No Other Essays - Stonehenge, Henges, , Term Papers

No Other Despite the many purposes it seems to serve, Stonehenge is still the embodiment of mystery for most of the world. Some believe that its purpose was to be used as an astronomical observatory. Others think that it was used as a religious meeting center for the Druids. However, no one has been able to prove its true meaning and existence. Stonehenge is believed to have been built in three main periods. The first took place between 3100 and 2700 B. C. This part of the construction consisted of building a huge ditch around the area in which Stonehenge was to be built (Castleden 1). This ditch was 320 ft. in diameter with a broken area in which the entrance is located. Just inside the ditch 56 holes were dug equal distance from each other. These holes were then filled with chalk rubble, but some of the holes were filled with the bones of cremated human beings. These holes were called the Aubrey holes after their discoverer John Aubrey. To the northeast of the ditch a 16ft. tall heel stone was erected (Brown 751). The second phase of the building is non-existent to this day (Warwick and Trump I t can however be inferred by to holes known as the ?Q? and ?R? holes. The two holes form a double circle around the monument. It was originally filled with 38 blue stones. Also during this building phase two ditches were dug parallel to each other. The two ditches go outward from the entrance. This part of the building process is believed to be unfinished. This thought is due to the fact that some holes are missing in the double circles (Brown 751). The third phase in building is the most spectacular of all the phases. This is because of the 100ft. Circle that is filled with 30 sarsen stone columns which weighs 25 tons separately. A continuous circle of lintel stones held in place by mortise and tenon joints tops them off. Inside the circle is the holes known as the ?X? and ?Y? holes. Also inside are a small horseshoe shape of bluestones. The largest bluestone is called the altar stone. This altar stone's original location and meaning is unknown. It now lies under two fallen trilithon stone. The builders of this age of Stonehenge are the Wessex culture of the early Bronze Age (Brown 752). Those who constructed Stonehenge may never be known. There are many myths and legends as to who really built the huge monument. On such myth is that the great magician Merlin built Stonehenge. This was claimed in the book History of the Kings of Britains written by Geoffrey of Monmouth. According to Geoffrey the huge stones were taken from Ireland and moved to England where they were marked as a burial ground for slain British princes. This monument was set up by King Ambrosius. He sent for Merlin to give him a monument. Merlin suggested the ?Dance of the Giants? in Ireland. However the Irish were not going to give up their monument without a fight. They had set up an army to defend the giant monument from King Ambrosius's army of soldiers sent to fetch the monument. The British defeated the Irish but could not budge the giant stones in any way, shape, or form. Merlin, however, could. He came to their rescue and moved the stones with the greatest of ease. This story was a good explan ation to all medieval believers. Outline I. Construction A. Phases 1. Period I 2. Period II 3. Period III B. Builders 1. Celts and Druids 2. Merlin and King Ambrossius II. Purpose A. Solstice Calendar B. Druids Meetings C. Astronomical Events III. Feeling toward Stonehenge A. Peoples Feelings Then B. Peoples Feelings now

The Atrocities of the Congo Free State Rubber Regime

The Atrocities of the Congo Free State Rubber Regime When the Belgian King Leopold II acquired the Congo Free State during the Scramble for Africa in 1885, he claimed he was establishing the colony for humanitarian and scientific purposes, but in reality, its sole aim was profit, as much as possible, as fast as possible. The results of this rule were very uneven. Regions that were hard to access or lacked profitable resources escaped much of the violence that was to follow, but for those areas directly under the rule of the Free State or the companies it leased land to, the results were devastating. The Rubber Regime   Initially, government and commercial agents focused on acquiring ivory, but inventions, like the car, dramatically increased the demand for rubber.  Unfortunately, for the Congo, it was one of the only places in the world to have a large supply of wild rubber, and the government and its affiliated trading companies quickly shifted their focus to extracting the suddenly lucrative commodity. Company agents were paid large concessions on top of their salaries for the profits they generated, creating personal incentives to force people to work more and harder for little to no pay.  The only way to do that was through the use of terror. Atrocities In order to enforce the near impossible rubber quotas imposed on villages, agents and officials called on the Free State’s army, the Force Publique. This army was composed of white officers and African soldiers. Some of these soldiers were recruits, while others were slaves or orphans brought up to serve the colonial army. The army become known for its brutality, with the officers and soldiers being accused of  destroying villages, taking hostages, raping, torturing, and extorting the people. Men who did not fulfill their quota were killed or mutilated. They also sometimes eradicated  whole villages that failed to meet the quotas as a warning to others. Women and children were often taken hostage until men fulfilled a quota; during which time the women were raped repeatedly. The iconic images to emerge from this terror, though, were the baskets full of smoked hands and the Congolese children who survived ​having a hand cut off. A Hand for Every Bullet Belgian officers were afraid that the rank and file of the Force Publique would waste bullets, so they demanded a human hand for each bullet their soldiers used as proof that the killings had been done.  Soldiers were also reportedly promised their freedom or given other incentives for killing the most people as proven by supplying the most hands. Many people wonder why these soldiers were willing to do this to their ‘own’ people, but there was no sense of being ‘Congolese’. These men were generally from other parts of the Congo or other colonies entirely, and the orphans and slaves had often been brutalized themselves.  The Force Publique, no doubt, also attracted men who, for whatever reason, felt little compunction about wielding such violence, but this was true of the white officers as well. The vicious fighting and terror of the Congo Free State is better understood as another example of the incredible capacity of people for incomprehensible cruelty. Humanity and Reform The horrors, though, are only one part of the story. Amidst all of this, some of the best of people was also seen, in the bravery and resilience of ordinary Congolese men and women who resisted in small and large ways, and the passionate efforts of several American and European missionaries and activists to bring about reform.

Financial statement analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial statement analysis - Essay Example The general rule is for a current ratio to be good it must be above 1.0. Both the current ratio and quick ratio of the company are excellent. The net margin of Happy Hospital is 6.49%. A net margin measures the profitability of a company. In order to determine whether a net margin is good or not one must consider the industry in which the company participates. A good database to find the industry ratios for different business industries is the Dun & Bradstreet database. If a company has a net margin that is higher than the industry standard this company is performing above the industry norm. Another element to consider is whether a company is a non-profit organization or for-profit company. The net margin in a non-profit organization is irrelevant since the strategy of the company is to break even. On the other hand for-profit organizations seek to maximize its profitability. The asset utilization of Happy Hospital was 63.56%. Firms seek to have high asset utilization because this me tric illustrates how much revenues are being generated with the assets of a firm. The financial leverage of Happy Hospital is 10.22%, while the financial leverage of St. Agnes is 86.40%. The financial leverage ratios show how much debt a company is using to finance its operation. The financial leverage position of Happy Hospital is much lower than St. Agnes Hospital.