Facebook Case Analysis

Case Study: Facebook| Introduction Recently, the social networking sites are getting much more popular on the internet. They are playing a vital role in the way that individuals can easily create their own online profiles, construct their identities and help communicate with each other. Literally, there are many social networking sites worldwide; however, Facebook is the most well-known one since the number of its visitors is significantly increasing.Historically, Facebook was founded almost nine years ago by three undergraduate students of Harvard, Mark Zuckerberg and his two colleges, where it was firstly used by the members who have only ‘. edu’ email addresses. A month later since Facebook had been launched; it was spread very fast where it was used by the majority of Harvard students, then the number of Facebook users increased rapidly after Zuckerberg had left Harvard and move to California in order to make the site expanded more and more (Valenzuela, Park, Kee, 20 08). The majority of the individuals who are surfing the internet, spend lots of time on Facebook.They are able to visit their own profiles as well as they can even browse profiles of other people and share interests like photos, games and information (Mikolaj et al. , 2011), (Boyd & Ellison, 2007). In this paper, there are a number of questions concerning the Facebook and will be answered. Question 1: Why do people use Facebook, and what do they do when they are on the site? What are the implications of this behaviour for individuals, organizations and for Facebook? Facebook is one of the social networking sites, which has become the most popular site globally (Lipsman, 2011).The number of individuals who registered in Facebook site reached a billion about four months ago (Mikolaj et al. , 2011). Generally, individuals are doing a variety of activities using Facebook platform on the internet. People have a great opportunity to create their own public profiles, in which their old an d recent information can be browsed, where Facebook users are able to write their personal information on their own profiles like names, living places, interests, study programs, contact details, photos and pictures as well as the other favoured sites (Hargittai, 2010). In addition, Facebook nables the individuals to communicate and connect with distant friends, colleagues and strangers, showing and sharing their lists of connections as well as extend and strengthen their relationships and friendships, meet each other and sharing their interests, and they can even share the media content (Griffiths & Kuss, 2011). People can also shop online using Facebook browsing shopping pages, seeking for groups or members, and browse people’s walls (Mikolaj et al. , 2011). Moreover, Facebook users are able to play free social games such as Zynga, which in turn would help them connect with the other communities.According to Piskoriski (2011), there was a survey done by Information Solution Group demonstrated that more than 30 percept of Zynga game players pointed out that the games enabled them to connect with family and present friends whereas another third admitted that playing games on Facebook made them connect with old friends and one third used them in order to make new friends. Additionally, concerning the effect of Facebook on organisations, organisations are using Facebook platform to make their names much more well-known which in turn leads to increase their sales and profits (Mikolaj et al. 2011). Actually, there are two main factors that have made Facebook the most popular social site internationally: Firstly, the need to belong, secondly, the need to view limitation. All those factors could be influenced by several variables such as demographic and personal attributes, and social and cultural background (Ashwini & Stefan, 2012). In contrast, using Facebook could be leading to the negative consequences. In other words, the increasing hours people spend on line, may be indicative of potential addiction particularly for students (Griffiths & Kuss, 2011).Grabmeier (2010) claimed that there is a strong link between using Facebook and low grades achievement at universities. This is correlates with the recent study showed that â€Å"Facebook users had lower grade academic performance and spent less time studying than students who did not use this social networking sites† (Griffiths & Kuss 2011, 10). Furthermore, Griffiths and Kuss (2011) claimed that Anecdotal case study evidence reported that some Facebook addicts are more likely to have potential mental health problems.Moreover Accessibility of the others’ privacies using Facebook could also be considered as one of the negative impacts of using Facebook. Question 2: How can organizations leverage Facebook for commercial purposes? How effective are company pages on Facebook? Facebook platform is playing a crucial role in commercial purposes, particularly for companies. They are able to create free profile page in order to post information about their products and receive comments about them, as a result, Facebook might invest more in order to enhance advertising products (Mikolaj et al. , 2011).Additionally, further investment in this social site assist the firms improve their own applications, letting the Facebook users engaged in some social events that they might be interested in and consequently the relationship between the firms and their fans would be strengthened (Mikolaj et al. , 2011), (Piskoriski, 2011). Facebook also made new business pages which permitted businesses, brands, products, artists, and public figures to build free custom Facebook pages and attract Facebook users to like them so that users would then see status updates, pictures and videos which posted by the organisation on their page (Mikolaj et al. 2011). This can create an effective negotiation between the firms and their fans. Companies can also advertise their pages on Face book to be liked by users. New advertising products were improved using Facebook which in turn leveraged its users in terms of social relationships (Mikolaj et al. , 2011), (Piskoriski, 2011). To illustrate, friends of a certain company would see ads about that company regularly (Mikolaj et al. , 2011). As a result, Facebook has achieved massive financial benefits from those developers and applications.Question 3: Regarding the Facebook platform, what role does it play for both individuals and organizations? Facebook has some approaches that make it different from other social sites. For example, Facebook users are able to browse each other’s profiles as long as the profiles’ owners allowed that (Boyd & Ellison, 2007). Moreover, Facebook permitted users to add applications in order to enhance their profile and they were set up by Facebook developers (Mikolaj et al. , 2011).One of these applications is games, where more than 40 % of Facebook users had been attracted to play games by 2011. A year after Facebook extended its API to comprise other actions, such as listening to music or reading an article and might be also shared with other users (Mikolaj et al. , 2011). Facebook platform also play a significant role in increasing the profitability of the firms. The immense increase in the number of the Facebook users has made it much more attractive to the traditional companies (Piskoriski, 2011).Firms started to create application platforms and look for new customers and engaging the existing ones on Facebook site by advertising and offering new special prices and posted them on their own profile page (Piskoriski, 2011). As a result, the number of visitors to that profile page of that firms would be increasing which led to a substantial increase in the number of users who are interested in the their applications and brands. Individuals can also see other brands using advertisements for those brands on Facebook. Then the firms’ incomes would b e increasing dramatically. Question 4:Finally, review the final paragraph on page 14. How would you respond to these questions? What should Facebook concentrate on? Recently, there has been a huge collaboration between firms and Facebook platform in terms of commercial aspects. In fact, offering free profile pages on Facebook has made it much more attractive and valuable to many companies. Firms have been able to utilize this feature by doing businesses with Facebook through which they capable to advertise their brands and products on Facebook users’ profiles so that companies can increase their revenues (Mikolaj et al. , 2011).In addition, Facebook application developers have great opportunities to create additional applications, and update and enhance the old ones based on users’ interests due the massive increasing in the number of Facebook visitors who have different desires and needs (Egele et al. , 2012). Therefore, Facebook plays an essential role in products di spersal and increasing sales and then profits of the firms as a result of advertising and applications. Facebook should be focusing on deploying much more effort in order to support its businesses with organisations based on the interests of the users.Development its tools is another factor that can increase its attraction to the investors and then increase profits. There is also an important issue that Facebook should concern about which is privacy in terms of data hankering. Facebook should be aware of keeping its users privacies secure. Otherwise, it will lose its admiration in terms of limiting the objectives for both individuals and companies (Fowler & Geoffre, 2010). Conclusion There is no social networking site as popular as Facebook. It can be used either for communication between individuals worldwide or for commercial aspects.Facebook has several advantages in terms of strengthening the social relationships as well as providing new marketing strategies which in turn leads to the increasing the growth of economy. Nevertheless, Facebook has some negative impacts such as students’ achievement and browsing the others’ privacies. In general, Facebook is experiencing massive challenges to keep and advance its reputation. References Ashwini, Nadkarni, and Hofmann, Stefan G. â€Å"Why do People use Facebook? † Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 52, issue 3 (2012): 243-249.Egele, M. , Moser, A. , Kruegel, C. and Kirda, E. â€Å"PoX: Protecting Users from Malicious Facebook Applications. † Computer Communications 35, no. 12 (2012): 1507-1515. www. scopus. com. Fowler, Geoffrey A. â€Å"Corporate News: Facebook Fights Privacy Concerns. † Wall Street Journal, Aug 21, 2010. http://search. proquest. com/docview/746178017? accountid=10382 Grabmeier, J. â€Å"Study Finds Link Between Facebook Use, Lower Grades In College. † Research News (2010). http://researchnews. osu. edu/archive/facebookusers. htm Hargittai, E. , and Hsieh, Y.P. (2010). â€Å"Predictors and Consequences of Social Network Site Usage. † Information, Communication and Society, 13, 515–536. Lipsman, A. â€Å"The Network Effect: Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and Tumblr Reach New Heights in May. † (2011, June 15). http://blog. comscore. com/2011/06/facebook_linkedin_twitter_tumblr. html Mikolaj J. , Thomas R. , David C. and Brian F. † Facebook†. Harvard Business School Publishing. (2011). Patrick Van Eecke and Maarten Truyens, â€Å"Privacy and Social Networks. † Computer Law & amp; Security Review, vol. 6, issue 5, 535-546. http://www. sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S0267364910001093) Valenzuela, Park, & Kee, F. K. (2008). â€Å"Lessons from Facebook: The Effects of Social Network Sites on College Students’ Social Capital. † http://online. journalism. utexas. edu/2008/papers/Valenzuela. pdf * Boyd, D. M. , & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, his tory and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13, 210–230. * Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature

Importance of Art in the Society

Art brings beauty into our world. Art is important because it makes our world a better place. It also brings a sense of enjoyment and pleasure. Art allows for the expression of truth and beliefs. Some art challenges our beliefs. Other works affirm our faith. Art is an important tool in causing us to examine our beliefs in light of an artists' rendition or perception of truth. Art has the ability to transport us to a different time and place. It allows us to gain historical perspective and understanding. Art allows us to appreciate different periods in history and their impact and significance in our world. Art immortalizes people, places, and events. Artists create a visual record of life experiences commemorating the memorable and challenging social injustices, such as slavery and abuses, in time. Artists serve as historians in this role, documenting life on canvass, photography, or sculpture. Art may be used to express chaos and misunderstanding, or to establish order from what appears to be chaos. Art helps us organize our world. It is one means by which we understand our society and culture, and the society and cultures of others. Art is important as an intellectual stimulant. A good artist advances culture and civilization by provoking thought, introspection, and discussion. Art triggers emotions. Subject, color, and texture are used by artist to evoke feelings. In this way art can serve as a catharsis, or help us uncover feelings of which we were previously unaware. Art has the intrinsic ability to elevate the commonplace. It lifts the viewer beyond the confines of reality and into another world, such as the use of art to express fantasy. Sometimes art provides pure escapism, such as cartoons and comics. Other art allows us to juxtapose fantasy and reality, creating a world in which the artist wished we lived. Art communicates across all cultures, tells the stories of the past and present, and inspires minds, both young and old, to do beautiful things.

My Science Fair Project Essay

My science fair project is about the sound transmission through different veneers. A veneer is the outer part of the house. It can also be called a siding. The veneers I used were brick, cement fiber, and vinyl. I used these because they were three very common veneers. I thought if I used common veneers it would make the project mean more because people can see sound transmission through common sidings. The way I built the cement fiber and vinyl siding boxes was, I cut plywood sides. After I cut the sides I nailed them together to make a box. After I made the box I wrapped the houses in house wrap. House wrap is used as a moisture barrier. My purpose for the house wrap is not to stop water from coming in, but, I used it because most houses use it. After I wrapped the houses I nailed the siding on. I then used wood putty to fill the holes. The brick box was a different procedure. After I wrapped the brick box I had to build a platform then I had to lay the brick with mortar. I had to attach the brick to the plywood with the wall ties. I tested my buildings by putting a transistor radio into the plywood box. After I put it in the box I turned it on at a low level, I then put the lid on the box and I used my sound level meter. This meter measures the amount of decibels coming out of the house. A decibel is a unit of measurement for sound. I also did the same thing on a loud and a medium sound level. I did this with all of the boxes. The brick box produced an average of 10.33 decibels at a (80) 43 decibel volume, an average of 13 decibels at a (90) 53 decibel volume, and an average of 19.66 at a (100) 63 decibel volume with a total average of 14.33 decibels. The cement fiber box produced an average of 19 decibels at a (80) 43 decibel volume, an average of 22 decibels at a (90) 53 decibel volume and an average of 30 decibels at a (100) 63 decibel volume. The Vinyl box produced an average of 27 decibels at a (80) 43 decibel volume, an average of 26.66 decibels at a (90) 53 decibel volume and an average of 33 decibels in a (100) decibel volume. My results of my project proved my hypothesis of brick producing the least amount of sound transmission.

Healthcare Disparities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Healthcare Disparities - Essay Example In other words, there were separate hospitals for both the whites and the blacks (Williams, 2007). Much has been done to reduce these disparities but the situation is still the same even today. Other racial or ethnic minorities are also affected by these healthcare disparities. The prevalence of disparities among the blacks and racial minorities is still high. Healthcare disparities are common in new AIDS cases among the Blacks and Hispanics, preventive care for pneumonia among the Asians, and communication with healthcare providers among the poor. Access to healthcare services is hampered by healthcare disparities and the response varies from one community to the other. Access to quality healthcare is not a guarantee and this is evident to the uninsured population. Healthcare coverage among the population is based upon the social class. The poor people especially those from the minority and ethnic groups tend to have poor coverage and this has been linked to racial disparities (Mullner, 2009). The federal government should take into consideration the minority and ethnic groups within the population. They should come up with a better policy that addresses the needs of these groups. The most vital thing is to understand how their cultures operate and they will be in a better position to assist them in the best

Should there be laws limiting the paparazzi Research Paper

Should there be laws limiting the paparazzi - Research Paper Example These laws are often meant to be punitive in nature, and this is because it is believed that the paparazzi have taken matter to extremes through their ensuring that they get shots of celebrities living their lines. One thing which is not often considered by lawmakers when making anti-paparazzi laws is the fact that most of these individuals only get involved in such behaviour because of the popular demand from the public, to see the private lives of their favourite celebrities. It has been stated that the paparazzi has to be contained because of the belief that they adversely affect the lives of celebrities and their families, who would otherwise prefer to live private lives. The fact that quite a number of celebrities have ended up having accidents or even losing their lives as they attempted to escape the paparazzi are among the reasons why laws to curb paparazzi activities have been instituted. Most countries in the developed world are taking what is considered to be the paparazzi menace seriously, and they have come to put laws in place which have the intention of ensuring that celebrities and other important people are kept safe from the paparazzi (Neeley 36). The justification for such arguments have been found wanting and this is because many of the celebrities who the laws are meant to protect, while they deserve their privacy, also need to understand that they cannot avoid the consequences of their fame. The paparazzi have been blamed for the death of Princess Diana, who, it is claimed, was attempting to escape them when the accident that killed her took place (Hindman 666). The strength of such arguments has been based on what can only be considered to be falsehood because while the paparazzi might have been following Princess Diana, it was not they who caused her accident. On the contrary, it was her decision to run away from them which led to the accident that took her life. Thus, the laws limiting the paparazzi based on this argument can, therefore , be said to be unconvincing and an injustice on the paparazzi since they have a right to do their work under the protection of media freedom. One of the advantages of laws limiting the paparazzi that have been propagated is that they are meant to protect celebrities from the irresponsible behaviour of the paparazzi (Moreham 606). This has created a situation where almost all the actions carried out by the paparazzi has been found to be irresponsible, and this is despite the fact that it is the best way through which they can do their work. As a consequence, in many countries in the western world, the ability of the paparazzi to competently do their work and satisfy the demand for the photographs of individual’s celebrities from all over the world has been curtailed. Instead, the large scale attempt to muzzle the paparazzi has resulted in the destruction of media freedoms as guaranteed by the laws of almost all the states in the developed world (Komperda 25). It can be said t hat the passing of laws intended to curb the activities of the paparazzi is the first step in a process which is meant to limit the freedoms of media all over the world. It is a process which, despite the good intentions to protect the private lives of celebrities by lawmakers, might have a disastrous effect not only on the paparazzi, but also individuals all

Identity in Trying to Find Chinatown and Death of a Salesman Essay

Identity in Trying to Find Chinatown and Death of a Salesman - Essay Example Reflecting about his desperate situation, his wife Linda informs: â€Å"Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He’s not the finest character that ever lived. But he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him† (Miller). His material failure as salesman has a negative impact on his own life but also on his relationship with his family. However, instead of confronting his problems and trying to resolve them, he gets angry at his family and denies the love they have for him. Talking about his son Biff, he claims: â€Å"How can he find himself on a farm? Is that a life? A farmhand? In the beginning, when he was young, I thought, well, a young man, it’s good for him to tramp around, take a lot of different jobs. But it’s more than ten years now and he has yet to make thirty-five dollars a week!† (Miller) This lack of satisfaction about his son reflects his own insecurities he attempts to cover up. Des pite their similarities in treating identity issues, the two plays use different approaches. Indeed, Hwang’s play foregrounds the importance of family ties and the recognition of roots. Even though his is white, Benjamin values the Asian background of his adopted parents and proudly claims his ethnicity. His presence in New York in an attempt to pay homage to his deceased father at latter’s birth place reflects his deep understanding of family values and gratefulness to his adopted parents. He reflects: â€Å"And when I finally saw the number 13, I nearly wept at my good fortune. An old tenement, paint peeling, inside walls no doubt thick with a century of grease and broken dreams—and yet, to me, a temple—the house where my father was born†(Hwang). This pilgrimage... Identity in â€Å"Trying to Find Chinatown† and â€Å"Death of a Salesman† David Henry Hwang’s play raises a crucial issue of identity that stems from the different perspective that his two protagonists have about what it means to be Asian American. Indeed, Benjamin and Ronnie’s arguments about identity pose the problem about culture and ethnicity. When Ronnie questions Benjamin’s Asian roots he only takes into consideration his racial identity as a white man but ignores his ethnic background as the adopted child of Asian parents: â€Å"I don’t know what kind of bullshit ethnic studies program they’re running over in Wisconsin, but did they teach you that in order to find your Asian ‘roots,’ it’s good idea first to be Asian? (Hwang) Ronnie denies Benjamin’s Asian roots based on the color of his skin and does not take into consideration his parents’ ethnic background. This denial hurts Benjamin who deeply feels Asian and faces rejection because of his physical traits. He complains: â€Å" I forget that a society wedded to racial constructs constantly forces me to explain my very existence† (Hwang). This painful observation expresses the plight Benjamin has to undergo in a society that judges people according to their racial identity. Even though both authors portray the same issue, they employ different approaches that foreground the conflict between culture and ethnicity but also the lack of self-realization. The setting of the plays participates in providing more understanding and identifying the tragic and comic heroes.

The Global Context of HRM and HRD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words - 1

The Global Context of HRM and HRD - Essay Example The author of the essay "The Global Context of HRM and HRD" thinks that prior to the advent and imposition of globalization, national economies exercised a number of protectionist strategies designed to ensure that their industries, especially infant ones, and goods had the space within which to grow and develop. These protectionist strategies effectively ensured that locally manufactured goods maintained a competitive edge in the domestic market. Globalization, however, eliminated protectionism as a strategy for the protection of domestic industries and formulated and implemented a set of policies which effectively removed all artificial barriers to free trade. In conclusion the author says that from a research standpoint, since countries vary in size, studying effects at the trade bloc level inherently controls for the differing effects a larger country may have on the region as opposed to a smaller one. While it is recognized that trading blocs are also not homogenous, studies utilizing the trading bloc segmentation criteria are justified because of the observation of imperfect globalization and because trading blocs present a clearly visible view of country groupings. One major source of research difficulty when it comes to trading blocs is that they are generally fluid organizations, created with the explicit purpose of promoting free trade. What begins as free trade within member nations of a trading bloc may well, in the future, be expanded to non-member nations or - in fact - other trading blocs.

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Research Paper

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - Research Paper Example Perhaps due to this reason, â€Å"artistry of Twain’s ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ has inspired †¦ sophisticated and impressive critical responses†¦.† (Budd and Messent, 543) In case of Mark Twain such observation is truer as in his novels we see he has included a great deal of his autobiographical elements. In this context we can cite for the observation of Shelley Fisher Fishkin, whose observation asserts that the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn includes a great deal of autobiographical elements, â€Å"A boy of Twain’s acquaintance, Benson Blankenship, †¦. (His behavior would become a model for aspects of Huck’s behavior.)† (Fishkin, 21) It is from his autobiographical references we come to know, â€Å"By the time of Twain’s youth, slavery had become institutionalized in the South†¦In southern Missouri, where Twain, and Huck, lived, slavery still existed.† (Jarnow, 21)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬ËœThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ shows that the protagonist Finn undergoes several adventures and finally he develops his approach towards life out of the experiences of such adventures. Apart from Finn’s adventure to observe life from a close angle, there is another element that plays a very important role in the novel that is the protagonist’s (the novelist’s) attitude towards slavery. Constitution if the United States of America came into power since 1864 and it immediately abolished the system of slavery from America officially. The Constitution clearly declared that all men are free and they are eligible to receive equal treatment from the State, despite their differences in race, religion, ethnicity and skin color. (Wilson, 5) However, looking at the practical situation it is evident that situation of the black people or people from Afro-American ethnic background has remained unchanged even in the modern society. L ike all the other great

Power helps states to survive in the international system. Do Essay

Power helps states to survive in the international system. Do hegemonies help the maintenance of peace in the international sys - Essay Example The chessboard of international power politics has already been tabled and all the major stakeholders are dying to have a lion share of the ongoing conflicts in the region that have huge stakes in international politics. The case of Syria For a long time, the Middle East has been a region associated with hegemonic forces. Human massacres, ethnic cleansing, physical destructions, and other gross human crimes in the face of international community characterize the region (John 11). The weakened populations are the subjects of regional dynasties, states, and powerful groups who control both the economic and political power over the years. The emerging geopolitical trends and geostrategic trends all speak about yet another bloody round of hegemony forces that keep on flexing their muscles in every opportunity After the chemical attach of the Syrian civilians in the wake of uprising in Syria, the U.S.A administration almost made up its mind to flex its military muscles in the region. The Obama administration had a strong urge to attack Syria but he had to take into consideration the power politics in the region before taking such a bold step (Keneth 2). The United States administration had to weigh the consequences of such a move and its impacts on the stability and their interest in the region. Despite opposition from various military heads, the Catholic pope and the United Nations Security Council, the Obama administration pushed forward it its bid to end the stalemate in the Syrian region. The Syrian uprising owed a lot to the uprising that toppled the government of Egypt since Syria has often had a love hate relationship with Egypt. The Assad government initially reacted positively by meeting some of the demands of the people but the demands were so much than he could bare as duration continued. The United States Policy The Washington has a lot of interest in gulf monarchies hence they always watch keenly for every move they take both economically and politicall y. If the current Syrian crisis is left unresolved, it’s possible that the Iranian threat would become a reality and a change of leadership in Syria would mean a political defeat for Iran and its loss of influence in the Gulf. The Obama administration has pursued a number of policies in their attempt to broker peace in Syria and ensure a democratic transition (Dietz 16). The Obama admiration at first demanded a political transition when he called the resignation of Syrian president al Assad by asserting that they call for a democratic transition. The united states have also advocated for an international diplomacy through the United Nations Security Council to condemn the Syrian government to end the bloodshed in their country. The United States supported the efforts to improve the international policy coordination to Syrian people end the stalemate that threaten peace and stability in the country. Through the united nation security council, the United States supported the An nan plan that had a roadmap for ending the crisis that rocked the Syrian republic. Despite these their numerous efforts, they have blamed Russia and China for sabotaging their peace efforts by failing to support such initiatives at the Security Council. They have blamed Russian and Chinese of vetoing the draft resolutions in the Security Council against the Assad regime thwarting the efforts to achieve peace in that region. In the year 2012, the United States

Aircraft Maintenance Aircraft Systems Assignment

Aircraft Maintenance Aircraft Systems - Assignment Example The frequency channels of the VHF Omni-directional Range and the Tactical Air Navigation at each VORTAC facility are doubled in line with an overall plan to make air navigation easier. The MFD gives information on the current route of the aircraft. The information obtained from the on board radar and other sensors on the ground as well as detection sensors are relayed to the crew to analyses. The ground components are always stationary while the flight components are moving as the aircraft moves. The ground components too do not have a display system since the display in the aircraft will be the most essential. It is therefore wise to have one in the pilot’s cabin and not on the ground components. The Altimeter is a navigation instrument whose work is to reflect the vertical height of the mean of sea level. This is corrected to the pressure of outside air. The pilot will have to set the right pressure and the altimeter will automatically identify the altitude that corresponds to the Mean of Sea Level. The instruments work more or less the same like the barometer. When the plane is ascending or descending, the pressure will also reduce and increase in that order. The aneroid capsule compares the pressure outside and the one inside. The pointer and linkage help display the altitude on the cockpit display instrument. Vertical speed Indicator is the instrument that measures the rate at which the aircraft is rising or descending. The speed is usually measured in feet per minute. When the plane is flying level, the Vertical Speed Indicator will be reading â€Å"0† feet per minute. The VSI compares the static pressure in the expandable capsule to the metred static pressure in the exterior of the capsule. The inside of capsule pressure changes so fast on the climbing or descending of the plane and the opposite is true because of the leak that

Drilling for Oil in Alaska Essay Example for Free

Drilling for Oil in Alaska Essay Currently, there are more than 70 million drivers who drive more than 113 million vehicles each day. Compared to 30 years ago, drivers have increased their driving by about 44 percent in terms of the miles they have driven. It is likewise suggested that since 1970, traveling vehicles per year have increased about 145 percent. These information is according to the American Petroleum Institute; with increased driving miles and vehicles traveling on the road comes the corresponding increase in the need for fuel (Beyond, int). Though fuel can be considered the most reliable source of energy, it is unfortunate that it is not the most environmental friendly source. Any individual who choked walking behind a car due to exhaust fumes knows for a fact that it is not beneficial for the environment as an energy source. Right after cars leave noxious black smoke, the need to have some effective means of fuel refinement becomes a pressing concern. The gas industry did not take long to develop technology for cleaner fuels. Modern fuels including unleaded fuels in the market nowadays are said to be less of pollutants and less hazardous compared to fuels of the past decades. According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, there was a dramatic 41% decline in vehicle emissions since 1970. While there was such a decline, this does not mean that the associated environmental problems on fuels are solved (Beyond , int). The major issue is in the process of getting crude oil from the earth. Transport accidents, oil spills and pipe leaks still remain common. The American Petroleum Institute asserts that there are many steps which are initiated to ensure that natural gas and oil can have minimal impact in the environment upon production. Moreover, the institute also asserts that with the use of diect technology in drilling, they are allowed to access gas resources and oil that lie beneath the sensitive areas of the earth (Chance 105). So far, despite the very impressive advancements in drilling technology, human intrusions and oil rigs still continue to modify the environment and cause habitat devastation. The Alaska Wilderness League’s legislative director, Brian Moore knows the harm produced by drilling. According to him, the Prudhoe Bay 400 toxic spills annually, and those spills do not only affect the drilling site but also nearby lands. The devastating effects are clear and real, and these are not made up by environmentalists. It is very difficult to forget the otters, seabirds and seals covered in oil, which slowly died during the spill of 10 million gallons of crude oil in 1989 from Exxon Valdez. It is very natural for environmentalists to campaign and strategize plans against the drilling in a wildlife dense area. The possibility of drilling the lands of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is a well-renowned area for pristine habitat and unique wildlife is shocking and alarming news to all environmentalists and nature lovers (Exxon Valdez disaster—15 years of lies). Viewing the issue from a different angle, the oil drilled in Alaska can reduce the oil imports of the United States of America by 15%, since at present, the oil imports of the country is over 25% from the Middle East. The effect of oil from Alaska in helping in the management of oil prices is very essential. However, it can be quite pointless, given that all Americans can reduce their consumption of oil by simply eradicating commercial vehicle SUVs granted exemptions from the standards of fuel efficiency, developing hybrid technologies and drastically raising the requirements in fuel efficiency (Beyond, int). If the refuge of Alaska is made open for drilling, then the Rocky Mountains and the coast of California will come in next, and if oil drilling will be open everywhere without any limits, the available oil will increase by magnitude, which can probably ensure the energy source of the US for decades. Not only of the US but of the world. The availability of oil will help the industrialization of many nations; however, in the same measure, the risks to the environment will also substantially increase (Berger 40). The officials of the Bush administration claim that the drilling in the areas of the Arctic will pave the way to enhancing U. S security by diminishing imported oil dependence. They are also promoting this controversial undertaking by asserting that drilling will help reduce the shortages on energy of the country. On the other hand, only a meager portion of electricity comes from oil. It was explained by the American Petroleum Institute that crude oil prices are established in the world markets retorting to supply and demand. The fresh discoveries will be critically significant to supply. Each oil barrel domestically produced is one less barrel that should be bought from foreign sources. In the long term, added U. S. supplies will help reduce the prices of crude oil given that the demand for crude oil from sources which are not from the US is muck lower compared to what it will be without additional domestic production (Berger 85). To alleviate the emergency of frequent blackouts in California and the increasing prices of gasoline, President Bush is promoting the increase in supply of energy instead of decreasing its demand. It may be too late to put a stop to the rising prices of gas, especially for traveling seasons like summer. The president is supporting the plan of utilizing the oil supply of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (LaDuke 30). As expected, this proposition of the president has clashed with activists of the environment and with some residents of the targeted area. They are arguing that ANWR’s available supply of oil is insufficient to validate the potential damage to the environment. It is very hard believe that oil drilling in Alaska will guarantee benefits to the citizens of the US, since any kind of oil in existence will take almost a decade to enter the oil market and the estimates on the oil amount in the area are but tentative. Moreover, prices of oil will not change from drilling oil in Alaska given that the oil amount is minimal in the refuge. Harmful pollution and oil spills are foreseeable effects of this proposal of drilling from the area (Stage, int), and much more if it goes together with industrialization. In Alaska, there is an estimate of 300 to 400 oil spills annually, which is approximately greater than one oil spill a day (Oil spills in, int). America’s largest oil spill was the oil spill of Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound, Alaska last 1989 on March 24. More or less, 10. 9 million gallons have spilled to over 1,100 miles of coastline in Alaska. It all began when an oil tanker hit a reef in the Sound (Heinrichs). The death toll of wildlife was extremely upsetting. Over 2,800 sea otters, 250,000 seabirds, 300 harbor seals, nearly two dozen whales and 250 bald eagles (Don’t, int) perished due to the event. Oil is still present in the area and it is now toxic (Exxon, int) even though Exxon insists that everything is been cleaned and paid for. A more recent event happened on December 7, 2004, where a freighter of Malaysia ran aground. It was carrying 21,000 of diesel fuel and 483,000 gallons of heavy bulk fuel (Oil spill devastates, int). The oil spill was so alarming and devastating, since oil is extremely difficult to clean up and threatens the refuge of nearby (Oil spill devastates, int). As the drilling increases, the occurrence of oil spills tends to follow in the same pace, such trend is sure to exist with more oil drilling in ANWR even as responsible large companies have promised to respond quickly. The risk of devastating wildlife is always there (Montgomery 38). How can people justify permission of oil companies to drill in an area rich with endangered wildlife? Why do oil companies still continue to drill even with the massive oil spills and its dangers? Is this activity truly worthwhile for the country? Sadly, these questions remain unanswered; however, it does not mean that these should not be asked incessantly. While importing foreign oil is a dire need, the solution is not in the destruction of pristine areas for oil supply. What should be done is for the government to invest dollars from taxes in renewable and clean energy (Stage, int). Together with this proposal for the government, Americans should act to help save what remains of our wildlife. ANWR is something that the United States of America can truly be proud of primarily because of its wildlife. It is unlike anything else. Its beauty is incomparable and unmatched. The prospect of drilling the land for oil should not be presented to oil companies. Such activity should be be discouraged as much as possible, there are many other ways to find alternative energy sources. Everyone must help to protect and preserve one of Alaska’s grandeurs or else, it will just be a picture of a beautiful landscape left in everyone’s memory. Works Cited Berger, Thomas R. Village Journey: The Report of the Alaska Native Review Commission, Hill Wang, New York. 1995. p. 40 â€Å"Beyond the Brooks Range: What is at Stake in Alaska Concerns More Than Just Caribou†. Ecoworld. com. 28 December 2004. http://www. ecoworld. com/home/articles2. cfm? tid=360. 25 March 2008. Chance, Norman A. The Inupiat and Arctic Alaska: An Ethnography of Development. Holt, Rinehart Winston Press, New York. 1990. p. 105 â€Å"Don’t Allow Big oil to drill in the Arctic National wild life Refuge†. Defenders of Wildlife. 17 March 2005. http://www. defenders. org/wildlife/arctic/print/overview. heml. 25 March 2008. â€Å"Exxon Valdez disaster—15 years of lies†. Greenpeace. 19 March 2005. http://www. greenpeaceusa. org/features/details? item_id=681778. 25 March 2008. LaDuke, Winona. Alaska: Oil and the Natives. Earth Island Journal. San Francisco: 2003. Vol. 18, Iss. 3, p. 30. Montgomery, David. ANWR 1002 area and development: One question, many issues. Oil Gas Journal. Tulsa: 2003. Vol. 101, Iss. 15; pg. 38, 5 pgs â€Å"Stage is set to drill in Arctic Refuge†. Greenpeace. 19 March 2005. http://www. greenpeaceusa. org/features/details? item_id=796496. 25 March 2008.

IGO and NGO Essay Example for Free

IGO and NGO Essay â€Å"Moraine is a small developing country. Like all nations in the developing world, Moraine needs to develop its economy. The country has a government department which is responsible for developing grassroots entrepreneurs – the Business Assistance Department (BAD). It also has access to funding from The European Union (EU) an IGO and has been offered assistance by the One Business at a Time (OBT), an NGO that focuses on helping local populations start and develop simple, local businesses. A)What are the priorities for the leaders of: (a) BAD, (b) the EU and (c) OBT for their respective operations in Moraine? Why? The priorities for the leaders are the EU, BAD, and OBT. At first, it depends on whether the EU cooperates with developing Moraine or not because the EU is the largest organization in the European Area; therefore, the organization has a large amount of funds to support developing nations. So, if the government were able to convince the EU, it would be a big chance to develop the economy. If the EU supported, BAD needs to play a big role of managing funds from the EU because the funds from the EU must be limited. So, BAD has to assign funds for entrepreneurs. Also, BAD has to decide the standard value and rule to judge entrepreneurs. Finally, OBT has to see through them whether they contribute a developing economy in Moraine or not with the standard value and rules from BAD. 2. List two ways the New Public Management (NPM) could help the Business Assistance Department (BAD) achieve its objectives developing grassroots entrepreneurs and support your ideas.† New Public Management is a public management method to save waste expenditure and offer more convenient service. NPM has basic policies; the introduction of results-oriented approach and customer market focus. Results-oriented approach is based on the clear standard and evaluates the policy of governmental and administrative department. So, this policy makes them motivate to achieve its objectives developing grassroots entrepreneurs. Also, customer market focus is a policy that NPM pursues the customer satisfaction by regarding companies and citizens as the clients of administrative service. Therefore, NPM greatly support BAD by governmental and administrative approaches. Reference: NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT: ORIGINS, DIMENSIONS, AND CRITICAL IMPLICATIONS (2013/07/08) Retrieved from http://www.eolss.net/Sample-Chapters/C14/E1-34-04-01.pdf

Glacial Trimlines and Nunataks in Assynt Region of Scotland

Glacial Trimlines and Nunataks in Assynt Region of Scotland Title To what extent are glacial trimlines and nunataks present in the Assynt region of North West Scotland and how does this affect features above and below the boundary? or To what extent is a glacial trimline present in the Assynt region of North West Scotland and how does it affect features above and below the proposed boundary? Abstract The Assynt region of North West Scotland, north of the town of Ullapool, is located on The Moine Thrust belt, which stretches from Lock Eriboll on the north coast to the Isle of Skye, approximately 120 miles south. This marks the point where the old Moine schist rock, around 1,000Ma, thrust over younger rocks, creating an unconformity between the Moine schist and the Durness limestone, which was metamorphosed and altered below the thrust, from 500Ma. The area is rich in Quaternary geology, providing evidence of direct ice action and periglacial features not directly linked to ice flow. These Quaternary features are split by a theoretical thermal boundary called a glacial trimline, supposedly representing the highest vertical extent of the glacier, with periglacial features lying above the boundary and ice flow erosional features below. These features will be studied in order to provide evidence for the trimline, with the measurement of rock hardness around the area providing the best information. Background Geology The oldest rocks present, gneisses of the Lewisian complex, of Archaean age, have undergone three major periods of deformation, the first of these being the Badcallian event, where dominant foliation was produced, followed by the second period of deformation called the Inverian event. The Scourie dykes, a suite of dykes, intruded the Lewisian complex before being deformed during the third period of deformation, named the Laxfordian event, dated around 1.7Ga. The Lewisian complex can be divided into the Rhiconich, Assynt, Gruinard and Southern Terranes. The boundary between the Assynt and Gruinard terranes lies along the Canisp Shear Zone. Both hold different tectonic histories, but were combined by the Palaeoproterozoic, around 2.4Ga, evident from the intrusion of the Scourie Dykes. (Trewin, N.H, 2003) The Archaean Lewisian rocks are then unconformably overlain by the Torridon group of red sandstones and conglomerates, deposited in fluiviatile and lacustrine environments, dated approximately between 1.2Ga to 1Ga in the Proterzoic. These red sandstones were introduced by rivers and buried under old hills and mountains. The Torridon sandstones, tilted, eroded and overlaid the previous Stoer group around 1Ga. (http://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/~oesis/nws/nws-geolhist.html) After a subsequent period of uplift and non-deposition, the region was transgressed and marine Cambrian quartz arenites unconfomormably overlaid the Torridon and Lewisian groups. These quartz arenites differ from the Torridon sandstones, particularly in their white colour and via the presence of vertical burrows from ichnogenera Skolithos and Monocraterion, highlighting the early Cambrian as the upper age bound. (K.M. Goodenough et al, 2009) The Fucoid Member, a thin detailed unit of brown weathered siltstones, overlies the quartzites. (Trewin, N.H, 2003) This in turn is followed by the Salterella Grit member, a very thin layer of quartzites, which overlies the fucoid member, all of which are dated as early Cambrian in age. Comformably overlying the clastic unites is the Durness group of carbonates, the youngest sediments in the region, which range in age from early Cambrian to early Ordovician, around 542-475 Ma. (Trewin, N.H, 2003) Abundant thrusting is present throughout the Assynt region from late Ordoivician to early Silurian times with widespread deformation having occurred. Four thurst sheets are present, the lowest of which, the Moine sheet, containing units allocated to the Moine Supergroup, settled upon the Lewisian complex, deposited around 900Ma. (Krabbendam, M. and Leslie, A. G, 2010) The sediments within the Moine supergroup are predominanty shallow marine arkosic sandstones. Major movement along the Moine thurst occurred around 440-430 Ma, recorded via Rb-Sr dating of mylonites, also showing the fine grained platy rock mylonite formation along the thrust. (Freeman, S,R et al, 1998) Quaternary Geology of the area Over the last 2 million years, the landscape of North West Scotland has been dramatically altered by climate change, believed to fit the ‘Milankovitch’ timescale. Fluctuations of temperature, from periods of warmth to periods of cold and ice have specifically transformed upland areas. The weight of the ice caused the country to be lowered, coupled with lower sea levels due to the capture of water in the ice, before abrupt climate change forced melting of the glaciers and ice sheets. This triggered the release of vast amounts of water, depositing sands and gravels offshore and in river valleys. (Lowe, J. J. and Walker, M. J. C, 1997) Alongside this, sea levels dramatically rose due to the massive increase in water, forming beaches above the sea level, left today as raised beaches. (http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/geology/scotland/ice.asp) The movement of the ice due to gravity under its own weight and its fluid nature caused destruction in its path. Due to its destructive nature, evidence is removed, making timing, extent and individual impacts difficult to record. During the past 30,000 years, there have been three major periods of glaciation, with interglacial periods interspersed, where there was no ice during summer months except in some areas of high latitude and altitude. Shorter periods between glacials are termed interstadials, when warm temperatures present and stadials, where temperatures are relatively cool. Two of these glacial periods had a profound effect on the Assynt region. The first and oldest of these glacial periods, named the Late Glacial Maximum, is dated approximately between 29,000-22,000 years ago. An ice sheet of over 800m in thickness was present, leaving only a small number of nunataks visible. Nunataks are exposed peaks or ridges above the ice sheet, often rocky in nature. The youngest glacial event is the Loch Lomond Stadial, around 13,000 to 11,000 years ago, named after the Loch itself, which formed as a result of glacial movement due to the removal of rocks, dug out by the ice. (http://www.scottishgeology.com/geo/regional-geology/midland-valley/south-end-of-loch-lomond). It left moraines, nunataks and outwash terraces in many valleys and some small moraines in corries, with the moraines helping to chart the ice margin retreat. The period was ended due to a rapid increase in climatic temperature, subsequently starting the Holocene. Glacial features are present around the Assynt region which help to chart ice flow direction. These include striations, grooves, crescent gauges and friction cracks to name a few, each of these mostly on a small scale and therefore easily recordable. They are found most commonly on the Cambrian quartzite and the pipe rock; however, small numbers have been mapped on Torridon sandstone. Striations are formed by abrasion of loose rocks and pebbles at the base of a glacier, forming scratches in the rock, the direction of the scratch indicating the directional flow of the ice. At times however, they can be confusing due to different glaciers at later dates cross cutting the previously formed striations from a different direction. The striations have to be subsequently studied in detail to determine which period of ice movement came first. Gauges, in the form of crescent moon shapes, form when boulders within an ice sheet or glacier are pressed against the bedrock. These boulders rotate sl ightly as the ice sheet or glacier moves, dragging them simultaneously with the rotation, causing crescent shaped indents in the bedrock. Gauges are useful for determining flow direction, as the flow of ice often points in the same direction as the gauge. Gauges can often be easily confused with friction cracks if they have been altered by weathering; however, gauges are normally greater in size. Friction cracks are formed due to an increase in friction between the ice sheet and bedrock below it, with boulders and pebbles bouncing off the bedrock, meaning pressure is not continuous. In terms of ice flow direction, they point in the opposite way to the gauges. Moraines, another feature of glacial movement, are accumulations of deposited till. Different moraines are formed in different areas passed by the glacier. Terminal moraines form at the terminus, or end of the furthest point reached by the ice, whereas lateral moraines form at each side of the glacier and medial moraines are formed at the intersection between two glaciers. The deposition of the till can happen in three different areas of the glacier, with subglacial at the bottom of the glacier, marginal deposition on the margins of the ice, and supraglacial sitting on the surface of the ice sheet. Fluvial action can subsequently rework the deposited till and moraines, mutating their characteristics and morphology. Till fabrics can also be studied in order to provide evidence of glaciation. Tills are deposited at different areas of the ice flow, with the position of these and the orientation of the clasts helping to map the direction of ice flow in the area. Periglacial landforms are also present in the region, categorized as areas that form adjacent to glacial terrain or in areas of close similarity and that hypothetically form above the proposed trimline, where freeze thaw weathering often occurs. Patterned ground features are some of the most common structures found, including stripes, nets, circles, polygons and steps, each formed either by sorting or non-sorting of sediment. Nets and stripes are the two most common of these features found in the Assynt region. Nets are found between polygons and circles, with small scale earth hummocks with a core of mineral soil being a common unsorted net. Stripes form on steep slopes, with sorted stripes comprising of alternate stripes of fine and coarse material and are particularly prominent under conditions of permafrost. (Washburn, A.L, 1979) It is believed that both are formed by repeated freeze thaw weathering on sloped ground. Blockfields are one of these features, predominantly found on m ountain plateaus in unglaciated areas, helping to provide evidence of the trimline. They form as a result of freeze thaw weathering, where rocks are shattered in situ and jointed, both vertically and horizontally. They are often made up of shattered quartzite. Solifluction is another feature of periglacial weathering, involving the mass wasting from freeze thaw cycles. Silty and sandy soils are common in solifluction, with the process forming lobes, terraces, stripes and hummocks. Aim Trimlines The aim of the project is to discover the existence of a glacial trimline, which marks the highest point of the most recent glacier or ice sheet. However, it is apparent that in some areas, unmodified periglacial terrain survived glacial maxima under cold based ice and in these scenarios, the trimline represents a thermal boundary between cold based ice and warm based ice. (Elias, S.A, 2006). Other hypothesis include a timeline cut by glacial readvance during ice-sheet downwastage, or the trimline forming during initial ice-sheet downwastage under periglacial conditions. ((Goudie, A.S, 2003) The sharpness of this boundary relied upon the effectiveness and intensity of glacial erosion, the degree of frost weathering after its formation and the downslope mass movement during and after deglaciation. (Goudie, A.S, 2003) Schmidt hammer measurements, detailing hardness, the roughness of the rocks present around the proposed boundary and measurements of differential relief are amongst some of the ways in which these hypotheses have been tested. Studies in other areas, such as the Gap of Dunloe, Ireland, using these measuring techniques, have shown that periglacial trimlines mark the upper limit of a body of ice. (Rae, A.C, Harrison, S et al, 2004). Similar results are expected to be seen in the Assynt region. What we need For the project to be successful and for our research to be undertaken, a number of items will be necessary. Field maps will be vital in order to navigate to proposed sites, whilst also allowing outcrops and features to be marked. These maps will range in scale from large maps of the whole area, at a 1:10000 scale to small more precise maps for more detailed study and navigation. To study our hypothesis of glacial trimlines, Schmidt hammers will be needed in order to measure the hardness of the rocks, where the rocks should be softer above the boundary. A GPS system will also be necessary, equipped with an altitude reader, allowing site positioning to be recorded precisely, for revisits for further study. The size of certain facies and outcrops will need to be measured accurately, so a long tape measure will be needed. A compass clinometer will be necessary for measuring strike and dip of glacial features such as striations and to ascertain the direction that certain features face, a llowing ice flow direction to be understood. A geological hammer would also be a useful addition to the study, allowing segments of rocks unaltered by moss and weather conditions to be studied. Coupled with this will be a hand lens and grainsize charts, allowing the rocks to be studied in precise detail. Due to the nature of our study, in regards to finding the thermal trimline boundary, a large number of mountain peaks will have to be scaled, so warm and weatherproof clothes will be needed according to weather conditions. The Schmidt hammer, GPS, compass clinometer and tape measure will be borrowed from the university geology department, where the maps needed will also be highlighted and printed. Methodologies To test the hypothesis of the existence of a glacial trimline, Schmidt hammer measurements will have to be taken around the peaks of mountains. The Schmidt hammer is a portable instrument, which measures the distance of rebound when pressed against the outcrop using a spring. This measures the hardness of the rocks, allowing a difference to be seen in the rocks above and below the boundary. The rocks above at or above the boundary should be softer as they have been affected by periglacial weathering. (Rae, A.C, Harrison, S et al, 2004) A number of readings, between 20 and 30, will be taken over a transect of an outcrop, allowing an average to be recorded. This method will be repeated at a number of different outcrops on a number of different mountain peaks, eventually showing the parameters of the trimline. The Schmidt hammer data will later be recorded in graphs and tables, noting where the hardness of the rocks changed dramatically. Ice flow features will be present in large quantities below the trimline. These include striations, grooves, crescent gauges and friction cracks. A range of these measurements, approximately 20-30 will be taken of each feature over a number of outcrops in order to gain an average and to ascertain from the results an ice flow direction. These will be measured using rulers to ascertain the size of the feature, whilst a compass clinometer will be used to measure their strike and dip and the overall distance it faces. These features can be drawn onto rose diagrams, clearly and concisely showing the flow direction of the ice. Till fabric analysis, in the form of a sedimentary sequence and log, will be performed in a systematic fashion, rather than being determined by natural geology and morphology like the methods highlighted above. This will be done over a chosen exposure, where it will be carefully logged by choosing clasts one by one on a transect across the exposure, measuring their dip direction and roundness, before noting their rock type. This will be repeated at a number of different heights, before converting the figures recorded during the day into a sedimentary sequence and stereonet diagrams. References Andrews, J.T. Techniques of Till Fabric Analysis. Technical Bulleting No. 6, British Geomorphological Research Group, pp 43, 1971 Ballantyne, C.K Harris, C, The Periglaciation of Great Britain, Cambridge University press, 1995 Bradwell, T Krabbendam, K, Lateral plucking as a mechanism for elongate erosional glacial bedforms: explaining megagrooves in Britain and Canada, British Geologic society, 2011 Elias, S.A, Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, Elsevier Science Ltd, 2006 Fabel, D, Ballantyne, C.K Xu, S, Trimlines, blockfields, mountain-top erratics and the vertical dimensions of the last British Ice sheet in NW Scotland, Quaternary Science reviews, Vol 55, pp 91-102, 2012 FREEMAN, S. R., BUTLER, R. W. H., CLIFF, R. A. and REX, D. C. ‘Direct dating of mylonite evolution: a multi-disciplinary geochronological study from the Moine Thrust Zone, NW Scotland’,Journal of the Geological Society, 155(5), pp. 745–758, (1998) Goudie, A, The encyclopaedia of geomorphology, Routledge, 2003 Harris jr, S.E, Friction cracks and the direction of glacial movement, The Journal of Geology, vol 51, no. 4, 1943 Krabbendam, M. and Leslie, A. G. ‘Lateral variations and linkages in thrust geometry: the Traligill Transverse Zone, Assynt Culmination, Moine Thrust Belt, NW Scotland’,Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 335(1), pp. 335–357, 2010 K.M. Goodenough et al, Digital surface models and the landscape: Interaction between Bedrock and Glacial geology in the Ullapool area, British Geological Society, 2009 Lawson, T.J, Former ice movement in Assynt, Sutherland, as shown by the distribution of glacial erratics, Scottish Journal of Geology 26, 1990 Lawson, T.J, Glacial striae and former ice movement: the evidence from Assynt, Sutherland, Scottish Journal of Geology 32, 1996 Lowe, J. J. and Walker, M. J. C.Reconstructing Quaternary environments. 2nd edn. United Kingdom: Prentice-Hall, 1997 Mendum, J.R et al, Lewisian, Torridonian and Moine Rocks of Scotland, GCR Volume No. 34, 2009 McCarroll, D., Ballantyne, C. K., Nesie, A. Dahl, S.-O. 1995. Nunataks of the last ice sheet in northwest Scotland. Boreas, 24:305–323. Stoker, M. Bradwell, T. 2005 The Minch palaeo-ice stream, NW sector of the British-Irish Ice Sheet. Journal of the Geological Society, 162 (3). 425-428. Trewin, N. H.The Geology of Scotland. 4th edn. United Kingdom: Geological Society Publishing House. 2003 University of Birmingham field guide – Assynt field course Washburn, A.L, Geocryology, Edward Arnold, London, pp 122-156, 1979 http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/10ag.html http://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/~oesis/nws/nws-geolhist.html http://www.discoverassynt.co.uk/landscape-geology.php http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/structure/assyntgeology/extra_info/about_us/project_details.htm http://www.scottishgeology.com/geo/regional-geology/midland-valley/south-end-of-loch-lomond/ http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/geology/scotland/ice.asp http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/geology/scotland.pdf

Evaluate Chaucer’s use of irony in the presentation of Courtly Love. :: Free Essay Writer

Evaluate Chaucer’s use of irony in the presentation of Courtly Love. The term Courtly love had not existed in the fourteenth century. It was only later coined this in Victorian time, although the concept existed when Chaucer was writing. The idea of courtly love is a literary concept that cannot be applied to real life due to what it entails. It was believed that this type of love is the most powerful and is the defining experience of human existence. Chaucer uses this idea in ‘The Merchant’s Tale’, but inappropriately. He shows the ability for there to be courtly love yet it is not fully carried out. In many circumstances he uses it to create humour in the tale by creating ironic situations and behaviours with the characters. This highlights the problems with the relationships of the Characters within the poem. When we are first introduced to January, he is portrayed to be a rich and noble man, which makes him ideal for courtly love. ‘A worthy night, that born was of Pavie, In which he lived in greet prosperitee;’ With this limited knowledge on January, it is possible to see that he is an apt person to be involved in courtly love. This changes, however, as we get to hear more about his personality. He is shown to have followed his ‘bodily delit’ which is not a quality found in a courtly lover. This then presents the reader with the fact that there is something wrong with the idea of January being the courtly lover in the tale. This creates irony as the reader sees that it will be inappropriate from the beginning and that it will not work out. I would argue, that it also enables the audience to take January less seriously as we can see that he is not meant to be a character that we admire. January is interested in getting married and wants to find himself a wife. This is due to the fact that he feels he is getting old and he believes that through marriage he will redeem himself from his licentious past. This also does not fit in with courtly love idea, which is that people will marry because they are in love. January does finally pick a woman and then begins to list the qualities he has found in her: ‘Hir middle small, hire armes longe and sklendre, Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse,’ Although January is describing her appearance, he also brings up her personality and mind. This enables the reader to think that this could be courtly love because he does not think of her looks only. By talking about her mind he appears to be seeing her as his equal.

Blaming External Pressure for the Tragic Decline of Tess in Tess of the

Blaming External Pressure for the Tragic Decline of Tess in Tess of the D'Urbervilles From the beginning of the novel 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' by Thomas Hardy, it is clear that the main character, Tess, is not going to have an easy life. She is deliberately targeted by cruel "Immortals" as their sadistic plaything. This is symbolized during the club dance, where Tess is "one of the white company" but is the only one to have a bright "red ribbon" in her hair. The mark of blood is on her from the start. Whilst Tess is going to market she accidentally kills the family's horse. Her own guilt for this accidental death is the first stage in a long series of incidents leading to Tess's tragic death at the end of the novel. Social and environmental pressures rank high on the list of causes of Tess's tragedy. In the late 19th century there were many changes taking place in rural England. The advances achieved as a result of the Industrial Revolution meant that even in the countryside farming was becoming mechanized and there were fewer manual labour jobs for the simple peasant people to do. This meant many people had to leave their town where they had spent most of their lives to go and find work. So, for example, the Durbeyfields' departing from Marlott after the death of "Sir John", was only part of a greater rural upheaval. Tess's search for work to make up for the loss of her family's horse led her to the sinister and blatantly predatory Alec d'Urberville who she initially thought was a relative. The sexual double standards typical of late Victorian society were also clear at this point. Females who sinned paid a much higher social price for their mistakes. But Tess did not want to sin - she was pres... ... reach Stonehenge it is obvious that Tess's life of never ending pain and suffering will soon be over. Stonehenge is significant as it was a place for sacrifices in pagan times. The cruel "Immortals" have at last brought Tess to the place of sacrifice - they will soon end their sadistic "sport". I conclude that Hardy wrote this book to show that "individuals have no control over their lives, but are at the mercy of impersonal and inexorable forces", as stated in the resource notes to the Cambridge edition of the novel. From the beginning Tess's destiny was mapped out. She was born to suffer and eventually die. Tess was in the end a victim of the circumstances of late Victorian rural society, with all its cruel discrimination against erring females, but even more so of cruel supernatural forces who had marked her out as their victim from the beginning.

Loves Faults :: Essays Papers

Loves Faults The novel, Mother Tongue, is a great example of the misuse of love today. The author, Demetria Martinez, tells the tale of a woman that falls in love with a Salvadoreà ±o refugee. Josà © Luis is a soldier in the Salvadorian army that flees to the United States where he begins a love affair with a young woman, Mary. From my prospective, the emotions they shared were not of love, but rather emotions that arose from false pretenses. Like so many relation-ships in our society today, the word love is taken for granted. Relationships are embarked upon without consideration of the repercussions. Divorce rates are a great example how relationships are not being started for the right reasons. Love is abused because of humans' innate desire to love, uncontrollable feeling to search for it, and be loved despite their failure to develop the necessary foundations for true love. The yearning for affection is one of life's greatest mysteries. This longing has led to many misconceptions of love. The greatest factor in the delusion of love is lust; often the emotions that arise from eroticism are mistaken for the true euphoric experience that is true love. Another factor that contributes to false love is loneliness, which is a feeling that all people know and avoid tremendously. As in Mary's case, her judgement was clouded by her misinterpretation of what she believed to be love. Mary was unable to realize that what appeared to be love was not truly love, " I courted disaster, set out to love a man I knew full well would go away." (Pg. 27) The combination of lust, loneliness, and Mary's undying need for love that created a rude awakening for her. Mankind's intense yearning for love leads him to what seems to be an unending search for it. Man spends too much time searching for love; but not fully understanding its purpose. Love is a gift from one person to another, and thus it has the ability to posses many different meanings. Often, in search of love people fall into the trap of trying to alter love to suit personal fantasies of what it should be. Frequently spending their time convincing themselves of what they can change about the other, instead of how they can work to accept them. "I was one of those women whose fate is to take a war out of a man, or at least imagine she is doing so.

Barthes Essays Essay

In the article â€Å"Toys† (1957), Roland Barthes claims that modern toys are conditions children to gender roles they are expected to demonstrate. Barthes supports his claim by explaining that toys are imitations of everyday adult objects and comparing these toys to a wooden set of blocks that promotes creativity and durability. His purpose is to raise awareness about the myths of toys and the things they represent in order to make people reevaluate the types of toys that are best for child development. The intended audience is most likely people studying the subject of childhood development and are well educated because of the more serious tone and use of complicated words; parents may also have an interest in the article. In the article â€Å"Photography and Electoral Appeal† (1957), Roland Barthes explains how the use of photography in elections and politics can be deceiving. Barthes supports his claim by giving specific examples of how the photographs can influence the views and decisions of voters. His purpose is to explain the deceptions present in photographs in order to educate voters. The intended audience is voters who will be viewing the politicians campaign. The tone of the essay is rather sophisticated and serious. In the article â€Å"Ornamental Cookery† (1957), Roland Barthes discusses the mythical economics behind the ornamentation of cooking. Barthes supports his claim by giving specific examples of the things Elle does to make their dishes look elaborate and discussing the audience of Elle magazine and their expectations on what they can create. His purpose is to explain that the pictures presented in the magazine are a â€Å"cuisine of advertisement† in order to reveal that Elle has mislead people into what they believe they can create. Barthes uses descriptive words and targets his essay towards the readers of Elle, the working-class. In the essay â€Å"Wine and Milk† (1957), Roland Barthes claims that wine is an importance part of the French society and represents several mythologies. Barthes supports his claim by giving specific examples of the myths of wine and comparing it to the myths of milk in other countries. His purpose is to explain the importance of certain drinks in countries and the nationalism of wine in France. Barthes uses an intellectual style in his essay and intended the audience to be people interested in myths or the meaning of drinks in countries. In the essay â€Å"Soap-powders and Detergents† (1957), Roland Barthes explains the use of psycho-analysis in advertisements for soap and detergents. Barthes supports his claim by describing the uses of soap and the way people see soap by using images and descriptive words. His purpose is to explain the myths behind soap and detergent and how companies use the myths in advertising. The audience is people who watch the advertisements and people in marketing.

Reading Habit Essay

When there were no televisions or computers, reading was a primary leisure activity. People would spend hours reading books , traveling to far away lands in their minds. With time, people have lost their skill and passion to read as there are many other exciting and thrilling options available these days, aside from books. And that is a shame because reading offers a productive approach to improving vocabulary and word power, it helps to learn things that are not taught in school or by a teacher. Reading magazines and newspapers daily informs us with what is going on in the outside world or in the community we live in. Children who love reading have comparatively higher IQs. They are more creative and do better in schools and colleges. Children who start reading from an early age have good language skills, and have a better grasp on the variances in phonics . Reading helps in mental development and stimulates the eyes muscles it involves greater levels of concentration and adds to the conversational skills of the reader. It is an indulgence that enhances the knowledge acquired, consistently. The habit of reading also helps readers to decipher new words and phrases that they come across in everyday conversations. Reading can become a healthy addiction and adds to our information on various topics helping us to stay in-touch with contemporary writers as well as those from the days of yore and makes us sensitive to global issues. It is therefore essential to cultivate the habit of reading from an early age for self – development.

Iron Crowned Chapter 10

Deanna came easily when I summoned her, making me wonder if she'd been hanging around invisibly since our last chat. Regardless, she didn't mention the fake ultimatum, thus letting Kiyo continue to believe we were in a time crunch. I called Volusian as well, figuring it couldn't hurt to have his protection while traveling to the ghost cutoff point. The two spirits didn't interact as we traveled, no surprise seeing as they had little in common. Deanna was tied to the living because of unfinished business and love for others. Volusian's soul was damned for eternity, forced to wander for his crimes – unless I ever sent him to the Underworld. Deanna hadn't been able to give us a time estimate on how long it would take to reach the crown's lair (as I was beginning to refer to it). The Otherworld's twisted terrain always made travel hard to gauge, plus spirits could move faster than we could. I wouldn't have minded walking, but the unknown variables made me ride horseback. Kiyo did the same out of courtesy for me, though he could have tirelessly covered miles and miles in fox form. The only thing I really knew for sure was that this wouldn't be a day trip. Kiyo and I were as silent as the ghosts, though once we crossed out of the lands adjacent to mine, he would occasionally tell me where we were. I'd never ventured this far into the Otherworld, and it made me uneasy, though knowing we were clear of the Rowan Land was a relief. Even Kiyo, neutral as he claimed, had tensed in Katrice's territory. â€Å"This is the Honeysuckle Land,† he said, when the road led us to a hot, riotously colored landscape. Flowers grew everywhere, and even the trees were covered in blossoms. Arizona was notorious for all its hummingbirds, but here, they swarmed like flies. â€Å"Dorian was right,† I mused. â€Å"It is beautiful.† It was hard to imagine this place mustering up a military. This seemed more like a world where people frolicked in scanty clothing, beating drums and engaging in free love. Well, since they were gentry, free love would have been a given. â€Å"Dorian would know,† said Kiyo stiffly, eyes focused straight ahead. â€Å"I'm surprised he let you come with me.† â€Å"Dorian doesn't say what I can or can't do,† I snapped. â€Å"If you're going to just keep doing this the whole time, I'll – â€Å" â€Å"You'll what?† asked Kiyo with amusement, when I didn't continue. â€Å"Send me back? Face death-threatening situations alone?† â€Å"I would gladly escort you back, if that is what you choose,† Volusian told Kiyo. I sighed. â€Å"Please. Just don't get on Dorian the whole time, okay? He wants this over. It was his idea to get your help. He's worried, believe me.† â€Å"That,† said Kiyo gravely, â€Å"I can believe. I don't trust him. I don't believe his alliance with you is as straightforward as it seems. But I do believe he cares about you.† The landscape suddenly shifted around us, becoming a rolling desert of white sand. It stretched out under a blazing sun, reflecting back at us in a way that was hard on the eyes. â€Å"Ugh,† I said, focusing down on the road. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"The Myrrh Land,† said Kiyo. Even with my eyes averted, I knew he was smiling. â€Å"Figured you'd like this place. You should go make friends with its king. They've got some badass fighters.† â€Å"Big difference between this and the Sonora Desert,† I said. Although harsh and scalding, the desert I'd grown up with was full of life. This place was desolate and dead. Mercifully, we soon passed out of it into sweeping moors, covered in snow. I took my leather jacket out of my pack. I'd brought it knowing we might travel through lands that were in winter. It still wasn't much protection, and I realized I could have easily gotten one of my servants to whip up something more suitable. No doubt it would've been gentry-style, probably a cloak. Look human, Jasmine had said. Mostly I looked cold. Kiyo identified this place as the Birch Land. We crossed into the Honeysuckle Land again, which was typical of the Otherworld. Other places repeated as well. When the road took us through a landscape that reminded me of northern Texas, Kiyo had nothing to say. â€Å"What's this?† I asked. â€Å"I don't know,† he admitted. â€Å"The Pecan Land,† said Volusian. â€Å"Sounds delicious,† I teased. We'd had few stops and mostly eaten travel rations. â€Å"I could go for a pecan pie right now.† Kiyo didn't respond. He seemed lost in thought, his expression growing darker as we passed through more and more terrain he didn't know. He seemed to know the names, though, and didn't like them. â€Å"You're taking us to the Unclaimed Lands,† he said to Deanna. It was near the end of our day, the sky burning red. â€Å"I don't know,† she said simply. â€Å"I'm only going where I was shown.† â€Å"Volusian?† I asked. â€Å"Of course we're going to the Unclaimed Lands,† he said, sounding mildly annoyed by my stupidity. â€Å"We're nearly upon them. Where else would you expect a coveted object to be hidden?† I glanced at Kiyo. â€Å"I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess these are kingdoms no one controls?† â€Å"‘Kingdoms' isn't even the right word,† he said. â€Å"No one lives here.† â€Å"Why not?† I asked. The scenery changed again. The texture of the ground was like recently dried mud, covered in a pattern of cracks that reminded me of one of my jigsaw puzzles. Odd holes were scattered here and there. This eerie landscape stretched far, far ahead, no end in sight. Not far from us – ten miles at most – the land rose sharply along the sides of the cracked road, forming high, rocky cliffs that curled in at their tops like jaws. Erratic gusts of wind blew through the tunnel they formed. The setting sun made everything blood-red. â€Å"Guess,† said Kiyo. â€Å"Because we're here.† I peered around, studying the depressing landscape. Its superficial appearance meant little, really. Any gentry seizing control of it could shape the land to his or her will, instantly beautifying it. Then, a strange feeling settled in me. I couldn't quite define it. It didn't make me ill or disoriented. It just didn't feel right. I squinted at the cliffs, taking in their striation. Through the red haze, I could see many of the loose rocks were a dull gray, streaked with orange. Oxidized metal. â€Å"Iron,† I realized. â€Å"We're surrounded in iron. We're not even in the crown's lair yet. We can't get to the lair without passing through iron.† â€Å"Can you feel it?† asked Kiyo. â€Å"Yes †¦Ã¢â‚¬  That was the odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. â€Å"That's the gentry in you. Even with your human blood, you can't help but be affected. There's a lot of iron here.† â€Å"I don't feel weak,† I said, astonished the iron would affect me at all. â€Å"Or sick or in pain.† I'd seen gentry scream just from the smallest touch of iron. I summoned the magic within me, letting it reach out to the air and unseen moisture, though I didn't actively use it. â€Å"I don't think it's hurting my magic either.† â€Å"Good,† said Kiyo. â€Å"You're strong, so I'm not surprised. You may just have a simple awareness of it.† I thought about this for a moment and came to another realization. â€Å"You're not affected at all, are you?† He shook his head. â€Å"Nope.† I always thought of Kiyo and me as being alike, children born of both worlds. That part was true, as was our half-human heritage. But my Otherworldly blood came from the gentry. Only gentry were affected by iron, and kitsunes had no fairy connection. As with the demon bear and the fetch, a kitsune's bane would be silver. At least, a full-blooded kitsune's would be. I'd seen Kiyo handle silver objects; his human blood protected him as mine did me. The bottom line was that he was a more useful companion here than I'd realized. I wondered if Dorian had made the connection. â€Å"We will cross through no other lands until you turn back, mistress,† said Volusian. â€Å"So this is the world's end. The Otherworld's end, at least.† I turned to Deanna, hovering alongside us. â€Å"Will we reach the entrance before night?† She thought about it, and I braced myself for another vague response. â€Å"No. If you don't stop, you'll reach it in the morning.† Kiyo and I exchanged looks, both of us thinking the same thing. Get to the crown sooner or camp and be rested? I looked over at Volusian. â€Å"You said there are no other lands. But will the terrain in this one change?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"What do you think?† I asked Kiyo. â€Å"I don't want to be tired when we face whatever's guarding the crown, but this isn't great camping territory.† â€Å"No,† he agreed. His eyes scanned around us, able to see more than mine in the waning light. He pointed. â€Å"There. There's a small outcrop that'll block most of the wind. Enough to keep a fire going. I hope.† I couldn't see the spot but trusted him. â€Å"Camping it is.† When we reached it, I saw the site was indeed sheltered. I tethered the horses while Kiyo built up a fire. We watched it warily as the wind abruptly came and went. The fire flickered and waved but appeared capable of lasting the night. â€Å"I could hold off the wind a little,† I said. â€Å"Don't bother,† said Kiyo, settling down beside the blaze. â€Å"Save your magic. This'll hold.† I wondered if he really was concerned about me conserving my strength or just wanted me to avoid my magic altogether. He'd never liked it. I didn't question him, though, and sat down as well, mostly because the cold was finally starting to get to me. I buttoned up the leather jacket, achieving little. Our dinner consisted of more travel food: jerky, granola, and some bread that would probably be stale tomorrow. â€Å"I don't suppose you can use your wilderness skills to go hunt us something fresh?† I asked. He smiled, the campfire casting strange shadows on his face, now that night had fully come. â€Å"I would if there was anything alive out here. It's just us.† He eyed me, taking in my shivering. â€Å"Don't you own a warmer coat?† â€Å"Where am I going to get a down coat in Tucson?† I demanded. â€Å"This time of year? Any sporting goods store. For the skiers. Lara could order you one if you can't be troubled.† â€Å"I think Lara and Tim are in love,† I said abruptly, remembering that bizarre development. â€Å"What?† asked Kiyo, as astonished as I had been. â€Å"Are you sure?† â€Å"Well, they're in infatuation, at least. Volusian, were they together when you went back?† My minion was off in the shadows, only his red eyes visible. â€Å"Yes, mistress. They were in bed, their bodies naked and – â€Å" â€Å"Okay, okay, stop,† I exclaimed. â€Å"I don't need to hear anymore.† â€Å"Well, I'll be damned,† said Kiyo. While we'd dated, he'd been witness to their phone battles. â€Å"But I guess stranger things have happened.† â€Å"Yeah,† I agreed. â€Å"Look at us. We're sitting in an iron landscape, being led by a ghost to a mythical object, which – if it even exists – may or may not make me scary enough to end a war.† â€Å"Fair point,† said Kiyo, his smile returning. We sat in companionable silence. It was a nice change from the animosity and tension that had surrounded us for so long. I'd missed him, I realized. â€Å"Eugenie?† â€Å"Hmm?† I glanced up, feeling embarrassed by my thoughts. â€Å"Why didn't you bring Roland with you? He could've fought unaffected. And God knows he doesn't want gentry power.† I looked away from those dark eyes, down at the fire's blue heart. â€Å"He doesn't want me to have gentry power either.† â€Å"Yeah, but he'd put that aside if he knew you were walking into – â€Å" â€Å"He doesn't know anything,† I said bluntly. My voice then grew soft. â€Å"We aren't speaking anymore.† â€Å"How †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Kiyo paused, no doubt trying to wrap his mind around this. â€Å"How is this possible?† I shrugged. â€Å"He cut me off. When he found out I'd been keeping the truth from him, about the Thorn Land and everything else †¦ Well, ever since what happened with Leith, he's refused to speak to or acknowledge me.† â€Å"But your mom †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Talks to me occasionally. She's caught in the middle, and I don't want to make it harder on her than it already is. She shouldn't have to go against her husband.† Kiyo's confusion was becoming anger. â€Å"Yeah, but you're her daughter! She should be able to – â€Å" â€Å"Just forget it, okay?† I drew my knees up to me and wrapped my arms around them to draw in more warmth. â€Å"I don't want to talk about it.† â€Å"Eug, I'm sorry.† I kept quiet. There was nothing to say. He cleared his throat. â€Å"I don't suppose you brought anything else to keep you warm? Blankets? Camping supplies?† â€Å"I didn't think about the possible overnight part,† I said, grateful for the subject shift. â€Å"I've got a change of clothes like these, food, weapons, and first aid supplies.† â€Å"You brought first aid stuff?† He sounded impressed. â€Å"It's not like you to think ahead. Er, I mean, you don't usually worry about – â€Å" â€Å"I know what you mean,† I said with a weary smile. â€Å"And don't worry, the universe is the same. I didn't plan ahead. It's for current injuries.† â€Å"Current?† â€Å"I got hit by a table.† There might be a million reasons that Kiyo and I were wrong for each other, but one nice thing was that when I made a statement like that, he just didn't question it. I was still freezing when it came time to sleep, forcing Kiyo into a bold suggestion. â€Å"Come sleep over here, between me and the fire. The cold doesn't bug me as much, and I can block the wind.† â€Å"Kiyo – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, yeah. I know. Dorian. But if he wanted me here to protect you, then here's the perfect chance. Besides, we all know you can kick my ass if I try anything.† I said and did nothing. When this continued for about a minute, he sighed and lay down on his side, back to the wind. I attempted the same, after ordering Volusian to stay on watch, but even with the fire's warmth, I was still cold. I'm tough, I'm tough. I played those words over and over through my head, not wanting to admit weakness. After about fifteen minutes, I gave in and crawled over to Kiyo's side of the fire. There was no â€Å"I told you so.† He simply made room but was surprised when I positioned myself to face him. â€Å"I thought you'd want your back to me.† â€Å"Can't,† I said. â€Å"That's where the injuries are.† â€Å"From the table.† â€Å"Right.† He could have attempted propriety by turning over so his back faced me, but that would have put his face to the wind. He didn't deserve that. I wiggled myself closer, curling myself against his body, and resting my head against his chest. He was big enough that he did almost completely shield me. His whole body stood still as I made myself comfortable, either from his astonishment or for my ease. Once I was settled, he relaxed slightly and tried to put his arms around me. He suddenly fumbled and pulled them away, grazing my breast as he did. I don't know if he noticed. I certainly did. â€Å"Wait. Where are you hurt?† â€Å"Back. Left shoulder.† Tentatively, he reached out again and wrapped his arms around my waist. â€Å"This okay?† â€Å"Mmm-hmm.† Holding me, he shifted closer so that our bodies pressed together, holding in the warmth. â€Å"This?† â€Å"Fine.† He relaxed again and exhaled. Tucked against him, I couldn't see his face but had the sneaking suspicion that I wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight. Survival-wise, this plan was sound. I was warm(ish) now, protected and heated by him. But I was also pressed up against a body that I knew intimately, one that used to move in mine with a possessive fierceness. Dorian claimed me with mind games and exquisite acts of dominance. Kiyo had always done it through strength and ferocity, an animal taking his mate. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, hoping I'd fall asleep if I mentally enumerated the reasons we'd broken up. But mostly, I kept remembering how his hand had lightly rubbed my breast. Sleep finally took me, but it was a long time in coming. As I drifted off, I wondered how he was coping. This probably didn't affect him at all. If he really wasn't sleeping with Maiwenn again, then he was probably out picking up women all the time. Kitsunes had kind of a supernatural allure, and God knew he'd been pretty persuasive the night we'd met. I awoke a couple hours before dawn – and not by choice. Volusian's warning came only seconds before the surface below us began to tremble. I was up in a flash, but unsurprisingly, Kiyo had already beaten me. I'd gone to sleep with weapons, uncomfortable though it was. I hadn't known what I'd need out here, except that I wouldn't need the iron athame since this was a gentry-free zone. I had my gun (safety on) and the silver athame. Both were out as Kiyo and I stood back to back, staring around us. The tremors shook the ground, forcing some fancy footwork, and creating more of the cracks that already covered the ground. A few more seconds passed, and then all went still. â€Å"An earthquake?† I asked uncertainly. â€Å"No,† said Volusian. He was in his solid, two-legged form, staring around with narrowed eyes. It was a little disconcerting that he didn't seem to know precisely what the problem was. â€Å"Then what are we – â€Å" The ground below us suddenly split open. With only the light of the fire, my vision was bad, but I thought I saw what looked kind of like a serpentine shape emerge from the earth. No, it was exactly like a serpentine shape because a moment later, a giant fucking snake shot up and landed neatly in a perfect coil, its head towered over Kiyo and me as it regarded us with glowing green eyes. The light from them illuminated a flicking, forked tongue, and the loud hissing that followed was kind of a given. â€Å"Volusian!† I yelled. My minion sprang into action. The deadly touch of his hands made the snake jerk in surprise. Beside me, Kiyo was shifting into fox form, and I decided a gun was probably going to get me farther here than the athame's small blade. A drop of venom fell from the snake's mouth, and it sizzled when it hit the ground in front of me. Lovely. Still, I felt confident the three of us could take this thing. At least until the ground shook again, and another snake popped up. It was soon followed by a third. â€Å"Son of a bitch.† I deliberated, wondering if mass force on one snake at a time was the way to go. No. I'd leave Kiyo and Volusian to the first. I yelled a warning to Kiyo that the snake was poisonous, but it was hard to say if he understood. I turned on the two new snakes. Even with part of their bodies coiled, their heads stood a good ten feet above mine. More venom dropped before me. Deciding not to play favorites, I aimed the gun and quickly fired off a couple of rounds into each. I'd had the foresight to load up silver bullets, but it didn't look like the gun was going to kill the snakes anytime soon – at least not without fifty more shots. Mostly, the bullets seemed to piss them off more. Still, I kept firing since that seemed to make the snakes keep their distance. It proved to be a short-term solution, seeing as my bullets soon ran out. I reached for another clip. I could reload a gun quickly, but that pause gave one of the snakes an opening. Its head – no pun intended – snaked toward me, giving me a close-up view of large fangs. I'd been on guard for such an attack and jumped out of its way, only to be struck by the other's tail. It knocked me several feet away, causing me to lose my grip on the new cartridge. The cartridge disappeared into the night, and I landed hard on the ground. My back and shoulder screamed in agony, but I had no time to baby them. There were two other clips in my belt, but as one of the snakes came for me again, my hand went to the athame after all. The snake that had hit me leaned down, its face and dripping jaw inches from me. Rather than run again, I leaped forward and plunged the blade into its eye. It cried out in pain, suffering from the silver, just as any Otherworldy creature would. Well, actually, any creature with a knife in its eye would probably suffer, magical or not. I had the sense to jerk my athame out, having no desire either to lose the blade or get pulled along as the snake reared back up. The suffering of its pal made the other hold off. In those moments, I shoved the athame back into my belt, yelping in surprise. Apparently, the snake's eye was poisonous too, and whatever liquid had come away with the blade ate through my jeans and burned my skin. Nonetheless, I managed to get another cartridge loaded. Without hesitation, I turned and emptied the entire gun into the snake's head. I wasn't precise enough to hit the eye, but all those bullets took their toll. The snake wavered in the air, blood mixing with venom on its skin, and with a last hiss of pain, it fell over and slammed into the ground. Wondering why the other snake hadn't come for me, I spun around and saw Volusian and Kiyo attacking it. I took it on faith that the first one was dead and loaded the gun with my last cartridge. Volusian's touch was searing the snake's skin, and Kiyo was simply ripping into it with his teeth. Opting for what seemed tried and true, I fired into the snake's head again. Between the three of us, we soon literally took the snake down. I stood there tense and ready, empty gun in one hand and athame in the other. The world was silent except for the wind and the occasional twitching of the third snake as it died. Moments later, Kiyo morphed out of the fox shape, giving me a better view of any injuries now that he wasn't covered in fur. He grimaced and spit on the ground a few times, but biting the snake apparently hadn't destroyed his mouth or face. A couple red spots on his arms made me think he too had been splattered with the venom. Otherwise, he looked unharmed. He sighed and raked a hand through his black hair, which was curling slightly from sweat. â€Å"You know,† he said. â€Å"I don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to watch Dune again.†