Thursday, November 28, 2019
The Handmaids Tale Analysis Essay Example
The Handmaids Tale Analysis Paper The science fictions novel of Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale portrays how the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian state, oppressively rules its people because of the dangerously low birth rate. In the perspective of a Handmaid named Offred, Offreds role in society, bearing children for elite couples, is disagreeable and insignificant to her and only abides with the government to save her neck. The authors style of writing conveys vivid images to the mind of the readers and thus, aids in the understanding of the whole situation as the story progresses. In the extract from page two of chapter two, a manifold of literary elements is used to effectively introduce the main themes and issues of the novel. The use of metaphors and similes, many adjectives and punctuations, references to the Bible, and how the passage is structured as a whole are all key factors to consider in order to comprehend even the vague, but equally significant, connotative definitions of the words the author has specifically chosen to use in this extract. This extract teaches the readers about the narrators lifestyle from the very first paragraph. The biblical reference to nunnery announces metaphorically that time here is measured by bells, as once in nunneries and that as in nunnery, there are few mirrors. The negative connotation of the word nunnery hints the cloistered and systematic lifestyle of a nun, who has only one purpose in life: to be devoted to God, avoid being involved in the materialistic world and push away human desires. Therefore, this biblical reference to nunnerysuggests to the readers that the narrator also lives a careful, abstaining, and restricted life with only one purpose in life. We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaids Tale Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaids Tale Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaids Tale Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The physical appearance is unimportant and thus, as in a nunnery too, there are few mirrors. In this extract, the name of the narrator nor the narrators one purpose in life in the society is not mentioned. However, later on in the story, it becomes more evident that her role in the society is to give birth as service to her Commander and his wife. As in the first paragraph, the rest of the extract consists of long sentences divided into shorter ones by punctuation marks. Commas are the most common forms of punctuation throughout the whole novel. The punctuation marks create a hesitant atmosphere to the extract which correlates with the narrators unsecure state of mind. The language itself is simple and descriptive. For example, the color of blood, red, is a common adjective used throughout the passage: red shoes, red gloves, red cloak, etc. Red describes the pieces of apparel the narrator is wrapped in. The narrator being fully wrapped from head to toe in red leads the readers to hypothesize that this is the narrators state of being every day: tied up by the laws of the Republic of Gilead which has full authorities to control her life. The strong color of red may be tied with the emotions of anger and rebellion the narrator is experiencing. It is hinted that she doesnt enjoy being in this emotional state as she says that I never looked good in red, its not my color. The color blood which defines us may also define the color of love, true love the narrator may have experienced in the past, and birth/reproduction, the narrators only role in society. Also, the references to this color may have the role of revealing the physical and mental states of the narrator which represent the physical and mental states of the rest of the population oppressed by the the Republic of Gilead. The metaphors concerning the nunnery, the similes, like a path, like a carpet for royalty, it show me the way, like the eye of a fish, and myself in it like a distorted shadow, and towards a moment of carelessness that is the same as danger all help convey vivid images to the readers minds by referring to specific colors. The white wings which symbolize the apparel covering the face of the narrator and the lack of mirrors in the house hinder the act of looking at her physical appearance and looking forward. This fact proves that the physical appearance of a person should no longer be valued among the handmaids and thus, creates a forbidding mood to the passage. Despite the dull and melancholy descriptions made by the narrator, the place in which the narrator walks around is described as a model house: polished hallway, like a path through the forest, like a carpet for royalty, late Victorian, the ancient grandfather clock in the hallway, and a motherly front sitting room in which I never sit, but stand or kneel only. These sentences accentuate the wealth of the family of the house as well as the pitiful state of the handmaid and her low social status. This contrast emphasizes the gap in the social status that exists between the family of the house, and the narrator. Even when the narrator does manage to look into a mirror on the hall wall, the sight is only more depressing: like a distorted shadow, a parody of something, some fairytale figure in red cloak. The distorted shadow adds a grey color to the minds of the readers and thus helps in increasing the gloomy mood. The reference to some fairy tale figure in a red cloak suggests how unreal the narrator is feeling at the moment. This may be due to her reluctance to accept the reality and her longing to return to her past life. The last sentence, a sister, dipped in blood is another biblical reference and also a metaphor which explains how she is red from head to toe as if dipped in blood. There is a sense of exaggeration in this description which is linked to imagery which purposefully aids in the understanding of the readers. The extract begins with alternating descriptions of the narrators surroundings and the narrator herself, and ends with an intensified mood in the last sentence: a sister dipped in blood. The main theme introduced in this extract is Gileads role in society. This totalitarian government is superior towards its people in an excessively oppressive way, and the readers can understand the influences Gilead has on the narrator in the society, physically and mentally. Without directly pinning down the main issue, the author has successfully managed to describe Gileads role and influence in the society in the eye of a handmaid who strongly describes everything in a vigilant and disagreeable manner.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Drugs and Their Effects essays
Drugs and Their Effects essays Many different drugs have very serious, complex negative effects on the person who is using that particular drug. Some of these drugs do actually have some positive effects. Drugs make the brain stimulated in certain places more than others, which are not as stimulated while not on any type of drug. Marijuana makes you act slower, think slower, eat large quantities of food, slows your metabolism (makes you fat eventually) and ruins your short term memory. if you are a long term user and you quit, you will be subject to bouts of anxiety attacks for a period lasting 6 months to a couple of years. There are many types of drugs that have effects on the brain as well as the rest of the body. Alcohol is no safer than drugs. Alcohol impairs judgment and leads to memory lapses. It can lead to blackouts. It distorts vision, shortens coordination, and in addition to the brain can damage every other organ in the body. Cocaine, both in powder form and as crack, is an extremely addictive stimulant. An addict usually loses interest in many areas of life, including school, sports, family, and friends. Use of cocaine can lead to feelings of paranoia and anxiety. Although often used to enhance sex drive, physical effect of cocaine on the receptors in the brain reduces the ability to feel pleasure (which in turn causes the dependency on the drug). Extended use of Ecstasy causes difficulty differentiating reality and fantasy, and causes problems concentrating. Studies have found that ecstasy destroys certain cells in the brain. While the cells may re-connect after discontinued use of the drug, they don't re-connect normally. Like most drugs, this one impairs memory and can cause paranoia, anxiety, and confusion. Psychological difficulties, including confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe anxiety, and paranoia - during and sometimes weeks after taking MDMA. Symptoms of taking Ecstasy are physical symptoms such as muscle t...
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Death in Hansel and Gretel and The Hunger Games Essay
Death in Hansel and Gretel and The Hunger Games - Essay Example Death means death of ââ¬Å"death of deathâ⬠as taboo, as well as death of humanity through the loss of morality rationality, and civil liberties,. For poor people, death is not a taboo, because it is part of their reality. Collins' Hunger Games is set in dystopia, where the Capitol controls twelve (12) districts by siphoning their resources and keeping them poor and hungry. The people, as a result, are too hungry to revolt against the system, particularly after the first revolution led to the creation of the Hunger Games. Collins shows that death is something real and evident in the Seam. Katniss thinks: ââ¬Å"Gale and I agree that if we have to choose between dying of hunger and a bullet in the head, the bullet would be much quickerâ⬠(Collins 18). She thinks about this, because she knows how hard it is to survive in Panem, when the Capitol controls and owns all resources and food. She knows how hard it is to die slowly from hunger, and it is harder to watch one's family die slowly from the fangs of hunger too. What is taboo in Panem is listing starvation as the cause of death: ââ¬Å"Starvation is never the cause of death officially. Itââ¬â¢s always the flu, or exposure, or pneumonia. But that fools no oneâ⬠(Collins 29). ... This thinking reflects the importance of self-survival over parental instincts and humanity. Hansel and Gretel's mother would have her children dead than find herself dying from hunger too. They talk about death as if it is the weather, unimportant and something that is paradoxically part of their existence. These stories argue that death is not limited to its physical dimension, because humanity can also die within people, when their sense of morality is gone. The Hunger Games kills humanity's morality. Part of it is knowing that life is a jungle and every one is game, especially in the Hunger Games. Katniss thinks that it will not be right to be affected too much by Peeta's kindness: ââ¬Å"So I decide, from this moment on, to have as little as possible to do with the bakerââ¬â¢s sonâ⬠(Collins 49). To feel kindness and indebtedness will make her vulnerable and vulnerability is the first step toward death. The Hunger Games turns death into an option that can be erased, if o ne gives up one's morality. Morality also dies when people choose to be beasts. When Gale visits Katniss, he tells her that hunting in the forest is the same as hunting for people. Katniss does not believe in this: ââ¬Å"The awful thing is that if I can forget theyââ¬â¢re people, it will be no different at allâ⬠(Collins 41). One of the power implications of this statement is that an authoritarian society ensures that people's morality are gone, so that they can be ruled easier. At the individual level, Katniss is saying that if she can kill people so easily, then she is not a human being anymore, just another beast among wild animals. Another way that morality is killed is through trauma. When Katniss' father dies,
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Preschool Classroom Multicultural Classroom Essay
Preschool Classroom Multicultural Classroom - Essay Example Teachers must be careful in communicating messages to children that they may receive as prejudiced against a particular culture or minority in the class population. York (2006) claims that stereotypical messages have powerful impact on childrenââ¬â¢s perception of reality, and may lead to the development of prejudice. For example, only having ââ¬Å"whiteâ⬠dolls and not ââ¬Å"blackâ⬠may tell children that black people are not worthy to be used as models in learning. Hence, it is important to choose classroom materials and activities wisely to promote social skills and social action instead of prejudice. Narahara (1998) discusses how gender stereotypes in books can affect children. She contends that storybooks provide role models for children in defining standards for feminine and masculine behavior, and books that have stereotypical content for gender. On the other hand, non-sexist books encourage the development of positive self-concept, attitudes and behavior. Bainbridge, Pantaleo and Ellis (1999) suggest that multicultural books be included in the repertoire of classroom materials claiming that multicultural childrenââ¬â¢s literature supports and encourages tolerance and understanding among children. Books should reflect characters from the same culture as the studentsââ¬â¢. Examples of story themes are protagonists who dealt with race issues and children who solved problems successfully. Lesson plans should incorporate culturally relevant ideas in each diverse classroom (Edwards & Kuhlman, 2007). Classrooms that reflect multicultural themes display materials that promote peace and respect for all people such as posters advocating peace and non-violent resolutions to conflict and pictures of people from various racial and cultural groups. Exposure to these materials instills positive social values in children. Likewise, allowing them to interact with non-stereotypical and multicultural materials such as multiethnic block play people,
Monday, November 18, 2019
Learning about Pets through the Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Learning about Pets through the Arts - Essay Example This went on the following day when I noticed Rob drawing a dog on a leash and a bird on a cage. When I asked about his picture, Rob answered, ââ¬Å"I just looove animals!â⬠In the playground, Gina, Michelle and Jason were on their fours, trying to catch each other. I later learned that they were pretending to be a pack of dogs. When the parents came for their children that afternoon, I asked if they had pets at home. Robââ¬â¢s mother said he had a canary bird. Ginaââ¬â¢s and Jasonââ¬â¢s mothers said they had dogs at home, and Jasonââ¬â¢s mother said he was given a turtle by his aunt for his birthday. I recognized that tapping this interest in pets when planning their learning experiences in the arts would be a good move on my part. Young children enjoy the arts. It is an experience where they can express themselves. During their free play, the arts may play an active role in the curriculum because it holds is essentially interesting and fun for them, so this may be the best time that teachers can observe them to gather information on what they enjoy doing and learning from. Since early childhood education should be based on the childââ¬â¢s interests and abilities, the arts can serve as the gateway that allows educators to enter and know about their world from their own perspective. As McArdle says (2008), ââ¬Å"the arts can enable children to make their thinking visible, and provide teachers and researchers with rich data and information about young childrenâ⬠(p. 372). Since they delight music, dance, visual arts and drama as observed from their behaviours in these areas, engaging them in such experiences will guide the teacher to plan others which they may also enjoy while honing their skills. Wright (1997) asserts that because the arts involve non-verbal, symbolic ways of knowing, thinking and communicating, it becomes a powerful means of promoting learning for young children especially since their language skills have not yet bee n mastered (Wright, 2012). Aside from taking the childrenââ¬â¢s interests in consideration, the early childhood curriculum should also adhere to Te Wharikiââ¬â¢s principles of empowerment, holistic development, family and community and relationships as well as the strands and goals that fall under each (Ministry of Education, 1996). Outcomes of Nga Toi or The Arts include the development of abilities in identifying their own emotional responses and those of others and representing these in their art (Mana Atua); understanding links between their early childhood settings and the real world as well as they discover unfamiliar people, images, objects, languages, sounds, smells and tastes which are far different from the ones they know (Mana Whenua); developing abilities and interests in a wide variety of domains that build their skills and strengths (Mana Tangata); experiencing stories and symbols of their own culture and discovering and developing different ways to be creative/ expressive (Mana Reo); building confidence and a repertoire for symbolic, pretend or dramatic play; coming up with strategies for exploring their worlds with their bodies, tools and materials in order to extend their skills; building confidence in movement activities; and representing these discoveries with creative and expressive media and technology (Mana Aoturoa) (Ministry of Educ
Friday, November 15, 2019
The Impact Of Vatsu Shastra
The Impact Of Vatsu Shastra Shelter is one of the basic needs for Human beings. People spend much of their time in their homes. Therefore comfort and environmental conditions are important aspects of a house. Vastu Shastra is the science of building and an art of balancing the structure with environment. Recently the ancient Vastu culture has gained a significant role in the planning and orientation of residential and commercial buildings in India. However in contemporary India this ancient practice is being termed as myth or occult by the majority .Still this practise proves to be extremely popular with contemporary clients, who insist on their house being built and designed as per Vastu Shastra. This thesis deals with Vastu Shastras fundamental rules of architecture which are based on now proven scientific facts and addresses them to todays architectural and interior design practices. The aim is to prove that Vastu Shastra has a scientific background with a practical application and is not just a superstition .The purpose is to remove the fears in the mind of the people about the misconception of Vastu Shastra and its tenets, the fear created by consultants by threats of destruction, death, disease and miserable life. Therefore, knowing and applying the rules of Vastu Shastra would be extremely beneficial for any modern day Architect and/or Interior Designer in India. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.1 The thesis contains four chapters. The first chapter introduces Vastu Shastra and its rules governed by the various elements of nature .This chapter discuss the history and the present of Vastu shastra in India. The second chapter discusses the occult aspect of Vastu .It is an attempt to reason out why people have an impression of Vastu as a superstition and to enlighten and encourage the reader to study Vastu Shastra with an open mind and demystify its occult garb. The third chapter puts forward various issues dealing with environmental relevance of Vastu Shastras rules and their scientific backgrounds. It reveals two important aspects of the relevance of solar energy and geomagnetic energy with Vastu .The first part displays the vector analysis of the varying directional solar energy field as implored on stationary geomagnetic flux. The second part explains the correlation between the movement of the sub atomic particles and the electromagnetic flux. The fourth chapter discusses an ideal Vastu layout and also presents a case study of a contemporary residential project with the application of Vastu rules. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.2 Chapter 1.Vastu Shastra in India 1.History Vastu Shastra is an ancient building science that governed the Indian architecture in the Vedic times. Vastu means building and Shastra means the science so in essence it is the building science. It explains the basis of creating spaces in respect to its surrounding. Vastu Shastra originated around 3000 BC. It was first mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures like Rig Veda, Mahabharata etc. In primitive India, education, medication, horoscopy, astrophysics, occultism, metaphysics and religiousness lived in complaisant proximity, their borders superimposing and one enhancing the other. The rules of Vastu Shastra and environmental reflections in residential buildings were established considering the cosmic influence of the Sun, wind direction, magnetic field of the earth and the impact of cosmos on the Earth. House building design, including its internal and external environment, has customarily been the duty of the architects. Vastu Shastra scriptures were written in the olden days when architecture was essentially for the rulers, the nobles and for the divine structures. The fundamental architectural Rules namely climate, orientations, functions, planning, etc are now being overlooked by the architects and designers. Especially in India, the very fact of buying and owning a house is considered as a sign of high class belonging to community and status in the society. Considering environmental factors in buildings is as old as the architecture, the Vastu and the Vedic Era. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.3 With the guidelines of Vastu Shastra the architects can design buildings in such a way that it will bring good health, wealth and peace to the inmates. Man builds the city so that the city shall build its dwellers. (Bhaskar1998) The upcoming occupation of architecture has outcast the Vastu Vidya or the customary Indian wisdom of architecture. Vastu Shastra is as aged as knowledge itself, but the practise of the Vastu Consultants is a fairly new and modified one, it addresses only a part of this science. It is time Vastu Shastra is made free of its mysterious guise and exhibited as a rational and judicious branch of knowledge. Vastu Shastra is furthermore distinguished by the Vastu Pundits (experts) and is termed as The Edifice Science (implication of the rules of this science while designing a building will assuredly bring peace and prosperity to its occupiers) Vastu Shastra has been acknowledged as a science derived from the study of nature and the supernatural by the prehistoric Aryan sages.Vastu Shastra takes into account the influences of the sun, its light and heat. It considers the impacts of earths electromagnetic field, bio-chemical effects in a human body, in order to lead a healthy and prosperous life. Advanced study in neuro-science has proved that the Sun, the Moon and the Planets which are the cosmic counter-parts, have a one-to-one relevance to the various fragments of the human brain. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.4 Hence, the Vedic formula for the orientation of the dwelling towards the east is to achieve the benefits of the morning sun and a perfect square house with a central open space to avoid the scorching afternoon sun. Various ailments like insomnia, cerebral palsy, hypertension, etc experienced healing in the past 15 years with the help of Environmental energy much before it was acclaimed by the scholars of today through the study of Matsya, Mansara and many more epics and were recognised and acknowledged as science for example the military science Dhanur-Vidya The profession of the designer or the architect is absolutely mistaken with the role of the astrologer. (Sahastrabudhe 1999) Traditionally the Indian Architecture was acknowledged as unique and was not subject to be analysed by the western examples. The fundamental rules of Vastu Shastra are based on two important aspects 1. The five natural elements sky, air, fire, water and earth and 2. The eight cardinal directions North, South, East ,West, North East ,North West, South East, South West. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.5 2.Fundamental concepts of Vastu Shastra The science of Vastu Shastra considers the world to be comprised of five basic elements termed as Panch Mahabhoota Vastu Pundits (experts) believed Presence of Life on earth is a result of the balance of these five elements which are present on Earth which is now proven by the modern world scientists. ( Gadge,2003,p.93-96) a.The Five elements of the Nature BHUMI (EARTH) The position of Earth is third in order from the sun. Presence of electromagnetism makes it a large magnet in the space with the North Pole and the South Pole as centres of attraction. Every living and Non living organism on Earth is influenced by its magnetic field and Gravitational pull. JALA (Water)-Water is in a liquid form and is represented by rain, ocean, sea, and river. It forms a portion of every flora and fauna. VAYU (Air) Air is considered as the foundation of life and is a supreme source of life. The comfort value of human beings is directly dependant on the balance of humidity, temperature, pressure, flow and the composition of the air and its contents. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.6 AGNI (Fire) -Fire is symbolised by light and heat which forms an indispensable part of day and night , climatic conditions, radioactivity, avidity, energy and vigour AKASHA (Space) The space or the sky shelters all the above four elements of nature. It is the primary conductor of all the sources of energy for example light, sound, social energies namely emotional and psychological and cognitive energies namely intuition and intellect. There is an unseen relationship amongst all the above five elements. Thus various human conditions can be improved by considering the effectiveness of these five basic natural forces while designing the buildings. The role of Vastu Shastra is to combine these elements of nature and balance them with the man and the matter. Taking advantage of the gifts bestowed by the nature to make a pleasant living and working conditions thereby promoting spiritual well-being and enhancing health and wealth leading to prosperity and happy living b.The Eight cardinal directions Vastu takes into consideration the eight possible directions after analysing and studying the four coordinal directions- North, South, East and West and four angular directions North East, North West, South East, South West ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page. 7 In Vastu Shastra these directions are established with the help of a tool called the Vastu compass which is a magnetic compass. The building site is first analysed with this tool and later inscribed on the layout to start the process of designing taking in consideration the Vastu principles.Vastu affirms that it helps one to tune with nature and derive its free benefits by honouring the five basic elements and the eight cardinal directions. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.8 Chapter 2. The Occult aspect of Vastu There are three important factors that influence the misconception of Vastu Shastra. 1.Personal Motives of the consultants Human mind has always been intrigued by the Occult and the supernatural. In a lot of cases the beliefs and faiths of common people have been wrongly used and abused. It is therefore important to understand when and where should one draw the line .This fear of being a victim to such immoral practices by some Vastu consultants who do not understand the subject but scare people for their advantage has created unbelief of Vastu Shastra in India. The purpose of this chapter is to clear the fears in the mind of the people about the misconception of Vastu Shastra and its tenets, the fear created by consultants by threats of destruction, death, disease and miserable life. The truth is that the original Vastu script is lost and all modern available text are only compilation, this has made Vastu a victim of unscrupulous interpretation. 2. Mythological Stories Moreover the terminology used by the ancient scholars while explaining the scientific laws of Vastu Shastra also gives rise to the superstitious aspect of its understanding. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.9 In the ancient times, the Vedas ,or the knowledge ,was limited to a particular cast of people, which is why it was difficult for a common person to understand the principles of this science, if explained in a scientific way. The wise ones used the terminology which was easy for the common man to understand so for example, when the scholars had to say that by constructing a window in a particular direction, one can make the most of the early morning sun rays, they would rather say that by placing the window in a particular direction the deity of that direction will bless them with good health and prosperity.Consequently Vastu in India is treated as a religious duty more than art of construction, which leads to the misunderstanding of its concepts. The problem starts when Vastu Shastra is mixed up with religious rituals. The wise men of yesteryears infused religion in Vastu so that people will implement it and practise it in the fear of the supernatural but today it has been misjudged and wrongly accused in the name of religion and occultism. Indian mythology tells stories of the deity of Foundation Vastu Purusha.(refer to fig.1.1) The stories in the Vedas also have a important role to play in the misconception of Vastu Shastra. There is a Fascinating story about the Vastu Purusha in the Matsya Purana. According to the Vedas, Vastu Purusha is omnipresent in the entire plot irrelevant to its size. It lies on the plot with its head down and his body folded in a peculiar fashion in order to cover the length and the width of the plot. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.10 During his battle with the demons, Lord Shiva got tired and started sweating too much and out of his drops of sweat a cruel looking hungry man was born who began to make penance to appease the deity. Lord Shiva finally was pleased with him and granted him his wish to be the strongest and largest being on Earth. He then stood between the Earth and the heavens. Terrified by this devotee the deities and the demons together pinned him down to the earth. Pitying his state Lord Shiva blessed him and made him the God of Vastu and called him the Vastu Purusha. Since then it is believed that the being is present in every plot with the deities and the demons acquiring and ruling different positions on his body. People listen and believe in such stories and overlook the science of Vastu .They do not probe into the details of Vastu science and term it as a myth. Moreover since the knowledge of Vastu was passed down from generation to generation, it has been modified and more and more stories are weaved around it to make it sound more mythological. However ancient Indian scholars were great mathematicians and also had the knowledge of geology this is shown in the next chapter, which explains the rational and practical aspect of Vastu. 3. Commercial aspect of Vastu Today new flats and apartments in newly constructed buildings are rejected if they are not built according to the Vastu concepts. In fact if your building is designed with the help of a Vastu Consultant then it becomes a USP to sell the Flats in certain parts of India! ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.11 Amusingly some buyers come with a Vastu Consultant to check if it suits their personal needs before making the decision of buying the house of their dreams. This forces the builders to employ Vastu consultants without checking the depth of your knowledge and use them as an added tag to sell their Flats who in turn mislead the customers into buying the flats. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.12 Chapter 3. Environmental relevance and scientific approach to Vastu. In this chapter I will try to delineate the traditional narrations in terms of basic laws, logic and approach of particle physics, biochemistry and energy dynamics. For correlating the significance of directions and forces in Vastu the following topics are very significant: flow characteristics of solar energy, geomagnetic, flux and thermal variations. 1. Solar radiation and its effects Whenever a structure is created it is exposed to the effects of the suns radiations. In tropical countries the south side suffers harsh heat while the north side remains in the shadow area this result in the formation of thermocouple in the space and around the house. In the tropical countries South, South East and Southwest suffer scorching heat while the North .North east and North West remain in the cool shadow section. It can be summarised that disturbance is created due to the high imbalance in the natural order of the geometric flux lines, (flux is defined as the amount of electromagnetic energy that flows through a unit area per unit time) forming nodes at the intersection of the flux lines. These nodes are points of distorted energy potential. Such dislocations trap the sub atomic particles travelling along the flux lines. These particles start resonating under specific conditions and off hazardous micro level radiation. (Mahatme,2003) These emissions have a tendency of worki ng against the existence of life forms. Vastu-Purush-Mandal represents this phenomenon as Yama (Lord of Death). ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.13 The thermal imbalance is the main cause in creating obstacles in smooth energy flow through and around the building. The comprehensive remedial measures available in Vastu Shastra try to equalise the thermal difference and provide harmonious and blissful conditions for the dweller. The wise men of the past understood this and tried to derive a solution to offset the disturbance in the south direction by the following measures. 1. Thick heavy wall on the south side 2. Blocking of the openings in the south side 3. Avoiding any slopes towards the south 4. Orienting the house in such a manner that more open spaces are available in the North and East directions 5. By planting some trees in the South for availing of humid atmosphere. 7. Raising of plinth and compound height in the south direction. If adhered to these rules one can try to create equalise the thermal differentials and create harmonious and balanced living conditions within the structure. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.14 2. Directions and Deities The four main directions namely North, South, East and West represent streams of positive and negative energies .These directions act as either the source or the sink for energies. (refer to fig 1.3)Hence the orientation and alignment of these forces are prearranged in their zones of impact. Whereas the sub directions vis-a-vis North East, South East, North West and South West represent zones of confluence of two different (positive and negative) energy streams which are at right angles to each other. Any disturbance in the flow of these energies triggers turbulence in the flow of the energy which is aligned to the primary direction. The Vastu Pundits combined the positive north and east directions with the negative south and West to determine the effects of the sub directions. These directions were then associated with the positions of the deities depending on the results of the effects of the energies. North East + + residence of God North West + desirable direction South East + Not desirable direction South West residence of Demon ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.15 3. Scientific Approach to Vastu Below we will examine several examples which strongly stand for the fact that Vastu Shastra is based on solid scientific evidence and can be beneficial to the human race. The following Vastu Shastra rules can be easily misunderstood without a rational explanation. Rule 1. Each direction has a Presiding deity .Since Wealth God rules the North and the Sun God Aditya rules East direction, the window openings of the house and also the placement of the water tank should be in the North East direction to welcome the lord, who will then be pleased and will bless you with the healthy and prosperous life The scientific explanation to the above statement is as follows. The sun rises in the East and hence the suns rays emit more light and less heat .Sun rays in the morning are a rich source of vitamin D, which are A vital component in formation of healthy bone. Water is disinfected by UV rays, as the genetic material is altered in bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, which destroys the harmful micro organisms example E. Coli. (Hwaa irfan, 2001). If UV exposure is dozed carefully, it has protective effects against cancer (Severn,2001 p.1). Various diseases are cured using the UV radiations, for example rickets, psoriasis, eczema and jaundice. So when one has openings in their house towards the East direction, it allows the early morning sun rays to enter the house and these are the ultra violet rays which when penetrate in the house and bestow their benefits keeping the inmates healthy and fit. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.16 A healthy and fit person can think and work more efficiently leading to a higher earning and a prosperous life. Now if the openings are created in the opposite direction, then it could be detrimental to the health, as the afternoon rays are the infra red rays, which are strong and harmful. Rule 2.The beds should be placed in such a way so as the head of the person should be in the south direction. The deity of death resides in the South, so one should not face this direction while sleeping, as it invites death. The explanation to the above statement can be found in the earth magnetism. The earths magnetic field runs from South Pole to north pole, so if you sleep in the same fashion then you are aligned with the magnetic flow .Now studies show that Human head and north are both positive poles (Ritu 1999) due to which they repel each other hence it is favourable to sleep with the head in the south for a sound sleep. Sleep disorder leads to a lot of health problems ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.17 Chapter 4.Contemporary Indian Architecture and Design 1. Ideal Vastu House In India a home is not just a shelter for human beings, it is called as Manushyalayawhich means human temple. As per Vastu both house and temple are sacred spaces so a house should be designed with the same concept as the temple. A house design with an open courtyard system was a national pattern of India before the introduction of the western concepts. The arrangement of the built spaces is the basis of creating a spiritual environment needed for the well being and prosperity. Figure shows an ideal layout of a perfectly square building with a superimposed modular Vastu grid of 9 x 9 forming 81 squares meant for a family. The centre space Brahmasthan is supposed to be the nuclear energy field which should be unbuilt and kept open to the sky to connect with the outer space Akasha. The central courtyard is not for the living purpose it can be used for cultural and religious rituals. The next rows of squares which are adjacent to the centre space are to be used for a walkway and the corner squares are to used for the specific rooms. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.18 Following are the directions with the deity that presides them and the specific rooms to be built respectively. (refer to fig 1.2) Direction Deity presiding the direction Suggested rooms North East Dharma(God of righteousness) Prayer room North Kubera (God of wealth) Living room North West Vayu (God of wind) Guest Bedroom, Toilet East Indra (God of Gods) Bathroom West Varuna (God of water) Childrens bedroom South Yama (God of Death) Store room South East Agni (God of Fire) Kitchen and dining room South West Niruthi (Goddess of demons) Master bedroom 2. Case study of a contemporary Vastu House Vastu House By Khosla Associates in Bangalore, India The space planning in this house was designed in harmony with the Vastu orientation and placement concept called Vastu Purusha Mandala . ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.19 To design within dictated predetermined rigid locations specified as per Vastu yet to arrive at a visually stunning and aesthetic architecture was the biggest challenge of this project. Rising lazily from the North East which was the lowest point to South East which was the highest point of the house, it was built on soft split levels. The trees in the open courtyard are beautifully weaved in its linear horizontal and cantilevered roof .The massive stretch of glass blur the spatial boundaries between enclosed space of the house and the open space of the garden.As one strolls down the open living spaces one can experience a sense of infinity, these spaces are divided with sliding bifold doors and certain spaces do not have any barrier at all. All the main areas were positioned as per Vastu Shastra. The Master bedroom is located in the Earth Zone (South West), the location of the kitchen is in the fire zone (South East) and in the zone of water and air (North and North East) was placed the swimming pool. The main door was in the North East and the Childrens bedroom was in the West. Even the position the staircase, the orientation of the bed, study table and wardrobe and position in the bathroom lavatories were designed in accordance of Vastu principles and the flow of the energy. The location of this house is strategically placed near a busy street; a small in-house office for the Master of the house is positioned near the main road. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.20 The entrance to the office is covered by the canopy of some old trees one makes a way paving through them. These trees act as a visual barrier to the rushing traffic on the main road. The black steps which are carved from a local granite leads one from the spacious living room into the courtyard which is open to sky, perched in the centre are some ornamental trees .The roof is cladded with local Mangalore tiles. The support for the roof is hand carved stone columns which are innovative and functional and carry the load of the roof through the diagonal steel struts. Taking advantage of the beautiful climate the dining table is placed in a semi-outdoor space. The first floor which is accessed through a wooden staircase has a large sitting area with a fitness centre. The bathroom has huge glass windows with lots of natural light leading to a massive walk in closet. There is an interesting amalgamation of luxury and Vastu exposed concrete ceiling with rough stone steps and court gravel with polished concrete floors contrast well with fine teak furniture, italian marble and silk and satin furnishings. The park looks interesting with the lap pool on side and on the other side a large rough cut log forming an outdoor dining table to dine under the shades of the giant banyan tree! This is a classic example to show that a house built with Vastu rules does not restrict the creativity of a designer instead presents a challenge to achieve the spiritual atmosphere within a concrete beauty! ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.21 Conclusion To sum up the argument of this dissertation, Vastu Shastra has fascinated some and irritated others but it has intrigued everybody (Gandhi 2006) The first chapter explains the laws of Indian architecture and clarifies its fundamental concepts. The second chapter explains the misconception of terming Vastu an occult by rational and scientific method. The third chapter throws light on the metaphysical aspect of Vastu Shastra. The fourth chapter explains an ideal Vastu layout with the help of a case study. The dissertation with the help of scientific proven facts clarifies the wrong image of Vastu Shastra and encourages the Architects and Interior Designers to have an open mind and look at the insights of Vastu Shastra instead to writing it off in the name of occult practise. Todays Architects and Designers can take the responsibility to educate this science to the common man (Sarkar 2007) The building science has its presence all over the world in different forms and they all have their own principles. From Vitruvius theory to Feng Shui to Vastu Shastra all these sciences are from different parts of the world but they all have the same message. The main purpose of building science is to lay down some guidelines for the architects to design building in harmony with the nature and taking advantage of the prevailing natural gifts of sunlight, wind, cosmic energy and to make a habitat which is beneficial to the inhabitants and make their life happy and prosperous. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.22 BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. CHAKRABARTI, V., 1998.Indian Architectural Theory. London: Curson. 2. DWIVEDI, B., 2004. Sampuran vastu shastra. New Delhi: Diamond pocket books. 3. GAUTAM, J., 2006.Latest vastu shastra (some secrets). New Delhi: Shakti Malik. 4. MALGRAVE, I. AND FRANCIS, H., 2006.Arhitectural Theory. Oxford: Blackwell publishing. 5. PATRA, R., 2006. A comparative study on vastu shastra and Heideggers, building dwelling and thinking. Asian philosophy, 16(3), 199-218. 6. SAHASRABUDHE, N.H. AND MAHATME, R.D., 2000.Mystic science of vastu. Slough: New Dawn press. 7. SARKAR, B. , 2008.A practical approach to vastu shastra. New Delhi: Atlantic publishers. 8. SINHA, A., 1998.Design of Settlements in the Vaastu Shastras. Journal of cultural geography, 17(2), 20. ______________________________________________________________________________ A n g e l a G o n s a l v e s Page.23
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Marriage Essay -- Married Relationships Family Families Essays
Marriage What does marriage mean? By definition, marriage is ââ¬Å"the legal union of a man and a woman as husband and wifeâ⬠(Websterââ¬â¢s Dictionary). Most people claim that they want their marriage to last a lifetime. Because over half of all marriages in the United States end in a divorce, most people lack the understanding of what it takes to stay married. I believe that couples should become more aware of the commitment that they are making when they enter into marriage. Men and women should get to know one another completely before deciding to get married. Important issues such as religion, finances, career, and whether or not to have children should be discussed so that the couple can learn each otherââ¬â¢s views regarding the issues to determine compatibility. For example, Br...
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Cessna Headquarters, Wichita, Kansas Essay
The words ââ¬Å"Cessna Skyhawkâ⬠have special meaning for anyone who has ever wanted to learn to fly. At 27 feet long and 8 feet tall, with a 36-foot wingspan, a 140 mph cruising speed, and room for two adults and their luggage, more people have learned to fly with a Cessna Skyhawk than with any other plane in aviation history. In fact, the Cessna Skyhawk is the best-selling plane of all time. Clyde Cessna built his first plane in 1911, and Cessna became a storied name in aviation. Cessna built 750 gliders for the army in World War II, introduced the Skyhawk in 1956, produced the first turbo-charged and cabin-pressurized single-engine planes in the 1960s, delivered its first business jet in the 1970s, topped $1 billion in sales in the 1980s, and then, in one of the worst downturns in the history of aviation business, nearly went out of business over the next decade and a half. Sales of general aviation aircraft, which had topped out at 17,000 planes per year, dropped to 12,000 planes within a year, and over the next decade finally hit rock bottom at 928 planes for the entire industry. During the same time, Cessnaââ¬â¢s sales of piston-engine planes, like the Skyhawk, dropped from 8,000 per year to just 600. Cessna was forced to lay off 75 percent of the employees at its piston-engine plane factories (Cessna also makes business jets and larger planes) and eventually stopped making piston-engine planes altogether. However, after the economy improved and the U.S. government approved the General Aviation Revitalization Act (barring product liability lawsuits on any plane over 18 years old), Cessna decided to start building its legendary Skyhawks again.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Drug treatment Essays
Drug treatment Essays Drug treatment Essay Drug treatment Essay In the study conducted regarding court-based drug treatment, there is evidence that clients have significantly developed negative correlations to counseling efforts because of associations made to trial and possible punishment (Cosden et al, 2006). At the same time, since compliance to counseling efforts is enforced rather than voluntary, level of participation can be compromised. Therefore to be able to establish a therapeutic relationship with the client, the counselor must be able to establish a positive perception of the counseling efforts and subjectââ¬â¢s voluntary participation (Schell, 2005). The questions designed for this purpose aim to establish the relevance of counseling to mitigate punishment for the offense and to create a relationship with the client that will serve as foundation for future intensive counseling. The questions will follow this outline: I.à à à Establishing communication with the subject (Fleming, 2004) 1.à à à Are you comfortable? Would you like something to drink? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Establishes the concern for the subjectââ¬â¢s well being and needs à ·Ã à à à à à à à Creates focus on the subject rather than the context of the meeting 2.à à à I understand that you are a university student, what are you majoring in? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Establishes the context or immediate environment of the subject and possible sources of stress 3.à à à Aside from curricular activities, what involves your university à ·Ã à à à à à à à Investigates the social context of the subject, particularly non-curricular involvements that influence his behavior and addictions II.à à à Determining the subjectââ¬â¢s case and history 1.à à à Can you relate to me the circumstances that led to your arrest? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Establishing the understanding of the client of the details of his case 2.à à à Do you think that the accusations against you are valid? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Determines the level of responsibility directly associated by the subject with his arrest 3.à à à Can you relate to me how you were asked to participate in this program? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Establishing the understanding of the client of the details of his case 4.à à à What do you think is the prognosis of your case? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Evaluates the understanding of the subject regarding the probability ofà punishment or other corrective measures that may be afforded if he is convicted II.à à à Establishing the significance of counseling to mitigate court ruling to encourage participation (Schell, 2005) 1.à à à Are you aware of the purpose of this meeting? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Assess the subjectââ¬â¢s understanding of the circumstances à ·Ã à à à à à à à Determines the level of responsibility the subject has for the meeting 2.à à à What is your expectation from your participation? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Assess the subjectââ¬â¢s willingness to comply with the pre-trial conditions à ·Ã à à à à à à à Evaluates the cognizance of the subject of the significance of the meeting to his trial 3.à à à What do you think is the courtââ¬â¢s expectation from your participation? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Determine the understanding of the relationship of ruling with compliance to pre-trial conditions III.à à à Reinforcing significance of participation and counseling to rehabilitation (Breda, 2004) 1.à à à How do you think will this impact your life? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Determines the level the perceived impact of arrest and possible conviction in terms of future educational opportunities or social capacity 2.à à à What are your options are most available to you to establish a defense in your case à ·Ã à à à à à à à Establishes the significance of the counseling as a means of legal defense 3.à à à Do you think that participation can be understood as an indication that there is no need for severe punitive measures in your case? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Establish with the client the advantages of participation in terms of mitigating courtââ¬â¢s ruling 4.à à à Do you think that this exercise will help you deal with the circumstances that prompted your arrest? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Establish with the client how the programs can provided insight to addiction and other behaviors 5.à à à Will you be able to participate in this program? à ·Ã à à à à à à à Creates affirmation of the clientââ¬â¢s affirmation to counseling
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Free Essays on To His Coy Mistress By Marvell
Marvell's Use of Sound in "To His Coy Mistress" At first glance, Andrew Marvel's poem "To His Coy Mistress" is a fairly typical carpe diem poem, in which the speaker tells his beloved that they should "seize the day" and have sex now instead of waiting until they are married. Today, the speaker's speech may seem sexist in its attitude toward women and irresponsible in its attitude toward the coy mistress (the speaker doesn't explain how he would seize the day if the woman became pregnant, for example). Still, if we look beyond the limited perspective of the speaker himself, we can see that Marvell is making a statement about how all of us (regardless of gender or involvement in relationships) should savor the pleasures of the moment. For the poet, there are two kinds of attitude toward the present: (1) activities in the present are judged by their impact on the future, and (2) there is no future stateall activities occur in the present and can only be enjoyed or evaluated by their impact at that moment. The mistress would like to postpone sex (theoretically until she and the speaker are married). The speaker wants to consummate their physical relationship now. Each viewpoint has its reasons, and certainly the woman in the poem would stand to lose practically from premarital sex. Marvell, however, isn't suggesting that unbridled lust is preferable to moral or ethical restraint; sex is the subject matter, not the theme of the poem. Marvell's actual point here is that instead of dividing our lives or our values into mathematically neat but artificial categories of present and future, we should savor the unique experiences of each present moment; to convey this theme, the poet uses irregularities of rhyme, rhythm, and meter to undermine the mathematically neat but artificial patterns of the poem. Although the rhyme scheme of the poem follows a simple couplet pattern (AA, BB, and so on), two couplets use slant or irregular rhyme, not sim... Free Essays on To His Coy Mistress By Marvell Free Essays on To His Coy Mistress By Marvell Marvell's Use of Sound in "To His Coy Mistress" At first glance, Andrew Marvel's poem "To His Coy Mistress" is a fairly typical carpe diem poem, in which the speaker tells his beloved that they should "seize the day" and have sex now instead of waiting until they are married. Today, the speaker's speech may seem sexist in its attitude toward women and irresponsible in its attitude toward the coy mistress (the speaker doesn't explain how he would seize the day if the woman became pregnant, for example). Still, if we look beyond the limited perspective of the speaker himself, we can see that Marvell is making a statement about how all of us (regardless of gender or involvement in relationships) should savor the pleasures of the moment. For the poet, there are two kinds of attitude toward the present: (1) activities in the present are judged by their impact on the future, and (2) there is no future stateall activities occur in the present and can only be enjoyed or evaluated by their impact at that moment. The mistress would like to postpone sex (theoretically until she and the speaker are married). The speaker wants to consummate their physical relationship now. Each viewpoint has its reasons, and certainly the woman in the poem would stand to lose practically from premarital sex. Marvell, however, isn't suggesting that unbridled lust is preferable to moral or ethical restraint; sex is the subject matter, not the theme of the poem. Marvell's actual point here is that instead of dividing our lives or our values into mathematically neat but artificial categories of present and future, we should savor the unique experiences of each present moment; to convey this theme, the poet uses irregularities of rhyme, rhythm, and meter to undermine the mathematically neat but artificial patterns of the poem. Although the rhyme scheme of the poem follows a simple couplet pattern (AA, BB, and so on), two couplets use slant or irregular rhyme, not sim...
Monday, November 4, 2019
Infant Death in Developing Countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Infant Death in Developing Countries - Essay Example People therefore, have the mandate of donating any amount of assistance which would later be transferred to areas of need by these non-governmental organizations (Semba, 2008, p 88). Connection of the world to become a global village has made it possible for people to interact with each other and help each other. Each person has a mandate of ensuring that all people either in developing or developed countries enjoy their stay in the world. This is through giving out the sharing the little that one has in order to save the life of another one. The people are connected by one spirit of being humans (Semba 2008, p.90). It is therefore, responsibility of each person to ensure that the no one is starving when one has the ability to help. When each person takes the mandate of helping the starving children, it would be possible to eradicate hunger in earth making it possible for each person to enjoy life. In conclusion, it is the mandate of each person to ensure that starving images of children in developing countries are eliminated completely. This is through sharing the little that a person have with the rest of the
Friday, November 1, 2019
Outback Steakhouse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Outback Steakhouse - Essay Example This paper seeks to assess how employee selection methods at Outback Steakhouse help it to have a competitive advantage. It also seeks to establish the importance of fit to the organization. Moreover, it seeks to evaluate the organizationââ¬â¢s employee selection process and whether or not its selection methods are valid. The employee selection methods at Outback Steakhouse have, no doubt, given it a competitive advantage. It has made good use of some of the most effective intangible human resource factors, and these together with a wide knowledge in organization have helped it to have advantages over its competitors. The intangible factors also make it hard for Outbackââ¬â¢s competitors to imitate its operations. Outback aims at maintaining its competitive advantage, especially through the use of its already established intangible factors, which are mostly employee-centered. It uses a precise process of employee selection for both its hourly and management employees, and this process is one of the things that have helped it to hire and retain the best employees. During the hiring process, Outback always assesses the qualifications of all applicants before selecting the most appropriate for the vacancies in question. This selection process keeps in mind Outbackââ¬â¢s objectives, and such, the successful candidates are always those who have proven beyond doubt that they are ready to work within its vision and values, and also adhere to its organizational culture. These employees must be competent enough to work in teams, and be responsible and accountable (Jackson and Randall, 2008). To efficiently perform in a competitive business world, every player needs to understand that structural flexibility is very crucial for success (Vesey, 1991). This is what Outback seems to have understood so well. Outback Steakhouse employs personality test when recruiting new employees. This is majorly aimed at identifying those candidates who ââ¬Å"adaptable, highly soc ial and meticulous.â⬠Thereafter, it keeps the records of all the successful candidates, which are later used to set the cutoff scores for hiring other employees in future. Only those who attain the set cutoff scores get hired, and as such Outback Steakhouse uses this opportunity to recruit only those applicants with characteristics almost similar to those of existing successful employees, a factor which has helped it maintain its competitive advantage. Moreover, its selection process has helped it to keep its employee turnover levels as low as possible. The low employee turnover is equally important as Outback Steakhouse maintains almost all the skills and talents it nurtures. The process is also very cost effective compared to other recruitment processes, since basing recruitment on the traits of established employees helps it to get simply the best employees (Jackson and Randall, 2008). Fit has proven to be very important for Outback Steakhouse. By matching the personal qual ities of all potential employees to Outback Steakhouseââ¬â¢s culture and values, fit provides it with the most effective employees. It helps it to get the most appropriate hourly and management staff, that is, it helps in hiring the right staff. This fit is also relatively important in meeting the organizations objectives, as it ensures that the best employees are retained as they develop their careers within the organization. This not only leads to better performance but it also increases the loyalty of the employees, who are likely to be more committed to achieving the organizational goals (Jackson and Randall, 2008). Most restaurants in the US are reportedly doing badly partly
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