Myself and My Course Essay

Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) - Research Paper Example t administrations from completing business with the culpable sites and web crawlers connects to destinations, and court orders requesting providers on the Internet to refuse getting to locales. The bill would extend the criminal law to comprise of the unapproved transmission of copyrighted material, setting a most extreme punishment of 5 years imprisonment2. The bill has grave ramifications for the present structure of the Internet in each sense as it permits the Justice Department and the proprietors of licensed innovation, acquire court orders against those locales or administrations that permit or encourage the encroachment of supposed copyright, including: The bill proclaims a criminal offense to unapproved radio station or other dispersion of copyrighted substance with the rebuffing of the liable with the most extreme punishment of detainment for a term of 5 years. Simultaneously resistance from arraignment vested all Internet organizations that willfully and on their own drive made any move against the online help, managing the spread of ensured content, while making these organizations at risk for harm to their website proprietors accused of unlawful appropriating content. Under the bill, any individual from a system on the Internet †from specialist co-ops, web indexes and even the publicists †actually, require treatment for any proprietor to quit offering types of assistance to the asset, blamed for robbery, and to stop any connection with them (for instance, close the channel, pay for content, suspend the promotion contract, to constrain the impact of the installment framework, erase the website from Google to evacuate connects to the webpage, totally hinder a website to visit, to deny the installment frameworks, (for example, PayPal, Visa, and so on.) to make installments for administrations, etc); something else, any of the immediate and roundabout blamed for counterparties website will be viewed as his accomplice. Under the eyes of this new law, just to jump on your divider an image, record or video that has a copyright will be viewed as a

What Are Your Rights When Youre Depressed

What Are Your Rights When You're Depressed Depression Print What Are Your Rights at Work When Youre Depressed? How Mental Disorders Are Covered Under the Americans With Disabilities Act By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on April 01, 2018 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 Depression Overview Types Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Coping ADA & Your Rights Depression in Kids If you have a mental disorder such as major depression, you may wonder what your rights are when you apply for a job or are up for a promotion. Obviously, if you had a physical disability it wouldnt be legal for an employer to discriminate against you, thanks to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which came into effect in 1992  to prevent private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions from discriminating against people with disabilities. It applies to job applications procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and more. Businesses or companies with 15 or more employees are required to comply with the ADA. In 2008, important changes to the ADA expanded the definition of disability, making it possible for people with invisible conditions, such as depression, to be protected, even when their symptoms are controlled by medications, lifestyle changes, or therapy. If youre experiencing depression, knowing your  rights in the workplace can make a substantial difference in how you cope.? Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee Are You Covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act? The ADA???, along with the  2008 amendment, states that persons qualify for disability if they: Have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and/or bodily functions (the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions). Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for yourself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.Have a history of such an impairmentAre regarded as having such an impairment What Is a Mental Impairment? In terms of the ADA, a mental impairment includes mental or psychological disorders (as defined by the DSM-V)?? such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders (panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder), schizophrenia, and personality disorders. Problems not covered by the ADA include  adjustment disorders, relationship troubles, or illegal drug use. In addition, behavior traits such as irritability or stress are not included. Even if these conditions arent continual, but cause flare-ups of impairment, they qualify under the ADA as long as the disorder is considered a long-term problem. Usually  a condition has to be present for several months before it qualifies as a long-term problem. Disorders that are included in the definition of disability are those that are permanent or have potentially long-term effects, not those that are temporary such as the break up of a relationship. How Is Substantial Limitation Determined? A determination of substantial limitation does not always have to be made by an expert. Sometimes the credible testimony of the person seeking disability, his or her family, friends, or co-workers may be enough. Drug and Alcohol Abuse Because self-medication with drugs and alcohol is so common among people with depression, it is important to note that the ADA does not cover those with a substance abuse problem. Any employee with a substance abuse problem can be held to the same standards as other employees. If your employer does not know about your depression and then later discovers a substance abuse problem, you will not be protected. Understanding Reasonable Accommodation: One of Your Rights Under the ADA, employers are required to make what is called a reasonable accommodation for people with a known disability as long as it doesnt create an undue hardship such as significant difficulty or expense for the company.?? Examples of reasonable accommodation for an employee with depression include a flexible work schedule or job sharing; time off for therapy or support group meetings; a quiet or out-of-the way workspace; extended leave after a  hospitalization; and allowing the worker to work at home periodically. Negotiating Reasonable Accommodations If you need to negotiate reasonable accommodations for yourself, here are some questions to consider:What is your most difficult task at work? What would make it easier?Does any part of your job make your depression symptoms better or worse?Is there anything in your workplace that causes distraction?Would a modified work week be helpful?  For example, decreasing your hours?Is telecommuting possible with your job, either full time or on certain days? Disclosing Your Depression Employers are forbidden by law to ask if someone has a disability, or even to ask questions about a known disability.?? If youve been diagnosed with depression, its up to you to tell your boss or manager and to ask for whatever accommodations you need to be able to do your work. It may be hard to do this, given the stigma and misconceptions that surround mental illness. But its much better to be upfront and to get what you need, rather than risk poor performance reviews or even losing your job because youve decided to tough it out.  Keep in mind that the purpose of the ADA is to protect people just like youâ€"people who wish to work at a job but are frightened about how their performance may be affected by their mental health disability. Dealing With Discrimination If you suspect youve been discriminated against because of your depression, contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to file a complaint. A charge of discrimination generally must be filed within 180 days. You may have up to 300 days to file a charge if there is a state or local law that provides relief for discrimination on the basis of disability. To file a charge of discrimination contact any EEOC Field Offices. These offices are located in cities throughout the United States. If its found youve been discriminated against, youre entitled to a remedy that will place you in the position you would have been in if the discrimination had never occurred. You may be entitled to hiring, promotion, reinstatement, back pay, or reasonable accommodation, including reassignment. You may also be entitled to attorneys fees. As with disclosure, remember that the ADA is designed to help people like you. Not only are you standing up for your rights when you claim the protection of the disability act, youre setting an example that will help others with mental illness avoid discrimination due to an illness they never asked to have to cope with. How to Know If Your Anxiety Disorder Is Covered by the FMLA

Reasons Why You Should Vote as a College Student

Feel like your vote really wont make a difference? Not sure if going out and voting is really worth the effort? These reasons why you should vote as a college student should give you some food for thought -- and motivation. America is a Democracy True, it may be a representative democracy, but your elected representatives still need to know how their constituents think in order to accurately represent them. They are counting on your vote as part of that process. Remember Florida? The debacle in Florida that followed the 2000 presidential election will not soon be forgotten. Try asking those folks if your vote matters or not. No One Else Votes with College Students in Mind Many people vote while thinking of other constituencies: older folks, people without health insurance, and the like. But very few voters are focused specifically on the needs of college students. When issues like student loan rates, educational standards, and admissions policies are on the ballot, who else is better qualified to vote than those currently experiencing the implications of such initiatives? Youve Got the Numbers College students -- also known as millennial voters -- are a key constituency in any, and every, election.  With 44 million Millennial voters eligible to vote, your vote can make a huge difference when banded with others in your demographic. Diversity Millennial voters are more diverse than any other constituency. According to Rock the Vote, Sixty-one percent of Millennials identify as White, while 17% are Hispanic, 15% are Black and 4% are Asian. Who else is going to vote to represent the needs of such a diverse constituency? No One Likes a Hypocrite Youre in college. Youre expanding your mind, your spirit, your life. Youre challenging yourself in new and exciting ways and learning things you may not have ever considered before. But when the time comes, youre going to pass on empowering yourself by voting? Really? Many People Fought for Your Right to Vote No matter your race, gender, or age, your right to vote came at a price. Honor the sacrifices others made so that your voice could be heard when theirs wasnt. College Voters Really Can Swing an Election As Rock the Vote reports in its (fantastic) Young Voter Myths and Facts PDF, Joe Courtney won by 83 votes; turnout at the UConn polling place was up nearly 10x that in Connecticut in 2006. Want to call Courtneys opponent, or even Courtney himself, to see if every vote matters? Vote for Your Future Within the next 4 years, you may be getting a job, owning or renting your own housing, getting married, starting a family, paying for health care, or building a business. The policies you vote for today will have a huge influence on your life after college. Do you really want to leave those decisions up to someone else? Youre Living Life as an Adult Now Despite conventional attitudes about college students not being in the real world, much of your daily life involves very serious and important decisions. You manage your finances; you are taking charge of your education and career; you are doing your best, every day, to improve yourself through higher education. In essence, you are becoming an adult (if you arent one already). Your vote, then, matters most because you are finally able to cast it. Go voice your opinions on issues, policies, candidates, and referendums. Stand up for what you believe in. Vote!

Complete Guide to Ethics Management an Ethics Toolkit for...

Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers Written by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Copyright 1997-2008. (This guide is located at http://www.managementhelp.org/ethics/ethxgde.htm on the Web.) The profession of business ethics has long needed a highly practical resource that is designed particularly for leaders and managers -- those people charged to ensure ethical practices in their organizations. Unfortunately, far too many resources about business ethics end up being designed primarily for philosophers, academics and social critics. As a result, leaders and managers struggle to really be able to make use of the resources at all. Also, far too many resources about business ethics†¦show more content†¦This document contains the following sections: Document Fills Void of Practical Ethics Information for Leaders and Managers What is Business Ethics? 10 Myths About Business Ethics 10 Benefits of Managing Ethics in the Workplace One Description of a Highly Ethical Organization Ethics Management Programs: An Overview 8 Guidelines for Managing Ethics in the Workplace 6 Key Roles and Responsibilities in Ethics Management Ethics Tools: Codes of Ethics Ethics Tools: Codes of Conduct Ethics Tools: Policies and Procedures Ethics Tools: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas (with Real-to-Life Examples) Ethics Tools: Training About the Author Bibliography of Practical Resources Also see Related Info in the Free Management Library. Acknowledgment Particular Thanks! goes to Twin Cities-based consultants, Doug Wallace and Jon Pekel, of the Fulcrum Group (651-714-9033; e-mail at jonpekel@comcast.net), for contributing key information to this document. I have referenced their copyright where I included their key materials in this guidebook. Document Fills a Void of Practical Business Ethics Information for Leaders and Managers Current Literature is Focused on Needs of Philosophers, Academics and Social Critics -- Leaders and Managers Require More Practical Information About Managing Ethics Managing ethics in the workplace holds tremendous benefit forShow MoreRelatedHR Experiential Problem Solving899 Words   |  4 Pagesan organization (Mathis Jackson, 2011, p. 16). What are key concepts related to business ethics that should be considered in the development of the ethics training program? Describe the elements you will incorporate into your ethical training program (at least five). 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The concepts of Rational Administration, Accountability, Planning, Control, BudgetingRead MoreEssay Business Omm 6402896 Words   |  12 PagesGonzalez OMM640: Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Dr. Ronald Beach July 28, 2013 A code of ethics is important because it provides individuals within a group, organization, club or society with a set of rules, standards and guidelines to operate within. When employees dont have a code of ethics, they could engage in less-than-socially acceptable behavior. This can establish a bad reputation for an organization. When people dont obey the code of ethics it can tarnish theirRead MoreCareer Development Plan Summary2267 Words   |  10 Pagesand personalized customer service. With visions of growing the business, Kathy is stretched to the extreme and needs assistance with the leadership roles necessary to successfully operate and mature the business. Even though Kathy has managers and assistant managers in each store, she needs a team that can not only relieve her of some of her duties, but also assist Kathy in creating a roadmap for the envisioned future state of Kudler Fine Foods. Business Development and Excellence The proposed reorganizationRead MoreEssay on Ethics2727 Words   |  11 PagesEthics by definition is a set of rules or standards that govern the conduct of a person or members of a group. Ethics involves learning what is right or wrong, and doing the right thing. The controversy: doing the right thing based on a moral principle or doing the right thing based on the situation. Doing the right thing does not always mean the same thing to different people, ultimately; it is up to the individual. Business ethics is knowing what is right or wrong in the workplace and doing what

The History of Blues and Rock ‘N’ Roll Free Essays

â€Å"You can’t play the blues, until you’ve paid your dues† (Spencer 41), said by the originator of the blues W. C. Handy. We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Blues and Rock ‘N’ Roll or any similar topic only for you Order Now The blues is a music style that influenced America in many ways eventually coming to create rock and roll. The true originators of the blues go back to African slaves brought to America to work on plantations. As these slaves gained freedom and acceptance in the big cities blues developed its own unique style. This unique style gained popularity amongst the white community creating an opportunity for record labels to make a profit. Once the blues went nationwide white musicians took the blues style and techniques creating rock and roll. Some argue that rock and roll was only a lame attempt at duplicating the blues which could never be understood in the white community. Others argue that rock and roll artists stole the creativity of blues musicians to make their own profit. My argument is to find out whether or not the blues was stolen from African Americans and whether the blues was the property of African Americans not to be used by whites. Whatever the case, the blues changed how other’s viewed music and brought a whole new vibe to its white listeners. To settle the argument over whether or not the blues was something that belonged to blacks we must find out where the blues came from. If you want to find the origin of the blues you must look back to West Africa before its people were introduced to the European and American society. African Natives were isolated from the rest of the world, because it was too early to have technology for travel. Due to this isolation they created their own unique form of speech and music. The key element of West African music was rhythm, not melody and harmony. Instead of the European melodic harmonies, West African music was surrounded by rhythm. â€Å"The core of European music was to embellish a melody with a number of melodic instruments, and incidentally set a rhythm. The European aspect of rhythm was only specified by vague terms such as â€Å"adagio† or â€Å"allegro. † The core of West African music was to color a rhythm with a number of musical instruments, and incidentally dress it up with a melody† (Scaruffi 2) Rhythm was the foundation of the blues which the early whites never used. It can be concluded that the concept of rhythm was something that was created by African Americans belonging to their culture. Once the concept of rhythm came to America the technique of melody would fall behind becoming a less important aspect of music. In the 17th century America discovered Africa and enslaved the â€Å"Inferior race† (Guralnick 98) to work as cotton and wheat pickers for Southern plantation owners. As African slaves were shipped off to America they brought the musical aspect of rhythm that would lay the foundation for blues music. African slaves brought to pick cotton and wheat would use rhythm to set a pace for work. Black slaves developed a â€Å"call and response† way of singing to give rhythm to the drudgery of their servitude. These â€Å"field hollers† served as a basis of all blues music that was to follow† (Scaruffi 1). These work songs were the original form of blues. They would express the harsh conditions of slavery. Africans brought new emotions and techniques to produce music. None of these emotions could be understood by whites because slavery was not an issue for them. â€Å"Whether ecstatic (religious), mournful (work) or exuberant (party), it was much more emotional than white folk music. The combined effect of the hypnotic format and the emotional content created loose structures that could extend for indefinite periods of time, in a virtually endless alternation of repetition and improvisation† (Guralnick 13). The conditions were harsh and brutal working on the Southern plantations. These harsh conditions were a major focus in the lyrics of African slaves and influenced the future theme of blues music. â€Å"The songs of a Negro were the diary of his life (road, train, prison, saloon, sex), often an itinerant life, as opposed to the diary of a community (plantation, church)† (Spencer 38). Africans held their traditions but changed the theme of their music to paint a picture of their everyday lives. Blues now had a foundation to grow on. Due to the new rhythmic style of the first slaves brought from Africa, and generations of influence from America, blues was beginning to take form. The blues was originally a simple work song of cotton pickers and was now a new style of music making its way into the white culture. Blues music had a style revolving around slavery. So the blues did belong to African American because the issue of slavery did not affect whites. In 1865 the United States added the thirteenth amendment into the constitution abolishing slavery giving slaves the freedom to travel. The end of slavery led to the â€Å"Great Migration† of blacks into cities bringing a hip musical style amongst the white city folk. After the Civil War with the abolishment of slavery blacks gained their freedom and could choose where they would work. â€Å"Black men had few options other than back-breaking manual field labor or becoming a traveling minstrel. Many chose the occupation of a traveling minstrel playing raucous, all-night country dances, fish-frys, and jukejoints† (Pendack 11). For blacks who left the South, the North promised freedom. However segregation was still wide spread throughout America. Due to the end of slavery many changes were made to the former slave music to create the blues. â€Å"The end of slavery meant, to some extent, the dissolution of the two traditional meeting points for the African community: the plantation and the church† (Scaruffi 9). Music remained the way of venting the frustration of African Americans, but the end of slavery introduced Blacks as individuals instead of being defined by a group. The black singer was now free to and capable of defining himself as an individual. Solo singers represented a new take on that condition, the view of a man finally enabled to travel, and no longer a prisoner of his community, although, sometimes, more lonely† (Green 3). The sound of blues music began to change from slave work songs to blues. Whites could not understand the concept of gaining freedom because it was naturally given to them. The themes in the lyrics of the blues could only be seen through a black woman or man’s eyes. Many blacks took railroads to Chicago where the â€Å"City Blues† was born. City Blues† was a blues more subdued than its precursor, in part because its rhythms were more refined-more danceable. The African-rooted spirituality basically continued untouched; but the non-articulations (moans and hums) were less dissonant† (Guralnick 101). In Chicago, the emergence of the â€Å"City Blues,† in the 1920’s, created a new blues culture with increased musical performance due to the merging of city life and African musicians. The white culture had already adapted to the city life whereas the city was completely new to blacks. The theme of the city blues reflected the conditioning of the South’s rural emigrants to the city’s new universe of experience that could never be understood by whites. â€Å"City blues represented the African American’s transition from the relinquishment of old folkways to the appropriation of the new progressive mentality. Race progress, represented the liberation of African Americans from the alleged tyranny of superstition† (Spencer 40). What the blues represented was an emotion that belonged to the blacks. Much of the blues was performed in small venues giving rise to new music techniques. Singers sang louder, amps were cranked up, because small noisy club venues, common then, needed loudness to be heard. Some made the switch to electric guitars while adding drum sets to their bands due to the loudness of the crowd† (Green 6). The electric guitar began multiplying options for blues players. Some of the first generation artists of â€Å"City Blu es† were, â€Å"Muddy Water, Howlin’ Wolf, T-bone Walker, Bobby Bland, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Reed, and B. B. King† (Pendack 2). The slaves of the plantations had made the transition from being â€Å"Field howlers,† to recognizable performers in the city life. As the sound of the blues began to rise in popularity Rock and Roll began to develop over time. As the blues began developing a distinctive sound it provided some fundamental elements for rock and roll. After this time, blues was increasingly merged with rock music to form the rock blues bands of the 1960’s and 70’s. â€Å"Blues- the last in all of its permutations; call it a blending, a transition, a hybridization, maybe even a genetic modification; this is the progression of the music. The Forties and early Fifties set the table for rock roll† (Spencer 41). The rise in popularity of the blues had much to do with the mass media, record companies and radios. The blues was spread nationwide amongst the white culture. â€Å"During the late 1920’s, with the advent of the 78 RPM phonograph, some of the more popular country blues artists were recorded by Paramount, Aristocrat and other record labels. These records served to expose white folks to the blues, as well as give the fledgling artists exposure to national, yet segregated record labels† (Guralnick 101). The blues rose to new heights because the money was there. War production pay checks and post-war prosperity gave music listeners money to buy the new music they loved. â€Å"They bought radios and they bought record players; they fed juke boxes and they bought records; they went to concerts at the Apollo and at the Hollywood Bowl. They made rhythm blues profitable† (Pendack 13). With the risen popularity in blues music, record labels jumped at the chance to make some money. With the blues drawing a new crowd and rock and roll was to be born. Many of the original blues artists did not take too kindly to rock and roll. Whites began to make much profit from blues by creating rock and roll. However because blues originated from African American slave songs many whites had trouble replicating the blues because they had not gone through the same experiences. â€Å"Whites would steal from them this creativity born of labor and the elementary forms of industrialization and then turn around and sell it back. White capital, which owned all of the record companies, controlled this commercialization process from the start, economically and culturally† (Spencer 38). The mass media, record companies and radio broadcast stations were primarily under white control making the shift from blues to rock and roll easy. The record labels found that there was a market for blues records among white audiences of the big cities, particularly New York and Chicago† (Green 6). One of the original African American Blues artists, W. C. Handy, admitted, â€Å"Each one of my blues is based on some old negro song of the South, some old song that is part of the memories of my childhood and my race. I can tell you the exact song I used as the basis for any one of my blues† (Guralnick 14). The blues music had an underling meaning of suffering from segregation and slavery. Now let’s admit, I doubt any white man or woman would have any experience writing about that topic. Here is a great example of a white rock band using lyrics depicting the harsh conditions of an African American. Many blacks see this as an attempt at using blues music for profit. As the blues saying goes, â€Å"You can play the blues until you’ve paid your dues† (Spencer 38). â€Å"Every time a white cop hits a Negro with his billy club, that old club says, Bop! Bop!†¦ Be-Bop! Mop†¦ That’s why so many white folks don’t dig†¦ White folks do not get their heads beat just for being white. But you, me, a cop is liable to grab me anytime and beat my head-just for being colored. And this where we come from-out of the dark days we have seen. And not to be dug unless you’ve seen dark says, too. That’s why folks who ain’t suffered much cannot play, and do not understand it. They think it’s nonsense† (Spencer 42). -The Police, 1980 â€Å"It is important to note that â€Å"The Police† was a rock trio from London, England. The trio included the now popular solo singer â€Å"Sting† (Spencer 39). It is also worth mentioning that this band consisted of three white men. Not black, but white. Even though this song was produced and sung by a white band the lyrics are sung from a black man’s perspective. The Police† had no idea what it was like to be beat due to a difference in skin color. It is also worth mentioning that, â€Å"The Police† went on to sell more than 50 million albums and became the world’s highest-earning musicians in 2008. The Rolling Stone has gone on to rank â€Å"The Policeà ¢â‚¬  number 70 on the list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time† (Spencer 39). They ended up making a huge profit while using lyrics from a black man’s perspective. Now the question arises: â€Å"Was the blues really stolen from African Americans? † and if so, â€Å"Was the blues really something that belonged to African Americans? Looking back on the origins of the blues we can see that its foundation was set by the concept of rhythm created in Africa. Once African natives were enslaved they were brought over to America using work-songs to set pace for work. With the abolishment of slavery African Americans moved north bringing the new style of the blues with them. As these former slaves began to make the shift to performing in clubs individually, they began to develop a new sound. As the popularity of the blues began to rise record labels jumped at the opportunity to make a profit. Over time whites began to develop their own form of blues ultimately leading to rock and roll. Going back through this history we can conclude that African-Americans were the founders of blues. However, I do not think the blues is something that could be stolen. Rock and roll was formed by the combination of African culture and White culture. With the rhythmic style of the blues whites were able to transform it into their own version. If we were to keep the blues hidden belonging only to African Americans, slavery would have never been abolished. Due to the clash of the two cultures the outcome is rock and roll. Rock and roll heard today is merely the blues in its developed form. The blues was a melting pot for all musical forms. As the blues was mixed and spiced up by difference artists, rock and roll was what boiled out. Annotated Bibliography Green, Adam. Blues. The Encyclopedia of Chicago. 1991. Web. April 23, 2010. The â€Å"African American Migration† from the South and the growth of the music industry lead to the creation of the â€Å"City Blues. † During the 1950’, â€Å"City Blues, also known as the â€Å"Chicago Blues,† flourished using rhythm sections and a higher amplification. A higher reliance was given to guitar and harmonica leads. While â€Å"Chicago Blues† did not recapture the harsh conditions of the African American community, it found a new audience drawn from followers of rock music. Guralnick, Peter. Feel Like Going Home: Portraits in Blues and Rock ‘N’ Roll. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1999. Print Blues was a property of African Americans before it was even set on paper. Each blues singer had his own individual way of expressing himself. However there is a common thread of ideas as well as lyrics which gives blues players the ability to sit down with any other and play. Its very popularity in fact influenced recording trends and tended to place a far greater emphasis on the community. It has always been a commercial vehicle, and particularly so because of its adaptable form. Pendack, Stephen. History of Blues. Blues Music Rocks! 2002. Web. April 20, 2010. Blues has its deepest roots in the work songs of the West African slaves in the South. During their back-breaking work â€Å"field holler† would use rhythm of their work songs to set the pace. During the Great depression, blacks migrated north along railroad tracks to Chicago. They brought blues music with them and soon the sound filled urban night clubs. We began to see new performers like Muddy Waters switching to electric guitar and adding a drum set to their bands. Scaruffi, Piero. A Brief History of Blues Music. History of Popular Music. 2006. Web. April 23, 2010. During the creation of civilizations, blues â€Å"solo music† was invented to admire and appreciate musical talent of singers and instrumentalists. Blues music relied heavily on rhythm, both for dancing and singing. The key element to African music was rhythm, not melody and harmony. Instead of a melodic counterpoint, West African music was about rhythmic counterpoint. Spencer, Jon. Blues and Evil. Tennessee: The University of Tennessee, 1993. Print White blues artists have tended to overlook the underlying theme of the blues because they have not fully understood African American culture. The language of the blues is one including a deep religious meaning not to be duplicated by the white culture. With the creation of rock and roll a reason for using the foundations a blues arose. Much profit came from blues music but the meaning could never be understood by white culture. How to cite The History of Blues and Rock ‘N’ Roll, Papers

Noughts and Crosses Essay Example

Noughts and Crosses Essay Callum McGregor is one of the main characters in the novel Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. It is an action packed novel based on a society that has been practicing segregation for decades. The novel is set in a fictional country called Pangaea during the 21st century. Callum deals with many issues including relationships, friendships, violence, alcohol abuse and depression. However, the main issues he has to deal with are prejudice and racism. This essay will reveal Callum’s complicated and unlucky character as well as saying the changes he has been through. Callum is a nought boy, a second class citizen in a world run by Crosses. Callum believes in change but, unlike his dad and brother, he does not believe that maiming and killing will do anything. Instead he believes that having education will help him become someone and in that way he can help change the world. Callum’s brother and dad are a part of the Liberation Militia, a group of Nought communists who are prepared to do anything for change, even killing. Callum’s mother highly disapproves of this group and believes, like Callum, that change can be achieved in a more civil way. We will write a custom essay sample on Noughts and Crosses specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Noughts and Crosses specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Noughts and Crosses specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Lynette is Callum’s older sister. She has a mental disorder which makes her think that she is a Cross. Throughout the book Callum goes from the age of thirteen to twenty. But he may as well be fifty for all that’s he’s seen and done. His dark chestnut coloured hair and misty grey eyes add to his mystic character. Although Callum has a hard life he is still very caring and loving. â€Å"How about you and I go up to Celebration Wood this Saturday? We could have a picnic. †-Callum, page 80. Callum is also curious and questionative because everyone is being secretive around him. â€Å"Where are you going Dad? â€Å"Out where? † â€Å"What meeting? † â€Å"Where is it? † â€Å"Can I come? †-Callum, page 188. Callum is also very easily confused. When everything goes downhill after the bomb explodes he wonders why his brother’s fingerprints were found on the bomb casing. â€Å"Jude was the bomber†¦That couldn’t be right. The Crosses had set him up, framed him. My brother wasn’t a bomber. He wouldn’t do anything like that. And he certainly wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave his fingerprints all over the bomb casing-unless he thought there wouldn’t be anything left of the bomb so why bother wearing gloves? -Callum, page 243 Callum’s best friend’s name is Sephy who is a Cross girl and daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country. Callum and Sephy are friends in secret, Sephy’s parents don’t know about their friendship and Callum’s family strongly disapproves. Sephy has a huge impact on Callum’s life. Everything Callum does somehow involves Sephy â€Å"Will Sephy approve of this? † â€Å"What will Sephy think of this? † He is constantly protecting her whether she knows it or not. Well, I said goodbye to Sephy at the beach almost two hours ago, but then I hid in the shadows and followed her home to make sure she got back OK. Then it took me over an hour to walk home. † Callumâ₠¬â„¢s life practically revolves around Sephy. Without her he’d just be another lost nought boy. The biggest change Callum goes through is when Sephy goes to Chivers Boarding School. After a series of events he turns from an innocent lovable boy to a man who has become cold and unfriendly. He grew up to become a totally different person. From a boy who believed change can be achieved through education to a man who was stereotypical: the only way for change is to kill. He no longer loved or become close to anyone. He was a whole new person. Callum McGregor is a boy with a very hard life. Yet, throughout the book Callum shows to be a brave and lovable boy. He handles every situation with ease and proves that racism and prejudice will get them nowhere. He proves to be a great friend, son and brother. Finally showing that he is not just anyone, but an exceptionally gifted boy who proves that change can be achieved through education and knowledge.