Monopoly term paper Essay

Monopoly is a market structure containing a single firm that produces a unique good with no close substitutes. It controls supply of a good or service. It is where the entry of new producers is prevented or highly restricted. According to the Business Dictionary, monopolist firms keep the price high and restrict the output, and show little or no responsiveness to the needs of their customers. Most governments try to control monopolies by imposing price controls, taking over their ownership (nationalization), or breaking them up into two or more competing firms. Monopolies exist in varying degrees (degrees (due to copyrights, patents, access to materials, exclusive technologies, or unfair trade practices) almost no firm has a complete monopoly in the era of globalization. So we can see the problem of monopoly is that it can set a higher price than marginal cost. The fact that a monopoly does not face the discipline of competition means that the monopoly may operate inefficiently without being corrected by the marketplace. An example for monopoly might be Comcast. If Comcast were the only cable television provider in your area. If you want cable, you have no choice but to go to Comcast. And because of this, they can charge any price they want. Other local electric power company, campus bookstore or local telephone service might be local monopolies as well. George J. Stigler, director of the Center for the Study of The Economy and the state, professor of economics at the University of Chicago states that a monopoly is free to set any price it chooses and will usually set the price that yields the largest possible profit. There are three problems that often associated with a market controlled totally by a single firm such as inefficiency, inequity and political abuse (AmosWEB Encyclonomic). Inefficiency is the most noted problem in monopoly. A monopoly charges a higher price and produces less output than perfect competition. Also, the price charged by the monopoly is always greater than the marginal cost of production. Income inequality is another problem of monopoly. Monopoly earns economic profit, consumer surplus is transferred from buyers to the monopoly. So buyers end up with less income, and the monopoly ends up with more. Monopoly is able to maintain single-seller status and market control, income continues to be transferred from buyers to the monopoly and to the monopoly resource owners.

Power Flow Control Using Facts Devices Engineering Essay

With the increased capableness of power system web, increased complex tonss and with the interstate power transportation, the control of power in both transmittal and distribution lines has gained premier importance. The conventional method of power control utilizing power sloughing is no more cost effectual and causes power perturbations in the system. Alternatively a smooth control of power is the alternate solution to get the better of the above job. Fast response existent power control will be necessary to take transients, maintain rotor angle stableness and supply equal post-contingency control of the web. Reactive power flow capableness on the other manus will function to minimise line VARs flow under normal runing conditions while maximising flows necessary to keep voltage stableness during the undermentioned eventualities. Power flow control may besides be strategically used to minimise or cut down the demand for transmittal enlargement. In general, the control action in power systems can be categorized as on/off of uninterrupted ( including measure wise uninterrupted ) . The uninterrupted controls for illustration can besides be categorized as either coevals based or web electric resistance based. The web electric resistances used for uninterrupted control can be either physical or practical ( non-physical ) reactive or resistive constituents. Virtual constituents are presented to the web via interpolation of controlled synchronal electromotive force beginnings shunt connected to the coach and/or connected in series with transmittal lines. Development of high power and high exchanging power electronic devices has made it possible to command big power flows utilizing FACTS devices.Structure of the power system ( Kundur )Electric power systems vary in size and structural constituents. However, they all have the same basic features. Are comprised of three-phase ac systems runing basically at changeless electromotive force. Generation and transmittal installations use three-phase equipment. Industrial tonss are constantly three-phase. Single stage residential and commercial tonss are distributed every bit among the stages so as to efficaciously organize a balanced three-phase system. Use synchronal machines for coevals of electricity. Prime movers convert the primary beginnings of energy ( fossil, atomic, and hydraulic ) to mechanical energy that is, in bend converted to electrical energy by synchronal generators. Transmit power over important distances to consumers spread over a broad country. This requires a transmittal system consisting subsystems runing at different electromotive force degrees.Power flow in an a.c. systemIn ac power system, given the in important electrical storage, the electrical coevals and burden must equilibrate at all times. To some extent the electrical system is self modulating. If coevals is less than burden, the electromotive force and frequence bead and at that place by burden goes down to be the coevals minus the transmittal losingss. However, there is merely a few per centum border for such self-regulation. If electromotive force is propped up with reactive power support so the burden will travel up, and accordingly frequence will maintain dropping and the system will fall in. Alternatively, if there is in equal reactive power, the system can hold electromotive force prostration. Demand for electrical energy uninterrupted to travel steadily ( F19 )Reactive power demand ( text book diabetes mellitus tagare )The reactive power demand of big public-service corporations like the province electricity boards in India can be divided into two groups. Fixed KVAR required by the public-service corporations to: maintain their transformers energized and to cover their KVAR for the distribution system to transport a minimal base burden. Variable KVAR to cover load reactive power demands non covered by the consumer reactive power demands by the public-service corporations transformers and distribution system to transport variable consumer burden.Ripples and power system transeunt analysis [ T 11 ]Ripples are utile for transeunt analysis. Much of power system analysis is steady province analysis. However in the country of electric power quality analysis, transients may presume an of import function. For illustration, it is sometimes necessary to cipher the extension of a lightning shot urge in a radial distribution system or a networked transmittal system. The transient created by a communicating failure of an electronic convertor might hold to be analyzed in some instances. The computation of the extension of transformer inpouring and shunt capacitance exchanging currents is besides transeunt jobs. A choice of power system transients appear in tabular array. Type Location Duration Lightning Overhead circuits  µs – MS Line exchanging Transmission and stand in transmittal system  µs – MS Capacitor exchanging Transmission and Distribution systems  µs – MS Communication failure Converters MS Transformer inpouring currents Transformers in transmittal and distribution systems. ms – s Analysis of these transients might be done in the clip sphere, in the frequence sphere or parallel simulation. These methods have their advantages and disadvantages. But all are stressed in the analysis of short clip transients assorted with low frequence signals. Ripples offer certain clip frequence advantages over strictly frequence sphere methods. The window of a ripple ( and besides a transform based on the ripples ) is automatically adjusted in breadth in the presence of long or short term signals. The female parent ripple in a ripple transform employs clip compaction or dilation instead than frequence transition as might be used in Fourier analysis. Besides it may be possible to choose the female parent ripple to fit the expected response- there by contracting ripple spectrum as compared to the frequence spectrum. Rebeiro is by and large credited with proposing ripple analysis for power system/power quality analysis. Rebeiro chief part apart from the cardinal suggestion of ripples on power technology is in the country of signal Reconstruction. Robertson, Camps, Mayer and Gish have late proposed the usage of ripples in power technology to: Capture power system transients for event recording equipment applications. Report power system perturbations Detect inchoate failure of equipment. Resolve power quality struggles. ( Hingorani )Series CompensationWhen a generator accelerates and angle ? additions /?t & A ; gt ; 0, the electric power transmitted must be increased to counterbalance for the extra mechanical input power. When the generator decelerates and angle ? decreases /?t & A ; lt ; 0, the electric power must be decreased to equilibrate the deficient mechanical input power. K = grade of series compensation = Xc/X 0 ? K ?1 Ninety is the reactance of the series capacitance. Ten is the entire reactance of the line at the cardinal power system frequence degree Fahrenheit. K = upper limit when /?t & A ; gt ; 0 K = 0 /?t & A ; lt ; 0 with maximal k the effectual line electric resistance lower limit. i.e the electromotive force across the existent line electric resistance is maximal. i.e the electric power transmitted over the line is maximal. With minimal K i.e K = 0. The effectual line electric resistance is minimal. i.e the electromotive force across the existent line electric resistance is minimal. i.e power transmitted is minimal. This means K is controlled in bang-bang operation. ( the end product of the series compensator is varied between the lower limit and upper limit ) This type of control is the most effectual for muffling big oscillations. Sustained oscillation below the cardinal system frequence can be caused by series capacitive compensation. It is called sub synchronal resonance ( SSR ) . Degree of series compensation is in the scope of 25 to 75 % . A capacitance in series with the entire circuit induction of the transmittal line ( including the appropriate generator and transformer escape induction ) forms a series resonant circuit with natural frequence fc = 1/2?vLC = fv Xc/X. If the electric circuit is brought into oscillation ( by some web perturbation ) so the bomber harmonic constituent of the line current consequences in a corresponding bomber harmonic field in the machine which as it rotates backwards comparative to the magnetic field produces an jumping torsion on the rotor at the difference frequence of f – iron. if this difference frequence coincides with one of the torsional resonance of the turbine generator set, mechanical torsional oscillation is excited, which in bend farther excites the electrical resonance. This status is defined as bomber synchronal resonance. Large generators with multi phase steam turbines which have multiple torsional manners with frequences below the power frequence are most susceptible to stand in synchronal resonance with series capacitance compensated transmittal lines. The series compensator is chiefly applied to work out power flow jobs. Fixed or controlled series capacitive compensation can besides be used to minimise to stop electromotive force fluctuation of radial lines and prevent electromotive force prostration. Series compensation is used to command to antagonize prevalent machine swings important transeunt stableness betterment for station mistake systems Highly effectual in power oscillation damping. However the operating and public presentation features of the two types of series compensator are well different.Approachs to governable series compensationTwo basic attacks: Thyristor switched capacitances and thyristor controlled reactors to recognize a variable reactive entree. Switch overing power convertor to recognize a governable synchronal electromotive force beginning. The series compensator is a reciprocal of the shunt compensator. The shunt compensator is functionally a controlled reactive current beginning which is connected in analogue with the transmittal line to command its electromotive force. The series compensator is functionally a controlled electromotive force beginning which is connected in series with the transmittal line to command its current. The map of the series capacitance is merely to bring forth an appropriate electromotive force at the cardinal Ac system frequence in quadrature with the transmittal line current in order to increase the electromotive force across the inductive line electric resistance and thereby increase the line current and the familial power. By doing the end product electromotive force of the synchronal electromotive force beginning a map of line current the same compensation as provided by the series capacitance is accomplished. However in contrast to the existent series capacitance the SVS is able to keep a changeless compensating electromotive force in the presence of variable line current or controlled the amplitude of the injected compensating electromotive force independent of the amplitude of the line current. The series reactive compensation strategy utilizing a exchanging power convertor ( voltage beginning convertor ) as a synchronal electromotive force beginning to bring forth a governable electromotive force in quadrature with the line current as per IEEE and CIGRE definition termed the Static Synchronous Series Compensator ( SSSC ) . The SSSC can diminish every bit good as addition power flow to the same grade merely by change by reversaling the mutual opposition of the injected Ac electromotive force. The rearward electromotive force adds straight to the reactive electromotive force bead of the line as if the reactive line electric resistance was increased. If the injected electromotive force is made larger than the electromotive force impressed across the unsalaried line by the sending and having terminal systems that is if Vq & A ; gt ; |Vs -Vr| so the power flow will change by reversal with the line current I = ( Vq & A ; gt ; |Vs -Vr| ) /Xc The SSSC can supply capacitive or inductive compensating electromotive force independent of the line current up to its specified current evaluation. The VA evaluation of the SSSC ( solid province convertor and matching transformer ) is merely the merchandise of the maximal line current ( at which compensation is still desired ) and the maximal series counterbalancing electromotive force. VA = Imax * Vmax. The control scope is uninterrupted from -1.0 p.u ( capacitive ) to +1.0 p.u ( inductive ) volt-amperes. In many practical applications merely capacitive series line compensation is required. One of import application is the coincident compensation of both the reactive and resistive constituents of the series line electric resistance in order to maintain the X/R ratio is high. At transmittal electromotive force degrees of 115,230 and even 340KV where the X/R ratio is normally low ( in the scope of normally 3 to 10 ) , a high grade of series capacitive compensation could farther cut down the effectual reactive to resistive line electric resistance ratio to such low values at which the increasingly increasing power demand of the line and associated line losingss and possible electromotive force depression would get down to restrict the catching active power. The SSSC with an appropriate District of Columbia power supply ( which could be powered from an accessible coach or from the Tertiary of handily located transformer ) would be able to shoot in add-on to the reactive compensating electromotive force, a constituent of electromotive force in anti-phase with that developed across the line opposition to antagonize the consequence of the opposition electromotive force bead on the power transmittal. In this manner by supplying coincident and independently governable compensation of both the reactive and existent electric resistance of the line in consequence an ideal reactive line can be created for maximal power transmittal. The line losingss I2R is still be dissipated by the physical line. However this debauched power would be replenished by the SSSC from the subsidiary power supply. The existent power compensation capableness could besides be used efficaciously in minimising loop power flows by equilibrating both the existent and reactive power flows of parallel lines. From the point of dynamic system stableness reactive line compensation combined with coincident active power exchange can besides heighten power oscillation damping. During the period of angular acceleration, the SSSC with suited energy storage can use maximal capacitive line compensation to increase the familial active power and at the same time absorb active power to supply the consequence of a muffling resistance in series with the line. During the period of angular slowing, the SSSC can put to death opposite compensating actions, that is, apply maximal inductive compensation to diminish the familial active power and at the same time supply the consequence of negative opposition ( i.e. a generator ) to provide extra active power for the line ( negative damping ) . In practical SSSC the electromotive force sourced convertor on the dc side is terminated by a finite ( and comparatively little ) energy storage capacitance to keep the coveted District of Columbia runing electromotive force. ( Remember that this District of Columbia capacitance is kept changed by the energy absorbed from the system by the convertor itself ) therefore the District of Columbia capacitance in consequence interacts with the Ac system via operating switch ( valve ) array of the convertor. This interaction may conceivably act upon the bomber synchronal behavior of a practical SSSC. The SSSC is based on the synchronal electromotive force beginning construct which is implemented by a electromotive force beginning convertor. WAVELETS ( A18 ) Ripples theory is the mathematical associated with constructing a theoretical account for a non-stationary signal, with a set of constituents that are little moving ridges, called ripples. ( A16 ) in the procedure of ripple transform the signal is non in footings of a trigonometric multinomial, but by ripple generated utilizing the interlingual rendition ( switch in clip ) and dilation ( compressed in clip ) of a fixed ripple map called the female parent ripple.

Thermal Storage Systems Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Thermal Storage Systems - Research Paper Example A basic thermal storage system â€Å"cools a storage medium then saves the stored cool medium to be reused at another time.† (Washington State University) What is meant by defining thermal storage systems is simply that energy is stored and then used at a later time. The storing of this energy allows the user to save. The energy that was saved is not wasted and can be used when needed. Many traditional heating and cooling systems waste too much energy. That is why thermal storage systems are so convenient. What would normally be wasted is saved and used for later. The main way that a thermal storage system can be used is by allowing energy to be stored and saved for later. A residential installation of thermal energy storage systems can help cool a house. A home can store energy in the thermal energy storage system at night when it is cool, and then distribute the stored energy during the day when it is most needed. This is a money saving way to cool a home. This same process will also apply to small commercial businesses. The system can be modified to fit existing systems but the system will require an area to be used to store energy. This storage area can be located in a crawl space, basement or a large enough utility room. Using thermal energy storage systems for air conditioning is complex in a way but easy to operate.

Access to Insurance Versus Access to Care Research Paper

Access to Insurance Versus Access to Care - Research Paper Example They have limited access to health care compared to legal immigrants and native citizens. Overtime, undocumented immigrants are restricted from accessing Medicare and obtaining Medicaid, which are the main insurance programs. Fear of deportation, job restrictions and language barriers are the vital factors limiting undocumented immigrants to accessing health care (Bond & Bond, 1994). In order to provide unlimited health care to United States citizens, there should be an amendment on health care system policies. Policies for improvement include universal health care, increasing competition and accountability in health care, and making health care system accessible and affordable. Implementing these policies would ensure that all inhabitants of United States access affordable health care. Policy makers should implement a single health insurance system policy for realization of health care accessibility. In this policy, all citizens are entitled to medical care in spite of age, job or race according to Medicare system. In addition, the government should design strategies of providing medical insurance and not just delivering health care to strengthen Medicare policy. Furthermore, implemented policies should encourage non-profit and private health care resource providers. Implementation of health and Medicare policies would ensure accessibility to quality and affordable care to all citizens irrespective of income or employment status. Though there is availability of health care access, high prices of insurance policies hinder it. To enhance affordability and access of health care, provision of medical care should be through auto insurance system. An auto insurance system would widen choice for insurance cover and lessen government bureaucracy in health care sector. Increasing choice of health care would present different health care choices for citizens. Besides, competition amongst health care providers would increase which will consequently decrease

Slavery Comes to the American Colonies From 1492-1750 Essay

Slavery Comes to the American Colonies From 1492-1750 - Essay Example Development in the South American colonies and the West Indies were retarded due to the control and dominance by the Spaniards. There was also a drift towards an economy based on agriculture. These two factors contributed to the development of slave-holding societies in the American colonies. In the initial stages local natives were use in the development of commercial agriculture, but the local natives were not able to withstand the heavy workload they were expected to perform and withered away. The decimation of the local communities had the benefit of providing even more land for commercial agricultural production. The lack of local natives for slave labor and the added land available for agricultural production cause the induction of the hardy African Negroes into these lands, as slaves to work on commercial agricultural production sites. (Hinton, K.V., 2005). The use of African Negroes as slaves in the American colony started when King Charles V of Spain granted a license for bringing four thousand African Negroes into the West Indies as slaves. From then on the American colonies were to witness the growth of slavery. The English involvement in trade and use of slaves started in 1562, and subsequent to the revolution in 1688 trading and use by the British was to flourish. With the royalty involved in the slave trade its growth was only enhanced. An English company was formed in 1713 with Queen Anne of England holding a quarter share, and King Philip V of Spain another quarter. This company was given the privilege of supplying 144,000 Negro slaves to the Spanish American colonies for a period of thirty years, and is an indication of the growth in slave trade and the use of slaves in the American colonies. The spread of the use of Negro slaves into the United States of America was a natural extension of the wide use

Healthy Baltimore 2015 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Healthy Baltimore 2015 - Research Paper Example The city was also referred to as a major production center. After a decrease in production, Baltimore moved to a service related economy. The different hospitals used to working as the citys main two managers (Regan, 36). At 621,342 at the beginning of July 1, 2012, the number of inhabitants in Baltimore expanded by 1,100 occupants over the past year. The Baltimore Metropolitan Area has become relentlessly to nearly 2.7 million inhabitants in 2010. The city was alluded to as the twentieth biggest nation in the globe. Baltimore is also a primary city in the bigger Baltimore–Washington metropolitan territory of nearly 8.4 million inhabitants. With many recognized regions, Baltimore has been named "the city of neighborhoods." It is also nicknamed as Charm City. The abilities of authors Edgar Allan Poe and H.L. Mencken, musical artist James "Eubie" Blake, and vocalist Billie Holiday, and the citys part in the post-War and Scott Keys composition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" have all impacted the citys historical vitality. Baltimore is in the north of the Patapsco River. This is near to where it purges into the Chesapeake Bay. This river isolates Baltimore into two levels of lower city and upper city. The citys height ranges from ocean level. As stated by the 2010 Census, the city has an aggregate territory of 92.052 square miles (238.41 km2). However, 80.944 sq mi (209.64 km2) is area and 11.108 sq mi (28.77 km2) is water. The aggregate region is 12.07 percent water. It is circumscribed by Anne Arundel County to the south. Minority health is the main problem in Baltimore city. It concentrates on the health of racial and ethnic minority or multicultural populations. It is an exceptionally critical issue in Baltimore. An alternate term used to address minority health is racial and ethnic health variations. Health differences are unfavorable or unequal differences in

Improving the Human Conditions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Improving the Human Conditions - Essay Example Any program designed for AIDS prevention must consider the stigma associated with the disease and with homosexuality. The World Health Organization intended to provide simple local access to those needing treatment by providing clinics in areas of high leprosy incidence. However, without prior investigation, they could not know that, because of the social stigma, utilization of clinical facilities was not a matter of simple distance or lack of transportation (Campbell, 2003). The virus usually enters the host in fluids (blood or semen) or within infected cells. The persistent infection that results remains intact in spite of an immune response whose products coexist with the virus. All the experiences with smallpox, yellow fever, measles, and poliomyelitis vaccines have focused on using an attenuated virus that could replicate in the host initially, would not harm the host, yet would provide enough stimulus for the host's immune system to combat and clear the viral infection. This experience has been useless for HIV. For reasons that are not yet clear but may reflect the victim's high level of viral load and unique properties of the virus, both the humoral (antibody) and cellular (CTL) arms of the immune system respond vigorously to HIV throughout the course of infection, yet some of the viruses remain in place (Campbell, 2003). This situation is in stark contrast with viruses that cause an acute infection in which, if the infected individual survives, t he immune response has cleansed viruses from all tissues. In this instance, viruses and the immuneresponse components coexist for but a short time (days), before either the virus or the immune response wins out. With HIV infection, both the virus and the immune response coexist but the duration can be years long -- until the patient dies (Fieldhouse, 2005). As the plague of AIDS continues and expands throughout the world, there is neither effective therapy for its permanent treatment and abatement nor is there a vaccine for its prevention. Treatment with the drug azidothymidine (Zidovudine) (AZT) or its counterparts, although effective in some instances, has at best worked only for the short term, presumably because of the rapid mutation rate of the virus and its ability to escape the drug's effects. The development of new drugs such as the HIV protease inhibitors offers the hope that combination drug treatment will remove the virus before HIV mutates and the virus escapes therapy. Whether HIV can be eradicated from an infected person and a case of AIDS cured is unknown. However, even with present combination therapy, nearly a quarter of treated individuals are not helped. The lack of a vaccine after years of research reflects how little is known about immunizing patients to protect them from an infectious agent that persists. A progres sion of events led to the concept that a virus could cause cancer (Fieldhouse, 2005). At first, HIV infection sets off a cascade of events that disseminates the virus to multiple lymphoid tissues. The immune response generated against HIV effectively lowers the host's viral load but does not remove all of it. The remaining viruses hide and cause a low-grade persistent infection. As the

The Second World War and the United States Involvement Article

The Second World War and the United States Involvement - Article Example However, the events that followed put the country's interests at stake on several quarters. In Europe, Germany's expansion plan threatened the power balance in the region. Japan was on a similar track in Asia and this directly affected the United States' interests. When Great Britain and France declared war against Germany in 1939, the United States felt compelled to supply arms to these allies as a step to contain Germany's advancement in the western hemisphere: Hitler's empire was now larger than Napoleon's, and his power was absolute. On land he was strong enough to launch offensives in four directions simultaneously; at sea, his three hundred U-boats were strangling Britain's lifelines. Only the consecration of embattled Britain stood between him and absolute mastery of Europe- unless the United States intervened. (Manchester, 219.) The turning point that brought about the active involvement of the United States in the War was the attack of Pearl Harbor by Japan. For several years, the United States and Japan had been on a collision course over issues related to Asia. On 7 December 1941, Japanese forces struck at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The unexpected strike caused the loss of many lives and severe damage to the air force and naval systems based there. The attack brought about a decisive turn in the mindset of Americans about the role of the US in the war. "Now the country was united as it had never been. The sneak attack, the presence of two Japanese ambassadors in Washington pretending to negotiate peace, and an old distrust of what some still called the Yellow Peril combined to transform the war into a crusade against treacherous Orientals."(Manchester, 257) Soon after the United States launched an offensive against Japan, Germany and Italy joined on the side of Japan and declared war against the United States. The war in Europe was over on 7 May 1945 when Germany surrendered. Japan was crushed stage by stage under the leadership of General MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz. The final blow came with the dropping of nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 8 August 1945 respectively. The war prompted the country to consider forming a body of nations to protect the peace of the world. The United Nations was formed in 1945, with the United States, Soviet Union, Great Britain, China, and France as the permanent members of the Security Council.

Importance of religion in Persepolis Research Paper

Importance of religion in Persepolis - Research Paper Example The book gives an account of the religious rule in Iran with great sensitivity. ‘Persepolis’ is an autobiographical account of the author, Marjane Satrapi who had witnessed the transition of Iran from the monarchy to the religiously fanatic state under Khomeini. The book is written in two sequels. While the first part gives detailed account of social and religious changes, the second part gives account of her disillusionment with her country in the post revolution time, when she comes back from Europe to pursue higher studies in Iran. The book is unique in its understanding of the Islamic religion as seen through the eyes of a child and succinctly conveys the horror and fears of common man. Persepolis is distinct in its pictorial depiction and textual content that accurately capture religious fanaticism and how it impacts common men and their dreams. The paper would discuss the role and importance of religion in Persepolis and defines various characters and how people in teract with each other under new regime, headed by the religious leaders, Khomeini. The author has sensitively portrayed the changing socio-religious paradigms of Islamic revolution in Iran through graphics which she had drawn herself. The early childhood of the author was spent in modern society which enjoyed the amenities and lived in a free society that was not constrained by religious dictums or fanatic religious guidelines that suppressed the voice of women.

Writing for business purposes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Writing for business purposes - Essay Example Essentially, a corporate sales brochure is a marketing device that can also serve as a communication strategy in which it helps an organization to sell itself as a brand to its customer base or to their stakeholders within the business. On the other hand, an annual report is a business communication tool that provides a company’s comprehensive report on the activities undertaken in a just concluded financial year. Its target audience includes shareholders and other interested parties where the operations of a company are of concern to them, especially in terms of financial performance and activities undertaken by the company. With this, this essay will analyse the corporate sales brochure of Chelseafc.com and the annual report of Marks and Spencer both as forms of business communication tools. Within the English football league, Chelsea Football Club is a club whose year of founding was 1905 and its operational base is in Fulham in London. Chelsea’s home is Stamford Bridge whose seating capacity is 41, 837 and the club’s owner is Sir Roman Abramovich and managed by Jose Mourinho. As at 2013, the club was number seven in the most valuable team listed in the world with an estimated value of nine hundred and one million dollars, which was an 18% increase from 2012. In analysing its corporate sales brochure mounted on its website, the intention of this is to educate those that seek information from the site with up to date information about the football club through giving product specifications on the online platform. They include promotional information of the ongoing sale of merchandise and also information on the matches the team is to play as the current fixture. Other than this, the online brochure also helps to influence client loyalty in that it provides an online chat avenue in which those accessing the site can give feedback on various issues concerning the club’s performance. Ideally, using such an

A Manifesto for Sustainable Design Essay Example for Free

A Manifesto for Sustainable Design Essay This manifesto proposes an approach to sustainable design that I am interested in exploring during my time studying architecture. The idea of sustainability is a complex one, not without apparent contradictions. This makes it difficult to define in a wholly satisfactory manner. For the purposes of this manifesto I will advert to the definition proposed by Jason McLennan who asserts that sustainable design: â€Å"seeks to maximize the quality of the built environment, while minimizing or eliminating negative impact to the natural environment. † I find this definition particularly useful in the emphasis which it places on quality. By quality, in this context, I mean an approach to building which emphasises not only thoughtful design but also the careful use of materials; these considerations are crucial to achieve sustainable development. â€Å"Quality† as the architect Thomas Sandell says â€Å"is always sustainable†: this holds particularly true if we return to the most basic meaning of that adjective – â€Å"long lasting.† My manifesto would involve seven basic considerations: a structure should be layered, generous, contextual, connected to nature, innovative, stimulating and idealistic. I propose to examine each of these points in turn, aware that they can be generally grouped under the heading of sensitivity. As I see it, a sensitive approach to architecture is one that fundamentally responds to the issues of site, user and impact, while not excluding other concerns – and all this in a way that is considered, thoughtful and restrained. These, then, are the fundamentals of my approach to design. 1. Layered According to T.S Eliot, â€Å"Genuine poetry communicates before it is understood†: I believe the same holds true for genuine architecture. It affects us at a pre-conscious level and its impact transcends the immediate, sensory, effects of the building. As I see it, architecture is not a matter of superficial effects. Its must transcend that which is little more than eye-catching gimmickry. A good example of what I would consider a layered design is Erik Gunnar Asplund’s Woodland Chapel built in 1922 (Fig. 1). Located on the grounds of the Woodland Crematorium in Enskede outside Stockholm, it was built to accommodate the funerals of children. At first, the chapel seems unremarkable in its elemental simplicity – as Simon Unwin puts it â€Å"without pretentions to being anything more than a rudimentary hut in the woods.† However, in quiet and richly suggestive ways, Asplund imbues this seemingly uncomplicated building with a poetic sense of an ancient and timeless place for burial. As J.R Curtis puts it, this apparently simple chapel was: â€Å"guided by underlying mythical themes to do with the transition from life to death, the procession of burial and redemption and the transubstantiation of natural elements such as water and light. There were echoes too of Nordic burial mounds and of Christ’s route to Calvary.† Fig. 1 Erik Gunnar Asplund, Woodland Chapel, 1922  One striking aspect can be found in Asplund’s sensitive treatment of the theme of resurrection. The idea is usually made explicit through the use of iconography; Asplund, however, evokes the notion of rebirth through his use of subtle association. The Chapel, for example, has only one source of light, which comes from above. The eye is therefore drawn upwards, to the heavens. This effect is accentuated by the pervasive darkness of the building. Like Robert Venturi, Asplund opts for â€Å"richness of meaning rather than clarity of meaning.† As a result, his Woodland Chapel has an uplifting rather than a depressing effect. His Chapel becomes an affirmation of life rather than an acceptance of defeat, and this appeals to me very much. It is no surprise to discover that Asplund himself – in a 1940 article on his crematorium building in Byggmà ¤staren – referred to the Woodland Cemetery, in which the Chapel lies, as a ‘biblical landscape’. Whatever else it is, the Bible is a book of hope. 2. Generous â€Å"Design is people† Jane Jacobs Jane Jacobs’s fundamental commitment to ordinary human beings is something I admire. Generous architecture offers an approach which puts everyday people at the forefront of the design. This is an inclusive architecture which does not limit itself only to the client and/or private users of the building.  Nobody is excluded. An example of this kind of what might be described as â€Å"generous† architecture can be found in Norwegian firm Snà ¸hetta’s Oslo Opera House on the waters of the Oslo Fjord, completed in 2007 (Fig. 2). Fig. 2 Snà ¸hetta, Oslo Opera House, 2007 Snà ¸hetta are concerned with the social dimension of architecture and this design imaginatively reinterprets the traditional opera houses that â€Å"conventionally limit their public spaces to exterior plazas or grand lobbies, often only accessible during opening hours.† What is striking here is that their Opera House succeeds in giving back to the city a public space. The sloping rooftop becomes a new public area: a recreation space and viewing platform that you can walk on, sit on, sunbathe on, even snowboard on. As a result anyone, whether interested in Opera or not, can enjoy the space. The building has been called a social democratic monument† by founding partner of Snà ¸hetta, Craig Dykers – and one can see why. In a recent television interview, Dykers went on to remark: â€Å"There is a sense of being able to place your feet onto the building that gives you a sense of ownership. At a certain point you no longer see the building as an architect’s building but as your own building† This is the kind of architecture which interests me. The fact that this building is sited in the middle of a highly populated area shows what can be done to help people live a fuller life – including those who have no focused interest in the Arts. This approach seems particularly relevant as more and more people live in cities and comes as a reminder that a city need not be a soulless, inhuman place. 3. Contextual â€Å"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan.† Eliel Saarinen Architecture is inextricably rooted to place. An awareness of context then, would seem to be a sine qua non but unfortunately this is not always the case. An understanding of the social, historical, environmental, cultural and human qualities of a place is vital to building to best effect. By  Ã¢â‚¬Å"contextual†, then, I mean an architecture that is sensitive to the history and memory of the site. This would by no means exclude an awareness of the buildings that surround it. I admire Alvar Aalto for his understanding of the importance of relating design to the most significant features of the local site: the kind of features that are, as Michael Trencher puts it, â€Å"either physically self-evident or historically and culturally relevant.† Aalto’s design for the Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, (1959-62), affords a good example of this approach (Fig. 3). Fig. 3 Alvar Aalto, Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, 1959-62 The site for this building was in the old, Neo-Classical centre of the city and Aalto sought to respond to Engel’s buildings on the harbour and to the Church on a nearby hill. Arising out of his respect for the site, the scale of Aalto’s office building derives â€Å"both its horizontal and vertical character from the nearby historical buildings, hence its symmetrical, formal faà §ade.† A more recent example of contextually sensitive design is afforded by Grafton Architect’s proposal for the new Faculty of Economics for the University of Toulouse, still under construction. While envisaging their project, the architects walked from one side of the city to the other, â€Å"gauging the character of the brick facades, the polygonal towers, the transitions from streets to courts and the underlying spatial patterns.† The resulting design offers a sensitive response to the layered history and unique geography of the site. As founding partner Shelley McNamara has put it, the building â€Å"weaves into the mesh of the city.† 4. Connected to Nature â€Å"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.† Frank Lloyd Wright By nature I mean a world predominantly uninterfered with by man. Building in a way that is sensitive to what is natural, its resources and habitats is a key issue in current debates about sustainable design. That said, it is nearly one hundred years since Frank Lloyd Wright offered architectural proposals showing how to live in harmony with the environment. He called this â€Å"an organic architecture†¦of nature, for nature.† Lloyd Wright also understood the connection between nature and  well-being: â€Å"the closer man associated himself with nature, the greater his personal, spiritual and even physical well-being grew and expanded as a direct result of that association.† It is hard not to agree wholeheartedly with Lloyd Wright’s philosophy. As I see it, Architecture must connect to the natural world—not just in terms of the use of resources or in merely avoiding the negative impact of building on the environment—but also, as importantly, in terms of what a connection to nature can offer. His design for the Kaufmann Residence at Falling Water provides an obvious example of Lloyd Wright’s respect for nature and the natural world (Fig. 4). Fig. 4: Frank Lloyd Wright, Falling Water, 1935 At Falling Water, as Neil Levine remarks: â€Å"you do not ask where the house ends and the natural environment begins.† This sensitivity is present throughout his oeuvre, so that his buildings often seem to grow out of the environment and never appear at odds with it. 5. Innovative There is often an assumption that to be truly innovative is to break away from all that went before, to create something totally new. I do not agree. As I see it, the most interesting avant-garde architecture has always been steeped in an understanding of the past. As T.S Eliot said â€Å"To be totally original is to be totally bad.† Just as every human being comes from parents, so every new idea owes something to what has gone before. While not rejecting the achievements of the past, Le Corbusier understood that new challenges require innovative thinking. He proposed radical ideas to enrich modern living, â€Å"from private villas to large scale social housing to utopian urban plans.† Yet his inexhaustible inventiveness, â€Å"that heretical habit, driving-force of all his artistic desires† was always rooted in an understanding of what had gone before. His 1955 design for the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, in Ronchamp, (Fig. 5) provides a good example, though it marked a profound change in direction from his earlier works and a move away from standardization and the machine aesthetic adverted to in Towards a New Architecture. J.R Curtis even suggests that â€Å"a nostalgia for the giant ruins of antiquity† began increasingly to show itself in Le Corbusier’s  imaginatively forward thinking work. Fig. 5 Le Corbusier, Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, 1955 In a manner similar to the approach of Asplund for his Woodland Chapel, Le Corbusier sought to evoke religious emotions through the play of space, light and form rather than relying on traditional iconography. In my opinion, what particularly makes the building exciting is its mixture of old and new, its daringly original design linking with an organic awareness of past forms. Curtis suggests a synthesis of influences: from Hadrian’s Villa to the mud buildings from the Mzab in Algeria, to Dolmens and Cycladic buildings, to the Parthenon itself. Out of an awareness of these sources, Le Corbusier manages to invent a new vocabulary. Other examples of this syncretism mixed with an innovative approach can be found in his designs for the Villa Madrot in Le Prdet, the Pavillon Suisse in Paris and the Duval Facory in Saint Die. The result has been described as â€Å"a wholly new formal idiom†Ã¢â‚¬â€ and one which owes its impact to the combination of the past and the wholly modern. An interesting contemporary comparison is The Sea Organ, in Zadar Croatia by Nikola BaÃ… ¡ic, built in 2005. The architect consulted master organ makers and Dalmatian stone carvers in his wish to create an experimental installation on the quayside to create a natural musical organ powered by the waves of the sea. Underneath its elegant white stone steps are 35 musically tuned tubes, through which the waves create random harmonic sounds. This kind of architecture excites me: strikingly innovative, yet sensitively grounded to the history of the site and traditions of the local people. 6. Stimulative Stimulative architecture, I would define as that which lifts the spirit, making us feel more alive. It surprises and challenges us even as it makes us appreciate more the needs it fulfils. Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s design for the Glasgow School of Art affords a good example (Fig. 6). Built in two phases from 1897-1899 and 1907-1909, the School still excites not least by its subtle playfulness. Around every corner the visitor is struck by something unexpected. Fig. 6, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow School of Art, 1899 On a closer look, a fusion of opposites emerges. Materials range widely and include leaded stained glass, exposed concrete and painted softwood. Their interplay is matched by an unexpected synthesis of light and dark, mass and plane, the old and the new, the solid and the void. As a result, the building imparts what Denys Lasdun calls â€Å"the brooding air of frozen excitement.† The fundamental stress lies in its manipulation of space. It seems to provide an example of what David Brett describes as a kind of â€Å"poetic workmanship† where structure, features, interiors and furnishings become â€Å"subject to a unifying system of forms, metaphors and unconscious associations.† 7. Idealistic This concept ranges widely and includes respect for people coupled with a hope to advance and uplift. It is the opposite of cynical or purely utilitarian. A building finally is more than something purely functional. It should have a spirit and not turn its back on artistic considerations. I would argue that idealism is the underlying principle to all the approaches of the architects above. Even if idealism is a difficult idea to define, it still has a reality and nowhere is it, and conversely the cynical, more obvious than in architecture. â€Å"The ultimate goal of architecture†, said Aalto in 1957,†¨Ã¢â‚¬Å"is to create a paradise†¦ every house, every product†¨of architecture†¦should be a fruit of our endeavour to†¨build an earthly paradise for people.† This idea appeals greatly to me and would be one of the basic impulses behind my approach to architecture. Conclusion In conclusion, the seven points of this manifesto provide an overview of some approaches to sustainable design that I am interested in exploring during my time studying architecture. These basic considerations propose a design that is layered, generous, contextual, connected to nature, innovative, stimulating and idealistic. These approaches can be loosely grouped under the idea of sensitivity, that is a respect for people, nature, site and  precedent. Examples of these considerations can be found in the work of architects, both past and present: from the timeless profundity of Asplund’s Woodland Chapel to the striking innovations of Le Corbusier and more recent examples from Grafton Architects Toulouse Economics Department and Snà ¸hetta’s Oslo Opera House. This is a manifesto for a lasting architecture. The bottom line is that sustainability is not a design aesthetic, as Robert Stern points out: â€Å"it is an ethic, a basic consideration that we have to have as architects designing buildings†¦ in 10 years were not going to talk about sustainability anymore, because its going to be built into the core processes of architecture†. List of Illustrations Fig. 1: Erik Gunnar Asplund, Woodland Chapel, 1922 (Source: http://www.fubiz.net accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 2: Snà ¸hetta, Oslo Opera House, 2007 (Source: http://www.mimoa.eu accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 3: Alvar Aalto, Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, 1959-62 (Source: http://www.fubiz.net accessed January 14, 2012) Fig. 4: Frank Lloyd Wright, Falling Water, 1935 (Source: http://www.mimoa.eu accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 5: Le Corbusier, Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, 1955 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com accessed January 20, 2012) Fig. 6: Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow School of Art, 1899 (Source: http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk accessed January 12, 2012) Bibliography Allen, Brooks H. (editor), Le Corbusier: Essays, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1987 Anderson, Jane, Architectural Design, London: Thames Hudson Press, 2011 http://www.architectural-review.com accessed November 22, 2011 http://bigthink.com accessed December 12, 2011 Blundell Jones, Peter, Gunnar Asplund, London: Phaidon, 1995. Blake, Peter, Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture and Space, London: Penguin Books, 1964 http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca accessed November 11, 2011 Brett, David, C.R Mackintosh: The Poetics of Workmanship, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992 Brooks, Bruce, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959: Building for Democracy, Hong Kong: Taschen, 2006 http://www.coldsplinters.com accessed 22 November, 2011 ‘Craig Dykers Interview’ GRITtv on youtube.com, 12 November, 2011 Curtis, William J.R, Modern Architecture Since 1900, London: Phaidon, 1996 Eliot, T. S., â€Å"Dante.† in Selected Essays New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950 Elkin, T., McLaren, D. and Hillman, M., Reviving the City: towards sustainable urban development, London: Friends of the Earth, 1991 Gill, Brendan, Many Masks: A Life of Frank Lloyd Wright, New York: Putman, 1987 http://www.graftonarchitects.ie accessed October 25, 2011 Heinz, Thomas A., The Vision of Frank Lloyd Wright. London: Chartwell Books, 2000 Hertzberger, Herman, Space and the Architect, Rotterdam: 010 Press, 2000 Hoffmann, Donald, Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater: The House and Its History, New York: Dover Publications, 1978 Honour, Hugh, A World History of Art, London: Laurence King, 2005 http://imodern.com accessed January 22, 2012 Jencks, Charles, Le Corbusier and the Continental Revolution in Architecture, New York: The Monacelli Press, 2000 Maddex, Diane, Frank Lloyd Wright: Inside and Out, London: Pavilion, 2002 Middleton, Haydn, Frank Lloyd Wright, New York: Heinemann, 2001 McLennan, Jason, The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, New York: Ecotone Publishing, 2004 Pallasmaa, Juhani, The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses, Wiley-Academy, 2005 Pearson, Paul David, Alvar Aalto and the International Style, New York: Whitney Library of Design, 1978 Quantrill, Malcolm, Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition, London: Taylor Francis, 1995 Ray, Nicholas, Alvar Aalto, London: Yale University Press. 2005 Ryan, Zoe, Open: New Designs for Public Space, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004 www.sandellsandberg.se accessed November 22, 2011 http://www.spatialagency.net/ accessed November 21, 2011 Tempel, Egon, New Finnish Architecture, New York, Washington: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968 http://www.treehugger.com accessed November 22, 2011 Trencher, Michael, The Alvar Aalto Guide, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996 Unwin, Simon, Analysing Architecture Venturi, Robert, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture New York: Museum of Modern Art Press, 1966 Wolschke-Bulmahn, Joachim, Places of Commemoration, Washington: Dumbarton Oaks, 2001 [ 1 ]. McLennan, Jason, The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, New York: Ecotone Publishing, 2004, p.5 [ 2 ]. www.sandellsandberg.se accessed November 22, 2011 [ 3 ]. Eliot, T. S., â€Å"Dante.† in Selected Essays New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950, pp. 199-237 [ 4 ]. Unwin, Simon, Analysing Architecture, p.255 [ 5 ]. Ibid. p. 256 [ 6 ]. Curtis, William J.R, Modern Architecture Since 1900, London: Phaidon, 1996, p. 113 [ 7 ]. Wolschke-Bulmahn, Joachim, Places of Commemoration, Washington: Dumbarton Oaks, 2001, p.1016 [ 8 ]. Venturi, Robert, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture New York: Museum of Modern Art Press, 1966, p.16 [ 9 ]. Johansson, pp. 59-60 [ 10 ]. http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca accessed November 11, 2011 [ 11 ]. Anderson, Jane, Architectural Design, London: Thames Hudson Press, 2011, p. 129 [ 12 ]. Ryan, Zoà «, Open: New Designs for Public Space, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004, p. 28 [ 13 ]. Ibid. p. 29 [ 14 ]. ‘Craig Dykers Interview’ GRITtv on youtube.com, 12 November, 2011 [ 15 ]. Eliel Saarinen, Time Magazine July 2, 1956 [ 16 ]. Trencher, Michael, The Alvar Aalto Guide, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996, p.34 [ 17 ]. Quantrill, Malcolm, Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition, London: Taylor Francis, 1995, p. 122 [ 18 ]. Tempel, Egon, New Finnish Architecture, New York, Washington: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968, p148 [ 19 ]. http://www.architectural-review.com accessed November 22, 2011 [ 20 ]. http://www.graftonarchitects.ie accessed October 25, 2011 [ 21 ]. Middleton, Haydn, Frank Lloyd Wright, New York: Heinemann, 2001 [ 22 ]. Brooks, Bruce, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959: Building for Democracy, Hong Kong: Taschen, 2006 p. 12 [ 23 ]. Ibid. p.

Effect of Technology Development on Entertainment

Effect of Technology Development on Entertainment Table of Contents (Jump to) Introduction Delivering superior content Enhancing user experiences Platform mobility Conclusion References Introduction Over the years, the advancement of the digital technology has created a revolution in TV. Nielsen’s 2012 report stated that the number of homes with high definition TV grew in the US by more than 8 million (Nielsen 2011). This suggested that TV continues to be the dominant platform media for many households. Watching live or time-shifted TV programmes or games connected online via Internet are now using more of this conduit to deliver their contents to the many TV users. The continuous development and advancement in the digital technology continue to make a tremendous impact on television, playing an important part of family lives’ by offering quality entertainment and increasing the way of family bonding. They are achieved through delivering superior content, enhancing the user experiences’ in watching TV and offer excellent platform mobility for both network producers and users. Delivering superior content With the advancement of technologies like streaming video, high-quality video and Internet, it has offered different delivery platforms to deliver TV programs and dramas. However, the real focus remains on the content. In Kelly Scott Madison’s State of media report, it reiterated that â€Å"content is and always will remain, king† (Madison 2013). With quality programming content like ‘Who is HBO’s Girls for?’ (Smith 2012) that shows about different women and their lives, the show has differentiated itself from other media programming content. The show not only caters to mostly female audience demographics where most females are at home watching TV; the audience are able to relate their lives to the series show and this creates the ‘stickiness’ to the television drama series because of its content. This is similar to other shows like â€Å"Sex and the City†. Subscription TV penetration of TV households in Australia is increasing over the years. It is forecasted to increase from 30% in 2008 to 35% in 2017 (Maurer, Emmanuel Parker 2013). Through subscription TV, it provides different content and choices to the viewers like sport, movies, cartoons, variety shows. It also allows, through digital set-top boxes, the viewers can record and view the program as and when he prefers. This is not available in the traditional broadcast TV when the viewers have to watch a show through a fixed schedule. The regulatory environment for free-to-air television in Australia continues to change. In 2012, the Convergence Review highlighted the need for diversity in media and more Australian content (ABC News 2012). With digital and primary channels, it allows broadcasters the flexibility to provide more Australian content. (Cosgrove, Schaffer Horlin 2013) Through digital technologies, viewers can watch ‘live’ broadcast shows like Formula-1 racing, AFL, English Premier League or Australian Open Tennis. In most networks, it also allows viewers to have video-on-demand in which the viewer can select the movies at their own convenience. Viewers can also use time-shifting features in their set-top to skip the advertisements if they would like to. Thus, with superior content and rapid advancement in technology, TV providers and networks can create more value to the TV consumers (Maurer, Emmanuel Parker 2013). Consumers will now spend more hours watching TV and be willing to spend more money in subscription or video-on-demand fees. Enhancing user experiences TV has advanced tremendously in recent years because of digital technologies advancement. From traditional black and white or colour TV, it now has features like high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), Dolby surround effects to 3D technology offering real-life effects to viewers. In addition, in the digital era, TV has provided more connectivity with other devices such as Nintendo wii or Xbox 360 game machine, Internet access for online games, music and many more. Many of these devices provide multi-user games that allow family members to enjoy playing the games in the living room together. Imagine the effects on family bonding when parents and their children can enjoy a game of tennis for several hours in front of the television in the living room. Through technologies, TV has created a ‘cocooning impulse’ (Tryon 2012, p. 291) that unite families and brings them together (Cosgrove, Schaffer Horlin 2013), creating bonding and harmony in the family. User experiences are also enhanced through the superior content delivery through digital technologies. Movies are more readily available in household TV through Pay TV or Subscription TV options. TV drama series like ‘Serangoon’ made by Australian TV or Lena Dunham’s ‘Girls’ are some examples where these sitcoms series which are made for television (Mundell 2013) have created a ‘glueing’ effects on user experiences to the TV. Technologies like video-on-demand and built-in program recorders of TV show allows time-shifting, thus watching TV becomes a ‘pleasure and a treat’ for housewives (Venkatraman 2013). Statistics have also shown that users are now more than doubled spending time watching time-shifted TV using their DVR (digital video recorder) (Madison 2012). Interactive TV also allows viewers to interact with other viewers through polls, chats, online shopping or voting. 3D technology in TV has now experienced a worldwide resurgence together with high definition video capability and superior sound quality standards. It also brought about a drastic change in television viewing, creating vibrant three dimension and captivating real life effects on the viewers. This has created a ‘3D revolution’ (Uniyal 2012) in the user experiences watching TV at home and not only in cinemas. Technological innovations in 3D technology for TV offer a more interactive television user experience through captivating user interfaces like 3D animations or real-time interaction with online apps like Facebook and Twitter (Connected Media World 2013). Platform mobility Traditional scheduled television broadcasts and viewing through receive-only television sets have been increasingly supplanted by digital technologies offering viewer engagement and convenience through video-on-demand, viewing of television programs across a multitude of devices such as smart mobile phones, Apple iPad tablets, Smart Internet-Ready Television, and sophisticated digital set-top boxes provided by cable and internet television operators. As pointed out by Sterne, people can spend many hours of their time watching specific programs using their mobile devices and still not realizing and thinking of themselves ‘as watching television’ (Sterne 2012). Tyron defines â€Å"platform mobility† as the â€Å"idea that films and television shows can move seamlessly from one device to another with minimal interruption† (Tyron 2012). He also noted that digital delivery technologies allowed workers and families with hectic schedules, the ability to watch television programs ‘wherever and whenever they would like’ (Tyron 2012). This provides them the individual and personalized experiences that cater to their own tastes and needs, enhancing the overall compelling user viewing experiences. Tyron (2012) further argues that the viewer empowerment through digital technologies has an overarching impact on viewer engagement as more mobile devices like iPad tablets, laptops and smartphones can provide the platform mobility to the users. Members of the family can watch different or same television program in different places within the house. This also empowered individual viewer to access to a wide range of choice selection like viewing on-demand movies on personal mobile device, online chat using social media applications such as Twitter and Facebook or speaking with their friends on their mobile phones while watching a sport game. Platform mobility also allows producers like Warner to sell their films through this mode of digital delivery to viewers who can purchase them via iPhone apps. Viewers can choose to view their favorite movies as and when they would like, in the living room or on a bus. Thus it can be said that the resurgence of TV as a home for â€Å"quality† entertainment can be partly attributed to demand spawned by viewers’ mobile and digital era lifestyles, and their desire to be an engaged viewer instead of being a passive one. Conclusion In conclusion, it is apparent that digital technologies will continue to remain a dominant force in the television industry as a home for ‘quality’ entertainment. TV network services providers continue to capitalize on the advancement of the digital technologies so as to explore and offer more innovative and value-add services to TV subscribers. Advancement in the Internet or other media delivery channels like satellite, broadcast via cable, allows service providers to increase their revenue streams by offering more superior content and options and enhancing user experiences by making use of newer technology like 3D. Platform mobility remains the focus of the future research in the digital technologies in the TV industry. This is because of the ever changing lifestyles and demanding needs of the younger generation for more contents and mobility. Hence, we will not see the demise of the television but rather a revolution that television plays an important part in the home for quality entertainment, through the digital technologies; and it continues to provide intrinsic value in family bonding. References ABC News 2012, ‘Government releases convergence review’, viewed 7 June 2014, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-30/govt-releases-convergence-review/3980316>. Cosgrove, C, Schaffer, B Horlin, S 2013, ‘Free-to-air television’, PWC Outlook: Australian Entertainment Media, viewed 7 June 2014, https://outlook2013.ezimerchant.com/category31_1.htm>. Connected Media World 2013, ‘The evolution of the TV User Experience’, viewed 7 June 2014, http://www.connectedmediaworld.com/NewsArticle.aspx?ArticleID=c73b0e36-43ca-4a84-93be-835f4bfe222e>. Madison, K.S 2012, ‘2012 State of media’, Chicago: KSCMedia Madison, K.S 2013, ‘2013 State of media’, Chicago: KSCMedia Maurer, D, Emmanuel, R Parker, A 2013, ‘Subscription television’, PWC Outlook: Australian Entertainment Media, viewed 7 June 2014, https://outlook2013.ezimerchant.com/category38_1.htm>. Mundell, I 2013, ‘Smallscreen fare makes a big splash’, Variety, viewed 2 June 2014, http://variety.com/2013/film/news/smallscreen-fare-makes-a-big-splash-1118064535/>. Nielsen 2011, ‘The cross-platform report’, State of The Media, pp. 2-10. Smith, S.E. 2012, ‘Who is HBO’s Girls for?’, Global Comment, viewed 7 June 2014, http://globalcomment.com/who-is-hbos-girls-for/#>. Sterne, J 2012, ‘Formatted to fit your screen’, FlowTV, vol. 15, no. 5, http://flowtv.org/2012/01/formatted-to-fit-your-screen/>. Tyron, C 2012, ‘’Make any room your TV room’: digital delivery and media mobility’, Autumn, 53(3), pp. 286-300. Uniyal, D 2012, ‘3D Technology: Shaping the future of entertainment’, Journal of Mass Communication, 10(1), pp. 50-55. Venkatraman, M 2013, ‘Consuming digital technologies and making home’, Journal of Business Research, Issue 66, p. 2 1

Networked Game Issues

Networked Game Issues Network Issues and how they affect gameplay and interactivity A network is when two or more computers have a digital connection between them, particular in networked multiplayer games the players are physically separated from each other. Networks allow users clients to communicate by sending bits of data through the internet of the form of packets, these will then build on top of the internet protocol, and this in terms means that if a packet sent using UDP or TCP a specific IP address then receives the packet. (Armitage, Claypool and Branch, 2006) Unlike networking in this day and age games such as Doom was played through a LAN connection (Local Area Network) which at the time used an IPX protocol. An IPX protocol doesnt require a constant connection between the exchanges of packets.[o1] Appendix [a1] displays the required layers of hardware and software that Doom required to be run across a network. The Topologies that Doom used for LAN connection, the figure on left in appendix [a2] is an Ethernet connection that has computers connected to it acting as peers and the figure on the right also in appendix [a2] is similar to the left figure. All players received a message every 35th of a second that recorded all the players inputs across peer-to-peer network. (Armitage, Claypool and Branch, 2006) Packets are carried all over the internet using networks(Armitage, Claypool and Branch, 2006), the time it takes to send a packet of data from a source to its destination is latency, as standard latency will below 150ms (milliseconds) and wont go above 150ms. A packet must then travel back to the source which results in a round trip time which can take twice as long as the latency i.e. 50ms latency 100ms round trip time. The game world of warcraft consists of two latencies a home and a world latency, home is the connection to the realm server which can include in game chat data, world refers to the world of warcraft servers this in term transmit all other data i.e. combat, nearby players (even if they are not on a users screen and NPCs. The latency will increase greatly when visiting highly populated areas because so much data is being transmitted. In online games there are many common issues that will cause high ping and latency these could involve wireless issues, packet loss, down load speed, firewalls, routers that arent configured correctly i.e. closed ports, QoS and Traffic management where packet queuing is being performed and net link saturation (an issue caused by a users ISP that causes connection issues between a users client and a game server). Congestion is usually the main source of packet jitter, depending if the network has been provisioned correctly congestion can occur at the router interface, in a provider or a carrier network. A User has access to the router, therefore it is the easiest and best place to start in determining jitter at the router end; to track down the source of the jitter depends entirely on the encapsulation.[o2] (Ankit, 2012)Latency in online multiplayer games can change due to jitter where different paths are chosen constantly during streams of traffic. While online gaming a high speed internet connection is recommended to avoid jitter preferably using an Ethernet cable to reduce latency because it is almost immune to interference. Packet Loss usually has four main causes that will occur these are congestion, device performance, software issues on a device, faulty hardware[o3]; the first one being link congestion is when a users data needs to be transferred across many devices and links, a link can be at full capacity when the data arrives at must wait before being sent also called queuing. A network device may start to discard information when it doesnt have enough room for data to queue, information being discarded will most likely never be noticed by the user, many applications can easily discard information and still easily handle data queuing. A users router may not be able to keep up with the traffic that is being transferred; this could be due to a switch, firewall or closed ports. Opening ports on a router allows a networked device connected to the router accessible from outside of the local network i.e. other computers and network devices, this benefits gaming greatly where other players can send and receive data with hardly any interference, usually if a port is closed for a certain game a users gaming experience will suffer. Apparently a routers firmware can cause packet loss during gaming according to Netgear community forum, a user was experiencing severe packet loss across many games and after trying altering game settings, router settings and calling his ISP provider multiple times ended up calling Netgear where they recommended using an older firmware on his router and solved his packet loss problem. [o4] Software on a networked device can cause packet loss if the software hasnt been configured correctly, these bugs can usually be found using a system log or troubleshooting. While software can cause issues so can faulty hardware and cabling resulting in more packet loss, Bandwidth is measured in bits per second, modern day network devices can possibly support up to billions of bits worth of data rates. Slow internet connection is a common cause of low bandwidth, this can be insufficient bandwidth provided by an ISP. In normal terms bandwidth is when a connection has a limited amount of data that can be transferred. Not only does a slow internet connection cause low bandwidth but there are other causes that can happen within a house hold i.e. streaming videos on demand via Netflix or any other on demand provider, downloading files from the internet or in the context of games that require numerous large updates; while these can affect the bandwidth any user that has a home security system which needs a constant stream of data i.e. security footage will also cause bandwidth issues. [5]To avoid bottlenecking for users on the same network the above issues should only be performed when network traffic is low. (Smed, Kaukoranta and Hakonen, 2002) Although t here are ways to try and prevent bandwidth issues, packet aggregations is used to combine many packets being transferred together in to one larger packet in order to reduce the bandwidth requirements. Depending on the size of the data in the original packets, the packet headers size and how many combined packets there are bandwidth savings can be substantial. The number of combined packets can be determined with two different methods timeout-based method and quorum-based method; for timeout-based method before a fixed interval all packets are originated and then become one. An upper bound interval is guaranteed due to the aggregation thanks to this method. The worst thing that can happen with this method is no bandwidth savings are achieved. A certain number of packets are always combined in the quorum method, the number is usually fixed. The transmission delay is not guaranteed because the method is postponed until enough packets have been initiated. The users experience can suffer because of the extended delays in transmission. Both methods have limitations but can each be compensated for when combined (Smed, Kaukoranta and Hakonen, 2002). Internet download speed has always been somewhat of an issue in online gaming where some players can have a slight disadvantage over others, for example Call of Duty 4 selected a Host player at the start of each match if the player had a slow connection all other players were affected except the host thus the term host advantage was given. The graph in appendix [a3] displays the average connection and average peak connection in megabits per second across the globe for 2015. From the data we can gather that Singapore has the highest peak connection speed compared to the United Kingdom is less than half of the peak connection. Singapore may have the highest peak connection but the average connection is dominated by South Korea, their internet connection is years ahead of most of countries some not far behind. Again in 2015 the United Kingdom has almost half the speed of South Korea thus leading us to believe that South Korea is a nation of exceptional gamers thanks to their powerful intent connection. The above graph in appendix [a4] displays the average internet connection for the UK in megabits between March 2013 and March 2016. In those 3 years we can see from the data that the connection speed has more than doubled which gives us an insight that in the next 3 years the average connection speed could double again. MMO Development Discussion and Algorithmic Techniques to Support Scalability There are several things we need to take into account when converting our game to an MMO: Scalability Performance Security The client needs to communicate with the sever using the game protocol to update the status of other clients at the same time within the virtual game environment; things updated include position, health and client name (Yoon and Ng, 2011). First we would need to create a database and link in up to the game sever so that players can register, theres no need for character creation because each client is assigned a character however they could have an avatar name. The name they enter would then need to be checked if it exists within the database using a for each loop to determine if it does then prompt the player to try a new name. Once registered, a player can login in using their credentials i.e. username and password and again that would be checked in the database using a for each loop. An overall translucent text box can be used for chat between players; this could update on the server side and be sent to all clients. A client enders a message sends it to the server and sends it back to all clients. Another thing that could be included is a friends list that would save a players username in a clients friends list only if both clients come to an agreement. We could then introduce an instant message option that would appear in a clients chat box that would be rendered a different colour from normal chat if sent from a friend. See appendix [a5] to see how the game would handle and request information that would be between client and game server. To allow scalability we need to distribute servers onto multiple physical severs, a certain number of gaming severs would be distributed onto physical servers, a gaming server would then handle many more connected players than a physical server, if too many players are on a game server the performance will decrease and render the game unplayable, performance will depend the processing power of the servers and the available bandwidth. [o5] For security we would use encryption, this is so 3rd parties cant view data, both parties are who they say they are i.e. client and server and the data hasnt been modified. We should assume that a user or an attacker can view information that has been sent to the client so the server shouldnt send information that the user should not be able to see i.e. user credentials, client shouldnt really be relied upon for security because an attacker can send pretty much any command they want to a user.[o6] The server should handle pretty much all validation and error checks etc., the client should basically just send a message that they are attacking with a certain item so the sever knows to calculate a certain dps (damage per second). Encryption will not work on someone that uses a bot or deterministic movement to send commands to the server, for example using a seeded random number generator will give the same results over and over again which can be extremely good for grinding a quest or a different seeded number generator for say combat where random attacks are used when they are available. Appendix [a1]Figure was taken from (Armitage, Claypool and Branch, 2006) paper on Networking and Online Games. [a2] Figure was taken from (Armitage, Claypool and Branch, 2006) paper on Networking and Online Games. [a3] Data taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_countries_by_Internet_connection_speedsoldid=758974262 and entered into an excel spreadsheet to produce the graph [a4] Data taken from (Jackson, 2016) and entered into a spreadsheet to produce the graph [a5] (Yoon and Ng, 2011) References [1]Armitage, G., Claypool, M. and Branch, P., 2006. Networking and online games: understanding and engineering multiplayer Internet games. John Wiley Sons [2] Jackson, M. (2016). Ofcom 2016 Report Average UK Home Broadband Speeds Reach 28.9Mbps ISPreview UK. [online] Ispreview.co.uk. Available at: http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2016/03/ofcom-2016-report-average-uk-home-broadband-speeds-reach-28-9mbps.html [Accessed 20 Mar. 2017]. [4] Smed, J., Kaukoranta, T. and Hakonen, H., 2002. A review on networking and multiplayer computer games (pp. 1-5). Turku Centre for Computer Science. [5] Packetworks.net. (2015). Low Bandwidth Means Slow Network Performance Packetworks. [online] Available at: http://www.packetworks.net/blog/low-bandwidth-means-slow-network-performance.htm [Accessed 20 Mar. 2017]. [6] Ankit. (2012). What are causes of Jitter in gaming and how to find and deal with it. [online] Available at: http://www.techulator.com/resources/6255-What-causes-Jitter-gaming-how-find-deal-with.aspx [Accessed 20 Mar. 2017]. [7] Yoon, I. and Ng, G., 2011. Developing a MMORPG game in One Semester. In The 2011 International Conference on Frontiers in Education: Computer Science and Computer Engineering. [o1]http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/IPX [o2]http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/voice/voice-quality/18902-jitter-packet-voice.html#topic3 [o3]http://www.annese.com/blog/what-causes-packet-loss [o4]https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/Packet-loss-during-gaming/td-p/1097304 [o5]http://jayurbain.com/msoe/se3250/slides/se3250-L15-MMO-game-architecture.pdf [o6]http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4307149/should-a-mmorpg-use-encryption

Discover the Intricacies of Agoraphobia Essay examples -- Mental Illne

Among the many diseases in this world, some of the most interesting and least understood are illnesses of the mind. One aliment in particular, Agoraphobia, is of particular interest to me as it affects many of my family members in ways both subtle and drastic, and I cannot help but wonder if I too will fall victim to it. I know from previous knowledge that this particular ailment is a mental one, though I have witnessed it causing drastic physical symptoms, and that it generally involves a fear of leaving home for an open, public place. Through research, I aim to find the cause of agoraphobia, including anything that predisposes one to it, and treatments for it, including both medications and therapy. I would also like to know just how much of this disease is genetic versus learned. In the end, I hope to answer my questions and discover the intricacies of agoraphobia. My research process began like any other, a thousand questions and a blind dive into the unknown. The first step I took was going to the professor recommended database, NCLive, typing in â€Å"agoraphobia,† and seeing what articles resulted from that. From there, I fine tuned the search options, blocking outdated sources and ones that were not peer reviewed, until a reasonable amount of articles remained. I found many of these articles to be useful, though I ultimately I narrowed it down to three because many sources were too narrow to answer more than one of my questions. Medical research papers and regulations were of use to me in particular, as they offered a straightforward answer in regards to what processes are involved in the treatment of agoraphobia. There were of course a few of articles that served to be counterproductive to my research, as the information... ...he assignment itself, I have learned many things about research and intend to employ such new knowledge on my next paper. I will be more aware of my tendencies, and push myself to look at longer sources and to look at all sources more thoroughly because I know this will help me to make an ultimately better research paper. Works Cited Andrew Baillie, et al. "Summary Of Guideline For The Treatment Of Panic Disorder And Agoraphobia." Australasian Psychiatry 11.1 (2003): 29-33. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. Holmes, Joshua. "Space And The Secure Base In Agoraphobia: A Qualitative Survey." Area 40.3 (2008): 375-382. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. Miller, Michael C. "What Is Agoraphobia?." Harvard Mental Health Letter 27.11 (2011): 8. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. Pistole, Linda. Personal interview. 2 March 2012.

Global Positioning System Essay -- Navigation Technology Essays

Global Positioning System Wouldn’t it be great if you could be sure that you would never be lost again? That you would know exactly where you were at all times, whether at land, air, or sea. Well, that is possible with modern technology. More specifically, that is possible with the help of GPS, the Global Positioning System. GPS is a navigational tool that has recently become extremely popular because of it wide range of uses. Whether you are a fisherman or an avid traveler, you could find some use for GPS. And with GPS becoming more and more affordable, it won’t belong until everyone is using it. The Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the US Department of Defense in hopes of providing the military with a precise form of worldwide positioning. This twelve billion dollar project resulted in the creation of 24 satellites, each with its own base station, that orbit the Earth. Using these satellites, the GPS is able to pinpoint positions accurate to the nearest meter, or sometimes even centimeter. Needless to say, this system has changed the face of modern day navigational techniques. So, how does it work? The basic concept behind understanding GPS is a technique called â€Å"triangulating.† By using this technique, we can pinpoint any place on Earth by using only three different satellites. More specifically, we would want to use our distance from these three satellites. Hypothetically speaking, say we measured our distance from one satellite to be 10,000 miles. Our position would be narrowed down to a point on the surface of a sphere, centered on the satellite, with a radius of 10,000 miles. Now, say that the next measurement is 11,000 miles from another satellite and we imagine a similar sphere.... ...ave some problems that have yet to be worked out. GPS is constantly being tweaked and improved. With innovations such as Differential GPS, this technology has a very promising outlook. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself using GPS in some form in the very near future. Works Cited How GPS Works: An Introduction: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/gpswork.txt Global Positioning system overview, Dana, Peter. H. http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/gps/gps.html 1994 GPS Tutor – Introduction, http://www.mercat.com/QUEST/Intro.htm 1998 GPS Tutor – Error, http://www.mercat.com/QUEST/Error.htm 1998 Trimble – All About GPS: www.trimble.com

How Should Guilty People Be Punished? :: essays research papers

How should guilty people be punished? Thousands of crimes are committed throughout the year; robbery, fraud, rape etc†¦ The people who commit these crimes and are caught are sent to jail. The only thing is, Every person who committed a crime had a different reason for doing it. That is why the Court exists, to judge each case differently. There should be an individual punishment for every case, because every case is different, and the â€Å"criminals† have different motives. I would like to give examples: For instance in murder cases; if a woman murdered her husband because he would beat her and the only way she could survive was by killing him, this case should be judged differently next to a case for instance a woman killing her husband because she was jealous of him. Both of these woman who committed these crimes should get jail time, because it can set an example to other woman, but the woman from the first case should get in my opinion maximum 2 years of jail time and also community service. Even thow self defense is legal it is very hard to prove. In the cases of robbery; If a man robbed a place for survival, and another man robbed a bank for money, both of these cases should be judged differently, they definitely should get a punishment, but different ones. In the cases of â€Å"first offender† and â€Å"second offender; a first time offender might have done a stupid mistake therefore the penalty should be less severe then someone who has a police record with other convictions. In the cases of â€Å"juveniles† committing crimes; i find that it all depends on the crime, because in some case the â€Å"juvenile† committed the crime because he was under a certain peer pressure, or anything that made him commit the crime against his own will. But in cases of a juvenile committing an act of murder of some sort i think he should be judged as an Adult in court and receive the punishment he deserves. A juvenile who commits the crime usually knows the difference between right and wrong, therefore should get the same punishment as an adult who committed this crime.

Compensation Consultants Essay

Compensation consultants are now becoming a popular tool to assist company in managing their compensation program and corporate governance strategies. However, there are both pros and cons in using compensation consultants. On one hand, there are some clear benefits; firstly, compensation consultants can provide expert knowledge, for example, insight and advice on trends in executive compensation, an assessment of executive compensation relative to executive performance; and insight and advice on the level and mix of pay and benefits (Conyon, 2007). Although, compensation consultants are viewed as external third parties providing solutions of optimal efficient managerial compensation contracts to align the benefits of both the employee and employer in the most fair and unbiased way. They have the ability to help the firm maximize shareholder’s value by designing compensation schemes that more closely align the interests of managers with shareholders since they can bring breadth and depth of experienced from handling similar problems and benchmarking comparable (peer group) firms especially when there is high information asymmetry between different parties. Other benefits include cost reduction in recruiting/rewarding process and efficient allocation of resources by taking the tasks away from human resource, compensation committee and shareholders who may not have the knowledge and experience in determining senior executive pay package. On the other hand, there are some drawbacks in hiring compensation consultants. Firstly, compensation consultants face potential conflicts of interest that can lead to higher recommended levels of CEO pay, including the desires to cross-sell services and to secure repeat business. Evidence shows that US CEOs receive about 18% more total compensation, and Canadian CEOs receive about 33% more, when their executive compensation consultant also provides other services to the firm (Murphy & Sandino, 2010). They are more likely to help executives by pushing for higher compensations in hope of being rewarded with more consultants services with the company as such firms that hire compensation consultants are more likely to have higher CEO compensation levels than those that have not hired a consultant (Voulgaris, et al. 2010) (Goh & Gupta, 2010). However, contrary to the study of Murphy & Sandino 2010, some scholars found that the potential conflict of interest between the firm and consultant is not a primary driver of excessive CEO pay. Their explanation is that opposing incentives to maintain consultants’ credibility or safeguards put in place by compensation committees limit actions taken with regard to cross-selling incentives (Cadman, et al. , 2010). Secondly, consultant fees can be substantial; thus, the company should weigh the costs/benefits to determine whether hiring a consultant is appropriate. Thus, in my view, compensation consultants may not be part of agency problems but rather a solution to the problem of designing an optimal executive pay contract that aligns the interests of both the employee and employer if the firm can strengthen and promote transparency in its hiring process to maximize shareholder’s values.

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 6

MichaThe pain in her eye nearly kills me. If it were possible, Id go stooge in magazine and bear her from riding horseing eat that tree that God awful dark. perhaps then, Id comfort gain my best friend.I decide to desexualise a spasmodic cave in to try and get Ella extinct of her own head. I park the political machine in an o save space in comportment of the sm altogether told(a) c rancideehouse rigid in the meat of town, between the stop n Shop and Bubbas Sports Barn. I shut false the engine and wait patiently for her to bawl fuck expose of the closet me.Her face reddens as she wagess in w present we be. Micha, Im in reality non in the mood for this the right federal agency now. I engage things to do and so does Lila. accrue on, you havent opinen me fill in ages, I coax, using my best seductive voice. Ill however do angiotensin-converting enzyme watchwordg. In and out and were d railway elevator rail autodinal.Sounds cool to me, Lila says fro m the rachisseat, fin al angiotensin-converting enzymey relaxing a pocket-sized now that were uttermost external(p) from Gradys trailer. I tell apart hearing smokestacks and antedate singers atomic number 18 eer sexy.Micha en restorations the guitar and sings by himself, Ella says with a flicker of possessiveness in her eye. Hes non a lead singer. Hes a solo singer.Its all the akin to me. Lila pats Ellas head and in a way I cipher shes fashioning a private joke with her. halo or not, a guy who locoweed sing and play is hot.I dexterous charismatically and incline e rattlingplace the console. Come on, fair girl. I wind a mountain chain of her cop or so my finger. You know you motivation to obtain in and watch me be all hot and sexy, singing up on the story. You know youve missed it.Her eye narrow at me as she fights prickle a grin. You know that voice doesnt massage on me. Ive seen you use it too dear intimately(prenominal) quantify on too some(p renominal) girls.I havent employ it on a girl since you go away wing. I let the hardlyness fall out. I utilise to come and go as I enrapture with whoever I desireed, still once things started to pitch with our friendship, it became clear the void I was hard to fill was in her. And I dont want to use it on anyone She conceals her go past over my mouth. Ill go in with you, s cable railroad carcely however if if you stop talking more(prenominal) or less pierce that makes me uncomfor duck.Wait. What to the highest degree(predicate) my car? Lila scoots forward and fixes her copper using the rearview mirror. Its acquire late. Wont the shop be closed soon?I move slightly Ellas travel by away from my lips and entwine her fingers with mine. Well make it cover charge in cadence. I promise.Ella he turn onates, unadulterated at the coffee bar equivalent shes a mouse about to walk into a lions den.I squeeze her achieve. Come on, lets go in. Youll be okay.She pu rports at our refer, and then her stargon lifts, roughhanded a fleeting glitter at my lips earlier resolving on my eyeball. Is everyone still hanging out present?Kelly and Mike do and Renee and Ethan, I say. Grantford doesnt real come round present anymore, though.Her pad lips curl to a grin. Because you punched him in the face.That cogency be part of it. I amends her smile and let go of her hand to climb out of the car. It witnesss identical I faculty be getting somew present with her.She hops out and stretches, arching her back and sticking out her chest. It makes me want to lacerate off her shirt, puff of air her in the backseat, and do things to her Ive neer done with anyone Ive pityd about onwards.What are you smell at? She pulls the bottom of her tank top back over her stomach.She real has no idea how beautiful she is. She never has. all the comparable back in her tatty/goth faze, she rocked the look.I shake my head, futile to keep my look off her. nonhing. notwith vantage pointing conceive ofin.She slams the entre and we head a grumpy the jammed position lot. I rest my hand on her lower back, however she wiggles away and sidestairs almost Lila, put blueting her between us.I frown. peradventure Im not doing as nearly as I thought.EllaIf he keeps looking at me that way, my restraint is passing game to commingle into a puddle of hot, steamy liquid. Micha has the virtually piercing look in the conception, peacock blue blue, kindred the sea, rippled with equal inten stupefyy. Hes flirty with me, which he employ to do jokingly all the time, and Id play a yearn. precisely this is different somehow, more extremityle resembling and real. Its like hes throwing his heart into the open, which isnt how he used to be. At least with me. Except for the twenty-four hours I left.The coffeehouse is cramped with people, even off for a Satur twenty-four hours afterwardnoon. ever soya bean booth and circumvent is occupied and in that respects a guy with floppy disk brown pilus playing the keyboard on stage, his voice a fiddling off-key. The baristas are working hard on the bulky line that extends all the way to the door and in the landmark, people are working on their laptops.W here(predicate) are we going to set? Lila s finishs the direction. in that locations no empty tables.Micha functions Ethan and Renee at a ecological niche table and waves at them. Seat situation solved, he says, victorious my hand and leading the way to them.Renee is a short girl that wears sullen eyeliner and has deplorable red hairs-breadth. Her hazel eye regulate in on Michas hand involved with mine. I attempt to pull my hand away, nevertheless Micha strengthens his grasp.Hey, Ella. She fakes a smile with her evil red lips. What ya been up to?Nothing much, I keep it simple, because simple is eternally remedy with Renee.And so we forgather again. Ethan flashes a dimpled grin at Lila and pulls out a electric electric moderate for her. You decided to stick around here for a plot of ground.Lila looks up at him as she puddles a seat. Thank you. I patient of of had to since my car was trashed last wickedness.Micha cast asides kinda a little in the last empty chair at the table and starts to pull me down to sit on his lap. My eyes sweep the room in search of an extra chair, scarcely its so packed that people have to stand near the walls.I dont boute, Ella May. in that location is a challenge in Michas eyes. Unless you crave me to.Everyone at the table is watching me. Not wanting to make a scene, I sink down on his lap. Ethan targets Micha with a bewildered look, which Micha ignores and steals a scone out of a basket in the middle of the table.He turn ups it into his mouth. So what times Open Mic?Ethans dark eyebrows sop in concert. wherefore? Are you dealing about playing again? Cause all I nates say is its about freakin time.What do you mean again? I ask, gr abbing a scone myself. Why hasnt he been playing?Ethan shoves up the sleeves of his shirt, crosses his ordnance store on the table, and directs Micha with their secret-code look I have never been able to crack. I revolve my body to look at Micha, but instantly regret it. His eyes are too intense and Im impel out of my element for a second.You stop playing? I ask him. Why would you do that? Isnt it your dream still?He gesticulates, snaking his gird around my waist. Its not the same without you here watching me.There were clock I didnt watch you play. I put my hands on his shoulders. Even when I lived here.He shakes his head and wisps of his blonde hair fall across his forehead. Thats not true. You never missed one.I deem back, clear-sighted hes right. I dont want you to stop backup your emotional state because Im not here anymore.And I dont want you to be anywhere but here. He squeezes my hip and I instinctively jump at the tingling awaken that spirals down between my legs .What can I get you? The waitress interrupts us. We all ascertain off what we want, and the waitress gets particularly giggly when she writes down Michas disposition, even though Im sitting on his lap.Her have-to doe with is Kenzie and Ive never liked her. She used to friend Stacy Harris torment this girl we went to naturalise with, who was in a wheelchair. I nonchalantly lean back against Michas chest, as if Im doing it by accident. No one seems to notice overlook for the waitress. And Micha. His heart beat speeds up as if the nearness of my body is driving him mad.She frowns and tucks the order book into her apron. Ill be right back with your drinks.I wait for Micha to call me out, but he stays quiet and keeps his hands on the tops of my bare thighs. I know its wrong and that hes not mine. I made that clear the day I bailed, but I cant seem to dish myself. Ever since we were kids, I always mat the need to keep him away from girls who arent skinny enough for him.Old habits die hard.MichaEthan is looking at me like Im an idiot. Probably because Im smiling like an idiot, but I cant help myself. Ella got territorial with the waitress. Shes never done that before, not even before she left.This bands interesting, Lila hollers over the banjo band playing up on stage. Is this the lovable of music you play?Ethan, Renee, and I dissever out laughing. Even Ella whirligigs her mouth, essay sincerely hard not to laugh.No sweetie, this isnt what I play. I gulp my coffee. Mines more piquant and sexy, Ella says and I stare at her. She ignores my regard and adds, Think more along the lines of pin Canvas.Lila brushes some crumbs off the table. That band youre always bear in minding to when youre studying?Ella nods, but shifts awkwardly. Thats the one.It makes me feel better that she still listens to the same music. At least that hasnt changed. I keep one hand on her leg, afraid if I release her completely, shell running play off again. I steal other scone fr om the basket and pop it into my mouth. Lila starts chatting with Ethan and Renee gets on her cell echo.I sweep Ellas hair to the side and put my lips to her ear. So you think Im hot and sexy, huh?She bites back a smile, belie to be abstrusely immersed in the banjo song. No, I said your music is hot and sexy.Its all the same. I dare a buss against her shoulder, relishing the softness of her skin, wanting her so God imprecate bad Im getting a hard on besides thinking about it.Ella notices it too and squirms around in my lap, making it worse. Down boy, she jokes with a nervous laugh, then presses her lips together and starts to stand up.I trap her down by the hips and conform her backside onto my lap. We fit together so perfectly its mind blowing and all those feelings I felt for her before she left come rushing back to me. I need more of her. promptly. Oblivious to everyone around us, my hands gradually slide up her thighs.Micha. She protests with a quiver in her voice. Dont. Th ere are peopleI sleek over her as my fingers brush the edges of her evade. I cant stop Ive been carrying this sexual tension for ages. I started having these feelings for her when we were about sixteen. I ignored them for as long as possible, because I knew shed freak if she launch out. There were a fewer stolen kisses that I played off, but the night on the bridge, when I finally put it out at that place, changed everything. She freaked out just like I thought.Right after she left, I slept around, attempt to get rid of the hunger wrong of me, but after a while, I realized there was no point. Ella had interpreted something from me and there was no getting it back, unless I had her.So I let my hands sneak up the edge of her skirt and her fingers knead into my thighs. I wonder how utmost I should take this, since were sitting in a booth in a crowded room, and I almost pull back, but one of her legs falls to the side, and I view it as an open invitation.Alright, its time for open mic. The waitress that undressed me with her eyes intercommunicates into the microphone on the stage. If you already havent write up, you can concentrate up with Phil over there. She points her finger at the possessor, a old man sitting in the corner next to the speakers.I think thats your cue. Ella cursorily gets up, thinking shes off the hook.Before I head up to the signup sheet, I bedcover my fingers across her lower back and verbalise in her ear, Dont think this is over because its not.She shivers and I strut off to the table with a satisfied smile on my face.Well, son of a bitch, Phil says from behind the table. Hes an ex-band member of an 80s cover band and still looks like he travels in that decade with his mullet and neon clothes. Look what the dog dragged in.Miss me that bad, huh? I jot down my name on the signup sheet.Are you kidding me? he asks. All weve had to listen to for the last few months is banjo music and a couple of hippies playing on the bongos. I swear its like Woodstock all over again.I laugh, carryping the pen onto the table. Well its nice to know Ive been missed, I guess.Phil fiddles with the volume of the amps. More than missed. interest enjoin me youre going to start playing here again. Im in desperate need of some draw-in. This place is going downhill.I smile politely, backing toward the table. Nah, probably not. I dont think Im going to be sticking around here much longer. Ive got places to go, people to see.On my way back to the table, I cross paths with Naomi. She is Phils daughter, tall, with long black hair, and shes an awesome singer. I used to play with her back before she went on the road with a band. We were actually pretty close, but I havent talked to her since she left.Oh my God, Im so glad I ran into you, she says and theres a precise bit of red lipstick on her teeth.Isnt everyone? I tease walking backwards.She laughs and swats my arm. I see you still have that firm cocky attitude going.I drop the act . So youre back in town?Yeah, but only for a few weeks. Can we chat up after you play? Theres something I really need to talk to you about. Something huge actually.Howd you know I was playing?She points a finger at the table. I just saw you sign up.Alright, Ill catch up with you later. I wave wakeless-bye, wondering what she could possibly want.EllaDamn Micha. Hes cleanup spot me with his touches and longing gazes and now hes going to sing. Ive always had a soft spot for his voice. Wed sit on his bed and hed strum his guitar while I sketched. Those were some of the perfect mommaents in my life.Ella, whats the matter with you? Lila asks with an accusation. You look a slim flushed.I sip my latte and align the holder in the center of the table, so I cant see my reflection in the stainless steel. Its just a petty(a) hot in here. Thats all.Yeah, reliable it is. She wont stop looking at me, like shes trying to crack open my head.As Micha steps onto the stage not too far from our ta ble, my heart starts to chant unspeakable words. academic session on a stool with his guitar on his lap he puts his lips up to the microphone, nibbling on his lip ring. This ones called What No One Ever Sees.He strums a chord with his eyes locked on me,I see it in your beautiful eyes, like a spot on the sun.The things you want to hide, buried deep inside you.Blinded by your light.It almost hurts to look at, almost hurts to breathe. neer can you look at the things no one ever seesShaded by your light.Please take me inside you, please take me in.Never volition I whisper, never will I give in.Even when Im dying, your heart will always win.Shielded to the sightless, discriminate from the naive.Breaking you in pieces, that can only ever grieve.Veiled by your light. torrid for the world, yet overlooked by most.Your understanding flickers in you, desperate to shine for the world however blinded by your darkness.Please take me inside you, please take me in.Never will I whisper, never wil l I give in.Even when Im dying, your heart will always win.With one lasting note, he ends the song. The crowd applauds and my eyes dart away from his penetrating gaze, and to the door. I want to run away like the room is on fire.Holy crap, Lila breathes, fanning herself. You were right. That was HOT.I can play the drums. Ethan taps his fingers on the table, and makes drum noises. And Im pretty good.Dont let him rally ya. Renee sips her coffee and a smirk curls at her lips. He can play the drums on Rock Band and thats it.Ethan shoots Renee a corruptive look. Would you quit it? Its not funny anymore.Lila looks at me for an explanation.This is how they are, I explain with a heavy sigh. They fight like cats and dogs.Lila props her elbows onto the table and rests her chin on her hands. El, doesnt your brother play drums?Yeah, Dean did, I say. A little bit, anyway.Now Deans hot, Renee remarks, aiming to get under my skin.Micha collects his guitar and clears the stage for the next singer , a girl with knock dreads who looks like she has a grudge against the world. A tall girl with long legs meets Micha at the corner of the stage. Her wavy black hair flows down her back, her grey eyes are striking, and her smile is bright. Her name is Naomi and shes the daughter of the owner of the coffeehouse, who Micha played with a few times.She says something to Micha and he laughs. A flicker of envy burn down in me, but I obliterate it quickly. She leads him off the stage and Michas hand roams toward her back. He flashes me one last glance, before he ducks behind stage. I cant read him at all and that frightens me more than when I can.Lila drinks her soy latte and peeks at me over the shore of her cup. I dont care what you say. That boy is in love with you.I stay silent, vehement up a serviette until its regulate like a heart. He might be, but not the kind of love youre talking about.So, Ella, Ethan interrupts and I swear he does it intentionally. If he did, Im thankful f or it. Hows the city life?Stupendous. I ruffle up the napkin and toss it into the empty scone basket.That doesnt sound very convincing. Ethan drapes an arm on the back of Lilas chair and places his foot on his knee. Dont you like it there?I force myself to cheer up and sit up straight. Actually, its pretty nice. Theres a lot to do and the school is great.Youre performing weird. Ethan eyes me, rubbing his chin. Somethings got you all transgress up.Im completely okay, I say in denial. Although, the excessive questions are a bit much.Lila peers over at me as she licks foam from her lips. Hes right. You look upset or something. She feels my forehead. Youre not getting sick, are you?Micha returns to the table and the coffeehouse has cleared out a bit. He grabs a vacant chair, pulls it up to the table, act it backwards, and then sits down in it.So what are we up to for the rest of the night? Ethan asks while Micha checks his messages on his phone.I got to take this pretty lady over here to get her car fixed by you. Micha nods his head at Lila.Ethan looks pleased. Wow, Im honored to be the one to fix it.Micha slides his phone into his pocket. We have to swing by Ellas house and leg it it up, so meet us at the shop in like a half-an-hour.Absolutely. Ethan waves the waitress over to give us the check.What do you think? Micha asks me. Does it sound like a plan?I shrug, deflect by where he went with that girl. Yeah, sure.Everyone takes their coffees to-go and we head for the door. I leave mine behind, along with something else, but Im not sure what.Perhaps a piece of my new identity.***Micha and I dont speak the entire tote home. It freaks Lila out a little and I worry that the more time she spends here with me, the less time shes going to want to spend with me on campus. When we pull into the driveway that routes the side of my house, there is a painful actuateer of another reason I didnt want to come back waiting for me near the store.Whose car is that? Lila sco ots forward in her seat. Its gorgeous.Why is he here? I grimace, scowling at the shiny red Porsche with Ohio license plates.Now be nice, Micha warns, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Hes your brother.But it doesnt make him less of an asshole, I mutter. And he swore when he left, he was never culmination back here ever again.Thats your brothers car? Lila asks. Good God, what does he do for life sentence?I press the tips of my fingers to the sides of my nose. Who knows?Well, how does he suffer a car like that? she requests interestedly.Its not his car, I say. Its my mothers.Micha and I swap an catercorner look, recalling the day the car mysteriously showed up in the garage. She never would tell anyone how she got it, and for a while, Dean and I expected the police force to show up and arrest her for car thievery. It never happened and as time went on, it became like a game to my mother. Not just with the car, but with life. We never knew if she was telling the rightfulness or no t.After she died, Dean took the car. He acted like it was his right and maybe it was. He wasnt the one whod snuck out of the house that night and left our mother alone.And that gorgeous car over there is yours, I remind Lila, diverting her attention elsewhere. You should probably go get it fixed, before Ethan wanders off from the shop.She slumps back in the chair. Id really like to meet your brother firstborn before I go.Im sure hell still be here when you get back. Actually Im hoping hell be gone.Come on, Lila, well make it quick. Micha opens the door. We can drop it off and walk back. It isnt too far.When I climb outside, he captures my gaze over the jacket crown of the car. Are you coming with us?I think I need to stay. My eyes travel to the back door. Who knows why hes here and what hell say to protoactinium? And I dont think dad can handle his crap. touch his hands to the roof, he leans over. But can you handle his crap?Ill be fine, I assure him. Just get her car fixed. She needs to get out before she gets sucked into this place.This town isnt that bad. Micha closes the door. You used to think the same thing.I also used to suppose my mom would get better, I say. And look what a crashing disappointment that was.From the back of the car, Lila blinking chickweed at me, stunned. Ella, I didnt know your mom was sick.Michas expression is guarded. Lets go, Lila. Ellas right, if Ethan gets too bored, hell bail.They head for Lilas car and I head up the driveway, wish I could run back into Michas arms and alleviate the hole in my chest.MichaI worry about Ella the entire drive to the shop. Dean was never a good brother and at the funeral, he blame Ella for their mothers death. He basically tore her to shreds. Maybe it was his way of mourning, but it was still a shitty thing to do.So whats up with Ella and her brother? Lila asks, resting her arm on the console.I think thats something you should probably talk to her about. I turn the car into the parking lot of the shop. Its not really my story to tell.Lila unclips her seatbelt. But Ellas never really told me much about her life. She has always been so quiet about it and I just thought it was her individualality, but the way everyone talks about her around here, I dont think it is.She used to be pretty loud spoken. I reach for the door, but hesitate, needing to get it off my chest. The Ella I knew was not the prim and proper girl youve been hanging out with. She had this fire in her and she didnt put up with anyones crap. It got her into trouble a lot, but she was also the kind of person who would take the fall, even if it wasnt her fault.I think I saw that part of her when we stop at a bathroom when we first got to town, Lila muses. There was this guy there who was giving me crap and Ella nearly beat him up.I try not to smile. She did, did she?Is that how she was when you knew her? Like a total badass? Lila grins and I realize shes not as bad as I originally thought.Yeah, she was always kind of a badass. I shove the door open and my boots scuff the gravel as I climb out.There are a few cars position in front of the metal building and both(prenominal) the garage doors are open. A truck is parked inside and the owner of the shop Ethans dad is working under the hood.So what do you do? Lila asks as we head to the entrance.A little of this, I joke. And a little of that.So its a secret. She picks up on my vibe.I swing the chain prone to my jeans. For now, it kind of is.Gotcha. She doesnt press and I like her even more.Ethan is waiting for us in the lobby, slouched back in a chair with his shoes kicked up on the counter and his head slanted back. Its about damn time. I was about ready to leave.Lila starts to giggle as she takes out her phone from her purse. You guys werent lying.Ethan lowers his feet to the taradiddle and stands up. Whats so funny?Nothing. I shrug him off, resting my arms on the counter. Ella and I just told her that if we didnt hurry up youd get b ored and leave.So you were talking about me behind my back. He walks around the counter by Lila. You got the keys or did you leave them in? I toss him the keys and he catches them. Wheres Ella?Her brother showed up, I explain. Shes back at her house.Ethans eyebrows shoot upward. And you left her there alone with him?Only to drop this off, I say. Lila and I are going to walk back.Lila glances back and forth between Ethan and me. Is something wrong with Ellas brother?Shell be fine. I lean against the glass door with my arms folded and check my watch. But we should get back.I think I should stay here, Lila says, grimace at her phone.Are you sure? I ask. Ethan will take good care of it.She looks upset as she tosses the phone into her purse. Yeah, I need to make sure everythings interpreted care of properly.Alright, can you find your way back to the house? I nudge the door open.Ill make sure she gets there, Ethan offers with a shrug.Lila adjusts her purse on her shoulder and gives him a small smile. Thank you.Alright, if its okay with the both of you, then I guess Ill see you later. I hike across the parking lot, toward the street. Its getting late, and the odds of Lilas car creation fixed by the end of the day are pretty fucking low. I take out my cell phone and text Ella.Me Just wantin to make sure ur ok?I walk down the sidewalk fenced by houses and dried out lawns. There is a drug sub going on at the corner between a group of kids that still look young enough to be in high school. This side of town is pretty crappy, which Im okay with now, but when Ella and I were kids, it was harder to deal with.Ella was always so remarkable about stuff. There were many times we got chased down for sticking our noses where they didnt belong and I got my ass kicked defending Ella quite a few times.But Id do it again in a musical rhythm because when it all comes down to it, its just me and her against the world. ever has been.My phone buzzes inside my pocket and I check th e message, surprised to see Ellas name on the screen.Ella No, I dont think I am.Without a second thought, I run as fast as I can toward her house.