Hermeneutical Circle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hermeneutical Circle - Essay Example The 'meaning' may be open-ended, but the particular text that is being considered is a close-ended circle because of the self-referentiality of individual parts and whole (Jasper, 2004). Christianity is based upon a number of tenets, including the idea, at least within the Protestant faiths, that the Bible is in fact an "organic whole" rather than a series of contrasting individual texts that have been gathered together over quite a long period of time. Yet on another note, the only way for a Christian to understand many parts of the Bible is to refer to other parts of the Bible for understanding. This is the self-referentiality of the Bible that can be seen as a part of the hermeneutical circle. A central example is the 'nature of God' which has concerned Christians for more then 1900 years. The various manners in which God reveals Himself within the Bible, particularly in reference to the contrast between the Old and New Testaments, might seem to be contradictory. The same God who asks for the first-born to be killed and demands that one of his faithful kill his own son to prove his faith is also the same God who reveals that love, mercy and forgiveness are the central aspects of his nature in the New Testament (Goldsworthy, 2007). It is the closed circle of self-referentiality that is found within the Bible is the answer to that question. Various parts of the Bible, in revealing the nature of God, refer to one another. One cannot understand the God of the New Testament without reference to the Old Testament and visa-versa. One version of the circle of hermeneutics, as expressed by evangelical theology, suggests that it is not merely "word studies" that should be involved in interpretation but rather "Word study" (Goldsworthy, 2007). This is the Word of Jesus Christ which is regarded as being the central focus and prism through which the rest of the Bible, and in fact "all of reality" can be discovered and understood (Goldsworthy, 2007). The gospel of Jesus Christ is the central fulcrum around which the rest of the Bible revolves according to this kind of hermeneutics. Of course this essentially counters the non-hierarchical structure of self-referentiality that exists within the traditional hermeneutical circle. In traditional hermeneutics all parts relate to the whole and the whole relates to all the parts in equal measure. Within a Christian theology that includes hermeneutics the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the focusing structure that involves comprehension. Jesus "communicates" (Brown, 2007) with people through the closed circle of the Bible, and enables them to navigate through the often complex and seemingly contradictory passages that it offers. The hermeneutical circle may appear to be complex, but in fact it is quite simple when seen in terms of revelation. As Brown (2007) suggests, "reading scripture is learning to discern a communicative act initiated by God". That "communicative act" needs to be understood within the context of all the other acts of communication that are contained within the Bible, but for the Christian at least, it is the word of Jesus Christ that offers a complete explanation for how that communication has occurred and what God is intending to mean. To conclude, the hermeneutical circle is one of the largest dilemmas within all philosophy in general and within theology in particular. The self-referentiali

Content management system

Content management system Abstract This assignment is aimed to introduce students to how a project is to be managed and developed. This project is about planning for the project management of the move of a large corporate website from static HTML version to a data driven system based on a Web Content Management System. To plan for the project an evaluation for three options has to be made between Joomla, Drupal and SharePoint. As the project plan is to be for a 9 month period the time scheduling have to be made within this period. Also have to do Gantt chart and resource utilization in Microsoft project Microsoft excel and make lesion learned report. Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities in order to meet or exceed stakeholders needs and expectations from a project. Project management is the discipline of organizing and managing resources in such a way that the project is completed within defined scope, quality, time and cost constraints. Executive Summary Introduction: This document serves as a course requirement of ITPQM assignment given by Greenwich University. It supersedes the previous HTML version to a data driven system for Web Content Management System (WCMS). Key parts of this report will be the choice of the content management system and the evaluation of M.S Excel and M.S project. A business criterion has to be selected regarding the chosen WCMS, which would be chosen after evaluating it in MS Excel. This assignment helps us to understand whether MS Excel and MS Project have features and functions that would support in a Project management. Research On Web Content Management System (CMS) CMS stands for Content Management System, a software application used for the creation, storage, and management of web content in many formats.A Web Content Management System (WCM, WCMS or Web CMS) is content management system (CMS) software, implemented as a Web application, for creating and managing HTML content. It is used to manage and control a large, dynamic collection of Web material (HTML documents and their associated images). A WCMS facilitates content creation, content control, editing, and essential Web maintenance functions. The software provides authoring (and other) tools designed to allow users with little knowledge of programming languages or markup languages to create and manage content with relative ease. Most systems use a database to store content, metadata, or artifacts that might be needed by the system. Content is frequently, but not universally, stored as XML, to facilitate, reuse, and enable flexible presentation options. Administration is done through browser-based interfaces, but some systems require the use of a fat client. A presentation layer displays the content to Web-site visitors based on a set of templates. The templates are sometimes XSLT files. Most systems use server side caching boosting performance. This works best when the WCMS is not changed often but visits happen on a regular basis. Unlike Web-site builders, a WCMS allows non-technical users to make changes to a website with little training. A WCMS typically requires an experienced coder to set up and add features, but is primarily a Web-site maintenance tool for non-technical administrators. This means users will not need to hire a web design company every time they want to update the site or add content. Benefits of WCMS: Upon completion of this project plan WCMS derives following benefits: Customizable pages and portal elements (banners, colors, etc.) that can be tailored globally or targeted individually Targeted announcements based on Banner criteria Web-based tools to manage user and group profiles, announcements, content and layout, and performance and usage A portal interface to control channel and content delivery An integration suite to share data between third-party applications, and databases Increased capacity to growth any organization. Project Scope Scope: The objectives of WCMS scope: Procure and install the selected web content management system Plan, test and deploy initial information architecture framework and update, document or leverage from existing Templates Workflows for known sites Roles and responsibilities Content guidelines Support and training materials Services to be provided System schematic logical and physical design Plan, test and execute Scope Elements: Several elements lack sufficient clarity without further analysis to determine whether they are in or out of scope: Number and scope of site migration: the number of Humanities departments that can be accommodated within the project is unknown. The scope of the University Relations migration is not fully defined. Use of authoritative course information is currently available using the template system and some academic departments expect this functionality. Whether it is in scope for Phase II is dependent upon analysis of complexities involved. Fully redundant off-site disaster recovery of editing and publishing functionality may prove too complex and costly. Out of Scope: Other deliverables that are out of scope for the WCMS Project include: Creation of strategic and implementation plans for corporate response to web security and policy/regulatory compliance beyond Design Review Board process. Web standards work for development and integration (with the exception of standards and release policy for code passed via system to web layer.) Full or extensive evaluation and mitigation for compliance and accessibility issues Extensive service definition of the new web services to be deployed Retirement/repurpose of existing web content delivery infrastructures Design/revision of new campus template Look and Feel Resolution of funding source for hiring of operational staff. Project Dependencies: The dependencies below introduce risk that must be mitigated and, therefore, are included in the Risk Management Plan. Other Web Program Components Web Function and Design Project: template design and information architecture deliverables have many functional and schedule-related interdependencies. Web Service Definition Project will derive information from WCMS as a result of practical migration experience and the WCMS project will require the Service Definition project to provide direction. Web Governance: The WCMS project will rely upon Web Governance to develop policy where needed for implementation or operations. Description of Joomla, Drupal SharePoint: Drupal: Drupal is a free software package that allows an individual or a community of users to easily publish, manage and organize a wide variety of content on a website. Tens of thousands of people and organizations are using Drupal to power scores of different web sites, including Community web portals Discussion sites Corporate web sites Intranet applications Personal web sites or blogs Aficionado sites E-commerce applications Resource directories Social Networking sites The built-in functionality, combined with dozens of freely available add-on modules, will enable features such as: Electronic commerce Blogs Collaborative authoring environments Forums Peer-to-peer networking Newsletters Podcasting Picture galleries File uploads and downloads General features Collaborative Book- collaborative book feature lets one setup a book and then authorize other individuals to contribute content. Friendly URLs- Drupal uses Apaches mod_rewrite to enable customizable URLs that are both user and search engine friendly. Modules- The Drupal community hascontributed many moduleswhich provide functionality that extend Drupal core. Online help- Have built a robust online help system built into the core help text. Open source- The source code of Drupal is freely available under the terms of the GNU General Public License 2 (GPL). Unlike proprietary blogging or content management systems, Drupals feature set is fully available to extend or customize as needed. Personalization- A robust personalization environment is at the core of Drupal. Both the content and the presentation can be individualized based on user-defined preferences. Role based permission system- Drupal administrators dont have to tediously setup permissions for each user. Instead, they assign permissions to roles and then group like users into a role group. Searching- All content in Drupal is fully indexed and searchable at all times if one take advantage of the built in search module. Content management Polls- Drupal comes with a poll module which enables admins and/or users to create polls and show them on various pages. Templating- Drupals theme system separates content from presentation allowing you to control the look and feel of your Drupal site. Templates are created from standard HTML and PHP coding meaning that you dont have to learn a proprietary templating language. Threaded comments- Drupal provides a powerful threaded comment model for enabling discussion on published content. Comments are hierarchical as in a newsgroup or forum. Version control- Drupals version control system tracks the details of content updates including who changed it, what was changed, the date and time of changes made to your content and more. Version control features provide an option to keep a comment log and enables you to roll-back content to an earlier version. Joomla: Joomla is an award-winning content management system (CMS), which enables you to build Web sites and powerful online applications. Many aspects, including its ease-of-use and extensibility, have made Joomla the most popular Web site software available. Best of all, Joomla is an open source solution that is freely available to everyone. Joomla is used all over the world to power Web sites of all shapes and sizes. For example: Corporate Web sites or portals Corporate intranets and extranets Online magazines, newspapers, and publications E-commerce and online reservations Government applications Small business Web sites Non-profit and organizational Web sites Community-based portals School and church Web sites Personal or family homepages Joomla is designed to be easy to install and set up. Many Web hosting services offer a single-click install, getting your new site up and running in just a few minutes. Since Joomla is so easy to use, as a Web designer or developer, we can quickly build sites for your clients. Then, with a minimal amount of instruction, we can empower our clients to easily manage their sites themselves. SharePoint: SharePoint is a collection of products and software elements that includes, among a growing selection of components, web browser based collaboration functions, process management modules, search modules and a SharePoint can be used to host web sites that access shared workspaces, information stores and documents, as well as host defined applications such as wikis and blogs. All users can manipulate proprietary controls called web parts or interact with pieces of content such as lists and document libraries. Some Features of SharePoint: Team Collaboration, Review Workflows, Premium Web, Slide Library (splits a PPT presentation into individually viewable slides on the site without breaking the PPT file open), Premium Web Application, Premium Root Site, Management Library, Global Web Parts, Enhanced Search, Base Web Application, Spell Checking, Signatures Workflow ,Reporting, Premium Site, Publishing Web, Base Web, Base Site, Basic Search, Translation Workflow workflow for sending a document through rounds of translation into multiple languages, Expiration Workflow, Excel Server, Search Web Parts, Publishing Site Issue Tracking Workflow . EVALUATION ON DRUPAL, JOOMLA SHAREPOINT Joomla: Joomla is designed in a way that it can work perfectly in a shared hosting environment. It is a package that is least expensive and most common to all users. Its installation feature is simple and just like any other descktop software. It can support several extensions, add-on and plug in. Joomla is written in PHP with general purpose scripting language and best suitable for web development. Joomla is integrated with CiviCRM and other common packages like GetActive or DemocracyInAction. Drupal Drupal can work just like Joomla in shared hosting environments. It has powerful content editing tools for common users and for web developers for creating websites without bothering about codes. Drupal is a bit diffuclt in installation procedure than that of Joomla. Drupal is also developed in PHP and offers common functionalies of Joomla or perhaps more sophisticated ones, which would be difficult for non technical persons to master it than that of Joomla. It contains non-profit centric add-ons like event registration, online donation, email newsletter etc. Eventhough drupal has plugins they are less powerful than that of Joomla. SharePoint: Sharepoint uses application server as IIS.Net where as Joomla and Drupal uses , CGI and Apache. Applicatin cost is $4000 compared to the other two which are free to use. Security feature is more of a plus point in SharePoint than that of Joomla! And Drupal. Ease of use, performance and management are more easy and manageable compared to both Drupal and Joomla. But SharePoint supports ASP.net programming language, if the site which was built using PHP then it will be difficult to use SharePoint to establish the same site online. KEY FUNCTIONALITIES OF A WCMS Content management systems manage content creation, review and approval processes for web site content. Content management system provides content version control, collaboration utilities, and user or document level security. Some of the functions of CMS are: Content Authoring: it is the ability to create content through a content editor, import of content, capability to deploy, present the content and aggregation of items. Content acquisition: it is the ability to gather content through import or metadata. Content aggregation: process of gathering information from different sources into one overall structure. Output and content presentation: Presenting content through different ways such as HTML or XML Workflow management: the process of managing to create flows of sequential and parallel tasks that must be accomplished. Version control and management: lets multiple users make simultaneous changes to content and keep track of them. Security management: Access to the content are controlled through authentication, role and directory management, access control settings and passwords. Product technology and support: defines the technical architecture of the product, the technological environment in which the product can successfully run. Such as product and application architecture, software usability and administration, platform and database support, application standards support, communications and protocol support and integration capabilities. Project Goals and Objectives: The objectives of WCMS with the original scope: Procure and install the selected web content management system Plan, test and deploy initial information architecture framework and update, document or leverage from existing Templates Workflows for known sites Roles and responsibilities Content guidelines Support and training materials Services to be provided System schematic logical and physical design Plan, test and execute WSM criteria of WCMS: Criteria to which alternative to choose for Web Content Management System (WCMS): Corefunctionality When most people think of content management, they are thinking of the creation, deletion, editing and organizing of pages. They assume all content management systems do this and so take the functionality for granted. However that is not necessarily the case. There is also no guarantee that it is done in an intuitive fashion. Not all blogging platforms for example allow the owner to manage and organize pages into a tree hierarchy. Instead the individual posts are automatically organized by criteria such as date or category. In some situations this is perfectly adequate. In fact this limitation in functionality keeps the interface simple and easy to understand. However, in other circumstances the absence of this functionality can be frustrating. Theeditor The majority of content management systems have a WYSIWYG editor. Strangely this editor is often ill considered, despite the fact that it is the most used feature within the system. The editor is the interface through which content is added and amended. Traditionally, it has also allowed the content provider to apply basic formatting such as the selection of fonts and color. However more recently there has been a move away from this type of editor to something that reflects the principles of best practice. The danger of traditional WYSIWYG editors is twofold. First, they give the content provider too much design control. They are able to customize the appearance of a page to such an extent that it could undermine the consistence of design and branding. Second, in order to achieve this level of design control the CMS mixes design and content. The new generation of editors takes a different approach. The content provider uses the editor to markup headings, lists, links and other elements without dictating how they should appear. Ensure your list of requirements includes an editor that uses this approach and does not give content providers control over appearance. At the very least look for content management systems that allow the editor to be replaced with a more appropriate solution. The editor should also be able to handle external assets including images and downloads. That brings us on to the management of these assets. Managingassets Managing images and files are badly handled by some CMS packages. Issues of accessibility and ease of use can cause frustration with badly designed systems. Images in particular can cause problems. Ensure that the content management system you select forces content provider to add alt attributes to imagery. You may also want a CMS that provides basic image editing tools such as crop resize and rotate. However, finding such a CMS can be a challenge. Also consider how the content management system deals with uploading and attaching PDFs, Word documents and other similar files. How are they then displayed to users? What descriptions can be attached to the files and is the search capable of indexing them. Search is an important aspect of any site. Approximately half of users will start with search when looking for content. However, often the search functionality available in content management systems is inadequate. Userinteraction If you intend to gather user feedback, your CMS must provide that functionality or allow third party plug-in to do so. Equally, if you want a community on your site then you will require functionality such as chat, forums, comments and ratings. As a minimum you will require the ability to post forms and collect the responses. How easy does the CMS make this process? Can you customize the fields or does that require technical expertise? What about the results? Can you specify who they are emailed to? Can they be written to a database or outputted as an excel document? Consider the type of functionality that you will require and look for a CMS that supports that. Rolesandpermissions As the number of content providers increase, you will want more control over who can edit what. For example, personnel should be able to post job advertisements but not add content to the homepage. This requires a content management system that supports permissions. Although implementation can vary, permissions normally allow you to specify whether users to edit specific pages or even entire sections of the site. As the number of contributors grows still further you may require one individual to review the content being posted to ensure accuracy and consistent tone. Alternatively content might be inputted by a junior member of staff who requires the approval of somebody more senior before making that content live. In both cases this requires a cms that supports multiple roles. This can be as simple as editors and approver, or complex allowing customized roles with different permissions. Finally, enterprise level content management systems support entire workflows where a page update has to go through a series of checkpoints before being allowed to go live. These complex scenarios require the ability to roll back pages to a pervious version. Being able to revert to a previous version of a page allows you to quickly recover if something is posted by accident. Some content management systems have complex versioning that allow you to rollback to a specific date. However, in most cases this is overkill. The most common use of versioning is simply to return to the last saved state. Although this sounds like an indispensable feature, in my experience it is rarely used expect in complex workflow situations. That said, although versioning was once a enterprise level tool it is increasingly becoming available in most content management systems. This is also true of multi-site support. Multiplesitesupport With more content management systems allowing you to run multiple websites from the same installation, I would recommend that this is a must-have feature. Although you may not currently need to manage more than a single site, that could change. You may decide to launch a new site targeting a different audience. Alternatively with the growth of the mobile web, you may create a separate site designed for mobile devices. Whatever the reason, having the flexibility to run multiple websites is important. Multilingualsupport It is easy to dismiss the need to support multiple languages. Your site may be targeted specifically at the domestic market or you may sell a language specific product. However think twice before dismissing this requirement. Even if your product is language specific, that could change. It is important that your cms can grow with your business and changing requirements. Also just because you are targeting the domestic market does not mean you can ignore language. We live in a multicultural society where numerous languages are spoken. Being able to accommodate these differences provides a significant edge on your competition. That said; do think through the ramifications of this requirement. Just because you have the ability to add multiple languages doesnt mean you have the content. Too many of my clients have insisted on multilingual support and yet have never used it. They have failed to consider where they are going to get the content translated and how they intend to pay for it. Success Criteria: A central WCMS is implemented and accepted by primary stakeholders including academic and academic support web site Clear roles and responsibilities are established for content creation, maintenance, and the support of the technology In-scope web sites are to the content management system Stakeholders are kept informed of developments and are provided with opportunities to comment and participate After Evaluation of WSM criteria I have created this WSM model which can help me to choose best CMS system for WCMS. Work Breakdown Structure: Project Name: Web Content Management System Project planning/feasibility study (requirements stage) Study on the project issues Develop the project plan System analysis Analysis of its requirements pre analysis selecting a supplier How many servers will be required, procuring hardware etc. Procuring hardware and software System design Develop system design Context diagram/ system boundary DFD ERD Final database The final solution map Develop content management activities. Develop content management activities CMS objects CMS emails Find relevant contents Moving contents from old website to the new one. Archiving mechanisms Operating environment made ready implementation/coding Creating basic pages with different logged areas Implement menu structure Implement site authentication Implement site modules web editors trained for use of CMS integration and testing Developed module for testing Test modules Test full site Test in the working environment Acceptance Check developed module and suggests changes Client testing Acceptance by the sponsors for the launch of new system installation Move site from developers server to live server Changes made System installed in the real environment. Deployment (training) Train IT support staff Construct training schedule Give training for use of the CMS system Verify user readiness Give editor course after 6 months of deployment. Implementation Plan: The high-level timeline follows for implementation. [A key weakness in estimating dates is the current unknown availability date of the vendor. Here we assume availability to develop SOW as soon as the contract is finalized.] Assumptions for the following timeline include: Contract negotiations are successful Actual award is not delayed after successful negotiations Vendor can engage as soon as contract negotiations are complete Two weeks off over winter break and one week over Thanksgiving break Availability of other team resources as specified below Twenty percent reduction in capacity due to furloughs and staff loss Implementation Strategy: The strategy to implement the new centrally supported WCMS site process includes the following work elements. Procurement negotiate a contract with the vendor and complete the purchase of the application. System Design and Installation design and installation of hardware, software, and process components supporting the application environment Requirements, Configuration, and Development requirements elicitation, configuration and development of the application to meet user requirements Deployment Management create a deployment plan for release of infrastructure, configurations, development projects, and assure release readiness. Documentation and Communication collect and organize documentation and project communication. Implementation Work Package Description: Procurement: Procurement and Business Contracts will procure software, consultation time, and three-year support contract from the selected vendor. System design and installation: The technical aspects of the system implementation will be conducted by a core technical team including two ITS team leads, PM, and rotating technical experts depending upon work products (programming, security, server admin, network, architects, IDM manager, etc.) Disaster recovery is a deliverable of this workgroup. Requirements will be gathered, options reviewed, and feasible option implemented. Because no precedent at UCSC for off-site disaster recovery is available, the options will be researched and analyzed for feasibility. The lack of precedent will be verified. Specific deliverables are listed in section 4.2. Functional Requirements, Configurations Development: Logical configuration of the application to meet business needs will include developing knowledge of the application function as well as the partner business requirements. Also key will be engagement with the vendor to understand best practices. Unlike technical configuration, functional configuration includes definition of business requirements related elements such as users/roles/groups, workflows, and user interface configurations. Hannon Hill Cascade Server has components that combine templates, configuration settings, and user groups together. A logical analysis of the best configuration is critical to maintaining scalability and functionality. This configuration team will engage and include technical team members and migration team members in developing requirements and specifications for configuration and development. To the extent required to meet project deliverables, the team will gather business requirements, create specifications, and develop scripts, API interfaces, and external application integration. Specific deliverables are listed in section 4.2. Deployment Management: A core team including team leads will be responsible for deployment planning, will develop a checklist of activities and tests that must be performed prior to deployment, and will be accountable for their successful completion prior to deployment. Documentation and Communication: This team will be responsible for assuring that documentation to be handed off to the service team is created by the appropriate sub-teams and is stored/ organized in the appropriate place prior to project close. This includes: Technical documentation Technical training materials Application configuration User training materials Requirements

Language, Identity and Acceptance in Wright’s Autobiography, Black Boy :: Wright Black Boy Essays

Language, Identity and Acceptance in Wright’s Autobiography, Black Boy African American writer James Baldwin said that, â€Å" Language is the most vivid and crucial key to identity: It reveals the private, and connects, or divorces one from the larger public or communal identity.† The stories in Black Boy are original and captivating. It identifies Richard Wright as a writer and a person of incredible substance. The language identifies the books time frame and era. And most importantly shows Richard’s journey through social and personal acceptance. Writing this book the language used was important to Wright. It gave him the power to convey his life story to the reader. Without it his stories could have never been published and his popularity amongst readers would be nonexistent. This book is based on a factual claim. It might be biased because we read only his side of the story. It might also include a bit of fiction but his command of the words and the imagery speaks otherwise. Richard Wright infuses the book with personal stories from his experiences in life. We as the reader might find some of the stories in the book hard to believe but his use of evidence and historical facts lead the reader to deem that this book is in fact the life of Richard Wright. His use of words and his grasp of the English language allows the reader to identify with his victories and his defeats. Using the pathos appeal Wright enables the reader to be part of the story of his life. â€Å" I would hurl words into the darkness for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of hunger of life that gnaws in us all, to keep alive in our hearts a sense of the inexpressibly human. Language also identifies the books era. Reading the book one can tell that it was a time of hostility between races. The term â€Å" white man† comes up many times. It is as if Wright is reluctant to use he names of particular people even when he does know them. â€Å" White man† obtain a singular feeling from the reader. Even though most of the time there is usually more than one man he refers to them as the white man. The blacks on the other hand are â€Å"us† or â€Å"ours† .

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter Critique

Critique of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) Tanya Willie ENG 225: Introduction to Film Prof. Sarah Snook January 24, 2013 Critique of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) In Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012), the actions that take place began with its use of storytelling, acting, cinematography, editing, sound, style, and directing each part creating the masterpiece. I will reveal how the storytelling is played out, the different types of actors that is being used, how cinematography and editing’s roles take effect, and how the style and directing affect the film.In Abraham Lincoln: vampire Hunter (2012), Abraham struggled with the loss of his mother. As a young boy he fights when standing up for a friend who was being treated as a slave by stopping him from being beaten with a whip. Unknown at the time, this man was truly not a man, but a vampire. When young Abraham’s father intervenes, it creates a target on his family. It did not help when Abrahamâ€⠄¢s mother stated â€Å"until every man is free, we are all slaves† (Bekmambetov, 2012). The vampire soon after snuck into the Lincoln’s home and killed Abraham’s mother, which all takes place while he watched from his loft above.His struggle with her loss grew within him into adulthood where he finally began to plot on killing the man who took his mother from him. During his plotting, while drowning his sorrows in a bar, Abraham meets a man. This man eventually saves him when he attempts to kill Barts, the vampire that killed his mother. Henry Sturges agrees to teach Abraham to destroy, not kill, vampires as long as Abraham commits to becoming a full time vampire hunter and let go of his vengeance. Henry tells Abraham that you cannot kill that which is not dead, you must destroy them (Bekmambetov, 2012).Along Abraham’s journey he destroys many vampires with his ax coated with silver on the blade, yet not getting the privilege to hunt the main vampire he desires. In time he finds the love of a woman, Mary Todd, and his place as a political leader. All this is very much to the dismay of his mentor, Henry, being it is against the code of a vampire hunter who is damned to live a life with no friends, family, or career. These things became prominent after Abraham found out that Henry was a vampire himself. In Abraham’s politics he uses the words of his mother to guide him with his ambitions.The story is about how a boy becomes a man after the mysterious death of his mother, and how her words, â€Å"until every man is free, we are all slaves† lingered in his mind transforming him into a man (Bekmambetov, 2012). The irony of the death of his mother is that he could save his friend, but could not save his mother, leaving Abraham to struggle with the conflicting anger he contained from her being taken away so soon in his life. It takes nine years for him to realize his anger was all due to him feeling that he failed to save he r. Also he is ironically trained to destroy vampires by Henry who he later learns is also a vampire.This film used a variety of actors in order to create this masterful collection of scenes. Not only did they speak the script, but had to become the character so the audience would believe what they saw. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) starred Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln, an impersonator actor portraying a secret vampire hunter who later becomes the President of the United States. Dominic Cooper was the wild card actor, starring as Henry Sturges, Abraham’s mentor and a vampire himself. Mary Elizabeth Winstead starred as Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham’s wife.Anthony Mackie starring as Will Johnson was his close, childhood friend. Rufus Sewell starred as Adam, the father of all the American vampires. Last of all Marton Csokas starred as the one who started it all Jack Barts, the vampire who killed Abraham’s mother. Anthony, Mary, Rufus, and Marton were in the background simply character actors used as minor roles set aside from Benjamin Walker who played the leading role, impersonating a well-known historic figure making him an impersonator actor (Goodykoontz, & Jacobs, 2011, Sec. 3. 4; para. 1). Dominic was also a leading actor.Dominic is a wild card as he had to play a man one moment and a vampire the next. The actors helped to convey the story’s meaning by using the interpretation of their characters. I find the most difficult roles to play as Will Johnson and Abraham Lincoln. Anthony has to play a boy fighting to prove he was born free, but after the long battle African American’s had to fight for freedom I am not sure I could do as good a job as he did. Benjamin Walker has the difficult task of making the viewers see him as a well know historical figure. Each actor pulled through and convinced me that they were their character, not just playing the role.Cinematography takes the actors, putting them in specific pict ures to make how the film looks using different lighting, camera angles, color types, distance and framing to bring things together creating a specific look and feel. Caleb Deschanel begins the film with a wide shot of a free nation, present time in Lincoln’s time as President, in Washington, D. C. The shot was clear and bright just how Caleb wanted the viewers to see it. This bright scene is portraying the free nation, victorious after a long struggle of dark times. Gradually the scene takes us back to the past as Lincoln begins narrating him life.His story begins with a dark and gloomy time shown by the cinematographer’s use of low-level lighting. The tint of the film changes from blues to yellows depending on the mood of the scene. The blue tints were for a sad and dreary time while the yellow tint was meant for an eerie feeling. Caleb uses different camera angles throughout the film. â€Å" When the camera looks down on a character, we may be intended to view that character as â€Å"below† us or inferior to another character in the film, in a submissive position, or simply from an objective distance† (Goodykoontz, & Jacobs, 2011, sec. . 6; para. 2). One example is when Abraham is looking down at Barts after his first attempt to kill him. At times we are able to see what the character sees; this suggests the use of a subjective camera. The camera changes from showing the whole scene, to close-ups, the viewing things through Abraham’s eyes. All these things are put into motion by Caleb Deschanel, the cinematographer, who pictures the film scene by scene, cut by cut, and frame by frame in order to enhance how we, the viewers, feel about what we have seen.In this film it is mostly fear, anger, and victory that are being felt! The editor arranges the shots and scenes into acts, and uses different transitions to put them together. William Hay, the editor, chose each shot, putting them into order to achieve the incongruous editi ng. Even as this story begins with a present day time for Abraham Lincoln, he is narrating it from his journal venturing into his past, putting the film in a non-linear order. Direct cuts are used in this film to join shots within a scene. This type of cut is the simplest and often taken for granted.If I were not in Introduction to film learning about these details I would have never noticed this happening. According to figure 5. 1 Editing Transitions of out text, a direct cut is when â€Å"one shot instantaneously replaces another on the screen† (Goodykoontz, & Jacobs, 2011, Sec. 5. 3; fig. 5. 1). William uses single frames with direct cuts joining them to establish a more intense scene for action shots. This gives them the opportunity to use different camera angles to stimulate the viewer, making the scene one that makes your heart race. Other shots are longer in order to create a constant feel.Editing is used to imply a battle is taking place. In the scene, in the dark thi s is used when you hear a huge battle taking place but see only darkness, but when the light comes back on Abraham and Henry are beaten and bloody implying an event took place that had not actually happened. The scene is enhanced by the sound effects creating a stronger sense that it is actually taking place. The manner in which William edits this film helps to create a belief in the actions taking place. Films in the year 2012 are dependent on the sounds so we can understand what is happening.In Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) dialogue, sound effects, and music play an important role in the film. Throughout this film I found equal amounts of dialogue, sound effects, and music balancing things so evenly that without any part the film would not be as successful. Most of the dialogue is of Abraham narrating the events in his journal, but as this takes place it also shows actual conversations between the characters. This helps keep the audience’s attention by keeping it i nteresting. Sound effects are used to emphasize the battles taking place as well as encourage more than sense to be used while watching the film.For example, I not only saw Abraham’s ax swinging, but I could hear the swoosh sound as it flew through the air. Music done by Henry Jackman also plays its part by invoking an emotional response since it speeds up in action scenes and slows down to create a more morbid mood. Without the sounds of the dialogue, sound effects, and music within this film it would lose the interest of the audience quickly. Timur Bekmambetov is the director/ producer for this film and often works with action films. He has a history of working with war scenes as well as fantasy. He makes his view of this film evident through his work.His view, in my opinion, is that the film is about Abraham Lincoln having a secret identity as being a vampire hunter with the underlying meaning being about his fight for freedom. Timur shows how young Abraham fights for youn g Will’s freedom, his own freedom from anger and grief, freedom from the fear of vampires, and freedom for a nation of slavery. He does this by the many battles Abraham physically fights. It begins when he fights to help his friend, young Will, from being beat with a whip, moving on to his fight within himself in regards to him allowing his mother to die, and internal battle.It then shows his fight for survival on to his fight for freeing the nation from vampires. Last of all Abraham fights for the freedom of the slaves, standing strong by the words of his mother, â€Å"until every man is free, we are all slaves† (Bekmambetov, 2012). Timur is able to create these battles with his experience in films dealing with action and fantasy. Tim Bekmambetov is experienced in revealing his point of view within the film, making it known to the audience. This action, fantasy, horror film sends the viewer spiraling back into the past to a time when slavery was acceptable.I felt that since the director and producers, Timur Bekmambetov, Tim Burton, and Jim Lemley did such a great job setting the scene that I could believe this was a true reality for Abraham Lincoln. It touches the controversial subjects of slavery and war crossed with the belief in the supernatural. The film has such a realistic feel to hit, I find myself strangely wondering if Abraham actually fought against vampires, making me wonder, in a world full of the unknown, if vampires could have been part of this reality in the past.Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) is classified as a horror film with the subgenres being in History and Vampire. It gave a thrilling experience with the action scenes where vampires are being fought to keep them from taking over. It is a horror film due to the fear that vampires create. History is a subgenre because the film reflects a time that actually occurred in the pant, and the other subgenre is Vampire for obvious reasons. The film had my interest as soon as I saw the word â€Å"Vampire†; others may have focused on the history. It is funny that the film was more affected by society than it was on society.The violent manner used in the killings and the lack of censoring the scenes show how our society has advanced from the past when these scenes were only left up to the viewer’s imagination. Presently I pay no attention to this; but older viewers like my parents say it would never be accepted in the past. So far I found that the storytelling was clear and exciting, the acting was precise, and Caleb’s cinematography was on point. The editing by William and his direct cut transitions gave way to an exciting film set aside only by the sounds of dialogue, sound effects, and music by Henry Jackman.Overall the style and directing allowed for a film that was impacted more by society than it was on society. All these things came together to create a film full of action, fantasy and horror. References Bekmambetov, T. (Directo r/Producer). (2012). Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. [Motion Picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox. Goodykoontz, B. , & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content. ashford. edu/AUENG225. 11. 2

Pros and Cons of Mainstreaming/Inclusion in Middle School Classroom

Inclusion or mainstreaming is the practice of providing a child with disabilities with opportunity of non-discriminatory educational services in the general education classrooms. Till early seventies, over half the children with disabilities in United States did not receive appropriate educational services. It was very common for schools to refuse education to children with disabilities (Neas, 1998). In 1975, Congress passed the Education of all Handicapped Students Act, now called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Essence of this act is in provision of least restrictive environment to students with disabilities. Different states are interpreting and implementing this law differently. Some are allowing disabled students to be in regular education classrooms for all subjects, while others allow ‘partial inclusion’ implying that disabled students are brought in regular education classroom for some subjects only. Whatever the level of inclusion, it has generated a number of controversies. This essay will therefore scrutinize pros and cons of inclusion in order to analyze its efficacy. Proponents of inclusion believe that for students with disabilities, inclusion facilitates a rational and balanced social behavior because of higher expectations in the regular classroom. Kochhar, West, and Taymans (2000) conclude from their research that inclusion offers a greater support for disabled children which includes social acceptance from classmates without disabilities. It improves the ability of students and teachers to adapt to different teaching and learning styles. In disabled children, inclusion also promotes levels of achievement higher or at least as high as those achieved in self-contained classrooms, and an environment of better understanding is created among students with and without disabilities. In addition to various benefits of inclusion, the strongest argument coming in its favor is from its philosophical and moral/ethical base. Even opponents of inclusion can not refute the legitimacy of its philosophical and moral/ethical reasoning. Segregated programs are considered detrimental to disabled students since these make them feel isolated and rejected from mainstream. In normal children, the inclusion reduces the fear of human differences by increasing comfort and awareness towards their peers and friends with disabilities. Inclusion has a number of drawbacks too. Despite the support of specialists, it is not possible for regular schools to provide intensive and focused education to disabled children throughout the school day. It is becoming difficult for the schools to manage behavior patterns of disabled children and regulate these with normal children. It is eventually resulting into creating specialized classrooms (Harchik, 2005). The fact can not be ignored that students with disabilities are distinctly different from their non-disabled peers. This fact necessitates different, and specialized services to both the cadres. Students with disabilities can be best served outside the mainstream classroom since such students require individualized and customized training which can not be provided in large classrooms. It is not possible for the regular teachers to handle disabled children with specialized curriculum, which results in inappropriate educational services (SEDL, 1995). Tiner (1995) carried out survey of 120 teachers from six middle schools and found that teachers were concerned about spending too much time on special students which resulted in time taken away from others in the classroom. The proponents and opponents of inclusion have strong arguments to support their stance. Provision of specialized education through regular schools is very challenging and demanding. A school without proper facilities, services, aids and disciplinary strategies can not cope with the task of inclusion. Irrespective of pros and cons of inclusion, IDEA’97 legally bounds all educational institutions to provide least restrictive environments to students with disabilities, and therefore needs strict implementation to make it meaningful and beneficial. References Harchik, Alan. (2005). Including Children with Special Needs in Regular Classrooms: Pros & Cons. News for Parents. Retrieved April 30, 2006, from http://www.newsforparents.org/experts_inclusion_pros_cons.html Kochhar, C. A., West, L. L., & Taymans, J. M. (2000). Successful Inclusion: Practical Strategies For A Shared Responsibility. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. SEDL-Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. (1995). Inclusion: The Pros and Cons, vol. 4, number 3. Retrieved April 30, 2006, from   http://www.sedl.org/change/issues/issues43.html Tiner, Kathy A. (1995). Conditions conducive to special learners in the general classroom: Inclusion in the 1990s. Dissertation Abstracts International, 55(08), 2348A.   

Child Abuse Problems and Its Effects on a Future Childs Life

Child Abuse Problems and Its Effects on a Future Childs Life Several Challenges in Writing the Literature Review Writing a literature review is not an easy task for many students; still, in case certain instructions are given and taken into consideration, the task can be properly completed in time.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Child Abuse Problems and Its Effects on a Future Child’s Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are the three steps that should be followed while writing a review: to conduct research, create a structure, and keep in mind the main idea of the investigation (Ridley, 2012). Each step may have the challenges a writer can face in completing this kind of work; this is why it is necessary to remember that as soon as a theme and subject are identified (Oliver, 2012), the work should begin. The study under analysis focuses on the problems of child abuse and parental neglect and their effects on a future child’s life (Moylan, Herrenkohl, So usa, Tajima, Herrenkohl, Russo, 2010). In fact, the topic is widely discussed around the whole world; this is why many literary sources, statistics, and other interesting material can be found online as well as in libraries. The task is not to lose the main idea and use the up-to-date sources in order to prove that the chosen topic is worth attention and investigation. In fact, there were the three main challenges in writing the literature review just completed that were overcome due to the ability to organize the work, follow the suggestions of the experts, and keep in mind the necessity to meet the deadlines and academic expectations. One of the hardest tasks was to understand how to narrow down the topic and choose the most appropriate research questions to be discussed in the literature review.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Stalker and McArthur (2012) under line that little research has been made on the questions about the support and care for children, who suffer from home abuse; this is why it was necessary to prove that the effects of child abuse were considerable indeed to think about the methods of treatment. Another challenge took place as soon as the necessity to comprehend the effects of child abuse and identify them properly was discovered. Different researchers offer their own ideas about the child abuse effects. Gloud, Clarke, Heim, Harvey, Majer, and Nemeroff (2012) talk about the cognitive development of a child and seem to be the powerful developers of their ideas about the emotional challenges children face with and behavioral problems. And Fang, Brown, Florence, and Mercy (2012) introduce the economic aspect of child abuse effects that seem to be an interesting topic for discussion. This is why the challenge was to integrate a variety of effects in one common topic and introduce it properly. Finally, it was difficult to organize the whole paper so that the introductory part, the body, and the concluding part were logically connected and clear. Still, all these challenges have been successfully overcome due to the ability to organize the work, plan the most crucial steps beforehand, and ask for help before making mistakes or wrong decisions. In general, the work has been done, and the literature review has been properly written. It helps to realize what kind of work should be done the next time and how it is necessary to investigate the effects of child abuse and parental neglect in a society. Reference List Fang, X., Brown, D.S., Florence, C.S., Mercy, J.A. (2012). The economic burden of child maltreatment in the United States and implications for prevention. Child Abuse Neglect, 36(2), 156-165.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Child Abuse Problems and Its Effects on a Future Child’s Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gloud, F., Clarke, J., Heim, C., Harvey, P.D., Majer, M., Nemeroff, C.B. (2012). The effects of child abuse and neglect on cognitive functioning in adulthood. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 46(4), 500-506. Moylan, C.A., Herrenkohl, T.I., Sousa, C., Tajima, E.A., Herrenkohl, R.C., Russo, M.J. (2010). The effects of child abuse and exposure to domestic violence on adolescent internalising and externalising behaviour problems. Journal of Family Violence, 25(1), 53-63. Oliver, P. (2012). Succeeding with your literature review: A handbook for students. Berkshire: McGraw-Hill Education. Ridley, D. (2012). The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students. London: SAGE. Stalker, K McArthur, K. (2012). Child abuse, child protection and disabled children: A review of recent research. Child Abuse Review, 21(1), 24-40.

Reflective Paper Essays

Reflective Paper Essays Reflective Paper Essay Reflective Paper Essay Essay Topic: Reflective Doing volunteer work is a great way to get involved within a community. The Houston Food Bank is a place that had been in before. In my experience have found that really like to volunteer and I plan on going back in the near future. Volunteering has helped me in exploring my interests and abilities. It is through volunteer opportunities that I have learned how to communicate with others and acquire skills that can transfer into the workplace. When trying to find a job, employers look for volunteer experience because that just wows them thou take time out of your life to help others. I have also learned that the world does not revolve around me. There are many people in much worse situations that need help. Am grateful for the opportunities that have been given in life. I am fortunate enough to be in a position where am able to help those in need. Serving the community whether big or small will make a big impact on the lives of people that need it the most. By doing this we not only encourage others to volunteer, but we help the less fortunate arm a more positive outlook on life. Volunteering at the Houston F-DOD Bank this past Saturday saw how much productivity was done in just the four hours that was there. The workers are always enthusiastic and that just creates a welcoming mood for all who attend. Another thing that I like is that at the end of our volunteer hours the employees of the Houston Food Bank give the number of meals that is served from the work that the volunteers put in. Overall, I feel that volunteering helps me improve as a person. It is a great ay to serve a community as well as meet new people. Eel that everyone should volunteer it does not necessarily have to be at the Houston Food Bank but it should be in a place where they feel that their time will be well spent. I am glad I got the chance to volunteer because I feel better about myself knowing that I helped others and I look forward to many more opportunities. Attending the Houston Food bank has shown me that there is a lot of work to be done when it comes to helping out those in need . When it comes to eloping the community monetary contributions alone will not suffice. What people do not realize is that spending time rather than money is more rewarding in the long-run. The time spent in community service makes a person feel as though they have accomplished something big. Volunteering also shows the values that an individual may have such as generosity, compassion and a good heart. It also sets the example for others follow. I believe that everyone should give back to their community because volunteering will make the world a better place.

Fort and Other Strong Words

Fort and Other Strong Words â€Å"Fort† and Other Strong Words â€Å"Fort† and Other Strong Words By Mark Nichol Fort and other words beginning with that formidable foursome of letters have a strong heritage going back to ancient Latin. Here’s a discussion of fort and the fort- family of words. Fort derives, through the identically spelled French word meaning â€Å"strong,† from the Latin term fortis, which has the same meaning. (That word is also the origin of force.) The variant fortress is ultimately from the Latin term fortalitia by way of the French word forteresse, meaning â€Å"strong place.† (The suffix -itia, denoting condition or quality, is also sustained in duress and largesse.) Another noun referring to a stronghold is fortification; the verb form is fortify. Fortitude refers to the characteristic of strength. Another word, forte, has two distinct meanings based on convergent evolution from Latin. The Italian term forte, which shares fort’s etymology, is used as a music instruction in English to indicate that a composition, or part of it, should be played loudly. The Italian term also appears in the instruction pianoforte, meaning â€Å"soft and loud.† (Piano is from the Latin word planus, meaning â€Å"even, flat, smooth†; later, the Latin word and its French descendant acquired the additional sense of â€Å"soft.† The musical instrument called the piano was originally referred to as a pianoforte because one could produce both quiet and loud notes on it.) Forte, from the French word fort, meaning â€Å"strong point† (as of a sword blade) and acquiring the e in imitation of the Italian word, came to refer to a person’s primary skill or talent, though it still refers to the part of a blade near the hilt. This site generally does not discuss pronunciation, but note that the common pronunciation â€Å"for-tay† erroneously reflects the Italian term, not the French word for â€Å"strong point,† which in French is pronounced â€Å"for.† However, the two-syllable punctuation is ubiquitous, and you are likely to confuse people if, when using it for this sense, you pronounce it â€Å"correctly† (â€Å"fort†). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?How to Punctuate Descriptions of ColorsThe 7 Types of Possessive Case

Past and Current Trends in Human Services Assignment

Past and Current Trends in Human Services - Assignment Example Best Practice entails a certain degree of agreement on research-based knowledge and a consultative process of using this knowledge in health care delivery. On the other hand, Evidence-Based Practice involves application of the best-known research evidence when making healthcare-based decisions. Healthcare practitioners use patient preferences and clinical expertise alongside research evidence to provide quality health care (Lippincott, 2007). Integrated Health Care entails the control and delivery of health care services with a combination of curative and preventive services. In this instance, the patients receive care based on their needs over time and across various stages of the health system. The intended outcomes of the trends in Human Services are to ensure effective delivery of human health services. For instance, EBP requires the researcher, client and practitioner to work together to identify circumstances that benefit all parties involved. The approach provides surety that services and treatments, when offered as intended, will produce the most effective outcomes backed up by research. Such trends should be widely disseminated to benefit the greatest number of people. However, some of the unintended consequences are related to the costs incurred in the process. While it is expensive to get quality health care, it is mandatory also to save a life. With the changing trends in the Human Services, networking is essential for all the stakeholders involved. Networking among organizations at state, national and regional levels is essential in building resilience among Human Services providers and also to enable them cope with the fast-changing environment. Networking also provides a forum for information sharing among the various stakeholders. Such networks lead to an improved service delivery in the Human Service sector. State of Michigan.

Driving. Information Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Driving. Information Technology - Essay Example A mention of programming to a non programmer sends shivers down the spine. However, few drivers do not realize how easy programming can be if only they understood similarities that exist between the two activities. Most drivers would agree that turning a steering wheel, engaging acceleration pedal and so on requires the use of muscles but certainly not much. On the other hand, programming or instructing a computer requires the use of intelligence in selecting proper instructions, anticipating response from the machine etc (Kent, 2006, 76). Just like driving, intelligence needed in programming is certainly not much especially if a person can relate programming to driving. It would not be possible to learn how to drive without involving yourself in the act. A person should understand that a computer only does what it is instructed to do just like a car follows the direction pointed by the driver. The computer system is able to utilize the CPU to perform a set of four basic operations c alled machine cycle on every instruction. First the control unit fetches the instruction from memory. Second, it decodes the instruction into commands that the computer will understand and then execute the command. Finally, the control unit writes the final result into the memory (Keith, 2006, 7). This process can be illustrated by a scenario where a person has to drive to a location he or she has not previously visited but needs to get there out of necessity. The four operations of the machine cycle are replicated in most activities that we do everyday. Driving to a place where a person has never been before is one of these activities and it requires plenty of careful planning. Any aspiring programmer must be able to conceptualize the four basic operations of the machine cycle and this can be done best by comparing the whole idea to a person going to visit a new friend in a location one has not been to before. Through twists and turns of fate, you happen to meet a nice person with whom you would be very glad to sit down and share a cup of coffee as you engage each other in some meaningful discourse. You have a problem that is bothering you and suddenly you happen to bump on someone with the solution. Forget about the nature of the problem and focus on how you get to be acquainted with the person and what follows afterwards. You happen to overhear someone discussing an issue with others that is related to a personal problem that you are going through. You later decide to talk to the person in private and the person is only more than willing to help. Unfortunately, since the person is so busy and is in a hurry, he decides to tell you where you can meet one evening and he forgets to give you phone number and all you can do is to find about his place of residence on your own. The only thing that you got is little clue of where he lives but you have never been to the place before. To drive to the place would require you plan your journey pretty carefully to avoid missing the place. To this end, the plans that you make would be pretty much be similar to the four operations of the machine cycle. The driver must bear in mind that the person told him he is only found at the place of his residence at a certain time in the evening and therefore should avoid as much as possible any delay related issues. The driver who in this case must not disclose any details of his activity due to its

Discussion of the theories on Optimal Capital Structure Essay

Discussion of the theories on Optimal Capital Structure - Essay Example The study by Modigliani and Miller was based on the following assumptions: 1. There are no brokerage costs. 2. There are no taxes. 3. There are no bankruptcy costs. 4. Investors can borrow at the same rate as corporations. 5. All investors have the same information as management about the firm’s future investment opportunities. 6. EBIT is not affected by the use of debt. This theory says that if these assumptions hold true, the value of the firm is not affected by the capital structure. This situation is expressed as follows: VL = VU = SL + D. Here VL is the value of a levered firm, VU is the value of an identical, unlevered firm, SL is the value of the levered firm’s stock and D is the value of its debt. As we know that WACC is a combination of cost of debt and cost of equity. The cost of debt is lower than the cost of equity. As a company raises capital through debt, the weight of debt increases and hence, it drives up the cost of equity as equity gets riskier. According to the assumptions by Modigliani and Miller, the cost of equity increases by an amount to keep the WACC constant. In other words, under these assumptions it does not matter whether the firm uses debt or equity to raise capital. So, capital structure decisions are irrelevant in such conditions. Modigliani and Miller: The Effect of Corporate Taxes In 1963, Modigliani and Miller relaxed the assumption that there are no corporate taxes. The corporate tax laws favour debt financing over equity financing because the tax laws allow companies to deduct interest payments as expense and on the other hand dividends are not deductible. So this treatment encourages debt financing. Interest payments reduce the amount the firm pay s to the government in the form of taxes and more of its cash is available for its investors. Hence, tax deductibility of the interest payments acts as a shield for the firm’s income before tax. Modigliani and Miller presented this concept as follows: VL = VU + Value of side effects = VU + PV of tax shield. They further simplified the concept as: VL = VU + TD. Here T is the corporate tax rate and D is the amount of debt. This relationship is expressed in the graph below. If the corporate tax rate is 40%, then this formula implies that every dollar of debt will increase the value of the firm by 40 cents. Hence, the optimal capital structure is 100% debt. Under this theory, the cost of equity increases as the amount of debt increases but it does not increase as fast as it does under the assumption that there are no taxes. As a result, under this theory the WACC falls as the amount of debt increases. This relationship is shown in the following graph. Miller: The Effect of corpor ate and personal taxes Later Miller brought in the aspect of personal taxes in this model. He said that income from the bonds is considered as interest which is taxed as personal income at a particular rate (Td). On the other hand, income from stocks comes in the form of dividends and capital gains. The tax on long-term capital gains is deferred until the stock is sold and the gain is realized. Of the stock is held until the owner dies no capital gains tax is paid. So he concluded that the returns on stock are taxed at a lower effective tax rate (Ts) than returns on debt. Looking gat this, Miller argued

Auto Theft in Toronto Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Auto Theft in Toronto - Research Paper Example cific locations, highlighting the involvement of specific groups in the crime and examining the offender’s profile in terms of race, social status and age. As the significance of outlining these factors is critical for understanding the nature of the crime itself and accordingly devising appropriate strategies for promoting crime prevention, the purpose of this research paper is to examine the demographic characteristics of youth auto theft in Toronto and analyzing the contributing aspects in the execution of this criminal activity. According to Dhami, substantial research on youth auto theft in Canada is largely associated with those cases of the crime which have resulted in the arrest of the lawbreaker (187). However, Dhami asserts that it is important to understand that crime figures for youth auto theft which are primarily quantified on the basis of the arrest rates for offenders are misleading (187). The reason for this aspect is that these reports fail to take into account a significant percentage of the members of the younger population who have either 1) contemplated or considered robbing an individual of their ownership of a motor vehicle 2) indulged in or demonstrated any potential auto theft behaviors or 3) have utilized a stolen motor vehicle by riding in it (Dhami 187). The examination of this scenario establishes the foundation for further assessing the state of auto theft in Toronto, specifically on the basis of demographic characteristics such as age. In the report formulated by Savoie which features the statistics for self-reported delinquent behaviors amongst the youth of Toronto, the research concluded that 37% of the reporters aged between 12 and 14 participated in felonious acts which comprised of property crimes amongst other unlawful activities (1). However, the appearance of these activities chiefly involved instances of vandalism, arson and burglary while, the rates for youth auto theft in comparison with these activities only comprised

Consumer Behavior- B Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Consumer Behavior- B - Essay Example 3-Graham is a college student who is impulsive and somewhat rebellious.   He seeks out variety and excitement, usually looking for something new, offbeat, and risky.   Even though he was 18 years old and  eligible to vote, he didnt vote in the last presidential election and is not very interested in world events.   To which VALS segment does Graham belong? ESSAY 1- Discuss how a small bio-technology firm could influence the reference group infrastructure and the lead users to accelerate adoption of its products in the market. A small bio-technology firm can significantly influence the reference group infrastructure and its lead users to accelerate adoption of its products in the market by way of exploring key characteristics of lead users and major reference groups like key consumers, suppliers, and industry experts. Only after gaining acquaintance with their key characteristics or their behavior can a firm hope to sell more products in the market. This is because such knowledge can inform a firm about what are the currently hot demands in the buying market. This can boost adoption of products in the market because the firm will be then able to act in accordance of those demands. Lead users form a major reference group and researching such users’ preferences and dislikes can give a firm a lot of valuable material regarding how they can influence other potential customers in foreseeable future. A seller organization hoping to accelerate adoption of its products in the market should essentially understand the buying motives and decisions of their lead users. They can later use this kind of information to convince other customers to make the same kind of decisions. ESSAY 2- Unheard of twenty years ago, discuss the rationale people use today to shop or NOT shop on the Internet.   Given  your response,  what are the benefits to purchasing an iPod direct from a channel member.  

Globalization and State Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Globalization and State Power - Essay Example The South keeps on widening, it cannot be gainsaid that the political and military repercussions of this schism can significantly change the complexion and direction of inter-capitalist competition that, in turn, urn alter global politics in a manner that could change the nation-state as we now know it to be. In political society, we have governments (parliament the s; the legislature, executive, and judiciary), dominant political parties ("leftist", "centrist" and "rightist"), the police, the military service, penology, welfare service, central banks and national treasuries. The Constitution, of course, since it codifies the ideological will of political society. Many social foundations and educational institutions fall in this sphere. Included, too, are international global associations (World Bank, International Monetary fund, World Trade Organization, ASEAN, NATO, Warsaw Pact), etc. Civil war and war between states fall in this chunk. The capitalist nation-state is an embodiment of political society. The nation-state still clings to the throne as the prime cultural institution in contemporary political society. It is, however, fast losing grip. The end of the Cold War and the powerful wave of Globalization vastly reconfigured the world order. We have seen the end of the old colonial world and the rise of Islamic militancy in the mid-90s. Post-Cold War globalization served to unleash many pent-up social contradictions previously held hostage by the Cold War, like racial and ethnic clashes both within the North and South alike. The most profound changes, however, are in the economic realm. Globalization—the accelerated expansion and heightened contradictions of international capitalism -Â  is bound to intensify even more within the decade. (Hirst & Thompson, 2000) Vicious international competition among highly industrialized capitalist nation-states animates the world order. Economic globalization was mainly corporate-led.

Consumer Behavior- B Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Consumer Behavior- B - Essay Example 3-Graham is a college student who is impulsive and somewhat rebellious.   He seeks out variety and excitement, usually looking for something new, offbeat, and risky.   Even though he was 18 years old and  eligible to vote, he didnt vote in the last presidential election and is not very interested in world events.   To which VALS segment does Graham belong? ESSAY 1- Discuss how a small bio-technology firm could influence the reference group infrastructure and the lead users to accelerate adoption of its products in the market. A small bio-technology firm can significantly influence the reference group infrastructure and its lead users to accelerate adoption of its products in the market by way of exploring key characteristics of lead users and major reference groups like key consumers, suppliers, and industry experts. Only after gaining acquaintance with their key characteristics or their behavior can a firm hope to sell more products in the market. This is because such knowledge can inform a firm about what are the currently hot demands in the buying market. This can boost adoption of products in the market because the firm will be then able to act in accordance of those demands. Lead users form a major reference group and researching such users’ preferences and dislikes can give a firm a lot of valuable material regarding how they can influence other potential customers in foreseeable future. A seller organization hoping to accelerate adoption of its products in the market should essentially understand the buying motives and decisions of their lead users. They can later use this kind of information to convince other customers to make the same kind of decisions. ESSAY 2- Unheard of twenty years ago, discuss the rationale people use today to shop or NOT shop on the Internet.   Given  your response,  what are the benefits to purchasing an iPod direct from a channel member.  

Define Marketing Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Define Marketing Paper - Essay Example Taken into account these definitions, it is possible to say that marketing is a matching process between the needs and expectations of customers, and the ability and capacity of the organizations to satisfy these needs. Also, the aim of the company is to create high quality products to meet the needs of the customers and attract new clients. Marketing is important to organizational success because it involves sales, purchases, exchange of goods, services and information about these goods. Marketing is supported by such activities as advertising, the publishing of a wide range of information, scheduling, distribution, payment, and service. Also, marketing can be described as the activity that involves product design, manufacturing, and transportation. Without marketing, an organization will not be able properly plan its activities in order to reach a common goal. Marketing helps to coordinate work of "production, research and financial activities" (Appleby, 1994, p.262). The recent activities of Tesco PLC (the

History Of African Music Cultural Studies Essay

History Of African Music Cultural Studies Essay African American Practices and Religion It is important to study traditional African music because it provides tremendous insight into African history. Music also allows us to better understand the diverse cultures of different African regions. Music also played an important historical role when Africans were first brought to the United States as slaves. American slave owners tried to strip away any sense of cultural identity that the slaves had. The only way they could maintained there ideanty is through song. A number of foreign musical traditions has influenced traditional Africa music. For instance, many nations in North Africa can draw their more recent musical lineage back to the Greeks and Romans who once governed over the area.  [1]  There is a substantial Middle Eastern influence on their music. Other parts of the African continent were similarly impacted by foreign music. Parts of East Africa and the offshore islands were influenced by Arabic music and Indian music in more modern times. Although Southern, Central and West Africa have had an influence on the music of North America and Western Europe. Other African music can be attributed to specific dance forms such as the rumba and salsa, which were founded by African slaves who settled in Latin America and the Caribbean.  [2]   The music of North Africa was strongly influenced by the music of ancient Egypt and the early Arabs. Although it is one of the least popular forms of contemporary African music, it is historically important and merits a good look at by all those interested in traditional music. North African music is famous for its monophonic form ,the predominance of melody over rhythm, a tense and nasal vocal style and non-percussive instruments including bowed rather than plucked strings. While the music of North Africa is historically important, no music is more purely African than music that originated in Sub-Saharan regions of the continent. Though many regions were influenced by other nations, Sub-Saharan music remains quintessentially and uniquely African. Sub-Sahara Africa makes up the Sahel and the Horn of Africa in the north, the tropical savannas and the tropical rainforests of Equatorial Africa, and the arid Kalahari Basin and the Mediterranean south coast of Southern Africa. Sub Sahara Africa and is most notable for its Cross rhythm. The main beat scheme cannot be separated from the secondary beat scheme. The cross-rhythm three-over-two (3:2), hemiola, is the most significant rhythm ratio found in sub-Saharan rhythm. Cross-rhythm is the basis for much of the music of the Niger-Congo peoples, the largest linguistic group in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Cross-rhythm pervades southern Ewe music.  [3]  Songs accompany the rites of passage, work and en tertainment. They were also important in the life of the traditional African courts, and are still used for political comment, Due to the fact that writing and reading came late to many parts of Africa, this music was created as a form of communication. Over time, it grew to become an interesting and exciting communal way to celebrate and mark several major milestones in a persons life. For example, there are literally hundreds of African songs and music that celebrate marriage, childbirth or even hunting parties. It was the job of a Griots to perform the orginal tribal teachings oraly. Goriots are and were the orginal keepers of African tribule hisoty as well as royal advisors in African societys. In tradtitional African societys they would be the only way of keeping history this is because everything was through word of mouth. Griots where born into there duties there is no way to become a Griot. Griots used music poety and other artistic ways to express the storys of there ancestry. They specialize in many types of instruments such as   the the molo, hodu, nyanyoru, Kora, balaphone which is passed on fr om generation to generation from father to son. The women griot sing, dance   and also play the calabass and gourd.  [4]   While music is often played in an effort to celebrate lifes milestones and achievements, it is also played in Africa to ward off evil spirits as well as to pay homage to deceased ancestors. African music of this type is almost always accompanied by a specific dance or ceremony. These songs are often performed by professional musicians and dancers who have knowledge and experience with ceremonial music. There are special insterrments played like idiophones ( its like a bell), a piece of bamboo, or wooden claves. In some ensembles, such as iyesa and bata drums, a key pattern may be played on a high-pitched drumhead.  [5]   Because music from Sub-Saharan Africa focused primarily on communal singing, it was one of the earliest music to emphasize the use of harmony and structured song. These singing methods ranged from simple rhythmic structures to incredibly complex and elaborate structures based on improvisation and several variations. Though stringed instruments, bells, flutes and even xylophones were all used in traditional African music, there is nothing more important than the basic African hand drum; In fact, there are literally dozens of drums that are played on different occasions. Some of the most popular drums that are used in a traditional African musical include the bougarabou, tama talking drums, djembe, water drums, as well as many different kinds of ngoma drums that are played throughout parts of Central and Southern Africa, just to name a few. Drums are almost always accompanied by singers or choruses who often keep time with other percussion instruments such as rattles, shakers, woodsticks, bells or by simply clapping their hands or stomping their feet.  [6]   The musical history of any region is important since it has the unique capability to tell societies stories, culture, and religious beliefs long before a language is manifested. One can learn immense amounts of information about the lives of people that lived through studying aspects of their music. Much of this information is difficult to find in other aspects of anthropology, and therefore would probably go undiscovered. During the colonization of Africa, much of the peoples ancient history ancient implying any history the tribes and cultures had prior to European colonization was intentionally erased by the Imperialist society that came to power. Through the study of Africas traditional music, the world learns a great deal about those earlier cultures. By studying Africas music, some of these missing puzzle pieces are put back into place. These colonial powers, stripped Africa of its primary natural resource and put it in their. For instance after colonial powers left they still maintain control of things like the diamond mines. Colonization strips Africa of its culture and heritage, because colonial powers didnt care about African people they cared about expanding the Empires. By doing so, they split up the land and forest tribes to live in boundaries that caused problems between the different tribes thus creating civil war and other problems. most of these changes took place between 1890 and 1910, the twenty-year period that saw the conquest and occupation of virtually the whole continent of Africa by the imperial powers and the establishment of the colonial systemthe following twenty-five years being essentially a period of consolidation and exploitation of the systems. Europeans went to Africa to trade manufactured goods for slaves. Then they would transported the slaves to America known as the Middle Passage and exchanged them for raw materials. They brought the raw materials back to Europe so they could make more manufactured goods. Europeans would higher villages to go in to the parts of Africa that they couldnt and bring them slaves. The villagers thought that they were going to make a lot of money, and the captor would pay the parents of these people. So it looked like there their children were sending money, although that was not the case. In the 1880s in the whole of west Africa, only the island and coastal areas where under European control. In northern African, only Algeria had by then been colonized by the French. Not an inch of eastern Africa had come under European control, while in central Africa only the coastal stretches where under Portuguese rule. In 1880, some 80 per cent of the continent of Africa was still being ruled by her own kings, queens and clans, in empires, and political units of every size and kind.By 1914, the whole of Africa, with the exception of Ethiopia and Liberia, was subject to the rule of European powers. Because of the Berlin conference, Europeans were allowed to take control of Africa. This later leads to the scramble of Africa were all these countries decided to claim different parts of Africa as their own. Europeans wanted to expand their empire, and they figured Africa was the place to do it. The Europeans had things like guns, and the standardized army. They were able to take the continent by any means necessary. After the Berlin conference Germany had forced colonialism into southwest Africa, kicking the Hereros and the Namas tribes off of their land. In 1904, the Hereros were fed up with the new ruling German government and rebelled, killing 123 German settlers. This was an embarrassment for the Germans in Africa; in their eyes it was humiliating to be beat by native people. As a result German settlers sent in Lieutenant Lother Van Trotha. Lother demanded that the Hereros leave the land and if they didnt they would be forced out. Luther said any Hereros found in the German borders with or without guns will be shot,  [7]  he also applied this to woman and children. Out of a total population of eighty thousand, the Germans killed 65,000 Hereros.  [8]  The ones who did survive ended up in German concentration camps for the remainder of their days. This is an example of why the division of Africa created the turmoil that Africa is in today. The Berlin Conference can be seen to be the stem of most of Africas problems today. The colonial powers imposing their rule in Africa prevented it from gaining economic independence. The damage that began after the Berlin conference was so great that it wasnt until the 1950s that Africa regained its independence.  [9]  The current instability in Africa is thus a permanent liability that resulted from the Berlin conference, in which the future of a continent was determined by greed. The slave trade bestowed Africans to the Americas to work in the plantations. In some states in the U.S., early European settlers and slaves shared some of their musical traditions and influenced each others world. The banjo, now central in American folk music, is an instrument brought over to the Americas by African slaves. In other states, the music of African slaves was prohibited unless it accompanied an approved religious activity.  [10]  Drums were outlawed because they were seen as especially dangerous since drum sounds were connected to language and gave slaves a way to communicate that could not be controlled or understood by slave owners. To compensate for a lack of instruments, people who were enslaved depended on other forms of musical expression. Slaves would innovate their own instruments such as Hambone, a style of body percussion, was used as a substitute for drums, as it served a rhythmic function for music. Today this is known as STEPING and is very popular in f raternities. In order for one to play a hambone, a person uses his or her hands to hit their chest and thighs to create different slapping sounds. Using household objects as instruments also became necessary. Just as instruments were made in Africa from natural materials that were made available to people when they were free, enslaved Africans used the resources available to them in their environments. An example of this is the playing of spoons, another type of body percussion.  [11]  Vocal traditions also flourished among African people under slavery. Songs were used to soothe the heart and send messages of possible escape routes. Current music forms such as the Blues, Soul and Gospel grew out of the strong vocal traditions of early African Americans.  [12]   The study African music has taken on an even greater significance due to how the musical instruments and techniques managed to influence and spread to many countries throughout the world. African American music has its roots in tribal cultures throughout the vast continent, and has lent its influence not only to African American popular culture, but religion as well.  [13]   Music expression in Africa varied from one cultural group to the other, but most traditions commonly shared certain characteristics. African songs were intended to accompany religious ceremonies and dancing, to inspire hunters, to coordinate work, and to celebrate events such as the birth of a child. Music was woven into the culture, forming part of ordinary living, almost as commonplace as speech. In the Americas, enslaved Africans used music and dance for Purpose: Diffusion Resulted in: Easing pain of work, through Works songs, Worship Gospel traditions, Communication Drums and songs used to pass secrets messages and Entertainment . By studying african music you can see the infulnces Africa had all over the world. Jazz music connects European, American and African Music traditions. since People in America descended from Africans and Europeans amalgamated their musical traditions, using all instruments and musical approaches available, to create a musical style currently known as Jazz.The slave trade contribute to this cross-cultural exchange. People who were brought to the Americas from Africa as slaves brought with them their musical traditions. With the new experience of slavery and suffering, people applied their knowledge, even when instruments were banned, to maintain traditions that included a heavy reliance on rhythm, dance and songs. Maintaining these traditions helped to build new musical styles that branched out to become Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Rock and Roll once people were freed from slavery. There is evidence that suggests that blues came directly from Africa. Blues emerged from field work songs a nd prison songs just after the Civil War, and these were musical forms descended from African musical styles maintained through the slave period. Contemporary popular African musical styles have been affected by diffusion of American music back to Africa. Here are three examples of this Jazz, Kwaito, Afropop, Manu Dibango, Fela Kuti, Abdullah Ibrahim, Femi Kuti, Arthur. The ancient history of African music is muddled at best. It is undoubtedly conflated with the music of the Old Kingdom Egyptian music, when Egypt dominated and colonized the Nubians.  [14]  Hester comments that surprisingly, the history of Egyptian music presents little evidence of the use of drums prior to 2000 B.C.  [15]   Due to the prevalence of the drum in African music and due to the influence that Egyptian music seemed to have, the early lack of drums is somewhat surprising. Contrary to the belief that African music was only passed on through oral and aural tradition, a musical writing system did exist. One Ethiopian composer from the sixth century was canonized by the Catholic Church due to his creation of a complex musical notation system .  [16]   Hester goes on to note, however, that a temple fragment shows the top of a large drum that is unique to Old Kingdom music, which is assumed to be present due to import from Sumer.  [17]  This is important for a variety of reasons, one of which being the current modes of African musical instruments; a drum style similar to that used during the twelfth dynasty is still being used in todays Congo .  [18]   In later centuries, Nubian musical influence went to Europe through the conquests of the Moors. In the fifteenth century, Europeans began raids of the African coast for slaves and goods. Two centuries later, Europeans began trade with Africans south of the Sahara desert, eventually colonizing the land. Neither group seemed to care about native music .  [19]   Hester tells us that all of African music was of a spiritual nature. He states that, Africans were generally not inclined to separate rhythm, spiritual dimensions, and the order of the universe into compartments. Traditional African societies acknowledged that the drum had a spirit and character that was clearly observable. The give of the voices of the Great Ancestors had been hidden inside the wood of trees so they could be access whenever men and women needed them,.  [20]   Floyd explains that not only was there no separation between physical and spiritual dimensions, but there was also no word for religion in Africa. The reason for this lack of a distinct word was that: the Africans religion permeated and was the basis for all aspects of life [. . .]. Since religion permeated the everyday life of African peoples, the great number of religious beliefs that existed were not systematized into dogmas, but appeared as ideas and practices that governed everyday life in the various communities. All African peoples recognized God as the One, although in a majority of cosmologies other divinities also existed [. . .]  [21]   Another interesting aspect of African music is its accessibility by both genders. As in other parts of the world, although both men and women were allowed access to virtually all forms of musical expression, the men often reserved those perceived as most powerful for themselves.  [22]  However, it was more common for women to take part in music: in the large number of less stratified, more egalitarian African societies. According to Nketia, women in these simpler societies historically formed their own permanent associations specifically to make music.  [23]   Connections to the Past Today, African American worship is a similar experience to that of the worship of the past. It is a collective, uninhibited, and rhythmic kind of worship, reminiscent of the rituals of Africa. In the past, this kind of collective process was intended to transmit culture, educate the people, and boost morale.  [24]  Music, in the African culture, was taught at an early age. It is both part of acculturation and part of daily life. Many African languages are tonal, in which one word may have several meanings based on inflection. The tonal quality of the languages lends itself to the language of the talking drums found in several African nations. The process of manipulating the drum heads produces similar qualities to the inflections of the African languages .  [25]   The physical movements of what Floyd describes as the time following the formal service of Africans engaged in worship after being forcibly brought to this country are specific and ritualized. He describes this celebration as: the shuffling around in a ring, the upper-body dancing of African provenance, the ever-present singing accompanied by the hand clapping and thudding, repetitious drumming (of feet in this case), and the extended length of the activity. And here enters also the spiritual, the primary music of the ring for slaves in the southern United States.  [26]   The performance practices of the slaves were thought to be shocking and idolatrous by those European-Americans who had brought them here. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Rather, these rituals were culturally affirming and justified by African beliefs .  [27]  Regardless, or perhaps for that very reason, these aspects were suppressed in the majority of the United States. Over time, the Christian God became substituted for the African High God and Christ became substituted for the other lesser divinities. The spiritual was developed through this Christianizing process.  [28]  Although primarily Catholic New Orleans was the most supportive of African traditions, it was Protestantism that lent its support to the new musical form. Floyd states that Protestantism, with its more direct access to the High God through song and praise, made possible the emergence of a new song for Africans, a new song in which they could express themselves as freely as they had in their homela nd. This new song was the African-American spiritual.  [29]   Typically, however, the spiritual is studied apart from the ceremonies it was derived from. Like the slaves, who were being forced to adapt to a new style of living while trying to hold onto the past, the spiritual was a form of music that was an attempt to adapt to the new cultural expression for their beliefs, while still maintaining the beliefs of their past. In addition, these songs maintained the traditional forms of African music while still expressing the tribulations of their new lives. More than that, however, these songs were an expression of freedom from slavery.  [30]   There are two kinds of spirituals: sorrow songs and jubilees. Floyd states that:The kinship of these early spirituals to African performance practice is striking. The song Steal Away, for example, has short phrases that repeat, grow, and make larger melodic structures and uses multimeter, pendular thirds, and descending phrase endings.  [31]   These performance practices, though modified, can still be seen and heard in African American churches today. Rauschart (2004) discusses the experience of spiritual singing in a modern context. She describes a kind of singing that goes beyond the notes written on the paper. Rauschart writes that the choirmaster of the choir that she observed pushed his choir to do what many would not-to ignore the music before them and to interpret the words with personal feeling .  [32]  She explains that, whatever the style of spiritual singing, music directors agree on one thing. A stream of lovely notes, no matter how well voiced, is not enough.  [33]  And yet, the spiritual is in danger of being lost in favor for the gospel song.  [34]  There may be a practical reason behind this change from one musical form to another. Society is becoming increasingly urbanized, and gospel is a product of direction of that drift. Spirituals, on the other hand, are products of the largely rural past. Another potential reason behind the shift might be that gospel music is a bit more accessible than spirituals are. According to Rauschart, spirituals are intended to be sung deliberately, in the fullness of time and experience.  [35]  That kind of deliberate pace might seem unfamiliar, and perhaps a bit unwelcome, in our increasingly frenetic world. No matter what the reason that is behind it in any given community, however, the fact remains that spirituals are no longer the music that the majority of the African American community grows up to sing. The form remains, however, in other venues. The modern African American musical experience is rooted in ancient times. These roots go back to ancient Egypt and their conquests of the Nubians. The language of African tribes is tonal. One word might have several meanings in different tones. The talking drums of several countries mimic this quality of language. Despite the reputation of being a simply aural and oral musical tradition, African tribal music actually did have a complex local style of musical notation available to it. In Africa, no distinction is made between the spiritual and the profane worlds. Tribal music was a part of practical life, as well as ritual life. The music that was developed in this country accepted that perspective, while taking on the Christian perspective of the slaves new land. In traditional Africa, music is an inherent part of life and is concurrent with the worldview of the society in which it is produced. It has social, ritual, and ceremonial functions as well as some purely recreational purposes. Traditional art forms, including music, are rooted in mythology, legends, and folklore, and are associated with gods, ancestors and heroes. Musical activities are ritualized and intended to link the visible world with the invisible. Dancing is often an important part of the ritual and spiritual aspect of music.  [36]   Percussion instruments are the most popular instrument in African societies. Rattles, friction sticks, bells, clappers, and cymbals are popular. Many groups also use the sansa and xylophones. Numerous types of drums are also used. Various wind instruments are made out of tusks, horns, conch shells, wood or gourds. Styles of vocal music vary from area to area. This is due partly to the different languages spoken in different areas. Most African languages are tonal languages which are reflected in the singing. Traditional African music does not have a written tradition. This created many difficulties when Western Staff started to write down the music. The pitches and subtle differences in pitch contour do not interpret easily. The Western scale rules that relate most closely to African music are tetratonic, pentatonic, hexatonic or heptatonic arrangements. Melodic patterns are affected by intonation patterns of the language.  [37]   The rhythmic aspect of African music combines the music of various groups and areas. Rhythm is made of patterns; similar patterns are found throughout all of Africa. Harmonization is typically created through singing in thirds, fourths and fifths, parallel to the main melody.  [38]   While drumming is very popular in Africa and is more important than melodic music in some societies, melodic music is important in others. The mbira is one of the most popular melodic instruments in Africa. Different cultures use the mbira in different ways. Also, the mbira exists in different forms in different cultures. Some mbira are used for entertainment and others for religious ceremonies. Often, the people who can own and play the mbira are restricted to chiefs or other important people, especially when it is being played for religious purposes.  [39]   African music has been a major factor in the shaping of what we know today as blues and jazz. These styles have all borrowed from African rhythms and sounds, brought over the Atlantic ocean by slaves. Paul Simon, on his album Graceland has used African bands and music, especially Ladysmith Black Mambazo along with his own lyrics.  [40]   As the rise of rocknroll music is often credited as having begun with 1940s American blues, and with so many genres having branched off from rock the myriad subgenres of heavy metal, punk rock, pop music and many more it can be argued that African music has been at the root of a very significant portion of all recent popular or vernacular music.  [41]   African music has also had a significant impact on such well-known pieces of work as Disneys The Lion King and The Lion King II: Simbas Pride, which blend traditional tribal music with modern culture. Songs such as Circle of Life and He Lives in You blend a combination of Swahili and English lyrics, as well as traditional African styles of music with more modern western styles. Additionally, the Disney classic incorporates numerous words in the native language of Swahili. The ever-popular hakuna matata, for example, is an actual Swahili phrase that does in fact mean n