What Are YOU Up To This Summer

What Are YOU Up To This Summer After reading my last blog, Jola from Poland also wanted to let me know that, she, in fact, also just climbed a mountain (at 2000 meters compared to that, Twin Peaks is merely a foothill!) Polish mountains are pretty majestic! (shes the girl in the picture) Which got me thinking what are YOU up to this summer?! Im going to open this up to you guys send me a picture of something cool you did/are doing this summer, and Ill post it on my next blog! What: A picture thats somehow related to your summer which looks awesome. Its preferable that you are in it too but its not necessary. Please include: where you took the picture. affiliation with MIT (year, or year of application for potentials) anything interesting you would like to say about yourself/where you live/whats in the picture/blahblah Other than this the only other thing is to try to make your picture sizes reasonable! (so it doesnt take forever for me to load them I have slow internet here) and dont send me 5 pictures that are 3 MB each. kthx. :P My emails up there on the banner. Will post once I get enough pictures! Youll have at least a week to send them in. Prize: There is a physical prize for the picture I deem the best. The actual prize will be announced afterwards, but will also be awesome, just like the pictures. XP I reserve the right to cancel the prize if I get less than 10 entries. :) GO!

About Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 603 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/08/15 Category Cinematographic Art Essay Level High school Tags: Jurassic Park Essay Did you like this example? Summary The story took place in Costa Rica where accidents keeps on occurring day after day caused by unknown animals. News have gone around and reached the United States drawing curiosity in US doctors and scientist. There is something unusual happening in this island called Isla Nublar. Researchers and doctors began to question, others have given their thoughts. Some explained its dinosaurs but others think that its impossible because they were extinct billions of years ago. But it is starting to happen again, in this island in Costa Rica. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "About Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton" essay for you Create order At the end of the book, some people already knew what was on that island but a lot still didnt. The government didnt want the news to spread around so they made those people who knew stay in their country for awhile so they can study about what those things are before word goes around. But something was happening, there might be more animals out in the jungle and they dont know what it will do. The animals want are migrating and they dont know what might happen next. Theme I think the theme of this book is about survival. Humans have always had to fight for survival against nature. Technology has a big role in helping us figure out how humans can survive when that time comes. Nature is unpredictable and thats the biggest challenge we have to face. We have tried predicting everything but changes happens. We think we can control the outcome when in reality, we cant. We have to adjust in whats happening around us and accept the fact that we cant save the whole planet. We dont have that power against nature. Character Analysis Dr. Bobbie Carter – a doctor in Costa Rica who helps people who are injured or sick. Bobbie was thinking about the boy hands. They had been covered with cuts and bruises, in the characteristic pattern of defense wounds. She was quite sure he had not died in a construction accident; he had been attacked and he had held up his hands against his attacker. Where is this island theyve come from? Alice Levin she saw Tinas drawing of the lizard and explained that it was a dinosaur. She is a technician. No, Alice Levine said, shaking her head. Look at it. Its very clear. Big head, long neck, stands on its hind legs, thick tails. Its a dinosaur. Powerful Quotes Lets be clear. The planet is not in jeopardy. We are in jeopardy. We havent got the power to destroy the planet- or to save it. But we might have the power to save ourselves. I thought this quote was powerful because it explained the reality of nature and humanity. We are the destruction and we are creating the destruction and now its coming back to us. Humans need nature to survive, but nature doesnt need us. So if we keep on destroying it, were only hurting ourselves. The shorthand is the butterfly effect. A butterfly flaps its wings in Pecking and weather in New York is different. I picked this quote because they were talking about the butterfly effect. Its interesting to think about how one thing affects whats going to happen next. Theres so many what ifs and all these questions about possibilities of what couldve happened, all these questions unanswered about nature. Ending I thought the ending was interesting because they ended it in away where the dinosaurs didnt go extinct and they didnt decide to capture them. The ending is just the beginning of this story. People still doesnt know whats going on and what those animals are.

Essay on UK described in 6 Hofstede dimensions - 1027 Words

1. Today I would like to present you the United Kingdom described in six Geert Hofstedes dimensions. 2. Separated from the European continent by the North Sea and English Channel, the United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England and Wales were united in 1536. The United Kingdom is the 22nd-most populous country, with an estimated 64.1 million inhabitants. It is a constitutional monarchy and has a parliamentary system of governance. Its capital city is London, an important global city and financial centre with the second-largest urban area in the European Union 3. The culture of the United Kingdom is the pattern of human activity and symbolism associated with the United Kingdom and its people. The UK†¦show more content†¦The route to happiness is through personal fulfillment. 6. Masculinity At 66, Britain is a masculine society – highly success oriented and driven. A key point of confusion for the foreigner lies in the apparent contradiction between the British culture of modesty and understatement which is at odds with the underlying success driven value system in the culture. Critical to understanding the British is being able to ‘’read between the lines’’ What is said is not always what is meant. In comparison to feminine cultures such as the Scandinavian countries, people in the UK live in order to work and have a clear performance ambition. 7. Uncertainty avoidance At 35 the UK has a low score on uncertainty avoidance which means that as a nation they are quite happy to wake up not knowing what the day brings and they are happy to ‘make it up as they go along’ changing plans as new information comes to light. As a low UAI country the British are comfortable in ambiguous situations - the term ‘muddling through’ is a very British way of expressing this. In work terms this results in planning that is not detail oriented – the end goal will be clear but the detail of how we get there will be light and the actual process fluid and flexible to emerging and changing environment. Planning horizons will also be shorter. Most importantly the combination of a highly individualistic and curious nation is aShow MoreRelatedCross Cultural Management4004 Words   |  17 PagesExecutive Summary The aim of this report is to provide a framework for understanding the differences in the cultures of India and China and to highlight the adjustments that will need to be made by ABC Ltd. which is based in Northampton, UK to succeed in the innovation co-operation of solar technology solutions in these two countries (Bhasin, 2007). In this paper we have used the historical background of cultures in India and China to define value, traditions, and attitudes. It also highlightsRead MoreAnalysis Of Hofstede s Five Dimensions Of Culture906 Words   |  4 Pageshad the privilege of working with managers and team members in the UK and European markets and have noticed many differences between how we manage staff, resources and clients. While we have commonalities in the product we’re implementing or presenting to clients or even the language we speak, in the end, we conduct business differently depending on the country or region we’re from. In analyzing Hofstede’s five dimensions of culture we can better understand the cultural differences betweenRead MoreDimensionalizing Cultures. the Hofstede Model in Context11051 Words   |  45 PagesUnit 2 Theoretical and Methodological Issues Subunit 1 Conceptual Issues in Psychology and Culture 12-1-2011 Article 8 Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context Geert Hofstede Universities of Maastricht and Tilburg, The Netherlands, hofstede@bart.nl Recommended Citation Hofstede, G. (2011). Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, Unit 2. Retrieved from http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/orpc/vol2/iss1/8 This Online Readings inRead MoreSupermarket Retailing in Brazil and India3706 Words   |  15 Pageseffort to grow their businesses in other countries. As the global middle class continues to increase in numbers, the selection of countries appropriate for expansion has become even more difficult. To determine which country is best suited for a major UK-based grocery retailer for expansion abroad, this paper provides a review of the literature concerning the respective political, economic, social and technological aspects of grocery retailing in Brazil and India, followed by a summary of the researchRead MoreReflection on the development of academic and professional skill in year one1573 Words   |  7 PagesNeil Fleming’s VARK questionnaire I realised that my preferred learning style is Tactile /Kinaesthetic or also known as the Active Learner Style. I learn best not from explanation or direction; but from doing it. Felder and Silverman (1988, p. 71) described that in the Ta ctile/Kinaesthetic Learning Style, Learning comes through touching and physical sensation. Thinking is anchored by movement, and touch, often three-dimensional, and usually all or nothing understanding of concepts. Demonstration orRead MoreArticle: Geert Hofstede vs. Fons Trompenaars4908 Words   |  20 PagesGeert Hofstede vs. Fons Trompenaars Introduction How do we market in different cultures? Although we have done many researches about the different cultures, marketing, which is as a discipline, has lagged behind other researches in recognizing the need for it. Before we have found the importance of marketing in different cultures, usually, the approach for marketing was too simple, and we often use the economic theory to explain facts and solve problems, however, international marketing andRead MoreHofstede’s Limitations14637 Words   |  59 PagesImproving Cultural Indices 1 IMPROVING CULTURAL INDICES AND RANKINGS BASED ON A METAANALYSIS OF HOFSTEDE’S DIMENSIONS VAS TARAS University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business SH441, Human Resources and Organizational Development 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4 Tel: (403) 220-6074 Fax: (403) 282-0095 e-mail:taras@ucalgary.ca PIERS STEEL University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business Human Resources and Organizational Development SH444 - 2500 University DriveRead MoreCultural Differences and People Management2364 Words   |  10 PagesName of studentAssignment TitleModule code/titleStaff nameDue date | : ::: DawnWilliams: 6 November 2012 | Ha Luong HangCultural Differences and People ManagementBIBU602 | ------------------------------------------------- What do you understand by the term ‘national culture’? And why do you think that French (2010:44) argues that ‘Culture remains a core concept both for students of business and managers in work organisations’? Abstract: The aim of this essay explains my knowledge and understandingRead MoreThe Importance of Effective Cross Cultural Communication in International Business (Research Proposal)2551 Words   |  11 PagesDorfman, Gupta, 2004) (Trompenaars Hempden- Turner, 1997).....................................................................................5 List of Figures Figure 1 shows Halls Iceberg model in a simplified way. The figure is based on (Hofstede, 1997, S. 57) and the from Hofstedes model derived cultural layer model of (Trompenaars Hempden- Turner, 1997)...........................................3 Figure 2 shows an example of a perception illusion created by (Hill, 1915)..........Read MorePersonality and Cultures5274 Words   |  22 PagesLondon, United Kingdom, 3-6 August 2004. Editors Mary Kalantzis, Innovation Professor, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. Bill Cope, Common Ground and Visiting Fellow, Globalism Institute, RMIT University, Australia. . Editorial Advisory Board Chryssi Vitsilakis-Soroniatis, University of the Aegean, Rhodes, Greece. Eleni Karantzola, University of the Aegean, Rhodes, Greece. Gerasimos Kouzelis, University of Athens, Greece. Leslie Johnson, University of Greenwich, UK. Bruce Cronin, University

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Free Essays

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) delivers vital health care services, sex education, and sexual health information to millions of women, men, and young people. As stated in their website, they â€Å"deliver comprehensive and medically accurate information that empowers women, men, teens, and families to make informed choices and lead healthy lives. Planned Parenthood is proud of its vital role in providing young people with honest sexuality and relationship information in classrooms and online†. We will write a custom essay sample on Planned Parenthood Federation of America or any similar topic only for you Order Now If we are to evaluate their services and advocacy based on the criteria of evaluating the merit of benefit types, we can say that their services cater to the idea of consumer sovereignty. This benefit type is basically focused on providing choices to the consumer or target market of Planned Parenthood’s services. The organization basically advocates a Pro-Choice approach when it comes to birth control methods which runs counter to many principles advocated by religious groups. Planned Parenthood’s approach basically counters the idea of coercion and intrusion into the privacy lives of individuals, basically in making choices about birth control methods, sex education, and women’s health. However, this kind of liberalistic thinking is unacceptable in some cultures. Thus, although the organization promotes the improvement of the sexual health and well-being of individuals and families globally, their actions run counter to conservative cultures and organizations (especially the churches). Although it has local partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean their advocacy for promoting women’s choice when it comes to birth control makes them a bitter opponent against the establishment. Their vocal and outspoken global partners are considered to be intruding already into the privacy of families and society in general. That somehow dilutes the benefits that are provided by the organization to the public, by shifting the focus of the public from the benefits of their advocacy to the harmful effects of their group’s activist actions. How to cite Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Papers

Othello (935 words) Essay Example For Students

Othello (935 words) Essay OthelloDuring the Elizabethan times it was uncommon for black people to act out rolesin plays. Shakespeare introduces this to his audience in two plays, the firstTitus Andromicus and the second Othello. The first black character, Aaron, isportrayed as a secondary villain. Othello on the other hand is of higher statusthan many of his peers in the play. This was different for Shakespeare topresent a minority person with such authority as a main character. Even withsuch, many different racial slurs were used by supporters to degrade him. In ActI, Scene I, Iago, the villain in this play and at the same time the right handman of Othello, is screaming to Desdemonas father from the outside of hishouse even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe(Shakespeare 1051). The thick-lips (Shakespeare 1050) is mentioned in thisplay towards Othello but is not the first time Shakespeare uses it. He uses thephrase in Titus Andronicus to describe the biracial child of the Moor, Aar on. We will write a custom essay on Othello (935 words) specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Moor is another term frequently used to identify those darker skinned people. (Shakespeare 1052). Brabantio goes as far as accusing Othello of witchcraft. Hesays that Othello must have used drugs and minerals to get Desdemona tomarry his sooty bosom. Iago instigates the characters in this play that dospeak foul of Othello. It is quite obvious from the beginning of the story thatIago is betraying Othello. Iago mentions to Roderigo I am not what I am. The choice of words he used towards Othello does not necessarily mean that he isa racist yet at the same time I do not feel that Othellos Quintana -2-background effects the events in this play. With or without Othello being a Moorthe outcome of the play would have worked as well. Name-calling, which is how Idescribe what Iago was doing throughout the play, is a common way of trying todegrade someone even in todays society. You try to find something in youropponent that distinguishes him from yourself and the people who defend you andyou use this to break down their esteem. Iago, out of jealousy, calls Othellonames behind his back and still with all this. Iago is very clever in makingOthello vulnerable to his word. Iagos manipulation to Othello is neverspecified to be race related although racial slurs are what he constantlyrepeats. He simply uses these remarks to mock Othello. This is evidence thatleads me to believe that if Shakespeare would not have made Othello of the samerace as the rest of the characters the plot of this story would have remainedthe same and it would have flowed just as well. Shakespeare would just have hadto use other non-racial yet discriminating words against Othello. Love andjealousy are the central feelings portrayed in this story, not racism. All Iagowants is to take over the leadership power that Othello has. He enjoys creatingchaos as all villains do and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Thisdemonstrates the evil he has within himself. Iago persuades Roderigo to sell allof his belongings so that there may be a chance between him and Desdemona. (Shakespeare 1065) Two-faced Iago also flourishes Desdemona with his praises. (Shakespeare 1068) is making himself out to be a loyal friend in her eyeseveryone is easily influenced by Iago. He has his way with everyone. NeitherRoderigo nor Desdemona are different in color Quintana -3- complexion for Iagoto deceive them but he does anyway. They are all part of his betrayal. Iago isall for himself. He even goes to the extent of convincing his wife to steal ahandkerchief from Desdemona and then made it part of his scheme. There were nolimits for him. He took down whomever he had to. Even though Othello was blackhe was integrated into the Venetian society and was also the states militarychampion against the Turks, which made his status equal to that of Desdemonasfather, Brabantio. Prior to Othello having eloped with Desdemona Brabantio hadinvited this Moor to his house and held this black man as one of his peers. Buteven having all of this authority Othello is nonetheless an outsider and he isvery much aware of this. Othello tells us this in Act I, Scene III when hementions his mercenary at a rented field. Othellos black skin color isless a racial issue than a cultural discriminator. Nevertheless racialstereotyping rather tham simple division between Venetian and non-Venetian doessurface in Othello. In the minds of Shakespeares audience black people wereidentified with witchcraft and other non-Christian superstitions. Brabantioaccuses Othello of witchcraft, saying that the Moor must have used drugs andminerals to overcome Desdemona to his sooty bosom. In act III scene IVOthellos explanation of the missing handkerchief implies that his motherengaged in charms that she acquired through other non-whites, in this case anEgyptian. Race plays less a factor than what most critics makes it out to be. .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d , .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d .postImageUrl , .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d , .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d:hover , .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d:visited , .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d:active { border:0!important; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d:active , .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub7e94bbcd4d02b9416e1407f2349ce7d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Rogerian Arguments EssayOthello being a minority yet at the same time holding such high status insociety, even though Quintana -4- conditioned to his usefulness to Venice,proves this. It was common for Skakepeares audience to stereotype andassociate his color complexion with witchcraft but by no means identical to whatoccurs in present day society. Bibliography1. Meyer, Michael. Othello The Moor of Venice. The Compact BedfordIntroduction to Literature. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2000 2. Moore,Roger. Hamlet Click-Guide. All Shakespeare last updated 1 July2000 Available from World Wide Web: URL: http://www.allshakespeare.com3. Ogude, S. E. Literature and Racism: The Example of Othello Othello: NewEssays by Black Writers. Ed. Mythili Kaul Washington, D. C.: Howard UniversityPress, 1997, pp. 151-166

Holding On free essay sample

A soft contemporary gospel graced the air as the youth pastor began his monologue to the audience of teenagers. They raised their hands in both anticipation and in attempt to grasp the words as they left the delicate speech of the pastor, his young face glowing a slight pink as his emotions filled him with spirit. I couldn’t grasp exactly what he said, or rather I do not remember his words, but I could tell from the mumblings of the crowd and the swaying motion of the musicians that whatever this man said it could be translated as â€Å"sermon†. What I do remember of the service was the slick hardwood beneath my fingers as I pressed them against the seat of the booth I sat in. As the hands of the audience raised higher, I sank my fingers into the seat, as if in fear that I would float away with the music drifting through the stuffy air. We will write a custom essay sample on Holding On or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ever since, and even before, I came out, I have dealt with the fact that no matter what church I go to, even in my home church, there will always be someone there who believes I’m choosing the painful card I was dealt, and who believes that because of this unlucky fate I will be thrown into eternal torture. Luck of the draw, I suppose. Yet this sentiment is found even outside a religious setting. What I’ve found throughout my journey is when you’re Queer, in gender identity, sexuality, or both, the church becomes a constant opponent in the matter of both civil rights and protections, to simple tasks such as buying clothes and ordering coffee. The simple micro-aggressions experienced in every waking hour, such as those around you refusing to use the correct pronoun or name, or being the topic of debate among friends and classmates, take a toll on a person mentally and emotionally. It becomes harder to trust others, and harder to create expectations, when the reli gious views of individuals are treated as more relevant than your state of being. For these reasons, unknown places of worship such as the many conservative churches in our area have become my least favorite places. The moment you walk into such a place, it’s as if the air itself stops circulating and you. You feel your lungs exhale slowly, desperately trying to release the tension built up from the many mental rehearsals of confrontations both theological and physical. The videos of pastors screeching about homosexual demons and perverse cross-dressing abominations swirl in your mind as you try to read the faces of those around you, and determine who is an enemy and who is safe to talk to. This paranoia causes your cheeks to flush and your body to flinch at each interaction. You see beyond the smiling faces, you tell yourself, and look deeper into the societal prejudice they hold for you though they may not know it themselves. This feeling of suspicion and as what I can only describe as â€Å"prejudicial security† is present each time I visit a church that is not my own. I can distinguish the faces of my home church far easier than the faces of a foreign church. This has become the reason why I despise the visiting of churches in our area. When I accompany a friend to their church, whether it be Non-Denominational or Pentecostal, the air in the sanctuary is suffocating as if the exhale of each congregate steals the oxygen from your body. Every sense your body detects becomes detestable. The smell of burning candles and fresh paint infests your nose, causing you to cough uncontrollably. Eucharist wine and small pieces of bread become poison that decimates your immune system, to where every word said to you infects your insides. Your ears bleed at the sound of members speaking in tongues. The feel of the padded pew or slick balcony seat absorbs your finger tips, turning from red to white. It’s astounding to me, who is so affected by the presence of toxic religion, that I still wish to pursue Seminary and form my major around the study of God. It has made me question my way of thinking about God, and if the traditions I was exposed to as a child, and still now, hold a light to how God truly is. Is my God a vengeful entity who damns the oppressed? Does my God conform to a patriarchal society that condemns those who do not fit the typical gender binary? Was Christ sent to save the world from my God? These questions of theology and morality that I had left unquestioned and unchecked as a child have now seized my waking thought; was everything I was taught about God and Jesus Christ wrong? Through many conversations and exploring of liberation theology, I have found that my God is a God who embodies the oppressed. My God values diversity and created such differences among creation for a reason. My God, who exists as the spiritual form of the ostracized and forsaken, by definition is the face of the oppressed itself. My Christ, being the son of God, must therefore be the embodiment of the forsaken in the flesh, existing as a Queer person of color whom history has lost to the white-washed, cisgendered, hetero-normalized, structure of modern society. After coming to these conclusions, I’ve realized that I have made a large step forward to a more confident and more actualized version of myself. The fear of a toxic worship slips from my mind as Rev. Jessica Hawkinson, a holy and kind person who welcomed me to join the Lux Theological Institute for Youth at Monmouth College, stands before a modest podium with a colorful cloth gently draped over it. Her voice is soothing and calm as she welcomes the sixteen other students surrounding me to the Institute, and her eyes fill with tears as she speaks, causing my vision to shake as I began to cry myself. The Rev. Chuck Goodman, a compassionate and enthusiastic pastor from Springfield who was invited to help deliver the sacraments and lead worship for the youth, invites all who sit before the podium to touch the water in the wide clear blue basin sitting upon the table. The sixteen other student surround the basin, lightly dipping a hand or finger into the water. I stand at the back, grasping the shoulder my friend Ellie. I’m still fighting back tears as a picture is taken of everyone at the basin. I can be seen grasping Ell ie’s shoulder, holding on to her soft skin. My fingers quake as Rev. Goodman continues to speak. I eventually let go, letting myself drift with his words through the stuffy air.

Misconceptions About Family Crests and Coats of Arms

Misconceptions About Family Crests and Coats of Arms Do you have a family coat of arms? If so, it may not be exactly what you think. Many people throughout history have used coats of arms ornamentally without giving much thought to the accuracy of their design or their own right to use them. There are, unfortunately, many companies in business today who will sell you your family coat of arms on a t-shirt, mug, or handsomely engraved plaque. While these companies are not necessarily out to scam you, their sales pitch is very misleading and, in some cases, outright incorrect. Coat of Arms Versus Family Crest A coat of arms is essentially a graphic display of your familys name, made unique in some way to the individual bearer.  A traditional coat of arms typically includes a patterned shield that is decorated with a crest, a helmet, a motto, a crown, a wreath, and a mantling. The oldest son would often inherit the coat of arms from his father without any changes, while younger brothers often added symbols to make theirs unique. When a woman married, the coat of arms of her family was often added to her husbands arms, called marshaling. As families grew, the shield of the coat of arms was sometimes divided into different parts (e.g. quartered) to represent the merging of families (although this is not the only reason a shield might be divided). Many people interchangeably use the terms crest and coat of arms to refer to the same thing, however, the crest is just one small part of the full coat of arms- an emblem or symbol worn upon a helmet or crown.   Finding a Familys Coat of Arms Except for a few individual exceptions from some parts of Eastern Europe, there is no such thing as a family coat of arms for a particular surname - despite the claims and implications of some companies to the contrary. Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families or surnames. A form of property, coats of arms may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. Such grants were (and still are) made by the proper heraldic authority for the country in question. The next time you come across a product or scroll with a family coat of arms for your surname, remember that your carrying of a particular name, such as Smith, doesnt grant you the right to any of the hundreds of coats of arms borne throughout history by others named Smith. Therefore, how could an individual or company that has not researched your direct family tree know whether you have inherited the right to display a particular coat of arms? If youre looking for something fun to wear on a t-shirt or display in your home, then these items are okay, though misrepresentative. But  if youre looking for something from your own family history, then buyer beware! Determining Whether an Ancestor Was Awarded a Coat of Arms If you would like to learn if a coat of arms was awarded to one of your ancestors, you will first need to research your family tree back to the ancestor you believe may have been granted a coats of arms, and then  contact  the College of Arms or appropriate authority for the country  your ancestor was from and request a search in their records (they often provide this service for a fee). While it is unlikely, although possible, that an original coat of arms was granted to an ancestor on your direct paternal line (handed down from father to son), you may also be able to find a family connection to a coat of arms.  In most countries you can design and even register your own individual coat of arms, so you could create one for yourself based on the arms of someone who shared your surname, from another ancestor in your family tree, or from scratch- to represent something special to your family and its history.