Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Determination of the molar volume of hydrogen gas Essay Example for Free
Determination of the molar volume of hydrogen gas Essay Introduction We are going to determine the molar volume of hydrogen gas by letting known amount of magnesium react with dilute hydrochloric acid and carefully collecting the gas formed. Materials Gas syringe Hydrochloric acid, 2-molar 8 cm of magnesium ribbon Ruler Emery cloth For details see instruction form Methods We connect the equipment according to the diagram and make sure we follow the instructions carefully, and then we weigh the 8 cm of magnesium ribbon and pour the HCl into the test tube. As we are ready to start the experiment we fold the mg ribbon on the hook and put the stopper into the test tube so that when we tilt the test tube the mg ribbon can easily fall into the acid. It is important to wait for the reaction to finish completely so that the equipment returns back to room temperature. For details see instruction form. Results: Measured weigh of 8 cm mg ribbon: 0.068 g (uncertainty is à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ 0.0001) Room temperature: 21.9 à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½C (uncertainty is à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ 0.1) Room pressure: 742.5 mmHg Vapour pressure of water: 19.587 and 19.827 Vapour pressure: 19.587 + 19.827 / 2 = 19.707 1.333 x 102 x (mmHg) = Pa Convert the room pressure in mmHg into Pa: 742.5 x 1.333 x 102 = 98975.25 Pa Convert the vapour pressure of water into Pa: 19707 x 1.333 x 102 = 2626.9431 p(H2O) = 2626.9431 Pa Room pressure (Pa) Vapour pressure of water (Pa) 98975.25 Pa 2626.9431 Pa = 96348.3069 Pa p(H2) = 96348.3069 Pa p(H2) + p(H2O) = p(room) 2626.9431 + 96348.3069 = 98975.25 p(room) Calculation of molar volume for hydrogen gas at 0 C and 1 atmosphere P1 x V1 / T1 = P2 + V2 / T2 1 atm = 1.013 x 105 P1 = 96348.3069 P2 = 1 atm = 101300 V1 = 70 cm3 (uncertainty is à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½1) V2 = 59cm3 (uncertainty is à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½0.5) T1 = 21.9 à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½C = 294.9 K (uncertainty is à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½1.3466 ) T2 = 0 à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½C = 273 K 96348.3069 x 70 x 1 / 294.9 = 101300 x 59 x 0.5 / 273 Conclusion Evaluation: Our conclusion is that the molar volume of hydrogen gas at 0 à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½C and 1 atmosphere is -. We reached the conclusion by first checking the room temperature and barometer pressure. Then we looked up the values for vapour pressure of water at the actual temperature from the Hand book of Chemistry and Physics. The full reference is: Chemistry for the IB diploloma G. Neuss. Oxford UP, 2001 p.28.
Monday, August 5, 2019
Are Ghosts An Illusion Of The Mind Philosophy Essay
Are Ghosts An Illusion Of The Mind Philosophy Essay Ghosts are just one of the many subtopics that reside within the topic of paranormal. Paranormal experiences are studied using parapsychology: a scientific approach to supposedly paranormal experiences. With the use of H. J. Irwins brilliant book called, An Introduction to Parapsychology Third Edition, and Bobby Elgees article called, Evidence of the Paranormal and Ghosts, we are able to deduce a theoretically sound explanation of what is paranormal and since when has the topic been studied. Then, we analyze the survival hypothesis and the ability of a soul to live outside the body. After, we proceed to the definition of ghosts and their usual whereabouts while setting the conditions that they usually appear in as well as to who they appear. Finally, we go on to claiming that these experiences are not really ghosts, but either hallucinations or just simply paranormal due to the witnesses wild conclusion that it couldnt be anything other than a ghost. Ghosts: An Illusion of the Mind Ghosts are not what you think they are, far from it. They arent the friendly little ghost you see in Casper, nor are they the Bloody Baron from SpongeBob Squarepants who haunts the ocean for eternity. They might not even be anything at all, just a word people exploit to an unknown object which might have a logical explanation. Yet, most cultures in the world believe in the body having a soul which like the heart, can exist and survive in another body. Yet, even if such an idea is generally believe by a large population of the world, it may not be true. Thought or belief proves nothing, for if it were, then a group could believe in radioactive helicopter bunnies and it would be fact. Yet, people need proof, therefore, to believe ghosts, we need proof that they exist. Life isnt neither what people see in movies, read in books nor see in pictures. Therefore, neither are ghosts. In order to prove ghosts dont exist, we have to analyze the parapsychological and the paranormal, the survival theory, the situations in which ghost usually appear and how most experiences are most likely fakes. According to Bobby Elgee, the word paranormal simply means not scientifically explainable.' (Elgee, 2009, pg 1) Meanwhile, parapsychology is known as the study of apparent anomalies of behavior and experience that exist apart from currently known explanatory mechanisms that account for organism-environment and organism-organism information and influence flow (Irwin, 1999, pg 1). Therefore, it is the commutation of a being to another, or a being to a surrounding. In other words, parapsychology is using a scientific approach to study experiences that may be paranormal and to determine whether or not the evident paranormal quality of a given class of parapsychological experience is authentic or ontologically real. (Irwin, 1999, pg 9) According to Irwin, recorded instances of parapsychological experiences of course may be found among all cultures and in all historic periods. (Irwin, 1999, pg 13) Yet, the testing of such experiences for accuracy and authenticity was slower to emerge. Some, such as Henry More and Joseph Glanvill showed themselves alert to the possibility of fraud, delusion, and unreliable observation, but their views more religious than scientific as they were endeavoring to ascertain the earthly presence of the devil and diabolical forces. (Irwin, 1999, pg 14) It was later that Francis Bacon made a call for objective scrutiny of parapsychological experiences (Irwin, 1999, pg 14) which was more scientific than More and Glanvill, but at the time society was not receptive to such a view and Bacons arguments went unheeded. (Irwin, 1999, pg 14) Then, a center in England called the Society for Psychical Research where parapsychologists are united in their conviction that the objective investigation of pa rapsychological phenomena was called for, despite the prevailing disinterest in such research among the established divisions of science. (Irwin, 1999, pg 13) Even today, most of society disregards the subject as scientific, yet parapsychology is under taken as a scientific endeavor regardless of its subject matter, flaws in any of its research procedures, and the skeptical rhetoric of its critics. (Irwin, 1999, pg 2) Therefore, Irwin states that, All ESP experiences thus are parapsychological, but we require proof that any of them could be paranormal. (Irwin, 1999, pg 2) How do parapsychologists know that an experience is truly paranormal? According the Elgee, Competent paranormal investigators will attempt to rule out the anomaly (Elgee, 2009, pg 1) or anything that seems abnormal or irregular. If someone captures a photo of a strange orb or mist, parapsychologists would ask all questions possible in order to rule out irregularities such as: is it a reflection? Is it a bug? Is it dust? Is it condensation on the lens of the camera? Is it a problem with the developing and/or printing process? (Elgee, 2009, pg 1) Yet, according to Irwin, parapsychologists focus of study is purely a matter of appearance, of how an experience seems to be. (Irwin, 1999, pg 2) Therefore, even if the survival hypothesis proves not to provide a legitimate basis for their conceptual integration, each of these experiences appears to entail the existence of a nonphysical or spiritual self (Irwin, 1999, pg 9) thereby, the experience is parapsychological. The authenticity of the experience relates to the question of whether the issue of underlying processes concerns the question of how? (Irwin, 1999, pg 9) For it to be paranormal, the question of must be raised. How is this possible? How did this come here? How did it happen? If the question of how cannot be answered, it is hence called paranormal. Yet, there are groups today that are causing a steadfast declination in the belief of the paranormal. They are damaging the credibility of legitimate and accomplished paranormal researchers and parapsychologists by posting photographs that are easily dismissed as well-known and easily identifiable camera malfunctions and other artifacts of the photographic process. (Elgee, 2009) If people keep on claiming that every small malfunction is an apparition or paranormal experience, then nobody would believe if a true paranormal experience emerged. It would be the boy who called wolf all over again, except with ghosts, orbs, mists and many other strange paranormals. According to Irwin, the survival hypothesis concerns the notion of postmortem survival, that is, that a disembodied consciousness or some such discarnate element of human personality might survive bodily death at least for a time. (Irwin, 1999, pg 175) Simply stated, the survival hypothesis is the notion that there is some element of human existence that survives death. (Irwin, 1999, pg 8) For an apparition or spirit to appear, it has to be able to survive outside the body. Due to the fact that apparitions, ghosts as a matter of fact, can be of the living, we can assume that survival does not necessarily imply immortality or eternal existence (Irwin, 1999, pg 175) after death of the body, but more of the soul being able to survive outside the body for a limited time. Therefore, when comprehending an experience in which an apparition is involved, parapsychologists must be able to believe that a disembodied consciousness or some such discarnate element of human personality might surviv e bodily death at least for a time. (Irwin, 1999, pg 175) Due to implications of an existence after death, the survival hypothesis has obvious religious connotations. (Irwin, 1999, pg 175) Yet, since the topic is being studied from a scientific point of view, these are of no concern. Therefore, when looking at the topic from a scientific point of view, we ask questions. In order to analyze, the first step is to ask questions in order to be able to understand all aspects of the situation. Becker asks, is there a nonphysical element of human existence that can separate from the physical body, can survive organic death, can reattach its organization as an integral personality after death, can appear before and haunt the living, [and] can be born again in another body? (Becker, 1993, pg 9) Yet, it cannot be scientifically proven that there is a life after death since there is no evidence. That is a question of faith at this point in time since there is no scientific evidence of the exis tence of ghosts or an afterlife. (Elgee, 2009) Therefore, we have to assume accordingly that in case of a life after death, we could thereby presume a ghost to be real. Yet, until then, all suggestions are merely that and nothing else. A ghost is a type of apparition. According to Irwin, an apparition is encountered in a perceptual-like experience and relates to a person or animal that is not physically present, with physical means of communication being ruled out. (Irwin, 1999, pg 243) Therefore, for it to be an apparition there has to be evidence that the figure is not there and has no possible means of a connection to the witness. Yet, Irwin states that it is held to be pointless to speak of apparitions unless we mean this term to refer to the hypothesis of an objective entity. (Irwin, 1999, pg 243) He goes on to say the having defined the term thus, it is up to parapsychologists to ascertain if these hypothesized objective entities actually exist. (Irwin, 1999, pg 243) Therefore, it is up to parapsychologists to study all rational explanations until there are no explanations, naming the experience as paranormal, but not necessarily an apparition. As Eglee states, If weve done a good job ruling out everything, w e may just be left with something paranormal. Thats it. (Elgee, 2009) We cannot call something unexplainable by a name other than paranormal, or seemingly an apparition. Otherwise, it would be metaphorical to calling someone you dont know Bob. You may assume it to be Bob, but he is just an unknown somebody until evidence proves otherwise. One problem that could be raised against any definition of the apparition (Irwin, 1999, pg 243) is that it could be a hallucination. Unless witnesses by more than one sanitary person, an apparition could be a persons mind playing tricks on the so-called experient. Therefore, parapsychologists have gone from studying the apparition to studying the apparitional experience in order to adopt a phenomenological approach (Irwin, 1999, pg 244) in the field of study. According to Irwin, so-called ghosts are recurrent haunting apparitions, that is, the same figure is witnessed in the same location on a number of occasions often by a number of different experients. (Irwin, 1999, 250) Here, we witness Irwin suggesting that for the figure to be a ghost, it has to be seen in the same location, more than once and by different witnesses. He also adds that some ghosts reportedly perform the same actions in the same location on each occasion they are experienced. (Irwin, 1999, pg 244) He states that they appear real and solid as well as that their appearance changes as the experient moves around it. They occlude objects they move in front of and are occluded by objects they move behind. (Irwin, 1999, pg 244) He also includes instances in which they may cast a shadow or when the experient may perceive their reflection in a mirror. (Irwin, 1999, 244) This disproves the transparent misty forms popularized in fiction (Irwin, 1999, 244) Irwin states that most figures are experienced within 10 feet of the subject and in the majority of cases (à ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦) the figure is not recognized by the experient. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) If an experience is defined as paranormal, is truly justifiable to be able to call the irregularity a ghost? Even Elgee proclaims, To take the next step and call a possibly paranormal photograph a picture of a ghost is a leap of faith that I, personally, cant swallow. A person can certainly make that statement, but at that point it becomes an opinion, a statement based on belief and faith. (Elgee, 2009) He goes on to proclaim that, At that point, I can choose what I believe. Theres simply no evidence backing it up. (Elgee, 2009) Even in spirit communication there are points where the truth simply depends on faith. The medium could be lying, unless it is one of the rare instances where the medium received some skill the personality demonstrably possessed while alive but which the medium himself/herself does not have. (Irwin, 1999, pg 177) Ghost recognition is simply to irrational to be studied scientifically. As Elgee proclaims, ghost hunting doesnt lend itself to a well-controlled scientific experiment. (Elgee, 2009) He goes on to state that, The methodologies are weak, the equipment used was never originally designed to detect ghosts, and it is nearly impossible to replicate the results. (Elgee, 2009) Therefore, how can it be proved that ghosts exist with the use of insufficient methods and equipment that was not made for ghost hunting? Even Irwin states that, in no way is there any presumption here of the existence of the paranormal even though many contemporary parapsychologists (à ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦) actually regard parapsychology as the study of the paranormal. (Irwin, 1999, pg 1) If someone who has spent most of his life studying the paranormal refuses to proclaim the existence of it, then how can we believe the many who claim without proof that a minor irregularity is something major such as the ghost of dead perso n? Are there really such things as ghosts due to the fact that most of the apparitions seen are dead? According to Irwin, about 70% of recognized apparitions are of people whom the experient knew to be dead. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) He goes on to proclaim that the number of ghost an experient witnesses may vary with the age of the individual or more precisely, with the number of deceased persons the individual knew. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) Therefore, it assumed that the more dead people you know, the more likely you are able to see ghosts. Is it truly ghosts? Or is it the mind playing memories of actions you have seen the diseased performing in a certain place every time you pass by. For example, you see your dead grandmother planting flowers in the garden every time you walk by on a visit. Most experients are likely to lie or jump to conclusions, therefore, we can presume that the operation of fraud (à ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦) remain potential interpretations (Irwin, 1999, pg 177) of such proclamations as the sightings of ghosts or other apparitions. It might even be a story used to increase the experients reputation in order to make him/her more interesting. One of Irwins students reported the experience of strolling along a deserted beach and feeling someone walking beside her. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) Most of humanity gets the same feeling while walking alone, especially in the dark, yet, usually, there is no one there and it is a trick of the mind. The student goes on to proclaim, that she did not see or hear anything to indicate there was something there (Irwin, 1999, pg 247), yet, the sense of a presence was very strong and she felt very comfortable with it. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) Could it not have been a cool breeze that caused the student to feel comfortable and, assuming it was warm since she was on the beach, the breeze was strong due to the oceans current? No, the student jumped to the conclusion that it was an apparition or spirit, but unfortunately, the student has no proof. Another experience is of one totally deaf man described hearing the rustle of an apparitional figures dress. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) Is it really true, or is it the yearning of the man to actually hear something, that his mind played tricks on him? Since most experients whom are able to witness many ghosts or apparitions have known many deceased, could it not be assumed that it is just the mind projecting an image of that we wish to see? A similar analogy would be that of a man trapped in a desert seeing a mirage of a lake. What we see, is simply what we wish to see and nothing more. By analyzing the parapsychological and the paranormal, the survival theory, the situations in which ghosts usually appear and how most of those experiences are easily proven fakes, we have come to the conclusion that it is impossible for ghosts to truly exist unless evidence prove otherwise. Even if, later on, experients actually turn out to have a sixth sense that could perceive the dead, could it not be just that: a sixth sense?
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Factors Affecting The Anodizing Of An Aluminum Metal
Factors Affecting The Anodizing Of An Aluminum Metal Anodizing is a process for producing decorative and protective films on articles made from aluminum and its alloys. It is essentially a process where a thick film of aluminum oxide is built up on the surface of the aluminum through the use of a direct current electrical supply. In the majority of anodizing plants in New Zealand it is carried out in an electrolyte bath containing sulfuric acid with aluminum sheet cathodes and the work to be anodized attached to the anode (Figure 1). When the current is flowing in the cell the following sequence of events is believed to occur. Sulfuric acid begins to decompose, the hydrogen ions moving to the cathode where they are reduced to hydrogen gas: 2H+ + 2e- à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ H2(g) (1) Simultaneously, negatively charged anions, i.e. hydroxide, sulphate and maybe oxide ions move to the anode. The electrical charge in the circuit causes positively charged aluminum ions (Al3+) to be generated in the anode and in turn move toward the cathode. At the anode surface they react with the oxide/hydroxide ions to form aluminum oxide (in the case of the hydroxide ion, hydrogen ions are released into the solution). There are two types of ions involved in any Electrolyte. The reactions take place and Anions and Cations are formed and transferred to the opposite ends of an Electrolyte. Anions are positively charged ions and Cations are negatively charged ions in an electrolyte. In chemistry, an electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that make the substance electrically conductive. The most typical electrolyte is an ionic solution, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible. Ion is a particle which is electrically charged either positive or negative; an atom or molecule or group that has lost or gained one or more electrons. An ion is an atom or molecule where the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative charge. An anode is an electrode through which electric current flows into a polarized electrical device. A cathode is an electrode through which electric current flows out of a polarized electrical device. Anodizing is a method of electrolytic passing to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer of the surface of various metal parts. This process is called anodizing because the part which to be treated forms an anode electrode of the electrical circuit. Anodizing mainly increases corrosion resistance and provides better bond for paint primers and glues than bare metal. Anodizing is even used to prevent galling of threaded components and to make dielectric films for electrolytic capacitors. Anodic films are most commonly applied to protect aluminum alloys, although processes also exist for titanium, zinc, magnesium, niobium, and tantalum. This process is not a useful treatment for iron or carbon steel because these metals exfoliate when oxidized; i.e. the iron oxide, flakes off, constantly exposing the underlying metal to corrosion. Anodizing changes the texture of surface and also changes the crystal structure of the metal near the surface. Thick coatings are normally porous, so a sealing process is often needed to achieve corrosion resistance. Anodized aluminum surfaces, for example, are harder than aluminum but have low to moderate wear resistance that can be improved with increasing thickness or by applying suitable sealing substances. Equations of the anode reactions Al à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ Al3+ + 3e- (2) 2Al3+ + 3O2- à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ Al2O3 (3) 2Al3+ + 3OH- à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ Al2O3 + 3H+ (4) For which the overall process is: 2Al + 3H2O à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ Al2O3 + 6H+ + 6e- (5) The sulfate ions also play some part as the oxide coating contains 12 15% sulfate ions. It is suggested that the sulfate ions facilitate the movement of hydrogen ions reducing the cell voltages required. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ALUMINIUM OXIDE LAYER Fresh aluminum reacts readily with oxygen to produce aluminum oxide. Once formed the oxide remains firmly bonded to the surface forming an impenetrable layer. Consequently, further reaction ceases. The film is very thin (0.01m), and despite its tenacity it can be removed by abrasion and chemical corrosion. In such instances the aluminum is subject to wear or the surface will mark or become pitted at the site of corrosion. Anodizing produces much thicker coatings (12 25 m) which, if properly sealed, can extend the life of the surface appreciably. Recent research in New Zealand has shown that pitting of the surface can be reduced by up to 90% with a 12 m coating, and by up to 93% with a 25 m coating. In the initial stages (i.e. first 60 s) of anodizing the oxide layer formed is dense and of even consistency. It provides the greatest resistance to wear and corrosion and consequently is called the barrier layer. The growth of this layer ceases when the high electrical resistance of the oxide reduces the potential of the applied voltage in the electrolytic cell. The depth of the coating at this stage is about 0.08m. Subsequent growth is very slow and competes with the acid reaction: Al2O3 + 6H+ _ 2Al3+(aq) + 3H2O which releases Al3+ ions into the solution. Note that the H+ can be at high concentration near the oxide layer due to one of the anode reactions above. See equation (5). At low applied voltages only the barrier layer forms. However, the gradual production of Al3+ ions tends to smooth out the underlying metal surface and give a brightening effect to the article. Objects such as wheel trims and bumper bars are general treated in this way. At higher voltages the growth of the layer continues beyond the barrier layer. Unlike the initial barrier layer this secondary layer, although constitutionally the same, has an open pore-like structure; a consequence of the competing anodizing and acid solution processes. Electron photomicrographs reveal the structure of these anodized surfaces to be as shown in Figure 2. The conditions required to produce coatings vary according to the concentration and nature of the electrolyte, the voltage current density applied, the alloy being anodized and the temperature of the bath. In the majority of electrolytic plants articles are anodized at a potential of 15 20 V and a current density around 1.6 A d-1 m-2; the electrolyte is 3.5 mol L-1 sulfuric acid maintained at temperatures between 20 and 23oC. Under these conditions the quality of the coating is satisfactory for most applications. At higher electrolyte concentrations and temperatures, and at lower voltages or current densities, the acid solution process occurs earlier in the development producing thin, open oxide coatings. Conversely, hard dense coatings are produced at low temperatures and high current densities. The conditions established in each plant are determined by the type of application. PRE-TREATMENT Step 1 Cleaning Correct and adequate cleaning of the aluminum object prior to anodizing is essential if the finished work is to have a uniform and attractive appearance. When aluminum arrives from the rolling, casting or extrusion mills it may be soiled following ways: Carbonaceous deposits from the surface of forgings and die castings Traces of oil-based lubricants Traces of polishing compounds or sanding grits Oxide films from heat treatment Cleaning these soils from the surface may prove difficult, especially if the requirements of the work do not allow etching of the surface. Most cleaning solutions used in New Zealand operations are detergent based. In addition to the detergent, a wetting agent and a complexion compound may be used. The complexion compound frequently used is sodium polyphosphate a component of many soap formulations which prevents ions, such as Fe3+, adhering to the surface of the work. If etching is not a problem, sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonates (Na2CO3 / NaHCO3) may be added to increase the effectiveness of the solution. Step 2 Etching Etching is most often achieved by the use of a warm, 10 % (2.5 mol L-1) sodium hydroxide solution. It gives the surface of the metal a light grey satin finish (through diffuse reflection of the incident light). The vast majority of work is pretreated in this way. In theory the reactions occurring in the etching solution are: The etching reaction: 2Al + 2NaOH + 2H2O à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ 2NaAlO2 + 4H2 (7) Dissolution of the aluminates: NaAlO2 + H2O à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ NaOH + Al (OH)3 (8) à Dehydration of the solid hydroxide: 2Al(OH)3 à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ Al2O3 + 3H2O The rate of etching is dependent on the concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution, the temperature and the concentration of aluminum ions which are released into the solution. When high concentrations of aluminum ions are present the solution loses its effectiveness. Presence of other ions, some of which may be a component in the alloy, can also interfere in the process, causing blemishes to appear on the surface of the work. The problem of ion contamination is overcome by employing etching solutions which suppress the action of the Al3+ and other metal ions released. The compositions of these solutions are the propriety of the companies that develop them, but generally contain sequestering agents which complex metal ions. Such solutions do not have an infinite capacity to do this but, due to the carryover of solution by the etched work and periodic replacement by fresh etch solution, the etching batch is maintained in an effective condition (Figure 3). Foaming agents are also a constituent of the etching solution; their action is to reduce the pungent mists/fumes that result from the vigorous reactions that occur. It is important to note that the appearance of the end result is determined at this stage. Work which is poorly etched will reveal scratches or blemishes no matter how well it is anodized or colored. POST TREATMENT After cleaning and anodizing the work is colored and sealed. As all anodized work is sealed, sealing will be considered first, although if coloring is to be done it is carried out prior to sealing. Sealing Sealing is the process in which the pores at the surface of the oxide layer are closed off. It is affected by placing the anodized object in boiling water for a 15 20 minute period. During that time the water reacts with the aluminum oxide to produce the mineral Boehmite Al2O3.H2O or AlO.OH: Al2O3 + H2O à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ 2AlO.OH Boehmite is a hard, transparent material with a greater volume than the aluminum oxide. As it forms it closes off the openings of the pores. As would be expected, the durability of the anodized surface, especially in regard to chemical corrosion, is greatly influenced by the effectiveness of the sealing. If the duration of the sealing is too short the pores, although constricted, remain open for corrosion agents to be in close proximity to the aluminum surface. Corrosion studies have shown that anodized aluminum which has been sealed for 15 minutes or more has greatly increased resistance to pitting by chemical corrosion agents such as H+ and Cl-. Colouring Colouring involves the absorption of a coloured dye into the pores of the oxide coating which becomes fixed after the sealing process has been completed. Dyestuffs which can bond to the oxide or metal ions in the anodized layer have better colour properties than those that do not. Electrolytic colouring is the most important method of colouring anodised aluminum today. It produces attractive finishes of very great colour and heat fastness and is easy to perform. The anodized work is dipped in a tank containing coloured ions of other metals. Under the influence of alternating current the colouring agents deposit rapidly at the very base of the pores and the take is even over the entire surface. Unlike the process of dye absorption, electrolytic colouring is easy to control and gives uniformity of colour from one run to the next. The success of this technique is evident in the widespread use of bronze colored aluminum in joinery and house fittings. Approximately 66% of all bronze tinted aluminum is coloured by this technique. To a much lesser extent coloured inorganic compounds can be used to colour the work. Ammonium ferric oxalate is a very common compound used to impart a goldy colour to the metal. Other colours can be impacted by treating the absorbed ferric ammonium oxalate with other compounds: for example, potassium ferrocyanide solution will react with the ferrioxalate compound to produce a blue colour. The technique used is to dip the work firstly in a solution of the ammonium ferrioxalate followed by dipping the work in the potassium ferrocyanide solution. This double dipping technique can be used with other compounds to produce a variety of colours: e.g. copper sulfate followed by ammonium sulfide gives green, and lead nitrate followed by potassium chromate gives yellow. Experiment on Anodizing of aluminum Method Before the demonstration Line the inside of the sides of the 1 dm3 beaker with a double thickness of aluminum foil. Fill the beaker with sulfuric acid. This should be at about 25 C adjust the temperature if necessary. Set up the electrical circuit shown in the figure. Make up the dye solution according to the instructions supplied (i.e. dissolve the contents of the tin in about 600 cm3 of water) and add a few cm3 of glacial ethanoic acid. The demonstration De-grease the aluminum strip by rubbing with a tissue soaked in propanone and then dip the strip into a beaker full of propanone for short time and allowing drying. From now on, hold the aluminum by the top few cm only. Dip the bottom half of the aluminum strips into the sodium hydroxide solution in a beaker. Leave it until it begins to effervesce, indicating that the surface layer of oxide has been removed. (This will take about one minute.) Now remove the strip and dip the cleaned portion of it into the nitric acid for a few seconds to neutralize the alkali. Then rinse away the acid with water. Clamp the strip so that the lower, cleaned, section is immersed in the sulfuric acid electrolyte and is in the centre of the cylinder of aluminum foil which forms the cathode. It must not touch the cathode. Complete the circuit with crocodile clips making the aluminum strip positive and the foil negative. Now adjust the power pack and rheostat so that current flows which give a current density of 10 -20 mA cm-2 of anode area immersed. For example if the anode has an area of 3 cm x 3 cm immersed, the area will be 3 x 3 x 2 cm2 = 18 cm2 so the current should be between 180 and 360 mA (0.18 and 0.36 A). Leave to electrolyze for about 30 minutes, keeping an eye on the current and adjusting the rheostat if necessary to keep its value constant. (The current may tend to drop as the oxide layer thickens.) When the electrolysis is complete, switch off the power and remove the aluminum strip. Rinse the strip in water. It will not look very different at this stage. Now dip the strip into about 200 cm3 of the dye solution in a beaker. Make sure that some of the non-anodized part of the strip is immersed as well as the treated section. Leave for about 15 minutes longer immersion will produce a deeper colour. Some of those who trialed this demonstration left the strip in the dye overnight. Rinse to remove any dye which has not been absorbed. Dye will only be absorbed by the anodized section, which will turn a deep cherry red. If desired, seal the dye by immersing the dyed strip for a few minutes in water that is already boiling. This will make the colour less prone to rubbing off, but will wash out some of it. Many teachers may prefer to omit this procedure. Visual tips Large demonstration meters will be easy to see. Long connecting leads are useful to prevent the electrolysis tank becoming lost in a maze of wires. Teaching tips It would be wise to prepare something to fill in the half hour of electrolysis time and the 15 minutes dyeing time. The class could be asked to calculate the expected increase in mass of the anode or to discuss the chemical reactions involved. Have a selection of anodised objects such as saucepan lids available for the class to look at. The demonstration (No. 18) of the reactivity of aluminium without its normal oxide layer could be shown. Some teachers may prefer to anodise some aluminium before the lesson to have some pieces ready to show the class. Theory Untreated aluminium has a layer of oxide about 10-8 m thick. This explains its apparent lack of reactivity. Anodising, invented in 1923, is used commercially to thicken this layer to 10-5 m to improve the metals corrosion resistance. The relevant equations are: Cleaning: Al2O3(s) + 2OH-(aq) + 3H2O(l) à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢Ã¢â ¬Ã 2Al(OH)4-(aq) Once the oxide is removed: 2Al(s) + 2OH-(aq) + 6H2O(l) à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢2Al(OH)4 + 3H2(g) Electrolysis at the anode: 2Al(s) + 3H2O(l) à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢Al2O3(s) + 6H+(aq) + 6e- Electrolysis at the cathode: 6H+ (aq) + 6e- à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢3H2(g) Electrolysis overall: 2Al(s) + 3H2O(l) à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢Al2O3(s) + 3H2(g) The oxide coating develops a positive charge by the reaction: Al2O3(s) + H2O(l) à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢Al2O3H+(s) + OH-(aq). Thus it attracts dyes that contain coloured anions. These are absorbed in oxide layer which have pores, where they are trapped by heating the oxide to form an Al2O3.H2O seal. Extensions There are a great many variables in this experiment such as: electrolysis time, voltage, current density, concentration of electrolyte, temperature of electrolyte, temperature of dyebath and type of dye. Investigations of some of these could form interesting projects. It is possible to measure the gain in mass of the anode by rinsing the aluminium strip with propanone and weighing it immediately before and immediately after electrolysis. The Different of Anodizing And Electroplating Electroplating is a technique to plate some metal or non metal with metal using electric current. While anodizing is plate metal like aluminum by inserting some substance under the oxidized layer of aluminum by using of electric current force. The function and the effect of both process may the same, like have color surface so that can use as decorative purposes. Not all metal can use anodizing process but only certain metal can use this method to make endure to corrosion effect. Aluminum metal can be treated by anodizing because after electric current process make the aluminium have oxidized layer on the surface and this layer can have wide pore so that other chemicals like dye or prevented agent to be impregnated to enter this oxidized layer. After certain substance enter into this oxidized layer then by certain method the pore can be closed by further process. Actually by using just electric current will create anodized layer, but the problem this layer have no colour and look bad, to make this more interesting then on anodizing process using colour agent and inserted below the anodized layer. Electroplating is directly plate other metal into certain metal with the goal to make more interesting or make more endure to corrosion or from other outside effect. Like on hard chrome plating on screw driver, can make this surface hard and not easy to break if not plate by hard chrome. By nickel plating on other metal will make the surface is endure from reaction effect because nickel more noble than the metal below the nickel surface. Nickel plating usually use in canning process, or use in decorative accessories. Electroplating rely on the plate stick strong, more strong certain plating metal stick to the base metal is better. Electroplating Electroplating is plating to certain metal with other metal that is usually more durable from corrosion or stronger than original metal. The process itself use of electrochemical by which metal is deposited on the origin metal through the chemical bath. Usually using electrode pole that is connected to the negative and the other to the positive pole. Electrode on the negative pole is called as anode and electrode that connected to positive charge is called as cathode. Metal on the solution form will turn to positive ion and on the electrochemical process this ion will attract to negative electrode or to anode and will plate anode. So metal that will be plated is placed on the anode position. Electroplating is done in a plating bath which is usually a non-metallic tank like plastic or glass. The tank is filled by metal solution, which the metal kind will plate the anode. The anode is substrate to be plated which is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply. As we apply current, positive metal ions from the solution move towards anode with negative charge and deposit on anode. As a replenishment of these deposit ions, the metal from cathode will dissolve and goes into the solution and make the ionic potential balance. In the case using of noble metal like gold as cathode it is not sacrificial, but it is made out of materials which do not dissolve in an electrolyte such as titanium. Electrochemical Theory: Actually electroplating is based on the Faradays Laws that state as follows: The weight of a substance formed at an electrode is proportional to the amount of current passed through the cell. The weights of different substances produced at an electrode by the same amount of current are proportional to their equivalent weights. Corresponding mass in an oxidation-reduction reaction is = molar weight of the compound / algebraic change in oxidation number of the atom that is oxidized or reduced. 2 FeCl2 + Cl2 à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ 2 FeCl3 Fe valence is change on the reaction from +2 to +3. However on the reaction will: Mn + FeSO4 à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ Fe + MnSO4 Chrome Plating Chrome plating is a part of coating technology that use of electroplating process. Electroplating process itself can use many kind of metal like chrom, copper, nickel, silver or gold. The process of all metal is similar, that is use of DC electric current and using of metal solution. But the differences of all the process generally on the solution uses, concentration uses, current flow, temperature limitation, plating time and many other limitation that difference of each metal coating. Chromium plating is also different among the result purposes from the current flow, chromium concentration and other chemical additive that is use on each of chromium plating kind. The chromium plating such as hard chrome, dull chrom, black chrome and bright chrome. Every result goal needs different parameter uses that must be followed in order to get the result as the process goal. So chromium plating process needs strict control on the bath concentration, equipment precision and on the method uses. Any small substance contain on chromium bath can result a different kind of product. Anodizing aluminum This is an experiment showing interesting application of electrolysis. The oxide layer on aluminum foil is made thicker by anodizing which improves the metals corrosion resistance. In the process, the thickened oxide surface coating is coloured by using dyes. Lesson organization This works well as a class demonstration, but there are several tasks to complete in preparation. The anodising process itself takes about 30-40 minutes, with nothing particularly dramatic happening, so you will need to plan other activities to fill the time. At the start of the experiment, show the students the effervescence due to the hydrogen evolved from the cylindrical aluminum cathode. A flexi camera connected to a projector could be used here. During the anodizing phase, the theory could be explained with an emphasis on the applications of the process. A collection of anodized objects such as saucepan lids or sports equipment could be available to look at. A well-disciplined and organised class might be able to carry out this process for themselves (in twos or threes), but it is strongly recommended that the treatment with sodium hydroxide solution (Corrosive) prior to the electrolysis is carried out under strict supervision. Apparatus and chemicals Eye protection,Low-voltage DC power pack, adjustable up to 10 volts, Connecting leads and 4 crocodile clips Paper clips, plastic Test-tube holder, wooden, Paper tissues Strip of wood, 15 cm long Ruler (30 cm), Beaker (1 dm3),Beakers (250 cm3), 3Aluminum foil, approximately 40 cm x 15 cm, Congo Red dye (Toxic) Ethanol (Highly flammable, Harmful) Sulfuric acid approximately 2 mol dm-3 (Corrosive), 1 dm3, Sodium hydroxide, approximately 1.5 mol dm-3 (Corrosive), 250 cm3. Propanone (acetone) (Highly flammable, Irritant) Technical notes Congo Red dye (Toxic). Refer to CLEAPSS Hazcard 32. Ethanol (Highly flammable, Harmful). Refer to CLEAPSS Hazcard 40 (2007: 40A) Sulfuric acid approximately 2 mol dm-3 (Corrosive). Refer to CLEAPSS Hazcard 98 (2007: 98A Sodium hydroxide, approximately 1.5 mol dm-3 (Corrosive). Refer to CLEAPSS Hazcard 91.Propanone (acetone) (Highly flammable, Irritant). 1 Reasonably thick aluminium foil should be used, but, if unavailable, ordinary kitchen foil works quite well. 2 Propanone is needed to degrease the aluminium foil and it is worth keeping a bottle specifically for this purpose. The used propanone can be poured back into the bottle and kept for future use. This reduces waste disposal requirements. 3 The solid Congo Red dye needs to be made up into solution. Use 0.5 g of dye, 50 cm3 of ethanol and 50 cm3 of water and warm to dissolve. Dylon cold fabric dye (Camilla A 16) also gives good results. Red fountain-pen ink can be used as an alternative but does not give such good results. 4 Instead of a power pack, a battery or series of batteries could be used. Procedure HEALTH SAFETY: Eye protection must be worn. Before the demonstration a) Cut two pieces of aluminum foil, one 10 cm x 3 cm (the anode), the other about 30-35 cm x 12 cm (the cathode). Ensure that when the foil is folded into a cylinder it fits inside the beaker as shown below. Anodising aluminium b) Work in a fume cupboard and ensure that there are no flames close by. Work on a clean surface. Degrease the two pieces of foil by rubbing well with a paper tissue soaked in propanone and then dip the strips into a beaker of propanone for a few seconds. c) Remove the strips of aluminum from the propanone and allow drying. From this point on, only hold the aluminum foils at the top edges. d) Arrange the larger piece of aluminum into a cylinder. Fix it in position with plastic paper clips and then place inside the large beaker as shown in the diagram. e) Set up the strip of wood on the beaker and use Bluetak to attach two crocodile clips, one at the edge and one in the centre. Attach the outer clip to the aluminum cylinder. This is the cathode. f) Pour some of the cold sodium hydroxide solution (Corrosive) into a 250 cm3 beaker. Hold the smaller piece of aluminum foil with a wooden test-tube holder, and dip it into the sodium hydroxide solution. After a short while, hydrogen gas will be given off rapidly. Remove the strip after a few seconds of fizzing, and wash it in a stream of cold running water. g) Attach the aluminum strip to the central crocodile clip ensuring that it is arranged vertically (see diagram). This central strip (the anode) must not touch the aluminum cylinder. h) Carefully fill the beaker with the sulfuric acid from a measuring cylinder up to a level about 1 cm below the top of the aluminum cylinder. SAFETY: Remember that hydrogen (Highly flammable) will be evolved during the electrolysis. Keep all naked flames well away from the experiment (e.g. when heating the dye solution). Demonstration a) Connect up the circuit and use a voltage of 5-10 volt. Electrolysis is occurring when bubbling can be seen at the cathode (hydrogen). Pass a current for about 20 minutes, or longer, if time permits. b) While the electrolysis is running, heat the dye solution in a beaker to about 70à °C. An electric hotplate is preferable to a Bunsen burner. An additional beaker of boiling water will also be needed. c) Remove the central aluminum strip (the anode) and place it in the hot dye solution. Stir and leave for about 10-15 minutes. d) Transfer the aluminum anode to a beaker of boiling water and leave for another 10 minutes. This seals the dye onto the anodized surface of the aluminum and makes the aluminum oxide layer less porous. e) The upper non-anodized portion of the strip should be the original metallic grey colour whilst the rest should be coloured red. The aluminum strip can be dried in paper tissue and passed round the class. It should not be possible to rub off the dye off the surface. Teaching notes The demonstration itself The instructions may seem very detailed, but experience shows that success depends on getting the conditions just right. You should try out the experiment before carrying it out as a demonstration. It would be useful to have some sample strips of anodized aluminium to pass round. The voltage will drop during the experiment, since the anode is becoming increasingly coated with aluminium oxide. If a rheostat and voltmeter are used, the readings can be constantly monitored and adjustments made to keep the voltage approximately constant. A longer immersion in the dye will produce a strip with a deeper red colour. Leaving the strip in the dye overnight produces the best results. If time is short, omit the dye-sealing stage in boiling water. If there is time, a piece of the cathode could also be immersed in the dye. It will be found that the dye is not taken up by the metal in the same way. This is a good experiment to show students towards the end of their study of electrolysis. Chemistry points When a piece of aluminum is exposed to the air, it rapidly becomes coated with a protective surface layer of aluminum oxide. Heating the aluminum in air can make the oxide layer thicker, but anodising is much more effective. The oxide layer can be made to absorb dyes. This is useful in a range of everyday goods, such as kettles, window frames and some sports equipment, all of which need to be able to withstand extreme physical conditions. Untreated aluminium has an oxide layer about 10-8 m thick. This explains aluminiums apparent lack of reactivity in the laboratory. Anodising thickens this layer to about 10-5 m and dramatically improves the metals corrosion resistance. Oxygen is often evolved at the anode during the electrolysis of aqueous solutions. Aluminium is a reactive metal. The oxygen formed reacts immediately with the aluminium. It forms a solid oxide coating on the surface of the metal electrode. Theory for more able students For students working at a higher ability level, some or all of the following equations and explanations could be introduced: The cleaning process with NaOH: (1) Al2O3(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 3H2O(l) à ¢Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â¢ 2NaAl
The Visual Re-Creation of Orpheus :: Jean Cocteau film Orpheus
The Visual Re-Creation of Orpheus Jean Cocteauââ¬â¢s film Orpheus (1949) is an adaptation of the Greek mythological figure of the same name. The alteration of the story into the visual medium of cinema is an interesting one. The use of cinematography in the film is creative, and it incorporates the essence of the myth with Cocteauââ¬â¢s own allegorical imagery. The symbolism of characters and events accompanied by the use of visual effects create a message that is uniquely significant. The special effects are the primary contributor to the distinctive features of Cocteauââ¬â¢s revision of the literary version. The devices that are incorporated in Orpheus, such as running the film backwards (the inversion of time) and using the photographic negative in some environments (inversion of space), function in numerous ways. On the surface, they add a mystique to the diegetic world that connotes the supernatural and uncanny nature of the narrative. In a more subtle way, however, they function psychologically to expose the viewer to the functions and subordinate machinations of the visual medium. In a way that is unique to the cinema, the special effects disrupt the pleasant continuity of the viewer. This disjunction is inherent in the ethereal nature of their circumstances and concomitant with its mythic origin. The psychological fraction of cinema is the specialty of Jean-Louis Baudry in Ideological Effects of the Basic Cinematographic Apparatus. He champions the idea that in order for the ideological infrastructure of a film to be successful, it must abide by certain filmic rules and not remind the viewer that they are simply witness to a representation (rather than a presentation, or a reality). The moral of the Orphic myth, ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t look back,â⬠seems to be a historical analog of Baudryââ¬â¢s thesis. The warning itself applies to both Orpheus and the viewer of the film (ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t look at Eurydiceâ⬠, and ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t look at the apparatusâ⬠). In this respect, the message of the Orphic myth is similarly the message of Cocteau, from a cinematic standpoint. Thus, it is the particular circumstances of the cinematic medium that multiply the efficacy of Orpheus. For proof of Cocteauââ¬â¢s intention in creating this meaning, his previous film with actor Jean Marais serves as the best example. Beauty and the Beast (1946) begins with a note to the viewer to remain focused on the ââ¬Å"Once Upon a Timeâ⬠mentality while watching the movie. This preface is another example of the intentional shift of focus away from the awareness of representation and towards a passive viewing experience. Later in the film, a mirror speaks to the protagonist: ââ¬Å"I am your mirror, Belle. The Visual Re-Creation of Orpheus :: Jean Cocteau film Orpheus The Visual Re-Creation of Orpheus Jean Cocteauââ¬â¢s film Orpheus (1949) is an adaptation of the Greek mythological figure of the same name. The alteration of the story into the visual medium of cinema is an interesting one. The use of cinematography in the film is creative, and it incorporates the essence of the myth with Cocteauââ¬â¢s own allegorical imagery. The symbolism of characters and events accompanied by the use of visual effects create a message that is uniquely significant. The special effects are the primary contributor to the distinctive features of Cocteauââ¬â¢s revision of the literary version. The devices that are incorporated in Orpheus, such as running the film backwards (the inversion of time) and using the photographic negative in some environments (inversion of space), function in numerous ways. On the surface, they add a mystique to the diegetic world that connotes the supernatural and uncanny nature of the narrative. In a more subtle way, however, they function psychologically to expose the viewer to the functions and subordinate machinations of the visual medium. In a way that is unique to the cinema, the special effects disrupt the pleasant continuity of the viewer. This disjunction is inherent in the ethereal nature of their circumstances and concomitant with its mythic origin. The psychological fraction of cinema is the specialty of Jean-Louis Baudry in Ideological Effects of the Basic Cinematographic Apparatus. He champions the idea that in order for the ideological infrastructure of a film to be successful, it must abide by certain filmic rules and not remind the viewer that they are simply witness to a representation (rather than a presentation, or a reality). The moral of the Orphic myth, ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t look back,â⬠seems to be a historical analog of Baudryââ¬â¢s thesis. The warning itself applies to both Orpheus and the viewer of the film (ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t look at Eurydiceâ⬠, and ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t look at the apparatusâ⬠). In this respect, the message of the Orphic myth is similarly the message of Cocteau, from a cinematic standpoint. Thus, it is the particular circumstances of the cinematic medium that multiply the efficacy of Orpheus. For proof of Cocteauââ¬â¢s intention in creating this meaning, his previous film with actor Jean Marais serves as the best example. Beauty and the Beast (1946) begins with a note to the viewer to remain focused on the ââ¬Å"Once Upon a Timeâ⬠mentality while watching the movie. This preface is another example of the intentional shift of focus away from the awareness of representation and towards a passive viewing experience. Later in the film, a mirror speaks to the protagonist: ââ¬Å"I am your mirror, Belle.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
The Conflict with Traditional Culture Essay -- Traditional Culture, Ho
The conflict with traditional culture The general people consider Hong Kong as an international city because a lot of cross-cultural enterprises choose Hong Kong as a landing base to enter into Chinese market and even Asian market.As a result ,the conscientious of women leadership can be brought into the working ecology through the expending of multinational firms. Nevertheless, it is misleading that the concept of women leadership can wholly be applied to companies in general and help increasing the number of women leader. There are several reasons. Firstly, in Asian countries including Hong Kong , the local market climate is dominated by the local companies and those companies are a kind of family business. A family business means one family has a significant ownership and influence to the decision in the company and the chairman of the company can only be the son within the family. This tradition can be a huge and unbreakable barrier to the women even though the companies are facing the influence of external culture. More important is that this new working concept especially the idea of women empowerment can not readily neutralize the traditional culture. The reason behind is that the setting rule of patriarchy is still utilized in the world today. Patriarchy is a social system which is male dominate and is central in the social organization. (Chesney-Lind, 2006) .One obvious example is that the children surname are followed by fatherââ¬â¢s family name, which means the sons are entitled to inherit everything from their father normally. As a result, the male can administrate the collective benefits within the family and consolidate the state of male. It should also be highlighted that the system has a conflict to enhance women s... ...nagement. In Fagenson, E.A. (ed.) Women in Management: Trends, Issues, and Challenges in Managerial Diversity. London: Sage. ISR survey. (2005) .On Hong Kong's Scene, how relevant is Gender in Recruitment - Business Perspective by Mr. Eddie NG, Chairman of HKIHRM International Committee, Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management .Retrieved from http://www.eoc.org.hk/EOC/GraphicsFolder/InforCenter/Conference/Content.aspx?Type=6&DateTime=2007 Equal Opportunities Commission .(2009). Study on Public Perception of Portrayal of Female Gender in the Hong Kong Media. Retrieved from http://www.eoc.org.hk/EOC/GraphicsFolder/InforCenter/Conference/Content.aspx?Type=6&DateTime=2007 SHAMIR, B. , SALOMON, I. , MANAGEMENT, A. , & Shamir, B. (1985). Work-at-home and the quality of working life. Academy of Management Review, [Electronic version]. 10(3), 455-464. The Conflict with Traditional Culture Essay -- Traditional Culture, Ho The conflict with traditional culture The general people consider Hong Kong as an international city because a lot of cross-cultural enterprises choose Hong Kong as a landing base to enter into Chinese market and even Asian market.As a result ,the conscientious of women leadership can be brought into the working ecology through the expending of multinational firms. Nevertheless, it is misleading that the concept of women leadership can wholly be applied to companies in general and help increasing the number of women leader. There are several reasons. Firstly, in Asian countries including Hong Kong , the local market climate is dominated by the local companies and those companies are a kind of family business. A family business means one family has a significant ownership and influence to the decision in the company and the chairman of the company can only be the son within the family. This tradition can be a huge and unbreakable barrier to the women even though the companies are facing the influence of external culture. More important is that this new working concept especially the idea of women empowerment can not readily neutralize the traditional culture. The reason behind is that the setting rule of patriarchy is still utilized in the world today. Patriarchy is a social system which is male dominate and is central in the social organization. (Chesney-Lind, 2006) .One obvious example is that the children surname are followed by fatherââ¬â¢s family name, which means the sons are entitled to inherit everything from their father normally. As a result, the male can administrate the collective benefits within the family and consolidate the state of male. It should also be highlighted that the system has a conflict to enhance women s... ...nagement. In Fagenson, E.A. (ed.) Women in Management: Trends, Issues, and Challenges in Managerial Diversity. London: Sage. ISR survey. (2005) .On Hong Kong's Scene, how relevant is Gender in Recruitment - Business Perspective by Mr. Eddie NG, Chairman of HKIHRM International Committee, Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management .Retrieved from http://www.eoc.org.hk/EOC/GraphicsFolder/InforCenter/Conference/Content.aspx?Type=6&DateTime=2007 Equal Opportunities Commission .(2009). Study on Public Perception of Portrayal of Female Gender in the Hong Kong Media. Retrieved from http://www.eoc.org.hk/EOC/GraphicsFolder/InforCenter/Conference/Content.aspx?Type=6&DateTime=2007 SHAMIR, B. , SALOMON, I. , MANAGEMENT, A. , & Shamir, B. (1985). Work-at-home and the quality of working life. Academy of Management Review, [Electronic version]. 10(3), 455-464.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Dialogue
Receptionist : Taman Negara Resort Hotel. Good Morning, can I help you? Encik Mansor :Good Morning, this is Encik Mansor. I would like to make a reservation for four days three nights. Can you tell give me the exact location of the hotel? Receptionist : Oh,ya! Our resort is located right within Malaysia's premier national park. It is a natural sanctuary set in the best kept natural Rainforest overlooking the Tembeling and Tahan rivers. Encik Mansor :OK. Look like very interesting . What is the best way travel from Kuala Lumpur to yours resort?Receptionist: To get to our resort, from Kuala Lumpur you will have to take the Kuantan Highway, it will take about 3 hours 30 minutes to Kuala Tahan ( Taman Negara). Drive right ahead to Kuala Tahan. After about 2 hours on the road look for the junction to the left to Rainforest Resort. Alternatively, if you intend to travel by boat, proceed on to Kuala Tembeling Jetty Point you can park your car at Kuala Tembeling. Encik Mansor: Wao! The journ ey is so far!Receptionist: Ya, The total journey from Kuala Lumpur to Mutiara Taman Negara Resort will take approximately 7 hours. Encik Mansor:It doesnââ¬â¢t matter. Then I have three children will belong us go to the trip, so what activities that can attract my children at the resort? Receptionist: How old are they? Encik Mansor:They are all below 12 years old. Receptionist: There have a park who are called ( Native Orange) stay at Kampung bong. Inside the park, there have several types of birds , their numbers reach about 350 type of rare tropical birds.In addition, you also can bring your children visiting Kg. Orang Asli. Orang Asli is the local natives, they are gentle folk who lead a nomadic lifestyle in Taman Negara. At there, you can see how they making fire in a traditional way and try their hunting weapon ââ¬â blow pipe. At night,there have experience night jungle walk with nature guide, visit Tahan Hide and see the nocturnal animals come alive. Encik Mansor:For my children, Is it their activities are safety? Receptionist:Of course! Oh Ya!There have also a interesting activity called Canopy walk. It give an experience on the longest suspension bridge in the world, there is about 510M long and 45M above the ground level . You must bring your children go over there ,because when you walk on the top of the forest, you can enjoy the flora and fauna along the canopy. I think it is the best experience is yours life! Encik Mansor: Good job! That is why I want bring my children go over there. Then, how about for adult?Receptionist: For those people, you can try the jungle trekking. It is along the most adventures trail about 1. 7Km to Bukit Teresek, takes about 30 minutes to 45 minutes to reach its peak. In additional, you also can exploring cave. Inside the cave, there have various bats, racer snakes and many fascinating insects. If you want to play some water activities, rapid shooting is the best choice, that is because rapid shooting is an exhilar ating ride that faces seven rapids along Tembeling River.On the way back, if you want to swim in crystal clear water, you may ask the boat to stop at one of the beautiful streams. Encik Mansor : So many activity that we can join. I think it is quite good for us. So,how much are the rooms? Receptionist:Now, we have a promotion for family package. Family suites available for RM 350. It just for 2 adult and 2 children . If you need a extra bed, It is RM60 per each. Encik Mansor : That is great ! So,I need a family suite and a extra bed! The total is RM410 is it? Receptionist : Ya,that is right!Encik Mansor : Is it have swimming pool in the resort? Receptionist : Yes. In our resort, that also have restaurant, bar, Library, Laundry, Mini market , Souvenier shop, Entertainment room, gym room, it is very convenient. Encik Mansor : I will been there at December 3 to December 6,totally for 4 days, can I booking now? Receptionist: Ya,of course! I will booking for you . So anything else? Encik Mansor : No. Receptionist : Very thank you for your reservation and hope you have a nice day. Encik Mansor : You are welcome! Receptionist : Good Bye ! Encik Mansor : Good Bye !
Thursday, August 1, 2019
The Blue Sword CHAPTER THREE
Corlath stared at his horses black-tipped ears. The Hillfolk passed through the gate of the Residency and Corlath lifted his gaze to rake angrily across the dusty station street, the little dun-colored houses and shops, the small straggly trees. At a slight shift in his rider's weight the red horse turned off the road. The harsh clatter of hooves on the packed-dirt road changed to the duller sound of struck sand. He could hear his men turning off the road behind him; he shook his head in a futile attempt to clear a little space for thought amid the anger, and leaned back in his saddle, and the horse's pace slowed. There was no sense in charging across the desert at midday; it was hard on the horses. The six riders closed up behind him; the two who came forward to ride at his side stole quick looks at him as they came near, and looked away again as quickly. Outlanders! Involuntarily his hands, resting lightly on his thighs, curled into fists. He should have known better than even to try to talk to them. His father had warned him, years ago. But that was before the Northerners had come so near. Corlath blinked. The heat of his own anger was hard to contain when there wasn't some use he could put it to; anger was splendidly useful on the battlefield, but he was not facing any regiments just now that could be tangled in their own feet and knocked over in companies. Much as he would like, for example, to set fire to the big stupid house ââ¬â an absurd building for the desert: it must be the sort of thing they lived in in their own country ââ¬â and watch it crash down around the ears of the big soft creature who called himself commissioner â⬠¦ but spite was for children, and he had been king for thirteen years, and he bit down on his anger and held it. He remembered when he was young and before the full flowering of his kelar, of the terrible strength known ironically as the ââ¬Å"Gift,â⬠his father had told him that it would often be like this: ââ¬Å"We aren't really much good, except as battle machines, and even there our usefulness is limited. You'll curse it, often enough, far more often than you'll be glad of it, but there you are.â⬠He sighed, and looked wryly at his son. ââ¬Å"They say that back in the Great Days it was different, that men were made big enough to hold it ââ¬â and had wit enough to understand it. It was Lady Aerin, the story goes, that first knew her Gift and broke it to her will, but that was long ago, and we're smaller now.â⬠Corlath had said, hesitantly: ââ¬Å"They say also that the Gift was once good for other things: healing and calming and taming.â⬠His father nodded sadly. ââ¬Å"Yes; perhaps it once was; but no more. Luthe knows, if he will tell you, for he has the old kelar, and who his parents are even he has forgotten; but Luthe is himself. You and I are of duller blood. ââ¬Å"And it is duller blood that has brought us to what we are, what we remain ââ¬â what remains to us. Avoid the Outlanders, if you can. They can't, or won't, understand us; they don't recognize horses from oxen, and will try to put the yoke on you that they have hung on the rest of our land. But their strength is the strength of numbers and of stubbornness and persistence; do not underestimate it.â⬠He could see his father standing in one of the inner courtyards of the City in the mountains, staring at one of the fountains, water running shining over the colored stones of the Hills, talking half to himself. Then the picture faded, blotted out in another swift sweep of anger; and he found himself looking at the girl again, the girl he had seen standing in front of the Outlander house. What had she to do with anything? He frowned, and his horse's ears and black mane reappeared before him. He looked up; it was still a long ride to their camp. He had not, somehow, wished to sleep too near the Outlanders; it was not that he suspected deliberate treachery, but that the air that hung over an Outlander station sent bad dreams to Hillfolk. His anger kicked him again like a spurred heel; he flinched. It had a life of its own, the Gift, damn it. What indecipherable object did it desire of him this time? He knew by now that the idiosyncrasies of kings, and others whose blood carried much kelar, were viewed with more alarm by the victims themselves than by their friends and subjects. Not that the alarm did any good. If one was king, one could not explain away one's more impenetrable actions by saying that one just couldn't help it. Woven into his anger there was a pattern. Occasionally he understood it. He waited, gritting his teeth; and he saw the girl again. This time, as long as she was there, he looked at her. When he had seen her first, at the foot of the steps, just a few minutes ago, he had been surprised into looking at her. He knew what his glance could do when he was angry, and tried to be careful about whom it rested on, and for how long. But this girl had, unfortunately for her, somehow caught his attention, and he had looked longer than he meant. She was tall, as tall as most men, tall even by Outlander standards. Her hair was yellow, the color of sun on sand, and almost as bright. His people, the Hillfolk, were usually smaller than the Outlanders, and dark of skin and hair. But it wasn't her size or her coloring that held him beyond the first startled flick of notice; nor was it her beauty. There was too much strength in that face and in the long bones of the body for beauty. Something about the quietness of her, perhaps? Or her self-contained straightness; something about the way her eyes met his, with more thought behind them than the usual half-hypnotized, half-fearful look he had learned to expect if he held anyone's gaze too long ââ¬â even when his kelar was quiet. Something, he thought suddenly, like the controlled straightness he himself had learned, knowing well what could happen if he relaxed. But that was nonsense. She was an Outlander. While there were still wild sports among his own people, where a few drops of royal blood from many generations past would suddenly burst into full kelar in the veins of some quiet family's child, there had never yet been an Outlander with any Gift to contain. This train of thought took him far enough from the center of anger that he had begun to relax a little; his hands uncurled, and the black mane swept against his fingers. He looked ahead; he knew, although he could not yet see it, that his camp lay just beyond this next bit of what looked like flat bare impartial desert and was in fact a little rise in the land, enough of a buffer from sand and storm to allow a small well of sweet water, with a little grass and low scrub, to live behind a protecting shoulder. As he looked out across his desert, almost calm again, or at least finding the beginnings of calm, the kelar suddenly produced a picture of Sir Charles' foolish white face anxiously saying, ââ¬Å"My dear sir ââ¬â hmm ââ¬â Your Majestyâ⬠and explaining why he could not help him. The picture was thrust before his eyes, and he took his breath in sharply between his teeth. Having caught his attention, the single-minded kelar snatched Sir Charles away and presented him with the girl again. What about her? he shouted silently, but there was no answer. It was rare that the Gift ever made it easy for him by explaining what it wanted. Sometimes he never did find out, and was left to muddle through like any other mortal ââ¬â with the added disadvantage of inscrutable messages banging inside his skull. His patience gave way; he leaned forward in the saddle, and the big stallion leaped into a gallop. The six riders, who knew their king's moods, and hadn't been very happy at their reception at the Outlanders' hands themselves, let him go. He swerved away from the line that would take him directly to the camp. The man on the golden dun, who had been riding on the king's right, soothed his mount with one hand. ââ¬Å"Nay, we do not follow him this time.â⬠The man at his left glanced across at him and nodded briefly. ââ¬Å"May the Just and Glorious be with him.â⬠The youngest of the riders snorted with laughter, although it was not pleasant laughter. ââ¬Å"May the Just and Glorious be with all of us. Damn the Outlanders!â⬠The man on the dun frowned and said, ââ¬Å"Innath, watch your tongue.â⬠ââ¬Å"I am watching it, my friend,â⬠replied Innath. ââ¬Å"You may be glad you cannot hear what I am thinking.â⬠The king had disappeared in the heat glaze rising from the sand by the time the little group topped the rise and saw the pale tents of their camp before them, and resigned themselves to telling those who awaited them what had occurred during the meeting with the Outlanders. Harry blinked and recognized the boy at her elbow. ââ¬Å"Thank you,â⬠she said absently, and he led the pony away, looking anxiously over his shoulder at the way the desert men had gone, and evidently grateful to be leaving himself. She shaded her eyes with her hand a moment, which only served to throw the fire of her headache into greater relief. She looked up at the men on the verandah and saw them moving uncertainly, as if they were waking up, still half under the influence of unpleasant dreams. She felt the same way. Her shoulder creaked when she dropped her arm again. At least it will be a little cooler inside, she thought, and made her way up the steps. Cassie and Beth, their mounts led away after Harry's, followed her. Luncheon was a quiet meal. All those who had played a part in the morning's performance were there. Rather, Harry thought, as if we can't quite bring ourselves to separate yet, not because we have any particular reason to cling to one another's company. As if we'd just been through â⬠¦ something â⬠¦ together, and are afraid of the dark. Her headache began to subside with the second glass of lemonade and she thought suddenly: I don't even remember what the man looks like. I stared at him the entire time, and I can't remember ââ¬â except the height of him, and the scarlet sash, and those yellow eyes. The yellow eyes reminded her of her headache, and she focused her thoughts on the food on her plate, and her gaze on the glacial paleness of the lemonade pitcher. It was after the meal had been cleared away ââ¬â and still no one made any move to go ââ¬â that Jack Dedham cleared his throat in a businesslike manner and said: ââ¬Å"We didn't know what to expect, but by the way we're all sitting around and avoiding one another's eyes ââ¬â â⬠Harry raised hers, and Jack smiled at her briefly ââ¬â ââ¬Å"we don't have any idea what to do with what we've got.â⬠Sir Charles, still without looking up, said, as if speaking his thoughts aloud: ââ¬Å"What was it, Jack, that you said to him ââ¬â just at the end?â⬠Harry still had her eyes on Dedham, and while his voice as he answered carried just the right inflection, his face did not match it: ââ¬Å"It's an old catch-phrase of sorts, on the let-us-be-friends-and-not-part-in-anger-even-though-we-feel-like-it order. It dates from the days of the civil war, I think ââ¬â before we arrived, anyway.â⬠ââ¬Å"It's in the Old Tongue,â⬠said Sir Charles. ââ¬Å"I didn't realize you knew it.â⬠Again Dedham's eyes suggested something other than what he said: ââ¬Å"I don't. As I said, it's a catch-phrase. A lot of ritual greetings are in the Old Tongue, although almost nobody knows what they mean any more.â⬠Peterson said: ââ¬Å"Good for you, Jack. My brain wasn't functioning at all after the morning we'd spent. Perhaps you just deflected him from writing off the Outlanders altogether.â⬠Harry, watching, saw the same something in Peterson's face that she had wondered at in Dedham's. Sir Charles shrugged and the tension was broken. ââ¬Å"I hope so. I will clutch at any straw.â⬠He paused. ââ¬Å"It did not go well at all.â⬠The slow headshakes Dedham and Peterson gave this comment said much louder than words could how great an understatement this was. ââ¬Å"He won't be back,â⬠continued Sir Charles. There was the grim silence of agreement, and then Peterson added: ââ¬Å"But I don't think he is going to run to the Northerners to make an alliance, either.â⬠Sir Charles looked up at last. ââ¬Å"You think not?â⬠Peterson shook his head: a quick decided jerk. ââ¬Å"No. He would not have listened to Jack at the end, then, if he had meant to go to our enemies.â⬠Jack said, with what Harry recognized as well-controlled impatience, ââ¬Å"The Hillfolk will never ally with the Northerners. They consider them inimical by blood, by heritage ââ¬â by everything they believe in. They would be declaring themselves not of the Hills if they went to the North.â⬠Sir Charles ran his hand through his white hair, sighed, and said: ââ¬Å"You know these people better than I, and I will take your word for it, since I can do nothing else.â⬠He paused. ââ¬Å"I will have to write a report of this meeting, of course; and I do not at all know what I will say.â⬠Beth and Cassie and Harry were all biting their tongues to keep from asking any questions that might call attention to their interested presence and cause the conversation to be adjourned till the men retired to some official inner sanctum where the fascinating subject could be pursued in private. Therefore they were both delighted and alarmed when Lady Amelia asked: ââ¬Å"But, Charles, what happened?â⬠Sir Charles seemed to focus his gaze with some difficulty on the apprehensive face of his wife; then his eyes moved over the table and the girls knew that they had been noticed again. They held their breaths. ââ¬Å"Mmm,â⬠said Sir Charles, and there was a silence while the tips of Beth's ears turned pink with not breathing. ââ¬Å"It hurts nothing but our pride to tell you,â⬠Dedham said at last. ââ¬Å"He was here less than two hours; rode up out of nowhere, as far as we could tell ââ¬â we thought we were keeping watch so we'd have some warning of his arrival.â⬠The girls' eyes were riveted on Dedham's face, or they might have exchanged glances. ââ¬Å"He strode up to the front door as if he were walking through his own courtyard; fortunately, we had seen them when they entered the gates in front here and were more or less collected to greet him; and your man, Charles, had the sense to throw open the door before we found out whether or not he would have walked right through it. ââ¬Å"I suppose the first calamity was that we understood each other's languages so poorly. Corlath spoke no Homelander at all ââ¬â although, frankly, I don't guarantee that that means he couldn't.â⬠Peterson grunted. ââ¬Å"You noticed it too, did you? One of the men he had with him did the translating, such as it was; and Peterson and I tried to talk Darian ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"We did talk Darian,â⬠Peterson put in. ââ¬Å"I know Darian almost as well as I know Homelander ââ¬â as do you, Jack, you're just more modest about it ââ¬â and I've managed to make myself understood to Darians from all sorts of odd corners of this oversized administration ââ¬â including a few Free Hillfolk.â⬠Harry thought: And the Hill-king stopped dead, as angry as he was, when Dedham addressed him in the Old Tongue? ââ¬Å"In all events,â⬠Dedham went on, ââ¬Å"we didn't seem able to make ourselves understood too readily to Corlath.â⬠ââ¬Å"And his translator translated no faster than he had to, I thought,â⬠Peterson put in. Dedham smiled a little. ââ¬Å"Ah, your pride's been bent out of shape. Be fair.â⬠Peterson answered his smile, but said obstinately, ââ¬Å"I'm sure of it.â⬠ââ¬Å"You may be right.â⬠Dedham paused. ââ¬Å"It wouldn't surprise me; it gave them time to look at us a little without seeming to.â⬠ââ¬Å"A little!â⬠Sir Charles broke out. ââ¬Å"Man, they were here less than two hours! How can they ââ¬â he ââ¬â conclude anything about us in so little time? He gave us no chance.â⬠The tension returned. Dedham said cautiously: ââ¬Å"I daresay he thought he was giving us a chance.â⬠ââ¬Å"I am not happy with any man so hasty,â⬠said Sir Charles sadly; and the pompous ridiculousness of his words was belied by his tired and worried face. His wife touched his hand where she sat on his right, and he turned to her and smiled. He looked around the table; both Peterson and Dedham avoided his gaze. He said, lightly, almost gaily, ââ¬Å"It's simple enough. He wants arms, men, companies, regiments ââ¬â help to close the mountain passes. He, it would appear, does not like the idea of the Northerners pouring through his country.â⬠ââ¬Å"Which is reasonable,â⬠said Dedham carefully. ââ¬Å"His country would be turned into a battlefield, between the Northerners and â⬠¦ us. There aren't enough Hillfolk to engage the Northerners for any length of time. His country would be overrun, perhaps destroyed, in the process. Or at least annexed by the victor,â⬠he added under his breath. ââ¬Å"We couldn't possibly do as he asked,â⬠Sir Charles said, lapsing back to speaking his thoughts aloud. ââ¬Å"We aren't even sure what the Northerners mean toward us at present.â⬠Peterson said shortly: ââ¬Å"The Hillfolk's attitude toward the North being what it is, I feel certain that Corlath's spy system is a good one.â⬠ââ¬Å"We offered cooperation,â⬠Sir Charles said. ââ¬Å"Capitulation, you mean,â⬠Peterson replied in his blunt way. ââ¬Å"His.â⬠Sir Charles frowned. ââ¬Å"If he would agree to put himself and his people entirely under our administration ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Now, Bob,â⬠Dedham said. ââ¬Å"That's what it amounts to,â⬠Peterson said. ââ¬Å"He should give up his country's freedom ââ¬â that they've hung on to, despite us, all these years ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"It is not unusual that a smaller country should put itself under the protection of a larger, when the situation demands it,â⬠Sir Charles said stiffly. Before Peterson had a chance to reply, Dedham put in hastily: ââ¬Å"What it comes down to is that he is too proud to hear our terms, and we are ââ¬â er ââ¬â we cannot risk giving ââ¬â lending ââ¬â him troops on his terms.â⬠ââ¬Å"The Queen and Council would be most displeased with us if we precipitated an unnecessary war,â⬠said Sir Charles in his best commissioner's voice, and Peterson grunted. ââ¬Å"We know nothing about the man,â⬠Sir Charles continued plaintively. ââ¬Å"We know that he wants to keep the Northerners out of Daria,â⬠Peterson muttered; but Dedham moved in his chair in a gesture Harry correctly translated as bestowing a swift kick on Peterson's ankle; and Peterson subsided. ââ¬Å"And he would not stay to parley,â⬠Dedham finished. ââ¬Å"And here we are, feeling as if we'd all been hit in the head.â⬠Corlath paced up and down the length of his tent as his Riders gathered. He paused at one end of the tent and stared at the close-woven horsehair. The wall moved, for the desert wind was never still. There were so few of the Hillfolk left; in spite of the small hidden tribes who had come out of their fastnesses to pledge to Damar's black-and-white banner after generations of isolation. Corlath had worked hard to reunite the Free that remained ââ¬â but for what, when one thought of the thousands of Northerners, and eventually the thousands of Outlanders who would meet them? ââ¬â for the Outlanders would learn soon enough about the Northerners' plans for southern conquest. Between them they would tear his country to shreds. His people would fight; he knew with a sad sore pride that they would hold on till the last of them was killed, if it came to that. At best they would be able to continue to live in the Hills: in small secret pockets of their Hills, hiding in caves and gathe ring food in the darkness, slipping away like mice in the shadows, avoiding those who held their land, claimed it and ruled it. The old Damar, before the civil wars, before the Outlanders, was only a wistful legend to his people now; how much less it would be when there were only a few handfuls of the Free living like beggars or robbers in their own Hills. But he could not submit them to the Outlanders' â⬠¦ practical benevolence, he called it after a moment's struggle with himself. For his army to be commanded by Outlander generals â⬠¦ The corners of his mouth turned up. There was some bitter humor in the idea of the pragmatic Outlanders caught in a storm of kelar from both their allies and their opponents. He sighed. Even if by some miracle the Outlanders had agreed to help him, they would have refused to accept the kelar protection necessary ââ¬â they didn't believe kelar existed. It was a pity there was no non-fatal way to prove to them otherwise. He thought of the man who had spoken to him last, the grey-haired man. There had almost been a belief in him ââ¬â belief in the ways of the Hills, that Corlath had read in his face; they might have been able to speak together. That man spoke the Hill tongue understandably at least ââ¬â although he may not have known quite what he was offering in his few words of the Old Tongue. Poor Forloy: the only one of his Riders who knew even as much of the Outlander tongue as Corlath did. As an unwelcome envoy in a state far more powerful than his own, he had felt the need of even the few minutes a translator might buy him, to watch the faces of those he wished to convince. Why wasn't there some other way? For a moment the heavy cloth before him took on a tint of gold; the gold framed what might have been a face, and pale eyes looked at him ââ¬â She's nothing to do with this. He turned away abruptly and found his Riders all seated, watching him, waiting. ââ¬Å"You already know ââ¬â it is no good.â⬠They bowed their heads once in acknowledgment, but there was no surprise on their faces. ââ¬Å"There never was much chance ââ¬â â⬠He broke off as one of his audience dropped his head a little farther than the seriousness of the occasion demanded, and added, ââ¬Å"Very well, Faran, there wasn't any chance.â⬠Faran looked up, and saw the dawn of a smile on his king's face, the nearest thing to a smile anyone had seen on the king's face for days past. ââ¬Å"No chance,â⬠Corlath repeated. ââ¬Å"But I felt, um, obliged to try.â⬠He looked up at the ceiling for a minute. ââ¬Å"At least it's all over now,â⬠he said. Now that any chance of outside assistance had been eliminated, it was time to turn to how best to guard their mountains alone. The Northerners had tried to break through the mountains before, for they had always been greedy and fond of war; but while they were cunning, they were also treacherous, and trusted nobody because they knew they themselves were not to be trusted. For many years this had been a safeguard to the Hillfolk, because the Northerners could not band together long enough or in great enough numbers to be a major threat to their neighbors. But in the last quarter-century a strong man had arisen from the ranks of the petty generals: a strong man with a little non-human blood in him, which granted him a ruthlessness beyond even the common grain of Northern malice; and from whatever source he drew his power, he was also a great magician, with skills enough to bring all the bands that prowled the Northlands, human and non-human alike, under his command. His name was Thurra. Corlath knew, dispassionately, that Thurra's empire would not last; his son, or at most his son's son, would fail, and the Northerners break up and return to their smaller, nastier internecine quarrels. Corlath's father, and then Corlath, had watched Thurra's rise through their spies, and Corlath knew or could guess something of the cost of the power he chose to wield, and so knew that Thurra would not himself live much longer than an ordinary man. Since the Hill-kings lived long, it might be within Corlath's own lifetime that, even if the Northerners won the coming war, he would be able to lead his people in a successful rebellion; but by then there might not be enough of the country left to rebel, or to live off of after the rebellion was finished. Not much more than five hundred years ago ââ¬â in Aerin's day ââ¬â the desert his tent was pitched on had been meadow and forest. The last level arable land his people had left to them was the plain before the great gap in the mo untains where the Northern army would come. Sir Charles might beg off now while the Northerners had not yet attacked any Outlander-held lands. But once they had cut through the Hillfolk they would certainly try to seize what more they could. The entire Darian continent might fall into the mad eager hands of Thurra and his mob, many of them less human than he; and then the Outlanders would know more than they wished of wizardry. And if the Outlanders won? Corlath did not know how many troops the Outlanders had to throw into the battle, once the battle was engaged; they would learn, terribly, of kelar at Thurra's hands. But even kelar was limited at last; and the Outlanders were stubborn, and, in their stubbornness, courageous; often they were stupid, oftener ineffectual, and they believed nothing they could not see with their eyes. But they did try hard, by their lights, and they were often kind. If the Outlanders won, they would send doctors and farmers and seeds and plows and bricklayers, and within a generation his people would be as faceless as the rest of the Outlander Darians. And the Outlanders were very able administrators, by sheer brute persistence. What they once got their hands on, they held. There would be no rebellion that Corlath would ever see. It was not pleasant to hope for a Northern victory. His Riders knew most of this, even if they did not see it with the dire clarity Corlath was forced to; and it provided a background to Corlath's orders now. King's Riders were not given to arguing with their king; but Corlath was an informal man, except occasionally when he was in the grip of his Gift and couldn't listen very well to anything else, and usually encouraged conversation. But this afternoon the Riders were a silent group, and Corlath, when he came to the end of what he had to say, simply stopped speaking. Corlath's surprise was no less than that of his men as he heard himself say: ââ¬Å"One last thing. I'm going back to the Outlander town. The girl ââ¬â the girl with the yellow hair. She comes with us.ââ¬
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