Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte was known as one of the greatest military masterminds in the history of mankind. His strategies and tactics in the battlefield won him many wars and battle thorough out the European Continent. These victories and rise in the military power of France made it possible for the rise of a military dictator. Napoleon Bonaparte was also called â€Å"the child of revolution.† He, to some extent supported the ideas of the French Revolution and for a democratic state at first, but ended up in creating a military dictatorship in France. His self-esteem to take over Russia led to his defeat and then in his fall as the Emperor of France. Napoleon Bonaparte was not born French by birth. Infact he was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, on August 15, 1769. This was a small island, which France had annexed only a few months ago. He was the fourth child and second son of Carlo Bonaparte and Letizia Ramolino Bonaparte. They both belong to the noble Italian families. Napoleon’s original nationality was Corsican-Italian. At that time, he despised the French and thought they were oppressors of his native land. His father was a lawyer, and was also an anti-French. At the age of nine, Napoleon’s father sent him to a French military academy at Brienne-le-Chateau, near Troyes. In the school, he was hated by others and was also considered a foreigner. Thus without any friends in school, Napoleon concentrated on his studies. As a result, he excelled in mathematic. In 1784, Napoleon was selected for the ‘Elite Ecole Militaire’ Academy in Paris. There he studied the art of artillery and at graduating, in 1785, Nap oleon received a commission as a second lieutenant in the artillery and then he joined the French Army. In 1789, the French revolution started throughout the country. During the 1790’s, Napoleon spent most of his time in Corsica and serving under the Corsican National Guard. There, he joined a radical political society known as â€Å"t... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte, who is also known as the "little Corsican", was born on August 15,1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica. His family had moved there from Italy in the 16th century. His original name was Napoleone. He had 7 brothers and sisters. His original nationality was Corsican-Italian. He also despised the French. He thought they were oppressors of his native land. His father was a lawyer, and was also anti-French. One reason Napoleon may have been such a great leader and revolutionary because was he was raised in a family of radicals. When Napoleon was nine, his father sent him to Brienne, a French military government school in Paris. While there he was constantly teased by the French students. Because of this Napoleon started having dreams of personal glory and triumph. From 1784 to 1785 Napoleon attended the Ecole Militaire in Paris. It was there that he received his military training. He studied to be an artillery man and an officer. He finished his training and he joined the French a rmy when he was just 16 years old. His father died after that and he had to provide for his entire family. Napoleon was stationed in Paris in 1792. After the French monarchy was overthrown in August of that year, Napoleon started to make a name for himself and become a well known military leader. In 1792 Napoleon was promoted to captain. In 1793 he was chosen to direct the artillery against the siege in Toulon. Soon after that Toulon fell and Napoleon was promoted to brigadier general. Napoleon was made commander of the French army in Italy. He defeated many Austrian Generals. Soon after this Austria and France made peace. Afterwards Napoleon was relieved of his command. He had been suspected of treason. In 1795 he broke up a revolt and saved the French government. He had earned back respect and he was once again give command of the French Army in Italy. He came up with a plan that worked very well. He would cut the enemy's army in... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte A French Citizen by Chance Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio, on the island of Corsica, on Aug. 15, 1769. It was by chance that the future ruler of France was born a French citizen. His family had migrated to Corsica from the Italian mainland in the 16th century. The island had been transferred from the Republic of Genoa to France one year before Napoleon's birth. His christening name was Italian. It was spelled Napoleone Buonaparte. As a boy he hated the French, whom he considered oppressors of his native land. Revolutionary Atmosphere at Home Napoleon was the second son in a large family (see Bonaparte Family). His mother was intelligent and beautiful. His father, Charles, was a lawyer who actively plotted against the French occupation of Corsica. Thus from childhood Napoleon was familiar with the ways in which revolutionists operated. This knowledge was to serve him in his rise to power. When he was nine years old, he was sent by his father to Brienne, a French government military school. A sensitive, lonely boy, Napoleon was constantly bullied by his French fellow students, who resented his gloomy, melancholy ways. Their cruelties, however, only made him withdraw into dreams of personal glory and military triumphs. Appointment in the French Army In 1784-85 he attended the Ecole Militaire in Paris. There he received training as an artilleryman and as an officer. When his course was completed he joined the French army as a second lieutenant of artillery. He was 16 years old. The next few years of his life were exceedingly difficult. His father had died, leaving young Napoleon with the responsibility of providing for the large Bonaparte family. He endured poverty and humiliation. Under the Bourbon monarchy there was little chance for advancement. An Opportunity to Get Ahead Napoleon was stationed in Paris in 1792. The French Revolution had been raging for three bloody years. It reached a climax on... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Was Napoleon Bonaparte the Saviour or the Destroyer of the Ideals of the French Revolution? With all the glory and the splendour that some countries may have experienced, never has history seen how only only one man, Napoleon, brought up his country, France, from its most tormented status, to the very peak of its height in just a few years time. He was a military hero who won splendid land-based battles, which allowed him to dominate most of the European continent. He was a man with ambition, great self-control and calculation, a great strategist, a genius; whatever it was, he was simply the best. But, even though how great this person was, something about how he governed France still floats among people’s minds. Did he abuse his power? Did Napoleon defeat the purpose of the ideals of the French Revolution? After all of his success in his military campaigns, did he gratify the people’s needs regarding their ideals on the French Revolution? This is one of the many controversies that we have to deal with when studying Napoleon and the French Revolution. In this essay, ! I will discuss my opinion on whether or not was he a destroyer of the ideals of the French Revolution. Certain individuals approved of Napoleon’s reign as the saviour of France. He finished and completed the Revolution by fulfilling the ideals the people of France demanded. A person such as one belonging to the bourgeoisie, or even a peasant would be very satisfied with the way Napoleon ruled over the country. He gave them equality, freedom, justice, and many rights. Such things never existed during the reign of the monarchs before Napoleon stepped in. A banker too would be very affirmative on how Napoleon had truly helped France in its economic problems. He made the franc the most stable currency in Europe, and the banker had witnessed that, as probably one of the bankers of the Bank of France. Another type of individual that agrees that Napoleon isn’t th... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte, also known as the "little Corsican", was born on August 15,1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica. He was the greatest hero of France. His family had moved there from Italy in the 16th century. His original name was Napoleone and his original nationality was Corsican-Italian. Him in REALITY despised the French. He thought they kept his country down by severe and unjust use of force. His father was a lawyer, and was also anti-French. One reason Napoleon may have been such a great leader and revolutionary because he was raised in a family of radicals. When Napoleon was nine, his father sent him to Brienne, a French military government school in Paris. For one year Napoleon attended the Ecole Militaire in Paris. It was there that he received his military training. He studied to be an artilleryman and an officer. He finished his training and he joined the French army when he was just 16 years old. Napoleon was assigned to work in Paris in 1792. After the French monarchy was overthrown in August 1792, he was promoted to captain. In 1793 he was chosen to direct the artillery against the siege in Toulon. Very soon after Toulon fell and Napoleon was promoted to brigadier general. He was made commander of the French army in Italy and defeated many Austrian Generals. Soon after this Austria and France made peace, and Napoleon was released from his command, he was suspected of treason. In 1795 he broke up a revolt and saved the French government. He had earned back respect and he was once again given command of the French Army in Italy. He came up with a plan that worked very well (All of his plans worked very well). â€Å"He would cut the enemy's army in to two parts, then attack one side of them before the other side could help them†. After this Napoleon was almost impossible to stop. He made an unsuccessful attempt to invade Egypt, in 1799 he returned to France to find the Directory (the French Government) a mess. He overthrew the ... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte was known as one of the greatest military masterminds in the history of mankind. His strategies and tactics in the battlefield won him many wars and battle thorough out the European Continent. These victories and rise in the military power of France made it possible for the rise of a military dictator. Napoleon Bonaparte was also called â€Å"the child of revolution.† He, to some extent supported the ideas of the French Revolution and for a democratic state at first, but ended up in creating a military dictatorship in France. His self-esteem to take over Russia led to his defeat and then in his fall as the Emperor of France. Napoleon Bonaparte was not born French by birth. Infact he was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, on August 15, 1769. This was a small island, which France had annexed only a few months ago. He was the fourth child and second son of Carlo Bonaparte and Letizia Ramolino Bonaparte. They both belong to the noble Italian families. Napoleon’s original nationality was Corsican-Italian. At that time, he despised the French and thought they were oppressors of his native land. His father was a lawyer, and was also an anti-French. At the age of nine, Napoleon’s father sent him to a French military academy at Brienne-le-Chateau, near Troyes. In the school, he was hated by others and was also considered a foreigner. Thus without any friends in school, Napoleon concentrated on his studies. As a result, he excelled in mathematic. In 1784, Napoleon was selected for the ‘Elite Ecole Militaire’ Academy in Paris. There he studied the art of artillery and at graduating, in 1785, Nap oleon received a commission as a second lieutenant in the artillery and then he joined the French Army. In 1789, the French revolution started throughout the country. During the 1790’s, Napoleon spent most of his time in Corsica and serving under the Corsican National Guard. There, he joined a radical political society known as â€Å"t...

Nolo (Irregular Latin Verb) Definition and Use

Nolo (Irregular Latin Verb) Definition and Use Nolo, nolle, nolui - to wish not to Nolo is an important verb because the imperative is used to form negative commands. To say dont in Latin, you use the imperative of nolo. Indicative PresentSingular1 - nolo2 - non vis3 - non vultPlural1 - nolimus2 - non vultis3 - noluntIndicative ImperfectSingular1 - nolebam2 - nolebas3 - nolebatPlural1 - nolebamus2 - nolebatis3 - nolebantIndicative FutureSingular1 - nolam2 - noles3 - noletPlural1 - nolemus2 - noletis3 - nolent Imperative PresentSg. 2. noliPl. 2. noliteFutureSg. 2. and 3. nolitoPl. 2. nolitotePl. 3. nolinto Subjunctive Present Singular1 - nolim2 - nolis3 - nolitPlural1 - nolimus2 - nolitis3 - nolint Subjunctive Imperfect Singular1 - nollem2 - nolles3 - nolletPlural1 - nollemus2 - nolletis3 - nollent Infinitive Present nolleParticiple Present nollens, entis Malo and Nolo are based on Volo: malo magis volo and nolo non/ne volo Irregular Latin Verbs Eo - to goFio - to becomeVolo - to wishnolo, nolle, nolui to be unwilling and malo, malle, malui to prefer are similar.Sum - to beDo - to giveFero - to carryEdo - to eat

Lurking in the shadows Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lurking in the shadows - Essay Example So I try to put them at ease. I uncross my legs slowly so as not to draw their attention. I steady the rocking chair and I become very still. I am as still as a thousand year old stone; stiller, in all reality. I relax and then adjust my vision. I breathe softly, in measured breaths, and study these fascinating creatures anew. The distance is not close; indeed, there is an open field over which I must peer before reaching the edge of the wooded field where the doe keeps her fawn close by her side. The wheat in the open field rolls as the wind passes by, and the wooded field is studded with oak and pine. The fawn blends at times with the yellow of the wheat field and the brown of the woods. The fawn is at one moment visible and then nearly imperceptible; it is the down, with a darker brown color, that allows me to keep focused most precisely. The trees are crowded closely together, a shadow almost when compared with the brightly rolling yellow field of wheat, and the deer are perceptible only in their occasional movements.

Pre-modern and Modern Political Philosophy Essay

Pre-modern and Modern Political Philosophy - Essay Example Pre-Modern period: Locke and Hobbes Locke and Hobbes are representatives of â€Å"state of nature† political philosophy. On the one hand, â€Å"state of nature† is rather dangerous for the society. There is a lack of security for the society and in spite of the fact that people honor each other and keep their promises and the atmosphere is friendly and pleasant, violent conflicts may occur. Hobbes underlines an obligatory subjection of people to ever existent hazards and violence and no society may exist on the background of unsafe conditions for individual’s existence. Both, Locke and Hobbes underline that the evolution from the state of nature to the civil society does not disturb human nature. Moreover, they claim that when an individual transits from the nature of state to civil society he is improved for sure. Basically, their views of state of nature were different: for Locke state of nature is a peaceful place and for Hobbes it implies brutality, a place f or violence. Therefore, these phlosophers use theoretical tool of â€Å"state of nature† in two different ways: for Hobbes, â€Å"a common Power† is required for people to provide them with safety conditions for existence and avoid conditions of â€Å"Warre† (Hobbes, p. 75). ... Thus, further ideas of Hobbes about a sovereign imply that the latter is the protector of people, the supreme authority. For Locke, sovereign power should be in hands of citizens. In other words, position of Hobbes may be interpreted as relevant to the development of the States with authoritarian regime and Locke’s views are relevant to the States with democracies. Modern Period: Hegel and Marx For Hegel, history’s progression is the realization of absolute mind. In spite of the fact that this concise definition of concept of â€Å"history† was mainly criticized, it should be viewed as an objectification and abstraction of a more multifaceted definition. The main critic of Hegel’s history conceptualization was Marx. Hegel’s philosophy was considered by the latter as an â€Å"inapplicable† philosophy. Hegel’s valuable idea was about history’s progression as the progression of the Spirit from a state of a lesser to a greater freed om. Of course, materialist philosophy developed by Karl Marx contradicts with Hegel’s historical developments. While contrasting spiritual and materialistic philosophies of Marx and Hegel, it can be seen that the moving force for historical development for Marx is material production, not an individual. For Hegel, an important motive forces is mind. The main goal of the State for Hegel is its serving for the needs of people and protection of the private property. For him, the government represents the highest form of ethical life or, in other words, it regulates and corrects internal conflicts of the civil society. For Marx, the civil society is the â€Å"base† for mutual co-existence of productive

The Republic Of Panama Essay Example for Free

The Republic Of Panama Essay Thesis statement. Some economists believe that the Republic of Panama could become the next world business center but others are skeptical about it. Panama is a country in Central America that borders both the Caribbean and the Northern Pacific Ocean between Colombo and Costa Rica .The geographical coordinates of panama are 900 N and 8000 W. Panama has an interesting history as a former colony of Spain starting from the 16th century up to 1821 when it broke ranks with Spain to affiliate with Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela to form the Gran Colombia. This lasted up to 1830 but nevertheless, Panama remained under the control of Colombia. It was through the US backing that Panama was able to break free from Colombia in 1903 when in return, the Panama government signed a treaty with the US to usher in the construction of Panama Canal by the US army corps of engineers. The construction lasted from 1904 to 1914 and upon completion; the canal was to remain under the US control. It was until 1977 that an agreement was signed and subsequently ratified to complete the transfer of the Panama Canal from the US’ stewardship to Panama’s. This was after the deposing of the dictator Manuel Noriega in 1989 that the entire Panama Canal was transferred to Panama together with the areas supporting it, and the US military barracks – an exercise that was completely consummated at the turn of the 21st century. Panamanians have a project underway to double the canal’s capacity (Rigole, 2003).This project is already underway since it began in 2007 and is expected to come to conclusion at the end of 2015. The strengths of the Republic of Panama. Panama’s climate is that of tropical maritime and is hot, humid and cloudy with a protracted rainy season starting from May to January and January to May being the dry season. Based on this, Panama, a country that has 24.4% of its total land as arable land, has a steady food supply since it produces in large scale grain crops such as maize, rice, wheat, cassava, potato, sorghum, millet, and industrial crops such as sugarcane, coffee, tropical timber, peanut, oranges and sesame. Other foodstuffs that are indigenous to Panama include beef (and this is due to the large scale cattle rearing activities in the country), and fishing. The fishing industries thrive herein due to the preponderance of shrimps and lobsters. Although the agricultural output of Panama is not large enough to sustain large scale exports, yet it is reliable enough to sustain steady food supply to sustain the entire population of Panama. An economy that can sustain its population’s food demand stands a higher chance to develop economically to become a business center than its counterpart that lacks these prospects. The economy of Panama is fairing well with the major exports being melons, bananas, water melons, lobsters and shrimps, sugar, coffee and clothing. Of these total exports, the principle market is the US which is now procuring 44.5%. Its imports on other hand entail machinery and transport equipments, chemicals and chemical products, mineral and mineral products, electrical and electrical products and foodstuffs. Panama’s principle source of imports is the USA which makes up 27% of this. The currency used in Panama is balboa, with its mainstay of economy being the industrial sector which account for the 67.1% of the economy. The economic dominance of Panamanian industry is due to the fact that Panama is a country rich in mineral resources such as limestone, deposits of coal, molybdenum, copper, salt and clay. The industrial sector is mainly driven by the processing of paper and paper products, food and beverage processing, textiles and clothing, petrol refining, petroleum products, chemical refinery, light assembly and tourism. America, Spain, Netherlands Costa Rica, Japan, and Sweden form the major trading partners of Panama. The gross domestic product of Panama is 15.5 billion according to the 2005 estimates while the Purchasing Power Parity which is also known as the GNI was American dollar (USD) 7,310. The consumer price inflation remained at 2.8% according to the 2006 estimates. At the same time, unemployment was rated at 13.6% (Institute of Central Business, 32). Given the geographical size of Panama, it enjoys a favorable population of 3,287,500 according to 2006 estimate, and a steady population growth rate of 1.6 % according to 2006 estimate. The population occupying the urban area is rated 58%. However, this should always be checked against the availability of natural resources. A country that has a big population pitted against scarce national resources always experiences lapses in foreign investments since socio economic problems such as unemployment, overcrowding, explosion of diseases, and insecurity are always likely to ensue. Debts are always likely to set in as the government seeks to rectify the situation through foreign borrowing. Such states are always subject to inability to fund the public sector and government projects. Foreign investors shy away from such situations since the securities of their investment in such situations are always in danger of default. At such a time, the government will mostly seek to reverse the situation by selling its securities but this only worsens the situation since this will also lower the worth of these securities Panama’s population distribution is also fairly balanced. The age bracket between 1-14 years makes up 30% of the total population while the bracket representing 15-59 makes 61%. The bracket representing 60 and above accounts for 9%.The age distribution of Panama provides it with adequate labor force since the most productive age group falls under the bracket that ranks the highest. A country or any geo political entity that is about to be considered world business center must have a large working power. A country with a dense transport system, Panama has 116 airports of which 54 have paved runways, a comprehensive road network covering 11,643 km of which 4,028 are paved, 800 kilometers of waterways including the 82 km Panama Canal. In addition to the above, there are 5,764 merchant marines being served by 3 ports and terminals; the Balboa, Colon and Cristobal (Woods, 161). Panama enjoys a fairly balanced political leadership that has taken the form of liberal democracy. The government is well balanced with a clear system of separation of powers whereby the executive, the legislature and the judiciary are clearly separate and autonomous to exercise their duties without interference from any arm. In addition to this, under the aegis of the judiciary, the civil law system and the judicial review of the legislative acts recognize the importance of the International Court Justice. Panama plebiscites after every five years- a process which sees the president and his vice president either being installed into or exiting power depending on the verdict of the majority votes (Schreck, 189). International trade and investments thrive well in democracies and not in communist societies since the former entrenches the concept of free market or the liberalization of the market. Liberalization of the market allows free global flow of capital. Weaknesses of the Republic of Panama Reasons against the notion that Panama cannot arise to become the next world trade center are diverse. The most prominent one argues that as a country, it is still suffering the historical financial crisis of the 80s. In 1980, Panama had a high foreign debt that had accrued as a result of high import rate against the export rate. The explanation behind this was that its high consumption was on imports since there were no local industries. Since 1983 the country has been registering pluses, but the present situation is still tough since Panama has a standing debt which claims 81.2% of its GNP. Although this according to established economies is not very large, yet strictly speaking, Panama will not be able to extricate itself from debt since its debt- to- export ratio is high. The only recourse is to have the 1989 Braddy Initiative to offer Panama an extension implemented, but even this will take 39 years for Panama to clear the debt (World Bank, 217). Other social and health underpinnings can still stand in the way towards the establishment of Panama as world business center. Panamanian medical services are still below the World Health Organization’s standards since out of 10,000 patients, there are 17 doctors (2004 report).On another front, out of 1,000 people, only 13% are landline telephone subscribers. Similarly, out of 100 people interviewed, 16% were internet users, and out of 100 people interviewed, 4.6% were personal computer users. No form of foreign or domestic investment can effectively take place without proper social amenities, communication and communication services. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Institute of Central Business Studies. Mesoamerica. US: University of Virginia, 1982. Rigole, Mark and Langlois, Claude- Victor. Panama. Panama: Ulysses Travel Guides, 2003. Sarah, Kristina. Frommer’s Panama. Central America: John Willeys and Sons, 2007. Woods, Sarah. Panama. Panama: Bradt Travel Guides, 2005. World Bank. Poverty Assessment in Panama: Strategies for Poverty. Panama: WB Publication, 2000.

Marijuana in the Past and Present :: Free Essays Online

Marijuana in the Past and Present    Marijuana is a mixture of leaves, stems, and flowering tops of the Indian hemp plant Cannabis, it may be smoked or eaten for its hallucinogenic and pleasure-giving effects. Marijuana has not been proven to be physically addicting but, psychological dependence can develop.    Many users describe two phases of marijuana intoxication. During the first level the user will experience lightheadedness; next the user will experience peacefulness in the mind. Mood changes are often accompanied by altered perceptions of time. A person will think that hours have gone by, but in reality only minutes have passed. The thinking process usually becomes disrupted by incongruous ideas, images, and memories. Many users report an increase in appetite, heightened sensory awareness, and various hallucinogenic pleasures. The negative side effects include confusion, panic, anxiety attacks, fear, a sense of helplessness, and loss of self-control.    In the United States there were a number of successful efforts, especially in the 1970s, to reduce criminal penalties for possession and use of marijuana, but many of the resulting laws have since been modified or repealed. The smoking of marijuana is so casually taken for granted in much of our culture that many people assume that a marijuana offense these days will rarely lead to a prison term. The fact is that there are more people in prison today for violating marijuana laws than at any other time in the nation's history. Data provided by the Bureau of Prisons and the United States Sentencing Commission suggest that one of every six inmates in the federal prison system has been locked up for a marijuana offense. The number currently being held in state prisons and local jails is more difficult to estimate; an estimated guess would be an additional 20,000 to 30,000. A dozen or more marijuana offenders may now be serving life sentences in federal penitentiaries without hope of paro le. The number of prisoners condemned to die in prison may reach into the hundreds if you include middle-aged inmates with sentences greater than twenty years. Other inmates are serving life terms in state prisons across the country for growing, selling, or even possessing marijuana.    The vigorous enforcement of marijuana laws has resulted in four million arrests since the early 1980s. Due to mandatory-minimum sentences, many of those convicted are receiving stiff prison terms; even as violent criminals are released for lack of space.

Epiphone

The history of Epiphone started in 1873, in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey), where Greek founder Anastasios Stathopoulos made his own fiddles and lutes (oud, laouto). Stathopoulos moved to the United States of America in 1903, and continued to make his original instruments, as well as mandolins, from Long Island City in Queens, New York. Anastasios died in 1915, and his son, Epaminondas, took over. After two years, the company was known as The House Of Stathopoulos. Just after the end of World War I, the company started to make banjos. The company produced its Recording Line of Banjos in 1924, and, four years later, took on the name of the â€Å"Epiphone Banjo Company†. They produced their first guitars in 1928. Epi Stathopoulos died in 1943. Control of the company went to his brothers, Orphie and Frixo. Unfortunately, they were not as capable owners as Epi. In 1951, a four month long strike forced a relocation of Epiphone from New York to Philadelphia. The company was bought out by their main rival, Gibson in 1957. It is extremely important to understand that all Epiphone instruments made between 1957 and 1969 were made in the Gibson factory at 225 Parsons Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan. These 1959–1969 Epiphone instruments were, effectively, identical to the relevant Gibson versions, and made with same timber, materials and components. These guitars were made by the same people, in the same place, and with the same materials and components as the contemporary equivallent Gibson guitars were. They even shared the same Gibson serial-number sequence! To note some of the specific examples of Gibson-made Epiphone instruments from this period: the Epiphone Casino was identical to the Gibson ES-330; the Epiphone Cortez was identical to the Gibson B-25; the Epiphone Olympic Special was technically identical to the Gibson Melody Maker; the Epiphone Sorrento was identical to the Gibson ES-125TC (except for a few cosmetic improvements! ), and the Epiphone Texan was (apart from a change in scale-length) an identical guitar to the Gibson J-45. All of the other Gibson/Kalamazoo-made Epiphones had some clear technical or cosmetic relationship with the relevant Gibson version. This wealth of information can, admittedly, be quite confusing so I direct any interested readers to â€Å"Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars† (Gruhn-Carter, Miller-Freeman Press). Most of the specific information that you will need can be found here. Gibson eventually realized the folly in having two identical brands and, therefore, by 1970, Gibson commenced using the Epiphone brand as a budget-line and started having them made, initially, in Japan. Some confusion arises here because the first year or so of Japanese acoustic guitar production utilizes a label that denotes the address â€Å"Kalamzoo, MI†. At no point does this label say â€Å"Made In USA† but some confusion, especially on internet auction websites, still arises. It is equally important to understand that the overwhelming majority of Epiphone-branded instruments made since 1969 are, in essence, exploitation instruments are and are basically facsimilies of either Gibson (most commonly) or Epiphone guitars of the past. The vast majority of these facsimilies are very decent, budget-versions of the iconic instruments that they replicate and are, in may cases, exactly what a student guitarists needs, but they must not, in any way whatsoever, in terms of materials, components and intrinsic quality, be mistaken for the real item. In the hands of a good player the guitars may sound indistinguishable, but that doesn't grant them inherent equality. [edit]Casino Main article: Epiphone Casino The most famous Epiphone model introduced by Gibson after taking over was the Casino. The Casino was made in the same shape and configuration as a Gibson ES-330 guitar. It has a very heavy sound and is a very good rhythm guitar due to its fairly thick sound when strummed. It is a genuine hollow body electric guitar with single coil P90 pickups. Epiphone Casino VT The Casino is famous for being used by The Beatles. Paul McCartney was the first to acquire one and John Lennon and George Harrison followed suit soon after. Paul McCartney used his for the solo in Taxman and the Casino sound is very prevalent throughout Revolver and their later albums. John Lennon made his Casino one of his main guitars and used it for the rest of his time with the Beatles and into the '70s. Paul still uses his Casino, which has a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, in concert and studio today. [edit]1970–present In the early 1970s, Epiphone began to manufacture instruments in Japan. From the 1980s, Epiphones were manufactured mainly in Korea but also in Japan by contractors licensed by Gibson. One of these contractors was Samick, which also built instruments under license for other brands and in its own name. Thus, a Korean-era solidbody Epiphone would have been built under license. The brand was primarily used to issue less expensive versions of classic Gibson models, in a manner similar to that of the Squier brand by Fender. Like all Asian-made copies, these guitars were constructed using different timbers (usually Nyatoh, for example, instead of Mahogany), were stuck together with epoxies rather than wood-glues, and were finished in hard, quick-to-apply polyester resin rather than the traditional nitro-cellulose lacquer used by Gibson. Nitro-cellulose lacquers are applied very thinly, and as a result, do not impede the resonance of the instrument as resin finishes do. Nitro-cellulose, being a solvent-based lacquer (as opposed to a catalyzed resin), requires many more very thin coats (but still results in a lighter, thinner finish because of much more hand-applied cutting and polishing) and is therefore much more time-consuming (and consequently expensive) to apply. Resin finishes are much quicker and cheaper to apply. These particular budget considerations, along with others such as plastic nuts and cheaper hardware and pickups, allow for a more affordable instrument. Although the decent Epiphone copies look (other than upon very close inspection) to be very much like the iconic, original instruments that they replicate, and often, in the hands of a good player, DO sound very, very close to the originals, they are not, as is the case with all of these budget brands, conceived and constructed to the same intrinsic quality. But it is a matter of budget – if you can look and sound close to how your favorite player sounds for a fraction of the cost then it is a good thing. Gibson, via their Epiphone brand, just like Fender via their Squier brand, bring a close approximation of the real thing to countless players who cannot afford, or justify, the expense of a professional-quality instrument. The result is that Epiphone and Squier have become the world's highest selling brands of electric guitar. Samick has stopped manufacturing guitars in Korea. In 2002, Gibson opened a factory in Qingdao, China, which manufactures Epiphone guitars exclusively. With few exceptions, Epiphones are now built only in the Qingdao factory. Unique Epiphone models, including the Emperor, Zephyr, Riviera and Sheraton, are built to higher quality standards than the company's â€Å"Gibson copy† line. Epiphone also produces a range of higher quality instruments under the â€Å"Elitist Series† moniker, which are built in Japan. The â€Å"Masterbilt† acoustics are manufactured in Qingdao.

Black People and Roberta Essay

In Toni Morrison’s â€Å"Recitatif,† the story is about two girls, Twyla and Roberta. They grow up in an orphanage because their mothers could not care for them. Morrison makes it clear the girls come from different ethnic backgrounds but never states which one is black or white. At one point in the story Twyla comments, â€Å"We looked like salt and pepper. † I grew frustrated with the story and had to read it several times. I could never determine who was black and white and the lesson I learned should have been it doesn’t really matter. The story begins with Twyla’s mother dropping her off at the orphanage. She meets Roberta and they become best friends. The bond they share occurs because they were not considered real orphans. They were abandoned kids unlike the other children whose parents had died. One of the last times the girls see each other was the day of a visitation. On that night, Twyla’s mother was wearing â€Å"those tight green slacks that made her butt stick out. † Many people have labeled blacks as having larger butts. She could have been black, she could have been a heavy white woman with a large butt, or a Hispanic woman like me. But I automatically stereotyped and went with Twyla has to be black. During the visitation Roberta’s mother â€Å"had brought chicken legs. † Twyla notices Roberta does not eat the chicken legs. I always thought black people liked chicken more than white people which means Roberta was white since she did not eat the chicken. Or maybe she just wasn’t hungry. Shortly after that visitation Roberta’s mother came to take her home, leaving the girls devastated. They see each other several times throughout the years. At their first meeting, Roberta was rude and distant because she was high. Roberta tells Twyla she is on the way to see Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was an infamous black guitarist. I thought at this point Roberta has to be black. However Hendrix’s band was interracial with a diverse audience. Roberta could have been white due to the diverse audience. I am a huge Hendrix fan and I am not black so why would I think Roberta is. Twelve years later they meet again at a grocery store. Roberta married a rich man and was extremely friendly to Twyla. Twyla cannot hold back her emotions and asks Roberta about the last time they saw each other. Roberta shrugs it off, â€Å"Oh, Twyla, you know how it was in those days: black—white. You know how everything was. † I can relate to this. In 1980, the Cuban Mariel Boat Lifts came over bring thousands of Cubans. I am Cuban but I was born here. Kids I had known since kindergarten treated me as if I just come over on the boats. It had a lasting effect on me and matured me beyond my years. The third time they meet is at the school where their children attend. Roberta and other mothers were picketing because they did not want their kids to be segregated. This led to a fight severing any last chance of a friendship for them as it would not be resolved until Twyla and Roberta meet for a final time. As the story ends I do not get a sense of closure. The question of which girl is white or black remains unanswered. It opened my eyes and made me question how prejudice I really am. I try to not stereotype as a result of what I went through as a child but I found myself doing just that. I can understand why Morrison wrote the way she. I am not sure what her goal was overall but to me it seemed as if she were teaching me about prejudices. â€Å"Recitatif† challenged me to not judge either girl by their race but accept them for who they are. In the end, what difference did it really make about the girls’ races? The story is about how their friendship develops and then deteriorates. Nothing more; nothing less.

Thier Eyes Were Watching God essays

Thier Eyes Were Watching God essays Janie Crawford, the main character of Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God, was an unusually independent woman as compared to the women of her time. The main plot of Janie's story comes from her life, which is permeated by her men. Though she evolved into an independent woman, Janie was married three times and didnt truly find love until she married her last husband. During her life Janies husbands: Logan Killicks, The Honorable Joe Starks and Tea Cake Woods became her lessons and her legacy; they were her men. Although the novel does not go into deep detail about the first man in Janies life, her life began with disaster through her father. His name is not given but it is noted that he was a white man (the school teacher) who raped her mother, Leafy. Ergo, Janie was raised by her grandmother (Nanny) with no real man in her life as she grew up. However her grandmother tried to raise her to get a good husband. The second man in Janies life was really the first physical encounter, though there was no major interaction between the two. Johnny Taylor was a young neighborhood man that steals a kiss from young Janie. As she enjoys the kiss and is just about to develop an initial opinion about men, Nanny walks in and catches Janie in the act. This incident will be an unfortunate prediction of her life. As with all of her men, just as things are going to progress to a stage of pleasantries and tolerance, the men are gone. This first real man in Janies life is Logan Killicks. Logan, her first husband was a farmer. This marriage was arranged by Nanny to ensure that her granddaughter would be well taken care of for life. Nanny didnt realize that the come-as-it-may lifestyle that she allowed to live would seriously conflict with the life of a farm wife. Logan expected Janie to be the perfect wife and farm hand ...

Differences Between Correlation and Causation

Differences Between Correlation and Causation One day at lunch a young woman was eating a large bowl of ice cream, and a fellow faculty member walked up to her and said, â€Å"You had better be careful, there is a high statistical correlation between ice cream and drowning.† She must have given him a confused look, as he elaborated some more. â€Å"Days with the most sales of ice cream also see the most people drown.† When she had finished my ice cream the two colleagues discussed the fact that just because one variable is statistically associated with another, it doesn’t mean that one is the cause of the other. Sometimes there is a variable hiding in the background. In this case, the day of the year is hiding in the data. More ice cream is sold on hot summer days than snowy winter ones. More people swim in the summer, and hence more drown in the summer than in the winter. Beware of Lurking Variables The above anecdote is a prime example of what is known as a lurking variable. As its name suggests, a lurking variable can be elusive and difficult to detect. When we find that two numerical data sets are strongly correlated, we should always ask, â€Å"Could there be something else that is causing this relationship?† The following are examples of strong correlation caused by a lurking variable: The average number of computers per person in a country and that country’s average life expectancy.The number of firefighters at a fire and the damage caused by the fire.The height of an elementary school student and his or her reading level. In all of these cases, the relationship between the variables is a very strong one.  This is typically indicated by a correlation coefficient that has a value close to 1 or to -1.  It does not matter how close this correlation coefficient is to 1 or to -1, this statistic cannot show that one variable is the cause of the other variable. Detection of Lurking Variables By their nature, lurking variables are difficult to detect. One strategy, if available, is to examine what happens to the data over time. This can reveal seasonal trends, such as the ice cream example, that get obscured when the data is lumped together. Another method is to look at outliers and try to determine what makes them different than the other data. Sometimes this provides a hint of what is happening behind the scenes. The best course of action is to be proactive; question assumptions and design experiments carefully. Why Does It Matter? In the opening scenario, suppose a well-meaning but statistically uninformed congressman proposed to outlaw all ice cream in order to prevent drowning. Such a bill would inconvenience large segments of the population, force several companies into bankruptcy, and eliminate thousands of jobs as the country’s ice cream industry closed down. Despite the best of intentions, this bill would not decrease the number of drowning deaths. If that example seems a little too far fetched, consider the following, which actually happened. In the early 1900s, doctors noticed that some infants were mysteriously dying in their sleep from perceived respiratory problems. This was called crib death and is now known as SIDS. One thing that stuck out from autopsies performed on those who died from SIDS was an enlarged thymus, a gland located in the chest. From the correlation of enlarged thymus glands in SIDS babies, doctors presumed that an abnormally large thymus caused improper breathing and death. The proposed solution was to shrink the thymus with high does of radiation, or to remove the gland entirely. These procedures had a high mortality rate and led to even more deaths. What is sad is that these operations didn’t have to have been performed. Subsequent research has shown that these doctors were mistaken in their assumptions and that the thymus is not responsible for SIDS. Correlation Does Not Imply Causation The above should make us pause when we think that statistical evidence is used to justify things such as medical regimens, legislation, and educational proposals. It is important that good work is done in interpreting data, especially if results involving correlation are going to affect the lives of others. When anyone states, â€Å"Studies show that A is a cause of B and some statistics back it up,† be ready to reply, â€Å"correlation does not imply causation.† Always be on the lookout for what lurks beneath the data.

Malnutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Malnutrition - Essay Example The study focused primarily on children under the age of five and their caregivers. The sample population consisted of 1978 caregivers and 2201 children. Through a survey consisting of structured questionnaires, the researchers sought the caregivers’ input regarding their feeding practices, and this information, coupled with anthropometric measurements, helped the researchers to deduce the children’s overall nutrition and health status. The researchers discovered at least five prominent health-related problems that affected the children. These problems included widespread stunting among the children as a massive proportion of the children were underweight and wasting. Secondly, the researchers discovered that caregivers in the 7 counties breastfed their children for short durations particularly among children below 36 months. Another critical issue discovered in the counties was the lack of exclusivity in breastfeeding children under 6 months. With regard to breastfeedi ng, the researchers further discovered low prevalence of sustained breastfeeding up to the age of one year. Another critical problem was the inadequate delivery of complementary foods to some infants aged between 6 and 8 months. The last major issue discovered through the research was an increased prevalence of stunting among children who had never received breast milk, as well as those who had not been breastfed for at least 1 year. In addition, it was discovered that stunting was quite prevalent among children whose feeding practices comprised primarily of poor quality semi-solid foods (Zhou, Wang, Ye, Zeng & Wang, 2012). Based on these issues and findings, the researchers determined that poor feeding practices such as lack of exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months, provision of complementary foods between 6 and 8 months, or provision of poor quality foods, were the primary causes of malnutrition among most children in the 7 counties of China. The primary themes d iscussed in the article include poverty and ignorance, which detrimentally affect caregivers’ provision of superior quality nutrition to their children, particularly those under the critical age of 5 years. The authors hypothesize that there is a close link between poverty and ignorance on the feeding practices of children, and this subsequently results in malnutrition. As a consequence, Zhou, Wang, Ye, Zeng & Wang (2012) proposed the implementation of additional programs to enhance the level of knowledge on effective feeding practices among caregivers. The researchers further suggested that these programs should be implemented in all remote and impoverished regions of China so as to improve the overall health of children under the age of 5 years. The study’s main strength lies in its execution. The study comprises of comprehensive sections that examine different aspects that play a part in asserting the study’s hypothesis. The study, therefore, manages to affir m its hypothesis showing that there is a close link between feeding practices of children below 5 years of age and malnutrition (Zhou, Wang, Ye, Zeng & Wang, 2012). However, the study’s primary weakness involves the ethical requirement of informed consent for all participants. Although the researchers give details of the number of participants and the form of questioning used to