Surrogate parenting refers to an arrangement between a married couple who is unable to have a child because of the wife's infertility and a fertile woman who agrees to conceive the husband's child through artificial insemination, carry it to term, then surrender all parental rights in the child. Often, the surrogate mother receives compensation for her services. The final step in the process is typically the father's acknowledgment of paternity and adoption,...
The mind has an incredible power. We see it as we go through our everyday activities, constantly displaying the wonders of logic, thought, memory and creativity. Yet, can the mind be more powerful than we know? Is it possible to reduce or even eliminate pain, illness and disease by using the natural powers it possesses? Can the mind heal? Many of our finest researchers and scientists have explored that question, and while the exact answer still eludes us, the...
Addictions are present in almost all of us. Whether it's a chemical dependence, or simply talking on the phone, they can start to control your life before you can even realize what is happening. Just a couple of years ago, I had a problem peeling myself away from a certain activity. As odd as it may sound, my own computer dominated my life. I remember the situation quite clearly. In the typical day, I would return home from school at around 3:00 or so. You...
The image usually thought of by the word robot is that of a mechanical being, somewhat human in shape. Common in science fiction, robots are generally depicted as working in the service of people, but often escaping the control of the people and doing them harm. The word robot comes from the Czech writer Karel Capek's 1921 play «R. U. R.» (which stands for «Rossum's Universal Robots»), in which mechanical beings made to be slaves for humanity rebel and...
Because of the prevalence of the internet in today's society many thousands of papers now publish an on-line edition. It is through the use of this medium that they wish to make in roads in the communications market. It is seen as a necessary step by many because of the loss of readership due to the internet, broadcast journalism and radio. In my review I will examine an on-line edition of a newspaper from each of the continents. I will comment on some of the...
The article «America Online, while you can» by Bob Woods is all about the hoopla concerning the fact that America Online, or AOL, has not been able to accommodate its vast amount of customers. This is due to AOL's new flat rate, which substituted their original hourly deal. Many AOL users experience busy signals when trying to log on. When and if they do get on AOL, the service runs extremely slow because of the overload of users. Woods threatens that AOL...
A very controversial widespread issue today is the right to have prayer in public schools. The proposed amendment reads: “To secure the people’s right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience. The people’s rights to pray and to recognize their belief, heritage or traditions on public property, shall not be infringed. The government shall not require any person to join in the prayer or religious activity, initiate or designate school...