Iron Crowned Chapter 19

It took awhile before Kiyo, Jasmine, and I could return to Tucson. We had to go to the Thorn Land, of course, where Shaya and the others asked me all sorts of questions about what had happened and what I wanted to do. Kiyo and even Jasmine provided most of the answers for me because honestly, I wasn't sure what I wanted now. The only thing I had the real sense to do was demand Jasmine's key and unlock her chains. She stared at her freed hands wonderingly, stroking her wrists. I nearly left the chains and key in the castle but soon reconsidered and took them with me to the human world. She'd never seen my house before and regarded it with approval as we entered. All was quiet, and the empty driveway made me confident I wouldn't find Tim and Lara holed up in his bedroom again. Evidence of their â€Å"love,† however, was still obvious. â€Å"Damn them,† I said, gingerly picking a red lace bra off of the couch and tossing it down the hall toward Tim's room. â€Å"I'm going to have to sanitize this thing. Probably every other piece of furniture too.† â€Å"You have Pop-Tarts!† Jasmine hadn't made it to the living room. She'd stopped in the kitchen, opening every drawer and cupboard she could find. â€Å"And Apple Jacks! Peanut butter, ranch dressing, saltines †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I was surprised that last one excited her so much, but after a couple years eating gentry food, even the most mundane human cuisine was probably exciting. â€Å"Oh!† she exclaimed. â€Å"Can I have one of your Milky Ways?† â€Å"Sure. Have whatever you want.† Her eyes were wide as she tore into the package, and both Kiyo and I watched her with smiles on our faces, like proud parents on Christmas morning. Although they didn't sound good to me right now, Milky Ways were normally my candy bar of choice. From the way she was consuming hers, Jasmine appeared to share that family trait. She completed her sugar rush with a can of Coke and then made herself at home on the couch. Watching her reach eagerly for the remote control, I decided it was best not to mention the amorous activities that had likely occurred where she sat. She flipped through the channels in continued amazement. It was evening – prime time entertainment – and the emotions on her face were transparent as she stumbled across old and new shows alike. â€Å"You want me to see if I can find anything that fits you?† I asked. She might have slipped back easily to human behaviors, but she still wore a long, flowing gentry-style gown. â€Å"Sure,† she said, not looking up from the screen. Kiyo followed me into my bedroom. â€Å"You think she's safe out there?† he asked. â€Å"Alone?† â€Å"Yeah, I do actually.† Jasmine and I weren't the same size, but I found some drawstring shorts that would likely fit. â€Å"I don't know why †¦ but I feel like I can trust her.† â€Å"Be careful,† he warned, sitting on the bed's edge. â€Å"For all we know, she was happy to be captured and have Cassius throw himself at her.† â€Å"He didn't do anything.† I found the smallest T-shirt I could; her frame was more slender than mine. â€Å"So she says.† I sighed and faced him. â€Å"Kiyo, you've got to trust me. I can't explain it, but she's telling the truth. Is she going to turn into a normal teen and forget about her plans to have Storm King's heir? Unlikely. But for now, she's in shock and not dangerous.† â€Å"If you think so. Just be careful, Eug. You've been tricked by people you've trusted before.† â€Å"Surprise, surprise. A slam on Dorian.† I crossed my arms, holding the clothes to my chest. â€Å"Soon to be followed by a lecture on seizing the Rowan Land.† I'd been bracing myself since it all happened, but during the ensuing damage control, he'd held back. I appreciated that but still dreaded the inevitable. â€Å"Actually,† he said, â€Å"no.† â€Å"No?† I'd started to take a step toward the doorway and froze. He laughed, though there wasn't much humor in it. â€Å"No.† â€Å"But I just thought †¦ well, after last time †¦ You weren't very happy about the Thorn Land †¦Ã¢â‚¬  That small smile faded. â€Å"No. And it's not like I'm happy about this. But the truth is, you did find a – relatively – bloodless way to end all of this. When we were out there, you asked me what other solution could fix things. I didn't have an answer. You did. It's not great †¦ but it didn't kill Katrice or those other people. It didn't get you captured.† He shrugged. â€Å"Not ideal, no, but better than the alternatives.† I leaned back against the wall, still shocked at his reaction. â€Å"If it makes you feel better, it's not like I wanted this either. I wanted to sneak in and out and get Jasmine.† He nodded, but there was a sharp look in his eyes. â€Å"And yet, you brought the crown.† I hadn't mentioned that to him when we first set out to the Rowan Land. â€Å"Her note said she didn't believe I had it! I was hoping waving it around might do something to help us.† He stayed quiet. â€Å"Don't look at me like that! You can't believe I planned to use it.† â€Å"I do believe you.† He approached me and rested his hands on my shoulders. â€Å"And I'll help you in any way you need.† Something inside my chest released, and I leaned into him, taking comfort in his warmth and the security he offered. â€Å"Thank you. I'm definitely going to need you.† Kiyo pressed a kiss to my forehead. â€Å"I'm here.† I felt a small smile pull at my lips, though as with his earlier laughter, I didn't really find the situation funny. â€Å"I suppose if there is a silver lining here, maybe I can do a better job ruling the Rowan Land than she did. Some sort of greater good.† To my surprise, his hold on me stiffened, and he stepped back. The smile he offered me looked tight. â€Å"Maybe.† We went back out to Jasmine, who was still riveted to the TV. The only acknowledgment we got was when I handed her the clothes, and she examined them. â€Å"What's ‘The Clash' mean?† I ignored the blasphemy – and Kiyo's obvious amusement at my pain. â€Å"If you want to shower, everything you'll need is in the bathroom. Towels, shampoo.† That too got her attention. â€Å"A shower †¦ oh, man. I've missed showers.† â€Å"Will you two be okay?† asked Kiyo, all signs of his earlier discomfort gone. â€Å"I need to take care of a few things.† I nodded. â€Å"We're fine. Will you be back soon?† â€Å"As soon as I can.† He kissed me again, this time on my lips. I must have worn another pained expression because he cupped my chin, his brown eyes full of love and compassion. â€Å"It's going to be okay, Eugenie. Everything will be okay.† I nodded once more and watched wistfully as he left. I wanted his arms around me again, to hold me and let me escape this mess. A small part of me wouldn't have minded Dorian's arms either. I sat beside Jasmine, whose attention was back on some reality show. â€Å"He's running off to Maiwenn, you know.† Her gaze didn't move. â€Å"Off to report on what happened.† My ire started to rise at her accusation, except †¦ I had a feeling she was right. Even if there was no more romance between them, he was still devoted to her. The recent developments were going to rock the Otherworld, and she'd want the story straight from him. I wondered how she'd take it; she'd always feared my becoming like my father. â€Å"Probably,† I admitted. I rubbed my eyes. â€Å"God, I'm so exhausted. I feel like I could fall over.† This time Jasmine turned to me. There wasn't exactly sympathy in her face, but something surprisingly close. â€Å"No shit. You just stole a kingdom and took it over.† â€Å"It sounds so ugly when you phrase it that way.† She shrugged and looked back at the TV. â€Å"You'll probably do a better job.† Her words echoed my earlier comment to Kiyo. â€Å"You know,† she added conversationally, â€Å"everyone acts like our dad was such a bastard, like he just wanted more power. I mean, he did, but you know what Aeson told me? He said that Storm King was always talking about how he could do a better job too, that the other monarchs weren't as good. He said he was doing the people a favor.† I froze, unable to respond. That was why Kiyo had reacted the way he did earlier. He'd heard that about Storm King's â€Å"good intentions,† I realized. I'd expressed exactly the same sentiment as my father. Jasmine didn't notice the effect of her words and instead jumped subjects in that easy, short-attention-span way of hers. â€Å"Hey, do you think you could get Wil to come over? I want to see him.† â€Å"Sure,† I murmured automatically. My mind was still lost in her earlier words. â€Å"Sure.† Wil was surprised to hear from me the next morning, more surprised still when I told him the reason I was calling. He said he'd be over in five minutes. Jasmine had asked that he come alone after I'd mentioned he now had a girlfriend. Still, she'd been curious. â€Å"Seriously? What's she like?† I thought back to my one meeting with Wil's ladylove. Once I'd banished the monsters living in their house, she hadn't shut up about conspiracy theories and assorted coverups. â€Å"Exactly like him,† I'd replied to Jasmine. The reunion between brother and sister was strange. They stood there awkwardly, both staring at each other and assessing all the ways they'd changed. Then, with no communication, they hugged each other. Jasmine's face was filled with legitimate emotion, and for once, Wil didn't seem like the crazy, paranoid guy he usually was. â€Å"Are you okay?† he asked her, voice trembling. â€Å"I've missed you so much.† Jasmine swallowed, and I was pretty sure there were tears in her eyes. â€Å"I †¦ I missed you too.† And it was the truth. She'd told me once she didn't care about this world – or about the half brother who'd raised her. But she did. This whole time, despite her Otherworldly plans for domination, she'd always loved him. Things grew increasingly bizarre when it became obvious the two weren't quite sure what to do with each other. Wil didn't chastise her for her absence, and at last, she simply asked if he wanted to hang out and watch TV. I think that was partly because it provided a concrete activity and partly because she'd become obsessed with making up for lost TV time. I kept my distance but couldn't help a small, envious feeling as they sat on the couch. Jasmine leaned her head against her big brother's shoulder, and I became acutely aware of the emptiness in my own family life. I hadn't heard from my mom or Roland since getting the referral to Enrique. The closest I had to any familial connection was those goddamn kingdoms I ruled. Just as the Thorn Land had always called to me, the Rowan Land now did too, leaving such an ache within me that I practically felt nauseous. Rurik had been right. I wouldn't be able to stay away. But first things first. Thinking of Enrique reminded me I was due for an update. Retreating to my bedroom, I dialed his number and hoped he was up this early. â€Å"Miss Markham,† he said after just one ring. Caller ID left no surprises anymore. â€Å"Always a delight.† â€Å"I'm sure. What are you doing with the case right now?† â€Å"Nothing.† â€Å"Nothing?† I exclaimed. Irritation rose within me. I wasn't paying him to sit around, especially after he'd gotten so close. â€Å"Nope,† he said cheerfully. â€Å"It's out of my hands. I found what I needed, proved that Deanna Jones didn't buy the gun. From what I hear, the police are searching Cal Jones's house right now and questioning him. Far be it from me to get in the way of the fine men in blue.† Finally, some good news †¦ well, at least as the case's progress went. It wouldn't be easy on Deanna to learn the truth about her husband. â€Å"And women,† I said. â€Å"There are probably women in blue there too.† â€Å"If you say so.† â€Å"Thanks, Enrique. I really appreciate it. I honestly didn't think it could be done.† â€Å"Don't get all emotional,† he said in that brisk way of his. â€Å"At least not until you see the bill.† We disconnected. Attitude or no, Enrique had been a good call on Roland's part †¦ which once again brought about the sadness over the turn in my parental relationship. Well. Nothing to do for it at the moment, not with all my other problems. And anyway, I had a loose end that could now be wrapped up. Taking out my wand, I closed my eyes and cast a minor summoning spell, calling to Deanna. I had no control over her but she'd responded to my call before – particularly since she was always on edge listening for it. After several minutes and no results, I gave up and sadly suspected she wasn't coming because she already knew the truth. As eager as she'd been to get answers, it wouldn't have surprised me if she'd been following Enrique around while he worked. She might have discovered for herself what her husband had done. If so, I hoped she'd now move on to the Underworld and seek peace, rather than staying restless and sad in this world. There was enough suffering here already. I tried as hard as I could the next couple days to stay away from the Otherworld. Wil visited off and on, and Jasmine and I began doing mundane yet enjoyable activities, like seeing movies and shopping for clothes for her. Tim and Lara often appeared, still in the throes of their love, and Kiyo returned with reports about the Otherworld, reassuring me that my kingdom's control of the Rowan Land was progressing smoothly. And at night, he came to my bed, and I found the return of our fierce sex life went a long way toward taking my mind off my laundry list of problems. But finally, I had to give in. The call to my lands was too strong, and even Kiyo admitted that with my new and fragile hold on the Rowan Land, I needed to visit and connect with it to reinforce our bond. By that point, I needed no urging. My own body was telling me as much. I still felt weak and drained, my dreams haunted by cacti and cherry trees. I took Jasmine with me. Our relationship wasn't quite sound enough yet for me to leave her alone. She drew the line at going to the Rowan Land, however, insisting she would stay in the Thorn Land until my return. I had no problem with that, knowing she was secure there. Kiyo was still going with me, and Shaya caught us before we could leave. â€Å"There's a few things you should probably know,† she said uneasily. Her nervousness was likely due to the fact that I hated being troubled with the day-to-day running of a kingdom – in this case, kingdoms. Something about the fear in her eyes told me she also knew I wouldn't like what she had to say. I sighed. â€Å"Go ahead.† â€Å"I †¦ I've heard from King Dorian a number of times.† Kiyo shifted uncomfortably beside me, and I felt that familiar prickle of anger run down my spine. All the memories of Dorian's lying and betrayal came back to me. It stung all the worse because in the end, he'd gotten exactly what he wanted: the Iron Crown had done its job. He probably wanted me to take still more lands. â€Å"What's he want?† I demanded. â€Å"The war's over. We're no longer in a partnership.† â€Å"Well, that's just it. Since you are – were – allies in the war, he says he deserves some of the spoils of your victory.† â€Å"He †¦ what?† My fury increased. â€Å"He doesn't deserve anything. I was the one who won and used the crown.† She nodded, still looking like she wished she could be anywhere else. â€Å"Yes †¦ but he argues that he was the one who sent you to get the crown. And that his armies lost as many lives as yours.† That last point silenced me. His soldiers had fought with mine. His people's families mourned those casualties as much as mine †¦ and for what? To fight against a slight that had nothing to do with them, not really. I didn't owe Dorian anything, of that I was certain, but I was indebted to his subjects. When I didn't respond, Shaya continued. â€Å"Some of his people are also helping hold the Rowan Land.† â€Å"Oh, are they?† Of course Dorian would have swooped in. â€Å"I never asked for that.† She shook her head. â€Å"Nonetheless, you need it. Many are still having trouble accepting your rule. There's a lot of seething resentment. No violence has broken out yet – but that's largely because of the sizable presence Rurik sent to keep control. Dorian's helping with that.† I'd meditated with the Thorn Land as soon as I'd arrived, making me feel a little better, but the pressure and continued political complications were already draining me. I wasn't meant for this. â€Å"What's he want? Half the kingdom?† â€Å"No. Trade. Tribute. The Rowan Land is a huge food producer, and he wants part of that.† â€Å"That doesn't sound so bad,† I said tentatively. â€Å"I'm guessing he wants it at low, low prices,† said Kiyo, speaking up for the first time. Shaya nodded. â€Å"He does. And he's entitled to it to a certain extent. But his current demands are extreme enough that it could endanger the Rowan Land's economy. Maybe that's not an issue. It all depends on what you want for them.† I thought about the refugees at the gates. What did I want for those people? I wanted them to prosper. I wanted things to return to normal. â€Å"Can you negotiate with him to something in the middle?† I asked Shaya. â€Å"Most likely.† â€Å"Then do it.† She bowed her head in acknowledgment, and I knew that's what she'd already known had to be done. She was simply giving me my dues as queen, going through the motions and reminding everyone that ultimately, I still held the authority around here. When Kiyo and I finally made it to the Rowan Land, I felt the land's relief and welcome. Its energy burned into mine, strengthening me. At the castle, we saw little sign of the Rowan military but plenty of mine and Dorian's. They were stationed everywhere, keeping the order Shaya had told me about. They bowed low when they saw me, their actions mirrored by the kingdom's citizens. Only, Katrice's subjects didn't bow out of respect and deference. There was fear in their eyes, confusion in some, and an obvious show among a few that their actions were forced. Rurik was still in residence, personally overseeing the occupation. I felt secure in his control and listened as he explained what needed to be done next. I understood it only a little better than the economics Shaya had pushed on me, the main point being I'd need a governing body here soon. Picking that staff would be a problem. Shaya was one in a million, but even she couldn't be in two places at once. Seeing my dismay, Rurik hesitantly added that Dorian had offered to provide people for the job. My expression at those words gave Rurik all the answer he needed. The Rowan Land's energy continued to flow into me when I set out to have my meditation session with it. The nature of the connection was similar to what I had with the Thorn Land, but the kingdom's feel was totally different. The Thorn Land was harsh – filled with life, yes, but life that fought fiercely against the elements for survival. The Rowan Land was softer, its life bursting forth easily and radiating through its many trees and plants. â€Å"Eugenie,† said Kiyo, following me out to a small garden behind the castle. â€Å"Look.† I paused and glanced behind me. Where I'd walked, flowers had blossomed, small red ones scattered throughout the grassy path. I knelt down, inhaling their heady scent. â€Å"Why's it happening?† â€Å"You're its ruler. You're giving the land life and energy.† I thought about how being here had made me feel marginally better. â€Å"It's strengthening me too †¦ but this doesn't happen in the Thorn Land. I don't have that kind of effect.† â€Å"Don't you?† he teased, a mischievous smile on his face. â€Å"You make it rain†¦.† A memory came to me of when the Thorn Land had floundered in drought. While connecting with the land, I'd had sex with Kiyo, and the energy from that union had empowered the kingdom, breaking the dry spell and sending much-needed rain that made the people and plants flourish. I smiled back at him. â€Å"Looks like we don't have to worry about that today. This land doesn't need as much help.† He slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him, voice husky. â€Å"But imagine the results if we did. Extra credit.† Leaning down, he brought his lips to mine, his tongue pushing into my mouth with a rough passion. I felt my body answer, and for a moment, the offer was tempting. I pictured what it would be like to make love among all this greenery, here in the sunshine. Would a bed of red flowers fill the ground below us? Again †¦ I kind of wanted to find out, but I also wasn't comfortable in this kingdom yet. I didn't want to risk discovery of my sex life, even if it wouldn't be a big deal to the gentry. Reluctantly, I pulled away from him. â€Å"Another time.† After a few more protests, he let me be. I sat on the ground while he waited, closing my eyes and opening myself to the world around me. We are one, I assured the land. I am here. I felt its answer, felt warmth spread through me and lost track of time. When I finished, I was startled at how far the sun had moved across the sky. Kiyo sat on the ground cross-legged, looking at ease as he watched me. â€Å"Crap,† I said, jumping up. â€Å"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you wait so long.† He stood as well. â€Å"It's no problem. You needed it. You both needed it.† I knew he was right. I was more energized, and the land felt strong and content. After another check with Rurik, Kiyo and I headed back to the Thorn Land. Here, he parted from me, again to â€Å"take care of a few things.† He assured me he'd be back in Tucson as soon as he could, but I saw the look Jasmine gave me when she overheard. I could guess her thoughts: more reports to Maiwenn. Jasmine was impatient to go to Tucson, but before leaving, I impulsively set out alone to where I'd communed earlier with the Thorn Land. It had been on a distant part of the grounds, one of my favorite places, in the shade of a mesquite tree. Its perfume rivaled that of the Rowan flowers, and around it stood cacti in all shapes and sizes, some of them small and squat and some tall and foreboding like sentries. Almost all of them were blooming. A chill ran down my spine as I stared at the flowers on the cacti. They formed a brilliantly colored perimeter, right around where I'd been meditating, the petals in all shapes and sizes. The flowers were beautiful. Exquisite. And none of them had been there earlier.

Burma Religion (Burma) Essay

Since the Myanmar ancient times, there has been full freedom of worship for followers of Burma religions in Myanmar. So many different religions can be practiced in Myanmar. Buddhism is practiced by almost 90 percent of Myanmar religion Burma’s population, with the Myanmar Theravada Buddhism School being the most prevalent. It has a firm hold in Myanmar’s culture along with an observance of animism, or the worship of ancestors (nat). In Myanmar culture, there are many Myanmar festivals and celebrations held that correlate with nat. Nat also has influence on the practice of Myanmar traditional medicine in Myanmar religion Burma. There are other religions in Myanmar, but they are not as widespread as Buddhism and animism. Some of the beliefs found include Christianity (Baptists) in Myanmar hill areas and Muslims. Christianity is practiced by 5.5 percent of Burmese Myanmar, Islam by 3.8 percent Hinduism by 0.5 percent and Animism by 0.2 percent before respectively in Myanm ar. Myanmar is a predominantly Theravada Buddhist country. Buddhism reached Myanmar around the beginning of the Christian era, mingling with Hinduism (also imported from India) and indigenous animism in Myanmar. The Pyu and Mon kingdoms of the first millennium were Buddhist, but the early Burmese Myanmar peoples were animists. According to Myanmar religion Burma traditional history, Myanmar King Anawrahta of Bagan adopted Buddhism in 1056 and went to war with the Mon kingdom of Thaton in the south of Myanmar country in order to obtain the Buddhist Canon and learned Myanmar monks in Myanmar religion history. The religious Myanmar tradition created at this time, and which continues to the present day in Myanmar, is a syncretalist mix of what might be termed ‘pure’ Buddhism (of the Sri Lankan or Theravada school) with deep-rooted elements of the original animism or nat-worship and even strands of Hinduism and the Mahayana tradition of northern India. Islam reached Myanmar at approximately the same time, but never gained a foothold outside the geographically isolated seaboard running from modern Bangladesh southwards to the delta of the Ayeyarwady (modern Rakhine, known previously to the British as Arakan, and an independent kingdom until the eighteenth century) Myanmar. The colonial period saw a huge influx of Muslim (and Hindu) Indians into Yangon and other Myanmar  cities, and the majority of Yangon’s many mosques and temples owe their origins to these immigrants. Christianity was brought to Myanmar by European missionaries in the 19th century. It made little if any headway among Myanmar Buddhists, but has been widely adopted by non-Buddhists such as the Karen and Kachin in Myanmar. The Chinese contribution to Myanmar’s religious mix has been slight, but several traditional Myanmar Chinese temples were established in Yangon and other Myanmar large cities in the nineteenth century when large-scale Chinese migration was encouraged by the British. Since approximately 1990 this migration has resumed in huge numbers, but the modern Chinese immigrants seem to have little interest in Myanmar religion Burma. Some more isolated indigenous peoples in the more inaccessible parts of Myanmar country still follow traditional animism. The Roman Catholic Church, Myanmar Baptist Convention and the Assemblies of God of Myanmar are the largest Christian denominations in Myanmar. There are no totally reliable demographic statistics form Myanmar, but the following is one estimate of the religious composition of Myanmar country: Buddhists: 87% Animists: 5% Christians: 4.5% Muslims: 4% Hindus: 1.5% Burma Arts Jamie Therese Jainar The culture of Myanmar has been heavily influenced by Buddhism. More recently, British imperialism has influenced aspects of Burmese culture, such as language and education. More recently, British imperialism has influenced aspects of Burmese culture, such as language and education. Its neighbors, particularly India, China, and Thailand, have made major contributions to Myanmar culture. In more  recent times, British colonial rule and westernisation have influenced aspects of Burmese culture, including language and education. Historically, Burmese art and literature was based on Buddhist or Hindu cosmology and myths. In addition to the traditional arts are silk weaving, pottery, tapestry making, gemstone engraving, and gold leaf making. Temple architecture is typically of brick and stucco, and pagodas are often covered with layers of gold leaf while monasteries tend to be built of wood. Although court culture has been extinguished, popular street-level culture is vibrant and thriving. Drama is the mainstay of this culture, and just about any celebration is a good excuse for a pwe (show). Performances may recount Buddhist legends, or be more light-hearted entertainments involving slapstick comedy, dance, ensemble singing or giant puppets. Myanmar music is an integral part of a pwe; it originates from Thai and emphasizes rhythm and melody. Instruments are predominantly percussive and include drums, boat-shaped harps, gongs and bamboo flutes. The toys of Myanmar are not only for the children but also famous in the world, known as the Marionettes (or) Puppets of Myanmar. It’s a combination of Myanmar Art and Culture, together to show the inner expressions of the Myanmar people. A. The Prehistoric Period – c. 1100 BC to 200 BC The Pre historic Period in Burma is known from a limited number of excavations that were carried out in selected rock shelters, caves and other sites along the middle course of the Irrawaddy River. Since Burma even today is sparsely populated, it would not be surprising to find that early cultures in Burma developed in isolation. However, the artifacts uncovered in these digs resemble those in other parts of Southeast Asia indicating that there was meaningful contact over wide areas at a very early date, and the arts in Burma were not isolated even at this early time. This pattern of intra-area contact continued into the later historical periods. Since there are no written records for this early period, we know little about religious practice. However, since the artifacts that have been discovered conform to those used in small-scale societies for animist rituals, it might be presupposed that these early societies practiced a type of Animism. Therefore, Animism, and artifacts associated with its practice, will be discussed as a bridge between this most remote period and contemporary  animist art forms. B. The Pre-Pagan Period – Mon and Pyu Urbanism – c. 2nd BC – 8 AD During the Pre-Pagan Period there is ample evidence that the lowland peoples in Burma adopted ideas from India as indicated by a few standing structures, numerous excavated foundations, and a wide array of artifacts. These materials were produced for worship in Animism and Hinduism as well as Mahayanna and Theravada Buddhism. The first cities appear throughout central Burma and were directly dependent on extensive irrigation systems. Thus begins the parmountcy of the central region of Burma that continues until the present. The cities occur in well-planned forms that are a combination of indigenous and Indian concepts. Within these cities, the first buildings in non-perishable materials were constructed. These brick and mortar buildings were all used for religious purposes whereas secular buildings, even palaces, continued to be made of perishable materials until the modern era. This dichotomy between the type of material used for construction and the use of the building generally continued through all later developmental periods. Also, at this time, a particular interest develops for two types of religious structures – the Buddhist stupa and the Buddhist temple. Brick foundations of what were most probably the first monasteries are dated to this period. Although the number of images from the Pre-Pagan Period is limited, the diversity of styles and subject matter is generally broader than in later periods. The Mon and Pyu languages are written using alphabets and concepts adopted from India. A Burmese calendar was later created that begins with the fall of the Pyu dynasty in 836 AD. C. The Pagan Period – 11th to 13th centuries Classic forms emerged during the Pagan Period for many aspects of Burmese culture, including the economic, political, religious, social, and artistic. These forms were the models used by later Burmese dynasties to create new but related forms, often through slightly modifing their content. Classic architectural forms emerged as embodied in the Shwezigon Stupa and the Ananda Temple that were repeatedly copied by later donors. The styles of sculpture from the Pagan Period were also periodically revived. Theravada Buddhism became the preferred faith and thereafter remained the predominant Burmese religion. The first examples of figurative painting occur on temple walls and employ the Pala style of India and Nepal. Although Pagan ceased  to be the political capital of Burma in the 13th century, the city continued to be a respected religious center and many later monarchs returned to Pagan to endow new foundations or refurbish old ones. D. The Post Pagan Period -14th to 20th centuries After the decline of Pagan, Burma fragmented into a number of small kingdoms that looked back to Pagan for validation and for artistic inspiration. None of these kingdoms rivaled the earlier period in art and architectural accomplishments and all can be seen as â€Å"Pagan writ small†. Pagan buildings were proudly copied, but often with significant modifications. The stupa became the most favored religious building and temples were rarely built. Wooden monasteries constructed on a raised wooden platform largely replaced the brick and stucco monasteries of Pagan. A number of Burmese styles arose, particularly in sculpture, as a result of fewer contacts with India due to the Muslim invasions there and the Muslim destruction of Buddhist religious sites. Burmese styles of painting develop and in the nineteenth century borrow pictorial devices from the West. The Mandalay Style that arose during the latter half of the Post Pagan Period became dominant in central Burma and has continued until the present as the preferred style in Burmese art.

Cerca and Other Related Spanish Words Indicating Closeness

The words and phrase cerca, cercano, and cerca de are commonly used in Spanish to indicate proximity or closeness in location, time, number, or degree. Common translations include by, near, about, nearby, and close to. Using Cerca De The most common of these is cerca de, which functions as a preposition. The prepositional phrases formed using cerca de can function as several parts of speech, particularly nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Cerca de 12 millones de personas serà ¡n vacunadas contra la fiebre amarilla. (About 12 million people will be vaccinated against yellow fever. The first six words of the Spanish sentence function as a noun and form the subject.)Hay muchos hoteles cerca de Disney World. (There are many hotels by Disney World. The final four words form an adjectival phrase describing hoteles.)Vamos a necesitar cerca de 200 voluntarios. (We are going to need about 200 volunteers. The final four words function as a noun and form the object of necesitar.)Comemos cerca de ocho veces al dà ­a. (We eat about eight times per day. The words following comemos function as an adverb to explain comemos.)Quiero estar cerca de ti siempre. (I want to always be close to you.)Los activistas dicen que Cataluà ±a està ¡ cerca de la abolicià ³n de la tauromaquia. (The activists say Catalonia is close to bringing an end to bullfighting.)Despliega Colombia 22 batallones cerca del là ­mite con Venezuela. (Colombia is deploying 22 battalions near the border with Venezuela.)Hay una buena probabilidad de que veamos una estabilizacià ³n de los precios cerca de febrero o marzo. (Theres a good chance well see a stabilization of prices around February or March.) Using Cerca as an Adverb Cerca by itself (without being followed by de) functions as an adverb. Note that estar, one of the verbs meaning to be, is typically modified by an adverb rather than an adjective as to be usually is in English. So estar cerca is used to say that something is near as in the first two examples. El fin del mundo està ¡ cerca. (The end of the world is near.)El triunfo està ¡ cerca. (Victory is near.)Hay cuatro tranvà ­as que pasan cerca. (There are four streetcars that pass nearby.)Tan cerca y a la misma vez tan lejos. (So close, and yet so far away.)El asteroide pasarà ¡ tan cerca que podremos verlo. (The asteroid will pass so close well be able to see it.) Using Cercano as an Adjective The adjective form is cercano. As an adjective, it must agree with the noun it refers to in number and gender. In contrast, the adverb cerca doesnt change form depending on the words around it. Tenemos una casa cercana al aeropuerto. (We have a house near the airport.)Descubre tus cinco amigos mà ¡s cercanos en Facebook. (Find your five closest friends on Facebook.)El futuro (aà ºn no cercano) està ¡ en la computacià ³n molecular. The future (but not the near future) is in molecular computing.Los padres deben inscribir a sus hijos en la escuela mà ¡s cercana a su domicilio. (Parents should enroll their children in the school nearest to their home.) Other Words Related to Cerca A few related words have other meanings: The verb cercar typically means to surround or to enclose: Los estudiantes cercaron las oficinas. (The students surrounded the offices.)The verb acercar usually means to get close to or to approach. Las nià ±as acercaron la rampa de acceso. (The girls approached the access ramp.)The noun la cerca typically refers to a fence or wall. El concepto de la cerca electrificada fue descrita por primera vez por Mark Twain. (The concept of an electric fence was described for the first time by Mark Twain.)The phrase acerca de usually means about in the sense of concerning: Hablaban acerca de nosotros. (They were talking about us.) Etymology of Cerca and Related Words The words related to cerca come from the Latin verb circÄ re, which meant to go around. The most closely related word in English is circa, a Latin-derived term used in formal writing to indicate that that a number or time period is an approximation. English words more distantly related include circum- words such as circumference and circumnavigate, which are circunferencia and circunnavigar in Spanish, respectively. Key Takeaways Cerca de is used as a preposition to form phrases that can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.Cerca is used with estar and other verbs as an adverb.Cercano is used as an adjective that must agree with the noun it modifies.

Marx’s Communist Manifesto and Conrad’s Heart of Darkness...

Marx’s Communist Manifesto and Conrad’s Heart of Darkness From social relationships to political power structures, all aspects of society were changed by the technology innovations of the industrial revolution. Manufacturing goods on a mass scale led to the development of an entirely new worker who’s success now depended on his ability to operate machines rather than his talent as a craftsman. The steam engine revolutionized modes of transportation: trains and railroads were implemented everywhere and steamboats facilitated cross-oceanic trade and exploration. In developed nations, agriculturally based economies gave way to manufacturing and trading economies as feudal systems were replaced by democratic societies. What allowed†¦show more content†¦Tocqueville observes that with increasing equality, an unprecedented value is assigned to personal property, thus changing the simplistic medieval power structure that was based solely on property ownership to a far more complicated equation. Tocqueville states that every new inve ntion, every new need occasioned thereby, and every new desire craving satisfaction were steps toward a general leveling. The taste for luxury, the love of war, the dominion of fashion, all the most superficial and profound passions of the human heart, seemed to work together to impoverish the rich and enrich the poor. (pp. 10-11). This new system of meritocracy allowed people to put their personal virtues, such as intelligence, knowledge, and intellect, to use when attempting to achieve power and wealth. But Tocqueville sees society’s democratization as no novelty. Rather, as he states on page 9, the democratic movement is the most continuous, ancient, and permanent tendency known to history. Tocqueville goes on to support this bold statement with his observations of France: the noble has gone down in the social scale, and the commoner gone up; as the one falls, the other rises. Each half century brings them closer, and soon they will touch (11). From reading Tocqueville, th e reader soon associates democracy as being a savior for the people because the conditions implied by it are responsible for the inevitable general

Suryanamaskar - 3263 Words

SURYA NAMASKAR 12 POSTURES OF SURYA NAMASKAR Introduction: Known variously as Surya Namskar or Prostrations to Sun or Sun Salutation, the Surya Namaskar is one of the best exercises that people can perform. The benefits accruing from these exercises are unique and excellent. This is a yoga based exercise and it is customary to perform Surya Namaskar after performing loosening yoga exercises. The human being can be thought of consisting of ‘pancha kosas’ (or five sheaths) consisting of the Annamaya (or Body), Pranamaya (or Breath), Manomaya (or Mind), Vijnanamaya (or Intellect) and Anandamaya (or Bliss) sheaths. These same five kosas can be further grouped into Gross (or Sthula), the Annamaya or body sheath, Subtle (or Sukshma) consisting†¦show more content†¦There are six bija mantras. Each mantra consists of ‘h’, ‘r’, vowel and ends in ‘m’. The bija mantras are: ‘hraam’, ‘hreem’, ‘hruum’, ‘hraim’, ‘hroumâ€⠄¢ and ‘hraha’ (where the vowels are ‘aa’, ‘ee’, ‘uu’, ‘ai’, ‘ou’ and ‘visarga or hah’. The twelve names of Sun are: Mitra, Ravi, Surya, Bhanu, Khaga, Pushan, Hiranyagarbha, Marichi, Aditya, Savitha, Arka Bhaskara. These six Bija Mantras are repeated in sequence to cover the twelve names of the Sun God. The three Rig Vedic hymns are used in the 12 mantras (one-quarter of the hymn used with each of these 12 names). The chanting of AUM mantra activates stomach, heart, brain and the overall body/mind, thus creating vibrations in the associated chakras. Digestion, respiratory and sensory activities go thru the powerful lens of AUM turning intellect and memory into sharp and powerful tools. The root alphabets of the Bija Mantra or Bija akshara are: ‘h’ –Heart is the source of its pronunciation. It empowers the heart to perform all its functions in a better manner. ‘r†™ – The center of the forehead is the source of its pronunciation. The palate and the brain are gently buffeted by the vibration. The result is good taste and better intellect. ‘swar (vowel) – ‘a’, ‘i or e’, ‘u’, ‘ai’, ‘ou’, ‘ha’ - various organs are impacted by the sound vibrations, making these organs strong and sensitive. ï€ ª Long aa as in ‘hraam’: vibrations stimulate brain, heart respiratory organs ï€ ª ï€ ª Long ee as in ‘hreem’: vibrations work on palate,Show MoreRelatedEssay On Importance Of Exercise1263 Words   |  6 Pagesthat can bestow you all the three benefits. The age-old techniques of Pranayama Surya namaskar are now becoming recognised throughout the world as strategies for creating optimal health. We suggest the students to do Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama Suryanamaskar for 15-20 minutes daily. This is beyond the scope of this book to teach these techniques here but you can certainly go through some standard books or expert yoga practitioners. I am just mentioning some benefits here so that it will act as an impetusRead MoreThe Great Poets Of The Early Nineteenth Century Essay1780 Words   |  8 Pagescontext they are used in. Thus, symbolic meaning of an object or an action is understood by when, where and how it is used. It also depends on who reads them.Yoga is all about stretching our body in different forms and meditation. Yoga poses like Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutation), Dhanurasana (Bow pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra pose), Kapalabhati pranayama and so many other effective yoga poses helps in reducing our weight as well as our belly fat. Registration for AIRTEL DELHI HALF MARATHON 2014 Welcome

Oil and Gas Business Management

Question: Explain about the term for Oil and Gas Business Management. Answer: Conoco Inc was an American multinational company that was founded in 1875 as the Continental Oil and transportation Co. Later it got merged with Marland Oil co. In 1899 and renamed it as Continental oil company. Much later in 2002, Conoco has merged with Phillips Petroleum to rename it as ConocoPhillips. The company was initially concentrating on all upstream, midstream and downstream business. But later in 2011, the company intended to separate them. All its upstream and downstream business was made into public traded corporations with the objectives of maximising shareholders value. In 2012, the midstream and downstream chemical and marketing operations were separated into a different company called as Phillips66. As a result of this, presently Conoco Phillips is continuing its operation only as an upstream company and concentrates only on exploration and production. Thus the company solely focuses on exploring, developing and producing oil and natural gas globally. The operations of the company are managed through six operating segments defined according to their geographical areas as, Latin America, Alaska, Europe, Canada, Middle East and Asia Pacific (Conocophillips.com 2016). In recent years oil and gas industry has gone through several global economic turmoil along with increasing competitions and unprecedented swing in prices. The traditional structural of oil industry which was controlled by cartels has now been replaced by systematic imbalances between increasing supply and diminishing demand growth. The cause of the changing scenario is the weaker global economy, tougher regulations for fuels, availability of viable alternative energies and development of efficient engines that reduces the usage of oil and gas. All this together has brought the downfall in the demand of oil (Milliou and Pavlou 2013). In 2014, an estimate was made by U.S. Energy Information Administration that the global supply of petroleum has increased twice the increase of consumption. It has led to fall in price and thus in profit. Hence it called for cutting down of investment by the companies for further exploration and production of oil (Kelland 2014) Conoco Phillips is presently continuing its operation as upstream company that is involved more in exploration and production, finding, developing and producing oil and gas. Due to the changing trends of fall in demand for oil and rising supply, the company should thick of changing its business model from upstream to downstream (Mitchell and Mitchell 2014). In upstream though the profit margin is higher compared to downstream, the diversity of product is more in downstream as it is concerned with marketing, refining and trading. It delivers different petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas and other related products to the customers. As diversity of products is there, the company can reduce its risk of lowing profit. Further as the margin of profit is high in upstream, the margin of loss is also high but in downstream the margin is less so risk of loss is less (Kelland 2014). Hence, the Strategy is Product and Service Development Strategy that indicates the development of new product, such as, in the case, the company adopts the strategy of moving to downstream production from upstream production in long run. It will make the firm earn positive profit due to larger demand for downstream products (Kindermorgan.com 2016) The falling demand of crude oil and rising supply of crude oil in the current situation calls for the change in the business model of the company. The company if in upstream production should look for reduction in cost of production by adopting innovative methods of production (Papavinasam 2013). The upstream growth strategies can be organic and inorganic growth. Organic refers to exploration of natural resources that require huge investment and becomes risky if the prices follow a downward trend. However, inorganic refers to expansion of the production through mergers and acquisition and through investment in the existing upstream firms. The growth through inorganic means is less risky that through organic means as the acquired business is already established and only the owners are changed. So the loss in the investment is low as compared to organic production (Dholakia et al. 2015). Thus, in short-run, the strategy of the firm is Competitive Priorities Strategy that refers to the reduction of cost of production by adopting new techniques to overcome the loss due to fall in price and competition in the market. For example, the modernised techniques of It will help the company to compete with lower price in the market (Cnrl.com 2016). Hence to conclude, the company need to change its business model and adopt new strategies to cope up with the fall in demand and rise in supply. Either the company can go back to downstream production or need to adopt strategies to reduce the cost of product and increase the demand of crude oil. Further, the company can also concentrate more on alternative usage of crude oil, like diesel and LPG for production and refinery units. It will help the company to reduce the risk of loss and investment will be diversified. Organic growth under upstream production requires huge investment, so it is recommended that company should go for inorganic process of growth and acquire the already established companies to grow in the crude oil market. References Cnrl.com. 2016.Canadian Natural Resources - Home. [online] Available at: https://www.cnrl.com/ [Accessed 23 Jun. 2016]. Conocophillips.com. 2016.The World's Largest Independent EP Company| ConocoPhillips. [online] Available at: https://www.conocophillips.com/Pages/default.aspx?utm_source=Googleutm_medium=PaidSearchutm_campaign=Brandedutm_content=Conoco_phillipsgclid=CjwKEAjwy6O7BRDzm-Tdub6ZiSASJADPNzYrHCdsspF3M8oed4AtcN2d_-AvoLeYJeyN_gKlkxHevhoC2TDw_wcB [Accessed 21 Jun. 2016]. Dholakia, U.M., Mittal, V., Han, K. and Dayal, A., 2015. Results from the Integrated Oil Gas Sector: The 2015 Strategy and Corporate Performance in the Energy Industry (Scope) Study.Available at SSRN. Kelland, M.A., 2014.Production chemicals for the oil and gas industry. CRC press. Kindermorgan.com. 2016.Kinder Morgan - A Different Kind of Energy Company. [online] Available at: https://www.kindermorgan.com/pages/about_us [Accessed 23 Jun. 2016]. Milliou, C. and Pavlou, A., 2013. Upstream mergers, downstream competition, and RD investments.Journal of Economics Management Strategy,22(4), pp.787-809. Mitchell, J.V. and Mitchell, B., 2014. Structural crisis in the oil and gas industry.Energy Policy,64, pp.36-42. Papavinasam, S., 2013.Corrosion control in the oil and gas industry. Elsevier.

Miles Davis Essays (302 words) - Miles Davis, Savoy Records Artists

Miles Davis There are very few musicians who, with their music, can impact our lives for the better. There are even less that can do it over their entire career. Such is the case of Mile Davis. A jazz-trumpeter who's sound transcended American culture for over 40 years. In this report I will be reviewing his great life which touched so many people. Miles Dewey Davis was born May 25, 1926, in Alton Illinois. (J S. Bowmen). He was born to a prosperous African-American family near St. Louis Missouri. At the age of ten he took up the trumpet in school. (J S. Bowmen). He of course learned very quickly, and soon he was playing with local jazz band. At the age of 17 he dropped out of school and headed out for New York to be part of the great New York jazz scene. (J S. Bowmen). It was in New York that he would meet his idol, saxophonist, Charlie Parker. Miles became part of Charlie's bebop quartet for several years. This was just a stepping stone however, for in 1948 he started his own 9-piece band. (J S. Bowmen). This band created a new sound ?cool jazz?. They released ?The Birth of Cool? an album that to this day is considered one of the most influential jazz albums ever. He later left the band to pursue other projects. For the next five or six years he face a very serious heroin problem. (J S. Bowmen). He released a series of what he called ?uneven albums?. But in 1955 he would kick the habit for good and began a legendary come back. He formed a new band with other great jazz musicians such as saxophonist John Coltrane and pianist Bill Evans. It was with this band Miles record Music