Essay on Walt Whitmans Song of Myself - 3631 Words

Walt Whitmans Song of Myself This paper deals with Walt Whitmans Song of Myself in relation to Julia Kristevas theories of abjection--my paper does not point to abjection in the text, but rather the significance of the abscence of abjection. This abscence, looming and revolting, arises from Whitmans attemt to refigure a conception of sublimity which delimits the material which can trigger the sublime moment. Whitmans democracy of the sublime is inclusive of those figures on the American landscape, their lives and voices, which are functionalized into his world. This paper employs the theories of George Lukacs and Julia Kristeva allow the unearthing of the archeological layers of Whitmans text. The most literal adjective†¦show more content†¦It lies there, quite close, but it cannot be assimilated. It beseeches, worries, and fascinates desire, which, nevertheless, does not let itself be seduced.[1] The strange elegance of this specter looms in the relief, in the archaic layers of Song of Myself. It is beyond the foregrounded inversive space--at times utopic and sublime, the space is permeated with universal brotherhood, happiness, the compelled-sentimental-- that I attempt to delve into, that source from which generates the repulsive, hidden quivering of a text which, though cast out and forced into absence, looms in the shadowed relief. The edification of his text and of his readership is attempted through the construction of an inversive space which refigures the sublime: the apex of the cultured. I have chosen those moments in the text in which the poet nears the threshold of bordering abject in order to construct his sublime utopian vision. It is here, this marked refigurement where ecstasy occurs, where material which triggers the sublime is the signal of another text; a repulsive reading looms from the absence of abjection An invocation of the self begins Song of Myself, positioning the text as an edification of the American readership: I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as god belongs to you (lines 1-3). Thus Whitmans work joins with theShow MoreRelatedIdentity In Walt Whitmans A Song Of Myself869 Words   |  4 PagesIdentity: A Common Theme Walt Whitman (1819-1892) wrote a poem titles â€Å"A Song of Myself.† He wrote this piece in order to celebrate his identity, what makes him unique. Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) writes of a little boy struggling with identity in a quickly changing world. Jamaica Kincaid (1949-), writes of a young girl who is learning her identity as a mother, wife and daughter. By examining each piece of literature, one can trace the common theme of identity by comparing and contrasting theRead MoreTranscendentalism In Walt Whitmans A Song Of Myself1073 Words   |  5 PagesThe school of thought that is transcendentalism is best explained as the idea that everything is connected. America, as a country, represents the philosophy of Transcendentalism. This is best exemplified in the writing of Walt Whitman. In his poem, â€Å"A Song of Myself†, Whitman truly heralded a new brand of American exceptionalism. He championed the individual and created a work that exemplified the common man as the pillar of the American dream. Yet he also explained that Americans are what make upRead More Walt Whitmans Song of Myself Essay716 Words   |  3 Pages In one of the sections from the poem, â€Å"Song of Myself† Walt Whitman starts out with a child asking a question, â€Å"What is the grass?† Grass is a symbol of life. God, who created both the heavens and the earth also gave birth to life. When Whitman refers to grass as a â€Å"handkerchief of the Lord† (7), as a gift. When people look at the grass, they do not think of it as a creation but rather just a plant. Whitman refers to the grass as â€Å"a child, the produced babe of vegetation† (11, 12). Here, the grassRead More References to Homosexuality in Walt Whitmans Song of Myself1210 Words   |  5 PagesHomosexuality in Walt Whitmans Song of Myself WHITMAN WAS MORE MAN THAN YOULL EVER BE, said a student of Louisiana State University. When asked questions of your sexual preference or thoughts on the issue of sex, I would venture to say it makes most people uncomfortable. This is an age-old topic that people know about, yet do not want to talk about. He was particularly reticent about his issues regarding sex and his particular sexual preference. In fact, of Whitmans struggles theRead More An Analysis of Walt Whitmans Song of Myself Essay778 Words   |  4 PagesAn Analysis of Walt Whitmans Song of Myself `Whitman was always asking questions. He believed that lifes goal or cause was a mystery. He was surrounded by people who were drawing distinct lines between right and wrong, rejecting the things in the universe that were not a direct ticket to holiness. Whitman, unlike his contemporaries, embraced the beauty of everything. His mystical perception of the world ushered in the idea that God was to be found in every thing, and that He couldRead MoreEssay about Walt Whitmans Song of Myself1779 Words   |  8 PagesWalt Whitmans Song of Myself Walt Whitmans Song of Myself is, on the most basic descriptive level, a really long poem. Whitman is clearly a poet with a lot to say, or at least with a lot of different ways to say it. He meanders from the micro to the macro, from atoms to the whole earth. There are obviously myriad ways to explain what the poem is about, and myriad keys to its true meaning. In what became Section 6 of the final edition (lines 90-121 of the 1855 edition ) Whitman himselfRead More Defining the Soul in Walt Whitmans Song of Myself Essay721 Words   |  3 Pages Every sentence in Walt Whitmans Song of Myself tends to either repeat or contradict. He even says of himself, I contradict myself (Lauter, p. 2793). This can make Whitmans poetry a little confusing to some. In his many stanzas, definition of the soul is ambiguous and somewhat contradictory. Whitman says, Clear and sweet is my soul....and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul (Lauter, p. 2745). What I believe Whitman is saying here is that his soul and everything elseRead MoreEssay Choosing Sides in Walt Whitmans Song of Myself1095 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Song of Myself† is an attempt by Walt Whitman to become the â€Å"American poet† as described by Ralph Waldo Emerson; he attempts to be â€Å"[T]he sayer, the namer, and [representative] of beauty† (Emerson 1182). Whitman wants to speak to and for America. Whitman does not explicitly choose sides on the slavery debate that was raging at the time of his writing, but he does express the equality of all people, regardless of gender and race in â€Å"Song of Myself†. While Whitman’s writing can be read as neutralRead MoreIndividuality And Free Verse in Walt Whitmans Song of Myself1524 Words   |  7 Pages2.5 kids, 2 cars, a dog and a satisfying job), the spirit of innovati on, individuality and progress remains unchanged. The father of free verse, and perhaps the American perspective of poetry, Walt Whitman embodies these values in his life and work. First published in 1855 in Leaves of Grass, Song of Myself is a vision of a symbolic I enraptured by the senses, vicariously embracing all people and places from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. Sections 1 and 2, like the entirety of the piece,Read More An Annotation of Section 24 of Walt Whitmans Song of Myself1354 Words   |  6 PagesSection 24 of Walt Whitmans Song of Myself Walt Whitmans Song of Myself is a vision of the American spirit, a vision of Whitman himself. It is his cry for democracy, giving each of us a voice through his poetry. Each of us has a voice and desires, and this is Whitmans representation of our voices, the voice of America. America, the great melting pot, was founded for freedom and democracy, and this poem is his way of re-instilling these lost American ideals. In this passage from Song of Myself

Greed in Macbeth Essay - 1018 Words

Greed is the excessive desire to acquire or possess more, and it is also one of the biggest creators of tragedy. This is so vividly shown in both the novel The Sun Also Rises and in the play Macbeth. In The Sun Also Rises, this greed is directed toward a person, Lady Brett Ashley. Five men; Mike, Jake, Pedro, Bill, and the Count, are fighting to be with her throughout the book. In Macbeth, this greed is directed toward power as Macbeth wanted to become King, and what he does to become it. However, this greed led to the collapse of each character. Lady Ashley left all five men, leaving them devastated, while in Macbeth; an opposing army overthrew Macbeth. In both stories, greed drives the main character to do something, which is then†¦show more content†¦In both stories, the main character achieves the goal that their greed compels them to do. In The Sun Also Rises, Jakes lust for Brett drives him to have an affair with her, in which he thinks that she dearly loves him and he loves her. During the affair, Jake is always so tight with Brett, meaning he does not give her much freedom. Jake lets Brett dance with other friends and drink with other people, but any move that would be against their relationship, Jake would get angry. For example, when Brett had a drink with Count Mippipolous, and invited him home, Jake made her send him away, even though the count did not have any thoughts on her at that time. This is easily comparable to Macbeth, by the fact that Macbeth is indecisive and is a tyrannical leader, and he did anything to stay in power. For example, when Macbeth hired the three murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance, because according to the witches, all of Banquos sons will be King. Eventually, this greed to achieve what was not intended for them ended in the defeat of the characters. In The Sun Also Rises and Macbeth, the main characters greed leads to his downfall when he took what was not meant to be his. Jake had thought throughout the affair that Brett loved him. The truth was that she was just with him because she liked to have affairs, and when she realized that he had become unable to have sex because of the injuries resulting from the war. She leaves JakeShow MoreRelatedGreed In Macbeth1034 Words   |  5 Pages In William shakespeares play, Macbeth, there is a constant struggle for power that is displayed by Macbeth. The play demonstrates one of human’s strongest nature which seems to be the desire for power. This play is entirely based on Macbeth’s greed for power. As Macbeth gained more power, his behavior shifts from being a loyal and noble warrior to a power hungry man. He is a prime example of a character that is struggling to free himself from powers of others or seeks to gain power over othersRead MoreThe Power Of Greed In Macbeth1 488 Words   |  6 Pagesplay, Macbeth, there is blood, power and greed; all of which can be read with literal and metaphorical interpretations. They intertwine at different points in the story and have different effects on each of the characters including: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Malcom, and Macduff. These three ideas create a cycle throughout the story, particularly for Macbeth, as greed leading to the spilling of blood, which can give someone power is ultimately his demise. When Shakespeare first mentions Macbeth in theRead MoreEssay On Greed In Macbeth751 Words   |  4 Pagesother people judge you based on their views of whats right or whats wrong. In the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare displayed a darker and wrong side of humankind. Three main characters, in particular, showed similar traits of greediness. Banquo, who appears to be noble fails to resist his desires; Lady Macbeth overrules herself with greed to a fate of anguish. And finally, Macbeth becomes engulfed with greed that leads to horrible deeds. Shakespeare emphasizes that desire for power and wealth canRead MoreThe Themes Of Greed In William Shakespeares Macbeth881 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeares play Macbeth portrays man as a species controlled by ones inner thoughts, greed and ultimately hubris. Mankind is often fueled by desire to acquire more, with little regard to possible negative or evil outcomes. When faced with an uncertain prophecy, Macbeth allows greed to overpo wer conscience, and ultimately allows malevolent powers within himself to dictate and lead to his demise. Shakespeare personifies the witches- supernatural beings with no agenda, feared greatlyRead MoreEssay about Power and Greed - Macbeth1736 Words   |  7 PagesPower and Greed: The Driving Force behind the Story of Macbeth The rise of an individual and the gain of power can often be intoxicating. This control placed in the hands of one can often ignite thoughts and actions of greed found deep inside. This can often be seen in the history of civilization as countless leaders have neglected the good of their people to fuel their own selfish desires. Lord Acton once expressed, â€Å"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† This is embodiedRead MoreEssay on The Roles of Greed and Pride in Shakespeares Macbeth1284 Words   |  6 Pagesnot to stray from where they think they should end up, even if it means throwing away their principles and values in the process. Through Shakespeares Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth’s original character and values are destroyed because of the influence from the witches prophecies, Lady Macbeths greed, and his own hidden ambition. Macbeth begins to defer from his original character when he learns of the witches’ prophecies, which leads him to believe he is fated to be king and to pursue that â€Å"destinyRead MoreExternal Ambiture And Greed In Lady Macbeths Macbeth1566 Words   |  7 Pagesand future, which is as a result of temptation and greed. Greed will keep building, and will not stop until it is satisfied, along with temptation. MacBeth follows through with murder for building greed. Early on in the book he is already Thane of Cawdor and is very wealthy, has a family, and anything he would ever need. His building greed is a want for money, power, but most importantly ambition. His greed is planted inside his head by Lady MacBeth, as he never really had any intentions to becomeRead MoreMan of Greed and Power: The Tragedy of Macbeth1089 Words   |  5 Pagesgreat power leads to the downfall of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Contributing to the downfall and demise of Macbeth, three sinister witches pla n to foil Macbeth through telling him prophecies of his future. But, through the freewill of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth they paved their own road to destruction. Lady Macbeth is a woman who is not mentally strong enough to commit a murder but is mentally capable of persuading someone into committing the crime for her. Macbeth is gullible at first judgment, but soonRead MoreEssay On Greed In The Great Gatsby1101 Words   |  5 Pages The paths of greed and vanity will always lead to ones downfall. The character of Myrtle Wilson from the novel â€Å"The Great Gatsby† written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Lady Macbeth from the play â€Å"Macbeth† by William Shakespeare both successfully demonstrate the deadly sin of greed through their immoral actions to gain their own personal desire for wealth and power, eventually leading to their downfall. To begin, the character of Myrtle Wilson carries out an affair with Tom Buchanan toRead MoreThe Role Of Force And Influence On Human Behavior954 Words   |  4 Pages and nurture can force a person to do things they avoid doing and eventually that person is forced to become something that they are not. Influences normally involve a person being obsessed with an idea, excessive desires, especially greed. In this case, it’s greed for power. In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, it is a novel full of murder, tragedy, and despair. But all that tragedy, murder, and despair occur because of a lack of connection to either family or society. The true evil in Frankenstein

Bamboo free essay sample

Bamboo is actually and evergreen plant, and a member of the true grass family  Phocaea. It is the fastest growing woody perennial on the planet, and some of the giant species can grow up to four feet per day! It is found on nearly every continent in the world, and has a wide range of useful applications. Bamboo products are used extensively in the modern world, and its usage has been growing rapidly in recent years. It is an easily renewable resource and its cultivation is beneficial to the environment. A bamboo grove creates 5 times more bio-material than a typical pine forest, making it beneficial to the environment. Bamboo is truly an amazing plant, and provides great benefits for our planet. There is currently over 1,000 known  bamboo species, and 91 genera. The bamboo family is diverse and can grow in a wide range of climates and conditions. Bamboo can be found growing in the cold high altitude mountains of Tibet, and in the warm desert climates of sub-Saharan Africa. Sizes, shapes, colours, and behaviours of bamboo can also vary significantly. The plant can grow as short as a couple of inches, to as tall as 100 plus feet and 8 inches in diameter. Colours of bamboo canes are typically bright green, but can also be jet black, or even striped. The varying of appearances makes them an idea choice for ornamental and landscaping purposes. Bamboo is a staple of the Japanese garden and a symbol of Japanese culture. The cultural significance of Bamboo in Asian culture is profound and has been well documented in the history books. In fact, Bamboo was actually used as the writing medium in ancient Chinese literature. Scribes would write on bamboo slats, which are known in the United States as bamboo scrolls. Much of the history of China has been document this way, and without bamboo much of it may have been lost. Bamboos are woody stemmed members of the grass family, Poeceae, which belong to the family Bambusoideae. All members of the subfamily can be distinguished from the other grasses by foliage leaf blades which are attached to their branch lets by slender leaf stalks or petioles. Other grasses like corn and sugar cane have leaves without petioles. The Culms Like all grasses the bamboos have stems or culms which are segmented by oints called nodes. Bamboo nodes are always solid but between the nodes, the internodes of the culm are usually hollow. A group of culms growing near one another are usually connected together underground by segmented stems called rhizomes to form a single plant. The roots grow from the nodes of the rhizomes. The rhizomes serve as a storehouse of food for the bamboo p lant allowing new culms to grow very rapidly. Each culm grows to its full height in a grand period of growth which usually takes no longer than 2 or 3 months. Thereafter, even though it may live for up to 10 years, the culm does not increase in height or diameter. A plant with small rhizomes can produce only small culms. Under favourable conditions the rhizomes will increase in size and produce larger culms each year until the limit for that particular species is reached. The oldest culms are thus often the smallest and the youngest the largest. Bamboo Culms or Canes The Rhizomes There are two basic types of bamboos, the clampers and the runners. The culms of a clumping species grow close to one another usually no more than a foot apart. While the culms of a runner are often spaced far apart. Up to 10 ft. or more. The spacing of the culms is characteristic of each species and depends on the nature of the rhizomes. McClure first used the terms symposia and monopodia to describe c1umpers and runners. Sympodial refers to the branching habit of clumping rhizomes: each rhizome typically branches into a pair of rhizomes, each of which branches into a pair again. Monopodial refers to the running rhizome which consists of a main axis from which branches arise one at a time. Later (McClure. 1966) the above two terms were abandoned in favour of pachymorph and leptomorph: the first refers to the short. Thick shape of the clumping rhizome while the later describes the long, slender shape of a running rhizome. Both pairs of terms describe some of the features of the two rhizome types but I prefer to use the words clamper and runner. A running bamboo has the capability of spreading rapidly. It can also get nourishment from the ground at some distance from its culms. Under favourable growing conditions the runner planted as an ornamental can become a problem, growing into a lawn. a flower bed or a neighbors yard. The c1umpers are more well behaved as they can only spread slowly from the edge of the clump. In most cases the clump diameter will be no greater than about 10 or 15 ft. after many years. In most genera of bamboos all of the species are either clumpers or runners. Most clumpers are tropical or subtropical plants that are damaged by temperatures below about 15 ° F, while most runners can withstand colder temperatures. There are exceptions the two most hardy species grown in the U. S. Thamnocalamlls spathaceolls  (Fran. ) Soder. and  Sinarundinaria nitida  (Mitf. ) Nakai are clumping bamboos The Branches Almost all bamboos have one or more branches that grow from the culm nodes. In many species the lower nodes of large culms remain branchless. The number of branches , their relative size and their arangement on the culm node is an important characteristic for the identification of the genus and sometimes of the species. Bamboo Branches The Leaves The bamboo leaf complement consists of two parts, the sheath and the blade. The sheath wraps around the stem to which it is attached at the sheath base. The opposite or distal end of the sheath develops into the blade which is often flat and bent away from the sheath and stem. Bamboos have two distinct kinds of leaves. Culm leaves and foliage leaves. Culm leaves are attached at the base of their sheaths directly to culm nodes atthe sheath scar. The culm leaf sheath, which is usually large compared to the blade, serves to protect the new culms as they emerge during the grand period of growth. After the culm grows to its full height the culm leaf dries and often fall soff. On the upper end of the sheath on both sides of the blade are two auricles. The bristle-like hairs which extend from the margins of the auricles are called oral setae. Extending up from the central margin of the sheath is the ligule. The auricles and oral setae may be lacking on some species. Culm leaf blades are larger toward the upper end of the culm. Near the upper tip the leaves are similar to foliage leaves; the blades remain green and persist long after the lower culm leaves have fallen off. The culm leaf sheath is often simply called the culm sheath or the sheath. Foliage leaves grow from branchlets. The blades are generally large compared to the sheaths which wrap tightly around the stems often overlapping the sheath above it. The foliage leaf blade is commonly called simply the leaf. Foliage leaves have ligules and often auricles and oral setae. The foliage leaf blade is always attached to its sheath by a stem or petiole in contrast to the culm leaf blade which is often without a petiole. Foliage leaves drop off after about one year but not until new leaves have grown to replace them so that the bamboos are generally green year round. The leaves that grow from main branches tend to resemble culm leaves while those at the ends of culms and branches are somewhere between the two types. To identify species one should look at culm leaves that grow near the middle of large culms and at foliage leaves that grow from branchlets. Bamboo Leaves The Flowers The flowering of bamboo plants occurs at irregular, often long intervals. Each species has its individual pattern; it may flower continuously. yearly. every few years. or at long intervals up to over 100 years. The flowers may be only a few. cover one or a few culms or cover all culms of the species growing in a wide area. With heavy flowering vegetative growth comes to a virtual standstill that may last from a few months to many years, after which the plant may slowly recover its vegetative growth or it may die. Each flower does not produce a seed and often plants will produce a massive quantity of flowers and little or no fruit. The history of the flowering ofPhylloslachys  is given by Adamson et al. (978) for plants grown at the United States Barbour Lathrop Plant Introduction Garden at Savannah, Georgia (hereafter called the Garden). Eighteen different accessions representing 10 different species flowered between 1951 and 1977. Of these, 8 accessions died, 8 recovered and two were still flowering in 1977. During this time all of the accessions ofP. niduaria  flowered while some accessions of  P. bambusoidesflowered and some did not. Because of the rarity of flowering in most bamboos, one must often rely on the vegetative characteristics to distinguish species. When a plant does flower it often lacks the vegetative parts such as culm leaves which are critical for identification. In some cases most of the foliage leaves fall off of flowering plants Characteristics: Bamboo is an attractive alternative for flooring because of its physical similarities to hardwoods. Bamboo floor manufacturers and sellers promote its strength, durability as well as resistance to insects and moisture while having the added benefit of being eco friendly. The hardness of bamboo ranges from 1180 (carbonized horizontal) to around 1380 (natural) using the  Janka hardness test  versus  red oak  (1290),  white oak  (1360),  rock maple  (1450), andhickory  (1820),Brazilian Cherry / Jatoba (2350), (the higher the number the harder the material). Care and maintenance: Bamboo is an aggressive plant and will require general maintenance task throughout the year. Its behaviors are different than many other garden plants. In this section, we break down the common maintenance tasks you may encounter. Following these guidelines will help you maintain healthy and happy bamboo plants. Watering  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Ornamental and garden bamboos require a regular watering schedule, and cannot rely completely on rain water. Bamboo likes to dry after watering, so your watering schedule will need to alternate days. It is important to keep a balanced water schedule, as too much or too little water can be harmful to the bamboo. Newly planted specimens should be watered at least twice a week in their ideal weather conditions. In areas with warm temperatures or frequent wind, the bamboo may require water up to 5 times a week. As a grower, you must make a judgment call on watering frequency by examining the leaves and soil. Bamboo leaves will start to curl inwards if they are not receiving enough water. This is a natural mechanism used by the plant to protect itself against drought. By curling the leaves the plant will prevent water from escaping by trapping it in the pockets it creates. If you notice that your bamboo is starting to display this behavior, it should be a red flag that more water is needed. Soil also needs to be monitored on a regular basis, with this being especially true for container bamboos. Bamboo growing in a container is vulnerable to overwatering, and it is common for gardeners to unknowingly waterlog the plant. This can lead to rotting of the rhizomes and roots, and can even kill the entire plant. Fertilizer  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ After your bamboo plant is established, it is recommended to fertilize regularly. An organic fertilizer that is high in nitrogen is the ideal choice. Half rotted horse or cow manure is also an excellent choice, and can often be obtained for free. A standard high nitrogen lawn fertilized works well, and is often the most cost effective choice. Fertilizer should be applied once in the summer when rhizomes are developing, and again in the fall or early spring. Apply a 2 inch layer of your fertilizer mixture or compost around the base of the plant. You can also spread the mixture out to areas you want the plants to grow. Thinning and Pruning  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Pruning bamboo on a regular basis is usually not necessary and is primarily done for aesthetics. Culms will generally live up to ten years, but can start to dry out and look unattractive later in life. Removing the older culms is an important maintenance task and will promote the health of the newly emerging culms. The older culms will compete for light and nutrients with the younger culms and allowing them to live will lessen the overall beauty of the entire clump or grove. This is done by cutting off the old culm at soil level. We recommend that old or dead culms are removed at least once per year from your garden. In the case of timber bamboos, you can promote large and rapid growth by removing the smaller culms in the grove. Removing small culms will allow for the space and nutrients required to produce giant timber bamboo. Thinning and pruning will do wonders for the health and appearance of the plants. Controlling Spread  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ There are several method used to control the spread of running (leptomorph) bamboos. The most common tactic is to install a HDPE rhizome barrier around the growing area. Check out our article on installing a rhizome barrier for a full breakdown. Depending on the area, installation of a rhizome barrier can be a difficult or impossible task. The most simple and cost effective method of controlling bamboo is to prune the rhizomes on a regular basis. Rhizome pruning is a seasonal task, normally done in late fall through spring. As new rhizomes emerge from the soil, a sharp garden spade can be used to sever the rhizomes as they travel beneath the ground. Start by marking out the desired perimeter to which the bamboo should be confined. Next, plunge the spade as deep as possible into the soil along this perimeter. This will cut the rhizomes in the area and limit their growth for the remainder of the season. This must be done at least once per year in order to work effectively. Winter Protection  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Bamboo is most vulnerable during the winter months. In cold, windy climates there are necessary steps to take to protect your bamboo. After the initial planting, the goal is to allow the plant enough time to establish a root system and become hardy enough to survive in freezing winds, temperatures, and frost. Freezing winds are a young bamboo plant’s worst enemy. The cold temperatures are not particularly damaging, but the loss of moisture will cause plant to dry out quickly. For a young plant that is not well established, the aftermath of winter can be devastating. Frost can also be troublesome to bamboo. A consistent layer of frost has the potential to cause cell irreversible cell damage to the leaves, branches, and culms. Leaves are the most susceptible to frost, but the culms are also at risk during the winter. It is important to know and understand the cold hardiness of the variety of bamboo you are growing. This will help you prepare the area according to the exact needs of your bamboo. Black Bamboo covered in snow. (Photo: Paul Smith) The first and most important step to protecting your bamboo in the winter is to provide a heavy layer of mulch at the base of the plant. This will give the soil beneath some degree of protection from freezing temperatures and allow the roots and rhizomes to remain healthy. Good mulch can consist of dried leaves, organic compost, or a low growing groundcover plant. The next step is to protect the plant from excessive wind exposure. This can be done by planting some type of cold hardy plant in the vicinity of the bamboo to deflect and absorb the incoming wind. It is also possible to install a screen or panel in front of the plant to provide an equal level of protection. Uses Culinary The shoots (new culms that come out of the ground) of bamboo are edible. They are used in numerous Asian dishes and broths, and are available in supermarkets in various sliced forms, in both fresh and canned versions. The shoots of the giant bamboo (Cathariostachys madagascariensis) contain  cyanide. Despite this, the  golden bamboo lemur  ingests many times the quantity of toxin that would kill a human. The bamboo shoot in its fermented state forms an important ingredient in cuisines across the Himalayas. Pickled bamboo, used as a condiment, may also be made from the  pith  of the young shoots. Pickled bamboo shoots (Nepali: tama) are cooked with black eyed beans as a delicacy food in Nepal The empty hollow in the stalks of larger bamboo is often used to cook food in many Asian cultures. Soups are boiled and rice is cooked in the hollows of fresh stalks of bamboo directly over a flame. Medicine Bamboo is used in  Chinese medicine  for treating infections and healing. It is a low-calorie source of potassium. It is known for its sweet taste and as a good source of nutrients and protein. In  Ayurveda, the Indian system of traditional medicine, the siliceous concretion found in the culms of the bamboo stem is called  banslochan. Construction House made entirely of bamboo In its natural form, bamboo as a construction material is traditionally associated with the cultures of South Asia, East Asia and the South Pacific. In China and India, bamboo was used to hold upsimple suspension bridges, either by making cables of split bamboo or twisting whole culms of sufficiently pliable bamboo together. One such bridge in the area of Qian-Xian is referenced in writings dating back 960 A. D. and may have stood since as far back as the 3rd century B. C. , due largely to continuous maintenance. Bamboo has also long been used as scaffolding; the practice has been banned in China for buildings over six storeys but is still in continuous use for skyscrapers in  Hong Kong. In the Philippines, the  nipa hut  is a fairly typical example of the most basic sort of  housing  where bamboo is used; the walls are split and woven bamboo, and bamboo slats and poles may be used as its support. In  Japanese architecture, bamboo is used primarily as a supplemental and/or decorative element in buildings such as fencing, fountains, grates and gutters, largely due to the ready abundance of quality timber. Bamboo scaffolding  can reach great heights. Various structural shapes may be made by training the bamboo to assume them as it grows. Squared sections of bamboo are created by compressing the growing stalk within a square form. [21]  Arches may similarly be created by forcing the bamboos growth with the desired form, and costs much less than it would to assume the same shape in regular wood timber. More traditional forming methods, such as the application of heat and pressure, may also be used to curve or flatten the cut stalks. [22] Products made from bamboo laminate, including flooring, cabinetry, furniture and even decorations, are currently surging in popularity, transitioning from the boutique market to mainstream providers such as  Home Depot. The bamboo goods industry (which also includes small goods, fabric, etc. ) is expected to be worth $25 billion by the year 2012.. The quality of bamboo laminate varies between manufacturers and the maturity of the plant from which it was harvested (six years being considered the optimum); the sturdiest products fulfill their claims of being up to three times harder than  oak  hardwood, but others may be softer than standard hardwood. Bamboo intended for use in construction should be treated to resist insects and rot. Bamboo pavilion in the Shenzhen Biennale Bamboo has been used as reinforcement for concrete in those areas where it is plentiful, though dispute exists over its effectiveness in the various studies done on the subject. Bamboo does have the necessary strength to fulfill this function, but untreated bamboo will swell from the absorption of water from the concrete, causing it to crack. Several procedures must be followed to overcome this shortcoming. Several institutes, businesses, and universities are working on the bamboo as an ecological construction material. In the United States and France, it is possible to get houses made entirely of bamboo, which are earthquake and cyclone-resistant and internationally certified. In Bali, Indonesia, an international primary school, named the  Green School, is constructed entirely of bamboo, due to its beauty, and advantages as a sustainable resource. There are three  ISO  standards for bamboo as a construction material. In  Maharashtra, the bamboo groves and forests are called VeLuvana; the nameVeLu  for bamboo is most likely from Sanskrit, while  Vana  means forest. Furthermore, bamboo is also used to create flagpoles for  saffron-coloured,  Hindu  religious flags, which can be seen fluttering across India, especially  Bihar  and  Uttar Pradesh, as well as inGuyana  and  Suriname. Bamboo is used for the structural members of the  India pavilion  at  Expo 2010  in  Shanghai. The pavilion is the world’s largest bamboo dome; about 34 m in diameter, with bamboo beams/members overlaid with a ferro-cement slab, water proofing, copper plate, solar PV panels, a small windmill and live plants. A total of 30  km of bamboo was used. The dome is supported on 18-m-long steel piles and a series of steel ring beams. Textiles Because the fibers of bamboo are very short (less than 3mm), they are impossible to transform into yarn in a natural process. The usual process by which textiles labeled as being made of bamboo are produced uses only the rayon, that is being made out of the fibers with heavy employment of chemicals. To accomplish this, the fibers are broken down with chemicals and extruded through mechanical spinnerets; the chemicals include  lye,  carbon disulfide  and strong acids. Retailers have sold both end products as bamboo fabric to cash in on bamboos current ecofriendly cachet; however, the Canadian  Competition Bureau  and the US  Federal Trade Commission,[as of mid-2009, are cracking down on the practice of labeling bamboo rayon as natural bamboo fabric. Under the guidelines of both agencies, these products must be labeled as rayon with the optional qualifier from bamboo. Paper Bamboo fiber has been used to make  paper  in China since early times. A high quality hand-made paper is still produced in small quantities. Coarse bamboo paper is still used to make  spirit money  in many Chinese communities. Bamboo  pulps  are mainly produced in China,  Myanmar,  Thailand  and India and are used in  printing and writing papers. The most common bamboo species used for paper areDendrocalamus asper  and  Bamboo bluemanea. It is also possible to make  dissolving pulp  from bamboo. The average fiber length is similar to  hardwoods, but the properties of bamboo pulp are closer to  softwoods  pulps due to it having a very broad fiber length distribution. With the help of molecular tools, it is now possible to distinguish the superior fiber-yielding species/varieties even at juvenile stages of their growth which can help in unadulterated merchandise roduction. Musical instruments Bamboos natural hollow form makes it an obvious choice for many instruments, particularly wind and percussion. There are numerous types of  bamboo flute  made all over the world, such as the  dizi,  xiao,  shakuhachi,  palendag  and  jinghu. In India, it is a very popular and hi ghly respected musical instrument, available even to the poorest and the choice of many highly venerated maestros of classical music. It is known and revered above all as the divine flute forever associated with  Lord Krishna, who is always portrayed holding a  bansuri  in sculptures and paintings. Four of the instruments used in  Polynesia  for traditional  hula  are made of bamboo:  nose flute, rattle, stamping pipes and the  jaw harp. In Indonesia and the Philippines, bamboo has been used for making various kinds of musical instruments, the modern amplified string instrument, the  Chapman stick, is also constructed using bamboo. The  khene  is a mouth organ of Lao origin whose pipes, which are usually made of bamboo, are connected with a small, hollowed-out hardwood reservoir into which air is blown, creating a sound similar to that of the violin.

Texting free essay sample

Texting trading written messages over cellphones and other devices is changing the way people communicate, (Janet). Editor Debra Nussbaum writes in an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer that by the early 2000’s Americans sent more than two trillion texts a year, by 2007, texting had exceeded phone calls by a long shot. This has definitely made a huge difference in the way people communicate with each other. To get a letter in the mail is pretty rare today especially knowing that a text will reach a loved one tout de suite. This is most definitely the generation of instant gratification and having no patience, however, that can be a good thing in certain situations. Emergencies are also being relayed instantaneously as well along with important notifications from cell phone companies and colleges. Adults are jumping on the band wagon to stay in contact with their kids, who are most likely only going to communicate in a timely manner via text. We will write a custom essay sample on Texting or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There are many good things that have come out of texting, but as usual with all good things there can be downsides. Last year, David Miller, administrator of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said 911 text messaging will spread around the state and that texting is one fundamental tool in the next generation of communication with 911. In today’s society, texting is a part of our culture, and even though there are many situations where texting has proven fatal, in a situation like this one, texting has proven to be a more effective and safe way to communicate. Originally 911 texting was promoted for the hearing impaired and people with speech impairments but has recently come in handy in situations where communication with 911 needs to be quiet. If a homeowner’s house was being broken into they could text 911 instead of calling and avoid putting them in a more dangerous situation, like being heard by the intruder. Along with emergencies becoming text savvy, texting has also proven very helpful for parents trying to stay in touch with their college bound children. Many college students are busy studying or hanging out with their friends and don’t have time to pick up the phone and call home. Kim Leonard writes in an article form the Pittsburg Tribune explaining that major cell phone companies reported more people in the 40’s and 50’s are using texting to communicate with their â€Å"sons and daughters on the go†. Texting is second nature for teens and young adults these days but more times than not it isn’t for adults. To help the not so text savvy adults many cell phone companies are making dictionaries with â€Å"text-ese abreviations†. These features are making it easier for parents to be able to communicate and stay in contact with their children as well as stay cool with the new lingo and keep up with their kid’s text language. Texting has grown dramatically beyond the teenage and 20-something thumb generation over the past year, in part because parents are beginning to use the cellphone screen as another channel to communicate with children who otherwise might not have much to say, (Johnson). However, parents aren’t the only ones trying to communicate with their children using texting, colleges are catching on as well. A newspaper source said one college chose to use what’s called â€Å"JANET txt† to stay closer and keep in touch with the students in â€Å"their own language†. By doing this the college has made it easier to get ahold of students to inform them about papers due or class schedule changes or emergencies on campus. Paul Taylor, Network and Corporate Data Manager at Gateway Sixth Form College explains, On one occasion, the college had to close when our water supply was cut off, and we sent texts early the next morning when the supply was restored to tell students that the college was re-opening†¦, (Gateway Sixth Form College). These notifications are a lot easier way to communicate with busy college students and are being used by more than just colleges, today many cell phone companies will text you a notification letting you know your cell phone bill is due or if you’ve gone over your minutes. Theyre promoting phone text messaging plans that allow families hundreds of messages, or unlimited use each month, (Leonard). These unlimited usage of minutes gives teens and adults as much text time as they could want causing people to become more dependent on their phones. Unlimited usage might not be such a bad thing when it comes to parents knowing where their children are when they are with their friends or have an important message to relay to them while they are at school. While their faces may be glued to their phones at least parents know kids will see the message. Because young adults rely on texting most would actually prefer to text then call thus altering the way teens communicate with each other as well. Texting is also cheaper because most of the time its free making communicating between teens much more convenient. There was a point in the not-too distant past when students who wanted to communicate with each other at school passed notes,(Prater). Today teens aren’t passing notes in class, they are texting. Christina Porter, a senior at OHS, explains that she prefers to communicate with her friends by texting rather than calling. Teens are relying on texting so much it can also be a bad thing as well. Instead of paying attention in class they are looking at their phones and waiting for their friend to reply to their text. Walking and texting has become a trend as well. People aren’t paying attention to what’s going on around them anymore because their noses are stuck looking down at their phones. Some people may say that texting has ruined this generation’s ability to have a normal face to face conversation, that they are more antisocial or lack proper communication skills. That may or may not be true but one thing that is proving to be true is that people aren’t just paying more attention to their phones while walking but driving as well. Texting while driving has proven to be fatal which has forced many states to ban the use of any cell phone usage while driving. This is one of the huge downfalls of using texting as a form to communicate. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that nearly 6,000 people were killed last year in accidents caused by distracted drivers, and 515,000 people were injured. People feel like they are getting away with using their cell phones while driving because the police can’t see the phone in the driver’s hands if they are texting. â€Å"Talking or eating doesnt require that you look away from the road, but texting does. That quick glance can make a huge difference: Texting truck drivers are 23 times more likely to crash, according to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study†, (Its dum). Talk or text is the question people should ask themselves if they just can’t detach themselves from their phones long enough to drive to the local market for more milk. Unfortunately teens, because they tend to be more attached to their phones, are the number one offenders of this crime. 46% of teenagers say they text while driving, according to a 2007 AAA study. A new video, made by a British police department, graphically depicts a texting teen crashing her vehicle and has no doubt made an impression on its 1. 8 million YouTube viewers, (Its dum). Hopefully it won’t take a million teens experiencing their friends dying in car wrecks caused by texting to quite the bad habit. While texting and driving have been the cause of numerous deaths on the road, some would argue texting has been the killer of romance as well. Regardless if people want it or not, â€Å"the digital age† has generated a new expectation for modern romance. â€Å"Natural selection may be favoring† the text savvy, jokester rather than the self-assured â€Å"alpha male†, (Has Texting Killed Romance? ). People don’t risk walking up to someone they find attractive any more when it’s much easier to find out what their number is from an outside source and text them. Texting has changed the smooth talker to the smooth texter. â€Å"We havent lost romance in the digital age, but we may be neglecting it†, (Has Texting Killed Romance? ). Some would argue that yes, texting has taken the art of formal, face to face communication out of society but we are a constantly evolving world. Now we can send a text with a picture or talk via video massage. Writing is definitely not going away either it’s just developed into a new form, instantaneous digital delivery. Hopefully we can learn to appreciate the good things that have come from texting and all the other forms of communication. Soon we will be sending 3D images of ourselves on some kind of projector and maybe even talking into our hands. All in all texting is not going away and so we must learn to make it work for the better and not the worst.