Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Friday, March 20, 2020

How to Write a Literature Review

How to Write a Literature Review A literature review paper is not an original publication. On occasion, a literature review will contain new data (from the authors own laboratory) that have not yet appeared in a primary journal. However, the purpose of literature review paper is to review previously published literature and to put it into some kind of perspective. A literature review paper is usually long, typically ranging between 10 and 50 printed pages. (Some journals now print short minireviews.) The subject is fairly general, compared with that of research papers. And the literature review is, of course, the principal product. However, the really good literature review papers are much more than annotated bibliographies. They offer critical evaluation of the published literature and often provide important conclusions based on that literature. The organization of a literature review paper is usually different from that of a research paper. Obviously, the Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion arrangement cannot readily be used for the literature review paper. Actually, some literature review articles are prepared more or less in the IMRAD format; for example, they may contain a Methods section describing how the literature review was done. If you have previously written research papers and are now about to write your first literature review, it might help you conceptually if you visualize the review paper as a research paper, as follows. Greatly expand the Introduction; delete the Materials and Methods (unless original data are being presented); delete the Results; and expand the Discussion. Actually, you have already written many literature review papers. In format, a literature review paper is not very different from a well-organized term paper or thesis. As in a research paper, however, it is the organization of the review paper that is important. The writing will almost take care of itself if you can get the thing organized. PREPARING AN OUTLINE Unlike research papers, there is no prescribed organization for literature review papers. Therefore, you will have to develop your own. The cardinal rule for writing a literature review paper is prepare an outline. The outline must be prepared carefully. The outline will assist you in organizing your paper, which is all-important. If your literature review is organized properly, the overall scope of the review will be well defined and the integral parts will fit together in logical order. Obviously, you must prepare the outline before you start writing. Moreover, before you start writing, it is wise to determine whether a literature review journal (or primary journal that also publishes review articles) would be interested in such a manuscript. Possibly, the editor will want to limit or expand the scope of your proposed literature review or to add or delete certain of the subtopics. The Instructions to Authors in Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews says it this way: . . . an annotated topical outline . . . will be evaluated by the editors, and if the material is satisfactory, the authors will be invited to write the literature review. Not only is the outline essential for the preparer of the literature review, it is also very useful to potential readers of the review. For that reason, many review journals print the outline at the beginning of the article, where it serves as a convenient table of contents for prospective readers. TYPES OF REVIEWS Before actually writing a review, you also need to determine the critical requirements of the journal to which you plan to submit the manuscript. Some journals demand critical evaluation of the literature, whereas others are more concerned with bibliographic completeness. There are also matters of organization, style, and emphasis that you should have in mind before you proceed very far. By and large, the old-line literature review journals prefer, and some demand, authoritative and critical evaluations of the published literature on a subject. Many of the book series (Annual Review of, Recent Advances in, Yearbook of, etc.), however, publish literature reviews designed to compile and to annotate but not necessarily to evaluate the papers published on a particular subject during a defined time period. Some active areas of research are reviewed yearly. Both of these types of literature review papers serve a purpose, but the different purposes need to be recognized. At one time, literature review papers tended to present historical analyses. In fact, the reviews were often organized in chronological order. Although this type of review is now less common, one should not deduce that the history of science has become less important. There is still a place for history. Today, however, most review media prefer either state of the art reviews or reviews that provide a new understanding of a rapidly moving field. Only the recent literature on the subject is catalogued or evaluated. If you are reviewing a subject that has not previously been reviewed or one in which misunderstandings or polemics have developed, a bit more coverage of the historical foundations would be appropriate. If the subject has been effectively reviewed before, the starting point for your literature review might well be the date of the previous review (not publication date, but the actual date up to which the literature has been reviewed). And, of course, your literature review paper should start out by citing the previous review. WRITING FOR THE AUDIENCE Another basic difference between literature review papers and primary papers is the audience. The primary paper is highly specialized, and so is its audience (peers of the author). The literature review paper will probably cover a number of these highly specialized subjects, so that the review will be read by many peers. The literature review paper will also be read by many people in related fields, because the reading of good reviews is the best way to keep up in ones broad areas of interest. Finally, literature review papers are valuable in the teaching process, so that student use is likely to be high. (For these reasons, by the way, order plenty of reprints of any review paper you publish, because you are likely to be inundated with reprint requests.) Because the literature review paper is likely to have a wide and varied audience, your style of writing should be much more general than it need be for a research paper. Jargon and specialized abbreviations must be eliminated or carefully explained. Your writing style should be expansive rather than telegraphic. IMPORTANCE OF INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS Readers are much influenced by the Introduction of a literature review paper. They are likely to decide whether or not to read further on the basis of what they find in the first few paragraphs (if they havent already been repelled by the title). Readers are also influenced by the first paragraph of each major section of a literature review, deciding whether to read, skim, or skip the rest of the section depending on what they find in the first paragraph. If first paragraphs are well written, all readers, including the skimmers and skippers, will be able to achieve some degree of comprehension of the subject. IMPORTANCE OF CONCLUSIONS Because the literature review paper covers a wide subject for a wide audience, a form of conclusions is a good component to take the trouble to write. This is especially important for a highly technical, advanced, or obscure subject. Painful compromises must sometimes be made, if one really tries to summarize a difficult subject to the satisfaction of both expert and amateur. Yet, good summaries and simplifications will in time find their way into textbooks and mean a great deal to students yet to come.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

List of Thesis Topics in Gerontology for Your Biology, Anthropology and Sociology Classes

List of Thesis Topics in Gerontology for Your Biology, Anthropology and Sociology Classes List of Thesis Topics in Gerontology for Your Biology, Anthropology and Sociology Classes Gerontology is a science that interlaces with many other disciplines like biology, sociology, anthropology, psychology, politics, etc. It is a field of studies that explores the process of aging. The most important aspects of this science are monitoring and studying the physical changes of people growing old, their mental alterations or adjustments in their social lives. While you may not study gerontology as your major or even secondary course, it can become a good topic for a thesis paper within your biology, anthropology or sociology class due to their tight connection with the science of aging. Why should you consider writing an academic paper within this discipline? Because lately the number of elderly has been rapidly increasing, and it means that in the nearest future the demand for gerontologists will grow. The experts predict that by 2050 every fifth person on the planet will be 60 years old. These people will need a special approach to being cared for, treating their mental as well as physical diseases and being a member of modern society. This is an extremely interesting field, that’s why we’ve put together a list of thesis topics in gerontology. By writing an academic piece on one of them, you will understand whether the science of aging sparks your interest or not. 2017 Discoveries on Aged Brain: the Biological Base of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Age Discrimination at Work and How Americans Fight It The Psychological Problems of Middle-Aged Men How Elderlies Cope with Rapidly Growing Technologies The Difference in Male and Female Sexuality in the Process of Aging What Is Successful Aging in the 21st Century? Middle-Aged Women with High Income: Motivations and Inspirations Sandwich Generation: Current Numbers and Future Prospects Older People Abuse and How the Law Protects the Elderly The Overview of the Elderly Care in the American Society: Special Facilities, Support Systems, Personnel Training, etc. The Early Wearing of the Body and How It Can Be Prevented The Possibility of Eliminating Aging on the Genetic Level How the Damaged DNA Correlates with Growing Old Cross-Cultural Communication Aspects of the Elderly Different Methods for Treating the Geriatric Depression The Connection between Depression and Health Decline within the Older Generation The Pitfall of the American Retirement System and the Consequences of it for the Elderly Education Opportunities for Older Generation in 2017-2018 Social Work in Gerontology: the Biggest Challenges of Choosing the Right Approach How Europe Is Preparing for the Rapid Growth of Elderly Take these topics and brainstorm the title for your thesis paper that will really appeal to your interests and preferences. Writing on gerontology might become a challenging, but exciting experience as you may discover truths valuable not only for you academic paper but for communicating and living with the elderly in general. So, go ahead and write the thesis that will impress the professor and yourself as well. Otherwise you can order a custom thesis at our website.

Monday, February 17, 2020

Evolution of video gaming and computer networking Research Paper

Evolution of video gaming and computer networking - Research Paper Example This happened because terminals were able to connect to their host computers through a leased telephone line or dial up. Due to the increased remote access, scientists created â€Å"host based† games wherein users connected to a central computer through a remote system played singly. Soon after, there came multiplayer games. In 1967, a Sanders Associate by the name Ralph Baer put into writing the first video game called â€Å"Chase† that played on a television set (Allen & Denton, 2010). As time went by, computer-networking technology started maturing as in the 1970s, there were introductions of packet based computer technology. As such, in 1971, Nolan Bushnell in association with Ted Danby came up with the first arcade game, which was a Computer Space game and based on Space War earlier created by Steve Russell. A year later, (1972) Nolan Bushnell and his associate completed the creation of the arcade game Pong with the support of Al Alcorn and started the Atari Comput ers the same year (Jason, 2004). The first operators of the arcade included Larry Kerecman. In his memoirs, Larry wrote that, the brilliance and the most astonishing fact about the arcade game was that Nolan and the Company took what Russell programmed in his game Space War and transformed it into a much simpler version of the game without gravity by use of hard-wired logic circuits (Wallace, 2007). Ideally, the circuits printed on the boards of these games composed of electronics that used integrated circuits commonly referred to as â€Å"small scale integrated circuits†. Creation of Ethernet Years between 1973 and 1975 witnessed, the creation of Xerox PARC developed on a Local Area Network that based on Ethernet hence allowed the creation of Local Area Networks founded on... Currently, there are considerable eight generations of video game consoles whereby the sixth, the seventh, and the eighth are as of today ongoing. The history of human-computer interaction has its beginnings written in the 1950s. In the year 1952, S. Douglas acquired his PhD degree at the Cambridge University and wrote a book on Human-Computer interaction. The first version of graphical computer game that Douglas created was the Tic Tack Toe. He programmed the game on an EDSAC vacuum tube computer that contained a cathode ray tube display. In the midst of 1980s, video games evolution bred systemic characteristics, which led to the release of video games such as Battle Zone, Bards Tale, and Zork. The 1990s was video computer’s golden age as it gave birth to a huge number of game publishers and developers such as Electronic Arts, Activism, id Software and Blizzard. From a graphics and design point of imaging, the evolution of video games was great and continues to be greater. Today there is up to the eight generation of video games and computer networking. The latest generations of consoles has seen online gaming rise to prominence with the introduction of mobile games that made it possible for gamers to access video games anywhere anytime just by touching a button. As the motion control revolutionized game play, Nintendo capitalized on casual gaming and as time went by, cloud computing came to video gaming. Technology made it clear that people could play without controllers on November 4 2010 with the release of Kinect in the Northern America. After the release of play station Vita, Nintendo released an official statement that announced a system aimed at succeeding Wii called project cafà ©.

Monday, February 3, 2020

Reflective Learning Journal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Reflective Learning Journal - Research Paper Example These businesses are faced with various challenges in marketing and each has adopted a different marketing strategy to succeed in the market. In each marketing strategy, technology has played an important role. Pre-Visit Research and Analysis Mr. Miikka Vaahtera, the CEO and founder of Malja Company, did the first presentation. During his presentation, he emphasized on the importance of agency’s roles. The choice of media as evidenced in the presentation was an important tool for the marketing agencies. For instance, electronic sponsorship such as smartphones and internet were going popularity across the board. In order to gain the market, the company made use of the marketing 4P’s (product, price, promotion, and place) through the agencies. The main problem facing the company was the use of traditional sponsorship (like magazines and radio) which were already going down. Therefore, event marketing became an important tool for the company. The second guest speaker was M r. Noel Mooney, Marketing Manager of UEFA. Football is my passion and was interested to see how it is promoted and expanded in the international scene. The marketing strategy used by UEFA is sponsorship marketing and a big question was how they manage to compete in a world of ambush marketing. The greatest threat in sponsorship marketing is ambush marketing. ... The company has made use of all the forms of media to promote their client’s brands. For the company, successes lies within an integrated campaign, that is, going viral in marketing. Social media has found a big place in the heart of the company because of its popularity and use across all ages and nations. If one wants information to reach as many people as possible within the shortest time, social media is the solution. In any form of marketing, creativity is very crucial and I was intrigued by the fact that the company emphasizes more on creativity from its employees. Without creativity, viral marketing is not possible. On the other hand, the work should not offend the intended audience. The last presentation was from Expedia and the company works with various hotels to promote their products. I am an avid traveler and I was amazed by how the company is able to collect information about and promote it. The company links various hotels and travel destinations around the worl d and the client are able to get all information they need within a click of a button. From the presentation, it was clear that the company has realized the importance of technology in marketing, that is, it has employed powerful marketing. The company also assists the hotels to reach their customers across the world through the same technology. How that is possible, lies within the strength of powerful marketing and the use of technology. Discussion and Analysis Event marketing is simply doing the correct thing and making people understand that you are doing the correct thing. The biggest challenge in this case is knowing what constitutes the

Saturday, January 25, 2020

The Introduction Of Chinese Food Cultural Studies Essay

The Introduction Of Chinese Food Cultural Studies Essay Chinese cuisine has a long history, famous all over the world. Chinese cuisine has developed and matured over the centuries, forming a rich cultural content It is characterized by fine selection of ingredients, precise processing, particular care to the amount of fire, and substantial nourishment. Local flavors and snacks, and special dishes have formed according to regions, local products, climate, historical factors, and eating habits.  The development and diversity of the delights of Chinese cuisine are also representative of Chinas long history. With each dynasty new recipes were created until the art of food preparation reach its peak during the Qing Dynasty (1644 1911). The dinner called Man Han Quan Xi that incorporates all the very best of Man and Han Cuisine is held in high esteem involving as it does countless dishes, each with its own distinctive flavor and appeal. This veritable banquet in its preparation and presentation typifies all of the culture and culinary arts t hat have been perfected over centuries and is a comprehensive amalgam of taste, instruments, and manners.   It also has their own flavor and appeal in our ethnic groups, which is quite distinctive. China has local cuisine, imperial dishes, and dishes of ethnic minorities, Islamic dishes with a strong religious flavor and vegetarian dishes. At the beginning China had only four styles of cuisine. As a sort of traditional food in China, wonton   originated in North China. It was viewed by ancient Chinese as a sealed stuffed bun without holes and therefore was named Huidun (meaning chaos). It was later called wonton in line with the formation rule of Chinese characters. Wonton has a long history. There existed numerous wonton restaurants in cities in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Wonton was featured by clear soup and delicate stuffing at that time. Its fineness was ever appraised by poets and was hard to achieve by common people. In ancient times, it was a custom in some regions to eat wonton on the midwinter day, which is said to has bearing on a famous doctor Zhang Zhongjing. He ever stuffed wonton with medicinal materials on the midwinter day to cure villagers who suffered frostbite. Wanton mee is very famous in many countries, such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and so on. In Hong Kong, wonton noodles are usually served in steaming hot soup with shrimp wontons and garnished with leafy vegetables. There are plenty of variations of this popular Cantonese dish, with different toppings and garnishes. For example the soup and wontons in a separate bowl, the noodles being served relatively dry, with the toppings and garnishes, dressed with sauce, dipping the noodles in the soup to eat it. Malaysia offers different versions of the dish, with different states having different versions of the dish and there are versions from  Johor,  Pahang,  Perak, Penang,  Sarawak, and  Selangor. The Malaysian version differs from the original in having slices of  char siu  added to the dish, as well as the possibility of the soup and wontons in a separate bowl, the noodles being served relatively dry and dressed with  oyster sauce. The  Singapore  ver sion of  wanton noodle  is largely similar to the Malaysian version. Wonton noodles  are also very popular in  Thailand, where, as in Malaysia and Singapore, the dish is often ordered together with barbecued pork which is then called  bami mu daeng kiao   Bakkwa  is a  Chinese  salty-sweet  dried meat  product similar to  jerky, made in the form of flat thin sheets. It is normally made from  pork. Bakkwa is believed to have originated from a meat preservation and preparation technique used in ancient  China  that is still practiced in places with  Hokkien  influence. In  Malaysia,  Singapore, and the  Philippines  bakkwa  or  bagua  is the most widely used name. Cantonese speakers use the term  yuhk gÃ…Â n, Anglicised version  long yok, while in  China  and  Taiwan  the product is more commonly known as  rougan. Commercially available versions are sometimes labeled as barbecued pork, dried pork, or pork jerky. Bakkwa is particularly popular as a  snack  in  Macau,  Malaysia,  Singapore,  Taiwan  and the  Philippines. In Taiwan, it is regarded as one of the three pork delicacies. In Malaysia and Singapore, bakkwa has become a highly popular gift offered to visitors and acquaintances, as well as amongst corporate employees (some during the  Chinese New Year). In Muslim-majority countries like Malaysia,  halal  chicken varieties of the snack may be used as a gift substitute. It may also be served in functions such as  Chinese wedding  banquets and religious ceremony dinners. While demand is particularly high during the festive seasons, it is also served throughout the year in various outlets as takeaway snacks or to be served together with main courses at home. The meat is commonly sold in red-colored bags or packaging, an auspicious color in  Chinese culture. In this question, students will learned more about the Chinese food and get more cookings knowledge. Such as the ingredients that can make the tasty Chinese foods. Students also can make it while at home, increasing the cookings skill if could. Especially the students can continue to learning the Chineses cuisine, such as the ingredients to cooking the Chinese food, traditional cooking, provisions, rations, cuisine, and so on. Thats exceptionally effective for those students who expecting to working in Food and Beverage department, Kitchen department, or open a business for selling the Chineses traditional food. What is Chinese set? The history of Chinese cuisine in China traced back to Peking Man and his use of fire and the invention of cuisine some 400,000 years ago. Some other accounts of the history of Chinese cuisine takes the beginning to the Chinese stone age, where the cultivation of rice and the production of noodles, both typical representations of Chinese cuisine as it is known today, are understood from archaeological findings. Not long after the expansion of the Chinese Empire during the Qin Dynasty and Han Dynasty, Chinese writers noted the great differences in culinary practices among people from different parts of the realm. These differences followed to a great extent the varying climate and availability of foodstuffs in China. Different ethnic groups might occupy only small areas, but early on, their cuisines were included in systematic lists of Chinese cuisines. Most Chinese cuisines belong to one of the Four Schools: Lu, Yang (named after Jiangsus major style, Huaiyang cu isine), Chuan and Yue. These are often translated as the cuisines of Shandong, Sichuan, Jiangsu and Guangdong. Table setting refers to the way to set a table with tableware-such as eating utensils and dishware-for serving and eating. The arrangement for a single diner is called a place setting. The table should have a centerpiece that performs a solely decorative function. If an informal dinner is being served that will fill the available places at the table, care should be taken to make the centerpiece not too large so that there will be sufficient room to place serving dishes. Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use a stereotyped layout based on more formal settings. Utensils are arranged in the order and the way a person will use them. Usually in Western culture, that means that the forks, bread plate, spreader, and napkin are to the left, while knives, spoons, drink ware, cups, and saucers are to the right, although the left-right order is reversed in a minority of countries. The most formal dinner is served from the kitchen. When the meal is served, in addition to the place plate at each setting there is the roll, the napkin, and the following cutlery/silver: knives, spoons where applicable, to the right and forks to the left. Coffee is served in Butler Service style in demitasse and spoons are placed on the saucer to the right of each handle. The utensils at a formal dinner must be sterling silver. Serving dishes and utensils are not placed on the table for a formal dinner. The only exception to these general rules is the protocol followed at the Spanish royal court, which was also adopted by the Habsburg court: accordingly all utensils were placed on the right. At a less formal dinner, not served from the kitchen, the dessert fork and spoon can be set above the plate, fork pointing right, to match the other forks, spoon pointing left. There are a variety of configurations of cutlery on the market but are usually in groups of four groups of eight, but some are in groups of twelve. Most of the cutlery set is a set of five panel members, consisting of a salad fork, fork, a spoon, a spoon and a knife from the table. Appliance parts can have a spoonful of sugar, butter knife and serving well. Some cutlery sets simply consists of kitchen knives, where you have five kitchen knives, a sharpening or butcher and a wooden block bearings, which are the essential dignity. You can put a pair of kitchen scissors and will. At the upper end of these groups, some very used include various Diameter as the chefs knife, paring knife, bread knife, utility knife (for cutting vegetables, fruits and other questions a day) and maybe a knife or scissors. Students can learn about the Chineses table setting, and the menus about the Chineses cuisine that have to showing to customer. That is a useful and a knowledgeable for the hospitality students because Chineses cuisine having a lot of knowledgeable to let the students discovered. Moreover, we can learned how to making the Chineses menu if the students can imagine to open a big dining restaurant for serving the Chineses food by the Chineses table setting.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Humalit Poems – Torres

CHILDREN AND LOVERS Ophelia Alcantara-Dimalanta (1934-2010) children have a special knack for making you feel odd and nude suddenly even with that vaguest piece of smile you ready somewhere to cover a scorching shame when they wickedly naive and sportive barge in without ceremony and when you finally shut that errant door on them again to try resuming love you terminate it both ways instead it seems the look of bewilderment and hurt they leave behind you cannot annul henceforth an alienating chill scudding across your upright headboard flipped into stiffened sheets and consciences eighty and brittle with adult experiences and reconsidered passions confounding even the best intentions but even more final than all finalities fumbled for is the cool crisp â€Å"later† you wall them away with somewhere again love waiting suffers a little falling away you end up wishing lovers are more like gaming children and children less like gnarled impatient lovers. DREAMWEAVERS Marjorie M. Ev asco (b. 1953) We are entitled to our own definitions of the worlds we have in common: earthhouse(stay) waterwell(carry) firestove(tend) airsong(sigh) etherdream(die) and try out new combinations ith key words unlocking power house on fire sing! stove under water stay, earth filled well die. The spells and spellings of our vocabularies are oracular in translation one woman in Pagnito-an another in Solentiname still another in Harxheim and many other women naming half the world together canmove their earth musthouse their fire be water to their song will their dreams well. THE CONVERSION J. Neil C. Garcia (b. 1969) It happened in a metal drum. They put me there, my family that loved me. The water had been saved just for it, that day. The laundry lay caked and smellyIn the flower-shaped basins. Dishes soiled with fat and swill piled high in the sink, and grew flies. My cousins did not get washed that morning. Lost in masks of snot and dust, their faces looked tired and resigned to the dirty lot of children. All the neighbors gathered around our open-air bathroom. Wives peered out from the upper floor of their houses into our yard. Father had arrived booming with his cousins, my uncles. They were big, strong men, my uncles. They turned the house inside-out looking for me. Curled up in the deepest corner of my dead mother’s cabinet, father found me.He dragged me down the stairs by the hair into the waiting arms of my uncles. Because of modesty, I merely screamed and cried. Their hands, swollen and black with hair, bore me up in the air, and touched me. Into the cold of the drum I slipped, the tingling too much to bear at times my knees felt like they had turned into water. Waves swirled up and down around me, my head bobbing up and down. Father kept booming, Girl or Boy. I thought about it and squealed, Girl. Water curled under my nose. When I rose the same two words from father. The same girl kept sinking deeper, breathing deeper in the churning void.In th e end I had to say what they all wanted me to say. I had to bring this diversion to its happy end, if only for the pot of rice left burning in the kitchen. I had to stop wearing my dead mother’s clothes. In the mirror I watched the holes on my ears grow smaller, until they looked as if they had never heard of rhinestones, nor felt their glassy weight. I should feel happy now that I’m redeemed. And I do. Father died within five years. I got my wife pregnant with the next. Our four children, all boys, are the joy of my manhood, my proof. Cousins who never shed their masks lay them for all their snot and grime. Another child is on the way. I have stopped caring what it will be. Water is still a problem and the drum is still there, deep and rusty. The bathroom has been roofed over with plastic. Scrubbed and clean, my wife knows I like things. She follows, though sometimes a pighead she is. It does not hurt to show her who is the man. A woman needs some talking sense into. If not, I hit her in the mouth to learn her. Every time, swill drips from her shredded lips. I drink with my uncles who all agree. They should because tonight I own their souls nd the bottles they nuzzle like their prides. While they boom and boom flies whirr over their heads that grew them. Though nobody remembers, I sometimes think of the girl who drowned somewhere in a dream many dreams ago. I see her at night with bubbles springing like flowers from her nose. She is dying and before she sinks I try to touch her open face. But the water learns to heal itself and closes around her like a wound. I should feel sorry but I drown myself in gin before I can. Better off dead, I say to myself and my family that loves me for my bitter breath. We die to rise to a better life. Humalit Poems – Torres CHILDREN AND LOVERS Ophelia Alcantara-Dimalanta (1934-2010) children have a special knack for making you feel odd and nude suddenly even with that vaguest piece of smile you ready somewhere to cover a scorching shame when they wickedly naive and sportive barge in without ceremony and when you finally shut that errant door on them again to try resuming love you terminate it both ways instead it seems the look of bewilderment and hurt they leave behind you cannot annul henceforth an alienating chill scudding across your upright headboard flipped into stiffened sheets and consciences eighty and brittle with adult experiences and reconsidered passions confounding even the best intentions but even more final than all finalities fumbled for is the cool crisp â€Å"later† you wall them away with somewhere again love waiting suffers a little falling away you end up wishing lovers are more like gaming children and children less like gnarled impatient lovers. DREAMWEAVERS Marjorie M. Ev asco (b. 1953) We are entitled to our own definitions of the worlds we have in common: earthhouse(stay) waterwell(carry) firestove(tend) airsong(sigh) etherdream(die) and try out new combinations ith key words unlocking power house on fire sing! stove under water stay, earth filled well die. The spells and spellings of our vocabularies are oracular in translation one woman in Pagnito-an another in Solentiname still another in Harxheim and many other women naming half the world together canmove their earth musthouse their fire be water to their song will their dreams well. THE CONVERSION J. Neil C. Garcia (b. 1969) It happened in a metal drum. They put me there, my family that loved me. The water had been saved just for it, that day. The laundry lay caked and smellyIn the flower-shaped basins. Dishes soiled with fat and swill piled high in the sink, and grew flies. My cousins did not get washed that morning. Lost in masks of snot and dust, their faces looked tired and resigned to the dirty lot of children. All the neighbors gathered around our open-air bathroom. Wives peered out from the upper floor of their houses into our yard. Father had arrived booming with his cousins, my uncles. They were big, strong men, my uncles. They turned the house inside-out looking for me. Curled up in the deepest corner of my dead mother’s cabinet, father found me.He dragged me down the stairs by the hair into the waiting arms of my uncles. Because of modesty, I merely screamed and cried. Their hands, swollen and black with hair, bore me up in the air, and touched me. Into the cold of the drum I slipped, the tingling too much to bear at times my knees felt like they had turned into water. Waves swirled up and down around me, my head bobbing up and down. Father kept booming, Girl or Boy. I thought about it and squealed, Girl. Water curled under my nose. When I rose the same two words from father. The same girl kept sinking deeper, breathing deeper in the churning void.In th e end I had to say what they all wanted me to say. I had to bring this diversion to its happy end, if only for the pot of rice left burning in the kitchen. I had to stop wearing my dead mother’s clothes. In the mirror I watched the holes on my ears grow smaller, until they looked as if they had never heard of rhinestones, nor felt their glassy weight. I should feel happy now that I’m redeemed. And I do. Father died within five years. I got my wife pregnant with the next. Our four children, all boys, are the joy of my manhood, my proof. Cousins who never shed their masks lay them for all their snot and grime. Another child is on the way. I have stopped caring what it will be. Water is still a problem and the drum is still there, deep and rusty. The bathroom has been roofed over with plastic. Scrubbed and clean, my wife knows I like things. She follows, though sometimes a pighead she is. It does not hurt to show her who is the man. A woman needs some talking sense into. If not, I hit her in the mouth to learn her. Every time, swill drips from her shredded lips. I drink with my uncles who all agree. They should because tonight I own their souls nd the bottles they nuzzle like their prides. While they boom and boom flies whirr over their heads that grew them. Though nobody remembers, I sometimes think of the girl who drowned somewhere in a dream many dreams ago. I see her at night with bubbles springing like flowers from her nose. She is dying and before she sinks I try to touch her open face. But the water learns to heal itself and closes around her like a wound. I should feel sorry but I drown myself in gin before I can. Better off dead, I say to myself and my family that loves me for my bitter breath. We die to rise to a better life.