KERS, ERS, ES, MGU... what?

I figured that my last post might have been a little complicated and maybe not as clear as I thought it would be, so I decided to do another post and explain the ERS and KERS, which started to form a Formula one car into a magic box ;)

So, what is KERS?

KERS is the abbreviation of Kinetic Energy Recovery System and it is “an automotive system for recovering a moving vehicle's kinetic energy under braking”. Basically when start braking the rear wheels generate energy (in form of extreme heat) and this heat was taken in and turned into electrical energy through a generator and is then in the Energy Store (ES) of the car. There was a button on the steering wheel of a F1 car that the drivers could press to make use of this extra energy which equated approximately additional 80 bhp. Each driver used KERS differently, depending on whether they wanted to overtake or to defend their position. Such a stored energy was limited. KERS could only be used for 6-7 seconds per lap and a driver could use it several times in a lap. This system was used from 2011-2013.

What are ERS and MGU?

With the new regulations in 2014, the older F1 engines that produced around 750bhp and additional 80bhp with the usage of KERS have been replaced with V6 engines that operate with an Energy Recovery System (ERS). That is something like KERS but just a little bit more complicated than that. (Yes, it can get more complicated than KERS.) This year’s engines produce around 600bhp and additional 160bhp for approx 33 seconds per lap (KERS could only be used for 6-7 seconds per lap).

ERS has two different parts: MGU-K (motor generator unit-kinetic) and MGU-H (motor generator unit-heat). The MGU-K converts the kinetic energy that is generated under braking into electricity that is then stored in batteries in the Energy Store. The MGU-H is connected to the turbocharger and converts heat energy from exhaust gases into electrical energy. Compared to KERS, these elements together have twice the power of KERS. 

Why so complicated?

As I mentioned in my previous posts, one of the main reasons for setting such groundbreaking regulations is the environmental impact of Formula One. With such an energy recovering system, the cars are using their own energy and therefore saving fuel. If this technology would work its way onto mainstream which could save millions of barrels of fuel (sarcasm).

Montreal Race = MGU-K and Brake failures

Formula One can be boring. That’s a fact I’ve repeated many times in my previous posts. But last week’s race was one hell of a race with many disqualifications, crashes and system failures. Speaking of system failures, because of these I want to change my To-Do-List and talk about what failures occurred in Montreal, where the race took place.

MGU-K system (motor generator unit-kinetic) is an indispensable feature of a Formula One car. This system adds around 160 bhp to a F1 car’s power. How? Well, this system converts kinetic energy that is generated under braking into electricity and this is stored in batteries in the Energy Store (ES). This energy can then be used as additional power. Long story short, it makes the cars go faster! ;)

In Canada, both Mercedes cars lost this MGU-K system around the 37th lap. So, that meant that they were much slower than other cars on the circuit. But this loss has not only caused slower cars but in Hamilton’s case, it overloaded the rear brakes. Because of this new brake by wire system the discs are much thinner. Many teams think that the KERS system can slow down the cars but that’s not always the case. At a circuit especially as the Canadian one that goes hard on brakes the cars start to fail.

Let me get back to the break by wire system: When the driver hits the brake it is not just the brake discs that slows the car down, the energy recover system (ERS) also does a significant amount too. This means that the drivers left pedal is no longer linked directly to the rear brakes instead it is linked to a computer which then controls the rear brakes. The front brakes continue to operate in the same way as they always have done. The main reason for this is that rules say that the car is only allowed to recover a certain amount of energy per lap from the rear brakes, and there is only a limited amount of energy that can be stored in the battery.

Both Mercedes cars and a Force India car were struggling with the new Brake-by-Wire system. After Perez (Force India driver) lost his rear wing break, he collided heavily with Massa on the final lap, putting both cars into the wall at high speed on the pit straight.

From the nose to the wing…

Both front and the rear wing have been affected by changes:

The front wing got narrower with a reduction from 1.800mm to 1.650mm wide. The reason for that was to reduce the number of punctures caused by an endplate catching the rear tire of a competitor’s car. This change of almost 150mm may sound small but it has massive implications on the aerodynamic of the car.

Each front wing endplate has moved inwards by 75mm, placing them almost directly ahead of the front tires which is a tricky problem for aerodynamicists trying to control airflow across the car, not least because tires are constantly changing angle. 
Whereas last year’s wider wings meant that most of the airflow could be directed around the tires and then down the car, 2014’s narrower wings mean that a portion of air will have to be directed between the front wheel and the chassis before joining up with the rest of the airflow behind the tire.

To look back in time in terms of aerodynamic, the front wing has been changed A LOT. Last two years, the wing had to be set lower every season. This meant that at high speed or under braking (when the nose of the car dives), the front wing can be touching the ground and this is very bad for both aero and for creating sparks, which will alert that the wing is not its normal position relative to the chassis.

Another wing change is the rear wing flap that has to be shallower and beam wing is not allowed anymore! Beam wing creates an area of depression that helped the diffuser in extracting air under the car.

These changes mean that the rear wing will be capable of producing less downforce in 2014 than it did in 2013, something that will be most noticeable at high-downforce tracks.

Teams are still trying to get as much rear downforce as possible and most of them use more aerodynamically-profiled rear suspension parts. This is nothing new - teams have been doing it for some time - but some will no doubt try to be even more inventive in this area. One of these rear suspension parts is the “pushrod-suspension”.

A final note to the rear wing change: the DRS flap can now open as wide as 65mm, 15mm wider than last year. This should ensure that the DRS remains an effective overtaking aid in this new era.

Instant photography

Instant photography or best known as Polaroid were invented in 1947. The reason why it is called Polaroid is that the company first launched instant camera was the Polaroid Corporation. This huge success of the company also named instant photography.

So, how does the instant photography work?

It is really simple:

Either it works with magic or

Little educated ants develop the film within the camera.  

No, actually none of these two possibilities can be true. As someone who knows nothing about chemistry, it is magic. But with a little explanation it all gets very clear:

Instant photography is almost the same as a regular camera film, with just few additional elements. When taking a picture, a usual film captures patterns of light using special chemicals. So, the shutter opens and closes for a fraction of a second and the light bursts through and strikes the film.

A black-and-white film, consists of a plastic base ground and is coated with particles of silver compound (layer). Color film, on the other hand, has three layers: one that is sensitive to blue light, one to green and one to red light. When light strikes on these compounds, the sensitive grains at each layer react to light of that color.

To turn this result into a picture, the film has to be developed. For this, 4 different dye developers that contain dye couplers react with one of the color layers in the film.

The developed color film has a negative image, which is kind of a problem, as white areas may appear black and vice versa and all this with different colors. . In slide film, the two dyes couplers that attach to the unexposed area combine to form the color captured at the exposed layer.

The instant-camera developing process combines colors in the same basic way as slide film, but the developing chemicals are already present in the film itself.

Abstract CAJ

The aim of this CAJ project is to show that Formula One is not a sport that stays the same over the years. With changing regulations and rules, it is a sport that is on a constant alteration. The precise focus of my CAJ is going to be about this year’s regulations, as they are a major change in F1. Within this project I want to talk about this year’s main changes of a Fomula One car, such as:

·         the new nose

·         the changes of the front and the rear wing

·         new regulation of the engine and the usage of the fuel

·         the new gearbox

·         the enhanced Energy Recovery System (ERS)

·         and the weight

By discussing this points and comparing them to last year’s regulations, I made it generally intelligible how noticeable the changes are, even for someone who is not interested in this sport. The annual change of the regulations is seen as manslaughter of Formula One, whereas without these regulations, F1 would have stayed more expensive and less viable. 

How to kill Hitler

 

 

What is needed?

Time machine (preferably a Tardis)

Chloroform gas

nurse or doctor costume

Syringe

 

Estimated time taken

4-5 hours

 

Killing Hitler is one of the most difficult challenges one can face but with this method you can exterminate one of the worst personalities of history and therefore save the lives of millions. This might seem like an elaborate approach at first sight but it is the most guaranteed way for killing Hitler.

 

1. Acquire a time machine. If you cannot afford buying a high-functional time machine, then steal one from Gallifrey, as they are not that popular with Gallifreyan people.

2. Find out how to use it by reading the manual. Usually the manual is stored in a box on the left side of the door.

3. Travel to 13th October 1918, when Hitler will have gone temporarily blind because of a gas attack in World War I. Take the chloroform gas with you.

4. Park the time machine right in front of the infirmary where Hitler stays.

5. Try to get access to the infirmary. To do so, dress up as a nurse or a doctor. If you can’t make it into the infirmary, use the chloroform gas to make the doorkeeper pass out.

6. Look for Hitler.

7. Approach Hitler and gain his trust by saying the following sentence, “Ich bin die Krankenschwester und werde mich um dich kümmern“. Make this sentence sound as German as you can.

8. Gain his trust by checking his pulse and his eyes, so that he has the feeling that you are really a nurse or a doctor.

The following steps have to be done really quickly

 

9. Take the syringe and inject a bubble of air into a main artery.

 

10. Drop everything.

11. Run to your time machine.

12. Fly back to the time you live in.

 

Now that you are in a different time, you can’t be caught for murdering Hitler. Well done!

 

Link to flowchart: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1D4DIld9txB1e3n7z68pm3vnvBrGRV8hVUZIm-8E2Bu0/edit

SOMA

I didn’t turn on my lights today 

just to feel what they might have felt.

I refused breathing for some seconds 

just to feel what they might have felt.

I thought of my family and what they might do when I go 

just to feel what they might have felt.

Today, the only color my homeland can see is black – black as coal; black as a mineworker’s eye; black as their destiny. Over 250 lives have disappeared hundreds of meters below. Thousands of people have lost either their dad or their brother! 

Can you think of your dad being trapped down below and dying while he worked to pay the bills? 

Soma is the only word on our mouth,

 and tears are the only answers to all the questions! 

Please, pray for those families left behind! 

Please, pray for those still trapped down inside the mine! 

I'm leaving home.

I’m leaving home today. A white blank page is going to accompany me; another page from my heart that has to be filled with tears and blood, with filth and dust, with memories and thoughts. I had never enough of these but sometimes old gets too old and good is too good. And I know, I throw myself into a deep well just like a thirsty child who has been on the verge of falling into death, I fall into deep. By crumbling in my pain, I should learn to heal and to feel. Nothing is going to stop me, except my family left behind. They should learn to live without their child and sister but they should never forget. A bird, I should be, spreading my wings as broad as I can and leave my nest, flying under the sun and stars, flying through storm and rain and I am leaving home today.

DAY 5 - 8 DAY CHALLENGE

Today it is about... 

…things you should have learned by now

Self-Control – I should be aware of my responsibilities, which I am most times. But there are times when I just isolate myself from everything and refuse doing stuff I have to!

Postponing is no good – There are countless tomorrows but only a few of those without a guild monster or the German “Schweinehund” on my back.

Spend less, save more – If I would have started saving up money earlier, and with earlier I mean before Erasmus, I wouldn’t be in such stress with what to do without money after I got my degree.

Regulation #1: The Nose

While doing some research about the new regulations, I came across many articles about how ugsome the new noses of this year’s Formula One cars are. Formula One isn’t about the appearance of a car, not for a serious fan like me, but to call this year’s cars “sexy” would make everyone doubt your judgment of beauty. Apart from the chassis in general, which has changed and lowered a lot, I will write about the nose and chassis height reduction. It is one of the significant changes that have been made with the new regulations this year.

The main reason for these changes is safety. The height of the chassis has been reduced from 625mm to 525mm and the height of the nose has been dramatically lowered from 550mm to 185mm.

For the driver’s perspective, this was big change because compared to last year their feet are around 100 mm lower in the car.

The whole re-designing of the nose topic came up 20 years ago. The engineers and designers of that team realized that they could get a lot more air underneath the car if they raised front of the nose. This would increase the airflow under and over the care and achieve more aerodynamic downforce. Oh, and have I told you that aerodynamic downforce is the “Father, Son and Holy Ghost of Formula One”?

For 20 years now, the nose of Formula One cars was on a rise until the European Grand Prix in 2010. I still remember the day when it happened. Before we start watching it my brother, who is pretty delighted in other’s misfortune, told me that he wishes a horrible race with no one getting killed though. And yes, that was exactly what happened.

On Lap 9 in the Valencian race (European Grand Prix) Webber was driving right behind Kovaleinen. Webber was hoping Kovaleinen would move over for him, which happens pretty often if you are the car ahead but you know that the car behind you is faster and therefore let them pass. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Instead, Kovaleinen hit the brakes and Webber’s nosecone hit Kovaleinen’s rear wheel. Think of a car going 320 km/h and crashing into the rear tire of another car going over 300 km/h. Well, that happened and there’s the video:

This was scenario number 1 that has come true. There are couple other horrible incidents that could’ve happened with noses set so high. For example, a T-bone crash where the nose might strike a driver’s head. Now, please don’t think of a car going 320 km/h crashing into your head!

First changes to prevent such incidents were made by introducing the regulation for stepped noses in 2012 and the ones covered with vanity panels in 2013.

Let’s get back to why people think that the new cars are very unattractive or even ugsome! Some journalists even compared the car to anteaters. Well, the reason behind such painful look of the cars is aerodynamic! The engineers and designers wanted to keep the hole under this nosecone as open as possible for airflow under the car.

Here’s a F1 car and an anteater:

Don’t you think that the anteater bears an uncanny resemblance to the F1 car?

Formula One in 2039

Since my grandma past away two years ago I promised my grandpa that I would visit him at least once a week. He is all by himself and every time I visit him, he tells me stories about the past. Sometimes I have a feeling that he is talking about another planet that he had lived in because it is unbelievable how the technology has developed so fast. Last week I promised to take him to a Formula A-1 race. In his young age he was really into this sport and when we talked about it he told me that the FA1-cars couldn’t fly 20 years ago! I started laughing because it seemed a bit ridiculous. Why should people watch cars just driving in a circle? It didn’t make any sense.

On our way to the flying race circuit, he kept talking about the legends and teams of his time. When we got out of the car, he put on a red cap with a black horse on it. Ferrari, he explained. It was the logo of one of the most successful teams 20 years ago. With a polite nod, we headed to the circuit. After the face scan, we enter the crowd section. I saw him shaking his head and I couldn’t keep myself from asking what was wrong. “In my time, you got a piece of paper and that was the ticket, not our face!” I just patted him on the back and started looking for our seats.

Half an hour later, the cars got into position and the race started. Cars were going up to 400km/h and finding a position to be able to stretch the wings and take off. Grandpa asked me what the rings were there for and while thinking, if he had been living in a cave for decades, I explained it to him: the pilots have to go through these rings which are numbered. Overtaking 200 meters before and 100 meters after the ring is not allowed. Away from the ring they can overtake the competition however they want to: fly over, under, right or left of them.

After 15 minutes, my grandpa looked at me straight-faced and said, “You know son, sometimes sticking to the old and leaving out the new is the best one can do!” 

Rating of instructions for how to make a camera lucida

These instructions for how to make a camera lucida are not helpful because they are very unclear. First, the whole text describing the process consists of only one short paragraph with only two of the three sentences describing what you have to, while the rest of text already talks about what you can do with your finished camera lucida. Second, the language used in that paragraph is too vague to get any useful information from it. It only tells you to “cut” and “glue” without elaborating on it. Even though there are some images depicting the result of those actions next to the text, they are useless because you do not know all the steps nor the order in which to execute them. Lastly, important information such as the needed material and an estimation of the time required are missing altogether. It would be very hard to build a camera lucida using these instructions.

[154 words]

DAY 4 - 8 DAY CHALLENGE

Today it is about... 

…things you no longer believe

Religion – I find it hard to trust in something that you can’t see. I might be more of a science-girl and don’t believe in Religion but at some point, I do believe in a higher power. For some, it might be God, the flying spaghetti monster or an extraterrestrial. But there is something or someone up there who is the reason of us being on this planet.

BFF 4 ever – how the younger generation likes to call it. I don’t believe in friendships that last ever after. You might still get along with your best friend you know for over 10 years now, but at some point you meet less, call less, care less.

Love – I don’t believe in love. I do believe in having a crush or falling for someone but love in my opinion is nothing but respecting your partner. It comes when the feeling of falling for someone fades and you can still think of that person playing a big part in your life.

CAJ - Formula One - Experts' point of view

To make it clear how important or refreshing (how I like to call it) the new regulations are, I want to post some experts opinion and current standing of this season.

When the new regulations were announced last year, I wasn’t sure of how to feel about them. There were good points and also less beneficial aspects in my opinion. So, I started reading and observing what experts had to say and do!

Jean Todt, the so-called boss of Formula One (or to sound more professional) the President of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, was very calm and sympathetic from the beginning on. “Times are changing, and we must accept that,” he said at one his interviews. He gave us an impression that the new regulations are well-wrought and that there was no need to panic. But the second the new rules were announced, it was over for some teams:

·         huge changes linked with additional costs,

·         uncertainty if the car is going to work when it’s on track,

·         what if the ERS-system breaks (like it happened to Red Bull Racing several times last year)

and so on and so forth…

For Bernie Ecclestone, the so-called PR-Manager of F1, called the new engines a farce. This was seen as a humorously by many, as he is the one with the sharp-tongue in Formula 1 business. But he was not the only one thinking that way. Many teams and drivers agreed with him. "It is a very different way of driving and you have to forget a lot of what you have learnt in terms of driveability, the engine, the power output and the way you put the power down. It is so, so different." explained Jenson Button, British F1-champ, who was not satisfied by any changes made.

Now, after four races in this season, we can say that the cars are working – for some teams even perfectly. Red Bull Racing, the four-time-champion teams have lost their domination (thank god!) and passed it to Mercedes. This was a big surprise for many because to beat a “rich” team such an experienced staff is not everyone’s cup of tea. The reason why this happened is because Red Bull Racing had spent too less time for developing the engine and for many experts it is because they were just too confident.

Ferrari chairman, Luca di Montezemolo even suggested Todt to shorten each race by one lap to save fuel. This has been seen as a ridiculous suggestion and a cry for help for the grave situation that Ferrari is in right now. Even their team principal, Stefano Domenicali, had to resign last month because of poor results in the first races.

CAJ - Formula One - New Regulations

In my previous CAJ-Post, I talked a little bit about the main part of my CAJ: the rules and regulations of Formula One. In the beginning of 2014 Formula One cars have undergone big technical changes than they used to years before. The main philosophy behind the new rule changes was to make the car safer and more fuel-efficient. Before I start off with each new regulation, I want to sum up the main ones first. The main changes of a Formula One car are:

• New nose
• Front wing
• Rear wing
• Engine + Fuel
• Gearbox
• Energy Recovery System (ERS)
• Weight
• Exhaust

Shall we dive into the world of Formula One cars?

DAY 3 - 8 DAY CHALLENGE (...continued after months)

I started doing this list couple of months ago and today I went through my posts and realized that I'd totally forgotten about it! So, I thought I might continue with that challenge. 

Why am I doing it? 

I get to think about myself in a way I never think of that often and, to be honest, I surprise myself with my answers at times! 

Today's list is about... 

...the most unusual things you do every day!

That’s a tough one and “every day” makes it tougher! What am I doing every day that is not done by everyone?...

• I take time to think about my life and my future; sometimes anxiously but at times hopefully. Not everyone does that and maybe stop doing it would be a good thing for my mental health but I just think, unintentionally.

• I write short stories, poems, lyrics.. I love writing stuff! I do! Sometimes I just start off writing just to read later how I feel. When I read what I wrote, I realize what was keeping my head busy, what I feel, how I think about something. It’s like if some thoughts and feelings are hidden back in my mind, somewhere in dark and abandoned place in my head and they come into the spotlight by writing it down. 

• I paint small symbols on my arm or hand. Oh, that sounds weird. As I was thinking that, I realized that I have small heart painted on my hand. Yes, I do paint my hands and arms. Why do I do that? Well, I love tattoos but I am someone who’s interests and attitude change from time to time. Therefore, I think that I might regret a tattoo pretty soon. I might get one, but not in the near future. I still feel that I have space to grow and that means change! Let’s just wait and see…

• I daydream a lot! Today I thought of how it would be if I just go to Istanbul and knock at my friend’s door. Yeah, thinking of it now. I do daydream a lot.

That was it I guess. At least what I can think of for now! Hope, I can find time continuing this challenge. I like it! 

Description of ‘Napalm Girl’ (photography project)

Description of ‘Napalm Girl’ (group text)

The picture depicts a scene of tragedy taken in a moment of great sorrow. In the foreground of the picture, five children are visible running barefoot towards the photographer on a tarmacked street, followed by four soldiers dressed in uniforms carrying semi-automatic weapons. The boy closest to the camera on the far left of the picture is wearing a short, light shirt and dark pants. His facial expression reveals terror as he cries uncontrollably. The small child seen over his left shoulder is dressed in a long, light shirt and is turning his head, looking behind. The most heart-wrenching sight in this picture is the burnt and naked girl in the center. Her expression shows fear and anxiety as well as total incomprehension as to what is happening to her. Behind her on the right, there are two kids, a small boy and an older girl, holding hands. The boy is wearing what appear to be greyish pyjamas while the girl wears a white shirt and black pants. Their facial expression resembles the other childrens’, the girl almost looks as though she is crying to the viewer for help. The soldiers behind the kids don’t appear to be in any hurry. Behind them, an impenetrable cloud of smoke is spreading and is about to engulf the house with the gabled roof to the far right. The smoke is thicker in the top left corner of the picture and is slowly fading towards the top right corner. Next to the house on the left is a white board and to the boards left another soldier is visible, also walking towards the photographer. Left and right of the street is nothing but an empty grassland.

[283 words]

CAJ - Formula One - Intro

I’ve been asked many times why I’m interested in such a boring sport like Formula One and mostly people regret asking me that question because usually I start talking about it and try to convince them (unsuccessfully) to start watching it as well.

First of all, I love cars. The faster the better and Formula One cars are the fastest circuit-racing cars in the world! They can speed up to 350 km/h! Dude, that is fast! To reach such a speed many factors play a big role: electronics, aerodynamics, suspension, tires and so on... However, within my CAJ Project, I don’t want to talk about each and every part of a Formula One car. Actually, I do but that would be a challenge that I cannot accept for a project in such a scope and especially not when I have to attend other classes as well.

Let’s get back to the subject! Before I start of talking and posting about my CAJ, I want to talk a bit about general facts of Formula One.

·         Do you know why it is called “Formula One”? There are rules and regulations that every driver and team has to comply! These rules and regulations ‘form’ the Formula One sport.

·         A F1 season has a series of races all over the world and every the first ten drivers who finish the race get points from 25 to 1. At the end of the series of races, the driver who has the most points is the champion of the season. It is not only the driver who wins a title; also the constructor team with the most points is awarded.

·         Within the season, 9 out of 19 races are in Europe. Thereby, you can see that this sport is more spread and known in Europe than in other continents.

·         Since 1906, Formula One is the most popular racing sport in the sector of motorsports. Therefore a lot of companies make use of its popularity and billions of US dollars are spent annually just to keep this sport alive and additionally promote their brand by having their names on the cars, on the suit of the drivers etc. (sponsoring) The money is mostly or largely used for the development of the car, pay off the staff of the constructor teams (including drivers), pay off the track officials, organizers and so on.

I guess this was enough information for those who might read it. For me, personally, F1 has always been a passion and that’s why I chose it as my CAJ topic. Speaking of, my topic is not going to be about the car (like I mentioned above) but it is going to be about the new regulations set for this year’s season. The new regulations are being seen as a milestone for Formula One and I want to go into details in the following posts!

PS: For god’s sake, please watch at least one race with all the commentaries! You are going to enjoy it if you are into speed, cars and a bit of drama J

Narrative Article_losing to life

I’ve just hung up the phone. I have been talking to Loreen, my 6-year old daughter. She kept telling me how much she misses me and how bad her daddy’s cooking skills are. She is pretty smart for her age. That’s what everyone keeps telling me and that makes me proud and also a little worried. She is a kid who wants to know everything about life; so curious and sometimes pretty annoying with her infinite questions. Just like I was once and see where I’m now: in Kuala Lumpur; thousands of miles away from my family. While thinking of her, I drop my plane ticket. The man next to me picks it up and gives it to me. Guessing his origin, I thank him in Chinese: Xièxiè! I look at the board with the opening times of the gates. In less than ten minutes, I will be sitting in the plane on my way to Beijing for a conference. I promised myself to stop working or at least work less after Loreen came into my world. But my company needs me and I was dead certain that I could manage it. I still keep telling myself that I can but, truth be told, I feel torn apart.

These thoughts are keeping me busy till I take my seat in the plane. Before we take off, I prepare my documents I have to go through before we land in China. Half an hour after the take off, there was is a loud explosion. Almost everyone is torn from their sleep. A baby who was sleeping in her mommy’s cozy arms few rows behind me starts to cry. There is this smell of burnt machinery spreading in the plane. I start talking to myself, trying to calm down, “This cannot happen. No, we are not going to crash or explode in the air. I paid for this goddamn flight to bring me safely to my destination. No, God is not going to let this happen. God is going to save us.” It is just unbelievable how one’s faith can grow bigger within seconds. I had always imagined people screaming and crying in such a situation but no one is even twitching. Everyone is trying to figure out what is happening. Soon after, I hear the captain speaking in Chinese about there being complications and not going to reach our destination. Instead we are heading to the nearest airport. But where the hell is the nearest airport? Thinking of hell, we have heard another explosion. I try to figure out what it was: A plane has two engines and we heard two explosions. The air is getting thinner and the pressure higher. The captain is speaking again but before he even finishes his sentence I fall into sleep; into a long, infinite sleep.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EvtPWko-yQItXsn-AHesZQxfq5bprUG1fpfV2qNJ7yU/edit?usp=sharing

Narrative Text: “A Little History of Photography”

Original Version

So many stories to tell and I know that I am capable of fitting my life into a tiny old-fashioned frame. But I have been told not tell these stories to anyone because God knows of our pain and despair and he is the one to save us – not a devise capturing my sorrow. Therefore I look away and try to keep everything between me and God. Still, there is this art that is framed on a photo. He is standing next to me, my beloved fiancé, who is still trying to save me from my misery. Failing him is my tremendous fear and I cannot hide it. This breathy halo capture of our first attendance of church is a pose representing my life. Maybe those who see this photo will be drifted in thoughts about questions addressed to me: Who am I? Why are my eyes trying to say? Will she ever be happy? I do not feel like I will ever be. The magical value that such a device can bring about is beyond compare with a painting that puts on a spurious slight smile on every face it draws. No, the photography shows the friction of the second that reveals the truth of everyone. There might be day when I will be forgotten and my body lying in the dark six foot low and even though I want my name to engraved under this photo I took, one very day of my life.

[246 words]

Final (Revised) Version

I have so many stories to tell and I know that I am capable of fitting my life into an old-fashioned oval frame. But I have been told not to tell these stories to anyone because God knows of our pain and despair and he is the one to save us – not a devise capturing my sorrow. Therefore I look away and try to keep everything between me and God.

He is standing next to me, my beloved fiancé, Karl Dauthendey who is still trying to save me from my misery. Failing him is my tremendous fear and I cannot hide it. I love him but not in a way he expects me to do. I might be the one for him but he can never replace these feelings I have for Alaric. I have started a new life with Karl since Alaric decided to love other women. The day I heard this was the day I lost everything: my heart, my soul and my happiness.

This breathy halo capture of my first attendance of church with Karl is a pose representing my life. Maybe those who see this photo will be drifted in thoughts with questions addressed to me: What are her eyes trying to say? Why does she look so sad? Will she ever be happy? I do not feel like I will ever be. The magical value that such a device can bring about is not comparable to a painter’s work that puts a spurious slight smile on every face. No, the photography shows the friction of the second that reveals the truth of everyone. There might be day when I will be forgotten and my body lying in the dark – six foot low and even though I want my history to be engraved under this photo of ours on this very second of my life.            [317 words]

Peer Feedback

It was not clear from whose perspective I was writing. Therefore I had to mention one of the characters. I decided to mention Karl instead the fiancée, who is the narrator, because I wanted her to be a little mysterious.

Some narrative elements were missing. My dear fellow students suggested making up a story explaining her sadness; and that’s what I did J

I also reduced the amount of descriptive elements.

“The Photographer Karl Dauthendey with his betrothed Miss Friedrich after their first attendance at church, 1857″

PSA - After Death Avatars

The loss of your dearest might cause an emotional gap.But do you really want your dearest to be replaced by a Cyberman?
Don’t let your emotions overlook the reality!