What causes fascination? Perhaps it is our inherent curiosity of the unknown. Why then, do we often marvel at the most mundane of phenomena? Wherein lies the secret to this sensation of phenomenal wonder - the ability to perceive the ordinary with a unique sensual acuity? I cannot claim to have this aforementioned acuity, but I have endeavored on many occasions to hunt for the intriguing in what is plain - to experience ‘phenomenal wonder’.
There are experiences which do not require acuity to fascinate us - the mystical. I have encountered much that is mystical, but the torrential downpoor will forever amaze me. I pity those who have not bathed in the torrential downpoors of the southern states, for such a shower cannot be found in the most elaborate of spas. Many northern states are deprived of the torrential downpoor, and for me to explain its splendor, I must first describe the atmosphere prior to it.
During the summer, the south is like a clay pot in an oven. The land is dry, hot, and dusty. The heat convinces you that the mouth of hell is opening, with flames licking your feat as you walk. Entire communities pray for a miracle hailstorm to extinguish this incredible heat. It is apparent that no amount of praying will result in a hailstorm in the middle of July; rain, on the other hand, is quite possible. Meteorologists argue it is the natural order of things; poets and romanticists claim it is the will of thirsty land that prompts the sudden showers of the downpoors.
I am not concerned with the cause of this heavenly precipitation, only interested in its result. The first torrential downpoor is like tasting a sip of water after days in the desert. The mouth of hell is closed and the flames smothered. You can smell ...
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... looked innocent and tranquil.
As the ferocity of the downpour would end, we would begin to open the windows. Chilly breezes would sweep magnificently through our house, almost as if the wind had a mind of its own. I swear that I have, on more than one occasion, touched the wind. Physicists may label my claim as impossible; others envy me. The wind is a spirit; it is like a hand that strokes the earth to soothe it; and if you were to use an innate acuity (which we all possess) the spirit in the wind will surely touch you.
For me, the torrential southern downpoors have never lasted long enough. The cold dry winter would always come too early, and the downpoors begin too late. Perhaps that is why I savor every rain drop.
I have tried to search for such ‘phenomenal wonder’, but I have yet to succeed in finding an experience more astounding than that of rain.
From 1806 to 1826 most of the Latin countries under Spanish rule fought for their independence. The reason that caused these countries to have courage to fight for independence was because in 1808 Napoleon was able to invade and conquer Spain. Examples of those countries are Venezuela and Chile. There are similarities in the ways in which these two countries fought for their independence but there are also some differences in how they fought. Some of the leaders who were involved in the Venezuela’s fight for independence were Simon Bolivar, Francisco de Miranda and Antonio José de Sucre. The Venezuelan fight for independence against the Spanish empire began in 1811 and finally ended in 1823. The Venezuelan war was done in different phases, which began with Francisco de Miranda.
In the world of science there are many discoveries. “A discovery is like falling in love and reaching the top of a mountain after a hard climb all in one, an ecstasy not induced by drugs but by the revelation of a face of nature … and that often turns out to be more subtle and wonderful than anyone had imagined.” (Ferdinand Puretz). Most people in the world we live in lack to notice and or appreciate the gift of sight in life. By not cherishing the gift of sight and using it properly, many discoveries are left unfound. In the writing piece, Seeing, Annie Dillard speaks of nature and the small things that we all are unconsciously blind to and not appreciative of. Seeing explores the idea of what it means to truly see things in this world. Annie Dillard’s main point is that we should view the world with less of a meddling eye, so that we are able to capture things that would otherwise go unnoticed. There’s a science to how we view things in nature. Dillard attempts to persuade her reader to adopt to her way of seeing, which is more artificial rather than natural.
The wind becomes almost human like from its physically described features-- such as its hands-- that seemingly reach out to others as they pass by. Violently blowing through the street, the winds actions are given strong diction, such as “pried,”
The first such signal given to the reader is found in the opening paragraph of the story. The atmosphere and the approaching storm are described and contrasted. The opening atmosphere's tranquility is apparent because "[t]he leaves were so still that even Bibi thought it was going to rain" (665). This stillness prior to the storm ...
About a week later a tornado razed a better part of North Houston. It brought rain. It brought hail. It upended cars; it flooded houses. And in its trail it left fallen branches and trees, and removed, in whole, one tiny tomato-onion-potato-and-green-bean garden located behind my garage.
Before any great piano player plays a piece, he warms up. He practices. In a similar sense, so does a thunderstorm. A storm does not start out heavy and powerful; it starts out with a wind. And, the air gets a little cooler; the degrees go down on the thermometer. Powerful thunder vibrates the soul, and the earth is the piano for the persona of the storm.
During this short voyage I saw the lightnings playing on the summit of Mount Blanc in the most beautiful figures. The storm appeared to approach rapidly; and, on landing, I ascended a low hill, that I might observe its progress. It advanced; the heavens were clouded, and I soon felt the rain coming slowly in large drops, but its violence quickly increased. (49)
Forde, Gerhard, O. On Being a Theologian of the Cross: Reflections on Luther's Heidelberg Disputation, 1518. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997.
* Doerr, Edd. “Gathering Storms.” The Humanist. Volume 64, number 6. Washington.American Humanist Association. November/December. 34-35.
Many theorists (Lynch, 2003, Mintzberg, 1990, Ansoff, 1991) will argue that the two main schools of strategic planning are the prescriptive, also known as intended, and emergent approaches. Both are debated widely about which is the better approach; recognised best by Idenburg (1993). Prescriptive strategies focus on planning; where predictions of the future are made, leading to long term decisions where the main elements of the strategy have been specially planned before being commenced and as stated by Mintzberg, 1990 "Strategy formation should be a controlled, conscious process of thought". The emergent approach relies on the fact that the outcome of the objective is not known; in contradiction to the prescriptive approach it is not a 'controlled, conscious process of thought' and has been described by Downs, et al (2003) as a trial and error process. The importance of strategy within organisations has been discussed as early as the 1950's with ...
D. W. Hamlyn - author. Publisher: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Place of Publication: Sensation and Perception: A History of the Philosophy of Perception. Contributors: London. Publication Year: 1961. Page Number: iii.
Once upon a time high above the earth, fluffy white clouds drifted through the atmosphere. In the clouds lived a family Droplet of water, round and content with life. For as long as I could remember, I spent my days lying on my back, relaxing and soaking up the sun's warm rays. One day, I took my usual place in the sun but the light didn't seem to be as bright. In fact, as the day went on, it grew darker and darker, loud claps of thunder shook the cloud, and the Droplet felt as if he were getting so heavy he could hardly move. This is called precipitation.
Teachers, parents, and the students all become better communicators when being involved in the process of inclusion into mainstream schooling. Teachers learn that communication can be key, while parents can alert teachers if their child is having a bad day. Due to the fact that the simplest things could affect the student drastically, the idea of open communication between teacher and parents is vital, since the parents will learn these tendencies before anyone else. Communication also works well the other way. If the student has a bad day a...
I’m being obedient, I have been diligent, but I’m in a storm; why me? Not realizing the blessing of a storm and what it reveals to me about myself. Storm make known the attributes of God and reassures us that He is in control of all the affairs of life. When the storms come, they are designed to bring us to the place that the disciples found themselves in at the end; humbled and in need of a savior, because nothing illustrates faith in the Lord more than being willing to accept His will, even when things with the natural eyes look contrary. In those times remember: number one, storms reveal your weaknesses, and where you are weak God is strong; number two, storms reveal the savior and the Savior’s presence brings all authority and power; number three, storms reveal your testimony. Sometimes, it’s hard to see the beauty and the blessing of the storm. Sometimes it is difficult to trust that God will turn all things around for your good. I don 't know the nature of the storm you are facing, but I know the One who stills and quiets the storms. I know that if you will bring your need to Him, He will hear you and He will help you just as I know He has many times before and give you the ability to see your storm as Showers of
A thunderstorm that produces large amounts of precipitation which reaches the ground should have deep moisture stratums in unstable conditions, causing enough convection to be restricted to the electrification level of the atmosphere, or being lifted by orographic or frontal systems (Rorig and Ferguson, 1999). However, some thunderstorms produce small amounts of precipitation or none. Colson (1960) explained this phenomenon as a result of high-level thunderstorms with high cloud bases where the appropriate conditions for triggering lightning flashes accompanied by precipitation are situated in the upper levels. Rorig and Ferguson (1999) analysed the synoptic patterns of dry thunderstorms and concluded that low moisture levels in the inferior part of the atmosphere coupled with high instability, leads to the evaporation of precipitation prior to reaching the ground level, this way reducing the moisture content of the underlying surface.