Tuesday, November 26, 2019

History of Slovak immigration essays

History of Slovak immigration essays Course Title: Intercultural Communication History of Slovak immigration in the Pittsburgh area and how the cultural environment affected their cultural habits, communication patterns, lifestyle, and language The dream of one day coming to the United States and making a new fulfilling life has been an ambition for an enormous amount of Slovaks. Since the discovery of the New World, known as North America, thousands of Slovaks have made the attempt to succeed in this Land of Dreams. For most Slovaks, coming to the United States was a highly individualized experience. As time went by, more and more mass migratory movements gained momentum. Why did people want to make the move? Throughout the 17th century, craftsmen moved between European countries, selling their products and services only to return home a short time later. Some occupations did lead to permanent jobs for Slovaks. In the 18th century, with the healthy export of cattle and wine, most Slovaks lived comfortably. Many in the manufacturing and mining industries helped support the living wage and the economy of the time. Only after the Austrians started to take control of the industries did the Slovaks find that a move to America may be necessary. A lot of them came to the Pittsburgh area where they found work in mines and steel mills. This work was similar to the work they did in Slovakia. The countryside was similar, too, because Slovakia is a country with mountains and hills. As a result, people felt comfortable here. In this paper I am going to write about how the cultural environment affected traditions, communication patterns, lifestyle, and language of Slovak immigrants in the Pittsburgh a rea. Once they came, their lives were changed. In this work I interviewed several Slovak immigrants and their descendants who gave me interesting answers to my questions about how their lives were changed since they came to live in another culture. I found some similarities and di...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Minerals That Live on the Earths Surface

Minerals That Live on the Earth's Surface Geologists know about thousands of different minerals locked in rocks, but when rocks are exposed at the Earths surface and fall victim to weathering, just a handful of minerals remain. They are the ingredients of sediment, which over geologic time returns to sedimentary rock. Where the Minerals Go When the mountains crumble to the sea, all of their rocks, whether igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic, break down. Physical or mechanical weathering reduces the rocks to small particles. These break down further by chemical weathering in water and oxygen. Only a few minerals can resist weathering indefinitely: zircon is one and native gold is another. Quartz resists for a very long time, which is why sand, being nearly pure quartz, is so persistent. Given enough time even quartz dissolves into silicic acid, H4SiO4. But most of the silicate minerals that compose rocks turn into solid residues after chemical weathering. These silicate residues are what make up the minerals of the Earths land surface. The olivine, pyroxenes, and amphiboles of igneous or metamorphic rocks react with water and leave behind rusty iron oxides, mostly the minerals goethite and hematite. These are important ingredients in soils, but theyre less common as solid minerals. They also add brown and red colors to sedimentary rocks. Feldspar, the most common silicate mineral group and the main home of aluminum in minerals, reacts with water too. Water pulls out silicon and other cations (CAT-eye-ons), or ions of positive charge, except for aluminum. The feldspar minerals thus turn into hydrated aluminosilicates that are clays. Amazing Clays Clay minerals are not much to look at, but life on Earth depends on them. At the microscopic level, clays are tiny flakes, like mica but infinitely smaller. At the molecular level, clay is a sandwich made of sheets of silica tetrahedra (SiO4) and sheets of magnesium or aluminum hydroxide (Mg(OH)2 and Al(OH)3). Some clays are a proper three-layer sandwich, a Mg/Al layer between two silica layers, while others are open-face sandwiches of two layers. What makes clays so valuable for life is that with their tiny particle size and open-faced construction, they have very large surface areas and can readily accept many substitute cations for their Si, Al and Mg atoms. Oxygen and hydrogen are available in abundance. From the viewpoint of living cells, clay minerals are like machine shops full of tools and power hookups. Indeed, even the building blocks of life- amino acids and other organic molecules- are enlivened by the energetic, catalytic environment of clays. The Makings of Clastic Rocks But back to sediments. With the overwhelming majority of surface minerals consisting of quartz, iron oxides and clay minerals, we have the ingredients of mud. Mud is the geological name of a sediment that is a mixture of particle sizes ranging from sand size (visible) to clay size (invisible), and the worlds rivers steadily deliver mud to the sea and to large lakes and inland basins. That is where the clastic sedimentary rocks are born, sandstone and mudstone and shale in all their variety. The Chemical Precipitates When the mountains are crumbling, much of their mineral content dissolves. This material reenters the rock cycle in other ways than clay, precipitating out of solution to form other surface minerals. Calcium is an important cation in igneous rock minerals, but it plays little part in the clay cycle. Instead, calcium remains in the water, where it affiliates with carbonate ion (CO3). When it becomes concentrated enough in seawater, calcium carbonate comes out of solution as calcite. Living organisms can extract it to build their calcite shells, which also become sediment. Where sulfur is abundant, calcium combines with it as the mineral gypsum. In other settings, sulfur captures dissolved iron and precipitates as pyrite. There is also sodium left over from the breakdown of the silicate minerals. That lingers in the sea until circumstances dry up the brine to a high concentration, when sodium joins chloride to yield solid salt or halite. And what of the dissolved silicic acid? That too is extracted by living organisms to form their microscopic silica skeletons. These rain down upon the seafloor and gradually become chert. Thus every part of the mountains finds a new place in the Earth.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Entry form into United World College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Entry form into United World College - Essay Example In my quest to discover how societies evolved and mankind developed, I would like to visit Peru’s Canal, one of the seats of modern civilization. I am adventurous by nature and history being my strongest interest, I would love to skydive someday or go on a wild trek through the forests of the Amazon. As a child I often used to reflect on the war horror stories and it always made me sad. I could feel the agony of the children who tested HIV positive, I could sense the insecurity that the mentally challenged face day after day. It was disturbing to see small street children having to work for their daily bread when they should be going to school. I used to wonder if there was anyway that the world could share a common goal – to erase poverty and sufferings, if there was anyway that I could contribute my time and talent towards achieving this goal. I wanted to do something different that would make me stand out from the rest, but I did not exactly know how to go about it, what avenues to explore to fulfill my dreams. I had read a lot and knew the power that words and love has. I had heard of Vasudeva Kutumbakam, an Indian phrase which literally means the world is one family. This phrase made a deep impression on my mind so much so that I started praying to God to really make the world one big family, to awaken the consciousness of those constantly at war. I started praying for world peace. My longing for world peace has ignited a burning desire into me to participate in an anti-war march someday, my own little way to make a difference. In my pursuit for a college for higher studies, I came across United World College and was immediately attracted for two reasons – one – students from more than 80 different nations study at the college at any given time. Secondly, community service plays a central role in all the colleges. I instantly made up my mind that this was the place for me. I was particularly drawn to Mahindra United World College of India as

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

ECON Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ECON - Essay Example Comparing answers of A and B above, the opportunity costs of additional 20,000 tons of coal at point B is C. greater than the opportunity costs of additional 20,000 tons of coal at point A. This reflects D. the law of increasing opportunity costs. If soil quality is improved, the initial production possibility frontier shift from left to right as shown by the second new production possibility frontier in graph 2 with a red curve. So the new curve representing effects of improvement of soil is the red curve. D. If Jack acquires a new tool to produce twice as many trains per hour as before without affecting his ability to produce drums, the production possibility frontier adjust to the right as shown below. If both two countries, Greece and Denmark produce oil and wine, the opportunity cost of Greece producing a bottle of wine is 3 barrels of oil, while the opportunity cost of Denmark producing a bottle of wine is 8 barrels of oil. C. If Greece and Denmark consider trading wine and oil with each other, Greece can gain from specialization as long as it can receives more than 3 barrels of oil for each bottle of wine it exports to Denmark. C. If Freedonia and Sylvania specializes in production of goods for which each has comparative advantage, together, the two countries can produce C. 12 million pounds of tea and D. 16 million pounds of potatoes. In addition, If the first bill introduced mandates doubling of security to increase probability of catching a terrorist from 10% to 20% without changing position of the blue curve, the opportunity cost of increased security is A. 15 million visitors per year given that initial numbers of visitors were 55 million at a security of 10%. 2.3 The first bill introduced mandates doubling of security to increase probability of catching a terrorist from 10% to 20%, a situation which is not satisfactory to some. In response, one representative introduced a bill to increase security by additional 10% from 20% to

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Belonging in As You Like It Essay Example for Free

Belonging in As You Like It Essay The need to belong can cause us to develop comforting relationships, powerful social groups, productive workplace teams, and inspiring religious and national bonds. But it can also be responsible for hurtful and damaging behaviour when those who are unable or unwilling to adapt are forced to conform or are completely excluded. These two aspects of belonging are evident in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, and Kevin Costner’s film Dances with Wolves and W. H. Auden’s satiric poem ‘The Unknown Citizen’. Shakespeare makes us aware of the contrasting qualities of the natural harmonious forest (where everyone seems contented and loving) and the corrupt, pompous court, controlled by the usurper Duke Frederick with his use of symbolic juxtaposition and allusion to. His fury over his daughter’s close relationship with Rosalind (the daughter of the displaced Duke Senior) reinforces their close bond. Celia describes the two of them with a harmonious image from the natural world: â€Å"coupled and inseparable.. like Juno’s swans†. Dramatically, Shakespeare emphasises their closeness by including their good-hearted banter, and having them adopt disguises before entering the forest. Their supportive relationship gives them strength, so that instead of feeling grief as a result of their expulsion from court, they focus on the positive. Celia’s comments help us to see court and forest as binary opposites when she declares â€Å"now go we in content to liberty and not to banishment. † Shakespeare shows us how belonging in a close relationships can bring strength, but how this exclusivity may also be seen as a threat by others. Another text which shows a surprising response to exile is Kevin Costner’s Academy award-winning film â€Å"Dances with Wolves†. In it the main character, John Dunbar voluntarily exiles himself, leaving both his own white American culture, and also the senseless Civil War that he had been fighting in, determined to see the west before it has gone. Even though he had been compelled by tradition, expectation and a sense of duty to serve loyally, he finds himself drawn to establish stronger links with the Dakota Sioux Indians, who were commonly viewed as â€Å"thieves and beggars†. Like Celia in As You Like It, he does not view his exile as banishment, but as an opportunity to escape a restrictive and corrupt society in order to gain a sense of freedom and find spiritually renewal. In addition to Dunbar’s first person narration, the film uses a number of mis-en-scene elements, such as costuming, dialogue and symbolic motifs to show the way John Dunbar is gradually accepted into the Sioux culture. Early in his exile, we see him dressed in full uniform, and hear him using military jargon as he describes burying excess ordinance and trying to mount an adequate defence. After his initial encounters with the Lakota Indians his new-found sense of belonging is evident as he begins to speak their language, and is greeted courteously. A change of identity is indicated by his altered appearance, as he becomes clean-shaven, begins wearing a red shirt and trades his army hat for a knife. The film shows a montage of incidents in which Dunbar adopts Sioux customs, such as eating raw buffalo heart. Dean Semler, the cinematograph-er, uses a red filter and passionate music to depict Dunbar’s sorrow when he is separated from his new friends. Finally, Dunbar’s assimilation into the Lakota culture is evident when he becomes able to speak fluently in Lakota, and falls in love with Stands With a Fist. Id never known who John Dunbar was. But as I heard my Sioux name (â€Å"Dances with Wolves†) called out again and again, I knew who I really was. Costner’s film shows us that humans have a need for relationships, but that we can belong within many different relationships, groups and cultures. Just as Celia and Rosalind establish new relationships in exile and are not troubled by their exclusion from court, Dunbar is restored and fulfilled by his acceptance into a more meaningful and supportive Lakota culture. In contrast to Dunbar’s experiences of belonging, the character of Jaques in â€Å"As You Like It’ shows us that belonging can be impossible for people who are very independent and highly individual. Although he goes into exile willingly he does not accept Duke Senior’s analogy that adversity, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head†. For Jaques, unlike Dunbar, living in exile does not bring rewards and happiness. He insists that he loves to be miserable and to ‘suck melancholy from a song as a weasel sucks eggs†. Shakespeare’s use of such images from nature is very effective in suggesting that, unlike most people, Jaques does not find the experience of being in exile with others either comfortable or necessary. This is evident from his use of highly emotive words to express his dislike of the world around him and his wish to â€Å"Cleanse the foul body of the infected world†. Inevitably his critical, judgmental character makes him an outcast ridiculed for his tears for a wounded stag. Jaques’ depressive nature makes it difficult for him to view life positively as he reveals in his speech on the seven Ages of Man, which finishes with the tragically negative repetition of ‘sans’ (meaning ‘without’) to emphasise the desperate plight of the elderly â€Å"Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything†. When the opportunity arises to return to court, with Duke Senior reinstated, Jaques rejects the idea as he prefers to remain in the ‘abandoned cave’ rather than returning with the others to the trivial pomp of the court. His sense of moral superiority, his inflexibility and his preference for being sombre prevent him from valuing the notion of belonging. Whereas characters like Jaques and Dunbar have the option of choosing whether to belong or not, the ‘unknown citizen’ in W. H. Auden’s satiric poem has been forced to fit in to a tightly run capitalist bureaucracy. The poem takes the form of a eulogy written on the tombstone of this ‘perfect’ member of society, who is only known by his serial number, JS/07 M 378. Auden adopts a formal, prosaic tone to praise the man’s achievements: â€Å"when there was peace, he was for peace When there was war, he went. † The tone of congratulation is clear as the monument praises JS’s life and praises him for being quite ‘normal’. In appearing to praise this ‘saint’ Auden is actually mocking the way those around him in the 1930s blindly relinquished their individuality to the ‘Greater Community’ and he condemns the consumer society which exerts so much control over its citizens. Auden’s oem is laced with irony as the monument extols the virtues of JS who â€Å"had everything necessary to the Modern Man A phonograph, a radio, a car and a Frigidaire. † In this capitalistic conservative society, people are valued for conformist behaviour. The ultimate irony is conveyed in the patronising final lines: â€Å"Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong, we sh ould certainly have heard. † To belong in such a society, Auden suggests, requires people to abandon any search for freedom and happiness as these are, in the authorities’ view, insignificant and irrelevant. Whereas Shakespeare provides Jaques with the opportunity of maintaining his individuality by not belonging, Auden’s speculative vision of the world allows very little opportunity for those who choose not to belong. In contrast to the magical transformative qualities of the forest of Arden in which marriages and reunions abound, Auden’s sterile society depicts the negative behaviour of mindless conformity where individual names are lost, and people are only valued if they can conform to the government’s expectations. The need to belong can force us to adopt conformist behaviour, and can even force humans to live a life of deceit and pretence, as Jaques commented: ‘All the world’s a stage and we are merely players’. Belonging can, on the other hand, provide us with comfort, security, affection and self-worth. The need to belong is certainly both a gift and a curse.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Fascist America: How Close Are We? Essay -- essays research papers

The idea that America is turning fascist has been popular on the Left for as long as I can remember: in the 1960s, when antiwar radicals raged against the Machine, this kind of hyperbole dominated campus political discourse and even made its way into the mainstream. When the radical Weather Underground went into ultra-Left meltdown and began issuing incoherent "communiquà ©s" to an indifferent American public, they invariably signed off by declaring: "Death to the fascist insect pig that preys on the life of the people!" Such rhetoric, too overheated for American tastes, was quite obviously an exaggeration: America in the 1960s was no more "fascistic" than miniskirts, Hula Hoops, and the rhyming demagoguery of Spiro T. Agnew. Furthermore, we weren't even close to fascism, as the downfall of Richard M. Nixon made all too clear to whatever incipient authoritarians were nurtured at the breast of the GOP. Back in those halcyon days, America was, in effect, practically immune from the fascist virus that had wreaked such havoc in Europe and Asia in previous decades: there was a kind of innocence, back then, that acted as a vaccine against this dreaded affliction. Fascism – the demonic offspring of war – was practically a stranger to American soil. After all, it had been a century since America had been a battleground, and the sense of invulnerability that is the hallmark of youth permeated our politics and culture. Nothing could hurt us: we were forever young. But as we moved into the new millennium, Americans acquired a sense of their own mortality: an acute awareness that we could be hurt, and badly. That is the legacy of 9/11. Blessed with a double bulwark against foreign invasion – the Atlantic and Pacific oceans – America hasn't experienced the atomizing effects of large-scale military conflict on its soil since the Civil War. On that occasion, you'll remember, Lincoln, the "Great Emancipator," nearly emancipated the U.S. government from the chains of the Constitution by shutting down newspapers, jailing his political opponents, and cutting a swathe of destruction through the South, which was occupied and treated like a conquered province years after Lee surrendered. He was the closest to a dictator that any American president has come – but George W. Bush may well surpass him, given the possibilities that now prese... ...tting out all political opposition, and arresting thousands on account of their political and religious convictions – in Uzbekistan. How far are such people from rationalizing the same sort of regime in the U.S.? At least one prominent neocon has made the case for censorship, in the name of maintaining "morality" – but now, it seems to me, the "national security" rationalization will do just as well, if not better. McConnell is right that we are not yet in the grip of a fully developed fascist system, and the conservative movement is far from thoroughly neoconized. But we are a single terrorist incident away from all that: a bomb placed in a mall or on the Golden Gate Bridge, or a biological attack of some kind, could sweep away the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and two centuries of legal, political, and cultural traditions – all of it wiped out in a single instant, by means of a single act that would tip the balance and push us into the abyss of post-Constitutional history. The trap is readied, baited, and waiting to be sprung. Whether the American people will fall into it when the time comes: that is the nightmare that haunts the dreams of patriots.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Cultural Competence in Mental Health Treatment Essay

Trimble’s chapter on â€Å"Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Competence† brings a number of questions to mind, the most important of which seems to be the following: ‘Are psychologists expected to know about all cultures or ethnicities in the United States today? ’ Multicultural course content is expected to enhance students’ understanding of different cultures before they enter the workplace. All the same, it is virtually impossible for a psychologist to learn about all cultures that he or she would be interacting with in the course of his or her career. I would love to believe that the stages of cultural competence development end with â€Å"cultural blindness (Trimble). † Nevertheless, I realize the importance of understanding all possible cultures that I would be interacting with during the course of my career as a psychologist. I must reach the stage of â€Å"cultural proficiency (Trimble). † As a matter of fact, I had a vague understanding of this goal even before I had read Trimble’s chapter on cultural competency. For this reason I had begun to read and watch movies about foreign cultures several years back. Needless to say, it amazes me that people from foreign cultures hold beliefs that are sometimes very different from my own. Moreover, it strengthens my belief that psychologists must understand the different cultures that they interact with. In my opinion, empathy – on the part of the psychologist – is the foremost requirement in a therapeutic relationship. At the same time, however, it is clear to me that psychologists who understand different cultures would be especially empathetic to people who represent those cultures. As an example, Latino psychologists may be especially empathetic toward their Latino clients. Furthermore, the job description of a psychologist cannot admit discrimination, racism, or prejudices. After all, mental health is a requirement of all people. Yet another challenge posed by diversity is that of different moral codes that have been adopted by different cultures and/or races. While multicultural course content could go a long way in helping the psychologist meet the challenges of diversity, it is crucial for psychologists who are introduced to new cultures for the first time to interview their clients on the basis of their cultural beliefs in the first instance. I state this with confidence based on experience, as I have had the opportunity to interview an individual whose belief system I could never have comprehended if I had not asked her questions relevant to her culture. It was important to ask questions relevant to her culture because it was possible for me to consider that her thought patterns needed serious reordering if I was not aware that her thought patterns actually stemmed from different cultural beliefs altogether. Hence, it was vital to frame the interview questions such that the interviewee would be allowed to explain her cultural beliefs while describing her problem. A Case Study The following is an excerpt from an interview report to shed more light on the importance of cultural competence in the psychologist’s career. Mrs. A (2007) is a 69 year old Pakistani lady settled with her son’s family in the United States. She has been a green card holder for the past six years. During an interview, she reported having had â€Å"no problem whatsoever† with the American health care system. After all, both her son and daughter-in-law are doctors. Mrs. A suffers severe depression from time to time. In her opinion, it is â€Å"genetic. † From the time she entered the United States, her family has helped her cope with the illness by ensuring that she had access to the doctors whenever required, in addition to medication. According to the senior immigrant, the attitude that her family has shown toward her illness in â€Å"a foreign land† is, indeed, praiseworthy. â€Å"This is how families from my part of the world are meant to behave,† she adds. She further believes that it is her family alone that she can rely on in the foreign land. In the Indo-Pak culture, an individual must be protected and provided for by his or her family. Women must be cared for by their husbands and sons. â€Å"Single women have no place in our culture,† Mrs. A reported. Individualism is replaced by collectivism, as Mrs. A would like her family to look after her interests at all times. In exchange for the time and energy that she has invested in her family thus far, Mrs. A expects help from her family in times of need. She worries, however, that her family would not be able to meet her needs all of the time. As a matter of fact, the possibility that her family might one day find itself impotent in terms of helping her out is a cause of anxiety for the lady. The intense level of anxiety felt by Mrs. A often translates into severe depression. Even though Mrs. A has a large number of friends across the United States, she believes that it is shameful to depend upon friends in stead of family. This belief is also culture-ingrained, seeing that the Americans do not believe that it is embarrassing to ask friends for help. Mrs. A visits her friends quite often, and they visit her too. All the same, they cannot root out the anxiety that lurks in the back of her mind – that, in fact, it is possible for her to be left without family to take care of her needs, whether they are financial or health care needs. The anxiety is intensified by Mrs. A’s concern that the American value system might abruptly change the Muslim-ingrained values of her son and daughter-in-law. Also according to her, it is widely believed in her own part of the world that the American children have no respect for their elders. â€Å"Parents are sent over to nursing homes; and we would never do that† – she stated. Conclusion As the excerpt from Mrs. A’s interview report suggests, it is essential for psychologists to learn about their clients’ thought patterns and belief systems through interviews with questions that are especially framed to shed light on the clients’ thought patterns and belief systems in relation to their cultures. No doubt, â€Å"cultural proficiency† is essential in the psychologist’s career (Trimble). For this reason, the psychologist must conduct research to find out about all cultures that he or she may be interacting with. Even so, the value of the first interview cannot be discounted in terms of learning about the client’s culture. References Mrs. A. (2007). Personal Interview. Trimble, J. E. Chapter 3: Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Competence.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Go and Come Back Essay

The author of Go and come back, Joan Abelove, acutely makes us realize that. The author, Joan Abelove has won many awards for Go and come back; It was chosen as ‘an ALA notable book,’ ‘an ALA best book for young adults,’ and ‘a 1999 Los Angeles Times book prize finalist. ’ Her first book, Go and come back is a fiction based on real places, experiences, and people. The people who live in the village of Poincushmana in Peru only know each other. However, one day, two white women, who are strangers come to Poincushmana to study the people’s lives. Everybody is fascinated and mesmerized by the two white anthropologists, Joanna and Margarita. So, the tribe people allow Joanna and Margarita to live with them in the village. Despite the fact that Joanna and Margarita’s unique behaviors and boxes full of mysterious things seem very interesting to the Peruvian tribe, the main character, Alicia does not like that Joanna and Margarita are going to live in the village. However, due to the fact that Alicia, Joanna, and Margarita are not friends from the beginning, makes this book more impressive. Reading that total strangers have become part of the family, even though when there is no similarity between them, is beautiful enough to warm our hearts. Everybody would be able to feel the line that connects each person in the tribe, including Joanna and Margarita. Although there are no big sensations, the quiet and tranquil friendship between Alicia and Joanna is so intimate that it is enough to make us not lonely, And thus, I want to recommend this book to people who are lonely and apart from their families. Go and comeback made me(whose family is in another country) realize that there is always a line that connects a family, even though the family is 1000 miles apart from each other. Moreover, I also realized that I have a place to return to. For example, at the end of the book , when it is time for Margarita and Joanna to leave, Alicia tells them, â€Å"†Catanhue†, I said, Go and come back. † (177) The word â€Å"Catanhue† was more powerful than â€Å"I love you,† or â€Å"I will never forget you,† or any other words. The phrase, â€Å"Go and come back† to me, seemed like a sign of eternal connection between family. Moreover, Go and come back plant abiding belief in people, about people. For example, when Joanna feels guilty because she thought that she made Margarita sick, Alicia goes to her and tells her, â€Å"How can you think you have such power, to be able to harm people? No, it can’t be. Only if you ate a tabooed food, or asked a witch to cast a spell. People don’t have that kind of power over each other by accident, by chance, for no reason, without spending much time learning to be a witch. No. You can only harm people if you mean to. † (75) Everybody knows that people have power to harm other people. However, influenced by the author’s unique and memorable writing style, we are mysteriously convinced that people do not have such power to harm people. We are strangely assimilated with the author, and Abelove’s writing leads us to have credence in people. Go and come back is a book that people can finish in a short time, despite the fact that it contains a theme that can affect many people, especially people who are lonely. This book tells us that a family is always connected and we all have place to return to. At the end, Joan Abelove’s dreamy yet, realistic style of writing is not a waste of time to explore. In Joan Abelove’s †Go and Come Back,† married women have boyfriends, teen-agers have sex and become mothers, couples invent excuses to slip off to the bushes for amorous encounters and everyone skinny-dips in the river. Were all this activity happening in the Hamptons it would raise an eyebrow or two, but since the ovel takes place in a village in the Peruvian jungle we have to look with fresh eyes, brows at ease. The author did her doctoral research in cultural anthropology in the Amazon jungle more than 25 years ago, and this, her first novel, is based on her experiences there. Instead of narrating events as the pale explorer recording the oddities of the dark savages, she has written the story through the eyes of a young woman in the village who is alternately intrigued and appalled by the behavior of the two strange white women who come to stay for a year. Missionaries pass through and want to change the toilet habits of the Isabo (the fictive name the author gives the people of the region), but the anthropologists are there to observe and take notes. While the narrator, Alicia, does gain a measure of new perspective (she gets a ride in an airplane near the end of the book to see her village from a bird’s-eye view), it is the two visitors, Joanna and Margarita, who change the most. Alicia instructs them in everything from cleanliness to the proper behavior of boyfriends. They learn what it means to be hospitable and generous. Abelove offers us a radical view of property. When the two white women have more sugar, more beads or more liquor than the villagers, the villagers simply take what they want: the sin is in having too much when others have less, not in stealing. When property is theft, theft is proper. We also learn that when you wash a turtle, it will rain. What is work? What is hygiene? What is family? What is death? Alicia explains about sex: †Even little boys who have sex for the first time bring their little girlfriends gifts, just a little something, some fruit or nuts. It is what sex is about, a trade, a barter, an exchange. ‘ †Go and Come Back† provides a nice antidote to the fear that surrounds sex in our culture. It has no steamy scenes of lovemaking, just matter-of-fact conversation and giggling. Abelove’s writing is charming, although in striving for the simple language used between people who don’t understand each other it reads as though intended fo r a younger audience than it really is. There is not enough plot to the novel, but by its end the reader has nonetheless become attached to the characters and their relationships. We are left with a lot to think about in our own culture — why we think the things we think and do the things we do. On the afternoon the white women arrive at her village, Alicia is baffled: Why do they sing songs that have no meaning? †Shboom, shboom† is nice music, but it’s nonsense. After a year of sharing and learning on both sides, she and Joanna listen to a cassette and have this conversation: † ‘What does it say? ‘ I asked. If she talked she wouldn’t cry. ‘It says, †In the end, at the end of it all, the love you have, the friendship you have, the love you are left with, is just the same, is only the same, as the love you gave, the love, the friendship you had for others. ‘ ‘ † ‘Of course,’ I said. Who didn’t know that? ‘That is why it is so important to learn not to be stingy,’ I said. ‘Now, in the end, you finally understand. ‘ † ‘Yes,’ she said. † ‘But your music, your bug music, was telling you that all along. ‘ † ‘Yes. Bu t the Beatles, our bug music, said it a little different. They also are saying that as much love as you have in the end is only how much love you made, how much push-push you did in your life. ‘ † ‘These bugs know something about life, don’t they? ‘ I said. ‘ The lesson: We all live in a yellow submarine, and it’s a good idea to try to understand one another so we can enjoy the ride. I saw this book at one of the big bookstores downtown and just couldn’t take my eyes off the cover. I was fascinated by the pattern of the tattoo and perhaps because it is kinda greenish. I assume this is Alicia’s picture, the main character of the book. The background location was her village of Poincushmana, located deep inside the Peruvian Jungle of Amazon. It was during early 1970s. Alicia’s tribe is called Isabo, the people of little monkeys. â€Å"Go and come back† is said as â€Å"catanhue† in Isabo language to reply when someone says good bye. Alicia, in my opinion, is a sweet and sensitive person. She thinks and considers others’ feeling before she does something or says something so that it wouldn’t hurt people. Alicia felt herself to be less attractive because she is rather serious and skinny compared to Elena, her cousin (also her best friend), who is short, fat, with round cheeks and has a big hearty laugh. Definition of beauty for the Isabos reflects the culture and lifestyle. A beauty is for someone who is fat and round (because eating meat was quite luxurious in the village, perhaps only once a week after the men returned from hunting), has flattened forehead, has bind anklets and wears loads of beads and accessories. Days at the Poincushmana changed one day after two white females (nawa) anthropologists arrived to live with the Isabos for one year, in exchange for medicine supplies. They were doing research for their thesis. It turned out that these two nawa were weird (because they wore pants though they didn’t have penises), stingy (they had so many things and never shared, so the Isabos had to steal from them), lazy (never worked like any of Isabos women, only sitting and writing and asking so many questions) and impolite (they were so dirty and insulting the cleanliness of the village because they didn’t wet their hairs on morning showers while morning is the most important time to start your day). The difference in thinking and sharing is part of one’s upbringing. To survive in their jungle, Alicia and the Isabos were used to share everything (especially food) with everyone. Alcohol is a famous thing in the jungle because its taste and effects to the drinkers could lighten a party, thus the presence of alcohol in the village for the Isabos means party time. In contrast, that wasn’t the case with Margarita and Joanna, because they came from America, they were more used to alcoholic drinks. Alicia and the Isabos only knew their own world so they thought their culture was the correct one. Alicia believed that these nawa were very ignorant about many things, so she tried to help them to understand her culture. I have been to a similar situation so I could feel the confusions, angers and depressions of Margarita and Joanna being strangers in the middle of the Isabos. It’s like whatever you do is always wrong, even though you’ve tried so hard to please them. It’s never going to be enough! Alicia’s decision to adopt one nawa baby emphasised more of her personality. She was only a teenager and still unmarried; young and naive, I suppose. Adopting a nawa baby is surely one big responsibility even for adults in her village. But from Alicia’s perspective, she was just saving a life and it had nothing to do with skin colours. She did try hard to care for the baby. Her motherhood ability was provided by nature (Sure every woman has the thing. Remember when we were young we used to play with dolls and barbies pretending they were our kids? :). As the book is targeted for younger readers, the flow is simple and easy to follow. I could easily imagine how the village looks like with its neat lines of river, houses, path and kitchens, as described by the author. The wordings are a mixture of English and Isabo, which confused me in the beginning. Nevertheless, I could grasp some Isabo words later on to add onto my vocabulary database, how cool is that? hehe†¦ 😉 Cultural clashes on the story reminded me of my first months in the foreign country where I now live. Trust me, we could always learn something good from other cultures by being open-minded (listen more and ask more, that really helps). With that, foreign country would not be so â€Å"foreign† in the end. Hahuetian raibirai, whatever that would be.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Is Odysseus a Hero Essay Example

Is Odysseus a Hero Essay Example Is Odysseus a Hero Essay Is Odysseus a Hero Essay Is Odysseus a Hero? What is a hero? In my opinion, a hero is someone who accomplishes spectacular feats and puts others before himself. According to my definition, Odysseus, the main character in the epic poem The Odyssey, deserves the title of hero. This is due to three reasons; he is skilled in battle, ingenious and loyal. One way a hero accomplishes feats of valor is to have physical prowess, which Odysseus does. Odysseus’ skill in battle was shown throughout the course of the Trojan War, in which he was a military commander.To have survived the entire ten year war, Odysseus must have been very strong and battle hardened, else he would have perished due to his enemies. Another instance where Odysseus’ battle skills were shown was when he blinded the Cyclops with a spear. Not only did he have to be brave to take on the task, he also had the strength and skill to stab the Cyclops in the eye and blind him, ultimately allowed he and his men to escape. If Odysseus did not have the strength to plunge the spear all the way into the Cyclops’ eye, then he wouldn’t have been totally blinded as he was.Odysseus’ strength was exhibited when he strung the bow and killed all of the suitors in his hall after he returned to Ithaca. The bow was so hard to string, that none of the suitors could do it. Odysseus on the other hand, strung the bow without breaking a sweat. He then went on to punish the suitors for attempting to take his kingdom by taking their lives without suffering a single wound. This is the ultimate display of Odysseus’ skill in battle, which can be an instrumental part of being a hero. Being clever and ingenious is another way a hero, such as Odysseus, can accomplish extraordinary feats.A textbook example of the use of intelligence to accomplish a feat is the ending of the Trojan War with the Trojan Horse. Odysseus’ plan was so creative, that the Trojans had no idea that the horse could have been housing enemy forces. It is due to Odysseus’ plan that his forces were able to burn the city of Troy to the ground. Another example of Odysseus’ cleverness is when he told the Cyclops his name was Nhbdy. This way, when the Cyclops wailed that he was blind, the other Cyclopes would think that he was actually blinded by nobody, arousing no suspicion.If Odysseus had told the Cyclops his actual name, the other Cyclopes would have come to aid the blinded Cyclops, which would have been the end of the soldiers. When Odysseus disguised himself as an old man in his own house when he returned to Ithaca, he was definitely using his brain to his advantage. Had he tried to waltz in as himself, the suitors would have evicted, or even killed Odysseus in fear of him. However, Odysseus realized this and disguised himself so he would be of no interest to the suitors as he wasn’t a threat and was later able to retake his throne.Heroes have the responsibility of putting others before themselves and Odysseus does this on occasion by being loyal to his men. For example, when the Cyclops asked Odysseus where his ship was, he lied about its actual location. This is because he did not want to put any more men in danger than he already did. Had he told the Cyclops were his ship actually was, Odysseus’ soldiers could have been endangered but instead he took their lives into account. Another example of Odysseus’ loyalty is when he rescued his scouts from the Lotus Eaters.Odysseus could have chosen to leave the men behind, but he felt it was his responsibility to save them; he was putting their lives ahead of his and risked his own life for his men’s. Loyalty on Odysseus’ part was exhibited once again on the island of Circe. When Circe turned his men into pigs, he chose to stay with Circe and save his men rather than just leave without them. If he wanted to, Odysseus could have left his men behind and continued to Ithaca, but he was loyal and refused to leave the island without them.This proves that he valued their lives over his own and is therefore considered a hero in this regard. Through his skill in battle, intelligence and loyalty, Odysseus has proven to be a hero in all regards. In fact, Odysseus is referred to as a Greek Hero after all. If society didn’t find heroes fit to be looked up to, then there wouldn’t be stories written about them. In reality, heroes are the ones who uphold society for all others and we should be grateful for them.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Understanding IQâ€Intelligence Quotient Scores

Understanding IQ- Intelligence Quotient Scores The measurement of intelligence is a contentious topic, and one that often sparks debate among educators and psychologists. Is intelligence even measurable, they ask? And if so, is its measurement important when it comes to predicting success and failure? Some who study the relevance of intelligence claim that there are many types of intelligence, and maintain that one type is not necessarily better than another. Students who have a high degree of spatial intelligence and a lower degree of verbal intelligence, for instance, can be just as successful as anybody else. The differences have more to do with determination and confidence than one single intelligence factor. But decades ago, leading educational psychologists came to accept the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) as the most acceptable single measuring stick for determining cognitive competence. So what is the IQ, anyway? The IQ is a number that ranges from 0 to 200 (plus), and it is a ratio that is derived by comparing mental age to chronological age. Actually, the intelligence quotient is defined as 100 times the Mental Age (MA) divided by the Chronological Age (CA). IQ 100 MA/CAFrom Geocities.com One of the most notable proponents of the IQ is Linda S. Gottfredson, a scientist and educator who published a highly-regarded article in Scientific American. Gottfredson asserted that Intelligence as measured by IQ tests is the single most effective predictor known of individual performance at school and on the job. Another leading figure in the study of intelligence, Dr. Arthur Jensen, Professor Emeritus of educational psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, has created a chart that spells out the practical implications of various IQ scores. For instance, Jensen stated that people with scores from: 89-100 would be employable as store clerks111-120 have the ability to become policemen and teachers121-125 should have the ability to excel as professors and managers125 and higher demonstrate skills necessary for eminent professors, executives, editors. What Is a High IQ? The average IQ is 100, so anything over 100 is higher than average. However, most models suggest that a genius IQ starts around 140. Opinions about what constitutes a high IQ actually vary from one professional to another. Where Is IQ Measured? IQ tests come in many forms and come with varied results. If you are interested in coming up with your own IQ score, you can choose from a number of free tests that are available online, or you can schedule a test with a professional educational psychologist. Sources and Suggested Reading Gottfredson, Linda S., â€Å"The General Intelligence Factor.† Scientific American November 1998. 27 June 2008.Jensen, Arthur. Straight Talk About Mental Tests. New York: The Free Press, A Division of the Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1981.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Why Mixed Martial Arts is better the Boxing Essay

Why Mixed Martial Arts is better the Boxing - Essay Example The Brazilian Top Team has emerged as the most successful in the history of MMA (Sheridan, 92), closely followed by the American Top Team based in Florida (Sheridan, 112). On the other hand, boxing {decidedly better than the transparently put up fights by the exponents of professional wrestling} which was until recently the most avid followed aggressive sport in the country has slipped badly due to a variety of factors. Gone are the days when excited spectators thronged the route to the stadium, while those within the stadium paid homage to their boxing heroes like biblical masses (Rendall, 7). Boxing has now been reduced to preening, pompous gaited, one-dimensional public exhibitionists (Rendall, 29). People have traditionally been attracted to a sport that involves realistic, blood splattering aggression. In ancient times, the coliseums of Rome used to be filled to capacity during fights involving trained gladiators battling for their lives with swords, tridents, chains, nets, daggers and clubs {the recent Hollywood film The Gladiator starring Russell Crowe was a huge hit}. The famed bullfights of Spain where death-defying matadors take on massive bulls are a prime sport in that country, and a must-to-watch for those visiting it. Watching realistic, blood-spurting, spectacular fights stirs the caveman’s instinct within us as nothing else does. With its unique shock and awe approach, MMA satisfies the blood lust craving in sport. It is a ‘rough, rough’ sport where toughness is a vital ingredient (Sheridan, 48). It presents viewers with spectacular violence involving fights during which blood is splattered liberally and profusely, and where even limbs are broken frequently (Peterson) {the crab scissors throw or body scissors are the deadly techniques used to do this [Scott, 2]} as the fighters battle each other in an arena hemmed with black fencing ominously called