Volcano Mount Vesusius Essays - Volcanology, Mount Somma

Volcano Mount Vesusius Essays - Volcanology, Mount Somma Volcano Mount Vesusius Mount Vesuvius is a volcano located in southern Italy, near the bay of Naples and the city of Naples. It is the only active volcano on the European mainland. Vesuvius rises to a height of 1277 m (4190 ft). Vesuvio (Vesuvius) is probably the most famous volcano on earth, and is one of the most dangerous. Mount Vesuvius is a strato-volcano consisting of a volcanic cone (Gran Cono) that was built within a summit caldera (Mount Somma). The Somma-Vesuvius complex has formed over the last 25,000 years by means of a sequence of eruptions of variable explosiveness, ranging from the quiet lava outpourings that characterized much of the latest activity (for example from 1881 to 1899 and from 1926 to 1930) to the explosive Plinian eruptions, including the one that destroyed Pompeii and killed thousands of people in 79 A.D. At least seven Plinian eruptions have been identified in the eruptive history of Somma-Vesuvius (1). Each was preceded by a long period of stillness, which in the case of the 79 A.D. eruption lasted about 700 years. These eruptions were fed by viscous water-rich phonotitic to tephritic phonolitic magmas that appear to have differentiated in shallow crustal conditions. They are believed to have slowly filled a reservoir where differentiation was driven by compositional convection. A minimum depth of about 3 km was inferred for the top of the magmatic reservoir from mineral equilibria of metamorphic carbonate ejecta (2). Fluid inclusions ([CO.sub.2] and [H.sub.2]O-[CO.sub.2]) in clinopyroxenes from cumulate and nodules indicate a trapping pressure of 1.0 to 2.5 kbar at about 1200 [degrees]C, suggesting that these minerals crystallized at depths of 4 to 10 km (3). The differentiated magma fraction was about 30% of the total magma in the reservoir, and a volume of about 2 to 3 [km.sup.3] was inferred for the reservoir (4). The magma ascent to the surface occurred through a conduit of possibly 70 to 100 m in diameter (5). A thermal model predicts that such a reservoir should contain a core of partially molten magma (6) that can be detected by high-resolution seismic tomography. The earliest outcropping volcanic deposits date back to about 25,000 years ago. The lavas observed at a -1125 m bore-hole are about 0,3-0,5 million years old. It is known for the first eruption of which an eyewitness account is preserved, in 79 AD. Geologically, Vesuvio is unique for its unusual versatility. Its activity ranging from Hawaiian-style release of liquid lava, fountaining and lava lakes, over Strombolian and Vulcanian activity to violently explosive, plinian events that produce pyroclastic flows and surges. Vesuvius is a complex volcano. A complex volcano is an extensive assemblage of spatially, temporally, and genetically related major and minor [volcanic] centers with there associated lava flows and pyroclastic flows. Vesuvius has a long history. The oldest dated rock from the volcano is about 300,000 years old. It was collected from a well drilled near the volcano and was probably part of the Somma volcano. After Somma collapsed about 17,000 years ago, Vesuvius began to form. Four types of eruption have been documented: a) Plinian (AD 79, Pompeii type) events with widespread air fall and major pyroclastic surges and flows; b) sub-Plinian to Plinian, more moderately sized eruptions (AD 472, 1631) with heavy tephra falls around the volcano and pyroclastic flows and surges; c) small to medium-sized, Strombolian to Vulcanian eruptions (numerous events during the 1631-1944 cycle, such as 1906 and 1944) with local heavy tephra falls and major lava flows and small pyroclastic avalanches res tricted to the active cone itself. The fourth type it is the smallest of all eruption types observed at Vesuvio. It is the persistent Strombolian to Hawaiian style eruption that characterizes almost all of an eruptive sub-cycle, such as was the case during the period 1913-1944. Activity of this kind is mainly restricted to the central crater where one or more intracrateral cones form, and to the sides of the cone. Lava flows from the summit crater or from the sub terminal vents extend beyond the cone's base. A somewhat particular kind of persistent activity is the slow release of large amounts of lava from sub terminal fractures to form thick piles of lava with little lateral extension, such

Auditing for Good Analytical Research

The accounting methodology is as old as most of our basic mathematics that we practice in our daily life. Its importance has played a key role in the financial industry ever since the era of banking industry had commenced. From the past till today accounting is often reflected as auditing for a huge amount of ransom, assets and any other entity which add value to an individual or organization.   With the heavy involvement of the financial industry, thus, it is essential for accounting to integrated policies, standards, protocols and other ethics to have better control of practices with high integrity which classifies into a single term, internal control. Referring to the above quote, the author`s view of internal accounting control may seem to provide more favourable arguments rather than against. But no ideology can be perfect. Firstly, this essay will contribute a fair illustration of the relationship between strong accounting system and legal practices. Then, the importance of t he existence of internal controls. Lastly, it will instigate the beneficial and loosing arguments of internal accounting controls referring to the best practice preferred by the organization. Internal control can be described as a process through which the organizations are able to coordinate the activities and put a bar on the fraudulent activities by the management, as well as the employees (KSU, 2016). For an effective planning, as well as control it is essential to have a well-defined internal control mechanism that will trace the deficiencies and bring transparency in the working. The element of internal control is assessed during the planning stage of the audit of a financial statement (Gilbert et. al, 2005). The outcome of the impact is directly in tune to the auditor’s stage of testing in detail.   To lessen detailed testing, the organization needs to have a strong system of an internal control. Internal controls are part and parcel of organization policies that pertains to finance and business. It comprises of all the actions undertaken by the management for the safeguard of the resources in terms of waste, fraud, and efficiency (KSU, 2016). Secondly, it helps in bringing accuracy, as well as reliability in accounting and operation of data. Thirdly, it enables a strong compliance with the regulations set by the organization (Hoffelder, 2012). Lastly, it helps in assessment of the performance of all the units of the organization. Internal control is simply a good practice that steers the business in an ethical manner. The internal control system is put into practice by the management or the ones who are entrusted with the duty of ensuring strong governance. It ensures that the compliance is done in terms of rules and regulations (Schaeffer, 2006). Moreover, it leads to efficiency in terms of operational efficiency. This can be possible when the internal control system is put into implementation through elements or subsystems and are termed as the components of an internal control system. It has five major components: This simply means a well-equipped environment of the entity where the operations of the business happen. A controlled environment enables strong control and keeps the wrong practices at bay. For example, if the organization is authentic and strict towards the false practices then the employees will fear in any kind of falsehood. This will ensure commitment and keep the fraud away (Manoharan, 2011).   Moreover, an auditor needs to have a proper understanding of the environment and determine whether it is implemented by the management and the behavior. One of the major roles of internal control is to trace and rectify the misstatements. Further, it needs to be noted that management will not wait for the happening of the misstatement rather it will find a measure to detect and correct it (Ingram, 2016). The entity develops the process of risk assessment that helps in identification of the material misstatement (ACCA, 2016). The auditor obtains a clear notion of how the process of risk evaluation process is working and whether it is shedding light on the risks that are expected, the influence of such a risk, an event of happening of such a risk and decision that pertains to such a risk (Harrington, 2003). Information has assumed a vital place in the space of business environment. When an audit engagement happens, an auditor adds to his understanding of the information, as well as a system of communication that is one of the elements of the accounting system (Ingram, 2016).   But, it is not always alike as the accounting system. It I described as the system through which the management develops a link with the internal and external environment. Controls are mechanisms that are implemented by the management to ensure that the financial information is reliable. An apt example is that of the debtors that cannot be written off without the consent of the finance director or any other relevant person. In a similar scenario, credit sales cannot be done until a recommendation is taken from the credit control department (Schaeffer, 2006). Such activities do not constitute authorization.   A need to enter the password in certain modules of an information system is a classic example of the information system. The last element of an internal control system is the process of monitoring. It can be treated as a service that is inbuilt to the system of internal control and evaluates the skills of an internal control system. The process of monitoring is done by evaluating the internal control operation that pertains to the current period and assessments that are separate in nature that includes routine and non-routine checks (Christensen, 2011). Such an evaluation requires external information like the feedback of the customer. Hence, the ones who are entrusted with the responsibility of governance take an appropriate step so that any risk or material misstatement is warded off with ease and flexibility. Internal control system will lessen the amount of audit work and this will have a positive impact because the auditors will be able to use system based audit that will enhance the level of audit work. Moreover, the presence of a strong internal control mechanism reduces the chances of frauds, as well as errors and will bring new supervision (ACCA, 2016). This will accelerate custody and the third party liability will be minimized bringing a great deal of speed and accuracy. Secondly, internal control lessens the audit evidence that needs to be produced as it enhances the audit evidence to be present within the business. This helps to frame a view that leads to speed and evidence (ACCA, 2016). Moreover, the presence of this control system solidifies the audit evidence that needs to be gathered. It reduces the work overload and reduces the time that is needed to prepare a report (Kruger, 2015). Last but not the least it provides a strong internal function that enables the auditor to focus more on the problem and facilitate the work. Further, it facilitates the company’s assets. The presence of internal control might lead to error and fraud because at times the major reliance is on the strength of internal control and this exposes the auditor to the liabilities that is civil in nature. Secondly, the presence of internal control lessens the volume of scrutiny that needs to be done by the auditor leading to smaller samples hence, leaving another area prone to fraud and problems.   Collusion, as well as manipulation might lead to mismanagement and hence, a biased report might occur. Further, the vigilance of an auditor is reduced owing to the internal control and hence, impacts the audit quality. It has the chances of being abused by the internal auditor through collision with the management. Gamers Den is situated in Cambridge (United States) and has a huge selection of games. It is strongly involved in providing an environment that is safe and friendly for the community at large. People can come and play their favourite games. The availability of a dedicated area makes it one of the best places to be in. Many events are even conducted that that attracts and accommodates various players. This keeps the store busy. Further, the presence of less number of employees makes it less complicated. The current internal control mechanism of the gamer den is straightforward. Two game designers are involved in the process that is designed, as well as promotion. On the other hand, two main assistants are present that is Phil and Amy and another employee is ELLA. The policies that the company follows are weak in terms of an internal control. During the hours of business, an amount of less than 50$ can be withdrawn from the cash register. Credit sales are available with a defined time period and according to the customer comfort that is weak in nature. Further, a single cash register is present that lacks all the entries and physical stock counting I unavailable. Moreover, a problem with the physical counting of the stock has appeared. Therefore, cash is collected and remains in the office till a person deposits it to a bank. Further staffs have an access to borrow iPad, laptops, etc. and there is no trace of the current items. A strong system that needs to be developed for Gamers Den will require a proper number of stuff. When the number of employees will be more, the work responsibility will be divided that will lessen the pressure (Lapsley, 2012). Further, the internal control must be structured in a manner that will lead to proper allocation of person who can shoulder the responsibility. In the present system, there is no availability of financial records and information lacks reliability. The accounting control will be a boon to the business. The system of accounting control will help the organization in many ways (Kaplan, 2011). The system of inventory will be maintained in a proper manner, before the issue of stock the authorization and approval will be needed. Further, budgetary control will aid the organization that will enhance the profit with the sales volume. The review of assets will be easier and hence, variances can be traced. The above report provides a clear cut indication that internal control is vital in the smooth running of the organization. It leads to a strong control over the activities that is not witnessed in an organization that lacks internal control. Therefore, internal control brings a wide variety of advantages that helps in steering the business. This leads to a strong momentum and helps the organization as a whole. When internal control is into practice it leads to an enhanced level of accountability and responsibility. ACCA 2016, Audit working papers, viewed 15 October 2016 https://www.accaglobal.com/in/en/student/exam-support-resources/fundamentals-exams-study-resources/f8/technical-articles/effective-audit-service.html ACCA 2016, The new Auditor report, viewed 15 October 2016 https://www.accaglobal.com/in/en/student/exam-support-resources/fundamentals-exams-study-resources/f8/technical-articles/auditor-report.html ACCA 2016, F8 Audit and Assurance aims and update, viewed 15 October 2016   https://www.accaglobal.com/ie/en/student/exam-support-resources/fundamentals-exams-study-resources/f8.html Christensen, J. 2011, ‘Good analytical research,’ European Accounting Review, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 41-51 Gilbert, W. Joseph J and Terry J. E 2005, The Use of Control Self-Assessment by Independent Auditors, The CPA Journal, vol.3, pp. 66-92 Harrington N 2003,   Risk Management & Insurance, McGraw- Hill Education (I) Ltd. Hoffelder, K 2012, New Audit Standard Encourages More Talking, Harvard Press. Ingram, D 2016, What Are the Seven Internal Control Procedures in Accounting?, viewed 15 October, 2016, https://smallbusiness.chron.com/seven-internal-control-procedures-accounting-76070.html Kaplan, R.S. 2011, Accounting scholarship that advances professional knowledge and practice, The Accounting Review, vol. 86, no. 2, pp.   367–383. Kruger, P 2015, Corporate goodness and shareholder wealth, Journal of Financial economics, pp. 304-329 KSU 2016, Internal Audit, viewed 15 October 2016 https://www.k-state.edu/internalaudit/internal-controls/ Lapsley, I. 2012, Commentary: Financial Accountability & Management, Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 291-292. Manoharan, T.N. 2011, Financial Statement Fraud and Corporate Governance,   The George Washington University. Schaeffer,M 2006, Internal control breakdown study, viewed 15 October 2016 https://www.aicpastore.com/Content/media/PRODUCER_CONTENT/Newsletters/Articles_2009/CorpFin/IntControls_Breakdown.jsp Getting academic assistance from

Cell biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cell biology - Essay Example 2010). Without ECM, higher life forms such as mammals, or truly any multi-cellular organism, could not possibly exist. When issues occur with the ECM, though, many problems can then arise. This is seen through the role of the ECM in two pathological states: healing after myocardial infarction, and the degenerative phase of multiple sclerosis. Extracellular Matrix in Healthy Mammals The definition of ECM is extremely broad, now more so than in past years. As it is currently defined in the scientific literature, ECM includes â€Å"all secreted molecules that are immobilized outside cells† (van Horssen et al. 2007). Every body tissue has ECM between the cells. In every case, the ECM plays some vital role in the functioning of that tissue. For example, the ECM of the lens of the eyes is responsible for cellular contraction. Cellular contraction, in turn, is what regulates growth rate of the cells on the surface of the eye (Wormstone 2004). The ECM of the periodontal ligament, comm only known as the gum between the jawbone and teeth, is extremely strong. Without it, the teeth would not be able to remain attached to the jawbone, which is vital to the development and maintenance of the bony jaw. This tissue gains such strength mainly through the levels of the collagen type I protein, which are extremely high in the ECM of the periodontal ligament (Bildt et al. 2009). One specialized type of ECM is the the basement membrane. Recently, the role of the basement membrane has been expanded past its previous place as a simple structural feature. This membrane has been shown to be an extremely important regulator of cell behaviour. It helps control tissue compartmentalization and â€Å"sends signals to epithelial cells about the external microenvironment†, telling the cells where to grown and how (Kalluri 2003). Balance between creation of new extracellular matrix and its degradation is required for the maintenance of healthy body tissues. This is accomplished t hrough production of matrix metalloproteinases, or MMPs, which are enzymes produced to break down this matrix. The cells which produce these MMPs are known as fibroblasts. Conversely, fibroblasts are also responsible for the synthesis of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. These inhibitors, known as TIMPs, unsurprisingly impede the degradation activity of the MMPs (Bildt et al. 2009). ECM is also responsible for another process in the maintenance of healthy tissue: apoptosis. ECM regulates apoptosis, or programmed cell death, through intracellular signalling (van Horssen et al. 2007). Extracellular matrix could be used as biological scaffolding material for regenerative medicine (Badylak et al. 2009). It can be â€Å"decellularized† and the ECM alone used to support new transplanted cells (Soto-Gutierrez et al. 2010). Also relevant to regenerative medicine is the fact that ECM has â€Å"constructive remodeling† capability, though the mechanism behind this is not y et fully understood (Badylak et al. 2009) ECM seems like the Holy Grail of biological scaffolding, as it can be constructed and then completely degraded through â€Å"bioactive molecules† that are produced naturally within the body (Badylak 2007). Functioning of the ECM in Disease States With the extremely broad and vital roles played by the

Genetically Modified Organisms, Nutritious Foods Research Paper

Genetically Modified Organisms, Nutritious Foods - Research Paper Example Polan (394) supports genetic engineering by noting that it has come up with bananas and tomatoes that produce the vaccine. He goes ahead to note that genetic engineering produces crops like New leaves that can protect themselves from pest without the need for pesticides. The two qualities floated above help protect the environment from air and water pollution which is brought about by the chemicals present in the pesticides used to get rid of pests in the farms. The chemicals find a way into the ecosystem and can bring about detrimental effects to the soil by degrading it, air by affecting respiratory tracks of humans and hydrology by entering the hydrology cycle. GMO hence help reduce the use of these harmful pesticides. Polan uses the above statement to refer to the tight competition that apples face from other sugary food in the market. He notes that ‘And in a culture of easy sweetness apples now had to compete with every other kind of sugary snack food in the supermarketâ⠂¬â„¢ (136). He even goes ahead to note that Red and Golden delicious known for their exceptional sweetness came to dominate the monoculture that the orchards had become. The above statements imply that the breeders who produce sugary apples that compete with junk food rely heavily on the two breeds of apple that is, Red and Golden Delicious. â€Å"A century ago there were several thousand different varieties of the apple in commerce.† (137). Polan says that all these have a common parentage of either of the following breeds: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Mackintosh and Cox’s Orange Pippin.

Alzheimers The Unsolved Mystery Essay -- essays research papers fc

Alzheimer's: The Unsolved Mystery   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Absentmindedness, with questions having to be repeated, trouble following conversations, or remembering people's names, sound familiar? These are classic early stage symptoms of Alzheimer's.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alzheimer's is a type of dementia in which parts of the brain stop working, causing memory loss, and instability in judgement, reasoning and emotions. Dementia, such as Alzheimer's is usually more frequent in elderly people. Approximately 15 percent of people who are over 65 will develop some form of dementia; by the age of 85 that percentage increases by at least 35 percent. Alzheimer's is the most common dementia, nearly four million Americans suffer from it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alzheimer's is a very complex disease. So complex that very little has been discovered about it but that is rapidly changing. Findings from epidemiology, genetics, molecular and cell biology are fitting together in the Alzheimer's puzzle, helping researchers to identify some of the mechanisms that underlie it. Alzheimer's starts because the normal processing of certain proteins goes terribly wrong. This causes brain cells and the spaces between them to be cluttered with pieces of toxic protein. Closer investigating with microscopes has revealed a loss of nerve cells in certain regions of the brain. Some of these dying nerve cells communicate using the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, these compounds eventually break down by an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase. Also responsible for Alzheimer's are clusters of proteins in the brain which come in two forms: those found inside the nerve cells and those found in between the cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The clusters inside the cells look like pairs of threads wound around each other in a helix. The tangles consist of a protein called tau. Tau binds to another protein called tubulin. Tubulin then forms structures called microtubules which run through cells, giving support and shape. Also the microtubules provide pathways for nutrients and other molecules to travel through.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main problem is that researchers can't quite figure out how Alzheimer's is started. Some the leads are its inherited genetically, is caused by major head injury, poor earl... ... on this amazingly complex disease. The BAPP theory only accounts for five percent of all Alzheimer's cases. Some may believe that this is a small step in uncovering the mystery of Alzheimer's but I believe it will be a huge one after its throughly examined. The BAPP discovery should help open the door for Alzheimer's and reveal more about how the disease functions and what exactly causes it. For those people who are infected with the disease they can only sit in agony and hope that a more powerful insight is made for the sake of future generations. It is believed that by 2025 more than 22 million people world wide will be infected with Alzheimer's and as the average life span lengthens the percentage only gets steeper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alzheimer's is the worst kind of disease. It not only infects the being with which it is in but it also affects the people who know and love that person. For mankind's sake hopefully more work will be put into establishing a cure for this awful dementia. Bibliography:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Author: Peter H. ST. George-Hyslop , Scientific American, December 2000   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Alzheimers The Unsolved Mystery Essay -- essays research papers fc Alzheimer's: The Unsolved Mystery   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Absentmindedness, with questions having to be repeated, trouble following conversations, or remembering people's names, sound familiar? These are classic early stage symptoms of Alzheimer's.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alzheimer's is a type of dementia in which parts of the brain stop working, causing memory loss, and instability in judgement, reasoning and emotions. Dementia, such as Alzheimer's is usually more frequent in elderly people. Approximately 15 percent of people who are over 65 will develop some form of dementia; by the age of 85 that percentage increases by at least 35 percent. Alzheimer's is the most common dementia, nearly four million Americans suffer from it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alzheimer's is a very complex disease. So complex that very little has been discovered about it but that is rapidly changing. Findings from epidemiology, genetics, molecular and cell biology are fitting together in the Alzheimer's puzzle, helping researchers to identify some of the mechanisms that underlie it. Alzheimer's starts because the normal processing of certain proteins goes terribly wrong. This causes brain cells and the spaces between them to be cluttered with pieces of toxic protein. Closer investigating with microscopes has revealed a loss of nerve cells in certain regions of the brain. Some of these dying nerve cells communicate using the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, these compounds eventually break down by an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase. Also responsible for Alzheimer's are clusters of proteins in the brain which come in two forms: those found inside the nerve cells and those found in between the cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The clusters inside the cells look like pairs of threads wound around each other in a helix. The tangles consist of a protein called tau. Tau binds to another protein called tubulin. Tubulin then forms structures called microtubules which run through cells, giving support and shape. Also the microtubules provide pathways for nutrients and other molecules to travel through.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main problem is that researchers can't quite figure out how Alzheimer's is started. Some the leads are its inherited genetically, is caused by major head injury, poor earl... ... on this amazingly complex disease. The BAPP theory only accounts for five percent of all Alzheimer's cases. Some may believe that this is a small step in uncovering the mystery of Alzheimer's but I believe it will be a huge one after its throughly examined. The BAPP discovery should help open the door for Alzheimer's and reveal more about how the disease functions and what exactly causes it. For those people who are infected with the disease they can only sit in agony and hope that a more powerful insight is made for the sake of future generations. It is believed that by 2025 more than 22 million people world wide will be infected with Alzheimer's and as the average life span lengthens the percentage only gets steeper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alzheimer's is the worst kind of disease. It not only infects the being with which it is in but it also affects the people who know and love that person. For mankind's sake hopefully more work will be put into establishing a cure for this awful dementia. Bibliography:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Author: Peter H. ST. George-Hyslop , Scientific American, December 2000   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Dance Elements Essay

Literal meaning of the word kathak is related to katha, the art of story-telling, â€Å"Katha Kahe So Kathaka Kahave†, which means â€Å"one who tells a story is a story-teller†. According to M. Monier Williams, Katha denotes conversation, story, speech, tale or fable. Katha also means to ‘ sing in praise’, ‘to say or inform something’. Thus, kathakars were originally a caste of story-tellers who were attached to temples in certain parts of Northern India. These kathakars used to go around the countryside narrating the stories of the Epics and other Legends. The modes employed were poetry, music and dance. All these three arts were closely inter-linked. The aim of kathaks was to educate the people in the knowledge of Gods and Mythological Legends. Historically kathak dates back to the Vedic period which are full of descriptions and stories which give us an insight into the mind of those who wrote or composed jthem. Kathak dance is evolved from religious and mythological concepts. In Ramayana period, we can see many glimpses of music and dance. The Ramayana tells the story of an ideal heroic prince Rama of Ayodhya and his devoted wife Sita. This ancient tale has been treasured and retold for countless generation in every Hindu house; they worshipped Rama as the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In Ramayana we find a mention of recitors who were specialised in story-telling. Lava and Kusha, the two brave sons of Rama rendered Ramayana in verses composed by Sage Valmiki. While reciting the stories, they also added the element of acting-Abhinaya. From that time nomadic bards who narrated the Ramayana were known as ‘Kushilavas’. As a matter of fact, the term kushilavas has been associated with dancers and actors. Likewise, many mythological stories were depicted through gestures, postures and abhinaya. The another story of Ramayana which tells us that how Ravana, the king of Lanka worshipped Lord Shiva with song and dance. Also the story of Ravana assaulting Rambha, one of the main Apsaras. According to Kapila Vatsyayan, in Ramayana, the Apsaras are the most important mythological characters who danced and performed both in heaven and earth. There are various other instances like the stories of the grand act of breaking Shiva’s bow in â€Å"Sita Swayamvar†, the evil plotting of Kaikayee, the Banishment of Rama to a fourteen-year exile, Sita’s kidnapping by Ravana and the war that ensued leading to Rama’s victory and Sita’s rescue. Thus, Ramayana is rich in incident and moral concept. We come across many references to perfomances of dances from the Mahabharata. In this period, worship and adoration of Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh started with music and dance. Krishna is the ‘Sutradhara’ (around whom the entire Mahabharata developed) and he was an expert dancer. The Mahabharata depicts episodes of Krishna’s life that how he is adopted and raised by a family of cowherds. The stories of his childhood of stealing butter and milkmaids known as â€Å"MakhanChori†. His dance of his youth with Radha and Braj narees is known as â€Å"Rasa Lila†. His spiritual love dance with Gopis or Milkmaids by the bank of Yamuna river in moonlit night is known as â€Å"MahaRaas†. The story of â€Å"Kaliya Daman† which tells us how Krishna defeated the poisonous snake Kaliya and danced on his hoods. The story of â€Å"Govardhan Dharan† which tells us how krishna picked and hold the Govardhan mountain to protect the people of Vrindavan from heavy rain. Another important episode of Mahabharata is known as â€Å"Vastraharan†, in which Krishna saves the honour of the Pandava Queen Draupadi. The story goes that Dushasana, one of the Kaurava brothers attempted to humilate her by disrobing her. Draupadi called out to Krishna to save her and miraculously, as layer after layer of her saree was pulled, the number of sarees went on increasing. This episode is a popular theme in Kathak dance. Mahabharata also depicts the story of the five Pandava brothers who were unjustly deprived of their kingdom by their cousins, the kauravas, and of the great battle of Kurukshetra that established the victory of the Pandavas after much suffering and bloodshed. The Mahabharata also describes Krishna’s role as the Charioteer of Arjuna during the battle of Kurukshetra, and his conversation on the battlefield constitutes the text of the Bhagavad-Gita, the celebrated philosophical work. Thus, it is clear that by the time of Mahabharata, the arts of music and dance developed sufficient content, form, style to be taught in a systematic order. The training also seems to be elaborate with rules and regulations. Natyashastra is an encyclopedic work having 36 chapters and it deals with various topics such as the first 3 chapters deal with the origin of Natya, construction of theatre, Rangapooja, etc. , 4th and 5th chapters deal with the varieties of Dance. The 6th and 7th deal with Rasa and Bhava. From the 8th chapter of the 15th one, the different poses of Dance are being dealt with. The different aspects of Abhinaya are described in 15 to 22 and from 22nd to 28th describe the costumes elaborately. The chapters from 28th to 34 deal with music and musical instruments and the last two deal with the different characters and costumes. Natyashastra also describes the divine character and dance of the Nataraja, the dancing Lord Shiva who is considered the king of actors and dancers and also the supreme Lord of Dance. The moon which he adorns in his head is the symbol complete control of his senses. The serpents wound around his body is the proof of his complete control over vital life forces. His foot raised high over the wicked demon, a symbol of victory over the ego. This divine art form is performed by Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati. The Dance performed Lord Shiva is known as â€Å"Tandava†, which depicts his violent nature as the destructor of the Universe. The Dance performed by Goddess Parvati is known as â€Å"Lasya†, in which the movements are gentle, graceful, erotic and it is also called the feminine version of Tandava. Therefore, according to Kapila Vatsyayan, Bharata attributes to dancing a divine origin, a literary and religious heritage both in thought and technique and aesthetic secular purpose. It has also been mentioned in Natyashastra, how to interpret the different moods of man accompanied by Bhava, Raga and Tal – all directed to create rasa or emotion in the spectators who are called â€Å"Rasikaas†. From the 7th and 8th century, â€Å"Sangeet† occupied a prominent place in the society. The art of sculptures also made great strides and most of the sculptures depicted various dance poses. Temples were the places of origin whereas the dancers or the priests danced in praise of the Lord enacting various mythological stories. Temples sprang up where the devotees gathered to pray to the Almighty God or hear stories about Him. The Temple connection is well established as can be seen in the art of â€Å"Kathavachakas† who carry on the tradition to this day in the North in the Temple boundaries and in open spaces. With the passage of time, in the medieval period, the Bhakti movement influenced all over India. The vast spiritual empire established by Vaishnavism in the North embraces life in its totality. The fine arts found a fuller expression by the 15th and the 16th centuries A. D. Literature, music, dance, painting and other fine arts flourished with the patronage extended by the temples, priests and devotees. In particular the Rasa Lilas in Braj and the neighbouring areas of Mathura in the North sustained the tradition that centered round Vishnu and his recognization as Krishna. The Bhakti movement inspired a whole new school of poetry, dance and music. Krishna and radha are the presiding deities of Vaishnavism and it was on the basis of Leelas of Krishna that precious and distinctive art heritage of Vaishnavism was built up. Mirabai, Surdas and Tulsidas for e. g. wrote powerful devotional verses on longing and separation, expressing the yearning of the human soul for union with God. They chosen the themes was the love of radha for krishna. Krishna Leela though brought out in high relief by Vaishnavism but it had its origin in the past and it can be traced easily to the periods of Mahabharata and Bhasa. In Braj, the Rasa lila’s developed as a combination of music, dance and narration that was used to enact the Krishna Legends – especially the Radha-Krishna idea and stories of Krishna’s youth with the gopis or milkmaids. Hence, the earliest compositions in kathak were based on the religious and stylised music of North India, notably the Dhrupad, Keertan, Hori, Dhamar, Pad and Bhajan. According to Mohan Khokar, Keertans are similar style to dhrupad, but they may, unlike the latter, also be sung in chorus. Keertan is a spiritual practice belonging to the path of Bhakti (devotion). Keertan more specifically means the chanting of sacred sounds or mantras. The Rasa Lila miracle plays of Braj were formerly staged to the accompaniment of keertan music only. Keertans were meant both for singing and dancing. Whereas Bhajans are strictly devotional songs and are in praise of deities such as Krishna, Shiva, Rama, Ganesha, Durga, etc. The songs are rendered in ragas, but improvised tunes are also freely used. Stories and episodes from scriptures, the teachings of saints and description of Gods have all been the subject of Bhajan. Bhajans of Mirabai, Tulsidas, Surdas, Kabir, the Ashtachhap poets and other composers are a part of kathak repertoire. Some of the Famous Bhajans of Mirabai is the following: â€Å"Baso more nanun mein nandlal, Mor mukut makrakrit kundal, arun tilak diyo bhal, Mohni murat – saavari surat, naina bane bisaal, Adhar sudha – ras murli rajat, ur baijanti maal. Chhudra ghantika kati tat sobhit, nupur sabad rasaal, Mira’ prabhu santan sukhdai, bhagat – bachhal gopal† With the advent of the Mughals, the Hindustani music underwent a drastic change. The stylised music absorbed the Mughal influence in a remarkable manner. The dancers moved from the temple courtyard to the palace dubar and this necessitated changes in presentation as Muslim kings could not enjoy the bhava of Bhakti Rasa. Kathak received encouragement at the hands of Nawabs and Rajas. Whereas formerly it was religious and devotional in mood and temperament, now it turned into a means of entertainment. The forms like Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal evolved and became a part of the Hindustani music. The word â€Å"Thumri† has been derived from a combination of two terms i. e. ‘thumak’ (or the chaal) and ‘rijhana’ (or to please). Thus, together meaning graceful stamping of the foot. Thumri is a verse that has Krishna and Radha or Krishna and Gopi’s as its central theme. It is essentially based on the divine romance portraying both aspects of separation and union. The last Nawab of Oudh, Wajid Ali Shah was an accomplished dancer and musician. He composed thumries in classical style and these were sung by the kathak dancers. His contemporaries and the court musicians like Kadarpiya, Akhtar Piya, Lallan Piya, Sikandar Piya and others contributed to its popularity. Although he was a muslim, he liked the Radha-Krishna themes. He himself presented a dance on the Rasa Lila which he called ‘Rahas’. His famous thumries are the following: â€Å"Babul mora nehar chhuto jaye, Chaar kahar mil, doliya uthave, Apna begana chhuto jaye. † Another Thumri: â€Å"Jab chod chale lucknow nagri, Tab hale ‘ali’ par kya guzri, Mahal mahal mein begum rove, Jab hum guzre duniya guzri. † According to PeterLamarche Manuel, Bindadin Maharaj is regarded as one of the most important figures in the development of Thumri as well as Kathak. The kathak Masters Bindadin and his brother Kalka Prasad composed Thumries that were suitable for kathak dancing. Some of the famous Thumri of Bindadin Maharaj is the following: â€Å"Mohe chhedo na, nand ki suno challa, Badi der bhai, ghar jane de mohe.

Understanding Antonomasia

Antonomasia is a rhetorical term for the substitution of a title, epithet, or descriptive phrase for a proper name (or of a personal name for a common name) to designate a member of a group or class. It is a type of synecdoche. Roger Hornberry characterizes the figure as basically a nickname with knobs on (Sounds Good on Paper, 2010). Etymology From the Greek, instead of plus name (to name differently). Examples and Observations The character of James Sawyer Ford in the ABC television program Lost (2004-1010) regularly used antonomasia to annoy his companions. His nicknames for Hurley included Lardo, Kong, Pork Pie, Stay Puft, Rerun, Barbar, Pillsbury, Muttonchops, Mongo, Jabba, Deep Dish, Hoss, Jethro, Jumbotron, and International House of Pancakes.Calling a lover Casanova, an office worker Dilbert, Elvis Presley the King, Bill Clinton the Comeback Kid, or Horace Rumpoles wife She Who Must Be ObeyedWhen I eventually met Mr. Right I had no idea that his first name was Always.(Rita Rudner)If the waiter has a mortal enemy, it is the Primper. I hate the Primper. HATE THE PRIMPER! If theres a horrifying sound a waiter never wants to hear, its the THUMP of a purse on the counter. Then the digging sound of the Primpers claws trying to find makeup, hairbrushes, and perfume.(Laurie Notaro, The Idiot Girls Action-Adventure Club, 2002)Jerry: The guy who runs the place is a little temperamental, especially about the or dering procedure. Hes secretly referred to as the Soup Nazi.Elaine: Why? What happens if you dont order right?Jerry: He yells and you dont get your soup.(The Soup Nazi, Seinfeld, November 1995)I told you we could count on Mr. Old-Time Rock and Roll!(Murray referring to Arthur in Velvet Goldmine)Im a myth. Im Beowulf. Im Grendel.(Karl Rove) Metonymy This trope is of the same nature as metonymy, although it can not be said to exhibit the idea more vividly. It consists in putting in place of a proper name, another notion which may be either in apposition to it or predicated of it. Its principal use is to avoid the repetition of the same name, and the too frequent use of the pronoun. The most frequent forms of it are, naming a person from his parentage or country; as, Achilles is called Pelides; Napoleon Bonaparte, the Corsican: or naming him from some of his deeds; as, instead of Scipio, the destroyer of Carthage; instead of Wellington, the hero of Waterloo. In making use of this trope such designations should be selected as are well known, or can be easily understood from the connection, and free from ambiguity--that is, are not equally applicable to other well-known persons.(Andrew D. Hepburn, Manual of English Rhetoric, 1875)