Euthanasia Essay: Mercy Killing or Murder? -- Euthanasia Physician Ass

Willful extermination: Mercy Killing or Murder?   â We, as people, are mortal beings.â Our life expectancy is finite.â Even however we are mortal, we attempt to cling to our lives as long as could be expected under the circumstances; dread of death and needing to live always are, all things considered, some portion of human nature.â Sometimes, nonetheless, the field of medication benefits from this part of mankind. While it is positively evident that one objective of medication has consistently been to drag out life, another objective has been the mitigation of agony and suffering.â One point where these two perspectives impact is over the fervently discussed issue of willful extermination.   â â â Euthanasia, or leniency slaughtering, as it has been called, is absolutely not an issue with only two sides.â There are numerous shades of dim included, so to speak.â Euthanasia, after all,â ranges from just permitting a person to bite the dust normally without life backing or reassessing (uninvolved willful extermination), right to Jack Kevorkian's self destruction machine (dynamic killing). To confound things further, there is additionally willful extermination, Cases in which patient solicitations to be murdered, and passes on because of activity taken by someone else, automatic killing; cases in which no activity is mentioned on the grounds that the patient is oblivious, feeble, or in any case unequipped for making a solicitation, yet the individual is permitted to pass on or is executed, and nonvoluntary willful extermination; cases in which a cognizant, at death's door quiet expresses that they would prefer not to bite the dust, however is permitted to kick t he bucket or is slaughtered at any rate (http://valdosta.peachnet.edu).â While an individual may advocate one type of willful extermination, it isn't remarkable for a similar individual to be totally against another form.â There are cases in which killing isn't right, particularly cases including cognizant pe... ...d feared occasions that individuals ever need to go through.â This is presumably the fundamental explanation that willful extermination is so controversial.â It is human instinct for us to attempt to draw out our lives as far as might be feasible, and, through medication, we have delayed them truly a bit.â It is essential to recollect, all things considered, that occasionally while endeavoring to battle our shared adversary demise, we dismiss the eventual benefits of the people whose lives we are affecting.â Are these individuals not the most qualified individuals to make this decision?â It is, all things considered, their lives that remain in a critical state.  Works Cited Murder American Heritage Dictionary on CD-ROM, 1991. Web: Http://www.ieatf.org.McCord, William. Web: Http://valdosta.peachnet.edu.  Moral Dilemmas. Society 29 July-August 1992: 22. Pallone, Nathaniel. Society 29 July-August 1992: 35.

Breaking Into Advertising and Staying Essay

In the life of an individual, it is seen that building an incredible and stable vocation in a profession that he/she by and by preferences and wants to do is one of the chief endeavors that is viewed as a troublesome undertaking. In this manner, this requires an abundant measure of exertion and fearlessness for an individual to accomplish a steady vocation and to be arranged in a place that the person in question likes to be in. Publicizing Industry, then again, as connected to the conversations about vocation, is viewed as one of the most invigorating and energizing line of organizations in which there are various number of applicants who are planning to infiltrate the scene and be a piece of it. Likewise, the promoting business is viewed as remembered for the most serious and most grounded industry that could guarantee a brilliant future ahead for any individual who could make it to the highest point of the business rivalry. Be that as it may, the extent that the part of business is concern, building up a profession in publicizing industry supposedly is one of the most troublesome and dubious assignment to do. Hence, this is the place the book entitled â€Å"Pick Me: Breaking into Advertising and Staying There† is basically planned for, which is to fill in as a guide and as a basic perusing in helping individuals to get work and make due under the weight of the business that is once respected to be remembered for the rundown of the most serious ones. The book is fundamentally composed to give a perusing material to have the option to manage the individuals, all the more particularly the individuals who seek to set up a vocation in the publicizing business, to find in an occupation and handle the weight which fills in as the quality of the said business. The book is wrote by two of the most dependable people in the field of promoting who have functioned as imaginative executives and are intently inventive accomplices to be specific Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin. The essential target of the two is to render individuals distinct data with respect to how might they procure a situation in a business world, for example, publicizing. All things considered, from most of the book, the data is basically rendered to respond to the inquiries of individuals or understudies with respect to having a steady activity and setting up a profession in the said business. Moreover, the book is likewise co-created by a gathering of fourteen people, who are viewed as celebrated people in the promoting business, who have additionally given and shared their own bits of knowledge just as close to home encounters that have been instrumental for them to enter the professions they are in today and exceed expectations in it. In any case, through the foundation and capacities of the individuals behind the thoughts, it is seen that the book is viable in accomplishing and working to what it chiefly mean. The book supposedly is exact with its points and objectives. Staying alert that the foundation of vocation in the publicizing business is a precarious errand, the scholars have expressed and rendered their data in the best way that the perusers could have a grip of the messages they proposed for. Hence, the methodology of the scholars in rendering their musings supposedly is brief wherein the book joins the rundown of the run of the mill questions and worries by the individual with respect to the subject and renders the proper answers as needs be. Similarly, an away from of the issue and point which tells about the connection among work and the challenges of building up a profession in publicizing industry has been key factor that prepares to distinct outcomes just as ends for the book. As indicated by the authors, it is significant for an individual, all the more particularly for the individuals who aims for an occupation in the said business, to know precisely and render as needs be their objectives just as the things that the person needs to accomplish to have the option to utilize an away from and center in the advancement of their profession. Additionally, the journalists have unmistakably expressed the point that a formal instructive foundation is critical, in spite of the fact that not the sole fundamentals, in building up a vocation and making it to the highest point of whole promoting industry. Along these lines, ability, aptitudes, energy and devotion are viewed as elements that are required to have the option to build up a long-lasting vocation and prevail in the said business. Also, the considerations of dread and self-hostility ought to be vanquished so as to build up a vocation, remain and prevail in the promoting industry. In like manner, the new and new thoughts are believed to be a crucial element of accomplishment in the promoting business which could put an individual in a steady and solid ground for their vocation in the business. This could likewise improve and decide the unwavering quality of one’s abilities in the business to think of a splendid thought that could support the customers and plug an item more towards more noteworthy outcomes. From an individual perspective, it tends to be said that the focuses and explanations composed above, according to the writers’ angle, are on the whole fundamental and noteworthy such that it renders clear thoughts for the individuals that have the fantasies about creation it in the publicizing business. Along these lines, a large portion of the focuses that have been portrayed in the book are completely upheld and clarified through the joining and a blend of individual encounters industry just as legitimate thinking that is associated with the whole setting of society. Similarly, knowing the reality where the scholars are coming from utilizes more intelligence in the focuses that have been expressed in the pages. In addition, expressing a reasonable concentration and objective is in reality fundamental in building up a profession. This renders a distinct way and fills in as a point of convergence with respect to where the advancement of vocation is going. The nearness of formal training, then again, is additionally observed as noteworthy wherein it should fill in as roots for information or thoughts that ought to be additionally upgraded by the individual capacities and ability. Additionally, abilities, capacities and devotion in the activity is unquestionably instrumental so as to build up and remain in a line of profession for an extensive stretch of time. Regardless, saying that certainty is an unquestionable requirement in finding to work and remaining in the publicizing business is totally noteworthy. In this manner, the presence of self-hatred ought to be vanquished so as to utilize a solid employment condition and make ready for ceaseless individual and vocation development. In like manner, it tends to be said that the most significant point in the book is the contention that concentration and objective specified with energy and commitment are in truth a fundamental recipe to build up a vocation and endure the difficulties of being utilized, all the more particularly in the promoting business. At long last, with the above composed realities and data about the book, it could be expressed the data and musings portrayed in the book are for the most part verifiable just as accommodating basics towards having a nice activity or position and remaining in the publicizing business. Subsequently, it is sure that the book and the authors are fruitful in accomplishing their objectives just as in filling their need that apparently renders a substantial perusing guide for the individuals who try to get in a vocation and set up a profession in the publicizing business. Regardless, all the contemplations and data rendered in the book are helpful and obliging for the perusers as the entirety of the focuses and explanations are upheld with pertinent true encounters and true proof that are tried to have created positive outcomes about the subject. Reference Vonk N. also, Kestin J. (2005). Pick Me: Breaking Into Advertising and Staying There. US: Wiley-IEEE.

Analysis of Dubai Aviation Model. ( Paper subject is Strategy) Essay

Investigation of Dubai Aviation Model. ( Paper subject is Strategy) - Essay Example It is a significant aeronautics center point in the Middle East, and is the primary air terminal of Dubai, the second biggest city of United Arab Emirates. Since the starting of Emirates, the national banner transporter of United Arab Emirates, in March 1985, as per Business Analysis, â€Å"Dubai-based Emirates Airline,. . . is one of the quickest developing and most reliably gainful bearers in flight history†. With a beginning up capital of $10 million and 2 rented planes from Pakistan International Airlines, which were in this way returned in 1987, the carrier has now developed to in excess of 148 armadas and still intends to have 320 by 2018 and 400 by 2020. Dubai International Airport is the command post of Emirates and is worked by the Department of Civil Aviation, a legislature claimed organization. Emirates by the way is overseen by The Emirates Group under the property of Investment Corporation of Dubai, a speculation arm of the administration of Dubai. In light of the prior data, plainly the legislature of Dubai assumes a significant job in the accomplishment of the said elements. These two substances are vital components of Dubai’s development and improvement. With Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 set up in 2006 by Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed canister Rashid Al Maktoum, as the core values in their techniques and choices, objectives and targets were cultivated in like manner. It is a groundwork for Dubai for the post-oil period by solidly setting up it as a main goal for travelers as well as for exchange fairs and gatherings and other income creating focuses, for example, proficient administrations, money related, and coordinations and conveyance center. This paper will clarify the variables that represent the accomplishment of Dubai’s avionics division. The Oxford Economics report that Dubai‘s avionics model works on account of a mix of variables, including a national

Good vs. Evil in Dracula - Literature Essay Samples

In the Gothic novel Dracula, Bram Stoker largely presents good and evil in stark contrast in a very simple manner. This perhaps mirrors Victorian views of good and evil as opposed yet inextricable, a strict view of right and wrong in a religious sense. But more interesting than this construct is the character of Renfield, the man who appears to be neutral, caught between the clearly righteous good and the evidently evil. Throughout the novel, he is submerged in a metaphorical grey area. Stoker uses Renfield to provoke deeper thought about good and evil, and indeed wants the reader to fear this grey area itself. Often, Stoker does tend to present quite easily accessible interpretations on good and evil. For example, when Mina is fed on by and equally feeds from Dracula in chapter twenty one, the literary technique isnt hard to suss out. Descriptions such as â€Å"white-clad† and â€Å"clad in black† are used to describe Mina and Dracula: the colours are obviously opposed but Stoker has even gone as far as switching the syntax of the adjectives to emphasise the opposing ideas. You also see Mina’s â€Å"nightdress† which has been â€Å"smeared with blood† and which thus has connotations of a loss of virginity, due to the Victorian belief that the exchange of blood and reproductive fluids are synonymous. It means a loss of innocence from colour imagery, a deflowering of Mina’s character. There is also clear contrast in terms of religious lexicon from â€Å"God’s mercy† to the â€Å"devil and his children†. So, in many ways (visual a nd metaphorical, and in allusions to the Bible), Stoker presents good and evil to be a very clear cut-subject, something that doesnt require an awful lot of thought. This begs the question: what about Renfield? Where does he fit in? He’s generally an extremely ambiguous character. His initial interactions with Dracula arent clear in his exposition. It’s also unclear why it is that he’s so particularly sensitive to Dracula’s movements. Another ambiguity is his strange and unnatural obsession with immortality. He’s described as a â€Å"madman†. No past, no personality. So we are left to rely purely on the text, but the writing offers a very grey too. We are often left confused about Renfields warped personality: he displays kindness and politeness (much like the ideal Victorian bachelor) by â€Å"tidying† before Mina enters his cell and even says â€Å"let the lady come in† only after he has finished cleaning. However, this only makes it more uncomfortable to see the character displaying signs of evil. As Seward says when Mina enters the cell, â€Å"I thought that he may have had some homicid al intent†. Just like the in-between of horror and terror, the grey, Renfield is an example of the abject. He is both good and evil. One of the displays of Renfields possible evil is his strange habit of eating the insects in his room. The flies and spiders sent by Dracula himself are obviously under his influence, as Harker says in the fourth chapter of the novel in reference to Castle Dracula, supposedly a place where the Devil and the â€Å"Devil’s children†. Possibly, the insects are the â€Å"devil’s children† in question, under the influence of the Count. The juxtaposition of the insects and Renfield makes him seem much more animalistic, bringing about the Victorian fear of devolution and thus transmitting the impression that he is evil. In chapter twenty one when Renfield is on his deathbed, he mentions the â€Å"Acherontia atropos of the Sphinges† . As Van Helsing says, this translates to the â€Å"Death’s Head Moth†. The use of this symbol has a huge impact on both the Victorian and the contemporary reader. In the 1840s, the entomologist Moses Harris claimed that the moth was â€Å"the device of evil spirits† because of its skull-like pattern, and this interpretation was digested by the society of the time; people then believed that the moth was some sort of evil omen. In popular culture, surrealist Salvador Dalà ­ also used the design for his work in relation to death, further pushing conventional beliefs surrounding the moth. Renfield however eats these insects in his cell: this is again an in-between state of evil and good because the physical eating of the insects in the correct order of the food chain is a completely natural process. However, it feels twisted, and brings back the sickly, abject, revulsed feeling at the act. When Renfield is very close to death, it is made clear to the reader that he simply should already be dead due to the injuries he’s sustained. These include his â€Å"pool of blood† hes laying in, his â€Å"back broken†: he’s â€Å"paralysed†, and has a â€Å"mark on his head†. This is the connection Renfield holds to the dark side, evil, even when hes close physically to death. Yet hes strangely alive, with â€Å"uncertain breaths†, and he is â€Å"quickly revived† when Seward wets his lips with brandy. Hes also undergoing â€Å"agonised confusion† and the men are in a state of â€Å"nervous suspense†. So he’s on his deathbed but very strangely vital and sane (which is unusual for him): this is just another example of how he is completely a middle man between good and evil. This boundary between the two holds forth Victorian fears of the liminal, threatening Stokers readers with illogicality and ambiguity. As David Rogers says, Victorian times had an â€Å"apocalyptic nature†: this was an era of uncertainty and change. Often, Stoker accentuates this fear by using Renfield as a middle man to make this uncertainty and unease about the forces of good and evil more accessible to his readers.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Environment...

A decision that must be made is whether to use discrete trial training drills or incidental teaching to establish functional skills. Discrete trial training is conducted in a highly specified and structured manner, in which the instructor chooses and presents an antecedent stimulus related to the skill of interest, and when the student responds correctly, the response is reinforced. Naturalistic or incidental teaching is loosely structured, and is incorporated into a student’s ongoing routine and follows his or her interests. Variation in antecedent stimuli and respnses is emphasized and reinforcers for correct responses are tied to the student’s ongoing activites. Sundberg and Partington (1999) coined the term ‘natural environment†¦show more content†¦Thus, you miss the most sensitive part of student behaviour. 2) Trial formats hold back the speed with which students can perform. Compare how many capitals of states a student can name using Precision Teaching flascards with the number possible if each is presented to the student with a question, ‘What is the capital of this state?’ 3) With a trial format, students do not initiate responding. They get used to waiting for a teacher before taking any action, encouraging passivity and prompt dependency. 4) Fixed lists of tasks used in DT instruction prevents adapting continually to student’s current performance so that some students may respond incorrectly or others fail to progress when they are ready for more difficult tasks. 5) Most DT procedures include procedures for correction of errors. Correction is not part of shaping. Every failure slows down the rate of responding and dampens momentum. 6) DTT is limited in terms of generalization. 7) DTT needs to reprogram for spontaneous skill use. 8) DTT is quite costly – time and finding. 9) Requires specific programming time blocks. In response to these criticisms, Hart and Risley (1968) developed another procedure known as ‘incidental teaching’, a type of NET used to increase quantity and complexity of mands and generally to a lesser degree tacts. NET involves providing structured learning opportunities within the natural context or naturally occurring activities byShow MoreRelatedChange Management49917 Words   |  200 PagesPlanned Change 5. Unplanned Change 2. 4. 6. Stimulating Forces Change Agents Lewin’s Three Step Model The change means the alteration of status quo or making things different. It may refer to any alteration which occurs in the overall work environment of an organization. When an organizational system is disturbed by some internal or external force, the change may occur. The change is modification of the structure or process of a system, that may be good or even bad. It disturbs the existing equilibriumRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesImproving Customer Service 18 †¢ Improving People Skills 19 †¢ Stimulating Innovation and Change 20 †¢ Coping with â€Å"Temporariness† 20 †¢ Working in Networked Organizations 20 †¢ Helping Employees Balance Work–Life Conflicts 21 †¢ Creating a Positive Work Environment 22 †¢ Improving Ethical Behavior 22 Coming Attractions: Developing an OB Model 23 An Overview 23 †¢ Inputs 24 †¢ Pr ocesses 25 †¢ Outcomes 25 Summary and Implications for Managers 30 S A L Self-Assessment Library How Much Do I Know About OrganizationalRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 PagesUniversity with a major in mathematics and, while acquiring graduate degrees at the University of Iowa, concentrated on statistics, computer programming, psychometrics, and test development. Currently, he divides his duties between teaching and evaluation; in addition to teaching, he is the assessment facilitator for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Community Schools. In his spare time he enjoys reading and hiking. He and his wife have a daughter, Anna, who is a graduate student in Civil Engineering at Cal Tech

Who Is A Secret Addiction - 851 Words

In my opinion, I ve really enjoyed doing this experiment. Not only did it put me in an addicts shoes but it also gave me the authentic feel on what its like to have a secret addiction. During the long journey of being a three day addict of Eyscubes, I found it rather difficult. Not only do I feel some compassionate for addicts, but I ve also got an idea what addicts go through on a daily basis. In addition, I also figured out an addicts experience when he or she is trying to figure out who and where to find the next supply from, in this case it was me finding out where to find Eyscubes, whether it ll be the fridge,restaurant,cafeteria,store, or someone else. I knew that I had to be very discreet about it and in a timely manner so that I won t get caught. I also felt awkward,and at times it was tricky, because I had to find ways to get ice when I wanted a beverage even if it were at the school s vending machine. I had to ask an employee at the cafeteria if she had a cup, so that I can pour the beverage in, while I had a the Eys cubes stored in my backpack in a cooler. Then on after, I went to the ladies restroom to pour my beverage in and took a dose of Eys cubes and added to the beverage which was Pepsi. The two most difficult spots was when I was at home and work. One, because I didn t want anyone to know my addiction, and lastly at work I didn t want to get fired if they found out that I was doing drugs. During at work I had a craving for my next dose ofShow MoreRelatedKeeping Addiction And Recovery A Secret1464 Words   |  6 Pagesdrugrehab.org - Keeping Addiction and Recovery a Secret When you are suffering from an addiction, you re likely afraid of sharing that information with anyone. However, if you keep your addiction a secret, you re not likely to ever recover from it. You need to admit that you have a problem and take steps to get it resolved as soon as possible. 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McKoy Liberty University Abstract This critical review will attempt to summarize the book â€Å"Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction† written by, Dr. Mark R. Laaser. Highlighting all the central themesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Healing The Wounds Of Sexual Addiction By Dr. Mark R.1667 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract This critical review will attempt to summarize the book â€Å"Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction† written by, Dr. Mark R. Laaser, highlighting all the central themes and giving an in-depth analysis of Dr. Laaser’s work on the subject of sexual addiction. It will give his perspective and evidence to support it from the book and other sources. In this review, you will find that Dr. Laaser has added valuable insight to the subject on a personal level. It will also show how Dr. Laaser’s faith

Dell free essay sample

They do not in any way replace the recommended books that students are advised to use to supplement knowledge and understanding of the module. Students can purchase the recommended reading books from a retailer of their choice. However, students experiencing problems in obtaining books independently can contact us to make a purchase using LCM’s account with Amazon. Apple Company background Apple Inc, also earlier known as Apple Computer, Inc. is an American multinational corporation. They are responsible for designing and selling consumer electronics, computer software and personal computers. Apple sells all their products and services throughout the world through its online stores, its retail stores, direct sales force and third party wholesalers, resellers and value added resellers. History It was initially established in Cupertino, California on the 1st of April 1976. It was established by the late Steve Jobs,  Steve Wozniak Ronald Wayne to sell the Apple I personal computer kit. We will write a custom essay sample on Dell or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Since its inception, it has seen many products being introduced from the Lisa and Macintosh in the early 1980’s to the iMac’s and iPads of today. During the early 90’s the company went through several launches and failed attempts at consumer electronics such as portable CD’s and portable cameras. There have been internal power struggles as well, among the CEO John Sculley and the Late Steve Jobs in the 1980’s, which resulted in Jobs resigning from apple and founding NeXT Inc. In the late 90’s with stiff competition from Unix and Sun Microsystems and apple not being profitable, Steve Jobs was brought back as an adviser and later became the interim CEO of the company. He was instrumental in reinventing and redesigning the product line of the organisation. During the years of 2005 2007 Apple was able to make a transition to Intel processes and later became formally known as Apple Inc, rather than Apple Computers. Customers The Company sells to various segments of customers both B2B and B2C The Company operates in five segments: Americas, Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific and Retail. The Americas segment includes both North and South America. The Company sells its products globally through its retail stores, online stores, and direct sales force and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers. Apple has not only given a whole new focus for the entertainment industry, but it has also given a whole new meaning to the alphabet! (2) As in any other organisation Apple has had and continues to contend with many environmental forces that provide opportunities and threats. Its culture of reinvention and creativity has enabled it to succeed through many difficult times as well as making use of opportunities. Political / Legal environment Apple Inc. has been incorporated in the United States. Therefore, Apple is directly exposed to the political and legal environment of the US. Whilst the political environment of the US is highly stabilised, it has strict rules and regulations in place to protect the wellbeing of the country and its citizens. Trademark laws, copyright laws, intellectual property laws, consumer protection laws and the United States competition law, which is known as the antitrust law would be some of the main forms of regulations that affects the operations of Apple Inc. Apple deals with technologies which accommodates sharing and utilising of data. Therefore, data protection laws directly create an impact on Apple. Furthermore, Apple works with many third parties such as resellers and content providers. Any changes to laws that govern business practices will largely affect Apple Inc. Economic environment Apple Inc. operates in over 11 countries with more than 300 stores. Mostly, all economies in the world are in the process of recovering from the recession. All products offered by Apple are non-essential, but definitely habit forming and lifestyle defining. The recovery will be a great opportunity for Apple to showcase its latest innovations and implement upgrades. However, pricing must be right if Apple wants to capture the market at this point in the economic cycle. Furthermore, Apple can make it an opportunity to work with dealers and financial institutes to offer purchase plans focusing on affordability. Social Environment Apple is offering products to customers who don’t even know what they want. Customers or potential customers have unlimited needs and wants. Though most of these needs are realised ones, there are an uncountable amount of unrealised needs which are given life through breakthrough technology producers such as Apple. At the same time, customers are also part of the society at large. Therefore, there is a trend towards favouring producers who are ethical and socially responsible. Social networking sites and gadgets have also started to play a major role in customers and potential customers lives. These sites and blogs have proven to be a good form of opinion leaders who mould customers’ values and beliefs. Single households due to an increased number of unmarried individuals, multitasking to cope with the fast phased life, localisation from food to politics, increase in spiritualism are some of the leading trends in society. In summary, the society is both spoiled and confused with: †¢ Too much information †¢ Too much choice †¢ Too much technology Technological Environment The technological environment in which Apple operates is hostile and fast moving. It no longer takes years for a technology to be out-dated or outdone, but it only takes a few weeks and sometimes, only a few days. Technology plays an important role in developing products, delivering them and in communicating about the product to the relevant markets. Apple is known to be one of the main innovators in the entertainment industry. It introduced technological breakthroughs to the gaming market, music industry, mobile phone market, and video and movie entertainment market. Some of these technologies created a barrier for many other organisations whilst they became a new line of thought for others. However, new technologies increase exposure to privacy and copyright violation while blurring the boundaries amongst industries. In conclusion, all elements of the macro environment are interrelated. For example, a technological breakthrough allowed Apple to challenge libraries and book stores through its i-pad. However, at the same time, the i-pad did and will do damage to the traditional delivery methods of reading material, which can result in possible legal action. Whilst one part of the society has made the i-pad a part of its lifestyle, others consider it to be a destruction to the wellbeing of people. All in all, Apple is on its way to give a whole new meaning to the ordinary fruit which was once used to teach the first letter of the alphabet! Question Identify sources of information that can be used to assist marketers in conducting a PEST analysis. Answer There are various sources for an organisation to collect information. Primary sources and secondary sources are the main two methods of data collection. Both primary and secondary sources can be utilised by Apple to collect information when carrying out its PEST analysis. Primary research is concerned with conducting new research, whilst secondary research is concerned with identifying appropriate information from already collected information that exists in the market. Secondary sources for example can be government statistics, sales information, reports etc. Primary research can be obtained by methods such as questionnaires, focus groups and in depth interviews. In discussion below we will be focusing on how information on each of the PEST factors can be obtained by Apple. Political and Legal Information on the political background of the company can be accessed from various secondary sources: Sources available on the internet such as reports on the political background of the countries that the company operates in can be used to access information on the company’s political environment. Government reports too are another important source that can be used. There are a number of laws and regulations affecting Apple. Trademark laws, copyright laws, intellectual property laws, consumer protection laws and the United States competition law can be named as the key laws affecting the company. Information on laws affecting Apple can be accessed from secondary sources such as legal documents and though regulatory bodies. PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE OF SOFTWARE Economic As Apple operates in around 11 countries, the economic environments of these countries have an impact on the operations of Apple. Information on the economic conditions impacting on the company such as the GDP can be accessed from sources such as government statistics and again through government reports. Most of the countries that the company is operating in are recovering from the recession. Therefore, accessing information on the economic environment of these countries is important to ensure successful operations. Internet sources and reports which contain information on the economic background of the company can be used to access information. Social Information on the social environment of the company is very important in catering to the needs of the customers. Primary information is more useful when identifying the social environment of the company. Social networking sites have started to play an important role in the lives of many customers. Online questionnaires can be posted on social networking sites. These can be useful in identifying the social needs of customer groups. The perceptions of opinion leaders can also be accessed through social networking sites. Customers tend to favour products which are ethical and socially responsible. The perceptions of the customers can be identified through these social networks. Therefore, social networks can be a valuable primary source in accessing information on the social environment of the company. [pic] The dell is in growth stage Technological Apple is a leading technological company. The company operates in a fast changing technological environment. As the company deals with rapidly developing customer needs and wants in terms of technology, identifying the technological environment is key for Apple. Primary sources are important in identifying information on the technological environment rather than secondary sources. Information contained in secondary sources such as reports may be out of date, as the technological environment the company operates in is rapidly changing. Primary sources such as focus groups and in depth interviews can be used as the best methods in identifying the needs in terms of the technological requirements of the customers. Conclusion It is very important to access reliable, up to date and accurate sources when conducting the PEST analysis. Information on each environmental factor needs to be accurate. Political, legal and economic sources can be mostly accessed from secondary sources, whilst information on social and technological environments can be mostly accessed from primary sources. This sort of analysis has to be carried out periodically and this is dealing with the Macro environment, which is uncontrollable and continuously evolving.

The autobiography of Malcolm X

One of the greatest and most influential men that captured the attention of both his friends and enemies, and articulated the struggle, the hunger, and the credence of African-American in the early 1960s is none other than Malcolm X. Malcolm X lived a complex and controversial life, at times landing a job of shoe-shinning, a dancer, criminal, a leader, a minister, and an icon, before his life was drastically ended by an assassins’ bullets at a tender age of thirty nine.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The autobiography of Malcolm X specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He worked tirelessly giving speeches and educating both young and old black Americans to better their lives and create strong communities that embraces strong fabric of self actualization and independent man. Interestingly, Malcolm X is also known for using and changing his names from Malcolm Little, El Hajj Malik, Detroit Red and El-Sha bazz. Most historians argue that those different names of Malcolm represented the different spheres of his live. Needless to say, Malcolm X became one of the greatest symbols of reconciliation and resistance for millions of people around the world. This study will endeavor to explore the life history of Malcolm X who was a son of a Baptist minister. The autobiography of Malcolm X is the outstandingly true story of an African-American man, and it presents the daily struggle of millions of black during the period of racial discrimination and segregation. The study will explore the transformation and individuality of Malcolm X that led him to sustain dedication and will to get education. Malcolm X autobiography unfolds a society that is plagued by discrimination and class segregation in every sphere of America society. Malcolm unveils the struggle of civil rights movements and the emergence of the Black Nationalism. The autobiography of Malcolm X give a detailed true story of Malcolm X as he struggled with the life of hustling, dope peddler and a thief to become a dynamic and influential African American leader. The autobiography captures a span of four decades from the birth of Malcolm X in May 1925, to his assassination on 21 February 1965. Malcolm X was one of the eight children of Louise Little and Reverend Earl. Like many other black American children Malcolm X was raised amidst racial prejudice and poverty stricken family. Malcolm X only attended school up to the eighth grade and he spent most of teenage life in street and prison. During the late 1950s, discrimination and racial segregation was institutionalized in every aspect of America society.Advertising Looking for research paper on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Schools, neighborhoods and businesses were segregated along skin color, and the Supreme Court legalized racial segregation through allowing separate but equal treatment of bo th black and white citizens. Furthermore, several states in America prevented African-Americans from voting. All African-Americans experienced grave hardship during this period given their inferior status in American society (Henry and Nellie, 9). In the early 1950, Malcolm X together with several African Americans leaders organized black militancy that organized both violent and nonviolent demonstration. Malcolm believed that African American had the right to defend they society using any means necessary to gain their freedom. Malcolm X was against the white power structure and racist vigilante groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, which at one time threatened their family (Malcolm X, Haley and Shabazz, 2). In addition, Malcolm was against some civil rights organization for their soft stance against American’s racial problems. Before being assassinated Malcolm had moderated his stance against black discrimination and advocated for solidarity among African-Americans, and urged bot h people of all races to work together and end racism. According to the autobiography of Malcolm X, his life is a good example of how determination, confidence and perseverance can change the life of an individual (Manning, 5). The next section will critically explore the life history of Malcolm X from his birth to up to his assassination. The section will critically analyze some of the achievements and setbacks that Malcolm went throughout his life. Malcom X was born on 19th May 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska, and was a son of an African Baptist preacher. His mother, Louise Norton Little was a house wife and took responsible of raising the eight children. Malcolm X, Haley and Shabazz, (2) explains that the father of malcoml X, Earl Little was an outspoken activists and minister, and was among the strongest members of Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and a member of Marcus Garvey. This organizations made Earl Little to brush shoulders with white supremacist groups including the Ku Klux Klan. The family of Malcolm X was in constant fear of being attacked from these groups. From the autobiography of Malcolm X (6) he recall that â€Å"When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home in Omaha, Nebraska, one night. Surrounding the house, brandishing their shotguns and rifles, they shouted for my father to come out†. The group smashed their family house destroying all their windows and doors, which angered Malcolm X father. The family late moved to Lansing, but their house was late burned by the Ku Klux Klan and the family managed to escape without any major injuries.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The autobiography of Malcolm X specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Aboulafia (7) explains that on 8th September 1931, the further of Malcolm X was fatally killed by streetcar on his way to home, at then Malcolm was only six years old. The police ruled his death to be an accident although the black community refuted the finding of the police claiming that the white supremacy groups had a hand on his death. The death of Malcolm X father changed their family life drastically. Henry and Nellie (67) explains that since their father was the bread winner, their financial problems worsened. Furthermore, Mrs. Louise Norton Little was most devastated by Mr. Earl death, which made her suffer from enormous stress and anxiety caused by the responsibility of raising the eight children. Her mother was later institutionalized in the early 1937, which left the eight children leaving with friends, foster families or their in lasing. Malcolm X, Haley and Shabazz (78) explain that Malcolm attended school up to the level of eighth grade. At the age of thirteen Malcolm became expelled from school and the state officials moved him to detention home. During this period, Malcolm had defiant behavior, but he was an outstanding student among his schools mates. At the detention home Malcolm was treated as a mascot to the couples who lived at that home. Malcolm aspired to become a lawyer, but his English teacher discouraged him from becoming a lawyer because he was black. In 1941, Malcolm asked to be transferred to the guardianship of his half sister who was living in Boston. During the stay in Boston, Malcolm was more attracted to street life than in the upper class that her sister resided. Malcolm landed a job of shoe shinning at Roseland Ballroom, which became a center of his life. During this period, Malcolm became a hustler, where he leant how to sell drugs, dancing, con man, dope pusher and a thug. His love life was also affected and he dated many women a white woman Sophia and Laura. In some instances Malcolm explains that Sophia â€Å"was bothered about me living among the prostitutes until I introduced her to some of them, and they talked, and she thought they were great. They would te ll her they were keeping me straight for her† (104). Malcolm X, Haley and Shabazz explain that during World War II, Malcolm was able to secure a job in the army by lying about his age. Malcolm secured a job in the railway since the American army was in dire need of cooks, porters and waiters. As a worker in railway, Malcolm became even more dangerous by engaging in drug peddling and gambling. At one point Malcolm X argue that â€Å"One day, in a blackjack game, an old cook who was dealing the cards tried to be slick, and I had to drop my pistol in his face† (119).Advertising Looking for research paper on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Breitman (46) explains that Malcolm was able to secure a job at Small Paradise as a waiter, where he became acquitted with many drug loads and elites. After losing the job at Small paradise, Malcolm was able to form a burglary ring that terrorized many residence together with their sister and girl friend. Malcolm became a drug addict and cocaine dealers, whereby he was well known by the police. He escaped several attempts to be caught by the police. At the age of 20 years, malcon became a well known drug dealer, burglar and peddler. In 1946, Malcolm was arrested and sent to 10 years in jail. Manning (9) explains that the prison life changed Malcolm character and behavior for the rest of his life. During the prison life Malcolm met another prisoner called Bimbi who was a self educated man. For the long time that Malcolm had left school he had forgotten how to read and write. With the help of Bimbi encouragement and training Malcolm was able to learn how to read and write. In addition , Malcolm underwent spiritual and moral transformation through the teaching of honorable Elijah Muhammad. Elijah Muhammad was known as the message of Allah (Allah is the name for Muslim god). Elijah was very much adored by the black prisoners since he instilled a sense of self-respect and admiration. Furthermore, Elijah Muhammad condemned very strongly the white supremacist segregation of black people and blamed them on the poor government policies. Elijah blamed whites for the harsh treatment of African-American in the North, and he argued that the only way to solve the injustice was through black separatism (Aboulafia, 8). Breitman (57) explains that it was during this period that Malcolm brother Reginald visited him severally to offer spiritual support. During the numerous visits Reginald advised Malcolm that he had a way of removing him from the prison. During the meetings Reginald advised Malcolm not to eat any pork meat because of religious reasons. The plan of Reginald was to enlist Malcolm in the Nation of Islam, which was an organization known as Black Muslims. The organization was founded by Elijah Muhammad in the early 1930s and their main objective was to urge for the separation of races. The organization viewed the white man as being evil, and blamed them for the misfortune of blacks. Malcolm was very ready to receive this ideology since the white supremacists groups terrorized them constantly. The ideology and teachings of Elijah Muhammad inspired Malcolm to study African American history. Through studying history Malcolm was strongly convinced that the white were responsible for their suffering and mistreatment. Through studying Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to the famous Malcolm X (Henry and Nellie, 9). Aboulafia (78) explains that Malcolm actively studied the work of Elijah, which advocated that the white supremacists worked tirelessly to prevent the blacks from gaining independence. The white ensured that the African Americans did not achieve economic, social and political power. The organization also taught Africans American to fight for their state that was not habited by white. Malcolm became an active member of the group and stated his new career teaching other African Americans to fight for their rights. After serving for seven years Malcolm was released from jail through a paroled and went to recede in Detroid. Malcolm became an active member of the Black Muslim and took up studies to understand the ways of Muslims. In early 1952, Malcolm travelled to Chicago to meet with Muhammad who played an important role in educating him while he was in prison. Malcolm was very determined to understand Muslim and he decided to study personally under the guidance of Elijah. To show his dedication to revolutionize the African American Malcolm returned to Boston and implemented the black temple. In 1954, Malcolm X was elected as the minster of Nation of Islam, which was located in the New York (Aboulafi a, 78). Through the leadership of Malcolm the Nation of Islam grew significantly, and Malcolm gained popularity among the African Americans. The organization grew from a small number of worshippers into a large organized movement that was dedicated to Black separatisms ideology. Malcolm became the greatest and exceptional speaker and teacher for the Black Muslim. Aboulafia (78) explains that Malcolm became increasingly close to Elijah because of his popularity and the successful launch of several temple in different cities. Henry and Nellie, (9) explains that with time Malcolm became the leading symbol of the organization as he organized several lectures and establishment of several mosque. The social life of Malcolm significantly changed through the new status he gained in the Black Muslim organization. In 1955, Malcolm X met Betty Sanders during his lectures at temple Number seven. Betty sander had been invited to several lectures of Malcolm X, and she was impressed with the teach ing of Malcolm X. the two friends met severally and Malcolm managed to convert Betty to become one of the most active lady in Nation of Islam. In 1958, Malcolm and Betty were officially married in Lansing, Michigan. The two couples were blessed with six daughters. Their names were Attallah, Qubilah, llyasah, Gamilah, Malka and Malaak (Henry and Nellie, 89). During his lectures, Malcolm X stated to advocate for violent revolution citing numerous countries that went through the same situation. In one of his numerous speeches, Malcolm cited the American Revolution, French revolution, Russian revolution. In all this revolution, Malcolm argued that it involved the shade of blood. Malcolm argued that you cannot have a revolution without bloodshed and the African American should be ready to shade blood for them to gain independent. In early 1959, the speeches of Malcolm stated to attract media attention through the country. Most importantly the media covered the two leaders that are Malcol m X and Elijah Muhammad because of their strong separatist ideology and hatred for whites. This new found publicity made Malcolm have violent confrontation with police after organizing several protest and demonstrations. Malcolm became a symbol for an angry black man that was tired of constant discrimination (Aboulafia, 78). Malcolm sudden extremist speech and notoriety made Elijah Muhammad fearful. Elijah stated to reduce the support that was given to Malcolm and during the same period Malcolm had rumors that Elijah had violated the code of Nation of Islam. The disagreement between Malcolm and Elijah Muhammad became unsolvable, which led to the ultimate suspension of Malcolm. The suspension was meant to last for only 90 days, but Malcolm inquired that Elijah had planned to make the suspension permanent. Malcolm X (300) explains that his suspicions was correct after a member of the group confessed to him that he was paid to assassinate Malcolm through placing a bomb in his car. In 1 964, Malcolm decided to leave the Nation of Islam and formed his own organization called Organization of Afro-American Unity. After visiting pilgrimage in Mecca, Malcolm stated to form different ideology regarding the new war against segregation. Malcolm came up with the ideology of brotherhood. Malcolm stated to blame the American culture and ideology on racism and hugged the African-American to join other whites to end racial discrimination. The ideology that Malcolm came up with was quite different from the Black Muslim ideologies. He rejected the earlier ideology that he was taught with Elijah. He explained that the African American should labor like any other races to build their businesses and homes. Malcolm argued that the African Americans should patronize their own people, and start to build their own respect. According to Malcolm, the African-Americans were supposed to correct their morality, moral and spiritual life. Aboulafia, (200) explains that not most African America ns followed the new ideology of Malcolm. Malcolm made several trips to Africa countries where he was received with government officials. He returned back home where he dedicated most of his time with Organization of Afro-American Unity. Malcolm X, Haley and Shabazz (119) explain that the last few month of Malcolm had intense pressure. His house was bombed and he received constant threat both from nation of Islam and his enemies. In 21th February 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated with unknown men by being short several times. During that period, Malcolm was supposed to give a speech at Organization of Afro-America Unity meeting at ballroom in Harlem. Malcolm X, Haley and Shabazz, (400) explains that when Malcolm stood to speak a fight stated in the audience. During the commotion three men emerged and short Malcolm several times where he died instantly. Three of the assassins were arrested and two of them were Muslims. Most of the followers of Malcolm believed the assassination was pla nned by a large number of organizations including the government officials. Malcolm was killed but killers were not able to stop his influence (Malcolm X, Haley and Shabazz, 409). It is clear from the study that the autobiography of Malcolm X can be viewed in different perspective. When viewed as an autobiography it portrays an interesting life history of a young man. In addition, when viewed as sociological study, the autobiography gives a clear example of how young people struggle to meet the end meat. Politically, the autobiography has influenced most African Americans to fight for their rights. It clearly shows how religion plays a fundamental role molding character of individuals. One of the difficult positions of the autobiography is that Malcolm X was life was constantly changing. His political ideas were very contradicting, and it was difficult to tell the direction of his ambitions. Works Cited Aboulafia, Anita. Alex Haley’s the autobiography of Malcolm X. REA.com, 1 996. Web. Breitman, George. The Last Year of Malcolm  X; the Evolution of a Revolutionary. New York: Pathfinder Press, 1967. Print. Henry, Louis and Mckay Nellie. The Norton anthology of African American Literature. NY: WW Norton Company, 1996. Print. Malcolm X, Alex Haley and Attallah Shabazz. The Autobiography of Malcolm X; As Told to Alex Haley. New York: Ballantine Books, 1987. Print. Manning, Marable. Malcolm X; a Life of Reinvention. New York: Viking, 2011. Print. This research paper on The autobiography of Malcolm X was written and submitted by user Warren T. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Elizabeth Parris, Accuser in the Salem Witch Trials

Elizabeth Parris, Accuser in the Salem Witch Trials Elizabeth Parris (November 28, 1682–March 21, 1760) was one of the major accusers in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. A young girl at the time, Betty Parris appeared to be afflicted by demons and claimed to have visions of the devil; she accused several local women of witchcraft. Bettys accusation lit the fuse that eventually ended with accusations against 185 people, formal charges made against 156, and the execution by hanging of 19 residents of Salem Village in Massachusetts. Fast Facts: Elizabeth Parris Known For: One of the early accusers in the 1692 Salem witch trialsAlso Known As: Betty ParrisBorn: November 28, 1682 in Boston, MassachusettsParents: Samuel Parris, Elizabeth ParrisDied: March 21, 1760  in Concord, MassachusettsSpouse: Benjamin BaronChildren: Thomas, Elizabeth, Catherine, Susanna Early Life Elizabeth Parris, 9 years old at the beginning of 1692, was the daughter of Rev. Samuel Parris and his wife Elizabeth Eldridge Parris, who was often ill. The younger Elizabeth was often called Betty to distinguish her from her mother. She was born when the family lived in Boston. Her older brother Thomas was born in 1681 and her younger sister Susannah was born in 1687. Also part of the household was 12-year-old Abigail Williams, who was described as a kinswoman and was sometimes called a niece of Rev. Parris, probably a household servant, and two slaves Rev. Parris had brought with him from Barbados- Tituba and John Indian, described as Indians. An African boy slave had died a few years before. Elizabeth Parris Before the Salem Witch Trials Rev. Parris was the minister of Salem Village church, arriving in 1688, and had been embroiled in considerable controversy, coming to a head in late 1691 when a group organized to refuse to pay him a significant part of his salary. He began to preach that Satan was conspiring in Salem Village to destroy the church. Elizabeth Parris and the Salem Witch Trials In mid-January of 1692, both Betty Parris and Abigail Williams began to behave strangely. Their bodies contorted into strange positions, they reacted as if they were being physically hurt, and they made strange noises. Anns parents were leading members of the Salem Village church, supporters of Rev. Parris in the ongoing church conflict. Rev. Parris tried prayer and traditional remedies; when those didnt end the fits, he called in a doctor (probably a neighbor, Dr. William Griggs) on or about February 24 and a neighboring towns minister, Rev. John Hale, to get their opinions on the cause of the fits. The men agreed that the girls were victims of witches. Mary Sibley, a neighbor and member of Rev. Parris flock, advised John Indian the following day- perhaps with the help of his wife, another Caribbean slave of the Parris family- to make a witchs cake to discover the names of the witches. Instead of relieving the girls, however, their torments increased. Friends and neighbors of Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, including Ann Putnam Jr. and Elizabeth Hubbard, began having similar fits, described as afflictions in contemporary records. Pressured to name their tormenters, Betty and Abigail named the Parris family slave Tituba on February 26. Several neighbors and ministers, likely including Rev. John Hale of Beverley and Rev. Nicholas Noyes of Salem, were asked to observe the girls behavior. They questioned Tituba. The next day, Ann Putnam Jr. and Elizabeth Hubbard experienced torments and blamed Sarah Good, a local homeless mother and beggar, and Sarah Osborne, who was involved with conflicts around inheriting property and who also had married an indentured servant (a local scandal). None of the three accused witches were likely to have many local defenders. On February 29, based on accusations of Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, arrest warrants were issued in Salem for the first three accused witches- Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne- based on the complaints of Thomas Putnam, Ann Putnam Jr.s father, and several others before local magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne. They were to be taken for questioning the next day to Nathaniel Ingersolls tavern. The next day, Tituba, Sarah Osborne, and Sarah Good were examined by local magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin. Ezekiel Cheever was appointed to take notes on the proceedings. Hannah Ingersoll, whose husbands tavern was the site of the examination, found that the three had no witch marks on them. Sarah Goods husband William later testified that there was a mole on his wifes back. Tituba confessed and named the other two as witches, adding rich details to her stories of possession, spectral travel, and meeting with the devil. Sarah Osborne protested her own innocence; Sarah Good said Tituba and Osborne were witches but that she was herself innocent. Sarah Good was sent to nearby Ipswich, Massachusetts to be confined with her youngest child, born the year before, with a local constable who was also a relative. She escaped briefly and returned voluntarily; this absence seemed especially suspicious when Elizabeth Hubbard reported that Sarah Goods specter had visited her and tormented her that evening. Sarah Good was held at the Ipswich jail on March 2, and Sarah Osborn and Tituba were questioned further. Tituba added more details to her confession, and Sarah Osborne maintained her innocence. Questioning continued for another day. At this point, Mary Warren, a servant in the home of Elizabeth Proctor and John Proctor, began having fits as well. The accusations soon widened: Ann Putnam Jr. accused Martha Corey and Abigail Williams accused Rebecca Nurse. Corey and Nurse were known as respectable church members. On March 25, Elizabeth had a vision of being visited by the great Black Man (the devil) who wanted her to be ruled by him. Her family was worried about her continuing afflictions and the dangers of diabolical molestation (in the later words of Rev. John Hale). Betty Parris was sent to live with the family of Stephen Sewall, a relative of Rev. Parris, and her afflictions ceased. So did her involvement in the witchcraft accusations and trials. Elizabeth Parris After the Trials Bettys mother Elizabeth died  on July 14, 1696. In 1710, Betty Parris married Benjamin Baron, a yeoman, trader, and shoemaker, and lived quietly in Sudbury, Massachusetts. The couple had five children, and she lived to the age of 77. Legacy Arthur Millers play The Crucible is a political allegory based on the Salem Witch Trials. The play won a Tony award and is still one of the most often-read and produced plays of the century. One of the main characters is based loosely on the historical Betty Parris; in Arthur Millers play, Bettys mother is dead and she has no brothers or sisters. Sources Brooks, Rebecca. â€Å"Betty Parris: First Afflicted Girl of the Salem Witch Trials.†Ã‚  History of Massachusetts.Gragg, Larry.  A Quest for Security: The Life of Samuel Parris 1653-1720. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., 1990.Salem Witch Trials Notable Persons.

Project and marking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Project and marking - Research Paper Example It will be crucial to mention that decision making process is one of the major parts of Human Resource Management (HRM) in any organization. As often explained theoretically and witnessed in real life cases, HRM is a multifaceted doctrine, which is responsible for many functions performed within any organization being subjected to proper decision making that can ensure maximum success. Some of those functions commonly include recruitment and selection, training and development and employee motivation among others. The aspect of decision making is often regarded as one of the most frequently executed tasks in every section of the HRM functions. Correspondingly, HR managers have the need to decide for themselves as well as superiors with regard to the development of HRM functions within the organization on a regular basis (Armstrong 3-28). All these aspects together ensure success for the overall business, which again differ from one organization to another in accordance with their ind ustrial structure and business performance needs. THESIS STATEMENT This report will primarily present a detailed comparison on the decision making process of recruitment and selection HRM functions of two separate organizations operating in similar industry sector, i.e. Qatar Airways and US Airways will be considered in this report. Contextually, the report will present a comparison between the recruitment and selection

Ar.iclo p824 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ar.iclo p824 - Article Example Despite the fact that and washing is an important component of oral health education, a vast majority of people forget to wash their hands, probably because they take the repercussions of their negligence for granted. Owing to the sensitive nature of the female gender, credible research shows that females are highly likely to wash their hands as compared to their male counterparts. Although dental workers have the professional and personal responsibility of washing their hands, they ought to encourage every other person to wash their hands, at least by invoking the thought of contracting an illness (Kelsch, 2013). Oral healthcare section is a critical department within any healthcare center. In this regard, maximum hygiene is crucial in this section, especially considering the fact that clinics have some instruments that are predisposed to germs. Under ordinary circumstances, people touch such medical instruments either intentionally or unknowingly. Nonetheless, the biggest risk lies in people’s forgetfulness and wrongful assumptions. Most people assume either that the objects that they touch are sterile or they simply forget that hand washing is a key component of dental hygiene. Owing to the high rate at which oral infections spread, it is critical for people to be more aware of the existence of germs and hence wash their hands frequently and appropriately (Kelsch, 2013). Due to the anaerobic nature of some bacteria, it is not advisable to take disinfection as the last resort and not consider it as an effective way of eradicating bacteria. In most cases, these bacteria will stay on surfaces even after disinfecting the object. Objects such as bib clips are a good example of perfect hideouts for oral bacteria, and anaerobic bacteria that reside in oral cavity (Kelsch, 2013). Besides, Kelsch (2013) adds that some anaerobic bacteria that are isolated from the skin and those residing in the

History of Womens Football in England Essay Example for Free

History of Womens Football in England Essay I have chosen to do my essay about the history of women’s football in England. I’ve chosen to write about this because it is a topic which I am interested in as I play for a girl’s football team inside school and out. Also I would like to find out more about women’s football and where and when it all started. In this essay you will find out about the basic history of women’s football heading all the way back from 1895 to present day. I will also write a comparison between men’s football and women’s and share my opinion about 1895-1920 On the 6th April 1895 the first ever women’s football game took place at Preston Park, Brighton. The event was organised to raise funds for local medical charities. In the match North beat South 7-1. Up to 1920 no more women’s matches took place until the first women’s international game when Dick Kerr’s English ladies took on the French Ladies. The result was a 2-0 victory to England; this game had a huge audience of 25,000 people. On Boxing Day 1920 a match took place between Preston and St Helens, Preston winning 4-0. It was the biggest crowd to date for a women’s match with 53,000 spectators. 1921 In 1921 another big match was supposed to take place between London and Paris. This match never went ahead due to the FA. The FA issued a ban against womens football. They stated ‘the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged’. This meant any women caught playing football on the grounds of an affiliated club would be punished for breaking the law. Many women were disgusted by the decision and thought it was very unfair to do this. If I was around in this time I would also be very aggravated by the decision and I would be offended that they still allow men to play. 1969-1971 After 48 years of womens football being banned women wanted to change this. They started to become very annoyed a started campaigning. After a few campaigns 44 women got together to form The Womens Football Association (WFA). They were hoping that they would slowly gain back the right to play womens football. Two years later in 1971 the FA council lifted the ban against women which allowed women to play football once again. It had been fifty years since they had been allowed to play so they knew that the game would be no longer as popular as it was and it would take a while to get it back to the way it was. Not long after the ban was lifted women were advertising for football teams all around the country. 1991-1994 Since 1971 womens football slowly grew bigger and bigger with many small local leagues playing all around the country. In 1991 the WFA launched a national league. It started off with 24 clubs from all around the country it was pretty similar to the womens league we have today. Two years later they found that the league had been very successful so the WFA decided to host a cup competition. In 1993 the WFA held a national cup competition with 137 teams entering from across the nation. Womens football was slowly becoming bigger and gaining popularity. In 1994 the FA took on the administration of the Womens Nation League and the League Cup competition. The league then became The FA Womens Premier League (FAWPL). 1997-1998 In 1997 the FA decided that they were going to develop womens football from the grassroots to the elite level. This meant that more young girls could get involved to gain popularity. In 1998 the first 20 Centres of Excellence were established for young girls. Sponsors were gained for the league and the cup competitions; this raised the profile of the women’s game. Also in 1998 Hope Powell was appointed as the first full-time coach for the England’s Women’s international side. This was a very big thing for the nation. I think this helped the game increase its popularity because it got more people involved in the game from an early age which meant in the future decade’s womens football should be a very popular game. 1999-2002 In 1999 England entered their first Fifa World Cup. The competition was held in the USA and which saw tickets sold out for most matches and over 90,000 at the Final. There had been a competition called the Womens World Championship. This was just like a world cup and it was held in 1991 but England didn’t participate. In 2002 researchers found that football had become the top participated sport for girls and women of England. The FA had not planned for this to happen for another 3 years, so they were well ahead of schedule. 2005-Present In 2005 the UEFA Womens Championship was held in England. The opening matches attracted around 29,000 spectators per game, with around 2.9 million people watching the games live on BBC Two. The tournament was attended by over 115,000 fans within 15 matches. England went out in the group stages, but got a lot of recognition across the nation. Since then womens football has gradually become more popular and has reached the level it is at today. I think it has done well to regain its popularity after the fifty year ban, but I don’t think it will ever get back to the popular state which it was in before the game got banned. FA’s Plan for the Future of Women’s Football The FA has many plans to increase the growth of womens football. They are introducing it to younger people across the country by holding taster days and trials for many football clubs. Also the FA is trying to expand the womens football league into two different leagues just like the men’s. Here is an extract from the article the FA released ‘The Football Association is considering introducing a two-tier Womens Super League (WSL) in 2014. The eight teams that took part in the inaugural WSL season, which ended in August with Arsenal winning the title, have been offered new licences. Sixteen teams had initially applied for membership in 2010, with Sunderland and Nottingham Forest missing out. An FA statement said: Plans being discussed include exploring the introduction of a second tier in 2014.’ I think this is a good idea because it will make the game become more popular across the country. Also with more leagues being introduced this means more spectators which will mean more money is being funded into the association. What I think of the Future of Women’s Football I think womens football has done very well to get back to where it is today due to the ban for fifty years. However, I don’t think that womens football will ever get to the stage like men’s because men’s football has had a lot more time to reach this popularity. Also there is a huge amount of money in the association and it would be practically impossible for women to get to that amount. I do think that womens football will grow bigger and younger girls will start to get involved. The only problem with this is it will take quite some time but they have to make up the time from the ban. Comparison When it comes to football men and women play the exact same game but one seems to be a lot more popular, the men’s. Men’s football was first found in 1314 which is nearly 700 years ago and womens football was first found in 1895 which is not even 120 years ago. Therefore there was 581 years between men and womens football. Somehow this has managed to affect the popularity in the game as it is very rare to find womens football on television when it is averaged that there is one male football match per week shown on television. If you wanted to be a professional footballer whatever sex you are you would get paid, but there is a significant amount of money difference between the genders. The average male Manchester City player would receive around  £86,280 per week plus bonuses and the average female Arsenal player would receive around  £3,000 per week that means that there is  £83280 different in the wages they receive each week. Opinion I think that womens football is different today than men’s because the FA banned it. I think if women were able to play football all the way through the 20th Century I think womens and men’s football would be similar in popularity and the wages. I also think that is very silly that the games are treated differently because they both play the same game, 90 minutes each week and the male are treated much better and receive the better pay when they both do the same job.

The Sikhs Essay -- essays research papers fc

In the year 1469 a man named Guru Nanak was born into a Punjabi-Hindu family. His name means "He who was born at the home of his mother's parents", which was in Talwandi, near Labone ("Sikhs" 647). We know little about Nanak's life but a lot about his beliefs from a book called " Adi Granth" or " Granth Sahib", which means holy book. Some of his beliefs were the reality of "karma" and "reincarnation".These are beliefs that our actions in this life determine how high or low we'll be in our next life. The Hindus and Muslims believe it is best to worship, missionize, study and write the sacred scriptures, and other religious public actions and behaviors. Nanak believed that this is wrong. He felt that the people should be involved in inward meditation to the God, Akal Purakh (Nanak was a monotheist, believing in one god). Nanak believed that Akal Purakh is the almighty creator and sustainer of the universe and he has no form. If one is truly devoted to Akal then Akal may reveal himself to you in "nam" or the divine name. Since Akal created the world and everything in it then, the world can be considered an expression of "nam",(McLeod 5). Akal, to reveal himself through "nam", speaks the "sabad" or divine word, through a loyal believer. This believer acts as the eternal guru, or teacher, speaking in the mystical voice of Akal through the "sabad". A guru can achieve this divine harmony with Akal by the practice of "nam simaran". This can be accomplished in many ways. One way is by the repeating of a "mantra", a word that expresses the divine reality. Another way is to sing devotional songs or even to have deep mystical concentration. Guru Nanak attracted many disciples, or "sikha" (this is where the name Sikh comes from). These "sikhas" were the original Sikhs. Before Guru Nanak died he appointed a successor from among his disciples to be the second guru. This started the chain of the ten Sikh gurus which lasted 439 years from the birth of Nanak to the death of Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, in the year 1708, ("Hindus and Sikhs" 11). Nanak appointed as his successor Lehna or Lahina, who later changed his name to Angad (Angada was a lesser legendary hero of that time).... ... run away with the guns given to them by the police or join the Sikh militants, ("Throwing Punches" 30) It is very dangerous for journalists to write about the Sikhs. In the past few years. seventeen journalists have been killed by the Sikhs because they have written unfavorable articles about the Sikhs and their terrorist activities, ("Throwing Punches" 30). A recent Sikh terrorist act involved Sikh "freedom-fighters" stopping a train in Punjab. They boarded the train and killed forty-seven innocent people, ("Forty-seven Killed" A1). Sikhism has changed from the time of Guru Nanak, where it was a peaceful, inward religion to the present where there is much violence by the Sikhs and pride in their violent ways. Bibliography "Forty-seven Killed by Sikh Militants". Wall Street Journal 27 Dec. 1991: A1 "Hindus and Sikhs". Scholastic Update 10 Mar. 1989: 11 McLeod, W. H. The Sikhs. N.Y.: Columbia University Press, 1986. "Sikhs". Encyclopedia Brittanica. 1963 edition. "Sikhs Attack Bombay" New York Times 6 Mar. 1992: A12 "Throwing Punches in Punjab" The Economist 5 Jan. 1991: 30

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 33-37

CHAPTER 33 Sophie's SmartCar tore through the diplomatic quarter, weaving past embassies and consulates, finally racing out a side street and taking a right turn back onto the massive thoroughfare of Champs-Elysees. Langdon sat white-knuckled in the passenger seat, twisted backward, scanning behind them for any signs of the police. He suddenly wished he had not decided to run. You didn't, he reminded himself. Sophie had made the decision for him when she threw the GPS dot out the bathroom window. Now, as they sped away from the embassy, serpentining through sparse traffic on Champs-Elysees, Langdon felt his options deteriorating. Although Sophie seemed to have lost the police, at least for the moment, Langdon doubted their luck would hold for long. Behind the wheel Sophie was fishing in her sweater pocket. She removed a small metal object and held it out for him. â€Å"Robert, you'd better have a look at this. This is what my grandfather left me behind Madonna of the Rocks.† Feeling a shiver of anticipation, Langdon took the object and examined it. It was heavy and shaped like a cruciform. His first instinct was that he was holding a funeral pieu – a miniature version of a memorial spike designed to be stuck into the ground at a gravesite. But then he noted the shaft protruding from the cruciform was prismatic and triangular. The shaft was also pockmarked with hundreds of tiny hexagons that appeared to be finely tooled and scattered at random. â€Å"It's a laser-cut key,† Sophie told him. â€Å"Those hexagons are read by an electric eye.† A key? Langdon had never seen anything like it. â€Å"Look at the other side,† she said, changing lanes and sailing through an intersection. When Langdon turned the key, he felt his jaw drop. There, intricately embossed on the center of the cross, was a stylized fleur-de-lis with the initials P. S. !† Sophie,† he said,† this is the seal I told you about! The official device of the Priory of Sion.† She nodded. â€Å"As I told you, I saw the key a long time ago. He told me never to speak of it again.† Langdon's eyes were still riveted on the embossed key. Its high-tech tooling and age-oldsymbolism exuded an eerie fusion of ancient and modern worlds. â€Å"He told me the key opened a box where he kept many secrets.† Langdon felt a chill to imagine what kind of secrets a man like Jacques Sauniere might keep. What an ancient brotherhood was doing with a futuristic key, Langdon had no idea. The Priory existed for the sole purpose of protecting a secret. A secret of incredible power. Could this key have something to do with it? The thought was overwhelming. â€Å"Do you know what it opens?† Sophie looked disappointed. â€Å"I was hoping you knew.† Langdon remained silent as he turned the cruciform in his hand, examining it. â€Å"It looks Christian,† Sophie pressed. Langdon was not so sure about that. The head of this key was not the traditional long-stemmed Christian cross but rather was a square cross – with four arms of equal length – which predated Christianity by fifteen hundred years. This kind of cross carried none of the Christian connotations of crucifixion associated with the longer-stemmed Latin Cross, originated by Romans as a torture device. Langdon was always surprised how few Christians who gazed upon† the crucifix† realized their symbol's violent history was reflected in its very name:† cross† and† crucifix† came from the Latin verb cruciare – to torture. â€Å"Sophie,† he said,† all I can tell you is that equal-armed crosses like this one are considered peaceful crosses. Their square configurations make them impractical for use in crucifixion, and their balanced vertical and horizontal elements convey a natural union of male and female, making them symbolically consistent with Priory philosophy.† She gave him a weary look. â€Å"You have no idea, do you?† Langdon frowned. â€Å"Not a clue.† â€Å"Okay, we have to get off the road.† Sophie checked her rearview mirror. â€Å"We need a safe place to figure out what that key opens.† Langdon thought longingly of his comfortable room at the Ritz. Obviously, that was not an option. â€Å"How about my hosts at the American University of Paris?† â€Å"Too obvious. Fache will check with them.† â€Å"You must know people. You live here.† â€Å"Fache will run my phone and e-mail records, talk to my coworkers. My contacts are compromised, and finding a hotel is no good because they all require identification.† Langdon wondered again if he might have been better off taking his chances letting Fache arrest him at the Louvre. â€Å"Let's call the embassy. I can explain the situation and have the embassy send someone to meet us somewhere.† â€Å"Meet us?† Sophie turned and stared at him as if he were crazy. â€Å"Robert, you're dreaming. Your embassy has no jurisdiction except on their own property. Sending someone to retrieve us would be considered aiding a fugitive of the French government. It won't happen. If you walk into your embassy and request temporary asylum, that's one thing, but asking them to take action against French law enforcement in the field?† She shook her head. â€Å"Call your embassy right now, and they are going to tell you to avoid further damage and turn yourself over to Fache. Then they'll promise to pursue diplomatic channels to get you a fair trial.† She gazed up the line of elegant storefronts on Champs-Elysees. â€Å"How much cash do you have?† Langdon checked his wallet. â€Å"A hundred dollars. A few euro. Why?† â€Å"Credit cards?† â€Å"Of course.† As Sophie accelerated, Langdon sensed she was formulating a plan. Dead ahead, at the end of Champs-Elysees, stood the Arc de Triomphe – Napoleon's 164-foot-tall tribute to his own military potency – encircled by France's largest rotary, a nine-lane behemoth. Sophie's eyes were on the rearview mirror again as they approached the rotary. â€Å"We lost them for the time being,† she said,† but we won't last another five minutes if we stay in this car.† So steal a different one, Langdon mused, now that we're criminals. â€Å"What are you going to do?† Sophie gunned the SmartCar into the rotary. â€Å"Trust me.† Langdon made no response. Trust had not gotten him very far this evening. Pulling back the sleeve of his jacket, he checked his watch – a vintage, collector's-edition Mickey Mouse wristwatch that had been a gift from his parents on his tenth birthday. Although its juvenile dial often drew odd looks, Langdon had never owned any other watch; Disney animations had been his first introduction to the magic of form and color, and Mickey now served as Langdon's daily reminder to stay young at heart. At the moment, however, Mickey's arms were skewed at an awkward angle, indicating an equally awkward hour. 2:51 A. M. â€Å"Interesting watch,† Sophie said, glancing at his wrist and maneuvering the SmartCar around the wide, counterclockwise rotary. â€Å"Long story,† he said, pulling his sleeve back down. â€Å"I imagine it would have to be.† She gave him a quick smile and exited the rotary, heading due north, away from the city center. Barely making two green lights, she reached the third intersection and took a hard right onto Boulevard Malesherbes. They'd left the rich, tree-lined streets of the diplomatic neighborhood and plunged into a darker industrial neighborhood. Sophie took a quick left, and a moment later, Langdon realized where they were. Gare Saint-Lazare. Ahead of them, the glass-roofed train terminal resembled the awkward offspring of an airplane hangar and a greenhouse. European train stations never slept. Even at this hour, a half-dozen taxi sidled near the main entrance. Vendors manned carts of sandwiches and mineral water while grungy kids in backpacks emerged from the station rubbing their eyes, looking around as if trying to remember what city they were in now. Up ahead on the street, a couple of city policemen stood on the curb giving directions to some co nfused tourists. Sophie pulled her SmartCar in behind the line of taxis and parked in a red zone despite plenty of legal parking across the street. Before Langdon could ask what was going on, she was out of the car. She hurried to the window of the taxi in front of them and began speaking to the driver. As Langdon got out of the SmartCar, he saw Sophie hand the taxi driver a big wad of cash. The taxi driver nodded and then, to Langdon's bewilderment, sped off without them. â€Å"What happened?† Langdon demanded, joining Sophie on the curb as the taxi disappeared. Sophie was already heading for the train station entrance. â€Å"Come on. We're buying two tickets on the next train out of Paris.† Langdon hurried along beside her. What had begun as a one-mile dash to the U. S. Embassy had now become a full-fledged evacuation from Paris. Langdon was liking this idea less and less. CHAPTER 34 The driver who collected Bishop Aringarosa from Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport pulled up in a small, unimpressive black Fiat sedan. Aringarosa recalled a day when all Vatican transports were big luxury cars that sported grille-plate medallions and flags emblazoned with the seal of the Holy See. Those days are gone.Vatican cars were now less ostentatious and almost always unmarked. The Vatican claimed this was to cut costs to better serve their dioceses, but Aringarosa suspected it was more of a security measure. The world had gone mad, and in many parts of Europe, advertising your love of Jesus Christ was like painting a bull's-eye on the roof of your car. Bundling his black cassock around himself, Aringarosa climbed into the back seat and settled in for the long drive to Castel Gandolfo. It would be the same ride he had taken five months ago. Last year's trip to Rome, he sighed. The longest night of my life. Five months ago, the Vatican had phoned to request Aringarosa's immediate presence in Rome. They offered no explanation. Your tickets are at the airport.The Holy See worked hard to retain a veil of mystery, even for its highest clergy. The mysterious summons, Aringarosa suspected, was probably a photo opportunity for the Pope and other Vatican officials to piggyback on Opus Dei's recent public success – the completion of their World Headquarters in New York City. Architectural Digest had called Opus Dei's building† a shining beacon of Catholicism sublimely integrated with the modern landscape,† and lately the Vatican seemed to be drawn to anything and everything that included the word† modern.† Aringarosa had no choice but to accept the invitation, albeit reluctantly. Not a fan of the current papal administration, Aringarosa, like most conservative clergy, had watched with grave concern as the new Pope settled into his first year in office. An unprecedented liberal, His Holiness had secured the papacy through one of the most controversial and unusual conclaves in Vatican history. Now, rather than being humbled by his unexpected rise to power, the Holy Father had wasted no time flexing all the muscle associated with the highest office in Christendom. Drawing on an unsettling tide of liberal support within the College of Cardinals, the Pope was now declaring his papal mission to be† rejuvenation of Vatican doctrine and updating Catholicism into the third millennium.† The translation, Aringarosa feared, was that the man was actually arrogant enough to think he could rewrite God's laws and win back the hearts of those who felt the demands of true Catholicism had become too inconvenient in a modern world. Aringarosa had been using all of his political sway – substantial considering the size of the Opus Dei constituency and their bankroll – to persuade the Pope and his advisers that softening the Church's laws was not only faithless and cowardly, but political suicide. He reminded them that previous tempering of Church law – the Vatican II fiasco – had left a devastating legacy: Church attendance was now lower than ever, donations were drying up, and there were not even enough Catholic priests to preside over their churches. People need structure and direction from the Church, Aringarosa insisted, not coddling and indulgence! On that night, months ago, as the Fiat had left the airport, Aringarosa was surprised to find himself heading not toward Vatican City but rather eastward up a sinuous mountain road. â€Å"Where are we going?† he had demanded of his driver. â€Å"Alban Hills,† the man replied. â€Å"Your meeting is at Castel Gandolfo.† The Pope's summer residence? Aringarosa had never been, nor had he ever desired to see it. In addition to being the Pope's summer vacation home, the sixteenth-century citadel housed the Specula Vaticana – the Vatican Observatory – one of the most advanced astronomical observatories in Europe. Aringarosa had never been comfortable with the Vatican's historical need to dabble in science. What was the rationale for fusing science and faith? Unbiased science could not possibly be performed by a man who possessed faith in God. Nor did faith have any need for physical confirmation of its beliefs. Nonetheless, there it is, he thought as Castel Gandolfo came into view, rising against a star-filled November sky. From the access road, Gandolfo resembled a great stone monster pondering a suicidal leap. Perched at the very edge of a cliff, the castle leaned out over the cradle of Italian civilization – the valley where the Curiazi and Orazi clans fought long before the founding of Rome. Even in silhouette, Gandolfo was a sight to behold – an impressive example of tiered, defensive architecture, echoing the potency of this dramatic cliff side setting. Sadly, Aringarosa now saw, the Vatican had ruined the building by constructing two huge aluminum telescope domes atop the roof, leaving this once dignified edifice looking like a proud warrior wearing a couple of party hats. When Aringarosa got out of the car, a young Jesuit priest hurried out and greeted him. â€Å"Bishop, welcome. I am Father Mangano. An astronomer here.† Good for you.Aringarosa grumbled his hello and followed his host into the castle's foyer – a wide- open space whose decor was a graceless blend of Renaissance art and astronomy images. Following his escort up the wide travertine marble staircase, Aringarosa saw signs for conference centers, science lecture halls, and tourist information services. It amazed him to think the Vatican was failing at every turn to provide coherent, stringent guidelines for spiritual growth and yet somehow still found time to give astrophysics lectures to tourists. â€Å"Tell me,† Aringarosa said to the young priest,† when did the tail start wagging the dog?† The priest gave him an odd look. â€Å"Sir?† Aringarosa waved it off, deciding not to launch into that particular offensive again this evening. The Vatican has gone mad.Like a lazy parent who found it easier to acquiesce to the whims of a spoiled child than to stand firm and teach values, the Church just kept softening at every turn, trying to reinvent itself to accommodate a culture gone astray. The top floor's corridor was wide, lushly appointed, and led in only one direction – toward a huge set of oak doors with a brass sign. BIBLIOTECA ASTRONOMICA Aringarosa had heard of this place – the Vatican's Astronomy Library – rumored to contain more than twenty-five thousand volumes, including rare works of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Secchi. Allegedly, it was also the place in which the Pope's highest officers held private meetings†¦ those meetings they preferred not to hold within the walls of Vatican City. Approaching the door, Bishop Aringarosa would never have imagined the shocking news he was about to receive inside, or the deadly chain of events it would put into motion. It was not until an hour later, as he staggered from the meeting, that the devastating implications settled in. Six monthsfrom now! he had thought. God help us! Now, seated in the Fiat, Bishop Aringarosa realized his fists were clenched just thinking about that first meeting. He released his grip and forced a slow inhalation, relaxing his muscles. Everything will be fine, he told himself as the Fiat wound higher into the mountains. Still, he wished his cell phone would ring. Why hasn't the Teacher called me? Silas should have the keystone by now. Trying to ease his nerves, the bishop meditated on the purple amethyst in his ring. Feeling the textures of the mitre-crozier applique and the facets of the diamonds, he reminded himself that this ring was a symbol of power far less than that which he would soon attain. CHAPTER 35 The inside of Gare Saint-Lazare looked like every other train station in Europe, a gaping indoor- outdoor cavern dotted with the usual suspects – homeless men holding cardboard signs, collections of bleary-eyed college kids sleeping on backpacks and zoning out to their portable MP3 players, and clusters of blue-clad baggage porters smoking cigarettes. Sophie raised her eyes to the enormous departure board overhead. The black and white tabs reshuffled, ruffling downward as the information refreshed. When the update was finished, Langdon eyed the offerings. The topmost listing read: LYON – RAPIDE – 3:06 â€Å"I wish it left sooner,† Sophie said,† but Lyon will have to do.† Sooner? Langdon checked his watch 2:59 A. M. The train left in seven minutes and they didn't even have tickets yet. Sophie guided Langdon toward the ticket window and said,† Buy us two tickets with your credit card.† â€Å"I thought credit card usage could be traced by – â€Å"Exactly.† Langdon decided to stop trying to keep ahead of Sophie Neveu. Using his Visa card, he purchased two coach tickets to Lyon and handed them to Sophie. Sophie guided him out toward the tracks, where a familiar tone chimed overhead and a P. A. announcer gave the final boarding call for Lyon. Sixteen separate tracks spread out before them. In the distance to the right, at quay three, the train to Lyon was belching and wheezing in preparation for departure, but Sophie already had her arm through Langdon's and was guiding him in the exact opposite direction. They hurried through a side lobby, past an all-night cafe, and finally out a side door onto a quiet street on the west side of the station. A lone taxi sat idling by the doorway. The driver saw Sophie and flicked his lights. Sophie jumped in the back seat. Langdon got in after her. As the taxi pulled away from station, Sophie took out their newly purchased train tickets and tore them up. Langdon sighed. Seventy dollars well spent. It was not until their taxi had settled into a monotonous northbound hum on Rue de Clichy that Langdon felt they'd actually escaped. Out the window to his right, he could see Montmartre and the beautiful dome of Sacre-Coeur. The image was interrupted by the flash of police lights sailing past them in the opposite direction. Langdon and Sophie ducked down as the sirens faded. Sophie had told the cab driver simply to head out of the city, and from her firmly set jaw, Langdon sensed she was trying to figure out their next move. Langdon examined the cruciform key again, holding it to the window, bringing it close to his eyes in an effort to find any markings on it that might indicate where the key had been made. In the intermittent glow of passing streetlights, he saw no markings except the Priory seal. â€Å"It doesn't make sense,† he finally said. â€Å"Which part?† â€Å"That your grandfather would go to so much trouble to give you a key that you wouldn't know what to do with.† â€Å"I agree.† â€Å"Are you sure he didn't write anything else on the back of the painting?† â€Å"I searched the whole area. This is all there was. This key, wedged behind the painting. I saw the Priory seal, stuck the key in my pocket, then we left.† Langdon frowned, peering now at the blunt end of the triangular shaft. Nothing. Squinting, he brought the key close to his eyes and examined the rim of the head. Nothing there either. â€Å"I think this key was cleaned recently.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"It smells like rubbing alcohol.† She turned. â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"It smells like somebody polished it with a cleaner.† Langdon held the key to his nose and sniffed. â€Å"It's stronger on the other side.† He flipped it over. â€Å"Yes, it's alcohol-based, like it's been buffed with a cleaner or – † Langdon stopped. â€Å"What?† He angled the key to the light and looked at the smooth surface on the broad arm of the cross. It seemed to shimmer in places†¦ like it was wet. â€Å"How well did you look at the back of this key before you put it in your pocket?† â€Å"What? Not well. I was in a hurry.† Langdon turned to her. â€Å"Do you still have the black light?† Sophie reached in her pocket and produced the UV penlight. Langdon took it and switched it on, shining the beam on the back of the key. The back luminesced instantly. There was writing there. In penmanship that was hurried but legible. â€Å"Well,† Langdon said, smiling. â€Å"I guess we know what the alcohol smell was.† Sophie stared in amazement at the purple writing on the back of the key. 24 Rue Haxo An address! My grandfather wrote down an address! â€Å"Where is this?† Langdon asked. Sophie had no idea. Facing front again, she leaned forward and excitedly asked the driver,†Connaissez-vous la Rue Haxo?† The driver thought a moment and then nodded. He told Sophie it was out near the tennis stadium on the western outskirts of Paris. She asked him to take them there immediately. â€Å"Fastest route is through Bois de Boulogne,† the driver told her in French. â€Å"Is that okay?† Sophie frowned. She could think of far less scandalous routes, but tonight she was not going to be picky. â€Å"Oui.† We can shock the visiting American. Sophie looked back at the key and wondered what they would possibly find at 24 Rue Haxo. A church? Some kind of Priory headquarters? Her mind filled again with images of the secret ritual she had witnessed in the basement grotto ten years ago, and she heaved a long sigh. â€Å"Robert, I have a lot of things to tell you.† She paused, locking eyes with him as the taxi raced westward. â€Å"But first I want you to tell me everything you know about this Priory of Sion.† CHAPTER 36 Outside the Salle des Etats, Bezu Fache was fuming as Louvre warden Grouard explained how Sophie and Langdon had disarmed him. Why didn't you just shoot the blessed painting! â€Å"Captain?† Lieutenant Collet loped toward them from the direction of the command post. â€Å"Captain, I just heard. They located Agent Neveu's car.† â€Å"Did she make the embassy?† â€Å"No. Train station. Bought two tickets. Train just left.† Fache waved off warden Grouard and led Collet to a nearby alcove, addressing him in hushed tones. â€Å"What was the destination?† â€Å"Lyon.† â€Å"Probably a decoy.† Fache exhaled, formulating a plan. â€Å"Okay, alert the next station, have the train stopped and searched, just in case. Leave her car where it is and put plainclothes on watch in case they try to come back to it. Send men to search the streets around the station in case they fled on foot. Are buses running from the station?† â€Å"Not at this hour, sir. Only the taxi queue.† â€Å"Good. Question the drivers. See if they saw anything. Then contact the taxi company dispatcher with descriptions. I'm calling Interpol.† Collet looked surprised. â€Å"You're putting this on the wire?† Fache regretted the potential embarrassment, but he saw no other choice. Close the net fast, and close it tight. The first hour was critical. Fugitives were predictable the first hour after escape. They always needed the same thing. Travel.Lodging.Cash.The Holy Trinity. Interpol had the power to make all three disappear in the blink of an eye. By broadcast-faxing photos of Langdon and Sophie to Paris travel authorities, hotels, and banks, Interpol would leave no options – no way to leave the city, no place to hide, and no way to withdraw cash without being recognized. Usually, fugitives panicked on the street and did something stupid. Stole a car. Robbed a store. Used a bank card in desperation. Whatever mistake they committed, they quickly made their whereabouts known to local authorities. â€Å"Only Langdon, right?† Collet said. â€Å"You're not flagging Sophie Neveu. She's our own agent.† â€Å"Of course I'm flagging her!† Fache snapped. â€Å"What good is flagging Langdon if she can do all his dirty work? I plan to run Neveu's employment file – friends, family, personal contacts – anyone she might turn to for help. I don't know what she thinks she's doing out there, but it's going to cost her one hell of a lot more than her job!† â€Å"Do you want me on the phones or in the field?† â€Å"Field. Get over to the train station and coordinate the team. You've got the reins, but don't make a move without talking to me.† â€Å"Yes, sir.† Collet ran out. Fache felt rigid as he stood in the alcove. Outside the window, the glass pyramid shone, its reflection rippling in the windswept pools. They slipped through my fingers.He told himself to relax. Even a trained field agent would be lucky to withstand the pressure that Interpol was about to apply. A female cryptologist and a schoolteacher? They wouldn't last till dawn. CHAPTER 37 The heavily forested park known as the Bois de Boulogne was called many things, but the Parisian cognoscenti knew it as† the Garden of Earthly Delights.† The epithet, despite sounding flattering, was quite to the contrary. Anyone who had seen the lurid Bosch painting of the same name understood the jab; the painting, like the forest, was dark and twisted, a purgatory for freaks and fetishists. At night, the forest's winding lanes were lined with hundreds of glistening bodies for hire, earthly delights to satisfy one's deepest unspoken desires – male, female, and everything in between. As Langdon gathered his thoughts to tell Sophie about the Priory of Sion, their taxi passed through the wooded entrance to the park and began heading west on the cobblestone cross fare. Langdon was having trouble concentrating as a scattering of the park's nocturnal residents were already emerging from the shadows and flaunting their wares in the glare of the headlights. Ahead, two topless teenage girls shot smoldering gazes into the taxi. Beyond them, a well-oiled black man in a G-string turned and flexed his buttocks. Beside him, a gorgeous blond woman lifted her miniskirt to reveal that she was not, in fact, a woman. Heaven help me! Langdon turned his gaze back inside the cab and took a deep breath. â€Å"Tell me about the Priory of Sion,† Sophie said. Langdon nodded, unable to imagine a less congruous a backdrop for the legend he was about to tell. He wondered where to begin. The brotherhood's history spanned more than a millennium†¦ an astonishing chronicle of secrets, blackmail, betrayal, and even brutal torture at the hands of an angry Pope. â€Å"The Priory of Sion,† he began,† was founded in Jerusalem in 1099 by a French king named Godefroi de Bouillon, immediately after he had conquered the city.† Sophie nodded, her eyes riveted on him.† King Godefroi was allegedly the possessor of a powerful secret – a secret that had been in his family since the time of Christ. Fearing his secret might be lost when he died, he founded a secret brotherhood – the Priory of Sion – and charged them with protecting his secret by quietly passing it on from generation to generation. During their years in Jerusalem, the Priory learned of a stash of hidden documents buried beneath the ruins of Herod's temple, which had been built atop the earlier ruins of Solomon's Temple. These documents, they believed, corroborated Godefroi's powerful secret and were so explosive in nature that the Church would stop at nothing to get them.† Sophie looked uncertain. â€Å"The Priory vowed that no matter how long it took, these documents must be recovered from the rubble beneath the temple and protected forever, so the truth would never die. In order to retrieve the documents from within the ruins, the Priory created a military arm – a group of nine knights called the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon.† Langdon paused. â€Å"More commonly known as the Knights Templar.† Sophie glanced up with a surprised look of recognition. Langdon had lectured often enough on the Knights Templar to know that almost everyone on earth had heard of them, at least abstractedly. For academics, the Templars' history was a precarious world where fact, lore, and misinformation had become so intertwined that extracting a pristine truth was almost impossible. Nowadays, Langdon hesitated even to mention the Knights Templar while lecturing because it invariably led to a barrage of convoluted inquiries into assorted conspiracy theories. Sophie already looked troubled. â€Å"You're saying the Knights Templar were founded by the Priory of Sion to retrieve a collection of secret documents? I thought the Templars were created to protect the Holy Land.† â€Å"A common misconception. The idea of protection of pilgrims was the guise under which the Templars ran their mission. Their true goal in the Holy Land was to retrieve the documents from beneath the ruins of the temple.† â€Å"And did they find them?† Langdon grinned. â€Å"Nobody knows for sure, but the one thing on which all academics agree is this: The Knights discovered something down there in the ruins†¦ something that made them wealthy and powerful beyond anyone's wildest imagination.† Langdon quickly gave Sophie the standard academic sketch of the accepted Knights Templar history, explaining how the Knights were in the Holy Land during the Second Crusade and told King Baldwin II that they were there to protect Christian pilgrims on the roadways. Although unpaid and sworn to poverty, the Knights told the king they required basic shelter and requested his permission to take up residence in the stables under the ruins of the temple. King Baldwin granted the soldiers' request, and the Knights took up their meager residence inside the devastated shrine. The odd choice of lodging, Langdon explained, had been anything but random. The Knights believed the documents the Priory sought were buried deep under the ruins – beneath the Holy of Holies, a sacred chamber where God Himself was believed to reside. Literally, the very center of the Jewish faith. For almost a decade, the nine Knights lived in the ruins, excavating in total secrecy through solid rock. Sophie looked over. â€Å"And you said they discovered something?† â€Å"They certainly did,† Langdon said, explaining how it had taken nine years, but the Knights had finally found what they had been searching for. They took the treasure from the temple and traveled to Europe, where their influence seemed to solidify overnight. Nobody was certain whether the Knights had blackmailed the Vatican or whether the Church simply tried to buy the Knights' silence, but Pope Innocent II immediately issued an unprecedented papal bull that afforded the Knights Templar limitless power and declared them† a law unto themselves† – an autonomous army independent of all interference from kings and prelates, both religious and political. With their new carte blanche from the Vatican, the Knights Templar expanded at a staggering rate, both in numbers and political force, amassing vast estates in over a dozen countries. They began extending credit to bankrupt royals and charging interest in return, thereby establishing modern banking and broadening their wealth and influence still further. By the 1300s, the Vatican sanction had helped the Knights amass so much power that Pope Clement V decided that something had to be done. Working in concert with France's King Philippe IV, the Pope devised an ingeniously planned sting operation to quash the Templars and seize their treasure, thus taking control of the secrets held over the Vatican. In a military maneuver worthy of the CIA, Pope Clement issued secret sealed orders to be opened simultaneously by his soldiers all across Europe on Friday, October 13 of 1307. At dawn on the thirteenth, the documents were unsealed and their appalling contents revealed. Clement's letter claimed that God had visited him in a vision and warned him that the Knights Templar were heretics guilty of devil worship, homosexuality, defiling the cross, sodomy, and other blasphemous behavior. Pope Clement had been asked by God to cleanse the earth by rounding up all the Knights and torturing them until they confessed their crimes against God. Clement's Machiavellian operation came off with clockwork precision. On that day, countless Knights were captured, tortured mercilessly, and finally burned at the stake as heretics. Echoes of the tragedy still resonated in modern culture; to this day, Friday the thirteenth was considered unlucky. Sophie looked confused. â€Å"The Knights Templar were obliterated? I thought fraternities of Templars still exist today?† â€Å"They do, under a variety of names. Despite Clement's false charges and best efforts to eradicate them, the Knights had powerful allies, and some managed to escape the Vatican purges. The Templars' potent treasure trove of documents, which had apparently been their source of power, was Clement's true objective, but it slipped through his fingers. The documents had long since been entrusted to the Templars' shadowy architects, the Priory of Sion, whose veil of secrecy had kept them safely out of range of the Vatican's onslaught. As the Vatican closed in, the Priory smuggled their documents from a Paris preceptory by night onto Templar ships in La Rochelle.† â€Å"Where did the documents go?† Langdon shrugged. â€Å"That mystery's answer is known only to the Priory of Sion. Because the documents remain the source of constant investigation and speculation even today, they are believed to have been moved and rehidden several times. Current speculation places the documents somewhere in the United Kingdom.† Sophie looked uneasy. â€Å"For a thousand years,† Langdon continued,† legends of this secret have been passed on. The entire collection of documents, its power, and the secret it reveals have become known by a single name – Sangreal. Hundreds of books have been written about it, and few mysteries have caused as much interest among historians as the Sangreal.† â€Å"The Sangreal? Does the word have anything to do with the French word sang or Spanish sangre – meaning ‘blood'?† Langdon nodded. Blood was the backbone of the Sangreal, and yet not in the way Sophie probably imagined. â€Å"The legend is complicated, but the important thing to remember is that the Priory guards the proof, and is purportedly awaiting the right moment in history to reveal the truth.† â€Å"What truth? What secret could possibly be that powerful?† Langdon took a deep breath and gazed out at the underbelly of Paris leering in the shadows.† Sophie, the word Sangreal is an ancient word. It has evolved over the years into another term†¦ a more modern name.† He paused. â€Å"When I tell you it's modern name, you'll realize you already know a lot about it. In fact, almost everyone on earth has heard the story of the Sangreal.† Sophie looked skeptical. â€Å"I've never heard of it.† â€Å"Sure you have.† Langdon smiled. â€Å"You're just used to hearing it called by the name ‘Holy Grail. ‘†