Creativity Essay -- Technology Art Papers

Creativity The walls of the Louvre are covered with artistic masterpieces, widely recognized as some of the most treasured, creative works known to man. The unique stroke of a brush or the layering of paint can distinguish these geniuses from the masses. Despite the ability to label these pieces of art as especially creative, it remains unclear how one can truly qualify the defining characteristics of creativity. This faculty is commonly viewed as intangible, as `a spark of creativity,' or, `a flash of creativity.' This phenomenon, which lies at the foundation of our artistic culture, eludes our current grasp of understanding. For some, creativity rests within our human nature as an integral part of our being, for others, it may emerge from the great mechanical complexity of our brains, or the randomness of the universe. In recent years there have also emerged visual and literary works by computers which some experts believe to have a creative nature. This controversial idea causes unease in ma ny that characteristics we commonly assume to be innately human could manifest in a machine. However, after viewing the works created by computers, it becomes necessary to consider the possibility of such creative ability whether or not the works themselves are creative. Though one can find examples of human creativity in nearly all aspects of life, perhaps it is most clearly evident in our literature. The thoughtful combination of words can express the gauntlet of human emotions and experiences aptly, and in the most talented of authors, can breathe life into the words and seemingly recreate the experiences in the mind of the reader. Notable and critically praised author James Joyce provides an example of this in his work Ulysses: .. ...uture computer which could paint like Monet, or have faith in a machine to effectively speak to the emotions of a human. However, technological innovations continually astound us, and it is no less plausible that a computer could function at this level of creativity, than one hundred years ago to imagine men landing on the moon. Works Cited Boden, Margaret. The Creative Mind: Myths and Mechanics. London; New York: Routledge, 2004. Faulkner, William. The Sound and the Fury. New York: Random House, 1984. Hofstadter, Douglas. Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies. New York: Basic Books, 1995. Joyce, James. Ulysses. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. Picard, Rosalind. Affective Computing. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 1997. Singer, Irving. Feelings and Imagination: The Vibrant Flux of Our Existence. Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 2001

Automated Evaluation of Grades System

Sample CS Capstone Projects from 2005 – 2009 2005 Simulate a Radio Interface The team built a message simulator to test radio communications with munitions systems. The simulator used RS232 communications and ran on PCs. It included a user interface that allowed users to construct and send messages as well as log and display all message traffic. The system included support for error checking (ACK/NAK, CRC) of messages. The interface could be configured for baud rate, com port, parity, # of bits, # stop bits, etc.Election Results Visualization This team built a system for use on the website of a news/communication company. The system displays election results in a visual manner and supports selecting from multiple race results. Results for a county can be displayed on a precinct level map in a color coded manner. Color shading was used to indicate results (e. g. red to white to blue shading for a two party race, white to dark green for a yes/no referendum) and actual vote count s are also shown for each precinct as that precinct is scrolled over.Automated Test Suite for Denial of Service and Intrusion Attacks This team built an extensible framework for an automated suite of test cases that ran on a Linux platform and simulated Denial of Service and Intrusion attacks. The tool included a GUI interface to select and run tests. Around 50 different network attacks were included with the system. An audit log and error log are produced as the system runs. Automation Data Collection This team designed data collection code to gather information from equipment on a manufacturing floor.A baseline group of PLC code samples was produced for the collection of data. Code timing (infeed, cycle, outfeed, idle, etc. ) and error routines was developed. Factory Floor User Interface This team designed and prototyped a user interface that presented live and historical information from the equipment on a manufacturing floor. The design was for a web based solution that used a S QL database that contained the data related to machine performance. Proposal and Job Setup SystemThis team designed and developed a PC based sales proposal and job setup program for a heating company that allows the comfort consultant to efficiently and effectively produce a â€Å"job specific† price quote for the customer on the first appointment. The system included BTU calculations and furnace suggestions as well as pictorial tours showing what is involved in a furnace replacement. A job set-up document can also be produced immediately upon the closure of a sale. A database keeps track of all prices, eliminating confusion. The database also helps with sales management tracking. Test PrioritizationThis team developed processes, reporting and supporting utilities around code coverage and test prioritization tools (from an internal company research team) that provided the best test coverage for each software check-in. There was a base-line component that would run nightly and run each test, collect coverage data and save traces for each test. The developer’s side included a Windows application for automatically selecting the tests a developer should run. Ensuring Data Integrity This team developed a program that would run nightly to do integrity checks of critical manufacturing data.The Engineering (relational) and Manufacturing (Oracle) databases previously needed to be periodically manually verified to be in sync. Web-based Tutorial/Learning Tool This team developed an on-line tutorial and training tool for use in a university setting. The tutorial was based on policies and procedures for safe computing practices. A database of questions was also created with questions randomly selected for an on-line quiz. The results of the quiz could be emailed to the person who took the test and a teacher or supervisor.Identity Preservation in a Grain Mill This team developed a system to track the product (grain) throughout the growing portion of the proces s. The ability to add and update all aspects of field information (plant and field variables, chemicals applied, harvest information) can be managed on-line by direct farmer input or by a system administrator. Data can be exported to Excel spreadsheets and all updates and inserts into the database are tracked. A website was established and set up for use by the cooperative. Web-based Survey SoftwareThis team developed a web-based application that runs on top of a survey processing engine and allows users to create and maintain surveys for use on their web-sites. Multiple surveys and various kinds of questions can be created and edited (e. g. multiple choice, drop down choice, text choice, file choice). The survey processing engine was previously built by the sponsoring company. Code Generation Utility This team developed a utility that auto-generates C# code based on code that exists within a company proprietary prototype development environment today.The system reviews C# code and associated metadata then analyzes it to see what areas can be generated, rather than having to have developers create it. For example, it will generate the required business entities and database mappings. 2006 Web-based Survey Tool Web based survey tool to collect and manage SEI training evaluations for one company as well as to be used for vendor surveys for another company Intrusion Monitoring System Development of host based intrusion monitoring and prevention application software for IBM eServer iSeries Web-based File ViewerDevelop a web based file viewer to be able to view data from old Cobol applications Marketing Study for New Product Offering Perform a marketing study on new product offerings to create a Managed Services offering that includes the areas of proactive network monitoring, data backup, security and trending. Sarbanes-Oxley Critical Function Auditing Tool Critical Function Auditing Tool – design database tables, develop an admin tool to maintain and creat e the data for the tables, define and transfer the security info for users from current system to Oracle, create a tool using VB.Net to administer this system Web-based Employee Directory Develop a web based employee directory that can find employees in a hierarchy list, view the list, add picture IDs, and update Active Directory from the source data Server Network Performance Monitoring Tool Develop a tool to monitor and report on the performance and efficiency of a number of remote servers. Legal Citation Data Mining Tool Create a Citation Mining Tool Interface to enable team members without SQL skills to run reports and perform analysis. Web-based Competitive Analysis ToolDevelop a tool to automatically search competitors websites to determine what they are charging for products making sure to not be detected doing the search. 2007 Sports Score Database for Communications Company Create a web application that allows registered users to input sports scores (and related statistics) into a standardized database from which other media outlets (radio stations, TV, newspapers) can pull this stored information. In keeping with this, an administrator can alter posted scores, create sports schedules, manage sports, manage teams, and the like. Database Search and Update UtilityCreate  a Web Application for searching and updating the Bermuda Information Database. The Bermuda Information Database contains information on how the Bermuda system is called and configured for various content types. The Web Application will have a password protected maintenance utility that will allow users to update the database. The database was built in standard Microsoft Access and XML, but will be migrated to Oracle during the development of the Web Application. Web-based product review recording system The scope of the project is to develop a web-based collection of work product reviews.This system will improve the customer’s world by setting a standard for product review proc edures with a central storage place for viewing results later. Intrusion Monitoring System – phase 2 Development of host based intrusion monitoring and prevention application software for IBM eServer iSeries. Modify the system to be a server-side application, improve the performance and add several new features. Update a freeware database refactoring tool Develop additional functionalities for Database refactoring tool useful for developers working in agile methodology.The sponsoring company had already developed a refactoring tool with minimal functionalities using Java. Using Agile methodology this team had to add more functionality to the existing tool. Competitive Benchmarking Tool This project developed a process and web based system to consistently support competitive bench marking in all products groups and support teams. Products include snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, etc. Web-based Trouble Logging System Develop a web interface to replace an existing paper based tro uble log system.The web interface will allow the remote users to submit a trouble log directly into the system rather than having to mail it in. The system will also allow the company to monitor and track the progress of all of the trouble logs by going to one place. In addition, since the data is being stored in a database, the data can be accessed over many years to help track the usage of the trouble log system in general. Production Line Monitoring System Develop a web-based application for production line monitoring. This application displays status of  batches and parts in the process of producing a final product.This application is intended to make it easier for observer or shift manager to keep track of work progress on the production floor. Embedded Computing Research Provide software development help with research in nanomaterials and nanotechnology. As a part of its Conformal Computing program, it is exploring how to leverage the power of multi-processor parallel archit ecture for large displays and eventually build a tera-scale experimental architecture. The vision therefore is to use such hardware architecture for simple to complex computer graphics applications.Simple computer graphics applications may comprise static graphics algorithms: flood fill, displaying circle, line etc. Complex computer graphics applications may comprise displaying 3D objects, texture mapping, volume rendering, animations and so on. 2008 OneNote 2007 and Team Foundation Server (TFS) Integration Provide an integrated solution where developers using OneNote 2007 during their Agile development Scrum meetings could make updates to TFS work items such as requirements, bugs and tests, directly in OneNote. Customer Request RepositoryBuild a secure web-based tool that can access the company employee or customer requests for changes or additions to products. Allow the customer to easily collect, categorize and prioritize these requests as well as do searches and report generatio n. Test System for a Claims Processing Automation System Build a system to help automate the testing of an automated claims processing system. The system should allow for test data entry and modification, test process control and the comparison of original claims data and final claims data from the test.Cell Phone Application Development Using the Open Handset Alliance Android development environment, develop prototype cell phone applications. The team built applications for a Message Scheduler, sending Email from the phone, Gtalk Instant Messenger interface, Google Calendar interface, Access to Driving Directions and a Reverse Geo Coder to get the address of a phone. Open Interface to Company Applications Based Web Services Convert current applications interfaces from HTTP requests with XML responses to one based on Web Services.Build sample application interfaces and user access routines to demonstrate to developers and users how to take advantage to this kind of interface in the future. Role-based Training System Develop a system to manage training data such as courses and employee training records, required courses per role and grades. Allow users to see their own training history and what courses are available, supervisors to view their employee training records, and implement an administrator function to allow for adding/deleting courses, assigning courses to roles and roles to employees and keeping track of supervisor/employee relationships.Active Directory Automated Updating and SharePoint Learning Management System Build an Active Directory update utility that will take data from the Payroll database and run automated updates every week and create reports on the update. Also, create a SharePoint application to manage employee training data. ASCII Message Simulator to test Satellite Communications Develop a tool to generate ASCII text messages for network delivery as TCP/IP messages simulating satellite communications.This simulator supported logging, error injection, creation of test messages with predefined spacing and error rates, importing of TCP streams as new message profiles, stored data using XML and allowed using the tool in an automated fashion. Automated Unified Data Collection from a Virtual Automated Call Distributor (ACD) Develop a system to automate the real-time collection of unified date from various databases associated with a virtual ACD. The system needed to be extensible for adding more functionality and easy to build reports from.The reporting needed to be up to the minute and also required saving data for long-term information reporting to track trends. 2009 Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Skin Viewer Application Develop a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application (Skin Viewer) that allows users to create sets of controls that can be used to build applications that have a common look and feel. For example, each division of a company could easily build websites that have a unique look and feel. Time Recording UtilityDevelop an application to track timesheet information incorporating approval workflow and integration with a commercial project management tool (Jira) as well as the billing system (Quickbooks). Data Reduction Tool Develop a tool that will convert binary log data into a human readable format. The tool has to be able to separate different message fields, unpack the data, apply scaling factors and graph selected field values against each other. An associated tool is also needed to easily define message formats and save the message format information in an XML structure.This XML structure will be used to define how to parse the binary log files. Evaluate the Usability of the IBM WebSphere sMash Toolset Create a set of sample web applications that address a specific business problem, select the most appropriate then develop a prototype of that application using sMash and report on the ease of use or and any problems encountered. Replace Specialized FTP Interfaces with Standard Web Services Calls Develop software to replace specialized FTP interfaces with standard Web Services calls. Integrate the associated changes on both the client and server sides.User Security Auditing Tool Develop a tool to populate a central database with application user security information (i. e. who has access to which applications) and a set of tools to report this information in various forms. Asset Management System Develop an asset management system that unifies data from several sources. A second phase automates the current lease exchange process. Digital Signature System Develop a digital signature system using DSA-digital signature algorithm signatures. The system includes adding CRCs and SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm) when building the message.A second phase adds encryption of the final file. Mobile Phone â€Å"Planning Poker† Application Develop a â€Å"planning poker† application to run on mobile phones running the Android system. The applica tion is multi-user using a peer to peer model and is integrated with Google Docs. XML Parsing Tool Develop a tool to parse SML files so that comparisons can be made between old and new versions of files. JMX Aggregator/Proxy Develop a tool that exposes custom attributes which are based off values of one or more backend JMX data source. 010 Facebook Applications Develop Facebook applications, web based and desktop, to demonstrate how these kinds of applications can be built – included producing documentation on how to build these applications. Course Management/Testing Application Develop tools to allow the user to create questions/tests, students to take tests and administrators to manage the system and create reports. Web Based Network Configuration Application Create a web based tool that allows a network accelerator to be configured for various conditions.This task included building activity log files, managing multiple interfaces and providing online help functionality. G eneralized Data Reduction Tool, Phase II This project built on the previous year’s work by adding graphing capabilities, cleaning up the user interface, handling header blocks, exporting message definitions to Word documents, etc. Cloud Based Customer Dashboard Develop tools to collect call event data from a cloud based ACD deleting data when calls complete and aggregating data to be used on a dashboard that displays system status. Acoustic Imaging ApplicationBuild an application that processes acoustic data coming into an array of receivers and identify the source of the sound (first single source then multiple sources). Create a parallel processing version of the algorithms using Cilk++ running on a multi-core platform. Performance Driven Compensation System Develop an application to manage a performance driven compensation/bonus system. This system also needed to provide support for year-end performance evaluations. Web Based Image Management System Develop a system to man age software images replacing an older version.Includes the ability to view and compare side-by-side two different images. Framework for Mobile Applications Develop two prototype systems (running on Android and Blackberry platforms) that access web services provided by the sponsoring company. Statistical Process Control Recording and Charting System Build an application that is used in a manufacturing environment to automate the recording of data (from networked scales) and analyze this data according to SPC rules for the station to determine whether or not samples are out of range. Workflow Automation of the Software Promotion ProcessDevelop a workflow automation application (using ShareVis and InfoPath) to manage the process for moving software status (e. g. development to test to alpha to beta to production) Data Reduction Tool (different customer than one above) Build a tool that can analyze data coming from any device and display the messages in human readable form. This was do ne by building a wizard to enable easy message definitions, an XML parser to convert messages into human readable form and a sophisticated user interface that made it very easy to filter and display messages.

Frostbite Chapter 22

TWENTY-TWO HORROR AND SHOCK CONSUMED ME, so much so that I thought my soul would shrivel, that the world would end right then and there- because surely, surely it couldn't keep going on after this. No one could keep going on after this. I wanted to shriek my pain to the universe. I wanted to cry until I melted. I wanted to sink down beside Mason and die with him. Elena released me, apparently deciding I posed no danger positioned as I was between her and Isaiah. She turned toward Mason's body. And I stopped feeling. I simply acted. â€Å"Don't. Touch. Him.† I didn't recognize my own voice. She rolled her eyes. â€Å"Good grief, you're annoying. I'm started to see Isaiah's point- you do need to suffer before dying.† Turning away, she knelt down to the floor and flipped Mason over onto his back. â€Å"Don't touch him!† I screamed. I shoved her with little effect. She shoved back, nearly knocking me over. It was all I could do to steady my feet and stay upright. Isaiah looked on with amused interest; then his gaze fell to the floor. Lissa's chotki had fallen out of my coat pocket. He picked it up. Strigoi could touch holy objects- the stories about them fearing crosses weren't true. They just couldn't enter holy ground. He flipped the cross over and ran his fingers over the etched dragon. â€Å"Ah, the Dragomirs,† he mused. â€Å"I'd forgotten about them. Easy to. There's what, one? Two of them left? Barely worth remembering.† Those horrible red eyes focused on me. â€Å"Do you know any of them? I'll have to see to them one of these days. It won't be very hard to- â€Å" Suddenly, I heard an explosion. The aquarium burst apart as water shot out of it, shattering the glass. Pieces of it flew toward me, but I barely noticed. The water coalesced in the air, forming a lopsided sphere. It began to float. Toward Isaiah. I felt my jaw drop as I stared at it. He watched it too, more puzzled than scared. At least until it wrapped around his face and started suffocating him. Much like the bullets, suffocation wouldn't kill him. But it could cause him a hell of a lot of discomfort. His hands flew to his face, desperately trying to â€Å"pry† the water away. It was no use. His fingers simply slipped through. Elena forgot about Mason and jumped to her feet. â€Å"What is it?† she shrieked. She shook him in an equally useless effort to free him. â€Å"What's happening?† Again, I didn't feel. I acted. My hand closed around a large piece of glass from the broken aquarium. It was jagged and sharp, cutting into my hand. Sprinting forward, I plunged the shard into Isaiah's chest, aiming for the heart I'd worked so hard to find in practice. Isaiah emitted a strangled scream through the water and collapsed to the floor. His eyes rolled back in his head as he blacked out from the pain. Elena stared, as shocked as I'd been when Isaiah had killed Mason. Isaiah wasn't dead, of course, but he was temporarily down for the count. Her face clearly showed she hadn't thought that was possible. The smart thing at that point would have been to run toward the door and the sun's safety. Instead, I ran in the opposite direction, toward the fireplace. I grabbed one of the antique swords and turned back toward Elena. I didn't have far to go, because she'd recovered herself and was heading toward me. Snarling with rage, she tried to grab me. I had never trained with a sword, but I had been taught to fight with any makeshift weapon I could find. I used the sword to keep distance between us, my motions clumsy but effective for the time being. White fangs flashed in her mouth. â€Å"I am going to make you- â€Å" â€Å"Suffer, pay, regret I was ever born?† I suggested. I remembered fighting with my mom, how I'd been on the defensive the whole time. That wouldn't work this time. I had to attack. Jabbing forward, I tried to land a blow on Elena. No luck. She anticipated my every move. Suddenly, from behind her, Isaiah groaned as he started to come around. She glanced back, the smallest of motions that let me swipe the sword across her chest. It cut the fabric of her shirt and grazed the skin, but nothing more. Still, she flinched and looked down in panic. I think the glass going through Isaiah's heart was still fresh in her mind. And that was what I really needed. I mustered all my strength, drew back, and swung. The sword's blade hit the side of her neck, hard and deep. She gave a horrible, sickening cry, a shriek that made my skin crawl. She tried to move toward me. I pulled back and hit again. Her hands clutched at her throat, and her knees gave way. I struck and struck, the sword digging deeper into her neck each time. Cutting off someone's head was harder than I'd thought it would be. The old, dull sword probably wasn't helping. But finally, I gained enough sense to realize she wasn't moving. Her head lay there, detached from her body, her dead eyes looking up at me as though she couldn't believe what had happened. That made two of us. Someone was screaming, and for a surreal second, I thought it was still Elena. Then I lifted my eyes and looked across the room. Mia stood in the doorway, eyes bugging out and skin tinged green like she might throw up. Distantly, in the back of my mind, I realized she was the one who'd made the aquarium explode. Water magic apparently wasn't worthless after all. Still a bit shaken, Isaiah tried to rise to his feet. But I was on him before he could fully manage it. The sword sang out, wreaking blood and pain with each blow. I felt like an old pro now. Isaiah fell back to the floor. In my mind, I kept seeing him break Mason's neck, and I hacked and hacked as hard as I could, as though striking fiercely enough might somehow banish the memory. â€Å"Rose! Rose!† Through my hate-filled haze, I just barely detected Mia's voice. â€Å"Rose, he's dead!† Slowly, shakily, I held back the next blow and looked down at his body- and the head no longer attached to it. She was right. He was dead. Very, very dead. I looked at the rest of the room. There was blood everywhere, but the horror of it didn't really register with me. My world had slowed down, slowed down to two very simple tasks. Kill the Strigoi. Protect Mason. I couldn't process anything else. â€Å"Rose,† whispered Mia. She was trembling, her words filled with fear. She was afraid of me, not the Strigoi. â€Å"Rose, we have to go. Come on.† I dragged my eyes away from her and looked down at Isaiah's remains. After several moments, I crawled over to Mason's body, still clutching the sword. â€Å"No,† I croaked out. â€Å"I can't leave him. Other Strigoi might come†¦.† My eyes burned like I desperately wanted to cry. I couldn't say for sure. The bloodlust still pounded in me, violence and rage the only emotions I was capable of anymore. â€Å"Rose, we'll come back for him. If other Strigoi are coming, we have to get out.† â€Å"No,† I repeated, not even looking at her. â€Å"I'm not leaving him. I won't leave him alone.† With my free hand, I stroked Mason's hair. â€Å"Rose- â€Å" I jerked my head up. â€Å"Get out!† I screamed at her. â€Å"Get out, and leave us alone.† She took a few steps forward, and I lifted the sword. She froze. â€Å"Get out,† I repeated. â€Å"Go find the others.† Slowly, Mia backed up toward the door. She gave me one last, desperate look before running outside. Silence fell, and I relaxed my hold on the sword but refused to let it go. My body sagged forward, and I rested my head on Mason's chest. I became oblivious to everything: to the world around me, to time itself. Seconds could have passed. Hours could have passed. I didn't know. I didn't know anything except that I couldn't leave Mason alone. I existed in an altered state, a state that just barely kept the terror and grief at bay. I couldn't believe Mason was dead. I couldn't believe I'd just summoned death. So long as I refused to acknowledge either, I could pretend they hadn't happened. Footsteps and voices eventually sounded, and I lifted my head up. People poured in through the door, lots of them. I couldn't really make out any of them. I didn't need to. They were threats, threats I had to keep Mason safe from. A couple of them approached me, and I leapt up, lifting the sword and holding it protectively over his body. â€Å"Stay back,† I warned. â€Å"Stay away from him.† They kept coming. â€Å"Stay back!† I yelled. They stopped. Except for one. â€Å"Rose,† came a soft voice. â€Å"Drop the sword.† My hands shook. I swallowed. â€Å"Get away from us.† â€Å"Rose.† The voice spoke again, a voice that my soul would have known anywhere. Hesitantly, I let myself finally become aware of my surroundings, let the details sink in. I let my eyes focus on the features of the man standing there. Dimitri's brown eyes, gentle and firm, looked down on me. â€Å"It's okay,† he said. â€Å"Everything's going to be okay. You can let go of the sword.† My hands shook even harder as I fought to hold on to the hilt. â€Å"I can't.† The words hurt coming out. â€Å"I can't leave him alone. I have to protect him.† â€Å"You have,† said Dimitri. The sword fell out of my hands, landing with a loud clatter on the wooden floor. I followed, collapsing on all fours, wanting to cry but still unable to. Dimitri's arms wrapped around me as he helped me up. Voices swarmed around us, and one by one, I recognized people I knew and trusted. He started to tug me toward the door, but I refused to move just yet. I couldn't. My hands clutched his shirt, crumpling the fabric. Still keeping one arm around me, he smoothed my hair back away from my face. I leaned my head against him, and he continued stroking my hair, murmuring something in Russian. I didn't understand a word of it, but the gentle tone soothed me. Guardians were spreading throughout the house, examining it inch by inch. A couple of them approached us and knelt by the bodies I refused to look at. â€Å"She did that? Both of them?† â€Å"That sword hasn't been sharpened in years!† A funny sound caught in my throat. Dimitri squeezed my shoulder comfortingly. â€Å"Get her out of here, Belikov,† I heard a woman say behind him, her voice familiar. Dimitri squeezed my shoulder again. â€Å"Come on, Roza. It's time to go.† This time, I went. He guided me out of the house, holding onto me as I managed each agonizing step. My mind still refused to really process what had happened. I couldn't do much more than follow simple directions from those around me. I eventually ended up on one of the Academy's jets. Engines roared around us as the plane lifted off. Dimitri murmured something about coming back shortly and left me alone in my seat. I stared straight ahead, studying the details of the seat in front of me. Someone sat beside me and draped a blanket over my shoulders. I noticed then just how badly I was shivering. I tugged at the edges of the blanket. â€Å"I'm cold,† I said. â€Å"How am I so cold?† â€Å"You're in shock,† Mia answered. I turned and looked at her, studying her blond curls and big blue eyes. Something about seeing her unleashed my memories. It all tumbled back. I squeezed my eyes shut. â€Å"Oh God,† I breathed. I opened my eyes and focused on her again. â€Å"You saved me- saved me when you blew up the fish tank. You shouldn't have done it. You shouldn't have come back.† She shrugged. â€Å"You shouldn't have gone for the sword.† Fair point. â€Å"Thank you,† I told her. â€Å"What you did †¦ I never would have thought of that. It was brilliant.† â€Å"I don't know about that,† she mused, smiling ruefully. â€Å"Water isn't much of a weapon, remember?† I choked on a laugh, even though I really didn't find my old words that funny. Not anymore. â€Å"Water's a great weapon,† I said finally. â€Å"When we get back, we'll have to practice ways to use it.† Her face lit up. Fierceness shone out from her eyes. â€Å"I'd like that. More than anything.† â€Å"I'm sorry †¦ sorry about your mom.† Mia simply nodded. â€Å"You're lucky to still have yours. You don't know how lucky.† I turned and stared at the seat again. The next words out of my mouth startled me: â€Å"I wish she was here.† â€Å"She is,† said Mia, sounding surprised. â€Å"She was with the group that raided the house. Didn't you see her?† I shook my head. We lapsed into silence. Mia stood up and left. A minute later, someone else sat down beside me. I didn't have to see her to know who she was. I just knew. â€Å"Rose,† said my mother. For once in my life, she sounded unsure of herself. Scared, maybe. â€Å"Mia said you wanted to see me.† I didn't answer. I didn't look at her. â€Å"What†¦what do you need?† I didn't know what I needed. I didn't know what to do. The stinging in my eyes grew unbearable, and before I knew it, I was crying. Big, painful sobs seized my body. The tears I'd held back so long poured down my face. The fear and grief I'd refused to let myself feel finally burst free, burning in my chest. I could scarcely breathe. My mother put her arms around me, and I buried my face in her chest, sobbing even harder. â€Å"I know,† she said softly, tightening her grip on me. â€Å"I understand.†

Micheal Phelpss Commercial Essays

Micheal Phelpss Commercial Essays Micheal Phelpss Commercial Essay Micheal Phelpss Commercial Essay Many companies, nowadays, used many different Ideas to sell and make business. Some companies accomplished their goals by using mass media to advertised commercial and some failed to accomplished their goals because their advertisements was not attractive enough. As for Subways commercial, they used an athlete, Michael Phelps, to build up their product and business. The commercial was well delivered on community false causes, appeal to emotion, and bandwagon because the establishment in the commercial influenced people who suspected and loved to be like Michael Phelps wanted to buy Subways products. Michael Phelps Subway commercial expressed community false causes, because they know what they were supposed to state and what would made people who buy their product believe in it. For example, In the commercial they said that to be like Michael Phelps, people have to eat Subway. In the commercial they had Phelps swim In the pool. As In this commercial they used Michael Phelps as ethos, since he Is a well-known athletic and very popular. That would helped Subway made ore customers and business. Moreover, the advertisement used a strong vocal In which it gave the viewers supports and hopes. For example, a strong voice that the audience can connected to or felt it mentally without saying a phrase to them like you can be something you wanted to be by eating Subway! or you can be like your idol if you eat Subway! Subway did a great Job on their commercial on given a false cause that made people think that it might be true and wanted to engage deeply with it. In addition, Subway made the commercial as an appeal to emotion because they dad the advertisement targeted on the parents. The commercial targeted the parent by saying that if they wanted to be a good parent, they have to buy their kids Subway. The commercial used Michael Phelps mother as a good parent who loved and made her kids being success by eating at Subway. That showed pathos because It made the parents felt bad and wanted to buy their kids subway. As a result, Subway made its commercial targeted the parents which was a very successful idea, because every parent wanted their kids to be successful like Michael Phelps. The immemorial also showed a bandwagon fallacy, because Michael Phelps stated that eating Subway has athlete everywhere. By stating athlete everywhere created a bandwagon fallacy because the commercial appealed to popularity and used the show as a form of validation. Also, that would affect athletes or viewer who were in the same field like Phelps. On the other hand, they were smart because they knew what they had stated were considered a fallacy but they still put it in a form of validation. In that case, things seemed like they were true and very influential. Furthermore, they played on a dynamic music when Phelps was swimming. The dramatic music would motivate the viewers when they watched the commercial, Decease It would make teen Tell Like teen were apart It t T . I mace ten announce Tell like they were in a competitive game or the champion of the year competition. In addition, they made extra sound effect in the background where the water splashed very hard, which expressed that eating Subway will make the viewers as strong and fast as Michael Phelps. At the end of the commercial they officially showed the antacid and gave information about the size of it. For example, the man said, Its a five foot long and that showed logos, because it stated the number or size of the sandwiches to the audience. Also, he told what kind of ingredients were in the sandwiches such as bacon, turkey, avocado, and extra Jalapeà ±o. They included the Phelps family in the advertisement and reported that, Subway is the official training of the Phelps family. The last background was made blue and a timing machine, which mean they wanted the audience to see that they can beat the time by eating Subway. Correspondingly, they wanted the people who watch the commercial to pay more attention to the Phelps family and the message they were giving out. Inventing a business is not simple but by using many techniques such as community false causes, appeal to emotion, and bandwagon, would attract more customers. Together with, they used pathos, ethos, and logos as the key for the companys commercials. Michael Phelps commercial made a good influence on athletes. Subway made the commercial expressed how healthy the sandwiches were and how strong people would be if they ate Subway like Michael Phelps.

Platos Socrates essays

Plato's Socrates essays Socrates is interesting not only for his teachings, but also for his life since it was a representation of his teachings. He made a huge influence on the world philosophy. Socrates did not aim for active public work. He led the life of the philosopher: he lived unpretentiously, but had leisure. All his time Socrates devoted to philosophical conversations and disputes. He had many students, but didnt take any money for his teachings. While testing others on wisdom, Socrates doesnt consider himself wise at all; in his opinion, wisdom applies only to the god. If the person believes that he has answers to all questions, such person is worthless for philosophy because there is no need for him to puzzle over searches of the truest concepts. All his truths are actually a collection of the most poor, flat representations of narrow-minded knowledge. After the overthrow of tyranny and restoration of democracy in Athens, Socrates was accused of not believing in gods, entering new deities, and of corrupting the youth of Athens. In reply to these accusations, Socrates has presented the defending speech in which he denied the accusations put forward against him. This great speech contains in Platos Apology. In this dialogue, Plato summarizes some of Socrates' most famous philosophical ideas: the necessity of doing what one thinks is right even in the face of common disagreement, and the need to pursue knowledge even when opposed. Socrates was supposed to be executed at once, but on the eve of the trial the ship with annual religious mission left Athens. Before the returning of the ship, all executions were forbidden by customs. Thus, Socrates had to spent thirty days in prison before execution. In the early morning of the execution day, Socrates old friend Crito came to Socrates and informed him that all guards are bribed and Socrates can run. In a dialogue with Crito, Socrates considers the proposal, try...

The El Nino Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction

The El Nino Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction Often blamed for any and all out-of-the ordinary weather, El Nià ±o is a naturally occurring climate event  and the warm phase of the El Nià ±o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) during which sea surface temperatures in the eastern and equatorial Pacific Ocean are warmer than average. How much warmer? An increase of 0.5 C or more in average sea surface temperatures lasting 3 months in a row, suggest the onset of an El Nià ±o episode.   Meaning of the Name El Nià ±o means the boy, or male child, in Spanish and refers to Jesus, the Christ Child. It comes from South American sailors, who in the 1600s, observed the warming conditions off the Peruvian coast at Christmastime and named them after the Christ Child. El Nio Happens El Nià ±o conditions are caused by a weakening of the trade winds. Under normal circumstances, the trades drive surface waters towards the west; but when these die down, they allow the warmer waters of the western Pacific to seep eastward toward the Americas. Frequency, Length, and Strength of Episodes A major El Nià ±o event generally occurs every 3 to 7 years, and lasts for up to several months at a time. If El Nià ±o conditions will appear, these should begin to form sometime in the late summer, between June and August. Once they arrive, conditions typically reach peak strength from December to April, then subside from May to July of the following year. Events are categorized as either neutral, weak, moderate, or strong. The strongest El Nià ±o episodes occurred in 1997-1998 and 2015-2016. To date, the 1990-1995 episode is the longest-lasting on record. What El NioMeans For Your Weather Weve mentioned that El Nià ±o  is an ocean-atmosphere climate event, but how do warmer-than-average waters in the far-off tropical Pacific Ocean affect weather? Well, these warmer waters warm up the atmosphere above it. This leads to more rising air and convection.  This excess heating intensifies the Hadley circulation, which in turn, disrupts circulation patterns around the globe, including things like the position of the jet stream.   In this way, El Nià ±o  triggers a departure from our normal weather and rainfall patterns  including: Wetter-than-normal conditions along coastal Ecuador, northwestern Peru, southern Brazil, central Argentina, and equatorial eastern Africa (during the months of December, January, February); and over the inter-mountainous U.S. and central Chile (June, July, August). Drier-than-normal conditions over northern South America, Central America, and southern Africa (December, January, February); and over eastern Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines (June, July, August). Warmer-than-normal conditions in southeast Asia, southeast Africa, Japan, southern Alaska, and west/central Canada, SE Brazil, and SE Australia (December, January, February); and along South Americas west coast, and again SE Brazil (June, July, August). Cooler-than-normal conditions along the U.S. Gulf coast (December, January, February). Current El NioForecast As of Fall 2016, El Nià ±o is has weakened and ended and a La Nià ±a Watch  is now in effect. (This simply means that the ocean-atmosphere conditions look favorable for La Nià ±a to develop.)   To learn more about La Nià ±a (cooling of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific) read What is La Nià ±a.

Job Application and Interview Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Job Application and Interview - Assignment Example In order to observe the advancements in the recruitment procedures, this paper will undertake to elaborate upon the typical job application and interview processes that various nursing organizations undertake to recruit the nurse educators. The requirements, formalities and questions usually asked at the interviews will also be discussed. Nurse Educators Nurses throughout the world are called to work in a health care environment that is undergoing reform as never before imagined (NLN Board of Governors, 2011). A nurse educator is a nurse who is charged with the responsibility of educating, teaching, and preparing registered nurses (RN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) for the purpose of enabling them enter into the practice at clinical positions. These nurses are also capable of teaching in many patient care settings in order to facilitate the patients with continuous education to register and licensed nursing staff. The Nurse Educators are also responsible for teach at doctoral l evel and graduate programs, which are intended to prepare the nurses for advanced practice. Job Applications The job applications depict the demands that the job descriptions puts on the employees. On observing the job application of Alaska Native Medical Centre, it is discovered that the organization charges the Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) with the responsibilities to facilitate the education services and professional development of nursing by helping them prepare for advanced nursing practice and assist them in obtaining the skills and knowledge. This is done for the purpose of making them competent enough to gather and analyze the health data of patients, make diagnosis, develop a care plan, and implement the interventions for further interventions (Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, 2012). Interview Process The organizations hiring nurse educators beginning the recruitment process through interviews. These interviews give the hirer a complete view of candidate's qualifica tion, experiences and ambitions in the field. The interviewees are asked about their past experiences in the nursing capacity, and what their facility of working and areas of interest. Then, the interview discovers regarding the candidate's passion for teaching, and what factor brought them towards the teaching side. They are questioned upon the procedures that they would adopt to make their students grasp the concepts easily while teaching. Slowly, the interviewer build such a rapport with the candidates that, they get into open discussion in order to estimate the applicant's knowledge regarding nursing issues, current shortage, and the significance of nursing profession to the community. Besides this, Alaska Medical Centre also assess the applicant on the basis whether they know the positive aspect and worth of their job, and the ways in which the roles of nursing educators influence other areas of nursing. The interview further judges the candidates by asking their opinions on fu ture perspectives of the profession, its growth further, and the recommendation to others about getting into the nursing profession and develop it (Suzanne, 2012). The substantive questions usually asked from a candidate applying for nurse educators include the following: How does nursing generally contribute to the welfare of society? Can any other medical services replace nursing? How do