Globalization and Germany free essay sample

Globalization and Germany In this day and age, globalization shines above all. It leads the world into its next level of evolution, forcing its countries social and economic developments into full swing with each passing moment. What is globalization? It is the unifying element brought on by the economies and cultures of the world Joining together. There are countries that gain benefits, but others that lose theirs. For Germany, globalization is not beneficial. So what is globalization? It unifies everyone. But it always existed in some way. Whether t was the Egyptians trading camels with the British, or Asians trading with Muslims, globalization is a deep part of our planets history. The effects of globalization are seen everywhere. In America, one institution that does this is McDonalds. McDonalds exists in other countries like Ecuador and Japan. In terms of the global markets, globalization has helped them gain as much influence as politicians. We will write a custom essay sample on Globalization and Germany or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It truly unifies the world, as money is something everyone needs, and any nation with heavy debt, including the US, is vulnerable (Ganguly 1). Globalization has brought about many kinds of benefits, some which are felt everyday. Thanks to globalization, there is a steady cash flow (Ganguly 1) going to developing countries. That in turn will allow them to boost their own economies. Also, it means that countries are now a part of the global market, and can begin building their own credibility in the world. With globalization, production of materials has spread to other countries, and that means more options for companies when it comes to cost cuts and labor. As a result, the countries that pend less with sending production overseas get their cheap labor, and the countries themselves are allowed to Jump on the bandwagon in the companys success. Politics are a part of the developments, as countries are now made to interact with each other and can come up with solutions to each others problems. The biggest benefit would be the culture exchange. With globalization comes information exchange, and now people from across the world can share their language, art, religion, and ideas. Globalization has also brought upon the world many disadvantages. One of them is economical. Europeans are now losing Jobs due to outsourcing (sending labor to be done overseas for cheaper costs, a popular action for companies). These same companies are always under threat of being outsourced and other countries now include the US. In return, countries like China, the Sleeping Giant, are gaining a distinct advantage in the global market thanks to the deals that overseas companies make for their labor. With the aforementioned markets gaining more influence than politicians, there is a fear that corporations will take over the world and that government in turn will lose their standing, making decisions ased on economy than people. Another disadvantage stems from an advantage mentioned earlier as well. With cultures now being easily accessible through mediums like the Internet and TV, its hard to maintain individuality. People can now not only mix in much faster, but in doing so will lose their own sense of nationalism. For Germany, globalization is definitely a bad element introduced into its existence. One key industry that it dominates is automobile manufacturing. Volkswagen, a symbol of said industry, is sinking along with Ford and two other main automobile industries, three f which are stationed in the US. The Jobs offered at the Volkswagen company were passed onto outsiders from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Most Jobs are suffering the same fate, outsourcing stripping its own people of opportunities to make money and in turn saving themselves from bankruptcy. Since the 1990s, at least two million people have lost their Jobs, at a rate of 600 per day. This was in 2005. Since then, larger corporations have been moving suit to As a matter of fact, 60 percent of businesses reported wishing to move out while 32 percent actually did. Based on economy, Germany cannot fix itself without some major shift. Its labor laws are limiting, the tax system is poor, and the wages are inflexible. At worst, the decline of Germany will continue itself will instead be sent overseas to China. Socially, Germany has always been an attraction, so its allure to tourists will most likely help the economy. Globalization hasnt helped Germany much in the global market. According to Frank Jurgen Richter, Germanys ranking in the Globalization Index compiled by the Foreign Policy Magazine worsened dramatically during the last few years.

Unintended Effects of History essays

Unintended Effects of History essays In the corse of the worlds history, there have been defining moments that have shaped history. These events had a intended effect that were meant for the people of its time. The most defining events have lasted and have had unintended effects, positive and negative, on past eras and generations. A few defining moments in history have been the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, Martin Luthers posting of the 95 Thesis in 1517, and the Russian Revolution in 1917. All had unintended effects that changed history. To no one will we sell, to know one will we refuse or delay the right of justice. That is a expert from the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta was a document that had a huge influence on England and helped form the governments of other great civilizations. The Magna Carta has said to have been the greatest document every made and signed. Its intent worked by giving the barons of England rights, but it also had great, positive unintended effects on the rest of the world. The Magna Carta was signed by King John of England in 1215. King John signed the Magna Carta because of a deal he had with the people of England. He need money from his nobles and barons and they would only give it to him if he signed the Magna Carta giving them their rights. The Magna Carta was written by the English barons. The people of England were annoyed with Kind John. He abused his power, increased taxes, used too many soldiers for his military campaigns. He also was excommunicated from the Church which made the people of England unhappy with him. The Magna Carta stated that king had to respect the law and obey. The Magna Carta is a law greater than king and can not be broken by anyone. It is a document that set a standard of justice and liberty and is still a part of history today. The Magna Carta helped shape other governments and was used as a guide line for other governments su ...

Why Do College Students Procrastinate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Why Do College Students Procrastinate - Essay Example This paper will take a look into the non-technological reasons that college students often fall prey to and cause them to procrastinate. Procrastination is an activity that is most seen in the undergraduate level of college students. Some of the reasons that professionals have found to cause procrastination include lack of motivation, deficiencies in self-regulation, external locus of control, perfectionism, trait and state anxiety, fear of failure, low self-efficacy, and low self-confidence (Welmer, Maryellen, PhD. â€Å"Why Students Procrastinate and What You Can Do About It†). Since these reasons have been identified as the most common reasons for procrastination, psychological studies have been done in order to identify the extent that these reasons cover procrastination. Known in the psychological community as the â€Å"avoidant coping styles†, 374 undergraduate students explained that their tendency to neglect school work causes them anxiety that they refuse to de al with. (qtd. in Glenn). Therefore procrastination can be seem more as a coping mechanism for the students who lack ample adjustment abilities when it comes to their college classes. These avoidant lifestyles then translate into late term papers and other class requirements. Although not a trivial problem, it is not considered a very serious problem in most circles. But that is not to say that professors ignore these problems when it arises in their class. In reference to this problem, Dr. Joseph Ferrari, associate professor of psychology at De Paul University in Chicago and Dr. Timothy Pychyl, associate professor of psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, (Lenker, Caitlin & MacAndrew, Dan â€Å"The Procrastination Epidemic: An Investigative Report†) report that; â€Å"... Twenty percent of people identify themselves as chronic procrastinators.† These people view procrastination as the result of their exra curricular activities that, as mentioned earlier, distract them from completing their college duties. However, some of them also indicated that they tend to procrastinate simply because they wish to have more time to sleep (Lenker, Caitlin and MacAndrew, Dan â€Å"The Procrastination Epidemic: An Investigative Report†). Undergraduates come up with the most creative reasons for procrastinating their way through a semester of college. Whatever their reasons, the truth is that the most important reason they tend to procrastinate is sheer laziness. What these students do not realize is that the procrastination causes stress in their lives and causes a number of negative outcomes for them during their academic career (Todd, Daniel â€Å"Overcoming Procrastination†). We have all been through the college adjustment phase at least once in our lives. While some end up adjusting and getting on quite with their academic careers, the others who allow procrastination to take over their lives end up dropping out of college altoget her. However, procrastination should not be associated merely with undergraduate slackers and underperformers. There are also some procrastinators who are excellent academic students. But they prefer to slack off and procrastinate because of the sense of accomplishment and the rush of having beaten a deadline when it comes to the submission of their class requirements (Lenker, Caitlin & MacAndrew, Dan â€Å"The Procrastination Epidemic: An Investigative Report†). Students such as Paul Rakszwaski say that the rush one gets from completing class requirements before a deadline cannot be beaten. He relates that (qtd. in Lenker & MacAndrew); Procrastinating is really great! I tend to work better when I have a very pressing deadline

Crucial Stakeholders and Key Playes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Crucial Stakeholders and Key Playes - Essay Example This article highlights on some of the ways that communication plan and the software would be useful for the project leader. The communication plan helps in setting up standards for communication. The project leader would need to establish the standards within which the communication will occur. The stakeholders would also need to be aware of the course of the communication with the indication of how and when it will take place. The communication plan enables the project leader to set the scope for all the communications that are relevant to the project. The communication plan is also significant for scheduling various projects, within a period, thereby making the stakeholders to be aware of the progress. The SharePoint software package offers a framework useful for keeping the publishing content relevant to the project management. Further, the software is also efficient in proper management of time since it offers the option of a search engine. Time saving is important in any projec t management especially when there is need to achieve a mission within a given period. The project leader would only need to enter a search phrase in order to access any needed information. The SharePoint enables the project leader to avoid wastage of time when searching for any content. The SharePoint is also important in helping the project leader to manage every processes occurring during the project. The software offers workflows, which makes it easy to manage the firm processes. This will be important in supporting sustainable practices within the offices and the departments. The use of the SharePoint during the project would help the project leader in keeping track of any incoming or outgoing communication. The ability to keep track of the flowing information is important in ensuring that every stakeholder is aware of the ongoing processes. In proper management of the firm’s processes, the project leader would need a proper communication plan to help in ensuring consist ency in the communication process. The presentation of the communication plan to the stakeholders helps them to maintain consistent communication with each other. The stakeholders would need to follow the communication plan to identify any information about the project management. The communication plan helps in harmonizing the stakeholders since all of them have similar information about the situation of the project. The project leader also has the ability to make the stakeholders aware about any change in the project. Consequently, the communication plan helps the project leader to avoid delays associated with the stakeholders being misinformed. Further, the communication plan and the SharePoint software also increases the productivity of the workers. The establishment of a communication plan ensures that every employee remains informed of every activity included in the project. For instance, the project leader of the company would need to keep the stakeholders aware of the need f or their input in reducing the volume of the solid wastes by 50%. This calls for the need of a communication plan, which is efficient in equipping the stakeholders with the necessary information. The communication plan helps in restricting the stakeholders to the scope of the project since keeps them within a loop of project happenings (Turner, 2003). With the communication

Motivation Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Motivation Case study - Essay Example A job that possesses higher levels of these core characteristics is higher in motivating potential. This relationship between job characteristics and employee motivation is moderated by the employee's growth-need strength. The relation between the presence of high levels of the core job characteristics and motivation on the job is stronger for individuals who have strong growth needs. The job characteristics model provides a conceptual frame work for improving the amount of motivating potential inherent in the design of the job through increasing skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback from the task itself. Changing elements of the job's design to strengthen these core motivating characteristics is known as job enrichment (McKenna n.d, 199). At Disney under Iger's leadership, the employees have been given a relatively relaxed hand to perform the tasks they are good at with the top management not getting into micro-management. This allows employees to make decision based on their own judgments and requires a more complex level of skills. Hence the skill variety of the employees has been increased under Iger. The increased level of delegation that the employees enjoy along with the autonomy to perform tasks as they see fit has been one of the prime reasons for the higher motivation levels at Disney under Iger. Employees feel that their contribution to the work they perform is greater now and they are able to take their job to completion and therefore can enjoy a certain sense of ownership about it. The greater level of skill variety, task significance and task identity has led the Disney employees to experience a greater level of meaningfulness in the work they perform, as is shown by the JCM requirements in the diagram in the appendix. This was in sharp contrast to Eisner's strategy of increasing his own influence and squashing the confidence of the employees to make own decisions and hence, decreasing their perception about the contribution they make to the work. This has led to higher internal work motivation and higher quality performance as employees have been able to concentrate on the creative aspect and do what they are good at. This has ensured that even if the top management is not creative, the steady influx of creativity from the employees and people good at their work has kept the star of Disney burgeoning. 2- How can equity theory explain the difference in motivation of employees working under Eisner, as compared to having Iger as CEO Discuss. The Theory Equity Theory attempts to explain relational satisfaction in terms of perceptions of fair or unfair distributions of resources within interpersonal relationships. It asserts that employees seek to maintain equity between the inputs that they bring to a job and the outcomes that they receive from it against the perceived inputs and outcomes of others. The belief is that people value fair treatment which causes them to be motivated to keep the fairness maintained within the relationships of their co-workers

Chapter Two: Design

Chapter Two: Design 2.1 Chapter Overview This chapter presents a summary of the the review of literature regarding the subject of design and captures various aspects and thoughts on this. Various thoughts, process and research particularly related to the design process are explored. This chapter encompasses the definitions, characteristics, discussions and applications of design. It is intended that this chapter should give some clear background on the understanding of the design process and its development in todays world of design research. While the literature review provides a useful background of current research in the material, process and RM systems, the literature available on the design aspect for RM products is severely limited. First a review of the literature for definition of the term design is presented. A discussion of the act of designing then follows. Next, the type of knowledge associated with design has been discussed. Finally, various thoughts of process of design have been reviewed. This introduction should provide the reader with a context for interpreting the remaining chapters of this report. The full version of this chapter can be referred to Appendix 3. 2.2 Chapter Summary Design is a complex activity, involving artefacts, people, tools, process, organisations and the environment in which this takes place. This chapter has explored and discussed the subject of design and captures various aspects and thoughts on this. Various thoughts, process and research particularly related to the design are explored. However, the assumption that there exists a set of universally accepted design process is an area that can be further explored. Conclusively, design is seen as a possible but subjective process. This leads to different sets of interpretation being used by different researchers. Whilst there may be some dispute about the precise definition of the term design, it is recognized as a purposeful and creative activity. In summary, design seeks to create things with the purpose of satisfying certain requirements in new ways that improves the quality of lives. In product design, a variety of requirements must be considered ranging from functionality and usability to pleasure. However, design is more than just translating a set of requirements into a product. Also, and more importantly, it involves finding new requirements. Thus, design involves finding problems and solutions simultaneously, and this is where creativity is important. Designing a product involves a constant decision making process that includes problem solving in a sequential fashion and analysis of constraints at each step. Product designers conceptualize and evaluate ideas, making them tangible through products in a more systematic approach. The role of a product designer encompasses many characteristics of the marketing manager, product manager, industrial designer and design engineer. The role of the product designer combines art, science and technology to create tangible three-dimensional goods. This evolving role has been facilitated by digital tools that allow designers to communicate, visualize and analyze ideas in a way that would have taken greater manpower in the past. (This appears in identical form in Wikipedia!) A number of formal structures and frameworks to better understand the design process have been suggested from many different disciplines by many researchers. Most of them have converged upon the general form proposed by Pahl and Beitzs. Pahl and Beitz (1996) outline a model of the design process for mechanical design that considers not only the sequence of stages, but also what the output of each stage. They divided the design process into four phases that includes planning and clarification of the task, conceptual design, embodiment design and detail design. However, this research is concern with the understanding of the design process for Rapid Manufactured products. One of the objectives is to understand how the design process works and how it is learned and performed by professional and expert designers. The aim of the research is to support the design process with the aid of computers. Finally, this chapter has given some background on the understanding of the design process and its development in todays world of design research. Chapter Three: Computer Support Tools for Design 3.1 Chapter Overview This chapter presents an overview of various tools to generate CAD models for RM processes and the decision support systems, tools and techniques used to support the design process. The full document of this chapter can be referred to Appendix 4. 3.2 Chapter Summary Computational tools play an essential role in providing support for the designer, because of their speed and capability for handling huge amounts of information at fairly low costs. There are various methods to aid designer to generate CAD models such as CAD softwares, reverse engineering and haptic devices. CAD traditionally refers to computer tool to visualize, describe, edit and test manufactured artefacts, which are now an essential part of all manufacturing and production processes. CAD systems often involves more than just shapes. CAD has evolved to incorporate several other applications of computer integration with engineering, manufacturing and simulation. CAD now offers the capability of freeform surface modelling and solid modelling operations that allows user to create almost any complex geometry and photo realistic rendered images. Reverse engineering is an important tool to generate CAD models. To reverse engineer a part, the part is measured by a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) or a 3D laser scanner. The use of reverse engineering technology not only increases the overall accuracy, but also improved the productivity of manufacturing process. There are various areas of applications of haptics devices. In manufacturing, haptics can assist design for assembly and for rapid design and prototyping. In computer-aided design, designers can experience real time details with their hands, such as wanted or unwanted artefacts of a design which are difficult to display visually. It is also possible to assess human maintainability of complex systems before they are built . The increasing power of computer has lead to the development of software, tools and techniques to support the design activity particularly to make design decisions. Most of the decision support tools are related to the knowledge base systems or often called as expert system. Expert systems are computer programs that are derived from a branch of computer science research called Artificial Intelligence (AI). AIs scientific goal is to understand intelligence by building computer programs that exhibit intelligent behaviour (Boyle 1989). It is concerned with the concepts and methods of symbolic inference, or reasoning, by a computer, and how the knowledge used to make those inferences will be represented inside the machine. The main characteristics of the Expert Systems can be briefly described as: reduced decision making time, enhancement of problem solving capabilities, a capture of limited expertise and its diffusion, an increased output, productivity and quality; accessibility to know ledge, ability to work with incomplete information and provision of training(Ziemian, Crawn 2001). There are several methods used to support the decision making process such as Case-Based Reasoning (CBR), fuzzy logic, Artificial Neural Network, Rule Base System and Ontology. CBR is a problem solving technique based on the adaptation of previous examples that are similar to the current problem(Maher, Balachandran Zhang 1995). An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is an information processing paradigm that is inspired by the way biological nervous systems, such as the brain, process information (Moridis, Economides, 2009). Fuzzy are developed using the method of fuzzy logic, which deals with uncertainty. This technique, which uses the mathematical theory of fuzzy sets, simulates the process of normal human reasoning by allowing the computer to behave less precisely and logically than conventional computers (Shu-Hsien Liao 2005). Rules are probably the most common form of knowledge representation and they are present in most Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications such as Expert Systems and Decision Support Systems (Obot, Uzoka 2009). Rule base system uses rules as the knowledge representation for knowledge coded into the system i.e. knowledge is stored as rules. Rules typically take the form of if then statement. Ontology in both computer science and information science is a formal representation of a set of concepts within a domain and the relationships between those concepts (Shu-Hsien Liao 2005). Ontology is a system of vocabulary, which is used as a fundamental concept for describing the task/domain knowledge o be identified. This vocabulary is used as a communication basis between domain experts and knowledge engineers. On the other hand, there are a number of selection tool for RP system has been developed since 1993 (Masood, Soo 2002). The selection of the most suitable RM process is dependent on factors such as build envelope, accuracy, material, build speed and other machine related parameters. This chapter has explored and discussed the general overview of the various tools to generate CAD models for RM processes and the decision support systems, tools and techniques to support the design process. Various CAD data development systems and tool have been explored. Furthermore, various expert systems technologies that support the decision making process have also been explored. Conclusively, CAD and reverse engineering technology are the most well known CAD data development systems. In addition, expert systems are the most well known decision support tool that have been used for various applications. Having become widely used for a broad range of applications, some elements of an expert system could be considered to have the capability to be a design aid tool that could realise the DfRM tool. In the context of design support systems for RM technologies, due to the direct manufacturing of products from CAD data, the cost and time are low mainly because complex objects can be generated without the use of conventional machines. So far within the RM field little attention has been given to the product design phase, emphasis is normally on the development of the technology itself (processes, materials, building strategies, system selection, manufacturing parameter optimisation etc). On the other hand the operation and choices which take place during the design phase are crucial for the quality of the product produce.

Japan Students and Education Essay example -- Essays Papers

Japan Students and Education After World War II, Japan was a country left with almost no resources and lacked of man power. However, Japanese had managed to reconstruct the country and make Japan a successful industrialized nation. What had make things change so dramatically? What special magic that Japanese people had used? The answer revealed itself when we look closer at the history of the Japan Education System. According to Okano and Tsuchiya that â€Å"Japan education can be split into pre-war period of nationalist schooling (1868-1945) and the post-war one of democratic education (1945-present)† (13). Education was used as the tool to nurture a sense of â€Å"nationhood† during pre-war period. In order to overcome the problem after World War II, the post-war one education had changed accordingly to the needs of the society. Education was used as a median to the development of human capital for the Japan’s economic growth. The key for the Japan economically success was education. The s uccess of the Japan education system relied greatly on students; students are the most important element who carries all the expectation from the society. This paper will explore the role play by the students in Japan education system for making the mark. Making the Mark: Society The success of the Japan education system after World War II shown that Japan society had lot to expect from their students. Japanese government and society take education seriously and the results and responses from the students out of the commitment are amazing. According to the statistic report from NationMaster.com Japan was ranked thirteen in the school enrollment in primary education with 100.81 percent in year 2000 and was in the first place in the rank of the school enrollment in the secondary education with 101.2 percent in year 2000. On the other hand according to Gail R. Benjamin â€Å"†¦ the national system of education [Japan] in 1872 had reached close to 100 percent enrollment levels (200).† Cleary the number hasn’t change much over the century and the success of the education system is inevitable true. Students in Japan play a major role in the success of the education by just participating in the system. The expectation from the society toward the students changes corresponding from primary school, middle school, high school and university. The primary school students are expectin... ...unity as a whole. Works Cited Benjamin, Gail. Japanese Lessons. New York: New York University Press, 1997 Okano, Kaori, and Tsuchiya, Motonori. Education in contemporary Japan: inequality and diversity. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999 Amano, Ikuo. Japanese College Years. 1988. 19 Nov. 2003 Cummings, William K. Postsecondary Education in Japan. 1988. 19 Nov. 2003 Imamura, Anne E. The Japanese Family. 1990. 19 Nov. 2003 White, Merry. High School Students in Japan. 1988. 19 Nov. 2003 â€Å"Parent’s Role.† Japanese Junior High Schools. Ms. Walton, Mrs. Thai, Mr. Munoz 24 Nov. 2003 http://www.motthall.org/cq/prole.html â€Å"Dating.† Japanese Junior High Schools. Ms. Walton, Mrs. Thai, Mr. Munoz 24 Nov. 2003 http://www.motthall.org/cq/prole.html Japan Students and Education Essay example -- Essays Papers Japan Students and Education After World War II, Japan was a country left with almost no resources and lacked of man power. However, Japanese had managed to reconstruct the country and make Japan a successful industrialized nation. What had make things change so dramatically? What special magic that Japanese people had used? The answer revealed itself when we look closer at the history of the Japan Education System. According to Okano and Tsuchiya that â€Å"Japan education can be split into pre-war period of nationalist schooling (1868-1945) and the post-war one of democratic education (1945-present)† (13). Education was used as the tool to nurture a sense of â€Å"nationhood† during pre-war period. In order to overcome the problem after World War II, the post-war one education had changed accordingly to the needs of the society. Education was used as a median to the development of human capital for the Japan’s economic growth. The key for the Japan economically success was education. The s uccess of the Japan education system relied greatly on students; students are the most important element who carries all the expectation from the society. This paper will explore the role play by the students in Japan education system for making the mark. Making the Mark: Society The success of the Japan education system after World War II shown that Japan society had lot to expect from their students. Japanese government and society take education seriously and the results and responses from the students out of the commitment are amazing. According to the statistic report from NationMaster.com Japan was ranked thirteen in the school enrollment in primary education with 100.81 percent in year 2000 and was in the first place in the rank of the school enrollment in the secondary education with 101.2 percent in year 2000. On the other hand according to Gail R. Benjamin â€Å"†¦ the national system of education [Japan] in 1872 had reached close to 100 percent enrollment levels (200).† Cleary the number hasn’t change much over the century and the success of the education system is inevitable true. Students in Japan play a major role in the success of the education by just participating in the system. The expectation from the society toward the students changes corresponding from primary school, middle school, high school and university. The primary school students are expectin... ...unity as a whole. Works Cited Benjamin, Gail. Japanese Lessons. New York: New York University Press, 1997 Okano, Kaori, and Tsuchiya, Motonori. Education in contemporary Japan: inequality and diversity. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999 Amano, Ikuo. Japanese College Years. 1988. 19 Nov. 2003 Cummings, William K. Postsecondary Education in Japan. 1988. 19 Nov. 2003 Imamura, Anne E. The Japanese Family. 1990. 19 Nov. 2003 White, Merry. High School Students in Japan. 1988. 19 Nov. 2003 â€Å"Parent’s Role.† Japanese Junior High Schools. Ms. Walton, Mrs. Thai, Mr. Munoz 24 Nov. 2003 http://www.motthall.org/cq/prole.html â€Å"Dating.† Japanese Junior High Schools. Ms. Walton, Mrs. Thai, Mr. Munoz 24 Nov. 2003 http://www.motthall.org/cq/prole.html

Spirit Bound Chapter Six

â€Å"YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED?† I was sitting between Eddie and Lissa, on our flight from Seattle to Fairbanks. As the shortest–marginally–and the mastermind, I'd gotten stuck with the middle seat. â€Å"A new plan?† asked Lissa. â€Å"A miracle?† asked Eddie. I paused and glared at them both before responding. Since when had they become the comedians here? â€Å"No. Stuff. We need cool gadgets if we're going to pull this off.† I tapped the prison blueprint that had been on my lap for almost every part of our trip so far. Mikhail had dropped us off at a small airport an hour away from the Court. We'd caught a commuter flight from there to Philadelphia, and from there to Seattle and now Fairbanks. It reminded me a little of the crazy flights I'd had to take from Siberia back to the U.S. That journey had also gone via Seattle. I was starting to believe that city was a gateway to obscure places. â€Å"I thought the only tools we needed were our wits,† mused Eddie. He might be serious about his guardian work most of the time, but he could also turn on his dry humor when relaxed. Not that he was totally at ease with our mission here, now that he knew more of (but not all) the details. I knew he'd snap back into readiness once we landed. He'd been understandably shocked when I'd revealed we were freeing Victor Dashkov. I hadn't told Eddie anything about Dimitri or spirit, only that getting Victor out played a larger role in the greater good. Eddie's trust in me was so implicit that he'd taken me at my word and pursued the issue no further. I wondered how he'd react when he learned the truth. â€Å"At the very least, we're going to need a GPS,† I said. â€Å"There's only latitude and longitude on this thing. No real directions.† â€Å"Shouldn't be hard,† said Lissa, turning a bracelet over and over in her hands. She'd opened her tray and spread out Tasha's jewelry across it. â€Å"I'm sure even Alaska has modern technology.† She'd also turned on a droll attitude, even with anxiety radiating through the bond. Eddie's good mood faded a little. â€Å"I hope you aren't thinking of guns or anything like that.† â€Å"No. Absolutely not. If this works how we want, no one will even know we're there.† A physical confrontation was likely, but I hoped to minimize serious injury. Lissa sighed and handed me the bracelet. She was worried because a lot of my plan depended on her charms–literally and figuratively. â€Å"I don't know if this'll work, but maybe it'll give you more resistance.† I took the bracelet and slipped it on my wrist. I felt nothing, but I only rarely did with charmed objects. I'd left Adrian a note saying that Lissa and I had wanted to escape for a â€Å"girls' getaway† before my assignment and her college visit. I knew he'd be hurt. The girl angle would carry a lot of weight, but he'd feel injured at not being invited along on a daring vacation–if he even believed we were on one. He probably knew me well enough by now to guess most of my actions had ulterior motives. My hope was that he'd spread the story to Court officials when our disappearance was noticed. We'd still get in trouble, but a wild weekend was better than a prison break. And honestly, how could things get worse for me? The one flaw here was that Adrian could visit my dreams and grill me on what was really going on. It was one of the more interesting–and occasionally annoying–spirit abilities. Lissa hadn't learned to walk dreams, but she had a crude underst anding of the principle. Between that and compulsion, she'd tried to charm the bracelet in a way that would block Adrian when I slept later. The plane began its descent into Fairbanks, and I gazed out the window at tall pines and stretches of green land. In Lissa's thoughts, I read how she'd been half-expecting glaciers and snowbanks, despite knowing it was full summer here. After Siberia, I'd learned to keep an open mind about regional stereotypes. My biggest concern was the sun. It had been full daylight when we'd left the Court, and as our travels took us west, the time zone change meant that the sun stayed with us. Now, though it was almost nine in the evening, we had a full, sunny blue sky, thanks to our northern latitude. It was like a giant safety blanket. I hadn't mentioned this to Lissa or Eddie, but it seemed likely Dimitri would have spies everywhere. I was untouchable at St. Vladimir's and the Court, but his letters had clearly stated he'd be waiting for me to leave those boundaries. I didn't know the extent of his logistics, but humans watching the Court in daylight wouldn't have surprised me. And even though I'd left hidden in a trunk, there was a strong possibility that Dimitri was already in pursuit. But the same light that guarded the prisoners would keep us safe too. We'd barely have a few hours of night to guard against, and if we pulled this off quickly, we'd be out of Alaska in hardly any time at all. Of course, that might not be such a good thing. We'd lose the sun. Our first complication came after we landed and tried to rent a car. Eddie and I were eighteen, but none of the car companies would rent to anyone so young. After the third refusal, my anger began to grow. Who would have thought we'd be delayed by something so idiotic? Finally, at a fourth counter, the woman hesitantly told us that there was a guy about a mile from the airport who would likely rent us a car if we had a credit card and a big enough deposit. We made the walk in pleasant weather, but I could tell the sun was starting to bother Lissa by the time we reached our destination. Bud–of Bud's Rental Cars–didn't seem quite as sleazy as expected and did indeed rent us a car when we produced enough money. From there, we got a room at a modest motel and went over our plans again. All our information indicated that the prison ran on a vampire schedule, which meant this was their active time of the day. Our plan was to stay in the hotel until the following day, when the Moroi â€Å"night† came, and catch some sleep beforehand. It gave Lissa more time to work on her charms. Our room was easily defendable. My sleep was Adrian-free, for which I was grateful, meaning he'd either accepted the girl trip or couldn't break through Lissa's bracelet. In the morning, we rustled up some doughnuts for breakfast and ate a little bleary-eyed. Running against our vampire schedule was throwing us all off a little. The sugar helped kick-start us, though, and Eddie and I left Lissa around ten to go do some scouting. We bought my coveted GPS and a few other things at a sporting goods store along the way and used it to navigate remote country roads that seemed to lead nowhere. When the GPS claimed we were a mile from the prison, we pulled off to the side of a small dirt road and set off on foot across a field of tall grass that stretched endlessly before us. â€Å"I thought Alaska was tundra,† said Eddie, crunching through the tall stalks. The sky was blue and clear again, with only a few clouds that did nothing to keep the sun away. I'd started out in a light jacket but now had it tied around my waist as I sweated. Occasionally a welcome gust of wind would roll through, flattening the grass and whipping my hair around. â€Å"I guess not all parts. Or maybe we have to go further north. Oh, hey. This looks promising.† We came to a stop before a high, barbwire fence with an enormous PRIVATE PROPERTY–NO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ALLOWED sign on it. The lettering was red, apparently to emphasize how serious they were. Personally, I would have added a skull and crossbones to really drive the message home. Eddie and I studied the fence for a few moments, then gave each other resigned glances. â€Å"Lissa will heal up anything we get,† I said hopefully. Climbing barbed wire isn't impossible, but it's not fun. Tossing my jacket on the wires I had to grip went a long way to protect me, but I still ended up with some scratches and snagged clothing. Once I was at the top, I jumped down, preferring the jolting landing to another climb down. Eddie did the same, grimacing at the hard impact. We walked a little farther, and then the dark line of a building came into sight. We both came to a halt as one and knelt down, seeking what coverage we could in the grass. The prison file had indicated that they had cameras on the outside, which meant we risked detection if we got too close. I'd bought high-power binoculars along with the GPS and took them out now, studying the building's exterior. The binoculars were good–really good–as well they should have been for the price. The level of detail was amazing. Like so many Moroi creations, the building was a mixture of the old and the new. The walls were made of sinister gray stone blocks and almost entirely obscured the actual prison, whose roof just barely peeped above. A couple of figures paced along the top of the walls, living eyes to go with the cameras. The place looked like a fortress, impenetrable and inescapable. It deserved to be on a rocky cliff, with a sinister black sky behind it. The field and sun seemed out of place. I handed the binoculars to Eddie. He made his own assessment and then gestured to the left. â€Å"There.† Squinting, I just barely made out a truck or SUV driving up toward the prison. It went around the back and vanished from sight. â€Å"Our only way in,† I murmured, recalling the blueprint. We knew we had no shot of scaling the walls or even getting close enough on foot without being spotted. We needed to literally walk through the front door, and that's where the plan got a little sketchy. Eddie lowered the binoculars and glanced over at me, brow furrowed. â€Å"I meant what I said before, you know. I trust you. Whatever reason you're doing this, I know it's a good one. But before things start moving, are you sure this is what you want?† I gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"Want? No. But it's what we need to do.† He nodded. â€Å"Good enough.† We watched the prison a while longer, moving around to get different angles while still keeping a wide perimeter. The scenario was about what we'd expected, but having a 3-D visual was still helpful. After about a half hour, we returned to the hotel. Lissa sat cross-legged on one of the beds, still working on the charms. The feelings coming through her were warm and content. Spirit always made her feel good–even if it had side effects later–and she thought she was making progress. â€Å"Adrian called my cell phone twice,† she told me when we entered. â€Å"But you didn't answer?† â€Å"Nope. Poor guy.† I shrugged. â€Å"It's better this way.† We gave her a rundown of what we'd seen, and her happy mood began to plummet. Our visit made what we were going to do later today more and more real, and working with so much spirit had already put her on edge. A few moments later, I sensed her swallowing her fear. She became resolved. She'd told me she would do this and she intended to stand by her word, even though she dreaded each second that brought her closer to Victor Dashkov. Lunch followed, and then a few hours later, it was time to put the plan into motion. It was early evening for humans, which meant the vampiric night would be drawing to an end soon. It was now or never. Lissa nervously distributed the charms she'd made for us, worried they wouldn't work. Eddie dressed up in his newly bestowed black-and-white guardian formalwear while Lissa and I stayed in our street clothes–with a couple alterations. Lissa's hair was a mousy brown, the result of some wash-in temporary hair color. My hair was tightly bound up underneath a curly red wig that reminded me uncomfortably of my mother. We sat in the backseat of the car while Eddie drove us chauffeur style back along the remote road we'd followed earlier. Unlike before, we didn't pull over. We stayed on the road, driving right up to the prison–or, well, to its gatehouse. No one spoke as we drove, but the tension and anxiety within us all grew and grew. Before we could even get near the outer wall, there was a checkpoint manned by a guardian. Eddie brought the car to a stop, and I tried to look calm. He lowered the window, and the guardian on duty walked over and knelt so that they were at eye level. â€Å"What's your business here?† Eddie handed over a piece of paper, his attitude confident and unconcerned, as though this were perfectly normal. â€Å"Dropping off new feeders.† The file had contained all sorts of forms and papers for prison business, including status reports and order forms for supplies–like feeders. We'd made a copy of one of the feeder requisition forms and filled it out. â€Å"I wasn't notified of a delivery,† the guardian said, not suspicious so much as puzzled. He peered at the paperwork. â€Å"This is an old form.† Eddie shrugged. â€Å"It's just what they gave me. I'm kind of new at this.† The man grinned. â€Å"Yeah, you barely look old enough to be out of school.† He glanced toward Lissa and me, and despite my practiced control, I tensed. The guardian frowned as he studied us. Lissa had given me a necklace, and she'd taken a ring, both charmed with a slight compulsion spell to make others think we were human. It would have been much easier to make her victim wear a charm and force them to think they were seeing humans, but that wasn't possible. The magic was harder this way. He squinted, almost like he was looking at us through a haze. If the charms had worked perfectly, he wouldn't have given us a second glance. The charms were a little flawed. They were changing our appearances but not quite as clearly as we'd hoped. That was why we'd gone to the trouble of altering our hair: if the human-illusion failed, we'd still have some identity protection. Lissa readied herself to work direct compulsion, though we'd hoped it wouldn't come to that with every person we met. A few moments later, the guardian turned from us, apparently deciding we were human after all. I exhaled and unclenched my fists. I hadn't even realized I'd been holding them. â€Å"Hang on a minute, and I'll call this in,† he told Eddie. The guardian stepped away and picked up a phone inside his booth. Eddie glanced back at us. â€Å"So far so good?† â€Å"Aside from the old form,† I grumbled. â€Å"No way to know if my charm's working?† asked Eddie. Lissa had given him one of Tasha's rings, charmed to make him appear tan-skinned and black-haired. Since she wasn't altering his race, the magic only needed to blur his features. Like our human charms, I suspected it wasn't projecting the exact image she'd hoped for, but it should have altered his appearance enough that no one would identify Eddie later. With our resistance to compulsion–and knowing there was a charm in place, which negated its effects on us–Lissa and I couldn't say for certain what he looked like to others. â€Å"I'm sure it's fine,† said Lissa reassuringly. The guardian returned. â€Å"They say go on in, and they'll sort it out there.† â€Å"Thanks,† said Eddie, taking the form back. The guard's attitude implied that he assumed this was a clerical error. He was still diligent, but the idea of someone sneaking feeders into a prison was hardly the kind of thing one would expect–or view as a security risk. Poor guy. Two guardians greeted us when we arrived at the door in the prison's wall. The three of us got out and were led into the grounds between the wall and the prison itself. Whereas St. Vladimir's and the Court's grounds had been lush and filled with plants and trees, the land here was stark and lonely. Not even grass, just hard-packed earth. Was this what served as the prisoners' â€Å"exercise area†? Were they even allowed outside at all? I was surprised there wasn't a moat of some sort out here. The inside of the building was as grim as its exterior. The holding cells at Court were sterile and cold, all metal and blank walls. I'd expected something similar. But whoever had designed Tarasov had foregone the modern look and instead emulated the kind of prison one might have found back in Romania in medieval days. The harsh stone walls continued down the hall, gray and foreboding, and the air was chill and damp. It had to make for unpleasant working conditions for the guardians assigned here. Presumably they wanted to ensure the intimidating facade extended everywhere, even for prisoners first entering the gates. According to our blueprint, there was a little section of dorms where employees lived. Hopefully those were nicer. Dark Ages decor or not, we passed the occasional camera as we walked down the hallway. This place's security was in no way primitive. Occasionally we heard the heavy slamming of a door, but overall, there was a perfect, eerie silence that was almost creepier than shouts and screams. We were taken to the warden's office, a room that still had the same gloomy architecture yet was filled with the usual administrative accessories: desk, computer, etc. It looked efficient, nothing more. Our escorts explained that we were going to see the assistant warden, since the senior one was still in bed. It figured. The subordinate would have gotten stuck with the night shift. I hoped that meant he was tired and unobservant. Probably not. That rarely happened to guardians, no matter their assignments. â€Å"Theo Marx,† said the assistant warden, shaking Eddie's hand. He was a dhampir not much older than us, and I wondered if he'd only been freshly assigned here. â€Å"Larry Brown,† replied Eddie. We'd come up with a boring name for him, one that wouldn't stand out, and had used it in the paperwork. Theo didn't speak to Lissa and me, but he did give us that same puzzled glance the first guy had as the charm's glamour attempted its illusion. Another delay followed, but once more, we slipped through. Theo returned his attention to Eddie and took the requisition form. â€Å"This is different from the usual one,† he said. â€Å"I have no clue,† said Eddie apologetically. â€Å"This is my first time.† Theo sighed and glanced at the clock. â€Å"The warden'll be on duty in another couple hours. I think we're just going to have to wait until he's here to figure out what's going on. Sommerfield's usually got their act together.† There were a few Moroi facilities in the country that gathered feeders–those on the fringes of human society who were content to spend their lives high on vampire endorphins–and then distributed them. Sommerfield was the name of one such facility, located in Kansas City. â€Å"I'm not the only new person they just received,† Eddie said. â€Å"Maybe someone got confused.† â€Å"Typical,† snorted Theo. â€Å"Well, you might as well have a seat and wait. I can get coffee if you want.† â€Å"When are we getting a feeding?† I suddenly asked, using the whiniest, dreamiest voice I could. â€Å"It's been so long.† Lissa followed my lead. â€Å"They said we could when we got here.† Eddie rolled his eyes at what was typical feeder behavior. â€Å"They've been like this the whole time.† â€Å"I can imagine,† said Theo. â€Å"Humph. Feeders.† The door to his office was partially ajar and he called out of it. â€Å"Hey, Wes? Can you come here?† One of the escort guardians stuck his head inside. â€Å"Yeah?† Theo gave us a dismissive wave. â€Å"Take these two down to the feeding area so they don't drive us crazy. If someone's up, they can use them.† Wes nodded and beckoned us out. Eddie and I made the briefest of eye contact. His face betrayed nothing, but I knew he was nervous. Getting Victor out was our job now, and Eddie didn't like sending us to the dragon's lair. Wes led us through more doors and security checkpoints as we went deeper into the prison. I realized that for every layer of security I crossed to get in, I was going to have to cross it again to escape. According to the blueprint, the feeding area was situated on the opposite side of the prison. I'd assumed we'd take some route along the periphery, but instead we cut right through the building's center–where the prisoners were kept. Studying had given me a sense of the layout, but Lissa didn't realize where we were headed until a sign alerted us: WARNING–NOW ENTERING PRISONER AREA (CRIMINAL). I thought that was an odd wording. Wasn't everyone in here a criminal? Heavy double doors blocked this section off, and Wes used both an electronic code and a physical key to cross through. Lissa's pace didn't change, but I felt her anxiety increase as we entered a long corridor lined with bar-covered cells. I didn't feel any better about it myself, but Wes–while still alert–didn't display any sign of fear. He entered this area all the time, I realized. He knew its security. The prisoners might be dangerous, but passing by them was a routine activity for him. Still, peeking inside the cells nearly made my heart stop. The little compartments were as dark and gloomy as anything, containing only bare-bones furnishings. Most of the prisoners were asleep, thankfully. A few, however, watched as we walked by. None of them said anything, but the silence was almost scarier. Some of the Moroi held there looked like ordinary people you'd pass on the street, and I wondered what they could have possibly done to end up here. Their faces were sad, devoid of all hope. I did a double take and realized that some of the prisoners weren't Moroi; they were dhampirs. It made sense but still caught me off guard. My own kind would have criminals that needed to be dealt with, too. But not all of the prisoners appeared benign. Others looked like they definitely belonged in Tarasov. There was a malevolence about them, a sinister feel as their eyes locked onto us and didn't let go. They scrutinized our every detail, though for what reason, I couldn't say. Were they seeking out anything that might offer escape? Could they see through our facades? Were they simply hungry? I didn't know but felt grateful for the silent guardians posted throughout the hall. I was also grateful that I didn't see Victor and assumed he lived in a different hall. We couldn't risk being recognized yet. We finally exited the prisoners' corridor through another set of double doors and at last reached the feeding area. It too felt like a medieval dungeon, but images had to be kept up for the sake of the prisoners. Decor aside, the feeding room's layout was similar to what St. Vladimir's had, except it was smaller. A few cubicles offered moderate privacy, and a bored-looking Moroi guy was reading a book at a desk but looked ready to fall asleep. There was only one feeder in the room, a scraggly-looking, middle-aged human who sat in a chair with a dopey smile on his face, staring at nothing. The Moroi flinched when we entered, his eyes going wide. Clearly, we were the most exciting thing to happen to him all night. He didn't have that moment of disorientation when he glanced at us; he apparently had low compulsion resistance, which was good to know. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"Two new ones just came in,† said Wes. â€Å"But we're not due,† said the Moroi. â€Å"And we never get ones this young. They always give us the old, used-up ones.† â€Å"Don't ask me,† said Wes, moving toward the door once he'd indicated seats for Lissa and me. It was clear he found escorting feeders beneath him. â€Å"Marx wants them here until Sullivan gets up. My guess is it's going to turn out to be a mistake, but they were complaining about needing a fix.† â€Å"Wonderful,† groaned the Moroi. â€Å"Well, our next meal's due in fifteen minutes, so I can give Bradley over there a break. He's so gone, I doubt he'd notice if someone else gave blood instead of him.† Wes nodded. â€Å"We'll call down when we've got this straight.† The guardian left, and the Moroi picked up a clipboard with a sigh. I had the feeling everyone here was kind of tired of their jobs. I could understand why. This had to be a miserable place to work. Give me the wider world anytime. â€Å"Who's due to feed in fifteen minutes?† I asked. The Moroi's head jerked up in astonishment. It wasn't the kind of question a feeder asked. â€Å"What did you say?† Lissa stood up and got him in her gaze. â€Å"Answer her question.† The man's face went slack. He was easy to compel. â€Å"Rudolf Kaiser.† No one either of us recognized. He could have been in here for mass murder or embezzlement for all I knew. â€Å"When's Victor Dashkov due?† asked Lissa. â€Å"Two hours.† â€Å"Alter the schedule. Tell his guards there's been a readjustment and he has to come now instead of Rudolf.† The Moroi's blank eyes–now as dazed looking as Bradley the feeder's, really–seemed to take a moment to process this. â€Å"Yes,† he said. â€Å"This is something that might happen normally. It won't raise suspicion.† â€Å"It won't raise suspicion,† he repeated in a monotone. â€Å"Do it,† she ordered, voice hard. â€Å"Call them, set it up, and do not take your eyes off of me.† The Moroi complied. While speaking on the phone, he identified himself as Northwood. When he disconnected, the arrangements had been made. We had nothing to do but wait now. My entire body was tightly wound with tension. Theo had said we had over an hour until the warden was on duty. No one would ask questions until then. Eddie simply had to kill time with Theo and not raise suspicions behind a paperwork error. Calm down, Rose. You can do this. While we waited, Lissa compelled Bradley the feeder into a heavy sleep. I didn't want any witnesses, even not drugged ones. Likewise, I turned the room's camera ever so slightly, so it no longer could see the bulk of the room. Naturally, we'd have to deal with the prison's entire surveillance system before we left, but for now, we needed no watching security personnel to catch sight of what was about to happen. I had just settled into one of the cubicles when the door opened. Lissa had stayed in her chair near Northwood's desk, so that she could keep her compulsion on him. We'd instructed him that I would be the feeder. I was enclosed, but through Lissa's sight, I saw the group enter: two guardians†¦ and Victor Dashkov. The same distress she'd felt when seeing him at her trial shot up within her. Her heart rate increased. Her hands shook. The only thing that had finally calmed her back at the trial was the resolution of it all, knowing Victor would be locked away forever and unable to hurt her again. And now we were about to change all that. Forcibly, Lissa shoved her fear out of her mind so that she could keep her hold on Northwood. The guardians beside Victor were stern and ready for action, though they didn't really need to be. The sickness that had plagued him for years–the one Lissa had temporarily healed him of–was starting to rear its head again. Lack of exercise and fresh air appeared to have taken a toll too, as had the limited blood prisoners were supposedly given. The guards had him clad in shackles as an extra precaution, and the heavy weight dragged him down, almost making him shuffle. â€Å"Over there,† said Northwood, pointing at me. â€Å"That one.† The guardians led Victor past Lissa, and he barely gave her a second glance. She was working double compulsion: keeping Northwood under her control and using a quick burst to make herself insignificant to Victor when he walked by. The guardians settled him into a chair beside me and then stepped back, still keeping him in sight. One of them struck up conversation with Northwood, noting our newness and youth. If I ever did this again, I'd have Lissa charm us into looking older. Sitting beside me, Victor leaned toward me and opened his mouth. Feedings were so second nature, the motions always the same, that he hardly had to think about what he did. It was like he didn't even see me. Except, then†¦ he did. He froze, his eyes going wide. Certain characteristics marked the royal Moroi families, and light, jade-green eyes ran amongst both the Dashkovs and the Dragomirs. The weary, resigned look in his disappeared, and the cunning sharpness that so characterized him–the shrewd intellect I knew well–snapped into place. It reminded me eerily of some of the prisoners we'd passed earlier. But he was confused. Like the other people we'd encountered, my charm was muddling his thoughts. His senses told him I was a human†¦ yet the illusion wasn't perfect. There was also the fact that Victor, as a strong non-spirit compulsion wielder, was relatively resistant to it. And just as Eddie, Lissa, and I had been immune to one another's charms because we knew our true identities, Victor experienced the same effect. His mind might insist that I was human, but his eyes told him I was Rose Hathaway, even with my wig. And once that knowledge was solidified, the human illusion disappeared for him. A slow, intrigued smile spread over his face, blatantly displaying his fangs. â€Å"Oh my. This might be the best meal I've ever had.† His voice was barely audible, covered by the conversation of the others. â€Å"Put your teeth anywhere near me and it'll be your last meal,† I murmured, voice just as quiet. â€Å"But if you want any chance of getting out of here and seeing the world again, you'll do exactly what I say.† He gave me a questioning look. I took a deep breath, dreading what I had to say next. â€Å"Attack me.†

Free Essays on Being Afraid

Have you ever been afraid? Does a thunder and lightning storm make your heart beat fast? Maybe your mouth goes dry when your teacher announces a pop quiz, or your palms sweat when it's your turn to give your book report in front of the class. Perhaps you get butterflies in your tummy when you see that cute someone. I am afraid of being alone in a large, dark house with multiple levels because you will never know who is around the corner. You will never know who is hiding in a closet and you will never know who is on the opposite side of the house. And you may never know. My whole life I have been surrounded with numerous family members constantly in and out of the house. There was always so much going on that I never really had the time to be afraid of my own house. After much thought, when I was 11 years old, my parents decided that we needed a bigger house. They put forth the effort to build a gigantic house that is now too big for the amount of people that live there. Never did I experience the fear that I have of being afraid in a large house until I was much older. This is interesting isn’t it? Most people would assume that the prime time for being afraid is when you are of a younger age. But then again we all are afraid from time to time. That’s true no matter how big we are or brave we can be. I suddenly became some sort of an only child at the age of 13. My siblings moved out and off to college which left me home alone to experience my biggest fear. It wasn’t until my freshman year when I realized that I was afraid of my very own house. Have you ever wondered why being scared causes your heart to beat faster and breaths to become quicker? It all began one fall evening when I caught a ride home from volleyball with a friend because my mother was in the library for mutual that evening. It was starting to get darker earlier and a little bit colder outside. As I entered my home my hands were full of bags. I could... Free Essays on Being Afraid Free Essays on Being Afraid Have you ever been afraid? Does a thunder and lightning storm make your heart beat fast? Maybe your mouth goes dry when your teacher announces a pop quiz, or your palms sweat when it's your turn to give your book report in front of the class. Perhaps you get butterflies in your tummy when you see that cute someone. I am afraid of being alone in a large, dark house with multiple levels because you will never know who is around the corner. You will never know who is hiding in a closet and you will never know who is on the opposite side of the house. And you may never know. My whole life I have been surrounded with numerous family members constantly in and out of the house. There was always so much going on that I never really had the time to be afraid of my own house. After much thought, when I was 11 years old, my parents decided that we needed a bigger house. They put forth the effort to build a gigantic house that is now too big for the amount of people that live there. Never did I experience the fear that I have of being afraid in a large house until I was much older. This is interesting isn’t it? Most people would assume that the prime time for being afraid is when you are of a younger age. But then again we all are afraid from time to time. That’s true no matter how big we are or brave we can be. I suddenly became some sort of an only child at the age of 13. My siblings moved out and off to college which left me home alone to experience my biggest fear. It wasn’t until my freshman year when I realized that I was afraid of my very own house. Have you ever wondered why being scared causes your heart to beat faster and breaths to become quicker? It all began one fall evening when I caught a ride home from volleyball with a friend because my mother was in the library for mutual that evening. It was starting to get darker earlier and a little bit colder outside. As I entered my home my hands were full of bags. I could...

An Explanation of the Ideal Gas Law

An Explanation of the Ideal Gas Law The Ideal Gas Law is one of the Equations of State. Although the law describes the behavior of an ideal gas, the equation is applicable to real gases under many conditions, so it is a useful equation to learn to use. The Ideal Gas Law may be expressed as: PV NkT where:P absolute pressure in atmospheresV volume (usually in liters)n number of particles of gask Boltzmanns constant (1.38Â ·10−23 JÂ ·K−1)T temperature in Kelvin The Ideal Gas Law may be expressed in SI units where pressure is in pascals, volume is in cubic meters, N becomes n and is expressed as moles, and k is replaced by R, the Gas Constant (8.314 JÂ ·K−1Â ·mol−1): PV nRT Ideal Gases Versus Real Gases The Ideal Gas Law applies to ideal gases. An ideal gas contains molecules of a negligible size that have an average molar kinetic energy that depends only on temperature. Intermolecular forces and molecular size are not considered by the Ideal Gas Law. The Ideal Gas Law applies best to monoatomic gases at low pressure and high temperature. Lower pressure is best because then the average distance between molecules is much greater than the molecular size. Increasing the temperature helps because of the kinetic energy of the molecules increases, making the effect of intermolecular attraction less significant. Derivation of the Ideal Gas Law There are a couple of different ways to derive the Ideal as Law. A simple way to understand the law is to view it as a combination of Avogadros Law and the Combined Gas Law. The Combined Gas Law may be expressed as: PV / T C where C is a constant that is directly proportional to the quantity of the gas or number of moles of gas, n. This is Avogadros Law: C nR where R is the universal gas constant or proportionality factor. Combining the laws: PV / T nRMultiplying both sides by T yields:PV nRT Ideal Gas Law Problems Ideal vs Non-Ideal Gas ProblemsIdeal Gas Law - Constant VolumeIdeal Gas Law - Partial PressureIdeal Gas Law - Calculating MolesIdeal Gas Law - Solving for PressureIdeal Gas Law - Solving for Temperature Ideal Gas Equation for Thermodynamic Processes Process(Constant) KnownRatio P2 V2 T2 Isobaric(P) V2/V1T2/T1 P2=P1P2=P1 V2=V1(V2/V1)V2=V1(T2/T1) T2=T1(V2/V1)T2=T1(T2/T1) Isochoric(V) P2/P1T2/T1 P2=P1(P2/P1)P2=P1(T2/T1) V2=V1V2=V1 T2=T1(P2/P1)T2=T1(T2/T1) Isothermal(T) P2/P1V2/V1 P2=P1(P2/P1)P2=P1/(V2/V1) V2=V1/(P2/P1)V2=V1(V2/V1) T2=T1T2=T1 isoentropicreversibleadiabatic(entropy) P2/P1V2/V1T2/T1 P2=P1(P2/P1)P2=P1(V2/V1)−Î ³P2=P1(T2/T1)ÃŽ ³/(ÃŽ ³ − 1) V2=V1(P2/P1)(−1/ÃŽ ³)V2=V1(V2/V1)V2=V1(T2/T1)1/(1 − ÃŽ ³) T2=T1(P2/P1)(1 − 1/ÃŽ ³)T2=T1(V2/V1)(1 − ÃŽ ³)T2=T1(T2/T1) polytropic(PVn) P2/P1V2/V1T2/T1 P2=P1(P2/P1)P2=P1(V2/V1)−nP2=P1(T2/T1)n/(n − 1) V2=V1(P2/P1)(-1/n)V2=V1(V2/V1)V2=V1(T2/T1)1/(1 − n) T2=T1(P2/P1)(1 - 1/n)T2=T1(V2/V1)(1−n)T2=T1(T2/T1)

Models of Object Recognition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Models of Object Recognition - Essay Example This is simply 'object recognition'. When a lion approaches us, we realise through prior knowledge that the animal is known to be ferocious, dangerous and sometimes doesn't hesitate to kill. With this information we are able to make instant decisions as to the next course of action. A meal at a dinner table tells us it is edible and we can approach it. This 'spatial localisation' is the establishing of where objects are in the surrounding space and time, and is also an important aspect for survival. Another factor necessary for survival is 'perceptual constancy'. This is when objects, although the eyes perceive them to be in motion, are kept constant in terms of appearance. Object recognition, spatial localisation and perceptual constancy are the three main characteristics of perception. One theory that aims to explain object recognition and constancy is Marr's theory which concerns itself with visual processing. It is also called the computational approach which involves taking two dimensional images and extracting valuable three-dimensional information from them. This theory requires examining the levels of grey in an image, creating a rough sketch, then a 2.5D sketch and representing the image as a 3D model. Marr's model of object recognition is concerned with drafting out representations of objects with increasing amount of information. The first step in this representation is creating the raw or full primal sketch. Raw primal sketches contain data regarding the light intensity variations of a shape or scene. A full primal sketch makes use of this data to determine how many outlines and objects are contained within the scene. The light intensity changes provided in the raw primal sketch gives the level of grey representation contained within the pixels of the i mage. Computation on the properties shape can begin when it has become coloured i.e. detached from the background. Properties like symmetry, centre of mass, size aspect ratios are likely to offer clues as to the object's identity. The centre of mass or medial axis from the skeleton of the object is crucial to analysing the shape of the object. The use of structural primitives and spatial relationships to represent an object lies in the determination of the medial axis. This would enable us to construct a 3D model of the object. Marr explains that a 2.5D surface sketch helps to represent the visible surface. A computer vision system could reconstruct the surface with this process. Boundary detection is difficult even with advanced edge locators, but can be achieved by surface reconstruction. The other model is Biederman's 'recognition by components' theory views all object and forms as being comprised of basic geometrical forms or 'geons'. Pattern recognition therefore is the simple identifying of these separate components. But objects need not necessarily be comprised of different components for them to be recognisable. Simple line drawings may suffice. The drawings of matchstick men, or outlines of cars or buildings, are still recognisable. Additional information such as size, colour, orientation, surface quality paints the whole picture, but it is the overall shape that is of primary importance (Biederman in Atkinson 2000, pp 164). When a silhouette of a four legged animal is shown, it is fairly easy to identify

Media critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Media critique - Essay Example The media depicts the adolescents as a social group that is affected by health problems associated to sex. In relation to the elderly, the health problem associated to them is related to ageing. Children are on depicted as having health problems related to nutrition. Sexually transmitted diseases amongst the adolescents in the society are among the health problems that receive more media attention (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services 2000). This is in comparison to other health problems affecting other members of the society such as the elderly and children. There are a variety of reasons as to why this health problem receives more media attention. One of the reasons is that the adolescent population is greater than that of other members of the society. Therefore, this social group is more vulnerable hence the media attention directed towards it. The emphasis of sexually transmitted diseases amongst adolescents is justified because this social group is very important for the welfare of any nation. The adolescents who are mostly teenagers are the hope for the future. Therefore, if their welfare is not protected at present then the status of the future is at jeopardy. The attention given to the adolescent’s health issues by the media in relation to other social groups should be encouraged. This is because most of the teenagers at the adolescent stage are naà ¯ve and therefore need a lot of guidance and counseling. Teenagers at the adolescent stage undergo a series of physical and physiological changes and hence why they need guidance on how to handle the changes (Goldwasser, 2008). Sex is one of the issues that affect their lifestyles and it is therefore the obligation of the media to concentrate on sexually transmitted diseases amongst them so as to enlighten them. Research has revealed that the publics portray the attention of the media to sexually transmitted diseases amongst adolescents in a