Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Technical writting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Technical writting - Assignment Example He could position the data and information according to things to carry out in the diverse geographic or districts locations of the town. Spatial pattern makes logic intended for the author to standardize the information through physical location for the reason that the information is simple to understand as well as utilize in this format, mainly for tourists who are not well-known with the region (Friedlander, 2004). A Chronological principle of organization is order of importance or climactic order. In Chronological pattern, items are set as of least important to most important. Usual conversions would comprise most difficult, more important, by far the most expensive, still harder, worse up till now, even more damaging, and so on. This is an elastic standard of organization, as well as can guide the organization of the entire or part of case, cause & effect, comparison & contrast, plus description (Friedlander, 2004). For instance, a writers stated principle is to explain the past development or development of the city of Seattle. Supposing that Seattle is having 100 years old history, the writer could systematize the data and information through combining it into 4 chunks of 25-year each. In this state of affairs, the sub-points within all major part of time represent the mainly important events that happened throughout that particular time frame (University of Washington, 2009). Usability testing is proven to trim down expenditure, augment user satisfaction, also save on improvement as well as redesign work (Blastam, 2009). Usability testing assesses behavior, not preference.   Clients are notoriously bad at presenting what kind of software they want; on the other hand through observing and determining behavior, we are able to know about most excellent supports, their motivations, and objectives (Ostrander, 2000). Usability testing offers a great competitive

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Art And Hyper Reality In Animation How Have Things Changed Film Essay

Art And Hyper Reality In Animation How Have Things Changed Film Essay Introduction In this dissertation I will be posing the question Art and hyper reality in animation and how have things changed? A lot of commercial animation today is being pushed by 3D computer technology and the audience perceptions of the true meaning of animation had been clouded by this new era of animated film. I want to find out about the commercial acceptance of animation and the history behind it. This is an interesting subject area because a lot has changed in the past 50 years in terms of animation and moving image. I will be finding out how recent technological advancements in creating realistic looking visuals has effected how we perceive animation and if it has retracted from the original statement that animation is an art form. Recent commercial animation being produced is full of realistic 3D computer graphics therefore moving away from the more traditional 2D animation process. I want to find out why using a sense of visual realism in animation has become the norm. By looking at a range of hyper realistic animation such as Final Fantasy I will be able to find out why they have become so accepted and how the modern audience have adapted their tastes to this new form of representation in cinema. Modernism and post-modernism movements were very powerful in the art world and I want to see how breaking away from a certain way of working brings a new wave of creation, this chapter can be applied to animation in the way that animation has broken away from using pencils and now rely heavily on computer technology. I will also be looking into animators that were the pioneers of the animated form and what they were trying to achieve in the early stages of this emerging medium. These early animators were seen as being experimental because they were the first people that were doing this kind of work. Also by looking into Disney and the way he managed to commercialise animation will give clues as to how 3D computer animation has done the same thing with the likes of Pixar. Audience trends play a big role into finding out about commercialisation and how society/ culture can affect certain trends. By looking into the re-invention of cinema and its audiences I will be able to find out how these factors have changed how people perceive art in cinema. I will then summarise what I have learnt from doing this dissertation and answer my title question in relation to the chapters I have discussed. Contents Reality effects in computer animation. My first chapter will be discussing reality effects in computer animation. I will be referencing an article by Lev Manovich and reviewing the content in this chapter. This article is relevant to the title question because it looks at how technology has affected the process of making realistic looking visuals. This chapter will help me to understand how visual realistic imagery has advanced and why 3D visuals are superseding traditional ways of working. I will also be mentioning and talking about some animated films which use computer technology and how they have helped push the boundaries of what can be achieved by using this technology. Animation and its progression to commercialism My second chapter will be looking into experimental animation which will discuss the reason why animation visuals dont have to make sense to still be true to the animated form. Experimental animation is a genre in itself and I will be looking at why new audiences want to see visually realistic imagery over an abstract film. I will also be discussing how Walt Disney commercialised animation and how this has changed the audiences perception of animation. This chapter will create a contrast between the first chapter and show just how different these animated practices are. Modern and post-modern movements My third chapter will be talking about the modern and post-modern movements and finding where animation fits into them. This will be interesting to look into because these movements can be applied to what is happening now such as cinema breaking away from more traditional 2D animation to 3D hyper realistic animation. Modern Audience in relation to animation My fourth chapter will be looking into audience trends in the cinema. This will help me to understand why audiences are becoming more and more comfortable with being exposed to computer generated imagery when 20 years ago the industry was more interested in traditional 2D and stop motion imagery. Conclusion My final chapter will be concluding what I have studied in this dissertation and answering the title question. Chapter 1: Reality Effects in Computer Animation I will be reviewing the article, Reality Effects in Computer Animation by Lev Manovich, which is from Jayne Pillings book A Reader In Animation Studies London 1998. Lev Manovich is an author of new media books and a professor of Visual Arts, University of California, San Diego, U.S. where he teaches new media art and theory. I will also be discussing what methods animators go through to achieve a sense of realism. The purpose of the article is to identify how reality in animation and cinema first developed and how different levels of realism have affected these industries. The title question is important because the rapid growth of cinematic and computer technology is constantly changing the advances in reproducing reality. Therefore it is interesting to find out how other practitioners have identified the term realism and the impact their thoughts have had in defining the purpose of reality in computer animation. The main points I will be discussing in this review will be the compar isons between early attempts of realism and three dimensional computer graphics. I will also be discussing how the developments of new technology have further enhanced realism in regards to computer animation and cinema. This article starts with outlining the early discoveries of recreating the human form in a visual output such as paintings. Giotto di Bondone (an Italian painter) has been mentioned as being the first person to produce three-dimensional forms on a flat surface. He has been compared with his mentor Cenni di Pepo or also known as Cimabue who was also an Italian painter. Cimabues work in comparison with three-dimensional computer imagery is mentioned as having a more 2D look unlike Giotto whose work achieves a stronger 3D effect. This comparison is relevant to the realism debate because Giotto has been considered as the first great artist of the Italian Renaissance, which was a turning point in art history and the incorporation of realistic techniques. The article then goes on to say that A Renaissance painting and a computer image employ the same technique (a set of consistent depth cues) to create an illusion of space, existent or imaginary. However the difference between the mediums is that a viewer can now experience moving around a simulated three-dimensional space, which isnt possible with a painting. To then approach the problems of realism in three-dimensional computer animation Lev starts by looking at the arguments that have advanced in film theory in regards to cinematic realism. This is a good avenue to look down because a lot of computer animation is being incorporated into live-action films these days so a better understanding of cinema realism will further enhance the importance of reality effects in computer animation. However I think the incorporation of the Italian painters as a comparison to computer generated imagery is a bit dated and it would be beneficial if more modern examples were shown as computer animation is seen as a modern art form and it has only really been around since the 1950s. Technology has played a big part in making computer graphics look realistic and Lev had covered this topic in some detail. The term mimesis has been brought up in this section because the modern technology of cinema has been seen in Andrà © Basins eyes as being a realisation of this ancient myth. Mimesis is a critical and philosophical term that carries a wide range of meanings which include imitation, representation, mimicry, similarity and the art of resembling. Therefore mimesis can be related back to reality because the term explains certain factors that affect a realistic outcome such as the art of resembling. For example resemblance can also mean similarity, which is what commercial computer animation tries to recreate, taking a look at real life and recreating it in a virtual world. Manovich states each new technological development (e.g. sound, panchromatic stock, colour) points to the viewers just how un-realistic the previous image was and reminds them that the present ima ge, even though more realistic, will be superseded in the future- thus constantly sustaining the state of disavowal. So by something that is believed to be realistic at a certain period in time will soon become out-dated because technology is rapidly evolving, therefore the notion of never being able to recreate reality in regards to computer animation is an interesting concept and ideology. In terms of animation software Lev then goes on to say. New algorithms to produce new effects are constantly being developed. To stay competitive, a company has to quickly incorporate the new software into their offerings. The animations are designed to show off the latest algorithm. This statement backs up the technological advances in realistic looking computer graphics and can also explain how computer imagery is becoming ever more impressive and pioneering than the previous production. There are different levels of realism for example in animation practice the art of walk cycles display a realistic quality but they will never capture the true essence of the human form compared to live action. Whether a 3D character is walking, running or jumping, it is difficult to recreate a realistic sense of movement when working frame-by-frame. Footage created with frame-by-frame photography in 3D animation lacks the motion blur that occurs naturally when a figure moves in real time before a live action camera. So certain techniques that can be achieved using a computer that can control the motion and add a blur effect to create a realistic sense of movement. Rotoscoping is a technique that allows animators to trace over live action film one frame at a time therefore creating flawless movements and realism to any character or object. However this process is in a way cheating because no one is animating the movements but instead just tracing over and copying the movements that are already there, therefore loosing the skill and style of an animator. Human movements can also be captured by using a technique called motion capture. This technique uses sensors to record the movement of an object in live action, motion capture is a computer driven animation system which allows a director to rehearse and direct the movements of a three-dimensional character. Almost all 3D animation is shot horizontally on a set of some kind just like live action film whereas 2D is generally recorded from a camera placed overhead (vertically). The use of sets for 3D animation makes it possible to get a number of angles whilst filming the action, this way of filming can create a sense of realism to the audience. For example the use of these cinematic angles that are also used in live action film could make the audience believe that they ar e watching something real because the same shots are used in films when capturing real life actors. Jan Svankmajers Alice shot his live action/animation film at full scale placing his live actress and animated characters within what appears to be real rooms, or outside on a rocky terrain. The way in which this film was shot makes it realistic because of the mixture of a live action actress and animated real life objects such as the stuffed rabbit toy. Realism in animation can be good because the audience can relate to what they see and can almost gain comfort from what they know; such as the animated film Bolt where the dogs characteristics are so life like and realistic that you could imagine seeing this dog in real life. Final Fantasy the spirits within was a groundbreaking film at the time because of its hyper-realistic look. Roger Ebert was a strong advocate of the film; he gave it 3 ½ stars out of 4, praising it as a technical milestone while conceding that its nuts and bolts story lacked the intelligence and daring of, say, Steven Spielbergs A.I.. He noted that while he did not once feel convinced Aki Ross was an actual human being she was lifelike, stating her creators dare us to admire their craft. Ebert expressed a desire for the film to succeed in hopes of seeing more films made in its image, though he was sceptical of its ability to be accepted in the wider audience. This happened to be the case as the box office figures for Final Fantasy strongly indicate a lack of positive reaction from audiences, a fact further supported by the overwhelmingly poor response from film critics. To summarise, the terms reality and realism play a big part in computer animation because people are endlessly re-duplicating the visible so that the viewer can relate to the imagery and be impressed by what can be achieved using these technologies. Therefore the role of realism will always be apparent and a defining factor in computer animation. With the accessibility of the internet, freelance artists are constantly out-doing each other which is also driving the production of reality effects and advancements in technology. The article as a whole has shown me that reality in computer animation is a competitive business and that the technologies used to create these effects werent originally designed for entertainment purposes. I have found that not every theorist such as David Bordwell and Andrà © Bazin share the same views or opinions so it becomes difficult to get a true definition or the sense of a certain ideology. The possibilities of recreating reality effects in computer animation are endless because using 3D effects in cinema is becoming the norm almost. Moreover the demand for incredible effects and imaginative imagery is becoming more apparent every year because film makers know that this is what the audience wants to see. Also with the abundance of new technology, computerised imagery is becoming easier to create. Chapter 2: Animation and its progression to commercialism In the beginning all animation was experimental. Experimental animation can be seen as one of the realist form of animation because it is not trying to conform to a certain genre or ideology but rather lean towards an experimental, more abstract or random approach to what is being displayed. Film historian William Moritz quotes: No animation film that is not non-objective and/ or non- linear can really qualify as true animation, since the conventional linear representational story has long since been far better done in live-action. Here Moritz defines what may be regarded as a purist view of what properly constitutes as true animation. He is suggesting that the animated form is best shown when the concentration is purely on using, developing and experimenting with the unique vocabulary which is available only in animation. The freedom of animation has allowed certain animators and artists not to find appropriate means by which they express their vision, but to further progress the medium. Moreover the reason to push the boundaries of what an animator is doing makes an experimental piece truly experimental. Abstraction goes hand in hand with experimental animation because something being abstract can exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Animators which pioneered this new animated art form such as Emile Cohl, Stuart Blackton and Windsor McCay used very basic ways of working mainly due to the fact that they didnt know any better or the technology wasnt available to them. Artists such as Jules Engel who began his animation career working on Disneys Fantasia and UPA cartoons refers to experimental animation as fine art animation because he sees his way of working as more of an art form rather than a commercialized commodity. There were animators that wanted commercial success for the fact that they wanted animation to be seen by everyone. Stuart Blacktons trick film, The Haunted Hotel further enhanced the view that the animated short mig ht become more commercially viable. Walt Disney was the man who broke away from experimental animation and brought a new era of animated film into the commercial limelight. Disney was the first to produce an animated feature-length film called Snow White. Critics however dubbed the project Disneys Folly and were certain that the project would destroy the Disney Studio. Walt used the Silly Symphonies as a platform for experiments in realistic human animation, distinctive character animation, special effects, and the use of specialized processes and apparatus such as the multiplane camera. Walts drive to perfect the art of animation was endless. Technicolor was introduced to animation during the production of his Silly Symphonies Cartoon Features. Walt Disney held the patent for Technicolor for two years, allowing him to make the only colour cartoons. This further held his grip on the animation industry at the time. Disney played an active role in behind the scenes in World War II. He was asked to create training and ins tructional films for the military, home-front morale-boosting shorts such as Der Fuehrers Face and the feature film Victory Through Air Power in 1943. It is clear that in the post-war period in America, Disney started to integrate himself into the world of politics. Disney was the founding member of the anti-communist Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. However Disney was not an aggressive person and kept very reserved    in 1947, during the early years of the Cold War. Disney testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), where he branded Herbert Sorrell, David Hilberman and William Pomerance, former animators and labor union organizers, as Communist agitators. This was the start of Disney becoming a global brand and ultimately being boosted into the commercial spotlight. The development of Disney Land and Disney World soon rocketed Disneys success; these amusement parks especially in their early stages were Disneys personal proje cts. A pitch kit which was prepared for visitors to read when they enter through an entrance describes Disneyland in detail. The idea of Disneyland is a simple one. It will be a place for people to find happiness and knowledge. It will be a place for parents and children to share pleasant times in one anothers company, a place for teacher and pupils to discover greater ways of nostalgia of days gone by, and the younger generation can savor the challenge of the future. Here will be the wonders of nature and man for all to see and understand. This description of Disneyland also applies to everything that Disney represents and this is how his animation has skyrocketed into the mainstream by the fact that it is so universally appealing to all races and cultures. Pixar is an animation company that focuses on using computer generated imagery in their films. Pixar has gone from strength to strength because of their use of likable characters, engaging stories and visual aesthetics. You could compare Pixars recent success with how Disney first started. In the early 90s computer graphics, especially in commercial work was primarily used to create effects such as flying logos and morphing. Pixar settled into a niche by using computer animation to create character animation which very few studios at the time were doing. Most of the animators who started in Pixar used to work at Disney and in the spring of 1991, Pixar and Disney signed a co-production agreement for three pictures. So going back full circle, Disney was still at the forefront of the next revolution in animation. Toy Story was the first Disney/ Pixar film to be made and was released on November 22nd 1995. It became a phenomenon and ended up as the top grossing film of the year, as well as one of the best reviewed. Toy story was the first feature film to be entirely made using CGI which made people realize that using computers to create animation was a viable way of working. Soon after this revolution in computer animation, we soon start to see popular live action directors such as Steven Spielberg and James Cameron using this new medium in their films to create special effects. Working with this technology is cheaper than the old fashioned ways of working such as creating elaborate sets or real life explosions. CGI allows film makers to create the unimaginable and impossible because the only limitations of what can be achieved rests within our own imaginations. Moreover this allows certain films to have that wow factor that cinema audiences crave in a film. As technology has moved on many amateur film makers can also work with CGI because of affordable animation and compositing software, furthermore pushing the boundaries and the potential of what can be achieved with this relatively new medium. Traditional ways of working such as using animation cels and ink in an animated film have been shunned out in favour of CGI graphics. However many daytime cartoons such as Spongebob square pants are still made using these methods. Cartoons in the Golden Age of Hollywood animation were normally created in-house whereas nowadays cel animation is shipped off overseas to places such as Korea because they can be produced more cheaply. This then strips the amount of artistic talent and personalisation of the cartoon because of the mass production side of things. In the 1950s animators such as Tex Avery made cartoons to make people laugh, his mentality towards his cartoons was to think in gags and hold no restrictions to his drawings. Therefore the cartoons became a lot more personal. From watching some of Tex Averys animated cartoons we cant help but notice the amount of limited animation such as the holding of certain frames and gags. However this was a common occurrence from animations i n that time period. Blitz Wolf is an animation based upon Adolf Hitler; it is a brilliant piece of animation as well as a wonderful example of propaganda in wartime. In the short the wolfs car features a logo Der fewer (der better) brilliant in its simplicity. When the wolf steps outside with a leering face he watches the audience and shows a sign saying Go ahead and hiss, who cares a very good representation of Hitlers insolence before the war when he made some despicable acts that he didnt care were going to affect his international reputation. Tex a has a non-realist approach to animation because his cartoons encouraged animators to stretch the boundaries of the medium and do things in a cartoon that would not be possible in the world of live-action film. For example a scene in Dumb Hounded shows the wolf running down a flight of stairs at an impossible speed then enters a car before travelling around the world to get away from Droopy. Also in The Early Bird Dood It there is a sc ene where the chicken is chasing the worm with a wooden bat, soon after the chicken is staring a cat in the face and his wooden bat turns all floppy. A quoted line from Averys cartoons was, In a cartoon you can do anything, and his cartoons repeatedly did just that. In 2009 The Princess and the Frog was released by Disney. This film used traditional 2D hand drawn techniques mixed with digital drawn aspects such as the backgrounds and effects. This film showed that traditional 2D animation can still be achieved and still capture the attention and imagination of a modern audience, the film with its universal rating appealed to all ages. Chapter 3: Is Animation Seen As A Modernist Or Post-Modernist Art Form? Modernism and Post-modernism are two subjects that are constantly being discussed in the art world. For me to answer the title question thoroughly and informatively I must first address the main factors of this chapter, Modernism and Post-modernism. I will be discussing the history of Modernism, how the movement started and how it affected the art world. This will allow me to understand how to tackle the question for this chapter. I will be also be discussing the same points in relation to Post-modernism. After looking into these movements I will conclude my findings and incorporate my own personal opinions and thoughts about what I have found in my research. Looking into the history of animation will also be beneficial because this art form is an integral part of this chapter and dissertation. After gaining a better understanding of these movements I will be able to answer the question is animation is a modernist or post-modernist art form? Modern as a historical art term, refers to a period in history that dates roughly from the 1860s through the 1970s and is used to describe the style and the ideology of art produced during that era. The term Modernism is also used to refer to the art of the modern period and philosophy of Modern Art. The Modernist movement first emerged in 1862 and 1863 when the painting Le dà ©jeuner sur lherbe, which is French for The Lunch On The Grass; was created by Édouard Manet. This particular piece of art sparked controversy even to this day because it displayed nude women around fully clothed men, which was seen as indecent behaviour and a taboo subject in the time it was painted. Manet deliberately chose a large canvas size which were normally reserved for grander subjects therefore he broke the academic traditions of the time. But the question can be posed: Why did Manet paint Le Dà ©jeuner sur lherbe? My answer would be because he was interested in exploring new subject matter, new painting ideologies, and new ways of thinking. Therefore he rebelled against the conventional subject matters that were common in this period of history and adopted the new found modernist approach. The Modernist movement can be seen as a socially progressive trend of thought that encouraged human beings to create improve upon and redefine their environment with the help of experimentation, technology and an open mind with no boundaries. Avant-garde was the term given rather than Modernism at first, this term remained to describe the movements that identify themselves as attempting to overthrow or reinvent some aspect of tradition. The English dictionary refers the term Avant-garde as writers, artists, filmmakers, or musicians whose work is innovative, experimental, or unconventional and is considered as a group. I have included this dictionary reference to see if the term is described in the same way as the art world interprets it, because in some instances the true meaning and no tion of the word can be misrepresented. By 1930, Modernism had entered popular culture which sparked an influx in artistic movements. Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, Dadaism and Pop art are a few movements that appeared throughout the 20th century. As Modernism started to flourish through the consumer/capitalist societies it soon entered mainstream popular culture which was the main factor the movement rejected in the first place. Therefore the movement had become so institutionalised that it was seen as post avant-garde and soon adopted the term Post-Modern. However for others such as art critic Robert Hughes they refer to post-modernism as being an extension of modernism. The postmodernist movement began in America around the 1960s-1970s and then it spread to Europe and the rest of the world, this movement is still present today. Post-modernism is used in a confusing variety of ways. For some it means anti-modern; for others it means the revision of modernist ideologies. The term Post signifies a historical sequencing in which a previous state of affairs is outdated, therefore functioning in the first instance as a period defining term. Postmodernism in its simple form means after the modernist movement while the term modern refers to something related with the present. What people first thought was modern and modernistic, others were dissatisfied with what they saw because of the way Modernism has evolved therefore leading to a Postmodernist movement. Post-modernism was primarily a reaction to Modernism because the Modernist movement was seen as fraudulent and contradicting. This movement began with architecture, as a reactionary movement against the so-called blandness and conventionalisation present in the modernist movement. Architects werent interested in creating perfect buildings that conformed to certain social rules. Instead architects such as Michael Graves took it upon themselves to favour personal preferences over popular culture therefore creating a post modernist structure. Postmodernists felt the buildings failed to meet the human need for comfort both for body and for the eye. Modernism did not account for the desire for beauty. The post-modern philosophy is distinguished by factors such as criticism, scepticism and subjectivity. In my opinion from looking at my research I would class post-modernism as having the same ideologies as the modernist movement as in wanting to break away from the conventional and mainstream. Moreover post-modernism was breaking away from the now mainstream movement Modernism therefore creating a new movement altogether, Post-modernism. Animation has been around since the turn of the 20th century when filmmakers such as J. Stuart Blackton made the first animated film called Humorous phases of funny faces. Blackton drew comical faces on a blackboard and filmed them. He would stop the film, erase one face to draw another, and then film the newly drawn face. The stop-motion provided an animated effect as the facial expressions changed before the viewers eyes. Humorous Phases of Funny Faces is regularly cited as the first true animated film, and Blackton is considered the first true animator. Animation is different from live action film in the sense that there are limitless amounts of possibilities that can be achieved because the only real boundary is the artists imagination rather than physical restraints. In the early 1900s animation was dominated by Disney productions such as Snow White, which marked the golden age of Hollywood animation. Through the 1950s animation became a lot more stylised and broke away from the mainstream Disney style. The animations in this period incorporated modern art aesthetics such as in the backgrounds and general stylisation of characters. As technology evolved the use of computers started to play a part in animation. For example artists were now able to reproduce shapes, characters and scenery digitally without the need for pencils and paper, therefore allowing the animator to watch their progression in real time instead of having to film each frame. After researching it could be said that early animation such as traditional hand drawn and stop motion are a modernist art form and that the incorporation of computers and 3D animation nowadays can be seen as being post-modern because it has broken away from the traditional ways of working. So is animation a modern or post-modern art form? From my research into both movements I can positively say that animation is a post-modernist art form. I have come to this conclusion based on the fact that cinema is a modernist art form and animation was developed as a new form of expression and creative output that broke away from the mainstream which was cinema at the time. By writing this chapter it has given me a better understanding of what art movements occurred during certain periods and the impact they created in society. My next question would be what movement is going to emerge next after post-modernism and what kind of creativity and ways of thinking are go

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Hamlet in Me :: English Literature Essays

The Hamlet in Me Whether we are planning to build a boat or hoping to write a good essay, the only way to go about these tasks is to make a detailed plan of all the steps that need to be taken in order to get the desired result. If you spontaneously decide to build a boat, the result may be a plywood tub that leaks from all sides, let alone hold anyone in it. Hamlet, a seventh century story put to life through the amazing writing of Shakespeare, is a play that shows how meticulous and well thought out plans will bring about the desired result. The plays main character, Hamlet, is a Renaissance man that struggles with the corrupt world around him. He must deal with such issues like "blood for blood revenge" when his own uncle kills his father and takes his place as king. A ghost king appears to Hamlet and catalyzes the events that follow in the play. Hamlet must devise a plan to take revenge for his father and bring to justice all the people who have marred the situation. Though the church mandates through its moral code that Hamlet not take revenge, Hamlet tries to find the worst fate for his devious uncle possible: "Now might I do it, now he is a-praying, And now I'll do't and so he goes to heave†¦When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in th' incestuous pleasure of his bed†¦Then trip him†¦And that his soul may be as damned and black As hell, whereto it goes" (3.4.77-100). Hamlet finally gains the nerve to kill his uncle, but sheaths his sword when he realizes that if he kills him while he is praying, his uncle will ascend to heaven. He ultimately decides to kill his uncle when he commits a sin, so that his soul "may be as damned and black as hell." He goes through a meticulous thought process, which shows him both his options and when to act to give his uncle the most cruel and horrible death he deserves. His actions also bring in a conflict between church and the revengeful calls of his families past. If he revenges his father's death then he will be damned to hell according to the church. Without Hamlet's patient and meticulous thought process he would not be able to outwardly expose the king of his wrong doings to Horatio: There is a play tonight before the King.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Life’s Unexpected Roller Coaster: A Study of Scoliosis Essay

Many people may wonder exactly what scoliosis is. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that is greater than ten degrees. Mild scoliosis ranges from ten to twenty degrees. Intermediate scoliosis ranges from twenty to seventy degrees, and severe scoliosis is any curve greater than seventy degrees. Though cases of scoliosis are found equally among both male and females, females scoliosis tends to be more severe (Board). Scoliosis can be present at birth, congenital. There are a few different types of scoliosis; functional, structural, and idiopathic structural. In functional scoliosis the problem does not originate the spine. The curvature in functional scoliosis is flexible, and the curve is normally caused by uneven legs or muscle spasms caused by pain (Board). Functional scoliosis will go away when the underlying problem is corrected. For example in the case of uneven legs orthopedic shoes can be worn. In structural scoliosis the curvature is not flexible it is a fixed curvature in the spine. There could be an underlying problem with the brain or spinal cord. In structural scoliosis there could also be an underlying problem with nerves or muscles (Board). Most scoliosis patients have idiopathic structural scoliosis. Eighty percent of all scoliosis cases are idiopathic structural scoliosis. The cause of idiopathic structural scoliosis is unknown, but symptoms are present. Scoliosis can have several symptoms. It can cause uneven body parts such has the shoulders or waist. Scoliosis victims may lean to the side or become fatigued. Back pain and difficulty breathing are also some of the symptoms but normally are only seen in severe scoliosis cases (Board). Though there are some known causes, most causes for scoliosis are unknown. Congenital scoliosis is considered to be a birth defect. It may occur with other problems such as heart and kidney abnormalities. Spinal cord and brainstem abnormalities are also a possibility (Board). The way scoliosis is diagnosed is called the Cobb Method. The Cobb Method requires the most tilted vertebrae to be identified. A line is then drawn along the ends of these vertebrae to measure the curve. The patient is then asked to bend forward to check for bumps which may be a sign of scoliosis. Finally, an x-ray helps determine the type of scoliosis the patient has (Board). Scoliosis can come with some health risks. In severe scoliosis, the curvature is so great that it could cause the ribs to press against the heart or lungs. This in turn can cause breathing problems. If the curve is greater than one hundred degrees it could cause physical damage to the heart or lungs. Scoliosis can also cause chronic back pain or arthritis of the spine in adults (Board). There are several ways scoliosis can be treated. If the patient is a child that is still growing with a curve of twenty to thirty degrees a back brace can be used. There are two different types of back braces. The underarm or low profile brace is close fitting which makes it almost invisible under clothes. This brace fits under the arms, and around the ribcage, lower back and hips. The underarm brace is a custom made brace fit specially to the patient (Board). The Milwaukee brace is a full torso brace used for upper spine curves. It has a neck ring with rests for the chin and for the back of the head (Board). For curves greater than forty degrees, surgery may be needed. There are a few different types of scoliosis surgery. Spinal fusion is the most common type of scoliosis surgeries. This surgery works by releasing some ligaments and joints around the spinal cord and attaching a rod. A posterior or anterior approach is used to reach the spine. Hook or screws are inserted into the vertebrae to hold the rod in place, and the joints between vertebrae are removed. The rod is pulled tight and a bone graft is placed (Board). Another type of spinal fusion uses thoracoscopy. The procedure is viewed on a monitor while tiny tools are inserted through small incisions. These tools are used to help attach the metal rod to the spine. This method is usually used for curvatures in the chest region that are moderately large (Board). The growing spine system is used for young children who are still growing but are not helped by a back brace. The metal rod that is used to support the spine is adjustable. The procedure is similar to spinal fusion but the joints are not removed and the spine will not fuse. With this system surgery is needed about ever six months to change the length of the rod as the patient grows (Board). Clinical Trials â€Å"A Multicenter Prospective Study of Quality of Life in Adult Scoliosis,† is a trail that tests the effectiveness of non-operative and operative treatments of scoliosis. The trial is currently not open for recruitment. The primary goal of this trail is to compare the outcomes of surgery and non-operative treatments of scoliosis. The study will be done on patients aged forty to eighty with ASLS defined as a lumbar curve with a coronal Cobb measurement that is thirys degrees or greater. The secondary goal of this trial is to evaluate the impart of patient factors and co-morbidities (Multicenter). In order to be eligible for this study the patient must be between the ages of 40-80 years, have a double major or thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis measure thirty degrees or greater, and a SRS score of 4.0 or less in pain, activity and or appearance. The estimated enrollment is three hundred patients. This trial will be conducted by Washington University School of Medicine. It is sche duled to start in July 2009 and estimated to end in December 2015 (Multicenter). â€Å"Phase IV Comparing Rods of Yield Strengths to Correct Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis,† is a trail that tests titanium rods vs. ultra strength stainless steel rods for better correction of scoliosis. This trial is currently recruiting. The goal of this trial is to figure out whether titanium rods or ultra strength stainless steal rods are better for the correction of scoliosis. Surgeons have noticed that the screw construction has been increasing while the strength of the rod has not. The rod is now the weak part of the construction. This brings the need for newer, stronger rods (Phase). Patients must 10-20 years of age, have progressive lenke type 1A, N or idiopathic adolescent scoliosis measuring greater than forty-five degrees. The estimated enrollment for this trial is one hundred patients. This trial will be conducted by Queen’s University in Canada. The trial started September 2008 and is estimated to be complete by September 2011 (Phase). â€Å"Surgical Outcomes Using Variable Rod Diameters in the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis,† is a trail to test the difference in a rod with a diameter of 5.5mm vs. one with a diameter of 6.35mm. This trial is currently r ecruiting. The primary goal of this trail is to discover which diameter of rod is more successful in correcting scoliosis in children. Surgeons use the specific rods based on their preference. There is no proof as to which diameter of rod works better. It is a question that needs to be put to the test (Surgical). Patients must be 11-18 years of age, have scoliosis, and be anticipating a spinal fusion surgery. The estimated enrollment is three hundred patients. This trail is being conducted by Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. The starting date was May 2007 and it is estimated to end in May 2010 (Surgical). The purpose of â€Å"The Idiopathic Scoliosis and Its Treatment (Orthopedic and Surgery): Effect of the Severity, Orthosis and the Arthrodesis on the Gait (scoliosis),† trial is to test the effects of the treatment of scoliosis. This trial is currently recruiting. The primary goal is to compare locomotion parameters in treated scoliosis patients. The secondary goal is to evaluat e the effects of the frontal curve’s severity of the AIS (Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis). Another goal that is hoped to be achieved is comparing the effects of treatment on the gait parameters (Idiopathic). Patients must be 12-18 years of age and female to participate. Both healthy and patients diagnosed with scoliosis by x-ray are needed. The estimated enrollment for this trial is fifty patients. It will be conducted by Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc-Universite Catholique de Louvain in France. The start date for this trial was January 2009 and it is expected to be over by September 2009 (Idiopathic). â€Å"Influence of Leg Length Discrepancy on the Spinal Shape and Biomechanics in Functional and Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients,† is a trial that was created for motion analysis of scoliosis patients. The trial is not yet open for recruitment. The primary goal is to investigate the effects of correction of Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD). LLD is defined as a condition in which paired limbs are unequal in length (Influence) LLD may lead to lumbar scoliosis. It is thought that if LLD is taken care of it can cure the scoliosis. To be eligible for this trial the patient must have functional lumbar scoliosis combined with LLD or idiopathic lumbar scoliosis without LLD. The estimated enrollment for this trial is thirty patients. The trial will be conducted by National Taiwan University Hospital. There are no available dates for this trial (Influence). The trial â€Å"Comparing Two Instrumentation Systems for the Treatment of Adolescent Scoliosis† was created to test the Moss Miami Spine Instrumentation System and the Universal Spine Instrumentation System. This trial has been completed. The primary goal was to compare the quality of life, functional outcome, cosmetic result, and the correction of spinal deformity of the two instrumentation systems (Comparing). Patients had to be 8-18 years of age, have idiopathic scoliosis requiring posterior instrumentation and fusion, scoliosis and a finding of conus less then L1-2 disc level, scoli osis and a finding of a small syrinx (non-progressivie and does not require neurosurgical treatment), and non-progressive spondylolysis. This trial had an estimated enrollment of one hundred and twenty-six patients. It was conducted by The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada. The study was received January 4, 2006 (Comparing) The Moss Miami system and the Universal Spine systems provided similar quality of life and curve correction (Comparing). â€Å"Continuous Local Infusion of Anesthetic at the Incisional Site for Scoliosis Surgery,† is a trial for testing the drugs Bupivacaine and normal Saline. This trial is currently recruiting. The primary goal is to evaluate effects of continuous local anesthetic delivery on the immediate post-operation recover of patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery (Continuous). The eligibility for this trial is 8-18 years of age, clinical diagnosis of congenital scoliosis, clinical diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis, and anticipated spinal fusion surgery. The estimated enrollment is sixty patients. The trial is being conducted by Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. The trial started May 2007 and is estimated to end January 2010 (Continuous). The trial â€Å"Analgesic Effects of Gabapentin After Scoliosis Surgery in Children† was created to test the drugs Gabapentin and Placebo. This trial is currently recruiting patients. The primary goal is to determine whether the use of Gabapentin will improve postoperative analgesia and reduce opioid consumption and side effects in children undergoing corrective spinal surgery for idiopathic scoliosis (Analgesic). The secondary goal is to evaluate whether use of Gabapentin reduces pain scores, decreases postoperative nausea and vomiting, decreases persisting pain and improves patient satisfaction (Analgesic). Scoliosis surgery can cause sever pain after the surgery is over so a way to control this pain is needed. Patients must be 10-17 years of age, scheduled for elective surgical correction of scoliosis, and able to operate a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. The estimated enrollment is thiry -six patients. This trial is being conducted by The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada. The start date for this trial was May 2008 (Analgesic). â€Å"Effect of Early Morphine Administration on the Development of Acute Opioid Tolerance During Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery† is a completed trial that tested the drugs Morphine and Saline. The primary goal was to examine if morphine administered by bolus before initiating Remifentanil by infusion decreases the incidence of acute postoperative opioid tolerance (Effect). To be eligible for this trial the patient had to be 11-18 years of age, unpremedicated, ASA physical status 1 or 2, and be scheduled for posterior instrumentation for correction of idiopathic scoliosis. This trial had an enrollment of thirty-seven patients. The groups were demographically similar. No differences were observed between groups in the initial 24-hr morphine consumption, NRS pain scores, sedation, nausea, or vomiting (Effect). â€Å"VEPTR Implantation to Treat Children With Early Onset Scoliosis Without Rib Abnormalities† is a recruiting trial that tests unilateral or bilateral VEPTR devices. The primary goal of this trial is to evaluate the use of unilateral or bilateral VEPTR devises for preventing further progression of the angle, allowing for spinal growth and improving pulmonary function in the treatment of children with scoliosis (VEPTR). To be eligible for this trial, patients must be 18 months-10 years of age, have progressive scoliosis, and have a curve beyond 45 degrees. The estimated enrollment is two hundred and fifty patients. This study is being conducted by Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. The start date was January 2008 and it is estimated to be over by January 2016 (VEPTR). â€Å"Effectiveness of Bracing in Preventing Scoliosis in Children With Spinal Cord Injury† is an active trial that tests Thoraco-Lumbar-Sacral-Orthosis (TLSO)/Flex-Foam. The primary goal is to determine whether full-time high dose prophylactic bracing is more effective then low dose bracing (12 hours/day) in preventing or delaying spinal curve progression (Effectiveness) Patients must be 5-16 years of age, have C5 to L2 SCI, ASIA impairment levels A, B, or C, single structure curve smaller than forty degrees or double curve smaller than forty degrees where the largest curve is less than twenty-five degree bending film, risk for paralystic scoliosis, and the ability to follow simple instructions. The estimated enrollment is eighty-eight patients. This trial is being conducted by Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. The trial started June 2005 and is estimated to be over by December 2010 (Effectiveness). â€Å"Shilla Growth Permitting Spinal Instrumentation System for Treatment of Scoliosis in the Immature Spine† is a active trial that tests the Shilla growth permitting spinal procedure. The Shilla growth permitting spinal procedure is very similar to the growing spine system but requires fewer surgeries. The primary goal is to retrospectively review patients who have undergone this technique looking at age of the patient, magnitude of the curve preoperatively, postoperatively and over time, diagnosis, pulmonary function, surgical procedures, complications, and spinal growth (Shilla). To be eligible for this study the patient must be 1-10 years of age, have sever, progressive scoliosis unresponsive to bracing, or have severe, progressive scoliosis but cannot tolerate bracing. The estimated enrollment for this trial was fifty patients. It is becing conducted by Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute. The start date for this trial was April 2005 and it is expecte d to be complete by April 2015 (Shilla). â€Å"Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Compared to Autologous Pre-Donation Prior to Scoliosis Surgery in Children† is a completed trial that tested recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo). This procedure was created to decrease the need for blood transfusions during surgery. The primary goal of this trial is to establish whether rHuEpo is as effective as PAD in increasing red bell mass prior to surgery (Recombinant). Patients had to be 12-18 years of age and require scoliosis repair to be eligible. The estimated enrollment for this trial was twenty patients. The trial was conducted by the University of British Columbia. The start date was October 2004 and the trial ended December 2007 (Recombinant). The use of rHuEPO preoperatively and the use of PAD are not cost-effective although both techniques remain clinically effective tools (VEPTR). â€Å"Effects of Lateral Trunk Support in Spinal Alignment in Spinal Cord Injured Persons† is a completed trial that tested lateral trunk support of wheelchair seating. Different types of seating is used to help with patients posture but it was unknown if it helped with the scoliosis curve. The primary goal is to examine the effects of lateral trunk supports in special seating on the spinal alignment of spinal cord injured subjects with scoliosis (Effects of). Patients had to be 18-60 years of age, have C4-T12 SCI, sit on the wheelchair more then four hours a day, have thoracic lumbar scoliosis, and flexible scoliosis. The estimated enrollment for this trial was twenty patients. The trial was conducted by the National Taiwan University Hospital. The trial started September 2002 and ended November 2004 (Effects of). The radiographic findings demonstrate improved scoliotic spinal alignment in the frontal plane and reduced lumbar angles in the sagittal plane in persons with SCI when seated in a special seat and using LTS (Effects of). â€Å"The Use of Intraoperative Intrathecal Morphine Versus Epidural Extended Release Morphine for Postoperative Pain Control in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion (IT Morphine)† is a recruiting trial that tests the drug DepoDur. The primary goal of this trial is to learn more about preventing pain in children who are having posterior spinal fusion surgery (Use). Patients must be 8-17 years of age and need a fusion of a minimum of five and maximum of thirteen levels, including at least L1 or lower. The estimated enrollment is eighty patients. The trial will be conducted by The Children’s Hospital in Denver. It started December 2008 and is estimated to end December 2010 (Use). Foundations and Grants The Scoliosis Care Foundation was founded by Gary Deutchman in 2001. The foundation helps with improving education, treatment and diagnosis of scoliosis. Gary Deautchman disliked the watch and wait approach to diagnosing scoliosis. He thought this approach was harming the future well-being of children. The Scoliosis Care Foundation has a program called the Scoliosis Awareness Program which is designed to catch early scoliosis so it does not progress (Scoliosis). The National Scoliosis Foundation is a patient-led nonprofit organization dedicated since 1976 to helping children, parents, adults, and health-care providers to understand the complexities of spinal deformities such as scoliosis (24). The National Scoliosis Foundation helps with all aspects of support. The main focus is promoting the awareness of scoliosis and providing information (National). The Small Exploratory Grant is designed for new investigators who have a preliminary concept they would like to develop into a research project (Research). The maximum grant rewarded for this category is $10,000. The maximum duration of research is one year (Research). The New Investigator Grant is designed for new investigators. Candidates who have received the Small Exploratory grant are eligible as long as they have not received any other previous funding from national granting organizations. The maximum award is $25,000, and the duration of the research can last up to two years (Research). The Standard Investigator Grant is awarded a maximum of $50,000 a year. The duration can last up to two years with the maximum total being $100,000. These grants are for any type of spinal deformity but there is additional money if it is going towards scoliosis (Research). The Continuation or Extension Grant is for on-going projects, which have previously been funded by the Scoliosis Research Society. In order to receive these grants a report of the progress is required (Research). Scoliosis is a fairly common disorder and it effects it’s victims in different ways. Scoliosis can do more then just cause the victim deformities. It can cause pain, breathing problems, and a number of other things. It could even get so bad that it could paralyze it’s victims. Scoliosis is nothing that should be left alone. Though in most cases the cause of scoliosis is unknown, it does not mean that it is not treatable. There are already several ways to treat scoliosis and more research is being done to develop more ways to treat this unexpected life roller coaster known as scoliosis. Works Cited 1. â€Å"Analgesic Effects of Gabapentin After Scoliosis Surgery in Children.† Clinical Trials. The Hospital for Sick Children, 22 May 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 2. Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. â€Å"Scoliosis.† Scoliosis. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 3. â€Å"Comparing Two Instrumentation Systems for the Treatment of Adolescent Scoliosis.† Clinical Trials. The Hospital for Sick Children, 4 Jan. 2006. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 4. â€Å"Continuous Local Infusion of Anesthetic at the Incisional Site for Scoliosis Surgery.† Clinical Trials. Shriners Hospitals for Children, 25 July 2007. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 5. â€Å"Effect of Early Morphine Administration on the Development of Acute Opioid Tolerance During Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery.† Clinical Trials. The Hospital for Sick Children, 18 Aug. 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 6. â€Å"Effectiveness of Bracing in Preventing Scoliosis in Children With Spinal Cord Injury.† Clinical Trials. Shriners Hospitals for Children, 16 Nov. 2005. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 7. â€Å"Effects of Lateral Trunk Support on Spinal Alignment in Spinal Cord Injured Persons.† Clinical Trials. National Taiwan University Hospital, 9 Sept. 2005. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 8. â€Å"The Idiopathic Scoliosis and Its Treatment (Orthopaedic and Surgery): Effect of the Severity, the Orthosis and the Arthrodesis on the Gait (scoliosis).† Clinical Trials. Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc- Università © Catholique De Louvain, 10 Feb. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 9. â€Å"Influence of Leg Length Discrepancy on the Spinal Shape and B iomechanics in Functional and Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients.† Clinical Trials. National Taiwan University Hospital, 9 Sept. 05. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 10. â€Å"A Multicenter Prospective Study of Quality of Life in Adult Scoliosis (ASLS).† A Multicenter Prospective Study of Quality of Life in Adult Scoliosis. Washington University School of Medicine, 2 Mar. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 11. â€Å"National Scoliosis Foundation.† National Scoliosis Foundation. NSF, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 12. â€Å"Phase IV Comparing Rods of Yield Strengths to Correct Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.† Clinical Trials. Queen’s University, 7 Oct. 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 13. â€Å"Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Compared to Autologous Pre-Donation Prior to Scoliosis Surgery in Children.† Clinical Trials. University of British Columbia, 8 May 2006. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 14. â€Å"Research Areas.† National Science Foundation. National Science Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 15. â€Å"The Scoliosis Awareness Project.† Scoliosis Care Foundation. Scoliosis Care Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 16. â€Å"Shilla Growth Permitting Spinal Instrumentation System for Treatment of Scoliosis in the Immature Spine.† Clinical Trials. Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute, 18 Dec. 2007. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 17. â€Å"Surgical Outcomes Using Variable Rod Diameters in the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis.† Clinical Trials. Shriners Hospitals for Children, 31 July 2007. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 18. â€Å"The Use of Intraoperative Intrathecal Morphine Versus Epidural Extended Release Morphine for Postoperative Pain Control in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion (IT Morphine).† Clinical Trials. Children’s Hospital Colorado, 10 Apr. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 19. â€Å"VEPTR Implantation to Treat Children With Early Onset Scoliosis Without Rib Abnormalities.† Clinical Trials. Shriners Hospitals for Children, 29 May 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. .

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Philippine Literature In The Spanish Colonial Period Essay

The existing literature of the Philippine ethnic groups at the time of conquest and conversion into Christianity was mainly oral, consisting of epics, legends, songs, riddles, and proverbs. The conquistador, especially its ecclesiastical arm, destroyed whatever written literature he could find, and hence rendered the system of writing inoperable. Among the only native systems of writing that have survived are the syllabaries of the Mindoro Mangyans and the Tagbanua of Palawan. The Spanish colonial strategy was to undermine the native oral tradition by substituting for it the story of the Passion of Christ. Although Christ was by no means war-like or sexually attractive as many of the heroes of the oral epic tradition, the appeal of the Jesus myth inhered in the protagonist’s superior magic: by promising eternal life for everyone, he democratized the power to rise above death. It is to be emphasized, however, that the native tradition survived and even flourished in areas inacc essible to the colonial power. Moreover, the tardiness and the lack of assiduity of the colonial administration in making a public educational system work meant the survival of oral tradition, or what was left of it, among the conquered tribes. The church authorities adopted a policy of spreading the Church doctrines by communicating to the native (pejoratively called Indio) in his own language. Doctrina Christiana (1593), the first book to be printed in the Philippines, was a prayerbook written in Spanish with an accompanying Tagalog translation. It was, however, for the exclusive use of the missionaries who invariably read them aloud to the unlettered Indio catechumens (Medina), who were to rely mainly on their memory. But the task of translating religious instructional materials obliged the Spanish missionaries to take a most practical step, that of employing native speakers as translators. Eventually, the native translator learned to read and write both in Spanish and his native language. (Forms of Literature)This development marked the beginning of Indio literacy and thus spurred the creation of the first written literary native text by the native. These writers, called ladinos because of their fluency in both  Spani sh and Tagalog, published their work, mainly devotional poetry, in the first decade of the 17th century. Among the earliest writers of note were Francisco de San Jose and Francisco Bagongbata (Medina). But by far the most gifted of these native poet-translators was Gaspar Aquino de Belen (Lumbera, p.14). Mahal Na Pasion ni Jesu Christo, a Tagalog poem based on Christ’s passion, was published in 1704. This long poem, original and folksy in its rendition of a humanized, indeed, a nativized Jesus, is a milestone in the history of Philippine letters. Ironically — and perhaps just because of its profound influence on the popular imagination — as artifact it marks the beginning of the end of the old mythological culture and a conversion to the new paradigm introduced by the colonial power. Until the 19th century, the printing presses were owned and managed by the religious orders. Thus, religious themes dominated the culture of the Christianized majority. But the native oral literature, whether secular or mythico-religious continued. Even among the Christianized ethnic groups, the oral tradition persisted in such forms as legends, sayings, wedding songs such as the b alayan and parlor theater such as the duplo. In the 18th century, secular literature from Spain in the form of medieval ballads inspired the native poetic-drama form called the komedya, later to be called moro-moro because these often dealt with the theme of Christians triumphing over Moslems. (Peronality) Jose de la Cruz (1746 – 1829) was the foremost exponent of the komedya during his time. A poet of prodigious output and urbane style, de la Cruz marks a turning point in that his elevated diction distinguishes his work from folk idiom (as for instance, that of Gaspar Aquino de Belen). Yet his appeal to the non-literate was universal. The popularity of the dramatic form, of which he was a master, was due to it being experienced as performance both by the lettered minority and the illiterate but genuinely appreciative majority. Francisco Baltazar (1788 – 1862), popularly called Balagtas, is the acknowledged master of traditional Tagalog poetry. Of peasant origins, he left his hometown in Bigaa, Bulacan for Manila, with a strong determination to improve his lot through education. To support his studies, he worked as a domestic servant in Tondo. He steeped himself in classical studies in schools of prestige in the capital. Great social and political changes in the world worked together to make Balagtas’ career as poet  possible. The industrial revolution had caused a great movement of commerce in the globe, creating wealth and the opportunity for material improvement in the life of the working classes. With these great material changes, social values were transformed, allowing greater social mobility. In short, he was a child of the global bourgeois revolution. Liberal ideas, in time, broke class — and, in the Philippines — even racial barriers (Medina). The word Filipino, which used to refer to a restricted group (i.e., Spaniards born in the Philippines) expanded to include not only the acculturated wealthy Chinese mestizo but also the acculturated Indio (Medina). Balagtas was one of the first Indios to become a Filipino. But the crucial element in Balagtas’ unique genius is that, being caught between two cultures (the native and the colonial/classical), he could switch codes (or was perceived by his compatriot audience to be switching codes), provide insight and information to his oppressed compatriots in the very style and guise of a tradition provided him by a foreign (and oppressive) culture. His narrative poem Florante at Laura written in sublime Tagalog, is about tyranny in Albanya, but it is also perceived to be about tyranny in his Filipino homeland (Lumbera). Despite the foreign influence, however, he remained true to his native traditions. His verse plays were performed to the motley crowd. His poems were sung by the literate for the benefit of the unlettered. The metrical regularity and rhyme performed their age-old mnemonic function, despite and because of the introduction of printing. Printing overtook tradition. The printed page, by itself, became the mnemonic device, the stage set for the development of prose. The first Filipino novel was Ninay, written in Spanish by Pedro Paterno, a Philippine-bornilustrado (Medina p. 93). Following the sentimental style of his first book Sampaguitas (a collection of poems in Spanish), the novel endeavored to highlight the endearingly unique qualities of Filipinos. National Hero Jose Rizal (1861 – 1896) chose the realis tic novel as his medium. Choosing Spanish over Tagalog meant challenging the oppressors on the latter’s own turf. By writing in prose, Rizal also cut his ties with the Balagtas tradition of the figurative indirection which veiled the supposed subversiveness of many writings at that time. Rizal’s two novels, the Noli Me Tangere and its sequel El Filibusterismo, chronicle the life and ultimate death of Ibarra, a Filipino educated abroad, who attempts to reform  his country through education. At the conclusion of the Noli, his efforts end in near-death and exile from his country. In the Filibusterismo, he returns after reinventing himself as Simoun, the wealthy jeweler, and hastens social decay by further corrupting the social fabric till the oppressed react violently to overthrow the system. But the insurrection is foiled and Simoun suffers a violent death. In a sense, Rizal’s novels and patriotic poems were the inevitable conclusion to the campaign for liberal reforms known as the Propaganda Movement, waged by Graciano Lopez Jaena, and M.H. del Pilar. The two novels so vividly portrayed corruption and oppression that despite the lack of any clear advocacy, they served to instill the conviction that there could be no solution to the social ills but a violent one. Following closely on the failed reformist movement, and on Rizal’s novels, was the Philippine revolution headed by Andres Bonifacio (1863 – 1897). His closest aide, the college-bred Emilio Jacinto (1875 – 1899), was the revolutionary organization’s ideologue. Both were admirers of Rizal, and like Rizal, both were writers and social critics profoundly influenced by the liberal ideas of the French enlightenment, about human dignity. Bonifacio’s most important work are his poems, the most well-known being Pag-Ibig Sa Tinubuang Lupa. Jacinto wrote political essays expressed in the language of the folk. Significantly, although either writer could have written in Spanish (Bonifacio, for instance, wrote a Tagalog translation of Rizal’s Ultimo Adios), both chose to communicate to their fellowmen in their own native language. The figure of Rizal dominates Philippine literature until the present day. Liberalism led to education of the native and the ascendancy of Spanish. But Spanish was undermined by the very ideas of liberation that it helped spread, and its decline led to nativism and a renaissance of literature in the native languages. The turn of the century witnessed not only the Philippine revolution but a quieter though no less significant outbreak. The educated women of the period produced significant poetry. Gregoria de Jesus, wife of Andres Bonifacio, wrote notable Tagalog poetry. Meanwhile, in Vigan of the Ilocano North, Leona Florentino, by her poetry, became the foremost Ilocano writer of her time. Philippine literary production during the American Period in the Philippines was spurred by two significant developments in education and culture. One is the introduction of free public instruction for all children of school age and two, the use of English as medium of instruction in all levels of education in public schools. Free public education made knowledge and information accessible to a greater number of Filipinos. Those who availed of this education through college were able to improve their social status and joined a good number of educated masses who became part of the country’s middle class. The use of English as medium of instruction introduced Filipinos to Anglo-American modes of thought, culture and life ways that would be embedded not only in the literature produced but also in the psyche of the country’s educated class. It was this educated class that would be the wellspring of a vibrant Philippine Literature in English. Philippine literature in English, as a direct result of American colonization of the country, could not escape being imitative of American models of writing especially during its period of apprenticeship. The poetry written by early poets manifested studied attempts at versification as in the following poem which is proof of the poet’s rather elementary exercise in the English language: Vacation days at last are here, And we have time for fun so dear, All boys and girls do gladly cheer, This welcomed season of the year. In early June in school we’ll meet; A harder task shall we complete And if we fail we must repeat That self same task without retreat. We simply rest to come again To school where boys and girls obtain The Creator’s gift to men Whose sanguine hopes in us remain. Vacation means a time for play For young and old in night and day My wish for all is to be gay, And evil none lead you astray – Juan F. Salazar Philippines Free Press, May 9, 1909 The poem was anthologized in the first collection of poetry in English, Filipino Poetry, edited by Rodolfo Dato (1909 – 1924). Among the poets featured in this anthology were Proceso Sebastian Maximo Kalaw, Fernando Maramag, Leopoldo Uichanco, Jose Ledesma, Vicente Callao, Santiago Sevilla, Bernardo Garcia, Francisco Africa, Pablo Anzures, Carlos P. Romulo, Francisco Tonogbanua, Juan Pastrana, Maria Agoncillo, Paz Marquez Benitez, Luis Dato and many others. Another anthology, The English German Anthology of Poets edited by Pablo Laslo was published and covered poets published from 1924-1934 among whom were Teofilo D. Agcaoili, Aurelio Alvero, Horacio de la Costa, Amador T. Daguio, Salvador P. Lopez, Angela Manalang Gloria, Trinidad Tarrosa, Abelardo Subido and Jose Garcia Villa, among others. A third pre-war collection of poetry was edited by Carlos Bulosan, Chorus for America: Six Philippine Poets. The six poets in this collection were Jose Garcia Villa, Rafael Zulueta da Cos ta, Rodrigo T. Feria, C.B. Rigor, Cecilio Baroga and Carlos Bulosan. In fiction, the period of apprenticeship in literary writing in English is marked by imitation of the style of storytelling and strict adherence to the craft of the short story as practiced by popular American fictionists. Early short story writers in English were often dubbed as the Andersons or Saroyans or the Hemingways of Philippine letters. Leopoldo Yabes in his study of the Philippine short story in English from 1925 to 1955 points to these models of American fiction exerting profound influence on the early writings of story writers like Francisco Arcellana, A.E. Litiatco, Paz Latorena. . When the University of the Philippines was founded in 1908, an elite group of writers in English began to exert influence among the culturati. The U.P. Writers Club founded in 1926, had stated that one of its aims was to enhance and propagate the â€Å"language of Shakespeare.† In 1925, Paz Marquez Benitez short story, â€Å"Dead Stars† was published and was made the landmark of the maturity of the Filipino writer in English. Soon after Benitez, short story writers began publishing stories no longer imitative of American models. Thus, story writers like Icasiano Calalang, A.E. Litiatco, Arturo Rotor, Lydia Villanueva, Paz Latorena , Manuel Arguilla began publishing stories  manifesting both skilled use of the language and a keen Filipino sensibility. This combination of writing in a borrowed tongue while dwelling on Filipino customs and traditions earmarked the literary output of major Filipino fictionists in English during the American period. Thus, the major novels of the period, such as the Filipino Rebel, by Maximo Kalaw, and His Native Soil by Juan C. Laya, are discourses on cultural identity, nationhood and being Filipino done in the English language. Stories such as â€Å"How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife† by Manuel Arguilla scanned the scenery as well as the folkways of Ilocandia while N.V. M. Gonzales’s novels and stories such as â€Å"Children of the Ash Covered Loam,† present the panorama of Mindoro, in all its customs and traditions while configuring its characters in the human dilemma of nostalgia and poverty. Apart from Arguilla and Gonzales, noted fictionists during the period included Francisco Arcellana, whom Jose Garcia Villa lauded as a â€Å"genius† storyteller, Consorcio Borje, Aida Rivera, Conrado Pedroche, Amador Daguio, Sinai Hamada, Hernando Ocampo, Fernando Maria Guerrero. Jose Garcia Villa himself wrote several short stories but devoted most of his time to poetry. In 1936, when the Philippine Writers League was organized, Filipino writers in English began discussing the value of literature in society. Initiated and led by Salvador P. Lopez, whose essays on Literature and Society provoked debates, the discussion centered on proletarian literature, i.e., engaged or committed literature versus the art for art’s sake literary orientation. But this discussion curiously left out the issue of colonialism and colonial literature and the whole place of literary writing in English under a colonial set-up that was the Philippines then. With Salvador P. Lopez, the essay in English gained the upper hand in day to day discourse on politics and governance. Polemicists who used to write in Spanish like Claro M. Recto, slowly started using English in the discussion of current events even as newspaper dailies moved away from Spanish reporting into English. Among the essayists, Federico Mangahas had an easy facility with the language and the essay as genre. Other noted essayists during the period were Fernando Maramag, Carlos P. Romulo , Conrado Ramirez. On the other hand, the flowering of a vibrant literary tradition due to historical events did not altogether hamper literary production in the native or indigenous languages. In fact, the early period of the 20th century was  remarkable for the significant literary output of all major languages in the various literary genre. (Forms Of lit) It was during the early American period that seditious plays, using the form of the zarsuwela, were mounted. Zarsuwelistas Juan Abad, Aurelio Tolentino ,Juan Matapang Cruz. Juan Crisostomo Sotto mounted the classics like Tanikalang Ginto, Kahapon, Ngay on at Bukas and Hindi Ako Patay, all directed against the American imperialists. Patricio Mariano’s Anak ng Dagat and Severino Reyes’s Walang Sugat are equally remarkable zarsuwelas staged during the period. On the eve of World War II, Wilfredo Maria Guerrero would gain dominance in theatre through his one-act plays which he toured through his â€Å"mobile theatre†. Thus, Wanted a Chaperone and The Forsaken House became very popular in campuses throughout the archipelago. The novel in Tagalog, Iloko, Hiligaynon and Sugbuanon also developed during the period aided largely by the steady publication of weekly magazines like the Liwayway, Bannawag and Bisaya which serialized the novels. Among the early Tagalog novelists of the 20th century were Ishmael Amado, Valeriano Hernandez Peà ±a, Faustino Aguilar, Lope K. Santos and Lazaro Francisco. Ishmael Amado’s Bulalakaw ng Pag-asa published in 1909 was one of the earliest novels that dealt with the theme of American imperialism in the Philippines. The novel, however, was not released from the printing press until 1916, at which time, the author, by his own admission and after having been sent as a pensionado to the U.S., had other ideas apart from those he wrote in the novel. Valeriano Hernandez Peà ±a’s Nena at Neneng narrates the story of two women who happened to be best of friends as they cope with their relationships with the men in their lives. Nena succeeds in her married life while Neneng suffers from a stormy marriage because of her jealous husband. Faustino Aguilar published Pinaglahuan, a love triangle set in the early years of the century when the worker’s movement was being formed. The novel’s hero, Luis Gatbuhay, is a worker in a printery who isimprisoned for a false accusation and loses his love, Danding, to his rival Rojalde, son of a wealthy capitalist. Lope K. Santos, Banaag at Sikat has almost the same theme and motif as the hero of the novel, Delfin, also falls in love with a rich woma n, daughter of a wealthy landlord. The love story of course is set also within the background of development of the worker’s trade union movement  and throughout the novel, Santos engages the readers in lengthy treatises and discourses on socialism and capitalism. Many other Tagalog novelists wrote on variations of the same theme, i.e., the interplay of fate, love and social justice. Among these writers are Inigo Ed Regalado, Roman Reyes, Fausto J. Galauran, Susana de Guzman, Rosario de Guzman-Lingat, Lazaro Francisco, Hilaria Labog, Rosalia Aguinaldo, Amado V. Hernandez. Many of these writers were able to produce three or more novels as Soledad Reyes would bear out in her book which is the result of her dissertation, Ang Nobelang Tagalog (1979). Among the Iloko writers, noted novelists were Leon Pichay, who was also the region’s poet laureate then, Hermogenes Belen, and Mena Pecson Crisologo whose Mining wenno Ayat ti Kararwa is considered to be the Iloko version of a Noli me Tangere. In the Visayas, Magdalena Jalandoni and Ramon Muzones would lead most writers in writing the novels that dwelt on the themes of love, courtship, life in the farmlands, and other social upheavals of the period. Marcel Navarra wrote stories and novels in Su gbuhanon. Poetry in all languages continued to flourish in all regions of the country during the American period. The Tagalogs, hailing Francisco F. Balagtas as the nation’s foremost poet invented the balagtasan in his honor. Thebalagtasan is a debate in verse, a poetical joust done almost spontaneously between protagonists who debate over the pros and cons of an issue. The first balagtasan was held in March 1924 at the Instituto de Mujeres, with Jose Corazon de Jesus and Florentino Collantes as rivals, bubuyog (bee) and paru-paro (butterfly) aiming for the love of kampupot (jasmine). It was during this balagtasan that Jose Corazon de Jesus, known as Huseng Batute, emerged triumphant to become the first king of the Balagtasan. Jose Corazon de Jesus was the finest master of the genre. He was later followed by balagtasistas, Emilio Mar Antonio and Crescenciano Marquez, who also became King of the Balagtasan in their own time. As Huseng Batute, de Jesus also produced the finest poems and lyrics during the period. His debates with Amado V. Hernandez on the political issue of independence from America and nationhood were mostly done in verse and are testament to the vitality of Tagalog poetry during the era. Lope K. Santos, epic poem, Ang Panggingera is also proof of how poets of the period have come to master the language to be able to translate it into effective poetry. The balagtasan would be  echoed as a poetical fiesta and would be duplicated in the Ilocos as thebukanegan, in honor of Pedro Bukaneg, the supposed transcriber of the epic, Biag ni Lam-ang; and theCrissottan, in Pampanga, in honor of the esteemed poet of the Pampango, Juan Crisostomo Sotto. In 1932, Alejandro G. Abadilla , armed with new criticism and an orientation on modernist poetry would taunt traditional Tagalog poetics with the publication of his poem, â€Å"Ako ang Daigdig.† Abadilla’s poetry began the era of modernism in Tagalog poetry, a departure from the traditional rhymed, measured and orally recited poems. Modernist poetry which utilized free or blank verses was intended more for silent reading than oral delivery. Noted poets in Tagalog during the American period were Julian Cruz Balmaceda, Florentino Collantes, Pedro Gatmaitan, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Benigno Ramos, Inigo Ed. Regalado, Ildefonso Santos, Lope K. Santos, Aniceto Silvestre, Emilio Mar. Antonio , Alejandro Abadilla and Teodoro Agoncillo. Like the writers in English who formed themselves into organizations, Tagalog writers also formed the Ilaw at Panitik, and held discussions and workshops on the value of literature in society. Benigno Ramos, was one of the most politicized poets of the period as he aligned himself with the peasants of the Sakdal Movement. Fiction in Tagalog as well as in the other languages of the regions developed alongside the novel. Most fictionists are also novelists. Brigido Batungbakal , Macario Pineda and other writers chose to dwell on the vicissitudes of life in a changing rural landscape. Deogracias Del Rosario on the other hand, chose the city and the emerging social elite as subjects of his stories. He is considered the father of the modern short story in Tagalog Among the more popular fictionists who emerged during the period are two women writers, Liwayway Arceo and Genoveva Edroza Matute, considered forerunners in the use of â€Å"light† fiction, a kind of story telling that uses language through poignant rendition. Genoveva Edroza Matute’s â€Å"Ako’y Isang Tinig† and Liwayway Arceo’s â€Å"Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa† have been used as models of fine writing in Filipino by teachers of composition throughout the school system. Teodoro Agoncillo’s anthology 25 Pinakamahusay na Maiikling Kuwento (1945) included the foremost writers of fiction in the pre-war era. The separate, yet parallel developments of Philippine literature in English and those in Tagalog and other languages of the archipelago during the  American period only prove that literature and writing in whatever language and in whatever climate are able to survive mainly through the active imagination of writers. Apparently, what was lacking during the period was for the writers in the various languages to come together, share experiences and come to a conclusion on the elements that constitute good writing in the Philippines.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How Runoff Primaries Work in US Politics

How Runoff Primaries Work in US Politics Runoff primaries are held in nearly a dozen states when no candidate in a race for their partys nomination for state or federal office is able to win a simple majority of the vote. Runoff primaries amount to a second round of voting, but only the two top vote-getters appear on the ballot - a move that ensures one of them will win support from at least 50 percent of voters. All other states require the nominee to win only a plurality, or the most number of votes in the race.   This requirement that you have a majority vote is hardly unique. We require the president to get a majority in the  Electoral College. Parties have to get majorities to choose presidents. As John Boehner can explain, you also need to have majority support in the  House  to become  speaker, Charles S.  Bullock III, a political scientist at the University of Georgia, said during a 2017 panel discussion held by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Runoff primaries are  most common in  the South and date back to single-party rule. The use of runoff primaries is more likely when there are more than two candidates seeking the nomination for a statewide seat such as governor or U.S. senator. The requirement that party nominees win at least 50 percent of the vote is seen as a deterrent to electing extremist candidates, but critics argue holding second primaries to achieve this goal is costly and often alienates large swaths of potential voters.   10States That Use Runoff Primaries The states that require nominees for state and federal office to win a certain threshold  of votes and hold runoff primaries when that doesnt happen, according to FairVote and the National Conference of State Legislatures, are: Alabama: Requires nominees to win at least 50 percent of the vote.  Arkansas:  Requires nominees to win at least 50 percent of the vote.  Georgia:  Requires nominees to win at least 50 percent of the vote.  Louisiana:  Requires nominees to win at least 50 percent of the vote.  Mississippi:  Requires nominees to win at least 50 percent of the vote.  North Carolina:  Requires nominees to win at least 40 percent of the vote.  Oklahoma:  Requires nominees to win at least 50 percent of the vote.  South Carolina:  Requires nominees to win at least 50 percent of the vote.  South Dakota:  Requires certain nominees to win at least 35 percent of the vote.  Texas:  Requires nominees to win at least 50 percent of the vote.   History of Runoff Primaries The use of runoff primaries dates to the South in the early 1900s, when Democrats held a lock on electoral politics. With little competition from Republican or third parties, the Democrats essentially chose their candidates not in the general election but the primaries; whoever won the nomination was guaranteed electoral victory. Many southern states set artificial thresholds to protect white Democratic candidates from being toppled by other candidates who won with mere pluralities. Others such as Arkansas authorized the use of runoff elections to block extremists and hate groups including the Ku Klux Klan from winning party primaries. Justification forRunoff Primaries Runoff primaries are used for the same reasons today: they force candidates to achieve support from a broader portion of the electorate, thereby reducing the chance voters will elect extremists. According to Wendy Underhill, an expert on  elections and redistricting,  and researcher  Katharina Owens Hubler: The requirement for a majority vote (and thus the potential for a primary runoff) was intended to encourage candidates to broaden their appeal to a wider range of voters, to reduce the likelihood of electing candidates who are at the ideological extremes of a party, and to produce a nominee who may be more electable in the general election. Now that the South is solidly Republican, the same issues still hold true. Some states have also moved to open primaries to try to reduce partisanship. Downsides of Runoff Primaries Turnout data show that participation declines in runoff elections, meaning those who do turnout might not fully represent the interests of the district as a whole. And, of course, it costs money to hold primaries. So taxpayers in states that hold runoffs are on the hook for not one but two primaries. Instant Runoff Primaries An alternative to runoff primaries growing in popularity is the instant runoff. Instant runoffs require the use of ranked-choice voting in which voters identify their first, second and third preferences. The initial count uses every voters top choice. If no candidate hits the 50-percent threshold to secure the party nomination, the candidate with the fewest votes is dropped and a recount is held. This process is repeated until one of the remaining candidates gets a majority of votes. Maine became the first state to adopt ranked-choice voting in 2016; it uses the method in state races including those for​ the legislature.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky

The Characters And Setting In â€Å"The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky" On November 1, 1871 Stephen Crane was born in Newark, New Jersey. In 1898 Crane’s book The Open Boat and Other Tales of Adventure was published. In this book is one of Crane’s most popular short stories called â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky.† It is a strange tale of Jack Potter, an insecure marshal of a small Texas town on the Rio Grande, Yellow Sky. He has supposedly committed an extraordinary crime and failed in his duty to the â€Å"innocent and unsuspecting community† (Crane 189), by not informing the townspeople that he was going to San Antonio to court and marry â€Å"a girl he believed he loved† (Crane 189). Returning with his plain, underclass bride, the guilt-ridden man fears a bad â€Å"scene of amazement, glee, [and] reproach† (Crane 190). Before the arrival of the newlyweds, Scratchy Wilson, the town’s bad man and the marshal’s longtime trigger-happy opponent, is on a drunken rampage. In this short story, both the characters and setting have symbolic meaning. The first character introduced in the story is Jack Potter. â€Å"The man’s face was reddened from many days in the wind and sun, and a direct result of his new black clothes was that his brick-colored hands were constantly performing in a most conscious fashion. From time to time he looked down respectfully at his attire. He sat with a hand on each knee, like a man waiting in a barber’s shop† (Crane 183-184). This character is â€Å"the town’s marshal†¦ a man known, liked and feared in his corner, a prominent person† (Crane 189). Alice Hall Petry thinks Crane was deliberate in choosing Jack Potter as the name for one of his characters (46). Petry says â€Å"the very blandness of his name stands in immediate contrast to what one would expect of a Texas marshal† (46). Jack’s last name â€Å"Potter,† suggests a â€Å"Potter’s Field,† which means â€Å"traditionally a graveyard fo... Free Essays on The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky Free Essays on The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky The Characters And Setting In â€Å"The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky" On November 1, 1871 Stephen Crane was born in Newark, New Jersey. In 1898 Crane’s book The Open Boat and Other Tales of Adventure was published. In this book is one of Crane’s most popular short stories called â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky.† It is a strange tale of Jack Potter, an insecure marshal of a small Texas town on the Rio Grande, Yellow Sky. He has supposedly committed an extraordinary crime and failed in his duty to the â€Å"innocent and unsuspecting community† (Crane 189), by not informing the townspeople that he was going to San Antonio to court and marry â€Å"a girl he believed he loved† (Crane 189). Returning with his plain, underclass bride, the guilt-ridden man fears a bad â€Å"scene of amazement, glee, [and] reproach† (Crane 190). Before the arrival of the newlyweds, Scratchy Wilson, the town’s bad man and the marshal’s longtime trigger-happy opponent, is on a drunken rampage. In this short story, both the characters and setting have symbolic meaning. The first character introduced in the story is Jack Potter. â€Å"The man’s face was reddened from many days in the wind and sun, and a direct result of his new black clothes was that his brick-colored hands were constantly performing in a most conscious fashion. From time to time he looked down respectfully at his attire. He sat with a hand on each knee, like a man waiting in a barber’s shop† (Crane 183-184). This character is â€Å"the town’s marshal†¦ a man known, liked and feared in his corner, a prominent person† (Crane 189). Alice Hall Petry thinks Crane was deliberate in choosing Jack Potter as the name for one of his characters (46). Petry says â€Å"the very blandness of his name stands in immediate contrast to what one would expect of a Texas marshal† (46). Jack’s last name â€Å"Potter,† suggests a â€Å"Potter’s Field,† which means â€Å"traditionally a graveyard fo...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Comme Is a Star of French Idiomatic Expressions

Comme Is a Star of French Idiomatic Expressions The French word  comme means like, as or since and is used in a large number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say soaking wet, knee-high to a grasshopper, so-so and more with this list of French expressions that use  comme. Other cultures have found French expressions useful and have assimilated them into their languages. Comme ci, comme à §a, for instance,  is used in English and several other languages to mean so-so, fair, or just okay. The word  comme, one of the most common and versatile in French,  can be a conjunction, adverb, or part of an adverbial phrase.  Like the French  conjunctions parce que, car and  puisque, comme  is commonly used to draw conclusions or otherwise relate a cause or explanation with a result or conclusion. For example,  Comme je lis le plus vite, jai dà ©j fini  means  Since I read the fastest, Ive already finished. Common French Expressions Using Comme arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupeto be completely irrelevant chanter comme une casseroleto be a lousy singercomme cela/à §a(just) like that; that way; (informal) great, terrificcomme ci, comme à §aso-so;  faircomme dhabitudeas usualcomme il fautproperly;  respectablycomme il vous plairaas you wishcomme les autresordinary; everydaycomme on ditas they say; how its saidcomme par hasardcoincidentally; as if by chancecomme qui dirait(informal) as you might say; what you might think is/wascomme quoito the effect that; which goes to show thatcomme sias if; as though(adjectif) comme toutso (adjective); as (adjective) as can be comme tout le mondenormally; like everyone elsehaut comme trois pommesknee-high to a grasshopperjuste commejust / right asparler le franà §ais comme une vache espagnoleto speak French very badlytrempà © comme une soupeto be soaking wet

Saturday, October 19, 2019

A literature review of the applications in reducing green house gas in Essay

A literature review of the applications in reducing green house gas in the agricultural system - Essay Example Industrial agriculture causes global warming because it is intensive in fossil fuel, operations from confined animal feeds lead to emission of methane, application of nitrogenous fertilizer causes emission of nitrous oxide, and finally, large scales of land within the tropics are being converted into intensive monoculture plantations. The large livestock populations in the world produce high amounts of greenhouse gases that consequently influence climate change. Changes in the soils’ carbon flux can be very significant, even though it is small, because of the volume of soil (Smil, 1999, P127). Despite favor of livestock production by market forces, Smil (1999, p. 130) examines that application of alternative methods may help in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions while providing good livestock returns, sustainability and health where deforestation, land degradation, and feed-crop dependence are avoided. Mitigation efforts in agricultural systems include keeping fewer livestock, conservation tillage, intensification of livestock without crowded confinement, and organic farming (Casey and Holden, 2006). Reduction of feed grains that are chemically fertilized is however the most effective way of reducing pollution by greenhouse gases (Casey and Holden, 2006, p. 234). Maize, wheat, and soybean production emits about 17 million tones of carbon dioxide per year (IPCC, 2007, P.241). Together with the fast increasing number of livestock, the possibility of changing the balance between sequestering nitrogen and nitrous emissions in the soil is big. \ Another important strategy of reducing greenhouse gases by agricultural system is the application of policy mechanisms stipulated by Kyoto Protocol’s mechanisms of clean development to provide support and stimulus small scale farmers who are willing to practice sustainable agriculture. Potentially, about 1 tonne of carbon is

Friday, October 18, 2019

Interactive Planning and Occupational Safety Research Paper

Interactive Planning and Occupational Safety - Research Paper Example Such can be said on COPPST Circuitry. It is a global organization with site-level units in ten US states, a site in Canada, another in Nigeria, and several in Europe and Asia. The most recent emergency that occurred at one of the US sites of COPS Circuitry should be considered as a learning opportunity, as well as a time to propose an interactive planned improvement to encompass mandated safety standards in the site. In planning for safety, Leeman (14) described four parts of this phase in the planning process the systems analysis, obstruction analysis, reference projections, and reference scenarios. The Occupational Health and Safety Hazard Administration (OSHA) provides an extensive standard and guideline for employers and managers that address the four said parts of the planning process. ... Â  mission (EOCC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). At the state level are Department of Environmental Protection (Air, Water, Soil, Waste, Facility Response Plans, and Emergency Notification), Department of Health and Human Services (Radiation Control Program), State Office of the Fire Marshall (Occupancy and Life Safety Codes), Department of Economic and Community Development, Department of Labor (Workers Comp, Disability, etc.), Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Transportation. And at the local level are Code Compliance Division, Planning and Development Department, and the Water Resource Protection Department. Together with the employers, they play a crucial role in the provision of safety in the workplace. Interactive Planning These various levels and agencies of the government all contribute to the mass knowledge and information in t he formulation of interactive planning for the organizational operations. Various standards are required by these agencies to be met, with the continuing and safe operations of businesses as end-goal. These include safety of workers at the workplace and structural standards and procedures that ensure safety and environmental requirement compliance are met. However, additional considerations include the welfare and goals of the various stakeholders of COPS Circuitry. They are the employees, customers, suppliers, distributors, other local businesses, the local community, corporate OHS, other business units, and the overall corporation.