Day: July 4, 2021

Other Backwards Classes (OBC) Bill

The OBC Bill provides constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which was established under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993. The power of examining complaints regarding the inclusion or exclusion of individuals or groups in the list of backward classes. The 123rd constitutional bill finally got a nod from the Supreme Court in August 2018 after being not established as a law in 2017 due to lack of majority in the house and inserted a new Article 338B.

This new bill gives the commission to investigate and monitor for the safeguard of the socially and educationally backward classes with the powers of a civil court while investigating and also gives it the power to summon any person across the country and also enforce their presence. As of earlier the commission for SC / ST used to hear for the grievances of the OBCs. The new bill also provides for having a chairperson for the commission, a vice-chairperson, and three other members who will be appointed by the President. The tenure and working conditions for all the members will be decided by the President. BJP government also assured that the committee would include a woman member also. The NCBC will be working for the socio-economic upliftment of the OBCs.

Duties of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) are –

  • Investigation and Monitoring of the safety and provisions provided to the backward classes under the constitution and other implemented laws.
  • It can inquire about the violation of the rights-specific complaints.
  • Annual reports should be presented to the President, and to be tabled in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.
  • To give advice and make recommendations on the socio-economic development of the backward classes.

Reports suggest, that there is less than 15% reservation in the government sector jobs for the OBCs. According to the reports of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) 8.4% grade A pots are occupied by OBCs, mentioned Ram Gopal Yadav, SP, Uttar Pradesh. He even said during the parliamentary debate on the OBC Bill that, there is no need for an OBC creamy layer, as raising the limit of the creamy layer won’t benefit anyone. And also, that, though there is a need to increase the reservation in jobs for the OBCs but getting jobs alone won’t help much. The mindset of people needs to change too. Parties like Biju Janata Dal and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party asked for the power to add or eliminate in the list of backward classes to be laid in the hands of the State and not Centre the state knows better about what kind of people belong in that particular State while Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) asked for reservation for the OBCs even in the private sector. Some even asked for the filling of the reserved vacant seats and that the member of the committee should be chosen from the individuals belonging to the OBC category. However, article 342 A authorizes the President to specify for the socially and educationally backward classes in consultation with the Governors of the respective States. The present members to NCBC are Dr. Bhagwan Lal Sahni as the chairperson, Dr. Lokesh Kumar Prajapati as the Vice-Chairperson, Shri Ajoy Kumar as the Secretary, and the other three members are – Dr. Sudha Yadav, Shri Kaushalendra Singh Patel, and Shri Achary Thalloju.

Internships

It’s always better to start early, and gain as much experience.

Internships have always  been difficult while juggling University where it is required to show up everyday and attend almost all your classes. But the competition these days are cut throat and nothing promising could ever come your way — if you think you could just breeze through lives. 

Being respectful that not all situations that every single one of us face are conducive for us to start investing our time for any sort of extra-curricular, but you also need to stop excusing yourself and being lethargic, it won’t ever help you. 

You are supposedly at the prime of your age, if you keep up the act that have bailed you away from serious commitment, then you are just downplaying your life. You’d never need to blame it on other’s past action or even current actions, even though you could be right to blame them; it doesn’t help, you’ll just spiral out with your thought, and give power to someone else, that’s a big no-no. 

Moving on, let’s ask oneself what they are interested in, and even with what is currently their educational qualification, are you comfortable trying new things? And if you could see yourself trying everything out just once, give yourself a pat in the back and get on your devices, reach out to people and start applying for positions and trainings that could help you. 

The more you get exposed to different working conditions is better, you get street-smart for starters, but you also learn what it takes to strive and exist in the market, you learn interpersonal skills and even brush up your communication skills which wouldn’t have happened within your little friends clique. 

Thus actively participating in such activities without being nagged by someone would be beneficial for you and improve you, more than anything else.. it could also help proof people that you’re serious with what you’re doing and are capable enough to look after yourself.

The pandemic with all its flaws have provided to accommodate work-from-home internship opportunities to many, which takes off a big load from us, and we can engage in multiple activities at a given time with just a switch of your device screens/windows/slides. 

What are the causes and effects of DEFORESTATION ?

Deforestation is the huge destruction of trees in the forest. Trees are usually cleared to make place for farmland, roads and urban growth. Deforestation refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world that are lost for other uses such as agricultural croplands,urbanization,or mining activties.The construction of human infrastructures has also been driving to deforestation.The populational shift that is leading from rural to urban areas is also contributing to deforestation. Deforestation also has serious environmental impacts. Although forests still make up 30% of the Earth, deforestation activities are losing an estimated 18 million acres of land each year. It has caused the degradation of land and soil while displacing animals and plants that depend on forests

WHY ARE FORESTS IMPORTANT ?

  1. Forests battle climate change by removing greenhouse gases and act as a carbon storehouse.
  2. They are the source of fresh oxygen,Medicine,clean water etc.
  3. In forest areas, the large mass of trees combats soil erosion by providing the soil with mechanical support.
  4. Forests are home to more than 50% of all species on the planet.
  5. Forests play an important role in the water cycle. They work to add water through the transpiration process to the atmosphere.
  6. They are also a source of raw materials for many commercially important products such as paper, wood and fabric.
  7. They account for more than 80% of land-based biodiversity. Forests provide home to various flora and fauna worldwide.

CAUSES FOR DEFORESTATION:

Deforestation is caused by either human actions or natural. Natural disasters like natural forest fires or parasite related diseases can lead to deforestation. However, human activities are important causes of deforestation. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), almost 80%of deforestation has been caused by agricultural expansion. Some of the main causes are as follows:

AGRICULTURE:

Agriculture is the main cause of deforestation and responsible for almost 80% of deforestation. In developed countries,33% of the deforestation caused by agriculture results from subsistence agriculture, such as local peasant agriculture.About 40% of forest destruction is caused by commercial or industrial agriculture searching space for fruit, fiber or biofuel production like beef, maize, cotton, soybeans, palm oil, and sugar cane. It is also interesting to note that about 14% of global deforestation is assumed to be caused by livestock. The key reasons they have to do with broad areas include raising livestock and growing their food.

FOREST FIRES :

Fires burn million of hectares of forest worldwide each year. Fires are a part of nature, but forests that are degraded are mostly vulnerable. These involve heavily logged rainforests, peat forests, or forest fires that have been suppressed for years, causing unnatural vegetation that makes the fire burn more intensely.

MINING :

Due to rising demand and high mineral prices, the effect of mining on tropical forests is increasing. Significant building, such as bridges, railway lines and power stations, also follows mining projects, placing more strain on forests and freshwater habitats.

CLIMATE CHANGES:

The destruction of forests is both a cause and a consequence of climate change. For example, by drying out tropical rain forests and growing fire damage in boreal forests, climate change will damage forests. Climate change is already affecting biodiversity in the forest, a danger which is likely to rise.

EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION :

It has many effects on natural resources and ecosystems and creates serious problems for the adaptability of the planet. Some of the main effects of deforestation are as follows:

SOIL EROSIN :

Trees are also important to our local water cycles, as they keep returning water vapor to the atmosphere. The soil stays moist as the rainwater flows through the soil. The fertile soil of several layers of trees is kept in place by complex root systems. The land is directly exposed to the sun with the clearing of tree cover, making it dry. Without trees, erosion also happens, sweeps the land into surrounding rivers and streams. Forests function as natural water purification plants. Soil erosion causes soil to be exposed to pollutants that spill into the water system, which damages our drinking water quality.

ACID RAINS :

The oceans become more acidic by increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere due to deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels. Beaches are now 30% more acidic after the Industrial Revolution, that have ocean organisms and their habitats at extreme risk.Acid rains damage forests,especially those at higher elevations.The acid properties rub the soil of essential minerals such as calcium and cause aluminium to be released in the soil,which makes it hard for trees to take up water.

INCREASE IN GLOBAL WARMING :

Trees perform an important role in controlling global warming. The trees use greenhouse gases to maintain the balance of the environment. With the continuous deforestation, the ratio of greenhouse gases has increased in the atmosphere that increases global warming problems.Global Warming the gradual heating of earth’s surface,ocean and atmosphere,is caused by human activity.As the earth’s surface temperature becomes hotter the sealevel becomes higher.It is also partly because warm temperatures makes glaciers and ice caps to melt.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR DEFORESTATION :

REFORESTATION :

For certain purposes, reforestation is a process of planting trees in a forest region where the trees have been cut. To save the world, we all need to realize the value of reforestation and enforce it. Tree planting will reduce the various causes and impacts of deforestation, global warming, pollution, greenhouse effects, etc.Afforestation is a proces where new forests are planted across land without trees.As a forest grows,naturally removes co2 from atmosphere and stores it in its trees.

USE OF RENEWABLE FOREST RESOURCES :

We can grow plants as a source of wood from secondary forest growth. The use of renewable local wood and charcoal resources for cooking or heating is an excellent alternative to fossil fuels.Renewable resources include biomass energy,hydro power,geothermal energy,wind energy and solar energy.Biomass refers to organic material from plants and animals.These resources are capable of Regeneration.These are renewed along with exploitation and hence,availble for use.The regeneration of these sources involves some ecological process on a time scale.

EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS:

Deforestation can be fought via awareness. Educational campaigns can only be a clear example of deforestation awareeness.By educating people on the importance of our environment and sustainable logging practices,deforestation may begin to slow down.Hence,Educational programmes and campaigns are so important-they increase public awareeness,teachers critical thinking and enchances an individual’s problem-solving skills.

THANK YOU !

Aristotle’s view on the Tragic Hero [Part B]

Along the same lines of how a tragic hero need to be an enabler for not just a good plot but to reach for the desired set of emotions equally is 5) Hamartia a tragic hero with imperfections; the specific being his/her “tragic flaw” not the best adaptation of Hamartia, but is far more commonly used for a characteristic moral failing in an otherwise predominantly good man. The Hamartia of the hero is closely and inseparably connected with 6) “Peripety” the several of fortune from the point-of-view of the character involved and for a spectator or a reader the plot of the play as a whole is a reversal of the direction of the action. The analogy is thus that Peripety is contained in the idea of the boomerang effect of one’s own action. 7) Discovery – “A change from ignorance to knowledge.” The discovery of the truth of the matter is the costly beginning from the state of ignorance which is the very essence of “hamartia”. Hamartia, Peripety and Discovery all together in their ideal schematisation of the tragic plot.
Furthermore, tragedy, is presupposed as purging out of emotions of Pity and Fear i.e. Catharsis; exhilaration, a pleasurable sense of relief and the Tragic hero is given the title of the enabler of the purgation of these emotions. Relation of emotional catharsis which tragedy helps generate is the tragic pleasure. Therefore the continuous insistence towards Pity and Fear is because pity is generated under the pretence of a tragedy towards the character whose punishment for the audience is exceeding his crime; the punishment is more that what he deserves, and similarly Fear is when the hero; who being “not pre-eminently just and virtuous” is still better than ourselves and yet failed, then what hope do we have left?
Therefore the catharsis that Aristotle mentioned just once in Poetics is of emotions that occurs accidentally but surely in a tragedy is something he elaborates on, this accident is to be experienced to everyone in the audience or to anyone reading a work of art; no 

matter of high intellect does experience this form of proper pleasure which happens through proper tools and albeit perceived to be an “accident” is a sure shot guaranteed by the tragic hero.
Thus the tragic hero of Aristotle accounts to the whole of the Tragedy to be brought up to its potential and serve its purpose.

Aristotle’s view on the Tragic Hero [Part A]

Make sure you also read the second part of this post.

When Aristotle is talking about the tragic hero, it’s important to pan out where the tragic hero is being placed at and accordingly the significance of the ‘tragic hero’ needs to be questioned. This is furthered by the interpretation of the plot and the use of tragedy in the said plot that would give the idea of what Aristotle is describing as the tragic hero. So it’s important to understand tragedy; before anything, and so Poetics seems to be a plausible guide alongside plenty of other definitions within a dictionary which although correct; doesn’t fully help apply the idea of Aristotle. No-one in any absolute sense could define what Poetics denote as words have been genuinely lost in translation and what we could scavenge are a sense of one’s own point-of-view or interpretation to pacify their intellect; one could contest it to be inconsistent and probably is right in doing so, but the fact of the matter is the idea of lost in translation remains undeterred. 

Additionally, discussing on the characteristics of the tragic hero is an extremely elaborated idea of what Tragedy is and while, Aristotle’s Tragic Hero is someone who is primary agent in his Tragedy; which is an essential element in the notion of arousing Pity and Fear – the catharsis of Pity and Fear for Tragic Pleasure is also an important characteristic feature for the Tragic Hero. 

Humphrey house affirm seven points directed towards the dramatic character or the tragic hero 1) The tragic hero or the character in a tragedy must be Good. Tragedy is a limitation of personages better than the ordinary man. Hence goodness of character is a prerequisite for Aristotle as it is the foundation of initial sympathy in a spectator without which tragic emotions cannot be roused, that is tragic pleasure is ultimately conveyed through sympathy or Pity, a very basic of the whole tragic pleasure. All characters in a tragedy for Aristotle should be equivocally good. Although Aristotle’s good man is not good unless he is desiring specific, positive, good ends and working towards the attainment; therefore its necessary for the execution of a tragic plot that the hero has to be “not prominently virtuous or just”; adding here Immanuel Kant who talks action to be morally worthy, something that should be executed to do the right thing for the right reason and is said to hold that to do the right thing for personal reason isn’t morally right and that the motive of duty should be autonomous and not altruistic. Scholars have questioned on what does Aristotle mean by “good”, and it’s later when reading Poetics is established on the Ethical Goodness of a character. 2) Appropriateness of Character – a fitting character, the Plot should attempt to guarantee the individuality of Character in compliance to its status which is fundamental. 3) “Likeness” of Character – the literary portrait produced by the poet should be ‘like the original’, i.e. like what the personage in question is in history of legend; depriving the poet of his creative freedom and ties him to a quiet indefinable exemplar, because history and legends are largely the creation of other writers. Likeness — Aristotle differentiating Tragedy and Comedy by the consideration of type of characters shown acting in each — characters are either better or worse than ourselves, or just like ourselves: although Comedy makes its personages “worse” and Tragedy makes its personages “better than the men of the present day.” 4) Consistency – Aristotle describes a formula “consistently inconsistent” it is not concerned with momentary conflicting passions but with “the basis or foundation of a character “, — habit, bent or tendency. 

MODEFI: A PEAK INTO BLOCKCHAIN CURRENCY

BRIEF ABOUT ORACLE
Oracles are small pieces of software whose purpose is to connect
blockchains to external data. The most popular oracle projects
currently are Chainlink, API3, Band Protocol, Augur and DOS
Network.
A data oracle provides the transfer of real-world data to smart
contracts on the blockchain.Modefi’s main objective is developing
Oracle blockchain solutions that empower true decentralization of
data on-chain for integration via Smart Contracts.


INTRODUCTION AND EXPLANATION


Modefi is a decentralized oracle aggregator and on-demand oracle
data provider. Powered by the native Modefi token (MOD), the platform
offers a secure, decentralized marketplace, and an innovative,
modifiable, modular dashboard.This means that it will use data
from several different oracle markets and use its protocol to give a
fair, trust-less, and decentralized solution to its users can be sure
that a decentralized network of 3rd party agents will take care of
aggregating and sourcing data for their smart contract. This
reduces disputes, smart contract development costs, time as well
as legal fees.
Modefi will also allow developers to make one-time data requests for
customized smart contracts to bring real-world data on-chain.
Single-use oracles often provide limited or basic data and can be
expensive to execute when doing so infrequently. Furthermore,
traditional data validation models are often unsuitable for small tasks.This can be limiting for developers, as it restricts the amount of data
they can handle.


PRICE : CURRENT AND PREDICTIONS


The current price of MOD is $2.030 and our data indicates that
the asset price has been in a downtrend for the past 1
year.Modefi has been showing a declining tendency so we
believe that similar market segments were not very popular in
the given period. The future price of the asset is predicted at
$1.8558 (-8.581% ) after a year according to current
predictions.


USES IN POSSIBLE SECTORS


● The $MOD token will be used as a form of governance
token, giving the community the power to be the
major decision-maker behind any changes.
● Gambling ( Decentralized Casino’s that require pure
randomized Data)
● Sports Betting (e-sports smart contracts)
● Voting results ; self-explanatory
● Insurance ( Automatic payouts based on
environmental data)
● Predictions markets that require frequent Data
updates
● P2P wagers (user-friendly, Trustless p2p betting)● LP pools ( not having to worry about impermanent loss
from Arbitrageurs)
● Anything that relies on the accuracy of price data.
One can use the $mod token to pay fees for the on-demand
oracle, the oracle marketplace, as well as subscription fees
talked about later down the line for the DeFi Dashboard.


SUMMARY


Mission is to provide truly decentralized, transparent,
secure and precise oracle solutions for all off-chain data,
on-chain. Oracle manipulation has been one of the biggest
culprits when it comes to contract and Defi hacks

ELIZABETHAN SONNET SEQUENCE

In the development of the lyric poetry during the Elizabethan Age, the sonnet form emerged and developed to its maturity. The etymological history of the word “sonnet” draws us back to the Italian word “sonneto”, which means “a little sound”. Sonnet, a subspecies of the lyric genre, is originally a small poem that is sung to music. it expresses through rhythmic melody a single emotion or idea and differs from other lyric forms by its delicate manner and strict treatment. The great sonneteers of the Elizabethan era were Sir Thomas Wyatt, Earl of Surrey, Edmund Spenser, Philip Sydney, Michael Drayton, Samuel Daniel and William Shakespeare.

Sir Thomas Wyatt is the innovator of sonnet writer in English Literature. His thirty one sonnets are noteworthy. They appeared in “Tottel’s Miscellany” published in 1577. Ten of these sonnets were the translation from Petrarch. Apart from couplet ending, which Wyatt introduced, it was a Petrarchan model. Though following Petrarch’s models closely, he remains pioneer in the realm of English Literature. Sir Thomas Wyatt was successfully followed by his contemporary and follower Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. His poems appears along with Wyatt in “Tottel’s Miscellany”. they are chiefly lyrical and including a few sonnet, the first of their kind composed in English or Shakespearian mode.

The next remarkable name among the English Sonneteer is Sir Philip Sydney. He was successful in more than one era of literature. In the development of English sonnet his finest achievement was his “Astrophel and Stella” which contains series of 108 sonnets about his own frustrated love for Lady Penelope Rich, daughter of the Earl of Essex. Like Wyatt his sonnets owe much to Petrarch and Ronsard in tone and style places Sydney as the greatest Elizabethan sonneteer except Shakespeare.

Drayton, another sonneteer of the Elizabethan age may claim some attention. He reached his highest level of poetic feeling and expression in “Idea” a sonnet sequence. It is not know if hid “Idea” represents one woman or several or more.

Samuel Daniel is a sonneteer of great repute. his poems including sonnet series called Delia(1592) written in conventional manner. His style and versification are pure and correct; some of his best sonnet have occasionally real jewels of expression and carry on the great tradition of Sydney, Spenser and Shakespeare.

Edmund Spenser a great name in Elizabethan poetry, also attempted sonnets. His sonnet sequence ‘Amoretti’ a collection of 88 Petrarchan sonnets celebrating the progress of his love. These were addressed to Elizabeth Boyle who became his life. The sonnets are unique in their purity of passion. His sonnets are exquisitely musical and lofty in feeling and thoughts. Majority of the sonnets are inspired by platonic idealism there quatrains are linked by an artistic arrangement of rhyme are following by a couplet. The result is a harmonious whole.

Shakespeare is great name in English sonnet and theatre. One hundred and fifty four sonnets of him stand out as the specimen of his art. The sonnets are insuperable for their loftiness. Picture sequence, profundity, and melody one hundred and twenty six only address to a young man of rather uncertain identity. Twenty six of his sonnets are addressed to an unknown dark lady and the remaining two are addressed to cupid, the God of love. Shakespearean sonnets are somewhat different from Elizabethan era. His sonnets are not merely about love but masculine friendship also. They are not realistic and does not have the sentimental adoration of the lady love. The lady in his sonnets is dark, not beautiful; frail and cruel, not consonant and kind. The fourteen lines of Shakespearean sonnet are divided into four parts three quatrains and a concluding couplet. The quatrains say the subject and the couplet sums it up. His imagery and thought are quite extraordinary for the era he belonged to.

All you need to know about Eclipses

Ever heard of eclipses? I am sure you must have. Ever seen one? If you have then you are very lucky, and if you have observed a total or annular solar eclipse you are even luckier and I am jealous. The word eclipse is derived from the ancient Greek noun ἔκλειψις (ékleipsis), which means “the abandonment”, “the downfall”, or “the darkening of a heavenly body. 

What is an Eclipse?

For any two objects in space, a line can be extended from the first through the second. The latter object will block some amount of light being emitted by the former, creating a region of shadow around the axis of the line. Typically these objects are moving with respect to each other and their surroundings, so the resulting shadow will sweep through a region of space, only passing through any particular location in the region for a fixed interval of time. As viewed from such a location, this shadowing event is known as an eclipse.

Typically the cross-section of the objects involved in an astronomical eclipse are roughly disk shaped. The region of an object’s shadow during an eclipse is divided into three parts:

  • The umbra, within which the object completely covers the light source. For the Sun, this light source is the photosphere.
  • The antumbra, extending beyond the tip of the umbra, within which the object is completely in front of the light source but too small to completely cover it.
  • The penumbra, within which the object is only partially in front of the light source.

Eclipses on Earth

On earth lunar eclipses and solar eclipses are the major form of eclipses which occur here on Earth.

Lunar eclipse:

Image result for Total Lunar Eclipse Diagram

The Moon moves in an orbit around Earth. At the same time, Earth orbits the Sun. Sometimes Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon. When this happens, Earth blocks the sunlight that normally is reflected by the Moon. Instead of light hitting the Moon’s surface, Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon. This is an eclipse of the Moon, or a lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse can occur only when the Moon is full. A lunar eclipse usually lasts for a few hours. At least two partial lunar eclipses happen every year, but total lunar eclipses are rare. It is safe to look at a lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse can be seen from Earth at night. 

There are two types of lunar eclipses:

  1. Total lunar eclipse- A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon and the Sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth. Although the Moon is in Earth’s shadow, some sunlight reaches the Moon. The sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, which filters out most of the blue light. This makes the Moon appear red to people on Earth.
  2. Partial lunar eclipse-A partial lunar eclipse happens when part of the Moon enters Earth’s shadow. In a partial eclipse, Earth’s shadow appears very dark on the side of the Moon facing Earth. What people see from Earth during a partial lunar eclipse depends on how the Sun, Earth and Moon align.

Solar Eclipse:

Image result for Total solar Eclipse Diagram

Sometimes when the Moon orbits Earth, the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth. When this happens, the Moon blocks the light of the Sun from reaching Earth. This causes an eclipse of the Sun, or a solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, the Moon casts a shadow onto Earth. Solar eclipses happen every 18 months somewhere on Earth. Unlike lunar eclipses, solar eclipses last only a few minutes.

There are three main types of solar eclipses:

  1. Total solar eclipse: A total solar eclipse is visible from a small area on Earth. The people who see the total eclipse are in the center of the Moon’s shadow when it hits Earth. The sky becomes very dark, as if it were night. For a total eclipse to occur, the Sun, Moon and Earth must be in a direct line.
  2. Partial solar eclipse: This happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth are not exactly aligned. The Sun appears to have a dark shadow on a small part of its surface.
  3. Annular solar eclipse: An annular eclipse happens when the Moon is farthest from Earth. Because the Moon is farther away, it seems smaller. It does not block the entire view of the Sun. The Moon in front of the Sun looks like a dark disk on top of a larger Sun-colored disk. This creates what looks like a ring around the Moon.

Eclipses on other planets

The gas giant planets have many moons and thus frequently display eclipses. The most striking involve Jupiter, which has four large moons and a low axial tilt, making eclipses more frequent as these bodies pass through the shadow of the larger planet. Transits occur with equal frequency. It is common to see the larger moons casting circular shadows upon Jupiter’s cloud tops.

On the other three gas giants (Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) eclipses only occur at certain periods during the planet’s orbit, due to their higher inclination between the orbits of the moon and the orbital plane of the planet. The moon Titan, for example, has an orbital plane tilted about 1.6° to Saturn’s equatorial plane. But Saturn has an axial tilt of nearly 27°. The orbital plane of Titan only crosses the line of sight to the Sun at two points along Saturn’s orbit. As the orbital period of Saturn is 29.7 years, an eclipse is only possible about every 15 years.

On Mars, only partial solar eclipses (transits) are possible, because neither of its moons is large enough, at their respective orbital radii, to cover the Sun’s disc as seen from the surface of the planet. Eclipses of the moons by Mars are not only possible, but commonplace, with hundreds occurring each Earth year. There are also rare occasions when Deimos is eclipsed by Phobos. Martian eclipses have been photographed from both the surface of Mars and from orbit.

Pluto, with its proportionately largest moon Charon, is also the site of many eclipses. A series of such mutual eclipses occurred between 1985 and 1990. These daily events led to the first accurate measurements of the physical parameters of both objects.

Eclipses in 2021

  • May 26, 2021 — Total Lunar Eclipse
  • Jun 10, 2021 – Annular Solar Eclipse
  • Nov 18–19, 2021 — Partial Lunar Eclipse
  • Dec 4, 2021 – Total Solar Eclipse

Scientists use solar eclipses as an opportunity to study the Sun’s corona. The corona is the Sun’s top layer. During an annular eclipse, NASA uses ground and space instruments to view the corona when the Moon blocks the Sun’s glare.

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-an-eclipse-58/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse

Longinus on ‘the Sublime’

In terms of its influence in modern literary criticism, aesthetics and philosophy of art, Longinus’s Theory of Sublime is a very critical piece of work. He is placed second to Aristotle’s Poetics by many scholars. Peri Hypsous is simply a rhetorical treatise offering an especially strong inclination of the awe-inspiring or high style of quality writing siding with the glories of written literature. 

The ownership of the treatise is a debate since its emergence during the Italian Renaissance with several manuscripts around until the initial publication by Italian humanist and philologist Francesco Robortello shaping the pre-existing dominant ideas in the world of literary criticism by Horace and Aristotle. The Theory of Sublimity is considered to be subjective as well as intersubjective on account of literary practice. The entirety of Longinus’s work is constructed over the notion of expressing greatness in one’s language and that being an important precursor for a writer, it also adds to what his predecessors helped shape the art of writing and diction. Longinus’s approach is characterised as distinctive and original on its precisely subjective drift: its focus on the creative and receptive facet of verbal arts, on the wit of the writer and affect on the audience is a crucial role of the text.
In western thought, the theory of Hysous is seen at length from its production contesting that the theory doubles itself as a theory of Genius. Longinus has also successfully inclined towards sublime being considered as a dual experience of simultaneously being overwhelming and elevating, dominating and exalting.
We are acquainted with the five forces of Sublimity; 1) Grandeur of thought and ability to form grand conception & 2) Powerful and inspired emotions – These are related to writers innate or natural capacity. 3) The effective use of stylistic & rhetorical figures as a means of increasing emotional impact of literature, 4) Noble diction & phrasing — the skilful use of metaphors and other figures of speech & 5) Dignified & elevated composition, most effective arrangements of words – is an artificially gained tool for achieving sublimity. The nurtured virtue in an author who must skilfully cultivate into the feeling in what he/she writes is proposed as; Sublimity as the echo of noble mind, could be a viable thought. “Sublimity is” for Longinus, “a kind of eminence or excellence of discourse. It is the source of distinction of the very greatest poets and prose writers and the means by which they have given eternal of their own fame.” It’s a discussed that the hypsous is intrinsically related to logos — translated as discourse; that the thought and diction — is inherently linked to the nobility of supreme and that a piece of art containing flashes of Sublimity — for a text need not be dripping in Sublimity but its position could be elevated with just these flashes — is universal and transhistorical.
The Sublimity of a text is acknowledged by its affect; its feeling and emotion, and so the most consequential way of defining sublimity of a text is by describing its affect on the audience.

Love or Hate: Starbucks Version

Is being a Starbucks fanatic such a big deal that people make it out as?

Objectively speaking, the prices that is associated with the drink stands an international bench mark, it is equated to the dollar-value and thus to create a sense of uniformity, the drinks are priced the way they are, because of it.

But even beyond that, if you are a coffee lover and there aren’t any local shops that cater to such an extensive variety in coffee, sure I’d try that, but majority of shops/cafes have very restrictive and cliché orders, which doesn’t serve me any purpose because that not my drink of choice. The lack of tolerance or control or the displeased expression that people sport when you talk about Starbucks to anyone, is uncalled for, but sure everyone is entitled to their opinion. 

Moving on, this isn’t a bitter post towards those who hate Starbucks. But, the when accounting to the fact that I could spend hours there, chatting or just watching a movie, probably working too, and no one would bother interrupting me, nor am I engaging with the hustle bustle of the boisterous town around me, then I don’t see a problem, I can just be an escapist sitting under gloomy, warmly lit walls with sweet heavenly scent of brewing coffee and baked goods, I don’t see why that isn’t a good thing, for me, and that’s important, it is what matters the most. 

Lastly, it’s quite redundant to keep on dragging this futile discussion amongst people because it’s sometimes doesn’t need to be about the money, or anything else, it just has to be with what someone is comfortable with and what suits them the best, everyone needs to respect the other based on their discussion where the want to spend their money and time.

There’s nothing boujie or pretenscious  about taking care of what you want. And don’t feel guilty about it nor feel obligated about answering to anyone. 

Ideology defined by Louis Althusser

Figuring out what Ideology is, when understanding these Marxist terminology, it’s important to look at these ideas not as obsolete reality but an ever evolving pervasive concept. Karl Marx, has his own definition of Ideology as ideas and beliefs set out by the dominant class of a society for everyone to obey and thus justify the actions of the dominant class in any society. Here, Louis Althusser sets out with his own interpretation and has worked in “On The Reproduction Of Capitalism: Ideology And Ideological State Apparatuses”, that;  i) Ideology has no history, it is eternal; ii) Ideology represents the imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence; iii) Ideology has a material (or spiritual) existence; iv) Ideology interpellates individuals as subjects. The four of these points become a pinnacle to what Althusser insists in the nature of Ideology.

These 4 parameters help us understand its nature, to what Ideology represents, for when man entered the state of nature, by subscribing to ideas and beliefs, we subscribed to this ideology, which though speaks of, no history  in itself, it’s still is an  implicit force that drives the Capitalistic existence, although  omnipresent. And leading on  to the second point, that “men represent their real conditions of existence to themselves in an imaginary form”. Who one is, is just another fragmented idea of you, which Lacan also states in the Mirror Stage and this is crucial in the understanding of this idea as well, that ideology works within multiplicity of narratives, conscious or unconscious, that shapes or has the ability to shape one’s identity. When the material existence of ideology is brought up, it is the material practices, ritual, and action that works under Ideology, unsuspecting and yet controlling one within their grasp. And lastly, Althusser believes, ideology interpellates individuals as subjects – their subjection to the category of subjects. There is no ideology except by the subject and for subjects, which by working seamlessly and weaving thoroughly over the three previous paradigms to concreticise the concept of ideology. 

One could say, Althusser’s insight about the “social unconscious” when it comes to assessing the concrete political realities and struggles, is thus become not just another crucial point to define and understand Ideology, but in itself a very significant negotiation of the concept of ideology in itself. 

You’ve graduated, now what?

Never give up on an opportunity for education, to educate yourself is a very pivoting experience.

The seemingly biggest existential crisis for most of us, if not all, hits when you’ve finally graduated but can’t focus on what is the next right step. This comes with a lot of challenges and pressures, but always remember; to focus on what you want, these are the years where you can mess up, pick up the pieces and move forward, do that, unabashedly. 

Are you scared, or not ready to take up your Masters? Or do you want to look for a stable job right away? This is your life, and you get the reigns for it, no matter the pressure, don’t let people fool you into pursuing what you weren’t read for, these people are not gonna be around forever to scrutinise you, we all just need to learn to create healthy boundaries. 

Make sure you are engaging yourself with all sorts of information and not just one sided research thrusted upon you by someone. That’s got to be your first step.

Think clear of long term goals before pursuing any thing, imaging what do you consider of yourself in the next 10 years, and plan accordingly.

If the situation isn’t favourable now, that doesn’t necessarily should spiral you into depression, work hard on proving a plan, it seems superficial for some, but it always works. 

Have your plans gone sour? No worries, it’s not the end of the world, nothing truly happening to you is, just keep a calm mind and multiple options at your disposal; never put all your eggs in one basket. 

Your degree doesn’t satisfy what you had planned, get another one, it’s just matter of years you’d put in, and it would be enlightening. 

Take up courses, brush up your skills, know more and have the zeal to learn and tackle anything, and that’s it for you, if you could just wholesomely tackle anything that is in you way, you can surely win over all your situations.

But, most importantly, don’t run behind something or someone, you’re young, you’re going to make mistakes and you need to own upto it, but sticking to someone or something would always narrow down your path while you just want to do the opposite. 

Just make sure that you —no matter what’s the situation is in ahead of you don’t loose faith in yourself, even when no one truly are standing besides you; because its always empty at the top 😉

Getting New Tempo of Life from Nanak Singh

Nanak Singh 1998 stamp of India.jpg
Nanak Singh (Source: Wikipedia)

Looking Back to inmost salient lion from North-west corner of India:

The milieu where we are going through, reminds us of such a beacon whose life was out of the world of ceramic painting. In the prevailing situation in where myriad of youths are gloomy and distracted, all the deluge of depression and ‘break-up’ with our soul & courage, that poet-cum-author pillages our interest towards his escapade in the worrit situation he passed through, not lying on fortune’s lap.

“It seems to imply that in the lifeblood of our society, red corpuscles have disappeared.”

From Novel Chitta Lahu (White Blood), by Nanak Singh

Yes, we are talking about that very Panjabi author — Nanak Singh. This Indian poet, songwriter & novelist of Panjabi language made a royal entry to this world on the 4th July, 1897 through a poor Punjabi Hindu family. His literature produced crackles in the period of India’s Independence movement. If we take a magnificent lens on the pages of Modern Indian History, Nanak Singh was more prominent of them who wanted to eliminate the dual mentality of that ‘babu’ who went soft on the fierce deeds of the British.

The revolutionary identity got influenced and involved in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. On that auspicious day (April 13, 1919), of Punjabi New Year, Singh saw a lot of kin shot to death by the British troops, even two of his friends drooped on his lap for their last time. Then the author entity of Singh’s inner mind erupted in anger — invented an epic poem, mocking colonial rule — “Khomeini Visayans” (Bloody Baisakhi) from native heart. While conducting ‘Akali Movement’, in charge of the editor of ‘Akali’ papers, he became the subject of crimson eyes of the British — that resulted in the imprisonment of that new leader. In the meanwhile, he converted himself into Sikh. Hence, he portrayed the savagery and ‘legal violence’ of the British on peaceful Sikhs — and published his second anthology called “Zakhmi Dil ” (1923), which got banned within a fortnight of its publication, as expected.

Implementation of Singh’s Views in Present time:

This legend’s natural inclination towards protest against coercion, unjust & inequitable feud, as well as bluffing at every step, pulled him to pick-up ink as well as the flag of Mother India. Under Singh’s tenure, both the fallacy of British & dogmatism of Literature (specially in regional languages) got curtained. Yes, we agree delightfully that the British are no longer in power in India. But the orthodoxy, bigotry & undesired fanaticism has prepared a lot of arrest warrants for Indians. This situation reminds us of that nonesuch person:

Who escaped the boundary of patriarchy — implemented the quote of Lalan Fakir in reality —

“Everyone Sees Male & Female/ But, I see Only Humans” 

“সবাই দেখে নারী পুরুষ, আমি দেখি শুধুই মানুষ”

Lalan Fakir

We get a lot of views in his novels.

Nanak Singh (Source: ‘The Watchmaker‘ book written by Singh & translated by Navdeep Suri)

He’s Nanak Singh, whose voice was full of courage & pluck that successfully punctured British’s confidence, gives a message to us to belabor the deception of socio-political hand-cuffs. In his writing, always one thing got itself highlighted — the search for celestial happiness through fraternity, integrity & Liberty. 

However, all Indians, not only Panjabis draw inspiration from this icon who gives birth to every Indian from the previous fluffy life of usual inertia — that erects pillars to build a Happier nation for Future.

 

So, don’t delay to come forward to blow the conch of Humanity with the previously chanted hymns of Nanak Singh.

Every citizen should be mandated to perform national public service

Compulsory public service by the citizens of a rustic isn’t a replacement concept. Several countries across the world make it mandatory to participate in some sort of public service or another. In total, about seventy-five countries have some sort of mandatory service. These could include learning care , tutoring, serving within the military for a particular period of your time , and lots of other activities.

There are major perks for doing service , like reduction of mortgages, educational opportunities, advantages within the application.

For instance, Israel recognizes service as a serious integrating force, a time when children of all backgrounds meet and mingle as Israelis. it’s especially important for brand spanking new immigrants. There are major educational programs as a part of service , which teach language, history, and culture as how for all Israelis to know their national framework.

National service includes assisting at hospitals, with the elderly, handicapped, with children, clerking in government offices, welfare work , and faculty . It are often arranged in order that people doing service are working in their own community (this is usually important for religious women, both Jewish and Muslim) as a matter of modesty.

Also, during a democratic country, like India, the state cannot compel any citizen to try to to any public service, but under Article 51A of the Constitution of India, the citizens shall have the duty and Fundamental Duty to defend the country and render service when called upon to try to to so.

In Canada (so very almost like the United Kingdom), “The public service” is that the core administration of the govt . you’ll find during this the Defence department, Natural Resources department, Immigration, etc. If you enter the general public sector (where there also are crown corporations) you’ll find Canada Post, the Bank of Canada, and other institutions that are run just about sort of a business but that ultimately are a portfolio of a core public service department that answers to a Minister. i think that the general public service and therefore the public sector in Canada have about 400 000 thousand employees (federal level). it’s the most important employer within the country (and each province has its own public service supported its jurisdiction as per the constitution).

The only reason why there’s a debate regarding this issue is thanks to the very fact that there are misguided patriots who believed that each citizen must prove their love and loyalty to the present country by doing public service. the govt shouldn’t tend the facility to coerce its citizens to interact in one or maybe two years of public service; it’s against the law of the land. it might be best for the govt to market the ideals of volunteerism so as to recruit and train folks that are wanting to serve.

There are those that contend that the citizens of this country must be compelled to interact publicly service. this might appear to be the foremost patriotic thing to try to to but the Bill of Rights clearly stipulates that no citizen are often forced by the govt to try to to something.

This is also an unproductive exercise because coercion can cause defiant behavior and dear litigation. it’s the work of the govt to influence people to hitch . The spirit of volunteerism must be cultivated. the govt must demonstrate that public servants are well-appreciated. As a result there would be more volunteers that are ready and ready to serve.

Innovation and its types

Innovation is the discovery of new knowledge. It is neither automatic nor accidental rather it is a product of deep thinking, careful observation, and systematic activity. Scientific inquiry is an unending process and the object of this inquiry is innovation.

Types of innovation:

Product- Innovation in this category refers to the innovation in the quality of the product and both improvements to existing product lines or completely new offerings. The key is to add significant value.

Service- It involves the improvement of the consumer’s experience. It includes innovation in the offerings of the product, making it easier to use, fixing common problems. Here the objective is to make the product stand out.

Process- It is an inward-looking innovation, improving core competencies. It includes significant changes in technology, equipment, or software. For example, Henry Ford’s invention of the assembly line shortened the time necessary to produce a single-vehicle.

Management- It is the process of managing innovative ideas. The planning and process behind coming up with ideas, turning them into action plans, and developing them for the business until they become a reality. Implementation of new management practices, processes, etc that shows a departure from older norms.

Open- It refers to the innovation process to collaborate globally, bring out newer ideas, working beyond boundaries and expand the markets for external use of innovation.

Value-creation- It means to give something valuable for receiving something valuable in return. Value creation involves a process to make the product stand out,to deal with competitions, create demand in the market.

Radical innovation- It involves the birth of new industries and the application of revolutionary technologies. They allow society to take a leap forward. It brings about revolutionary changes in society like the industrial revolution.

Incremental innovation- Majority of innovation are of this type. It includes making improvements in existing products. the aim is to make the product stand out in the market and reduce competition around it. For example, the newer updates in smartphones and various apps add new features and improve their efficiency.

Disrupting Innovation- It involves the creation of newer markets and value networks which eventually disrupts the existing market and value network. It describes a process that initially a product is at the bottom of the market, it is less expensive and more accessible and gradually comes to rule the market. For example, Netflix disrupted the video rental business.

Architectural Innovation- It refers to innovation in the architecture of any product that changes or modifies the way various components of the system relate to each other.