Japanese Obon Festival free essay sample

A Buddhist monk, able to see the dead, saw his mother struggling in the afterworld of Hungry Ghosts, the Hell of Starvation. Horrified by his clairvoyant vision, the Buddhist monk, Mokuren, ran to Buddha and was instructed to give each Buddhist monk offerings on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Doing so and seeing his mothers release, Mokuren realized how much she had sacrificed for him and danced in great joy and gratitude. Much like the story of Mokuren, the Japanese Obon (pronounced o-bone) festival is a family oriented celebration which appreciates the sacrifices of ones ancestors. Japans fashion of celebrating their ancestors sacrifices has its origins steeped in Buddhist culture. Obon has been celebrated annually since its introduction by the Chinese in the seventh century (more accurately 657 A. D. ). Abbreviated from Urabon (the Japanese transliteration of the Sanskrit word Ullambana), Obon means to hang upside down, which communicates the retched suffering of either body or spirit, literally or metaphorically, of being hung upside down. We will write a custom essay sample on Japanese Obon Festival or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Obon is a ritual, which operates according to Sakyamuni Buddhas Urabon Sutra, the story of Mokuren. This ritual was practiced the same way Sakyamuni Buddha instructed Mokuren to do, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. This tradition changed over the centuries and is now more commonly practiced August 13-16th, though most places in Okinawa (southern Japan) still celebrate Obon on the Lunar Calendars seventh month. Like the story implies, Obon is not a mournful celebration and is known as the Festival of Light or the Festival of Joy. For the three days of Obon, people may dance, eat good food, play games, and pray to show the joy they have for what their ancestors had to give up when they were alive. These celebratory features however, must be prepared for to adequately honor the ancestors spirits. Before the Obon festival begins, families gather and prepare their homes and the familys shrine in order to show thanks to their ancestors. Once the family has gathered, the home first must be cleaned, which functions to purify the area for the arrival of the ancestors sprits. To feed the spirits, food offerings, mostly vegetables, fruits, and rice are placed at the butsudan throughout the three days of Obon. The butsudan (a Buddhist altar) is an essential part to a traditional Japanese home, especially during Obon, being that it is the center of spiritual faith of the house. Positioned at the butsudan altar to help direct the spirits home are Lanterns, called chochin, and flower arrangements, called ikebana. Incense sticks are placed at the altar, which is thought to sooth and please the familys ancestors and chase away malignant spirits. Praying at the butsudan alter is also done at this time, sometimes asking a Buddhist or Shinto priest to invite the spirits home. It isnt uncommon to also position a lantern with the familys crest at the doorway (referred to as mukae-bi), to guide the souls to the right home. The family then will set out to their familys shrine and do much of the same thing; using chochin lanterns to bring the spirits home (the term for this being mukae-bon). This work is implemented to show how grateful the family is for what their ancestors have given up and sacrificed during the time they were alive. Once the set up is accomplished, fun gatherings take place so the people may show their appreciation to their familys ancestors. Due to the sweltering summer heat in Japan, yukata or cotton Kimonos are worn to the carnival-like celebration. Takoyaki (rounded fried dough often containing octopus), fried squid and chicken, sushi, dango (tofu and rice dessert), manju (Japanese confectionary), chocolate-dipped bananas, and snow cones with red beans are just some of the common food items of the Obon festival. A variety of games are also a large feature of the celebration. These games vary anywhere from catching fish from a kiddy pool using a small net, to throwing rings at bottles for prizes. Although the food and games have a significant role to play, the bon odori (Obon folk dance) is the pinnacle of the Obon gala. The bon odori dancing is done to welcome the spirits of the dead back to the living world. Different areas in Japan have different dances as well as unique songs to match them. Some songs have a pertinent spiritual significance to them and thusly, the bon odori will too. Hokkaido, far north of Japan, entertains with the folk song Soran Bushi, where in Kagoshima, the far south, uses the song Ohara Bushi. Anyone may participate in this special dance, allowing those who do the ability to show thanks and joy to their ancestors. The Buddhist teachings, which has soaked Japan in its colours, preaches not the joy of getting what you want, but rather the bliss of awareness. Completing the celebratory festival, the souls must be sent back to the afterworld to rest peacefully. Toro nagashi, meaning floating lanterns, is the final tradition of the Japanese Obon. Once th e sun begins to set, the people will take their family in-crested chochin lanterns to the waters edge. Lighting the lanterns, they send them off floating to the other side. The fire lit in these lanterns are said to guide the spirits wherever they go and here, they guide them back to the afterworld. Families that live by the coast, use the ocean as the sending place for toro nagashi, but for those not near the ocean will often use rivers or lakes to send off their ancestors. Regardless of which is used, this process of Obon is beautiful, but melancholy. Sending off the spirits of grandmothers, grandfathers, parents, wives, husbands, and children is often a very emotional process for the Japanese. Each family, on land or on boat, will watch as their lanterns float farther and farther away. The glow of each lantern causing the water to look much like the starry sky, spotted with many warm lights. Those who participated in toro nagashi have a heightened awareness of the challenges and sacrifices their ancestors had to take. For centuries Obon has been a sacred gathering for the dead and the living to teach and celebrate the awareness appreciating anothers sacrifice brings. Japanese Obon Festival free essay sample A Buddhist monk, able to see the dead, saw his mother struggling in the afterworld of Hungry Ghosts, the Hell of Starvation. Horrified by his clairvoyant vision, the Buddhist monk, Mokuren, ran to Buddha and was instructed to give each Buddhist monk offerings on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Doing so and seeing his mothers release, Mokuren realized how much she had sacrificed for him and danced in great joy and gratitude. Much like the story of Mokuren, the Japanese Obon (pronounced o-bone) festival is a family oriented celebration which appreciates the sacrifices of ones ancestors. Japans fashion of celebrating their ancestors sacrifices has its origins steeped in Buddhist culture. Obon has been celebrated annually since its introduction by the Chinese in the seventh century (more accurately 657 A. D. ). Abbreviated from Urabon (the Japanese transliteration of the Sanskrit word Ullambana), Obon means to hang upside down, which communicates the retched suffering of either body or spirit, literally or metaphorically, of being hung upside down. We will write a custom essay sample on Japanese Obon Festival or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Obon is a ritual, which operates according to Sakyamuni Buddhas Urabon Sutra, the story of Mokuren. This ritual was practiced the same way Sakyamuni Buddha instructed Mokuren to do, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. This tradition changed over the centuries and is now more commonly practiced August 13-16th, though most places in Okinawa (southern Japan) still celebrate Obon on the Lunar Calendars seventh month. Like the story implies, Obon is not a mournful celebration and is known as the Festival of Light or the Festival of Joy. For the three days of Obon, people may dance, eat good food, play games, and pray to show the joy they have for what their ancestors had to give up when they were alive. These celebratory features however, must be prepared for to adequately honor the ancestors spirits. Before the Obon festival begins, families gather and prepare their homes and the familys shrine in order to show thanks to their ancestors. Once the family has gathered, the home first must be cleaned, which functions to purify the area for the arrival of the ancestors sprits. To feed the spirits, food offerings, mostly vegetables, fruits, and rice are placed at the butsudan throughout the three days of Obon. The butsudan (a Buddhist altar) is an essential part to a traditional Japanese home, especially during Obon, being that it is the center of spiritual faith of the house. Positioned at the butsudan altar to help direct the spirits home are Lanterns, called chochin, and flower arrangements, called ikebana. Incense sticks are placed at the altar, which is thought to sooth and please the familys ancestors and chase away malignant spirits. Praying at the butsudan alter is also done at this time, sometimes asking a Buddhist or Shinto priest to invite the spirits home. It isnt uncommon to also position a lantern with the familys crest at the doorway (referred to as mukae-bi), to guide the souls to the right home. The family then will set out to their familys shrine and do much of the same thing; using chochin lanterns to bring the spirits home (the term for this being mukae-bon). This work is implemented to show how grateful the family is for what their ancestors have given up and sacrificed during the time they were alive. Once the set up is accomplished, fun gatherings take place so the people may show their appreciation to their familys ancestors. Due to the sweltering summer heat in Japan, yukata or cotton Kimonos are worn to the carnival-like celebration. Takoyaki (rounded fried dough often containing octopus), fried squid and chicken, sushi, dango (tofu and rice dessert), manju (Japanese confectionary), chocolate-dipped bananas, and snow cones with red beans are just some of the common food items of the Obon festival. A variety of games are also a large feature of the celebration. These games vary anywhere from catching fish from a kiddy pool using a small net, to throwing rings at bottles for prizes. Although the food and games have a significant role to play, the bon odori (Obon folk dance) is the pinnacle of the Obon gala. The bon odori dancing is done to welcome the spirits of the dead back to the living world. Different areas in Japan have different dances as well as unique songs to match them. Some songs have a pertinent spiritual significance to them and thusly, the bon odori will too. Hokkaido, far north of Japan, entertains with the folk song Soran Bushi, where in Kagoshima, the far south, uses the song Ohara Bushi. Anyone may participate in this special dance, allowing those who do the ability to show thanks and joy to their ancestors. The Buddhist teachings, which has soaked Japan in its colours, preaches not the joy of getting what you want, but rather the bliss of awareness. Completing the celebratory festival, the souls must be sent back to the afterworld to rest peacefully. Toro nagashi, meaning floating lanterns, is the final tradition of the Japanese Obon. Once th e sun begins to set, the people will take their family in-crested chochin lanterns to the waters edge. Lighting the lanterns, they send them off floating to the other side. The fire lit in these lanterns are said to guide the spirits wherever they go and here, they guide them back to the afterworld. Families that live by the coast, use the ocean as the sending place for toro nagashi, but for those not near the ocean will often use rivers or lakes to send off their ancestors. Regardless of which is used, this process of Obon is beautiful, but melancholy. Sending off the spirits of grandmothers, grandfathers, parents, wives, husbands, and children is often a very emotional process for the Japanese. Each family, on land or on boat, will watch as their lanterns float farther and farther away. The glow of each lantern causing the water to look much like the starry sky, spotted with many warm lights. Those who participated in toro nagashi have a heightened awareness of the challenges and sacrifices their ancestors had to take. For centuries Obon has been a sacred gathering for the dead and the living to teach and celebrate the awareness appreciating anothers sacrifice brings.

Michel Foucault Biography and Intellectual History

Michel Foucault Biography and Intellectual History Michel Foucault (1926-1984) was a French social theorist, philosopher, historian, and public intellectual who was politically and intellectually active until his death. He is remembered for his method of using historical research to illuminate changes in discourse over time, and the evolving relationships between discourse, knowledge, institutions, and power. Foucault’s work inspired sociologists in subfields including sociology of knowledge; gender, sexuality and queer theory; critical theory;  Ã‚  deviance and crime; and the sociology of education. His most well-known works include Discipline and Punish, The History of Sexuality, and The Archaeology of Knowledge. Early Life Paul-Michel Foucault was born to an upper-middle-class family in Poitiers, France in 1926. His father was a surgeon, and his mother, the daughter of a surgeon. Foucault attended Lycà ©e Henri-IV, one of the most competitive and demanding high schools in Paris. He recounted later in life a troubled relationship with his father, who bullied him for being â€Å"delinquent.† In 1948 he attempted suicide for the first time and was placed in a psychiatric hospital for a period. Both of these experiences seem tied to his homosexuality, as his psychiatrist believed his suicide attempt was motivated by his marginalized status in society. Both also seem to have shaped his intellectual development and focus on the discursive framing of deviance, sexuality, and madness. Intellectual and Political Development Following high school Foucault was admitted in 1946 to the École Normale Supà ©rieure (ENS), an elite secondary school in Paris founded to train and create French intellectual, political, and scientific leaders. Foucault studied with Jean Hyppolite, an existentialist expert on Hegel and Marx who firmly believed that philosophy should be developed through a study of history; and, with Louis Althusser, whose structuralist theory left a strong mark on sociology and was greatly influential to Foucault. At ENS Foucault read widely in philosophy, studying the works of Hegel, Marx, Kant, Husserl, Heidegger, and Gaston Bachelard. Althusser, steeped in the Marxist intellectual and political traditions, convinced his student to join the French Communist Party, but Foucaults experience of homophobia and incidences of anti-semitism within it turned him off. Foucault also rejected the class-centric focus of Marx’s theory, and never identified as a Marxist. He completed his studies at the ENS in 1951 and then began a doctorate in the philosophy of psychology. For the next several years he taught university courses in psychology while studying the works of Pavlov, Piaget, Jaspers, and Freud; and, he studied relationships between doctors and patients at Hà ´pital Sainte-Anne, where he had been a patient after his 1948 suicide attempt. During this time Foucault also read widely outside of psychology into shared interests with his long-term partner, Daniel Defert, which included works by Nietzsche, Marquis de Sade, Dostoyevsky, Kafka, and Genet. Following his first university post, he worked as a cultural diplomat at universities in Sweden and Poland while completing his doctoral thesis. Foucault completed his thesis, titled â€Å"Madness and Insanity: History of Madness in the Classical Age,† in 1961. Drawing on the work of Durkheim and Margaret Mead, in addition to all of those listed above, he argued that madness was a social construct that originated in medical institutions, that it was distinct from true mental illness, and a tool of social control and power. Published in abridged form as his first book of note in 1964, Madness and Civilization is considered a work of structuralism, strongly influenced by his teacher at ENS, Louis Althusser. This, along with his next two books, The Birth of the Clinic and The Order of Things showcase his historiographical method known as â€Å"archaeology,† which he also used in his later books, The Archaeology of Knowledge, Discipline and Punish and The History of Sexuality. From the 1960s on Foucault held a variety of lectureships and professorships at universities around the world, including the University of California-Berkeley, New York University, and the University of Vermont. During these decades Foucault became known as an engaged public intellectual and activist on behalf of social justice issues, including racism, human rights, and prison reform. He was very popular with his students, and his lectures given after his induction into the Collà ¨ge de France were considered highlights of intellectual life in Paris, and always packed. Intellectual Legacy Foucaults key intellectual contribution was  his deft ability to illustrate that institutionslike science, medicine, and the penal systemthrough the use of discourse, create subject categories for people to inhabit, and turn people into objects of scrutiny and of knowledge. Thus, he argued, those who control institutions and their discourses wield power in society, because they shape the trajectories and outcomes of peoples lives. Foucault also demonstrated in his work that the creation of subject and object categories is premised on hierarchies of power among people, and in turn, hierarchies of knowledge, whereby the knowledge of the powerful is considered legitimate and right, and that of the less powerful is considered invalid and wrong. Importantly, though, he emphasized that power is not held by individuals, but that it courses  through society, lives in institutions, and is accessible to those who control institutions and the creation of knowledge. He thus considered knowledge and power inseparable, and denoted them as one concept, knowledge/power. Foucault is one of the most widely read and frequently cited scholars in the world.

Suspension Definition in Chemistry

Suspension Definition in Chemistry Mixtures may be classified according to their properties. A suspension is one type of mixture. Key Takeaways: Suspension Chemistry Definition A suspension is a type of heterogeneous mixture.Over time, particles in a suspension will settle out.A suspension contains larger particles than are found in a colloid. In a colloid, the particles remain mixed over time. Suspension Definition In chemistry, a  suspension is a heterogeneous mixture of a fluid and solid particles. In order to be a suspension, the particles must not dissolve in the fluid. A suspension of liquid or solid particles in a gas is called an aerosol. Examples of Suspensions Suspensions may be formed by shaking oil and water together, oil and mercury together, by mixing dust in air. Suspension Versus Colloid The difference between a suspension and a  colloid  is the solid particles in a suspension will settle out over time. In other words, the particles in a suspension are large enough to permit sedimentation.

Stressors and Stress Management Mechanisms among First-Year School Dissertation

Stressors and Stress Management Mechanisms among First-Year School Principals - Dissertation Example Stressors and Stress Management Mechanisms among First-Year School Principals Thus, this period needs to be handled with a lot of care and precaution. Indeed, Lindley agrees, â€Å"professional training materials are needed to help educators who are preparing for administrative positions and first-year principals who are struggling to survive the tribulations of the â€Å"rookie† principal† (Lindley xi). The best way to do this is to investigate the various causes of stress among first year principals so that best way forward can be proposed to assist school administrators going through the same challenges. Since the issues of stress among first year school administrators is wide and multivariate, literature review is given a fivefold approach. First, literature regarding burnout theory is investigated. Secondly, literature review is done on stressors among first year principals. Thirdly, works regarding impact of stress experienced by school administrators is reviewed. Finally, literature work on authors who have focused on coping mechanisms is evaluated. Burnout can occur among professionals dealing with service to people. According to Dworkin burnout occurs when overstressed individuals feel emotionally drained by their work environment, feel that their activities result in no benefit to those they had intended to help or to themselves, and come to blame their clients, patients, or students for failing to improve, get better, or learn, and in turn, for the professional’s loss of feelings of accomplishment.... Although there are different burnout models, Maslach burnout theory as proposed by Maslach and Jackson is used. The Maslach burnout inventory (MBI) argues that burnout syndrome comprises of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a feeling of reduced personal accomplishment. The burnout theory has mostly been used to assess the stress levels among professionals who do â€Å"people work.† Most of the earlier works utilizing burnout theory investigated causes of stress and stress levels among professionals in nursing and religious institutions. However, recent works investigating stress among school administrators have also used this theory with great levels of success. Indeed, â€Å"a number of studies have now reported on the reliability and validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory in a variety of cultures and among a variety of different professional groups† (Greer and Moberg 180). Whereas, burnout theory has been used for quite some time in investigating stresso rs among school principals, â€Å"research on burnout has produced unanswered questions for school administrators† (Ward 46). It therefore becomes important to dig exhaustively in this subject in order to come up with viable solutions to the stress factors. Many authors have applied the MBI in their work on stress among school administrators. Among them was Ward from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Ward investigated the impact of personal and organizational factors on school administrators. Though his study was wide, one of the issues he investigated was the correlation between the levels of burnout and years of experience of school administrators. He used the MBI and found out that the first years of school administration are the most stressful. Vandenberghe and Huberman explored the

Global Issues- THE USE OF MEDIA FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES Essay

Global Issues- THE USE OF MEDIA FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES - Essay Example Most of the Medias on the other hand claim that they are neutral; but all these claims lie on paper alone. In practice their neutrality seems to be only at the surface level. At the grass root level all the Medias has their own biases towards a particular political party or ideology. This paper briefly explains the use of media for political purposes. Most of the media are money making businesses. In business, the support of the politicians is immensely required in order to develop or sustain a business. Administration of a country is handled by politicians or political parties. Business on the other hand requires lot of administrative supports which is controlled by the politicians. So, politicians can create lots of headaches to the business. Thus the media industry or media business forced to bias towards a political party in order to receive favours from them. Politicians or political parties on the other hand, depend on the service of Medias to convey their ideologies, policies, vision or mission to the public. Medias can make or break a political party because of their immense influence upon the public. They can spread stories, real or fabricated ones to support or oppose the parties whom they support or oppose. Thus both politics and media are running hand in hand and both required the mutual support for attaining their objectives or goals. â€Å"After September 11, CNN ran graphics pronouncing "America under attack" and "War on America". When US forces invaded Iraq, the graphics were "Strike on Iraq" and "War in Iraq". These were simply dishonest terms. It was a "War on Iraq"† (Vanaik, 2005). It was well known to the world within hours from the 9/11 that it was a terrorist attack rather than a war. But CNN has given the headlines that â€Å"War on America† just to sensationalise the issue. CNN tried to over emphasise the issue in order to accumulate support for the future responses of America. On the other hand, while America has started war in Iraq, CNN

Society of American Naturalist Essay Example for Free

Society of American Naturalist Essay Different organisms live in a specific place in the biosphere called their habitat. Through the course of evolution, species have adapted to their environment by growing certain physical structures or developing certain characteristics. Factors such as availability of resources (such as light intensity, water availability and others) contribute to the success of survival among species in the biosphere (Regents prep, 2003). Also, biotic relationships (such as competition, mutualism and others) interact to the dynamics of species survival. Certain species of plants grow abundantly in certain areas only of the biosphere. Some grasses grow abundantly in area where there is ample source of sunlight, but does not grow within forest beds where sunlight is scarce. In the same way, succulent herbs and vines are not commonly seen in dry area like the grassland. This exercise aims to characterize the effect of light intensity to the survival of grassland monocots. Hypothesis Limit in the availability of resources would cause decrease in species productivity and may reduce their chance of survival. For plants that are adapted to direct sunlight exposure may not be able to survive when placed in an environment where there is less amount of light. Methods For this experiment, effects of changes in lighting condition to grassland plant will be tested. To do this, find a grassland area (or any area that are exposed to direct sunlight most time of the day) and select species of low growing monocots. The area should be occupied dominantly by a single species in order to make easy observation. Measure six feet by six feet (6 x 6 ft) working area. Using small peg and nylon string mark the boundary and divide the working area into four equal quadrants. Tag the quadrants as area I, II, II and IV as shown in figure 1. I II III IV Figure 1. Working quadrant in grassland area. Using long sticks and cheesecloth (or any material that would cast greater shadow), make a tent over quadrant III and IV making sure that quadrant I and II are not shaded. The tent will simulate shaded condition and limit sunlight exposure for species in quadrant III and IV, while ensuring that other condition such as, humidity, mineral and water contents of soil and interacting species (insects and other plants) are held constant. In making the canopy, leave at least half foot (0. 5 ft) gap above the tip of the grass so that air can circulate in the area and will not cast shadow in area I and II when direction of sunlight changes. Quadrant I serve as the control while quadrant II serves as a duplicate for the control. Quadrant III is the experimental and quadrant IV is the duplicate. Make a table and list the initial condition of the selected grass species found in all quadrants. Take note of the time observation was made and the condition of the environment such as temperature of the surrounding air and the soil, humidity. Measure the difference in the amount of light in each quadrant. For two weeks, observe any changes in the condition of the grasses, such as leaf color and turgidity in all quadrants. Collect data every two days, preferably the same time when the set up was made. Predictions There will be noticeable changes in the condition of plans found in the given set up. Because these plants are not adapted in colder or shaded area, most leaves of grasses III and IV would have turned yellow and noticed decrease in their turgidity. Some leaves may have already dried out because photosynthesis is not carried out in its maximum potential. Grasses found on quadrants I and II should have remained the same condition as the start of the setup, because all factors necessary for its survival is available. Conclusions A change in the environmental condition and limit of resources affects the chance of species survival. Plants that are found in grassland area that are adapted to prolonged sunlight exposure may not be able to survive when placed in an area where there is a limited supply of sunlight. Part II Evolution of Resistant Bacteria Mutation of infectious bacteria to a resistant strain seems impossible to stop. Biological species are not fixed entities and are subject to ongoing modification through chance and adaptation (Society of American Naturalist, 1998). Organisms (such as bacteria) interact with its environment (their host and medicines) in a very dynamic way that it is biological phenomenon to adapt to these changes. Therefore, evolution of mutant genomes is inevitable. In natural environment, formation of resistant form of bacteria had been found. Antibiotics produced naturally by the soil, waste products and treatment waste are also contributes to evolution of these organisms. Since there is no way of stopping evolution, the only possible solution to this problem is to slower down its process. Though there is no possible way to quantize the evolution process or exactly measure its progress, it is the idea of determining the key point in the evolution process and tackles the issue at that point. Resistant forms of bacteria comes form strains that are not fully killed by antibiotics. There are cases when a patient was instructed to take medicine for a certain period but discontinue taking the medication when they feel that they are already well. However, they do not know that bacteria causing their sickness were just dormant or too few to cause illness. Or some resort to self medication by taking readily available over the counter antibiotics. Medical professionals on the other hand contribute to the matter. Administering prescription drug has been a normal way in treating diseases. However, because of prolonged use to these antibiotics, resistant forms of bacteria evolve. There is theoretical evidence proving application of selective pressure (such as antibiotics in food animals) will result in drug resistance by pathogens attacking human. It may not be easy to get direct evidence but this could help in development of policies (Leidberg, 1997, p. 419). Educating the public about the risk of self medication and drug resistance is a good step. Including this topic to academic lessons is also a good way in reaching peoples attention. Also, it is not just the public who should be serious about his matter. Medical professionals should also be aware of the risk involve in prescribing common antibiotics to most illness. After all, they are the ones that have direct knowledge about medicines and illnesses. Doctors are the ones who can control the prescription of antibiotics and how it should be taken by their patients. References Society of American Naturalist. (1998, December 23). Evolution, Science and Society: Evolutionary Biology and the National Research Agenda. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://www. rci. rutgers. edu/~ecolevol/execsumm. html Lederberg, J. (1997). Infectious Disease as an Evolutionary Paradigm. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 3(4), 417-423. Regents Prep (2003) Living Environment: Ecology: Biotic vs. Abiotic. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://regentsprep. org/Regents/biology/units/ecology/biotic. cfm

The Adventures of Pinocchio :: Books, Film

When a book is made into a movie, certain scenes and overall big pictures sometimes get â€Å"lost in translation.† This certainly is the case for Carlo Collodi’s story The Adventures of Pinocchio. Many things occur in the book that do not take place in the Disney movie Pinocchio, originally produced in 1940, and rereleased in 1992. A possible reason for some of the changes could regard audiences. The Adventures of Pinocchio was written in Italian in 1883. Perhaps that is why the book focuses more on morality and is a teach-you-a-lesson about the consequences of being bad kind of book, while the movie more gently tries to get the same message across by adding and deleting scenes from the original work. A change from book to movie occurs right at the beginning of the film. In the book, Geppetto buys the wood that is to become Pinocchio from Mastro Antonio—a character left out of the movie entirely (1). The movie version begins with Jiminy Cricket, as he is called in the movie, singing about wishing upon stars. In the book, he is known as the Talking Cricket. Pinocchio is already crafted, fitted with marionette strings, and is sitting on a shelf. In the book, as soon as Pinocchio has feet—he is already alive—he runs out the door (6); however, in the movie, Geppetto, who controls him with the marionette strings, dances him around. I find it strange that Geppetto makes the puppet (while he controls him) kick the cat, Figaro—who is not in the original book—causing him to fall off the steps. How does Geppetto expect Pinocchio to be a good boy if at the beginning of his functioning he (Pinocchio) is made to kick innocent cats? After Geppetto dances the puppet around for a bit he goes to bed, but before he falls asleep, he wishes upon a star. He wishes that the puppet was a real boy. The star comes into the window and is a fairy with blue hair. The fairy grants the wish, giving the puppet life. The stipulation the fairy gives Pinocchio is that he can become a real boy when he proves himself and learns to choose between right and wrong. This requirement is the same in the book (55). A difference in this film scene and the book is the appearance of the fairy. In the book, Pinocchio initially sees the fairy much later (32). The Adventures of Pinocchio :: Books, Film When a book is made into a movie, certain scenes and overall big pictures sometimes get â€Å"lost in translation.† This certainly is the case for Carlo Collodi’s story The Adventures of Pinocchio. Many things occur in the book that do not take place in the Disney movie Pinocchio, originally produced in 1940, and rereleased in 1992. A possible reason for some of the changes could regard audiences. The Adventures of Pinocchio was written in Italian in 1883. Perhaps that is why the book focuses more on morality and is a teach-you-a-lesson about the consequences of being bad kind of book, while the movie more gently tries to get the same message across by adding and deleting scenes from the original work. A change from book to movie occurs right at the beginning of the film. In the book, Geppetto buys the wood that is to become Pinocchio from Mastro Antonio—a character left out of the movie entirely (1). The movie version begins with Jiminy Cricket, as he is called in the movie, singing about wishing upon stars. In the book, he is known as the Talking Cricket. Pinocchio is already crafted, fitted with marionette strings, and is sitting on a shelf. In the book, as soon as Pinocchio has feet—he is already alive—he runs out the door (6); however, in the movie, Geppetto, who controls him with the marionette strings, dances him around. I find it strange that Geppetto makes the puppet (while he controls him) kick the cat, Figaro—who is not in the original book—causing him to fall off the steps. How does Geppetto expect Pinocchio to be a good boy if at the beginning of his functioning he (Pinocchio) is made to kick innocent cats? After Geppetto dances the puppet around for a bit he goes to bed, but before he falls asleep, he wishes upon a star. He wishes that the puppet was a real boy. The star comes into the window and is a fairy with blue hair. The fairy grants the wish, giving the puppet life. The stipulation the fairy gives Pinocchio is that he can become a real boy when he proves himself and learns to choose between right and wrong. This requirement is the same in the book (55). A difference in this film scene and the book is the appearance of the fairy. In the book, Pinocchio initially sees the fairy much later (32).

Psychology Article Summary Essay

              A recent article showed that a group of researchers have discovered new findings in the symptoms and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the article, Depression Is A Risk Factor Rather Than Early Sign of Alzheimer’s Disease, Study Suggests, which was published in the Science Daily website last April 10, the results of a recent study by researchers at the Rush University Medical Center suggests that depression is not an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease but a condition that increases the risk of the disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to the study, people who exhibit higher levels of depression at an old age will most likely have an increased chance to develop Alzheimer’s disease as well as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than those who do not. The research group examined 917 older Catholic clergy and checked if their manifestations of depression before and after the emergence of symptoms that led to Alzheimer’s disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Based on the article, for 13 years, the participants of the study underwent several medical evaluations such as assessment of depressive symptoms, cognitive testing, and classification of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease. During the study period, 190 participants who exhibited increased symptoms of depression developed Alzheimer’s disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, according to the article, the researchers emphasized that the results of study has to be rechecked and reevaluated before they can make a conclusion. They also said that their findings cannot change the method of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease since the study was very limited. In addition, they also said that there are many aspects about the brain that have yet to be studied which is why it is difficult for researchers to diagnose brain-related diseases. Nevertheless, based on the article, the findings are a breakthrough in the field of psychology and the medical field in general. The researchers suggest further studies should be conducted on how depression contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s disease in order to devise new means to prevent the disease. Works Cited Rush University Medical Center. â€Å"Depression Is A Risk Factor Rather Than Early Sign Of Alzheimer’s Disease, Study Suggests.† ScienceDaily. 10 April 2008. 12 April 2008 .

Save the Earth Ailing from the Vehicular Pollution

Vehicles on the roads contribute to air pollution in major way. Most of the vehicle plying on road are fuelled by petrol and diesel emitting pollutants like Ozone gas, Nitrogen Oxides (NO), particulate matter, soot smog, carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) etc These emissions not only pollute the environment, but also pose variety of health risks for people. Pollution is the main reason behind skin cancers, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders. Even newborn children can get affected.Following steps can be taken by the state and even individuals to save the environment. Adopt energy efficient engines All vehicles must have 3 way catalysts and fuel controls so that they emit out less smog. They should be made mandatory by law as has been done by the state of California. Build an efficient public transport system More cars on roads mean more smog, increased pollution. Hence the need of the hour is to come up with a public transport system, which can reduce number of vehicles thereby reducing congestion, and also caters to the increasing population.Use of alternate fuels Vehicles must be installed with engines that are fuelled by hydrogen, ethanol, methanol and natural gas. They are known as cleaner fuels because they release less CO 2 into the air. They are economical as they can be obtained from natural resources. Introduction of battery operated or electric vehicles They run on the chemical energy stored in the battery, which is rechargeable. Lithium batteries can be used for such vehicles. The emission is zero and is powered by motor controllers.Individuals can make following meaningful contributions in reducing vehicular pollution. †¢ People can resort to riding bicycles for shorter distances. Cycles are absolutely safe for the environment and good for our bodies too. Cycling is good form of exercise also. †¢ Even walking should be encouraged for viable distances. †¢ Office goers can engage in car pools. †¢ Engines ca n be switched off at signals and at possible places where you need to wait for more than few minutes. It also conserves petrol/diesel.

Book Designers or Book Design Templates

Book Designers or Book Design Templates Book Designers or Book Design Templates? Last updated: 2017/07/07Freelance journalist Simon Owens wrote a brilliant investigative piece on how the rise of self-publishing has led to a boom of freelance editing services. This is also true in all the other areas of a book’s production, like cover design, layout, and formatting – and is even a growing trend in marketing and publicity.Most independent authors publish with a â€Å"digital first† approach; they tend to invest less in book interior design, layout and typography because most e-readers have standard formatting whereby the reader chooses the font, size and colour. That leaves the cover design. But even with book covers, the thumbnail size of books on Amazon has prompted many authors to think twice before heavily investing in a professional cover design (where quotes can range from $200 to $2000).This tendency to cut corners on design has given birth to another possibility in the past few years: pre-made book layout and cover design templates. It has also given birth to some fantastic websites like Lousy Book Covers and Kindle Cover Disasters, but that’s another story†¦Book design  templates: Opportunities and risksHere’s how Joanna Penn put it in a blog post on DIY book cover design: â€Å"Although I personally believe in paying professionals, I’m also aware that some people want to have a go themselves, or need to because of budget restraints.†That’s the great thing about today’s publishing landscape: there are enough options out there to suit all kinds of authors, including the budget-conscious or DIY-lovers. Joel Friedlander from The Book Designer offers pre-made book design  templates. Graphic design startup Canva has a free online book cover maker. And a number of other websites offer templates and DIY tools for authors to make their own covers based on existing templates.Of course, the risk when using a template is a copyright one. If the site you purchase the templat e (or pre-made cover) from doesn't grant you the rights - or an exclusive perpetual license - as a result of the purchase, then they might be re-selling that pre-made cover to other authors. That's how so many authors end up with covers that look almost identical to another one out there.So, to the question: is it worth investing in a book designer with all the free tools, templates, imagery and DIY advice out there? To answer, I decided to start a little Facebook survey on two indie author groups.A Facebook surveyMost of the members of these groups are professional indie authors who take their writing careers just as seriously as a traditionally published author would. They are educated enough to know about all â€Å"options† out there.In a sample of 116 respondents:70% indicated they worked with a professional designer or design company27% indicated they did their own covers3% indicated they purchased pre-made cover design templatesNote 1: Over 50% of the DIY-enthusiasts in this survey are actually either professional designers (as well as indie authors) or well-versed enough in editorial design to produce covers of a same quality standard as traditional publishing.Note 2: Several authors (around 20) indicated in the comments that they worked with a professional designer for some of their â€Å"main† books and did the covers themselves for short stories.ConclusionsIf over 80% of authors in this sample place a high enough value on book design to consult and hire a professional, it seems reasonable to say that debuting authors should do the same. In an extremely competitive market, first-time authors who want to realistically compete with seasoned professionals would do well to note the value a professional designer can add.DIY tools offer great value to those who already possess design skills, but cannot replace or teach those skills to the uninitiated. Book design templates can be a starting point for a cover, but are rarely â€Å"just right † for the book, which means they will need to be tweaked†¦ and then we’re back to requiring design skills.The results of this mini-survey should come to readers as a relief. For a while, the rise of templates and cheap designs seemed to be leading the book industry towards more visual standardization. Indie authors continuously contribute to publishing’s diversity by blending genres, inventing new ones, and revealing new niche markets. It’s important that this pioneering diversity is equally represented in a new range of book designs.More awesome posts on book design:6 Tips for Briefing your Book DesignerBook Design in Self-Publishing: Breaking New GroundThe Perfect Book CoverWe are big believers in the value of talented professional designers.  So whether you're looking for cover design, typesetting or illustration, visit our designer's  marketplace!

History of Golf and Golf Equipment

History of Golf and Golf Equipment Golf originated from a game played on the coast of Scotland during the 15th century. Golfers would hit a pebble instead of a ball around the sand dunes using a stick or club. After 1750, golf evolved into the sport as we recognize it today. In 1774, Edinburgh golfers wrote the first standardized rules for the game of golf. Invention of Golf Balls Golfers soon tired of hitting pebbles and tried other things. The earliest man-made golf balls included thin leather bags stuffed with feathers (they did not fly very far). The gutta-percha ball was invented in 1848 by Reverend Adam Paterson. Made from the sap of the Gutta tree, this ball could be hit a maximum distance of 225 yards and was very similar to its modern counterpart. In 1898, Coburn Haskell introduced the first one-piece rubber core; when professionally hit these balls reached distances approaching 430 yards. According to The Dimpled Golf Ball by Vincent Mallette, balls were smooth during the early days of golf. Players noticed that as balls became old and scarred, they traveled farther. After a while players would take new balls and intentionally pit them. In 1905, golf ball manufacturer William Taylor was the first to add the dimple pattern using the Coburn Haskell ball. Golf balls had now taken on their modern form. Evolution of Golf Clubs Golf clubs have evolved from wooden shaft clubs to todays sets of woods and irons with durability, weight distribution, and graduation utility. The evolution of clubs went hand-in-hand with the evolution of golf balls that were able to withstand harder whacks. History of Carrying and Caddies During the 1880s, golf bags first came into use. The beast of burden is an old nickname for the caddie who carried golfers equipment for them. The first powered golf car appeared around 1962 and was invented by Merlin L. Halvorson. Invention of Golf Tees The word tee as it relates to the game of golf originated as the name for the area where a golfer played. In 1889, the first documented portable golf tee was patented by Scottish golfers William Bloxsom and Arthur Douglas. This golf tee was made from rubber and had three vertical rubber prongs that held the ball in place. However, it lay on the ground and did not pierce the ground like modern golf tees. In 1892, a British patent was granted to Percy Ellis for his Perfectum tee that did pierce the ground. It was a rubber tee with a metal spike. The 1897 Victor tee was similar and included a cup-shaped top to better hold the golf ball. The Vicktor was patented by Scotsmen PM Matthews. American patents for golf tees include the first American patent issued to Scotsmen David Dalziel in 1895, the 1895 patent issued to American Prosper Senat, and the 1899 patent for an improved golf tee issued to George Grant. Rules of the Game In 1774, the first standardized rules of golf were written and used for the first golf championship, which was won by Doctor John Rattray on 2nd April 1744 in Edinburgh, Scotland. You must tee your ball within one clubs length of the hole.Your  tee  must be on the ground.You are not to change the ball which you strike off the tee.You are not to remove stones, bones or any break club for the sake of playing your ball, except on the fair green, and that only within a clubs length of your ball.If your ball comes among water, or any watery filth, you are at liberty to take out your ball and bringing it behind the hazard and teeing it, you may play it with any club and allow your adversary a stroke for so getting out your ball.If your balls  be  found anywhere touching one another you are to lift the first ball till you play the last.At  holeing  you are to play your ball honestly for the hole, and not to play upon your adversarys ball, not lying in your way to the hole.If you should lose your ball, by its being taken up, or any other way, you are to go back to the spot where you struck last and drop another ball and allow your adversary a stroke for th e misfortune.No man at  holeing  his ball is to be allowed to mark his way to the hold with his club or anything else. If a ball  be  stoppd by any person, horse or dog, or anything else, the ball so stoppd  must  be played where it lyes.If you draw your club in order to strike and proceed so far in the stroke as to be bringing down your club; if then your club shall break in any way, it is to be accounted a stroke.He whose ball  lyes  farthest from the hole is obliged to play first.Neither trench, ditch or  dyke  made for the preservation of the links, nor the Scholars Holes or the soldiers lines shall be accounted a hazard but the ball is to be taken out,  teed  and  playd  with any iron club.

Economics Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words - 1

Economics Project - Essay Example It is significant to understand that even though countries might be located in the same region, they may respond variously to financial crises and may have different capabilities to withstand their impacts. The section following the literature review will be dedicated to econometric results that will analyze the impacts of the financial crisis on key labour market performance indicators such as unemployment and employment rates. In investigating the severity of financial crises for economies at different levels of development, a re-estimation will be done on a model for sub-samples obtained from different income groups plus additional 15 transition countries (Griffith 2000). Financial crisis is an economic situation that relates to a panic in the banking sector, and includes a significant financial and production sector losses, leads to chaos on the international market, creates downfall of the stocks in the market, financial bubbles, currency crises as well as foreign loans and also leads to sharp declines in economic activity nd has a huge potential of creating an economic recession (Marelli, Patuelli & Signorelli 2012). The 2007-08 financial crises affected the whole world. The Global financial crisis started in 2007 with ‘subprime crisis and then quickly propagated into the financial system and the banking sector of other countries as a result of global diffusion that was involved with the sophisticated financial instruments. In 2008, the extending disruptions in the working of credit systems and banks, the deterioration of expectations, and the confidence crisis led to the initial real effects that were felt in the economy. It also led to a d ecrease in levels of activity and productivity levels as well as a reduction in investments and consumptions and a fall in international trade. The financial crisis experienced in 2007-08 financial year also persisted in 2009, and this was coupled with widespread consequences on labour