Aztec Origins and the Founding of Tenochtitlan

Aztec Origins and the Founding of Tenochtitlan The inceptions of the Aztec Empire are part legend, part archeological and authentic truth. At the point when the Spanish conquistador Hernn Cortã ©s showed up in Basin of Mexico in 1517, he found that the Aztec Triple Alliance, a solid political, financial and military settlement, controlled the bowl and surely quite a bit of focal America. In any case, where did they originate from, and how could they get the opportunity to be so incredible? The Origins of the Aztecs The Aztecs, or, all the more appropriately, the Mexica as they called themselves, were not initially from the Valley of Mexico yet rather relocated from the north. They called their country Aztlan, The Place of Herons., yet Aztlan is an area which has not up 'til now been recognized archeologically and was likely in any event somewhat legendary. As indicated by their own records, the Mexica and different clans were referred to as a gathering as the Chichimeca, left their homes in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States as a result of an incredible dry season. This story is told in a few enduring codices (painted collapsing books), in which the Mexica are indicated conveying with them the icon of their supporter god Huitzilopochtli. Following two centuries of movement, at around AD 1250, the Mexica showed up in the Valley of Mexico. Today, the Basin of Mexico is loaded up with the rambling city of Mexico City; however underneath the advanced lanes are the remnants of Tenochtitln, the site where the Mexica settled, and the capital city for the Aztec domain. Bowl of Mexico Before the Aztecs At the point when the Aztecs showed up in the Valley of Mexico, it was a long way from a vacant spot. As a result of its abundance of normal assets, the valley has been ceaselessly involved for a huge number of years, the principal referred to considerable occupation set up at any rate as right on time as the second century BC. The Valley of Mexico lies ~2,100 meters (7,000 feet) above ocean level, and it is encircled by high mountains, some of which are dynamic volcanoes. Water flowing down in streams from these mountains made a progression of shallow, damp lakes that gave a rich source to creatures and fish, plants, salt and water for development. Today the Valley of Mexico is for the most part secured by the immense extension of Mexico City: yet there were old demolishes just as flourishing networks when the Aztecs showed up, including the surrendered stone structures of two significant urban communities: Teotihuacan and Tula, both alluded to by the Aztecs as the Tollans. Teotihuacn: Almost a thousand years before the Aztecs, the enormous and painstakingly arranged city of Teotihuacn (involved between 200 BC and AD 750) prospered there. Today Teotihuacan is a well known archeological site a couple of miles north of present day Mexico City that draws in a huge number of visitors every year. The word Teotihuacn is a Nahuatl (the language expressed by the Aztecs) word meaning The Birthplace of the Gods. We dont know its genuine name, however the Aztecs gave this name to the city since it was a consecrated spot related with the amazing roots of the world. Tula: Another city that created in the Valley of Mexico before the Aztecs was the city of Tula, the early post-great capital of the Toltecs between AD 950 and 1150. The Toltecs were considered by the Aztecs to be the perfect rulers, daring warriors who exceeded expectations in expressions of the human experience and sciences. Tula was so loved by the Aztecs that the ruler Motecuhzoma (otherwise known as Montezuma) sent individuals to uncover Toltec objects for use in the sanctuaries at Tenochtitln. The Mexica were awestruck by the monstrous structures worked by the Tollans, considering Teotihuacan to be the holy setting for the making of the present world or Fifth Sun. The Aztecs diverted and reused objects from the locales: more than 40 Teotihuacan-style objects have been found in contributions inside Tenochtitlans formal region. Aztec Arrival in Tenochtitln At the point when the Mexica showed up in the Valley of Mexico around 1200 AD, both Teotihuacn and Tula had been relinquished for a considerable length of time; however different gatherings were at that point chose the best land. These were gatherings of Chichimecs, identified with the Mexica, who had relocated from the north in prior occasions. The late-coming Mexica had to choose the aloof slope of Chapultepec or Grasshopper Hill. There they became vassals of the city of Culhuacan, a lofty city whose rulers were viewed as the beneficiaries of the Toltecs. As affirmation for their help with fight, the Mexica were given one of the little girls of the King of Culhuacan to be adored as a goddess/priestess. At the point when the lord showed up to go to the function, he discovered one of the Mexica ministers wearing the excoriated skin of his little girl: the Mexica answered to the ruler that their God Huitzilopochtli had requested the penance of the princess. The penance and excoriating of the Culhua Princess incited a fierce fight, which the Mexica lost. They had to leave Chapultepec and move to some damp islands in the lake. Tenochtitln: Living in a Marshland After they were constrained out of Chapultepec, as indicated by the Mexica legend, the Aztecs meandered for quite a long time, scanning for a spot to settle. Huitzilopochtli appeared to the Mexica pioneers and showed a spot where an extraordinary falcon was roosted on a desert flora murdering a snake. This spot, right in the center of a swamp with no appropriate ground by any means, was the place the Mexica established their capital, Tenochtitln. It was 2 Calli (Two House) in the Aztec schedule, which deciphers in our cutting edge schedules to AD 1325. The evidently disastrous situation of their city, in a swamp, really encouraged monetary associations and shielded Tenochtitln from military assaults by confining access to the site by kayak or pontoon traffic. Tenochtitln developed quickly as both a business and military focus. The Mexica were capable and savage warriors and, in spite of the tale of the Culhua princess, they were additionally capable government officials who made strong unions with the encompassing urban communities. Growing a Home in the Basin The city developed quickly, with royal residences and efficient local locations and reservoir conduits giving new water to the city from the mountains. At the focal point of the city stood the consecrated area with ball courts, schools for nobles, and clerics quarters. The formal heart of the city and of the entire domain was the Great Temple of Mexico-Tenochtitln, known as the Templo Mayor or Huey Teocalli (the Great House of the Gods). This was a ventured pyramid with a twofold sanctuary on top committed to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, the fundamental gods of the Aztecs. The sanctuary, embellished with brilliant hues, was revamped ordinarily during Aztec history. The seventh and last form was seen and portrayed by Hernn Cortã ©s and the conquistadors. When Cortã ©s and his troopers entered the Aztec capital on November 8, 1519, they discovered perhaps the biggest city on the planet. Sources Altered and refreshed by K. Kris Hirst Berdan FF. 2014. Aztec Archeology and Ethnohistory. New York: Cambridge University Press.Healan D. 2012. The Archeology of Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico. Diary of Archeological Research 20(1):53-115.Smith ME. 2013. The Aztecs. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.Van Tuerenhout DR. 2005, The Aztecs: New Perspectives. Santa Clause Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO Inc.

Superstition And Witchcraft Resulted In Many Being Hanged Or Essays

Odd notion and black magic brought about many being hanged or in jail. In the seventeenth century, a faith in witches and black magic was practically all inclusive. In Salem Massachusetts where the witch preliminaries happen numerous individuals who are dubious is blamed for black magic and hanged. Arthur Miller composed a play called The Crucible. It depends on the Salem witch preliminaries. The Salem witch preliminaries change numerous people groups lives and even prompted passing for a few. The intensity of strange notion and gossip can mutilate from reality. Four priests of Salem joined Matther, and they spent an entirety day in the place of the harassed in fasting and supplication. The outcome of which was the conveyance of one of the family from the intensity of the witch. A niece and little girl of the area serve at Danvers were first distressed. Their activities startled other youngsters, who soon demonstrated similar side effects, for example, loss of craving and infection. A conviction immediately spread over Salem and all through the express that malicious spirits are being found in Salem. Fear claimed the psyches of about all the individuals, and the fear made the burden spread generally. The burdened, affected by the witchery, conceded to see the types of their tormentors with their inward vision (Miller 1082). what's more, would promptly blame some individual seen with the fiend. Now and again the harrowed and the denounced turned out to be various to such an extent that nobody was sheltered from doubt and its outcomes. Indeed, even the individuals who were dynamic in the indictments became objects of doubt. Retribution frequently affected people to denounce other people who were guiltless and when some announcement of the charged would move the court furthermore, crowd for the detainee. I saw Goody Osborn with the villain (Miller 1060). The informer would pronounce that they saw the villain remaining adjacent to the casualty murmuring the words in their ear. The ludicrous proclamation would be accepted by the adjudicators. A few, unnerved and with the expectation of sparing their lives or maintaining a strategic distance from the repulsions of detainment, would erroneously denounce their companions and family members, while others moved by similar expectations, would erroneously admit themselves to be witches. A considerable lot of the informers and witnesses came forward and distributed disavowals of reality of their declaration, to spare their own lives. Mr. Paris in the Danver family, who was one of the most solid examiners of supposed witches, was constrained to leave his charge and leave the nation. The affirmations of mistake and pleadings for kindness, could not reestablish the spirits of the individuals who are hanged, nor make changes for the torments' others had endured. The stunt had won in most prominent want over a half year, and it was not diminishing for more than a year. During that time nineteen had been hanged, and Corey Giles who is executed by the awful procedure of squeezing to death with stones since he would state whenever was liable or guiltless. He proceeded to saymore weight (Miller 1113); until he kicked the bucket. In doing as such, his family could keep his territory. Others had been tormented or terrified into a admission of blame or detained. As should be obvious the intensity of odd notion and the prattle can mutilate reality. The Salem witch preliminaries were frightening and it changes numerous people groups lives. The confidence in witches didn't end with the unusual energy. This weird scene in the historical backdrop of Massachusetts surprised the acculturated world, and made a troublesome impact on others. - Work Cited Mill operator, Arthur. The Crucible. Ellen Bowler. ed. et al. Writing the American Experiance. Englewood bluffs: Prentice Hall, 1994.

Johnson, Lady Bird

Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912â€"2007, b. Karnack, Tex., as Claudia Alta Taylor. She married (1934) Lyndon B. Johnson and played an active role in his political career. As first lady (1963â€"69), she was the first to have her own press secretary and to make a campaign trip on her own. She also sponsored environmental causes and national beautification projects and later co-founded (1982) what is now the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, Tex. A successful businesswoman, she bought (1943) a debt-ridden radio station in Austin, Tex., and built it into a multimillion dollar broadcasting company. Johnson also owned and managed extensive ranching lands in Texas. She was the author of A White House Diary (1970). See M. L. Gillette, Lady Bird Johnson: An Oral History (2012); biographies by M. D. Smith (1964), G. L. Hall (1967), and J. J. Russell (2012); L. I. Gould, Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment (1988). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 20 12, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies

Linux MUOS Report Free Essay Example, 1250 words

Although commonly associated with multiprogramming, multiuser OS does not imply multitasking. A multiuser system usually breaks the disk space up into user directories, so that each user has his data files in a separate place (Baldwin 1986, p. 271). Background Processing In a multiuser operating system, two or more active processes are permits. During the execution of such processes, the OS protects the memory space reserved for one process from other processes. Out of multiple processes, most of these systems only process and recognize input from mouse, keyboard, or other input devices (Yadav 2010, p. 146). This process is known as the foreground processes. The rest of the processes are said to be background processes. Background processes cannot accept interactive participation from a user, but they can access information stored on a disk, ready to write it to the video display. In a large multiuser OS, the number may be hundreds of processes running, with each having several active services at once. In fact, even though no users use the system that is running, dozens of background processes, called daemons (Liu, Yue, & Guo 2011, p. We will write a custom essay sample on Linux MUOS Report or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now 82), are executing. Types of multi-user operating system Multi-processor There are many types of multiuser operating systems, which work in different ways, intended for completely different purposes. One of these is the multiprocessing system. This is one that executes many processes concurrently. In a unit-process system, when the lone system executes a wait operation, the processor would sit idle and waste time until the process comes out of the wait state. The objective of multiprocessing is to have a process running on the processor at all times (Haldar & Aravind 2010, p. 82). Multiprocessing can be done in two ways called asymmetric and symmetric multiprocessing. In asymmetric multiprocessing, different jobs may be allocated to different processors. The disadvantage of asymmetric multi-processing is that some processors may be overloaded while other processors remain idle (World 1990, p. 84). In symmetric multiprocessing, the same job may be executed simultaneously at different processors. Time-sliced In a time-sharing system, several users can share the computer resources concurrently. Given that each action and command in a time-shared system takes an extremely minute fraction of time, only a tiny CPU time is desired for each user. As the CPU toggles rapidly from one user to another, each gets the notion that he has his own computer, while in actuality it is one computer being shared among many users.

The Poem ‘Mother To Son’ By Langston Hughes First Published

The poem ‘Mother to Son’ by Langston Hughes first published in 1922 and ‘The Road not Taken’ by Robert Frost have a number of similarities. These poems are parables in which experienced people give advice about life choices. In both poems, the personas were initially in some trouble in life but they currently have no remorse for the way they made choices and lived. Also, both poems have a moral lesson that life may not always be easy but at the end, the choices that people make will determine their destiny. However, the poems are considerably different in their writing style, diction, the point of view, tone and imagery. This essay aims to compare and contrast the two poems. Though having similarities in the theme and use of symbolism and†¦show more content†¦He, however, chose the road that was less favorable to people. This road represents a road of hard work or integrity since majority of people love short cuts to life. In the end, the speaker is not only relieved but also proud that he took that road. He says ‘I shall be telling this with a sigh’ (Frost 16). The reason for him telling the story is to give advice because he is proud of the decision that he made. Also, Hughes and Frost both use symbolism and imagery to bring out the picture about life. For Hughes, the stairs symbolize the life- life that has been lived through pressing on because of the difficulties and uncertainties involved. The mother symbolizes the old generation of people who are experienced and their role in giving advice. The old generation is familiar with life challenges that the younger generation, symbolized by the son, are undergoing. They provide hope for the young generation. The dark corners without light symbolize times of uncertainties, the corner symbolizes changes experienced in life, and the climbing symbolizes difficult situations requiring extra effort and so on. Reading through the poem a person can easily picture the life that the speaker lived. Conversely, Frost also uses symbolism in his poem. The divergent roads that emerge as the persona is traveling symbolize a dilemma in life. The persona needed to make a tough choice in life for it was impossible to live a double life.Show MoreRelatedThe Writing Style Of Langston Hughes1001 Words   |  5 Pagescollective, is one of the many legacies of Hughes, who has been called â€Å"the architect† of the black poetic tradition. He is certainly one of the world’s most universally beloved poets, read by children and teachers, scholars and poets, musicians and historians. Langston Hughes became the voice of black America in the 1920s, when his first published poems brought him more than moderate success. Throughout his lifetime, his work encompassed both popular lyrical poems, and more controversial political workRead MorePoem Analysis : Langston Hughes Poem1258 Words   |  6 Pages Research Paper and Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes’ poem â€Å"Mother To Son† is a twenty line poem that seems to be from the perspective of a prudent mother that is giving her son, and possibly the readers, some helpful and supportive advice, telling them that, no matter how many adversities they may face, they can not give up. I believe that this is the main theme of the poem, perseverance. â€Å"So, boy, don’t you turn back./ Don’t you set down on the steps./ ‘Cause youRead MoreLangston Hughes: A Jazz Poet1045 Words   |  5 Pages Langston Hughes (James Mercer Langston Hughes) was a poet, columnist, dramatist, essayist, lyricist, and novelist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes, like others, was active in the Harlem Renaissance, and he had a strong sense of racial pride. Through his poem, novels, short stories, plays, and kids books, he promoted equality, condemned racism, and injustice, and celebrated African American cult ure, and humor. (Illinois). Langston HughesRead MoreJames Langston Hughes And Countee Cullen934 Words   |  4 Pages James Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen were prominent poets. These poets were at the time of the Harlem Renaissance during the 20th century. Hughes and Cullen wrote for others to understand the stories of African-Americans living in the United State. These men had differences in their writing, but one mutual objective. James Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902. Hughes began writing poetry when he lived in Lincoln, Illinois. The Weary Blues was his first book of poetryRead MoreGwendolyn Brooks As A Poet2100 Words   |  9 Pagesracial prejudice in school. The young poet found comfort in reading and writing, which her parents actively encouraged Brooks’ mother declared to her, that she is going to be a poet. Brooks published her first poem Eventide at age thirteen in American Childhood magazine. At age sixteen, she met Langston Hughes, who gave her words of encouragement after reading her poems at a poetry reading. In 1934, Brooks graduated from an integrated high school with a career at the Chicago Defender. Soon afterRead More Langston Hughes Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pages Langston Hughes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People always listen to music, watch movies or plays, and even read poetry without once even thinking what is could be that helps and artist eventually create a masterpiece. Often times, it is assumed that artists just have a â€Å"gift†, and people just do not consider the circumstances and situations that gradually mold a dormant idea into a polished reality. This seems to be the case with nearly every famous actor, writer, painter, or musician; including the ever-famousRead More The Life and Works of Langston Hughes Essay1971 Words   |  8 Pages The Life and Works of Langston Hughes nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å" In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone, I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan – Ain’t got nobody all in this world, Ain’t got nobody but ma self. I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’ and put ma troubles on the shelf.† The above excerpt is from Langston Hughes prize winning poem, â€Å"The Weary Blues.† Hughes, considered to be one of the world’s outstanding authors of the twentieth century (Ruley 148), is a prolific poet, novelistRead MoreOvercoming Oppression and Exploitation - Langston Hughes Poems and James Camerons Avatar1566 Words   |  7 Pagesothers become bitter and reclusive and turn on those around them in hopes of feeling better about themselves. And many feel they are victims, rightly so. These are all completely normal reactions, but where do they lead us? Through two of Langston Hughes’s poems and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ I will discuss how oppressed people react to colonial conquest and exploitation, and how they become better people because of it. The painful ordeal of oppression and colonization turned the black people of AfricaRead MoreWhat Was The Overall Impact Of The Harlem Renaissance1110 Words   |  5 Pagesthe end of the Harlem Renaissance? The financial support of African Americans by rich whites came to end after the Wall Street Crash. 22. Who is the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God and when was it published? The author of Their Eyes Was Watching God is Zora Neal Hurston and was published in 1973. 23. What was the overall impact of the Harlem Renaissance? The Harlem Renaissance help to how American view African American and their culture. The integration of black and white cultures duringRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 PagesIn 1919, when Langston Hughes was seventeen years old, he spent the summer with his father, Jim Hughes, in Toluca, Mexico. Langston had not seen his father since he was a small child, and he was excited about making the trip. However, during this visit, no affectionate bond would develop between Langston and Jim. Jim Hughes was a cold, difficult man, who was driven by ambition to make money and achieve respect. He had moved to Mexico to avoid segregation and racial injustice in the United States

Bullying Debut Albums and Big Idea Free Essays

I have to write an argumentative essay about a big idea. My paper is on how parents can help to stop and prevent bullying. My big idea that I am completing is a blog that offers a lot of information along with links to resources. We will write a custom essay sample on Bullying: Debut Albums and Big Idea or any similar topic only for you Order Now I have my final due in two weeks but this week we have to revise our opening and closing statements and I do not know where to strap and could really use some help. Introduction: The saying, if sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me was ever true, it sure isn’t true today† (Gaul, 2010). Bullying in and out of schools is getting out of control. Statistics have shown that one third of teens are bullied at school and 4 percent also report that they were also victims of cyber bullying (Bullying Statistics, 2009). Parents really need to take a stand against bullying to help prevent it and to stop it. We as parents need to be a part of the solution, not the problem. Conclusion: No matter what end of the bullying your child is on, you need to make sure that you are doing your part to prevent and stop this. Bullying is a serious matter, weather we like it or not. If you do not think that you can handle the situation on your own, there is no harm in asking for help. You can find help in a variety of places, even with in your own family. How to cite Bullying: Debut Albums and Big Idea, Papers

Natural Disasters Bring Out the Best and Worst in People Essay Example

Natural Disasters Bring Out the Best and Worst in People Paper The media keep disaster in the forefront of our minds. TV, radio and the front pages of the press seem to revel in disaster because the public have a morbid curiosity in it, provided that it happens to other people. Disaster boosts TV ratings and sells newspapers. As we absorb the news of a famine, an earthquake, a hurricane, a tsunami, sometimes we tend to put ourselves in the position of the victims and wonder how we would react. In such situations, most people act instinctively, and what they do is more spontaneous than calculated. That spontaneity is usually the subconscious reflection of character, and because fife for most of us is lived on an even keel, how we behave in emergency is largely unpredictable, unless we have been previously conditioned to react in certain ways. The recent earthquake in Manner gave me a vivid example of two contrasting reactions to the same event. The house of a man received a direct hit from the earthquake which killed one of the daughters of the family. The father was a sincere Christian. He fell on his knees and prayed for the souls of the victims. We will write a custom essay sample on Natural Disasters Bring Out the Best and Worst in People specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Natural Disasters Bring Out the Best and Worst in People specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Natural Disasters Bring Out the Best and Worst in People specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The following day, what remained of his possessions lying round the shattered house were looted. This showed two very different reactions to disaster. Looting often follows the breakdown of law and order. It is never justifiable, but it may be less reprehensible in some circumstances than others. Some would disagree, but they are those who have never seen a disaster such as a famine. If my children were crying for food and I had the chance to steal a bag of flour to make bread for them, I think I would steal the flour. Would this action reflect the best or the worst in me? So what is it that governs our reaction during and after an emergency? The answer to that question is character. Character is governed by genetic structure, by upbringing and training, and by self-discipline, or its absence. If we react badly, we show cowardice, selfishness and indifference to the plight of others. If we react well, our conduct reflects the opposite of these failings. In the latter case, genetic history alone may govern our actions, but in most cases, people are poised between good and bad. It is then that external conditioning will tip the balance in one direction or the other. However, even more important than training is love, the kind which puts others first and helps us to forget self. This is relatively easy where our nearest and dearest are concerned, more difficult and perhaps more admirable where the others concerned have no emotional claim on us. The old Latin tag amour Vinci Omni, love conquers all things, is most germane to our reaction during disaster. There is also truth in the old Biblical saying Perfect love caste out fear. Natural disasters are the most devastating things that could occur in this era of globalization and it is true that it will bring the worst in some of us. Yet there were countless examples of bravery and unselfishness when en would help the wounded or engage hopeless odds with total disregard for their own survival. Some of these actions were recognized by the award of medals and decorations. Most were not. This was in some ways the most admirable product of this century. And whether the disaster is an earthquake or a hurricane, adversity tends to bring people together in a way that nothing else can. It goes without saying that the effectiveness of a service unit depends on the fact that every man knows he can depend on his colleague, whether he likes him or not. Whatever the disaster, the same spirit is seen in cost of the civilian population. People open their homes and hearts to each other, offer help, comfort and encouragement in a way which is never seen when life is easy and normal. The earthquake and tsunami that battered north-eastern Japan three weeks ago have put on display Some Of the nations finest features. Anyone who has spent time among survivors would surely agree this disaster has shown this nation at its best. Though the government response has inevitably been inadequate in some areas, relief efforts have been orderly and generally effective. And those much-maligned politicians eave at least managed to pause the feuding behind ruling parties and opposition groups that had threatened to derail next years government budget. Meanwhile, all along the north-eastern coast, people who have lost loved ones and homes have responded with uncomplaining restraint and self-discipline. It IS a measure of the high standards of social order Japanese set themselves that residents of the battered port of Fount recoil with dismay at rumors that four people have been arrested for stealing from ruined homes. I thought this was a good town, says one resident. Even mongo the rubble it is possible to hear neighbors greet each other and visitors with polite humor. Asked how victims can still laugh at a time like this, Mammas Mira, a fisheries co-operative chief from a village in coastal Sashimi, draws chuckles from his friends by answering: Every Japanese samurai! Historic accounts of the San Francisco earthquake demonstrate how the best in people are productively deployed from the moment the fires began to blaze. While the post-earthquake tremors continued to shake the ground beneath them, public servants working for institutions like the Post Office moored instructions to flee, and saved their own places of employment by skilful concentrated collective action. Some citizens, whose homes had been destroyed had begged, borrowed and stole food, coffee, tea and milk to set up impromptu cafes in the wreckage, which provided centers of contact and comfort for other survivors. They did this despite the officious pointless interference of military men who felt threatened by spontaneous action on the part of the citizen. Another good example how disasters bring out the best in people is the natural emergence of a volunteer corps. The natural emergence of volunteer forces in an emergency fits with the theory that those emergencies provide what prosperous routine times do not: a way to fulfill the basic human need for community identity. Some saw this side-effect of disaster as so important; they even described natural calamities as social utopias. Yes, people lose their homes, their businesses, their property and so much more. But at the same time they experience the kindness of strangers and the freedom that comes from the abandonment of possessions that they will never get to experience otherwise. These volunteer rescuers (who, statistically, tend to save more lives than do the emergency services) are disregarded by the media because media tends to arrive along with the official disaster responders; the police, military and corps Of engineers. Media have the habit Of relying On official sources for clear responses which carry more clout with the viewing public than the story of an unofficial volunteer rescuer. Media prefer the ordinary punter to be in victim mode, ideally weeping noisily over their loss. Chirrups volunteers dont fit easily in the traditional TV assister narrative. So we will see more pictures of residents in the flood- stricken areas looking at their destroyed possessions or queuing for water than we will see of them doing the rescue work they excelled in over the past few days. The image will be one of pathos and passivity, rather than euphoric coping. Mass media can cope with one individual showing boundless courage and resource because that individual can become an identifiable hero. Its not as good at capturing collective heroism, particularly when it takes unromantic forms like the making of hundreds of sandwiches. However, disasters like the Christopher earthquake can also bring out those seeking to exploit a tragedy. Two Japanese journalists were arrested overnight when they tried to break into hospital to interview victims. A man has been arrested for impersonating a building inspector and asking to see peoples valuables in a bid to steal from them. Sups Russell Gibson says police have received reports of individuals posing as CEQ staff asking about electronic items in homes. Cowardice accounts for most of peoples worst reactions to disaster. In fact few people, if any, are fearless. The earthquake that battered north-eastern Japan three weeks ago has also put on display some of the nations worst features. On the negative side, the natural disaster has brutally exposed the failings Of a nuclear power industry that many Japanese have for decades viewed with distrust. In doing so, it points at the high cost of the technological hubris and faith in construction as a solution to any social or economic problem that was a powerful strand in policymaking even before late prime minister Kaki Tanana in the sass set government the goal of remodeling he Japanese archipelago. That powerful earthquake and the huge tsunami it unleashed were undoubtedly a formidable double-whammy. But even a magnitude 9 quake hardly lies beyond the boundary of the Largest Conceivable Earthquake that Tepee claims its plants are designed to withstand. And while it will take time to establish all the links that make up the chain of disaster engulfing the Fuchsia plant, it is hard not to think that Tepees chronic problems with safety and disclosure could be factors in the current crisis. The crisis may end up taking a further toll on the tattered petition of Japanese politicians. It is they, after all, who have failed to protect the publics interest in a safe nuclear industry. And while the Democratic party-led governments short time in office means it can hardly be blamed for creating the crisis, Mr. Kane has hardly emerged as the kind of leader able to comfort and calm the nation at such a time. While, when disaster strikes, it is true that some people see opportunity to lend a helping hand for their fellow man or fellow Woman, Some folk see dollar signs written all over other peoples pain. Misery money remains a strong draw in our oral. People capitalize on human misery every day wars, unrests, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, storms, el onions, la minas, volcanoes, poverty, etc. Not all of us would react to disaster as we think. Self- preservation is the strongest natural impulse of all. Indifference to self has to be a very powerful counter-impulse if we are to be confident of behaving in the way we would hope. Or, to put it more crudely, we can pull together to do something about an earthquake, and feel good in the process, whereas negative equity and salary cuts leave us bailing for dear life on our own.