My Antonia by Willa Cather Essay Example for Free

My Antonia by Willa Cather Essay In view of the novel, Jim Burden’s perception of Antonia and even the manner in which he takes a gander at her and interfaces with her, it appears to be certain that he adored Antonia. He didn't seek after her, be that as it may. Jim spent his youth in his grandfather’s house in the grassland and invested a great deal of energy with Antonia. In the long run, in the subsequent book, he invests more energy with Antonia and furthermore with the young ladies working around. It is as of now that he sees the sexuality of Antonia. Consequently, his portrayals of Antonia, and later of Lena, become accused of sexuality. Jim Burden’s relationship with Antonia stayed dispassionate first, in light of the fact that Antonia put accentuation on the four years contrast they had and looked down at Jim as her lesser. Henceforth, Jim felt that Antonia looked down on him as a kid. At the point when he directed his concentration toward Lena Lingard, she chose to play with the youthful man’s emotions. Antonia needed to intercede to forestall Jim from being sorrowful. The connection among Antonia and Jim stayed non-romantic, at any rate on a superficial level. Jim didn't see through the resistances set up by Antonia to forestall their being connected impractically together. In any case, since Jim directed his concentration toward Lena, Antonia felt that she ought to secure the feelings of Jim. Jim and Antonia are associated with the strings of youth and of the fellowship of growing up together. Be that as it may, Jim, being a vagrant and a man, needs to study and seek after his fantasies for himself. His training and the very demonstration of seeking after his fantasies disrupt the general flow among him and Antonia. A long time later when he returns and discovers Antonia with her significant other and her ten kids, he feels loving to them yet he includes a thoughtful aching by saying that Antonia and he â€Å"possessed together the valuable, the incommunicable past. † In the end, that was what they shared together. Works Cited Cather, Willa. My Antonia. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1954.

What Constitutes Plagiarism free essay sample

Two things you can abstain from being blamed For written falsification, rewording (re-writing in your own words) Textbooks and different articles are just utilized as a wellspring of data from which you can write in your own words, what are significant focuses. At the point when you have to depend on source content for data summarizing ought to be utilized the most. Additionally think about significant purposes of perspectives on various writers that you have perused, include own remarks the subject under discussion.Which you can look at changed writers that you have perused, and include your own. You will think of an awesome task. Observing the guidelines when duplicating legitimately from the content. There will be times where you can cite the source the manner in which it is. You should keep certain standards. You should once in a while duplicate entire passages in your composition. Short piece of a source content can be replicated if necessary. The specific wellspring of your citation must be known. We will compose a custom paper test on What Constitutes Plagiarism or on the other hand any comparable theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page It must be demonstrated plainly. You should duplicate straightforwardly when words are to the point to your task or discussion.Does literary theft exist in the youth instruction framework and how can it contrast based on what is normal at college? Copyright infringement exists in the youth instruction framework as educators use assets adjusted from another work which might be considered as an immediate reiteration or anothers work parcel copying as kids continually duplicate different words, thoughts of different assets. At college understudies get rebuffed for literary theft as kids in youth setting are urged to duplicate it is significant for their learning venture.

Reminders Deadlines and Office Closures COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Reminders Deadlines and Office Closures COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog I have two announcements for today: (1.) This is a just a friendly reminder that the Fall 2016 Early-Action Deadline is today, November 2, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  So get that application in before its too late. Youll not only be eligible for SIPAs merit-based aid, but youll have the added benefit of  knowing your admission decision two months sooner than anybody else! So finish your application while youve still got time. (2.) The Office of Admissions Financial Aid will be closed for Election Day, on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. We will reopen during normal business hours on Wednesday, November 4, 2015. [Photo courtesy of  April Sikorski  | CC BY-SA 2.0]

Essay on Equality Free at Last! - 816 Words

â€Å"The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human, and, therefore, brothers.† Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once preached this to his congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church. I found this to be true on a trip I took to the Deep South with a group I am in called Operation Understanding Hampton Roads. OUHR promotes the interaction between Jewish and African American students in order to learn about each others cultures. In the Deep South, my OUHR group visited several cities which were significant to the civil rights movement, such as Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Atlanta. Since I have grown up in a racially tolerant house, I felt I had nothing to gain from the trip besides†¦show more content†¦Following the tragic event, white strangers, even some with Confederate license plates, visited the grieving families to express their sorrow. At the funeral for three of the girls, Martin Luther King, Jr., sp oke about life being quot;as hard as crucible steel.quot; More than 8,000 mourners, including 800 clergymen of both races, attended the service. Joanne explained that this event was historic because people of both races gathered together to mourn. This was one of the first times that people went against the conventional thinking of the time. Race did not matter; it was the fact that four innocent children, who were killed in an act of violence, needed to be memorialized. This was a crucial step to attaining civil rights for everyone, and towards my better understanding of why this was important. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;From there, Joanne took us to the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, where I learned the importance of involvment. The National Voting Rights Museum and Institute was founded in Selma, Alabama by survivors of Americas quot;Bloody Sundayquot; massacre to honor the courage of civil rights supporters who endured hatred and violence and died to gain the right to vote for Black Americans. Joanne told us about an 11 year old girl who stood with the marchers and was jailed with them until they were freed by Attorney General Robert Kennedy. In 1964, that girl, who was our tour guide, Joanne Bland, became the founder of the NationalShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Martin Luther Kings I Have A Dream Speech989 Words   |  4 Pagesthe most influential quotes of all-time, Martin Luther King Jr. did not fail to expound on her statement. In his life as well as Martin Luther King Jr.’s, â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, he was an avid and determined African American striving for racial equality. He allowed for others to follow his lead and to continue his legacy as the U.S continues to live on as a nation of freedom, liberty, and security. King’s presentation addresses the African American race, expressing a daring opinion for the whitesRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech768 Words   |  4 PagesEmancipation Proclamation and how 100 years after that was signed, black people still are not completely free. He also articulates how they must fight nonviolently to achieve equality. He sheds light on police brutality and how they must not turn their backs until they have nothing left to fight for. His persistence in the rebellion causes more and more people to join in on his fight for true equality that isn’t separated from other races. He points out many times that it is obviously stated in the DeclarationRead MoreAnalysis Of Martin Luther Kings I Have A Dream Speech1031 Words   |  5 Pagesone of the inf luential quotes of all-time, Martin Luther King Jr. did not fail to expound on her statement. In his life as well as Martin Luther King Jr’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, he was an avid and determined African American striving for racial equality. He allowed for others to follow his lead, and to continue his legacy as the U.S continues to live on as a nation of freedom, liberty, and a home of safe living. King’s presentation addresses the African American race, expressing a daring opinionRead MoreA Comparison of the Declaration of Independence and Kings I Have A Dream1264 Words   |  6 Pagesessentially comes back to one point: all men, regardless of anything, are created equally, and therefore have a right to be free.   The Declaration of Independence, by Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King, Jr.s I Have A Dream are two works addressing this concern.   Although Jefferson and King led extremely different lives over 150 years apart, both faced issu es of human equality that drove them to write two of the most influential works in American history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thomas JeffersonRead MoreRacism Through the Decades: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain647 Words   |  3 Pagessymbols of the novel which are the raft, the river, and land. Themes of this novel are racism and equality, freedom, and the importance of friendship. The raft that Huck and Jim spent many days floating on symbolizes equality whereas the raft was the only place that they could speak together as equals despite the colors of their skin. The Mississippi river which Huck and Jim floated down shows how free they are compared to being on land. Land represents the exact opposite of the river. It shows howRead MoreIf We Must Die By Claude Mckay1161 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"What is equality?† one might ask. We all have different views on specific topics and can describe what something truly means to one’s self like in the 3 text, â€Å"I have a dream,† by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (published; 8/28 /1963, genre; narrative and argumentative), â€Å"If we must die,† by Claude Mckay (published; 1919, genre; narrative and lyric), â€Å"Harrison Bergeron,† by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (published; October 1961, genre; satirical dystopian science-fiction short story). In all 3 texts the authorsRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes s The Crucible 872 Words   |  4 Pageslooked at to be the most â€Å"free† country’s to live in. To many people in today’s society, they see America as a great place to live and that you can accomplish or get anything that the person wants. However, there are some key points that Langston Hughes shows in his two poems that can show a reader how America being perfectly â€Å"free† is not the case. Langston Hughes makes three key points in Open Letter to The South and Let America Be America Again, which are America’s equality, freedom, and Race. LangstonRead MoreAnalysis Of Martin Luther King Jr s I Have A Dream S peech1480 Words   |  6 PagesAugust 28, 1963. Throughout the decades, many have promoted the importance of racial equality in America. Leaders such as William J. Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush have contributed to modern social movements by, doing as Dr. King himself, giving speeches to varying audiences concerning the issue of racial inequality. Above all, Martin Luther King Jr made the strongest argument advocating racial equality in America because his speech remains well-organized and formatted, incorporates a varietyRead MoreAmerican Beliefs and Values719 Words   |  3 Pagestowards the thirteen colonies. This time period included the famous Revolutionary war where the British colonies broke away from England and became independent and free. The American’s beliefs and values developed during this time and became important to why they were fighting for their freedom. Religion, freedom and liberty, and equality was only three of the many values the Americans had. Religion was important to the Americans during the Revolutionary period. George Washington states in his RulesRead MoreAristotle, Joseph Schumpeter, Milton Friedman, And John Rawls1230 Words   |  5 Pagesconcept of equality is multi-faceted and widely debated among scholars. While there is no singular definition for equality, equality deals with the distribution of some â€Å"thing† in a specific domain. For this paper, equality will be narrowed down to the domains of economic and political. It is essential to note that distinct types of equality can become conditions for equality in a different domain. In this case, economic equality will be analyzed as a condition for political equality. How is it

Essay about The American Obsession With Sports - 1893 Words

The complexity of this issue is almost insurmountable. Its array covers the simplistic to that of possible genetic coding of the different ethnic groups involved. John Kenneth Galbraith, a sociological expert said â€Å"We associate truth with convenience.† It may be as simple, and I believe it is, as people do what they feel like putting their time and energy into. People pursue what interests them. Does everything have to come back to black and white? Brown’s study states that Black and White athletes have a positive association with the sports that they play and do not perceive racial or ethnic discrimination is any longer a problem. However, Simiyu, states that his research reflects the Black community, the families are actually pushing†¦show more content†¦(Brown, T.) We need to be cognizant of the results of this however. The same ethnic as well as social issues society faces are faced in sports. Our sports play a huge role in the daily lives of families all across the United States for both blacks and whites. The same can be said for playing or following sport teams. Sports can bring families together creating support among siblings and parents and in-laws. They may allow more family bonding while traveling to practices and games. The family may also use the game time to unite with other families and even create life long friendships. Its great enjoyment for everyone, or is it? Simiyu asserts that â€Å"as a black male child grows, he is systematically channeled towards the world of athleticism as evidenced by the overwhelming presence in sport.† Cozzillio states â€Å"In sports†¦we seem both united and divided, and the divisions ultimately seem rooted not so much in differences in interest or aptitude, but rather more in disparities in knowledge and in access to knowledge; the divisions are rooted, that is to say, in unequal opportunities.† Those who play sports play their own game; none play the same as the oth er. Just as individual as the way someone participates in a sport their interests are just that individual too. The choice of what to play however is not always based on the individual’s character as it mayShow MoreRelated Worship of Sports Teams and Athletes1127 Words   |  5 Pagesacross the nation follow every stat, every play, and every game of their favorite sports teams. If you ask any football fan what Sunday means they will probably reply football and drinking with the guys instead of church. Is it a good thing that people plan their lives around what time their teams’ play? When you base your life around a single sports team or a favorite athlete then it can be very problematic. Worship of sports teams and athletes is damaging to society; it can cause you to lose focus onRead More Adolescent Eating Disorders Essay1670 Words   |  7 Pagesthese disorders, but we do know that recovery is possible. A supportive friend and family base, along with education in early childhood seems to be a logical step in the right direction. The inaccurate obsession with food seems to be the cause of bulimia; however, the inaccurate obsession with weight seems to be the cause of anorexia. A majority of research suggest that the media is responsible for this, due to the fact they idolize the thin, slender figure. For bulimics, the delight of bingingRead MoreHemingway: Ernest Hemingway was one of America’s best authors. He started out writing many1100 Words   |  5 PagesHemingway: Ernest Hemingway was one of America’s best authors. He started out writing many articles, and then even novels fro some of his lifetime experiences. Hemingway was a great influence on American society. Although Hemingway had many misfortunes in his life, he was a great writer. Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899 to Clarence and Grace Hemingway in Oak Park, Illinois. He had five siblings; Marcelline, Ursula, Madelaine, Carol, and Leicester. During his lifetime, Hemingway wroteRead MoreHigh School Sports in America Essay1146 Words   |  5 Pages Save High School Sports For years, sports have been a part of American high schools. They have been a source of school pride and give people a connection to their school. They break up the otherwise mundane routine of going to class and doing schoolwork. In recent years there has been a huge push by researchers, educators, politicians, and parents to figures out why America’s schools are constantly falling behind other countries in crucial test subjects. One of the latest reasons to blame for theRead MoreThe Addictive Nature Of Sugar1600 Words   |  7 Pagesabove. Sugar has also been useful to help preserve goods, fuel fermentation, balance acidity, and add flavor to other foods. Whether it’s cereal, spaghetti sauce, or yogurt, sugar is everywhere and has become unavoidable in our daily diets. As Americans, we have become accustomed to the sweet addictive taste of sugar, and our dependence on excessive amounts of sugar in its different forms has become alarming to many health experts. In a nalyzing preference and dependency with sugar, I will traceRead MoreJ.k. Rowling s The World Of The Olympics955 Words   |  4 PagesHistory of Quidditch The sport quidditch was first played in 2005 at Middlebury College by Harry Potter fan, freshman Xander Manshel. Xander had been looking for something he could start that showed his appreciation for his love of sports and his love of J.K. Rowling’s best selling book series, Harry Potter. Once Xander got a team together it’s popularity started to grow around campus and six more teams were formed. In 2006 quidditch players told their friends about the newest sport and quidditch’s popularityRead MoreEssay about The Football Player Duane Hanson1031 Words   |  5 Pagestop of his helmet in terrible exhaustion. The piece was meant to commemorate an American society where football is not just a job or a pastime, but a way of life, an obsession. It also exemplifies the constant body preparation and consciousness that athletes have to endure, as well as the exhaustion created from this constantly prepared state. â€Å"The Football Player† shows how physically draining this obsession can be. NFL quarterback Matt Leinart eerily describes the drain a football game hasRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1655 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s was a time for many new opportunities for women in America, including participating in sports and becoming athletes. Prior to the Roaring Twenties, only upper-class women had participated in sports. These wealthy women had joined sports clubs, social clubs, and country clubs. They engaged in sports at institutions, as well as playing sports while vacationing in Europe (Women’s Sports Foundation, 2/21/2011). An example of a woman like this would be Jordan Baker, a character from the novelRead MoreSports Programs For Children And Young Adults1558 Words   |  7 Pageshappens in many contact sports. An example of a traumatic brain injury is a concussion. These are very serious injuries, killing over 50,000 people per year. Contact sports have a great contribution to this number, which causes people to inquire: Are contact sports programs for children and teenagers too intense? A bunch of people think they are too intense because of the injuries, deaths, and emotions that they sometimes cause. But some people think that the sports are not too intense becauseRead MoreProfessional And Amateu r Level Sports1330 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States of America, professional and amateur level sports are a significant part of our culture. However, in the African-American disadvantaged communities, many people view playing sports as the only way out of poverty (Anderson 364-365). As a result, parents of potential athletes start raising their sons and daughters to become so-called blue chip athletes practically at birth (Anderson 364-365). Moreover, the obsession to play sports in these communities at an extremely young age is the

Graham vs Connor Free Essays

Graham vs. Connor On February 21st, 1989 Dethorn Graham, a diabetic was having an insulin type reaction. He called his friend Berry and asked if he could pick him up and take him to buy juice from the local convenience store to stop the reaction. We will write a custom essay sample on Graham vs Connor or any similar topic only for you Order Now When he arrived at the store Graham noticed the long line at the cash register and decided the wait was too long. He ran out of the store and got back into Berry’s car and asked if he could take him to a friend’s house around the corner. A city police officer, Connor, was on patrol when he noticed Graham enter the store and leave quickly, and became suspicious. The officer followed Berry’s car and performed an investigative stop. Connor had both men sit and wait while the officer made sure nothing had gone on inside of the store. Responding back up police arrived on scene and did not listen to Graham’s explanation of his condition. The handcuffed him and ruffed him up a little in the process, Graham received multiple injuries. Officer Connor let Graham go after discovering that he had done nothing wrong. Graham sustained multiple injuries. Graham filed a law suit in the District Court under against all respondents, stating that Connor and the other officers had used excessive force in making the stop, in violation of Graham’s 14th amendment. In this case there are many things that Graham and Connor could do differently. Being a diabetic I believe that Graham should have been provided an insulin shot and he should have it on him at all times. Also when entering the store I believe that Graham should have alerted a worked or the people in line that he was having a reaction and to allow him to move to the front of the line. I believe that Graham could have been nicer to the officer, when he was in the car Graham stated, â€Å"If he thinks I’m going to sit here in the car while I’m dying to wait for him to find out something when there really is nothing. (1)† If he would have explained to the officer that he was having a sugar type reaction the officer may have been more helpful. There were a few things that the officer did that he could have done differently to stop any problems. First Connor did a good job in making an investigation stop, due to the suspiciousness Graham displayed. When Connor pulled over Berry and noticed something wrong with Graham that should have become the main focus of the officer. After Berry told the office that his friend was having an insulin type reaction, Connor should have immediately called an ambulance. This way there is no problem and that Graham would not be in harm. The officers should not have been as tough as they were with Graham, unless he was fighting, then the appropriate force should have been used. If not then the force was unnecessary. I believe that the officers were not right in what they did. I believe that Graham had a serious medical condition and was not being treated for it. I believe the force used against Graham was used not to protect but to just cause harm. There was no proven evidence that graham did anything wrong. The officer was going all off what he believed may have been a crime, and in the long run could have caused a more serious injury to Graham. I do not believe that a person should just be able to complain that they were being mistreated without and evidence, because that would happen too often by people who want easy money. Work Cited (1) â€Å"Graham v. Connor, Trial Record. † Graham v. Connor, Trial Record. N. p. , n. d. Web. 08 Apr. 2013. (2) â€Å"Graham v. Connor – 490 U. S. 386 (1989). † Justia US Supreme Court Center. N. p. , n. d. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. How to cite Graham vs Connor, Papers

My Brother Is a Role Model free essay sample

A role model is important. For many people, it is a professional athlete, a lawyer or an author. For me, it is my brother. My brother plays the most important role in my family because he cares a lot about my education, he is responsible, and helpful. For one, my brother is my role model because he cares a lot about my education. To begin, when I was in sixth grade in Mrs. Tijera’s math class, it left me with a bad experience. For example, I remember when we had math tests, homework assignments and quizzes, I received all F’s. Everything in math I did was always wrong. In math, the numbers gave me a hard time, so my brother motivated me to keep pushing forward. He stayed up with me, time after time, until I improved my grades to and used it as an example to better myself overall. We will write a custom essay sample on My Brother Is a Role Model or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He believes that getting a college education leads to getting a better job. When he was in college he started his first job at the entry level position in banking. He graduated and got his master’s in business so now he gets paid better and can enjoy his house, new car and family. He had taught me that I could learn from my failures. Hence, my brother is my role model cares a lot about my education and helped me succeed in my math class, the way my bother worked with me then, is how he works with me now. Secondly, I look up to my brother because he has a career in banking and is responsible. When my brother entered his job he entered an entry level position he did not have much responsibility. His position in the company was at the lowest of them all. After completing his college education he moved into a management position. He begun to be a leader and started moving up the ladder into a management position and moved to a different bank in the same company. He had gain trust to control from his management position so he had more responsibility. He had to make sure what he controlled ran smoothly and save the company cost so therefore money. In conclusion, it began to better his life and because of this I can see that it is possible. It encourages me to be responsible and too see myself succeed by going to each of my college classes until I can graduate too. Lastly, my brother plays the most important role in my family because he is helpful. For one, he has helped our family in many ways. In a way my brother helped our family household when we did not expect my brother too. For example, he has helped around the house by paying our water bill when we really needed it. Also, when he lived at home with us, he would buy our groceries and many household necessities: a toaster, fridge, and a microwave. To conclude, it is because of these things that my brother did that make my admiration grow. To conclude, throughout my childhood my brother was there for me, and what he has done has made him a caring, loving, and respectful person in my eyes. He has gone to college, he got a better job, and he has helped my family around the house and has time for all of his family. Therefore, I admire him and I aspire to be more like him.

The Glass Menagerie Vs. The Death Of A Salesman Essays -

The Glass Menagerie vs. The Death of a Salesman In both The Glass Menagerie and The Death of a Salesman there are startling similarities and differences. After reading and analyzing both plays, these aspects become evident. We see these differences in their styles, acts, scenes, characters, endings and uses of symbolism. The two authors are very similar. I believe that the two combined many autobiographical tidbits hidden within the plays. For example, I do not believe that is was by mere coincidence that the main character of The Glass Menagerie, Thomas Wingfield, had the same initials of its playwright, Thomas ?Tennessee? Williams. Another autobiographical aspect is that of using the idea of a crippled little sister and an ex-southern belle for the other two main characters. These characters and their distinct characteristics held true to Tennessee Williams' own life. The character Willy Loman also depicts autobiographical parts of the life of Arthur Miller. It wasn't as blatantly obvious, but the character Willy Loman felt he was inadequate and his life was wasted, just as Miller did at this point in his life. The weak father-son relationship was also an aspect of Miller's life, which he illustrates through Biff and Willy. Both of the playwrights ended the plays leaving the audience in awe, and th inking, ?it ends like that! I believe that the primary reason these authors are so highly regarded is because they broke away from the idea of a ?fairy-tale? ending. In their own way both endings are happy, even though Willy Loman dies and Laura Wingfield is left without a gentleman caller. Willy Loman is finally released from his burden and can stop selling himself. Tom realizes his love for his sister and that he will never forget Laura. Both of the plays reflect the time they were written in, and therefore have many similarities. The plays also have many contrasting points. Miller uses the idea of more scenery changes then Willaims does. The Glass Menagerie takes place in one main spot and never leaves the Wingfield house. Therefore, the play has only one act with seven different scenes. The Death of a Salesman flashes between the present and the past and moves to different places (i.e. the office, the restaurant) therefore, meriting more divisions or scenes. The play Willaims wrote includes more fantasy and imagination. He uses the analogy of Laura as being a glass fragile creature and living in a world apart from others. Willy, besides his babbling, is chucked into a world of reality for which he is not prepared. The use of music in The Glass Menagerie after every scene sets the scene and foreshadows what is to be, whereas The Death of a Salesman, jumps into the action with no knowledge of what is to be. The Death of a Salesman uses many more characters then The Glass Menagerie. Both techniques are successf ul in telling the stories. We get to know the characters equally well and therefore this doesn't become a huge factor. Both are classics, and yet, both are incredibly different. These two plays written by playwrights during the same period of American Literature display remarkable similarities and differences. They display these through their styles, lengths of the works, characters, endings and uses of symbolism. They exhibit both the clich?s and controversial material that make them timeless classics.

Understanding Food Ways Essays - Middle Eastern Cuisine, Free Essays

Understanding Food Ways Essays - Middle Eastern Cuisine, Free Essays Anthropology Understanding Food Ways My interviewee, Judith, is Mexican and her diet revolves around her culture. I come from a Persian family, so my family dines on a lot of Persian Cuisine. Her main types of dishes that her family prepares for her are Enchiladas, Posole, and Sopes. An enchilada is a tortilla rolled around a variety of filling, which can consist of meat, cheese, beans, potatoes, vegetables, seafood, etc. Posole, or Pozole, is a traditional soup or stew from Mexico. A Sope is a Mexican dish, which came from the southern parts of Mexico. It consists of a thick fried masa, and topped with refried black beans, crumbled cheese, lettuce, onions, salsa, and a variety of other ingredients. The staple dishes in my family are Kabobs, or Kebabs, which are a Middle Eastern/Mediterranean/South Asian dish which is a rolled up piece of meat and vegetables that is skewed and grilled. My family incorporates rice into almost every Persian dish we eat, and I dont want to brag, but my family has just about perfected it. B oth of our mothers cook, but my dad cooks just as much as my mother does. Her mother acquires their food from a local grocery store, as do my parents. Both our families prepare and cook food in the kitchen with various spices and styles. Judith and her sister serve the food, while my parents prepare the food. My brother and I will set up the table and thats all we do. Both of our mothers had learned how to cook from their mothers. My mom actually has box with hundreds of flashcards filled with recipes. Judith is Catholic, but it doesnt affect her familys diet, aside from lend. Her ethnicity plays a role in what kind of ingredients are used, based off tradition. My family comes from a Muslim origin, and although we dont practice any religion, you wont catch us ever cooking pork, aside from bacon; but we will absolutely devour a pepperoni pizza when necessary. Gender does not play a role in any of our familys food traditions. Judith does not necessarily read the labels on the food products she eats. When my parents go to grocery store, or if I am ever the one doing the grocery shopping, I make sure that the beef we buy comes from grass-fed, and that the chickens are cage-free. I dont think most people actually know where their food comes from, mainly because of how the companies and corporations can hide it and mask the truth. I havent learned anything I didnt know from this article, but I think its great that this class is incorporating it into the curriculum, because people just dont understand how disgusting some of the substances we inhale are. Judith and I cannot compare to the Waorani, mainly because they go and hunt for thei r meat, and pick their crops. Ive yet to go hunting or anything even remotely close, but my family does grow tomatoes, guava, mint, and basil. Thats as close as I can relate myself to them.

Hervey Dunns and the Indian artwork Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hervey Dunns and the Indian artwork - Essay Example Regarding movement, both artists have directed the viewers’ eyes across their artwork. The artists have showed direction and action in the manner through which they direct the movement of eyes across the artwork. The artists have utilised rhythm in the manner they direct the movement of the eyes across the artwork. Rhythms are displayed in the way the elements are arranged in the artwork. The artists organised the elements in an orderly manners, such that, the artists follow the elements in an orderly manner. Hervey Dunn’s art displays a unity design, where everything works, or fits together as a team. The Unity design is highlighted through continuity, where the alignment of the shape and figures ensures that a viewer moves from one part to another in a definite order. Proximity is another unity design elements, all the parts of the art are grouped together, clustered, and enclosed into sets. The art displays harmony, where related materials, colours, and textures are used. The unity design is brought about by harmony, whereby, the related colours and materials are utilised in the elements, such as flowers. In the Indian artwork, the unity is displayed through proximity; the elements of the artwork are grouped together. About the colour, Hervey Dunn and the Indian artwork utilises hue that is, they use primary colours. In chroma, the intensity of the colour in the images can be characterised as bright. The colour value of the image as light, with the intensity of the hue, such as, red, yellow, etc.

An auteur and The Rear Window film Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An auteur and The Rear Window film - Assignment Example What is meant by the term genre? What genre is Rear Window and what recognizable elements are present in the film that help to identify its generic identity? A genre is any category that literature and art in general falls in. This takes into consideration the content, technique employed, style and the presentation of the subject matter. Music for instance, has different genre. This means that every type of music has a certain genre that it falls in. Rear Window film falls in drama film type of genre. This is because of a number of reasons. Firstly, there is intense display of emotions. The story is also based on real life issues that take place in everyday live activities. A drama film majorly focuses on such; emotions and being based on real life issues. 3. What are the principal themes in Rear Window? In other words, what is the film about? Bear in mind that this is a different issue than thinking about what happens in the film (though they are closely related of course). What are the bigger ideas to which the film is pointing us? There is the theme of conflict where there is some disagreement between Jefferies and himself, Jefferies and the neighbours and Jefferies and Stella. Jefferies is not ready to agree to what happened to him, being confined in a wheel chair. He is also not comfortable with what is happening to his neighbours. As a result, he sits to watch them, something that is making him to have a negative attitude towards marriage, leading to the second theme.

Number of Folds in Paper: Thickness of Earth to Sun

Number of Folds in Paper: Thickness of Earth to Sun Calculating the number of folds and the hypothetical size of a piece of paper so that its thickness equates to the distance from the Earth to Saturn. As a physics student doing the option on astrophysics, I have become very interested in the immensity of the universe. I decided it would be intriguing to combine it with my personal hobby of doing origami which helps me to relieve stress. As a result, I investigated the amount of times a piece of paper would need to be folded in half so that its thickness achieves a length which equates to the distance from the Earth to Saturn. I have chosen the planet Saturn because it is one of the biggest planets that can be observed by the naked eye and I have been able to see it last summer from the top of a high hill in La Pedriza in the Guadarrama mountain range near my hometown (Collado Villalba, Madrid, Spain). Popular claims suggested that it is impossible to fold a piece of paper in half more than seven times no matter its size or thickness.   Previous mathematicians have worked out the number of folds required to reach the moon from the Earth which was worked out to be 42 folds[1] using a m thick paper. The size of the paper however, was not found. In theory, the average folds for a normal size A4 (m) paper is seven. This is an interesting topic because it is incredible how, by exponential growth, a miniature of m thick like a piece of paper can be folded in half to reach the distance of the planet Saturn. Britney Gallivan[2] was able to fold a piece of toilet paper of 1200 meters a number of 12 folds. She derived two mathematical expressions based on geometrical sequences, taking into consideration the amount of paper lost in every fold. These formulas make it possible to calculate the hypothetical length L and width W of a piece of paper that would be folded n times to equate the distance from the Earth to Saturn. Gallivan established some rules that would need to be followed when folding a sheet of paper in half:       A single rectangular sheet of paper of any size and uniform thickness can be used. The fold line has to be in the same direction each time. The folding process must not tear the paper. When folded in half, the portions of the inner layers which face one another must almost touch one another. The average thickness or structure of material of paper must remain unaffected by the folding process. A fold is considered complete if portions of all layers lie in one straight line. Hence, the length L of the paper influences the number of times it can be folded in half. Hypothesis The distance from the Earth to Saturn will be obtained by folding a piece of paper ≠¥50 times with a hypothetically large enough paper. This exploration used exponential growth and logarithms in order to find out the number of folds required to reach Saturn. Before any calculation was done, it was indispensable to collect all the data required for the investigation. All the values were used were in the international system of units (metres) and standard form in order to keep the exploration standardized. Taking into consideration the elliptical orbits of the planets, sometimes they are closer to Earth and sometimes they are further away. Therefore, the value used during this mathematical exploration was the mean value of when they are the furthest apart and the closest together. Astronomical units (AU) are the standard unit measure used when dealing with distances within the Solar System. 1 AU is equal to the distance from the Earth to the Sun which is equivalent tom. Distance from the Earth to Saturn when closer together 8.00 AU[3] Distance from the Earth to Saturn when further apart 11.0 AU3 Mean distance from the Earth to Saturn    AU   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   m The thickness of a normal A4 paper (0.210 297m) was calculated by taking a measurement of an office pack of 500 pages (80gsm) which was found to be about 0.05m. The thickness of each individual page is calculated by dividing the total thickness (0.05m) by the amount of sheets (500); giving a result of m. Whenever a paper is folded in half, the number of layers is doubled so the thickness increases by two. When there is only one layer of paper (not folded), its thickness is m. Once it is folded in half for the first time, its thickness will be multiplied by 2 hence, m Folding it one more time means multiplying it by two again, m Thus, an expression can be established, showing the exponential growth; The expression can be represented in a graph to illustrate graphically the exponential growth because of folding. Graph 1: From Graph 1, it is possible to visualise how, something that seems unrealistic like folding a sheet of paper to reach Saturn becomes possible. The graph also illustrates how rapidly exponential growth occurs. Since the expression needs to be equal to the distance from the Earth to Saturn to work out (the number of folds), an equation to find can be solved: Folds To find, the rules of logarithms were put in place due to the exponential nature of the equation. The answer has been rounded up to 54 because it is not possible to have a half fold. Gallivan derived the following formula for the minimum length of a piece of paper of thickness t to be folded n times in a single direction To prove this formula, it is neccesary to understand that after each fold, some part of the paper is lost and becomes a rounded edge. I folded an A4 sheet of paper seven times in order to illustrate this: As you can see from the picture, there is a rounded edge on the side which is paper being lost and is not contributing to the real thickness but just joining the layers. The curved portion becomes bigger in correlation with the number of folds and begins to take a greater area of the volume of the paper. At the first fold, a semicircle of radius t (thickness) is formed, which has a perimeter . Thus, units of the paper are being used in the fold.   A paper smaller than this cannot be folded since there is not enough paper to form the fold. After the fold, there is a two-layer sheet of paper with a thickness of 2t. Another fold results in folding the second layer over the first layer. The second layer has a radius of , so it uses units of paper. The total amount of paper used by the second fold, for both layers, is resulting in a four-layer piece of paper. The ith fold begings with layers, and folding the jth layer uses units of paper. Hence, the total length of paper used for the ith fold is given by Therefore, to obtain the total length of paper required for n number of folds, sum this over i from 1 to n, which gives Gallivans formula: The thickness can be substituted into t and the number of folds can be substituted into n which gives L to be equal to 1.70-1028m. The other expression proposed by Gallivan can be used to calculate the width of the paper. If the length lost in the radii of earlier folds is not considered, the length lost must be considered in the last fold. At the final fold n, the side of the square must be at least equal to the length lost in the final fold which is (amount of length lost in each fold. Taking into consideration that the total area of the sheet (area = nb of sheets in penultimate step area of square in penultimate step) is preserved, Gallivans equation can be derived: Again, the thickness and number of folds can be substituted and an answer for W can be found giving W to be 2.69-1020m. In conclusion, the initial hypothesis was right since the number of folds was 54 which is, indeed, greater than 50. The hypothetical paper that could, in theory, be folded 54 times so that its thickness equates the distance from the Earth to Saturn of m would be long and wide (taking into consideration that its thickness would bem). The dimensions of this paper would be bigger than the actual distance from the Earth to Saturn so, unfortunately, we do not have a paper that big that would allow us to reach to Saturn just by folding it in half. This mathematical exploration used logarithms to find out the number of folds needed to reach Saturn with a m thick paper. However, the dimensions of this sheet of paper would be too big and hence, impossible to find in the Earths surface. Nevertheless, the exploration could have looked at using a thinner piece of paper to see if its dimensions would have been smaller and perhaps, we would have been able to find it in the surface of the Earth and we would have been able to reach Saturn. References       Astronomy, S. (2012). How Far away is Saturn? [Online] Space.com. Available at: http://www.space.com/18477-how-far-away-is-saturn.html [Accessed 16 Jan. 2017]. IFLScience. (2016). Fold A Piece of Paper in Half 103 Times and It Will Be As Thick As the UNIVERSE. [Online] Available at: http://www.iflscience.com/space/fold-piece-paper-half-103-times-and-it-will-be-thick-universe/ [Accessed 16 Jan. 2017]. Pomonahistorical.org. (2002). Folding Paper in Half Twelve Times. [Online] Available at: http://pomonahistorical.org/12times.htm [Accessed 16 Jan. 2017]. [1] IFLScience. (2016). Fold A Piece of Paper in Half 103 Times and It Will Be As Thick As the UNIVERSE. [online] Available at: http://www.iflscience.com/space/fold-piece-paper-half-103-times-and-it-will-be-thick-universe/ [Accessed 16 Jan. 2017]. [2]Pomonahistorical.org. (2002). Folding Paper in Half Twelve Times. [online] Available at: http://pomonahistorical.org/12times.htm [Accessed 16 Jan. 2017]. [3] Astronomy, S. (2012). How Far away is Saturn? [online] Space.com. Available at: http://www.space.com/18477-how-far-away-is-saturn.html [Accessed 16 Jan. 2017].

Office Ergonomics

Office Ergonomics Contents 1. Introduction 2. Office Computer Workstations 3. Computer Workstation Evaluation Checklist 4. Appendix A 1. Introduction Ergonomics is the process of designing the work environment to fit the worker, rather than fitting the worker to the work environment. The goal of this ergonomic program is to minimize accidents and illnesses due to chronic physical and psychological stresses, while maximizing productivity and efficiency.Cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) or repetitive motion strain injuries are musculoskeletal disorders that result from repeated exposure to physical stressors. Stressors affect tendons, ligaments, nerves, muscles and bones. Physical stressors in the office environment are caused by sustained awkward postures, repetitive motions, using excessive force or compression. 2. Office Computer Workstations The workforce population varies greatly in physical size and stature. The idea of the average size person is obsolete.Adjusting office furnitu re and office equipment help employees make changes in the office to ensure proper posture is maintained throughout the day. There is no single â€Å"correct† posture or arrangement of components that will fit everyone. However, there are basic design goals to consider when setting up a computer workstation or performing computer-related tasks. Consider your workstation as you read through this guide and see if you can identify areas for improvement in posture, component placement, or work environment.This guide provides suggestions to minimize or eliminate identified problems, and allows you to create your own â€Å"custom-fit† computer workstation. Good Working Positions: To understand the best way to set up a computer workstation, it is helpful to understand the concept of neutral body positioning. This is a comfortable working posture in which your joints are naturally aligned. Working with the body in a neutral position reduces stress and strain on the muscles, te ndons, and skeletal system and reduces your risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD).The following are important considerations when attempting to maintain neutral body postures while working at the computer workstation: †¢ Hands, wrists, and forearms are straight, in-line and roughly parallel to the floor. †¢ Head is level, or bent slightly forward, forward facing, and balanced. †¢ Shoulders are relaxed and upper arms hang normally at the side of the body. †¢ Elbows stay in close to the body and are bent between 90 and 120 degrees. †¢ Feet are fully supported by floor or footrest. †¢ Back is fully supported with appropriate lumbar support when sitting vertical or leaning back. Thighs and hips are supported by a well-padded seat and generally parallel to the floor. †¢ Knees are about the same height as the hips with the feet slightly forward. Regardless of how good your working posture is, working in the same posture or sitting still for prolonged periods is not healthy. You should change your working position frequently throughout the day in the following ways: †¢ Stretch your fingers, hands, arms, and torso. †¢ Stand up and walk around for a few minutes periodically.

Health Care Spending Essay

Healthcare is a very important sector in the countries around the world. The countries and the government always keep some money in their budget in relation to the health care activities in their countries. In the United States of America also, there are certain provisions in relation to the health care. The paper shall discuss about the health care spending in relation to United States of America. It shall discuss about the current level of health care expenditure in United States of America. There are shall be a lot of discussion in relation to the fact that whether the expenditure on health care in United States of America is appropriate or not. It shall also discuss about the manner in which the health care needs of the people in United States of America are paid by the government. In the end of the paper, there shall be a forecast in relation to the health care spending in United States of America. All the above said things shall be discussed in detail in the current paper. The government of United States of America has made a lot of provisions in relation to the expenditure of health care facilities in United States of America. In the United States of America, the health care spending has been increasing continuously (Hawe, 2008). There have been a lot of funds kept by the government of United States of America in its budget in relation to the health care services. In the year 1990, the expenditure made by the government of United States of America in relation to the health care spending was $714 million. Since then, the amount of expenditure on health care has increase to $2. 3 trillion. This is around 3 times of what it was in the year 1990. The government of United States of America is spending around 16% of its total gross domestic production on providing the health care facilities to the people. It is estimated that around $7600 are spent by the government of United States of America for each and every resident in the country. In this way, it can be said that the expenditure in relation to health care in United States of America is quite good and the country is taking adequate steps for making sure that adequate health care facilities are provided to the people in a proper and appropriate manner. The health care spending of the United States of America is the highest all around the world. There is no problem with the extent of money spend by the country towards the health care. Other countries around the world are also spending some money towards the health care but the expenditure made by the government of United States of America is the highest. Currently the expenditure incurred in United States of America towards is adequate and appropriate. It has to increase only with the increase in population. According to the per capita expenditure, the current expenditure in the country towards the healthcare is appropriate. When the country makes the budget in relation to the health care expenditure, then it has to take care that adequate expenditure is incurred on each and every activity related to health care. The government of United States of America should make sure that it spends appropriate expenditure on each and every area of the health care. The expenditure should be more on the critical areas and it should be reduced on the areas which are not very difficult to handle for the government. The government of United States of America should make sure that it increases the expenditure of the health insurance of those people which are not in a position to afford the costs for themselves (U. S. Health Care Costs, n. d. ). The government should also increase the expenditure in relation to the funds provided to the health care organizations for providing the benefits to the poor people in the United States of America. The government of United States of America should also increase the expenditure in relation to some specific and high risk diseases such as Cancer, Aids etc. If the expenditure shall be reduced in relation to the above said activities then, there is a possibility that the people in United States of America shall be benefitted to a very high extent. Other than the above areas, there are certain areas in which the government of United States of America should look to reduce the expenditure. The cost on some of the areas in the health care should not be reduced to the extent it hampers the health care services. If there is a requirement to reduce the health care costs then, these should be reduced only till the services are not affected in a negative manner. The areas in which unnecessary costs are incurred by the government should be recognized and the costs should be reduced in those areas. In the United States of America, there are adequate sources used for the purpose of financing the health care services in the country. In the country, the funding for the health care services is done together by the government and the non government agencies in the country. While preparing the budget, the government of United States of America keeps a percentage of funds in relation to providing the health care services to the people who are in need and also the people which are not able to have the health care insurance for themselves. Other than the government of United States of America, there are various other forms of associations which work for the purpose of providing the health care services to the people. They not only provide the health care services but also provide the financial for the insurance of the patients. There are few programs also in relation to the same. The programs include Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, Community Health Accreditation Program and various other programs. The health care finance in the United States of America are funded by the above said facilities and things. In the United States of America, the government and the non government associations share 50% of the expenditure each. In this way, there is a proper sharing the expenditure. For the last few years, the healthcare expenditure in United States of America has been increased considerably at an increasing rate. It is expected that the healthcare expenditure in United States of America shall increase in the same rate as it was increasing earlier (Scambler, 2008). In the year 2007, the health care expenditure in United States of America was $2. 2 trillion. This amount increased to $2. 3 trillion in the financial year 2008. In this way, there was a definite increase in the health care expenditure in the two years. It is expected that the health care expenditure will grow even more. In the year 2013, the healthcare expenditure is expected to reach the figure of $3 trillion and in the year 2017, it is expected that the health care expenditure shall reach the figure of $4. 3 trillion. In this way, it can be said that there is a forecast of increased expenditure on health care in the years to come. The chart below provides the forecast for health care in a proper manner. This chart is showing the healthcare expenditure in United States of America. The government of United States of America is spending a lot of money on the healthcare services in the country. With the kind of expenditure, the government of United States of America is spending on the health care facilities in the country, it can be said that the government is spending sufficient amount of money on the health care facilities.

Bulgars, Bulgaria and Bulgarians

The Bulgars were the early people of eastern Europe. The word bulgar derives from an Old Turkic term denoting a mixed background, so some historians think they may have been a Turkic group from central Asia, made up of members of several tribes. Along with the Slavs and the Thracians, the Bulgars were one of the three primary ethnic ancestors of present-day Bulgarians.   The Early Bulgars The Bulgars were noted warriors, and they developed a reputation as fearsome horsemen. It has been theorized that beginning in about 370,  they moved west of the Volga River along with the Huns. In the mid-400s, the Huns  were led by Attila, and the Bulgars apparently joined him in his westward invasions. After Attilas death, the Huns settled in the territory north and east of the Sea of Azov, and once again the Bulgars went with them.   A few decades later, the Byzantines hired the Bulgars to fight against the Ostrogoths. This contact with the ancient, affluent empire gave the warriors a taste for wealth and prosperity, so in the 6th century, they began to attack the nearby provinces of the empire along the Danube in hopes of taking some of that wealth. But in the 560s, the Bulgars themselves came under attack by the Avars. After one tribe of Bulgars was destroyed, the rest of them survived by submitting to yet another tribe from Asia, who departed after about 20 years. In the early 7th century, a ruler is known as Kurt (or Kubrat) unified the Bulgars and built a powerful nation that the Byzantines referred to as Great Bulgaria. Upon his death in 642, Kurts five sons split the Bulgar people into five hordes. One remained on the coast of the Sea of Azov and was assimilated into the empire of the Khazars. A second migrated to central Europe, where it merged with the Avars. And a third disappeared in Italy, where they fought for the Lombards. The last two Bulgar hordes would have better fortune in preserving their Bulgar identities. The Volga Bulgars The group led by Kurt’s son Kotrag migrated far to the north and eventually settled around the point where the Volga and the Kama rivers met. There they split into three groups, each group probably joining with peoples who had already established their homes there or with other newcomers. For the next six centuries or so, the Volga Bulgars flourished as a confederation of semi-nomadic peoples. Although they found no actual political state, they did establish two cities: Bulgar and Suvar. These places benefited as key shipping points in the fur trade between the Russians and Ugrians in the north and the civilizations of the south, which included Turkistan, the Muslim caliphate at Baghdad, and the Eastern Roman Empire. In 922, the Volga Bulgars converted to Islam, and in 1237 they were overtaken by the Golden Horde of the Mongols. The city of Bulgar continue to thrive, but the Volga Bulgars themselves were eventually assimilated into neighboring cultures. The First Bulgarian Empire The fifth heir to Kurts Bulgar nation, his son Asparukh, led his followers west across the Dniester River and then south across the Danube. It was on the plain between the Danube River and the Balkan Mountains that they established a nation that would evolve into what is now known as the First Bulgarian Empire. This is the political entity from which the modern state of Bulgaria would derive its name. Initially under the control of the Eastern Roman Empire, the Bulgars were able to found their own empire in 681, when they were officially recognized by the Byzantines. When in 705 Asparukh’s successor, Tervel, helped restore Justinian II to the Byzantine imperial throne, he was rewarded with the title Caesar. A decade later Tervel successfully led a Bulgarian army to assist Emperor Leo III in defending Constantinople against invading Arabs. At about this time, the Bulgars saw an influx of Slavs and Vlachs into their society. After their victory at Constantinople, the Bulgars continued their conquests, expanding their territory under the khans Krum (r. 803 to 814) and Pressian (r. 836 to 852) into Serbia and Macedonia. Most of this new territory was heavily influenced by the Byzantine brand of Christianity. Thus, it was no surprise when in 870, under the reign of Boris I, the Bulgars converted to Orthodox Christianity. The liturgy of their church was in Old Bulgarian, which combined Bulgar linguistic elements with Slavic ones. This has been credited with helping to create a bond between the two ethnic groups; and its true that by the early 11th century, the two groups had fused into a Slavic-speaking people who were, basically, identical to the Bulgarians of today. It was during the reign of Simeon I, the son of Boris I, that the First Bulgarian Empire achieved its zenith as a Balkan nation. Although Simeon evidently lost the lands north of the Danube to invaders from the east, he expanded Bulgarian power over Serbia, southern Macedonia and southern Albania through a series of conflicts with the Byzantine Empire. Simeon, who took for himself the title Tsar of All the Bulgarians, also promoted learning and managed to create a cultural center at his capital of Preslav (present-day Veliki Preslav). Unfortunately, after Simeons death in 937, internal divisions weakened the First Bulgarian Empire. Invasions by Magyars, Pechenegs, and Rus, and reignited conflict with the Byzantines, put an end to the sovereignty of the state, and in 1018 it became incorporated into the Eastern Roman Empire. The Second Bulgarian Empire In the 12th century, stress from external conflicts reduced the Byzantine Empires hold on Bulgaria, and in 1185 a revolt took place, led by the brothers Asen and Peter. Their success allowed them to establish a new empire, once again led by Tsars, and for the next century, the house of Asen reigned from the Danube to the Aegean and from the Adriatic to the Black Sea. In 1202 Tsar Kaloian (or Kaloyan) negotiated a peace with the Byzantines that gave Bulgaria complete independence from the Eastern Roman Empire. In 1204, Kaloian recognized the authority of the pope and thus stabilized the western border of Bulgaria. The second empire saw increased trade, peace, and prosperity. A new golden age of Bulgaria flourished around the cultural center of Turnovo (present-day Veliko Turnovo). The earliest Bulgarian coinage dates to this period, and it was around this time that the head of the Bulgarian church attained the title of patriarch. But politically, the new empire wasnt particularly strong. As its internal cohesiveness eroded, external forces began to take advantage of its weakness. The Magyars resumed their advances, the Byzantines took back portions of Bulgarian land, and in 1241, Tatars began raids that continued for 60 years. Battles for the throne among various noble factions lasted from 1257 to 1277, at which point peasants revolted due to the heavy taxes their warring overlords had imposed on them. As a result of this uprising, a swineherd by the name of Ivaylo took the throne; he wasnt ousted until the Byzantines lent a hand.   Only a few years later, the Asen dynasty died out, and the Terter and Shishman dynasties that followed saw little success in maintaining any real authority. In 1330, the Bulgarian Empire reached its lowest point when Serbs slew Tsar Mikhail Shishman at the Battle of Velbuzhd (present-day Kyustendil). The Serbian Empire took control of Bulgarias Macedonian holdings, and the once-formidable Bulgarian empire began its last decline. It was on the verge of breaking apart into lesser territories when the Ottoman Turks invaded. Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Turks, who had been mercenaries for the Byzantine Empire in the 1340s, began attacking the Balkans for themselves in the 1350s. A series of invasions prompted the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Shishman to declare himself a vassal of Sultan Murad I in 1371; yet still, the invasions continued. Sofia was captured in 1382, Shumen was taken in 1388, and by 1396 there was nothing left of Bulgarian authority.   For the next 500 years, Bulgaria would be ruled by the Ottoman Empire in what is generally viewed as a dark time of suffering and oppression. The Bulgarian Church, as well as the empires political rule, was destroyed. The nobility either was killed, fled the country, or accepted Islam and was assimilated into Turkish society. The peasantry now had Turkish lords. Every now and then, male children were taken from their families, converted to Islam and raised to serve as Janissaries. While the Ottoman Empire was at its height of power, the Bulgarians under its yoke could live in relative peace and security, if not freedom or self-determination. But when the empire began to decline, its central authority could not control local officials, who were sometimes corrupt and at times even downright vicious.   Throughout this half a millennium, Bulgarians held stubbornly to their Orthodox Christian beliefs, and their Slavic language and their unique liturgy kept them from becoming absorbed into the Greek Orthodox Church. The Bulgarian peoples thus retained their identity, and when the Ottoman Empire began to crumble in the late 19th century, the Bulgarians were able to establish an autonomous territory.   Bulgaria was declared an independent kingdom, or tsardom, in 1908.