10 Fascinating Facts about Bess Beetles

10 Fascinating Facts about Bess Beetles The  amiable bess beetles  (family Passalidae)  make great classroom pets, and are fun to watch. Bess beetles are so much more than cute; theyre also some of the most sophisticated bugs on the planet. Dont believe it? Consider these 10 fascinating facts about bess beetles. 1. Bess beetles are important decomposers Passalids live in hardwood logs, munching away on the tough tree fibers and turning them into new soil. They prefer oak, hickory, and maple, but will set up shop in just about any hardwood log that has sufficiently decayed. If youre looking for bess beetles, turn over rotting logs on the forest floor. In the tropics, where bess beetles are more diverse, a single log may house as many as 10 different Passalid species. 2. Bess beetles live in family groups Within their log homes, both bess beetle parents reside with their offspring. With their powerful mandibles, they excavate rooms and passages to house their family. The bess beetle family guards its home against any and all intruders, including other unrelated bess beetles. In some species, a large, extended family of individuals lives together in a colony. This subsocial behavior is quite unusual among beetles. 3. Bess beetles talk Like many other insects – crickets, grasshoppers, and cicadas, for example – bess beetles use sounds to communicate with one another. Whats remarkable, however, is how sophisticated their language seems to be. One North American species, Odontotaenius disjunctis, produces 14 distinct sounds, presumably with different meanings. An adult bess beetle talks by rubbing a hardened part of its hindwings against spines on the dorsal surface of its abdomen, a behavior known as stridulation. Larvae can communicate, too, by rubbing their middle and hind legs against each other. Captive bess beetles will complain loudly when disturbed in any way, and squeak audibly when handled. 4. Bess beetles co-parent their young The vast majority of insect parents simply deposit their eggs and go. A few, like some stink bug mothers, will guard her eggs until they hatch. In fewer still, a parent might stick around long enough to keep her nymphs safe. But rare are the insect parents that remain together as a pair to raise their young to adulthood, and bess beetles are counted among them. Not only do the mother and father bess beetle work together to feed and protect their offspring, but the older larvae stick around to help with rearing their younger siblings. 5. Bess beetles eat poop Like termites and other insects that feed on wood, bess beetles need the help of microorganisms to break down the tough plant fibers. Without these digestive symbionts, they simply couldnt process the cellulose. But bess beetles arent born with these vital fungi and bacteria living in their guts. The solution? They eat their own poop, much like rabbits do, to keep a healthy number of microorganisms in their digestive tracts. Without enough frass in its diet, a bess beetle will die. 6. Bess beetles lay their eggs in nests of poop Baby bess beetles are at an even greater digestive disadvantage, because their mandibles arent strong enough to chew wood and they lack gut microorganisms. So mama and papa bess beetle start their babies out in a cradle made of masticated wood and frass. In fact, when a  bess beetle larva reaches its final instar and is ready to pupate, its parents and siblings work together to construct it a cocoon made of frass. Thats how important poop is to a Passalid. 7. Bess beetles have a lot of nicknames Members of the family Passalidae go by a long list of common names: bessbugs, bessiebugs, betsy beetles, bess beetles, horned passalus beetles, patent leather beetles, peg beetles, and horn beetles.   The many variations on bess seems to derive from the French word baiser, which means to kiss, and is likely a reference to the smooching sound they make when they stridulate. If youve seen one, you already know why some people call them patent leather beetles – theyre quite shiny and black, like patent leather shoes. 8. Bess beetles look menacing, but are surprisingly gentle The first time you see a bess beetle, you might be a bit intimidated. Theyre hefty insects, often well over 3 cm long, with the massive mandibles youd expect from a beetle that eats wood. But rest assured, they dont bite, and dont even grab hold of your fingers with their feet the way scarab beetles do. Because theyre so easygoing and big, they make good first pets for young insect lovers. If youre a teacher interested in keeping insects in your classroom, you wont find one easier to care for and handle than the bess beetle. 9. Most bess beetles live in the tropics The family Passalidae includes roughly 600 described species, and nearly all of them live in tropical habitats. Only four species are known from the U.S. and Canada, and of these, two species havent been seen for decades. Some bess beetle species are endemic, meaning they live only in a certain area, such as on an isolated mountain or a particular island. 10. To date, just a single bess beetle fossil has been found The only prehistoric Passalid known from the fossil record is Passalus indormitus, collected in Oregon. Passalus indormitus dates to the Oligocene epoch, and lived about 25 million years ago. There are no known bess beetles living in the Pacific Northwest today, interestingly. Passalus indormitus is most similar to Passalus punctiger, a living species that inhabits Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. Sources: Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, by Douglas W. TallamyAmerican Beetles: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea, Volume 2, edited by Ross H. Arnett, JR, Michael C. Thomas, Paul E. Skelley, J. Howard FrankInsect Behavior, by Robert W. Matthews, Janice R. MatthewsNinety-nine Gnats, Nits, and Nibblers, by May BerenbaumBess Beetles of Kentucky, University of Kentucky Entomology website. Accessed December 10, 2013.Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. JohnsonEncyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd edition, edited by John L. Capinera.

Should Teenagers Be Required to Get Their Parents Permission to Obtain Contraceptives

Should Teenagers Be Required to Get Their Parents Permission to Obtain Contraceptives All in the Family: Teens and Contraceptive Permission When a Child Becomes an Adult Nature plays a cruel trick on a person during their adolescent years. It is the stage of life where one’s body begins its ascent to adulthood, a process that does not go without kicking in high gear the sexual and reproductive instincts, as well. The problem lies in a teenager’s brain anatomy and psychology, as most teens have not fully matured, emotionally, physically and mentally, to lead healthy, responsible sexually active lives. This fact should most certainly be considered in the debate of whether or not teenagers in America, from age 13 to 17, have the right to obtain contraceptives on their own. Any reasonably sane, rational person would agree that it should be illegal for a teen, a minor, to obtain contraceptives without their parents’ legal permission. Majority of Teens aren’t Mature Enough to Make Adult Decisions First of all, Science provides an important explanation for this argument, that teens wanting contraceptives to be legally required to have their parent’s permission to do so. A majority of teens just aren’t mature enough to make adult-like decisions when it comes to sex. Of course, there are plenty of sexually active adolescents, and many are likely responsible enough to not let sex ruin their lives – as in getting pregnant or impregnating another when they’re not ready financially and emotionally, and also contracting a sexually transmitted disease. But there are just as many adolescents who do let sexual activity completely ruin their lives. Though an adolescent possesses the eagerness and physical yearning for a human-to-human population as that of a fully mature adult, their brain is still growing and developing – especially the prefrontal cortex of the brain responsible for impulse control and decision-making. In fact, this part of the brain d oes not fully develop in men until the age of 25. Teens will be sexually active regardless of whether or not they are ready for its potential consequences; but if their parents know of their sexual activity and agree to allow their use of contraceptives, they at least have a better chance of taking the necessary precautions to avoid a lifetime of hardship. They can help them avoid troubles. You may be interested in: Relieving Students School-Related Stress Educational Field Trip Safety Issues Developing Students Creativity Why Are You Not in Class and out There Bleeding Junk Food in School A teenager should be legally required to first have their parents’ permission before obtaining contraceptives because their parents can offer them guidance and support – and financial assistance if an accidental disease or pregnancy occurs. Many parents may be unaware their adolescent children are sexually active in the first place, consequently not being there to make sure their children are practicing safe sex and taking precautions to avoid pregnancy and disease. When a parent first learns their teenage child is sexually active, they usually will, one, try to educate them on how best to go about having a responsible sex life – since they most likely cannot forbid them from having sex. And even if a teen is sexually active and takes the right precautions, as in getting on birth control or using condoms, they still may make bad decisions with even worse consequences if they are hiding the fact from their parents. Teenagers shouldn’t be allowed to obtain contraceptives on their own, without parental permission because they are minors – and are not considered adults. There is a reason they cannot vote, go to war, stay out past curfew, purchase the  alcohol and tobacco products: they are legally not allowed to. By legally requiring parents to grant permission to allow their teenage children, from age 13 to 15, access to contraceptives, these parents are also kept legally responsible for their children. So if the parents practice negligence in this matter, as in allowing their children to lead lives of sexual promiscuity without safe-sex practices, they could be held legally responsible. Teens Are not Prepared to Face the Consequences Although adolescents feel the sexual urges of an adult, yearn for a human-to-human population like that of a fully matured adult human, they are not adults. They are not prepared to face the consequences adults face, because they have not fully matured emotionally, psychologically, financially; therefore, sexually active teens must not have access to contraceptives without their parent’s consent. Of course, there are older, more mature adolescents who have can take responsibility for their own future and engage in healthy, safe sexual practices. But many teens do allow their sexual instincts to get the better of them. So it should be required legally that teenagers shouldn’t be allowed to obtain contraceptives on their own without parental permission.

The role of nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The role of nursing - Essay Example Significant studies in the area have suggested that the effect of reduced nurse staff on patient outcomes is an inverse relationship between the two whereas positive outcomes result when there is adequate nurse staffing. Therefore, the effect of nurse staffing on patient outcomes has been one of the most essential areas of nursing research and this qualitative research makes a profound analysis of the published literature on the topic in order to determine the various aspects of nurse staffing in relation with patient outcomes. The research question of this nursing research proposal proposes to analyze the various aspects of nurse staffing in relation with patient outcomes and the research question is: What is the effect of nurse staffing on patient outcomes and how can favorable staffing ensure better patient outcomes The research question analyzed in this paper incorporates various important secondary questions such as 1) What are the various aspects of patient outcomes affected by nurse sta... ) What are the determinants of favorable staffing, and 4) What is difference in the results of adequate staffing and that of the reduced nurse staffing. The Purpose or Aim of the Research The research purpose usually reflects the type of study conducted and the main purpose of this qualitative research on the effect of nurse staffing on patient outcomes is to determine the relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcomes. The most important aim of this study is to help the nurses improve their practice by making their aware of the positive relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcomes. Examining the effect of various nurse staffing levels on the patient impact can highly determine the aspects of good practices of health care and in turn produce positive results in the organizational outcomes of health care. Therefore, the purpose of the research proposed in this paper is to contribute to the practice of nursing, health care, and patient outcomes. Keywords to search for The keywords related to this study include: nurse staffing, patient outcomes, reduced nurse staffing, adequate nurse staffing, etc, Scope of the Study (Who is written for) The scope of the proposed study, i.e. the effect of nurse staffing on patient outcomes, covers various aspects of the practice of nursing, health care industry, and patient outcomes. Therefore, this proposed study is intended for the various people engaged in the practice of nursing, health care, and the health industry and this will help in improving the quality of nurse staffing in order to help better patient outcomes. Population of interest The population of interest in this research includes nurses belonging to different levels of nurse staffing and the patients in the related areas of nursing. It will also

An Act of Discrimination and Hatred Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An Act of Discrimination and Hatred - Essay Example This means that a Muslim will be looked at suspiciously because of the stereotypes surrounding religion and extremism. This means that an immigrant will be treated as a second-class citizen because of their choice to move out of their home country. This also means that many such immigrants and Muslims will be denied jobs, housing, or healthcare services because of their identity as a Muslim or an immigrant. Racism is being differentiated in order to treat a particular religious or ethnic group in a way that is condescending and unfair. It is being discriminated based on perceived sentiments of superiority and bias. Racism is prejudice. It is hatred towards a particular religious or racial group. It is the biased and unfair treatment of an individual based on a preconceived opinion regarding a specific race. Racism means a denial of a human’s fundamental rights. It is hatred towards other people because they are different. It is prejudice manifested in the form of crimes and violence perpetrated against people of different cultures and racial backgrounds. It is the denial of one’s human rights and is a malpractice against another human. Racism is, therefore, an antithesis of humanity and mankind. Racism is intolerance. Racism is the manifestation of intolerance and bigotry. Racism dismisses any phenomena that are different and results in hatred and discrimination towards people of other races. This is true for immigrants coming from underdeveloped countries as well as Muslims from around the world. Intolerance usually correlates to stereotypes that are associated with a certain community. Racism is a result of narrow-mindedness when it comes to appreciating diversity and variation. Racism often results in violence and maltreatment of people because of the racial differences. Racism causes harm to many people psychologically, physically, and mentally.  

The effects social media has on teenagers Essay Example for Free

The effects social media has on teenagers Essay Argument 1 A new study released by researchers at The Miriam Hospital’s Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine shows a link between social media use and poor academic performance illustrating that: Freshman women spend upwards of 12 hours a day using some form of social media, And nearly four in 10 college students said they could not go 10 minutes without checking one of their mobile devices meaning that when they are preparing for a test or completing homework, every 10 minutes they are stopping to check their model devices, resulting in them getting caught up in their social life’s rather than them putting all of their focus into their school assignments, Students try to multitask rather than just but their full attention into their assignments Since social media is still comparatively new, researchers are unable to know the long-term effects. However, if the effects of other entertainment are considered, such as the time spent watching TV. Studies show that it results in a negative impact on attention and academic performance. Resulting in a decrease in grades and learn to read late and slower. Argument 2 If teenagers are used to only having to type the words that they want to say to the individuals, when they are face to face with them they will not be used to having to respond right away When they are in important life  situations, such as a job interview they will not be able to seem as good of a candidate if they are unable to give good, solid answers on the spot as the Youtube video made by Ms. deGuzman called â€Å"I Forgot My Phone† suggested having all of these devices at are finger tips may actually cause us to feel more alone, unable to connect with people on are face to face way leading to us feeling like we never have really good company. Read more: Effect of social media on youth essay Argument 3 Amanda Forest, a graduate student in the department of psychology at the University of Waterloo, has found that individuals with low self-esteem often express a lot of negative emotion on their face book profiles. Resulting in a number of people not reaction to well, making angry and hurtful comments. Overall not being as liked as the people with high self-esteems. This therefore, can further damage that individual’s perspective of themselves. Larry Rosen, professor of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills also found that preteens and teenagers using face book are more prone to anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders A team of researchers from Chicago University’s Booth Business School, led by Wilhelm Hofmann, have found that Face book and social media websites may be as addictive as alcohol or cigarettes. As people fear that they will miss out on the latest gossip of who is dating who and what party is going on that night. Oh and god forbid they miss the thousand selfie that their bff posed.

Persuasive Speech: Solar Power -- Persuasive Speech

Specific Purpose Statement: To persuade my audience that that solar power should become the main form of alternative energy in the Unites States. Introduction: Attention Getter: Let’s look ahead fifty years and see what the world is like. Imagine a world that is in total war with no end in sight. The cause behind this war is simple, oil. Everyone is fighting over those last few reserves of oil. How can this future be prevented? The answer is solar power. Claim: Solar power has the potential to become the United States main supply of energy and replace are needs for more conventional and harmful forms of power generation. Significance: The United States must face the fact that the world is running out of oil and with today’s rising oil prices, economic and political instability in regions where the United States gets the majority of its oil, this country must begin looking into alternative means of energy to replace oil and end our dependence on foreign powers. Preview: Today I will discuss the potential that solar power has to become this country’s main supply of energy and the latest research that can make solar power more efficient and cost effective. I will also present the environmental benefits that come with using solar power over other and more harmful forms of energy. Body: I. With the world’s supply of oil running dry the Unites States must begin looking into new sources of energy, and the most promising is solar power. A. Scientists predict that in the next several decades the world will run out of oil. According to the article How Fast is the World Running out of Crude Oil by Umut Newbury accessed from the EBSCO Host database states that â€Å"world oil production o... ... must be universally adopted, and solar power is the key to unlocking that bright future. Works Cited Clayton, Mark. "The Cost of Solar Energy Will Soon Compare with the Cost of Coal." Coal (2011). Print. 18 November 2014. David, Leonard. "Proposed Satellite Would Beam Solar Power to Earth." 6 April 2012. Space.com. Website. 18 November 2014. Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. EMISSIONS OF HAZERDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS FROM COAL- FIRED POWER PLANTS. Environmental Report. Needham, 2011. Print. 18 November 2014. Hamer, Glenn. "Solar Power Can Help Fuel the Future." Energy Alternatives (2006). Print. 19 November 2014. Newbury, Umut. "How Fast is the World Running out of Crude Oil." Mother Earth News October 2004: 28. 18 November 2014. Rotman, David. "Finding a Solar Solution." Technology Review 2 (2012): 48-51. Print. 22 November 2014.

Compare-and-Contrast Research Paper Essay

Introduction Present essay seeks to provide the comparative analysis of two artworks – Hoffmann’s Boston Twilight, 1957, belonging to Proto-Abstract Expressionism and Rauschenberg’s Retroactive 1, 1964, which may be attributed to the art movement of Pop-Art. The comparative analysis of these paintings will focus on two crucial aspects – structural and positive. Structural analysis addresses cultural, historical context, which influenced the discussed artworks, political climate, art movements’ stylistic characteristics, which informed individual work of artists, their subjective motives, influences and inclinations. Secondly, positive analysis of the artworks focuses on the themes depicted, colors and techniques used, formal and stylistic elements, the reflection of cultural and historical context in the artworks etc. The thesis, present paper defends, may be formulated as follows: Hoffmann’s and Rauschenberg’s artworks were significantly influenced by historical, cultural, social and artistic context. The artistic response to these contexts was different and reflected through opposite art movements. The discussed images belong to different artistic traditions and, hence have many differences. Similarities, however, may be attributed to the similar artistic influences, and utilization of sometimes similar formal and color techniques of composition. Structural context: art movements, history, politics and subjective perspectives. The general socio-economic and historical context of both artworks (as they were created very close in time – 1957 and 1964) may be characterized by the gradual assault of mass consumption postmodernist society, which influenced the rapid development of popular culture in music, entertainment and cinema. Commoditization has reached almost every sphere of social life and closely approached art through mass media. The increasing role of mass culture was immediately seen in the new sphere of advertisement, which conflated the elements of ‘high and low’ culture, which became central to the new postmodernist cultural logic (Jameson, 59). Political situation in the United States and Europe was characterized by the intensification of resistance and leftist movements, which, however, abandoned communist platform and focused on new postmodernist tactics, such as situationism, counter-culturalism, influenced by new discoveries in psychoanalysis, philosophy etc. Politics also became the element of mass culture, as its reproduction was extended from closed couloirs of high cabinets to ordinary population. The response of art movements to the assault of the postindustrial society was irregular and significantly varied from one art movement to another. The dominance of non-objective abstraction in 1940s and 50s was the response to vulgarization of social life, and the manifest of the absence of valuable objective themes in de-humanized world. Abstractionism, hence was an artistic expression of de-humanization and the search for lost subjectivity (Herskovic, 13-17). However, other extremes also came to existence. That is particularly true of the Pop-Art, which positively responded to the modern developments in economy and culture, synthesizing popular culture in the new form of art. Pop-Art was characterized by ‘externalization’ of art, as the objects of ordinary life and advertisement were widely utilized. The later was particularly evident in the works of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and James Rosenquist. The similar response to changing conditions in society was made by photorealism, which exemplifies the assault of hyperrealism as the new form of cultural affirmation. Such elements of modern society as standardization, de-subjectivization was immediately seen in Pop-Art , which appeared as the resistance to self-revelation, artistic creativity and originality and focuses on the widely acknowledge cultural codes and images (Harrison 2001) . Robert Rauschenberg’s and Hans Hoffmann’s artistic trajectories were significantly influenced by the discussed developments in politics and ideology. Rauschenberg was, for instance, one of the forerunners of pop-art movement, as he was among the first to use hand-made or found objects in his artworks, combining the elements of high and low culture, using mass-media sources etc (Livingstone, 1990). Such experiments were influenced by Rauschenberg’s strong belief that the genuine artwork should exist between art and life. The technique of ‘combines’ used by Rauschenberg may be described as immediate precursor to postmodernist collage, used in installation art. Rauschenberg’s mindset position deeply opposed Abstract Expressionism’s argument that the self may be expressed through art. Instead, Rauschenberg focused on representation of reality in its absence of structure, sense and single interpretation. Abstract-Expressionism, which was influenced by Hans Hoffman, in contrast focused on gesture paintings and color field painting techniques. Abstract Expressionism should be understood as a historical consequence of the conflation between European and American artists due to World War 2, which forced may French, German and other artists to immigrate in the United States. Hans Hoffmann belongs to this group of artists and his destiny significantly influenced his style and ideological orientations (Herskovic, 2003). Hoffman’s style was influenced by cubist tension between depth and surface, expressionistic flamboyance of color and surrealist technique of automatism, which is based on following subconscious drivers of creativity and libidinal forces. The latter influences were synthesized by Hoffmann in his ‘push-pull’ method, which included the use of expressive colors and paint slashes in the view of creating contradiction between cool and warm colors. Comparative analysis of Hoffmann’s and Rauschenberg’s artworks Both artworks are obviously affected by different artistic movements and styles. Hoffmann’s composition may be posited within abstract expressionism tradition, while Rauschenberg’s painting belongs to Pop-Art movement. On the surface level the similarities between these artistic may be traced in the color usage – in each painting we see the utilization of yellow, green, black, white, red, white and blue colors. Moreover, the presence of grid-like rectangular layout is evident. Apart from this, both paintings are characterized by the sense of distortion. The distortion in Hoffmann’s artwork Boston Twilight is due to the use of abstract expressionist style, which distorts the contours of objective reality, so that we can not find correspondence between the image and reality (Boston Twilight) that it signifies. However, in Rauschenberg’s composition the distortion is reflected in the plurality of meaning and signification. The interpretation is difficult to realize due to the combination of images inserted in the painting: J. F. Kennedy at the center, pointing with his finger, cosmonaut with parachute, the duplication of Kennedy’s hand in the right corner and evidently abstract images in other parts. There is no denying the importance of the fact, that such a ‘combine’ creates difficulties for interpretation and distorts it. Furthermore, it should be pointed to the fact that both artworks have the elements of abstraction, contrasting color tones and are influenced by Cubism in using facets of the color. Both paintings create the feeling of collage and it was noted that Rauschenberg’s ‘combine’ technique is very close to it. Moreover, creating certain color relationships is in important in both images, however, it serves different functions, depending on style and thematic unity. Differences between images are evident in many respects. First of all, art schools are opposite with pop-art, focusing on unification of art and reality, and abstract expressionism, focusing on expressing contradictory being of individual self. Hoffman’s painting is abstract in essence, while Rauschenberg’s refers to widely known political and social images of American President, cosmonaut, which immediately signify objective reality. The social and political thematic of Rauschenberg’s image immediately points to his belonging to Pop-Art tradition. As far as formal and color structure of the analyzed paintings are concerned blue is dominant in Rauschenberg’s image, while green is dominant in Hoffman’s paintings; the first artist uses vertical stress, while Hoffmann is evidently using horizontal stress. Due to stylistic differences between artworjs, colors mix into one another in Hoffmann’s painting and are separated in Rauschenberg’s one. Rauschenberg utilizes much more contrast, than Hoffmann, however the image of the latter is much more organic in contrast to geometric structure of Rauschenberg’s composition. Conclusion To sum it up, present analysis proved the initial thesis that both artworks were significantly influenced by historical, social and cultural developments in Western societies in the middle of 20-th century. These developments provoked different responses on the part of art movements, resulting in creation of different styles and techniques. The latter are reflected in Hoffmann’s and Rauschenberg’s compositions, which are different in many important stylistic respects, however, have much in common due to the same artistic influences. My interest to the discussed paintings is explained by the fact that they are picturesque representations of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Main features, peculiar to each of these styles, may be found in these paintings both in complex and in separate elements. The techniques used by both artists help us better understand other artworks created in these traditions and inform our own artistic endeavors. Hoffman’s image advantage is in its direct appeal to aesthetic taste and sensibility, while Rauschenberg artwork represents a challenge for viewers in terms of interpreting its political and social content. Works Cited Herskovic, Marika. American Abstract Expressionism of the 1950s An Illustrated Survey, New York School Press, 2003. Harrison, Sylvia. Pop Art and the Origins of Post-Modernism. Cambridge University Press, 2001. Jameson, Fredric. ‘Postmodernism, or the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism’. New Left Review, 146, (53-92), 1991. Livingstone, M. Pop Art: A Continuing History, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. , 1990

Devastating Racism in “The Martian Chronicles” Essay

Martian Luther King Jr. enlightened us with his dream â€Å"of a country where every man will respect the dignity and worth of the human personality.† The world watched his glorious speech, amazed with his fluency, honesty, and intelligence. People such as M. L. King Jr. revolutionized Black equality in North America. He contributed to the [almost] barrier free society for any race. Today, societal racism is almost obsolete and the majority of citizens are open-minded and accepting of different races. Though as displayed in Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, racism against African-Americans is evident in their society. Exploitation and Ignorance of this minority is also communicated. These three points are effectively displayed through the Caucasian characters’ thoughts, speech, and actions. More specifically shown through their ignorant thoughts, their unappreciative speech, their condescending actions. Throughout North American history, racism has been a serious issue which has consumed many people a , yet destroyed another. Racism makes other humans beings feel inferior, this is wrong. This is frowned upon in our society, yet accepted in Chapter 15 of The Martian Chronicles. This short narration is called â€Å"Way in the Middle of Air†, and takes place in a fictional June of 2003. The entire chapter the author has devotes to all aspects of racism in its entirety., Displaying thought uses of extensive symbolism the author depicts the leaving of the African -Americans from their town. â€Å"And in that slow, steady channel of darkness that cut across the white glare of day were touches of alert white† (p. 91), the paragraph form which his passage was taken has allegorical characteristics. The use of light and dark [â€Å"White banks of the town stores, among the trees silences, a black tide flowed.† (p.90)], symbolism [â€Å"Brooks of colour† (p. 91)], m etaphors [The Blacks’ are the river], similes [â€Å"Men sat like nervous hounds† (p. 91)] and oxymoron’s [â€Å"Cinnamon Roads† (p. 90)]. This section full of literary devices, is informative by depicting for the reader the level of extreme coloured evacuation. The Whites on the other hand are flabbergasted at the level of secrecy the African-Americans take on when attempting to migrate. The  majority of Caucasians in this town consider themselves ‘better’ then any one black man, because of the colour of his skin. As Mr. Teece, a local white hardware store owner, tries to sabotage a young black mans chance of getting to Mars, he forcefully reinforces to the young man, that â€Å"I’ll let you go when I’m ready to let you go†¦until I say you can leave, you know it damn well† (p. 94). Mr. Teece, as well as the society enforcing this behaviour, believes that because Teece is white, he has the right to dominate and command a black man. The repeated use of the pronoun â€Å"I† suggest that Mr. Teece has a haughty demeanour. Also, the reference to â€Å"you know it damn wellâ⠂¬  is a cutting reinforcement, intended to make nervous Mr. Teece gain power in dominance. The excessive belittlement and racism is taboo in society today, most racism that circulates is more subtle, yet still disturbing. In Canada, everyone is considered an equal; all races entitled to equal rights. In the un-model society depicted the Caucasians’ thought themselves to be a higher class citizens due to their race. They act upon this conception. This novel was written in a time when the abolishment of slavery was a still a lingering issue. Slavery dominated the USA for generations, the concept is based on the very values of the town looked at in chapter 15. The slavery was abolished in the United States African0 Americans got [paid incredibly low wages for gruelling hard labour. In general, their work was work every penny, twice. In The Martian Chronicles Bradbury includes examples of these situations. Situations where the White folks depend on the Black people for [less-than]-minimum wage employees. Even though the Caucasians desperately need the Black workers, they treat them disrespectfully. It is only when the Africans attempt to flee that they realize the asset they have lost. When Mrs. Teece discovery that her nanny/maid is fleeing to Mars, she reaches a state of turmoil. Heaven forbid she might actually be expected to cook! Lucinda Teece hurries down to the family store to seek comfort from her husband. â€Å"She’s leaving.†, she says worriedly to Mr. Teece, â€Å"What’ll I do without her?† (p. 92). This statement shows a lot about Mrs. Teece’s character. She feels inadequate to run a household on her own, keeping in mind she has probably never done extensive chores before. Also, Lucinda was  probably never taught how to do the house work as a youth, her parents more-than-likely had help as well. Not only is Mrs. Teece’s help leaving, but also Mr. Teece’s employee. When another young black man, Teece’s employee, returns upon leaving to return his bicycle, is confronted by Mr. Teece about contract conflicts. Though, it is obvious that the confrontation is mainly on principle and belittlement, perhaps Mr. Teece would have problems tidying his store or finding another employee. Even though both the Teece’s ‘need’ their Negro employees neither treats them with dignity. More so Mr. Teece, when referring to Silly as â€Å"boy† (p. 95) and commanding him rudely, â€Å"You still standing there!†. The Teece family will miss their obdurate help on the Black people fly to Mars. Many of the people of European descent in this town used and relied on African- Americans to complete hard, and unfavourable tasks. While the Blacks’ worked, the Whites’ disregarded their feelings, by speaking rudely towards their [now depleted] asset. Unlike the other points of discussion, ignorance to another culture group is overwhelmingly evident in present day society and the fictional society devoured by the reader in The Martian Chronicles. As the Black people slowly migrate from the town, described as a â€Å"steady channel of darkness† (p. 92), the White townsmen are shocked. The Caucasian people do not understand the new found backbone or the other race. And they do not understand why the black’s feel a need to go. This ignorant opinion of Black peoples rebellion was common trough the early and mid 1900’s. As bluntly stated by Mr. Teece: I can’t figure why they left now. With things lookin’ up. I mean, everyday they get more rights. What they want, anyway? Here’s the poll tax gone, and more and more states passin’ anti-lynching’ bills, and all kinds of equal rights. What more they want? They make almost as good money as a white man, but still they go. This ignorant mans words show his blindness to equality, sadly this demeanour is generally accepted in his society. The majority of society are racists. The black people only want to be treated as absolute equals; contrastingly,  the white people do not understand this concept. For they see the black’s as not equals but a lesser kind, therefore in there eyes the Black’s should not ask for rights, that they are not entitled to. Mr. Teece asks himself, â€Å"what the want, anyway†, perhaps if he asked a blunt educated Black man, the type of response would be, to stop referring to grown black men as â€Å"boy[s’]†; generally speaking to put an end to their condescending racial speech. As the hurds of black families â€Å"engulf the town† on their way to Mars, the white men do not understand their reasoning for leaving. Mr. Teece and his buddies are ignorant to the general feelings of the Black community, and continually, treat Black’s condescendingly even as they leave. In conclusion, the thoughts, speech and actions of the white man displayed exploitation, ignorance and general racism against the African-American race, in Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles†. This fictional society has barriers to overcome. If the racist people in this society can follow as quote of Confucius, â€Å"when you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.†, racism could be abolished, and every race, creed or kind could live harmoniously on one planet.

The Opening battle scene in Saving Private Ryan Essays

The Opening battle scene in Saving Private Ryan Essays The Opening battle scene in Saving Private Ryan Paper The Opening battle scene in Saving Private Ryan Paper Essay Topic: Film In the few moments preceding the landing of the ships at Omaha beach, we see the scene from a subjective Point-of-view high angle shot (POV high) which detaches us from the scene and allows us to see an establishing shot of the action. We also see the scene from a normal subjective POV shot; this includes the audience and allows us to see what is happening as if we are actually there. The only sound we hear is diegetic. The sound of the sea is one that connotes to most people calm and peace; it is cleverly used in this scene to create an instantaneous contrast between this calm and the chaos of battle about to occur. The action, in the first couple of minutes of the film is realistic. We start off with a Close up (CU) of a metal hedgehog (metal cross to stop tanks) and then go straight into seeing the landing boats as if we were a passenger in one ourselves. We can see the soldiers in the other boats crouched down trying to avoid the sea spray and some that are vomiting over the side of their boat; either through fear, or seasickness. The camera flicks to a CU of Captain Millers shaking hands. This has a great effect on the audience, because they realise the fear, and nerves that the soldiers must have been feeling before they went into battle. We zoom out of captain Millers face so that we can see the other soldiers on the boat and their individual reactions. I noticed that there were two main responses to the nerves that the soldiers were feeling and this had a profound effect on me; one soldier was eating some sort of bread (almost as if it was his last meal) this symbolised to me that he expected either not to come home from the battle or that he would be eating something better later on when they celebrated; the second reaction was to pray to god or kiss some kind of lucky charm- this indicates that they felt that they would need divine intervention to win. As the landing craft doors open, all hell breaks loose; most soldiers do not even make it off the boats alive. We see the attackers from the defenders point of view and see the way that all of the English and American soldiers are shot down by the German machine guns. This subjective POV high angle shot, suggests at the superiority of the defenders and their fire power. We go back to seeing the scene from a subjective POV. In desperation to get away from the raining bullets, some soldiers threw themselves off the sides of their boats. The camera follows these men, and due to the absence of non-diegetic sound, the diegetic sound of the explosions and gun-fire becomes muted. This adds a sense of realism to the film, because Spielberg has gone against what we would normally expect in a war film- instead of some dramatic overlaying piece of music there is nothing. This in fact creates more drama to the film because it allows us to fully digest the sounds that you would hear if you went to war. Contributing to the sense of realism, Spielberg took an almost documentary style take on the way the first scene was filmed. By using hand-held cameras Spielberg said that he was able to film the sets much like a newsreel camera man following soldiers into war. By using this method of filming, the shock of war is revealed to the audience. As we see Miller appear out of the sea, the camera slows down, this allows us to take in the carnage that is apparent on the beach front. Part way through the invasion, captain Miller becomes confused, because of shock, and the camera slows down so much that it is like seeing the battle in slow motion, also the colour of the screen is washed out, adding to the drama making the confusion seem an almost dreamlike state, which many other soldiers would have entered as well. The first non-diegetic is introduced and a low whistle replaces all other noise. We see one soldier from Millers subjective POV and the fear that the man is feeling is portrayed through the way that he is cowering behind one of the hedgehogs and crying to himself (in a state of shock. ) We return to a medium close up (MCU) of Millers face and can see the confusion as he watches several of his men die. The non-diegetic whistling rises in pitch and stops all of a sudden as a soldier shouts at him What do we do now sir? This question reveals the uncertainty of the soldiers who were involved at the battle of Omaha beach and once again portrays a feeling of realism. Miller recovers from his confusion and orders his men to move out and clear the beach. With this small show of re-assertion, the audience is brought back to the gruesome reality that is taking place around them. As the soldiers are moving out, Miller sees one fallen on the ground and decides to try and drag him to safety. A shell is fired and kills the man who he was dragging, but also triggers the same washed out confused effect that happened before, this time however it represented shell shock. This is a realistic event that would have happened as many soldiers were temporarily deafened by the loud explosions, to add to the realism, the camera lens is sprayed by blood and mud by the explosion just like a normal soldiers eyes would be. Miller quickly stands up and makes a break to the sea wall, some people would see this as an act of desperation, because the men who have already tried to do that, have ended up being shot down but by some miracle Miller makes it. He starts to relay to the rest of his time several orders. The camera view switches between the attackers subjective POV shot and the defenders subjective POV high angle shot. This allows us to see the battle from both points of view. Seeing the carnage from the attackers point of view allows us to feel the panic and fear that the soldiers would have done, and seeing the battle from the defenders point of view, we get a sense of the ease of which the Germans massacred the English, this adds to the shocking nature of the film. Miller and his team proceed to move along the beach until they are stopped once again by enemy fire. Taking refuge behind a wall, we see (through the use of a Long Shot- LS) that on the crest of a hill there are two Germans with machine guns firing down at them. The LS shows us just how easy it was for the Germans to pick off the opposing side; they could fire from nearly fifty feet away and yet still cause devastation. Once again the shock that an attacking party would have had is portrayed through the conventional action. The use of conventional action, is seen in so many films that it becomes a natural thing yet is still effective now as it was when it was first used. For example in this particular film convention is used throughout the first seen Guns always kill outright, Screaming means you are in pain or scared, and running means that you are panicked or desperate. Each of these is used in the film to create a sense of realism. The battle is turned when a young Sniper marksman is sent into an impact crater where he has a clear shot at the two German Machine gun operators. We see a CU of the Snipers face and then immediately go to a LS of his victim. This camera workmanship, allows us to fully appreciate the skill it took to pull off such a shot. This is adding a new dimension to the film: Awe. Saving Private Ryan shows us the grime, the noise, the pain and the shock of war, leaving us with a sense of awe for those who fought to keep our country safe in both the First and the second world wars. The diegetic sound of the sniper rifle firing adds to the realism because it connotes finalism and a cleanliness to death. As the battle ends, the camera flicks to a CU of Captain Millers shaking hands. This is a repeated frame from before only this time the meaning is completely different. The shaking signifies relief that the battle is over, and also the horror of what was sacrificed to do it. The camera zooms into an Extreme Close Up (ECU) of captain Millers eye and then to all the dead bodies left behind on Omaha Beach. This is covered by both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The diegetic sound is that of the waves, which connote peace and calm (the lull after battle) and the mournful cries of seagulls. The non-diegetic sound is an emotional, moving strings instrumental piece, this can connote the regret, pain and sadness that the soldiers would have felt for their fallen comrades. The saying the sea ran red, is literally brought to life and makes a final impact of shock on the audience. In conclusion, the opening battle sequence of Saving Private Ryan was made both shocking and realistic through the iconic images displayed throughout the scene and the acts of selflessness that are portrayed through the characters actions. The first scene had an impact on me personally. This was: I strongly feel for the soldiers and their fallen comrades, because this film has shown me what they had to go through to protect my future. The jerky camera movement created a sense of realism and made me feel as if I were with the soldiers at the battle of Omaha Beach. I also feel that the absence of non-diegetic sound aloud me to take in the sounds that make up a fighting soldiers world.

Advanced English Grammar Review Quiz

Advanced English Grammar Review Quiz Intensive grammar review quizzes are a great way for English students to test their knowledge. This exam covers some of the  most important upper-intermediate level English tenses, structure, and functions. Use it in class or at home to improve your reading and comprehension or to study for an ESL, EFL, or TEFL test. Grammar Quiz Choose the correct word to fill in the blank. Answers can be found in the next section, along with explanations for each sentence. 1. If she _________ about his financial situation, she would have helped him out. had knownknewwould have known 2. Ill be _______________ their cat while they are away on holiday. looking intolooking atlooking after 3. He made his children _____ their homework every afternoon. to dodoingdo 4. The test was _____ difficult she had problems finishing it on time. suchsoas 5. By the time she arrives, we _________________ our homework. finishwill finishwill have finished 6. She _________ lunch by the time we arrived. finishedhad finishedwas finished 7. The sun ______ at 9 last night. satsettedset 8. When I stopped __________ to Mary, she was picking some flowers in her garden. speakingto speakspeak 9. Despite ___________ hard, he failed the exam. he studiedstudiedstudying 10. That room ____________ for a meeting this afternoon. is usedis being useduses 11. We _______ play tennis every day when we were young. usedwould towould 12. If I __________ you, I would get a better job. wasarewere 13. Hell give you a call as soon as he _______. arriveswill arriveis going to arrive 14. He  really didnt want to come last night. ______________ So did I.Neither I did.Neither did I. 15. Do you think he knows what ________? he wantsdoes he wantwants he 16. I think San Francisco is ______ exciting _____ New York. as ... thanas .... soas ... as 17. Why are your hands so dirty? Well, I ______________ in the garden. have workedhave been workingworked 18. Did you remember __________ the door? lockinglockto lock 19. ____________ 250 mph? Which model does goWhich does model goWhich model goes 20. That is the man ________ grandfather founded Kentucky Root Beer. whowhosethat 21. I could hardly ___________ the ship in the distance. see outmake throughmake out 22. Look at those clouds! It ___________ rain. s going towillshall 23. _________________, we wont have much to talk about. If not he comesUnless he comesSince he comes 24. He has _____ interest in continuing the project. anynot anyno 25. Where do you think Jane was yesterday? She __________ at home. must bemust have beenmust go 26. Jack told me he ___________ come the next day. is going towillwas going to 27. He drove the car __________ the garage and left for work. out ofoutinto 28. Jack ______________ a fortune when his great uncle passed on. came alongcame intocame through 29. Unfortunately, Peter has ______ friends in Tacoma. a fewa lotfew 30. I will finish that project soon. Ken said he ________ finish that project soon. werewouldwill 31. In his position _____ managing director, he is responsible for more than 300 employees. likeasso 32. She wished she __________ the new car. boughtwould buyhad bought 33. Fiestas ____________ in Cologne, Germany for many years now. have been madehave been makinghave made 34. I think you ___________ see a doctor. should better tooughthad better 35. Youll be leaving for Tokyo soon, _______? arent youwill youwont you 36. ______ the last market session the Dow Jones dropped 67 points. DuringWhileFor Answers and Explanations If she  had known  about his financial situation, she would have helped him out. Use the past perfect (had past participle) in the if clause of the third conditional to talk about unreal past situations.Ill  be looking after  their cat while they are away on holiday. The phrasal verb to look after means to take care of.He made his children  do  their homework every afternoon. The verbs make and let combine with an object plus the base form (without to) of the verb. Other verbs use the infinitive form of the verb (with to).The test was  so  difficult she had problems finishing it on time. Use so with an adjective and such with a  noun phrase.  By the time she arrives, we  will have finished  our homework. With the time clause by the time... use the future perfect to describe something that will have happened up to that point in time.She  had finished  lunch by the time we arrived. Use the past perfect (had participle) to express an action finished before another action in the past. The sun  set  at 9 last night. The verb to set is irregular.When I stopped  to speak  to Mary, she was picking some flowers in her garden. When using the verb to stop, use the infinitive form to express an action that you stopped in order to do. Use the gerund to express an action that you have stopped doing (and doesnt continue).Despite  studying  hard, he failed the exam. Use the gerund or having   past participle following despite. Use a verb clause when  following  although.That room  is being used  for a meeting today. Is being used is the present continuous form of the  passive voice  that is required by this sentence.We  would play  tennis every day when we were young. Would do something and used to do something both express a habitual action in the past. Used to do something also expresses the idea that you do not do that action anymore.If I  were  you, I would wait a while to begin investing. Use were in the second conditional if clause for all subjects.Hell give you a call as soon as he  arrives. In a future time clause use the present simple. The construction is the same as for the first conditional. He really didnt want to come last night.  Neither did I. Use neither followed by the opposite form of the helping verb to  state negative agreement.Do you think  he knows what he wants?  Be careful to change questions to standard sentence structure when asking an  indirect question.I think San Francisco is as  exciting as  New York.  Use as ... as to show equality.Why are your hands so dirty? Well, I have been working  in the garden.  Use the present perfect continuous to show what has caused a present result.Did you remember  to lock  the door? The verb stop can  change meaning when used with a gerund or infinitive.Which model goes  250 mph?  Subject questions  take standard positive sentence structure but begin with who, whom or which.That is the man  whose  grandfather founded Kentucky Root Beer. Whose is the  possessive relative pronoun  required in this sentence.I could hardly make out  the ship in the distance.  Make out  is a phras al verb meaning to see in the distance.Look at those clouds! Its going to rain.  Its is a contraction of it is, the present tense. Use the future continuous when making a prediction based on the evidence at hand. Unless he comes, we wont have much to talk about.  Unless he comes is a conditional clause.He has no interest in continuing the project. Use no when preceding a noun that lacks an article.Where do you think Jane was yesterday? She must have been at home. Use might have participle for a past modal verb of probability. The other forms include could have participle - possibility, must have participle - almost certain, cant have participle - almost certain in a negative way.Jack told me he  was  going to  come the next day.  Use the past progressive tense to refer to events that occurred in the past.He drove the car  out of  the garage and left for work. Use the prepositions out of when exiting a building.Jack  came into  a fortune when his great uncle Jack passed on. The phrasal verb to come into means to inherit.Unfortunately, Peter  has  few  friends in Tacoma. Use few to express a small amount that is considered negative in a disappointing sense.I will fin ish that project soon. Ken said he  would  finish that project soon.Will becomes would in reported speech. In his position  as  managing director, he is responsible for more than 300 employees. Use as to indicate function, use like to indicate similarity.She wished she  had bought  a new car. The use of the verb wish in the past is followed by the past perfect similar to the third conditional.Fiestas  have been made  in Cologne, Germany for many years now. Have been made is the correct present perfect passive form required in this case.I think you  had better  see a doctor. Had better, ought to, and should are all ways of giving advice.Youll be leaving for Tokyo soon,  wont you? Use the opposite of the auxiliary for a question tag.During  the last market session, the Dow Jones dropped 67 points. Use during with a noun, while with a verb clause.

Proposal for Market Research for the Australia University Paper

Proposal for Market for the Australia University - Research Paper Example Information regarding the positioning of THE UNIVERSITY in comparison to the other institutions can help in devising a branding to improve the rating so as to attract students from other areas apart from the traditional population group of THE UNIVERSITY. RO 2: What are the expectations of the target group from the present offerings/facilities of THE UNIVERSITY? Are there any additional facilities expected? Are other similar universities or educational institutions offering more? 4. Using the Repertory Grid on the RO 3 (ranking of THE UNIVERSITY among other universities/institutions of higher learning) will give valuable information regarding the attributes on which students rank institutions. We can have a list of elements (other universities and institutions along with THE UNIVERSITY) and the attributes like admission process, popularity of the institution among peers, history of the institution, choice of courses, size of the institution, accreditation of the institution, tie-ups of the institution with other institutions and reception of the institute’s students in the industry after graduation. This will give us an insight into the core necessities of the target group and further help in tailoring THE UNIVERSITY’s brand positioning and communication strategy towards the target group. 5. Content Analysis for RO 4 (sources of information regarding universities, educational institutions and courses of study). Universities are chosen by students depending upon the information available to them. Knowing their methods of information search and the places where they search for the information will further help in focusing our communication strategy. Based on the data collected like websites, magazines, publications, agency ratings which the target group uses to obtain information, communication can be improved to increase the reach and perception of THE UNIVERSITY.

Eugene Smith Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eugene Smith - Essay Example He began taking photographs in 1932 and early subjects included sports, aviation and the Dust Bowl. After studying at Notre Dame University for a year he joined the staff of Newsweek. In 1938 Smith became a freelance photographer working for Life Magazine, Collier's Weekly and the New York Times. In 1942 Smith became a war correspondent and spent most of the next three years covering the Pacific War. His most dramatic photographs were taken during the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945. On 23rd May Smith was seriously wounded by a Japanese shell fragment. He was taking a photograph at the time and the metal passed through his left hand before hitting the face. Smith was forced to return to the United States and he had to endure two years of hospitalization and plastic surgery. In 1947 Smith joined Life Magazine and over the next seven years produced a series of photo-essays that established him as the world's most important photojournalist. These included essays entitled: Country Doct or, Hard Times on Broadway, Spanish Village, Southern Midwife and Man of Mercy. Granted a Guggenheim Fellowship (1956-57), Smith began a massive picture essay of Pittsburgh. Smith's last great photo-essay, Minamata (1975), deals with the residents of a Japanese fishing village who suffered poisoning and gross disfigurement from the mercury wastes of a nearby chemical company. While photographing this project he was severely beaten by several local factory workers who were opposed to the revelations that his camera exposed. An extensive collection of his work was acquired by the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in 1976. Smith severed his ties with Life again over the way in which the magazine used his photos of Albert Schweitzer. Starting from his project to document Pittsburgh, he began a series of book-length photo essays in which he strove for complete control of his subject matter. This was followed by another large project on New York (1958-59). Smith also taught photojournalism at New York's New School for Social Research and was president of the American Society of Magazine Photographers. Complications from his consumption of drugs and alcohol led to a massive stroke, from which Smith died in 1978. Today, Smith's legacy lives on through the W. Eugene Smith Fund to promote "humanistic photography," which has since 1980 awarded photographers for exceptional accomplishments in the field. Of him, he says: "I am an idealist. I often feel I would like to be an artist in an ivory tower. Yet it is imperative that I speak to people, so I must desert that ivory tower. To do this, I am a journalist-a photojournalist. But I am always torn between the attitude of the journalist, who is a recorder of facts, and the artist, who is often necessarily at odds with the facts. My principle concern is for honesty, above all honesty with myself..." His Works and Analysis: "A Walk to Paradise Garden", 1946 Smith's war wounds cost him two painful years of hospitalization and plastic surgery. During these years he took no pictures and whether he would ever be able to return to photography was doubtful. Then one day, during his period of convalescence, Smith took a walk with his two children and even though it was still intensely painful for him to operate a camera, came back with one of the