Essay on Solar Energy and the Energy Crisis - 769 Words

Solar Energy and the Energy Crisis Abstract The energy crisis is a major problem in the United States. Solar energy can help alleviate this problem. Enough solar panels to fulfill the energy needs of the entire United States would take up 27,347 km2 and cost almost 17 trillion dollars. Therefore, although there is enough space for all those solar panels, the economic cost is far too great. However, solar power can be phased in gradually. Solar Energy 3 Solar Energy: Can It Solve the Energy Crisis? The worlds supply of fossil fuels is dwindling. The amount of power generated from renewable energy sources needs to be increased, as there is little chance of power consumption decreasing. Solar power is a relatively untapped power†¦show more content†¦Another way of generating electricity from solar radiation is through the use of solar thermal energy. Power plants that generate electricity in this way use mirrors to focus the suns energy. The focused energy is used to boil water and create steam to drive a turbine (Solar Energy). However, if solar power usage were to become more widespread, then the energy shortage the Figure 1 ( data from Annual Energy Review, 2003) United States is experiencing would be lessened. Combined with energy conservation and increased use of other renewable sources (such as wind power and geothermal power), the energy crisis could become a thing of the past. Results/Discussion The Annual Energy Review states that the United States used 98.156 quadrillion BTU of energy in the year 2003. That is equal to 2.8766684 Ãâ€" 1013 kilowatt hours. Since there are 8765.81277 hours in one year, 3.28169044 Ãâ€" 1012 watts are generated per year. A solar panel with an area of one square meter produces 120 watts (Solar Cell, 2005), so 2.73474203 Ãâ€" 1010 square meters would be required to produce that amount. That is equivalent to 10,558.898 square miles, or 27,347.420 square kilometers. That value agrees with National Geographics value of approximately 10,000 square miles, which is an area bigger than Vermont but [a]ll those panels would fit on less than a quarter of the roof and pavement space in cities and suburbs (Parfit, 2005). However, this manyShow MoreRelated Solar Energy is not a Solution to the American Energy Crisis1322 Words   |  6 PagesSolar Energy is not a Solution to America’s Energy Crisis With the growing cost of fuel for cars and the rolling blackouts of last summer, the need for an alternative, cost-effective, environment friendly energy source is escalating. Many possible solutions have been presented, such as nuclear power, wind power, and hydrogen fuel cells; prevalent among these is solar power. Solar cells directly convert photons from the sun into electricity (Wikipedia). 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This led to a decrease in economic activity that reflected as a decrease in the demand for energy in the form of oil. Alternative energy sources needed to be considered in order to maintain the economic activities of society without further depleting the natural resources. BesidesRead MoreThe Rise Of Solar Stadiums1292 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rise of Solar Stadiums: Assessing the Motives and Environmental Impact Super Bowl XLVIII. February 2nd, 2014. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As time expires, Mason Crosby kicks a field goal that soars through the uprights and hits . . . a wind turbine? Suddenly, this scenario does not sound so far-fetched: the Philadelphia Eagles have announced their intention to convert Lincoln Financial Field into the â€Å"world’s greenest stadium† (Bauers). 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Reproductive Technologies Free Essays

Reproductive Technologies Introduction Twenty years ago, the only reproductive technologies available to infertile couples were artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Since that time, there has been an increase of reproductive technologies, and a multitude of options are now available to those couples who are infertile. Infertility affects ten percent of men and women. We will write a custom essay sample on Reproductive Technologies or any similar topic only for you Order Now One in six Canadian couples is infertile. To overcome infertility many couples have chosen the path of reproducing artificially using reproductive technologies. Reproductive technologies are a term referring to methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. They help improve a couple’s chance of conceiving and carrying a child to term. The Canadian government had recognized the importance of reproductive technology and created the Bill C-13 which was introduced into the House of Commons on October 9th, 2002. This act is respecting assisted reproduction and related research. Attempts at the first non-human embryo transfer date back to the 1980’s. Improvements and discoveries over the following decades lead to the first successful IVF births in 1959 in rabbits by a Chinese scientist. The first human in vitro pregnancy was achieved in Australia in 1973, but it resulted in an early miscarriage. Louise Brown was the first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization. She was born on July 25, 1978, in Oldham, England. Dr. Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe had been researching fertility methods since 1968 that included artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization is the most common type reproductive technology. This process involves s man’s sperm and the women’s eggs being collected and combined in a laboratory dish. The embryo is then transferred to the women’s uterus. One cycle of IVF costs on average $12, 400. It has a success rate of approximately twenty eight to thirty five percent. Artificial insemination or intrauterine insemination is another reproductive technique. A sample of sperm is directly injected into a women’s uterus. This allows the sperm to be screened for genetic disorders. The success rate is approximately five to twenty five percent. A new development in IVF is in vitro maturation. Immature eggs are collected from the ovary and ripened outside the women’s body. They are then fertilized through IVF. This treatment is suitable for women who cannot produce mature eggs. IVM has a success rate up to thirty percent. Technology is not the only type of fertility treatment for infertile couples. Couples may also take fertility drugs. Women can take these drugs to act hormones for women who aren’t producing eggs properly. Fertility drugs can range from fifty dollars to five thousand, depending on the type of treatment. Though reproductive technology helps infertile couples conceive, it also has its setbacks. Risks with reproductive technologies include bleeding or infection, birth defects, increased risk of cancer physical and financial stress and the chances of miscarriages at twenty percent. Key Questions How has reproductive technologies affected fertility? Reproductive technologies have increased fertility. Couples who are unable to have children can now do so due to assisted reproductive technologies. It has provided happiness and hope for couples who were first deemed as infertile. Reproductive technologies have also helped same sex couples of having children. Women can conceive through donated sperm through in vitro fertilization or through artificial insemination. Also men can have children through a surrogate who can conceive with the multitude of reproductive technologies. Couples who settle down later in life with lower fertility rates can still have children with assisted reproductive technologies. What issue has arisen from assisted reproductive technologies? Reproductive technologies have caused an ethical dilemma. Many individuals do not believe that using technology is proper to have children. The Catholic Church does not support reproductive technologies. The church regards these procedures as dehumanization and depersonalization of reproducing. Many believe that children should come into being as a direct result of sexual intercourse of the parents, where they are accepted as a ‘gift’ and blessing and not as a ‘product’ of doctors. Technology can be used to assist the fertility of a couple’s sexual act, but it should never replace it. Is reproductive technology negatively or positively affecting couples? Reproductive technologies are positively affecting couples. Couples can fulfill their wish of having children. There are many forms of reproductive technologies to help address every couple with conceiving a child. However, the couple’s family view on reproductive technology can negatively affect them. If a couple comes from a family who does not believe in having a child through technology that can put great stress on the couple. The couple would not like to go against their family’s belief but still would like a child. Their family could tell them to wait and have a child naturally which could result the couple to further decrease their chances of conceiving. Will there be more types of reproductive technologies in the future? With technology constantly changing and new items being brought out every few years, it could be likely for different types of reproductive technologies to be discovered. As technology keeps growing, we are constantly coming up with new ways to do things. With advanced technology we are likely to find new ways to help couples to conceive a child. Will fertile couples use reproductive technologies to have children? Fertile couples may use reproductive technologies to have children. With men and women fully establishing their careers before settling and having children they may not have the time to raise children in the earlier stages of their relationship. When they are ready to they could use reproductive technologies to speed the process of having children. ASP Connections Anthropologists would look at the point of view of cultures toward reproductive technology. They would see the beliefs and opinions of a culture and how the society develops based on reproductive technology. The school of thought theory that relates to this is cultural materialism. Cultural Materialism is based on the idea that the true explanation of a culture can be derived by examining members decisions regarding human reproduction and economic production This connects to reproductive technologies because it is based on the idea that the true explanation of a culture can only be taken by examining member’s decision regarding human reproduction. It also believes in that the type of technology that is adopted by a culture determines what type of society they develop in. A culture could be fine regarding couple using technology to help them conceive or they could be against it because the child is not conceived naturally. Anthropologists could ask; how reproductive technology is viewed in cultures and groups and does other cultures belief influences another’s? Sociologist would explain reproductive technology as something that is helping society grow. Reproductive technology is helping infertile couples have children, therefore growing their society and economy. These children will grow up and help our economy by buying items and replacing workers who are retiring. The school of thought theory that relates to reproductive technologies is Neo-Marxism. Neo-Marxism relates to reproductive technology because it looks specifically to economic power to see the various ways in which it influences society. All aspects of reproductive technology are very expensive. If a wealthy couple is infertile they can easily go to reproductive technology and undergo the treatments. For a couple who are lower or middle class it will be harder for them to afford the treatments. The wealthy have more power to easily access anything they need. Sociologist could ask whether reproductive technologies are positively or negatively affecting society and if only the wealthy make up the most users of reproductive technology? Psychologists would focus on the behaviour of the individuals who know reproductive technology. They would find out personal opinions on how reproductive technologies are changing society. They would also look at individual reactions of couples who are undergoing reproductive technology. They would see how their emotions are to failure rates of reproductive technologies and success rates. The school of thought theory that relates to reproductive technologies is behaviourism. Behaviourism focuses on childhood experiences and the practises parents use to raise their children. If a child grows up in a family that follows religious beliefs and one of those beliefs is having children the natural way then that will affect their emotions and behaviour towards reproductive technology. An individual may be hesitant in accepting reproductive technology as a method of conceiving and fear what their family may think of them. Questions that a psychologist could ask is if family values affect an individual’s behaviour toward reproductive technology and are individual thoughts toward reproductive technology positive or negative? Case Study Obstetrics and Gynaecologists at the University Hospital in Ghent, Belgium completed a case-control study of all pregnancies obtained with assisted reproduction technology in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium from 1992 until 1997 to investigate differences in peripartum obstetric events and the prenatal outcome. They studied three thousand fifty-seven singleton and 1241 twin pregnancies were studied. About 90% of pregnancies resulted from in vitro fertilization; the remainder resulted from intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Control subjects were selected from a regional register and were matched for maternal age, parity, fetal sex, plurality, and date of delivery. The main outcome measures were duration of gestation, birth weight, prenatal death, prenatal morbidity, incidence of congenital malformations, and incidence of caesarean delivery. The results were odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 2. 6 (1. 4-4. 8) for prenatal mortality, 3. 5 (2. 2-5. 7) for birth before 33 weeks of gestation, and 1. 7 (1. 5-1. 9) for caesarean delivery in singleton pregnancies that resulted after in vitro fertilization. Twin pregnancies obtained with in vitro fertilization, were similar for all outcome measures, except for the incidence of caesarean delivery (odds ratio, 1. 4; 95% confidence interval, 1. 2-1. ) compared with spontaneously conceived twin pregnancies. The prenatal outcome of singleton pregnancies obtained with in vitro fertilization is significantly worse than that of spontaneously conceived pregnancies, mainly because of the increased rate of preterm birth. The outcome of twin pregnancies obtained with in vitro fertilization is comparable with that of normally conceived twins. For both singleton and twin pregnancies obtained with in vitro fertilization, the incidence of caesarean delivery is increased. This is important to reproductive technologies because it shows that using reproductive technologies could cause defects in children and having more children than intended. Bibliography (No author) At Issue: Human Reproductive Technology. (n. d. ). SIRS Issues Researcher. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from sks. sirs. com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display? id=S200008707-0-6416artno=0000307357type=ARTshfilter=Ukey=title=At%20Issue%3A%20Human%20Reproductive%20Technologyres=Yren=Ngov=Ylnk=Nic=N (No author) Louise Brown. (2012). Biography. com. Retrieved 07:50, Oct 28, How to cite Reproductive Technologies, Papers

Culture Touches in Twilight in Delhi by Ahmad Ali free essay sample

It is the most typical feature of the life of the Muslims of the subcontinent. Ali not only portrayed the feelings and emotions of his characters in this novel by using the Urdu poetry but also paved the way for the style of English language to be used by the future generations of writers from this area. Ali has rendered many classics of the Urdu poetry in easy and fluent English which introduces it to an international audience. The novel is therefore, a truthful articulation of the sentiment of people of the Indo-Pak subcontinent at a particular point in history when the sun set on the glory of the Mughal Empire in India. Ahmed Ali is the first Muslim to write a novel in English called, Twilight in Delhi (1940). He was one of the pioneers of the Progressive Writers Movement. Ali was a graduate from Aligarh1 and after the completion of education he availed himself of an opportunity of teaching at various Indian institutes. His education and his job facilitated him to understand both the English as well as Indian culture. He found a big gap between the both and tried to bridge it through his writings (Shamsie 1997). He decided to write in English but used Urdu poetry also in his writings and created a new style of writing in the subcontinent. This style resulted in the amalgamation of European realism and the Indian sensibilities. This technique of Ali caused a stir in the English literary circle of the Indian subcontinent. His first two dramas, The Land of Twilight (1931) and Break the Chains (1932) were widely appreciated. Even his Urdu short stories in Angaray2 (1932) were a special combination of European realism and Indian sensibilities in them. His first novel Twilight in Delhi appeared in 1940. His innovation of the style in English literature (especially fiction) was owing to the fact that he belonged to a conservative middle-class3 which considered Urdu poetry a license to express feelings associated with sex. An open description of sex was a taboo in the Indian society of that time. On the other hand the same poetry, which was used in the courts of kings and princess of India for expression of feelings and emotions at the time of their glory, had traveled down to the common man and had become a part of the middleclass Mughal4 culture, especially when the Mughals lost their empire to the British. This journey of Poetry from the corridors of the Mughal rulers to the streets of Delhi enabled even the laymen 1 2 Most of the students from this institution had progressive ideas. This can be translated as burning coals. 3 Normally was believed to the gentry and upholder of the social and cultural traditions. 4 Indian Muslim rulers who came from Central Asia including Akbar, the Great, Jehangir and Orangzeb Alamgir. 10 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 to use it for the expression of what he believed and felt. Even the beggars would chant poetic numbers to beg alms. For the Indian sensibility, poetry is an expression of human heart. It is an experience of the divine in human nature. It is a gift of nature given to the chosen few. It manifests the power of imagination and emotions in human life. Indian Muslim poets thought it was not only the greatest endowment of nature, but also the most ‘civil’ form of human behavior for men – in the street as well as in king’s court. The ideals of ‘genteel’ behaviour demanded of a man to be able to sing of ‘love’ and the ‘beloved’ – invariably a ‘courtesan’ in a purdah observing society. Such love was illicit, albeit the only one available. That was its main attraction and charm. That was its beauty and allure. It could not be sung without a defiance of the law which forbade it, and which was considered divine and not erasable by any human protest or blame. Such love nourished only outside the pale of law –both human and divine. It rested on a division of a man’s life ‘within the four walls of his house’ and outside world. Urdu poetry expresses the universe of emotions which the dichotomy of male desire entails, in all aspects and all spheres of life. It is basically about love and all hell which it may let loose, or heavens it might dream of. Among the Indian Muslims, singing about love is ‘civilization’ itself – as long as love is contained in poetic discourse. Outside the discourse it is a performative act between aristocrats and courtesans – the commoners relish it only through discourse. Such repression in real life, or denial of passion, created a scope for a wide range of themes associated with love to be treated in poetry – mainly in Urdu ghazal. This kind of poetry was being written and used in India when she was under the British occupation. As said above it was possible to show the feelings and impression ranging from love for woman to the revolt against the authority; poetry became the most popular as well as most understandable form of narrative. The sufferings of the ousted Mughal princes and princess along with that of the common man made it a popular vehicle for the ventilation of the oppressed emotions, the Indian Muslims harbored inside their chests. This made Urdu language lingua franca in the northern and southern part of India but Urdu poetry gained its glorious status when Urdu became a court language in 18th century. This status of Urdu influenced the social and political life of the Indian Muslims. People started to use it as a form of communication in the tradition of the Arab culture where the best form of communication was poetry. Poetic gatherings and competitions of poets were held at the state expenditures for the recitation of poetry. This gave much boost to the use of poetry among the Indians. Mughal patronization further popularized Urdu language and poetry. Among the royal classes it was considered a cultural activity to take lesson from an Urdu poet and then to write and recite poetry on various occasion. Several Mughal princes and princess have been noted for their poetic skills. The disintegration of Mughal Empire, because of the invasions of Nadir shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali5, caused much harm to the patronization of Urdu poetry and the sense of loss caused melancholy among the local people. Fears, doubts, and uncertainties crept in the minds of poets and the poetry. An effort was made by them to revive their culture and traditions through their 5 The names of the most famous and frequent invaders who came from Afghanistan to exploit the resources of India. 11 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 literature and in this way renaissance of Urdu poetry took place after the 1857. Niazi supports the point of view in the following words that the uncertainties of the time caused many to raise questions and a revival of the arts and literature, a sort of renaissance period, ensued for India in the 18th century (Niazi). One of the reasons for the growing interest of the Indian Muslims in poetry was their inability to cope with the external realities of life and their desire to confine themselves in to their own cocoons. With the passage of time most of them were unable to continue with the practical life because of the British policies to subdue Muslim in India. This inability led them to find refuge in the poetic expressions and recitations. We can say that one way or the other almost all the society sought refuge in poetry. Almost all type of people including, the British, the Hindus, the elephant drivers, the sultans, the rich, and the statesmen, developed a taste for poetry, and made it an essential part of their routines (Kausar 1993). This tendency seeped into the lower stratum of Indian life and the masses also showed their interest in poetry by attending the poetic gatherings partly to see women present there but also because the recitations were in Urdu which they could understand. In this way, Urdu Ghazal and other forms of Urdu poetry started to take definite shape. This contributed and increased the role of Urdu poetry in the life of Indian Muslims. The social norms reached the religious places also and it was sung at the shrines of the holy saints in the form of qawwalli6. As a result, Urdu Ghazal acquired a marvelous popularity and it was sung in every gathering and every home and house because it was in harmony with the thought and emotional demands of the age and reflected the contemporary spirit (Kausar 1993). The second most important factor in popularizing and making poetry a tool for the expression of the self came in the shape of elegies sung by the Shiite Muslim sect. Elegies are mostly sad in nature and this is most preferred way of expressing ones grief over the death of ones near and dear ones. A large majority of the Muslims liked to listen and to sing these elegies to observe their sense of loss at the martyrdom of Hazarat Hussein and his family. The same is believed by Kausar that in that period, the tradition of reciting elegies played a major role in popularizing and adopting poetry (Kausar 1993). These trends flourished further when the people found poetic gatherings and recitations an ideal place for get-together and to share their feelings. These poetic gatherings were patronized by many princes and the noble men. These poetic gatherings not only satisfied the taste but also developed civilization and critical aspect of the language and literature (Kausar 1993). The above said factor developed another aspect of the Muslim civilization in India which was to use poetry in each and every piece of conversation and made it a most popular genre of literature. Not only the poets but also their readers enjoyed poetry. Ali was also deeply interested in writing and reading poetry. He believed that without the use of Urdu poetry, a sense of completion of expression could not be achieved. He selected English novel as the best genre for his expressions and to further enhance his expression he used poetic instances in his prose (Rehman 1991). 6 A forceful poetic chant of the group of singers and musician, especially on religious events. 12 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. ntjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 The novel Twilight in Delhi (1940) is a manifestation of the writer’s belief that literature can be used to portray the reaction of the Indian Muslims against the colonialism7 of the British in India. His novel provided a Muslim view of the colonial encounter (Shamsie 1997). This trend of the writer continued even in his next two novels Ocean of the Night (1964) and Rats and the Diplomats (1986). His style gives a linguistic background to the novel in such a way that the novel appears to be totally of and about the subcontinent. This is because of plentiful use of Urdu idioms, words and the poetic instances. Ali therefore was able to give birth to a new variety of English, which later on has become a universal language of Pakistani English fiction these days. This paper intends to highlight the efforts of Ali whereby he tried to make his novel more acceptable to the Indian and English reading community through the use of culture bound Urdu poetry in his novel in English. This made the language of the novel Twilight in Delhi (1940) appear English but with a generous sprinkling of Urdu Poetry in it. The use of Urdu poetry by Ali became a powerful literary device of his narratives. Urdu poetry treats the relation of man with universe in a philosophical, liberal, and humanistic perspective. As such it becomes a secular repository of thought and a most precious use of Urdu in the secular context. As a distinguished gentleman of refined taste and manners, Professor Ali had a deep appreciation for Ghalib and other great poets of Urdu at that time. He was deeply concerned with the change in the local culture taking place because of the advent of the British. He voiced this concern over the decay of Muslim culture and the injustices of colonial powers in his writings in English. He used Urdu poetry in his novel because he believed that his fiction will be read by the English speaking readers in world also. The mind and reaction of the local population could not be communicated with exact meaning unless there was a good use of the Urdu poetry. Ali wanted to communicate to the reader by giving a better expression of him. Similarly the international readers of this novel would not get a full view of Indian culture unless they were acquainted with local aspects of culture, including language. The reviewer Maurice Collis wrote in Time and Tide (London) that it may well be that we may not understand India until it is explained to us by Indian novelists of the first ability as it was that we understood nothing of Russia before we read Tolstoy, Turgenev and the others. Ali may well be the vanguard of such a literary movement (quoted in Wikipedia). Twilight in Delhi (1940) was written at a time when the English still ruled India. At that time Ali could use only English language but he felt incomplete without the use of Urdu poetry because of the above cited reasons. Neither the Indian culture nor the individual responses could be explained or understood fully by any one, whether he was Indian, or an English audience if it was not expressed in poetry. In the use of Urdu poetry in his fiction, Alis attempt was an original one. However we may not forget that even at that time, the writers like Forster, Kipling, and later on, Orwell, had done the same thing, in spite of the fact that they were English. They also used Indian expressions and words to make their writings more self explanatory and to sound more Indian rather than English. Indian cultural constraints had compelled them also to write in a fashion of the Indians and to include much of the Indian Idiom to make their audience understand them well. They had already laid the foundation of such a linguistic variety of English on which later Pakistani writers in English have developed more to suit their time and 7 The process of occupation of various territories by the Imperialist European forces like Britain. 13 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 taste. Ali went one step ahead and not only used the Urdu words but also used poetic instances with an ease and in great number in this novel. He translated the Urdu and Persian verses and incorporated them into his story. It was actually a fashion among the young and the old Muslim and Hindu Indians that they would use a lot of poetry of the local poets to express, to explain and to color their language. Ali also took poetic instances from the great classic poets of that time including Ghalib, Mir and Zafar. The poetry of these poets was sung by the Indian people to articulate various feelings of the heart and, especially after the elimination of Muslim rule, all and sundry used poetry for the ventilation of their suppressed thoughts. The above said social trend is abundantly available in the writings of Ali. This trend is especially employed in Twilight in Delhi (1940) because it was supposed to describe a world of the beaten out and worn out Muslims when all the properties of the Muslims had been confiscated and many had been killed. In such a miserable condition, they had nothing to fall back upon and had no choice other than joining the service of the British. The British were hated by the Muslims because of such political reasons. Muslim men and women, though taking up jobs provided by the English, were unable to forget their cultural heritage including Urdu poetry (Shamsie). These Muslim men and women wanted to preserve their culture along with their survival. With this backdrop came the influence of the Progressive Writers Association which was a by product of the efforts of Sir Sayyad Ahmed which had initiated the Muslim renaissance in India. All the above said reasons necessitated the need of using Urdu poetry in English writings because it was being used by the educated and non-educated Muslims as a sign of the reawakening of the Muslim culture. It also triggered a socialist ethos and developed an anti-imperialist attitude among the young Indian writers like Ali. By the twentieth century, Urdu writers had started to perceive literature as a viable medium for social and political comment. Furthermore, the socialist ethos of the Russian Revolution provided young nationalist Indians with a powerful modern, egalitarian, and anti-imperial creed (Askri qtd in Annual of Urdu Studies). The language of the fiction of Ali, therefore was to be English but at cultural level it was to be the Indian to give voice to the love and comapssion of the writer for the land and culture of India. Urdu Poetic instances in his novel add and extraordinary flavour of Indian culture and taste. His linguistic strategy was innovative and courageous, a hallmark in efforts to translate one culture8 into the language of another culture, a colonial and imperial power, namely, English (Askri). Alis writings were immensely simple for the ordinary English reader but he was also conscious of the fact that he was recreating a world with colours, nuances, and rhythms alien to native English speakers. He tried to overcome the problem by incorporating Urdu poetry into the English text. He also mixed English and Indian words to create street-sounds, such as the chant of mendicants, for example: Dhum! Qalander, God will give, Dhum! Qalander, God alone; (Ali, 17) These two lines, a beggars cry in the novel, are reported through the transportation of Urdu, and English meaning for the reader. One can read it as a representation of popular Muslim belief in 8 This included Urdu and Persian images and traditional Indo-Muslim culture 14 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 not only God but sainthood of men; but also the writer conveys all the contradictions inherent in the belief and practice which maintains that God is the sustainer and provider of everyone, and yet saints are worshipped with all the zest and their name helps them to extort money from the people. In spite of the belief that God provides for even those who remain ignorant of the world and surrender their ego into the will of God, the sources for the fulfillment of their worldly needs are human beings. That is why the beggars chanted these words before knocking at any door. Here the readers of Ali find it easy to understand the feelings of the beggar and that culture in which people would want to give to these beggars in the name of God. The writer has used the Urdu words also to portray the mind of the mendicant and the English words to make his readers understand the meaning of the mendicant. The mendicant is chanting the name of one saint (Qalandar) but at the symbolic level it means that the culture and land of India may be destroyed but the name of God will survive. He seems to assert that the efforts of English to eliminate Indian culture may not succeed because God is their protector. However, Ali wanted to go beyond sub-continental sounds and words, to convey the quality of the long standing traditions of Indo-Muslim culture, in which poetry plays a pivotal role – in conversation, in songs of celebration and of mourning. He used English translation of these verses to incorporate the poetic images of Urdu and Persian literature in his English prose. This translation of Urdu poetry into English is so easy and fluid that it becomes a part of the text and not only the local readers but also the foreign readers feel at home while perusing the novel. This intimacy of the reader with the text of the novel makes reader understand the culture and cultural associated sensibilities of the writer all the more easily. Rehman (1991) says, Ali’s use of English is very skilful. He translates many idioms and phrases from Urdu in such a way as to create the feeling that one has entered the realm of a different culture. This authenticity of diction and the detailed description of daily life make the book a valuable sociological description of a dying culture. (Rehman 1991) Another characteristic of Ali’s translations from Urdu poetry is that these are faithful to the original. Although it was very difficult task because of the deep association of Urdu poetry with the history and culture f Indian subcontinent yet Ali has done a marvelous job in using poetic translation in his novel. Rehman also believes that Ali has not only given translations from the classical poets of Urdu but has also written what amounts to a competent history of Urdu poetry (Rehman 1991). The poetry used by Ali was selected from a variety of classic Urdu poets in India. Mostly it has been taken from Ghalib, Mir, Dard, Zouq, and Bohadar Shah Zafar, who were some of the prominent cla ssic court poets and dominated the poetic scene of their time. Poetry by these poets was the most appreciable mode of expression of the sentiments of the people of India ranging from king to a common man, as said above. Not only Mughal Kings maintained court poets but also the princes and princesses did so in the far and wide of the Indian subcontinent. This patronization contributed much to this role of poetry. Almost all the population of India sang the poetry created by their favorite poets. It was cultural tradition to quote a line or two of poetry whenever a person wanted to express their internal working of the mind about various matters of their lives. The poetic instances were taken as supporting document to the claims of the lovers and the beloveds, debaters, educators, politicians, rhetoricians etc. When Ali was writing his 15 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 Twilight in Delhi (1940), he could not ignore this aspect of his society. The following lines of {king} poet9 Buhadar Shah Zafar can be taken as an example. These lines express the helplessness of the poet. Ali uses this poetic instance to indicate the helplessness of his characters in the novel. Ali writes: I ‘m the light of no one’s eye, The rest of no one’s heart am I, That which can be of use of to none, __Just a handful of dust am I. (Ali, 136) These lines indicate the helplessness of the King which symbolizes the helplessness of all the Indian people after they were occupied by the British. We see in the novel of Ali that at the time of Asghar’s marriage, on the one hand, songs and festivities were on progress and, on the other hand, a beggar chanted this piece of poetry. We see that these lines prove a source of sadness for everyone, especially for Asghar, even in marriage. Not only, the sad condition of Asghar is evident in these lines but also the true feelings of an Indian Muslim who loved India, his people and culture but now was in bondage without any hope of the rescue from the British rule and inevitable cultural invasion. Ali has tried to portray such despondency of the Indians. He could have expressed all in one English sentence but he preferably used a translation of poem by Bhadur Shah Zafar, the last Muslim Mughal King. The poet lamented the plight of the Indian Muslims under the British occupation in his poetry written mostly during his captivity. Ali also wanted to show the same to his Indian as well as for foreign readership. He has used the poetic lines also to portray what was experienced by various characters of his fiction. For this purpose, not only the long passages of poetry are used for the portrayal of the characters but also the short and thoughtful single verses are present in the novel, as is given below: Cares and miseries, grief and sorrow (Ali, 46) This line is sung by the Qawaals10. Asghar is listening to this line and thinking about himself. He was lovelorn and suffering from the pangs of love. He listens and identifies it with his condition. The reader also becomes aware of the mental and physical condition of the character. This line also shows how the character has the repressed feeling which could be found in the real characters also. This identification shows, how the people would feel if they were caught up in the same real life situation of love. And the following line again repeated by the singers at the same page of the novel, reflects the romantic nature of Asghar who wanted to make his life beautiful by finding love but he could not succeed. This is a typical and traditional way used by many poets, like Ghalib, to portray the matters of the heart of a given character. The same technique is used successfully by Ali as we can understand the mental and physical situation of Asghar from this line. Moreover this line, like many other in the text, is used as a supplement to the main text. This is in the simplest possible translation of Urdu poetry yet this translation remains poetry-like in its appearance and 9 10 Bhadur Shah Zafar was the last king of Mughal dynasty in India and was exiled by the British. A singer who chants some poetic number in unison with his company of singer and musicians. 16 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 we do not lose the flavour of Urdu poetry. Such is the technique of Ali to portray the internal sufferings and emotions of his characters, as was the style in the local culture. As for example, What is there I have not known in love, (Ali, 46) Ali uses these poetic instances not only to portray the internal situation of young characters but also that of the mature characters in his novel. For example, when Mir Nihal feels sad at the loss of his pigeons and thinks about his beloved Babban Jan, he remembers the following lines of Persian poetry: I have lost religion in quite a novel way, Throwing faith for drunken eyes away: And all my life in piety spent I’ve flung, At the altar for that idol worshipper’s joy†¦. (Ali, 96) These lines portray the romantic and frivolous nature of Mir Nihal who has lived a life of luxury and ease. He has flourished in the social life and was considered among the elites. But now he is feeling the loss of his status and culture. The loss of pigeons indicates his social and cultural loss and the thought of Babban Jan aggravates his feelings of loss. He feels it very strongly and the writer uses this passage of poetry to indicate his sense of deprivation and mental sufferings. These lines are also simple and helpful in transporting to the reader, the apparent as well as the hidden meaning of the text. The translation is carried out in such a way that it merges with the text and does not seem to be a separate part of the text. The passage given below clarifies the love affair and the comfort of Mir Nihal with Babban Jan in so excellent a way that it becomes a part of the whole. The lines are heard by Mir Nihal from a man in the street and as soon as he listens he becomes worried about his beloved and her sickness. He feels guilty for not taking needful care of Babban Jan, although she proved for him a comfortable corner away from the worries and the cares of the world. The very lines by Ali are: Out of pity someone had put A lamp upon my grave at night But oh! The wind was envious And with one gust put out the light. Ali, 109) Ali not only takes pains in depicting the internal condition of the individual character but also indicates the collective-culture through his use of translation of the poetic instances. It is a cultural tradition of the Indian Muslims that they love to embrace their fellows, friends and relatives on the day of Eid11. They also believe that on this day the angers and hatreds can be f orgiven and forgotten when the two Muslims embrace each other as Eid is the event of religious and social festivities. The same was a part and parcel of Indian social life. Ali has portrayed all this behavioral pattern and the emotion behind them in the following poetic translation of Urdu: It is the day of Eed, my dear, Ah come let me embrace thee. 11 A Muslim religious festival celebrated at the end of Holy month of Ramdhan, also called Eid-ul-Ftr. 17 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 It is custom and besides There is time and opportunity. (Ali, 135) The next passage is a representative of the feelings of a man whose wife dies and he is left alone in the world. The grief and pain is reflective in this passage. The passage indicates the sad feelings of Asghar at the death of Bilqeece. The poet writes these words in such a way that these seem to be coming right from the mouth of Asghar as his wife was taking her last breath. Not only the moment of death but also the grief that Asghar was supposed to suffer after her burial has been reflected in these lines with pathos which is appropriate to the occasion: Go my life and may God be with you; The parted will meet one day, if the fate would allow. Pain and sorrow and a cruel fate Have brought me to a well nigh to a lifeless state. But do not say that love is false, my dove; I have shown you how they die in love†¦.. (Ali, 249) As is evident from the above instances, the translations of Urdu poetry used by Ali are easy and clear. This technique has been extremely helpful in conveying the feelings of his characters to his readers. This is exactly in accordance with the cultural traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The same technique has been used by many other Pakistani fiction writers; especially Sidhwa (2006) who expressed the emotions of her character Ice-Candy man in the following words: ‘Tis a miracle wondrous that you have come: Marvelling. I look from you to the walls of my house (Sidhwa, 612) And, again the above said character assumes the role of misused lover, and quotes Mir on the same page of the novel Ice-Candy Man (2006), Hai ashiqi ke beech sitam dekhna hi lutf Mar jana ankhe moond ke kuch hunar nahin. ‘Tis nothing to roll up one’s eyes and die. I endure my lover’s tyranny wide-eyed. (Sidhwa, 612) The most prominent feature of these quotes in Alis novel is that these poetic instances are not transcribed but are rather translated. The translation reveals the power of the writer to transport the true meaning of the poet into another language. He has however used some of the words with transcription and some with translation but not without the flavor of the local culture. The words of ‘Dhum’ and ‘Qalandar’ in â€Å"Dhum! Qalandar, God will give, Dhum! Qalandar, God alone†, have been transcribed because of the non-availability of English words for them and also because the words of English language could not have conveyed the true sense of the word. But the remaining portion of the lines has been translated because these words could convey the meaning in the true sense of the word to both the national and the international reader. This is also an attempt to develop such a form of English language for fiction, which may truly depict the local culture, and the English reading community may also understand true 18 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 nature of the local culture. This is a great contribution of the writer that he included the local words and poetic instances to pave a way for the next coming writers of fiction in English language in the Indo-Pak subcontinent. Ali’s audience was both national and international but definitely, the formers were more in number. These translations not only made it easier for the writer to communicate with the local audience but also played a great role in increasing the understanding of the international English speaking people about the local and specific terminology of the social life. Therefore it is an appropriate effort on the part of the writer to develop such a variety and dialect of English language, which could be acceptable to communicate for all the people in India. The use of local poetry makes Twilight in Delhi (1940/2000) a true novel of Indian origin yet in English. Therefore, the local cultural values are embedded in his English language. The use of local poetic instances in his novel in English is one of them. This technique of Ali benefited the rulers as well. The English rulers were in need of some type of cultural understanding so that they may make their rule more effective and objective oriented. Without a deep understanding of local culture the British would annoy their subjects more and would make their rule less effective. The novel of Ali also served the purpose of making the cultural acquaintance more visibly available to the British. It was a very positive effort of the writer of Twilight in Delhi (1940/2000) to make the ruler and the ruled better acquainted with each other to achieve a better standard of life. He did this effort through fiction. Fiction therefore worked in his hands like an instrument to develop good approach through the better understanding of the local culture which has been developed by the writer through the use of Urdu poetry, words, and idioms in his novel. While he was doing so he developed a more suitable way of expression in English in the British occupied India. Ali wanted to convey the reality of the sufferings of the people in India under the British rule. This aspect of his fiction created difficulties for Ali. Ali’s novel was not published for a long time because the publishers in England thought that it could go against the British Government in India as the novel had portrayed quite truly an account of the sufferings of the Indian people under the British rule at that time. How the ex-ruling class of Mughals was made to suffer along with the general public because of the British policies, has been very truly depicted by the author. The use of Urdu poetry of the Indian culture has facilitated this task of the writer to demonstrate the lives of the India Muslims and Hindus in the true sense of the words, especially that of the Muslims. Indian Writing Style The idea behind the use of Urdu poetry by Ali was that the character and his feelings are well understood by the national and transnational reader. We do understand the meanings because he has incorporated the poetic instances well into the context of the story. The sense of romance in some of the lines is in accordance with the local cultural norms and the sensibilities; absolutely free of any nudeness or ridiculousness in these lines. Rather the lines have offered a good presentation of the local mindset and effects of literature, especially that of poetry, on it. The English and Indian readers both were able to enjoy and understand the real spirit behind the story of the novel. 19 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 We may also say that the efforts of Ali have played a big role in devising the writing style of English language for a representative novel of the Indo-Pak subcontinent so that it could be acceptable to the Urdu as well as English reader. Ali did this by mixing of Urdu poetry in English or by translating it in to English. Ali is one of the few writers who wrote in an age when British were the rulers. It was therefore difficult to use English language to express Indian sensibilities. But the writers like Ali proved that the South Asian writers could write in a language that was not their own and yet had become theirs. It is therefore a great contribution of Ali that he developed a new style of English language which was reflective of the local culture and yet was not so alien to the Indian as well as his British audience. Although Ali was deeply influenced by the British language and culture yet in his writing English language does not replace the local idiom altogether. His novel and its narrative is a clear proof of the way he mixed up the local idiom with the English language to develop a creative medium, which could serve both the Indian and the British audience. The result is the production of rather stylized, flowery sentences. The linguistic strategy along with his attempts to overcome problems of artifice through which he was able to transpose his culture into the language of another was not only an innovation but also a courageous act which has been widely appreciated by the contemporary critics and writers of English fiction. By doing so Ali became an important forefather of modern South Asian English writers, who have continued to employ this style and to explore new linguistic strategies. The writer has not let the poetic effects drop anywhere for which he has taken care of the rhyme and length of the lines also. Works Cited Ali, Ahmed. Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. 26 November 2007. 8 December 2007. lt; http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ahmed Aligt; Ali, Ahmed. (2000). Twilight in Delhi. Karachi: Shahkar, Askri, Mummad Hassan. A Novel by Ahmed Ali. (Trans. Carlo Coppola) Annual of Urdu Studies. 10 December 2007. www. urdustudies. com/pdf/09/08conversation. pdf Baumgardner, Robert J. (2000) Editor. The English Language in Pakistan. Islamabad: National Book Foundation,. Kousar, Naheed Dr. (1993) URDU SHAIRY KA IRTAQA. (Evolution of Urdu Poetry). Lahore: Zafar Printers, Niazi, Sarfaraz K. A Brief History of Urdu Poetry. Niazi. com. 2/18/2008 http://niazi. com/Neurons/a_brief_history_of_urdu_poetry. htm Rehman, Tariq. (1991). A History of Pakistani Literature in English. Lahore: Vanguard. Shamsie, Muneeza. (1998) A Dragonfly in the Sun. Karachi: OUP. 20 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com INTJR-Lit-1-2-June 2012-Ahmed 2012 -. Independent scholar. Ahmed Ali. The Literary Encyclopedia. May. 2002. The Literary Dictionary Company. 8 December 2007. Sidhwa, Bapsi. (2006) Ice-Candy-Man: The Bapsi Sidhwa Omnibus. Islamabad: OUP, Walder, Dennis. (2005) Post Colonial Literature in English: History Language Theory. New Dehli: Blackwell. Author/s Dr. Zia Ahmed is Assistant Professor of English at Government College Mailsi. He is also associated with Distance Learning Program of Departme nt of English, Bahauddin Zikriya University, Multan, Pakistan. 21 International Journal of Research in Literature ISSN 2227-1767 (Online) ISSN 2227-1678 (Print) www. intjr. com

TEST 1 WORLD SOCIETIES Example For Students

TEST 1 WORLD SOCIETIES What was the main usefulness of the lateen sail? It maximized use of monsoon trade winds. The magnetic needle compass was so important because it allowed navigators to: sail under cloudy skies on the open seas. What led to the growth of Melaka as a cosmopolitan entrepà ´t? Its strategic location between the Indian Ocean and South China Sea Which of the following is a reason for the success of Islamic trading firms in the Mediterranean? They benefitted from a legal system that promoted a favorable business environment. Which of the following accurately describes commerce in Song ports? State officials registered, examined, and taxed cargo on ships. Which of the following accurately reflects slavery in Islamic society between 1000 and 1300 CE? Slaves served as seafarers, soldiers, domestics, and plantation workers Which of the following reflects the attitude exhibited by Muslim rulers toward Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians, as long as they accepted Islams political rule? Non-Muslims were free to choose their own religious leaders and settle internal disputes. In the Islamic world circa 1300 CE, which of the following provided unity? The Sufi movement offered a unifying force within Islam, despite disapproval from the clerics. Which of the following shows the impact of Ibn Rushds work outside of the Muslim world? He wrote the Shah Nama, which influenced Chinese literature. Which of the following contributed to the Sufis success in spreading Islam to common people? Living in communal brotherhoods and the emotional accessibility of their mystical practices Which of the following explains the success enjoyed by Turkish warlords in conquering sections of South Asia? They introduced their own culture while accepting local practices such as the varna system. Which of the following was the most successful Islamic state in India during the thirteenth century? The Delhi Sultanate Which of the following exemplifies the cultural diversity and blending that took place in the Delhi Sultanate? Multiple languages flourished, including Turkic, Persian, and many local Indian languges. Turkic rulers in India hastened the absorption of Buddhism into Hinduism by which of the following actions? Depriving Buddhism of local spiritual leaders by destroying large monasteries The Song dynasty was unable to completely secure its reign because: the Song were unable to contain the northern nomadic tribes Which of the following made Song iron production in the eleventh century equal to that of Europe in the eighteenth century? Using piston-driven bellows Which of the following was an effect of the Song economys rapid expansion? The supply of metal currency could not meet the demand for it, leading to the creation of paper money. How did Some Emperors lessen the power of the hereditary aristocracy? They increased the number and power of scholar officials in the government bureaucracy. Which one of the following accurately characterizes the Song dynastys power? The Song were relatively weak militarily, despite some of their technological advantages. Between 1000 and 1300, which of the following accurately describes Japans leaders outside of Heian? They began to distance themselves from Chinese influence concerning political and social authority. By the early 1300s, which of the following new social groups supported regional nobles in their competition for political and cultural power with the emperor in Heian? Ambitious samurai What led to a fusion of religious and cultural influences in Southeast Asia? The Malay Peninsula was home to many entrepà ´ts for a variety of merchants shuttling between India and China. What helped crystallize Chinese cultural identity during the Song dynasty? A print culture established classical Chinese as the common language among educated classes in East Asia. Which of the following was the most important political and social change after the Carolingian Empire collapsed? The class of knights subjugated previously free peasants, leading to serfdom in much of western Europe. Why did the rulers of Kievan Russia reject western European religious and political models? Orthodox Christianity spread to Kiev from Constantinople, and Russian trade ties were to the south and east. In what ways was Christian Europe changing during the period from 1000 to 1300 CE? New religious orders and universities arose, and the number of parish churches increased. Which of the following accurately describes Francis of Assisi and his followers? They preached that European believers should weep, confess their sins to their local priest, and strive to become better Christians. Which of the following accurately reflects the thought of Thomas Aquinas? He attempted to prove that Christianity was the only religion that fully met the aspirations of all rational human beings. Which of the following best summarizes the effect of the Crusades on the Southwest Asia? Muslim feelings hardened against the Franks and the millions of Christians who had previously lived peacefully in Egypt and Syria. Which of the following is one of the elements vital to the creation of Europes Christian identity? The emergence of universities and a class of intellectuals associated with them Why were the Spanish conquest of Toledo and the expulsion of Muslim forces from Sicily said to be more important than the Crusades? These campaigns marked turning points in relations between Christian and Muslim power in the Mediterranean. What was the predominant form of social organization in the tropical rain forests of western and central Africa? Small-scale farming societies led by local councils What allowed the Mande-speaking peoples to become the primary agents for social and economic integration within West Africa? Their political organization and expertise in commerce What was an effect of Mansa Musas hajj on the Muslim world? It demonstrated that West Africa was no longer on the isolated periphery of Muslim lands. Which of the following describes the importance of Timbuktu in the fourteenth century? It was a commercial center in West Africa that was an intellectual center for Muslim scholars. Which of the following were the most valued commodities shipped from the East African coast? Slaves and gold Which of the following is an accurate description of the Chimà º Empires growth in South America? It expanded across numerous ecological zones from pastoral highlands to fishing grounds on the Pacific Coast. Which of the following is a similarity between the Chimà º and the Han and Sui Empires? The bureaucracy oversaw the construction and maintenance of irrigation canals. Which of the following accurately describes the Toltecs of Mesoamerica? They rose to power rapidly because they filled the void left by the decline of the city of Teotihuacà ¡n. Which of the following is a similarity between Chan Chan, Tula, and Cahokia? All three were the hubs of major regional trading networks. Which of the following correctly characterizes the Cahokians? The Cahokians built, without draft animals or the use of the wheel, large earthen mounds for use in religious ceremonies. Which of the following constitutes a reason for the beginning of the Mongol invasions under Chinggis Khan? The need to find new grazing land for their herds, which were growing too quickly for available resources What was one of the reasons for the Mongols success in conquering and governing extensive realms? They incorporated some of the ways and technology of conquered people. In contrast to Kublai Khans actions when he captured Hangzhou, what were Hulagus actions after he captured Baghdad? He permitted his troops to savagely slaughter the citys population. What environmental change is credited with forcing pastoral peoples and plague-bearing rodents into closer contact with settled agricultural villages? Drought in the central Asian steppe borderlands South Asia was less severely affected by the Black Death than were settlements along the Silk Road and Mediterranean Sea because: South Asian societies had escaped the Mongol conquest and were not directly linked to Mongol-controlled trade routes. Which of the following is the best description of the economic impact of the Black Death on Afro-Eurasia? The deaths of many farmers led to food shortages, which in turn led to rapidly rising prices, work stoppages, and unrest. Populations in both China and Western Europe succumbed to the plague in large numbers because both had: suffered from years of famine and food shortages that had weakened the populations. In order to reestablish political order following the crises of the fourteenth century, many dynastic rulers: fostered beliefs and rituals that confirmed their legitimacy, such as stating that their power had a divine source. Which of the following statements best explains the impact of the Black Death on the influence of the Christian church in Western Europe? The Black Death unleashed a wave of popular hostility toward the church. Which of the following was the most important factor in the rise of the Ottoman Empire? Mongol forays into Anatolia destabilized the region The Ottoman Empire conquered and absorbed much of what Christian power? The Byzantine Empire To consolidate rule over their conquered empire, the Ottoman sultans: adopted Byzantine administrative practices while maintaining devotion to Islam. Seeing themselves as the shadow of God on earth, Ottoman sultans: funded construction of elaborate mosques. Which of the following statements best describes the Ottoman rulers stance toward regional differences within their territory? They were flexible and tolerant. The janissaries: maintained steadfast loyalty to the sultan and limited the autonomy of provincial rulers What was the Western European Christian churchs response to challenges to its authority following the plague? The church demanded strict obedience and persecuted those who questioned its doctrines. In the fourteenth century, political stabilization in southern Europe was aided by: economic growth through sea trade with southwest Asia. Throughout the fourteenth century, Portuguese Christian rulers attempted to consolidate power by: devoting themselves to fighting the Moors. The Portuguese monarchs successfully consolidated their political power by: granting Atlantic islands to nobles as lucrative hereditary possessions, ensuring the political loyalty of noble families and merchants. In Spain, a strong dynasty was created primarily through: marriage. Which of the following was a major milestone in the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain? The last Muslim stronghold in Spain—Granada—fell to Christian forces. In the late fifteenth century, Ferdinand and Isabella reacted to the Ottoman expansion by: using the Inquisition to create a more homogeneous state. Why did Europeans turn for inspiration to the art and learning of classical Greece and Rome as they rebuilt society after the devastation of the plague? Renaissance humanism provided more scope for secular individuals to act in an expanding world. Identify the primary reason that Renaissance culture spread throughout Europe by the late sixteenth century: economic prosperity and competition between political and religious leaders. Which of the following was a major consequence of the Renaissance? A network of independent, educated people who were not totally reliant on either the state or the church. In The Prince, Niccolà ² Machiavelli argued that: the prince should rule based on the principles of modern statecraft instead of moral or religious The group that eventually drove the Mongols out of China was known as: . the Red Turbans. Which of the following statements best describes the early Ming dynasty? It had to rebuild a devastated society from the ground up after Mongol rule and plague. To project imperial power and grandeur, the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty: constructed the Forbidden City. Ming rulers strengthened their role in traditional rites and ceremonies to: show that the gods favored the Ming. Emperor Hongwu, because he distrusted state bureaucrats and wished to be seen as the guardian of his subjects, entrusted management of the rural regions to local leaders. Ming officials, in contrast to rulers in Portugal and Spain, viewed maritime expansion as: a potential source of disorder and instability. In what way was the effect of the Forbidden City on the populace similar to that of Topkapi palace? Both projected a sense of awe and power. The main goal of Zheng Hes voyages was to: reestablish trade and collect tribute. As a result of the Ming dynastys abandoning support for oceanic exploration: Chinese maritime power declined and opened the way for newcomers and rivals in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. Which of the following did the rulers of Ming China, the Ottoman Empire, and Western Europe use to unify their expanded territories? Artists and architects, who projected the rulers grandeur and power Which of the following was a major difference between the rulers of Spain and Portugal and the Ottomans? The Spanish and Portuguese rulers expelled or forced the conversion of members of other religions; the Ottomans permitted those with diverse religious beliefs to remain in their territories. . Following the crises of the fourteenth century, which of the following was the most resistant to change? Religious and cultural systems Which of the following factors led to Chinas economic expansion in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries? Thriving and elaborate internal trade networks Why were the Portuguese and other Europeans motivated to find new routes to Asia? They were responding to the conquest of Constantinople and the rise of Ottoman power in the Mediterranean. Why was Chinas demand for silver so high during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries? Silver was used to pay taxes and as money in internal markets. After 1570, why was Japan supplanted as the primary source of silver for China? The Spanish took control of the Philippines and used it as a conduit for silver from their colonies in the Americas. What actions did Ottoman officials take to assist the caravan trade transporting goods from China to the Ottoman heartland? Officials established caravan series for travelers refreshment and protection. What led Portuguese traders to explore the coast of Africa in the mid-sixteenth century? Golds value rose dramatically during and after the Black Death, and the Portuguese believed that Africa was a source of precious metals. Which of the following attributes made the caravel useful in exploring African coasts? The caravel was a method of finding longitude, which allowed Portuguese mariners to locate themselves out of sight of land. From where did the Europeans get the model of sugar cane production used in their American colonies? West Africa What was Portugals primary goal in the Indian Ocean trade? To take over the trade or tax local merchants Which of the following best explains why the Portuguese dominated the Indian Ocean sea lanes in the early sixteenth century? The Portuguese mounted small cannons on their vessels to bombard ports and rival ships. Which of the following accurately describes Columbuss first impression of the Taino people? He believed that they were childlike primitives. Which of the following are reasons that Taino peoples were initially repulsed by Europeans? Europeans hairiness and bad manners What was the benefit to the Spanish crown of an encomienda? The crown received special taxes on the extraction of precious metals from the encomenderos. Which of the following was essential to the Aztec states legitimacy? Kinship and clan networks In the early sixteenth century, which of the following contributed to the Aztecs constant warfare? The Aztecs believed that the gods required human hearts and blood, leading to the sacrifice of thousands of war captives. Which of the following was the determinative factor in the Spaniards conquest of the Aztecs? Smallpox spread rapidly among the Aztec warriors and elites. Which of the following allowed the Spanish to defeat both the Aztec and Inca Empires? Both empires suffered from internal weakness and divisions that were exploited by the Spanish. The establishment of colonies in the Americas in the sixteenth century provided Europeans with which of the following advantages in global trade? European products that were not esteemed in Afro-Eurasia could be sold in the Americas. The Columbian Exchange led to which of the following? Corn (maize) replaced some traditional crops in China and Africa. What percent of the Amerindian population was killed by Afro-Eurasian diseases during the sixteenth century? 90 percent Which of the following characterized Spanish tributary empires? The Spanish controlled territory but worked to extract wealth without extensive settlement of Iberian immigrants. Which areas of the Americas produced the bulk of the silver that fueled global commerce in the sixteenth century? Mesoamerica and the Andes What was Europes main contribution to the Atlantic system? Military technology What was the primary reason for the rapid increase in the importation of Africans in sixteenth-century Brazil and the Caribbean? Africans were used as labor for sugar plantations. Why was it necessary to continue to import large numbers of African slaves to replenish labor on sugar plantations? Most of the slaves were men, who suffered high mortality rates due to overwork and poor conditions. Which of the following sparked Martin Luthers challenge to the Catholic Church? Luther was disgusted with corrupt church practices such as the selling of indulgences. Which of the following beliefs was shared by Luther and Calvin? The belief that the source of religious knowledge lay in the scriptures The Protestant Reformation encouraged the growth of nationalism in Europe by encouraging people to: identify their religion with their local state and language. In the Council of Trent, the Catholic Church responded to the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation in which of the following ways? The Church sought to reform clerical corruption. What circumstance permitted the English and Dutch to expand their trade in Asia and the Americas? They took advantage of Spains bankruptcy caused by religious and dynastic wars. Which of the following was a way in which the spread of Protestant beliefs contributed to protracted warfare in Europe between the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries? Some Protestants requested support from the Ottoman Turks, asking them to attack the eastern sections of the Holy Roman Empire. In what way was the rule of the Mughals under Akbar different from that of contemporary European monarchs? Akbar encouraged discussion between members of different religions instead of attempting to force religious conformity. During the sixteenth century, to what use did Mughals put their increased global and local commerce? They used the resources to glorify their courts architecture and art. Which of the following accurately describes a change in Chinas economy during the Ming dynasty? Silver money replaced barter in Chinas internal markets. In Ming China, where did women find the greatest opportunities to obtain wealth and influence? As wives or concubines in the Forbidden City What was a similarity between the Ming and the Mughal dynasties? Both were able to limit European traders to port cities. Which of the following characterized the Portuguese presence in sixteenth-century Macao? The Portuguese used Macao as an entry into the lucrative import-export trade with China. In what way did the Spanish capture of Manila in 1571 inaugurate the first worldwide trade circuit? Manila gave the Spanish a base to trade silver from the Americas to China, and then Chinese goods to Europe. What advantage was provided by the English East India Companys royal charter? It gave exclusive rights to import East Indian goods into England. During the sixteenth century, what impact did the European presence in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea have on Asian dynasties? The European presence enhanced Asian rulers wealth and might.

Free Essays on Chaucers Canterbury Tales

and an Anglo-Saxon grit in their middles. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales was banned for decades from the U.S. mails under the Comstock Law of 1873. Officially known as the Federal Anti-Obscenity Act, this law banned the mailing of "lewd", "indecent", "filthy", or "obscene" materials. The Comstock Law, passed in the United States in 1873, was part of a campaign for legislating public morality in the United States. As its full title above implies, ... Free Essays on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales Free Essays on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales The book that I choose to do that was banned was Chaucer’s, Canterbury Tales. Chaucer’s, the Canterbury Tales (written in the late 1380s), is a collection of stories of various kinds derived mainly from Italian and other European sources drawn together by the notion of a pilgrimage. In the Middle Ages it was not uncommon for people of different social classes to join together as pilgrims as they would not elsewhere in life. So we hear firstly the narrator’s description of most of the group in a satirical and often extremely amusing manner, in the General Prologue. Secondly we hear pilgrims tell stories to each other in an appropriate style for their characters after they have offered their own unique prologues (the Wife of Bath’s is particularly interesting and shows an almost proto-feminist attitude). Usually the tales are popular or well known stories to which Chaucer adds or removes details to suit his purpose. There is a great mixture of serious and co mical, sacred and profane here though it should be noted that the writer added a retraction at the end of his (in fact incomplete) Tales to reduce the chance of vengeance from God. This seems wise after the images of hot pokers going where hot pokers should certainly not go and other lewdness in "The Miller’s Tale" and elsewhere. The language is very different to our own in the sense that it has more French roots that English has now lost so it is advisable to think of the lines as being spoken with a French accent at the end of words and an Anglo-Saxon grit in their middles. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales was banned for decades from the U.S. mails under the Comstock Law of 1873. Officially known as the Federal Anti-Obscenity Act, this law banned the mailing of "lewd", "indecent", "filthy", or "obscene" materials. The Comstock Law, passed in the United States in 1873, was part of a campaign for legislating public morality in the United States. As its full title above implies, ...

Reporting on Meetings and Conferences in Journalism

Reporting on Meetings and Conferences in Journalism So you’re writing a news story that covers a meeting- maybe a  school board hearing or town hall- for the first time, and aren’t sure where to start as far as the reporting is concerned. Here are some tips to make the process easier.​ Get the Agenda Get a copy of the meeting’s agenda ahead of time. You can usually do this by calling or visiting your local town hall or school board office, or by checking their website. Knowing what they plan to discuss is always better than walking into the meeting cold.​ Pre-Meeting Reporting Once you’ve got the agenda, do a little reporting even before the meeting. Find out about the issues they plan to discuss. You can check the website of your local paper to see if they’ve written about any of the issues coming up, or even call members of the council or board and interview them.​ Find Your Focus Pick a few key issues on the agenda that you will focus on. Look for the issues that are the most newsworthy, controversial or interesting. If you’re not sure what’s newsworthy, ask yourself: which of the issues on the agenda will affect the most people in the community? Chances are, the more people affected by an issue, the more newsworthy it is. For example, if the school board is about to raise property taxes 3 percent, that’s an issue that will affect every homeowner in your town. Newsworthy? Absolutely. Likewise, is the board is debating whether to ban some books from school libraries after being pressured by religious groups, that’s bound to be controversial and newsworthy. On the other hand, if the town council is voting on whether to raise the town clerk’s salary by $2,000, is that newsworthy? Probably not, unless the town’s budget has been slashed so much that pay raises for town officials have become controversial. The only person really affected here is the town clerk, so your readership for that item would probably be an audience of one.​ Report, Report, Report Once the meeting’s underway, be absolutely thorough in your reporting. Obviously, you need to take good notes during the meeting, but that’s not enough. When the meeting has ended, your reporting has just begun. Interview members of the council or board after the meeting for any additional quotes or information you might need, and if the meeting involved soliciting comments from local residents, interview some of them as well. If an issue of some controversy came up, be sure to interview people on both sides of the fence as far as that issue is concerned.​ Get Phone Numbers Get phone numbers and email addresses- and, depending on your style guide, home towns and ages- for everyone you interview. Virtually every reporter who’s ever covered a meeting has had the experience of getting back to the office to write, only to discover there’s another question they need to ask. Having those numbers on hand is invaluable.​ Understand What Happened Remember, to produce solid meeting stories, never leave a meeting without understanding exactly what happened. The goal of your reporting is to understand what exactly happened at the meeting. Too often, beginner reporters will cover a town hall hearing or school board meeting, dutifully taking notes throughout. But in the end, they leave the building without really understanding what they’ve just seen. When they try to write a story, they can’t. You can’t write about something you don’t understand.

Computer Software Taxation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Computer Software Taxation - Essay Example As a preliminary matter, it must be noted that attempts to tax computer software have long been particularly troublesome. How a taxing authority decides to classify sales transactions involving computer software determines whether it will be subjected to sales/use tax or treated as exempt. It is here that, in attempting to classify computer software, a number of state authorities and judicial bodies have struggled to forge a uniform approach. Uniformity and consistency, to be certain, have proven elusive ideals. This essay will examine the sales/use tax implications for transfers of computer software, particularly to the electronic delivery of computer software, in an effort to demonstrate how more consistency and uniformity might be brought to the issue. In order to understand how electronic delivery has become an interesting issue, however, it is first important to understand how and why the electronic delivery of computer software has become a viable option for avoiding the imposition of sales tax in some jurisdictions. States began to implement sales/use tax schemes beginning in the 1930s in an effort to raise revenues (Morse, 1997). These taxes were levied on retail sales made within the states, they developed into a primary source of revenue for the states, and the mobility of the internet and computer software has since then made many states quite eager to apply their sales taxes to this burgeoning area of commerce. A sales tax is designed to impose an excise tax for retail transactions within a state whereas the use tax is designed to impose an excise tax for goods purchased outside of a state but subsequently used or maintained within the state. The taxes in this way are complementary. That states became extraordinarily interested in imposing sales taxes on an emerging industry is hardly surprising. What is surprising, on the other hand, is the tremendous conflict generated by attempts to tax transactions involving computer software. Legislation and regulations were rushed through; frequent m odifications were required because the implications of certain policies, both legally and economically, were not well-considered in advance. In many respects, the relationship between sales taxes and sales of computer software has been messy at best, and nearly incomprehensible at times. In Ohio, a sales tax was enacted in 1934. As noted by a leading tax practitioner, When Ohio sales tax was first imposed, and for many years thereafter, the taxes applied to all sales of tangible personal property unless otherwise exempt. This prompted many disputes over the nature of the transaction: tangible personal property, real property or a service. The latter two were not listed as potentially taxable sales. Historically, the exclusion from personal, professional and insurance services has been provided in R.C. 5739.01(B) (last para.). Judicial tests developed to help taxpayers make meaningful distinctions among the various types of transactions (tangible personal property vs. real property vs. services) for sales tax purposes (Ehler, 2007: 1). Nearly every state,

Individual Differences (psychology) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual Differences (psychology) - Essay Example It is fair to say that the Renaissance was a crucial period in the advancement of robust theories pertaining to individual differences among humans. At the outset, it is important to note that human behaviour and personality is much more difficult to understand than that of animals. And more than any other species, human behaviour is subject to interpretation and conjecture, not always leading to easy inferences. Studying individual differences is further thwarted by the fact that human behaviour is an emergent reality and not a fixed one. As our species is provided with an ever increasing repository of knowledge, its behaviour too simultaneously evolves to fit the new reality. Hence, Wilsons following observation is pivotal to understanding differences among humans: â€Å"Today, the greatest divide within humanity is not between races, or religions, or even, as widely believed between literate and illiterate. It is the chasm that separates scientific from pre-scientific cultures....Without the instruments and accumulated knowledge of the natural sciences--physics, chemistry, and biology--humans are trapped in a cognitive prison. They invent ingenious speculations and myths about the origin of the confining waters, of the sun and the sky and the stars above, and the meaning of their own existence. But they are wrong, always wrong, because the world is too remote from ordinary experience to be merely imagined." (Lubinski, 2000) A proven theoretical framework of analysing individual differences is the one based on evolutionary biology. Within this broad framework is the specialized study of human infant intelligence. Since the nature of early intelligence is nonverbal, it is closely linked to primate evolution, and hence helps us gain insights into the origins of individual differences in human intelligence. Within the ontogeny of infant intelligence, variation between individuals is restricted by

Keeping kosher in a contemporary world Essay Example for Free

Keeping kosher in a contemporary world Essay Every religion found under the face of the earth where human beings live has its practical dimension. This is allowed because this practical dimension of a religion majority defines this religion, providing a bit of uniqueness hence distinguishing this religion from others. One of the aspects found in the practical dimension is the diet. Some religious like Judaism have dietary laws that govern consumption of nutrients of human that happen to be embraces of the religion. Kosher if viewed as a dietary practice of the Judaism religion, this is the proper choices and preparation of foods as pertains to the ancient Jewish ritual and dietary regulations. Kosher is food that is conformed to strictly-stated Jewish biblical laws which involve not only to the variety of food consumed but to the types of food that combinable at a single meal (e. g. daily and meat products re not miscible) alternatively, it would be rightly noted that Kesher is food that would be considered fit for consumption as pertains to the biblical and rabbinic dietary regulations which are electively known as Kashnet (Shternshis, Anna, 2006). Kosher has its origin traced back during exodus of the Jews from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. Kosher, a basic content requirement in traced bank during exodus of the Jews from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. Kosher, a basic content requirement in kashnut is among the laws derived from the torah books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus with their details given in the oral law. The reason for adoption of such a king of regulation s not clearly stated in the torah and therefore there are various reasons sourced from different perspectives. These perspectives range from ritualistic and philosophical to practical and hygienic. Religions like Islam also have different but related systems like herbal. Kosher food, having firm principles and requirements depicting the value and worth of being properly preserved to be passed even form one generation to the other, has great attraction to many people. Whether a conservative Jew or a reformed Jew there is an utter need and essence to main kosher as a dietary precise. It should be strictly adhered to on the basis that it’s a mater of religious obligation though modernly, this is no longer binding. The contemporary Jews have portrayed a different way of observance to dietary practices as pertains to keshnut. However, these contemporary folds of Jews maintain and follow some sections of the laws. Some subset of laws maintained by this folk are: abstinence from pork/shellfish, avoiding taking milk with meat as a dish. Likewise many observe some bit of kashnut on kosher at have whole no objections taking meals in a restaurant that does not observe kosher values. Another group of these contemporary Jews will strictly adhere to these dietary laws when eating out yet when at home. They would observe none On the perseverance of the kosher, the Jewish family who the examinant members are embracing the utterly adhering to the judicial religion is divided into two major groups. These groups all agree and admit the fact that kosher should be kept alive and burning in their culture and day to day religious norms. However the conflict arises whereby one group believes that kosher should be kelp just as it is, a whole of it and continue in practices. While the other group feels kosher should only be kept considering some specific aspects. The traditional learning function that really advocates for the perseverance and observance of the utter kosher practices does so with their main reasons being: the desire to absolutely maintain this dietary practice in an authentic way with no modernizations whatsoever. Subsequently the faction advocating for the perseverance of particular parts of base their view on an opinion that there are various technological advancements hence some parts of this practice and food are made in these newly introduced and adopted forms. This faction argues that observance of kosher should be done in a non-binding way. This faction argues that observance of kosher should be done in non-binding way. This wing introduces ethical kosher as it is even patched in different part of the world. The faction therefore embraces as opinion that fitness of food is wholly dependent on how it is ethically; produced especially in relation to its impact on the people and the world as a whole. This faction is for the view that maintenance of kosher is basically for the companion and contrast to other cultures on dietary basis.

Hardy :: essays papers

Hardy A Question On Hardy: Where Did His Writings Come From Born into an agricultural community and untouched by industrialism, Thomas Hardy’s pessimism and determinism is what made his themes and styles stand out from other contemporary writers. According to Zabel, Schopenhaur inspired his pessimistic nature. Because of Schopenhaur’s influence, pessimism was the primary view of his writings. Zabel had also stated the driving force behind his works was majority influenced by Spinoza and his determinism. Hardy’s determinism is what made him categorize his characters and give a definitive plot to his works.(26) Thomas Hardy’s talent for writing and his offensive nature are what made him unique for his contemporary moment. He derived his thoughts from the unknown depths of his mind. Thomas Hardy’s writes always reflected his feeling at that moment in time. Whenever someone offered criticism on his work or gave a skeptical remark towards his work, he would somehow include them in whatever he was busy writing. Hardy’s ideal reflected his pessimistic way of being. According to Zabel Hardy’s temperament came from: â€Å"Conformist and skeptical tendencies; in his humanism of stoic acquiescence with gifted, Rebellious, or destructive aberrations from the human norm as against his sympathy with the rudimentary types and stable humors of the folk.† This affirms his belief in herd mentality being absolutely ridiculous. He insisted that an intellectual should have his own individualism and should be self-productive. Hardy tends to attack the public’s normality, usually laughing at their lack of character. His pessimistic nature is what shaped his humanistic views. His confidence and modest temper never suffered Schopenhaur’s exuberance. To challenge Hardy’s critics, he used them as characters with a permanent downfall. Hardy wrote with trial and error impressions. A trial and error impression is one where it is harder to find the true meaning behind the mask that Hardy puts over it. Hardy deliberately made his stories uncomprehendable to first time readers, â€Å"on first reading at least, nettles the sympathy, offers stumbling-blocks to attention, and is likely to make the suspension of disbelief a resentful ordeal.

Responding To The Wii Essay

Executive summary: Given the current market scenario, Sony will have to fight on both fronts. The Wii has unlocked a new segment of the market. Sony should adapt its strategy to address this new market. But Sony must not lose sight of the big picture, to win the long term race for the â€Å"center of the living room†. Sony should leverage its relation with game developers to introduce simpler games for the casual gamer. It has to keep targeting the hardcore gamer and it must continue to provide additional value as a single device for gaming, streaming movies and television, internet surfing, video conferencing etc. How attractive does the video game industry look in late 2008? By 2008, the industry situation has become intense, with four of Porter’s five forces showing high threat (See Exhibit 1 in Appendix). However, the industry does hold the promise that the winner will occupy the â€Å"center of the living room† position, could potentially create a stranglehold on the entire entertainment industry and could reap profits. Therefore, the stakes in this battle are high. Why did Nintendo delay introducing its 16 bit video game system? Nintendo delayed introducing its 16 bit video game system in order to avoid cannibalizing sales of the 8-bit NES. But competitors came up with new value propositions to take away market share. For example Sega employed the Judo strategy to garner market by introducing its 16-bit version, Genesis, while Nintendo was concentrating on the 8-bit market. Sony, with its PlayStation and PlayStation 2 product lines took this game further. They expanded the target customer base to include grown-ups by creating games fit for all ages and combining forces with game developers. Did Sega use any elements of Judo Strategy? Sega effectively implemented Judo strategy by preventing its strong competitor Nintendo to come at it with full strength. Sega attacked the pieces of the play with various small steps. It started with leveraging the 16-bit opportunity, and setting lower prices for its Genesis to that of Super NES. Then it introduced its popular version of Sonic, the Hedgehog. It also hurt Nintendo by luring in third party developers with its low royalty strategy and built up twice the number of titles Nintendo had. In 3 years  Sega Genesis took over the market. How did PlayStation and PlayStation 2 win in their respective generations? With the industry becoming attractive, Sony entered the market with its 32-bit icon product ‘Play Station’ targeting a larger and mature audience. Sony, contrary to its competitors built up on the outsourcing strategy, by allowing developers more freedom, tools and income. Despite lagging on software titles, it was unstoppable in the hardware segment overpowering Sega. As leader of the industry, Sony launched its Play station 2 at 128-bit gearing up for the next revolution. Why did Microsoft get into the game? With the console games becoming attractive and multi capable compared to PC games, the PC giant Microsoft was concerned if the console platform takes over the PC platform. So it entered the video game console business with Xbox as a bet against Sony’s Play station. It was hoping to become successful in the video game business as it has been in the PC software business. Surprisingly the same recipes didn’t cook well with the developers in this segment and Sony took over the throne by 2005. How was Nintendo able to regain the lead in videogames? With Microsoft and Xbox as strong contenders in the field, Nintendo was gearing up for the launch of its next generation console. While Microsoft was trying to leverage the early release of Xbox 360, Sony was dealing with its internal technicalities. Both the competitors had incorporated superior technological features in to their products. While Xbox had Digital Amplification, Play station had the most powerful console. The technology prowess was so much that the products were HD-DVD and Blu-ray compatible and had online gaming features. On the other hand, Nintendo’s machine was less advanced across all features of processing, compatibility, sound and memory. However, Nintendo could made Wii special with its user friendliness and targeted a larger audience of not avid gamers. Its innovative motion sensitivity and customizable features helped Wii overtake its rivals by 2008. Despite its low performing hardware or performance, it was its reachability to the large customer segment that generated its value proposition. What should Sony do now? Sony should work with game developers to create simple games that target the Wii’s audience. However, Sony’s gaming console should still be high tech to maintain its hold on the hard core gamer. Sony should market the new PlayStation line as a value add product that is the one stop source for the entire family’s entertainment needs. This way, Sony can counter Wii’s threat while also staying in the long term race for the â€Å"center of the living room† position. This position is essential for thwarting Microsoft’s plan of creating a stranglehold on the entire entertainment industry by being the electronic platform of choice in the home.