Apple marketing stategy Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Apple showcasing stategy - Article Example This will make it reasonable for the new clients to buy the item before the item is climbed. This procedure will lessen danger of rivalry as the brand will have as of now have achieved a preferred position over different contenders. Expansion of the items in the market will likewise be utilized as a methodology to increment budgetary returns which will be utilized as an opposition instrument for the organization. The accounts will likewise be utilized as a passage hindrance to potential rivals in a similar division (Hill and Jones, 2009). One of the opposition procedures of the organization is escalated publicizing. This is through the media for example TV, radio, papers and magazines. This will work in guaranteeing that clients have sufficient information concerning the presence of the item in the market. Proficient conveyance is another system to be utilized by the organization which will include operators, deals people and various branches that are built up in various nations on the planet. Another procedure that Apple Company will use to keep its opposition level high is through steady correspondence with its clients through informal communities and other correspondence channels, for example, online journals. This will assist the organization with having thoughts of the customer’s practices concerning the item in the market. Consistent advancement on the item is another significant device that will be utilized to broaden the life of the items in the market. This will move in the direction of lessening tedium of utilizing a similar item over a significant stretch by the client. It will likewise help in keeping the substitution of the items from the market by the contenders (Hill and Jones, 2009). Various items fit for various individuals (for example iPod for youthful age, workstations for specialists and so forth) in light of socioeconomics, for example, age; family area and so on so as to fulfill the market, the market will be isolated relying upon the interest of the item and the

Light experiment Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Light analysis - Lab Report Example Presentation This task includes the investigation of Scenedesmus development conditions. Scenedesmus alludes to variety of the pioneer green growth, with cell courses of action of 4, 8, and 16 of every a line. It is a typical part of new water tiny fish, which is most generally utilized in the exploratory motivations behind water contamination and photosynthesis. It is additionally pivotal during the time spent sewage decontamination since it discharges oxygen, which is essential for the breakdown of natural issue, consequently ends the elements of destructive substances. In this task, we get the chance to investigate the development conditions and advancements. The primary components in test here will be light and pH since we found that the plant develops well under nonpartisan pH. The principle strategy in this task is to grow one trial set in direct daylight while the other will be puts under no daylight. The fundamental end will be founded on the development examples of both tria l tests, and note the distinction in them. Materials and techniques Details on culture arrangement 50ml cone shaped 3D shapes Number of duplicates per treatment 4ml of beginning society added to 16ml culture Gro (Carolina Biological) Algae developed .Scenedesmus (Carolina organic) Growth conditions The way of life will be natured in the development chamber for 18 hours, day and 6 hours night at 250 C The light levels in the chamber put at 300 mM photons/m2/sec2 Experiment medicines One ought to depict the medications and the levels to which they ought to get applied. System for estimations This segment contains the subtleties of the materials utilized and a depiction of how the analysis is executed. From here, one can without much of a stretch lead a similar analysis and present the outcomes for examination. Hemocytometers get utilized in figuring the phone thickness/ml at a normal of four successive tallies. NB: Washed hands before dealing with any materials to abstain from defilin g them. 1. Set up the magnifying instrument and take an example of scenedesmus. 2. Decide the quantity of scenedesmus in 1 ml with hemocytometer. Make a point to twirl before taking example (three tally to get normal focus). 3. Set up three replications for every treatment 20 ml all out volume; modify volume of development medium by (4 ml of green growth volume and 16 ml of treatment volume) in the test tubes 4. Compose the quantity of the gathering and introductory of the gathering 5. Separation the item to three gatherings; three simples each gathering (the three gatherings low, medium, and high light). 6. Put the simples in the light cooler. 7. Separation the simples to low, medium, and high light. 8. Hold up three weeks to the item to develop. 9. Decide the quantity of scenedesmus. Results This area contains the outcomes that were gotten from the analysis. The information is a short synopsis of the entire investigation. The information here is just referenced with no examination given. The examination gets dealt with in the following segment. Low Light Medium Light High Light 83 68 33 80 58 43 80 55 42 From the above information, we can recognize that the investigation was led utilizing three societies. The introduction is done and the information per culture is introduced in the manner the acted in various light situations. The primary case is the trial under low light conditions at that point followed by brings about the center light conditions lastly the outcomes acquired in high light, trial conditions. Be that as it may, in this trial we are basically going to utilize the information in low light conditions and the outcomes from the experimen

Strategies to Help You Get a Meeting with Leading Venture Capitalists

Strategies to Help You Get a Meeting with Leading Venture Capitalists © Shutterstock.com | Andrey BurmakinIn this article, we explore 1) the reasons for seeking venture capital, 2) approaching venture capital funds, 3) qualities that VCs love, and 4) conclusion and key insights to success.REASONS FOR SEEKING VENTURE CAPITAL?Venture Capitalists (VC’s), and angel investors are an excellent source of alternative funding to traditional bank loans. Additionally, VC’s are often at the cutting edge of vital experience and insight, plus offering a mentorship that can give an edge to any business idea. However, VC’s and angel investors may be difficult to find, and even harder to connect with, let alone getting inside the door to professionally pitch your idea.As illustrated in, ‘Financing your business through Venture Capital’, they are not automatically the preferable strategy for everyone, given that a VC will own a hefty stake in the business, impose upon the decision making and aim to bias any investment offer entirely in their favour? In return for getting your business up and running, and if such a deal is acceptableâ€" then look no further.Start with the idea.               Innovative ideas are more valuable than the cash required to give the idea life. Raising capital starts by building a quality company with a novel product or service. The real challenge lies in making it happen. However exciting an idea may be, one wants to ensure it’s one that can be profitable.APPROACHING VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDS1) You must be prepared to make your pitch before you approach a VCDo not begin fundraising until everything is readyâ€"completely ready. It will waste your effort to pitch investors before an enterprise is ready. It is the same when approaching investors, if one is unprepared it leaves a negative impression with potential investors who might have been interested later on.As one approaches the fundraising phase, do remember that raising funds in itself is not the purpose â€" so do not get entangled in the process alone. It is not how much money that you raise which matters, rather it is what the investment enables the firm to accomplish â€" this determines the future success.Investors listen to thousands of pitches, most of them are weak. If you want a pitch to be impressive and extract results, then it is vital that one keeps practicing that pitch, and the pitching until one ultimately distills it to the most expeditious message for the enterprise.2) Preparing the PitchOnce all the components of your pitch are in place, youll need to build momentum before contacting potential investors. Equally, the pitch must be ready and practiced. You don’t want to trip up on a mistake or simply by being unprepared. Preparation is at least half of the game… have you fully completed the following steps 3 to 6?3) Ground WorkResearched your marketExamined your financial needsCollated your Facts and FiguresEvaluated your TeamGot customer testimonials in placeUnderstood your weaknesses and strengthsExamined the rea sons for seeking VC fundingThe tenet of the pitch is NOT for investors to give you money.It’s to attract enough interest from the relevant investors (and disinterest from unsuitable people) in order that they wish to meet you and discover more.Having completed your foundation work, you need to examine whether the pitch materials prepared, well-developed, thought through, tested, practiced and honed.4) Elements of a Pitch DeckWhoever you are pitching to, or whatever is being pitched, there are specific key points to consider.Have I researched who is being pitched to, and customized the pitch to that particular audience?Why will they be interested in our start-up or business?What is of most importance and added value to them?If these questions are used as a foundation to build a pitch deck, then you’ll be a step ahead. But, have you covered what the investor needs to know? Whether using printed sheets, PowerPoint or other media:Slides should hit high points. Each slide must elicit a response from the investorâ€"no waffle or pointless content. To achieve this, create an inspirational and compelling story which acknowledges and deals with a “so what” question.10 slides should suffice. Less is more. It can be tough to convey everything in one pitch deck of 10 … but having a guideline helps in ruthless editing, to prune away non-essential content.Attention spans are short. A pitch is typically only 10-15 minutes in which one must discuss all the points made in the deck. Perhaps if you get to pitch to a VC, you may get an hour in total. A benchmark is to clarify all assumptions and points within the 15 minute window. This leaves time for answering questions, further discussion and also allows one to drill deeper on certain issues, if required.Remember, the pitch deck is to example highlights and stimulate interest. Leave the audience wanting more and asking their questions out of interest, rather than overload with too much information that is difficult to process.Make double sure about your pitch content.5) Key Slides of a Pitch DeckDependent upon your product or business, these elements need to be covered in the pitch deck.(note: not all points will be relevant to all types of enterprise).One has the greatest attention from investors in that first minute, so how you begin is so crucial. The very first point investors wish to know is: ‘Who are you?’Moreover, VC investors need to hear a quick appraisal of what your firm does, and why it does it.Don’t waste everybody’s time recounting an autobiography or a detailed account of how you started the company. In one minute, convey the purpose of what your enterprise is about.Grab the audience with the first slide.Explain succinctly why the firm is unique and why it is going to win.Now you’ve introduced the concept and said what you doâ€"its time to move the focus on the “why.”Be sure to address:Your market potential, or the gap your firm can fill?Demonstrate customer requireme nts?How you are offering a solution or value proposition?Market Opportunity: Drill down on the market opportunity, and answer some key questions:The main characteristics of your market and industry, and what is its structure?What is the size in dollars/units?What is the sector’s growth possibility?Who will be the customers?Market Strategy: Dig in to the details of your business model and market strategy. Illustrate how you earn money (or intend to earn) and address the following questions:What are your distribution channels?What are your sales channels?What is your market penetration potential?With whom there will be strategic partnerships, if any?Competitive Advantages and Risks: Provide a précis of the competitive scenario, without denigrating competitors. Offer up an honest appraisal based upon actual competitive analysis.What is your niche market?Do you have a unique technology?Are there any barriers to entry?What are the key risks?What are the success factors?Technology: If yours is a truly state-of-the-art product, then show what you have. Convey or illustrate the technology that’s driving the enterprise. Remember the audience may not be as informed, or as excited, regarding the technology as you. Be sure to highlight:What is proprietary?Is your technology protected (patented)?What is state-of-art about your technology?What may the future technology developments be?Manufacturing/Production: This is the practical and least inspirational part of a pitch, but just as crucial. If the business is in production, then demonstrate how you have tackled potential issues of production and manufacturing, like:Is manufacturing out-sourced or in-house?What are the current and future capital equipment necessities?Will you meet regulatory, compliance, or environmental issues?Management Team: Who you are is equally as important as what you do. If there are gaps in your team, (investors know this is the case in many young enterprises), but if you are honest about the gaps, VC’s will gather that you know your business. Therefore convey:Who the key players are.What have they accomplished previously?If there are gaps in the team?Financials: Allow the investors to know the assumptions built into any financial forecasts. As well as key metrics, you need to forecast the following:What are the revenue projections for the next five years?What are the gross margins?What will the return be to investors?What is the anticipated strategy for exit?Funding Requirements: The crux of your pitch:Presumably the investors are now convinced to invest in your enterprise. Address the following:How much finance is required?Why it is required?Your requirement timing?If further rounds of financing are anticipated?6) Now You Are Ready to Approach InvestorsBefore offering investment, VC’s ask tough questions. You have now prepared for these questions, but who will you approach, and why?Research VCs and prepare a list: List VC funds. The resources section of the Nat ional Venture Capital Association (NVCA) is a good place to start.Edit the list. Short list by selecting the VCs who have invested in a similar market, particular sector and stage, similar business idea, etc. As a general rule, it’s futile to pitch an early life firm to a Californian VC if you are in Maine.Identifying partners. Identify specific partners at companies who focus on making investments at your stage of development and your specific sector. Achieve this by visiting the websites at VC firms and reviewing their portfolios and their individual partners. Try to identify the number of boards each of these partners currently sit on; you can usually do this by reading biographies and ascertaining that firm’s companies portfolio. Sort the individuals by fewest board seats first.Research those partners. Try to identify when each partner’s VC firm established its last fund. This can usually be seen by reading the press releases of the company. Prioritize the partner list by which partners have the closest sector focus that matches your own, with the lowest number of board seats at the VC Company along with the newest funds at the top of the list.Might you know someone who knows or can connect with the short-listed partners, try LinkedIn, perhaps you do know somebody within 1 or 2 degrees that is familiar with the partner. Call in that favor, if so, you are more likely to get a warm intro.If contacting VC partners, tailor the message and be ready to respond quickly to all their requests if a VC partner replies to your message.QUALITIES THAT VC’s LOVEStrong leadership is a key feature. It is absolutely vital. Start-ups and young firms are often small enterprises, with a short management chain, and thus significant challenges on a daily basis.Qualities of the team and the founders: Team members bring different personalities to the group, and good founding groups will often counter-balance one other. The overly simple needs to be checked by the realist, and the serious needs to be lightened up by that individual with a sense of humor.A founding team is proficient at communicating to one other, and engages in this constantly. It’s important to know what the others in the team are up to and how best one can assist each other to bring the collective endeavor full circle. When things are tough and not going to plan, then the communication must be honest and brutal, but within the commitment and context of working through the problematic issues.It requires more than an unstoppable founding team to make a startup become a meaningful enterprise.A good team with a good track record: An experienced VC will relate, that at the end of the day, a decision depends upon the strength of the people who will daily be present to execute and manage the company. The VC will prefer a management team that is educated, experienced and dedicated, and, ideally, a team that has experienced some success together prior to this initiative.Innovation and cre ativity: The best founders envision the future before others and are able to get people to share in the vision.Passionate about the business idea: An experienced VC likes to see your passion and a commitment to a firm while adhering to the execution of a business plan. However, investors do not want to be over-persuaded or have to deal with an individual or entrepreneur who is too enamored of their idea or plan and is not able to see its flaws or risks.Adaptability and flexibility: Not all startups or young firms will face a dramatic challenge, but no doubt each will face challenges, therefore one needs demonstrate that one is able to handle such challenges.Trustworthy: Seasoned investors can and will tease out any skeletons in the closet during a due diligence process, moreover they will walk away if they find anything that should have been disclosed earlier. A straightforward approach to communication is essential; consider that a previous business failure may actually be regarded as a sign of experience, provided one can illustrate having learnt from the episode and have understood how to avoid future repetition.Expertise in the line of work: A firm must regularly reconstruct and refresh its individual fields of expertise and assimilate those critical capabilities required to stay in front of the pack.Being an expert doesn’t imply that one is the best, or that everything is known of what there is to know. But a real expert must distinguish oneself from the competition and others in the similar field. Show VC’s that you intimately know what you are discussing, and can confidently answer questions to dispel any uncertainty for this is the easiest way to become known as an expert in one’s field.Pitch your value: Communicate directly to the target audience with a robust value proposition and convey exactly why they should invest or purchase your product or service. It’s a clear statement of the results an investor or customer takes away from doing busin ess with your enterprise.A value proposition should not repeat worn maxims and platitudes, such as ‘your company offers great customer service’, ‘comprehensive financial planning’ or ‘cosmic portfolio performance’. These are not differentiators.Exit strategies: Starting with the exit in mind, does apply clearly to VC deals. Investors are not desirous of an everlasting marriage. Contrarily, they are also focused on how one intends to repay back their original investment and their return on their capital, within four to six years. The business plan and pitch deck must include your analysis and assessment of three of the most common exit strategies, e.g. an initial public offering (IPO), the sale of the firm; and a redemption of the VC‘s shares directly by the company.CONCLUSION AND KEY INSIGHTS TO SUCCESSIn any business, the key insights to success cannot be garnered from the Internet or instructional books. There is simply not a substitute to experience and the skills o ne has inculcated in the area of business one is specializing in. Expertise is a self-anointed title yet if one does have any specific training or experience in a chosen field then one is an expert in comparison to most others. In this context, investors are drawn to thought leaders visible on social media, and those with robust technical credentials.By definition, entrepreneurs should love the art of the start, and this passion needs to be translated as a component of the first impression you portray to a potential investor. As the product or technology may be in the early developmental stages, then actually the investor is gambling on you, and your prior track record and achievements, as much as they are investing in your startup or young firm.Above all have your pitch materials, information and presentation prepared and well-practiced. Simultaneously research and begin to network at the earliest with individuals who may offer you a warm introduction to potential investors in orde r to establish a relationship, prior to VC’s meeting you as an entrepreneur who is asking for money.Apparently, up to 80 percent of startups and young firms fail. This places great pressure on founders. Not only must they to be optimistic, self-confident, creative, and unafraid to fail â€" founders also require considerable business acumen to create a business and financial plan to entice investors. But even this is not yet enough. Founders need figure how to fuse these business and technical skills in a style which enables their firm to navigate regular challenges.It is exciting to work on a project that may become the Next Big Thing â€" but technical skills and what you think is an innovative idea, is often not enough to win investment or make your firm a success.

The True Heroes are Firefighters Essay - 1100 Words

The True Heroes are Firefighters In todays superficial society, there are many stereotypes and groups into which people are categorized. There are also many people that are celebrities, who many ordinary citizens see as leaders in life. Many high-end sports figures such as Michael Jordan or Ray Lewis are seen as heroes and idols to many youths in America and around the globe. However, what they do is not really heroic; rather it is merely grown men playing a game. After the tragic events or September 11th, another type of hero, a true hero, has come to be heralded in America. The courageous men in this group are called firefighters, and protect citizens twenty-four hours a day, seven†¦show more content†¦They allow us to dream and to wish that one-day, we could be in such a position. In many cases, people will follow such a popular person just to try and be somewhat like that amazing individual. Many of the same principles that applied in nineteenth century society, prescribe to todays as well. In over 100 years, society still sees popular individuals as heroes and idols. Those who follow their lead now have a term to classify them by, which is hero worshipers. Carlyle better explains this as he said, Worship of a Hero is transcendent admiration of a great man.(Carlyle,11) It is the natural meaning of man to do such a thing, to look up to someone higher than themselves. These are the basic principles to leadership in the modern world. It can be applied from the beginnings of time to the present, or It is to this hour, and at all hours, the vivifying influence in a mans life.(Carlyle,11) Hero worship can be seen at many different levels in society, from just everyday ads in newspapers to faces carved into mountains. Mount Rushmore is feasibly the epitome of hero-worship. It not everyone that can get their bust carved into a large mountain in North Dakota. Many people believe it to be the ultimate d edication to those four Presidents who led this nation to greatness. There are also some people who think it a popularity contest at its highest form, claiming that all Presidents led the nation in some way, shape or form.Show MoreRelatedHeros, A Hero, And Abraham Lincoln And Frederick Douglass751 Words   |  4 PagesIt never did and it never will.† In order to see the true side of people, you need to be willing to find the total of corruption and wrongdoing which will be forced upon them. This will continue to happen until they are finally opposed. Heroism is the act of being brave and selfless, putting others before yourself. A hero will always do the right thing no matter the circumstances, even if they have to risk their own life to do so. Firefighters are ordinary, standard people who put themselves in dangerousRead MoreHeroism : A Brave Soldier1054 Words   |  5 Pagesfew special people who will stand up for what is right and always looking to help others, these people are called heroes. Heroism is jumping to action whenever you see someone in need and willing to make sacrifices for your cause, but not battling against villains instead facing challenges with courage. Heroes, when they see someone in need, they jump to action. Except not all heroes are strong and fit for the job. Having a disability, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, can prevent someoneRead MoreThe Challenges and Complexity of Heroism1154 Words   |  5 PagesMany people believe that ‘a true hero’ is someone with superpowers and can perform super feats that a regular human is not able to do. Many people also believe that heroes have to be powerful in all they do: powerful in strength, powerful in brains, powerful with the people, powerful with themselves. All of this is not true. A complex hero is a man who embodies the characteristics of valor, benevolence, and fearlessness. A complex hero is someone that has valor because if they have this, then theyRead MoreA Hero Essay : A True Heroism877 Words   |  4 PagesA True Hero â€Å"True heroism is†¦ not the urge to surpass others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.† - Arthur Ashe. Heroism is not anyone that wears a cape, but is a person that is willing to sacrifice themselves just so everyone can be happy and can be safe. They are always going to look up with a smile and will be brave. Heroes won’t let anything get in their way. Although, they might be a little afraid, they will always look on the bright side with a big smile. If, Read MoreThe Hero As A Hero1009 Words   |  5 Pagesword hero. Growing up I had a lot of heroes. My favorites heroes changed as I was growing older. As a kid, Superman was my favorite hero. He could fly, stop bullets, he had laser eyes, and see through walls. It was exciting. When I grow older, John McClane was my hero. He will stop terrorist all by himself, risking everything that he got just to save the people he cares about. It was confusing for me when someone said â€Å"you are a hero† to a soldier, a firefighter, or policeman. I didn’t understand thenRead MoreHeroism : What Makes A Hero? Essay1665 Words   |  7 Pagesfigures and celebrities as heroes. Firefighters, police, doctors and members of the military are great examples of people who exhibit great heroism every day. Heroes can be found anywhere throughout the country. They can be found in government, hospitals and importantly the ones keeping our country safe. This paper will focus on heroism and attempt to show how a hero can be anyone who exhibits actions that are above and beyond the norm; they could be cops, firefighters, parents, teachers, athletesRead MoreEssay On Hero Is A Hero1035 Words   |  5 Pagesown and show perseverance in tough situations, even if they do not always get the recognition for it. Heroes choose to put others before themselves, and are willing to sacrifice their own lives, for the benefit of others. A great example of a hero displaying these characteristics would be Welles Crowther, also known as, the man in the red bandanna. During the 9/11 attacks, Welles, an NYC Firefighter, was in the south tower, rescuing as many people as possible. When he first got to the 78th floor lobbyRead MoreHeroism : Beowulf And Cuchallain928 Words   |  4 Pagesbe firefighters, police officers, soldiers; these people risk their lives everyday so that there would be peace in the nation. The modern day hero contributes positively to the society; he or she is a role model to different race, age and gender. In Beowulf, the king was in charge of the kingdom and he was obligated to fight with his warriors while the modern day, the President is in charge of the people but he does not fight with them in battle, he sends his soldiers off. Modern day heroes areRead MoreWhat Makes A True Hero?1546 Words   |  7 Pagesor film, of who a true hero is and what a true hero does. The excessive usage of imagination gets to a point where many of us are deceived by those well-developed stories into thinking that people who deserve status as heroes are only brave and save lives, even though there is definitely more to a hero than just that. In fact, true heroes are aware of how they impact others, strives to persevere through challenges, and rarely make decisions that they would later regret. A true hero is aware ofRead MoreThe True Definition of Hero vs the Medias Definition of Hero2280 Words   |  10 PagesIn this research paper It will be discussing the true meaning of the word hero being diluted in today’s media?. It will â€Å"never be forgotten.† We must never forget these fallen heroes and we must honor them because they are the heroes that we must call heroes. People believe the 9/11 first responders and the victims are the heroes because they are the ones who were going about their business going to work and because of some barbaric people thousands of people lost their lives. There were (â€Å"total

Solute Concentration of Potatoes Essay - 914 Words

Nov 19/12 Solute Concentration of Potatoes Block 2-2 Purpose: To determine the concentration of solute in the potato’s cytoplasm by measuring the change in mass after the process of osmosis. Materials and Equipment: Refer to Biology 12 Lab Manual – Investigation 13 Procedure: Refer to Biology 12 Lab Manual – Investigation 13 Data and Observations: The Potatoes change in mass after the process of Osmosis Test Tube # | Concentration of Sucrose Solution (mol/L) | Initial mass (g) | Final mass (g) | Change in mass (g) | Percentage change in mass (%) | 1 | 1.0 | 5.12 | 3.63 | -1.49 | 29.0% | 2 |†¦show more content†¦As the Concentration of the Sucrose Solution decreases, the more the potato’s mass increases. This is due to the solution being hypertonic. So, as the solute concentration gets lower, the potato’s water concentration will get higher, therefore more water particles from the solution will absorbed by the potato. Some changed very little in mass because the concentrations of the H2O molecules in the potato and outside the potato were equal. This equality in concentration is called Isotonic. 2) When the concentration was at 0.3M, the potato’s cytoplasm and the sucrose solution was isotonic. The concentration of the potato’s cytoplasm was having the same solute concentration as the surroundings. Therefore, there would be no net movement of materials happening. 3) The mass of the potato cells would decrease, since the NaCl is a higher concentration than theH20 molecules inside the potato cells. So, the potato’s cells will evacuate and go into the surroundings, making it shrivel. This is known as a hypotonic solution. 4) The Sucrose molecules cannot pass through the plasma membrane, but osmosis can still occur. So, the permeability of the potato’s cytoplasm only applies to the H2O molecules. 5) Salt can use as a weed killer because the salt itself can cause the plant to dehydrate through osmosis. Since the salt has a higher concentration, it will cause the plants water molecules and nutrients to be absorbed by the salt, leaving the plant allSh ow MoreRelatedThe Effect of Solute Concentration on Osmosis in Potatoes.943 Words   |  4 Pagesof investigation: The effect of solute concentration on osmosis in potatoes. Research question: What is the solute concentration of a potato? Hypothesis: Osmosis is the movement of water across the membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. The osmosis continues until the solute concentrations are equal in both areas. In this experiment, we put pieces of potatoes into test tubes with sugar solutions of different concentrations and leave them there over night.Read MoreDiffusion And Osmosis Of Potato Cores1733 Words   |  7 Pagesto the concentration of solute particles in a solution. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if there are any differences between the osmolalities, the no-weight-changes of osmolalities, and the water potentials of potato cores in different solutions of different solutes. The percent weight change of the potato cores was calculated through a â€Å"change in weight† method. The potato core’s weight was measured before and after they were put into different concentrations of a solute for 1.5Read MoreDiffusion And Diffusion Of Diffusion1065 Words   |  5 Pagesnecessary to the life of the cell would diffuse to the cell’s surroundings, causing toxic materials to enter into the cell. The diffusion of the solutes is limited by the semipermeable membrane. Diffusion is the movement of ions or molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Diffusion proceeds until the two concentrations are equal. For example, if a lump of sugar is dropped into a beaker of water, its molecules dissolve and diffuse. Diffusion results in an evenRead MoreThe Effect Of Solute Concentration On Osmosis1529 Words   |  7 PagesThe Effects of Solute Concentration on Osmosis Introduction: Diffusion is the movement of certain molecules toward the direction of equilibrium, and is an important process in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Osmosis is a specific type of diffusion that refers to the diffusion of water, which is an important factor in many types of cells without cell walls because the water potential of a cell must be similar or equal to its environment in order for the cell to function properly. In cells, a semiRead MoreThe Effect Of Salt Solution Concentration On The Mass1294 Words   |  6 Pages Pooria Taheri Block 2 Osmolarity in Potatoes Research question: What is the effect of salt solution concentration on the mass in russet potatoes? Background Osmosis is a process which molecules of a solvent pass through membrane from a less concentrated area to a more concentrated area until it equalize the concentration on both side. Isotonic, hypertonic, hypotonic solutions can be generally used to compare concentration of a solute in two solutions. Hypertonic solution is when oneRead MoreA Molarity Lab1061 Words   |  5 Pagesis the Molar Concentration (Solute concentration) of a Potato? ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Design ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- 1. What is the dependent variable for this experiment? ------------------------------------------------- The dependent variable is the concentration (solute) of the potatoRead MoreEffect of Solute Concentration on Osmosis in Potato Cells Report1709 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from high concentration to low concentration through semipermeable membranes, caused by the difference in concentrations on the two sides of a membrane (Rbowen, L.). It occurs in both animals and plants cells. In human bodies, the process of osmosis is primarily found in the kidneys, in the glomerulus. In plants, osmosis is carried out everywhere within the cells of the plant (World Book, 1997). This can be shown by an experiment with potatoRead MoreThe Effect Of Different Concentrations Of Sucrose On Osmosis1014 Words   |  5 PagesMichelle Lui Period 7 AP Bio Lab partners: Ashwin Sannecy, Matthew Kim An Investigation Of The Effect Of Different Concentrations of Sucrose On Osmosis Research Question: Part A: How does the molarity of sucrose solution inside dialysis tubes affect the percent change in mass of the tube after 20 minutes? Part B: How will the molarity of sucrose solution outside the root vegetable affect the percent change in mass of the root vegetable after being left in the solution for about 48 hours? Background:Read MoreDiffusion Osmosis Lab Report1295 Words   |  6 Pageslab, title Diffusion and Osmosis, was centered around the diffusion across a cellular membrane and how exactly materials move and diffuse in concentrations. Both diffusion and osmosis are forms of movement that are part of passive transport dealing with cell membranes. Diffusion is where the solutes move from an area of high concentration to a low concentration. Water goes through the cell membranes by diffusion. Osmosis is specifically the movement of water through membranes. Since osmosis and diffusionRead MoreThe Effect Of Osmosis On Eukaryotic Cells1620 Words   |  7 PagesOsmosis in Potatoes Purpose: The purpose of this investigation is to observe the effect of Osmosis in Eukaryotic cells; more specifically Potatoes under different sodium chloride solutions. Hypothesis: The hypotonic solution will demonstrate results of osmosis by gaining mass (g) by the conclusion of the testing period. This is because there is an increased presence of sodium chloride in the potato over the distilled water solution. Therefore the solvent moves from a low solute concentration area to

Spirit Bound Chapter Six Free Essays

string(89) " could tell the sun was starting to bother Lissa by the time we reached our destination\." â€Å"YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED?† I was sitting between Eddie and Lissa, on our flight from Seattle to Fairbanks. As the shortest–marginally–and the mastermind, I’d gotten stuck with the middle seat. â€Å"A new plan?† asked Lissa. We will write a custom essay sample on Spirit Bound Chapter Six or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"A miracle?† asked Eddie. I paused and glared at them both before responding. Since when had they become the comedians here? â€Å"No. Stuff. We need cool gadgets if we’re going to pull this off.† I tapped the prison blueprint that had been on my lap for almost every part of our trip so far. Mikhail had dropped us off at a small airport an hour away from the Court. We’d caught a commuter flight from there to Philadelphia, and from there to Seattle and now Fairbanks. It reminded me a little of the crazy flights I’d had to take from Siberia back to the U.S. That journey had also gone via Seattle. I was starting to believe that city was a gateway to obscure places. â€Å"I thought the only tools we needed were our wits,† mused Eddie. He might be serious about his guardian work most of the time, but he could also turn on his dry humor when relaxed. Not that he was totally at ease with our mission here, now that he knew more of (but not all) the details. I knew he’d snap back into readiness once we landed. He’d been understandably shocked when I’d revealed we were freeing Victor Dashkov. I hadn’t told Eddie anything about Dimitri or spirit, only that getting Victor out played a larger role in the greater good. Eddie’s trust in me was so implicit that he’d taken me at my word and pursued the issue no further. I wondered how he’d react when he learned the truth. â€Å"At the very least, we’re going to need a GPS,† I said. â€Å"There’s only latitude and longitude on this thing. No real directions.† â€Å"Shouldn’t be hard,† said Lissa, turning a bracelet over and over in her hands. She’d opened her tray and spread out Tasha’s jewelry across it. â€Å"I’m sure even Alaska has modern technology.† She’d also turned on a droll attitude, even with anxiety radiating through the bond. Eddie’s good mood faded a little. â€Å"I hope you aren’t thinking of guns or anything like that.† â€Å"No. Absolutely not. If this works how we want, no one will even know we’re there.† A physical confrontation was likely, but I hoped to minimize serious injury. Lissa sighed and handed me the bracelet. She was worried because a lot of my plan depended on her charms–literally and figuratively. â€Å"I don’t know if this’ll work, but maybe it’ll give you more resistance.† I took the bracelet and slipped it on my wrist. I felt nothing, but I only rarely did with charmed objects. I’d left Adrian a note saying that Lissa and I had wanted to escape for a â€Å"girls’ getaway† before my assignment and her college visit. I knew he’d be hurt. The girl angle would carry a lot of weight, but he’d feel injured at not being invited along on a daring vacation–if he even believed we were on one. He probably knew me well enough by now to guess most of my actions had ulterior motives. My hope was that he’d spread the story to Court officials when our disappearance was noticed. We’d still get in trouble, but a wild weekend was better than a prison break. And honestly, how could things get worse for me? The one flaw here was that Adrian could visit my dreams and grill me on what was really going on. It was one of the more interesting–and occasionally annoying–spirit abilities. Lissa hadn’t le arned to walk dreams, but she had a crude understanding of the principle. Between that and compulsion, she’d tried to charm the bracelet in a way that would block Adrian when I slept later. The plane began its descent into Fairbanks, and I gazed out the window at tall pines and stretches of green land. In Lissa’s thoughts, I read how she’d been half-expecting glaciers and snowbanks, despite knowing it was full summer here. After Siberia, I’d learned to keep an open mind about regional stereotypes. My biggest concern was the sun. It had been full daylight when we’d left the Court, and as our travels took us west, the time zone change meant that the sun stayed with us. Now, though it was almost nine in the evening, we had a full, sunny blue sky, thanks to our northern latitude. It was like a giant safety blanket. I hadn’t mentioned this to Lissa or Eddie, but it seemed likely Dimitri would have spies everywhere. I was untouchable at St. Vladimir’s and the Court, but his letters had clearly stated he’d be waiting for me to leave those boundaries. I didn’t know the extent of his logistics, but humans watching the Court in daylight wouldn’t have surprised me. And even though I’d left hidden in a trunk, there was a strong possibility that Dimitri was already in pursuit. But the same light that guarded the prisoners would keep us safe too. We’d barely have a few hours of night to guard against, and if we pulled this off quickly, we’d be out of Alaska in hardly any time at all. Of course, that might not be such a good thing. We’d lose the sun. Our first complication came after we landed and tried to rent a car. Eddie and I were eighteen, but none of the car companies would rent to anyone so young. After the third refusal, my anger began to grow. Who would have thought we’d be delayed by something so idiotic? Finally, at a fourth counter, the woman hesitantly told us that there was a guy about a mile from the airport who would likely rent us a car if we had a credit card and a big enough deposit. We made the walk in pleasant weather, but I could tell the sun was starting to bother Lissa by the time we reached our destination. You read "Spirit Bound Chapter Six" in category "Essay examples" Bud–of Bud’s Rental Cars–didn’t seem quite as sleazy as expected and did indeed rent us a car when we produced enough money. From there, we got a room at a modest motel and went over our plans again. All our information indicated that the prison ran on a vampire schedule, which meant this was their active time of the day. Our plan was to stay in the hotel until the following day, when the Moroi â€Å"night† came, and catch some sleep beforehand. It gave Lissa more time to work on her charms. Our room was easily defendable. My sleep was Adrian-free, for which I was grateful, meaning he’d either accepted the girl trip or couldn’t break through Lissa’s bracelet. In the morning, we rustled up some doughnuts for breakfast and ate a little bleary-eyed. Running against our vampire schedule was throwing us all off a little. The sugar helped kick-start us, though, and Eddie and I left Lissa around ten to go do some scouting. We bought my coveted GPS and a few other things at a sporting goods store along the way and used it to navigate remote country roads that seemed to lead nowhere. When the GPS claimed we were a mile from the prison, we pulled off to the side of a small dirt road and set off on foot across a field of tall grass that stretched endlessly before us. â€Å"I thought Alaska was tundra,† said Eddie, crunching through the tall stalks. The sky was blue and clear again, with only a few clouds that did nothing to keep the sun away. I’d started out in a light jacket but now had it tied around my waist as I sweated. Occasionally a welcome gust of wind would roll through, flattening the grass and whipping my hair around. â€Å"I guess not all parts. Or maybe we have to go further north. Oh, hey. This looks promising.† We came to a stop before a high, barbwire fence with an enormous PRIVATE PROPERTY–NO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ALLOWED sign on it. The lettering was red, apparently to emphasize how serious they were. Personally, I would have added a skull and crossbones to really drive the message home. Eddie and I studied the fence for a few moments, then gave each other resigned glances. â€Å"Lissa will heal up anything we get,† I said hopefully. Climbing barbed wire isn’t impossible, but it’s not fun. Tossing my jacket on the wires I had to grip went a long way to protect me, but I still ended up with some scratches and snagged clothing. Once I was at the top, I jumped down, preferring the jolting landing to another climb down. Eddie did the same, grimacing at the hard impact. We walked a little farther, and then the dark line of a building came into sight. We both came to a halt as one and knelt down, seeking what coverage we could in the grass. The prison file had indicated that they had cameras on the outside, which meant we risked detection if we got too close. I’d bought high-power binoculars along with the GPS and took them out now, studying the building’s exterior. The binoculars were good–really good–as well they should have been for the price. The level of detail was amazing. Like so many Moroi creations, the building was a mixture of the old and the new. The walls were made of sinister gray stone blocks and almost entirely obscured the actual prison, whose roof just barely peeped above. A couple of figures paced along the top of the walls, living eyes to go with the cameras. The place looked like a fortress, impenetrable and inescapable. It deserved to be on a rocky cliff, with a sinister black sky behind it. The field and sun seemed out of place. I handed the binoculars to Eddie. He made his own assessment and then gestured to the left. â€Å"There.† Squinting, I just barely made out a truck or SUV driving up toward the prison. It went around the back and vanished from sight. â€Å"Our only way in,† I murmured, recalling the blueprint. We knew we had no shot of scaling the walls or even getting close enough on foot without being spotted. We needed to literally walk through the front door, and that’s where the plan got a little sketchy. Eddie lowered the binoculars and glanced over at me, brow furrowed. â€Å"I meant what I said before, you know. I trust you. Whatever reason you’re doing this, I know it’s a good one. But before things start moving, are you sure this is what you want?† I gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"Want? No. But it’s what we need to do.† He nodded. â€Å"Good enough.† We watched the prison a while longer, moving around to get different angles while still keeping a wide perimeter. The scenario was about what we’d expected, but having a 3-D visual was still helpful. After about a half hour, we returned to the hotel. Lissa sat cross-legged on one of the beds, still working on the charms. The feelings coming through her were warm and content. Spirit always made her feel good–even if it had side effects later–and she thought she was making progress. â€Å"Adrian called my cell phone twice,† she told me when we entered. â€Å"But you didn’t answer?† â€Å"Nope. Poor guy.† I shrugged. â€Å"It’s better this way.† We gave her a rundown of what we’d seen, and her happy mood began to plummet. Our visit made what we were going to do later today more and more real, and working with so much spirit had already put her on edge. A few moments later, I sensed her swallowing her fear. She became resolved. She’d told me she would do this and she intended to stand by her word, even though she dreaded each second that brought her closer to Victor Dashkov. Lunch followed, and then a few hours later, it was time to put the plan into motion. It was early evening for humans, which meant the vampiric night would be drawing to an end soon. It was now or never. Lissa nervously distributed the charms she’d made for us, worried they wouldn’t work. Eddie dressed up in his newly bestowed black-and-white guardian formalwear while Lissa and I stayed in our street clothes–with a couple alterations. Lissa’s hair was a mousy brown, the result of some wash-in temporary hair color. My hair was tightly bound up underneath a curly red wig that reminded me uncomfortably of my mother. We sat in the backseat of the car while Eddie drove us chauffeur style back along the remote road we’d followed earlier. Unlike before, we didn’t pull over. We stayed on the road, driving right up to the prison–or, well, to its gatehouse. No one spoke as we drove, but the tension and anxiety within us all grew and grew. Before we could even get near the outer wall, there was a checkpoint manned by a guardian. Eddie brought the car to a stop, and I tried to look calm. He lowered the window, and the guardian on duty walked over and knelt so that they were at eye level. â€Å"What’s your business here?† Eddie handed over a piece of paper, his attitude confident and unconcerned, as though this were perfectly normal. â€Å"Dropping off new feeders.† The file had contained all sorts of forms and papers for prison business, including status reports and order forms for supplies–like feeders. We’d made a copy of one of the feeder requisition forms and filled it out. â€Å"I wasn’t notified of a delivery,† the guardian said, not suspicious so much as puzzled. He peered at the paperwork. â€Å"This is an old form.† Eddie shrugged. â€Å"It’s just what they gave me. I’m kind of new at this.† The man grinned. â€Å"Yeah, you barely look old enough to be out of school.† He glanced toward Lissa and me, and despite my practiced control, I tensed. The guardian frowned as he studied us. Lissa had given me a necklace, and she’d taken a ring, both charmed with a slight compulsion spell to make others think we were human. It would have been much easier to make her victim wear a charm and force them to think they were seeing humans, but that wasn’t possible. The magic was harder this way. He squinted, almost like he was looking at us through a haze. If the charms had worked perfectly, he wouldn’t have given us a second glance. The charms were a little flawed. They were changing our appearances but not quite as clearly as we’d hoped. That was why we’d gone to the trouble of altering our hair: if the human-illusion failed, we’d still have some identity protection. Lissa readied herself to work direct compulsion, though we’d hoped it wouldn’t come to that with every person we met. A few moments later, the guardian turned from us, apparently deciding we were human after all. I exhaled and unclenched my fists. I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding them. â€Å"Hang on a minute, and I’ll call this in,† he told Eddie. The guardian stepped away and picked up a phone inside his booth. Eddie glanced back at us. â€Å"So far so good?† â€Å"Aside from the old form,† I grumbled. â€Å"No way to know if my charm’s working?† asked Eddie. Lissa had given him one of Tasha’s rings, charmed to make him appear tan-skinned and black-haired. Since she wasn’t altering his race, the magic only needed to blur his features. Like our human charms, I suspected it wasn’t projecting the exact image she’d hoped for, but it should have altered his appearance enough that no one would identify Eddie later. With our resistance to compulsion–and knowing there was a charm in place, which negated its effects on us–Lissa and I couldn’t say for certain what he looked like to others. â€Å"I’m sure it’s fine,† said Lissa reassuringly. The guardian returned. â€Å"They say go on in, and they’ll sort it out there.† â€Å"Thanks,† said Eddie, taking the form back. The guard’s attitude implied that he assumed this was a clerical error. He was still diligent, but the idea of someone sneaking feeders into a prison was hardly the kind of thing one would expect–or view as a security risk. Poor guy. Two guardians greeted us when we arrived at the door in the prison’s wall. The three of us got out and were led into the grounds between the wall and the prison itself. Whereas St. Vladimir’s and the Court’s grounds had been lush and filled with plants and trees, the land here was stark and lonely. Not even grass, just hard-packed earth. Was this what served as the prisoners’ â€Å"exercise area†? Were they even allowed outside at all? I was surprised there wasn’t a moat of some sort out here. The inside of the building was as grim as its exterior. The holding cells at Court were sterile and cold, all metal and blank walls. I’d expected something similar. But whoever had designed Tarasov had foregone the modern look and instead emulated the kind of prison one might have found back in Romania in medieval days. The harsh stone walls continued down the hall, gray and foreboding, and the air was chill and damp. It had to make for unpleasant working conditions for the guardians assigned here. Presumably they wanted to ensure the intimidating facade extended everywhere, even for prisoners first entering the gates. According to our blueprint, there was a little section of dorms where employees lived. Hopefully those were nicer. Dark Ages decor or not, we passed the occasional camera as we walked down the hallway. This place’s security was in no way primitive. Occasionally we heard the heavy slamming of a door, but overall, there was a perfect, eerie silence that was almost creepier than shouts and screams. We were taken to the warden’s office, a room that still had the same gloomy architecture yet was filled with the usual administrative accessories: desk, computer, etc. It looked efficient, nothing more. Our escorts explained that we were going to see the assistant warden, since the senior one was still in bed. It figured. The subordinate would have gotten stuck with the night shift. I hoped that meant he was tired and unobservant. Probably not. That rarely happened to guardians, no matter their assignments. â€Å"Theo Marx,† said the assistant warden, shaking Eddie’s hand. He was a dhampir not much older than us, and I wondered if he’d only been freshly assigned here. â€Å"Larry Brown,† replied Eddie. We’d come up with a boring name for him, one that wouldn’t stand out, and had used it in the paperwork. Theo didn’t speak to Lissa and me, but he did give us that same puzzled glance the first guy had as the charm’s glamour attempted its illusion. Another delay followed, but once more, we slipped through. Theo returned his attention to Eddie and took the requisition form. â€Å"This is different from the usual one,† he said. â€Å"I have no clue,† said Eddie apologetically. â€Å"This is my first time.† Theo sighed and glanced at the clock. â€Å"The warden’ll be on duty in another couple hours. I think we’re just going to have to wait until he’s here to figure out what’s going on. Sommerfield’s usually got their act together.† There were a few Moroi facilities in the country that gathered feeders–those on the fringes of human society who were content to spend their lives high on vampire endorphins–and then distributed them. Sommerfield was the name of one such facility, located in Kansas City. â€Å"I’m not the only new person they just received,† Eddie said. â€Å"Maybe someone got confused.† â€Å"Typical,† snorted Theo. â€Å"Well, you might as well have a seat and wait. I can get coffee if you want.† â€Å"When are we getting a feeding?† I suddenly asked, using the whiniest, dreamiest voice I could. â€Å"It’s been so long.† Lissa followed my lead. â€Å"They said we could when we got here.† Eddie rolled his eyes at what was typical feeder behavior. â€Å"They’ve been like this the whole time.† â€Å"I can imagine,† said Theo. â€Å"Humph. Feeders.† The door to his office was partially ajar and he called out of it. â€Å"Hey, Wes? Can you come here?† One of the escort guardians stuck his head inside. â€Å"Yeah?† Theo gave us a dismissive wave. â€Å"Take these two down to the feeding area so they don’t drive us crazy. If someone’s up, they can use them.† Wes nodded and beckoned us out. Eddie and I made the briefest of eye contact. His face betrayed nothing, but I knew he was nervous. Getting Victor out was our job now, and Eddie didn’t like sending us to the dragon’s lair. Wes led us through more doors and security checkpoints as we went deeper into the prison. I realized that for every layer of security I crossed to get in, I was going to have to cross it again to escape. According to the blueprint, the feeding area was situated on the opposite side of the prison. I’d assumed we’d take some route along the periphery, but instead we cut right through the building’s center–where the prisoners were kept. Studying had given me a sense of the layout, but Lissa didn’t realize where we were headed until a sign alerted us: WARNING–NOW ENTERING PRISONER AREA (CRIMINAL). I thought that was an odd wording. Wasn’t everyone in here a criminal? Heavy double doors blocked this section off, and Wes used both an electronic code and a physical key to cross through. Lissa’s pace didn’t change, but I felt her anxiety increase as we entered a long corridor lined with bar-covered cells. I didn’t feel any better about it myself, but Wes–while still alert–didn’t display any sign of fear. He entered this area all the time, I realized. He knew its security. The prisoners might be dangerous, but passing by them was a routine activity for him. Still, peeking inside the cells nearly made my heart stop. The little compartments were as dark and gloomy as anything, containing only bare-bones furnishings. Most of the prisoners were asleep, thankfully. A few, however, watched as we walked by. None of them said anything, but the silence was almost scarier. Some of the Moroi held there looked like ordinary people you’d pass on the street, and I wondered what they could have possibly done to end up here. Their faces were sad, devoid of all hope. I did a double take and realized that some of the prisoners weren’t Moroi; they were dhampirs. It made sense but still caught me off guard. My own kind would have criminals that needed to be dealt with, too. But not all of the prisoners appeared benign. Others looked like they definitely belonged in Tarasov. There was a malevolence about them, a sinister feel as their eyes locked onto us and didn’t let go. They scrutinized our every detail, though for what reason, I couldn’t say. Were they seeking out anything that might offer escape? Could they see through our facades? Were they simply hungry? I didn’t know but felt grateful for the silent guardians posted throughout the hall. I was also grateful that I didn’t see Victor and assumed he lived in a different hall. We couldn’t risk being recognized yet. We finally exited the prisoners’ corridor through another set of double doors and at last reached the feeding area. It too felt like a medieval dungeon, but images had to be kept up for the sake of the prisoners. Decor aside, the feeding room’s layout was similar to what St. Vladimir’s had, except it was smaller. A few cubicles offered moderate privacy, and a bored-looking Moroi guy was reading a book at a desk but looked ready to fall asleep. There was only one feeder in the room, a scraggly-looking, middle-aged human who sat in a chair with a dopey smile on his face, staring at nothing. The Moroi flinched when we entered, his eyes going wide. Clearly, we were the most exciting thing to happen to him all night. He didn’t have that moment of disorientation when he glanced at us; he apparently had low compulsion resistance, which was good to know. â€Å"What’s this?† â€Å"Two new ones just came in,† said Wes. â€Å"But we’re not due,† said the Moroi. â€Å"And we never get ones this young. They always give us the old, used-up ones.† â€Å"Don’t ask me,† said Wes, moving toward the door once he’d indicated seats for Lissa and me. It was clear he found escorting feeders beneath him. â€Å"Marx wants them here until Sullivan gets up. My guess is it’s going to turn out to be a mistake, but they were complaining about needing a fix.† â€Å"Wonderful,† groaned the Moroi. â€Å"Well, our next meal’s due in fifteen minutes, so I can give Bradley over there a break. He’s so gone, I doubt he’d notice if someone else gave blood instead of him.† Wes nodded. â€Å"We’ll call down when we’ve got this straight.† The guardian left, and the Moroi picked up a clipboard with a sigh. I had the feeling everyone here was kind of tired of their jobs. I could understand why. This had to be a miserable place to work. Give me the wider world anytime. â€Å"Who’s due to feed in fifteen minutes?† I asked. The Moroi’s head jerked up in astonishment. It wasn’t the kind of question a feeder asked. â€Å"What did you say?† Lissa stood up and got him in her gaze. â€Å"Answer her question.† The man’s face went slack. He was easy to compel. â€Å"Rudolf Kaiser.† No one either of us recognized. He could have been in here for mass murder or embezzlement for all I knew. â€Å"When’s Victor Dashkov due?† asked Lissa. â€Å"Two hours.† â€Å"Alter the schedule. Tell his guards there’s been a readjustment and he has to come now instead of Rudolf.† The Moroi’s blank eyes–now as dazed looking as Bradley the feeder’s, really–seemed to take a moment to process this. â€Å"Yes,† he said. â€Å"This is something that might happen normally. It won’t raise suspicion.† â€Å"It won’t raise suspicion,† he repeated in a monotone. â€Å"Do it,† she ordered, voice hard. â€Å"Call them, set it up, and do not take your eyes off of me.† The Moroi complied. While speaking on the phone, he identified himself as Northwood. When he disconnected, the arrangements had been made. We had nothing to do but wait now. My entire body was tightly wound with tension. Theo had said we had over an hour until the warden was on duty. No one would ask questions until then. Eddie simply had to kill time with Theo and not raise suspicions behind a paperwork error. Calm down, Rose. You can do this. While we waited, Lissa compelled Bradley the feeder into a heavy sleep. I didn’t want any witnesses, even not drugged ones. Likewise, I turned the room’s camera ever so slightly, so it no longer could see the bulk of the room. Naturally, we’d have to deal with the prison’s entire surveillance system before we left, but for now, we needed no watching security personnel to catch sight of what was about to happen. I had just settled into one of the cubicles when the door opened. Lissa had stayed in her chair near Northwood’s desk, so that she could keep her compulsion on him. We’d instructed him that I would be the feeder. I was enclosed, but through Lissa’s sight, I saw the group enter: two guardians†¦ and Victor Dashkov. The same distress she’d felt when seeing him at her trial shot up within her. Her heart rate increased. Her hands shook. The only thing that had finally calmed her back at the trial was the resolution of it all, knowing Victor would be locked away forever and unable to hurt her again. And now we were about to change all that. Forcibly, Lissa shoved her fear out of her mind so that she could keep her hold on Northwood. The guardians beside Victor were stern and ready for action, though they didn’t really need to be. The sickness that had plagued him for years–the one Lissa had temporarily healed him of–was starting to rear its head again. Lack of exercise and fresh air appeared to have taken a toll too, as had the limited blood prisoners were supposedly given. The guards had him clad in shackles as an extra precaution, and the heavy weight dragged him down, almost making him shuffle. â€Å"Over there,† said Northwood, pointing at me. â€Å"That one.† The guardians led Victor past Lissa, and he barely gave her a second glance. She was working double compulsion: keeping Northwood under her control and using a quick burst to make herself insignificant to Victor when he walked by. The guardians settled him into a chair beside me and then stepped back, still keeping him in sight. One of them struck up conversation with Northwood, noting our newness and youth. If I ever did this again, I’d have Lissa charm us into looking older. Sitting beside me, Victor leaned toward me and opened his mouth. Feedings were so second nature, the motions always the same, that he hardly had to think about what he did. It was like he didn’t even see me. Except, then†¦ he did. He froze, his eyes going wide. Certain characteristics marked the royal Moroi families, and light, jade-green eyes ran amongst both the Dashkovs and the Dragomirs. The weary, resigned look in his disappeared, and the cunning sharpness that so characterized him–the shrewd intellect I knew well–snapped into place. It reminded me eerily of some of the prisoners we’d passed earlier. But he was confused. Like the other people we’d encountered, my charm was muddling his thoughts. His senses told him I was a human†¦ yet the illusion wasn’t perfect. There was also the fact that Victor, as a strong non-spirit compulsion wielder, was relatively resistant to it. And just as Eddie, Lissa, and I had been immune to one another’s charms because we knew our true identities, Victor experienced the same effect. His mind might insist that I was human, but his eyes told him I was Rose Hathaway, even with my wig. And once that knowledge was solidified, the human illusion disappeared for him. A slow, intrigued smile spread over his face, blatantly displaying his fangs. â€Å"Oh my. This might be the best meal I’ve ever had.† His voice was barely audible, covered by the conversation of the others. â€Å"Put your teeth anywhere near me and it’ll be your last meal,† I murmured, voice just as quiet. â€Å"But if you want any chance of getting out of here and seeing the world again, you’ll do exactly what I say.† He gave me a questioning look. I took a deep breath, dreading what I had to say next. â€Å"Attack me.† How to cite Spirit Bound Chapter Six, Essay examples

The Perversity Of The Congo Essays - Congo Free State, Joseph Conrad

The Perversity Of The Congo In the novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad one of the major themes is the perversity of the Congo. What is good and evil in the European world becomes distorted and hazy in the heart of Africa. To the outside world white is good and black is evil; it is as simple as that. This philosophy is embodied in Marlow's aunt, who believes that his job is to bring light into the land of darkness and to enlighten the savages. This idea, however, becomes corrupted when white objects symbolize suffering and greed instead of good, and light images hide the presence of darkness. Symbols such as, a white rag, white imperialists and ivory, no longer represent the good will of the imperialists, on the other hand they represent the exploitation and chaos that the Europeans have brought to the Congo. The main character Marlow is faced with this confusion as he voyages through the jungle, and he must reevaluate his former opinions, which no longer hold true. The European philosophy is shown through the conversation that Marlow has with his aunt before commencing his adventure. According to her, his job seems clear: to bring civilization and light to the ?heart of darkness.? Instead of focusing on the horrors of imperialism she is disillusioned to believe that it is all for the better. The Europeans, especially the British have no respect for other cultures or other ways of life, and they truly believe that they are helping the Africans. Not by choice but because of the ?white man's burden? they feel the need to ?[wean] those ignorant millions from their horrid ways?(28). To the outside this seems like an earnest motive; however, once inside Marlow begins to see new forms of corruption. Are the imperialists their to help, or are they there to make money to fulfill their greed? He begins to realize that it is not the black savages who represent evil, but rather the selfish whites. This corruption is further shown through the novel with symbols that reveal that perversity of the jungle. None of Marlow's previous beliefs hold true in the Congo and he must reevaluate what is light and what is dark. He is confronted with the distortion of images and confusion at the first station. He sees a group of natives in the shade and immediately compares it to hell. As he states: ?Black shapes crouched, lay, sat between the trees, leaning against the trunks, clinging to the earth, half coming out, half effaced within the dim light, in all the attitudes of pain, abandonment, and despair?(35). He notices one figure in particular, one with a white rag around his neck. Is it the natives who create this feeling of suffering or is it the whites? These people are in the shade because they have nothing to live for anymore. The imperialists have destroyed their way of life and now they are eagerly awaiting death. The corruption is not in the black boy, rather in the white rag. What it symbolizes is not clear. Marlow asks, ?Where did he get it? Was it a badge ? an ornament ? a charm ? a propitiatory act?It looked startling round his black neck, this bit of white thread from beyond the seas?(35). Marlow does not know why exactly the boy is wearing the rag; however, he does know that the Europeans brought it - along with suffering and corruption. Rather than bringing light to the natives, they have brought nothing but pain and chaos. This confusion in appearances is show again with the alternative motives of the whites. They are not humanitarians helping a civilization out of good will. They are there out of greed and corruption. Without the presence of society, the inner core of humans is revealed and what is white on the outside is sometimes black on the inside. This reversal of appearances is displayed in all the imperialists that Marlow comes across. One is the manager at the first station. He gives the allusion of being a gentleman with his European clothing and manners, yet inside he is filled with crookedness. In order to maintain this image he must train a native