Marco Polo And His Travels Through Asia Essays - Marco Polo

Marco Polo And His Travels Through Asia Marco Polo and His Travels through Asia The Question I am asking in my essay is, ?Why did Marco Polo go I think his reason for exploring new lands is not because he had dreams of conquest, but because he was in fact trying to find a new trading market. Marco Polo was born in Venice, Italy in 1254. His father Niccolo was a prosperous merchant who imported luxury goods from Asia. When Marco was just six years old, his father sailed off to Istanbul(then called Constantinople) and didn't come back for nine years. Marco's mother died shortly after his 16th birthday, just before his father got back from his voyage. Two years later he set out again, this time taking his son. Marco Polo was just 17 years old when he left Venice for the first time in his life . He would nearly be 42 years of age when he saw it again. So the journey to Asia had begun. The first place the Polo's reached was lesser Armenia where Marco had begun to observe new and different kinds of people. He was not always impressed. ?In former times its gentry were esteemed expert and brave soldiers but at the present day great drinkers.? From Lesser Armenia, the Polo's traveled to Anatolia in Eastern Turkey (then called Turkomania). Here Marco marveled at the horses, mules, handsome carpets and fine skills. Next came greater Armenia where Mount Arat towered nearly eighteen thousand feet into the heavens. At the top of this mountain, Marco knew, Noah's ark finally came to rest, but there was too much snow that covered the upper slopes so that no one could climb it and search for the ark. ?No one did climb it until 1829. Those explorers did not find the ark, but later explorers found evidence of fossilized wood.? The next place the Polo's voyage took them to was Zorzania (today part of Georgia). Marco became interested at a geyser grushing oil. He noticed that people used the oil to cure rashes and skin related problems, and also burned it for light. ?The European people had forgotten this method which their ancestors would be familiar with .? In the city of Mosul, the Polo's saw the finely woven cloth still called muslin today. The Nestorian Christians that lived there especially interested Marco. ?Although Marco wrote about the city of Baghdad, it is not yet certain that the Polo's actually visited it. Still, Marco did hear many miraculous stories about the area and was eager to write about it? . Next, the Polo's arrived in Tabriz, the greatest pearl market in the world. They moved on quickly to Saba in Persia. Marco saw the tombs of the three wise men Casper, Melchior and Balthasar, who of course visited the baby Jesus. ?Marco had high Praise for Persia, including horses, donkeys, grain fruits, wild game, military equipment, beautiful embroidery done by women and young people, and turquoises(Turkish stone)? . The next place the Polo's visited was probably the biggest obstacle thus far. They entered a place in Persia overwhelmed with bandits known as ?Karaunas?. ? Karaunas scoured the country and plunder everything in their reach? . For safety's sake, the Polo's joined up with a larger caravan to travel with through the region. However, the bandits still went after the large caravan and attacked it murdering many people and others were sold into slavery. Luckily, the Polo's escaped without any harm and continued their long journey. The next part of their journey, the Polo's decided to go to the Plateau of Iran and into the city of Hormuz on the Persian Gulf. None of the Polo's particularly liked Hormuz. The summer air was poisonous. ?Marco says, sixty-five hundred soldiers were caught outside the city during a windstorm. Everyone of them suffocated. When the people of Hormuz tried to bury them, the corpses crumbled apart? . Their journey then took them across a huge salt desert whose green water was too bitter and salty to drink. They then made it to a place called Tunocain. ?In my opinion, this place has the most beautiful women in the world? said Marco. From Tunocain, the Polo's went on to

The Similarities and Differences in Defining and Applying the Concepts of Forms by Platonists and Aristotelians

The Similarities and Differences in Defining and Applying the Concepts of Forms by Platonists and Aristotelians The personalities of Plato and Aristotle are recognized as central to the whole Ancient Greek Philosophy. Despite the fact that Aristotle was one of Plato’s students and spent more than twenty years at his school, some of Aristotelian concepts differ significantly from the Platonist premises. The Aristotelian definitions of forms are based on the Platonist notions but are more realistic not requiring climbing up the divided line.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Similarities and Differences in Defining and Applying the Concepts of Forms by Platonists and Aristotelians specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As one of Plato’s students, Aristotle inherited a part of Platonic notions and concepts, along with the teacher’s love for forms, however, modifying and reinterpreting them to some extent. Thus, there are a number of similarities and differences between the Platonist and Aristotelian definitions o f the forms. Plato used the notion of a Form mainly for defining the entities and values, including Beauty, Justice, and what is most important the Good. The objective truth is characteristic of these values and is important for reaching the Good and living a good life. The main similarity of the Platonic and Aristotelian forms is in their ability to be the bearers of the objective truth. â€Å"The expression ‘the F’ must have been construed as indicating something about the nature of its bearer† (Moravcsik 74). At the same time, the Aristotelian notion of forms differs significantly from his teacher’s concept. The difference between the interpretations of the notion of forms can be viewed within the grammatical framework. Platonic forms correlate with adjectives (beautiful, good) or nouns which define qualities (Beauty, the Good), while Aristotelian forms name ordinary beings and objects (rabbit, tragedy) (Roochnik 161). It is possible to apply the Aristo telian notion of form to species of animal world. Aristotle, for example, used to discuss the form of a rabbit, admitting that it is obviously different from a form of a dog. In this sense, the Aristotelian forms, in contrast to the Platonist theories, do not require climbing up the divided line and have the manifestations in the world of nature. Thus, the Aristotelian contribution to the Platonist theories of forms makes them more realistic and closer to practice, making the practical application of theoretical concepts possible. As opposed to Platonists who insist on climbing the divided line for learning the great truth, Aristotelians are more realistic and place the objects of their interest on earth, often applying their theoretical notions to the world of nature. Instead of turning from this world for the purpose of achieving the purity of forms, as it was proclaimed by Platonists, Aristotelians emphasize the importance of retrieving the objective truth from the outer world by using the human senses and especially vision. The denial from the purity of the forms was a significant step forward in developing the notions of forms and making their practical application possible, instead of leaving the concepts of form in philosophical theories only.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Aristotelian causal explanation of the forms was a valuable contribution to the theories of forms (Cooper 123). Thus, discussing the nature of particular forms and their properties, Aristotle touched upon the issue of causal relations between the nature of objects and their characteristics. Thus, making the sensual apprehension of the forms possible and not separating them from the earth life, Aristotelians made their concepts more realistic and closer to life, using the additional opportunities for retrieving the data concerning the forms and analyzing it. The Platonist an d Aristotelian notions of forms are similar in endowing the forms with the characteristic of objective truth and differ in a number of significant criteria. Using the vision and other senses for retrieving information from the earth life and applying their notions of forms to the world of nature, Aristotelians make their theories more realistic. Cooper, John. Knowledge, Nature, and the Good: Essays on Ancient Philosophy. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Moravcsik,Julius. Plato and Platonism: Plato’s Conception of Appearance and Reality. Malden: Blackwell Publishers. 2000, Print. Roochnik, David. Retrieving the Ancients: An Introduction to Greek Philosophy. malden:Blackwell Publishing. 2004 Print.

Telling Time Lesson With Worksheets

Telling Time Lesson With Worksheets Children usually learn to tell time by first or second grade. The concept is abstract and takes some fundamental instruction before children can grasp the concept. You can use several worksheets to help children learn how to represent time on a clock and how to decipher the time on analog and digital clocks. The Fundamentals The concept of time may take some time to grasp. But, if you use a methodical approach to explaining how to tell what time it is, your students can pick it up with some practice. 24 Hours in a Day The first thing that will help young students learn about time is if you explain to them that there are 24 hours in a day. Explain that the clock divides the day into two halves of 12 hours each. And, within each hour, there are 60 minutes.   For an example, you can explain how there is an 8 oclock in the morning, like when children are getting ready for school, and an 8 oclock at night, usually associated with bedtime. Show the students what a clock looks like when it is 8 oclock with a plastic clock or another teaching  aid. Ask the children what the clock looks like. Ask them what they notice about the clock.   Hands on a Clock Explain to children that a clock has a face and two main hands. The teacher should demonstrate that the smaller hand represents the hour of the day while the larger hand represents the minutes within that hour. Some students may have already grasped the concept of skip counting by 5s, which should make it easier for children to understand the concept of each number on the clock representing 5-minute increments. Explain how 12 at the top of the clock is both the beginning and end of the hour and how it represents :00. Then, have the class count out the subsequent numbers on the clock, by skip counting by 5s, from 1 through 11. Explain how the smaller hash marks between numbers on the clock are minutes.   Go back to the example of 8 oclock. Explain how oclock means zero minutes or :00. Usually, the best progression for teaching children to tell time is to start in larger increments, like start with children only identifying the hour, then move to the half-hour, then the quarter hour, and then intervals of 5 minutes.   Worksheets for Learning Time Once students understand that the small hour hand represents the 12-hour cycle and the minute hand points to 60 unique minutes around the clock face, they can begin practicing these skills by attempting to tell the time on a variety of clock worksheets. Blank clocks worksheetTelling time to the nearest 5 minutesTelling time to the nearest minuteTwo worksheets for filling in random times:  Worksheet 1  and  worksheet 2Fill in the digital times for analog clocksMiscellaneous time worksheets Other Teaching Aids Engaging multiple senses in learning helps support understanding and providing manipulatives and hands-on experiences enhance  the learning experience. There are many plastic-type clocks that are available to help children learn time concepts. If you cant find mini plastic clocks, have your students make paper clocks using a butterfly clip. When a child has a clock to manipulate, you can then ask them to show you various times. Or you can show them the digital time and ask them to show you what it looks like on an analog clock. Incorporate word problems into the exercises, such as it is now 2 oclock, what time will it be in a half an hour.

Business Operation Training Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Operation Training - Research Paper Example In essence, a vision statement indicates the future of the company while a mission statement demonstrates ways of achieving a predetermined future. A vision statement answers the questions ‘what,’ when,’ and ‘why’ whereas a mission statement answers the questions ‘how’ and the impact (Sabrautzki, 2010).   Henry Ford Health System has a simple vision statement that has one aim, which is to enhance the health of people. Its mission statements provide avenues through which the organization will achieve its vision. It entails transforming individual health of people in order to improve the overall health of society. On the other hand, The Coca-Cola Company has vision and mission statements that are more elaborate. In essence, the Coca-Cola Company has three objectives in its mission statement that will fulfill vision, which revolves around stakeholder satisfaction, high productivity, and betterment of the world. Fundamentally, the vision statements of the two companies are geared towards enhancing the lives of people across the globe although the Coca-Cola Company has a vision statement that transcends beyond its boundaries. Both business strategy and business model enable an organization to formulate the best ways of working towards its goals in order to gain competitive advantage in the market. Although they sound, the same, the two business terms differ in their applications and purpose. For example, the main purpose of a business strategy is to ensure that an organization achieves its long-term plans. On the other hand, a business model has the sole purpose of generating revenue for an organization and making sure that its profitability continues to rise (Mathur,  Mathur,  S. & Kenyon, 2012). Unlike a business model that is concerned with profitability issues, a business strategy deals majorly with the key resource issues. For example, an organization can adopt a strategy that will enable it to expand through the establishment of a new

Effective schools are inclusive schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Effective schools are inclusive schools - Essay Example Normally, a disabled child is sent into a school specifically designed for them or their parents may opt to hire a private tutor that will facilitate the child's education. This is not the case for inclusion. In theory, inclusion states that all student are part of a so-called school society and that students regardless of their physical or mental limitations are entitled to the same level of education that a normal child experiences and that disabled children must develop a sense of belonging with other children, his or her teachers and other school personnel regardless of his or her condition. The concept of inclusion was much well accepted that it gave rise to IDEA in 1997. IDEA is actually an acronym that stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and it states that schools should provide the necessary tools and techniques necessary to facilitate the learning process of children with disabilities given a normal classroom environment ("Inclusion, 2006; Department of S pecial Education, 2006). Thus far, inclusion has been well received and is also said to be quite effective even for those suffering from autism. However, inclusion has been proven to have high maintenance costs, though these costs can be justified by its effectivity as some experts claim. But in any case, inclusion provides what every child (whether normal or disabled) needs in a proper learning environment: a sense of belongingness as well as a group of friends that are willing to accept him or her despite his or her disabilities. Furthermore, inclusion provides disabled children a number of benefits that were previously unavailable to them such as housing and healthcare (Harchick, 2005). The Definition of Inclusion Inclusion is a teaching method in which children with physical or mental disabilities are integrated in a normal classroom occupied by normal students. It is intentionally constructed to fill in the needs of disabled students ("Inclusion", 2006). Foreign languages for example, are taught using a variety of activities facilitated by educators and specialists which guide both normal and disabled students through the whole learning process. A typical class in an inclusive school appears to be a normal classroom except that there are times that the class may be a little noisier than usual but this is all part of promoting creativity, resourcefulness and productivity among students (Department of Special Education, 2006). Some experts divide into two more categories: partial and full inclusion. Technically, partial inclusion states that a disabled child needs only to be in the classroom for about two-thirds of the total number of school days. In full inclusion, the disabled child is required to attend all of his or her schooldays in the classroom ("Inclusion", 2006) An inclusive school also discourages competition among its students and it is though of to be student centred. Students are also encouraged to set up their own rules and policies and in turn everyone is expected to abide by it, in effect an inclusive school teaches a student how to become a functional and beneficial part of society (Department of Special Education, 2006). Recent Studies about Inclusion The core concept behind inclusion that students who have been

Family and Household Essay Example for Free

Family and Household Essay Sociology is the subject which looks at the social world around us, how the social world works and how it effects and influences our daily lives. People tend to accept the social arrangements in which they grew up as normal or too complicated to understand. The family is the natural way to bring up children and schools are the normal places for children to learn. For most people the social world is just there, challenging their lives, they cannot change it and it is not really worth while trying to understand it. There is a consequence of that argument, which is when people try to understand their place in society, rich or poor, isolated or popular; they usually do so by saying it is their personal abilities, weaknesses and situations that cause them to be as they are. Sociologists do not fully agree with this, they regard it as their job to understand society and the way it affects different people. They do this by using certain concepts such as, values, beliefs, norms and identity, they also look at different theories, which are explanations that link together social events and show how the social events have different effects on different people. Within this essay the writer will be looking at functionalism, feminism and Marxism and how the different aspects affect people and how they impact on the family and household. Family and household are two different things, a household simply means one or more person living in the same home, where as a family typically means a group of people related by ceremonial and or blood ties, living together or in frequent contact. (Moore, 2001) The functionalist perspective is one of the main theoretical perspectives within sociology. It has its origins in the likes of Emile Durkheim, who was especially interested in how social order is possible and how it remains relatively stable. Functionalism was the dominant branch of western sociology until the 1960s, since when it has been increasingly criticised by sociologists, favouring different sociological perspectives. Functionalists argue that â€Å"societies consist of inter-related social institutions such as schools, mass media, political systems and the family each of which contribute positively to the maintenance of stability of society as a whole.† (earlyhamsociologypages.co.uk, 2011) These institutions are said to be functional for societies as a whole. Broadly speaking it is assumed by functionalists that societies operate in the interests of all of their members so that there is no reason for fundamental conflict in society. Instead there is a high degree of consensus that societies are organised efficiently and relatively fairly. Functionalists believe every institution in society contributes to the smooth running of society as a whole. To functionalists the family is at the heart of the family. Murdock claimed that â€Å"the nuclear family is so useful to society that it is inevitable and universal, appearing everywhere† (historylearningsite.com, 2012). Murdock claimed that he had found evidence of nuclear families in the 250 societies he studied. The family is universal because it fulfils essential functions for the family, such as sexual, which controls sexuality and provides stability for adults, reproduction, which provides new members of society, economical, the family provides for its members and education, the family socialises the young into society’s norms and values. They are essential for social life since without the sexual and reproductive functions there would be no members of society, without the economic function (for example, the provision and preparation of food) life would cease, and without education a term Murdock uses for socialization there would be no culture. Human society without culture could not function. (historylearningsite.com, 2012).parsons states there are two irreducible functions of the family, these functions are primary socialisation, through which children learn to accept the norms and values of society and the stabilisation of adult personalities, the family gives adults the emotional support necessary to cope with everyday life. (Moore, 2001) The functionalist view suggests that the nuclear family has become socially isolated from extended family and geographically separated from wider family and more reliant on the welfare state. The family is self-contained, inward looking with little contact with neighbours and community, home leisure’s have made the family more home centred. Functionalists have been accused of idolising the family; they ignore conflict, abuse and gender equality within families and the ever growing divorce rates and family diversity. Feminists have been highly critical of the highly positive view of the family presented by Functionalists and the more critical view presented by Marxists. The reason for this scepticism boils down to one key concept: patriarchy. Patriarchy refers to a system of male dominance. Historian and activist Cheris Kramaroe once famously remarked that† feminism is the radical notion that woman are human beings† (Head, 2012). Feminism is about woman living on equal terms with men and not being pushed down by law or culture into a lower role within society. Feminists believe that the family is patriarchal, dominated by men and it exploits and oppresses women. The family supports and reproduces inequalities between men and woman, woman are Oppressed because their socialised to be dependent on men and remain second place. They reject the new rights view of the separate roles and also reject the march of progress view, in that society has not changed and it is still unequal. Feminists believe that marriage remains patriarchal and that men benefit from wives, they reject the functionalist view of one best family type, and they welcome fre edom and diversity. (Anderson, 2008). Critics argue that there is too much focus on negative aspects and that feminists sometimes ignore recent social changes. Critics claim that feminists portray woman as passive victims as if they are unable to act against discrimination. The same critics believe that feminists focus on one specific group and ignore woman in families from other cultures and ethnicities Marxist Feminists argue that within capitalist societies the nuclear family is part of the overall structure of capitalism and that its organisation and functions are heavily influenced by the nature of the capitalist economic base which means that womens oppression derives primarily from the organisation of the capitalist system rather than from the patriarchal behaviour of men. According to Marxist Feminists housewives fulfil several important functions for the capitalist system: they bear and rear children at no cost to the capitalist system and, along with their husbands, encourage their children to accept authority such that a new, suitably obedient generation of workers becomes available; housewives also provide many domestic services at low or zero cost which reduces the wage levels which the capitalist system needs to pay its male workers. Women also form part of the reserve army of labour which is available for employment during times of economic boom but which can return to the traditional housewife- mother role during economic recession. Marxist feminists also believe women provide emotional support for their husbands/partners without this they would be unable to face the oppression and alienation of the capitalist workplace. Without this emotional support it is also possible that workers would be more prepared to challenge the capitalist system. However, family responsibilities may also dissuade workers from strike activity and the existence of families with its demands for cars, washing machines and other consumer durables also helps to maintain spending and capitalist profits. The socialisation process which operates within the family both stabilises the capitalist system as a whole and also by discouraging female career aspirations, restricts female career opportunities. (Head, 2012). Marxists shares some similarities with feminism, it argues that society is unequal and that it is characterised by oppression, however, Marxists believe that the oppression is of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie. Marxism is a conflict theory which sees all societies’ institutions, such as the education system, the media, religion and the state as helping to maintain class equality and capitalism for Marxists, therefore, â€Å"the functions of the family are performed solely for the benefit of the capitalist system† (sociogeeks.com, 2011). Marxists believe that the family aids capitalism by being a big consumer of goods, which they have to pay for, as long as the family are around, people will keep buying the products and the bourgeoisie will continue to make money. (earlyhamsociologypages.co.uk, 2011)Marxists also believe that woman staying at home looking after the children are producing the next generation of the proletariat. This means that more people will be created to fill the jobs of the retiring proletariat. Marxists believe that the family cushions the main producer, this is similar to the functionalist perspective where after a hard day at work, the main provider, usually the male, will be comforted by his family, they are there to relieve the pressures so he can return to work the next day less stressed than when he left the day before. This allows the bourgeoisie to have a worker in the next day and to have a guaranteed work force. Marxists believe that family is a strong influence on education and is considered the primary socialisation, this is beneficial for the bourgeoisie because the family and education system will teach the norms and values, which are that the society they are living in is correct. (Moore, 2001) Education makes the proletariat believe in the benefits of capitalism and will make the children believe in the myth of meritocracy. Feminists argue that the Marxist emphasises on social class and capitalism underestimates the importance of gender inequalities within the family, for feminists, the family primarily serves the interests of men rather capitalism. Functionalists argue that Marxists ignore the very real benefits that the family provide for its members, such as intimacy and mutual support. Others feel that Marxists tend to neglect the meanings families have for individuals and how family members interpret family relationships. (Head, 2012) In conclusion Functionalists see society as similar to a human body. Each part of the human body relies on different organs in order to function correctly. According to functionalists society operates in exactly the same way because it relies on different social institutions such as the family, schools, and the government working together to keep the social body working properly. In contrast Marxists see society as operating solely to make a profit for the ruling class. The proletariat are socially engineered to conform to the needs of a ruling class who benefit the most from societies using a capitalist economic system. Therefore schools and the family exist solely to provide a compliant labour force who will willingly serve the needs of capitalism. On the other hand feminists see society as operating in order to meet the needs and wishes of men (patriarchy). Patriarchal societies are engineered to meet the desires and needs of men through institutions like the family and the education system. On this basis feminists say women are second-class citizens. References Anderson, M. L., 2008. Sociology. In: J. Cheng, ed. understanding a diverse society. USA: Thompson Wadsword, pp. 308-312. earlyhamsociologypages.co.uk, 2011. early ham sociology pages. [Online] Available at: www.earlhamsociologypages.co.uk

Unrelated Incidents’ by Tom Leonard and Search for my Tongue by Sujata Bhatt :: English Literature

What does the way a person speaks tell us about the person? ‘Unrelated Incidents’ by Tom Leonard and ‘Search for my Tongue’ by Sujata Bhatt are two poems that give people an incite into how a person is perceived by others, by the way that they speak. ‘Unrelated Incidents’ is about how the BBC newsreaders all talking in Standard English and will not have a Scottish person reading the news because the viewers will not understand there accent, Tom Leonard views this as discrimination and shows his dislike to this attitude in his poem. ‘Search for my Tongue’ is about Sujata Bhatt’s personal experiences with learning another language and having to speak in a foreign tongue and forgetting about the mother tongue which is the original language. When Sujata thinks that she has finally lost her mother tongue she starts to hear it again in her dreams. The layout of the poem ‘Unrelated Incidents’ is set out in an unusual way because of the poem talking about the BBC newsreaders. When the newsreaders reads out the news they read it off of autocue and this is how the poem is set out. When first looking at ‘Unrelated Incidents’ it is difficult to read because of the spellings of the words. The poem is written phonetically and not in Standard English. Tom Leonard says in line 27-30 ‘this is me token yir right way a spellin.’ Leonard also uses colloquial which is slang he uses it in the last line with ‘belt up’ he does this to mock the way the news is read because of the poem being written as if it were the six clock news. This is different to ‘Search for my Tongue’ because Sujata Bhatt for 15 lines writes in English but then from line 16-29 writes in Gujarati which is her mother language, beneath this it also tells the reader how to read this language (which is spelt phonetically). The lines written in Gujarati is actually the first part of the poem written again and when you read it the first part sounds harsh and not very nice to read but when you read it for a second time in Gujarati it flows and is nice to read. In ‘Unrelated Incidents’ and ‘Search for my Tongue’ they either are cross or upset with themselves or with others around them. In the poem ‘Unrelated Incidents’ the Scottish man is angry for being rejected by the BBC just because of the way that he talks and because of his accent and in ‘Search for my Tongue’ she is upset with herself for not

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 13

Hearing Cedric assure me I couldn't die lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I left the Cellar with much less anxiety, though I still had no intention of doing anything that might test how exactly we'd heal from decapitation. So, while I still operated with caution, I no longer felt suffocated or threatened by every aspect of the world. Rather than go home, I drove down to Dante's shop. His store/apartment was in Rainier Valley, on the southeast side of Seattle. He had no regularly posted hours for his assorted â€Å"psychic† services, but he would usually hang around there at night if he had nothing else to do. It tended to be the time drunk people or couples out on dates (or high teens) would wander in looking for fun and novelty. Daytime business hours didn't generally bring out that many who were seeking help from the divine unless, perhaps, it was someone seeking advice on stock trading. Dante had no customers tonight, however. The shop and its flickering neon sign seemed sad and lonely. I pushed through the unlocked door and found him leaning against the checkout counter, leafing through a copy of Maxim . â€Å"What gives?† I asked. â€Å"Your subscription to Frauds and Scams Weekly run out?† He glanced up at me with a smile, flipping black hair out of his face. â€Å"Just needed something pretty to look at since I didn't know when I'd be seeing you again.† I planted a kiss on his cheek. â€Å"Holy shit. That's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me.† â€Å"Yeah, well, I can make some filthy sexual suggestions to you if you'd prefer.† â€Å"What, and ruin foreplay for next time?† This made his grin grow, and he shut the magazine. â€Å"To what do I owe the pleasure? Shouldn't you be visiting our neighbors to the north? Or is that done? I honestly can't keep track.† â€Å"Well. About that.† God, how I was going to explain what had happened? Had all of this seriously happened in just one day? It felt like a year had gone by since I got woozy in the car. â€Å"Something strange happened today.† â€Å"Strange like you sold out of Jane Austen books at the store or strange like the rules of time and space as we know them are about to be ripped apart?† â€Å"Mmm†¦more like that last one.† â€Å"Shit.† I took a deep breath, figuring I should just get the big stuff out of the way. â€Å"There's no easy way to put this, but†¦I'm not a succubus anymore.† â€Å"I never believed you were a succubus.† I groaned. That had been an old joke between us when we'd first met. Oh, the irony. â€Å"I'm serious,† I said. â€Å"No more succubus. And Jerome's disappeared too, possibly opening up Seattle to a new demonic reign.† Dante stared at me, eyes speculative as he assessed me for the truth. He was speechless for the first time I'd known him. Not waiting for more witty commentary, I plunged forward. I explained about the summoning, what it had done to all of us lesser immortals, how demons everywhere were now sizing up Seattle, and why I needed to find Jerome as soon as possible. When I finally finished, it took Dante several moments to gather his thoughts. â€Å"So†¦you've seriously lost your succubus powers?† â€Å"Abilities,† I corrected. â€Å"And yes, I have. Are you saying that after all that other stuff I just told you about the balance of power in Seattle, my succubus status is what caught your attention the most?† He shrugged. â€Å"You gotta admit it's weird. Besides, that other stuff doesn't affect me. You do.† His eyes narrowed. â€Å"Am I going to have to use a condom now?† â€Å"What? No. Of course not.† â€Å"You sure?† â€Å"You've never batted an eye over me stealing pieces of your soul these last few months, but the nonexistent threat of child support suddenly scares you?† â€Å"Well, yeah, seeing as my bank account's got more in it than my soul.† I glanced around the shabby room. â€Å"Debatable.† â€Å"Cute,† he conceded. â€Å"But I'd be asking a few more questions about all of this if I were you. Like, can you die?† â€Å"I already asked that one,† I said smugly. â€Å"And the answer is no. Our immortal bodies are still essentially the same. We're just cut off from all the perks.† I hoped he didn't ask about decapitation because I honestly wasn't in the mood to debate that. â€Å"Okay, so what do you want from me?† he asked. â€Å"What makes you think I want anything?† He looked at me. â€Å"Okay, maybe I do want something. But come on, who else would know more about this stuff than you?† â€Å"Who knows more about demons? Hmm, let me think. I know. How about the demons you work for , the ones who are all-powerful and have been around since the beginning of time?† â€Å"They're not all-powerful. Otherwise they wouldn't need a human for the summoning-or end up getting summoned in the first place. And that's what I need you for. There can't be that many humans in the area capable of doing this, are there? You have to know who they are.† Dante opened his mouth, no doubt with a snappy reply ready, and then abruptly closed it. â€Å"I don't know,† he said slowly. â€Å"I don't keep track of those things.† I leaned toward him, incredulous. â€Å"Of course you do! Do you not want to tell me? Why?† He sighed, his hesitant expression turning typically annoyed. â€Å"Because those kinds of people get pissed off if you start advertising their names.† â€Å"What, you're afraid they're going to come beat you up?† â€Å"No. Not exactly. But there's sort of†¦a professional courtesy in these circles.† â€Å"I'll be discreet. I won't tell them where I got the information.† â€Å"Most of them already know we're together. They'd figure it out. They keep an eye on those kinds of things.† He turned considering. â€Å"Of course, in that same vein, a lot of them know you as a succubus and might just think you knew through your own connections.† He still seemed hesitant, so I played a mean card. â€Å"Well, I can always go ask Erik if you're too nervous about it.† Erik was another mortal in town who dealt with the occult and paranormal. Unlike Dante, who was a practitioner, Erik simply studied and built up knowledge of the magical undercurrents in the city. He had a psychic's gifts and was attuned to what most human eyes didn't see. Sometimes he could even see what immortals couldn't. He and Dante had an old, old grudge and didn't enjoy being around each other, to put it mildly. My attempt to bait Dante didn't work, though. â€Å"Don't even try it, succubus. Making me jealous of the old man won't make me help you.† I looked up at him pleadingly. â€Å"What will make you help me?† He traced the outline of my lips with his fingertip, gray eyes wicked and thoughtful. â€Å"Not sure it's anything you can do while cut off from your super-secret powers. You're not a sex goddess anymore.† â€Å"Hey, I don't need super-secret powers to be a sex goddess.† Just then, three twentysomethings stumbled in, staring wide-eyed at the shop as they tried to stifle nervous giggles. They undoubtedly had the same kind of potential that high teens did. I gave Dante one last frantic plea. â€Å"Please? Just give me the names. You don't have to do anything else. And I won't say anything. I swear it.† Dante scowled, glanced at me, at the potential customers, and then back at me. He told them he'd be with them in a minute and then hastily jotted four names down on a scrap of paper. Two of them I recognized. â€Å"Thank you,† I said. I beamed, and to my surprise, something in his cynical expression softened a little. â€Å"God, that smile,† he muttered. â€Å"You might just be right.† â€Å"About what?† â€Å"You really don't need any powers to be a sex goddess. Your hair's a little messy, though.† He walked around the counter and gave me a quick half-hug. â€Å"Be safe, succubus. Don't test the limits of that not-dying thing.† â€Å"And buy some condoms?† I teased. He shrugged. â€Å"You're the one who was having prophetic dreams about having kids a little while ago.† Turning away from me, he put on his jovial con-man persona and beckoned the group over with pitches about palms and Tarot. He'd spoken the words in a light, off-hand kind of way, but as I slowly walked back to my car, they slapped me in the face. Prophetic dreams†¦ Nyx's dreams. The things she'd shown me during that time had been so vivid that they seemed almost more real than my own life. The thing is, by almost all accounts, Nyx had a grasp on the future and could show people things that would happen to them. That was how she spread chaos in the world, by showing people these visions and making them think they knew how their futures would unfold. Unfortunately, while the visions came true, they never came true the way their victims thought they would. She'd led a lot of people to their deaths that way. Nonetheless, it seemed fairly clear that the dreams she'd sent to me had been distractions, not destructive images of what would come. In my visions, she'd shown me-over and over-with a daughter, waiting for a man I loved to come home. The dreams had consumed me, almost making me want to sleep and have my energy taken each night. As I'd noted while holding Kayla, there was no way any piece of the vision could ever happen to me. I couldn't have any sort of relationship like that. And I certainly couldn't have a daughter, not of my own blood. Immortals didn't reproduce. When I'd sold my soul for immortality and shape-shifting, I'd given up certain aspects of my humanity. There could be no child for me. Not ever. And yet†¦ I came to a stop on the sidewalk, still about a block away from my car. What if Dante had inadvertently stumbled onto something? What if being in this stasis had altered that piece of me that had lost the ability to conceive? Cedric had said I was still technically immortal, but he'd also said my body would respond and heal like a human's. What all did that entail? Would unprotected sex lead to conception? Is that what Nyx's visions had been pointing to? She'd sworn she'd shown me the truth. Had she? I was breathing fast again, though at least this time, I knew I didn't have to worry about giving myself a heart attack. Okay. I needed to calm down. This pregnancy possibility was as distracting as the hooking-up-with-Seth possibility. I'd never get anything accomplished if I lost myself in fantasies. With a sigh, I glanced down at Dante's piece of paper, now crumpled in my hand. I'd clenched it into a ball without even realizing it as I walked. I'd been too preoccupied to even notice†¦ Babies and Seth. The things I wanted most. I forced myself to keep moving toward my car. But as I unlocked the door, I had to wonder ruefully if maybe I shouldn't be so quick to get Jerome back after all. I started following up on Dante's leads the next morning. Leaving my place was a little harder than I'd expected, though. Despite the fact I got ready plenty of mornings without shape-shifting, my closet seemed terribly small. And while my hair seemed fine when I finished it, I had a feeling it'd be frizzy the next time I checked the mirror. The only bright part was when I found Dante's watch under the bed. I thought I'd lost it yesterday, so at least my accessories collection was still respectable. Nonetheless, I had a feeling I was soon going to discover just how much I'd come to rely on my abilities. Locating addresses from Dante's list of names required a little sleuthing here and there, but for the most part, I didn't have much difficulty finding them. Unfortunately, once found, these magicians weren't exactly helpful. One of the ones I visited knew me. She was familiar with Hell's local servants, and while she gave me a small degree of respect, she was as hesitant to answer questions as Dante had insinuated. Two of the other names were people who didn't know me, and that immediately created a problem. With my succubus powers shut off, I had no immortal signature, and both of these people were the types who could sense that. Me coming in and claiming to be a succubus was met with scorn and disbelief. I managed to glean some information from them but nothing of any use. Equally difficult was that not only could they not sense me, I couldn't sense them. Admittedly, a succubus didn't have the same ability to gauge human power the way a full-fledged demon could, but I could occasionally sense magic around a person or object. Today, I was completely blind. I had to rely on my strength to read people, but these dark magicians were as good at cons as Dante. They were well-versed in the art of concealing the truth. It was almost noon by the time I visited the last name, a guy named Greg. I felt pretty discouraged by this point and even cracked and had a cigarette along the way. Greg had no storefront like Dante and mostly worked his spells out of his house, a small bungalow in Wallingford. When he answered the door, his disheveled state told me I'd woken him up. On the bright side, he recognized me, which meant I wouldn't have to convince him I was a succubus. â€Å"What do you want?† he asked suspiciously. He was built big and could have had an impressive physique if he'd ever gone to the gym. It was obvious he hadn't. â€Å"I wanted to talk to you about demon summoning.† â€Å"I don't know anything about it.† He started to shut the door. I stuck my foot out to block it. â€Å"Wait. Do you know anyone who would?† â€Å"No. And even if I did, what makes you think I'd tell you?† He tried to close the door again, then paused. He narrowed his already too-small eyes at me. â€Å"There's something weird about you. No aura.† I didn't answer right away. â€Å"Maybe you're losing your touch.† This actually brought a small smile. â€Å"Not likely. What happened? Who got summoned?† â€Å"No one. And even if they did, what makes you think I'd tell you?† I mimicked. He laughed, a guttural sound that came from low in his throat. When the laughter faded, he studied me for several long seconds, face cunning and speculative. â€Å"Okay. I'll talk to you.† He pushed the door open. â€Å"Come on in.† I gingerly stepped into his living room. The place was a disaster. Dirty dishes were piled on the coffee table, the remains of food hardened and crusty. Dust coated every piece of furniture, and the wood floor looked like it hadn't been swept since the last century. Uneasily, I wondered if my new humanlike body was susceptible to germs. Several books were piled on the couch, their covers meant to look sinister in shades of black and red with drawings of pentagrams. It put me in mind of Evan's faux Satanic accoutrements, though as hard as it was to believe, Evan had a thousand times more class than this guy. Greg offered me neither a chair nor refreshments, which was fine by me. He stood in front of me, arms crossed. â€Å"Well? What do you want to know?† â€Å"I want to know if you've done any demon summoning lately.† â€Å"Not that any demons have been summoned, of course.† â€Å"This is speculative,† I replied with a simpering smile. I studied as much of his home as I could while I spoke. Beyond him, I could see an equally messy kitchen with a gas stove and magnet-covered refrigerator. â€Å"You think if I'd summoned a demon, I'd be living like this? Fuck, I'd have plasma-screen TVs and concubines.† I recalled the discussion with my friends, noting that any human who'd summoned Jerome would simply keep the demon hidden and not use it for personal gain and errands. Still, if Greg had summoned Jerome on behalf of another demon, there would have been some reward involved. Maybe it wouldn't entail TVs or concubines, but it seemed like there'd be some sign of a windfall here. Maybe he'd gotten a Swiss bank account. â€Å"Okay. You know anyone who recently acquired concubines?† â€Å"Nope. But I can give you some names of people who'd be more likely.† He listed two of the magicians I'd already visited. â€Å"I've talked to them.† â€Å"Sorry. Not my problem.† My eyes returned to the books on the couch. I stepped toward them. â€Å"May I?† â€Å"Knock yourself out.† I picked up one of the books, skimming through it in hopes of finding information about summoning. Nope. It was fluffy â€Å"evil† stuff, exactly like the Army of Darkness' propaganda. The second book proved the same. The third, however, was a legitimate spell book, filled with the kind of dark rites Dante practiced. Hopeful, I flipped through the pages one by one. It had some vile contents, but there was nothing about summoning. Greg's willingness to let me browse the books should have been a tip-off that they contained nothing of use. â€Å"All done?† I jerked around. Greg's voice was close to me-too close. I'd had my back to him while checking out the books, but now he was right behind me. I took a few steps back and bumped the couch. â€Å"Yeah,† I said nervously. â€Å"Thanks for the help. I should leave now.† â€Å"Not yet,† he said, moving closer. â€Å"You just got here.† I tried to wriggle off to the side, but his hands suddenly reached out and grabbed a hold of my arms, pinning me into place. â€Å"What are you doing?† I demanded. There went my heart rate again. â€Å"I don't know what's going on with all this summoning stuff, but I do know there's a succubus here who doesn't feel like a succubus anymore, which probably means you can't fight like one.† I tried to break from his grasp, but his hands were like steel. â€Å"You're crazy. Of course I'm a succubus. You know I am.† â€Å"Yeah? Then shape-shift away from me. Turn into a bird. Turn into a bodybuilder.† I clenched my teeth and tried to shake his hold again. â€Å"Let me go, you son of a bitch. You hurt me, and a whole host of demons are going to show up and rip you limb from limb.† â€Å"Not so sure about that,† he chuckled. â€Å"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. You think any succubus would fuck someone like me?† He shoved me down onto the couch, one strong arm pinning me in place while the other hand fumbled awkwardly under my shirt and grabbed a hold of my breast. Moving his head close, he tried to press his lips against mine, but I turned my head just in time. â€Å"Let me go!† I screamed. I managed to wriggle a leg free and knee him in the gut. It wasn't enough to free me, but it made him scowl. I'd worried about getting hit by cars, meteors, and structurally unsound overpasses. Never, never had I thought about being raped. It hadn't been a fear of mine for centuries, not since I realized I could shape-shift into someone larger and stronger, someone capable of throwing off any assailant. Maybe it shouldn't have bothered me so much. I'd had sex with plenty of people I didn't like over the years. I'd always grimaced and waited it out. But there was something about this that was different. It wasn't my choice, and compounding it all was the feeling of helplessness I had. I hated not having options. I hated not being able to think my way out of something. There was nothing to be done, though. Not this time. The most I could do was keep struggling and flailing. I did have some self-defense training, after all. I'd learned to use weapons and punch over the years. I'd nailed Niphon pretty good at Christmas. Unfortunately, what I could do now was limited with Greg on me like this. He simply outweighed me. Still, my efforts must have proven annoying because Greg growled and grabbed both my arms in an attempt to flip me over. I yelled profanities at him and got another knee-jab in, close to his groin but not close enough. And that's when it happened. The smell hit me first. An overwhelming and suffocating odor of natural gas. I stopped struggling for half a second. I didn't need to be human to know that meant trouble. Before I could process that further, the kitchen exploded into flames. Fire expanded out into the living room. It didn't quite reach us, but I think Greg must have still gotten burned because he screamed in pain and released his hold on me. His body had shielded the worst from me, and mostly all I felt was a rolling wave of heat and air. I didn't bother to think or question anything. Greg had released me in his confusion, and I bolted. I scrambled from the couch and ran out the front door, away from the fire. Away from Greg. I drove off as fast as I could, my Passat's tires squealing on the pavement. Sweat poured off me, and my hands could barely grip the steering wheel through their shaking. About a mile away, I heard the singing of sirens, but I couldn't spare a thought for what had happened. I couldn't think about whether Greg had made it out or not. I couldn't think about how a gas leak had miraculously saved me. The only thing I could think about now was getting away and getting to safety.

Book of job: the unwritten message

The Bible is a library of many passages, written by authors from the ancient times dealing with different topics like creation, faith, suffering, glory. These and many more are scribbled all through out the texts and are divided into clusters called the books. The authors of these books came from different times and places. There are even views that additional chapters are added after the original book has been finished. Having said these, one cannot be sure of the exact origin of the stories, nor the message conveyed with in them. One of these books tackled on the idea of just punishment, a very simple one yet with a lot of twists. It was a part of the bible that was read, reread, and tested from time to time. Scholars tried to translate the many double meanings found in the book, as well as come up with their own ideas regarding it. The Book of Job tells the story of a man, Job, who had everything that he could possibly dream of. He has a nice family, good health, material possessions, and a peaceful life; all of which he thanked God for. This was noticed by the devil, who in turn made a wager with God – saying that Job only praises God because he has everything he would ever need, and that in times of misfortune he would definitely curse God. God agreed, and allowed Job to lose his possessions, his sons and daughters killed, his skin covered with boils, and his life completely ruined, provided that Job would not be dead. After these tragedies, the book focused next on the debates Job had with his three friends – Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. These debates marked the first of several conversations found in the book. The speeches were designed in such a way that Job answered each one of them and tried to defend himself. In the end, God himself talked to Job, taking part in another speech portion which led to God’s answers. The story ended with God giving back Job his lost health and wealth. God also ordered Job’s friends, who misinterpreted Job’s misfortunes, to ask him to pray for them. The Book of Job is a very controversial part of the Bible, since it deconstructs the logical belief on punishment – that a just punishment is given to those who have sinned and the level of the punishment depends on how grave the committed sin is. But for punishment to be rendered to someone like Job who in his whole life praised and worshipped God for all the goodness He has given him and the prosperity he has acquired, surely, we may say that there is injustice. That is why there are many assumptions on why God allowed these to happen to Job. It may be to prove to the devil that Job is really God’s man, or to show that God is really all powerful and all righteous, or it may also be for the atonement of the sins that Job’s sons had committed. These are wild guesses and can’t be really answered without reading and understanding the book as a whole. In the story, God responded to Job’s questions by a series of statements that could mean many things. His replies are intellectual, and may be interpreted in many ways and may take many points of view. In fact, the story itself may be seen in many ways. It all depends on who reads the text and how the said text is understood. The last chapters of the book define many things and answer a lot of questions that is reflected all throughout the book as well. To narrow it down, God’s reply can be found in chapters 38 to 41. The first verses from the said chapters may be analyzed in two ways. At a first glance, one can see God’s answers to Job’s questions as proof of His omnipotence and self righteousness. And the questions such as ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?’ (Job 38:4), ‘Have you seen the gates of death?’ (Job 38:17) and ‘Who provided food for the young?’ (Job 38:41) that seem to have God as the only answer thus proves His confirmation of   His omnipotence and self righteousness more. They can be interpreted as God’s way of proving to Job that though the reasons behind His actions may be uncertain to us humans, He, in contrast, as an almighty being is certain of them. Another possible explanation would be that of God’s attempt in providing proof that ideas such as that of providence and purpose exist; purpose defined as being the reason given to everything that happens within the realm of God and providence as His way for intervention with everyday human life. And so, these assumptions suggest that there indeed is a purpose behind Job’s suffering. This â€Å"purpose† is also evident in evil which can be seen in God’s second speech to Job. God portrayed evil in the form of two fearsome beasts – the behemoth and the leviathan. The behemoth was described as having â€Å"bones of brass and gristles of iron† (Job 40:18). And that it could be found in the mountains eating â€Å"ox as if they were grass† (Job 40:15). On the other hand, the leviathan was depicted as a beast that lives by the river and that it has skin so hard it would be questionable to â€Å"pierce it with barbed irons and fish spears† (Job 40:31). The Bible had even more descriptions of this leviathan scattered in the Book of Isaiah, all pertaining to the beast as a possible manifestation of evil itself. Having said these, God made a point to Job that humans are indeed no match to these beasts and that nothing could bring them down except God Himself. In doing so, He admitted to have created these evils and He alone has the power to banish them (Job 40:19). Therefore, God concluded in His second speech that the purpose of evil in this case, Job’s suffering, will be explained at the end of the world as He smites the beasts. God, in His conclusion, only gave a hint of His side of the argument without actually producing a clear answer to Jobs many questions about his misfortunes. In this lack of explanation, a chance opened up for Job to question and criticize God. But instead, he still chose not to condemn God but to worship Him even further. It seems that despite everything, he understood the existence of the hidden purpose in evil. He also came to realize that had judged God prematurely and without faith. By analyzing God’s response to Job, we can draw a number of conclusions as to what He wishes us to understand. One is the purpose in evil, which was discussed in the previous paragraphs. Another is the presumptuousness of mankind. God may want to show that humans think that they know all. But by asking questions such as ‘Do you observe the calving of deer? Can you hunt the prey for the lions?’ (Job 39:1), He can easily mock this said high intelligence of humans probably hoping that instances as such may instill humility. Also, in the debate between Job and his friends, we can see another pitfall in human perspective, which is the hasty judgment of suffering as the end result of wrongdoing. It was stated in the book that his friends even asked Job to repent for sins that he didn’t commit. This is because we tend to see a misfortune merely as a retribution for offense. In line with this thinking, we automatically assume that there is a need for repentance, and that it is the only way to redeem ourselves and be given back what we lost through misconduct. The next conclusion is the mentioned existence of the end of time where unanswerable questions will be answered. It is also in this said time that God will put an end to the evil He has created. Finally, the statements made by God reveals a kind of test for us humanity – Will we condemn God so that we can justify ourselves? The Book of Job may seem controversial, but God in the end provided some sort of answers which to some may be incomplete. The way to view this book may differ from time to time, from reader to reader and from place to place. We really can’t put our finger on what the final message is but I believe that the conclusions drawn above are enough for now.   Summarizing the whole paper, we humans seem to have a certain fear against punishment, and quickly tie it with some sin or some failures. The Book of Job awakens us that the reasons for punishment come in different forms, and as long as we are certain of our faith, we must not judge and condemn anyone, for that matter, prematurely. Works Cited The New Oxford Annotated Bible â€Å"Book of Job† Chapters 1-31; 38-42   

Nikola Tesla, Discovered Alternating Current

Nikola Tesla, Discovered Alternating Current Nikola Tesla (July 10, 1856–January 7, 1943), who was a trained electrical and mechanical engineer, was one of the most influential inventors of the 20th century. Eventually holding over 700 patents, Tesla worked in a number of fields, including electricity, robotics, radar, and wireless transmission of energy. Teslas discoveries laid the groundwork for many of the 20th centurys technological advances. Tesla’s life played out like a science fiction movie. He often had flashes of light in his mind that revealed the design of innovative machinery, which he committed to paper, constructed, tested, and perfected. But all was not easy. The race to light up the world was fraught with rancor and animosity. Fast Facts: Nikola Tesla Known For: Discovered alternating current (AC), influenced the modern electrical-supply systemAlso Known As: Father of AC Current, Father of the Radio, The Man Who Invented the 20th CenturyBorn: July 10, 1856 in Smiljan, CroatiaParents: Milutin Tesla, Ä uka TeslaDied: January 7, 1943 in New York CityEducation: Realschule in Karlstadt, the University of Prague, the Polytechnic Institute in Graz, Austria (studied mechanical and electrical engineering, but dropped out)Published Works: The Problem of Increasing Human Energy (published in  The Century Magazine  in 1900), Experiments With Alternate Currents of High Potential and High Frequency  (1904, republished in 2012), My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla (1919)Awards and Honors: AIEE  Edison Medal  (1917), University of Paris Medal (1937), The Medal of the University St. Clement of Ochrida, Sofia, Bulgaria (1939), IEEE Nikola Tesla Award (presented annually to an individual or team that has made an outstanding contribution to the generation or utilization of  electric power)Notable Quote: If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. Early Years Tesla was born on July 10, 1856, to Milutin Tesla, a Serbian Orthodox priest in Smiljan, Croatia, and Ä uka Tesla. He credited his innovative quest to his mother, an inventive homemaker who created appliances such as a mechanical eggbeater to help with the home and farm. Tesla studied at the Realschule in Karlstadt, the University of Prague, and the Polytechnic Institute in Graz, Austria, where he studied mechanical and electrical engineering. Work With Edison In 1882, the 24-year-old Tesla was working for the Central Telephone Exchange in Budapest when the idea for a rotating magnetic field flashed through his mind. Tesla was determined to turn his idea into a reality but he was unable to find backing for the project in Budapest; thus, Tesla moved to New York in 1884 and introduced himself to Thomas Edison through a letter of recommendation. Edison, the creator of the incandescent light bulb and the world’s first electric lighting system in the commercial blocks of lower Manhattan, hired Tesla at $14 per week plus a $50,000 bonus if Tesla could improve Edison’s electric lighting system. Edisons system, a coal-burning electric generating station, was limited to supplying electricity to about a one-mile radius at the time. AC vs. DC Although Tesla and Edison shared a mutual respect for one another, at least at first, Tesla challenged Edison’s claim that current could only flow in one direction (DC, direct current). Tesla claimed that energy was cyclic and could change direction (AC, alternating current), which would increase voltage levels across greater distances than Edison had pioneered. Since Edison didnt like Teslas idea of alternating current, which would impose a radical departure from his own system, Edison refused to award Tesla the bonus. Edison said the offer of a bonus had been a joke and that Tesla didnt understand American humor. Betrayed and insulted, Tesla quit working for Thomas Edison. Scientific Rival Seeing an opportunity, George Westinghouse (an American industrialist, inventor, corporate entrepreneur, and a rival of Thomas Edison in his own right) bought Tesla’s 40 U.S. patents for the polyphase alternating current system of generators, motors, and transformers. In 1888, Tesla went to work for Westinghouse in order to develop the alternating current system. At this time, electricity was still new and feared by the public due to fires and electric shocks. Edison fed that fear by using smear tactics against alternating current, even stooping to the electrocution of animals to scare the community into believing that alternating current was much more dangerous than direct current. In 1893, Westinghouse outbid Edison in lighting up the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which allowed Westinghouse and Tesla to show the public the marvels and advantages of electric light and appliances via alternating current. This demonstration of alternating current convinced J.P. Morgan, an American investor who had originally financed Edison, to back Westinghouse and Tesla in their design for the first hydroelectric power plant in Niagara Falls. Built in 1895, the new hydroelectric power plant transmitted an amazing twenty miles away. Large AC generating stations (using dams on large rivers and power lines) would eventually link across the nation and become the type of power supplied to homes today. A Wireless World Winning the War of Currents, Tesla sought a way to make the world wireless. In 1898, Tesla demonstrated a remote-controlled boat at the Madison Square Garden Electrical Exhibition. The following year, Tesla moved his work to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in order to construct a high-voltage/high-frequency tower for the U.S. government. The goal was to develop a wireless transmission of energy using the vibrating waves of the earth to generate unlimited power and communications. Through this work, he lit 200 lamps without wires from a distance of 25 miles and shot man-made lightning into the atmosphere using a Tesla coil, a transformer antenna he had patented in 1891. In December 1900, Tesla returned to New York and began work on a â€Å"World-System† of wireless transmissions intended to link up the world’s signal stations (telephone, telegraph, etc.). However, the backing investor, J.P. Morgan, who had financed the Niagara Falls project, terminated the contract upon learning that it would be â€Å"free† wireless electricity for all to tap into. Death On Jan. 7, 1943, Tesla died at the age of 86 of coronary thrombosis in his bed at the Hotel New Yorker where he resided. Tesla, who had never married, had spent his life creating, inventing, and discovering. Upon his death, Tesla held over 700 patents, which included the modern electric motor, remote control, wireless transmission of energy, basic laser and radar technology, the first neon and fluorescent illumination, the first X-ray photographs, the wireless vacuum tube, the air-friction speedometer for automobiles, and the Tesla coil (widely used in radio, television sets, and other electronic equipment). Legacy On June 21, 1943, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Tesla as â€Å"the father of the radio† rather than Guglielmo Marconi who had received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1909 for his contributions to the development of the radio. The court’s decision was based on Tesla’s lectures of 1893 and possibly due to the fact that the Marconi Corporation had sued the U.S. government for royalties for using radio patents during World War I. In addition to all that Tesla created, he also had many ideas that he didnt have time to finish. Some of these ideas included massive weapons. In a world still immersed in World War II and that was just beginning to split into East vs. West, ideas of massive weapons were coveted. After Teslas death, the FBI seized Teslas belongings and notebooks. It is thought that the U.S. government used the information from Teslas notes to work on building beam weapons after the war. The government set up a secret project, called Project Nick, which tested the feasibility of death rays, but the project was eventually shut down and the results of their experiments were never published. Sources â€Å"25 Nikola Tesla Quotes to Become the Inventor of Your Dreams.†Ã‚  Goalcast, 20 Dec. 2017.Editors, History.com. â€Å"Nikola Tesla.†Ã‚  History.com, AE Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009.â€Å"The Extraordinary Life of Nikola Tesla.†Ã‚  Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 5 Jan. 2018.â€Å"Nikola Tesla.†Ã‚  Nikola Tesla, u-s-history.com.

How Can Meditation Help You Boost Your Career

How Can Meditation Help You Boost Your Career There are a lot of benefits to meditation. It can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can put your mind into a state of relaxation and serenity. It’s also good way to start or end your day. But how can meditation help you boost your career? What are the professional benefits of meditation and how can it help you achieve professional goals and milestones? Take a look at this infographic by Crystal Heart Physics  for more information on how meditation can help you boost  your productivity and achieve your goals.

Assignment 7 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

7 - Assignment Example There are some recommendations that I would make to rescue the unskilled workers. Before the period set by the President reaches, it is advisable to train the unskilled employees. (Becker, 1980). This will impart skills to them and hence can result in an increased productivity and subsequently competitive advantage over its competitors, and also reducing the cost of production while keeping the prices constant will create more revenues to cater for the extra cost of care act. Thirdly, is to reduce the number of the unskilled employees through outsourcing to other well performing companies and will be brought back when normalcy return in the affected company and this reduce the wage bill. Furthermore, agreement can be made with the government so that such adjustments can be made in phases after 2015. This will give time to the company to recollect and strategize on how to utilize the existing unskilled labor to generate money to meet the expected increase. In addition, collective barg aining can be conducted to agree on the increment so that it does not affect the entire company. A combination of all these factors will ensure that the company continues in the industry and without loss of employment to people (Becker, 1980). It is also advisable for this company to operate globally and diversify on production of goods and