Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Degrade

Degrade Degrade Degrade By Maeve Maddox A reader has asked for a discussion of the verb degrade in the context of the latest fashionable phrase, â€Å"degrade and destroy.† It seems to be popping up everywhere. What would be a suitable replacement to mean, attack until it is destroyed? The phrase originated in the announcement that the US military plans to â€Å"degrade and destroy† the so-called Islamic State (ISIL). Like all catchy military coinages, such as â€Å"shock and awe,† the phrase has quickly caught on in other contexts: Can the U.S. Army Degrade and Destroy Ebola? [Rape] is used as a weapon to defile, degrade and destroy a survivors will and control over her/his own body. TV programmers have a basic, brutal philosophy: If you can help your lineup, great; but you must do everything in your power to degrade and destroy the competition. The new clichà © muddles the meaning of degrade as applied to people with degrade as applied to objects. As applied to human beings, the usual meanings of degrade are â€Å"to reduce in rank† or â€Å"to humiliate.† The verb derives from Latin degradare, â€Å"to lower in rank.† Here are examples of conventional usage: To lower in rank Following French military custom of the time Dreyfus was formally degraded by having the rank insignia, buttons and braid cut from his uniform and his sword broken, Dempsey publicly degraded and reprimanded Dooley, and Dooley received a negative Officer Evaluation Report. Three bishops were degraded and banished for adverse opinions. To humiliate A lawyer is forbidden to ask any question intended to degrade a witness or other person. Workplace bullying refers to repeated, unreasonable actions of individuals intended to intimidate, degrade, humiliate, or undermine others. Staff must never act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade children. Scientific uses of degrade relate to things, not people: degrade (Geology): to wear down rocks, strata, cliffs, etc. by surface abrasion or disintegration. degrade (Biology): to reduce to a lower and less complex organic type. degrade (Physics): to reduce energy to a form less capable of transformation. In referring to people, even bad people, better choices are available to convey the idea of weakening an enemy before wiping them out. Here are a few: cripple debilitate disable enfeeble exhaust impair incapacitate undermine Unless one is writing about habitat, it’s probably best to avoid the expression â€Å"degrade and destroy.† Related post: Awe and Awesome Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Direct and Indirect ObjectsConfused Words #3: Lose, Loose, LossRunning Errands and Doing Chores

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How to Register for SAT Subject Tests Step-by-Step Guide

How to Register for SAT Subject Tests Step-by-Step Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You might be required or strongly encouraged to take SAT Subject Tests if you're applying to highly selective colleges. Thankfully, registering for SAT Subject Tests is just as easy as registering for the regular SAT. It might take a bit more planning to verify that the test you want is being offered on a certain test date, but otherwise the process is similar. In this article, I’ll go through, step by step, how to register for Subject Tests so you don’t run into any confusion along the way. How to Register for SAT Subject Tests, Step by Step I've described each step of the SAT Subject Test registration process below, with screenshots to help you follow along. Step 1: Check Test Dates First, go tothe official College Board websiteand check to see which SAT Subject Tests are offered on which dates.Once you know the date you want to sign up for, click the blue "Register" link in the column for your desired test date: You'll need to log into your existing College Board account or create a new one if you don’t have one yet (you probably do if you took the regular SAT already). Once you sign in, you’ll be taken to your homepage. Click the yellow "Register for the SAT" button to get to the SAT Registration page below: Step 2: Enter Your Personal Information Click the â€Å"Continue† button in the bottom-right corner of the page.You’ll be taken to a screen that asks you to fill out some personal information if you haven't done so during a previous test registration. This is very important, so make sure everything is accurate! The demographics section is not as critical; it's just there for the College Board to use in statistical calculations.It might take a few minutes to fill out, but don’t worry too much about it: Step 3: Create Your Student Profile Continue to the next module: Create Student Profile.Again, you can skip this step and move on to the next one if you've already filled out your profile from a previous registration. Creating a profile can take a lot of time, but it’s mostly optional. If you fill it out, the College Board will share your information with colleges that will send you mail to try and entice you to apply. You can go ahead and click the â€Å"Update Later† button at the bottom of the screen once you put in your GPA in the â€Å"GPA/Rank† section,which is the only required information: Step 4: SelectYour Subject Test Now you've reached the â€Å"Select Test Center† module, where you must agree to the terms and conditions and can then choose the test center where you plan to take your Subject Test.In the â€Å"Choose Your Test Date† section, select SAT Subject Tests, and then go to the tab for your chosen test date and select up to three Subject Tests: This is also the screen where you’ll need to indicate whether you have been approved for test accommodations or a fee waiver: Step 5: Pick a Test Center On the next page, you will be asked to choose a test center.The zip code that you entered in the Personal Information section should already be there, so you’ll see test centers that are close to your hometown. Keep in mind that not all test centers will be listed as options since some will not offer SAT Subject Tests. This means you might not be able to take your Subject Tests in the same location where you took the regular SAT.Click â€Å"Select† next to the test center you want to use: Now, the screen will look like this: Step 6: Upload a Photo Continue to the next screen where you will be asked to upload a photo of yourself for authentication purposes. This photo will be part of your admission ticket.These are the examples given by the College Board for acceptable photos: Basically, just use a clear photo that fully shows your face, isn’t too close up, and doesn’t include any other people. You can crop your photo after you upload it if necessary. Step 7: Check Out Proceed to the checkout step. Continue past the screen that gives you options to buy lots of prep books if you’re not interested.Review all your personal information and the tests you want to take before clicking â€Å"Make Payment.† You will be asked to confirm your information one last time before you get to the payment screen.You can pay through PayPal or directly with a credit card depending on what’s easier for you: That’s pretty much all there is to it. Registering for SAT Subject Tests isvery similar to registering for the regular SAT, and it shouldn’t take more than 15-20 minutes at most if you skip filling out the information for your student profile (or have already filled it out). Important Registration Tips for SAT Subject Tests Although the SAT Subject Test registration process is pretty straightforward, there are some tips you should keep in mind so that you end up with the best testing experience. First off, make sure you choose the best location. This might not always be your high school! Here’s a guide for how to pick the best test center for your needs. You should also register well before the test's deadline so that you don’t have to pay any late fees.Hereare the upcoming test dates and registration deadlines.Subject Tests are offered on all of these dates except for the one in March. Check this link to verify that the exam you want to take will be offered on the date of your choosing. Be sure to apply for a fee waiver before you register if you think you might qualify.Read our guide formore information on how to get a fee waiver for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests.You can get two fee waivers for SAT Subject Test registration. Thiswaiver will cover your registration for one full test day, so it can pay for one, two, or three subject tests if you take them all at once. The early bird catches the Subject Test worm. Or something like that. I just really enjoy this chubby bird. What's Next? What score should you aim for on your SAT Subject Tests? Learn more about what a good score might look like for you. Some colleges require or recommend two or three Subject Tests. Read our guide to deciding how many you should take. Do you need to take the Math 2 SAT Subject Test?Find outwhen you should take it in order to get your best possible score. Need a little extra help prepping for your Subject Tests? We have the industry's leading SAT Subject Test prep programs (for all non-language Subject Tests). Built by Harvard grads and SAT Subject Test full or 99th %ile scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Learn more about our Subject Test products below:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Global Interdependence Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Global Interdependence - Article Example Colonialism was responsible for the expansion of the slave trade, and the exploitation of colonies to make the colonial powers richer. Without colonialism it is doubtful that capitalism would have developed as rapidly and as widespread as it did. Colonialism also formed relationships between the colonies and the colonial powers that have heavily influenced global interdependence. The third article was by Davis and is about what the author terms as Victorian Holocausts. The main point of this article is that the colonialism of the Late Victorian Period had a detrimental affect upon the colonies, especially those in Africa. Davis contends that through a combination of greed, negligence, and apathy the colonial powers caused starvation, poverty, and backwardness. The colonial powers were responsible for making the developing countries poorer after they finally gained independence. These three articles when studied together offer different insights into how contemporary global interdependence came about. The Westad article concentrated upon the influence that the United States has had on shaping the world after the Second World War. Westad contends that the United States played a much greater role in shaping the post-war world due to the superpower rivalry with the Soviet Union. In contrast the Cesaire article places the most importance on the experience of colonialism. Stating it was one of the most important factors in the shaping of contemporary global interdependence. Colonialism as an experience remains very important in our understanding of how the modern world was shaped. The Davis article offers a great amount of detail as to how misrule and exploitation by the colonial powers has continued to have a highly detrimental affect upon the wealth as well as the stability of many former colonies, particularly in Africa. To be honest these three articles are most useful for understanding

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Culture and Psychology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Culture and Psychology - Assignment Example Although the apartments of Japanese prostitutes are clean and well-maintained, yet they have lost much of the sense of dressing because of imitating European prostitutes. However, they may not be very well-educated. Hence, we can say that prostitution in Japan is a well-organized business. German prostitutes, in contrast, may be so educated that, Pitu (2011) writes that, â€Å"In Berlin, you might meet a prostitute with a PhD.† Prostitution became legalized in Germany in 2002. Since then, the business has been growing itself very rapidly. There are thousands of registered brothels in Berlin and other parts of the country. Street prostitution is very common, carried out under supervision of pimps. The factor that influences street prostitution is the economic instability of people, and especially women, who become prostitutes to fulfill their financial requirements. Prostitutes also serve to procure drug business. They also work at bars, where they lure men into buying expensive drinks and avail sexual services. We see that in both the countries, the biggest factor that triggers prostitution is the financial instability of some groups of people, who bring their women into prostitution to meet their financial needs. These countries are also well-known for their sex trade or sex trafficking, in which women are forced into prostitution and are abused sexually. Since prostitution is legal, brothels place ads with government employment agencies to hire prostitutes. When not enough local women are recruited to fill the places in brothels, women from other places are brought via sex trafficking to work in the brothels. Hence, the factors that trigger prostitution in these countries are not cultural, but based on financial needs and business requirements. Japanese have been known to be very flexible in accepting foreign sexual behaviors within their own culture. Japanese do not show public

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Give Me a Free

Give Me a Free Essay Essay When composing the Constitution in 1789, the Founding Fathers were anxious to stress that the executive branch of the new republic was to be subordinate to the peoples’ representation, the Congress. They achieved this through the Separation of Powers, a theory of government thought up by the French philosopher Montesquieu to prevent over-mighty or tyrannical government. The elaborate system of ‘checks and balances’ introduced greatly reduced the traditional authority of the executive, leaving some to argue that U.  S. presidents have been left with very little power, if only the power of persuasion. However to what extent is this true? Theodore Roosevelt famously stated that he was both â€Å"king and prime minister†, even though other presidents, such as Johnson and Truman have stressed the weakness of the presidency. The argument that presidents have only the power to persuade can be seen in many of the formal powers of the president laid out in Article II of the Constitution. This can perhaps best be seen in his powers of nomination, both for federal judges and executive branch officials. The president has only the power to suggest appointments to these positions; the final confirmation of the president’s choice lies with Congress. This will sometimes mean lengthy negotiations between the branches of government, with the president using his ‘pork barrel’ in an attempt to win over Senators. In 1987, Reagan’s nomination of Robert Bork was rejected by a Senate vote of 42 to 58, resulting in embarrassment for both the president and his nominee. Reagan was unable to do anything about this, other than to suggest a new nominee in the hope that they would be accepted instead. The president’s power of persuasion is also illustrated by his role as chief diplomat for the United States. In this position, he negotiates major treaties with foreign countries, such Carter’s Panama Canal Treaty or Bush Snr. ’s Chemical Weapons Ban. Even so, it is the job of the Congress to ratify the treaty; it has no legal authority until it has been accepted by the Senate with a two-thirds majority. As such, the president can only persuade the Senate to accept it, arguing for its merits or using his limited access to patronage. For instance, the Treaty of Versailles drawn up President Wilson in the aftermath of the First World War was rejected by the Senate, resulting in America being unable to join the League of Nations, a ‘pet-project’ of the President. Later in the C20th, the Senate refused to ratify a further six treaties, which presidents such as Eisenhower (1960) and Clinton (1999) had worked hard on the international stage to achieve. Similarly, the president’s powers to submit the annual budget and propose legislation both require Congressional action if they are to have any authority. The president’s State of the Union address comprises key pieces of legislation which the president would like to be introduced (such as more green jobs and banking regulations seen in Obama’s 2010 address). However, this is meaningless unless they are introduced to and accepted by Congress, a process that requires the president to act tactfully using bipartisanship to persuade Congressmen and Senators to follow his proposals.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Analysis of Employee Motivation in Ilanco Inc. Essay -- Manufacturing

Analysis of Employee Motivation in Ilanco Inc. Introduction The purpose of this report is to analyse the problems of employee motivation at Ilanco Inc., a relatively small manufacturing company located in Montreal. For many years, this company operates in sweater production, and belongs to the section of clothing manufacturing industry. Currently, approximately 70 employees are working for the company. As many manufacturing organizations, Ilanco has been experiencing a lot of problems with effectively motivating its employees. Such problems have been reflected both in the Motivating Potential Score Survey that we have conducted among the employees and in our interviews with some senior workers at the company. First, this report gives a brief overall description of the manufacturing industry and the company, Ilanco. The major parts of the report outline and analyses the main motivation problems that Ilanco is experiencing. According to these specific problems, several very useful and practical recommendations have been made to help improve the employee motivation at Ilance. Also, in order to make this paper more insightful, some relevant motivation theories have been applied to both the analysis and recommendation sections to help analyse the problems more deeply. Industry Description Manufacturing is a key activity in any economy because of its far-reaching effects. Manufacturing firms represent 20% of Canadian GDP. There are around 40 000 manufacturing firms in Canada, employing almost 2 million people. Production value comes to $135 419 millions. Manufacturing firms with less than 200 employees represent 96% of total number of manufacturing firms in Canada, employing 47% of Canadian labor force involved in processing industry. In Quebec, the manufacturing sector generates over 20% of province’s GDP. Close to 11000 firms are operating, employing some 548 400 people. In Quebec, firms employing fewer than 200 people represent also 96% of the total number of manufacturing establishments. That is, employing 49% of province’s men-power. In Montreal, experienced labor force (1996 Census) represents 1 609 820 in all industries including manufacturing sector that employs 283 370 people. Despite the importance of manufacturing industry, employment has been decreasing in recent years. Description of Company As an example of manufacturing fi... ...nagement. In addition, an appraisal system in every 6 months should be implemented at every level of the company, i.e. team level, department level, company level. There would be different levels of staff performance, e.g. company warning, improvement required, average, competent and outstanding, to name a few. The result of the appraisal is connected to wage increase, bonus and promotion. In summary, Ilanco has a lot of serious problems in terms of staff motivation. If the above recommendations are not taken into consideration by the management, then there is a high possibility for the company to be just a start-up training school. There will still be high turnover rate, low productivity, unmotivated staff, and uncompetitive working environment. There is really no â€Å"bright† future for the company. It probably can still be profitable, but it’s just short-term focused. Once there is a down turn in market demand, Ilanco can hardly survive because of its extremely narrow product line. The management should realize that it is the staff that makes the profit for the company. Without reasonably motivated staff, the company could never focus in long term survive in the business.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Change Proposal Essay

Kudler Fine Foods is an exclusive neighborhood food store with outstanding local and trade in prices. The company has locations found in La Jolla, Encinitas, the San Diego metropolitan area, and also Del Mar. These stores entail of about approximately 7,980 square feet of merchandising space in the best sophisticated shopping locations. Kudler’s’ assortment consist of the luxury cheeses, pastry goods, wines, meats, garden-fresh goods, condiments and seafood. By declaring the most important details of the establishment’s existence, the reader of this paper will become familiar with the reason for this style of organizational structure, lateral and vertical collaboration, the phases of the collaboration process, and the key stakeholders and the collaborative interactions among them in order to reach a victory. Primary reasons for the business existence Kathy Kudler had a vision and made it a reality. Her experience in marketing gave her a leg up in the industry and the ability to market her vision. With her mission statement in place she and her staff provide exceptional service to customers and the community. â€Å"Our selections, coupled with our experienced, helpful and knowledgeable staff, merge to offer each customer a delightful and pleasing shopping outing†. If its quality you seek, then quality is what she and her staff delivers. Special orders are also welcome. If not for her desire to make shopping the simplest and most pleasurable to customers Kudler’s would not belong have become a reality. In organization collaboration consist of employees working together to accomplish shared goals. We all should know of the saying â€Å"Two heads is better than one,† this statement is indeed true. As workers in the bakery progress into the Christmas season, we have seen some changes that need to be made. Collaboration with our staff has allowed us to open the door and make the necessary changes needed. Changes needing attention are as follows * Waste * Safety * Customer care As manager, staff and I have held meetings, brainstormed and visualized where as a team we would like to see the company and the department in the future. Changes need to be made as far as waste; we are wasting too much product. Safety, we have a great record we would like to maintain. Customer satisfaction is at an all-time high but we would like to see our customers referring us new business. Changing the way Kudler focuses on waste, safety, and customer care. Managing this change comes with some adjustment and re-alignment of a few processes. We want to continue operating at optimum levels or performance to bring our customers the highest quality of service along with our superior products in the bakery. Focusing on waste, we waste approximately 4 thousand dollars a quarter in day olds and charge offs. That equates to $1600.00 a month in lost revenue. Team members need to be properly trained in order accuracy. By doing so we have proposed a training lead to shadow each employee and engage them to ask questions and repeat orders back to customers. Also we propose to offer day olds at a discounted rate, and once items have reached near expiration dates we like to donate to the local food banks and churches for a quarterly write off. This proposal suggests we will bring down the number per quarter and see more profits, allowing us to provide higher wages to our team members. Safety is a major focus in our department; we are at a 0% for accidents and pride ourselves in taking all safety precautions. Management proposes to hold weekly training meetings relevant to the industry and department per OSHA guidelines. All staff members must attend mandatory meetings on a weekly basis. We will schedule these meetings so all members will not have to attend during their personal time. Customer satisfaction is at an all-time high as we mentioned earlier, however we would like to accelerate our service to a higher level. Beginning the New Year we planned to begin handing out CSSS; customer service satisfaction surveys. At the end of each week we will compile the data and suggestions to see where we are lacking in service. The four dimensions of change management are strategy and vision, resources, systems and organizational culture. First, the strategy and vision that I have for the implementation is to inform each team member of the bakery of the new processes, and the expectation. This process will be introduced in phases. The resources that will be needed for this change be clear knowledge and a handbook approved by OSHA and upper management. If employees need an adjustment period to learn new processes and procedures we will allow an open forum to ensure all staff members’ success. I would use the Project Management approach in managing this change by supervising both the implementation of the CSSS, and its results. Close monitoring in conjunction with the safety and waste programs set forth. Prior to incorporating this change, I will advise my team in the bakery to inform me and show me daily reports on waste and customer satisfaction vs. complaints. I will then work directly with the staff to implement all necessary changes within the department. From initial planning, to installation to daily monitoring and follow up, I will keep both my managers, and my supervisors informed of the progress and results of the change. Necessary corrections will be implemented as we grow and change as a team. My expected return on investment is not only going to be looked at by cash savings, but also savings in overages in labor, time spent by employees in which their focus is not on Kudler Fine Foods related business, and employee morale. The cash savings will be productivity based. The more time that my bakery employees spend on customer related business, the more productive they will be. By incorporating the CSSS, safety and new waste projects; this will ensure that each and every member of the bakery will be focused and attentive to bakery and customer satisfaction. As the other members of the bakery see their effort and drive are being met by their fellow employees, this will increase their desire to keep pushing towards our department and personal goals. Once each employee’s realizes that everyone is doing their part, it will add to their sense of team accomplishment. I am very confident that this change that I am suggesting will increase both monetary returns, but also increased individual and departmental morale. Kudler Fine Foods has an impeccable reputation for superior service and customer care. By implementing such processes we plan to uphold the company mission and values is our number one priority. Utilizing teamwork and engaging our employees to embrace change is our goal as a company and as managers. We want to see our staff and company succeed and thrive. By implementing such change we offer more growth and stability for our company to expand and our staff to grow within our family. Reference https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/cist/vop/Business/Kudler2/internet/about.asp Kudler Fine Foods. (2012). About Kudler. Retrieved from http://Kudlerfinefoods.info Functional Area Relationship, Jennifer Hoff UoP

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Themed hotel

Themed hotel has almost fifty years history. Since the first themed hotel was established in California by Madonna in 1958,it has been developed into on of the most typical theme hotels in America. Themed hotels can satisfy customer's spiritual and emotional needs,it has been introduced in China in 2001 . During the following ten years many history related themed hotels have emerged. Len Holman hotels have become more and more competitive due to the lack In diversity.TLS dissertation selects many theme hotels both In China and other countries as case of successful application of experiential marketing to analysis and study,Len order to provide marketing strategies for the further development of the themed hotel In Holman. According to my research, I advice themed hotels In Human taking the following measures to ensure a more sustainable and prosperous future. Flirts,all faceless In hotel should be focused on the same theme. Second,hotels need to put emphasis on customers emotional ne eds. Told,alt Is very Important to let hotel staff understand the true meaning of the hotel theme and do whatever It takes to express he meaning of the theme during their service. Themed hotel has almost fifty years history. Since the first themed hotel was established in California by Madonna in 1958,it has been developed into on of the most typical theme hotels in America.Themed hotels can satisfy customers spiritual and emotional needs,it has been introduced in China in 2001 . During the following ten years many history related themed hotels have emerged. Len Hanna hotels have become more and more competitive due to the lack in diversity. This dissertation selects many theme hotels OTOH in China and other countries as case of successful application of experiential marketing to analysis and study,in order to provide marketing strategies for the further development of the themed hotel in Hanna.According to my research, I advice themed hotels in Hanna taking the following measures t o ensure a more sustainable and prosperous future. First,all facilities in hotel should be focused on the same theme. Second,hotels need to put emphasis on customers emotional needs. Third,alt is very important to let hotel staff understand the true meaning of the tool theme and do whatever it takes to express the meaning of the theme during their service.BY Iroquois spiritual and emotional needs,it has been introduced in China in 2001 . During the following ten years many history related themed hotels have emerged. Len Hanna hotels have become more and more competitive due to the lack in diversity. This dissertation selects many theme hotels both in China and other countries as case of successful application of experiential marketing to analysis and study,in order to roved marketing strategies for the further development of the themed hotel in Hanna.According to my research, I advice themed hotels in Hanna taking the following measures to ensure a more sustainable and prosperous fu ture. First,all facilities in hotel should be focused on the same theme. Second,hotels need to put emphasis on customers emotional needs. Third,alt is very important to let hotel staff understand the true meaning of the hotel theme and do whatever it takes to express Themed hotels can satisfy customer's spiritual and emotional needs,

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Karnataka Philosophy Essays

Karnataka Philosophy Essays Karnataka Philosophy Paper Karnataka Philosophy Paper Essay Topic: Cry the Beloved Country Ross Gay Poetry The Lord Of the Rings the Fellowship Of the Ring Much more this remark is applicable to Karnataka, from which the different currents of philosophy have flowed and flooded the rest of India and the whole world. The great Sri Sankar of monistic fame had his principal Math of Sringeri in Karnataka and began his life’s mission there. Sri Madhvacarya, the campion of Dualisn and Devotion, was entirely the product of this holy soil. Sri Basaveswar was another saint belonging to this eminent group. He is called â€Å"Bhakti-Bhandhari†- the treasure devotion – in Kannada. It was he who infused fresh life into veera-shaivism and made it a living faith. His inspiring personality attracted thousands of disciples who spread his new Gospel throughout the length and breadth of Karnataka. In their attempt to interpret the new message of their master to the masses, the eminent disciples of Basava, successfully utilized His Vachanas- a new form of literature in Kannada. These Vachanas are pithy (brief) sayings, brilliant in their directness and simplicity occasionally rising to the sublime grandeur even of the Upanisadic literature. They have brought light and hope to the Kannada masses and made their lives worth – living in all possible ways. Akka Mahadevi is one of the inspired disciples of Basava’s band. 2. BRIEF LIFE SKETCH OF AKKA MAHADEVI Akka Mahadevi was a prominent figure and Kannada poet of the Veerashaiva Bhakti movement of the 12th century Karnataka. Her Vachanas, a form of didactic poetry are considered her greatest contribution to Kannada Bhakti literature. In all she wrote about 430 Vachanas (another source says 350) which is relatively fewer than that compared to other saints of her time. The term Akka (elder Sister) which is an honorific (title) given to her by great Veerashaiva saints like Basavanna, Chenna Basavanna, Kinnari Bommayya, Siddharama, and Allamaprabhu. Akka Mahadevi was born in a town called ‘Udutadi’ in the centre of Karnataka in a Veera-saiva family. Her parents were the staunch followers of Trividhi philosophy of Guru, Linga and Jangama. She had an inborn devotion for God Siva. At age 10, she was initiated as a devotee of Shiva. She worshiped Shiva, whom she called Chenna Mallikarjuna, (Lord White as jasmine). Right from her childhood unlike other young girls she chose the Beautiful Lord, Pure white as the Jasmine, Chennamallikarjuna, as her playmate. Akka-Mahadevi was very beautiful. Her marvelous charm attracted the then ruling king- Kaushika who happened to be a Jain. Mahadevi agreed to marry Kaushika on three conditions. They are 1. She should be allowed according to her conveniences to practice the devotion of Lord Shiva, whom she calls Cenna Mallikarjuna. 2. She should be given freedom to listen and to meditate the life stories and teachings of ‘Siva Sharanas’ – saints of Lord shiva – and the practices of Saivism. . She should be allowed to practice the devotion of Trividhi philosophy –Guru, Linga, and Jangama. However, the male ego in Kaushika made him blind and he forced himself on her. Mahadevi outrightly renounced the marriage, with that she also renounced her parents, luxury, home and everything, considering them as impediments. She went bare to Kalyana where Allama was heading the Anubhavamantapa. Thus Mahadevi by renouncing the marriage with Kaushiaka emerged as the first protagonist of woman liberation. She discarded clothes and other worldly things as the last estiges of a sansarin and accepted the life of sanyasin. She left for Kalayana (a town in Bidar district of present Karnataka) which was known as God’s own city. Basaveshwara who is popularly known as Basavanna (elderly brother) has already launched a great social movement of casteless and classless society. Taking entry into his ‘Anubhavamantapa’ (the spiritual assembly) was not an easy task. Only those who are spiritually enlightened are allowed to come in, that too, after passing the kind of test held by the president of Anubhava Mantapa. Her renouncement of clothes and disregard for the body, or the acceptance of the life of nunnery was not an ordinary step in 12th century. Woman was not yet considered as equivalent to man. Her individual identity was under crisis. Even the great thinker and philosopher like Allamaprabhu questioned her unusual way of life. The picture of the discussion about this between Allama and Akka in the gate of Anubhava Mantapa? given by Chamarasa is not only an interesting literary piece but it is a candid and bold step in the history of whole womanhood. The discussion is as follows: Prabhu: Why have you come here in the prime of your youth? Our saints resent the sight of a young woman. If you can disclose the identity of your husband, you can join the fellowship of our saints, or else you can depart. A womans company is like poison. Tell us, who is your husband? Mahadevi: I was engrossed in penance for many years so that Siva might become my wedded lord! My own people wedded me to Siva by smearing my body with ashes and tying the marital bracelet to my wrist. All the world knows that the innumerable saints have been my parents. Therefore, O Prabhu, God is my lord; for me, there are no other husbands in this world. When Prabhu scolds her first for her nakedness Akka Mahadevi responds in this way: I have killed the cupid in myself and conquered this world. So I have no body. When I have no body, no sex where does exist the question of clothes? It is not the condition of the body that counts but, instead, a pure heart which wins the favor of God. I have covered my body with my hair so that the sight of my body may not be a cause of temptation for others. Prabhu questions whether Akka Mahadevi can be one with God when she still has human form and, worse, when it is a female body. She describes the superficiality of appearance, and of the leaders reluctance to accept her. Would the sandalwood cease its fragrance when its cut into pieces? Would a piece of gold, even when cut and heated, lose its luster? Would the sugar cane lose its sweetness when it is squeezed within a press and then heated? Prabhu pays her his ultimate compliment: Your body is female in appearance, but you mind is merged with God. In fact it was here onwards that she became Akka, an elderly sister. By her profound scholarship and burning fire of devotion she soon carved for herself an exalted position in the Anubhava Mantap, the unique Assembly of Saints there. Channa-Basava, the right hand man of Basava says, â€Å"Real greatness is only to be seen in Mahadeviakka, who has lost all sense of duality and has merged herself in the infinite. † 3. HER INTENSE LONG ING FOR THE LORD Even in her childhood, she used to worship Siva with great concentration. She took her early education under Shivagamacharya and started writing vachanas at the earliest age. Even at her early age of adolescences, Mahadevi’s devotion for Chenna Mallkarjuna was so deep and passionate that she did not play with the worldly toys like other children. On the other hand as she wrote in one of her Vachanas: â€Å"I wash away like the black soil in rain I slip and shifts like the sand, Anguished in dream I start awake, And burn like the fire in the forge, Comrades have I none in my woe O Cenna Mallikarjuna, do Thou grant me of Thy mercy A body that is not grappled by the groping hand, And the ecstasy that comes of union without uniting. † Akka’s whole life was a journey in search of her eternal lover, Cenna Mallikarjuna, whom she saw in her dream and followed in reality. During this course of divine frenzy the valleys and mountains were her friends, trees and animals were her companions, sun and the moon were the guiding spirits, whom she earnestly asked for the help in searching her beloved. Mahadevi, endowed with innate love and devotion for Lord Siva, had developed for the beginning a great aversion for worldly life. In one of her Vachanas she says, â€Å"O Lord! Without realizing Thee, I am dying in the meshes of my own self-willed desires, like a silk-worm perishing in the cocoon of silk spun out by it from its own body. Purge my mind, O God! of all evil desires and show me Thy Abode. † â€Å"This evil Samsara has been troubling me day and night. What shall I do my Lord? What shall I do to get rid of this constant harassment? I cannot bear this mental torment any longer. I throw myself entirely at Thy Mercy. Slay me or save me! Let Thy will be done. † Mahadevi had become thoroughly disgusted with the worldly life, and was constantly thinking of God and God alone. She asks, â€Å"Does a peacock ever play on the barren plain? and not on the mountains? Can a swan ever think of loving a dirty streamlet by abandoning a crystal lake? Will a cuckoo ever pour forth its flood of divine rapture anywhere except in a full-blossomed mango tree? Can a bee ever visit a flower without any fragrance? Can my mind be ever attracted by anything else but Thee, my Lord? † Mahadevi thus pines to have a glimpse at the lotus feet of the Lord. â€Å"Just as a caged parrot constantly remembers its brethren outside, so do I ever think of Thee. Call me ‘dear child’ and show me ‘Thy Beauty’†. I am pining for Thee, day and night, My Lord! The dart of Thy Love has been driven deep into my bosom and consequently I have forgotten hunger, thirst and sleep. † Maddened by such an intense Love for the Lord, she began to request everyone she met to show her the pathway to her Lord in this manner: â€Å"Bees, Cuckoos, Parrots, Moonligh t! I have one request for you. Have you seen my Lord? If so will you kindly show Him to me? † 4. HER CHALLENGE TO THE LORD: This extreme intensity of devotion had made her bold enough to throw such a challenge to the Lord: â€Å"Don’t harass me, my Lord, because I am helpless. But mind, I am not a woman to be easily terrified by any amount of pain Thou would inflict. I would live on dry leaves and sleep in the bed of arrows. Pure am I, my Lord! as I have consecrated my body and mind to Thee. † Moreover, she asks: â€Å"Will the sandal give up its fragrance even though it is cut to pieces and rubbed down? Will gold ever be darkened even when it is burnt in the fire? Will the sugarcane abandon its sweetness although it is cut to pieces, made to pass through the press and boiled in the fiery furnace? Don’t reveal my past sins to me my Lord. I will never desist from seeking Thy shelter even if Thou wouldest kill me. She says, â€Å"Thou mayest hear me or not my Lord! I cannot but sing Thy glory. Thou mayest love me or not, I cannot but worship Thee. Thou mayest grace me with Thy presence or not, I cannot but think of embracing Thee. Thou mayest look at me or not, I cannot help casting my loving glance at Thee and sing Thy praises in delight. I s hall worship Thee alone my Lord; and enjoy Divine delight by Thy worship. † 5. CONCEPT OF GOD ACCORDING TO AKKA MAHADEVI She calls her Lord as Chennamallikarjuna. In the book of Mahadevi’s path, as we turn the pages, we find that the image of Chennamallikarjuna changing. With time it merges into a higher and higher concept of the Divine. Only in her earlier years do we notice reference to Siva. Throughout He has remained her Antaryamin to whom she was wedded without a doubt. She says, â€Å"Like treasure hid in the ground, like flavour in the fruit, like gold in the rock and oil in the seed, the Absolute is hidden in the heart. † Further she says, â€Å"I am involved with the one who knows no death, nor decay nor form. He has no one place, nor any boundary, no modifications nor origins. He is Unrestricted to any clan, this casteless one is whom I love. For this reason I am for this man, this Chenna Mallikarjuna. She says, the approach to God must be through ardent love and devotion. She instinctively felt that man can never be fully and wholly fulfilled through self-discipline and knowledge, though self-discipline is arduous and knowledge superior. A more human approach to God lies through pure love and unselfish love which withdraws most of the obstacles that the ego interposes between the divine and the devotee. Akka was shining star in the Bhatki tradition. Her wedding to the Lord Shiva and her undivided heart of love and surrender to Him can be considered as the path of Bhakti Marga. She also considers that the path of action is very much necessary to have genuine devotion of the Lord. In this way she finds no conflict between these two paths rather it is the two sides of the same coin. Her vachans are the best expressed form of Janan Marga, where she tries to share her knowledge of the Lord. For Akka mahadevi to know the Lord and to worship him in mind and to share this knowledge with others in Vachans was a superior way of devotion. So Bhakti Jnana and Krma margas are not mutually exclusive for the Akka, but all three margas lead us to a true devotion to the Lord. 6. SPLENDID VISION OF THE LORD: Through His grace, she had soon the vision of the Lord. â€Å"I had a Vision† she breaks out in rapture, â€Å"I had a splendid vision of the Lord. He had shining golden hair, with a brilliant crown studded (filled) with jewels. A set of pearl-white teeth adorned his beautiful lips that were illumined the seven worlds. At this sight, the famine of my eyes has vanished altogether today. Now that I have seen my Lord Playing with His Primeval Shakti, by identifying Himself with her, I consider my life to have borne fruit. † This vision brought about drastic change in her entire outlook on life. The forest appeared to her to be full of Wish-trees; all the stones assumed to form touch-stones; every place was a place of pilgrimage; the whole world became full of heavenly ambrosia and every pebble she came across was a heavenly jewel. She saw the mountain very much dear to the Lord-Channa Mallikarjuna and entered the forest of Kadali-plantain trees . † In this way she went on having one spiritual experience after another and ultimately realized her identity with the Absolute. She says â€Å"Can the ghee mixed in milk remain separate from it? Who can differentiate heat from the brilliance of Sun? O Lord of Infinite Glory! My scales fell off my eyes as I realized my identity with Thee! † Again she says, â€Å"Whom shall I worship when my body has become Thine? Whom shall I remember when my mind has merged in Thee? Losing myself entirely in Thee, I have completely forgotten Thee with Thee. † 7. LAST DAYS OF HER LIFE Tradition says she left the world in her twenties, entering mahasamadhi (final divine union) with a flash of light. Her travels come to an end when she finds the Kadali vana in the vicinity of the Shrishaila temple. In Kadali vana, Mahadevi matures in nirguna upasana, ready for the final offering. She recognizes the Absolute in all of his creation. The kalpavriksha is all trees. The Sanjeevani is all bushes. All places are teerthas. Ambrosia is contained in all waters. All animals is the covetable golden deer. Every pebble glows as the chintamani gem. Here she also recognizes the paradox of His being in her body, as her very breath becomes His Fragrance. His form becomes hers. Her life force is no different from His very own. No knowledge to acquire, as she now knows Him. Who is there to think, of whom, as individuality ceases to be? This young, defiant and vibrant saint Akka Mahadevi attains Aikyastthala, the highest of the six states of Veerashaivism in the vicinity of the temple to Chennamallikaarjuna and Bhramaraambika. 8. THE CONCEPT OF TRIVEDHI PHILOSOPHY According to the Trivedhi Philosophy, all holiness consisted in due regard for three vital things–Guru, linga and Jangam (the guide; the image; and the fellow religionist). Guru: (personal spiritual master), Guru is the personal spiritual guide who has the knowledge of the path and knows how to guide one on it. A guru is the first cover/guard of soul against the attractions of Maya. He is a concept of awareness. He initiates a novice in the worship of Ista Linga, because he is a model in Ista Linga worship and is Jivanmuktha. He performs three functions: He initiates a person into the faith, trains him and guides him to move towards Aikyasthala (merger with Shiva) A Guru was forbidden to eat flesh, to chew betel or to touch liquor: and he wore a Kempa kavi vastra Linga: (Siva) Linga plays a very key role in the union of Jiva with Siva. Shiva should be worshipped through Ista Linga, which is a symbol of Shiva. The communion between God and a devotee is through Ista Linga. Ista Linga is a small black ball made up of certain prescribed materials kept in a silver casket put around the neck with the help of a thread called shivadara (thread of Lord Shiva). Ista Linga is Shiva Himself. It is universal form of God in a miniature and is the greatest light of the inner most heart which is brought out and shaped into a form by the guru. It is the visible symbol of the invisible energy existing in all beings. The guru places the Ista Linga on ‘Thanu’ (body) ‘Prana’ (life) and ‘Bhava’ (feelings). The linga placed on the thanu is Ista Linga, the linga placed on Prana is Pranalinga, and the linga placed on the Bhava is called Bhavalinga. The practice of wearing Siva linga constantly on their bodies as a mark of devotion and surrender to Lord Siva. Jangama: (an enlightened spiritual guru) Jangama is the realized soul or the perfect one who has already been through the path and knows how to lead one there. A jangama is a liberated man and moves about from place to place to preach the Lingayat Philosophy. He is a moving spirit of the Lord and is personified in the services of the Lord. He leads a simple life, is a man of detachment and is without shelter of his own. He is inseparable from Linga. Guru, Linga and Jangama are treated on equal footing and are rendered with equal respect and reverence. One needs to surrender to them and seek their help in intensifying ones devotion to Siva to obtain his grace and achieve the final union. 9. AKKA THE SOURCE OF WOMEN EMANCIPATION She is a prominent figure in the field of female emancipation. Probably, she may be the first feminist in India as she has been in a constant battle against the established institutions and rituals prevalent in India, in the 12th century. During such time of strife and political uncertainty she launched a movement that made her an inspiration for woman empowerment and enlightenment. The time was marked as height of foolishness of varnashrama dharma which only supported the three upper castes of Hindu society in India and suppressed the shudras and women. It was in the 12the century such a feminist voice, heard from a country like India, where the patriarchal system is at its best. A time when females are forbidden at the school entrance, Akka Mahadevi could take part in many gatherings of learned men at the Anubhavamandapa in Kadal Sangama, to debate philosophy. Though she lived and died young the lines she uttered and the divine life she led keep her as an inseparable part of Indian history in general and the movement of woman’s emancipation in particular. She proves that woman is not the puppet in the hands of male dominant society. On the other hand she is as free as the objects of the world around. She was never contended with the restricted role of a girl at home. Limitations placed on women in the pursuit of education and spirituality was unacceptable for her. She proved herself that a woman has every right and has all the means to pursue a life of an ascetic. Her entire woman’s life with many traumatic experiences is a testimony to the Power of Indelible Courage and Faith. Her renouncement of clothes and disregard for the body, or the acceptance of the life of nunnery was not an ordinary step in 12th century. Woman was not yet considered as equivalent to man. Her individual identity was under crisis. Even the great thinker and philosopher like Allamaprabhu questioned her unusual way of life. Akka becomes a distinctive phenomenon in the human history not merely by her style of dressing or unusual way of arguing. Her distinct pathway through the world, which took her to the climax point of rationalism, establishes her as an ever-shining star of boldness. Her denial of the riches and comforts of the palace and the amputations of the domestic bonds reminds one of Buddha. Her ideal of social and gender equality, propagated in the 12th century had become the creed of higher education in and out of Karnataka. Along with Basaveshwara, she was also one of the socialist reformers who spoke out against the caste system. Among her 315 vachanas, considered as sacred scriptures by the Kannadigas, one proclaims this message: â€Å"Unrestricted to any clan, this caste less one is whom I love for this reason, I’m for this man. † Akka Mahadevi is even remembered and revered all over Karnataka as a seer-poet and a social reformer. You can see a number of educational and charitable institutions all through the State, named after Akka. Akka Seva Samajas, the charitable institutions in the State, pursue the same goal Akka Mhadevi has propagated – uplifting the status of the girl children. They work for the destitute girls and down trodden women in their three branches at Kumara Park, Rajaji Nagar, Rajarajeswary Nagar along with the first one established at Bangalore. The proceedings of the Samajas are inspired by the life and teachings of Akka Mahadevi who burned up as a flash of light in the caves of Sreeshailam. 10. AKKA MAHADEVI A MYSTIC SAINT Akka Madhavi is no doubt a great Bhakti saints of the 12th century, she experienced a call within, that no other pre-occupation distract her, in her path to the Lord Shiva. Unlike other girls, the very desire for a family and married life, and other worldly pleasure and comfort she considers these nothing compared to her devotion to the Lord Shiva. Her poems or Vachnas are the spontaneous overflow of her love for the Lord. Her cloths, beauty and ornaments were the love and devotion to the Lord. This intense devotion and renunciation of worldly affairs made her a great mystic of the time. She had an experience of the Lord in the heart, this basic experience led her to experience Lord in everything: in the beautiful nature, mountains valleys and everywhere. She finds her home in the nature and everything in it was her companion. In union with the nature and all the being she searched for the Lord and she experienced Him together with all beings. This shows that in totality she experienced and worshipped the Lord in the Universe. This is the another aspect of her mysticism. There is a massage for all, who search the Lord with the sincere heart that God can be experience in our simple and ordinary life situations and surroundings. There is no need of going to high mountains like Himalayas to search for the Lord; he is here within us and in the nature. Akka madhavi experienced this truth from her child hood itself, and she could experience more intensively and more clearly in her later stages of life. She expresses the unity between her and the Absolute in the following Vachana: I do not say it is the Linga. I do not say it oneness with the Linga. I do not say it is the Merging, I do not say it is the Parting I do not say it has Happened. I do not say it is to Be. I do not say it is I. I do not say it is You. The mysticism of the Akka is in par with the existing theological understanding of the experience of the Lord. There is no conflict with the tradition and philosophical thinking of the time. Man’s search for the Lord in the cosmos with the nature and created beings is very much acceptable to the mystics of all times. The out flow of the heart’s desire and her love she expresses in her poems and Vachana is a real treasure and guide to seek the Lord, for the many generation to come. Akka mahadevi is somewhat negative about the concept of body. The bodily beauty was a liability for her in her short life. She calls this body as the site of dirt, lust, greed and rage. This may be because of her experience with Kaushika and in Anubhava Mantapa. According to her the body and its temptations are the primary causes which come on the way in ones union with the Lord. In this way in her thought we can see the clear cut distinction between body as something bad which belongs to the world and soul in something sacred which helps one to live a holy life. 11. CONCLUSION Mystics have a double aspect in their life. They are often perceived as rebel in a cultural social ethos. They refuse to walk or to follow the manmade laws and tradition. They have a fine intellect and sharp perception of divine reality. They guide people in the new path towards the absolute. They are courageous, creative and enthusiastic in walking the new unknown path with full trust and confidence. This unusual way of life and their very courage novelty and creativity make them to be rejected in the society, but later they are hailed and accepted in the society. Akka Mahadevi was one among such saints who was intoxicated by Shiva Shakti. Because of her ascetic way of life she became true Shakti and all other powers of tradition and culture she rejected. This way led to her to the spiritual heights making her a mystic. Thus we can see that akka mahadevi had two aspects i. e. initial rejection as rebel and later acceptance as mystic saint. Nobody knows exactly for how many years Akka Mahadevi lived. According to one popular belief she lived only twenty-five years. Within this small span of life the achievement she did, the area she had covered from Udatadi to Srisail and the great spiritual personalities she met is something amazing. No other Indian social activist achieves the parallel position with Akka in this regard. It is sure that physically she lived a very short life but spiritually she did surpass the common level. The historians are of the opinion that Akka only in a true sense represents the whole vachana movement, which is in swing till the time present. The vachanas she wrote is a gem of divine thought. These few Vachanas of Mahadevi gives us the insights into the unique psychology of God –intoxication of this blessed saint. Even linguistically they achieve an everlasting place. Each phase of her life was a step towards the emancipation of not only of womanhood but also of the mankind. She was sure footed in her radical combat with the age-old norms of the society. She lived for the life enlightened and the life divine. Akka is a guiding spirit behind all the women activists, irrespective of the age and space. One should be thankful to the womankind, which has given â€Å"the Sappho of Greece, the Theresa of Christianity, the Lalleshwari of Kashmir, the Rubia of Arabia, the ‘Andal’ of Tamilnadu, the Meera of Rajasthan. † No doubt all they are incomparable individuals in their life and achievement. BIBLIOGRAPHY Deshpande, M. S. â€Å"Akka Mahadevi: St. Mira of Karnataka. † Pathway to God: A Journal of Spiritual Life 10, 1 (November 1975), 21-26. Hampana, Kamala. Akka Mahadevi. Bangalore: Sapna Book House, 2002. ambahouse. org/akkamahadevi. html ourkarnataka. com/religion/akka_mathapati. htm scrollindia. com/women-zone/akka-mahadevi-kannada-seer-poet. Patil, S. H. Community Dominance and Political Modernization. Delhi: A Mittal Publication, 2002 Shastry, G. V. Akka Mahadeviya Vachanagalu. Gadag: Paru Prakashan, 1999. Umadevi, S. Akka Mahadeviyavara Vachanagalu. Hubli: Lalit Prakashana, 200.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Hurricane Etymology

Hurricane Etymology Unlike most words that Spanish and English share because of their shared history with Latin, hurricane came to English directly from Spanish, where it is currently spelled huracn. But Spanish explorers and conquerers first picked up the word from Taino, an Arawak language from the Caribbean. According to most authorities, the Taino word huracan meant simply storm, although some less reliable sources indicate that it also referred to a storm god or an evil spirit. This word was a natural one for the Spanish explorers and conquerors to pick up from the indigenous population, since winds as strong as the hurricanes of the Caribbean were an unusual weather phenomenon for them. Use of ‘Hurricane’ and Huracn The fact that the Spaniards introduced the word to the English language is the reason that our word hurricane generally refers to tropical cyclones that have their origin in the Caribbean or Atlantic. When the same type of storm has its origin in the Pacific, it is known as a typhoon (originally a Greek word), or  tifà ³n  in Spanish. There is a slight difference in the way the storms are categorized in the languages, however. In Spanish, a  tifà ³n  generally is considered to be a  huracn  that forms in the Pacific, while in English hurricane and typhoon are considered to be separate types of storms, even though the only difference is where they form. In both languages, the word can be used to refer figuratively to anything that is powerful and causes turmoil. In Spanish,  huracn  can also be used to refer to a particularly impetuous person. At the time the Spanish language adopted this word, the h was pronounced (it is silent now) and was sometimes used interchangeably with f. So the same word in Portuguese became furaco, and in the late 1500s the English word was sometimes spelled forcane. Numerous other spellings were used until the word was firmly established at the end of the 16th century; Shakespeare used the spelling of hurricano to refer to a waterspout. The word huracn is not capitalized  when referring to named storms. It is used as in this sentence: El huracn Ana trajo lluvias intensas. (Hurricane Ana brought heavy rains.) Other Spanish Weather Terms in English Hurricane isnt the only Spanish weather term that has found its way into English. The most common of them, tornado, is especially interesting because of the way the two languages played off each other. The Strange Story of ‘Tornado’ and Tornado Although English got its word tornado from Spanish, Spanish surprisingly got its word tornado from English. Thats because the Spanish word that English borrowed wasnt tornado but tronada, a word for a thunderstorm. As is common in etymology, words often change form when imported into another language. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the change of -ro- to -or- was influenced by the spelling of tornar, a Spanish verb meaning to turn. Although tornado in English originally referred to various types of whirlwinds or rotary storms, including hurricanes, in the United States the word eventually came to refer primarily to a type of funneled windstorm common in the U.S. Midwest. In modern Spanish, tornado, borrowed from English, can still refer to various kinds of storms and whirlwinds, including hurricanes. A windstorm on the scale of a tornado, or smaller such as a whirlwind, can also be called a torbellino. Derecho Another type of storm phenomenon is known as a derecho, a direct borrowing of the Spanish derecho, which can, confusingly to foreigners, mean either right (as an adjective) or straight. In this context, it is the second meaning that matters. A derecho refers to a cluster of thunderstorms that travels in a straight line and is capable of causing great destruction. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, Gustavus Hinrichs of the Iowa Weather Service started using the term in the late 1800s to avoid confusing a certain type of storm system with tornadoes. Key Takeaways The English word hurricane started out as an indigenous Caribbean terms that was adopted into Spanish and then spread to English via Spanish explorers and conquerors.Because the word hurricane came from the Caribbean, a different term is used for the same type of storm when occurring in the Pacific Ocean.The weather terms tornado and derecho also come from Spanish.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Analysis of Three Selected Poems by Robert Frost Research Paper

Analysis of Three Selected Poems by Robert Frost - Research Paper Example After his death, life became tough for the family and they moved to live with their grandfather who used to live in Lawrence, Massachusetts. His mother then supported her children by working as a teacher in a school. In the year 1892, Frost completed his graduation from the Lawrence High School where he developed a liking for poetry. His poems were published in his school magazine. His first official work was ‘My Butterfly: An Elegy’ which appeared in the New York Independent in the year 1894. This was the beginning of his career as a poet. In the following year, Robert Frost got married to Elinor Miriam White. Frost took up different professions which included farming as well as teaching. He was unsuccessful in these and he finally sold the farm for a journey to England. In 1912, he settled in Beaconsfield, a small town outside London. This is where he found the fascination for rural life and nature, which became the chief ingredients for his poetry. After a year of his arrival in England, he started walking towards the path of success as his poems became successful. He published his first book of poetry ‘A boy’s will.’ The book was welcomed by the public and notable poets of the time. He has written many famous poems which include the Oven Bird, The Road Not Taken and The Gift Outright. An analysis of these poems assists in understanding the theme of the poems (Francis 2004; Thompson 1959). The Oven Bird In this poem, Frost uses the sobriquet of the Oven Bird that sings beautifully in the jungle, sending the message of the changing seasons. But a point comes when the bird stops singing. The poem follows two important themes. It presents the theme of modernism and the destruction of nature owing to this. He also uses the different seasons to explain the life of a man and the aspect of ageing. With the assistance of the poem, Frost tries to convey the message that modernism had sucked out all the simple joys of life. Everything is losing its natural gleam and machines are taking over, making life fast and self-centered. For the poet, the lofty purpose of life is lost. For him, the height of life’s purpose existed in the classical era. Like many poets of his time, Frost believed that life’s joys were lost as man moved away from nature. Frost was a true admirer of nature and he believed that nature was not being preserved. The second idea that is presented in the poem is that of ageing and death. The seasonal changes depict the changes in the life of the people. The season of spring is indicative of the youth of an individual which serves as the peak in every human beings life. But despite of all these changes, ageing and death are unavoidable. The word â€Å"diminished† in the last line of the poem clearly reveals the fact of mortality and explains that everything has to end and death is the ultimate end. Robert Frost, thus, shows the different phases of life with the assistance of the seasons. A student of Robert Frost Sydney Cox used to refer to Frost by calling him â€Å"The Oven Bird.† It was implied by him that the poem was indicative of the life of Robert Frost himself. Cox believed that Frost had reflected his personality in the poem and at the same time he had discussed the issue of the damage that was being brought to nature. He indicated that Frost was actually