The Wampanog Indians Lived In The Northeast Region Of The Island. They Essay Example For Students

The Wampanog Indians Lived In The Northeast Region Of The Island. They Essay settled there in 1620. They were the first people on Nantucket. They made their houses out of sapling trees, animal skin, and bones, Nantucket was a good fishing and hunting ground. Nantucket was small and wooded. The Wampanoags lived in peace until the white people came and gave them a disease called yellow fever. The last Wampanoag died in 1854. His name was Abrem Quary. What is the history of the Wampanoags?by 7th Graders Beth Valero and Jen StaffordIt was the Wampanoag Indians who shared their Thanksgiving harvest with the Pilgrims in the 1620s. It was the Wampanoags who gave the Pilgrims indian corn, squash, and beans, thereby insuring the survival of the first permanent European settlement in New England, the Colony of New Plymouth. The Wampanoags taught the Pilgrims about the lay of the land and how to protect themselves from the harsh winters. We will write a custom essay on The Wampanog Indians Lived In The Northeast Region Of The Island. They specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The history of the Wampanoag Indians began long before the 17th century and long before any European set foot on the North American continent. Twelve thousand years ago, the earliest inhabitants of northeastern North America were leaving marks on the land. They were known to their neighbors as the pokanoket which means place of clear land. The Indians told stories and passed their legends down from generation to generation. They even had a legend about how Nantucket was formed. The first encounter of the Europeans of the Wampanoag may have been written down in 1524. They grew a few staple crops for food: corn, beans, and squash. Farming, hunting, fishing, and foraging were essential to the day -to- day, and year-to-year survival of the Wampanoag. They survived by understanding and using the wild plants and animals of their region. Some of the same plants and animals are still on Nantucket today. By the beginning of the 20th century the Wampanoag people were living like any of their non-Indian, working class neighbors. In the 20th century their sense of identity as Indians would be revitalized. During the first few decades of the 20th century, the Pan-Indian movement was sweeping across the continent. The traditional customs of the Great Plains Indians came to symbolize the new identity of all Indians. In every section of the United States and Canada, Indians adopted Plains Indians dress along with some of that cultures rich ceremonials as symbols of Indianness. The Wampanoag Nation held its first powwow the following year in Mashpee, MA and have held one annually for many years afterward. If you are growing up as a Wampanoag in todays society, American Indian history and culture is often ignored by the non-Indian world. A Wampanoag LegendThe Beginning: How the Island Was Madefrom The Nantucket Indians, Legends and Accounts before 1659by Meredith Marshall BrenizerThere was a time in the dreams of the great-great grandfathers when the land was not here: no blade of grass nor reed, no corn nor tree, no nesting bird was on this place. There was nothing but the sea. A great giant named Moshop lived across the water with his beautiful wife, Squant, and their many papooses. He was a kindly, wise giant loved by all of his people, but he was so big that it took the whole length of the beach at Cape Cod to make him a bed. Strange visions came to Moshop one night as he slept. Tossing restlessly, he filled his moccasins with sand and they became heavy. Half asleep, he kicked one moccasin a short distance into the sea. Shrugging himself awake, he kicked the other a long way off toward the horizon. The first moccasin became the island of Noepe Marthas Vineyard. The second one became the island of Natockete, the far off place. (Nantucket)And this is how our land was born

the invention of the earliest camera, technology has rapidly advanced the field of photography, bringing change and improvement to almost every aspect of the art. The WritePass Journal

the invention of the earliest camera, technology has rapidly advanced the field of photography, bringing change and improvement to almost every aspect of the art. Introduction the invention of the earliest camera, technology has rapidly advanced the field of photography, bringing change and improvement to almost every aspect of the art. IntroductionWhat is an SLRFilm or DigitalReferencesRelated Introduction Ever since the invention of the earliest camera, technology has rapidly advanced the field of photography, bringing change and improvement to almost every aspect of the art. However, despite all the technological improvements, pocket sized cameras, night vision modes, face and smile recognition facilities that the new age digital cameras have to offer, one sees that almost any camera store worth its salt still stocks single lens reflex cameras (SLRs). Despite the fact that many dismiss these devices as archaic and obsolete, quite a few professional photographers still opt for and recommend SLRs to others over point and shoot cameras. A novice buyer has no idea whether to opt for a digital point and shoot or a film SLR or DSLR and is unable to decide which one would best serve his or her purpose within their budget. To shed some light on this topic, the pros and cons of a 35 mm SLR over other film formats and image capturing systems have been detailed in this article. What is an SLR An SLR or Single Lens Reflex camera is one that has a ‘reflex mirror’ which allows the user to directly view the image being shot through the lens of the camera (Rowse2007). In simpler words, unlike other cameras which have a viewing system different from the lens of the camera, the SLR has only one viewing system and allows the user to see exactly what is being photographed through the viewfinder. SLR or Point and Shoot While deciding which camera one needs to buy, one needs to balance utility with price to choose a camera perfectly suited to their needs. Both SLRs and point and shoots have their own strengths and weaknesses with respect to each other. For example, SLRs have much faster shutter speeds than point and shoot cameras. This can duly be adjusted for the film being used and the abundance of light, giving the photographer multiple options for using high speed films (greater ISO) without risking grainy output in the photographs. Also, there is an almost negligible time lag between when the shutter is pressed and the film is exposed, giving the photographer a better opportunity of capturing the perfect moment even with a moving subject. Such is not the case with point and shoot cameras. Both digital and film PS cameras have a time lag between when the shutter button is clicked and the sensor or film is exposed. This renders them more or less useless for anything but still photography and memo ries with orchestrated poses. An SLR allows the user to control almost every aspect of photography. He can adjust the light entering through the aperture, the speed of the film, the duration for which the shutter exposes the film, the focus of the image and even the kind of lens being used. Even the best of the point and shoot cameras can’t hold a candle to these features. The fact that the SLR allows for interchangeable lenses means that the photographer is ready for almost any kind of shot whether a close up, extreme close up, long or a wide shot. The lack of this feature sorely limits prospects with point and shoots. The quality of optics (lenses) in even the worst SLRs tops that in the best point and shoots cameras. The compatibility of these lenses with other camera bodies means that the investment in the lenses is not wasted if the camera body malfunctions. To upgrade, the photographer only needs to change the camera body, which itself is extremely durable compared to a point and shoot. However, an SLR also has certain limitations. One extremely limiting factor is the price of an SLR camera which is many times that of a point and shoot camera. Another prohibiting factor is the size and weight of SLR cameras. The weight of an SLR camera along with its lens kit filters, flash apparatus and tripod can make it pretty inconvenient to carry around and also, an SLR requires considerable setup time for the perfect shot to be taken. A point and shoot can be fit into the user’s pocket, whipped out when needed and is ready to capture images. Another issue with SLRs is maintenance. Considering that the SLR is highly dependent on its optics for performance, any smudges, fungus, dust or damage to the lens could prove quite expensive to rectify. Lenses have to be stored in moisture proof containers during humid seasons and are extremely expensive to clean or replace. Point and shoot cameras are operable by most laymen, while SLRs are quite complex and require the user to kn ow how to use the various features for them to be of any use. The lack of a live view in SLRs such as available in LCD point and shoot cameras make shots from difficult angles harder for the user. Many point and shoot cameras today possess LCD monitors that can be flipped outwards, making even the most difficult angles easy to shoot from. Film or Digital When one finally decides on the type of camera to buy, the image capturing format is still an issue to decide on. While quality of image capture in digital is categorized according to the megapixels per square inch of the sensor, film quality depends on the size. The prevailing formats of film today are 35mm, medium and large format. Despite rapid advancement in technology relevant to photography, the resolution offered by a 35mm film is still vastly superior to that of any digital camera. Practically, it would take a 25 Megapixel sensor to rival the quality of photographs that can be obtained from a 35 mm film (Ken Rockwell 2006). In terms of quality (of film formats available today), the large format film is unparalleled (Guide to Film Photography 2010). The most popular size of large film today is 45 inches; however, there are sizes of up to 2024 inch available in this format. With large film format, results are sharper, have a better tonality and are grain free (Luong 2011). Even 45 films have 13 times the resolution offered by 35 mm film. The drawbacks of the format are that the cameras required to use this film are bulky and extremely manual. Certain things that are taken for granted with even 35mm cameras such as avoiding fogged film and preventing double and non-exposures have to be manually done in these cameras. The equipment for such cameras is also quite bulky, making it inconvenient to carry and set up. Everything from setting up, photo composition, focus and exposure take a long time in such cameras. While medium film format (66 or 67 inches) is more convenient than large and offers better quality than 35mm film, it is also quite inconvenient as the film is more expensive to buy and process. Each roll can only fit 10 frames; the depth of field of such cameras is lesser than that in 35mm from certain angles and also, there are a limited number of the types of film available. Coming back to the debate of film versus digital, it is obvious that digital photography has a lot of ground to cover before it can match the quality of film. However, that being said, digital cameras have the advantage that the user can immediately preview the image after it is shot, thus there is no wastage of film in digital photography. The user only sees what went wrong with a shot after processing if they used film. There is only a one time expenditure on the digital camera, no expenditure on film, scanning or processing. However, once a photograph is taken at a set resolution in a digital camera, it can never be improved or blown up beyond that. A film camera is a cheaper investment than a digital camera and provides unparalleled resolution, warmth, texture and depth (Williams 2004). While there are many pros and cons to each image capturing system and format, the only way for a photographer to get the most out of any camera is to match the camera to their needs. Only then will they be able to produce the best pictures at the highest value for their money. References Luong, Q.T. 2004, Largeformatphotography.info (Web), viewed 03 May 2011, largeformatphotography.info/why.html Rowse, D. 2007, Digital Photography School (Web), viewed 03 May 2011, digital-photography-school.com/should-you-buy-a-dslr-or-point-and-shoot-digital-camera Williams, O. 2004, PhotoshopDesign.NET (Web), viewed 03 May 2011, photoshopdesign.net/ccopy/filmVSdigital.htm Anon 2006, KenRockwell.com (Web), viewed 03 May 2011, kenrockwell.com/tech/filmdig.htm

How Effective Is The New Human Rights Council Compared To The Old Essay

How Effective Is The New Human Rights Council Compared To The Old Commission - Essay Example First and foremost, the structure of the Human Rights Council and the Commission on Human Rights has basic differences. In 1946, the UNCHR was formed, as an adjunct of the Economic and Social Council, with the primary purpose of establishing the international legal institutions that secures fundamental rights and freedoms (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2007). It was made up of 53 member nations. The Commission eventually expanded to allow the organization to address the different human rights problems by setting minimum requirements which would govern the behaviour of member states (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2007). Its regular annual sessions were conducted in Geneva and it had about 3,000 delegates from member countries and from observing states. In these sessions, the organization was able to pass more than a hundred resolutions and regulations which covered important matters relevant to the proper functioning of the different regions in the world (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2007). The Commission worked in coordination with the sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, with several working groups and other experts and representatives assigned to report on specific issues. In 2006, the United Nations General Assembly passed GA Resolution 60/251 and created the Human Rights Council (HRC). The HRC is still very much an intergovernmental agency operating; however it is now under the direct control of the General Assembly. It is composed of 47 member states and is primarily in charge of safeguarding and advancing the protection of human rights all around the world. The council has been created to take charge of situations involving the violation of human rights and thereinafter make recommendations on how these violations should be addressed by the United Nations (Office of the

Human Resources And Their Importance For Organizations Research Paper

Human Resources And Their Importance For Organizations - Research Paper Example The survey would be conducted on the human resource challenge and the respondents will be employees whose feedback would be the base for solving such problems. The first question of the survey is – â€Å"Do you feel that human resource management is able to retain employees? If yes then how and if no then why?† This question will be asked to analyze the retention strategies adopted by the human resource manager and to identify the areas due to which experienced employees could not be retained. The major advantage of this question is that it would help human resource managers to avoid high turnover rate and motivate employees towards performing well and increase their job satisfaction level which in turn would enhance the level of retention. The next question for the survey will be – â€Å"what form of reward motivates you the most?† This question is essential in order to address the problem which forms the basis of this human resource survey. Identification of the type of rewards such as appraisals, monetary rewards, etc., will help in concluding as to which factor motivates employees the most. The feedback on this particular question will help managers to frame strategies accordingly so that productivity of existing employees can be maximized. It is important to analyze the degree of inclination of employees towards reward scheme so that appropriate rewards can be offered to deserving employees. The third question that would be asked to employees is – â€Å"apart from monetary rewards or appraisals what are the other ways you feel can help management to retain employees?† This is a direct question in relation to the problem which has been identified in the field of human resource. It can be stated that this question was asked so as to understand the different ways through which employees can be retained in the system.

Module 4 - SLP Training and Appraisals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Module 4 - SLP Training and Appraisals - Essay Example Skills gapping starts right from the recruitment stage in an organization, when the administrators compare the skills of prospective employees with the skills an organization lacks or needs. When the skills a job candidate posseses is of dire need to an organization, the candidate may be considered. Applicants with a higher degree of match between skills desired and skills acquired therefore have an upper hand in being recruited by the training authorities (Jones, 2000). The traning administrators then move further to establish if there exists a deficiency between the skills employees have and what they ought to have. Should they detect insufficiency in the desired skills, the immediate managers of the employees or their training administrators check if there is a set of courses in their training programs that can adress the staff’s challenges. Another thing that they look into is the possible events in that given organization which can offer training to its employees. In the process, organizations iron out their employees’ challenges in a personalised precision training program (Jones, 2000). In today’s business environment, both philanthropic and profit making organizations such as commercial banks are in dire need of employees who are computer literate. For banking institutions having employees deficient of computer skills, skills gapping must be conducted if an organization’s efficiency is to be improved (Jones, 2000). Conventionally, the program starts with examining job candidates for computer skills. What is sought by organizations with regard to computer skills may not be extreme technical skills possesion, but basic knowledge in operating computer applications, especially softwares that most befits the running of that given organization. Standardized tests may be administered on these prospective staffs. Mostly, candidates are often required to practically prove their assertions that

Democratic Leadership Style Advantages and Disadvantages

Democratic Leadership Style Advantages and Disadvantages The democratic leadership style is a very open and collegial style of running a team. Ideas move freely amongst the group and are discussed openly. Everyone is given a seat at the table, and discussion is relatively free-flowing. This style is needed in dynamic and rapidly changing environments where very little can be taken as a constant. In these fast moving organizations, every option for improvement has to be considered to keep the group from falling out of date. The democratic leadership style means facilitating the conversation, encouraging people to share their ideas, and then synthesizing all the available information into the best possible decision. The democratic leader must also be able to communicate that decision back to the group to bring unity the plan is chosen. When is it Used? When situations change frequently, democratic leadership offers a great deal of flexibility to adapt to better ways of doing things. Unfortunately, it is also somewhat slow to make a decision in this structure, so while it may embrace newer and better methods; it might not do so very quickly. Democratic leadership style can bring the best out of an experienced and professional team. It capitalizes on their skills and talents by letting them share their views, rather than simply expecting them to conform. If a decision is very complex and broad, it is important to have the different areas of expertise represented and contributing input this is where democratic leader shines. Good fits for Democratic Leadership: Creative groups (advertising, design):ÂÂ  ideas need to flow in creative environments to find create new concepts and designs. Consulting:ÂÂ  when paid to explore problems and find solutions, your role will be to explore the possibilities in depth, and that means there has to be a great deal of exploration and open discussion. Much of the Service industry:ÂÂ  new ideas allow for more flexibility to changing customer demands. Education:ÂÂ  few places need to be open to different ideas than education, both by educators and their students. How to be effective with this position: Keep communication open:ÂÂ  If the marketplace of ideas is going to be open for business, everyone needs to feel comfortable enough to put their ideas on the table. The democratic leadership style thrives when all the considerations are laid out for everyone to examine. Focus the discussion:ÂÂ  Its hard to keep unstructured discussion productive. Its the leaders job to balance being open to ideas and keeping everything on-topic. If the conversation begins to stray, remind everyone of the goal on hand and then steer it back. Make sure to take note of off-topic comments and try to return to them when they are pertinent. Be ready to commit:ÂÂ  In the democratic leadership style, you get presented with so many possibilities and suggestions that it can be overwhelming and difficult to commit. But as the leader, when the time comes, you have to choose and do so with conviction. The team depends on the clear and unambiguous mandates to be committed. Respect the ideas:ÂÂ  You and your team might not agree with every idea, and thats ok. It is important, however, that you create a healthy environment where those ideas are entertained and considered not maligned or the flow of ideas will slow to a trickle. Explain, but dont apologize:ÂÂ  You want the advocates of the solutions that were not selected to understand that their thoughts were considered and had validity, but that ultimately you had strong reasons to go a different direction. Its important that the decision be communicated, but you should not apologize for deciding on what you think. (http://www.leadership-toolbox.com/democratic-leadership-style.html) DemocraticÂÂ  Leadership Under democratic leadership, the people have a more participatory role in the decision making process. One person retains final say over all decisions but allows others to share insight and ideas. This is often a highly effective form of leadership. People are more likely to excel in their positions and develop more skills when they feel empowered, and people are empowered when they are involved in the decision-making process. Although it may take some time to achieve full participation from a group, the end result will be rewarding if you can manage to establish a power-sharing environment in your group project. You will find that democratic practices often lead to a more productive and higher quality work group. Examples of democratic leadership: Asking all group members for ideas and input. Voting on the best course of action in a project. Asking group members to work with their strengths and provide input on how to divide the work. ]li]Enabling members to work at their own pace and set their own deadlines. Pitfalls of Democratic Leadership It doesnt take too much imagination to think of ways that democratic leadership could backfire during a group project. As you probably know, some members of a group will work well on their own and complete all work in a timely fashion. But there are other workers who will procrastinate-and that can lead to disaster. If you are a natural democratic leader, it might be necessary to learn some traits of the autocratic or bureaucratic leaders and tap into them as necessary. Always have a backup plan on hand! What is Democratic Leadership? Democratic Leadership is the leadership style that promotes the sharing of responsibility, the exercise of delegation and continual consultation. The style has the following characteristics:ÂÂ  1.ÂÂ  Manager seeks consultation on all major issues and decisions.ÂÂ  2.ÂÂ  Manager effectively delegate tasks to subordinates and give them full control and responsibility for those tasks.ÂÂ  3.ÂÂ  Manager welcomes feedback on the results of intiatives and the work environment.ÂÂ  4.ÂÂ  Manager encourages others to become leaders and be involved in leadership development. What Are The Benefits Of The Democratic Leadership Style? Positive work environment.ÂÂ  A culture where junior employees are given fair amount of responsibility and are allowed to challenge themselves is one where employees are more enthused to work and enjoy what they do.ÂÂ  Successful initiatives.ÂÂ  The process of consultation and feedback naturally results in better decision making and more effective operations. Companies run under democratic leadership tend to run into fewer grave mistake and catastrophes. To put it simply people tell a democraticÂÂ  leaderÂÂ  when something is going badly wrong, while employees are encouraged to simply hide it from an autocrat.ÂÂ  Creative thinking.ÂÂ  The free flow of ideas and positive work environment is the perfect catalyst for creative thinking. To further their leadership education, people often check theÂÂ  online MBA rankingsÂÂ  to see whether MBA online is a match for them. The benefits of this arent just relevant for creative industries, because creative thinking is required to solve problems in every single organisation, whatever its nature.ÂÂ  Reduction of friction and office politics.By allowing subordinates to use their ideas and even more importantly gain credit for them, you are neatly reducing the amount of tension employees generate with their manager. When autocratic leaders refuse to listen to their workers, or blatantly ignore their ideas, they are effectively asking for people to talk behind their back and attempt to undermine or supercede them.ÂÂ  Reduced employee turnover.ÂÂ  When employees feel empowered through leadership development, a company will experience lower rates of employee turnover which has numerous benefits. A company that invests in leadership development for its employees, is investing in their future, and this is appreciated by a large majority of the workforce. What Are The Disadvantages Of The Democratic Leadership Style? Lengthy and boring decision making.ÂÂ  Seeking consultation over every decision can lead to a process so slow that it can cause opportunities to be missed, or hazards avoided too late.ÂÂ  Danger of pseudo participation.ÂÂ  Many managers simply pretend to follow a democratic leadership style simply to score a point in the eyes of their subordinates. Employees are quick to realise when their ideas arent actually valued, and that the manager is merely following procedure in asking for suggestions, but never actually implementing them. In other words, theyre simply exerting autocratic leadership in disguise. When Is The Democratic Leadership Style Effective? Now youve heard about the benefits and drawbacks of this leadership style, lets look at where its actually implemented in the business world.ÂÂ  1.ÂÂ  Democratic leadership is applied to an extent in the manufacturing industry, to allow employees to give their ideas on how processesÂÂ  canÂÂ  become leaner and more efficient. While Fordism is still applied in some factories across the country, truth is that production managers are now really starting to harness the motivational bonuses associated with not treating employees like robots anymore.ÂÂ  2.ÂÂ  Democratic leadershp is effective in proffessional organisations where the emphasis is clearly on training, professional leadership development and quality of work performed. Democratic procedures are simply just one cog in the effective leadership mechanisms firms likeÂÂ  The Big FourÂÂ  have created over the years.ÂÂ  3.ÂÂ  Non profit organisations also tremendously benefit from dra wing upon the creative energies of all their staff to bring about cost cutting techniques or fund raising ideas.ÂÂ  4.ÂÂ  As previously mentioned, creative industries such as advertising and television enjoy alot of benefits from the free flow of ideas that democratic leadership brings.

William Blake :: English Literature

William Blake William Blake was born in London, where he spent most of his life. His father was a successful London hosier and attracted by the doctrines of Emmanuel Swedenborg. Blake was first educated at home, chiefly by his mother. His parents encouraged him to collect prints of the Italian masters, and in 1767 sent him to Henry Pars' drawing school. From his early years, he experienced visions of angels and ghostly monks, he saw and conversed with the angel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary, and various historical figures. At the age of 14 Blake was apprenticed for seven years to the engraver James Basire. Gothic art and architecture influenced him deeply. After studies at the Royal Academy School, Blake started to produce watercolors and engrave illustrations for magazines. In 1783 he married Catherine Boucher, the daughter of a market gardener. Blake taught her to draw and paint and she assisted him devoutly. In 1774 Blake opened with his wife and younger brother Robert a print shop at 27 Broad Street, but the venture failed after the death of Robert in 1787. Blake's important cultural and social contacts included Henry Fuseli, Reverend A.S. Mathew and his wife, John Flaxman (1755-1826), a sculptor and draftsman, Tom Paine, William Godwin, and Mrs Elizabeth Montagu (1720-1800), married to the wealthy grandson of the earl of Sandwich. His early poems Blake wrote at the age of 12. However, being early apprenticed to a manual occupation, journalistic-social career was not open to him. His first book of poems, POETICAL SKETCHES, appeared in 1783 and was followed by SONGS OF INNOCENCE (1789), and SONGS OF EXPERIENCE (1794). His most famous poem, 'The Tyger', was part of his Songs of Experience. He approved of free love, and sympathized with the actions of the French revolutionaries but the Reign of Terror sickened him. In 1790 Blake engraved THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, a book of paradoxical aphorisms and his principal prose work. Radically he sided with the Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost and attacked the conventional religious views in a series of aphorisms. But the poet's life in the realms of images did not please his wife who once remarked: "I have very little of Mr. Blake's company. He is always in Paradise." Some of Blake's contemporaries called him a harmless lunatic. The Blakes moved south of the Thames to Lambeth in 1790. During this time Blake began to work on his 'prophetic books', where he expressed his lifelong concern with the struggle of the soul to free its natural energies from reason and organized religion. Although Blake first accepted Swedenborg's ideas, he eventually rejected him. He wrote THE VISIONS OF THE DAUGHTERS OF ALBION (1793), AMERICA: A PROPHESY (1793), William Blake :: English Literature William Blake William Blake was born in London, where he spent most of his life. His father was a successful London hosier and attracted by the doctrines of Emmanuel Swedenborg. Blake was first educated at home, chiefly by his mother. His parents encouraged him to collect prints of the Italian masters, and in 1767 sent him to Henry Pars' drawing school. From his early years, he experienced visions of angels and ghostly monks, he saw and conversed with the angel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary, and various historical figures. At the age of 14 Blake was apprenticed for seven years to the engraver James Basire. Gothic art and architecture influenced him deeply. After studies at the Royal Academy School, Blake started to produce watercolors and engrave illustrations for magazines. In 1783 he married Catherine Boucher, the daughter of a market gardener. Blake taught her to draw and paint and she assisted him devoutly. In 1774 Blake opened with his wife and younger brother Robert a print shop at 27 Broad Street, but the venture failed after the death of Robert in 1787. Blake's important cultural and social contacts included Henry Fuseli, Reverend A.S. Mathew and his wife, John Flaxman (1755-1826), a sculptor and draftsman, Tom Paine, William Godwin, and Mrs Elizabeth Montagu (1720-1800), married to the wealthy grandson of the earl of Sandwich. His early poems Blake wrote at the age of 12. However, being early apprenticed to a manual occupation, journalistic-social career was not open to him. His first book of poems, POETICAL SKETCHES, appeared in 1783 and was followed by SONGS OF INNOCENCE (1789), and SONGS OF EXPERIENCE (1794). His most famous poem, 'The Tyger', was part of his Songs of Experience. He approved of free love, and sympathized with the actions of the French revolutionaries but the Reign of Terror sickened him. In 1790 Blake engraved THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, a book of paradoxical aphorisms and his principal prose work. Radically he sided with the Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost and attacked the conventional religious views in a series of aphorisms. But the poet's life in the realms of images did not please his wife who once remarked: "I have very little of Mr. Blake's company. He is always in Paradise." Some of Blake's contemporaries called him a harmless lunatic. The Blakes moved south of the Thames to Lambeth in 1790. During this time Blake began to work on his 'prophetic books', where he expressed his lifelong concern with the struggle of the soul to free its natural energies from reason and organized religion. Although Blake first accepted Swedenborg's ideas, he eventually rejected him. He wrote THE VISIONS OF THE DAUGHTERS OF ALBION (1793), AMERICA: A PROPHESY (1793),