The Truth About Thanksgiving Essays - Plymouth, Massachusetts

The Truth About Thanksgiving The truth behind the tradition is surprising. Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims seem to go together, but the truth is, the Pilgrims never held an autumnal Thanksgiving feast. However the Pilgrims did have a feast in 1621, after their first harvest, and it is this feast, which people often refer to as The First Thanksgiving. This feast was never repeated, though, so it can't be called the beginning of a tradition, nor was it termed by the colonists or Pilgrims a Thanksgiving Feast. In fact, a day of thanksgiving was a day of prayer and fasting, and would have been held any time that they felt an extra day of thanks was called for. Nevertheless, the 1621 feast has become a model that we think of for our own Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims were not the first people to have a celebration of this kind. Many other civilizations held festivals to celebrate the harvest. The ancient Greeks and Romans prayed to the gods and goddesses of the harvest, and also originated the idea of the cornucopia--the h orn of plenty. The Jews celebrate the holiday Sukkot, which honors the awards of the harvest, and the Chinese enjoy the celebration of the Harvest Moon. Even native New Yorkers commemorate the harvest long before Thanksgiving arrives. Pumpkins, apples and corn are abundant in the open-air markets of the city beginning in late September. The autumn of 1621 yielded a plentiful harvest and the Pilgrims, gathered together with the Massasoit Indians to reap the awards of hard work. Celebrating Thanksgiving is like celebrating an even that includes the dead of over 11,000 Wampanoag Indians died due to illnesses that they contracted from white settlers. The truth of the matter is, when the Pilgrims arrived, they found an abandoned Wampanoag village and moved right in. In 1618, a massive epidemic of an unknown disease left by English explorers swept across Wampanoag country and decimated many of the villages. This epidemic caused the death of ten to thirty percent of the total population an d all but a few of the 2,000 people of the village of Patuxet. When the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, they landed at Patuxet with no idea of what had occurred. At this point, there were only about 2,000 members left in the Wampanoag tribe, down from 12,000 in 1600. Despite the incredible losses to his people, Wampanoag leader Massasoit and 90 of his men sat down for a harvest celebration offered by the white men. For three days the Wampanoag and Pilgrims feasted on deer, wild turkey, fish, beans, squash, corn and other foods native to North America. Although the celebration was good-natured, this event truly signifies the beginning of a drastic decline of native culture and Thanksgiving would be more fittingly observed as a day of mourning rather than a celebration. In the years that followed, skirmishes occurred and more Native Americans were killed. In 1637, English soldiers massacred 700 Pequot men, women and children as an example of the English way of war, yet we still celebrate Th anksgiving as a joyful event. So, as we sit down for our Thanksgiving dinner, let us consider the words of Frank James in his 1970 speech: Today is a time of celebrating for you... but it is not a time of celebrating for me. It is with a heavy heart that I look back upon what happened to my people. When the Pilgrims arrived, we, the Wampanoags, welcomed them with open arms, little knowing that it was the beginning of the end. American History

How to Overcome Writers Block (20 Tips That ACTUALLY Work)

How to Overcome Writers Block (20 Tips That ACTUALLY Work) How to Overcome Writer's Block Charles Bukowski once wrote, â€Å"Writing about a writer's block is better than not writing at all.† Some folks would rather not mention writer's block at all, as if thinking about how to overcome it will somehow exacerbate the condition - like scratching away at a rash.Unfortunately, writer’s block is a gremlin that rarely goes away by itself, at least not in a timely manner. But by arming yourself with knowledge of what causes this creative quagmire - and how to climb out of it - you’ll be much better equipped to deal with it in the future! To start, let’s answer the question...What is writer’s block?Writer’s block is the condition of being unable to proceed with writing or the inability to start writing something new. But of course, we all know that much! What often stumps us where this frustrating predicament comes from, and how to solve it. Make your creative process more visualWhen your words are failing you, throw out the dictionary and get visual. The Inkflow app works like a visual word processor, so you can get your ideas on the page and then move them around (or doodle all over them) as you wish. If you’re the kind of person who likes to outline by placing sticky notes on the wall - but aren’t ready to ditch the technology and go totally old-school - then this app might be your new best writing friend.17) Look for the root of the blockAs psychologists Singer and Barrios pointed out, writer’s block often comes from a problem deeper than simple â€Å"lack of inspiration.† That’s what Unstuck can help you with! It can help you identify the root of your block, and provide a range of solutions to get your pen moving again. In other words, it’s a true friend in time of writer’s need!18) Go cold turkey and turn off the InternetIt’s a small miracle that people are able to get any writing done on a machine that offers access to a whole Internet’s worth of distraction. If willpower isn’t your strongest suit and your biggest challenge right now is staying away from distraction, Cold Turkey might be the app for you. It turns your computer into a typewriter until you reach your writing goal. In it’s own words, it’s â€Å"probably the most stubborn text editor ever made.†19) When you can't find the words... let the words find youThis is essentially the point of this â€Å"fridge poetry-esque† app, Word Palette. Featuring a keyboard of random words, simply click your way to your next potential masterpiece. Or at least, a bizarre poem that gets the fire started.20) Find your inner HemingwayIf your biggest block is your own self-doubt, Hemingway may help curb that anxiety by offering suggestions to improve your writer as you go. Advice includes things like: â€Å"too verbose,† â€Å"use a forceful verb ,† and â€Å"use active voice instead of passive.† This app is so sharp, it even provides editorial feedback to the writing of its namesake: Ernest Hemingway. (Try pasting the line: â€Å"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self† into the app.) These 5 apps will get your pen-and-paper mojo back #writersblock There might not be a magic trick or formula when it comes to inspiration. But add these 20 tips to your creative arsenal, and you’ll be on your way to kicking writer’s block to the curb. And remember: if you're still stuck, you always have these writer's block memes to keep you company!Did you try any of our tips? Did they work for you? Do you have your own tried-and-true methods for eliminating writer's block? Leave any thoughts or questions in the comments below!

Describe some of the different ways of conducting an archaeological Research Paper

Describe some of the different ways of conducting an archaeological excavation - Research Paper Example Research indicates that the earth’s surface is completely enclosed by the soil which comes from the original bedrock. This might include chalk, sand and granite, different types of rocks or clay (Barker). Since the fundamental nature of the soil is analyzed through its underlying rocks therefore initially the subsoil is studied then soil’s fertility is known which further helps in the determination of farming or vegetation settlements. Archeological sites are broadly defined as the settled residues of different structures which over the period of time convert into earthworks and rubble through the process of stone-rubbing, erosion, decay and invasion by the animals and plants (Barker). Sometimes it is possible that the researchers locate a residual settlement which is on its way to become an archeological site. This basically facilitates scientists in studying the archeological process. The archeological sites are usually found at lowland areas (Barker). One of the important factors in locating an archeological site is the confirmation of the fact that rocks present at the upper layer of earth were formed later than those beneath them. For instance, lave forms after the development of mountainside rocks. However, surface of the earth never remains in the same pattern and hence after some time the covering of different structural settlements remove and the rock beneath them comes to the surface. The same thing happens with the archeological sites since when the superimposed layers are removed the underlying surface becomes visible which indicates the historical remains and the presence of previous living and nonliving objects (Barker). Archaeological remains are distinguished into different types. The first archeological type deals with the antiquity of man i.e. the recognition of former civilizations, for instance, those humans who lived in caves centuries ago. There are various written records which

Communications Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Communications - Assignment Example 228). Friend shifts are alterations, or changes that occur when one decides to change their friends. Usually, this occurs when one of the friends, changes their perception about the friendship (Ivy, 2011, p. 216). Self-disclosure is the act of telling your friend about yourself, your hidden secrets that define your personality (Ivy, 2011, p. 199). Friendship intimacy is the close relation that two friends share in a friendship (Ivy, 2011, p.220). Jocular sparring refers to unique way that men between themselves and it usually go wrong when used with women (Ivy, 2011, p. 230). Male-male friendships and female-female friendships differ in the content of their conversation. Female friends talk more often and their conversations main topics center on intimate topics, sex differences, personal and family matters. Men friends always talk less than their female counterparts where their conversations center on sports. The principal dissimilarity between the two types of friendships is based on the sex-stereotypical assumptions, which tend to favor men and not women. Female-female friendships are always intimate unlike male-male friendships. This implies that female friends disclose their intimate selves. This creates more liking and a cohesive bond between them (Ivy, 2011, p. 220). Male friends rarely disclose their intimate self and friendships are not that intimate and therefore do not develop strong bonds (Ivy, 2011, p. 220-221). Female-female friendships are characterized by voluntary relations between the friends. Another major characteristic is the emphasis on conversational and emotional expressiveness. These friendships are also characterized by talks of family and personal matters (Ivy, 2011, p.

Research methods and study skills Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research methods and study skills - Coursework Example The study relates the area of urbanisation with social relations at community level by focusing on social indicators associated with housing. The analysis dwelt in the pace of historical development in measuring the diversity house age in predicting the measurement of the relations associated with neighbourly social based on multilevel framework. The researcher used neighbourhood built and individual’s socio-demographic data as the controls to validate the finding (king, 2013). The meta-analysis study by Ewing and Cervero (2010) is built on the realisation that built environment and the use of automobiles are associated in many ways. For instance, the problems associated with climate change, dependence on oil, congestion within the cities, and sprawl associates with the urban designs and the planning, which prompts the locations and the states to use the concepts of built environment to bring sanity to the automobile use. The building of roads has not been in tandem with the demand of the travel. To achieve the objective of the study, the researchers determined the elasticity by computing the values for the individual studies selected and later pooled to generate the weighted average. The study found that variables associated to travel were inelastic when assessed from the built environment perspective (Ewing and Cervero, 2010). The method adopted by King to acquire the data for the study was survey. The source of the data was the Chicago community adult-health studies. The data obtained for this study involved respondents characteristics of the neighbourhood in relation to their physical and social status, the psychosocial and socioeconomic status. The most important factor that was put into consideration is the fact that the Chicago community adult health data has a clustered sampling framework. The framework is essential for facilitating the human development project in the entire Chicago neighbourhood. This means that getting the respondents

Examining The Work Of Gwen Harwood English Literature Essay

Examining The Work Of Gwen Harwood English Literature Essay Harwoods work has always maintained universal appeal in its ability to articulate the indescribable in her dealing with themes that are intrinsically relevant to human experiences. As Strauss describes, Harwood effectively plays with dualistic boundaries, whether they be boundaries between life and death, present and past as a means to articulate her ruminations and this is reflective in many of her poems. Father and Child delves into the loss of childhood innocence and consequential lessons on life and death following her confronting encounter. In Barn Owl, the persona comes to learn after firing the first shot of her fathers gun that death is an obscene buddle of stuff that dropped, and dribbled through loose straw tangling in bowels. The violent, graphic imagery evoke feelings of repugnance which highlights the grotesque nature of death, being that of prolonged pain and anguish. Thus the child articulates a deepened understanding of the vulnerability of life, the finality of death, and the sorrow in taking away a life. This horrific perception is contrasted to Nightfall which portrays death as a natural, inevitable outcome that can be peaceful. This diptych structure provides didactic lessons as noted by Hoddinott who praises Harwoods ability to interweave past and present as one of her most striking gifts. In Nightfall, the poet is no longer a child, but has matured and engendered an acceptance of death as part of the cycle of life through the Christian allusion to heaven times promised land. The metaphor since there is no more to taste, ripeness is plainly all, father we pick our last fruits of the temporal recounts the fathers fufilled life and shows that the power of death is superseded by the eternal nature of their memories. The intertextual allusion to King Lear Old King, your marvellous journeys done heightens the responders awareness of the personas increasing self-knowledge about death, the complexities of life and the subleties of her relationship with her father, seen in the juxtaposition of Old King with old No-Sayer. Although Harwood acknowledges the lasting losses of death and the sorrow of change, she also recognizes that in spite of all of this, things truly named can never vanish from earth. She articulates that memories will surpass the grief and suffering of the fathers death as the persona learns to accept the uncertainty of life. Harwood extends on this exploration of death as an obscene experience, by exploring how death is abstract and undesirable yet inevitable in The Sharpness of Death. The repetition of obscene gives her poems coherance as a body of work in her investigation of death. She continues by exploring the intellectual aspects of death as she makes references to philosophers suc h as Heidegger to dismiss their theories on life and death as overly intricate and meaningless. This is reinforced through her exclamatory repetition of untranslatable as ever! accompanied by a scornful tone which underlines her disdain and frustration over the flaws in their rational philosophical musings over such mystique experience. Additionally, Harwood articulates the transience of life in the final two lines of Nasturtiums, illustrating the continual cycle of time as the light is gone but still held within the seeds of seeds. This is an image of continual rebirth of innocence and creativity as life moves on and it is this calm even tone that reflects Harwoods understanding of lifes changes and eventual end. Her acceptance is reflective in her final bargain, demonstrated thro ugh her defiant, imperative tone and direct address; Death I will tell you nowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦if I fall from that time, then set your teeth in me. Here, the fierce personification of death shown through its capitalisation accentuates its prevailing power and inexorability. By doing so, she justifies that passionate experiences and fulfilling relationships are fundamental because of deaths inevitable arrival. The unity of the poemy is seen in the cyclic structure as the final part closes the opening deal. As a result, we come to agree with Strauss in descirbing Harwood as a new and distinctive voice as the Sharpness of Death effectively delves into the complexities of death in taking us through fearing death to accepting it as both mysterious and inevitable. Accordingly, we acknowledge that it is through a personal joyous affirmation of life that death is defeated. Likewise At Mornington also explores the universality of human experience through observations of the ephemeral passing of time and the temporal nature of human existence. Transpiring is the heightened awareness of the value of shared and meaningful human experiences and a firm acceptance of the certainty of mortality. An extended metaphor amplifies this notion that life is full of opportunity for joy and reinvention, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦we have one day only one/but more than enough to refresh us. Like the personas realisation in Nightfall that memories trascend ones death, the recollections of this poem underline that all of life amounts to, dreams, pain, memories, love and grief and thus lifes transience is supported through expressions of love and friendship. Harwood refers to the pumpkin vine as a parable of herself; the lesson intrinsic in each of her musings is that although death is inevitable and permanent, there is some consolation in a life of virtue and fulfilment. The poems sense of unity is reflected in its cyclical nature, beginning and ending with the motif of water, symbolic of the flow of water and memory, in addition to the recurring rolli ng motion. Her first reference in the simile rolled like a doll portrays her childhood innocence in her perception of invincibility, believing that she could walk on water. Towards the conclusion, the water becomes a metaphor for death when I am seized at last and rolled in one grinding race suggesting her acknowledgement of deaths power and her own mortality. The reflective, reverent tone indicates her acceptance of death, captured in the simile, like light on the face of waters that bear me away forever, depicting death as peaceful and serene. As Hoddinott comments, this poem eloquently traces the losses occasioned by time against the power of memory to keep alive the illumination of moments that renew the world. Accordingly, as responders we also come to accept the inexorableness of death and appreciate the importance of memory to retain lifes richness. Harwoods exploration on the significant ideas of death is evident throughout many of her works and it is through her investigation on this universally complex human experience, does she generate worldwide appeal.

Nurture and Nature - Influence of Parents on Childrens Sexual Orientat

Influence of Parents on Children's Sexual Orientation      Ã‚  Ã‚   Do parents influence their children's sexuality?   The answer may surprise you: no they do not.   It has been found that about 90% of sons of gay fathers are heterosexual (Bailey 124).   It was also found that 90% of daughters of lesbian women are also heterosexual (Golombok 4).   According to a poll taken by Northwestern University almost 95% of people expect children of homosexual parents to be homosexual themselves (Bailey 125).   This popular belief has affected many child custody decisions because of the possibility of the parents molesting the children, or the possibility of the children becoming homosexual themselves.   Even if the children becoming homosexual is a possibility, why deny custody to a parent based on his or her sexuality?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The question has been raised on what can and what can't make a child homosexual.   Some believe that children learn by imitating their parents.   This theory cannot be totally rejected, but due to recent research it is believed to be more unlikely.   Others have said that children identify with an opposite-sex parent and copying their behavior, this coupled with a distant same-sex parent makes the argument even more believable.   It is also possible that homosexual parents reinforce certain types of behavior, either homo- or heterosexual (Bailey 125-126).      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Some say that hormones affect the sexuality of children, which may be inherited from the parents.   For example, an anatomical difference in the hypothalamus of homosexual men has recently been identified, but the reason for this difference is still unknown (Golombok 4).   Sex hormones are seen by some... ... Whether it be hormones or genes inherited from the parents, or the environment a child is brought up in, researchers still need to complete their studies on the issue to find out the truth behind the matter.    Bibliography    Bailey, J. Michael. Sexual Orientation of Adult Sons of Gay Fathers. Developmental Psychology.   1995, Vol. 31, No. 1, 124-129    Golombok, Susan. Do Parents Influence the Sexual Orientation of Their Children? Findings From a Longitudinal Study of Lesbian Families.   Developmental Psychology.   1996, Vol.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   32, No. 1, 3-11    Meyer-Bahlburg, Heino F.L. Parental Influences on the Development of Homosexual Orientation.   Developmental Psychology. 1995, Vol. 31, No. 1, 12-21    Patterson, Charlotte.   Sexual Orientation and Human Development.   Developmental Psychology.   1995, Vol. 31, No. 1, 3-11