The history of gambling Essay Example for Free

The history of gambling Essay Gambling is one of the oldest known pursuits of mankind. Archeological evidence suggests that even the earliest caveman was a gambler. Dice-like objects made from the ankle bone of a sheep or dog called Astragali dating back 40,000 years have been found. Cave drawings depicting gambling offer further proof of the existence of early gamblers. Pairs of dice have even turned up in the ruins of Pompeii, some of them loaded to fall a certain way. Around 2300 B. C. , the Chinese invented a game of chance using tiles, and 1100 years later Greek soldiers amused themselves with dice games, though in ancient Greece gambling was illegal. In Egypt, a pair of ivory dice were found in Thebes dating back to 1500 B. C. , and ancient gambling artifacts have been unearthed in China, Japan, India and Rome. In ancient Rome, Claudius redesigned his carriage so that he would have more room to throw dice, Caligula confiscated knights property to cover his gambling debts, and Roman soldiers gambled for the robes of Christ after his crucifixion. At the height of the Roman Empire, lawmakers decreed that all children were to be taught to gamble and throw dice. During the 14th century, and in spite of being an inveterate gambler himself, King Henry VIII outlawed gambling when he discovered that his soldiers spent more time gambling than improving their battle skills. When Henrys wife, Anne Boleyn, and her brother were tried for treason and incest, the odds were 10-to-1 on acquittal. In the New World, Native Americans , believing that the gods themselves invented games of chance, played dice with plum stones painted white or black. In addition to wagering possessions, Native Americans also played to predict future harvests and in hopes of curing seriously ill tribal members. During the Revolutionary War, lotteries bankrolled the Continental Army. Washington himself bought the first ticket for a federal lottery in 1793 sponsored to finance improvements in the District of Columbia, and nearly all state governments sanctioned lotteries. By the 1830s, more than 420 lotteries nationwide offered prizes. Lotteries remained a popular fund-raising method throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Riverboats and frontier towns in the New World emerged providing new gambling venues, sometimes legal, sometimes not. And one risked much more than a few gold pieces when gambling in the frontier days. Card cheats and con men were often lynched, denoting the publics attitude toward professional gamblers, or sharpers as they were often known. In the 1830s, refugee sharpers from the South moved to Cincinnati and opened the nations first Wolf-Traps or 10 Percent Houses, named for of the houses cut of the action. Cincinnati also was the birthplace of the Horse-Hair game, a method for cheating in cards by which a player, aided by an accomplices distractions, manipulated cards and chips by use of a horse hair attached to a vest button. After the Civil War, evangelical reform wiped out most of the lotteries. In the 1890s, the flagrant fraud of the nationally marketed Louisiana lottery led Congress to outlaw the remaining games, creating a public disdain for lotteries, and in 1910 Nevada made it a felony to operate a gambling game. Prohibition sent drinking and gambling underground. But it didnt stay down for long. In the 1930s, restrictions eased up and legalized betting on horse racing became popular. In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling again, and casinos literally sprouted from the sands of the desert. Atlantic City followed suit in 1978 and since then, other states have legalized various forms of gambling. Gamblers were hungry for a variety of games and where the early casinos offered just a few choices, the new and improved versions started adding variety to the games. Down in Texas theyd been playing a poker game called Hold Em and as the Texans traveled thru Nevada, they urged the casinos to add this poker variant. They didnt just want to play poker, they wanted to play Texas Hold Em as the variant came to be known. Variants of blackjack and poker started popping up all thru the casinos, sometimes from foreign travelers bringing an overseas version and sometimes by the casinos themselves attempting to tip the odds. Either way it was a hit and places like Las Vegas became all the rage, growing faster than anyone could have imagined. Variations of the games were sometimes used as a draw for a particular casino, being the only casino to offer that variant. Not to be outdone, other casinos would offer their own variations and before long there were dozens of different poker games and blackjack games.

Johnny got his gun Essay -- essays papers

Joghnny got his gun Joe’s Loses The most horrific part of the novel Johnny Got His Gun is the fact that Joe Bonham (the protagonist) is stripped of all he has and left with only his life and a sense of touch. His arms, legs and face have been blown off while fighting â€Å"for democracy† in the first world war. In addition to all his extremities and face he is also stripped of his vision, his hearing, his taste and smell. He is only left with a vague sense of touch on what he has left of his body. Being essentially robbed of everything he has ever known would be way too much of a shock for Joe. For most people the shock of losing any limb would be devastating almost unbearable. However a loss of Joe’s extent if it were to be discovered all at once could have overwhelmed him, either driven him to insanity or causing him to totally give up and die. By having Joe find out about each of his loss’s separately it adds more horror to Joe’s situation. It also keeps the reader of the story i nto the book, if someone found out the extent of Joe’s injuries all at once you might not contin...

Exploring South Africa Culture Essay

There are many countries that display various types and forms of communication, especially in some countries of Africa. One of the most toured and â€Å"rainbow† diverse country in Africa is apparently South Africa. Even though most of the country is predominantly black, it is also known to be one of the most multicultural countries in the world. In fact, there are many different ethnic groups that make up the countries’ population in urban areas. Also, it explain black people of South Africa colonialism and immigration have brought in white Europeans, Indians, Indo-Malays, Chinese and many more. The best the thing to do is describe some of South African culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values in order to understand the people better. You may be going to South Africa on business, for a visit or even hosting South African colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember, this is only a very basic prologue and is not meant to stereotype all South Africans you may meet! South Africa can be described as a social community that has a various types of communicational style, depending on the ethnic group or maybe the area At the same time they value human politeness over materialism. People living in the city live their life in the fast lane, which affects their outlook. People from the city Johannesburg can quite often be regarded as having materialistic values, and being more concerned in what you own rather than who you are in general. They prefer to see themselves as urbane and their country cousins as less sophisticated. However, in rural areas family ties, long-term friendships and social standing are all important to South Africans. The many rural black communities and villages are still rooted in the traditions of their heritage, whereas the increasingly urban black community combines their roots with the urban environment and international influences that surround them. In order to be accepted by the majority of South African culture, you must first understand their customs. South Africans are openly expressive when it comes to their customs. In fact, some of the countries customs are related to the United States in a way. For instance, the United States and South African share similar greetings, the English language and attires. When trying to get to know someone, South Africans, regardless of ethnicity, prefer meeting and greeting someone face to face instead of impersonal communication like email, letter, or telephone. Greetings are unhurried and can include time for social conversations and the exchanging of them too. â€Å"Currently, there are several greeting styles in South Africa, depending upon the ethnic heritage of the person you are visiting. When dealing with foreigners, most South Africans shake hands while maintaining eye contact and smiling† (Kwintessential 2004). Some women of South Africa don’t like to shake hands, usually they will merely nod their head, so it is best to wait for a woman to extend her hand first. Men can also kiss a woman they know well on the cheek in place of a handshake; something like France. Gender can also play a role in communication in some parts of South Africa. Traditionally, South African women have held second-class status to men. African social structures are centered on men, leaving women powerless (Martinez,1). Basically this called â€Å"Patriarchal†. This is mainly the belief of social communities throughout the entire racial and ethnic population of South Africa. Women roles is to cook and be the caregivers instead the household providers. Sometimes there are women in South Africa who have to follow their husband around or cannot go anywhere without them. Some continue to follow their traditional values; mostly are tribes and those living in villages. Sadly, Patriarchal societies remain prevalent today in South Africa. Another form of the South African culture would be celebrations. There’s one event that is celebrated in the South Africa called the â€Å"Rainbow† Cuisine (Hill, 1). The Rainbow Cuisine is meaningful and traditional to the country. It brings all ethnicity and culture together by using music, dance, cultural food and turning it into a big festival; something like Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl put together but bigger. In general, South Africans give gifts for birthdays and Christmas like Americans. However, South Africans only celebrate two main birthdays 21 and 40 while Americans celebrate 16, 18, 21, and 50. â€Å"Most South African’s birthdays are often celebrated with a large party in which a lavish gift is given† (Kwintessential 2004). It is common for several friends to contribute to this gift to help defray the cost. If you are invited to a South African’s home, bring flowers, good quality chocolates, or a bottle of good South African wine to the hostess (Kwintessential 2004). Wrapping a gift nicely shows extra effort. Gifts are opened when received. Just like the United States when you are invited to a South African’s household. A person must always arrive on time if invited to dinner. It’s considered very rude to show up late or don’t even show up to an invited dinner. Contact the hostess ahead of time to see if she would like you to bring a dish. Every guest have to be in casual wear or at least look presentable for other guest who are also invited and for the host as well. There are some ways to be appreciative of your host’s invite and that’s to offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. Most South Africans feel well respected when someone show kindness towards them and their family, especially over their food. Gentlemen can also get away with wearing jeans or shorts at a dinner, but they have to be pressed and not wrinkly. So before arriving to the dinner it is always a good idea to check with the hosts in advance. In the urban areas of South Africa, the casual is dressier than in other parts of the country so a person shouldn’t wear jeans or shorts unless you have spoken to the hosts. Now, there is some comparison with South Africa and the United States on some issues. One would be is how South Africa and the United States are conducting business ties with each other. Apparently, South Africans want to maintain agreeable working protocol relationships, so they shun confrontations. It is said that being imperative can help to develop mutual trust before negotiating with someone in business. Another rule in company’s or business negotiating it to never interrupt a South African while they are speaking. Interrupting can cause a huge fail between the buyer and seller, more over it can mess up business. South Africans strive for consensus and win-win situations. South Africans do not like bargaining over price, they believe in final decision- making. â€Å"Decision-making may be concentrated at the top of the company and decisions are often made after consultation with subordinates, so the process can be slow and protracted† (U. S. Library of Congress). However, in South Africa women today still have yet to attain advanced professional positions. If you send a woman, she must expect to encounter some condescending behavior and to be tested in ways that a male colleague would not. Women might have equal rights as men, however they are still treated unequally in higher business positions that’s ran mostly by men, like in the United States. South Africa and the United States are practicing friendlier connections in many areas. â€Å"More than 500 United States companies have more than US$5 billion in direct investments in South Africa in the mid-1990s, and trade between the two countries is increasing steadily† (U. S. Library of Congress). Despite the alleged disagreements in government between the two countries, they both learned to communicate and cooperate with each other by coming to verbal agreements on how business should be ran. South Africa can be an overall great experience for any tourist. Their culture can be easily understood by any ethnicity around the world. Hopefully South Africans will continue to expand traditions, culture, values, customs, and etiquettes in their country, despite diversity. The â€Å"Rainbow† nation will continue to shine their colors and will always be equally match to other countries, even the United States.

Sociological Theories And Concepts Applied By Georgia...

Sociological Theories and Concepts Applied Analyzing a Current Event Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) agents can be seen actively working at the scene of an officer involved shooting. The City of Jackson Police Department requested their assistance to conduct an independent investigation for an Officer Involved Shooting/Use of Force and an alleged Aggravated Assault of a Police Officer in the early morning hours of September 13, 2016. Sherry Hall, an officer for the Jackson Police Department, was patrolling in the area of Camellia Court just after midnight when she stated that she saw a suspicious male sitting on the side of the road near the wood line. She approached the man to inquire what he was doing and why was he there. She claimed that’s when he became argumentative and aggressive pulling out a gun firing off a shot in her direction. She managed to fire off two rounds before making a call on the radio of an officer down/officers been shot. She suffered a gunshot wound to her abdomen. Law enforcement officers from the Jackson Police Department as well as from the Butts County Sheriff’s Office responded instantly to help one of their own who was down. In her statement she describes her assailant as a black man around 270 pounds last being seen at the wood line in the cul-de-sac of Camellia Court. Hall told the investigators that she did not have time to engage her audio or video equipment thus meaning that the incident was not recorded. She was taken to a localShow MoreRelatedContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pagesreflect on the contributions which Michael Bromwich has made. He played an important role in the diffusion of modern practices of capital investment appraisal in the United Kingdom. He has been constantly open to the insights which advances in economic theory can provide into the accounting art, in many areas pushing at the frontiers of international knowledge in his own quiet way. In the area of costing, Michael has undoubtedly deepened our understandings of both conceptual and practical issues, in recentRead MoreGlobalization and It Effects on Cultural Integration: the Case of the Czech Republic.27217 Words   |  109 PagesGLOBALIZATION AND IT EFFECTS ON CULTURAL INTEGRATION: THE CASE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. INTRODUCTION I. AN OVERVIEW. With the growing standards of the world and the existing concepts and complexities in political, economic and socio-cultural ideologies, man has always and continuously pondered over the aspects of his nature. Unity, equality, trade and commerce are at the forefront of mans complexities. With these thoughts in mind, man has moved through history trying to satisfy his desiresRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesOrganizational Behavior? 3 The Individual 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Diversity in Organizations 39 Attitudes and Job Satisfaction 69 Emotions and Moods 97 Personality and Values 131 Perception and Individual Decision Making 165 Motivation Concepts 201 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications 239 3 The Group 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Foundations of Group Behavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of OrganizationRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesâ€Å"do. † In an influential article, Henry Mintzberg (1975) argued that management education had almost nothing to say about what managers actually do from day to day. He further faulted management textbooks for introducing students to the leading theories about management while ignoring what is known about effective management practice. Sympathetic to Mintzberg’s critique, we set out to identify the defining competencies of effective managers. Although no two management positions are exactly the sameRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesS. 3 Mexico and Caribbean to U.S. 2 Down from Andes 2 Intra-Caribbean 1 Southern Cone 1 Other 2 Sources: Imre Ferenczi and Walter Willcox, eds., International Migrations, vol. 1, Statistics (New York: National Bureau of Economic Research, 1929); Adam McKeown, â€Å"Global Migration, 1846–1940,† Journal of World History 15 (2004): 155– 189; Jose C. Moya, â€Å"Immigration, Development, and Assimilation in the United States in a Global Perspective, 1850–1930,† Studia Migracyjne