Ground Conditions And Explanation of Implications For Design And Essay

Ground Conditions And Explanation of Implications For Design And Construction - Essay Example This paper approves that positions and heights for trees, hedges or shrubs within areas of shrinkable clay were noted too. Ponds, springs, and other waters positions were marked on the map of the site. Placing fill in the location has raised ground levels and this is evident due to features shown on the geological maps as well as aerial photographs, which were found to be missing on the ground. Previously filled areas were determined through comparisons between what appeared on the site and aerial photographs and ordnance survey maps. There were signs of mining within the area evidenced by presence of derelict/hummocky land, old mine buildings as well as infilling or spoil heaps. Slope angles were interpreted through material types underlying the site. Landslips on the other hand indicated terraced ground, poorly drained conditions along the hillsides. Geological maps have identified layers that contain minerals. This report makes a conclusion that direct investigation made it possible to obtain values for limitations defining the soil sufficiency characteristics for designing economical and safe foundations. The investigation was carried out keeping in mind the risks that could arise as a result of inadequate investigation especially with regard to ground behavior. The investigation has made available information in some cost effective means for new works engineering design so that construction costs may be reduced via economic foundation design, structural defects that could arise from unacceptable ground movements are eliminated, health hazards associated with contaminated land can be detected, unforeseen ground conditions claims are avoided, and foundations are prevented from chemical attack.

The Song of Roland Essay Example for Free

The Song of Roland Essay Count Roland was the epitome of everything a Carolingian knight should be. He was virtuous in every possible way. Bravery, piety, modesty, strength, and ability are all adjectives that aptly describe Sir Roland. In the work The Song of Roland a portrayal of 8th Century warfare and practices are given to the reader. We see a world were values such as loyalty, friendship, and piety co-exist with values such as ferocity in combat, eagerness to kill infidels, and lionizing of the sacking of cities and looting of the dead. What could bring about such opposing values into one moral code? Perhaps the system of values existing in 8th Century Frankish society is a combination of moral systems. Frankish knights of the Carolingian Era adhered to a strict moral code that drew many values from Christian doctrine, but also drew heavily from the moral system of a warlike barbarian people; such as the early Frankish tribes as portrayed in History of the Franks by Gregory the Bishop of Tours. During the time of Clovis I Christianity was just beginning as the state religion of the Franks. In Gregorys depiction of the Frankish people following the death of Clovis I, he shows a society were murder, incest and the killing of ones own son is perfectly acceptable. Treachery and ambush are expunged as virtues befitting a great ruler. The only mentions of Christianity in the text seem to be purposely placed there by Gregory. While the Franks claim to be Christian at this time they clearly do not understand the moral code that goes along with their Christian faith. Understanding of that Christian faith comes at a later time. Loyalty in particular seems to be a central virtue of Carolingian knights. Roland says once, It is fitting we should stay here for our king; a man should suffer hardships for his lord, and persevere in heat and cold; a man should lose if need be, hide and hair (Roland 83). This attitude of sacrifice for your lord, and loyalty unto death is very different from the attitude of the early Franks. In Gregorys account Frankish warriors care more for booty than loyalty. Theodoric knew that the men of Clermont-Ferrand were ready to betray him. Follow me, said he to his people, and I will lead you to a land where you will be able to lay your hands on so much gold and silver than even your desire for loot will be satisfied (Gregory 6). Roland and his twelve companions were ready to die for the honor of their king, while the men of Clermont-Ferrand fought only for the promise of booty. This ideal of loyalty and faithfulness can only have come from the influence of the Catholic Church. Piety is clearly very important to the Carolingian knight. Before their deaths many of the twelve companions seek penance and absolution so that they may enter Heaven. Roland begs Gods mercy as he dies saying, True Father, who hath never told a lie, Who resurrected Lazarus from the dead, and Who protected Daniel from the lions, protect the soul in me from every peril brought on by wrongs Ive done throughout my life! (Roland 124). This statement shows Rolands understanding of Christian doctrine. He comprehends the need for absolution in order to attain paradise, and he clearly has a thorough understanding and knowledge of scripture, as he quotes from the Bible in numerous places. During and following the time of Clovis I the Franks understanding of piety was simple. If you were pious, you won battles, if you werent, you lost. Gregory said in regard to successes, they have come to Christians who confess the blessed Trinity and ruin has come to heretics who have tried the same. (Gregory 1) So on the battlefield is were you proved your piousness, not in your life or during prayer. This is clearly a gross misunderstanding of Christian doctrine by the early Franks. Ferocity in combat is perhaps one of the most important characteristics of a Frankish knight. It co-exists with loyalty, friendship and piety, all Christian virtues. Roland who is the epitome of the Carolingian knight is the fiercest warrior of them all. His ability is thus described, the baron goes ands strikes with all his force upon the jewel-studded golden casque, cuts downward through the head, the trunk and the byrnie, the well-made saddle set with gems and gold, and deep into the backbone of the horse (Roland 100). This cleaving of a man in two is not deemed tragic or saddening as one would expect from a Christian society, instead it is raised up as an example of a good Christian activity. Killing infidels is never sinful. Indeed even the Archbishop himself engages in such activity, But Turpin strikes He spits his body (the Spaniards) through from side to side and throws him dead upon an open spot. (Roland 98) Even though many Christian ideals have sunk into Frankish society, the warlike nature of the Franks still endures during the Carolingian age. Sacking towns and acquiring plunder are not the chief motivation for warfare, as they were during early Frankish history, but these activities are still very central to warfare in the Carolingian age. Following the retreat of the Spanish Charles knights loot the bodies of the dead enemy knights even before pursuing the retreating enemy (Roland 126). Many mentions are made of the numerous towns that Roland had sacked prior to this story. The fact that Roland had killed thousands of innocents and burned hundreds of homes is not used to criticize Roland, instead it is used as an example of his prowess as a warrior. This attitude toward random slaughter and plunder is clearly not inline with Christian morals. Its origins must instead be from early Frankish society. When Christianity first entered Frankish society it was merely a new version of paganism for the Franks who practiced it. They viewed the Christian god as more powerful than other pagan deities, and so they converted to Christianity. At no point though did they embrace the moral code of Catholicism. However, later under Charlemagne the missionaries had mostly finished their work of educating the Franks. The knights portrayed in The Song of Roland clearly understand the morals of piety, honesty, loyalty and friendship. They also demonstrated a thorough knowledge of Christian doctrine and scripture. Even though the Carolingian knights were more Christian, certainly than the Franks of the 6th Century, they were still not totally inline with true Christian morals. Slaughter, plundering and mortal combat were still held in high esteem during the Carolingian era. These barbaric ideals still existed in Frankish society, despite the efforts of Christian missionaries. Clearly the moral code of the Carolingian knight was a combination of Christian values, and the value system of the early Frankish tribes.

Death Penalty Essay -- essays research papers

Electric chair, gas chamber, lethal injection, firing squad, hanging, guillotine, and garroting. When you hear these words what do you think of? Do you feel frightened? When some hear these words they tend to say, " Oh they deserve it". In the court system that is not always the case. The question you always have to ask yourself is what did the accused do and do they deserve the death penalty? What is bad enough to deserve death? Are their certain crimes that do and then some that do not? Almost every culture through out history has relied on the death penalty and capital punishment and justified as a necessary tool to maintain order. The only thing that changed throughout time were the crimes deemed punishable by death and the methods used to kill those found guilty. Some of the other countries' laws of capital punishment seem so barbaric. In ancient India, executions were sometimes carried out by having an elephant crush the condemned's head. Executions used to be public spectacles. In ancient Persia, one method of execution involved being eaten alive by insects and vermin. In the middle ages, methods of execution included chopping off limbs, stripping off the condemned person's skin, boiling in oil, drawing and quartering (cutting the persons innards and then tearing the body into four pieces), burning at the stake, and crucifixion. In 1692, a man refused to testify aft er his wife was accused of witchcraft and was " Pressed " to death. The sentence was carried out by lying him on a stone floor, placing a board over him, and piling stones upon the board. Benjamin Rush, credited with the beginning the movement to abolish capital punishment in the U.S, declared in 1792 that reform, not retribution, should be the goal of punishment. The Bible authorizes executing those who show contempt on their parents, walk without permission on sacred ground, practicing sorcery, sacrifice in foreign gods or who prostitute themselves. In the Bible Exodus 21:12 it says, " Whoever strikes a man a mortal blow must be put to death." Electrocution in the modern era. Electricity causes biological damage through both heat and electrochemical havoc. The electrical current itself abolishes the function of organs and tissues such as the brain, nerves, and heart by overwhelming the fragile bioelectrical basis of the metabolism. The voltage applied is... ...icans that some states have strict death penalty laws while others employ long, complicated legal procedures that make it almost impossible for a criminal to be executed? Samuel Hand, The North American Review, December 1881 wrote an article titled Deserved Retribution. It said, Capital execution upon the deadly poisoner and the midnight assassin is not only necessary for the safety of society, it is the fit and deserved retribution of their crimes. By it alone is divine and human justice is fulfilled. Robert Rantaul Jr., Report to The Legislature, 1836 wrote an article titled Death Penalty Unnecessary. It said, It is not necessary to hang the murderer in order to guard society against him, and to prevent him from repeating the crime. If it were, we should hang the maniac, who is the most dangerous murderer. Society may defend itself by other means than by destroying life. Massachusetts can build prisons strong enough to secure the community forever against convicted felons. You may have been close minded about capital punishment before you read my paper and if you were you still probably are, but the one thing I hope you saw were all the sides and views of capital punishment.

Federal government of the United States Essay

1. Based on your own research on industrial/commercial and government purchasing, what are those elements that you consider to be unique to each? The difference is the two is the government has certain authority and rights that commercial enterprises do not have in my opinion. The government is not in the business in making a profit. There are certain price limits set by the government that can not be exceeded majority of the times when making purchases. In Federal Government contracting, specific regulatory authority is required for the Government’s agent to enter into the contract, and that agent’s bargaining authority is strictly controlled by statutes and regulations reflecting National policy choices and prudential limitations on the right of Federal employees to obligate Federal funds. Commercial purchases on the other hand , is mainly guided by profit motivations. Each commercial/private vendor represents itself and can obligate their purchases in its own manner. 2. What are the skill sets that a purchasing and supply management professional should possess or acquire to be successful in the exercise of the purchasing functions with commercial or Governmental organizations? The skill set that a purchasing, and supply management professional, should possess or acquire successful is, relationship/team building skills. The ability to deal with a client /vendor or manufacture and come to terms and or agreement, that will benefit both parties. I also think you should have some prior experience 2-4 years in purchasing or supply management . Lastly, holding a degree in business management, contract services or acquisition management should also be a necessary skill.

The Host EPILOGUE. Continued

I was not the same. This was my first rebirth into a body of the same species. I found the transfer much more difficult than changing planets because I had so many expectations about being human already in place. Also, I'd inherited a lot of things from Petals Open to the Moon, and not all of them were pleasant. I'd inherited a great deal of grief for Cloud Spinner. I missed the mother I'd never known and mourned for her suffering now. Perhaps there could be no joy on this planet without an equal weight of pain to balance it out on some unknown scale. I'd inherited unexpected limitations. I was used to a body that was strong and fast and tall-a body that could run for miles, go without food and water, lift heavy weights, and reach high shelves. This body was weak-and not just physically. This body seized up with crippling shyness every time I was unsure of myself, which seemed to be often these days. I'd inherited a different role in the human community. People carried things for me now and let me pass first into a room. They gave me the easiest chores and then, half the time, took the work right out of my hands anyway. Worse than that, I needed the help. My muscles were soft and not used to labor. I tired easily, and my attempts to hide that fooled no one. I probably couldn't have run a mile without stopping. There was more to this easy treatment than just my physical weakness, though. I was used to a pretty face, but one that people were able to look at with fear, mistrust, even hatred. My new face defied such emotions. People touched my cheeks often, or put their fingers under my chin, holding my face up to see it better. I was frequently patted on my head (which was in easy reach, since I was shorter than everyone but the children), and my hair was stroked so regularly that I stopped noticing when it happened. Those who had never accepted me before did this as often as my friends. Even Lucina put up only a token resistance when her children began following me like two adoring puppies. Freedom, in particular, crawled onto my lap at every opportunity, burrowing his face in my hair. Isaiah was too big for such displays of affection, but he liked to hold my hand-just the same size as his-while chattering excitedly with me about Spiders and Dragons, soccer and raids. The children still wouldn't go anywhere near Melanie; their mother had frightened them too thoroughly before for her reassurances to change things now. Even Maggie and Sharon, though they still tried not to look at me, could not maintain their former rigidity in my presence. My body was not the only change. The monsoons came late to the desert, and I was glad. For one thing, I'd never smelled the rain on the creosotes before-I could only vaguely remember it from my memories of Melanie's memories, a very dim trail of recall indeed-and now the scent washed out the musty caves, left them smelling fresh and almost spicy. The scent clung to my hair and followed me everywhere. I smelled it in my dreams. Also, Petals Open to the Moon had lived in Seattle all her life, and the unbroken streak of blue skies and blistering heat was as bewildering-almost numbing-to my system as the dark press of heavy overcast skies would have been to any of these desert dwellers. The clouds were exciting, a change from the bland, featureless pale blue. They had depth and movement. They made pictures in the sky. There was a great deal of reshuffling to be done in Jeb's caves, and the move to the big game room-now the communal sleeping quarters-was good preparation for more permanent arrangements to follow. Every space was needed, so rooms could not remain vacant. Still, only the newcomers, Candy-who had remembered her correct name at last-and Lacey, could bear to take Wes's old space. I pitied Candy for her future roommate, but the Healer never betrayed any discontent at the prospect. When the rains ended, Jamie would move into a free corner in Brandt and Aaron's cave. Melanie and Jared had kicked Jamie out of their room and into Ian's before I'd been reborn in Pet's body; Jamie wasn't so young that they'd needed to give him any excuse. Kyle was working on widening the small crevice that had been Walter's sleeping space so that it would be ready when the desert was dry again. It really wasn't big enough for more than one, and Kyle would not be staying there alone. At night in the game room, Sunny slept curled into a ball against Kyle's chest, like a kitten who was friends with a big dog-a rottweiler whom she trusted implicitly. Sunny was always with Kyle. I couldn't remember ever seeing them unattached since I'd opened these silver gray eyes for the first time. Kyle seemed constantly bemused, too distracted by this impossible relationship he couldn't quite wrap his head around to pay attention to much else. He wasn't giving up on Jodi, but as Sunny clung to him, he held her to his side with gentle hands. Before the rain, every space was taken, so I stayed with Doc in the hospital that no longer frightened me. The cots were not comfortable, but it was a very interesting place to be. Candy remembered the details of Summer Song's life better than her own; the hospital was a place of miracles now. After the rain, Doc would not be sleeping in the hospital anymore. The first night in the game room, Sharon had dragged her mattress right next to Doc's without a word of explanation. Perhaps it was Doc's fascination with the Healer that motivated Sharon, though I doubted Doc had even noticed how pretty the older woman was; his fascination was with her phenomenal knowledge. Or maybe it was just that Sharon was ready to forgive and forget. I hoped that was the case. It would be nice to think that even Sharon and Maggie might be softened over time. I would not stay in the hospital anymore, either. The crucial conversation with Ian might never have taken place if not for Jamie. My mouth would go all dry and my palms would sweat whenever I so much as thought of bringing it up. What if those feelings in the hospital, those few perfect moments of certainty right after I'd awoken in this body, had been illusion? What if I remembered them wrong? I knew that nothing had changed for me, but how could I be certain Ian felt the same? The body he'd fallen in love with was still right here! I expected him to be unsettled-we all were. If it was difficult for me, a soul used to such changes, how hard must it be for the humans? I was working to put the last of the jealousy and the perplexing echoes of the love I still felt for Jared behind me. I didn't need or want them. Ian was the right partner for me. But sometimes I would catch myself staring at Jared and feel confused. I'd seen Melanie touch Ian's arm or hand and then jerk away as if she'd suddenly remembered who she was. Even Jared, who had the least reason for uncertainty, would occasionally meet my confused gaze with a searching one of his own. And Ian†¦ Of course it must have been hardest for him. I understood that. We were together nearly as much as Kyle and Sunny. Ian constantly touched my face and hair, was always holding my hands. But who did not respond to this body that way? And wasn't it platonic for everyone else? Why didn't he kiss me again, the way he had that first day? Maybe he could never love me inside this body, as appealing as it seemed to be to all the other humans here. That worry was heavy in my heart the night Ian had carried my cot-because it was too heavy for me-to the big, dark game room. It was raining for the first time in more than six months. There were both laughter and complaints as people shook out their damp bedding and arranged their places. I saw Sharon with Doc and smiled. â€Å"Over here, Wanda,† Jamie called, waving me toward where he'd just set his mattress next to Ian's. â€Å"There's room for all three of us now.† Jamie was the one person who treated me almost exactly the same as before. He did make allowances for my puny physique, but he never seemed surprised to see me enter a room or shocked when Wanderer's words came through these lips. â€Å"You don't really want that cot, do you, Wanda? I'll bet we could all fit okay on the mattresses if we shoved them together.† Jamie grinned at me while he kicked one mattress into the other without waiting for agreement. â€Å"You don't take up much space.† He took the cot from Ian and set it on its side, out of the way. Then Jamie stretched out on the very edge of the far mattress and turned his back to us. â€Å"Oh, hey, Ian,† he added without turning. â€Å"I talked to Brandt and Aaron, and I think I'm going to move in with them. Well, I'm beat. Night, guys.† I stared at Jamie's unmoving form for a long moment. Ian was just as motionless. He couldn't have been having a panic attack, too, though. Was he thinking of some way to extricate himself from the situation? â€Å"Lights out,† Jeb bellowed from across the room. â€Å"Everybody shut yer trap so I can get some shut-eye.† People laughed, but took him seriously as always. One by one, the four lamps were dimmed until the room was black. Ian's hand found mine; it was warm. Did he notice how cold and sweaty my skin was? He sank to his knees on the mattress, tugging me gently along. I followed and lay down on the seam between the beds. He kept my hand. â€Å"Is this okay?† Ian whispered. There were other hushed conversations going on around us, made indistinct by the rush of the sulfur spring. â€Å"Yes, thank you,† I answered. Jamie rolled over, shaking the mattress and knocking into me. â€Å"Oops, sorry, Wanda,† he murmured, and then I heard him yawn. Automatically, I shifted out of his way. Ian was closer than I'd thought. I gasped quietly when I ran into him, then tried to give him some room. His arm was suddenly around me, holding me to his body. It was the strangest feeling; having Ian's arm around me in this very nonplatonic way reminded me oddly of my first experience with No Pain. Like I'd been in agony without realizing it, and his touch had taken all the hurt away. That feeling erased my shyness. I rolled so that I was facing him, and he tightened his arm around me. â€Å"Is this okay?† I whispered, repeating his question. He kissed my forehead. â€Å"Better than okay.† We were silent for a few minutes. Most of the other conversations had died out. He bent down so that his lips were at my ear and whispered, quieter than before, â€Å"Wanda, do you think†¦?† He fell silent. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"Well, it looks like I have a room all to myself now. That's not right.† â€Å"No. There's not enough space for you to be alone.† â€Å"I don't want to be alone. But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Why wouldn't he ask? â€Å"But what?† â€Å"Have you had enough time to sort things out yet? I don't want to rush you. I know it's confusing†¦ with Jared†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It took me a moment to process what he was saying, but then I giggled quietly. Melanie wasn't much given to giggling, but Pet had been, and her body betrayed me at this most inopportune moment. â€Å"What?† he demanded. â€Å"I was giving you time to sort things out,† I explained in a whisper. â€Å"I didn't want to rush you-because I know it's confusing. With Melanie.† He jumped just a little in surprise. â€Å"You thought†¦? But Melanie isn't you. I was never confused.† I was smiling in the dark now. â€Å"And Jared isn't you.† His voice was tighter when he answered. â€Å"But he's still Jared. And you love him.† Ian was jealous again? I shouldn't have been pleased by negative emotions, but I had to admit this was encouraging. â€Å"Jared is my past, another life. You are my present.† He was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was rough with emotion. â€Å"And your future, if you want that.† â€Å"Yes, please.† And then he kissed me in the most unplatonic way possible under the crowded circumstances, and I was thrilled to remember that I'd been smart enough to lie about my age. The rains would end, and when they did, Ian and I would be together, partners in the truest sense. This was a promise and an obligation I had never had in all my lives. Thinking of it made me feel joyful and anxious and shy and desperately impatient all at the same time-made me feel human. After all this had been settled, Ian and I were more inseparable than ever. So when it came time for me to test my new face on the other souls, of course he went with me. This raid was a relief for me after long weeks of frustration. It was bad enough that my new body was weak and nearly useless in the caves; I couldn't believe it when the others didn't want to let me use my body for the one thing it was perfect for. Jared had specifically approved of Jamie's choice because of this guileless, vulnerable face that no one could ever doubt, this delicate build that anyone would be motivated to protect, but even he had a hard time putting his theory into practice. I was sure raiding would be every bit as easy for me now as it had been before, but Jared, Jeb, Ian, and the others-everyone but Jamie and Mel-debated for days, trying to find a way around using me for that. It was ridiculous. I saw them eyeing Sunny, but she was still unproven, not trusted. On top of that, Sunny had absolutely no intention of setting one foot outside. The very word raid had her cowering in terror. Kyle would not go out with us; Sunny had gone hysterical the one time he'd mentioned it. In the end, practicality had won out. I was needed. It was good to be needed. Supplies had been dwindling; this would be a long, thorough trip. Jared was leading the raid, as usual, so it went without saying that Melanie was included. Aaron and Brandt volunteered, not that we really needed the muscle; they were tired of being cooped up. We were going far to the north, and I was excited to see the new places-to feel the cold again. Excitement got a bit out of hand in this body. I was bouncy and hyper the night we drove to the rock slide where the van and the big moving truck were hidden. Ian was laughing at me because I could hardly hold still as we loaded the clothes and sundries we would need into the van. He held my hand, he said, to tether me to the surface of the planet. Was I too loud? Too oblivious to my surroundings? No, of course that was not it. There was nothing I could have done. This was a trap, and it was too late for us the minute we arrived. We froze when the thin beams of light shot out of the darkness into Jared's and Melanie's faces. My face, my eyes, the ones that might have helped us, stayed obscured, hidden in the shadow made by Ian's wide back. My eyes were not blinded by the glare, and the moon was bright enough for me to clearly see the Seekers that outnumbered us, eight to our six. Bright enough for me to see the way they held their hands, to see the weapons that glinted in them, raised and pointed at us. Pointed at Jared and Mel, at Brandt and Aaron-our only gun still undrawn-and one centered dead on Ian's chest. Why had I let him come with me? Why did he have to die, too? Lily's bewildered questions echoed in my head: Why did life and love go on? What was the point? My fragile little heart shattered into a million pieces, and I fumbled for the pill in my pocket. â€Å"Steady, now, everybody just keep calm,† the man in the center of the group of Seekers called out. â€Å"Wait, wait, don't be swallowing anything! Jeez, get a grip! No, look!† The man turned the flashlight on his own face. His face was sun browned and craggy, like a rock that had been eroded by the wind. His hair was dark, with white at the temples, and it curled in a bushy mess around his ears. And his eyes-his eyes were dark brown. Just dark brown, nothing more. â€Å"See?† he said. â€Å"Okay, now, you don't shoot us, and we won't shoot you. See?† And he laid the gun he was carrying to the ground. â€Å"C'mon, guys,† he said, and the others slid their guns back into holsters-on their hips, their ankles, their backs†¦ so many weapons. â€Å"We found your cache here-clever, that; we were lucky to find it-and decided we'd hang out and make your acquaintance. It's not every day you find another rebel cell.† He laughed a delighted laugh that came from deep in his belly. â€Å"Look at your faces! What? Did you think you all were the only ones still kickin'?† He laughed again. None of us had moved an inch. â€Å"Think they're in shock, Nate,† another man said. â€Å"We scared them half to death,† a woman said. â€Å"What do you expect?† They waited, shuffling from foot to foot, while we stood frozen. Jared was the first to recover. â€Å"Who are you?† he whispered. The leader laughed again. â€Å"I'm Nate-nice to meet you, though you might not feel the same way just yet. This here's Rob, Evan, Blake, Tom, Kim, and Rachel along with me.† He gestured around the group as he spoke, and the humans nodded at their names. I noticed one man, a little to the back, whom Nate did not introduce. He had bright, crinkly ginger hair that stood out-especially because he was the tallest in the group. He alone seemed to be unarmed. He was also staring intently at me, so I looked away. â€Å"There's twenty-two of us altogether, though,† Nate continued. Nate held out his hand. Jared took a deep breath and then a step forward. When he moved, the rest of our little group silently exhaled all at once. â€Å"I'm Jared.† He shook Nate's hand, then started to smile. â€Å"This is Melanie, Aaron, Brandt, Ian, and Wanda. There are thirty-seven of us altogether.† When Jared spoke my name, Ian shifted his weight, trying to obscure me completely from the other humans' view. It was only then that I realized I was still in just as much danger as the others would have been in if these had been Seekers. Just like in the beginning. I tried to hold perfectly still. Nate blinked at Jared's revelation, and then his eyes widened. â€Å"Wow. That's the first time I've ever been one-upped on that one.† Now Jared blinked. â€Å"You've found others?† â€Å"There are three other cells separate from ours that we know of. Eleven with Gail, seven with Russell, and eighteen with Max. We keep in touch. Even trade now and then.† Again, the belly laugh. â€Å"Gail's little Ellen decided she wanted to keep company with my Evan here, and Carlos took up with Russell's Cindy. And, of course, everyone needs Burns now and then -† He stopped talking abruptly, glancing uneasily around him, as if he'd said something he shouldn't have. His eyes rested briefly on the tall redhead in the back, who was still staring at me. â€Å"Might as well get that out of the way,† the small dark man at Nate's elbow said. Nate shot a suspicious glance across our little line. â€Å"Okay. Rob's right. Let's get this out there.† He took a deep breath. â€Å"Now, you all just take it easy and hear us out. Calmly, please. This upsets people sometimes.† â€Å"Every time,† the one named Rob muttered. His hand drifted to the holster on his thigh. â€Å"What?† Jared asked in a flat voice. Nate sighed and then gestured to the tall man with the ginger red hair. The man stepped forward, a wry smile on his face. He had freckles, like me, only thousands more. They were scattered so thick across his face that he looked dark skinned, though he was fair. His eyes were dark-navy blue, maybe. â€Å"This here is Burns. Now, he's with us, so don't go crazy. He's my best friend-saved my life a hundred times. He's one of our family, and we don't take kindly to it when people try to kill him.† One of the women slowly pulled her gun out and held it pointed at the ground. The redhead spoke for the first time in a distinctly gentle tenor voice. â€Å"No, it's okay, Nate. See? They've got one of their own.† He pointed straight at me, and Ian tensed. â€Å"Looks like I'm not the only one who's gone native.† Burns grinned at me, then crossed the empty space, the no-man's-land between the two tribes, with his hand stretched out toward me. I stepped out from around Ian, ignoring his muttered warning, abruptly comfortable and sure. I liked the way Burns had phrased it. Gone native. Burns stopped in front of me, lowering his hand a bit to compensate for the considerable difference in our heights. I took his hand-it was hard and callused next to my delicate skin-and shook it. â€Å"Burns Living Flowers,† he introduced himself. My eyes widened at his name. Fire World-how unexpected. â€Å"Wanderer,† I told him. â€Å"It's†¦ extraordinary to meet you, Wanderer. And here I thought I was one of a kind.† â€Å"Not even close,† I said, thinking of Sunny back in the caves. Perhaps we were none of us as rare as we thought. He raised an eyebrow at my answer, intrigued. â€Å"Is that so?† he said. â€Å"Well, maybe there's some hope for this planet, after all.† â€Å"It's a strange world,† I murmured, more to myself than to the other native soul. â€Å"The strangest,† he agreed.

Battle of Salamis in the Persian Wars

Battle of Salamis in the Persian Wars The Battle of Salamis was fought in September 480 BC during the Persian Wars (499-449 BC). One of the great naval battles in history, Salamis saw the out-numbered Greeks best a larger Persian fleet. The campaign had witnessed the Greeks pushed south and Athens captured. Regrouping, the Greeks were able to lure the Persian fleet into the narrow waters around Salamis which negated their numerical advantage. In the resulting battle, the Greeks badly defeated the enemy and forced them to flee. Unable to supply their army by sea, the Persians were forced to retreat north. Persian Invasion Invading Greece in the summer of 480 BC, Persian troops led by Xerxes I were opposed by an alliance of Greek city-states. Pushing south into Greece, the Persians were supported offshore by a large fleet. In August, the Persian army met Greek troops at the pass of Thermopylae while their ships encountered the allied fleet in the Straits of Artemisium. Despite a heroic stand, the Greeks were defeated at the Battle of Thermopylae forcing the fleet to retreat south to aid in the evacuation of Athens. Assisting in this effort, the fleet then moved to ports on Salamis. Athens Falls Advancing through Boeotia and Attica, Xerxes attacked and burned those cities that offered resistance before occupying Athens. In an effort to continue resistance, the Greek army established a new fortified position on the Isthmus of Corinth with the goal of defending the Peloponnesus. While a strong position, it could be easily outflanked if the Persians embarked their troops and crossed the waters of the Saronic Gulf. To prevent this, some of the allied leaders argued in favor of moving the fleet to the isthmus. Despite this threat, the Athenian leader Themistocles argued for remaining at Salamis. Frustrations at Salamis Offensively-minded, Themistocles understood that the smaller Greek fleet could negate the Persian advantage in numbers by fighting in the confined waters around the island. As the Athenian navy formed the larger component of the allied fleet, he was able to successfully lobby for remaining. Needing to deal with the Greek fleet before pressing on, Xerxes initially sought to avoid fighting in the narrow waters around the island. A Greek Trick Aware of discord among the Greeks, Xerxes began moving troops towards the isthmus with the hope that the Peloponnesian contingents would desert Themistocles in order to defend their homelands. This too failed and the Greek fleet remained in place. To promote the belief that the allies were fragmenting, Themistocles began a ruse by sending a servant to Xerxes claiming that Athenians had been wronged and wished to switch sides. He also stated that the Peloponnesians intended to depart that night. Believing this information, Xerxes directed his fleet to block the Straits of Salamis and those of Megara to the west. Moving to Battle While an Egyptian force moved to cover the Megara channel, the bulk of the Persian fleet took up stations near the Straits of Salamis. In addition, a small infantry force was moved to the island of Psyttaleia. Placing his throne on the slopes of Mount Aigaleos, Xerxes prepared to watch the coming battle. While the night passed without incident, the following morning a group of Corinthian triremes was spotted moving northwest away from the straits. Fleets Commanders Greeks ThemistoclesEurybiades366-378 ships Persians XerxesArtemisiaAriabignes600-800 ships Fighting Begins Believing that the allied fleet was breaking up, the Persians began moving towards the straits with the Phoenicians on the right, the Ionian Greeks on the left, and other forces in the center. Formed in three ranks, the Persian fleets formation began to disintegrate as it entered the confined waters of the straits. Opposing them, the allied fleet was deployed with the Athenians on the left, the Spartans on the right, and other allied ships in the center. As the Persians approached, the Greeks slowly backed their triremes, luring the enemy into the tight waters and buying time until the morning wind and tide (Map). Greeks Victorious Turning, the Greeks quickly moved to the attack. Driven back, the first line of Persian triremes was pushed into the second and third lines causing them to foul and for the organization to further break down. In addition, the beginning of a rising swell led the top-heavy Persian ships to have difficulty maneuvering. On the Greek left, the Persian admiral Ariabignes was killed early in the fighting leaving the Phoenicians largely leaderless. As the fighting raged, the Phoenicians were the first to break and flee. Exploiting this gap, the Athenians turned the Persian flank. In the center, a group of Greek ships managed to push through the Persian lines cutting their fleet in two. The situation for the Persians worsened through the day with the Ionian Greeks being the last to flee. Badly beaten, the Persian fleet retreated towards Phalerum with the Greeks in pursuit. In the retreat, Queen Artemisia of Halicarnassus rammed a friendly ship in an effort to escape. Watching from afar, Xerxes believed that she had sunk a Greek vessel and allegedly commented, My men have become women, and my women men. Aftermath Losses for the Battle of Salamis are not known with certainty, however, it is estimated that the Greeks lost around 40 ships while the Persians lost around 200. With the naval battle won, Greek marines crossed and eliminated the Persian troops on Psyttaleia. His fleet largely shattered, Xerxes ordered it north to guard the Hellespont. As the fleet was necessary for the supply of his army, the Persian leader also was forced to retreat with the bulk of his forces. Intending to finish the conquest of Greece the following year, he left a sizable army in the region under the command of Mardonius. A key turning point of the Persian Wars, the triumph of Salamis was built upon the following year when the Greeks defeated Mardonius at the Battle of Plataea.

How To Run A Successful Blog That Will Boost Your Following

How To Run A Successful Blog That Will Boost Your Following There are a few blogs on the Internet. A few of them have instructions on how to do content marketing and blogging the right way. And by a few, I mean millions. As a content marketer, you’re overloaded with information. Even if it’s helpful information, you can’t process all of it. Research has shown that when youre  faced with an information overload, the viewer tends to glaze over and not see the actual information. You  instead look for patterns. This is why zebras value their stripes and paint horses value their splotches- it’s hard for the predator to discern the individual animal behind the pattern of the vast herd. That’s fine for herbivores who want to live to see another day, but what about for us bloggers? What if you picked out the pattern that all blog headers should be blue  because you noticed a plethora of blue header graphics and can’t really remember anything else? Sometimes you need a distillery. (No, I do not mean you need to go get a drink). In this post, we will boil down to the very basics of blogging. Well enforce three core blogging concepts and will show you how to run a successful blog. Let’s forget hedging our bets so you can get a clear picture instead of a blurry pattern. 1. Write The Blog Post Fact:  You have to write blog posts if you’re going to blog. Real-world Realization:  Writing is hard work. It’s not shovel-ready work, it’s not elbow grease, but it’s work that strains your brain. Writing successful blog posts means you’re facing several decisions about what and how you will create the copy. While there’s truly no wrong approach to how you'll resolve these decisions when you are sincerely trying to do your best, this post is all about distillation. Let’s reduce all of those legitimate options and cut down to the bare bones of blogging. What should my blog posts be about? (Ideation.) Your post should be about one specific thing, and then three things related to that one thing. In other words, it’s about the idea of core content and peripheral content. If you blog about baking, that is your core. You’ll spend most of the time writing about the recipes and things you bake. Three related topics to that core content might be talking about handy kitchen tools, ingredient reviews, and new cookbooks. Your post  should be about something you love and believe in. If either of those  are lacking, writing will not be enjoyable work; it will be dreaded drudgery. What should my specific post be about? (Focus.) Your blog post should be specifically  focused, not generally. You are not writing about every kitchen mixer, but a specific kitchen mixer. You are not writing about everything you can do with email marketing, but about a specific email marketing technique. You might have lost specific focus if: You have more than three level two headings. Your post is much longer than you planned. You are having trouble writing a conclusion or call to action (we’ll talk about that next). Your introduction or thesis statement doesn’t make sense with what is in the body of the post. How long should my blog post be? (Depth.) Everyone has their own opinion, and there are many different right answers to the question of blog post length. But let me give you one to start from: 1,000 words (give or take a hundred). In those 1,000 words, your blog post should contain: An introduction:  You will tell your reader what you’re about to say in the blog post introduction. An argument:  This is the main body of your post, where you present information to the reader. That information should have: At least three links to your own content. At least one link to scholarly or research-based content. At least one link to quality outside content. A conclusion:  You will tell your reader what you just said. A call to action:  You will give the reader something to do with a call to action. What should my blog post look like? (Appearance.) Your blog post should have: A great headline:  about six to eight words long. The most exciting words come at the beginning of the headline. Three  level two headings: If it has a third level of subheading, try to have a few for each level two heading. At least one pull quote or tweetable quote:  This helps with blog promotion, which we talk about next. Here is an example: Aim for having at least one tweetable quote in your blog post. #blogging #SocialMediaGive your reader lots of white space by keeping your paragraphs to no more than three sentences each. Having headings, lists, and white space is all about people being able to scan your blog. How many images should I have in my post? (Appearance.) You must have at least one image. That image should: Be a â€Å"hero† image (strong enough to stand on its own outside of the context of your post). Have either your URL or your Twitter handle on the image. This is in case your image is orphaned via Google image searches or image social networks like Pinterest. Be sized to fit the majority of social networks. Using a tool  like Canva  can really help you out. Dig Deeper:  If you want to set yourself up with a mini course in foundational blog writing techniques, here are my favorite posts on the matter and methods I use myself: Write Better Blog Posts With Just 4 Quick Edits The 10-Minute, 10-Step Solution For The Best Blog Outline How To Write A Blog Post When You Don’t Want To How To Defeat Writer’s Block How To Write A Blog Post: Your 5-Point Checklist To Rock A Perfect Post How To Blog With As Little As Possible 4 Simple Brainstorming Techniques That Will Help You Write Killer Content 4-Step System For Writing A Great Blog Post, Even If You Have Writers Block 2. Promote The Blog Post Stupid question:  If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear, does it make a noise? More useful question:  If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear, does anyone care? Coming up with a content marketing promotion strategy is easily forgotten about for anyone who is more focused on creating blog content, abhorrent of self-promotion, or simply too distracted with the joys of writing to bother letting anyone know that there’s also publishing going on. Who do I tell I wrote a blog post? (Audience.) You tell people you know are interested and any you think might be interested. Recommended Reading from Neil Patel: The 6 Types Of Social Media Content That Will Give You The Greatest Value The people you know are interested are those who: Signed up for your email. Followed you on social media. Commented on your blog. Shared your link somewhere. Email you. The people who might be interested are those who: Do the previous list, but on another blog that is similar to yours. You already know this. It’s easy to forget there are five obvious audiences (and one possible audience) who want to hear from you. Sometimes it's easy to spend too much time building a promotion plan that is email or social media heavy. For every blog post you publish, alert each of these known/potential audiences. How do I tell them? (Relationship.) Telling people you created new blog content is a lot less awful if you’re not a jerk about it.