Harry Potter and the Sorcerer essays

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer essays Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone I have to admit that I was rather upset to find out that we had to read this book. I have never been interested in science fiction/fantasy stories before, and I never understood what all the hype about Harry Potter was all about. As I reluctantly began to read the story, I soon found myself tearing through the pages eager to find out what happened next. As the story began, I was reminded of Cinderella. Just as Cinderellas stepmother and stepsisters treated her unfairly, Harry too grew up in a home unwanted and unloved. Both Cinderella and Harry watched their sibling(s) being doted on and spoiled with lavish gifts as they were forced to accept hand-me-downs, perform all the chores, and receive only the bare necessities needed to survive. After both grew up not knowing any other way of life, they were both magically rescued and taken away to enjoy all the riches that their families would envy. I could identify with Harrys character on many levels. I know what its like first hand to go somewhere where everything is foreign and new. Two years ago, I traveled with a friend of mine to Italy. Unable to speak the language and unaccustomed to the culture, like Harry during his first few days at school, I too had extreme difficulty finding my way around and trying to blend in. People stared at me like I was some strange creature when I didnt understand what they were saying to me. Simple things like dining out in a restaurant were difficult for me to do. The money was different, the time of day was different, I had all the wrong clothes, and the people and their culture were entirely different to what I have been accustomed to. I could only imagine the culture shock that Harry encountered when he left the Muggle world. I also found myself recounting my first days at a public high school after having attended a small, private C ...

Studies Show Black Women Are Healthier at a Higher Weight Than White Women

Studies Show Black Women Are Healthier at a Higher Weight Than White Women Studies reveal that African American women can weigh significantly more than white women and still be healthy. By examining two standards of measurement - BMI (body mass index) and WC (waist circumference) - researchers found that while white women with a BMI of 30 or more and a WC of 36 inches or more were at greater risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, black women with those same numbers were considered medically healthy. African American womens risk factors did not increase until they reached a BMI of 33 or more and a WC of 38 inches or more. Typically, health experts consider adults with a BMI of 25-29.9 to be overweight and those with a BMI of 30 or greater to be obese. Peter Katzmarzyks Studies The study, published in the January 6, 2011 research journal Obesity and authored by Peter Katzmarzyk and others at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, only examined white and African American women. No similar racial difference between black men and white men were studied. Katmzarzyk theorizes that the weight gap between white and black women may have to do with how body fat is distributed differently throughout the body. What many call belly fat is primarily recognized as being a significantly greater health risk than fat in the hips and thighs. Dr. Samuel Dagogo-Jacks Findings Katzmarzyks findings echo a 2009 study by Dr. Samuel Dagogo-Jack  of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Diabetes Association, Dagogo-Jacks research revealed that whites had more body fat than blacks, which led him to theorize that muscle mass may be higher in African-Americans. Existing BMI and WC guidelines are derived from studies of predominantly white and European populations and do not take into account physiological differences due to ethnicity and race. Because of this, Dagogo-Jack believes that his findings argue for a review of the existing cutoffs for healthy BMI and waist circumference among African-Americans. Sources: Kohl, Simi. Use of BMI and waist circumference as surrogates of body fat differs by ethnicity. Obesity Vol. 15 No. 11 at Academia.edu. November 2007Norton, Amy. Healthy waist may be a bit bigger for black women. Reuters Health at Reuters.com. 25 January 2011. Richardson, Carolyn and Mary Hartley, RD. Study Shows Black Women Can Be Healthy At Higher Weights. caloriecount.about.com. 31 March 2011.Scott, Jennifer R. Abdominal Obesity. weightloss.about.com. 11 August 2008.The Endocrine Society. Widely Used Body Fat Measurements Overestimate Fatness In African-Americans, Study Finds. ScienceDaily.com. 22 June 2009.

Unit 6 Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit 6 Discussion - Essay Example He compares General Motors to Volkswagen, the company which increased their investment in Audi and received a significant increase in their revenue (Rosevear, 2012). This is the best route for GM to take if it plans to reestablish itself amongst the world’s elite companies. Production of Cadillac may be a lucrative investment but the company already has made some other important investments that can be successful in the nearest future. This is a major challenge to the investment manager since he cannot stop an investment that is already earning the company millions. The investment is tested and, therefore, has an edge over the new one. The existing investments will, therefore, get more funds allocated to them in terms of capital. Maybe, the company has to make a painstaking anlysis to figure out what investments are the best and whatare not effective for the company. It is the only way the best investment decisions can be made. Rosevear, J. (2012). Why cadillac is crucial to GMs revival (GM). Stock Investing Advice: Stock Research. Retrieved from

Music of world culture Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Music of world culture - Term Paper Example Moreover, they were sung by neighbors and the communities, when there were major events (Dzuris 331). In explaining folk music, I have not found an accepted definition, but this does not mean that it does not have a definition, but it ranges with the understanding of the subject. Folk music can be described as the music for and of the people, a nation, a community, or a subculture that carries messages with specific meaning regarding the people’s life and experiences (Dunaway and Beer 7-10). Music in the Western World In reference to the North America, folk music has been there before the arrival of the immigrant from Europe and later from Africa. The European immigrant brought with them ballads and other acoustic instruments. Folk music has been practiced for centuries, was, and is still referred to as the music of the masses. In the 17th century, most of the people in Europe were peasants, and folk songs transferred stories of event through oral narration. By this time, fo lk music was rarely performed musically. There composition was of simple form and represented the identity of the poorer in the communities (Dunaway and Beer 7- 17). In the period when Christianity movement started in Europe, folk music was at the centre stage of the expansion of the religion. It was highly associated with heathenism due its singing styles. Thereafter, folk music became more popular in society in sensitizing the masses in the start of the romantic period. People like Haydn, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky identified themselves with folk music. During this time, there were no cities and people lived in villages and urban communities. And with these settings, folk songs were recognized as a treasure and people identified themselves with the different styles of folk music. Each political beliefs, ethnicity, race, and religion had identified itself with specific style of folk song. Therefore, folk music played an important role in passing on the culture and the history of a particular community or country from one generation another. By the end of 19th century, folk songs had become unpopular in Western Europe and later in Eastern Europe and North America, during this time only the older individuals knew and sung folk songs. Still in the century, cities were established and people were moving from the rural areas to urban cities and this resulted to diminishing of the folk traditional music. Nevertheless, urban folklorists stimulated by a person known as Thomas Percy a British, Johann Gottfried, a German and an American by the name Francis James collected and later published volumes where they emphases on the different age of the folk songs and their meaning in the society. However, there work did not save the diminishing trend of folk songs and the music had little attention by this time. In 1899, Cecil Sharp an English scholar toured various communities in Britain collecting folk songs. He later established a society to preserve the songs, dances and other traditions of communities at that time (Dunaway and Beer 17-23). In the late 19th century, the documentation of folk songs started and more of the songs were recorded on a wax cylinder, and folk songs and other traditions were consolidated and shared far and wide as opposed to being confined within the borders of a community. Later in the same period, some new tradition begun to emerge in the urban districts where the

These other packet provides information Essay Example for Free

These other packet provides information Essay Nmap done tells you how many IP addresses were scanned and how long it took 8. How many total IP hosts (not counting Cisco device interfaces) did Zenmap GUI (Nmap) find on the network? 5 IP host on the network 9. Based on your Nmap scan results and initial reconnaissance and probing, what next steps would you perform on the VSCL target machines? Use the file transfer buttons to download the Lab #1 LMAP scan. xml and Lab #1 topology fisheye chart. pdf Soft copy of the Zenmap GUI Intense Scan report in XML format . xml Topology fisheye bubble chart in PDF format Perform a Vulnerability Assessment Scan Using Nessus This lab demonstrates the first three steps in the hacking process that is typically performed when conducting ethical hacking or penetration testing. The first step in the hacking process is to perform an IP host discovery and port/services scan (Step 1 : Reconnaissance and Probing) on a targeted IP subnetwork using ZenMap GUI (Nmap) security scanning software. The second step in the hacking process is to perform a vulnerability assessment scan (Step 2: Scanning) on the targeted IP subnetwork using [emailprotected] vulnerability assessment scanning software. Finally, the third step in the hacking process (Step 3: Enumeration) is to identify information pertinent to the vulnerabilities found to exploit the vulnerability. 1 . What is the application Zenmap GUI typically used for? Describe a scenario in which you would use this type of application. This application is used to perform an intense scan of all 36 test scripts using the profile selection or you can Just select a specific IP address using the Target selection. I would use this application to determine the vulnerability of my computer by completing an assessment scan of my ntire system. 2. Which application is used for Step 2 in the hacking process to perform a vulnerability assessment scan? Nmap-Zenmap GUI 3. What must you obtain before you begin the ethical hacking process or penetration test on a live production network, even before performing the reconnaissance step? Create a custom Security Policy 4. What is a CVE listing? Who hosts and who sponsors the CVE database listing website? CVE listing is standardized identifiers for common computer vulnerabilities and exposures. Cybersecurity and Communications at the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, the MITRE Corporation 5. Can Zenmap GUI detect which operating systems are present on IP servers and workstations? Which option includes that scan? Yes, service info: OS: Linux 6. If you have scanned a live host and detected that it is running Windows XP workstation OS, how would you use this information for performing a Nessus vulnerability assessment scan? I would know that would be able to perform this scan 7. Once a vulnerability is identified by Nessus, where can you check for more information regarding the identified vulnerability, exploits, and the risk mitigation solution? Ports/Protocols, 443/tcp, Plugin Name: Service Detection 8. What is the major difference between Zenmap GUI and Nessus? Nessus scans for vulnerabilitys and Zenmap GUI is used to map network host within an open port. 9. Why do you need to run both Zenmap GUI and Nessus to perform the first three steps of the hacking process? The Zenmap has already run an intense scan on the 254 IP address to map out the network which makes Nessus able to find the vulnerability located within the 254 IP address. Zenmap GUI scan report in soft copy with your notes on what you found Nessus vulnerability scan report in HTML soft copy

American Values :: essays research papers

Values Of US Culture   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both articles, â€Å"America 2000: Fast and Furious Fun† by Jerry Adler and â€Å"Shopping† by Don DeLillo, examine various things that Americans value as a society. It may seem at first that articles are quite different, given the content variations, however, there is a similarity in purpose that authors are trying to achieve and the audience that they target. Clearly, both authors take a look at what is available to people in the US in terms of fun and entertainment, trying to address a younger portion of middle class Americans. In their own ways, Addler and DeLillo show various aspects of American live in all its richness, wealth and excessiveness. However, there is a hidden message between the lines that is common to both articles and it emphasizes a troubling trend within the society. In my opinion, authors attempt to show that US as a culture has become highly commercialized and at the rate thing are going US will soon be viewed by the world as unintelligent, exuberant, and irresponsible nation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The current entertainment and consumer retail industries in the US are the biggest insult to basic human intelligence. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week average American is being target by unavoidable and annoying commercials from TV, radio, Internet, highway billboards, etc. Brought by large corporations, they are intended to brainwash the individual and turn him/her into a loyal brainless consumer of the product that is offered. Fake promotions, grand openings and other tricks are designed specifically for these who refuse to become believers right away. For example, how many times one can hear a promotion slogans like â€Å"Free set of floor mats with every new car purchase!† or â€Å"Free mouse pad with every new computer purchase!†, etc. In my opinion, this is a clear indication of companies seeing nothing but a crowd of morons in their consumers. Jack, the main character of â€Å"Shopping†, finds himself in a store and interpret s the echoing din as â€Å"of the extinction of a species of beast.† In other words, the shopping environment is like a variety of traps set by some beast ready to hunt you down. While shopping, Jack thinks of an event as an endless well being that makes him and his family glory. Reflecting mirrors, smells of chocolates and salamis defeat Jack’s sense of reality. Deep inside he may feel that he is being fooled but in spite of that he chooses to quietly participate because â€Å"the beast traps† are too flashy to pass on.

The female influence in politics of Latin America

While studying Latin American region I was questioned why this region has more numbers of female presidents. Therefore, in this essay, I did some small analyze with a list of female representatives as a head of states. I think the role of women is everywhere essential and can include significant influence as in social life so in politics. Some people argue that women’s presence in power is a simple question of fairness. Fairness that demands women to get their proper share of power regardless of whether they us this power to promote women’s interests. Another reason is considered to be the spread of globalization. This phenomenon has given the impulse for raise of feminism in Latin American region. Therefore, the greater presence of women in national legislatures coincided with unprecedented attention to women’s rights issues like domestic violence, reproduction and family law. Women from different political parties were forming alliances to put women’s issues on the policy agenda and then to pressure their male colleagues to support changes in law. One dramatic example of the potential changes women leaders brings comes from Mexico. In 2000, Rosario Robles, then mayor of Mexico City, broke the Latin American abortion stalemate by introducing legislation to modify the city’s criminal code on abortion matters. The proposal, approved through support by the PRD (Partido de la Revolucion Democratica) and PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) parties, legalized abortions performed if the mother’s health (not just her life) is at risk and if the fetus has birth defects. Robles accepted the long-standing feminist argument that abortion is a public health problem, since resorting to clandestine abortions poses grave risks for women’s lives and health. No other Latin American country has liberalized its abortion laws since the 1940s. The 1990s we saw steady growth in women’s participation in political power in Latin America. The result can be women’s representation in the lower houses of congress increased from an average of 9 % in 1990 to 15 % in 2002; in the Senate, from 5 % to 12 % in 2002; and among ministers, from 9 % to13 % in 2000. These numbers put Latin America behind Europe, on par with Asia, and ahead of Africa, the Pacific and the Middle East. It’s evident that Latin American region has more cases of female presidents at the head of the state rather in other countries. In Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, women have run for president with a realistic chance of winning, and even did win. Dilma Rouseff of Brazil, Cristina Kirchner in Argentina, Michelle Bachelett of Chile, Laura Chinchilla in Costa Rica, Isabel Peron as a first female president of the region. In more countries, women have served as vice presidents, and women have governed the region’s (and world’s) two largest cities, Sao Paulo and Mexico City. Herein I present summarized information about female headquarters in LA: Dilma Rousseff, Brazil 2010. Dilma Rousseff of the ruling Workers' Party has just been elected president of Brazil – a nation of almost 200 million people, and a rising global power. She is a career diplomat, and was – until running for the presidency – chief of staff to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; before that she was energy minister. Lula gave her his full backing during the campaign and she has promised to continue his policies. Those who know Rousseff describe her as a â€Å"tough cookie†, and as a determined, pragmatic woman who likes to get things done. One of her nick-names is ‘the iron lady'. She is said to be astute, with a strategic, logical mind. Her father was an immigrant from Bulgaria, and her mother a school teacher. While a student in the 1960s, she joined the left-wing armed resistance against the military dictatorship. Although she says she was never involved in violence herself, she was seen as a key figure within the movement. She was arrested and held for three years, during which time she was tortured. Ms Rousseff was released in 1973, resumed her studies in economics, and then joined the civil service. Laura Chinchilla, President of Costa Rica 2010. Laura Chinchilla was sworn in as president of Costa Rica in May of this year, after a conclusive victory in elections in February. She is with the centrist National Liberation Party, and was vice-president under her predecessor, Oscar Arias. Ms Chinchilla has held several governments’ posts and comes from a political family. She studied in Costa Rica and at Georgetown University in the US. Ms Chinchilla is regarded as a social conservative, and is opposed to gay marriage and abortion. She has promised to continue with the free-market policies of former president Arias, and to expand on Costa Rica's free trade deals. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina 2007 Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner swept to victory in the first round of Argentina's presidential election in October 2007. She took over the presidency from her husband Nestor Kirchner. The two worked closely together, and were dubbed â€Å"the Clintons of the South†. Mr Kirchner died of a heart attack at the age of 60 in October 2010. Christina Fernandez has a long track-record in politics dating back to the late 1980s. She has worked in the regional parliament, the national parliament, and as a senator. She studied law at university, and is known for her work campaigning on human rights and women's rights. Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile 2006-2010 Michelle Bachelet was inaugurated as president of Chile for the Socialist Party in March 2006. She had previously been Chile's Defence Minister – the first woman to hold that post in Latin America – and also health minister. She studied military strategy and is trained as a paediatrician and an epidemiologist. In 1970s, in the early days of Augusto Pinochet's rule, her father was held on charges of treason. Ms Bachelet and her mother were also detained and tortured, before going into exile. As health minister Ms Bachelet caused a stir in staunchly Catholic Chile by allowing the free distribution of the morning after pill for victims of sexual abuse. She stepped down in March 2010 with a popularity rating of more than 80%, as the Chilean constitution does not allow a second consecutive presidential term. She is currently head of a new United Nations agency working on gender issues, called UN Women. Mireya Moscoso, President of Panama 1999-2004 Mireya Moscoso won presidential elections in May 1999, and was in charge a year later for the US handover of the Panama canal. She is the widow of three-time president Arnulfo Arias. She began her political career after her husband's death. Ms Moscoso came from a poor, rural background, and trained as an interior designer. She promised to work to reduce poverty in Panama. However, her presidency was dogged by allegations of corruption. Rosalia Arteaga, interim President of Ecuador 1997 Rosalia Arteaga acted as interim president of Ecuador for just two days in February 1997, when the former leader, Abdala Bucaram, was declared unfit to govern. She was vice-president before that. Ms Arteaga ran for the presidency in elections in 1998, but got only a small share of the vote. Violeta Chamorro, President of Nicaragua 1990-1997 Violetta Chamorro beat the incumbent Daniel Ortega in elections, to become president of Nicaragua in April 1990. She was the candidate for the National Opposition Union – a coalition of parties that ran against the Sandinistas. Her bid was backed by the US, who lifted sanctions on the country after her election. Ms Chamorro comes from a wealthy family and was educated abroad, including in the US. She entered politics after her husband Pedro Joaquin Chamorro – who had been editor of an anti-government newspaper – was assassinated. She took over as editor of the paper after his murder. She is credited for helping bring stability and peace to Nicaragua. Lidia Gueiler Tejada, interim President of Bolivia, 1979-1980 Lidia Gueiler Tejada was interim president of Bolivia from 1979 to 1980. She was chosen to run the country after inconclusive elections and the ousting of the temporary president Walter Guevara. She was to lead Bolivia until fresh elections, but she herself was removed in a coup before they were held. She trained as an accountant, and worked as a Member of Congress and as president of the Chamber of Deputies before being interim leader. She later worked as Bolivian Ambassador to a number of countries. Isabel Peron, President of Argentina 1974-1976 Isabel Peron was the first woman president in Latin America. She took over as president of Argentina when her husband – the three-time president Juan Domingo Peron – died in office in 1974. Isabel Peron was his third wife, and they married several years after the death of the much-loved First Lady Eva Peron. Known to Argentineans as â€Å"Isabelita†, Ms Peron was a former cabaret dancer. During her presidency, there were numerous labor strikes, and hundreds of political murders. Isabel Peron was removed in a military coup in 1976, and held under house arrest for several years before moving to Spain. In 2007, Argentina issued an international arrest warrant for her, over her alleged links to a right-wing paramilitary group, which operated during her rule. Argentinean authorities also wanted to question her over the disappearance of two men. Spain rejected the extradition request; the court there ruled that there was insufficient evidence against her. In these and other ways, women’s political behavior may conform to the corrupt and â€Å"clientelistic† patterns that have long been present in Latin America. So, all together we cannot deny the female’s significant contribution in the life and history of their countries. Women, after all, are not above politics.References:Mala Htun. 2001. â€Å"Advancing Women’s Rights in the Americas: Achievements and Challenges.† Working Paper. . Women’s Participation in Mexican Political Life, ed. Victoria Rodrà ­guez (Boulder, CO: Westview, 1998). Htun, Mala. 2001. â€Å"Women’s Leadership in Latin America: Trends and Challenges†. Politics Matters: A Dialogue of Women PoliticalMala N. Htun:  «Mujeres y poder polà ­tico en Latinoamà ©rica » bookAlya Babirli April, 2011A  

American Literature Before 1865

While the land issue is frequently invoked as the reason behind the extermination of indigenous Americans by European settlers, the real issue was a clash of cultures that held incompatible world views. Among Native Americans (hereafter referred to as â€Å"Indians† for convenience and because this is actually Native peoples’ preferred appellation according to Coeur d’Alene writer Sherman Alexie), society was usually very egalitarian, and even democratic. Europeans on the other hand believed in top-down, societal structures with rigid orders and classes.Most Indians were hunters and gatherers; this is how they survived, acknowledging game and wild edible plants as gifts of nature. In light of the harsh, puritanical Yahwist world view of the Europeans, it is significant that those in a hunting-gathering society rarely have to work more than five or six hours per week in order to satisfy their basic needs; Euro-Christians were children of a vengeful, patriarchal go d who demanded that they earn their bread by the sweat of their brow (unless of course, one was a successful capitalist, in which lower classes would do it on one’s behalf).Their warped belief system demanded that they till the earth; hunting was for sport. Many (not all) Indians found the thought of agriculture as an affront to the earth; if the Great Spirit had provided berries, roots and game animals, why would they scratch open the Great Mother seeking more?Sexuality was another issue; while most Indians embraced it as any normal, healthy life form and exhibited great tolerance for homosexuality and trans-gendered people (some of whom had high status, as was the case of the Cherokee â€Å"Two Spirit†), Europeans were – as many Americans are now – embarrassed, ashamed, intolerant and repressive when it came to sexual matters. Women among many Indian tribes also had a huge degree of freedom and equality with men, which was rigidly denied to European wom en. Different European groups had very different experiences and problems in encountering and interacting with Indians.In A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virgina, written in 1587 prior to the mysterious disappearance of the Roanoke Colony, the explorer Harriot – a product of the Elizabethan England of Shakespeare – wrote under the heading Of The Nature and Manners of the People that the Indians â€Å"†¦are not to be feared, â€Å" but warning â€Å"that they shall have cause to feare and love us, that shall inhabite with them† (241). Harriot goes on the describe them in some detail as to their animal-skin clothing, their lack of edged tools and their style of warfare.He writes, â€Å"In respect of us, they are a people poore, and for want of skill and judgement in the knowledge and use of our things, doe esteeme our trifles [toys, coins and cooking tools] before things of greater value† (242). This statement is significant, partic ularly in light of later experiences of the English in Virginia – experiences that involved great suffering, death and privation. Here, Harriot indulges in typical English chauvinism, judging Indian society and culture by the standards of his own.It should have become obvious over the ensuing twenty years that a lack of technology did not necessarily make for an inferior culture; masters of their environment, the Indians were well able to survive and even thrive in a place where the first English settlers starved, existed in poverty and frequently died. Even Harriot’s statement that â€Å"should they desire our friendship and love, [they will] have the greater respect for pleasing and obeying us† – a clear declaration of intentions to enslave Indians – proved to be based on this faulty logic as future English settlers discovered when they attempted to do just that.Harriot’s description of the local Indian’s religion indicates there we re some traits shared with their own Christianity; immortality of the soul, analogues to Heaven and Hell, and even formal worship rituals held in â€Å"houses appropriate or temples† (243). While by no means typical of all Indian spirituality or religion, it was these kinds of similarities that some Catholic missionaries were able to use in their successful conversions elsewhere.With similarities such as described by Harriot, one wonders if some elements of Christianity had not filtered north from Spanish claims in Florida. Alternatively, given the chauvinistic tendencies of Europeans in general and the English in particular that led to so many misunderstandings, it is quite possible that Harriot may have been simply seeing what he expected and/or desired to see. In any event, the English did not hesitate to use the Indian’s own normal fears of the unknown against them for their own advantage.During a drought, local Indians (some of the few who did engage in agricultur e, apparently) came to believe their problems had been brought on by their own actions, and offered to play to the â€Å"God of England, that he would preserve their Corne,† offering the English a portion when the harvest came in. Later, when diseases carried by the English were spread to those Indians who had no natural immunity, the English were all too happy to attribute the plague to their vengeful God for their â€Å"wicked practises† (245).In the case of Indians to whom such things had never happened and had no concept of how disease spread through bacteria and viruses, this self-serving explanation on the part of the English was all too acceptable. The Spaniards’ experiences with Indians were as varied as the Indian cultures they encountered. For example, with complex urban societies such as the Aztecs and Incas, the Spaniards were forced to deal with powers that were nearly equal to their own in terms of technology and organization; only through collabor ators within these civilizations were leaders like Cortez and Pizzaro able to succeed in their conquests.Further north, the Dine (Navajo) and Zuni presented somewhat less of a challenge. Unlike the English who came for land, the Spaniard’s main objective was plunder; gold, silver, slaves and souls. Unlike the primarily secular English expeditions, the Spaniards operated under the blessings of an aggressive Roman Catholic church, whose tool was the Holy Inquisition (rather different from the â€Å"kinder, gentler† brand of Catholicism brought by French missionaries to Indians further north).The Zuni – linguistically related to the Nez Perce, Yakama, Klamath and Modoc peoples of the Pacific Northwest, yet living in New Mexico – embraced a kind of spirituality that was completely unlike Christianity. There religion was organized into different â€Å"societies,† each of which governed a specific aspect of the community (22). In many ways, Zuni religion resembled that of the ancient Mayans; a â€Å"sun priest† known as a Pekwin kept a calendar; there was also a belief in â€Å"Hero Twins,† hearkening back to the Mayan legends of Hunahpu and Xibalanque.The Hero Twins also appear in the mythology of other Southwest peoples, including the Navajo (34). This and many other aspects of Zuni culture are revealed in their own creation myth, whose relationship with the Spaniards was hostile practically from the beginning; taken as one of the â€Å"Seven Cities of Cibola,† this sedentary, semi-urbanized, agricultural people successful drove off the initial Spaniard invasion in 1540. A Catholic mission was eventually established some ninety years later, but in 1680, the Zuni were in rebellion once again, joining other Pueblo Indians against the Spaniards.Zuni attitudes toward the Spaniards are apparent in a later version on the Zuni creation story, in which the Trickster, or â€Å"mischief-maker,† is associated wit h Mexicans, or Spaniards. The Trickster is a common figure in nearly all myths in all cultures on the planet; the late Joseph Campbell considered the Trickster as an integral part of the archetype â€Å"mythic journey,† or Hero’s Quest. The purpose of a Trickster was to lead the Hero astray, or attempt to delay or even foil the Quest.Among American Indian cultures, the Trickster could take many forms, but most frequently appeared as a Coyote. While he could be a teacher and frequently force one to confront that which they might not otherwise wish to deal with, Coyote could also be a mischief-maker. Associated Coyote with Mexicans/Spaniards had a negative connotation. In this version of the creation story, Mexicans also emerge later than the Zuni. This is yet another point of significance; like many tribal peoples, their name for themselves translates as â€Å"The People,† with the implication that others are not â€Å"people.† The name Halona-Iriwana, the Zuni pueblo, means â€Å"The Middle Ant Hill of the World,† suggesting that chauvinistic self-centeredness was not unique to the English and Spaniards. It has been suggested that this type of mentality was what allowed the Europeans to decimate the Indian populations; had all Indian peoples been able to unite against the invaders, European settlers might not have been quite as successful. The problem with this idea is in the sheer diversity of Indian peoples, not only in terms of language, but culture and even physical traits.While warfare among American Indian tribes never reached the kind of wholesale slaughter that it did among Europeans, conflict and competition for resources and prestige was still quite common. Cultural diversity may be something to treasure today, but in American history, it has had great – and often tragic – consequences. Works Cited Baird, Forrest E. and Walter Kaufman, eds. From Plato to Derrida, 4th Ed. (Upper Saddle River: Prentice H all, 1997).

Translation of dracula Essay Example

Translation of dracula Essay Example Translation of dracula Essay Translation of dracula Essay history remains the most valuable and sacred bequest of a state and therefore it should non be, by any agencies, profaned. The chosen text was written by Professor Ioan Prahoveanu in the signifier of historical essay, framed by popular beliefs sing the unusual nature of the Un-dead ( lamias ) that have Dracula as cardinal representative. Although publicizer in nature, the text ( posted on a touristry website advertisement the Bran Castle in Romania ) , is non at all commercial in content, since the message it conveys is non taking to increase the popularity of the palace by concentrating on Count Dracula as a touristic icon. On the contrary, Prof. Prahoveanu intends to unveil the manner Draculea decayed, rendering from the position of greatest, yet most ill-famed Rumanian voivode Vlad the Impaler to the disused image of a touristically exploited character,count Dracula. Furthermore, the writer h3ly accuses Stoker for the black degeneracy he has projected over the mediaeval voievode, for he has wholly ignored the effects of weighing the character s historical ground tackles ; his careless act resulted into Draculea s random float towards future, with nil but a label on that said Vampire watch out! Not to advert the laziness of making research for his novel merely in British libraries and museums ( where old maps and German histories were at disposal ) , alternatively of really prosecuting in a trip to Transylvania, for the exclusive intent of placing his character s reliable beginnings. These are the grounds why Prahoveanu had chosen to stress historical truth over phantasy, an attack meant to mirror discontent towards Stoker s insanity of falsifying history in favor of his much profitable vampire-story of which 90 % is fiction. Purportedly, the text in treatment was originally written in English, since it is presented like a complex and well-referenced essay, whereas its Rumanian version played the function of a summary-translation ( whole paragraphs of the ST are here omitted ) , adapted to the original. Possibly, the transcriber s scheme was to supply a shorter TT for the readership, in order to avoid their deficiency of involvement in the topic, for the ST is, as you may see, so excessively long for an online text. To some extent, this attack may be acceptable, due to the fact that the TL is Rumanian and so is the nationality of the mark readership ; in this context, a summary-translation of the original text is non unconventional, since the enlargement ( dwelling in elaborate historical facts ) provided for an English speech production populace would be excess to the Rumanian readership, already familiarized to the scenes depicted. On the contrary, our pick to this respect was to supply the readership with a full interlingual rendition of the ST, since it presents the couple Draculea-Dracula in an outstanding comparative mode, supported by rich mentions to popular beliefs and patterns that mirror the barbarian dimension of the world. We have considered the human-faced devil ( the motivation of the ST ) , presented in the cases of autocratic voivode and immortal count, the really look of adult male s double nature ( societal animate being and animate being ) , therefore supplying the full interlingual rendition of the ST for a better apprehension of the myth, as karyon of historical truth. In regard to the TT length, a solution in showing the whole interlingual rendition, without losing the readership s involvement in the events depicted, is suggested: a different format of the text. So as to continue the same sober and cryptic tone induced by the web page design, the TT presentation might take the form of a dust-covered manuscript, waiting to be opened by the reader. Furthermore, the text, written with Gothic characters, could be divided in two subdivisions entitledDraculea s Historic TruthandThe Legend of Dracula, each structured on conclusive episodes, easy to be accessed by the reader with a individual mouse-click on the page. In this manner, the lector may jump whatever portion he is non interested in, he will be able to read faster and understand better the TT due to its clear construction and page layout. Translation Commentary Purposesand schemes in the interlingual rendition procedure The cardinal intent of this interlingual rendition is to supply our readership with a transparent TT, for we aim at doing our reader perceive the text as an original and non as a interlingual rendition. Consequently, the TT was born in conformance with the norms imposed by the Rumanian linguistic communication, with regard to all lingual degrees. Furthermore, we desire to maintain Prof. Prahoveanu s discontent towards Stoker s attitude emphasized and integral all the manner through, in the sense of carefully continuing the writer s irony and lasting tone of dissatisfaction in all lingual facets. This step needs to be taken for we portion the writer s reaction to Stoker s insanity and by protecting his place, we really strengthen ours. In this sense, the interlingual renditionis non so much concerned with giving information as with making in the reader something of the same temper as was conveyed by the original.( Venuti, 2004: 154 ) With respect to the scheme adopted in the TT, the one to match wholly to our ends wasdomestication, as: a ) It is non practical to enforce the SL norms on the TL ; B ) To interpret is to pass on ;hence,while transfering a text into another civilization, a transcriber must consider over the cultural intension ; degree Celsius ) Readers may hold a better apprehension if the content and signifier of the version are within their easy range, so a transcriber should seek his best to subject the beginning civilization to the mark civilization ; vitamin D ) A transcriber should non be so demanding on readers intelligence and imaginativeness as to go forth them in a battle in understanding the different universe reflected in another linguistic communication.( Guo, 1998: 13 qtd. in Preliminary Literature Review on Domestication and Foreignisation ) . Furthermore, the type of equality adopted wasdynamic equality( Nida qtd. in Venuti, 2004:156 ) , since wepurpose at complete naturalness of look( Venuti, 2004:156 ) . Further, we would prefer to allow the TT speak for itself. Text Analysis In the first paragraph, the auctorial dissension is mirrored in buildings such asdramatically accentuated by the Irishman Bram Stoker interpretate dramatic? n viziunea irlandezului Bram Stoker orfictional character, Dracula personajul fictiv, contele Dracula , as opposed tothe consequence of legendary yet, echt historical facts of Vlad the Impaler s reign rezultatul interferen? ei unor fapte istorice legendare, definitorii pentru domnia voievodului Vlad? epe? , buildings that build a h3 antithesis betweenthe voivode Dracula, symbol of historic truth, andcount Dracula, symbol of fable, subjectivism and wildly irresponsible imaginativeness. Furthermore, the dualityvoivode-countwas intentionally stressed within the interlingual rendition with the clear intent of indicating out the historical complexness of the former character compared to the ordinary simpleness of the latter. As one may detect the wordcountis non mentioned by the writer in the ST ; still, it was added in the TT in order to kill the count s shadow over the voivode s aureate yesteryear. Furthermore, the wordcountwas consciously non-capitalised, for obtaining a minimisation consequence of the character, by contrast to Stoker s original spelling,Count ( Dracula ). Another manner used in accomplishing minimisation is expressed in the phraseby the Irishman,replacement for Irish writer in order to cut down Stoker properties as a author. The same sarcastic tone was dependably preserved within the interlingual rendition by the lexical attacks mentioned above. The writer adopts a somewhat different agencies in laudingWallachia s swayer domnitorul? arii Rom A ; acirc ; ne? Ti during the following textual sequence: he does non showthe voivodeandthe countrelatively any longer, but refers toVlad the Impaler„Vlad? epe? entirely. As a maestro of words, Prahoveanu designates an highly powerful vocalization for the beginning of this paragraph, which sinks the portrayal of the count in an ocean of limbo, without even adverting his presence:The truth about Wallachia s swayer, Vlad the Impaler ( 1456-1462, 1476 ) is known from infinite academic documents written by both Romanian and foreign historians Adevarul despre domnitorul? arii Rom A ; acirc ; ne? Ti, Vlad? epe? ( 1456-1462, 1476 ) , este consemnat A ; icirc ; n numeroase lucrari autentice, scrise de istorici read-only memory A ; acirc ; ni? one straini deopotriva. Appositions such asWallachia s swayer, Vlad the Impaleror word associations likeinfinite academic documentsandboth Romanian and foreign historiansexemplify the popularity and acknowledgment of the voivode at national and international graduated table likewise. Furthermore, the auctorial esteem for Vlad the Impaler is highlighted by looks such ash3 leading domnie autoritara , h3 defense mechani sm defensiva puternica orlaudably encompassed ? nglobate admirabil . Notable is the fact that this paragraph is the first of a series in which quotation marks arelaudably encompassedwithin the ST. The inquiry is whether to interpret these quotation marks or look for their original signifier in mention plants ; the pick was to supply the readership with the original quotation marks, as they occur in histories or history books, since their sacred kernel is non to be profaned by the lexical intervention of an foreigner. Consequently,When a adult male or Godhead is h3 and powerful he can do peace whichever manner he wishes yet, when he is weak, person h3er will come onto him and submit him to his clemency, the message addressed to the people of Bra? Orange Group in the missive of September tenth 1456, was translated with the original quotation mark Atunci degree Celsius A ; acirc ; nd un om sau un domn este tare Si puternic A ; icirc ; n interior, atunci poate face pacea cum vrea ; iar c amp ; acirc ; nd este fara putere, unul mai tare Virginia veni asupra lui Si Virginia face copper vitamin D A ; acirc ; nsul ce va vrea. The ground for this pick, which applies with no exclusion to all similar state of affairss, consists in the desire of non losing the historical burden of these great words, placed in a peculiar context and era and carefully interpreted by the historiographers of the clip. Further conclusive illustrations in this sense will be provided for the reader in the undermentioned heroic poem sequences. The specificity of this interlingual rendition is outlined non merely by the fidelity shown to the ST with respect to the lasting show of 3Dimensional irony, but besides by several imposed TT attacks, distinctive from the writer s initial preparations, needed in the building of TT transparence. As one may detect in the 3rd paragraph, the interlingual rendition ofVlad the Impaleris non Vlad? epe? any longer, like in the first transition of the essay ( where the full interlingual rendition of the name is used for mirroring the magnificence of the historic figure it denotes ) , but ? epe? the appellative recounted in histories every bit good as in the corporate memory of the Rumanian people, given after the cold penalty he practiced. The thought is that in a Rumanian historical text, the frequent usage of the signifier Vlad? epe? would be unusual and excess, as if decreasing the impact of this name on the readership, whereas in a similar English text, the writer would hold no oth er alternate than composing the swayer s full name, otherwise put on the lining to destruct the integrity of the appellative and go forth it nonmeaningful: merely note the difference in sense and stylistic consequence for Vlad the Impaler and ( the ) Impaler . A similar instance would be the one ofWallachia, the feudal district situated north from the Danube and south from the Carpatians, the external mention for ? Ara Rom A ; acirc ; neasca or Zemli Ungrovlahiscoi , as counted in Slavic paperss. For an English reader,Wallachiais the widely recognized name given to the feudal state in histories ; replacingWallachiabythe Rumanian Statewould be a cultural catastrophe, since no 1 is familiar to this version of the name. In a Rumanian interlingual rendition ofWallachianevertheless, the phrase ? Ara Rom A ; acirc ; neasca should be introduced at all times, since this is the official name counted in Slavic paperss and histories. TranslatingWallachiaby Valahia , a coined hist orical term, is non incorrect, but the phrase ? Ara Rom A ; acirc ; neasca would be more appropriate. In add-on, there would be the slippery interlingual rendition ofTurkish soldiers = soldati turcithat appears as soldati otomani in the TT. The debate of this pick would be that the type text, i.e. historical essay, should under no fortunes be ignored. If mentioning toTurkish soldierspresents, the Rumanian interlingual rendition of the adjectivalTurkishwould decidedly be turci , but since a historical essay is in treatment, the transcriber must follow the manner and esteem the norms of history authorship. Merely by look intoing the nomenclature used in history books for case, one would detect the presence of otomani as adjectival or nominal signifier forTurkish/Turks. Another observation regards the phraselocallandowners ( boyars ), translated by one word boier , the singular forboyars.A native Rumanian with common history cognition would easy calculate out the ground for this pick in the Terrestrial time: the fact that back in feudal times there were no other landholders in t he state but the boyars ( and the voivode ) is really good known among the Rumanian people ; consequently, interpretinglandholdersby proprietari de pam A ; acirc ; nt and so adding in brackets the interlingual rendition ofboyars boieri would hold been pointless. Alternatively, merely the wordboyarswas translated for a natural, even simplistic consequence in the TT. As mentioned above, the remarkable signifier of the nounboyarsappears in the TT ; the ground for this pick is imposed by grammar norms, since the sentence was reinterpreted and given a general tone, like in No affair who,Transylvanianbargainer,Turkishsoldier orlocalboyar, was to be punished if found guilty of such a offense and so the understanding between a remarkable topic and its predicate needed to be decently identified. In the same paragraph, the phraseenforcing honestness and difficult work as virtuousnesss to be hadis translated by utilizing a displacement order of the wordshonestnessandworkin order to avoid the blare munca ca ; hence, the interlingual rendition would be impune munca? I cinstea ca virtuti . The interlingual rendition of the 5th transition may be regarded as debatable because of the wrong information provided by Prahoveanu with respect to the focalised historical eventthe retaliation of his male parent and brother s killing right on Easter Day when he proceeded to transfix the full aged population of T A ; acirc ; rgovi? Te while saving the younger 1s merely to reprobate them to hard labor to raise the Poienari bastion.The manner it appears, this text contains one incompatibility between the message conveyed in the ST and historyhe proceeded to transfix the full aged population of T A ; acirc ; rgovi? Te; Vlad the Impaler did non transfix the full aged population of T A ; acirc ; rgovi? Te, but the senior boyars involved in the deceases of his male parent and brother. The TT clarifies this facet for the reader O alta fapta plina de cruzime ( ) este razbunarea pentru uciderea tatalui? i a fratelui sau chiar? n ziua de Pa? Ti, degree Celsius A ; acirc ; nd ordona tra gerea A ; icirc ; n? eapa a tuturor boierilor V A ; acirc ; rstnici blare T A ; acirc ; rgovi? Te. Another specialness in the ST is the abbreviationHormone replacement therapy, which stands for Hormone Replacement Therapy, besides known as theFountain of Youth.The interlingual rendition of this abbreviation is THS ( Terapia de Substitu? Internet Explorer Hormonala ) . Unlike the ST which usesHormone replacement therapymerely, without supplying accounts of its significance, the TT refers to both the abbreviation and the complete interlingual rendition in brackets, out of two grounds: foremost, this medical pattern is non as common in Romania as it is in the western states and secondly the supplimentary account topographic points accent on the auctorial irony and sarcasm towards Countess Elisabeth BathorySince HRT was some five centuries off, the Countess ( ) was reputedly to bathe in maiden s blood in order that she could continue her vernal expressions„Cum THS ( Terapia de Substitu? Internet Explorer Hormonala ) avea sa apara peste nu mai plutonium? in de cinci sute de an i, Contesa aplica propria sa terapie de A ; icirc ; nfrumuse? are ( ) A ; icirc ; mbaierea A ; icirc ; n s amp ; acirc ; nge de fecioara, tratament menit SA A ; icirc ; i ofere tinere? ea ve? nica. The following TT paragraph outlines another domestication grade: the usage of Roman figures for denoting centuries ; therefore, the phraseSeventeenth centurywill be translated by secolul Seventeen and non by secolul? aptesprezece ; even though the latter attack is besides right, the former is preferred in the context of historical texts. This transition dares the transcriber s accomplishments with the presence of an old English lookBar for the malodor, which may be attributed the much recent equivalentIn malice of the odor Trec A ; acirc ; ndpeste mirosul de cadavru? n putrefactie , mentioning to the malodor of exhumed organic structures. Since adverting the footings historical , history or historic so often, an inexplicit tense pick should be desirably used in Prahoveanu s essay interlingual rendition: the historical nowadays tense, which harmonizing toliterary critics and syntacticians has the consequence of doing past events more vivid ( Encarta.msn.com ) . Furthermore, omission is necessary in illustrations such asKing Matias Corvin, translated merely by Matei Corvin , since the Rumanian readership is cognizant of this character s political position and an enlargement such as regele Ungariei Matei Corvin , would hold been adrift. Another facet which needs to be taken into history is the appellative used by the writer to mention to Vlad the Impaler: Prahoveanu calls himKing, which is non peculiarly right since He was a voivode ; hence, the interlingual rendition ofKingwill ever be voievod or domnitor . Particular attention should be taken to the registry used in the TT. Since this is a historical essay, specific footings are to happen in the interlingual rendition, as to make a kind of feudal ambiance. In conformity, one should neer interpretoffendersorviolatorsby infractori in the present context, since this is a modern-day lexeme ; alternatively, nelegiuiti or raufacatori would be the right picks. Other illustrations in this sense would belarceny and sloth, translated by punga? Iowa? I tr amp ; acirc ; ndavia , and non interpreted as hotia? one lenea . All these considered, one may province that the provided interlingual rendition isthe closest natural equivalent to the source-language message( Nida qtd. in Venuti, 2004:163 ) , where equivalent points toward the beginning linguistic communication message, natural points toward the receptor linguistic communication and closest binds the two orientations together on the footing of the higher grade of estimate.( Venuti, 2004:163 ) ( Venuti, 2004:163 ) Furthermore, the TT isa reproduction of the original( ) ( G.A. Black, 1936:50 qtd. in Venuti, 2004:163 ) , a interlingual renditionthat bears no obvious hint of foreign beginning( Venuti, 2004:163 ) , a text in whichthe linguistic communication if interlingual rendition ought, we think, be a pure, intangible and unseeable component, the medium of idea and feeling and nil more ; it ought neer to pull attending to itself( J.H. Frere, 1820:481 qtd. in Venuti, 2004:163 ) . As farther demonstrated, the TT places great accent on the writer s irony and sarcasm in response to Stoker s cowardly attack to authorship, sinceit is indispensable that a interlingual rendition incorporate certain positive elements of manner which provide the proper emotional tone for the discourse. This emotional tone must accurately reflect the point of position of the writer( Venuti, 2004:165 ) . The elements Venuti alludes to are irony, irony and capricious, all of which have been carefully preserved within the TT. Furthermore, the technique of replacing, non interpreting, quotation marks by their Rumanian original equivalents has a major impact on the TT, since it transfers the alive characters in the ST, together with their concise representations, within the kingdom of interlingual rendition. Here, every bit good as in the ST, those characters arepermitted to hold the same sort of individualism and personality as the writer himself gave them in the original message.( Venuti, 2004:166 ) . As farther mentioned by the same writer,persons must be decently characterized by the appropriate choice and agreement of words, so that such characteristics as societal category or geographical idiom will be instantly apparent. In add-on, great attending is paid to the registry in the ST ; since the nature of the text is historical, it imposes particular attention to the usage of linguistic communication ( slangs ) , that the interlingual rendition has managed to continue, as demonstrated in the analysis. At the same clip, although there is greater importance given to the writer s place within the ST, the historical class of events should non be less considerate. If this had happened in the TT, so the transparence of the interlingual rendition would hold been interrupted and a untrue information sent to the readership ( with respect to the impalement of the full aged population in T A ; acirc ; rgovi? Te ) . The success of text domestication is mirrored in TT natural texture, indistinguishable to that of texts originally written in Romanian and characterized by eloquence, consistence, coherency and coherence. As demonstrated, all our intents have been achieved.

Ancient Persia and the Persian Empire

Ancient Persia and the Persian Empire The Ancient Persians (modern Iran) are more familiar to us than the other empire builders of Mesopotamia or the Ancient Near East, the  Sumerians,  Babylonians, and  Assyrians, not only because the Persians were more recent, but because they were amply described by the Greeks. Just as one man, Alexander of Macedon (Alexander the Great), ultimately wore the Persians down quickly (in about three years), so the Persian Empire rose to power quickly under the leadership of  Cyrus the Great. The extent of Persia varied, but at its height, it extended southwards to the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean; to the east and northeast, the Indus and Oxus rivers; to the north, the Caspian Sea and Mt. Caucasus; and to the west, the Euphrates River. This territory includes desert, mountains, valleys, and pastures. At the time of the ancient Persian Wars, the Ionian Greeks and Egypt were under Persian dominion. Western Cultural Identity and the Persian Army We in the West are accustomed to seeing the Persians as the them to a Greek us. There was no Athenian-style democracy for the Persians, but an absolute monarchy that denied the individual, common man his say in political life. The most important part of the Persian army was a seemingly fearless elite fighting group of 10,000, known as The Immortals because when one was killed another would be promoted to take his place. Since all men were eligible for combat until age 50, manpower was not an obstacle, although to ensure loyalty, the original members of this immortal fighting machine were Persians or Medes. Cyrus the Great Cyrus the Great, a religious man and adherent of Zoroastrianism, first came to power in Iran by overcoming his in-laws, the Medes (c. 550 B.C.)- the conquest made easy by many defectors, becoming the first ruler of the Achaemenid Empire (the first of the Persian Empires). Cyrus then made peace with the Medes and cemented the alliance by creating not just Persian, but Median sub-kings with the Persian title khshathrapavan (known as satraps) to rule the provinces. He also respected area religions. Cyrus conquered the Lydians, the Greek colonies on the Aegean coast, the Parthians, and Hyrcanians. He conquered Phrygia on the south shore of the Black Sea. Cyrus set up a fortified border along the Jaxartes River in the Steppes, and in 540 B.C., he conquered the Babylonian Empire. He established his capital in a cold area, Pasargadae (the Greeks called it Persepolis), contrary to the wishes of the Persian aristocracy. He was killed in battle in 530. The successors of Cyrus conquered Egypt, Thrace, Macedonia, and spread the Persian Empire east to the Indus River. Seleucids, Parthians, and Sassanids Alexander the Great put an end to the Achaemenid rulers of Persia. His successors ruled the area as the Seleucids, intermarrying with native populations and covering a large, fretful area that soon broke up into divisions. The Parthians gradually emerged as the next major Persian power ruling in the area. The Sassanids or Sassanians overcame the Parthians after a few hundred years and ruled with almost constant trouble on their eastern borders as well as to the west, where the Romans contested the territory sometimes through to the fertile area of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) until the Muslim Arabs conquered the area.

Cultural Shows in Atlanta Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Cultural Shows in Atlanta - Personal Statement Example These people are my father, my mother, and my sister. I watched a piano quartet concert in Atlanta a moth ago and I would say that it was a very awesome experience. It was held in a big dome and almost all seats were taken. Four famous pianists made a rendition of all-time favorite classic music as well as pop songs, which perhaps were undertaken in order to suit the taste of different audiences. The quartet was made up of two men and two women, and there were two grand pianos erected onstage used for the performances. The men wore black tuxedos, while the women wore cocktail clothes. The one was in velvet red while the other one was in silk blue. They all looked refreshing. The concert started with a powerful rendition of Love Story (Where Do I Begin) The masterful streaks that each pianist did on the piece made it so amazing. The quartet was supported by a violin and a saxophone on the background, which contributed in making the sound more engaging and fascinating. They followed it with The Entertainer, which was really a very entertaining performance. The classic O Comme Amour gave out a likewise enthralling appeal, making the entire performance a good deal of experience for the audience. The quartet always received a standing ovation from the crowd, of which most are in their middle age and senior years. It was surprising to see some young people in the crowd as well, who appreciate this kind of music despite their generation. It was amazing to know that my favorite singer, Celine Dion, was there to render a song number while the piano quartet performed. There was also another piece played by two of the four pianists - one woman and a man - while th e other two sang in a duet. This piano quartet is a modification of the classic one, made to fit the different audiences in today's post-modern world. I like their classic rendition of Song for Anna, Ballad Pour Adeline, and the piece that thrilled me most, I Got a Crush on You originally sang by Frank Sinatra but is oozing in that frenzied night as the air suddenly shifted into a romantic mood. The allure was sustained by another performance of an instrumental I'm in the Mood for Love and Fascination, followed by Someone to Watch Over Me, which the four sang in blended voices as they tinkered on the black and white keys of the grand pianos. This event night is one of the memorable ones I witnessed, in which the artists' skills were exhibited in total fashion. I have never been as enthralled as I have been in this piano quartet event. I would relate my experience with the piano quartet concert with my father, a humorous but a serious person, fun loving and genuine, loving and wise. The piano concert, which had been a mixture of classic and new music, of old and mainstream songs, which are in total opposite yet jive together in one amazing performance, is just like him. My father is one whom you would like to be always around, and his mere presence is enough to invigorate you. His fun and positive energy uplifts a lonely soul. I believe he just really has these innate characteristics to uplift people in their lowest point. Just like the symphonies performed by the piano quartet, which have the ability to soothe the audience and take them into the journey of their music. I admire my father so much because of the combination of

Emily's story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Emily's story - Essay Example I am Emily, Emily Rose. Not long ago, I was a cheerful, lively and agile young girl with many friends and a bunch of activities which could not fit in the 24 hours of the day. I was outgoing, blunt and always the centre of attention, when in a group. No wonder, I was approached by many people for friendships and relationships, but I always aimed higher than just being ‘another girl’ in the world. I wanted to be someone people admire and get inspiration from. I wanted to be like my father; an inspirational personality and a great journalist. Indeed, he was my hero and the role model. I always had a strong bond of love and affection with him. But I never thought I would be a reason for his broken pride and humiliation. It was mid February, when I went on a trip with my college mates. I always loved going on such trips and explore different parts of the world and the people around. But it was unusual; it was not uncomfortable or displeasing, but unusual. For the first time, I got attracted to a person, John, for his thoughts, views and manners inspired me. We got along really well and I felt special when he was around. Like any other girl, I developed feelings for him; he had no different feelings than me. The month passed giving us many memories, and a life changing news; the news that changed my life and his views; the news that replaced the old confident Emily with a girl who could not face the world; the news that broke the pride of his father and his trust on his daughter. Yes, I was pregnant. I still wonder if this was the same John who always picked my call on the first ring, I looked at the side table and picked my phone again. No, I was not calling John but my ever loving father this time. I needed him, like I always did since my childhood. As expected, no later than an hour, he was right in front of me listening to my story. This was