I am awoken to the bouncing of the plane in the turbulence, and by an announcement from the pilot. Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We will be beginning our descent into Reykjavik shortly. There are light rain showers around the airport, so the descent may be a bit bumpy. The local time in Reykjavik is 6:30am GMT. Thank you for flying with us today! Hold on, what do you mean 6:30am GMT and we're still in the air. Boarding for our connection to Zurich starts at 6:45am GMT! Apparently, due to the turbulence, the flight ended up taking longer than the pilot anticipated. On top of the both of us forgetting the Eurail tickets, this made her stress like crazy. I was more calm about the situation, as there was nothing I could do about it, but I was still slightly annoyed.
Reykjavik 6:40am GMT; May, 30th, 2018
When we finally got to the gate after we landed at 6:40, my hope was dwindling and my sister's was non-existent. I was perpetually asked the question "Do you think they'll hold the plane if enough people aren't there on time?" My response was either the go to I don't know noise and shrug combo, you know the one, or 'Probably not.' The biggest problem with the whole ordeal was that we didn't know if we would have to go through passport control here in Iceland or in Switzerland. We hoped Switzerland for the sake of time, however that turned out not to be the case as we would find out in just a few minutes.
Thankfully, through the chaos of leaving the airplane and trying our best to decipher the hieroglyphics the Icelandics call words, we were able to make a quick phone call to our mother describing both the situations with the Eurail Pass, and the fact that we might not make our connecting flight to Zurich. However, as we were nearing our correct gate, we saw something that destroyed all the hope and time we made up while running through the airport. Passport control. Initially this made us worry that we had accidentally found the exit of the airport and were completely lost, but then we remembered that by landing in Iceland we had officially entered the European Union. Thankfully unlike the Department of Homeland Security officers at home, the Icelandics appeared to actually enjoy their jobs which made the endless task of stamping passports and making sure you weren't a serial killer or a fugitive much easier and quicker. All told we probably spent 15 minutes where we expected to spend hours.
We finally arrive at the gate for the connection with Zurich to find that the boarding had been delayed by 20 minutes. This was both fantastic for us as it meant that we were able to board the plane, but was also rather annoying as we just ran from one side of the airport to the other while trying to talk on the phone and figure out where we were going all at the same time. When boarding finally started, the might of Icelandic thinking showed again and we were in the air within 10 minutes of the gate opening. Thankfully, the only thing of note for this flight was that we were in the emergency exit row, which meant I did not have to sit with my knees at my chin for the entirety of the flight again.
Zurich 1:20pm CEST; May 30th, 2018
For the most parts, all airports look exactly the same. The type of place you don't want to spend too much time in because even the shortest amount of time can feel like an eternity. I was expecting more of the same when we landed in Zurich, but I could not have been more wrong. The buildings looked sleek and futuristic, as if they were ready to welcome the spacefarers and reopen as a spaceport. The gates were reminiscent of a giant living room, and the concourses appeared as if they were first designed as a shopping mall. There was even a gift shop you had to walk through to get to the baggage claim. A GIFT SHOP. Baggage claim is another one of those things that makes the whole airport experience nothing more than a hassle. You finally get to your destination, everyone rushes directly to the bathroom or baggage claim, and then you just sit there waiting for your bag to arrive.
Luckily, however, Zurich is in the German part of Switzerland, so everything is as efficient as humanly possible. It seems to be timed just perfectly so that when you make it to the baggage claim, wait in line for the bathroom, and then come out of the bathroom, the luggage starts coming out of the chute. It was a welcome surprise to say the least. Leaving the baggage claim while dragging luggage and trying to figure out where to go from there was the most stressful part of my day. My sister was texting our cousin that we had landed, but had not yet received any response due to the poor connection underground. We knew we were supposed to meet her there, but we didn't count on the airport being the size of a small suburb. Through what seemed like dumb luck, we made it out of one door and she was just standing there, arms open and waiting for a hug.
She asked us a myriad of questions ranging from how were the flights? (good), How was the airline food? (not provided and expensive so we didn't get any), Are you hungry? (more thirsty than anything). After that response she told us to follow her, so we did of course. While walking back into the airport and through sections we didn't even know existed she was telling us about the whole Eurail pass fiasco. Essentially, our mother, our aunt (her mother) and her were up all night (morning for her) trying to figure out how to solve the problem. The first thing they tried was to see if the paper pass was just for fun and you could access the entire pass online, which turned out to not be possible. They then looked into sending scanned copies, however, they only accept actual passes at the train stations. They even looked into purchasing a new one while we were there, which ended up costing much more than the option they chose, overnighting them in the mail. However, as we were 6 hours ahead of home, they wouldn't be shipped till the FedEx at the airport opened in the morning. Which meant that before they even got sorted by their system it would be the start of Thursday here. And we had reservations for an 11am train on Friday to Paris. The estimated delivery was 9am, but it was not specified if it was EST or CEST.
Because the topic of the Eurail passes was so important I was not paying attention at all until we arrived at a grocery store. In an airport. And not a small one either, it was massive. I won't get into details about a grocery store mostly because you've probably been in one before. Just picture that and change all the English words to German and you've got the picture. After we purchased our drinks, we walked through what looked like a shopping mall mixed with a city center. It was all indoors and all part of the airport. Apparently, some people go there to do all of their shopping, or just even hang out. Finally, at 2:20pm CEST, we left the airport and plunged directly into the heart of Zurich.
June 4, 2018
European Adventure Day 1: Taking Flight
The day is Wednesday, May 30th, 2018. The time is 3:30pm EDT and I have still yet to finish packing. This is just the way I am, always procrastinating, and of course, making my mother insanely nervous as we need to be at the airport in two and a half hours. This would make many people nervous, as packing two weeks worth of clothes and necessities in such a short amount of time leads to many a forgotten item. However, I was not bothered by this as I continued to sit on the couch and finish my episode of Futurama. Fast forward two hours, and I had completely finished packing, and was waiting for my sister to return from the store to pick up a few things she had forgotten to purchase since January when we planned this adventure. Thankfully, five minutes later she got back and announced that she had finished packing for the trip. Good thing too as we were leaving for the airport as soon as she had returned.
Luckily, my dad works for the Cleveland airport, and because of this, we live within a five-minute drive from the airport, and we always know the status of flights, weather, security lines, customs, the lot. Additionally, we do not have to deal with the hassle of the departures drop off section of the airport, as he has parking privileges near the check-in counters. We arrived at the ticket counter to see the one thing that we did not account for. Golfers. If you have ever traveled with a set of golf clubs as luggage, you may know of the hassles associated with it. Golf clubs are actually pretty heavy, cumbersome, and worst of all, expensive, so you are keen that the airline takes the best of care with them so as not to break any of the clubs. Because of these bags of clubs, an estimated five minute wait time for the line to the ticket counter was immediately bumped up to 25, and the stress began. The time is now 6:30pm EDT, boarding starts in one hour and ten minutes, and we haven't even gotten through one of the biggest nightmares in modern travel history. Security.
(If you are familiar with Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, you will know that it is not the biggest airport in the world, and after Continental was bought by United, it ceased operations as a major airline hub. This was bad news for the airport as its major customer had picked up and left within the course of two years. Revenue slowed, and because of this the airport started slacking on some of the major maintenance that had been planned, and was very much needed. After around five years of questioning whether the airport should keep one of its major concourses open, a new breed of airline arrived on the scene, and ultimately at Hopkins. The economy hoppers. Airlines such as Spirit, and Frontier which offered cheap flights and an a la carte method of pricing. These airlines were never predicted to last and were seen as the final hurrah of the airport before its eventual demise. However, once people started realizing that they could take cheap weekend trips around the country to see family, or have quick vacations, these airlines started to flourish, and more and more kept popping up. This gave the airport new money and allowed it to start working on projects that it finally had the cash for. Ultimately, this will be fantastic for the airport, and for its customers. However, currently is a different story as the airport is working at the fullest capacity it has had in 10 years while simultaneously fixing and upgrading itself for the newfound travelers.)
Security at any airport is always a... well... its a shitshow let's be real here. Security at an airport that is experiencing its highest traveler numbers in 10 years while working at the same time to accommodate them. Needless to say, Security took forever. As we are finally cleared, its 7:20pm EDT and boarding starts in 20 minutes. The absolute worst part though, in my opinion, was the fact that the gate where we were boarding did not have a view of the aircraft so we were not able to see if the airplane was even there. This was an issue, as the plane had been delayed the previous two days by 30 minutes. Granted, this was not terrible in terms of flight delays, however, our layover was only 50 minutes, and we had no time to spare.
There was a slight delay in boarding which caused quite a bit of stress, as the time of departure was supposed to be 8:20pm EDT, and Icelandair did not start boarding the aircraft until 8:10pm EDT. If you have ever been on an airplane before you know of the one thing that has stumped even the greatest thinkers of the modern age. Boarding. This is mostly because first class is normally boarded first to make them feel special, and business class is the next to board, to give busy men and women the illusion of doing things on time. and then everyone else basically boards at the same time and it's a crapshoot to get to the plane while inevitably being held up by either an old woman who can't lift her carryon to the luggage compartment, or a family trying to juggle three kids and the same amount of carryons. You've been there, you know how it goes.
Well, apparently, someone in Iceland has nothing to do and was able to come up with a solution that makes the most sense and takes less than 15 minutes. Why not load the plane from the back first? I know. It makes perfect sense, and who cares if rich people get snooty and the business types get stressed if everyone boards 20 minutes faster? Certainly not me, that's for sure. We left the gate at 8:22pm EDT and were in the air by 8:30pm EDT. Major crisis averted, still a little worried that we will miss our connection in Reykjavik, but at this point, it was out of our hands. As if he had heard my thoughts, an announcement comes over the loudspeaker, first in Icelandic, then in English: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Today's flight is from Cleveland to Reykjavik. We will be cruising around 18 thousand meters. We should have a smooth flight, except for a few patches of turbulence over Greenland. Tonight's flight should be around five and a half hours. The stewardesses should be around shortly with refreshments available to purchase. Thank you for choosing Icelandair. Five and a half hours!? We might just be making this connection after all. As I swipe through the screen in the headrest in front of me, looking for something to watch, my sister turns to me and says "Did you bring the Eurail pass? Because I didn't." Well. Shit.
Luckily, my dad works for the Cleveland airport, and because of this, we live within a five-minute drive from the airport, and we always know the status of flights, weather, security lines, customs, the lot. Additionally, we do not have to deal with the hassle of the departures drop off section of the airport, as he has parking privileges near the check-in counters. We arrived at the ticket counter to see the one thing that we did not account for. Golfers. If you have ever traveled with a set of golf clubs as luggage, you may know of the hassles associated with it. Golf clubs are actually pretty heavy, cumbersome, and worst of all, expensive, so you are keen that the airline takes the best of care with them so as not to break any of the clubs. Because of these bags of clubs, an estimated five minute wait time for the line to the ticket counter was immediately bumped up to 25, and the stress began. The time is now 6:30pm EDT, boarding starts in one hour and ten minutes, and we haven't even gotten through one of the biggest nightmares in modern travel history. Security.
(If you are familiar with Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, you will know that it is not the biggest airport in the world, and after Continental was bought by United, it ceased operations as a major airline hub. This was bad news for the airport as its major customer had picked up and left within the course of two years. Revenue slowed, and because of this the airport started slacking on some of the major maintenance that had been planned, and was very much needed. After around five years of questioning whether the airport should keep one of its major concourses open, a new breed of airline arrived on the scene, and ultimately at Hopkins. The economy hoppers. Airlines such as Spirit, and Frontier which offered cheap flights and an a la carte method of pricing. These airlines were never predicted to last and were seen as the final hurrah of the airport before its eventual demise. However, once people started realizing that they could take cheap weekend trips around the country to see family, or have quick vacations, these airlines started to flourish, and more and more kept popping up. This gave the airport new money and allowed it to start working on projects that it finally had the cash for. Ultimately, this will be fantastic for the airport, and for its customers. However, currently is a different story as the airport is working at the fullest capacity it has had in 10 years while simultaneously fixing and upgrading itself for the newfound travelers.)
Security at any airport is always a... well... its a shitshow let's be real here. Security at an airport that is experiencing its highest traveler numbers in 10 years while working at the same time to accommodate them. Needless to say, Security took forever. As we are finally cleared, its 7:20pm EDT and boarding starts in 20 minutes. The absolute worst part though, in my opinion, was the fact that the gate where we were boarding did not have a view of the aircraft so we were not able to see if the airplane was even there. This was an issue, as the plane had been delayed the previous two days by 30 minutes. Granted, this was not terrible in terms of flight delays, however, our layover was only 50 minutes, and we had no time to spare.
There was a slight delay in boarding which caused quite a bit of stress, as the time of departure was supposed to be 8:20pm EDT, and Icelandair did not start boarding the aircraft until 8:10pm EDT. If you have ever been on an airplane before you know of the one thing that has stumped even the greatest thinkers of the modern age. Boarding. This is mostly because first class is normally boarded first to make them feel special, and business class is the next to board, to give busy men and women the illusion of doing things on time. and then everyone else basically boards at the same time and it's a crapshoot to get to the plane while inevitably being held up by either an old woman who can't lift her carryon to the luggage compartment, or a family trying to juggle three kids and the same amount of carryons. You've been there, you know how it goes.
Well, apparently, someone in Iceland has nothing to do and was able to come up with a solution that makes the most sense and takes less than 15 minutes. Why not load the plane from the back first? I know. It makes perfect sense, and who cares if rich people get snooty and the business types get stressed if everyone boards 20 minutes faster? Certainly not me, that's for sure. We left the gate at 8:22pm EDT and were in the air by 8:30pm EDT. Major crisis averted, still a little worried that we will miss our connection in Reykjavik, but at this point, it was out of our hands. As if he had heard my thoughts, an announcement comes over the loudspeaker, first in Icelandic, then in English: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Today's flight is from Cleveland to Reykjavik. We will be cruising around 18 thousand meters. We should have a smooth flight, except for a few patches of turbulence over Greenland. Tonight's flight should be around five and a half hours. The stewardesses should be around shortly with refreshments available to purchase. Thank you for choosing Icelandair. Five and a half hours!? We might just be making this connection after all. As I swipe through the screen in the headrest in front of me, looking for something to watch, my sister turns to me and says "Did you bring the Eurail pass? Because I didn't." Well. Shit.
May 2, 2018
Book Review: A Hero of Our Time
A Hero of Our Time
Mikhail Lermontov
Psychological Fiction
1840
Book Summary:
A Hero of Our Time can be best described as a novel pretending to be a biography. The novel starts out with the Preface before it turns to the short Biography of Bella. During Bella's story, we hear about a man named Pechorin, and Maxim Maximych who has his own story after that of Bella. Then we have the Foreword which we presume to be written by the same person who wrote both the story of Bella and Maximych. Next up is the story of Pechorin, told by Pechorin after his death through the reading of his journal. In Pechorin's Journal, there are three other stories which can be summed up by the main character in each, besides Pechorin of course. The stories of Taman, Princess Mary, and the Fatalist each take place in different parts of Pechorin's life.
My Review:
It has been a very long time since I have read something that made me sit back and rethink my life after reading it. However, this beautiful story was something extraordinary. Although the writing style is very different than what I am used to, and I had no idea where many of the locations and nationalities were, every page was a journey. Not only did I stop to research the locations, and the long-forgotten nationalities that this story speaks of, but I also stopped to reflect on each story after it had finished.
All of this being said, it was not by any means an easy read. It took me many months to get through the book, and I must admit that I was not always pleased with it. However, unlike many novels you will have read in your life, this one does not feel like a story. You start to connect with the characters as if they were lifelong friends, and feel in their pain when things do not go as planned. Lermontov was somehow able to make 300 pages seem like an entire lifetime.
Review Summary:
Readability: 2.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Total Pages: 287 (Varies by version)
Reading Time: 48 hours
Would I Recommend This Book: Definitely Yes
January 28, 2018
Book Review: Humanity's Hope
Note: I was contacted by the author's PA about doing a review of this book.** I was given a free e-copy of the book to read for the review.
Book Summary:
Caleb, a 17-year-old boy, survived the zombie uprising, but he didn’t come out of the ordeal unscathed. He’s been scarred—both mentally and physically. The rest of humanity is trying to rebuild, to make the world normal again. Caleb is trying to return to a normal life also, but after all he’s seen, after the loss of his family and friends, the transition is difficult. The darkness that led him down a path of self-doubt and self-harm keeps trying to creep back into his mind.
Things only become worse when he discovers he’s immune to whatever makes a zombie a zombie. Fighting zombies was predictable. He knew what to expect. Fighting humans is volatile. They are malicious and treacherous. They won’t stop to get what they want, and Caleb has to figure out exactly what that is.
My Review:
First things first, I will be the first to admit that I absolutely loathe the entire idea of a zombie. I hate all the shows about them, all the books, games, and movies. However, I do love a good apocalypse story, but I am always left wondering what happens after that apocalypse. This time around though, Sinclair has given us the "what next" of all apocalypse stories. It showcases what humanity is, and how it reacts to devastating disasters. It rebuilds, starts again, makes it better, and I think that is what people need to hear about themselves.
I have a problem with Young Adult novels that I've had ever since I myself was a young adult who was reading them. The Fate of the World Rests in the Hands of a Teenager is the tagline of this book, and it just makes you wonder "... Why?" And I think that's how anybody who isn't a young adult sees a book like this. However, I do remember as a teenager that it certainly felt like the fate of the world was depending on me. Sure my world at the time was worrying about getting papers and lab reports turned in on time and trying to get into college, but it felt the same way. So much pressure on one person for no reason.
These two problems from my own psyche aside, I was able to identify with the main character, Caleb, from a mental health standpoint. I was able to completely understand why he acted the way he did, and even sympathize with some of his thoughts. However, because of the aforementioned problems, this relatively short novel, in comparison to what I have been reading recently, took me forever to get through. The novel was definitely not a page-turner, but it was a pleasant reading experience. I do not feel like I have wasted my time reading this novel, but nor am I particularly pleased with myself for reading it. I appreciate being reached out to personally for a review of this book, but alas, I feel ashamed for not enjoying the book as much as I would have liked.
Review Summary:
Readability: 2.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 4.5/5
Total Pages: 253
Reading Time: 26 hours
Would I recommend this book: Probably
**If you would like to contact me for a review request, hop on over to my "About the Blogger" page! There you will find my contact information so you can get in touch. I will leave an honest review no matter what, so just keep that in mind.
November 27, 2017
Weekday Arduino Project #2
Decode IR Remote Buttons
The Project:
Decode the signals from an IR remote to use in other projects.
Pictures:
Why?:
For later projects, and to decode any of your IR remotes for later usability.
What you need:
- Arduino Uno Board
- 3 pin IR receiver
- IR remote
- Breadboard
- Arduino software
The Schematic:
The Code:
// Include all needed libraries#include <IRLib.h>
#include <IRLibMatch.h>
#include <IRLibRData.h>
#include <IRLibTimer.h>
// Create a receiver object to listen on pin 11
IRrecv My_Receiver(6);
// Create a decoder object
IRdecode My_Decoder;
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
My_Receiver.enableIRIn(); // Start the receiver
}
void loop() {
// Continuously look for results. When you have them pass them to the decoder
if (My_Receiver.GetResults(&My_Decoder)) {
My_Decoder.decode(); // Decode the data
My_Decoder.DumpResults(); // Show the results on serial monitor
My_Receiver.resume(); // Restart the receiver
}
}
The Library:
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
November 22, 2017
Book Review Robinson Crusoe
Book Summary:
Taken from SparkNotes
Robinson Crusoe is an Englishman from the town of York in the seventeenth century, the youngest son of a merchant of German origin. Encouraged by his father to study law, Crusoe expresses his wish to go to sea instead. His family is against Crusoe going out to sea, and his father explains that it is better to seek a modest, secure life for oneself. Initially, Robinson is committed to obeying his father, but he eventually succumbs to temptation and embarks on a ship bound for London with a friend. When a storm causes the near deaths of Crusoe and his friend, the friend is dissuaded from sea travel, but Crusoe still goes on to set himself up as a merchant on a ship leaving London. This trip is financially successful, and Crusoe plans another, leaving his early profits in the care of a friendly widow. The second voyage does not prove as fortunate: the ship is seized by Moorish pirates, and Crusoe is enslaved to a potentate in the North African town of Sallee. While on a fishing expedition, he and a slave boy break free and sail down the African coast. A kindly Portuguese captain picks them up, buys the slave boy from Crusoe, and takes Crusoe to Brazil. In Brazil, Crusoe establishes himself as a plantation owner and soon becomes successful. Eager for slave labor and its economic advantages, he embarks on a slave-gathering expedition to West Africa but ends up shipwrecked off of the coast of Trinidad.
Crusoe soon learns he is the sole survivor of the expedition and seeks shelter and food for himself. He returns to the wreck’s remains twelve times to salvage guns, powder, food, and other items. Onshore, he finds goats he can graze for meat and builds himself a shelter. He erects a cross that he inscribes with the date of his arrival, September 1, 1659, and makes a notch every day in order never to lose track of time. He also keeps a journal of his household activities, noting his attempts to make candles, his lucky discovery of sprouting grain, and his construction of a cellar, among other events. In June 1660, he falls ill and hallucinates that an angel visits, warning him to repent. Drinking tobacco-steeped rum, Crusoe experiences a religious illumination and realizes that God has delivered him from his earlier sins. After recovering, Crusoe makes a survey of the area and discovers he is on an island. He finds a pleasant valley abounding in grapes, where he builds a shady retreat. Crusoe begins to feel more optimistic about being on the island, describing himself as its “king.” He trains a pet parrot, takes a goat as a pet, and develops skills in basket weaving, bread making, and pottery. He cuts down an enormous cedar tree and builds a huge canoe from its trunk, but he discovers that he cannot move it to the sea. After building a smaller boat, he rows around the island but nearly perishes when swept away by a powerful current. Reaching shore, he hears his parrot calling his name and is thankful for being saved once again. He spends several years in peace.
One day Crusoe is shocked to discover a man’s footprint on the beach. He first assumes the footprint is the devil’s, then decides it must belong to one of the cannibals said to live in the region. Terrified, he arms himself and remains on the lookout for cannibals. He also builds an underground cellar in which to herd his goats at night and devises a way to cook underground. One evening he hears gunshots, and the next day he is able to see a shipwrecked on his coast. It is empty when he arrives on the scene to investigate. Crusoe once again thanks Providence for having been saved. Soon afterward, Crusoe discovers that the shore has been strewn with human carnage, apparently the remains of a cannibal feast. He is alarmed and continues to be vigilant. Later Crusoe catches sight of thirty cannibals heading for shore with their victims. One of the victims is killed. Another one, waiting to be slaughtered, suddenly breaks free and runs toward Crusoe’s dwelling. Crusoe protects him, killing one of the pursuers and injuring the other, whom the victim finally kills. Well-armed, Crusoe defeats most of the cannibals onshore. The victim vows total submission to Crusoe in gratitude for his liberation. Crusoe names him Friday, to commemorate the day on which his life was saved, and takes him as his servant.
Finding Friday cheerful and intelligent, Crusoe teaches him some English words and some elementary Christian concepts. Friday, in turn, explains that the cannibals are divided into distinct nations and that they only eat their enemies. Friday also informs Crusoe that the cannibals saved the men from the shipwreck Crusoe witnessed earlier and that those men, Spaniards, are living nearby. Friday expresses a longing to return to his people, and Crusoe is upset at the prospect of losing Friday. Crusoe then entertains the idea of making contact with the Spaniards, and Friday admits that he would rather die than lose Crusoe. The two build a boat to visit the cannibals’ land together. Before they have a chance to leave, they are surprised by the arrival of twenty-one cannibals in canoes. The cannibals are holding three victims, one of whom is in European dress. Friday and Crusoe kill most of the cannibals and release the European, a Spaniard. Friday is overjoyed to discover that another of the rescued victims is his father. The four men return to Crusoe’s dwelling for food and rest. Crusoe prepares to welcome them into his community permanently. He sends Friday’s father and the Spaniard out in a canoe to explore the nearby land.
Eight days later, the sight of an approaching English ship alarms Friday. Crusoe is suspicious. Friday and Crusoe watch as eleven men take three captives onshore in a boat. Nine of the men explore the land, leaving two to guard the captives. Friday and Crusoe overpower these men and release the captives, one of whom is the captain of the ship, which has been taken in a mutiny. Shouting to the remaining mutineers from different points, Friday and Crusoe confuse and tire the men by making them run from place to place. Eventually, they confront the mutineers, telling them that all may escape with their lives except the ringleader. The men surrender. Crusoe and the captain pretend that the island is an imperial territory and that the governor has spared their lives in order to send them all to England to face justice. Keeping five men as hostages, Crusoe sends the other men out to seize the ship. When the ship is brought in, Crusoe nearly faints.
On December 19, 1686, Crusoe boards the ship to return to England. There, he finds his family is deceased except for two sisters. His widow friend has kept Crusoe’s money safe, and after traveling to Lisbon, Crusoe learns from the Portuguese captain that his plantations in Brazil have been highly profitable. He arranges to sell his Brazilian lands. Wary of sea travel, Crusoe attempts to return to England by land but is threatened by bad weather and wild animals in northern Spain. Finally arriving back in England, Crusoe receives word that the sale of his plantations has been completed and that he has made a considerable fortune. After donating a portion to the widow and his sisters, Crusoe is restless and considers returning to Brazil, but he is dissuaded by the thought that he would have to become Catholic. He marries, and his wife dies. Crusoe finally departs for the East Indies as a trader in 1694. He revisits his island, finding that the Spaniards are governing it well and that it has become a prosperous colony.
My Review:
Robinson Crusoe is an Englishman from the town of York in the seventeenth century, the youngest son of a merchant of German origin. Encouraged by his father to study law, Crusoe expresses his wish to go to sea instead. His family is against Crusoe going out to sea, and his father explains that it is better to seek a modest, secure life for oneself. Initially, Robinson is committed to obeying his father, but he eventually succumbs to temptation and embarks on a ship bound for London with a friend. When a storm causes the near deaths of Crusoe and his friend, the friend is dissuaded from sea travel, but Crusoe still goes on to set himself up as a merchant on a ship leaving London. This trip is financially successful, and Crusoe plans another, leaving his early profits in the care of a friendly widow. The second voyage does not prove as fortunate: the ship is seized by Moorish pirates, and Crusoe is enslaved to a potentate in the North African town of Sallee. While on a fishing expedition, he and a slave boy break free and sail down the African coast. A kindly Portuguese captain picks them up, buys the slave boy from Crusoe, and takes Crusoe to Brazil. In Brazil, Crusoe establishes himself as a plantation owner and soon becomes successful. Eager for slave labor and its economic advantages, he embarks on a slave-gathering expedition to West Africa but ends up shipwrecked off of the coast of Trinidad.
Crusoe soon learns he is the sole survivor of the expedition and seeks shelter and food for himself. He returns to the wreck’s remains twelve times to salvage guns, powder, food, and other items. Onshore, he finds goats he can graze for meat and builds himself a shelter. He erects a cross that he inscribes with the date of his arrival, September 1, 1659, and makes a notch every day in order never to lose track of time. He also keeps a journal of his household activities, noting his attempts to make candles, his lucky discovery of sprouting grain, and his construction of a cellar, among other events. In June 1660, he falls ill and hallucinates that an angel visits, warning him to repent. Drinking tobacco-steeped rum, Crusoe experiences a religious illumination and realizes that God has delivered him from his earlier sins. After recovering, Crusoe makes a survey of the area and discovers he is on an island. He finds a pleasant valley abounding in grapes, where he builds a shady retreat. Crusoe begins to feel more optimistic about being on the island, describing himself as its “king.” He trains a pet parrot, takes a goat as a pet, and develops skills in basket weaving, bread making, and pottery. He cuts down an enormous cedar tree and builds a huge canoe from its trunk, but he discovers that he cannot move it to the sea. After building a smaller boat, he rows around the island but nearly perishes when swept away by a powerful current. Reaching shore, he hears his parrot calling his name and is thankful for being saved once again. He spends several years in peace.
One day Crusoe is shocked to discover a man’s footprint on the beach. He first assumes the footprint is the devil’s, then decides it must belong to one of the cannibals said to live in the region. Terrified, he arms himself and remains on the lookout for cannibals. He also builds an underground cellar in which to herd his goats at night and devises a way to cook underground. One evening he hears gunshots, and the next day he is able to see a shipwrecked on his coast. It is empty when he arrives on the scene to investigate. Crusoe once again thanks Providence for having been saved. Soon afterward, Crusoe discovers that the shore has been strewn with human carnage, apparently the remains of a cannibal feast. He is alarmed and continues to be vigilant. Later Crusoe catches sight of thirty cannibals heading for shore with their victims. One of the victims is killed. Another one, waiting to be slaughtered, suddenly breaks free and runs toward Crusoe’s dwelling. Crusoe protects him, killing one of the pursuers and injuring the other, whom the victim finally kills. Well-armed, Crusoe defeats most of the cannibals onshore. The victim vows total submission to Crusoe in gratitude for his liberation. Crusoe names him Friday, to commemorate the day on which his life was saved, and takes him as his servant.
Finding Friday cheerful and intelligent, Crusoe teaches him some English words and some elementary Christian concepts. Friday, in turn, explains that the cannibals are divided into distinct nations and that they only eat their enemies. Friday also informs Crusoe that the cannibals saved the men from the shipwreck Crusoe witnessed earlier and that those men, Spaniards, are living nearby. Friday expresses a longing to return to his people, and Crusoe is upset at the prospect of losing Friday. Crusoe then entertains the idea of making contact with the Spaniards, and Friday admits that he would rather die than lose Crusoe. The two build a boat to visit the cannibals’ land together. Before they have a chance to leave, they are surprised by the arrival of twenty-one cannibals in canoes. The cannibals are holding three victims, one of whom is in European dress. Friday and Crusoe kill most of the cannibals and release the European, a Spaniard. Friday is overjoyed to discover that another of the rescued victims is his father. The four men return to Crusoe’s dwelling for food and rest. Crusoe prepares to welcome them into his community permanently. He sends Friday’s father and the Spaniard out in a canoe to explore the nearby land.
Eight days later, the sight of an approaching English ship alarms Friday. Crusoe is suspicious. Friday and Crusoe watch as eleven men take three captives onshore in a boat. Nine of the men explore the land, leaving two to guard the captives. Friday and Crusoe overpower these men and release the captives, one of whom is the captain of the ship, which has been taken in a mutiny. Shouting to the remaining mutineers from different points, Friday and Crusoe confuse and tire the men by making them run from place to place. Eventually, they confront the mutineers, telling them that all may escape with their lives except the ringleader. The men surrender. Crusoe and the captain pretend that the island is an imperial territory and that the governor has spared their lives in order to send them all to England to face justice. Keeping five men as hostages, Crusoe sends the other men out to seize the ship. When the ship is brought in, Crusoe nearly faints.
On December 19, 1686, Crusoe boards the ship to return to England. There, he finds his family is deceased except for two sisters. His widow friend has kept Crusoe’s money safe, and after traveling to Lisbon, Crusoe learns from the Portuguese captain that his plantations in Brazil have been highly profitable. He arranges to sell his Brazilian lands. Wary of sea travel, Crusoe attempts to return to England by land but is threatened by bad weather and wild animals in northern Spain. Finally arriving back in England, Crusoe receives word that the sale of his plantations has been completed and that he has made a considerable fortune. After donating a portion to the widow and his sisters, Crusoe is restless and considers returning to Brazil, but he is dissuaded by the thought that he would have to become Catholic. He marries, and his wife dies. Crusoe finally departs for the East Indies as a trader in 1694. He revisits his island, finding that the Spaniards are governing it well and that it has become a prosperous colony.
My Review:
This is most definitely a work of its time. However, unlike many works that are caged by their era, this story cannot be forgotten in the annals of history. Defoe had created a time machine with this novel. Just enough historical fact paired with a healthy dose of historical fiction, and a big slice of adventure pie for dessert. This is one of those stories that takes you there. All in all a highly recommended read!
Review Summary:
Readability: 3/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Total Pages: 599
Reading Time: 15 hours
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Book Challange Qualifications:
Back to the Classics 2017: A Classic Published Before 1800
November 20, 2017
Weekday Arduino Project #1
LCD Screen Reads Out Servo Angle
The Project:
Create an Arduino project that steadily increases the angle of a servo, and prints the angle on an LCD screen.
Pictures:
This is a tester for a long-term project that I am working on currently.
What you need:
- Arduino Uno board
- 16 pin 16x2 LCD screen
- 3 pin servo
- 10k ohm potentiometer
- 220 ohm resistor
- Breadboard
- Arduino software
The Schematic:
The Code:
// Include the library code:
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
#include <Servo.h>
// Initialize the library by associating any needed LCD interface pin
// With the arduino pin number it is connected to
// Const ints
const int rs = 12, en = 11, d4 = 5, d5 = 4, d6 = 3, d7 = 2;
const int numRows = 2;
const int numCols = 16;
// Ints
int potpin = 0;
int val;
int count = 0;
// Create servo object to control servo
Servo myservo;
// Set up LCD display
LiquidCrystal lcd(rs, en, d4, d5, d6, d7);
void setup() {
// Set up the LCD's number of columns and rows:
lcd.begin(numCols, numRows);
Serial.begin(9600);
myservo.attach(9);
}
Void loop(){
// Refresh the display
lcd.clear();
lcd.display();
// Set display
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
// Math for Servo
count = (count + 1);
Serial.print(count);
// Reset counter if it reaches 1000
if (count == 1000){
count = 0;
}
// Convert and write to servo
val = map(count,0,1000,0,180);
myservo.write(val);
// Print angle on LCD
lcd.print(val);
delay(50);
}
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
July 19, 2017
Book Review: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Book Summary:
The story opens in the year 1866. Everyone in Europe and America is talking about a mysterious creature that has been sinking ships. Finally, the United States government decides to intervene and commissions the Abraham Lincoln to capture and identify the creature. On board the ship are Pierre Aronnax, a renowned scientist along with his manservant, Conseil, and Ned Land the king of harpooners.
The Abraham Lincoln is attacked by the creature. Aronnax, Conseil and Land go overboard. The three men find themselves on top of the mysterious creature, which is actually a submarine vessel. They are taken on board and placed in a cell.
The men meet Captain Nemo, the commander of the vessel, known as the Nautilus. He tells them they can stay on board the ship and enjoy freedom as long as they return to the cell if asked. They are never to leave the vessel again. Ned Land says he will not promise that he will not try to escape.
Captain Nemo treats the men, especially Aronnax, very well. They are clothed and fed and may wander around the vessel at their leisure. Aronnax is thrilled by Nemo’s vast library. The men spend their time observing sea life through observation windows. Aronnax studies and writes about everything he sees.
During their time on the Nautilus, the men experience many exciting adventures. They hunt in underwater forests, visit an island with angry natives, visit the lost city of Atlantis, and fish for giant pearls. However, there are also many distressing events coupled with the erratic behavior of Captain Nemo. One night the men are asked to return to their cell. They are given sleeping pills and awake the next morning very confused. Nemo asks Aronnax to look at a crewman who has been severely injured. The man later dies and they bury him in an underground cemetery, where many other crewmen have been laid to rest.
On a voyage to the South Pole, the Nautilus becomes stuck in the ice. Everyone must take turns trying to break a hole in the ice so the vessel can get through. The ship almost runs out of its oxygen supply and the men grow tired and light headed. However, they escape just in time.
Another time, the vessel sails through an area heavily populated by giant squid, when a giant squid gets stuck in the propeller of the submarine. The men and the crew must fight off the squid with axes because they cannot be killed with bullets. While fighting, a crewmember is killed by a squid. Nemo is moved to tears.
The rising action of the story begins with Nemo’s attack on a warship. Aronnax does not know to which nation the warship belongs, but he is horrified when Captain Nemo sinks it. The men decide they must escape at all costs.
One night, while off the coast of Norway, Aronnax, Conseil and Land plan a rash escape. To their dismay they realize they are heading toward a giant whirlpool--one that no ship has ever survived. Amazingly, in only a small dinghy they emerge safely. They awake in the hut of a fisherman. At the conclusion of the story, Aronnax is awaiting his return to France and rewriting his memoirs of his journey under the sea.
My Review:
The very first time I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, I was 10. I read it out of spite because my English teacher at the time told me it was above my reading level. 10 years later, and I have just finished the book for the 3rd time. If you look at my bio page of this blog, you will see that this is indeed my favorite book of all time. Jules Verne is a master of the pen, and it shows in this, the best book he has written, in my opinion. The story of Captain Nemo and his Nautilus is a tale of adventure, discovery, science, and revenge. Verne tells us almost everything we want to know, but keeps just enough off of the page to keep us thinking. My only criticism of this book happens to be with Verne's strive for scientific accuracy. A good 50 pages or more of this story is dedicated to describing, in great detail, fish of all sorts. While interesting at first, this becomes dry, and made me skip full paragraphs at a time without feeling like I missed anything crucial to the story.
Review Summary:
Readability: 3.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Total Pages: 627
Reading Time: 20 hours
Would I recommend this book? Yes, everyone should read it at least once.
Book Challange Qualifications:
Back to the Classics 2017: A classic with a number in the title
May 20, 2017
The Problem of Energy Consumption and How to Solve It
Dan Jira
Writing Seminar
Professor Beery
April 28, 2017
The Problem of Energy Consumption and How to Solve It
Mahatma Gandhi once said “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” One-hundred years later, we are feeling the ramifications of the later half of that quote. Non-renewable sources of energy are depleting, and the quicker we use them up, the quicker we are destroying the ozone layer of our atmosphere. Although alternative sources of energy are here and ever advancing, until hydrogen as a fuel source is introduced, we will never be able to run an emissions free economy.
Whether or not you believe that global warming exists, it cannot be denied that the global use of energy is increasing every year. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, energy consumption per person (in Million Btu) has gone up from 65 in the year 2000 to 74 in the year 2010. That is the equivalent of each person in the world using 1.9 tonnes of oil each year. The current rise of per capita energy consumption is worrying news considering that from 1980 to 2000, the average energy consumption over those 20 years was 63.9 Million Btu. However, the average over just the next ten years, from 2001 to 2011, was up to 77.1 Million Btu. This meteoric rise in energy consumption per person may not seem too drastic, but when you look at the world consumption of energy, during those ten years, you can see that it has risen from 400.6 Quadrillion Btu all the way up to 520.3 Quadrillion Btu. This 120 Quadrillion Btu increase over those ten years is nothing however, when you look at the data from 1980. The world consumption of energy in 1980 is 237 points lower than it is 31 years later. That increase is what I am concerned about. The 520.3 Quadrillion Btu of energy that the world used in 2011 is the equivalent of 89.66 Billion tonnes of oil (U.S. Energy Information Administration).
It must be considered that because this table includes renewable sources of energy as well as nonrenewable that surely this cannot be a bad thing. However, in 1980, the average Petroleum consumption was 63,122 Thousand Barrels of Oil per day. In 1990, there was a modest increase to 66,541 Thousand Barrels of Oil per day. The increase from 1990 to 2000 was a bit more drastic. In the year 2000, world consumption of oil was up to 76,928 Thousand Barrels of Oil per day. The consumption from the years 2000 to 2010 is just a bit more drastic. In the year 2010, world consumption of oil was up to 88,216 Thousand Barrels of Oil per day. Sure the increase over ten year intervals is not unexpected given the needs of the planet. However, the increase of global consumption of 25,094 Thousand Barrels of Oil per day is worrying nonetheless. The story is even more drastic with natural gas. From 1980 to 2010, the global increase of natural gas was up 60,915 Billion Cubic Feet. From 52,943 Billion Cubic Feet in 1980 to 113,858 Billion Cubic Feet in 2010. The story for coal is the exact same, with an increase of global use of 3,762,483 Thousand Short tons from 1980 to 2010. The energy needs of the planet are more than telling of the increase in electricity consumption. The number of Billions of Kilowatt Hours the planet needed doubled from 1980 to 2005 and increased a staggering 11,357 Billion Kilowatt Hours over the course of thirty years, from 1980 to 2010. All of this translates to the huge increase in global CO2 emissions from 1980 to 2010 from 8,825.2 Million Metric Tons in 1980 to 11,392.4 Million Metric Tons in 2010. Sure these numbers may not seem huge, however if you add the total production of CO2 emissions over the course of those 30 years, then do you see where within the problem lies. From 1980 to 2010 an astronomical amount of 299,438.5 Million Metric Tons of CO2 emissions has been put into the atmosphere of our planet (U.S. Energy Information Administration).
All of these billions of tons of CO2 have been building up in the upper atmosphere of our planet. Contrary to what some people think, these gasses are not causing a degradation of the atmosphere. No, rather, they are doing something a bit worse. These gasses are starting to build up another layer of the atmosphere. This layer is thicker than most of the other upper layers of the atmosphere and is trapping the sun’s rays inside the atmosphere, and in turn making the planet warmer. This change in temperature, although miniscule when compared to the universal thermometer, is causing significant damage to the planet. It cannot be denied that the ice caps are melting, and that deserts are expanding. If you look at the California drought of the past year, then you know of the problems that I am referring to. There must be a solution to all of this, because as much as the ecomaniacs want us to turn away from non-renewable fuels immediately, it is not that easy.
Currently, the most widely used renewable power source is hydropower. From the early days of hydropower when a calm stream turned a water-wheel used to mill grain, to the modern-day marvel of the Three Gorges Hydroelectric power-plant in China which helped the nation produce more than 50% of the world’s hydroelectric power (Power-Technology). The only problem with hydroelectric power is that no matter how efficient it is, it is limited. The location of hydroelectric power plants is limited to land and environmental restrictions. Most hydroelectric dams create lakes behind them. Because of this, it is required for these dams to be put in specific places, and only after extensive geological surveys to make sure that the resulting lake created by the dam would not destroy any sensitive ecosystems in the area.
The second most widely used renewable energy source is also the oldest: wind power. Wind has been used to power grain mills since the early 9th Century to grind grain. However, it is only as of 1888 that wind has been used to create electricity. In recent years, the “annual growth rate of cumulative wind power capacity has averaged 25% during the last five years” (Power-Technology). The largest on land wind farm in the world is actually in California. The Alta Wind Energy Centre has an operational capacity of 1,550MW through 586 individual turbines. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States consumed 3868 Gigawatts of electrical power. This means that the largest wind farm in the world can only produce 0.0004% of the electrical power required to run the nation. However, there is a problem. The General Electric 1.5MW Turbines that are the most common around the world, are massive. These windmills are, on average, 80 m tall, and the rotors are 77 m in diameter. If you were to fill the cylinder of operating space that these turbines need with water, you could fill 149 olympic size swimming pools. This means that the most efficient, and largest, wind farm in the world is situated on 3,500 acres. Solar power is the world’s third most productive renewable source of energy generating around 100GW per year (Power-Technology). Solar power has the same problem that wind energy does, in that its source is not constant. Unlike a hydropower facility where the source is a constant flow from a dammed river, solar panels and wind turbines are constantly plagued by the lack of their sources. However, these three sources offer one advantage that coal powered electrical plants could never achieve: zero emissions.
Electricity is said to be the future of transportation; however, I disagree. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, electricity production accounts for the largest amount of CO2 emissions at 30% whereas transportation on accounts for 26. This means that until electricity is generated completely emission free, electricity is not the most efficient way to power your vehicle. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel because there is a solution coming soon. Hydrogen. The most abundant element in the universe in the universe has been powering the largest object in our solar system for over three trillion years, our sun. A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle operates on the same basic principles that make the sun shine. By smashing two hydrogen atoms into each other, a massive amount of energy is created. In the sun, this process causes radiation, however, luckily, here on earth, this process needs to be stimulated by oxygen. This means that when liquid hydrogen travels from its fuel cell to the engine of a car, and is mixed with just the air around it, not only does it push the piston up, enabling step one of a 4-cycle engine, but the gasses which are then expelled from the pipe in the back of your car come out as the wonderful chemical, dihydrogen monoxide, or, water.
Problem solved then... except I don’t think it is. I foresee another problem arising from the use hydrogen. The problem that I foresee is something that has only been published in six scientific journals as of 2015. The problem I foresee derives from a single line of dialogue that I watched about NASA on the Discovery channel when I was home sick from school one day. In single thirty second clip of this documentary, an SRB, or Solid Rocket Booster, was being test-fired. In order to cool the exhaust gasses, thousands of gallons of water were sprayed into the nozzle of the rocket engine to cool the gasses so they would not burn the area of land behind the SRB. It was the next line of dialogue though that I have remembered through all of these years. It said “Because of the amount of water vapor, or steam, that was created during the cooling of this engine, it will rain two hours from now on a government owned wetland 20 miles east of this facility. In the 1970s, they thought it was a coincidence, but they now know that it is in fact the test firing and cooling of the rocket engines that causes this rain-shower.” After I heard this I theorized that if every vehicle in the United States were to run on hydrogen, with each car producing about the same amount of water vapor as it would CO2, weather patterns around the world would drastically change, for better or worse. It turns out that I was not alone in my theories, and in 2006, a journal published to Stanford University’s Global Climate & Energy Project stated that “A hydrogen economy is expected to reduce particulate concentrations overall although some local increases may occur due to changes in precipitation patterns” (Jacobson, et al.). This complex sentence is basically saying that if we switch to a hydrogen economy, emissions will be reduced overall, however, there will be changes in weather patterns.
My solution on how to solve the energy and climate crisis is to use hydrogen power only in certain places. The main place where I would implement hydrogen power is electricity power stations. The amount of energy that could be produced with hydrogen instead of coal is about a 25% increase in power production. The water vapor exhaust could be collected and condensed inside the plant to produce water. In areas where water is plentiful, this can be put straight back into the ecosystem. However, in areas where clean water is a luxury, the water can then be used for drinking and irrigation. Furthermore, if this system were to be implemented into areas where electricity and clean water are uncommon, or even unheard of, then the benefits of a system which could provide both are astronomical. Another area where I see hydrogen power benefiting is the global shipping fleet. If a shipping boat were able to produce its own clean water while underway, and not have to carry it with them from the beginning, they would be able to carry more cargo, and produce no emissions doing so. Furthermore, this can also be applied to cruise ships that currently produce large amounts of CO2 emissions. If those emissions were replaced with water, the ship would be able to provide clean water for all aboard as long as the engines could run. The last place I would envision hydrogen power, and its by-products being useful is an emergency backup generator. Not only would this provide the user with electricity, but also clean water. If these ideas were implemented alongside hydro, wind, and solar power, than I believe the world could work to an emissions free power grid.
The current power demands of the world we live in cause the emissions problems that we have been creating since the industrial revolution. However, it has only been within the past 40 years that we have started to realize the effects of our need for energy. Although we may be constantly expanding our use of renewable energy sources, it cannot be denied that they are not advanced enough yet to meet the needs of the planet. However, I believe that within the next 15 years, an emissions free economy can be created by changing the current fuel of choice of power plants from coal to hydrogen.
Page Break
Works Cited
“Alta Wind Energy Center (AWEC), California.” Power Technology, Power Technology, www.power-technology.com/projects/alta-wind-energy-center-awec-california/
“2013 Honda Civic EX Sedan Review.” Automobile-Catalogue, Automobile-Catalogue, www.automobile-catalog.com/car/2013/1600520/honda_civic_ex_sedan_automatic.html
“2013 Honda FCX Clarity Review.” Automobile-Catalogue, Automobile-Catalogue, www.automobile-catalog.com/car/2013/1154960/honda_fcx_clarity.html
Gandhi, Mahatma. “A Quote by Mahatma Gandhi.” Goodreads, Goodreads Inc., www.goodreads.com/quotes/30431-earth-provides-enough-to-satisfy-every-man-s-needs-but-not
Jacobson, Mark Z, et al. “Hydrogen Effects on Climate, Stratospheric Ozone, and Air Polution.” Stanford University: Global Climate & Energy Project, 2006, p. 10., gcep.stanford.edu/pdfs/QeJ5maLQQrugiSYMF3ATDA/2.1.5.jacobson_06.pdf
“The World's Most Used Renewable Power Sources.” Power Technology, Power Technology, 2015, www.power-technology.com/features/featurethe-worlds-most-used-renewable-power-sources-4160168/
“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” International Energy Statistics, United States Department of Energy, www.eia.gov/beta/international/rankings/#?prodact=2-12&cy=2013&pid=2&aid=2&tl_id=2-A&tl_type=a
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