A Better Man

Abel Villalbaso Edward Gika English 21 2/27/13 Better Man This experience taught me to be a better man. Unfortunately I learn that acting like a man made me act like a child. When I was fifteen, I drank alcohol for the first time. I was with my neighbors outside grilling food and talking. Everyone there were all men in their twenties and drinking beers. I chose to drink with them to be a part of their group and act like a man. After a few hours I had drank six beers and decided to go to bed. The next morning, I woke up with a hangover and left to school. During my first class I got a headache.I had never thought about the consequences at the moment. All I wanted to do is take a nap at the nurse’s office. When I arrived to see the nurse she asked what’s wrong. I told her I had a headache. She could smell alcohol on my breath. She knew that I was intoxicated. I confess that I had drunk beer the day before. She called security to escort me to the principal’s office. When I got outside to the principal’s office she asked me to go inside her office. She handed me a paper letting me know I was suspended from school for a week. I was ordered to leave and walked back to my house. Suspended from school I was scared to go home.When I got to my house, my mother asked me why was I home early. I told her the whole story. My mother was very disappointed and told me that I should make better choices in life and become successful in life. After that incident, my mother became more supportive to me. She always gave me good advice about good and evil. I finally realized that it is not easy for my mother to raise four kids by herself. She was always committed a poor single mother on welfare but now I learn that being a man is to respect yourself. Tough times never last but tough people do. Over the years I appreciate my mother even more and now I am on my way to success.

Green Grass, Running Water Essay

The novel Green Grass, Running Water is a multifaceted work of art in the literal sense. The plot circles around an Indian tribe i.e. the Blackfoots, while interweaving myths and the stereotypical attitude towards Native Americans into the macro picture. It takes an extremely sensitive topic and makes sense of it through a comical way. Through the book King raises a voice against the treatment of the Native culture and way of life at the hands of the ‘white,’ through humorous and witty settings, plots and dialogues. One can easily spot the shots that have taken against the government that went onto cheat the Natives in the name of friendship, the idea of religion, the social stigma that plagues the Natives and a whole lot more. The discord created by Coyote is a very integral part of the novel. In the story Coyote is the Trickster, and along with him the four Indians namely Lone Ranger, Ishmael, Robin son Crusoe, and Hawkeye set their course towards the Blackfoot reservation so they can find things to ‘fix’ (133). When they come onto the reservation everything goes topsy-turvy. Through the re-telling of old Native American legends King puts things into a different perspective for the reader. On top of the Native legends one will be amused by the many references to biblical stories as well. When it comes to the role of Coyote we know that he is one force that is present long before the world really exists. In the start where there was nothing but â€Å"just the water† even then the trickster was present, â€Å"but Coyote was asleep†. This in itself can be taken as a testimonial for Coyote’s strength and importance. Whenever Coyote enters the plot he manages to wreak havoc by influencing the events and people around him. He does this on more than one occasion by simply making a joke or performing a ritual. It is important to note though that Coyote never indulges in direct violence, his idea of wreaking havoc comes from a very passive stance so to speak. His actions are based on what the others say and how he can manipulate their words.   In the length of the novel Coyote assists in ‘fixing the world’ through interconnecting European tales with Native ones. He distorts the stories that were brought in by the early settlers by adding the Native flavor to them, thereby coming up with completely new stories altogether. One instance where Coyote and the four Indians try to ‘fix’ the world is the dam. The thing to note here is that the damn is not going to bring any good to the Natives. The government has ignored many things, such as the fault lines, while making the damn. In effect it would bring great problems to the people living around the area if it were to break. Coyote possesses mystical powers and can manipulate the environment around him. In one of the scenes from the book Ishmael and Robinson Crusoe ask him whether he has been dancing or singing to which he replies â€Å"Just a little† (341) on both counts. At that point a great earthquake hits the land and causes the stress fractures under the dam to open up. Now, the dam in essence was bad, but once it had been built it would have been worse for it to just fall apart. At one glance one might thing that Coyotes doing was negative rather than positive. However, with the supernatural demolition of the dam, the flood that follows symbolically washes away pieces of the colonial heritage. The Natives are then able to defy the government and reclaim their land. Even Eli, who ended up dying in the process, is a symbol of strength for the remaining people. His cabin stands are an icon for the rest, a piece of their heritage which one of their own died protecting. Even though Coyote caused death, he still managed to give people something to hold onto, something to huddle them closer to their own Native values. Another example of Coyote’s well meaning intentions’ going wrong is the John Wayne movie, where he manages to twist and turn the story through the use of linguistic violence and ends up completely distorting it. This is good because he inculcates the Native culture and values into the story which is important for the main characters on the Blackfoot reserve. The well known story ‘The Mysterious Warrior’ is toyed with. In an attempt to change the world, they end up changing the classic too. In the new version the Indians are not the ones who die terrible deaths but John Wayne and Richard Widmar instead. The Natives that had been hunted by the cavalry suddenly begin to fight back and massacred their assailants. The Natives on the reserve need this kind of reinforcement because they are losing their own values and their heritage and not because they want to, but because they cant find the will to really fight for it. Eli is the only one who really pushes for anything, while the rest themselves have managed to infuse ‘white’ culture into every part of their lives. An example of this is Latisha who is only using her heritage and that too by inventing things that never existed in the Native culture to begin with i.e. selling dog meat burgers (which are really hamburgers) to tourists claiming it to be a Native tradition, when it wasn’t. Coyote at times hinders the path of the other four Indians as well. In a way he is the embodiment of the struggle of the Natives against the ‘whites’. His actions may at times seem completely negative, but one must remember that Coyote has been around for a while. And in the end his actions only end up benefiting the Natives of the reserves. Throughout the novel it would seem as though Coyote has induced certain events almost by mistake or through carelessness but once it has run its course it only ends up helping the Blackfoots. In a way it can be said that Coyote has wisdom beyond what most can understand which is why it is possible that he just might know how things will turn out at the culmination. Coyote tends to intertwine the old ways with the new norms. He uses many biblical references (albeit distorting them completely) and the legends of the old age and present them in a very contemporary way.   His distortion of the white tales helps by cleansing the invasive stereotypes and stigma that surround the Indians of today. In one instance a dam builder says to Eli â€Å"Besides, you guys aren’t real Indians anyway. I mean, you drive cars, watch television, go to hockey games. Look at you. You are a university professor† (King 119). This shows the ignorance and misconceptions about the Natives. The general public is completely oblivious of these people, their lives and how they exist. Coyote in his own crazy way tries to do away with this kind of mentality. Thus, Coyote manages to pull the Natives together. The culture and heritage that has been eluding them and at times confusing them is brought back by him. His actions may at times seem overly negative but in the long run they always prove to be good for the people on the reserve. This is why in totality one can only say that the Tricksters actions are positive and not negative. Work Cited Green Grass, Running Water: Thomas King (1993)

Addictions in the 21st Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Addictions in the 21st Century - Essay Example The main trends incorporate internet surfing, pornography viewing, video gaming and social media. It can involve a single habit or a compilation of several habits within the same range. Addiction is experienced when the participants are constantly plugged into these devises. He states that anything else comes as a distraction. Alexander identifies the â€Å"tragically cool† group as the group that heavily relies on digital technology in their day-to-day life. Their daily interactions involve such activities; hence, they are the most prone to addiction. Indeed, Alexander’s assertions about addiction type 3 are valid. This is because of the increasing numbers of peoples checking into rehabilitative support groups, and the increased legal cases involving internet games addictions. An example was the litigation of the NCsoft Company, a manufacturer of video games. Smallwood sued the company because of his addiction to the Lineage II game. The case was not dismissed as a frivolous suit; thus, the judges found it valid to go through trial. Additionally, countries such as China and Korea consider video games addiction as the primary cause of health complications in their country. Moreover, Addiction 3 factors are gaining commendable attention from researches, medics and the legal world. There are more video game cases on litigation in the subsequent years. Online game producers are also compelled to display warning signs to the members. There are also compelled to derive safer methods to playing these games. Learning institutions and work places have installed devices to obstruct social sites and internet games. This is because of the perceived concern of the effects of internet addictions on time management and work quality. The human nature is viable to irrepressible compulsion thus everyone can easily be addicted. He asserts that addiction is an extrapolated human condition

Create a Timeline highlighting the changes in political parties Essay

Create a Timeline highlighting the changes in political parties - Essay Example This paper will basically have to objectives firstly, give a description of the contributions that capitalism, agriculture, and industrialization have had on economics, economic development, regional specialization, and social reform, taking into consideration the timeline between 1780 to 1850, and the contributions that democracy has had on the market revolution. Secondly, it will identify the beginning of American expansionism, how it has shaped foreign relations and the contributions expansionism has had on the growth of democracy. From 1823 to 1836 most individuals were farmers: trading and industrialization were very minimal. Capitalism at that time was known as mercantilism in that it trade was controlled by the government, powerful individuals and monopolies (Hollis, 2008). It is evident that in the absence of a democracy, aristocracy is bound to prevail in that a small group of people control power and the economy. Lack of democracy before the period of 1780 to 1850 limited t he poor and powerless in that they had no chance to engage in any economic activity, only the powerful and rich could freely participate (Hollis, 2008). The ownership of land and harvesting of agricultural products in 1790s ensured food security. Individuals owned lands in which they cultivated resulting in a surplus production of food. This led them to sell the surplus food to other people who did not produce food. Individuals could also sell their agricultural products to other people who produced different products from theirs. People wanted to protect and invest their acquired properties, this required peace and so, they avoided war at all cost. The idea of individuals owning their own property made the government to let individuals participate freely in political matters. This participation in turn led to social reforms. Individuals from minority groups could become political leaders fighting for their own course (Mohl, 1997). The advent of capitalism ensured that individuals c ould own private property. Many scholars throughout the years have argued that a clear democracy results from a capitalist industrialization. Furthermore, democracy will flourish in a society that has strongly embraced individual responsibility. The new civilization that rose from 1780s was supported by the pillars of capitalism and democracy. Capitalism brings about democracy when individuals pursue their self-interest which in turn leads to social harmony (Sanders, 1999). In capitalism, many people benefit from one person’s self-interest economic. Capitalism and democracy ensured that the state and the economy were strictly separated. Individual rights and also rights for private ownership in 1780s were more respected since that was part of democracy. All in all the growth of democracy was spear headed by capitalism because of the recognition it had on individuals owning their lives and property as long as they do not harm others (Joy, 2003). Regional specialization was hig hly seen in the 1820s in America, the South had big plantations and exported agriculture while the people in the North focused on trade and business. Most agricultural products came from the South, since they had big plantations the South was the sole exporter of agricultural products. On the other, hand putting up steel manufacturing industry in Pennsylvania brought about regional

2010 health care reform law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

2010 health care reform law - Essay Example Without being included in the exception, an individual that must be under coverage and remains without health insurance, faces the fine of $95 per adult and $47.50 per child (up to $285 per family) or 1.0% of the family income, whichever is greater† for this year and the fine increases annually (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014). This reiterates that information must be further disseminated and the need to encourage individual participation. The cooperation of employers is also an important aspect in the success of the program. They must be re-oriented of the policies contained in the law to aid them in choosing the best health insurance policy to implement. The dilemma of small employers and of those self-employed in higher income brackets who often wish to ignore it due to the financial burden it inflicts must be addressed. The tax credit system and the exchanges, federal or not, provide for choices that should keep them on track (Klein, 2012). Kaiser Family Foundation. (2014). The requirement to buy coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from http://kff.org/infographic/the-requirement-to-buy-coverage-under-the-affordable-care-act/ Klein, K.E. (2012, Oct. 4). What Obamacare means for small employers in 2013. Businessweek. Retrieved from

Has grammar teaching ever really gone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Has grammar teaching ever really gone - Essay Example It has been argued further that linguists should be additionally responsive towards the relations among their research and the school syllabus (Weaver, 1996, p. 321). Grammar plays a key role not only in English language but also in every language around the globe. Although there are still altered beliefs regarding the significance as well as outcome of the grammar education, the majority of educators put a lot more importance to the grammar teaching within the foreign language education. As a result, for a long period, the grammar teaching has been considered as the major factor for the second language education. Some studies recommend teaching grammar by using the method of deduction. After describing the grammar rules comprehensively, educators in learning courses order students to keep the rules in mind and combine them by paraphrasing approach (Weaver, 1996, p. 332). It is based on the oral language education and view sentence as the component, as a result generating language tradition naturally via reproducing, rehearsing, as well as committing it to memory. The purpose of using cognitive method is the significant education along with practice. While applying cognitive approach to any foreign language, one can notice that it takes over the distinctive features of grammar teaching highlighted in the ‘Grammar Translation Method’. However, it pays no attention to the negative aspects of over-stressing syntactic rules and heavily overly depending on translation. Often CLT classes are inclined to overlook more or less every aspect of a language apart from speaking. Grammar is overlooked, articulation is overlooked, terminology is overlooked, and reading as well as writing is also overlooked. The most unpleasant situation is the result of devastating neglect of grammar during CLT classes. It plainly supported by operational importance. However, simultaneously, it still

Innovation and Change Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Innovation and Change - Research Paper Example Change is often taking place in an organization based on the innovations in product, process or strategy. Radical and incremental innovations are usually taking place in the organizational world. Both radical and incremental innovations have the ability to cause huge changes in the organizational world. This paper analyses the importance of innovations and changes in the corporate world. Introduction According to Bordia, et al (2005), â€Å"Innovation is the ability to define and develop new products and services and deliver them to market. It is the fundamental source of value creation in companies and an important enabler of competitive advantage†(Bordia, et al, 2005, p.1). On the other hand Anjani, & Dhanapal (2011) defined organizational Change as a multifaceted process which is much more complex than human behavior. In their opinion, individuals are prone to organizational changes and have a normal inclination to react in the same way towards the type of organizational ch anges (Anjani, & Dhanapal, 2011, p.103). In any case it is a fact that change is inevitable in business or organizational world since science and technology are advancing rapidly. Traditional business principles have given way for innovative business strategies as competition is growing day by day in the business sectors. In fact the whole concept of business has been changed from domestic circles to international circles as a result of globalization and liberalization. It is impossible for a prominent organization to think about doing business only in the domestic circles and survive in the market. As the market is getting increasingly globalized, competition from external players is growing day by day. Changes in business strategies become inevitable under the above context. Innovation triggers many changes in organizations. Many of the traditional business principles have given way for modern business strategies as a result of the innovations in the organizational world. Structur al, functional, managerial, cultural and strategic changes are taking place in modern organizations because of the rapid growth of innovation taking place in and around the organizations. Findings According to Susman et al., (2006) Innovation usually takes place based on products, processes and markets (e.g., new ways to serve customers (Susman et al., 2006, p.16). many people have the illusion that innovation means the development of new products alone. In fact the development of new processes and new business strategies are examples of innovation. Innovations based on products The story of Apple Company is the most relevant example to learn more about how well innovative products change the fortunes of a sick organization. In the 80’s and 90’s Apple struggled to survive in the market because of the heavy competition from arch rival Microsoft. However, during at the beginning of 2000, Apple bounced back from the verge of destruction with the help of its innovative â⠂¬Å"I† series products such as ipod, iphones, ipad, imac, itouch, itunes etc. All these products provided new experiences to the consumers all over the world and many people started to visualize Apple as the most important technological company in the world. Pfizer is another company which used innovative products for the sustainment of their growth. For example, Viagra is a revolutionary product introduced by Pfizer to cater the needs of sexually impotent people. Pfizer

Health and safety management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Health and safety management - Essay Example The employer is in charge of planning, monitoring, implementing programs and systems needed to ensure OHS on its grounds. Joy suggests (2004) that occupational health and safety risks arise from the normal functions, operations and activities and during unexpected incidents and circumstances such as accidents. The employer is in charge of ensuring the correct national and international recognized OHS codes, standards and guidelines are maintained to the fullest. The full effectiveness of OHS systems attracts the inclusion, and significance participation of every employee in implementing and maintaining of procedures and processes. There are a quiet a number of companies that have already implemented the rules that governs the safety of each employee on the ground. An example of such company is Barrick, a mining company. This is a high risk job that requires full safety gears when doing it through out the day at all time. The company reputes itself of being the best in mining industry and the one that protects its employee the best and safest way possible. It is committed to perform each job in a safe and healthy manner, and are strict about work related injuries or illnesses. The rule is that everyone is in charge of their own safety at work. It ensures this by: Governance. It provides Health functions, protection and governance as part of an incorporated framework that includes; environment, community relations and security. It has established a committee which includes representatives from different handy groups. It manages programs and monitors performance, and elevates issues to the next level as required. The board committee provides oversight that focuses on vital trends and issues that improves the company performance. The corporate responsibility committee ensures integration and global alignment, assesses main sustainability risks and offers leadership on policy and tactical issues. On the other hand, the regional committee conducts incidents reviews, implements programs, develops yearly improvements plans and implements activities to meet corporate strategies. As joy described (2004) the site committee is responsible in managing stewardship of programs and sites, manages site – specific issues and raises issues that require regional and corporate attention. Barrick applies a few elements that ensure a smooth running of safety and health management system. 1. Leadership and personal experience Leaders must live and lead by example, acting as role models to junior workers and other staff members. Barrick recognizes only its leaders must take action in promoting and creating a safe work place. This is achieved through evident felt leadership. Safety and health accountability includes; training and appraisal of workers, management and supervisors. Leadership and personal experience is practiced through: Management and leader participation Executive member plays a role in issuing and promoting communications that relates to sa fety and health to each worker. They also carry out safety and health tours of their places of liability and implement a program that recognizes each individual safety performance and safety leadership. The Barrick leaders also hold discussions about safety and health as a way of being role model and providing mentorship through personal behavior. Site, general and project managers openly practices safety and health headship for themselves and their supervisors by enacting personal observance with all safety and health related values.

Survey Design Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Survey Design - Assignment Example Please send back the filled questionnaire within two weeks of receipt. Thank you in advance. The target population for the study is employees and employers in the Department of Veterans Affairs who agree to participate in the study. The reason for the choice of the population are that the employers and employees are mostly affected by workplace conflicts and the ability of resolving workplace conflicts in an amicable manner is beneficial for the employers and employees for work efficiency and effectiveness The chosen sample will consist of 100 employers and employees in the Department of Veteran Affairs. The sample is divided into two strata consisting of 50 employers and 50 employees to ensure the data is collected within the available time and the conclusions are all encompassing in terms of the views and opinions of the employees and the employers. The benefits of the sample chosen include accessibility and allows for the limited time for the research to be enough for completion of the study in a comprehensive manner1. The sampling process to be used is probability random sampling ensuring the selection of an appropriate sample for the study2. Stratified sampling will be in the division of the sample to two strata consisting of employers and employees. The benefits of using stratified random sampling include equitable distribution of the population under study, ensures equitable representation of the two strata in the sample chosen for use in the study, and accounting for the differences in the groups used for the study. The order of the questions has an effect on the responses through providing context for preceding questions. In a survey, having closed-ended questions before open-ended questions result in mentioning of concepts mentioned in earlier close-ended questions in filling open-ended questions. Open-ended questions have order effects in terms of contrast and assimilation effects in questionnaires where

SLP2 599 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

SLP2 599 - Coursework Example Review of Joe Schome’s Strategies Joe did not change prices and research and development allocations for the products for a period of over six years. The strategy adopted was effective in that the company did not make losses. Products X5 and X6 registered profits for all the years. Product X7 made losses for the first three years. However, it improved in performance as the years progressed. Nonetheless, the strategy could not move the company to the next level as expected by Sally Smothers. Moreover, the sales, revenues earned and profits made by the products declined after two years. On the other hand, prices and total costs were maintained for all the years. This means that from the beginning, the profits and sales increased at declining rates. The price for X5 was maintained at $285 and there existed approximately six million customers. Additionally, market saturation was only 15%. However, performance declined and as competition increased, the profitability of X5 declined. By 2015, competition was stiff and market saturation was 94% (Mahajan, Yoram and Eitan 99). The profitability of X5 was only 17%. The price of X6 was also maintained at $430 for all the years. However, X6 also faced stiff competition and by 2015, market saturation was 93%. ... Moreover, it has a lower production cost when compared to the X5 and X6. It also improved in profitability. However, its improvement in performance was at a slow rate. Joe should have encouraged vigorous product development so that the company specializes in production of X7. Generally, Joe’s strategy did not consider the value of customer retention. Hence, first time customers for all the products are high yet repeat sales are low. This also shows that the research and development strategy was not very effective. Proposed Strategies For the first year, the price for X5 should be maintained at $ 285. The research and development allocation should also be maintained at 33%. This would enable the company to make a profit of 16%. In the second year, the company can maintain the price and X5 can be 30% profitable. In 2013, the company can reduce the price as competitors enter the market. This would assist the company to increase sales. The assumption is that the competitors also c harge $285 for X5. The company can charge $280 with the hope of increasing sales from 2,145,622 to 2,500,000. In 2014 and 2015, the company can reduce the price of X5 with the hope of increasing sales. It can also reduce the research and development allocation as it seems to be ineffective. The production of X5 should be discontinued in case customers do not respond positively to the reduction in prices by the end of 2015. This is because there would be stiff competition in 2016 and the number of customers would not be adequate to ensure recovery of production costs. Furthermore, X5 has a very short life cycle. The price of X6 should also be maintained at $430 in 2011and 2012. This would ensure

Play And Physical Health Essay Example for Free

Play And Physical Health Essay Play is characterized by behaviors that are intrinsically motivated and self initiated. It is a process oriented, non-literal and pleasurable activity. it also has other characteristics as being exploratory, among other things (Fromberg, 2002). Play is an encompassing activity that affects the physical (Frost et al. 2001), social (Murata Maeda, 2002), emotional and cognitive development of the child. (Murata Maeda, 2002) Children spend an ample of their time playing. Children interact with their peers and parents most time by playing with them. A lot of their interaction with their parents builds their intellectual prowess. They learn to build social bonds with their family. (Rivkin 1995) . Moreover, interacting with their peers help them to become individuals that are completely incorporated into the society. Interaction with their colleagues sometimes brings about traumatic experiences like inflicting bodily wounds. The effect of what they do might linger with them for the rest of their lives. However sweet the playing experience could be, it can also be nasty. Aside from sharpening the physical and mental agility of a child, playing can also bring upon them serious medical emergencies as a result of accidents. Although play is an important part of sociological interaction, it is one of the major ways by which children learn role playing. Playing is also a way by which children keep themselves healthy. (Murata Maeda, 2002) Play is good for the children but in order for it to bring out the desired results, it must be in the right environment (Rivkin 1995). The environment must be attractive enough to facilitate the play so as to encourage the action. In selecting play objects for children, it is important to consider their abilities and temperament so as not to inadvertently hand them tools that they can use in inflicting bodily harm to themselves and their peers. Also, they must play under the supervision of an older adult to monitor their activities. Play is pleasurable, it is good for the development of the child but it must not be allowed to get out of hand.

Human Computer Interaction Assignment English Language Essay

Human Computer Interaction Assignment English Language Essay Technology has had a big impact on society, as it has made many drastic improvements to the way life in general has changed and improved so much. For instance, technology has improved usability of software and hardware in society. In addition specialised interfaces have helped people with disabilities enabling diversity to take place. Describe the impact of HCI on society, the economy and culture, providing 5 (five) examples of each topic. Society Touch screen phones, using phones is now easier because of the touch screens Input/output Game controllers, game controls allow you to play a game and connect with others by sending messages or attaching a microphone to it to talk Remote control, allows you to remotely control something without being right next to the thing you want to control Head up Display, would be good for drivers since they wont have to look away from the road to see how fast theyre going Economy Text readers, also known as text to speech Voice input, example telling a lamp to switch off and it switches off Thought input, wheel chair users will have the ability to control their wheel chair by just thinking about it Mobile communication, ability to call or text anyone world wide Reduced complexity of input, everything is simple and requires no more than 2-3 options of input Culture Games, allow people to connect with each other allowing one another to have an open mind and talk to different people with different opinions and thoughts Deskilling work, androids/robots will replace the easy things humans do, e.g. at tesco and a few other places you can serve yourself and self-checkout Mobile entertainment, youre now able to watch videos about different cultures with your mobile Laptops, ability to search the internet, interact with others, watch videos Domestic appliances, things like microwaves diswashers Task 2 (P2) Considering that the HCI design principles create a big impact on a users experience of a hardware and software product, explain the Schneiderman (eight rules) and Nielsens ten usability heuristics principles. Remember to explain perception, behaviour models and information processing. Schneiderman Strive for consistency: either it be the consistent same lay out or colours, or the identical terminology used in menus, prompts and help screens, if it is in a similar situation it should all be the same or somewhat similar. Enable frequent users to use shortcuts: A regular user of a device or a certain type of application should have the ability to have a shortcut to things they use the most; this would speed up the work flow. Offer informative feedback: When a user is interacting with their device or application, they should receive feedback that gives them a clear representation and is also understandable. Design dialog to yield closure: A users gets a good feeling when they know there is a flow to what ever theyre doing, that everything is in a chain, one thing has to happen in order for another. For example, sending a message on an application such as whatsapp first you need to add the contact, then the message its self, and then after youve sent the message it shows a D letting you know its been delivered. Offer simple error handling: If something goes wrong with a device, a simple type of hint should pop up to help the user with the problem that occurred. If a certain app crashes it should ask the user if theyd like a error report to be sent. Permit easy reversal of actions: In other words undo this is needed in a HCI because it would prevent any permanent mistakes. Support internal locus of control: a user should receive some what a type of display letting the user know that something is actually happening. Lets say a user attempts to open a app and the app is taking a few seconds to get ready and open up, the user would instinctually think the app didnt respond to his/her touch so he/she will attempt to reopen the app multiple times until the app malfunctions. Reduce short-term memory load: When a user is using a device they shouldnt be thinking about the amount of times theyll need to push a button or what not, it should be a simple click of a button, and with menus it shouldnt require a button push to go up or down it should be a simple scroll bar. Nielsens ten usability heuristics principles Visibility of System Status: The system should have a certain type of way to let the user know what is happening and with a good time. Match between system and the real world: The system should be able to speak the users language, with the correct words and the right concepts and with the right time, so it is communicating clearly with the user User control and freedom: Sometimes when youre using a device in a rush you tend to open random applications and then you have the ability to instantly abort the application, without having to go through the process of the extended dialogue. Consistency and standards: The system should always have continuity across the platform. Error prevention: The better the design is the one with the better error recovery, but also prevents users from making the same errors twice. Recognition rather than recall: The user shouldnt have to remember the information from dialogue to another, it should all be recognisable and visible to the user. Flexibility and efficiency of use: The system should have accelerators, which are unseen to the regular user but they allow the expert user to do things and navigate faster with more frequent actions. Aesthetic and minimalist design: Dialogues shouldnt contain information that is not needed in that specific area, you should always make sure your system is efficiently composed. Help users recognise, diagnose and recover from errors: Error messages and error prompt boxes should explain the problem in plain language without code, and should also precisely indicate whatever the problem may be and also give advice to the user on a solution. Help and documentation: Although a system is better without documentation, it might be necessary to provide the help and documentation, so that any such information should be easily searched for and found. It should also be focused on what the users task is and list the steps to be carried out. Task 3 (P3) McCann Phones a small and up and coming new mobile phone producer has decided to develop a new mobile phone interface for its next series of mobile phones to replace its highly successful first range. The developers have come up with three possible interfaces and they need to decide which one to use. It has been decided to carry out an investigation on the alternatives prior to production. You have the support of the software engineers and production manager so prototypes will be made available to you. As you are the resident usability evaluator it is your task to carry out any necessary survey work and to come up with proposal. Here are the three possible interfaces: The convention qwerty keyboard as used in most computer systems. An alphabetical keyboard (a, b, c, d, e,,z) A keyboard based on frequency of character us (e, t, a, o, n, rz) Design the input and output of your mobile prototype. Choose one of the suggested interfaces and explain why. F:Unit 23 HCITemplate of phone design.jpg Clicking either one of these buttons will open up a certain app/webpage, depending on the one you click, for instance if you click on the one with f will open up a Facebook app or webpage. Reason why Ive added this to my mobile prototype is because people now use these two to communicate with each other, with the button input being there, itll allow you to get in contact faster and easier considering all youd have to do is click a button. Task 4 (P4) The knob in the centre of this washing machine system controls the different fabric washing systems and the settings for rinse and spin. The control does not have a stop in either direction; in other words it continues to go all the way round to the next cycle. Create input and output for this machine which would be best for adjusting the cycle according to the fabric, temperature, speed and timer. You could draw a picture to help you explain the reasons. Provide two new ideas that are not available in the industry. img_0193.jpg Below is what my design would look like and I will be explaining the two things that Ive implemented into my design that havent been used in the industry. 2. Touch screen, everything you input will be touch done via the new sleek touch screen design. Child lock passcode, this will be programmed in a way that it will be child proof, for example if you want to lock your machine after it has started and keep every button locked, youll enter the child lock. It is designed in a way so that no matter what you push nothing will be happening but to deactivate the lock youll first have to enter the first 2 digits right, this will then enable you to see what youre inputting and then you enter the rest of your passlock to unlock the machine. G:Unit 23 HCITask 4 Design 1.png Task 5 (P5) Based on the case scenario before, explain how you would test your system according to its functionality. Comment on the usefulness of such system and point out any drawbacks. Testing the system child lock To test the system youll first have to enter a child lock pass lock and then attempt to push any of the touch screen buttons and see if anything happens, and nothing should happen if the system is correctly made. This will be useful considering little children love to stand beside the washing machine when its spinning and tend to push buttons, but with the child lock they wont be able to push any buttons. The downside to this system is that the password is 4 digits long and to have half access to the system youll have to correctly enter the first 2 digits otherwise youd just be pushing the keys and nothing would be happening, so the drawback would be if you forgot the passcode you would have to end up calling the company to come and reset your password. Testing the touch screen To test this youll have to push what you want, for example, cotton, with 50 degrees Celsius and then on high spin, if the system is working properly it would input the material first and then the temperature and then lastly the amount of spins it will be doing. The touch screen with the options is useful because its simple to use and you can adjust it to the way you want it and wont have to clock the washing machine knob to the way you want it, you just have to input the things you want with a touch of a button. The big drawback to having a touch screen is that if it is dented or broken it will be not be operating properly, it probably wont even be operating at all, so you wont be able to input anything. Task 6 (P6) Bionic vision was once the preserve of futuristic technology shows. However, those Tomorrows World days could soon be reality with a pair of glasses linked to a computer offering hope to thousands of visually impaired people in Britain. Current technology that can give profoundly visually impaired people a form of sight through a retinal implant is expensive and invasive, so developing an affordable, non-invasive alternative would be a welcome improvement. And this is exactly what scientists at the University of Oxford are working on. The technology works by having a tiny video camera mounted on to a pair of glasses, which relays information to a small computer in the users pocket. The computer recognises objects or people and relays the information to the lenses via tiny LED lights. (Light-emitting diode). People would see a bright light within the lenses themselves to indicate an object. The brightness of the light would then indicate how close, or how far away the object was and that may be enough for the wearer to navigate their way around. Using a computer to interpret the world on behalf of the wearer means we could use different coloured lights in the lenses to allow different types of information to be fed back to the wearer explains Dr. Stephen Hicks, research associate in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford. The advances in mobile phone and computer game technology, such as face recognition, tracking software and depth sensors enable the visually impaired to access a whole new host of possibilities. (Extract from Metro, September 19, 2001) Explain how you would design the device and document how you would consider the input, output, the quantitative measures and qualitative measures of effectiveness of your product. This would be designed on a pair of glasses with a lens that is 5cm thick, it would need to be sort of thick to fit in a pair of small LCD screen into each of the lens. The input and out put would work in a way with different bright colours, for example if the area is clear of objects and people it would be a black light with a blue light highlighting the walls so that the user of the glasses doesnt bump into the walls, and if the user is near people it would be a black light with green light highlighting approximately where the object or person is so that the user doesnt bump into them. If its dark at night instead of the backgrounds being black they would be white and objects, people and walls would be highlighted with purple. The glasses would also be implemented with a vibrator and a sound card to make beeping noises when someone gets close to an object within a close radius of 50 centre meters, and depending on how low/high the object is, it will make a beep vibrate, the user has the ability to switch one of these of. Each beep and vibrate will have a different meaning for example if a object is really close to the person and they can walk over it, it would simple beep twice and vibrate twice, just in case they didnt hear the beep. C:Usershijh0736Pictures48416_1 copy.jpg Ear piece attached to the glasses that goes into the users ear, it sends beeping signals depending on the diameter of how close they are to a object, they can get the settings changed from where they where given the product, just in case the beeping gets annoying or they want to change the frequency of the beeping. LCD screen projecting lights, black background, with green to represent a object. If the person that is vision impaired isnt impaired badly, then they can ask someone to change the settings of the screen so that the black background is taken away and it is just see through but it would still highlight objects as green. If the person that is vision impaired is badly impaired, no need to worry their is a ear piece that also helps, with beeping when coming in close contact to a object. Submission Date: Week commencing, 22nd October 2012 in class Failure to submit on time is a serious concern. Please read your Rules Regulations. Any request for EXTENSION needs to be made in writing to the subject lecturer and copy to Tutor. GUIDE LINES FOR COMPLETING THE ASSIGNMENT Please attach the complete cover sheet with your coursework. Make sure your read all of the tasks in this assignment before you start. Create your assignment in one Word document. Please write in your own words. Proof read and spell check your work. Reference your work by providing bibliography/source table on a separate sheet in the same document of all the books, websites, notes, etc. Ensure the assignment presentation is clear and that the tasks are identified with the appropriate task numbers and the grading criterion. Include your name in the header, unit no, title, appropriate file name and path, page numbers in the footer. Submit on time via Moodle (final submission). Save a copy of your work on the WKC server this is important and a requirement. Presentation of your Assignment The work will use correct paragraphing, formal grammar, tenses and spelling. The pages of the assignment will be consecutively numbered. The correct cover sheet must be submitted with your assignment. Assessment Policy BTEC Courses Students will be permitted to go through a draft with the lecturer during a workshop determined by the lecturer. If you do not attend this workshop, your draft will not be checked. They will then be expected to hand in the assignment on the due date and time as specified on the assessment brief and the AR1 (assessment plan). Late submissions are capped at a Pass unless you have extenuating circumstances and have explained these to the tutor prior to the submission date. You are entitled to one resubmission with the Pass criteria in the closed book assessment For the Merit and Distinction criteria, anybody who is unable to achieve on first submission will be require to sit a closed book assessment at the end of the semester. REFERENCING and BIBLIOGRAPHY The Harvard Referencing System will be used conventionally to identify all secondary research A conventional and complete Bibliography using the Harvard Referencing System will be included. Please note that you are NOT allowed to include any reference from the Wikipedia website your assessment may be adversely graded if Wikipedia features in the referencing or Bibliography. Please see the example below for how a Bibliography should be formatted: Example Bibliography Books Grbich, C. (2007). Qualitative Data Analysis: an introduction. London, Sage Publications Ltd. Hart, C. (2005). Doing your Masters Dissertation. London, Sage Publications Ltd. Journal Articles Abdullah, F. (2006). Measuring Service Quality in higher education: HEdPERF versus SERVPERF. Marketing Intelligence and Planning 24(1): 31-47. Bignold, D. (2006). Schooled and Tooled. Caterer Hotelkeeper 10th August 2006: 23-26.

Benefits Of Mangroves Forests Environmental Sciences Essay

Benefits Of Mangroves Forests Environmental Sciences Essay The general distribution of mangrove forests are in both tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world with them only being found at latitudes of 25oN and 25oS of the equator and in as high latitudes as 32 oC which is in 117 countries (Barbier Cox 2003) where the sea surface temperature does not get lower then 16oC because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures. According to literature, it is estimated that 75% of the worlds mangrove forests are found in 15 countries (Giri, et al 2011). The proportions of mangrove forests found throughout the world are as follows (Giri et al 2011): Asia: 42% Africa: 21% North/Central America: 15% Oceana: 12% South America: 11% Mangrove forests inhabit tidal areas which include estuaries which receive a somewhat indirect tidal influence and marine shorelines which receive direct tidal influences. The forest is flushed by seawater which is brought in by high tide that inundates the forest floor for an extended period each day and at low tides the water recedes. Due to evapouration, the soil salinity becomes concentrated and raises to high levels (NOAA 2010). Benefits of mangrove forests According to Ronnback (1999) some of the products that can be had from mangrove forests are as follows: Fuel which includes firewood, charcoal and alcohol Construction material such as timber for scaffolds and heavy construction, Beams, poles, flooring, panelling, etc. Fishing: poles for fish traps, fish attracting shelters, fishing floats, fish poison and tannins for net and line preservation Food and beverages: fish, Crustaceans, Molluscs and Other fauna. Vegetables from propagules, fruit and leaves, Tea substitutes,Alcohol,Vinegar and Fermented drinks Household items: Furniture,Glue,Wax,Household utensils, Incense and Matchsticks Textiles and leather: Fur, skins, Synthetic fibres (e.g. rayon),Dye for cloth and Tannins for leather preservation Other products very useful products that can be harvested from mangrove forests are: Fish, shellfish and mangrove roots for aquarium trade Medicines from bark, leaves, fruits and seeds Fodder for cattle, goats and camels Fertilisers Lime Paper Raw material for handicraft Cigarette wrappers Ecosystems services obtain from the mangrove resource are as follows (Ronnback 1999): Acts as a natural sea defence Provides biophysical support for coastal ecosystems Provides biological regulation of ecosystem processes and functions Production of oxygen It functions as a carbon sink so it will have an impact on local and global climate It sustains the livelihood of global communities Heritage, cultural, spiritual and religious values Educational and scientific information Recreation and tourism Statement of the Problem In the years gone by mangrove forests were being increasingly destroyed by persons that are seeking a livelihood or just see the mangroves as a cheap and readily available fuel source. This leads to each one of these so called users to try to exploit this resource to their maximum benefit and cannot be prevented from doing so (free rider problem) because this resource is what we call common property which further contributes to the destruction and degradation of mangroves since there is no defined ownership or responsibilities towards the resource. In recent years many countries especially developing countries have begun to increase their economic activity in pursuit of development from which the pollution negatively affect the mangroves either directly or indirectly. Causes of mangrove degradation and destruction Negative Externalities Firstly, we know that a negative externality occurs when an individual, a group or firm makes a decision that only makes consideration for direct costs of production and not the costs of pollution caused by the consumption of the good and services produced i.e. they make a decision to produce certain goods and services which negatively affect third parties and the environment in the form of pollution whether it be air, water, etc. This pollution in some cases are unregulated which causes market inefficiency because the cost of pollution cause by the consumption of goods and services will not be reflected in the market price proposed (Helbling 2012). In the case of mangroves, there are a number of activities produce negative externalities that affect this ecosystem and cause extensive degradation and destruction. Some of the main ones are as follows (Kathiresan 2012): Agricultural expansion and encroachment e.g. vast expansion of aquaculture farms that produce shrimp in countries such as Honduras, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, et cetera. This is also a result of increase population growth and the demand for food which requires more land to keep up with this demand so in essence its land scarcity that causes the encroachment into the mangrove forests and the land to be converted. Urbanization e.g. in Haiti mangrove mudflats are being cleared to build homes Cutting for timber, fuel and charcoal e.g. in Haiti vast areas of mangrove forests are decertified by poor farmers desperately trying to making a living from charcoal making Prevention of freshwater flow and tidal flow e.g. in Guyana when the Berbice River Bridge was first constructed, it cut off some of the tidal flow of water to a section of the mangrove forest through which it passes which caused part of the forest to start dying off Pollution e.g. in Guyana haphazardly disposed plastic bottles used in the beverage industry end up in the drains and make the way out into the sea and are washed back up on shore and are trapped in the mangrove forests where they accumulate to very large amounts and cause extensive pollution This negative externality problem can also be as a result of unallocated property rights (Schenk 2002). Even Though the mangrove resource common property status would be changed through regulation, the fact remain that the air above the mangroves and the water surrounding them (both surface and ground) are still considered as common property so anyone that are involved in economic activities cannot be told not to pollute the air over the mangrove or not to pollute the surface and ground water resources beneath the mangroves because in actuality no owns them; hence the surrounding resources will collapse as described in the Tragedy of the Commons (Hardin 1968). When the air and water (surface and ground) are polluted they will cause a great amount of degradation and destruction to the mangrove forests which will cause them to reduce in area. This has been so extensive in some areas of the world; those areas which once had mangroves are today completely without because of all the unregulated negative externalities cause by economic activities over the years (Baten 2009). Common Property Common property is basically any resource that is considered shared property or have no specific ownership or property rights and this includes a wide range of natural resources along with the goods and services that can be derived from them (Wade 1987). In many countries the mangrove forests are considered as common property in which a lot of individuals use the mangrove forest as a means of making a livelihood by harvesting its various products such as wild meat, timber, fish, shrimp, et cetera. According to Hardin (1968) in an essay titled The Tragedy of the Commons from which he basically emphasized that every individual using the resource (in this case the mangrove forest) will seek to maximize his/her benefits that are being derived from the forest and as result of this the resource will be doomed to overuse which will cause the ecosystem to become depleted and eventually collapse. This problem is evident in many countries worldwide especially in the third world countries where people consider harvesting the timber from mangrove forest is a cheap and affordable source of energy so this leads to widespread degradation and destruction (Scherr and Yadav 1996). For example in Guyana, mangrove timber was used as a source of fuel in cremation and other religious ceremonies. This was also practiced among the Hindustani community in Suriname. Solutions Negative Externalities The problem of negative externalities can be solved by the parties that are involved and one of the most common ways of doing this is through a political process that is called a tacit agreement. In this system, governments are elected that represent the citizens and to come to compromises in certain interests (Hussain 2011). In the case of the mangroves, what happens is that governments pass laws and regulations to address the negative externalities that affect the mangrove forests e.g. in countries such as Guyana, Fiji, et cetera there has been implementation of mangrove management plans that set standards, targets and processing requirements as it relates to mangroves so that destruction and degradation will be reduced. This is what is known as Command and Control Regulations which also includes environmental taxing reforms (Pigouvian taxes) where each unit of pollution is taxed (Hussain 2011) e.g. environmental tax on plastic bottles used in the beverage industry of Guyana tradable pollution permits or the creation of markets for ecological services similar to those that are used in Europe. Another strategy that can be used is through bargaining in which stakeholders can come together and come to common grounds to bring about and efficient outcome without government intervention which would put stricter sanctions on the use of the mangrove resource and this is known as the Coase Theorem (1960). This was put into practice in Jamaica to reduce the rate of deforestation of the mangrove forests as well as other forest types on lands that are privately owned. Common Property According to Hardin (1968) and others suggested the most likely solution to The Tragedy of the Commons is to impose some form of regulation on the small scale livelihood activities that utilize this natural resource since it would be in the best interest to society for this to be done. This regulation is also needed because if this ecosystem collapses, there will be a great cost that will be bourne by all of society since the many ecosystem services such as coastal protection, erosion protection, et cetera will be lost. In Guyana, the common properties status of mangrove was somewhat eliminated by designation the responsibilities of the mangrove resource to the Guyana Work Services Group (WSG) which have responsibility for sea defences and this include the mangrove resource (Guyana Mangrove Action Project 2011). Regarding the legislation that was needed to make this solution more efficient, a legislative review indicated that mangrove protection to more will be more efficient when loopholes are closed. Fortunately the legislative framework for immediate protection already existed and as it was within the power of the Minister of Agriculture to declare any tree a protected species and this was done (Guyana Mangrove Action Project 2011). On January 29, 2010 the Minister of Agriculture amended to Regulation 17 of the Principal Regulations by the substitution of the following (Guyana Mangrove Action Project 2011): Protected Trees 17. (1) No bullet-wood tree or red, black or white mangrove trees shall be felled without first obtaining the permission in writing of an authorized forest officer not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Forests (GoG 2009) so this effectively listed the mangrove as a special category under the GFCs code of practice. Rangers called mangrove wardens were also trained and hired then stationed in a newly established mangrove management units which has the responsibility to regulate any activities taking place within the mangrove forests. Since the implementation of this plan, there has been a positive response in the acreage of the mangroves forest. There has actually been an increase in the area of mangrove forests on Guyanas coast and this has been possible through revegetation and afforestation programmes (Guyana Mangrove Action Project 2011). There has even been natural mangrove regeneration in areas where there hasnt been any growth in many decades because of the unregulated usage that was previously allowed. Discussion In the solution that was used to curb the negative externalities that affected the mangrove resource what was done is that by implementing the environmental tax on goods and services, the cost of the damage that was done to the resource was internalised into the market prices of the goods and service that were produced by the industries which were negatively affecting the resource directly or indirectly. Hence the cost of the damages done to the mangroves was no longer an external cost and this eliminated this inefficiency that was present beforehand (Pigou 1920). Although Pigouvian taxes are an efficient ways of handling the negative externalities that would affect the mangrove resource because basically the more the tax is raised, the more incentive there will be to reduce the level of negative externalities (Mankiw 1998). However, Carlton and Loury (1980) argued that a pure Pigouvian tax instrument will fail to address this problem over the long run so it must be combined with other instruments such as technology and performance standards. With the solution taken toward the common property problem, the strategy simply just reduced the level of access to the mangrove forest which was done using governmental policies that now restricts the way in which the resource is used i.e. a command and control regulation. This system by itself is inefficient hence so they would have to be combined with an incentive or market based solution in the form of fines for breaching the newly set policies hence individuals and firms will have an incentive to follow the policies in order to avoid having to pay the fines (U.S Environmental Protection Agency 2010). Conclusion In the past because of the open-access or common property nature of the mangrove resource we saw that most of the market benefits where only gained by a few select individuals or firms while the non-consumptive benefits (erosion protection, oxygen production, carbon sequestration, et cetera) which could benefit all of society was only short lived. Now that that resource is regulated we can see that it will stay intact for longer periods of time and we can see society benefiting more from it because the non-consumptive benefits (marginal benefits) would be increased and the marginal cost of the resource to society would be decreased.

Free YGB Essay: Genre and Plot of Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown :: Young Goodman Brown YGB

Young Goodman Brown:Â   Genre and Plot Young Goodman Brown is a short story; that is, it is a relatively brief narrative of prose fiction (ranging in length from 500 to 20,000 words) characterized by considerably more unity and compression in all its partstheme, plot, structure, character, setting, moodthan the novel. In the story we are considering, the situation is this: One evening near sunset sometime in the late seventeenth century, Goodman Brown, a young man who has been married only three months, prepares to leave his home in Salem, Massachusetts, and his pretty young bride, Faith, to go into the forest and spend the night on some mission that he will not disclose other than to say that it must be performed between sunset and sunrise. Although Faith has strong forebodings about his journey and pleads with him to postpone it, Brown is adamant and sets off. His business is evil by his own admission; he does not state what it is specifically, but it becomes apparent to the reader that it involves attending a witches' Sabbath in the forest, a remarkable action in view of the picture of Brown, drawn early in the story, as a professing Christian who admonishes his wife to pray and who intends to lead an exemplary life after this one night. The rising action begins when Brown, having left the village, enters the dark, gloomy, and probably haunted forest. He has not gone far before he meets the Devil in the form of a middle-aged, respectable-looking man whom Brown has made a bargain to meet and accompany on his journey. Perhaps the full realization of who his companion is and what the night may hold in store for him now dawns on Brown, for he makes an effort to return to Salem. It is at best a feeble attempt, however, for, though the Devil does not try to detain him, Brown continues walking with him deeper into the forest. As they go, the Devil shocks Goodman Brown by telling him that his [Brown's) ancestors were religious bigots, cruel exploiters, and practitioners of the black art --- in short, fullfledged servants of the Devil. Further, the young man is told that the very pillars of New England society, church, and state are witches (creatures actually in league with the Devil), lechers, blasphemers, and collaborators with the Devil. Indeed, he sees his childhood Sunday School teacher, now a witch, and overhears the voices of his minister and a deacon of his church as they ride past conversing about the diabolical communion service to which both they and he are going.

Voice of Houstons Past :: essays papers

Voice of Houstons Past For most of American history, African-Americans have been considered and treated as inferiors. Their folksongs and tales have been benignly looked upon as harmless, meaningless expressions of a dull-witted race whose only contribution to American life was a strong back and a weak mind. Even after the Civil War, the ingrown prejudices continued to relegate the freedmen to the bottom rung of a strict caste ladder. Their folklore was repeatedly ignored or belittled. Only since the coming of black awareness, pioneered by men like W. Dubois and Frederick Douglas, has the African American community realized that their culture is uniquely American and singularly important to the understanding and establishment of the American cultural and artistic scene. It is one of the few elements of their heritage that they can look back on and recognize as valuable in America's development. This is the essence of the black folksongs, stories, and art; they fill a void and force recognition of the African American contribution. These superstitions and folklore from the past demonstrate the influences wielded upon African Americans of today, as well as pave the way for a new form of folklore, which is told through art. In order to effectively illustrate the progression and correlation of early African American folklore and the emergence of a new breed of artist, a specific group of artist all utilizing the same type of art form will be discussed. Therefore, the focus of this paper will be on recent African American artist in Houston, Texas; all of whom utilize place-specific art to convey their images and messages. Before discussing the current art movement, it is vital to understand the history of the superstitions and folklore which are the inspiration for Houston's place-specific art. A Brief History of African American Superstition and Folklore Since their arrival on American soil, African Americans have contributed to our collective culture. Their songs, poems, stories, spirituals, and proverbs, while at times reinforcing the white theory of supremacy, gave them a foundation of identity that was passed from generation to generation. The ghost stories and superstitions are probably the best known examples of early black culture. This is because white men used them as a means to prove the black's innate inferiority to whites. They ignored the obvious fact; all cultures posses similar superstitions, even their own. The problem in collecting and evaluating black folklore is the misinterpretation and lack of understanding of early black dialects. "We must read the transcriptions with some care and occasionally wonder what the white man did when they were confronted by sounds strange to their ears; some tried to transcribe the actual sound, but others, assuming

Imagery in Ode to the West Wind by P.B.Shelley Essay

Ode to the West Wind is a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley that shows the correspondence between the inner and the outer world of the poet. It is among his famous poems. The major theme of the poem is the poet’s intention to become a force that may bring the change and rejuvenation in man’s life. This theme is metaphorically shown by the rejuvenation of nature through the west wind as an agent. It is described through his excellent use of imagery in it. One may examine the excellence in the usage of imagery through the way it progresses from the beginning till the end.The poem commences with the imagery of the earth, shifting its attention to the air, then moving towards the water, and finally ending at the fire. Thus, the west wind affects all the four elements of the universe: earth, air, fire and water. All these images are conjured up in one thing-the poet-prophet figure. Before discussing these four imageries, it is necessary, at first, to discuss the symbol of the west wind itself. The west wind symbolizes a force, may be of the God or Christ like figure or of any powerful might that could dominate even the most powerful elements-earth, air, fire, and water. The speaker wants to be both the west wind itself and the objects the west wind spreads. The poet wants himself to be that force so that he may bring some revolution among the mankind. As Shelley says: â€Å"†¦Be thou, Spirit fierce, My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one!† Also, the way in which the west wind carries leaves, seeds, ashes and sparks, he wants himself and his thoughts to be the objects to be spread: â€Å"If I were a dead leaf thou mightest bear; If I were a swift cloud to fly with thee; A wave to pant beneath thy power, and share The impulse of thy strength, only less free Than thou, O uncontrollable!† This unique technique of the structure of the imagery used makes the poem Shelley’s masterpiece. At first, there comes the imagery of the earth. The earth is mostly associated with the femininity-fertility, rebirth, and stability. The juxtaposing of west wind blowing over the entire earth represents the speaker’s desire to recreate and scatter his words. The major imageries related to this theme are the ‘dead leaves’ and the ‘winged seeds’. Both the dead leaves and the winged seeds together show the cyclicality of life on earth. At the outset, the power of the west wind stirs the earth by blowing its leaves. They are shown to scatter in such a way as if they are escaping from an enchanter ‘like ghosts’. This symbolizes the speaker’s inability to control his emotions that carry his message of reform and revolution. Further, the leaves are not the simple leaves but the ‘dead leaves’ with different colors like â€Å"Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red†. This is a visual imagery to arouse the sensual expression of these emotions in the reader. The poet’s thoughts are like the leaves with different ideologies, beliefs and, ideas. The leaves are shown dead because the poet’s thoughts have become dead due to his growing age. By showing this imagery the poet wants to say that his thoughts too have become pale and dead and need some force that may derive them like the leaves. After that this imagery of leaves evolves to the imagery of seeds the ‘winged seeds’. Since his thoughts have become pale and hectic red due to the growing age, he wants the rebirth of his emotions just like the winged seeds. West wind plants seeds in the ground during autumn and when the spring comes the buds grow out of them. They are buried like a corpse in the grave. His thoughts have become the corpse. Now it is the time of their fertility. Thus, we may note Shelley’s skill in showing the birth, life, and decay of his thoughts like the leaves that now need the rebirth like seeds. The poem then progresses to the imagery of second element, the air. The air is the source of communication because it carries thoughts far away. The wind shows its power over the air, too. Due to the west wind the air becomes more powerful which shakes the clouds. As a result rain and lightening is produced. They are the symbol of inspiration and creativity. Even as they destroy, they encourage new life and hope as well. Thus, all these details and descriptions of the imagery of air create a sensory experience of the poet’s inspiration for the creation of such a poetry that may go far beyond his reach and bring the change and revolution far and wide. The next imagery evolves to the third element, the water. Water is associated with the ability to feel and intuition to know. He wants to be closely connected to the west wind’s power over water as well. The West Wind awakens the sea that itself is highly violent. Sea has destroyed many great civilizations with its power. But still the west wind dominates it as well. It influences the water not only at its surface level but also deep inside the sea. Like west wind’s power over the deep sea the speaker requests his thoughts to be found not superficially but deep in the hearts of people. Thus, Shelley uses water as his primary source of poetic inspiration. Shelley shows the representation of natural power versus human power, natural mortality versus human mortality, natural freedom versus human freedom, and natural transformation versus human transformation in stanza 4. The poet’s purpose of describing such imagery is to show, what T.S Eliot calls, the ‘objective correlative’, or ‘objective equivalence’ of his emotions. It is through the powers of west wind that he is capable of describing the emotions in a more pictorial form. Finally,the poet describes the imagery of the fourth element, the fire. The fire is usually the image of hopelessness, destruction and death. This is the reason most of the people interpret the poem as the speaker’s lamentation over his inability to directly reach people. However, it works as the preserver as well. The fire is immediate in its action thus represents action orientation. There are only three images related to the fire-hearth, ashes and sparks. Since hearth is a controllable fire, it might be the case that the poet wanted West Wind or his emotions to be controlled not fleeing ‘like ghosts’. The poet compares his thoughts to the ashes and sparks of hearth. In most of the cultures, there is the fifth element as well which describes something which is beyond the material world. Shelley employs this fifth element as well in his ode. This fifth element for Shelley is the soul, or the spirit of a poet-prophet figure here metaphorically described as the ‘West Wind’. The west wind is the fifth element that dominates other four elements-earth, air, fire and water. Shelley is able to indulge in wish-thinking without seeming to and, at the same time, he can strengthen the virtue of hope in himself. The poem ends optimistically with an image of spring lurking behind the shroud of winter: â€Å"If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind ?† Thus Ode To The West Wind expresses the ardour and aspirations of Shelley, conveyed through the profuse use of images, in rapid and spontaneous flow.The images are drawn , both from the world of reality as well as from the world of abstract imagination.Thus Shelley’s revolutionary idealism is portrayed through the powerful images and impestuous rhythm of his lines.

History of the Ku Kus Klan

The history of mankind is a history of â€Å"repeated injuries and usurpations† on the part of man toward man. In the documents I have asked you to read, the universal rights of the individual–man, woman, and child–are addressed or the question of injustice to a particular group is central. The United Nation writes about the tyranny of one nation over another, while setting forth the rights of man; Mrs. Stanton delineates women's grievances and calls for equal rights for women; in a rich and deep idiom, Sojourner Truth echoes Mrs.Stanton's pleas for justice for all women (black and white; rich and poor; scholar and laborer); Dr. King addresses the oppression of Blacks in the U. S. and calls upon all eople who care about human dignity and human rights to respond; in contrast, Hitler argues for the natural superiority of the Aryan race–his racial theory, though deeply flawed, led to the slaughter of six million peple in the Nazi death camps; the United Natio ns' manifesto is considered the seminal modern document on universal human rights and its Convention on the Rights of the Child â€Å"proclained that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance. The Geneva Accords which set out to establish the treatment of soldiers eventually found it necessary also to lay down rules for the conquered peoples. Everywhere we look today (Haiti, Cuba, Somalia, Sudan, China, Iraq, and other nations singled out for human rights violations–man's inhumanity to man and new theories of â€Å"racial cleansing† lead to the mutilation of man's mind and spirit and to racial and ethnic genocide. Our country does not escape censure.The abuse at Abu Grahib, Amnesty International's recent report that female prisoners are often sold as sex slaves to male inmates in our prisons, the controversies over building a mosque not only at Ground Zero which is an extremely sensitive issue but also in Oklahoma and other places across the nation, and the new immigration laws in Arizona, show that America is failing to uphold human rights and the dignity of the individual both abroad and at home.Your assignment is to write a research paper in which you investigate an injustice that has been perpetrated against an individual or a group here in the United States in the twentieth century. You can drw from past history, such as the shameful treatment of the Bonus Army by the government in 1932, or from current headlines. Requirements: 0. The text of the paper must be 5 typed pages. This means that the body of the paper is approximately 1,500 words.In addition, there is to be a â€Å"Works Cited† page. 0. There is to be a minimum of five sources used. Of these, 4 must be books and 1 may be a scholarly article drawn from an academic database. Internet sources should not be consulted as in most cases it is impossible to check their accuracy. The homepage of specific fringe organizations (such as the Ku Klux Klan) can be used. 0. You must use at least 1 primary source. The paper must use correct MLA format and documentation style.

Romeo and Juliet Tragedy

Tragedy, a dramatic compostion, dealing with a serious and somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of charachter or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate, or society, to downfall or destructon. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is about two young teenagers, Romeo Monatague, and Juliet Capulet who fall deeply in love and are forced to keep their love a secreat in order to prevent the dissapointment of there feuding familes. Romeo and Juliets fate, immature acts, and secrets soon lead up to Romeo and Juliets downfall. Fate is a power that predetemines events and controls destiny. In the story, William Shakesphere is controlling Romeo and Juliet, which brings fate at fault of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. It was fate that brought Romeo and Juliet together, and made their family’s rivalrys. It is also what brought them to their downfall. If Romeo and Juliet had never met at the party, Friar Lawrence had never married them, and Juliets father wasnt forceing her to marry Paris, none of this would have happened. Fate in this story is unavoidable. Frair Lawerence played a huge role in Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. A Friar is looked up to and held responsible alot more. The Frair should have known better then to marry two young teenagers, just to end the families feud. The plan the Friar had to keep Romeo and Juliet together was insufficiently thought out which ultimatly was a major part in the tragedy. Even though Friar Lawerence knows that both the Monatague’s and Capulet’s wont be very happy with his descion to marry them, he still continues to do so. If Frair Lawrence wasnt stupid enough to keep the secreat, none of this would have happened. Juliet would have never dranken the potion, and therefore neither would have Romeo. Romeo’s immature ways also led to the tragedy. Romeo first met Juliet because he needed someone to get over Rosaline, his ex girlfriend. When they first laid eyes on eachother, they supposbly fell in love. Yes, they say it was â€Å"magical,† but it was also dumb. If Romeo wasnt to quick to get married, Juliet would not have as much feelings for Romeo as she did when they were married. Therefore Juliet probley wouldnt have gone through as much as she did to be with Romeo. Romeo made it much more complicated then it had to be by fighting and killing Juliets cousin Tybalt.

Bathroom and Rituals

Nacirema HR 582 Managing Global Diversity Patsy A. Shepherd March 22, 2012 In Body Ritual Among the Nacirema, Horace Miner writes about the strange rituals that people do in America. While reading the story I was almost fooled, but as read further I realized the spoof of Nacirema; Nacirema is American spelled backwards and the references in the myth are the backward strange American everyday rituals. Miner’s word usage made it obvious it was just a myth, words like magical, fascination, bewitched, and mythology gave it away.Miner portrays Americans as a tribe that go through their daily life by performing painful and needed rituals to their bodies. It is not obvious at the beginning of the case study that the tribe Miner is talking about is American people. The rituals they perform mainly focus on the human body, and if Americans skip these rituals we will have a nasty society of individuals. (Miner disguises the bathroom as a cleaning shrine, the medicine chest as the major d evice in the shrine and the hair on a stick as a toothbrush.He describes the shrine as a private and secret place where cleansing and makeup rituals take place. The box and the chest have charms and potions from the medicine men). Harvey, C & Allard, J (2005) Understanding and Managing Diversity: readings, cases and exercises Pearson Prentice Hall 4th edition p. 19 Rituals are ceremonies and most rituals have a purpose. In my observation of Nacirema I want to know why the tribe conducts these types’ rituals. How are the rituals performed? Where are the rituals performed?Tribal rituals play a large part of everyday life in the Nacirema and American culture. Rituals are what we do on a regular basis, repeated over time; that which bring people together; shared beliefs; and loyalty. Many of the events that occur in day to day life in Nacirema are just past down customs, rituals, and beliefs. Many of our customs are a belief system past down from generation to generation. So thei r customs, rituals, and beliefs, are their basis of structure for their entire village, and society. We can’t live without customs, rituals, and beliefs.Without customs, beliefs, and rituals, the people of Nacirema have no explanation for living, or being on Earth. Without customs, there is no reason for doing anything we do. Customs stem from our beliefs, so we have to believe in something. While spending time in Nacirema I realized we have some of the same customs and beliefs. Nacirema’s shrine with a box or chest in the wall is just a bathroom with a medicine cabinet. Small bundles of hog hairs and certain magical powers are simply toothbrushes and toothpaste. Holy Mouth Men are Dentist.Highly formalized series of gestures is the art of brushing teeth. The box and the chest have charms and potions from the medicine men are doctors writing the prescriptions we keep in our medicine cabinets. During my fieldwork in Nacirema from December 2011 to February 2012, I concen trated on investigating the main principles governing Nacirema’s culture. I did my research before arriving in the village, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. I was quite anxious so I interviewed the tribe individually, I asked each individual to tell me what happens in Nacirema on a typical day?How do you feel about me being here? What can you tell me about how Nacirema developed? What do you think should be different, if anything? Also give me just a little background on Nacirema as far as government policies, tourism, business opportunities, and brief me on customs. After my interview session, I learned that these crude rituals are just a sequence of daily activities involving gestures, words, and objects, performed on a daily basis. These daily activities are no different from the daily activities that individuals in America perform on a daily basis.Most individuals spend a lot of time in the bathroom bathing, brushing their teeth, applying makeup, and combing their hair. Would this be considered a ritual? Of course not to me or you it’s just our daily routine. This routine was passed down from my parents to me and to my children the art of hygiene. My three months of fieldwork in Nacirema was no different from my day to day in America, I actually over stayed my welcome, but I didn't want to rush my process. I wanted my evaluations to be honest and I also didn’t want my personal opinions or issues to cloud my judgment.In conclusion I found that Nacirema myths are truths in America. (Notgnishaw, the Pa-To-Mac, and the cherry tree with the Spirit of Truth mean America lies between Canada and Mexico. The Ancient Code/Secret Language true meaning refers to the joke that a doctor’s handwriting is illegible, particularly on prescriptions. An Herbalist is just a Pharmacist. Ritual ablution of the mouth for children true meaning describes cleaning their mouths out with soap if they say something wrong. Men scraping and lacera ting the surface of the face with a sharp instrument is shaving.Women bake their heads in small ovens for about an hour is an old-fashioned hair dryer at a beauty salon. Latipsoh true meaning is a hospital. Thaumaturge and group of vestal maidens are Doctor and nurses. A magic wand in the supplicant’s mouth is a Thermometer. A listener is the local Psychologist. The sociological standpoint is that culture is based on rituals and that each culture defines its reality and acceptable behavior and chooses its authorities by rituals). Miner, Horace â€Å"Body Ritual Among the Nacirema†. Retrieved from http://www. westminster. edu/staff/brennie/wpgroup4/brotn. html on March 20, 2012

Case Study Wal-Mart Essay

Evaluate the general environment of Wal-Mart using the framework in Chapter 2. What are the key opportunities and threats facing Wal-Mart? (This is the â€Å"OT† of a SWOT analysis)Wal-Mart’s builds its stores in towns with a population size of 5000-25,000 people. Wal-Mart has recently started to tap into the more populated city suburbs by building smaller less obtrusive stores in those regions. Wal-Mart targets every age group from infants to senior citizens. Wal-Mart’s geographically places it’s stores in rural less populated areas with very few employment opportunities. Wal-Mart tries to attract all income levels by selling brand name items along with generic brand items. Wal-Mart approaches its global market by evaluating market potential based on economic and political risk, growth potential, and availability of real estate for development. In countries that had became saturated Wal-Mart used acquisitions to acquire ownership. In markets that were not saturated and land was easily accessible Wal-Mart used organic growth. The technology that Wal-Mart uses to run their business is unmatched. They have a network of satellites that can track a person purchase and automatically refurbish those items from suppliers without any human intervention. Wal-Mart maximizes efficiency by using effective technology to gain a competitive advantage. Wal-Mart has grown into a global empire and has become the world largest private employer and the number one retailer in the world. Despite all of this success Wal-Mart still has a huge opportunity to grow. Wal-Mart continues to adapt to the ever-changing economy by remodeling their store and by placing the customer as their number one priority. Wal-Mart took advantage of its rural locations early on and gained a significant competitive advantage, now Wal-Mart is taking on the urban environment by placing stores in the outskirts of major metropolitan areas. At first local residents rejected the idea of having a Wal-Mart in their neighborhood for fear it would drive down property value and unwanted individuals to their suburbanite neighborhood. Wal-Mart quickly resolved this problem by changing the format and size of their stores located in these regions. The only threats to Wal-Mart faces are mostly from within (eg..) lawsuits employee disputes and the threat to become unionized. Use Porter’s Five Forces Model to analyze the global retailing industry. Given this analysis, is the industry attractive or unattractive? Support  your decision. Wal-Mart is a huge threat to new entrants. Wal-Mart has created huge barriers to new entries by offering one stop shopping. Wal-Mart’s Super Centers offer everything from prepared meals to sports gear. Grocery chains have taken a huge hit because of this, even Kmart is feeling the heat, there stock hit rock bottom in 2004. The discount clothing and apparels have also taken a bite from this retail giant. Wal-Mart has produced a very proficient economy of scale from incremental improvements that they have acquired since becoming so large. Manufactures scramble to try and keep up with the huge demand that Wal-Mart places on its suppliers, this further reduces the prices of goods and services for their customers. Small-scale entries are nearly impossible in a region where Wal-Mart is located. Large-scale entries face the retaliation factor when trying to tap into Wal-Mart’s market because suppliers are forced to do things the Wal-Mart way. Wal-Mart has successfully customized many of their products and forced manufactures have been forced to produce the Wal-Mart brand. Wal-Mart has taken total control of the bargaining power of suppliers. Wal-Mart has a small group of buyers based in Bentonville Arkansas that’s in charge of managing the purchasing of all retail stores. Wal-Mart is responsible for selling 35% of all pet food, 24% of all toothpaste, the largest volume of jewelry, groceries, DVDs, CDs, toys, guns, diapers, sporting goods, bedding, and numerous other things. This has put the retail giant in a very favorable negotiating position with suppliers. Wal-Mart has generated a huge market of loyal buyers by supplying them with the lowest possible prices for quality products. With Wal-Mart having such a huge share of the market and good prices there is no need for buyers to seek deals elsewhere. Wal-Mart has proven to be a huge threat of substitute products in several industries for example the jewelry industry, Wal-Mart has become one of the leading jewelry dealers in the North America. Wal-Mart has also created its own brand name for several of its items that have been so successful that manufactures are forced to produce products bearing the Wal-Mart brand. Wal-Mart competitors have to be very calculated with their responses because Wal-Mart is so large it can really drive a business under ground (Kmart). What is Wal-Mart’s business-level strategy? Is the strategy appropriate to offset the forces in the industry? Do you recommend any changes? If not, support your decision why you would not recommend any changes. Wal-Mart uses Integrated Lost Leadership/Differentiation Strategy. Wal-Mart has offset the forces in the industry by creating the most efficient supply chain in the industry. Efficient production has allowed Wal-Mart to keep cost low and pass own saving to its customers. Wal-Mart has successfully used Integrated Cost Leadership/Differentiation Strategy by setting the pace in new technology and adapting quickly to new technologies in their external environment. Concentration on the needs of its core customers (discount retailers), Wal-Mart has created a friendly family environment that’s economically smart and beneficial to its patrons. Flexibility is one of Wal-Mart’s strongest assets, which allows them to complete primary and support activities in ways that allow them to produce somewhat differentiated products at a low cost. I would not personally recommend any changes to this strategy because it has made Wal-Mart the worlds largest retailer. What is your evaluation of the leadership at Wal-Mart?Wal-Mart has become the most successful business in the world through its un-yielding leadership. Mr. Walton has laid the foundation for success for years to come. The leaders at Wal-Mart focus on providing the customer with the highest possible quality at the lowest possible cost. They have redefined the retail industry with their cutting edge technology and flexibility that is un-matched by any competitor. The fact that upper management travel in economy class shows a lot about the character within the organization. The leadership at Wal-Mart has made the world we live in much smaller through economic availability and convenience. The leaders at Wal-Mart are a true example of profit through customer satisfaction. Works Cited Hitt, M., Ireland, R., & Hoskisson, R. (2007), Strategic Management, Competitiveness andGlobalization: Concepts and Cases. 7th ed. Mason: Thomson South-Western(August 21, 2006). Global Labor Strategies: Wal-Mart: The Homefront. RetrievedSeptember 18, 2007,

BIBLIOGRAPHY Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

BIBLIOGRAPHY - Literature review Example Through provision of essential information, the affected individuals become empowered to administer self-medication and live healthy lives, despite being infected with the chronic condition. This document seeks to establish the process on management of the condition. Search strategy Searching for this information began with identification of the condition of focus, diabetes within the context of this search. Following the identification of the topic the specific focus of management of the condition was identified and the search began with the key words being ‘diabetes’ and ‘management’. Various relevant search engines were utilised in identifying relevant information, regarding the topic being searched. The search engines were able to narrow my search, through giving only the key words identified before beginning the online search. The topic dealt with management of diabetes; hence the key words for the search became, ‘management’ and ‘dia betes’. While many articles might be presented when searching for diabetes, narrowing into management brought a minimised are of focus. Being an academic report, various academic sources were identified, with the aim of getting most relevant academic sources for the task being undertaken. The academic sources normally present information which can assist students in learning about their research topics. These sources only contain information regarded as having academic value to users. The Google scholar was very helpful in providing relevant information used in researching on the topic of management of diabetes. This remains the most utilised search engine, which is always readily available within different locations. This search engine provides users with unlimited resources, and its utilisation gave me numerous related articles, which would enhance the quality of the information retrieved. Several online libraries were also accessed. These libraries provided journal article s published in different countries, and detailing commonly employed diabetes management techniques. The information being sought in these libraries sought to define the various methods which are applied in treatment of diabetes. The utilisation of the website meant that I could access many articles, published in different countries and journal within the shortest time possible. The online libraries are normally accessible from different global location, with the same information remaining accessible every time. These libraries significantly reduce the duration taken when researching on a specified topic, like the one identified by this research. The dictionaries also offer information regarding copyrighted material which cannot be accessed online. They give information on where the material can be accessed without any copyright breaching, like publisher details. This information significantly assisted me in getting the correct sources. Other than identifying the topics, article abst racts were immensely helpful in deciding the references to include within my search. While I came across many articles, the selection of many required perusing through the abstracts to determine the relevance of contained information. Through reading the abstracts, I was able to evaluate many articles before selecting the relevant ones towards my research topic. Some articles focused on various elements of the condition and failed to provide essential information towards management of the condition. Others offered vague

Suitors of Queen Elizabeth I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Suitors of Queen Elizabeth I - Essay Example Eventually, it was still Elizabeth's word against them when she said that the people's interests were more important. Centuries after the Queen's death, investigations were being done to claim that indeed, there was a secret marriage with two secret sons to boot. One of the sons accordingly was Francis Bacon, a writer turned critic of the Queen. Whether this was true or not, the Francis Bacon Society is promoting the truth of this belief now. In fact, some of the sources used in this paper come from sirbacon.org, a website for Francis Bacon. Queen Elizabeth was born on September 7, 1533, to Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, King of Great Britain.1 The King then had Catherine of Aragon for a wife who could not bear him a son that he changed the course of his country's history to marry Boleyn. Instead, she bore Elizabeth. Eventually, Anne was charged with incest and beheaded on May 19, 1536, before Elizabeth was even three years old. Meanwhile, Elizabeth grew up but is a reminder to Henry of Anne, Elizabeth was sent away from Court.2 From 1534 to 1585 or for a period of 51 long years, dukes, archdukes, princes, knights, and kings courted Elizabeth. The first suitor on record was Charles, Earl of Angouleme, 3 but the nature of such courtship has not been explained. In 1534, Elizabeth was only a year old, having been born in 1533. 4 Elizabeth became queen on November 17, 1558, at the age of 25. 5 Therefore 21 nobles may have courted her before she was ever crowned, and 13 when she became queen.6 Upon the queen's coronation, Felipe II, the King of Spain, instantly became a suitor, taking after his son, Don Carlos, coming ahead by three years in 1556.7. When she was last being wooed in 1585 she was already 52.8 The Queen died on March 24, 1603, at the age of 70 9 having had 34 principal suitors .10 The list of suitors The following list 11 includes only the principal suitors of queen Elizabeth according to period: 1534, Charles, Earl of Angouleme; 1536, Duke of Orleans et de Chtellerault; 1542-1545, Duke of Bourbon, third son of Francois I; - 1538, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria; 1542, a Prince of Portugal; 1543 James Hamilton, Son of James Hamilton, 2 Earl of Arran; 1544, Prince Felipe; 1547, Sir Thomas Seymour, Baron Seymour of Sudeley; 1551, Brother of the Duke of Guise; 1551, Alfonso D'Este; 1533-1597, Son of Hercules D'Este Duke of Ferrara; and 1551, Son of Cosimo de' Medici, Duke of Florence; - 1552, Prince Frederick of Denmark; 1553, Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire; 1554 Henry Fitzalan, BaronMaltravers, Son of the Earl of Arundel; 1554, Duque de Segorbe; 1554, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, Holy Roman Emperor; 1554, Prince Frederick of Denmark; 1555, Christopher II Zahringen, and 1536, then again in1577, Margrave of Baden; - 1555, Philibert Emanuel, Duke of Savoy; 1556 Prince Eric of Sweden; 1556, Don Carlos (son of Felipe II); 1559, Felipe II; 1559, Prince Eric of Sweden; 1559, Son of Johann Friedrich I, 1556, Duke of Saxony who also tried two years before; 1559, Sir William Pickering; 1559,James Hamilton, 2 Earl of Arran, father of the one who courted the Queen in 1543; - 1559, Henry Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel; 1559, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; 1560, King Eric XVI of Sweden; 1560, Adolphus of Gottorp, Duke of Holstein and Knight of the Garter;  1560,   King Charles IX of France; 1560,   Henri De Valois, Duke of Anjou.