The Crusades During The Middle Ages - 1152 Words

The Renaissance was a period of rebirth in art and culture after the Middle Ages. The Crusades helped Medieval Europe to flourish and grow out of the Dark Ages. The Crusades affected daily life and caused major effects in political, economical and cultural Medieval Europe. The first Crusade was gaining control over the Holy Land, but the later Crusades were fights over regaining land. The Byzantine Empire fell during the fourth Crusade after an attack on their capital, Constantinople, took place. Trade routes opened through Europe because of traveling between crusading states, and ideas, goods, and traditions were passed around. The Crusades caused a struggle for power between crusading states, destroyed empires, improved trade that†¦show more content†¦The Latins and Greeks were not on good terms after the split, and Alexius figured there was a better chance of the west wanting to participate in a holy pilgrimage than to support their enemies. Alexius went to the pope for m ilitary aid and for help from his army to fight the Muslim Turks for the sake of Christendom. The pope agreed, and the clergy and even ordinary people joined in the holy battle. It has been said the crusades were fought based on the philosophy of right and wrong. It could have been the Christians believing there was a fight to be fought of them vs. Unfaithful people. Christians believed that anyone who didn’t follow their religion and worship their god was â€Å"wrong† and therefore, they were Unfaithful. The crusades lead a substantial role in changes in Political Europe. It caused empires to fall, and imbalances in power which lead to bigger problems and more crusades. During the eleventh century, the Catholic church went through a series of changes and wanted more power over the government. Before the first crusade, there was already a power struggle between religions- Christianity and Islam. Jerusalem had been controlled by Muslims for 450 years. The crusades led a fight that would determine where the land would end up. The pope wanted the authority of being able to forgive sins and wage wars. The number of Muslims began to decrease when theShow MoreRelatedTechnology and The Crusades1361 Words   |  6 Pagesand The Crusades Many people consider the Crusades as wars of bloodlust, greed, and power. War can be described as an escalated conflict, most commonly over money or other resources. The outcome of war is usually the advancement of one society due to its newly acquired resources or knowledge. If one were to look at the Crusades, and their original purpose, which was to assist Constantinople and free the Holy Land from Muslim control, then one may make the conclusion that the Crusades failed.Read MoreMiddle Ages: Dark or Not? Essay1108 Words   |  5 Pagesdownfall was called the Middle Ages, more infamously recalled as the Dark Ages; but were these years truly as dark as historians say? These medieval times lasted for approximately one thousand years, could such a long time period have been all that dreadful? The answer will soon become clear. The Middle Ages deserved to have the alias of the Dark Ages because there were several severe illnesses, the monarchs were cruel, and the crusades brought the death of many. The Middle Ages are known for its abundantRead MoreThe Roman Catholic Church in Medieval Times Essay1295 Words   |  6 PagesLatin and as such could decipher the Bible and scriptures which gave them all the power to be the mouth of God. The Legacy of the power and the influence of the Church can still be found, even today in modern times. Throughout the time of the Middle Ages the Roman Catholic Church served as one of the most influential institutions in all of Medieval Europe, the Church served as a significant force in the arts, crafts and culture of Europe. The Church had a ranking structure (hierarchy) that was inRead More Christianity Essay1617 Words   |  7 Pagesvast reforms, some for the better and some for the worse. During this period in Europe, commonly known as The Middle Ages, economic reforms took place as well as social, political, and religious changes. One common theme throughout The Middle Ages consisted of the relationship between the Church and the State. The Catholic church during this era held a prominent role in society, and it had an abundant amount of power and authority during this time. The Catholic Church exercised its authority inRead MoreLooking Back at the Middle Ages1485 Words   |  6 Pages The Middle Ages where a significant time period with important political, social, religious and economic events, which have shaped history since that time, and the world today. One such event that has affected the politics of the Middle Ages and now was the signing of the Magna Carta. Secondly, was the Black Death (also known as the Bubonic Plague that affected the religious, social, and economic aspects. An event that affected the religious and economic aspects were the Crusades. There wasRead MoreThe Middle Ages : A Holy War Or Crusade Against Muslim Turks1357 Words   |  6 Pagesin the middle ages. Everyone believing in the same ideas and practices. Although, it might not be that simple, back in the middle ages everyone believed the Christianity. The church unified its people from a once corrupt world. The people would devote countless hours of their lives to gi ve back to the church. Above all, the feudal system was controlled by the church, including the all mighty kings. Christianity brought upon an age of faith throughout the middle ages. During the middle ages, thereRead MoreMiddle Ages as the Age of Faith Essay893 Words   |  4 PagesMiddle Ages as the Age of Faith The Middle Ages is often referred to as the Age of Faith and it is correct to do so, as during this period religion dominated all aspects of life from architecture, literature, art and music. The dominant religion during this period was Christianity. The middle ages saw the emergence #8230; of Christian literary forms#8230; a popular religious culture centred around processions, icons, and relics (George Holmes 42). The crusades were wars fought in theRead More The Crusades Essays897 Words   |  4 Pages THE CRUSADES Many great civilizations went into a depression after they had their golden age. One of these civilizations was the Western Europe civilization. After the fall of Rome the Western Europe civilization went into the dark ages while Eastern Europe called the Byzantine Empire prospered. Western Europe was brought out of the dark ages by the crusades. The crusades were the one thing that brought Western Europe out of the crusades After Rome fell Western Europe had lost their civilizationRead MoreThomas Madden: the New Concise History of the Crusades Essay1232 Words   |  5 PagesMadden’s Crusades is an exposition of the crusades, which occurred during the Middle Ages. The Crusades were a series of military conflicts of a religious character. They remain a very important movement in human history, and are hard to understand, as they include several themes and they lasted for a long time (about two hundred years, and the author covers a period of about eight centuries in his chronological work). Religion is, of course, the most recurrent theme we think about the Crusades, butRead MoreThe Decline Of The Middle Ages1392 Words   |  6 Pages The Middle Ages was a period that lasted for over 1000 years, beginning in 400 CE and ending in 1500 CE. This era is known as the period of time between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. The medieval era is split up into three sections; early Middle Ages (400-900 CE), High Middle Ages (900-1250 CE) and the late Middle Ages (1250-1500 CE). Medieval Europe was a time of key advancement in society and a period where a distinct cultural unit emerged. This was influenced by different

The Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment - 1395 Words

The Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment is also known as (MDVE), was an experiment that evaluated the effectiveness of the police when they responded to domestic violence calls in Minneapolis. This experiment was conducted during early 80’s for over a year by Dr. Lawrence W. Sherman who at the time was the Director of Research at the Police Foundation that is a non-profit foundation to assist police department to become extra effective and by the Minneapolis Police Department with all the monetary support from the National Institute of Justice. The results were mix showing a deterrent effect for arrest and impacted the current police practices during the early 80’s. Ten years later, numerous law enforcement agencies implemented policies to enforce mandatory arrest, without any warrant, for domestic violence cases where the police officer had probable cause for an arrest since a crime had occurred. In today’s society, domestic violence is an enormous problem that we live with. Domestic Violence is the greater common form of assault or battery encountered by police. Domestic violence don’t discriminate against age, gender, sex orientation and race. We live in a society that was built on conflicts, we also live a life that is full of hate, anger, lust and envy. The majority of the domestic violence cases that police officer intervene with, the cause was jealousy. The traditional police response to this case is for non-intervene since they believe that any couples’Show MoreRelatedThe Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment1198 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Looking at what we know about the prevention of domestic violence and studies that have led to more affective practices in eliminating and preventing domestic violence with repeat offenders. The Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment, was just that an experiment by police to determine the effects of arrest versus separation of individuals involved in a domestic dispute. The Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment also led to experiments in other cities including Omaha Nebraska, Miami FloridaRead MoreAmerican Sociological Review On Domestic Violence3762 Words   |  16 Pagesaltercations, arrests, and separations. What could they possibly all have in common? That would be domestic violence. From professional football players to celebrities that have committed domestic violence. Domestic violence is now a trending topic that is being heard throughout the country. Lawrence Sherman and Richard Berk conducted a domestic violence experiment in Minneapolis. In April of 1984 this experi ment came out in the American Sociological Review, Volume 49, Issue 2. The Findings Sherman andRead MoreMandatory Arrests For Domestic Violence1682 Words   |  7 PagesRunning head: MANDATORY ARRESTS 1 MANDATORY ARRESTS 8 Mandatory Arrests for Domestic Violence Do More Harm than Good Colby Heywood University of Massachusetts - Lowell Mandatory Arrests for Domestic Violence Do More Harm than Good Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is a common problem. As a result, the criminal justice adapted to demands, especially from feminists, who bemoaned the poor response of police, and in turn, the justice system by instituting mandatory arrests. HoweverRead MoreThe Effects Of Mandatory Arrests On Domestic Violence Essay3578 Words   |  15 Pagesexperiencing domestic violence at some point in her life-time, domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence Even after decades of increased activism and raised awareness by government agencies, the public and many nonprofit organizations, domestic violence still remains a serious problem within the United States. In order to combat domestic violence, many states passed laws and legislation requiring police to make warrantless arrests in response to all domestic violence calls. HarvardRead MoreAnalyzing a Major Issue, Domestic Violence as an Whole Essay1728 Words   |  7 PagesMajor Issue, Domestic Violence as an Whole Jessica Coleman Professor Jacquot PSY 110 6/1/2013 Although there are now laws against domestic violence, the issue still seems to be present in the 21st century. Once given an blind eye to is existence for decades people are now forced to face the fact that domestic violence is an major issue no matter when and where it may occur. In this essay I will be addressing the issues of: What is has been done to try and stop this violence and help theRead MoreEmotional And Emotional Effects Of Domestic Violence1503 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic violence, or as Daigle calls it, intimate partner violence, comes in different forms. One of these forms is intimate terrorism, which involves severe, persistent and frequent abuse that tends to get worse as time goes on. The abusive partner needs to feel like he or she has the power and control of the relationship. This type of intimate partner violence is likely to result in serious injury, the worst of which is death. Another kind of intimate partner violence is situational couple violenceRead MoreDomestic Violence And Sexual Violence3281 Words   |  14 Pagesappropriate definition of domestic violence is to clearly distinguish domestic violence from physical violence in general. Due to its nature, cases of domestic violence require specific treatment and perspective as it can be identified in many concealed forms and wo uld not leave behind physical wounds. Therefore to know the types and forms of violence the victims have to face is crucial to develop a legal response. Walter (1969) gave a comprehensive definition of violence as â€Å"destructive harm includingRead MoreTraditional Policing Is A Popular Policing Approach To1654 Words   |  7 Pageshas been burglarized. Another example would be domestic violence incidents because most of these take place inside a home where police officers will not have a view. Crimes can happen in private areas and those extra police officers that have been hired still will not know of them (Worrall, 2015). The Kansas City (MO) Preventive Patrol Experiment is an experiment that took place in 1972 and in 1973. The Kansas City (MO) Preventive Patrol Experiment was structured to help understand the connectionRead MoreDomestic Violence And Violence Against Women2254 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction â€Å"Domestic violence is a type of abuse by one or both partners in marriage, friends, family, dating or cohabitation† (Aziz Mahmoud, 2010). There are many forms of abuse from verbal and emotional to physical that often escalates over time in intensity for the victim. Data from the criminal justice system, hospital patient medical records and mental health records, police reports, surveys and social services reports of thousands of women revealed that many are injured and killed as aRead MorePolice Response to Domestic Violence2206 Words   |  9 PagesPolice Response to Domestic Violence Seminar in Police Problems Professor Valentin May 17, 2010 Police Response to Domestic Violence In 2005, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that 1,181 females were killed by an intimate partner. That means everyday, 3 women are killed as a result of domestic violence. These overwhelming statistics also state that out of all the women murdered in the United States, one out of three of the murders are the direct result of an

Aircraft Propeller Essay Example For Students

Aircraft Propeller Essay Theaircraft propeller looks like a simple mechanism to the uneducated individual. To the educated, an aircraft propeller represents the highest sophistication inaerodynamics, mechanical engineering and structural design. This report willtouch on the history of the propeller, from early pioneers/experiments,advancement during/after the war, all the way up to current applications of thepropeller. The creation of the propeller can be traced back to Leonardo daVinci. Da Vincis helical screw helicopter is believed to be theancestor of the air propeller and the helicopter rotor. The first idea of apropulsive airscrew, however, belongs to J.P. Paucton, a French mathematician. Paucton envisioned a flying machine that had two airscrews, one for propulsionand the other for sustaining flight. The idea of using an airscrew forpropulsion was utilized during the late 1700s to early 1800s. Only afterexperimentation did the inventors conclude that more propulsive power could beobtained by merely straightening out the surface of the airscrew blades. Attempts to utilize the straight blade propeller were made by balloonists. These contraptions were quite strange and hardly fulfilled their purpose ofactually propelling the balloon. The basic propeller had evolved from the simpleconcepts of da Vinci, and was slowly becoming an effective means of aerialpropulsion. To reach the next plateau of flight an increased knowledge of thepropeller would be needed, and the mysteries of the propeller and mechanicalpower would need to be solved. These substantial tasks remained for aviationspioneers to tackle during the 19th century. Throughout the 19th century,aviation pioneers explored and tinkered with the concepts of flight to design aviable airship. Some pioneers tried to transform the balloons into navigablecigar shaped airships by experimenting with sails, propellers, and paddlewheelsbut all produced limited results. Other experimenters, who were convinced thatman flight should have wings, worked to establish basic principles inaerodynamics, flight stability and control, as well as propulsion. Controlledmechanica l flight came on August 9, 1884. Charles Renard and A.C. Krebs flew theairship La France on a closed circuit from Chalais-Meudon to Villacoublayand back in 23 minutes. The airship La France was powered by a 9horsepower electric motor that drove a 23ft diameter propeller and reached aspeed of 14.5 mph. This flight was the birth of the dirigible, a steerable,lighter-than-air ship with adequate propulsion. Another important milestone inaviation, was the understanding of aerodynamics. Sir George Cayley, a Britishtheorist, was acclaimed as the father of aerodynamics. He established a solidfoundation of aerodynamic principles that were essential to the success of otherpioneers. In 1875, Thomas Moy created a large model that had twin 12ftpropellers with 6 blades each! Interestingly enough these blades could beadjusted to produce maximum thrust under certain conditions, an earlyrecognition of the need for changing blade pitch. Without a doubt, the mostexpensive and spectacular project of it s time was that carried out by Sir HiramMaxim. His numerous experiments with propellers, culminated in the constructionof a huge, four-ton biplane in 1890. This contraption was powered by two 180hpsteam engines that each drove propellers 17ft, 10inches in diameter and weighing135lbs. The two-blade propellers, inversely tapered and squared at the tips 5 ?ft wide, were made of American Pine, planed smooth, covered with glued canvasand stayed to the propeller shafts with steel wire to handle the high thrustloads. These massive propellers produced 1,100lbs of thrust each during fullpower while rotating at 425rpm. Maxims jumbo creation didnt last longhowever, it jumped the test track and suffered extensive damage. Hands down, themost influential aviation pioneers were the Wright brothers. They had concludedthat a propeller was simply a whirling wing, but didnt have the appropriateinformation to consult when comprehending the fundamental principles of bladeshape and motion. This dilemma m ade designing the propeller one of the Wrightbrothers most challenging problems. Despite the lack of previous information toconsult, the brothers were able to learn, through investigation and trial/error,that large propeller diameters would produce high thrust for a given powerinput. The brothers also determined that high torque produced by large, slowturning blades adversely affected the flying qualities (p-factor). On theirfirst aircraft, they utilized 8 ? ft propellers installed behind the wind tominimize airflow disturbance, incorporated counter-rotating propellers toeliminate the problems associated with torque, and gained thrust efficiency byreducing the blades rotational speed using a chain and sprocket transmission. .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 , .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 .postImageUrl , .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 , .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268:hover , .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268:visited , .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268:active { border:0!important; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268:active , .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268 .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u76518150446036e9df8a4460d2e59268:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Argumentative Essay About TechnologyThe Wright brothers propeller was 66% efficient which was much higher thatany other propeller of the time. The foundations of a disciplined approach topropeller design evolved soon thereafter. With the advancements and refinementsmade by early inventors, engineers could use those test results to designpropellers with better performance and structural reliability. Theseadvancements led to the development of the first generation of well-designedpropellers. One of the first designs was the Integrale, developed byLucien Chauviere, the worlds first industry standard propeller manufacturer. By 1910, the number of propeller producers multiplied, and numerous advancementswere made. While most of the manufacturers were focusing on wooden propellers, afew visionaries were experimenting with metal propellers and variable pitchblades. Geoffrey deHavilland, an English engineer, tested propellers whosealuminum blades could be adjusted to change their angle. At the same time,German pioneers Hugo Junkers and Hans Reissner experimented with lightweightmetal propellers. The first U.S. propeller production facility was the RequaGibson Company founded in 1909, which was headed by Canadian engineer Wallace R. Turnbull. Turnbull tested and confirmed that the large, slow-speed propellersproduced higher thrust efficiencies than those compared with smaller, high-speedpropellers. More importantly, Turnbull confirmed the universal law ofaerodynamics: the efficiency of any aerodynamic device rises as the amount ofair it acts upon increases and the velocity of that air decreases. Thesetheories were expanded during WWI. The war brought much advancement to thepropeller. Stronger materials were created through bonding which madepropellers compatible with the larger, more powerful engines. Propellerbalancing techniques were developed, which greatly smoothed out the ride. Experiments with variable pitch blades were introduced as well. Two majorbreakthroughs occurred after the war: the once piece metal propeller, and theground adjustable pitch propeller. The metal propeller allowed operations in allclimates, whereas the wooden prop would fail in extreme conditions. The metalpropeller could be made thinner than a comparable wooden propeller, whichallowed for faster cruising speeds due to less drag from compressibility. Thinner blades also improved efficiency at higher speeds. The only drawbacks tothe early metal propeller were their weight and fixed pitch blade angles. Thedevelopment of the ground adjustable propeller was a major improvement. The bestpropeller of this kind at the time was the dural-blade ground adjustablepropeller. With this adjustable propeller, the pilot could choose whether or notthey wanted to have great takeoff performance or great cruise performance. In1927, the idea of changing the pitch of a propeller was taken one step furtherwith the development of the in-flight adjustable propeller. This gearshiftdevice allowed pilots to change the pitch angle in flight to get the bestperformance out of their aircraft during takeoffs and during cruise. One of themost interesting developments during this period was the introduction of apropeller that could feather. This greatly reduced prop drag and was amulti-engine pilots savior when one of his engines quit. Hamilton Standard,on their H ydromatic propeller, introduced the feathering blade. AfterWWII, the Hydromatic propeller was improved by Hamilton Standard to includefeatures such as reversible pitch, automatic synchronization, and electricalblade deicing. Many large propeller transports switched to this new system forits reliability and pilot friendly features. The age of the Turboprop brought afew changes to the propeller. Four bladed, wide chord, aluminum alloypropellers, were utilized by most turboprop transports because of theirdurability. Engineers designed wide, super-thin, hollow blades to increase theperformance of the aircraft at high speeds. Advanced applications of thepropeller are currently being experimented by Hamilton Standard. The new ideadeals with transport category aircraft and the introduction of the un-ductedfan. This design incorporates the reliability of the turbine engine, with theefficiency of a prop. Expected savings of 25% in fuel costs drive the ongoinginterest in this application. The design utilizes 8-10 thin but very wide,closely spaced, swept angle blades to propel an aircraft at speeds approachingthe speed of sound (mach .8). It will be interesting to see how the role of thepropeller develops as time goes on. This report has sparked my interest inpropellers. I have never researched this topic before and feel that Ivebenefited from writing it. I enjoyed researching the history of the propellerand its contributions to aviation milestones. Ive taken you, the reader,from the early experiments of da Vinci, the wooden props of the Wright brothers,the design of the variable pitch propeller, through the advanced concept of theun-ducted fan. I hope this report was as interesting to read as it was towrite.

It was the best of times, it w... free essay sample

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light. The Renaissance; the painting before me a scene stolen from the era. I stare at the masterpiece in front of me, an ideal representation of the Renaissance, combining both elements of Greek Classicism and French Romanticism, it has an anomalous kind of entrancing quality to it. Beguiled by its cataclysmic beauty, I amble up to the painting. Its as though the Raft of Medusa has summoned me towards itself, my legs following its silent pleas to stalk up to it with nothing more than my subconscious consent. This is what Ive come to the Louvre for after all. By now I am inches from the painting, giving me the ability to lean in and marvel at the precision of the brush strokes and the artfully constructed details visible even after so many centuries. We will write a custom essay sample on It was the best of times, it w or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A cacophonous bang snaps me out of my trance, only to find myself alone in the dim darkness of the aisle, in the museum. An obscure feeling swims in the depths of my stomach; I ignore it in favour of reverting my attention back to the looming presence of the painting, but not before noticing the lack of any sort of security for one of the Louvres most prized possessions. I push the thought and the impending sense of foreboding doom, which refuses to leave my gut, out of my head and choose to focus on the almost too life-like, writhing bodies and anguished faces searching for escape on the canvas in front of me. They seem real, as though they are trapped not on a raft, but in the agonisingly perfect brush strokes, struggling to burst into reality. I take yet another step forwards and after much hesitation, dare to place a wary palm on the surface of the masterpiece. Whats the worst thing that could happen? Theres no one – but before I can finish my thought, a violent surge of adrenaline fills my body, leaving my heart thumping and engulfing my eyes in a darkness far too black for them to get accustomed to soon. With another raucous noise, I feel myself fall onto damp wood accompanied by an excruciating sting to my spine. The state of disorientation my mind is in makes it arduous to judge the amount of time passed, but eventually my ey es begin to detect vague traces of light. Sitting up, or rather, trying to – for I am stopped by rough hands aggressively pushing me down, back towards the rotten dampness and putrid stench of the wood – I attempt to map my surroundings. Twisting my head around in the little room that I have, I am greeted by the numerous faces of those like me, struggling to get back to the edge of the loosely tied together wood, where there is enough airspace to, at least momentarily, breathe comfortably. With whatever little strength I have left in my limbs, I grope and forcibly push my way amongst the masses of entwined limbs, to a more spacious spot on the decrepit raft, I take a deep breath – though instead of the sweet satisfaction of oxygen, all I feel is the sharp sting of salt in the air. The air of chaos on the raft is inescapable, nausea fills my body; I am overcome with fear. Looking up, all I can see is grey and black filling up the entirety of the heavens, the promise of an impending storm making itself visible through their incessant rumbling. Just as the clouds threaten to carry out their fearfully anticipated promise, a strong sense of dà ©jà  -vu strikes me, and like a submerging corpse in a quicksa nd, dread sinks its fangs into my heart. The miserable faces, the writhing bodies, the entwined masses of flesh – it all makes sense now. I have somehow entered the Raft of Medusa. Fierce bouts of lightning strike threateningly close to the raft, which is now my only safe haven. I would be lying if I said the dark cloud that has settled ominously over the raft hasnt caused a similar cloud of depression in my head, deluging any rational thought that may have previously occupied my brain. The tumultuous waves seem not to care about my newfound depression and, take the opportunity to toss me about the edge of the raft. It is only after the waves have relented in their violent assault that I notice the cut on my upper thigh. It is small, and blood hardly flows out, but the salt in the ocean water makes tears sting the back of my eyes, but I do not let them spill. I am sure more than half a day has passed now, and with my eyes better adjusted to the paltry amount of light, I can recognise the corpses of many Id seen previously alive. I wait for that oh-so-familiar bout of anxiety to settle itself in my gut, but it never comes. Looking around, I can spot those still alive, feebly pushing corpses into the water. My eyes follow the motion of the bodies in the murky water as they splash about amongst the already bloated corpses floating around. Contemplating the corpses further, I can detect faint marks on their limbs; almost like those left behind by teeth. I shun the thought – my eyes must be deceiving themselves. Its a small miracle that Im one of the few still surviving, then again, it appears Ive joined the party a little later than most others. Ignoring my relentless thoughts, I look down at my thigh again, using my wrinkled fingers to remove the flimsy cloth covering my leg, only to discover the putrid stench of yellow pus. Even blood was better than this. The underlying nausea of it all finally takes over and I haul my face over the edge of the raft, and get rid of the acrid bile that has been trying to get itself out of my system for so long. I am rooted to the spot; now I am truly trapped and with my recently developed state of helplessness, I now notice the roving eyes of those left settle on me. I almost want to be put out of my misery now – their stares still havent abated, and the anxiety of anticipating why seems worse than anything their intentions can contain. My skin is wrinkled seemingly beyond recovery and of a pallid hue, my fingers too withered to even move, and the infection on my thigh making me feel practically paralysed. I fight against closing my eyes, and giving in to the call of the blissful void, the darkness. I have lost the ability to even estimate how much time has passed – hours, days, weeks? I do not know, the only constant in my struggle being the incessant bawling and unforgiv ing gazes of those remaining. Before I can sink further into the quicksand of my disconcerting thoughts, I am dragged out of numb stupor by the oppressive presence of those remaining. I am now hyper-aware of the warm huffs of damp air I can only assume is their breath, and their glaring, predatory eyes. My heart starts thumping furiously again, making my chest feel like a cruel cage, and I am almost comforted by the actions morbid familiarity. Just then, I feel a sharp intake of air behind me, and in a flash, a pair of canines sink themselves into the flesh of my paralysed neck. I dont screech, or react in any way at all. I am somehow incapable of even reacting, frozen to the spot, shock paralysing me further as I can feel more teeth join in, and I lie there, helpless, waiting in trepidation as the feeble ray of light, that my eyes could previously detect, fades into darkness.