Gaming Console (Android) Essay Example Essay Example

Gaming Console (Android) Essay Example Paper Gaming Console (Android) Essay Introduction In our generation, many application programs are being developed and are widely used in our industry, economy, education, and others; in short, application programs are now being part of our everyday life. In addition to this, many games are being created and developed with the use of different application programs more specifically the Android application program. The innovation and development of many application programs enhances the creativity and developmental skills of the programmers to make a more advanced and high class type of game. Android is from Google, and it has the most detailed interface of the available operating systems. It was released by Google in 2008 and became the No. 1 smartphone OS in the world. Because of its flexibility, you can set it up to meet your needs. Android is the most popular smartphone platform followed by IOS that is the easiest to learn, but Android offers more flexibility and control. On android phones, apps, games and content like movies and music are being sold in a one unified marketplace; it’s the Google Play Store. The apps and games in this store are about 675,000 which is just below the number of its competing company; the Apple’s App Store. Today, if people knows that you have a mobile phone that has an Android application program, people are amazed and is wanting to see the different features of that Android application program. So, the researcher became curious about the features of an Android operating system; more specifically the games because basically, when you’ve heard the word â€Å"Android apps†, you will definitely think about the game features of it. Gaming Console (Android) Essay Body Paragraphs When it comes to games, according to Jeffrey Van Camp, the Google Play store still pales in comparison to Apple’s thriving iPhone game selection, but it’s making up ground and many iOS developers are porting their games over. Things are beginning to change for gamers on Android. Our world is going crazy about smartphones and apps, the Android and iOS being two major rivals in the battle of mobile operating systems, their hardware and software technology had became close enough to give console quality gaming on tablets and smartphones. Thanks to the game developers who have used the hardware potential on such devices and made it possible to run HD games on these handsets. Although most smartphones are capable enough to run all sorts of games, but there exists a group of people who just exclusively love gaming on their Android or iOS devices and as a result gaming console projects have emerged to bring console gaming back on mobile devices. There was a time when Sony and Nintendo dominated the console gaming but now there are smart phones and wide availability of games in app store that match their experience stealing all the spot light from these pioneers. Companies like Nvidia are showing keen interest in mobile gaming consoles looking at their future. Android being open source has become a platform for mobile gaming consoles besides ability to run normal apps. Here are a few experimental mobile (Android) gaming console projects that will be available in 2013, 1. Nvidia Shield Nvidia shield has a gaming controller based design with 5 inch 1280 X 720 HD display and pixel density of 294 ppi. The console runs on powerful Nvidia Tegra 4 quad-core ARM A15 processor with 2 GB RAM and a 72 core GeForce GPU. The console comes with 16 GB of flash storage and Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi. The sensors included are gyro and accelerometer, it has integrated speakers and it is a fully functional console with Dual analog joysticks, D-pad, Left/right analog triggers, Left/right bumpers, A/B/X/Y buttons, Volume control, Android Home and Back buttons, Start button and NVIDIA power/multi-function button. The console has dimensions 158mm (w) x 135mm (D) x 57mm (H) and weighs 579 grams. The battery capacity is 28. 8 watt hours. The console runs on Android 4. 2 stock JellyBean and supports Google Play, Tegra zone and comes with 2 pre-installed games. The console supports micro USB, micro SD storage card, 3. 5 mm headphone jack, mini HDMI output and ability to stream content and games wirelessly to your TV. The console has a price tag of 349 USD. 2. Quya Quya is a beautiful, affordable and hack able gaming console on Android for TV. The console runs on Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor with 1 GB of RAM and GeForce GPU. The console runs Android 4. and 8 GB of internal flash storage, Bluetooth 4. 0, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB 2. 0. The console has Wireless controller with standard controls (two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons, a system button) and a touch-pad. Others features of Quya is that every game is free to try, if you like that game, then you can buy it using credit or debit card. In addition to gaming, users can stream movies, shows and music right from their console. The memory is expandable via USB. Quya also helps you to create the game using your ideas and free Quya tools. You can even root it or add peripherals and that doesn’t tamper the warranty of Quya. You can buy the console at 99 USD, 49 USD for extra controller. 3. Game stick Ever thought of turning your TV into a gaming console just by plugging USB stick, Game stick is all about this. Plug the game stick to your TV HDMI port and it turns into a gaming console; controller comes with Bluetooth game pad. The console by PlayJam does have option of multi-functional dock that is available at Amazon that can wirelessly charge game stick and add up to 64GB of storage. Dock is also equipped with one HDMI, 3 USB ports and one Ethernet port. You can even add peripherals using dock or just use game stick and Bluetooth enabled game controller to play games on your TV. The standard bundle of game stick with game pad at $79 USD is not a bad deal. If you wish you can buy the multi-functional dock for 24. 99 USD to add more peripherals to your game stick. http://thetecnica. com/2013/05/future-of-mobile-gaming-with-android-gaming-console-project 1. 1. ) Rationale for this research Because of the continuous innovation and development of technology in our generation, many application programs are being created to make our life easier and convenient. Technology affects our everyday lives. Many people nowadays are having a pleasure time playing different applications and games on their mobile phones. They find it great and relaxing when they are playing games. For an individual that is only playing games on their mobile, it is an indication that he/she doesn’t take seriously the problems that he/she encounter in hi/her life which is one of the best way to enjoy life that God has given to us. The researcher thought about the game features of the most popular operating system for smartphone nowadays; the Android operating system (Android 4. 1 a. k. a Jelly Bean). The researcher wants to determine the different gaming consoles in an Android mobile. For us to have a more convenient and easeful access to the game features in Android mobiles, we need to know every data in the gaming console features of it. In studying this research, it is more helpful in the future for research and development of games in Android mobile if there’s an additional gaming console article or research about it. For future problems or inquiries regarding this matter, it can help people to have innovated further the games in Android because Android is an open source, it can be modified or anyone can develop its software. This research seeks to add to the body of knowledge in the field of game console applications in Android. 1. 2. ) Stat ement of the problem This study aims to have information about gaming console in Android mobiles. Specifically, the study sought to answer the following questions: 1. Requirement Analysis, Design and Development . 1 What are the features of each available game consoles of Android? 1. 2 What are the designs of each game console application? 1. 3 How many Android games can be installed in every Android mobile? 2. Evaluation of the game console applications of Android 2. 1 What is the level of awareness of the respondents on the existence of Android games? 2. 2 How do the respondents rate the level of importance of the Android games in term of the following features? 2. 2. 1 Interface; 2. 2. 2 Functionality; 2. 2. 3 Availability; and 2. 2. Accessibility 2. 3 How do the respondents rate the level of effectiveness of the game console application of Android? 2. 4 What is the level of acceptance of the respondents to the game console applications of Android? 1. 3. ) Objectives The objectiv e of this research was: 1. In conducting this research, it seeks to determine the gaming console applications in Android mobile. 2. To add to a body of knowledge for the people to have information for future inquiries and problems about gaming console applications in Android mobiles. . A very careful survey to determine the response, awareness and acceptance of people for gaming consoles in Android mobile. 1. 4. ) Methodology This presents the research method used, the respondents of the study, instrumentation, data gathering techniques and procedures, the statistical treatment of data, software development methodology, and the technologies proposed to be used for development. Before going further on the discussion of this chapter, the process on how the research was conducted are as follows: 1. The researcher will be using books, internet and other professionals as reference to know the important information about the gaming consoles in Android mobile. If it needs to hire an IT exp ert for the researcher to have knowledge about it, then it may do. 2. The researcher will also use survey and questionnaires to determine how the respondents rate the level of importance of the Android game consoles in terms of the following features: 1. Interface 2. Functionality 3. Availability 4. Accessibility 1. 5. ) We will write a custom essay sample on Gaming Console (Android) Essay Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Gaming Console (Android) Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Gaming Console (Android) Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

How to Begin Your Career in Architecture

How to Begin Your Career in Architecture As in any profession, the steps to be an architect seem simple, involve a lot of hard work, and can be filled with fun. Simply put, becoming an architect involves education, experience, and examinations. Your journey from student to professional architect will move through several stages. You begin by choosing the right school for you. Step 1: School Some people become interested in designing and building things while still in high school is a great place to start to become an architect. Since the 19th century when architecture became a profession in the United States, you have to go to college to be an architect. This is the 21st century. But, many paths can lead to a career in architecture. In fact, you can become an architect even if you earn a bachelors degree from a school without an architecture program. But its a little more complicated. What is called higher education comes at different levels - undergraduate and graduate. You can earn an undergraduate degree in most anything - English, History, Engineering - and then be admitted to a graduate program in architecture to earn a professional degree in architecture. So, you dont even have to decide if you want to be an architect until after you receive a bachelors degree. Going this route, a professional masters degree in architecture (M.Arch) may take an additional three years beyond your four-year degree. You can also become an architect with a professional undergraduate degree (B.Arch), which in many architecture schools takes five years to complete. Yes, its a five-year program, and you only earn an undergraduate degree. A vital area of architectural study is the Design Studio, which is hands-on experience that consumes a lot of time. For students less interested in becoming an architect but still interested in architecture, most schools also offer NON-professional degrees in architecture - without the Design Studio. It turns out there are plenty of opportunities for architecture majors as well as for professional architects. Choosing the school that best fits your needs is the first step. If you possibly can, begin your career in architecture while still in school. Consider joining the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). Look for a part-time job related to architecture or design. Do clerical work, drafting, or crowdsourcing for an architect or designer. Consider volunteering for an emergency relief organization or charitable program that provides design services for those in need. Whether you are paid or not, the experience will give you the opportunity to develop your skills and build a strong portfolio. Hopefully youve chosen a school with an active alumni. Does your university sponsor alumni homecomings, bringing your schools graduates back on campus? Get your face out there among the established architects - whether these gatherings are called networking opportunities or meet and greet gatherings, mingle with the people that you will forever be associated with as alumnus of the same college. Alumni are also a great source for externships. Usually short-term and unpaid, externships can do a number of things for your career. Externships can (1) kickstart the experience section of your resume; (2) help you test the waters, observing a real work environment, without the pressure and stress of having to produce a product like a project or paper; (3) allow you to shadow a professional architect for a day or work week, getting a feel for the professional side of architecture; and (4) help you determine your comfort level in a small or large architectural firm. Louisiana State University calls their externship program a chance to Get out of town! The difference between an externship and an internship is found in the name - an extern is external to the workplace, and all expenses are usually the responsibility of the extern; an intern is internal to the organization and is often paid an entry-level wage. Step 2: Architecture Experience Yay! Youve graduated from college or graduate school. Most graduates work for several years as interns in a professional architectural firm before they take licensing exams and become registered architects. For help finding an entry-level position, visit the career center at your college. Also look to your professors for guidance. But, the term intern is on its way out.  The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the licensing organization for architects, is highly involved with helping architecture firms mold neophytes into architects ready to contribute to a practice. Before you can even apply to take the test to become a registered architect, you have to have experience. What used to be called the Intern Development Program (IDP) is now the Architectural Experience Programâ„ ¢ or AXPâ„ ¢.  A beginning professional needs 3,740 hours of experience before earning a professional license. AXP certification is a requirement for initial registration to sit for the licensing exams. These required hours are associated with nearly 100 tasks  - for example, Review shop drawings and submittals during construction for conformance with design intent. How do you log experience?  Now theres an app for that  - My AXP App. How does NCARB help? Architecture firms are businesses and not schools - professional hours are best spent doing the business of architecture along with training new hires. NCARB helps the new graduate transition from being a student to becoming a professional without using some of a firms billable hours. Dr. Lee Waldrep, author of the Becoming an Architect book series, explains the value of this program when it was called IDP: In a recent discussion with an intern-architect a few years out of school, she confessed that while architecture school prepared her to think and design, it did not sufficiently prepare her to work in an architectural office. She further admitted that IDP, with its training areas, simply lists out what you need to do. Step 3: Licensing Exams In the United States and Canada, architects must take and pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) to receive a professional license in architecture. The ARE exams are rigorous - some students take extra coursework to prepare. A new set of exams, ARE 5.0, was implemented in November 2016. Although the tests are completely online, you cannot use your own computer. NCARB, the licensing organization that creates the test questions, works with Prometric test centers who administers the exams. Study for and taking the exams are usually accomplished during the AXP experience-gathering phase of a professional career. This can be the most stressful part of the process of becoming an architect - generally, youre not getting paid very much (because you are not a peak contributor to the architecture firm), preparing and taking exams is stressful, and all this comes at a time when your personal life is also in transition. Remember, however, that you are not the first person to go thro ugh these times. Step 4: Building a Profession After completing the ARE, some early-career professionals find jobs at the same firms where they first gained experience. Others seek employment elsewhere, sometimes in careers that are peripheral to architecture itself. Some architects start their own small firms after licensure. They may go it alone or team up with ex-classmates or co-workers. A strong career network will pave the way toward success. Many architects begin their careers in the public sector. State, local, and federal governments all hire architects. Generally, the jobs (and incomes) are stable, control and creativity may be limited, but your personal life that may have been put on hold can be reawakened. Lastly, its important to remember that many successful architects dont come into their own until they are into their 60s. When most people are set to retire, the architect is just beginning. Be in it for the long haul. Summary: Becoming an Architect Stage One: Complete an accredited professional architecture program at the undergranduate or graduate levelStage Two: On-the-job experienceStage Three: Pass the licensing exams - only then can you call yourself an architect.Stage Four: Follow your dream Sources Externships, LSU College of Art Design, http://design.lsu.edu/architecture/student-resources/externships/ [accessed April 29, 2016]History of the AXP,  National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, https://www.ncarb.org/about/history-ncarb/history-axp [accessed May 31, 2018]Architectural Experience Program Guidelines, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, PDF at https://www.ncarb.org/sites/default/files/AXP-Guidelines.pdf [accessed May 31, 2018]Becoming an Architect by Lee W. Waldrep, Wiley Sons, 2006, p. 195

Architecture of the UAE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Architecture of the UAE - Essay Example sis is now placed on projects to be completed within the specified project duration due to the current trend of shifting most projects towards the fast track approach. This has led to the need to pinpoint exactly the relevant causes of delay that have to be monitored during the entire phases of the project on time. (Olsen & West, 2007) There is a major construction boom in Dubai; Garhoud Bridge expanding hotels, sky scrapers, projects, palm islands, metro and so on, is currently in full swing. This requires a lot of investment and Dubai has been successful in attracting foreign investment by giving benefits such as residence visa and 99 year freehold ownership. All this has led into a vicious circle where the flow of money in Dubai has increased resulting increase in absolute prices which has in turn led to higher inflation. (Stern, 2009) Who is building this huge new city and its peers around the United Arab Emirates? Some of the worlds most acclaimed architects — whose reputations in western capitals, China, and India have put them in high demand — have been drawn to these desert lands. They include Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando, Rem Kolhaas, Carlos Ott and many others. (Kaufman, 2007) To the untrained eye, the Dubai of 25 years ago might have seemed an unappealing place to build. The region was more or less a blank slate. But to talented international architects striving to execute their unique vision and to the firms that grew around them, Dubai was fertile ground. Here there was no need to remove previously constructed housing complexes or industrial structures, theater districts or public buildings (Stern, 2009). There had been no visionaries or practitioners of architecture whose footprints would be erased in order to build anew. Most importantly, there were ample funds available, and the support of the local population who shared the new, unique vision of development. As a result, the imagination and creativity of the worlds greatest architects

BHS 420 Mod 1 CBT (Quantitative Reasoning) Essay

BHS 420 Mod 1 CBT (Quantitative Reasoning) - Essay Example 52). I agree with this statement and feel that it is important to learn critical thinking. Secondly, I would like to learn to understand the research process whereby accurate data can be obtained to support or disprove any particular hypothesis. Finally, I think that the ability to combine both qualitative and quantitative processes to achieve the answer to a research question is a superior approach. While both methods have their independent strengths, I believe that they are best used in combination to balance the data and increase understanding of the results. From a personal standpoint, i.e., outside of my professional career, I think that the knowledge gained from this course will allow me to perceive aspects in my daily life with a more accurate view because I will be constantly thinking about why events have happened. I will be considering possible explanations and will be equipped to analyze the information I encounter in a logical and reasonable manner; and I think this is applicable to all aspects of life. In writing about sports statistics, Guthrie (1994) stated that people â€Å"who are otherwise averse to quantitative reasoning will often become expert analysts when the subject being analyzed is of interest to them. A statistical argument presented in a context of ones experience is far more likely to be retained than one presented in the context of a hypothetical situation† (p. 1064). I think this validates my perception that critical thinking is not solely for professionals; it has application across all spectrums of hu man experience. History has revealed many people who have been considered geniuses in their field such as Beethoven in music or Earnest Hemingway in literature. Many of these individuals, however, were also known to suffer from manic-depression or what today is called Bipolar disorder. The health-related research

The Julius Caesar Essay History Essay

The Julius Caesar Essay History Essay Power is a goal that most people strive for in their lives. When someone takes power for granted they can manipulate their friends and cause serious trouble. In terms of ancient history, specifically regarding ancient Rome, having too much power can lead to negative outcomes.  When someone mentions the name Julius Caesar, it triggers an image of Romes greatest leader in history. July 13, 100 B.C., was the beginning of a new era in Roman society. This marked the birth of Romes greatest political figure, Gaius Julius Caesar. Julius Caesars rise through Romes political ranks of Rome came quickly and it was believed by many individuals in the Senate that Julius Caesar was becoming too powerful for his own good. They also believed that he was becoming a threat of the Republican government.(CITE 7) After establishing himself as the dictator of Rome, the Senate believed that he had dreams of kingship and ultimate power. This led to Senatorial conspiracy and eventually to his assassination . His assassination was a result of his dramatic rise to power, which posed a threat to the senates. Ultimately his sudden death was a result of various personal factors that offended the senators and created animosity between them and Caesar, deeming his death inevitable. His death leads to a domino effect, which happens to lead to the inevitable collapse of the Roman Empire. On March 15 44 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar was murdered by men in his own Senate; which is known as the Ides of March. Julius Caesar had many men that were coming up with a plot against him to assassinate him. Among the 60 men plotting to murder him, many were senators, which included Gaius Cassius Longinus, Marcus Junius Brutus, and Decimus Brutus Albinus (CITE 6). Fearing that fact if Caesar added Parthia to his conquests he would undeniably become king. Knowing that in four days Caesar was going on campaign against Parthia that time was pressing, so they had to make their move very soon (CITE 3)On the day of Caesars murder, the Senate held a meeting in a hall adjacent to Pompeys statue. At the beginning of the meeting, a man by the name of Cimber first knelt in front of Caesar to plead to him and recall his brother from banishment. When Caesar refused, Cimber yanked Julius toga down from his neck and stabbed him in the upright shoulder, since he was nervous and missed his neck. (CITE 2). The other conspirators followed suit and began to stab Caesar. When they were done the stabbing, Caesar lay dead with 35 wounds on his body.(CITE 3) Julius Caesars rise to power came in an amazingly short period of time, faster than many before him. Caesar gained authority through the use of his public image as a Populares because he was born into the ideal social class, as a Patrician. He came from an old and established family line that made it only natural for him to go into the involvement of politics and government. Due to his family background, he had ties to the populares who were well known Roman political leaders on the side of the people. Caesar was a popular politician representing the masses of the people. His charisma and military victories  over the Germanic tribes in Gaul and his victories in Egypt, enabled him to quickly advance up the political ranks. One of the most critical political moves he made that contributed to his unbelievable success was an important 3-way partnership. Caesar proposed this 3-way partnership known as the 1st triumvirate. This strategic alliance was made between Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gaius Julius Caesar. It proposed by Caesar because there was increasing hostility between Pompey and Crassus. They divided up the Roman provinces between each other and the relationship between Pompey and Caesar was cemented by Pompeys marriage to Caesars daughter, Julia. However, the degeneration of the Triumvirate came with quickly with the death of Caesars daughter Julia, which broke the personal bond that Caesar and Pompey shared. This was followed by death of Crassus due to an attack by the Parthian army, which ended the Triumvirate. At the time of the First Triumvirate, the commonly known Republican form of government in Rome  was already well on its way to turning into a monarchy.   The first critical error Caesar made in his rise to power was when he was in Gaul. Caesar was accused of treason by some members of the senate because he had both tribunes on his side. Since they were on his side the tribunes both imposed their vetoes on the treason claim. The majority of the senate decided to ignore the vetoes and they ordered Caesar, who was now charged with treason to return back to Rome, without his army. Caesar did return to Rome but he did so with his army. As soon as he crossed the Rubicon River, he had in fact legally, committed treason. He was committing imperium, as he was exercising imperium when forbidden by the law. Waiting for Caesar was Pompey with his army, and the battle of Pharsalus took place in 48 BC. Caesar won the battle and Pompey was forced to flee to Egypt. Due to Caesars political innovation techniques, he was able to make political alliances that helped him rise in power, and that left him as the leader of the Roman world. Once Caesar returned to Rome he ruled alone where he began a platform of reform for Rome. He decided to make himself dictator for life and he appointed his own personal senators. Many citizens were hoping that, after the Civil War had ended, Caesar would restore the constitution and make the laws and the courts function again.(CITE 5) As he conquered more and more enemies, he became increasingly popular with the people of Rome. His military victories are what gave him ultimate political popularity and furthered his claim as true leader of Rome. His military prominence is what helped Rome flourish into arguably the greatest ancient civilizations in history. His outstanding military campaigns are what helped Rome prosper in both size and power. He increased the size of the Senate from about 600 members to 900, bringing in new men into the ranks of office holders. (CITE 5). He gave the poor new jobs and they became faithful supporters, furthermore increasing his popularity with the peop le. He also assisted the poor citizens by regularly checking the spread of money throughout Rome to make sure that no one was living too poorly (CITE 5). In addition, he rewarded thousands of Veterans with pieces of land and cash bonuses. (CITE 5). This was another smart strategy that Caesar implemented which made his soldiers fight better, because they had a cause to fight for, which was their land, family, and leader. With this act Caesar made Rome a more wealthy, open, and safe place to live. With Caesars quick increasing popularity the Senate tried to prevent Caesar obtaining the position of the consulate, which was a very important position because it was the position that was in charge of Romes defence forces. The Senate felt that Caesar wanted to take on the position of king of Rome. The divine honours that he accepted, the temple, the priest, the name divus Julius, and the festivals that marked the rule of the hellenistic monarchs, all point in that direction. It was thought by many in the Senate that Julius Caesar was becoming too powerful, and that he had dreams of kingship and ultimate power.(CITE 5) To the Senate this was a major threat towards the stability of the Roman Empire and this would have drastically reduced the power of the Senators. They feared that Caesar would turn the Roman Republic into a tyrannical monarchy (CITE 6). Caesar said that the republic was but a name without substance or form.(CITE 5) He called many assemblies to have them vote on laws that were constructed by him and to and to elect the candidates he had personally chosen. His disrespect of the constitution of Rome was on full display by an event in the year 45 BC, which was two and a half months before his death. Word came to Caesar that a consul in his office had suddenly died. Caesar quickly called an assembly and had it elect a new man to take over the position. This made the Senate extremely angry with Caesar and thus, the idea of eventually getting rid of Caesar by murder, was starting to evolve. The motive for the Senates killing of Caesar was ultimately out of personal hatred. They had personal animosity towards Caesar for his actions towards them. The friends of Caesar were infuriated to see him promote former enemies to positions of equality with themselves. Many of these former enemies, instead of feeling gratitude toward Caesar for their lives and for the benefits they had received, continued to feel resentment because they had lost so much to Caesar. (CITE 6). Many blamed Caesar personally for the setbacks that they or their families suffered. No Roman in history had ever exerted so much control over the lives of his fellow aristocrats more than Caesar. According to (CITE 6) the motive for the murder of Caesar was established when he sat in his golden chair before the new temple of Venus, the mother of his house, Caesar failed to rise to thank the fathers. This contributed to personal hatred on Caesar by the Senate. There were more than 60 senators associated with the plot. Many of them were Caesars former close friends. They had their own reasons for joining in on the organization, but majority were at a personal level. Many felt Caesar personally insulted them or their families. Therefore, Brutus and Cassius became the leaders in a plot to slay the Caesar, along with 60 other men, mainly pardoned by Caesar who were determined to carry out the deed of murdering him. (CITE 5). There were two key men who had an extreme personal hatred for Caesar and were the leaders in creating the perfect plot to murder him. Their names were Gaius Cassius, and Decimus Brutus, who was a special friend of Caesar. They both wanted personal revenge on Caesar with all the suffering they went through in the civil war Caesar created. Gaius Cassius Longinus was the first leader of this conspiracy who also had deep resentment for Caesar. The first thing Caesar did to infuriate Cassius was when he bypassed Cassius for the prestigious urban praetorship, consulting the office on Brutus instead. Cassius was also offended by Caesars unwillingness to award him the consulship until 41 BCE. (CITE 6). In addition, Caesar was very hesitant trust Cassius, even though he was one of the most experienced and able military commanders of his day. (CITE 4) He never rewarded Cassius with a major command position which suggests a lingering distrust, which is confirmed by Caesar light hearted remark t o his friends, that he suspected Cassius because of his paleness (CITE 5). On the other hand, Marcus Junius Brutus is the other best known figure in the conspiracy and he had a strong personal reason for his resentment of Caesar. Brutus was a very close friend of Caesar and Caesar trusted Brutus above all others in his administration. There was an apparent rumour which suggested that Caesar had an affair with Brutus mother, Servilia and it had provoked the idea that he was Caesars natural son. There were more rumours suggesting the she offered Caesar her daughter Tertia who was Brutus half-sister. (CITE 6) With all of these events, Brutus must have been deeply embarrassed by the matter, and his mothers conduct is one possible explanation for his personal motivation to kill Caesar. The sum of the evidence suggested that the personal motives Cassius and Brutus might have had for participating in the conspiracy to kill Caesar, also led them to hate Caesar for impeding their careers at several vital stages. Ultimately, Julius Caesar was a man of great care and charisma who also desired power, but above all, wanted to witness the citizens of Rome thrive under his authority. When he defeated Pompeys army and gained control of all of Rome, he began to establish reforms intended to make the people of Rome happier and more prosperous at all levels of society. He quickly became beloved by his citizens and gained incredible popularity among the Roman people. His increasing popularity and power became a grave threat to a group of Senates who were worried they would lose all of their power. The conspirators who feared the Caesar, created a plot to murder Romes greatest political figure. Led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius, the group of conspirators butchered Caesar until his death on the footsteps of the statue of Pompey. The motive clearly influencing these two men to kill Caesar was undeniably at the personal level. Their personal hatred towards Caesar is what led to the fall of Rome some f ive hundred years later. Julius Caesar made many key contribution to make Rome as successful and as powerful as it was. The chaos that ensued after his death, and the ultimate collapse of Rome, proves that his assassination was indeed a tragedy.

Is Poetry Dead Essay

Yes, poetry is dead to some extent. Poetry in the classical sense is dead anyway, but there is still poetry in today’s society. We may not look at it in the same way we did years ago because it has changed. We as a society do not take the time to read as we once did, to understand and enjoy literary text. I agree with Wexler’s statements â€Å"we have become lazy and lack the knowledge, commitment, and patience to understand and enjoy poetry. † I myself do not understand poetry and do not want to take the time to read enough of it to understand it. According to Wexler â€Å"It is difficult to imagine a world without movies, plays, novels and music, but a world without poems doesn’t have to be imagined. † It is difficult to imagine such a thing but if we look closely we might find poetry in all of those places. Today’s society is a fast-paced one and the entertainers have adapted to this way of life. They make novels into short stories on film, leaving out critical parts in the novel, to appease our appetites for entertainment on a tight schedule. â€Å"My interest waned,† writes Wexler. â€Å"On the surface, I suppose it was because I had other interests that demanded my time and attention: I got married, had children, pursued my career, bought a house. With apologies to Frost, I began to find more relevance in articles about interest rates than essays on the sprung rhythm of Hopkins. † With the computer age comes less time to sit and read for pure entertainment. There are video games, internet and such that replace the enjoyment of a good book. People do not sit and discuss a good book as they once did; we discuss the latest movie or play instead, because we feel that these things take up less of our time than reading. I myself only read when I need to and even then I usually skim through to get the highlights. But as to the art of poetry being dead all together as Wexler’s states I disagree. We can find poetry everywhere if we look. Look at some of the modern music of today’s society it is there form of poetry. According to Kay Day, â€Å"I have a theory about that, one that rests on the fact that poetry has splintered into a number of different factions. There is poetry for the page, a type of poetry that appeals to those who enjoy scholarship and intellectual challenges. Then there’s slam poetry, popular among youth, that relies on thumping rhythm and aggressive rhyme. Formal poets espouse rhythm and meter based on traditional forms such as the sonnet. Personal poetry, also known as journal poetry, serves up stockroom emotions in a variety of forms, and this poetry usually reflects the writer’s emotional state in a familiar way. † I agree with this statement the world has changed and evolved to view poetry in many different lights. Some food for thought, in doing research I also found a couple of articles that I found interesting and another reason that poetry could not be dead. Victor Infante, â€Å"If Wexler had made one iota of effort, he’d have noticed a few things: like thousands upon thousands of people attending recent poetry festivals in locales as diverse as Orange County, California, and Austin, Texas†¦ Or the 10,000 people who attend the National Poetry Slam Finals annually†¦ Or the fact that poetry sales have been rising for years now, even through the bad economy. Poetry has actually transformed over the years, and it’s quite possible that Wexler has missed the boat. So, Bruce, here’s the crash course: Poetry is no longer insular — it’s a living, growing, vibrant art form. Poetry is no longer the province of the white middle class — it’s been embraced by youths and minorities. Poetry is not uncool — why else would teenage black kids in inner cities so proudly proclaim themselves poets? † Justin Barrett, â€Å"We have done away with the oral tradition and our culture morphed into a televised tradition. Poetry doesn’t work well in the televised world, and it all but disappeared. But, with the advent and spread of the internet, poetry is once again given the space to flourish. As of right this second, Googling the word â€Å"poetry† yields 19,700,000 separate hits. † Works Cited Day, Kay. â€Å"Why Poetry† First publication, â€Å"Uncommon Ground,† at Jacksonville. com, the Florida Times-Union Net site, July 15, 2003 http://kayday. com/why_poetry. htm Infante, Victor. â€Å"Once Again, Poetry Is Dead? It must be true, because Newsweek said it† 2004-2005 Atlanticrock. com http://www. atlanticrock. com/OpenMic001. html Barrett, Justin. â€Å"Poetry Isn’t Cool† http://www. myfavoritebullet. com/ESSAY_barrett_POETRY_isnt_COOL. html.

Feminist Language Planning Essay

1 Feminism and language There is no doubt that feminism has been and continues to be one of the main social movements of this century. Its impact is felt in many societies around the world and in many spheres of life. The women’s or feminist movement strives, amongst other things, for the elimination of gender discrimination and for the greater recognition of women’s contributions to society as well as aims to change many cultural and social practices which perpetuate patriarchal value systems. Language was and is seen by many feminists as a powerful instrument of patriarchy: for example, the feminist Dale Spender, spoke of the English language as being ‘manmade’ and as being an important contributor to women’s oppression (Spender 1980). It is therefore not surprising that language and discourse practices were and are subjected to feminist scrutiny, often leading to elaborate and detailed descriptions of sexist practices affecting language use. 2. Feminism and linguistic re form Feminists, at least in western societies, also expressed a desire to change the patriarchal and sexist ‘nature’ of language and therefore engaged in various types of linguistic reform or language planning. Although many feminists shared the belief that changing linguistic and discourse practices is an important element in women’s liberation, this did not result in a uniform approach to linguistic reform (see e.g. Pauwels 1998). The social, cultural, political and philosophical diversity which characterizes members of the feminist movement is also reflected in the approaches to and aims for feminist language reform. For example, not all forms of feminism, interpret women’s liberation as a question of achieving mere equality of the sexes. Similarly, not all linguistic reform proposals have as their main aim the achievement of linguistic equality of the sexes. Some reform initiatives primarily aim at exposing the sexist nature of ‘patriarchal’ lan guage by causing linguistic disruptions. The strategies used to achieve linguistic disruption frequently involve experimentation and creativity with all parts of speech. The word ‘herstory’ to refer to history which is not only about men, is an example of linguistic disruption: a morphological boundary has been reconstituted to + on semantic grounds. Creating a women-centred language capable of expressing reality from a female perspective is another prominent objective of some forms of feminist language planning. Proposed changes range from the creation of new women-centred meanings for words like ‘witch’, ‘hag’ and neologisms such as ‘malestream’, ‘femocrat’, graphemic innovations including ‘womyn’ or ‘wimmin’ and ‘LehrerIn’ (German), to developing women-focussed discourses and even creating an entirely new language. An example of the latter is the LÃ ¡adan language created by the science-fiction writer and linguist, Suzette Haden Elgin ‘for the specific purpose of expressing the perceptions of women’ (Elgin 1988:1). Despite this diversity in reform initiatives and objectives for feminist language planning, it is the ‘linguistic equality of the sexes’ approach which has become synonymous with feminist language planning in the eyes of the wider community. This is in part due to the prominence of liberal feminist approaches in the public arena which focus on achieving sex/gender equality. Linguistic discrimination is seen as a form of sex discrimination which can be addressed in ways similar to other forms of sex discrimination (e.g. in employment). In fact the question of gender bias in occupational nomenclature is directly linked to gender discrimination in the employment arena. The prominence of the linguistic equality approach is also due to the media’s attenti on to non-sexist language guidelines, the main instrument of promoting this type of feminist language reform. Advocates of the linguistic equality approach use the strategies of gender-neutralisation (sometimes gender abstraction) and/or gender-specification (feminisation) to attain their goal of creating a language system which allows for a balanced representation of the sexes. Gender-neutralisation involves minimising or eliminating gender-specific expressions and constructions. It entails ‘that any morphosyntactic and lexical features marking human agent nouns and pronouns (or other parts of speech) as masculine or feminine are ‘neutralised’ for gender, especially in generic contexts’ (Pauwels 1998: 109). Examples for English include the elimination of gender-suffixes of -ess, -ette, -(tr)ix in relation to human agent nouns (e.g. hostess, aviatrix, usherette), the creation of compound nouns involving -person (e.g. chairperson, tradesperson), and the avoidance of generic ‘he’. Gender-specification (also known as feminisation) is a strategy used to achieve linguistic equality by making the ‘invisible sex’ (in most cases, women) visible in language through systematic and symmetrical marking of gender. Although English does not use this strategy much (it is found more often in languages with grammatical gender), the use of ‘he or she’, and of phrases such as ‘police women and men’, ‘actors and actresses’ in generic contexts exemplifies the gender-specification strategy. Underlying the linguistic equality approach to reform is a belief that making changes to linguistic forms will contribute significantly to the promotion of non-sexist meanings. 3 Evaluating feminist linguistic reform In the previous section I indicated that there are several approaches to feminist language reform and that the linguistic equality approach is the most prominent and possibly, the most widespread one. In this paper my focus is on the evaluation of the linguistic equality approach. Evaluating the outcome (a result or an effect of an action) is a crucial aspect of any form of language planning. Language planners together with the interest groups, agencies or institutions which encouraged, demanded or sanctioned (allowed) the reforms are usually keen to assess the impact of planning on the linguistic behaviour of the individuals, groups or communities targeted by the reforms. Whereas advocates and/or opponents of linguistic reform are primarily interested in the extent to which the linguistic reform proposals have been adopted or rejected, for language planners the evaluation exercise also provides valuable information on the process of language planning, the factors which facilitate an d/or obstruct change. A further interest for language planners who are also linguistic scholars is the possibility of comparing the process of the spread of so-called ‘planned’ vs ‘unplanned’ linguistic change thus contributing to a better understanding of linguistic change. Here I wish to explore two major aspects of the evaluation of feminist language planning: (1) Evidence of the (successful) adoption of feminist linguistic proposals; (2) Insights into the ways feminist language changes spread throughout the community. The adoption and spread of feminist linguistic reform are examined in relation to a prominent feature of feminist linguistic reform of the ‘linguistic equality’ type: the use of gender-neutral and/or gender-inclusive occupational nouns and titles. Data for this discussion come mainly from English, although reference is also made to Dutch, French and German studies. The discussion of linguistic spread is very preliminary as most data have not yet been subjected to a thorough analysis: i.e. only trends will be noted. 4 Adopting feminist linguistic reform: success or failure? 4.1 Occupational nomenclature In many western societies feminist concerns about gender bias in occupational nouns, professional titles and terms attracted attention primarily through its link with Sex Discrimination Acts and other legislation aimed at eliminating gender-based discrimination in employment. Feminists and women activists in a range of professional bodies highlighted the fact that occupational and professional nomenclature used in employment-related contexts displayed bias in favour of men leading to women’s invisibility in this area of language use. For example, linguistic practices found in many job classifieds assumed applicants to be male. Male-stereotyped language was used to describe applicants (e.g. aggressive, dynamic, virile). The use of ‘masculine’ generic nouns and pronouns (e.g. the applicant – he; storeman, tradesman, cameraman – he) further reinforced the ‘maleness’ of the desired applicant. Research in the 1970s and 1980s (e.g. Bem & Bem 1973, Hamilton 1988, Kidd 1971, Mackay & Fulkerson 1979, Martyna 1978, Pincus & Pincus 1980, Schneider and Hacker 1973, Wilson & Ng 1988) found evidence that masculine generic nouns and pronouns were seldom interpreted in a generic, gender-neutral sense. Instead they were associated with male-specific images in many language users. Two major strategies emerged to eliminate this gender bias in occupational nomenclature: gender-neutralisation and gender-specification (feminisation). Selecting one strategy over another seems partly linked to linguistic typology. Gender-specification as a main strategy is more likely to occur in the case of grammatical gender languages (e.g. German, French, Italian, Spanish) which still have productive gender suffixes (e.g. German). Gender-neutralisation is more likely to be applied to languages with a natural gender system (e.g. English) or languages in which gender suffixes are less or no longer productive (e.g. Danish, Swedish and Dutch). However, the choice of the main strategy is also influenced by extra-linguistic or social arguments. Gender-neutralisation is clearly aimed at ‘taking gender out of the occupational arena’. In other words, the aim is to have a society in which a person’s sex has no relevance or significance for their occupational status. Proponents of the feminisation strategy, on the other hand, argue that it is socially more effective to achieve linguistic equality by showing that there are an increasing number of women in all areas of the paid work force, i.e. women’s participation in the work force needs to be made more visible through the strategy of gender-specification or feminisation. In order to demonstrate successful adoption of feminist linguistic reform in this area of language use, evidence needs to be found that the feminist alternatives are used increasingly in preference to the gender biased forms and that the actual use of the feminist alternatives is in line with their promoted use. In language planning terms , successful feminist linguistic reform entails evidence that the feminist alternatives move from a status of ‘discouraged’ or even ‘disapproved’ use to that of ‘tolerated’, and eventually ‘preferred’ or ‘promoted’ use (Kloss 1968). Findings from Dutch, English, French (see especially Burr in this volume) and German research into the adoption of non-sexist occupational nomenclature confirm that feminist linguistic alternatives are (increasingly) used, although adoption rates vary substantially from language to language and vary according to linguistic context/genre. For the purposes of this paper I will confine the presentation of evidence to that found in relation to the print media (mainly newspapers). English speech communities seem to lead the way in the adoption of feminist linguistic alternatives for occupational terms. Cooper (1984) studied the impact of feminist language planning on the use of masculine generic pronouns and nouns (including occupational nouns) on a corpus of 500000 words taken from American newspapers, current affairs and women’s magazines covering the period 1971 – 1979. He found a dramatic decline in the use of masculine generics, especially of generic ‘man’ and generic ‘he’: their use fell from 12.3% per 5000 words in 1971 to 4.3% in 1979. In New Zealand Meyerhoff (1984) analyzed changes in the use of masculine generics in a corpus of 150000 words taken from five newspapers with a different audience (i.e. a national and a regional daily, a student newspaper, a TV magazine and a women’s magazine as well as a monthly publication of the New Zealand’s journalists’ union). Her study found evidence of a significant reduction in the use of masculine generic nouns and pronouns with the decrease being most pronounced for the student newspaper and the journalists’ union publication. The only publication to support ‘- person’ compounds was the student newspaper. Holmes’ analysis of the occurrence of ‘-person’ vs ‘-man’ and ‘-woman’ compound forms in the Wellington Corpus of Written New Zealand English covering the period 1986 – 1989 found that most such forms occurred very seldom (1 per 1 million words) with the exception ‘spokesperson’ and ‘chairperson’ (Holmes in press). The use of these two forms, however, was considerably lower than that of their masculine generic alternatives: ‘spokesman’ and ‘chairman’. The corpus revealed 6 instances of ‘chairperson(s)’ vs 109 for ‘chairman/men’ and 2 for ‘chairwo man/women’. ‘Spokesperson(s)’ occurred 4 times in the corpus, ‘spokespeople’ once, ‘spokeswoman/women’ twice and ‘spokesman/men’ 36 times. Holmes (in press) did note that the ‘overwhelming majority of the instances of chairman were identifiable as male, a sad reflection of the social reality that it was men who held this position most often, even in 1986’. She found only 4 instances of ‘chairman’ being used to refer to a woman. My own study which comprised a corpus of 200000 words taken from two national Australian newspapers in 1992 and in 1996 similarly found an overall low incidence of -person, -man and -woman compound forms. The number of occurrences of ‘chairman/chairwoman/ chairperson’ revealed the continued predominant use of ‘chairman’, although a breakdown of the numbers according to referents showed that ‘chairman’ was predominantly used to refer to male referents. The few occurrences of ‘chairperson’ and ‘chair’ (see Table 1) do not allow for an interpretation of emerging trends. In the case of ‘chairman’ I would have to agree with Holmes’ comment that its continuing, frequent use reflects the fact that far more men than women continue to occupy this position. It should also be said that newspaper articles are not an ideal source to establish generic uses of this term, as most references to this position specify the incumbent. In the case of ‘spokesman/spokeswoman/spokesperson’ a more substantial change can be noticed: although 38 instances of ‘spokesman’ were recorded, ‘spokesperson’ appeared 32 times. A breakdown in terms of referents showed that 47% of ‘spokesman’ uses referred to a male and that ‘spokesman’ was never used to refer specifically to a female. Most uses of ‘spokesperson’ had no specific referent. There is also some indication that ‘spokesperson’ is being used in connection with male as well as female referents, hence avoiding the trend that the ‘-person’ compound is used as a mere substitution for the ‘-woman’ compound form.