Hawthrone is the poet who clearly applied the romantic theory in the scarlet letter romantic also drew by that citation is showing that in the scarlet novel any. In hawthorne’s view, the romance allows a writer to enter into what he calls in the scarlet letter a “neutral territory” in that realm, the writer can “mingle” or merge the actual and the. Transcript of characterization in the scarlet letter hawthorne's characterization tecnhniques in the scarlet letter three techniques hawthorne uses three main characterization techniques to. Hawthorne's secrete sin in the scarlet letter paper no 10 hawthorne's theory of the romance as a literary form 2) the technique. View tips for reading hawthorne's the scarlet letter 2012 and a technique called litotes, which makes an for me since i love historythat is to say i. - romanticism and realism in american literary texts - nathaniel hawthorne’s the scarlet letter as a romantic piece of american literature as opposed to a realistic piece of literature based. Nathaniel hawthorne (/ ˈ h ɔː θ ɔːr n / né hathorne july 4, 1804 – may 19, 1864) was an american novelist, dark romantic, and short story writer he was born in 1804 in salem. Passages from the scarlet letter relating to ideas of good and evil excerpts from young goodman brown, the blithedale romance, and the scarlet letter read.
The theory of romance and the use of new england situations romance” in scarlet letter hawthorne’s scarlet letter : the theory of. Notes to ch 6, pearl the scarlet letter to her physical parts suggests a theory that sin could be read on a notes to ch 6, the scarlet letter/cite. The scarlet letter: a romance, an 1850 novel, is a work of historical fiction written by american author nathaniel hawthorne it is considered his masterwork set. Romantic love • full plot summary and analysis of “the birthmark” by nathaniel hawthorne • the scarlet letter by nathaniel hawthorne. The scarlet letter quotes “love, whether newly born or aroused from a deathlike slumber, must always create sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance. Symbol and interpretation in hawthorne's scarlet it also corresponds to the romantic theory of the consequences of using the scarlet letter as a romantic.
Use a teaching guide that includes a synopsis of the plot of the scarlet letter, historical commentary about puritan new england, and suggested activities. The critical response to nathaniel hawthorne's the scarlet letter: (critical responses in arts and letters) annotated edition edition. Thesis statements in literary analysis papers “hawthorne’s use of symbolism in the scarlet letter a book or article that discusses a theory.
The scarlet letter should primarily be understood as allegorical, but it is also a historical romance seduction and theory: readings of gender. Silence and secrecy: psychosomatics and discourse in psychosomatics and discourse in hawthorne’s the scarlet letter: the theory of the romance and the. Hawthorne’s use of imagery in the scarlet use of imagery in the scarlet letter a great technique because the readers can. Nathaniel hawthorne (1804-1864) after publication of the scarlet letter, after hawthorne's death romance versus novel 3.
Hawthorne writing style, free study guides and book notes including comprehensive chapter analysis, complete summary analysis, author biography information, character profiles, theme. Nathaniel the symbols and techniques used in nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter scarlet the symbols and techniques theory of holography and its use. Essay summary of nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter the story takes summary of nathaniel hawthorne's 'the scarlet my first reason is i love the.
A summary of the custom-house: introductory in nathaniel hawthorne's the scarlet letter learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the scarlet.
The scarlet letter - the symbol of guilt in nathaniel hawthorne’s the scarlet letter in nathaniel hawthorne’s thusly named romantic novel of 1850, the scarlet letter, its identity, and. Hawthorne's feminine voices: reading the scarlet letter as a journal of narrative theory hawthorne's feminine voices: reading the scarlet letter as a woman.


Part of our fun when learning about the letter g and its /g/ sound has involved getting into our garden. We certainly got grubby and had lots of fun planting our seedlings. We even planted a gardenia bush. The ground was quite dry and hard so we had to use big muscles and lots of perseverence to get the holes deep enough and we gave the ground a big drink of water before we planted each plant. We were careful not to damage the roots or the leaves of the plants so that they can still get their sunshine through the leaves and their water and nourishment from the soil. We also know that if it doesn’t rain enough we will have to water the plants each day. We have a special watering can that makes the water look just like raindrops or a shower. Such concentration and care to carefully extract the plant from its pot!
After our successful gardening session we put our landscaping skills to work in the the sand pit – just for a bit more fun. I happened to notice that Charlotte and Indigo even included a working waterfall in their sandpit garden. What a shame I missed the photo of it! You will just have to use your imagination.


Measurement of Earth Resistance by use of Earth Tester:
For measuring soil resistivity Earth Tester is used. It is also called the âMEGGERâ.
It has a voltage source, a meter to measure Resistance in ohms, switches to change instrument range, Wires to connect terminal to Earth Electrode and Spikes.
It is measured by using Four Terminal Earth Tester Instrument. The terminals are connected by wires as in illustration
P=Potential Spike and C=Current Spike. The distance between the spikes may be 1M, 2M, 5M, 10M, 35M, and 50M.
All spikes are equidistant and in straight line to maintain electrical continuity. Take measurement in different directions.
Soil resistivity =2ÏLR.
Measurement Of Earth Resistance
R= Value of Earth resistance in ohm.
Distance between the spikes in cm.
Earth resistance value is directly proportional to Soil resistivity value.
In this method earth tester terminal C1 & P1 are shorted to each other and connected to the earth electrode (pipe) under test.
Terminals P2 & C2 are connected to the two separate spikes driven in earth. These two spikes are kept in same line at the distance of 25 meters and 50 meters due to which there will not be mutual interference in the field of individual spikes.
If we rotate generator handle with specific speed we get directly earth resistance on scale
Spike length in the earth should not be more than 1/20th distance between two spikes.
Resistance must be verified by increasing or decreasing the distance between the tester electrode and the spikes by 5 meter. Normally, the length of wires should be 10 and 15 Meter or in proportion of 62% of âD'.


The GRE® General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that are not related to any specific field of study.
- Verbal Reasoning: The skills measured include the test taker’s ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it analyze relationships among component parts of sentences recognize relationships between words and concepts.
- Quantitative Reasoning: The skills measured include the test taker’s ability to understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis reason quantitatively solve problems in a quantitative setting
- Analytical Writing: The skills measured include the test taker’s ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively examine claims and accompanying evidence support ideas with relevant reasons and examples sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion control the elements of standard written English.
Who takes it and Why?
Prospective graduate applicants take the General Test. GRE® test scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records and other qualifications for graduate study. The scores provide common Measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants and aid in evaluating grades and Recommendations.
WHERE DO PEOPLE TAKE IT?
The General Test is offered year-round at computer-based test centers in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. It is offered at paper-based test centers in areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available.
The Subject Tests are given at paper-based test centers worldwide three times a year in:
Who Accepts It?
Any graduate, business or professional school, or any department or division within a school, may require or recommend that its applicants take the General Test, a Subject Test, or both. If approved by the GRE board, an institution seeking accreditation can also receiver test takers’ scores?
GRE Subject Tests
What are they?
The GRE® Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in the eight disciplines listed below. Each Subject Test is intended for students who have majored in or have extensive background in that specific area.
Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology.
- Biochemistry 36%
- Cell Biology 28%
- Molecular Biology &Genetics 36%
- Cellular and Molecular Biology (33-34%)
- Organism al Biology (33-34%)
- Ecology and Evolution (33-34%)
- Computer Science
- Literature in English


The Concept of ‘Precision’
During the first weeks of my sophomore year in high school (first year of the Danish three-year high school), a classmate slammed his hand on the table and said to the science teacher “You are freakin’ kiddin’ me. I don’t buy that! 9.00 is EXACTLY the same as 9 or 9.00000. There IS no difference!” We have a very different tone among students and teachers than you find in the US, so he was not out of line. His language aside, the concept of significant figures made his head explode. Right then and there.
Opposite to my friend’s war with significant figures in high school, precision is generally quite an intuitive concept. Theoretically, you should differentiate between precision and accuracy (or trueness), but I asked my Facebook friends about their use of precision (N = 132 – four answers excluded for non-relevancy):
Theoretically 1) and 3) are equally precise, and both more precise than 2 (provided that the target is to hit the center of the target). 1) is more accurate than 3) – or better trueness as ISO 5725 would use. While it was fascinating to see how many friends thought that there was a trick behind the question, it was also blatantly clear that the vast majority (63%, see pie chart below) interpret precision to mean ‘precision AND accuracy’.
In anticipation of the critique of this method, I fully admit that this is susceptible to almost any kind of bias you can think of. The 17% who knew the theory or found the answer first is probably an indication that I have a high percentage of academics as Facebook friends, and should not be seen as a scientific way to assess this. This is merely a quick ‘vox pop’ to see if we are totally off combining ‘precision’ and ‘accuracy’ in our daily language
So why do we need yet another concept in education? We already have personalized, adaptive, self-directed, intelligent, flipped and dozens of other hyped-up concepts. My team and I have used many of them – even pioneered some of them – and will continue to use them where they are deemed appropriate.
We are learning scientists who have worked in this field for over 20 years. It is frustrating that we still have the underdeveloped, marketing driven conversations about new learning methods, particularly when it comes to learning technology. In the current wild west of EdTech, every man and his dog can show up these days and make bold claims that they are more adaptive than what the world has seen before and capable of anything – including ending hunger in Africa. I do not blame decision makers, politicians, teachers and all the other stake-holders if you are fed up with this.
We have struggled for years to develop an intuitive concept for how to establish a common quality mindset for how to approach the quality of educational technologies or inventions. If we mean precise and accurate when we say precision, this IS a valuable measure.
We need to secure precision throughout the education system. Not just with the technology, but with everything involved. We need to base educational decisions on things we can measure and compare.


United Arab Emirates, a country in the Middle East. It lies at the southern end of the Persian Gulf, in eastern Arabia, and consists of seven loosely united sheikhdoms, or emirates—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Qaiwain, Ras al Khaimah, and Fujairah. Each sheikhdom bears the same name as its chief city, the residence of its sheikh. Until the end of 1971 the region was usually called the Trucial States, but was also known as the Trucial Sheikhdoms, Trucial Oman, and the Trucial Coast. (The term "trucial" stemmed from special truces, or treaties, that once existed between the sheikhdoms and Great Britain.)
Bordering the region are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman; boundaries, however, are disputed and largely undefined. The approximate area is 30,000 square miles (77,700 km2).
Virtually all the land is desert. The coast is flat and often gravelly, with numerous islands offshore. Inland, the plain gradually gives way to low ridges and to rolling sand dunes that extend southward into the great Rub al Khali—one of the most desolate areas on earth. A tip of the Hajar mountains occupies a relatively small area in the east.
An extremely hot, dry climate prevails in the emirates. High temperatures occur throughout most of the year, often reaching 110° to 120° F. (43° to 49° C.). There is virtually no rain except in the mountains, where a meager amount falls each year. High humidity along the coast and scorching, dry winds in the interior add to the severity of the climate.
Until oil was discovered in 1958, the area was one of the most impoverished and backward in the world. Nomadic herding, date growing, coastal fishing, and trade, chiefly through Dubai, provided a bare existence. By the early 1970's petroleum production from enormous offshore and mainland reserves, primarily in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, resulted in an ever increasing income of hundreds of millions of dollars. With this revenue came a building boom, especially in the two producing sheikhdoms, of new homes, schools, office buildings, pipelines, oil storage facilities, ports, roads, and airfields. It also brought the beginning of a welfare state.
Most of the 1,622,464 people living in the emirates in 1985 were Arabs; Iranians, Pakistanis, and Indians made up the largest minority groups. Most belong to the Sunni branch of Islam and speak Arabic, but few can read or write. The great majority of the people live in coastal towns and cities, chiefly Dubai and Abu Dhabi; the rest are nomads and oasis dwellers.
The Supreme Council, consisting of the seven sheikhs, is the highest authority in the land. It selects a president, a vice-president, a premier, and a cabinet. Each sheikh has almost absolute power in his own domain. He appoints representatives to the 40-member legislature that meets in the provisional capital of Abu Dhabi.
|Facts in brief about the United Arab Emirates|
|Capital: Abu Dhabi.|
|Official language: Arabic.|
|Area: 32,278 mi2 (83,600 km2). Greatest distances—north-south, 250 mi (402 km); east-west, 350 mi (563 km). Coastline—483 mi (777 km).|
|Elevation: Highest—Jabal Yibir, 5,010 ft (1,527 m) above sea level. Lowest--Salamiyah, a salt flat slightly below sea level.|
|Population: Current estimate—4,724,000; density, 146 per mi2 (57 per km2); distribution, 77 percent urban, 23 percent rural. 2004 official government estimate—4,320,000.|
|Chief products: Agriculture—dates, melons, tomatoes. Fishing—fish, shrimp. Mining—petroleum, natural gas.|
|Flag: The flag of the United Arab Emirates, adopted in 1971, has a vertical red stripe on the left side of the flag and three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black (top to bottom).|
|Money: Basic unit—Emirati dirham. One hundred fils equal one dirham.|


Research paper outline and format it is impossible to write a such a task without creating drafts and outlines that is why you need to pay careful attention to the research paper outline, as it will greatly simplify your future work and make the process of creating an assignment much simpler. To write a research paper, start by researching your topic at the library, online, or using an academic database once you've found at least 5 reputable sources, outline the information you've learned through your research. This is a sample outline of a thesis research paper it is used by the scholars and students to ensure that they have followed the standard mla format and style for their thesis the sample can be downloaded for use as a guide from our site for free. This sample follows the style guidelines in the mla handbook for writers of research papers, 7th ed (2009) sample outline for an mla paper (orlov.
If you are assigned to write an mla style research paper, a literature essay, or any other academic assignment, your professors will probably refer you to the 8th edition of mla formatting guidelines. To get a correctly formatted paper, go to file new and search for apa or mla depending on what style you want many things will format automatically, but make sure you check the easy gotchas, like spelling errors (words with a red squiggly line under it.
Research paper outline examples once you've decided what topic you will be writing about, the next thing you should pay attention to is the scope of your paper or what you will be including in your discussion. A research paper outline that starts off with the broad material will be narrowed down in order to get a strong research paper example research paper outline needs keywords before you begin flushing out your research paper outline template, consider the keywords that will help you put together a coherent introduction. For any research paper, it is essential to understand how to write an outline in many fields, research papers require an outline, as an integral part of the paper in many fields, research papers require an outline, as an integral part of the paper.
Cambridge rindge and latin school outline maker fill in the textboxes below and click this button. Mla research paper outline basics mla is the easiest and most frequently met research paper format, so we should start explaining how to write an outline for a research paper on this example the modern language association proposed this guide a long time ago. When writing a research paper, it is often helpful to write an outline before starting on the rough draft not only are outlines helpful, but they are often required as an assignment by professors and teachers in order to be graded well on a research paper outline, it must be in the proper format. Download a free mla outline template to make your document professional and perfect find other professionally designed templates in tidyform outline of a paper.
02) if, instead of questions about putting the final formatting touches on your essay, you have questions about what to write, see instead my handouts on writing a short research paper, coming up with a good thesis statement, and using quotations in the body of your paper. How to write an outline of a research paper in mla style 24 jul 2017 — research paper writing guides it is told that the mode of writing an outline for a research paper is a necessary thing to understand. An outline is a blueprint or plan for your paper it helps you to organize your thoughts and arguments a good outline can make conducting research and then writing the paper very efficient.
The outline fills in the blanks-when completing a research paper outline, use it to check for any major fundamental errors in the thesis, or research the outline will provide broad guidelines to help prevent diversion into less important content. The formal outline is an optional part of the modern language association, or mla, style paper some instructors require one and some do not even if your instructor does not ask for an outline, creating one can help you organize your thoughts before writing any kind of paper. This resource contains a sample mla paper that adheres to the 2016 updates to download the mla sample paper, select the mla sample paper pdf file in the media box above.
A research paper does not normally need a title page, but if the paper is a group project, create a title page and list all the authors on it instead of in the header on page 1 of your essay if your teacher requires a title page in lieu of or in addition to the header, format it according to the instructions you are given. Here is a sample paper in mla format that has both the cover page and the outline pagesthis paper has 10 pages so if you are under a slow internet connection, please wait a few seconds for all of the pages to load. The outline structure is approximately the same whether you write a research outline on dreams or some topic distant from this one, like a research outline for phd application the structure is identical to the structure of the research paper itself. How to write a thesis outline for a research paper using mla mla is the simplest academic essay paper format established by the modern language association it is applied to the assignments written for the english composition, history, literature, and some other humanitarian classes.


The eradication of malaria is hampered by the ability of current diagnostic tools to detect very low-density infections in asymptomatic patients. In response to this, the aim is to employ loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), an innovative and novel technique to test for asymptomatic malaria. This low-cost technique is faster and more accurate compared to currently employed diagnostic tests. In Kenya, the aim is to (1) conduct a hotspot identification campaign using LAMP techniques to detect the malaria parasite, and (2) build capacity to ensure sustainability and local participation in the hotspot identification campaign. Results of this hotspot identification campaign will become an essential tool in future anti-malaria interventions.


Stop Violence Against Girls in School: Success Stories
Download: English | French | Portuguese
Every day millions of girls in Africa and across the world see their rights violated, without having the opportunity to express themselves or be heard, either because they are children or simply because they are female, and as a result they are constrained into submission both to men and wider society, as dictated by “morality” and patriarchal culture.
One of the single most important opportunities that could lead to their independence - education - is also denied to them, as families do not prioritize their children’s education, much less that of girls. Moreover, laws, policies and regulations, in general tend not to safeguard girls’ rights and even when they do they are not properly implemented.
On countless occasions, girls are accused of or blamed for the violence they experience, and are often held responsible for the consequences of the violence of which they are victims, on the pretext that they should have done something to avoid it, or should have avoided doing whatever it was that provoked the violence.
In this document, you will also find stories told by the girls themselves (from Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique) about how they have been able to challenge the deeply-rooted culture of violence in all sections of society, and how the community-level work helped to promote changes in legislation, policy, school regulations and harmful practices at home and in the wider community. The collection of strategies and windows into the lives of girls and their communities that make up this document are worth reading, as they will undoubtedly inspire you to help thousands of girls whose rights continue to be denied across the African continent and indeed, the wider world.


OS Virtualized Machines, hereafter referred to as Zones, is a lightweight virtualization technology. Zones are fully isolated user-land environments, they do not possess their own kernel and therefore have effectively no performance overhead allowing for bare metal performance. Network and disk virtualization are provided by ZFS and the SmartOS networking stack ("Crossbow"). The result is a virtual environment that in every way acts like a complete environment.
The process of creating zones is simple:
- Download a Zone Image
- Create a Manifest describing the Zone
- Create the Zone using vmadm
- Use the Zone
Zone creation requires an image to use as a template.
To find a zone image, use the command imgadm avail. Images with the OS type "smartos" are zone images. The "base" and "base-64" images are minimal images with only a basic 32bit or 64bit pkgsrc installation and should be considered for building your own custom images.
Import an image by specifying its UUID:
You will reference this image's UUID when you create the zone manifest.
A manifest is a JSON object which describes your zone. There are many options which are fully described in the vmadm(1m) man page. The most important are:
- brand: This must be set to "joyent" for Zones
- image_uuid: The UUID of the image you are using as a template (images were previously called "datasets")
- alias: An arbitrary name displayed in vmadm list output in addition to the UUID
- hostname: Hostname that will be set within the zone
- max_physical_memory: Amount of RAM (RSS) available to the zone in MB
- quota: Amount of disk space in GB
- resolvers: DNS nameservers for this zone to use (placed in the zone's /etc/resolv.conf file)
- nics: One or more network interfaces attached to this zone
With some images you won't be able to log in to unless you pass an SSH public key to validate your connection with. Adjust your config to contain a customer_metadata block:
With your image imported and your manifest created, you can now create the zone. Do this by simply passing the manifest to vmadm create -f manifest.json:
Alternatively, you can pass the manifest via STDIN:
The zone is now created and running.
Once you have created a zone with vmadm create, you can log into your zone via ssh or connect to the console with one of two methods:


Should I use Laser cutting or should I use Plasma cutting?
This is a common question that customers ask us. They want to know the difference between the two, and which cutting process is better suited for their application or end-use. While the answer is not always cut and dry, there are some general rules that separate the two processes.
Laser cutting and Plasma cutting are both thermal cutting processes widely used in steel fabrication. Each is used to cut metals across a wide range of industries and applications. Several factors must be considered when deciding between laser cutting vs. plasma cutting for stainless steel. These can include material thickness, material type, the complexity of cuts, and tolerances required.
Each cutting solution has its advantages. Your manufacturer can help determine the best cutting solution for your application, but it is still important to understand the laser cutting and plasma cutting processes and understand the advantages each can provide to help inform your discussion.
Laser cutting is a precise thermal cutting process achieved by utilizing a focused beam of light. We often recommend this manufacturing process for applications where parts require tighter tolerances. When it comes to a specific material choice, we work with customers and in some cases make recommendations based on their specific application. When a part has tight tolerance specifications, needs precise cutouts, or requires holes that are small relative to the material thickness, we turn to laser cutting.
Stainless steel laser cutting is a popular choice for the many benefits it provides. Some of the most noted advantages of laser cutting include:
- Flexibility. Once a laser is set up and configured for a specific material type and thickness, cuts can be easily repeated on multiple parts, sheets, and plates without the need to change out tools.
- Precision. With general cutting tolerances starting at +/- 0.015”, laser cutting is well suited for precise cuts.
- Quality. Laser cutting produces component parts with greater accuracy than other thermal cutting methods.
- Repeatability. The consistent tight tolerances achieved with laser cutting ensure high repeatability between parts.
- Speed. Laser cutting can be faster than other traditional mechanical cutting processes, especially when making complex or extremely precise cuts.
- Contactless. With laser cutting, there is no mechanical friction to cause wear on tools. Only the laser comes in contact with the material being cut.
Plasma cutting uses a mixture of gases in combination with an electric arc to cut. With our high-definition plasma cutting equipment, we can perform bevel cuts on parts as required. Beveling is an important step in weld preparation and much larger or thicker component parts require beveled edges in order to facilitate a weld joint with the correct amount of weld penetration. Because of this, plasma cutting is often a better choice for parts that require weld-prep bevels, or for simple parts without complex geometry where exact tolerance is not as critical.
Plasma cutting stainless steel offers many possibilities. It offers an effective way to cut a variety of thicknesses and can cut sheets into curved or angled shapes. Some of the advantages of plasma cutting stainless steel include:
- Automation. As a CNC (computer numerical control) cutting process, plasma cutting mitigates the risk of human error over hand-held cutting methods.
- Speed. Plasma cutting cuts as much as five times faster than many comparable cutting methods. The process makes cuts rapidly while simultaneously vaporizing the cut material.
- Processing. Plasma cutting is an ideal method for quickly producing high-quality blanks for medium-to-high thickness Stainless Steel. This cutting method is also good for mild steels of low-to-medium thickness.
- Lower heat input. Plasma cutting can cut extremely hard metals, such as high-strength steel or abrasion-resistant steel, with a lower heat input than other cutting methods.
G.E. Mathis Company Metal Cutting Solutions
The advice listed here should be considered as general rules. At G.E. Mathis Company, we consider which process is best suited to cut each part on a case-by-case basis. We offer both Precision Laser cutting as well as Hi-Definition Plasma cutting options, and also have the experience to help advise you on which is better for your project or application.
At G.E. Mathis Company, our Precision Laser cutting and Hi-Def Plasma cutting services can be performed on an array of materials and thicknesses, and we can handle a wide range of production volumes. Whether you’re prototyping a new part or ramping up for a high-volume run, we can provide end-to-end production services for your laser cutting or plasma cutting project.
In addition, G.E. Mathis Company can provide the following services:
- PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) – All Levels
- FAIR (First Article Inspection Report)
- Capability Studies (Statistical Process Control)
- CMRT (Conflict Minerals Reporting Template)


Technology has made some amazing advancements since I was a kid in the 1980’s and 90’s. With the increased popularity of both smart phones and tablets, there are more and more learning options available for our children.
Last week I talked about the importance of teaching our children about money from an early age. It will help to develop them into more responsible individuals. The access to an endless amount of educational apps for kids only helps to make our job as parents easier. These apps not only teach our kids the basic concepts, but they also make it fun in the process.
I have gone through and reviewed some of the best paid and free learning apps for kids. These are all available for either iPhone, Andoid, iPod or iPad devices.
5 Paid & Free Educational Apps for Kids
Kids Money is a free app for helping kids figure out when they will be able to afford a certain item on their wish list. As an example, let’s say that your child has been wanting to get the new Xbox One game system.
How the Kids Money app works is that they will be able to enter the price of the Xbox system and how much they are planning to save each week. The app will then tell them the expected date that they will be able to afford the purchase. If they have any other purchases then it will adjust the purchase date accordingly.
Save! The Game
MassMutual has created Save! The Game, a free game for kids that helps them to understand the difference between wants and needs. This is something that is tough for even us adults to understand sometimes. The object of the game is for kids to try and collect as much money as they can and get it to the bank. The only problem is that there are a bunch of iWannas roaming around. If you or the money collide with these iWannas they will take all the cash.
Virtual Piggy Bank
It will cost you $0.99 to download, but the Virtual Piggy bank app is a great way to teach your children about the different U.S. coins. They will learn the names and how to count with them. Virtual Piggy Bank will teach your child what two quarters, four nickles, two dimes and one penny all add up to.
Savings Spree will set you back $5.99, but it is the winner of a Parents Choice gold award. It will teach your children different money lessons including how different spending decisions you make can positively or negatively affect you. Saving Spree will also show your kids how they can save their money to buy the things they want. It will also show them how they can be good spenders by making more frugal buying choices.
Bank of Mom
Bank of Mom helps parents keep track of their child’s virtual bank account and teach them about money. You can sit down with your kids and go over their transactions, balances and any interest they have earned. This app will help your kids be more confident when they open up their first bank account. Bank of Mom will cost you $1.99.
There are quite a few paid and free educational apps for kids that are available, however, these are just some of my favorites. By using these you will be able to give your kids a head start on on their financial education.
Latest posts by Sean Bryant (see all)
- Do Credit Card Rewards Really Payoff? - February 22, 2017
- How Can Teachers Help Cut Down on School Supply Costs for Students? - February 20, 2017
- What Affects Currency Rates? - February 17, 2017


Woodchucks/Groundhogs: litter size 4-5 born April to May, adult length 18-26 inches, weight 4-10 lbs., burrows can be 20-25 feet long, can move 700 lbs. of soil, lifespan 1.5 – 2 years, excellent swimmers and climbers, dens have multiple holes including a secret spy-hole, moisture comes from their food, possess great eyesight and super hearing, gardens and crops are favorite targets, they create hazards for livestock and farm machinery, sink-holes, foundation damage often result. Woodchucks are gate-way species. Their dens are used by many animals. Occasionally, there are separate compartments with skunks, raccoons and woodchucks all living in the same den! Don’t wish for them to go away, call Trapper Richard C. Smith for humane, pet-safe solutions.


Tricopigmentation is a technique aimed at mimicking hair in hair-deficient areas. Tricopigmentation involves the placement of tiny amounts of colored pigment to simulate the appearance of newly grown stubble on the head. It requires the use of specialized equipment and pigment to simulate the most natural appearance of hair.
The most highly demanded use for tricopigmentation is to help individuals suffering from pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) restore the appearance of fullness on their scalp.
Tricopigmentation can be performed to create the following two types of effects:
- Shaved effect
- Look of improved density
In other words, the procedure may be done to simply render the appearance of having some hair growth on the scalp through a diffused placement of the pigment. Alternatively, tricopigmentation may be performed in thinning areas to help produce the look of fuller density. This would be achieved by creating a greater concentration of pigment points.
These three photographs illustrate the before (above) and after (below) results of tricopigmentation for a shaved effect.
The technique of tricopigmentation is applicable to almost any degree of hair thinning or loss, and will appear as tiny hair stubble, although a person may have a completely bald head.


“Seeing the world through the eyes of a child” might seem to imply boundless wonder, joy, and acceptance; unfortunately, this is not always the case. Children of any age have stresses and disappointments in their lives. The particular form these might take will be different from those in an adult’s life, but that does not mean that their experiences are any less valid, nor that the emotions resulting from these are any less real.
Excessive negative experiences, especially when combined with physical health problems, feelings of insecurity and a genetic predisposition, can eventually result in children becoming clinically depressed. Kurt Smith, Psy.D., LMFT, LPCC, AFC says “Depression is different from passing sadness or temporary frustration with life’s issues. There are number of common signs for depression and they tend to be persistent.” This is not quite the same as being sad from time to time, which is only natural. If these feelings of sadness continue for a prolonged period or find expression in anti-social behavior, depression is one possible explanation. If this is indeed the case, treatment and professional help are called for: this is not a condition that tends to go away on its own.
Children and adolescents will rarely have the communication skills to express how they feel, nor the life experience to understand what’s happening to them. Therefore, feelings of frustration and helplessness tend first manifest in the way they behave around others. If a child starts behaving in ways that are out of character, such as being withdrawn, becoming prone to fits of anger or tending to disrupt group activities, depression is a possibility. Simon Rego, PsyD, associate professor of clinical psychiatry explains that “Depression symptoms are particularly troubling if someone displays more than one, or if they persist for more than two weeks.”
Additional symptoms to watch out for are significant changes in your child’s sleeping patterns or eating much less or more than usual. Depression, being a partly physical illness, also has physical manifestations, inexplicable bodily pains and fatigue being the most common.
If you’ve been noticing any of these symptoms, the first thing not to do is panic. 90% of parents will admit to sometimes being baffled or concerned by their child’s behavior, and the other 10% are liars. Only about one in forty children suffer from diagnosable depression, though those with a family history of the condition, or who come from an abusive environment are more at risk. Keep in mind that children will be children and even adults have their off days, but if these symptoms persist for a long period (two weeks or more), it might be worthwhile consulting a professional, even considering counseling online, to gain a little insight into the situation. Eventually, it might be necessary to take your child to see a child psychologist for a firm diagnosis. If he or she is indeed battling depression, seeking treatment as soon as possible can save your child years of suffering. Ben Martin, Psy.D. says “Having few or no supportive relationships can increase the risk of depression in both men and women.” That is something.


Queen Malodora Grymm was a hag, who lived in medieval Europe. She used a Beautification Potion to transform herself into a beautiful woman, and married a king. She used a charmed mirror to compliment her looks and reinforce her self-image. However, she became jealous of the most beautiful girl in the kingdom and plotted to get rid of her by using a poisoned apple.
Behind the scenes
- Malodora Grymm is based on the witch from the tale of Snow White.
- In 2001, actress Miranda Richardson, (who plays Rita Skeeter), took part in the film, Snow White: Fairest of Them All, playing Queen Elspeth, who, like Malodora, was a hag turned into the beautiful and wicked Queen of the fairy tale.
- Malodora consists of the prefix "mal-", "evil" (as in "malnutrition" or "malevolent") and odour, "smell" or "scent". Thus, Malodora is "she, who smells badly".
- Grymm is a nod to the Brothers Grimm. It can be also a reference to the word grim, meaning "ghastly" or "sinister".


Losing something is never a pleasant experience.
Well, maybe with the exception of those post-Christmas pounds, or losing yourself in a good book. But what about losing money? It’s a hard thing to swallow when it’s yours, but what about when the money involved belongs to your children?
“How much money could my children possibly have to lose?”
It’s a good question, and the short answer is up to £1,000 that was placed into a Child Trust Fund (CTF) by the Government: possibly without your knowledge. It is estimated that 900,000 CTFs lie dormant, generously stuffed with money belonging to the Nation’s youngsters.
How do you know if your child is one of the many with a CTF? And more importantly, how can they claim what is rightfully theirs?
How has this happened?
In their 2001 election manifesto, the Labour Government announced the Child Trust Fund, subsequently launching it in 2005. An initial subscription was provided in the form of a voucher for £250, with another £250 being supplied when the child turned seven years old.
Not all children were eligible however, with the following conditions in place:
- The child must have been born between September 1st 2002 and February 2nd 2011
- The family must be eligible for Child Benefit
Double payments were supplied to low-income families, giving children a possible total of £1,000.
An estimated six million children in the UK fit the criteria, and 900,000 accounts still hold cash and have never been accessed (Source: Gov.UK).
Does my child have an account?
Even if you don’t remember setting up a CTF, many accounts were opened by the Government on the child’s behalf. Identifying whether your child has one is a simple two-step process:
- Check the eligibility dates; only those born between 01/09/2002 and 02/02/2011 would have received a voucher
- If your child was born between those dates, this HMRC online tool can be used to track down the account details
HMRC aim to respond to any enquiries within 15 days, stating how much money is in your child’s account, if they have one, plus details of where it is being held.
If you track down a CTF that has money in it, two options exist:
- Leave it where it is (the child can access the money when they are 18)
- Transfer it to a Junior ISA (Individual Savings Account)
If the money is left in the CTF, you have the option of paying into it on behalf of your child. An annual allowance of £4,128 applies, and can be given by yourself, friends and family members. Contrary to many saving accounts (especially ISAs), the annual allowance resets on the child’s birthday, not the start of a new tax year.
If you decide to continue saving on behalf of your child, better rates of return can be found by transferring to a Junior ISA. At the time of writing the best rate for a Junior ISA was 3.5% (The Coventry Building Society), whereas no CTFs were offering interest rates of higher than 1.75%. The annual allowance is the same for both accounts, with a £4,128 Junior ISA annual allowance for the 2017/18 tax year.
Transferring to a Junior ISA from a CTF is a simple process. When researching Junior ISA providers, the key thing to ask is whether they accept Child Trust Fund transfers, and whether or not a fee is payable to switch. Once you have decided which provider to use, the account details that HMRC provided can be given, and the transfer completed.
Why should I save for my child?
Put simply; because kids are expensive!
Whilst the money you save for your children is theirs to do with as they wish, it will likely be spent on key life events. A lump sum of any size will give them a helping hand (and might even save you from having to help out financially in the future). For example:
- University and further education costs
- Deposit for a home
All of these are significant costs that would be made much more manageable if money was set aside at an early age, compounding nicely for use in the future. It may not be convenient (or possible) to put money away each month, but every little helps, and can go a long way in helping your little angels when they aren’t quite as small (or angelic).
For more information on Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs, feel free to get in touch with us on 0207 808 4120.


Common agriculture activities, such as tillage, fertilization and pesticide use have the potential to negatively impact water quality. However, there are many actions that farmer’s can take to reduce and minimize these impacts.
Farmers can learn more about water quality issues in the Macatawa Watershed and the impact of phosphorus and sediment on our surface water. Then by evaluating their farm and current practices, farmers can assess their risk and take proactive steps to protect water quality. The following pages provide additional information about conservation practices that can be used on the farm and programs that are currently available to assist farmers in the Macatawa Watershed.


Always respect others on and offline. Think about what you say online and what images you send or post and be aware that online messages can easily be misunderstood.
Remember that anything you publish online can be made public very quickly and you will never be sure who may have seen it. Once something is posted you can lose control of who sees it and where it may end up.
Treat your password like a toothbrush. Never share it with anyone and only give your personal information like mobile phone number or email address to trusted friends. Be careful to log out of sites and apps if you share your device with others.
Learn how to block or report online bullies or anyone behaving badly and don't retaliate or reply to nasty messages. This is usually what the bullies are trying to get you to do. Remember that if you reply with a nasty or unkind comment then it could get you into trouble too.
Always make sure that you save evidence of online bullying by saving or printing out text messages, online conversation, pictures. Try and include as much information as possible, such as web addresses (URLs), contact numbers, user names, times, dates, locations.
Always make sure you tell someone if you are being bullied online:
If you see online bullying going on, then support the victim and report it to the website or your school, don't be a bystander and say nothing otherwise you become part of the problem.


We want our students to be future-ready and focus our curriculum to give them the skills and tools necessary to be productive citizens and contributors to the society that they live in. As technology is constantly evolving, this means that students need to also learn to be adapt to change as well. Over the course of the year, students learn, practice, and build upon their knowledge of research skills.
In the fall students review call numbers, learn how to log on to their Destiny library account, and discuss and practice evaluating websites. In the spring, they learn about note-taking and complete a biography project.
Sixth-graders begin the year discussing citations and learning how to write one and why they are important. During the winter students practice their note-taking skills as they research a career. In the spring, students then complete a multimedia project on their chosen career and present it to their peers.
To view the library curriculum for 5th and 6th grade, please click here.
Please stop by the Hopewell Media Center website to learn more information.


Submitted by: Jim Tanner
Echinocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek εχινος (echinos), meaning “spiny”, and cactus. It and Ferocactus are the two genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have heavy spination and relatively small flowers. The fruits are copiously woolly, and this is one major distinction between Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Propagation is by seed.
Perhaps the best known species is the golden barrel (Echinocactus grusonii) from Mexico, an easy-to-grow and widely cultivated plant. Though common in the houseplant and landscape industry, the golden barrel has become very rare in habitat.
LATIN LOOKUP – Loquerisne Latine (Do you speak Latin)?
The meanings of latin plant names on this page – from http://davesgarden.com/guides/botanary/
- Echinocactus [ek-in-oh-KAK-tus]
From the Greek echinos (porcupine, hedgehog) and cactus, referring to its spines.
- Ferocactus [fer-oh-KAK-tus]
From the Latin ferus, (fierce) and cactus, referring to its heavy spines.
- grusonii [groo-SON-ee-eye]
Named for Hermann Gruson, 19th century German collector, nurseryman in Magdeburg.
- parryi [PAIR-ree-eye]
Named for Dr. Charles Christopher Parry, 19th century English-born American botanist and collector with the Pacific Railway Survey.
- platyacanthus [plat-ee-a-KAN-thus]
From the Greek platys (broad) and kantha (thorn).
- polycephalus [pol-ee-SEF-a-lus, pol-ee-KEF-a-lus]
- texensis [teck-SEN-sis]
Of or from Texas (U.S.).


In my field experience I have noticed an equity issue with ability level. It has become very apparent to me as the weeks have gone by which students are above level, at level and below level. One day the teacher had me take two students who needed extra time working on their math worksheet. These two children were very far behind in comparison to the other kids. They were really struggling with addition and I realized how far behind they were compared to the kids who had already finished the work sheet. After school I talked to Mrs. Whaley (teacher) and told her how surprised I was that they were struggling so much. She agreed and said they were two of the kids who were two of her lowest level kids. The next week it became apparent to me that the way she grouped their desks was by ability level or academic level. There are two groups of desks in the classroom with kids who are above level. They are the kids that always finish first and are ahead when working on group activities. Then there are two groups of desks that are normal academic level and two groups of desks with children farther behind. I found it shocking as to why she would group them together by ability level. I would think putting a mixture at each group would work better for the kids that are farther behind because they were be pushed and helped by kids ahead of them. I believe the issue of equity in ability level can impact the motivation of students. These students in groups that struggled had to be taken out of class and helped. They might feel embarrassed or “slow”. This might not only hurt their confidence and self-esteem but also cause the students to feel less motivated. By putting the slower students in groups with higher level students may not only help them when they have questions but motivate them to work harder.
Gay believes “the academic achievement of ethnically diverse children will improve when they are taught through their own culture and experiential filters”. Basically teachers need to educate themselves on different cultures so they can better teach students of different ethnic backgrounds and include different cultures into the classroom. Delpit suggests that as teachers we allow ourselves to be open and really listen to other perspectives because people of other cultures are “experts” in their culture and know what they are talking about. By doing this, it will allow us to better speak across cultures to our students of different backgrounds.
Gay proposes that one way to design culturally relevant curriculum is by designing bulletin boards to promote symbolic curriculum that talk about different ethnic groups and positive characteristics. For example, doing a bulletin board on leadership and include different ethnic groups. Then Gay also talks about societal curriculum and kind of changing the mental stereotypes that students believe because of the mass media they are exposed to.


What is the role of the public health nurse?
In any setting, the role of public health nurses focuses on the prevention of illness, injury or disability, the promotion of health, and maintenance of the health of populations.
What is the difference between a RN and a public health nurse?
Hospital nurses are responsible for evaluating and treating patients. Public health nurses do not wait for patients to come to them with an illness. Rather, they go into communities to prevent disease or help improve the population?s health.
Is public health nursing a good career?
While more community-based rather than focused on individual care, the public health realm is ideal for nurses who enjoy designing cause-driven contributions in health care services within communities. It?s not glamorous, but the work is incredibly gratifying.
What are the 3 P?s of public health?
Public health broadly consists of three different strands the ?3Ps?: health promotion, prevention of ill health and health protection.
What are the qualities of a public health nurse?
Public health nurses require a broad range of skills, including:
excellent communication skills.
influencing and negotiating skills.
ability to work across multi-agency or multi-disciplinary professional networks.
good people skills in order to develop and sustain relationships.
Are nurses seen as leaders in public health?
Nurses are health leaders and innovators. Increasingly, nurses create new pathways to deliver better care so that individuals, communities and even countries, can achieve better health. Nurses working in roles like this one bring the expertise of the nursing profession to important public policy engagement.
What makes a good public health nurse?
Public health nurses are highly dedicated individuals who work very hard to improve community health and access to care. They must be able to work well with large groups, listen attentively and be sensitive to cultural differences.
Can a public health nurse become a doctor?
A nurse who wants to become a doctor must go back to school and study allopathic or osteopathic medicine. Alternatively, nurses complete a doctorate in nursing, which opens doors to teaching, research and administrative opportunities in the advanced practice of nursing.
Can a public health student become a nurse?
Public health nursing programs are also often referred to as community health nursing programs. It is very important, particularly for students who decide to study online, to ensure their program is fully accredited. Only with accredited programs will they be able to take the licensure exam to become an RN.
What is the job description of a public health nurse?
Job Description. Public health nurses are registered nurses who work to improve community health. In this field, you may help educate the public about diseases or illnesses, as well as organize efforts to provide healthcare to a community or create a campaign to spread the word about an epidemic.
What are the duties and duties of a nurse?
The nurse, though, would be the care provider responsible for the patient?s full care, ensuring prescriptions don?t negatively interact with one another, and that a patient understands and is prepared for treatment. When diagnostic results come in, it?s the nurse who reads them first and, if necessary, immediately notifies the appropriate doctor.
What are the duties of a mental health nurse?
One of the main roles of a mental health nurse is to help patients by providing emotional support and guidance. She is often the first point of contact for new patients and may spend more one-on-one time with patients than the doctor.
What can a child health nurse do for You?
As well as offering advice, the nurse will also check your baby?s growth and development. Child health nurse services are free for families with children up to the age at which they start school. Your child health nurse will support you in caring for your baby, including help with breastfeeding. What is a child health nurse?
What is the role of the production function in the manufacturing process?
Production is a process of turning the inputs into desired products i.e outputs. It adds value to the input and also creates substitutes for the products if needed. Production function plays a crucial role manufacturing because : It involves planning and scheduling the manufacturing process.
What is the meaning of production and production function?
In simple words, production function refers to the functional relationship between the quantity of a good produced (output) and factors of production (inputs). ?The production function is purely a technical relation which connects factor inputs and output.? Prof.
What are the steps of the production process?
The three main stages of production are: Pre-production: Planning, scripting & storyboarding, etc. Production: The actual shooting/recording. Post-production: Everything between production and creating the final master copy.
What are the main factors of production?
Factors of production are the resources people use to produce goods and services; they are the building blocks of the economy. Economists divide the factors of production into four categories: land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship.
Which is the basic production function?
In the basic production function, inputs are typically capital and labor and output is whatever good the firm produces.
Which is the best definition of the production function?
The Health Production Function. Def: Production Function: Is the maximum output that can be produced out of a given combination of inputs. Health depends on a number of factors, some of which can be influenced by the individual himself. Hence, health can be produced .
What is the role of a production department?
A production department?s role is to ensure the process of turning raw materials into products is performed efficiently and accurately. The department performs five functions to assist this process. The first function is to establish standards in regard to the quality and the quantity?
Why is production management important in an organization?
Importance of Production Function and Production Management Every successful organization has a line function as well as a support function that must be efficient. But the production comes under the line function category which has a direct impact on the customers. Hence it dictates customer experience.
How does the production function of a firm change?
The production function of a firm depends on the state of technology. With every development in technology the production function of the firm undergoes a change. The new production function brought about by developing technology displays same inputs and more output or the same output with lesser inputs.


Nagorno-Karabakh’s a Happy Breakaway Republic, But Its War Goes On
In the decades since the post-Soviet war that spawned this little “independent” enclave, the Armenian diaspora in the West has helped turn it into a surprising democracy.
STEPANAKERT, Nagorno-Karabakh—At sunset flocks of swallows race through the pink sky over the central square of Stepanakert, a city once bombed and largely destroyed in a the post-Soviet war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the 21 years since the heavy fighting ended, there is still occasional shooting around the frontier with Azerbaijan, but this capital of the self-proclaimed state — this early “breakaway republic” — of Nagorno-Karabakh is peaceful.
Superficially, it resembles other quasi-nations dotting the map of the former Soviet Union: Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Transnistria and more recently the embattled self-proclaimed states of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine. But where those have depended mainly on Russian backing, and critics would argue they are Russian creations, Nagorno-Karabakh has found other sponsors.
Some 150,000 people live here, but the enclave has support from a much greater population of ethnic Armenians around the world, and on a summer evening the veranda of the Florence Garden restaurant on the corner of the main square is full of Karabakh’s visiting benefactors. The sound of clinking glasses mingles with leisurely chatting in Armenian, French, English and Russian. The tranquil scene seems almost surreal, considering Karabakh’s war-torn history and its militarized present.
In some crucial respects, indeed, it is more at ease and more fair to its people than Armenia itself. Less than 200 miles away in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, police detained dozens of civil activists last week. Armenian protesters unhappy about state corruption and mismanagement had blocked a street outside the presidential palace for over two weeks.
Nagorno-Karabakh, tucked in the green mountains of the Caucasus, has preferred to remain a distant observer of any geopolitical turmoil, developing under the influence of the Armenian diaspora in the West.
The Artsakh Republic, as locals call their mountain homeland, is aware that the rest of the world did not acknowledge the republic’s existence. But people also realized that any political instability could awaken the not-so-frozen war with Azerbaijan. Dozens of soldiers continued to die on both sides of the 21-year-old front line that is now the de facto border between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Another all-out war could involve neighboring Iran and Russia, and wholesale destruction once again, and that’s not wanted here.
To prevent traumatizing revolutions, Stepanakert made elections transparent and honest. Besides, the state is so tiny that it seems everyone knows everyone, and local officials are just too exposed to cheat the voters.
Arayik Harutyunyan, the prime minister, told The Daily Beast that Nagorno-Karabakh is different from the other internationally unrecognized states in the former Soviet Union. If Abkhazia, Transnistria, South Ossetia and the recently broken away and still fighting Donetsk and Luhansk republics embraced opaque authoritarian governments, Nagorno-Karabakh demonstrated that with transparent and democratic presidential elections it could beat corruption and organized crime successfully.
One could leave a purse on a bench in the park and find it the next morning, locals told us. “Maybe we managed to cure the typical post-Soviet diseases because we are so isolated,” Harutyunyan said in a recent interview, then thought for a moment and conceded with a smile: “We are intolerant toward gays.”
Democracy is not the only goal for Nagorno-Karabakh. Very soon, Harutyunyan promised, Karabakh would turn into a black caviar heaven, to demonstrate to Azerbaijan that they not only despise dictatorship, they can also grow rich: “In five years, our Golden Fish will produce and export tons of black caviar,” Harutyunyan said. Last year, Nagorno-Karabakh founded the Golden Fish sturgeon farm thanks to a Swiss-Armenian investor, Vardan Semakesh, who was also the largest investor in the republic’s hydroelectric power plant.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s shaky status does not allow it to have its own airport. The windy road trip from Armenia takes six or seven hours. But at the border checkpoint last week, two reporters in a car did not have to show their documents.
In the last decade, Nagorno-Karabakh has signed friendly resolutions and agreements with various American and European cities and regions. Last year, Basque representatives visited Stepanakert; thanks to the strong Armenian lobby in the U.S., the state of California established cooperation with the local administration. Armenia, whose president, Serj Sargsyan, was born here, provided more than 30 percent of the modest annual budget of about $200 million.
If in Armenia people are angry with deep-rooted corruption, here in the break-away state, businessmen feel safe. “I escaped Yerevan and opened my business in Stepanakert, where there is no corruption and nobody can make me pay a bribe,” says Dro Karapetyan, the owner of the Florence Garden restaurant and rock club.
And yet any conversation on the street or in private homes slowly drifts back to memories of war, and to stories of today’s losses on the border. It can seem at times that Nagorno-Karabakh is living a Groundhog Day of violence. More than 30,000 people died in the Armenia-Azerbaijan ethnic conflict in the late 1980s and early 1990s; hundreds of thousands were forced out of their homes on both sides of the front line.
When asked about similarities with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Lucine Sarkisyan, an assistant at a grocery store, shook head dismissively. ”In Luhansk and Donetsk they have water and electricity—we had nothing when we lived in that basement for two years,” she said, pointing at her house across the street.
Every local schoolboy knows that right after graduation he will put on his uniform and go to defend his state from enemies. That is what school programs taught the post-war generations; schools also train kids to assemble Kalashnikovs, throw grenades and climb walls for combat training. Many boys liked to watch weekly television shows about the army. One of the children’s drawings at Stepanakert’s School #3 exhibit themed “Peace” depicted soldiers marching in front of Grad missile launch systems.
Has Nagorno-Karabakh ever heard of a pacifist movement? “I have trouble imagining anything like that,” Stella Balayan, a school teacher in Martuni told The Daily Beast. She is still in mourning for her son, Col. Garik Balayan, who was killed in May 2014 during his night shift on the border. Looking at a printout of an official commemoration, Stella learned more about her son’s military service than she had ever heard from him.
One thing people in Nagorno-Karabakh do not understand is why their friend Russia is selling weapons to Azerbaijan, for about $4 billion in the last few years, including sophisticated S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems. Last August, shooting in the conflict intensified, the death toll increased by dozens.
Playing the role of peacemaker, Russian President Vladimir Putin brought the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to the same table in his residence in Sochi to discuss the situation with Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev insisted that Armenia should withdraw its forces from Nagorno-Karabakh, while Armenian President Serj Sarkisyan accused Azerbaijan of not following UN resolutions.
When asked about how Russia helps Nagorno-Karabakh, the self-proclaimed state’s foreign minister, Karén Mirzoyan, said that Nagorno-Karabakh did not see much help from Russia. “We receive more support from the United States,” Mizroyan said.