Phoenix Mine Field Trip Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Phoenix Mine Field Trip Report - Essay Example Our tour guide was great fun as he took us into the mine, which was quite dark except for the light he carried, and showed us around the mine and briefed us about its history. In fact, we did get to see a good amount of gold, gems and other precious metals along the walls of the cave which were jagged ridges. It was awesome seeing gold in the rock. The cave was so enormous and awe inspiring and many in the group asked a lot of questions to our tour guide who patiently answered us The Phoenix Mine looked like something out of a story book because it was so breathtaking in appearance. The mountains had a backdrop of tall trees and other flora and fauna that was so captivating. The ground squirrels and chipmunks were an added attraction and it was fun trying to feed them. Besides the picnic table, gold panning was another attraction where people could sit for hours together down stream and see if they get lucky finding some of the gold and gems that could flow down with the water from the mountains. It was a very rare experience and we took a lot of beautiful pictures, so we can always remember the fun- filled yet knowledgeable Field Trip that was arranged for us. My friends and I really enjoyed ourselves at the Phoenix Mine and we hope to come back and visit it once again, some time in the

The Impact of the Privatization and Expenditures on the State Research Paper

The Impact of the Privatization and Expenditures on the State Employments in the US - Research Paper Example The data in this research consisted of the expenditures of 33 states in the U.S. and their respective employment level in each state for 2000, 2006 and 2007 years. State employment as a dependent variable, and expenditure and privatization as independent variables were analyzed for the following three years 2000, 2006 and 2007 respectively (Brown & Weisbenner, 2009). In conclusion, Privatization is adopted by the governments in order to transfer the ownership of the management of any service or a property from the control of the public or government to the private sector. Privatization may be complete or incomplete depending on the policies of the government and the fiscal pressure on the public sector (Pappa, 2009). Privatization is the procedure of transferring the ownership of a property or management of any activity or services from the hands of the public or the government to a private owner. The privatization leads to transfer of the properties and services from the public to the private sector which helps the government to increase the efficiency of operation and management of assets in a better way. The government has started to sell off or allow the lease of established assets of the public into the hands of the private sector for the purpose of cost reduction, increasing efficiency of operation, maintenance and open avenues for the source of funds required for new investments. Privatization has been the trend of the governments all over the world. The scope of privatization has not been much in the U.S. as the economy was developed as to be a free market economy. Moreover, the government has not owned several industries unlike other countries of the world. This provided little scope for the government to distribute public ownership to the private sector.  

A market strategy for a wedding reception venue business

A market strategy for a wedding reception venue business Amandas Ballroom Reception is a newly established wedding reception venue business that caters for couples of ALL ages, nationalities and traditions who wish to engage in the beautiful sacrament of marriage. The sole owner of the business, Ms. Amanda Abboud, will take full responsibility for any debts incurred in the business, and receiving no profits during the establishment phase of the business, making it a Sole Trading Business, that is, an unincorporated business with unlimited liability. The establishment and growth phase of Amandas Ballroom Reception will definitely face obstacles at times, but with greater advertising, a lot more awareness of the business, and consumer loyalty, the business is sure to become successful and profitable, and satisfies all customers. Although the business consists of one owner, employees are needed to assist the running of the business including a manager, receptionist, caterers/cooks, waiters, a host and cleaners. The business needs to ensure that all employees abide by all legislations, including OHS and EEO legislation acts, to prevent injury and sustain a great and enjoyable working environment at all times. Amandas Ballroom Reception consists of no more than 20 employees, and because it is a non-manufacturing organisation, is classified as a Small Business. Amandas Ballroom Reception is located in the Bankstown area as the business concentrates on hosting mainly traditional Lebanese weddings, because of the high number of Lebanese residents in the area, as well as other multicultural feasts and celebrations which helps meet demand. Although Bankstown consists of a number of very popular wedding reception venues already established, it increases competition for all businesses, but will also provide greater variety for the community, as only one big wedding reception in a large suburb will not suffice. In order to establish and maintain a successful business, a mission statement is useful for decision making for the business long term future. The main objectives include Gaining consumer loyalty and trust Sustaining a healthy environment to work for employees Providing sufficient amounts of profit Expand awareness by advertising outside the local area. BUSINESS DESCRIPTION AND OWNERSHIP Amandas Ballroom Reception business was created to give consumers a wide variety of options to offer the fairytale wedding people dream of through food, catering, decorations and setting. Amandas Ballroom Reception is a tertiary industry whose prime function is to provide a service for those couples ready to take each others hand in marriage. It is also a market niche, as it specialises in providing celebrations of marriage. It aims to gain consumer loyalty and trust by providing honesty and great service to the public, sustaining a healthy environment to work for all employees, producing sufficient amounts of profit in order for the business to expand and become national, and expand awareness by advertising outside the local area through various forms of media. The legal structure of Amandas Ballroom Reception is a Sole Trader where only the owner takes full responsibility for any debts, and receives little or no profits during the establishment phase. Amandas Ballroom Reception will therefore be an unincorporated business, which comes with unlimited liability, which means that any debts incurred in the business will fall solely under the owner/s responsibility, that that they must repay debts by selling person assets in order to earn any source of funds. The establishment and growth phase of the business will definitely face ups and downs, especially as the owner is an entrepreneur taking the risk in opening a new business with little skill or knowledge, but with greater consumer awareness the business will hopefully become successful and profitable. Amandas Ballroom Reception will contain no more than 20 employees, including caterers, cookers, cleaners and decorators, making it a small business. The location in which the business will open is the Bankstown area because it business will concentrate on hosting mainly traditional Lebanese weddings with customary food, music and entertainment because of the high population of Lebanese in this area, as well as many other multicultural weddings and feasts which will help meet demand. Considering this area contains a number of other wedding reception venues, it will allow larger variety for consumers. Amandas Ballroom Reception is associated with providing a service for those couples looking to get married. Not only does the business provide a venue and food, but will create an enjoyable atmosphere for all ages during a great celebration. Amandas Ballroom Reception is a responsible event organiser and offers what any other business would plus much more. This business is definitely recommended because the service is outstanding and consumers will get exactly what they ask for, which is the key quality of providing a great service to the community. The prime function of the business is providing great service for the community. Putting a smile on peoples faces is definitely important to the business, as gaining consumer loyalty and trust is very important, which is exactly outlined in the firms mission statement. From satisfying customers, the business will slowly become more profitable which is one of the main aims of any business existing. Not only does this wedding reception venue business offer a great variety of reception rooms, entertainment and food, but the business will also help organise a unique ceremony or any couples beforehand. By providing any requirements by to customers to create their dream wedding, it offers anything you can think of to create a day that a husband and his wife will not forget. PURPOSE OF PLAN AND SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS The purpose of writing a business plan is to ensure the greatest likelihood of success to the owner/s. It is important that all internal stakeholders understand clearly what needs to be done, and keep actual up-to-date market research in order to gain realism and accuracy in forecasting. This process should result in choosing the most appropriate and beneficial strategy, enabling the business to achieve its goals. Also, the business plan should be updated regularly to ensure it parallels a changing business environment. Usually, the major goals remain the same but the strategies used may differ according to different internal or external environmental factors. The business plan must be realistic in order to meet all goals required. Writing out a business plan will help in making Amandas Ballroom Reception all the more successful, with well planned strategies and goals to generate a flourishing business. A plan is a scheme or method of taking action, which will make all elements of a successful business all the more clear. A mission statement included in the plan will initiate a start of the vision the business hopes to be in the future. Goals are the overall accomplishments that a business plans to achieve in the long-term, short-term and during its day-to-day running. Different goals are set for all business, (social, financial, personal and environmental) and vary depending on their own individual profession. Different goals are listed as part of the business plan to ensure that they cater a great service for a wide range of people, as well as gaining a personal achievement. These include- Operations Improve rostering and scheduling processes of arranging staff. Use latest technology to help business perform different functions. Finance Improve management accounting and reports for simple decision making. Minimise debt finance. Reduce credit sales. Strategic Goals Marketing Determine consumer buying patterns. Employment Relations Increase wages and salaries for all employees. Improve the skills of managers and employees. Use retained earnings as rewards to employees. Reduce overdraft. Improve skill in calculating revenue statements, balance sheets and cash-flow statements. Improve lead time, so production is completed more efficiently. Accurately measure productivity to determine improvements in the business. To conduct Investigate existing competitors in the market. Ensure employees abide by anti-discrimination and EEO legislations. Social Goals Provide employment and career paths for residents Donations towards Charities Sponsorships Fundraisers Work efficiently and as a team with employees. Keep loyal to anti-discrimination acts and Equal Employment Opportunity legislation. Financial Goals Achieve sales growth Attain a profit in the first two years of running of business. Increasing market share Quick growth of service Personal Goals Own a successful business Gain consumer loyalty and trust Sense of achievement Leadership Friendship with employees. Environmental Goals Use environmental protection initiatives Recycling plastics and cardboard. Minimise the use of fuels and process sewage. A Situational Analysis looks at internal and external environments of the business to identify factors that affect the running of the business, whether the factors are modifiable or not. It also helps establish the current position of the business. A SWOT analysis can help establish a current position, and helps analyse reasons for the position of the firm. Strengths (S) Skilled workers Great reputation Good financial position and location Good technology Excellent communication system Great advertising Weaknesses (W) Unexperienced managers Needs improvement in innovation Lack of consumer awareness Opportunities (O) Expanding to newer and bigger locations Buying out competitors Changing government regulation Add-on services for the reception venue business will become available. Expanding the business nationally Threats (T) Competitors! Increased rent Changing government regulations Increasing inflation Increasing raw material prices Increased tax A factor limiting present operations is the new establishment of Amandas Ballroom Reception. The fact that it is newly opened evades the fast provision of the service this business provides. The establishment and growth phase of the business will definitely face obstacles, as any other newly opened business, but with greater advertising, the business will soon become successful and profitable and demanded by many. The main competitive advantages of the business over competitors is that not only does it cater for a specific nationality, tradition or age group, but has a wide range of choices to suite everybodys taste or idea of a PERFECT wedding. The latest wedding reception venue business in Bankstown will most likely attract attention by a highly populated area, where they may like to trial the newest business and compare to existing businesses nearby. A definite competitor in the area is the very popular reception venue, The Bellevue. Establishing Amandas Ballroom Reception close-by will definitely increase competition and tension for both businesses, but at the same time will provide greater variety for the community, as only one big wedding reception venue in a large suburb will not suffice. Competitor Analysis Comparing a competitors state of their business by using the SWOT analysis to a new business analysis can make clear where improvements need to be made in order to win over the opponent. Strengths (S) Great amount of experience Well-known by the community Experienced managers Skilled workers Great reputation Weaknesses (W) Poor choice of location No innovation people like change! Do not advertise Opportunities (O) Can buy out smaller competitors (they may choose to buy Amandas Ballroom Reception if it is not successful enough. Threats (T) Competitors! Increased rent Increased inflation Increased tax Product Analysis Amandas Ballroom Reception is a newly formed business, therefore making it still part of the establishment phase in the business life cycle. Throughout this phase, the business will face many challenges; however, will also encounter challenges from all areas during its existence. Establishment Phase Customers/ retailers are not familiar with the product or the business so they might not invest in the service of this business they are unfamiliar with, which may result in longer periods of time for the business to get up and running.. Profit will be slow to begin with because expenses are higher than sales revenue, generating a loss for the business. The business needs to undertake expensive promotion strategies in order to advertise the product and make it familiar with consumers. Growth Phase Rapid increases in sales of service as consumers are more alert of the firm. Adequate cash flow must be maintained to continue the rapid expansion and sustain success. Competitors such as other wedding reception venues will be more aware of the improvements of the business, and therefore act on these improvements. Maturity Phase Sales level off and start to plateau. Focus on cutting costs as profits will now be generated. Time to employ more experienced managers to keep the business under control. Introduce a new work team and pay bonuses like fringe benefits to keep them motivated. Post-Maturity Phase Innovation, therefore increasing cash-flow and will attract customers. Cash-flow problems may start to emerge, so cutting down costs will be the best option to take. The state of the business may remain at a steady-state, or can fluctuate by increasing sales, or decline. BUSINESS OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES Whether this is the clients first wedding, a renewal of their vows or their anniversary, the business is interested in every detail of their event to be both a pleasurable and a memorable experience. Therefore, Amandas Wedding Reception business offers a host of packages and services specifically tailored to the needs of each couple. I am confident that this business venture will be a success. If everything runs to plan, net income is estimated to increase  modestly by the second year. The keys to our success are as follows Service the clients needs promptly and efficiently. Maintain an excellent working relationship with vendors, e.g. florists. Maintain a professional image at all times Different objectives are necessary in making the business successful and achieve the highest possible outcome. Some objectives include Improve consumer awareness. This can be achieved by expanding the knowledge of this new business through different forms of advertising. Advertising through television, local newspapers, radio and billboards will hopefully attract the correct target market, that is, couples ready to celebrate their marriage. Create a great working environment. Keeping employees happy with their work environment is essential for a successful business. Making sure they all have equal rights, and abiding by the anti-discrimination and EEO legislations. Also providing them with their wages and fringe benefits they are entitles to. Becoming a threat to our competitors. By continuously providing innovative ideas and offering the services to the market, where more and more consumers will be fascinated and our firm will expand and meet demand. Extending management and business skills. By improving entrepreneurial skills of the owner, improvements in the ability to make good ideas will arise that will help in the profitability of the firm. As skills will increase, so too will the ability to complete a task, and therefore, they may choose to expand my business all around the nation. Possibly by more experienced owners buying the business, different ideas and trains of thought will be exchanged. Sustaining a good reputation! Keeping the communities promises, and providing them with even more than they expect will definitely keep reputation at a steady state and possibly increase. This can be done by staying loyal and true to all customers as they are the ones taking risks and trusting us to give any service required. Goals should be Specific to the area. What needs to be improved and what is being kept efficient should always be taken into consideration in determining how well the business is doing, and if any improvements are required. The quality of the service should be Measurable in what is advertised to provide. Supplying less than what consumers expect can see the demand for the business to decrease, and face down-fall. The working conditions for employees and owners should be Achievable, and have sufficient times off work for a break and to catch up in their personal lives. Ensuring the business provides Realistic services to the community, and only provides what can be promised, based on the amount of resources and funds available. Ensuring the business runs on Time and what is promised to completed by that moment to satisfy a consumers highest expectation and beyond, and also making sure that quality does not decrease by doing this. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT/SERVICE Amandas Ballroom Reception specialises in making the day that all men and women dream of come true! It specialises in planning, creating and producing the whole marriage celebration, after the couples have agreed to spend the rest of their lives together. This day is one of the happiest days that any human will endure, and the business aims to make that day an even happier one! No matter what the age, Amandas Ballroom Reception will cater every aspect of the celebration depending on your preferences. The business is open 7 days a week from 8am to 5pm, which is enough time for any couple to enquire about all of their special offers, and how it is PROMISED to make your day truly one you will not forget. Customers can feel free to contact the business on 97072468 or the business owner, Amanda Abboud, on 0412345678. The website http://www.amandasballroomreception.com.au also provides location and pricing details. It is guaranteed consumers will be shocked on how much is offered. The business provides 2 different rooms with various themes that will make the celebration look all the more classy and elegant. The different rooms also cater for the amount of people you are willing to have to celebrate the special day with you. The Ball room is an elegant decor and unique layout, and accommodates up to 800 guests, while the Pearl Room is an intimate, beautiful room, accommodating for 200 guests. Depending on menus, prices range from $89-$149 per head. The Falling Star Warm and Lavish- Golden Beach Perfect table plan software is used in preparing and organising table arrangements for all guests. It saves typing existing guests lists from spreadsheets, address books or other files. It allows you to drag and drop guests names onto different tables in just one click, and experiment with table shapes and sizes. As well as all this, it allows you to print elegant plans, charts and stationery, including floor plans, table charts, guest lists, place cards and table cards. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS Although Amandas Ballroom Reception consists of only one owner, employees are needed to assist the running of the business. Amandas Ballroom Reception consists of no more than 20 employees. Because it is a non-manufacturing organization, it is classified as a Small Business, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Some employees needed include Manager As well as the owner of the business, Amanda Abboud is the head manager of Amandas Ballroom Reception, and is in charge of the whole running of the business, from food, to decorations and music. The manager must ensure that all employees are working to their full potential, and all legislation acts are followed. She must also make sure that employees receive correct pay and entitlements. Receptionist This person must be able to socialise with different people, and provide them with any information they require. Answering phone calls and adequate knowledge of computers is necessary in making bookings and providing information. Caterers/Cooks Three head chefs and 5 chefs/caterers will be employed for the role of providing food and drinks for all guests. They must be able to create innovative ideas with food, and presentation must always be eye-catching. OHS and EEO legislations must be understood by these employees to ensure a safe and injury-free workplace. Waiters Ten employees will be hired for the role of the waiter. A mixture of men and women will be required. No special qualifications are required for the waiters, but it is preferred that they have had some experience on the role of waitressing. They must also understand the OHS and EEO legislations, and work together as a team with fellow employees. The main recommendation for this role is great social skills, and being able to listen to what customers and guests ask and have good communication skills. MC/Host Up to two hosts will be employed for different nights of the week, and must be great entertainers. Cleaners Up to two employees will be needed in order to keep reception rooms clean at all times, to ensure the business follows the OHS legislation, all employees and guests avoid injury, and the workplace looks presentable and tidy. Hygiene is very important for the health of customers and workers. Required Skills and Attributes of Staff Each job needs particular skills/ qualifications. Amandas Ballroom Reception requires people who are good at communicating with customers, confident, trustworthy, patient, reliable, organized and most importantly happy! Certain jobs require more skill and experience than others, but Amandas Ballroom Reception is willing to provide great training and development sessions through inductions in order to gain the most from all employees, so the business is confident that all employees are working to the best of their ability. MARKET ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIES Amandas Ballroom Reception aims at targeting any people ready to get married. No matter the race, gender or preferences, they cater according to what the customers ask for. Whether it be food, music or even decorations, Amandas Ballroom Reception will cater to create your dream wedding. This business does not specialise in any certain age groups, but will supply for both a traditional or modern wedding, as they believe no-one is ever too old to get married as long as you have found your true partner. This business will appeal to any couples looking to celebrate their wedding vowels, and will even appeal to the parents having to let go of their children. No matter your income, this wedding reception business will cater for people will all allowances, and varies depending on how much you choose to spend. Although the location of the business already has a highly popular reception venue, the Bellevue, already established, it will definitely increase competition for both businesses, but will provide greater variety for the community, as only one big wedding reception venue in a large suburb will not suffice. The latest wedding reception venue business in Bankstown will most likely attract attention by a highly populated area, where they may like to trial the newest business and compare to existing businesses nearby. A definite competitor in the area is the very popular reception venue, The Bellevue. Establishing Amandas Ballroom Reception close-by will definitely increase competition and tension for both businesses, but at the same time will provide greater variety for the community. After completing a market research on ideas on Amandas Ballroom Reception, the following statistics were shown based on ideas of the community. After concluding all findings, research shows that 72% of all customers were completely satisfied with the service of the newly established business and wouldnt definitely use the service again. A dramatic change is evident where 22% of customers were satisfied with what the business provided, and would most likely pay for their services again. Reasons for this may be for lack of experience of the business and/or employees, as it is still new, and running at a slower pace than other experienced wedding reception venues. Only 4% of customers supposed that they may return back to the services of the business, and only 2% of the customers said they would definitely not return. Once again, this may be the case because of lack of experience compared to other well established business. Another reason may be for the prices, as prices start off high for the business in order for them to gain a profit and pay off expenses, and pay employees. Marketing Strategies PRODUCT A high degree of customer service is important in the service of the business to satisfy their peoples needs and make them choose the business and want to return to the service. A catchy trademark and/or logo for the business is used to identify the great services associated with Amandas Ballroom Reception that is provided to consumers, and to differentiate it from its competitors. The business provides great variety of intangible qualities to suite everyones taste. At this stage, positioning or level of services made up by consumers is very important so the firm understands its strengths and weaknesses, and especially in comparison to its competitors. By satisfying consumers with what is promised to them, the reputation of the business is sure to expand.C:Documents and SettingsAmandaMy DocumentsGlassWeddingBells536358.jpg PRICE Young customers preparing their wedding celebrations may not have a high amount of money saved, which is an important factor in pricing the services of the wedding reception venue to suite all incomes. Higher prices may be distributed in order to generate a form of profit, but prices must also be reasonable, where customers are WILLING to put the money value. This gives a greater incentive to provide the best possible service in order to gain consumer loyalty to get them returning to the business. As a newly established business, Amandas Ballroom Reception should not increase their prices higher than competitors, or they will lose any potential customers! Through market research, demand pricing will take place in order to see how much customers are willing to spend on the different variety of services. They would have also used its greatest competitors prices as a guide to not exceed. PROMOTION Sustaining and maintaining great consumer awareness and trust is important for Amandas Ballroom Reception as they only aim to provide the best service to keep their customers coming back, and creating the best possible wedding celebration for the happy couple. Sales promotion; this business offers incentives to the customers through competitions. The employees of Amandas Ballroom Reception also spend a great amount of time on advertising through the media to gain the highest possible consumer awareness, and to get the business to look attractive and trust-worthy. PLACE Exclusive distribution of the service applies to this business as the services provided to customers are different to those of any other wedding reception business, as they come with innovative ideas that would make it almost impossible for potential customers to resist. Amandas Ballroom Reception has a useful and constructive distribution channel, which can offer the opportunity to develop an advantage over its competitors. Also, the business can have negotiating power with potential customers that debates different prices for certain services, depending on the demand and supply for the different services. Market Research Amandas Ballroom Reception Survey Please circle What is your gender? Male Female What is your age bracket? 18-25 26-34 35+ Do you think that Amandas Ballroom Reception will be a success? Yes No Do you trust a newly established business to hold your wedding reception? Yes No Would you recommend this business to friends and family? Yes No Are you satisfied with what you received in relation to what you paid for? Yes No Will you be returning to our business services again? Yes No What most impressed you about our business service? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What least impressed you about our business service? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Do you have any requests/comments/ recommendations? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FINANCIAL FORCASTS Amandas Ballroom Reception Balance Sheet 4/8/10 $ Current Assets Cash At Bank $15,000 Accounts Receivable $80,000 Inventory $120,000 $215,000 Non-Current Assets Plant/Equipment $1,350,000 Land and Building $500,000 Property $375,000 $2,225,000 Other Non-Current Assets Goodwill $200,000 $200,000 TOTAL ASSETS $2,640,000 Current Liabilities Bank Overdraft $141,200 Accounts Payable $75,000 $216,200 Non-Current Liabilities Mortgage

George Orwell Essay -- essays research papers fc

George Orwell Many writers use satire techinques to attack areas of life they didn't agree with. Satire is a cunning way to express their opinions. Some of these works today are considered masterpieces and works of art. One writer who was a genius at incorporating beliefs in his writings was George Orwell. Commonly known by his pen name, George Orwell was an English novelist and social critic (Wadsworth 866). Orwell was born in Begal, India and was later educated in Eton, England. He was the son of Richard Blair an opium agent and his "much younger wife" Ida. Relations between Orwell and his father wre non-existent for the first eight years of his life ("Orwell," The Oxford Companion 516). Orwell was considered to be "another public school boy," who alwys seemed to the with an "akward squad" (George Orwell," The Oxford Illustrated Hisory 442). In 1990-4, Orwell, his mother, and his older sister moved to England leaving Orwell's father on his own in India until he retired in 1911. Orwell continued his education at "St. Cyprian's Preparatory School under the regime of Mr. and Mrs. Wilkes," which he later brutally portrayed in his novel Such, Such Were the Joys" ("Orwell," The Oxford Companiion 516). After leaving schoo l, he joined the "Imperial Indian Police," and after five years in Burma, resigned in 1928 ("George Orwell," The Oxford Anthology 2140). Burma left him with a "lifelo...

A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty

Arya High,† Syrio Forel called out, slashing at her head. The stick swords clacked as Arya parried. â€Å"Left,† he shouted, and his blade came whistling. Hers darted to meet it. The clack made him click his teeth together. â€Å"Right,† he said, and â€Å"Low,† and â€Å"Left,† and â€Å"Left† again, faster and faster, moving forward. Arya retreated before him, checking each blow. â€Å"Lunge,† he warned, and when he thrust she sidestepped, swept his blade away, and slashed at his shoulder. She almost touched him, almost, so close it made her grin. A strand of hair dangled in her eyes, limp with sweat. She pushed it away with the back of her hand. â€Å"Left,† Syrio sang out. â€Å"Low.† His sword was a blur, and the Small Hall echoed to the clack clack clack. â€Å"Left. Left. High. Left. Right. Left. Low. Left!† The wooden blade caught her high in the breast, a sudden stinging blow that hurt all the more because it came from the wrong side. â€Å"Ow,† she cried out. She would have a fresh bruise there by the time she went to sleep, somewhere out at sea. A bruise is a lesson, she told herself, and each lesson makes us better. Syrio stepped back. â€Å"You are dead now.† Arya made a face. â€Å"You cheated,† she said hotly. â€Å"You said left and you went right.† â€Å"Just so. And now you are a dead girl.† â€Å"But you lied!† â€Å"My words lied. My eyes and my arm shouted out the truth, but you were not seeing.† â€Å"I was so,† Arya said. â€Å"I watched you every second!† â€Å"Watching is not seeing, dead girl. The water dancer sees. Come, put down the sword, it is time for listening now.† She followed him over to the wall, where he settled onto a bench. â€Å"Syrio Forel was first sword to the Sealord of Braavos, and are you knowing how that came to pass?† â€Å"You were the finest swordsman in the city.† â€Å"Just so, but why? Other men were stronger, faster, younger, why was Syrio Forel the best? I will tell you now.† He touched the tip of his little finger lightly to his eyelid. â€Å"The seeing, the true seeing, that is the heart of it. â€Å"Hear me. The ships of Braavos sail as far as the winds blow, to lands strange and wonderful, and when they return their captains fetch queer animals to the Sealord's menagerie. Such animals as you have never seen, striped horses, great spotted things with necks as long as stilts, hairy mouse-pigs as big as cows, stinging manticores, tigers that carry their cubs in a pouch, terrible walking lizards with scythes for claws. Syrio Forel has seen these things. â€Å"On the day I am speaking of, the first sword was newly dead, and the Sealord sent for me. Many bravos had come to him, and as many had been sent away, none could say why. When I came into his presence, he was seated, and in his lap was a fat yellow cat. He told me that one of his captains had brought the beast to him, from an island beyond the sunrise. ‘Have you ever seen her like?' he asked of me. â€Å"And to him I said, ‘Each night in the alleys of Braavos I see a thousand like him,' and the Sealord laughed, and that day I was named the first sword.† Arya screwed up her face. â€Å"I don't understand.† Syrio clicked his teeth together. â€Å"The cat was an ordinary cat, no more. The others expected a fabulous beast, so that is what they saw. How large it was, they said. It was no larger than any other cat, only fat from indolence, for the Sealord fed it from his own table. What curious small ears, they said. Its ears had been chewed away in kitten fights. And it was plainly a tomcat, yet the Sealord said ‘her,' and that is what the others saw. Are you hearing?† Arya thought about it. â€Å"You saw what was there.† â€Å"Just so. Opening your eyes is all that is needing. The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true. Look with your eyes. Hear with your ears. Taste with your mouth. Smell with your nose. Feel with your skin. Then comes the thinking, afterward, and in that way knowing the truth.† â€Å"Just so,† said Arya, grinning. Syrio Forel allowed himself a smile. â€Å"I am thinking that when we are reaching this Winterfell of yours, it will be time to put this needle in your hand.† â€Å"Yes!† Arya said eagerly. â€Å"Wait till I show Jon—† Behind her the great wooden doors of the Small Hall flew open with a resounding crash. Arya whirled. A knight of the Kingsguard stood beneath the arch of the door with five Lannister guardsmen arrayed behind him. He was in full armor, but his visor was up. Arya remembered his droopy eyes and rustcolored whiskers from when he had come to Winterfell with the king: Ser Meryn Trant. The red cloaks wore mail shirts over boiled leather and steel caps with lion crests. â€Å"Arya Stark,† the knight said, â€Å"come with us, child.† Arya chewed her lip uncertainly. â€Å"What do you want?† â€Å"Your father wants to see you.† Arya took a step forward, but Syrio Forel held her by the arm. â€Å"And why is it that Lord Eddard is sending Lannister men in the place of his own? I am wondering.† â€Å"Mind your place, dancing master,† Ser Meryn said. â€Å"This is no concern of yours.† â€Å"My father wouldn't send you,† Arya said. She snatched up her stick sword. The Lannisters laughed. â€Å"Put down the stick, girl,† Ser Meryn told her. â€Å"I am a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard, the White Swords.† â€Å"So was the Kingslayer when he killed the old king,† Arya said. â€Å"I don't have to go with you if I don't want.† Ser Meryn Trant ran out of patience. â€Å"Take her,† he said to his men. He lowered the visor of his helm. Three of them started forward, chainmail clinking softly with each step. Arya was suddenly afraid. Fear cuts deeper than swords, she told herself, to slow the racing of her heart. Syrio Forel stepped between them, tapping his wooden sword lightly against his boot. â€Å"You will be stopping there. Are you men or dogs that you would threaten a child?† â€Å"Out of the way, old man,† one of the red cloaks said. Syrio's stick came whistling up and rang against his helm. â€Å"I am Syrio Forel, and you will now be speaking to me with more respect.† â€Å"Bald bastard.† The man yanked free his longsword. The stick moved again, blindingly fast. Arya heard a loud crack as the sword went clattering to the stone floor. â€Å"My hand,† the guardsman yelped, cradling his broken fingers. â€Å"You are quick, for a dancing master,† said Ser Meryn. â€Å"You are slow, for a knight,† Syrio replied. â€Å"Kill the Braavosi and bring me the girl,† the knight in the white armor commanded. Four Lannister guardsmen unsheathed their swords. The fifth, with the broken fingers, spat and pulled free a dagger with his left hand. Syrio Forel clicked his teeth together, sliding into his water dancer's stance, presenting only his side to the foe. â€Å"Arya child,† he called out, never looking, never taking his eyes off the Lannisters, â€Å"we are done with dancing for the day. Best you are going now. Run to your father.† Arya did not want to leave him, but he had taught her to do as he said. â€Å"Swift as a deer,† she whispered. â€Å"Just so,† said Syrio Forel as the Lannisters closed. Arya retreated, her own sword stick clutched tightly in her hand. Watching him now, she realized that Syrio had only been toying with her when they dueled. The red cloaks came at him from three sides with steel in their hands. They had chainmail over their chest and arms, and steel codpieces sewn into their pants, but only leather on their legs. Their hands were bare, and the caps they wore had noseguards, but no visor over the eyes. Syrio did not wait for them to reach him, but spun to his left. Arya had never seen a man move as fast. He checked one sword with his stick and whirled away from a second. Off balance, the second man lurched into the first. Syrio put a boot to his back and the red cloaks went down together. The third guard came leaping over them, slashing at the water dancer's head. Syrio ducked under his blade and thrust upward. The guardsman fell screaming as blood welled from the wet red hole where his left eye had been. The fallen men were getting up. Syrio kicked one in the face and snatched the steel cap off the other's head. The dagger man stabbed at him. Syrio caught the thrust in the helmet and shattered the man's kneecap with his stick. The last red cloak shouted a curse and charged, hacking down with both hands on his sword. Syrio rolled right, and the butcher's cut caught the helmetless man between neck and shoulder as he struggled to his knees. The longsword crunched through mail and leather and flesh. The man on his knees shrieked. Before his killer could wrench free his blade, Syrio jabbed him in the apple of his throat. The guardsman gave a choked cry and staggered back, clutching at his neck, his face blackening. Five men were down, dead, or dying by the time Arya reached the back door that opened on the kitchen. She heard Ser Meryn Trant curse. â€Å"Bloody oafs,† he swore, drawing his longsword from its scabbard. Syrio Forel resumed his stance and clicked his teeth together. â€Å"Arya child,† he called out, never looking at her, â€Å"be gone now.† Look with your eyes, he had said. She saw: the knight in his pale armor head to foot, legs, throat, and hands sheathed in metal, eyes hidden behind his high white helm, and in his hand cruel steel. Against that: Syrio, in a leather vest, with a wooden sword in his hand. â€Å"Syrio, run,† she screamed. â€Å"The first sword of Braavos does not run,† he sang as Ser Meryn slashed at him. Syrio danced away from his cut, his stick a blur. In a heartbeat, he had bounced blows off the knight's temple, elbow, and throat, the wood ringing against the metal of helm, gauntlet, and gorget. Arya stood frozen. Ser Meryn advanced; Syrio backed away. He checked the next blow, spun away from the second, deflected the third. The fourth sliced his stick in two, splintering the wood and shearing through the lead core. Sobbing, Arya spun and ran. She plunged through the kitchens and buttery, blind with panic, weaving between cooks and potboys. A baker's helper stepped in front of her, holding a wooden tray. Arya bowled her over, scattering fragrant loaves of fresh-baked bread on the floor. She heard shouting behind her as she spun around a portly butcher who stood gaping at her with a cleaver in his hands. His arms were red to the elbow. All that Syrio Forel had taught her went racing through her head. Swift as a deer. Quiet as a shadow. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Quick as a snake. Calm as still water. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Strong as a bear. Fierce as a wolverine. Fear cuts deeper than swords. The man who fears losing has already lost. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Fear cuts deeper than swords. The grip of her wooden sword was slick with sweat, and Arya was breathing hard when she reached the turret stair. For an instant she froze. Up or down? Up would take her to the covered bridge that spanned the small court to the Tower of the Hand, but that would be the way they'd expect her to go, for certain. Never do what they expect, Syrio once said. Arya went down, around and around, leaping over the narrow stone steps two and three at a time. She emerged in a cavernous vaulted cellar, surrounded by casks of ale stacked twenty feet tall. The only light came through narrow slanting wi ndows high in the wall. The cellar was a dead end. There was no way out but the way she had come in. She dare not go back up those steps, but she couldn't stay here, either. She had to find her father and tell him what had happened. Her father would protect her. Arya thrust her wooden sword through her belt and began to climb, leaping from cask to cask until she could reach the window. Grasping the stone with both hands, she pulled herself up. The wall was three feet thick, the window a tunnel slanting up and out. Arya wriggled toward daylight. When her head reached ground level, she peered across the bailey to the Tower of the Hand. The stout wooden door hung splintered and broken, as if by axes. A dead man sprawled facedown on the steps, his cloak tangled beneath him, the back of his mailed shirt soaked red. The corpse's cloak was grey wool trimmed with white satin, she saw with sudden terror. She could not tell who he was. â€Å"No,† she whispered. What was happening? Where was her father? Why had the red cloaks come for her? She remembered what the man with the yellow beard had said, the day she had found the monsters. If one Hand can die, why not a second? Arya felt tears in her eyes. She held her breath to listen. She heard the sounds of fighting, shouts, screams, the clang of steel on steel, coming through the windows of the Tower of the Hand. She could not go back. Her father . . . Arya closed her eyes. For a moment she was too frightened to move. They had killed Jory and Wyl and Heward, and that guardsman on the step, whoever he had been. They could kill her father too, and her if they caught her. â€Å"Fear cuts deeper than swords,† she said aloud, but it was no good pretending to be a water dancer, Syrio had been a water dancer and the white knight had probably killed him, and anyhow she was only a little girl with a wooden stick, alone and afraid. She squirmed out into the yard, glancing around warily as she climbed to her feet. The castle seemed deserted. The Red Keep was never deserted. All the people must be hiding inside, their doors barred. Arya glanced up longingly at her bedchamber, then moved away from the Tower of the Hand, keeping close to the wall as she slid from shadow to shadow. She pretended she was chasing cats . . . except she was the cat now, and if they caught her, they would kill her. Moving between buildings and over walls, keeping stone to her back wherever possible so no one could surprise her, Arya reached the stables almost without incident. A dozen gold cloaks in mail and plate ran past as she was edging across the inner bailey, but without knowing whose side they were on, she hunched down low in the shadows and let them pass. Hullen, who had been master of horse at Winterfell as long as Arya could remember, was slumped on the ground by the stable door. He had been stabbed so many times it looked as if his tunic was patterned with scarlet flowers. Arya was certain he was dead, but when she crept closer, his eyes opened. â€Å"Arya Underfoot,† he whispered. â€Å"You must . . . warn your . . . your lord father . . . † Frothy red spittle bubbled from his mouth. The master of horse closed his eyes again and said no more. Inside were more bodies; a groom she had played with, and three of her father's household guard. A wagon, laden with crates and chests, stood abandoned near the door of the stable. The dead men must have been loading it for the trip to the docks when they were attacked. Arya snuck closer. One of the corpses was Desmond, who'd shown her his longsword and promised to protect her father. He lay on his back, staring blindly at the ceiling as flies crawled across his eyes. Close to him was a dead man in the red cloak and lion-crest helm of the Lannisters. Only one, though. Every northerner is worth ten of these southron swords, Desmond had told her. â€Å"You liar!† she said, kicking his body in a sudden fury. The animals were restless in their stalls, whickering and snorting at the scent of blood. Arya's only plan was to saddle a horse and flee, away from the castle and the city. All she had to do was stay on the kingsroad and it would take her back to Winterfell. She took a bridle and harness off the wall. As she crossed in back of the wagon, a fallen chest caught her eye. It must have been knocked down in the fight or dropped as it was being loaded. The wood had split, the lid opening to spill the chest's contents across the ground. Arya recognized silks and satins and velvets she never wore. She might need warm clothes on the kingsroad, though . . . and besides . . . Arya knelt in the dirt among the scattered clothes. She found a heavy woolen cloak, a velvet skirt and a silk tunic and some smallclothes, a dress her mother had embroidered for her, a silver baby bracelet she might sell. Shoving the broken lid out of the way, she groped inside the chest for Needle. She had hidden it way down at the bottom, under everything, but her stuff had all been jumbled around when the chest was dropped. For a moment Arya was afraid someone had found the sword and stolen it. Then her fingers felt the hardness of metal under a satin gown. â€Å"There she is,† a voice hissed close behind her. Startled, Arya whirled. A stableboy stood behind her, a smirk on his face, his filthy white undertunic peeking out from beneath a soiled jerkin. His boots were covered with manure, and he had a pitchfork in one hand. â€Å"Who are you?† she asked. â€Å"She don't know me,† he said, â€Å"but I knows her, oh, yes. The wolf girl.† â€Å"Help me saddle a horse,† Arya pleaded, reaching back into the chest, groping for Needle. â€Å"My father's the Hand of the King, he'll reward you.† â€Å"Father's dead,† the boy said. He shuffled toward her. â€Å"It's the queen who'll be rewarding me. Come here, girl.† â€Å"Stay away!† Her fingers closed around Needle's hilt. â€Å"I says, come.† He grabbed her arm, hard. Everything Syrio Forel had ever taught her vanished in a heartbeat. In that instant of sudden terror, the only lesson Arya could remember was the one Jon Snow had given her, the very first. She stuck him with the pointy end, driving the blade upward with a wild, hysterical strength. Needle went through his leather jerkin and the white flesh of his belly and came out between his shoulder blades. The boy dropped the pitchfork and made a soft noise, something between a gasp and a sigh. His hands closed around the blade. â€Å"Oh, gods,† he moaned, as his undertunic began to redden. â€Å"Take it out.† When she took it out, he died. The horses were screaming. Arya stood over the body, still and frightened in the face of death. Blood had gushed from the boy's mouth as he collapsed, and more was seeping from the slit in his belly, pooling beneath his body. His palms were cut where he'd grabbed at the blade. She backed away slowly, Needle red in her hand. She had to get away, someplace far from here, someplace safe away from the stableboy's accusing eyes. She snatched up the bridle and harness again and ran to her mare, but as she lifted the saddle to the horse's back, Arya realized with a sudden sick dread that the castle gates would be closed. Even the postern doors would likely be guarded. Maybe the guards wouldn't recognize her. If they thought she was a boy, perhaps they'd let her . . . no, they'd have orders not to let anyone out, it wouldn't matter whether they knew her or not. But there was another way out of the castle . . . The saddle slipped from Arya's fingers and fell to the dirt with a thump and a puff of dust. Could she find the room with the monsters again? She wasn't certain, yet she knew she had to try. She found the clothing she'd gathered and slipped into the cloak, concealing Needle beneath its folds. The rest of her things she tied in a roll. With the bundle under her arm, she crept to the far end of the stable. Unlatching the back door, she peeked out anxiously. She could hear the distant sound of swordplay, and the shivery wail of a man screaming in pain across the bailey. She would need to go down the serpentine steps, past the small kitchen and the pig yard, that was how she'd gone last time, chasing the black tomcat . . . only that would take her right past the barracks of the gold cloaks. She couldn't go that way. Arya tried to think of another way. If she crossed to the other side of the castle, she could creep along the river wall and through the little godswood . . . but first she'd have to cross the yard, in the plain view of the guards on the walls. She had never seen so many men on the walls. Gold cloaks, most of them, armed with spears. Some of them knew her by sight. What would they do if they saw her running across the yard? She'd look so small from up there, would they be able to tell who she was? Would they care? She had to leave now, she told herself, but when the moment came, she was too frightened to move. Calm as still water, a small voice whispered in her ear. Arya was so startled she almost dropped her bundle. She looked around wildly, but there was no one in the stable but her, and the horses, and the dead men. Quiet as a shadow, she heard. Was it her own voice, or Syrio's? She could not tell, yet somehow it calmed her fears. She stepped out of the stable. It was the scariest thing she'd ever done. She wanted to run and hide, but she made herself walk across the yard, slowly, putting one foot in front of the other as if she had all the time in the world and no reason to be afraid of anyone. She thought she could feel their eyes, like bugs crawling on her skin under her clothes. Arya never looked up. If she saw them watching, all her courage would desert her, she knew, and she would drop the bundle of clothes and run and cry like a baby, and then they would have her. She kept her gaze on the ground. By the time she reached the shadow of the royal sept on the far side of the yard, Arya was cold with sweat, but no one had raised the hue and cry. The sept was open and empty. Inside, half a hundred prayer candles burned in a fragrant silence. Arya figured the gods would never miss two. She stuffed them up her sleeves, and left by a back window. Sneaking back to the alley where she had cornered the one-eared tom was easy, but after that she got lost. She crawled in and out of windows, hopped over walls, and felt her way through dark cellars, quiet as a shadow. Once she heard a woman weeping. It took her more than an hour to find the low narrow window that slanted down to the dungeon where the monsters waited. She tossed her bundle through and doubled back to light her candle. That was chancy; the fire she'd remembered seeing had burnt down to embers, and she heard voices as she was blowing on the coals. Cupping her fingers around the flickering candle, she went out the window as they were coming in the door, without ever getting a glimpse of who it was. This time the monsters did not frighten her. They seemed almost old friends. Arya held the candle over her head. With each step she took, the shadows moved against the walls, as if they were turning to watch her pass. â€Å"Dragons,† she whispered. She slid Needle out from under her cloak. The slender blade seemed very small and the dragons very big, yet somehow Arya felt better with steel in her hand. The long windowless hall beyond the door was as black as she remembered. She held Needle in her left hand, her sword hand, the candle in her right fist. Hot wax ran down across her knuckles. The entrance to the well had been to the left, so Arya went right. Part of her wanted to run, but she was afraid of snuffing out her candle. She heard the faint squeaking of rats and glimpsed a pair of tiny glowing eyes on the edge of the light, but rats did not scare her. Other things did. It would be so easy to hide here, as she had hidden from the wizard and the man with the forked beard. She could almost see the stableboy standing against the wall, his hands curled into claws with the blood still dripping from the deep gashes in his palms where Needle had cut him. He might be waiting to grab her as she passed. He would see her candle coming a long way off. Maybe she would be better off without the light . . . Fear cuts deeper than swords, the quiet voice inside her whispered. Suddenly Arya remembered the crypts at Winterfell. They were a lot scarier than this place, she told herself. She'd been just a little girl the first time she saw them. Her brother Robb had taken them down, her and Sansa and baby Bran, who'd been no bigger than Rickon was now. They'd only had one candle between them, and Bran's eyes had gotten as big as saucers as he stared at the stone faces of the Kings of Winter, with their wolves at their feet and their iron swords across their laps. Robb took them all the way down to the end, past Grandfather and Brandon and Lyanna, to show them their own tombs. Sansa kept looking at the stubby little candle, anxious that it might go out. Old Nan had told her there were spiders down here, and rats as big as dogs. Robb smiled when she said that. â€Å"There are worse things than spiders and rats,† he whispered. â€Å"This is where the dead walk.† That was when they heard the sound, low and deep and shivery. Baby Bran had clutched at Arya's hand. When the spirit stepped out of the open tomb, pale white and moaning for blood, Sansa ran shrieking for the stairs, and Bran wrapped himself around Robb's leg, sobbing. Arya stood her ground and gave the spirit a punch. It was only Jon, covered with flour. â€Å"You stupid,† she told him, â€Å"you scared the baby,† but Jon and Robb just laughed and laughed, and pretty soon Bran and Arya were laughing too. The memory made Arya smile, and after that the darkness held no more terrors for her. The stableboy was dead, she'd killed him, and if he jumped out at her she'd kill him again. She was going home. Everything would be better once she was home again, safe behind Winterfell's grey granite walls. Her footsteps sent soft echoes hurrying ahead of her as Arya plunged deeper into the darkness.

Malaysia Traditional Games

INTRODUCTION Multi-racial society in Malaysia has a wide variety of cultural grasped from different roots. Culture was consolidated into a unique culture because almost every descent has custom forming their respective cultures. These include the likes cooperate economic activities, where the bond is strengthened and Forge Closer with brio events and entertainment. Many games were contested because of such customs. Traditional games have been able to form a part of life experienced by the ancestors communities respectively.Important foundation that guarantees the continuity of traditional games in the past is uniformity way our ancestors lived. Even since I was small they familiarize themselves with this state. Some of these games are now not played yet but is only known by the parents and grandparents. But still there are some children playing it today. Some of the games, including pride, kite, selambut, sepak raga, tops, kabaddi, mahjong, etc.. CONGKAK The word  congkak  is bel ieved to originate from old  Malay  Ã¢â‚¬Å"congak†, meaning â€Å"mental calculation†.The oldest  mancala  game boards were found in a ruined fort of Roman Egypt and date back to the 4th century AD by our Persatuan  National Geographic . After that, the game was likely introduced to Southeast Asia by Indian or Arab traders in the 15th century throughmerchants via Malacca , an important trading post at that time Congkak has simple rules that allow the boards to have different numbers of holes. Congkak boards are often made of teak or mahogany wood . Normally Congkak has two rows of seven circular holes and two large holes at both ends named â€Å" Home â€Å" . How to play?The game begins with seven game pieces (marbles or seeds) in each hole except â€Å"homes† which remain empty. Congkak requires two players . Each player controls the seven holes on his side and owns the â€Å"home† to his left. The goal is to accumulate as many pieces in your own â€Å"home†. On a turn, a player removes all pieces from one of the seven holes on his side. He then distributes them clockwise — one in each hole to the left of this hole — . This process skips an opponent's â€Å"home† but not a player's own â€Å"home†. The game ends when no pieces are left in any hole on both sides of the board.The players now count the number of pieces in their own â€Å"home† and see who has won. Director Ahmad Idham produced before 1 movie name  filem Congkak  at the year 2008 . If you wish to understand more about Congkak , can refer to this movie. WAU Now we are moving to the next part, namely â€Å"Wau†. For your general knowledge, Wau is actually farmer’s friend. Normally, farmers use it to represent a flying scarecrow in order to fend off birds from paddy fields. To prevent from over-using chemical substances to control the productivity of paddy, this may be an effective method to avoid har vested paddy from falling victim to the winged creatures.Somebody said that the sound made by Wau is an excellent lullaby for the farmer’s children. This is because the melody helps restless kids catch forty winks while the farmers could go about their tasks uninterrupted History of Wau Bulan shows that it is the brainchild of the Sri Wijaya empire, symbolizing Dewa Muda’s effort to reunify the empire. The young prince used the Wau as a canvas to map out the conquered districts using fine patterns and flowers. Before he went to war, Dewa Muda would meditate in a cave to gain some spiritual insights. He then exist the cave with a basic structure of Wau Bulan before he going off to war.After his return from a battle, the design kept on ‘growing’, symbolizing the strength of his empire; much to the pride and delight of his people. As a result, Wau Bulan could then said to derive its name from its tail which resembles that of a crescent, from the medium of tra nsportation for Dewa Muda to ascend to the heavens. Below are the steps for creating Wau your own. First of all, the spine of Wau is measured into 3 parts, then making the point of separation. Wau wing section will tie first. Wing that is tied will also be tied at the marked point of wau spine.Then, bind at the top and bottom of the tail spine and make sure that the balance in both sides. After that, attach the end of the tail for both left and right to the wing. For the waist of the Wau, make 2 semi circles from the bamboo stick to form a circle as shown in Wau Bulan picture above. Lastly, make the head Wau with binding half of the head with Wau wing with 2-inch distance from the spine. SEPAK BULU AYAM (CHAPTEH) The chapteh is one of the Asian games. Before the â€Å"chapteh† have approached to Malaysia , actually the sepak bulu ayam game already appeared in the 5th century BC in china.The earliest reference to a game of kicking a feathered object dates back to the 5th centu ry BC in China . At that time, the chapteh is used to train military men and later known as Ti Jian Zu or †kick little shuttlecock†. For the shaolin monks in Henan, they practiced the game to strengthen their martial skills. In Vietnam, the game is known as da cau, while in Indonesia they called it as sepak kenchi. In the 2003 SEA Games held in Vietnam,  capteh  was a prevalent sport. Internationally, Featherball Associations in Europe, USA and Turkey also show how international the game has become.In Malaysia and Singapore, the game also known as chapteh . The game was most welcomed by the malay citizen in the Malaysia, and become one of their traditional games. After that, the chapteh was accepted by other races and as variants of the name of sepak bulu ayam included capteh, chaptek and chatek seem to appear in Malaysia. DESCRIPTION Chapteh consist of feathers attached to a rubber or plastic sole. HOW TO PLAY The chapteh requires players to keep a weighted shuttlec ock in the air, usually using their feet, or other parts of the body may be used, except for the hands.It can be play individually or in a team. For individual, the longest time you keep the chapteh in the air, the higher the score you will get, the higher the chance to be champion. While in a group or team, a circle is drawn. The game is played in the circle with the first assigned player attempting to keep the  capteh  in the air until it falls to the ground within the circle. Then the next team member continues the count while playing in the circle. This continues until all team members have taken a turn in the game.The winning team is the one that scores the highest number of total kicks. BENEFITS The game can improve our hand-eye coordination. MAHJONG Mahjong is a game that originated in China, commonly played by four players. While the single player tile matching game mahjong solitaire is familiar in the West, in Asia it is the four-player table version which holds predomi nance and has little in common with the solitaire version other than using the same tiles. Similar to the Western card game rummy, mahjong is a game of skill, strategy and calculation and involves a certain degree of chance.The game is played with a set of 136 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols, although some regional variations use a different number of tiles. In most variations, each player begins by receiving thirteen tiles. In turn players draw and discard tiles until they complete a legal hand using the fourteenth drawn tile to form four groups (melds) and a pair (head). There are fairly standard rules about how a piece is drawn, stolen from another player and thus melded, the use of simples (numbered tiles) and honours (winds and dragons), the kinds of melds, and the order of dealing and play.However there are many regional variations in the rules; in addition, the scoring system and the minimum hand necessary to win varies significantly based on the local rules bei ng used. THE MAHJONG SET A set of mahjong tiles usually has at least 136 tiles (most commonly 144). Mahjong tiles are split into these categories: suits, honor, and flowers. Each rectangular shaped tile is about 1 ? inch x 1 inch x ? inch. The thick layer, the layer made of white bone or plastic is ? inch of the tile’s height, while the thin layer, the layer made of imitation onyx, is ? inch of the tile’s height.Each tile weighs about ? ounce and has a smooth texture, much like the smoothness of marble. This can be attributed to the fact that all sides of each tile, including the edges, are polished to the point where no roughness exists. This is usually the work of machines which have the capacity to obtain complete smoothness. The face of each tile (length 1 ? inch x width 1 inch) is carved with different letters or symbols. Due to the complexity of some of the characters and symbols, the designs are hand carved and filled in with paints of various colors. The tiles can be divided into 4 groups of 34 tiles each.Within each group, the tiles are divided among the five suits or series. Each of the 4 groups are identical. In other words, there are four tiles of each design (4 x 34=136). The remaining 8 tiles are flowers. Suits There are three different suits numbered 1 to 9, which are called simple tiles. They are bamboo, characters, and circles. Suit| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| Bamboos| | | | | | | | | | Characters| | | | | | | | | | Circles| | | | | | | | | | Honors There are two different honor suits: the winds and the dragons. The winds are east, south, west and north, and the dragons are red middle, prosperity and White board.They have no numerical sequence and there are four tiles of each honor (e. g. four Red middle tiles). Bonus Tiles There are only eight tiles: four flowers and four seasons. WindsEast,South,West,North| DragonsRed middle,Prosperity,WhiteBoard| FlowersPlum,Orchid,Chrysathemun,Bamboo| SeasonsSpring,Summer,Autumn,Winter | CHIN ESE YO-YO The Chinese yo-yo is a toy from China consisting of two equally-sized discs connected with a long axle. The Chinese yo-yo is kept spinning on a string tied to two sticks at its ends. Each stick is held in one hand.In modern times, it is used as a children's toy and as a performance tool in juggling and sometimes in Chinese ethnic dance. It is possible to perform a large variety of tricks with the Chinese yo-yo which can be as easy as throwing the yo-yo up into the air or tossing it around the user's back. It was found during the Ming dynasty; roughly 1386-1644. Design Chinese yo-yos were traditionally made of bamboo, which was very easy to break and not convenient for complicated tricks. Modern models, however, are now made of plastic for added durability. The sticks used with the yo-yo ontinue to be made of wood. Some Chinese yo-yos have grooves inset in the rim of the discs; these grooves cause them to make a whistling sound when spinning at high speeds. The sound allows the performer to gauge his speed and adjust the yo-yo accordingly. vs The Chinese yo-yo has been adapted in western countries as the diabolo. The Chinese yo-yo differs from the diabolo in two primary ways. First, the axle of the Chinese yo-yo is much longer than that of the diabolo. Also, the Chinese yo-yo has wheel-shaped discs, whereas the diabolo consists of two bell-shapes.The Chinese yoyo is also typically grooved and made of hard plastic, while diabolos are not grooved and usually made of a durable rubber material. How to play If you are right handed, follow the instructions precisely. If you are left handed, reverse the handedness of the instructions. 1. Place the yo-yo down on the ground directly in front of you. Put the string under the axle (the metal bit). 2. Roll the yo-yo over to your right foot, and let it stop. Then roll it over to the left or just back and forth, and lift the sticks into the air when it reaches the foot.This gives the yo-yo initial rotational moment um that stabilizes it when you lift it into the air. 3. Before it stops spinning, move the right stick up and down in a â€Å"hitting† motion. Try to imagine cutting a carrot with a kitchen knife. Try to keep this up as long as possible without the yo-yo falling off. 4. The yo-yo will naturally tilt away from or toward you. Do not fret; this is easily controlled. If the yo-yo is tilting toward you, move your right hand forward. If it is tilting away from you, move your right hand back. Do this while continuing to move the right stick up and down.This works by pushing against the top of the yo-yo with the string. 5. The yo-yo naturally tends to unbalance until you learn to keep it at consistent high speeds. Until then, you can rectify the balance of the yo-yo by moving the right stick it the opposite direction yo-yo is leaning, like if it's leaning forward, bring the stick backwards. 6. When you can keep the yo-yo level and with reasonable speed, try learning to throw and catc h it. This is done by simply pulling the two hand sticks apart rapidly, causing the yo-yo to fly up. To catch, simply position the string underneath he axle of the yo-yo. XIANGQI(CHINESE CHESS) Chinese Chess called as Xiangqi or Xiangqi in Chinese, it’s categorised under tactics and strategy game with only two players on each game. Besides, it’s one of the famous games among Chinese communities and played by adult as well as children. Actually, xiangqi has the meaning of ‘Elephant Game’, which Xiang refers to ‘Elephant’ while Qi refers to ‘Game’. The game regard as a war between two armies, Chu and Han, with the aims of capturing the enemy’s king, the player considered wins the game after successfully captured the enemy’s general.There is a river separate the two opposite sides that called as Chu River and Han Jie, meaning Han Border, which is a reference to the Chu-Han war. Xiangqi normally played on a board that co nsist of 10 lines long by 9 lines wide, the pieces are placed on the intersections of the line which also known as points. There are total of 32 pieces on the board with 16 pieces on each side. Normally, the pieces are designed with red and black colours while each piece labelled with different character. Piece| Point| | Advisor| | Cannon| | Chariot| | Elephant| | General| | Horse| | Soldier|Differences characters have different kind of movement on the board, player are not allowed to move the pieces to a point that already occupied by another piece of the same army or stack on it. But players are allowed to capture enemy’s piece by moved to the point occupied and remove the opponent’s piece from the board, the opponent piece is considered as being ‘killed’. The general is said to be â€Å"in check† when the general is in danger situation of being captured by the enemy player on his next move. At the same time, the player who’s going to captu re the general should announce the check immediately in order to warn the opponent side.If the general's player can make no move to prevent the enemy from capture the king, the situation is called as â€Å"checkmate† and the game is end. Xiang Qi origins from Asia but there are a lot of leagues and club all around the world. For example, there are United Kingdom Chinese Chess Association in Britain and Malaysia Chinese Chess Association in Malaysia. Today, xiangqi developed rapidly and now everyone can plays xiangqi game through online or even install the game in the computer. KABADDI Kabaddi in India is counted among the most common and widely played traditional sports.Kabaddi originated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, almost 4000 years ago. According to a legend, this game came into existence, when a boy hit another boy for this candy. The boy who was hit chased the boy who hit him, and hit him back and ran away. Kabaddi also known as the â€Å"Game of the Masses† is the game, one person play against seven people which requires both skill and power on behalf of the players, and it also combines the characteristics of wrestling and rugby. LEGENDS ATTACHED TO KABADDI Kabaddi is a rather simple and inexpensive game, and it does not require a massive playing area, or any expensive equipment.There are some ancient scripts that refers to the existence of kabaddi in India. In Mahabharata, Arjuna had a unique talent in the game of kabaddi, as he was able to go inside the wall of enemies, destroy them all and come back unscathed. According to the Buddhist literature, Gautam Buddha used to play Kabaddi for recreation. Morever, the game earned a lot of popularity in the Sourthen part of Asia. ORIGIN OF KABADDI Kabaddi is probably the only game of offence and defence in which attack is an individual attempt. The word ‘Kabaddi’ may have originated from the Tamil words kai (hand) and pidi (catch).MODERN DAY KABADDI The standard rules and regu lations for Kabaddi were also formulated in 1918; however, the rules were brought out in print in the year 1932. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation came into existence in the year, in 1972. This body was formed with a view to popularize the game in the neighbouring countries and also to organize regular National Level tournaments. India was also instrumental in including Kabaddi in the main disciplines of the XI Asian Games held at Beijing, China in 1990. This was a major landmark in the history of kabaddi in India, as India won the Gold Medal in this championship.India also won the Gold Medals in the succending Asian Games held in 1994 at Hiroshima, Japan and in the Asian Games held in 1998 at Bangkok in Thailand. India played an important role in introducing the game of kabaddi to the African countries, while hosting a demonstration sport in the Afro- Asian games, in 2002. India also successfully took part in the first World Kabaddi Championship held at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Kaba ddi in india touched another milestone in 2004, when India hosted the first ever Kabaddi World Cup, in Mumbai.India became the winner of the World Cup, as well. India has produced a number of talented Kabaddi players, so far, who have earned international recognition. CHATURANGA â€Å"Chaturanga â€Å" is one ot the oldest brain in the game world, played in ancient India. The game considered to be the ancestor of moderm day chess and the kings and princes of ancient India. The Sanskrit word â€Å"Chaturanga† means â€Å"having four limbs or parts† and it was also used describe the Indian army of Vedic times, where a platoon had four division like elephants,chariots, cavalry,and infantry.The board of chaturanga â€Å"Ashtapada† (eight – square)†. Chaturanga was played during Gupta period. The game is presumed to be the common ances of the games of Chess,Shogi, and Makruk and it is related to Xiangqi and Janggi, as well. Banabhatta’ Harsha Ch aritha (c. 625)contains the earliest reference to the name â€Å"Chaturanga† . the game developed in Gupta India around the 6th century and 7th century, it was adopted as Shatianj in Sassanid Persia. Rhere are evidences like Sanskrit document, â€Å"Vasavadatta† from Subhandu that suggests Chaturanga as the ancestors of modern Chess.The pieces of Chaturanga had a lot of similarity with that of modern Chess. The pieces of Chauiranga were called as Raja(King), Mantri(Counsellor,ancestors of the Ferz), Gaja (Elephant,also named as Fil,later,Asva(Horse),Ratha(Chariot later called Rook) , and Pedati (Infantry of Pawns) . HOW TO PLAY The rules of moving the pieces in Chaturanga were also quite similar to that of modern Chess. The King was allowed to move as usual, but it had additional power. It could make Knight –move during the game, provided that it hasn’t been checked before it makes the knight move.There were no rule of castling in Chaturanga. The Counsell or in Chaturanga, was allowed to move one square diagonally and the Elephants used to move two squares diagonally. However, the Elephants was allowed to jump the intervening square. In Chaturanga,the rules of moving the Knight were the same as a usual Knight and the Rook or Chariot also moved like usual Rook. Though,the Pawns or soldiers in Chaturanga also moved like a usual pawn ,they were not allowed to make the double steps on it first move, like modern Chess.Acoording to the rules of Chatruranga, the Pawns could be promoted only when they arrived at the last rank of the board. However, promotions was available only to the type of pieces that was on the promotion-square in the opening setup. The main objective of a plyer in Chaturanga was to mate the opponent’s King . The player talemates its opponent was declared as the loser in Chaturanga. However, apart from the two-handed version of Chaturanga that has been discussed so far there was also another version named Chaturaj i, having four hands.There is game described in the Indian epic, Mahabarata that had similarity with that of Chaturaji. KHO KHO Kho – Kho is one of the most popular traditional sports in india. This games is an immense test of the participants’s physical fitness, strength, speed and stamina and it also requires a certain amount of ability on behalf of the participants. Additionally, many historians say that it is actually a modified form of Run and Chase. It is played by a team consisting of 12 players, where only 9 players enter the arena.In Kho-Kho, the participants simply need to chase and catch their opponents in order to win the game. In the ancient time, the game of Kho- kho was played on ‘ raths ’ or chariots in Maharashtra and it was known as Rathera. The main aim of the participants in the game of Kho-Kho is to catch the opponent by pursuit and to chase, rather than just run. RULES OF KHO-KHO The rules for Kho Kho were framed in the beginning of t he 20th century. According to the rules and regulation of Kho- Kho, each of the participating teams consists of 12players, though only 9players take the field for a contest.There are two innings in a match and an innings consists of chasing and running turns of 7minutes each. One player of the chasing team play the role of an active chaser and the remaining 8members of the team sit in their 8squares on the central lane, alternately facing the opposite direction. The active chaser stands at either of the posts and gets ready to begin the pursuit. It is mandatory for the members of the chasing team to put their opponent out by touching them with their palms and without committing a foul. The defenders try to play out the 7minutes, and the chaser keep on trying to dismiss them.There are 3ways through which a defender can be dismissed: * If an active chaser touches him with his palm without commiting a foul, * If the defender goes out of the limits on his own, or * If the defenders ente rs the limits the limit late. Usually, the defenders enter the limits, in batches of 3 and after the third and last defender of batch is out, the next batch has to enter the limits, before a Kho is given by the successful active chaser. The defenders are allowed to move on both sides of the central lane. However the active chaser does not have the permission to change the direction to which he is committed.He is also not allowed to cross the central lane. An active chaser can only change his position with a seated chaser, by touching him from behind by palm, and uttering the word kho loudly. A chase or attack is built up simultaneously through a series of Kho as the chase continues with a relay of chasers. There are an interval of 5minutes at the end of each of the innings and there is also a break of 2minutes in between the turns. Each of the sides alternates their positions between chasing and defending. There is no bar for the participants in the game of kho- Kho and people from all age can participate.The game can be played by men, women, and children of all ages and kho- Kho does not require a lot of equipments to play. The time limit for the game is not more than 37minutes. PLAYING FIELD OF KHO- KHO The game of Kho- Kho require a rectangular playground that is evenly surfaced, with dimension of 29m by 16m. There are 2 rectangles at the end which comprises of 2 wooden poles. The central lane is 907. 50cm long and across the small squares, lie 8 cross lanes which are 500cm long and 70cm wide. There are 2 posts at the end of central lane, which rise 120cm above the ground surface with a circumference of 30- 40cm.THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL GAMES AND MODERN GAME Game is a recreational activity whether for fun, leisure time or work. It can be done alone or in groups. Games usually have rules that must be followed by all . According to the playing terms and condition,there are some win and some lose, or draw. Games that involve physical activity are us ually called sports. Games are held until now but there is a difference between the first game and the game played now. Previous games such as wau game, dragon dance or top game features art that symbolizes the beauty and harmony of the people in Malaysia.These activities will normally be done in groups where they have similar interests. Each will share their energy, ideas, and time just to ensure that such activities can be implemented. While for the game now, usually computer games that does not symbolize anything and do not need to be done by a group of people and not to strengthen the bond between people like the game before. In addition, computer games will cause addiction among players. Players who are too addicted to the game will not care about their health, do not eat or sleep just to play the game.Those time games usually give different harmony with nature while nowadays games like computer games such as counter strike gives bad influence to boys. In turn this will contami nate the minds of the young people of this age. SUGGESTIONS TO PROMOTE TRADITIONAL GAMES * Promotion through mass media and multimedia such as TV advertising, internet social website such as Facebook, Twitter and so on. * Organization of activities by NGO – promotion via/through brochure,pamplets. * government roles – organise state,national and international level competitions among community. provides good infrastructure – such as, field,sports equipment. -organise awareness campaign – gives opportunities to upgrade the players skills. -gives rewards to player-such as trophy, cash money, giving honours such as â€Å"Dato†. * role of school authority – organise school level competitions among students. -actively involved in sports activities – upgrade their skills from school level. -sports school – give a lot of opportunities to many students who are expert and specialized in sports skills. -provides more bright future to ski lled players. traditional games as one of the co-curriculum activities in school. CONCLUSION Advances in technology have made the loss of what was once very proud heritage. But,do we aware of the fact that we inherited the traditional game? Sadly there are those among young people today do not recognize traditional games such as pride, kite flying, top-spinning, kite, kabaddi, yo-yo and so on. Many benefits to be derived from traditional games such as can strengthen bonds among people, nourish the body by sweating and can preserves the cultural heritage of ages.In addition, the state can promotes the game as one of the activities that need to be introduced to the tourists who comes to Malaysia. It will also be the pride of Malaysians. Unfortunately, Malaysian think about it they just want the excitement and follow all the latest technological changes which made them to forget the heritage that should be treated well. Therefore, teenagers can follow and continue the game technology b ut at the same time still maintain and uphold ancestral heritage. REFERENCES * Lau, H. T. Chinese Chess. Tuttle Publishing, Boston, 1985. ISBN 0-8048-3508-X. Leventhal, Dennis A. The Chess of China. Taipei, Taiwan: Mei Ya, 1978. (out-of-print but can be partly downloaded) * Li, David H. First Syllabus on Xiangqi: Chinese Chess  1. Premier Publishing, Bethesda, Maryland, 1996. ISBN 0-9637852-5-7. * Li, David H. The Genealogy of Chess. Premier Publishing, Bethesda, Maryland, 1998. ISBN 0-9637852-2-2. * Li, David H. Xiangqi Syllabus on Cannon: Chinese Chess  2. Premier Publishing, Bethesda, Maryland, 1998. ISBN 0-9637852-7-3. * Li, David H. Xiangqi Syllabus on Elephant: Chinese Chess  3. Premier Publishing, Bethesda, Maryland, 2000.ISBN 0-9637852-0-6. * Li, David H. Xiangqi Syllabus on Pawn: Chinese Chess  4. Premier Publishing, Bethesda, Maryland, 2002. ISBN 0-9711690-1-2. * Li, David H. Xiangqi Syllabus on Horse: Chinese Chess  5. Premier Publishing, Bethesda, Maryland, 200 4. ISBN 0-9711690-2-0. * Jupiter Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. Kabaddi. Retrieved 7/05/2012. from  http://www. indianetzone. com/1/kabaddi. htm * Jupiter Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. Chaturanga. Retrieved 7/05/2012. from  http://www. indianetzone. com/39/chaturanga_chess. htm * Wikipedia,Kho-Kho, Retrieved May 22,2012, from  http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Kho_kho

Reyes Surname Meaning and Origin

Reyes Surname Meaning and Origin The surname Reyes was often bestowed as a nickname for a man who carried himself in a regal, or kingly, fashion, from the Old French  rey, meaning king. It could also have applied to one who plays the part of a king in a pageant (such pageants were popular in the 13th century) or someone who works in the kings house. Another possible origin is as a topographical surname for someone who  lived at a rea, a piece of hard ground within a marsh.   Reyes is the 19th most popular Hispanic surname and the 81st most popular surname in the United States. Reis is the Portuguese spelling of this surname. Also similar in origin to the German Reich, Dutch Rijk, and English ​King. Surname Origin:  Spanish Alternate Surname Spellings:  REYEZ, REIES, REIS   Famous People with the Surname Reyes Lucila J. Sarsines Reyes - Peruvian performerTurgut  Reis -  Ottoman admiral and privateerJohann Philipp Reis - German scientist and inventorRafael Reyes - former president of ColombiaDennys Reyes - Mexican professional baseball pitcher; former MLB pitcher Where Do People With the Reyes Surname Live? The surname distribution data at  Forebears  ranks Reyes as the 226th most common surname in the world, identifying it as most prevalent in Mexico and with the highest density in the Northern Mariana Islands. The Reyes surname is the 6th most common surname in the Dominican Republic, 7th in the Northern Mariana Islands, and 9th in Belize and Honduras. The Reis surname is most prevalent in Brazil, where it ranks 40th, and borne by the highest percentage of individuals based on population in Portugal, where it ranks 33rd. Within Spain, Reyes is found most commonly in the southwestern regions of Andalucia and Extremadura,  according to  WorldNames PublicProfiler.  Ã‚   Genealogy Resources for the Surname Reyes 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their MeaningsSmith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census? 100 Most Common Spanish SurnamesHave you ever wondered about your Spanish last name and how it came to be? This article describes common Spanish naming patterns and explores the meaning and origins of 100 common Spanish surnames. How to Research Hispanic HeritageLearn how to get started researching  your Hispanic ancestors, including the basics of family tree research and country-specific organizations, genealogical records, and resources for Spain, Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean and other Spanish speaking countries. Reyes Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Reyes family crest or coat of arms for the Reyes surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.   REYES Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Reyes surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Reyes query. FamilySearch - REYES GenealogyAccess over 10 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Reyes surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. REYES Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Reyes surname. DistantCousin.com - REYES Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Reyes. The Reyes Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Reyes from the website of Genealogy Today. Sources: Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Sasha Gutierrez Essays (904 words) - Psychiatry, Psychology, Abuse

Sasha Gutierrez Essays (904 words) - Psychiatry, Psychology, Abuse Sasha Gutierrez Krystal Moret Sarah Jorgensen Tomas silva Amy Bermudez 10/25/2016 Psy 100 Buildings, cars, lamp posts, citizens, everything quaked as one of the twin towers began to cascade clown towards the Manhattan streets. sounds of screaming can be heard miles away as people ran for their lives. The ash from the towers can be noticed from as far as New Jersey and Staten island. September 11th 2001 represented the day of the largest act terrorism in the united states history. Approximately 3000 people were killed in New York city alone. terrorism can be best defined as the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal (Meriam webster learner's dictionary). The act of terrorism is a very serious issue that progresses to become a more dangerous situation to citizens around the world. Many perilous individuals plot hazardous plans to commit acts of many innocent people develop disorders and severe long lasting psychological effects that can cause death. psychologist conducted a study to determine the wide spread pres ence of psychopathologic disorders . Terrorism could be represented as a virus that slowly destroys they everyday functions of society by slowly consuming the structure with its ideas and thoughts through violence . terrorism is a very serious issue that is happening in the present and even more significant threat in the future. The most popular psychological explanation for terrorism involves disruptive or psychopathological personalities. Martha Crenshaw demonstrates terrorism when she says "terrorists resort to violence as a willful choice and that terrorism as a course of action is an alternative" (post m.jerroled 25).in this she explains that terrorists commit their dangerous acts willingly. To gain excitement and to achieve a goal of frightening citizens of the area. Many social psychologist study to explain the psychological characteristics of terrorist. Most researchers suggested that the process of a terrorist group is heavily influenced by the prevailing political and social environment shared by friends and r elatives. Growing up in an environment marked by radical ideas and values can lead to one to join a terrorist group. People use terrorism to drag down the state by creating s perception of corruption through the promotion of sabotaging the political economic system. The attack in New York on September 11th 2001 threatened the supply line distribution by the attack of resource movement and transportation methods. The attack also created heightened anxiety which affected the people daily lives. Most could not go to work or travel because of a threat of being hurt. The possible motivation of terrorism can be described by Martha Crenshaw when says" terrorist are action-oriented, aggressive people who are stimulus hungry and seek excitement. Particularly striking is the reliance placed on the psychological mechanisms of "externalization and splitting psychological mechanisms found in individual's with narassistic and borderline personality disturbances" (post M Jerrold 27). here she expl ains that terrorist are self-assertive and hostile people who crave violence. Some individuals who suffer from disorders are more prone to committing acts of terrorism. The act of 9/11 effected many lives in numerous ways. Ways such as health complications, property damage, and loss of loved ones. post-traumatic stress depression (ptsd) and depression are two commonly psychological disorders studied after the 9/11 attack. Ptsd is the mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life threatening event , natural disasters , and sexual assault. Depression is a brain disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, which causes significant impairment in a daily life. Immediately following the attack three national studies found widespread post-traumatic stress symptoms in the general united states population. Within the first week after 9/11 (scuster et at 2001) conducted a national random digit - dial telephone survey of 560 adults and found that 44% of the participants reported substantial stress reactions. (schuser et al 2001). Researchers also found that within the first mo nth, 12% of individuals reported acute stress symptoms and 8.9% reported symptoms involving functional impairment. studies taken together show initial evidence that the 9/11 attacks are significantly associated with ptsd symptom's in the general united states populations Another tragic terrorism experience that happened was the Boston Marathon. On April

Analysis of the Scarlet Letter 1

Meredith Byram Mrs. Allinder English 9 A4 23 February 2009 â€Å"It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom, that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human fatality and sorrow,† (Hawthorne 44). In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, light and dark are used to compare and contrast the inner nature of Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale, All of these characters describe the theme of sin and suffering, but throughout their own struggles they strive and succeed to end up on the other end of the spectrum. Ah, but,† she interposed, more softly, a young wife, holding a child by the hand, â€Å"let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will always be in her heart,† (Hawthorne 47). Hester’s sin will always be a part of her soul, no matter how deeply she buries it. The scarlet A helps her to stop living her life a lie and forces her to show her sin to society, leaving her with nothing else to hide ( Morey 64). Hester is forced to set everything she has hidden free because her mistake and sin. Her life is turned into sorrow and denial leaving her a part of the dark side according to society’s view. Dimmesdale and Hester, at the time Pearl is conceived, only thought of themselves and their love instead of thinking about the depth of their sin (Morey 91). Their selfishness makes Hester rebel and cause the community to view her rebellion and defiance even deeper. Hester does not realize that she is only burying herself deeper, along with Pearl and secretly Dimmesdale also. â€Å"To Hester’s eye, the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale exhibited no symptom of positive or vivacious suffering, except that, as little Pearl had remarked, he kept his own hand over his heart,† (Hawthorne 177). This hand that is over Dimmesdale’s heart is covering up his own sin and causes him to have his own scarlet letter. Dimmesdale’s truth constantly is knocking at his heart and soul, begging for a chance to be revealed. He drives himself to the point of insanity, pushing all his agony on top of himself which buries himself deeper and deeper into his grave (Morey 134). Dimmesdale doesn’t realize that he should tell the truth, not only because he is a Puritan clergyman, but also because he is only twisting and tangling his sin into a knot that soon won’t be able to become unraveled. As the novel progresses, Dimmesdale’s soul becomes dirty and scum-like—just as society sees Hester’s inner self. His agony and paranoia is his own punishment and instead pushes himself even farther and farther away from the truth. Before he committed hi sin, Dimmesdale was fully connected to God and then after the sin was committed his godly soul starts to wither away. He becomes even less attached and finally he dies and becomes all the way disconnected from God (Gerber 82-83). Dimmesdale pushes himself away from the Lord out of his selfishness and causes his soul to become dark and dirty. †¦She is my happiness! She is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hawthorne 104. † At this point in the novel, Hester is persuading the governor to let Pearl stay with her. Pearl is a consistent reminder of Hester’s sin. Even though Pearl brings Hester up into the light, she darkens it also. Pearl creates a personality that is hostile and reflects her extreme temper. This relates Pearl to the devil which can be seen as darkness and a dark place. This temper and hostility is Hester’s biggest punishment for her sin. Pearl is literally a living example of the scarlet letter. After living many years of sin and suffering, Hester comes to full knowledge of her sin and gains responsibility for her actions (Nagel 90). Hester realizes that her sin will be lifted from her when she is ready to accept it. As Hester unleashes the â€Å"A† form her chest she, â€Å"had not known the weight until she felt the freedom. † Right after Hester reveals and finds her freedom, Hawthorne describes the sun as if it were bursting out onto the leaves and trees as if it were transforming the dark into light (Hawthorne 191). This symbolizes a turning point in the novel because Hester realizes her frustrations and accepts them which turn her dark night into a bright day. Even though Dimmesdale struggles to tell the truth and his secret, his ending can be seen as a light or a bright side. He forgives Chillingworth and the way he accepts his fate can be seen in a light or bright side (Nagel 153). Dimmesdale does have a frightening fate but the way he accepts this at the end of the story reveals a glimpse of light. Also, at the end of the novel Pearl is seen crying for joy which can foreshadow a happy life ahead of her. Society has seen Pearl as a dark spot and a nuisance for her entire life. In the end, Pearl escapes her mother’s shadow and lives in Europe away from the Puritan views and living (Nagel 153). Pearl’s ending can be received in a positive way which resembles lightness. The Scarlet Letter starts in a depressing and cold demeanor releasing feelings of suffering and sorrow. As the story evolves and the characters develop, the inner nature of Pearl, Dimmesdale, and Hester is revealed. However, it isn’t necessarily perceived in a negative way, but in a positive way. Even though Hester’s ending wasn’t the typical â€Å"happy† ending, it still closed in a satisfying bliss of a better life. Dimmesdale finally told his truth and released his sin and Pearl can now live her life out of her mother’s troubles. â€Å"The angel and apostle of the coming revelation must be a woman, indeed, but lofty, pure, beautiful, and wise, moreover, not through dusky grief, but the ethereal medium of joy; showing how sacred love should make us happy, but the truest test of a life successful to such an end! † (Hawthorne 247). Through all the darkness, light has been found and the sorrow has been replaced with happiness. Pearl, Hester, and Dimmesdale are now free. Works Cited Bloom, Harold, ed. Nathaniel Hawthorne: Bloom’s Major Novelists. Broomall: Chelsea House Publishers, 2000. Gerber, John C. , ed. Twentieth Century Interpretations of The Scarlet Letter. Eaglewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall Inc. , 1968. Morey, Eileen, ed. Readings on The Scarlet Letter. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1998. Nagel, James, ed. Critical Essays on Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Boston: G. K. Hall and Co. , 1988. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Penguin Books, 2003.