Visiting Bangalore- Silicon Valley of India

Visiting Bangalore- Silicon Valley of India Bangalore- Silicon Valley of India Namaskara (Greetings in Kannada) Once referred to as the Garden City of India, this huge metropolitan city has a wonderful vibrancy of both the contemporary and old world. It is one of the largest cities in the country and is home to the IT industry, hence the name Silicon Valley of India. The city has been recently renamed as Bengaluru and is well known for its numerous pubs, vast lakes and beautiful gardens. The gardens have been however on the diminishing side in the last decade or so. Situated at a height of 3000 feet above sea level, Bangalore is blessed with a magnificent climate and has been surveyed as one of the most liveable cities in the country. Bangalore is a huge cosmopolitan city and has a wonderful cultural blend making it one of the most eclectic cities in India. Best season to visit Bangalore- Bangalore has a tropical savanna climate and experiences moderate climatic conditions all through the year due to its elevation above sea level. The summer months from March to May are warm and the winter months from November to January are quite cool and nice. Monsoons hit the city in the months from June to August and are not very incessant. Tourists can visit Bangalore all year around due to these moderate climatic conditions. Highlights (Things to do and experience in Bangalore) Stroll along Brigade road in the evening and watch the world go by. Go beer tasting at any of the many Bangalore pubs and micro breweries. Revel in the electric nightlife of Bangalore. Soak in the sereneness that the lovely Lalbagh and Cubbon parks offer. Lalbagh also conducts flower shows every year. Walk along Ulsoor Lake, Sankey Tank or any of the many lake bodies spread across the city. Enjoy live concerts that happen frequently at the Palace grounds. Many popular national and international bands perform in Bangalore. Enjoy a traditional play at Rangashankara. There are numerous theatre groups that perform every weekend in the city. Enjoy a walking tour and get to know more about the city’s history. There are numerous walking tours such as Victorian Bangalore walk, Lalbagh walk, etc. run by companies such as Unhurried and Bangalore Walks. Visit the many fairs and shows that the city hosts. The popular ones are Peanut fair, Aero show, Sunday soul santà ©, etc. Bring out the adventurer in you at Wonder La, a popular water theme park. Be a part of the numerous short treks from Bangalore organized by a host of adventure companies. The popular treks are to Savandurga, Skandagiri, Antaragange and Makalidurga. Rock climbing is popular in Ramnagara, a short drive away from Bangalore. Watch a cricket match at the Chinnaswamy stadium. Indian premier league matches are held in the months of April and May. Taste the delicious traditional south Indian food at any of the darshinis spread across the city. Enjoy a day at the creative and interactive Innovative film city which has a host of activities and shows for its visitors. Indulge in the water sport facilities at Lumbini Park. Hotspots (Things to see in Bangalore) South Bangalore- Bannerghatta National Park This National Park offers a safari where one can spot numerous animals and is quite popular with tourists. There is also a zoo which has many caged animals. A butterfly conservatory near the park is another attraction. Lalbagh Botanical Garden This magnificent huge botanical garden houses innumerable plant species and many 100 year old trees. Additionally, it also has a deer park, an aquarium and a lake. The glass house and rose garden are quite popular. Flower shows are conducted every year at Lalbagh. Do not miss the opportunity to grab a snack and a cup of coffee at the nearby MTR restaurant, one of the iconic places to eat in Bangalore. Gavipuram Gangadeshwara Temple – Take the lord’s blessings at the oldest temple in Bangalore. At more than 800 years old, this temple is located in the temple district of Bangalore. Bull Temple This is one of the most popular and visited temples in Bangalore and has a granite monolithic Nandi as its shrine. The temple ground also hosts the popular annual peanut festival. North Bangalore Bangalore Palace This palace is the residence of the Wodeyar royal family. It has a beautiful exterior and is modelled on the Windsor Castle. A portion of it is open to the public and displays a wonderful collection of art. Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat It is one of the renowned art schools and museums in the country. It has a wide display of art works and also has an impressive alumnus. Frequent art fests are conducted here. East Bangalore Aerospace museum This is India’s first aerospace museum and has a wide display of aeronautical photographs, aircraft models and gives detailed information about the history of India’s aerospace. West Bangalore ISKCON Temple Run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, this temple has very attractive interiors and also sells numerous temple paraphernalia and artifacts. Central Bangalore Holy Trinity Church This 19th century church is built in English renaissance style and is a landmark building in the heart of the city. Vidhana Soudha Vidhan Soudha houses the state legislature and is a landmark building in the city. It has some wonderful exteriors and is built in Neo- Dravidian style. However, entry is not permitted. Rangoli Metro Art centre This small but wonderful gallery is the newest addition to Bangalore’s art galleries. Situated near the Metro station on M.G. Road, this art centre has a nice display of art work by various artists. St. Mary’s Basilica Built in gothic style with stained glass; this basilica has a wonderful external facade and attracts numerous devotees. Tipu Sultan’s Palace This wonderful palace of Tipu Sultan is adorned with nice architecture and frescoes. There is also a fort, a temple and a mosque in its surroundings. Vishweshwaraya museum This interactive industrial and technological museum is quite popular with both children and adults, and is well recommended while in Bangalore. Venkattappa Art gallery and museum It is one of the oldest museums in the country and has a wide display of art works, sculptures, Tanjore paintings and artifacts. It also has displays of antiques from the Mohenjedaro and Harappa civilization. National Gallery of Modern Art This wonderful museum has an impressive display of contemporary art and is a must visit for all art lovers. Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium This planetarium has wonderful visuals, is informative and would be a great visit for children. Neighbourhood- Devanahalli fort This fort is the birth place of Tipu Sultan and is located ahead of the international airport. It has a fort wall, a few temples and a village that lives inside it. Channapatna Channapatna is well known for its wooden toys, and one can also see the artisans in work. Make sure to buy a few of their wonderful creations. Nandi Hills It has been one of the favoured getaway destinations for a very long time for the residents of Bangalore. The hills offer a panoramic view, has temple on top, a stepped well and a rest house. It is quite windy and cool on top, and that brings a lot of visitors to this nice little hill fort. Shopping in Bangalore Bangalore has numerous shopping avenues and these include the modern shopping malls and also the shopping streets which have been ever popular for years. Shopping Malls Bangalore has numerous shopping malls with many branded outlets, department stores, cafes, pubs, restaurants and cinema theatres. The popular ones are Forum mall, Garuda mall, Orion mall, UB City, Phoenix market city and Bangalore central. Brigade Road Brigade road has been well known as a shopping/ walking street for decades. Lined with shops, pubs and cafes on either sides, this is one of the most preferred shopping areas of the residents. If you are keen on artifacts, there are a couple of good options such as Kaveri emporium on M.G.Road, which runs perpendicular to Brigade road. Commercial street This is the place to head to if you are not keen on branded items. With a huge line of shops, the street offers a wide range of options to choose from. Indira Nagar 100 feet road and CMH road in Indira Nagar has numerous brand outlets and is one of the best shopping areas in Bangalore. Koramangala With a host of stores, Koramanagala has numerous shopping avenues. It also has many huge branded outlets. Malleshwaram Sampige Road and Gandhi Bazaar in Basavanagudi – You should head to either of these places if you are looking for a traditional shopping experience. How to reach Bangalore With both international and domestic terminals, Kempegowda International airport, Bangalore is the best means to reach the city as it connects to all the major Indian cities and a host of cities across the world. Many international airlines connect Bangalore with Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Singapore, London, Bangkok, Colombo, Frankfurt and many other cities across the world. Pre- paid taxis and BMTC Volvo buses are easily available to take you to the central part of the city. The major railway station is Bangalore city station which is located opposite the Majestic bus stand (the main bus station). There are other railway stations at Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore Cantonment and Krishnarajapuram. Trains connect Bangalore to various big and small cities across the country. There are long distance buses, both private and government ones that ply to and from cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore, etc. The major bus stations are at M ajestic and KR Market. The city is well connected by highways and driving into Bangalore is also well recommended. How to get around Bangalore- By Metro Metro is new to Bangalore and has limited connectivity. However, it is the fastest mode of transport between the CBD area, Malleshwaram and Indira Nagar. By Bus Buses are easily available and connects to all areas of Bangalore. There are many Volvo buses run by BMTC which are comfortable to commute. By Autorickshaws Autorickshaws or tuk tuks can be hailed on the streets and are easily available. Make sure to run the meters beforehand. Pre-paid autorickshaws are available at Bangalore city railway station. By Car One can also drive around in a self-drive car; though be prepared to handle Bangalore’s slow traffic. By Taxi Taxis can be booked in advance and is the best option if one needs to go to the outskirts of the city. Top areas of Bangalore Indira Nagar This is one of the major commercial and shopping areas with numerous brand outlets, restaurants and pubs. A section of it is upscale residential area. Koramangala Koramangala is well known for its wonderful restaurants, cafes and pubs. This is another upscale area and houses many commercial buildings including the Forum, the city’s best shopping mall. MG Road M.G.Road and its perpendicular Brigade road form the crux of the CBD area. With numerous shops, brand outlets, office spaces, hotels, restaurants, cafes and pubs, this is the biggest commercial area in Bangalore. Residency road It is one of the major areas in Bangalore with numerous commercial buildings, hotels and pubs. Ulsoor Ulsoor is one of the premium areas of the city with many office spaces, hotels and residential houses. The very popular Ulsoor Lake is located here. Marathahalli With numerous shopping avenues, restaurants, cinema theatres and commercial buildings, Marathahalli is one of the top areas of Bangalore Whitefield In addition to the numerous information technology companies that are located here, there are also shopping malls, restaurants and numerous hotels in Whitefield. It is also a top residential area. Jayanagar Jayanagar is one of the premium residential areas of Bangalore and also has numerous shopping and dining options. Old Airport Road This area is well known for its commercial buildings and luxury hotels. Gandhinagar Located closer to the railway station and major bus station, Gandhinagar has numerous commercial buildings and hotels. Dhanyavadhagalu (Thank you in Kannada)

The Host Chapter 17: Visited

The heat hit me first-like a wall of steam, the moist, thick air rolled over me and dewed on my skin. My mouth opened automatically as I tried to pull a breath from the abruptly denser air. The smell was stronger than before-that same metallic tang that clung in my throat and flavored the water here. The murmuring babble of bass and soprano voices seemed to issue from every side, echoing off the walls. I squinted anxiously through the swirling cloud of moisture, trying to make out where the voices came from. It was bright here-the ceiling was dazzling, like in the big room but much closer. The light danced off the vapor, creating a shimmering curtain that almost blinded me. My eyes struggled to adjust, and I clutched at Jeb's hand in panic. I was surprised that the strangely fluid babble did not respond in any way to our entrance. Perhaps they couldn't see us yet, either. â€Å"It's a bit close in here,† Jeb said apologetically, fanning at the steam in front of his face. His voice was relaxed, conversational in tone, and loud enough to make me jump. He spoke as if we were not surrounded. And the babble continued, oblivious to his voice. â€Å"Not that I'm complaining,† he continued. â€Å"I'd be dead several times over if this place didn't exist. The very first time I got stuck in the caves, of course. And now, we'd never be able to hide out here without it. With no hiding place, we're all dead, right?† He nudged me with his elbow, a conspiratorial gesture. â€Å"Mighty convenient, how it's laid out. Couldn't have planned it much better if I'd sculpted it myself out of play dough.† His laugh cleared a section of mist, and I saw the room for the first time. Two rivers flowed through the dank, high-domed space. This was the chatter that filled my ears-the water gushing over and under the purple volcanic rock. Jeb spoke as if we were alone because we were. It was really only one river and one small stream. The stream was closest; a shallow braided ribbon of silver in the light from above, coursing between low stone banks that it seemed constantly in danger of overrunning. A feminine, high-pitched murmur purred from its gentle ripples. The male, bass gurgle came from the river, as did the thick clouds of vapor that rose from the gaping holes in the ground by the far wall. The river was black, submerged under the floor of the cavern, exposed by wide, round erosions along the length of the room. The holes looked dark and dangerous, the river barely visible as it rushed powerfully toward an invisible and unfathomable destination. The water seemed to simmer, such was the heat and steam it produced. The sound of it, too, was like that of boiling water. From the ceiling hung a few long, narrow stalactites, dripping toward the stalagmites beneath each one. Three of them had met, forming thin black pillars between the two bodies of flowing water. â€Å"Got to be careful in here,† Jeb said. â€Å"Quite a current in the hot spring. If you fall in, you're gone. Happened once before.† He bowed his head at the memory, his face sober. The swift black eddies of the subterranean river were suddenly horrible to me. I imagined being caught in their scalding current and shuddered. Jeb put his hand lightly on my shoulder. â€Å"Don't worry. Just watch your step and you'll be fine. Now,† he said, pointing to the far end of the cavern, where the shallow stream ran into a dark cave, â€Å"the first cave back there is the bathing room. We've dug the floor out to make a nice, deep tub. There's a schedule for taking baths, but privacy's not usually an issue-it's black as pitch. The room's nice and warm so close to the steam, but the water won't burn you like the hot spring here. There's another cave just past that one, through a crevice. We've widened the entrance up to a comfortable size. That room is the farthest we can follow the stream-it drops underground there. So we've got that room fixed up as the latrine. Convenient and sanitary.† His voice had assumed a complacent tone, as if he felt credit was due to him for nature's creations. Well, he had discovered and improved the place-I supposed some pride was justified. â€Å"We don't like to waste batteries, and most of us know the floor here by heart, but since it's your first time, you can find your way with this.† Jeb pulled a flashlight from his pocket and held it out. The sight of it reminded me of the moment he'd found me dying in the desert, when he'd checked my eyes and known what I was. I didn't know why the memory made me sad. â€Å"Don't get any crazy ideas about maybe the river taking you out of here or something. Once that water goes underground, it doesn't come back up,† he cautioned me. Since he seemed to be waiting for some acknowledgment of his warning, I nodded once. I took the flashlight from his hand slowly, being careful not to make any quick movements that might startle him. He smiled in encouragement. I followed his directions quickly-the sound of the rushing water was not making my discomfort any easier to bear. It felt very strange to be out of his sight. What if someone had hidden in these caves, guessing I would have to come here eventually? Would Jeb hear the struggle over the cacophony of the rivers? I shone the flashlight all around the bathing room, looking for any sign of an ambush. The odd flickering shadows it made were not comforting, but I found no substance to my fears. Jeb's tub was more the size of a small swimming pool and black as ink. Under the surface, a person would be invisible as long as they could hold their breath†¦ I hurried through the slender crack at the back of the room to escape my imaginings. Away from Jeb, I was nearly overwhelmed with panic-I couldn't breathe normally; I could barely hear over the sound of my pulse racing behind my ears. I was more running than walking when I made my way back to the room with the rivers. To find Jeb standing there, still in the same pose, still alone, was like a balm to my splintered nerves. My breathing and my heartbeat slowed. Why this crazy human should be such a comfort to me, I couldn't understand. I supposed it was like Melanie had said, desperate times. â€Å"Not too shabby, eh?† he asked, a grin of pride on his face. I nodded once again and returned the flashlight. â€Å"These caves are a great gift,† he said as we started back toward the dark passageway. â€Å"We wouldn't be able to survive in a group like this without them. Magnolia and Sharon were getting along real well-shockingly well-up there in Chicago, but they were pushing their luck hiding two. It's mighty nice to have a community again. Makes me feel downright human.† He took my elbow once more as we climbed the rough stair-case out. â€Å"I'm sorry about the, um, accommodations we've got you in. It was the safest place I could think of. I'm surprised those boys found you as quick as they did.† Jeb sighed. â€Å"Well, Kyle gets real†¦ motivated. But I suppose it's all for the best. Might as well get used to how things are going to be. Maybe we can find something more hospitable for you. I'll think on it†¦ While I'm with you, at least, you don't really have to cram yourself into that little hole. You can sit in the hall with me if you prefer. Though with Jared†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He trailed off. I listened to his apologetic words in wonder; this was so much more kindness than I'd hoped for, more compassion than I'd thought this species was capable of giving their enemies. I patted the hand on my elbow lightly, hesitantly, trying to convey that I understood and wouldn't cause a problem. I was sure Jared much preferred to have me out of sight. Jeb had no trouble translating my wordless communication. â€Å"That's a good girl,† he said. â€Å"We'll figure this all out somehow. Doc can just concentrate on healin' human folks. You're much more interesting alive, I think.† Our bodies were close enough that he was able to feel me tremble. â€Å"Don't worry. Doc's not going to bother you now.† I couldn't stop shivering. Jeb could only promise me now. There was no guarantee that Jared would not decide my secret was more important than protecting Melanie's body. I knew that such a fate would make me wish Ian had succeeded last night. I swallowed, feeling the bruising that seemed to go all the way through my neck to the inside walls of my throat. You never know how much time you'll have, Melanie had said so many days ago, when my world was still under control. Her words echoed in my head as we reentered the big room, the main plaza of Jeb's human community. It was full, like the first night, everyone there to glare at us with eyes that blazed anger and betrayal when they looked at him and murder when they looked at me. I kept my gaze down on the rock under my feet. From the corner of my eye, I could see that Jeb held his gun ready again. It was only a matter of time, indeed. I could feel it in the atmosphere of hate and fear. Jeb could not protect me long. It was a relief to scrape back through the narrow crevice, to look forward to the winding black labyrinth and my cramped hiding place; I could hope to be alone there. Behind me, a furious hissing, like a nest of goaded snakes, echoed in the big cavern. The sound made me wish Jeb would lead me through the labyrinth at a quicker pace. Jeb chuckled under his breath. He seemed to get stranger the longer I was around him. His sense of humor mystified me as much as his motivations did. â€Å"It gets a bit tedious down here sometimes, you know,† he murmured to me, or to himself. With Jeb, it was hard to tell. â€Å"Maybe when they get over being cheesed off at me, they'll realize they appreciate all the excitement I'm providing.† Our path through the dark twisted in a serpentine fashion. It didn't feel at all familiar. Perhaps he took a different route to keep me lost. It seemed to take more time than before, but finally I could see the dim blue light of the lamp shining from around the next curve. I braced myself, wondering if Jared would be there again. If he was, I knew he would be angry. I was sure he wouldn't approve of Jeb taking me for a field trip, no matter how necessary it might have been. As soon as we rounded the corner, I could see that there was a figure slumped against the wall beside the lamp, casting a long shadow toward us, but it was obviously not Jared. My hand clutched at Jeb's arm, an automatic spasm of fear. And then I really looked at the waiting figure. It was smaller than me-that was how I'd known it was not Jared-and thin. Small, but also too tall and too wiry. Even in the dim light of the blue lamp, I could see that his skin was dyed to a deep brown by the sun, and that his silky black hair now fell unkempt past his chin. My knees buckled. My hand, grasping Jeb's arm in panic, held on for support. â€Å"Well, for Pete's sake!† Jeb exclaimed, obviously irritated. â€Å"Can't nobody keep a secret around this place for more'n twenty-four hours? Gol' durn, this burns me up! Bunch of gossipmongers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He trailed off into a grumble. I didn't even try to understand the words Jeb was saying; I was locked in the fiercest battle of my life-of every life I'd ever lived. I could feel Melanie in each cell of my body. My nerve endings tingled in recognition of her familiar presence. My muscles twitched in anticipation of her direction. My lips trembled, trying to open. I leaned forward toward the boy in the hall, my body reaching because my arms would not. Melanie had learned many things the few times I'd ceded or lost my command to her, and I truly had to struggle against her-so hard that fresh sweat beaded on my brow. But I was not dying in the desert now. Nor was I weak and dizzy and taken off guard by the appearance of someone I'd given up for lost; I'd known this moment might come. My body was resilient, quick to heal-I was strong again. The strength of my body gave strength to my control, to my determination. I drove her from my limbs, chased her from every hold she'd found, thrust her back into the recesses of my mind, and chained her there. Her surrender was sudden and total. Aaah, she sighed, and it was almost a moan of pain. I felt strangely guilty as soon as I'd won. I'd already known that she was more to me than a resistant host who made life unnecessarily difficult. We'd become companions, even confidantes during our past weeks together-ever since the Seeker had united us against a common enemy. In the desert, with Kyle's knife over my head, I'd been glad that if I had to die I would not be the one to kill Melanie; even then, she was more than a body to me. But now it seemed like something beyond that. I regretted causing her pain. It was necessary, though, and she didn't seem to grasp that. Any word we said wrong, any poorly considered action would mean a quick execution. Her reactions were too wild and emotional. She would get us into trouble. You have to trust me now, I told her. I'm just trying to keep us alive. I know you don't want to believe your humans could hurt us†¦ But it's Jamie, she whispered. She yearned for the boy with an emotion so strong that it weakened my knees again. I tried to look at him impartially-this sullen-faced teenager slumped against the tunnel wall with his arms folded tightly across his chest. I tried to see him as a stranger and plan my response, or lack of response, accordingly. I tried, but I failed. He was Jamie, he was beautiful, and my arms-mine, not Melanie's-longed to hold him. Tears filled my eyes and trickled down my face. I could only hope they were invisible in the dim light. â€Å"Jeb,† Jamie said-a gruff greeting. His eyes passed swiftly over me and away. His voice was so deep! Could he really be so old? I realized with a double pang of guilt that I'd just missed his fourteenth birthday. Melanie showed me the day, and I saw that it was the same day as the first dream with Jamie. She'd struggled so hard all through the waking hours to keep her pain to herself, to cloud her memories in order to protect the boy, that he'd come out in her dream. And I'd e-mailed the Seeker. I shuddered now in disbelief that I'd ever been so callous. â€Å"Whatcha doing here, kid?† Jeb demanded. â€Å"Why didn't you tell me?† Jamie demanded back. Jeb went silent. â€Å"Was that Jared's idea?† Jamie pressed. Jeb sighed. â€Å"Okay, so you know. What good does that do you, eh? We only wanted to -â€Å" â€Å"To protect me?† he interrupted, surly. When did he get so bitter? Was it my fault? Of course it was. Melanie began sobbing in my head. It was distracting, loud-it made Jeb and Jamie's voices sound farther away. â€Å"Fine, Jamie. So you don't need protecting. What do you want?† This quick capitulation seemed to throw Jamie off. His eyes darted between Jeb's face and mine while he struggled to come up with a request. â€Å"I-I want to talk with her†¦ with it,† he finally said. His voice was higher when he was unsure. â€Å"She doesn't say much,† Jeb told him, â€Å"but you're welcome to try, kid.† Jeb pried my fingers off his arm. When he was free, he turned his back to the nearest wall, leaning into it as he eased himself to the floor. He settled in there, fidgeting until he found a comfortable position. The gun stayed balanced in the cradle of his lap. Jeb's head lolled back against the wall, and his eyes closed. In seconds, he looked like he was asleep. I stood where he'd left me, trying to keep my eyes off Jamie's face and failing. Jamie was surprised again by Jeb's easy acquiescence. He watched the old man recline on the floor with wide eyes that made him look younger. After a few minutes of perfect stillness from Jeb, Jamie looked back up at me, and his eyes tightened. The way he stared at me-angry, trying hard to be brave and grown-up, but also showing the fear and pain so clearly in his dark eyes-had Melanie sobbing louder and my knees shaking. Rather than take a chance with another collapse, I moved slowly to the tunnel wall across from Jeb and slid down to the floor. I curled up around my bent legs, trying to be as small as possible. Jamie watched me with cautious eyes and then took four slow steps forward until he stood over me. His glance flitted to Jeb, who hadn't moved or opened his eyes, and then Jamie knelt down at my side. His face was suddenly intense, and it made him look more adult than any expression yet. My heart throbbed for the sad man in the little boy's face. â€Å"You're not Melanie,† he said in a low voice. It was harder not to speak to him because I was the one who wanted to speak. Instead, after a brief hesitation, I shook my head. â€Å"You're inside her body, though.† Another pause, and I nodded. â€Å"What happened to your†¦ to her face?† I shrugged. I didn't know what my face looked like, but I could imagine. â€Å"Who did this to you?† he pressed. With a hesitant finger, he almost touched the side of my neck. I held still, feeling no urge to cringe away from this hand. â€Å"Aunt Maggie, Jared, and Ian,† Jeb listed off in a bored voice. We both jumped at the sound. Jeb hadn't moved, and his eyes were still closed. He looked so peaceful, as if he had answered Jamie's question in his sleep. Jamie waited for a moment, then turned back to me with the same intense expression. â€Å"You're not Melanie, but you know all her memories and stuff, right?† I nodded again. â€Å"Do you know who I am?† I tried to swallow the words, but they slipped through my lips. â€Å"You're Jamie.† I couldn't help how my voice wrapped around the name like a caress. He blinked, startled that I had broken my silence. Then he nodded. â€Å"Right,† he whispered back. We both looked at Jeb, who remained still, and back at each other. â€Å"Then you remember what happened to her?† he asked. I winced, and then nodded slowly. â€Å"I want to know,† he whispered. I shook my head. â€Å"I want to know,† Jamie repeated. His lips trembled. â€Å"I'm not a kid. Tell me.† â€Å"It's not†¦ pleasant,† I breathed, unable to stop myself. It was very hard to deny this boy what he wanted. His straight black eyebrows pulled together and up in the middle over his wide eyes. â€Å"Please,† he whispered. I glanced at Jeb. I thought that maybe he was peeking from between his lashes now, but I couldn't be sure. My voice was soft as breathing. â€Å"Someone saw her go into a place that was off-limits. They knew something was wrong. They called the Seekers.† He flinched at the title. â€Å"The Seekers tried to get her to surrender. She ran from them. When they had her cornered, she jumped into an open elevator shaft.† I recoiled from the memory of pain, and Jamie's face went white under his tan. â€Å"She didn't die?† he whispered. â€Å"No. We have very skilled Healers. They mended her quickly. Then they put me in her. They hoped I would be able to tell them how she had survived so long.† I had not meant to say so much; my mouth snapped shut. Jamie didn't seem to notice my slip, but Jeb's eyes opened slowly and fixed on my face. No other part of him moved, and Jamie didn't see the change. â€Å"Why didn't you let her die?† he asked. He had to swallow hard; a sob was threatening in his voice. This was all the more painful to hear because it was not the sound a child makes, frightened of the unknown, but the fully comprehending agony of an adult. It was so hard not to reach out and put my hand on his cheek. I wanted to hug him to me and beg him not to be sad. I curled my hands into fists and tried to concentrate on his question. Jeb's eyes flickered to my hands and back to my face. â€Å"I wasn't in on the decision,† I murmured. â€Å"I was still in a hibernation tank in deep space when that happened.† Jamie blinked again in surprise. My answer was nothing he'd expected, and I could see him struggling with some new emotion. I glanced at Jeb; his eyes were bright with curiosity. The same curiosity, though more wary, won out with Jamie. â€Å"Where were you coming from?† he asked. In spite of myself, I smiled at his unwilling interest. â€Å"Far away. Another planet.† â€Å"What was -† he started to ask, but he was interrupted by another question. â€Å"What the hell?† Jared shouted at us, frozen with fury in the act of rounding the corner at the end of the tunnel. â€Å"Damn it, Jeb! We agreed not to -â€Å" Jamie wrenched himself upright. â€Å"Jeb didn't bring me here. But you should have.† Jeb sighed and got slowly to his feet. As he did so, the gun rolled from his lap onto the floor. It stopped only a few inches from me. I scooted away, uncomfortable. Jared had a different reaction. He lunged toward me, closing the length of the hallway in a few running strides. I cowered into the wall and covered my face with my arms. Peeking around my elbow, I watched him jerk the gun up from the floor. â€Å"Are you trying to get us killed?† he almost screamed at Jeb, shoving the gun into the old man's chest. â€Å"Calm down, Jared,† Jeb said in a tired voice. He took the gun in one hand. â€Å"She wouldn't touch this thing if I left it down here alone with her all night. Can't you see that?† He stabbed the barrel of the gun toward me, and I cringed away. â€Å"She's no Seeker, this one.† â€Å"Shut up, Jeb, just shut up!† â€Å"Leave him alone,† Jamie shouted. â€Å"He didn't do anything wrong.† â€Å"You!† Jared shouted back, turning on the slim, angry figure. â€Å"You get out of here now, or so help me!† Jamie balled his fists and stood his ground. Jared's fists came up, too. I was rooted in place with shock. How could they scream at each other this way? They were family, the bonds between them stronger than any blood tie. Jared wouldn't hit Jamie-he couldn't! I wanted to do something, but I didn't know what to do. Anything that brought me to their attention would only make them angrier. For once, Melanie was calmer than I was. He can't hurt Jamie, she thought confidently. It's not possible. I looked at them, facing off like enemies, and panicked. We should never have come here. See how unhappy we've made them, I moaned. â€Å"You shouldn't have tried to keep this a secret from me,† Jamie said between his teeth. â€Å"And you shouldn't have hurt her.† One of his hands unclenched and flew out to point at my face. Jared spit on the floor. â€Å"That's not Melanie. She's never coming back, Jamie.† â€Å"That's her face,† Jamie insisted. â€Å"And her neck. Don't the bruises there bother you?† Jared dropped his hands. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. â€Å"You will either leave right now, Jamie, and give me some space, or I will make you leave. I am not bluffing. I can't deal with any more right now, okay? I'm at my limit. So can we please have this conversation later?† He opened his eyes again; they were full of pain. Jamie looked at him, and the anger drained slowly from his face. â€Å"Sorry,† he muttered after a moment. â€Å"I'll go†¦ but I'm not promising that I won't come back.† â€Å"I can't think about that now. Go. Please.† Jamie shrugged. He threw one more searching look at me, and then he left, his quick, long stride making me ache again for the time I'd missed. Jared looked at Jeb. â€Å"You, too,† he said in a flat voice. Jeb rolled his eyes. â€Å"I don't think you've had a long enough break, to be honest. I'll keep an eye on -â€Å" â€Å"Go.† Jeb frowned thoughtfully. â€Å"Okay. Sure.† He started down the hall. â€Å"Jeb?† Jared called after him. â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"If I asked you to shoot it right now, would you do it?† Jeb kept walking slowly, not looking at us, but his words were clear. â€Å"I'd have to. I follow my own rules. So don't ask me unless you really mean it.† He disappeared into the dark. Jared watched him go. Before he could turn his glower on me, I ducked into my uncomfortable sanctuary and curled up in the back corner.

Pros And Cons Of Robotic Surgery - 1673 Words

Pros and Cons of Robotic Surgery Philomena Kline Delaware Technical University Pros and Cons of Robotic Surgery Robotic surgery is playing a crucial role in the advancement of current medical technology. The cost effectiveness of these procedures, coupled with the rates of procedure safety, procedure failure or complications, and patient recovery has the potential to drive the success or failure of robotic use. Definition of Robotic Surgery According to Penn Medicine, robotic-assisted surgery is a minimally invasive surgery in which instruments and cameras are inserted using small incisions. What is different, however, is that the surgeon is sitting at a station next to the patient (Penn Medicine, 2015). During these procedures, robotic ‘arms’ are manipulated using hand and foot controls to perform the procedures. It is always important to note that it is the surgeon performing the surgery, not the robot. These, like any other instruments, are tools that are designed for use by those that are skilled in using them. An expertise in using robotics is essential so as to have success for the procedure. Types of Procedures that use Robotic Assisted Surgery The use of robotics is growing every day. With that growth come the multiple types of procedures that can be performed using Robotic-Assisted Surgery. Robotic surgery, while being used worldwide, is most commonly done in the United States, with a total of 367,000 procedures being performed in 2012 alone,Show MoreRelatedResearch on Technology in the Medical Field1487 Words   |  6 Pagestechnology that may be particularly beneficial to medicine such as 3D printing, electronic health records, and robotic surgery. 3D printing can change medicine by being able to print bones, organs, and custom hearing aids. Electronic health records make medical information more available to patients and make it easier for doctors and nurses to chart patient’s medical information. Also, robotic surgery is very beneficial because they are less invasive and require less recovery time. Due to the potential benefitsRead MoreHow Medical Robotics Affect Healthcare Costs And Patient Safety2436 Words   |  10 Pagesthis holds true for is healthcare, specifically robotics in healthcare. Imagine entering into a surgery room and seeing less medical professional and more machines. How would that make you feel? As the development of these new medical technologies continues, the list of pros and cons will grow too from those who critic them from an ethical, societal, and global level. There are ethical concerns that are raised by public regarding how medical robotics will affect healthcare costs and patient safetyRead MoreRobotic Surgery2247 Words   |  9 PagesRobotic Surgery is the use of robots in performing surgery. Surgery is performed by manipulating straight instruments while viewing the instruments on a monitor. Robotic surgery is the evolution of laparoscopy that addresses the drawbacks of laparoscopy(NJ urology).Considering the never ending improvement of technology, this type of surgery is being used more by a day worldwide and has a potential to totally take over the field of surgery. However, as robotic surgery has its advantages, it alsoRead MoreThe Effect Of Artificial Intelligence On The Medical Industry1097 Words   |  5 Pagesrequire human intelligence. In the scientifi c industry, artificial intelligence is used to assist surgeons in surgery, called robotic surgery and is most likely to become the most dominant form of surgery. Robot assisted surgery has been prevalent for about ten years now, and is becoming popular in many industries. From an aeronautical point of view, NASA is implementing robotic surgery for astronauts in space, in case of emergencies. From a military standpoint, the Pentagon is investing their timeRead MoreRobotic Surgery1375 Words   |  6 PagesRobotic Surgery The ethics of robotic surgery is a multi-faceted topic of debate with many different viewpoints all worthy of deeper exploration and consideration. Medicine is ever-changing due to major technological innovations and government regulations. With all these changing factors in medicine, the focus should always be to provide the best possible care for the end user, or the patients. Is robotic surgery the best way to provide for the end user? There are many concerns and questionsRead MoreImpact Of Social Media On Society1443 Words   |  6 PagesRoutine surgeries today were barbaric at best years ago, and the chance of secondary issues was enormously high such as infection and professional error. Something today as simple as surgically repairing a bone would have been nearly impossible one hundred years ago. Indeed the advancements in medical technology have been huge, but one must also wonder; how far is too far, and how fast should it advance at its current rate. A huge advancement in recent years has been the breakthrough in robotic surgeryRead MorePros And Cons Of Artificial Intelligence1704 Words   |  7 Pagesis a long way ahead and we may not even see AI systems as intricate as they are portrayed in movies for a long time. Today, there are many reasons as to why some people may prefer AI or not. Some of the pros AI systems include medical applications, error reduction, and job creation. Some of the cons include: unemployment, high costs of development and maintenance, and even loss in creativity or originality. One of the biggest applications for artificial intelligence is in the medical field. In a constantlyRead MoreRobotic Surgery And Its Complications : Current Regulation Must Be Reformed2765 Words   |  12 PagesRobotic Surgery and its Complications: Current Regulation Must Be Reformed According to UC Davis Heath System, Debra Johnson, a sixty-year-old woman diagnosed with endometrial cancer, had to undergo robotic-assisted surgery from a Surgical Doctor, Gary Leisoerowiz, from UC Davis Medical Center in 2006 (UC Davis Health System). Debra went though with the surgery and received positive results including a fast recovery, no severe scars, and cancer free (UC Davis Health System). However, in a differentRead MoreRobot Assisted Surgery : Robotic System1933 Words   |  8 PagesRobot assisted surgeries are the surgical procedures that utilize a robotic system controlled by a physician or the surgeon himself via a computer. The robotic system has an attached camera to help the operator to see the organ being operated. These systems are known for their precision, accuracy, delicacy and efficient controlling options. Since their invention they have been used and are currently used in urological, neurological, endoscopic, cardiovascular and gynecological surgeries an d operationRead MoreA Research On Artificial Intelligence1338 Words   |  6 Pagespatient outcomes. And Halverson found 36% of communication errors are related to equipment use.† (Collaboration With a Robotic Scrub Nurse) Adding a robot to the operating room as an assistant to a surgical team has the potential to reduce the number of miscommunications and their negative effects in two main ways. First, in the case of communication failure, a robotic scrub nurse is able to deliver surgical instruments to the main surgeon communicating through hand gestures and speech recognition

Guided Inquiry The Nature Of Evil - 1429 Words

Guided Inquiry: The Nature of Evil My Inquiry: â€Å"To what extent is Adolf Eichmann just a bureaucratic businessman doing his job, or were his motivations composed of pure evil and murderous intent?† ‘Is Eichmann a rotten, soiled and evil man, and were his motivations boring, mundane and obvious?’ Why did Eichmann kill so many Jews if he ‘supposedly’ no real hate or motivation to do it? Reading 1 â€Å"Adolf Eichmann went to the gallows with great dignity. He had asked for a bottle of red wine and had drunk half of it. He refused the help of the Protestant minister the Reverend William Hull who offered to read the Bible with him: he had only two more hours to live and therefore no â€Å"time to waste.† He walked the fifty yards from his cell to the execution chamber calm and erect with his hands bound behind him. When the guards tied his ankles and knees he asked them to loosen the bonds so that he could stand straight. â€Å"I don’t need that † he said when the black hood was offered him. He was in complete command of himself nay he was more: he was completely himself. Nothing could have demonstrated this more convincingly than the grotesque silliness of his last words. He began by stating emphatically that he was a Gottglà ¤ubiger to express in common Nazi fashion that he was no Christian and did not believe in life after death. He then proceeded: â⠂¬Å"After a short while gentlemen we shall all meet again. Such is the fate of all men. Long live Germany long live Argentina long live Austria. IShow MoreRelatedThe Innocence Of Simple Observation1750 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Meditation is your true nature. You call it meditation now because there are thoughts distracting you. When these thoughts are dispelled you will remain alone, in a state free of thoughts and that is your real nature† (youtube.com). Maharshi concentrated his teachings on self-inquiry as the way to unite with the transcendent Self. His teaching falls into two parts (a) power of knowledge together with the ecstasy of devotion and (b) poetry and prayers – nature of god, the mind, nature and the individualRead MoreBusiness and Its Publics: Cycle 1 Essay1697 Words   |  7 Pageslong as every corporate relationship is managed with the same goals and ethics in mind, firms can generate profit and prevent the repercussions of negative externalities. In his idealistic analysis, Freeman assumes corporate managers are inherently evil, acting in self-interest. According to his separation fallacy, corporate executives try to create as much value for themselves as possible, neglecting business ethics and the rest of the supply chain. (Freeman 28). Corporations such as Enron, WorldComRead MoreThe Burden And Blessing Of Mortality1327 Words   |  6 Pagesit comes from a palpable confusion of what life is. Living and dying are interwoven together, he thinks. Each is a different side to the same procedure. Life reiterates itself as important, but can only do this since it is contested. The whole nature of value enters into the world through living and dying (Jonas, p. 36). Another point outlines how evolution would be impossible without death. Neither component would progress in any way. The process of death plays an inventive role. It celebratesRead MoreDescartes s Theory Of Knowledge1778 Words   |  8 Pagesmind finds rationally seeks knowledge. The question is, essentially, â€Å"should we believe beyond the evidence?† (Kessler, 2013, p. 332). In this way, the ideas are rooted in the nature of doubt. This is an inherent nature of the mind, which is the result of the nature of man as made by God. In this way, the mind is guided by god towards knowledge in its infallible ability to reason about reality. In this way, the mind’s reasoning ability, even in the absence of physical reality, can ultimately leadRead MoreChild Rearing Essay example1495 Words   |  6 Pagesfreedom. Rousseau is viewed as a romantic. Rousseau ‘s belief in natural goodness was in direct opposition to the Puritan belief that people are born with â€Å"Origin Sin†. He believed that â€Å"evil is not a necessary part of our fallen condition but rather enters into the world as man moves from a state of nature to organized society.†( Winnik P.4) Rousseau prescribed permitting freedom to young children in addition to allowing children to follow their natural impulses. Rousseau also coached parentsRead MoreThe Tragedy Of King Lear By William Shakespeare1671 Words   |  7 Pagesof an Aristotelian tragedy. While one is able to identify with King Lear’s many faults, his character is often outlandish and his actions are subsequently unjust. The tragedy that is Lear’s fate is brought about by his pride and arrogance. Upon inquiry as to which of his daughters’ love is the greatest, Cordelia responds, â€Å"You have begot me, bred me, loved me./I return those duties back as are right fit:/Obey you, love you, and most honor you† (1.1.106-108). Cordelia’s sincerity fails to crack Lear’sRead MoreEssay about Nietzsche, Kundera, and Shit2923 Words   |  12 Pagesand we use this false knowledge as a crutch. Reason assimilates good and evil and gives them meaning. Reason creates objective truth. Nietzsche chides philosophers who continue the search for the rational foundation for morality (Beyond 98). The triumph of Reason ultimately signifies stagnation and the eventual the death of passion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nietzsches philosophy is a reaction against Reason. In Beyond Good and Evil he begins with the question Supposing truth were a woman, what then?Read MoreThe Existence Of God And Theism2410 Words   |  10 Pagesbrain is so complex. McCloskey goes to argue that because there is evolution, it takes away the need for a creator. While the possibility of the evolutionary theory can possibly be valid, it still does not take away that there is a God and he has guided the evolution of everything to reach the point that we are at today. Evolution still needs something to guide it to reach the full point of evolution, something to guide it to reach its full purpose. This goes on to show that as Evans and Manis stateRead MoreWorldviews2381 Words   |  10 Pages personal God. God is both transcendent and immanent. Meaning, He exists independent of His creation and exerts full sovereignty over it but that He is also omnipresent and entirely involved in His world. What are the basic assumptions about the nature of reality? Theism views reality as both material and spiritual. Theism asserts that God is volitional, moral, creative, purposive, rational, and knowable to other persons. Transcendent means that God is distinct form the universe. He is able andRead More The Republic by Plato Essay5378 Words   |  22 Pagesdialogues, which by nature are aphoristic. In Socrates conversation with Cephalus, the proper approach to aging and the state of old age is addressed. Although other men Cephalus age commonly complain that for them, quot;life is no longer life,quot; Cephalus feels that they misattribute discomfort and unhappiness resulting from their defective characters to advanced age. Building on a statement by Sophocles, Cephalus concludes, quot;he who is of a calm and happy nature will hardly feel the