Influential person college essay
Good Argumentive Essay Topics
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Essay --
Contention is a connection between at least two entertainers portrayed by extraordinary rivalries, and normally mental hostility. It is molded by the past relations between the opponents and ongoing connections between them. The meaning of contention includes two measurements: rivalries over the issues and mental animosities. The issues in competition may include outer or residential political variables. Contention requires a specific degree of acknowledgment by entertainers of two opponent states to recognize them from rivalries. It is recognized from rivalry among entertainers by its non-secrecy. In competition, every entertainer realizes that self-sufficient activities will influence the conduct of each other opponent state. Because of these activities, different entertainers will likewise respond self-defensively. Contention is a procedure that comprises of two components, rivalry and socialization. Rivalry is a circumstance inside which on-screen characters get themselves while socialization is continuous procedure that happens inside a serious circumstance. Both, Competition and socialization are dictated by abilities of the opponent states. Abilities permit express a specific situation in the global framework. In the event that this position is achieved it turns into an essential worry for socialization to keep up. Rivalry represents competitions between states with comparativ e capacities. In this manner, Rivalry is a powerful condition of issue which continues fluctuating over the time. Before Islamic Revolution, Iran and Saudi Arabia were both the norm governments under the USââ¬â¢s ââ¬Ëtwin Pillarââ¬â¢ System. It was the Iranian Revolution that spelt out an extreme change in interstate relations among Iran and Saudi Arabia that prompted a vulnerability in their relations. The danger that Islamic transformation... ...e. If there should arise an occurrence of Syria, Saudi Arabia has attempted to topple down Iranââ¬â¢s significant partner Bashar al-Assad system. Saudi Arabia tries to crush the hub among Iran and Syria. By along these lines, it debilitates Iranââ¬â¢s impact in the locale and disturbs Iranââ¬â¢s flexibly connections to Hezbollah and Hamas which in the end debilitates Iran. Along these lines, activities taken by Iran and Saudi Arabia against one another on different issues mirror the contention between them. In practically all pieces of West Asia, the contention among Iran and Saudi Arabia is predominant and slanted to increment inside and out, degree, and power. The two states targets directing the course of occasions, molding advancements, and affecting choices as indicated by their particular political inclinations. Henceforth, it very well may be said that the competition among Iran and Saudi Arabia is molded by the past relations alongside the ongoing improvements in the district.
Friday, August 21, 2020
Essay Topics - Writing Stunning Essays!
Essay Topics - Writing Stunning Essays!When writing a college essay, you may be tempted to think about making it more interesting by changing its topic. You probably have no trouble thinking of compelling ideas that will capture your reader's attention. However, you should consider the fact that the most unique and effective college essay topics are often those that don't immediately spark the reader's interest.One of the most common problems with college essay topics is that they are considered rather standard. 'Study abroad' can be anything from joining a summer camp to enrolling in a military academy. It can also mean spending a week at a local university. It may even mean spending one year living on campus in a dorm.The possibilities and options are endless. However, if you are going to choose a subject that is outside of your comfort zone, make sure it is something that is different, creative, or unconventional.By exploring unconventional ideas and techniques, you will be better able to come up with unique college essay topics. Just think about how well an issue related to changing the topic of a book could stand out. Perhaps you could talk about how you and others studied Buddhism in North America and then practiced it in Japan?Another way to make your essay topics stand out is to make them memorable. By writing about a specific incident, you are bound to inspire readers to read the essay again. On the other hand, if you were a champion skier, you might mention how you made memories during that time.Your essay topics should contain enough information and evidence to entice the reader to continue reading. You must not sacrifice the quality of your content for the interest of engaging the reader. Too many times, students are tempted to compromise on the quality of their writing in order to 'spice up' the essay. But this is the very antithesis of being creative.One way to avoid sacrificing the quality of your work is to always include citations throughout th e essay. A strong citation is the first proof readers need that you have done your research. When students feel that you have done the best research possible, they will appreciate the citation, not just because you cite sources but because it shows that you did not just jump on the topic. Also, a good strategy is to put together several aspects of your topic into one paragraph to make it easier to comprehend.After all, if you want to win the academic essay competition, you have to write a topic that stands out. If you end up settling for one of the more common essays that you see, there is a good chance that you did not stand out enough to win the competition. Make sure you do your homework before you take the first step to submit your essay.
Monday, May 25, 2020
Convicted Murderer Sharee Miller to Wed
Sharee Miller is a Michigan woman who is serving a life sentence for murder for her role in convincing an ex-cop she met online to kill her third husband. Now, Miller has plans to marry husband number four, Michael Denoyer. Conviction Miller, 36, was convicted in 2000 of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and second-degree murder for the November 1999 shooting death of her husband, Bruce. Evidence revealed that Miller met ex-policeman Jerry L. Cassaday on the internet, had an affair with him, and convinced him to kill her husband, who was allegedly abusing her. However, the abuse allegations were found to be untrue. Prosecutors said when Cassaday discovered he had killed an innocent man, he committed suicide. Cassaday left behind enough information to convict Sharee Miller at trial. The case has been the topic of a best-selling book and a television movie. It has also been the subject for several real-crime television shows, including the one Denoyer saw. New Romance Michael Denoyer, 56, first saw Miller on an episode of Snapped on the Oxygen Channel and was smitten. It was something about her eyes, Denoyer said. However, the new couple has some hurdles in their way. Miller will not be eligible for parole until the year 2055, when he would be 103 and she would be 83.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Race and Corrections - 845 Words
Race and Corrections Sheronda Allen Arizona State University CRJ 305- Laura Owen Minorities remain overrepresented in crime, offending, victimization, and all stages of the criminal justice process especially confinement. Overrepresentation alludes to a situation in which a greater part of a particular group is present at various stages within the justice system than would be expected based on its part in the general population (Rosich, 2007). Minorities have always had a larger population in the prison system and after the Civil War they were overrepresented in American prison. There are a few reasons as to why races are disproportionately which are denial of jobs, poverty, and it is felt that police have bias andâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦When you look at the racial breakdown of the people incarcerated you will find that the Black population has the highest incarceration with Whites and then Hispanics/Latinos next. In 2009, there were 5,018,855 men and women being supervised on probation or parole (Gabbidon, Greene, 2013, p. 247-282). African Americans and Hispanics consisted of 58% of all prisoners in 2008. One in six black men had been incarcerated as of 2001. Imprisonment is more common in some social groups than others and makes it easier for racial groups to fall into that stereotype. It becomes more widely expected for groups such as Black males and even Hispanics when they live in the low income communities. At some point one in three Black males and one in six Hispanics will be incarcerated at some point in their life (Berg, DeLisi, 2006). Nationwide, African American men are confined at 9.6 times the rate of White men. Current trends show that incarceration numbers continue to grow higher each year. The United States rate of incarceration is the leading nation in rates of incarceration. Other countries have much lower percentages than the U.S. does. There a implications because of inmates reentering the prison system within three years after being released. In 1994 51.8% of inmates that had been released were back in the pr ison system (U.S. prison populations: Trends and implications, n.d.). Other implicationsShow MoreRelatedThe Criminal Justice System, Corrections And Their Intersection With Race And Gender Essay1883 Words à |à 8 Pagesdiscovered what works and what does not, even today we are still learning and debating whatââ¬â¢s right and whatââ¬â¢s wrong with in this system. This article will discuss three components of the criminal justice system policing, courts, corrections and their intersection with race and gender. Topics include the death penalty, sentencing disparities, racial profiling, stop and frisk and parole release to name a few. History of Policing in the United States Policing in America can be traced back to the 1700ââ¬â¢sRead MorePelican Bay State Prison s Racial Base Classification System918 Words à |à 4 PagesIntroduction Prison classification is an important process in the U.S. correctional system and community corrections. Every state utilizes different types of classification method to classify their inmates. Penal institutions in the U.S. have evolved tremendously in terms of sentencing procedures, decisions and classifications. Studies from Clear et al. (2013) indicate that offenders in the United States, which consists of men, women, and juveniles, were all confined together in the same prison inRead MoreRace, Class And Gender1032 Words à |à 5 Pages IN WHAT WAYS DO RACE, CLASS AND GENDER SHAPE PRACTICES AND EXPERIENCES IN PRISON? DRAW ON THEORIES AND EXAMPLES/CASE STUDIES TO SUPPORT YOUR CASE. OVERVIEW This essay will explore how race, class and gender shapes practices and experiences in prison. Firstly, a discussion of prison in general is necessary. In other words, what constitutes prisons, its aims and objectives and prison culture (Reeves, 2015). Currently there are 38,845 prisoners in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016)Read MoreDrugs and New Orleans Teens744 Words à |à 3 PagesLouisiana is a state that is known for its diverse population totaling 4,533,372 men women and children of all different races and ages, but the age and race this paper pertains to is that ranging from the age of 15 to 24, and the race would be African American males. According to latest statistical information approximately 334,987 African-American males between the ages of 15 and 24 live in the state of Louisiana which represents 7.3894% of the total African-American population, which is 1,452Read MoreThe Effects of Overcrowded Conditions in US Prisons1564 Words à |à 6 PagesIndia, in the conservative National Review magazine, ââ¬Å"We are imprisoning, in our most expensive spaces, more people for relatively minor, nonviolent offenses, like low-level property and drug violations. Some of our guests are not with the state corrections system long enough for any rehabilitation, substance-abuse counseling or job training to take placeâ⬠(Katel). Evidently attention and change to this neglected criminal punishment system need to be addressed. This issue remains a troubling problemRead MoreThe Medical Model, Community Model And The Crime Control Model869 Words à |à 4 PagesCommunity corrections is continually changing and has been for the past one hundred years. From the early to mid-twentieth century onward it has used three major models, the medical model, community model, and the crime control model. The major turning point for the American community corrections system that led to corrections as we know it today was in 1974 when What Works? - Questions and Answers About Prison Reform by Martinson was published. The system changed practically ov ernight acrossRead MoreThe And Justice For All1743 Words à |à 7 Pagesequality for all people regardless of race, sex, national origin, handicap, and moreâ⬠(Urban Dictionary). This is important in a community because it allows for everyone to partake in have opportunities, have access to liberties, and no one would be over looked because of their beliefs and nationality. The state of being equal is considering ââ¬Å"a person or thing the same as another in status and qualityâ⬠. To be equal is to be the same despite differences in race, gender, or class. Equality in allRead MoreThe Role of Police, Courts and Department of Corrections in Juvenile Justice System765 Words à |à 4 PagesDepartment of Corrections in the Juvenile Justice System James Francis Juvenile Delinquency American Military University Professor Robert Arruda The Role of Police, Courts and Department of Corrections in the Juvenile Justice System The juvenile justice system brings the juvenile delinquent in contact with the local police, the court system and if found guilty, the Department of Corrections. This paper will discuss the role of the police, the courts and the Department of Corrections in the juvenileRead MoreShould Prison Gangs Become More Prevalent Inside Our Nation s Prison System? Essay1726 Words à |à 7 Pagescontrol and suppress gang activityâ⬠(Pyrooz Mitchell, 2015). Why are prison gangs becoming more prevalent inside our nationââ¬â¢s prison system? Since the 1950s, prison gangs have developed in American prisons more rapidly than in the previous years. Correction staff recognizes some prison gangs as being a security threat group or STG. A security threat group is ââ¬Å"a term for prison gangs that describes how they negatively impact the security of prison operationsâ⬠(Smallagher Smykla, 2015). Gangs haveRead MoreRecidivism And The Correctional System1722 Words à |à 7 PagesIn order to do this I searched a lot of online databasesââ¬â¢ and examined quite a few academic journals, articles and other scholarly documents and websites on the topic. I tried to find information on the success rate of Community Corrections versus other forms of corrections, how recidivism relates across all branches of the criminal justice system, and reasons for why inmates in various types of facilities commit crimes again, relapse, or remain in the criminal lifestyle patterns. I also wanted to
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Critical Analysis Of A Good Man Is Hard To Find By...
Flannery O Connor was often shocked to find how people interpreted her stories. Some readers of A Good Man is Hard to Find believed the grandmother was evil, even a witch. Soon O Connor set out, quite explicitly, in letters and lectures to detail the theology of the story and the importance of the grandmother as an agent of grace. In a letter to John Hawkes, she explained how violence and grace come together: More than in the Devil I am interested in the indication of Grace, the moment when you know that Grace has been offered and acceptedââ¬â such as the moment when the Grandmother realizes the Misfit is one of her own children. These moments are prepared for (by me anyway) by the intensity of the evil circumstances. When O Connorâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Generally O Connor chalked up all the misreadings and confusion to the spiritual shortcomings of the modern reader: Today s audience is one in which religious feeling has become, if not atrophied, at least vaporous and sentimental. But the discrepancies between how O Connor is often read and how she claimed she should be read cannot simply be explained by her theology of grace or by the lack of religious feeling among readers. Critical opinion over the years has tended to line up behind O Connor s own explanations; however, O Connor s analysis of A Good Man Is Hard to Find still seems baffling and occasionally a critic has questioned the theology of the fiction. Andre Bleikasten, focusing on O Connor s novels, claimed that the truth of O Connor s work is the truth of her art, not that of her church. Her fiction does refer to an implicit theology, but if we rely, as we should, on its testimony rather than on the author s comments, we shall have to admit that the Catholic orthodoxy of her work is at least debatable And Frederick Asals recalls D. H. Lawrence s advice that a reader should trust the tale and not the teller. Of A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Asals claims: BLOCK QUOTE One can easily pass over her [O Connor s] hope that the grandmother s final gesture to The MisfitShow MoreRelatedThe Moral Structure Of Flannery OConnors A Good Man Is Hard To Find1148 Words à |à 5 PagesWorks Cited Bonney, William. The Moral Structure of Flannery OConnors a Good Man Is . Studies in Short Fiction, vol. 27, no. 3, Summer90, p. 347. EBSCOhost, pulaskitech.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=afhAN=9705041482site=ehost-livescope=site. The ten stories in Flannery Oââ¬â¢Connorââ¬â¢s A Good Man Is Hard to Find circumscribe a moral and thematic center (Bonney). William Booneyââ¬â¢s article was written as if the grandmother is actually grasping the savingRead MoreLiterary Analysis ââ¬Å"Settingâ⬠ââ¬â a Good Man Is Hard to Find2158 Words à |à 9 PagesProfessor Sharon Thiese The Short Story May 28th, 2012 Literary Analysis ââ¬Å"Settingâ⬠ââ¬â A Good Man is Hard to Find In the story ââ¬Å"A Good Man is Hard to Findâ⬠by Flannery Oââ¬â¢Connor starts out by giving a look at a dysfunctional family on a vacation, but ultimately, gives insight into ourselves as well as the nature of good and evil, how they can clash, and how they can co-exist, even in the same person. The setting, which plays a critical role in this short story because the grandmother shows her selfish
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Sustainable Transportation Systems CIRP Design
Question: Describe about the Sustainable Transportation Systems for CIRP Design ? Answer: Introduction Environmental issues refers to the issues those affect the environment of Australia. So many natural issues are there in Australia, which are affecting the nature or environment of Australia. Besides those issues, some issues are affecting people of Australia. These issues are discussed here bellow. In many areas in Australia, controlled regions and coastal environment have been widely changed, many swamp have been ruined. Due to the weather change in Australia the agents of the environment, i.e. the plants and the animals have been affected. There occurring decline in many species and the distribution is being changed (Bai, 2012). Some natural resources are declining rapidly. Some of them, natural resources are water, coal etc. Australians are taking so many attempts for being more eco-friendly and these several attempts are taking in recent years (Kim, 2012) This particular article is going to provide a discussion on some environment issues emerging in Australia in recent years. This will also be discussed here in this essay the impacts on the several environmental agents, such as plants, creature, coastal lakes, natural resource etc. Some issues in Australia Some of the major environmental issues in Australia are as follows: Water Waste management Climate change Coal Biodiversity Sustainable cities Those issues and the relevant solutions are discussed here one by one. Water Australia has a dry climate. Therefore, it is very predictable factor that Australia should take several plans to preserve or conserve water for the well living of its population and creatures and plants. To sustain the well running of environment, Australia has to come forward to take several decisions and give emphasis on that matter. Fortunately, it is seen that presently Australians are paying more and more attention in this particular matter. Australian Government has taken more steps to make the people of Australia be concerned about the conservation of water. This will help in reducing the wastage of water. The matter of water conservation is a big political issue also in Australia. Several cities are designing for their own water conservation program (Li, 2013) Water is a vital issue in the environmental hazards. This thing is directly linked with the public health and the health of the complete environmental agents. In the recent years, the quantity of water is degrading due to excessive level of harvesting and irrigation in Australia. On the other hand, the quality of the water is affecting negatively the agriculture. The extreme level of se of several pesticides and fertilizers are affecting the water and thereby there is a rapid degradation in the quality of Water in Australia. Waste management Australia has taken several steps to manage the wastages. Some recycling processes are taken over few years. Still so much toxic wastes are affecting the environment. The landfills and the water bodies are affected adversely. A small recycling process can help to remove the situation. People of Australia should keep in mind that a little extra toxic can damage a lot and cases several pollutions. The continuous increase in the urbanization is causing the problem more severe. Therefore, the Government should take several steps and keep it to be continued to educate the people and make tem conscious about the pollution. Man superior plans have been taken already. Climate Change Australia is a country, which is widely affected by the change in climate. Climate changes have a great impact on the environment of Australia. Therefore, it is very important for Australia to cope up with this problem. To cope up with this particular problem, Australia has to plan and adapt the best way to remove this problem. According to many experts in Australia, the main cause of the climate change in Australia is the emission of green house gas. This is very unfortunate that Australia is a country with highest emission of green house gas. Therefore, to cope up with the change in climate in Australia, it has to reduce the emission of green house gas and increase the use of any type of renewable energy. So the Government of Australia has to install more and more solar panels. This very thing will reduce the emission of green house gas and will be very beneficial to the particular problem. Dependence on Coal Australia is an important contributor of green house gas in the world. This is because Australia mostly uses coal as the source of energy. This is going on for a long time. At present, 75% of energy in Australia comes from coal. This major portion of energy emerging from coal is a large source of emission of green house gas. Australia is also the top most coal exporter in the world. This large sage and the exportation of coal are disturbing the sustainability of the environment consistently in Australia. This very thing is also affecting the atmosphere adversely around the world. This is also a warning to the water body of Australia as it is making the water acidic. Therefore, to remove this problem, sage of renewable energy should be increased. Using the renewable energy will help in reducing the sage of coal as the source of energy. Solar energy is a main alternative of coal. Besides this, wind power is a useful material of the source of energy. Many researchers discover so many alternatives. These inventions are useful for offering much more options as the alternatives of coal. An another bonus of this particular thing is, it will offer more job opportunities to the people of Australia. Biodiversity There exists a significant biological diversity in Australia. Australian Government does many things to maintain the balance in the diversity. One of the ways to maintain the balance in the biodiversity is to protect the rain forests in Australia. There is a huge part of rain forests in Australia. Therefore, the Government is doing their best to nurture and protect this. Sustainablecities or urbanization A consistent urbanization is casing pollution increase in Australia. This very thing is causing more and more pollution in Australia. Environmental balance is disturbed by the consistent urbanization. For the sake of urbanization, in many portions in Australia, forests are being cleared. Therefore, the environment is misbalancing. A population growth is causing consistent urbanization in Australia. For the urbanization, wastages are increasing day by day. Water body of Australia is being polluted for the wastages. Usage of energy is also increasing rapidly. Emission of green house gas is increasing rapidly. Condition of biological environment as well as the whole environment is degrading rapidly. Government has to take several plans and interpret those plans in work to stop this problem. Restrictions and penalties for cutting of forests should be introduced. Energy is really an important issue in Australia. A large part of energy is generating from coal. Coal is the main source of energy. The main reason of the large amount of emission of green house gas is usage of coal in Australia. Green house gas is the main thing, which affects the environment adversely (Gelfand and Duncan, 2012) 3 a), b) and c) are answered bellow in a tabular form. Here the place chosen is an office. In this sample office, light, fans, air condition and laptop are used. Name of mean Usage frequency (hours/day) energy sources total cost ($/day) Carbon emission (kg) Fan 9 Electricity 100 1 Light 9 Electricity 700 3 Laptop 10 Electricity 1000 .6 Air Condition 9 Electricity 1600 5 d) Two regulatory organizations in Australia are Australian solar council and sun power foundation, which promote energy efficiency. e) Two methods to decrease energy consumption are Electricity monitoring meter and energy optimization. f) Cost benefit analysis can be shown by the following table. After starting the two options this result may be gained, Name of mean Usage frequency (hours/day) energy sources total cost ($/day) Carbon emission (kg) Fan 9 Electricity 80 1 Light 9 Electricity 550 3 Laptop 10 Electricity 775 .6 Air Condition 9 Electricity 1350 5 g) Between the two methods, the best one is energy optimization. Optimization of the usage of energy can effectively reduce the cost of energy ( Chakrabarti, 2013) 4 The above report summarizes about the alternative forms of renewal energy and how it can be used by different business organizations. The costs of producing the energy can be evaluated through the above table. References Bai, Y. (2012).Sustainable Transportation Systems. Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers. Chakrabarti, A. (2013).CIRP design 2012. London: Springer. Chowdari, B. (2013).Proceedings of the 13th Asian Conference on Solid State Ionics. Singapore: World Scientific. Gelfand, L. and Duncan, C. (2012).Sustainable renovation. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons. Kim, M. (2012).Biology Education for Social and Sustainable Development. New York: SensePublishers [Imprint]. Kruger, P. (2006).Alternative energy resources. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley. Li, K. (2013).Intelligent computing for sustainable energy and environment. Berlin: Springer. Linger, H. (2013).Building sustainable information systems. New York: Springer. Meyer, G. (2012).Advanced microsystems for automotive applications 2012. Berlin: Springer. Ren, N. (2012).Renewable and sustainable energy II. Durnten-Zurich, Switzerland: TransTech Publications. Tortora, M. (2012).Sustainable systems and energy management at the regional level. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. Zatzman, G. (2012).Sustainable energy pricing. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley Sons.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Technological Singularity Essay Example
Technological Singularity Essay In a guest column, Computers vs. Brains on the Opinionator of The New York Times, Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang analyzed some of the arguments by inventor Raymond Kurzweil, one of the leading inventors of our time, in his most recent futurist manifesto: ââ¬Å"The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biologyâ⬠(2005). Kurzweil estimates that machines will inevitably be able to surpass our thinking capabilities within a few decades. Kurzweils speculative reasoning has been heavily debated and challenged. In Aamodt and Wangs article they point out that there are fundamental differences between our brains and computers that makes Kurzweils predictions improbable. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the arguments of sides, Kurzweils book and Aamodt and Wangs article. I will attempt to accomplish this by using various critical thinking methods such as defining, clarifying and explaining some of the history of the concepts and the debates involved. To understand the debate we must first clarify what is technological singularity. A technological singularity is the moment our technological development becomes so rapid that it makes the future after the singularity unpredictable. Writers on singularity, such as Raymond Kurzweil, define the concept in terms of the technological creation of super-intelligence (Kurzweil, 2005). The article points out that any comparison of the brain and computers misses the messy truth about the fundamental differences between them. The article provides various reasons why the brain is superior to computers and ways in which it is not. We will write a custom essay sample on Technological Singularity specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Technological Singularity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Technological Singularity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The debate focuses on differences on energy consumption, information processing strategies and capacity, and the pros and cons of artificial versus biological between brain and computers. The brain contains many systems that have evolved through natural selection for one task then was adopted for another. It is efficient for nature to adapt an old system that to build a new one. As such, the brain is composed of the brain stem, the limbic system and the brain cortex carrying out a complex communication with each other that we have yet to decipher. Engineers however, have the advantage to start over to get it just right. A persistent problem, with not just artificial intelligence, but all machines, is the tendency of components to fail. Yet our biological neurons and synapses fail all the time, even under healthy conditions, but unlike computers, new neuron connections can form as well as break throughout a lifetime, this provides an infinite potential for new paths and brain activity. The human brain uses 12 watts, which is less than a typical refrigerator light while the memory of an artificial brain would use nearly a gigawatt, the amount currently consumed by all Washington, D. C. (Aamodt Wang, 2009). To solve this challenge Kurzweil invoked Moores Law. The law is named after Intel co-founders Gordon E. Moore, who originally described the trend in 1965. In this paper Moore noted that number the of transistors in integrated circuits had doubled every year from the invention of the integrated circuit in 1958 until 1965 and predicted that the trend would continue for at least ten years (Moore, 1965). His prediction has proved to be incredibly accurate, in part because most technology and electronic industries now use this principle to set targets for research and development (Disco Meulen, 1998). For the last four decades memory and chip capacity has doubled every one or two years (est. 2025 to 2030). The article claims that Kurzweil overlooks Moores Law power consumption per chip, which has also increased immensely since 1985 (Aamodt Wang, 2009). While this is true, it implies that electrical power consumption will continue to grow whereas electrical power and storage technologies such as batteries, fuel cells and renewable energies will remain stagnant. The problem in this logic is that history and technology advancements do not evolve at a constant pace, in fact the capabilities of many digital electronic devices and technologies like energy efficiency are also linked to Moores law. New revolutionary technologies are emerging fast to address this issue of increased electrical power generation and storage needs. An example is teams of MIT scientists that have created a synthetic, self-assembling chloroplast that can be break and reassemble repeatedly, a self-restoring solar cell. Dillow, 2010). Another example is a company called Bloom Energy, which is producing tiny fuel cell boxes called ââ¬Å"Bloom Boxes. â⬠Two of these can power an average U. S. home. Each device is about the size of a standard brick. Although they need to be surrounded by a larger unit that takes in an energy source, they are still about the size of a refrigerator. This alternative is already being tested by companies such as Google and eBay (Siegler, 20 10). One striking feature of brain tissue is its compactness. The memory capacity in this small volume is potentially immense. For computer capacity, to begin to approach that of a human brain, as we get closer to the physical limits of silicon and other materials used in current computing components like computer chips and memory; manufacturers would possibly need to experiment with other production techniques and materials. As humans have evolved, we have developed the ability to make fast inferences in very complex situations. We can make logical approximations and find ââ¬Å"good enoughâ⬠solutions. This type of decision-making will undoubtedly be hard to match but there are already robots accomplishing seemingly simple tasks like matching socks and playing soccer autonomously, which are actually very complicated tasks. On good example is ASIMO, which is currently the worlds most advanced humanoid robot; it is the culmination of two decades of research by Honda engineers. ASIMO can run, walk on uneven slopes and surfaces, turn smoothly, climb stairs, and reach for and grasp objects, comprehend and respond to simple voice commands. ASIMO can also have the some face recognition capability and can map its environment and register stationary objects. ASIMO can also avoid moving obstacles as it moves through its environment (Honda. com). However, we bring a large amount of background information to bear on simple tasks, allowing us to make inferences that are difficult for machines. Even the most advanced computer has trouble differentiating a dog and a cat apart, something even a toddler can do without any effort. In regards to the declaration that engineers can learn from brain strategies (Aamodt Wang, 2009), it should be noted for the purpose of clarification that researchers and engineers are constantly trying to mimic the tricks that millions of years of evolution and development have taught to biology. If engineers can recreate this tricks and shortcuts, computers that share our imperfections. This may not be exactly what we want, but it could lead to better ââ¬Å"softâ⬠judgment or so called ââ¬Å"fuzzyâ⬠reasoning from computers (Aamodt Wang, 2009). What determines a computers ability to make such inferences is related to the artificial intelligence software not hardware. In addition several devices can share computing resources through wireless technologies and the implementation of cloud computing strategies. Cloud computing refers to a shift towards internet-based computing, where shared software or information are provided on demand. Why bother? The article concludes that we should no try to achieve the goal of sophisticated artificial intelligence since, human beings are already capable of fulfilling all those requirements and in order to create a new one all it akes is a fertile couple with the resources to nurture their child. Although, it will eventually be possible to design devices that imitate human behavior, we already have such an incredible device in humans. I do agree that humans have achieved an intellectual and self-awareness that seems incomprehensible at times. The article misses one of the most important argu ments of Kurzweils discussion. The functionality of the brain is computable in terms of technology that we can build in the near future. We must take into account that preliminary research is already suggesting that prolonged use of such devices is affecting the way our minds work. ââ¬Å"The technology is rewiring our brains,â⬠said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse and one of the worldââ¬â¢s leading brain scientists. Our brain is evolving, she and other researchers compare digital stimulation less to drugs and alcohol than to food and sex, which are essential but counterproductive in excess (Richtel, 2010). We must always remember that Kurzweil describes this technological singularity as resulting from three different technologies and disciplines: genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics (which includes artificial intelligence). Genetic modification is the manipulation of an organisms genetic material in a way that does not occur under natural conditions. Nanotechnology is the study of controlling matter on a molecular scale to create new materials and devices with a wide range of applications, such as in medicine, electronics and energy production. Robotics is related to electronics, mechanics, and software. Kurzweil argues we are in the process of reaching new levels of refinement in our technology that will allow us to merge biological and artificial to create higher forms of life and intelligence. The article fails to make a persuasive argument against the inevitably of the technological singularity and the reasons for not pursuing this goal. There are many reasons why people will aim to achieve this such as vanity, medical and cognitive compensation or enhancements. We must not assume that the only goal in producing such technology is to just emulate humans, but to augment and even transcend our biology, as the book title suggests. References Aamodt, S. Wang, S. (March, 2009). Guest Column: Computers vs. Brains, New York Times, Retrieved from: http://opinionator. blogs. nytimes. com/2009/03/31/guest-column-computers-vs-brains/ Dillow, C. (2010). MITs Self-Assembling Solar Cells Recycle Themselves Repeatedly, Just Like Plant Cells.
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