An Estimated 146,000 Americans Died Of Lung Cancer In 1992, And 90 Per

An estimated 146,000 Americans died of lung cancer in 1992, and 90 percent of these deaths were caused by cigarette smoking. Smoking is responsible for about 30 percent of all cancer deaths annually in the United States more than 155,000 each year. If smoking-related cancers could be eliminated from our society, we would see a significant decline in the annual cancer death rate instead of small but steady increases. Since 1964, the year of the Surgeon General's first report on the health risks of cigarette smoking, strong evidence of the association between smoking and cancer has accumulated. Countless studies have proved that smoking causes lung cancer, and we now know that it substantially increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the larynx, pharynx, oral cavity, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas. Additional studies suggest a strong association between smoking and cancer of the cervix. The risk of developing lung and other smoking-associated cancers is related to total lifetime exposure to cigarette smoke, as measured by the number of cigarettes smoked each day, the age at which smoking began, and the number of years a person has smoked. Likewise, the risk of developing other smoking- related diseases, including chronic lung diseases and coronary heart disease, also increases with the amount of smoking a person has done. The health risks associated with cigarette smoke are not limited to smokers: exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) significantly increases a nonsmoker's risk of developing lung cancer. (ETS is the smoke that nonsmokers are exposed to when they share air space with someone who is smoking.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a risk assessment report in December 1992, in which ETS was classified as a Group A (known human) carcinogen a category reserved for only the most dangerous cancer-causing agents. The EPA report estimates that ETS is responsible for several thousand lung cancers in nonsmokers each year and, perhaps equally important, links ETS exposure with severe respiratory problems in infants and young children. The good news is that a smoker's risk of developing lung and other cancers can be reduced by quitting. The risk begins to decrease immediately after quitting and continues to decline gradually each year. Another benefit is that the risk of developing other cancers and chronic diseases associated with smoking is also reduced. The risk of coronary heart disease, for example, declines substantially within only a few short years following cessation. Women who quit smoking during the first trimester (3 months) of pregnancy substantially reduce the risk of such adverse pregnancy outcomes as low birth weight or stillbirth.

Learn to Sing Douce Nuit or Silent Night in French

Learn to Sing Douce Nuit or Silent Night in French Here are the French lyrics with a literal translation, followed by the traditional English lyrics. The tune is the same, but as you can see, the French version of this Christmas carol is quite different. Listen to a video of Douce Nuit on YouTube  - the song takes some time to start but it does eventually, with the lyrics underneath which is convenient if youd like to learn it in French. Douce Nuit With Literal English Translation Douce nuit, sainte nuit!Dans les cieux ! Lastre luit.Le mystà ¨re annoncà © saccomplitCet enfant sur la paille endormi,Cest lamour infini ! x2 Sweet night, holy night!In the skies, the start shines.The announced mystery is taking placeThis child asleep on the straw,He is infinite love! Saint enfant, doux agneau !Quil est grand ! Quil est beau !Entendez rà ©sonner les pipeauxDes bergers conduisant leurs troupeauxVers son humble berceau ! x2   Saint child, sweet lamb!How tall! How beautiful!Do you hear the pipesOf the shepherds who lead their herdsTowards his humble cradle! Cest vers nous quil accourt,En un don sans retour !De ce monde ignorant de lamour,Oà ¹ commence aujourdhui son sà ©jour,Quil soit Roi pour toujours ! x2   It’s towards us he is running,In a gift without end !Of this world ignoring love,Where today starts his stay,Let him be king for ever! Quel accueil pour un Roi !Point dabri, point de toit !Dans sa crà ¨che il grelotte de froidO pà ©cheur, sans attendre la croix,Jà ©sus souffre pour toi ! x2 What a welcome for a king!No shelter, no roof!In his manger he is shivering with coldO sinner, without waiting for the cross,Jesus is suffering for you! Paix tous ! Gloire au ciel !Gloire au sein maternel,Qui pour nous, en ce jour de Noà «l,Enfanta le Sauveur à ©ternel,Quattendait Israà «l ! x2 Peace to all ! Glory to heavens !Glory to the maternal breast,Who for us, on this Christmas dayGave birth to our eternal Savior,Who Israà «l was waiting for. Lyrics to Silent Night Silent night, Holy nightAll is calm, all is brightRound yon virgin, mother and childHoly infant, tender and mildSleep in heavenly peace,Sleep in heavenly peace.3 Silent night, Holy nightSon of God, loves pure lightRadiant beams from thy holy faceWith the dawn of redeeming grace,Jesus, Lord at thy birthJesus, Lord at thy birth.2 Silent night, Holy nightShepherds quake, at the sightGlories stream from heaven aboveHeavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.Christ the Savior is born,Christ the Savior is born

Communication and Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Communication and Culture - Essay Example Based on the source, culture is ordinary. This means that it is commonly performed. Every member of the society is participating in different ways and contributing to culture. Every activity then can be considered as part of the culture since it can be related to the social group to which a person or a group of person belongs. Basically, culture can be considered as a way of life since it describes the identity, visions, history and future of a community. In addition, culture can also be perceived in the form of different expressions such as arts, music, food culture, technology and other forms of knowledge and institutions (Williams). By being ordinary, it can be considered that culture is two-fold in terms of definition and application. One facet of culture is the identity pertained and projected by the whole community. For example India is known for the caste system, China for the practice of socialized industries and Japan for technological principles and prowess. If the said countries are critically analyzed on the basis of being in Asia, it can be roughly generalized that Asian culture is based on creativity and high level of diversity on the basis of the fact that the culture and identity of each nation is very distinct from the adjacent countries. Within each nation, any member of the population also has a distinct view and contribution to culture through their personal way of life. They communicate and survive through the application of tried and tested principles as well as trying new ideas and knowledge for future guidance and reference. Through the two-fold point of view regarding culture, it can then be applicable in terms of a person’s own attitudes, objective and behavior and also the traditions and practices of the community where the person belongs. One of the important features of the culture and society is the political economy which can be defined on the basis of the two roots of the

Macro Economic Policy in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Macro Economic Policy in Australia - Essay Example As a result of this, it attained the benefit of full employment and lower inflation level. The macro economic policy in Australia is focused on its monetary and fiscal policy and it aims to attain a sustainable developmental growth by mitigating certain problems in the areas of unemployment, inflation and other trade difficulties. "A macroeconomic policy framework conducive to growth can be characterised by five features: a low and predictable inflation rate; an appropriate real interest rate; a stable and sustainable fiscal policy; a competitive and predictable real exchange rate; and a balance of payments that is regarded as viable. Countries with these macroeconomic characteristics tend to grow faster than those without them."(Andersen and Gruen 2007). The term fiscal policy is related with two major concepts like allocation of resources and proper distribution of income. Proper implementation of fiscal policy is essential for maintaining a constant price level, elimination of job redundancy, and thereby the fulfillment of effective economic growth. So, the fiscal policy can be seen as playing a very important role in the accomplishment of economic objective. The approach towards both fiscal and monetary policy is quite different. ... nder circumstances in which annual budgets are strictly balanced, the irregular character of the within-year flow of expenditures and of revenues inevitably means that for some shorter periods within the annual time period, there will be 'deficits', albeit offset by 'surpluses' during other shorter periods, within the annual cycle. To the extent that the annual budget time-frame is ultimately arbitrary, this means that those who are committed to strict annual budget balance, in fact, as much acquiesce in the acceptability of temporary budget deficits, as do those who would argue instead for allowing some annual budget deficits, to be offset at other times by annual budget surpluses." (Approaches to Fiscal Policy. 2007). As far as the present economic situation prevailing in Australia is taken in to consideration, it is very clear that for the overall development of the economy, there should be a better resource allocation and income distribution is crucial. It is very important to make an understanding about the system of fiscal policy and its effectiveness. By taking this concept in the practical point of view, the fiscal policy may be short term, medium term and long term as far as the different situation is taken in to fact. "Fiscal policy is now directed firmly towards maintaining sound public finances over the medium term, based on strict rules. Where possible fiscal policy supports monetary policy over the economic cycle. This approach, together with the new monetary policy framework, provides the platform of stability necessary for achieving the Government's central economic goal of high and sustainable levels of growth and employment." (Fiscal Policy in the UK. 2007). For the effective imple mentation of an economy, the fiscal policy gives emphasis on certain

Global Health Issue Analysis: HIV/AIDS

Global Health Issue Analysis: HIV/AIDS GLOBAL HEALTH ISSUES Global issue is a broad description that is often used to explain matters of great social concern that affect human populations locally and that are shared among diverse human societies within our global community. Global issues koncern us all and one at the heart of many valuable learning experiences. Issues such as environment al sustainability, health, peace building and human rights focus students attention and contemporary events and how they affect our lives at a local and global level. Many people argue that globalization has Server to bring the world closer together creating a more cooperative environment. The impact of new information and communication Technologies has changed the way people learn, work and live. From the suffering of the Second World War emerged a new international organization- the United Nations. The United Nations founding, In 1945, enabled its Member States and their peoples to work together to promote peace and cooperation, economic and social development, and a clear Visio codified by international law. In 1981, one of the leading causes of death in our time broke upon the world scene. The new ailment was named acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) and also Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV). HIV means that you have tested positive for the virus and it does not become AIDS usually for ten years or until immune system problems appear. HIV/AIDS causes immense suffering to millions of people. UNAIDS (the joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS showed that HIV/AIDS has bee diagnosted in every continent on the globe, yeti t is distribution is far from even. One of the many consequences of the pandemic is that it has a major impact of life expentancy among the worlds poorer countries. The impact of AIDS on life expectancy is also felt beyond Africa, albeit somewhat less dramatically. Haitis life expectancy is currently almost six years less than it world heve been without AIDS, in Combodia it is currently four years lower. South Africa has also been affected, in Guana, for example, the probability of becoming HIV- positive between the ages of 15 and 50 is 19% or nearly 1 in 5. North America, for example, has 950.000 people living with HIV/AIDS and Western Europe 550.000 whilst in Australia and New Zealand 15.000 people (UNAIDS, 2002). In Africa, 28 million people are infected with HIV and 11 million African children are thought to heve been orphaned by AIDS (WHO, 2000). Kopelan and van Niekerk (2002) suggested that the scale of the HIV/AIDS epidmic in Africa is often explained away by pre-existing notions of a diseased, corrupt and backward continent and they argue, forcefully, for international support, albeit with reather than for African countries. Unfortunatelly biomedical and pharmaceutical responses have had a relatively small impact upon the pandemic. Attempts to devlop vaccines, for example, have had limited success and these endeavours have probably been hindered by the allocation of relatively Modest amounts of funding. Between US dollars 300-and US dollars 600-million a year have been spent on the development of HIV vaccines(UNAIDS, 2002). There has been more success in the development of antiretroviral drugs and these are prolonging thousands of ives in high- income countries(Babiker et al., 2002). However, these drugs continue to remain inaccessible to the majority of those infected by HIV. Since the people most affected by HIV/AIDS are often those with the least access to economic power or political influence it is, perhaps, hardly surprising that so many governments offer such a lukewarm response( de Wall,2002). In many of the poorer countries in which HIV/AIDS predominates, and where people with AIDS have little or no access to medical care or treatment, responsibility for the care of the dying ultimately falls on the poorest households (Ellison et al.,2001). In countries where governments do not take the initiative in responding to HIV/AIDS, and where the disease is often shrouded in stigma and denial, there is unlikely to be widespread popular presure for change. In this way, at an individual and a social level, the enormity of AIDS and the burden of copying tend to get hidden in the lives of ordinary familie( Palloni and Lee, 1992). UNAIDS Global Reference Group on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights (2004) ensuring rights based approach is: the global scalling up of the response to AIDS, particulary in relation HIV testing as a preveguisite to expanded access to treatment, must be grounded in sound public health practice and also respect protection, and fulfilment of human rights norms and standarts. The voluntariness of testing must remain at the heart of HIV policies and programmes, both to comply with human rights principles and to ensure sustained public health benefits. The following key factors, which are mutually reinforcing, should be addressed simultanously : Ensuring an ethical process for conducting the testing, including defining the purpose of the test and benefits to the individuals being tested and assurances of linages between the site where the test is conducted and relevant treatmant care and other services, in an environment that guarantees confidentiality of all medical inforamtion. Adressing the implications of a positive test results, including non discrimination and access to sustainable treatment and care for people who test positive. Reducing HIV/AIDS- related stigma and discrimination at all levels, notably within health care settings. Ensuring a supportive legal and policy framework within which the respons eis scaled up, including safeguarding the human rights of people seeking services. The HV/AIDS epidemic has deep historical roots. The epidemic have to be seen against this broad background. There are lessons to be learned, not Just about this disease, but about health, well-being and development as well.It is the first global epidemic of which we have been commonly conscious. Health and well-being are not individual concerns: they are global issues. There are opportunities for innovation and for more ‘goods but there is only a glimmer of hope . These are: Global intersectoral action through transnational co-operation and partnerships between public health and trade and finance sectors. Pro vide information about comparative health status and global determinants of health and well-being. Research programmes that concentrate on developing cost-effective technologies to improve the status of the poor. Recognition that management of health and well-being is a common human project and that the for-profit sector can only have limited incentives to meet those needs (Alonso, 2001). But there are many abstacles because we need to persuade people of the true cost of HIV/AIDS and business has a role to play, but the business of business is profit no welfare. Perhaps that is also an assumption that must be challenged. In the same way that HIV/AIDS is about more than health, so business has responsibilities beyond three complementary mechanisms: the market- distribution through competitive pricing, second one is the hierarchy- distribution through organisation process and the last one is values- distribution as a response to accepted ethical principles (Alonso, 2001). Through unprecedented global attention and intervention ef fors, the rate of new HIV infections has showed and prevalence rate have leveled off globally and in many regions. Despite the progress seen in some countries and regions, the total number of people living with HIV continues to rise (Barnett and Prins, 2006). In 2007, globally about 2 million people died of AIDS, 33 million were living with HIV and 2,7 million people where newly infected with the virus (WHO, 2008). The impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls has been particulary devastating. Women and girls now comprise 50 percent of those aged 15 and older living with HIV but, the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and young people is a severe and growing problem. In 2007, 370,000 children underage 15 were infected with HIV and 270,000 died of AIDS and about 15 million children have lost one or both parents due to the disease (WHO, 2008). The sixth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) focuses on stopping and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. Global funding is increasing, but global need is growing even faster-widening the funding gap. Services and funding are disproportionately available in developed countries. HIV infections and AIDS deaths are unevenly distributed geographically and the nature of the epidemics very by region. Epidemics are abating in some coutries and burgeoning in others. More than 90 percent of people with HIV are living in the developing worl (UNICEF, 2007). The health care systems of most African countries, already inadequate. As the serious nature of the pandemic and it is effect on the developing world came into sharper focus in the 1990s, so did the incoherence of international policy. The nature of the crisis was given recognition in 1995 when the United Nations set up UNAIDS to co-ordinate global policy by bringing together under one heading six key international agencies: WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNEPA, UNESCO and the World Bank. The re-orientation of policy towards AIDS was proposed, more or less across the board, in the face of increasingly pessimistic forecasts of the effects, both short and long term of the pandemic on whole populations in Africa (Ellison et al.,2003). In Southern Africa insurance companies are gathering such information because they routinely test people before offering cover. These data are biased to those applying for policies and are often comercially sensitive and so they tend not to be publicly available. For companies wishing to estimate how the epidemic is going to affect their workforce, the advert of saliva and urine tests mean, surreys can be carried out more easily. This is a routine procedure to test blood donations and these data can provide a picture of what is going on in what should be a low- risk group. HIV data are also collected and constructed according to political, social and other biases (UNAIDS, 2000). HIV/AIDS is not the first global epidemic, and it wont be the last. It is the disease that is changing human history. HIV/AIDS shows up global inqualities. It is presence and impacts are left most profundly in poor countries and communities (Bernett and Whiteside, 2006). Public health system are undefunded; politically they attract few votes, and in parts of the world they are close to collapse. For the moment, there is only a mere itimation of any system of global public health. Social and economic conditions negate many gains made by any particular intervention. Health is not any about confronting individual diseases. Well-being, of which health is a part, is a reflection of general and economic conditions (Anderson and May, 1992). Economic impact means that families suffer major economic problems as productive adults become ill, including: loss of income as family members become sick and are unable to work, or have to give up work to care for the sick and limited income being consumed by expensive drugs and funerals. Countries suffer significiant economic impacts including: los of investment in education and the knowledge and skills of professionally trained people, reduced ability to produce food and high costs of treatment and demands on health system (Adler, 2001). Human and social impact means that peoples who lives are affected in many ways which include: a wide variety of physical health problems , social isolation due to stigma and misunderstanding of the spread of the disease (Barnett and Prins, 2006). The purpose of workplace policy on HIV/AIDS in South Africa (UNAIDS, 2008) is to provide clarity on TOTALs views and commitments with regard to HIV/AIDS and the comprehensive management of HIV positive employees and employees living with AIDS. TOTAL is fully committed to protect employees, create awarness, encourage behaviour changes where necessary as well as ensure that all employees are treated with the necessary dignity, fairness and equality (USAID, Global Partnership, 2004). Some major reasons for unnecessary deaths around the world are therefore due to human decisions and politics, not just natural outcomes. Well- intentioned companies, organizations and global action show that humanisty and compassion still exists, but tackling systematic problems is parramount for effective, Universal health care that all are entitled too. Addressing health problems goes Beyond just medical treatments and policies; it goes to the heart of social, economic and political policies that not only provide for healthier lives, but a more productive and meaningful one that can benefit other areas of society. Bibliography: De Wall, A. (2006) Aids and power. South Africa Barnett, T., Whiteside, A. (2006) Aids in the Twenty- First Century, Disease and Globalization. 2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan. Hunter, S. (2003) Who cares? Aids in Africa. New York. Bond, G. C., et al. (1997) Aids in Africa and the Carribbean Ellison, G., et al. (2003) Learning from HIV and AIDS. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Barnett, T. and Parkhust, J.(2005) HIV/AIDS : sex, abstinence and behaviour change. Lancet Infections diseases. 5 (9), 2-5. Stillwagon, E. (2005) Aids and the ecology of powerty. Oxford: Oxford University Press. UNAIDS Global Epidemic Report (2000), accessed on 25/11/09, (http://www.unaids.org/). Centres for Disease control and prevention from: ( http://www.cdc.gov). Anderson, M. and May, R. (1992) Infections disease oh humans: Dynamics and control. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Adler, M.(2001) The ABC of AIDS. London. Farmer, P.,(1999) Infection and Inequalities: the modern plaques.California: University of California Press. Barnett, T. and Prins, G. (2006) HIV/AIDS and security: Fact, Fiction and Evidence. London. Caldwell, J.C., Caldwell, P. and Quiggin, P.(1989) The social context of AIDS in Sub- Saharan Africa. Population and Development Review. 15(2), 185-234. UNICEF (2000) The Progress of Nations. New York. World Health Organization (2000) The World Health Report 2000: Health Systems- Improving Performance. Geneva. Palloni, A. and Lee, Y. J.(1992) Some aspects of the social context oh HIV and it is effectson woman, children and familie. Population Bulletin of the United Nations. 33(2): 64-87. Garnett, G. et al. (2002) Antiretrovival therapy to treat and prezent HIV/AIDS in resource-poor settings. Nature Medicine.8(6): 651-654.

Brihadeeswara Temple Essay

Location: The Brihadeeswara is located in Tanjavur district in Tamilnadu, India. The temple was built on the banks of River Cauvery with its water turned to the moat. The temple, constructed entirely of granite, stands amidst fortified walls. There was no rock formation around this area. It is believed that the rocks would have been brought from a place at least 50kms away. History: The temple had its foundations laid out by the Tamil emperor Arulmozhivarman, popularly called Rajaraja Chola I, in 1002 CE, as the first of the great Tamil Chola building projects. It was built to grace the throne of the Chola Empire in compliance of a command given to him in his dream. The scale and grandeur is in the Chola tradition. An axial and symmetrical geometry rules the temple layout. Temples from this period and the following two centuries are an expression of the Chola wealth, power and artistic expertise. The emergence of such features as the multifaceted columns with projecting square capitals signals the arrival of the new Chola style. The Brihadeeswara Temple was built to be the royal temple to display the emperor’s vision of his power and his relationship to the universal order. The temple was the site of the major royal ceremonies such as anointing the emperor and linking him with its deity, Shiva, and the daily rituals of the deities were mirrored by those of the king. It is an architectural exemplar showcasing the pure form of the Dravida type of temple architecture and representative of the Chola Empire ideology and the Tamil civilization in Southern India. The temple â€Å"testifies to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting. † Construction: The wish to build a mammoth temple like this is said to have occurred to Rajaraja while he stayed at Sri Lanka as an emperor. This temple is the first building fully built by granite and finished within 5 years [1004AD – 1009AD]. The solid base of the temple raises about 5 metres (16 feet), above which stone deities and representatives of Shiva dance. The huge kalasam or Vimanam (top portion of the shrine) is believed to weigh 81. 28 tonnes and was raised to its present height by dragging on an inclined plane of 6. 44 km. The big Nandi (bull), weighing about 20 tonnes is made of a single stone and is about 2 m in height, 6 m in length and 2. m in width. The presiding deity of lingam is 3. 7m tall. The prakaram (outer precincts of the temple) measures 240m by 125m. The outer wall of the upper storey is carved with 81 dance karanas – postures of Bharathanatyam, the classical dance of Tamils. The shrine of Goddess is added by Pandyas during the 13th century; Subramanya Shrine was renovated by Vijayanagara rulers and the Vinayaka shrine was renovated by Maratha rulers. Architecture: The gopuram of the main entrance is 30 m high, so smaller than the vimana. It is unusual in the Dravidian architecture where the gopurams are generally the main towers and taller than the vimana. A first rectangular surrounding wall, 270 m by 140 m, marks the outer boundary. The main temple is in the center of the spacious quadrangle composed of a sanctuary, a Nandi made of a single stone, a pillared hall and an assembly hall (mandapas), and many sub-shrines. The most important part of the temple is the inner mandapa which is surrounded by massive walls that are divided into levels by sharply cut sculptures and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses. Each side of the sanctuary has a bay emphasizing the principle cult icons. The karuvarai, a Tamil word meaning the interior of the sanctum sanctorum, is the inner most sanctum and focus of the temple where an image of the primary deity, Shiva, resides. Inside is a huge stone lingam. The word Karuvarai means â€Å"womb chamber† from Tamil word karu for foetus. Only priests are allowed to enter this inner-most chamber. In the Dravida style, the Karuvarai takes the form of a miniature vimana with other features exclusive to southern Indian temple architecture such as the inner wall together with the outer wall creating a pradakshina around the garbhagriha for circumambulation (pradakshina). The entrance is highly decorated. The inside chamber housing the image of the god is the sanctum sanctorum, the garbhagriha. The garbhagriha is square and sits on a plinth, its location calculated to be a point of total equilibrium and harmony as it is representative of a microcosm of the universe. In the center is placed the image of the deity. The royal bathing-hall where Rajaraja the great gave gifts is to the east of the hall of Irumudi-Soran. The circumambulation winds around the massive lingam in the garbhagriha and is repeated in an upper story, presenting the idea that Chola Empire freely offered access to the gods. The inner mandapa leads out to a rectangular mandapa and then to a twenty-columned porch with three staircases leading down. Sharing the same stone plinth is a small open mandapa dedicated to Nandi, Shiva’s sacred bull mount. Surrounding the main temple are two walled enclosures. The outer wall is high, defining the temple complex area. Here is the massive gopuram or gateway mentioned above. Within this a portico, a barrel vaulted gorpuram with over 400 pillars, is enclosed by a high wall interspersed with huge gopurams axially lined up to the main temple. Legends: After the death of the patron, Rajaraja Chola I, his son Rajendra I who was a great military leader succeeded him in 1014. During his reign, he extended the territory of already vast Chola Empire up to the banks of the river Ganges in the north and across the ocean. He shifted the capital of the Chola kingdom to Gangaikondacholapuram, about 60km away, and started building a new temple there, as he wanted to build a bigger version of â€Å"The Big Temple†. Rajaraja Chola I donated a big amount of money for the maintenance of the Brihadeeswara. But, Rajendra I had diverted all the money for the construction of his new temple. His decision deprived the Big Temple of royal patronage. However, Rajendra was able to build only a smaller version of the Big Temple, eventually. Furthermore, the Cholas built hundreds of temples along the banks of the River Cauvery, changing its landscape forever. None of the forts and palaces built by the Cholas survives today. But the temples remain and they stand testimony to their achievements. They are also a major tourist attraction for both local and foreign visitors. Myths: The 60-metre tall Vimana is the tallest in South India. A European-like figure which is carved on the Vimana is believed to be an ancient warning of the arrival of the Europeans. Later investigations by archaeologists proposed that this claim may be a hoax. Features: Another widely held belief is that the shadow of the gopuram (pyramidal tower usually over the gateway of a temple) never falls on the ground. . The temple is said to be made up of about 130,000 tons of granite. The Kumbam itself, a 60 ton granite stone carved in one piece, on top of the main gopuram is believed to have been taken to the top by creating an inclined slope to the height of 66m to the top of the gopuram. The prevailing belief is that a mud-slope, which starts at about three miles from the temple site, from Thirukoilore (birthplace of Raja raja’s mother) near Sri Virateshvara swamy temple. Elephants might have been used to drag the stone up the slope. This was claimed to be the only part of the gopuram, which does not cast a shadow that fall on the ground, at least not within the temple premises. Millennium celebrations: Built in the year 1010ce by Rajaraja Chola in Thanjavur, Brihadeeswara Temple popularly known as the ‘Big Temple’ turned 1000 years old in September 2010. To celebrate the 1000th year of the grand structure, the state government and the town held many cultural events. It was to recall the 275th day of his 25th regal year (1010 CE) when Rajaraja Chola (985–1014 CE) handed over a gold-plated kalasam (copper pot or finial) for the final consecration to crown the vimana, the 59. 82-metre tall tower above the sanctum. Latest News: During the consecration (Kumbhabhishekham) of 1997, 48 people were killed in a fire accident and 86 others injured. The incident occurred hours before the Mahakumbabishekam ceremony. It is believed a fire cracker lit near the temple fell on the yagasala; a temporary structure built to accommodate the ritual ceremonies, and sparked the fire that spread to the thatched roofs. A stampede resulted when the panic-stricken devotees rushed the only entrance to the temple on the eastern side. However, another version claimed the fire was caused by a spark from the electric generator. Most of the deaths were reported be caused by the inhalation of carbon monoxide and a few due to burn injuries. The Tamil Nadu Government announced a compensation of Rs 100,000 to the families of the deceased and the injured were paid from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 each. Government of India, Mumbai Mint issued Rs. 1000/- coin to commemorate the 1000th year of the temple. And at last the Brihadeeswara is an unbelievable, extraordinary master piece of architecture†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦actually designed not by Rajaraja, but by Somavarma the temple architect†¦

A Leap Further By Being Stiff Essay

The concept of being inflexible or being stiff in making decisions has been conceivably one of the finest characteristic which has served the protagonists in the famous stories made in Asian literature.   Pak Hun in The Descendants of Cain, the student in Ya Dafu’s Sinking and Junshi in Creation, portray a character which in one point or another gives light to what appears to be sturdy sense of personality in the arena of decision making and in the context of survival and collaboration with the other characters in the story.   Perhaps that certain point of personality is nevertheless one of the viable factors why the aforementioned roles portrayed has been greatly regarded by the viewing audience, and in a larger concept, patronized as distinctive and distinguishing for that instance (Anderson). Pak Hun in Hwang Sun-won’s Descendants of Cain   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The main character of the story is Pak Hun, which is characterized as a passive person with eternally hesitant and ineffectual finesse.   Even though he is placed in a pedestal of social and political turmoil over the issue of survival and the perception of â€Å"not acting is not surviving,† the author gave him a powerful disposition in the love story that he has shared with the married lover, Ojaknyo.   His nostalgic yet inexorable presupposition on how to help the people in his village without compromising his fists just to save the love he has painstakingly pampered has caused him well in leading on to his venture in life and manhood. Unlike the other heroes in most stories, Pak Hun is deprived to act in his own will, driven by the horrors of reality and of what seemed to be his inherited fate in social class and on his manner in taking on the course of life.   Apparently, this so-called stated cowardice has served him the best of his effort, his compassion for others has saved him from the infamous destiny that he has forsaken.   Being sympathetic and sensitive has been a source of syntax towards emotion and a stronger drive for the Hamlet-like character to lead more than what he might further get in return of the â€Å"inflexibility† not to move mountains but to live a life worth living (Choe). The Student in Ya Dafu’s Sinking   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The connotation of â€Å"national allegory† in Yu Dafu’s Sinking offers an articulate and interwoven portrayal as represented by the student in the story (Denton).   Consequently, several critics portrayed the character as that which depicts the political situation of China as well as with the state of â€Å"powerlessness† that it is experiencing—gradually that of a modern mind, alienated from the faà §ade of the society, turned in on itself, ultimately divided and desolate for liberalism—psychologically apart from the social milieu. Sexual liberalism was rarely stated in the story, hence, in the general context in deciphering the meaning of the whole gist of the story, it would be seen that the student is after the â€Å"affection† of love and sexual activity—which on the more complex comprehension determines the fatal state of crisis of China in that certain point of time.   The protagonist’s patience and admiration to the flow of what seemed to be â€Å"natural way of life† has saved him from being off the scene of explicit exposure to the red light society which he later finds out to be a beneficial thing within the grasp of the May Fourth dilemma. Those who were behind the bars of desperation have been emotionally convicted in living in agony’s sagacity and apparently making them a part of the unidentified sinking icons in their community.   All of which lead to a single idea that the protagonist himself his leading a social transformation through the light of traditionalism.   Nevertheless, it showed that the point of â€Å"sinking† was happening in a nationalistic schema which in the vortex of the south and traditional China’s scenario, it may be taken to assumption that a moral community has longed for a distant sense of transformation which is clouded by a strike of fantasy and illusion. Junshi in Mao Dun’s Creation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Creaation, published in the year 1928 commences the story with Junshi, an intellectual man experiencing a crisis in life and a flashback of emphasis on failed projects which on the brighter side has made the protagonist gain much by choosing to stick on the result of what has been defined as lacking of revolutionary consciousness.   The ostensibly optimist portrayal with regard to women’s emancipation has been symbolized through Junshi’s stubborn yet sanguine personality which fueled his drive to overcome pessimism (Anderson).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The inflexible and confining ideals that has bewildered Junshi was basically a manifestation on his dream and hope, perceivably, to transform his wife, Xianxian through the advent of providing her with the amenities and educational entities which are aimed to mold her into a fashionable and politically and culturally inclined woman. Junshi then later finds out that his so-called creation of his wife has not given him the ample point of expectation that he wished to have, rather making him the person who is to catch up rather than one to have molded his wife in return.   The very fact that it has weakened his wife’s dependence on him and made her stronger in an astonishing effect—unlike the other characters in the aforementioned stories, inflexibility in Junshi’s case has been unsuccessful and has even made him see himself as a pitiful and apathetic person rather than that which ruled their marriage. Works Cited Anderson, Marston. â€Å"Beyond Realism: The Eruption of the Crowd.† Mao Dun, Zhang Tianyi, and the Social Impediments to Realism: The Regents of the University of California, 1990. Choe, Wolhee. â€Å"The Descendants of Cain.† Pacific Affairs 73.2 (2000): 2. Denton, Kirk A. â€Å"The Distant Shore: Nationalism in Yu Dafu’s â€Å"Sinking†.† Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR) 14 (1992): 107-23.