I just cant stop my wood from decolorization, can some one help me? I had poured the hot water continuously towards the wood, but it does not work at all......
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Wood
I just cant stop my wood from decolorization, can some one help me? I had poured the hot water continuously towards the wood, but it does not work at all......
Monday, January 28, 2008
Dorylus - the biggest ant
The army ant genus Dorylus, also known as driver ants, safari ants or siafu, are found primarily in central and east Africa,though the range extends to tropical Asia. There are some 70 species presently recognized, though another 60 names are applied at the rank of subspecies.
Unlike the members of the Ecitoninae, they do form anthills, although these are temporary (a few days up to three months). Each colony can contain over 20 million individuals. As in their New World counterparts, there is a soldier class among the workers, which is larger, with a very large head and pincer-like mandibles. They are capable of stinging, but very rarely do so, relying instead on their powerful shearing jaws.
Unlike the members of the Ecitoninae, they do form anthills, although these are temporary (a few days up to three months). Each colony can contain over 20 million individuals. As in their New World counterparts, there is a soldier class among the workers, which is larger, with a very large head and pincer-like mandibles. They are capable of stinging, but very rarely do so, relying instead on their powerful shearing jaws.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Discuss the impact of globalization on indigenous cultures
Globalization means a world that is interdependent between each country or an integrated world. An important factor that brings globalization is technology. The improvement of technology has enabled one to communicate, interact and travel around the world. For some globalized products, such as Mc Donald, Coca-cola, and Visa Credit Cards, the world from different parts have started to change and develop to a same generation. In the situation where one may affect another, there have been many changes in indigenous cultures in the world, which is the native cultures from different parts of the world. This is reflected in changes in economics, social behavior, religion, language, art and creativity. These impacts may be helpful or harmful to human beings......
full essay:
Link
full essay:
Link
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Utilitarianism
Introduction:
•There are two major types of ethical systems.
1.Deontological ethical system (one in which the locus of value is the act or the kind of act.
2.Teleological ethical systems ( one in which the locus of value is the outcome or consequences of the act)
•Teleological systems consider the ultimate criterion of morality to lie in some nonmoral value that results from acts.
•Thus, a teleologist would judge whether lying was morally right or wrong by the consequences it produced.
•Deontological systems consider certain features the act itself to have intrinsic value.
•Thus, a deontologist would see something intrinsically wrong in the very act of lying.
Illustration
•Suppose that you’re on an island with a dying millionaire.
•As he lies dying, he asks you for one final favour.
•He asks you to give all his $2 million to a football club.
•You agree to carry out his last wish.
•Now on traveling back, you see a newspaper advertisement placed by the World Hunger Relief Organization pleading for $2 million to be used to save 100,000 people dying of starvation in Africa.
•You begin to reconsider your promise to the dying man. What should you do with the money?
•Suppose there is a raft floating on the Pacific Ocean. On the raft are 2 men who are starving to death. They discover some food in an inner compartment of a box on the raft. The food is sufficient to keep one of them alive, until the raft reaches a certain island where help is available. If they share the food, both of them will most likely die. One of these men is a brilliant scientist who has in his mind the cure for cancer. The other man is undistinguished.
•“What is the morally right thing to do? Share the food and hope for a miracle” Flip a coin in order to see which man gets the food? Give the food to the scientist?
The teleologists on illustrations
•If you flip a coin or share the food, you sided with the deontologists. If you give the food to the scientist, you sided with the teleologists
•The teleologists ( the utilitarians) would calculate that there would be greater good accomplished as a result of the scientist getting the food and living than in any of the other likely outcomes.
What is teleologist? In comparison to Deontologist and Egoism
1.A person whose ethical decision-making aims solely at maximizing nonmoral goods, such as pleasure, happiness, welfare and the amelioration of suffering.
2.For the teleologist, the standard of right or wrong action is the comparative consequences of the available actions.
3.The act is right which produces the best consequences.
4. On the other hand, deontologist is concerned only with the rightness of the act itself, while the teleologist asserts that there is no such things as an act having intrinsic worth.
5. For the deontologist, there is something intrinsically bad about lying, whereas for the teleologist , the only thing wrong with lying is the bad consequences it produces.
In comparison to Deontologist and Egoism
•If you can calculate that a lie will bring more good than telling the truth, then you have an obligation to lie.
•In Egoism (the view that act which produces the most amount of good for the agent is the right act) is one type of teleological ethics. (narrowed to the agent him/herself.
•In Utilitarianism, it is a universal teleological system. It calls for the maximization of goodness in society for “the greatest goodness for the greater number.”
•There are two major types of ethical systems.
1.Deontological ethical system (one in which the locus of value is the act or the kind of act.
2.Teleological ethical systems ( one in which the locus of value is the outcome or consequences of the act)
•Teleological systems consider the ultimate criterion of morality to lie in some nonmoral value that results from acts.
•Thus, a teleologist would judge whether lying was morally right or wrong by the consequences it produced.
•Deontological systems consider certain features the act itself to have intrinsic value.
•Thus, a deontologist would see something intrinsically wrong in the very act of lying.
Illustration
•Suppose that you’re on an island with a dying millionaire.
•As he lies dying, he asks you for one final favour.
•He asks you to give all his $2 million to a football club.
•You agree to carry out his last wish.
•Now on traveling back, you see a newspaper advertisement placed by the World Hunger Relief Organization pleading for $2 million to be used to save 100,000 people dying of starvation in Africa.
•You begin to reconsider your promise to the dying man. What should you do with the money?
•Suppose there is a raft floating on the Pacific Ocean. On the raft are 2 men who are starving to death. They discover some food in an inner compartment of a box on the raft. The food is sufficient to keep one of them alive, until the raft reaches a certain island where help is available. If they share the food, both of them will most likely die. One of these men is a brilliant scientist who has in his mind the cure for cancer. The other man is undistinguished.
•“What is the morally right thing to do? Share the food and hope for a miracle” Flip a coin in order to see which man gets the food? Give the food to the scientist?
The teleologists on illustrations
•If you flip a coin or share the food, you sided with the deontologists. If you give the food to the scientist, you sided with the teleologists
•The teleologists ( the utilitarians) would calculate that there would be greater good accomplished as a result of the scientist getting the food and living than in any of the other likely outcomes.
What is teleologist? In comparison to Deontologist and Egoism
1.A person whose ethical decision-making aims solely at maximizing nonmoral goods, such as pleasure, happiness, welfare and the amelioration of suffering.
2.For the teleologist, the standard of right or wrong action is the comparative consequences of the available actions.
3.The act is right which produces the best consequences.
4. On the other hand, deontologist is concerned only with the rightness of the act itself, while the teleologist asserts that there is no such things as an act having intrinsic worth.
5. For the deontologist, there is something intrinsically bad about lying, whereas for the teleologist , the only thing wrong with lying is the bad consequences it produces.
In comparison to Deontologist and Egoism
•If you can calculate that a lie will bring more good than telling the truth, then you have an obligation to lie.
•In Egoism (the view that act which produces the most amount of good for the agent is the right act) is one type of teleological ethics. (narrowed to the agent him/herself.
•In Utilitarianism, it is a universal teleological system. It calls for the maximization of goodness in society for “the greatest goodness for the greater number.”
Hinduism
Background
Hinduism is one of the worlds’ major religions. It is also one of the most ancient religions in the world. There’re over 720 million Hindus today. Most live in India, although a sizable population live in Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Indonesia (Bali) and a few other countries.
The ancient sages of India who discovered the spiritual truth s that constitute the basic Scriptures of Hinduism preferred to remain anonymous. Therefore Hinduism does not have a known founder. Those Scriptures are called the Vedas, which means knowledge.
Scope for Reason and Faith in Hinduism
Hindus are allowed to ask sincere questions or make honest inquiries about their religion. If they’ve doubts, they can express them without any fear. Such questioning is never considered sacrilegious.
All honest and sincere questions are addressed by Hinduism and rational answers given.
From this rational inquiry, Hinduism has been able to develop and accommodate init 6 major systems of philosophy.
While Hinduism encourages faith in its Holy Scriptures, it also gives full scope to reason out the truths contained in them
Importance of Spiritual Experience
Knowledge derived from genuine spiritual experience is given the utmost importance.
-One scripture says that immortality, the ultimate Spiritual goal of Hinduism, cannot be achieved by studying the Scriptures alone. – It has to be experienced.
-Experiential spiritual knowledge is given much more importance than mere theoretical knowledge
Six Major Systems of Philosophy
-There’re 6 major systems of Hindu philosophy.
-Sankhya
-Yoga
-Nyaya
-Vaisheshika
-Mimamsa
-Vedanta
GOD Hinduism believes in one God.
-It also accommodates the ideas of personal and impersonal god. They ‘re different aspects or expressions of the same Divine Reality.
-God in His impersonal aspect is called Nirguna Brahman, and in His personal aspect, He is called Saguna Brahman
-Saguna Brahman, who is the creator of this world, is omnipresent, all-knowing and all-powerful.
-Saguna Brahman, even though sexless, can be addressed and adored by Hindus as both Mother and Father.
-Creation, preservation, and destruction go hand- in-hand in this world.
-Saguna Brahman is not just the creator, but the preserver and destroyer also.
-The creator aspect of Saguna Brahman is called Brahma; the preserver aspect, Vishu; and the destroyer aspect Shiva or Maheshwara
-These 3 form the so-called Hindu Trinity.
-Different powers or glories of God are personified through imagination and called Dieties in Hinduism.
-Deities are not so many gods – they’re personified expressions of the different powers and glories of the one and only God.
-Hinduism believes that out of compassion for His creatures, God incarnates on earth in tangible form and becomes part of history.
-A Divine Incarnation is called an Avatara.
-In Hinduism there can be many divine Incarnations.
-Whenever virtue declines an irreligion prevails. God incarnates on earth to revitalize religion and save the righteous.
-Some Hindus worship God through images.
-As God is intangible, tangible symbols of god, or images, are used by Hindus to establish mental communion with God.
-A Hindu who adores and worships God through images is fully aware that the images are not God Himself.
-They’re only aids to God realization
There are nine basic requirements
nThere are nine basic requirements that a Hindu should be aware of and follow. Personal discipline, good conduct, self-inquiry and meditation are important. Here briefly are the nine beliefs of Hinduism.
n(Source: From ‘Dancing with Siva’, by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami)
1.Belief in the divinity of Vedas.
2.The Supreme Being is both immanent and transcendent, thus both a Creator and Un-manifest Reality.
3.The universe is in an endless cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution.
4.One creates his own destiny by his thoughts, deeds and words. This law of cause and effect is called the Karma.
5. Every soul evolves through a series of births and deaths (janma and punar-janma) until all karmas have been resolved. The cycle of many births (samsara) is the opportunity to shed the effects of karma in order to attain liberation (moksha) form the eternal cycle. Not a single soul is deprived of this destiny.
6. Belief in the existence of divine beings in unseen worlds. Temple worship, rituals, sacraments as well as personal devotions create a communion with the devas and God.
7. A master or a guru is essential to follow the right path to know the Transcendent Absolute.
8. All forms of life are sacred and are to be loved and revered. All must follow the practice of ‘non-injury’ or ahimsa.
9. No one particular religion teaches the ‘only pathway’ to salvation. All genuine religious paths are facets of God’s Light and Love, deserving tolerance and understanding.
Hinduism is one of the worlds’ major religions. It is also one of the most ancient religions in the world. There’re over 720 million Hindus today. Most live in India, although a sizable population live in Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Indonesia (Bali) and a few other countries.
The ancient sages of India who discovered the spiritual truth s that constitute the basic Scriptures of Hinduism preferred to remain anonymous. Therefore Hinduism does not have a known founder. Those Scriptures are called the Vedas, which means knowledge.
Scope for Reason and Faith in Hinduism
Hindus are allowed to ask sincere questions or make honest inquiries about their religion. If they’ve doubts, they can express them without any fear. Such questioning is never considered sacrilegious.
All honest and sincere questions are addressed by Hinduism and rational answers given.
From this rational inquiry, Hinduism has been able to develop and accommodate init 6 major systems of philosophy.
While Hinduism encourages faith in its Holy Scriptures, it also gives full scope to reason out the truths contained in them
Importance of Spiritual Experience
Knowledge derived from genuine spiritual experience is given the utmost importance.
-One scripture says that immortality, the ultimate Spiritual goal of Hinduism, cannot be achieved by studying the Scriptures alone. – It has to be experienced.
-Experiential spiritual knowledge is given much more importance than mere theoretical knowledge
Six Major Systems of Philosophy
-There’re 6 major systems of Hindu philosophy.
-Sankhya
-Yoga
-Nyaya
-Vaisheshika
-Mimamsa
-Vedanta
GOD Hinduism believes in one God.
-It also accommodates the ideas of personal and impersonal god. They ‘re different aspects or expressions of the same Divine Reality.
-God in His impersonal aspect is called Nirguna Brahman, and in His personal aspect, He is called Saguna Brahman
-Saguna Brahman, who is the creator of this world, is omnipresent, all-knowing and all-powerful.
-Saguna Brahman, even though sexless, can be addressed and adored by Hindus as both Mother and Father.
-Creation, preservation, and destruction go hand- in-hand in this world.
-Saguna Brahman is not just the creator, but the preserver and destroyer also.
-The creator aspect of Saguna Brahman is called Brahma; the preserver aspect, Vishu; and the destroyer aspect Shiva or Maheshwara
-These 3 form the so-called Hindu Trinity.
-Different powers or glories of God are personified through imagination and called Dieties in Hinduism.
-Deities are not so many gods – they’re personified expressions of the different powers and glories of the one and only God.
-Hinduism believes that out of compassion for His creatures, God incarnates on earth in tangible form and becomes part of history.
-A Divine Incarnation is called an Avatara.
-In Hinduism there can be many divine Incarnations.
-Whenever virtue declines an irreligion prevails. God incarnates on earth to revitalize religion and save the righteous.
-Some Hindus worship God through images.
-As God is intangible, tangible symbols of god, or images, are used by Hindus to establish mental communion with God.
-A Hindu who adores and worships God through images is fully aware that the images are not God Himself.
-They’re only aids to God realization
There are nine basic requirements
nThere are nine basic requirements that a Hindu should be aware of and follow. Personal discipline, good conduct, self-inquiry and meditation are important. Here briefly are the nine beliefs of Hinduism.
n(Source: From ‘Dancing with Siva’, by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami)
1.Belief in the divinity of Vedas.
2.The Supreme Being is both immanent and transcendent, thus both a Creator and Un-manifest Reality.
3.The universe is in an endless cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution.
4.One creates his own destiny by his thoughts, deeds and words. This law of cause and effect is called the Karma.
5. Every soul evolves through a series of births and deaths (janma and punar-janma) until all karmas have been resolved. The cycle of many births (samsara) is the opportunity to shed the effects of karma in order to attain liberation (moksha) form the eternal cycle. Not a single soul is deprived of this destiny.
6. Belief in the existence of divine beings in unseen worlds. Temple worship, rituals, sacraments as well as personal devotions create a communion with the devas and God.
7. A master or a guru is essential to follow the right path to know the Transcendent Absolute.
8. All forms of life are sacred and are to be loved and revered. All must follow the practice of ‘non-injury’ or ahimsa.
9. No one particular religion teaches the ‘only pathway’ to salvation. All genuine religious paths are facets of God’s Light and Love, deserving tolerance and understanding.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
''Dog''s Goodies'' shop
''Dog''s Goodies'' shop ''Dog''s Goodies'' shop owner Janine Saraniti-Lagerin presents a ''ion of dog biscuits to her labrador Ronja in her dogs-only bakery in the western German city of Wiesbaden January 8, 2007. Saraniti-Lagerin, a former florist, sells her self-baked dog biscuits and fancy cakes to clients from many countries''Dog''s Goodies'' shop owner Janine Saraniti-Lagerin (R) sells dog biscuits in her dogs-only bakery in the western German city of Wiesbaden January 8, 2007.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Ancient History
In ancient times, Malaysia went through four main phases:
Paleolithic Age
•It occurs 35,000 years ago.
•Characteristics:
- lived in caves
- Used simple and crude stone tools
- Collect forest products and hunt
animals
Mesolithic Age
•It occurs 11,000 years ago
Characteristics:
- Lived in caves, along rivers and lakes
- Used more refined stone tools
- Started farming
- Make earthenware
Neolithic Age
•It occurs 5,000 years ago
Characteristics:
- Used more sophisticated stone tools
- Started rearing livestock
- Started communicating with communities in other places
- Started creating objects and using accessories
Metal Age
•It occurs 2,500 years ago
Characteristics:
- Population grew
- Developed residential areas in wide open land near rivers
- More orderly and sedentary lifestyles
- Practised social customs
Paleolithic Age
•It occurs 35,000 years ago.
•Characteristics:
- lived in caves
- Used simple and crude stone tools
- Collect forest products and hunt
animals
Mesolithic Age
•It occurs 11,000 years ago
Characteristics:
- Lived in caves, along rivers and lakes
- Used more refined stone tools
- Started farming
- Make earthenware
Neolithic Age
•It occurs 5,000 years ago
Characteristics:
- Used more sophisticated stone tools
- Started rearing livestock
- Started communicating with communities in other places
- Started creating objects and using accessories
Metal Age
•It occurs 2,500 years ago
Characteristics:
- Population grew
- Developed residential areas in wide open land near rivers
- More orderly and sedentary lifestyles
- Practised social customs
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