Book Report Essays (572 words) - Del Rey Books, Dragonriders Of Pern

Book Report Anne McCaffery created a great book series, The Dragon Riders of Pern, and the one I'm reviewing is, The Dolphins of Pern, she made me think that I was on another planet trying to become a Dolphineer. This 340 page, Sci-fi/Fantasy book has everything, adventure, danger, surgery and dragons. This book starts on the planet Pern, a land where Earth's descendants started to colonize. Pern is a planet with dragons and dolphins and many other strange things. The protagonist is a young boy named Readis, who wants to become a master fisherman like his Uncle. The antagonist is, I think, the hardships he has to go through to reach his dream. One days Readis went out with his uncle to go fishing but got caught in a squall, and their ship went under, but luckily some ship fish (dolphins) saved them and brought them to shore, and started to talk. Readis' parent's wanted Readis to have nothing to do with the dolphins and tried to make him forget, but Readis wouldn't and one day he went out with the dolphins to swim, and got a thorn in his foot which crippled his leg. His parents, especially his mom would never forgive the dolphins and forbid Readis from seeing them, even though they tried to warn him about the thorn, which they discovered, using a type of sonar. Readis spent most of his time at school, which was a big honor (only a few people are allowed to go to school). He makes some new friends at the school, like T'Lion the dragon rider, and Avias, the computer from the past which the ancients used, but he still wanted to learn more about the dolphins, so defying his parents he runs away to become a Dolphineer. He finds a nice spot where the dolphins can swim into if they needed any help or just wanted to play. Even with the dolphins, Readis wonders if his parents miss him at all. During a storm many dolphins are injured and Readis, is one of the few people who knows how to sew dolphins back up. Because of his brave efforts the Tillek, which is kind of like a king to the dolphins, comes and gives him his Dolphineer status with a big coronation. All of his friends are there, and even his mom and dad. A passage that really got to me was when Readis and his friend T'Lion had to sew up a dolphin, because its intestines were falling out. 'Wait a minute. I'm looking... T'Lion riffled through the pages of the boo, which he kept well above the water and any splashes. Oooo! Ugh! He paused, lowering the book slightly to pear at something. Ah, here. Human intestines. He bent down to peer at the injured [Dolphin]. I found this passage to be very important, because this is where T' Lion and Readis discover that they have what it takes to be a dolphineers. I chose this book because I have heard good things about the series of books and this was one of the first one, so I decided to give it a try. I liked this book because it was very interesting and had some pretty cool parts in it. It shows how different species can live together in a society. This was a cool book because it mixed some Earth customs with fantasy and it turned out wonderful.

Pulque, Ancient Mesoamerican Sacred Drink

Pulque, Ancient Mesoamerican Sacred Drink Pulque is a viscous, milk-colored, alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting the sap obtained by the maguey plant. Until the 19th and 20th century, it was probably the most widespread alcoholic beverage in Mexico. In ancient Mesoamerica pulque was a beverage restricted to certain groups of people and to certain occasions. The consumption of pulque was linked to feasting and ritual ceremonies, and many Mesoamerican cultures produced a rich iconography illustrating the production and consumption of this beverage. The Aztec called this beverage ixtac octli which means white liquor. The name pulque is probably a corruption of the term octli poliuhqui, or over-fermented or spoiled liquor. Pulque Production The juicy sap, or aguamiel, is extracted from the plant. An agave plant is productive for up to a year and,  usually, the sap is collected twice a day. Neither fermented pulque nor the straight aguamiel can be stored for a  long time; the liquor needs to be consumed quickly and even the processing place needs to be close to the field. The fermentation starts in the plant itself  since the microorganisms occurring naturally in the maguey plant start the process of transforming the sugar into alcohol. The fermented sap was traditionally collected using dried bottle gourds, and it was then poured into large ceramic jars where the seeds of the plant were added to accelerate the fermentation process. Among the Aztecs/Mexica, pulque was a highly desired item, obtained through tribute. Many codices refer to the importance of this drink for nobility and priests, and its role in Aztec economy. Pulque Consumption In ancient Mesoamerica, pulque was consumed during feasting or ritual ceremonies and was also offered to the gods. Its consumption was strictly regulated. Ritual drunkenness was allowed only by priests and warriors, and commoners were permitted to drink it only during certain occasions. Elderly and occasionally pregnant woman were allowed to drink it. In the Quetzalcoatl myth, the god is tricked into drinking pulque and his drunkenness caused him to be banished and exiled from his land. According to indigenous and colonial sources, different types of pulque existed, often flavored with other ingredients such as chili peppers. Pulque Imagery Pulque is depicted in Mesoamerican iconography as white foam emerging from small, rounded pots and vessels. A small stick, similar to a straw, is often depicted within the drinking pot, probably representing a stirring instrument used to produce the foam. Images of pulque-making are recorded in many codices, murals and even rock carvings, such as the ball court at El Tajin. One of the most famous representations of the pulque drinking ceremony is at the pyramid of Cholula, in Central Mexico. The Mural of the Drinkers In 1969, a 180 feet long mural was discovered by accident in the pyramid of Cholula. The collapse of a wall exposed part of the mural buried at a depth of almost 25 feet. The mural, dubbed the Mural of the Drinkers, portrays a feasting scene with figures wearing elaborate turbans and masks drinking pulque and performing other ritual activities. It has been suggested that the scene portrays pulque deities. The origin of pulque is narrated in many myths, most of them linked to the goddess of maguey, Mayahuel. Other deities directly related to pulque were the got Mixcoatl and the Centzon Totochtin (the 400 rabbits), sons of Mayahuel associated with the pulque’s effects. Sources Bye, Robert A., and Edelmina Linares, 2001, Pulque, in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures, vol. 1, edited by David Carrasco, Oxford University Press.pp: 38-40 Taube, Karl, 1996, Las Origines del Pulque, Arqueologà ­a Mexicana, 4 (20): 71

What ideas about gender and sexuality are communicated by contemporary Essay

What ideas about gender and sexuality are communicated by contemporary fashion images - Essay Example (Pleck, 1981) This is the point where ideas about fashion depict society’s gender relations. These ideas will be examined in detail in the subsequent portions the essay. Brod (1995) asserts that in the past, masculinity was clearly defined in the workplace. In the twentieth Century, most men were considered as breadwinners and women were expected to be home makers. However, industrialisation changed this as work became more mechanised. Men were not the only ones who could provide labour. With time, more and more women began penetrating into positions that were previously considered masculine. They started doing clerical jobs and others even took over as the main providers in their families. Eventually, what was considered a male domain had now been changed/. Many philosophers have suggested that this is the source of gender struggles that have been become a common feature in today’s society. Kimmel (1996) explains that the shift in masculinity has created unclear images about the male gender. For instance, one may expect men to show elements of their emotions yet at the same time claim that there should be strong and heroic. Men who may not depict these types of behaviour may be considered a socially deviant. This gender crisis has been depicted in fashion images. Before the crisis, fashion images mostly focused on women as objects of consumption while men on the other hand were objects of production. Most fashion items concentrated on women as their most important clients. However, with the introduction of technology, there was a shift from that point of view. Men were now considered as important consumers. Marketing plans and depictions also depicted masculine fashion items. Perhaps the most outstanding aspect of the corporate world can be seen in the ‘suit’. The male suit is box in shape and creates a regular shape of any wearer hence hiding some of the natural curves associated with individuals.