How Selection On Behavior Shapes Brain Investment - 830 Words

Understanding how selection on behavior shapes brain investment is a major question in the analysis of the evolution of animal sociality [Szathmary and Maynard Smith, 1995; Edelman and Changeux, 2001; Ricklefs, 2004; Gronenberg and Riveros, 2009]. Neural tissue is energetically expensive and therefore brain regions should only enlarge when needed to meet functional demands [Niven and Laughlin, 2008]. The social brain hypothesis posits that social interactions are so cognitively demanding that social environment selects for enhanced neural development [Humphrey, 1976; Dunbar and Shultz, 2007]. Studies supporting the social brain hypothesis usually rely on comparative analyses across taxa with varying levels of social complexity and use†¦show more content†¦To date only two brain investment studies on solitary and facultatively social bees are reported. A study on solitary bees, Osmia lignaria found that adults emerge with neuronal development typical of experienced workers in advanced eusocial insect species, but also found that mushroom body neuropil volume further increased with foraging experience [Withers et al., 2007]. These results confirm that mushroom bodies are important for cognitive processes in solitary antecedents, but cannot inform us on the role of social experience on neuropil investment. Smith et al. [2010] examined brain size and development using the facultatively social bee Megalopta genalis, a species with both solitary and primitively social colonies in the same populations. Mushroom body size increased with foraging behavior in solitary individuals and workers compared to newly emerged M. genalis females, but even greater mushroom body development was found in queens. Smith et al. [2010] attributed enhanced growth of the mushroom body cortex to maintaining behavioral dominance. 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Three Day Road Free Essays

Arthur Joseph Boyden represents Carl Jung’s idea that humans often create a persona in order to be perceived by society in a certain way through the journey of the main character in the novel ‘Three Day Road’. Joseph Boyden illustrates the idea that war may impact someone to become something they initially weren’t. That being said, World War I, Aboriginal sniper Elijah Weesageechak becomes mentally and physically corrupted by the war, which results to his inevitable death. We will write a custom essay sample on Three Day Road or any similar topic only for you Order Now Further more, the loss of identity, his desire to become a war hero, and the use of morphine to escape reality caused Elijah Weesageechak to become a motionless killer. Once Elijah joined the Canadian army, he immediately did what ever he could in order to blend in with the other soldiers. Elijah had initially been able to speak English so he could communicate with the white soldiers, for he was raised by nuns in a residential school. To hide that he was an Aboriginal man, Elijah chose to adopt a British accent and speaking style when among the other soldiers. â€Å"Dear Henry, would you be a kind chap and make me a cup of tea? † (144). Elijah’s decision to not speak Cree when around his peers was his attempt to blend in with the rest of his former soldiers. Ditching his original Cree accent and adopting a British one was Elijah first step to creating his new persona. After Elijah became more familiar with the other soldiers, Corporal Thompson had chosen Elijah to be apart of a night raid. During the raid, Elijah and his best friend Xavier threw mill bombs into a German trench, thus killing the people inside. When Elijah returned to the Canadian trench, Corporal Thompson asked him if he enjoyed the night raid. Elijah responded, â€Å"It’s in my blood† (75). By doing so, Elijah had gone against the traditional Cree ways he was taught by Xavier and Niska. Instead he had modified his persona to embrace war and killing, which contradicts his initial belief before entering the war. That being said, it is quite evident that Elijah had disregarded his Cree traditions so he could become someone who only cared about killing and to fulfil his desired reputation as a deadly sniper. In order for Elijah to prove his killing abilities as a soldier to his peers, he begins to collect the scalps of his killings as trophies. In the novel, Elijah asks, â€Å"And what will collecting these trophies do for me? † â€Å"They will buy you honour among us† Francis says. â€Å"And we are honourable men† (204). Elijah feels as though he has to prove his killing abilities by gathering scalps so he will be accepted and favoured by his fellow soldiers. During Elijah’s quest on becoming a war hero, Elijah begins to enjoy killing and the fame that he receives from it. Elijah feels he must rise at every opportunity in order to impress his peers. An occurrence where Elijah’s persona was shown was when the Germans were retreating from a battle, and Elijah picked a target far off in the distance and shot him. The Canadian soldiers around him cheered and said that they will never see anything like that again. Elijah arrogantly responded: â€Å"Until the next time you are with me in a similar situation† (243). Elijah was unable to stop killing for he had become addicted to the fame he was rewarded with. This is revealed in the novel when Elijah says, â€Å"I’d go mad in a hospital so far away from it all† (150). Elijah’s desire to become a war hero caused him to partake in countless murders in order to impress others. He was able to do so with no emotion through his frequent use of morphine. Elijah used morphine when he participated in raids in order to get a ‘sense’ of his surroundings. Xavier description of Elijah on morphine is explained as: â€Å"But when the golden liquid is in his veins! Even at night the world is bathed in a soft light†¦He can make himself float from his body at will and look down at the world below him† (212). Elijah’s natural talent for hunting combined with his unhealthy use of morphine made him twice as dangerous. Without the morphine in his veins, Elijah became scared of the worlds, which lead him to use it more frequently. As he abused morphine, the real world became distorted. Without fear and pain, war was a game to Elijah. A game he enjoyed and became good at. Through the use of morphine, Elijah lacked an anchor to reality and because of this, killing became mechanical. An example of this is when Elijah and Xavier are on a sniping mission, they mistake a woman for an enemy and Elijah shoots her. Xavier angrily questions Elijah’s reaction to kill the woman. Elijah defends himself by responding with â€Å"I am trained not to hesitate in situations of danger† (306). Elijah’s response was robotic and emotionless. Eventually, Elijah starts to kill Canadian soldiers who get in his way. Xavier realizes Elijah has been completely broken by the war and has to be put down. Xavier is forced to kill his best friend, for the war changed him into a man he no longer knew. World War I was evidently too much for Elijah to handle. In order to fit in with the rest of the soldiers he had to throw away his Aboriginal Cree identity and adopt a British one which eventually lead to Elijah performing actions that went against the Cree traditions. That being said, he began to embrace war and killing in order to impress his fellow soldiers, as his ultimate conquest was to become a war hero. Further more, Elijah’s conscious was too powerful and filled his heart with guilt, which resulted in his use of morphine to conceal his inner emotions. With the aid of drugs, Elijah had become a mechanical killing robot whose thirst for blood was immeasurable. Unfortunately his uncontrollable actions were beginning to cause harm to his fellow peers, which resulted in the decision to kill Elijah to protect the safety of the Canadian soldiers. Finally, Joseph Boyden illustrates the idea that the destruction of war may have an impact on one’s inner self and that fame and acceptance is something one is willing to die for. How to cite Three Day Road, Papers Three Day Road Free Essays string(31) " into a fully fledged windigo\." Wandering Windigo of the Wemistikoshiw The novel Three Day Road can be viewed as an explicit indicator as to the importance of sustaining cultural identity, and the consequences associated with its absence from any aspect of human life. The tale provides a salient setting through which this spiritual malfeasance is brought about, with much of its content consisting of the supremacy of the wemistikoshiw, or white man, over the Aboriginals in World War 1. The novel’s European setting manifests the primary cause for the spiritual bankruptcy of Elijah Weesacheejak, one of the story’s central figures and the novel’s primary thematic microcosm. We will write a custom essay sample on Three Day Road or any similar topic only for you Order Now Influenced deeply by Western ideals, he is said to be a windigo which, as explained by the aboriginal bushmaster, Niska, is characterized by: â€Å"†¦sadness so pure that it [shrivels] the human heart and [lets] something else grow in its place† (Boyden 261). A polar opposite to Elijah, Niska recognizes the necessity of spirituality rooted in tradition, and is able to identify the Windigo as a logical product of wemistikoshiw influence. Her nephew, Xavier, is defiantly against European conformity in much the same way, sacrificing physical well-being for the sake of the Cree culture which he cherishes and to which he hopes to return in the wake of the war. It is clear that each of these three characters is negatively affected by the widespread influence of the whites, albeit to different degrees. Each character’s amount of exposure to wemistikoshiw culture corresponds proportionately to both their bodily state by the novel’s end, and their specific levels of windigo-ism. Joseph Boyden’s Three Day Road illuminates the Windigo’s corruption of identity through the personalities of Xavier, Niska and Elijah via their cultural adherence, contrasting health, and dynamic relationships. Much like two sides of the same coin, Western and Aboriginal societies share a structural essence, but vary wildly in their fundamental ideals and respective emphases. Xavier is aware of this distinction between the two peoples, saying: â€Å"†¦I’m left wondering what connection there might be between their [the European] world and mine† (246), in a manner which would suggest that one must belong to one ‘world’ or another, but never both simultaneously. Xavier chooses to live by Aboriginal tradition, as exemplified through his frequent neglect of wemistikoshiw behaviours. A prevalent literary critic explains the significance of naming in this respect, exclaiming that the: â€Å"†¦various names ssumed by or assigned to Xavier and Elijah signify to what extent their identities are able to transcend or fall victim to [the influence of the West]†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å" (Gordon 7). The only Western name assigned to Xavier is ‘X’ in light of his extraordinary shooting precision (Boyden 109). Despite the name’s positive connotations, Bird discards it, keeping to his original alias, which is bestowed upon him by his cherished Aboriginal friends (360, 363). It is evident, then, that Xavier’s neglect of the wemistikoshiw ways runs deep, and even when facing external, culture-based adversity, becoming an outcast is always a preferable option to abandonment of his tradition. Unlike the other soldiers, Xavier never acquires even the slightest appetite for killing, believing it to be wasteful in the context of war, since there is nothing to be gained but fresh supplies of bloodshed (Bohr). Initially, Xavier is revolted by the sight of death soon after he witnesses it devastate a German, saying, â€Å"The image of the soldier’s head exploding makes may stomach churn† (Boyden 88). In order to remedy this spiritual deficit he associates with letting the lives of other be wasted, Bird turns to prayer, which keeps him centered and stable within the comfort of his cultural roots. Over the entire course of the novel, Xavier never once forgets the importance of his background in regards to his current situation, meaning that he remains metaphysically anchored in spite of his foreign surroundings. Supplementary to Xavier, in terms of spiritual independence, is Niska, whose understanding of the wemistikoshiw transcends that of every other character in the novel, and stems from both her experiential knowledge of Western culture and the windigo. An objectivist to the core, Niska represents an archetype of cultural wisdom, as described by Joseph Boyden: â€Å"I wanted her to be a strong woman who was doing this [being a woman of the bush] despite what everyone says about her and the toughness of her existence†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wylie 229). Niska is exposed to the horrors of the world at an early age, witnessing events such as her father’s murder of one of her fellow Cree gone windigo (Boyden 45). This coupled with her being used sexually by the Frenchman, who claimed to have â€Å"†¦fucked ahcahk, [her] spirit† (174), out of lustful capitalism creates a perfect storm of familiarity with the human condition within her. Niska realizes that the man-made society of the whites further pronounces the flaws of the human spirit, thereby differentiating between her culture and that of the emistikoshiw. She explains this difference early on in the novel, by way of her epileptic visions: â€Å"No one is safe in such times, not even the Cree of the Mushkegowuk. War touches everyone, and windigos spring from the earth† (49). In order to prevent the mingling of Aboriginal and European lifestyles, she completely refuses to submit to the will of the wemistikoshiw, even when forced to live in one of their resi dential schools as a young girl. The bushmaster neglects even menial compulsories, such as hair-cutting, saying, â€Å"They were going to remove the black hair that reached my waist as a symbol of wemistikoshiw authority, of our [the Cree’s] defeat† (93). Coming from a long line of Cree chieftains, Niska not only seeks to avoid the company of windigos, but also is obligated to dispose of them in the best interest of her fellow aboriginals (48). Niska’s comprehension of selfishness’ presence in both the wemistikoshiw and the Windigo contribute to her consequent avoidance of the two, and in turn, her unwavering state of impeccable spiritual stagnancy throughout the novel. Contrarily, Elijah succumbs completely to the culture of the white man, becoming immersed in its ideals and pursuits to the point of morphing into a fully fledged windigo. You read "Three Day Road" in category "Papers" The reason for Weesacheejak’s uprooted spiritual state can be traced back to his upbringing, which consisted of an intensely ambiguous cultural identity. Growing up in residential schools for much of his life, Elijah is brainwashed into thinking of the Aboriginals as a â€Å"†¦backwards people†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (56) by the nuns who live with him. The seeds of European identity clash with those of the Aboriginal culture when he is adopted by Niska, and resultantly, a fragile concept of cultural integrity emerges within him. This identity crisis contributes significantly to his inevitable saturation into the violence of the West, as described by the author Vikki Visvis: â€Å"†¦ Elijah’s perverted determination is primarily the product of the wartime environment, which is an inherently Western endeavor† (273). Elijah learns, very much unhealthily, that identity is malleable, and depends entirely on circumstance rather than individual character. This lack of oneness can be examined easily through his acts in The Great War, which consist of both the impulsive murder and the desecration of his victims (Boyden 310). Elijah’s lack of cultural foundation is responsible for each of these atrocities, and he believes that by committing acts such as scalping those he kills, he is somehow able to absorb a portion of their spirit. Xavier describes Elijah’s carnage as a â€Å"†¦spark which fills his belly when it gnaws for food (200),† thereby pronouncing the young man’s profound emotional imbalances. Elijah’s reliance on the mastery he achieves by ‘owning’ the flesh of his victims is hauntingly reminiscent of the definition of the Windigo, and this is no accident made by Boyden. Despite his inferiority to Xavier in regards to his skills in marksmanship (78), it is he, not his Cree companion who yearns for the blood of his enemies. Such a skewed perspective which testifies to the irrelevant nature of morality can be attributed to the boy’s faithless and marred upbringing. Like a true Windigo, it is Elijah’s lack of cultural backbone which provokes the collapse of his soul, as he contains no trace of the fundamental axioms required in the construction of a spiritually healthy human being. Vividly reflecting the spiritual status of Xavier, Niska and Elijah, is their amount of mental and physical trauma, which is minimized when rooted in a fixed, adaptable personality. Xavier is the prime example of an individual whose disposition itself promotes a fragile psyche, which contains a dangerously low capacity for negative emotions. Caught in the thick of the Great War, there are many instances in the novel which expose Bird’s benevolent personality in order to provide a reason for the corporeal turmoil which he endures. Xavier’s forgiving soul is illustrated multitudinously throughout the novel, emerging most prominently in his taking of Elijah’s namesake after his death, despite the dark circumstances surrounding it (375). Not confined to sorrow based solely on human tragedy, Xavier takes pity on even the lesser forms of life, which are senselessly destroyed as a result of the war. This universal respect for entities is present when he refuses to sweep the swallow’s nest from his cabin window. This defiance initiates his explicit description of Elijah’s carrying out of the terrible deed: Two [birds] are lifeless, killed instantly by the fall. The third raises its featherless head, bewildered, its eyes large and round above its small yellow beak. Its tiny wings beat frantically on the floor, then more slowly. The mother bird cries out. The baby swallow’s lids sink and it ceases to move. I turn my head away from all of them. (Boyden 258) Inherently, Xavier is a character who easily becomes sick with depression due to his compassionate nature, hindering him in certain situations, yet proving to be essential to his maintained Aboriginal perspective as his time spent in the war increases. He deems the west to be a â€Å"strange place where the entire world’s trouble explodes† (22), and it is therefore inevitable that his extensive exposure to the war-torn battlefields of Europe instigates his severe mental strain. Discretely physical, alternatively, is his involuntary ingestion of morphine, which only serves to numb his senses into weakness, threatening his life when he enters withdrawal (289). Despite these eminent dangers to Xavier’s mental and physical state, however, it is his spiritual fortitude which enables both his mind and body to be salvaged by Niska via the matatosowin, or purification ceremony which customarily follows the three day voyage by which a Cree returns to his/her people after a long absence. As explained by Neta Gordon, the event marks a certain: â€Å"†¦constructive deconstruction, and a forward-looking inclination towards healing and hope† (2). Xavier’s symbolic journey represents not the death of his physical body, but the annihilation of the last wemistikoshiw remnant clouding his sanity – his addiction to morphine. In spite of the wide variety of factors hindering Xavier’s will to survive, he is able to outlive his anarchic environment by accessing his actively ethical and tempered personality. Niska is very similar to her nephew in this respect, withstanding an onslaught of traumatizing circumstances back in Canada which test her bodily and cranial stature. Unlike Xavier, however, she is adept in her esoteric self-sufficiency (35), being able to distract her corporeal self from pending danger by actualizing her love of anecdotes. The primary medium she accomplishes this through is her participation in speech craft, which she uses to listen to and project tribal stories as a means of satiating her spiritual hunger (Bohr). A consistent theme embedded within the novel is Niska’s own retelling of her life to Xavier, as embodied by a quote: â€Å"Words are all I have now. I’ve lived alone so long that I’m [Niska] starved to talk† (89). Even earlier in her life than Xavier, the Cree woman develops the aptitude for developing a thick skin via the harnessing emotions such as heartbreak for conversion to wisdom. Her exposure to the Frenchman is notable in this regard. It serves Niska as an impetus through which she begins to develop a mature, progressive outlook on life. Reminiscing about this boost to her spiritual immune system, she says, â€Å"I was young, and the emotions of the young are as strong a pull as the arctic tides that suck fishermen’s canoes out into the bay to be lost forever† (165). In this way, she is able to look back on the event of the European’s quick departure after their first sexual encounter, and understand its arrogant, chauvinistic connotations (135). Upon adaptation to her current situation, she achieves a level of spiritual purity mutual to that of Xavier. With this in mind, it is only through the undamaged will of both Niska and Xavier that he is cleansed of the complete collapse of self which foreruns death (379), and partakes in the â€Å"physical necessity† (Gordon 4) which allows him to survive the ordeal. Were it not for the complimentary moral steadfastness of these two characters, each would have been subjected to profound devastation, with one of them perishing, only to leave the other in a state of mourning over the severing of her last, greatest familial connection. Such an anchored identity is devoid in Elijah’s life, however, as exemplified through his deteriorating eupepsia, which reaches its apex at his demise. At the heart of Elijah’s ambiguous, conditional personality is his unending thirst for exhilaration as a form of immediate gratification. Saturated by the empiricism of the residential schools, which deny the existence of all aboriginal deities, Elijah thrives on the seemingly transcendent feeling of adrenaline coursing through his veins. When Xavier ponders the spreading of a forest fire into the town they reside in before the war, Elijah responds with: â€Å"Can you imagine anything more glorious? † (Boyden 142), thereby manifesting his twisted disposition towards fear, while also foreshadowing his eventual descent into lunacy. Lieutenant Breech’s evaluation of the aboriginal people finds a portion of truth in Elijah, since metaphorically, his blood really is, â€Å"†¦closer to that of an animal than that of a man,† (101). In order to subconsciously override this perverted perspective in favour of a religious outlook, he turns to the recreational use of morphine, which is present in high amounts amongst his brother in arms, Grey Eyes. When describing its effects, Elijah says: â€Å"It allowed me to leave my body and see what was around me. I see how it could be a very powerful tool in a place like this† (128). By no coincidence, this passage occurs at around the same point where Elijah loses his knowledge of the aboriginal tongue, and thus, becomes linguistically assimilated by his fellow soldiers. The morphine hollows Elijah’s soul and accelerates his acculturation, causing him to pursue pleasure and meaning from killing (283), through which he attains the spontaneous euphoria which he craves. Instead of discovering the spiritual intelligence and purpose of which his life is bankrupt, he loses grasp on the distinction of reality and fantasy, with Xavier exclaiming late in the novel that, â€Å"†¦he [Elijah] walks with one foot in this world, [and] one firmly planted in the other world† (334). Additionally, the morphine ingestion was meant to rid him of his inner demons, such as his previously stated animalistic tendencies. Instead, it only serves to sharpen these instincts, and feed them with a profound apathy that enables Elijah to live without fear of moral consequences (212). This quickly advances into an addiction which exceeds recreational foundations in favour of unbridled dependence, and is the primary reason for Elijah’s eventual metamorphosis into a walking anathema. As stated by the author, Vikki Visvis, â€Å"Elijah’s windigo state is part shell shock, part morphine emotional addiction induced by European contact, and part internalized racism learned at residential schools† (Visvis 223). Therefore, Elijah’s downward spiral into death was not based significantly on his overuse of morphine, but his spiritual surrender to the drug. Over time his relationship with Grey Eyes (Boyden 313) becomes one which is entirely centered on the drug, and is therefore, not a true relationship at all, but an uninvolved, symbiotic connection existing only to satiate dark indulgences of a stereotypical windigo. The notion of relationships present in the lives of Xavier, Niska, and Elijah reveals, through their level of social authenticity, how completely they have become absorbed into the world of the wemistikoshiw. Xavier’s relationship with the Ontario Rifles can be accurately described as precarious and fluctuant. He refuses to socialize with the vast majority of his wartime acquaintances met during the war, with the exception of war veterans Thompson and General McCann (317). Bird reveres the two, figuring that they have each tolerated war for many years without cracking under its sinister pressure. The fact that Bird respects their capacity for bodily toil without the use of morphine indicates an avid understanding of both the war’s potential dangers, and its ability to corrupt those not willing to remain immovably independent from its paradigms. When describing the nature of the Great War, Xavier personifies it as a monster which hungers for the bodies of soldiers (73), thus explaining the prayers he sends to Gitchi Manitou, requesting a safe return home to his aunt in Moose Factory (237). Consequently, Xavier’s seclusion from the vast majority of the Ontario Rifles flourishes, and is only ompounded by his unwillingness to learn English and loss of hearing (227). Bird, however, is dynamic in his relationships on occasion, as with the case of his pseudo-lover, Lisette. Initially, Xavier believes her to be an innocent soul who is untouched by the hedonism and selfishness of the West, swiftly proceeding into what he believes to be a loving relationship with her (159 ). He is overwhelmed with feelings of aching for her not long afterwards, deciding to disobey the orders of his superiors and return to the town where they met. He is unexpected met with animosity from the girl, who turns out to be not as authentic as she first appeared: â€Å"’You can’t stay, Indian boy,’ she whispers. My stomach feels as if it has been punched so hard that all the air has left it. ‘I am with another. He is upstairs’† (252). Crushed by the betrayal he feels upon discovering Lisette to be a prostitute, Xavier’s isolation reaches its all-time peak. Despite being left with only affection for his heritage and aunt, he remains religiously disciplined when continuing his participation in the war. By the end of the novel, Xavier completely comprehends the nature of the West’s cultural imperialism and individualistic ideals. He recognizes these traits in Elijah, causing their friendship to decay at a breakneck pace. With the established practice of Niska in mind, he carries on the legacy of the Windigo-killer, and murdering Elijah for the sake of the sane. As described by Neta Gordon: â€Å"The role of the windigo killer is taken on because it fulfills the community necessity, and, in the case of†¦Xavier, it is taken on rather inadvertently and somewhat reluctantly† (Gordon 11). Xavier’s most endearing attribute, therefore, is his independence, because it facilitates his ability glimpse at his communal surroundings objectively, and make correspondingly righteous decisions. The greatest example of an ethical figure present in the novel, however, is Niska, whose wild life alone in the bush proves to be the perfect setting for producing a terrene, detached shaman. In her epileptic visions, Niska establishes somewhat of a one-sided relationship with the conflict in Europe, which cultivates her interest of the Windigo psychosis scourging the continent. To this end, she ominously states: â€Å"The sickness of the windigo could spread as surely as the invisible sickness of the windigo† (Boyden 262). Like Xavier’s use of Thompson and McCann as moral benchmarks, Niska leans on her family for moral support throughout the novel: namely her father and sister, Rabbit. The salience of these two characters is the radically opposing symbolism which they maintain in their relationship with the bushmaster. While Rabbit teaches the Niska unconditional love through fond memories (34), her father, the late hookimaw, or village elder, instills in her a primitive sense of respect and tradition. It is from these two characters that Niska is able to educate the last of her kin, Xavier, in the ways of the Cree, and ultimately, provide him with the emotional stability necessary to survive the effects of war through what Neta Gordon calls a â€Å"detoxification† process (Gordon 4). Most prevalent and divulging of Niska’s connection with others is her role as a Windigo-killer, which implies an acute responsibility for making difficult choices which often contradict what is deemed to be ‘civilized’ (Boyden 169). Ironically, it is Niska’s solitude and right-judgment which give her the reputation as what Xavier, and undoubtedly many others call a â€Å"†¦ good and crazy woman† (221). In actuality, Niska’s actions exude wisdom, pragmatism, and an authentic desire to obliterate the radiating wreckage of the Windigo. The malfunctioned motivations of a windigo cannot warrant animosity on their own, and rely on the destructive actions of characters like Elijah to animate their nature. As described by Joseph Boyden: â€Å"He [Elijah] isn’t grounded in his place or culture, and this ends up being very damaging to him† (Wyile 230). Incessant boasting is what is most easily evident in his demeanor, with Xavier pointing out a multitude of situations in which Elijah can be found falsely glorifying himself due to his emotional insecurity (Boyden 77). At one point in the novel, Xavier declares: I look around and realize that I know very few men by name any more. So many have come and gone that I’ve lost track. Amazingly, Elijah seems to know all of them, acts as if he’s known them for years. 243) The white-washed Weesacheejak is only capable of establishing superficial relationships with the other soldiers by donning a â€Å"mask† (314) which, in reality, distances him further from his allies than even Xavier does. A will to dominate sprouts from his impersonal approach to friendship, resulting in the fiery approach to human interaction that is demonstrated in Weesacheejak’s relationship with Peggy. When scouting one day with Xavier, he says, quite irrelevantly, â€Å"I am better than Peggy. He cannot take a scalp. He cannot do what I do† (246). Elijah’s attitudes towards superseding others are crystallized in his love for flying, since it entails an elevated level of importance in comparison to civilization, which is largely terrestrial. Ironically, when he does experience flight for the first time in an aero plane, it brings him a great pain, (331) thus foreshadowing the untimely demise of which he experiences by the novel’s close, which is brought about by his greed for contention. Most detrimental to Elijah’s psyche, undoubtedly, is his swift acceptance of western customs and paradigms, which is demonstrated by his conformity to the warmongering attitudes of his colleagues. Elijah’s bloodlust steadily increases throughout the duration of the novel, earning him medals of honour for his â€Å"unmatched bravery† in the face of battle (254). What these medals symbolize is a complete forfeit of his kinship with the Cree, a culture which preaches the sanctity of every form of life. Additionally, the medals indicate the completeness of Elijah’s assimilation into Europe’s wartime effort, and the connotations of selfishness which fester in its nucleus. Deranged and unsatisfied with even this acknowledgement, however, Elijah’s desire for human flesh continues to define him to the point of unsuccessfully assaulting Xavier, and dying in the process. He is the epitome of a non-Aboriginal, having always having what Xavier calls a â€Å"†¦gift for the wemistikoshiw language† (59). Elijah does not discover other people, which soils the seed of a robust relationship, but uses them as devices for augmenting his ego in a fashion typical of both an avaricious European and the Windigo. The purpose of Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden is to introduce the Windigo’s infectious and corrosive potential for spiritual defilement through the personalities of Xavier, Niska and Elijah via their cultural adherence, contrasting health, and dynamic relationships. The degree to which these three protagonists repel or embrace attitudes characteristic of the Windigo determines their physical, mental, and spiritual condition by the end of the anecdote. The novel’s ‘Wandering Windigo,’ Elijah, is portrayed as an individual who can find neither a form of metaphysical shelter, nor a definite identity, resulting in his decline into nothingness. In his downfall however, Elijah destroys the lives of hundreds, highlighting the necessity for Xavier’s donning of the Windigo-killer from Niska. By way of extension, Boyden speaks, via the juxtaposition of Xavier and Niska in comparison to Elijah, of the importance of the righteous, and their responsibility to eradicate evil before it is able to worsen despite the contesting pressures of one’s affiliates. Most importantly, the novel is Boyden’s plea to immerse children in the indigenous dimensions of their ethnicity and nationality in order to construct a strong sense of identity. An Aboriginal himself, Boyden describes Three Day Road as a cautionary tale (393) in which the human person is presented as a feeble, vulnerable entity which can only be sustained when its body, mind, and spirit are in communion with one another. The novel seeks to be food for thought, asking its audience how they would respond to excruciating circumstances such as war – whether they would be able to stay anchored enough to survive it, or experience the downwards spiral of the Windigo. In the course of our lives, will we journey along the road most travelled, losing ourselves to the entropic tides of conformity, or pave our own path in order to live an independent, fruitful existence? How to cite Three Day Road, Papers

Effect of Global Warming on Polar Bears free essay sample

In the recent years, different environmental studies highlight the effect of global warming on Polar Bears. Polar bears are one of those species which have been directly affected by global warming. Studies suggest that due to the lesser ice floes and erratic climatic conditions are the main contributor and culprit behind this awful situation. The reason behind the global warming situation is not only the huge industrial growth but also the emissions from burning fossil fuels which makes a negative impact on the temperature of the earth and air. (Harden, 2005). The gradually increase in temperature melts the polar ice caps which eventually rises the sea level. This melting process also affects the ice shelves and ice floes which is the nursery of polar bears. We will write a custom essay sample on Effect of Global Warming on Polar Bears or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The fatal combination of global warming, melting ice caps, hunting of polar bears, lack of ice flows etc brings curse on the different vulnerable species of polar bears which is on the verge of extinct and also the prime factor behind the declines in the population of polar bears. Moreover, researchers disclosed the fact that due to the effect of global warming the population of polar bears declines at the rate of 30% in the next 35 to 50 years (Harden, 2005). Reference Harden, Blaine (July 9, 2005). Global warming threatens polar bears. Retrieved July   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   29,2009, from http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/global-warming-threatens- polar-bears/2005/07/08/1120704551713.html

Words Will Never Hurt Me Essay Example

Words Will Never Hurt Me Paper One important step in order to avoid any kind of fight and unpleasant situation in class is to ignore bullying done by some students. The students, who get into bullying others their main purpose is to cause frustration, arouse anger and pinch others. However, if they do not get any response they simply leave it. Some students find pleasure in making others angry and disturbing them. Parents and teachers interference is a must when students fight or bully each other. Some students in the class have the habit of bullying others, using abusive language, take control of power in the class, and show themselves as very genius. They try to putdown their fellows, taunt them, tease and mock to evoke anger. In such situations other students must get help from their teachers and parents. Parents and teachers must interfere to get the things settle down. Sally explores in details the reason why some students stick on bullying others. She writes in details about several ways that kids can handle in situations where they’re bullied by someone. They can simple skip teasing and mocking done by others. Sally makes some important points that some students may get obsessive about their religion, race and color. She explores the reasons that why do some students have such a hateful attitude towards others. They might be jealous at something. They might be jealous of the good marks other students obtain, the attention they get from the teacher, the things they posses, and they also have a jealousy among friendships with girls. There could be many reasons. Students get jealous at several points. Sally in her book uses some practical and fun methods instead of making situation stressful, tensed and demanding. It is not necessary that we should always taunt, criticize and show anger on students for not getting work the right way. We will write a custom essay sample on Words Will Never Hurt Me specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Words Will Never Hurt Me specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Words Will Never Hurt Me specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer But what teachers must have in them is to understand each and every student and before criticizing them s/he must ask student why it was not possible for him/her to accomplish the task. Many studies show that when we make things stressful for students they loose interest in it. It is very important that teachers must take interest while teaching kids. It is a generally observable thing that when teachers take interest while teaching and pay attention to each and every student the results are much more fruitful. Developing student’s interest requires skilled teaching. The one that makes teaching a fun and exciting for students, it must not be a hectic or burden. Once students get interested, the subject itself becomes an attention-grabbing for students. Just dictating students few important points is not enough as most students cannot keep their concentration focused on what is being said. This is because they loose interest. The only way to keep them interested is to teach them practical way. Teacher and students both must be practically involved in performing those tasks that are being taught. Practically each and everything can be understood in a much better way. While studying a topic or subject it is important to explore it practically. It is a well known fact that unless we don’t do things practically there are many things left that are not clear. By doing things practically it is easier to memorize and get familiar with the topic of study. In addition, making some of things fun can simply boost their interest. Sally blends her teaching experience with psychology of students in the classroom and humor that makes classroom situation pleasant and interesting place to learn. The tips and techniques she addressed are useful not only for teachers and classroom but they can be useful for parents and in general for everyone who engages in teaching and dealing with kids. It is a blend of psychological principles and teaching techniques that makes learning much better. Verbal abuse is common in today’s classroom. If not tolerated, it can result in serious kind of fight between the two groups. Sally, in Words Cannot Hurt Me, deals with emotional state of students who suffer in class and make them aware of several practices they can adopt to avoid such bullying.

Analysis of Music Video

Analysis of Music Video Introduction In this work the discussion is going to focus on a hip hop video by one of the greatest MCs in the industry by the stage name of NAS born Nasir Jones, Nas released the song in 16th April 2002. The song was released by the Columbia records and the distribution is done by III Will Records based in the United States.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Music Video specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The song is the third single in his Album Stillmatic, the Fifth album (Richard 44). When he was a teenager, Nas is believed to have enlisted his close pal and neighbor as his DJ. Nas was initially known during in his early age as Kid wave before he adopted his recent alias name of nasty Nas. His first appearance was in 1991 where he performed on the main source where he was doing live performance at the barbeque. This is where Nas established himself as a teenage sensational with his performances. In the mi d 1992 MC Serch is believed to have approached and secured a contract for Nas with the famous Columbia records where he also acted as his manager in that same year. Nas first debut solo single was under his name of Nasty Nas that was part of the single halftime that was done by Serch `s sound track that was for the film zebra head. Nas was also featured in Serch solo album and Nas appearance on the back to the Grill again helped in intensifying the interest in Nas. It was during his early appearances in these albums that led to the hailing of his rhyming mastermind skills attracted the attention from the members of the hip hop fraternity. One of the deadliest tracks so far by Nas is believed to his single going by the title of the One Mic. This song is believed to have brought in a different dimension to the hip hop culture and believes. The presentation of the message is just unbelievable. Discussion The production was handled by the renowned Hip-hop producer Chucky Thompson and Na s. The song features production procedure that encompassed a quite harmony that progressively increases in intensity and energy until an increasingly amped Nas lets out his lyrical anger bubble over like a final dream combatant strike once too often (Covach 6). The writer of the song is Nick Butler and he describes the song`s structure as a slow build up from simple scrip to the full production. The composition is a bit interesting in such a way that the song is like two mini hip-hop versions that would be clear when Nas gets to the third verse of the script where he does the same thing in reverse (Walker 11). The final verse is also seen reversing the formula where Nas starts from the louder to soft spoken thus getting the audience closer to his rapping and the lyrics.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The song is unique; its starting is slow with evident deliberate flow and beats. The slow beat that the song starts with is suggestive of a crappy RB song, as the song progresses, Nas sluggish flow turns out into an angry seethes over the fast-paced beat and lastly the siren. The song literally crescendos’ till Nas is seen to be kind almost screaming over the cleverly elaborated track. One Mic† is seen by many as being socially excellent and honest. The lyrics are seen to be aimed at neutralizing the toxic effects caused by the earlier release â€Å"You owe Me† which almost destroyed his career. The lyrics of the song describes Nas`s evident urge for simple life. As evident in the lines, â€Å"Only if I had one gun, one girl, and one crib†¦One God to show me how to do things his son did†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ( Milliman 7) . He also discusses the obstacles that he encounters in his quest for a simple life and he clearly proclaims the kind of life he desires. Nas offers a vivid big picture of what that lifestyle will entail; this is se en in the lyrical flow that is captured in the following line, â€Å"[if] One ni**ga front, my face on the front page†¦ All I need is one Mic fuck the cars, the jewelry† the souvenir motivation the video has been used to maximize the resultant visual flair in the song The components of dystopian and political awareness are well captured in the lyrics (Milliman 94). If closely observe the video, the â€Å"One Mic† brings out the metropolitan claustrophobia that is kind of digitized and well distilled where Nas`s posture of the eyes is seen zooming in for the details and then making a pull back to the panoramic overview. The lyrical scheme is seen to be building on to the crescendo slowly where the rage and declaration is attained before coming back to seek the path of making the difference with the use of the one precious mic (Everett 16, 77-79). The song can be seen to be calling for immediate action and sense of reality being emitted by the artist. In his on int erview with the rolling stone magazine, Nas stated that the theme of the song â€Å"One Mic† is about the power. The song was an avenue for the artist to share with the whole world what is going on in his neighborhood and counts it a blessing to be able to share his experience and let the outside world relate with it. This song as mechanism to clean up any mishaps Nas might have created in his earlier releases was aimed making people turn around, pay attention to what he is saying, and possibly take him seriously. He aimed at refuting and the notion that he was talking nonsense but he wanted to bring out the reality that majority of the people are facing whereas there has been no formal avenue for the world to really getting to understand the predicament of the people in his neighborhood(Covach and Boone 23, 77, 134). We also see the bringing out the concept of being insane when people or he is upset. The artists sees this as the evidence of people`s ignorance or the just luc k of interest to understand the truth or reality in the matter.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Music Video specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion The artist is generally presenting facts as they are and he really does not care about those that are scared or guilty of what is happening, the artist generally did not sugar coat his words but since he has his mic let those uncomfortable with what he is saying react using theirs. In the song Nas is asking God for forgiveness for the sins he has committed, the song has some strong religious overtones and lyrical themes that are mostly Christian (Frith 21). Nas `s allusions generally humanize Jesus brings out the direct parallels between our personal desires and those of the way shower. Nas is asking God to show him the way to do things that His son did. Nas relate the daily challenges faced in day-to-day routines of life with the pressure that Jesus and others felt and we see here an attempt to show the transfer of spiritual gifts and power to himself. Covach, John and Boone, Graham. Understanding Rock: Essays in Musical Analysis. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1997. Covach, John. Form in Rock Music: A Primer. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2006. Everett, Walter. Rock Music: Critical Essays on Composition, Performance, Analysis, and Reception. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2005. Frith, Simon. â€Å"Functions of music in everyday life: an exploratory study using the Experience Sampling Method,† Musicae Scientiae, 2007, 5.1, 9-32. Middleton, Richard. Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture. Massachusetts, MA: Wiley-Black-Well,1999.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Milliman, Ronald. â€Å"Using background music to affect the behavior of supermarket shoppers,† Journal of Marketing, 1986, 46. 3, 86-91. Walker, Micheal. â€Å"Backward messages in commercially available recordings,† Popular Music and Society, 2005, 10.1, 2-13.

Red White and Blue Shooter Recipe

Red White and Blue Shooter Recipe Heres a recipe for a density column thats a layered cocktail. Its perfect for the 4th of July or Memorial Day or pretty much any holiday with a red, white and blue theme. Red White and Blue Shooter Ingredients Bottom Red Layer: Chambord or Framboise (or Grenadine)Middle White Layer: Irish Cream or Half and Half or any cream liqueurTop Blue Layer: Blue Curacao (or you could dye vodka or rum with blue food coloring) You may also want to add a float of Goldschlager to get a golden gilttery firework effect. Layer the Red White Blue Shooter Fill a shot glass about a third of the way full of the red drink.Place a spoon, back side up, just above the top of the red liquid. Slowly pour the half-and-half over the back of the spoon. This will layer it over the red with minimal mixing.Use a clean spoon to repeat the process to layer the blue liquid over the white. Add some Goldschlager if you wish. I (of course) would also set this drink on fire, but thats just me. To ignite the drink, add a small amount of high proof alcohol to the top. Everclear or 151 rum are good choices. Enjoy your alcoholic density column!

Performance-Enhancing Drugs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Performance-Enhancing Drugs - Essay Example Nowadays, sportsmen and women will go to extreme lengths to improve their athletic abilities (Mottram 18). Many sports personalities admit that the competitive desire to be victorious is unusually severe. Apart from the pleasure of benefiting individually, sports individuals share a dream to participate in large sporting events, high class teams, and the young athletes pursue the school scholarships. The common, competitive situation, made by the human culture, has caused the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs such as stimulants, sedatives, lean mass builders and painkillers among individuals taking part in sporting activities (Bahrke and Yesalis 8). The people who use the substances for enhancement may appear to have acquired gains that are physical. There has not been a thorough study on the long-term effects of performance-enhancement drugs, but evidence suggests that the short-term effects are destructive with numerous consequences like loss of scholarships, medals, el igibility, side-effects, and sometimes death. This paper will look at the performance-enhancement drugs that should be accepted in sports, and whether creatine should be illegalized in Major League Baseball Several performance enhancement drugs should be legalized in sports, they include: Lean Mass Builders This are the types of performance-enhancement substances that are used to amplify or facilitate the enlargement of lean body mass and muscles, and from time to time to lessen fats in the body. These drugs may include several human hormones, anabolic steroids, and Chromium Picolinate. Chromium Picolinate, for instance, helps an individual to make use of the body glucose. It helps an individuals’ body to access fats and convert it to energy. This drug is more useful to people who have additional body fat and they would like to lose it (Mottram 23). Stimulants They are used to stimulate an individual’s mind and body to function at the top level by increasing energy, aggression, and focus. The examples are amphetamine and caffeine. Caffeine has been for a long time been used as an aid for muscle endurance by many athletes. Caffeine lengthens the duration of fatigue that occurs in the muscles at the heightened power levels. Nowadays, caffeine is a performance-enhancing drug that is not listed as illegal for use by sports personalities. In addition it is proven that stimulants can promote endurance, enhance accuracy, and improve reaction time. The dose of caffeine and the athlete’s condition and exercise determine if the person’s performance is enhanced or not (Mottram 26). Painkillers Painkillers cover up pain that is experienced by the sportsmen so that they can keep on performing and competing without their normal pain limit. Painkillers used in sports vary from over-the-counter administered drugs to prescriptions that are powerful, such as narcotics and NSAIDs (Mottram 28). Sedatives The drugs in this category are mostly used by people who take part in sports which have the need for being steady, accurate and overcome too much discomfort and nervousness. Examples include valium, alcohol, and marijuana (Jeffrey, Jose, and Douglas 34). Diuretics These are drugs that remove water from the body. Diuretics are most often used in different t ypes of wrestling and contact sports because the sportsmen have to conform to weight restraints (Jeffrey, Jose, a