Greed The True Heart Of Darkness - 1882 Words

Greed: The True Heart of Darkness Garrett Wixon Current Student at Mat-Su College Abstract The aim of this essay is to discuss in detail the background of the Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness, and the atrocities that occurred. The whole idea of imperialism in the book is based on the rule of King Leopold II, and that the company is one of the many that he would use to extract the resources. The book also shows the maltreatment of the native Congolese in explicit detail, similar to how the true events would occur. The text also recognizes historical events and practices that were current at that time. It called into mention a certain act that we see at the fort in which Kurtz rules; the act of placing severed heads on pikes. The†¦show more content†¦Part II: The Yeke Kingdom Mwami Msiri Ngelengwa was king of the Yeke people at the time King Leopold II’s reign, for approximately 5 years (1886 to 1891). Msiri is believed to have been born in 1850, but at a time when birth dates were not recorded, it is believed he may have been born as early as 1850. Msiri’s father, Mwami Mwinula Kipamira had taken Msiri to Ktanga, where he then witnessed the great wealth that this land supported. As Msiri aged he collected more and more wealth and popularity. One of the ways he gained this wealth was through the trade of slaves. However, there ideal of slavery is different than ours and that they were treated with respect, were accepted into the family, and could develop opportunities to free themselves from their bonds. These slaves were not shackled or tied, and were allowed free roam so long as they obeyed their master. Even punishment itself was not as severe, for those slaves could be punished they would not be killed. Eventually, his popularity would grow to the point in which he would become a king, ruling over his own subjects. Part III: Exploration of Africa Henry Morton Stanley, an explorer of the time, had previously explored Africa, and is the one famous for the line â€Å"Dr. Livingstone I presume,† which he wrote in his journal. After having come backShow MoreRelatedEssay on Heart of Darkness1387 Words   |  6 PagesHeart of Darkness-ISP By: Robert Pittelli You can argue that nearly everyone on this planet has at least one desire within that is so dark and evil that they would do anything to achieve that goal. However, most individuals are capable of controlling and taming their greedy desires for personal gain such as wealth, power, and fame, to the point where they are concealed, leaving their sanity untouched by the extreme darkness of their sinful wishes. Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, providesRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1080 Words   |  5 Pages1 Kathrine Carrasquillo Dr. David Mulry Engl 2112 Feb 13, 2017 Who is Mr. Kurtz, and what does Conrad use him for? Mr. Kurtz is the main character in Joseph Conrad s English novella, Heart of Darkness. There is no proof that Mr. Kurtz is based on a real person, so it is assumed that he is a made up character. When Mr. Kurtz is first introduced the audience learns that he is a Belgian ivory trader and he was sent to Africa by his employer for work. At first glance, Mr. Kurtz just represents a normalRead MoreHeart Of Darkness, By Joseph Conrad1306 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is the â€Å"horror† in Heart of Darkness, and what particular literary images develop that idea of horror in the novel? In Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness, there can be many literary images found within that develop the idea of horror. Heart of Darkness is noted for its horror within the Congo between the Africans and the Europeans. The horror in Heart of Darkness is a contribution of many ideas that are formed and contributed from the European colonists. The purpose of this essay aims to argueRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad983 Words   |  4 PagesThe Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a story that takes place in the early 1890s and presents us with an odyssey of a traveler known as Marlow who confronts the dangers of the Congo jungle while also witnessing the wicked, inhumane treatment of the African natives. In the story, Marlow represents Joseph Conrad who had actually traveled up the Congo in 1890 and witnessed the European exploitation of the African natives firsthand. In the Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad exposes the inhumanityRead MoreInternal Conflict In Heart Of Darkness1483 Words   |  6 PagesThe novella Heart of Darkness was written in 1899. At the turn of the century, the author, Joseph Conrad, was 32 and lived through what he writes about. In a journey through Congo, Conrad uses the novella’s central character Marlowe to represent himself and portray his experiences. Like many other writers and artists throughout history, people of his time did not appreciate his work. Even the true meaning of the novel was not understood until later. In the novella Heart of Darkness, Joseph ConradRead MoreHeart of Darkness Imperialism, Hegemony, and Othering1570 Words   |  7 PagesNarrative of Thought I remember when I first read Heart of Darkness. I was a sophomore in high school when I had been required to read it. I remember when I got it. I thought to myself that it might be a cool book. I read the first five pages and wanted to throw it the window. It was confusing, frustrating and a little weird. Eventually I did read it. The more I read the more it made sense. When I finished it, I was still a little confused, but I understood it better. I would not say that the exactRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad944 Words   |  4 PagesThe novella Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, ultimately refers not to the impenetrable wilderness of the African Congo with which the European colonists are confronted, but rather to the primal and insurmountable darkness of the human heart. In the â€Å"civilized† world of the Europeans, man has driven this darkness back into his subconscious, and instead presents a faà §ade of virtue and good intentions. Africa, on the other hand, which is seen as a â€Å"primeval† environment, its people a less evolvedRead MoreAnalysis Of Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1569 Words   |  7 Pagesits irrefutable beauty and power. While Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is set in a patriarchal society, the jungle that is recognized to have female qualities, enforces the main commanding force over the men in the Congo. Conrad’s two contrasting representations of women are sho wn through the influential Congolese woman, who is a personification of the jungle, and the Intended, who represents the Western women who are oblivious to the true horrors in modern day society. As we near the end of theRead MoreAnalysis Of Conrad s The Heart Of Darkness 1612 Words   |  7 PagesThe 9th plague was Darkness. A darkness so thick, people could not see for three days. Darkness restricts vision and thus the way man understands the world. Conrad explores a similar darkness throughout The Heart of Darkness. He writes about how this darkness, a blindness towards others, can lead to the moral degradation of mankind in his novel. Throughout the novel, the reader is able to see Conrad’s perspective of humanity by discussing two integral issues of the time, Racism and Colonialism. MoreRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1255 Words   |  6 Pages In the Heart Of Darkness by Joseph Conrad he revels that everyone has a dark or evil side to himself or herself even if they might not be aware of it. Marlow embarked on a spiritual adventure to the Congo, where he witnesses Kurtz, the man he has come so far to meet is engulfed in greed and has the natives look up to him as a godlike figure. Conrad tells the tale of a mans psychological journey in ones mind as he progresses through the jungle. Marlow’s psychological changes become

Censorship Is A Controversial Topic Essay - 1399 Words

Censorship in the media that is a very common yet, controversial topic due to the subject matter being around children and the youth. It has sparked attention from many government and public individuals that have demanded a probation on certain age groups. The official start on the entire blockade of certain age groups has started with the MPAA† Motion Picture Association of America† in wanting to prohibit certain age groups from viewing certain movies, yet there has always been ways around the rating system for the youths. Today, Censorship is a controversial topic that has many different outlooks on the topic in general for those who may support or oppose the practice in use. Censorship is a major topic that has taken many activists on top of the issue entirely and on every aspect regarding the issue. Such activist groups proclaim to want rules to be enforced that would prevent explicit content to be blocked or banned within the public. Which if not in a way would be e nforced it would cause the world would be crazy without it. While there are individuals that support the topic, which support such claims that the bad content is bad for the minds of the young, and there are those who oppose such practices in a different way. While those who argue that censorship should disappear they come across arguments that basically suggest that censorship denies access to vital information and fights against the first amendment freedom of speech which applies to all individualShow MoreRelatedEssay on Censorship in Schools is not Justifiable959 Words   |  4 PagesCensorship in School is Not Justifiable Walt Whitman once said, â€Å"The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book.† Between the years 2000 and 2009 a total of 3200 books were challenged in school libraries in an attempt to expurgate, or censor, the content in books provided to students. Today the trend of censorship continues as popular novels such as The Hunger Games, The Fault in Our Stars, and Captain Underpants are censored from schools across the nation (Challenges by Reason).Censorship in regardsRead MoreIts Time to STOP Banning Books Essay1383 Words   |  6 Pagesbooks that contain sexual content, vulgarity, and violence give children and young adults a reason to snicker about these topics when discussed in class because we are taught that these topics are not appropriate to talk about publicly. There are many factors that play a major role in how an individual perceives certain topics in books. If taught at an earlier age that these topics are suitable for mature discussion, a child is less likely t o find it funny or become offended. How a parent reacts toRead MoreCensorship And Its Effect On The Creativity And Enjoyment Of What We Indulge Ourselves1647 Words   |  7 Pages How does censorship in media undermine the creativity and enjoyment of what we indulge ourselves in? The existence of censorship itself can take many forms in media. Sometimes it can exist for reasonable reasons to the most absurd. This filter has existed as long as public demonstration has existed; there was always information that has not has not been shown or spreadto the public. Now in modern times, it has been used and implemented in across several formats in media and entertainment. Is itRead MoreCensorship Critique Essay1074 Words   |  5 PagesJulia Else-Green Eng 103 DE2 October 11, 2008 Critique of â€Å"Censorship: A Personal View† In her essay, â€Å"Censorship: A Personal View† Judy Blume gives readers insight on the impact of censorship based on her personal experiences as a young reader and then later in life as a censored writer. She provides numerous examples of educators who were affected by censorship and chose to take a stand against it (345). Although the piece lacks evidentiary support for these accounts, and draws on sarcasmRead MoreCensorship Essay1233 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Censorship Censorship is a highly controversial topic regarding the arts, controlling the freedom of expression of artists to convey what is deemed acceptable within society. Ai Weiwei falls victim under the power of the regime and the influence of censorship guidelines within China, limiting the display of his art due to the important messages he raises. Andres Serrano has experienced attempted censorship on his provocative image, Piss Christ, and has been attacked for producing offensive artRead MoreEssay about Banning Books in Schools1066 Words   |  5 Pageshis/her classroom. By banning books from the classroom, we prevent our students from learning about controversial topics in a safe environment, and we also encroach upon the student’s freedom of reading what they want in school. Literature often covers real-world controversial topics such as â€Å"multiculturalism, sex-role stereotyping, religious tolerance, and racism† (Blair 1998, pg. 57). While these topics may not want to be approached by certain teachers, the students are still confronted with themRead MoreThe Internet and Censorship940 Words   |  4 Pagesthe more controversial topics that involves the internet, is the censorship of the internet. Internet censorship can be defined as the control or suppression of what can be accessed, published or viewed on the internet. It’s been hot topic in recent years because many government organizations have been trying to pass many reforms to help push the censorship of the internet, either directly or indirectly. Things like Net neutrality and SOPA/PIPA have been playing major roles in censorship of the internetRead MoreCensorship And Its Impact On Society Essay1658 Words   |  7 Pagesworld shut to the truth and blinded to mankind’s p ast and present mistakes. Censorship has always been prevalent, it has let a small crowd of people dictate what the masses can or can’t see as well as what they can and can’t read in schools. It is the suppression of speech: the careful evaluation of each and every book and the censoring of unacceptable parts. Censorship has been one of the world’s most controversial topics. It has been around since before 399 BCE and has affected societies in oneRead MoreCensorship Cases in America1404 Words   |  6 PagesCensorship is the process of suppressing something that is considered objectionable or offensive† (Truly 1). It is also the obstruction of Freedom of Expression. The process starts when a work is found offensive because its contents are considered vulgar, contradicting to beliefs and values, or violent. Concerned citizens form groups and create a strong social pressure to force the government or schools to remove the content. The information introduced in schools can contradict the ideas and valuesRead MoreFahrenheit 451 Analysis798 Words   |  4 Pagesstand out dystopian hit that makes controversial social commentaries. Some of the commentaries he touches upon the topics of censorship and social conformity. All of which are demonstrated through the strategic use of de manded conformities and the dystopian setting. Overall, In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury comments on the censorship and ideological limitations in today’s society by emphasizing political and social control in his novel. Ray Bradbury criticizes on censorship in the present day society through

Ap World History Units 1-3 Study Guide Free Essays

string(72) " interest in fertility necessary for the generation of the new life 53\." Unit One 1. Consequences of the Neolithic Revolution didn’t include End of hunting-gathering societies 2. Most scholars believe that, during the Paleolithic Age, social organization was characterized by A rough social equality 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Ap World History Units 1-3 Study Guide or any similar topic only for you Order Now The earliest metal worked systemically by humans are Copper 4. The spread of the Bantu-speaking peoples over southern Africa can be best explained by their Knowledge of agriculture 5. Characteristics of complex civilizations Specialization of labor Trade and cultural diffusion Written languages Complex political order and power 6. Evidence proves that the Mesopotamians Traded extensively with peoples as far away as Anatolia, Egypt, India 7. Major effect of Neolithic Revolution The establishment of sedentary village communities 8. Conditions for women in Mesopotamia Grew increasingly worse over time 9. The division of the ancient people into social and gender hierarchies was first made possible by Rise in agricultural production 10. Ethical monotheism was the tradition of the Hebrews 11. Hammurabi’s code was based on the concept of â€Å"lex talionis† but the punishments were shaped by The social standing of the accused 2. The Hittites who were the most influential ancient Indo-European migrants into southwest Asia are credited for Horse-drawn chariots Metallurgy Migrating from southern Russia Defeating the Babylonians 13. The society who began the custom of embalming to preserve the body for its life after death Egypt 14. Which metal was most important in transforming agricultural societies into large urban civilizations? Iron 15. In which society did women enjoy the most freedom and opportunity? Egypt 16. In tribes which, as early as 3000 BCE, began to spread their language and agricultural techniques throughout Africa were the Bantu 17. The Chinese philosophy that promoted strict social and political control was * Legalism 18. Social distinctions in Early River Valley civilizations were * Less pronounced than in Neolithic 19. By spreading their language across a huge stretch of Africa, the Bantu played a role similar to that played by * Indo-Europeans 20. The Bantu probably began their migrations because of * Population pressures 21. Much of the early Harappan history remains a mystery because * The archeological remains are under water 22. The biggest military advantages of the Indo-Europeans was * Their horses 23. Most of our information about the early Aryans comes from the * Vedas 24. Correct groupings of early societies and their rivers * Mesopotamia – Tigris Euphrates; Egypt – Nile; Harappan – Indus; China – Huang He 25. Harappan society * Most of their houses featured private showers and toilets * They traded extensively with the Mesopotamians * They had social distinctions They produced representational art 26. Group that retained much more influence on family structure in China than in other early civilizations * The extended family 27. The Chinese concept of the â€Å"Mandate of Heaven† was sometimes used to justify * Rebellion 28. Early China enjoyed lasting direct long-distance trade with * None 29. Ritual bloodletting was crucial to Maya rituals because * It was associated with rain agriculture 30. The most characteristic artistic creation of the Olmecs were * Colossal human heads sculpted with basalt 31. The Aryans affected the Indian sub-continent by A common written language * Adding race to the caste system * Establishing the Silk Road trade * Advanced use of technology 32. Which of the following mathematical concepts, essential for positional notation and the manipulation of large numbers, was invented by Mayan mathematicians? * Zero 33. The ultimate source of wealth in any agricultural society is * Land 34. This passage from the Upanishads explain what Hindu concept? â€Å"According as a man acts and walks in the path of life, so he becomes. He that does good becomes good; he that does evil becomes evil. † * Karma 35. Which early Mesopotamian ruler believed that the gods had chosen to â€Å"promote the welfare of the people†¦ (and) to cause justice to prevail in the land†? * Hammurabi 36. During the time of the Aryans the Indian political landscape was characterized by * A series of small kingdoms 37. Contributions of the River Valley Civilizations * Metallurgy in agriculture, welfare and art * The wagon wheel * Written forms of communication * The calendar and the 60-second minute 38. What two River Valley civilizations are most alike as far as their use of regionalism and the decentralization of political power? * Olmec and Chavin 39. Confucian social order * Loyalty to the ruler * Filial obedience to one’s father * Respect of younger brother to older brother * Respect of husband to wife 40. Women were important contributors to the agricultural revolution because they were likely the * Gender who gathered edible plants and grew various grains 41. Shang and Zhou China originated the â€Å"Mandate of Heaven† primarily * As a way to demonstrate the divinity of the emperor 42. The government structures of early Mesopotamia and Egypt * In both civilizations power was concentrated in the hands of a king who was considered a god 43. The Chinese copied their chariots from * The steppe nomads 44. The Period of Warring States refers to the * Chaotic last centuries of the Zhou dynasty 45. The early Chinese shipped textiles and metal goods to the ancestors of the Turks and Mongols in the steppes and received what in return? * Horses 46. Which of the following is a key philosophical and religious element of Daoism? * Emphasis on harmony between humanity 47. Which of the following describes the major effect of Bantu migrations? * Cultural commonalities in sub-Saharan Africa 48. Confucius argued that * Educations is essential to becoming a refined gentleman 49. The device the ancient Olmec build in order to trap silt carried by the numerous rivers passing through the Mesoamerican lowlands * Terraces 50. The proper order from top to bottom of the original Aryan caste system? * Priests, warriors, farmers/merchants, laborers, polluted laborers 51. One key role of the caste system which was unlike other systems of social inequality in the ancient world was that the caste system * Served to maintain order and stability as political systems did in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China 52. What purpose do scholars believe paleolithic Venus figurines served? The figurines reflect a deep interest in fertility necessary for the generation of the new life 53. A key geographic difference between ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Harappan, and Chinese society was that Egypt and China were more isolated and therefore protected by their environment than there were the Mesopotamians or Harappans 54. Olmec and Mesopotamian political traditions are an example of * Decentralized monarchy 55. Because of the immense size of the Zhou state, its emperors were forced to * Institute a feudal system of the government Unit Two 1. An important reason for the fall of the Roman, Han, and Gupta empires was * Intensified invasions and security issues along their frontiers 2. Before 500 C. E. Judaism and Hinduism were similar in that both * Had written scriptures and an ethical code to live by 3. In organizing their empire, Persian rulers relied heavily on techniques of administration from the * Mesopotamians 4. The Medes and Persians were originally * Indo-European tribes 5. The classic Persian governmental approach was * An enlightened an tolerant one 6. The Persian legal code was designed to * Codify laws of the subject peoples 7. The center of the Persian communications network was * The Royal Road 8. Basic tenets of Zoroastrianism that influenced later religions * The belief in heaven and hell * The encouragement of high moral standards * The doctrine that individuals will undergo a final judgment * The belief that each individual plays a key role in determining his or her spiritual destiny 9. The Qin and Han dynasties * Went further than the Persian emperors in their efforts to foster cultural unity 10. Confucian terms * Ren – benevolence * Xiao – filial piety * Dao – way * Junzi – superior individuals 11. The philosophy that criticized the social activism, and instead, proposed a life of reflection and introspection was * Daoism 12. What was the school of philosophical thought that returned order to China after the Period of Warring States? * Legalism 13. Qin Shihuangdi’s most important contribute to China was * Establishing a precedent for centralized imperial rule 14. The Han philosophy of rule was * A contribution of Qin policies of centralizations 15. In 124 B. C. E. , Han Wudi transformed China by * Establishing an imperial university 16. Which popular treatise emphasized humility, obedience, subservience, and devotion to their husbands as the virtues most appropriate for women? * Admonitions for Women 17. As the Han dynasty became more powerful and wealthy, * The gap between rich and poor grew dangerously large 18. The Indian political scene changed dramatically in 520 B. C. E. when new administrative techniques were introduced after the invasion of the * Persians 19. The rock and pillar edicts were issued by Ashoka 20. One of the biggest financial problems of the later Mauryan period was the ruler’s decision to * Debase the currency 21. Politically, the Guptas * Left local government and administration in the hands of their allies 22. The success and timing of trade, through the Indian Ocean basin, largely depended on * Understanding the rhythms of the monsoon winds 23. One of the biggest transformations of the caste system during this period was * The rise of guilds, which essentially served as jati 24. The greatest social contribution of the Jains was The fact that they did not recognize social hierarchies based on caste 25. When Krishna tells Arjuna, in the Bhagavad Gita, â€Å"Having regards to your own duty, you ought not to falter, for there is nothing better for a Kshatriya than a righteous battle,† he is referring to what Hindu principle? * Dharma 26. The political structure of the ancient Greeks * Usually considered of independent, autonomous city-states 27. The Greeks used the word polis to refer to the * The city-state 28. Athenian democracy was open to * All Athenian citizens 29. Events that occurred during the time of Pericles * Athenian democracy reached its high point Athens became the most sophisticated of the poleis * Athenian expansion and arrogance helped spark the Peloponnesian War * Athens underwent a massive building program 30. Affects that came about because of Greek colonization * An increase in the size and diversity of trade * The spread of Greek language and cultural traditions * A quickening of the tempo of social life * Increased contact with other societies 31. Consequences of the Neolithic Revolution * Incidence of disease increased * Widening gender differences * Rapid increase in human population * Increase in reliable food supply 32. In The Republic, Plato proposed that the true rulers of society should be * Philosopher kings 33. The Roman policy toward conquered peoples was * Generous with potential for citizenship 34. The Roman policy of toleration and respect for conquered peoples was most similar to the * Persians 35. The land route of the silk roads ran from the Han capital of _____________ to the Mediterranean port of _____________. * Chang’an; Antioch 36. Latifundia were * Enormous plantations worked by slaves 37. After naming himself dictator in 46 B. C. E. Julius Caesar * Launched large-scale building projects in Rome Extended Roman citizenship to peoples in the imperial provinces * Appointed some Gauls to the Roman senate * Seized the land from the conservatives and distribute it to his army veterans 38. The reign of Augustus inaugurated a period known as paxromana in which caused * Common coinage * Common language * Greco-Roman art * Stoicism 39. Foundations of Roman Law * The principle that defendants were innocent until proven guilty * The notion that defendants had a right to challenge their accusers before a judge in a court or law * The ability of judges to set aside laws that were inequitable 40. The information that Zhang Qian brought back encouraged Han Wudi to destroy the Xiongnu and lay out the foundations for the * Silk roads 41. The fact that by the first century C. E. southeast Asian kings called themselves rajas shows how they were influenced by the * Indians 42. By around the year 600 C. E. , the ravages of epidemic diseases had caused both the Mediterranean and Chinese populations decrease by * At least a quarter 43. In the year 184 C. E. , peasant discontent in China led to an uprising known as the * Yellow Turban rebellion 44. With the collapse in political order after the fall of the Han Empire, * Daoism and Buddhism became much more popular 45. The Roman Empire was divided into two parts by * Dio Cletian 46. The social distinctions in Early River Valley civilizations were * Did not exist as they did in pervious times 47. After the collapse of the western half of the Roman Empire, imperial authority survived for another thousand years in the * Byzantine Empire 48. Major effect of Bantu migrations * Cultural commonalities in sub-Saharan Africa Unit 3: Part I 1. Agricultural production increased throughout medieval Europe mainly esult of a * A heavier plow * Water and wind powered mills 2. Arabic conquests of Mesopotamia and Persia influenced the women in the Islamic world by making * Society more patriarchal 3. Characteristics of the medieval period of Europe * Political order through feudalism * Economic order through manorialism * Religious order through Church * Expanded trade and education 4. The expansion of communication and trade networks in Afro-Eurasia from 600 C. E. to 1450 C. E. resulted in the spread of what from South Asia? * Technological and scientific concepts such as decimal and zero 5. Foot binding is probably the best example of * The increasingly patriarchal nature of Chinese society 6. During the Tang and Song periods, the imperial â€Å"examination system† * Expanded and filled posts based on intellectual ability and merit 7. When comparing northern and southern India during the postclassical era, it can be stated that * The south suffered through far fewer invasions than the north did 8. The success of the Byzantine â€Å"theme system† was most dependent upon * Promoting rural agriculture with few imperial restrictions 9. Islam became very popular in India and within different segments of Hindu society because * It emphasized equality and it was less exclusionary than Hinduism 10. The term â€Å"samurai† describes men in feudal Japan who were most like these men in Europe * Knights 11. Gender relations up to 1000 C. E. * In some societies, women enjoyed more rights than in others 12. The impact of commercial trade during this period * Technology, crops and religious ideology spread from China in the east to Europe in the west while also connecting India, the Middle East and Africa’s Swahili coast 13. Constantinople Was constructed by Constantine * Allowed the imperial court to keep watch on the Sasanid Empire in Persia * Was built because the eastern half was the wealthier and more productive part of the empire * Allowed the imperial court to keep watch on Germanic tribes on the Danube 14. The items Marco Polo encountered at Kublai Khan’s court and described to Europeans * Paper money * Food stocks – noodles * â€Å"Black stones† – coal * Gunpowder 15. Middle Eastern trade in the period between 1000 to 1400 * A unified Islamic Empire which eliminated tariffs and encouraged trade 16. Justinian’s most significant long-term accomplishment * He regulated and established a new uniform legal code for his empire 17. Comparison of the political systems in western Europe and China during the time period 1000 – 1300 * Western Europe developed multiple monarchies while China maintained a single empire 18. After the fall of Rome, the only real institutions of learning in Western Europe were the * Christian monasteries 19. Hagia Sophia was * The magnificent church at Constantinople 20. Major public work that was first constructed by emperor Yangdi during the Sui Dynasty in China * The Grand Canal 21. A result of the Viking raids on Europe from the 8th to the 10th centuries was that * Europeans organized into feudalistic societies for protection 22. In 1054 the pope in Rome and the patriarch in Constantinople * Mutually excommunicated each other 23. Charlemagne * He expanded the Frankish territory * He supported education and literacy * He instituted the missi dominci * He established his capital in Aachen 24. Guilds during the Late Medieval period Admitted women as members 25. Relationships between Islam and the influence it received from other cultures * India – mathematics economics * Persia – literacy works politics * Greece – philosophy medicine * China – paper, cotton silk 26. The main Indian influence on Islamic thought was in the field of * Mathematics 27. Major result of the Christian Crusades * Europeans were introduced to new technology, trade and cultural exchanges 28. Common feature of most Middle Eastern, Asian and European societies during the period of 1000 to 1450 * A close association with religion 29. The most striking difference between the Tang and the Song dynasties affecting their survival was * The differing ways they chose to deal with nomads on their frontiers 30. The two major sources of stability during the Medieval period of Europe * Feudalism and the Catholic church 31. In regard to political structure, postclassical India * Developed no single centralized imperial authority 32. An invasion in 451 C. E. , by the White Huns, began the collapse of the * Gupta dynasty 33. In 711, the northern Indian area of Sind fell to the * Umayyad dynasty 34. The most important new crop introduced to China during the Tang and Song periods was * Fast-ripening rice 35. The primary difference between Shiite Muslims and Sunni Muslims is a disagreement over * The leadership of the Muslim community after Muhammad’s death 36. The Indian ruler Harsha was known for * His Buddhist faith and his benevolent treatment of his subjects 37. Legacy of the Vikings during the medieval period * Feudalism * Exploration * Warfare * Shipping technology 38. The Abbasid Dynasty differed from the Umayyad Dynasty in that * It was not a conquering dynasty 39. The Delhi sultans were Never able to expand their control beyond northern India 40. The Crusades by European Christians at the end of the eleventh century were motivated primarily by * Efforts to unite religious power and retake control of Jerusalem and the Holy Lands 41. An example of interaction among Indian, Arab and European societies by 1200 was the transfer of * Numerals and decimal system 42. The Tang planned to avoid the concentration of land by the wealthy by implementing the * New economic planning system 43. Zheng He was * The Chinese admiral who made seven journeys of exploration 44. Hindu temples Played an important role in the agricultural and financial development of southern India 45. Major reason for the rapid expansion of Islam during the 7th 8th centuries * The advanced military technology of the Islam forces 46. India was a natural location for the establishment of emporia because of * Its central locations in the Indian Ocean basin 47. Achievements of the Early Middle Ages * A restoration of political order through a feudal system * Some economic recovery because of agricultural advancement * The creation of an institutional framework for the Christian church based in Rome 48. The adoption of the Neo-Confucianism by the Ming dynasty during the 14th century was primarily motivated by the * Need for competent government administrators 49. The Byzantine Empire achieved * The conversion of many Slavic peoples to Christianity 50. Islamic Chinese empires in the postclassical period (700 – 1200 C. E. ) shared a characteristic of * Extensive urbanization maritime trade 51. Most important effect of Islamic expansion on the civilizations of medieval Europe * The transmittal of Greek Arab learning 52. The development and spread of Christianity and Buddhism both * Were outgrowths of other religions * Were aided in their spread by the trade networks * Developed monastic orders * Venerated people of high spiritual merit 53. In medieval society, political power was vested in * Local authorities 54. The most important relationship in feudalism was between * Lord and retainer Unit 3: Part 2 1. The largest empire of all time was created by the * Mongols 2. The Inca quipu was * A record keeping device consisting of small cords with knots 3. The political power of the khans was based on Indirect rule through the leaders of allied tribes 4. In an effort to strengthen the Mongol fighting forces, Chinggis Khan * Formed new military units with no tribal affiliations 5. Who made a famous pilgrimage to Meca in 1324 – 1325? * Mansa Musa 6. Khubilal Khan’s military and imperial pursuits * Had little success when he tried to conquer Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, and Japan 7. Ethiopian Christianity * Retained both traditional African and Christian beliefs 8. The Mongols brought greater integration among Eurasian peoples by * Increased trade * Resettlement of conquered peoples Diplomatic missions 9. Devastation wrought by the bubonic plague played a key role in the fourteenth century collapse of the * Yuan dynasty 10. The introduction of a new crop about 400 C. E. encouraged a fresh migratory surge in Africa. What was the crop? * Bananas 11. The first European nation to dominate trade with Asia was * Portugal 12. By the middle of the first millennium B. C. E. , the Bantu had begun to produce * Iron 13. The late fourteenth century Turkish ruler who weakened the Golden Horde, sacked Delhi, and launched campaigns in southwest Asia and Anatolla, was * Tamerlane 14. One of the central factors in the establishment of trans-Saharan trade was * The domestication of the camel 15. By the tenth century C. E. , the kings of Ghana had converted to * Islam 16. Foundations of Mali’s power * Control over trans-Saharan trade * A strong cavalry * A series of powerful kings 17. During the period of Mongol domination, * Long-distance trade became much less risky 18. In regard to political structure, the Aztec empire * Had no elaborate bureaucracy 19. Just as the kingdoms of west Africa depended on trans-Saharan trade, the kingdoms of east Africa depended on * Indian Ocean trade 20. The Ilkhanate in Persia began a rapid decline in the 1200s * After the government issued paper money 21. Since there was no concept of private ownership of land in sub-Saharan Africa, * Slave ownership formed an important aspect of determining personal wealth 22. Historians estimate that between 750 and 1500 C. E. , the number of slaves transported north as part of the trans-Saharan slave was * Ten million 23. In the five centuries after the year 1000 C. E. , the peoples of the eastern hemisphere * Traveled and interacted more intensively than ever before 24. By 1750, all parts of the world participated in a global trade network in which European’s played dominant roles except * Australia 25. Khubilal Khan employed Marco Polo in administrative posts * Because he did not entirely trust his Chinese subjects 26. When Pope Innocent IV sent envoys to invite the Mongols in an alliance against the Muslims, * The khans declined and in turn told the Christians to submit to Mongol rule or be destroyed 27. Ibn Battuta was able to travel so extensively because * His religious and legal training allowed him to serve as qadi 28. Product that had a new impact during this period of increasing interaction * Silk 29. The North American Indian societies * Possessed no form of writing 30. Common results of a bubonic plague * A decline in trade * A decline in population * Peasant rebellions caused by efforts to freeze wages 31. The Yongle Encyclopedia * Represented the Ming rulers’ interest in supporting native Chinese cultural traditions 32. Central to the Renaissance thought beginning in northern Italy was * A fascination with the ancient world 33. Mali became the wealthiest kingdom in sub-Saharan Africa because of * Its control of the gold trade 34. Humanist moral philosophers believed that * People could lead morally virtuous lives while participating in the world 35. Under Spanish rule of the Philippines, the native population * Was pressured to convert to Roman Catholicism 36. In regard to exploration, Prince Henry was to Portugal what _________ was to China. * Wan Li 37. The Toltec state collapsed by around 1175 because * Of a combination of civil conflict and nomadic invasion 38. The chinampa system refers to * The Aztec practice of dredging fertile muck from the lake’s bottom 39. In regard to gender issues in sub-Saharan Africa, Women had more opportunities open to them than did their counterparts in other societies 40. Rulers among the Mexica were chosen by * A council made up of the most successful warriors 41. A Mexica woman who died in childbirth * Won the same fame as warriors who died valiantly in battle 42. The Aztecs viewed human sacrifice * As an essential ritual to ensure the world’s survival 43. North American societies * Developed on a relatively small scale 44. In regard to political structure, the early Bantu societies * Governed themselves mostly through family and kinship groups 45. The Inca imposed order By taking hostages from the conquered tribes’ ruling classes 46. Hallmark of Hongwu’s rule * The reestablishment of Confucian education * Extensive use of the civil service system * The reestablishment of the civil service system 47. The cultural and religious traditions of the Australian aborigines * Did not diffuse much beyond their own regions 48. During the early modern era, which of the following non-European peoples explored the Indian Ocean? * Chinese 49. In sub-Saharan Africa, an age grade was * A publicly recognized group that performed tasks based on their strength and maturity 50. Main inspirations for European exploration * The desire to conquer China and India 51. The invasions of the nomadic Turkish and Mongol tribes between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries * Facilitated greater cross-cultural communication and integration 52. Reasons for the European interest in finding a maritime trade route * The spread of the bubonic plague made the silk roads more dangerous * The high prices charged by Muslim merchants * The demand in Europe for items such as Indian pepper and Chinese ginger 53. The Reconquista came to an end in 1492 when * The Muslim kingdom of Granada fell to Spanish Catholic forces 54. Chinese inventions * Sternpost rudder and magnetic compass 55. The profitable merchandise that Vasco da Gama purchased in India was made up of * Pepper and cinnamon 56. The Portuguese dominance of trade was dependent on their ability to * Force merchant ships to call at fortified trading sites and pay duties 57. In the end, Portugal was unable to maintain its early domination of trade because * It was a small country with a small population 58. Advantages that the English and Dutch had over the Portuguese * They possessed faster, cheaper, and more powerful ships * They created joint-stock companies * They were wealthier countries 59. The Dutch policy in Indonesia was * To control the production of spices 60. The country that finished the Seven Years’ War with global hegemony was * England 61. In the long term, the Columbian exchange * Increased world population because of the spread of new food crops 62. From 1500 to 1800, the largest contingent of migrants consisted of * Enslaved Africans How to cite Ap World History Units 1-3 Study Guide, Papers

Assess the Argument free essay sample

Without education and the other ideals as the superstructure, the society will collapse when only the means and relations of production existing as the economic base. Also, in Marxists’ point of view, education only serves two purposes: to reproduce inequalities and social relations of productions and to justify these inequalities through meritocracy. However, Althusser, the neo-Marxist in 1971, points out that education is an Idealogical State Apparatus (ISA), just like media, family and other ideals as well. The main function of education is to pass on the common values in order to maintain and reproduce class discrimination in wealth and authority, generation after generation. This then continues to produce capitalism without the need to enforce it into the society, in the same way ideology is spread subconsciously. Althusser argues that a hidden curriculum exists to achieve this result; the way schools are organized and how knowledge is taught encourages the working class to abide by the rules of the capitalist society and accept the discrimination and failure without any sign of protest. We will write a custom essay sample on Assess the Argument or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In 1977, Bourdieu called the act of accepting failure and higher class authority â€Å"Symbolic Violence†. Education acts as a reproduction tool for the capitalist relations of production, Bowles and Gintis (1976) argues. The capitalist relations of production is the hierarchy structure of workers and bosses, as well as the different skills and attitudes used. The role of education confirms the workers’ acceptance and willingness to heed the needs of system. Their correspondence theory suggests that the structure at school links straight to what it’s like at work. In school; teachers are the bosses while students are the workers. Students have to work hard to obtain rewards and success in exams in the same way how workers work hard to get their wage. Also, the theory points out that the higher the individual gets in the system, the more freedom they are given and more responsibility they have to take. Also, Bowles and Gintis states that success isn’t always obtained by academic ability. Injustice is disguised in the educational system as meritocracy. Students who goes against the system and expresses disapproval of the system doesn’t rise above like those that adapts to the rules. Bowles and Gintis also points out that schools yields workers that accepts the position they’re given, explaining the reasons why white middle-class students have a tendency to do better, even when they lack talent or ability. Because of the hidden curriculum, class discrimination in society comes across as just and rightful. Functionalists believes that education has three functions instead of two. The first function is to keep society in place through conversing the younger generation with important cultural values, such as democracy, equality of opportunity, achievement, competition and more. Durkheim thinks that education needs to draw attention to the moral and ethical duties one needs to obtain in the society. Parsons, just like Durkheim, also identifies the importance of socialization in education. This then creates a meritocratic view for the younger generation to apply to their lives, linking their family to the society outside. Universalistic standards are used in society where one is evaluated by a criteria that applies to everyone, unlike the particularistic standards at home where the child’s status is decided by their parents and other family members. Education introduces the significance of achievement and assists the change to universalistic standards. In Functionalists’ point of view, the second function of education is to educate compulsory skills to the pupils in order to survive in the today’s society. General skills apply as well, such as reading, writing, comprehensive listening and more. Over the years, difficulty level continues to rise in the work society as occupations gets more specific. The number of years in compulsory education increases while the level of intricacy soars. The third and last function is to assign the most suitable occupation to veryone, corresponding to their qualifications, talents and success in academic achievements. The most talented ones are designated for the more significant roles in society. Due to the equality of opportunity, this is the most fair and just way to allocate specific occupations to an individual. Overall, I agree with the Functionalists’ point of view, wh ere occupations are assigned to individuals through equality of opportunity and meritocracy. There are many examples in the society when one is not in the middle or upper class, yet achieves success in their occupation and life through their intellectual ability and talent. As long as one has the motivation, I believe that it doesn’t take long for others to recognize that initiative and notice his ambition to succeed. Personally, I don’t agree with the statement that the main function of education is to reproduce the social class structure. Instead, I believe that it’s changed over the past decades and have moved on from class to something more knowledge. I reckon that the main function currently is to educate the new generation with knowledge and skills to achieve success in life. As Steve Droke once said, â€Å"Knowledge is power and enthusiasm pulls the switch. †

The Bottled Leopard Essay Example

The Bottled Leopard Essay Within the inner recess of man’s subconscious is a leopard bottled and contained by morals and the social order. However, from time to time the cork pops, and the leopard emerges and is seen, wild as ever. An example of this is described by Patrick Goldstein in the article â€Å"Violence Sneaks into Punk Scene†. This article describes the atypical activities of the youth, who seize the opportunity to un-bottle the leopard. Three perspectives of violence had been postulated to explain human behavior regarding violence in general. In this regard, a synthesis and an amalgamation of the three perspectives discussed are necessary to completely and entirely elucidate the atypical behavior demonstrated by these specific individuals.Three perspectives on violence were written by Sigmund Freud, John Dollard and David Riesman. Sigmund Freud, in his perspective, said that man has an inherent desire for aggression which is to be seen as part of man’s instinctive endowment an d which he uses to assert himself in his environment. John Dollard, on the other hand, relates violence with age, saying that the more mature man becomes, the greater the inhibition and thus the lesser violence is perpetrated in response to instigation. Lastly, David Riesman views the individual as part of a group, a social being, and as an isolate and desolate creature. Man is therefore under the influence of the needs of the group where he belongs, each of which he knows either directly or indirectly. He therefore seeks to act in conformity with the goals of this group whether or not these people are present. All in all, these perspectives apparently point to the fact, that though the reasons may be different, given the right stimulus, man loses all the calm and charm brought about by morals and social order.The discrepancies of the forms of these stimuli are amazing. In the article, the only stimulus the boys needed was the opportunity, created by there being together in a club i n which a certain kind of dance (slam) whose â€Å"object is to knock each other down† took place. This then ends up in fights, injuries, and vandalism. Since their objective in this activity is to â€Å"knock† others down, it also implies that this activity causes feelings of anger and consequently creates channels for the un-bottling of the leopard. Some, however, just reach out and hurt others for reason unknown and there are also those who inflict injuries on themselves.In Sigmund Freud’s perspective on violence, he challenges the ideal picture of modern man in a civil society. He declares that inside man, the â€Å"desire for aggression has to be reckoned as part of their instinctual endowment†. He refers to the aggression as an â€Å"endowment†, as a result, pointing to an asset which man uses to assert him and dominate the environment. These facts of aggression, he claims, can not be disputed by anyone â€Å"in the face of evidence in his o wn life and in history†. Indeed, further evidence of this is seen in Goldstein’s article, where it is said: â€Å"The senseless violence, vandalism and even mutilation at some area rock clubs reads like reports from a war zone.† Freud therefore asserts that the leopard is inherent in man and that â€Å"when those forces in the mind which inhibit it cease to operate, it manifests itself spontaneously†. These forces of inhibition vary among morals, shame, and disgust shown by the people whom he feels the need to be liked by. These forces act as a leash and in the absence of which, order and tranquility quickly gives way to aggression and anarchy.Freud further declares that though this aggression awaits temptation or provocation. It also asserts itself in situations in which the intended aim â€Å"might as well have been achieved by milder measures.† This is shown in Goldstein’s article by a fan who says: â€Å"’All they want to do is fi ght. And next time I’m gonna be ready to give ‘em one’†. In this case, the fan here carries this aggression which he wishes to express because of some form of provocation. He does not however consider that in retaliating, he becomes part of them and becomes a nuisance to others, just as he feels now. A milder option would be simply to avoid the dancers and carry out activities away from them. After all, there are those others in the audience who â€Å"dance in a loose circle around the action†. This way he does not disturb others and does not become part of them.While Freud’s theories explain man’s inhumanity to man, it does not explain the self inflicted injuries and torture expressed in the article: â€Å"†¦ a couple of girls carved X’s into their arms with broken glass†. Man does not assert himself with self affliction; he in fact needs the body to assert himself. Freud’s theory, however, did not cover this behavior. The animosity between the demands of instinct and the restrictions of civilization makes Freuds views on man’s aggressive or destructive instincts particularly complex. In part this is because impulses of hatred, anger and aggression are, from Freud’s perspective, rooted in self-preservation. In Freud’s vision of man and society, violence is deemed as the basis of our existence on two levels; the violence in the uninhibited instinct and the violence which our culture practices against one another. Without at least some amount of compulsion and at least an equal amount of restraint in the gratification of impulses, harmony can neither be achieved nor maintained.The perspective of John Dollard gives further insight into the forces of inhibition expressed by Freud. Dollard declares that this inhibition is greater in adults â€Å"resulting from several sources of instigation†. The adult, having being exposed over time to various opportunities or ins tigations for aggression, has now programmed his response to that which is more generally acceptable in the society. His response is therefore not dependent on the instigation but on what holds in his environment. That’s what makes him acceptable in his society. The adolescent, on the other hand, who is less exposed and has less knowledge of the society to which the adult is exposed, resorts to aggression against frustrating forces, as expressed in the article thus: â€Å"†¦ these idiots kept punching us in the back. Finally I got fed up and started hitting these guys, even though they were bigger than me†. At this point the young man was focused on aggression. He does not even consider the size of the people, which he would have done under normal circumstances as he expressed in saying â€Å"†¦ even though they were bigger than me.† However in becoming mature, the youth would learn that which is acceptable in the society and respond accordingly.John D ollard’s perspective, however, still does not capture the self afflicted torture expressed in the article. This cannot be captured in other part of â€Å"the predominant behavior symptoms of adolescence† which he refers to as â€Å"substitute response for those goal-responses which suffer interference†. For self afflicted torture cannot be a substitute response for interference as it lacks a goal. John Dollard elucidates the need for acceptance inherent in man.David Riesman declares, in his perspective of violence, that peer-group, reinforced by the mass media, and the relaxation of older patterns of discipline in children gives rise to what he called â€Å"other-directed† character in which â€Å"contemporaries are the source of direction for the individual – either those known to him or those with whom he is indirectly acquainted, through friends and through the mass media†.   Dependence on these is planted early in life due to continuou s exposure to these influences. He further explains that the goals towards which the other-directed person strives shift with guidance from the source, permitting a close behavioral conformity â€Å"through an exceptional sensitivity to the actions and wishes of others† and â€Å"not through drill in behavior itself, as in tradition-directed character†.This perspective of the situation is the most compelling as it explains the group action of the boys, which shows the other-directed behavior. This is expressed in the article where violence is blamed on â€Å"†¦ organized Huntington Beach-area punk gangs who make a practice of pummeling each other and slam dancing at area clubs.† The perspective therefore takes violence beyond just the individual but to the individual as a part of a group and his need to be accepted in the group. The individual therefore does not act independently, rather, it strives to synchronize with the group. Also like non-other, this p erspective explains the action of those who inflict injuries on themselves as reported in the article where a girl â€Å"broke a bunch of beer bottles in the sink and ran her hands through the glass† and â€Å"girls carved X’s into their arms with broken glass†. In all these cases, people acted in an other-directed manner driven by the â€Å"need for approval and direction from others† which is now the â€Å"chief source of direction and chief area of sensitivity†. Thus, even when alone, the other-directed person conforms to the â€Å"others† and seeks acceptance.Beside the bottled leopard is the need in man to be accepted. Man carries this as a social being. This drives man to violence and thus un-bottles the leopard when the group to which he wishes to synchronize with is violent. It can, however, cause a stronger hold on the leopard if the group is not violent. Nonetheless, there are still selected situations wherein the leopard emerges, bringing surprise to all even the man himself. Notably, man should always remember that how much he knows himself determines how often will this occur.;;

Japanese Garden essays

Japanese Garden essays -A contribution of building ethnology to Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich Throughout long periods of time and in many cultures the human spirit has been preoccupied with trees. Evidence of this is to be found in the many representations, pictorial and textual, which tell us of sacred trees, trees of life and light, cosmic or world trees, the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, trees of everlasting life, of eternal youth and so on. The wide extent of symbolism centered on the tree and its long history as the focal point of ideal worlds is also reflected in the many studies and investigations on this subject. The abundance of studies is due not only to the great extent of mans spiritual relationship to trees, but also to modern mans attraction to the rich symbolism surrounding the tree. The fantastic associations with which primitive cultures have invested something that now appears to us as a natural object are indicative of a way of thinking that, in its stronger imaginative power, completely overshadows our own And yet, are we right in our ideas about this earlier power of imagination? Has symbolic thinking of this kind really sprung exclusively from the spirit As suggested by the German word Einbildung ( inimagination ), might it not have been sparked off by structures of the world of things Does symbolism only seem fantastic because it derives from events of cultural history which are now lost in the depths of time In other words, could it be that what we regard as specifically spiritual in mans relation to the tree is actually traceable to lost culture ...

Make a list of your human capital Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Make a list of your human capital - Assignment Example In the office, computer literacy in MsOffice productivity tools such as MSword, excel, powerpoint and outlook is a basic requirement. The ability to surf and do research online is also now a required skill. The degree of required computer proficiency may vary but it is still needed in the new work place. I am happy to report that I could be a part of the modern workplace because I am very proficient in computers and also literate in using other devices. Without this knowledge about computers, one can only do manual labor which are not high paying such as doing construction work, flip burgers or wait tables in restaurants. I consider my good health as a human capital because it enables me to do a lot of things. People who are very healthy may take this human capital for granted but this is actually very valuable because it ensures that we have the energy to achieve our goals and objectives. If we become sickly, we are almost out of the game of pursuing our dreams because we cannot physically pursue it. My social skills can also be considered as a human capital because it enables me to establish connection with other people whom I may need in the future. This human capital should not be underestimated because this skill provides the opportunity. Any skill or knowledge would be useless if there are no opportunities to use it. My college education of course is an invaluable human capital. My college diploma guarantees my competency in my field of study and almost assure me of an above average salary upon employment. It also serves as a ticket for a long term career in any endeavor that I may choose where there is a huge possibility where I could assume executive position because of my education. Unlike with my other human capital where its possibility of being used as a source of income is very small, college education opens a lot of possibility for me to make a living. I can use it as a credential in applying for a job. Or it could also be

A Good Fall by Ha Jin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A Good Fall by Ha Jin - Essay Example The characters are hit by reality which is a new environment that although different from the usual life in China, imposes a new kind of harsh limitations that often experienced in crisis that molds a new, and at times unwanted, transitional identity for the Chinese immigrants. This essay contrasts the concepts of freedom and imprisonment in â€Å"A Good Fall† with â€Å"The House behind a Weeping Cherry as the emigrants attempt to break away from the limitations presented by life in Flushing in order to achieve a more purposeful life. In the "The House behind a Weeping Cherry" (Jin 195) the main characters are depicted as living inside a prison due to the circumstances they find themselves in while in New York. "The House behind a Weeping Cherry" begins with Wanren contemplating his next move after his roommate had moved meaning he had to shoulder all the rent by himself. This was going to be a daunting task for Wanren as he could not shoulder all the rent by himself. It could have been easier for Wanren to move to a new place but the apartment is located continently near his workplace. Wanren is therefore caught between finding a new apartment which will further incontinence him work as he will have to travel from the new place to his workplace or pay more which will further complicate his financial situation as a migrant without any proper skill. Therefore, Wanren is caught in a mental prison with all his options having a negative impact on his financial and social status. Wanren is however saved from these pos sibilities when Mrs. Chen presents him with an alternative of driving the girls to see their clients in exchange for Wanren maintain his rent was it was. Wanren is however not salvaged from his imprisonment as he is now forced to break the law by being initiated into something illicit playing part in a prostitution

Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Describing a Poem Assignment

Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Describing a Poem - Assignment Example Besides, the speaker intelligently creates a figurative approach using the shoe as an explanation of the restriction of her freedom. According to the speaker, shoes limits feet movement inside and so is her daddy (Holbrook 12). Notably, the speaker sounds bitter and portrays her revenge towards the mistreatment she receives from male counterparts. Additionally, the beginning of this first stanza sets a remorseful environment that is sustained across the entire poem. While the writer appears to direct her bitterness and regrets towards her daddy, it should be clear that the daddy represents male category in the society that has continued derail freedom to the female counterparts. The entire poem is full of metaphors that include black shoe, like a Nazi, like a Swastika and like a Vampire. The terms are intelligently used to summarize the views of the speaker towards male species. In her world, she finds men barbaric, cruel, just like Nazi, and she describes herself figuratively as a jew (Holbrook 12). Historically, Jews were racial persecuted during the harsh German rule through killing, maiming and racial cleansing. Surprisingly, the speaker plays this victim role and curses her daddy for high-handedness that described her earlier

Case Study on Palliative Care: Example Answers

Case Study on Palliative Care: Example Answers Carol is a 48 year old woman who lives with her husband Dean and three children. Carols three children, Josephine (15 years), Harry (12 years) and Sarah (8 years) are aware their mother has cancer, but have not been told of the development of secondary disease or the implications this carries. The family run a small general store in an outer suburb of Perth. Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, originally undergoing a right lumpectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy. Last year Carol was diagnosed with bone secondaries. Since that time she has been receiving tamoxifen and attending the oncology clinic for follow-up. The community palliative care nurse visits Carol once a month to monitor her progress and provide emotional support. While visiting Carol the nurse notes that she appears to be in considerable discomfort, though she denies any pain. On questioning Dean, the nurse learns that Carol has been found crying and holding her hip, but refuses to seek medical attention. Why do you think Carol is reluctant to seek medical attention and acknowledge her pain? ANSWER: Carol is reluctant to seek the medical attention because she is fed up with the medical checkups and also she receives no positive improvement in her health so she herself concluded to not to waste the money on her health and let them safe for her three children (Matthews, 2008). As Carol begins to receive palliative care, which members of the palliative care team do you think need to be involved in her care? Briefly describe the role of each. ANSWER: The family members of Carol play an important role in the team of palliative care and especially the role of Dean was very crucial because he is the person who could fill the strength in Carol to fight against this dangerous disease ( Foley, 2001). Investigations of Carols pain revealed bony secondaries. She was offered a course of radiotherapy, but refused as this would mean going to the city (55km away) every day, and she would be away from the shop at the busiest time of the year. Carol agreed to recommencing chemotherapy, and was commenced on regular panadeine forte (two every four hours) for her pain. Carol has been troubled by nausea and vomiting after each course of chemotherapy. On a follow up visit five days after Carols last chemotherapy, the community nurse discovers that Carol is constantly nauseated, vomiting several times a day and unable to keep any fluids down. Identify the possible causes of Carols nausea and vomiting. ANSWER: Chemotherapy involves the killing of cancerous cells from the patients body thus due to these heavier operations on Carols body would make her uneasy and thus she has nausea and vomiting (Ferrell, 2006). Describe the management strategies for the various probable cause(s) of Carols nausea and vomiting. ANSWER: Management strategies should be in order to give her strict instructions to be away from strong odours, not to lay flat after eating, have some light exercise after eating, to eat in smaller amounts and most importantly keep her mind relaxed and try to forget about the chemotherapy (Hesketh, 2005). On a follow-up visit, the community nurse discovers that Carol is only achieving two hours pain relief after her tablets and is taking them more frequently, but is reluctant to consider changing to stronger medication. Identify the appropriate steps for assessing Carols pain. ANSWER: She should be checked to take medicines on her own i.e. someone from her family should take the responsibility to fetch her with medicines; also management should maintain a regular chart of the total amount of daily doses and the time span of pain she have(McMann,  2009). After consultation with the general practitioner, the community nurse discusses changing Carols analgesia to something stronger. Carol is very reluctant as she feels she will only become addicted to hard drugs if she uses them now. Carol expresses concerns about having this type of medication in the house with young children around. What are the possible reasons for Carols reluctance to change her medication, and how could this be overcome? ANSWER: Carol main reason for reluctance was that she wants to be with her family also she wants to save money as she could not afford the hospitals expenses and hence she wants the whole medication to be done at her home. This can be overcome if and only if the management gives some relaxation in the expenses (Visel, 2006). Carol reluctantly agrees to a trial of oral morphine, initially in short-acting form until the dose is titrated. She is commenced on 10mg of oral morphine 4th hourly. What education should the nurse give Carol about commencing and taking morphine? ANSWER: The nurse should tell her to handle some pain and extend the period of taking the morphine from 2 hours interval to 4 hours interval so that she could develop some resistive powers in herself (Bruera, 2003). When should Carol be considered for conversion to controlled (slow) release morphine, and how would the dose be calculated for this? ANSWER: As soon as Carol feels that she has generated enough resistive power then the controlled doses of morphine should be given and the period should be increased rose to the power of 2 i.e. 2, 4, 8, 16 and finally it should be stopped (Bruera, 2003). Identify adjuvant medication that may be helpful in Carols case. ANSWER: Herceptin drug can be used as the adjuvant medication because it interferes with growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body (Knox, 2004). Carol is reluctantly taking morphine 30mg every four hours and Naprosyn 500mg b.d. for her pain. When visiting Carol one day the community nurse finds Carol vomiting and complaining of catching a gastro bug from one of the children. On questioning Carol states she has had small frequent amounts of diarrhoea for 5-6 days, and has not had a normal bowel motion for two weeks. Carol is notably dry, complains of thirst, has a coated tongue, and a distended abdomen. What nursing investigations would you carry out? ANSWER: The infection is been spreading in her family due to the contact of virus released by the vomiting of the Carol. Hence personal hygiene should be maintained (Yarbro, 2005). What nursing strategies would you implement to relieve Carols symptoms? ANSWER: For relieving Carols symptoms the basic nursing strategies should ensure that the toiletry area should properly cleaned using diluted bleach, she must wash her hand after using the toilet, her clothes must be washed in warm water, and lastly the nurse should suggest her the BRAT food i.e. Banana Rice Applesauce and Toast as the main food from time to time and drink as much liquid as she discharges in her stools (Yarbro, 2005). Carols appetite has decreased and she is eating only very small amounts of food. She is not nauseous. Dean is finding it hard to accept that Carol doesnt need food and worries that without food Carol will die. What will you tell Dean about Carols loss of appetite? ANSWER: We will tell him not to panic because this loss of appetite is only due to the gastro effects and it will be removed as soon as the medicines perform their proper function (Ko, 2008). What strategies can you use to help Carol increase her intake? ANSWER: After giving her enough liquid food we will ask Carol to perform light exercises which could help her to burn more calories and so she will feel a good hunger for receiving a good nutrition (Ko, 2008). Carol has become increasingly bedbound and is spending many hours sleeping, and at times becomes restless. She has refused all further chemotherapy and blood tests and is aware her time is limited. Carol has told Dean that she would like to die at home. What do you need to consider to ensure that Carol can be cared for at home (eg. equipment, care needs etc)? ANSWER: The main consideration would be based on finding ways so that she must not get any complication in terms of medical facility. Hence important equipments must be installed with a good experienced nurse who remains with Carol in her house for 24 hours (Keir, 2002). The community nurse is called late at night because Carol has become semi-conscious, but is calling out and very restless. On arrival the nurse finds Carol agitated and restless in bed, with an increased respiratory rate, an obvious frown and unable to respond to questions. On questioning Dean states that he was unable to administer her last two doses of morphine slow release tablets. Carol has not taken fluids for several days, nor passed urine for eighteen hours. Identify the possible cause(s) for Carols restlessness and suggest treatments. ANSWER: Carols restlessness is only due to improper metabolism of her body so she should be given liquids as much as she could take and finally she must be made to discharge the urine (smith, 2006). The community nurse suggests insertion of a subcutaneous butterfly needle to administer Carols morphine for pain control. Dean becomes distressed, questioning the need for morphine when his wife is almost unconscious. He accuses the nurse of trying to hurry things along. What is an appropriate nursing response to Deans concerns? ANSWER: Nurse should send Dean outside the room and tell him to keep patience and keep faith, she will do the appropriate nursing of Carol (Kearny, 2006). Carol remains unconscious for several days. Josephine expresses concern that her mother has not had any fluids for several days and questions whether she should be admitted to hospital so intravenous fluids could be commenced. Josephine questions if it is cruel to let her mother die of dehydration? What explanation could the nurse give in response to Josephines concerns? ANSWER: Nurse should give condolence to Josephine and not to worry because she will take care of her mother in every aspects of medical concern (Alexander, 2000). What nursing actions will ensure that Carol is comfortable despite no oral intake? ANSWER: The basic nursing action that a nurse should check Carols pulse rate and blood pressure, if everything is normal then there it is ensured that Carol is comfortable despite of having no oral intake (Alexander, 2000). Dean approaches the palliative care nurse for assistance the next day. He states the children, in particular Sarah, are asking questions he doesnt know how to answer. Sarah asks detailed questions about what will happen to Carol before and after she dies, and appears to have a morbid interest in the details of death. Identify strategies to assist children dealing with death. ANSWER: While assisting children dealing with death the children of small age should be taken away from the house and make them busy in some games while elder children should understand itself how to manage with the condition (Schaefer, 2002). Carol died at 4.30 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, with Dean, the three children and her mother by her side. Her death was described by the palliative care nurse as peaceful, but her dying as a struggle. What bereavement follow up could be put in place for this family? ANSWER: Carol was a strong fighter and she fights with her disease with silence and lots of courage, this death would keep soul free from the struggles that she had faced during her illness. God bless her soul Amen (Schaefer, 2002).

The Death of Communism Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Death of Communism The United States longest and bloodiest war was the Vietnam War, which was fought from 1959 until 1975.(Communist Manifesto 1) In this war 57,685 Americans were killed, and their were over 2 million Vietnamese deaths.(Communist Manifesto 3) One of the main causes of the war was a commonly held American belief called the Domino Theory. This theory stated that if the U.S. allowed one country to fall to communism, those around it would fall, and then those around it, eventually taking over the whole world. However, the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 allows to approach communism in a new light. The Communist Manifesto has three sections. The first is an outline of the history of the bourgeois and the proletariat, and a explanation on how the bourgeoisà ­ will bring about their defeat. The second section shows the framework of the communist goals, and their long range plan to abolish private property. The last section criticizes other socialist attempts at the time, calling all workers to unite under communism. The bourgeois Marx speaks of in the manifesto is simply the capitalist of the time. The proletariat are the workers of the world, people who, according to Marx, have "[become] an appendage of the machine."(Marx 3) Marx speaks of their horrible fate saying "they are daily and hourly enslaved by the machine, by the overlooker, and, above all, by the individual bourgeois manufacturer himself."(Marx 3) Marx documents the stages of the proletariatà ­s struggle with the bourgeois: "at first the contest is carried on by individual laborers, then by the workpeople of a factory, then the operatives of one trade, in one locality, against the bourgeois that directly exploits them."(Marx 4) Marx tells ho... ...e Vietnam war rages on. Bloodshed and military advances ground to a halt decades ago, but the real battle lies in creating a Vietnam that can lift itself out of poverty. The war succeeded more in pushing the country deeper into communism than pulling it out. But the outcome is a forgone conclusion: an ideology that no longer fits with the times will not stand. Ask Mother Russia. Works Cited "Communist Manifesto," MicrosoftÆ EncartaÆ 96 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. (c) Funk & Wagnalls Corporation. All rights reserved. Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. "The Communist Manifesto." http: //leftside.uwc.ac.za/Archives/1848-CM/cm.html (25 June 1997). "Vietnam War," MicrosoftÆ EncartaÆ 96 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. (c) Funk & Wagnalls Corporation. All rights reserved.

The Host Chapter 36: Believed

The congregation relaxed, and a more enthusiastic murmur ran around the half circle. I looked at Jamie. He pursed his lips and shrugged. â€Å"Jeb's just trying to get things back to normal. It's been a bad couple of days. Burying Walter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I winced. I saw that Jeb was grinning at Jared. After a moment of resistance, Jared sighed and rolled his eyes at the strange old man. He turned and strode quickly from the cave. â€Å"Jared got a new ball?† someone asked. â€Å"Cool,† Wes said beside me. â€Å"Playing games,† Trudy muttered, and shook her head. â€Å"If it eases the tension,† Lily responded quietly, shrugging. Their voices were low, close beside me, but I could also hear other, louder voices. â€Å"Easy on the ball this time,† Aaron said to Kyle. He stood over him, offering his hand. Kyle took the offered hand and got slowly to his feet. When he was standing, his head almost hit the hanging lanterns. â€Å"The last ball was weak,† Kyle said, grinning at the older man. â€Å"Structurally deficient.† â€Å"I nominate Andy for captain,† someone shouted. â€Å"I nominate Lily,† Wes called out, getting to his feet and stretching. â€Å"Andy and Lily.† â€Å"Yeah, Andy and Lily.† â€Å"I want Kyle,† Andy said quickly. â€Å"Then I get Ian,† Lily countered. â€Å"Jared.† â€Å"Brandt.† Jamie got to his feet and stood on his toes, trying to look tall. â€Å"Paige.† â€Å"Heidi.† â€Å"Aaron.† â€Å"Wes.† The roll call continued. Jamie glowed when Lily chose him before half the adults were taken. Even Maggie and Jeb were picked for teams. The numbers were even until Lucina came back with Jared, her two small boys bouncing in excitement. Jared had a shiny new soccer ball in his hand; he held it out, and Isaiah, the older child, jumped up and down trying to knock it from his hand. â€Å"Wanda?† Lily asked. I shook my head and pointed to my leg. â€Å"Right. Sorry.† I'm good at soccer, Mel grumbled. Well, I used to be. I can hardly walk, I reminded her. â€Å"I think I'll sit this one out,† Ian said. â€Å"No,† Wes complained. â€Å"They've got Kyle and Jared. We're dead without you.† â€Å"Play,† I told him. â€Å"I'll†¦ I'll keep score.† He looked at me, his lips pressed into a thin, rigid line. â€Å"I'm not really in the mood for playing a game.† â€Å"They need you.† He snorted. â€Å"C'mon, Ian,† Jamie urged. â€Å"I want to watch,† I said. â€Å"But it will be†¦ boring if one team has too much advantage.† â€Å"Wanda.† Ian sighed. â€Å"You really are the worst liar I've ever met.† But he got up and started stretching with Wes. Paige set up goalposts, four lanterns. I tried to get to my feet-I was right in the middle of the field. Nobody noticed me in the dim light. All around, the atmosphere was upbeat now, charged with anticipation. Jeb had been right. This was something they needed, odd as it seemed to me. I was able to get onto all fours, and then I pulled my good leg forward so I was kneeling on the bad. It hurt. I tried to hop up onto my good leg from there. My balance was all off, thanks to the awkward weight of my sore leg. Strong hands caught me before I could fall on my face. I looked up, a little rueful, to thank Ian. The words caught in my throat when I saw that it was Jared whose arms held me up. â€Å"You could have just asked for help,† he said conversationally. â€Å"I -† I cleared my throat. â€Å"I should have. I didn't want to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Call attention to yourself?† He said the words as if he were truly curious. There was no accusation in them. He helped me hobble toward the cave entrance. I shook my head once. â€Å"I didn't want to†¦ make anyone do anything, out of courtesy, that they didn't want to do.† That didn't explain it exactly right, but he seemed to understand my meaning. â€Å"I don't think Jamie or Ian would begrudge you a helping hand.† I glanced back at them over my shoulder. In the low light, neither had noticed I was gone yet. They were bouncing the ball off their heads, and laughing when Wes caught it in the face. â€Å"But they're having fun. I wouldn't want to interrupt that.† Jared examined my face. I realized I was smiling in affection. â€Å"You care about the kid quite a bit,† he said. â€Å"Yes.† He nodded. â€Å"And the man?† â€Å"Ian is†¦ Ian believes me. He watches over me. He can be so very kind†¦ for a human.† Almost like a soul, I'd wanted to say. But that wouldn't have sounded like the compliment it was to this audience. Jared snorted. â€Å"For a human. A more important distinction than I'd realized.† He lowered me to the lip of the entrance. It made a shallow bench that was more comfortable than the flat floor. â€Å"Thank you,† I told him. â€Å"Jeb did the right thing, you know.† â€Å"I don't agree with that.† Jared's tone was milder than his words. â€Å"Thank you also-for before. You didn't have to defend me.† â€Å"Every word was the truth.† I looked at the floor. â€Å"It's true that I would never do anything to hurt anyone here. Not on purpose. I'm sorry that I hurt you when I came here. And Jamie. So sorry.† He sat down right beside me, his face thoughtful. â€Å"Honestly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He hesitated. â€Å"The kid is better since you came. I'd sort of forgotten what his laugh sounded like.† We both listened to it now, echoing above the lower pitch of adult laughter. â€Å"Thank you for telling me that. It's been my†¦ biggest worry. I hoped I hadn't damaged anything permanently.† â€Å"Why?† I looked up at him, confused. â€Å"Why do you love him?† he asked, his voice still curious but not intense. I bit my lip. â€Å"You can tell me. I'm†¦ I've†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He couldn't find the words to explain. â€Å"You can tell me,† he repeated. I looked at my feet as I answered. â€Å"In part because Melanie does.† I didn't peek to see if the name made him flinch. â€Å"Remembering him the way she does†¦ that's a powerful thing. And then, when I met him in person†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shrugged. â€Å"I can't not love him. It's part of my†¦ the very makeup of these cells to love him. I hadn't realized before how much influence a host had on me. Maybe it's just human bodies. Maybe it's just Melanie.† â€Å"She talks to you?† He kept his voice even, but I could hear the strain now. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"How often?† â€Å"When she wants to. When she's interested.† â€Å"How about today?† â€Å"Not much. She's†¦ kind of mad at me.† He barked out a surprised laugh. â€Å"She's mad? Why?† â€Å"Because of†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Was there such a thing as double jeopardy here? â€Å"Nothing.† He heard the lie again and made the connection. â€Å"Oh. Kyle. She wanted him to fry.† He laughed again. â€Å"She would.† â€Å"She can be†¦ violent,† I agreed. I smiled, to soften the insult. It was no insult to him. â€Å"Really? How?† â€Å"She wants me to fight back. But I†¦ I can't do that. I'm not a fighter.† â€Å"I can see that.† He touched my battered face with one fingertip. â€Å"Sorry.† â€Å"No. Anyone would do the same. I know what you must have felt.† â€Å"You wouldn't -† â€Å"If I were human, I would. Besides, I wasn't thinking of that†¦ I was remembering the Seeker.† He stiffened. I smiled again, and he relaxed a little. â€Å"Mel wanted me to throttle her. She really hates that Seeker. And I can't†¦ find it in myself to blame her.† â€Å"She's still searching for you. Looks like she had to return the helicopter, at least.† I closed my eyes, clenched my fists, and concentrated on breathing for several seconds. â€Å"I didn't used to be afraid of her,† I whispered. â€Å"I don't know why she scares me so much now. Where is she?† â€Å"Don't worry. She was just up and down the highway yesterday. She won't find you.† I nodded, willing myself to believe. â€Å"Can you†¦ can you hear Mel now?† he murmured. I kept my eyes closed. â€Å"I'm†¦ aware of her. She's listening very hard.† â€Å"What's she thinking?† His voice was just a whisper. Here's your chance, I told her. What do you want to tell him? She was cautious, for once. The invitation unsettled her. Why? Why does he believe you now? I opened my eyes and found him staring at my face, holding his breath. â€Å"She wants to know what happened to make you†¦ different now. Why do you believe us?† He thought for a moment. â€Å"An†¦ accumulation of things. You were so†¦ kind to Walter. I've never seen anyone but Doc be that compassionate. And you saved Kyle's life, where most of us would have let him fall just to protect ourselves, intended murder aside. And then you're such an appalling liar.† He laughed once. â€Å"I kept trying to see these things as evidence of some grand plot. Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and feel that way again.† Mel and I flinched. â€Å"But when they started attacking you today†¦ well, I snapped. I could see in them everything that shouldn't have been in me. I realized I already did believe, and that I was just being obstinate. Cruel. I think I've believed since†¦ well, a little bit since that first night when you put yourself in front of me to save me from Kyle.† He laughed as if he didn't think Kyle was dangerous. â€Å"But I'm better at lying than you are. I can even lie to myself.† â€Å"She hopes you won't change your mind. She's afraid you will.† He closed his eyes. â€Å"Mel.† My heart thudded faster in my chest. It was her joy that sped it, not mine. He must have guessed how I loved him. After his questions about Jamie, he must have seen that. â€Å"Tell her†¦ that won't happen.† â€Å"She hears you.† â€Å"How†¦ straightforward is the connection?† â€Å"She hears what I hear, sees what I see.† â€Å"Feels what you feel?† â€Å"Yes.† His nose wrinkled. He touched my face again, softly, a caress. â€Å"You don't know how sorry I am.† My skin felt hotter where he had touched it; it was a good heat, but his words burned hotter than his touch. Of course he was sorrier for hurting her. Of course. That shouldn't bother me. â€Å"C'mon, Jared! Let's go!† We looked up. Kyle was calling to Jared. He seemed utterly at ease, as if he had not been on trial for his life today. Maybe he'd known it would go his way. Maybe he was quick to get over anything. He didn't seem to notice me there beside Jared. I realized, for the first time, that others had. Jamie was watching us with a satisfied smile. This probably looked like a good thing to him. Was it? What do you mean? What does he see when he looks at us? His family, put back together? Isn't it? Sort of? With the one unwelcome addition. But better than it was yesterday. I guess†¦ I know, she admitted. I'm glad Jared knows I'm here†¦ but I still don't like him touching you. And I like it too much. My face tingled where Jared's fingers had brushed it. Sorry about that. I don't blame you. Or, at least, I know I shouldn't. Thanks. Jamie wasn't the only one watching. Jeb was curious, that little smile gathering up the corners of his beard. Sharon and Maggie watched with fire in their eyes. Their expressions were so much the same that the youthful skin and bright hair did nothing to make Sharon look younger than her grizzled mother. Ian was worried. His eyes were tight, and he seemed on the verge of coming to protect me again. To make sure Jared wasn't upsetting me. I smiled, to reassure him. He didn't smile back, but he took a deep breath. I don't think that's why he's worried, Mel said. â€Å"Are you listening to her now?† Jared was on his feet but still watching my face. His question distracted me before I could ask her what she meant. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"What's she saying?† â€Å"We're noticing what the others think of your†¦ change of heart.† I nodded toward Melanie's aunt and cousin. They turned their backs on me in synchronization. â€Å"Tough nuts,† he acknowledged. â€Å"Fine, then,† Kyle boomed, turning his body toward the ball that sat under the brightest spot of light. â€Å"We'll win it without you.† â€Å"I'm coming!† Jared threw one wistful glance at me-at us-and ran to get in on the game. I wasn't the best scorekeeper. It was too dark to see the ball from where I sat. It was too dark even to see the players well when they weren't right under the lights. I began counting from Jamie's reactions. His shout of victory when his team scored, his groan when the other team did. The groans outnumbered the shouts. Everyone played. Maggie was the goalie for Andy's team, and Jeb was the goalie for Lily's. They were both surprisingly good. I could see their silhouettes in the light from the goalpost lamps, moving as lithely as if they were decades younger. Jeb was not afraid to hit the floor to stop a goal, but Maggie was more effective without resorting to such extremes. She was like a magnet for the invisible ball. Every time Ian or Wes got off a shot†¦ thunk! It landed in her hands. Trudy and Paige quit after a half hour or so and passed me on their way out, chattering with excitement. It seemed impossible that we'd started the morning with a trial, but I was relieved that things had changed so drastically. The women weren't gone long. They came back with arms full of boxes. Granola bars-the kind with fruit filling. The game came to a halt. Jeb called halftime, and everyone hurried over to eat breakfast. The goods were divvied up at the center line. It was a mob scene at first. â€Å"Here you go, Wanda,† Jamie said, ducking out of the group. He had his hands full of the bars, and water bottles tucked under his arms. â€Å"Thanks. Having fun?† â€Å"Yeah! Wish you could play.† â€Å"Next time,† I said. â€Å"Here you go†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ian was there, his hands full of granola bars. â€Å"Beat ya,† Jamie told him. â€Å"Oh,† Jared said, appearing on Jamie's other side. He also had too many bars for one. Ian and Jared exchanged a long glance. â€Å"Where's all the food?† Kyle demanded. He stood over an empty box, his head swiveling around the room, looking for the culprit. â€Å"Catch,† Jared said, tossing granola bars one by one, hard, like knives. Kyle plucked them out of the air with ease, then jogged over to see if Jared was holding out on him. â€Å"Here,† Ian said, shoving half of his haul toward his brother without looking at him. â€Å"Now go.† Kyle ignored him. For the first time today, he looked at me, staring down at me where I sat. His irises were black with the light behind him. I couldn't read his expression. I recoiled, and caught my breath when my ribs protested. Jared and Ian closed ranks in front of me like stage curtains. â€Å"You heard him,† Jared said. â€Å"Can I say something first?† Kyle asked. He peered down through the space between them. They didn't respond. â€Å"I'm not sorry,† Kyle told me. â€Å"I still think it was the right thing to do.† Ian shoved his brother. Kyle reeled back but then stepped forward again. â€Å"Hold on, I'm not done.† â€Å"Yeah, you are,† Jared said. His hands were clenched, the skin over his knuckles white. Everyone had noticed now. The room was hushed, all the fun of the game lost. â€Å"No, I'm not.† Kyle held his hands up, a gesture of surrender, and spoke to me again. â€Å"I don't think I was wrong, but you did save my life. I don't know why, but you did. So I figure, a life for a life. I won't kill you. I'll pay the debt that way.† â€Å"You stupid jackass,† Ian said. â€Å"Who's got the crush on a worm, bro? You gonna call me stupid?† Ian lifted his fists, leaning forward. â€Å"I'll tell you why,† I said, making my voice louder than I wanted to. But it had the effect I was after. Ian and Jared and Kyle turned to stare at me, fight forgotten for the moment. It made me nervous. I cleared my throat. â€Å"I didn't let you fall because†¦ because I'm not like you. I'm not saying that I'm not†¦ like humans. Because there are others here who would do the same. There are kind and good people here. People like your brother, and Jeb, and Doc†¦ I'm saying that I'm not like you personally.† Kyle stared at me for a minute and then chuckled. â€Å"Ouch,† he said, still laughing. He turned away from us then, his message given, and walked back to get some water. â€Å"Life for a life,† he called over his shoulder. I wasn't sure I believed him. Not sure at all. Humans were good liars.

Habits and Traits of Japanese Beetles, Popillia japonica

Habits and Traits of Japanese Beetles, Popillia japonica Is there a garden pest worse than the Japanese beetle? First, the beetle grubs destroy your lawn, and then the adult beetles emerge to feed on your leaves and flowers. Knowledge is power when it comes to controlling  this pest in your yard. Description The Japanese beetles body is a striking metallic green, with copper-colored elytra (wing covers) covering the upper abdomen. The adult beetle measures just about 1/2 inch in length. There are five distinctive tufts of white hairs line each side of the body, and two additional tufts marking the tip of the abdomen. These tufts distinguish the Japanese beetle from other similar species. Japanese beetle grubs are white, with brown heads, and reach about 1 inch in length when mature. First instar  (a developmental stage between molting) grubs measure just a few millimeters in length. The grubs curl into a C shape. Classification Kingdom - AnimaliaPhylum - ArthropodaClass - InsectaOrder - ColeopteraFamily - ScarabaeidaeGenus - PopilliaSpecies - Popillia japonica Diet Adult Japanese beetles are not picky eaters, and thats what makes them such an impactful pest. Theyll feed on both the foliage and flowers of several hundred species of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. The beetles eat plant tissues between the leaf veins, skeletonizing the foliage. When beetle populations get high, the pests may completely strip a plant of flower petals and foliage. Japanese beetle grubs feed on organic matter in the soil and on the roots of grasses, including turfgrass. High numbers of grubs may destroy turf in lawns, parks, and golf courses. Life Cycle Eggs hatch in late summer, and grubs begin to feed on plant roots. Mature grubs overwinter deep in the soil, below the frost line. In spring, grubs migrate upward and resume feeding on plant roots. By early summer, the grub is ready to pupate within an earthen cell in the ground. Adults emerge from late June into summer. They feed on foliage and mate during the day. Females excavate soil cavities several inches deep for their eggs, which they lay in masses. In most parts of its range, the Japanese beetle life cycle takes just a year, but in northern areas, it may stretch to two years. Special Behaviors and Defenses Japanese beetles travel in packs, flying and feeding together. Males use highly sensitive antennae to detect and locate female mates. Though Japanese beetles are despised for their voracious appetites for just about anything green, there is one plant that stops them in their tracks, literally. Geraniums have an odd effect on Japanese beetles and may be the key to defeating these pests. Geranium petals cause a temporary paralysis in Japanese beetles, rendering them  completely immobile for as long as 24 hours. While this doesnt kill them directly, it leaves them vulnerable to predators. Habitat With such a variety of potential host plants, Japanese beetles are well suited to live just about anywhere. Popillia japonica inhabits forests, meadows, fields, and gardens. Japanese beetles even find their way to urban backyards and parks. Range: Although the Japanese beetle is native to eastern Asia, this species was accidentally introduced to the U.S. in 1916. Japanese beetles are now established throughout the eastern U.S. and parts of Canada. Intermittent populations occur in the western U.S. Sources: Eureka Alert: Geraniums Could Help Control Devastating Japanese Beetle