Thursday, August 27, 2020

Was it Really independance Essay Example For Students

Was it Really independance Essay The American Revolution was constrained upon the Americans by the crueltreatment from the British. On May 10 of 1775 the Second ContinentalCongress accumulated in Philadelphia, one month after the battling broke out. There, delegates from every one of the 13 provinces would settle on autonomy. A Declaration of Independence was required to state why the 13 colonieswere isolating from the British Empire. With this, POWs could request tobe rewarded as detainees rather than tricksters and help coul d be looked for fromBritains foes. The Declaration of Independence comprised of thepreamble, the center segment and an area pronouncing autonomy. Themost significant part, the preface, legitimizes the privileges of the Americancitizens. It declar es that men are made equalandare enriched bytheir Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life,liberty, and the quest for satisfaction. That sentence despite everything remains atruth with the Americans today. Jefferson composed the prelude with the helpof John Locke and Rousteu. Inside the prelude Jefferson composes that thepeople, to make sure about these rightswhenever any type of government becomesdestructiveit is the privilege of the individuals to adjust or nullify it. Itgives the individuals of America the oppor tunity to arraign conniving rulers anddictators in the event that they wish to. The opportunity that Thomas Jefferson gave us isstill by and by today. The center area defended why the colonistswere rebelling against the Britis h Empire. Here Jefferson composes that theKing of Great Britain is a past filled with rehashed wounds and usurpations.He reminds the peruser that the King has would not permit the Governors topass significant laws essential for the open great, obstru cted theadministration and that the lord is sending over enormous armed forces to completethe works of death. The third segment formally announces autonomy inwriting. The whole exertion to finish the Declaration of Independence wasdone by Thomas Jefferso n, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Roger Sherman andRobert Livingston. So as to pass the statement all of therepresentatives needed to cast a ballot yes for freedom. In one of the earlierdrafts an announcement around 175 words gave dark slaves autonomy . Thesouth anyway didn't concur and compromised not to pass the revelation. We will compose a custom exposition on Was it Really independance explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now Realizing that nothing would complete on the off chance that it was not passed, John Adams gaveup the war to take into account that to provision stay in the presentation. Thedeclaration was officiall as a result on July 4, 1776. List of sources:

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Nero Essay Example For Students

Nero Essay A neuropsychologist is a clinician who works in examining mind conduct connections. Neuropsychologists have broad preparing in the life structures, physiology, and pathology of the sensory system. Some neuropsychologists have some expertise in look into while different neuropsychologists have some expertise in assessing and treating individuals who are thought to have some kind of problem with the manner by which their sensory system is working. Neuropsychologists study mind conduct connections under unmistakable conditions which are both controlled and normalized. When in doubt, this implies utilizing tests which have been approved and which have been appeared to have adequate degrees of affectability and particularity. This implies the test can quantify the thing it is attempting to gauge in any event, when the thing it is attempting to gauge is just present in modest quantities and it additionally implies the test can recognize the thing it is attempting to quantify from different things. In the event that we wish to quantify a thing An, at that point the test must have the option to measureA in any event, when almost no of An is available; this is affectability. Explicitness implies when we measure A with our test, we realize that the test doesn't quantify B, C, or D.Clinical neuropsychologists assess patients utilizing one of three general techniques. The main strategy is to utilize an evaluation procedure wherein a fix ed battery of tests is given and in which we just need to realize what capacities are hindered and what capacities are not weakened. The most usually utilized agent of this kind of test is the Halstead Reitan Neuropsychological Battery. The subsequent strategy is to utilize an appraisal procedure where a fixed battery of tests is given yet in this technique there is a progressive each subtest so that if a capacity is debilitated, the level at which it is hindered can be resolved. The most widely recognized agent of this kind of test is the Luria Nebraska. Basic to both of these tests is a long history of research considers inspecting the capacity of the two batteries to quantify brokenness of the mind and to precisely distinguish why that brokenness is happening. The third strategy utilized by neuropsychologists is the adaptable battery approach. By definition, the adaptable methodology isn't a battery since when one uses this methodology one gives a gathering of tests purportedly p icked for simply the specific patient. This implies the specific gathering of tests isn't given to different patients and it isn't Neuropsychology includes the examination, assessment, and treatment of known and associated mind issue utilizing the techniques with brain science. How do neuropsychologists study these cerebrum/conduct connections? Traditionally, cerebrum/conduct connections have been construed from the investigation of people with head wounds, tumors, neurological sickness, and other horrendous mind pathologies. Social changes are thought to be because of this cerebrum tissue harm. For example, if a stroke made harm the rear of your mind, it is realized that you will more than likely experience visual troubles eventhough your eyes are superbly unblemished. Then again, if the stroke made harm the front of your mind, consideration, absence of social understanding, and sequencing challenges would be normal. New mind imaging strategies have permitted us to consider cerebru m/conduct in individuals without mind injury, and of course, fundamentally similar perceptions have been made. More or less, an enormous gathering of the cerebrums capacities are supposed to be limited to various territories. The last 5 to 10 years in social nervous system science and neuropsychology have seen enormous advances in the comprehension of the cerebrum bases of cognizance, observation, and influence. This, to some degree is because of the turn of events and developing accessibility of cerebrum imaging strategies, just as hypothetical and methodological advancement in intellectual brain research. Development And Religion EssayQualitative evaluation of neuropsychological tests gives a gander at the procedure of the person in creating thequantitative scores. The blend of target scores and social procedure perceptions made by the neuropsychologist comprises the workmanship and study of neuropsychological appraisal. The accompanying posting incorporates a portion of the more as often as possible utilized neuropsychological tests and what they are expected to gauge. So as to keep test substance and applications classified to protect their clinical handiness, this data is confined to general data. Test Name Purpose of TestWechsler Adult Intelligence ScaleIIIThis set of 13 separate subtests produces proportions of basic memory, information, critical thinking, figuring, unique reasoning, spatial direction, and speed of mental handling. Notwithstanding rundown proportions of knowledge, execution on each subtest has implicationsfor distinctive neurofunctional spaces. The arrangement of tests takes about an hour or more to control. The WAIS-III is frequently the establishment for an extensive neuropsychological evaluation. Wechsler Memory ScaleIIIThis set of 18 separate subtests yields data about different sorts of memory and learning forms. Rundown memory files are given notwithstanding the individual scores of the subtests. The entire arrangement of tests takes about an hour to control. The WMS-III gives a far reaching evaluation of memory. Halstead Category TestThis test estimates idea learning. It looks at adaptability of reasoning and receptiveness to learning. It is viewed as a decent proportion of by and large mind work. Wisconsin Card Sort TestSimilar in idea to the Category Test, this strategy likewise quantifies the capacity to learn ideas. It is viewed as a decent proportion of frontal projection working. Trail Making Tests An and BThese rather straightforward tests measure consideration, visual looking, mentalprocessing speed, and the capacity to intellectually control simultaneousstimulus designs. These tests are delicate to worldwide mind status yet arenot excessively touchy to minor cerebrum wounds. Halstead-Reitan BatteryA set of tests that looks at language, consideration, engine speed, abstractthinking, memory, and spatial thinking is regularly used to create anoverall appraisal of cerebrum work. Some neuropsychologists use someor the entirety of the first arrangement of tests in this battery. Stroop TestThis brief methodology looks at consideration and mental control. Verbal Fluency (various)There are an assortment of verbal familiarity tests utilized. Each is planned tomeasure the speed and adaptability of points of view. Hooper TestThis methodology looks at capacity to outwardly incorporate data into wholeperceptions. It is a delicate proportion of moderate to serious mind injury. Aphasia Tests (various)Several aphasia and language tests analyze level of competency inreceptive and expressive language abilities. California Verbal Learning TestThis technique analyzes a few parts of verbal learning and memory. Shipley ScaleComparison of jargon information and capacity to make sense of abstractsequential designs has been built up as a delicate measure ofgeneral cerebrum working. Theory

Friday, August 21, 2020

BigCommerce Reviews Everything You Need to Know!

BigCommerce Reviews Everything You Need to Know! .elementor-19992 .elementor-element.elementor-element-19992{text-align:center}Last Updated on March 1, 2020Its difficult to start a conversation about e-commerce platforms without some mention of BigCommerce. The service has a large user base, with over 98,000 sites. Theyve got a feature-packed interface with a lot of positives, and theres plenty of incentive to give them a go.Unfortunately for them, they arent the only ones in the game. Without fail, most discussions will also include mention of their competitor Shopify, with most wanting to know which service to use. Disclosure As an independent review site, we get compensated if you purchase through the referral links or coupon codes on this page â€" at no additional cost to you. Dismiss alert While we cant make the decision for you, we can give you an overview, along with a solid BigCommerce review to help you reach your own conclusion. Lets jump right in and see what theyre all about, shall we?Table of Contents What Is BigComm erce?Who Is BigCommerce For?My BigCommerce ReviewsBigCommerce ProsBigCommerce ConsSo is BigCommerce Comparable to Shopify?BigCommerce Review VerdictWhat Is BigCommerce?The short answer? BigCommerce is an all-in-one e-commerce solution for building online stores. The complete answer, though, should include some more nuance about what that really means.BigCommerce is a website builder that allows individuals with limited web skills to build a complete site with the goal of selling stuff online. You sign up for the service, select a theme, customize the site, and then get busy.To help you make sales, they include tools that aid in tracking inventory, shipping items, and more. Theres a monthly subscription, and depending on which you choose youll have more (or fewer) features comparative to other options.Who Is BigCommerce For?Anyone looking to start an online store. The industry youre in doesnt matter. They have solutions across the board no matter what youre selling.If you already hav e a physical location and want to expand to online services, youll get plenty of use from BigCommerce. If youve already got an online store and want to migrate to BigCommerce, that works too. Theyve streamlined their transfer process so you can get up and running easily.If you have no experience with web building, youll find Bigcommerce especially helpful. Theyve geared the options towards newcomers and upped the ease-of-use factor to accommodate. Join the FREE TrainingDo You Want To Learn How To Build 6 Figures Authority Sites?Join This Free Training To...Finally have a proven method to finding profitable nichesGet access to a foolproof keyword research methodLearn how to outsource quality contentLearn how to build white hat links to your site without headaches They have themes to make design a snap. They have tools to cover all the day-to-day of running a store:Adding productsManaging inventorySetting pricing rulesPayment processingOffering discounts, coupons, etc.Managing retu rns of defective or unwanted itemsGathering analyticsIdentifying and rewarding loyal customersAnd so on and so forth. Instead of having to worry about the labor-intensive (and soul-crushing) technical aspects, you can do what you do best.Is It Worth A Look?Yes. Well get into specifics during our BigCommerce reviews but know up front that this platform is solid. Ive got no problem recommending it as a 4.5/5 for just about anyone. My BigCommerce ReviewsMy BigCommerce reviews going to cover the main reasons you should be using the service. No product is without fault, though, so were definitely going to inform you of the drawbacks that come with BigCommerce websites too. If youre like most users, youll likely conclude that the platform stands on its merits.BigCommerce ProsFewer Themes, But Increased Functionality.They have less to choose from than Shopify, true. The number of themes they offer is still in the hundreds, however, giving you plenty to play with in the end.Even conceding that the options are marginally fewer, the trade-off is that youre going to be able to do more out-the-gate with a BigCommerce store. What you would require add-ons to achieve with Shopify in many cases comes standard with BigCommerceAbandoned carts, for instance. On Shopify, youll need to engage an app to send emails to clients who left your store without checking out. On BigCommerce, just need to switch on the abandoned cart feature, and youre set.BigCommerce will handle sending out the recovery emails, which, according to them, are rather successful:It recovers 15% of lost revenue on average, and has helped merchants increase sales by up to 50%.Impressive. They also allow you to customize the email templates, change the timing, and sweeten the pot with coupons and deals to increase conversions. Well worth it, and it comes built in.Another big plus that BigCommerce integrates into their themes is shipping and fulfillment. Every seller knows that shipping can be a bane if handled poorly.BigCommerce cuts the hassle by offering up shipping solutions for every store. Theyve even got some upgrades that enhance these abilities further (more on those later).As for the themes themselves, they arent anything to disregard. Like Shopify, they have them separated into free and paid options. These are further broken down into different industries:Animals PetsArts CraftsAutomotive IndustrialBooks EntertainmentElectronics ComputersFashion JewelryFood BeverageGifts SpecialtyHealth BeautyHome GardenSports RecreationToys GamesFrom there, you can browse themes by popularity or chronological order. Its a slick setup that makes it easy to find exactly what you need. When something does catch your eye, simply click on the card to learn more.To give you a better idea of what these themes are all about, lets view a couple of examples. One free, one paid.Fortune Bright is a free theme from the Electronics Computers category. From the description:Fortune is a standout t heme for cutting-edge online stores. Customers will be transfixed by its striking hero area, which puts your imagery on full display, along with its sleek navigation and unique product grid. Ideal for small-to-medium-sized catalogs, Fortune has everything you need to command and convert shoppers.Designs dont come much cleaner and straightforward than this. A big image to attract customer attention? Check. Clearly defined navigation? Check. Theyve even included an option for displaying your best sellers upfront to capitalize on their success.For those looking for something more cutting edge, paid themes like Capacity Bright might fit the bill:Capacity sets a new standard for e-commerce navigation and search functionality. With its customizable mega-navigation, robust product filtering, and unique modular slideshow area, Capacity is powerful enough to handle the largest inventoriesâ€"and look good doing it.Lets break that down. Its making use of a card layout. Its a new-ish web design trend that separates info into easily digestible chunks. The result is a content-heavy display that doesnt feel bloated. You hit your customers with everything that they need in one shot, and theyre none the wiser.The themes continue in this manner. All geared towards looks and utility. You can fine tune them at will, but most require only minimal tweaks to suit your purposes.If you need advanced help, you can work with BigCommerces certified designers. This further removes the hassle from the process. It allows you to concentrate on running your store rather than memorizing all the principles of sound graphic design.All the themes, be they free or paid, have been optimized to show up stunning on mobile devices. You can even check out a preview of how each will look on a smartphone while viewing the theme.Mobile sites work just as well as their desktop counterparts. Theyre streamlined to avoid the higher instances of mobile cart abandonment. You, meanwhile, enjoy this with no extra coding or other work required.This advantage cannot be overstated. More and more, shoppers are doing their browsing and buying on mobile devices. If the experience is seamless, then all is well. If your site shows up wonky on their smartphone, though, theyre likely to bail and consider another option.The bottom line is that BigCommerce front loads all theme options. You get so much up front that in the event you do need to do any upgrades, theyre usually quite minimal.This has the added benefit of reducing the clutter on your site. It looks cleaner, runs smoother, and is an overall better experience for your customers. You spend less effort trying to get the site up to speed because its already there when you first set it up.BigCommerce Apps Offer Highly Significant Functionality Upgrades.Youve likely seen apps with other platforms that provide some incremental improvement. BigCommerce has taken something of an all-in approach with their app store. In their own words:Our marketplac e has an industry-leading selection of third-party apps and integrations, all carefully curated to make sure we only feature the best solutions. You can seamlessly connect your store to the software you need to sell effectively.And it shows. Look at some of these offerings. Remember when we mentioned shipping and fulfillment earlier? One of their primary shipping apps is something called ShipperHQ. BigCommerce has a blurb about it on their app store page, but you have to head over to ShipperHQs official site to get a bigger picture of the applications abilities.Theyve got comprehensive options for helping you calculate and display your shipping rates on your store pages. Theyve got algorithms to help you calculate exactly what you need. Theyve got in-store pickup options. They even include multi-origin and drop shipping capabilities for you guys will several locations or vendors.You check out all the features here, or watch this video to get a better idea of ShipperHQs functionality :You dont just have to take my word for it. Read the BigCommerce customer reviews of ShipperHQ, and youll see why its such a hit:This app does what BigCommerce cant. Charging different customer groups with a unique set of rules. Made our operations run much smoother! They have great customer service!The application aid doesnt just end with shipping. Theyve got options to help you handle complicated operations like accounting too. QuickBooks integration is free and opens up new options for reconciling your accounts.The most prominent? Eliminating manual accounting. You can say goodbye to human-generated error as automatically records your sales, shipping, discounts, etc.BigCommerce even has powerful apps to help you automate your business taxes. Avalara is one of the best, and it comes integrated into the platform. Just activate it in the BigCommerce control panel, and youre all set.Of course, theyve got apps to assist with other store functions as well. If youre checking BigCommerce out, be sure to browse the app store for a better look at all the options.Its easy to navigate. You have your choice of free and paid apps. Just as with the themes, they have things broken out into important categories:AllAccountingAdvertisingAnalyticsCloud integrationCustomer feedbackDrop shippingEmail marketingLive chatMarketingMerchandisingMobileMultichannel listingOrder fulfillmentOrder managementPoint of saleProduct reviewsShippingShopping comparisonSocial mediaSourcing productsSplit testingYou can then differentiate between the popular apps and the new apps at your discretion. The fact that they carefully curate their offerings to only bring you the best stuff is the icing on the cake.You dont have to weed through a bunch of hack apps to find whats good. You dont have to worry about adding something thats going to tank your site because it functions poorly. Just pick out a few critical extra features you need, and they work as advertised.BigCommerce Puts An Emphasis On Multip le Sales Channels.This is a big one right here. Youve got your online store, certainly, but you can only maximize your revenue by targeting all the outlets. BigCommerce makes it easy to make sales in more way than one.For in-person sales, they offer integration with Square. If you didnt already know, thats one of the leading Point Of Sale systems on the market. This allows you to coordinate your online and offline efforts seamlessly.BigCommerce allows you to link up with other marketplaces to sell your wares. This includes eBay, Amazon, Etsy, and more. Theyve got apps that let you manage your efforts across these sites. They even have a ChannelAdvisor with the sole purpose of giving you an overview of the hundreds of outlets you can use.Finally, they also help you with merging social media into your efforts. FaceBook and Pinterest are the hottest tickets and integrated right into the BigCommerce platform. As they tell it, BigCommerce allows you to:Sell your entire product catalog on the Shop section of your Facebook Page.This augments your sales abilities far beyond simply selling on your website, and adds up to more income for you in the long run.BigCommerce Is Serious About Conversions.We mentioned their abandoned cart saver earlier. Thats only part of the equation. BigCommerce goes all-out in giving you what you need to make more sales.Well go more into payment options momentarily, but the PayPal One Touch feature is one such conversion tool. Boiling the purchase process into one-click drastically improves sales. No hassle means customers are more likely to spend at your store.BigCommerce offers features like discounts, coupons, product reviews, and more. These all combine to incentivize your potential buyers. You can boost confidence in your store, and in turn, boost your revenue.BigCommerce Lets You Use Plenty Of Payment Options.Giving you more ways to process payments expands the versatility of your store. PayPal, Square, Stripe and more are available wh en you make a BigCommerce store.BigCommerce even has a relationship worked out with PayPal to help reduce the associated credit card processing fees. You can check out the whole listing here. The more expensive your plan with BigCommerce, the better the deal they get you with PayPal. Normal PayPal transactions remain the same across the board, however.BigCommerce Doesnt Hit You With Transaction Fees.In addition, BigCommerce doesnt have any of their own transaction fees tacked on. Some other e-commerce platforms will wet their beaks with your sales revenue, but BigCommerce doesnt.BigCommerce Incorporates Hosting.If youre not up to date on all your web skills, this will be a major save. Instead of spending a bunch of time looking up domain and hosting services, you can just do it all through BigCommerce. Again, this allows you the freedom to concentrate on the business aspects of your business.They offer unlimited bandwidth. This means you can keep the customers rolling in without wor rying about going over any traffic limits.They keep everything secure so your customers can feel safe shopping with you. They regularly update their security measures and even back up your data automatically just in case something goes awry.BigCommerce Offers Support.Like any company worth their salt, BigCommerce wants users to succeed. To that end, they offer a host of resources for you to draw on.Theres the Support Portal, which offers upfront answers 24/7. You can pose a question to the expansive BigCommerce community. You can view the topics that they have already covered and learn a great deal just from hanging out in the background there.If you want to take your BigCommerce skills to the next level, you can check out the wealth of official BigCommerce documentation. They have info on configuring your store, running your store, marketing your store, and more.There are BigCommerce guides, with more tips on getting up and running. Theres also a BigCommerce University. This, I fee l, is one of the most helpful resource libraries out there.The University consists of tons of videos that break down all the e-commerce topics you might conceive in visual terms. If you learn better by looking at stuff, then these are definitely the way to go.If all that isnt enough, theyve one last cherry on top. The BigCommerce partners. These are the crème de la crème of designers, developers, and marketers. They offer their extensive knowledge up to you so that you can make better choices with your shop, and ultimately rise to the top as a seasoned BigCommerce user all your own.BigCommerce ConsBigCommerce Pricing Is Higher.We told you there were a few flaws, and wed be remiss among BigCommerce.com reviews if we didnt mention them. The pricing structure is among the drawbacks. Its higher than what youd pay elsewhere. Take a lookBigCommerce Standard: $29.95/monthBigCommerce Plus: $79.95/monthBigCommerce Pro: $199.95/monthBigCommerce Enterprise: Call us, and well let you knowTher es also the fact that youre limited to a yearly sales cap with each plan. Exceed your limit, and theyre bumping you up to the next level to get some more cash out of you.BigCommerce Standard: Up to $50kBigCommerce Plus: Up to $125kBigCommerce Pro: Up to $1mBigCommerce Enterprise: UnlimitedOf course, proponents would argue that youre getting a lot with each level, and there are no transaction fees. In the end, the higher pricing plans may well be justified. Youll have to take a close look and make that determination for yourself.Even so, the pricing is really the only knock against BigCommerce. Check out as many BigCommerce reviews as youd like. There might be minor quibbles here and there, but most of those are looking at past versions of the platform. In its current form, BigCommerce has tightened up their game to a whole new level.So is BigCommerce Comparable to Shopify?Absolutely. Theres no doubt that Shopify has more users. Theres no doubt that they generate more sales because o f that. When youre just looking at features, though, BigCommerce matches them note for note across the board.Not as many themes, you say? No problem. What they do offer is top notch, and you can call on their experts to help tweak it just the way you need it. Different pricing structure? True, but no transaction fees, and way more upfront functionality.If you want to see how they compare for yourself, you can always make use of both services trial periods and come to a personal conclusion.BigCommerce Review VerdictBigCommerce is a big hit whether youre just starting a store or if youre looking to expand or move your existing one. Its somewhat different than its chief competitor, Shopify, but different does not equal inferior.It can stand toe-to-toe with the big boys of e-commerce, and depending on your needs, might even be the superior option for your situation.There are drawbacks, sure, but overall, BigCommerce stands on its own two feet and offers more than enough for users to get behind. I highly recommend giving it a go. You can check out their 15-day trial option and see if their features offer the solutions you need for your online business.

Monday, May 25, 2020

The Gullah or Geechee Community

The Gullah people of South Carolina and Georgia have a fascinating history and culture. Also known as the Geechee, the Gullah are descended from African slaves who were prized for their ability to grow crucial crops such as rice. Due to geography, their culture was largely isolated from white society and from other slave societies. They are known for having preserved a tremendous amount of their African traditions and language elements. Today, approximately 250,000 people speak the Gullah language, a rich mixture of African words and the English that was spoken hundreds of years ago. The Gullah are currently working to ensure that future generations and the general public know about and respect the Gullah past, present, and future. Geography of the Sea Islands The Gullah people inhabit many of the one hundred Sea Islands, which stretch along the Atlantic Ocean coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida. These marshy tidal and barrier islands have a humid subtropical climate. Sea Island, St. Helena Island, St. Simons Island, Sapelo Island, and Hilton Head Island are some of the most important islands in the chain. Enslavement and Atlantic Voyage Eighteenth-century plantation owners in South Carolina and Georgia wanted slaves to work on their plantations. Because growing rice is a very difficult, labor-intensive task, plantation owners were willing to pay high prices for slaves from the African Rice Coast. Thousands of people were enslaved in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola, and other countries. Before their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, the slaves waited in holding cells in Western Africa. There, they began to create a pidgin language to communicate with people from other tribes. After their arrival in the Sea Islands, the Gullah blended their pidgin language with the English spoken by their masters. Immunity and Isolation of the Gullah The Gullah grew rice, okra, yams, cotton, and other crops. They also caught fish, shrimp, crabs, and oysters. Gullah had some immunity to tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever. Because plantation owners did not have immunity to these diseases, they moved inland and left the Gullah slaves alone in the Sea Islands for much of the year. When the slaves were freed after the Civil War, many Gullah bought the land that they worked on and continued their agricultural way of life. They remained relatively isolated for another one hundred years. Development and Departure By the mid-20th century, ferries, roads, and bridges connected the Sea Islands to the mainland United States. Rice was also grown in other states, reducing the rice output from the Sea Islands. Many Gullah had to change their way of earning a living. Many resorts have been built in the Sea Islands, causing lingering controversy over ownership of the land. However, some Gullah now work in the tourism industry. Many have left the islands for higher education and employment opportunities. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke Gullah as a child. The Gullah Language The Gullah language has developed over four hundred years. The name Gullah probably derives from the Gola ethnic group in Liberia. Scholars have debated for decades over classifying Gullah as a distinct language or merely a dialect of English. Most linguists now regard Gullah as an English- based Creole language. It is sometimes called Sea Island Creole. The vocabulary is comprised of English words and words from dozens of African languages, such as Mende, Vai, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. The African languages also greatly influenced Gullah grammar and pronunciation. The language was unwritten for much of its history. The Bible was recently translated into the Gullah language. Most Gullah speakers are also fluent in standard American English. Gullah Culture The Gullahs of the past and present have an intriguing culture that they deeply love and want to preserve. Customs, including storytelling, folklore, and songs, have been passed down through generations. Many women make crafts like baskets and quilts. Drums are a popular instrument. The Gullahs are Christians and attend church services regularly. Gullah families and communities celebrate holidays and other events together. The Gullah enjoy delicious dishes based on the crops they traditionally grew. Great efforts have been made to preserve the Gullah culture. The National Park Service oversees the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. A Gullah Museum exists on Hilton Head Island. Firm Identity The story of the Gullahs is very important to African-American geography and history. Its interesting that a separate language is spoken off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. The Gullah culture will undoubtedly survive. Even in the modern world, the Gullah are an authentic, unified group of people that deeply respect their ancestors values of independence and diligence.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart - 2424 Words

Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe (Published 1958) 1. Setting a. The novel takes place in the villages of Umuofia and Mbanta of the Igbo tribe in Nigeria at the turn of the 19th Century. It is a place where power and respect is important to the people of the tribe, as well as to the white men that invade their lives. b. This relates to the time period in which it was written because it is right when the Europeans began to expand and initiated their imperial quest through many places including Africa. c. The culture of the villages and the tribe of Igbo is especially significant to the setting because it shows that there was a life before the Europeans converted the Africans to Christianity and â€Å"civilized† them. 2. Plot a. Okonkwo is a respected leader of the Igbo tribe. He works hard and does not like to show emotion other than anger because his father, Unoka, was very lazy and not reputable. There is a dispute with another village where a woman is accidently killed, and Umuofia demands a virgin and a young man in place of a war. Okonkwo brings back Ikemefuna and takes him into his home under instructions from the village. The boy becomes like a son to him, but when it is time, Okonkwo kills him for fear of being seen as weak. Later, Okonkwo accidentally kills a young boy at a funeral, but he is exiled for seven years. While he is away in Mbanta, the Europeans arrive at Umuofia and begin to convert the Igbo people to Christianity. Just as Okonkwo returns to his village,Show MoreRelatedChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1719 Words   |  7 PagesThings fall apart is a classic novel written around the turn of the century, the novel focuses on the protagonist who we can also call a hero, Okonkwo. Okon kwo is a wealthy and respected leader within the Igbo tribe of Umuofia in eastern Nigeria. Strong individual with a passionate belief in all the values and traditions of his people. Chinua Achebe presents Okonkwo as a particular kind of tragic protagonist, a great man who carries the fate of his people. Okonkwo is a man who is inflexible andRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1033 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Chinua Achebe is a famous Nigerian novelist in worldwide. Things fall apart is Chinua Achebe’s first novel published in 1958, the year after Ghana became the first African nation to gain independence. And this novel is one of the first African novels to gain worldwide recognition. (Phil Mongredien, 2010) This novel presents people a story of an African Igbo tribal hero, Okonkwo, from his growth to death. The fate of Okonkwo also indicates the fate of Africa caused by the colonizationRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart883 Words   |  4 Pagesdehumanize the native population and convince themselves that they are helping. Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart attempts to correct these misguided views of African societies by portraying a more complex culture that values peace, and the art of conversation. Achebe also tries to portray the idea that not all European people they come in contact with are aggressive, and misconstrued in their view of the African societ ies. Achebe tries to show us the value of his society through repeated views into conversationsRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1410 Words   |  6 PagesTeddy Manfre Ms. Blass ENG 209-001 April 24, 2017 Things Fall Apart In 1958, Chinua Achebe a famous Nigerian author publishes one of his most famous novels Things Fall Apart. The novel takes place in a Nigerian village called Umuofia. During the time that this novel is published Nigeria is being criticized by the Europeans for being uncivilized. In response, Achebe uses his brilliance in this novel to express the valued history of his people to his audience. His focus in the novel is on the pre-colonizedRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1015 Words   |  5 PagesIn his novel Things Fall Apart, author Chinua Achebe utilizes his distinctive writing style in order to accurately capture the culture and customs of the Igbo people despite writing his story in a foreign language. Five aspects of Achebe’s style that make his writing unique is the straightforward diction present in dialogue, the inclusion of native parables convey Igbo life authentically, the inclusion of native Igbo words and phrases, detailed descriptions of nature and the usage of figurative languageRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1702 Words   |  7 PagesTitle: Things Fall Apart Biographical information about the author: Chinua Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930. He had an early career as a radio host, and later became the Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nigeria. After moving to America, he became an English professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Achebe has won numerous awards for his poetry and fiction, including the Man Booker prize and Commonwealth Poetry Price. He currently teaches at Bard College. Author: Chinua AchebeRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1347 Words   |  6 PagesCulture is an Important Element of Society Chinua Achebe is the author of when Things Fall Apart while Joseph Conrad authored Heart of Darkness. Conrad and Achebe set their individual titles in Africa; Achebe is an African writer whereas Conrad is Polish-British. The authors draw strength from their backgrounds to validity the authenticity of their fictional novels. Conrad writes from his experiences in the British and French navies while Achebe uses his African heritage. The theme of culture isRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1248 Words   |  5 PagesChris Lowndes Ms. Cook A.P.L.C. 21 October 2015 We Are Family: Hardships in One s Family in Things Fall Apart Specific attributes correlate with each other to help create or not create the ideal strong family. However, through those attributes arise conflicts and major disputes. This issue of trying to achieve and create a strong family is of immense importance in one’s life, especially in Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, a milestone in African literature. For instance, the father leaves his legacyRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1682 Words   |  7 Pagescertain degree of the priest class, libation, holidays, creation stories, divine systems of punishments and rewards. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a story of tragic fall of a protagonist and the Igbo culture. Achebe demonstrates different examples and situations of where an African culture, in the instances of tribal religions, did certain things because of their tradition is and the way they developed into. African cultures pondered life mysteries and articulated theirRead Mo reChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1314 Words   |  6 PagesChinua Achebe masterpiece â€Å"Things Fall Apart† (1959) is the classic story of Okonkwo, a young man who strives to be revered by his village and family but because of his own internal character flaws meets his own demise. In the Igbo culture, family traditions are an important narrative throughout the novel. Okonkwo, the protagonist character of this story, begins with many attributes of what would be concluded as a hero with his cultural society. He is hard working, a material provider, feared and

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

A Comparison of Ozymandias by Percy Shelley and Suddan...

Compare and contrast Ozymandias and Saddam Hussein. The poem, written by Percy Shelley, Ozymandias is a Petrarchan sonnet compared to the second article labelled ‘Symbolic in more ways than one’ is actually a news article. This is shown through the piece as it contains a date ‘Thursday 10 April 2003, structure and content, the content is more modern so the audience know that when the subject is addressed, it will be serious rather than humorous. Ozymandias is a sonnet (a poem of 14 lines), although it doesnt have the same, simple rhyme scheme or punctuation that most sonnets have. Some lines are split by full stops and the rhyme is irregular at times. It is written in iambic pentameter, which Shakespeare used widely in his plays and†¦show more content†¦This is done through a narrative perspective to put emphasis on time and how it weakens. The newspaper article however is retelling the true life events on what happened over there, to show the views of some people towards the Saddam Husseins statue which th ey feel as its really him. This is mixed with humour however, this shows how symbolic the statue was, but its more serious than the poem as it gives a detailed description of what happened rather than using loads of similes which could mix up the message they want to get across. Both pieces overall reveal what power has done to individuals, that even though they had it all, it will come to an end, no matter how hard they try to make a difference, then they will be mocked for it as they werent supreme beings, they just had a very closed minded view of the world. The poem has a phrase near the end which says ‘Nothing besides remains’. This highlights the message of the poem, which is basically saying that this statue of Ozymandias has no power and this is what remains of him. This shows that the writers view on power is that there is more power from the sculptor, as he is more recognised for his/her good craftsmen ship of the statue rather than the person it is based on, that after all of this time, the sculptor has more of an effect than Ozymandias has. Unlike the poem, the news article contains humour and is not as serious some times as the writings by Shelly, this is to show how stupid those

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Stock Picks Essay Example For Students

Stock Picks Essay Term PaperBefore I recommend a security, it is necessary for me to establish a few assumptions about the nature of my investment perspective. I am 22 years of age and therefore am less averse to risk. Therefore, my investment time horizon is very long due to my age. My first stock pick is based upon the previous assumptions and also the following one; Economic activity proceeds at a brisk rate as in 1999. Since this would indicate a bull market, I would choose a stock in the technology sector. I choose Gateway, ticker symbol (GTW). In the months to come, this company will start flooding the market with what is known as Internet Appliances, or IA’s. These are inexpensive network computers with the network being the Internet. They will cater to consumers who want Web access but don’t want the cost, technical problems, and maintenance that comes with a PC. However. That doesn’t necessarily mean PC’s are going away in the foreseeable future Gateway plans on making profit from these IA’s by signing deals with communications giants like America Online to be ISP’s. GTW recently traded at $56 a share, with a P/E of 30.6. This equals an EPS of $1.83. In my next stock-pick, I still presume the assumptions in the first paragraph, and also I need to make a different assumption; Continued economic growth leads to an inflationary environment in 2000. For these economic conditions, I feel United Technologies Corporation, symbol (UTX), is an appropriate stock. One of the 30 stocks on the Dow Jones Industrials, United Technologies Corporation, based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the building systems and aerospace industries. Those products include Pratt Whitney aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines; Carrier heating, air conditioning and refrigeration; Otis elevator, escalator and people movers; Hamilton Sundstrand aerospace and industrial products; Sikorsky helicopters and International Fuel Cells power systems. In the news May 3, 2000, â€Å" Otis Elevator Co. landed a contract Tuesday worth more than $8 million to supply 31 elevators to the Hearst Tower building in Charlotte, N.C.† This is indicative of the activity this company will have into the future time horizon of the next few months. Thus being a blue-chip stock, it has been relatively stable the past few years as compared to the SP 500. In fact it has outperformed it consistently the past 5 years. The following graph indicates this point. As of April 28, 2000, UTX was trading at $62.19. In April of 1990, UTX was trading at around $13.65 a share. So by judging from the stability of this company one would expect, and rightfully so, this company to pay dividends. The last quarter ( Q 1 2000) will pay a dividend of $.20. In times of recession, a stock paying a regular dividend will appreciate in price. With UTX being at its 52-week low about a month ago at $46.50, the capital gains could at least be expected in the next couple of weeks. Interestingly enough, its 52-week high was almost exactly 52 weeks ago on May 11, 1999, at $75.97. Its P/E was 20.06 on April 28, 2000. This translates into an EPS of $3.10. UTX had a 17 percent increase in first quarter diluted earnings per share to $0.74 versus $0.63 in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share means all convertible securities and warrants are assumed to be exercised when they are reported in the companies’ financial statements. At the end of quarter 1, 2000, net income was $377 million, 22 percent above the $308 million reported in 1999. Revenues for the quarter were $6.4 billion, 17 percent higher than the prior year. Debt to capital ended the quarter at 38 percent, unchanged from the end of 1999. This is a favorable indicator, since increasing this ratio naturally indicates increased debt. I feel UTX is a generally wise purchase all around if you are looking for a generally safe stock. Its beta is .94, which means it is less volatile than the market and less subject to dramatic price fluctuations. I had the opportunity to have a tour of Sikorsky Aircraft located in Stratford, CT, as my Uncle is employed there. Sikorsky, which is a division of UTX, is a defense contractor. During periods of inflation, a period of recession is sure to follow. Defense stocks are desirable to have in one’s portfolio during recessions, and the time to buy them would be before a recession, hence purchase during inflationMy final stock pick once again as sumes the aforementioned circumstances in the first paragraph and one other: Year 2000 computer problems lead to a deep recession in 2000. If it is in fact the middle of a deep recession, you are probably most concerned about meeting those expenses necessary for sustenance. If, however, a stock were needed to be purchased now in anticipation of a deep recession, I would buy any blue-chip stock. Since I must pick one, I think Enron ( symbol ENE) is a relatively stable choice. Enron is in the natural gas and power market. Since the recent rise in prices of petroleum products, natural gas is looking more and more attractive. They also happen to be building a 20,000 mile fiber optic communication system with Sun Microsystems. As of January 28, 2000. Its price was $64.88 with a P/E of 43.6. Those numbers rose to $76 and a P/E of 62 on May 3, 2000. That is already a substantial increase in the first quarter of 2000. However, I feel the stock is undervalued. Fiber optics will be increasing in demand in the next few years once broadband width is increased. With a head start ENE has in size and reach, this stock will be one to hold onto, even if a recession is to hit. Since it is in natural gas already, with a growth rate of 17% per year, those numbers are in fact only based on that sector of industry. Where it will emerge as a real winner will be in fiber optics as I already mentioned. I feel the price does not reflect that too accurately. .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 , .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 .postImageUrl , .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 , .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857:hover , .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857:visited , .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857:active { border:0!important; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857:active , .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857 .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u49d1ca02f9294eee67fe7b4128a05857:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Pornography - Its Place In Our Society EssayBusiness

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Strength and Weakness of Thoreau’s Argument Essay Example

Strength and Weakness of Thoreau’s Argument Essay In the essay â€Å"Slavery in Massachusetts† Thoreau explains weaknesses of slavery and underlines importance of antislavery legislations and equal rights. The style of Thoreau is marked by unique vision of reality and slavery, causes of the problem and possible solutions. It is possible to say that his class location and background had a great impact on his views and ideas expressed in this essay. The main argument is that compromise between the states is impossible because the North, including Massachusetts, was guilty in sufferings and hardship of black people supporting unjust laws and false social norms. The strength of Thoreau’s argument is that the North did nothing to abolish the slavery. He writes: â€Å"Every moment that she hesitated to set this man free, every moment that she now hesitates to atone for her crime, she is convicted† (Thoreau). Thoreau claims that a policy of silence can be seen as a crime which supports slavery and oppression. As the most important, Thoreau recognizes the role of the North in economic development of the nation and its impact on slavery. The other strength is recognition of unjust laws. He explains that segregation laws are unjust, and for this reason they should eliminated and abolished. These arguments are crucial for the essay because they explain principles and social rules of a free society. The author hints that it is hardly appropriate for a body of law ostensibly operating throughout the realm that it should be applied in different ways according to the vagaries of local custom or the personal preferences of judges. Also, he underlines that as principles of law became part of the common learning of the legal profession, their misapplication became so insupportable that procedures had to be devised to secure compliance and to resolve doubts. We will write a custom essay sample on Strength and Weakness of Thoreau’s Argument specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Strength and Weakness of Thoreau’s Argument specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Strength and Weakness of Thoreau’s Argument specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The main weakness of the argument is that the North could not solve all the problems faced by African-Americans. The Southern states were also responsible for slavery exploiting millions of slaves in agriculture and mines. New factories needed more raw materials for production, and South planters were interested in bigger sown areas requiring more slaves. It was a well known fact that industry is influenced greatly by the agriculture, and the South. Another weakness is that Thoreau does not recognize role and importance of legislation and its impact on the institution of slavery: â€Å"the law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free† (Thoreau). In reality, laws and legislation can make men free stipulating legal norms and social relations. He does not take into account that the Constitution grants the right to the populace, and no doubt that in society the main role is featured to democracy and liberty. Law of that kind is, in the first place, mor e akin to custom, in the sense that the rules provide guidance but may be diverged from with impunity in particular cases. Another weakness is that Thoreau diminishes the role of government and impact of ideology on society. He states: â€Å"A government which deliberately enacts injustice, and persists in it, will at length even become the laughing-stock of the world† (Thoreau). For the majority of whites, slavery was not seen as injustice and discrimination. In sum, the article illustrates slavery through the lens of social, legal and moral judgments. The main strengths of the arguments are that the North did nothing to abolish the slavery, the policy of silence worsened this problem, identification of unjust laws. The main weaknesses are that the North alone could not solve this problem, inadequate analysis of the role of the government and law marking. Works Cited Thoreau, H.D. n.d. Slavery in Massachusetts. 04 June 2007 http://www.4literature.net/Henry_David_Thoreau/Slavery_in_Massachusetts/

Monday, March 9, 2020

Austria essays

Austria essays The reason I choose this topic is because I might have some Austrian in my family. I thought that it would be cool to figure out some things about this country and also check if they are bad or good. In this article, they talk about a lot of things and how they think that the U.S looks at them like Barbarians and other interesting facts. The Atlantic Journal the Atlantic constitution; Atlantic, Ga.; Feb 13, 2000; Bert Roughton Jr.; Haider, 50, leads the populist right Freedom Party, which in recent days was installed as a coalition partner in Austria's new Government. This has caused a lot of drama in the country of Austria. A lot of people are raging around in Vienna. The police are dressed up in Riot gear because of the raging on the streets. Gargle says "It's crazy, he sits around with a beer in one hand and a Cuban cigar in the other. Two thirds of the people didn't even vote for him. What is an average Austrian to do?" The formation of this coalition caused outrage across Europe, where the freedom party is viewed as something between neo-Nazis and conventional U.S Republican conversations. While all this stuff was stirring in Vienna, on Thursday European rabbis said they would move a planned meeting from Vienna. One of the men in charge Joerg Haider is unacceptable to the European family of nations. Aba Dunner, secretary general of the conference of European Rabbis, told a Slovakian newspaper. The thoughts of the Holocaust, Hitler and SS and concentration camps are not acceptable at the start of a new century and never can be, since we know exactly what they led to in the 30's and 40's. In Switzerland, where the right-wing People's party captured 22.5 percent of the vote in the last election, European governments that opposed Haider were condemned as meddling. One poll showed half the Swiss opposed the action by the EU members. However the government goes at all this, Haider's su ...

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Property Law and Express Trust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Property Law and Express Trust - Essay Example An occupier under license has no right to remain in the property and can be removed very quickly. Here it is to be noted that the main characteristics which differentiate an agreement as lease or license are exclusive possession of the property, period of occupancy and time span of serving notices. In Radaich v Smith(1), it was decided that exclusive possession provides 'the proper touchstone' of a lease or tenancy, asserting that anything which negated an occupier's right to exclusive possession, meant no lease existed, simply a license. The aspect of "exclusive possession of the property was explained in the recent and famous case Street Vs Mount ford (2) as" the crucial determinant of whether a lease or license exists is whether or not the person has been granted exclusive possession of premises. " In the given case, Botolphs investments gave Micawber the only the right to use the ground unit or room of the building for certain purposes, not the exclusive possession of whole building. Here, the provisions in the agreement do not confer any exclusive possession of room on Micawber. If the agreement is lease, Micawber entitled to have possession of whole building. Moreover there can be a question arises regarding the time period of occupancy. ... A license gives someone access to and the use of whatever rooms (or equipment) the owner gives them license to use, but does not give a right to use that space exclusively. An occupier under license has no right to remain in the property and can be removed very quickly. 2Here it is to be noted that the main characteristics which differentiate an agreement as lease or license are exclusive possession of the property, period of occupancy and time span of serving notices.In Radaich v Smith(1), it was decided that exclusive possession provides 'the proper touchstone' of a lease or tenancy, asserting that anything which negated an occupier's right to exclusive possession, meant no lease existed, simply a license. The aspect of "exclusive possession of the property was explained in the recent and famous case Street Vs Mount ford (2) as" the crucial determinant of whether a lease or license exists is whether or not the person has been granted exclusive possession of premises. " In the given case, Botolphs investments gave Micawber the only the right to use the ground unit or room of the building for certain purposes, not the exclusive possession of whole building. Here, the provisions in the agreement do not confer any exclusive possession of room on Micawber. If the agreement is lease, Micawber entitled to have possession of whole building.Moreover there can be a question arises regarding the time period of occupancy. Here Micawber occupied the unit in November 2002, and the occupancy will be determined as per the notice on October 2007. But

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Discussion prompt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Discussion prompt - Essay Example When I previously thought of Vodou, of course the dolls came into my mind first. I thought of practitioners of Vodou were like witch doctors. I thought of it more as a witchcraft type of religion. I can presume that my opinion of this religion was based only on what I had learned from the media, primarily in movies. I had stereotyped the religion and thought of it as a practice with male hierarchy who worked in the Bayou in Louisiana. That is simply not the case with Mama Lola as a priestess of Vodou. She is everything that is good and is very welcoming to the people who need help. Mama Lola is actually one of the most well-known priestesses in Vodou. She learns from the spirit what people’s problems are. Anyone can come to her regardless of their own religion, status, class, ethnicity or some other classification. She teaches more about Vodou to others and she is strong in her belief system. She simply wants to help others based on what she has learned from the philosophies of the religion of Vodou and the worship of the spirits. Much of Vodou is practiced through various traditions such as songs and chants. It is not through the use of Vodou dolls. Mama Lola introduces the humanism and spiritualism that are intertwined within the practice of her religion. Any theology about Vodou that I previously assumed was void. Her religion is a lifestyle and it her entire life encompasses the belief. Vodou actually encompasses more than what meets the eye as well. As long as she has a faith in what she is doing and is able to practice and help others, she is doing what she truly believes she was put on this earth to do. That is what I believe religion actually is now. I think it is finding a way to discover a meaning to life and making it count for something. We may never know our purpose here on earth but through religion, we can look at the bigger picture. No one way could be the right way but as long as we have some

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Characteristics Of Major Agro Ecological Zones Environmental Sciences Essay

Characteristics Of Major Agro Ecological Zones Environmental Sciences Essay Africa is a very large continent with extremely wide range of soils (Bationo et al., 2006). The soils range from shallow with meager life-sustaining capacities to deeply weathered profiles that recycle and support large biomass. In many parts of Africa, inappropriate land use, poor management and lack of inputs have led to soil erosion, salinization and loss of vegetation resulting in a decline of agricultural productivity (Bationo et al., 2006). In Africa and particularly Southern Africa, the most limiting factor to agricultural productivity is soil fertility (Ramaru et al., 2000). Soil fertility is defined as a condition of the soil that enables it to provide nutrients in adequate amounts and in proper balance for the growth of specified plants when other growth factors, such as light, water, temperature, and physical, chemical and biological conditions of soil, are favorable (van der Watt and van Rooyen, 1995). Large areas of sub-Saharan African (SSA) soils, in particular, are affected by various types of degradation, including fertility decline (FAO, 2001). Soil fertility decline is a deterioration of chemical, physical and biological soil properties. The main contributing processes, besides soil erosion, are: decline in organic matter and soil biological activity; degradation of soil structure and loss of other soil physical qualities; reduction in availability of major nutrients (N, P, K) and micro-nutrients; and increase in toxicity, due to acidification or pollution (FAO, 2001). Soils in most of SSA have inherently low fertility and do not receive adequate nutrient replenishment (FAO, 2001). The SSA has the lowest mineral fertilizer consumption, about 10 kg nutrients (N, P2O5, K2O)/ha per year, compared to the world average of 90 kg, 60 kg in the Near East and 130 kg/ha per year in Asia (Stoorvogel and Smaling, 1990). Agricultural growth in sub-Saharan African countries slightly increa sed over the past three decades, although not in line with the high population growth rate (FAO, 2001). Food production per capita in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has declined since the 1970s, in contrast with the increase in Asia and South America (Figure 1.1). Soil productivity in SSA is also constrained by aridity (low rainfall) and acidity (FAO, 2001) (Table 1.1). South Africa has to face high population growth, poverty, accelerated soil degradation and increasing pressure on land (FAO, 1999b) (Table 1.1). Depletion of soil fertility, along with the related problems of weeds, pests, and diseases, is a major biophysical cause of low per capita food production in Africa. This is the result of the breakdown of traditional practices and the low priority given by governments to the rural sector (Sanchez, 1997). The 1996 World Food Summit highlighted sub-Saharan Africa as the remaining region in the world with decreasing food production per capita (Figure 1.1). The worst levels of poverty and malnutrition in the world exist in this region (Sanchez et al., 1997). A team of scientists has identified declining soil fertility as the fundamental agronomic cause for declining food productivity in Africa. A Soil Fertility Initiative for Africa has been created by a group of international organizations including the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Center for Research on Agroforestry (ICRAF), International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), International Fertiliz er Association (IFA), and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Table 1.1: Characteristics of major agro-ecological zones in Africa (FAO, 1986) Figure 1.1: Regional trends in food production per capita (FAO, Statistical Analysis Service, 2000) As the main source of economic activity in SSA is agricultural production, declining soil productivity means not only that less food can be grown but also that production of cash crops for export is endangered (FAO, 1999a). It is therefore essential that production and soils be managed in a sustainable way, so that the present generation is fed and soil conditions are improved to support future generations. The Republic of South Africa covers an area of 121, 9 million ha and has a total population of about 46,6 million people (NDA, 2007). Approximately 83 % of agricultural land in South Africa is used for grazing, while 17 % is cultivated for cash crops. Forestry comprises less than 2 % of the land and approximately 12 % is reserved for conservation purposes (NDA, 2007, Land Type Survey Staff, 1972-2002 Land Type Survey Staff, 1972-2006). Land used for agriculture comprises 81% of the countrys total area, while natural areas account for about 9% (Abstract, 2005). High-potential arable land comprises only 22 % of the total arable land and only about 13 % of South Africas surface area can be used for crop production (NDA, 2007). Slightly more than 1,3 million ha of land is under irrigation. Rainfall is distributed unevenly across the country, with humid, subtropical conditions occurring in the east and dry, desert conditions in the west (NDA, 2007). The most important factor that limits agricultural production is the non-availability of water. Almost 50 % of South Africas water is used for agricultural purposes. Areas of moderate to high arable potential occur mainly in the eastern part of the country, in Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces (Figure 1.2). Scattered patches also occur in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces. Low to marginal potential areas occur in the eastern half of the country and in parts of the Western Cape. Map in Figure 1 shows large areas in the drier parts of South Africa (e.g. south-western Free State; western parts of the Eastern Cape and the North West Province) that are being cultivated, but which are not classified as having any potential for arable agriculture. Repeated crop failure and subsequent abandonment of these less than marginal lands can have important consequences for soil erosion and land degradation in general (Hoffman, M.T. A. Ashwell, 2001). Figure 1.2: The distribution of arable potential land in South Africa (ARC ISCW, 2002). Soil fertility challenges coupled with shortages of rainfall could result in a compounded problem of food shortage and famine. For soil fertility to be sustained, extracted soil nutrients must equal replenished soil nutrients, but in large areas of Africa and other parts of the world, more soil nutrients are extracted than replenished (Ndala and Mabuza, 2006). There is therefore global concern of fertility management especially with the recent increases in food prices. Soil fertility and its management thus have continued to play an important role in farm productivity. Farmers, their advisors, and any growers need to be knowledgeable of the soil properties which have an influence on soil fertility, some of which include soil texture, structure, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, bulk density and pH. These properties also have an influence in determining land capability for agriculture as they are also key indicators for soil quality. Although significant progress has been made in research in developing methodologies and technologies for combating soil fertility depletion, the low adoption rate is a reason for the large difference between farmers yields and potential yields (Bationo et al., 2006). This study thus aims to determine the influence of soil physico-chemistry and clay fraction mineralogy on the fertility status of selected potential uncultivated arable soils of University of Limpopo Experimental farm (Syferkuil) in Limpopo Province. This will encourage expansion of arable agriculture in the area to improve the livelihoods in terms of alleviating food insecurity and poverty. PROBLEM STATEMENT When assessing land for agricultural capabilities, attributes such as slope, stoniness and thickness of the soil stratum are taken into consideration. Soil physico-chemical and soil clay mineralogical properties are often overlooked. Ekosse et al. (2011) showed that these soil physico-chemical and clay mineralogical properties and their compositions play a significant role in suitability of land for arable agriculture. Information on the mineralogy and nutrient status of uncultivated soils in Limpopo Province is lacking, especially of soils found in the communal areas where smallholder agriculture is practiced. Such information is crucial for any strategy that seeks to increase and improve the productivity of cropped or potential arable agricultural land. One important prerequisite of food security is access to land, as more people need to produce their food supplies and make a living from the land. Traditional land management systems are dependent on the availability of sufficient land to allow long fallow periods to maintain soil fertility. When there is no more access to new land, the fallow land has to be used and soil fertility falls. More intensive use of the land also implies that it becomes more prone to soil erosion. To maintain and raise its productivity, new sustainable management measures have to be introduced. As the main source of economic activity in Limpopo Province besides mining is the agricultural production, declining soil productivity not only means less crops is grown but also that, production of cash crops and income are endangered. Vast majority of South Africans, particularly Limpopo residents, buy their staple food from commercial suppliers, rather than growing them themselves (Statistics South Africa, 2009). Rising food prices, particularly of maize and wheat which are the staple diet of the poor in South Africa, pose serious problems for the urban and rural poor as most are net buyers rather than growers of their staple food. Recent information from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (2009) and Heady Fan (2008) suggest that food prices will increase steadily over the next decade even if there are some fluctuations and the occasional drop in prices (Evans, 2009). This therefore poses the need for more expansion of arable land for agriculture so as to improve livelihoods of the poor households. Population pressure and urban expansion seem to be causing the loss of high potential agricultural lands. Hence food demand is rising which leads to food insecurity, thus extension of arable agricultural lands would highly be required. In a recent study, Van Averbeke and Khosa (2007) reported that while income is the most important determinant of household food security in some areas around Limpopo Province, food obtained from various types of dry-land agriculture contributed significantly to household nutrition. They argue that without farming the food security of these households would be reduced, especially for the ultra-poor. The land is used beyond its capability, the type of usage would not be sustainable and the land degradation would result. Equally important is the fact that if land is used below its true capability then the full economic potential of the use of the land would not be realized. Although little production increase has taken place at the Experimental farm (Syferkuil farm), which has been obtained by cultivation of poor and marginal lands, the productivity of most existing lands has been ignored. With population continuing to increase in the area and the country as a whole, the need to take note of the fallow or abundant lands on the farm has become more important. Improving soil fertility could trigger rural and national economic development, achieve long-term food security and improve farmers standards of living, while mitigating environmental and rural migration. Thus, rectifying land degradation and enhancing productivity through appropriate soil management and conservation can play a major role in achieving farm household food security and agricultural development in the area. This research will therefore contribute to the existing database on the physico-chemistry and mineralogy of agricultural soils of Limpopo Province, particularly those at Syferkuil farm. It will also assist farmers and individuals around the area with information and awareness on the fertility status and capability of the soils in their community, so they can initiate agricultural activities on those lands which are left fallow or abundant. 1.3. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study is to determine the soil physico-chemistry, clay mineralogy and fertility status of selected uncultivated arable soils within the University Of Limpopo Experimental Farm Of Capricorn District in Limpopo Province, with the view of identifying additional potential arable lands for agriculture in the region. 1.4. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY To determine physico-chemical properties of selected uncultivated and cultivated soils on the farm and their influence on soil fertility. To determine the clay mineralogical composition of the selected uncultivated and cultivated soils on the farm and their influence on soil fertility. To determine the chemistry of the selected uncultivated and cultivated soils on the farm and their influence on soil fertility. To determine the fertility index of the selected uncultivated and cultivated soils on farm and their influence on soil fertility. To uncover and understand the role of soil physico-chemical and clay mineralogical properties influencing the fertility of the selected soils on the farm. RESEARCH QUESTIONS These questions will assist in attaining the objectives of the study: What are the physico-chemical properties of the selected soils? What is the clay mineralogical composition of the selected soils? What is the chemical composition of the selected soils? What is the fertility index of the selected soils? Do the soil physico-chemical and clay mineralogical properties affect the fertility status of the selected soils on the farm for sustainable agriculture? HYPOTHESES This research will be guided by the following hypotheses: Most potential uncultivated arable lands on the farm could be used to expand and improve agricultural yields. Soil physico-chemical and clay mineralogical properties with their influence on soil fertility are key indicators for sustainable agriculture. 1.7. RATIONALE OF THE STUDY South Africa has a wide range of soils of different physico-chemical and clay mineralogical composition. Limpopo Province alone has a diversity of soils and climatic conditions permitting a variety of different forms of agriculture, (White Paper on Agriculture, 1995). In support of food security and self preservation, it is now strategically important for any area to have available information on the relative suitabilities of their soils for agriculture, so that preference may be given for the land more suitable for agriculture. In this process, it is important to know the relative quality of the land so that its use can be regulated in accordance with the suitability of the particular soils. Local farmers have always relied on the agricultural research output and extension from Syferkuil experimental farm since their climate, and the soils they farm on developed from the same parent material as the ones at Syferkuil. The surrounding farm community and authorities of the area, will therefore benefit from this study by obtaining information on the physico-chemistry and clay mineralogy of their soils as well as the soils relative suitability for agriculture. Economically, capability classification of the soils in Mankweng area can assist in encouraging the authorities toward initiation of the various farming systems on the identified potential arable lands. In this way individual soils could be best utilized for the types of agricultural production for which they are best and most economically suited. 1.8. STUDY AREA The location, topography, climate, vegetation, soils, geology and hydrology of the area are briefly described below in the subsequent subsections. 1.8.1. Location of the study area Limpopo is South Africas northernmost province, lying within the great curve of the Limpopo River. The province borders the countries of Botswana to the west, Zimbabwe to the north and Mozambique and Swaziland to the east as shown in Figure 1.3 (DBSA, 1998). Limpopo Province is divided into five Municipal districts (Figure 1.3): Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg , which are further divided into 24 local Municipalities (Limpopo Province Natural Resource Maps, 2003). The Province occupies a total surface area of 125  755 km2, about 10.3% of South Africas land area (Limpopo Province Natural Resource Map, 2003).The population is about 5 355  172 which is 11.3% of South African population (Statistics SA, 2003). Syferkuil is the experimental farm of the University of Limpopo (23o49 S; 29o41 E) situated in the Mankweng area, in Capricorn district municipality, South Africa. The farm is 1 650 ha in size (Moshia et al., 2008). Syferkuil experimental farm, for almost 39 years now (Moshia et al., 2008) has served as the main centre of University of Limpopos horticultural, agronomic, and animal production researches, on which both undergraduate and graduate student researches along with hands-on trainings are conducted. The farm is bordered by five populated rural farming communities which are Mamotintane, Ga-Makanye, Ga-Thoka, Solomondale and Mankweng. On this farm, about 25 ha are currently allocated for rain fed crops, 80 ha for irrigated crops, and 40 ha are used for rotation of winter and summer crops. The 80 ha irrigated crops are served by an automated linear move irrigation system (Moshia, 2008). Figure 1.3: Locality Map of the study area Figure 1.4: A scale aerial photograph map (scaled 1: 10 000) of University of Limpopo (Syferkuil)s experimental farm (Moshia et al., 2008) 1.8.2. Land-Use of the study area Limpopo Province constitute a total of 12.3 million hectares land, out of which about 9.24 million ha. is utilized as farmland (LDA, 2002). This 9.24 million hectares of farmland nearly 0.93 million ha. of it is utilized as arable land, 6.68 million ha. as natural grazing, 1.7 million ha. For nature conservation, 0.1 million ha for forestry and for other purposes. Seventy six percent of the arable Land is allocated to dry land (0.7 million ha) cultivation and only 0.223 million ha for irrigation systems. 1.8.3. Geology of the study area The geology of Limpopo is complex and diverse; it varies from Palaeo-Archaean mafic, ultramafic and felsic extrusives to Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and flood basalts (RSA Geological Map series, 1984). The rock formations in the Province can be considered in four main divisions based on time and general homogeneity namely: the Archaean, generally known as the Basal or Fundamental Complex; the Pre-Cambrian, or Algonkian Systems; the Palaeozoic, pre-Karoo Formations; the Mesozoic and the Karoo System. The topography of the region varies from relatively flat areas to mountainous terrain (Barker et al., 2006). Limpopo is rich in minerals with economic value (White Paper on Agriculture, 1995). Predominant minerals in the eastern part of Limpopo include platinum and its group metals, chrome, copper, phosphate and andalusite. The Western side is characterised by platinum, granite, and coal minerals, while diamonds, coal, magnesite, and traces of granite dominate the Northern part of the Province. Mineral resources that are currently being mined in the province are Andalusite, Antinomy, calcite, chrome, clay, coal, copper, diamonds, emeralds, feldspar, fluorspar, gold, granite, limestone, magnesite, manganese, ornamental stone-Slate, phosphate, platinum, salt, sand stone, silica and zinc (Dramstad et al., 1996). 1.8.4. Climate of the study area Limpopo falls in the summer rainfall region with the western part of the Province being semi-arid, and the eastern part largely sub-tropical, (Limpopo Province Natural Resource Maps, 2003). The western and far northern parts of the Province experience frequent droughts. Winter throughout Limpopo is mild and mostly frost-free. The average annual temperatures for the southern to central plateau areas of the province is generally below 20oC; in the Lowveld and northern parts average annual temperatures are above 20oC. The province receives summer rainfall between October and March peaking in January. The mean annual precipitation ranges between 380mm in the North and just over 700mm in parts of the Waterberg (Koch, 2005). The climate of the study site is classified as semi-arid with the annual precipitation of roughly  ±495 mm per annum. The mean annual temperature of 25 ±1oC (max) and 10 ±1oC (min) was common during the years of study. Annually, the farm averages 170 frost-free days extending from late October to mid April. Figure 1.5: Monthly average rainfall as recorded in the Limpopo Province (LDA, 2002) Rainfall data (figure 1.5) indicating that most rainfall occurs between November and March, ranging between 80 mm and 130mm. It should, however, be noted that these figures indicate an average rainfall and lower rainfall can be expected in most districts. 1.8.5. Soils of the study area There are wide varieties of soils that occur in the Province, tending to be sandy in the west, but with more clay content toward the east, (Limpopo Province Natural Resource Maps, 2003). The soils are differentiated based on depth, the nature of diagnostic horizons and parent materials, (FAO, 1999). Those soils are mainly developed on basalt, sandstone and biotite gneiss and are generally of low inherent soil fertility (FAO, 1999). Limpopo Province has diverse soils, however, five major soil associations have been identified, (FAO, 1999): of which Dystrophic, red and yellow, well drained clayed soils are highly leached, clay-like, acidic soils found in the high rainfall areas of Drakensberg and Soutpansberg range. They are rocky, found on steep slopes and are of low fertility. As such, they generally have limited value as arable land but are suitable for afforestation. Red, yellow and grey soils in caternary association are sandy and loamy soils in the 300-600 mm rainfall belt in the western and northwestern part of the Province. They are suitable for arable farming, but generally occur in the low rainfall areas west and north of Thabazimbi, Vaalwater, Lephalale and Polokwane. Black and red clay soils have with varying amounts of rock and lithosol, found in a narrow strip parallel to the eastern border, the Springbok Flats (Settlers and Roedtan) and the southwestern boundary near Dwaalpooort and Derdepoort. Alt hough highly erodible, they are utilized extensively for dryland crops such as cotton and winter cereals. Duplex and paraduplex soils are characterized by topsoil that is distinct from sub-soil with regard to texture, structure and consistency. Major occurrences are in Sekhukhune, south to southwest of Lephalale in Waterberg district, between Louis Trichardt and Tshipise, and sections of Vhembe District near the eastern border. They are generally not utilized as arable land due to high erodibility. Poorly developed soils on rock consist of topsoil overlying rock or weathered rock. They are found to the east of the Drakensberg, including a large section of Mopani District, and east and west of Musina. They tend to be rocky, with shallow soils and therefore generally unsuitable for arable farming. Black and red, fertile clay soils occur on the Springbok Flats, with reddish brown sandy loam to the Northern and Western part of the province, (FAO, 1999). The mountains have deeper, highly leached red soils in wetter areas, with more exposed rock where it is also drier. Reddish brown, gravelly soils, which have a low fertility, predominate on the Lowveld, the best agricultural soils being alluvial soils adjacent to the rivers. The Province has a few high potential areas for dryland crop production and many opportunities for extensive ranching and irrigated fruit and crop production, (Limpopo Province Natural Resource Maps, 2003). 1.8.6. Vegetation of the study area The geographical location, rainfall patterns and varied physical and climatic conditions have given rise to diverse vegetation across the province. The vegetation found in the province have been classified into inland tropical forest; tropical bush and savannah; pure grassveld; and false grassveld types (Development Bank of South Africa, 1998). The inland tropical forests include the northeastern mountain sourveld and Lowveld sour Bushveld types. Tropical bush and savannah comprise the Lowveld, arid Lowveld, Springbok flats turf thornveld, other turf thornveld, arid sweet bushveld, mopani veld, mixed bushveld, sourish mixed bushveld and sour Bushveld types (Limpopo Province Natural Resource Maps, 2003). Pure grassveld types include the northeastern sandy Highveld types. The false grassveld types include the Polokwane plateau false grassveld. 1.8.7. Topography of the study area Limpopo Province has diverse topographic features. In the east is the flat to gently undulating Lowveld plain, at an altitude of 300 to 600 m, bounded in the west by the Northern Drakensberg escarpment and Soutpansberg, with steep slopes and peaks up to the 2000m (LDA, 2002). The almost level Springbok flats in the South lie at an altitude of 900 m, while the Waterberg and Blouberg to the North, with undulating to very steep terrain, reach 2 000 m. The North- Western zone is a flat to undulating plain, which slopes down to the north and west at 800 to 1 000 m. 1.8.8. Hydrology/Water Resources of the study area The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) classifies South Africa as a water-stressed country, prone to erratic and unpredictable extremes such as floods and droughts that reduce land to a dry and arid wasteland (Water Research Commission, 2002). Water resources in South Africa are limited making them critically important for the sustainable economic and social development of the country (Dennis and Nell, 2002). This is one of the reasons why it is important to protect the scarce water resources of the country. Rivers are the main source of water for the country. In the Limpopo Province, there are Four Management Areas namely: Limpopo; Luvubu Letaba; Krokodil Wee Merico and Olifants (NDA, 2000). Applied research on irrigation and fertilizer methods are practiced on the research plots on the farm. There are two 10-ha plots fitted with separate irrigation systems used by researchers and students for research on field crops. 1.8.9. Agricultural activities of the study area The agricultural sector in the province is divided into three broad sub-sectors namely commercial farms, emerging commercial farms and subsistence farms, (Development Bank of South Africa, 1998). The commercial farms fall in the larger farm size category, emerging commercial farms in the medium size and subsistence farms in the smallest size (LDA, 2002). The emerging and subsistence farms are collectively called small-scale farms which are mostly located in the former homelands. The varied climates of Limpopo Province allows it to produce a wide variety of agricultural produce ranging from tropical fruits such as banana, mangoes to cereals such as maize, wheat and vegetables such as tomatoes, onion and potatoes (NDA, 2001). Limpopo Province has large area of land suitable for dry-land production (LDA, 2002). Maize is the staple food of majority of people in Limpopo Province and is largely grown by the different categories of farmers both for household, industrial and animal consumption. On the basis of area and volume of production, it remains the most important cereal grain produced in the Province despite the dry and drought prone agro-ecology of much of the region (LDA, 2002). Climatic variation could lead to variations in maize yields. As a staple food in the Province, maize has a large and stable market and is the most important agricultural product in South Africa (NDA, 2001). 1.9. Summary of chapter The chapter has clearly provided the background of the study outlining the general concept of clay mineral and their influence on soil fertility for crop production. It has also outlined the aims, objectives, research questions, problem statement, rationale and hypothesis of the research project. The map of the study site illustrating the location of the site in Capricorn district municipality and the suitability map of the study site has been provided. The geology, mineralogy, climate, soils and agricultural activities of the study site have also been outlined. The soil physico-chemical and clay mineralogical properties are reviewed in the subsequent chapter.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Shakespeares Presentation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Essay

Shakespeare's Presentation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice This essay is an analysis of how the character of Shylock, in the play 'The Merchant of Venice', is presented to the audience, by Shakespeare, in different ways. The riveting play shows the best and worst aspects of human nature and contains one of Shakespeare's most reviled, complex and compelling characters. Love and romance end this play, yet before that come bigotry, racism, hatred, death threats and money-especially the money. The dramatic courtroom scene and Shylock's cruel downfall will challenge your heart and your sense of justice. Shylock is a successful Jewish moneylender, who is filled with bitter words for the Christians, much prejudiced over his own religion and the practice of moneylenders, such as himself, of charging interest. Shylocks of the past and present have been portrayed in different ways on screen and in the theatre. He has been played by Anthony Sher, John Woodvine, Ralph Richardson, Dustin Hoffman, John Gielgud and Barrie Rutter. Each of the actors has tried to show him in either his best or his worst possible light. In some interpretations of 'The Merchant of Venice', the technique that the directors use is to cut a lot of Shylock's original lines to make him seem less harsh and more undeserving of all the hatred that the people around him give him constantly. In most cases, the intensity of the performances, of the actors playing Shylock, go towards getting his character across to the audience. In the play, religion seems to be inextricably connected with business Shakespeare puts Shylock in a bad situation as soon as his char... ...ery valid observation in that speech. He was trying to point out that humans are all the same, no matter what they believe in, we are all born, living and are eventually going to die in very much the same ways, so why can't he have his revenge? The desire of revenge is almost inseparable from the sense of wrong and we can hardly help sympathising with the Shylock, hidden beneath his "Jewish gabardine," his madness by repeated, undeserved name calling and labouring to get rid of the obstructions, from opportunities and freedom, heaped upon him and all his tribe by one desperate act of 'lawful' revenge. The ferociousness of the means by which he is to carry out his purpose, turn us against him. Even so, when disappointed of the revenge on which he built his hopes and the way he is punished for his actions, we pity him.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Far from Heaven

Todd Haynes renders a delightful yet subtle touch to the theme of racism and heterosexuality in his 2002 award winning movie, Far From Heaven. The movie is set at the backdrop of 1957, a period when racism and orthodox feelings were at its peek in the society. The plot revolves around Cathy Whitaker who is shown as a good wife, good mother and a perfect homemaker.Her husband Frank is an executive at Magnatech. The film starts with the scene when Cathy gets a call from the local police bout her husband who happens to be on the line. He says police mistook him for someone else and they are not leaving him alone. In the sequence of scenes that follows, Frank begins to stay late at office and develops obsession with the other men while Cathy develops love with Raymond Deagan, who is their late gardeners son as well a black man.Meanwhile Franks relationship with Cathy gets strained, and he turns to alcohol. Soon relationship between Cathy and Raymond leads to severe relationship between h im and his daughter. Meanwhile Frank is not able to uppress his feelings as homosexual and falls in love with other man seeking divorce from Cathy. In the whole film, we could see double tension perpetuating among the protagonists desires with each scene portraying interracial romances or one or the other issue of the homosexuality.The pool scene which appears almost near the end of the movie carries the themes of race and homosexuality more clearly and very closely entangled within the film and is beautifully fused within the whole structure of film. This scene takes place at Miami where Frank and Cathy go to rejuvenate their arried life. In the previous scene one has observed the stealthy look that passes between Frank and a handsome blond boy. In this pool scene, while Cathy is sitting just near the poolside, Frank has Just finished some laps to catch his breath.While he is sitting on steps with his legs submerged in the waters, he notices that members of the blond family are com ing out and their son does not seem to be with them. Frank gets up, stretches himself, comes out of the pool and as he is going to pickup his towel, a black boy aged four or five years rushes besides him towards the pool. Soon father of the young boy runs towards him and shouts at him as other white guests are watching Now what did I tell you about going in that pool You know youre not allowed in there (Far From Heaven) Boy is taken away forcefully and he begins to cry.Though he has Just been on the first step of the pool yet pool gets emptied within few moments. The atmosphere gets tensed and further increases when one white lady hysterically orders her daughter to immediately come out of the pool. When the daughter asks the reason, she retorts Because I said so (Far From Heaven). This scene hows the limit to which Americans are afraid of the blacks, and are extremely afraid of their black bodies the bodies that can cause infection.This misconception is so beautifully and realistic ally portrayed that it shows the extent to which people are engrossed in the racism and their prejudice that they can be easily carried away with the delusion that black bodies are contaminated and thus they cannot even share the pool with them. The camera shifts between Cathys perspective who is looking out of the pool, and then moves straight on to the Cathy herself to make the audience ignifying a protecting cover to the feelings emanating from her heart.The whole scene becomes a minuscule of the large drama that is unfolded inside the pool illustrating Cathys futile love affair with Raymond. The stress on the black father and the white mother taming their children to remain aloof with each other is suggestive of the deeply imbedded wall that is divided between the two communities socially, psychology as well as emotionally. The scene then turns towards Frank, and camera is focused on Frank when he sees the blond boy.At the time when the tense situation erpetuated by the racism b egins to calm down, the camera moves to show the viewers Franks thoughts on racism. Close up shot is taken as camera is focused on the Franks face as he observes the body of the black child and then of a blond teenager, both suggestive of the fact that Frank is trying to sort out this whole drama as he himself is so confused at the time. At this Juncture, Frank decides to move back into their hotel room to get Cathys book. Inside the room when he is looking at himself in the bathroom mirror, he feels somebodys presence behind him.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Rhetorical Analysis Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity...

Rhetorical Analysis of a Public Document Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a serious neurodevelopment disorder that has affected an innumerable number of children and adults in the United States (Centers for disease Control and Prevention, 2013). It is one of the most common disorders that can cause difficulty at school and home and can also remain into adulthood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)publishes a web page on ADHD to inform and persuade the public that ADHD is a condition that they should be concerned about. The web page provides facts on symptoms, diagnosis, causes, treatment plans, concerns, statistics and research to help expand the audience’s knowledge on the disorder. The CDC employs the rhetorical appeals of pathos, logos ethos and logos effectively by successfully employing emotional appeals, providing convincing fact and statistics, and building credibility by providing resources and evidence. Throughout the web page, the CDC discusses how the symptoms of ADHD can have a negative impact on a child’s life, and discusses facts on diagnosis and the process that one undergoes to be diagnosed with ADHD. It also by suggests the best treatment plans for parents and additional concerns that they should be aware of. The CDC’s main focus is to inform parents and researchers, health specialists and anyone else who seeks to learn more about symptoms, diagnosis, concerns, treatments and researches on ADHD. The CDC web pageShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis of a Public Document Assignment Essay926 Words   |  4 PagesDraft of a Rhetorical Analysis of a Public Document Assignment Goal Write a 750-1,000-word essay that analyzes the rhetorical situation of a public document. This public document is the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) website on Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) found at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html. Your analysis should include at least TWO scholarly sources outside of class texts. Directions Complete a close reading of the assigned public documentRead MoreThe Center For Disease Control961 Words   |  4 PagesDisease Control Rhetorical Analysis The Heartbeat of Public Awareness on ADHD Even though the CDC provides a vast amount of information, the CDC website provides facts regarding ADHD, because CDC provides information for families and children living with ADHD and overall, broadens the public’s awareness. The Centers for disease control and prevention begins by providing analyzes to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by acknowledging facts to a common but not so common disorder. The centersRead MoreRhetorical Analysis of the Cdc Essay809 Words   |  4 PagesA Rhetorical Analysis of the CDC’s Website on ADHD The purpose of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is to protect the health of America and to â€Å"promote the quality of life through the prevention and control of the disease, injury, and disability (CDC, 2013).† The CDC has a concern about a growing disease that is normally found in children to young adults called Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD. This Rhetorical Analysis will be focused on ADHD. TheRead MoreEssay on Study Notes829 Words   |  4 PagesFirst Draft of a Rhetorical Analysis of a Public Document Assignment Write a 750-1,000-word essay that includes an analysis of a public document. Your task is to do a close reading of a public document, summarize it, and then analyze its rhetorical situation. Use the sample rhetorical analysis from the textbook (pages 57-60) as a flexible guide—not as a rigid model. Your analysis will contain a few more features than the one found in the book. How you organize your analysis will depend in partRead MorePeculiarities of Euphemisms in English and Difficulties in Their Translation19488 Words   |  78 Pagesperiod of use the new term becomes so closely connected with the notion that it turns into a word as obnoxious as the earlier synonym. The aim of our work is to investigate the sources , the use and translation of euphemisms. We concentrate our attention on political texts. Euphemisms are difficult for the non- native speaker to learn in isolation from their original source. Grouping of euphemisms into categories according to a particular theme facilitates the process of learning. In my