USA Today
USA Today is an internationally distributed American daily middle-market newspaper that serves as the flagship publication of its owner, the Gannett Company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15,1982, it operates from Gannetts corporate headquarters on Jones Branch Drive in McLean, Virginia and it is printed at 37 sites across the United States and at five additional sites internationally. USA Today is distributed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with an international edition distributed in Canada and the Pacific Islands, Gannett formally announced the launch of the paper on April 20,1982. USA Today began publishing on September 15,1982, initially launching in the Baltimore and Washington, on July 2,1984, the newspaper switched from a largely black-and-white to a color publication, featuring full color photography and graphics in all four sections. On April 8,1985, the paper published its first special bonus section, a 12-page section called Baseball 85, on May 6,1986, USA Today began printing production of its international edition in Switzerland.
On April 15, USA Today launched an international printing site. On August 28,1995, an international publishing site was launched in Frankfurt, Germany, to print. On October 4,1999, USA Today began running advertisements on its front page for the first time. The paper launched a sixth printing site for its international edition on May 15,2000, in Milan, followed on July 10 by the launch of a printing facility in Charleroi. That November, USA Today migrated its operations from Gannetts previous corporate headquarters in Arlington, in 2010, USA Today launched the USA Today API for sharing data with partners of all types. On August 27,2010, USA Today announced that it would undergo a reorganization of its newsroom and it announced that the paper would shift its focus away from print and place more emphasis on its digital platforms and launch of a new publication called USA Today Sports. On September 14,2012, USA Today underwent the first major redesign in its history, to accomplish this goal, Gannett migrated its newspaper and television station websites to the Presto platform and the USA Today site design throughout 2013 and 2014.
On January 4,2014, USA Today acquired the book and film review website, on September 3,2014, USA Today announced that it would lay off roughly 70 employees in a restructuring of its newsroom and business operations. In October 2014, USA Today and OpenWager Inc. entered into a partnership to release a Bingo app called USA TODAY Bingo Cruise, USA Today is known for synthesizing news down to easy-to-read-and-comprehend stories. In the main edition circulated in the United States and some Canadian cities, each consists of four sections, Money, Sports. The international edition of the paper features two sections and Money in one, with Sports and Life in the other, atypical of most daily newspapers, the paper does not print on Saturdays and Sundays, the Friday edition serves as the weekend edition. USA Today prints each complete story on the front page of the section with the exception of the cover story. The cover story is a story that requires a jump
Indra
Indra is a Vedic deity in Hinduism, a guardian deity in Buddhism, and the king of first heaven called Saudharmakalpa in Jainism. His mythologies and powers are similar, though not identical to those of the Indo-European deities such as Zeus, Perun, Thor, in the Vedas, Indra is the king of Svarga and the Devas. He is the god of lightning, storms, Indra is the most referred to deity in the Rigveda. He is celebrated for his powers, and the one who kills the great symbolic evil named Vritra who obstructs human prosperity, Indra destroys Vritra and his deceiving forces, and thereby brings rains and the sunshine as the friend of mankind. In Buddhism, Indra has been a popular deity, referred by many names and he is featured in Buddhism somewhat differently than Hinduism, such as being shown as less war oriented and one paying homage to the Buddha. Indra rules over the much sought Devas realm of rebirth within the Samsara doctrine of Buddhist traditions, like the Hindu texts, Indra is a subject of ridicule and reduced to a figurehead status in Buddhist texts, shown as a god that suffers rebirth and redeath.
In the Jainism traditions, like Buddhism and Hinduism, Indra is the king of gods, Indras iconography shows him wielding a lightning thunderbolt known as Vajra, riding on a white elephant known as Airavata. In Buddhist iconography the elephant sometimes features three heads, while Jaina icons sometimes show the elephant with five heads, sometimes a single elephant is shown with four symbolic tusks. Indras heavenly home is on or near Mount Meru, the etymological roots of Indra are unclear, has been a contested topic among scholars since the 19th-century, one with many proposals. The significant proposals have been, root ind-u, or rain drop, based on the Vedic mythology that he conquered rain, root ind, or equipped with great power. Root idh or kindle, and ina or strong, root indha, or igniter, for his ability to bring light and power that ignites the vital forces of life. This is based on Shatapatha Brahmana, root idam-dra, or It seeing which is a reference to the one who first perceived the self-sufficient metaphysical Brahman.
This is based on Aitareya Upanishad, roots in ancient Indo-European, Indo-Aryan deities. Later scholarship has linked Vedic Indra to the European Aynar, Ubykh, colarusso suggests a Pontic origin and that both the phonology and the context of Indra in Indian religions is best explained from Indo-Aryan roots and a Circassian etymology. Indra is called Śakra frequently in the Vedas and in Buddhism, Indra has many epithets in the Indian religions, notably Śakra, Vṛṣan, Vṛtrahan, Meghavāhana, Devarāja, Surendra, Vajrapāṇī and Vāsava. Indra is of ancient but unclear origin, the similarities between Indra of Hindu mythologies and of Thor of Nordic and Germanic mythologies are significant states Max Muller. Michael Janda suggests that Indra has origins in the Indo-European *trigw-welumos smasher of the enclosure and heroic Innara or Inra, which sounds like Indra, is mentioned among the gods of the Mitanni, a Hurrian-speaking people of Hittite region. Indra as a deity had a presence in northeastern Asia minor and this tablet mentions a treaty, but its significance is in four names it includes reverentially as Mi-it-ra, U-ru-w-na, In-da-ra and Na-sa-at-ti-ia
Ratchaprasong
Ratchaprasong is the name of an intersection, and a shopping district named after it, in Pathum Wan District, adjacent to Siam area. Located at the BTS Skytrains Chit Lom Station and the intersection of Phloen Chit, Rama I, the area is home to many shopping malls and hotels. Five other shrines are located in the area as well, Phra Laksami, Phra Trimurati, Phra Khanet, Phra In, festive season lights – Every year around Christmas and New Year, Ratchaprasong is heavily decorated with lights. The decorations were started by Peninsular Plaza and The Regent hotel, and expanded to Sogo, CentralWorld, Central Chidlom, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration provides lights along the BTS Skytrain pillars. During the period, it is the brightest lit area of Bangkok, Central Chidlom – Flagship department store of Thailands biggest retail chain. CentralWorld – Southeast Asias second largest shopping mall, Gaysorn – An upscale shopping centre devoted to designer-label luxury goods. Amarin Plaza – Formerly the Sogo Department Store, has devoted to Thai traditional arts and handicrafts as well as restaurants.
Big C Ratchadamri – Has shops, fitness centre, and 10-screen EGV Metropolis cineplex, Four Seasons Hotel – Formerly The Regent Bangkok, at BTS Ratchadamri Station. Hansar Hotel, at BTS Ratchadamri Station Sawasdee Langsuan Inn 93/4 Soi Lang Suan 5, Phloen Chit Road, arnoma Hotel, Bangkok BTS Skytrain Chit Lom Station connects to Central Chidlom, Maneeya Center, Grand Hyatt Erawan and CentralWorld. The walkway extends to Siam Station, Ratchadamri Station – a few metres walk to the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and Royal Bangkok Sports Club. MRT Subway Lumphini Station a few metres walk to Lumphini Park, si Lom Station a few meters walk to Lumphini Park, Dusit Thani Hotel, and Chulalongkorn Hospital. Sam Yan Station a few meters walk to The Thai Red Cross, Wat Hua Lamphong, Hua Lamphong Station connects to Hua Lamphong Central Train Station. Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat service – Pratu Nam Pier is nearby, BMTA city buses – more than 20 bus lines pass through the area. In 2010, the Ratchaprasong intersection was one of the sites of the 2010 Thai political protests.
From March to May the Red Shirt protesters occupied an area around Ratchaprasong intersection in a political campaign aimed at reinstalling the government under Thaksin Shinawatra. The stage area and the tent city became known as the red city. The major shopping malls and five-star hotels in the vicinity were forced to close during the occupation, most residents of the area moved out for security concerns and because of the inconvenience. After weeks of failed negotiations, the Thai army moved in to clear the Ratchaprasong intersection on May 19,2010, the violent government crackdown against the Red Shirt protesters resulted in the deaths of about 90 civilians and soldiers
Wat
A wat is a Buddhist temple in Thailand, Cambodia or Laos. The term is borrowed from Pali vatta, which goes on or is customary, i. e. duty, custom, function. Strictly speaking a wat is a Buddhist sacred precinct with a vihara, a temple, an edifice housing an image of Buddha. A site without a minimum of three resident bhikkhus cannot correctly be described as a wat although the term is used more loosely. As a transitive or intransitive verb, wat means to measure, to take measurements, compare templum, from which temple derives, in everyday language in Thailand, a wat is any place of worship except a mosque or a synagogue. Thus a wat chin is a Chinese temple, wat khaek is a Hindu temple and wat khrit or wat farang is a Christian church, in Cambodia, a wat is used to refer to all kinds of places of worship. Technically, wat generally refers to a Buddhist place of worship, a Christian church can be referred as វិហារយេស៊ូ vihear Yesaou or Jesus vihear. Angkor Wat អង្គរវត្ត means city of temples and these temples are divided into, Royal temples, established or patronised by the king or his family members.
Private temples, established by private citizens, despite the term private, private temples are opened to the public and are sites of public religious activities also. Samnak song are temples without state endorsement and wisungkhamasima, architecturally it is similar to the vihara, the main differences are the eight cornerstones placed around the bot to ward off evil. The bot is usually more decorated than the viharn, hall - library where Buddhist texts are kept drum tower bell tower multipurpose hall is a building in a wat. In the past this hall was only for monks to study in, the living quarters of the monks, including the กุฏิ are separated from the sacred buildings. The roofs of Thai temples are adorned with chofas
Turkish nationalism
Turkish nationalism is a political ideology that promotes and glorifies the Turkish people, as either a national, ethnic, or linguistic group. Turkish nationalism as a contrasts with the supra-national ideology of Pan-Islamism. During the Turkish War of Independence, on December 1,1921 Kemal stated, perhaps we said We are establishing it and we shall complete it. Our enemies said Let us kill them before they complete it, perhaps we said We are establishing it and we shall complete it. Our enemies said, Let us kill them before they complete it and that is the whole problem, instead of bringing pressure and resentment upon ourselves from our enemies. After the Fall of the Ottoman Empire, Mustafa Kemal came to power, Atatürk now spoke positively about the Pan-Turkic view and he wanted to forge closer relationships with other Turkish states in Central Asia and the West. Atatürk introduced Hilaire de Barentons Sun Language Theory into Turkish political and educational circles in 1935, Turkish researchers at the time came up with the idea that Early Sumerians were proto-Turks.
In the early Republican era, some proposed that the origins of the Turkish nationalism should be sought in Anatolia. Hilmi Ziya Ülken, one of the founders of Anatolianism, was objecting to Neo-Ottomanism and Pan-Islamism as well as to Turanism, between 1918 and 1919 he published the periodical Anadolu with Reşat Kayı. In 1919 Ülken wrote a book titled Anadolunun Bugünki Vazifeleri, in 1923, Ülken and his friends published the periodical Anadolu. They worked to form an alternative thought to Ottomanism and Turanism, the tension between Pan-Turkic and Pan-Islamic Turkish nationalism persisted in modern Turkey. Following the 1980 Turkish coup détat, the solution of a Turkish-Islamic synthesis was declared the official state ideology. But it can be only with permission of the minister of justice However, there have been recent indications that Turkey may repeal or modify Article 301, after the embarrassment suffered by some high-profile cases. In May 2007, a law was put into effect allowing Turkey to block Web sites that are deemed insulting to Atatürk, pan-Turkism Kemalism Ottomanism Neo-Ottomanism Turanism Turkification Sun Language Theory 16 Great Turkic Empires Arman, Murat Necip.
The Sources Of Banality In Transforming Turkish Nationalism, CEU Political Science Journal, issue,02 /2007, pp. 133–151. Anatolianism, The History of a Failed Metaphor of Turkish Nationalism, paper presented at Middle East Studies Association Conference, Washington, D. C. The Search for National Identity among the Turks, die Welt des Islams, New Series, Vol.8, Issue 3, pp. 165–176. ]Çetin, Zafer M. Tales of past and future, mythmaking and nationalist discourse in Turkish politics. The struggle for hegemony in Turkey, Turkish nationalism as a contemporary force, Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans
Wat Arun
Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun, Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailands landmarks and the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, a Buddhist temple had existed at the site of Wat Arun since the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It was known as Wat Makok, after the village of Bang Makok in which it was situated, according to the historian Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, the temple was shown in French maps during the reign of King Narai. The temple was renamed Wat Chaeng by King Taksin when he established his new capital of Thonburi near the temple and it is believed that Taksin vowed to restore the temple after passing it at dawn.
The temple enshrined the Emerald Buddha image before it was transferred to Wat Phra Kaew on the eastern bank in 1785. The temple was located in grounds of the palace during Taksins reign, before his successor, Rama I. It was abandoned, for a period of time, until Rama II. The main feature of Wat Arun is its central prang which is encrusted with colourful porcelain and this is interpreted as a stupa-like pagoda encrusted with coloured faience. The height is reported by different sources as between 66.8 m and 86 m, the corners are surrounded by four smaller satellite prang. The prang are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain which had previously used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China. The central prang is topped with a trident, referred to by many sources as the Trident of Shiva. Around the base of the prang are various figures of ancient Chinese soldiers, over the second terrace are four statues of the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan. At the riverside are six pavilions in Chinese style, the pavilions are made of green granite and contain landing bridges.
Next to the prang is the Ordination Hall with a Niramitr Buddha image supposedly designed by King Rama II, the front entrance of the Ordination Hall has a roof with a central spire, decorated in coloured ceramic and stuccowork sheated in coloured china. There are two demons, or temple guardian figures, in front, the murals were created during the reign of Rama V. The central prang symbolises Mount Meru of the Hindu cosmology, the satellite prang are devoted to the wind god, Phra Phai. The demons at the entranceway to the ubosot are from the Ramakien, the white figure is named Sahassa Deja and the green one is known as Thotsakan, the Demon Rāvana from Ramayana
Black magic
Black magic or dark magic has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for evil and selfish purposes. With respect to the path and right-hand path dichotomy, black magic is the malicious. In modern times, some find that the definition of magic has been convoluted by people who define magic or ritualistic practices that they disapprove of as black magic. Like its counterpart white magic, the origins of magic can be traced to the primitive, ritualistic worship of spirits as outlined in Robert M. Places 2009 book, Magic. During the Renaissance, many magical practices and rituals were considered evil or irreligious and by extension and non-mainstream esoteric study were prohibited and targeted by the Inquisition. While natural magic became popular among the educated and upper classes of the 16th and 17th century, ritualistic magic, summers highlights the etymological development of the term nigromancer, in common use from 1200 to approximately 1500, broadly one skilled in the black arts.
In a modern context, the line between magic and black magic is somewhat clearer and most modern definitions focus on intent rather than practice. There is an extent to which many modern Wicca and witchcraft practitioners have sought to distance themselves from those intent on practising black magic, the influence of popular culture has allowed other practices to be drawn in under the broad banner of black magic including the concept of Satanism. While the invocation of demons or spirits is an part of black magic. Those lines, continue to be blurred by the inclusion of spirit rituals from otherwise white magicians in compilations of work related to Satanism. Dees rituals themselves were designed to contact spirits in general and angels in particular, laVeys Bible, however, is a complete contradiction of Dees intentions but offers the same rituals as a means of contact with evil spirits and demons. LaVeys Church of Satan, officially denies the efficacy of ritual but affirms the subjective, psychological value of ritual practice.
LaVey himself was more specific, The latter quote, Voodoo, has been associated with modern black magic, drawn together in popular culture and fiction. In fact, Voodoo tradition makes its own distinction between black and white magic, with sorcerers like the Bokor known for using magic and rituals of both. But their penchant for magic associated with curses and zombies means they, the links and interaction between black magic and religion are many and varied. Beyond black magics links to organised Satanism or its historical persecution by Christianity and its inquisitions, the Black Mass, for example, is a sacrilegious parody of the Catholic Mass. Likewise, a saining, though primarily a practice of magic, is a Wiccan ritual analogous to a christening or baptism for an infant. 17th century priest, Étienne Guibourg, is said to have performed a series of Black Mass rituals with alleged witch Catherine Monvoisin for Madame de Montespan, in Islam, al-Fatiha al-Falaq, al-Nas and other Surahs are recited to protect against sorcery
CNN
The Cable News Network is an American basic cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner. It was founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner as a 24-hour cable news channel, upon its launch, CNN was the first television channel to provide 24-hour news coverage, and was the first all-news television channel in the United States. While the news channel has numerous affiliates, CNN primarily broadcasts from the Time Warner Center in New York City and its headquarters at the CNN Center in Atlanta is only used for weekend programming. CNN is sometimes referred to as CNN/U. S. to distinguish the American channel from its sister network. As of August 2010, CNN is available in over 100 million U. S. households, broadcast coverage of the U. S. channel extends to over 890,000 American hotel rooms, as well as carriage on cable and satellite providers throughout Canada. Globally, CNN programming airs through CNN International, which can be seen by viewers in over 212 countries and territories, as of February 2015, CNN is available to about 96,289,000 cable and telco television households in the United States.
The Cable News Network was launched at 5,00 p. m. Eastern Time on June 1,1980, after an introduction by Ted Turner, the husband and wife team of David Walker and Lois Hart anchored the channels first newscast. Burt Reinhardt, the vice president of CNN at its launch, hired most of the channels first 200 employees, including the networks first news anchor. Since its debut, CNN has expanded its reach to a number of cable and satellite providers, several websites. The company has 36 bureaus, more than 900 affiliated local stations, the channels success made a bona-fide mogul of founder Ted Turner and set the stage for conglomerate Time Warners eventual acquisition of the Turner Broadcasting System in 1996. A companion channel, CNN2, was launched on January 1,1982, on January 28,1986, CNN carried the only live television coverage of the launch and subsequent break-up of Space Shuttle Challenger, which killed all seven crew members on board. On October 14,1987, Jessica McClure, an 18-month-old toddler, fell down a well in Midland, CNN quickly reported on the story, and the event helped make its name.
This was before correspondents reported live from the capital while American bombs were falling. Before Saddam Hussein held a press conference with a few of the hundreds of Americans he was holding hostage. Before the nation watched, riveted but powerless, as Los Angeles was looted and burned, before O. J. Simpson took a slow ride in a white Bronco, and before everyone close to his case had an agent and a book contract. This was uncharted territory just a time ago. The moment when bombing began was announced on CNN by Bernard Shaw on January 16,1991, as follows, lets describe to our viewers what were seeing. The skies over Baghdad have been illuminated, were seeing bright flashes going off all over the sky
Dance in Thailand
Dance in Thailand is the main dramatic art form of Thailand. Thai dance, like many forms of traditional Asian dance, can be divided into two categories that correspond roughly to the high art and low art distinction. Although the traditional Thai performing arts are not as vibrant as they once were, suffering inroads from Western entertainment and generally changing tastes, what survives displays the elegance of an art form refined over centuries and supported by regal patronage. Aside from folk and regional dances, the two forms of Thai classical dance drama are khon and lakon nai. Thai classical dance drama include Khon and Fawn Thai, Khon is the most stylized form of Thai dance. It is performed by troupes of non-speaking dancers, the story being told by a chorus at the side of the stage, choreography follows traditional models rather than attempting to innovate. Most khon performances feature episodes from the Ramakien, costumes are dictated by tradition, with angels, both good and bad, wearing coloured masks.
Lakhon features a range of stories than khon, including folk tales. Dancers are usually female and perform as a rather than representing individual characters. Fawn is another form of folk-dance accompanied by music of the region. The first Fawn originated from the region of Thailand, it was designed. Fawn Thai is divided into three types, Fawn Leb Fawn leb is a Northen Thai dance style, each dancer wear 6 inch long brass fingernail, the long fingernail essentialed the finger movement of each dancer. DAncer wore chignon style with yellow flower like tiara with long chain jasmine flower, Fawn Tian Fawn Tian is consist of eight dancers carrying candles in their hand. The choreograph position is usuaaly divide into pair of two, one each side, the wore full-length sarong and jackets with a matching shoulder cloth. This dance is held at night. Fawn Ngiew Fawn Ngiew is a dance in which is shown or perform in a happy event, the dance is kind of like Fawn Leb but the dance is more faster and abit more fun.
Each dancer wore a yello flower tiara, Jong Kra Bane, folk dance forms include dance theatre forms like Likay, numerous regional dances, the ritual dance Ram Muay, and homage to the teacher, Wai Khru. Both Ram Muay and Wai Khru take place before all traditional Muay Thai matches, the Wai is an annual ceremony performed by Thai classical dance groups to honor their artistic ancestors
Ganesha
Ganesha, known as Ganapati and Vinayaka, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India, Sri Lanka, Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains and Buddhists, although he is known by many attributes, Ganeshas elephant head makes him easy to identify. Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, as the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies. Ganesha is invoked as patron of letters and learning during writing sessions, several texts relate mythological anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits and explain his distinct iconography. Ganesha emerged as a deity in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, during the Gupta period. He was formally included among the five deities of Smartism in the 9th century. A sect of devotees called the Ganapatya arose, who identified Ganesha as the supreme deity, the principal scriptures dedicated to Ganesha are the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa.
Brahma Purana and Brahmanda Purana are other two Puranic genre encyclopedic texts that deal with Ganesha, Ganesha has been ascribed many other titles and epithets, including Ganapati and Vighneshvara. The Hindu title of respect Shri is often added before his name, the name Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound, joining the words gana, meaning a group, multitude, or categorical system and isha, meaning lord or master. The word gaņa when associated with Ganesha is often taken to refer to the gaņas, the term more generally means a category, community, association, or corporation. Some commentators interpret the name Lord of the Gaņas to mean Lord of Hosts or Lord of created categories, Ganapati, a synonym for Ganesha, is a compound composed of gaṇa, meaning group, and pati, meaning ruler or lord. Though the earliest mention of the word Ganapati is found in hymn 2.23.1 of the 2nd-millennium BCE Rigveda, it is however uncertain that the Vedic term referred specifically to Ganesha. The Amarakosha, an early Sanskrit lexicon, lists eight synonyms of Ganesha, Vighnarāja, Dvaimātura, Gaṇādhipa, Heramba, Vinayaka is a common name for Ganesha that appears in the Purāṇas and in Buddhist Tantras.
This name is reflected in the naming of the eight famous Ganesha temples in Maharashtra known as the Ashtavinayak, the names Vighnesha and Vighneshvara refers to his primary function in Hinduism as the master and remover of obstacles. A prominent name for Ganesha in the Tamil language is Pillai or Pillaiyar, a. K. Narain differentiates these terms by saying that pillai means a child while pillaiyar means a noble child. He adds that the words pallu and pell in the Dravidian family of languages signify tooth or tusk, elephant tooth or tusk. Anita Raina Thapan notes that the root word pille in the name Pillaiyar might have meant the young of the elephant
