A Buffalo Common Metaphor free essay sample

Over the past few decades the High Plains have consistently been losing its population. So, in 1987 Doctors Frank and Deborah Popper introduced the idea of Buffalo Commons. They described this project as â€Å"A combination of literary metaphor, public-policy proposal, futurist prediction and ecological restoration project† (The Buffalo Commons: Its Antecedents). The essential focus of this project was to replace the ever decrease population by returning buffalo back to the Plains. This plan was originally met by rejection, however, the idea eventually began to take a hold (The Onset of the Buffalo). The name â€Å"Buffalo Commons† was actually a metaphorical name for this buffalo return plan. Buffalo was used because of the buffalo’s symbol of substance by both Native American’s and early settlers. Likewise, Commons was chosen because of the need to treat land in the same manner as the air and water, commonly rather than individually. As the popularity for the plans increased the metaphor â€Å"Buffalo Commons†, began to take the form of a term. We will write a custom essay sample on A Buffalo Common Metaphor or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This metaphor, now term, is currently being used to describe the various plans that would allow for the creation of alternative futures for various regions (Buffalo Commons as Regional Metaphor). The region surrounding the Columbia River is one of the metaphors that can be found for the term â€Å"Buffalo Commons†. In this region a serious debate is taking place over the removal of some of the dams along the river. By shifting the economic dependency on the river to alternative sources there is a hope that the Native Salmon will be able to re populate and flourish in an area were they had once been plentiful (Ka-bye). The video, â€Å"Regions and Economies-Oregon and U. S. Midwest†, focuses on the struggles between Native Americans and farmers who are both fighting for the use of the Umatilla’s water. Throughout the short film you are able to observe the many different elements that must be contended with in order to allow the dams to be either removed or limited in the amount of water being withhold. One of these elements include the farmers, who are in need this water to farm land that without it would be dessert. Another key player are the Native Americans, who feel it is their right to remove the dams based on the fact that they ere using the Columbia’s resources before the farmer. The final major factor is the government officials and voters, who live locally and have a strong interest in what is happening and who live farther away and do not see the importance (Regions and Economics). With so many different groups each having their own view on how the water should be used, it is often very hard to come to a resolution. Rather, each, often, pushes their own agenda allowing no progress to be made that would allow for the discovery of alternative water supplies, allowing, all parties concerned to reach a satisfactory conclusion. Many times the influence of those directly involved in a restorative project, in this case it would be the Native Americans and farmers who both are in need of the water, apposing each other. However, as we saw in this video, when these opposing forces begin to work together, their voices will start to be heard and a resolution satisfactory to both will often be the result (Regions and Economics). Buffalo Commons and the shifting of water use in the Columbian region are similar in many different ways. First, both plans emerged from the shift in the environments surrounding them. For Buffalo Commons, this shift in the environment happened as people began to leave the Plains. For the Columbian River Region the shifting came from the lack of Salmon that were able to ford the shallow portions of the rivers to make it back to the areas were they were hatched. The second similarity is the opposition that was met with the introduction of both plans from those who would need to face the changes that would come with the implementations of these proposals. However, both the Buffalo Commons and the Columbia River plans have since been looked upon with more favor. Lastly, and most importantly, these plans both show the desire to provide regions with an alternative future. With the Buffalo Commons this future would allow for the plans to go back to their natural state with buffalo being allowed to flourish. Through this reintroduction of the buffalo it is also hoped that a profit can be made from the sale of their meat. In the Columbia River region this alternative future would also include a partial return of the Columbian to its natural state, with the reintroduction of salmon it is hoped that the region can achieve the rival of salmon stocks. In conclusion, we see that Buffalo Commons does not only involve buffalo, rather it is a term used to describe a plan giving a region an alternative future. Although these alternative futures are often met with opposition it is important to persist in these efforts, as well as being wiling to compromise for the benefit of all involved. With a plan that would result in all parties involved being satisfied the plan will, in all likelihood, be met with success.

Learn About Consonant Clusters in English Grammar

Learn About Consonant Clusters in English Grammar In linguistics, a  consonant cluster (CC)  is a group of two or more consonant sounds that come before (called an onset), after (called a coda) or between (called medial) vowels. Also known simply as a cluster, these occur naturally in written and spoken English - though sometimes may be altered phonetically. This process, called consonant cluster simplification (or reduction) sometimes occurs when at least one consonant in a sequence of adjacent consonants is elided or dropped. In everyday speech, for instance, the phrase  best boy may be pronounced  bes boy, and first time may be pronounced firs time. Onset consonant clusters may occur in two or three initial consonants, wherein three are referred to as CCC while coda consonant clusters can occur in two to four consonant groups. Common Consonant Clusters The written English language contains up to 46 permissible two-item initial consonant clusters, ranging from the common st to the less common sq, but only 9 permissible three-item consonant clusters, as Michael Pearce posits in his book The Routledge Dictionary of English Language Studies. Pearce illustrates the common three-item initial consonant clusters in the following words: spl/  split, /spr/  sprig, /spj/  spume, /str/  strip, /stj/  stew, /skl/  sclerotic, /skr/  screen, /skw/  squad, /skj/  skua, wherein every word must start with an s, be followed by a voiceless stop like p or t and a liquid or glide like l or w.   In terms of codas, or consonant clusters that end words, they may contain up to four items, though they are often truncated in connected speech if the consonant cluster is too long, as in the word glimpsed being acceptably written as glimst. Consonant Cluster Reduction In spoken English and rhetoric, oftentimes consonant clusters will be truncated naturally to increase speed or eloquence of speech, oftentimes dropping the same consonant if it occurs at the end of one word and again at the beginning of the next. This process, called consonant cluster reduction, is relatively variable but confined by linguistic factors that inhibit the operation of reducing these words. Walt Wolfram, writing in Dialect in Society, expounds, with respect to the phonological environment that follows the cluster, the likelihood of reduction is increased when the cluster is followed by a word beginning with a consonant. What this means for average English users is that cluster reduction is more common in phrases like west coast or cold cuts than in west end or cold apple. This technique can also be found in poetry to force similar-sounding words with different consonant endings to rhyme. Take for example the words test and desk, which dont rhyme in their original form, but if one uses consonant cluster reduction, the rhyme Sittin in my des, takin my tes can be forced through truncation, as Lisa Green describes in African American English: A Linguistic Introduction, this is most common in the poetic raps of African American origins in the United States.

English Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English - Research Paper Example However, once fans found out that Tim Burton would be in charge of the project, many fears and doubts were alleviated. Indeed, nobody left the theater feeling disappointed. Janet Maslin, a writer with The New York Times, states that, â€Å"[...] An ornate visual fantasy of Mr. Burton’s can be expected to make its own rules, and Sleepy Hollow does that with macabre gusto.† Maslin continues her article with much praise for the â€Å"grimly voluptuous† Sleepy Hollow. Burton made his name in the film industry by never holding back when trying to display or explain something. If the scene called for horror, he would deliver horror, and then some. While the fans of Burton are used to his macabre style, many were still shocked, though pleasingly so, with how far he took the graphics in Sleepy Hollow. As Tim Burton has a very distinctive style with his filming, people expected quite a bit out of Sleepy Hollow. While most directors either get away or not with how they film something, a specific outcome is expected from Tim Burton. Kamal Larsuel-Ulbricht, for one, was not disappointed. In her review (1999), she expresses a certain fondness for the result of Sleepy Hollow, saying, â€Å"This was not Disney’s ‘Sleepy Hollow’. [Tim Burton] is sometimes a bit too weird for those who don’t quite understand his style [but for those who do], people can appreciate this take on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.† So it would seem, those that can really take away something from the film would be those that are already familiar with Tim Burton’s unique style of directing. Justin Felix (1999) considers Sleepy Hollow to count â€Å"among [Tim Burton’s] better movies,† further stating that, â€Å"With the recent disappointments in theatrically released horror movies, we needed a film like this.† Felix takes his review a little bit further by commenting on the aspects that

Kinship Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kinship Organizations - Essay Example The Kinship System and Culture of Yonomamo Their social life is organized around the respected tribesmen, where kinship relationship descent from ancestors and marriages between these kinships. According to Webster (2004), the tribesmen are given responsibility to maintain order in the villages and determine the village’s relationships with people of other villages. The tribesmen are given these positions owing to kinship and marriage customs, and it depends on the main kinship groups in the villages they come from. Webster (2004) indicates that the social changes within Yonomamo villages are based on giving and receiving marriageable girls in society. Thus, marriages are arranged by order kin, who include uncles, brothers and fathers of the spouse. Marriage in Yonomamo is based on the political process where girls are promised marriages while their extremely young, and men involved forms alliances with other men via marriage exchanges. There is inadequate of women in the Yono mamo due to the sex ratio imbalance in the younger ages that result in men having more than one wife. In case of fighting in the village, this is as a result of sexual relationships and attacks done to married women by other men. Meanwhile, the fight can cause internal fighting and conflicts of such greatness that lead to splitting and fission of villages, and create new villages. Yonomamo have a series of quality forms of violence that include club fighting and chest pounding that prevent severe violence like shooting to kill. This offers them a great deal of flexibility in resolving the conflict without immediate resort to deadly violence (Webster, 2004). Meanwhile, they have incorporated patterns of alliance and friendship that serve to limit violence these include trading and feasting with others in order to promote friendships. According to Webster (2004), the thin line between friendship and hostility must be controlled by village leaders whose political acumen and strategies are both admirable and complex. The Yonomamo have developed one unique language that each community speaks in variety version of this language. Traditionally, they had no written language, but depended on the same words to describe several different things. For instance the Yonomamo word â€Å"Xawara† can mean disease, gold and epidemics at the same time; thus, they communicate by chanting, telling stories and using lively expressions. The Yonomamo culture does not have political readers or police force to keep law and order. However, they depend on village leaders, who do not have power over anyone, but are allowed to make suggestions about matters of daily activities. Children are an essential part of the Yonomamo culture that means the more children living in a village; the more they assisted with household tasks. To increase chances of having many, men are allowed to marry many wives that give the family a better chance of continuity. Moreover, the ceremonies are another significant part of the Yonomamo culture, and they are carried for many reasons and used to communicate with spirit. Webster (2004) indicates that ceremonial hunts may be introduced to practice catching a specific animal and they usually take part with the whole family. Meanwhile, they travel to other villages to share stories and socialize with other groups; thus, family and relationship are a significant part

Funds Accounting Essay Example for Free

Funds Accounting Essay Business-type organizations and not-for-profit organizations, including not-for-profit colleges, universities and health care providers b. Business-type organizations; not-for-profit organizations; and all colleges, universities and health care providers, whether organized as not-for-profit or governmental entities c. Business-type organizations only d. All entities, except for those under the jurisdiction of the American Institute of CPAs Answer: a 5. A not-for-profit organization performs all of the following activities except . Charging a fee for services provided b. Paying dividends to shareholders c. Purchasing long-lived (capital) assets d. Paying overtime to employees Answer: b 6. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) establishes financial reporting standards for state and local governmental entities. An entity possessing the following characteristics should follow GASB standards: a. The power to enact and levy a tax. b. The power to issue debt, for which its interest is exempt from federal taxation. c. The potential that a government could unilaterally dissolve the entity and assume their assets and liabilities. d. All of the above. e. Only a and b. Answer: d 7. For which types of organizations is the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) responsible for establishing accounting and financial reporting standards? a. All state, local, and Federal organizations b. All state and local governmental organizations, except for state and local governmental colleges, universities, health care providers, and utilities c. All state and local governmental organizations, including government-sponsored colleges, universities, health care providers, and utilities d. All governmental and not-for-profit organizations Answer: c 8. Which entity establishes financial accounting standards and principles for the federal government? a. FASB b. GASB c. FASAB d. None of the above. Answer: c 9. Which of the following is the most authoritative source of accounting standards for cities and counties? a. Current practices widely used by not-for-profit entities b. GASB Statements and Interpretations c. AICPA Industry Audit Guides d. Implementation guides published by GASB staff Answer: b 10. Not-for-profit organizations obtain their revenues primarily from a. Sales to customers b. Contributions from donors c. Taxes on personal property d. Taxes on real property Answer: b TRUE or FALSE State whether these statements are true or false. Discuss why the false statements are false. True a. An entity is likely to be a governmental entity if a controlling majority of its governing body is appointed by governmental officials. True b. The objective of a government is to provide services to its constituents. False c. AICPA pronouncements have approximately the same level of authority as articles appearing in the Journal of Accountancy. True d. The objective of a not-for-profit organization is to provide services to its constituents. False e. By definition, all funds have cash, financial resources, and capital resources. True f. The objective of a business organization is to enhance the wealth of its owners.

Alcoholism In The 21st Century Essay -- essays research papers fc

Alcoholism in the 21st Century   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The dictionary describes alcoholism as continued excessive or compulsive use of alcoholic drinks. However, this disease is much more complex. Alcohol abuse is a growing problem in the United States today, causing more and more deaths each year. It affects nearly everyone in the U.S. today, either directly or indirectly. Over half of Americans have at least one close relative that has a drinking problem. About 20 million people in the United States abuse alcohol. It is the third leading cause of preventable deaths, and about 100,000 people die each year from alcohol related incidents (Peacock 11).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alcohol is not a new invention of modern societies. It has been around through many different ancient cultures, wine being the most prominent substance. Some cultures viewed alcohol consumption as good, while others perceived it good only in moderation. For example, the Greek god Bacchus was known for his excessive drinking while the Roman god Dionysus was known for teaching moderation in drinking (Peacock 20-21).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alcoholism was also learned to have existed in history. Interpreted writings on the tomb of an Egyptian king who lived over 5,000 years ago read, â€Å"His earthly abode was rent and shattered by wine and beer. And the spirit escaped before it was called for.† This shows that he died from alcohol related causes. However, most cultures began to limit alcohol use when they learned how to efficiently produce the beverage. Babylonian king Hammurabi and Chinese emperor Chung K’iang executed violators of their laws concerning alcohol (Peacock 20). Even in the Bible, refrain from alcohol is stressed. â€Å"†¦Nor drunkards†¦ will inherit the kingdom of God† (Alcohol and the Bible). The United States was not immune to strict laws opposing alcohol. In 1919, the 18th Amendment was passed, limiting alcohol use. This period lasted for 14 years and became known as the Prohibition (Peacock 28).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ancient and modern literatures show that alcohol has been around longer than most people think. For example, in the ancient epic of Giglamesh, written 4,000 years ago, one character was the goddess of wine and brewing, Siduri (World literature 136, 139). The Chinese poet Tu Fu wrote about celebrating an old friend’s retirement with wine in his... ...rch on causes and treatment has increased substantially. There are many new and traditional treatment methods being tested to treat alcoholism. Looking toward the future, there is hope for a successful treatment of alcoholism, and prevention in generations to come. Works Cited Alcohol and the Bible: New Expanded Version. 29 April 2001.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  . Botsford, Christy. National Children of Alcoholics Week. 29   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  April 2001. Clinton Signs Bill to Lower Drunken Driving Standards. Dallas Morning News. SIRS. 23   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  October 2000. Peacock, Nancy. Drowning our Sorrows, Psychological Effects of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alcohol Abuse. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001. Selected Poetry of Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849). 29 April 2001.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Williams, Steven. â€Å"America’s Drinking Problem.† Teen People. March 2000: 100-105. World Literature Third Edition. United States: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2001.

Economic Factors in the Decline of the Byzantine Empire

â€Å"Economic Factors in the Decline of the Byzantine Empire† In this article taken from The Journal of Economic History, Peter Charanis discusses the factors that economically affected the decline of the Byzantine Empire. His discussion is based on the fact that past scholars, such as English historian Edward Gibbon who wrote The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, thought the Byzantine Empire was in a constant state of decline throughout its existence, but he disagrees. He says that more recent scholars have found that it was, in fact, one of the great empires in history.He references to historians such as Fridtjof Nansen, author of L’Armenie et le proche Orient, who said that the Byzantine culture â€Å"is and will remain one of the most remarkable works of architecture, and if the Byzantine culture had created nothing but that, it would be sufficient to classify it among the greatest. † Charanis is convinced that most scholars today reject G ibbon’s theory, and this article discusses why he believes so. Because the Byzantine Empire endured for over a thousand years and was the center of civilization until the middle of the eleventh century, it could not be looked at as a constantly declining empire.According to Charanis, it preserved antiquity, developed new forms of art, and held back barbarians. Byzantium produced great soldiers, statesmen, diplomats, reformers, and scholars. It was also successful at spreading the gospel among pagan tribes. Charanis quotes Czech historian F. Dvornik who wrote Les Slaves byzance et Rome au IX saying Byzantium â€Å"molded the undisciplined tribes and made nations out of them; it gave to them its religion and institutions, taught their princes how to govern, transmitted to them he very principles of civilation – writing and literature. â€Å"Byzantium was a great power and a great civilizing force,† Charanis said. He believed that war and religion were the two pri ncipal factors that molded the society of the empire and determined its external position. Because war was a normal state during Byzantium’s thousand year existence, war was not a reason to believe that it was constantly declining. For example, in the seventh century, the Sarcens, Slavs, and Bulgars reduced the empire greatly, but the seventh century emperors reorganized the administration of the empire to cope with the situation at hand.In the eleventh century however, the empire was not as fortunate to recover from certain military reverses that occurred. There were disastrous defeats that they never fully recovered from, and this is what finally led to the beginning of their decline. One very important factor, according to Charinis’ sources such as Russian historians’ books and works, were the conditions the Manzikerts left the empire in. It had such a huge impact on the social and economic life of the empire, and this was the basis of its virtual disappearan ce.Byzantium relied so fully on the social and economic aspect of their culture, that an attack to this was fatal. The Manzikert military aristocracy was far from what the Byzantines were accustomed to, and caused the soldiery-peasantry to decline which was a large part of their state. Up until this point, emperors were able to rework the empire and reorganize things so that Byzantium could thrive, but after their â€Å"large estate†, which had been a huge party of their society, was attacked, it was almost impossible.Charanis believes that the aristocracy that was put in place in the eleventh century was also another large factor of decline. Instead of being a social and economic based empire, it was a military aristocracy. The soldiers were the holders of the military estates, and the aristocracy absorbed the estates of the peasants. The focus of the emperors was the happiness of the soldiers and not of the peasants, or all the other people in the empire, and this was also a large source of decline in Byzantium.Once the emperors of the eleventh century realized that this system was not working quite as well, they tried to create an anti-military policy, which consummated a depression in soldiers. This entire struggle that occurred after the seventh century caused the empire to participate in a series of civil wars affected its sources and manpower, according the Charanis. Other serious factors that caused the decline were the weakening of the central administration, the failure to enforce measures of protection for the soldiery-peasantry, and the grants of privileges made to the aristocracy.It has been said that another reason for their decline was the strict controls they placed on commerce and industry, but Charanis disagrees and says it is extremely doubtful that this was their weakness. He backs up this argument by saying that when those controls were most strictly enforced, was when their empire was at its greatest. He goes on to say that the per iod of the greatest decline is marked by the breakdown of these controls.Tenth century Byzantine emperor Romanus Lecapenus wrote in one of his novels that the extension of power to the strong and the depression of power to the many would â€Å"bring about the irreparable loss of the public good. † Charanis agrees with him saying that â€Å"His prediction had come true. The disappearance of the free peasantry, the increase in the wealth, privileges, and power of the aristocracy, and the consequent depression of the agrarian population constitute, I think, some of the principal factors in the decline of the Byzantine Empire. †Charanis’ evidence is clearly all there and cited, but it is somewhat difficult to understand his references. They’re numbered at the bottom and his numbers are meant to further explain certain points throughout the article. Another problem I have with his evidence is that they are mostly books written by foreign authors, and I canâ₠¬â„¢t read the titles. I believe that Charanis has clearly proven his point and thoroughly discussed his thesis; however, his argument was not extremely bold, because he is arguing one historian’s theory (Edward Gibbon), and agreeing with every other historian who believes the Byzantine Empire was great.His argument was more fact-based, and proven through certain points of notoriety throughout the existence of the empire, and his presentation of these points seemed unorganized. In fact I found the organization of this article to be somewhat confusing. He seemed to jump around from century to century and fact to fact. I believe it would have been much more efficiently written if he had discussed the certain centuries of the empire in chronological order. This also would have more effectively shown the factors that led up to the decline of the Byzantine Empire.Instead he jumped around discussing things that related to the factors, but not thoroughly discussing what order the th ings happened and why one led to the next. Charanis did not raise new questions in his argument. He simply argued Gibbon’s theory, and used other historians to back his argument up. In fact, most of the historians that Charanis used as references were quite old, for example, Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian author from 1928. No recent authors or suggestions were raised from Charanis’ article.I think that overall this article offered some very thorough and credible information about the decline of the Byzantine Empire, but since his original argument was that Gibbon was wrong, he should have used more examples of historians that supported Gibbons theory and argued their points as well. Though he had many historians to back up his argument, his thesis mentioned Gibbon. He definitely proved his point and listed many factors that caused the decline of the Byzantine Empire, but I would have liked to see less confusing organization and newer information that supported his argume nt.