Friday Essays - Friday, Ice Cube, Life In The Ghetto, Marijuana Leaf

Friday Essays - Friday, Ice Cube, Life In The Ghetto, Marijuana Leaf Friday The movie Friday is a comedy, but it also depicts many important social issues. The story is set in the city of Los Angelos, California, in what could be called a high class ghetto. The main theme of the movie is about a young black man who looses his job and is influenced by his best friend to smoke marijuana. The movie also shows the relationships of his family and other members of his neighborhood. With a zany cast of characters and a hilarious script this movie touches on everything from gang violence to the use of drugs, crime, guns, relationships, sex and life in the ghetto. Because of all these issues, I found this an interesting movie with a wide variety of topics to address. Marijuana has been around for a long time. It's use is once again becoming popular. Although it's not legal, many people use it socially and for medicinal purposes. The Hollywood elite smoke it. Musicians such as Dr. Dre and the Black Crows celebrate it's use. Television shows like Saturday Night Live and Kids In the Hall depict it as harmless fun. Marijuana fashion has grown into a ten million dollar industry, with the seven branch marijuana leaf showing up on caps, T-shirts, earrings and tattoos. Studies show that after a decade of declining drug use, marijuana use has increased sharply among school students and college students in the last two years (Duschbaun 8). In the movie Friday, rap star Ice Cube plays the character Craig. Craig has never smoked marijuana. However, his best friend "Smokey" smokes marijuana everyday. Craig looses his job, leaving him home all day with nothing to do to occupy his time. He just hangs out in the neighborhood with his friends. Smokey tries to convince Craig to try some marijuana. At first Craig doesn't want to. Smokey is persistent. He points out to Craig that he doesn't have to work and doesn't have anything better to. Craig and Smokey eventually sit on the front porch and get stoned. Peer pressure is obviously the only reason Craig gives in. Actually he had other options, but he chose not to use them. Common sense and a simple explanation would have worked for aig just fine (How to Say No and Keep Your Friends 23) Everyday we are faced with choices. It is up to us to decide what's right and wrong. Craig decides to try it and things start to happen that he really doesn't like. Craig and Smokey get into some trouble with the neighborhood dealer, Big Worm. Smokey sells pot for him, but can't pay him the money he owes because he and Craig smoked the pot. Big Worm threatens them and sends a gang of "hoods" after them with guns. They just barely escape and are scared shitless. The amount of gang violence that can be contributed to the use and sale of illegal drugs has risen dramatically in the past seven years (Gates 67). It's no wonder that this is happening with th use of marijuana becoming so popular again. Violence and crime are issues we hear about every day. We can watch any news broadcast and see the evidence of these increasingly worrisome problems. In Friday, both of these issues are very apparent. Debone, the neighborhood thief and "bully" is constantly harassing the people in Craig's neighborhood. He breaks into their homes, steals their possessions, beats people up to take their jewelry and other items and is just generally a pain in everyones ass. He is the most violent person in the movie Craig gets into a fight with him and pulls a gun on Debone. Craig feels confused and not sure what to do. His father convinces him to give him the gun. He insists that Craig should fight like a man with his fists. I don't think that was very good a ice. Debone was twice as big as Craig and probably 100 pounds heavier. They do fight and surprisingly Craig wins. You would think that most problems can be solved without violent acts. The reality is that sometimes, under certain circumstances, t hat ust doesn't work. Obviously, this was one of those times. Sexual promiscuity was also depicted in this movie. Craig's

6 Tips for Renegotiating Your Salary

6 Tips for Renegotiating Your Salary Whether you’re seeking more than a standard cost-of-living bump or have seen your job responsibilities increase over the past year, this may be a great time to open salary negotiations with your boss. The holidays are over and everyone’s settling in for the year ahead- so why not do everything you can to increase your bottom line? 1. Pick your timingIf your company’s year-end financial report just came out and it’s bleaker than an outdoor swimming pool in January, know that this might not be the best time to approach your boss about a raise. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but definitely be wary that your request might not be met with an open checkbook.Knowing how the company is doing in general can help you frame your request. If things are a little lean, open with an acknowledgment that you know things are tough, but that you’d like to open a dialogue on your salary for [reasons xyz].2. Be realisticBefore you even bring up a salary chan ge with your boss, do the legwork by researching what the salary range is for your role within your industry. This can help you figure out a reasonable dollar figure, but can also show you where you stand on the compensation scale. If your salary is currently on the low end of the standard range for your job title and experience level, that gives you leverage when you talk to your boss.3. Don’t make threats/demandsSalary negotiation is a dialogue. Just as you’ll have a preferred outcome in your head, so will your boss. It may take some time to get to a middle ground that works for both of you, so you won’t do yourself any favors by going in guns a-blazing and asking for a particular number or else. That will only put your manager on the defensive, and will not make him or her likely to accommodate your request, however overdue or reasonable it might be at heart. At this point, the company holds the power- being overly aggressive at the start gives you fewer opti ons later on.4. Don’t forget benefitsWhile this is a chance to increase your base salary, it’s also a chance to revisit your benefits and perks, as well. If you seek more vacation time, comp time, or a flexible work-from-home arrangement a certain number of days per week or month, it puts more chips on the table. It could also help provide some middle ground if your employer is unable to meet your top salary goal.5. Document everythingWhen you ask for a raise, you’ll need backup to help justify the increase to your employer. Before you start any kind of negotiation, get these in order. Have a list of specific bullet points ready that you can bust out either in an email or in conversation with your boss. Successful projects that you’ve spearheaded, revenue increases, times when you’ve gone above and beyond†¦get ‘em all in that list. Remember, you’re offering a case as to why you deserve more. General comments like â€Å"I’m a hard worker† or â€Å"I’m good at my job† don’t offer specific enough reasons to give you more money.6. This time, it’s (im)personalKeep personal relationships and needs out of it. This negotiation process is about getting compensation you feel you deserve as a worker- not about how you need more cash for your speedboat down payment. Make sure you limit the discussion to your professional accomplishments, your worth in the workplace, and your relationship to the company.Also, if you’re friendly with your boss, remember that during your salary talks he or she  is no longer the friend with whom you share cat videos. This is the professional colleague who likely wants the best for you, but also has to keep the company’s best interests in mind, too. It’s unfair to expect special treatment based on personal BFFness- not only unfair to your boss, but to your other colleagues as well. You never want there to be even a hint of impr opriety, so keep things straightforward and professional. Then celebrate together later with a cat video.As with just about everything else, the motto for salary renegotiation is â€Å"be prepared.† Knowing your worth and having as much information as possible at your fingertips once you open the dialogue will give you a strong platform. You may or may not get the exact dollar figure you want, but going into the process with confidence and concrete reasons is the best way to start.

Ethos, Logos and Pathos that Rev King Used Essay

Ethos, Logos and Pathos that Rev King Used - Essay Example This document analyzes the use of Ethos, Logos and Pathos that Rev King uses in his argument. The document concludes with the essence of using these forms of argumentative writing and their application in a real-life situation. Introduction An argument can be defined as a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal. In other cases, an argument is a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true. Arguments are defined by the circumstances in which they fall (Ramage D John, Bean C John Bean & C Johnson 94). There are three ways of presenting an argument. These are Ethos, Pathos and Logos. Ethos refers to the impression given by an author to his or her audience. It is being based on the convincing the reader of the potential of a character. Pathos is a form of argumentative based on how well the author impresses the reader’s emotions. The language of choice is of much weight since it predicts the emotional appeal of the audi ence which in turn can be used to develop an argument. Logos is simply the swaying of people by making use of reasoning, which can either be the inductive or deductive reasoning. Its impact on the audience is referred to an argument’s logical appeal. The logos can also be termed as the details and statistics that aid in sustaining the argument. Ethos It is determined by the credibility of the authors. It is expressed through tone and by how the authors refer to various views. The authors’ character  influences ethos. The writers show this by showing how one can make an argument to triumph for professional and also personal reasons fall (Ramage D John, Bean C John Bean & C Johnson 132). In the book ‘Informed argument,’ the others portray this style of writing Rev King writes a letter to the clergymen in Birmingham. In the letter, he tries to respond to the wrong accusation posed by the clergymen. The clergy referred to the activities of King Luther as unw ise. Rev King was unhappy about the  treatment of black people  in Birmingham. The bombing of degrees in Birmingham city was a sign of racial segregation that annoyed Rev King. He influenced the reaction of people in opposition to racism. The clergymen accuse him of taking this course and refraining from solving the problem diplomatically. He argues that dialogue cannot occur with only one party involve in the decision making. This was in reference to the white people. He farther insists that people in Birmingham live in monologue rather than dialogue. Ethos is present in this argument as the authors try to create an impression on why the black people resisted oppression. Rev King argues that the black people did not opt for chaos but were forced to react after their hope of negotiation with the white failed to produce results. Rev King tries to convince the clergymen that he was not wrong when he indirectly convinced the people to rebel. He argues by creating an impression that the situation was out of hand due to the bombing in Birmingham and the failure of dialogue to make peace. Ethos can simply be referred to as a convincing language.

The effectiveness of residential programs in treating addiction Research Paper

The effectiveness of residential programs in treating addiction - Research Paper Example This behavior is a result of the effects of prolonged exposure to drugs on brain functioning. Addiction has an effect on multiple circuits of the brain including those involved learning, memory, motivation, reward and those that control behavior (Doweiko, 2009). Treatment of addiction is not simple because addiction disrupts many aspects in the life of an individual. Effective addiction treatment programs incorporate a lot of components. Each component is directed to a particular aspect of the illness. Addiction treatment should be focused on helping an individual stop drug use, maintain a lifestyle that is drug-free, and attain productivity in the family, in society and at work. The fact that addiction is a disease means that people cannot stop using drugs at once and be cured. Many patients require long-term treatment and care to achieve sustained abstinence and recover from addiction. Clinical practice and scientific research have demonstrated the importance of continuous care in treatment of addiction. Residential treatment centers form the best line of defense against drug addiction and several other compulsive behaviors. Although there are various levels of care for treating addiction such as one-on-one therapy, day treatment, and outpatient treatment, residential treatment is considered to be the most effective approach to rehabilitation for health disorders that are behavior related. Â  Thousands of residential treatment centers are available for individuals undergoing addiction recovery. The centers are geared towards dealing with all types of compulsions and addictions so as to assist the millions of addicts get their lives back on track. Residential treatment programs are highly effective, especially for severe addiction problems. An example is the highly structured programs referred to as therapeutic communities where patients reside for 6 to 12 months (Doweiko, 2009). Therapeutic communities differ from other

Broken Globe Stage 2 Essay Example for Free

Broken Globe Stage 2 Essay Characterization is the process by which authors make characters come alive for readers. Authors have many techniques available to portray characters, and they can broadly be divided into indirect and direct presentation. In the short story â€Å"The Broken Globe†, author Henry Kreisel brillantly develops the two principle characters, Nick Solchuk and his father, through indirect presentation. Consistency is the key to good characterization. From ? rst person point of view, the reader obtains a full portrait of both Nick and his father indirectly by learning what the narrator sees and hears somewhat objectively. Nick, the narrator’s friend, is a successful geophysicist studying the curvature of the earth. He demonstrates persistance, passion, and determination in the study of the earth. He asks the narrator â€Å"eagerly† with â€Å"his face reddening† about his paper to the International Congress. Even under the torture of his father, he still keeps his goal of proving that the earth moves. He even retorts his father by saying â€Å"You can beat me and break my globe, but you cannot stop [the earth] from moving. † This passage shows his determination in his belief. On the other hand, Nick’s father adopts personas of sophistication during the short visit of the narrator. His father is stubborn that he only believes what he sees is the truth: â€Å"[the earth] is ? at, and she stands still. † He is also imptuous and fractious that he â€Å"[beats] Nick like he is the devil† when he wants Nick to accept the same concept of the earth as he believes. Both characters are consistent and static, for they are still living in their own world: one lives in a ? at world and the other lives in the world of science. Another signi? cant objective of characterization is to reveal motivation. Kreisel’s story is set mainly in Alberta, a â€Å"land ? attens until there seemed nothing. † Living in Alberta, Nick’s father sees only the open prairies and ? elds every day; thus he perceives that the earth is exactly ? at and still as what he sees. Moreover, the reader learns that he is hard to change his mind because â€Å"he received an education of sorts when he was a boy. † Therefore, he believes that the earth is the center of the universe and the center is still. Similarly, Nick’s motivation is intrigued by a teacher who teaches him the earth is round and is moving. This teacher’s â€Å"enthusiasm [is] infectious† as Nick says. The teacher shows Nick a world larger than the ?at prairies, a world that is exuberent. Although the two characters’ own views of the world contradict one another, they do care and love each other. To build characters that convincing, the author must make their actions realistic and believable. Nick and his father are plausible due to their backgrounds. Nick’s father is taught that â€Å"the earth is ? at and still,† and what he sees outside in Alberta is only the far-distant prairies with â€Å"neither hill nor tree nor bush. † Furthermore, Nick, suffering from the violence of his father, always illustrates indomitable perserverence in seeking the truth. He continually shows to his father a globe can move, even though he knows his father will be mad. People with bond ? de determination can achieve their goals, just like Nick achieves his goal and becomes a geophysicist (to prove his father wrong? ). Altogether, they both are rounded characters in that they demonstrate many attributes and traits. Nick’s father is a stubborn, impulsive, and fractious father whereas Nick is a passionate, indomitable, and persistent geophysicist. In the story â€Å"The Broke Globe† Henry Kreisel effectively utilizes many techniques to develop characters, and further reveals a thoughtful insight into life. Nick’s father who insistently believes that the world is ? at and still lives in his own â€Å"broken globe†, where â€Å"Satan has taken over all the world† but him. 1. Sample Task for English 12 Writing Prepared by Seaquam Page 15 Characterization: A Father and a Son, How the Apple Falls Characters can make a short story rich and worth reading. In Henry Kreisel’s â€Å"The Broke Globe† the differences in ethics between a man and his father is seen through the eyes of a somewhat neutral narrator. Nick Solchuk is a brilliant man of science, while his father is the polar opposite. His father is a pious prairie farmer who does not value higher education or the values its teaches. Even though these characters are presented indirectly, Kreisel utilizes other methods to develop the characters. He shows them as static and round characters who are plausible and who remain consistent. Being ? rst person narrative, no direct presentation is used because the author cannot speak directly. He simply assumes the persona of a a narrator and therefore all presentation is indirect. One can ? nd out a lot about a character by what others say about him. Nick’s father is developed in the beginning during the conversation between Nick and the narrator. At this point the reader discovers that Nick and his father differ in many ways. Obviously, Nick is a man of great intelligence as the narrator say, â€Å"he studied at Cambridge and got his doctorate there and was now doing research at the Imperial College. † The reader also learns that despite being a brilliant man, nick whistfully remembers his simple childhood growing up in Three Bear Hills, Alberta. Nick’s father is developed much the same way later on in the conversation. Nick reveals that his father is a polar opposite. Nick’s father is shown as a religious prairie farmer with â€Å"a strange imagination. † Nick also explains why there is tension between himself and his father. â€Å"Curious man my father. He had strange ideas and a strange imagination too. He couldn’t understand why I was going to school or university. † â€Å"I suddenly realized that the shape of the world he lived in had O been O ? xed for him by some medieval priest in the small Ukranian villiage he was born in O But he still lived in the universe of the medieval church. : The reader now knows that Nick and his father are very different. Dialogue becomes a very important part of this story. The reader learns a lot about the father by what he says and by what he says he does. The ? rst meeting between the father and the narrator shows a lot about the father. â€Å"You friend of NickOWhat he do now? O still tampering with the earth? † Now, it has been con? rmed that Nick’s ideas differ greatly from his father’s. Nick’s father may be a simple prairie farmer, but that does not mean that he is rude. The father acts very formally when inviting the narrator inside his house. He stands as the narrator comes in, which is a sign of respect; he even brings out coffee for the narrator. The reader continues to learn about the relationship Nick’s father has with his son, and certain other people. The father explains how he exploded at a teacher for â€Å"letting Satan in† and for teaching Nick science at school. This act shows how the father deals with other people. The father goes on to elaborate on how he dealt with Nick as a child. â€Å"I grab him by the arm and I shake him and I beat him like he was the devilOAnd he made me madder and madder because he doesn’t cry or shout or nothing. † â€Å"I would of killed him right there for sure. † The reader now knows how he handles his son. Nick and his father are both static, round characters. They do not change at the end of the story, but they have many traits. Nick’s father proves he does not change by saying to the narrator â€Å"Satan has taken over all the world. † Then he suddenly rousled himself and hits the table with his ? st crying passionately, â€Å"But not me! Not me! † The characters act consistently throughout the story. â€Å"The Broken Globe† is a deeply driven character story. Both main characters are well developed. In some cases, the apple falls very far from the tree.

Growth Impairment of the Fetal Nervous System by Nicotinic Stimulation

Growth Impairment of the Fetal Nervous System by Nicotinic Stimulation The resources on this particular topic were minute. In fact, only two articles were obtained Therefore due to the lack of compiling information, all of the following text should be attributed to the sources listed The maternal utilization of tobacco substances during pregnancy gives rise to growth retardation and an array of neurobehavior defects in the offspring. Although concurrent exposure of the fetus to hypoxia and ischemia are major contributors to the developmental effects of smoking in man, or of injected nicotine in animals, recent studies using slow infusions of nicotine strongly suggest that nicotine affects fetal and neonatal development. Due to the action of nicotine via neurotransmitter receptors in the nervous system) the sensitivity of the developing brain is displayed in the disruption of cellular development and blunting of neural activity in central and peripheral catecholaminergic systems (Navarro et al, p894). Many of the developmental abnormalities seen with prenatal nicotine exposure resemble those obtained through enhancement of cholinergic neuronal activity through dietary manipulations. Endogenous cholinergic input has been shown to control cellular development in cerebral cortex, the same region found to be highly sensitive to perturbations caused by nicotine or by high dietary choline. Thus, the effects of nicotine may represent the simulation of a natural developmental signal, but at an inappropriate time. A current study examines the potential interaction of prenatal nicotine exposure with the development of cholinergic neurotransmitter systems in different brain regions (Navarro et al’ p894). The experimentation o... ...aring" course of action, wherein damage to a developing fetus by malnutrition, drugs and toxic chemicals has less of an growth impairment on the nervous system than the rest of the fetus (Navarro et. al., p191) Works Cited: Navarro, H.A., Seidler, F.J., Schwartz, R-D., Maker, E.E., Dobbins, S-S, and Slotkin, T.A. Prenatal Exposure to Nicotine Impairs Nervous System Development at a Dose Which Does Not Affect Viability or Growth. Brain Research Bulletin, Vol. 23, pp. 137-192, 1989. Navarro, H-A., Seidler, F.J., Eylersk, J-P., Baker, F.E., Dobbins, S.S., Lappi, S.E., and Slotkin, T.A. Effects of Prenatal Nicotine Exposure on Development of Central and Peripheral Cholinergic Neurotransmitter Systems. Evidence for Cholinergic Trophic Influences in Developing Brain. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Vol. 251. No.3, pp. 894-399, 1989.

Commentary on Sonnet Bright Star by John Keats Essay

â€Å"Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art† is a sonnet by John Keats. Although this poem has the structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, it is also thematically divided into an octave followed by a sestet, like an Italian sonnet. In the first octave, imagery and figurative language are used to depict the persona’s desire to be as eternal and steadfast as the star without being isolated and distant from the world. In the following sestet, the isolation yet permanence of nature is contrasted with the intimacy between the persona and his sleeping lover. Through the structure of the Italian sonnet, the steady rhythm of the Shakespearean sonnet and myriad literary techniques, Keats explores the internal conflict of the persona as he wishes to have the best of both worlds: the steadfastness of nature and the warmth and intimacy of being human. In the first octave, figurative language is used to depict the persona’s admiration of the star’s steadfastness and illustrate the cold, isolated quality of the star and all of nature. This steadfastness is emphasized through the use of the iambic pentameter and the ABAB rhyme scheme, which gives the poem a slow, steady rhythm, just like the steadiness of the star. The persona’s admiration of this steadfastness is shown through the first line, which is an example of an apostrophe as the persona addresses the star; this technique also initiates a contemplative mood through the use of the subjunctive â€Å"would†. The personification of the star â€Å"gazing† and â€Å"watching, with eternal lids apart† makes the star seem like a lone contemplative being. The star’s loneliness is emphasized as it is â€Å"hung aloft† in â€Å"lone splendor†, giving the image of a star floating high above from earth. The fact that the star is â€Å"gazing on the new soft-fallen mask/of snow† also suggests its large distance from earth, as the star is unable to see the real earth, and is so far away that it can only see a â€Å"mask†, a word which becomes emphasized when reading the poem due to the rhyme scheme. The mention of the snow also makes the tone seem cold and peaceful. The simile and allusion as the star is compared to a â€Å"patient, sleepless Eremite†, which is a religious hermit, serves to further enhance our image of the star as an everlasting, steadfast creation patiently observing earth from high above. This role of the star is similar to the role of the persona in the final sestet as he quietly observes his sleeping â€Å"fair love†, but the crucial difference is that while the persona is desirably close to his lover, the star is alone and â€Å"aloft†, which is what the persona does not want to be. The last line of the octave ends with an em dash, and there is a volta, or a change in tone and thought as the poem shifts from describing the star and the quiet nature to depicting the intimacy between the persona and his lover as the persona expresses his desire to stay in this sweet moment forever, as eternal as the star. The volta between the octave and sestet, serves to contrast the cold, distant quality of star with the warm, intimate quality of human relationships. In the first line of the final sestet, the tone changes from contemplative to more conversational as the personal declares â€Å"No†. In the following lines, the alliteration in â€Å"still stedfast, still† and â€Å"soft fall and swell† make the tone soothing and comfortable. In line 13, the repetition of â€Å"still† and the alliteration of â€Å"hear her† and â€Å"tender-taken† tends to force the reader to say the whole line in one breath, so that his/her breath becomes â€Å"†tender-taken† as well, and emphasizes the content, sensual and intimate tone. The intimacy of the lovers is shown through the imagery: â€Å"Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast†, which reflects the closeness that persona values but that the star lacks. However, there is also an undertone of conflict and tension beneath this comfort as the persona struggles with his unfulfillable desire to be as steadfast as the star while having the intimacy that only humans can achieve. This tension is reflected though the repetition of â€Å"still† in line 9 and then later in line 13, and the repetition of â€Å"for ever† in lines 11 and 12. Through the repetition of these phrases, the desperation with which the persona desires to be with his lover for eternity is suggested, but because the reader knows that the persona’s life is ephemeral, there is tension as the persona longs for an impossible wish. This tension is increased by the oxymoron of â€Å"sweet unrest† and by the climactic last line of the poem: â€Å"And so live ever-or else swoon to death.† The use of the phrase â€Å"or else† seems ominous, especially because we know that in reality, he will not be able to become as steadfast as the star, so he will eventually die. However, the tone becomes less gloomy through the use of the word â€Å"swoon†, the positive connotation of which suggests that the persona accepts a death in love. This implies that although he deeply wishes he could be eternal like the star, he realizes that this is not possible and thus embraces his status as a ephemeral human gifted with intimacy by accepting death as long as he experiences love in his life. The significance of the last two lines of the poem is emphasized, as they are a rhyming couplet. Ultimately, Keats’ masterful use of figurative language results in a deeply meaningful sonnet that contrasts the eternal but isolated qualities of nature with the ephemeral but intimate qualities humans. Although this sonnet is short, its scope is large as it explores the inner desires of the persona to have the best of both worlds. Through the many literary techniques, the poet reveals the conflict between the impossible desires and the possible, and the natural world and human world.

Thorn Queen Chapter Five

I fully intended to make good on my promises, and in Tucson the next day, I began acquiring an odd assortment of goods that I hoped might improve the Thorn Land's situation. Admittedly, they were kind of lame, but I figured I had to start somewhere and was rather proud of my attempts when I finished. I was sitting down in front of the TV with an early dinner that night when Kiyo walked in, clad in his white vet's coat. Naturally, all the animals lifted their heads or actually walked over to him in greeting. If I hadn't been balancing a plate of ravioli on my lap, I would have leapt up and run into his arms. Instead, I gave him a dazzling smile, one that grew larger when I saw he carried a bouquet of flowers. â€Å"I would have been here sooner,† he said, tossing the coat onto a chair. â€Å"But I had an afternoon shift.† â€Å"Hey, I'm just happy to see you at all. I figured you'd still be busy with baby stuff.† â€Å"Nope.† He sat down in a chair opposite me and laid the bouquet down on the coffee table. â€Å"You were amazing there, you know.† â€Å"If by amazing, you mean shoddily dressed and leading on gentry princes-then, yes. Yes, I was. What are those for?† I gestured with my fork to the flowers-an arrangement of brightly colored gerbera daisies. â€Å"Do I need a reason? Aside from you being awesome?† I swallowed the piece of ravioli I'd just chewed. â€Å"Of course there's a reason. There's always a reason. We've talked about this before.† He gave me a lazy, dangerous smile, propping his head up on his elbow as his dark eyes assessed me. â€Å"Right. Standard practices in courtship and mating. Gifts given as subtle suggestions. ‘Here, take these plant sex organs.' Hint, hint.† It was an old joke between us. â€Å"Fortunately, in your case, you don't need to be that subtle. I already know you want sex.† â€Å"True, but I wanted to clear up any doubts. Besides, you've been so great lately†¦I don't know. I just wanted to do something nice. Figured we could have a fun night-although, you're dashing my dreams of taking you out to dinner with the way you're inhaling that ravioli.† â€Å"Sorry,† I said through a mouthful of food. â€Å"I've got a job tonight, so I had to eat early.† His eyebrows rose. â€Å"What kind of raw deal is this? I get off work so I can take you out on the town, and you've got to go into work now? Why can't you have Lara schedule you day jobs?† â€Å"Because I was busy today with Thorn Land business.† Kiyo gave me a wary look. â€Å"Hey, don't judge me,† I warned. â€Å"I wasn't actually over there. But I kind of found out recently that people are starving and going without water.† â€Å"Yeah. I've heard that.† Now I was the one with the incredulous look. â€Å"You knew and didn't tell me?† â€Å"Don't jump all over me! I figured you had people to deal with it. And probably those people had people.† â€Å"Yeah, well, all of those people are having a little trouble. In fact, I've got to go back tomorrow to help round up some brigands.† â€Å"Did you just say ‘brigands'? That's very†¦I don't know. Very 1683.† â€Å"Well, whatever they are, they're a pain in the ass and possibly abducting girls.† I gave him a quick recap. â€Å"You want to go with me and help?† He shook his head ruefully. â€Å"You know, I came here hoping to spend time with you. Instead, I find out you've got a job tonight and are playing sheriff tomorrow.† â€Å"Would it help if I wore a cowgirl outfit?† â€Å"It might.† He came over to sit beside me and kissed my cheek. â€Å"And yes, I'll go tomorrow. I'll even go tonight, if you want the company.† â€Å"You see? We are spending quality time together.† â€Å"I just hope there's some quality time in bed later to help make up for it all.† â€Å"Well,† I said haughtily, setting my plate on the table, â€Å"that depends on you, huh? I have no doubts about my quality.† He put a hand on my thigh and brushed his lips against my neck. â€Å"Oh, Eugenie. Don't push your luck here,† he growled, â€Å"or you might be late for work.† I grinned and answered by way of a long, deep kiss that probably would have turned into more if my appointment hadn't been so close. That, and we also heard Tim coming in the back door. He never took it very well when he found Kiyo and me in a compromising position. The two of us drove over near the university, to a quiet residential neighborhood that was split evenly between single-family residences and crowded houses shared by students. As we pulled up in front of a narrow two-story home in need of a new paint job, Kiyo frowned. â€Å"That microbus looks really familiar,† he said, eyeing the driveway. â€Å"Really?† I asked innocently. We got out of the car and approached the house. When we'd cleared the microbus, Kiyo paused to look at its slew of bumper stickers. Question Authority and Roswell or Bust! were only a few. He gave me a sharp, accusing look. â€Å"Eugenie, did Wil Delaney move?† â€Å"Nooo,† I said slowly. â€Å"But this is a friend of his.† Kiyo groaned. â€Å"If I'd known this, I would have stayed home. That guy is insane. And wait-did you just say he actually has a friend?† â€Å"A friend with a legitimate problem. And you can always go wait in the car.† Kiyo said nothing, merely steeling himself as we approached the door. Wil Delaney was a former client of mine. He was a conspiracy theorist who almost never left his home and whose sole income depended on a blog he ran that furthered his ideas on the government, aliens, mind control, genetic manipulation, and a whole host of other wacky premises. He was quite possibly the most paranoid person I'd ever met. He was also Jasmine's half-brother. It was how we'd met. He'd been the one to hire me to go find her in the Otherworld, long before I'd known anything about Storm King and the prophecy. Apparently, Wil and Jasmine's mother hadn't been so virtuous and had cheated on Mr. Delaney a lot-even with gentry warlords. About a dozen locks unclicked before we were allowed into the house, which was almost as many as Wil had at his own home. The person who greeted us was a woman, a very young one. She was short with plump cheeks, cropped brown hair, and pink cat-eye glasses. â€Å"Is this her?† she asked. A moment later, Wil's head peered around the doorway's side. He looked the same as last time: pale blond hair in need of cutting, glasses, and skin that never saw the sun. â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Who's the guy?† asked the woman suspiciously. â€Å"Her boyfriend. He's cool. Cairo.† â€Å"Kiyo,† I corrected. I held out my hand to her. â€Å"You must be Trisha.† â€Å"I prefer to be called Ladyxmara72,† she said. â€Å"Because really, we're all just anonymous faces in this society, as far as the government is concerned. Plus, Ladyxmara72 is one of my World of Warcraft character names. Ironic that a virtual society like that can be more honest and egalitarian than our own. Or maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She paused dramatically. â€Å"It's not so ironic.† Wil stared at her adoringly. Beside me, Kiyo made some sort of strangled noise. They led us inside a home nearly as dark as Wil kept his. I guessed Trisha-I refused to call her Lady-whatever-worried about the same issues with radiation that he did. Her home was neater, however, and bore slightly more feminine touches, like furniture that matched and a few scented candles. The candles appeared to be homemade, undoubtedly so they wouldn't poison the air with artificial scents or be laced with trackers that the government could use to listen in on Trisha's conversation. â€Å"So,† said Trisha as we entered the living room. An episode of The X-Files was paused on the TV. â€Å"You're here to take care of the alien problem.† â€Å"I'm here to-what did you say?† I looked back and forth between Wil and her. â€Å"Aliens,† she said. â€Å"My house is infested with them.† I peered around, half-expecting to see E.T. hanging out on the loveseat. All was empty and still. â€Å"I don't really understand. Didn't Wil tell you what I do?† â€Å"We don't know for sure that they're aliens,† he said hastily. â€Å"But there is something here.† â€Å"Of course they are!† she exclaimed. He cowered a little under her glare. â€Å"I've seen them looking in the windows-just like on that documentary.† Immediately, his chagrin turned to outrage. â€Å"Oh, come on! You know that's a hoax. The evidence is overwhelming.† â€Å"The hell it is! There's no way anyone could fake that kind of-â€Å" â€Å"Um, hey, you guys?† I said. â€Å"Can we just get this taken care of? Tell me more about the ali-whatever. Have you both seen them?† They nodded. â€Å"They're short with big eyes,† Trisha said triumphantly. â€Å"But they wear paisley suit coats,† added Wil. â€Å"And they do chores at night.† â€Å"Doesn't sound so bad to me,† murmured Kiyo. â€Å"Why get rid of them?† â€Å"Kobolds,† I said after a moment's thought. â€Å"You've got kobolds.† â€Å"There is no known planet by that name,† argued Trisha. I sighed. â€Å"Just take me to your basement.† Trisha led us through the house, and Wil drifted over beside me. â€Å"Isn't she amazing?† I swear he was on the verge of swooning. â€Å"Your first girlfriend?† I asked. â€Å"How'd you know?† â€Å"Instinct.† Engaging Wil in conversation was always dangerous, but seeing as he never left the house or had much social interaction, I just had to ask the next question. â€Å"How'd you guys meet?† â€Å"On a forum. We were both in this thread and kept arguing about whether there was a government connection between the overdoses of Marilyn Monroe and Heath Ledger, and then we-â€Å" â€Å"Okay,† I said, grimacing. â€Å"That's enough. Really.† We reached the basement door, and Trisha started to go down. â€Å"Don't,† I warned. â€Å"You guys need to stay up here.† I gave Wil a stern look. â€Å"Don't let her down there until we're done. You of all people know I'm not fucking around.† Wil blanched further-if that was possible-and gave a hasty nod. Wil had traveled with me to the Otherworld and fully understood the perils of my job. I could hear Trisha arguing with him as Kiyo and I descended the stairs, yet somehow, Wil managed to do his job and keep her away. â€Å"I never thought it was possible,† said Kiyo, once we were out of earshot. â€Å"He's found and fallen in love with someone exactly like him. I guess there really is someone for everyone.† â€Å"She's a little more assertive than he is, I think.† â€Å"Good. He needs it.† â€Å"On the bright side, this'll be cake. Kobolds aren't an issue.† Kiyo nodded his agreement but wrinkled his nose when we reached the bottom of the steps. â€Å"They're bad-smelling ones, though.† The basement wasn't finished and bore the usual clutter one found in such places. Lots of hiding spots for kobolds. I pulled on a hanging chain, and a bare bulb offered meager illumination. Taking out my wand, I extended my arm and swept the whole basement. â€Å"By the earth and fire you serve, I command you to reveal yourselves.† Shamanic magic tingled from me, through the wand and its gems, and into the room. A moment later, three forms materialized. They were about three-feet high, male, and hardly resembled the big-eyed aliens popular in modern culture. These guys were wizened, with patchy yellow hair. Wil's comment about the paisley coats wasn't entirely accurate either. One wore plaid. â€Å"Why did you call us out?† the one in plaid demanded in a high-pitched voice. â€Å"We haven't done anything to you. We haven't done anything to anyone.† â€Å"You guys, you can't stay here,† I said. â€Å"Not in this house. It's not yours. This world isn't yours.† I was a stickler for world ownership. â€Å"We're helping,† argued one of the paisley ones. â€Å"Do you know how messy these people are? Books and paper everywhere.† If Trisha's house had resembled Wil's before the kobolds arrived, I could well imagine it. Kobolds were kind of like benign goblins, originating in northern Europe and rarely given to maliciousness unless provoked. My hope was that they could simply be talked into leaving. â€Å"That's really nice and all, but I mean it: you can't stay here. I've got to send you back to the Otherworld. Give me a hard time about it, and I'll make it the Underworld.† The plaid one scowled. â€Å"You're as cruel as they say, Eugenie Thorn Queen. We've done nothing to deserve this.† I tried not to scowl right back. Before learning about my gentry blood, I'd often conducted shamanic business under the pseudonym Odile Dark Swan. It was what Otherworld denizens had known and feared me as. I wasn't thrilled to know that no part of my identity was a secret anymore. â€Å"You guys, I am not screwing around. You know who I am. You know what I can do, so stop wasting time.† Wand still in hand, I began to channel an opening to the Otherworld. â€Å"You can't take on both of us, let alone one.† â€Å"No,† agreed the other paisley one. â€Å"But he can.† â€Å"He-ahh!† Furry hands reached around from behind me just seconds after Kiyo exclaimed, â€Å"Eugenie!† Kiyo was normally on high alert but had been as cocky as me about dealing with the kobolds. His attention had been on them, and he hadn't sensed the other threat lurking in the basement. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Kiyo had scented this creature, if the odor emanating from its hands and arms was any indication. He just hadn't made the connection. I still didn't have a good look at my furry-armed captor, seeing as I was still struggling to break free of its grasp. Kiyo was on it in a flash, needing no weapons save his own brute strength. His hands closed around the creature's arms, and he managed to pull them loose enough for me to slip out of its grip. Once free, I was able to get a good look. It was a†¦ Huh. I wasn't really sure. It was furry, brown, and tall, with rounded ears like a mouse or bear and hooves like a deer and a whole other assortment of random animal parts. It gave a strangled roar of displeasure, and I braced for it to turn back on me. Usually, that was how it worked. Creatures who came after me usually had one of two goals: either rape me on the spot or kill me to prevent me from fulfilling the prophecy. But Smokey the Bear, or whatever it was, was going after Kiyo, ignoring me while the kobolds watched gleefully. Kiyo socked the creature hard in the chest, and I noticed a faint ripple of light spread through it that faded quickly. Smokey then returned with a punch that took Kiyo hard in the face and sent him toward the wall. It was hard, too-that punch had been meant to kill. Kiyo's reflexes were too fast, though, and he caught himself before his skull could smash against the solid concrete. I leapt into the fight then, pulling out my Glock. I'd loaded it with silver bullets earlier and was glad I'd done so. I got off a couple of shots into the monster. Each time, I saw its form ripple, but it still didn't come after me. It was too intent on killing Kiyo. The two grappled further, and I continued firing, knowing I had to be weakening it. Nonetheless, one lucky blow knocked Kiyo off his feet and onto his back. The kobolds cheered when he remained still. Me, I screamed in rage, taking my wand in my other hand and facing the furry monstrosity head-on. It attempted no killing blows on me and merely kept trying to get a hold of me as I fired and began the banishing words. Suddenly, Kiyo was on his feet again, thrusting himself between us. â€Å"Stay the hell away from her!† he snarled. I saw all the muscles in his body tense and had a feeling he was on the verge of shape-shifting. Smokey looked angry and turned into full assault mode again. â€Å"Get out of the way,† I said. â€Å"I've got him.† â€Å"I'm not letting him lay a hand on you,† retorted Kiyo, eyes fixed on his foe. A flash of gold glimmered in Kiyo's eyes. Gold like a fox's. â€Å"He's not trying to kill or rape me,† I argued, as Kiyo dodged another crushing blow. â€Å"He wants to subdue me-you he wants to kill.† But Kiyo was dead set on protecting me, and I finally decided he'd be safest if I hurried up and just finished the banishing rather than attempt to protect him. Firmly channeling my power into the wand, I again began opening a gate to the Otherworld. As I did, though, I kept thinking about those ripples I saw when I'd attacked the beast, like it couldn't quite stay together. An idea struck me, and rather than direct the banishing magic into ripping open the fabric of this world, I directed it toward Smokey-or, rather, toward the Otherworldly magic holding Smokey together. Kiyo sprang away from the fight, realizing what I was going to do. Sure enough. A spiderweb of light suddenly covered the monster, fragmenting his form. With the wand, I destroyed the magical bonds, and suddenly-he exploded. But not like Aeson had exploded. It was more like he fell apart. Gone was the large, hulking, furry form. Instead, scuttling on the ground was a swarm of woodland creatures: mice, rabbits, a deer, and a couple of ducks. The mice and rabbits immediately scurried into whatever nooks and crannies they could find. The ducks looked confused. The deer ran up the stairs. With the banishing magic already started, it was easy to complete the actual opening to the Otherworld and send the kobolds through. Just before they vanished, Kiyo leaned toward them-keeping out of the magic's way-and fixed them with a dark, angry expression. The blood on his face from the fight only added to his fearsome appearance. â€Å"Tell whoever sent you here to leave her the hell alone, or I will come after him myself and rip him apart limb by limb. And I'll do the same to you guys while I'm at it. None of you are ever going to lay a hand on her again,† he growled. The kobolds' faces reflected true fear as they disappeared from this world. Silence fell, aside from the quiet and confused quacking of the ducks who still didn't know what to do with themselves. â€Å"Well,† I gasped. â€Å"That was one of the more convoluted schemes I've seen yet.† Would-be rapists often did attempt to distract me with a seemingly ordinary banishing and then would swoop in unexpectedly. This person had sent the kobolds to lure me out and then that woodland conglomeration to actually subdue me and bring me back as a war prize. Kiyo, as an obstacle to that plan, had had to be eliminated first. I took in his ripped shirt and blood. â€Å"Are you okay?† â€Å"Fine, fine,† he said, wiping his face. â€Å"It's superficial. What the hell was that?† â€Å"Some monster that a gentry put together with magic. Bound all those animals into one stronger form and ordered it after me.† â€Å"Will it come back together?† â€Å"No. I broke the bonds, and they're all spreading apart anyway.† â€Å"Um, Eugenie?† Wil's voice suddenly rang down the stairs. â€Å"Is everything okay down there? A deer just ran through the living room†¦.† Kiyo and I both decided later that it was a good thing Smokey had disbanded like he had. Otherwise, if they'd seen his full form, Trisha and Wil would have had enough Bigfoot material for their forums to last until the next century. Goodness only knew what kind of threads and rumors this event alone would start. Trisha paid me in cash once we frisked the deer out of the house, and I told her she was on her own for the other animals in the basement. As we were leaving, Wil briefly caught me alone, his goofy, paranoid expression replaced by a much grimmer one. â€Å"Have you found Jasmine yet?† he asked in a very soft voice. I bit my lip. No matter how absurd I thought Wil was, whenever I saw how much Jasmine's disappearance grieved him, it broke my heart. I'd never told him the truth of her heritage. The only information I'd given him was that she was on the run and hadn't been kidnapped. I thought he'd take comfort in knowing she wasn't being held against her will, but it hurt him to think she didn't want to be with him. He truly loved his sister, no matter how much she despised the human world. It was really quite sad. â€Å"No, I'm sorry. I really am.† His face fell further, and he gave a weak nod. â€Å"Yeah. I figured. I know you'll keep looking, though. And you'll let me know if you find her?† I tried to give him a reassuring smile. â€Å"Sure.† The truth was, I didn't know if I would tell him. It all depended on what state I found her in. If I found her pregnant and bent on conquering the worlds†¦well, I wasn't entirely sure what I'd do then, but one thing I felt certain of was that there was no way I was ever going to let her return to this world.

Free Essays on King Edward VI

King Edward VI of England Edward VI was the legitimate son of Henry VIII. Born on October 12, 1537 at Hampton Court, he was the fulfillment of his father’s tangled marital life (englishhistory.net). All Henry VIII ever wanted was a son to carry on the Tudor Dynasty, and though his first two wives could not provide that to him his third wife Jane Seymour did. Jane Seymour, who was the one wife he loved very deeply, died shortly after the birth of Edward VI from puerperal sepsis (the infections one is subject to when the proper sterilization is used during pregnancy) on October 24, 1537. The infant prince was the only male Tudor heir of his generation, but he was very sickly (englishhistory.net). During King Edward VI’s reign there were good things and bad, but he did not have any say so in any of them. Henry VIII did all that he could to protect his son’s health. He had the castle sanitized and kept Edward VI in close seclusion. This ended when Henry VIII married his last wife, Katharine Parr, who became a beloved mother to Edward and he adopted the Protestantism which she championed (englishhistory.net). He grew very close to his half-sister Elizabeth, and even shared a house with her for many years. His other half-sister Mary was a very zealous Catholic. The difference in age between them disabled from being very close. Edward succeeded his father to the throne at the age of nine (infoplease.com). He was just a figure though; still too young to make the big decisions that fall upon a King. At first uncle Edward Seymour was given Protectorship, but about ten years later John Dudley, duke of Nothumberland, took over the job. When Edward came to rule Henry’s absolutism was relaxed by a liberalization of treason and heresy (infoplease.com). These things befell his reign because he was so young and due to this the nobles used the Regency to strengthen their own positions (royal.gov.uk). One of the bigg... Free Essays on King Edward VI Free Essays on King Edward VI King Edward VI of England Edward VI was the legitimate son of Henry VIII. Born on October 12, 1537 at Hampton Court, he was the fulfillment of his father’s tangled marital life (englishhistory.net). All Henry VIII ever wanted was a son to carry on the Tudor Dynasty, and though his first two wives could not provide that to him his third wife Jane Seymour did. Jane Seymour, who was the one wife he loved very deeply, died shortly after the birth of Edward VI from puerperal sepsis (the infections one is subject to when the proper sterilization is used during pregnancy) on October 24, 1537. The infant prince was the only male Tudor heir of his generation, but he was very sickly (englishhistory.net). During King Edward VI’s reign there were good things and bad, but he did not have any say so in any of them. Henry VIII did all that he could to protect his son’s health. He had the castle sanitized and kept Edward VI in close seclusion. This ended when Henry VIII married his last wife, Katharine Parr, who became a beloved mother to Edward and he adopted the Protestantism which she championed (englishhistory.net). He grew very close to his half-sister Elizabeth, and even shared a house with her for many years. His other half-sister Mary was a very zealous Catholic. The difference in age between them disabled from being very close. Edward succeeded his father to the throne at the age of nine (infoplease.com). He was just a figure though; still too young to make the big decisions that fall upon a King. At first uncle Edward Seymour was given Protectorship, but about ten years later John Dudley, duke of Nothumberland, took over the job. When Edward came to rule Henry’s absolutism was relaxed by a liberalization of treason and heresy (infoplease.com). These things befell his reign because he was so young and due to this the nobles used the Regency to strengthen their own positions (royal.gov.uk). One of the bigg...

Biography of John W. Young

Biography of John W. Young John Watts Young (September 24, 1930 - January 5, 2018), was one of the best-known of NASAs astronaut corps. In 1972, he served as commander of the Apollo 16  mission to the moon and in 1982, he served as commander of the first-ever flight of the space shuttle Columbia. As the only astronaut to work aboard four different classes of spacecraft, he became known throughout the agency and the world for his technical skill and calm under pressure. Young was married twice, once to Barbara White, with whom he raised two children. After their divorce, Young married Susy Feldman. Personal Life John Watts Young was born in San Francisco to William Hugh Young and Wanda Howland Young. He grew up in Georgia and Florida, where he  explored nature and science as a Boy Scout. As an undergraduate at Georgia Institute of Technology, he studied aeronautical engineering and graduated in 1952 with highest honors. He entered the U.S. Navy straight out of college, eventually ending up in flight training. He became a helicopter pilot, and eventually joined a fighter squadron where he flew missions from the Coral Sea and the USS Forrestal. Young then moved to become a test pilot, as so many astronauts did, at Patuxent River and the Naval Test Pilot School. Not only did he fly a number of experimental aircraft, but he also set several world records while flying the Phantom II jet. Joining NASA In 2013, John Young published an autobiography of his years as a pilot and astronaut, called Forever Young. He told the story of his incredible career simply, humorously, and humbly. His NASA years, in particular, took this man- often referred to as an astronauts astronaut- from the Gemini missions of the early to mid-1960s to the Moon aboard Apollo, and eventually to the ultimate test pilot dream: commanding a shuttle to orbital space. Youngs public demeanor was that of a calm, sometimes wry, but always professional engineer and pilot. During his Apollo 16 flight, he was so laid-back and focused that his heart rate (being tracked from the ground) barely rose above normal. He was well-known for thoroughly examining a spacecraft or instrument and then zeroing in on its mechanical and engineering aspects, often saying, after a blizzard of questions, Im just asking... Gemini and Apollo John Young joined NASA in 1962, as part of Astronaut Group 2. His classmates were Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, Charles Pete Conrad, James A. Lovell, James A. McDivitt, Elliot M. See, Jr, Thomas P. Stafford, and Edward H. White (who died in the Apollo 1 fire  in 1967). They were referred to as the New Nine and all but one went on to fly several missions over the next decades. The exception was Elliot See, who was killed in a T-38 crash. Youngs first of six flights to space came in March 1965 during the early Gemini era, when he piloted Gemini 3 in the first manned Gemini mission. The next year, in July 1966, he was the command pilot for Gemini 10 where he and teammate Michael Collins did the first double rendezvous of two spacecraft in orbit. When the Apollo missions began, Young was immediately tapped to fly the dress rehearsal mission that led to the first Moon landing. That mission was Apollo 10 and took place in May 1969, not quite two months before Armstrong and Aldrin made their historic trip. Young didnt fly again until 1972 when he commanded Apollo 16 and achieved the fifth human lunar landing in history. He walked on the Moon (becoming the ninth person to do so) and drove a lunar buggy across its surface. The Shuttle Years The first flight of the space shuttle Columbia required a special pair of astronauts: experienced pilots and trained space fliers. The agency chose John Young to command the maiden flight of the orbiter (which had never been flown to space with people aboard) and Robert Crippen as the pilot. They roared off the pad on April 12, 1981. The mission was the first manned one to use solid-fuel rockets, and its objectives were to get to orbit safely, orbit Earth, and then return to a safe landing on Earth, as an airplane does. Young and Crippens first flight was a success and made famous in an IMAX movie called Hail Columbia. True to his heritage as a test pilot, Young descended from the cockpit after landing and did a walk-around of the orbiter, pumping his fist in the air and inspecting the craft. His laconic responses during the post-flight press briefing were true to his nature as an engineering and pilot. One of his most-quoted lines answers was to a question about ejecting from the shuttle if there were problems. He simply said, You just pull the little handle. After the successful first flight of the space shuttle, Young commanded only one other mission- STS-9 again on Columbia. It carried the Spacelab to orbit, and on that mission, Young stepped into history as the first person to fly into space six times. He was supposed to fly again in 1986, which would have given him another space flight record, but the Challenger explosion delayed the NASA flight schedule for more than two years. In the aftermath of that tragedy, Young was very critical of NASA management for its approach to astronaut safety. He was removed from flight duty and assigned a desk job at NASA, serving in executive positions for the rest of his tenure. He never flew again, after logging more than 15,000 hours of training and preparations for nearly a dozen missions for the agency. After NASA John Young worked for NASA for 42 years, retiring in 2004. He had already retired from the Navy with the rank of captain years earlier. Yet, he remained active in NASA affairs, attending meetings and briefings at the Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston. He made occasional public appearances to celebrate important milestones in NASA history and also made appearances at specific space gatherings and a few educators meetings but otherwise remained largely out of the public eye until his death. John Young Clears the Tower for the Final Time Astronaut John W. Young died from complications of pneumonia on January 5, 2018. In his lifetime, he flew more than 15,275 hours in all kinds of aircraft, and nearly 900 hours in space. He earned many awards for his work, including the Navy Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He is a fixture in several aviation and astronaut halls of fame, has a school and planetarium named for him, and received Aviation Weeks Philip J. Klass award in 1998. John W. Youngs fame extends well beyond his flight time to books and movies. He will always be remembered for his integral role in space exploration history.

Project Mercury Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Project Mercury - Research Paper Example During the period the project was active 25 space flights were completed where six of the missions were manned flights. Those six manned flights were completed with an excellent pilot safety record and with no deviation from the Mercury program basic operating parameters (Nasa). The Mercury project outlined a series of operational objectives to be completed: 1. To launch a manned space flight mission in orbit around the earth. 2. To investigate and analyze man’s capabilities and ability to function in a zero g space environment. 3. To safely land the spacecraft and recover the pilot successfully. After establishing the primary objectives, certain guidelines were put in place in order to guarantee the most efficient and safest approach to completing the mission objectives. The guidelines established were as follows: 1. Existing off the shelf the shelf technology must be used whenever possible. 2. General system design should follow a philosophy of safety and simplicity. 3. A cu rrent launch vehicle platform will be utilized to safely place the spacecraft in orbit. Mission Launch date Duration Objectives Little Joe 1 21 Aug 1959 20 seconds Test of launch escape systems Big Joe 1 9 Sept 1959 13 minutes Test heat shield and Atlas/spacecraft Interface Little Joe 6 4 Oct 1959 5m, 10 sec Testing of spacecraft aerodynamics and physical integrity during flight Little Joe 1A 4 Nov 1959 8m, 11 sec Second test of launch escape systems Little Joe 2 4 Dec 1959 11m, 8sec Carried Sam, a live monkey to an altitude of 85 km. Little Joe 1B 21 Jan 1960 8m, 35sec Carried Sam, the monkey to an altitude of 15 km Beach Abort 9 may 1960 1m, 31s Testing off pad launch abort system Mercury-Atlas 1 29 July 1960 3m,18s First flight of Mercury spacecraft and Atlas rocket booster Little Joe 5 8 Nov 1960 2m, 22sec First flight of a production Mercury craft Mercury -Redstone 1 21 Nov 1960 2sec Launch malfunction Mercury-Redstone 1A 19 Dec 1960 15m, 45sec First flight of Mercury craft and Redstone booster Mercury- Redstone 2 31 Jan 1961 16m, 39sec Carried Ham the chimp into orbit Mercury-Atlas 2 21 Feb 1961 17m, 56sec Test of Mercury craft and Atlas booster Little Joe 1A 18 Mar 1961 23m,48sec Test of launch escape systems during adverse conditions Mercury- Redstone BD 24 Mar 1961 8m,23s Redstone booster test flight Mercury- Atlas 3 25 Apr 1961 7m, 19sec Test of Mercury-Atlas with a robotic astronaut Little Joe 5B 28 Apr 1961 5m, 25 sec Test of launch escape systems during adverse conditions Mercury-Atlas 4 13 Sept 1961 1h,49min, 20sec Test of Mercury-Atlas spacecraft Mercury-Scout 1 1 Nov 1961 44sec Test of Mercury racking system network Mercury- Atlas 5 29 Nov 1961 3h, 20min, 59sec Carried Enos the chimp on a two orbit flight Unmanned Missions: Manned Missions The first astronauts were chosen from a group of 110 military pilots, picked for their flight experience and meeting certain physical requirements. A total of seven astronauts were picked, collectively known as the â€Å"Mercury Seven† (The spaceplace). Manned Missions Mission Launch date Duration Objectives Mercury-Redstone 3 5 May 1961 15m, 2sec First American to complete a sub- orbital flight, Alan Sheppard Mercury-Redstone 4 21 Jul 1961 15m, 37sec Second suborbital flight. The spacecraft sank due to a hatch falling off Mercury-Atlas 6 20 Feb 1962 4h, 55m, 23s First American to enter into orbit (3 orbits) John Glenn

Søren Kierkegaard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

SÃ ¸ren Kierkegaard - Essay Example He notably only traveled abroad five times, four times to Berlin and once to Sweden. Despite this fact, he still managed to take from his studies and many experiences to form a universal model for understanding the different stages and aspect of living. His many works garnered him acclaim among fellow scholars and mathematicians of his era, and like many of the greatest philosophers his works have been heralded as timeless. One of Kierkegaard's most notable works is his theory of the spheres of existence. For the philosopher, existence meant to become progressively more individualistic (Kierkegaard, 175). Keirkegaard believed this individualistic existence caused everyone to travel along a path toward self-realization and this process, he noted, had three stages. These stages being, Ethical, Religious and Aesthetic, as "All human beings are currently at one of this stages, depending on the extent to which they have achieved their life-project (Kierkegaard, 175)." By more individualistic, Kiekegaard means that through each stage individual gain a higher understanding of self than they had before and it is through the privileged perspective provided by the assessment of and graduation from the previous stage that allows the person to attain this new form of self. Kiekegaard goes on to further note that, "Each stage is a way of seeing life, a way of understanding the world. They are different ways of livi ng out one's existence, independent spheres of life, situations which embody a certain stability. Living fully in the aesthetic sphere will never lead to the ethical one, and the upholding of ethics will never open the door to religion." He closes by pointing out that no one stage can completely dominate and individual's life and if one were to allows this to happen they would stay stagnant and not progress through the stages. Aesthetics The first stage of Kierkegaard's progression of existential stages is aesthetics recognized as the 'immersion in sensuous experience; valorization of possibility over actuality; egotism; fragmentation of the subject of experience; nihilistic wielding of irony and skepticism; and flight from boredom (Stanford, p1)." This stage of existence is a very selfish one that involves excessive self-indulgence. Kierkegaard refers to temptation and the appreciation and distraction of beauty a lot in this section.Ethics Ethics in Kierkegard's work has more than one meaning, "It is used to denote both: (i) a limited existential sphere, or stage, which is superseded by the higher stage of the religious life; and (ii) an aspect of life which is retained even within the religious life (Stanford, p1)." This is basically the stage where one starts to asses their life and view themselves objectively. It is recognized as the stage of reasoning this stage is 'limited' in that it is the stage that comes before the religious stage, but it is retained within the religious stage in that the traits used in the ethical stage must also be used to make the valuable choices in the religious stage. Ultimately the final obligation to transition from Ethics into the religious stage is to completely relinquish one's reliance on reason for one's trust in faith. Religion The final stage of existence that Kierkegaard recognizes is the stage of Religion, and specifically Christianity. Kierkegaard