhirat mestilah berdasarkan kriteria marufat (baik) dan munkarat (buruk atau keji). Pembangunan material haruslah diseimbangkan dengan pembangunan spiritual. Inilah yang dimaksudkan oleh Allah s.w.t. berkaitan dengan pembangunan negara iaitu negara yang aman makmur mendapat pengampunan Tuhannya(Baldatun taiyyibatun wa rabbun Ghafur). Pembangunan berakhlak ialah pembangunan yang berasaskan misi agung Rasulallah s.a.w. iaitu misi menyempurnakan akhlak yang mulia. Pembangunan berakhlak akan memanifestasikan objektif akhlak itu terancang, tersusun dan terbangun mengikut akhlak Islam. Terdapat sebuah hadis yang memperingatkan tentang akhlak yang boleh dijadikan sandaran perlaksanaan pembangunan berakhlak. Sabda Rasulallah s.a.w. yang maksudnya seperti berikut: Tiga perkara yang menyelamatkan, iaitu takut pada Allah ketika bersendirian dan dikhalayak ramai, berlaku adil pada ketika suka dan marah, berjimat cermat ketika susah dan senang dan tiga perkara yang membinasakan iaitu mengikut hawa nafsu, terlampau bakhil dan kekaguman seseorang terhadap dirinya sendiri. (Riwayat Abu Syeikh) Keadilan merupakan merupakan salah satu daripada ciri-ciri pembangunan berakhlak. Adil bermaksud meletakkan sesuatu pada tempatnya. Maka pembangunan yang adil ialah pembangunan yang dilakukan bersesuaian dengan tempatnya dalam konteks bernegara, bermasyarakat dan berkeluarga. Manafaat pembangunan mestilah boleh dikecapi secara sama rata sama ada Islam dan bukan Islam, tanpa ada sikap pilih kasih, kronisme, atau sentimen keturunan, bangsa, darjat atau kelas. Penjurusan faedah-faedah ekonomi mestilah ditumpukan ke arah kelompok-kelompok masyarakat yang memerlukan berbanding dengan yang tidak.  Ã‚   YAB Dato Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi] menjelaskan: Adalah perlu diteliti semula pelbagai pendekatan dan kaedah untuk diperkemaskan supaya lebih seimbang dan menyeluruh, merangkumi pembangunan prasarana dan pembangunan ekonomi, diperkukuhkan dengan pembangunan manusia melalui program pendidikan yang komprehensif, diperlengkap pula dengan program pembangunan rohani untuk menyemaikan nilai-nilai murni dan menerapkan nilai-nilai Islam dalam kehidupan. (Ucapan Dasar Presiden UMNO dlm Perhimpunan Agung UMNO 2004 di Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur). Pembangunan berlestari, berhati-hati, mengelakkan pembaziran, kemewahan yang negatif dan perkara-perkara yang tidak berfaedah merupakan tuntutan Islam. Pembangunan haruslah terancang dan mengambil kira kemampuan kewangan negara. Pembangunan yang cenderung untuk mengisi kecenderungan hawa nafsu bukanlah pembangunan yang dituntut oleh Islam.  Ã‚   Pembangunan juga bukanlah alat untuk menonjolkan keangkuhan. Semuanya adalah kurnia Allah jua dengan kehendak dan iradahNya. Dalam konteks ini, konsep syukur merupakan salah satu ciri pembangunan berakhlak. Syukur dikira sebagai tanda terima kasih di atas anugerah Allah s.w.t. dan redha dengan sebarang ketentuanNya. Berterima kasih kepada manusia pula tidak seharusnya melebihiberterima kasih kepada Allah kerana anugerah nikmat itu hanyalah hak Allah. Berterima kasih kepada Allah bukan sahaja dilipatgandakan oleh Allah nikmat-nikmatnya di dunia ini bahkan di akhirat kelak. Kufur nikmat atau tidak melakukan cara bersyukur yang betul apabila menerima sesuatu nikmat atau imbuhan akan mendapat balasan buruk dan azab Allah s.w.t.. Firman Allah s.w.t.: Bermaksud: Demi sesungguhnya sekiranya kamu bersyukur, nescaya Aku akan tambahkan nikmatKu kepada kamu dan sekiranya kamu kufur, sesungguhnya azabKu amatlah keras. Menyentuh soal pembangunan berakhlak, kita tidak akan dapat lari daripada soal disiplin dan semangat ketekunan juga. Mana-mana pembangunan pun tidak akan dapat tercapai tanpa menyentuh soal ketekunan dan disiplin diri. Pembinaan ketamadunan manusia menyentuh soal ketekunan dan berkerja kuat.   Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. bersabda: Sesungguhnya Allah s.w.t. menyukai apabila seseorang kamu bekerja dia melakukannya dengan tekun. [Riwayat Abu Daud) Masyarakat yang membangun ialah masyarakat yang bekerja kuat dan ini meningkatkan produktiviti serta memberi kesan yang positif. Justeru itu, pembangunan sambil lewa, lemah perancangan dan tindakan, malas dan curi tulang bukanlah pembangunan dalam ruang lingkup akhlak Islam. Menurut pandangan Islam, harta adalah satu keperluan dan bukannya matlamat. Harta dikira sebagai rezeki daripada Allah maka ia hendaklah dibersihkan dengan mengeluarkan zakat. Ia juga dianggap sebagai satu amanah, maka ia hendaklah diperolehi dan dibelanjakan mengikut tuntutan Islam. Kualiti pembangunan menurut Islam adalah gabungan daripada pembangunan bersepadu, seimbang dan berakhlak. Inilah merupakan perbezaan ketara pembangunan perspektif Islam dan pembangunan Barat. Pembangunan berihsan juga di perlukan dalam konteks pembangunan negara. Apa yang dimaksudkan dengan pembangunan berihsan ialah pembangunan yang dianggap segala tindakan dan perlaksanaan di dalamnya sentiasa di bawah pemantauan Allah s.w.t.. Oleh kerana pembangunan yang menjurus kepada mendapatkan keredhaan Allah s.w.t. dianggap sebagai ibadah, maka pembangunan berihsan menepati konsep ihsan yang menjelaskan bahawa kamu menyembah Allah seolah-olah kamu melihatNya, sekiranya kamu tidak melihatNya, maka sesungguhnya Allah melihat kamu. Di dalam hadith yang lain berkenaan ihsan, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. bersabda: Allah telah mewajibkan ihsan pada setiap sesuatu Allah mewajibkan kita berbuat kebaikan dalam setiap pekerjaan yang kita lakukan. Dalam konteks pembangunan, konsep ihsan harus diaplikasikan dalam setiap perancangan dan perlaksanaannya yang mengambil kira keperluan dan mereka yang memerlukan, ihsan terhadap sesama manusia, ihsan terhadap makhluk dan alam sekitar. Etika Dalam Pembangunan Di dalam Islam, pembangunan tidak akan mempunyai sebarang erti seandainya pembangunan yang dimaksudkan hanyalah berunsurkan material semata-mata. Bahkan pembangunan yang berunsurkan material merupakan asas utama dalam falsafah pembinaan pembangunan dan tamadun Barat.  Ã‚   Di sini dibawa satu kisah daripada al-Quran berkenaan kaum Ad yang menikmati pembangunan yang cukup pesat dan maju pada zaman mereka. Mereka dikurniakan bangunan rumah-rumah di tanah mendatar yang dipahat dari gunung, tanah yang cukup subur, ternakan yang membiak dengan senang dan taman-taman yang indah-indah. Maknanya mereka dianugerahkan Allah kemakmuran dan kesenangan hidup yang tiada taranya pada zaman itu. Namun demikian, mereka tidak menyembah Allah s.w.t.. Yang disembah ialah patung dan berhala. Nabi Hud a.s. diutus untuk berdakwah kepada mereka dengan ajakan agar beriman kepada Allah s.w.t. yang mencipta mereka dan menganugerahkan kemakmuran itu kepada mereka. Allahlah sahaja yang layak disembah dan disyukuri. Dalam dakwahnya juga, Nabi Hud telah menjelaskan betapa mereka telah meletakkan diri mereka ke lembah kehinaan dengan menyembah patung berhala yang tidak dapat memberi apa-apa faedah dan keburukan kepada mereka bahkan mereka telah meletakkan diri mereka sebagai makhluk mulia di sisi Allah s.w.t. serendah-rendahnya. Mesej yang ingin disampaikan di sini ialah betapa pembangunan itu adalah anugerah Allah s.w.t. jua dan ia mestilah disyukuri dan pembangunan itu apabila diteliti betul-betul adalah dengan izin Allah jua. Justeru itu ia juga adalah merupakan tanda-tanda kebesaran dan keagungan Allah s.w.t. bagi orang-orang yang berfikir dan meningkatkan keimanan kepada Allah s.w.t.. Kemuliaan penciptaan manusia mestilah dibuktikan dengan keimanan kepada Allah sebenar-benarnya dengan cara menjunjung titah perintahnya d

Presentation on Bioplastics :: Environment polypropylene renewable resources

Presentation on Bioplastics Bioplastics, What are they? * Compostable Plastics -or- * Any plastics-made from organisms (or Organism by-products). * Currently, there is much confusion over the definition of bioplastics Mixture of Acids that could be made into bioplastics Making Bioplastics, Etc. Goal of Bioplastic Production * To Save Resources by either reducing the production of standard Polypropylene plastics by replacing it with a less resource-intensive plastic. * Or Save the Environment by making plastics biodegradable * Or, both! Bioplastic degradation speed What are Scientists Doing Now? Several Different Exciting Methods are being tried right now! * Using Soy-based bioplastics * Using Bacteria to make bioplastics * Starch-based Bioplastics * Polylactide Bioplastics * Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate Current Cost of Bioplastic Comparison Soy-based Bioplastics One of the hottest sections in bioplastics research today. Pure Soy Bioplastic has many undesirable traits. Mixtures of Soy with other substances are currently being attempted. The Soy shown Soy Protein Bacteria-based Bioplastics Steven Pratt of New Zealand (Major New Discovery) Mixture of bacteria can create acids when fermented. The ratio of different acids is based on pH. The bacteria are fed glucose solution and fermented. The acids can be used to make bioplastics Starch-Based * Make up about 50% of the current bioplastic market * Are used in pills that you take * Can be specificially tailored by adding different amounts of plasticizers * This is called â€Å"thermo-plastical starch† Polylactide Bioplastics * Lactic acid is turned into Polylactide by adding a catalyst and heat. * Polylactide bioplastics can be made on existing petroleum plastic equipment * Resembles plastic in properties Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate * A polyester * Easily biodegradable * Easily processed * Currently very expensive * Current interest is very high * Methylobacterium sp V49 is one bacteria that produces Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate Challenges Facing Bioplastics * Economically Unfeasible * Biodegradability is a useful and a not-so-useful property

Succubus Revealed Chapter 21

You would think the first moments of my new life, with a soul, would be magical and wonderful. Mostly, they just hurt. â€Å"Ow.† â€Å"Not quite the same without immortal healing, eh, sweetie?† I squinted into Hugh's grinning face. He stood in front of a huge window, backlit into blinding radiance. Turning my head, I slowly assessed the rest of my surroundings, taking in the familiar signs of a hospital room. I was lying on a bed, an IV in my arm, next to some beeping machines with indecipherable readouts. I glanced back at Hugh. â€Å"Can you close the curtains? Or move to the other side of me?† He shut the curtains partway, still keeping the room lit but no longer to eye-searing levels. â€Å"Better?† â€Å"Yeah. Thanks.† I shifted slightly, trying to assess my body's injuries. There was soreness in my ribs, a feeling of constriction when I breathed. Part of that was from whatever hurt they'd sustained and the rest was from the bandages tightly wrapped around my torso. All the better to keep me from making things worse, I supposed. â€Å"How . . . how long have I been in here?† Recent events were still kind of a blur. In some ways, the trial felt like it had happen seconds ago. Yet it also had the dreamlike quality of something that had occurred last century. It was hard to wrap my mind around. â€Å"Well,† said Hugh, â€Å"your body's been here for about four days. ‘You' on the other hand . . . oh, you came back to us about two days ago.† â€Å"You could tell?† I said. His smile grew wry. â€Å"You forget what I do for a living. When you were in Hell, you didn't have a soul.† â€Å"I didn't have a soul before then,† I pointed out. â€Å"I mean, technically it belonged to Hell, right?† â€Å"Yes, but even if you don't own it, you still possess it. You can't function or exist without it. Our souls are like . . . oh, I don't know. It's like they're encased in amber. They're there, and I can see them inside us. They're just inaccessible, in a way that's different from humans. When you were gone, you had nothing. Not even a tagged soul. There was just kind of a . . . hollow darkness within you while you lay here.† I shivered, not liking the image. â€Å"And now?† â€Å"And now?† Hugh's face softened, taking on a look of wonder that I'd never before seen on the usually gruff and snide imp. â€Å"Oh, sweetie. When you came back, I was here . . . and it was like . . . fuck, I don't know. I'm terrible at similes. It was like the sun, after an eclipse. You think that's bright?† He nodded toward the window. â€Å"That's nothing. You have your soul back, unfettered and unrestrained . . . and it's amazing. It's beautiful, so beautiful. I've never seen anything like it.† â€Å"Is it . . . is it tainted? I mean, I've done things . . .† â€Å"You get it back shiny and new. That's in clause 13.2.1. It's a sign of how confident Hell is about never having to give souls back. Don't worry,† he added. A goofy grin had started to spread over my face. â€Å"Even the best people have a few screwups. You'll break your soul in in no time. It's like a car. Loses its value when you drive it off the lot.† â€Å"Just hopefully not to the same degree as before,† I muttered. A new, panicked thought came to me. I was pretty confident of the answer, but I had to ask. â€Å"And my body? Which one is it?† â€Å"The same Georgina we all know and love. There are also stipulations about that, for succubi freed of their contracts. It would get messy giving you back your original body and figuring out what to do with you as far as location and time. So, you're simply reinstated with your soul into whatever body and location you were last in.† He paused. â€Å"I'm fairly certain it's never happened to any succubus before.† â€Å"Thank goodness I wasn't in the kind of body Tawny was when Jerome was summoned,† I remarked. She had been wearing a truly horrendous shape, but since we were all cut from our powers until Jerome's restoration, she'd been stuck in it. Although, to be honest, if it meant having my own soul, I would've taken that body. I would've taken my original body. I would've taken anything. The physical trappings were nothing. â€Å"Carter gave us a recap,† Hugh said. He shook his head, smiling. â€Å"I can't believe you gambled on both contracts. I would've run off with the sure thing.† â€Å"I couldn't,† I said, thinking back to the events of the courtroom. â€Å"Even if he hates me, I couldn't abandon Seth. I couldn't have enjoyed the rest of my life, knowing he was damned.† â€Å"He doesn't hate you.† â€Å"But he – â€Å" â€Å"I know, I know.† Hugh wouldn't let me finish. â€Å"I know what he said, but he was still in the throes of grief from that fucked-up hypnosis. That was too much for anyone to handle. Carter talked to him when you got back – explained what happened.† My heart lurched. Was that a good or bad thing? I was beginning to gain some glimpse of just how invested Carter had been in my situation (and Seth's), but had the angel really been able to fix everything so easily? â€Å"Did . . . did Carter change Seth's mind about me or something ?† Hugh shrugged. â€Å"I don't think he needed to. If things hadn't panned out like they had that night – with the car – I think you and Seth would've had a very interesting conversation. I think he'd started to come around. It's why he was there.† â€Å"No,† I said, disbelieving. â€Å"I talked to him, sweetie. Do you really think all that love could have just been thrown away so easily? And he was here, you know. He was by your bedside until . . . well, yesterday, actually. Then he had to leave for his tour.† â€Å"His tour . . .† I vaguely remembered Andrea mentioning that, how it had become a possibility with her recovery. Speaking of Andrea . . . if my contract was off the table, Hell would have no reason to continue messing with her. She could be left in peace to heal on her own. â€Å"He went yesterday?† â€Å"Somewhere on the East Coast,† said Hugh. â€Å"I'm sure you can find it on his Web site. You were the one who always encouraged him to update it, after all.† I smiled at that, thinking of how reluctant Seth had been about the digital age. I gestured vaguely at my prone body. â€Å"Probably just as well that he's gone. I need to heal up. Maybe . . . maybe we'll talk when he's back.† Hugh eyed me, staying silent. â€Å"What?† I demanded. â€Å"He's going to be gone two weeks,† said Hugh. â€Å"That much I know. You sure you want to wait that long?† â€Å"I've waited a long time already,† I pointed out dryly. â€Å"Exactly my point. Look, I don't have any delusions about my soul. I made my choice and am content with fate. But if I were you? If I had my soul and the potential for a new life? Fuck, Georgina. I'd go after Seth, wherever he is, the instant I could hobble out of my bed. You're mortal now. It's easy to ‘wait a little longer' when you've got all of eternity on the line. You don't anymore. You've wasted the time you have playing Hell's games, bickering back and forth with Seth and who he's been. End it. Go to him, as soon as you can, and fix this.† â€Å"You sound like Roman.† As soon as I said his name, a million memories came crashing down on me. â€Å"Oh my God. Roman. I can't believe what he did.† â€Å"I know,† said Hugh sadly. â€Å"Carter told us that too.† â€Å"Why would he do that?† I asked, knowing I'd never have a satisfactory answer. â€Å"Oh Lord, Hugh. I left him there. I abandoned him.† â€Å"You did no such thing,† scolded Hugh. â€Å"You had no choice in it. And it's not like he was conned or tricked. He knew for a long time he wanted to do this. After we filed the petition, he grilled me constantly about contract details and Hell's legal procedures. He wanted to do this. He prepared for it. He was just waiting for the chance.† I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid I would cry, as I remembered him defending me in Hell. A vague memory came to me, the night before the game. . . . Roman had had something to tell me but had held off. And when I'd floated above my body, just before I'd faded away, Carter had said he had to go get Roman. They'd planned on all of this. Roman had known what was happening and had been ready to depart. Hugh was right. Roman had wanted this. That didn't make it any easier. I opened my eyes. â€Å"What do I do?† Hugh's face was kind as he regarded me. â€Å"Don't make Roman's sacrifice be in vain. He wanted you to be happy. So go be happy, sweetie. Go to Seth.† Any response I might make was interrupted when a nurse came and discovered I was conscious. She scolded Hugh for not getting her and went to summon the doctor. Hugh gave me a sheepish look as she did. It was a carryover from being immortal, when I would've healed so fast that we could easily dismiss modern medicine's assistance. The doctor, a fortysomething woman named Dr. Addison, soon appeared and performed a few preliminary tests on me, as well as giving me the rundown on my condition. When she was finished, I asked, â€Å"How long do you think I'll be here?† â€Å"If everything progresses like it should?† she mused. â€Å"I'd say you can be discharged in three more days. And you're going to have to take it easy.† â€Å"Three more days,† I repeated mournfully. Being human was going to take some getting used to. As a succubus, I would've recovered from this in twenty-four hours. There wouldn't have even been any taking it easy afterward. Dr. Addison scoffed at my dismay. â€Å"Honestly, after getting hit like you did, a week total here isn't bad at all. You took some nasty hits, but really, this could've been a lot worse.† When she and the nurse left, I saw Hugh scanning his phone. â€Å"What are you looking at?† â€Å"Seth's schedule. In three days, he'll be in St. Louis.† â€Å"Hmm,† I said. â€Å"In four, he'll be in San Francisco.† â€Å"That's close,† I said. â€Å"Relatively.† â€Å"It'd give you an extra day in there to recover,† said Hugh. â€Å"An extra day, huh?† I teased. â€Å"What happened to not wasting a single day as a mortal?† â€Å"My point about not wasting time still stands,† said Hugh. He grinned. â€Å"But even I can be realistic. Take the extra day. You need it for the logistics of travel, if nothing else. But not a single day more.† â€Å"Get out and live life, huh?† â€Å"If you're up for it.† I thought about his words, thought about Seth. I nodded, not caring whether hopping on a plane right after being discharged was crazy. I was human now. Crazy was in the job description. â€Å"I'm up for it,† I said. â€Å"Book me a flight to San Francisco.† Hugh's attention was on his phone again. â€Å"Sweetie, I already am.†

Thames Valley Police Poster textual analysis Essays

Thames Valley Police Poster textual analysis Essays Thames Valley Police Poster textual analysis Essay Thames Valley Police Poster textual analysis Essay Essay Topic: The Long Valley The Second advertising campaign was issued in 2006/2007 by the origination Trident who produces posters to prevent gun crime. Trident work closely with the charity crime stoppers which help to solve a numerous amount offences across the United Kingdom, furthermore the metropolitan police are also working in support. Project trident positively have more supporting organizations such as connected, CSV, blink, NHS, child line, CSEF, outside chance and calling the shots. Finally the notorious underground group RollDeep are behind the campaign. The audience of the poster is directed at the eleven to nineteen year old teenagers living in London. The purpose of the image is to emphasize the reality of guns and life and connote the devastating consequences. It encourages and shocks the audience to prevent them from being gun men of the upcoming generation. However the image is also used to emphasize the issues to the rest of the population keeping them aware of the ongoing and horrific problem. At the center of the poster there lies a dead a body which clearly expresses the point and shock value of gun crime. As it is in the center of the poster it conveys typical conventions and personifies the message. This is used to visual highlight the consequences of guns which can be read effortlessly by the target audience. The white door shutting show that this is the end of the road along with no other presence suggests it is a lonely way to pass on. The closed black front door furthermore gives connotations of sadness and depression and emphasizes there is no going back. The amount of lockers helps to portray the scale of the situation, showing evidence that many deaths have occurred. A clock is situated on the wall to suggest there is still time to act upon your actions, on the other hand a fly killer is also located on the wall which represents the terrible realism and message that encourages the audience to not fall into the trap. Overall the main colour of the poster is white which signifies purity in the teenagers life and reflects his innocence. This creates the shocking message that it can happen to you, your friends or your family which gives it a personal tone and connection to the audience. Trident logo is written with a graffiti styled first letter witch appeals to teenagers, the rest is bold to give a more serious and formal aspect. The colour of the logo is white and the background is black, this contrast provides it to stand out and glue in the viewers mind. The text at the bottom reads carrying a gun can get you into the coolest places this strongly contrasts with the image and fore fills its purpose to stop teenagers possessing guns. This text is at the bottom of the poster in a conventional place that is in a formal and important font to personify the serious tone. More conventional aspects of the poster are the crime stoppers help line number, metropolitan police logo and website in the bottom right corner, with the aim of equally present vital information. Overall the poster connotes that guns can have a life changing effect to your life along with others and illustrates this well to its intended audience.

Tuesdays With Morrie Essays - Morrie Schwartz, Morrie, Free Essays

Tuesday's With Morrie Essays - Morrie Schwartz, Morrie, Free Essays Tuesday's With Morrie tuesdays with morre is a sad story. It is about a friendsip beetween a college professor and his student. When Mitch went to college at Brandeis University he had a college professor name Morrie Schwartz. Though the four years that Mitch went to college they became really good friends. Mitch asked Mr.Morrie if he could be his mentor. To Teach him all of the things life had to offer. After Mitch graduated from college they agreed to stay in touch. Mitch got a great job offer to be a sports columnist in Detroit, so he took it. Well time went by and they called each other every so often, but after awhile Mitch was much to busy with work that he lost touch with Mr. Morrie. He thought about him every once in awhile but never called or wrote him. One night when he was watching television he saw Mr. Morrie on nightline. That night he learned that Mr. Morrie had Lou Gehrig's disease. After Mitch heard about his illness he called him. Mr. Morrie was glad to hear from Mitch. He told him that he had a lot of things he wanted to discus with him before he died. It was a class and he was the only student. the class met on Tuesdays. It began after breakfast. The subject was the meaning of life. It was taught with experience. No grades were given, but there were oral exams each week. He was expected to respond to questions, and you were expected to pose questions of your own. No books were required, yet many topics were coverd, including love, work, community, family, aging, forgiveness, and, finally, death. The last lecture was brief, only a few words. a funeral was held in lieu of graduation. Although no final exam was given, you were expected to produce one long paper on what you learned. The last class of Mr.Morries class had only one student, which was Mitch.

Horizontal Drilling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Horizontal Drilling - Essay Example (Morey, p. 1-8) According to Azar and Samuel (p. 237-238) usually, the oil reserves are actually more extensive in their depth, form what they appear from a bird's eye view. Therefore under this technique such a portion of the well is drilled that intersects a reserve that is parallel to the plane of the dimension that is substantially extensive. Thus through this technique the substantial area of the reserve is exposed to the wellbore area, as compared to the conventional oil drilling techniques (Figure 1.). As this aspect is achieved more important objectives are easier to be achieved; for instance the production of water is avoided. Figure 1: Adopted from Helms (p.1 Figure 1). It can be clearly observed from the figure above that the horizontal technique A, is exposed to a far larger area of the reserve as compared to the vertically drilled well B. It is easier to build a larger oil reservoir with a significantly smaller amount of horizontally drilled well, as a larger rock can be drained in contrast to the vertically drilled wells. ... ronmental cost maybe reduced considerably as the total surface that is actually drilled is lesser quite lesser than that of the vertically drilled wells. The production output from the horizontal technique is far greater than that of the vertical oil wells, this is because the area that is exposed to the wellbore area, though underground, is far more that the conventional well drilling techniques. (Technology is Key to Optimally Producing Reserves, p. 1-4) A better observation of this technique can be seen from the following Figure 2. Figure 2: Adopted from Hunton Resource Play (2008). Over the past ten to twenty years, the technology of horizontal drilling other similar techniques have moved significantly into the modern era of the oil industry across the nations. Various developments are budding as the firms using this technique are increasing. Modern technique of this technology and widespread consideration have emerged due to the modern techniques and equipment and economically driven productivity regulations. In almost all of the oil reserves and sites where horizontal drilling is exploited with all of its safety measures and requirements, considerable advantages are gained with incremental profits over the conventional vertically drilled wells. Works Cited Azar, J. J. & Samuel, G. Robello. Drilling Engineering. PennWell Corporation Press. 2007. P. 237-240. Anonymous. Technology is Key to Optimally Producing Reserves. Oil & Gas Journal. Tulsa: Dec 22, 2008. Vol. 106, Issue. 48; pg. B10, 4 pgs. Helms, Lynn. Horizontal Drilling. 2008. Accessed 3 April 2009 https://www.dmr.nd.gov/ndgs/Newsletter/NL0308/pdfs/Horizontal.pdf Hunton Resource Play. Description of Unconventional Hunton ResourcePlay, Oklahoma. 2008. Accessed 3 April 2009

Obituary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Obituary - Essay Example The author of the essay stresses that he generated knowledge from learning especially from others and he realised that sharing ideas is a basic tenet of learning. Indeed, knowledge conquers fear and there is every reason to urge other people not to be deterred from pursuing their dreams by fear. he also believed that commitment is a virtue in as far as goal attainment is concerned. Everything comes through hard work and self determination. This reporter makes a conclusion that he is glad to state that he could communicate at all levels and he possessed excellent problem solving skills. When confronted with a problem, he would first brainstorm the situation in order to come up with meaningful solutions. After scanning the situation, he would then select the best possible solution that could be implemented so as to solve the problem. Finding the best solution to a tricky situation can be challenging but critical thinking is required when faced with such a scenario. The other thing that he can be remembered for is that he has been a good mentor. he would always assist others who need his help so that they can also be great achievers. In everything he did, his motto was: â€Å"Forward ever, backward never.†