GRE - Facts are stubborn things. They cannot be altered by our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of out passion

Posted: Saturday, August 28, 2010 by Kratik in
4

A fact can be regarded as anything which can be proven true. Some of the facts are unchangable, thereby, cannot be changed, whereas, examples from the past have suggested that developments in technology and intense hardwork can provide us with a freedom to alter facts. The author asserts, a fact as being something impossible of being altered by our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion. Thus, I agree with the autor but only partly.
It's a fact that earth revolves around the sun and now matter how much we want it, it's out of our hands to change the path of revolution of earth. Now, a fact like this one can be termed as a fact which is stubborn and has no scope of changing. Taking another example, this time of the 9/11 World Trade Centre bombings in New York. It was an event which lead to carnage and mass killing of thousands of innocent people. Now, it is a fact that these bombings have taken place and nine years on, we can't do anything about it. It is a fact which is stubborn as we can't go back in time and prevent these bombings but if we could and prevent such a calamity, then, would have been changing a fact that exists in today's world.
Similarly, humans previously believed that the earth was flat, which was a fact then. A sensational theory which stated that the earth was sperical in shape wa introduced by Coppernicus and the made people think different. Coppernicus's claim was vindicated by Galileo, who discovered the telescope and proved earth to be round. The fact that once was, exists no more as the developments have made it possible to change the fact. In the 1996, Arsenal football team wa called "boring" as they would rely on long balls and hardly play football through open play. It was regarded as a fact that no one could change the way this club plays their football. It was then that the Arsenal board took a brave decision in hiring Arsene Wenger, a Frenchmen whose passioins was to play quick attacking football. Within five years of the appointment of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal were as fast a football team as any in Europe. Thus, one man's passion lead to the change. It was once a famous saying in Greek, "A man can never jump higher than his head." Several atheletes due to years of practice and dedication, also a will to succeed made this theory go right into the dustbin. Nowdays, we find people jumping as high as two meters and striving for more every moment. Thus, due to developments, wishes and a strong inclination can change facts.
But if you see, no matter how much humans strive, some facts are simply unchangable. For example, some centuries back, humans couldn't fly, we still can't but due to developments, we are getting closer every moment. Right from the first air plane being discovered by Wright brothers to the air busses that we find now, humans are getting closer. Taking another example of a person who smokes tobacco, it will affect his lungs, no question about that and it is presently a fact but scientists have come out with several things that lessen the effects of cigarrete smoking.
Thus, developments are being made and we are getting closer day by day in changing most of the facts, however, there are certain facts which can't be altered by our inclination, wishes or passions. What's happened in the past can definately not be changed (as for now) and that remains a fact. All we can do is give our best shot at everything that we do in order to have a better future.

GRE - Money spent on research is almost always a good investment, even when the results of the researches are controversial

Posted: Monday, August 23, 2010 by Kratik in
2

A successful research is marked by its outcome. If a research involves an enormous amount of investment, the investment would be considered its worth if the outcome is fruitful and produces beneficial results. The research might result in a number of controversies but at the end of the day it also solves out purpose to a great extent in bringing about useful information.

Technology is an application of science and in order to carry out the developments in technology, a profound research is essential. A research could be as simple as gathering information and carrying out a survey regarding the product to be designed in the near future or as complicated as composing of modeling, simulation, experimentation, analysis, a lot of paperwork and documentation. To carry out a strenuous successful research, we need highly skilled personnel as well as highly advanced equipments. Now, for this, it is absolutely certain that a decent amount of money needs to be invested to keep the wheel rotating.

A controversy is never a controversy till the time the information hasn't come about. Famously, a number of researches are on going regarding the Stem Cell. The Stem Cell project can be extremely advantageous to mankind, leading to the regeneration of a damaged tissue/organ in the body, thereby, becoming useful in curing diseases such as Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetics, etc. The project in its own way has become a controversy as it might also deal with production of clone humans, which according to some is unethical. Even for such projects which might be very helpful in the future, "bold decisions" are to be taken for the sake of development. Discoveries and researches are always exciting but we must keep one thing in mind, to maintain equilibrium and not crossing the borders by going against the nature.

Even though some researches might not be particularly as useful as the others, the information discovered at the end would serve as of some help for sure in the future. This information can be utilized to carry out further projects and lead to further more discoveries. For example, in terms of the developments in substation automation, the first substation was formed by the Tokyo Dento company in October 1930. Slowly but gradually, due to researches and developments, with time, one substation gave rise to multiple substations. Use of microchips, PLCs, Intelligent Electronic Devices and computers took their place as the time passed. The current situation is that different power parameters can be controlled, monitored and analyzed from a remote place. These developments though took time and an awful amount of money but were extremely essential. Gradual developments also breed a scope for random discoveries. One such example is of the discovery of a microwave oven. Microwave ovens were founded during the early space research.

Well, it is easy enough to get swept away by developments. A number of medicinal researches have a number of tests done on animals. Most of the animals on which these vaccines are tested, end up dying. Even though it’s necessary to find a cure to diseases, it is also extremely essential to care for animals and protect the animals. It is highly important that the man controls the technology and it’s not the other way round. Thus, it is a must to draw a line which must not be crossed.

Research is great for development, completely harmless and a tool that grooms us with knowledge. It is for this reason that the research is essential and deserves a capital to be invested irrespective of any controversy it creates.

TOEFL-Besides money, what are some more reasons that people work for?

Posted: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 by Kratik in
1

Words: 810

Time 70 mins

As it’s famously said, "Money might give you pleasure but it can't buy you love." Almost every person dreams of living a mansion with a swimming pool, a gymnasium and a jacuzzi. So, in order to achieve your dream what do you do? Well, you work towards being rich. Some also work so that they can feed their respective families in an appropriate way. But this world has also seen some individuals whose ideas weren't idealist at all. In fact, their thinking was so different that they worked for their respective passions and achieved what the others could hardly contemplate.

Lets take an example of a man who took birth in the year 1956 in Karnataka, India. He recited the Bhagwad Geeta at the age of four and grew up with an aim to make people smile. The man that I'm talking about here is His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar, The founder of the Art of Living Foundation. He is man who works for the society and not for money. The revenue generated from the Art of Living courses is invested back into the society. He has a major hand in globalizing spirituality. The Art of Living foundation now is the largest volunteer based NGO in the world and aims at making people smile by meking them have a stress free mind and a better place to live in. Art of Living has taken up several projects like Go Green Project, Clean Yamuna Project, etc and is a functioning body in more that 150 countris around the globe. With more than 300 million people undergone the Art of Living workshops, Sri Sri Ravishankar is for sure taking major steps in achieving his dream of making this world a happier place to live in. Also a graduate in Science, had money been important to him, Sri Sri would have taken up a job, probably done an MBA degree (like most youths nowdays) and been a rich person but he worked for the people and for the society, giving up the idea of living of most of the youths in order to start the Art of Living.

Apart from working from the society, what people also work is to pursue their passion. An engineer who has a passion to be a journalist, might be a good engineer but would he love working as an engineer, I doubt. He would always look forward to a journalism job. Though the job might pay well, you still might feel unsatisfied at some point and wish for you to go in for a degree in the field that you want to end up working. Taking another example, this time of my favorite commentator and presenter, Mr. Harsha Bhogle. Bhogle is an MBA from the best management institute in India, IIM, Ahemdabad. He now works as a commentator for ESPNSTAR. Having rejected several job offers from some the top MNCs in the world, Bhogle started to walk on a different path, a path that lead to him achieving his dream of being a sports commentator. His will, stills, ability and quality made him reach the zenith of Indian Sports Commentary for which he is popularly known.

Some work for a cause, the couse being their love something. Alan Smith was one person who certainly did that. Famously known as "Smithy", Alan Smith played football for Leeds United without pay in the later part of season 2003-2004. His love for the club was such that he refused to demand compensation from Leeds, who were already in crises. Though he couldn't save Leeds from being relegated from the English Premiership, Leeds fans still love him and regard him as a hero.

As Sir Alex Ferguson, The maager of Machester United, the most supported football club in the world popularly said after winning a premiership title, "When you have tasted that blood, you want it again." Sir Alex manages United because he wants to win more. He has more than 20 titles under his belt and is regarded as one of the greatest managers ever. Had it been for money, like Peter Kenyon, even Sir Alex would have gone on to join Roman Abramovich and Chelsea. But it was his love and a team that he made himself that he decided to stay at United.

But apart from all these examples if you see, a person needs money to survive on this planet and to feeds his family. It is for that reason that a person to an extent tends to work for money and and not sway towards his passions. It is high time that we all recognize what we love and start working towards it because according to me, if you do what you love, you can reach the pinnacle of anything and when that happens, money automatically begins to flow in.


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