Buying a Light Box for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Buying a Light Box for Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression Treatment Print Before You Buy a Light Box for Seasonal Affective Disorder Not all light boxes meet the recommended requirements for treating SAD By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 17, 2020 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 BSIP / Universal Images Group / Getty Images More in Depression Treatment Medication Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Types Childhood Depression Suicide There are many light box products on the market that claim to help seasonal affective disorder (SAD), but here is what you should know before you invest in one. Not all light boxes meet the recommended requirements for treating SAD. What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression thats related to changes in seasons. The current formal diagnosis is major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern. As such, it begins and ends at about the same time every year. If youre like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and continue through the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer. In either case, symptoms may start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses. Common symptoms of SAD include: Feelings of depression that come and go at the same time each year, usually starting in the fall and winterA lack of energy; feelings of fatigue and lethargy; sleeping more than usualIncreased appetite, sometimes accompanied by weight gainCravings for high-carb and sugary foodsDifficulty focusing and concentrating on normal daily tasksMore severe symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)Withdrawing from friends and familyLow libidoFeelings of anxiety Dont brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the winter blues or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year. SAD Major Depression Seasonal affective disorder is a subtype of major depression that comes and goes based on seasons. So symptoms of major depression may be part of SAD, such as: Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every dayFeeling hopeless or worthlessHaving low energyLosing interest in activities you once enjoyedHaving problems with sleepingExperiencing changes in your appetite or weightFeeling sluggish or agitatedHaving difficulty concentratingHaving frequent thoughts of death or suicide Types of SAD There are two different forms of seasonal affective disorder; Fall/Winter SAD and Spring/Summer SAD. Symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD, which is sometimes called winter depression, may include feelings of irritability, low energy, social withdrawal, hypersensitivity to rejection, and a heavy feeling in the arms and legs that begin starting the fall and winter months. Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, sometimes called summer depression, may include depression, insomnia, weight loss, poor appetite, and anxiety that begin in the spring and summer months of the year. Treating SAD With Light Therapy If you are diagnosed with SAD, there are a number of different treatment options. Treatment for SAD may include light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy, and medications. Light therapy is helpful for 60% to 80% of people with SAD. To treat SAD, a light box needs to have a minimum power rating of at least 10,000 lux. This bright light, which is about five to 25 times the amount of normal indoor lighting, has been shown to reduce symptoms of SAD.   In order for light therapy to be effective, you need to use your light box for at least 30 minutes each day. While direct exposure is important, you should avoid looking directly at the light. Instead, try doing something to stay busy and distracted from the light such as reading a book, watching television, or using your computer.   The light box is generally used first thing in the morning. Before You Buy a Light Box for SAD While light boxes are usually safe and effective, they are not regulated or approved by the FDA for treating SAD.  There are, however, requirements recommended by the Center for Environmental Therapeutics (CET) for effective light box therapy. Make sure that any unit you purchase meets these specifications. Talk to Your Doctor First While you can buy one without a prescription, always talk to your doctor before you begin treatment with a light box. There are some cases in which light therapy may not be advisable, such as if you have bipolar disorder. If you have eye conditions such as eye damage, glaucoma, or cataracts, you should consult with your ophthalmologist before using a light box. Clinical Testing The light box that you buy should have data from peer-reviewed clinical trials to back its effectiveness for treating SAD symptoms. Sufficient Output When you are seated at a comfortable distance from the light box, it should provide you with 10,000 lux of illumination. Avoid products which missing or unverified specifications. UV Filters Fluorescent lamps should have a smooth diffusing screen to filters out harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. The light box that you choose should emit as little UV light as possible. Minimize Glare In order to minimize glare, the light should be projected downward toward the eyes at an angle. Sufficient Size A larger light box is better because even small head movements can take the eyes out of the therapeutic range of the light when a smaller light box is used. Reduce or Prevent SAD Symptoms In addition to light therapy, there are also steps you can take that might help prevent SAD or minimize the severity of your symptoms: Increase your exposure to light, particularly during the fall and winter months. Increase the lighting in your home if possible, keep your curtains and blinds open to let in light, and spend a little time outside each day.Get regular exercise. Increasing the amount of physical activity you get each day may help relieve some feelings of depression. Going for a walk or jog outside each day may be particularly helpful since it also includes increased sun exposure.Try taking a vitamin D supplement. While research is inconclusive, some evidence suggests that increasing the amount of vitamin D in your diet may help prevent or relieve SAD. Always talk to your doctor before starting on any supplement in order to prevent potential drug interactions with other medications you might be taking.Reduce your caffeine intake. Stick to only drinking caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee, and soda in the morning. Drinking caffeine later in the day may interfere with your ability to sleep well at n ight, and poor sleep may exacerbate feelings of depression. If you have been using light therapy but still have symptoms of SAD, talk to your doctor. You may need different or additional treatments such as medications or psychotherapy to find relief from your seasonal depression.

Buying a Light Box for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Buying a Light Box for Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression Treatment Print Before You Buy a Light Box for Seasonal Affective Disorder Not all light boxes meet the recommended requirements for treating SAD By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 17, 2020 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 BSIP / Universal Images Group / Getty Images More in Depression Treatment Medication Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Types Childhood Depression Suicide There are many light box products on the market that claim to help seasonal affective disorder (SAD), but here is what you should know before you invest in one. Not all light boxes meet the recommended requirements for treating SAD. What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression thats related to changes in seasons. The current formal diagnosis is major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern. As such, it begins and ends at about the same time every year. If youre like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and continue through the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer. In either case, symptoms may start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses. Common symptoms of SAD include: Feelings of depression that come and go at the same time each year, usually starting in the fall and winterA lack of energy; feelings of fatigue and lethargy; sleeping more than usualIncreased appetite, sometimes accompanied by weight gainCravings for high-carb and sugary foodsDifficulty focusing and concentrating on normal daily tasksMore severe symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)Withdrawing from friends and familyLow libidoFeelings of anxiety Dont brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the winter blues or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year. SAD Major Depression Seasonal affective disorder is a subtype of major depression that comes and goes based on seasons. So symptoms of major depression may be part of SAD, such as: Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every dayFeeling hopeless or worthlessHaving low energyLosing interest in activities you once enjoyedHaving problems with sleepingExperiencing changes in your appetite or weightFeeling sluggish or agitatedHaving difficulty concentratingHaving frequent thoughts of death or suicide Types of SAD There are two different forms of seasonal affective disorder; Fall/Winter SAD and Spring/Summer SAD. Symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD, which is sometimes called winter depression, may include feelings of irritability, low energy, social withdrawal, hypersensitivity to rejection, and a heavy feeling in the arms and legs that begin starting the fall and winter months. Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, sometimes called summer depression, may include depression, insomnia, weight loss, poor appetite, and anxiety that begin in the spring and summer months of the year. Treating SAD With Light Therapy If you are diagnosed with SAD, there are a number of different treatment options. Treatment for SAD may include light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy, and medications. Light therapy is helpful for 60% to 80% of people with SAD. To treat SAD, a light box needs to have a minimum power rating of at least 10,000 lux. This bright light, which is about five to 25 times the amount of normal indoor lighting, has been shown to reduce symptoms of SAD.   In order for light therapy to be effective, you need to use your light box for at least 30 minutes each day. While direct exposure is important, you should avoid looking directly at the light. Instead, try doing something to stay busy and distracted from the light such as reading a book, watching television, or using your computer.   The light box is generally used first thing in the morning. Before You Buy a Light Box for SAD While light boxes are usually safe and effective, they are not regulated or approved by the FDA for treating SAD.  There are, however, requirements recommended by the Center for Environmental Therapeutics (CET) for effective light box therapy. Make sure that any unit you purchase meets these specifications. Talk to Your Doctor First While you can buy one without a prescription, always talk to your doctor before you begin treatment with a light box. There are some cases in which light therapy may not be advisable, such as if you have bipolar disorder. If you have eye conditions such as eye damage, glaucoma, or cataracts, you should consult with your ophthalmologist before using a light box. Clinical Testing The light box that you buy should have data from peer-reviewed clinical trials to back its effectiveness for treating SAD symptoms. Sufficient Output When you are seated at a comfortable distance from the light box, it should provide you with 10,000 lux of illumination. Avoid products which missing or unverified specifications. UV Filters Fluorescent lamps should have a smooth diffusing screen to filters out harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. The light box that you choose should emit as little UV light as possible. Minimize Glare In order to minimize glare, the light should be projected downward toward the eyes at an angle. Sufficient Size A larger light box is better because even small head movements can take the eyes out of the therapeutic range of the light when a smaller light box is used. Reduce or Prevent SAD Symptoms In addition to light therapy, there are also steps you can take that might help prevent SAD or minimize the severity of your symptoms: Increase your exposure to light, particularly during the fall and winter months. Increase the lighting in your home if possible, keep your curtains and blinds open to let in light, and spend a little time outside each day.Get regular exercise. Increasing the amount of physical activity you get each day may help relieve some feelings of depression. Going for a walk or jog outside each day may be particularly helpful since it also includes increased sun exposure.Try taking a vitamin D supplement. While research is inconclusive, some evidence suggests that increasing the amount of vitamin D in your diet may help prevent or relieve SAD. Always talk to your doctor before starting on any supplement in order to prevent potential drug interactions with other medications you might be taking.Reduce your caffeine intake. Stick to only drinking caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee, and soda in the morning. Drinking caffeine later in the day may interfere with your ability to sleep well at n ight, and poor sleep may exacerbate feelings of depression. If you have been using light therapy but still have symptoms of SAD, talk to your doctor. You may need different or additional treatments such as medications or psychotherapy to find relief from your seasonal depression.

What Is Wind Shear

Wind shear is the change in speed or direction of wind over a relatively short distance or time period. Vertical wind shear is the most commonly described shear. Wind shear is considered to be severe if the horizontal velocity changes at least 15 m/sec over distances of 1 to 4 km. In the vertical, wind speeds change at rates greater than 500 ft/min. Wind shear occurring at different heights in the atmosphere is termed  vertical wind shear. Wind shear over a horizontal plane, such as along the Earths surface, is termed  horizontal wind shear. Hurricanes and Wind Shear Strong wind shear can tear a hurricane apart. Hurricanes need to develop vertically. When wind shear is increased, there is a greater chance the storm will dissipate because the storm is pushed or spread over a larger area. This NOAA visualization shows the effect of wind shear on hurricanes. Wind Shear in Aviation In the 1970s and 1980s, multiple aviation accidents were attributed to wind shear phenomena. According to the NASA Langley Research Center, about 540 fatalities and numerous injuries resulted from wind-shear crashes involving 27 civil aircraft between 1964 and 1994. These numbers do not include accidents that almost occurred. This image of the effects of wind shear shows wind shear on an airplane. A type of weather phenomenon called microbursts can produce extremely strong windshear. As a downdraft spreads down and outward from a cloud, it creates an increasing headwind over the wings of an oncoming aircraft causing a sudden leap in airspeed, and the plane lifts. Pilots may react by reducing engine power. However, as the plane passes through the shear, the wind quickly becomes a downdraft and then a tailwind. This reduces the speed of air over the wings, and the extra lift and speed vanish. Because the plane is now flying on reduced power, it is vulnerable to sudden loss of airspeed and altitude. (Making the Skies Safe from Wind Shear) Wind shear is the change in speed or direction of wind over a relatively short distance or time period. Vertical wind shear is the most commonly described shear. Wind shear is considered to be severe if the horizontal velocity changes at least 15 m/sec over distances of 1 to 4 km. In the vertical, wind speeds change at rates greater than 500 ft/min. Strong wind shear can tear a hurricane apart. Hurricanes need to develop vertically. When wind shear is increased, there is a greater chance the storm will dissipate because the storm is pushed or spread over a larger area. In the 1970s and 1980s, multiple aviation accidents were attributed to wind shear phenomena. According to the NASA Langley Research Center, about 540 fatalities and numerous injuries resulted from wind-shear crashes involving 27 civil aircraft between 1964 and 1994. These numbers do not include accidents that  almost  occurred. This  image of the effects of wind shear  shows wind shear on an airplane. Updated by Tiffany Means. Resources Links University of Illinois Atmospheric Science ProgramNASA – Making the Skies Safe from Wind Shear

My hero is my Grandmother - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 547 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/02/20 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: My Hero Essay Did you like this example? A hero isn’t someone who wears a mask and a cape. A hero is someone who inspires others, never gives up and encourages you to keep trying and to strive for greatness no matter how hard it gets. Someone who is there for you through the best, and worst, of times. A hero is someone to look up to, someone to inspire and teach you to always do the right thing, who never loses hope with you. Someone who remains strong and confident through everything. My hero is my Grandmother. I chose my grandma, Pat, among all my heroes because she is the kind of person who is understanding and helpful even when you’re in trouble. She’s there whenever I need a hug or advice, and she always tries her best to make me feel safe and happy. I live with me grandma so we push each others buttons, often, but we get over it and are laughing together in a matter of minutes. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "My hero is my Grandmother" essay for you Create order My grandma is the absolute strongest woman i know. I was in the 6th grade when we learned that my grandmother had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I didn’t really understand what the meant at the time but, I knew it was bad. I also knew how strong my grandmother was. She is such a fighter. I never lost hope in her just like she would never lose hope in us. Although my grandmother had a lot of sick days during this time period, she always kept hope. She never let anyone know how bad it really was. She always persisted and carried on supporting and caring for the people around her, which looking back i can see how difficult it actually was for her. After all her chemo treatments my grandmother kept fighting, she overcame the cancer, and is now cancer free! My grandma is so loving, she puts who she loves before anyone else. I can trust her with every secret I have because i know instead of judging, she will try to understand. If I am crying, she will hold me and try to come up with a solution to the problem or try and talk it out. I can complain to her about any and everything without criticism. She is the one person that inspires me to be a better person. And the only one who has not given up on me, no matter how difficult i may be. I will never forget her inspirational words, and the happiness she gives me on a daily basis. But, most of all, I’ll remember her love for every person in the world. And I hope she always remembers my love for her. I learned through her experiences that it is better to continue on forward instead of trying to repair the past, which i know is impossible to change. In addition to this, I learned that nobody is born with bad luck, it is just something inevitable that can be changed through hard work and courage. My grandmother has taught me so many things and so many lessons. When i have grandchildren i can only hope I will be as phenomenal as she is. That is why I chose her, my grandma, to be my hero.

Gender Socialization Is The Aspect Of Socialization

Gender socialization plays a part in pay gap within societies and America today. Gender socialization instills thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes into individuals throughout the lifespan. As a result, the outcomes of gender socialization, not only, prepares society for pay gap, but also prepares individuals to implement a gap in pay in relation to gender throughout societies. The discussion that ensues explains gender socialization and the impacts this has on, both, individuals and society in general. These stigmas are also related to the ongoing issue of pay gap present in societies today. â€Å"Gender socialization is the aspect of socialization that contains specific messages and practices concerning the nature of being female or male in a†¦show more content†¦Her toys may include, a baby doll, a kitchen, and a nurses outfit. These purchases imply appropriate behaviors of girls should be nurturing, homemakers, their success is acceptable at medial levels, and fall inline with appropriate behaviors. Kids television shows are often grouped and targeted towards either boys or girls. Advertising and packaging is also gender geared. Little boys are not depicted on commercials as playing with a baby doll, as little girls are not on commercials with a tool belt on and a hammer in their hand. Even when a parent is shopping on an internet site for toys, the option to filter these toys as girl toys and boy toys is given. This instills innate competition, or a clear division of what is appropriate for girls and what is considered appropriate for boys. â€Å"Through t he process of gender socialization we learn which attitudes and behaviors are considered to be appropriate for girls and boys, men and women, in a particular society.† (Kendall 92). Throughout the lifespan there are clear indications of what is fitting for males and females. Some indications are obvious while others are coded beneath the surface of a message. The example above gives insight to gender socialization among infants and toddlers. As school aged child and adolescents, our children are geared towards appropriate activities to participate in, such as football for boys and cheerleading for girls. ThisShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Socialization1676 Words   |  7 PagesSocialization is defined as the â€Å"process by which individuals acquire thoughts, feelings, and behaviors â€Å"appropriate† to their positions in society,† (Rohall 149). Individuals experience socialization beginning the day they are born, and throughout most of their lives. It can occur through everyday observation and interaction at every stage of development, or it can occur more formally though education and mentors. Socialization is important to how individuals interact in society and it also playsRead MoreGender Socialization And Social Control1508 Words   |  7 PagesBy and large, gender socialization is a major contributor to identity and self- concept. Gender therefore becomes a characteristic that defines other’s perceptions and evaluations of us. People come to manage gender along with aspects of other aspects of the self by making sure that we are acting in gender-appropriate way (Goffman, 1959, Libby). In itself, the self is a product of social forces and it emerges through socialization. Being that gender is a major function of one’s identity, stereotypesRead MoreGender Socialization Of Children : Gendered Toys, Media, And Parental Affects Child Development1289 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Gender role expectations are inescapable in our society as we naturally tend to sort humans into categories, the easiest one being gender. Upon first meeting a person, most people automatically classify the other’s gender. With this classification come the inevitable gender role expectations. Even for those who consciously try their hardest not to cloud their perceptions of others based on â€Å"traditional† gender role expectations, it is almost impossible not to subconsciously succumb to theseRead MoreSociology and Socialization Essay891 Words   |  4 Pages The term socialization can be defined as the process in which individuals learn the behavioral patterns that are most likely accepted and tolerated in society. This process includes the learning values in which children are taught and they develop the social values of their parents or guardians just by observing them. Socialization occurs from the birth of t he individual and continues throughout their life. Socialization is classifiedRead MoreGender Roles In Modern Society728 Words   |  3 PagesGender is an integral part of social practices of human interaction. It influences on all aspects of a persons life such as self-assertion and self-development, family, work, school, etc. Through the gender lens a person perceives any kind of information and passes it to the surrounding world by using a gender display. The process of gender socialization and the content of gender stereotypes has great importance not only for the life of an individual, but also for the progressive development ofRead MoreReview Of Richard Schaefer s Consuming Kids 976 Words   |  4 Pagesindividual characteristics allows one to gain a better understanding of the aspects and values of society and the institutions the individual is living in. My view of the relationship of the individual and his actions with society is similar to the interactionistsâ €™ view. People’s behaviors are shaped by other individuals and the wider society. Behavior is conditioned by social institutions and groups because of socialization. The movie â€Å"Consuming Kids† that the class watched depicts how the media hasRead MoreEssay about Socialization and the Learning of Gender Roles886 Words   |  4 PagesThe term socialization refers to the â€Å"lifelong social experience by which individuals develop their human potential and learn culture.† [Macionis et al. p 55] The concept of socialization is that our actions are driven/learned by culture. Socialization is also the foundation of personality, which we build by internalizing our surroundings. Through the lifelong process of socialization, society transmits culture from one generation to the next. A good example of socialization is the learning of genderRead MoreThe Issue Of Gender Roles883 Words   |  4 Pagesnot to get her dress dirty or that she is pretty, the parents implement and adopt unintentionally the gender roles imposed by society, and this is generally done really early in one’s lifetime. Gender roles are referred to as norms, which â€Å"dictates what types of behavior are generally considered acceptable, appropriate or desirable for a person based on their actual or perceived sex.† The term gender role is referred to society’s concept of how men and women are expected to act and how they should behaveRead MoreSocialization : An Individual s Development Of The Self868 Words   |  4 Pages Socialization enables us to continue to live as a society without relearning values, norms, and ways. It also shapes our self-images and helps shape our personalities. Through agents of socialization, we start to understand how to properly behave, what to expect from life, and how to follow societal norms. My family, school, peers, and media and technology are all agents of socialization. And although agents of socialization can aid us in understanding how to behave properly, the process can beRead MoreSocial Constructionism And Biological Determinism1552 Words   |  7 PagesThe ideology that gender is socially constructed is a view that has been present in a number of philosophical, sociological and psychological theories. This view shares an understanding that gender is a product of enculturation through a prescribed ideal, as well as determines what is considered socially appropriate behaviour for a person of a specific gender. Society is shaped globally through social order. Ea ch culture and society share a social order that is defined as a particular set of customs

Sundiata an Epic of Old Mali free essay sample

D. T. Niane’s book Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali tells the history of Mali’s former ruler from the perspective of a royal griot, Djeli Mamoudou Kouyate of the village of Dejliba Koro (Siguiri) in Guinea. According to Niane, he is not trying to write a traditional history book, rather, he is trying to present the history of Sundiata’s empire through the traditional African form of memory using oral tradition as his only sources. He claims that the West has taught historians to avoid oral traditions and to rely instead primarily on written documents. However, Niane disagrees with these methods and claims that much can be learned from the stories and traditions passed from generation to generation through spoken word. He makes a wonderful case for the problem of Westernization of the historical discipline; stressing that it is important to understand the people being studied on their own terms, instead of viewing their histories from Eurocentric perspectives. We will write a custom essay sample on Sundiata: an Epic of Old Mali or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The story of Sundiata begins before his birth. In the beginning, the griot establishes his authority on the subject by claiming that he was entrusted with these stories from his father and his father’s father. The griot also explains that griots take an oath and are unable to lie. According to tradition, Sundiata came from a long line of Malian kings. His father was a great and handsome man who was loved by his people. One day, Sudndiata’s father, Maghan Kon Fatta received a visiting hunter and soothsayer, who foretold that the king would one day have a son, that son would become a great ruler. However, the stranger informed Maghan Kon Fatta that in order for these things to come true, he must marry an ugly woman that would bear him this child. The woman eventually came in the company of two hunters; she was known as the buffalo woman and would become Sundiata’s mother. After the king Maghan Kon Fatta married the buffalo woman, Sologlon Kedjou, she became pregnant with a son, Sundiata. The king was overjoyed and upon the birth of the son, his first wife, Sassouma Berete, became increasingly jealous of Sologlon and her son. The child was named Mari Djata and will later be called Sologlon Djata and eventually Sundiata. However, Mari Djata failed to live up to his father’s high hopes as a child. He was unable to walk or talk at age three. Nonetheless, the king Maghan Kon Fatta entrusts the child with his griot, Doua to pass on the traditions and stories of Mali. Soon after, the king dies and so does Doua, the griot. At this point, the jealous first wife sends Sologlon, Mari Djata and his sister, Sogolon Djamarou, out of the palace and her son Dankaran Touman takes his father’s place as ruler of Mali. Sologolon is embarrassed because of her son and is taunted by Sassouma. One day, she returns from the palace crying and Sundiata hears his mother’s sobs. He decides to have a blacksmith create him an iron rod. He uses this rod to prop himself up and stand for the first time. Upon seeing him stand and walk, his mother and the whole city cheer and rejoice. This frightens the jealous Sassouma who convenes with a group of witches to plot out Sundiata’s murder. However, the witches refuse to follow through with his murder because of his kind nature. Unable to kill Sundiata, the queen mother, Sassouma exiles the family from Mali and they travel from city to city and kingdom to kingdom seeking refuge. Sundiata swore that he would return and take his proper place on the throne. As the years passed, Sundiata grew up. He was a great hunter and became very close friends with his half-brother Manding Bory. For a long time, the family stayed in Mema where the king, Moussa Tounkara, became very fond of Sundiata and trained him as a warrior and even made him heir to the throne of Mema. However, during this time the king of Sosso, Soumaoro Kante, had taken over Mali. Sundiata knows that as a man he must return to Mali and defeat the sorcerer king. Bella Fasseke, the griot, son of Doua belonged to Sundiata and was prisoner of Soumaoro Kante along with Sundiata’s sister Nana Triban, who had become one of the king’s many wives. Sundiata was a brave and fierce warrior and was able to defeat Soumaoro after several battles and was able to return his sister and his griot from under the power of Soumaoro. Sundiata became the rightful ruler of Mali and expanded Mali’s Empire far through conquering many lands. He was a kind and just ruler, loved by all. For the people of Mali, Sundiata is a national hero. This story is important to the identity of these people even today as a way to define themselves outside of their colonial status. Sundiata provides an example of greatness  for the people to cherish and aspire to. Sundiata, like Mali, is eternal. This book does an excellent job at portraying the life of Sundiata. However, it is not a traditional history book, meaning that it relies primarily on oral rather than written primary sources. Also, the author, Niane, does not present an argument, he simply retells or translates a story that is highly based on magic, superstition, and biased facts. Thus, while this book is an excellent story, it may not be totally objective or historically accurate in some of its assumptions and claims.

Ben Franklin BiographyCritique essays

Ben Franklin BiographyCritique essays In his many careers as a printer, moralist, essayist, civic leader, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, and philosopher, for later generations of Americans he became both a spokesman and a model for the national character. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on Jan. 17, 1706, into a religious Puritan household. His father, Josiah, was a candlemaker and a skillful mechanic. His mother, Abiah Bens parents raised thirteen childrenthe survivors of Josiahs seventeen children by two wives (#1). Franklin left school at ten years old when he was pressed into his father's trade. At twelve Ben was apprenticed to his half brother James, a printer of The New England Courant. He generally absorbed the values and philosophy of the English Enlightenment. At the age of 16, Franklin wrote some pieces for the Courant signed "Silence Dogood," in which he parodied the Boston authorities and society (#3). At one point James Franklin was imprisoned for his liberal statements, and Benjamin carried on the paper himself. Having thus learned to resist oppression, Benjamin refused to suffer his brother's own domineering qualities and in 1723 ran away to Philadelphia (#1). Soon Franklin found a job as a printer. After a year he went to England, where he became a master printer, sowed some wild oats, amazed the locals with his swimming feats, and lived among inspiring writers of London. By 1726 Franklin was tiring of London (#1). He considered becoming an itinerant teacher of swimming, but when a Quaker merchant by the name of Thomas Denham offered him a clerkship in his store in Philadelphia, he decided to return home (#5). Returning to Philadelphia in 1726, he soon owned a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, and began to print Poor Richard's Almanac. In the Pennsylvania Gazette, a citizen asked editor Franklin the following question: "If A found out that his neighbor B was sleeping with his wife, was he justified in telling B's w...