Fires Of Jubilee book review Essay Example

Fires Of Jubilee book review Essay Biographer Stephen B. Oates is an award winning Civil War era expert. The Fires of Jubilee is just one of sixteen books that he has written. As a History professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Oates wrote this biography of Nat Turner and his infamous insurrection. Nat Turner was convinced that he was a chosen man of the Lord. Ironically, the name Nathaniel is Hebrew for the gift of God. Nat felt, deep in his heart, that he was special and important in the fight for the freedom of all slaves. As a child he was something of a spectacul. His mother and father would brag to the other slaves of how Nat had congenital bumps and scars on his head and chest, which in African tradition meant that he was destined to be a leader. Also, Nat was naturally a highly intelligent person. As a child he was able to learn to read and write at ease on his own. This astonished many of the the slaves, as well as his master Ben Turner. Nat also astonished his mother by telling of an event th at happened prior to his birth, that he had no way of knowing. When she asked how he knew of the incident he said that somehow he just knew. Many of the whites and other slave also made Nat feel different than the other slave by saying that he would never be of any service to anyone as a slave. A comment that, at ayoung age, gave Nat the impression that he might one day be freed. Nat knew he was different. Even though it was considered disgraceful for slaves to not get drunk on holidays, Nat never drank, much less got drunk. The most convincing sign, to Nat, that he was chosen was that he had visions, that he claimed were from the Lord. Visions that would eventually be his motivation for insurrection. Until the age of 8, Nat was owner by Ben Turner, who was considered to be a fair and kind master. However, at the age of 9 Sam Turner, Bens son, became Nats new master. Sam was definetely a harsher master than his father, which was a blow to

How to Ace Your Nursing Interview

How to Ace Your Nursing Interview Many nursing interviewers ask similar questions. Fortunately, that means you can be even better prepared to ace the interview. Here are some of the toughest, and the best ways for you to respond: â€Å"Tell me a little bit about yourself.†Translation: Am I going to want to be your colleague? Are you qualified enough? Personable enough?Answer: Make sure to keep this one relevant to nursing, but add in a few personal details. Show how your personality traits and life goals, apart from making you a real nice person, lend themselves nicely to your chosen career. Focus on your strengths without sounding boastful, and you’ll nail it.â€Å"Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?†Translation: Are you really dedicated enough?Answer: Prove yourself. Show your dedication and your commitment, not just how much you love helping people (though that can be a good part of your origin story, your â€Å"I first knew I wanted to become a nurse† moment). Give the bi gger, more passionate picture, and then focus on the details of your hard work and tenacity.â€Å"Tell me what you know about us.†Translation: Have you done your homework? Do you really want to work here, or will you accept a job at any hospital?Answer: Actually do your homework. Research the position and the institution. Read patient reviews or ask acquaintances who’ve worked there. Be knowledgeable and able to make your case about why you belong in this particular hospital.â€Å"Why should I hire you?†Translation: What’s your secret weapon? Will you really be an asset if I hire you?Answer: Show them that you’ve done your homework, and prove that you can be part of the solution to whatever problems they might be struggling with, and also your visions for helping them reach their future goals. Don’t be afraid to be innovative!â€Å"How do you handle pressure?†Translation: Are you good enough to be a nurse in the field, and not just in the classroom? Can you handle everything the job is going to throw at you and keep your cool?Answer: You already have. Or if you haven’t- you have some experience you can tweak to demonstrate that you can take the heat. Show what skills and experience have led you to be a supernurse in any environment, no matter how stressful.â€Å"What are your career goals?†Translation: Are you in this to win this? Will we be able to groom you for promotions? Are you going to stick around?Answer: You want to excel in this position, learn everything you can, and then move to new challenges. But be sure to stress you won’t jump ship as soon as you’ve milked this job for all it’s worth! Show how your personal career goals overlap nicely with the institution’s goals.â€Å"What are your weaknesses?†Translation: Everyone has them. How do you deal with yours?Answer: Resist the temptation to say, â€Å"None! I am absolutely perfect; hire me!† Mentio n a couple of weaknesses that show your self-awareness, but also show how you’re already working to strengthen them. Be realistic.â€Å"Are you a team player?†Translation: Are you a diva, or do you realize the importance of teamwork in medicine?Answer: Again, prove it. You have plenty of team experience, and you’re smart enough to recognize how crucial it is for good patient care. Have an answer prepared to show it.â€Å"What are your salary requirements?†Translation: Will you accept the range we’re prepared to offer?Answer: Do a bit of research into the department so you get a sense of what other nurses are making. Avoid an exact figure; give a broad range. And if you truly would be happy with the low end of their range, stress that the position is more important to you than the pay.â€Å"Do you have any questions for us?†Translation: Are you just making the rounds, or are you really interested in working here?Answer: Ask the questions you probably have! The ones you’d have if you were to get the offer: What’s the nurse-patient ratio? How long is the orientation stage? Are there any additional educational opportunities? Whatever interests you most and shows your initiative.

Balanaced Scorecard and Performance Measurements Case Study

Balanaced Scorecard and Performance Measurements - Case Study Example 2007). The scorecard is effectively utilised in measuring the utilisation of resources in seeking to achieve the objectives stipulated within the context of the organisational vision and mission statement. The balanced scorecard for Otago Museum makes consideration of the companys objectives as compared to the various stakeholders within the organisational structure. The various stakeholders within the organisation need to be able to measure the performance in relation to the objectives of the organisation. As a non-profit organisation, effective functioning of the internal systems is essential in ensuring the stakeholders are focused in performing their responsibilities within the organisation. A consideration of the organisational vision enabled transformation of the objectives into operational goals, which become the fundamental responsibilities for the various stakeholders. The understanding of their responsibilities enables the stakeholders to identify instances when operations are not within the desired outcomes. This enables the stakeholders to adopt measures for making corrections in seeking to ensure the operations remain within the expected standards. These are the stakeholders who have continuously ensured the organisation remains operational. Their fundamental function is the coordination of resources towards achieving the identified outcomes of the organisation. These individuals are involved in the development of the organisational strategies in seeking to ensure delivery of the strategic objectives. Many of the developed strategies remain based on the organisational objectives, which are derived from the vision. The management functions and leadership provided by these stakeholders has remained fundamental in ensuring continued operation of Otago. These stakeholders need to be constantly informed about the modern trends within the business in order to integrate them within the context of Otago operations. The strategic

E-commerce and Its Importance in Business Dissertation

E-commerce and Its Importance in Business - Dissertation Example With the increase in the number of internet users, the popularity of e-commerce has been significantly increased by a greater extent. Customers and organisations are now much attracted towards performing e-commerce activities and are considering the use of internet as an important alternative over the traditional modes of business. In relation to the perception of e-commerce, the online marketing has provided a new paradigm to consumer behaviour. Online stores have offered customers with wide choice of products and convenient ways of shopping as well as payment modes (OECD, 1999). The emergence of e-commerce has relatively removed the barriers of customers and online traders to efficiently cooperate with each other irrespective of geographically distance. E-commerce enhanced the speed of business transactions and reduced the time that is consumed by the organisations while making business transactions. However, the intensified dependence on e-commerce has also raised significant conc ern over certain crucial factors like privacy along with security of customers’ vital information. ... The industries, markets and businesses are rapidly transforming themselves into technologically oriented from traditional approach due to extensive use of paper works that ultimately consumes much time while conducting any business transactions. Accordingly, the notion of e-commerce enhances the association between the customers and the suppliers and makes the buying as well as selling decisions of the customers more convenient to execute. Conversely, it can also be affirmed that e-commerce might pose serious impact almost on all the parties involved in a business transaction such as individual users, organisations, buyers and sellers (DeLone & McLean, 2004). Zhu (2004) proclaimed that the intensive use of internet imposes radical impact upon enterprise value chain system with respect to its inbound as well as outbound costs. Moreover, internet enabled initiatives undertaken by large companies will strengthen the online relationship with customers and will immensely help in dissemina ting product information, facilitating smooth product transactions, improving customer services and efficiently managing inventory electronically. Moreover, it has also been claimed that efficient use of e-commerce also intends to improve the utilisation of valuable assets by the organisations in the best possible way. Consequently, effective execution of precious assets will ultimately help the organisations to reduce their different costs, secure greater returns and enhance productivity along with profitability (Zhu, 2004). According to Pires & Aisbett (2003) e-commerce changes the behaviour as well as the attitudes of both the customers along with the suppliers within the marketplace.

Random House Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Random House - Essay Example Therefore, the story is written, simply to paint a positive side on the illegal immigration saga, often painted in bad light and insensitivity, through documenting the resilience, courage and determination that it takes to brace the journey. This way, it opens an avenue for further scrutiny into the issue of illegal immigration, paving way for further societal engagement and alternative policy formulation. Analysis Reading this story, one thing remains clear; the immigration of children and mothers from the nearby countries into the United States, though illegal, no doubt remains acceptable, logical and justifiable, when perceived from the eye of humanity, compassion and reason. Poverty, abuse and domestic violence remain the common denominator for most of the illegal immigrants that flocks the USA every year ((Nazario, 112). This is especially true for children who must always device means of reuniting with their parents, after a long period of separation, which eventually tears dow n all the walls of patience. No wonder therefore, that 75% of the unaccompanied children in a detention center in Texas holding children caught by the INS illegally migrating into the USA, are seeking for their mothers (Nazario, 1). Different individuals may have different reasons for illegally immigrating into another country. However, it is only the ones with logical, justified and courageous hearts, who will withstand all the challenges posed by the immigration journey. Trekking the 1600 miles from Honduras to the USA, especially for an illegal immigrant is a journey that many would find not worth taking. There is virtually no comfort in such a journey, which greatly involves clinging on sides and tops of freight trains, unless one is the greeted with the kindness of strangers, who are on route to the country for different reasons, other than running away from the unbearable circumstances in their motherland. The journey is pretty hard for those immigrating from Mexico, but even harder for those emigrating from other regions like Enrique (Nazario, 2). It is therefore apparent that those seeking the fun of trekking will not withstand the harsh and hostile conditions characterized by the journey, and thus would opt not to make such attempts. Most of the illegal immigrants, and especially those who are children, brace the journey, since it is the only option they have left. Therefore, the author of the story seeks to document all the challenges involved in the immigration journey, through the exemplification of Enrique, who represents a thousand other children, apparently to tell the world that there is more than just the illegality of the migration. Thus, the story raises various critical questions. Is the emigration of children from Central America and Mexico into the USA justifiable? Can the society do something to avert the suffering endured by children left by their parents in sear’s border be reconciled with the need to avert the horrendous experi ences borne by immigrant children in search of their parents? The eminent risks of death, cruelty and

Explanation Of Multi Camera Production Media Essay

Explanation Of Multi Camera Production Media Essay During the beginning of the second semester of multi camera production we were introduced to the News Production. News in the media refers to the sector of mass media that mainly focuses on the current news to the public. As broadcasting news is watched all over the world and the number one news channel is the BBC. The BBC is widely broadcasted all over the world covering range of stories for the public interest. News is often reported by a number of sources, such as newspapers, television and radio programs, wire services, and web sites. News coverage is a kind of reporting normally written or transmits in news styles. Most news is investigated and presented by journalists and can be shared to various outlets. As technology has come a long way it has come into the work place of the news broadcasting, as news is covered from all areas of the world and anywhere and anytime journalists have to think on their feet as some stories they may cover do not allow a news crew and cameras at a particular scene. Journalists are prone to use their mobile phones to cover breaking news in certain countries; the main purpose of news is to get the story which is very important rather than the quality. The story is the important key to news broadcasting as it is essential to the viewers even if it may not be as good quality and filmed by a video phone. Through researching and in lectures, BBC is the most factually based and straight news channel, as its very different to any other news in Britain and USA. For example CNN and Fox news in the USA looks more set up and planned out, it is usually over the top and an exaggerated show, repeating same stories in different ways as they are also in competition with each other. However ITV news is mainly the same stories as the BBC but it is more commercial based news rather than the facts and straight to the story as it would drag. From having an introduction session in the news room, has given me more of an insight how the news works and how it is set up to gather much information to broadcast to the viewers. Through the tutorial session of the News Room, I have learnt everything in news is on demand and fast all editing is done by three main editors, photo, audio and video editors to get the perfect story. This is something that I would like to get into as its very challenging and putting up with pressure and delivering on a deadline. The newsroom is the heart of the news-gathering process. The newsroom is controlled by the news editor, who supervises this whole process. The news editor complies a dairy of jobs; brief the reporter who will do them; monitors the days or weeks work. (i.e. checks it while it is going on); checks the finished stories, liaises with the photographers and illustrators and answers queries. The news editor also keeps the editor and the chief sub-editor informed on how the work is progressing.   [1]   Through my own research of how a news room is set up I established that its usually a multi camera shoot using one or more cameras. In a news room they would use a CGI camera as they would use it for the blue screen for the background of the presenters and also for the weather. Its important for the news room to have all the monitors on for the presenters especially for the sports or weather, for highlights so they can keep talking to the video to see what they are doing. To get one of the best stories for any journalist they would have to go undercover in some parts of the world whether they are covering war stories or a prohibited area. For example undercover reporting is a journalist posing as someone friendly to the community, like Humphrey Hawksley. A well experienced news reporter working for the BBC for reporting all over the worlds current affair stories. He has reported all over Asia, one of the stories he covered was in the Philippines was the violence and torture. After reporting this he had received death threats himself, so this shows, to get the best stories what pressure and conditions you would have to go through. Undercover reporting from Zimbabwe is a risky business. Add to the mix a close encounter with one of President Mugabes most feared supporters and, as Ian Pannell discovered, it becomes a brief glimpse of the terror that many people in the country are living through.  [2]   As from the quote above Ian Panell is faced with a close encounter with President Mugabe as he was covering the most powerful man in Zimbabwe. Reporters will do anything to make the stories over dramatic for the viewers no matter what conditions and situations they are put through. Also in the beginning of the second semester we had to get into teams of three to four as we had to pitch our idea for a two minute VT, for the second years entertainment show called According to man. A four part series for men, its a magazine style show that focuses on all men interests, the show has continuous structure of two inserts and guests on each show. For our part as first years we had to produce a two to three minute section that will fit in with their show. As the show is comical and the look they are going for is a Top Gear style and will be using tongue and cheek humour. For this to be a winning insert my team and I went for the fitness route for men, as all men like to be fit and this will go with the show well. Our idea was called Flex Those Pecks. Flex those pecks is approximately a three minute VT that forces on men bodies and how psychical in shape they really are and during their day to day lifestyle. They were impressed with the idea but it was too vague. As we also had done research that contained facts and figures to go with the idea. We didnt have a power point presentation to show more in detailed information of what flex those pecks was all about, by not having a power point to present, clearly let us down but we had positive feedback that will taken on for future pitches to come. The winning pitch was Hang Over Cures. For this we had one guest presenter to talk to our guests that had been drunk that night before and filmed so we can play this in our insert, the thirty seconded VT showed two of our guest getting drunk the night before. They would have to try two different hang over cures and then the two guests will be in the studio to see if it had made any difference to them within the twenty four hours. It clearly showed that Charless hang over cure didnt work and Charlies did take an affect. The unique quality of an electronic camera is its ability to produce a picture that can be instantly transmitted. Multi camera coverage entails a production technique which involves a number of people perfecting their individual contribution in a production group simultaneously as the event is transmitted. To coordinate such a group activity, it is essential to plan a d have some measure of rehearsal before transmission or rely on standard production conventions which are understood by everyone involved.  [3]   We all had our specific roles within the production to make it run smoothly we all had tutorials enabling us to be prepared as this was an important piece for the second years as they will be using our insert for their magazine show. One of the roles that I had taken upon in the production was Autocue. Autocue is a teleprompter that is connected to two or more cameras in the studio where it allows the presenters to read off the autocue as they were looking straight at the camera. The way the autocue works it prompts the presenter or speaker in front of the camera with visual text of a script, this is similar by using cue cards. The two way mirror in front of the lens of the camera reflective on the screen by a video monitor where the script is, and the presenters eyes are on the two way mirror where they are reading it from. Television technologically has evolved over the years from having cardboard cue cards to having autocue from the camera to have it in various fonts, colours and languages. Todays television prompters have evolved from the 1955 autocue as flat screen computer driven units that displays text using all the benefits of scalable true type fonts in any language or colour, including Hindi, Chinese or Japanese.  [4]   I felt confident using the autocue as its very simple to use, as you would need to keep in time with the presenter and how fast he or she speaks. Setting up the autocue was fairly simple as its done on the computer with autocue software which is in a script format and I could make changes to it as when the camera is rolling, which I had to do in last few minutes by adding the shows web address. The autocue program allows you to copy and paste text from any word processing program to the prompter has all of the features that you will need to do a successful video shoot. When reviewing the final show on its own and how it adapted to the According to Man, it fitted well with their show as their main target audience. However when reviewing the full series of According to Man it contrasted the show well; yet the presenter for our insert looked more childish than to be serving to drinks and didnt quite fit into the men magazine show. Furthermore the camera work was inadequate in some parts and the lighting of the studio was too bright, but the VT that we filmed them getting drunk the night before really fitted well with our insert as the audience could understand the concept as it were a little experiment. Overall I thought this insert went well as we worked professionally and gained vast skills from the first production we had done and adapted new ideas into making it an original three minute piece. This gave me a better understanding of what people in the industry are looking for as we just had to produce a three minute insert for a particular show and how they will change parts of your script and ideas to make it fit their show. Finally multiple camera setups is a way of shooting films and television programs, such as sitcoms like Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, only Fools and Horses and many more. Multi camera filming was set up to capture the multiple shots in a single take without having to start and stop the action. This would also reduce the time spent on editing the footage as the some programs that are to be shown in a short time. It is also an essential for shows like daily soap operas from saving editing time, scenes may be shot far more quickly as there is no requirement for the show to re-light and the set-up of alternating camera angles for the scene to be shot again from different position. This also reduces the difficulty of tracking continuity issues that crop up when the scene is reshot from the different angles. It is also fundamental for live television such as news reporting. Most sitcoms are normally 30 minutes long, it is necessary that the plot line to be quite tight. Winning plots will naturally fall within a family or workplace setting or some mixture of the two. Within this setting, there are two parts to the storylines in which you can call part A and part B. Part A of the storyline would be the main plot of the sitcom. The A story would usually run right through the show and wont come to an end until the final scene. The B storyline is the second part of the sitcom. It would depend on how many characters you would have in the cast; there can be other side line stories such as C, D, and so on. If you throw in a hook or plot twist and you have a show. For example Friends and Fresh Prince of Bel Air is a more long established looking sitcom usually shot in front of a studio audience. In most cases you will see four cameras shooting a scene simultaneously, giving the producers four possible angles and possibly using a crane camera. The way the sitcom would we set up is that you have four cameras two on either side or usually wide shots two in the middle a close up and some cases a crane. As sitcoms with a live audience they have different locations within the studio to set the each scene like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Analysis of Pauline Puyat’s Tracks­ Essay -- Tracks

Analysis of Pauline Puyat’s Tracks ­ One of the most striking characteristics of Pauline Puyat is her devout Catholicism and her desire to be disconnected from the Ojibwa people. Throughout Tracks, she openly chooses Catholicism over her native religion and abandons her native ways almost completely. When Pauline tries to help Fleur prevent a miscarriage, she is literally held back by her conscious separation from the Ojibwa culture. There are many things that Pauline fails to do to effectively prevent Fleur from miscarrying. The most obvious is her failure to efficiently put together the herbal steep made of Alder: â€Å"And I could not remember the plant’s configuration, even though its use was common enough for bleeding problems† (156). Although Pauline could be nervously forgetting the properties of Alder, this forgetfulness of a basic remedy stresses her abandonment of Ojibwa society and its practices. The array of stored plants makes Pauline even more nervous: â€Å"Plant after Plant! Some were shaped like a man’s forked legs and some were rolled in balls...I put fort...

Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 32~33

32 The Missionary Position The guards came for Tucker at sunset, just as he was slipping into the cotton pants and shirt the doctor had left for him. The doctor's clothes were at least three sizes too big for him, but with the bandages he had to put them over, that was a blessing. He still had his own sneakers, which he put on his bare feet. He asked the guards to wait and they stood just inside his door, as straight and silent as terra-cotta soldiers. â€Å"So, you guys speak English?† The guards didn't answer. They watched him. â€Å"Japanese, huh? I've never been to Japan. I hear a Big Mac goes for twelve bucks.† He waited for some response and got none. The Japanese stood impassive, silent, small beads of sweat shining through their crew cuts. â€Å"Sorry, guys, I'd love to hang around with you chatterboxes, but I'm due for dinner with the doc and his wife.† Tuck limped to the guards and offered each an arm in escort. â€Å"Shall we go?† The guards turned and led him across the compound to one of the bungalows on the beach. The guards stopped at the steps of the lanai and Tuck dug into his pants pockets. â€Å"Sorry guys, no cash. Have the concierge put a couple of yen on my bill.† The doctor came through the french doors in a white ice cream suit, carrying a tall iced drink garnished with mango. â€Å"Mr. Case, you're looking much better. How are you feeling?† â€Å"Nothing wrong with me one of those won't cure.† Sebastian Curtis frowned. â€Å"I'm afraid not. You shouldn't drink alcohol with the antibiotics I have you on.† Tucker felt his guts twist. â€Å"Just one won't hurt, will it?† â€Å"I'm afraid so. But I'll make you one without alcohol. Come in. Beth is making a wonderful grouper in ginger sauce.† Tucker went though the french doors to find a bungalow decorated much like his own, only larger. There was an open kitchen nook where Beth Curtis was stirring something with a wooden spoon. She looked up and smiled. â€Å"Mr. Case, just in time. I need someone to taste this sauce.† She was wearing a cream-colored Joan Crawford number with middle line-backer shoulder pads and buff-colored high heels. The dress was straight out of the forties, but Tuck had been around Mary Jean long enough to know that Mrs. Curtis had dropped at least five hundred bucks on the shoes. Evidently, missionary work paid pretty well. She held a hand under Tuck's chin as she presented the spoon. The sauce was sweet citrus with a piquant bite to it. â€Å"It's good,† he said. â€Å"Really good.† â€Å"No fibbing, Mr. Case. You're going to have to eat it.† â€Å"No, I like it.† â€Å"Well, good. Dinner will be ready in about a half hour. Now, why don't you men take your drinks out on the lanai and let a girl do her magic.† Sebastian handed Tuck an icy glass filled with an orange liquid and garnished with mango. â€Å"Shall we?† he said, leading Tuck back outside. They stood at the railing, looking out at the moon reflecting in the ocean. â€Å"Would you be more comfortable sitting, Mr. Case?† the doctor asked. â€Å"No, I'm fine. And please call me Tuck. Anyone calls me Mr. Case more than three times, I start thinking I'm going to get audited.† The doctor laughed, â€Å"We can't have that. Not with the kind of money you're going to be making. But legally, you know, it's tax-free until you take it back into the United States.† Tuck stared out at the ocean for a moment, wondering whether it was time to give this gift horse a dental exam. There was just too damn much money showing on this island. The equipment, the plane, Beth Curtis's clothes. After Jake Skye's lecture, Tuck had imagined that he might encounter some sweaty drug-smuggling doctor with a Walther in his belt and a coke whore wife, but these two could have just flown in from an upscale church social. Still, he knew they were lying to him. They had referred to the Japanese as their â€Å"staff,† but he'd seen one of them carrying an Uzi out behind the hangar. He was going to ask, he really was, but as he turned to face the doctor, he heard a soft bark at the end of the lanai and looked up to see a large fruit bat hanging from the edge of the tin roof. Roberto. The doctor said, â€Å"Tucker, about the drinking.† Tuck pulled his gaze away from the bat. The doctor had seen him. â€Å"What drinking?† â€Å"You know that we saw the reports on your – how should I put it?† â€Å"Crash.† â€Å"Yes, on your crash. I'm afraid, as I told you, we can't have you drinking while you're working here. We may need you to fly on very short notice and we can't risk that you might not be ready.† â€Å"That was an isolated incident,† Tuck lied. â€Å"I really don't drink much.† â€Å"Just a momentary lapse of judgment, I understand. And it may seem a bit draconian, but as long as you don't drink or go out of the compound, everything will be fine.† â€Å"Sure, no problem.† Tuck was watching the bat over the doctor's shoulder. Roberto had unfurled his wings and was turning in the sea breeze like an inverted weather vane. Tuck tried to wave him off behind the doctor's back. â€Å"I know this may all seem very limiting, but I've worked with the Shark People for a long time, and they're very sensitive to contact with outsiders.† â€Å"The Shark People? You said you'd explain that.† â€Å"They hunt sharks. Most of the natives in Micronesia won't eat shark. In fact, it's taboo. But the reef fish here often have a high concentration of neurotoxin, so the natives developed shark as a food source. You would think that the sharks, being higher on the food chain, would have a higher concentration of the toxin, wouldn't you?† â€Å"You'd think,† Tuck said, having no idea whatsoever what the doctor was talking about. â€Å"They don't, though. It's as if something in their system neutralizes the toxin. I've done a little research in my spare time.† â€Å"I've seen a lot of shark shows on the Discovery Channel. They go on and on about how harmless sharks are. It's bullshit. Half of these stitches you put in me are because of a shark attack.† â€Å"Maybe they don't have cable,† the doctor said. Tuck turned to him, amazed. â€Å"A joke, Doc?† The doctor looked a little embarrassed. â€Å"I'm going to go see how dinner is coming along. I'll be right back.† He turned and went into the house. Tucker bolted to the end of the lanai where Roberto was hanging. â€Å"Shoo. Go away.† Roberto made a trilling noise and tried to catch Tuck's drink with his wing claw. â€Å"Okay, you can have the mango, but then you have to get out of here.† Tucker held out the piece of cut mango and the fruit bat took it in his wing claw and slurped it down. â€Å"Now get out of here,† Tucker said. â€Å"Go find Kimi. Shoo, shoo.† Roberto tilted his head and said, â€Å"Back off on these people, Tuck. You push them too hard, they'll pull your plug. Just keep your eyes open.† Tuck moved away from the bat with stiff jerking steps out of the line dance of the undead. The bat had said something. It was a tiny voice, high but raspy, the voice of a chain-smoking Topo Gigio, but it was clear. â€Å"You didn't talk,† Tucker said. â€Å"Okay,† said Roberto. â€Å"Thanks for the mango.† Roberto took off, the beat of his wings like the shuffle of a deck of leather cards. Tuck backed though the french doors into a wicker emperor's chair and sat down. â€Å"Come sit,† Beth Curtis said as she carried a tray to the table. â€Å"Dinner's ready.† â€Å"What kind of drugs have you been giving me, Doc?† â€Å"Broad-spectrum antibiotics and some Tylenol. Why?† â€Å"Any chance they could cause hallucinations?† â€Å"Not unless you were allergic, and we'd know that by now. Why?† â€Å"Just wondering.† Beth Curtis came to him and patted his shoulder. Her nails, he noticed, were perfect. â€Å"You had a fever when they brought you in. Sometimes that can give a person bad dreams. I think you'll feel a lot better after a good meal.† She helped him up and led him to the table, which was set with a white tablecloth and black linen napkins around a centerpiece of orchid sprigs arranged in a crystal bowl. A whole grouper stared up between fanned slices of plantain on a serving tray, his eye a little dry but clear and accusing. Tuck said, â€Å"If that thing starts talking, I want to be sedated – and right now.† â€Å"Oh, Mr. Case.† Beth Curtis rolled her eyes and laughed as they sat down to dinner. Tuck could almost feel his body absorbing the nourishment. He told them the story of his journey to the island, exaggerating the danger aspect and glossing over his injuries, Kimi, and his craving for alcohol. He didn't mention Roberto at all. By the time Tucker was in the typhoon, the Curtises were well into their second bottle of white wine. Beth's cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm for Tuck's every word. Tuck really intended to ask about Kimi, their cryptic messages, the guards, the rules for his employment, and of course, where the hell all the money came from, but instead he found himself playing to Beth Curtis like a comedian on a roll and he left the bungalow at midnight quite taken with both himself and the doctor's wife. The Curtises stood arm in arm at the door as the guards escorted Tucker back to his quarters. Halfway across the compound, he did a giddy turn and waved to them, feeling as if he had been the one to consume two bottles of wine. â€Å"What do you think?† the Sorcerer asked his wife. â€Å"Not a problem,† she said, keeping a parade smile pointed Tuck's way. â€Å"I really expected him to be a little more resistant to our conditions.† â€Å"As if he's in a position to bargain. The man has nothing, is nothing. He shatters this little illusion we've given him and he has to face himself.† â€Å"He looks at you like you're some sort of beatific vestal virgin. I don't like it.† â€Å"I can handle that. You just get flyboy ready to do his job.† â€Å"He'll be able to fly within a week. He brought up his navigator again while we were outside.† â€Å"If he's here, you'd better find him.† â€Å"I'll speak to Malink tonight. The Micro Spirit is due in day after tomor-row. If we find the navigator, we can send him back on the ship.† â€Å"Depending on what he's seen,† she said. â€Å"Yes, depending on what he knows.† Tucker Case entered his bungalow feeling satisfied and full of himself. Someone had turned on the lights in his absence and turned down the bed. â€Å"What, no mint on the pillow?† He changed into a pair of the doctor's pajama bottoms and grabbed a paperback spy novel from a stack someone had left on the coffee table. They had a TV. There had been a TV in the Curtises' bungalow. He'd have to ask them to get him one. No, dammit, demand a television. What did Mary Jean always say? â€Å"You can sell all day, but if you don't ask for the money, you haven't made a sale.† Good food, good money, and a great aircraft to fly – he'd stumbled into the best gig on the planet. I am the Phoenix, rising from the ashes. I am the comeback kid. I am the entire 1980 gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic hockey team. I am the fucking walrus, coo-coo ka-choo. He went into the bathroom to brush his teeth, caught his reflection in the mirror. His mood went terminal. I am never going to get laid again as long as I live. I should have pressed them about Kimi. I didn't even ask about what in the hell kind of cargo I'm going to be flying. I am a spineless worm. I'm scum. I'm the Hindenburg, I'm Michael Milken, Richard Nixon. I'm seeing ghosts and bats that talk and I'm stuck on an island where the only woman makes Mother Theresa look like a lap dancer in a leper colony. I am the man who put the F in failure, the P in pathetic, the G in gullible. I am the ringworm poster boy of Gangrene City. I'm an insane, unemployed bus driver for the death camp cartel. Tuck went to bed without brushing his teeth. 33 Chasing the Scoop Natives slept side by side, crisscrossed, and piled on the deck of the Micro Spirit until – with a thu showing here, or a lavalava there, streams of primary color among all that gelatinous brown flesh – it looked as if someone had dropped a big box of candy in the hot sun and they had melted together and spilled their fillings. Amid the mess, Jefferson Pardee, rolled and pitched with the ship, finding three sleeping children lying on him when the ship moved to starboard, a rotund island grandmother washing against him when the ship listed to port. He'd been stepped on three times by ashy callused feet, once on the groin, and he was relatively sure he could feel lice crawling in his scalp. Unable to sleep, he stood up and the mass moved amoebalike into the vacated deck space. A three-quarter moon shone high and bright, and Pardee could see well enough to make his way through to the railing, only stepping on one woman and evoking colorful island curses from two men. Once at the rail, the warm wind washed away the cloying smell of sweat and the rancid nut smell of copra coming from the holds. The moon's re-flection lay in the black sea like a tossing pool of mercury. A pod of dolphins rode the ship's bow wave like gray ghosts. He took several deep breaths, relieved himself over the side, then dug a bent cigarette out of his shirt pocket. He lit it with a disposable lighter and exhaled a contrail of smoke with a long sigh. Thirty years in the tropics had given him a high tolerance for discomfort and inconvenience, but the break in routine was maddening. Back on Truck, he'd be toweling off the smell of stale beer and the residue of an oily tumble with a dollar whore, preparing to pass out with a volume of Mencken under his little air conditioner. No thought of the day to come or the one just passed, for one was like the next and they were all the same. Just cool cloudy sleep that made him feel, if only for a minute, like that young Midwestern boy on an adventure, exhausted from passion and fear, rather than a fat old man worn down by ennui. And here, in the salt and the moonlight, on the trail of a story or maybe just a rumor, he felt the fungus growing in his lungs, the pain in his lower back, the weight of ten thousand beers and half a million cigarettes and thirty years of fish fried in coconut oil pressing on his heart, and none of it – none of it – was so heavy as the possibility of dashed hopes. Why had he opened himself up to a future and failure, when he had been failing just fine already? â€Å"You can't sleep?† the mate said. Pardee hadn't heard the wiry sailor move to the rail. He was drinking a Bud tallboy, against regulations, and Pardee felt a craving twist like a worm in his chest at the sight of the can. â€Å"You got another one of those?† The mate reached into the deep front pocket of his shorts, pulled out another beer, and handed it to Pardee. It was warm, but Pardee popped the top and drank off half of it in one gulp. â€Å"How long before we make Alualu?† Pardee asked. â€Å"Three, maybe four hour. Sunrise. We drop you on north side of island, you swim in.† â€Å"What?† Pardee looked down to the black waves, then back at the mate. â€Å"The doctor no let anyone go on the island except to bring cargo. You have to swim in on other side of island. Maybe half mile, maybe less.† â€Å"How will I get back to the ship?† â€Å"Captain say he will swing back around the island when we leave. Captain say he wait half an hour. You swim back out. We pick you up.† â€Å"Can't you send a boat?† â€Å"No boat. No break in reef except on south side where we unload. We have many fuel barrel and crates. You will have seven, maybe eight hour.† Pardee had seen the Spirit arrive in Truk lagoon a thousand times; the ship was always surrounded by outboards and canoes filled with excited natives. â€Å"Maybe I can get one of the Shark People to ferry me.† He did not want to get in that water, and he certainly didn't want to swim half a mile to shore, wasn't sure he could. â€Å"Shark People no have boat. They no leave island.† â€Å"No boats?† Pardee was amazed. Living in these islands without a boat was akin to living in Los Angeles without a car. It wasn't done; it couldn't be done. The mate patted Pardee's big shoulder. â€Å"You be fine. I have mask and fins for you.† â€Å"What about sharks?† â€Å"Sharks afraid around there. On most island people afraid of shark. On Alualu shark afraid of people.† â€Å"You're sure about that?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Oh, good. Do you have another beer?† Three hours later the rising sun lay like a silver tray on the horizon and Jefferson Pardee was having swim fins duct-taped to his feet by the first mate. The deck bustled with excited natives eating rice balls and taro paste, smoking cigarettes, shitting over the railings, and milling around the ship's store, trying to buy Cokes and Planter's cheese balls, Australian corned beef, and, of course, Spam. A small crowd had gathered around to watch the white man prepare for his swim. Pardee stood in his boxer shorts, maggot white except for his forearms and face, which looked like they'd been dipped in red barn paint. The mate stuffed Pardee's clothes and notebook into a garbage bag and handed it to him, then slathered the journalist with waterproof sunscreen, a task on par with basting a hippo. Pardee snarled at a group of giggling children and they ran off down the deck screaming. Pardee heard the ship's big screws grind to a halt and the mate unhooked a chain gate set in the railing. â€Å"Jump,† he said. Pardee looked at the crystal water forty feet below. â€Å"You're out of your fucking mind. Don't you have a ladder?† â€Å"You can't climb ladder with fins.† â€Å"I'll take the fins off until I get in the water.† â€Å"No. Straps broken. You have to jump.† Pardee shook his head and the flesh on his shoulders and back followed suit. â€Å"It's not gonna happen.† Suddenly the children Pardee had frightened came running around the bridge like a squealing pack of piglets. Two little boys broke formation and ran toward the journalist, who looked around just as he felt four tiny brown hands impact with his back. Pardee saw sky, then water, then sky, then the island of Alualu laying on the sea like a bad green toupee, then the impact with the water took his breath, ripped the mask from his face, and forced streams of brine into his sinuses strong enough to bring blood. Before he could even find the surface, he heard the ship's screws begin to grind as the Micro Spirit steamed away. Two excited boys shook Malink awake. â€Å"The ship is here and the Sorcerer is coming!† The old chief sat up on his grass sleeping mat and wiped the sleep from his eyes. He slept on the porch of his house, part of the stone foundation that had been there for eight hundred years. He stood on creaking morning legs and went to the bunch of red bananas that hung from the porch roof. He tore off two bananas and gave them to the boys. â€Å"Where did you see the Sorcerer?† â€Å"He comes across Vincent's airstrip.† â€Å"Good boys. You go eat breakfast now.† Malink went to a stand of ferns behind his house, pulled aside his thu, and waited to relieve himself. This took longer every day it seemed. The Sorcerer had told Malink that he had angered the prostate monster and the only way to appease him was to quit drinking coffee and tuba and to eat the bitter root of the saw palmetto. Malink had tried these things for almost two full days before giving up, but it was too hard to wake up without coffee, too hard to go to sleep without tuba, saw palmetto made his stomach hurt, and he seemed to have a headache all the time. The prostate monster would just have to remain angry. Sometimes the Sorcerer was wrong. He finished and straightened his thu, passed a thundering cannonade of gas, then went back to the sitting spot on the porch to get his cigarettes. The women had made a fire to boil water for coffee; the smoke from the burning coconut husks wafted out of the corrugated tin cookhouse and hung like blue fog under the canopy of breadfruit, mahogany, and palm trees. Malink lit a cigarette and looked up to see the Sorcerer coming down the coral path, his white lab coat stark against the browns and greens of the village. â€Å"Saswitch† (good morning), Malink said. The Sorcerer spoke their lan-guage. â€Å"Saswitch, Malink,† the Sorcerer said. At the sound of his voice Malink's wife and daughters ran out of the cookhouse and disappeared down the paths of the village. â€Å"Coffee?† Malink asked in English. â€Å"No, Malink, there is no time today.† Malink frowned. It was rude for anyone to turn down an offer of food or drink, even the Sorcerer. â€Å"We have little Tang. You want Tang? Spacemen drink it.† The Sorcerer shook his head. â€Å"Malink, there was another man here with the pilot you found. I need to find him.† Malink looked at the ground. â€Å"I no see any other man.† The Sorcerer didn't seem angry, but just the same, Malink didn't like lying to him. He didn't want to anger Vincent. â€Å"I won't punish anyone if something happened to him, if he was hurt or drowned, but I need to know where he is. Vincent has asked me to find him, Malink.† Malink could feel the Sorcerer staring a hole in the top of his head. â€Å"Maybe I see another man. I will ask at the men's house today. What he look like?† â€Å"You know what he looks like. I need to find him now. The Sky Priestess will give back the coffee and sugar if we can find him today.† Malink stood. â€Å"Come, we find him.† He led the Sorcerer through the village, which appeared deserted except for a few chickens and dogs, but Malink could see eyes peeking out from the doorways. How would he ex-plain this when they asked why the Sorcerer had come? They passed out of the village, went past the abandoned church, the graveyard, where great slabs of coral rock kept the bodies from floating up through the soil during the rainy season, and down the overgrown path to Sarapul's little house. The old cannibal was sitting in his doorway sharpening his machete. Malink turned to the Sorcerer and whispered, â€Å"He rude sometime. He very old. Don't be mad.† The Sorcerer nodded. â€Å"Saswitch, Sarapul. The Sorcerer has come to see you.† Sarapul looked up and glared at them. He had red chicken feathers stuck in his hair, two severed chicken feet hung from a cord above his head. â€Å"All the sorcerers are dead,† Sarapul said. â€Å"He is just a white doctor.† Malink looked at the Sorcerer apologetically, then turned back to Sarapul. â€Å"He wants to see the man you found with the pilot.† Sarapul ran his thumb over the edge of his machete. â€Å"I don't know what happened to him. Maybe he went swimming and a shark got him. Maybe someone eat him.† Sebastian Curtis stepped forward. â€Å"He won't be hurt,† he said. â€Å"We are going to send him out on the ship.† â€Å"I want to go to the ship,† Sarapul said. â€Å"I want to buy things. Why can't we go to the ship?† â€Å"That's not the issue here, old man. Vincent wants this man found. If he's dead, I need to know.† â€Å"Vincent is dead.† The Sorcerer crouched down until he was eye-to-eye with the old cannibal. â€Å"You've seen the guards at the compound, Sarapul. If the man isn't at the gate in an hour, I'm going to have the guards tear the island apart until they find him.† Sarapul grinned. â€Å"The Japanese? Good. You send them here.† He swung his machete in front of the sorcerer's face. â€Å"I have a present for them.† Curtis stood. â€Å"An hour.† He turned and walked away. Malink ambled along behind him. â€Å"Maybe he is right. Maybe the man drown or something.† â€Å"Find him, Malink. I meant it about the guards. I want this man in an hour.† â€Å"He is gone,† Sarapul said. â€Å"You can come out.† Kimi dropped out of the rafters of Sarapul's little house. â€Å"What is he talking about – guards?† â€Å"Ha!† Sarapul said. â€Å"He knows nothing. He didn't even know I had this.† Sarapul reached down and pulled out a headless chicken he had been sitting on. â€Å"He is no sorcerer.† â€Å"He said there were guards.† Kimi said. Sarapul laid his chicken on the ground. â€Å"If you are afraid, you should go.† â€Å"I have to find Roberto.† â€Å"Then let them send the guards,† Sarapul said, brandishing his machete. â€Å"They can die just like this chicken.† Kimi stepped back from the old cannibal, who was on the verge of foaming at the mouth. â€Å"We friends, right?† â€Å"Build a fire,† Sarapul said. â€Å"I want to eat my chicken.†

Where to Find Specific Types of Rocks and Minerals

Where to Find Specific Types of Rocks and Minerals Rocks and minerals are all around us. You can pretty much find interesting specimens in almost any natural environment but you have to know where to look and what to look for. If youre new to geology, there is no substitute for examining as many different rocks as possible to familiarize yourself with whats out there. This guide will give you a good idea of some of the best places to get started. Hunting Rocks: Beaches and Riverbeds Whether youre a kid or a grownup, one of the best hunting grounds for rocks is a beach. Ocean beaches boast a wide variety of specimens and since theyre spread out across large areas and renewed with every tide, youre pretty much assured of finding something interesting. Beaches are beginner-friendly. Just bring along some sunscreen, water, something to put your finds in, and youre basically good to go. Beach rocks tend to be of the harder rock varieties (igneous and metamorphic). They get a good grinding in the surf zone, so they tend to be fairly clean and smooth. However, since its not always possible to pinpoint their source of origin, beach rocks are known by geology fanciers as stones without context. A stone on the beach may have fallen from cliffs along the shore or have broken off of a submerged underwater outcrop; it may have even traveled downstream in a river from a great distance inland. River rocks are much more likely to originate near the riverbed and banks. River rocks tend to include more of the softer rock types, and the farther upstream you can go, the truer this is. If you plan to hunt river rocks, be sure to wear sturdy footwear and make sure youre not trespassing. Bedrock: Exposures and Outcrops While beaches and rivers are good places for beginners to launch their education in rock collecting, for a  more serious study of rocks, youll need to find exposed bedrock. Bedrock- or living rock- is an  intact formation that has not been broken away from its original body. A place of any kind where bedrock is lying out in the open ready for your hammer is called an exposure; a naturally occurring exposure is called an outcrop. Outcrops may be found at the beach or along a river bank. In fact, in many geographic regions, these are the only places to find them. For more, youll need to visit the hills or the mountains. If you take manmade sites into account, exposures are quite common. Building sites with their excavations are plentiful all over the country. Mines and quarries offer excellent exposures as well, and they have the advantage of being more permanent than excavation sites. The best bedrock exposures are generally found in road cuts, and amateurs and professionals alike rely on them heavily for their best finds. In civil engineering jargon, a cut or cutting  is the area from which soil and rock are removed to facilitate the building of a road. Road cuts have many good features: Theyre clean, especially when newTheyre easy to visit, alone or in a groupIf theyre on public property, hammering is generally not forbiddenThey expose rocks well, even soft rocksThey expose rocks in their context, including features and structures not visible in a hand specimen Hunting Minerals Minerals can generally be found wherever rocks are found. Thats a good starting point, but a mineral hunter needs to know more geology than the rock hunter. For instance, the mineral grains in rocks such as shale or basalt are too small to be viewed with a magnifier but even these rocks offer possibilities to those who know where to look and what to look for. Minerals grow in several main settings: Primary minerals form during the solidification of a melt.Evaporitic minerals form by precipitation out of concentrated solutions.Diagenetic minerals form at low and moderate temperatures during the consolidation of rock from sediment.Vein minerals form during injection of deep hot fluids.Metamorphic minerals form in solid rocks under prolonged heat and pressure. If you can recognize the signs of these settings, you can expect to find the typical minerals they give rise to. Even a plain-looking mudstone may have zones of alteration or contain veins or partings that reveal mineral nodules that formed during diagenesis. Rock Hunting Etiquette Unfortunately, many of the best places for rock and mineral hunting are on private property or in protected parks. Although many beaches are public parks, where collecting is prohibited, no one is likely to prosecute you for discreetly picking up a few pebbles- but use discretion. Road cuts are off limits wherever parking is not permitted, such as along a freeway. Railways are private property and should be avoided. Likewise, when visiting road cuts in a park- whether national or local- you should generally leave your hammer in the car. Most federal public lands, such as national forests, can be explored freely by amateurs, however, its forbidden for anyone to deface or remove any natural features- this includes rocks, and this includes you. For all other areas, the best rule of thumb is to leave the rocks looking no worse than you found them. Most excavation sites and rock quarries are on private property so youll need to get the owners permission before you start your collecting expedition. Due to liabilities, fear of property damage, and other concerns, the person who owns your hunting ground may have more reasons to say no than yes. Experienced, organized groups generally have the best shot at gaining admittance to private property, so if youre really serious, you might want to think about joining a club.

The Eight Types of Alternative Fuel

The Eight Types of Alternative Fuel Free Online Research Papers There are different kinds of alternative fuels in the world at present. There are eight different types of alternative fuels which are Ethanol, Natural Gas, Propane, Hydrogen, Bio-Diesel, Electricity, Methanol and P-series. All these alternative fuels have different properties, different source used, and different vehicles used and different impact on the environment and on the world. But one point to be noted is that even though they have different impact on environment, alternative fuels in vehicles can generally reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. Another interesting fact I found about these fuels in particular is that they can rather be domestically produced and can be derived from renewable resource but the fossil fuels which are being used today such as petroleum and diesel cannot be derived from renewable source. Once these fossil fuels will be extinct alternative fuels are the one which will come to use. I personally think that if even a small majority of the people in the world start using alternative fuels then the pollution and disease will decline and the pressure on fossil fuels, of course, will decrease. The advantages to use alternative fuels are massive. The impact of alternative fuels can have on earth, on people, on so many things is just great. Using alternative fuels can change a lot of things on earth a pollution free place. Here are some possible alternative means of propulsion for road vehicles. 1. Biodiesel 2. Electricity 3. Ethanol 4. Hydrogen 5. Natural Gas 6. Propane BIODIESEL Biodiesel is a fuel made by chemically reacting alcohol with vegetable oils, fats or greases, such as recycled restaurant greases. It is most often used in blends of two percent or 20 percent (B20) Biodiesel. It can also be used as neat Biodiesel (B100). Biodiesel fuels are compatible with and can be used in unmodified diesel engines with the existing fuelling infrastructure. It is the fastest growing alternative transportation fuel in the U.S. Biodiesel contains virtually no sulphur, so it can reduce sulphur levels in the nation’s diesel fuel supply. Removing sulphur from petroleum based fuel results in poor lubrication. Biodiesel is a superior lubricant and can restore the lubricity of diesel fuel in blends of only one or two percent. Biodiesel can also improve the smell of diesel fuel, sometimes smelling like French fries. B100 and Biodiesel blends are sensitive to cold weather and may require special anti-freeze, as petroleum-based diesel fuel does. Biodiesel acts like a detergent additive, loosening and dissolving sediments in storage tanks. Because Biodiesel is a solvent, B100 may cause rubber and other components to fail in vehicles manufactured before 1994. Using B20 minimizes these problems. Environmental Impacts: Biodiesel is renewable, safe, and biodegradable, and reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Emissions of nitrogen oxides, however, increase slightly with the concentration of Biodiesel in the blend. Biodiesel’s fuel characteristics exceed those of petroleum-based diesel in cetane number, resulting in superior ignition. Therefore, Biodiesel has a higher flash point, making it more versatile where safety is concerned. Horsepower, torque, and fuel economy are comparable to diesel. Benefits of Biodiesel Use: Biodiesel Displaces Imported Petroleum. Biodiesel Reduces Emissions. Biodiesel Improves Lubricity. Biodiesel is Easy to Use. Average emission impacts of Biodiesel fuels in CI engines Drawbacks of Biodiesel Use: Biodiesel contains 8% less energy per gallon than typical No. 2 diesel in the United States; 12.5% less energy per pound. The difference between these two measurements is caused by the fact that Biodiesel is slightly denser than diesel fuel, so there are slightly more pounds in a gallon of fuel. All Biodiesel, regardless of its feedstock, provides about the same amount of energy. Safety, Health and Environmental Issues: Biodiesel contains no hazardous materials and is generally regarded as safe to use. Like any fuel, certain fire safety precautions must be taken. Appendix III contains a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) with details on concerns in these areas. A number of studies have found that Biodiesel biodegrades much more rapidly than conventional diesel. Users in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands, marine environments, and national parks have taken advantage of this property. ELECTRICITY In 1891, William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa, developed the first electric car. By the turn of the century, dedicated electric vehicles (EVs) outnumbered their gasoline-powered counterparts by two-to-one. Today there are about 10,500 dedicated EVs in use in the United States, mostly in the West and South. Researchers are still working on the same problem that plagued those early dedicated EVsan efficient battery. Battery Limitations: Dedicated electric vehicles must have batteries that can be discharged and recharged repeatedly. Since most batteries can’t store large amounts of energy, a dedicated electric vehicle must carry as many batteries as possible. In some dedicated EVs, the batteries constitute almost half the weight of the car. The typical dedicated EV battery pack must be replaced every 20,000 to 30,000 miles, a big expense in itself. Tax incentives can offset some of these costs. The batteries limit the range of a dedicated EV, which is determined by the amount of energy stored in its battery pack. The more batteries a dedicated EV can carry, the more range it can attain, to a point. Too many batteries can weigh down a vehicle, reducing its load-carrying capacity and range, and causing it to use more energy. The typical dedicated EV can only travel 50 to 130 miles between charges. This driving range assumes perfect driving conditions and vehicle maintenance. Weather conditions, terrain, and some accessory use can significantly reduce the range. Dedicated EVs, therefore, have found a niche market as neighborhood or low speed vehicles for consumers going short distances at speeds of 30 mph or less. The batteries used in EVs today include lead-acid, NiCad, NiMH, nickel iron, and nickel zinc. Extensive research is being conducted on advanced batteries that will increase electric vehicle range. Some of these batteries are scaled-up versions of the batteries used in portable computers. Such advanced batteries could double the current range of electric vehicles, and hold promise for being longer lived. Environmental Impacts: Dedicated electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions, but producing the electricity to charge them can. EVs are really coal, nuclear, hydropower, oil, and natural gas cars, because these fuels produce most of the electricity in the U.S. Coal alone generates more than half of our electricity. When fossil fuels are burned, pollutants are produced like those emitted from the tailpipe of a gasoline-powered automobile. Power plant emissions, however, are easier to control than tailpipe emissions. Emissions from power plants are strictly regulated, controlled with sophisticated technology, and monitored continuously. In addition, power plants are usually located outside major centers of urban air pollution. Maintenance: The low maintenance of dedicated electric vehicles is appealing to many consumers. Dedicated EVs acquire no tune-ups, oil changes, water pumps, radiators, injectors, or tailpipes. And no more trips to the service station. Dedicated EVs can be refueled at home at night, when electric rates are low, making the fuel cost comparable to or lower than gasoline. There are also more than 600 refueling stations, mostly in California and Arkansas. HYBRIDS HEVS HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) may be the best alternative vehicle for the near future, especially for the individual consumer. HEVs offer many of the energy and environmental advantages of the dedicated electric vehicle without the drawbacks. Hybrids are powered by two energy sources an energy conversion unit (such as a combustion engine or fuel cell) and an energy storage device (such as battery, flywheel, or ultra capacitor). The energy conversion unit can be powered by gasoline, methanol, compressed natural gas, hydrogen, or other alternative fuels. HEVs have the potential to be two to three times more fuel-efficient than conventional vehicles. HEVs can have either a parallel or series design. In a parallel design, the energy conversion unit and electric propulsion system are connected directly to the vehicles wheels. The primary engine is used for highway driving; the electric motor provides added power during hill climbs, acceleration, and other periods of high demand. In a se ries design, the primary engine is connected to a generator that produces electricity. The electricity charges the batteries and drives an electric motor that powers the wheels. Hybrid power systems were designed as a way to compensate for the limitations of dedicated EVs. Because batteries can only supply power for short trips, a generator powered by an internal combustion engine was added to increase range. A HEV can function as a purely electric vehicle for short trips, only using the internal combustion engine when longer range is required. HEVs on the market today combine an internal combustion engine with a battery and electric motor, resulting in vehicles with twice the fuel economy of conventional vehicles. Depending on driving conditions, one or both are used to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize emissions, without sacrificing performance. An HEV battery doesn’t have to be recharged. It has a generator powered by the internal combustion engine to recharge the batt eries whenever they are low. A regenerative braking system captures excess energy when the brakes are engaged. The recovered energy is also used to recharge the batteries. Environmental Impacts: The HEV provides extended range and rapid refueling, as well as significant environmental benefits, reducing pollutants by one-third to one half. Their range and fuel economy will make them attractive to consumers as more models become available to meet their needs. ETHANOL History of Ethanol: Ethanol is not a new product. It was widely used before the Civil War. In 1908, Henry Ford designed his Model T to run on a mixture of gasoline and alcohol, calling it the fuel of the future. In 1919, the ethanol industry received a blow when Prohibition began. Since ethanol was considered liquor, it could only be sold when it was denatured rendered poisonous by the addition of petroleum components. With the end of Prohibition in 1933, interest in the use of ethanol increased. Ethanol as a Fuel: In the 1970s, the oil embargoes revived interest in ethanol as an alternative fuel. Today, more than fifty ethanol plants, mostly in the Midwest, produce over a billion gallons of ethanol. Gasoline containing ten percent ethanolE10is widely used in urban areas that fail to meet standards for carbon monoxide and ozone. Since ethanol contains oxygen, using it as a fuel additive results in up to 25 percent fewer carbon monoxide emissions than conventional gasoline. E10 is not considered an alternative fuel under EPACT, but a replacement fuel. There are about three million vehicles on the road today using ethanol blends. Vehicles are not converted to run on E85, they are manufactured. Flexible fuel vehicles (FFV) are designed to use any combination of ethanol and gasoline up to 85 percent ethanol. E85, a fuel that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline is used mainly in the Midwest and South. There are about 150,000 light-duty vehicles using this fuel, serviced by ethanol fueling stations. Nearly half of these are private vehicles; the rest are federal, state and local government fleet vehicles. The cost of E85 is equivalent to mid-grade gasoline. The fueling process for E85 is the same as for gasoline, however, vehicle range is about 15 percent less. With an octane rating of 100, power acceleration, payload capacity, and cruise speed are comparable to gasoline. Maintenance is also similar. Ethanol is made from domestic, renewable feed stocks. It can reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Using ethanol can also reduce carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions. Ethanol is made from crops that absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. This carbon cycle maintains the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere when using ethanol as a fuel. As new technologies for producing ethanol from all parts of plants and trees become economical, the production and use of ethanol should increase dramatically. Natural Gas (CNG/LNG) The natural gas we use for heating, cooking, clothes drying, and water heating can also be a clean burning transportation fuel when compressed or liquefied. Natural gas vehicles burn so cleanly that they are used to carry TV cameras and reporters ahead of the runners in marathons. Natural gas is a nonrenewable fossil fuel with plentiful supplies in the United States. Its chemical formula is CH4. CNG- COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS Natural gas is usually placed in pressurized tanks when used as a transportation fuel. Even compressed to 2,400-3,600 pounds per square inch (psi), it still has only about one-third as much energy per gallon as gasoline. As a result, natural gas vehicles typically have a shorter range, unless additional fuel tanks are added, which can reduce payload capacity. With an octane rating of 120+, power, acceleration and cruise speed are comparable. Today, there are about 144,000 CNG vehicles in operation in the U.S., mostly in the South and West. About half are privately owned and half are vehicles owned by local, state, and Federal government agencies. Vehicles manufactured to run on CNG are available from several manufacturers. A gasoline engine can also be converted to run on CNG at a cost of $2,000-3,000, depending on the number of fuel tanks installed. The lower price of natural gas and tax incentives can help offset the cost of conversion. Some people are concerned about the safety of using CNG as a fuel. CNG tanks are designed for high pressures; they are many times stronger than normal gasoline tanks. It is much less likely that CNG fuel tanks will be damaged in vehicle crashes than the typical gasoline tank. Additionally, if a fuel line is accidentally severed, the natural gas that is released rises and disperses, unlike gasoline, which forms puddles. Natural gas also ignites at a much higher temperature than gasoline (1,200o Fahrenheit compared to 800o Fahrenheit), making accidental combustion of natural gas less likely. The production and distribution system for natural gas is in place, but the delivery system of stations is not extensive. Today, there are about 1,250 natural gas refueling stations in the United States, considerably less than the multitude of gasoline stations. CNG refueling stations are not always at typical gasoline stations, may not be conveniently located, and some have limited operating hours . Natural gas vehicles are well suited to business and public agencies that have their own refueling stations. Many fleets report two to three years longer service life, because the fuel is so clean-burning. Environmental Impacts: Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles emit 85-90 percent less carbon monoxide, 10-20 percent less carbon dioxide, and 90 percent fewer reactive non-methane hydrocarbons than gasoline-powered vehicles. (Reactive hydrocarbon emissions produce ozone, one of the components of smog that causes respiratory problems.) These favorable emission characteristics result because natural gas is 25% hydrogen by weight; the only combustion production of hydrogen is water vapor. LNG- LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS: There are also about 3,100 vehicles in the U.S. that run on LNG that is liquefied by cooling to 259OF. Most LNG vehicles are government-owned; there are less than 100 LNG-fueling stations at this time. The advantage of LNG is that natural gas takes up much less space as a liquid than as a gas, so the tanks can be much smaller. The disadvantage is that the fuel tanks must be kept cold, which uses fuel. PROPANE Propane is an energy-rich fossil fuel often called liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It is colorless and odorless; an odorant called mercaptan is added to serve as a warning agent. Propane is a by-product of petroleum refining and natural gas processing. And, like all fossil fuels, it is nonrenewable. The chemical formula for propane is C3H8. Under normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, propane is a gas. Under moderate pressure and/or low temperature, however, propane can easily be changed into a liquid and stored in pressurized tanks. Propane is 270 times more compact in its liquid state than it is as a gas, making it a portable fuel. HOMES AND BUSINESS: Homes and businesses use about one-third of the propane consumed in the U.S. Propane is used mostly in rural areas that do not have natural gas service, as well as in manufactured (mobile) homes. Homes that use propane as a main energy source have a large propane tank either above or below ground that holds between 5001,000 gallons of liquid fuel. Dealers deliver propane to the residences in trucks, filling the tanks several times a year. Propane is used in homes for air conditioning, heating water, cooking and refrigerating foods, drying clothes, lighting, and fueling fireplaces. Millions of backyard cooks use gas grills for cooking. And recreational vehicles (RVs) usually have propane-fueled appliances. More than a million businesses such as hotels, schools, and restaurants use propane for heating and cooling, cooking and refrigerating food, heating water, and lighting. Environmental Impacts: Propane-fueled engines produce less air pollution than gasoline engines. Carbon monoxide emissions from engines using propane are 50 to 92 percent lower than emissions from gasoline-fueled engines. Hydrocarbon emissions are 30 to 62 percent lower. Why is propane not more widely used as a transportation fuel? The infrastructure for distributing propane is in place across the country, but it is not as conveniently available as gasoline. In 2004, there were about 3,500 LPG vehicle-fueling stations in the U.S., which cost about the same to build as gasoline stations. Second, a conventional automobile engine has to be converted to use propane fuel, at a cost of approximately $2,500. Out of all the alternative fuels available today, the alternative fuel which I consider to be the system for the most potential is â€Å"THE HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS†. Given below is the clear description of the hydrogen fuel cell which supports my statement. HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS In the future, hydrogen may provide a significant contribution to the alternative fuel mix. The space shuttles use hydrogen for fuel. Fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity without harmful emissions; water is the main by-product. Hydrogen is a gas at normal temperatures and pressures, which presents greater transportation and storage hurdles than liquid fuels. No distribution system currently exists. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, but it doesn’t exist on Earth as a gas; it is produced by two methods electrolysis and synthesis gas production from steam reforming or partial oxidation. Electrolysis uses electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The Department of Energy does not expect electrolysis to be the predominant method of producing large quantities of hydrogen fuel. Today, the predominant method of producing hydrogen is steam reforming of natural gas, although biomass and coal can also be used as feed stocks. High production costs have limited hydrogen as a fuel to date except in research vehicles, but research is progressing on more efficient ways to produce and use it. The largest drawback to widespread vehicle use will be storage the lower energy content of hydrogen requires fuel tanks six times larger than gasoline tanks. Its environmental benefits, however, mean that in 20 years, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may be a common sight on the roadways of America. The Bush administration has launched a hydrogen fuel cell initiative to further research and development of this promising technology. Fuel Cells Offer Significant Improvements in Energy Efficiency and Emissions: Fuel cells represent a radically different approach to energy conversion, one that could replace conventional power generators like engines, turbines, and batteries in applications such as automobiles, power plants, and consumer electronics. Fuel cells, like batteries, directly convert chemical energy into electric power. But unlike batteries, fuel cells do not need recharging; instead they use fuel to produce power as long as the fuel is supplied. Fuel cells operate quietly and are relatively modular. Largely because of these characteristics, hydrogen-powered fuel cells promise: 1. For vehicles, over 50% reduction in fuel consumption compared to a conventional vehicle with a gasoline internal combustion engine. 2. Increased reliability of the electric power transmission grid by reducing system loads and bottlenecks. 3. Increased co-generation of energy in combined heat and power applications for buildings 4. Zero to near-zero levels of harmful emissions from vehicles and power plants 5. High energy density in a compact package for portable power applications STATUS OF HYDROGEN TODAY: Although hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, it does not naturally exist in its elemental form on Earth. Pure hydrogen must be produced from other hydrogen-containing compounds such as fossil fuels, biomass, or water. Each method of production requires a source of energy, i.e., thermal (heat), electrolytic (electricity), or photolytic (light) energy. Hydrogen is either consumed on site or distributed to end users via pipelines, trucks, or other means. Hydrogen can be stored as a liquid, gas, or chemical compound and is converted into usable energy through fuel cells or by combustion in turbines and engines. Fuel cells now in development will not only provide a new way to produce power, but will also significantly improve energy conversion efficiency, especially in transportation applications. LPG omitted because it scales the graph so trends of the other fuels are obscured. icecoolamigo@gmail.com Research Papers on The Eight Types of Alternative FuelAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfOpen Architechture a white paperGenetic EngineeringPETSTEL analysis of IndiaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Spring and AutumnRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

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