Background And Emergence Of Democracy In The British North American Co

Background And Emergence Of Democracy In The British North American Co Background and Emergence of Democracy in the British North American Colonies Beginning in the early 1600's, North America experienced a flood of emigrants from England who were searching for religious freedom, an escape from political oppression, and economic opportunity. Their emigration from England was not forced upon them by the government, but offered by private groups whose chief motive was profit. The emergence of Democracy in colonial America can be attributed to the coming about of several institutions and documents filled with new and "unconventional" ideas that were brought about by a people tired of bickering among themselves and being torn apart by strife. The Anglo-American political thought in the eighteenth century contained notions of right and freedom, which fueled their passion for a better way of life. . The Virginia House of Burgesses, the Mayflower Compact, New England town meetings, and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were all early stepping stones toward a truly democratic government. These documents and organizations may not have been what we perceive, today, as being democratic, but they were a start. The first permanent English settlement was a trading post founded in 1607 at Jamestown in the Old Dominion of Virginia. Virginian colonists had the right, granted to them by The Virginia Company, to elect a colonial legislature, called the House of Burgesses. Since Virginia was the first royal colony, it was only fitting that they should lead the way with the first representative government in the New World. Other lawmaking bodies, not that dissimilar to the House of Burgesses, would soon pop up in other colonies. The Pilgrims also pioneered the way to democracy. If the Pilgrims had settled in Virginia, where they had originally planned, they would have been subject to the authority of the Virginia Company. In their own colony of Plymouth, they were beyond any governmental jurisdiction, so established their own political organization "to combine ourselves together into a civil body politic for out better ordering and preservation? and by virtue hereof (to) enact, constitute, and frame much just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices? as shall be though most meet convenient for the general good of the colony?". This quote, from the unprecedented compact, the Mayflower Compact, displays their want and willingness to strive for an independent and fair government. This document made plans for self- government in Plymouth. The compact enacted a direct democracy, in which the citizens, not elected representatives, were the lawmakers. The ideas of majority rule and ! equal justice under the law were also employed in this compact. As New England towns grew, there became a typical layout for the towns, which included a church/meeting house at the center of town. While church and state were, in theory, separate, they were, in fact, one. A system of government that was theocratic and authoritarian had evolved. These churches/meeting houses were home to many aspects of town life including the place where town meetings were held. Town meetings provided the settlers with an opportunity to discuss public problems. Civil obligations became a shared responsibility. If one was a free man who belonged to the town church and owned property, he could then take part in these hearings. The meetings had an elected colonial assembly, which over saw the meetings, and practiced direct democracy. These meetings were essential in providing colonists with a taste of self-government and self-determination. In "Federalist No. 10", James Madison described a pure democracy as "?a Society, consisting of a small number of! citizens, who assemble and administer Government in person". A November 2, 1772 Boston town meeting initiated the first revolutionary Committees of Correspondence "to state the rights of the colonists." The practice where local committees began to exercise governmental functions eventually lead to the committee system still used by all governmental organizations. Paragraph nine of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639), known as the first written constitution in North America, makes reference to town meetings. The towns of Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfiled adopted the Fundamental Orders on January 14, 1639. They formed, in the opinion of some historians, the first modern written constitution. The purpose was to limit governmental (British) powers. It was the first American constitution of government. All colonies contained elements of a complete democracy. Their

Reasons for Humanity to Go Back to the Moon

Reasons for Humanity to Go Back to the Moon It has been  decades since the first astronauts walked on the lunar surface. Since then, nobody has set foot on our nearest neighbor in space. Sure, a fleet of probes have headed to the Moon, and they have supplied a lot of information about conditions there.   Is it time to send people to the Moon? The answer coming from the space community is a qualified yes. What that means is, there are missions on the planning boards, but also many questions about what people will do to get there and what theyll do once they set foot on the dusty surface. What Are the Obstacles? The last time people landed on the Moon was in 1972. Since then, a variety of political and economic reasons have kept space agencies from continuing those bold steps. However, the big issues are money, safety, and justifications. The most obvious reason that lunar missions arent happening as quickly as people would like is their cost. NASA spent billions of dollars during the 1960s and early 70s developing the Apollo missions. These happened at the height of the Cold War when the U.S. and the former Soviet Union were at odds politically but were not actively fighting each other in land wars. The expenses of trips to the Moon were tolerated by American people and Soviet citizens for the sake of patriotism and staying ahead of each other. Although there are many good reasons to go back to the Moon, its tough to get a political consensus on spending taxpayer money to do it. Safety Is Important The second reason hampering lunar exploration is the sheer danger of such an enterprise. Faced with the immense challenges that plagued NASA during the 1950s and 60s, it is no small wonder that anyone ever made it to the Moon. Several astronauts lost their lives during the Apollo program, and many technological setbacks took place along the way. However, long-term missions aboard the International Space Station show that humans can  live and work in space, and new developments in space launch and transport capabilities are promising safer ways to get to the Moon. Why Go? The third reason for a lack of lunar missions is that there needs to be a clear mission and goals.  While interesting and scientifically important experiments can always be done, people are also interested in return on investment. Thats particularly true for companies and institutions interested in making money from lunar mining, science research, and tourism. Its easier to send robot probes to do science, although its better to send people. With human missions come higher expenses in terms of life support and safety. With the advances of robotic space probes, a great amount of data can be gathered at a much lower cost and without endangering human life. The big-picture questions, like how did the solar system form, require much longer and more extensive trips than just a couple days on the Moon. Things Are Changing The good news is that attitudes toward lunar trips can and do change, and its likely that a human mission to the Moon will happen within a decade or less. Current NASA mission scenarios include trips to the lunar surface and also to an asteroid, although the asteroid trip may be of more interest to mining companies.   Traveling to the Moon will still be expensive. However, NASA mission planners feel that the benefits outweigh the cost. Even more important, the government foresees a good return on investment. Thats actually a very good argument. The Apollo missions required a significant initial investment. However, technology- weather satellite systems, global positioning systems (GPS), and advanced communication devices, among other advancements- created to support the lunar missions and subsequent planetary science missions are now in everyday use on Earth. New technologies aimed specifically at future lunar missions would also find their way into the worlds economies, spurring a good return on investment Expanding Lunar Interest Other countries are looking quite seriously at sending lunar missions, most specifically China and Japan.  The Chinese have been very clear about their intentions, and have good capability to carry out a long-term lunar mission. Their activities may well spur American and European agencies into a mini race to also build lunar bases. Lunar orbiting laboratories may make an excellent next step, no matter who builds and sends them.   The technology available now, and that to be developed during any concentrated missions to the Moon, would allow scientists to do much more detailed (and longer) studies of the Moons surface and sub-surface systems. Scientists would get the opportunity to answer some of the big questions about how our solar system was formed, or the details about how Moon was created and its geology. Lunar exploration would stimulate new avenues of study. People also expect that lunar tourism would be another way to maximize exploration.   Missions to Mars are also  hot news these days. Some scenarios see humans heading to the Red Planet within a few years, while others foresee Mars missions by the 2030s. Returning to the Moon is an important step in Mars mission planning. The hope is that people could spend time on the Moon to learn how to live in a forbidding environment. If something went wrong, rescue would be only a few days away, rather than months.   Finally, there are valuable resources on the Moon that can be used for other space missions. Liquid oxygen is a major component of the propellant needed for current space travel. NASA believes that this resource can be easily extracted from the Moon and stored at deposit sites for use by other missions - particularly by sending astronauts to Mars. Many other minerals exist, and even some water stores,  that can be mined as well. The Verdict Humans have always made an effort to understand the universe, and going to the Moon does seem to be the next logical step for many reasons. It will be interesting to see who starts up the next race to the Moon. Edited and revised by Carolyn Collins Petersen

How can Artificial Intelligence enhance life in the 21st century. Are Essay

How can Artificial Intelligence enhance life in the 21st century. Are there any drawbacks If so, what are they, and how can they be overcome - Essay Example AI can be widely applied at privet homes for personal assistance. The more work is done by machines the less work is required by humans. As the result, the number of injuries and work-related stress are reduced. The debate over the need to apply AI in everyday life will persist for many years; however, the advantages offered by AI exceed all possible drawbacks. Only twenty years ago scientists did not dare to imagine computers understanding the human speech, while today the speech recognition programs are widely used. People are able to work with computers and mobile phones by talking to technology. AI made technology usable by people with disabilities, for example. The vision programs made it possible to develop robots that can see and talk. Such robots are already used for exploration purposes. AT is applied to teaching programs; impersonal software is able to adapt to its users. The capabilities of machines are infinite and the future of it is positive and optimistic. The strongest argument against AI is that machines are dead and, therefore, cannot possess intelligence. However, AI is no longer a myth and humans have already created numerous intelligent machines to help in everyday life. The "honorable" mission of AI is not supported globally. "Within a few decades, computers and robots will be cleverer than us and we won't date to unplug them, while the new biotechnologies could transform our species" (Tudge, 2000, p. 23). Humans will not give up the science because they are in need of high tech for day-to-day survival. Undoubtedly, the human brain differs from computers in complexity and quality. Half a century ago, it did not matter whether computers would be conscious or intelligent. Nevertheless, today computers already have calculating power, endless patience, and bottomless memory. With the added consciousness and emotions, computers might become formidable. The main problem with the Artificial Intelligence is the fear that it may turn against the humans. AI has enormous learning capability and can accomplish many complex tasks that humans cannot. "By 2010, computers are expected to match computational capabilities of the human brain, an estimated 3,200,000 instructions per second" (Molitor, 2003, p. 65). Computers, ranging from massive supercomputers to PCs, offer wide range of services that make human life more interesting: cable TV, teleconferencing, electronic fund transfer systems, shopping without leaving the house, magazines on video, automatic home security services, special services for the people with disabilities, etc. This list has no end. The supercomputer developed by IBM beat the chess-player master Garry Kasparov in 1995 and laid the foundation for concerns on reasoning powers and learning potentials of machines. Problems that required teams of people working many years to solve can be solved by AI in a couple of seconds. Voice recognition, in particular, has achieved a 10,000 word-capacity with 98% accuracy (Molitor, 2003, p

MGMT 436 U5 DB Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGMT 436 U5 DB - Research Paper Example Which of the 4 change projects should the consulting group suggest helping the company design and develop? Which function can the company OD do better (as primary lead consultant) than an external group? The consulting group should suggest a change project which would assist the company in generating the most profits within the minimum cost. As such, the company OD, who has access to pertinent information, which is privy to an external group, would enable them to function better. Generate ideas about how you can move toward making the leadership team more independent. What would you have to see happen or what evidence would you look for to see that you can terminate your relationship with the team without any damage being done? To make the leadership team become more independent, the following suggestions are proposed: (1) assign a team leader who would be tasked to solicit ideas, comments, suggestions to undertake a particular project or task; (2) delegate roles and responsibilities of members; (3) monitor progress of the project regularly; and (4) only elevate crucial issues that cannot be resolved by the team to authorized superiors. As such, when the team is able to operate and perform independently and has been able to consistently deliver the expected outcome or defined goals, then, one could terminate the relationship with the team without any damage being done. Provide your thoughts about with which projects the consulting group should be involved. You know you could help with them all, but what is ethical? How much money and time can you, as consultants, lose or make based on this decision? What should drive the decision process? The projects that the consulting group should be involved are those that have never been undertaken by any teams within the organization. This means that the project should be new, complex or not within the traditional area of specialization of the organization. It is therefore ethical to

One Approach to Identity Essay Example for Free

One Approach to Identity Essay The concept of identity within psychology can be traced back to the emergence of the discipline with William James’ publication Principles in Psychology in 1890 (as cited in Phoenix, 2007 p. 45). While various identity theories abound, all approaches are principally concerned with explaining what identity is and how individuals form and use their identities to define themselves. This essay examines the social constructionist approach to identity and will then explore how such thinking can be applied to the identities of those with disabilities. According to Hogg and Abrams (1988), identity is â€Å"people’s concepts of who they are, of what sort of people they are, and how they relate to others† (as cited in Fearon, 1999, p. 4). Thus, identity represents an individual’s mental image of themselves, something Kroger (1989/1993) asserts necessitates an understanding of otherness, that is, who and what they are not (as cited in Phoenix, 2007 p. 52). This awareness is fundamental to social construction theories, which propound that, instead of being naturally occurring, identities are actively constructed through the process of social relations. It is through interaction with others that individuals distinguish between the self and other, and subsequently can affirm or modify their own sense of identity. This ability to negotiate identity is another feature of social constructionist approaches which maintain that, far from being static, identities are open to change and adaptation throughout the lifetime, being shaped by an individual’s own experiences, as well as the cultural and historical milieu within which they exist and the social change and technological advances that occur during their lives (Connell, 1995; Holloway and Jefferson, 2000, as cited in Phoenix, 2007, p. 2). Consequently, and in contrast to earlier identity theories, social constructionists claim that, since individuals do not exist in a vacuum, there can be no distinction between a personal and a social identity; all identities are social. Thus proponents of social constructionism, emphasise the importance of language; being the basic tool of human communication; in the formation and negotiation of identities. It is through language that people express and define themselves and identify their allegiance to particular groups and communities. Meanings attributed to language are inevitably influenced by the dominant discourses within society, reflecting the power relations and often imbalances that exist, as exemplified by the demonisation of single mothers by mainstream political discourse in the 1980s. Nevertheless, sub-cultures and minority groups often subvert dominant discourse in order to construct their own identities, as illustrated in the way once derogatory terms, such as ‘dyke’, are reclaimed, and in order to enhance group affiliation. It is noted that â€Å"Teenage slang is a highly productive generator of new meanings for old words† (Oxford University Press, 2006); it serves to augment group membership while excluding others. Language, therefore, is also a construct; its interpretations and use develops over time and across social groups. Another key tenet of social constructionist theories is that individuals possess numerous identities because they inhabit various locations, assume diverse roles, subscribe to particular ideologies and interact with others who themselves have different, multiple identities. As Phoenix observes â€Å"Unlike psychosocial theories, social constructionist theories reject the notion that people have one, core identity† (2007, pp. 78-79). While critics argue this represents a flaw in such theorising; since many consider themselves to have a stable unified identity; it is asserted that people adopt autobiographical narratives, whereby they reconstruct their histories, in order to maintain a coherent sense of self. The employment of language and ‘props’; such as attire and jewellery (Goffman, 1959, p. 2), as well as the autobiographical narrative, enable individuals to manage their sometimes contradictory identities. Consequently, people are able to use their identities as a resource to achieve the exhibition of a particular image of themselves, not only to others, but also to themselves. In turning to the identities of people with disabilities, it is necessary to address the issue of embodiment, that is, the way people live their lives through their bodies. Bodies are a resource that people use to construct their identity, through, for example, the use of make-up, tattoos and cosmetic surgery. For people with physical impairments, identity construction is complicated by their biology, which, is compounded by the dominant medical discourse which has generally labelled those with disabilities as lacking in some way, as different, as ‘other’. The social model of disability developed out of the disability movement as a reaction against such discourse, and its proponents, such as Oliver (1990), have argued that while those with physical impairments experience ‘individual limitation’, disability itself is a ‘socially imposed restriction’ (as cited in Phoenix, p. 1). This reinterpretation of the word ‘disability’ highlights, as social constructionists claim, the importance of language and discourse in the constructions of identity. In recent decades, through campaigning and individuals identifying with a particular cause, the disability movement has brought about social change through putting pressure on the legislature to cater to its needs, for instance, public buildings now have to be accessible to the wheel-chair bound. As such, the dominant discourse has shifted to be more inclusive of those with physical impairments. Additionally, medical advances have improved the circumstances of some with visual or auditory impairments. Social construction theories reveal the extent of autonomy that individuals have in relation to their identities. However, such theories fail to address adequately how identity can be imposed on individuals. People with physical impairments highlight this problem, since an individual has no control over how and to what extent they are impaired. Nevertheless, they do have a choice in how they label themselves, and some will self-define as disabled, while others may not, perceiving their impairment to be only one (lesser) aspect of their identity. This gives credence to the social constructionist stance that individuals construct many identities for themselves. It is also important to note that, as with most social groups, the physically impaired are far from a homogenous group; there is no one essential disabled identity. As Keith (1994) suggests â€Å"the wide variation between the types of impairment and within groups who have the same impairments mean they are not a single group, but have multiple, diverse identities† (as cited in Phoenix, p. 83). In conclusion, social construction theories provide a useful framework within which to explore identity. In examining how identity is actively constructed through social interaction and the employment of language, as well as by being affected by dominant discourse and societal change, such theories explain how people are able to negotiate their multiple identities in daily life and throughout the life-course.

GCSE English Coursework †Wide Reading Assignment - Lamb to the Slaughter :: English Literature

GCSE English Coursework – Wide Reading Assignment - Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl, and The Speckled Band In this wide reading assignment I have been looking at two stories, 'Lamb to the Slaughter' by Roald Dahl, and 'The Speckled Band' by Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. Both these stories are classed as murder mysteries, and I am intending to investigate and compare the motives of the killers in both stories. 'The Speckled Band' is written in first person from the viewpoint of Dr. Watson. The story starts with Watson looking over notes of the cases that he and Holmes have taken in the last eight years; one in particular comes to his mind, and from their Watson tells the story of 'The Speckled Band'. The killer in 'The Speckled Band' is Dr Grimesby Roylott. Roylott is a tall man who was well built. 'Lamb to the Slaughter' is written in a third person perspective, and the story starts with a description of a room, and then breaks into the characters, and follows them though the rest of the story. The killer in 'Lamb to the Slaughter is Mary Maloney, a gentle, petite housewife. The two stories, as previously said, are both classed as murder mysteries, however when comparing these two stories the styles of writing and the way in which the stories are presented is completely different. An example of this would be the chronological order of each of the stories. What I mean by this is the traditional order of murder mysteries would be body, a motive, a weapon, a death, a suspect, an alibi and detectives. Lamb to the Slaughter and The Speckled Band are no exception to these "guidelines". The Speckled Band follows this order and is a very traditional murder mystery; Lamb to the Slaughter on the other hand does not follow the conventional style of murder mysteries and follows its own order. This order would be a motive, a weapon, a death, a killer, an alibi and detectives. In changing the traditional order of murder mysteries I feel that Dahl is mocking the genre of Murder Mysteries. The motives in 'The Speckled Band' are clear from an early stage. Its clear to see that Roylott's motives was the money, or the lack of it he would have if his step-daughters were to marry. While spending some time in India, Dr Roylott married a considerably rich woman. Upon her and Roylott's return to England Mrs Stoner died, and left her money to Dr Roylott, and an annual fund that Julia and Helen Stoner could collect when they were to wed. This is what Dr Roylott obviously

“What is ‘Superblood” Analysis

The article â€Å"What is ‘Superblood' and Why Do I Want It?†, written by Kyree Leary, explains a great potential medical advancement. A biotech startup company, Rubius Therapeutics, wants to use red blood cells to replace missing enzymes in patients with rare diseases or conditions along with patients with autoimmune disorders in order to treat them. These diseases include Type 1 diabetes and even cancer. The technique Rubius Therapeutics plans on using is equipping red blood cells with a protein that can be tailored to treat the condition of the patient it is being infused into. Then, the company plans on putting these blood cells into the body, but overall, it will account for less than 1 percent of the patient's total blood volume. This idea is similar to the idea of using modified T-cells to fight cancer; however, red blood cell therapies do not need to be personalized. For T-cell therapy, the cells must be taken from the patient and put back into the same patient to avoid rejection by the immune system, whereas for the red blood cell treatment, only the use of any person's O negative blood can be effective, for it is a universal donor. In fact, one donor could generate enough therapeutic doses to treat hundreds of thousands of different patients. The company has not released any products yet, but they have raised $220 million in funding which is going to go towards the development of products along with clinical trials necessary for ensuring their safety. This article certainly grabbed my attention when I saw it while scrolling through articles. I have done a lot of work with blood and enzymes in PBS and Biology, so I was intrigued to see what this new â€Å"Superblood† was. Having learned about blood and the topic of the article already, I understood the methods the company plans on using, which made the article and story even more interesting. I found it fascinating that something as simple as placing missing enzymes back into someone's body can possibly have the ability to treat a condition as serious as cancer. In addition, it astonishes me how individuals and companies can think of innovative things like this that could have such an impact on people and the field of medicine. The health of millions is compromised by cancer and autoimmune disease, which this procedure targets. If Rubius Therapeutics can successfully use this red blood cell therapy as a treatment for cancer or even Type 1 diabetes, our world will be a better place, and the healthcare field would be drastically altered. This could diminish the need for insulin injections or pumps if done properly along with other standard treatments. Although this idea may not be able to actually cure cancer, it definitely could and probably will lead to other scientists and/or physicians getting inspired and developing innovations that could bring humanity closer to a cure for the deadly disease. Overall, this â€Å"Superblood† can certainly lead to advancements in the medical field which would make our population a healthier group of people.

The Great Panda

The giant panda, which lives only in China outside of captivity, has captured the hearts of people of all ages across the globe. From their furry black and white body to their shy and docile nature, they are considered one of the most loved animals. ? Quick Fact The estimated number of giant pandas in the wild varies between 1,500 and 3,000. Intriguing Giant Panda Mysteries While most adore their fluffy fur and round head, which help give them their cuddly bear quality, others are fascinated by the many mysteries of the giant panda.Did you know that a giant panda may actually be a raccoon, they have an opposable pseudo thumb, and they’re technically a carnivore even though their diet is primarily vegetarian? These things and more have baffled scientists and naturalists for hundreds of years. Opposable Pseudo Thumb A characteristic of the giant panda that has mystified scientists is their movable, elongated wrist bone that acts like an opposable thumb. This human-like quality t hat helps give them an even more cuddly-bear appearance enables the giant panda to pick up objects and even eat sitting up.Quick Fact Giant pandas have five clawed toes and one pseudo thumb. Their pseudo thumb, along with pads of skin, help the giant panda strip the more nutritious small bamboo shoots and leaves while they hold the stalk in their mouth. Small Bear or Large Raccoon? Giant pandas are generally referred to as bears and are typically called panda bears rather than giant pandas. Though we may think they look like bears, there has been a great deal of discussion for decades about where giant pandas actually fit in the animal kingdom.Much of the debate has been whether they are more closely related to the red panda, once thought to be a member of the raccoon family, than the bear family. While a giant panda has a body that resembles a small bear and climbs trees like a bear, it also has several characteristics in common with the red panda. For example, both giant pandas an d red pandas eat bamboo and have the same pseudo thumb. The table below lists the main characteristics the giant panda shares with the bear and red panda.Cat-like features While the body of a giant panda looks like that of a bear and the dark circles around its eyes resemble those of a red panda or raccoon, its pupils have vertical slits like the eyes of a cat. Â  DNA results DNA analysis has put one mystery to rest. It has revealed that while the red panda is a distant relative, the giant panda's closest relative is the spectacled bear from South America. Mostly Vegetarian Diet Giant pandas love bamboo!In fact, their diet is 99% bamboo. Along with bamboo, they eat other plants, small rodents, and occasionally fish. The mystery behind their diet is they have the digestive system of a carnivore. ? Their ability to digest bamboo is attributed to tiny microbes that live within their digestive system. Since they can only digest about 20% of what they eat, the average giant panda consum es around 14 kilograms (30 pounds) of bamboo a day. In comparison, humans eat about 2 kilograms (5 pounds) of food a day. This enormous diet means the giant panda spends more than 12 hours a day eating to stay nourished.Quick Fact As the seasons change, the giant panda prefers different species and parts of bamboo. Tiny Cubs An infant giant panda cub is about the size of a croissant, weighs less than a coffee cup, and is about 900 times smaller than its mother. An average adult mother weighs around 91 kilograms (200 pounds) while a newborn weighs only 83 to 190 grams (3 to 4 ounces). Other Fun Giant Panda Facts Researchers have recently discovered the gene responsible for tasting savory or umami flavors, such as meat, is inactive in giant pandas.For many centuries, giant pandas were thought to be a mythical creature, similar to a dragon or unicorn. Unlike other bears in the region, giant pandas don’t hibernate. Giant pandas can stand erect on their hind legs but rarely walk. The Qinling panda, another giant panda species with a dark brown and light brown coat, lives only in the mountains of Shaanxi. Giant pandas have very sensitive hearing and smell, but they have poor eyesight. A newborn giant panda is blind and looks like a tiny, pink, hairless mouse.

Quotations by King Alfred the Great

Quotations by King Alfred the Great Alfred was extraordinary for an early medieval king in several respects. He was a particularly wily military commander, successfully keeping the Danes at bay, and he wisely shored up defenses when the enemies of his kingdom were occupied elsewhere. At a time when England was little more than a collection of warring kingdoms, he established diplomatic relations with his neighbors, including the Welsh, and unified a substantial portion of the heptarchy. He displayed remarkable administrative flair, reorganizing his army, issuing important laws, protecting the weak, and promoting learning. But most unusual of all, he was a gifted scholar. Alfred the Great translated several works from Latin into his own language, Anglo-Saxon, known to us as Old English, and wrote some works of his own. In his translations, he sometimes inserted comments that offer insight not only into the books but into his own mind. Here are some notable quotations from the notable English king, Alfred the Great. I desired to live worthily as long as I lived and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works. From  Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius Remember what punishments befell us in this world when we ourselves did not cherish learning nor transmit it to other men. From  Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory the Great Therefore he seems to me a very foolish man, and very wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear. From Blooms (aka Anthology) Very often it has come to my mind what men of learning there were formerly throughout England, both in religious and secular orders; and how there were happy times then throughout England; and how the kings, who had authority over this people, obeyed God and his messengers; and how they not only maintained their peace, morality, and authority at home but also extended their territory outside; and how they succeeded both in warfare and in wisdom; and also how eager were the religious orders both in teaching and in learning as well as in all the holy services which it was their duty to perform for God; and how people from abroad sought wisdom and instruction in this country; and how nowadays, if we wished to acquire these things, we would have to seek them outside. From the preface to Pastoral Care When I recalled how knowledge of Latin had previously decayed throughout England, and yet many could still read things written in English, I then began, amidst the various and multifarious afflictions of this kingdom, to translate into English the book which in Latin is called Pastoralis, in English Shepherd-book, sometimes word for word, sometimes sense for sense. From the preface to Pastoral Care For in prosperity a man is often puffed up with pride, whereas tribulations chasten and humble him through suffering and sorrow. In the midst of prosperity the mind is elated, and in prosperity a man forgets himself; in hardship, he is forced to reflect on himself, even though he be unwilling. In prosperity a man often destroys the good he has done; amidst difficulties, he often repairs what he long since did in the way of wickedness. ― Attributed. In recent years, the veracity of Alfreds authorship has been called into question. Did he really translate anything from Latin to Old English? Did he write anything of his own? Check out the arguments in Jonathan Jarretts blog post, Deintellectualising King Alfred.

Definition and Examples of Lipograms

Definition and Examples of Lipograms A text that purposefully excludes a particular letter of the alphabet  is called a lipogram. The adjective is lipogrammatic. A contemporary example of a lipogram is Andy Wests novel Lost and Found (2002), which does not contain the letter e. Etymology From the Greek, missing letter Examples and Observations: The earliest lipograms are thought to have been composed in the sixth century BC, but none has survived; maybe they were never actually written down, only imagined, to circulate among the clerisy as instant legends of verbal skill. . . . [T]he lipogram should be a purposeless ordeal undertaken voluntarily, a gratuitous taxing of the brain, and the severer the better. It should make the business of writing not pleasanter but harder.(John Sturrock, Georges Perec. The Word From Paris: Essays on Modern French Thinkers and Writers. Verso, 1998)Gadsby: A Lipgram on EUpon this basis I am going to show you how a bunch of bright young folks did find a champion; a man with boys and girls of his own; a man of so dominating and happy individuality that Youth is drawn to him as is a fly to a sugar bowl. It is a story about a small town. It is not a gossipy yarn; nor is it a dry, monotonous account, full of such customary fill-ins as romantic moonlight casting murky shadows down a long, winding co untry road. Nor will it say anything about tinklings lulling distant folds; robins caroling at twilight, nor any warm glow of lamplight from a cabin window. No. It is an account of up-and-doing activity; a vivid portrayal of Youth as it is today; and a practical discarding of that worn-out notion that a child dont know anything.Now, any author, from historys dawn, always had that most important aid to writing: an ability to call upon any word in his dictionary in building up his story. That is, our strict laws as to word construction did not block his path. But in my story that mighty obstruction will constantly stand in my path; for many an important, common word I cannot adopt, owing to its orthography.(Ernest Vincent Wright, from Gadsby, 1939a story of more than 50,000 words that does not contain the letter e) Most common of all marks from A to Z,Its tyrant to orthography, and smugThat not a thing of worth is said withoutOur using it. . . .(Daniel J. Webster, A Lipogram: Writing Without It. Keeping Order on My Shelf: Poems and Translations. iUniverse, 2005)A Void: Another Lipogram on ENoon rings out. A wasp, making an ominous sound, a sound akin to a klaxon or a tocsin, flits about. Augustus, who has had a bad night, sits up blinking and purblind. Oh what was that word (is his thought) that ran through my brain all night, that idiotic word that, hard as Id try to put it down, was always just an inch or two out of my graspfowl or foul or Vow or Voyal?a word which, by association, brought into play an incongruous mass and magma of nouns, idioms, slogans and sayings, a confusing, amorphous outpouring which I sought in vain to control or turn off but which wound around my mind a whirlwind of a cord, a whiplash of a cord, a cord that would split again and again, would knit again and again, of w ords without communication or any possibility of combination, words without pronunciation, signification or transcription but out of which, notwithstanding, was brought forth a flux, a continuous, compact and lucid flow: an intuition, a vacillating frisson of illumination as if caught in a flash of lightning or in a mist abruptly rising to unshroud an obvious signbut a sign, alas, that would last an instant only to vanish for good.(Georges Perec, La Disparitiona 300-page novel that does not contain the letter e; translated by Gilbert Adair as A Void) 181 Missing OsN mnk t gd t rb r cg r plt.N fl s grss t blt Sctch clips ht.Frm Dnjns tps n rnc rlls.Lgwd, nt Lts, flds prts bwls.Bx tps, nt bttms, schl-bys flg fr sprt.N cl mnsns blw sft n xfrd dns,rthdx, jg-trt, bk-wrm Slmns.Bid strgths f ghsts n hrrr shw.n Lndn slp-frnts n hp-blssms grw.T crcks f gld n dd Iks fr fd.n sft cltl fstls n Id fx dth brd.Lng strm-tst slps frlrn, wrk n t prt.Rks d nt rst n spns, nr wd-ccks snrt,Nr dg n snw-drd r n cits rlls,Nr cmmn frg cncct lng prtcls.(Unknown, quoted by Willard R. Espy in The Game of Words. Grosset Dunlap, 1972)

Maad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Maad - Essay Example 2. Rather than engaging with the story of Jonah in the literal sense, early Christians, as exhibited in the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke, understood the story of Jonah to be typological. In this way, Jonah represented a type of â€Å"Christ† which was in the belly of the whale for a period of 3 days just as Christ was in the belly of the earth, the grave, for a total period of 3 days time. A further identification with the story of Jonah is the way in which Christ himself compared his earthly ministry and the generation he witnessed to as similar to that of the inhabitants of Nineveh. This typification was carried out in a number of ways and was a means whereby the early Christians were able to coalesce the story of the Messiah with the Old Testament typifications that are so prevalent throughout Judaism. 3. With regards to the means by which early Christians interpreted the story of Isaac and Abraham in the Old Testament, this too was similar to the typification th at has been briefly discussed in question 2 with relation to the early Christian interpretation of Jonah. ... 4. The distinctive features of the gospels can be inferred as something of the differing levels of approach that each provides with relation to understanding a further nuance of Christ’s earthly ministry. As such, each of these stands as a means of providing a more complete picture of Christ’s earthly ministry by casting it Him as a Savior, a Servant, a Son of God, and the Son of Man. These features were useful for the early Christian movement to develop a full and nuanced interpretation of Christ rather than a one-dimensional approach which had so often been elaborated upon in the Old Testament. 5. The key differential that exists within theology and the understanding and application of historical truth versus mathematical truth relates to the means by which the believer seeks to integrate a more full and complete understanding of the way in which past experience and certain events of the Old Testament can or should be quantified or understood within the historical con text that they were originally written to integrate with. As with any form of theological form of understanding this is concentric upon trying to utilize a new approach to what can be considered a historical context. 6. The most powerful reason for this historical approach to the fact that many Christians believe the Christ physically rose from the dead on Easter Sunday is most closely related to the fact that the Passover and the feasts associated with it can descernably be linked to a specific date and time. As such, the early Christian tradition of Easter Sunday as emblematic of the day in which Christ rose from the dead is much more than adherence to blind tradition; rather it is a marker that can firmly and rationally be defined as a set point in time that is