A Look at Musui’s Story

Ideals no matter whose ideals they are, serve as maps of reality. Reality is way bigger than the dreams and aspirations created by anyone. Like the map used for navigation, ideals are inevitable to succeed in life.   This is what a reader could find by reading Musui’s Story. Ideals of a certain culture serve as guidance for everyday life’s journey. As expected, the ideals of the samurai are supposed to guide every samurai to face reality and the world full of twists and turns. But there are many things in the world which people cannot control. As such, the life supposed to be guided by the samurai ideals could go into the wrong way and lead the people to a life that is totally disparate from what is supposed to be. is way too different from reading a critique, for to read the former is like living with the writer and witnessing the real story bit by bit in the eyes of the writer. In Musui’s Story, the readers are given the chance to encounter the real occurrences. The book contains events of the author’s life, which is open for criticism. It is the author’s eyewitness account and the readers are seated inside the court either as mere audiences or judges.   The big difference is that the spirit of the author of the book that could equate his past with words he had written as he comprehended and decipher the meaning of every detail or events in his life. His interpretation of his life is a pure view of his life here on earth.   On the contrary, secondary writers never encounter the life of the subject and they only base their text on the text they have gathered. They mostly create an interpretation of an account that is similar to the interpretation of the one who has first-hand experience. This book, the autobiography, is history in the simplest sense. It is set on the historical time of Tokugawa, during the time of the feudal system where the work of a samurai when being done in satisfaction were rewarded according to the bond being created between the samurai and the Lord. Feudalism is an agreement that is somehow still considerate of the laborer   (Lawson, 100). This is how the autobiography had shown the social history of Tokugawa period. As the protagonist, Musui, wrote the details of his life with enough honesty somehow, showing pride or something that was not right which shows inferiority of his character rather than the superiority of his intelligence. This autobiography which features many writings about the greatness of the unbeatable, undefeatable and the protagonist’s capacity as the author shares his ideals, dreams, beginnings, future, and follow his beliefs, riumphs and victories and even the flaws that he boldly tells. His story tells more than the facts that the real person carries with him. It is the experience, the unique human experience that he has which needs to be shared with other people   in order to other humans as way of communicating and reaching for other souls which likewise have unique stories in their hearts. In addition, this autobiography may have been written by a hopelessly flawed man, living in a hopelessly flawed world. However,   his story is told not to discourage his fellow flawed humans but to encourage them to move on and fight regardless of the imperfection of the world. By reading this book, the audience can take part in the sufferings of the author, and become his companion in every step of the way. Nevertheless, as mentioned earlier, the autobiography is still open for criticism and readers can either believe what they can perceive or ignore them, as if everything is just a product of imagination. Also, the reader can also choose to do soulful reading and come up with self-realizations based on the morals and beliefs presented in the story.                                                   

Contributions of Carbon Dioxide Removal as Geoengineering Solution to Climate Change

Contributions of Carbon Dioxide Removal as Geoengineering Solution to Climate Change Abstraction Climate Change I will hold an overview and a speedy treatment on clime alteration as an debut for the paper. Geoengineering Technologies When it comes to environmental direction you can non acquire any longer banal today than a focal point on clime alteration, nevertheless, I wish to undertake this subject in a alone manner. While I plan on discoursing green engineering and C caps, the chief focal point of my paper will be on clime technology besides known as geoengineering. Geoengineering, in my sentiment, is frequently a forbidden subject as many see human accommodation of the natural order to be avoided at all cost. I feel this to be a subset of the realistic false belief. The fact of the affair is that if worlds expect to stabilise the clime, they need to take a more active function on it. Geongineering engineerings chief end is Geoengineering engineerings fall under two classs: ( 1 ) Carbon Dioxide Removal ( CDR ) which â€Å" reference warming effects of nursery gases by taking C dioxide from the ambiance † ; and ( 2 ) Solar Radiation Management ( SRM ) which, on the other manus, â€Å" address clime alteration by increasing the coefficient of reflection of the Earth ‘s ambiance or surface† ( Bracmort, K. , & A ; Lattanzio, R.K. , 2013 ) . Such illustrations of CDR are carbon gaining control and segregation ( CCS ) , ocean fertilisation, enhanced weathering, and afforestation while illustrations of SRM are aerosol injection and space-based reflectors. While SRM methods purpose to cut down sunshine being absorbed by our ambiance, CDR methods work to take nursery gases from the ambiance or pin down it before even making the ambiance. Solar Radiation Management if to be cardinal manner of extenuating milliliter, utmost temperature displacements as a effect best deployed with other policies merely needed for utmost high clime sensitiveness cheap, fast, imperfect, but non proven. Warm really rapidly alterations may change precipitation forms saving of nursery gases other than co2 -less sum of uv radiation striking which might widen atmospheric life-time of ghg other than carbon dioxides recreation from more lasting solns unknown effects of large-scale geoengg Enhanced Albedo Features.Increase coefficient of reflection or reflective power of certain surfaces to direct more solar radiation back to the infinite. Limit temp addition. Targets are urban countries painting roofs and paved countries white with estimated monetary value of several billion dollars, but save money on energy costs Drawbacks may include uncomfortable blaze, concern for aesthetic entreaty of roof or paved country, loss of coefficient of reflection if unmaintained, addition in energy costs in colder climes due to cut down good winter clip heat additions, diminution in the usage of asphalt, a crude oil residue. Other techniques include modify workss thru familial engg to augment reflective power. Will take a decennary to be avaiable. Covering oceans with brooding surfaces to heighten reflective power. Impact in aquatic life? Cloud lightening. Dispersion of cloud-condensation karyon in clouds on continual footing. Satellites will mensurate cloud reflective power and determine sum of chilling needed. Could be halted rapidly and clouds could return to normal in a few yearss – long term deductions non yet known. Marine could be disturbed. Current position of the engineering.Surface types, application countries and costs under probe. USDOE NNSA reported lessening in edifice heat and chilling costs by around 70 % yearly on reroofed parts. Long term deductions non yet known. May disturb Marine wildlife.. ocean currents, precipitation forms sum of chilling needed and where.. research needed west seashore of North America could be†¦ Aerosol Injection Features.Under certain fortunes, usage of SRM techniques may take to ozone depletion. Dispersal of aerosols, such as H sulphide or sulfir dioxide in stratosphere to reflect solar radiation. Annual cost several billion of dollars depending on sum location typr of atoms injected seeks to copy big volcanic eruptions, cut down planetary temperatures S release are random with chilling impacts. It have to happen several times over decennaries or centuries to countervail radiative forcing by ghg short effectivity possible benefit: reduced or reversed sea and land ice runing, every bit long as aersols dont settle on or darken snow and ice hazards could be drought in Africa and Asia – loss in agricultural productiveness, ghg impact from transporting aersol to site of injection, stratopheric ozone depletion, weakening of sunshine for solar power, less bluish sky, obstructor of Earth-based optical uranology. Current position of the engineering.No testing yet. Space-based Reflectors Features.Shields in infinite to cut down sum of incoming solar radiation Effectiveness of shield vary on design, stuff, location, measure and care types suggested are lunar glass, aluminium yarn gauze, metallic reflecting gumshoes, refracting discs Proposed locations: low Earth orbit and Lagrange point 1 ( L1 ) four times further from Earth than the Moon Current position of the engineering.Theoretical Proposal. Requires extra survey to measure shield costs, execution ( transit, care demands, shield disposal ) ecological impacts Global or regional degree? A Shield to to the full change by reversal planetary heating May costs a few trillion dollars, implemented over 25 old ages Carbon Dioxide Removal Carbon Capture and Sequestration Features. Current position of the engineering. Afforestation Features.Afforestation is fundamentally seting of trees or tree seedlings. It is considered one of the safest manner to battle clime alteration. Restoration of wildlife and reduces the rate of eroding Current position of the engineering. Ocean Fertilization Features.Besides called Fe fertilisation, it is one of the oldest geoenginering engineering to battle clime alteration. The chief end is to straight or indirectly put Fe in to the deeps of the ocean to temporarily hive away C where it can non be exchanged with the ambiance. Stimulate phytoplankton growing by 30 % – 3 oceans Procedure involved in biological production, decomposition, and alimentary cycling in the unfastened ocean ( cite, day of the month ) . 1. Air and sea exchange C dioxide. 2. Phytoplanktons take up C dioxide to turn. 3. Zookplanktons and phytoplanktons respire C dioxide. 4. Fragments of disintegrating phytoplanktons and faecal pellets from zooplanktons both contain C. 5. Individually or in aggressions, called Marine snow, these carbon-containing atoms sink. 6. Merely 5 to 50 % of the entire C from bloom reaches 100 metres. About 2 to 25 % sinks between 100 to 500 metres. 7. Microbes decompose atoms further. Zooplanktons eat some of this stuff. 8. Possibly merely 1 to 15 % of the original C in surface Waterss sinks below 500 metres. 9. Carbon dioxide from organic affair respiration recirculates back to surface Waterss. 10. Zooplankton migrate up at dark to feed and endorse to the deepnesss during the twenty-four hours. Current position of the engineering. Merely two experiments conducted til 2007 to describe in 2nd stage. Efficiency of phytoplankton to sequester C is low. — makikita natin yun SA procedures explained above. Enhanced Weathering Features.Weathering/disintegration of silicate and carbonate stones to take carbon dioxide. Current position of the engineering. Discussion The Future of Carbon Dioxide Removal Recent Developments Costss and Economic Potential Some can be done with merely a comparatively little sum of money and you can see fiscal payback†¦ The two cheapest geoengineering engineerings are afforestation and aerosols. The former is safe but it merely has limited effectiveness and will wait for at least 20 old ages to cognize its effects on clime alteration. The latter is what they call the ideal method because it is really effectual and inexpensive at the same clip. However, it can besides present unwanted side effects, therefore, has high degree of uncertainness. Environmental Risks and Restrictions Every thing has a hazard of its ain. If miscalculated, these geoengineering engineerings may present some great impact to the environment, may hold negative effects, and/or may be deemed uneffective. It may non be avoided since there are besides external factors like natural alterations, catastrophes, and even alterations in carnal behaviour. The lone inquiry is, is this the hazard we are willing to take? Decision Mentions Bracmort, K. & A ; Lattanzio, R.K. ( 2013 ) . Geoengineering: Administration and Technology Policy ( CRS Report ) . Retrieved from Federation of American Scientists web site: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41371.pdf Caldeira, K. , Bala, G. , & A ; Cao, L. ( 2013 ) . The scientific discipline of geoengineering. The Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Science 41, 231-56. Department of the Interior: 10.1146/annurev-earth 042711-105548 Hartman, J. , West, A.J. , Renforth, P. , Kohler, P. , De La Rocha, C.L. , Wolf-Gladrow, D.A. , Durr, H.H. , Scheffran, J. ( 2013 ) . Enhanced chemical weathering as a geoengineering scheme to cut down atmospheric C dioxide, supply foods, and extenuate ocean acidification. Reviews of Geophysics 51, 113-149. Department of the Interior: 10.1002/rog.20004 Kriegler, E. , Edenhofer, O. , Reuster, L. , Gunnar, L. , & A ; Klein, D. ( 2013 ) . Is atmospheric C dioxide removal a game modifier for clime alteration extenuation. Climatic Change 118, 45-57. Department of the Interior: 10.1007/s10584-012-0681-4 Lackner, K.S. , Grimes, P. , & A ; Ziock, H.J. ( n.d. ) . Capturing C dioxide from air. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/01/carbon_seq/7b1.pdf Tables and Figures

Ways of Protecting the Environment

Our environment is a gift from God so we must take the full responsibility in protecting and preserving it. Good environment can make people feel happy and fit. To improve the environment means to improve our life. Therefore, human beings can protect the environment in three ways: conserving water, recycling, reducing, reusing and saving energy. First, we can protect the environment through saving water. Water is very important to us because we can’t live it. Water which is suitable to drink is becoming less and less. It is because we always waste a lot of water in our daily life. For example, many of the people always turn on the faucet when brushing teeth, washing or rinsing. Instead, we can fill a container with water for our use. Second, recycling, reducing and reusing are other ways to protect our environment. We can recycle the aluminum cans, glass bottles and newspapers. Besides that, we can transfer the organic matter such as potato peelings, leftover food and leaves to a compost heap in the garden and used as a natural fertilizer for the plants. Next, we should reduce the usage of plastic bags because they are non-biodegradable and hard to recycle. Let us reuse the things that are still valuable instead of throwing it away. Donate your old clothes or things to those who are in need. Not only will you protect the environment, but you will also contribute to a good cause. Last but definitely not the least is conserving energy. Let us use compact lights in our houses for they conserves electricity and remember to turn it off when you leave a room. When you do not use a house device like TV, radio, laptops, etc. turn it off as well. It's an easy habit to take up which will help you save a lot of money. Be concern and be a part in protecting the Mother Nature.

Customer Involvement In The Selection Service Specifications Article

Customer Involvement In The Selection Service Specifications - Article Example Customers have expectations and those expectations can only be met if they are highly involved. High involvement allows them to specify what they really want and gives both servicer and customer the weaknesses and strengths of each specification. Providers should get customers more involved. The authors conclude that satisfaction can only be achieved if the customers get what they have specified. This can only happen if providers ask the customers what they want and do it. The main problem of this article is its language. Consider this statement: â€Å"Customers who attribute specification selection to their decisions assume responsibility for the specifications selected.† All it really says is that consumers feel responsible for the specifications they choose. Its vague wordiness defeats the purpose of publishing an article, which is to inform people. Also, the points are redundant. The authors keep restating that customers are most satisfied when they are highly involved. Then they repeat their arguments over again. The main strength is that the article provides graphs which make it easier to grasp abstract concepts. It is also helpful in summarizing their long arguments. Presenting numerous examples about customer-provider interaction was also helpful in making their points. It shows how applicable their findings are in different service situations. This article can be treated as a customer-provider interaction. Customers want to be informed but they do not want to waste time reading irrelevant or redundant data. This article can be shorted into a third of its length. Secondly, the data presented are either hypothetical or secondary which make them less predictive of actual cases. Authors should conduct their own studies in order to determine more definitely the most desirable level of customer

History The World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History The World - Essay Example Competition for such resources as land marked top of the list. This is because the nomads made their temporary homes in favorable places. Being an arid area, water was scarce. Farmers always fought over the small rivers that provided water for the large numbers of tribes. In some cases, the nomads made the temporary homes along the rivers to feed and water their camels and other domestic animals. Other resources like pasture and climate contributed to the choice of temporary homes for the nomads. Again, the nomads held a notion that the settled communities were rich and had lots of private property. This led to raids and theft marking another cause of resentment. Skirmishes erupted from these raids and increased theft hence the war in Darfur. Illiteracy and poor conflict resolution skills led to increased fights among these two communities; hence the negative attitudes. According to Skuratowicz (4), Sudan’s pastoralist and nomadic thing has become more of a way of life than a choice. This has been caused by the tough climatic factors that the country faces ever since. Nomads and the already settled communities fight over grazing rights of their animals. The local governance has not been strong enough to help solve problems caused when nomads find way through the farmers land, and has led to even more conflicts and negative attitudes. Even though it is their duty to solve the problems and see to the needs of the citizens, it is almost evident that someone is sleeping on their job towards working against these causes of conflict and negative attitudes. In addition, during the colonization time, the colonizers grabbed and owned the best land then. This led to fights between the colonizers and the colonized. The people of Sudan are nomads in their own land. This is another obvious cause of resentment towards the settlers despite the fact that some obtained those fertile lands in a legitimate systematic way as is noted by

Has grammar teaching ever really gone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Has grammar teaching ever really gone - Essay Example It has been argued further that linguists should be additionally responsive towards the relations among their research and the school syllabus (Weaver, 1996, p. 321). Grammar plays a key role not only in English language but also in every language around the globe. Although there are still altered beliefs regarding the significance as well as outcome of the grammar education, the majority of educators put a lot more importance to the grammar teaching within the foreign language education. As a result, for a long period, the grammar teaching has been considered as the major factor for the second language education. Some studies recommend teaching grammar by using the method of deduction. After describing the grammar rules comprehensively, educators in learning courses order students to keep the rules in mind and combine them by paraphrasing approach (Weaver, 1996, p. 332). It is based on the oral language education and view sentence as the component, as a result generating language tradition naturally via reproducing, rehearsing, as well as committing it to memory. The purpose of using cognitive method is the significant education along with practice. While applying cognitive approach to any foreign language, one can notice that it takes over the distinctive features of grammar teaching highlighted in the ‘Grammar Translation Method’. However, it pays no attention to the negative aspects of over-stressing syntactic rules and heavily overly depending on translation. Often CLT classes are inclined to overlook more or less every aspect of a language apart from speaking. Grammar is overlooked, articulation is overlooked, terminology is overlooked, and reading as well as writing is also overlooked. The most unpleasant situation is the result of devastating neglect of grammar during CLT classes. It plainly supported by operational importance. However, simultaneously, it still

Why are men most of the time the leading character in science fiction Essay

Why are men most of the time the leading character in science fiction films - Essay Example Such determinations have manifested through female actors joining and streaming the art of science fiction films to agitate for their recognition. Feminist female writers have expressed desire to translate the current social shift that is intending to achieve total gender equality. Many reasons underlie the mystery of male gender appear to dominate or assume massive roles as leading characters in the science fiction film. One reason attributes to the intensive use of technology in the science fiction films (Tolette 42). In most of the science fiction films, it is common to come across high-tech guns, rockets, robots and massive scientific phenomena in the lines of technology. It is undisputable that male genders or men have been the main innovators, inventors and creators of the technologies and the technological devices. The fact that they create technology and technological devices places them in the best position to control and manage the operations of the devices. Tolette confirm s that these are facts known to every individual in the wider societies and it would be deceptive or meaningless for writers of the science fiction films give women leading roles in the movies (49). The aspect of deception can occur because movies and films act as reflections of the contemporary or future social issues within the particular societies, and people find it enjoyable when movies demonstrate some aspects of social reality. This means that using male gender to play leading roles in the films creates sense of reasonability, credibility and authenticity of the particular films of science fiction. However, the technological aspect tat warrants male dominance in the science fiction films is slowly fading since women are increasingly participating in technological advancements making it reasonable to begin featuring females as leading characters in the films. One example of such developments includes The Stepford Wives (1975) that featured a small village where there was gradu al replacement of wives with robotic women (Stange, Carol and Jane 1223). Other examples are the Eve of Destruction (1991, Aliens (1986), Terminator 2 and Cherry 2000 (1987), which pointedly placed women in the positions of technological mastery. The listed films feature women as wielders of hardware, creators of powerful programs and givers of orders. In the demonstration of Johnston, another reason for male taking leading roles in most of the science fiction movies relates to the fact that they men constitute the majority writers of the films (52). This dominance has seen male film writers focus on giving men roles of leading characters. The dominant male film writers also take advantage of widespread perception and reality that men constitute the great scientists and use the scientific fictions in films to confirm this reality to the societies. In addition, dominant male writers of the science fiction films use the privilege to hold on the traditional beliefs that put men above w omen. The film writers have the urge to demonstrate and reinforce their initial social order of making women subjective to men and incapable of playing complex roles. Another reason for domination of male in leading characters in science fiction relates to be belief that women make decisions based on emotions and tension while those of males rely on rationality (Stange, Carol and Jane 1224) 43). This fact makes filmmakers afford women subordinate and supporting roles while men play leading roles. Science fiction films solely bases on the principles of technology and are tech intensive. To operate successfully, scientific devices such as those

Reading analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Reading analysis - Essay Example Born in 1855, she would become one of the influential artists in the in the 20th century and the end of the 19th century (Stephen, Mcnamara, & Goad, 2006:66). In the beginning of the 20th century she moved to London. In the years that followed she visited France, Germany and Spain. At the age of forty eight she began writing anecdotes concerning modern art. In one of these anecdotes, she described how her mother discovered her talent at the age of twelve. At such a tender age, she exhibited her ability to depict objects in a way that resembles the actual object. This depicted her interest in surrealism, an attitude that she nurtured for the first after discovering her talent (Dixon, & Kelly, 2008:56). In a bid to nurture the young girl’s talent, the mother opted to enroll her in the traditional art school that offered her with training on how to use different art elements in promoting different artistic principles (Stephen, Mcnamara, & Goad, 2006:67). All through this period, it became evident that she depicted different objects in the indigenous nature, while making her a realist. She settled for Munich, but met the disappointment after encountering realists who had stopped active depiction of the realism ideals alongside ardent modernists. At this point of her career life, she valued realism and disregarded modernism. Although she refuted most of the modernist ideals of the time at first, the first six months were enough for her to identify aspects that she found compelling in German art (Dixon, & Kelly, 2008:56). The numerous art exhibitions organized in Germany served as the most critical motivation for her to begin to appreciate the artistic ideals of the modernists. After relocating to Paris later, she encountered the triumphant nature of realism. Apparently, there were many realists in Paris, who had not abandoned their ideals to form part of the modernists (Stephen, Mcnamara, & Goad, 2006:68). Summary of ‘Preston at Home’ Modernism a nd Neo-colonial Periphery Margaret Preston implemented precise artistic approaches to establish the importance of different characters in the society. During that time, Emily Carr and Irma Stern followed suit in providing artistic representations to emphasize on the theories of nature before and after the colonial period, and the events emanating from such transitions (Butler, 2005:201). Arguably, the three female artists established on the event of maturation to civilization in their specific societal settings. They successfully criticized the processes of colonization in relation to modernity and decried on the social inequities in their societies. Further, the artists observed freedom and equality as essential and emphasized on the ideology of emancipation from the antisocial practices of modernity through their artistic presentations. Their pictures reflected on the application of modern primitivitism through the reflection of past artistic practices, the foregoing cultural beli efs and norms. The practices affected the society as the artist reflected on the past colonial practices, but established little reflection of the diverse cultural practices in the human societies despite the fact that their representations established cross-border practices (Butler, 2005:202). Seemingly, the artists did not establish any adventurous outcomes

Reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Reaction paper - Essay Example As there is no means of eliminating the human ability to make errors, it is necessary to first do what can be done to negate or contain the symptoms of the problem by placing safeguards and checks in place that will protect both the patient and the caregiver in ensuring that errors made are caught in time to fix the problem. According to the author of the article, this is exactly what the IOM report was attempting to suggest, but this idea was completely overlooked by those who read it. By putting the medical community on the defensive instead of working with it to try to address problems that arose, the emphasis on blame created a scenario in which medical professionals became fearful of reporting issues and attempted to deal with things on their own. This is comparable to a doctor yelling at a chronic patient for not getting better. It is human nature in that case for the patient to refrain from reporting new symptoms in order to avoid being yelled at, but the problem can only get worse. While it is clearly necessary to report those individuals who are deliberately or negligently endangering patients, as it would be necessary to report a new symptom that restricted breathing, it is pointless to simply assign blame without first addressing the original problem. In introducing the nature of the problem, the report does an excellent job of bringing these issues to the front as a means of redirecting the reader’s attention to the true importance of the report, which are the IOM’s recommendations for safe practices. The article gives a very informative and understandable summary of the IOM report, emphasizing the importance of preventing error through system-wide effort. The causes for error are laid out systematically as are the nine recommendations for reducing the effects of this error. This step-by-step progression of ideas is very logical and the examples provided through each

Critical Response to Lackoff and Johnson’s Metaphors Essay Example for Free

Critical Response to Lackoff and Johnson’s Metaphors Essay The metaphor is central to human thought. Clearly this is the principle thesis presented in Metaphors We Live By (1980). Indeed, the thesis is contained very clearly within the title of the text. Yet, perhaps the most striking point about the argument presented by these two linguists is expressed in the idea that language is a powerful weapon of force by which human beings live and through which they interact. â€Å"Argument is war† is one statement that expresses this idea quite clearly and is supported by the various examples of argumentative speech that use verbs associated either with physical conquest and overpowering, or with the direct opposite, destruction and overpowered weakness. One of the most compelling aspects of the argument in Metaphors (1980) is the notion that people subconsciously integrate poetic imagination and elaborate rhetoric into their speech, despite the often mundane everyday tasks about which their thoughts and actions revolve. The role of language, then, is deeply questioned. The underlying problem is how we, human beings, relate to the world and each other. The argument from Lackoff and Johnson may be that we conceptualize our lives and thus we relate to the world around us in a conceptual way. There is, however, a difficult in thus attempting to analyze our use of language using language. After all, definitions and functions of words, the very focus of linguistics, all play an integral role in the analytical process of the human mind. It’s something like the linguistic version of the chicken and the egg. Which came first, concepts or language? When we say that time is money and use expressions like, â€Å"you’re wasting my time†, could it be that the notion that time is money emerged as an actual practical consideration and subsequently developed into a conceptual notion? Just as the example of the â€Å"apple-juice-chair†, an apparently absurd phase in general, can have a viable meaning in a given context, it seems plausible that metaphorical concepts such as â€Å"time is money† and â€Å"argument is war†, leading to the extension of the metaphor in language such as â€Å"you’re wasting my time†, could simply have received their contextual relevance over time.

Pollution in India

Pollution in India Most Indian cities are experiencing rapid urbanization and a majority of the Indias population is expected to live in cities within a span of next two decades. The rapid development in urban India has also resulted in a tremendous increase in the number of motor vehicles and in some cities this has doubled in the last decade. Which is the main source of air pollution and poor ambient air quality impacting millions of citizens. This report presents a review of the main causes of this phenomenon and the various measures adopted for their reduction. Also, cleaner fuels have been introduced along with improved emission control devices. Future strategies like use of alternative fuels and spreading awareness amongst citizens will further help reduce emissions that led to air pollution. Introduction India has the worst air pollution in the entire world, and this problem has attracted special attention in India due to the increase in population, industrialisation and urbanisation. Air pollution has been just below , tobacco smoking, indoor air pollution, blood pressure, diabetes among the top ten killers. This phenomenal has affected many aspects in India and the most crucial aspect is the health side of it population. However, Indians government has made huge steps to reduce the consequences and spread knowledge between citizens. Air Pollution Natural component of fresh air are consist of 78.1 percent Nitrogen, 21 percent Oxygen, 0.95 percent Argon and 0.04 percent Carbon di-oxide. When these typical percentage of air component irregular due to the influence of several ruinous gases then our surrounding environment become polluted. There are some example of harmful elements of air like hydrocarbon gases, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen and some greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and many more.http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00905/toxic_air3_905565g.jpg What Causes Air Pollution? Air pollution caused directly through use of electricity, fuels, and transportation. http://www.drishtikone.com/wp-content/uploads/Pollutants.png Increase in industrial activity India has made fast strides in industrialisation, and it is one of the ten most industrialised nations worldwide. However this status, has brought with it unwanted and unexpected consequences such as unplanned urbanisation and pollution. Domestic pollution Pollution from different types of cooking using coal, fuel wood, and other  biomass fuels contributes to some extent, to the overall pollution load in urban areas. Electricity Major reason to increase pollution in the air is the industrial emissions because burning fossil fuel to produce electricity emissions about 40% of carbon dioxide and many harmful gases. Power plants India and specifically Delhi produces much of its electricity depending on different coal-fired plants for industries and supplying for Delhis major projects. http://respromask.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/three-wheelers-india1.jpg?w=288h=198 Transportation Vehicles contribute up to 35% of air pollution in the large cities of India like Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai .Also, Engine exhaust (diesel and gas) carries more than 40 dangerous air pollutants. Vehicular Pollution Between 1951 and 2011, the urban population has multiplied, from 62.4 million to 377.1 million, and its percentage has increased from 17.3% to 31.16%. In 1991, there were 18 cities with a population of over 1 million, in 2012 this is estimated to expand  to 46 cities . This rapid increase in unplanned urban population has resulted in an increase in consumption patterns and a higher demand for transport and energy. Between 2005-2006,there were about 8.9 million vehicles sold and it reach 15 million in 2010-2011 which show that the number of vehicles sold in India is increasing fast during the past few years. And as studies shows that when the number of vehicles increased that lead to increase of harmful emissions which will finally be so affected in air quality(air pollution).In addition, vehicles are estimated to be the responsible of producing about 70% of CO2, 50% of HC,30-40% of NOx,30% of SPM and 10% of SO2 of the overall air pollution in cities. The most air pollution rise in Indian cities Despite the fact that the 51 Indian cities suffer from an extreme high level of air pollution, Bangalore , Mumbai ,Nagpur ,Hyderabad and Pune are certainly topping the list. Also, all 51 Indian cities dont meet the prescribed Respirable Particulate Matter (RSPM) levels, specified under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). As researches shows that Bangalore have the most rise in air pollution , then Pune coming after and Hyderabad, Nagpur and Mumbai respectively are the next three position.C:UsershpDesktopME!Principles Environmenttal ScCase Study30_11_pg10a.jpg Kanpur and Delhi are the most polluted cities in India. (According to the national summary report on air quality monitoring and emission inventory for Indian cities of the Ministry of Environment and Forest) Effects Outdoor air pollution has emerged as a major health risk in developing countries, contributing to some 3.2 million premature deaths worldwide and 74 million years of healthy life lost in 2010 and India is particularly at risk. Delhi population directly hit by air pollution Decaying air quality in India can transform into 3,000 additional premature deaths annually because of diseases related to air pollution . Delhi government, estimated that about 55 per cent of Delhis population is directly affected by air pollution as they live in a radius of 500 meters of urban roads where pollution level was found to be maximum. Health Impacts of Air Pollution Increase in mortality due to urban air pollution. Induction or revival of diseases. Respiratory illness / disorders. Systemic Immune alterations. Cardiovascular problems. Brain damage. Retardation of fetal growth. Increases prevalence of upper respiratory symptoms. Fact Bangalore holds the title of being the asthma capital of the country. Studies estimate that 10 per cent of Bangalores population and over 50 per cent of its children below 18 years suffer from air pollution- related ailments. Chennai: Exhaust from vehicles, dust from construction debris, industrial waste, burning of municipal and garden waste are all on the rise in the city. So are respiratory diseases, including asthma. Pune: air pollution in Pune has become a serious problem. The respiratory suspended particulate matter in the air is more than the standard national level. About 93,000 commercial properties which include hotels, malls and hospitals emit 204 tone every year. Children the target {Both in rural urban areas, children are the most vulnerable group due to} Lower breathing zone. Greater oxygen consumption. More susceptible target organs. Immunity not fully operational. Environmental impacts Environmental impacts are not limited to local air quality, but global climate change as well. Greenhouse gas emissions from vehicular traffic damage the ozone layers on a global level and also have local impacts. Increased greenhouse gas emissions damage nearby soil, vegetation, forest areas, aquatic systems, and groundwater . With two-thirds of Indias population depending directly on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and forestry , it is essential that these problems are totally researched and addressed in the near future. Air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels like coal and diesel has contributed to a worrisome slowdown in rice harvest growth in India in the past two decades. How to reduce air pollution Major efforts needed to reduce air pollution A lot of effort is needed in reducing emission of pollutants and greenhouses gases to improve the quality of air. Predict Air quality is required to provide information to the public to help them manage their health and welfare better. Modern day fuel alternatives for nations keen on becoming energy independent Modern life is closely associated with the need to reduce risk and enhance dependability. Concern for a fleetly-depleting environment has also caused a interest in the emergence of substitute fuels. The aim is to notch fewer vehicle emissions that contribute to smog, air pollution. Green Court launched India launched a green court on October 19, 2010 to make polluters pay damages as it steps up its policing of the countrys environmental laws. India was only the third country in the world after Australia and New Zealand to set up such a court. This is the first step of its kind in India to apply the polluter pays principle and the principle of sustainable development. India switches over to cleaner petrol and diesel The country has fully switched over to cleaner Euro-III and Euro-IV petrol and diesel. Indias tough new rules to fight air pollution The government has almost reduce the acceptable limits for polluting gases to the half, gases like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. The key bits are that residential and industrial areas will have the same limits. After a long gap of 15 years we have notified the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. It brings the air quality standards to European levels and in many cases it even exceeds the standards in the USA. Consequences of these standards will be on clean fuel and this will have major implications on Green House gas emission as well, said Jairam Ramesh, Environment Minister. Kolkata begins clean-air campaign Kolkata began its campaign to clean up its air with 1500 policemen taking to the streets to seize polluting buses, taxis and autos. Conclusion Urban air pollution has long been a serious problem in the India , reflecting both the importance of highly polluting industries for the national economy and political factors such as the low priority of environmental issues and lack of public participation. Also, it affecting every things including environment such as public health in India is in serious risk and environmental impact on the climate which is a important factor for agriculture that Indians depend on for living. However , Indian government has some solutions ,for example switching to a cleaner fuel, set rules to reduce the emissions , and do campaign to spread knowledge about the effects of pollution and about how they can personally help out will be important to create a culture that values the environment. Resources 1) www.gits4u.com 2) www.indyatour.com 3) www.ipcbee.com 4) www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com 5) www.ndtv.com 6) ww.twocircles.net 7)www.drew-urban-travels.blogspot.com 8)www.pals.in 9) www.rrcap.ait 10) www.theicct.org

Impact of Social and Sexual Changes on Art

Impact of Social and Sexual Changes on Art Hair has traditionally been cited as a discernibly female expression of sexuality and beauty, an aesthetic composition that exacerbates a womans ability to attract members of the opposite sex while acting as a visual demarcation line between the male female divides. Conversely, the fact that men often begin to lose their hair during the middle stages of their life adds further mystique to the power of female hair in popular western culture. Like her sexuality, a womans hair is unrelenting burning bright like the female passion that has so unsettled male artists for centuries. Symbolically, the difference between male and female hair has been ephemeral versus eternal; short lived as opposed to everlasting, a fantasy constructed entirely in tandem with a lack of knowledge or even interest in female sexuality within intellectual and artistic circles in the past. The notion of female hair working together with her sexuality as a tool to make a mockery of men was first cemented artistically during the ancient era, where Greek mythologys most famous exponent of the power of seduction of female hair, the Gorgon Medusa, stands as a warning to all men: to beware the hidden power of a beautiful woman. The punishment inflicted upon Medusa by the Goddess Athena because of her famous beauty and charm was to transform her sensual hair into a nest of snakes: for mortal man to even look at her would cast him, quite literally, into stone. With such a powerful, traditional starting point, it is little wonder that the issue of women, hair, art and society would continue along a broadly similar pattern for so many years, where stereotypically beautiful women were seen by men as constituting the front line of the ongoing cultural and sexual war – an object to be simultaneously admired and feared. However, according to James Kirwan (1999:73), it is not female sexuality which is destructive but rather male desire for that beauty. â€Å"The passion of the lover is not extinguished by the sight or touch of any body, for what he truly desires and unknowingly suffers is the splendour of God shining through the body. It is a desire like that of Narcissus that can never be satisfied.† Within the specifically subjective realms of art and visual art, female hair has a long history of conforming to the accepted image of the compliant, recipient woman due to the pervasive, dominant nature of men in art and society. Until the second half of the twentieth century women had become so accustomed to viewing their world through the eyes of men that they had lost sight of the individuality of women as a separate gender and as singular, autonomous human beings. Yet after the 1960s, visual art and aesthetics became increasingly interested in the views of the first wave of feminism, continuing along more radical, left wing lines with the introduction of the second wave during the 1970s. Women were embraced within the artistic community and encouraged to vent and express their sentiments regarding the suppression of the feminine in popular culture. As feminist critic Lucy Lippard (1980:352) details, the true power of feminist art was, logically, in the polar opposite image that it portrayed of modern societys creative achievements. â€Å"Feminist method and theories have instead offered a socially concerned alternative to the increasingly mechanised evolution of art about art. The 1970s might not have been pluralist at all if women had not emerged during the decade to introduce the multi coloured threads of female experience into the male fabric of modern art.† Moreover, women began to change their appearance for the first time in direct protest at the shackles of uniformity that male society had put upon them and hair was at the centre of the re moulding of the image of femininity in the West. The more radical, younger women changed their clothes, re adapted their attitudes and cut their hair in line with the more liberal males of the period who did likewise and grew their hair as a signal of their refusal to conform. The dissertation aims to examine how traditional social and sexual mores have changed in recent times in order to detail what this means for the visual artistic community, in particular the consequences for female artists in the wake of post modernity. In light of the obvious split in feminist art and culture that has been witnessed since the sixties, the dissertation will necessarily be divided into four main sections. The first chapter will provide an analysis and definition of the broader socio political framework of contemporary female sexuality so as to provide a better understanding of the power of feminine symbolism in a male dominated culture. The second chapter will look at the history of female hair and portrayals of female sexuality over the broader history of art; the third chapter examines modern visual art and culture paying particular attention to the use of hair as a medium for communicating with the spectator. The fourth chapter will analyse outsider arts views of female sexuality and hair, as defined by technology and race respectively. A conclusion will be sought only after taking into account each of the above headings as well as the necessary citations that must be employed to back up theory with example along the way. Contemporary Female Sexuality in Post Modern Society Female subversion in cultural affairs has led to womans alienation in the creative world with the result that her sexuality has only very recently been considered important enough to be the inspiration behind a growing body of academic literature. While feminism in the 1970s saw to it that gay women were represented in culture and art as much as heterosexual women, the movement of lesbians into the avant garde community only served to act as a dividing line between straight and gay women whereby many heterosexual female artists were seen as traitors to their own sex. Recent popular works of art and literature have sought to re introduce complexity into an area where theories about the nature of sexual liberty, manufactured largely by men, had become overtly simplistic. The most extreme exponent of the contemporary debate about female sexuality comes from Paris Curator for Conceptual Art, Catherine Millet and her 2002 memoirs, The Sexual Life of Catherine M. In an interview with The Observer (2002:13) newspaper, the French art critic notes that: â€Å"Sexual mores have evolved recently; nevertheless some sexual practices are only tolerated if they are kept hidden. I look forward to a democratisation of sexuality where anyone can reveal their true nature without suffering socially.† Women in Western society have become more independent, assertive and culturally aggressive during the past twenty five years so that female sexuality, in 2005, although still a topic in transition, is a force to be reckoned with inside of the male corridors of artistic influence. Yet contemporary feminist art is an amalgamation and result of the prejudices and taboos that went before it; it is, therefore a symptom of post modernity the culture that defines itself as the generation after the initial social liberation of the sixties implicitly and intrinsically linked to both gender and sexuality. As Christopher Reed (1997:276) implies, feminism was the catalyst for the widespread disassociation that is at the root of post modern radicals ground breaking view of sexuality. â€Å"From the outset, postmodernism dislodged the wedge that mainstream modernism had driven between art and life†¦ feminists, in particular, questioned the way the anti authoritarian rhetoric of postmodernism seemed to become itself a form of cultural authority.† However, although it is true that women play a far more integral role than they did barley two or three generations beforehand, modernity has not constituted a complete break with the past. Modern art, as a direct relation of post-modern society, remains a sphere still largely controlled by men. What it has done is to ask questions where previously only traditional lines of argument were sought. In this way it can viewed as a series of separate branches that emanated from the same initial tree – creating seedlings of avant garde, abstract art, conceptual art, minimalist art and pop art to name but the most famous few. The sum of the legacy of the schism that occurred in society after the residue of the minor cultural revolution of the sixties had settled was a general approval of art as inversion: that what was previously long was short, that what was previously deemed as beautiful was altered until it became ugly – until, paradoxically, it was ultimately seen as beautiful once again. According to Donald Kuspit (artnet.com; first viewed 13 September 2005), modern and post modern art is obsessed with perverse images of sexuality as a source of constantly finding ways to push the barriers of societys rigid attitude towards sexuality and the physical form. â€Å"The treatment of (the body) as the be all and end all of existence, and the only thing at stake in a relationship is the source of modern arts perversion. It extends to a preoccupation with the body of the work of the art itself, which also becomes the object of perverse formal acts.† Postmodernism, therefore, implies rapidly increasing parity between men and women in all spheres of western culture best viewed in the sense of a blurring of the traditional boundaries of sexuality as opposed to a complete merger. At this point it should be noted that, in the same way that it was white males that dominated western art, so the feminists who influenced the first stages of avant garde art were predominantly white, educated and middle to upper class. The issue of race and religion is equally as significant in the discussion of feminism as it is within an analysis of society at large; cliques and hierarchies are a necessary by product of modern civilisation and their presence (and influence) should come as no surprise to basic students of sociology. Hair, every bit as much as skin colour, is a visible dividing line between the races and in the West the image of the Caucasian variety of female hair as a symbol of womens sexuality has resulted in a womans movement that is f ractured and splintered, more so given the brevity of the ideology as a whole. The essential link between culture and art, as well as politics and art means that nothing created during the early years of feminism was out of the reach of politicisation and none of it would have been made were it not for the wider advent of post modern society. Or, as Gombrich (1986:11) puts it: â€Å"not all art is concerned with visual discovery †. With the backdrop to the arrival of feminist sexuality and art in place, an evaluation of how one of the most potent symbols of feminine sexuality was used as a tool of womans subordination in art in the past must now be attempted. Female Hair, Sexuality and Symbolism in the History of Visual Art As already outlined, the question of womens hair and artistic expression is deep rooted in all civilisations. As well as the Greek and Roman equations of hair with dormant female sexuality, the pre Raphaelite artists also promulgated the view of feminine hair as seductive conqueror of weak male spirits. Late nineteenth and early twentieth century paintings continued to expand on the association of the snakes or ringlets of the Gorgons Head with male fear of female genitalia; the reversal of roles whereby the sinuous hairs of Medusa were inverted to symbolise the male phallic icon of power of women and nature. These notions were underlined by Freuds analysis that saw the intricate waves of classical female hair as symbolic of female metamorphosis and change – characterised by the uniquely female ability to transcend gender. According to Meghan Edwards (victorianweb.org; first viewed 15 September 2005), the Classical and Romantic image of the female using her hair to devour male libido was a collective and conscious manifestation of fear in Victorian society, one that was transmitted from the ancient period through to the advent of modern visual art. â€Å"The myth of women who carry in their femininity a grotesque vagina with teeth or who have embedded in their being a serpent or snake with the power to castrate took root long before Rossettis Lady Lilith but became increasingly unambiguous, bizarrely personalized, and widespread among the Symbolist poets and painters by the end of the [nineteenth] century. Visual and psychoanalytic connections between hair and serpents become increasingly explicit in Fernand Khnopffs The Blood of the Medusa, Franz von Stucks Fatality, and Edvard Munchs Vampire, wherein we see the complexity and ambiguousness that infused the imagery of earlier artists like the Rossettis, Waterhouse, Tennyson, and many others give way to an unrestrained fear and indulgence in the grotesque.† Rossettis Regina Cordium (Queen of Hearts), which he painted in 1860, began a period of change in artistic perspective on female hair, where it was accented as a means to communicate a womans ultimate fragility and dependence on man: the first realisation of her sexuality as the embodiment of mans annihilation and self destruction. Pollock (1992:132) notes how, â€Å"her hair is loose, a decent and suggestive sign of allowed disorder, conventionally a sign of womans sexuality.† It is of course significant that almost all of the most artistic and visual instances of female hair in painting were created by men. Many male artists, such as Manet, whos Olympia (1863 5) stands as the most obvious popular example, were non apologetic in terms of their bourgeois fascination with lower class women who were able to fulfil the well to do gentlemans most liberal carnal desires. As the prism through which both men and women viewed societys accepted ideal of the female form, these works of art (especially significant in the days before photography and other twentieth century means of visual communication) constituted the only truth that women knew. Artists of the Enlightenment such as Jean Baptiste Greuze, whos Broken Mirror (1773) charts the social struggle of sexually experienced yet single young woman, as well as High Victorian painters like William Holman Hunt, whos The Awakening Conscience (1853) details the plight and unique dilemma of a kept woman, all converged to create the prevailing image of female sexuality that remained the staple diet of western art for much of the twentieth century: a smouldering power that could be easily sedated by the socio political power of man. As Judy Chicago and Edward Lucie Smith (1999:88) testify, the fallen woman was the most popular portrayal of female sexuality for many of the male artists who dominated the pre twentieth century artistic arena with creators highlighting her essential weakness with a minimal visual emotional connection. â€Å"She is the one who has no way out, and the painter contemplates her dilemma with a sort of repressed sadism. With each one of these works one feels a conflict of intention. The artist, will ostensibly sympathising with the plight of his female subjects, in fact enjoys their suffering, and expects the audience to do so as well.† Where hair was employed as a tool to reference female sexuality, it was used to derisory and derogatory effect, as witnessed in the 1934 sculpture by Renà © Magritte entitled, Le Viol (The Rape), which transforms a mould of a womans torso into a distorted image of her face; her breasts are made into eyes, the hair covering her genitals becomes the mouth, while locks of coarse wavy hair protrude from the neck, conforming to the male stereotype of female hair as an instantly recognisable feature of her fertile sexuality. Clearly, female artists, although very much in the minority were by no means obsolete and painters such as Louise Marie Elizabeth Vigà ©e Lebrun, Rosalba Carriera and Angela Kauffman are but three of a long history of richly talented women artists who showed the intellectual and artistic communities the muted side of female sexuality, beyond the narrow conceptual borders imposed by man. However, in relation to the issue of hair as a vehicle through which to transport female sexuality to the viewer, few of these artists, male or female, made substantial in roads into a deeper philosophical exploration. It is important to note the significant socio economic shift that beset Europe and the United States after the end of the Great War in 1918. Because of their contribution to the labour force, in addition to the nascent political bodies such as the Womens Institute (founded in 1915) and the Suffragette Movement, females in the West were for the first time able to exist, albeit nominally at first, outside of the control of a patriarch. Gradually at first, more completely after the end of the Second World War in 1945, women were able to embrace independency, which necessarily brought with it tremendous consequences for the artistic community. Whereas women artists previously had to pander to male taste in order to sell as well as fund their work, women artists of the second half of the twentieth century were more able to create for the sake of creation as opposed to as a means to fit into male structured society. As Anne Sheppard (1987:97) details, the significance of the release of the socio economic weights of expectation inherently means that essence of the artistic endeavour must change. â€Å"Among an audiences expectations of a work of art are expectations concerned with artistic forms and conventions. The Greeks of the fifth century BC would expect a chorus in a tragedy. Shakespeares contemporaries would expect a Fool in a comedy. Mozarts contemporaries would expect harpsichord music to be played with trills and grace notes. Giottos contemporaries would expect saints to be painted with haloes.† As a broad rule of all artistic behaviour, artists had traditionally been bound by the expectations of the paying audience. Thus, the revolution concerning female sexuality and the way in which she has been visually portrayed came via economic emancipation first. Attention must now be turned to instances of female hair as a means of expression of sexuality in modern visual culture after the creative liberation of women. Female Hair as a Medium in Modern Visual Culture The above background to the advent of the age of modernity, and of the arrival and acceptance of women within the upper echelons of the artistic community in the West, highlights the male dominated nature of notions of female sexuality. Hair was expressed as one of the most seductive of all of womans charms – an intricate part of the parcel that was created by God solely for mans destruction. Even when woman is portrayed as life giver in art, the act is more often than not displayed as ugly and confrontational, as Jonathan Wallers Mother No. 27 (1996) testifies. Indeed, the ongoing negative reaction of museums to child birth and maternity reveals more about the still dominant attitudes of females as sex objects as opposed to life enablers – as destructive rather than constructive, which is to the detriment of the art community as a whole. It naturally follows that while the majority of the (male) art community continued to associate flowing female hair with her ubiquitous sexuality, women artists tied to the first and second waves of the international feminists movement would wish to convey a hidden, alternative image. One of the most universally celebrated of twentieth century female artists was without doubt Frida Kahlo. She is famous not only for the wealth of talent and technique that was at her disposal but also for her independent, analytical and honest view of women, given added significance due to her prominent position in Mexican society. Her self portrait with cropped hair (1940), which is housed in New Yorks Museum of Modern Art constituted the first mainstream attempt to castrate the pervasive female sexuality as characterised by the iconography of ubiquitous long hair. It should be recalled that this painting was created at a time when uniformity of sexuality was the cultural norm: women were meant to hav e long hair, which meant that the subtle question Kahlo posed to women who viewed it was magnified all the more. Two decades later, at the dawn of the watershed decade of the 1960s, the impact of the famous Beatles haircut, first styled and professionally photographed by Astrid Kircherr (who exhibits the cropped blonde look in a self photograph in 1961) was universal within western culture and was noteworthy for its inversion of traditional sexual roles. As, during the sixties, young men grew their hair longer so young women were more inclined to cut their own, highlighting a deliberate cultural means of rebelling against the tired sexual mores of the time. Gay women, in particular, began to associate short hair with sexual freedom. Although contemporary Western society views the stereotypical butch woman with short hair as symptomatic of the lesbian underworld, it was indeed a bold move in the sixties and seventies for a woman to cut her hair in such a symbolic gesture. In this way, women such as the avant garde artist Harmony Hammond (who famously came out via cutting her previously long, feminine hair in New York in 1974) were using their own hair and body image as their art, to make a statement that, visually and aesthetically, woman was no longer the lens through which man peered at his own vision of beauty. As per all cultural de constructions of popular mythology, the actual look of a womans hair was the only the first building block of conformity to be removed in the first phase of feminist expression. Harmony Hammond, furthermore, was one of the most prominent users of hair as an artistic material. Whereby hair was previously used to express female sexuality via depicting or painting the length, texture and contours, Hammond and the burgeoning abstract sect of North American artists sought to incorporate hair into their work to bring attention to the social and sexual constraints by which we all live. She used her own hair in the construction of a hair blanket as well as utilising animal hair to make hair bags. Hammond used materials such as hemp, straw, thread and braids to reference the equation of feminine hair with sexuality throughout her body of work. As Paul Eli Ivey (queerculturalcenter.org; first viewed 21 September 2005) explains, Harmony Hammond exhibited the greatest abil ity to manoeuvre female hair away from its association with beautiful heterosexual objects of male desire, combining ideology and aesthetics in a discernibly feminist manner. â€Å"In the 1990s, Hammond combined latex rubber with her own hair and the hair of her daughter or friends, to suggest landscapes of gendered and sexualised bodies. The braid and the pony tail also took on a life of their own as personified characters: the braid relating to an integration of mind, body, and spirit; the stylised ponytail becoming a flirtatious, sexualised persona.† Her sculpture, Speaking Braids, plays on the difficulty in forming a singular feminine voice in such a diverse culture, where lesbian and bisexual women still feel cut off from the socially acceptable heterosexual females of the twenty first century. The head is disconnected from the body, mirroring societys view of woman as an object of passive desire. The most shocking element is the vomit of light brown braids that extend from the remorseless face of the head of the woman, designed to engage the audience in contemporary thought about the disembodied cries of women to whom marriage and conformity are not available. Hair was therefore used to point out essential moral and ideological divisions within female sexuality and, according to Joan Smith (1997:165), the failure of society to recognise the fundamental differences amongst the various sectors of the broader female sex has been to the detriment of feminism and, ultimately, western culture as a whole. â€Å"Women are expected to be different from men but the same as each other. While there is general agreement that women are unlike men in numerous ill defined ways, there is enormous reluctance to accept the idea that women might not be broadly similar to each other. The issue that exposes this distinction most sharply is motherhood, so that a woman who chooses not to give birth is characterised not just as unnatural but as a traitor to her sex.† Mille Wilson is another feminist artist who has used the symbolism of hair to state a valid view on female sexuality by employing it as the central theme of persuasion. In her ambitious visual art project, The Museum of Lesbian Dreams (1990 2), Wilson speaks to her audience through the fetish surrogates of the typical view of the female body in this instance using female hair in the form of a series of womens wigs to underline the essential similarity of heterosexual and homosexual womans dreams and deepest aesthetic desires, relying on the long, luxurious manes of the artificial hair to symbolise the traditional notion of hair as standard bearer of vivacious feminine sexuality. As Whitney Chadwick (2002:396) notes in her expansive study of women, art and society; â€Å"her work articulates the historical inaccuracy, often absurdity, of social constructions of lesbianism within dominant heterosexual discourses. Such discursive formations often to work to fix identity within, and o utside, normative paradigms.† It should be apparent that much of the artistic arguments pertaining to female hair and sexuality emanate from the perspective of the historical outsiders, namely gay and bisexual women. All great art is created from passion and in terms of damaging sexual stereotyping relating to female icons of beauty the avant garde art community has felt the greatest reason to voice concerns over the prevailing attitude of society towards womens sexuality. However, the real outsiders within the broader feminine artistic debate need to be analysed in order to underscore how hair is culturally understood as one of the most important foundations of mainstream notions of female sexuality. Female Hair and Visual Expressions of Sexuality from the Perspective of Outsider Art Beyond the set boundaries inherent within sculpture and painting, photography and performance art have been the most likely to make a physical statement pertaining to female sexuality. Whereas most other forms of modern visual art minimalism, conceptual art and pop art concentrate on extracting the content rather than moving towards a lifelike representation of the female body, photography recreates the human form as an artistic facsimile. It must be noted that photography and visual performance art highlight the issue of female sexuality via concentrating on the entirety of the hair on her body as opposed to detailing only the stereotypical view of female hair emanating from her head. Indeed, no examination of the subject of sexuality and hair can be complete without an analysis of the art worlds view of female body hair per se, which is culturally speaking – hidden, shaved and moulded in a far more stringent and severe way than any style of hair upon the head, a fact that Germaine Greer (1999:20) expands upon. â€Å"Women with too much (i.e. any) body hair are expected to struggle daily with depilatories of all kinds in order to appear hairless. Bleaching moustaches, waxing legs and plucking eyebrows absorb hundreds of woman hours.† Feminist adherents in the art world have inevitably challenged the claustrophobic views of society towards female body hair with pictures created to shock and induce academic debate about a needlessly taboo topic. Sally Mann made a series of explicit photographs of herself and her daughters during the 1990s, including Untitled (1997), a photograph that focuses the viewer upon the dense vaginal hair of the artist, whose legs are spread open in a bathtub with the subtext of highlighting how women enjoy exactly the same bodily functions as men, however much society shuts itself off to biological reality. Moreover, by making the camera concentrate on the nexus of pubic hair the spectator is likewise advised to consider the cultural reasons as to why women must shave every other part of their body where hair grows naturally. The most shocking and moving of all photographic imagery involving female hair tied to the notion of sexuality is Hannah Wilkes self image taken during her demise from cancer, the disease having robbed her of her hair though not of her female organs, as the naked photo in a wheelchair, selected from the Intra Venus collection (1992 3), graphically illustrates. The power of the visual focus is centred upon the artists wish to show how hair does not make a woman feminine – and that the human spirit is more powerful than any facet of the physical body. Visual art enactment reserves the greatest power of persuasion and audience manipulation. Post Porn Modernism, a performance art show that was exhibited in New York in the late 1980s, is the most obvious example of a visual exposition of contemporary female sexuality devised to shock the audience, concentrating in this instance, on the artists pubic hair and genitalia. Playing on the historical artistic obsession with the female whore, Rebecca Schneider (1996:161) declares that Post Porn Modernism was merely another way to de mystify the myth of female sexuality, in particular highlighting the fragile nature of consumer capitalism where the prostitute is both buyer and seller merged into one. â€Å"In theory, the real live Prostitute Annie Sprinkle lay at the threshold of the impasse between true and false, visible and invisible, nature and culture as if in the eye of a storm. As any whore is given to be in this culture she is a mistake, an aberration, a hoax: a show and a sham made of lipstick, mascara, fake beauty marks, hair and black lace.† However, the art most likely to capture the absurdity of the persistent link between granted notions of female hair personifying womans innate sexuality is that which is created by African women: artists who have to cross strict racial as well as gender and sexuality lines in order to portray women from their culture in an aesthetically acceptable light. These women are the true outsiders of Western artistic expression. Leslie Rabine (1998:127), for example, declares that: â€Å"western slave culture and economics invested the arena of skin, hair and make up with political struggle,† with the result that African women born in the West have had their body image dictated by colour and gender, which creates a kind of schizophrenic effect on the black women to the extent that the naturally curly, short African hair has been usurped in fashion by wigs, extensions and artificially straight hair. Typically, it has been left to the avant garde community to ignite the backlash against the marginalisation of black female sexuality. Alison Saar, daughter of African American feminist artist Betye Saar accented the widely accepted view of natural black female hair as the cultural antithesis to feminine sexuality in her sculpture entitled, Chaos in the Kitchen (1998). Saar used coarse iron wiring to mimic indigenous African hair, on top of a female face that has been deliberately denied eyes to highlight the cultural blind spot that black women have towards their own vision of female beauty. She means to state that, in attempting to copy white mans image of feminine beauty via hair, black women have only succeeded in hollowing out their historical selves. African American artist and photographer Renà ©e Cox made an even more challenging alternative to the prevailing paradigms pertaining to female sexuality and race when she made, Yo Mama (1993). The photograph places the artist standing up naked except for Western high heels the stereotypical twin symbol of hair as the autograph of heterosexual female sexuality. The hair on he

Terrorism - Using Social Security to Fight Bush’s War :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Using Social Security to Fight Bush’s War I have a rational fear: a fear that the September 11th attack has given the Bush administration a free hand in pursuing a conservative domestic agenda. This has so far been unspeakable in the media. But it must be said, lest it happen for sure. Where is the $40 billion for the war on terror coming from? Not from a rise in taxes and not from sacrifices to be made by the rich. Where then? The only available source I can think of is the Social Security "lockbox," which is now wide open. The conservatives have been trying to raid the Social Security fund for some time, and the Democrats had fought them off until now. Before September 11, the suggestion to take $40 billion from the Social Security "surplus" would have been indefensible. Has it now been done-with every Democratic senator voting for it and all but one of the Democrats in Congress? Think of it: Are your retirement contributions-and mine-are going to fight Bush's "war." No one dares to talk about it that way. It's just $40 billion, as if it came out of nowhere. No one says that $40 billion dollars comes from your retirement contributions. No one talks about increasing taxes. We should at least ask just where the money is coming from. If the money is coming from social security, then Bush has achieved a major goal of his partisan conservative agenda-without fanfare, without notice, and with the support of virtually all Democrats. Calling for war, instead of mere justice, has given the conservatives free rein. I fear it will only be a matter of time before they claim that we need to drill for oil in the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge for national security reasons. If that most "pristine" place falls, they will use the national security excuse to drill and mine coal all over the country. The energy program will be pushed through as a matter of "national security." All social programs will be dismissed for lack of funds, which will be diverted to "national security." Cheney has said that this war may never be completed. Newt Gingrich estimates at least four or five years, certainly past the 2004 election. With no definition of victory and no exit strategy, we may be entering a state of perpetual war.

The Evolution of Science Fiction Essay -- Literature

Despite decades between their writings, the similarities between H.G. Wells and P.K. Dick are numerous and include the fact that both authors were far ahead of their time, had aspirations regarding the universe and a future electronic era to come, had a theme revolving around a distant planet, and challenged humanity. Both science fiction authors were beyond their time. Wells had the capability of â€Å"lifting up our fathers’ hearts with hopes, exciting them with the feeling that a new world was at the point of being born and they were to inherit itâ€Å" (Dickson 17). Throughout all of his works, P.K. Dick â€Å"focused on conveying the truth of his many-faceted visions without regard for critical expectations and genre conventions† (Mackey 128). It is said that â€Å"knowledge of Dick’s biography is essential to an understanding of his work† (Umland 2). This too is similar to Wells. Both authors led fascinating lives and each found their own unique wa y to incorporate their events and interest into their works as demonstrated by their various novels and short stories. In order to fully understand each authors views, style, and most importantly to establish ethos, one must first understand the authors life. Dick and Wells were greatly influenced by the world around them. Whether it be obvious or not, Dick included his life experiences into his books. He also included many of his own personal interest into the book. Wells writings were mostly influenced by his own views, opinions, and interest. It is easy to assume that a book was written simply off a good idea however, there is often more to it. An underlying interest, an attempted degree, an unexpected adventure. In 1949, Dick began studying philosophy at the University of California Berkley (1... ...rld, there is power in numbers and we have the ability to lead future generations further, not only into the science fiction world, but science itself. Despite nearly three quarters of a century between their writings, the ideas these two magnificent authors had were similar in many ways. They both challenged science and society to their limits. Works Cited Dick, Philip K. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. New York: Random House, 1968. Print. Dickson, Lovat. H. G. Wells: His Turbulent Life and Times. New York: Lovat Dickson (?), 1969. Print. Mackey, Douglas A. Philip K. Dick. Massachusetts: Twayne, 1988. Print Wells, H. G. â€Å"A Story of the Days to Come.† 28 Science Fiction Stories. New York: Dover, 1952. 730-820. Priint. Wells, H. G. â€Å"The Time Machine.† The Complete Short Stories of H. G. Wells. London: Ernest Benn Limited, 1966. 9-91. Print.

Effect of Celebrity Endorsement on Consumer Behavior on the Youth of Pakistan Essay

In our research we have to just focus on the youth so our target area is â€Å"Lahore† because more than 75% are students are here. We chose Lahore as my population because it is well develop city and here large number of consumer’s are educated as compare to other many cities. More over people from all over Pakistan are living in Lahore. Sample size A sample of two hundred consumers was chosen on the basis of simple random sampling because the respondent are divided on the bases of demographic factor like age. We categories the sample of 200 respondents 160 males and 40 females because mostly females do not gave proper response. Sampling Technique The data has been collected from the respondent living in Lahore with the help of Mail questionnaires, consisting of 12 questions were developing to quantify my observation and give study a direction. we chose the probability based simple random sampling because the respondents are divided on the bases of demographic factor like age(16 to 30). Unit of analyses In this research paper we chose the individual person through the mail questionnaire because every individual have its own perception regarding buying so they individually can easily gave response that either celebrity endorsement effect on buying behavior or not. Research Instrument When we choosing a research instrument we focus on dimension of variable and also validity and reliability of variable so, we chose the scaling method as research instrument. Through scaling method we easily measure the idea, concept theme and document of research problem. We use likert scale in our questionnaire. Data collection method Basically in this paper two types of data have been used. Both are listed below: I. Primary data Primary data is the one which is collected from the scratch meaning that the data is collecting from the source and it has not changed hands. In this paper primary data has been collected from the respondents from Lahore via mail questionnaire that consist of 12 questions. The questions were structured, placed in a sequence to understand the consumer perception. The respondents were chosen randomly and the data obtained from their questionnaires was analyzed to come up with the findings. II. Secondary data Secondary data is the one which is collected from secondary source. This research study also contains secondary data .The secondary data was collected for the purpose of literature review. The secondary data was collected from different research journals and furthermore from different websites were used for this purpose. Data Organization Data organization is also called data washing. Data washing means separate the data of out layer and those respondents who just fill the questionnaires without any thinking. Reliability and Validity of Data In this step of research design check the data validity and reliability so, for checking the validity and reliability of data we focus on different test. We choose the t-test for checking the validity and reliability of our research study. Data analysis In this research paper for the analysis of data we focus on goodness of data, hypothesis testing and also focus on feel for data. In goodness of data we see the reliability and validity of data and in hypothesis testing we see that either my research study approve or disapprove. We analyze our data by regression and simple percentage method by using SPSS software.

The Mask in Lord of the Flies

Ralph demonstrates many different dimensions in his character in the first four chapters of Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. Ralph is portrayed as the novels protagonist but unintentionally sways towards evil at some points in the novel. Golding describes him as the largest boy on the island, but has a â€Å"mildness about his mouth that proclaims no devil† (page 7). His size, demeanor and use of the conch shell prove him to be the chosen leader of the group of boys on the island. He is the direct representation of order, leadership, civilization and innocence.Ralphs innocence is shown early on in the novel when he is unable to comprehend why the other boys chase their barbaric instincts and focus solely on killing the piglet, whereas he rather work towards a common goal, and proceeds by organizing a signal fire to be made and building shelters. His innocence is also proved when he accidently spills Piggy’s nickname, which he was not to tell anyone. When Piggy get s upset over this, Ralph apologizes and shrugs it off not knowing the damage he unintentionally caused Piggy.Ralph discovers a use for the conch shell; he brings the boys together and discusses how they should proceed, with building shelters, a fire and hunting. Ralph takes into account the litluns fears of the beastie, by putting great importance on building shelters to provide a sense of protection and ‘home’. As Oldsey and Weintraub state in The Art of William Golding, Ralph occupies himself â€Å"doing what must be done rather than what one would rather do† (page 22). Proving him to be the protagonist in The Lord of the Flies.

Mother and Parent

Daniel Pelayo Professor Nathifa Tomb English 1B 6 March 2013 The Ideal Parent: Brightening a Childs Future Parenting is a big part of every ones lives; it makes up who you are as a person and in many cases projects who you will be in the future. Some adults have trouble manipulating their children and teaching them what is right from wrong, while others have a much easier time doing so. In my opinion there is no such thing as â€Å"the perfect parent†, both the mother and the father have their flaws, but what matters is that the parent is always there for personal support.To me a good parent is someone who is always there to support there children in both good and bad terms, and a responsible adult that can supply for their kids necessities, not necessarily all the luxuries that they want. Another key point to being a good parent is to be a good leader, all kids look up to their parents and most of the time follow their parents footsteps and part of being a good leader is bein g a hard worker. A parent that is supportive, responsible, and a leader and hard worker all make up to be a great parent in my opinion.In the stories Scar by Amy Tan, My Fathers Hands by Daisy Hernandez, and the poems Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden, No Longer a Teenager by Gerald Locklin all tie up to the universal theme of good parenting. Even though some characters in the story struggle to be the perfect parent they desire to be, some are successful in doing so while others just cannot do their duty. Having support from a parent is a corner stone in a kids life growing up, without the support of their closest relative life can be a struggle growing up. In the poem No Longer a Teenager, Gerald Locklin narrates, literature and opera are full of characters who die for love: i stay alive for her. † (35-37) The father implies that unconditionally of the situation he will always be there to support and give love to his daughter. In this poem love and support is a big theme, showing the strong bond between the father and the daughter still after her teenage years gives a great amount of respect to the father. Supporting children from a very young age can definitely shape up the future of a young kid. On the other hand in the story Scar by Amy Tan, â€Å"I felt unlucky that she was my mother and unlucky that she had left us.These were the thoughts I had while hiding in the corner of my room where my father could not watch me† (292). An-mei the main character had no support from her mother growing up as she abandoned her own family and kids. The author Tan states this in a way that the child almost feels lonely, dull, and unhappy, which can be the outcome of no parental support. The different mindsets of the parents are well established, one parent has been there to support their kid since birth while the other one was there for a couple of years and then abandoned her child.This plays a big role in these kids mind because not having the support t hey need can be the difference between love and shame in a parent-child relationship. Next, responsibility is one thing most parents try to educate their kids about as they are growing up. Having a responsible parent can be the difference between having a good, comfortable childhood, and having a rough, complicated life growing up. In the poem â€Å"Those Winter Sundays† by Robert Hayden â€Å"Speaking indifferently to him. who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well† (10-13) shows a great level of responsibility from the dad.Getting up early to do all the necessary for the child to have a nice easy morning makes his kid life much easier and happier. Taking responsibilities for their kids and their own personal lives can benefit both the parent and child in the long run. On the contrary in the story â€Å"My fathers Hands† by Daisy Hernandez, the child in the story has more of a complicated and rough childhood. â€Å"I’d get home and c hange from my catholic uniform to my McD’s one. If I worked enough hours, I made as much as my mother did at the factory†(412) states Hernandez. This quote illustrates the more complicated version of a very young teenage girl.The father is un-employed and the mother is making the same amount as her teenage daughter. This shows a lack of responsibility coming from both parents because at this age the parents should be concerned about the daughter going to school and both parents should have a job accounted for. The irresponsibility’s of the parents can affect a child from a young age, not only does it complicates the life of the kid, but the parents do a poor job of teaching a child the values of being responsible. One parent shows responsibilities for their kids while the other parent shows no remorse for her daughter.Finally, being a leader and a hard worker not only in your children’s lives but also in society is what makes a huge difference between a gr eat parent and a mediocre parent. Showing a child the values of leadership and hard work can make a kids future that much better. A parent that holds these two characteristics and is able to put them to use in society will not only be a great example for their kids, but a superb example of a great parent. In the poem â€Å"Those Winter Sundays†, Hayden illustrates the hard work and leadership this father puts in for the family to have a nice comfortable living. Sundays too my father got up early and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold, then with cracked hands that ached from labor in the weekday weather made banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him. † (1-5) This stanza shows the fathers hard work, he worries about the family and the kid and wants noting but the best for them. Hayden states that the father works and serves the family seven days a week, making him a superb father figure and even though the family members do not appreciate everything he does for th e family he is doing a good deed.Unlike the mother in â€Å"Scar† by Tan she was never much of a leader to her daughter or son. â€Å"Who is this ghost?†¦.. If you take your daughter, she will become like you. No face. Never able to lift up her head†(294). This line emphasizes the fact that the mother was never there as a parental figure, in a way she is a disgrace to her daughter because she never taught her the meanings of life and was never there to support her daughter and be a leader for her daughter.Tan states under the surface that it is better for her to leave her daughter behind because she did not race her and they both have different moral beliefs. She cannot be a leader to her daughter and from a child’s point of view not having a leader to follow and grow up with can make a child dread of unhappiness. One parent does the right thing to serve their family and be a leader and a hard working parent to teach their kids about life, while the other p arent was never really there to even talk to the child.In conclusion, having a parental figure guide a child through life by showing them key characteristics and the essence of life will benefit the child much more. The characteristics that a great parent should have is to support the children at all times, be a responsible adult, and be a leader and demonstrate hard workmanship so the kid can follow ones foot steps and continue thriving through life. No parent is perfect but most parents have what it takes to be a successful parental icon in their child’s life. What characteristics do you think a good parent carries?Works Cited Badillo, Jose, and Mrs. Fay Lee. â€Å"Scar. † : By Amy Tan. 1302 Composition and Rhetoric II, 24 Sept. 2009. Web. 06 Mar. 2013. Gerald Locklin. â€Å"The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor. † No Longer A Teenager by Gerald Locklin. The Writers Almanac, 18 July 2002. Web. 06 Mar. 2013. Hayden, Robert. â€Å"Those Winter Sundays. â⠂¬  – Poets. org. Academy Of American Poets, 23 May 1966. Web. 06 Mar. 2013. Hernandez, Daisy. â€Å"My Father's Hands A « Daisy Hernandez. † Daisy Hernandez. Daisy Hernandez, 13 July 2005. Web. 06 Mar. 2013.

The Philosophy of the Buddhists

I will give you a glimpse into the world of the Buddha and the philosophy that he used to practise and preach. He was born as Siddhartha Gautama in the year 563 BC in Lumbini a place situated near the Indo – Nepal border. His father was the ruler of a petty kingdom of the Sakya tribes. Initially Siddhartha led the luxurious life of a prince in their palace at Kapilavastu, subsequently, he was married to Yasodhara. He had been living in marital bliss for thirteen years, when he saw an extremely sick person, a frail old man, the corpse of a deceased person, a corpse being cremated and a sadhu or holy man.This had a major impact on Siddhartha, who realized that the normal phases in a person’s life were old age, sickness and eventually death. In the year 528 BC, Siddhartha experienced the Great Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Gaya, consequently, he was known as Buddha or the enlightened one. His exhortations are known as dhamma. He attained Nirvana at the age of eight y, in the year 483 BC (Siddhartha Gautama). The Dhamma consists of four noble truths. The first of them states that life means suffering. It is essential to realize and accept that you have to undergo suffering in order to live in the world.The world and human nature are imperfect. According to the Majjhima – Nikaya, Sutta 63, the cycle of birth and death are continuous and humans have to experience old age, sorrow, lamentation, misery, grief and despair. There are pleasures such as ease, comfort and happiness. Hence from birth to death, humans experience both suffering and happiness. This serves to render the life pattern imperfect and incomplete. The world is essentially unpleasant and bereft of perfection. The second truth is that sufferings are caused by desires and to some extent due to ignorance.Attachment towards impermanent things and ignorance of the fact that those things are temporary causes suffering. Moreover, suffering is caused by desire, passion, ardor, and cr aving for wealth and fame. A very important precept in this context is that desire causes ignorance and vice – versa (L. Ross, 2007). The third noble truth is regarding the truth of cessation. Sufferings can be avoided and the complete cessation of suffering can be attained through nirodha or the unmaking of sensual craving and conceptual attachment.In order to end sufferings, one should identify their origin and remove them. This can be achieved through dispassion towards material things, which are transient in nature. In other words, suffering can be removed by realizing the cause of suffering and then removing the very cause. This is a continuous process, which eventually culminates in Nirvana or that supreme state of being that is free from all worries, complexes, fabrications and the individual ego (The Four Noble Truths).The fourth Noble truth is the truth of the way, which represents the via media between the extremes of asceticism and indulgence. There is an eight â⠂¬â€œ fold path by which a human can attain Nirvana and end sufferings permanently. This way comprises of right knowledge, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right meditation. This path removes all sufferings from life and extends over many lifetimes of a human (L. Ross, 2007). Therefore, Peter, you have to follow this eight fold path.The Buddha institutionalized a monastic order with five basic precepts. These precepts require abstention from killing others, stealing, indulgence in unchaste activities and the consumption of alcoholic drinks. These fundamental precepts are mandatory for every Buddhist and Peter you have to make them an integral part of your life. The Buddha had preached that the practise of these precepts resulted in Nirvana. Buddha refused to expatiate on the term Nirvana. According to Buddhism, both existence and nonexistence are meaningless. This philosophy is termed as the Fourfold Negation.It is the fundamental concept on which the Buddhist philosophy is based (L. Ross, 2007). Some very important and basic philosophical doctrines in Buddhism are first, momentariness; which states that nothing exists for a long time and that things do not have substance or duration. Moreover, every moment is a new existence and is succeeded by another new existence and their interconnection results in the next moment. The second doctrine is that of relative existence, which states that nothing has nature and character. In isolation, things are shunya, which means emptiness or a vacuum.Existence is therefore completely relative and the only unconditioned state is that of Nirvana. The third major doctrine is that there is no atman or soul. According to Buddhism, human beings consist of a body, feelings, ideas, impressions and momentary consciousness. Fourth, Buddhism does not accept the existence of God, Brahman or any other ultimate substance in the universe. Fifth, everything has a cause, which is dependent on a previous momentary existence. Sixth, karma, is only a causation and reincarnation is caused by the actions of people in the past.Therefore, karma is the effect of past actions (L. Ross, 2007). Another important concept of Buddhism is emptiness. A major philosophical paradox of Buddhism is that form is emptiness and emptiness is form. It is the mantra of Buddhism, whose origin is the Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra or the Heart Sutra. There are misconceptions about this concept of emptiness; western scholars defined it as nihilism. Nihilism states that reality is unknown, that nothing exists, that nothing meaningful can be described about the world.However, the Buddhist concept of emptiness is dissimilar to nihilism, because it states that the ultimate reality is knowable. It also states that there is a lucid ontological basis for phenomena. Further, human beings can communicate and obtain knowledge of the world. Sunyata or emptiness cannot be construed as nothingnes s. In other words, emptiness is not non – existence and it is also non – reality (Emptiness). Pay great attention to these thoughts, assimilate them and meditate upon them. Your preceptor,Bodhidharma Karmapang. References Emptiness. (n. d. ). Retrieved September 11, 2007, from http://www. thebigview. com/buddhism/emptiness. html L. Ross, K. (2007). THE BASIC TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM. Retrieved September 11, 2007, from http://www. friesian. com/buddhism. htm Siddhartha Gautama. (n. d. ). Retrieved September 9, 2007, from The Big view: http://www. thebigview. com/buddhism/buddhasresume. html The Four Noble Truths. (n. d. ). Retrieved September 11, 2007, from http://www. thebigview. com/buddhism/fourtruths. html