The idea of travelling through space, even living Essays

The idea of travelling through space, even living Essays The idea of travelling through space, even living and working on other planets, has fascinated people for centuries. Despite numerous setbacks and daunting expenditures, travelling in the outer space has never failed to attract people's attention and provoke controversy. Sixty years after the first Moon landing, people question whether the feat, previously thought of as a giant leap for mankind, has substantially benefited people's lives. In my opinion, landing on the Moon has enormous relevance for the quality of life, albeit not always explicit.The first implication of Moon landing is reflected in the likelihood of travelling on other planets. Moon, as the object in the outer space closet to the Earth, can serve as a launch site for the journeys to other planets. Having no atmosphere, the Moon is a permanent base for people to observe the universe easily and provide them with sufficient evidence they require for decision making on a great many significant issues, which are likely t o have direct impact on them. For example, one can learn more about the treat of potentially hazardous objects that are Likely to hit the Earth and destroy our civilization.Another remarkable breakthrough made by the Moon landing is that it reignites people's enthusiasm in the natural sciences. When today's youths become increasingly interested in such subjects as commerce, finance and business, space exploration successfully attracts and retains talents in space-related technologies. These young minds are convinced that travelling the unknown of the universe is feasible despite many challenges. They are inspired to think for the future, instead of being preoccupied with contemporary issues only.It should also be noted that the Moon has water, the basic resource for people's survival, and it abounds in solar energy, a clean and readily obtainable resource. It is also believed that minerals are plentiful there to be exploited. Some day, if people are forced to move off the Earth, the Moon might be the best shelter. Although people have not yet fully explored this possibility at this stage, preliminary investigation is imperative.Based on the above-mentioned facts, one can conclude that the Moon landing greatly impacts on distant future, although its effect is not apparent for the time being. The Moon is the eventual gateway to other planets and potentially the place of residence for the future generations. The scientific knowledge and economic benefits to be gained by building a sustainable Moon base are huge.

Describe with Examples How Different Aspects of Development Affect One Another Essay Essays

Describe with Examples How Different Aspects of Development Affect One Another Essay Essays Describe with Examples How Different Aspects of Development Affect One Another Essay Essay Describe with Examples How Different Aspects of Development Affect One Another Essay Essay Question:Describe with illustrations how different facets of development affect one another. Answer: When turning up kids learn many things and at times these can overlap and go intertwined with each other. I have wrote a brief description of these different facets of development and what they mean in general footings: Behaviours – The manner in which one acts or conducts oneself. particularly towards others. Communication – The conveyance or exchanging of information by talking. composing. or utilizing body linguistic communication. Emotional – The feelings and/or reactions of an individual’s fortunes. temper. or relationship with others. Intellectual – The module of concluding and apprehension. Language – The method of communicating. i. e. written or spoken. which has been structured to be understood. Physical – Relates to the organic structure and non the head. Social – Relates to how one works in partnership with others and the demand for company and communicating. Example: When my girl was a babe. she learned that the things she did prompted different reactions from her pa and I. such as smiling when she smiled. and coming to her when she cried. In this manner she was get downing to larn that physical Acts of the Apostless. are a method of pass oning and a manner of showing emotion’s such as felicity and unhappiness. Through this she gained the mind to understand that shouting agencies she is sad and as she got older she came to understand that other people are sad when they cry excessively. The more contact she has had with people. the more her ain societal assurance has expanded and as such she will now travel to household members and seek to pass on and acquire positive reactions through her good behavior such as clapping her custodies when happy. She is now a twelvemonth old and trying to larn what words are and what they mean. as she has observed that this is how adults communicate through spoken linguistic communication. I have used my girl as an illustration to demo how different facets of development affect each other and can happen at about the same clip. If we hadn’t smiled back at her when she smiled. she may non hold attached this physical motion as an look of her emotion’s. which would hold impacted her ability to socialize with others and sympathize with their emotion’s every bit good as communicate her ain. In small ways such as that. each facet of development can impact each other and as these chief phases of development continue to impact kids as they learn and grow. it finally affects the individual the kid will go. Children are influenced by those around them such as parents. friends and instructors who the kids will emulate and larn from through observation and so put into pattern in their ain societal brushs.

How was picture production affected by the rise of the city of Edo Essay

How was picture production affected by the rise of the city of Edo - Essay Example Edo culture saw the living side by side of both the rich and poor in Japanese society. This gave rise to a different point view in interpreting nature which with the combination of the principles taught in Zen Buddhism gave rise to the aesthetic values which characterized Japanese art. These values of suggestion, irregularity, simplicity and perishability, as Donald Keene identified them. Suggestion or yugen is the characteristic wherein the artist suggests a hint of nature. There is no idealization of the subject but connotes a suggestion of what it is in relation to what it truly is. The artwork gives an indication of reality and does not capture the subject in its real form. Zen Buddhism influence is reflected in Japanese aesthetics through austerity and simplicity in presentation. Perishability captures the very essence of life and nature, showing the impermanence and sadness that pervades its reality. All these elements are brought to together to constitute the Japanese measure of aesthetics in all its art forms, from painting, literature, architecture, pottery, to wood block prints. Even the tea ceremony as a Buddhist ritual is influenced by the tenets of these aesthetic building blocks which form Japanese culture. Edo culture had a great influence in the development and adoption of these aesthetic cornerstones. A great fire suffered by the city brought about the popularity of wood print blocks or ukiyo-e. Ukiyo-e in general is the stylized school in Japanese painting especially prints using colored wood blocks. Ukiyo-e gained popularity as an affordable means of acquiring art, especially among the middle class population of Edo. The Ukiyo-e style was described as a â€Å"floating world† because it describes the instability of common people’s lives. It often portrayed ordinary people, actors, courtesans, vendors, and the like. A woodblock print by Kuryosai Isoda depict a â€Å"kamuro† or courtesan in the middle of two other

How Has Being a Christian Affected the Life Essay

How Has Being a Christian Affected the Life - Essay Example The researcher states that until he was about 12 years-old that he began to understand why the pilgrimage to church each week was important to his parents and soon after, what had been a mindless and somewhat boring routine became important to him.   Maybe it was because the author was a little bored in church and the Bible was the only reading material available but regardless of the motivations, he started his own routine of reading the red-letter parts of the New Testament each Sunday. Entranced by the words of Jesus, this habit progressed to late evenings at home and even on the bus to school. The researcher found the words of Christ simple, to the point and ultimately a path to inner contentment and happiness. His words are, essentially, a guidebook for life. It was during this period in the author’s life, early teenage years, that the spirit of God entered his life through the words of His Son and this connection has grown stronger by the year. The researcher made the transition from attending church as a matter of custom to being a devoted Christian gradually throughout the middle-school years; a time when having faith is certainly a benefit. Though the author knew it wasn’t uncommon for everyone to have feelings of awkwardness at this age, this knowledge did not help soothe his own feelings of inadequacy. The researcher wasn’t considered one of the cool, popular kids and neither were 99 percent of the students but again, this mathematical fact did not help either. Most of the author’s friends from church attended other schools and the couple of people he associated with in elementary school had different class schedules. The researcher felt very alone, vulnerable and intimidated. The ‘other’ students seemed more mature and sure of themselves which was more a result of his distorted self-perception than a reality nevertheless this feeling was very real at that time. The researcher did not feel comfortable tellin g anyone close to him such as his parents or his once-a-week friends from church so the author took solace in prayer. It gave him inner-strength in a time of self-doubt and confusion. Reading the Bible also helped considerably. Besides the lessons and wisdom gained from its pages, the realization that Jesus was not a popular figure either and had also a small circle of friends was of some comfort. Being a Christian at this time of great uncertainty was very beneficial.   It gave the author something solid in his life to hold on to at a time when he needed it the most.  

Electricity Generation Using a Wind Turbine Essay Example for Free

Electricity Generation Using a Wind Turbine Essay Wind turbines are machines built for generation of electricity. The electric power is generated by harnessing the wind speed to drive the shaft that connects to the gears assembled to amplify the amount of energy produced. Aside from wind power, other forces, like gravity and thermal energy, also affect the rotation of the blades, which in turn affect the electricity generation process. This research is aimed at creating a simple wind turbine that is capable of generating electricity. The process will be explained using the principles found in physics such as the law of gravity, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and momentum. Materials and Method The wind turbine setup was created using these devices: hub, three fan blades, metal box, two sets of gears, copper wire, a permanent magnet and volt meter, two rods of different sizes and couple heat sinks. These devices were then assembled to a working wind turbine. First, the blades were attached at an angle of 20 degrees. Then the gears were connected to the metal hub. The gears were then connected to a permanent magnet that was used to generate the electricity. The magnet was coiled with 80 turns of copper wire (about ? inch) for generation of power. It was then spooled to a steel block which helped increase the voltage just like a transformer. Greased bushing was also set up between the two gears and the hub. The perforated cylindrical block was placed on both rods to serve as a heat sink. The second rod was bent at the tip to change cyclic motion to vertical motion to the magnet. Finally, the wind turbine was mounted on a 10 feet tall support above ground level and was observed. Discussion The wind turbine was observed to see how it can generate electricity or if it can. As the wind blew on the blades, they turned along with the shaft. The shaft was connected to the gears that were also connected to the permanent magnet. When the magnet moved, the volt meter needle deflected which meant it detected electric power from the wind turbine. The wind turbine was successfully set up and generated electricity. The process of converting wind energy into electric energy can be explained using some of the principles in physics: law of gravity, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and momentum. While the whole setup depends on wind movements, other types of forces also affect the generation of electricity such as gravity and friction. Newton’s first law of motion states that â€Å"an object at rest will remain at rest while an object in motion will remain in motion. † This is also called the Law of Inertia or the resistance of an object to change its state of motion. Mass, being the property of matter, is used to measure the amount of inertia. This mass also causes gravitational field; the bigger the mass, the stronger the field. Consequently, in the presence of another object of different mass, their gravitation forces affect one another, that is, they attract one another. Earth is an example and the assembled turbine fan is the other object. Since the fan has smaller mass than the earth, it tends to fall to the earth or that the earth pulls it down. The force of attraction between earth and gravity is computed as mass multiplied by acceleration due to gravity (Wfan = mg); the result of which is also the weight of the fan. This concept can be used to explain why the turbine fan turns when the wind blows on it. Aside from the streamlined design of the blades allowing smooth air flow, the ‘pull’ force of gravity also helps the fan turn on its place or as long as it is mounted to the support. Next is electricity and magnetism. When the fan turned, the gears connected to the magnet also turned. We know from Hans Christian Orsted that electricity goes together with magnetism putting sense to the term electromagnetism. Electric wires do have magnetic properties and magnets also have electrical properties. This is can be shown in the wind turbine setup. The general principle in producing electricity using magnets and coils of wires is called electromagnetic induction. Faraday developed the law of electromagnetic induction stating that â€Å"the induced electromotive force in a closed loop is directly proportional to the time rate of change of magnetic flux through the loop. We already know that magnetic flux is the measure of quantity of magnetism considering the strength and extent of the magnetic field. Thus, the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and the rotating motion generates electricity. This explains how kinetic energy from the wind is converted to electric energy. However, not all of the kinetic energy from the wind movement is converted to electric energy. In other terms, the kinetic energy is not conserved. This is basically due to friction. Friction is not a conservative force. By saying conservative, we mean it can be converted to other forms without losing portions of the original amount. An example is the gravitational force. Any object that falls from a certain height above the ground with initial potential energy (PE) converts all of it to kinetic energy (KE) as it reaches down the level. Same with when the object goes up. The original amount of KE is totally converted to PE. Friction does not behave this way. For example, the initial energy of a pusher pushing a box one meter away cannot regain the energy consumed even if the box is returned to its initial position. This is due to friction. What happened to the lost energy? They all go as heat energy, that is, wasted energy. In the wind turbine, change in the temperature is observable, especially in the gears and the rods. This is because they are all in contact while utilizing the wind power to move. Because of friction, the gears and the rods will heat up in the long run. It can damage the setup, starting from the parts with intense friction. In order to counter this, a heat sink has to be installed. Conclusion The wind turbine was successfully assembled and electricity was produced. The electric energy was converted from kinetic energy derived from the wind movement. When the blades turn, the rods connected to the mechanism turned and by magnetic induction, electricity was produced. Wind power is then a good source of kinetic energy needed for generating electricity. I suggest we put up wind turbines to harness the kinetic energy of the wind. It can help minimize the cost of power generation and we can also avoid the adverse environmental effects of using petroleum products.

The Catcher And The Rye :: essays research papers

Love, Affection, and Adulthood   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In J.D. Salinger’s controversial 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye, the main character is Holden Caulfield. When the story begins Holden at age sixteen, due to his poor grades is kicked out of Pencey Prep, a boys’ school in Pennsylvania. This being the third school he has been expelled from, he is in no hurry to face his parents. Holden travels to New York for several days to cope with his disappointments. As James Lundquist explains, â€Å"Holden is so full of despair and loneliness that he is literally nauseated most of the time.† In this novel, Holden, a lonely and confused teenager, attempts to find love and direction in his life. Holden’s story is realistic because many adolescent’s face similar challenges.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  J.D. Salinger presents Holden Caulfield as a confused and distressed adolescent. Holden is a normal teenager who needs to find a sense of belonging. All though Holden’s obsession with â€Å"phonies† overpowers him. Dan Wakefield comments, â€Å"The things that Holden finds so deeply repulsive are things he calls â€Å"phony†- and the â€Å"phoniness† in every instance is the absence of love, and , often the substitution of pretense for love.† Holden was expelled from Pencey Prep School not because he is stupid, but because he just is not interested. His attitude toward Pencey is everyone there is a phony. Pencey makes Holden feel lonely and isolated because he had very few friends. Holden’s feeling of alienation is seen when he doesn’t attend the biggest football game of the year. His comments on the game: â€Å"It was the last game of the year and you were supposed to commit suicide or something if old Pencey didn ’t win† (2, Ch. 1). This also hints to Holden’s obsession with death. Holden can’t find a since of belonging in the school because of all the so-called phonies. Holden speaks of Pencey’s headmaster as being a phony. Holden says that on visitation day the headmaster will pay no attention to the corny-looking parents. Holden portrays his not being interested by saying, â€Å"all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to buy a goddam Cadillac someday, and you have to keep making believe you give a damn if the football team loses†(131, Ch. 17). Holden does not care for school or money. He just wants everyone to be sincere and honest. Holden's obsession with phonies causes him to have no positive adult role models to follow.

“Tyronian” Tragedy

In Eugene O'Neill's agonizingly autobiographical play Long Day's Journey into Night, readers are introduced a dismal family situation. Drugs, death, illness and failure lace each conversation, and regret flows almost as unreservedly as the alcohol. In such a tragedy, one would expect to have a clear idea of with whom the blame lies. In this piece of drama, however, there is a distinct inability to do so. Eugene O'Neill persistently manipulates the emotional responses of the reader. This manipulation keeps partiality off balance and uncertain. O'Neill accomplishes this by allowing readers to sympathize with one family member. Once sympathy is established for one particular character, that character promptly says, or does, something that loses the reader's alliance, along with the alliance of whichever character he or she is berating at that particular moment. This results in the reader's inability to discern who, precisely, is culpable for the Tyrone family's situation. The idea of assigning culpability in Long Day's Journey Into Night is almost humourous. Even if one wanted to, it would be difficult to sort through years of built up anger, layer upon layer of repression, and huge amounts of guilt in each character; for each character is at fault for one thing or another, and, in addition, each character blames someone else for his or her problem. For example, Mary blames her husband and his tightfistedness for her addiction to morphine. Due to their mother being an addict, Jamie is unable to bring girls home, thus he visits prostitutes. Such behavior has influenced his younger brother Edmund, â€Å"making him old before his time† (35). Consequently, Jamie is at fault for Edmund's poor health. In turn, his mother, for causing the addiction by being brought into the world, as well as worsening it with his own illness, blames Edmund. And so, the vicious circle continues. However, if one does not wish to inflict upon one's distinguished teaching assistant a painfully long dissertation of each member's contributions to the tragedy and the results thereof, one ought to maintain, for argument's sake, that the majority of the culpability lies with James Tyrone, for his behaviour in regards to money, alcohol, and his own status as a failed actor. James's father had left the family when James was only ten years of age. This left James as the man of the family, working twelve hours each day to help provide for his mother and three sisters. As James explains, â€Å"It was in those days I learned to be a miser†(151). He feels proud of his savings, and announces to his family in regards to buying something: â€Å"I got them dead cheap†(15). His own early recognition of the importance of money explains his continual contempt for his own children's lack of concern when it comes to working: â€Å"What do you know of the value of a dollar? (150). He accuses Jamie of being lazy and having no ambition. Not only does James Tyrone wish his sons understood the value of money, but since they do not, he is forced to be miserly enough for the whole family. Consequently, the family resents his overly economic ways. There are many attacks throughout the play on James Tyrone for this, the first one being Jamie accusing him of not sending Edmund to a real doctor for his illness when he first got sick. Jamie says, â€Å"Hardy only charges a dollar. That's what makes you think he's a fine doctor! â€Å"(31). Later, another dialogue gives an even worse view of the situation; Tyrone sending Edmund to a cheap sanatorium, but spending money on real estate: JAMIE: Well, for God's sake, pick out a good place and not some cheap dump! TYRONE: (Stung) I'll send him wherever Hardy thinks best! JAMIE: Well, don't give Hardy your old over-the-hills-to-the-poorhouse song about taxes and mortgages. TYRONE: I'm no millionaire who can throw money away! Why shouldn't I tell Hardy the truth? JAMIE: Because he'll think you want him to pick a cheap dump, and because he'll now it isn't the truth i especially if he hears afterwards you've seen McGuire and let that flannel-mouth, gold-brick merchant sting you with another piece of bum property! (82) Later realizing the anger this statement comes from, James Tyrone offers Edmund â€Å"any place you like! Never mind what it costs! Any place I can afford. Any place you like†. Sadly, there follows the stipulation Tyrone cannot seem to shake off: â€Å"Within reason. â€Å"(151). Cheap medical care seems to be Tyrone's weakness. As Mary Tyrone makes clear, his tightfisted ways result, though inadvertently, in her downfall as well, due to a doctor giving her morphine as an easy fix. â€Å"But bearing Edmund was the last straw. I was so sick afterwards, and that ignorant quack of a cheap hotel doctor-All he knew was I was in pain. It was easy for him to stop the pain. â€Å"(90) Tyrone is also to blame for his wife's general unhappiness, not just her addiction to morphine. Mary says to Edmund that she has never been happy in the house, because â€Å"Everything was done in the cheapest way. Your father would never spend the money to make it right. (45). The subsequent scene has Mary come downstairs (60), in a detached sort of manner. She complains bitterly to Edmund about Tyrone's inability to make a real home. He is too stingy to build a real home, with good servants, and so she has suffered all her life. When Tyrone himself comes in, she says in continuation of her previous statements † I'm sick and tired of pretending this is a home! You won't help me! â€Å"(69). She goes on to say that had he remained a bachelor â€Å"Then nothing would have happened. † This indicates strongly that she blames him too. Tyrone condemns Mary for her addiction, yet feels no guilt or responsibility for it, taking away any amount of forgiveness readers may have parted with in Tyrone's favour. The amusing part of this however, is while he condemns his wife for substance abuse, the same thing is his own major vice. Mary tells her husband: † I would never have married you if I'd known you drank so much† (115). She also launches into a story about their honeymoon, when Tyrone was dragged home intoxicated. It appears that in a fashion similar to that of their father, Jamie and Edmund seem quite partial to alcohol. In fact, the entire family seems unable to confront reality without chemical assistance. Mary's words indicate that drinking all day is a common Tyrone family activity: â€Å"I know what to expect. You will be drunk tonight. Well, it won't be the first time, will it i or the thousandth? † (72). The Tyrone men validate their drinking habits with folk wisdom about whiskey's alleged health benefits: â€Å"It's before a meal and I've always found that good whiskey, taken in moderation as an appetizer, is the best of tonics† (68). Alcohol has contributed to Jamie's failures. It has hurt Edmund's health. And it becomes a source of conflict between Jamie and Tyrone, as Jamie consistently steals his father's whiskey, replacing the amount taken with water, so his father won't take notice. Regrettably, the alcohol solves no problems, and problems get more intricate as the tongues loosen from the booze. The three men share a drink, but none of the social magic of alcohol seems to work. Tyrone, Edmund and Jamie remain as miserable as ever. The last, most driving element of James Tyrone's guilt is his status as a failed actor. In act four of the play, James Tyrone relates something to his youngest son that he has never told anyone before. He explains that since his father left the family when he was ten, he grew up to be miserly. Thus he was quick to give up artistic fulfillment in exchange for financial security, ruining his career as † one of the three or four young actors with the greatest artistic promise in America†(153). James Tyrone now muses that he doesn't even know what it was he had wanted to buy. It appears that James has never forgiven himself for this, and therefore inflicts it on his family and neighbours. Mary says in regards to the neighbours: â€Å"they bowed to your father and he bowed back as if he were taking a curtain call†(44). Jamie relates that Tyrone puts on an act for everybody (57). Tyrone begins to quote a play almost as tragic as his own family life, but his son, obviously well versed in his father's repertoire of chastisements from King Lear, finishes the sentence before his father can continue, with † ‘to have a thankless child'. I know†(92). His sons also immediately think in terms of tragedy when referring to their father, quoting Othello in reference to James's snoring: † ‘The Moor, I know his trumpet'†(21). It appears that Tyrone turns his own life into a tragedy, like the ones he once portrayed so well upon the stage, switching affections and emotions like he would have to between scenes, although his family isn't as accepting of this as Edwin Booth and the critics obviously were. But why bother to deal with the question of fault? After all, the characters themselves claim not to care about it, such as in act two, scene two, when James Tyrone tries to blame Edmund's consumptive state on Mary's side of the family. Jamie cries out against blame: â€Å"Who gives a damn about that part of it! â€Å"

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 22

The week of the Founders Ball came with a cold spell that settled into Mystic Falls and refused to leave. Ladies walked around town in midafternoon in wool coats and shawls, and the evenings were cloudy and starless. Out in the field, workers fretted about an early frost. Still, that didn't stop people from as far away as Atlanta coming into town for the ball. The boarding-house was full, and the entire town had a carnival-like air in the days leading up to the event. Damon was back at Veritas, his mysterious tenure with the brigade over. I hadn't told him that Katherine and I were attending the Founders Ball, and he hadn't asked. Instead, I'd busied myself with work, feeling renewed vigor about taking over Veritas. I wanted to prove to Father that I was serious about the estate and about growing up and assuming my place in the world. He'd been giving me more responsibility, allowing me to look over the ledgers and even encouraging me to go to Richmond with Robert to attend a livestock auction. I could see my life, ten years from now. I'd run Veritas, and Katherine would run the inside of the home, hosting parties and playing the occasional card game at night with Father. The night of the ball, Alfred knocked on my door. â€Å"Sir? Do you require any assistance?† he asked as I swung the door open. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I was dressed in a black long-tailed coat and tie, with my hair slicked back. I looked older, more confident. Alfred followed my gaze. â€Å"Looking smart, sir,† he allowed. â€Å"Thank you. I'm ready,† I said, my heart fluttering in excitement. Last night, Katherine had teased me mercilessly, not giving me any clues as to what she was going to wear. I couldn't wait to see her. I knew she'd be the most beautiful girl at the ball. More important, she was mine. I headed down the stairs, relieved that Damon was nowhere to be found. I wondered whether he was attending the Founders Ball with some of his army friends or perhaps one of the town's girls. He'd been distant lately, impossible to find in the morning and at the tavern at night. Outside, the horses were pawing at the drive. I entered the waiting coach, which clip-clopped its way to the carriage house. I glanced out the window, and noticed Katherine and Emily standing at the front door. Emily wore a simple black silk dress, but Katherine †¦ I had to press my back into the carriage seat to keep from jumping out of the moving coach. Her dress was emerald green, nipping in at the waist dress was emerald green, nipping in at the waist before flowing over her hips. The bodice was low and tight and showed off her creamy white skin, and her hair was pulled back on the top of her head, exposing her graceful, swan-like neck. The second Alfred pulled back on the horses' reins, I opened the door of the coach and hopped out, smiling broadly as Katherine's eyes caught mine. â€Å"Stefan!† Katherine breathed, lifting her skirts slightly as she glided down the stairs. â€Å"Katherine.† I gently kissed her cheek before I offered my arm to her. Together, we turned and walked toward the carriage, where Alfred stood with the door open. The road to Mystic Falls was filled with unfamiliar coaches of all shapes and sizes, leading to the Lockwood mansion on the far end of town. I felt a thrill of anticipation. This was the first time I'd ever escorted a girl to the Founders Ball. In all previous years, I'd spent most of the evenings playing poker with my friends. Invariably some sort of disaster happened. Last year, Matthew Hartnett had gotten drunk on whiskey and had accidentally unhitched the horses from his parents' coach, and two years ago, Nathan Layman had gotten into a fistfight with Grant Vanderbilt, and both ended up with broken noses. We slowly made our way up to the mansion, finally reaching the front walk. Alfred stopped the horses and let us out. I laced my fingers with Katherine's, and together we walked through the open doors of the mansion and headed toward the dining room. The high-ceilinged room had been cleared of all furniture, and the candlelight lent a warm, mysterious glow to the walls. A band in the corner played Irish reels, and couples were already beginning to dance, even though the night was young. I squeezed Katherine's hand, and she smiled up at me. â€Å"Stefan!† I whirled around and saw Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright. I dropped Katherine's hand immediately. Mrs. Cartwright's eyes were red, and she was positively gaunt compared to the last time I saw her. Meanwhile, Mr. Cartwright seemed to have aged ten years. His hair was snow-white, and he was walking with the aid of a cane. Both wore purple sprigs of vervain–a tuft stuck out of Mr. Cartwright's breast pocket, and the flowers were woven into Mrs. Cartwright's hat–but other than that, they were clad entirely in black, for mourning. â€Å"Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright,† I said, my stomach clenching with guilt. In truth, I'd nearly forgotten that Rosalyn and I had been engaged. â€Å"It's good to see you.† â€Å"Y could have seen us sooner if you'd come ou to call on us,† Mr. Cartwright said. He could barely hide the contempt in his voice when his gaze landed on Katherine. â€Å"But I understand you must have been in deep †¦ grief as well.† â€Å"I will come now that I know you're taking visitors,† I said lamely, tugging at my collar, which suddenly felt quite tight around my neck. â€Å"No need,† Mrs. Cartwright said icily as she reached into her sleeve to pull out a handkerchief. Katherine clasped Mrs. Cartwright's hand. Mrs. Cartwright looked down, an expression of shock on her face. A wave of apprehension ran through me, and I fought the urge to step between them and shield Katherine from their anger. But then Katherine smiled, and amazingly, both Cartwrights smiled back. â€Å"Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright, I am so sorry for your loss,† she said warmly, holding their gazes. â€Å"I lost my parents during the Atlanta siege, and I know how hard it is. I didn't know Rosalyn well, but I do know she will never be forgotten.† Mrs. Cartwright blew her nose noisily, her eyes watering. â€Å"Thank you, dear,† she said reverentially. Mr. Cartwright patted his wife on the back. â€Å"Y thank you.† He turned to me, compassion es, replacing the scorn that had occupied his eyes just moments earlier. â€Å"And please take care of Stefan. I know he's suffering.† Katherine smiled as the couple rejoined the crowd. I gaped in amazement. â€Å"Did you compel them? † I asked, the word tasting bitter in my mouth. â€Å"No!† Katherine placed her hand over her heart. â€Å"That was good, old-fashioned kindness. Now, let's dance,† she said, tugging me toward the large ballroom. Luckily, the dance floor was a crush of bodies and the lighting was low, so it was almost impossible to make out specific people. Flower garlands hung from the ceiling, and the marble floor was waxed to a sheen. The air was hot and cloying, with the scent of hundreds of competing perfumes. I put my hand on Katherine's shoulders and tried to relax into the waltz. But I still felt jumpy. The conversation with the Cartwrights had stirred my conscience, making me feel vaguely disloyal to Rosalyn's memory, and to Damon. Had I betrayed him somehow by not telling him that Katherine and I were at the ball together? Was it wrong that I'd been grateful for his prolonged absences? The band stopped, and as women adjusted their dresses and grasped their partners' hands again, I headed toward the refreshment table in the corner. â€Å"Are you all right, Stefan?† Katherine asked, gliding up beside me, worry lines creasing her lovely forehead. I nodded, but I didn't break my stride. â€Å"Just thirsty,† I lied. â€Å"Me too.† Katherine stood expectantly as I ladled the dark-red punch into a crystal tumbler. I passed the glass to her and watched as she drank deeply, wondering if that was what she looked like when she drank blood. When she placed the glass on the table, she had the slightest trace of red liquid around her mouth. I couldn't help it. With my index finger I wiped the drop off the side of her bow-shaped mouth. Then I put my finger in my own mouth. It tasted sweet and tangy. â€Å"Are you sure you're all right?† Katherine asked. â€Å"I'm worried about Damon,† I confessed as I poured myself a glass of punch. â€Å"But why?† Katherine asked, genuine confusion registering on her face. â€Å"Because of you,† I said simply. Katherine took the tumbler from me and led me away from the refreshment table. â€Å"He's like a brother to me,† she said, touching my brow with her icy fingers. â€Å"I'm like his little sister. Y know ou this.† â€Å"But all those times when I was sick? When you and he were together? It seemed like †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It seemed like I needed a friend,† Katherine said firmly. â€Å"Damon's a flirt. He doesn't want to be tied down, nor would I want to be tied to him. Y ou are my love, and Damon is my brother.† All around us, couples swirled in the semi- darkness, dipping in time to the music and laughing gaily at private jokes, seemingly without a care in the world. They, too, had to worry about attacks and the war and heartbreak, but they still laughed and danced. Why couldn't I as well? Why did I always have to doubt myself? I glanced at Katherine. A dark curl had come loose from her updo. I tucked it behind her ear, relishing the silky feel of the strands between my fingers. Longing coursed through me, and as I stared into her deep brown eyes, all feelings of guilt and unease vanished. â€Å"Shall we dance?† asked Katherine, taking my hand and pressing it to her cheek. Through the crowded dance floor, I spotted Father, Mr. Cartwright, and the rest of the Founders whispering furiously in a far corner. â€Å"No,† I whispered huskily. â€Å"Let's go home.† I grabbed Katherine's shoulder, and we whirled around the dance floor until we reached the kitchen, where servants were busily preparing refreshments. Hand in hand, we tore through the kitchen–much to the confusion of the servants –and exited at the back of the house. We sprinted into the night, oblivious to the cold air, the shrieks of laughter from the mansion, and the fact that we'd just run out on the social event of the season. The coach was tied near the Lockwoods' stable. Alfred was no doubt playing craps with the other servants. â€Å"After you, my lady,† I said, lifting Katherine by the waist and placing her in the passenger seat. I hoisted myself up to the driver's seat and cracked the whip, which immediately caused the horses to start clip-clopping in the direction of home. I grinned at Katherine. We had an entire evening of freedom in front of us, and it was intoxicating. No having to sneak into the carriage house. No skirting the servants. Just hours of uninterrupted bliss. â€Å"I love you!† I yelled, but the wind stole the words as soon as they left my mouth. I imagined them traveling with the breeze, floating through the entire world until every person in every town knew of my love. Katherine stood up in the coach, her curls whipping wildly around her face. â€Å"I love you, too!† she shouted, and then collapsed into giggles on the seat. By the time we got back to the carriage house, we were both sweaty and red-cheeked. The second we reached Katherine's chambers, I pulled the dress off her slim frame and, seized by my passion, gently ran my teeth against her neck. â€Å"What are you doing?† She stepped back and stared at me sharply. â€Å"I'm just †¦Ã¢â‚¬  What was I doing? Playacting? Trying to seem as if Katherine and I were the same? â€Å"I guess I wanted to know how you feel when you †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Katherine bit her lip. â€Å"Maybe someday you'll find out, my innocent, sweet Stefan.† She lay back on the bed, arranging her hair on the snow-white goose-down pillow. â€Å"But right now, all I want is you. â€Å" I lay down next to her, tracing the curve of her chin with my index finger as I put my lips to hers. The kiss was so soft and tender that I felt her essence and mine combine, creating a force that was larger than ourselves. We explored each other's bodies as if for the first time. In the dim light of her chambers, I was never sure where reality ended and my dreams began. There was no shame, no expectation, just passion and desire, and a sense of danger that was mysterious and beautiful and consuming. That night, I would have allowed Katherine to consume me entirely and claim me for her own. I would have gladly offered up my neck if it meant that we could have stayed locked in that embrace for all of eternity.

Web-Footed Gecko essays

Web-Footed Gecko essays The web-footed gecko is native to the Namib Desert, located on the coast of southwest Africa. Living in this location has enabled the gecko to develop many unique physical characteristics that very few, if any, other animals have. The web-footed gecko also has developed a certain way of hunting for food, as well as a way of deterring predators if it feels it may become food. This gecko has also formed breeding methods particular to the region. This five-inch translucent lizard is native to the Namib Desert of southwest Africa. This region receives virtually no rain as the land is composed of bare rock and sand, although during the nights fog rolls in from the Atlantic, cooling the sand dunes. The gecko depends on this moisture to survive, as the geckos thin skin allows it to absorb moisture right out of the air. This reptile burrows during the day to avoid the extreme heat of the desert sun because the sand remains at a constant temperature just a few inches below the surface. Due to the harsh heat of the Namib the gecko has evolved into a nocturnal animal. Its name has derived from its feet, which resemble that of snowshoes in function, and a ducks feet in appearance. This gecko has the scientific nomenclature of Palmatogecko rangei. This name is significant as it shows its relationship to other geckos through its genus name Palmatogecko. The web-footed gecko is classified as follows: Kingdom: Animalia The web-footed gecko is a predator as it has a developed sense of sight. The geckos eyes have adapted to its environment to be more functional than most would expect. The lizards pupils narrow to very small slits in daylight only to transform into very large disks at night to absorb all the light possible. Although the gecko has good visibility, ...

How to Find an Excellent Topic for an English Literature Term Paper

How to Find an Excellent Topic for an English Literature Term Paper How to Find an Excellent Topic for an English Literature Term Paper One of the most rewarding paper types that you will ever write for an English class is a literature term paper. Its main point is to get you to take a hard and analytical look at a piece of literature. When you are developing your term paper, the topic is vital in the overall success of your piece. You will want to utilize the following advice to be ensured that it turns out successfully. Brainstorming One of the easiest ways to make sure that you select a good topic is by brainstorming some of the literary works that you can remember. Something about these pieces stood out to you and that can make writing about them more interesting. Think back to the various books that you have read. You don’t have to recall the exact name and author for this part of the process. Just simply get the general ideas down so that you know which piece you are discussing. The name and title are not important. Enhancing the List After the brainstorming process, you will have a starting list of ideas that you can write your paper on. However, you don’t want to stop there. Use your knowledge from the course to think about pieces that have excessive significance. You can use your notes for this list. Your paper is going to have to talk about themes, plots, motifs, and the like. Therefore, the pieces that have a lot of these characteristics are perfect for your paper. Identify at least three that your instructor has emphasized in the class or that possess these important features and add them to your list. Narrowing down Your Diamond in the Rough Now that you have this extensive list of options, go through each one and jot down some aspects that you can write the paper about. They can deal with any of the literary characteristics. This part is vital. Create a short outline for each and then use the one with the most â€Å"stuff† as your topic. Why is that so? Because if you have already something to say about the potential subject of your English literature term paper, it means that you are interested in the topic and will conduct a great research on it. You now have 3 vital steps you need to take in order to choose a great topic, so get to work and choose a piece that means something to you and one that you enjoy because to write a substantial term paper, you will surely have to read it again. If you are not a reading person by nature, consider short stories that won’t take much time. Anyway, you need to be comfortable with the literary work and its peculiarities if you want to succeed in writing an excellent English term paper.

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

International Business - Essay Example Factors that have aided the manufacturing business in China First, in order to achieve economic sustainability, the Chinese economy was transformed by various regimes from a mass market for western goods and services, to a supplier of cheap goods, materials, and labour, thus beating much of the global competition from many other countries. An example is the setting up of Honda car manufacturing plant in the northern eastern China. Secondly, the Deng Xiaoping political and economic reforms created rooms for development of liberal market business in an environment of well-controlled cheap labour, spurring rapid economic growth. Thirdly, after the reforms, China was modeled on five-year plan focusing on invest in infrastructure, increase in enterprise activity, advancement in technology and controlled population growth. This model has proven successful in the rapid economic growth of China. ... Challenges facing the manufacturing business in China First, the Chinese economy has been relying heavily on agricultural subsistence sectors to feed its population, a factor that made its economy almost to crumble in 1960 due to crop failure. Secondly, in China there has been interchange of power between leftist and rightist, with the left in power promotion ideologies at the expense economic and material development, while when rights being in government modernization, free business policies and building of economic relation with other nation encouraged spurring economic growth. These situations have been creating political struggles in China, which negatively affects the economic developments. Additionally, though doing well in terms of economic growth, China is still affected by a wide a range of problems including poverty, illiteracy levels, and political instability that can greatly affect the manufacturing business and the economy at large. Lastly, China economy largely relies on the dollars with the country’s currency Renminbi having low value, thus in times of financial crisis, the economy and industries suffer a lot due to over reliance on dollar. The IT service providers in India Indian software and IT companies compete successfully with other global companies by offering an attractive combination of quality, cost-effectiveness, short turnaround time and capacity to quickly scale up operations (OECD, 2006, P.129). The success of IT in India can be attributed to the following factors: First, India has a strong commercial sector with a wealthy middle classes and a strong culture of entrepreneurship making, India to capitalize on the emerging global IT and ICT services market. Secondly, India has allowed many

Letter from Mahavira Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Letter from Mahavira - Essay Example By enduring all sorts of calamities, I was given this name Mahavira, which means great hero or brave and courageous. You have to learn how to conquer your desires and feelings, not be conquered by them. The only way to liberate yourself from all the pain is learning about the right faith (samyak-darshana), right knowledge (samyak-jnana), and right conduct (samyak-charitra). This last is based on the five vows. Do you remember the five great vows Nonviolence (Ahimsa)-do not harm any living being; Truthfulness (Satya)-to speak only the truth; Non-stealing (Asteya)- do not take anything that was not given to you; Chastity (Brahmacharya)-do not indulge in sexual pleasure; Non-possession/Non-attachment (Aparigraha)- to detach from any material possession. These five principles will help you achieve the blissful state. But you need to detach completely from people, places, and material things. That is why I spent twelve years of my life in silence and deep meditation. Sometimes, I spent days without eating, I had no place to live or clothes to wear, but I achieved Kevalnyan, enlightenment. When I learned this ultimate truth I decided to travel around India and share this knowledge. Be careful with all the living beings, if you harm them, you will be harming yourself. If you take something that was not given to you, it would be like stealing to yourself. Indulging in sensual or materialistic passion will only lead to vices like greed, lust, hatred and anger. These feelings are all violent and destructive; they can lead you to kill. Your karma will accumulate. If you wish to become a monk, you will have to follow your vows strictly. Monks and nuns will have to be very strict about following the Jain philosophy. Everyone can achieve the ultimate happiness; I do not make distinction between men, women, rich or poor. I divide my followers in what is called a four-fold order: monk (Sadhu), nun (Sadhvi), layman (Shravak), and laywoman (Shravika). I believe that the theories of Anekantvada and Syadvada, explain the relativity in the world. The world has an infinity of view points depending on the time, place, nature and state of the one who is the viewer and that which is viewed. The truth has many aspects, it depends from the points of view. What is true from one point of view may vary from another. Absolute truth cannot be obtained from any particular perspective alone. Absolute truth is the sum total of all the different-view points. Imagine for example that you have your eyes covered and that you come across a river while you walk. You step inside and the water covers up to your knees, not too deep it seemed. When you go out and uncover your eyes, you discover that you were standing up on a rock inside the river, but that the river was in fact so deep that it would cover you up to your head. The perspective changed the way in which you described the river. In order to obtain Moksha, you can follow the self-discipline methods I have preached and practiced. Some of them are: disregard of worldly objects, moral purity, meditating without moving the body, self-denial, penance, austerity, renouncing to pleasure, and freedom from karma. Meditation is very important in the life of a Jain. It helps to discipline the mind and the body. Sometimes you will remain in deep meditation in a same position for a long time, while your mind