The Effects Of Media On Young Audiences - 928 Words

Violence in the media has become a hot topic of discussion due to its potential effects on young audiences. While content on broadcast networks such as ABC and NBC is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), premium channels like the Home Box Office (HBO) do not fall under their jurisdiction and therefore do not need to obey such regulations (Title 47). A prime example of graphic violence on television that falls outside of the FCC’s purview is found in the HBO hit series Game of Thrones. The ninth episode of the third season of Game of Thrones, â€Å"The Rains of Castamere†, is well-known as one of the most violent episodes in the show. This is mostly attributed to a specific scene in this episode, known by the book readers as the Red Wedding. The scene is one of the most violent scenes in all of Game of Thrones history. The Red Wedding scene was quite controversial after it aired in 2013, with some arguing that it was too violent, even for an HBO tel evision show. Others stated that they thought the violence was necessary considering the historical references mentioned, and the way the book was written. I believe that the purpose of the violence and gore found in Game of Thrones, and more specifically â€Å"The Rains of Castamere†, is to replicate the way modern audiences think of the Dark Ages. It also stands to entice the original readers of the novels who would expect the violence of the show to live up to that in the books. The violence in â€Å"The Rains ofShow MoreRelatedHow Do Media Effects Help One Understand The Complexity Of Media Power?1193 Words   |  5 PagesHow do ‘media effects’ help one understand the complexity of media power? If a man is tall enough to be a basketball player, he can be described as robust. But until he helps his basketball team win the game, he will not have any effect. That represents the difference between ‘power’ and ‘effects’. However, there are a number of ways to shoot a ball, and it does not mean winning every time. The complexity of ‘effects’ depends on the undetermined ‘power’. And ‘the concept of power in human affairsRead MoreViolence And Sex On Television898 Words   |  4 Pages Violence and Sex on Television: Effects on the Younger Audience In today’s society, the media is used greatly for communication, advertisement, information, and for numerous other reasons. The world has evolved by technological advances as well as by the type of content that is put out on the internet, radio, and especially on television. In particular, violence and sex are two of the most controversial content types that have been recently used loosely in the present as compared to theRead MoreExploring Why the Mass Media May Exert Only a Limited Influence Over the Audience1307 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Mass Media May Exert Only a Limited Influence Over the Audience Media is the way in which large companies are able to diffuse their choice of information to the public via sources such as television, newspapers and radio stations. It is evident that the media in general has become a major function in most people’s lives and consequently has been blamed fir crime, abortion and the corruption of morals in society. I will attempt to evaluate to what extent the media exerts Read MoreMedia Simply Reflects and Reinforces Existing Social Values Essay1004 Words   |  5 PagesMedia Simply Reflects and Reinforces Existing Social Values There is a notion held by many people that the media has the power to affect our beliefs, attitudes, values and behaviours either directly or indirectly. Many sociologists believe that the media could be extremely powerful and influential because of their technology, economics, and because of the sheer scale of operations. There has been a tremendous amount of research done into the possible short and longRead MoreThe Little Mermaid : A Sociological Idea Essay947 Words   |  4 Pagesequality, one does not need to go far to see how society and media influence our perception of gender. Advertisements in various media persuade its audience to buying their products. However, the means of attracting and persuading the audience can have underlying messages. Even in entertainment for young girls these underlying messages are prevalent. One example is the popular film, The Little Mermaid, in which the main protagonist is a young female. The protagonist gave up her identity to satisfy herRead MoreThe Uses And Gratifications Theory Essay1656 Words   |  7 Pagesuses and gratifications theory has been explored by many a scholar from as early as the 1940’s. While many audience theories focus around what effect media products have on audiences, Chandler (1994) states that instead the uses and gratifications theory focuses on what audiences do with media. Chandler contin ues that this audience model focuses around why and how people select and use media texts in order to fulfil particular social or psychological gratifications. This essay will explore findingsRead MoreHow Cartoon Violence Effect The Youth As An Audience?853 Words   |  4 PagesThree-Part Research Project Part I: Research Question: How does cartoon violence effect the youth as an audience? Work Cited Coyne, Sarah M., and Emily Whitehead. Indirect Aggression In Animated Disney Films. Journal Of Communication 58.2 (2008): 382-395. Film Television Literature Index. Web. 27 Oct. 2015. Kirsh, Steven J., and Paul V. Olczak. Violent Comic Books And Perceptions Of Ambiguous Provocation Situations. Media Psychology 2.1 (2000): 47-62. Film Television Literature Index. Web. 27 OctRead MoreMass Media Communication1719 Words   |  7 PagesDefinition Mass media is a media intended for a large audience. It may take the form of broadcast media, as in the case of television and radio, or print media, like newspapers and magazines. Internet media can also attain mass media status, and many media outlets maintain a web presence to take advantage of the ready availability of Internet in many regions of the world. Some people also refer to it as the â€Å"mainstream media,† referencing the fact that it tends to stick to prominent stories whichRead MoreEssay on Mass Media Society1080 Words   |  5 PagesImpact of Mass Media on Individuals, Society, and Culture Mass media, over the years, has had a profound effect on American society, on its culture, and on the individuals exposed to the media. Mass media is a form of socialization, having a long-term effect on each member of American society. While mass media targets the individual in short-term intervals, the overall influence on them has been established as the consumer moves from one impressionable age category to another. The long or short-Read MoreUnme Jeans Essay765 Words   |  4 Pagessocial media plans should Foley pursue? Why? Based on the information contained within the case study, I believe Foley should pursue the Zwinktopia social media plan. I believe this is her best choice for a number of reasons. First, Zwinktopia users fit the target demographic for the UnME Jeans brand. Its users span the age range she is marketing to—teenage girls. The Forrester Research Study of Interest in Marketer Profiles on Social Networking Sites reported the following: †¢ 68% of young adults

Corporate Social Responsibility ( Csr ) - 1515 Words

We all have responsibilities. It begins with taking care of one’s favorite toys as a child and it grows to encompass more significant aspects of one’s life. The decisions we make, the steps we take and the words we speak are vital elements of our responsibilities. It is a matter of considering the interests of others besides your own. This is the core value of being responsible. The same concept is applicable to corporations and businesses. In other words, businesses are expected to make wise actions when providing services and promoting their company. Over a series of years, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been one of the most debated topics in the business world. That is because CSR has experienced a wide range of acceptability among businesses from denial to conformity in its significant goals. Hundreds of texts were published to draw attention to the major beneficial impacts of CSR to society. The text I chose addresses that businesses need to understand t hat they advance by lifting others. Businesses are not participating enough to give a helping hand to society. There should be an emphasis on how CSR is grounded in the reality of taking small but efficient steps to reach greater changes. CSR is the mission that equally combines three interconnected aspects of society to accomplish a successful transformation from local impacts to global changes. CSR is not an idea of extended responsibility in terms of attending social causes; rather, CSR is a step towards anShow MoreRelatedCorporate Social Responsibility And Csr1566 Words   |  7 PagesSocial responsibility or also called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)- is the firm’s engagement (voluntarily initiated) in and its compliance (legally mandated) to environmental, social, and governance issues (The Foundation, 2014). Also, is based on stakeholder’s needs being financially sustainable, and CSR can come from both corporate or not-to-profit organizations. CSR has se ven categories; Leadership, vision and values; Marketplace activities; Workforce activities; Supply chain activities;Read MoreCorporate Social Responsibility ( Csr )1167 Words   |  5 PagesCorporate Social Responsibility Introduction Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept which is also known as corporate citizenship, corporate conscience or in a simple way a responsible business. It is an integrated concept of self-regulatory business model for any organisation. Corporate Social Responsibility has been in practice for more than fifty years now, which has been adopted not only by domestic companies but also by transnational company with voluntary CSR initiativesRead MoreCsr : Corporate Social Responsibility1598 Words   |  7 Pages CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is defined by many groups like, Tata steel, Coca Cola, Reliance, Videocon etc. Although they all stand for similar meanings connecting to taking responsibilities of the society as a business individual, its definition has been getting broader from a established point of view, corporate social responsibility is a type of business instruction included in a business demonstration. CSR policy functions as a self-regulatoryRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility : Csr1232 Words   |  5 PagesCorporate social responsibility has become a buzzword within the industry in the last few years. Following the financial market crash investors and stakeholders began looking at corporations to act more socially responsible. The meaning of social responsibility differs across regions. Western countries are the ones who are pushing for corporate social responsibility -thesis-- A broad overview at corporate social responsibility (CSR) looks to corporations to make a change in the society or the environmentRead MoreCsr : Corporate Social Responsibility Essay1285 Words   |  6 PagesCSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility and it is a concept with many definitions and practices and also a buzzword in the media. In general, corporate social responsibility is the policies and programs of business corporations which tend to benefit society while improving a corporation’s public image and profitability at the same time. The meaning of it is implemented in different countries and companies differently. Warren Buffet said that it takes 20 years to build a reputation and onlyRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility ( Csr )863 Words   |  4 Pagestechnology in the last century. The term of Corporate Social Responsibility appears more often into public’s concerned and it has become a hot issue in recent years. This essay is going to discuss and provide an overview of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by debate some key issue in this area. 1.2 What is Corporate Social Responsibility? In 1953, Bowen’s Social Responsibility of the Businessman firstly discusses the idea of corporate social responsibility. He states the relationship between societyRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility ( Csr )1314 Words   |  6 PagesSocial responsibility has become a primal interest to the humankind for the past two decades. In the earlier days, the firms and organizations concentrated only on the financial part of the business and ignored the ethical, social and moral sectors. But in the recent times, the businesses are getting a grip of the significance of the social, ecological and environmental effects on their success. This has resulted in the emerging interactions between organizations and social segments thus giving riseRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility ( Csr )1173 Words   |  5 Pages Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is highly important to Millennials. If a company is lacking a CSR plan, now it a good time to start one. Millennials are looking for ways in making a positive impact on the world and are expecting the same from companies. They are looking for companies that contribute to the betterment of communities and the environment. Millennials put great value in supporting such brands, companies and organizations that share these values. Companies without a CSR in placeRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility : Csr979 Words   |  4 PagesThe notion of Corporate Social Responsibility is a phenomenon globally known for many years. In spite of the fact that CSR has been neglected for quite a long time, nowadays several authors deal with this issue, as revealed by the development of theories in recent years concerning the topic. In spite of the fact that there has been a huge growth of literature it is still impossible to simply define CSR. Many definitions trying to capture the concept of CSR exist, but their content varies (MattenRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility ( Csr )1370 Words   |  6 Pagesmore attention on the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The core issue is the appropriate responsibility of business. In as much as firms ought to obey the law, but beyond complete compliance with environmental laws, the question is whether firms have extra social responsibilities to commit part of their resources to environmental preservation voluntarily. This memo provides an exploratory investigation of the link between corporate social responsibility and the benefits accruing to a

Gay Marriage Should be Legal Essay - 1176 Words

There can be no question about the definition of marriage. There is considerable evidence form history, the origins of the word, and even its current legal use. Yet, somehow there is still tension and confusion surrounding the issue of same-sex marriage. As the debate intensifies, emotional ones quickly replace rational thoughts. Lately, homosexuals carry out most of the fight for the right to be married. Of course, there are several other situations, in which people attempt to challenge traditional matrimony. There was the man who tried to marry his horse. Mormons still practice polygamy, but just as these scenarios do not fit the definition of marriage, neither does same-sex marriage. Civil unions were created by certain states to†¦show more content†¦If a state legalizes same-sex marriage, no other state has to recognize it, according to the Defense of Marriage Act. Cultures, Christian religions, and laws still define marriage as the union between one man and one woman. To many people, marriage is a religious institution. Churches became the communal centers of society, because of the growing popularity of Christianity in Middle Age Europe. They began to govern society and started to keep a record of holy matrimonies. Several different religions immigrated to the Americas with the Europeans, but the most common theme was Christianity. Roman Catholics, Quakers, Protestants and Jews, for example, each have their own versions of the bible, but they are all based on Christian beliefs. American Christians accept the definition of marriage as being of one man and one woman, because of their religious teachings. The bible specifically mentions that God does not permit same-sex marriage. Homosexuality was forbidden by most European societies. Since the church was the center of many communities, their rules would preside over the people in fear of the wrath of God. Our laws reflect many traditions of the Church because Christian men founded the United State s. America is still regarded as a Christian nation, because she has implemented holy sacraments, such as marriage into the society. Not every marriage was recorded by the church and before the church beganShow MoreRelatedGay Marriage Should Be Legal1205 Words   |  5 PagesHoward Sociology 1301-93431 Gay Marriage Getting married is something that most people do when they find love, which it is an important event in their life. The GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) community now get the legal right of same-sex marriage, which they have fought for throughout the years; on the other hand, some opponents of same-sex marriage have called for a constitutional change towards it. Although there were some countries that allowed gay marriage before the United StatesRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1159 Words   |  5 PagesAmendment, which puts a ban on gay marriage. This amendment entitles to equal rights to the gay community, ending toleration of discrimination in jobs, r ights protecting gays from hate crimes,rights allowing advancement in government. However, the concept of gay marriage is still not considered a right the American people should extend to homosexuals. II. The vast majority of opponents believe marriage should be between one woman and one man, meaning marriage should be between members of the oppositeRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1574 Words   |  7 Pagesequal rights. Gays and lesbians are consistently denied rights that are typically taken for granted by the average American. Specifically, gay and lesbian couples are denied the right to marry even if they are outstanding citizens. They are held at an unfair disadvantage solely because of their sexual orientation. This discrimination must stop, because gay and lesbian couples are law-abiding citizens too, who should be afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples. Marriage is about love andRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1564 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is marriage? Recently, people argue with respect to the definition of marriage. What happened to marriage? To get married is a very important event for almost everyone. Especially for women, marriage and giv ing a birth could be the two biggest events of their lives. Many people believe that getting married to the one whom he or she loves is natural. However, what do you think if you cannot get married to him or her because it is socially unacceptable? 100 years ago different colored peopleRead MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Legal?778 Words   |  3 PagesShould Gay Marriage Be Legal? â€Å"†¦I now pronounce you husband and wife†¦Ã¢â‚¬  One would normally hear this when attending a wedding. In tradition marriage has been between one male and one female who love each other. But how would one feel if they heard â€Å"I now pronounce you groom and groom† or how about â€Å"†¦bride and bride...†? In the last 50 years the number of same-sex couples has increased. The on-going argument between the government and the people is â€Å"Should gay marriage be legal?† Although some sayRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1126 Words   |  5 PagesJune 26, 2015 for gay marriage to be legal in all fifty states, thirty seven out of the fifty and Washington D.C already legalized gay marriage. Many support gay marriage and many do not, with widespread values and reasons for and against it. Due to religion and rights people across the nation have differing views and opinions of it.In a five to four vote in the Supreme Court gay marriage becam e legalized in all fifty states. Shortly after that a few marriage officiators and marriage licenses peopleRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1179 Words   |  5 PagesGAY MARRIAGES Some states such as Iowa legalized gay marriage through the action of judicial interpretation based on the state’s constitutional stipulations while other states such as Vermont legalized gay marriage through legislation initiatives. These cases demonstrate the government is the sole body that can dictate the validity of whatever is to be regarded as a marriage, and in this case gay marriage. The power to validate marriage is still observed among the private citizens, religious institutionsRead MoreThe Gay Marriage Should Be Legal947 Words   |  4 PagesDefending Gay Marriage During the last few years, homosexuality has become an important issue for debate. Moreover, homosexuals have taken their case further by claiming their right to marry. Same-sex marriage, usually known as â€Å"gay marriage†, is the marriage between two people from the same biological sex (Doskow1). Since 2000, eleven countries have approved the legalization of gay marriage worldwide: Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, ArgentinaRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1480 Words   |  6 PagesNew World Dictionary defines the word married as being husband and wife, yet there are millions of gay activists who are fighting for a new meaning. They believe marriage is more than a piece of paper and a set of rings. The hope is that marriage could be defined as a â€Å"public recognition of a private commitment† or â€Å"emotional, financial, and psychological bond† between two people (Sullivan 53). Gay activists belie ve that taking away the ability to have a publicly recognized relationship or an acceptedRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1351 Words   |  6 Pageshappened for United States, gay marriage became legal in all 50 states. In most states it already was but the remaining 13 became legal this year. There are many concerns regarding gay marriage, and the effects of them involve many legislative, cultural, religious and family issues. Gay marriage is controversial because a lot of people do not approve of it, they think it is immoral, unnatural, and not what the traditional concept of â€Å"marriage† really means. Opponents of gay marriage say it is only meant

Analysis Of The Book The Glass Castle Essay Example For Students

Analysis Of The Book The Glass Castle Essay The power of forgiving As humans, we are entitled to making mistakes in our lives, but by forgiving one free himself from anger. Marianne Williamson wrote this about forgiveness: â€Å" Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.† In the book The Glass Castle undergoes many difficult circumstances in which the act of forgiveness is the only way to be at peace with her family, but more importantly herself. But the real question is does she truly forgive them. Jeanette’s ability to constantly forgive her parents enabled her to have a positive attitude because the negativity was released when she overlooked many situations they placed her in. After the destruction and chaos brought into her life by her parents, Jeanette still managed to find it in her heart to forgive them. From a young age, she experienced broken promises and disappointments. For her 10th birthday Jeanette wanted nothing more than for her father to stop drinking. She claimed â€Å"there was only one thing I truly wanted more, something that I knew would change our lives†. She felt as though her father being sober would help better them as a family. Jeanette wanted was best, and having Rex use the little money they had on alcohol didn’t benefit anyone else. Although, Rex stopped drinking, he soon went back to his old habits, yet another disappointment for Jeanette. Money was tight and it was hard not being able to have food everyday, but it was worse, having to find out that their own mother secretly stashing food for herself. Jeanette states â€Å" Mom kept disappearing under the blanket on the sofa bed†. She also s. .fer and I feel that if there is a crime, a person should be tried fairly and punished†.Aishat’s quote not only portrays the ability to put her sorrow aside to apologize, for such a crime committed by her own child,but also for the benefit of her sake to remove such a burden upon herself to be able to find peace. On the other hand, with such an opposite situation, Phyllis Rodriguez was able to overlook the fact that her son was killed able to come together with Aishat and complete something great; Both were able to come together and do better for not only themselves, but also their community and world. Rodriguez stated, â€Å" I was still in deep grief.. But her suffering is equal to mine†. By saying that their suffering are equal in two completely different circumstances, it allowed both of them to find forgiveness in each other and build a peaceful friendship.

Pivotal Point free essay sample

She slammed down the pencil. Behind tear-filled eyes she proclaims, We’re done with this. I don’t want to do anymore. Her homework would be turned in late and Mr. Barkdoll would be completely oblivious to the story behind the dried tears that dirtied the paper. I have always prided myself on my patience. Having successfully tutored many peers in my classes, who needed just a little guidance, I thought my patience meant something. I was wrong. I had no idea what it really meant to be patient. I would soon learn that patience requires extreme empathy. Patience requires an ability to see a situation through another person’s perspective. Nicole had been a close friend of mine through freshman and sophomore year of high school. In our junior year, we grew ever closer. We spent more time together and began to feel comfortable enough to share sides of our personalities never seen by others. We will write a custom essay sample on Pivotal Point or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For her, this meant showing me how much she struggled with anxiety and math. These two issues, however unrelated they may seem, when combined, produced an almost insurmountable obstacle. With our new closer friendship came my opportunity to try to alleviate her problems. It would be my patience that would help her through finite math and brief calc, and in effect relax her anxiety. I would save the day. Or so I thought. Nicole had always tried her hardest at school. Her work ethic was the antithesis of the average high school student’s. Procrastination was not in her vocabulary. She would spend nights studying for tests that were more than a week away. Homework was paramount; her social life took a back seat. Unfortunately, despite her determination, she just could not overcome math. She would tirelessly study and attempt to understand the material only to end up confused again and again. Luckily, I was there to try to assist her in overcoming this problem. A few months of tutoring passed, and I had helped her improved marginally in her math abilities. One evening, we sat at my dining table, prepping to take down another night’s homework. We were initially optimistic, the air free of tension. We begin the first problem, I work it through with her slowly, step by step. She feigns understanding. I let her attempt the second problem, and after some obvious struggle on her part, I was forced to walk her through the second problem as well. I let her try the third problem, resolved that this will be the problem she will actually be able to do some of on her own. Wrong. She stares at the paper, no words come from her mouth. She is afraid to ask again for help when she hasn’t even done a single step. I sigh a sigh of restrained impatience. Just pivot the rows to get leading ones. I give her instruction but refrain from actually doing the problem. I don’t know how to do that, she mutters shamefully. What? What do you mean? I just taught you how to pivot last week. My patience begins to wane. No†¦ I have never learned this before. We’ve never gone over this. She is also losing patience. Our initial optimism is replaced with frustration. She presses her thumbs into each other, one on top of the other, a sign of anxiety. I flip through her notebook to specific notes from the lecture, proving that we had already learned it. She has no words. I work another problem for her and let her try again, to no avail. This cycle repeats. Each time I grow a little more impatient, and she feels more and more ashamed for her inabilities. Before I know it, she lashes at me for my growing frustrations. I don’t want your help anymore. I can do it on my own. A lie. Her thumbs rub harder and harder. No, we have to do this, the homework is due tomorrow. I insist on continuing. No. You’re making me feel stupid! We’re done with this. I don’t want to do anymore. The tears begin. The tops of her thumbs are raw, bleeding. Where had my patience gone? I was now the reason she was having a meltdown, all because I couldn’t maintain my composure. Little did I know at the time that Nicole had a testable and diagnosable problem called dyscalculia, a disorder similar to the well known dyslexia. The difference lying, obviously, in math rather than reading. Because of this, she had always struggled with math. To put the condition into perspective, she was completely unable to memorize her times tables. She just could not. Along the same lines, she was unable to retain math concepts. I would teach Nicole new math concepts that she would understand for the moment like a clear drawing on beach sand. The tide is ceaseless though, and eventually rises to wipe away any trace of the drawing. The sand becomes completely devoid of any definable features, as if it was never touched. Likewise, after a week or so, Nicole would completely forget any math concept. Many people think that learning is simply something that needs to be worked at and that, if you try hard enough and long enough, you can learn anything. Unfortunately, this is not the universal case. With over six billion people in the world, not everybody has the full capability to learn anything given enough effort. Nicole is an example of this. For many people, learning math is like climbing a rock wall; with enough practice, the nooks and crevasses become ingrained into their memory, and climbing the wall becomes second nature. For Nicole, this rock wall is never the same, its face constantly changes: a new obstacle with every encounter. What I learned from Nicole is that I really did not have patience. I learned that patience is more than just successfully being able to teach your peers; patience means being able to understand and stand by people. When someone is unable to complete a task, or requires hours of persistent help or training, patience helps us empathize with that someone. We must try to see through others’ eyes.

20 Archetypes for People Based on Names

20 Archetypes for People Based on Names 20 Archetypes for People Based on Names 20 Archetypes for People Based on Names By Mark Nichol Various expressions have arisen, sometimes from folkloric or historical origins, to describe types of people by assigning them with personal names. Here are twenty such appellations and their definitions and (sometimes only probable) origins. 1. Average Joe: the average man from a demographic viewpoint; from the ubiquity of the name Joe 2. Chatty Cathy: an annoyingly verbose woman; coined through alliteration and rhyme 3. Debbie Downer: a naysayer or pessimist; coined by joining an alliterative common name with a descriptive label 4. Doubting Thomas: a skeptic; inspired by the name of one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, who refused to believe in Jesus’s resurrection until he saw him 5. Dumb Dora: a dimwitted or foolish woman, from early-twentieth-century slang; coined by joining an alliterative common name with a descriptive label 6. Gloomy Gus: (see â€Å"Debbie Downer†); based on a cartoon character named by joining an alliterative common name with a descriptive label 7. Good-Time Charlie: a hedonist; probably based on a reference in a Damon Runyon story about a speakeasy by that name 8. Handy Andy: a person with useful skills; inspired by rhyming a common name with a descriptive label 9. Jack-the-lad: an arrogant, carefree young man; probably inspired by the name of a thief who became a folk hero because of multiple escapes from prison 10. Joe Blow: (see â€Å"Average Joe†) 11. Joe Cool: someone who presents a fashionable or unflappable persona; probably originated with the name of an alter ego of the character Snoopy in the Peanuts comic strip 12. Joe Six-Pack (or â€Å"Joe Sixpack†): (see â€Å"Average Joe,† imagined as a working-class man who enjoys drinking beer, thus the reference to a six-pack) 13. Mary Sue: any main character in a story who is unrealistically capable and flawless; inspired by the name’s all-American, wholesome, winsome associations 14. Merry Andrew: a clownish person; based on an archetypal clown act 15. Nervous Nellie: a timid, easily upset person of either gender; originally, a reference to a high-strung racehorse, influenced by Old Nell, a name associated with nags, or older horses 16. Peeping Tom: a voyeur; based on an apocryphal story of an onlooker (identified with a common name) during the based-in-fact tale of Lady Godiva 17. plain Jane: a girl or woman of average appearance, or any unprepossessing object; inspired by rhyming a common name with a descriptive label 18. Simple Simon: a gullible, unintelligent person; derived from a folk character 19. Smart Aleck (or â€Å"smart alec†): a know-it-all; apparently inspired by a nineteenth-century con man the police called â€Å"Smart Alec† 20. Typhoid Mary: a person who spreads disease or another undesirable thing; named after Mary Mallon, an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartHow to Pronounce Mobile10 Tips for Clean, Clear Writing

The Domestication and History of Modern Horses

The Domestication and History of Modern Horses The modern domesticated horse (Equus caballus) is today spread throughout the world and among the most diverse creatures on the planet. In North America, the horse was part of the megafaunal extinctions at the end of the Pleistocene. Two wild subspecies survived until recently, the Tarpan (Equus ferus ferus, died out ca 1919) and Przewalskis Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii, of which there are a few left). Horse history, especially the timing of the domestication of the horse, is still being debated, partly because the evidence for domestication itself is debatable. Unlike other animals, criteria such as changes in body morphology (horses are extremely diverse) or the location of a particular horse outside of its normal range (horses are very widespread) are not useful in helping resolve the question. Evidence for Horse Domestication The earliest possible hints for domestication would be the presence of what appears to be a set of postmolds with lots of animal dung within the area defined by the posts, which scholars interpret as representing a horse pen. That evidence has been found at Krasnyi Yar in Kazakhstan, in portions of the site dating to as early as 3600 BC. The horses may have been kept for food and milk, rather than riding or load-bearing. Accepted archaeological evidence of horseback riding includes bit wear on horse teeth- that has been found in the steppes east of the Ural mountains at Botai and Kozhai 1 in modern Kazakhstan, around 3500-3000 BC. The bit wear was only found on a few of the teeth in the archaeological assemblages, which might suggest that a few horses were ridden to hunt and collect wild horses for food and milk consumption. Finally, the earliest direct evidence of the use of horses as beasts of burden- in the form of drawings of horse-drawn chariots- is from Mesopotamia, about 2000 BC. Krasnyi Yar includes over 50 residential pithouses, adjacent to which have been found dozens of postmolds. The postmolds- archaeological remnants of where posts have been set in the past- are arranged in circles, and these are interpreted as evidence of horse corrals. Horse History and Genetics Genetic data, interestingly enough, has traced all extant domesticated horses to one founder stallion, or to closely related male horses with the same Y haplotype. At the same time, there is a high matrilineal diversity in both domestic and wild horses. At least 77 wild mares would be required to explain the diversity of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in current horse populations, which probably means quite a few more. A 2012 study (Warmuth and colleagues) combining archaeology, mitochondrial DNA, and Y-chromosomal DNA supports the domestication of horse as occurring once, in the western part of the Eurasian steppe, and that because of the horses wild natures, several repeated introgression events (restocking of horse populations by adding wild mares), must have occurred. As identified in earlier studies, that would explain the diversity of mtDNA. Three Strands of Evidence for Domesticated Horses In a paper published in Science in 2009, Alan K. Outram and colleagues looked at three strands of evidence supporting horse domestication at Botai culture sites: shin bones, milk consumption, and bitwear. These data support domestication of the horse between about 3500-3000 BC sites in what is today Kazakhstan. Horses skeletons at Botai Culture sites have gracile metacarpals. The horses metacarpals- the shins or cannon bones- are used as key indicators of domesticity. For whatever reason (and I wont speculate here), shins on domestic horses are thinner- more gracile- than those of wild horses. Outram et al. describe the shinbones from Botai as being closer in size and shape to those of Bronze age (fully domesticated) horses compared to wild horses. Fatty lipids of horse milk were found inside of pots. Although today it seems a bit weird to westerners, horses were kept for both their meat and milk in the past- and still are in the Kazakh region as you can see from the photograph above. Evidence of horse milk was found at Botai in the form of fatty lipid residues on the insides of ceramic vessels; further, evidence for consumption of horse meat has been identified at Botai culture horse and rider burials. Bit wear is in evidence on horse teeth. Researchers noted bitting wear on horses teeth- a vertical strip of wear on the outside of horses premolars, where the metal bit damages the enamel when it sits between the cheek and tooth. Recent studies (Bendrey) using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis found microscopic-sized fragments of iron embedded on Iron Age horse teeth, resulting from metal bit use. White Horses and History White horses have had a special place in ancient history-according to Herodotus, they were held as sacred animals in the Achaemenid court of Xerxes the Great (ruled 485-465 BC). White horses are associated with the Pegasus myth, the unicorn in the Babylonian myth of Gilgamesh, Arabian horses, Lipizzaner stallions, Shetland ponies, and Icelandic pony populations. The Thoroughbred Gene A recent DNA study (Bower et al.) examined the DNA of Thoroughbred racing horses and identified the specific allele which drives their speed and precocity. Thoroughbreds are a specific breed of horse, all of whom today are descended from the children of one of three foundation stallions: Byerley Turk (imported to England in the 1680s), Darley Arabian (1704) and Godolphin Arabian (1729). These stallions are all of Arab, Barb and Turk origin; their descendants are from one of only 74 British and imported mares. Horse breeding histories for Thoroughbreds have been recorded in the General Stud Book since 1791, and the genetic data certainly supports that history. Horse races in the 17th and 18th centuries ran 3,200-6,400 meters (2-4 miles), and horses were usually five or six years old. By the early 1800s, the Thoroughbred was bred for traits that enabled speed and stamina over distances from 1,600-2,800 meters at three years of age; since the 1860s, the horses have been bred for shorter races (1,000-1400 meters) and younger maturity, at 2 years. The genetic study looked at the DNA from hundreds of horses and identified the gene as C type myostatin gene variant, and came to the conclusion that this gene originated from a single mare, bred to one of the three founder male horses about 300 years ago. See Bower et al for additional information. Thistle Creek DNA and Deep Evolution In 2013, researchers led by Ludovic Orlando and Eske Willerslev of the Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark and University of Copenhagen (and reported in Orlando et al. 2013) reported on a metapodial horse fossil which had been found in permafrost within a Middle Pleistocene context in the Yukon territory of Canada and dated between 560,00-780,000 years ago. Amazingly, the researchers found that there were sufficiently intact molecules of collagen within the matrix of the bone to enable them to map the Thistle Creek horses genome. The researchers then compared the Thistle Creek specimen DNA to that of an Upper Paleolithic horse, a modern donkey, five modern domestic horse breeds, and one modern Przewalskis horse. Orlando and Willerslevs team found that over the past 500,000 years, horse populations have been enormously sensitive to climate change and that extremely low population sizes are associated with warming events. Further, using the Thistle Creek DNA as a baseline, they were able to determine that all modern existing equids (donkeys, horses, and zebras) originated from a common ancestor some 4-4.5 million years ago. In addition, Przewalskis horse diverged from the breeds which became domestic some 38,000-72,000 years ago, confirming the long-held belief that Przewalskis is the last remaining wild horse species. Sources Bendrey R. 2012. From wild horses to domestic horses: a European perspective. World Archaeology 44(1):135-157. Bendrey R. 2011. 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