Saturday, May 23, 2020

Medusa The Ancient Greek Myth of the Snake-Haired Gorgon

In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa is a Gorgon, one of three hideous sisters whose appearance turns men to stone. She is killed by the hero Perseus, who cuts off her head. To the Greeks, Medusa is the leader of an ancient, older matriarchal religion that had to be obliterated; in modern culture, she represents vital sensuality and a power that is threatening to males.   Fast Facts: Medusa, Monster of Greek Mythology Alternate Names: MedousaEpithets: The RulerRealms and Powers: The great Ocean, can turn men to stone  with a glance.Family: The Gorgons (also Gorgones or Gorgous), including her sisters Stheno and Euryale; children Pegasus, ChrysaorCulture/Country: Greece, 6th century BCEPrimary Sources: Hesiods Theogony, Plato’s Gorgias, Ovids Metamorphosis Medusa in Greek Mythology The Three Gorgons are sisters: Medusa (the Ruler) is a mortal, her immortal sisters are Stheno (the Strong) and Euryale (the Far-Springer). Together they live either at the western end of the world or on the island of Sarpedon, in the middle of Poseidons Great Ocean. They all share Medusas snake-like locks, and her powers to turn men to stone. The Gorgons are one of two groups of sisters born of Phorkys (the old man of the sea) and his sister Keto (a sea-monster). The other group of sisters is the Graiai, the old women, Pemphredoo, Enyo, and Deino or Perso, who share one tooth and one eye which they pass between them; the Graiai play a role in Medusas myth. This relief of Medusa was part of a temple at Ephesus, Turkey, built by P. Quintilius before 128 CE, and dedicated to the Emperor Hadrian. ihsanGercelman / iStock / Getty Images Plus Appearance and Reputation   All three of the Gorgon sisters have glaring eyes, huge teeth (sometimes boars tusks), a protruding tongue, brazen claws, and serpent or octopus locks. Their frightful aspect turns men to stone.  The other sisters have only minor roles in Greek mythology, while the Medusa story is told many times by many different Greek and Roman writers. The Medusa head is a symbolic element in Roman and ancient Arabic kingdoms (Nabataean, Hatran, and Palmyrene cultures). In these contexts, it protects the dead, guards buildings or tombs, and wards off evil spirits. How Medusa Became a Gorgon   In one myth reported by the Greek poet Pindar (517–438 BCE), Medusa was a beautiful mortal woman who one day went to Athenas temple to worship. While she was there, Poseidon saw her and either seduced her or raped her, and she became pregnant. Athena, enraged at the desecration of her temple, turned her into a mortal Gorgon.   Medusa and Perseus In the principle myth, Medusa is killed by the Greek hero Perseus, the son of Danae and Zeus. Danae is the object of desire of Polydectes, the king of the Cycladic island of Seriphos. The king, sensing that Perseus was an obstacle to pursuing Danae, sends him on the impossible mission to bring back the head of Medusa. Perseus beheading the sleeping Medusa. Terracotta pilike (jar), Attic period, ca. 450–440 BCE, attributed to Polygnotos of Thasos. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1945 (public domain) Aided by Hermes and Athena, Perseus finds his way to the Graiai and tricks them by stealing their one eye and tooth. They are forced to tell him where he can find weapons to help him kill Medusa: winged sandals to carry him to the Gorgons island, the cap of Hades to render him invisible, and a metallic satchel (kibisis) to hold her head once it is cut off. Hermes gives him an adamantine (unbreakable) sickle, and he also carries a polished bronze shield.   Perseus flies to Sarpedon, and looking at Medusas reflection in his shield—to avoid the vision that would turn him to stone—, cuts off her head, puts it in the satchel and flies back to Seriphos. On her death, Medusas children (fathered by Poseidon) fly out of her neck: Chrysaor, wielder of a golden sword, and Pegasus, the winged horse, who is best known for the myth of Bellerophon. Role in Mythology In general, the appearance and death of Medusa are thought to be the symbolic repression of an older matriarchal religion. That is probably what the Roman emperor Justinian (527–565 CE) had in mind when he included older sculptures of Medusas head turned on its side or upside down as plinths at the base of two columns in the underground Christian cistern/basilica of Yerebatan Sarayi in Constantinople. Another story reported by the British classicist Robert Graves is that Medusa was the name of a fierce Libyan queen who took her troops into battle and was beheaded when she lost. Medusa Head at Yerebatan Sarayi Cistern in Istanbul. Medusas severed head, upside down or on one cheek, is featured as the base of several columns in the large underground cistern built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527–565 CE). flavijus / Getty Images Plus Medusa in Modern Culture   In modern culture, Medusa is seen as a powerful symbol of female intelligence and wisdom, related to the goddess Metis, who was a wife of Zeus. The snake-like head is a symbol of her cunning, a perversion of the matrifocal ancient goddess who the Greeks must destroy. According to historian Joseph Campbell (1904–1987), the Greeks used the Medusa story to justify the destruction of idols and temples of an ancient goddess mother wherever they found them. Her snaky locks led to the use of Medusas name to refer to jellyfish. Sources and Further Reading Almasri, Eyad , et al. Medusa in Nabataean, Hatran and Palmyrene Cultures. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 18.3 (2018): 89-102. Print.Dolmage, Jay. Metis, Mà ªtis, Mestiza, Medusa: Rhetorical Bodies across Rhetorical Traditions. Rhetoric Review 28.1 (2009): 1–28. Print.Hard, Robin (ed). The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Roses Handbook of Greek Mythology. London: Routledge, 2003. Print.Smith, William, and G.E. Marindon, eds. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: John Murray, 1904. Print.Susan, R. Bowers. Medusa and the Female Gaze. NWSA Journal 2.2 (1990): 217–35. Print.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Cost Of Health Care Services Essay - 1498 Words

The LCH model posits that people save when income is greater than the resources needed to meet current consumption and that people borrow when income is insufficient. The basic model of the LCH, however, does not explicitly consider financial shocks, such as an unexpected health condition and the corresponding impact to savings or the accumulation of debt. Debt associated with a home or car loan is viewed as a necessity while credit card debt is frequently viewed as excessive spending; but in reality, those in severe credit card debt are often those who have experienced a recent job loss and/or health problems (Drentea Lavrakas, 2000). As people age, their health care needs begin to change. An increase in the consumption of health care services may require the allocation of additional household resources to health care costs not covered by insurance and depleted savings. The increased use of health care services may also lead to increases in borrowing (Kim, Yoon, Zurlo, 2012). As m ore employers eliminate retiree health insurance coverage, retirees will have Medicare as their primary source of health care coverage. Some retirees may even have a gap in coverage if they lose their job or retire prior to the age of 65, when they become eligible for Medicare. This occurrence may lead to a significant number of consumers being exposed to a higher potential for medical debt. Financial shocks, such as medical expenses resulting from health problems, threaten an individual’sShow MoreRelatedDirect Health Care Costs For Health Services Essay726 Words   |  3 PagesDirect health care costs to health services: 1- Staffing : cardiologists 2- Training costs 3- Inpatient services and hospital admission 4- Diagnostic procedures 5- Post-operative care cost ,such as imaging services and ECG costs, and medical devices 6- Consumables : e.g. drugs, suture, dressing, gown 7- Outpatient clinic costs, follow up care, such as cardiologists visit 8- Costs of treating of side effects such as, GPs visit 9- Capital costs: spaces required to provide the new intervention 10-Read MoreHealth Care Costs For Medicare And Medicaid Services1448 Words   |  6 PagesMedicaid Services (CMS), the United States spent $3 trillion on health care in 2014 and the projected growth in health spending for 2015 – 2025 is 5.8 percent per year (Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services, 2015). 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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Soldier X Free Essays

In â€Å"Soldier X,† by Don Wulffson, lies a boy who was drafted into the German army at age 15. His birth name was Erik Brandt, but after his second battle in Russia, he switched his clothes with a Russian Soldier to stay alive. When he entered the enemy lines, he was known to others as Aleksandr Dukhanov, serial number K487944. We will write a custom essay sample on The Soldier X or any similar topic only for you Order Now Two Hundred Twentieth Armored Division. But, he hated being called that. So, Nikolai Mikhailovich, his friend (the injured man who lost both of his legs and was the patient right next to X), came up with a new name for him. X. He meets nurses named Tamara, Katrina, and Zoya. There was a mental patient, who pretended to be the hospital’s only guard was named, Sergio. When the Germans attack the hospital’s town, all the patients, doctors, and nurses try to escape to another field hospital. But, as the trucks left, Katrina was shot. X, Tamara, Zoya, and Sergio were knocked out of the truck. They ran. But, Zoya died along the way. Then, later on, Sergio was shot by a German. X and Tamara, continued on their journey, making friends and making enemies. The journey they take is their only way to find their freedoms. First, does war bring out the best in some people and the worst in others? Yes, war does bring out the best in people. When a bomb might’ve exploded a building, some people might run in and see if there is anybody still alive and help them. But, that doesn’t mean war doesn’t bring the worst in people either. People react to war in different ways. Some might react the right way and become better people then they were before. Or they might react in the wrong way and become a horrible person then they were before. When in war, soldiers might fight for the right thing and some might fight for the wrong thing. Some soldiers might fight for what they love. Their families and friends or the people who love them back. Or they fight for themselves. Not thinking of others in any way. Sometimes people could change for the better. Or sometimes people could change for the worse. In â€Å"Soldier X†, when Tamara and X were injured from escaping the hospital attack, they walked for days. They went up to a house and the father wouldn’t help them, but their daughter gave bread and apples to them. Then when the got to a town Klatovy, Czechoslovakia, a car went by. They asked for help and the lady named, Elena Novak let them stay in her home until her hometown was attacked by the Russians and the Germans. She gave the food, water and a place to sleep. A quote to support my thinking is, â€Å"Tamara got to her feet. She was bone-thin, pale, and wheezing. ‘You’re ill,† said the women in her sort of lilting German. I leaned forward, down to the open window. ‘Please help us,’ I said. ‘We are so tired and hungry and we can’t think straight anymore.’ ‘Who are you?’ ‘We are from a medical unit,’ I answered. ‘I don’t know where any of the others are. I think most of them are dead.’ Little blue eyes in a big pink face looked us over. Gear shifted raggedly. ‘Well, we can’t have you dead, too!’ she said. ‘Come, come. Get in the car.’ We got in.† (p.176-p.177) Even though there was a war going on around Elena Novak’s home, she still gave others a home as well. Even though she didn’t know X or Tamara, she still knew that it was the right thing to do. The right thing to do was help them. In the beginning of the book, after X and the other German soldiers were defeated by the Russians, Russian soldiers would go and stab either the dead or wounded of the enemy. Making sure that the Germans were dead. A quote from the book to support my thinking, â€Å"I heard someone pleading in German—then another shot. I belly-crawled a half meter and peered out. What I saw sickened me and terrified me. A Russian officer was methodically seeking out the German wounded and shooting them. A lumbering oaf of a foot soldier, using a bayonet, was dispatching other Germans. He seemed to be enjoying what he was doing. And many of those he was bayoneting looked already dead; he was just making sure.† (p. 74)When X was in the hospital, X met a blurring friend named Nikolai. Nikolai later lost both of his legs. He was like the father X never had. When X left the hospital, he left his father-figure behind. X also met two nurses who were his friends. Katrina and Zoya. They were the ones who let Tamara stay in their house. When they were killed, those were the pieces of Tamara that she could never forget. Sergio, the pretend guard of the hospital made it out of the Hospital attack but was killed by a German during their journey. Even though in his mind he was gone, he still had good intentions in helping X and Tamara survive. Elena, who gave them a place to call home for a few days was the person who really made the impact on their journey. If X and Tamara hadn’t met Elena, they probably wouldn’t have completed their journey to their freedo ms. But, they also met a blurring enemy. Before they met Elena, they needed food and water. So, when they were in line. How to cite The Soldier X, Papers

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Corporate Governance in ICT

Question: Discuss about the Corporate Governance in ICT. Answer: Introduction: At the Leal technology, it is found that, the company provides network and system security services and has a formal IT governance setup. This company is an ESET managed Security service provider that provides the security to its customers with the help of ESET NOD32 software. Therefore, as the new threats are detected that are harmful for the clients system, the services will alert the clients. The formal IT governance set up will be helpful in providing proper services to the clients thus achieving the corporate objectives using proper use of the available IT infrastructure. As I am working as an intern at Leal Technology Company, i have the responsibility of installing software applications on workstations and servers. In course of completing my duties, I came across a situation where i have to install software that will help in the authentication process inside the organization. This application meant to be running all the time in background and allow access to the client records only after the successful completion of the authentication process. The installation of this specific application is done in accordance with the Australian standard of ICT (AS8015). The main objective of the above mentioned Australian standard is to manage the security of the IT infrastructure at the organization. The installed application completes the following functionalities, The application ensures and enforces the confidentiality of the client and business data stored 8n the database servers. It makes sure that. The data is available only to the intended users and authorities. The software is also ensures the integrity of the database system at Leal technology company by keeping track of the log in and sign outs by the different officials. In addition to that, it also keeps track of the document or data that are being viewed or modified by the different people who logged in to the system at different times As a part of my internship, I have to manage and optimize the performance of the client's record keeping database server. I have the responsibility to maintain all the record with the highest possible level of accuracy. This responsibility of keeping the records with accuracy is developed in compliance with the Public records act 2002. The purpose of managing the database with the compliance of the Public records act 2002 is to deliver the following functionalities The records must be retained and identified in an easily accessible format, so that whenever required the records can be instantly reported to the government and regulatory authorities. A system at the organization is maintained for the identification and destruction of the records that are consuming unnecessary storage. On the other hand this system will be helpful in safeguarding the information that is considered as asset to Leal Technology Company. Different business activities, organizational activities and community development activities must be tracked according to the guidelines of the above mentioned public record rule. The system should streamline the processes of retention and disposal of the records of the business of Leal Technology Company. Bibliography Austlii.edu.au. (2016).PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 2002. [online] Available at: https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/pra2002153/ [Accessed 5 Nov. 2016]. Feltus, C., 2012. Introducing ISO/IEC 38500: Corporate Governance in ICT.ITSMF Jaarcongres 2008, pp.27-28.