Thursday, December 26, 2019

Essay on School Uniforms - 1047 Words

School Uniforms The issue of whether or not school uniforms are a necessity in today’s society has been a long standing debate. However, it did not come onto the national scene until 1996 when then President Bill Clinton spoke of the matter in his annual State of the Union Address. Citing the Long Beach city school district in California, Clinton spoke of the positive effects of uniform implementation, including: decreased drug cases, sex offenses, violent crimes and fights. Jessica Portner, a writer for Education Week, agreed with President Clinton in her February 14, 1996 article entitled â€Å"Uniforms Get Credit for Decrease in Discipline Problems.† Using statistical evidence from the aforementioned Long Beach school system†¦show more content†¦However, this lawsuit is frivolous from Portner’s vantage point because, as she points out, most school districts do indeed provide the parents with the opportunity to waive the requirement. Furthermore, if one goes to Wal-Mart, a pair of dark dress slacks and a white oxford shirt will run around $25. Local charities have also pitched in, at least in the Long Beach community. All in all, Portner paints a portrait with little doubt of the exigency for school uniforms. However, not everyone is in agreement with Mr. Clinton and Ms. Portner. One such individual is Karon Jahn, who spoke at the 78th Convention of the Speech Communication Association. Jahn’s argument is principally centered on infringement of the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Jahn creates proper pathos with her plea that one’s body and appearance are the most personal and unique aspects of one’s personality. It is inherently important for one to be able to create their identity and image argues Jahn. Appearance is how first impressions of individuals are made. This nonverbal communication is an essential part in the relationship determining process. Jahn’s best source comes in the form of legal support of freedom of speech in past cases. However, the Supreme Court has not ruled on the issue of school uniforms. Instead, it lets the states decide if there is a need for uniforms or not. Jahn pointsShow MoreRelatedSchool Uniforms And Schools Uniforms1211 Words   |  5 PagesSchool uniforms began their revolution in private schools; they represented a unique appearance, and provided a safe environment for the students attending. Private and Catholic schools were clever enough for implementing school uniforms, because without their influence public schools would have not adapted on creating a dress code for students. By introducing school uniforms in school policies they have managed to impact students learning environment in reducing stress, changing students’ behaviorRead MoreUniforms in School726 Words   |  3 PagesThe standard issue school uniform of khaki, navy and white once exclusive to the private parochi al institutions is becoming a common requirement in public schools across the nation. This trend that was first suggested for public schools in 1980 by then D. C. mayor, Marion Barry, to help diminish the social stigma of low income students has grown significantly in both numbers and reasons (Lawrence, 2013). In 2010, it was reported by the National Center for Education Statistics, that nearly 19% ofRead MoreSchools and Uniforms733 Words   |  3 PagesSchool Uniforms Uniforms in schools are a big debate around the world. Should we have uniforms in schools? The answer is yes because uniform help the schools. They bring to table a great deal of help because students are getting bullied, killed, and some may not have as much as other when shopping for clothes. Having uniforms bring safety to schools and what goes on after school. Why do we need uniforms? Most student have their own style, but a common argument against school uniforms is thatRead MoreSchool Uniform And School Uniforms937 Words   |  4 PagesSchool Uniform School uniforms keep students focused on their education not in their clothings. When all students are wearing the same outfit, they are less concerned about how they look and how they fit in with their peers. It’s easier for parent and students do not spend time choosing appropriate outfit for school day. It helps students can only concentrate on their schoolwork. Education is one of the big institutions for every kid that go to school. Also education is the roots that will help peopleRead MoreSchool Uniforms And Schools Uniforms819 Words   |  4 Pagesas school uniforms, many are quick to deem them as unjust and avoidable. What these individuals do not know is that, in fact, school uniforms would enhance how the learning environment functions. Surely, when schools provide their students with uniforms, they are not providing their students with dreadful apparel, they are providing their students with an opportunity to change; whether it be a chance for a student to change t heir role academically, or a chance for a student to fit in. School uniformsRead MoreSchool Uniforms1143 Words   |  5 PagesSchool uniforms make things more complicated Firstly, school is the place where all of us step in at a very tender age. In one word, life begins at school. It’s not just education but school gives us the platform to nurture our faith, emotions in such an early stage of life. The importance of making friends, working as a team- we learn all these in school. And wearing the same dress definitely brings a sense of unity among students. In every school there are students from different backgrounds butRead MoreSchool Uniforms: Yes or No?2109 Words   |  9 Pages3 March 2011 School Uniforms: A Non-Military Proposal for Swedens Students The word school uniform has negative connotations for many people. It makes them think of war, of soldier, of death, brainwashed airheads doing exactly the same as everybody else. It makes them think of reformed, collectivized groups of people with no personal identity. There are, however, reasons for the existence of the uniform; one of them being, as the name suggests, the purpose of uniting. At schools all around theRead MoreDress Codes And School Uniforms1248 Words   |  5 Pagesembarrassing than being dress coded at school? Enforcing a dress code among children is unfair because it not only discriminates against people but it destroys someone’s whole day. Dress codes and school uniforms are meant to increase student achievement and make everyone equal but instead it only hurts people. Most school dress codes are unnecessary and are sexist. Enforcing dress codes is suppose to boost student achievement but instead is racist, sexist and unnecessary. Schools should take in to considerationRead MoreShould School Uniforms For Wear Uniforms?969 Words   |  4 Pagesrequired to wear uniforms? In today’s society this is a very controversial subject across America. Many object uniforms because they feel uniforms don t allow students to have the freedom to express themselves the way they want. People feel uniforms undermine children s individuality. However, taking into consideration facts from both sides, what remains most important is the child s academics. To improve academics, schools should require all students to wear a uniform. Though uniforms may not be theRead MoreAre School Uniforms Beneficial Or Not?1098 Words   |  5 PagesAre School Uniforms Beneficial or Not? How does dressing and feeling the same as everybody else sound? Would it be enjoyable, or would it be no fun? According to Procon.org, the first recorded use of school uniforms in the United States was in 1994. In Europe around the early sixteenth century, school uniforms were made to tell the difference between poor students to the charity schools as opposed to other children. In London people thought that schools without uniforms were to be looked at as lower

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Poetry Essay - There Is No Frigate Like a Book - 849 Words

Thesis: In the poem â€Å"There is No Frigate like a Book† Emily Dickinson’s use of figurative language, sound devices and denotation and connotation show us how literature allows use of our imagination to go on a journey. At first glance it may seem that Emily Dickinson has written a simple poem in â€Å"There Is No Frigate like a Book†. However, further analysis reveals that she believes reading is a gift to all. Through observation of the poem we find her fascination with reading and the poem’s ability to take her reader on a journey; as well as reveal how reading can take us on any journey we wish to embark. The theme of the poem is that when we use our imagination while reading anything is possible, even travel to distant lands. The†¦show more content†¦Our imaginations are ignited as we consider what sights, sounds or smells are found on a ship. When we allow ourselves to go on this imaginary ship we are taken on a journey in our minds that allow us to experience the gift of reading and engaging our imagination at the same time. Throughout the poem the comparison of traveling and literature show how anything is possible, even traveling to distant lands, when using our imagination and reading literature. In line two there is reference to a book taking us â€Å"lands away† and seems to make the point that a book is the only mode of transportation that can do that. There is further evidence that Dickinson wants us to see that literature is the best means of travel in line five of the poem where we read â€Å"This Traverse may the poorest take†. In this line we can find that regardless of financial status traveling is unlimited when reading literature. Finally, there is excitement in the upbeat style of writing used as she reveals where literature can take us. There is some form of transportation used in every other line of the poem and the implication that books can take you the same places transportation does. In order to further understand how this poem reveals there are journey’s to be taken through literature we have to look at the use of denotation and connotation in its writing. DenotationShow MoreRelatedEmily Dickinson : A Lover Of Nature1384 Words   |  6 Pagesherself outside with a good book. Always having a love for reading, Emily explains what happens to her whenever she reads a book, in her poem â€Å"A Book†; in fact, her poem talks about the nature of someplace new, that only the reader of the book can see. â€Å"A Book† talks about taking the reader on adventures to distant lands far away, especially in the line: â€Å"There is no frigate like a book† (Dickinson, â€Å"A Book† l.1). This means that there is no better way to travel than a book. It is said that it willRead MoreAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagesburden of the Puritan past Genre/Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · literary tale character sketch slave narratives, political novels poetry transcendentalism Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · helps instill proper gender behavior for men and women fuels the abolitionist movement allow people to re-imagine the American past Historical Context: ï‚ · ï‚ · expansion of magazines, newspapers, and book publishing slavery debates Gothic period of American Literature - 1800-1850 Gothic is a sub-genre ofRomanticism Content:

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Streaming Live Interactive Audio And Video â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Streaming Live Interactive Audio And Video? Answer: Introduction Live streaming technology is normally applied to output live programs like concerts, sports, and more other radio and TV events that are relayed live. Live streaming is the action of transmitting media to mobile devices and computers in real time or live. The main concern in media streaming to a browser is relaying a document created on the fly because it lacks pre-driven start or end contrary to playing a finite document or media. Streaming Tools KeyCDN Tools- These tools offer a group of online selections to evaluate website or recognize issues that comprehend connectivity. The tools simplify the process of the problem resolution of web projects. Some of the benefits of KeyCDN tools are; speed evaluation of website access in various locations, provision of geographically related data for the provided hostname, provision of HTTP response header details, and network and security checks. [1] Cloudflare application- Cloudflare Apps simplifies the identification and usage of the tool to individuals owning a website. Some of the benefits associated with the installation of Cloudflare includes; allowing the users to watch the content live without installing any software, provision of alternatives with clear guidelines on the configuration and customization of the application user interface, showcasing the application to many audience, demonstration of app with custom-built links on websites to show previews and delivering of new updates and releases to users apps. [2] Akamai- offers market-greatest, cloud-based tool and aids in developing mobile and web applications, safe e-commerce and online HD video. Putting together highly-dispersed, energy-effective computing with smart software, global platform of Akamai is completely changing the cloud into a more reasonable place to advertise, inform, collaborate, entertain and transact. [3] Streaming Protocols The following are some of the protocols that serve adaptive streams; HTTP- Hypertext Transfer Protocol is the most regularly advocated protocol that aids in transferring media live or on-demand content. RTMP- Real Time Messaging Protocol is a solution protocol created by Macromedia and sustained by the Adobe Flash link. Some of the types of RTMP are; RTMPE, RTMPS, and RTMPT. RTSP-Real Time Streaming Protocol masters media programs between terminals and is often used along with Real-time Control Protocol and Real-time Transport Protocol for delivery of media stream. Applying RTCP and with RTP facilitates adaptive streaming. [4] Metrics related to performance of audio and video transfer and sharing There are several factors that contribute to quality video, audio, and sharing of application. This includes the environment, devices used, and the network connectivity. Devices- In a Real-Time media program, media capturing and interpretation gadgets that all users use like web cams and headsets have a great effect on the general video and audio quality. Devices of Lower quality will generate low sound and image quality for audio and video respectively. Accredited devices, however, aids video resolution, echo cancellation, latency reduction and noise filtering. [5] It is crucial to introduce some levels of latency for media devices streaming real-live media. As such, it greatly impacts and enhance general latency and the consumers experience. Environment- this is another factor for video and audio quality. Users communicating in a noisy area will experience echo, unclear and muffled sounds. Bright and clear image for quality video wont be produced if the user is situated in a low light or a dark area. In a colloquium room set up, the locality of the video gadgets and microphone have a direct effect on the audio and video quality that users will receive. [2] Network- the value of connectivity of the network greatly influences the value of live media over IP network, but particularly by the level of Latency. This network procreation delay is importantly connected to the width of the two points and the velocity of light, inclusive of the additional overhead captured by several routers in between. Latency is calculated as RTT (Round-trip Time). [3] Packet Loss also impacts the quality of real-tie media. This is normally described as an allotments of packets lost in a specific window of time. Packet loss impacts sound quality from little personal lost packets having little effect, to adjacent blast losses that bring about full audio cancellation. Inter-packet jitter also impacts the real-time media quality. It is the average variation in downtime across successive packets. A participant will only observe effects when the jitter surpasses the buffering. Deploying Quality of Service among clogged networks- In addition, traffic crowdedness over a network will highly influence media quality. To aid video and audio packets to transmit the network faster and to be on the first line up over other network jam in a crowded network, Quality of Service can be utilized to assist in provision of an optimal consumer experience for video and audio interactions. [2] QoS offers a way for assigning higher lead to network packets that transports video and audio information. As such, communication of audio and video is likely to commute over the network quicker, and with less interference, than network programs having things like database backups, document transfers, or web browsing. That's the reason as to why the network packets applied for document transfers or backups of database automatically are allocated best effort as the first line up and network over crowdedness won't have as big effect. If you fail to assign a high priority to the media packets and assign them as best effort, they will be prepared with the rest network traffic. In reliance to the amount of network overcrowding, it will eventually lead to a lower quality users experience of audio and video. [6] Cisco organization was seasoned with high growth in the mid of 1990s and therefore te organization was forced to research on innovative means and processes to quickly and bearably maintain the heightened needs for cross-team communication and training. Also during that time there as was insufficiency of expert IT employees, technology was evolving rapidly and there was more pressure globally due to these facts. [7] The swift developments were coupled with expanding requirements and needs to disperse knowledge and information through the entire organization. Conventional classroom teaching and communication channels were no growing to meet the needed output and thus Cisco administration saw the need to come up with a quick fix to address this issue that would enhance the firms competitive advantage and reputation. In essence, information and communication technology was required to collect business requirements for the firms communications, design and develop a solution and guidelines on implementation within the employee dispersed stations. The objective as to improve productivity which included: direct and on time intercommunication for the executive, finalization and access to standard and regulations on training conformity. Ensuring that the sales force is frequently updated on emerging and new technologies and products and sanctioning constant product updates, training and announcements. Global Cisco stakeholders including customers, partners and employees knew the benefits and essence of communication technology to address these objectives. The outcome was a powerful enterprise couple with growing demands for multimedia business fixes. Problem Challenge In reaction to the extant requirements for expansive scale training the Cisco media network was designed and developed. In just one moment, the organization needed the capability to administer technical education to a thousands of system engineers and sales account managers. Furthermore, the company had to offer similar training to about 25000 distribution channel partners with over 400000 employees in different locations across the globe and 35000 workers. An increasingly big sophisticated device portfolio and advancing schedules enhanced the training scope complexity. It was vivid that conventional classroom-based learning, which forced man students to travel, costly and almost not possible with the current time and resources allocated. Proposed Solution To address these challenges, and enhanced media explication able to deliver various contents including, verbal lab access, video, and audio, was provided and make sure that content access platforms were developed. [7] The following are the steps in user centric design approach: Identify the need; it is necessary to identify the need to come up with a solution to address the problem at hand. Context of use: determine the users of the product, for what purpose are they using and the circumstances under which they will utilize it. Requirement specification: determine the needs and objectives of the consumers of the product in order to come up with the best solution. Design solutions: this stage can be done in modules from an idea to a full design. Evaluation: this is done by conducting user acceptance testing to find out if the system or solution meets the user objectives. Figure 1: User Centric Design Concentration on multimedia mirrored largely embraced model of training and learning; typically, human being remember 50% of what they hear and see, 10% of the read content and 20% of the heard content. The emerging quick fix enabled the experts of subject matter and authors of content an environment to create multimedia content which enables secure and easy access of such content worldwide by channel partners and cisco workers. [8] A key module of the elementary multimedia technique entailed streaming live video for on-demand content and live events. The video technique which offered exceptional flexibility for extending learning to global congregations was made possible by the content networking products belonging to Cisco. The project expanded beyond the limits of e-learning to adopt the entire array of business intercommunication with the IT team going on with collecting extra business needs. Evolution of the firm to combine data, audio and video IP network was critical to allowing video streaming solutions structured to meet the fulfilled and wide assortment of business communication needs. [9] Videoconferencing The number of virtual conferences have surpassed that of physical or in-person conference since the year 2003 at Cisco. Videoconferences currently transcend 9000 hours every year thats approximately 200 meetings. This has helped in increasing productivity, enhancing efficiency, saving time and cutting travel costs which has led to increased demand and use. [9] IP Video Telephony This helps in supporting video-enhanced intercommunication. The combined framework has led to voice service comparable to video with regard to cost effectiveness, eased usability, ease of deployment and enhanced administration. [10] Web Conferencing Cisco Unified MeetingPlace application offers global access to web conferencing from common-based interfaces. Web conference, voice and video functions can be controlled by the user from solitary interface. The ability to see who is in the conference, the people talking, use of whiteboards, record and playback meetings and conducting elections aids in improving user productivity. Furthermore, conference participants can manage their own interfaces Conference users can control their own interfaces. [11] Conclusion Streaming live and interactive audio has several advantages including: it is very engaging, one can reach out to larger audience in different geographical locations, one can control the content, leads to longer-view-time compared to on-demand video content, some platforms like Hangouts on Air enables audience to share the content, real statistics of the performance of the content can be mined as it airs However, it has some drawbacks including: the user has to know his/her audience to determine whether the content would suit them, some cost has to be incurred like buying bandwidth, and also there are several technological factors that have to be considered like the type of platform to use, and whether the platform needs encoding, can the content be accessed via mobile devices and so on References M. W. Allen, Michael Allen's e-learning annual 2012, San Francisco, Calif: Pfeiffer, 2012. T. Ma, Y. H. Lee and M. Ma, "QoS provisioning by power control for video communication via satellite links," Communication and networking, vol. 33, p. 259275, 2015. K. K. Hausman and S. L. Cook, IT architecture for dummies, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub. ; Chichester, 2011. S. Loreto and S. P. Romano, Real-time communication with WebRTC, Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly Media, 2014. D. Minoli, Linear and non-linear video and TV applications using IPv6 and IPv6 multicast : deploying the infrastructure to deliver evolving next-generation TV and video services, Hoboken: Wiley, 2012. S. Cornelius, C. Gordon and J. Schyma, Live online learning : strategies for the web conferencing classroom, New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. C. Wei and H. Zhang, "Journal of Software Engineering and Applications," Applications of a Streaming Video Server in a Mobile Phone Live Streaming System., vol. 7, L. A. Tomei, Online and distance learning : concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications, Hershey, Pa: Information Science Reference, 2008. B. RAMESH and D. MANJULA, "International Journal of Communications, Network and System Sciences," CA-AODV: Congestion Adaptive AODV Routing Protocol for Streaming Video in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks, vol. 1, pp. 322-328, 2008. . A. Chou and M. v. d. Schaar, Multimedia over IP and wireless networks : compression, networking, and systems, Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press, 2007. Streaming Protocols Education Press, 2012. D. Wimble, The Indie Bible : 15th Edition (2014), Cork: BookBaby, 2014. . A. Peters, Library programs online : possibilities and practicalities of Web conferencing, Santa Barbara, Calif: Libraries Unlimited, 2009. C. Duhujamahoro, C. Twizere, P. Mazimpaka, T. O. Shema and N. Pascal, "Analysis of the Effects of Rainfall Intensity into the Performance of Video Conferencing," World Journal of Engineering and Technology, vol. 4, pp. 71-81, 2016. H. Yuan and H. Du, "The Design and Implementation of Qt-based Cross-platform Video Conferencing Remote Control," Communications and Network, 5,, vol. 5, pp. 73-77, 2013. S. Chand, "Communications and Network," Live Video Services Using Fast Broadcasting Scheme, vol. 2, pp. 79-85, 2010.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Shangqing an Example of the Topic School by

Shangqing by Expert writer-Eloquence | 23 Dec 2016 Taoism and its Development through Shangqing and Lingbao Schools Like all other religions, Taoism has organized groups or sects developed that developed through its inception many years ago. These sects employed practices such as alchemy, faith-healing, sorcery, and the use of power objects, which seem to have existed from ancient times in China, converting them into institutionalized and distinctive social movements with detailed rituals, clergy, and revealed texts. This institutionalization of ancient practices developed as the Han dynasty (206 B.C.220 A.D.) was declining amidst famine and war. Need essay sample on "Shangqing" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed An array of revelations and prophecies predicted the end of the age and finally led to the rise of religious/political organizations. For example, Kan Ji received a visionary revelation that yin and yang were no longer in balance in heaven or on earth, for the rulers had forgotten to follow the ways of nature, and that in 184 A.D. the blue heaven of the Han would be replaced by the yellow heaven. Thus, the Celestial Masters church, which is chronologically the first to develop a structure is treated in the outset, but continues to exist down to our day. In the Celestial Masters church, two traditions developed: The Shangqing (Highest Clarity) tradition took shape during the fourth century A.D., but its glory years were under the Tang (618-907) and the Lingbao (Sacred Treasure) sect emerged a little later, gave birth to an immense body of ritual that incorporated part of that of the Celestial Masters, and then grew even larger under the Sung (960-1279). The movement toward consolidation that took place under the Tang and the influence from Buddhism, which came in during the same period, actually had their beginnings much earlier, in the fourth and fifth centuries (Robinet, 1997, p. 2). Shangqing school began with a revelation from the Heaven of Highest Clarity received by the medium Yang Xi in 364-70. Yang Xi was a member of a southern aristocratic clan, and the new scriptures and insights into the realms of the otherworld transmitted to him remained at first limited to this select group. Highest Clarity in its teaching combined the new visions with the practices of the alchemy as they were continued in the south and specifically associated with a family named Ge. Shangqing practice was highly inpidual and aimed at transferring the practitioner into the realms of the immortals, first by visualizations, then by ecstatic journeys, and finally through the ingestion of a highly poisonous alchemical elixir (Seidel, 1983). Shangqing believers looked down on the Celestial Master tradition and its sexual rituals as crude, and they avoided village rituals and commoners. Instead, they focused on personal immortality through meditations for purifying the body with pine energies so as to rise up to heaven in broad daylight (Lopez, 1996). Although the Highest Purity Taoism did not reach the mass of the people, its texts and influence continue to be revered today as the elite tradition of Taoism. A few decades after the Shangqing revelations, Ge Chaofu, a member of the Ge family, proceeded to develop his own vision of the otherworld. Calling his new understanding Sacred Treasure (Lingbao), he integrated the Shangqing scriptures with Han dynasty thinking, Buddhist cosmology and doctrine, as well as the magico-technical practices transmitted within his family. The new group of scriptures, compiled from the last decade of the fourth century onward, soon became widespread and very popular. Much simpler than the practice of Shangqing, Lingbao (Sacred Treasure) required merely the recitation of its scriptures and participation in its rites to guarantee a place among the perfected. Since only initiates were allowed to own the necessary documents and join the ceremonies, the group placed a high emphasis on secrecy and the proper transmission of the scriptures (Bokenkamp, 1989). With the Lingbao movement spreading, Taoism emerged for the first time as an organized religion of all China, expanding vastly over the limited sphere of influence of the Celestial Masters. Copying readily from the fast-growing Buddhist community, Taoists in the fifth century built the first monasteries of their own, compiled their first catalogues and canons of scriptures, and established proper rank and file among their membership. Throughout the sixth century, scriptures continued to be received in revelation and compiled by human beings; commentaries and discourses grew. Soon also the first encyclopedias were collected, and there appeared the first statues and pictural representations of Taoist gods. The Tang dynasty (618-906) saw the heyday of Taoist splendor and influence. The leading church of China, especially in the eighth century, Taoism with Shangqing at the top continued to produce scriptures, texts and art works and gained an ever increasing influence on the political scene of the day. The great splendor of courtly Taoists was matched by the high spiritual attainments of masters on isolated mountains. The widespread impact throughout the country was enhanced by the political support of the Tang rulers, who claimed descent from Laozi himself (Benn, 1991). As Lingbao improved the Shangqing traditions, it assimilated many elements of Buddhism, creating a medley of new meditation practices, pine beings, rituals, scriptures, heavens, rebirth, and hells. This tradition was in turn succeeded in the twelfth century by Quanzhen (Complete Perfection), which has been the dominant monastic school ever since. It unites Taoist inner alchemy with Chan Buddhist meditation and Confucian social morality, harmonizing the three religions. Actively monastic, it focuses on meditation and non-attachment to the world. Today its major center is the White Cloud Monastery in Beijing, the headquarters of the government-approved Chinese Taoism Association. Quanzhen, also called as the Modern Taoism is also the foundation for most Hong Kong Taoist temples and martial arts groups. The many revealed scriptures of Taoist movements were occasionally compiled and canonized by the court. The present Taoist canon was compiled in 1445. Containing about 1,500 sophisticated scriptures, it has only recently begun to be studied by non-Taoist scholars. It includes a wealth of firsthand accounts by mystical practitionerspoems of their visionary shamanistic journeys, encounters with deities, advanced meditation practices, descriptions of the perfected human being, methods and elixirs for ascending to heavenly realms and achieving immortality, and descriptions of the Immortals and the heavenly bureaucracies (Lopez, 1996). The rituals and inner cultivation practices of the canon are in use today, typically in one of two modes: rites of cosmic renewal for the living, and rituals to be employed after death. At death either Taoist or Buddhist priests may be hired by private families to perform rituals to help the deceased appear before the Ten Hell Judges, as well as to join in communal rituals of grave-cleaning in April and of universal liberation and feeding of hungry ghosts in August. Every temple has a side shrine to Tu-ti Kung, Lord of the Earth, who can transport offerings to deceased loved ones. All forms of Taoist practice are still actively undertaken today, both in communist mainland China and Chinese communities elsewhere, and also increasingly in the West. They tend to merge with popular religion, New Age philosophies, and health culture. In China, they form part of domestic and family religion. To the present day, there are numerous rituals in the home, such as the farewell party to the stove god on the lunar New Years Eve (late January or February). Also, both Taoist and Buddhist groups continue to be recipients of new revelations and scriptures. These texts, which are known as precious scrolls, emanate from deities such as the Golden Mother of the Celestial Pool. It is believed that in the past the pine Mother sent Buddha and Lao-tzu as her messengers but that now the crisis of the present world requires her direct intervention (Kohn, 2001). In an article, Oldstone-Moore (27 September 2003) analyzed that the impact of Taoism on Chinese culture has been profound. As seen in the art of calligraphy, the most highly valued Chinese art form; it shows the balance between mastery of pattern and artless spontaneity. Landscape paintings reflect Taoist ideas of the human relationship to nature, where humans are a small part of a landscape. Also, Oldstone-Moore said that the Taoist sensibility is reflected in associated practices, such as feng shui or geomancy, in which graves, buildings and interiors are arranged to absorb auspicious forces and to repel the malignant - thus improving one's fortune. It is reflected in the balance of yin and yang in Chinese cooking. Taoist principles mirror the techniques of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as practices such as t'ai-chi ch'uan and the martial arts (Oldstone-Moore, 27 September 2003). Historically, whenever the central Chinese government has been strong, it has tended to demand total allegiance to itself as a pine authority and to challenge or suppress competing religious groups. The emperors of ancient China either claimed pine origin or referred to themselves as the Sons of Heaven appointed from on high. Confucian scholars were suppressed and their books were burned by the Chin dynasty (221206 B.C.), shamans were forbidden during the Han dynasty, Buddhists were persecuted during the Tang dynasty, the Tai-ping rebellion of the nineteenth century attempted to purge China of Taoism and Buddhism, and during the Cultural Revolution of 1966 to 1976, zealous young Red Guards destroyed Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian temples and books (Kohn, 2001). With the economic liberalization of the late twentieth century in mainland China, in spite of an atheistic communist ideology, temples maintained as historic sites, pilgrimages to temples in natural sites and religious tourism were encouraged, and an explosion of temple building occurred. Indeed, the Chinese have learned to co-exist with their persity of religions, as their ancient religious traditions, like Shangqing and Lingbao, have evolved into an important social force that is vital in Chinas modernization drive today. Bibliography Benn, C.D. 1991. The Cavern Mystery Transmission: A Taoist Ordination Rite of A.D. 711. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. Bokenkamp S. R. 1989. Death and Ascent in Lingbao Taoism. Taoist Resources, 1(2):1-21. Kohn, L. 2001. Daoism and Chinese Culture, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Three Pines Press. Lopez, D.S. 1996. Religions of China in Practice, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Oldstone-Moore, J. 2003, September 27. Eastern path to western harmony. The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2006, from The Guardian Unlimited Website http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1050715,00.html Robinet, I. (1997). Taoism: Growth of a Religion (Brooks, P., Trans.). Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. Seidel, A. 1983. Imperial Treasures and Taoist Sacraments: Taoist Roots in the Apocrypha, in M. Strickmann, ed., Tantric and Taoist Studies, Brussels: Institut Beige des Hautes tudes Chinoises: 291-371.