Friday, August 21, 2020

How to Write a Transgendered Essay Topic

How to Write a Transgendered Essay TopicTransgendered essay topics are becoming more common, and a lot of people use them as examples in their school writing assignments. What makes this kind of essay more challenging is that there is no single way to write about a transgendered individual, but there are many different options that could be used. So how do you go about using these essay topics?The first thing to do is think about the topic itself. Do you want to write about an individual whose gender identity is that of the other sex, or do you want to write about someone who identifies with a gender opposite to the one they were assigned at birth? Perhaps you will want to write about a transgendered individual that did not live as the gender they were assigned at birth, or even about a transgendered individual that did not live as the gender they identify with now. There are many different types of transgender topics, and you should choose one that best suits your personal needs.The re are also many different essay topics that are still more traditional, and thus should not be used as an example. These can include general topics such as sports, celebrities, and computer games. While these might seem like easy topics to write about, they have specific rules that you should follow, depending on how they apply to the subject. For example, writing about sports and celebrities is fine, but writing about someone who plays a sport as the other sex is not. You need to make sure that your essay is focused on what the topic has to say.When you are thinking about essay topics for a class, it is important to realize that many different people will be reading them. As such, it is important to know how to tailor your topic to the people who will be reading it. Sometimes this means creating a general idea and then going from there, but other times you need to think of ways to express the specific ideas that the people who are reading it are thinking about.Transgendered essay topics are usually not very long, and they can be created with the aid of several different styles. Generally, you should try to come up with a longer topic, based on the number of readers who will be reading your essay. Your topic should have a lot of content, and it should be something that you have discussed among your peers or with the instructor at some point in the semester. This will give you an idea of how your topic should be written, and what your guidelines should be.Once you have decided on the main idea for your essay, you should get to work coming up with ways to express that idea in words. In addition to writing about the topic itself, you will want to come up with ways to convey the particular ideas that the people who will be reading it are likely to have in mind. After all, this is their assignment, and so they should feel as though they are getting a fair amount of information in their work.Transgendered essay topics can be written using many different types of wr iting tools. However, the two that are most commonly used for transgendered subjects are the essay and the short story. These are both excellent writing techniques, but you should try to stay away from your main topic. This is because when the essay focuses solely on the topic, it will not help the reader to understand the reasons for the essay, nor will it be able to help the reader to relate to the subject.Transgendered essay topics are great for students because it allows them to express their ideas without using anything they have seen in the classroom. This type of essay is designed to be unique, and therefore is not something that other students are used to writing. Since the content is a bit more abstract, it will be more likely to be read by your classmates, which will mean more attention for your work.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The History and Invention of Pottery

Of all the kinds of artifacts which may be found at archaeological sites, ceramics--objects made from fired clay--are surely one of the most useful. Ceramic artifacts are extremely durable and may last thousands of years virtually unchanged from the date of manufacture. And, ceramic artifacts, unlike stone tools, are completely person-made, shaped of clay and purposely fired. Clay figurines are known from the earliest human occupations; but clay vessels, pottery vessels used for storing, cooking and serving food, and carrying water were first manufactured in China at least 20,000 years ago. Yuchanyan and Xianrendong Caves Recently redated ceramic sherds from the Paleolithic/Neolithic cave site of Xianrendong in the Yangtse Basin of central China in Jiangxi province hold the earliest established dates, at 19,200-20,900 cal BP years ago. These pots were bag-shaped and coarse-pasted, made of local clay with inclusions of quartz and feldspar, with plain or simply decorated walls. The second oldest pottery in the world is from Hunan Province, at the karst cave of Yuchanyan. In sediments dated between 15,430 and 18,300 calendar years before the present (cal BP) were found sherds from at least two pots. One was partially constructed, and it was a wide-mouthed jar with a pointed bottom that looks very much like the Incipient Jomon pot illustrated in the photograph and about 5,000 years younger. The Yuchanyan sherds are thick (up to 2 cm) and coarsely pasted, and decorated with cord-marks on the interior and exterior walls. The Kamino Site in Japan The next earliest sherds are from the Kamino site in southwestern Japan. This site has a stone tool assemblage which appears to classify it as late Paleolithic, called Pre-ceramic in Japanese archaeology to separate it from the Lower Paleolithic cultures of Europe and the mainland. At the Kamino site in addition to a handful of potsherds were found micro blades, wedge-shaped microcores, spearheads and other artifacts similar to assemblages at Pre-ceramic sites in Japan dated between 14,000 and 16,000 years before the present (BP). This layer is stratigraphically below a securely dated Initial Jomon culture occupation of 12,000 BP. The ceramic sherds are not decorated and are very small and fragmentary. Recent thermoluminescence dating of the sherds themselves returned a 13,000-12,000 BP date. Jomon Culture Sites Ceramic sherds are also found, also in small quantities, but with a bean-impression decoration, in a half-dozen sites of the Mikoshiba-Chojukado sites of southwestern Japan, also dated to the late Pre-ceramic period. These pots are bag-shaped but somewhat pointed at the bottom, and sites with these sherds include the Odaiyamamoto and Ushirono sites, and Senpukuji Cave. Like those of the Kamino site, these sherds are also quite rare, suggesting that although the technology was known to the Late Pre-ceramic cultures, it just was not terribly useful to their nomadic lifestyle. In contrast, ceramics were very useful indeed to the Jomon peoples. In Japanese, the word Jomon means cord-mark, as in cord-marked decoration on pottery. The Jomon tradition is the name given to hunter-gatherer cultures in Japan from about 13,000 to 2500 BP, when migrating populations from the mainland brought full-time wet rice agriculture. For the entire ten millennia, the Jomon peoples used ceramic vessels for storage and cooking. Incipient Jomon ceramics are identified by patterns of lines applied onto a bag-shaped vessel. Later, as on the mainland, highly decorated vessels were also manufactured by the Jomon peoples. By 10,000 BP, the use of ceramics is found throughout mainland China, and by 5,000 BP ceramic vessels are found throughout the world, both independently invented in the Americas or spread by diffusion into the middle eastern Neolithic cultures. Porcelain and High-Fired Ceramics The first high-fired glazed ceramics were produced in China, during the  Shang  (1700-1027 BC) dynasty period. At sites such as Yinxu and Erligang, high-fired ceramics appear in the 13th-17th centuries BC. These pots were made from a local clay, washed with wood ash and fired in kilns to temperatures of between 1200 and 1225 degrees Centigrade to produce a high fired lime-based glaze. Shang and Zhou dynasty potters continued to refine the technique, testing different clays and washes, eventually leading to the development of true porcelain. See Yin, Rehren and Zheng 2011. By the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), the first mass pottery manufacturing kilns were begun at the imperial  Jingdezhen  site, and the beginning of export trade of Chinese porcelain to the rest of the world opened up.   Sources Boaretto E, Wu X, Yuan J, Bar-Yosef O, Chu V, Pan Y, Liu K, Cohen D, Jiao T, Li S et al. 2009. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal and bone collagen associated with early pottery at Yuchanyan Cave, Hunan Province, China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106(24):9595-9600. Chi Z, and Hung H-C. 2008. The Neolithic of Southern China–Origin, Development, and Dispersal. Asian Perspectives 47(2):299-329. Cui J, Rehren T, Lei Y, Cheng X, Jiang J, and Wu X. 2010. Western technical traditions of pottery making in Tang Dynasty China: chemical evidence from the Liquanfang Kiln site, Xian city. Journal of Archaeological Science 37(7):1502-1509. Cui JF, Lei Y, Jin ZB, Huang BL, and Wu XH. 2009. Lead Isotope Analysis Of Tang Sancai Pottery Glazes From Gongyi Kiln, Henan Province And Huangbao Kiln, Shaanxi Province. Archaeometry 52(4):597-604. Demeter F, Sayavongkhamdy T, Patole-Edoumba E, Coupey A-S, Bacon A-M, De Vos J, Tougard C, Bouasisengpaseuth B, Sichanthongtip P, and Duringer P. 2009. Tam Hang Rockshelter: Preliminary Study of a Prehistoric Site in Northern Laos. Asian Perspectives 48(2):291-308. Liu L, Chen X, and Li B. 2007. Non-state crafts in the early Chinese state: an archaeological view from the Erlitou hinterland. Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association 27:93-102. Lu TL-D. 2011. Early pottery in south China. Asian Perspectives 49(1):1-42. Mà ©ry S, Anderson P, Inizan M-L, Lechevallier, Monique, and Pelegrin J. 2007. A pottery workshop with flint tools on blades knapped with copper at Nausharo (Indus Journal of Archaeological Science 34:1098-1116.civilisation, ca. 2500 BC). Prendergast ME, Yuan J, and Bar-Yosef O. 2009. Resource intensification in the Late Upper Paleolithic: a view from southern China. Journal of Archaeological Science 36(4):1027-1037. Shennan SJ, and Wilkinson JR. 2001. Ceramic Style Change and Neutral Evolution: A Case Study from Neolithic Europe. American Antiquity 66(4):5477-5594. Wang W-M, Ding J-L, Shu J-W, and Chen W. 2010. Exploration of early rice farming in China. Quaternary International 227(1):22-28. Yang X-Y, Kadereit A, Wagner GA, Wagner I, and Zhang J-Z. 2005. TL and IRSL dating of Jiahu relics and sediments: clue of 7th millennium BC civilization in central China. Journal of Archaeological Science 32(7):1045-1051. Yin M, Rehren T, and Zheng J. 2011. The earliest high-fired glazed ceramics in China: the composition of the proto-porcelain from Zhejiang during the Shang and Zhou periods (c. 1700-221 BC). Journal of Archaeological Science 38(9):2352-2365.

Friday, May 15, 2020

The Pay Gap Narrowed Between Men And Women - 2050 Words

Has the Pay Gap Narrowed Between Men and Women in the United States? For many years in the United States, women have been faced with equality issues. Men were regarded as superior, which made women feel inferior and insignificant. One place this has occurred is the workplace. This type of inequality dates backs centuries and comes from the common belief that since men were the breadwinners, women should take care of the home and children. As a result, men were believed to be more efficient in their careers. This is also known as systemic discrimination (Kennedy et al., 2008). When women were given the right to vote, they began to progress and take their place in the workforce. As they increased in numbers, there became a need to for fair†¦show more content†¦Take law enforcement, for instance, where the police officers were solely male. If a male and female police officer passes boot camp and accepts all the risks associated with the job, shouldn’t they both be paid equal wages at the start of the job? Are gender differences a signifi cant factor in determining starting salaries? It is my belief that a woman is a person just like a man, and if they’re able to get the job done efficiently and effectively, they should be paid accordingly. Equal pay for equal work is an important issue. How gender influences pay is an interesting topic to explore given the laws in place to prevent pay inequality. The bigger issue is why employers are allowing this discrimination to continue in the 21st century. A Review of the Literature In the United States, the income disparity between men and women is often referred to as the â€Å"gender wage gap† (Meng, 2004). The U.S. Census Bureau collects data to compare the median wages of males and females. Generally the gender wage gap is expressed as a percentage of male to female earnings of full-time workers. Historically, â€Å"female employees earned significantly less than male employees for similar work† (Pagan, 2008). According to Teichgraeber (2004) the â€Å"the wage gap between men and women is narrower

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Sociology Is The Study Of Individuals In Groups In A...

Sociology is the study of individuals in groups in a systematic way. It is an intricate set of styles and approaches trying to perceive society. (Burgess and Murcott, 2001). As a result, many perceptions have arisen over the last centuries. Many methodologies have been debated and discussed. Challenging these assumptions will in turn, cause for quantitative and qualitative based research on the struggle to gain a firm grip on how society works. As a result, there are different sociological perspectives that hold valued theories in society. In this essay three perspectives will be assessed. How society operates in the view of these perspectives. Also, scrutinizing theories on the subject ‘crime and deviance’ aiming to outline how each†¦show more content†¦Marx’s argues that laws are passed by state government, reflecting the interests of ruling class ideology, rather an authoritarian consensus. As follows a false commitment is shared by society as a whole considering laws only benefit the ruling minority. (Haralambos and Holborn, 1980). A classic case study portraying this argument is Stuart Hall’s ‘policing the crisis’. Hall raises the argument of ‘mugging’; a new term from America that was used by the media to label an attempted robbery, murder scene in 1972 In Britain. He argued the term is now affixed to any type of crime particularly applied at black youth. From that point onwards it becomes symptomatic of a ‘moral panic’. (Hall et al, 1978). Furthermore, Halls statistics show the term ‘mugging’ appearing 60 times in newspapers the following year. (Hall et al, 1978) It can be said that the media’s moral panics, run by the ideology of the ruling class, camouflaged the economic crisis that emerged during the 1970’s. Subsequently, the moral panics allowed the state to enforce policing methods legitimising random stops targeting black youths. Thus, more control over the subject class. Social action theories offer a drastic alternative view on society to the above. Interpretative perspective emphasis is on individuals action, rather than the deterministic approach structured by social systems, social action focuses on small scaleShow MoreRelatedSociology Of Education As A Social Institution1489 Words   |  6 PagesSociology of education The sociology of education is a diverse and vibrant subfield that features theory and research focused on how education as a social institution is affected by and affects other social institutions and the social structure overall, and how various social forces shape the policies, practices, and outcomes of schooling (www.thoughtco.com). Sociology of education is the systematic study of educational system within the broader social context. At the heart of sociology is a specialRead MoreSociology as a Science Essay1149 Words   |  5 Pages Sociology emerged in the eighteenth century after a period of intense cultural, social and economic changes. As people began to try to understand these changes, there came a period called the Enlightenment. This is also considered by Hamilton (1992) to be a â€Å"time characterised by the development of distinctively modern forms of thought about society and the realm of the social.† The Enlightenment encouraged a new way of thinking marked by application of reason, experienceRead MoreSociology and the Education System in America Essay1154 Words   |  5 Pagesdefinition of Sociology is that it is the study of human societies through the synthesis of theoretical analysis and controlled research, focusing on the social patterns and forces that influence humans. The study of sociology is the issues, concepts, investigations, and more importantly, the systematic study of relationships among people. While the study of sociology focuses on groups, or society as a whole, it should not exclude an emphasis on individuals because individuals forms groups and groupsRead MoreThe Forest, The Trees, And The One Thing By Allan G. Johnson1613 Words   |  7 Pagesstatus that every person falls into. To escape it would be impossible as society itself is the interweaving lives, systems, beliefs and ideas that every individual contributes to and experiences. Without a contextual perspective, comprehending one’s place in society while in the chaos of personal and widespread clashes is challenging. Sociology and, thus, the sociological perspective allows people to understand the threads that connect them to someone else or to the institutes that surround themRead MoreWhat Is the Importance of Studying Sociology?967 Words   |  4 Pagesstudying sociology? Of the various social sciences, sociology seems to be the youngest. It is gradually developing. Still it has remarkable progress. Its uses are recognized widely today. In modern times, there is a growing realization of the importance of the scientific study of social phenomena and the means of promoting what Prof. Giddings calls human adequacy (human welfare). The study of sociology has a great value especially in modern complex society. Some of the uses of sociology are asRead MoreSociology : Defining Human Behavior961 Words   |  4 PagesSociology: Defining Human Behavior In this paper we will discuss how sociology helps us to understand how human behavior is influenced by social and cultural forces and also, how society and culture are influenced by individual behavior. Sociology provides ways to understand why and how society functions. We ask ourselves how sociology helps us to understand how human behavior is guided by social and cultural forces. First of all, let us look at how sociology is defined. Sociology is definedRead MoreThe Core Concepts Of Sociology1578 Words   |  7 PagesThe core concepts of sociology are a combination of original theories with improved sociological approaches that build upon them over time. Sociology utilizes three main theories to approach the study of society with different focus points that result in different outcomes. Furthermore, as stated by Robert Faris and William Form from britannica â€Å"The early schools of thought each presented a systematic formulation of sociology that implied possession of exclusive truth and that involved a convictionRead MoreThe Importance Of Interpersonal Skills On The Workplace1695 Words   |  7 Pagesbehavior is â€Å"a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations, for applying such knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness† (Robbins 10). 3. How does systematic study contribute to our understanding of OB? Fundamental consistencies predict the behavior of employees in the workplace. In organizational behavior, a systematic study is used to make accurate predictions. A systematic study looks at relationshipsRead MoreSociology : Defining Human Behavior948 Words   |  4 Pages Sociology: Defining Human Behavior Sociology helps us to understand how human behavior is influenced by social and cultural forces and also, how society and culture are influenced by individual behavior. Providing ways to understand why and how society functions, we ask ourselves how sociology helps us to understand how human behavior is guided by social and cultural forces. First of all, let us look at the meaning of sociology: â€Å"the systematic study of the development, structure, interactionRead MorePsychological Perspectives On Studying Juvenile Delinquency And Disorder Behavior1642 Words   |  7 Pagessociological approaches to studying juvenile delinquency are necessary. This essay starts with outlining and defining disorderly behaviour and juvenile delinquency. Then, it will look at the work of Eysenck, the Cambridge Study of Delinquent Development research which was a longitude study and the Integrated Cognitive Antisocial Potential theory by Farrington, all fit in psychological approach; studying the connection between personality and disorder. It will then look at Sociological approach by looking

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Logo Design and Corporate Identity †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Logo Design and Corporate Identity. Answer: Introduction: The 2 elements I used mainly are letters and shapes. Letters used indicate the name of the restaurant and are placed at the bottom of the logo. Shapes were used to show the figure of a person holding a cup. This figure is a representation of a customer which gives viewers a sense of comfort. Shapes and curves were used to create the key objects in the map which include the cup, hands, and other parts of the main figure. Two principles of design considered in the logo are unity and emphasis. The elements of the logo from the logo art to the letters are organized in a manner that evokes a feeling of harmony between the elements which shows the completeness of the logo. Based on how the logo elements are connected especially the link between the person holding the cup and the coffee, viewers can perceive the unity of the logo. The logo incorporates emphasis as it uses contrasting colors which make one area to stand out from the rest. For example, the text on the logo has an orange color while the background has a white color. The contrast between the two makes the text stand out in the logo. Also, the cup has a dark brown color and is displayed against a bright orange background and is adjacent to an element with a light brown color. The color contrast between these elements embodies the emphasis aspect of design which is used to grab viewers attention (Lidwell, 2010). Color Theory The logo incorporates different colors which are defining factor in human response. The colors are meant to infer a meaning of the logo. The colors used in the logo include brown, and orange. Each of these colors has an implication on the design as they play an instrumental role in enhancing specific logo elements and convey the overall message of the logo (Chapman, 2010). Based on the logo design, bright colors are used to grab viewers attention while dark colors reinforce visibility of the logo elements. The main colors used carry different connotations which convey the meaning of the logo to the target audience. Different shades of the orange color are used to highlight different elements in the logo. A light shade of orange is used for the text color and a slightly dark shade is used for clothing on the main figure on the logo. Orange color which is seen the color of communication. In this context, it represents the uniqueness of beverages sold at the restaurant. It also indicates affordability which could be the perception that the designer wants the audience to have. A white color to highlight the steam from the cup. It contrasts the light brown background which make the steam more visible. In the logo design, white color is associated with simplicity (Agoston, 2013). The white background makes the logo elements stand out. Different shades of brown are used to highlight different logo elements including cup, hair, and color skin. The color brown is considered to a friendly color that relates to comfort hence convey the service offered. The color combination in this logo design creates a contrasting outlook which makes the elements more visible. These associations also give the logo a unique meaning which aligns with the brand identity. The color choice is perfect and has an overall impact on the design particularly influencing interaction between shapes and text elements in the logo. Propottions AMD Ratios The foremost principle considered in the logo design is the size of the logo elements (Ad, 2012). The text indicating the name of the restaurant has a large font and is easily readable. Proportions of the logo elements are large enough to be visible. Within the bounds of the elements, there is space allocated which enhances the design. For example, the text element is separated from the logo art by a narrow white spacing. Looking at the text, it is apparent that it is united with the other logo elements despite the space. The couple of letters in the text have less space between them which is a good idea as it keeps them together. Also, the size of the letters balances the design. The letter size used is the best text proportion, where both the logo art and text can be of equal importance. The logo design aligns with the rule of thirds. When divided into three sections horizontally and vertically, lines highlight key visual elements in the logo. When rule of thirds grid are used, the logo is indicated to have an asymmetrical appearance which enables it to feel balanced. The logo also aligns with golden ratio. The bottom of the main figure in the logo is an arc. The hair outline is also created by two separate arcs with different radii and a midpoint is visible. Since the curves are almost circular, circles can be used to create the logo. Reference List Ad, G., Adr, V., Pascu, N. E. (2012). Logo design and the corporate identity.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,51, 650-654. Agoston, G. A. (2013).Color theory and its application in art and design(Vol. 19). Springer. Chapman, C. (2010). Color theory for designers, part 1: The meaning of color.Smashing Magazine. Kaukab Yaseen. (2015, Nov 2). Illustrator Tutorial | Coffee Cup Illustration. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oksaqp9zzCU Lidwell, W., Holden, K., Butler, J. (2010). Universal principles of design: 125 ways to enhance usability, influence perception, increase appeal make better decisions, and teach through design.Beverly, MA: Rockport Publishers.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Thomas Edison Essays - Thomas Edison, Edison And Ford Winter Estates

Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, the youngest of seven children born to Samuel and Nancy Elliott Edison. He began to lose his hearing after having scarlet fever as a young child. As he grew older his deafness increased until finally he was totally deaf in his left year and had only 10% hearing in his right ear. Edison did not consider this a "handicap" and said that it was rather an advantage as it gave him more time to think because he did not have to listen to foolish "small talk." By 1862 young "Al," as his father called him, was printing, publishing and selling The Weekly Herald on a train of the Grand Trunk Railroad out of Port Huron, Michigan. This was the first newspaper printed on a moving train. Later he learned to be a telegraph operator and worked at that trade throughout the Central Western states as well as Canada, always studying and experimenting to improve the equipment. In 1868 Edison made his first patented invention, the Electrical Vote Recorder. Congress was apparently not interested in purchasing this as it counted votes too quickly. Edison vowed he would never again invent anything unless there was a "commercial demand" for it. at age 23 Edison sold his first invention, a Universal Stock Ticker, to General Lefferts, the head of the Gold and Stock Telegraph Co. Edison had decided that the invention was worth $5,000 but was ready to accept $3,000 when Lefferts said, "How would $40,000 strike you? In later years Edison reported that he had almost fainted, but managed to stammer that the offer seemed fair enough. That money was used to set up Edison's first business. Thomas Edison married Mary Stilwell on Christmas Day, 1871. He was 24 years old and she was 16. They had three children: Marion, born in 1873, Thomas, 1876 and William, 1878. Edison's wife died in 1884 from the after-effects of typhoid fever. Thomas Edison's interests varied widely and he received patents in many areas. For example, in 1876 he patented his electric pen which was later used in mimeograph systems and in 1877 he applied for a patent on a carbon telephone transmitter that led to a commercial telephone and later radio broadcasting. Considered his most original invention, the phonograph was patented in 1878. Edison sketched out this new and different idea he had, handed it to two men who worked in his shop, John Kuresi and Charles Batchelor, and they made the machine. Edison took tin foil, wrapped it around the cylinder and casually said, "This machine is going to talk." He recited "Mary had a little lamb" into the strange device and to everyone's amazement (even Edison's) the machine repeated the words exactly. Edison did not return to his work on the phonograph for another ten years for his mind and efforts were occupied with the development of his most well-known invention, the incandescent light bulb patented in 1879. In 1885 while searching for the perfect material for the light bulb filament Edison discovered Fort Myers, Florida. Following the trail of bamboo up the Caloosahatchee River, Edison and his friend Ezra Gilliland fell in love with the sleepy little village. Together they purchased land far from the bustling center of town, 1-? miles down a cattle trail. Their two homes were built on the riverfront property, mirror images of each other, plus a laboratory so that Edison could have "working vacations." The lumber for the entire project was pre-cut in Maine and shipped to Fort Myers by schooner. The Gillilands were also responsible for introducing Edison to his second wife, Mina Miller. The Edisons were married in 1886 and honeymooned in Fort Myers at the Keystone Hotel while waiting for the home, now named Seminole Lodge, to be completed. Thomas and Mina also had three children: Madeleine, born in 1888, Charles, 1890, and Theodore, 1898. Unfortunately, Edison and Gilliland had a falling out and for 14 years Edison did not come back to his Florida home. By 1906, however, Edison had purchased the Gilliland home, made renovations to both sites and again began spending his winters at Seminole Lodge until his

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Biography of Fidel Castro, Cuban President for 50 Years

Biography of Fidel Castro, Cuban President for 50 Years Fidel Castro (August 13, 1926–November 25, 2016) took control of Cuba by force in 1959 and remained its dictatorial leader for nearly five decades. As the leader of the only communist country in the Western Hemisphere, Castro was long the focus of international controversy. Fast Facts: Fidel Castro Known For: President of Cuba, 1959–2008  Born: August 13, 1926 in the province of Orient, CubaParents: ngel Maria Bautista Castro y Argiz and Lina Ruz GonzlezDied: November 25, 2016 in Havana, Cuba  Education: Colegio de Dolores in Santiago de Cuba, Colegio de Belà ©n, University of HavanaSpouse(s): Mirta Diaz-Balart (m. 1948–1955), Dalia Soto del Valle (1980–2016); Partners: Naty Revuelta (1955–1956), Celia Snchez, others.  Children: One son Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart (known as Fidelito, 1949–2018) with Diaz-Balart; five sons (Alexis, Alexander, Alejandro, Antonio, and ngel) with Soto del Valle; one daughter (Alina Fernandez) with Naty Revuelta Early Life Fidel Castro was born Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz on August 13, 1926 (some sources say 1927) near his fathers farm, Birn, in southeast Cuba in what was then the Oriente Province. Castros father ngel Maria Bautista Castro y Argiz came to Cuba from Spain to fight in the Spanish American War and stayed. ngel Castro prospered as a sugarcane farmer, eventually owning 26,000 acres. Fidel was the third of seven children born to Lina Ruz Gonzlez, who worked for ngel Castro as a maid and cook. At the time, the elder Castro was married to Maria Luisa Argota, but that marriage eventually ended and then ngel and Lina married. Fidels full siblings were Ramon, Raà ºl, Angela, Juanita, Emma, and Agustina. Fidel spent his youngest years on his fathers farm, and at the age of 6 he began school at Colegio de Dolores in Santiago de Cuba, transferring to the Colegio de Belà ©n, an exclusive Jesuit high school in Havana. Becoming a Revolutionary In 1945, Fidel Castro started work on a law degree at the University of Havana, where he excelled at oratory and quickly became involved in politics. In 1947, Castro joined the Caribbean Legion, a group of political exiles from Caribbean countries who planned to rid the Caribbean of dictator-led governments. When Castro joined, the Legion was planning to overthrow Generalissimo Rafael Trujillo of the Dominican Republic, but the plan was later canceled because of international pressure. In 1948, Castro traveled to Bogot, Colombia with plans to disrupt the Pan-American Union Conference, when country-wide riots broke out in response to the assassination of Jorge Eliecer Gaitn. Castro grabbed a rifle and joined the rioters. While handing out anti-U.S. pamphlets to the crowds, Castro gained first-hand experience of popular uprisings. After returning to Cuba, Castro married fellow student Mirta Diaz-Balart in October 1948. Castro and Mirta had one child together, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart (known as Fidelito, 1949–2018). Castro vs. Batista In 1950, Castro graduated from law school and began practicing law. Retaining a strong interest in politics, Castro became a candidate for a seat in Cubas House of Representatives during the election of June 1952. However, before the elections could be held, a successful coup led by General Fulgencio Batista toppled the previous Cuban government, canceling the elections. From the beginning of Batistas rule, Castro fought against him. At first, Castro took to the courts to try legal means to oust Batista. However, when that failed, Castro began to organize an underground group of rebels. Castro Attacks the Moncada Barracks On the morning of July 26, 1953, Castro, his brother Raà ºl, and a group of about 160 armed men attacked the second-largest military base in Cuba- the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. Confronted with hundreds of trained soldiers at the base, there was little chance that the attack could have succeeded. Sixty of Castros rebels were killed; Castro and Raà ºl were captured and then given a trial. After delivering a speech at his trial which ended with, Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me, Castro was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was released two years later, in May 1955. The 26th of July Movement Upon his release, Castro went to Mexico where he spent the next year organizing the 26th of July Movement (based on the date of the failed Moncada Barracks attack). There he became involved with Naty Revuelta, a Cuban fellow fighter against Batista. Although the affair did not last, Naty and Fidel had a daughter, Alina Fernandez. The affair also ended Fidels first marriage: Mirta and Fidel were divorced in 1955. On December 2, 1956, Castro and the rest of the 26th of July Movement rebels landed on Cuban soil with the intention of starting a revolution. Met by heavy Batista defenses, nearly everyone in the Movement was killed, with merely a handful escaping, including Castro, Raà ºl, and Che Guevara. For the next two years, Castro continued guerrilla attacks and succeeded in gaining large numbers of volunteers. Using guerrilla warfare tactics, Castro and his supporters attacked Batistas forces, overtaking town after town. Batista quickly lost popular support and suffered numerous defeats. On January 1, 1959, Batista fled Cuba. Castro Becomes Cubas Leader In January, Manuel Urrutia was selected as president of the new government and Castro was placed in charge of the military. However, by July 1959, Castro had effectively taken over as leader of Cuba, which he remained for the next five decades. During 1959 and 1960, Castro made radical changes in Cuba, including nationalizing industry, collectivizing agriculture, and seizing American-owned businesses and farms. Also during these two years, Castro alienated the United States and established strong ties with the Soviet Union. Castro transformed Cuba into a communist country. The United States wanted Castro out of power. In one attempt to overthrow Castro, the U.S. sponsored the failed incursion of Cuban-exiles into Cuba in April 1961 (the Bay of Pigs Invasion). Over the years, the U.S. has made hundreds of attempts to assassinate Castro, all with no success. Fidel was rumored to have had many partners and illegitimate children over his lifetime. In the 1950s, Fidel began a relationship with the Cuban revolutionary Celia Snchez Manduley (1920–1980) which lasted until her death. In 1961, Castro met Cuban teacher Dalia Soto del Valle. Castro and Dalia had five children together (Alexis, Alexander, Alejandro, Antonio, and ngel) and married in 1980, after Snchezs death. During his presidency, Vilma Espà ­n de Castro, a fellow revolutionary and the wife of Raà ºl Castro, acted as First Lady. Cuban Missile Crisis In 1962, Cuba was the center of world focus when the U.S. discovered the construction sites of Soviet nuclear missiles. The struggle that ensued between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, the Cuban Missile Crisis, brought the world the closest it has ever come to nuclear war. Over the next four decades, Castro ruled Cuba as a dictator. While some Cubans benefited from Castros educational and land reforms, others suffered from the food shortages and lack of personal freedoms. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans fled Cuba to live in the United States. Having relied heavily on Soviet aid and trade, Castro found himself suddenly alone after the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1991; many speculated that Castro would fall as well. Even though the U.S. embargo against Cuba was still in effect and damaging Cubas economic situation throughout the 1990s, Castro remained in power. Retirement In July 2006, Castro announced that he was temporarily handing over power to his brother Raà ºl while he underwent gastrointestinal surgery. Complications with the surgery caused infections for which Castro underwent several additional surgeries. Rumors of his death appeared frequently in news reports for the next decade, but they were all proven false until 2016. Still in ill health, Castro announced on February 19, 2008, that he would not seek nor accept another term as president of Cuba, effectively resigning as its leader. The handover of power to Raà ºl raised more anger among  United States officials, who characterized the transfer as the prolonging of a dictatorship. In 2014, President Barack Obama used his executive powers to attempt to normalize diplomatic relations and exchange prisoners with Cuba. But after Obamas visit, Castro publicly denigrated his offer and insisted that Cuba needed nothing from the U.S. Death and Legacy Fidel Castro was in power through 10 U.S. presidential administrations, from Eisenhower to Obama, and he sustained personal relationships in Latin America with political leaders such as Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and literary leaders such as the Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, whose novel The Autumn of the Patriarch is in part based on Fidel. Castro made his final public appearance to a congress of the Cuban Communist Party in April 2016. He died of undisclosed causes in Havana on November 25, 2016. Sources Archibold, Randal C. et al. Decades in the Making: Fidel Castros Obituary. The New York Times, November 29, 2016.  Arsenault, Chris. Obituary: Fidel Castro. Al Jazeera, November 26, 2018.  DePalma, Anthony. Fidel Castro, Cuban Revolutionary Who Defied U.S., Dies at 90, The New York Times, November 26, 2016.  Meet Fidel Castros family: torn by bitterness, rows and dysfunction. The Telegraph, November 26, 2016.Sullivan, Kevin and J.Y. Smith. Fidel Castro, revolutionary leader who remade Cuba as a socialist state, dies at 90. The Washington Post, November 26, 2016.