Seeple Profiles Can you see yourself here COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Seeple Profiles Can you see yourself here COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Kristen Stamboulian What did you do prior to SIPA? Prior to SIPA, I was a public school teacher in the Bronx for six years. I taught 6th-8th grade English and served on my schools leadership team. Why did you choose Management and is it meeting your expectations? I chose management because I wanted to gain the skill sets that I knew I would need in order to one day work as a leader in public education reform. The specialization, by far, exceeded my expectations! Professor Holloway is an incredible chair of the department and has thoughtfully designed the program to fit students areas of interest. Shes very accessible to students and has become a mentor to me along the way. What do you plan on doing after SIPA? After SIPA, I am hoping to return to my hometown of Detroit and work on education policy to improve student outcomes across the city. I know my specialization in management has provided me with the skill sets needed to meet this challenge head on. *** Eric Shrago What did you do prior to SIPA? Prior to SIPA, I worked in financial services in the US and in Asia helping companies grow and expand into new markets. Why did you choose APEA (Advanced Policy Economic Analysis) and is it meeting your expectations? I chose APEA because I wanted to further build my quantitative and analytical skills. The APEA program presents a multitude of opportunities to do this as the courses not only draw from SIPA but also from many of the other departments and schools at Columbia. This has allowed me to tailor my coursework to my interests. What do you plan on doing after SIPA? After SIPA, I want to work in policy that encourages renewable energy development.

Phi/105 Week 8 Final Project Outline - 793 Words

SLIDE 1 INTRODUCTION IS THERE AN AFTERLIFE? DOES IT HAVE AN AFFECT THE WAY WE LIVE NOW? AMANDA DUKE PHI 105 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SLIDE 2 DESCARTES (1596-1650) â€Å"I THINK; THEREFOR I AM† THE ONTILOGICAL ARGUMENT: A method of proof which uses intuition and reason alone; examines the concept of God, and states if we can conceive of the greatest possible being, then it must exist. Speaker Notes: Descartes had strong belief in dualism; meaning that one possess materialistic and non-materialistic form such as body and soul. Dualism allows for the survival of the non-material element (soul), that the soul is immortal and continues after the death of the body.†¦show more content†¦Who has determined these set of morals and that they are the right way of living? People are going to do what makes them happy. If believing in morals and having faith make a person feel better and in turn they live a happy life. ------------------------------------------------- SLIDE 8 Plato The main goal of life is for the soul to permanently leave the body. A person must constantly seek knowledge and not become preoccupied with the physical world. Speakers Note: Plato believed that the body was only a temporary vehicle for the soul. Death was the separation of the incorporeal part of living person, the soul, from the physical part, the body. After death the soul is guided to the next realm by guardian spirits. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SLIDE 9 Too many questions†¦ What knowledge does a body need for the afterlife? Who decides why that knowledge is important? Speaker Notes: What Plato is saying is that a person must spend their entire life trying to understand what else there could be instead of living for what we have now. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SLIDE 10 My Th oughts†¦ Life after death? Is there a reason for living in the now if the life after death is supposed to be so much better? Speaker notes: If we were to use our entire lives now to obtainShow MoreRelatedAnnotated Bibliography: Plagiarism39529 Words   |  158 Pagesconference presentations, organisational websites or in journals like BJET. It is essential that we distinguish between the work that has been carried out by others and the work and the writing that is due to our original efforts. Most research projects will start with a comprehensive study of the literature to determine what has been found in the past, and it is that foundation that will inform the subsequent work. It is quite likely that, in order to make the argument for the paper, you will needRead More65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays 2nd Edition 147256 Words   |  190 PagesEssay-Authorship. 4. Business writing. 5. Harvard Business School. 1. Sullivan, Lauren. II. Harbus. III. Title: Sixty...five successful Harvard Business School application essays. HF1131.A1352009 808.06665-dc22 2009012531 First Edition: August 2009 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction ix xi I. Defining Moment Stacie Hogya Anonymous Anonymous David La Fiura Anonymous Avin Bansal Anonymous Brad Finkbeiner Anonymous 4 7 10 13 17 20 23 26 29 ii. UndergradUate experience Read MoreStrategic Human Resource Management View.Pdf Uploaded Successfully133347 Words   |  534 Pagesrecording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, must be arranged with the individual copyright holders noted. This special edition published in cooperation with Pearson Custom Publishing. Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Please visit our web site at www.pearsoncustom.com ISBN 0–536–72690–6 BA 996748 PEARSON CUSTOM PUBLISHING 75 Arlington Street, Suite 300 Boston, MA 02116 A Pearson Education Company iii iv Table of Contents SECTION ONE Read MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pagesperformance costs and that forecasting programs confront in establishing the economic determinants of corporate planning? In addition to these challenges, many analytical and strategic evaluation approaches that are used in an attempt to identify and project how well a company is performing have been overwhelmed by the frequency and magnitude of these economic groundswells. In today’s competitive climate, where the changes outside a business exceed the productive changes within a business, a company’sRead MoreLibrary Management204752 Words   |  820 PagesMember of the Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.lu.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To our grandchildren Annika, Jacob, Katherine, Madison, Magnus, and Molly Contents Illustrations . . . . . Preface . . . . . . . . . Acknowledgments . The Web Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Essay on Literature Review for Nursing Researh - 1357 Words

A. Problem Description Hourly patient rounding, according to Neville, is a preset timing, usually every hour or every two hour, in which tasks are performed by nurses as a way to check in on the patients (Neville, 2012). The concept of hourly rounding by nurses is not new. Infact, it is a way nurses organize their work and address important issues as they go about their day. There are other types of rounding in the hospitals such as interdisciplinary rounds and medical rounds, but these are done perhaps daily or a few times a week. It is the focus of this paper to address three relevant headings related to nursing hourly rounding through research literature and review. With hourly rounding, nurses can independently initiate and†¦show more content†¦(2006). Efects of nursing rounds on patients’ call light use, satisfaction, and safety. American Journal of Nursing, 106(9), 58-70. Assi, M. et al (2008). Why making the rounds makes sense. American Nurse Today, 3(2), 12. Lowe, Hodgson (2012). Hourly rounding in a high dependency unit. Nursing Standard, 27(8), 35-40. Date of acceptance: June 25, 2012. Hutchings, M., Ward, P., and Bloodworth, K. (2013). Caring around the clock: a new approach to intentional rounding. Nursing Management, 20(5), 24-30. Halms, M. (20090. Hourly rounds: What does the evidence indicate? American Journal of Critical Care, 18(6), 581-584. Moran, J. (2011). Improving care on mental health wards with hourly nurse rounds. Nursing Management, 18(1), 22-26. Blakley, D., Kroth, M., and Gregson, J. (2011). The impact of nurse rounding on patient satisfaction in a medical-surgical hospital unit. MEDSURG Nursing, 20(6), 327-332. Weigram, B. and Raymond, S. (2008). Using evidence-based nursing rounds to improve patient outcomes. MEDSURG Nursing, 17(6), 429-430. Tucker, S. et al (First Quarter 2012). Outcomes and challenges in implementing hourly rounds to reduce falls in orthopedic units. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 9(1), 18-29. Date of electronic publication: Sep. 19, 2011. Gardner, G. et al (2009). Measuring the effect of patient comfort rounds on practice environment and patient satisfaction: A pilot study. International Journal ofShow MoreRelatedNursing research.5083 Words   |  21 Pagesparents and nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 36(4), 591-599. This study looks at the views of parents and nurses about the involvement of parents in the management of their childs pain during the first 48 hours after surgery. The second piece of research is a quantitative piece by Dekyser F.G., Cohen B.B. Wagner N. (2001). Titled: knowledge levels and attitudes of staff nurses in Israel towards complementary and alternative medicine. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 36(1), 41-48. The purpose of this

War on Drugs Solution Legalization Free Essays

Proposal Much like the exclusion of alcohol back in the 20s which was aimed to evict various substances from our civilization, the drug war today has not only ruined its mission, but has made its mission unfeasible. Today various failures, whether it is the huge amount of money being spent erroneously or the increasing number of crimes and users, one thing is for sure; the war on drugs has fallen short. There is no doubt that the usage and misusage of drugs can cause a huge difference in the lives of the users and the others around them, however the â€Å"War on Drugs†, is more of a failure than a success and one of the most effective solutions is, ironically, legalizing the light drug, marijuana, and distinguishing it from other illicit drugs being sold on the streets. We will write a custom essay sample on War on Drugs Solution: Legalization? or any similar topic only for you Order Now This research paper is intended to argue why the legalization of marijuana is the simple solution for the notorious war on drugs today as well as showing how society would actually benefit from the validation rather than the prohibition of some illicit substances. Outline Thesis Statement: There is no doubt that the usage and misusage of drugs can alter the lives of users and others around them. However, the â€Å"War on Drugs† is more of a failure than success and one of the most effective solutions is, ironically, legalizing the light drug, marijuana, and distinguishing it from other illicit drugs being sold on the streets. I. Failures and problems raised by the war. A. Financial failures. B. Social/Human failures. C. Criminal justice system problems. II. Approach to marijuana legalization. A. Marijuana’s historical background. B. Flexible strategies of legalization. III. Benefits of legalizing over banning. A. Financial benefits. B. Societal outcomes. C. Improvement of the criminal justice system. Ethics and politics are what make up the structure of a certain nation, so when a subject receives diverse reactions coming from two different standpoints it becomes controversial. The legalization of marijuana is a controversial subject; however, there are many encouraging arguments to support the idea. Taking a glimpse on its chronological milieu and the strategies of the legalization highlights the benefits of this validation as well as the problems elevated by the war on drugs. There is no doubt that the usage and misusage of drugs can alter the lives of users and others around them. However, the â€Å"War on Drugs† is more of a failure than success and one of the most effective solutions is, ironically, legalizing the light drug, marijuana, and distinguishing it from other illicit drugs being sold on the streets. Looking back through history one cannot but notice the mistakes of most governments in choosing war as an approach to create peace. The war on drugs that the United States government tends to use on its own citizens has proven that war is not an applicable option anymore. In Ron Paul’s farewell speech to the congress in 2012, he asks, â€Å"Why haven’t we given up on the drug war since it’s an obvious failure and violates the people’s rights? Has nobody noticed that the authorities can’t even keep drugs out of the prisons?† The failure of the war appears in three aspects; financially, socially, and the problems with the criminal justice rise. As for financial failure due to the drug war; the United States paid at least $1 trillion on the drug war, while it cost U. S. taxpayers at least $51 billion in 2009. As a response to that drug production; trafficking, consumption and overdoses have increased. As for the society’s sacrifice in that war, many casualties have been reported due to some errors and/or corruption in the system of the law enforcement directed towards the handling of the drug war. The article â€Å"The Drug War’s Hidden Economic Agenda†, by Blemenson and Nilsen in 1998, presents the case of Donald Scott, a Californian millionaire, who was wrongly accused of cultivating numerous marijuana plants on his five million dollar ranch. Despite many investigations, failed efforts to verify the anonymous tip, and information that Scott presented slight danger of violence; his ranch was totally raided by LA sheriff’s department armed with heavy weaponry and dogs. In response to the raid and out of fear and self-defense, Scott armed himself with a gun and was unfortunately shot by agents in front of his wife. Moreover, no trace of marijuana plants or other illicit substances were found (para. 17). Let’s suppose Donald Scott did have numerous marijuana plants, that shouldn’t be such a threat to the public and authorities to the point that they raid him on a military style basis and cause his unfortunate death. As for the problems that rise from the criminal justice system, Ron Paul questions â€Å" How can making our entire society a prison solve the problem? † where â€Å"Drug arrests have more than tripled in the last 25 years, totaling more than 1. 63 million arrests in 2010. More than four out of five of these arrests were for mere possession, and forty-six percent of these arrests (750,591) were for marijuana possession alone† (para. 7). One should think about it, it’s totally illogical and immoral to place a nonthreatening and non-violent person behind bars for the simple possession or use of marijuana for its recreational or proven medicinal value. Not to mention that prison is a place for hardcore drug addicts and criminals to suffer in. Adding to that, the incarceration of first time drug possessors could lead to serious repercussion of the violator and the family members. Moreover, the convicted could suffer many consequences such as losing his/her job, properties, college aid and shockingly losing the right to vote even after being released. Humankind has held the use of the cannabis plant properties for over 5000 years; whereas the false image and misconceptions built by prohibitionists have lasted barely seventy. The period in which society has looked upon marijuana positively and approvingly is almost seventy-five times longer than the period in which it was deemed to be considered as a public enemy. The earliest known recordings of the medicinal use of cannabis date back to first century A.D. , while nomadic tribes used the drug for spiritual purposes as early as the Stone Age. It may be shocking to know that the United States Constitution was written on paper made from hemp and that the first marijuana law, dated back to 1619, called farmers to plant â€Å"Indian hemp seed†. But the nasty business, the War on Marijuana, began in 1930 with the foundation of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, a Division of the U. S. Treasury Department. It was not until 1937, with the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act, that the United States actually restricted recreational and medical use of marijuana. Then after the Second World War joins president Nixon who targeted all drugs and treated drug users as some sort of terrorist aliens. Nixon signed the controlled substances act in 1970, placing marijuana as a schedule I drug disregarding the most comprehensive study done by the Shafer Commission, which recommended that: â€Å"Possession and non-profit transfer of marijuana be decriminalized, stating, in part, that the actual and potential harm from using it â€Å"is not great enough to justify intrusion by the criminal law into private behavior, a step which our society takes only with the greatest reluctance†(Johnston, 2011, para 3). Changing the public’s thought towards â€Å"addictive, lethal weed† prohibitionists won by creating a war, but have never yet got close to winning the war itself. Nowadays public views towards marijuana have been shifting to end prohibition due to the truth that has been found concerning that plant, the potential benefits that escort the use of cannabis, and its medical accomplishment and impossible harm. After this awareness citizens from all over the world have been fighting their governments demanding a reform on policies towards the failing drug war. One of the possible ways to win this war is ironically legalizing the light drug marijuana and conducting a new policy, based on credible findings, concerning the whole cycle from production to consumption. According to Mcvay 1991, to construct a prototypical scheme for legal marijuana it is essential to disregard the systems for alcohol and tobacco since the handling of these two drugs in America has failed. Therefore the systems concerning the two legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, should be altered in a very critical way that acts into discouraging people from using them. After that reformation, placing the marijuana system in a similar way, controlling it from its production till its dispersal and everything that goes in between to developing an alarming attitude and public awareness towards the exploitation and first use of this drug, would work. Such a structure with strategic discouraging technics transmits the idea that marijuana is no longer adequate when permissible than it was when prohibited (par 4). As discussed previously, a controlled, organized and studied format can prove that marijuana legalization holds benefits over the alleged disadvantages. Improvements appear financially to the government, socially to the people and in the criminal justice system. On the public level, aspects concerning legalizing the drug from a financial view have been positive where the RAND Corporation’s Drug Research Center conducted a study revealing that the income coming from taxes to the state are more than half a million dollars ranging to $1. 5 billion depending on the market’s request (Abramsky 2012, p. 18). As for the society, the hemp plant can offer a large number of efficient materials like decomposable plastics, renewable energy source and most importantly medicine. After several credible scientific researches, cannabis was found to have various medicinal uses from treating backaches reaching to cancer cures where recently â€Å"a pair of scientists at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco has found that a compound derived from marijuana could stop metastasis in many kinds of aggressive cancer, potentially altering the fatality of the disease forever†(para. 1). Marijuana can be a substitute for many pharmaceutical pills that actually make takers feel so numb and make them pass out to sleep. It is even offered in edible ways like cookies and cakes and even lollipops in order to avoid the light harm smoke inhalation. Employment is also an outcome, for the process needs investors, growers, harvesters, and medical marijuana dispensaries for the sales. With cannabis becoming legal, users would be protected from the black market’s dealers who open doors to other destructive drugs. Regarding the criminal justice system, unfortunate cases like Donald Scott’s would be eliminated. Other than that the focus of the DEA agents and police officers would be on bigger and more sever issues that deal with the processing and trafficking of hardcore drugs on the streets. One can not just stick to what the government releases of information about the plant since it is known that governments tend to hide information for their personal benefit disregarding the misconceptions created in the minds of the people. Several researches have proven the mistakes of the government in classifying cannabis as illegal with no medicinal value and attacking it by a war it’s not supposed to be in. In closing, Dr. Ethan Russo in his article, â€Å"Cannabis for Migraine Treatment†, said it best: â€Å"There can be no doubt that a plant that has been in partnership with man since the beginnings of agricultural efforts, that has served man in so many ways, and that, under the searchlight of modern chemical study, has yielded many new and interesting compounds will continue to be a part of man’s economy. It would be a luxury that we could ill afford if we allowed prejudices, resulting from the abuse of Cannabis, to deter scientists from learning as much as possible about this ancient and mysterious plant† (para. 4). How to cite War on Drugs Solution: Legalization?, Essays

What Are Some Types and Sources of Channel Conflict free essay sample

Vertical refers to conflict between two different types of members within a channel (i. e. manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailier). An example of this can occur with BarnesandNoble. com and its sister store chain Barnes and Nobel Booksellers. A vertical conflict can occur when the entities offer different prices for the same product or different return policies. Horizontal channel conflict occurs between members at the same level within a channel, i. . Pizza Hut Dominoes Pizza, or Barnes and Nobel Borders. An example of a horizontal conflict would be if one entity begins to aggressively advertise. One of these entities might feel that the other is infringing on its territory. Multichannel conflict exists when two or more different marketing channels destructively compete against each other when selling in the same market. For example, MAC cosmetics are only sold at Nordstoms or Macys. Multichannel conflict may ensue if it decides to sell its product through other retailers. We will write a custom essay sample on What Are Some Types and Sources of Channel Conflict? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page What are some of the ethical considerations in channel relations? For the most part, companies are free to pursue competition. However, ethical issues could arise in the use of exclusivity in deals and territories. As in the example of MAC cosmetics above. An ethical question could arise if in part of the negotiations that MAC made with the retailers was the fact that they would not be allowed to sell any other product. Or that the product could only be sold in Beverly Hills and not in the Los Angeles suburbs. What Are Some Types and Sources of Channel Conflict free essay sample There are three types of channel conflit: Vertical channel conflict, Horizontal channel conflict, and Multichannel conflict. Vertical refers to conflict between two different types of members within a channel (i. e. manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailier). An example of this can occur with BarnesandNoble. com and its sister store chain Barnes and Nobel Booksellers. A vertical conflict can occur when the entities offer different prices for the same product or different return policies. Horizontal channel conflict occurs between members at the same level within a channel, i. . Pizza Hut Dominoes Pizza, or Barnes and Nobel Borders. An example of a horizontal conflict would be if one entity begins to aggressively advertise. One of these entities might feel that the other is infringing on its territory. Multichannel conflict exists when two or more different marketing channels destructively compete against each other when selling in the same market. For example, MAC cosmetics are only s old at Nordstoms or Macys. We will write a custom essay sample on What Are Some Types and Sources of Channel Conflict? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Multichannel conflict may ensue if it decides to sell its product through other retailers. What are some of the ethical considerations in channel relations? For the most part, companies are free to pursue competition. However, ethical issues could arise in the use of exclusivity in deals and territories. As in the example of MAC cosmetics above. An ethical question could arise if in part of the negotiations that MAC made with the retailers was the fact that they would not be allowed to sell any other product. Or that the product could only be sold in Beverly Hills and not in the Los Angeles suburbs.

Analysis on Aristotle essays

Analysis on Aristotle essays Our modern concept of happiness appears to be one synonymous with contentment. A happy person is one who leads a life in which they are content with their actions. However, the Aristotelian conception of happiness, or of eudaemonia, is a compound, made of matter and spirit, of sense and intelligence, of animal conditioning and rational, all of this crowned and guided by wisdom and contemplation. Happiness, according to Aristotle is contingent on living a good life. He is a firm believer that good life can only be met if morally right actions are performed until they become habitual. After these actions become a habit, moral virtue can be achieved. I intend to discuss how Aristotle, in his Nicomachean Ethics, analyzes happiness and excellence in relation to moral virtue and the doctrine of mean. Aristotle regards happiness as a final end the final cause of action for a human being. He used the word eudaemonia in a sense which refers to the quality of a whole human life what makes it good as a whole despite the fact a person is not having a blast or a good time every minute of it. A human life may involve many joy, pleasures, successes and it may also involve heartbreaks, sorrows, grieves, troubles and that could still be a happy life. So in other words, happiness is not measured by the pleasures we have nor is it marred by the agonies we suffer. Happiness of man can be defined by determining the function proper to man. The function cannot be one which plants and animals also perform because it must be particular to human beings. Therefore, mans function must be a part of the term practical life of the rational part of man. The term practical here implies purposeful conduct which is possible only for rational beings. It follows, then that happiness consists in the action of the rational part, the soul. To constitute true happiness this action must persist with continuity throughout a lifetime. ...

Huitzilopochtli, the Founding Deity of the Aztecs

Huitzilopochtli, the Founding Deity of the Aztecs Huitzilopochtli (pronounced Weetz-ee-loh-POSHT-lee and meaning Hummingbird on the Left) was one of the most important of the Aztec gods, the god of the sun, warfare, military conquest and sacrifice, who according to tradition, led the Mexica people from Aztlan, their mythical homeland, into Central Mexico. According to some scholars, Huitzilopochtli could have been a historical figure, probably a priest, who was transformed into a god after his death. Huitzilopochtli is known as the portentous one, the god who indicated to the Aztecs/Mexica where they should build their great capital city, Tenochtitlan. He appeared in dreams to the priests and told them to settle on an island, in the middle of Lake Texcoco, where they would see an eagle perching on a cactus. This was the divine sign. Birth of Huitzilopochtli According to a Mexica legend, Huitzilopochtli was born on Coatepec  or Snake Hill. His mother was the goddess Coatlicue, whose name means â€Å"She of the Serpent Skirt,† and she was the goddess of Venus, the morning star. Coatlicue was attending the temple on Coatepec and sweeping its floors when a ball of feathers fell on the floor and impregnated her. According to the origin myth, when Coatlicues daughter Coyolxauhqui (goddess of the moon) and Coyolxauhquis four hundred brothers (Centzon Huitznahua, the gods of the stars) discovered she was pregnant, they plotted to kill their mother. As the 400 stars reached Coatlicue, decapitating her, Huitzilopochtli (god of the sun) suddenly emerged fully armed from his mother’s womb and, attended by a fire serpent (xiuhcoatl), killed Coyolxauhqui by dismembering her. Then, he threw her body down the hill and proceeded to kill his 400 siblings. Thus, the history of the Mexica is replayed every dawn, when the sun rises victoriously over the horizon after conquering the moon and stars. Huitzilopochtli’s Temple While Huitzilopochtlis first appearance in Mexica legend was as a minor hunting god, he became elevated to a major deity after the Mexica settled in Tenochtitln and formed the Triple Alliance. The Great Temple of Tenochtitlan (or Templo Mayor) is the most important shrine dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, and its shape symbolized a replica of Coatepec. At the foot of the temple, on the Huitzilopochtli side, lay a massive sculpture portraying the dismembered body of Coyolxauhqui, found during excavations for electric utility works in 1978. The Great Temple was actually a twin shrine dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlaloc, and it was among the first structures to be built after the founding of the capital. Dedicated to both gods, the temple symbolized the economic basis of the empire: both war/tribute and agriculture. It was also the center of the crossing of the four main causeways that connected the Tenochtitln to the mainland. Images of Huitzilopochtli Huitzilopochtli is typically portrayed with a dark face, fully armed, and holding a snake-shaped scepter and a smoking mirror, a disc from which emerges one or more wisps of smoke. His face and body are painted in yellow and blue stripes, with a black, star-bordered eye mask and a turquoise nose rod. Hummingbird feathers covered the body of his statue at the great temple, along with cloth and jewels. In painted images, Huitzilopochtli wears the head of a hummingbird attached to the back of his head or as a helmet; and he carries a shield of turquoise mosaic or clusters of white eagle feathers. As a representative symbol of Huitzilopochtli (and others of the Aztec pantheon), feathers were an important symbol in Mexica culture. Wearing them was the prerogative of the nobility who adorned themselves with brilliant plumes, and went into battle wearing feathered cloaks. Feathered cloaks and feathers were wagered in games of chance and skill and were traded among allied nobles. Aztec rulers kept aviaries and tribute stores for feather-workers, specifically employed to produce ornate objects. Huitzilopochtlis Festivities December was the month dedicated to Huitzilopochtli celebrations. During these festivities, called Panquetzalitzli, the Aztec people decorated their homes held ceremonies with dances, processions, and sacrifices. A huge statue of the god was made out of amaranth and a priest impersonated the god for the duration of the ceremonies. Three other ceremonies during the year were dedicated at least in part to Huitzilopochtli. Between July 23 and August 11, for example, was Tlaxochimaco, the Offering of Flowers, a festival dedicated to war and sacrifice, celestial creativity and divine paternalism, when singing, dancing and human sacrifices honored the dead and Huitzilopochtli. Updated by K. Kris Hirst Sources Berdan FF. 2014. Aztec Archaeology and Ethnohistory. New York: Cambridge University Press.Boone EH. 1989. Incarnations of the Aztec Supernatural: The Image of Huitzilopochtli in Mexico and Europe. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 79(2):1-107.Taube KA. 1993. Aztec and Maya Myths. Fourth Edition. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.Van Tuerenhout DR. 2005. The Aztecs: New Perspectives, ABC-CLIO Inc. Sanata Barbara, CA; Denver, CO and Oxford, England.