An Exploration of the History of Ecuador

As you might imagine, the history of Ecuador is rather vast and complex as it can be traced back over 9000 years. Before you attend Spanish classes in Ecuador, it is a good idea to learn something about the country's history. As a result, you will have a more enriching experience and get more out of visiting museums and various cultural landmarks. The history of Ecuador is often broken up into 5 periods: the Pre-Columbian period, the Conquest, the Colonial Period, the War of Independence and the Republican Era. Let's take a brief look at these periods to prepare you to learn Spanish in Ecuador.

In Ecuador's Pre-Columbian period, the native peoples were invaded and conquered by the Incas. This conquest began in 1463 under the leadership of Pachacuti Inca Ypanqui. His son Tupa commanded the army and led the takeover. They quickly colonized the region. Of course, many native tribes fought hard to resist the Incas, in particular, the Canari. This Inca Empire was called Tawantinsuyu. The Emperor really liked Quito and made it one of the capitols of Tawantinsuyu.

The next period in Ecuadorian history was the Conquest, as Spanish landed in Ecuador in 1531 and sought to defeat the Incans. In addition to the fighting, disease also played a role in destroying the Incan empire. Although there were far more Incans than Europeans, the Spanish had better weapons and tactics. Due to their technological advantage, the Spanish quickly captured the Incan Emperor.

The Spanish Colonial Era commenced as the Incans were defeated and more and more Spanish colonists arrived. The country was one of Spain's colonies between 1544-1563. The Spanish had a very paternalistic attitude and adopted a system called encomienda so that they could "take care" of the native people. Basically, they divided all the natives up amongst the colonial estates. The Spanish instructed the natives in Spanish and Catholicism. In return, they asked for labor as well as gold. Encomienda was considered to be quite unfair and many viewed it as enslaving the native people of Ecuador. Throughout the 18th century, there was an economic depression in the country. Even the elites became very poor by 1790.

The next historical era was the War of Independence, when those in Spanish-controlled America revolted against colonial rule. Citizens began organizing juntas. In 1811, the Juntas demanded a congress and declared that the area should be free of all governments based in Spain. However, the Viceroyal of Peru stopped this rebellion in 1812. Later in 1820, another junta declared independence. Stronger military forces were organized to support this movement. The natives met with a series of victories in battle. Even after the country was liberated from Spanish rule, they ended up in the middle of a fight between Peru and Gran Colombia over border issues.

The Republic of Ecuador started off with 15 turbulent years that included a great deal of fighting. One of the country's significant leaders from this time period, Gabriel Garcia Moreno, was considered to be Ecuador's best nation builder. He saved the country from falling apart in 1859 and then ruled it with an "iron fist." In the period leading up to 1890, the exports from the country grow tremendously. Since that time, there have continued to be a variety of political upheavals and changes to and from democratic rule.

If you decide to learn Spanish in Ecuador, you will have the opportunity to gain a better understanding for the country's complex history. If you read the newspapers and listen to the radio, you can even gain tremendous insight into the political climate today. It is interesting to note that currently a social democrat is president of the country. When you attend Spanish classes in Ecuador it also makes sense to spend time visiting museums and various historical landmarks.

Latin Immersion offers Spanish lessons in Ecuador year-round, which include cultural exposure through activities and family homestays.

Library Summer Reading Programs

Summertime is the busiest time of the year for public libraries across the country. A child's reading abilities can backslide during those months, a situation that libraries try to prevent by offering a variety of enticements to visit the library. Unconventional activities such as craft-making and movie showings generate initial interest, but librarians hope that reluctant readers will ultimately be attracted to books. Too many kids think of reading as a chore they do for school rather than recreation, and summer reading programs can turn that attitude around.

If you visit a library children's room during the summer, you will find colorful posters, signs, and other graphic-rich materials that produce a "something's happening" atmosphere, inspiring kids from pre-school age to teens to sign up for the program. Librarians often set reading goals, awarding token prizes along the way and maybe one larger prize at the end of the program (sometimes a book) to ensure a big finish. In the process, children can discover that they like reading for reading's sake, that reading can be even more entertaining than watching TV or playing a video game. This early love of reading, this eagerness to soak up words on a page (or a screen), will serve them their entire lives. And so will the libraries that nurtured it.

Once upon a time, librarians launched their summer reading programs individually, perhaps brainstorming with staff from neighboring libraries. They would choose a kid-pleasing theme such as dinosaurs, insects, or astronomy, and then develop activities around it. Eventually an entire state decided to organize for a more cohesive event. Then two states joined together, and another and another, until the cooperative grew to forty-six states strong.

Librarians are still free to do independent programs, but most are happy to join the co-op. A library's summer reading program takes a big chunk of its operating budget, and pooling all this funding produces dazzling materials that single libraries could not afford by themselves. The cooperative hires a well-known children's book illustrator who designs bookmarks, posters, buttons, stickers, t-shirts, and other materials, which are produced en masse by one chosen company. Add television PSAs and newspaper ads, and the Cooperative Summer Library Program is a national campaign that rivals any commercial enterprise.

Librarians usually stimulate children's interest in their summer reading program by visiting schools during the spring, but some parents may still be unaware of this months-long event. If you don't know how much your local library can enrich your child's vacation time, get with the program. When you see your son or daughter immersed in a book on a hot summer afternoon, you won't regret it.

The author, Teresa Ash, has been sole proprietor of Rivershore Reading Store for twenty-five years. The company specializes in reading stickers and library stickers, both generic and custom-printed, plus other promotional products for summer and year-round reading. They also serve Title I Reading Programs. Find them at http://www.libraryfun.com

Important Considerations for Choosing Nursing Programs

Once you decide to pursue a nursing career, you will be faced with the decision of choosing nursing programs. Considering there are different types of programs. Most students find the process of making the appropriate choice almost impossible and it is for this reason that they ought to consider the following factors in order to settle with the most appropriate choice.

• You have to start by checking out the school chargers and tuition fees. This is important as it plays an important role in deciding the school you settle down with and what is more, it also ensures that you settle with programs that sit in well with your financial standing.

• You have to look at the enrollment requirements. Different schools have different requirements and in this case, some might include high school diplomas, specific courses from certain schools and previous nursing courses. This information will be provided alongside the course description and it is important to ensure you measure up to the requirements.

• You have to consider the scheduling and timing of the nursing programs as well. This is because most schools require that the student must complete certain hours of study in order to become eligible for graduation. There are different requirements set for this and they vary from one school to another. In addition to this, they are also based on the type of course selected. When weighing this, it is advisable to look at your family commitments, work requirements and any other aspects that might clash with the courses you want to pursue.

• There are instances when the degrees end up been confusing and especially if you don't understand the basics of what they cover. As such, if the course does not offer the type of degree that will help you accomplish your end, it is unreasonable to enroll for the same. There are different types of degrees and for this reason, you should ensure the one selected not only meets your needs but also offers a higher guarantee of meeting your career needs.

• Lastly, it is important to determine the type of school that is going to meet your personal needs. For instance, you could be in dire need of studying as a group or having a personal tutor. It is therefore important to ensure that your needs is met. It is advisable to consult with your academic advisor for the purpose of determining whether they have selected nursing programs can accommodate your needs.

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The Goddess and the Bee

The bee has been associated with the Goddess and Priestesses of the Goddess for thousands of years. The most famous culture that worshiped the bee was the Minoan culture on the island of Crete. As a symbol of The Mother Goddess, bees represented fertility and healing. Since honey has antibacterial properties, it was used in many healing remedies, this made honey sacred. It was also used during ritual by the Bee Priestesses who were called melissae which means "bees". There was a golden seal found buried in Crete, that shows Priestesses dressed as bees dancing together. The photo pictured above is the famous Minoan Bee Pendant, showing two bees carrying nectar back to there hives, and is dated 2000 BCE.

In the book The Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of an Image, by Anne Baring and Jules Cashford, write that "Bees have an ancient reputation as the bringers of order, and their hives served as models for organizing temples in many Mediterranean cultures." The tombs at Mycenea were shaped like beehives, as well as the omphalos at Delphi where the famous Oracle at Delphi recited her prophecies.

In Knossos, jars were found which contained honey, and were said to be used during summer festivals. Honey was known as "the nectar of the Gods" in the ancient world and was seen as sacred all the way back to Neolithic times. The Bee was said to be viewed as a Mother Goddess and creator of life. Since bees gather nectar from flowers, and then create this wonderfully healing, sweet and sacred substance, they were highly revered. In the Homeric hymn to the God Apollo, it is said that his gift of prophecy came to him from three bee maidens. The Bee was also revered in other cultures such as in ancient Egypt. The Bee was associated with Kingship in ancient Egypt, it is said that there was even a bee King. In the ancient Mayan world, bee motifs were found, as honey was seen as food of the Gods.

Goddesses associated with the bee are Persephone, Demeter, Artemis, Aphrodite, Rhea, Cybele and Potnia Theron, which is the Cretan "Mistress of Animals". In Ephesus where the remains of the Temple of Artemis was found along with the great statue, Artemis of Ephesus, there were bee motifs found on the statues legs and waist. Statues of the Anatolian Goddess, some believe Cybele originated in Anatolia, were shown with the Goddess wearing what looks like a beehive on her head. Possibly as some kind of crown, as some ancient Priestesses were sometimes called "The Queen Bee"

As you can see the bee was a sacred and highly revered animal in the ancient world, along with their highly prized honey. We should honor the bees as well today as givers of life as they pollinate our crops and give us food. Is it said to me to hear of all the bee deaths over the recent years. As followers of the Goddess and worshipers of nature, we need to be honoring animals in the same way the ancient priestesses before us did.

To attract bees to your garden plant things such as daisies, marigold, bee balm, echinacea, foxglove, goldenrod and lavender. I hope you enjoyed learning about the ancient reverence of bees and their sacred nectar!

Writer, artist, researcher and student of the ancient mysteries. Finding the path of the Goddess has brought me to my way in life. All of my inspiration comes from Her mysteries, and the cultures in which She was worshiped. I'm currently working on becoming an independent scholar in the field of Neolithic and ancient cultures, mostly as they pertain to the Goddess. As well as working to be come an author to teach other women of Her mysteries, because all women need the power of the Goddess. I hope you enjoy my writings!

A Brief History of the Amish Culture

The Amish, sometimes known as Mennonites, are well known for living simple lives, dressing plainly, and their refusal to become dependent on most of the conveniences of modern life that we all take for granted. The history of the Amish can be traced back to it's founding in 1693 in Switzerland by a man named Jakob Ammann. In the early 1700's, a majority of Ammann's followers, who subsequently became known as "Amish", immigrated to the young state of Pennsylvania. Now traditionally known as Pennsylvania Dutch, this dialect of Swiss-German descent is still spoken by those most traditional in regards to their Amish background. This group of "Old Order" Amish, though known to reside in Pennsylvania, live predominantly in the state of Indiana. A 2010 study puts the total number of Amish in the US and Canada at approximately 249,000.

Membership of the Amish church, which derives from christian teachings, starts with baptism between ages 16 and 25. Baptism is required for marriage, and once someone enters the church they must marry within the faith. As with the christian faith, worship services take place every other Sunday at a district member's home, with the districts averaging around 20 to 40 families. The Ordnung, the German word meaning order and discipline, are the rules of the church and must be followed by all members. These rules pertain to their day to day lives, such as not allowing use of Grid Electricity, automobiles, phones, and limitations on clothing. The majority of these people will not accept aid from the government such as social security or disability. In addition, most will not buy insurance or enlist in any facet of military service. Those who do not abide, face possible excommunication. Being that the Amish maintain such tight-knit communities, being shunned is a real threat and in most cases is enough to convince the person to correct their ways and return to the church.

In most cases, the Amish church prefers to keep their distance from the non-Amish community. Their teachings are based mostly around the balance of faith and family. The use of one-room schoolhouses, which in today's society is seen as extinct, is still predominant within the faith. The core values of the church traditionally, are humility, tough manual labor, and simple rural living. As compared to the individualism of the majority of today's American culture, the Amish way of life differs in almost every facet. This difference is what drives the idea of an aversion to labor-saving modern technology, which has the capability of driving one away from their dependence on the community.

Unlike the variety that is the modern way of life, the Amish way of life centers around a relatively simple process. Becoming a member of the Church, getting married, having and raising children, and knowing the meaning of a day's labor, are what make up the greatest functions of Amish life.

Yearbooks And Memories

Most of the memories that you have of being young are likely tied in pretty tightly with school. For most people education is a constant that unites all of our early memories together. The days that surrounded your learning were likely the days that as you get older you wish you could return to. Yearbooks can help you relive the past, in a way, and refresh your brain of what it was like to be a kid.

A yearbook is a book that is the physical representation of a particular year that you had in a school or institute. Almost all elementary, middle, and high schools offer the students the chance to purchase a yearbook along with many colleges and trade schools. A yearbook is typically put together by the students and for the students.

Looking into an old yearbook can be like looking through a window into the past. On its pages you will find everything exactly the same as the last time you looked at it, and that can be extremely comforting to realize. Yearbooks can help us and the people around us glimpse back into the person we used to be, not just in the physical sense, but memories will be remembered that show us how we used to react to situations. One of the more fun aspects of yearbooks are the pictures that are immortalized in its pages. The pictures can remind us a lot of what the style was like when we were going to school.

Memories of being young are likely to fade over time and a yearbook is a great tool to help you remember all the things that were forgotten. Things that happened so long ago are likely to have slipped our minds over the years and without yearbooks those great memories could remain lost forever. Trying to remember who your girlfriend or boyfriend in 8th grade was or the name of your best friend from the 3rd grade was can be difficult if you have nothing to help spark your remembrance. A yearbook can hold all those people and times within its pages to always remind you of what things were like when you were younger. The part of the yearbook that is sure to have you yearning to go back in time are the sections in the front and back that were filled up with fellow classmates signatures and comments. These words that were left for us so long ago can help us remember who our friends and acquaintances were.

When you start to feel nostalgic and begin to yearn for the days when you were young and did not have to deal with adulthood stresses it can be extremely rewarding to pull those old yearbooks off the shelf and get lost in its pages.

Useful Information About World Facts

You should know that there are thousands of different sources of information about world facts. You should always ensure that you get the right media relevant to what you are doing. You should do some research first and understand the different sources of information before making a decision so as to get the knowledge you want to acquire.

The internet is the hub of all information and there is almost nothing you cannot get online. You should use online resources when doing your research work because it will hasten the pace of your study significantly. Using the various search engines as well as informative websites to collect all the information you need is a good way to get the information you needed. The convenience created by using the internet will make your work all the more easier.

However, do not settle for the very first source of information or website you encounter. The advantage of the internet is that you are exposed to limitless information which exposes you to different information sources. Ensure you go through as many sources as possible so as to view the wide range of ideas and expertise. This way, you fully utilize the resources around you to get all the relevant information you need.

Another useful way of getting information on world facts is by speaking to the experts in this field. Economists and historians fall within this bracket and you can make use of the telephone directory to get direct communication to them. This gives you a good opportunity to ask questions about the relevant sources of information to use. Speaking directly to the experts will significantly reduce the amount of research you will do because they will give you direction in your study.

The best way of collecting insightful information is by preparing questionnaires and conducting interviews. Having a face-to-face conversation with the professionals allows you to query about the subject as broadly as you require. This allows you to collect all the useful and relevant information you require.

You should also consult with those people close to you such as friends and family members. You will be surprised at the amount of information your friends can give you based on their knowledge and experience. Remain open minded and objective so as to get different opinions that will assist you towards your research.

When settling for a credible source of information, you must ensure it is modern, relevant and reputable. Whether it is a website, a book or a person, you must ensure that they have good reputation about the information they have so as to be sure of getting relevant facts. The better known your source of information is, the more likely you will collect reliable knowledge.

When looking to get knowledge on world facts, you must acknowledge that timely research is vital in getting what you need. Ensure that you plan and prepare to collect the information you need early enough so you will have sufficient time to go through the different sources. This will guarantee that you will get the information which you need.

Are you looking for more information on World Facts? If you are considering to find a reliable source for information on World Facts, review the information here to find out more.

Important Facts About Neon Gas

Neon was first discovered in 1898 by two British chemists Morris W. Travers and Sir William Ramsay. Neon gas is an odorless, colorless and tasteless inert gas. It belongs to the Group VIIIA elements, known as noble gases. The chemical has an atomic number of 10. It is denoted with the symbol Ne. The boiling point of the chemical is -246.08 °C and melting point is -248.59 °C.

Neon gas is the second lightest inert gas, after helium gas. The chemical is not hazardous at normal conditions. It is very stable and relatively non-reactive. It shows extremely low reaction rates. It reacts with fluorine and water. The chemical can be hazardous,*if it is allowed to reach high concentrations. At high concentrations the chemical turns into an asphyxiant. It can displace oxygen in the lungs, which can cause suffocation and eventually death.

After hydrogen, helium, oxygen and carbon, neon gas is the fifth most abundant element in the universe. The gas is very rare on Earth. A large amount of neon is produced during volcanic eruptions. Further, large quantities of neon are trapped in Earth's atmosphere and crust. The gas is extracted from the atmosphere through the process of fractional distillation. The chemical is expensive because it is relatively rare.

Neon gas produces a reddish-orange glow in a discharge tube under a low pressure on the passage of electric current. The reddish-orange glow gets converted into a bright blue color on addition of mercury in trace quantities. This property of neon is utilized in fluorescent lamps, neon glow lamps, gaseous conduction lamps, gas lasers, plasma studies, high-voltage testers, neon signs and various other lighting systems. The special type of lighting produced by neon gas is known as gas discharge lighting.

Let us now understand the working of a neon lighting system. Inert gases, such as neon, krypton or argon are kept inside a glass tube at low pressure. Metal electrodes are kept at both the ends of the glass tube. A high voltage is applied to the electrodes to ignite the neon gas. The electrons get activated on ignition. This causes the neon atoms to emit reddish-orange light.

Neon signs are widely used for advertising purposes. The market today offers neon signs in a variety of colors and styles. These advertising signs are widely used in bars, restaurants, pubs, shops and taverns. Further, neon lights have the capability of penetrating fog. These lighting systems are widely used in the regions with extremely cold climatic conditions. These lights are also used in airplanes, aircraft beacons, cars, trucks, military vehicles, amusement places, theme parks and arcades. Ne also serves as a coolant. It is used as a cryogenic refrigerant in the liquefied state.

Emma Heuton is a writer who writes on several topics. Mostly she writes on SME, Business, products and manufacturing units. To provide useful insights, she prefers to study comprehensively. You can also find information on Neon Gas in this article but if looking for more information on it, you may visit http://www.hellotrade.com.

Freudian Basics

Freud is a very interesting and influential character in the history of both psychiatry and psychology. Freud's main contribution is psychoanalysis. Most of his ideas are outdated, disproven, sexist, and overly complex, however, he was correct about some issues. Because of this, very few therapists follow strict Freudian or Neo-Freudian ideology. Freud is usually the first theorist we learn about in high school or undergraduate psychology classes because of his ideas being so fundamental (yet complex), as well as the only complete theory of personality. It is entertaining listening to undergrads breaking everyone and everything down into psychoanalytic terms, but it is good practice and provides a good starting point.

There are many ideas that Freud theorized. We have psychic determinism, psychic conflict and compromise, mental energy, and internal structure for starters. Then we have his stage theory, process thinking, the topographic model, and defense mechanisms. Some theories were created by Neo-Freudians after his death, but are still credited to Freud himself.

I will give some quick definitions to some of his theories here:

Psychic Determinism - The idea that everything that happens has a cause that can be identified.

Psychic Conflict and Compromise - The idea that the mind can conflict with itself, as well as make compromises with itself.

Mental Energy - Psychic energy (libido) required in order for the psychological apparatus of the mind to work.

Internal Structure - The mind (not the brain) has an internal structure made up of parts that can function independently (Id, Ego, Superego).

Oral Stage - Psychological theme of dependence. Predominantly Id.

Anal Stage - Development of the ego begins. Psychological theme is self control and obedience.

Urethral Stage - Transition between anal and phallic stages. Involves issues of control.

Phallic Stage - Oedipus Complex begins. Psychological theme is gender identity and sexuality. Involves development of the superego.

Latency - A psychological break to allow for learning other important tasks.

Genital Stage - Physical focus on genitals. Psychological theme is maturity.

Primary Process Thinking - The way the unconscious mind operates. No concept of the word, 'no'. No consideration of consequences.

Secondary Process Thinking - Conscious thinking. Rational, practical, and prudent thinking. Develops as the ego develops.

Topographic Model - Three levels of consciousness: Unconscious, Preconscious, and Conscious.

Defense Mechanisms:

Denial - Refusal to acknowledge or perceive a source of anxiety.

Repression - Further reaching and longer lasting than denial.

Reaction Formation - Instigates the opposite thoughts, feelings, and impulses.

Projection - Attributing to someone else a thought or impulse that is feared in ones self.

Rationalization - Concocting a seemingly rational case for why you have done something.

Intellectualization - Turn an emotional feeling into an abstract or analytical thought.

Displacement - Replace one object of emotion with another.

Sublimation - Forbidden impulses are transformed into constructive behaviors.

http://www.mforums.org

The Best Institution to Pursue Your Nursing Education

Many parents want their children to pursue well paying careers. Careers that will make it easy for them to get jobs without much hassle and earn money that will cater for the needs of their families. Nursing education is one of these careers being pursued by many people today. Nursing career has become very popular in today's world. This is because in some places, there have been reports on the shortage of professionals in this field.

However, getting a good and accredited institution where to pursue this career is very important. It will ensure that you get quality education that is very relevant in the realization of your career goals. As such, you need to consider the following when choosing the institution where to pursue your career:

• You need to ensure that the institution where you enroll for the program is accredited. This is very important because for any institution to get accreditation of relevant authority, it much meet required standards. As such, it will enable you pursue your dream career and relevant competency that will see you realize your dream professional goals.

• You also need to consider practicals available in the college where you enroll for your program. Make sure that it has sufficient clinical rotation to equip you or your child with adequate training as you prepare for your examinations.

• It is also important that you consider the overall performance of the institution. Find out how the students have been performing in examinations. Also find out about the success of graduates from the institution. This is very important because you are most likely going to perform like them once you join the institution.

• Also find out about the fee for the program. Nursing education can be costly for some people. This is because some programs can take one to eight years. Some institutions have special programs to help students in paying their fees. If you have such financial challenges, make sure that you know more about fee payment from the institution before enrolling for their program.

• If you want to pursue your career online, make sure that you consider the quality of the classroom. To know more about this, you can request for a demo. This will give you some knowledge of the online learning environment before you enroll for a program. Many institutions are also offering online courses in this field. This makes it easy to get this education with ease.

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