Horatius at the Bridge by Thomas Babington Macaulay

'Horatius at the Bridge' by Thomas Babington Macaulay An esteemed army officer in the ancient Roman Republic, Horatius Cocles lived in a legendary period of Rome during the late sixth century.  Horatius was known for defending one of Romes most famous bridges, the Pons Sublicius, during the war between Rome and Clusium.  The heroic leader was known for fighting against Etruscan invaders such as Lars Porsena and his invading army.  Horatius was known as a courageous and brave leader of the Roman army. Thomas Babington McAulay The poet  Thomas Babington McAulay  is also known as a politician, essayist, and  historian.  Born in England in 1800, he wrote one of his first poems at the age of eight called The Battle of Cheviot. Macaulay went on to college where he began to have his essays published prior to a career in politics.  He was best known for his work in History of England covering the period 1688–1702. Macaulay died in 1859 in London. Summary The story of Horatius is described in Plutarchs Life of Publicola. In the early 6th century BCE, Lars Porsena was the most powerful king in Etruscan Italy, who Tarquinius Superbus asked to help him take back Rome. Porsena sent a message to Rome saying they should receive Tarquin as their king, and when the Romans refused, he declared war on them. Publicola was the consul of Rome, and he and Lucretius defended Rome until they fell in battle. Horatius Cocles (Cyclops, so named because he had lost one of his eyes in the wars) was the keeper of the Gate of Rome. He stood in front of the bridge and held off the Etruscans until the Romans could put the bridge out of commission. Once that was accomplished, Horatius, wounded by a spear to his buttocks and in full armor, dove into the water and swam back to Rome.   Horatius was forced to retire as a result of his injuries and, after a protracted siege of the city, Lars Porsena captured Rome, but without sacking it. Tarquinius Superbus was to be the last of the kings of Rome. Macaulay's Horatius at the Bridge The following poem by Thomas Babington Macaulay is a memorable ballad that recounts the courage of Horatius Cocles in his battle with the Roman army against the Etruscans. Lars Porsena  of Clusium, by the Nine Gods he sworeThat the great house of  Tarquin  should suffer wrong no more.By the Nine Gods he swore it, and named a trysting day,And bade his messengers ride forth,East and West and South and North,To summon his array.East and West and South and North the messengers ride fast,And tower and town and cottage have heard the trumpets blast.Shame on the false  Etruscan  who lingers in his home,When Porsena of Clusium is on the march for  Rome! The horsemen and the footmen are pouring in amainFrom many a stately market-place, from many a fruitful plain;From many a lonely hamlet which, hid by beech and pineLike an eagles nest hangs on the crest of purple Apennine;From lordly Volaterrae, where scowls the far-famed holdPiled by the hands of giants for god-like kings of old;From sea-girt  Populonia, whose sentinels descrySardinias snowy mountain-tops fringing the southern sky;From the proud mart of Pisae, queen of the western waves,Where ride Massilias triremes, heavy with fair-haired slaves;From where sweet Clanis wanders through corn and vines and flowers;From where Cortona lifts to heaven her diadem of towers.Tall are the oaks whose acorns drop in dark Ausers rill;Fat are the stags that champ the boughs of the Ciminian hill;Beyond all streams Clitumnus is to the herdsman dear;Best of all pools the fowler loves the great Volsinian mere. But now no stroke of woodman is heard by Ausers rill;No hunter tracks the stags green path up the Ciminian hill;Unwatched along Clitumnus grazes the milk-white steer;Unharmed the water fowl may dip in the Volsinian mere.The harvests of Arretium, this year, old men shall reap;This year, young boys in Umbro shall plunge the struggling sheep;And in the vats of Luna, this year, the must shall foamRound the white feet of laughing girls whose sires have marched to Rome.   There be thirty chosen prophets, the wisest of the land,Who always by Lars Porsena both morn and evening stand:Evening and morn the Thirty have turned the verses oer,Traced from the right on linen white by mighty seers of yore;And with one voice the Thirty have their glad answer given:Go forth, go forth, Lars Porsena! Go forth, beloved of Heaven!Go, and return in glory to Clusiums round dome,And hang round Nurscias altars the golden shields of Rome.And now hath every city sent up her tale of men;The foot are fourscore thousand; the horse are thousands ten.Before the gates of Sutrium is met the great array.A proud man was Lars Porsena upon the trysting day.For all the Tuscan armies were ranged beneath his eye,And many a banished  Roman, and many a stout ally;And with a mighty following to join the muster cameThe Tusculan Mamilius, Prince of the Latian name.But by the yellow Tiber was tumult and affright:From all the spacious champaign to Rome men took their flight.A mile around the city the throng stopped up the ways:A fearful sight it was to see through two long nights and daysFor aged folks on crutches, and women great with child,And mothers sobbing over babes that clung to them and smiled. And sick men borne in litters high on the necks of slaves,And troops of sun-burned husbandmen with reaping-hooks and staves,And droves of mules and asses laden with skins of wine,And endless flocks of goats and sheep, and endless herds of kine,And endless trains of wagons that creaked beneath the weightOf corn-sacks and of household goods choked every roaring gate.Now, from the  rock Tarpeian, could the wan burghers spyThe line of blazing villages red in the midnight sky.The Fathers of the City, they sat all night and day,For every hour some horseman came with tidings of dismay.To eastward and to westward have spread the Tuscan bands;Nor house, nor fence, nor dovecote in Crustumerium stands.Verbenna down to Ostia hath wasted all the plain;Astur hath stormed Janiculum, and the stout guards are slain. I wis, in all the Senate, there was no heart so bold,But sore it ached, and fast it beat, when that ill news was told.Forthwith up rose the Consul, up rose the Fathers all;In haste they girded up their gowns and hied them to the wall.They held a council standing before the River-Gate;Short time was there, ye well may guess, for musing or debate.Out spake the Consul roundly: The bridge must straight go down;For since Janiculum is lost, naught else can save the town...Just then, a scout came flying, all wild with haste and fear:To arms! To arms, Sir Consul! Lars Porsena is here!On the low hills to westward the Consul fixed his eye,And saw the swarthy storm of dust rise fast along the sky,And nearer fast and nearer doth the red whirlwind come;And louder still and still more loud, from underneath that whirling cloud,Is heard the trumpets war-note proud, the trampling and the hum.And plainly and more plainly now through the gloom appears,Far to left and far to right, in broken gleams of d ark-blue light,The long array of helmets bright, the long array of spears. And plainly and more plainly, above that glimmering line,Now might ye see the banners of twelve fair cities shine;But the banner of proud Clusium was highest of them all,The terror of the  Umbrian; the terror of the Gaul.And plainly and more plainly now might the burghers know,By port and vest, by horse and crest, each warlike Lucumo.There Cilnius of Arretium on his fleet roan was seen;And Astur of the four-fold shield, girt with the brand none else may wield,Tolumnius with the belt of gold, and dark Verbenna from the holdBy reedy Thrasymene.Fast by the royal standard, oerlooking all the war,Lars Porsena of Clusium sat in his ivory car.By the right wheel rode  Mamilius, prince of the Latian name,And by the left false Sextus, who wrought the deed of shame.But when the face of Sextus was seen among the foes,A yell that rent the firmament from all the town arose.On the house-tops was no woman but spat toward him and hissed,No child but screamed out curses, and shook its little first .   But the Consuls brow was sad, and the Consuls speech was low,And darkly looked he at the wall, and darkly at the foe.Their van will be upon us before the bridge goes down;And if they once might win the bridge, what hope to save the town?Then out spoke brave  Horatius, the Captain of the Gate:To every man upon this earth, death cometh soon or late;And how can man die better than facing fearful odds,For the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods,And for the tender mother who dandled him to rest,And for the wife who nurses his baby at her breast,And for the holy maidens who feed the eternal flame,To save them from false Sextus, that wrought the deed of shame?Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, with all the speed ye may!I, with two more to help me, will hold the foe in play.In yon strait path, a thousand may well be stopped by three:Now, who will stand on either hand and keep the bridge with me?Then out spake Spurius Lartius; a Ramnian proud was he:Lo, I will stand at thy right hand and keep the bridge with thee.And out spake strong Herminius; of Titian blood was he:I will abide on thy left side, and keep the bridge with thee.Horatius, quoth the Consul, as thou sayest, so let it be.And straight against that great array forth went the dauntless Three. For Romans in Romes quarrel spared neither land nor gold,Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life, in the brave days of old.Then none was for a party; then all were for the state;Then the great man helped the poor, and the poor man loved the great.Then lands were fairly portioned; then spoils were fairly sold:The Romans were like brothers in the brave days of old.Now Roman is to Roman more hateful than a foe,And the Tribunes beard the high, and the Fathers grind the low.As we wax hot in faction, in battle we wax cold:Wherefore men fight not as they fought in the brave days of old.Now while the Three were tightening their harness on their backs,The Consul was the foremost man to take in hand an axe:And Fathers mixed with Commons seized hatchet, bar and crow,And smote upon the planks above and loosed the props below.Meanwhile the Tuscan army, right glorious to behold,Came flashing back the noonday light,Rank behind rank, like surges bright of a broad sea of gold.Four hundred trumpets sounde d a peal of warlike glee,As that great host, with measured tread, and spears advanced, and ensigns spread,Rolled slowly towards the bridges head where stood the dauntless Three. The Three stood calm and silent, and looked upon the foes,And a great shout of laughter from all the vanguard rose:And forth three chiefs came spurring before that deep array;To earth they sprang, their swords they drew, and lifted high their shields, and flewTo win the narrow way;Aunus from green Tifernum, Lord of the Hill of Vines;And Seius, whose eight hundred slaves sicken in Ilvas mines;And Picus, long to Clusium vassal in peace and war,Who led to fight his Umbrian powers from that grey crag where, girt with towers,The fortress of Naquinum lowers oer the pale waves of Nar.Stout Lartius hurled down Aunus into the stream beneath:Herminius struck at Seius, and clove him to the teeth:At Picus brave Horatius darted one fiery thrust;And the proud Umbrians golden arms clashed in the bloody dust.Then Ocnus of Falerii rushed on the Roman Three;And Lausulus of Urgo, the rover of the sea,And Aruns of Volsinium, who slew the great wild boar,The great wild boar that had his den amidst the re eds of Cosas fen,And wasted fields, and slaughtered men, along Albinias shore. Herminius smote down Aruns; Lartius laid Ocnus low:Right to the heart of Lausulus Horatius sent a blow.Lie there, he cried, fell pirate! No more, aghast and pale,From Ostias walls the crowd shall mark the track of thy destroying bark.No more Campanias hinds shall fly to woods and caverns when they spyThy thrice-accursed sail.But now no sound of laughter was heard among the foes.A wild and wrathful clamour from all the vanguard rose.Six spears lengths from the entrance halted that deep array,And for a space no man came forth to win the narrow way.But hark! the cry is Astur, and lo! the ranks divide;And the great Lord of Luna comes with his stately stride.Upon his ample shoulders clangs loud the four-fold shield,And in his hand he shakes the brand which none but he can wield.He smiled on those bold Romans a smile serene and high;He eyed the flinching Tuscans, and scorn was in his eye.Quoth he, The she-wolfs litter stand savagely at bay:But will ye dare to follow, if Astur clears the wa y?Then, whirling up his broadsword with both hands to the height,He rushed against Horatius and smote with all his might. With shield and blade Horatius right deftly turned the blow.The blow, yet turned, came yet too nigh;It missed his helm, but gashed his thigh:The Tuscans raised a joyful cry to see the red blood flow.He reeled, and on Herminius he leaned one breathing-space;Then, like a wild-cat mad with wounds, sprang right at Asturs face.Through teeth, and skull, and helmet so fierce a thrust he sped,The good sword stood a hand-breadth out behind the Tuscans head.And the great Lord of Luna fell at that deadly stroke,As falls on Mount Alvernus a thunder-smited oak.Far oer the crashing forest the giant arms lay spread;And the pale augurs, muttering low, gaze on the blasted head.On Asturs throat Horatius right firmly pressed his heel,And thrice and four times tugged amain, ere he wrenched out the steel.And see, he cried, the welcome, fair guests, that waits you here!What noble Lucumo comes next to taste our Roman cheer?But at his haughty challenge a sullen murmur ran,Mingled of wrath, and shame, and dr ead, along that glittering van. There lacked not men of prowess, nor men of lordly race;For all Etrurias noblest were round the fatal place.But all  Etrurias noblest felt their hearts sink to seeOn the earth the bloody corpses; in their path the dauntless Three;And, from the ghastly entrance where those bold Romans stood,All shrank, like boys who unaware, ranging the woods to start a hare,Come to the mouth of a dark lair where, growling low, a fierce old bearLies amidst bones and blood.Was none who would be foremost to lead such dire attack?But those behind cried Forward!, and those before cried Back!And backward now and forward wavers the deep array;And on the tossing sea of steel, to and fro the standards reel;And the victorious trumpet-peal dies fitfully away.Yet one man for one moment strode out before the crowd;Well known was he to all the Three, and they gave him greeting loud.Now welcome, welcome, Sextus! Now welcome to thy home!Why dost thou stay, and turn away? Here lies the  road to Rome.Thrice looked he at the city; thrice looked he at the dead;And thrice came on in fury, and thrice turned back in dread:And, white with fear and hatred, scowled at the narrow wayWhere, wallowing in a pool of blood, the bravest Tuscans lay. But meanwhile axe and lever have manfully been plied;And now the bridge hangs tottering above the boiling tide.Come back, come back, Horatius! loud cried the Fathers all.Back, Lartius! Back, Herminius! Back, ere the ruin fall!Back darted Spurius Lartius;  Herminius  darted back:And as they passed, beneath their feet they felt the timbers crack.But when they turned their faces, and on the further shoreSaw brave Horatius stand alone, they would have crossed once more.But with a crash like thunder fell every loosened beam,And, like a dam, the mighty wreck lay right athwart the stream:And a loud shout of triumph rose from the walls of Rome,As to the highest turret-tops was splashed the yellow foam.And, like a horse unbroken, when first he feels the rein,The furious river struggled hard, and tossed his tawny mane,And burst the curb, and bounded, rejoicing to be free,And whirling down, in fierce career, battlement, and plank, and pierRushed headlong to the sea.Alone stood brave Horatiu s, but constant still in mind;Thrice thirty thousand foes before, and the broad flood behind. Down with him! cried false Sextus, with a smile on his pale face.Now yield thee, cried Lars Porsena, now yield thee to our grace!Round turned he, as not deigning those craven ranks to see;Nought spake he to Lars Porsena, to Sextus nought spake he;But he saw on Palatinus the white porch of his home;And he spake to the noble river that rolls by the towers of Rome.Oh Tiber, father Tiber, to whom the Romans pray,A Romans life, a Romans arms, take thou in charge this day!So he spake and, speaking, sheathed the good sword by his side,And, with his harness on his back, plunged headlong in the tide.No sound of joy or sorrow was heard from either bank;But friends and foes in dumb surprise, with parted lips and straining eyes,Stood gazing where he sank;And when above the surges they saw his crest appear,All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, and even the ranks of TuscanyCould scarce forbear to cheer.But fiercely ran the current, swollen high by months of rain:And fast his blood was flowing; and he was sore in pain,And heavy with his armour, and spent with changing blows:And oft they thought him sinking, but still again he rose. Never, I ween, did swimmer, in such an evil case,Struggle through such a raging flood safe to the landing place:But his limbs were borne up bravely by the brave heart within,And our good father  Tiber  bare bravely up his chin Curse on him! quoth false Sextus, will not the villain drown?But for this stay, ere close of day, we would have sacked the town!Heaven help him! quoth Lars Porsena, and bring him safe to shore;For such a gallant feat of arms was never seen before.And now he feels the bottom: now on dry earth he stands;Now round him throng the Fathers, to press his gory hands;And now, with shouts and clapping, and noise of weeping loud,He enters through the River-Gate, borne by the joyous crowd.They gave him of the corn-land, that was of public right,As much as two strong oxen could plough from morn till night;And they made a molten image, and set it up on high,And there it stands unto this day to witness if I lie.It stands in the Comitium, plain for all folk to see;Horatius in his harness, halting upon one knee:And underneath is written, in letters all of gold,How valiantly he kept the bridge in the brave days of old.And still his name sounds stirring unto the men of Rome,As the trumpet-blast that ca lls to them to charge the Volscian home;And wives still pray to Juno for boys with hearts as boldAs his who kept the bridge so well in the brave days of old. And in the nights of winter, when the cold north winds blow,And the long howling of the wolves is heard amidst the snow;When round the lonely cottage roars loud the tempests din,And the good logs of Algidus roar louder yet within;When the oldest cask is opened, and the largest lamp is lit;When the chestnuts glow in the embers, and the kid turns on the spit;When young and old in circle around the firebrands close;When the girls are weaving baskets and the lads are shaping bowsWhen the goodman mends his armour, and trims his helmets plume,And the goodwifes shuttle merrily goes flashing through the loom;With weeping and with laughter still is the story told,How well Horatius kept the bridge in the brave days of old.

Tuojiangosaurus - Facts and Figures

Tuojiangosaurus - Facts and Figures Name: Tuojiangosaurus (Greek for Tuo river lizard); pronounced TOO-oh-jee-ANG-oh-SORE-us Habitat: Woodlands of Asia Historical Period: Late Jurassic (160-150 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 25 feet long and four tons Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Long, low skull; four spikes on tail About Tuojiangosaurus Paleontologists believe stegosaursthe spiked, plated, elephant-sized herbivorous dinosaursoriginated in Asia, then crossed over to North America during the late Jurassic period. Tuojiangosaurus, a near-complete fossil of which was found in China in 1973, appears to be one of the most primitive stegosaurs yet known, with anatomical features (lack of tall vertebral spines toward its rear end, teeth in the front of its mouth) not seen in later members of this breed. However, Tuojiangosaurus did retain one very characteristic stegosaur feature: the four paired spines at the end its tail, which it presumably used to inflict damage on the hungry tyrannosaurs and large theropods of its Asian habitat.

Infectious Disease found in the Developing World Research Paper

Infectious Disease found in the Developing World - Research Paper Example It is described as an obligate parasite with humans as its natural reservoir. Salmonella typhi is a gram-negative bacterium from the family Enterobacterioceae. It is a â€Å"multi-organ pathogen that inhabits the lymphatic tissues of the small intestine, liver, spleen, and bloodstream of infected humans† (Pollack, 2003). It does not usually inhabit or infect animals and the bacterium is most common in developing nations where sanitation is poor and there is limited supply of antibiotics. It is also described as a motile and facultative anaerobe which is very much susceptible to the action of antibiotics. There are about 107 strains of this bacterium which have already been isolated. Many of these strains have different metabolic characteristics and degrees of virulence; some of them are multi-drug resistant. Scientists studying this bacterium narrate that it contains the typical endotoxin expected of Gram-negative microorganisms as well as the Vi antigen which usually increase s the virulence of the bacterium. It is also known to excrete ‘invasin’, a protein that lets non-phagocytic cells take the bacterium, and later enables it to live inside the cell. This ‘invasin’ sometimes also prevents the oxidative burst of leukocytes, thereby preventing the innate immune response to the bacterium (Pollack, 2003). Typhoid fever is transmitted through the oral-fecal route. It is transmitted orally through food which is handled by an individual who frequently sheds the salmonella typhi bacterium through his stool or sometimes through his urine. The hand-to-mouth transmission is also possible â€Å"after using a contaminated toilet and neglecting hand hygiene† (Brusch, et.al., 2008). It may also be transmitted through sewage contaminated water ingested by humans. Shellfish which is taken from contaminated water, raw fruits and vegetables which are fertilized with contaminated sewage are also possible contaminants. High incidence rates are

Portfolio Theory's Underpinning Principles Need to Be Uncovered before Assignment

Portfolio Theory's Underpinning Principles Need to Be Uncovered before Appreciating the Ceration of Capital Asset Pricing Model - Assignment Example The gain achieved from one asset can offset the loss incurred from the other only if both the assets are negatively correlated. In this project the basic principles of the portfolio theory or the portfolio management theory has been discussed along with the theoretical aspect of the portfolio management theory. The investment viability criteria have also been discussed along with the other basic conditions like risk and return which should be considered before making any investment. The need of diversification of the portfolio has also been discussed along with all the risks associated with the diversified portfolios. Principles of portfolio As per Lonestreth Bevis portfolio can be described as a mixture of investment which is held or will be held by the investor. This means a portfolio is a collection or a group of two or more assets or securities held by the investor to gain maximum return while setting off the risk associated with one stock with the return of the other. The invest ment portfolio is guided by a number of principles. The decision regarding the portfolio will comprise of the decisions regarding the securities held in that portfolio. If the investor is expecting more return then he have to bear more risk too. This means that high return comes with higher risk. The risk of the variability of a particular asset held in the portfolio depends on when the investor will liquidate or sell it. Diversifying the investment will lessen the risk associated with the portfolio. Therefore diversification will help to reduce of the variability of the return associated with the portfolio. The portfolio should be formed as per the need and the risk tolerance level of the investor (Periasamy, 2009, p.7.10). One of the important principles regarding the portfolio is efficient allocation of assets in the portfolio. Moist of the performance of the portfolio depends upon the correct allocation of securities in the portfolio. The securities which are to be included in t he portfolio the portfolio should be properly analysed in term of the expected return and risk associated with them and should be allocated in the portfolio according to the most appropriate weightage in order to achieve desired return from the portfolio. This could be done by analysing the historical prices and the performance of the portfolio (Ambrose wealth management, No Date, p.10). Theoretical background of portfolio management theory The portfolio management deals with the formation and performance of the portfolio. Theoretically the portfolio can be managed in five basic steps. The first step of managing the portfolio is to analyse the securities which are available for investment. This step includes accessing the various securities available to the investors. The securities which are available are analysed on the basis of the risk and return of those securities. The securities can range from the stocks to fixed deposits to risk free assts like treasury bills. The second ste p is to form different portfolios and analysing them. This is done by analysing

Control immigration Essay Example for Free

Control immigration Essay Every now and then, especially in periods of crisis, the argument of restricting the access of immigrants to ones own country resurfaces. Whether a country is flourishing or struggling, there is never enough for all: theres always someone else which is too many and comes to steal your air, particularly if he is poor, dirty, not speaking well your language, and so different from you. The fear and suspicion toward the immigrants is the easiest instinct an unscrupulous leader could incite in an ignorant undiscerning crowd. The grounds proposed to restrict immigration, and persecute or throw out foreigners, are the most selfish, vile and oblique, or specious and exploitable are its supports in any case. It is said that immigration policies must be tightened because many â€Å"illegal† immigrants enter the country day by day, but there does not exist a man or woman which is â€Å"illegal† outside a human artifice: a person can not be â€Å"illegal†. It is a universal right for people to stand and inhabit the land they want when doing no harm; men and women have no other home than the one that they choose. The nationalists (and the like) want to believe or make believe that the country has reached its limit of reception, but a land, unlike a field, it is not a private property: you cannot claim its possess just because you arrived first and declare who could come in and who cannot. Nation are fictitious, borders are drawn. It is being said that the immigrants come into the country to â€Å"steal† jobs and resources to the natural citizens, and profit from their welfare system, but the vast majority of newcomers come with the hope and the intent of building a living and keep themselves with fatigue, contributing to the wealth of their new country all along, whereas they undertake all the sort of jobs the so-called natural citizens dont want to do anymore. There is no â€Å"natural† citizen (especially in the case of Americans): everybody came from somewhere, and all have always moved, and always will. There is no right of  first-class people with precedence over second-class ones; the class is one: the humankind. The fear gets spread professing that the immigrants bring crime with them, but the crime level they raise it is the one caused by the laws that consider them â€Å"illegal† from the beginning, simply because they are considered undesired by an authority that doesnt grant them the right to stand where they have arrived with great difficulties and fatigue: instead of pursuing the duty of integration the states fill up their jails with whom escaped the toils of the rejections relegating these people to the fringe of society, where the crime is a means to survive, and the worst tendencies find the worst companies. Anti-immigration laws create illegality. Nearly every emigrant flees from backgrounds of intense poverty, maladies, scarcity, violence, persecutions, hopelessness and wars (or they are simply trying to achieve a better life), and trying to stem with force an inevitable social process, byproduct of that same globalization system promoted by who opposes to fluxes of migrants, can just produce a climate of terrorism. In the meantime, the dread and the hate toward the foreign and the diverse, and the battle of the poor against the poor(er), keep a population distracted from the real causes and persons responsible for its penalties. Beware of a society where goods and financial capitals have more freedom of the people themselves.

Russel Edsons Counting Sheep :: Edson Counting Sheep Essays

Russel Edson's Counting Sheep After British scientists had cloned a sheep called Dolly, people were asking them why they had done it and they said because they could do it. Last week it was anounced that the human genome had been decrypted. Although everybody agrees that this is a blessing for mankind, many people are worried about what scientists might do with their new toy, again, just because they are able to do it. Long before anybody even thought about cloning sheep, Russel Edson had them shrinked. His poem "Counting Sheep" is a subtle approach to the question of use and misuse of science. The ability to shrink matter certainly stands for a technically very advanced culture, in which scientists must have almost god-like powers. But after shrinking the sheep, this scientist "wonders what he should do with them." In a way, he resembles a child and the innocent atmosphere of the poem contributes to this impression. He falls asleep counting sheep. Like in Goethe's "The Magician's Apprentice", the creation overcomes its creator. However, when the scientist thinks of possible uses for his invention, he thinks about "a substitute for rice, a sort of wooly rice", but never about shrinking hostile armies and crushing them with the tip of a finger. Edson makes him look so naive, that we almost forget that we are dealing with a very serious issue. Even when the scientist rubs the sheep "to a red paste between his fingers," he doesn't do it on purpose but seems more like a bull in a china shop. What if it were not sheep but apes or even humans? He definately has the po wer to do that. We are reminded of the scientists who discovered nuclear power. It had never occured to them that someone might use it to build the worst doomsday weapon ever. By describing the minimum credible accident, Edson makes us think about the maximum credible accident. Like "The Death of an Angel", "Darwin Descending" and "The Automobile", "Counting Sheep" is partly a parody on our modern society's attitude towards science and technical advancement, which has almost assumed religious features. Edson comments on the way we treat our scientists like half-gods and on our blind believe in their seemingly unlimited powers.

Common Errors

In two thousand. This does not apply to expressions representing money, time of day, Biblical citations, and a few other things. When using a specific date (month, day, and year), you must have punctuation on either side of the year. Today is September 23, 2012, and it is a Monday. Today is September 23, 2012. When indicating a specific city and state, you need punctuation on either side of the state. We are in Indianapolis, Indiana, headed for Chicago. Indianapolis, Indiana. Structure We are in A comma splice is a type of run-on sentence where you put two complete thoughts together with a comma.You must make these into separate sentences which can be done in a number of ways. Refer to the text for help. Or, just ask. For example: We went to the movie, we were disappointed with the plot. Comma splice We went to the movie; we were disappointed with the plot. Join with a semicolon We went to the movie, and we were disappointed with the plot. Join with a comma/coordinating conjunction We went to the movie; however, we were disappointed with the plot. Join with a conjunctive adverb When you join two complete sentences with ‘however' as a conjunctive adverb, you must use a Nicolle before the ‘however and a comma after it.Examples Of other conjunctive adverbs are otherwise, consequently, indeed, similarly, finally, likewise, then, furthermore, moreover, therefore, hence, nevertheless. For example: We went to the mall; however, we did not purchase anything. Try never to start a sentence with â€Å"There are/were/will be, etc†¦. † And certainly not a paragraph. Less a useless word that does not add to the meaning and does not act as a transition. A shift in number occurs when the writer changes from singular to plural or plural to singular. For example,My goal is to get the attention of the reader so that they will understand my message. â€Å"Reader is singular; â€Å"they' is plural. You must keep the same number. My goal is to get the atte ntion of the readers so that they will understand my message. Papers You cannot use any form of first or second person in your papers. These include l, me, us, we, our, ours, you, yours. First and second person pronouns are fine in your Discussion Boards and Peer Reviews. You must have your pages set up with auto pagination so that the page number ‘moves' with your work. If you do not know how to do this, check in Word for help.The intro to your papers must have the title of the work (if you are reviewing an article) and the author's name. You need to preview you main points and end with a thesis statement. When you write an introduction to your paper, you want to get the readers attention as well as preview your main points. Generally, you will have three to five main points. The intro is meant to be a road map of sorts. You subtly tell your reader where you plan to go. Then, each of the main points should be discussed (in the same order as they were presented in the intro) i n a paragraph or so each.Finally, you need a conclusion that elates directly to the intro by summarizing the main points that you have made in the paper. Your quotations should never exceed three lines. If so, you have to treat them differently per MEAL. Additionally, such long quotes do not serve you well in short papers such as these. Limit the quotes in length. Try to paraphrase and then to use the quotes for sources/back-up to your thoughts. Since we generally have only one source for the first paper, you must cite the author only the first time you quote her. For example, after your first quotation, you would have (author's name and the page number).After that, unless you have another source, you need only cite the page number (405) for example. Remember that you must cite quoted material immediately. Cite paraphrased material when you have finished with the topic, generally at the end of the paragraph. When you introduce a source in your papers, you must give that person reaso nable credentials. For example, you would not write John Smith refers to this type of movement as an economic disaster (citation). Instead, you would credential the source by saying something like John Smith, a professor of economics at Yale University, refers to†¦.

My Favorite Restaurant

I don’t like homemade food too much so I often tend to go out to have lunch or dinner; I’m not talking about fast food, in fact I don’t like fast food that much. So the first place that always popped to my mind is the Ponto Alto restaurant; it is my favorite restaurant in town for many reasons. I visit this restaurant 2 to 3 per week; it is located on a hill in the Bahsass area in front of the sea, so you can imagine how beautiful the view is up there. This is the biggest reason why I like this restaurant the view is amazing especially during the sunset!One can sit-down and have their food while looking to its beautiful view, it is so relieving. Of course since I go there a lot the food must be great. It serves Italian food such as pasta and pizza and also large varieties of chicken and beef with its remarkable sauce. It’s not like fast-food it much closer to home food but more delicious and very healthy also. The dà ©cor and design inside are very creati ve; it has a large painting on the ceiling with cheerful colors that draws a smile on your face every time you look up and see it.Moreover, the restaurant also play many classical English and French music, which make you relax and comfortable! Lastly all the servants in the restaurant are both warm and hospitable they make you feel like at home. In conclusion, I think that Ponto Alto is the perfect place to eat and have a quite time especially if you are out with the wife or girl friend. I don’t hesitate for a second to recommend anyone to visit and try this unique restaurant.

Document Analysis of Wittes Economic Policy Reform Essay Example

Document Analysis of Wittes Economic Policy Reform Essay Example Document Analysis of Wittes Economic Policy Reform Essay Document Analysis of Wittes Economic Policy Reform Essay Sergei Witte, the author of this document of economic policy reform was appointed to the position of Minister of Finance in 1893. He was appointed Minister of Finance during the reign of Alexander III to help Russias struggling economy. Witte was a very influential Minister of Finance achieving the ultimate goal of putting Russia on the gold standard in 1897. 1 This was one of the main reasons as to why this document was written in 1899, because Russia could now implement radical economic policies due to the foreign investment it received because it had the gold standard. Witte was an admirer of Western European style economies, and did not approve of Russias policy of exporting raw materials and importing finished goods. By halting the policy of exporting raw materials and importing finished goods, Witte believed that this would be a fundamental factor in the industrialisation of Russia. Lionel Kochan believed that Sergei Witte was one of the most important men in Russia in pioneering its eventual success to industrialise. Although Kochan was an admirer of Witte, many western European historians believed that Wittes reforms hindered and not helped Russias economy, such as domestic industries which did not benefit from contracts and subsides. 3 The document of economic reform was addressed to the Tsar, Nicholas II. This document is meant for the Tsar to read and is extremely secret. Witte hoped Nicholas II would give his approval to his ideas of economic reform for Russia. The style in which Witte wrote the document is to inform the Tsar of the flaws in Russian economy and almost to scare the Tsar into immediate and radical change in economic policy. However, in various parts of the document, Witte seems to be somewhat sycophantic towards the Tsar, possibly in an attempt to win the approval of the Tsar to implement his economic policies for Russia. Nicholas II has been described as an ineffective ruler4 and this may have influenced the way in which Witte wrote the document. Witte knew that Nicholas relied on senior politicians to help him run the country and used this to his advantage in this document by highlighting some of Russias shortfalls when pitted against major European powers. This was a major factor in the construction of this document with only two years previous to it being written Russia received gold standard status which meant their currency could now be exchanged for all other gold standard currencies in the Europe. This made it easier for foreign capital to be invested into Russia. The idea of foreign capital being invested into Russia was a new innovation because before this document was written Russia had adopted an isolationist economy, and believed that, unlimited free trade did not permit the economy to develop calmly. The reason set out by Witte about the drastic need of foreign investment needed is to speedily furnish our country with abundant and cheap goods. Witte believed that this would therefore lead to businesses in Russia to seek out new technological advances which will ultimately bring down the price of goods for the consumer. When Witte wrote the document the current economic system in Russia was poor. The economy was geared towards exporting raw materials and importing finished goods, and because Russia were not supplying there own economy with finished goods, it meant that the average consumer in Russia had to pay a lot more for products than countries in western Europe. An example of this was an Englishman pays 26 kopecks for a pood of pig iron, an American will pay 32 kopecks, but a Russian pays up to 90 kopecks. This shows that Russians had to pay almost three times what western Europeans and Americans paid for their goods. When this document was written the policy of protectionism was adopted in Russia. This meant that high tariffs were imposed on imported goods, to protect Russian businesses. Although this is an understandable approach to protecting a certain economy it meant that Russian businesses did not have to compete for trade and therefore the standard of goods could be low, with no technological advancements. With the new economic policy Witte was trying to implement it meant that Russian entrepreneurs had to develop their ideas and ways in which they make their goods, in order for them to be cheaper for the Russian people. Witte also points out in the document that Russia needs to develop mass production industries, widely dispersed. and where competition play has the dominant role. This shows Wittes admiration of western European economies by wanting to create mass production industries, and shows his vision that Russia could be a major economic power. However, Witte understands the drawbacks of relying on foreign trade to boost the economy. He describes it as very dangerous to rely on foreign trade for the lowering of our prices. In his conclusion of the economic policy for the empire, Witte sets out six main points as to how his new economic policy for Russia is going to work. In it he says that the tariff of 1891 will not amended until the renewal of the trade treaties. Witte here shows his understanding that sudden changes to the current Russian economy will cause shocks that will have unprecedented damage to the businesses in Russia. Witte also shows understanding of the importance of domestic industry to Russia, he shows that without domestic industry, the influx of foreign capital will not be as much as before the new economic policy was implemented. This document is very reliable as a historical source. Although it was translated from Russian to English. Overall, Witte knew that although foreign capital was important to the new economic policy, he also understood that the protectionist system of old was important Russia. Witte therefore recognised that with the balance of domestic industry and foreign capital Russia could have a prosperous economy.

3 Reasons to Always Keep One Foot in the Job MarketÂÂ

3 Reasons to Always Keep One Foot in the Job Market   You have a job and you’re mostly happy with it. But even if you’re mostly thrilled with it, it’s always a good idea to stay sharp and keep your options open–if only to negotiate better pay, bonuses, etc. Here are three things you can and should do to ensure you’re always a hot commodity and get recognized for your talents. Keep your contacts closeNearly 75% of all job-seekers get hired through networking. All the more reason to expand your network, make new connections, and keep your existing contacts sweet–even when you have a job. If you ever do need to shop around, you’ll have your network already in gear. It’ll seem much more genuine to ask for help if you’ve kept in touch all along.Keep your resume road-readyThere’s nothing worse than needing a new job in a hurry and having and out-of-date resume. Keep your resume current, as well, by doing a bit of monthly scheduled maintenance to include new training, skills , and expertise,0 or even new responsibilities. When or if you ever meet a head hunter, you’ll be ready to present your best self on paper without having to scramble.Stay in the loopStay current and regular. Generate an online presence on social media and networking sites like LinkedIn and then maintain that presence. Make a schedule for articles and blog posts and website updates, even tweets. The more you keep up your brand, the easier it will be to sell it (translation: yourself) if you ever have to.If you follow this roadmap, you’ll never find yourself in a desperate situation. You can do your job with the confidence that you can easily find another one, given all the great groundwork that you’ve been laying.

Images in the visual media consistently misrepresent non-western Essay

Images in the visual media consistently misrepresent non-western cultures - Essay Example Orientalism, as it was known by Napoleon, was based on just such knowledge – that is knowledge about the Orient projected upon it by the Western world. This idea of the Orient, as it was expressed among the Western scholars – overrode the true Orient. Observers entering the true Orient were already convinced of what they knew regarding an unchanging and already defined system, locking everything labeled Orient into a passive, unresisting object for study. Comparable linguistics were the basis for many of these assumptions. This had, and continues to have, a negative effect upon the Western world’s perception, understanding and appreciation of a multitude of cultures that were erroneously grouped into a single identity. To understand how images in the visual media consistently misrepresent non-western cultures, it is necessary to understand the theories of Edward Said, who first explored the idea of Orientalism, as well as to take a look into some recent examples of these concepts at work. The introduction to Edward Said’s book Orientalism is essentially an argument in three parts illustrating the various means he plans to use in order to support the key arguments he makes in the remainder of the book; namely, to first show how the Orient has become something that is not a â€Å"free subject of thought or action† through the more imaginary concept of Orientalism and second to demonstrate how the â€Å"European culture gained in strength and identity by setting itself off against the Orient as a sort of surrogate and even underground self† (Said, 1979, p. 3). Opening with an argument regarding the use of the term Orientalism, Said makes three observations. The first one centers on the idea that the term ‘Orient’ refers not to the truth of the region, but rather to an idea that has been developed in the minds of Europeans that tends to group all individuals of the Middle East and East as belonging to a single cultural and