Fascism is a term coined in Italy by il Duce (the leader), Benito Mussolini. It referred to the fasces, the bundle of rods which were a symbol of authority in the Roman era.
Fascism is a dictatorship characterized by extreme nationalism. The phrase "My country, right or wrong!" reflects the mindless obedience expected of the populace.
Also characteristics:
* Extreme militarism. When even the young and the old are encouraged to don uniforms and participate in military preparedness, the fascist goal of military priority is easier to enforce.
* Control of the media: dictators want to quell dissent and freedom of speech. Mussolini led book burnings.
* Propaganda based on a return to the glory days of the Roman Empire.
Wikipedia.org says:
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (July 29, 1883 – April 28, 1945) led Italy from 1922 to 1943. He created a fascist state through the use of state terror and propaganda. Using his charisma, total control of the media and intimidation of political rivals, he disassembled the existing democratic government system. His entry into World War II on the side of Nazi Germany made Italy a target for Allied attacks and ultimately led to his downfall and death.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Monday, March 06, 2006
Tuscany / Siena: girls singing in harmony downtown
Tuscany is arguably Italy's best-known region. The history and beauty of the hilly farmland is legendary. Interestingly, Toyota has named its minivan the Sienna, for a Tuscan town, and Porsche has long had a model called the Carrera, another city of Tuscany. Also in the region: Pisa and Firenze.
My overview of what's important in L'italia:
In the heart of Rome is the temple called the Pantheon, still functioning after some 2000 years.
Ciao! means "hello!" or "bye!" in Italian slang.
From Chianti, a vino of Northern Italy, to chiaroscuro, an artist's term which refers to portrayal through light and shadow, the Italians have an enormous impact on the refined life.
On the other hand there's the Sicilian mafia, the cosa nostra.
The map
* Roma and, within it, the Vatican City. The Vatican is one of the tiniest nations and home to il Pape.
* Napoli / Naples / Neapolis (Gk) Neapolitan ice cream! Home of pizza!
* On the Bay of Naples is the Isle of Capri (goats), one of the most ancient resorts. One of Rome's emperors capriciously used Capri as his capital. *
* Looming above Naples bay is Mt. Vesuvius and nearby is the ancient resort called Pompeii.
* Florence / Firenze / "flower" is the center of the region called Tuscany. The Ponte Vecchio is a bridge over the River Arno which features shops built into the structure. "Florentine" indicates high quality in jewelry, in cooking, in crafts.
* The River Arno flows to the sea through Pisa, famous for its bell tower.
* Venetia / Venizia / Venice, is called the "Queen of the Adriatic." Is this where Venetian blinds originated?
* Milano is a center of the fashion industry and city of fine foods and complex recipes. That's why Pepperidge Farms named their light but fine and imperially slim cookie the Milano.
Why study Italy?
* Natural beauty: the Appenino range, the sea, the fertile fields of the Po River valley.
* History: the eras of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance were periods of extraordinary creativity.
* Cuccina, or cooking. From Fettucine Alfredo to Cannoli.
* Foods such as sausages (salami), olive oil and cheeses (ricotta, parmesan, provolone, mozzarella).
* Textiles and fashionable clothing, shoes and bags: Armani, Gucci, Dolce & Gabana, Prada, Versace, etc.
* Manufactured goods such as the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Fiat.
* Art by Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello and numerous others.
* Vatican City: the tiny nation that is the center of power of the Roman Catholic church.
* The origins of musical art such as opera, ballet and instrument making. See the pianoforte and violincello.
**
Classroom music ...
"Carmina Burana:" secular Medieval tunes in an opera-like choral production (opera means a "work").
**
Tuscany: a region known for its history, landscapes, vineyards, flowers, fine cooking, art and historic towns such as Pisa, Siena and Lucca. Florence is Tuscany's capital.
Sienna, the orangish-red or brownish-yellow color, takes its name from the soil in Tuscany. See Terra di Siena and Terra Cotta ("baked earth") clay. Remember Roman tiles made of terra cotta?
What American region compares to Tuscany?
Napa Valley, California, above San Francisco bay. It is known for vineyards (Gallo, Almaden), fine cooking and hilly beauty.
Mortar & pestle - used by apothecary or chef to grind and blend herbs or medicines. Gives its name to Sauce Pesto.
Pesto sauce includes basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts (pignoli)and garlic. Pesto is herbally greenish and sweet. It is traditionally eaten over pasta.
Pasta: dough.
Did pasta come to Italy from Germany or China? Marco Polo was the likely importer of a recipe for the food, made simply of wheat (one type being semolina) and water.
Here are selected examples:
canelloni: stuffed tube.
capelletti: "little hats;" stuffed.
farfallette: ribbon/bow-shaped.
fettucine: long egg noodles.
lasagna: widest of the flat noodles.
linguini: "little tongues;" narrow.
macaroni: in tubes.
pastina: disks of pasta.
ravioli: filled squares.
rigatoni: ribbed, tubular.
tortellini: ring-shaped and filled.
vermicelli: "little worms;" thin.
**
Sicilian pastry: cannoli. Like ice cream in a tube.
Balsamic vinegar: tart, sweet, dark vinegar, usually combined with olive oil. Used in salads and over pasta.
Calamari: fried baby squid.
**
Italy in WWII
Benito Mussolini was the dictator of Italy who became a partner - creating the Axis powers - to Adolph Hitler. Both espoused Fascism:
a) totalitarian government b) militarism c) anti-Communist d) anti-intellectual. "Fascism" comes from the term for the bundle of rods used as a symbol of power by the Romans.
Italy was liberated in 1944 by the Allies: US, GB, France, Canada, Australia.
**
pianoforte "soft / loud"
* developed about 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori of Cremona, Italy.
* harpsichord plucks strings and has only one volume; piano hammers strings and can play loudly or softly.
violin
* Antonio Stradivari and the Guarneri family are the luthiers who develop the 4-string, advanced violin about 1700.
Most notable historic composers:
Giuseppi Verdi
Antonio Corelli
Giacomo Puccini
Antonio Vivaldi
Nicolo Paganini
Harmony Illus. Encyc. of Classical Music
According to Italian language student Chelsea Norden:
bella donna, "beautiful woman"
bell'uomo, "handsome man"
casa, "house"
Salve! "hello"
Buon giornio! "good day!"
Io amore tu, "I love you."
Scusi! "Excuse me!"
Prego, "please"
**
"Pinocchio," classic folk tale
**
Espresso & cappucino
The Italians make il caffe' by forcing steam through the grounds; it is called espresso. Drunk in a tiny cup called a demi-tasse, it is a strong brew. When you make a "cap" of whipped cream and grated chocolate to put atop the espresso it becomes cappucino.
Latte refers to the added milk. Frappe' means frozen or iced. Dip a hard biscuit, called biscotti, into it.
**
Can you name the Western European nations that were part of the Roman Empire? Espana, Gaul & Briton.
Our goal is to know the names of all the nations of the empire that were on the Mediterranean rim.
**
More basic Italian ...
Tu sei cortese! "You are so nice/courteous!"
Grazie! "Thank you!"
Dove 'e il bagno? "Where is the bathroom?"
Catherine d Medici, of the powerful family of Florence (think Rockefellers), married Henri II of France about 1500. She traveled to France with her Florentine cooks - with marvelous recipes - and the controversial custom of using a fork (furca).
In ancient times which class of people would've used all 5 fingers in eating? Which class ate with 3 fingers?
**
In what Roman facility would we see the caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium? It was a Thermae, or public bathhouse.
The pools above were "hot," "tepid," or "lukewarm," and "cold." What could you do in a bathhouse besides wash and relax in the pools?
Exercise, hear the news, get a snack, have a massage and leave your laundry.
A Roman feast, according to Petronius and the World Atlas of Food: asparagus, truffles, eggs, olives, sausages, oysters and lobsters, for openers. Main dishes were stuffed geese and chickens and pigs, goose-liver pate' and stewed flamingo's tongues and peacock's brains.
Who is David Macaulay? A contemporary
illustrator/author responsible for books such as Cathedral (how they were built), Castle and the popular How Things Work.
This week we're watching a video called "Roman City," based on his book City. It's about the engineering (bridges, aqueducts, etc.), planning (city grid first) and functions (forum, bathhouses, etc.) of a Roman urbis.
**
The Roman Empire lay upon 3 continents. Which ones?
Romulus & Remus: who were they?
What plastic building material was developed by the Romans?
Concrete.
Intersection of the temples, market and government buildings? Place to disseminate news and opinion? The Forum.
Roman villa
A roof opening that allowed the sun and rain to enter the interior of the house? The atrium. The pool in the atrium was the impluvium.
The garden and vineyard flourished under the peristyle, or arbor.
Cave canem: Latin, "Beware the dog."
Cave emtor: "Let the buyer beware."
Roman apartment buildings: Insulae ("islands"). Multi-story buildings of concrete.
My overview of what's important in L'italia:
In the heart of Rome is the temple called the Pantheon, still functioning after some 2000 years.
Ciao! means "hello!" or "bye!" in Italian slang.
From Chianti, a vino of Northern Italy, to chiaroscuro, an artist's term which refers to portrayal through light and shadow, the Italians have an enormous impact on the refined life.
On the other hand there's the Sicilian mafia, the cosa nostra.
The map
* Roma and, within it, the Vatican City. The Vatican is one of the tiniest nations and home to il Pape.
* Napoli / Naples / Neapolis (Gk) Neapolitan ice cream! Home of pizza!
* On the Bay of Naples is the Isle of Capri (goats), one of the most ancient resorts. One of Rome's emperors capriciously used Capri as his capital. *
* Looming above Naples bay is Mt. Vesuvius and nearby is the ancient resort called Pompeii.
* Florence / Firenze / "flower" is the center of the region called Tuscany. The Ponte Vecchio is a bridge over the River Arno which features shops built into the structure. "Florentine" indicates high quality in jewelry, in cooking, in crafts.
* The River Arno flows to the sea through Pisa, famous for its bell tower.
* Venetia / Venizia / Venice, is called the "Queen of the Adriatic." Is this where Venetian blinds originated?
* Milano is a center of the fashion industry and city of fine foods and complex recipes. That's why Pepperidge Farms named their light but fine and imperially slim cookie the Milano.
Why study Italy?
* Natural beauty: the Appenino range, the sea, the fertile fields of the Po River valley.
* History: the eras of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance were periods of extraordinary creativity.
* Cuccina, or cooking. From Fettucine Alfredo to Cannoli.
* Foods such as sausages (salami), olive oil and cheeses (ricotta, parmesan, provolone, mozzarella).
* Textiles and fashionable clothing, shoes and bags: Armani, Gucci, Dolce & Gabana, Prada, Versace, etc.
* Manufactured goods such as the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Fiat.
* Art by Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello and numerous others.
* Vatican City: the tiny nation that is the center of power of the Roman Catholic church.
* The origins of musical art such as opera, ballet and instrument making. See the pianoforte and violincello.
**
Classroom music ...
"Carmina Burana:" secular Medieval tunes in an opera-like choral production (opera means a "work").
**
Tuscany: a region known for its history, landscapes, vineyards, flowers, fine cooking, art and historic towns such as Pisa, Siena and Lucca. Florence is Tuscany's capital.
Sienna, the orangish-red or brownish-yellow color, takes its name from the soil in Tuscany. See Terra di Siena and Terra Cotta ("baked earth") clay. Remember Roman tiles made of terra cotta?
What American region compares to Tuscany?
Napa Valley, California, above San Francisco bay. It is known for vineyards (Gallo, Almaden), fine cooking and hilly beauty.
Mortar & pestle - used by apothecary or chef to grind and blend herbs or medicines. Gives its name to Sauce Pesto.
Pesto sauce includes basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts (pignoli)and garlic. Pesto is herbally greenish and sweet. It is traditionally eaten over pasta.
Pasta: dough.
Did pasta come to Italy from Germany or China? Marco Polo was the likely importer of a recipe for the food, made simply of wheat (one type being semolina) and water.
Here are selected examples:
canelloni: stuffed tube.
capelletti: "little hats;" stuffed.
farfallette: ribbon/bow-shaped.
fettucine: long egg noodles.
lasagna: widest of the flat noodles.
linguini: "little tongues;" narrow.
macaroni: in tubes.
pastina: disks of pasta.
ravioli: filled squares.
rigatoni: ribbed, tubular.
tortellini: ring-shaped and filled.
vermicelli: "little worms;" thin.
**
Sicilian pastry: cannoli. Like ice cream in a tube.
Balsamic vinegar: tart, sweet, dark vinegar, usually combined with olive oil. Used in salads and over pasta.
Calamari: fried baby squid.
**
Italy in WWII
Benito Mussolini was the dictator of Italy who became a partner - creating the Axis powers - to Adolph Hitler. Both espoused Fascism:
a) totalitarian government b) militarism c) anti-Communist d) anti-intellectual. "Fascism" comes from the term for the bundle of rods used as a symbol of power by the Romans.
Italy was liberated in 1944 by the Allies: US, GB, France, Canada, Australia.
**
pianoforte "soft / loud"
* developed about 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori of Cremona, Italy.
* harpsichord plucks strings and has only one volume; piano hammers strings and can play loudly or softly.
violin
* Antonio Stradivari and the Guarneri family are the luthiers who develop the 4-string, advanced violin about 1700.
Most notable historic composers:
Giuseppi Verdi
Antonio Corelli
Giacomo Puccini
Antonio Vivaldi
Nicolo Paganini
Harmony Illus. Encyc. of Classical Music
According to Italian language student Chelsea Norden:
bella donna, "beautiful woman"
bell'uomo, "handsome man"
casa, "house"
Salve! "hello"
Buon giornio! "good day!"
Io amore tu, "I love you."
Scusi! "Excuse me!"
Prego, "please"
**
"Pinocchio," classic folk tale
**
Espresso & cappucino
The Italians make il caffe' by forcing steam through the grounds; it is called espresso. Drunk in a tiny cup called a demi-tasse, it is a strong brew. When you make a "cap" of whipped cream and grated chocolate to put atop the espresso it becomes cappucino.
Latte refers to the added milk. Frappe' means frozen or iced. Dip a hard biscuit, called biscotti, into it.
**
Can you name the Western European nations that were part of the Roman Empire? Espana, Gaul & Briton.
Our goal is to know the names of all the nations of the empire that were on the Mediterranean rim.
**
More basic Italian ...
Tu sei cortese! "You are so nice/courteous!"
Grazie! "Thank you!"
Dove 'e il bagno? "Where is the bathroom?"
Catherine d Medici, of the powerful family of Florence (think Rockefellers), married Henri II of France about 1500. She traveled to France with her Florentine cooks - with marvelous recipes - and the controversial custom of using a fork (furca).
In ancient times which class of people would've used all 5 fingers in eating? Which class ate with 3 fingers?
**
In what Roman facility would we see the caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium? It was a Thermae, or public bathhouse.
The pools above were "hot," "tepid," or "lukewarm," and "cold." What could you do in a bathhouse besides wash and relax in the pools?
Exercise, hear the news, get a snack, have a massage and leave your laundry.
A Roman feast, according to Petronius and the World Atlas of Food: asparagus, truffles, eggs, olives, sausages, oysters and lobsters, for openers. Main dishes were stuffed geese and chickens and pigs, goose-liver pate' and stewed flamingo's tongues and peacock's brains.
Who is David Macaulay? A contemporary
illustrator/author responsible for books such as Cathedral (how they were built), Castle and the popular How Things Work.
This week we're watching a video called "Roman City," based on his book City. It's about the engineering (bridges, aqueducts, etc.), planning (city grid first) and functions (forum, bathhouses, etc.) of a Roman urbis.
**
The Roman Empire lay upon 3 continents. Which ones?
Romulus & Remus: who were they?
What plastic building material was developed by the Romans?
Concrete.
Intersection of the temples, market and government buildings? Place to disseminate news and opinion? The Forum.
Roman villa
A roof opening that allowed the sun and rain to enter the interior of the house? The atrium. The pool in the atrium was the impluvium.
The garden and vineyard flourished under the peristyle, or arbor.
Cave canem: Latin, "Beware the dog."
Cave emtor: "Let the buyer beware."
Roman apartment buildings: Insulae ("islands"). Multi-story buildings of concrete.
Italy quiz 1
Exploring the Map of L’Italia
1. River Tiber: a) Roma b) Napoli c) Venezia.
2. River Arno: a) Vatican City b) Milano c) Firenze.
3. Po River: a) Roma b) Milano c) Napoli.
4. St. Peter's Basilica: a) Firenze b) Vatican c) Milano.
5. Mt. Blanc: a) Alps range b) Appennino Mountains.
6. The Galleria shopping center: a) Roma b) Firenze c) Milano.
7. This city has a medieval bell tower which has been affected by subsidence: a) Vatican b) Napoli c) Pisa.
8. Minuscule (tiny) nation within Italy: a) Firenze b) Vatican c) Roma.
9. City of the 06 Winter Olympics: a) Turin b) Pisa c) Venezia.
10. Capital of Sicily: a) Napoli b) Vesuvius c) Palermo.
11. Another Italian island: a) Corsica b) Sardinia c) Malta.
12. City at 42N, 12E: a) Milano b) Messina c) Roma.
13. Which is the only consecutively-doubled letter in the word Mediterranean? a) t b) r c) n .
14. Monaco is a nation that borders Italy. T / F
15. More than most European nations, Italy represents a crossroads between between Africa and Europe. T / F
16. The population of Italy is approximately one third that of the US. T/F
17. One of the predominant languages of Italy is French. T / F
18. The population per square mile of Italy is almost double that of the US. T / F
19. New York City’s population is approximately three times greater than the population of Roma. T / F
20. Italy is a a) democracy b) monarchy c) dictatorship.
21. The latitude and longitude of Torino: a) 48N, 2E b) 53N, 21E c) 45N, 7E.
Italy / map exploration
1. a) Roma
2. c) Firenze
3. b) Milano
4. b) Vatican
5. a) Alps
6. c) Milano
7. c) Pisa
8. b) Vatican
9. a) Turin
10. c) Palermo
11. b) Sardinia
12. c) Roma
13. b) r
14. T
15. T
16. F
17. T
18. F
19. F
20. a) democracy
21. c) 45N, 7E
1. River Tiber: a) Roma b) Napoli c) Venezia.
2. River Arno: a) Vatican City b) Milano c) Firenze.
3. Po River: a) Roma b) Milano c) Napoli.
4. St. Peter's Basilica: a) Firenze b) Vatican c) Milano.
5. Mt. Blanc: a) Alps range b) Appennino Mountains.
6. The Galleria shopping center: a) Roma b) Firenze c) Milano.
7. This city has a medieval bell tower which has been affected by subsidence: a) Vatican b) Napoli c) Pisa.
8. Minuscule (tiny) nation within Italy: a) Firenze b) Vatican c) Roma.
9. City of the 06 Winter Olympics: a) Turin b) Pisa c) Venezia.
10. Capital of Sicily: a) Napoli b) Vesuvius c) Palermo.
11. Another Italian island: a) Corsica b) Sardinia c) Malta.
12. City at 42N, 12E: a) Milano b) Messina c) Roma.
13. Which is the only consecutively-doubled letter in the word Mediterranean? a) t b) r c) n .
14. Monaco is a nation that borders Italy. T / F
15. More than most European nations, Italy represents a crossroads between between Africa and Europe. T / F
16. The population of Italy is approximately one third that of the US. T/F
17. One of the predominant languages of Italy is French. T / F
18. The population per square mile of Italy is almost double that of the US. T / F
19. New York City’s population is approximately three times greater than the population of Roma. T / F
20. Italy is a a) democracy b) monarchy c) dictatorship.
21. The latitude and longitude of Torino: a) 48N, 2E b) 53N, 21E c) 45N, 7E.
Italy / map exploration
1. a) Roma
2. c) Firenze
3. b) Milano
4. b) Vatican
5. a) Alps
6. c) Milano
7. c) Pisa
8. b) Vatican
9. a) Turin
10. c) Palermo
11. b) Sardinia
12. c) Roma
13. b) r
14. T
15. T
16. F
17. T
18. F
19. F
20. a) democracy
21. c) 45N, 7E
India Quiz 2
I n d i a 2 / T r u d e a u
1. US bombing raids are launched from a ring-shaped island in the Indian Ocean called Diego Garcia. This sort of island: a) lagoon b) atoll c) coral d) islet.
2. Shah Jahan was a mogul. If he was known as a Mughal emperor then he represented __ culture. a) Hindu b) Muslim c) Sikh d) Aryan.
3. The Taj Mahal itself was built for this function: a) mosque b) mansion c) mausoleum d) minaret.
4. Towers built for broadcasting the call to Islamic prayer: a) mosque b) minaret
c) mausoleum d) mughals.
5. Hindus believe that existence is a continuous circle of birth, life, death and __.
a) nirvana b) rebirth c) dharma d) caste.
6. In their devotion to family, interest in planning and extent of their power and wealth we can say that the Shah Jahan and Gandhi were much alike. T / F
7. Gandhi knew that the highest level of the castes is the Brahmin or Shatriya, not the Sudra, or untouchable. T / F
8. “What goes around, comes around,” is an expression about actions producing consequences. That is similar to the Hindu law of a) karma b) reincarnation c) meditation d) dharma.
9. A word or phrase which, repeated, will aid the emptying of the mind and one’s focus on relaxation is called a a) shiva b) vishnu c) brahma e) mantra.
10. Gandhi’s style of protest was non-violent action called __ disobedience.
a) civil b) yoga c) Porbandor d) caste e) vegetarian.
11. India was controlled by the European nation of __ from the 1800’s until 1947.
a) France b) Germany c) England d) Belgium e) Netherlands.
12. One of Gandhi’s goals in social action was to minimize conflict between the
a) Hindu & Muslim b) Hindu & Jew c) Muslim & Jew d) Muslim & Sikh.
13. The majority of Indians, some 80%, follow the __ religion.
a) Hindu b) Islamic c) Sikh d) Muslim.
14. Afghanistan and Bangladesh were once controlled by the British. T / F
15. Once called Ceylon, the island of Sri Lanka is the southernmost region of the nation of India. T / F
16. Mt Everest lies on the border between a) Nepal & China b) Bhutan & China
c) India & China d) India & Tibet.
17. Pakistan’s capital and largest city is on the Arabian Sea. It is Karachi. T / F
18. Iraq, Kuwait and Yemen are nations of the region called a) Southwest Asia
b) Central Asia c) Southeast Asia d) Arabian Sea.
19. Gandhi organized the mass of Indians against the salt tax and the British control of the sale of a) textiles b) identification passes c) Hindu goods d) tea.
20. Mother Theresa did her work in Kolkata. Gandhi was raised in the city of Porbandor. Both lived near the coast. Gandhi’s early influence came from the a) Persian Gulf b) Bay of Bengal
c) Arabian Sea d) Indus River.
India 2 / Trudeau
1. b) atoll
2. b) Muslim
3. c) mausoleum
4. b) minaret
5. b) rebirth
6. False
7. True
8. a) karma
9. e) mantra
10. a) civil
11. c) England
12. a) Hindu & Muslim
13. a) Hindu
14. True
15. False
16. a) Nepal & China
17. False
18. a) Southwest Asia
19. a) textiles
20. c) Arabian Sea
Little Feet, Kerala India
India review 1 / Trudeau / geography
1. Hindi greeting: a) Namaste’ b) Ni hau c) Moshimoshi d) Salaam aleikum e) Shalom f) Yo.
2. Hindi is the culture and religion, Hindu is the language. T / F
3. According to the RMQRWA, India’s population is about a) 1.03 billion b) 1.3 billion c) 1.5 billion d) 1.53 billion.
4. People who study populations and make predictions about population changes: a) anthropologists b) demographers c) historians d) graphologists.
5. Civilization in Central Asia began in the __ river basin, according to World Book. a) Indus b) Ganges c) Nile d) Tigris & Euphrates.
6. Mt. Everest lies on the borders of a) Nepal & China b) India & China c) China & Tibet.
7. Which has a greater metropolitan area? a) Mumbai b) Kolkata c) New York City d) Beijing?
8. Sanskrit, Bengali, Gujarati, Kashmiri and Punjabi are __. a) regions
b) languages c) types of cuisine d) Hindu gods.
9. India has approximately half the land area of the US but more than 3 times the US’ population. T / F
10. The 2 principal religions of India: a) Christian, Islam b) Islam, Hindu
c) Hindu, Jewish d) Hindu, Christian e) Sikhs, Hindus.
11. The famous spice mixture of Indian cooking: a) curry b) tandoori c) yogurt d) chili powder.
12. The caste system has been responsible for a long history of a) good meals b) law and order c) lavish architecture d) railways and ports.
13. Not one of the three Islamic nations on our map: a) Bangladesh b) Pakistan c) Afghanistan d) Nepal.
14. The historic name for Mumbai: __ a) Calcutta b) Kolkata c) Ceylon d) Bombay e) Agra.
15. The multi-stringed instrument that gives a signature sound to the music of India: a) oud b) sitar c) tambourine d) bindi e) melodica.
16. Some 60 years ago India was partitioned so that Muslims would have a home away from the antagonistic Hindus. Today there are fewer than 10% of Muslims in India. They live in Pakistan or Bangladesh. T / F
17. “Going to a movie tonight, darlin’. Put a garland of jasmine round your neck and a __ on your forehead.” a) samsara b) ganesh c) bindi d) sitar.
18. Bangalore is a city of high tech workers, according to the NY Times. The most notable US company maintaing a large workforce there is a) Microsoft b) Apple c) Dell d) Intel e) Sun Microsystems.
19. Famous for their beards and turbans, this Indian religious group is centered in the Punjab, near the city of Amritsar: a) Punjabis b) Jains c) Hindus d) Muslims e) Sikhs.
20. The science behind an understanding of the Himalayas: a) vulcanology
b) demography c) plate tectonics d) archaeology.
21. The British term for attorney: a) barista b) barrister c) bannister d) lawyer.
22. Brief essay: Describe 2 moments in the movie Gandhi when he used 2 of his 4 principal strategies for social action. Tell which strategy was being employed. (4 pts.) Check grammar, spelling, organization and titling.
Trudeau / India Quiz / answers
1. a) Namaste’
2. F
3. a) 1.03 B
4. b) demographers
5. a) Indus
6. a)
7. c) NYC
8. b) languages
9. F
10. b) Islam, Hindu
11. a) curry
12. b) order
13. d) Nepal
14. d) Bombay
15. b) sitar
16. F
17. c) bindi
18. a) Microsoft
19. e) Sikhs
20. c) plate tectonics
21. b) barrister
22. Strategies: use the press, emphasize Christian principles, understand and use the law and use diplomacy, or thoughtful negotiation.
1. Hindi greeting: a) Namaste’ b) Ni hau c) Moshimoshi d) Salaam aleikum e) Shalom f) Yo.
2. Hindi is the culture and religion, Hindu is the language. T / F
3. According to the RMQRWA, India’s population is about a) 1.03 billion b) 1.3 billion c) 1.5 billion d) 1.53 billion.
4. People who study populations and make predictions about population changes: a) anthropologists b) demographers c) historians d) graphologists.
5. Civilization in Central Asia began in the __ river basin, according to World Book. a) Indus b) Ganges c) Nile d) Tigris & Euphrates.
6. Mt. Everest lies on the borders of a) Nepal & China b) India & China c) China & Tibet.
7. Which has a greater metropolitan area? a) Mumbai b) Kolkata c) New York City d) Beijing?
8. Sanskrit, Bengali, Gujarati, Kashmiri and Punjabi are __. a) regions
b) languages c) types of cuisine d) Hindu gods.
9. India has approximately half the land area of the US but more than 3 times the US’ population. T / F
10. The 2 principal religions of India: a) Christian, Islam b) Islam, Hindu
c) Hindu, Jewish d) Hindu, Christian e) Sikhs, Hindus.
11. The famous spice mixture of Indian cooking: a) curry b) tandoori c) yogurt d) chili powder.
12. The caste system has been responsible for a long history of a) good meals b) law and order c) lavish architecture d) railways and ports.
13. Not one of the three Islamic nations on our map: a) Bangladesh b) Pakistan c) Afghanistan d) Nepal.
14. The historic name for Mumbai: __ a) Calcutta b) Kolkata c) Ceylon d) Bombay e) Agra.
15. The multi-stringed instrument that gives a signature sound to the music of India: a) oud b) sitar c) tambourine d) bindi e) melodica.
16. Some 60 years ago India was partitioned so that Muslims would have a home away from the antagonistic Hindus. Today there are fewer than 10% of Muslims in India. They live in Pakistan or Bangladesh. T / F
17. “Going to a movie tonight, darlin’. Put a garland of jasmine round your neck and a __ on your forehead.” a) samsara b) ganesh c) bindi d) sitar.
18. Bangalore is a city of high tech workers, according to the NY Times. The most notable US company maintaing a large workforce there is a) Microsoft b) Apple c) Dell d) Intel e) Sun Microsystems.
19. Famous for their beards and turbans, this Indian religious group is centered in the Punjab, near the city of Amritsar: a) Punjabis b) Jains c) Hindus d) Muslims e) Sikhs.
20. The science behind an understanding of the Himalayas: a) vulcanology
b) demography c) plate tectonics d) archaeology.
21. The British term for attorney: a) barista b) barrister c) bannister d) lawyer.
22. Brief essay: Describe 2 moments in the movie Gandhi when he used 2 of his 4 principal strategies for social action. Tell which strategy was being employed. (4 pts.) Check grammar, spelling, organization and titling.
Trudeau / India Quiz / answers
1. a) Namaste’
2. F
3. a) 1.03 B
4. b) demographers
5. a) Indus
6. a)
7. c) NYC
8. b) languages
9. F
10. b) Islam, Hindu
11. a) curry
12. b) order
13. d) Nepal
14. d) Bombay
15. b) sitar
16. F
17. c) bindi
18. a) Microsoft
19. e) Sikhs
20. c) plate tectonics
21. b) barrister
22. Strategies: use the press, emphasize Christian principles, understand and use the law and use diplomacy, or thoughtful negotiation.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
The engineers of the Roman Empire: "All roads lead to Rome."
Some of the world's extraordinary roads were built by Roman engineers. They built 50,000 miles of roads across the vast empire.
* Roads were a military necessity.
* Roads enabled trade and profit and wealth.
* many of their roadways have lasted 2000 years.
* Imagine 6000 crucifixions along the famous road called the Via Appia (begun in 326 BC). Those punished along the Via Appia were slave rebels in the army of the gladiator Spartacus. See Worldbookonline for more of his fascinating story.
* Atop the Roman arches were built both aqueducts and viaducts.
Thesis: today's internet is an apt comparison with the network of roads created by the Romans.
Handout: The Roman Empire map & symbols
1. Aegypticus / Egypt
2. Alexandria
3. Jerusalem
4. Palestine / Judaea / Israel
5. Syria
6. Asia Minor / Turkey
7. Black Sea
8. Byzantium / Constantinople / Istanbul
9. Aegean Sea
10. Graecia / Greece (Hellas)
11. Athens
12. Roma
13. Sicily
14. Carthage / Tunisia
15. Espana / Spain
16. Gaul / France
17. Rhine R.
18. Danube R.
19. Londinium / London
20. Britannia / Britain
21. Pax Romana, 30 BC - 200 AD
23. aqueduct / viaduct
24. Circus Maximus, Rome
25. Pantheon, Roman temple
26. Hibernia / Ireland
Independent work:
Differences between the Pantheon and Parthenon.
* Roads were a military necessity.
* Roads enabled trade and profit and wealth.
* many of their roadways have lasted 2000 years.
* Imagine 6000 crucifixions along the famous road called the Via Appia (begun in 326 BC). Those punished along the Via Appia were slave rebels in the army of the gladiator Spartacus. See Worldbookonline for more of his fascinating story.
* Atop the Roman arches were built both aqueducts and viaducts.
Thesis: today's internet is an apt comparison with the network of roads created by the Romans.
Handout: The Roman Empire map & symbols
1. Aegypticus / Egypt
2. Alexandria
3. Jerusalem
4. Palestine / Judaea / Israel
5. Syria
6. Asia Minor / Turkey
7. Black Sea
8. Byzantium / Constantinople / Istanbul
9. Aegean Sea
10. Graecia / Greece (Hellas)
11. Athens
12. Roma
13. Sicily
14. Carthage / Tunisia
15. Espana / Spain
16. Gaul / France
17. Rhine R.
18. Danube R.
19. Londinium / London
20. Britannia / Britain
21. Pax Romana, 30 BC - 200 AD
23. aqueduct / viaduct
24. Circus Maximus, Rome
25. Pantheon, Roman temple
26. Hibernia / Ireland
Independent work:
Differences between the Pantheon and Parthenon.
Volunteers needed for outdoors, downtown movie presented by Robinson Film center, Fr, Mar 3, 5 pm
Volunteers needed for outdoors, downtown Shreveport movie produced by Robinson Film center
Originally uploaded by trudeau.
Hello, CMHS students,
I am looking for volunteers that will be willing to help with Movies & Moonbeams (see below). They would need to be at River View Park (in front of Sci-Port) around 4:30 or 5 pm to help set-up and then help with cokes & popcorn throughout the film. I was hoping you would ask your students if they would be interested in volunteering. I know this is asking a lot but I really feel like the students would be well placed since it is work like setting up tables and popping popcorn. However, I guarantee they’ll have fun.
Volunteers, would you please email me your name? cfrance@robinsonfilmcenter.org
Sincerely,
Clare France
"Movies & Moonbeams," an outdoor cinema program featuring family-friendly films projected on a huge inflatable screen with theater-quality picture and sound, will return Friday, March 3, in downtown Shreveport's Riverview Park with “Back To The Future”. Screening will begin at dark around 7 p.m. and the park is located on the Red River near Sci-Port. The program is meant to provide unique, low-cost entertainment opportunities for area families.
Presented by The Robinson Film Center, SPAR, and Shreveport Green, the program debuted to an audience of more than 400 in November of 2005. Admission to the film will be $1.00. Concession stand food will be available for purchase. To learn more and for a calendar of upcoming screenings go to www.moviesandmoonbeams.org
For more information, please contact the Robinson Film Center at (318) 424-9090
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Roman Empire: all the lands surrounding the Mediterranean
From about 500 BC to 500 AD the Roman Empire grew to encompass control of the Mediterranean basin. In the process the organization and men of the Roman Legion became the world's most awesome force.
The month of March owes its name to Mars, the Roman god of war (martial).
At the peak of the empire was a golden era, a period of peace and prosperity called the Pax Romana ("peace of the Romans"). The Pax Romana began with the emperor Augustus Caesar, 27 BC, and continued to about 180 AD, acc to A History of the World (Perry).
Italian cuchina . . .
* Pasta shapes almost all have Italian names, such as tortellini and linguine. Try some canneloni!
* Calamari is fried squid, a popular appetizer.
* Alfredo was a chef in Rome who wowed diners when he mixed a rich, cream & cheese sauce at tableside. Poured over pasta, the classic dish became famous as Fettucini Alfredo.
* Napoli claims to be home to the original pizza pie.
* Modena is home to 2 great Italian products: balsamic vinegar and the Ferrari.
* Piper nigrum, black pepper, was worth its weight in gold when it had to be brought to Europe from the Spice islands (region encompassing India, Indonesia, etc).
* Scylla and Charybdis, the twin dangers of a 6-headed monster and a ship-eating whirlpool, was located in the Straits of Messina.
The lira is no longer the currency of Italy. They use the Euro (today a Euro is worth more than a USD). Why did the nations of Western Europe band together in the European Union? The better to compete with the US and China in business ventures. An example is the successful passenger airplane manufacturing company called Airbus. While headquartered in France, Airbus is a partnership comprising several Euro nations. To see their technology, find the Airbus 380, an 800-seat airliner planned for 2008.
Independent work:
Research the Yellow Pages to compare the number of local restaurants under the categories of Tex-Mex, Italian and Chinese. Which seems to be the most popular with local diners?
The month of March owes its name to Mars, the Roman god of war (martial).
At the peak of the empire was a golden era, a period of peace and prosperity called the Pax Romana ("peace of the Romans"). The Pax Romana began with the emperor Augustus Caesar, 27 BC, and continued to about 180 AD, acc to A History of the World (Perry).
Italian cuchina . . .
* Pasta shapes almost all have Italian names, such as tortellini and linguine. Try some canneloni!
* Calamari is fried squid, a popular appetizer.
* Alfredo was a chef in Rome who wowed diners when he mixed a rich, cream & cheese sauce at tableside. Poured over pasta, the classic dish became famous as Fettucini Alfredo.
* Napoli claims to be home to the original pizza pie.
* Modena is home to 2 great Italian products: balsamic vinegar and the Ferrari.
* Piper nigrum, black pepper, was worth its weight in gold when it had to be brought to Europe from the Spice islands (region encompassing India, Indonesia, etc).
* Scylla and Charybdis, the twin dangers of a 6-headed monster and a ship-eating whirlpool, was located in the Straits of Messina.
The lira is no longer the currency of Italy. They use the Euro (today a Euro is worth more than a USD). Why did the nations of Western Europe band together in the European Union? The better to compete with the US and China in business ventures. An example is the successful passenger airplane manufacturing company called Airbus. While headquartered in France, Airbus is a partnership comprising several Euro nations. To see their technology, find the Airbus 380, an 800-seat airliner planned for 2008.
Independent work:
Research the Yellow Pages to compare the number of local restaurants under the categories of Tex-Mex, Italian and Chinese. Which seems to be the most popular with local diners?
Monday, February 27, 2006
Pisa lies on the famous River Arno, as does the historic city of Florence, aka Firenze
L'Italia
Cities to know in their European spelling:
Milano
Venezia
Pisa
Firenze
Roma
Napoli
Pompeii
3 great rivers: Po R., Arno R., Tiber R.
Adriatic Sea
Mediterranean
Sardinia and Sicily are both regions of L'Italia.
vocab
* amphora / bulbous jars used for storage in the Roman era.
* camapanile / medieval bell tower, such as the one of Pisa. It leans because of subsidence (sinking earth).
* olive oil & balsamic vinegar / sweet and tart accents often poured on foccacia, flat bread.
* bona opera / Latin for "good works." To be promised to oneself during Lent.
* Sotto voce / "soft voice," Italian.
* Prego." / "Please."
Independent writing:
Research and write a comparison of the situation between Muslims and Hindus during Gandhi's time and the Sunni Muslim vs. Shiite Muslims in current Iraq.
Cities to know in their European spelling:
Milano
Venezia
Pisa
Firenze
Roma
Napoli
Pompeii
3 great rivers: Po R., Arno R., Tiber R.
Adriatic Sea
Mediterranean
Sardinia and Sicily are both regions of L'Italia.
vocab
* amphora / bulbous jars used for storage in the Roman era.
* camapanile / medieval bell tower, such as the one of Pisa. It leans because of subsidence (sinking earth).
* olive oil & balsamic vinegar / sweet and tart accents often poured on foccacia, flat bread.
* bona opera / Latin for "good works." To be promised to oneself during Lent.
* Sotto voce / "soft voice," Italian.
* Prego." / "Please."
Independent writing:
Research and write a comparison of the situation between Muslims and Hindus during Gandhi's time and the Sunni Muslim vs. Shiite Muslims in current Iraq.
The Po River valley, the richest region of Italy
The Po River traverses Northern Italy and the farms that arose along this valley created the wealth that led to Italy's early success among the nations of Western Europe.
Fertile land, wealthy farmers, high education, skilled work; the value of the lands around the Po are connected to achievements in banking, architecture and technology. The powerful cities of Milano (see illustration) and Venice are adjacent to the Po.
This week we will examine the relationship of the people and the terrain of L'Italia.
Milan has a notable business center called the Galleria. It is the elegant original downtown shopping center. Built in the 1800's. it is the model for the Gallerias of Houston and Dallas and elsewhere.
Venice has a connection to Louisiana: Carnevale. The masks and balls of Venice represent one of the world's oldest celebrations of what we call Mardi Gras.
Tues: open notes test on Italy from its Infoplease.com profile, the atlas and textbook.
The 9 weeks ends on March 11.
Fertile land, wealthy farmers, high education, skilled work; the value of the lands around the Po are connected to achievements in banking, architecture and technology. The powerful cities of Milano (see illustration) and Venice are adjacent to the Po.
This week we will examine the relationship of the people and the terrain of L'Italia.
Milan has a notable business center called the Galleria. It is the elegant original downtown shopping center. Built in the 1800's. it is the model for the Gallerias of Houston and Dallas and elsewhere.
Venice has a connection to Louisiana: Carnevale. The masks and balls of Venice represent one of the world's oldest celebrations of what we call Mardi Gras.
Tues: open notes test on Italy from its Infoplease.com profile, the atlas and textbook.
The 9 weeks ends on March 11.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Historic Torino (Turin): comparing Italy to India (and the US)
Wealth and literacy and health will be examined via Infoplease.com as we move from a study of the subcontinent of India to the relatively tiny nation of Italy.
The design and manufacturing resources of Italy are symbolized by companies such as
Ferrari
Lamborghini
Fiat
Maserati
Benelli
Ducati
Motoguzzi
Beretta
Versace
Prada
Gucci
and more.
We will see places and regions that are comparable, despite the Asian-European contrasts.
Independent work -
Research and compare Gandhi and the late Pope John Paul or Mother Theresa.
Feb 22
1. How many times smaller is Italy than India? Graph their a) population b) area.
2. List 3 ways in which Italy and India are alike in terrain.
3. Create graphs that coompare 3 cities' populations of India and of Italy.
4. Three-nation Per Capita Income graph.
5. "" " literacy graph.
6. " " " life expectancy graph.
7. Map the trading partners of India and Italy. See map, pp. 2 - 3. Identify nations. Connect by dotted lines.
8. Write 5 mult choice questions that compare Italy and India.
9. Compose a brief comparison paragraph using 3 demographic items.
(10 pts.)
The design and manufacturing resources of Italy are symbolized by companies such as
Ferrari
Lamborghini
Fiat
Maserati
Benelli
Ducati
Motoguzzi
Beretta
Versace
Prada
Gucci
and more.
We will see places and regions that are comparable, despite the Asian-European contrasts.
Independent work -
Research and compare Gandhi and the late Pope John Paul or Mother Theresa.
Feb 22
1. How many times smaller is Italy than India? Graph their a) population b) area.
2. List 3 ways in which Italy and India are alike in terrain.
3. Create graphs that coompare 3 cities' populations of India and of Italy.
4. Three-nation Per Capita Income graph.
5. "" " literacy graph.
6. " " " life expectancy graph.
7. Map the trading partners of India and Italy. See map, pp. 2 - 3. Identify nations. Connect by dotted lines.
8. Write 5 mult choice questions that compare Italy and India.
9. Compose a brief comparison paragraph using 3 demographic items.
(10 pts.)
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Taj / Hinduism / Gandhi review notes
* Principal gods of Hinduism: Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu.
* Diego Garcia atoll (ring-shaped island) is in the Indian Ocean. It is a launching port for B-52s whose job it is to bomb Afghanistan and Iraq.
* Gandhi: Asia, Europe, Africa.
* Taj: 1654, Shah Jahan, as a white marble mausoleum for his spouse.
* Persians, Indians, Egyptians and Ceylonese were the craftsmen and designers of the Taj.
* Mosque, minarets, Arabic calligraphy and arabesques identify it as Muslim.
* Tombs of the Shah and Mumtaz are the only things in the Taj.
* Shah imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb.
* Shah Jahan and Gandhi, some 300 years apart, were alike in power and interest in planning and family. Gandhi had little interest in architecture; the Shah built many fine buildings besides the Taj.
* Samsara is the Hindu concept of man's endless cycle of rebirths, or reincarnations. Your reincarnation type is governed by the law of karma, wherein your holiness is governed your actions.
* Brahmin is generally considered the highest caste, or class, says Wikipedia, and Sudras (Shudras) the lowest. Sudras includes the untouchables.
* A guru, teacher, will give you a mantra, or holy word, for meditation. The classic mantra is Om, a word written in Sanskrit, the holy language of India.
* Hinduism is the oldest religion and has the most freedom of ritual. Most Hindus do their prayer at home shrines. Some 800 million people, 81% of India, profess the religion.
* Gandhi's independence struggle struck at British textiles - he suggested everyone wear homespun - and the British tax on salt.
* British Empire (selected nations):
- Central Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesah, Sri Lanka, Burma.
- Mid East: Kuwait, Iraq, yemen, Egypt.
- Far East: Australia, New Guinea, Hong Kong.
- Caribbean: Jamaica, Cayman Is, Bahamas.
- Sikhs (Punjab region, city of Amritsar) and Jains ate notable minority religions of India.
Independent work:
Research, document and compare the Taj mahal and St Peter's Basilica, vatican City / Rome.
Pajamas, khaki, juggernaut, bungalow and jodphurs are words derived from the Hindi.
Why was the Taj Mahal built on the edge of the Yamuna River? Does it remind you of grand structures in Louisiana built along the Mississippi? It certainly reminds us of great cities, such as New Orleans and Roma, and their rivers. What reasons were there for riverside construction besides the beauty of the water?
* Diego Garcia atoll (ring-shaped island) is in the Indian Ocean. It is a launching port for B-52s whose job it is to bomb Afghanistan and Iraq.
* Gandhi: Asia, Europe, Africa.
* Taj: 1654, Shah Jahan, as a white marble mausoleum for his spouse.
* Persians, Indians, Egyptians and Ceylonese were the craftsmen and designers of the Taj.
* Mosque, minarets, Arabic calligraphy and arabesques identify it as Muslim.
* Tombs of the Shah and Mumtaz are the only things in the Taj.
* Shah imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb.
* Shah Jahan and Gandhi, some 300 years apart, were alike in power and interest in planning and family. Gandhi had little interest in architecture; the Shah built many fine buildings besides the Taj.
* Samsara is the Hindu concept of man's endless cycle of rebirths, or reincarnations. Your reincarnation type is governed by the law of karma, wherein your holiness is governed your actions.
* Brahmin is generally considered the highest caste, or class, says Wikipedia, and Sudras (Shudras) the lowest. Sudras includes the untouchables.
* A guru, teacher, will give you a mantra, or holy word, for meditation. The classic mantra is Om, a word written in Sanskrit, the holy language of India.
* Hinduism is the oldest religion and has the most freedom of ritual. Most Hindus do their prayer at home shrines. Some 800 million people, 81% of India, profess the religion.
* Gandhi's independence struggle struck at British textiles - he suggested everyone wear homespun - and the British tax on salt.
* British Empire (selected nations):
- Central Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesah, Sri Lanka, Burma.
- Mid East: Kuwait, Iraq, yemen, Egypt.
- Far East: Australia, New Guinea, Hong Kong.
- Caribbean: Jamaica, Cayman Is, Bahamas.
- Sikhs (Punjab region, city of Amritsar) and Jains ate notable minority religions of India.
Independent work:
Research, document and compare the Taj mahal and St Peter's Basilica, vatican City / Rome.
Pajamas, khaki, juggernaut, bungalow and jodphurs are words derived from the Hindi.
Why was the Taj Mahal built on the edge of the Yamuna River? Does it remind you of grand structures in Louisiana built along the Mississippi? It certainly reminds us of great cities, such as New Orleans and Roma, and their rivers. What reasons were there for riverside construction besides the beauty of the water?
Basmati rice and jamun: gifts from Dr. Moona Prasad-Tanga to 2nd hour class
Basmati rice and the fried cakes called jamun were the taste treats brought to 2nd hour by Dr. Moona Prasad-Tanga, CMHS parent. "This basmati was flavored with cumin, bay leaf, onion and ghee - which is clarified butter," said Dr. Tanga.
She is from the city of Bangalore, today famed as a high-tech city of the south of India (Microsoft and Dell are employers in Bangalore). But she was raised in Pennsylvania and New Jersey from the age of one, when her father migrated in search of a better life. Her marriage of 18 years took place in Bangalore and was "sort-of arranged by a matchmaker," she explained. Her son in CMHS first-year Suparsh Tanga.
We appreciate her gifts of food and time for enriching cultural studies at CMHS.
She is from the city of Bangalore, today famed as a high-tech city of the south of India (Microsoft and Dell are employers in Bangalore). But she was raised in Pennsylvania and New Jersey from the age of one, when her father migrated in search of a better life. Her marriage of 18 years took place in Bangalore and was "sort-of arranged by a matchmaker," she explained. Her son in CMHS first-year Suparsh Tanga.
We appreciate her gifts of food and time for enriching cultural studies at CMHS.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Himalaya Mountains
The story of guru Neelkanth was the narrative thread in the IMAX movie Mystic India. The theme of this colorful movie was that India has unity despite its stupendous diversity (geographically, in languages and religions, etc).
Here are 2 sites on the movie:
http://www.mysticindia.com/
and
http://www.dmns.org/main/en/Professionals/Press/CurrentPressReleases/Press+Releases/IMAX/mysticBackground.htm
Here are 2 sites on the movie:
http://www.mysticindia.com/
and
http://www.dmns.org/main/en/Professionals/Press/CurrentPressReleases/Press+Releases/IMAX/mysticBackground.htm
India & other impoverished nations: how to provide affordable electricity & clean water
San Francisco (Business 2.0) - Dean Kamen, the engineer who invented the Segway and developed the heart aid called the stent, is puzzling over a new equation these days. An estimated 1.1 billion people in the world don't have access to clean drinking water, and an estimated 1.6 billion don't have electricity. Those figures add up to a big problem for the world—and an equally big opportunity for entrepreneurs.
To solve the problem, he's invented two devices, each about the size of a washing machine that can provide much-needed power and clean water in rural villages.
"Eighty percent of all the diseases you could name would be wiped out if you just gave people clean water," says Kamen. "The water purifier makes 1,000 liters of clean water a day, and we don't care what goes into it. And the power generator makes a kilowatt off of anything that burns."
To solve the problem, he's invented two devices, each about the size of a washing machine that can provide much-needed power and clean water in rural villages.
"Eighty percent of all the diseases you could name would be wiped out if you just gave people clean water," says Kamen. "The water purifier makes 1,000 liters of clean water a day, and we don't care what goes into it. And the power generator makes a kilowatt off of anything that burns."
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Yamuna River, the mosque and walls surrounding the Taj Mahal
Taj Project:
1) Tint and affix the 2-leaf taj mahal sketch in your notebook.
2) Annotate the project; ie, surround it with notes.
3) On another page, write 5 multiple-choice questions.
4) Make a presentation to a classmate, sibling or parent and record their answers.
10 pts. Due Friday.
Notes -
* Shah Jahan, a Mughal Emperor, constructed the Taj mahal as a mausoleum and monument to his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
* 1654
* Designers and crafstmen came from Persia, Italy, Egypt, China, Ceylon and India.
* Inlaid with jade, amber, rubies, onyx, lapis and agate.
* Decorated with Arabic script.
* the 42-acre walled complex includes the Taj, minarets, a mosque, rest house, gardens, and gatehouse.
* The Shah's son took over the kingdom and imprisoned his father. he accused the father of misusing the kingdom's resources.
* The Shah's plan was to build a mirror image black-stone mausoleum across the Yamuna R. as his resting place. He was buried in the Taj alongside his wife, Mumtaz.
1) Tint and affix the 2-leaf taj mahal sketch in your notebook.
2) Annotate the project; ie, surround it with notes.
3) On another page, write 5 multiple-choice questions.
4) Make a presentation to a classmate, sibling or parent and record their answers.
10 pts. Due Friday.
Notes -
* Shah Jahan, a Mughal Emperor, constructed the Taj mahal as a mausoleum and monument to his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
* 1654
* Designers and crafstmen came from Persia, Italy, Egypt, China, Ceylon and India.
* Inlaid with jade, amber, rubies, onyx, lapis and agate.
* Decorated with Arabic script.
* the 42-acre walled complex includes the Taj, minarets, a mosque, rest house, gardens, and gatehouse.
* The Shah's son took over the kingdom and imprisoned his father. he accused the father of misusing the kingdom's resources.
* The Shah's plan was to build a mirror image black-stone mausoleum across the Yamuna R. as his resting place. He was buried in the Taj alongside his wife, Mumtaz.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Cutting out and tinting a representation of the Taj Mahal
Teaching a lesson on the Taj Mahal will be easier, I believe, if you have a colorful, active teaching aid. We shall make one in class tomorrow.
Scissors! Colors. Imagination. Information.
Here's an amazing, 360 degree view of the Taj. The site also has an array of notable sights from across the globe. Please explore. panoramas.dk. Also, there is a terrific tour at Taj-mahal.net.
Also, please scrowl down for info on the SciPort IMAX film on India Feb 18 & 19. Bonus points!
Scissors! Colors. Imagination. Information.
Here's an amazing, 360 degree view of the Taj. The site also has an array of notable sights from across the globe. Please explore. panoramas.dk. Also, there is a terrific tour at Taj-mahal.net.
Also, please scrowl down for info on the SciPort IMAX film on India Feb 18 & 19. Bonus points!
Torino & the Olympics demand that we make a map of Italy and sample some Nutella
Sketch a map of L'Italy. Please include:
Torino
Milano
Venezia
Roma
Sicily
Tunisia (African nation)
France
Monaco
Switzerland
Slovenia
Austria
Near Torino is the town of Alba, Italy, where Nutella was created. Try some of this chocolaty hazelnut spread and write an evaluation of it for geo class.
Independent writing:
Registration Essay
Reflect on what you learned about yourself and the school via this year's electives. Use examples. Discuss which elective(s) you might take next year, and why.
Performers!
CMHS Coffeehouse is a night of unplugged performances - poetry, folk & classical music, dance, comedy, etc - that is produced by Mrs. Morehead and the GT Dept. It is open to All students. See Mrs. Morehead for details.
Ti amo!
Torino
Milano
Venezia
Roma
Sicily
Tunisia (African nation)
France
Monaco
Switzerland
Slovenia
Austria
Near Torino is the town of Alba, Italy, where Nutella was created. Try some of this chocolaty hazelnut spread and write an evaluation of it for geo class.
Independent writing:
Registration Essay
Reflect on what you learned about yourself and the school via this year's electives. Use examples. Discuss which elective(s) you might take next year, and why.
Performers!
CMHS Coffeehouse is a night of unplugged performances - poetry, folk & classical music, dance, comedy, etc - that is produced by Mrs. Morehead and the GT Dept. It is open to All students. See Mrs. Morehead for details.
Ti amo!
Mystic India,IMAX film, at SciPort this weekend only, Feb 18-19
Mystic India: an Incredible Journey of Inspiration, a big-screen film showing a land of many mysteries and fascinations, and shot in more than 100
locations, will show one weekend only at Sci-Port Discovery Center’s three story IMAX
Dome Theatre on Saturday, February 18, and Sunday, February 19, 2006.
Presented in partnership with The Multicultural Center of the South, the film.
reveals India’s ancient civilization, incredible architecture, colorful festivals,
and fascinating peoples and landscapes. The new release from Giant Screen Films will
be presented as a two-for-one double feature with the following schedule:
(Film will be paired as 2-for-1 double feature with 4 other choices.)
Saturday, February 18
Mystic India/Top Speed 10:30 am
Mystic India/Lewis & Clark 12:30 pm
Mystic India/Dolphins 2:30 pm
Sunday, February 19
Mystic India/Lewis & Clark 2 pm
Mystic India/Space Station 4 pm
Traditional Indian folk and classical dancers will perform in the IMAX Dome
Theatre during the intermissions of each double feature.
Narrated by legendary British actor Sir Peter O’ Toole, Mystic India takes
audiences on a journey through the frigid peaks of the Himalayas to the nation’s blazing
deserts and tropical rainforests; across fields and rivers and to small remote villages, all
along witnessing the sheer natural beauty of India and the incredible achievements of its
people. The film explores India’s extensive and accomplished history such as its
contributions to the world from astronomy and aviation to atomic physics, geometry, and
mathematics.
Mystic India also takes an interesting look at the amazing power of yoga and
meditation as it follows Neelkanth, a young boy who walked for 7 years and 8,000 miles
across the vast majestic land. He struggled through many hardships, enduring extremely
cold temperatures and encountering wild beasts in the forests—carrying no more than a
handkerchief—all because he wanted to help people learn to live good lives. Neelkanth’s
survival is a phenomenon that Harvard scientists researching modern day yogis’ in India
has proven to be possible.
More than 45,000 volunteers helped recreate authentic scenes for the film.
Festivals seen in Mystic India are large and spectacular. Massive crowds celebrate the
2500-year-old Festival of Chariots. Thousands take part in the celebrations including the
annual Festival of Lights and Festival of Colors.
India is a single nation as large as all of Europe, with a population of a billion
people that comprises one-sixth of the world. A sequence in the film documents the
‘Faces of India’ and the diversity among its inhabitants. India is the only country that has
18 different languages and more than 1,600 dialects.
IMAX Ticket prices for the February 18-19 Mystic India double feature are:
$ 8.50 General Admission
$ 7.00 Children (3-12), Seniors and Military
$ 6.00 Groups 15+
Sci-Port Discovery Center is a 67,000 square-foot science and entertainment
center in Shreveport-Bossier, featuring over 200 hands-on science exhibits, daily
changing programs, an IMAX Dome Theatre, demonstration theater, gift shop and café.
Sci-Port is located at 820 Clyde Fant Parkway on the downtown Shreveport-Bossier
Riverfront. For information call (318) 424-3466, toll-free (877) 724-7678 or visit
www.sciport.org.
Bonus credit:
5 pts. for attending film.
5 to 15 pts. for essay comparing this movie to the movie Gandhi.
locations, will show one weekend only at Sci-Port Discovery Center’s three story IMAX
Dome Theatre on Saturday, February 18, and Sunday, February 19, 2006.
Presented in partnership with The Multicultural Center of the South, the film.
reveals India’s ancient civilization, incredible architecture, colorful festivals,
and fascinating peoples and landscapes. The new release from Giant Screen Films will
be presented as a two-for-one double feature with the following schedule:
(Film will be paired as 2-for-1 double feature with 4 other choices.)
Saturday, February 18
Mystic India/Top Speed 10:30 am
Mystic India/Lewis & Clark 12:30 pm
Mystic India/Dolphins 2:30 pm
Sunday, February 19
Mystic India/Lewis & Clark 2 pm
Mystic India/Space Station 4 pm
Traditional Indian folk and classical dancers will perform in the IMAX Dome
Theatre during the intermissions of each double feature.
Narrated by legendary British actor Sir Peter O’ Toole, Mystic India takes
audiences on a journey through the frigid peaks of the Himalayas to the nation’s blazing
deserts and tropical rainforests; across fields and rivers and to small remote villages, all
along witnessing the sheer natural beauty of India and the incredible achievements of its
people. The film explores India’s extensive and accomplished history such as its
contributions to the world from astronomy and aviation to atomic physics, geometry, and
mathematics.
Mystic India also takes an interesting look at the amazing power of yoga and
meditation as it follows Neelkanth, a young boy who walked for 7 years and 8,000 miles
across the vast majestic land. He struggled through many hardships, enduring extremely
cold temperatures and encountering wild beasts in the forests—carrying no more than a
handkerchief—all because he wanted to help people learn to live good lives. Neelkanth’s
survival is a phenomenon that Harvard scientists researching modern day yogis’ in India
has proven to be possible.
More than 45,000 volunteers helped recreate authentic scenes for the film.
Festivals seen in Mystic India are large and spectacular. Massive crowds celebrate the
2500-year-old Festival of Chariots. Thousands take part in the celebrations including the
annual Festival of Lights and Festival of Colors.
India is a single nation as large as all of Europe, with a population of a billion
people that comprises one-sixth of the world. A sequence in the film documents the
‘Faces of India’ and the diversity among its inhabitants. India is the only country that has
18 different languages and more than 1,600 dialects.
IMAX Ticket prices for the February 18-19 Mystic India double feature are:
$ 8.50 General Admission
$ 7.00 Children (3-12), Seniors and Military
$ 6.00 Groups 15+
Sci-Port Discovery Center is a 67,000 square-foot science and entertainment
center in Shreveport-Bossier, featuring over 200 hands-on science exhibits, daily
changing programs, an IMAX Dome Theatre, demonstration theater, gift shop and café.
Sci-Port is located at 820 Clyde Fant Parkway on the downtown Shreveport-Bossier
Riverfront. For information call (318) 424-3466, toll-free (877) 724-7678 or visit
www.sciport.org.
Bonus credit:
5 pts. for attending film.
5 to 15 pts. for essay comparing this movie to the movie Gandhi.
Sadhu in Assam state, India / also, a practice quiz
India, Hinduism, Taj Mahal & Gandhi Review
1. The three principal gods of Hinduism are Brahma, __ and __.
2. USAF bombing flights directed at Iraq and Afghanistan are mostly launched from __ __.
3. Gandhi's life was lived on 3 continents: Asia, __ and __.
4. The Taj Mahal (TM) was built about the year __ by the __ Jahan, Mughal emperor of Northern India.
5. It was built of white __ (stone) for Mumtaz Mahal, his principal __.
6. A building that is a tomb is called a __.
7. The designers of the Taj were from the nations of __ and __.
8. There are three items of the Taj Mahal complex that identify the Shah's culture as islamic: the mosque, the towers called __ and the decorative designs on the walls, called __.
9. Aside from the decorated caskets of the emperor and his wife the interior of the Taj Mahal is empty. T / F
10. In the final chapter of his life the Shah's son made sure his father was __.
11. In their devotion to famil, interest in planning and architecture, and the extent of their power we can say that Shah Jahan and Gandhi were alike.
T / F
12. Gandhi and Shah Jahan lived about __ years apart. a) 300 b) 500
c) 600 d) 800.
13. Hindus believe that man is contained in a nearly endless series of a) rebirths b) conflicts c) religions d) yoga's called samsara.
14. Hinduism teaches that the soul never dies. The continuous process of the soul's rebirth is called ___.
15. The highest of the castes is the brahmin. T / F
16. Hindus believe that the bad actions of your life - or of your past lives - may hamper you in this life. This is the law of __.
17. ___ is your social, job-oriented placement in life.
18. Doing the work that Indian society sees as unclean is the responsibility of the __ caste.
19. The Hindu word for teacher or wise man is a) guru b) rupee c) Sanskrit d) dharma.
20. The word __ is the eternal word and is written by an Indian character that resembles the numeral 3.
21. Hinduism is probably the world's oldest living religion, according to World Book. T / F
22. Hinduism is practiced by about a) 50 million b) 100 million c) 800 million people.
23. Most Hindu worship takes place a) in the temples b) at home c) under
a Bodhi tree.
24. Gandhi led protests against two of the ways in which the British took unfair profits from the people of India. He struck back at the English sale of __ goods and at their tax and monopoly on __.
25. 4 nations of Central Asia that were controlled by the British during the empire: __, __, __ and __.
26. In the Middle East the English exerted wide control. Two of the nations they controlled were __ and __.
27. Two British properties in the Far East: __ and __.
28. Two of the British colonial properties in the Caribbean: __ and __.
29. The elephant-headed god of the Hindus: __.
30. Two religions of India with small numbers of adherents: __ and __.
1. The three principal gods of Hinduism are Brahma, __ and __.
2. USAF bombing flights directed at Iraq and Afghanistan are mostly launched from __ __.
3. Gandhi's life was lived on 3 continents: Asia, __ and __.
4. The Taj Mahal (TM) was built about the year __ by the __ Jahan, Mughal emperor of Northern India.
5. It was built of white __ (stone) for Mumtaz Mahal, his principal __.
6. A building that is a tomb is called a __.
7. The designers of the Taj were from the nations of __ and __.
8. There are three items of the Taj Mahal complex that identify the Shah's culture as islamic: the mosque, the towers called __ and the decorative designs on the walls, called __.
9. Aside from the decorated caskets of the emperor and his wife the interior of the Taj Mahal is empty. T / F
10. In the final chapter of his life the Shah's son made sure his father was __.
11. In their devotion to famil, interest in planning and architecture, and the extent of their power we can say that Shah Jahan and Gandhi were alike.
T / F
12. Gandhi and Shah Jahan lived about __ years apart. a) 300 b) 500
c) 600 d) 800.
13. Hindus believe that man is contained in a nearly endless series of a) rebirths b) conflicts c) religions d) yoga's called samsara.
14. Hinduism teaches that the soul never dies. The continuous process of the soul's rebirth is called ___.
15. The highest of the castes is the brahmin. T / F
16. Hindus believe that the bad actions of your life - or of your past lives - may hamper you in this life. This is the law of __.
17. ___ is your social, job-oriented placement in life.
18. Doing the work that Indian society sees as unclean is the responsibility of the __ caste.
19. The Hindu word for teacher or wise man is a) guru b) rupee c) Sanskrit d) dharma.
20. The word __ is the eternal word and is written by an Indian character that resembles the numeral 3.
21. Hinduism is probably the world's oldest living religion, according to World Book. T / F
22. Hinduism is practiced by about a) 50 million b) 100 million c) 800 million people.
23. Most Hindu worship takes place a) in the temples b) at home c) under
a Bodhi tree.
24. Gandhi led protests against two of the ways in which the British took unfair profits from the people of India. He struck back at the English sale of __ goods and at their tax and monopoly on __.
25. 4 nations of Central Asia that were controlled by the British during the empire: __, __, __ and __.
26. In the Middle East the English exerted wide control. Two of the nations they controlled were __ and __.
27. Two British properties in the Far East: __ and __.
28. Two of the British colonial properties in the Caribbean: __ and __.
29. The elephant-headed god of the Hindus: __.
30. Two religions of India with small numbers of adherents: __ and __.
Monday, February 13, 2006
CMHS parent Charles Chaniyara from Lakhtar, India, near Porbandar, Arabian Sea
Rose Ashleigh Coleman, Carderius Johnson, Charles Chaniyara and Jerrel Stills, discussing life in India
Originally uploaded by trudeau.
Don't forget the importance of an outing to eat at Utsav or India's Cuisine.
Gandhi vocab -
* repudiate
* "India Is British."
* "100,000 Englishmen vs. 350,000 Indians."
* peaceful non-cooperation
* homespun
* martial law
* sedition
* "An eye for an eye will just make the whole world blind."
* censorship
* advocate
Notebook project map of Gandhi's life in 3 continents, 3 nations:
- Porbandar, London, Pretoria, Mumbai, Kolkata
Independent work
Timeline of Afghanistan's Last 15 Years -
* USSR invasion
* mujahadin
* Osama
* Taliban
* al qaeda
* 9-11-01
* US invasion
* rebuilding
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Yoga Day, guided by guru Ken Womack
Yoga Day elicited a terrific response from my classes. Hats off and thanks to our guru, YMCA yoga teacher Ken Womack.
Students presented excerpts from their brief research papers on yoga between demonstrations by Mr. Womack. Afterwards, everyone got involved in the asanas, as you see.
Tuesday
Open notes test on India and Gandhi. Having a print-out of website notes would be smart.
Students presented excerpts from their brief research papers on yoga between demonstrations by Mr. Womack. Afterwards, everyone got involved in the asanas, as you see.
Tuesday
Open notes test on India and Gandhi. Having a print-out of website notes would be smart.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Pakistan: brief profile
Pakistan is a new nation; why was it established so recently (1947)?
It was part of the solution to the eternal conflict between Hindus and Muslims. Established as an Islamic nation, Muslims from across India trekked to this haven some 60 years ago. Also established at that time was Bangladesh (originally called east Pakistan).
Caught in the situation were the Hindus of the Indus Valley. They had to move east to get to the new borders of India. And split by the division was the region called the Punjab. The Sikhs were pained by the process.
Karachi is a city of 11 M but the capital of Pakistan is the much smaller city of Islamabad.
Comparison to India:
Per capita income: Pak., $2200 India, $3100
Literacy: Pak., 46% India, 60%
Pakistan is a military dictatorship; India is a democracy.
The 3 great languages are Punjabi, Sindi and Pashtun.
Pakistanis are notable for their abilities in digital, high-tech work. Sadly, they are also known for pirating American software, acc to the NYTimes.
Gandhi vocab:
servitude
apathy
insurgents
exploitation
oblivion
liberal / conservative
OPEN NOTES TEST ON GANDHI & INDIA
TUES, FEB 14
It was part of the solution to the eternal conflict between Hindus and Muslims. Established as an Islamic nation, Muslims from across India trekked to this haven some 60 years ago. Also established at that time was Bangladesh (originally called east Pakistan).
Caught in the situation were the Hindus of the Indus Valley. They had to move east to get to the new borders of India. And split by the division was the region called the Punjab. The Sikhs were pained by the process.
Karachi is a city of 11 M but the capital of Pakistan is the much smaller city of Islamabad.
Comparison to India:
Per capita income: Pak., $2200 India, $3100
Literacy: Pak., 46% India, 60%
Pakistan is a military dictatorship; India is a democracy.
The 3 great languages are Punjabi, Sindi and Pashtun.
Pakistanis are notable for their abilities in digital, high-tech work. Sadly, they are also known for pirating American software, acc to the NYTimes.
Gandhi vocab:
servitude
apathy
insurgents
exploitation
oblivion
liberal / conservative
OPEN NOTES TEST ON GANDHI & INDIA
TUES, FEB 14
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Monika Kumar, CMHS student of the year, being interviewed by 1st years
Monika Kumar, CMHS student of the year, being interviewed by 1st years
Originally uploaded by trudeau.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Varanasi on the Ganges: site of Hindu cremation and floating of funeral pyres
The flickr.com respondent said of this photo from a Varanasi boat trip: "Took a boat trip down the Ganges; this is the "ghat" (riverside steps) that they burn the dead bodies at. 24/7. Thats a lot of dead people."
Sikhism, an Indian religion / the Golden Temple of Amritsar at night
Sikhism, pronounced SEE kihz uhm, is one of the religions of India. Its believers call themselves Sikhs, which means disciples.
About 14 million Sikhs live in India, the majority of them in the northern state of Punjab, says World Book.
The first Sikh guru criticized Hindu and Muslim religious practices that he said emphasized outer forms over inner spiritual awakening. He instructed his followers to be aware of God's presence by rising early, bathing, meditating on the divine name, and directing each day's activities to God. By remembering God in this way, and by living a good and simple life, people could free themselves from the cycle of reincarnation. According to Sikh belief, a person's actions (karma) determine whether the soul will enter the next life as a plant, animal, or human being.
In 1526, northern India was conquered by Muslims from what is now Afghanistan, who founded the Mughal Empire. The Sikhs had to defend themselves from Muslim persecution. The ideal of the Sikh became the "saint-soldier."
In the early 1800's, Ranjit Singh established a Sikh kingdom in northern India. In 1849, the kingdom was conquered by the British, who controlled much of India. When India and Pakistan became independent nations in 1947, almost half the Sikhs lived in the area that became Pakistan. Many Sikhs fled to India to escape persecution.
By the 1960's, the Sikh community was playing a leading role in India's agriculture, business and professional work, and military life. Sikh farmers led the "green revolution" that helped increase India's food production.
Many Sikhs demanded more control of Punjab. In 1984, Sikh rebels occupied the Golden Temple and the surrounding sacred buildings in Amritsar. An Indian army action to remove the Sikhs caused great damage and many deaths. Some radical Sikh groups continued to carry out acts of violence and terrorism as part of their movement.
Other points of Sikhism:
* hair & beard not cut.
* steel band, comb, dagger and fighting bloomers are worn.
* Amritsar, site of the Golden Temple, is their capital city.
See more photos of Sikhs atFlickr.com.
Yoga notes:
* compare the American practice of yoga with the popular, if extremely demanding, Pilates. See Joseph Pilates, the German founder of the regimen.
Gandhi:
* Was Gandhi a barrister or barista?
About 14 million Sikhs live in India, the majority of them in the northern state of Punjab, says World Book.
The first Sikh guru criticized Hindu and Muslim religious practices that he said emphasized outer forms over inner spiritual awakening. He instructed his followers to be aware of God's presence by rising early, bathing, meditating on the divine name, and directing each day's activities to God. By remembering God in this way, and by living a good and simple life, people could free themselves from the cycle of reincarnation. According to Sikh belief, a person's actions (karma) determine whether the soul will enter the next life as a plant, animal, or human being.
In 1526, northern India was conquered by Muslims from what is now Afghanistan, who founded the Mughal Empire. The Sikhs had to defend themselves from Muslim persecution. The ideal of the Sikh became the "saint-soldier."
In the early 1800's, Ranjit Singh established a Sikh kingdom in northern India. In 1849, the kingdom was conquered by the British, who controlled much of India. When India and Pakistan became independent nations in 1947, almost half the Sikhs lived in the area that became Pakistan. Many Sikhs fled to India to escape persecution.
By the 1960's, the Sikh community was playing a leading role in India's agriculture, business and professional work, and military life. Sikh farmers led the "green revolution" that helped increase India's food production.
Many Sikhs demanded more control of Punjab. In 1984, Sikh rebels occupied the Golden Temple and the surrounding sacred buildings in Amritsar. An Indian army action to remove the Sikhs caused great damage and many deaths. Some radical Sikh groups continued to carry out acts of violence and terrorism as part of their movement.
Other points of Sikhism:
* hair & beard not cut.
* steel band, comb, dagger and fighting bloomers are worn.
* Amritsar, site of the Golden Temple, is their capital city.
See more photos of Sikhs atFlickr.com.
Yoga notes:
* compare the American practice of yoga with the popular, if extremely demanding, Pilates. See Joseph Pilates, the German founder of the regimen.
Gandhi:
* Was Gandhi a barrister or barista?
Monday, February 06, 2006
The ineffable sound and beauty of the sitar
See that ivory plate near the bottom of the gourd body of the sitar? Looks a bit like a transducer. I'm given to undertstand that this wide plate is the source of the celestial buzzing of the strings.
Some of my background is derived from Houston-based sitarist David Courtney, who studied in India. His wife is Chandrakantha Courtney, an estimable singer of Indian melodies.
His helpful web site is chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/sitar/parts.html
Some of my background is derived from Houston-based sitarist David Courtney, who studied in India. His wife is Chandrakantha Courtney, an estimable singer of Indian melodies.
His helpful web site is chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/sitar/parts.html
The award-winning movie Gandhi endures as a great biography
Gandhi vocab from the eponymous movie:
loincloth
humility
simple truth
colored / non-whites were referred to by the turn-of-the-century British as "colored" or even "black."
kaffir
coolie
children of god
barrister
Sikh
defiance of injustice
ashram
benefactor
bapu
Mahatma
Map showing trade routes connecting India and East Africa. Both the nations of India and South Africa were British colonies.
Progress reports will be issued to my students by Wed. Sorry for the delay.
See more on the Mahatma at Gandhi. His keys to social action were to use
* the British courts and law.
* the press
* Christian principles (though a Hindu, Gandhi was well read in the Koran and Bible)
* diplomacy.
In this movie one of my pleasures is watching the many varieties of beautifully-tied turbans.
Physical geo:
* Hindu Kush / the major range on the Pakistani side of India. Is this where Osama hides?
* plate tectonics / continental drift / collision of earth's plates results in the continental uplift called the Himalayas and Hindu Kush.
* Why so many languages across India? There are 20 major languages, each reflecting a region.
loincloth
humility
simple truth
colored / non-whites were referred to by the turn-of-the-century British as "colored" or even "black."
kaffir
coolie
children of god
barrister
Sikh
defiance of injustice
ashram
benefactor
bapu
Mahatma
Map showing trade routes connecting India and East Africa. Both the nations of India and South Africa were British colonies.
Progress reports will be issued to my students by Wed. Sorry for the delay.
See more on the Mahatma at Gandhi. His keys to social action were to use
* the British courts and law.
* the press
* Christian principles (though a Hindu, Gandhi was well read in the Koran and Bible)
* diplomacy.
In this movie one of my pleasures is watching the many varieties of beautifully-tied turbans.
Physical geo:
* Hindu Kush / the major range on the Pakistani side of India. Is this where Osama hides?
* plate tectonics / continental drift / collision of earth's plates results in the continental uplift called the Himalayas and Hindu Kush.
* Why so many languages across India? There are 20 major languages, each reflecting a region.
Young barrister Mohandas K Gandhi, 1906, Johannesburg
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 - 1948
1. Gandhi's nation? a) India b) Pakistan c) Afghanistan d) Iran.
2. The era of his greatest work? a) late 1800's b) early 1900's c) middle 1900's d) late 1900's.
3. His style of political action was emulated by a famous American. a) JFK b) LBJ c) MLK d) FDR.
4. Gandhi fought against the __ control of his nation. a) French b) British c) Belgian d) German.
5. Gandhi also tried to change the ancient social system which divided the people of India by their inherited __. a) aristocracy
b) region c) skin color d) caste.
6. Gandhi attempted to bring peace to two warring sides of India: a) Hindu & Christian b) Hindu & Muslim c) Muslim & Christian d) Hindu & Buddhist.
7. Gandhi was a) Hindu b) Muslim c) Christian.
8. He was educated in London in a) medicine b) journalism c) psychology d) law.
9. Gandhi's early struggle for fair treatment of the people of India was in a nation where poor Indians worked as miners: a) S. Africa b) Kenya c) Yemen.
10. Gandhi's unremitting efforts for India's independence finally brought him wealth and political office. T / F
Friday, February 03, 2006
Cooking of Goa, India, comes to Magnet via Parent Yeona D'Acosta-Auld
Chicken curry with coconut is typical of the south of India, students learned from CMHS parent Yeona D'Acosta-Auld. She also served the class nan and rice; students found it quite palatable.
More notes on Goa, a Portuguese colony - until 1961 - on the Arabian Sea coast.
* St Francis Xavier
* kutha
* monsoon
* pickled fish & meat
* cashews
* difs in the cuisine of south and north of India.
From my student Anuj Chaniyara, a native of Gujurati province:
Hello in Gujurati language: kem chho!
Class work:
5 colorful graphs comparing the demographics of India and the US (5 pts.).
More notes on Goa, a Portuguese colony - until 1961 - on the Arabian Sea coast.
* St Francis Xavier
* kutha
* monsoon
* pickled fish & meat
* cashews
* difs in the cuisine of south and north of India.
From my student Anuj Chaniyara, a native of Gujurati province:
Hello in Gujurati language: kem chho!
Class work:
5 colorful graphs comparing the demographics of India and the US (5 pts.).
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Ravi Shankar, sitarist and one of the greatest artists of India, with daughter Anoushka Shankar, also a gifted sitarist
Indian music
The great sitarist Ravi Shankar has 2 musical daughters: Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones.
Ms Jones sold 14 million copies of her 1st album, "Come Away with me." Anoushka has also made several albums.
The basic group of Indian music may include
sitar
tabla (small drums)
harmonium (bellows-powered keyboard)
tambura (drone instrument)
vocals
Shiva
creation&destruction
fertility&aesceticism
Law of Karma / rebirth is guided by your virtue.
Nirvana.
Jains / minority religious group of India / ahimsa: not to kill any living thing.
mendicant (beggar)
puja (devotion ritual)
Mohandas K Gandhi
The great sitarist Ravi Shankar has 2 musical daughters: Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones.
Ms Jones sold 14 million copies of her 1st album, "Come Away with me." Anoushka has also made several albums.
The basic group of Indian music may include
sitar
tabla (small drums)
harmonium (bellows-powered keyboard)
tambura (drone instrument)
vocals
Shiva
creation&destruction
fertility&aesceticism
Law of Karma / rebirth is guided by your virtue.
Nirvana.
Jains / minority religious group of India / ahimsa: not to kill any living thing.
mendicant (beggar)
puja (devotion ritual)
Mohandas K Gandhi
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Namaste! Hinduism and other Indian background
From Pakistan to Sri Lanka: India map quiz Th / sketch by hand.
* Bollywood
* Mother Teresa / Kolkata
* Arthur C. Clarke, sci-fi writer, resisdent of Sri Lanka
* jewelry and style of India: nose rings, toe rings, anklets, midriff, turbans, sari, sandals.
* bindi / forehead dot
* chakras / centers of bodily energy
* Vedas / world's oldest books / holy Hindu texts.
* curry / mixture of peppers and spices.
* sadhu, yogi, fakir: names for holy men
* sword-swallowing, sitting on a bed of nails / ancient India.
Hinduism
Brahma: greatest god; force of the universe.
Lord Ganesh: popular if minor god.
Indian cooking:
India's Cuisine, Youree
Utsav, Bert Kouns at Fern
Movies:
Monsoon Wedding
Bombay Salaam
* Bollywood
* Mother Teresa / Kolkata
* Arthur C. Clarke, sci-fi writer, resisdent of Sri Lanka
* jewelry and style of India: nose rings, toe rings, anklets, midriff, turbans, sari, sandals.
* bindi / forehead dot
* chakras / centers of bodily energy
* Vedas / world's oldest books / holy Hindu texts.
* curry / mixture of peppers and spices.
* sadhu, yogi, fakir: names for holy men
* sword-swallowing, sitting on a bed of nails / ancient India.
Hinduism
Brahma: greatest god; force of the universe.
Lord Ganesh: popular if minor god.
Indian cooking:
India's Cuisine, Youree
Utsav, Bert Kouns at Fern
Movies:
Monsoon Wedding
Bombay Salaam
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
NYTimes: Dell increasing workforce in India
Dell to Expand Its Operations in India Market
By SARITHA RAI
BANGALORE, India, Jan. 30 — Dell, the PC maker, will open a fourth call center in India, add 5,000 employees to its current 10,000 workers and begin manufacturing computers here, the company said Monday.
The president and chief executive of Dell, Kevin B. Rollins, said at a news conference in New Delhi that the new call center, planned for the nearby Gurgaon suburbs, would join Dell's current centers in Bangalore and Hyderabad in the south and Mohali in the north.
The Gurgaon center will open in April and employ 1,000 by the end of this year. Other workers will be added to other sites around India over the next two years.
Mr. Rollins's two-day visit to India ended Monday and included a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Dell, which currently has less than 4 percent of India's annual market of four million computers, also said the company would set up a manufacturing base in India to help it increase its share of the country's fast-growing market, Mr. Rollins said. Sales of computers in India are expected to grow to 20 million a year in the next few years.
Dell, which is based in Round Rock, Tex., is one of several United States technology companies that have recently announced plans to increase operations in India. These companies are investing in India to take advantage of its English-speaking workers to write software and provide back-office support. Salaries in India are rising, but still are a fraction of salaries for comparable work in the West.
These companies are also eager to sell their wares in India. Microsoft, Intel and Cisco recently have announced investments of $1 billion or more, along with plans to increase employment.
Dell's customer support centers are part of a 30-center network worldwide. India is the only country in Dell's network that supports customers around the world.
"As we continue to attract new customers worldwide, our team in India has played a vital role in the company's operations," Mr. Rollins said in a statement.
By SARITHA RAI
BANGALORE, India, Jan. 30 — Dell, the PC maker, will open a fourth call center in India, add 5,000 employees to its current 10,000 workers and begin manufacturing computers here, the company said Monday.
The president and chief executive of Dell, Kevin B. Rollins, said at a news conference in New Delhi that the new call center, planned for the nearby Gurgaon suburbs, would join Dell's current centers in Bangalore and Hyderabad in the south and Mohali in the north.
The Gurgaon center will open in April and employ 1,000 by the end of this year. Other workers will be added to other sites around India over the next two years.
Mr. Rollins's two-day visit to India ended Monday and included a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Dell, which currently has less than 4 percent of India's annual market of four million computers, also said the company would set up a manufacturing base in India to help it increase its share of the country's fast-growing market, Mr. Rollins said. Sales of computers in India are expected to grow to 20 million a year in the next few years.
Dell, which is based in Round Rock, Tex., is one of several United States technology companies that have recently announced plans to increase operations in India. These companies are investing in India to take advantage of its English-speaking workers to write software and provide back-office support. Salaries in India are rising, but still are a fraction of salaries for comparable work in the West.
These companies are also eager to sell their wares in India. Microsoft, Intel and Cisco recently have announced investments of $1 billion or more, along with plans to increase employment.
Dell's customer support centers are part of a 30-center network worldwide. India is the only country in Dell's network that supports customers around the world.
"As we continue to attract new customers worldwide, our team in India has played a vital role in the company's operations," Mr. Rollins said in a statement.
Map of India Th, Feb 2; Yoga Day essay due Fri, Feb 10
Yoga Day illustrated essay (15 pts.)
* approx. 350 words researched via 2 sources.
* use "according to..." twice.
* titling, grammar.
* topics open:
- relationship between yoga and India.
_ relationship between yoga and the US.
_ relaxation, stress relief, alpha wave control.
_ yoga & gymnastics.
- yoga & history.
- vocabulary of yoga.
- other, please see me.
* yogi
* guru
* Lord Ganesh (Ganesha)
* Hindu vs. Muslim / partitioning of Pakistan & Bangladesh.
* Namaste'
* Little Black Sambo
* ethereal / Earthereal restaurant, Shreveport, vegetarian.
* tadasana
* approx. 350 words researched via 2 sources.
* use "according to..." twice.
* titling, grammar.
* topics open:
- relationship between yoga and India.
_ relationship between yoga and the US.
_ relaxation, stress relief, alpha wave control.
_ yoga & gymnastics.
- yoga & history.
- vocabulary of yoga.
- other, please see me.
* yogi
* guru
* Lord Ganesh (Ganesha)
* Hindu vs. Muslim / partitioning of Pakistan & Bangladesh.
* Namaste'
* Little Black Sambo
* ethereal / Earthereal restaurant, Shreveport, vegetarian.
* tadasana
Monday, January 30, 2006
Week of Jan 30: India map quiz, Taj Mahal, Gandhi
Namaste'!
Map of India
* Delhi/New Delhi
* Agra (home of the Taj Mahal)
* Bombay / Mumbai
* Calcutta / Kolkata
* Ganges R.
* Indian Ocean
* Arabian Sea
* Bay of Bengal
* Himalaya Mts.
* Nepal
* China
* Pakistan
* Bangladesh
* Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
Outsourcing / cheap workers overseas are given Americans' jobs so companies can remain competitive.
capitalism / free market; emphasis on competitiveness.
Bangalore: city in south of India notable for high-tech workforce (ex, Microsoft).
British Empire/ 1700's, 1800's, 1900's
"Sun never set on the British empire."
selected nations:
American colonies
Canada
Australia
Sudan
Jamaica
Bahamas
Iraq
Israel
Egypt
South Africa
Singapore
Hong Kong
Shanghai
Bollywood: melodramas
Map of India
* Delhi/New Delhi
* Agra (home of the Taj Mahal)
* Bombay / Mumbai
* Calcutta / Kolkata
* Ganges R.
* Indian Ocean
* Arabian Sea
* Bay of Bengal
* Himalaya Mts.
* Nepal
* China
* Pakistan
* Bangladesh
* Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
Outsourcing / cheap workers overseas are given Americans' jobs so companies can remain competitive.
capitalism / free market; emphasis on competitiveness.
Bangalore: city in south of India notable for high-tech workforce (ex, Microsoft).
British Empire/ 1700's, 1800's, 1900's
"Sun never set on the British empire."
selected nations:
American colonies
Canada
Australia
Sudan
Jamaica
Bahamas
Iraq
Israel
Egypt
South Africa
Singapore
Hong Kong
Shanghai
Bollywood: melodramas
English and Hindu-influenced English, or Hinglish
With English the commonly spoken language in India, Indians are contributing their bit at enrichment. The effect of Indian English, more commonly known as Hinglish as well as Indian words or Indianisms is being felt.
The latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), considered the world’s favorite word store, is a reflection. The new collection of linguistic twisters (for Western people, that is) include “bindaas” (cool), “tamasha” (create a scene), “mehndi” (body color), “desi” (local) and “lehnga” (a form of dress). “Lollywood,” Lahore’s incipient film industry finds mention. So does “kitty party,” a social event for bored Indian housewives.
In an interview, the editor of the OED Catherine Soanes rejected criticism that misuse of English words was being legitimized. “We are merely reflecting the language as it is today,’’ she said. “Indian English is one of the growing areas of language, which is contributing to the language as a whole.’’
Indeed, it is not just the OED, the Collins English Dictionary has also included commonly used words by Indians. Distinctly Hindi words that form the vocabulary of a large section of English speaking Indians have been incorporated. They include “aunti-ji” and “uncle-ji,” “freshie” (a new immigrant), “filmi” (dramatic), “gora” (White), “kutta” (dog) and “kutti” (bitch), “haramzada” and “haramzadi” (bastards or obnoxious/despicable) and “yaar” (friend). In a statement the dictionary has officially acknowledged the role of Hinglish in the evolution of English.
Last year’s OED too had turned eclectic incorporating several Indianisms: “Adda” (local joint), “langar” (community eatery) and “dicky” (car), have become bona fide English words, adding to the Indian word store, which includes “Hindutva,” “history-sheeter” and others. Many words of daily use in English are of Indian origin, including words like “shampoo,” “bangle,” “bungalow,” “jungle,” “mantra,” “pundit” and “cot.” They figure in major English-language dictionaries.
Collins’ took the process further. Other words include “badmash” (bad person), “changa” (fine), “chuddie” (underwear), “desi” (native) and “machi chips,” Hinglish for the very English favorite, “fish and chips.” The words reflect the language commonly spoken by Asians in Britain imbibing a Punjabi flavor, thus denoting a meeting of cultures. Commonly used words in popular Asian soaps such as “The Kumars at Number 42’’ and “Silver Street,’’ which are watched by mainstream audiences, have been picked up. According to a statement by Collins, “the inclusion of Hinglish words in the Dictionary marks an exciting development and a new phase of borrowing by English.’’
“The beauty of English is that from the earliest times [India was a British colony] it has been able to incorporate and adapt words from other languages,’’ said editor in chief Jeremy Butterfield. “Already, we probably can’t get through the day without using several words derived from Indian languages. In the long run, we can expect Hinglish to influence English in many fields, in the same way that Latin and French have over several centuries.’’
Indeed, parents and schools across the world, including those in China, Germany and other non-English speaking European nations, want their kids to learn English, the only global instrument of communication. As cross-cultural exchanges happen and jobs require knowledge of English happen in a connected world, language remains in focus. There are reports that Indian call centers are advising their customer care executives to speak the native way rather than accented English to appeal to Western clients. The focus is on clarity and getting the problem solved rather than image to gain acceptance. This is in the wake of individual vigilantism due to job losses with racist and abusive hate calls aimed at harassing Indian call center operators.
According to Sabira Merchant, speech-voice consultant, on how Indians speak English, “Indians have excellent control over written English, yet when it comes to pronunciation, we do not always sound right. The problem is while Americans think in English, we think in our mother tongue and translate it while speaking. As a nation we do speak good English. That is why most Indians score easily over people of other nationalities. But, it will still take time for Indians to speak with a polished accent and fluency.’’
A group of such people working for MphasiS, a leading outsourcing provider, however had no such problems when they sweet talked American customers into blurting out credit card and bank account codes and passwords, using the same to transfer money to the tune of half a million dollars.
The outsourcing wave has helped India’s Silicon Valley, Bangalore, become the second modern city in the world to be turned into a verb after “shanghaied” — a word that broadly means to be forced to do something by fraud or coercion. To be shanghaied, in circulation since 1870, has acquired a 21st-century context due to Chinese goods flooding U.S. markets.
To be bangalored, yet to find mention in a dictionary, reflects the sentiments of those who have been laid off in the U.S. because their jobs have moved to Bangalore. “I am a software developer who is about to be bangalored. Fine. I am not going to pout about it,’’ a participant in an online forum wrote. Although there have been other geographical places that have been turned into words, called toponyms, (for example, “frankfurter” and “marathon), few cities have taken a verb form.
Indeed, as Hinglish enriches, Indians only try to be better at the original. The news from America is good as well. Indian American Anurag Kashyap, from Poway, California, has won the 78th Annual Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee competition. Anurag, 13, bagged the prize recently by spelling correctly the word “appoggiatura” (which means short note placed before a longer one). He had never used the musical word before he spelled it right to win the competition. Anurag took home $22,000 in cash, a $5,000 college scholarship, books and a $1,000 savings bond.
The Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, a well established American tradition, has 273 finalists, aged 9 to 14, competing at a plush Washington, D.C., hotel. Many of them are children of immigrants, often under pressure to achieve by their parents’ desire to see them fitting in an alien society.
All three runners-up hail from South Asia. Another Indian American, Samir Sudhir Patel, 11, from Texas, settled for a second place tie. He was the youngest in the keenly contested rounds and lost the championship when he misspelled “roscian.’’
A cool Anurag coasted through the toughest words. Apart from the word that won him the title, he correctly spelt “cabochon,” “Priscilla,” “oligopsony,” “sphygmomanometer,” “prosciutto,” “rideau,” “pompier,” “terete,” “tristachyous,” “schefflera,” “ornithorhynchous,” “agio,” “agnolotti,” “peccavi,” “ceraunograph,” “exsiccosis” and “hodiernal.” Tough for anybody.
Source: http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/2143.cfm
The latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), considered the world’s favorite word store, is a reflection. The new collection of linguistic twisters (for Western people, that is) include “bindaas” (cool), “tamasha” (create a scene), “mehndi” (body color), “desi” (local) and “lehnga” (a form of dress). “Lollywood,” Lahore’s incipient film industry finds mention. So does “kitty party,” a social event for bored Indian housewives.
In an interview, the editor of the OED Catherine Soanes rejected criticism that misuse of English words was being legitimized. “We are merely reflecting the language as it is today,’’ she said. “Indian English is one of the growing areas of language, which is contributing to the language as a whole.’’
Indeed, it is not just the OED, the Collins English Dictionary has also included commonly used words by Indians. Distinctly Hindi words that form the vocabulary of a large section of English speaking Indians have been incorporated. They include “aunti-ji” and “uncle-ji,” “freshie” (a new immigrant), “filmi” (dramatic), “gora” (White), “kutta” (dog) and “kutti” (bitch), “haramzada” and “haramzadi” (bastards or obnoxious/despicable) and “yaar” (friend). In a statement the dictionary has officially acknowledged the role of Hinglish in the evolution of English.
Last year’s OED too had turned eclectic incorporating several Indianisms: “Adda” (local joint), “langar” (community eatery) and “dicky” (car), have become bona fide English words, adding to the Indian word store, which includes “Hindutva,” “history-sheeter” and others. Many words of daily use in English are of Indian origin, including words like “shampoo,” “bangle,” “bungalow,” “jungle,” “mantra,” “pundit” and “cot.” They figure in major English-language dictionaries.
Collins’ took the process further. Other words include “badmash” (bad person), “changa” (fine), “chuddie” (underwear), “desi” (native) and “machi chips,” Hinglish for the very English favorite, “fish and chips.” The words reflect the language commonly spoken by Asians in Britain imbibing a Punjabi flavor, thus denoting a meeting of cultures. Commonly used words in popular Asian soaps such as “The Kumars at Number 42’’ and “Silver Street,’’ which are watched by mainstream audiences, have been picked up. According to a statement by Collins, “the inclusion of Hinglish words in the Dictionary marks an exciting development and a new phase of borrowing by English.’’
“The beauty of English is that from the earliest times [India was a British colony] it has been able to incorporate and adapt words from other languages,’’ said editor in chief Jeremy Butterfield. “Already, we probably can’t get through the day without using several words derived from Indian languages. In the long run, we can expect Hinglish to influence English in many fields, in the same way that Latin and French have over several centuries.’’
Indeed, parents and schools across the world, including those in China, Germany and other non-English speaking European nations, want their kids to learn English, the only global instrument of communication. As cross-cultural exchanges happen and jobs require knowledge of English happen in a connected world, language remains in focus. There are reports that Indian call centers are advising their customer care executives to speak the native way rather than accented English to appeal to Western clients. The focus is on clarity and getting the problem solved rather than image to gain acceptance. This is in the wake of individual vigilantism due to job losses with racist and abusive hate calls aimed at harassing Indian call center operators.
According to Sabira Merchant, speech-voice consultant, on how Indians speak English, “Indians have excellent control over written English, yet when it comes to pronunciation, we do not always sound right. The problem is while Americans think in English, we think in our mother tongue and translate it while speaking. As a nation we do speak good English. That is why most Indians score easily over people of other nationalities. But, it will still take time for Indians to speak with a polished accent and fluency.’’
A group of such people working for MphasiS, a leading outsourcing provider, however had no such problems when they sweet talked American customers into blurting out credit card and bank account codes and passwords, using the same to transfer money to the tune of half a million dollars.
The outsourcing wave has helped India’s Silicon Valley, Bangalore, become the second modern city in the world to be turned into a verb after “shanghaied” — a word that broadly means to be forced to do something by fraud or coercion. To be shanghaied, in circulation since 1870, has acquired a 21st-century context due to Chinese goods flooding U.S. markets.
To be bangalored, yet to find mention in a dictionary, reflects the sentiments of those who have been laid off in the U.S. because their jobs have moved to Bangalore. “I am a software developer who is about to be bangalored. Fine. I am not going to pout about it,’’ a participant in an online forum wrote. Although there have been other geographical places that have been turned into words, called toponyms, (for example, “frankfurter” and “marathon), few cities have taken a verb form.
Indeed, as Hinglish enriches, Indians only try to be better at the original. The news from America is good as well. Indian American Anurag Kashyap, from Poway, California, has won the 78th Annual Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee competition. Anurag, 13, bagged the prize recently by spelling correctly the word “appoggiatura” (which means short note placed before a longer one). He had never used the musical word before he spelled it right to win the competition. Anurag took home $22,000 in cash, a $5,000 college scholarship, books and a $1,000 savings bond.
The Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, a well established American tradition, has 273 finalists, aged 9 to 14, competing at a plush Washington, D.C., hotel. Many of them are children of immigrants, often under pressure to achieve by their parents’ desire to see them fitting in an alien society.
All three runners-up hail from South Asia. Another Indian American, Samir Sudhir Patel, 11, from Texas, settled for a second place tie. He was the youngest in the keenly contested rounds and lost the championship when he misspelled “roscian.’’
A cool Anurag coasted through the toughest words. Apart from the word that won him the title, he correctly spelt “cabochon,” “Priscilla,” “oligopsony,” “sphygmomanometer,” “prosciutto,” “rideau,” “pompier,” “terete,” “tristachyous,” “schefflera,” “ornithorhynchous,” “agio,” “agnolotti,” “peccavi,” “ceraunograph,” “exsiccosis” and “hodiernal.” Tough for anybody.
Source: http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/2143.cfm
Girl Power and India's tennis star, Sania Mirza
India’s Tryst With “Girl Power”
Siddharth Srivastava
New Delhi, India
September 23, 2005
Tennis player Sania Mirza is just 18-years old and set to overtake the top celebrity brand endorsers in the country. This is India’s first taste of the “girl power” that has earned millions through corporate endorsements for the likes of Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova.
In India there have been broadly two categories of celebrities who garner most endorsement revenues — cricketers, who are treated like demigods, and film stars. Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, and film actors Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan have been around for a while now, with Bachchan continuing his hold over the Indian masses despite being over 60 years old. Enter Sania.
Sania has been the subject of attention for a while, but it is at the U.S. Open tennis tournament that she really caught the eye of world audiences and sponsors. Americans had the first real look at the very pretty, athletically built, nose and ear-ringed Indian star at the tournament.
A mix of glamour, performance, a “bold and brazen” game plan, grit and attitude, suave and affable communication skills, “going for the kill” forehands, and record performances (by Indian standards and history that is) has perched Sania at the very top of Indian brand ambassadors.
Post her U.S. Open sojourn Sania has been pegged as the joint second highest grosser among sports stars, in the same bracket as Rahul Dravid.
In November last year she was valued under $15,000 per deal. Her current rate has reportedly crossed $400,000, an over 25-fold jump. Sania has been signed up by GVK Industries, Sahara India, Hindustan Petroleum, Tata Indicom, Atlas Cycles and Tata Tea. She has a three-year deal with Lotto Sport Italia, which has been endorsed by tennis icons from Boris Becker to Martina Navratilova. There are many more (some estimates put the number at more than 20) lining up at her door.
Tendulkar remains India’s only million-dollar sports star. His deal with World Tel nets him $5 million every year, though these figures are still dwarfed by global trends with golfer Tiger Woods estimated to earn over a billion dollars through endorsements and appearance fees. Baseball and basketball players in the United States and footballers in Europe are also well into the million dollar league.
The main reason that other sports stars fail to notch the mega deals in India is the abysmal level of sporting performances as reflected in the Athens Olympics where a country of over a billion people managed just one silver medal. Cricketers are worshipped because it is the only sport in which India manages to hold its own against the best teams, though the performance of the Indian team has been quite poor in the recent past. But, starved of sporting icons, cricketers continue to rake in the moola. There have been a sprinkling of super achievers such as Geet Sethi (billiards), Vishwanathan Anand (chess), Rajyavardhan Rathore (shooting), Anju George (long jump) but none have been able to match the appeal of cricketers. None, that is, until Sania came along.
There is no doubt that Sania has set new levels for achievement for Indian women, given the list of firsts: she has leaped 284 places to No. 42 in the tour rankings and is likely to touch under 35 soon. This is better than any other player within the same time span and the highest ever for an Indian woman. She became the first woman from India to reach the third round of a Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January this year, and then the first to win a tour title in Hyderabad shortly thereafter. She has beaten players in the top 10 and many of her opponents have commented on her potential. Many expect a Grand Slam victory.
Last week, she became the first Indian female to win a match at the U.S. Open. She was beaten by Sharapova in the pre-quarters after winning three rounds, but not without putting up a fight. She recently won the Arjuna award, one of India’s top sports awards.
Though there is a long way to go yet and many more battles to be won, she does provide a welcome relief through her performance and looks. One favorite media interest has been the way Sania has managed to displace the spotlight on cricketers, though she has been gracious enough to say that she is a big Tendulkar fan. On the day that she won a match at the U.S. Open, the Indian cricket team too scored a victory at a tri-series being played at Zimbabwe. Mohammed Kaif, a top cricketer, scored a fine century. It has been a while since such a performance was relegated to the inside sports pages. Sania, meanwhile, dominated the TV news, front page and lead stories. The editorials followed.
Corporate India of course is relishing the prospect of cashing in on Sania’s drawing power. The Sania-Sharapova encounter also saw a 15 percent jump in advertisement rates for a tennis match telecast in India. In keeping with the number of people staying up late at night in India (to keep U.S. time) to catch her on TV, she was assigned one of the three show courts with facility for direct telecast, for all her matches. In addition to the main sponsors Hero Honda and Pepsi, the U.S. Open matches saw heavy advertising by IBM, Hewlett Packard, Maruti, Tata Tea and Yamaha.
To the further delight of her sponsors, she minces no words in talking her mind as well, which goes to enhance her persona. “Fifty years ago, people in India didn’t believe that a woman could play a professional sport,” said Sania. “Girls like me coming out and playing on the world stage is a little shocking, but that’s changing, and I’m glad.”
Being a devout Muslim and belonging to a conservative set up (she prays five times a day, by her own admission), she is also an ambassador of India’s secular traditions that allows minority communities to prosper. On the flip side, her attire (mini skirts, that is) has already invited comments from cultural Cassandra’s (read Muslim clerics, who match point for point Hindu fundamentalists in their outdated viewpoints). They want her to wear long pants and full-sleeved shirts. Thankfully, they are okay with her playing and winning.
She has a retort for them too and is unlikely to heed their concern. “Not everyone is perfect and just because I wear a miniskirt or just because I’m wearing pants or whatever it is doesn’t make me a bad Muslim,” she says. “As long as I believe in God and I have my faith, I think that’s good.”
Indeed, Sania could go either way from here. She can be a version of Kournikova, who earned her millions with her fabulous looks. Or she could go the way of Sharapova, who has replaced Kournikova as the number one pinup and has become the numero uno player as well. As of now, all the signs show Sania seeking to emulate Sharapova. It is up to her from here. She will need to keep the balance.
Siddharth Srivastava
New Delhi, India
September 23, 2005
Tennis player Sania Mirza is just 18-years old and set to overtake the top celebrity brand endorsers in the country. This is India’s first taste of the “girl power” that has earned millions through corporate endorsements for the likes of Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova.
In India there have been broadly two categories of celebrities who garner most endorsement revenues — cricketers, who are treated like demigods, and film stars. Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, and film actors Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan have been around for a while now, with Bachchan continuing his hold over the Indian masses despite being over 60 years old. Enter Sania.
Sania has been the subject of attention for a while, but it is at the U.S. Open tennis tournament that she really caught the eye of world audiences and sponsors. Americans had the first real look at the very pretty, athletically built, nose and ear-ringed Indian star at the tournament.
A mix of glamour, performance, a “bold and brazen” game plan, grit and attitude, suave and affable communication skills, “going for the kill” forehands, and record performances (by Indian standards and history that is) has perched Sania at the very top of Indian brand ambassadors.
Post her U.S. Open sojourn Sania has been pegged as the joint second highest grosser among sports stars, in the same bracket as Rahul Dravid.
In November last year she was valued under $15,000 per deal. Her current rate has reportedly crossed $400,000, an over 25-fold jump. Sania has been signed up by GVK Industries, Sahara India, Hindustan Petroleum, Tata Indicom, Atlas Cycles and Tata Tea. She has a three-year deal with Lotto Sport Italia, which has been endorsed by tennis icons from Boris Becker to Martina Navratilova. There are many more (some estimates put the number at more than 20) lining up at her door.
Tendulkar remains India’s only million-dollar sports star. His deal with World Tel nets him $5 million every year, though these figures are still dwarfed by global trends with golfer Tiger Woods estimated to earn over a billion dollars through endorsements and appearance fees. Baseball and basketball players in the United States and footballers in Europe are also well into the million dollar league.
The main reason that other sports stars fail to notch the mega deals in India is the abysmal level of sporting performances as reflected in the Athens Olympics where a country of over a billion people managed just one silver medal. Cricketers are worshipped because it is the only sport in which India manages to hold its own against the best teams, though the performance of the Indian team has been quite poor in the recent past. But, starved of sporting icons, cricketers continue to rake in the moola. There have been a sprinkling of super achievers such as Geet Sethi (billiards), Vishwanathan Anand (chess), Rajyavardhan Rathore (shooting), Anju George (long jump) but none have been able to match the appeal of cricketers. None, that is, until Sania came along.
There is no doubt that Sania has set new levels for achievement for Indian women, given the list of firsts: she has leaped 284 places to No. 42 in the tour rankings and is likely to touch under 35 soon. This is better than any other player within the same time span and the highest ever for an Indian woman. She became the first woman from India to reach the third round of a Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January this year, and then the first to win a tour title in Hyderabad shortly thereafter. She has beaten players in the top 10 and many of her opponents have commented on her potential. Many expect a Grand Slam victory.
Last week, she became the first Indian female to win a match at the U.S. Open. She was beaten by Sharapova in the pre-quarters after winning three rounds, but not without putting up a fight. She recently won the Arjuna award, one of India’s top sports awards.
Though there is a long way to go yet and many more battles to be won, she does provide a welcome relief through her performance and looks. One favorite media interest has been the way Sania has managed to displace the spotlight on cricketers, though she has been gracious enough to say that she is a big Tendulkar fan. On the day that she won a match at the U.S. Open, the Indian cricket team too scored a victory at a tri-series being played at Zimbabwe. Mohammed Kaif, a top cricketer, scored a fine century. It has been a while since such a performance was relegated to the inside sports pages. Sania, meanwhile, dominated the TV news, front page and lead stories. The editorials followed.
Corporate India of course is relishing the prospect of cashing in on Sania’s drawing power. The Sania-Sharapova encounter also saw a 15 percent jump in advertisement rates for a tennis match telecast in India. In keeping with the number of people staying up late at night in India (to keep U.S. time) to catch her on TV, she was assigned one of the three show courts with facility for direct telecast, for all her matches. In addition to the main sponsors Hero Honda and Pepsi, the U.S. Open matches saw heavy advertising by IBM, Hewlett Packard, Maruti, Tata Tea and Yamaha.
To the further delight of her sponsors, she minces no words in talking her mind as well, which goes to enhance her persona. “Fifty years ago, people in India didn’t believe that a woman could play a professional sport,” said Sania. “Girls like me coming out and playing on the world stage is a little shocking, but that’s changing, and I’m glad.”
Being a devout Muslim and belonging to a conservative set up (she prays five times a day, by her own admission), she is also an ambassador of India’s secular traditions that allows minority communities to prosper. On the flip side, her attire (mini skirts, that is) has already invited comments from cultural Cassandra’s (read Muslim clerics, who match point for point Hindu fundamentalists in their outdated viewpoints). They want her to wear long pants and full-sleeved shirts. Thankfully, they are okay with her playing and winning.
She has a retort for them too and is unlikely to heed their concern. “Not everyone is perfect and just because I wear a miniskirt or just because I’m wearing pants or whatever it is doesn’t make me a bad Muslim,” she says. “As long as I believe in God and I have my faith, I think that’s good.”
Indeed, Sania could go either way from here. She can be a version of Kournikova, who earned her millions with her fabulous looks. Or she could go the way of Sharapova, who has replaced Kournikova as the number one pinup and has become the numero uno player as well. As of now, all the signs show Sania seeking to emulate Sharapova. It is up to her from here. She will need to keep the balance.
India: demographics and background from CIA.gov
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.
slightly more than one-third the size of the US
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Climate varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north.
Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north.
Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land.
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 77 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 3,287,590 sq km
land: 2,973,190 sq km
water: 314,400 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 14,103 km
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline:
7,000 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain:
upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
Natural resources:
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 54.4%
permanent crops: 2.74%
other: 42.86% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards: droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes.
Population: 1,080,264,388 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.2% (male 173,634,432/female 163,932,475)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 356,932,082/female 333,283,590)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 26,542,025/female 25,939,784) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.66 years
male: 24.64 years
female: 24.67 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.4% (2005 est.)
Birth rate: 22.32 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate: 8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis are high risks in some locations.
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2001 est..)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 5.1 million (2001 est.).
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)
Religions:
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages:
English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language.
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.5%
male: 70.2%
female: 48.3% (2003 est.).
Economy - overview:
India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for half of India's output with less than one quarter of its labor force. About two-thirds of the workforce is in agriculture, leading the UPA government to articulate an economic reform program that includes developing basic infrastructure to improve the lives of the rural poor and boost economic performance. Government controls on foreign trade and investment have been reduced in some areas, but high tariffs (averaging 20% on non-agricultural items in 2004) and limits on foreign direct investment are still in place. The government in 2005 liberalized investment in the civil aviation, telecom, and construction sectors. Privatization of government-owned industries essentially came to a halt in 2005, and continues to generate political debate; continued social, political, and economic rigidities hold back needed initiatives. The economy has posted an excellent average growth rate of more than 6.8% in the decade since 1994, reducing poverty by about 10 percentage points. India probably achieved greater than 7 percent GDP growth in 2005, significantly expanding manufacturing. India is capitalizing on its large numbers of well-educated people skilled in the English language to become a major exporter of software services and software workers. Despite strong growth, the World Bank and others worry about the combined state and federal budget deficit, running at approximately 9% of GDP. The huge and growing population is the fundamental social, economic, and environmental problem.
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2005 est.).
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry 17%, services 23% (1999)
Unemployment rate: 9% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish.
Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software.
Exports - partners: US 17%, UAE 8.8%, China 5.5%, Hong Kong 4.7%, UK 4.5%, Singapore 4.5% (2004)
Imports - partners: China 6.1%, US 6%, Switzerland 5.2%, Belgium 4.4% (2004)
Internet users: 18.481 million (2003)
Illicit drugs: world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system.
Disputes - international: China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidating discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters; recent talks and confidence-building measures have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); in 2004, India and Pakistan instituted a cease fire in the Kashmir and in 2005, restored bus service across the highly militarized Line of Control; Pakistan has taken its dispute on the impact and benefits of India's building the Baglihar dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir to the World Bank for arbitration.
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