by Marcha Fox
Chapters 25 (Unveilings)
What are the two types of lies?
There are lies of omission and lies of commission. Are lies of omission any better than those that are deliberate? What are some of the reasons that people withhold information? When is it justified? When is it not justified? What are some of the risks? How do you react when someone withholds information that you find out later? How does it affect your trust of that person? Sometimes it is easier not to tell something to a person than deal with their reaction. Often it is not a matter of what you tell a person so much as how. This is where tact comes in, the ability to say something in the most uncontroversial manner and avoid getting the other person upset. This particularly applies to criticism.
For example, someone else's behavior may be extremely irritating but you have to be around this person all the time. You want to tell them to quit doing whatever it is, yet don't know how so you keep quiet. However, the anger keeps building up and you feel as if one of these days you're going to lose it and explode. You need to talk to him or her before that happens but don't know how. One technique which helps this type of communication is to use what is known as "I" messages instead of "you" messages. For example, if you say "I feel angry and put down when you talk to me that way," it is likely to have a better result than saying "You really make me mad when you act that way." When you start a statement with "you" it sounds more like an accusation which will trigger a defensive reaction. When you start with "I" and declare your feelings or own reaction you take responsibility for yourself and are more likely to invite the other person to examine their own behavior than be defensive.
Chapters 26 (The Learning Curve)
What is meant by a "learning curve?"
A "learning curve" refers to the time it takes before you fully absorb a concept or how to do a specific task in an easy, non-challenging manner. For example, when you first learned the alphabet and then how to read you went through a period of time when you had to think about it consciously then gradually it became familiar and easy. This also applies to learning math facts, how to play a game or sport as well as any new skill. Are you ever afraid that you can't ever learn how to do something? Have you ever admired someone for their abilities and wished you had them yet doubted you could ever do so?
It's important to realize that unless someone is a blatant genius, which is rare, that they learned one step at a time and went through various levels of the "learning curve" before becoming proficient and eventually an expert. Think of something you currently wish you could do. Research what training would be required to do so and approximately how long it would take. If you know someone who is already proficient, talk to them and find out how long it took for them to get to that level. Remember that the desire to do something is often the most important factor. If you want something badly enough you will have the drive and patience to learn, study and practice until you reach your goal, whether it's playing a sport or musical instrument or achieving excellence in a particular field of study such as science.
Chapter 27 (Questions and Answers)
1. How well do you accept being wrong about something? Do you argue and deny it, refusing to accept it, or logically examine the facts to determine the truth? How much does your emotional reaction hamper discovering and rectifying any mistakes?
The ability to accept being wrong without feeling stupid or incompetent is important to success because everyone is wrong sometimes. Accepting it, being willing to listen and learn, then moving on smarter than before is how you progress in life. Those who never acquire the humility required to admit they are wrong can easily get stuck in various parts of life.
2. Have you ever been pressured into making a promise you couldn't keep? What happened? What lesson(s) did you learn?
Chapter 28 - 29 (Confessions; Treachery)
1. Have you ever been in a situation where you received "too much information?" Are there times when it's better to not know everything another person is thinking? Why do people withhold information? When is it detrimental? What kind of mistakes can be made when you don't know all the facts in a situation?
2. Are all laws favorable for the average person? Do they always protect people or can they have the opposite effect? What influences affect the making of a law and its enforcement?
In the USA large corporations and special interest groups maintain lobbyists in Washington, D.C. to influence laws and regulations. What are some of the pros and cons of such a system? Do you agree they should have an influence or should all laws be based strictly upon what the majority of people want?
3. What causes an eclipse?
There are two times every year when eclipses occur but they are not visible everywhere, particularly solar eclipses which are only visible over a narrow path. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves directly in front of the Sun during its New Moon phase and casts its shadow on the Earth below. This does not occur every month because they only line up when the Sun is close to the lunar nodes or where the Moon's orbit crosses the Sun's path, also known as the ecliptic. Lunar eclipses occur when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow at the Full Moon phase. These are visible over a much larger area since the shadow of the Earth is much larger than that of the Moon. Ancient people believed that eclipses were indicators of ominous events to come. Just for fun, the next time one occurs pay attention to whether something important occurs around that same time.
4. Have you ever missed an important fact? What were the consequences?
Usually missing something important occurs when you are distracted in some way. Emotions especially can cloud your thinking and judgment. Remember the importance of knowing the difference between emotions and intuition (see Chapter 17, number 1 above).
Chapter 30 (Disaster)
What is "perseverance?"
Perseverance is an important trait which relates to never giving up. Obstacles and difficulties are to be expected in pursuing any goal, which would never be obtained if you gave up too soon. However, is it ever time to quit, particularly if you are "beating a dead horse?" How do you know whether you should steel yourself with determination and continue forward or recognize you're wasting your time and cut your losses? When something reaches that point it is important to recognize all you have learned from the experience, even if you didn't wind up where you had hoped. Skills, lessons, connections and experience can always be applied to the next endeavor.
Recognizing why the effort failed is important as well so you can learn from it and avoid the same mistakes the next time. Those who have been successful always have numerous failures behind them which are often invisible to those who only see the present. Inventors have a strong appreciation of failures which help them determine how to improve their device. Any effort that turns into a major flop has value as a learning experience, particularly when you learn vicariously from the mistakes of others.
Volume IV: Refractions of Frozen Time
What motivates research
Importance of innovation
Perseverance in the face of difficulties
Benefits of thinking "outside the box"
Complexities of personal relationships
Dealing with loss
Importance of optimism
Relationship between thoughts, feelings and emotions
Prologue
1. What would you do if you really wanted to know something? Are you willing to research it, even if it's difficult or boring? Why is it important to be able to persist if uncovering information is essential to a situation?
2. What are some professions where research abilities are important?
Science of all varieties, forensics for criminal investigations, law interpretation.
Chapter 1 (Answers)
1. Why is electrical power important?
We depend on electricity to maintain a civilized and advanced lifestyle. Nearly everything you do all day invol
ves electricity in some way, whether it comes from an electrical outlet or a battery. Name some things you could no longer do if all of a sudden there was no electricity?
2. How is electrical power generated?
There are several ways to generate electricity but they all ultimately involve a process that results in a flow of electrons. Electrons are part of atoms along with protons and neutrons. The original model of the atom with which many people are most familiar is the one that looks like a mini-solar system with the protons and neutrons clustered in the middle and the electronis orbiting around it. While electrons have been determined to have mass, they are part of the weird world of quantum mechanics and aren't necessarily a discrete particle but more often part of an energy cloud. Their charge is negative while protons have a positive charge and neutrons, as the name implies are neutral. In their natural state, atoms have an equal number of protons and electrons so their charge is neutral. However, if it loses an electron, then its charge becomes positive.
Metals tend to lose electrons more easily than other materials which makes them good electrical conductors. Metals are also maleable, i.e. flexible, as opposed to crystals which tend to break. This all relates to how the atoms are bonded with one another.
To create an electrical current, electrons need to flow. The trick and challenge is how to get them to move. You have seen this happen on a cold day when you get zapped touching something metal, such as a doorknob. Likewise when it's cold and dry and your hair is full of static. In this case, your hair stands up and out because it is no longer in a neutral state. But the electrons are not moving, which is why it's called static electricity. If one hair has the same net charge as the others, they will repel each other.
Sound familiar? Right. It's the same behavior as the response between like poles of a magnet. And guess what? There's a strong reciprocal relationship between electricity and magnetism. It's complex and scientists have only unraveled a small portion of the secrets they contain. But one thing we do know is that we can use electricity to create a magnet and we can use rotating magnets to create electricity. Light, the official name of which is electro-magnetic radiation, is also related. Some have achieved small-scale levitation with magnets and research is ongoing in this fascinating field of study.
3. What are "fuel cells?"
Fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen which produces water, heat and orphaned electrons which provide an electrical current.
4. Why is it important for electrical wire to be insulated?
Otherwise if you touch it you can be electrocuted.
5. What is a semi-conductor?
A conductor carries electrical current while an insulator doesn't. A semi-conductor has properties of both which provides more options in manipulating electricity such as that used in electronic devices.
6. How can light influence electricity?
Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his work on the "photoelectric effect." Light is energy and comprises a particle known as a photon which can stimulate the electrons in an atom to a higher energy level or sometimes even cause one to be stripped off, changing the atom's charge from neutral to positive.
Chapter 2 (Transitions)
1. Why does Dirck think that false hopes are better than none?
When all hope is lost, a person would be more inclined to give up. Even if what is hoped for doesn't occur, it buys time and something else could come along to help instead.
2. Laren Brightstar is a "terralogist" or planetary engineer. His expertise was converting planets that had the basic characteristics needed to sustain life, like an atmosphere and liquid water, into habitable domains. He ponders how tomography could manipulate weather and provide information regarding what was beneath a planet's surface, which was important for changing a planet as required to sustain life. However, the military and aggressive entities such as the Integrator could also use this capability in a devious way. What are some of the things they could do?
Create weather disturbances, droughts, floods, and massive storms or earthquakes in enemy territory which would give them a tactical and strategic advantage.
Chapter 3 (Departing)
1. What were some of the reasons that Dirck and Creena didn't get along?
He was intimidated by her because she thought differently than he did and made him feel stupid.
2. Why was Dirck so impressed with Apoca Canyon?
He was surprised it was so sophisticated and massive in contrast to how they'd been operating with old equipment out of the Caverns. He was also impressed that his father had been so involved in its development and the amount of respect he was given by everyone there. It is often difficult for children to see their parents as others do.
2. Why would TBAs (Technical Breakthrough Advisories) be issued? Who would receive them? Why?
Most research projects are being pursued with a definite goal and purpose in mind which is being funded by someone. Thus, reporting progress is important to the person paying the bills to make sure that things are progressing as they should. They can also be important for determined whether or not a project is on schedule, which also has financial implications because paying people their salaries is often one of the biggest expenses in such an endeavor.
Chapter 4 (Apoca Canyon)
1. Why is Dirck surprised that the "Intelligence Processing and Synthesis" group was less effective than he and Win had been?
They had more people and more sophisticated equipment but lacked leadership and procedures that flushed out the information.
2. Why is it important to deal with emotional situations rather than suppress them?
Because they can be a distraction and cause additional problems such as poor judgment.
Chapter 5 (Psicom)
1. Deven has a knack for coming up with ideas, information, and in this case, a new crystal, that has tremendous promise for Creena's research. Why is this ironic?
Deven usually makes such discoveries when he's doing something or going somewhere that he shouldn't. Yet, the family probably wouldn't be alive if it weren't for his exploits and what he learns.
2. What do you think of Deven's idea that it doesn't matter how something works, only that it does? What are the pros and cons of this approach?
Pro: Discovering how something works could be revealed by experiments related to its properties and behavior. Con: Without knowing exactly why something behaves the way it does can be dangerous and have unexpected effects.
3. Would you like to have the ability to communicate telepathically? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel about someone being able to read your thoughts?
Chapter 6 (Devenite)
1. Have you ever been around someone where you could feel what they were feeling, such as anger or love?
2. What are the advantages of being able to feel someone else's emotions? What are the disadvantages?
Feeling another's emotions can help promote understanding. However, there are times when a person is reacting in an inappropriate way which they will eventually get under control and change. Being privy to them before they're processed could actually cause additional misunderstandings.
Chapter 7 (A Knick of Time)
1. What do you think it would be like on a blackhole where gravity is so strong that atoms collapse? Are you aware of how much empty space is inside of an atom?
2. When Creena, her mother, Deven, Aggie and Thyron left the caverns, where did the psitenna combined with the Think Tank take them?
Universal Time where the past, present and future are all mixed together.
Could there be such a place? Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity tell us that time is relative and changes near the speed of light or in a gravitational field. What do you think that time actually is?
3. Why does Laren think that time won't exist in either of his possible destinations?
It
's likely that time does not exist on a blackhole or when a person is dead.
Chapter 8 (Purple Haze)
1. Why do extreme temperatures affect electronic devices?
Semiconductors are inhibited by cold while conductors are more efficient, which changes how they operate.
2. Dirck's feelings toward Creena have started to change. Why?
He's beginning to realize how much he misjudged her.
3. How would you feel is someone gave you an assignment or project that you felt was entirely beyond your ability? Would you refuse or accept the challenge?
Chapter 9 (Vortices)
1. Do you ever feel as if you never do anything right the first time? What do you think of the saying "Good decisions come from experience and experience comes from bad decision?" Do you think that making mistakes is a part of life that you're supposed to learn from? Is this a good or bad way to learn? Why or why not?
2. Laren thinks that finances are "seldom a driver for a dictatorship." Why?
Dictators can muster free labor from their populace which saves money in wages and salaries and they can direct what resources they have in whatever direction they choose without any input or protest from their citizenry.
3. Why did Rhodus' demand for an audit and recount for the election that brought Integration to his territory get him arrested?
Integrated leadership didn't want everyone to know that they'd cheated to obtain power of the territory.
Chapter 10 (Many Happy Returns)
1. What finally motivated Dirck to solve the turbine problem once and for all? Why did he succeed this time when previously he had no idea what to do?
