Personal Responsibility Essay Example for Free

Personal Responsibility Essay An individual has a duty to look after self. This is achievable through maintaining a certain level of concern and cultivating in the ways of caring for self. A human being has esteem needs which need to be maintained in order to feel whole and complete. The variables in personal responsibility occur in one self and their decision to accept themselves as they are. The focus on personal responsibility engages an individual to be confident in personal affairs as well as life. Personal responsibility is a commitment to the application of the issues one has an individual dedication to undertake. One ought to believe in individual ability to follow the aspects of personal responsibility. This is portrayed by individuals when they uphold the mission and goals in their lives . When one sets a target in life, following it is a choice and one choosing not to give up is a commitment in the responsibility of that person’s life. Persisting and not giving up in a person’s responsibility is a property of commitment and dedication in one’s life. The aspect of applying all the energy one may have is a reflection of the areas where one is being responsible to accommodate the pressure in. Therefore, dedication to excellence and doing the good things in life for development of self is a reflection of personal responsibility. When an individual is concentrating on making life comfortable and making it pleasing, the level of commitment is certainly high. Individual’s morals and decision making which may be hard to make are examples of commitment to one’s personal values, which is a responsibility to self. The image that one commits to portray to the society is cultivated inside, hence it is a detail to show dedication to personal growth and respect. Personal responsibility gives a positive growth to life when an individual has the obligation and feeling that they have a direction to make it. Personal responsibility instills values in an individual that are very helpful in their life. Through personal responsibility, an individual will learn how to be determined and never back down to obstacles. This is a positive experience when difficult situations come up. Courage and self determination are portrayed in an individual. One obtains trust with self and with other people by maintaining a level of self responsibility. The way one portrays these aspects with confidence is the same way the other people will acknowledge them. Personal responsibility gives one power and the confidence to accept responsibilities in the various disciplines in life that may arise. It is a great influence of the decisions we make. This shows other people that we are mature people and can be bestowed roles of responsibility and positions for us to take care of. Personal responsibility refers to the aspect in which individuals are in charge of themselves and their lives, taking care of the way they think and feel. This involves being concerned more about their affairs, self satisfaction and comfort ability. Maintaining a mental and physical healthy and keep clear emotions and treating oneself with respect is essential in achieving personal responsibility. This obligation to oneself causes individuals to be accountable to their lives and forces them to put across some conditions or rules in their lives. The achievement of goals is triggered by some of these rules. Responsibility of self is paramount in ensuring the achievement of a positive living attitude.

Hard Drives :: science

Hard Drives Hard drives have been around longer than you think. In 1956, I. B. M. had invented a disk storage unit that was very large but did not store a lot of data. It was twenty-four inches in diameter and could hold only five megabytes, which is the equivalent to three and one half floppy disks. Originally called â€Å"fixed disks† later became known as â€Å"hard disks† opposed to floppy disks. In 1973, I. B. M. released a hard drive that could hold seventeen and one half megabytes. In 1980 Seagate made the first five and one quarter inch hard disk. In the late 1980’s, three and one half inch hard disks were invented (PCIN). Although there are smaller hard disks as small as two inches in diameter, three and one half inch hard disks have been made a standard and is used most often today. The capacity in hard drives has excelled thousands of times all over from five megabytes to one hundred sixty gigabytes (160,000 megabytes) which is the equivalent to one hundred eleven thousand one hundred eleven floppy disks. The hard drive or hard disk is one of the most critical components in the operation of a computer. It is also one of the only moving parts in the computer. Sadly, many people do not know the important role it has in the storage of their data or how it even works. When you think of your hard drive, think of it as the computer’s electronic filing cabinet. Everything you load, download, or save is stored on the hard drive. In fact, ten percent of your hard drive is already used when you purchase your computer because it needs certain system operating files that are required to make the basics work. Everything you add later such as word processors, antivirus software, e-mail software, games, and internet software are extra, soon leading to an over stuffed filing cabinet (Matthew Ferrara Seminars). However, many people ask, â€Å"What is the hard drive, physically?† The hard drive can be commonly referred to as â€Å"a box†. That is what it looks like, a three and one half inch metal box. It is located inside your mainframe or tower. It sits in what is called a drive bay. Here it is secured with screws. On the bottom of the hard drive is a chip board which is the really technical and complicated pieces of the hard drive.

The Tell-Tale Heart Essay

Suspenseful, nerve-racking, tense, and scary are all words that can be used to describe The Tell-Tale Heart. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe is a dark, eerie story filled with suspense and tension. Anyone who has read this story would be able to describe it using similar words; but that is not all that it is filled with. The Tell-Tale Heart is a horror short story filled with many different literary devices and many examples to go along with them. This essay will be on three of the many literary devices used in this story; imagery, repetition, and humor.One of the many literary devices used by Poe in this story is imagery. Imagery is used to create a vivid picture in your mind. It allows the reader to visualize the setting and/or actions in the story. Poe uses imagery very frequently in this story. An example of this would be when the narrator snuck into the old man’s bedroom and accidentally woke him up, and then shone the light from the lantern onto the â€Å"vulture eye. † â€Å"When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little–a very, very little crevice in the lantern.So I opened it– you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily– until, at length a simple dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye. † This example explains how carefully the narrator shone the light on the old man’s eye. â€Å".. at length a simple dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye† is an example of imagery. Poe is trying to give the reader a visual of how the ray of light was so thin and precise on the old man’s eye.This example describes the light coming out of the lantern in such vivid detail that the reader can imagine exactly what the light looks like. This literary device is important because if the reader can visualize exactly what is goin g on, it may help to trigger some emotions and picture the story as the writer intended. Another literary device often used by Poe in this story is repetition. Repetition is used by authors frequently because it adds more atmosphere to the story by adding emotion; in this case, suspense and fear. A week before the murder, every night around midnight the narrator would open the door to the old man’s bedroom.â€Å"And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it–oh so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly–very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man’s sleep. † In four sentences, repetition was used twice to describe how carefully the narrator would open the door and make his way inside to see the ol d man’s â€Å"evil eye†.The author may have chosen to use repetition for this scenario because in the narrator’s point of view, he is risking getting caught by the old man. If he got caught sneaking into the room, this could have ruined the narrators plans to murder the old man or things could have gotten out of control. When repetition is being used, the reader slows down slightly. This is because the author wants us to feel the tension and suspense that the character is feeling. All the emotion triggered by repetition causes the reader to anticipate what happens next. The third literary device used by Poe is Humor.Humor is used to alleviate a tough situation. An example of humor in The Tell-Tale Heart would be when the narrator was cleaning up the remains of the old man’s dead body. â€Å"There was nothing to wash out–no stain of any kind–no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all–ha! ha! † Thi s example explains that there was no blood to be wiped up because it was all in the tub. The humor behind this is when he laughs at the end. Throughout the entire story, the narrator is trying to convince the reader that he is not insane.But doesn’t laughing at the fact that you murdered someone without creating a mess make you a little insane? Where is the humor in taking away someone else’s life? Poe demonstrates the humor in this story in many other ways and they all lead to one assumption; the narrator is insane. Humor is important in the story because it keeps the atmosphere of this story consistent. The way Poe used humor in this story successfully makes the mood tense and makes the reader eager to keep reading due to the suspense they are feeling. These three literary devices helped to shape the story in a very powerful way.The way Poe used imagery, repetition, and humor were magnificent because by using these literary devices, Poe made the reader feel the suspe nse and tension the character in the story was feeling. Poe also triggered emotions inside of the reader. This is very, very important because it is a gateway for the reader to relate to the story. If the reader can relate to the story then their opinion on it is almost always positive. Poe is a brilliant man who used many literary devices to support his story. By doing so he achieved success by getting through to his readers using emotions.

Soil Erosion in Africa

Soil erosion in Africa threatens food and fuel supplies and can contribute to climate change. For over a century, governments and aid organizations have tried to combat soil erosion in Africa, often with limited effect. The Problem Today Currently, 40% of soil in Africa is degraded. Degraded soil diminishes food production and leads to soil erosion, which in turn contributes to desertification. This is particularly worrisome since, according to the UNs  Food and Agriculture Organization, some 83% of sub-Saharan African people depend on the land for their livelihood, and food production in Africa will have to increase almost 100% by 2050 to keep up with population demands. All of this makes soil erosion a pressing social, economic, and environmental issue for many African countries. Causes for Erosion Erosion happens when wind or rain carry topsoil away. How much soil is carried away depends on how strong the rain or wind is as well as the soil quality, topography (for example, sloped versus terraced land), and the amount of ground vegetation. Healthy topsoil (like soil covered with plants) is less erodible. Put simply, it sticks together better and can absorb more water. Increased population and development put greater stress on soils. More land is cleared and less left fallow, which can deplete the soil and increase water run-off. Overgrazing and poor farming techniques can also lead to soil erosion, but it is important to remember that not all causes are human; climate and natural soil quality are also important factors to consider in tropical and mountainous regions. Failed Conservation Efforts During the colonial era, state governments tried to force peasants and farmers to adopt scientifically approved farming techniques. Many of these efforts were aimed at controlling African populations and did not take into account significant cultural norms. For instance, colonial officers invariably worked with men, even in areas where women were responsible for farming. They also provided few incentives - only punishments. Soil erosion and depletion continued, and rural frustration over colonial land schemes helped fuel nationalist movements in many countries. Not surprisingly, most nationalist governments in the post-independence era tried to work with rural populations rather than force change. They favored education and outreach programs, but soil erosion and poor output continued, in part because no one looked carefully at what farmers and herders were actually doing. In many countries, elite policymakers had urban backgrounds, and they still tended to presume that rural peoples existing methods were ignorant and destructive. International NGOs and scientists also worked off of assumptions about peasant land use that are now being called into question. Recent Research Recently, more research has gone into both the causes of soil erosion and into what are termed indigenous farming methods and knowledge about sustainable use. This research has exploded the myth that peasant techniques were inherently unchanging, traditional, wasteful methods. Some farming patterns are destructive, and research can identify to better ways, but increasingly scholars and policymakers are emphasizing the need to draw the best from scientific research and peasant knowledge of the land. Current Efforts to Control Current efforts, still include outreach and education projects, but are also focusing on greater research and employing peasants or providing other incentives for participating in sustainability projects. Such projects are tailored to local environmental conditions and can include forming water catchments, terracing, planting trees, and subsidizing fertilizers. There have also been a number of transnational and international efforts to protect soil and water supplies. Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize for establishing the Green Belt Movement, and in 2007, the leaders of several African states across the Sahel created the Great Green Wall Initiative, which has already increased forestation in targeted areas. Africa is also part of the Action against Desertification, a $45 million program that includes the Caribbean and Pacific. In Africa, the program is funding projects that will protect forests and topsoil while generating incomes for rural communities. Numerous other national and international projects are underway as soil erosion in Africa gains greater attention from policymakers and social as well as environmental organizations. Sources Chris Reij, Ian Scoones, Calmilla Toulmin (eds). : Indigenous Soil and Water Conservation in AfricaSustaining the Soil (Earthscan, 1996) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Soil is a non-renewable resource. infographic, (2015). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Soil is a non-renewable resource. pamphlet, (2015). Global Environmental Facility, Great Green Wall Initiative (accessed 23 July 2015) Kiage, Lawrence,  Perspectives on the assumed causes of land degradation in the rangelands of Sub-Saharan Africa.  Progress in Physical Geography Mulwafu, Wapulumuka. : A History of Peasant-State Relations and the Environment in Malawi, 1860-2000.Conservation Song (White Horse Press, 2011).