Quinton Richards Essays (1034 words) - Las Vegas Strip,

Quinton Richards Professor Bell Sociology 101 October 9, 2017 CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES Deadly wildfires roared across California on Monday, forcing evacuations and destroying homes and businesses in their paths. The biggest fires burned in the wine country of Napa and Sonoma counties. The fires ignited Sunday night and Monday and spread with alarming speed because of dry conditions California Fire Director Ken Pimlott said at a news conference more than 20,000 people evacuated some with little notice. These fires have destroyed structures and continue to threaten thousands of homes necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents the governor's emergency proclamation said. These fires have damaged and continue to threaten critical infrastructure and have forced the closure of major highways and local roads. According to social media postings the fire spread smoke across the San Francisco Bay area and the Anaheim area fire turned the sky red over Disneyland. The National Weather Service in San Francisco on Sunday issued a "red flag warning" for the Bay Area becaus e of current or impending critical fire weather conditions. The warning cited dry windy locations through the Napa Valley and northern Sonoma County valleys. Gusts ranging from 35 mph to more than 60 mph were recorded. But the winds and the fire weather threat will decrease Tuesday in the north, but a threat will remain in Southern part of California the weather service said. Forecasters said the warning will likely remain in effect because of the warm and dry conditions and the presence of wildfires. US Warship Approaches Korean Peninsula for Drills with South Korea The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier along with a guided-missile cruiser and a nuclear-powered submarine are on their way to the Korean Peninsula to prepare for a potential war with North Korea, while Pyongyang reportedly plans new missiles tests. As of Friday afternoon, the USS Ronald Reagan with nearly 80 aircraft on board, was in the South China Sea on its way to the shores of US ally South Korea. The two allies will conduct joint drills to detect, track, and intercept ballistic missiles in addition to anti-submarine warfare training. North Korea has carried out a series of nuclear tests over the past few months, in response to which the UN Security Council imposed several rounds of harsh sanctions against Pyongyang. President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader have since exchanged a series of threats, with Trump saying the US coulddestroythe North if attacked and that Kim Jong-un who he often refers to as Rocket Manwon't be around much longerPyongyang responded in kind ca lling it a declaration of war and threatening to shoot down American planes and unleash a nuclear attack on the US and its allies. Hurricane Maria Leaves Puerto Rico Facing Months Without Power Hurricane Maria the most powerful storm to hit the U.S. territory in almost a century ravaged the island demolishing homes and knocking out all electricity. It could take half a year to restore power to the nearly 3.5 million people who live there. The eye of the storm moved offshore overnight but the danger remained Thursday Intense flooding was reported particularly in San Juan where many residential streets looked like rushing rivers. The storm has been blamed for the deaths of 18 people including two in Puerto Rico but many fear that toll could climb as authorities were beginning to assess the extent of the damage and search for survivors. Las Vegas Shooting On the night of October 1, a gunman opened fire on a large crowd of concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Las Vegas Strip killing 58 people and injuring 489. Between 10:05 and 10:15 p.m. PDT 64-year-old Stephen Paddock of Mesquite, Nevada fired thousands of rifle rounds from his suite on the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay hotel. About an hour after firing ceased, he was found dead in his hotel room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His motive is unknown. The incident is the deadliest mass shooting committed by an individual in the United States. The crime reignited the debate about gun laws in the U.S. with attention focused on bump firing, a technique Paddock used to allow his semi-automatic rifles to fire at a rate like that of a fully-automatic weapon. Country

An Age of Prosperity and Conflicts essays

An Age of Prosperity and Conflicts essays The 20's was a decade of prosperity and entertainment as well as conflicts. Historians emphasize how Americans were living a life of wealth, but forget to mention the problems of society. Cultural, economic, racial, social, religious and political conflicts that plagued America remain unnoticeable and silent in its history. Amongst the life of prosperity and entertainment of the 1920's, the Americans suffered a life of unending conflicts. Prosperity of the 1920's affected many Americans improve their lives. Many middle-class citizens improved their standard of living by purchasing new products such as electric irons, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, toasters, fans, and refrigerators. They were now able to purchase these consumer goods because companies began to reward and pay their workers more money. These companies, such as Ford cars, doubled the wages of the workers at the plant in Highland Park, Michigan. Since wages increased, purchasing goods and cars became affordable. The increase in America's wealth shifted the economy because businesses flourished to serve the needs of the consumers. Not only were the consumers prosperous, but so were the business owners. Since Henry Ford offered a 5 dollar wage a day to workers of "thrifty habits," his company earned an estimated $264,000 per day because of the sales so many different companies started to follow Ford's reasoning of increasing wages. Not only did prosperity of Americans bring new consumer goods affordable, it also brought education to children and credit to shoppers. Most people could afford to keep their children in school longer because they were finally prosperous enough to survive without the children's wages. By the end of the decade, 51 percent of all high school age youth were in school. Credit was brought to shoppers because they were starting put money down and paying the balance in installments. Americans bought with credit because they rega...

What is APA format Where to Learn APA Format

What is APA format Where to Learn APA Format The APA format has become standard for academic papers nationwide. The ease of its citation methods and the simplicity of its style has made it widely used in business and academia, alike. By using the APA format, you put yourself ahead of your competitors, by presenting your information in the most correct and most desirable format available. Click Here For Our Recommended APA Format Site! The Need for Learning the APA Format You might ask yourself, Didnt I already learn how to format term papers in college? You very well might havebut that doesnt mean you know as much as you could. In fact, those who have been out of college for a while might be surprised to learn just how much has changed since then. Additionally, while many institutions presume familiarity with the APA format, many schools neglect to teach it. This oversight is usually because most universities expect their students to already have a firm grasp on APA style. Because of this, youll want to make sure that you truly do know how to format an analytic paper in the correct form. Where to Learn APA Format While you can purchase books on APA guidelines, most will be either too sparse or too verbose. Its doubtful that you can absorb every single rule given, but lite versions are rarely helpful, too. Luckily, by purchasing APA format software, you can receive APA style reference in an easy-to-use, need-to-know basis. These programs usually include easy one-click parenthetical citations, along with APA templates to use with your word processing program.

Diversity in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Diversity in the Workplace - Essay Example Circumstances sometimes create peculiar conditions which bring to the fore the inherent weaknesses prevalent in our society. There are rules and regulations which provide broad guidelines for keeping a delicate balance in dealing with such matters so that mutual harmony is maintained amongst the workforce. The guiding principle behind this thought is that the world is a rich and diverse place, full of interesting cultures and people who should be treated with respect. Skirmishes arising out of 'discriminatory' behavior often result in tensions amongst colleagues. Though there are federal laws in place, it is the human character and nature which has to do the implementation part. One such incident recently took place in the corporate office of a multinational company located on the 4th floor of a multistory office complex. Since the complex more than one office, so there are many employees working for different companies. On a Friday afternoon, when a young executive of one such company was working her way to get into her car, she had a peculiar experience, which highlighted the inherent fear is us. As she swiped her car card inside the garage, she found a tall guy speedily approaching her from behind. When she noticed him, she was scared and hurriedly sat into the car and started the car. But thereafter the lady gathered some courage and as she passed the tall man, she asked him the reason for his being at the place and asked him to furnish his id proof. The incident would appear to be a trivial one, but it became a big issue, hotly discussed in the corridors of the office complex and the media. The reason, the lady happened to be a 'white' lady while the g entleman was a 'black' American. The incident took racial overtones and the black gentleman complained in his office about the ill-treatment meted out to him. He questioned the very motive for being asked for the id proof. His contention - he was being insulted and discriminated against for his being 'black'. This incident highlights two basic issues; One, howsoever hard we may try to appear as liberal; there remains an element of presumption in most of us. In this incident, perhaps the lady got scared more because she noticed the tall 'black' man running towards her. And just to show that she is not scared, she asked for the identity proof from the gentleman. Similarly, the 'black' gentleman too lodged a formal complaint, perhaps only because he encountered the 'white' lady, and took it as a discriminatory policy, when the lady asked for his identity card.  Secondly, the media might not have taken any note of it, had it not been a case of 'black' Vs 'white'. Even for that matter, we might not be discussing it, had it been an all-white affair. Organizations need to handle such issues with the utmost caution, without allowing them to flare up in big controversies. Diversity consists of visible as well as non-visible factors, which require to be handled with care.  

AN ESSAY BASED ON THE BELOW CASE STUYDY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

AN BASED ON THE BELOW CASE STUYDY - Essay Example It is very unethical, for the Tomoco Company to offer pay Vijay money so that he can offer them the very important and confidential information of Ishimuru, this will highly dent and even kill the trust company's customer have in the company in this era where corporate ethics has become very important in aspect of any company operations and marketing and brand image. The Tomoco company is dedicated to coming up with new innovations in the auto mobile sector. It has the responsibility to ensure that it come up with its own battery formula that can be used in the proposed econocar. Probably Tomoco has a compliance program that is well established which shows that Tomoco has been committed to laws and regulations governing the country auto mobile is designing, marketing and selling activities. Thus getting information falsely from a rival company will be going against these laws or regulation and the company may destroy its image that it has built over the years. It is worth to note that a good company image and reputation goes a long way in marketing a company products, in this case Tomoco cars and any improper business conduct of the company may lead to destroying the reputation and tradition of the company and thus reducing its market segment. (Dole and Lowe, 2003) The Tomoco company also may face legal actions fro... Since the law is applied when a person has leaked important and confidential information regarding a company which is vital to its business operation, to a competitor company, thus hampering fair competition, Ishimuru company will have a strong case as it will have evidence and more so it will be able to identify the person (Vijay) and the company (Tomoco) which has obtained the leaked or stolen information. Such lawsuits are normal costly to a company and even if Ishimuru losses the case the damage will be already be caused to Tomoco which may be irreparable. (Dole and Lowe, 2003) Since both the two companies are involved in research and innovation of lithium ion (li-ion) battery, and no particular company has a proven formula or an already working design, it is equally risky and nave to accept a design from a rival. This is because the proposed design may not be good enough than the one the Tomoco is developing. More so Vijay seems to be a self centred person and may easily sell a wrong formula to Tomoco are equally will also be willing to sell the same design plan to any other company after sealing a deal with Tomoco. Basing on the above factors, Clive smith on behave of Tomoco will probably refuse the offer from Sandeep on the basis of ethical conduct and keeping the company reputation, image and lawful conduct. (Dole and Lowe, 2003) Draft marketing plan for the launch of the econocar A Product Marketing Manager is to make sure that company's product achieves the returns expectations that the manager projected when he received the endorsement for developing the product. The method of ensuring that products achieve revenue is by including a launch plan. This contains all the deliverables (collateral, materials for

Appalachian Mountains Essay Example for Free

Appalachian Mountains Essay The â€Å"Appalachian Mountains† refers to the mountain range that covers most part of the eastern North America and some sections of another country, the neighboring Canada. Professionals believe that the Appalachian Mountains is divided into three; the south part, the north part and the central portion of the Appalachian Mountains. The presence of the Appalachian Mountain range is important for the US because of several reasons. One of the reasons is that the Appalachian Mountains act as a dividing line separating the Midwest territory of the US from its eastern seaboard via the Eastern Continental Divide, which traces a path alongside the Appalachian Mountain range starting from Pennsylvania leading up to Georgia. There are also other important roles that the Appalachian Mountain range play and it can be socially, economically and geographically. Another important characteristic that is attached to the Appalachian Mountains and it formation is that it marked the beginning of plate collisions which was in turn responsible for the building of several mountains and mountain ranges in the planet, and this mountain building phenomena was believed to be responsible for the creation of Pangaea (Klyza and Trombulak 14). Because of the importance of the Appalachian Mountain range, studies on its geological aspect have been undertaken for years now. The Appalachian Mountains is believed to have undergone a series of different physical transformations and the movements that the Appalachian Mountains experienced throughout its history and creation have made it what it is today. Like other mountain ranges in the world, the Appalachian Mountains, at various times through ages, have risen to great heights from the sea or have been continental rock covered by shallow oceans (Adkins 49). The geological history of the Appalachian Mountains is a very important and very interesting topic to delve on. Because of this, the focus of the paper is centered in discussing the different aspects of the changes that happened on the Appalachian Mountain ranges, from its creation, the timeline involved and the processes that shaped the formation of the Appalachian Mountains from the start until today. When did they form? Most experts believe that the geology of the Appalachian Mountain ranges goes as far back as nearly 500 million years ago, particularly around 480 millions years ago. The timeline of the formation of the Appalachian Mountain ranges involved the changes that happened in several different eras. According to professionals, as far back as the Paleozoic Era there were already movements happening in the natural rock formation of the planet that lead towards the creation of the Appalachian Mountain ranges. This was particularly in the era’s Ordovician Period which was believed to be the time where rock movements led to the rising of the Appalachian Mountain ranges and its transformation from an erstwhile buried state, being submerged underwater during earlier times (Geologic Provinces 3). After the Paleozoic Era, there were still changes that affected the Appalachian Mountains. During the Triassic Period of the Mesozoic Era, structure and feature changes affected the creation of Appalachian Mountains, and some uplifting in the rock formation during the Cenozoic Era also contributed to some of the changes that happened in the Appalachian Mountains (Geologic Provinces 8). How did the Appalachian Mountains Form? The Appalachian Mountain range is a very complex and very old natural geological feature of the planet. The physical characteristics of Appalachian Mountains provide the observer with hints and clues towards how the Appalachian Mountain range was formed and what processes were involved in the formation of this particular mountain range. A major characteristic of its geology is the presence of elongate belts composed of marine sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, as well as parts of an ancient ocean floor. These are all impacted by thrust faulting and folding processes that shaped the Appalachian Mountain ranges from how it was during its initial formation up to how it is now after years of constant transformation owed to the natural rock movements that impact natural geological formation of rocks on the planet (Adkins 50). Before it would rise up and become a mountain range, the region where the Appalachian was to rise from was considered as a passive plate margin. Because of this, there are times when the area is found underwater, buried by sea water under a sea that was nonetheless shallow, especially since there were also periods where it was above water. The Appalachian region would not remain passive forever, and the change from being passive to being active happened during the Ordovician Period, wherein plate motion movements changed and paved the way for the Taconic orogenym or what is known as mountain building event, in this case the first during the Paleozoic Era. By this time, the Appalachian is already considered as a plate boundary that is very active in its movements (Geologic Provinces 3). The Iapetus, another oceanic plate situated close to the Appalachian, was considered to collide against the Appalachian. Because the collision eventually sank, it submerges itself under the craton of North America. Because of what was happening in Appalachia and what has happened in the Iapetus, there was a resulting creation of what is known as the new subduction zone. The creation of this new particular feature was believed to be the birth of what would be known today as the Appalachian Mountain ranges (Chapter 2: Plate T-11. Appalachian Mountains 11). The Taconic orogeny was not the first mountain building plate collisions that helped create and develop the Appalachian Mountain Ranges, because there are still a series of other plate collisions that is set to happen that impacted mountain building, particularly the building of the mountains of the Appalachians. Several other orogenies, like the Caledonian orogeny, the Acadian orogeny, the Quachita orogeny, the Hercynian, orogeny as well as the Allegheny orogeny all contributed to the mountain building process that shaped the Appalachian Mountain ranges (Chapter 2: Plate T-11. Appalachian Mountains 5). As the Appalachian Mountain range was developing through the years, experts believed that at one point, it was standing as high as, or even higher than the height of the present day Himalayas. This is largely because of the consistent collision of ancient continents that pushed the mass of land upwards and raised mountains like the Appalachian higher and higher. The activity in the rock features shaping and re-shaping several geological features like the Appalachian mountain ranges experienced change, leading towards being still once again after the Pangea continent started to break apart during the Mesozoic Era. After this, erosion took over, and the once towering Appalachian was transformed into a vast plain. But this situation would not remain permanent. There were new waves of uplifting that would affect the region in the near future following its transition towards becoming a vast plain, and the uplifting allowed the Appalachian to rise up again, particularly during the Cenozoic Era (Geologic Provinces 7). What Geologic Processes were Available for the Formation? There were several geological processes that contribute to the shaping of the features of the Appalachian mountain ranges and the creation of the Appalachian mountain range itself. The most important perhaps is the plate collisions, which pushed the rocks upward to create the mountain range. Erosion was also part of the history of the formation of the Appalachian Mountain ranges. It comes into play during the time when the Appalachian region was flattened, a temporary state since the mountains will eventually be a towering feature again in this area after activity in rock movements resume and allowed the Appalachian mountain range to rise up. Other geological movements, like thrust faulting, are also at play throughout the history of the Appalachian mountain range. Criticisms Despite the presence of the theory on how the Appalachian Mountain ranges was created, there are still criticisms that challenge existing belief by providing newly discovered data involving the geological events and changes directly involved in the shaping and re-shaping the Appalachian Mountains. This is normal especially since the information on the Appalachian mountain range formation is not yet set on stone especially since there are still gapping holes that are not closed because of the absence of solid proofs to support scientific claims. One of the criticisms was raised in 2006 after scientists believed that they have found new evidence that can change how experts look at the formation of the Appalachian mountain ranges. According to an Ohio University professor, the ocean involved in the collision that started the creation of the Appalachian mountain ranges was not Iapetus but rather Rheic (Ohio University 7), which was believed to have been closed down after the collision between Gondwana and North America, leading to the formation of Pangea and the creation of Appalachian Mountain ranges (Ohio University 8). There are also those which point to other assumptions involving the Appalachian mountain ranges. Some believe that there were other mountain ranges and chains involved or interconnected with the Appalachian mountain ranges during the millions of years of its rise and erosion. What is today traditionally called the Appalachian Mountains really represents several different mountain chains, formed at different times over a span of at least 130 million years (Klyza, Trombulak 14). But despite the criticisms, the study and understanding of the Appalachians contribute significantly in scientific study. The scientific attitude and approach towards understanding and studying tectonics as well as mountain-building was developed largely by the efforts to study the Appalachian mountain ranges. Other plate tectonic concepts, even those that involve the studying of how oceans open and close before, was also influenced significantly by the study on Appalachian mountain range formation (Chapter 2: Plate T-11. Appalachian Mountains 3). Conclusion The history of the Appalachian Mountain ranges is something that is eventful and important today because it is significantly important to other important aspects of world history, like the formation of super-continents and its breaking apart, influencing the geography that modern world has today. Understanding this phenomenon may not be as easy but modern literature is growing and growing to provide more information about this aspect. Works Cited Adkins, Leonard M. Appalachian Trail: A Visitors Companion. Menasha Ridge Press, 1998. â€Å"Chapter 2: Plate T-11. Appalachian Mountains. † National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 6 October 2008. 25 February 2009 http://daac. gsfc. nasa. gov/geomorphology/GEO_2/GEO_PLATE_T-11. shtml. â€Å"Geologic Provinces of the United States: Appalachian Highlands Province. † United States Geological Survey (USGS). 13 January 2004. 25 February 2009 http://geomaps. wr. usgs. gov/parks/province/appalach. html. Klyza, Christopher McGrory and Trombulak, Stephen C. The Story of Vermont: A Natural and Cultural History. Middlebury College Museum of Art. 1999. Ohio University. â€Å"Geologists Find New Origins Of Appalachian Mountains. † Science Daily. 17 November 2006. February 24, 2009, from http://www. sciencedaily. com/releases/2006/11/061117123212. htm.

Gary Soto Essay -- essays research papers

Throughout the autobiographical narrative written by Gary Soto, many different literary elements are used to recreate the experience of his guilty six-year old self. Different elements such as contrast, repetition, pacing, diction, and imagery. Soto narrates this story as a young boy at a time when he seems to be young and foolish, Soto foolmaking mistakes, but at the same time hoping to learn from them. Soto uses each of these devices to convey different occurrences in the narrative. Contrast is used when Soto compares himself to Eve, a biblical character, when God punished her for stealing an apple from a sacred garden. Also in the first line of the story Soto explains he â€Å"knew enough about hell to stop me from stealing†, but later in the story he states that, â€Å"the best things in life come stolen.† It is obvious these two statements contrast each other. Soto also uses repetition in this story and starts off with the driver, Mrs. Hancock, and his mom who all â€Å"knew† that he had stolen the pie. The thing is â€Å"knew† is repeated too many times in too little writing. Also though I think using â€Å"knew† so many times brings out the element of diction into the narrative because by using the word so many times, it is obviously used to show how paranoid Soto was. The word pie is at least 14 times while â€Å"I† is also used at least 42 where in the third paragraph it is used to begin the last three sentences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Next, was the element of pacing and in the third par...

Lord of the rings

Favorite book Book of choice: Lord of the rings Why one should read the Lord of the Rings The Lord of the rings was written in by Mr.. Jar Tolkien between year 1937 and 1949 and is said to be one of the greatest fantasy novels ever written. Using a combination of lore depth and beautiful language the novel has become one of the most popular books ever to be published, selling over 150 million copies worldwide.There are many reasons why this particular novel is said to one, if not the best epic fantasy evolve ever written, one of these reasons is the vivid world in which Tolkien has put so much effort and detail. Tolkien manages to create as well as bring the reader into an amazing fantasy world so vivid, and detailed that it leaves the reader with a feeling of having been there themselves. Tolkien carefully describes landscapes, characters and situations in a way that makes the universe of Middle earth seem almost likely to exist.Another great factor to the success of the Novel could be the many languages. Tolkien manages to create specific languages which suit the different races of middle earth, such as the beautiful eleven language which has several dialects and accents which also different in a varied grade. The eleven language gives depth and mystery to these ancestral beings, It is complex yet equally beautiful. Likewise the â€Å"dark tongue of mirror† or black speech as It Is often referred to sets the proper dark mood and feeling of those whom would dare speak It.Nevertheless the main function these languages carry is the depth it brings to the culture and existence of the races and characters. Few works of art can be said to match Lord of the rings when It comes to he detailed history and cultures he describes In The Lord of the Rings, except perhaps by other works by J. R. R Tolkien himself. The history Is both quite exciting as well as meaningful, with no shortages of surprises and exciting turns along the way. Furthermore there Is little Con sidering this there Is little doubt why this novel has become one of the most legendary novels of all time.The amazingly written novel explains a vivid world filled with history, lore and beauty as well as an Imminent threat. Likewise the beautiful languages, as well as the way the story Is written brings specific dimension and â€Å"feeling† to the Journey of the mall characters. One could also mention the dramatic character developments, as well as deep messages which come forth throughout the novel, but perhaps It Is best to leave that to possible future readers to figure out by themselves. Hose ancestral beings, it is complex yet equally beautiful. Likewise the â€Å"dark tongue of mirror† or black speech as it is often referred to sets the proper dark mood and feeling of those whom would dare speak it. Nevertheless the main function these characters. Few works of art can be said to match Lord of the rings when it comes to he detailed history and cultures he descri bes in The Lord of the Rings, except perhaps by other works by J. R. R Tolkien himself.The history is both quite exciting as Furthermore there is little Considering this there is little doubt why this novel has explains a vivid world filled with history, lore and beauty as well as an imminent threat. Likewise the beautiful languages, as well as the way the story is written brings a specific dimension and â€Å"feeling† to the Journey of the main characters. One could come forth throughout the novel, but perhaps it is best to leave that to possible future readers to figure out by themselves.

People Love To Have Pets, But What Do Pets Want Essay

There are many animals that would prefer to stay as far away from the indoors as possible! Even though some people keep their pets inside most of the time, they would much rather be outside living in their natural habitat. Many animals are covered in fur to protect them from cold weather and to keep animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits and mice is unethical treatment from humans when they would rather be outdoors where they were intended to live with other animals. There are those humans who simply don’t want to take their animals outdoors, and then there are others who enjoy caging wild animals, such as snakes, turtles, mice and lizards for their own enjoyment. It is unnatural for many animals who haven’t adapted to existing in an enclosed environment and it is unethical treatment against wildlife to hold them indoors, against their will. It is sad when you hear about people who mistreat animals and are careless to the pet’s desires of wanting to roam around in their natural habitat. There are occasions when animals are never allowed to go outdoors and are strictly kept in cages and fed manually by the pet owner. â€Å"We humans create homes that feel, smell, sound and look good to us, not our cat,† Ingrid Newkirk explains in her book, â€Å"250 Things You Can Do To Make Your Cats Adore You. † The author relates that our pets are not always comfortable and happy just because we are. We need to consider the comfort of every pet.

Native American Historical and Political Development Essays

Native American Historical and Political Development Essays Native American Historical and Political Development Essay Native American Historical and Political Development Essay Essay Topic: Historical Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Native American Historical and Political Development Native American pottery is a form of art that has existed for at least 700 centuries within the Americas. Pottery can be defined as any objects that are made of fired clay ceramics. Ceramics are commonly used as practical cooking vessels, serving and preservation vessels, burial urns, sculptures, musical instruments, ceremonial items, censers, and countless other art forms. Since they are resilient, ceramic items have been a vital source of information in learning more about Pre-Columbian indigenous cultures. The earliest ceramics discovered in the Americas were discovered in the lower Amazon Basin around the Caverna de Pedra Pintada areas that were dated back to about 5,000 years (Ferguson et al 13). Some of the shards at this location were tempered using mollusk shells that allowed the ceramics to be carbon dated. From the engravings, it was evident that the first ceramic-making cultures were shellfish-gatherers and fishers. Ceramics next surfaced across northern South America and then later in the western part of South America. As of this period (4530BCE), the primary purpose of ceramic objects was to store food (Ferguson et al 23). Historical background of pottery and ceramics The communities of Mesoamerica and South America were generally modern with the European Christian period. Both tribes were quickly eliminated by the Spanish invasion following on the journeys of discovery done by Columbus. The vanquishers instantly found themselves in disagreements with the native inhabitants. The clergy sought to convert people to Christianity, and they used less aggressive techniques entrenched in religion in order to destroy a whole culture gradually. The two principal empires, the Aztecs of Mesoamerica and the Incas of Peru exhibited agricultural activities and promoted architecture and art. The monuments discovered later were extremely extraordinary even though they were developed by highly primitive societies (Ferguson et al 21). Early Pre-Columbian Civilizations Several pre-Columbian societies existed over several periods, and they served to transmit the skill of pottery and that of making ceramics to the next generation, up to what it is today. Analyzing the lineage and progress of these communities from the past to the present will give more insight on their unique skills, artwork and cultural practices. The Chavin tribe that existed around 1400 to 300 BC was perhaps the most ancient tribe to exist in America (Schurr et al 177). Evidence of pottery and other crafts existed, but these were mostly limited to the temple galleries indicating that they held a religious significance. By 2000 BCE, pottery and ceramic making was popular in Central America, although modern techniques and machinery such as the potter’s wheel and glazing were not used. The two main methods of fashioning pots were to use bare hands or made inside molds and finished using fine polychrome (Ferguson et al 15). The Moche tribe that came up from 100-700 AD was more aggressive in their ceramics and pottery skills. Their pottery was immensely influential in illustrating different societal figures such as priests, lords and even warriors. Through these discovered pottery, most archeologists have been able to study the level of complexity of the Moche society. These artists engaged in documenting pre-Columbian accomplishments through realism and pictorials. There were even instances of erotic pottery. The Nazca tribe came up from 200to 800 AD to introduce aspects of color and complex designs to pottery in a fashion that contrasted the restrained styles typical of Moche ceramics (Schurr et al 178). The last regime to propagate the pottery tradition significantly was the Huari-Tiahuanaco hegemony that created pottery characterized by audacious designs, richer colors and solid constructions. This pottery style ultimately overshadowed the other earlier forms of pottery making to become the most domi nant type that spread throughout most of America. Many pre-Columbian civilizations set up permanent urban communities where they practiced agriculture and developed intricate societal hierarchies. The oldest mound complex in the Americas, the Watson Brake and other archaic sites were constructed by pre-ceramic societies. Throughout the various studies among different cultures and different periods, it is notable that each society had some pottery or ceramics that they created, especially in cases where the society was involved in agriculture. The Native Americans developed their own techniques of pottery and ceramics in a manner similar to that of other societies throughout the world. Many of the Native American communities used ceramics and pottery even before the Europeans first inhabited the Americas. While some hunter-gatherer tribes did not delve so much into this unique pottery, the communities that engaged in farming had various uses for the Native American ceramics (Ferguson et al 67). As the Native Americans were relocated across the continent by Europeans, they were able to transport their Native American ceramics on the journey. Many of the communities ultimately appeared to have lost their indigenous pottery as they were pressed further away from their initial native regions. The southwestern Indians were the most advantageous group in that they were able to salvage most of their artwork including pottery and other ceramics. Some of their striking ceramic works comprised of wedding vases with double spouts and other colorful ceramics that had distinctive designs. Various communities had their own techniques and patterns of creating the Native American ceramics (Fash Luja?n 18). Some of the methods including kiln firing the pottery but almost each community had its own unique pattern and method of finishing the ceramics (Ferguson et al 34). The common aspect among all the communities was that their ceramics were all hand made. Even presently, the few existing Native Americans still hold the ability to create ceramics using their skillful hands. Most of these artists have become very famous, as their works on Native American culture have been displayed in famous galleries and shows. Therefore, while most indigenous Indians lost their land during the relocation process, they were still able to preserve much of their traditions and skills including Native American pottery (Kampen-O’Riley 37). The decorative ceramic ornaments and other pottery items carried with them a vast amount of knowledge on the social and religious values within the pre-Columbian societies. These people had transcended from the essential subsistence life into complex and creative groups within the harsh life of the wildness. These pre-Columbian societies held some of the initial sources of early inventiveness, imagination, and functionality. Apart from religious and social significance, the ceramics and pottery were very important in running the economy through trading activities and negotiation sessions among communities (Ferguson et al 345). Colonization of the New World and loss of Pre-Columbian Culture Pottery and other works of art largely disappeared after the entry of Europeans into Native America. The loss of a larger part of the Western hemisphere led to several administrative, physical and cultural changes for the Native Americans who inhabited the land. The religious and cultural arrogance exhibited by the Europeans was largely to blame for the great disappearance of most elements of pre-Columbian cultures (Kampen-O’Riley 22). Settlers who inhabited the Americas failed to see anything of value in pre-Columbian America and instead sought to impose their own traditions, cultures and norms onto the natives. This was a major cause of the loss of cultural practices such as pottery. Concerning the loss of cultural elements among the Native Americans, Europeans played a major role in ensuring they were eliminated from any historical records. Through their own cultural arrogance, Europeans were able to dismiss the historical existence of Native Americans as being recreated and falsified. To that extent, they considered these natives as having lived in an unhistorical state. Disease outbreaks were another major cause of cultural loss (Bulmer-Thomas et al 18). While Europeans were used to keeping their livestock in close quarters, the Native Americans quickly contracted and died from epidemics and this thinned out the number of artists that could pass on the tradition of making ceramics and other similar products (Ferguson et al 11). Significance of Ceramics and Pottery Religious importance When evaluating non-western art, it is imperative to bear in mind that the objects being viewed were created for exceptionally precise functions. While art professionals normally discuss these works of art in terms of strictly aesthetics, at a stage, it becomes necessary to comprehend the significance of the works of art to the communities who created them (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 16). Almost without exemption, Pre-Columbian art has a heavy religious significance naturally. The ceramics and pottery that have been conserved were mostly temple architecture and items, burial art, and artifacts from sports events that were ultimately religious. Ordinarily, placing ethnographic objects in an inert museum environment makes people forget their original utilities. The Maya sculptor who cautiously molded away on a lump of clay to create a figure did not expect it to be locked away in an art gallery. When people assess these artifacts, detached from their intended place and time, they conclude that they lacked religious significance. Ancient religious occurrences can only be inferred from archaeological materials (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 15). Several clay sculptures discovered in graves may offer little or no proof that they were relevant in religious occasions during the Pre-Classic periods of Ticoman and Zacatenco. It is likely, though, that baked earth figures of females were supposed to symbolize an agricultural idol, a deity of the crops. Two-headed clay figurines unearthed at Tlatilco had a high likelihood of depicting a paranormal being. The same conclusion can be said of the clay idols of a fire god shaped as an old man. The pyramid of Cuicuilco near Mexico is one of the most fascinating monuments that may also have religious meaning. The monument illustrated the main aspects of the Mexican pyramids and this made it seem likely to be a religious shrine, signified by a temple erected on the platform and enclosed by tombs (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 11). Such architecture would have obviously been supervised and organized by several priests. An example is the preoccupation with the afterlife and death itself. Therefore, the ceramics developed by the societies included skulls and devil figurines signified religious activities using these ceramics. The religious significance of pre-Columbian ceramics, that is presently accepted, was initially misinterpreted. In fact, their secular value was the main criteria used when assessing them and this made most of them fail the value test. For many years, Mexican cultivators had been discovering antique ceramic pots and other physical artifacts while cultivating their farms. In the past, collectors considered them useless and even amusing. Because of the low monetary value, they were usually destroyed and discarded. Ordinary household uses Among Pre-Columbian tribes, the vessels used by most households were mainly made of earthenware. These vessels were created in various traditional forms, including globular, ovoid, and cylindrical and double-chambered forms with diverse handles and spouts. These artifacts were used as household utensils, funerary objects, cooking pots, and ritual objects and water jugs. Their form, purpose, and embellishment differentiated the vessels amongst pre-Columbian communities. Zoomorphic and anthropomorphic vessels naturally suggested ritual and funerary use were decorated by more unique and complicated adornments than household earthenware. Although many cultures borrow different elements from each other, each culture developed their vessels having their own particulars and iconography. While most artifacts can be easily categorized as having religious or household significance, some are more difficult to place. Stirrup spout vessels were the main ceramics used that consisted of a handle, and a spout. The immense numbers of existing stirrup spout vessels were suspected to be necessary for funerary purposes. However, the evidence of the wear and tear pointed towards utilitarian purposes within the household (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 24). Conclusion The Pre-Columbian era was marked with a significant contribution by several tribes to the archeological pool that mainly concentrated on ceramics and pottery. The lack of proper writing systems among Pre-Columbian cultures prompted the development of pottery and ceramics as a channel through which history could be recorded. Through these artifacts, the tribes could express and transfer their knowledge to the rest of the world surrounding astronomy, philosophy, cosmology and even religion. The political influences that interfered with the development of these civilizations may have been inconsiderate and unfair but their actions were crucial in dispersing these cultures to different parts of the world where they would have otherwise not reached. Work Cited Bulmer-Thomas, V, John H. Coatsworth, and Conde R. Corte?s. The Cambridge Economic History of Latin America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print. Fash, William L, Luja?n L. Lo?pez. The Art of Urbanism: How Mesoamerican Kingdoms Represented Themselves in Architecture and Imagery. Washington, D.C: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2009. Print. Ferguson, Jeffrey R.; Siegel, Peter E.; Descantes, Christophe; Glascock, Michael D. Pre-Columbian Pottery in the West Indies: Compositional Change in Context. Journal of Caribbean Archeology. 2008. Kampen-O’Riley, Michael. Art Beyond the West: The Arts of Africa, India and Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Korea, the Pacific, and the Americas. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2002. Print. Schurr, Theodore G. Coastal Waves and Island Hopping: A Genetic View of Caribbean Prehistory and New World Colonization. Island Shores, Distant Pasts: Archaeological and Biological Approaches to the Pre-Columbian Settlement of the Caribbean. 2010: 177-197. Print Young-Sa?nchez, Margaret, Denise P. Schaan. Marajo?: Ancient Ceramics from the Mouth of the Amazon. Denver, CO: Mayer Center for Pre-Columbian Spanish Colonial Art at the Denver Art Museum, 2011. Print.

Behavioral and Social-Cognitive Approaches to Forming Habits

Behavioral and Social/Cognitive Approaches to Forming Habits PSY/250 Behavioral and Social/Cognitive Approaches to Forming Habits Habit is defined as â€Å"an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary† (Dictionary. com, n. d. ). Most people have some sort of habit that they have acquired or learned throughout their life. Some are as non-noticeable and as simple as looking both ways before crossing a street or roadway. We are taught this at an early age for safety purposes, but to us, it is just a normal â€Å"it makes sense† act that we practice probably every day. Some individuals learn habits from a young age; other habits can form once an individual gets older and makes their own decisions. Forming a habit can come from many role models or witnessed behavior. For example, if an infant cries or upset, usually they are comforted by food or soothing from the mother. At this point, the infant recognizes that a particular act receives a particular reward. This is an example of behavioral approach to a habit. If the infant cries, it gets rewarded with milk and soothing. Since the child only knows how to communicate by crying, this is how the child lets the parent know that they are in need of something, in some cases, just in need of attention. Another approach is the observational learning in which people learn to do something without actually performing it (Krapp, 2005). It can also be termed as social/cognitive approach. An example of this would be a child witnessing a sport on television. They see the actions play out with the team, and go out and â€Å"reenact† what they saw even though they have never played the game. The child does not necessarily know the rules of the game, but the basic tools and concept of the game. Bandura claims that people are more apt to copy behavior that leads to a positive outcome (Krapp, 2005). However, some individuals have habits that can have a negative and possibly deadly outcome. For example, drug and alcohol habits have the possibility to become deadly. Most individuals are aware that those particular habits are not healthy for them, but they are attracted and tempted by the way those habits make them feel. Those habits are said to be diseases, but at what point are they a sickness? At first, I believe, that the â€Å"sicknesses† are habits and it is only until you try all means possible to quit, that it becomes a sickness. A habit can start by having a beer after a game, smoking a joint when you are stressed, or using some other sort of substance to make you feel better. At some point, one starts making excuses or reasons to continue the habit even if the original situation that made you start that habit, is not where the habit is taking place anymore. One of the habits that I have is biting my nails. From as far back as I remember, I have been biting my nails. I suppose I developed this habit by witnessing my father do the same thing. I can remember being a young child and seeing my father sitting on the couch with his hand in his mouth biting his nails. I do not remember the first time I did it, and I still continue this habit to this day. Actually while writing this paper, I find myself pausing and thinking and noticing that when I pause, my hand automatically goes in my mouth, and I start nibbling at my nails. I feel that I concentrate better when my hands are busy doing something. Whether it is biting my nails or twisting my hair, my hands are always doing something. I have attempted to quit this habit, and at this point, I am very unsuccessful. When I put acrylic nails on, I obviously do not bite my own nails, but I do find myself picking and messing with the nails that have been put on. Whether it is tapping my nails, or picking at my cuticles, I am constantly messing with them. By using the behavioral personality theory, I am not exactly sure why I have this habit. I do not get any sort of satisfaction from the habit or feel any sort of accomplishment. Writing about it now, I wonder why I continue such a habit if I am not getting anything out of it. The habit is not making me a better person, nor am I fulfilling some comfort issues. I continue this habit all the times and I find that it is not situational. I bite my nails when I am bored, and when I am busy, when I am nervous, and when I am excited. It is a constant habit that I continue daily, if not hourly. I can develop a plan to condition myself to quit the habit by making sure my hands are busy with something else. If my hands are busy, then I will not be able to put them in my mouth to bite my nails. I have also found that if my mouth is busy, with eating or chewing gum, then I will not bite my nails either. So at this point, the habit not only has something to do with my hands, but also it is an oral fixation. As far as the oral fixation and satisfaction, I do not feel as though I am getting anything out of it, but I continue, and most likely will continue the habit. In conclusion, every person has some sort of habit that stems from personal experience or observation. Many people have role models that have taught them this habit and will continue the habit until they are completely satisfied or the habit is replaced by another habit. References Website: www. dictionary. com, n. d. Cerutti and J. E. R. Staddon, Annual Review of Psychology. (Annual 2003), p115. Psychologists and Their Theories for Students, Ed. Kristine Krapp, Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2005. p39-66

AIDS in Africa in the 20th Century Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

AIDS in Africa in the 20th Century - Term Paper Example food, clothes, etc. Soon enough, however, they are not only confronted with economic distress alone but also with an insurmountable social disaster. Apparently, two of the most prevalent social issues they are facing are stigmatization and discrimination. These issues are evident in a study about the women in Nigeria. This paper argues that these two social issues--stigmatization and discrimination--are the top reasons why AIDS survives up until the 20th century and beyond. Even so, both social issues worsen the problem of AIDS in Africa. Lastly, this paper suggests that if the government and other interventionists alike are really serious with their aim of eliminating AIDS in Africa, they should first gear their efforts on eliminating these two social issues. AIDS as a Social Construct Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS is a condition brought about by HIV infection. As the disease’s name suggests, the HIV infection would make the body’s immune system deficient , making it more susceptible for other infections that may potentially compromise body functioning (Stolley and Glass 2009, 5). However, beyond this scientific definition, AIDS became known as a more complex problem. In a study by Keniston (1989, 2), he revealed that AIDS resonates problems in public health, politics, psychological processes, education, as well as issues regarding public attitude and morals. Moreover, Keniston (1989, 2) pointed out that AIDS is more of a social construct than a biological one. To date, it seems that the same still holds true. First and foremost, the spread of the virus is enacted within the sexual behavior of two individuals--clearly a social interaction. Second, cultural and social structures help shape and condition the behaviors and interactions that further spread AIDS (Keniston 1989, 2). For instance, the African society’s poverty prods women to engage in sexual trades, thereby, perpetrating the disease. Lastly, societal notions regardin g AIDS give rise to the concepts of stigma and discrimination, which contribute to oppression towards African women as well as to the worsening of Africa’s problem on AIDS. Stigma and Discrimination Stigmatization Defined In ancient times, stigma is a Greek term used to symbolize the mark on the flesh of a scandalous character, â€Å"a traitor, criminal, or slave† (Harvey 2001, quoted in Akanbi 2010, 3209). Additionally, a famous definition states that stigma is characterized as a â€Å"discrediting within a particular social interaction, as a spoiled social identity and a deviation from the attributes considered normal and acceptable by society† (Harvey et al. 2001, quoted in Akanbi 2010, 3209). Interestingly, a study made by Inside-Out Research (2003, quoted in Akanbi 2010, 3209) regarding South Africa, provides a two-fold definition of stigma: (1) internal stigma, an internal remorse that further makes the victim hide her condition, thereby, declining assista nce and access to resources, and (2) enacted or external stigma, which implies discrimination and society’s fear of association with a person who has HIV or AIDS. Factors That Brought Stigmatization A study asserts that certain natural and socio-demographic factors influence HIV/AIDS stigmatization and discrimination among women in Lagos State, Nigeria. Among these factors are related to what Liz