Damascus Steel Facts How It Got Its Name and How Its Made

Damascus steel is a famed type of steel recognizable by the watery or wavy light and dark pattern of the metal. Aside from being beautiful, Damascus steel was valued because it maintained a keen edge, yet was hard and flexible. Weapons made from Damascus steel were vastly superior to weapons formed from iron! Although modern high-carbon steels made using the  19th century Bessemer process surpass the quality of Damascus steel, it remains an outstanding material, particularly for its day.  There are two types of Damascus steel: cast Damascus steel and pattern-welded Damascus steel. Where Damascus Steel Gets Its Name Its unclear exactly why Damascus steel is called Damascus steel. Three popular plausible origins are: It refers to steel made in Damascus.It refers to steel purchased or traded from Damascus.It refers to the similarity the pattern in the steel has to damask fabric. Although the steel may have been made in Damascus at some point and the pattern does somewhat resemble damask, its certainly true Damascus steel became a popular trade item for the city. Cast Damascus Steel No one has replicated the original method of making Damascus steel because it was cast from wootz, a type of steel originally made in India over two thousand years ago. India began producing wootz well before the birth of Christ, but the weapons and other items made from wootz became truly popular in the 3rd and 4th century as trade items sold in the city of Damascus, in what is modern Syria.  The techniques for making wootz were lost in the 1700s, so the source material for Damascus steel was lost. Although a great deal of research and reverse engineering has tried to replicate cast Damascus steel, no one has successfully cast a similar material. Cast wootz steel was made by melting together iron and steel together with charcoal under a reducing (little to no  oxygen) atmosphere. Under these conditions, the metal absorbed carbon from charcoal. Slow cooling of the alloy resulted  in a crystalline material containing carbide. Damascus steel was made by forging wootz into swords and other objects. It required considerable skill to maintain constant temperatures to produce steel with the characteristic wavy pattern. Pattern-Welded Damascus Steel If you buy modern Damascus steel you could be getting a metal that has merely been etched (surface treated) to produce a light/dark pattern. This is not really Damascus steel since the pattern can be worn away. Knives and other modern objects made from pattern-welded Damascus steel bear the watery pattern all the way through the metal and possess many of the same characteristics of the original Damascus metal. Pattern-welded steel is made by layering iron and steel and forging the metals together by hammering them at high temperature to form a welded bond. A flux seals the joint to keep out oxygen. Forge welding multiple layers produces the watery effect characteristic of this type of Damascus steel, although other patterns are possible. References Figiel, Leo S. (1991).  On Damascus Steel. Atlantis Arts Press. pp.  10–11.  ISBN  978-0-9628711-0-8. John D. Verhoeven (2002).  Materials Technology. Steel Research 73 no. 8. C. S. Smith, A History of Metallography, University Press, Chicago (1960). Goddard, Wayne (2000).  The Wonder of Knifemaking. Krause. pp.  107–120.  ISBN  978-0-87341-798-3.

The Journey Of Postmodern Art - 1631 Words

The Journey to Postmodern Art The field of visual art is extremely broad, therefore art historians have been attempting to categorize it based on style, time of creation, and subject matter for centuries. Much like any other sociological aspect of life, the culture and time period in which it was made has a great impact on the artist which directly influences their art. Though art is and always has been a way for someone to express themselves, limitations from certain parties took some of that experience away from the artist. This allows people to analyze and understand how various facets of society, the government specifically, have been able to limit the types of art that have been created throughout the years. For example, when the†¦show more content†¦In addition to this, a large percentage of Renaissance art came about through the means of patrons. A patron gives an artist funding to complete a work of their liking, and most of them tended to be members of wealthy families, people involved in politi cs, or religious institutions (History.com). Obviously artists could create whatever they wanted, as long as they created something that went along the guidelines or instructions they were given. According to the Italian Renaissance Learning Resources, art historians often compared the patron and artist relationship to that of a shoemaker, carpenter, or a common laborer and their clients (â€Å"Artists and Patrons†). On the other hand, depending on the patron, the artist could begin to make a name for themselves and rise above the identity of being no more than an â€Å"anonymous craftsman†. (â€Å"Artists and Patrons†). Though still obligated with specific rules, the renaissance is credited with changing the identity of the artist through the formation of artist guilds and associations (History.com). Another prominent example of particularities that surrounded the production of art is the Salon. The Academies previously discussed continued to thrive until the late 1800’s, leading to the creation of the annual Salon exhibition. Members of the French Academy of Fine Arts could only participate in the exhibition if their pieces wereShow MoreRelatedEssay on Midnight in Paris1672 Words   |  7 PagesParis is one of Woody Allen’s most recent films which he did both, wrote and directed. It is a film about a man named Gil (Owen Wilson) who travels to Paris with his fiancà ©e’s parents in order to expand his imagination and he ends up embarking on a journey to the 1920s while walking the streets of Paris at night. Not only is this film engaging and witty, but it also manages to provide both, overt and covert examples of postmodernism in film. 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Older Adult Life In New Zealand Perception â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Older Adult Life In New Zealand Perception? Answer: Introduction The quality of life of a person is the perception of that individual in regards to the position they hold in life, this position is viewed on the perspective of value systems and the culture of their location in relation to their expectations, goals, concerns and standards. The worlds population is aging with many people being 65 years and above as compared to the whole population. According to the Help Age Foundation and the United Nation Population Fund, there is a predicted increase in the expected life expectancy for global life (Lorna et. al, 2014). The aging process is complex since it involves external physical changes, a decline in dexterity and mobility, lower sensory acuity and a decrease in stamina or strength. This essay is aimed at discussing the positive life experiences and factors influencing quality of life for old adults in New Zealand. This quality of life in older adults is influenced by factors that include healthy lifestyles, environment, socioeconomic and mental health. Healthy lifestyles. A healthy lifestyle influences better quality of life for older people, the much physical decline that is experienced during old age is mainly caused by inactivity rather than the process of aging. Furthermore, every year 7,800 deaths are reported in New Zealand and they result from heart disease, diabetes and cancer attributed to lack of physical activity. Engaging in physical activity can reduce the prevalence of diseases and the risk factors associated with lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure and obesity. Physical exercise helps in maintaining and building healthy bones, joints and muscles thus reducing the risk of falling. Furthermore, it improves the ability of older people to perform tasks. These activities including swimming, gardening, use of wheelchairs and walking (Ministry of Health, 2012). Socioeconomic and mental health A good social, emotional, and mental health positively affects the lives of older adults. In contrast to this, poor mental health affects ageing negatively. It is believed that later life sicknesses is somehow eased with a mindset that positively embraces life since it promotes mind consciousness which makes people confident their health status. Mott and Riggs Mott (2004) concluded that many old adults with several diseases had a perception of positive health mainly because they believed they were individually in control of their lives (p.125). Another finding based on a study on lifestyles and health of the old Maori adults had results similar to this (Te pumanawa , 2007).The involvement of old people in activities that are meaningful ensured health was generally better ( Seedsman, 2008). Personal income influences the quality of life of an individual in old adults in a two-way link. A low income hinders the ability to purchase healthcare, health insurance, purchase of essential goods and access to appropriate housing that helps in maintaining proper health. Furthermore, poor health of an older adults limits their opportunities to income earning. Older people in New Zealand have a low income. The main source of income for the older people is superannuation (Ministry of Social Development, 2016). Paid work is also another additional source of income for older people. Women in late fifties have an upward trend in participating in labour force for the last decade. Those in early sixties have experienced a significant increase over the last four years. A source of income that is promising to the older people is selling the larger homes that they own and moving into smaller homes that they can afford ( Seedsman, 2008). Environment factors The environmental factors that influence the quality of life of adults include attitudes, perceptions, housing, transport, community friendship and participation. According to Mott and Rigg (2004), lack of public transport and isolation limits the ability of the older people to move from one place to the next thus hindering the involvement in active social life and confining them to their own lives and suburbs (p. 125). Furthermore, lack of transport systems limits access to doctors appointments therefore it negatively affects healthcare and visiting friends leading to a poor quality of life. Older drivers are too fragile and might face severe injuries therefore, they need smoother transport facilities. The transport should be affordable and accessible to older people; presently there are ferries, rail and bus transport. Appropriate housing also enhances the ability of older people to adjust to illnesses and disability and it makes them likely to live independently. It is always the desire of every old person to live in their personal homes for a longer period of time (Mott Rigg, 2004). Positive life experiences for older people. Many scientists have looked into the various aspects of old age and concentrated on the positive areas. They have highlighted the policies and techniques that can help in developing more resilience while intensifying the sense of control and fulfillment despite many challenges, related to growing older. Positive aging combines choices made in the later years of an individual and it provides the opportunity to live a delightfully active, happy and productive lives. It is a constructive and positive view of growing in old age therefore accepts growing old as a normal development and a continuous process that happens to human beings. (Kendig Brooke, 2016). Engaging in physical activities. The World Health Organization and the New Zealand Government recommends physical activities to older people in New Zealand as part of enhancing a positive life. They are advised to limit their sedentary life styles and be physically active as possible as this ensures they live a healthier life in old age. The WHO recommends this because an increase in the physical activities and reduction in the sedentary behavior, reduces the threat it poses in causing death and illnesses (Reza, 2016). Physical fitness is essential to older people since it maintains health and improves muscular functions for the weak older adults. It enhances their well being, sleep and quality of life. According to the Ministry of Health, (2012), 55 percent of men and 47 percent of females were physically active in all the ethnic groups between 65 and 74 years old, after 75 years, the number lowered to 38 percent and 28 percent for men and women respectively. Furthermore, a comparison on people who live in communities and residential care shows that people are inactive in residential care places. The ethnic group in New Zealand with the most physical activity is the Maori, the group has a representation of over 65 years of age .Nevertheless, their general health status is very low. Health workers should support the Maori and ensure they continue with the active physical lifestyles in old age. In addition to this, they need education to improve their lives on other aspects such as good nutrition. The Asian people are the most sedentary followed by the Pacific people and the health practitioners are supposed to educate them to involve themselves in active physical activity (Ministry of Health, 2012). Accessible Health Services for older people. Disability and diseases increase with age, the diseases affect older people emotionally, mentally and spiritually in a holistic viewpoint. The disabilities range from psychiatric, sensory (hearing and vision), cognitive to mobility. The Maoris are more likely to have obesity disabilities and chronic diseases such as diabetes. The most common cause of death is the heart diseases, other diseases are also increasing with age and these include respiratory diseases, stroke and cancers ( Karen Lorna, 2012). Dementia is common with an increase in age, 70 % of the people with dementia are given home based care. Older people prefer staying in their own homes but this is only possible with more home support, security and access to healthcare services (Barbara, 2009). The Ministry of Health has developed a strategic plan to support a positive life experience for older people and cater for the increased numbers of old people who are in need of health and disability services. The strategic plan includes identifying old people as a real high need group and identifying chronic diseases such as heart diseases and diabetes as the most devastating .Furthermore, the strategy treats healthier lifestyles to older people as a priority (Ministry of Health, 2011). The health ministry uses an effective strategy to oversee a care service that incorporates home based care programs that encourages people to be independent. Primary Health Organizations have been developed to lower the cost of primary health services to consumers .The government has a role to play in improving and maintaining health of the people by providing essential public health services such as healthy clean water, disposal of waste and other environmental services .Furthermore, it has a role of encouraging older people to participate in healthy outdoor activities in recreational facilities ( Gitchen Steve, 2011). Income for older people. Income is an important part in experiencing positive life. Income at retirement is a major priority for older people because income it affects every other aspect of life. Older people aged 65 years and above get the New Zealand superannuation, a universal base benefit set at 65% of the average wages earned. The superannuation is fortnightly set at $ 619.46 for a single person and $ 470 for the married. Furthermore there are entitlements that are supplementary from Work and Income organization which are aimed at mitigating the cost of accommodation, health use, disability costs and special needs (Ministry of Social Development, 2011). The staff of Work and Income, New Zealand visit the rest homes to ensure that awareness of entitlements is made to the people (Ministry of Social Development, 2011). Factors such as the shortage of skills, dependency ratios and the level of superannuation will affect extent at which people work past 65 years of age. A high work force is also needed to offer skills to the young people and maintain high levels of GDP in the country thus a need for the older people to work in building the economy ( Reza, 2016). In conclusion, the quality of life in older people in Artearoa is influenced by aspects such as healthy lifestyles which encourage people to engage in physical activities since it enhances better quality of life. Furthermore, it is also influenced by personal income, socioeconomic and mental health, and the environmental factors such as attitudes, perceptions, housing, transport, community friendship and participation of older people in communal affairs. The older adults in New Zealand also have positive life experiences that they face in older age such as engaging in physical activities that contributes to their well-being, access to better health services and access to appropriate income for the older people. References Barbara, S. (2009). Older people moving to residential care in New Zealand; Consideration for social work at practice and policy levels. 29(1), 28-40. Getchen, A.G., Steve, J. (2011). A study of older Adults; Observations of ranges of Life satisfaction and reasoning, New Zealand Journal of Psychology. 40 (1).1-5. Karen, J. Lorna, D. (2012). Life and Living in Advanced stage; A cohort study in New Zealand. 20, 15-19. doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-12-32 12(33) Kendig, H. Brooke, Z.(2016). Australian Research on aging and social support, Australian Journal of Aging , 16 (3), 127- 130. Lorna, D., Mere, K. , Ruth, T., Rangimatie, M., Simon, M. (2014). Cultural and societal factors and quality of life of Maori in advance stage. New Zealand Medical Journal. 30(5), 101-1Answer:stry of Health (2011). Making a Pacific strategic initiatives for health of Pacific people in New Zealand. Ministry of Health: Wellington. Ministry of Health. (2012). Guidelines on the Physical activities of people aged 65 year and over. (pp. 3-15) . Ministry of Health: Wellington. Ministry of Social Development. (2011). Improved quality life for older people. Retrieved on 14th August 2017, from https:// www.msd.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications. Riggs, A. Mott, C. (2004). I would if I could; The effect of mobility problems on activities of older people, Australian Journal of Ageing , 13 (3), 124-127. Peggy, K., Michael, C., Judith, D., Margaret, R. (2014). Making active ageing a Reality; Maximizing participation and contribution by older people. Reza, Z. (2016). Positive Aging; 10 positive solutions on an old age old problem. Retrieved 13th August 2017 from https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/positiveaging. Seeedsman, C. (2008). Living alone towards the end of life, Aging and society, 16, 75-91. Te pumanawa, H. (2007).Oranga Kaumatua; The health and well being of older Maori people, Te Puni kokiri. 6(2), 75-80.

The Polarization of Congress an Example of the Topic Economics Essays by

The Polarization of Congress by Expert Suzzane | 26 Dec 2016 At the time Nivola and Brady were assembling the collection of essays and analyses contained in Red s Polarized Politics, it seemed as if the U.S. was more pided into two opposing, mutually hostile camps than any time since the Civil War. This pision was exacerbated by five years of one-party rule by legislators who abandoned the real social and economic concerns of the average citizens and instead served the interests of large corporations and unbridled, unchecked, predatory capitalism while publicly obsessing and involving themselves in moral issues (which in the end analysis, were meaningless), stifling all dissent and opposition and giving the executive branch unchecked power, essentially allowing it to operate outside and above the law. Need essay sample on "The Polarization of Congress" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed During that time, the gap between the rich and poor has become the widest in the industrialized world, the budget surplus left by the preceding Administration has ballooned to eight trillion dollars and rising, the U.S. has the largest prison population in the world, and the Bill of Rights has been left in tatters with the passage of the Military Commissions Act in September of 2006. Since the opposition party returned to power as a result of the mid-term elections of 2006, investigations have brought many of the crimes of this President and his enablers to light, and more are being exposed on a daily basis. For better or worse, the current Administration and its cadre which has been so successful at piding the country is re-uniting it; according to recent polls, the current President has only a 30% approval rating, and members of his own party are increasingly distancing themselves from both the executive and his policies. Nonetheless, that 30% is vehement in their continued support for Bush, and are representative of the Great pide in American society of which the essays in Red and Blue are an analysis. This pide is still seen in Congress where the votes on many issues (although significantly, not all as was the case between 2002 and 2006) are along party lines. Interestingly, in their introduction Delineating the Problem, Nivola and Galston suggest that the pide and polarization in Congress is not at all a reflection of the American electorate; in 2004, while 21 percent identified themselves as liberal and 34 percent as conservative, the majority 45% described themselves as moderates. Of these self-identified moderates, well over half voted for John Kerry in the presidential election of that year. They go on to point out that Kerry managed to (officially) carry three states in which the ballots contained initiatives to ban same-sex marriages (Bush himself had endorsed civil unions for homosexual couples during the campaign), and in fact, moral values (which among conservatives, is confined to matters of private sexual behavior) was a concern among a very small number of voters possibly as little as 14%. In chapter four, E.J. Dionne acknowledges that the religious right played a part in the 2004 election but it was only one factor among many, and not the most significant one. Many red states wound up electing Democratic governors. It would seem, as Air America talk-show host Laura Flanders has stated, that America is truly purple. The polarization of Congress of which this book is a study seems less obvious since its publication in December of 2006. As investigations by Senator Henry Waxman continue to expose criminal activity of the Bush Administration, more Republican legislators (at least those up for election in 2008) are distancing themselves from the President. Some recent legislation in Congress such as the recent war budget containing a timetable for removing U.S. troops from Iraq are finding support among members of both parties. This would never have happened in 2005. Nonetheless, much damage has been done both to the nation itself and its standing in the world due to this pide that enabled one party rule for almost half a decade. The roots of this pide go back almost forty years. The passage of the Civil Rights Act for example caused the Democratic Party which had dominated the region for nearly a century to lose power, while the Republican Party was able to tap into the regions conservatism. This forced the Democrats to consolidate their base in northern states (it is interesting to note how the most conservative regions in the country roughly follow the border of the old Confederacy). What is more telling however is Nivolas analysis of the effects of the end of the Cold War. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the two political parties were relieved of the need to deal with foreign policy issues and had the luxury of squabbling over the domestic agenda. It has often been asked why a sexual indiscretion was grounds for impeachment of a president while leading the nation into an illegal war on false pretenses is not. Nivola suggests that had the Lewinsky scandal occurred during the Cuban missile crisis, Congress would likely have ignored the entire issue. In Chapter Five, Diana Mutz suggests (and there are many in agreement) that the mass media is to blame. Since Reagan ended the Fairness Doctrine in 1984, the Fourth Estate has largely abdicated its responsibility to provide fair and balanced news in favor of shallow, sensationalistic infotainment which has little real substance but provides a substantial revenue stream. Instead of focusing on issues, election news is reduced to little more than speculation as to who is most likely to win. Mutz also points out the popularity of political talk shows such as The OReilly Factor or Hannity and Colmes. She points out research suggesting that when viewers watch uncivil dramatic debate even when it lacks substance viewers are more likely to see the other side in a negative light. In this case, other means liberal; the one-sidedness of these shows are part of the corporate agenda to keep the money party in power by manipulation of public opinion. This possibly has more to do with the polarization we see in Congress and the nation than anything else, and is part of the overall neo-conservative agenda to end American democracy as we know it and replace it with a corporatist rule by a moneyed, oligarchic elite as it is in Mexico. 160 years ago, Alexander de Tocqueville was amazed that even rural farmers living on the U.S. frontier who had little formal education were able to discuss the politics and the issues of their time quite lucidly and intelligently. These were members of Jeffersons yeomanry the middle class, the existence of which democracy depends. Todays schools no longer teach history or civics in any meaningful way, while the obsession with standardized testing (another part of the corporate agenda) effectively kills off childrens innate love for learning. As a result, most Americans do not even know who their elected representatives are (but can probably tell you all about the Brad/Jen/Angelina saga, or Brittneys latest angst). 90% of all news outlets are controlled by five major corporations whose main priority is profit, not participation in democracy. Sadly, few Americans understand this or realize the dire economic and social consequences. If this polarization is to end, the news media must once again embrace its role as the fourth branch of government. Since these mega-corporations will not do this without being forced, Congress must return to the Fairness Doctrine, then pass legislation that will require these corporate interests to pest themselves of their media holding. If the past several years have taught us nothing else, it is that media consolidation is dangerous to democracy and must be ended. Only through lively and open debates, based on in-depth analysis of real issues can the American People hope to fully restore true democracy in this country. (Fortunately, this issue is being raised in Congress this year.) Work Cited Nivola, P.S. and D.W. Brady. Red and Blue Nation? Characteristics and Causes of America's Polarized Politics. (Washington D.C.; The Brookings Institute, 2006).