Mark Twain free essay sample

Mark Twain’s use of irony to express a better sense humor is displayed in many of his short stories. Such as â€Å"Luck†, in this story a clergyman explains how the â€Å"hero† was able to make mistakes and receive commendations and medals because acts of stupidity turned into acts of military intelligence. â€Å"He was appointed an officer, a captain of all things† (Twain, â€Å"Luck†), the clergyman said for the reason that the stupid â€Å"hero† that had barely made it through basic training was appointed a captain. He continued to climb up, over the dead bodies of his superiors† (Twain, â€Å"Luck†), the hero continued to make mistakes and was promoted only due to the death of his superiors and his â€Å"so called† acts of military intelligence. Twains use of irony and humor in these quotes helps display the hero’s mistakes and so called acts of intelligence in a humorous and ironic way. We will write a custom essay sample on Mark Twain or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In many of his other short stories Twain uses humor and irony: â€Å"Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn’t any. But this wrongs the jackass† (â€Å"Mark Twain†). A quote from Mark Twain himself showing the humor of himself outside of stories. Twains quote seems to relate closely to the story â€Å"The Kicking Mule† â€Å"the mule raised his heels with such velocity and forces that Boggs rose in the air like a bird and alighted on all fours in a muddy ditch† (Twain, â€Å"The Kicking Mule†) This quote and Twains quote relate closely in that in the story a man is stupid enough to bet that the mule would kick him and not kick a fly off the man. The difference between man and jackass isnt any, this maybe an insult to the jackass. McKettrick 3 â€Å"The Invalids Story† by Mark Twain, is one of Twains best displays of the combination of irony and humor. In this story, a man leaves home to retrieve one of his old friend’s dead body so his friends family can bury him. While transporting his friends body a mishap occurred, his pine box was mistakenly labeled to a gun company, while the box he thought was his friends’ body was actually the box of guns that had been labeled his friends body. I was carrying off a box of guns which a young fellow had come to the station to ship to a rifle company in Peoria, Illinois, and he had gotten my corpse† (Twain, â€Å"The Invalids Story†)! The man’s friend had been ironically shipped off to a gun company, while the man was carrying a box of guns. â€Å"I began to detect a most evil and searching odor stealing about on the frozen air† (Twain, â⠂¬Å"The Invalids Story†). The man started to smell an odor coming from the box, he thought it was his friends body starting to decompose, but it was really from some old smelly cheese that one of the other passengers had put on the box. In a court case there is usually a jury and judge both of which are supposed to be unbiased. In the case of â€Å"The Judges Spirited Woman† by Mark Twain the judge was in a relaxed and spectator mood because the evidence against the defendant was clearly not enough to find him guilty for murdering the womans husband. â€Å"I had my coat off and my heels up, lolling and sweating, and smoking one of those cabbage cigars† (Twain, â€Å"The Judges Spirited Woman†). The judges relaxed mood caused humor in the story because, when do you ever see a judge act in that manner. â€Å"I wouldnt have missed it for anything† (Twain, â€Å"The Judges Spirited Woman†) is what the judge said when the defendant was found not-guilty and the â€Å"spirited woman† shot and killed the Defendant. The judge continued to act in humorously relaxed state of mind. McKettrick 4 â€Å"Hunting the Deceitful Turkey† by Mark Twain is short story that combines animals with irony, and a whole lot of humor. She always stopped and posed† (Twain, â€Å"Hunting the Deceitful Turkey†): speaking about how the boy hunted the turkey all day and how the turkey knew that the boy was an awful shot and the turkey would play with the boy by posing because of it. Twain used the turkey to create irony by giving the turkey human like smarts and actions, and give the boy turkey like hunting skills. â€Å"I followed an obscenely lame turkey over a con siderable part of the United States† (Twain, â€Å"Hunting the Deceitful Turkey†) the boy said after getting lost and wore out by the turkey. Twain used the irony of the hunted turkey to getting away from the hunter boy. Twain also combines humor and irony with animals in â€Å"A Fable† by Mark Twain with the use of a cat to explain a mirror and the other animals being too stupid to realize what they’re looking at. â€Å"There was nothing in that hole but a donkey† (Twain, â€Å"A Fable†) the donkey had seen himself in the mirror and had not realized that the thing in whole was a mirror showing his reflection in it. â€Å"Anybody but a near-sighted fool could ee that there was nothing in the hole but a elephant† (Twain, â€Å"Hunting the Deceitful Turkey†): the same thing that happened to the donkey happened to the elephant. McKettrick 5 â€Å"Clemens(Mark Twain) studied the Mississippi River and the operation of a riverboat†(Mark Twain, â€Å"biography†). Twain in his early life was fascinated by the Mississippi River, thus causing him to want to be an apprentice of a riverboat captain and learn more about the river and being a riverboat captain. â€Å"The Great Steamboat Race† by Mark Twain shows Twains opinion of steamboats, and the life style of them. Amaranth’s just turned the point behind us, and she’s just a humping herself, too† (Mark Twain â€Å" The Great Steamboat Race†). This quote shows the humor behind Twains writings. He is known for the use of southern language and dialect in his writings, I believe that Twain uses these southern characteristics to add a certain level of wit to his short stories. Also the use of irony in this short story turns the story into something quite fun to read. The civil war was thought to have in affect on Twain and this is seen in his short story â€Å"Luck†. They turned tail, away they went over the hill and down into the field in wild disorder† (Mark Twain, â€Å"Luck†). The Russian troops fled from the oncoming attack of british, this was due only to the british â€Å"hero† mistakenly confusing his lefthand for his right hand and leading the charge the wrong way. â€Å"The allied commander looked on, his head spinning with wonder† (Mark Twain, â€Å"Luck†), explains that even the allied commander knew that the â€Å"heros† mistake had led to the victory and he was as shocked as anyone â€Å" his head spinning with wonder†. Mark Twain free essay sample This paper examines the significance of the writer Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain). This paper reviews the life and writings of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. The author justifies Twains place in literature, despite that he wrote to please the masses due to his portrayal of American characters in a humorous, yet poetic language and his loyalty to American settings, themes, and language. Twain above all else sets out to entertain. The word adventure in the titles of some of his novels also gives the stories a sort of a fun and interesting side. He turns the regular, old-fashioned novels into serious and believable literature. In the novel Huck Finn, Mark Twain tells the story through the eyes of Huck, and by doing this; he goes in the narrative style of writing that is very well suited for his talents. Twain does a good job of making it seem that Huck is telling the story and not Twain. We will write a custom essay sample on Mark Twain or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There is no way that Huck could not have written such a story but he would have told it. Mark Twain makes the novel sound as if Huck was really telling the story.

Margaret Beaufort, Kings Mother

Margaret Beaufort, King's Mother Continued from: Margaret Beaufort: Basic Facts and TimelineMargaret Beaufort: The Making of the Tudor Dynasty Henry VII Becomes King and Margaret Beaufort the Kings Mother Margaret Beaufort’s long efforts to promote her son’s succession were richly rewarded, emotionally and materially.   Henry VII, having defeated Richard III and become king, had himself crowned on October 30, 1485. His mother, now 42 years old, reportedly wept at the coronation.   She was, from this point, referred to in court as â€Å"My Lady, the King’s Mother.† Henry Tudor’s marriage to Elizabeth of York would mean that his children’s right to the crown would be more secure, but he wanted to make sure that his own claim was clear.   Since his claim through inheritance was rather thin, and the idea of a queen ruling in her own right might bring images of the civil war of Matilda’s time, Henry claimed the crown by right of battle victory, not his marriage to Elizabeth or his genealogy.   He reinforced this by marrying Elizabeth of York, as he had publicly pledged to do in December of 1483. Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York on January 18, 1486.   He also had parliament repeal the act which, under Richard III, had declared Elizabeth illegitimate. (This likely means that he knew that her brothers, the Princes in the Tower, who would have a stronger claim to the crown than Henry, were dead.) Their first son , Arthur, was born almost exactly nine months later, on September 19, 1486.   Elizabeth was crowned as queen consort the next year. Independent Woman, Advisor to the King Henry came to kingship after years of exile outside of England, without much experience in administration of a government. Margaret Beaufort had advised him in exile, and now she was a close advisor to him as king.   We know from his letters that he consulted with her on court matters and chuch appointments. The same parliament of 1485 that repealed Elizabeth of York’s illegitimacy also declared Margaret Beaufort a femme sole – in contrast to a femme covert or a wife.   Still married to Stanley, this status gave her an independence few women, and fewer wives, had under the law.   It gave her complete independence and control over her own lands and finances.   Her son also awarded her, over some years, considerably more lands which were under her independent control.   These would, of course, revert to Henry or his heirs on her death, as she had no other children. Despite the fact that she had never actually been a queen, Margaret Beaufort was treated at court with the status of a queen mother or dowager queen.   After 1499, she adopted the signature â€Å"Margaret R† which may signify â€Å"queen† (or may signify â€Å"Richmond†).   Queen Elizabeth, her daughter-in-law, outranked her, but Margaret walked close behind Elizabeth, and sometimes dressed in similar robes.   Her household was luxurious, and the largest in England after her son’s.   She might be the Countess of Richmond and Derby, but she acted like the equal or near equal of the queen. Elizabeth Woodville retired from the court in 1487, and it’s believed that Margaret Beaufort may have instigated her departure.   Margaret Beaufort had oversight over the royal nursery and even over the procedures for the queen’s lying-in.   She was given the wardship of the young Duke of Buckingham, Edward Stafford, son of her late ally (and her late husband’s nephew), Henry Stafford, whose title was restored by Henry VII. (Henry Stafford, convicted of treason under Richard III, had had the title taken from him.) Involvements in Religion, Family, Property In her later years, Margaret Beaufort was noted for both ruthlessness in defending and extending her land and property, and for responsible oversight of her lands and improving them for her tenants. She gave generously to religious institutions, and particularly to support the education of clergy at Cambridge. Margaret patronized the publisher William Caxton, and commissioned many books, some to distribute to her household. She bought both romances and religious texts from Caxton. In 1497, the priest John Fisher became her personal confessor and friend.   He began to rise in prominence and power at Cambridge University with the King’s Mother’s support. She is supposed to have had the agreement of her husband in 1499 to take a vow of chastity, and she often lived separately from him after that. From 1499 to 1506, Margaret lived at a manor in Collyweston, Northamptonshire, improving it so that it functioned as a palace. When the marriage of Catherine of Aragon was arranged to Margaret’s eldest grandson, Arthur, Margaret Beaufort was assigned with Elizabeth of York to select the women who would serve Catherine.   Margaret also urged that Catherine learn French before coming to England, so that she could communicate with her new family. Arthur married Catherine in 1501, and then Arthur died the next year, with his younger brother Henry then becoming heir apparent. Also in 1502, Margaret gave a grant to Cambridge to found the Lady Margaret Professorship of Divinity, and John Fisher became the first to occupy the chair. When Henry VII appointed John Fisher as bishop of Rochester, Margaret Beaufort was instrumental in choosing Erasmus as his successor in the Lady Margaret professorship. Elizabeth of York died the following year, after giving birth to her last child (who did not survive long), perhaps in a vain attempt to have another male heir.   Though Henry VII talked of finding another wife, he did not act on that, and genuinely grieved the loss of his wife, with whom he’d had a satisfying marriage, though initially making it for political reasons. Henry VII’s older daughter, Margaret Tudor, was named for her grandmother, and in 1503, Henry brought his daughter to his mother’s manor along with the whole royal court.   He then returned home with most of the court, while Margaret Tudor continued on to Scotland to marry James IV. In 1504, Margaret’s husband, Lord Stanley, died.   She devoted more of her time to prayer and religious observance.   She belonged to five religious houses, though she continued to reside in her own private residence. John Fisher became the Chancellor at Cambridge, and Margaret began giving the gifts that would establish the re-founded Christ’s College, under the king’s charter. Last Years Before her death, Margaret made possible, through her support, the transformation of a scandal-ridden monastic house into St. John’s College at Cambridge. Her will provided for continuing support for that project. She began planning around her end of life.   In 1506, she commissioned a tomb for herself, and brought Renaissance sculptor Pietro Torrigiano to England to work on it.   She prepared her final will in January of 1509. In April of 1509, Henry VII died.   Margaret Beaufort came to London and arranged her son’s funeral, where she was given precedence over all the other royal women.   Her son had named her his chief executor in his will. Margaret helped arrange and was present for the coronation of her grandson, Henry VIII, and his new bride, Catherine of Aragon, on June 24, 1509.   Margaret’s struggles with her health may have been aggravated by the activity around the funeral and coronation, and she died on June 29, 1509.  John Fisher gave the sermon at her requiem mass. Largely because of Margaret’s efforts, Tudors would rule England until 1603, followed by the Stuarts, descendants of her granddaughter Margaret Tudor. More: Margaret Beaufort: Basic Facts and TimelineMargaret Beaufort: The Making of the Tudor Dynasty

Buddhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Buddhism - Essay Example From the holy book, chapters 16–20 are devoted to nirvana and the path to enlightenment (Buddharakkhita 6–23). According to the teachings, the events that a person is subjected to are an outcome of the thoughts he or she has formed. Hatred should not lead to hatred, for it never causes hatred to cease but only by love. It is important to control one’s senses, and not only seek controlled pleasures or be immoderate in one’s food since such behavior will only cause Mara the Tempter to overthrow such person. Whether one is a monk or a householder, it is important to remove evil and sinful thoughts. Ethics seems to be a strong point in the teachings and drive home the benefits of good and sinless living, as compared to sinful living where one only has evil thoughts. The evil doer always thinks of the evil he has done, and these thoughts continue to haunt him even in his sleep, and deprive him of the simple pleasures in life since he is always thinking about ev il, retribution, and the acts that others would take on him. A person who is free from such thoughts would be free from evil intentions and subsequently be free from hatred, desire, and evil (Buddharakkhita 30–63). According to Lord Buddha, a wise man does not pass arbitrary judgements but reaches them after deep thought. To be called an elder and not just a vain old man, one must show truthfulness, restraint, self-mastery, virtue, and inoffensive behaviour, and should be free from defilements (Buddharakkhita 64–65). Lord Buddha also says that a person must be watchful in using his speech, control his mind and not commit evil. Lust, affection, and desire are bondages that tie a man to sin and wrongdoing, so they must be cut off. The evil embodiments are defined by craving, or the mother, self-conceit that is the father of evil desire, eternalism and nihilism that are the two warrior kings, and sense organs and objects that are the country. Once these evils are destroye d, the person is ready to be on the road to salvation. Disciples of Gotama are those who happy and non-violent, who practice mindfulness of the body, who have the qualities of the sangha, dhamma and Buddha, and those who constantly meditate (Buddharakkhita 66–75). A wise man must come to realize that by renouncing a lesser happiness, one can achieve a greater happiness. One should avoid being entangled by bonds of hate since cancers of the mind only increase for people who are arrogant and heedless. It is important that one always be on guard since opportunity can slip by, and it is better to walk alone if the company that one finds is not made of virtuous people. The current of craving flows everywhere and includes sensual pleasure, annihilation, and continued existence. It is essential that one free himself from these cravings (Buddharakkhita 78–87). How Do Moral Expectations of a Buddhist Monk Differ from the Morality of a Lay Buddhist? The Buddhist monk is one who has given up all worldly pleasures and seeks nirvana, or the path of salvation. The laity, or the lay Buddhist, is one who still has a family and looks after his household. While the rules for the monk are strict and need stringent self-restraint, those for the laity are more of behavioral nature. Differences are given as below. A monk must practice restraint and show extreme control in his actions and attitude. Accordingly, the monk should restrain oneself in the eye,

COSC9426 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

COSC9426 - Assignment Example In this case, it has been installed with interactive software that users can identify with. The phone can be described as a virtue friend to the user as the commands available for the user are form a conversation that is quite fascinating. Apple cell phone has been designed to incorporate various feedbacks so as to manage the interaction with the user. They include audio, verbal, tactile and demonstrations. These features are important as they enhance a perfect feedback system that enhances communication and how the machine relate with the user. The mobile phone design consists of several constraining that determines the level in which the user is restricted at a given moment. In this case, the Apple phones constraint prevent the user from tampering with operating system that may end up crashing the gadget. The apple company has done a great work in standardizing all its products. In this case, all apple phones have shown great consistency in terms of physical features and software. Externally, the gadgets are made up of similar materials while the operating system has been standardized. Therefore, the gadget has exhibited a high level of internal and external

Principles of Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Principles of Finance - Essay Example Together, they help promote stability and balance in the behavior of governments and financial institutions through surveillance, financial, and technical assistance. Based on the summary in Table 1, $282.978 trillion was raised in Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. from 2001 to 2006 from IPOs, debt offerings, and mergers and acquisition activities throughout the world. Of this, the U.S. accounted for 26%, while the U.K. had 9.7% and Japan only 2.3%. The declines from 2001 to 2003 resulted from the dotcom bubble explosion and corporate scandals in the late 1990s until 2001, affecting investor confidence and the ability of firms to raise funds. However, the increasing amounts since then signify a steady recovery that continues to hold. The U.K. issues more equity than either the U.S. or Japan, the U.S. issues more debt securities than the other two countries and that in these three countries debt issues are greater than equity issues by an overwhelming factor of almost 280-to-1. What could explain these findings Figures 1 and 2 (IMF, 2006; BIS, 2006) show that most debt issues are from corporations, and that Japanese (101.7% debt-to-equity) and European (69.6% debt-to-equity) corporations have more debt than U.S. companies (43.1% debt-to-equity). This explains why Japan and the U.K. issued lower amounts of debt compared to the U.S. during the period. Second, debt yields are lower in Japan compared to the U.S. and the U.K., and while equity yields are higher in the U.S. than in the U.K. and Japan, debt returns (5 to 11%) are higher than equity returns (-33% to almost 0%) in all three countries, and interest rates are declining. This means debt is more attractive to issuers and investors than equities. For investors, debt returns are higher, so they would rather lend their funds. For companies, debt is also cheaper since the trend for interest rates is flat to declining. Therefore, investors and corporations both prefer debt over equity. Q2: Vodafone plc Case Analysis Vodafone plc (2006: 2-3) is a London-based telecommunications company with total turnover of 29.4 billion, assets of 127 billion, and over 170 million customers worldwide, making it the biggest telecoms firm in the world. With debt of 20.1 billion and stockholders' equity of 86.9 billion, it has a debt-to-equity ratio of 23%. Net debt is 17.3 billion after taking out cash and cash equivalents. Vodafone raises funds in various currencies by issuing debt securities because it has a good financial network in London, the world's financial center. The company's policy (Vodafone, 2006: 41) is to maintain the currency of debt and interest charges in proportion with expected future principal multi-currency cashflows, which explains why 113% of its net debt is in currencies other than sterling: 73% of debt is in Euro, 21% in Yen, 14% in US Dollars, and 5% in other

Impact of Human Activities on Earth

Impact of Human Activities on Earth Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human  activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. â€Å"Earth gives enough to fulfil each mans necessities, not every mans covetousness.† We all realize that people in the ancient period needed to battle common environment keeping in mind the end goal which was to make livings. They needed to chase preys and assemble food for their survival, even chop down trees to construct their houses. Nonetheless, as innovation enhanced, numerous individuals are now familiar with human exercises have a very bad impact on our living earth and has raised an argument on the issue on the impacts caused by the human activities on the earth. Some people guarantee that human exercises harms our planet earth, at the same time as, other individuals say that human action makes the earth an improved place to live. As I would like to think, I consider that human exercises deteriorate our earth genuinely. In the accompanying sections, I will attempt to detail why I think Earth is continuously hurt by human action. Our living earth is constantly hurt by human action on the grounds that individuals abuse characteristic asset in the present time. As everyone knows, the population on our earth nowadays increases rapidly so that more people than before have to consume more food provision and daily commodities. To expand the above statement, regular assets will get less and less when populace keep developing. In all honesty talking, the measure of petroleum declines rapidly on the grounds that numerous individuals drive their autos which require gas. As per the master’s sign, individuals who live on the earth today can utilize gas for just thirty years and will sink into vigor emergency later on. Besides, our earth is constantly being hurt by human movement since human action additionally prompts various types of deadly contamination. As we know, to profit, numerous production lines and undertakings empty off harmful waste water into waterways moreover, air contamination has as of recently harmed natures domain of earth and us who additionally live on the earth. To detail the above contention, the fumes rage which is emit ted by numerous manufacturing plants and autos can demolish ozonosphere of the earth and reason nursery impact. That is to say, a surfeit of ultraviolet beams will blanket the surface of our living earth, not just will human have a tendency to have skin malignancy, yet numerous sorts of species living on the earth may experience annihilation. Thirdly, our living earth is, no doubt hurt by human movement since human action dependably devastates the biological equalization of the earth. Case in point, chasing whales to fulfill their insatiability. As everyone knows, each species has its prey. Hence, if human over chase a few creatures or over devour a few plants, numerous animal types which eat the above creatures or plants will be on the verge of elimination. Substantial movement, air contamination, long of timberland, boundless chase of creatures are the most genuine issues that our planet confront these days. Considering those issues is important to inquire as to whether human movement has been harm the earth. I imagine that human action unmistakably is blameworthy of the harm that our planet endures. Also I think this, situated in the boundless abuse of the regular assets, and the consistent longing of people to adjust the earth to their requirements. Before all else, Deeping in the thought that boundless misuse of the common assets is the greatest harsh of harm in the earth simply believe that consistently are since a long time ago hundred sections of land of timberland. Case in point the Amazonas woodlands is the most harm area and as a result many creatures have been douse. This is a weight motivation to feel that exercises are hurting our planet. Also, an alternate enormous issue that face our planet is the yearning of people to adjust the earth to their necessities, for instance building businesses, constructing huge urban areas that transform overwhelming activity, over populace and air contamination. Enough motivations to surmise that our exercises are the essential foes of our planet. As a matter of first importance, human exercises crush characteristic assets. With improvement of engineering and modernization of urban areas, many old green backwoods are bit by bit displaced by various processing plants and high rises. Furthermore, harmful gases dispensed with from manufacturing plants contaminate air and water assets close-by. It influences natural territory, as well as we ourselves are subjected to mechanical wastes. Deforestation prompts common calamities, for example, surge, disintegration, elevated amount ocean, torrent which have happened commonly as of late. It is a cautioning for people to stop their oblivious conducts. There are numerous proclamations supporting my concept. Furthermore, in spite of the fact that the United Nation speak to everybody for living in peace, wars are even now occurring in a few nations. Individuals need to live between life and demise. Youngsters, rather than set to class, are dependably hesitant to be stuck one day. Besides, wars influence the country that is in war as well as different nations. Case in point, worldwide investment have numerous changes after war between US and Iraq. It appears to be clear to me that the insatiable of people bring about wretchedness for that are numerous individuals and genuine outcomes for the planet. At last, as a conclusion and considering the plans expressed above, according to me, it is important to adjust our life style rather than changing the earth, and attempt to stay away from the boundless misuse of regular assets. Life appears to be more agreeable than before with progressed machines, we have less opportunities to approach the nature. The urban areas get greater and when we need to go outing, we need to drive a long separation to discover a characteristic spot. There is no doubt that we are destroying what nature provides us. The earth is constantly being hurt by human exercises. We need to gratitude and secure it, because there is no other place for the human beings to live except the earth. To entirety up, in understanding of the above contentions, I can concoct my decision that earth is, no doubt harmed by human movement. Numerous researchers and natural aggregations as of recently extra no exertion in proclaiming the essentialness of environment assurance. Also, the administrations of numerous nations additionally make laws to deny human action structure squandering regular assets, making different sorts of contamination and pulverizing biological system. Obviously, perhaps some person hold diverse perspective of this issue. All things considered, for the explanations that I have displayed above, I consider my point of view is the most legitimate.

Lead Poisoning :: Journalistic Essays

Lead Poisoning Lead has the atomic symbol of Pb (for plumbum, lead in Latin). The atomic number for lead is 82 and the atomic mass is 207.19 AMU. It melts at about 327.502 Â °C and boils at 1740 Â °C. Lead is a heavy, ductile, soft, gray solid. It is soluble in nitric acid and insoluble in water. It is found in North, Central and South America, Australia, Africa and Europe (Heiserman 686). "It generally occurs in nature in the form of ores and was recovered in early times as a by-product in the smelting of silver. Once lead is mined, processed and introduced into man's environment, it is a potential problem forever." Lead has been mined, smelted and compounded for thousands of years. It even has been found in the Egyptian tombs. Its versatility, as well as its physical and chemical properties, accounted for its extensive use. Lead can be rolled into sheets which can be made into rods and pipes. It can also be molded into containers and mixed with other metallic elements. Mini blinds are a prime source of lead poisoning. The greatest risk of injury from lead poisoning is to children under the age of seven. The kinds of injuries lead poisoning can cause are learning disabilities, brain damage, organ failure, death and many more. Studies have shown that lead poisoned children are more likely to drop out of high school and to live a life of unemployment. HUD estimates that 75% of the houses built in the United States before 1978 contain some lead-based paint. It is universally accepted that the most common cause of lead poisoning in children is deteriorated (chipping and peeling) lead-based paint on the exterior and interior of houses. Lead poisoning doesn't only occur in children, but adults too. Adults can get it from leaded soldering fumes, lead tainted soil or heroin. It takes more lead to poison adults than children because an adult's body has formed and is prepared for such things unlike children who are still growing. Some common symptoms of lead poisoning in adults are fatigue, depression, heart failure and high blood pressure. There are myths about lead that many people believe are true.