American Jail Systems

The American jail system is said to be one of the most overcrowded in the world something that hampers the rehabilitation process of the offenders. Due to this fact, managing jails have become an uphill task. The American government in trying to make these systems to be effective has come up with a plan of building more prisons and jails but this has also proved to be ineffective. For this reason, this system incarcerating offenders has greatly been criticized. It is nit the best way of controlling crime infact, there is not any evidence that proves that is so.Because of this it should be replaced with other alternative methods such as community service, parole, death penalty and putting them in rehabilitation institutions such as probation schools. According to a report that was released by the Bureau for Justice Statistics revealed that in US, the number of prisoners has almost doubled recently and this has been witnessed even in the past period. For example in 1996, there was an i ncrease in the number of inmates in United States by 55,900 criminals and by the end of that year; the carrying capacity was already exceeded by 16-24 percent.The most affected prisons were the federal ones which had a 25 percent increase of inmates. Today despite the fact that the US government has constructed more and more prisons the problem still persists as the jails are still overcrowded. There are dangers that are associated with overcrowding and some of these are; escape attempts increase, the states’ budget is further strained, the prisons become understaffed this is because the inmates – staff ratio goes down as the number of prisoners outdo that of the staff.Overcrowding in prisons leads to the release of unhabilitated dangerous criminals before their due period is over. This causes these criminals to turn to be recidivists for they are released before they have completed their jail term. (Romano J. 1991) This problem has a domino effect on other government sectors for example the tax payers become overburdened with taxes so that the government can meet the need of those imprisoned though they are considered as social misfits and yet this money could be used in other sectors that of the government that are in dire need of financial assistance.These are institutions such as hospitals, schools, libraries and parks that are in dire need of assistance. The government spends a lot of money in building more jails in an effort to address the issue of overcrowding for example in 1992 it spent 94 US Dollars on civil and criminal justice. (Cornell, G. December 1, 1990) This domino effect results because when overcrowding becomes a common thing, the effectiveness in correcting the behaviors of the offenders goes down. Many people repeat the same mistakes and end up in the same jails.This tends to overburdening of the prosecutors, juries, public defendants and other support agencies. The overburdening of cases leads results to commitment of seriou s mistakes in the judicial execution process something that causes dissatisfaction, anger and tension to the citizens. In turn, this results to them committing even more crimes. The overcrowding problem in the uni9ted States is caused by the high rate of recidivism which is caused by ineffectiveness of the jail systems. There are various correctional methods that if used then 5the rate of recidivism would scaled down.This could be achieved if and only if the issue of overcrowding is properly addressed and this cannot be solved by building more prisons and jails as this has already proved not to be effective in the past. The best way forward is to use other alternative correctional methods such as community service, fines, parole, counseling the offenders, use of more harsh punishments and finally use of capital sentence punishment rather than life sentence. I believe the future of reforming criminals lies with other alternative methods but not in incarcerations.One effective method that should be used is assigning offenders to the community service. If some of the offenders who are taken to the prisons and yet they have not committed some serious crimes are given some work to do in the society, the rate of overcrowding in the prisons would be reduced. This is based on the fact that some offenders who are convicted with very minor charges end up in jails and that is why in US today there are about two million people in jails and this number keeps increasing.By assigning offenders to community service will not only help the government in resolving the problem of overcrowding but will also help in cutting the cost it spends on hiring people to work in hospitals, cleaning streets and slashing grass on the compound. This would be beneficial in that these offenders would do that work there by helping the government to save some money. Another method is use of parole. This is a system where by the first offenders who are convicted of committing small mistakes instead of them being jailed, they are released on condition that they would not repeat the same mistakes.Though they are released they are closely monitored by the government officials who are assigned to them just to monitor their moves. If it is noted that they are not keeping the promise, then they should be arrested and imprisoned. (Marek M. K. 2004). The other method that should be used as an alternative method to incarceration would be the use of capital sentence as opposed to the current system of life sentence. Most states in the United States do not advocate for capital sentence but if other methods have proved not to be ineffective then it should be used as the last option.The prison statutes should be amended to allow die hard criminals such as robbers, rapists, murders and terrorists to be executed. If this is implemented then the current stalemate would be solved for once and for all. Se of death sentence would be like killing two birds with one stone at the same time as the government would cut the cost that it spends on maintaining these prisoners would be reduced. Still another method that should be used as an alternative to incarceration is the use of fines.Offenders who are convicted of committing less serious crimes should instead of being incarcerated be fined heavily. This would address the problem of overcrowding and at the same time deter crimes. This is why the Hudson County has introduced use of fines as an effective means of collecting revenues as the traditional methods have proved to be ineffective. (Romano J. 1991) Counseling of offenders would also be an effective method of reducing overcrowding in the United States prisons. This method would also address the problem of recidivism.When the offenders are properly counseled they get reformed and the prospects of them repeating the same mistakes are reduced for many turn to crimes due to being frustrated in life. Indeed the American jail system has failed in correcting the behaviors of the offenders. These people are released when they are halfway reformed and that is why they turn to be recidivists. There are other alternative methods that are more effective than incarcerating prisoners that should be applied. If these are applied, then the problem of overcrowding and of recidivism would be addressed and the crime prevalence would go down.Reference: Cornell, G. December 1, 1990. Rehabilitation Statistics: Study on Effectiveness of Prison Ministries. The Wilson Daily Times. Accessed on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at http://www. prisonministry. org/stats. htm Marek M. K. 2004. Games Prisoners Play. Princeton University Press. Romano J. October 27, 1991. County Uses New Tactic On Criminals' Unpaid Fines. New York Times. Accessed on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at http://query. nytimes. com/gst/fullpage. html? res=9D0CE7D8113DF934A15753C1 A967958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

Roman Architecture from a Typological Standpoint

History and Theory of Architecture and Design Discuss Roman architecture from a typological point of view by emphasizing:The displacement from preexistent to freshly developed typologiesThe accomplishment gained in building techniques wherever applicableSee at least two different types. List of Illustrations 1. Rome, Forum Romanum: program Steve Watson, 1996,The Roman Forum[ online ] . Available from stevewatson.info/Rome/Italy/diary.html. Accessed 14ThursdayApril 2014 2. Athinais, Stoa Basileios: digital Reconstruction of the edifice Kronostaf [ online ] . Available from www.kronostaf.com/nr/images/d/d3/Stoa-Basileios.jpg. Accessed 14ThursdayApril 2014 3. Rome, Basilica Aemilia: program Vitruvius – De Architectura Libri X [ on-line ] . Available from www.vitruvius.be/aemilia.htm. Accessed 14ThursdayApril 2014 4. Rome, Arch of Augustus: a possible Reconstruction of the lift American Journal of Archeology [ online ] . Available from www.ajaonline.org/article/90. Accessed 14ThursdayApril 2014 5. Rome, Pantheon: program ( above ) and subdivision ( below ) My archicad [ online ] . Available from myarchicad.free.fr/Etudes/Pantheon % 20Rome/Pantheo % Rome01.htm. Accessed 14ThursdayApril 2014 6. Rome, Pantheon: the dome Travel there guide [ online ] . Available from www.gothereguide.com/pantheon+rome-place. Accessed 14ThursdayApril 2014 It is hard, without any uncertainty, to discourse about what can be defined as Roman architecture. Roman civilisation covered a immense clip span that began with the foundation of theUrbs( as Rome was called by Latin authors and philosophers ) , traditionally dated to 753 BC, and collapsed with the autumn of the Western Roman Empire, in 476 AD. Therefore, it is deducible that all the populations it got in touch with over the centuries influenced its civilization. Unlike Grecian architecture, merchandise of a self-assured civilisation that was able to keep an unbelievable integrity of artistic intent and that is still recognizable today as belonging to the Grecian civilization ( Ward-Perkins 1912 ) , Roman art and architecture â€Å"Were born and took form in a universe that was already dominated both by the substance and by the thought of Grecian accomplishment, foremost through the Grecian settlements in the West, at 2nd manus through Etruria.† ( Ward-Perkins, 1912, p.9 ) As the consequence of the lucifer of these influences, it could be debatable to understand when it is appropriated to speak about Roman architecture as a definable architectural manner. Harmonizing to Sear ( 1982, p.28 ) , â€Å"It is when all the outside influences had been forged together and assimilated, when techniques and decorations were so to the full understood that they could be used with assurance to make something fresh and original. This procedure of hammering a new manner began under Augustus.† In this essay the displacement from the pre-existing to the freshly developed typologies and the proficient inventions produced by Romans will be analyzed by concentrating on the relationship between the Roman and earlier architectures. In order to discourse this alteration, four typologies, all belonging to the Augustan or subsequently periods, will be taken in consideration. In the first paragraph the writer will reason about the connexion between the Greek agora and the Roman forum. The 2nd typology will concern the beginnings and the chief characteristics of the Roman basilica. The 3rd typology discussed will see the honorific edifice. Finally, the writer will exemplify the typology of the spiritual edifices, concentrating on Roman temples and the Pantheon in peculiar. As antecedently said, it is merely with the beginning of the Augustan epoch that a proper Roman architecture developed. This happened when the Foster boy of Julius Caesar, Augustus, started a redevelopment undertaking of his new born empire’s capital metropolis. Like Suetonius ( 1977 ) studies, â€Å"He found Rome a metropolis of bricks and left it a metropolis of marble.† , and he did it harmonizing to his personal gustatory sensation and involvements. In fact, it has to be considered that a crowned head is by definition the â€Å"architect† of his land. Furthermore, the rise of the Empire is a minute of primary importance for the Roman history. Since that, the Romans of the Republic have ever avoided to allow a individual single keeping absolute power. From this position the slaying of Julius Caesar could hold been justified by the senator’s will of continuing the unity of the Republic. In 27 BC, upon the assignment of the first Roman emperor, all the po wers were put in the custodies of one, legalizing him to became non merely the swayer of the Roman properties but even a kind of God ; to boot, Rome was per excellence the symbol of the emperor’s power. For all these grounds it was inevitable that Augustus likings were a major factor in determining a public gustatory sensation ( Ward-Perkins, 1912 ) . One of the most representative plants in this sense is the continuance of the Forum Romanum, originally begun by Augustus’s male parent Julius Caesar. When believing about the Forum, it is ineluctable to seek to happen a possible connexion with the Greek agora, the public infinite built by the Athenians. The Grecian agora was the topographic point where administrative, politic, legal, commercial and moreover activities occurred and the stoa or colonnade porch was likely the most of import edifice standing in the square: it is defined by Watkin ( 1986, p.49 ) as a â€Å"Covered meeting-place for a broad scope of activities.† However, it has been argued ( Pergolis, cited by Carlos Zeballos ) that the purpose of the agora was to give the citizen uneasiness ; on the other manus the Roman forum’s intent was to do him cognizant of the State. The purpose of the Forum Romanum was to remind the Romans of the award of the old Republic, and the victory of the new leader, Augustus. This aspiration is proved by the plants he started since the early old ages of his reign in this location. Once the redevelopment undertaking ended, the forum consisted in two long basilicas ( Aemilia and Julia ) , three temples, two of them started by Julius Caesar ( temple of Concord and temple of Castor ) , and a new last one, dedicated to the Divus Julius, Augustus former male parent. The temple of Divus Julius was flanked by a monumental building, the Arch of Augustus. All of these architectural buildings played a cardinal function in the Roman history. The Roman basilica is one of the most representative typology of edifices in the Roman architecture. It operated as a meeting-place for the citizens, an exchange for merchandisers and even as a tribunal of justness. In this sense, it has been argued ( Purdue University ) that the design hailed from an Hellenic Hellenic edifice called Stoa Basileios ( Grecian: I I ¬ ) , located in the Athenian agora. In this peculiar instance, the interlingual rendition of the term Basileios is Royal: it was in fact identified as the place of the Archon Basileus, one of the nine head magistrates in antediluvian Athens, whose responsibilities were spiritual and juridical. It appeared to be a rectangular edifice with eight Doric columns along the facade and four interior ( Foundation of the Hellenic World, 2006 ) , a form that good reminds of the basilica. A last grounds of the Greek beginning of the Roman basilica is the spelling of the word basilica itself that, as Welsh stated, came from the Grecia n term â€Å"basilike† , which means â€Å"kingly† . The basilica normally had a rectangular program and it was usually timber-roofed. It besides could hold a rectangular tribune, a individual or two apsiss and an interior colonnade that divided the infinite. The city manager entryway could hold been on either the transverse or the longitudinal axes ( MacDonald, 1986 ) . An illustration of this typology could be given by The Basilica Aemilia. It was one of theearliest basilicas: the first building is dated from 179 BC and it is stated that it has had a two-storied colonnaded facade of 16 bays as a stoa. On the interior, it was located an enclosed hall, where the magistrate could pattern his work. The basilica was wholly rebuilt by Augustus. The Imperial basilica was divided in three parts: the porch, the hall and the †tabaerne† , six square room that were likely used as offices. This porch was absolutely similar to the 1 of the basilica Julia: it consisted in two floors supported by marble’s pilasters and columns. The land floor facade was divided in 14 arches overcame by a Doric Lodge. The usage of the arch is one of the inventions that distinguish Roman architecture from 1s that came before. Greeks ne'er learned to construct an arched building and used a post-and-bean construction, as they did in their stoa. This technique allowed Romans to construct larger suites: â€Å"Arches couldredirecta edifice ‘s weight over long distances to thick stations, leting for huge, comparativelyunobstructedsuites† ( essential-humanities ) . In this instance, because of the singular size of the room, it was necessary to present some metal ironss to reenforce the construction. From the porch, the visitant entered in a secondary room that worked as passageway to the cardinal hall. It consisted in three naves separated by columns ; the side’s 1s supported a 2nd floor. ( Sear, 1982 ) Traveling on, the 2nd type that will be discussed will be the honorific memorial, concentrating on the best-known 1s, the triumphal arches. Boldwin Smith ( 1956 ) asserts that the beginning of triumphal arches has to be sought in the ceremonials of deification of the sovereign that gave a heavenly content to an arched portal, as it happened during the Hellenistic Epiphany. He even stated that merely the common factors in the history of ceremonials could explicate the manner in which the arched passageway was used to mark the ceremonial of Latin Triumph. It was in fact a Latin version of an Etruscan rite in which the Triumphant One was acclaimed as a God. A monumental arch, despite its monolithic and elemental signifier, is a complicated sort of edifice. In every archway the radiality works in opposing way at the same clip, â€Å"It focuses down and in toward the curve’s unseeable centre point, but at the same clip suggests mutual extension fanning outward and upward†. ( MacDonald, 1986, p.75-76, 1sthappening within the paragraphs ) MacDonald ( 2neodymiumhappening within the same paragraphs ) explains that this implies a tenseness that is regulated and framed either by flanking walls, or monolithic wharfs and by masonry piled up above the arch and its supports: this counterbalance is so increased by adding orders and ornaments. Triumphal arches were built in Rome since the 2nd century BC, nevertheless it was Augustus who set the manner for constructing them all over the Empire ( Watkins ) . Sear ( 1982 ) states that in the Forum Romanum it was erected a triumph Arch known as the Arch of Augustus, rebuilt in the 19 BC perchance with fragments from an earlier one, dated 29 BC. A description is given by MacDonald ( 1986 ) : it was a ternary gateway in which the centre nothingness was arched and set between immense wharfs with a outstanding Attic above ; side gateways were trabeated. The orders stood on a pedestals and base on the same degree. The interior one was overlapped with the wharfs and topped by a Corinthian capital. Wilson Jones ( 2000 ) claims that about two-thirds of all imperial columns were Corinthian. This order in fact suited the emperors for many grounds: it was Augustus pick to advance an Hellenic image of his Rome, eventually capable of fiting Greece culturally. For Augustus ‘ purpose t he Corinthian order was perfect to arouse the yesteryear without falling in a mere transcript of Grecian architecture. Furthermore, the acanthus, the taking subject of the order, was a symbol of sacredness but it was non related to any peculiar deity. This characteristic permitted Augustus to advance his imagine of a God. Political deductions in Roman architecture were involved even in the last type of edifice that will be analyzed, the spiritual 1. Roman temples find their beginnings in both Etruscan architecture and, as the old 1s, Grecian architecture. Early Roman temples were realized in brick and followed Etruscan design by demoing high dais and deeply columned porch. After the 2nd century, Grecian orders begun to be employed in the lift and, like Grecian temples, they were east orientated. However, Roman temples tradition had a facade that was easy recognizable thanks to the monumental steps that leaded to the porch, the lone portion of the edifice in which columns were erected ( Dried-up 1982 ) . Above all the others, The Pantheon is the most known Roman temple and it is considered, together with the Parthenon, the most representative memorial of classical architecture. The first Parthenon, commissioned by Agrippa, Augustus’ general and son-in-law, is dated between 27-25 BC. The purpose was to stand for Augustus’ Imperial program’s chef-d'oeuvre: in fact it has been claimed ( Ancient History Encyclopedia, 2014 ) that it may hold been designed as a topographic point where the emperor could do public visual aspects in order to remind his people of his Godhead position. However, the edifice was likely destroyed by fire and rebuilt by Emperor Domitian. The temple once more was destructed by a lightning bolt. The current Pantheon was built by Adrian on his return trip to Rome as the new emperor in 118 AD. Alongside his designers, he decided to construct the new Temple by utilizing a new design that attempts to unify the Greek’s porch and the Roman rotunda ( Wilson Jones, 2000 ) , a typology that had already been used in earlier Roman temples. It has been argued that Hadrian’s purpose was to plan the Pantheon in order â€Å"to turn out that the Imperial order, with its regulation of jurisprudence and its nucleus for the Republic was portion o f the Godhead order, initiated by it and subsumed to it.† ( McEwan, 1993, cited by Art History Presentation Archive, 2007 ) . The accent of the edifice is wholly focused on the interior infinite. The formal strategy of the inside could look rather simple, a cylindrical membranophone topped by a dome. By contrast, this building shows all the astonishing abilities owned by Roman designers and applied scientists. The construction of the rotunda is composed by eight wharfs which support eight arches, which in bend correspond to the eight bays. From this position, the membranophone could be seen as an arched construction designed to cut down weight and minimise the effects of differential colony. Once once more the prevalent order is the Corinthian: Corinthian columns of giallo antico are free-standing in each bay and stand for a superb device to give graduated table. The dome was the biggest of all time realized until the devising of Santa Maria del Fiore’s one in Firenze by Brunelleschi. In blending the concrete, another of Roman’s most superb inventions, several make fulling stuffs were used and graded in order that the construction resulted lighter at the dome’s top by utilizing pumice. The oculus captivates visitor’s oculus and is the lone beginning of visible radiation in the whole edifice, possibly to mean that in the Temple of all Gods the merely light admitted can come from the celestial spheres above. ( Wilson Jones, 2000 ) . In this essay the writer has illustrated the development of the displacement from the preexistent typologies to the freshly developed 1s, every bit good as the proficient inventions implemented. Furthermore, the Roman emperors ‘ political and personal attack to their architectures has been discussed. Four instances of survey were presented: foremost, a relation between the Greek agora and the Roman forum was demonstrated by demoing similarities in their utilizations but different political purposes ; secondly, the writer illustrated the Roman basilica as a new type of edifice that perchance derived from the Grecian stoa. Traveling on, political deductions and Hellenistic beginnings have been debated and proficient characteristics have been shown by showing the triumphal arch ‘s typology. Finally, the last instance, the spiritual edifice type, has been analyzed by concentrating on the Roman temple with two intents: in the first topographic point to explicate analogies with earlier illustrations and so to depict one of the most important edifice in Roman architecture, the Pantheon. Bibliography Ancient History Encyclopedia ( 2014 )Pantheon[ Online ] . Available from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ancient.eu.com/Pantheon/ [ Accessed 05 April 2014 ] Art History Presentation Archive ( 2014 )The Pantheon and Hadrian’s Building Program[ Online ] . Available from hypertext transfer protocol: //honorsaharchive.blogspot.co.uk/2007/01/pantheon-and-hadrians-building-program.html [ Accessed 05 April 2014 ] Baldwin Smith, E. ( 1978 )Architectural Symbolism of Imperial Rome and the in-between Ages1stEd. New York, Hacker Art Books Essential Humanistic disciplinesRoman Architecture[ Online ] . Available from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/architecture/roman/ [ Accessed 05 April 2014 ] Foundation of the Hellenic World ( 2006 )Stoa Basileios[ Online ] . Available from hypertext transfer protocol: //project.athens-agora.gr/index.php? view=ktirio & A ; pid=1 & A ; lang_id=en [ Accessed 05 April 2014 ] Mac Donald, W.L. ( 1986 )The Architecture of the Roman Empire, Volume II – an urban assessmentUsa, Yale University Press Purdue UniversityRoman Basilicas[ Online ] . Available from hypertext transfer protocol: //web.ics.purdue.edu/~rauhn/roman_basilicas.htm [ Accessed 05 April 2014 ] Sear, F. ( 1982 )Roman ArchitectureLondon, Blatsford Academic and Educational Limited Suetonius, ( 1977 )The Twelve Caesar11ThursdayEd. trans. By Graves, R. Harmondsworth, Penguin Books Ltd Thayer, W. ( 2008 )Basilica Emilia[ Online ] . Available from hypertext transfer protocol: //penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/I/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/Forum_Romanum/_Texts/Huelsen*/2/21.html [ Accessed 05 April 2014 ] Ward Perkins, J.B. ( 1977 )Roman ArchitectureNew York, Harry Adams Incorporated Watkins, D. ( 1986 )A History of Western Architecture3rdEd. London, Lawrence King Publishing Wilson Jones, M. ( 2000 )Principles of Roman ArchitectureSingapore, Yale University Press Zeballos, C. ( 2011 )The Agora of Athens Vs. The Roman Forum[ Online ] . Available from hypertext transfer protocol: //architecturalmoleskine.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/agora-of-athens-vs-roman-forum.html [ Accessed 05 April 2014 ]

Media influences in sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Are social media and increasing access to virtual reality altering our Essay

Are social media and increasing access to virtual reality altering our social interactions and expectations - Essay Example The social/cultural and ethical aspects that I will concentrate on pertain to privacy issues and the development of friendships, as well a social circles on-line. These are activities that Americans previously loved to do in real time using physical interaction but has now migrated to virtual settings within the context of social media. 3. What are the opponents of your position likely to claim? My opponents will be most likely to claim that social media has enhanced the social lives of people and allowed for a greater degree of friendship development since social media is used as a world wide connectivity and discussion tool. 4. What is your response or reason that suggests your opponents are incorrect? Simply put, we may have a large friends list in our social media accounts but we do not really know anything about them. Social media creates shallow friendships that do not last beyond a shared interest in a particular activity. These are simply friendships suggested by the social m edia based upon our perceived likes and dislikes. 5. Cite at least TWO outside resources that support your position and one that expresses the objection to your position. Two outside sources that support my position will come from Jay Baer's article â€Å"Social Media, Pretend Friends, and the Lie of False Intimacy† along with Kathleen C. and Anuhea R.'s â€Å"Free Speech: Benefit or Liability?†. ... For those living far apart from friends, postal mail was the way to go in terms of keeping in touch. Needless to say, making and keeping friends during the time of our parents really required effort in order to get to know each other and stay in touch. but all of that changed with the advent of social media. Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, all of these social channels allowed for instant connectivity among friends. It also allowed people to make friends with other people based upon shared likes and interests. The time had come for the rise of easy contact and making friends all over the world. Sadly, even though social media has created an excellent virtual reality setting that allows us to interact across the seas, it has also altered our social interactions and expectations in a negative manner. This paper will look at two of the main reasons for the negative influence of social media over our lives and methods of interacting with people as opposed to those who believe that social medi a has provided a tremendous benefit to our social interactions using various articles and journals that support and opposed the issue respectively. Let me start off this discussion with the reasons that people say social media has positively affected our social interaction and expectations. Proponents of social media say that the instant communication allowed by the system makes part of the conversation by allowing them to participate in discussions rather than talking at them (Folkens, Dave â€Å"3 Ways Social Media is Changing Public Relations†). By allowing people to have their say via social media, the group interaction helps to remove the communication barriers that used to exist for people during the infancy of the internet. As such, the internet has become a

Art of Tattooing in North America and Europe Essay

Art of Tattooing in North America and Europe - Essay Example In 1991, a five thousand year old frozen body of a man was discovered on a mountain between Austria and Italy. This body displayed in all 58 tattoos though these were only simple dots and little lines. The oldest known picture tattoos were found when archeologists, just after the Second World War, excavated a long row of graves of frozen and perfectly preserved bodies in the Altai Mountains of Southern Siberia. These were the bodies of the Scythians who were a nomadic group renowned for their creativity. In comparison, the Chieftain's tattoos represented different totem and game animals. The Vikings, who travelled up the Russian rivers and met the Scythians in Scandinavia, were influenced by the Scythians in the way they worked their crafts and tattoos. The body art among the Scythians and the Vikings reflected the designs found in their wood carvings, embroidery, weaving, leather and metal work. The significance of tattoos on a body has undergone several changes over the centuries. The practice of tattooing has meant different things in different cultures. Decoration appears to have been the most common motive for tattooing during the entire period. It was stated by Professor Konrad Spindler of Innsbruck University that the tattoo marks on the body of the Bronze Age man found in 1991 suggested that they were probably applied for therapeutic reasons. In some cultures, tattoos also served as identification of the wearer's rank or status in a group. For example, the early Romans tattooed slaves and criminals. Tahitian tattoos served as rites of passage, telling the history of the wearer's life. Boys reaching manhood received one tattoo to mark the occasion, while men had another style done when they married. Among a tribe named Roro tribes, when a girl was considered to be of marriageable age, the buttocks, the legs and the face were tattooed (Hambly, 31). Instances of body ma rking deemed to be of religious import were those connected with ideas of survival after death, prayer, sacrifice and communion (Hambly, 26). Later on, Sailors travelling to exotic foreign lands began to collect tattoos as souvenirs of their journeys resulting in establishment of tattoo parlors in port cities around the globe. In the 1900s, cosmetic tattooing became popular in the United States using it as blush for cheeks, color for the lips and eyeliners. With the World War, the flash art images changed to those of bravery and wartime icons. (https://www.msu.edu/krcmari1/individual/world.html) It is not only the motive behind tattooing that has changed over the years, but also has the designs and methods of performing this art. In North and South America, many Indian tribes routinely tattooed the body or the face by simple pricking, and some tribes in California introduced color into scratches. In order to be considered courageous and feared by their enemies, they would use sharpened awls or thorns or the bone of a bird or a fish to engrave or decorate their bodies. While the punctures which form the designs were fresh and bleeding, they would rub in charcoal or some other black color which mixed with the blood and penetrated the

How do sociologists define, explain, understand race Essay

How do sociologists define, explain, understand race - Essay Example This paper declares that the two terms race and ethnicity have been invariably used interchangably by laymen. Sociologists, though identify distinct variations in he usage of the two terms. Ethnic groups possess a common history, distinctive culture and perspective, which contribute to their individuality. These virtues like langugae, daily traditions, ancestry are not inherited biologically, but are rather learned culturally. Essentially, ethnicity is what the world teaches and inculcates in a human being, while race is the set of vritues he is born with. An ethnic group is marked by self-consciousness, in that its members see themselves as a people, and are seen as such by others. This essay stresses that the practice of racism manifests itself in various forms even in the present society, be it the discrimination against African American or even against foreign immigrants. The Ku Klux Klan, an organization propagating white supremacy in the United States of America, was probably the most extreme rendition of this racism. This group was involved in public lynching of many blacks. A research conducted by the University of Chicago demonstrated that there was widespread discrimination in the workplace against job applicants whose names were merely perceived as "sounding black". The Asian Americans are put under greater scrutiny and checks in their daily ife and have become the focus of ridicule and accusation. Their ethinicity often becomes the cause of their public humiliation and discrimination. The Americans, have generalised the blame to the whole of the Asian community.(more particularly the Muslim) community. This attitude often creates problems for these i mmigrants in their personal and professional life. In late October 2001, the State Department issued a classified cable imposing a twenty-day mandatory hold on all non-immigrant visa applications submitted by men aged eighteen to forty-five from twenty-six countries, most of them Arab or Muslim. All such applicants were to be subjected to special security clearances. There are many other, similar

Microeconomices Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Microeconomices - Term Paper Example f individuals, firms, and industries in terms of producing and consuming of economic goods and services, the concept of cost is relevant as it affects microeconomic activities of the units concerned. For consumers and individuals who are not familiar with the concepts of costs, one might have the tendency to discard this as irrelevant and immaterial. However, close examination of these underlying theories would enlighten consumers on their effects on prices and quantities of goods which are normally offered to the public. It is therefore the objective of this essay to present relevant concepts, theories and applications concerning costs in microeconomics. The costs to be discussed range from opportunity cost, production costs, marginal cost, cost of externalities, the law of diminishing returns and economies of scale. It is interesting to note that in economics, all costs are considered opportunity costs. As rationalized by Petroff (par. 2), â€Å"anytime a resource is used for any purpose, it implies that some other good cannot be produced with that quantity of the resource, that some other resource is not used for the given production instead, and that revenues from other production are foregone. Thus, costs are either explicit cost for the resource used or implicit costs from alternative use of the resource.† To use a practical application, for a consumer who decided to buy a television set, the opportunity cost could be the value of a trip to a nearby beach resort which was not taken due to the purchase. Productions costs are normally related to firms or business enterprises engaged in manufacturing or producing goods for sale to the public. The concept of productions costs are not only discussed in microeconomics but more so in accounting or finance. Production managers are tasked with monitoring the costs of raw materials as well as labor and overhead costs to maximize profits. These costs could be classified as fixed, variable and total costs. Petroff

The Role of Budgeting in the Current Economic Climate Essay

The Role of Budgeting in the Current Economic Climate - Essay Example Problems with the traditional budgeting system Any budgeting system has three major roles, viz., â€Å"planning, motivation and evaluation† (Banovic, 2005, pp. 4-5). Hence there are chances of three types of conflicts to arise. For the effectiveness of a budget, the planners are supposed to assess the company’s functioning capabilities and therefore they make an optimistic budget. They are under pressure to create a plan that would merge the targets desired to be achieved with feasibility of achieving the desired performance. This leads to the setting of more attainable targets thereby under using the available resources to the fullest extent. It causes lack of motivation among the employees. Secondly, the level of motivation might conflict the evaluation standard in the company. For the evaluation of performance certain rigid standards are maintained. This may not take into the consideration of unforeseen or uncontrollable incidents. Thus, while on one hand the detaile d knowledge about the evaluation standard might make the employees take it for granted at work for the fulfillment of the desired level, on the other hand, the occurrence of some uncontrollable incidents would not be accounted for the system and reflect a faulty judgment of a lesser performance. Finally, a minor conflict might arise in lieu of the differences between the realistic assessment of the future prospects by the planning personnel and the need to get rid of the unfavorable environmental factors from the budget that goes for evaluation purposes. However this conflict is not a big one since adjustments can be made as required after the budget period ends (Banovic, 2005, pp. 4-5). Besides, the budgets are formulated on the basis of the functions of the different departments of an... This essay offers a comprehensive review of the current state of budgeting theory and its implementation in the process of central planning of corporate firms. Initially the concept of budgeting was designed for the senior executives in an organization to control the activities in the organization directly from the business head. It acts as a management tool by which the financial health of the company can be controlled. The benefits of budgeting include that of forecasting the future performance of an organization, addressing its developmental issues, promoting cohesion amongst the different departments and also predict any possibility of unforeseen expenses The facility of system traditional budgeting system has made the budgetary practices to remain unchanged throughout the decades. Yet, the managers and administrators noticed various dysfunctional behaviors associated with the system. A company might encounter several unpredictable events which require rapid responsive action. But the prevailing budgeting process does not provide such space for immediate action. The budget which is designed to handle long term complex problems, cannot serve the purpose of the managing small failures with preciseness. Several companies now feels the need for modification in the traditional budgeting system. Research is still on in this sphere and more can be added to the element of risk management in the model of Beyond Budgeting. The ultimate objective is to construct a management model which is â€Å"coherent, simple and integrated†

Marketing Orientation Essay Example for Free

Marketing Orientation Essay There have been many studies of the term ‘marketing orientation’, and its presence within organisations. Marketing orientation is an approach that companies take which centres its activities towards achieving customer satisfaction through effective marketing. It is where customers form the basis of an organisations performance and overall success. In order to achieve successful marketing orientation, a company must organise an effective structure through planning its activities, products and services successfully. This will help the company on focusing its aims and objectives on the needs and requirements of its customers, in order to establish a relationship that will increase performance and success. ‘Market orientation is the organisation wide development of market intelligence pertaining to customer needs. ’ (Kohli and Jaworski, 1990. p12) Two approaches to marketing Orientation have been suggested by Avlonitis and Gounaris (1999), focusing on the practices and culture that the company adopts. It has been interpreted by Avlonitis and Gounaris (1999) that marketing orientation is either ‘a company attitude or company behaviour. This is whether a company is customer orientated or focuses on a competitive advantage through marketing orientation. Other authors have similiar thoughts upon these approaches to marketing orientation. Drucker (1954) believes that customers perceive marketing as an ‘activity involving the entire organisation’, rather than being a specific company process. The author’s view coincides with the work of Avlonitis and Gounaris (1999), as he focuses on the attitude organisations have in satisfying customer needs. The oth er side to this approach is the significance of a company’s culture towards marketing orientated activities. Felton (1959) states; ‘It is the attitudes and beliefs of a workforce that control the level of orientated activities a company strives to achieve,’ implying the focus is on themselves competing rather than putting the customer first. Trout and Ries (1985) perceive marketing orientation as an effort by companies to increase competitor advantage, rather than satisfy customer needs. Therefore the company’s culture is focusing its strategy on competitor orientation in order to achieve success. An organisations performance is a very important aspect of successful marketing orientation. Narver and Slater (1990) state that marketing orientation is based on 3 performance measures, which include ‘customer and competitor orientation, and inter-functional coordination. ’ Introducing effective performance measures can have positive influences on companies, as it helps the company’s culture set aims and objectives for a successful approach to marketing orientation. Jobber (2007) also describes the importance of these measures, stating; ‘A marketing concept culture that manifests in corporate activities to create superior value for customers. However, specific marketing activities relating to the behaviour of a company have ‘emphasis on managerial control rather than the natural culture of the organisation’ (Ellis, 2004), which relates to the work of Trout and Ries (1985) and their beliefs of company’s influencing the importance of competitor orientation over the satisfaction of their customers. Sharp (1991) argues the approach to marketing orientation as described by Drucker (1954), saying that it’s more than just about customer focus; Market orientation has a principle element of focusing on available markets and customer needs. Sharp criticises this view of orientation, as costs of maintaining customer focus will incur in unstable markets, affecting a companies orientation plan. In order to balance this procedure, a company needs equal focus in its approach to marketing orientation, which will help achieve success and efficiency. The link between organisational strategic thinking (Sharp, 1991) and managerial control (Ellis, 2004) helps towards a successful company through competitor orientation. Ellis states that effective performances increase through analysing competitor actions, in order to create a competitor advantage. However, company’s still need to be responsive to customer needs due to volatile markets. Overall increases of a company’s orientation, resulting from effective customer satisfaction, will then lead to greater performances (Kohli and Jaworski, 1990). The relationship between performance and marketing orientation is analysed negatively to strategic marketing. Sin (2005) considers the ‘external environmental aspects’ of marketing orientation, emphasising the importance of linking performance and marketing orientation in order to meet the needs of customers. Sin believes that if companies developed their approaches towards linking these two factors, a more in depth examination of customers needs could be undertaken, which would lead to higher performances within the company. Sin agrees with Sharp’s views, by describing the inclusion of customer needs as well as company aims and objectives. A strategic way of thinking is described by Sharp, where marketing orientation is described as being the most relevant, as it focuses on company, and not just market characteristics. The analyses of various journal articles relating to marketing orientation has led me to understand the different issues relating to marketing orientation. I agree with Kohli and Jaworski (1990) that a company should balance its orientation between customer focus and its aims and objectives, for effective performances. The authors were very clear and focused on what strategies were effective in approaching marketing orientation. I felt that this analysis helped me understand the best method of adopting marketing orientation and how to effectively respond to customer demands, as well as creating a competitive advantage. Limitations to the analysis were discussions from Felton (1959) and Trout and Ries (1995). The views of these authors concentrated on companies who adopted marketing orientation to create a competitive advantage as its main priority. The context of this article focused totally on businesses success and shadowed the importance of customer orientation, something which I feel is crucial for overall success.

Comparative Analysis of the Movie Essay Example for Free

Comparative Analysis of the Movie Essay The movies have good story lines and scripts. Since both the movies were music and dance based, the music of the movies has been very good. Fish Tank Nowhere Boy Year of Release 2009 2010 Genre and Theme Drama Drama Storyline brief/ Narrative Based on the life of the girl who likes to go for the street dancing. Based on the life of the boy who was living with aunt and wanted to be a guitarist. Characters Leading character of the movie is the 21st century girl but she lives alone and just practices her street dance. Leading character of the movie is the boy of 21st century too but wanted to learn playing guitar and want to forget everything of his past. Locations (Shown and Shot) Mardyke Estate in Havering Liverpool and at Ealing Studios in West London Costume: Dressing Designer Culture represented Usually in the denim and T-shirt, boxers, track suits, hip-hop or street dance costumes. Jane Petrie Present culture Sophisticated dressing as per the role requirement of a guitarist and usually in proper uniform like school uniform or formal school uniform. Juliar Day Present culture. Settings of the movie This was the art movie and based on dance. The girl lived with mother and sister. This movie was also the art movie but based on instrument playing. Single family of Aunt and John was the main setting. Attitude of leading characters towards the world In this movie, Mia lives isolated from the world and she only do practice of her street dancing in her house. John live with his aunt and enjoy the social culture like going out on trips, parties etc with friends. Mode of enjoyment of the leading characters Mia only likes to dance so she enjoys that. Johnson likes to play guitar and he only like to do that. Similarity The movie was based on an art form, teenager or youth oriented. The characters wanted to learn particular dance form. She saw a street dancer which become source of inspiration This movie was also based on art teenager or youth oriented. The character wanted to learn particular music. He attended a show which became his source of inspiration for learning and playing Guitar. Difference The movie is female oriented, where the comparatively new dance form of Street dancing has been focused. In this movie, the leading character wanted to learn guitar and enjoyed playing Guitar the most and was excellent with that. His passion for Guitar has made him practice as much as he could perform much beyond his age like professionals. Conclusion In both the movies, the main aspect was to show the life of the teenage girl and a boy that how the society deals with. In Fish Tank, Mia was the girl who got admired by the street dancers who were performing and in Nowhere Boy also, John got admired from the guitarist who can be able to play much better than the band. And in both the movies, director had shown clearly that the future is influenced by the past. So Mia got tensed in the movie Fish Tank as she heard that Connor had left them and in Nowhere Boy, John was also got irritated due to his past. These movies was generally built for the young generation people as they already have pressure of studies and their hobbies and what they want to be in their life. Society also provide pressure to them which result in making pressure in the mind of the child and due to this many children left studying and they got distracted from their hobbies too. Reference British Film Industry available at http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/in_depth/entertainment/2003/british_film_industry/default. stm Curran and Porter, 1993 British Cinema History, London: Weidenfeld Nicholson 9-23 Murphy, R. ed. , 2009 The British Cinema Book, London: BFI, 1-64, 65-142 Fish Tank official website http://www. michaelfassbender. org/episodesfte. html http://www. hollywoodreporter. com/hr/film-reviews/fish-tank-film-review-1003973214. story Image Fish Tank from http://www. movieroar. com/images/fish-tankpster1. jpg Nowhere Boy Movie Review http://www. futuremovies. co. uk/review. asp? ID=1110 No Where Boy movie details available at http://www. nowhereboy. co. uk/ http://www. hollywoodreporter. com/hr/film-reviews/nowhere-boy-film-review-1004031851. story.

Factors Affecting General Motors

Factors Affecting General Motors Industry involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing and sale of motor vehicles are known as automotive industry. More than million of motor vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide in 2007. Figures show that in 2007, around 71.9 million new automobiles were sold worldwide in which 22.9 m sold in Europe, 21.4 m in Asia-Pacific, 19.4 m in USA and Canada, 4.4 m in Latin America, 2.4 m in the Middle East and 1.4 m in Africa. Though the markets in North America and Japan were inactive but in South America and Asia markets grew very strongly. Russia, Brazil and China were the one who showed rapid growth compare to others. In 2008, automotive industry were experiencing a combination of pricing pressures from raw material cost and changes in consumer buying habits due to rapid rise in the price of oil. G.M and other automotive industries were also facing external competition from the public transport sector, as consumers re-evaluate their private vehicle usage. U.S is the worlds largest consumer market for light vehicles, passenger cars and light trucks which are conquered by big three companies i.e. General Motors, Ford Motors and Daimler/Chrysler. But recently these three industries were started to lose their market share to other rivals within the industry. General Motors are facing huge competition by domestic company such as Ford Motors and Daimler/Chrysler and also by foreign companies such as Toyota Motors and Honda Motors who are able to produce car much cheaper cost than General Motors. In 2006, General Motors has been bankrupted and has been avoiding a filing for years. For years it has been using cars as razors to sell consumers a monthly package of razor blades- in the form of highly profitable car loans. And the reasons for its bankruptcy are because they were focusing mostly on their finance division rather than it vehicle design operation. GM cars were poorly designed and build, took long time to manufacture as compare to its toughest competitor Toyota who has better designed and high quality and cheaper. In past GM controlled half of North America vehicle market but presently it has only 19 percent control as GM has been ignoring competition due to which Toyota and other industry took over the market share. Since General Motors were focusing on making profit from finance they did not care about building better vehicles. It was managing in bubble as GM rewarded those employees who followed the old way of doing things and those who praises CEO wisdom and carry out his orders. PEST Analysis (P)olitical: Since 1960, there were more powerful and strict laws and Government intervention that has affected GM and other car industries. Mostly, all regulation was related to consumer increasing concern for environment and concern for the safer automobiles. (E)conomical: Automobile Industries plays an important role on every countries economy. As Automotive industry are major user of computer chips, aluminium, textiles, copper, steel, iron, lead, plastics, vinyl and rubber. Research and study had shown that for every autoworker there are seven other jobs created in other industry which include aluminium to lead to vinyl. (S)ociocultural: Todays people are mostly concern about their status and society judges on the basis of what type of car one drives. Manufacture takes advantage of this thought and target the market. Every one want attractive and nice car which other people admires. Consumers feel better when they driving nice and new car. (T)echnology: Internet had played a significant role in automotive industry. A study showed that about 60 % buyers referred to internet before making their purchase and out of that 60 percentage. 88 % buyer went to auto website before going and taking test drive. Strength and Weakness of General Motors. Strengths: Huge Market Share: Although General Motors market shares has dropped in United States but it still has very much competitive at 26 percent. On the other hand, it is increasing its share in Chinese market and world wide. They still believes that they have an opportunity to become automotive leader once again as it was before. Global Experience: Although General Motors share have decline recently but they have capability of becoming leader once again due to vast experience of almost 100 years. As GM current opportunity is to expand globally and it has got experience to do so. Variety of Brand names General Motors had been leaders in the past and reason for that is wide variety of quality brand names that differentiate it from other automotive manufacturer. Its current brands include GMC, GM Daewoo, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, Saab, Holden, Buick, Cadillac, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GMAC Customer Finance Program Since, General Motors Acceptance Corporation establishment in 1919, it has proven to be GMs most reliable source of revenue. On Star Satellite technology Star Satellite technology was developed in1996 with a subscriber of more than 3 million and it is the standard of all GM vehicles. The benefit of this technology is that vehicle can be easily tracked at the time of emergency or theft. On the other hand, it allows the driver as well as passengers to communicate with On star personnel just in one click of button. Weaknesses: Behind on Alternative Energy Movement: This is one of the biggest weaknesses of General Motors. The alternative energy/hybrid technology has already taken place in the automotive industry and GM has been one step behind the competition in terms of alternative energy vehicles. As a result, GM faced lots of problem including loss of market shares and fall in company profit. Now days for any automotive company looking for success must be Hybrid friendly and fuel efficient. Poor Organizational Structure: This is the second and significant weaknesses of GM. Its organizational structure seems to be too vertically integrated. As a result, there is lack of communication between top level management and bottom level management and may have played a part in GM falling behind on the alternative energy movement. Stagnant Profitability: General Motors profit has been certainly falling and they are struggling with respect to the size of their company. General Motors profit margin was about 1.5 % and the ROE has dramatically decreasing by dropping to 10 % in 2004. At this situation shareholders are not happy and they are becoming less interested. Fully Based on US market: For any one who is concentrating on one particularr market cant be successful. This is what happened to GMs case, it fully dependent on the US market. It must take advantage of the opportunity to expand globally. Due to high competition, it is becoming too strong to focus on just one country. Over Dependent on General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) Financing: The other important weakness of General Motors is that it is too dependent on its financing program. Although, it is accepted that it is a great strength for GM, however it will be a problem if it solely rely on financing and cant turn profits, in order to compete with Honda and Toyota who are rapidly growing. Poor Credit Status: GMs credit status is steadily declining same as everything else. It is losing credit in market and amongst the customer. Its current ratio is merely above 1 and its acid test is even lower. Poor strategies and lack of Foresight: Due to increase in oil prices, consumers began to turn away from SUVs, but still General Motors predicted much of its operating success on its ability to sell newly unpopular vehicles. While companies like Toyota, were concentrating on light vehicle and in improving efficiency where GM assumed sales would continue in future. ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF ORGANISATION DEVELOPMENT Organizational Development is a system which differs from other systems of organizational change by putting stress/focusing on process rather than problems. In fact, change system focuses on identifying problems in an organization and then trying to alter the behaviour that creates the problem. OD is a methodology intended for use in complex situations to provide intervention strategy for change management. OD finds the behavioural interactions and the pattern that creates or sustain problem. In fact, OD does not change the behaviours, but they focus on creating a behaviourally healthy organization that will automatically solve and prevents the problems. OD generally considered long term effort that is of at least one to three years in most cases. In addition, it mostly focuses on combined management where manager and workers of different level communicate and unite to solve the problem. OD understands the fact that all organization is different and same solution cant put in every co mpany. The other feature of OD is that it gives importance to team work and small group. The important features of OD programs is the change agent, that is group or individual which makes OD process much easier. Almost all change agent are consultant from outside who are experienced in managing OD programs but sometimes companies may utilize its inside managers. The benefits of consultant from outside are that they provide a different outlook and have a less biased view of the organizations problems and needs. The disadvantage of outside change agents is that its lack an in depth of understanding of main issues mainly one specific organization.

The Line between Democracy and Totalitarianism in Lord of the Flies Ess

Golding immediately shows how voting procedures of a democratic society can help stop evil from taking over. During the first encounter between Jack and his choirboys and Ralph and his group, it becomes clear the differences in between both groups. Jack, during the first meeting, yells at the boys to â€Å"Stand Still!†(Golding 20) and even when â€Å"one of the boys flopped on his face in the sand† he makes the others choirboys move â€Å"the fallen boy to the platform and let him lie† (Golding 20). With this brief peek into the leadership of Jack, it is evident that Jack has no concern for the common men in his choir, furthering the illusion of his dictatorial skills. The theme of leaving the masses of common citizens uncared for, while the elites are given exclusive powers is a major notion of the totalitarian government. When these boys see how mistreated Jack’s choirboys are, the vote for chief is affected. When Ralph asks, â€Å"Who wants Jack for chief?† the choirboys â€Å"With dreary obedience [they] raised their hands†(Golding 23). Then, when Ralph asked, â€Å"Who wants me? Every hand outside the choir except Piggy’s was raised immediately. Then Piggy, too, raised his hand†(Golding 23). Evident here is how the public and Golding perceive the two contradicting types of government. This tiny glimpse shows that even when a dictator has all the power over his citizens, he cannot beat a democratically elected leader in an election. The undertone of this situation shows that citizens prefer a democratic leader that they elect than somebody who attempts to usurp the throne. While this was only the first time the two sides meet, the two sides only become more distanced by every time they meet. Furthermore, Golding uses frequent meetings to further es... ... until â€Å"the prodding became rhythmic†(Golding 182). Then, â€Å"Roger advanced upon them as one wielding a nameless authority† (Golding 182). Samneric, in this situation, are illusions to the political opposition that are present in most totalitarian societies. Samneric are treated as political prisoners and bullied into keeping their mouths shut about their views and into accepting the new leader’s way of ruling, which is with an iron, unyielding fist. Golding, in this situation, tries to show the reader how a totalitarian government does not allow any opposition to the official government’s idea. If a person disagrees with the government, then it is better to keep that opinion to their self or face severe backlash from the government. All in all, Jack’s newly increased tribe only happened due to Jack using fear and brutality as a means to keep his tribe in line.

Peace- George Herbert Essay -- English Literature

Peace- George Herbert George Herbert depicts a search for peace through religion in his poem "Peace" by utilizing allusion to the Bible and symbolism. George Herbert begins his poem by asking a question; "Sweet Peace, where dost thou dwell?" This is an apostrophe to Peace because the narrator is seeking peace in a variety of sublunary places and objects such as a cave, a rainbow, a Crown Imperial flower, and he finally asks a reverend where he may find peace. The reverend recounts the life of a prince who "sweetly lived" and "who lived with good increase of flock and fold." The prince died and on his grave "there sprang twelve stalks of wheat" which prospered and spread throughout the Earth. Anyone who fed on the wheat discovered "a secret virtue, bringing peace and mirth by flight of sin." The story the reverend relates to the man in search of peace is an illusion to the Bible. The prince that reverend speaks of is Jesus Christ, and the proceeding events follow the life and death of Jesus. The reverend speaks of how he was murdered by his foes which relates to Je...

Global Health Risks And Uk Health And Social Care Essay

The UK is one of the major precursors in states indexed as extremely developed together with the United States. However, despite its aforesaid position as a prima economic state, it is still afflicted with legion wellness menaces coming from domestic or the international community. [ /intro ] One identified increasing menace to wellness, stemming from indigents, is Obesity. Before the morning of the twenty-first century fleshiness was rare, and it was merely during 1997 that WHO recognized the status as an epidemic [ 1 ] . By 2005, around 400 million grownups are corpulent, with adult females more stricken than work forces [ 2 ] . In clip fleshiness may replace old top wellness concerns, such as undernutrition and infection, as a important cause of hapless wellness. [ /internal wellness menace ] Data regarding in the UK has proven to be a cause for dismay. In the last 25 old ages fleshiness increased four 100 per centum: In comparing during the 1980s, merely 6 % and 8 % of male and female, severally, are afflicted with the status. However, by the twelvemonth 2002, twenty two per centum of males and 20 three per centum of females are corpulent [ 3 ] . There are multiple causes to explicate fleshiness, these include increased calorie consumption, sedentary life style, familial sensitivity or psychiatric illess [ 4 ] . But a major determiner of fleshiness is under scientific geographic expedition following the find of leptin. Leptin is a protein produced by adipocytes and act on the hypothalamus to stamp down appetite. Without leptin, or a decreased of degrees, thereof consequences in increased appetency ensuing to fleshiness. Surprisingly adequate fasting and devouring really low-calorie diet lessenings leptin [ 5 ] . As all of us are cognizant, excessively much of a good thing is damaging. This is besides applicable to human weight. Excessive sums of organic structure fat consequences in increasing morbidity associated with cardiovascular disease, endocrinopathies and malignant neoplastic disease – all of which finally lead to fatal result at a younger age [ 6 ] . Like any other state, the UK is under changeless menace from abroad sing wellness – one such cardinal illustration is swine grippe. [ /external wellness menace ] Swine grippe is a mutation of H1N1 or influenza A ( the most deadly type of flu-virus ) , with familial mixture coming from aviary, hogs and worlds [ 7 ] . The flu eruption began in Mexico and easy began to be a pandemic instance shortly thenceforth. It spread around the universe doing about 15,000 deceases worldwide [ 8 ] . Swine grippe reached UK on April, 2009 with the reaching of riders coming from Mexico. It was until May of 2009 that the first clinically confirmed instance of swine grippe was reported. By July the degrees peaked about at a reeling 10,000 instances [ 9 ] . The marks and symptoms of swine grippe are excessively generalized to run into a speedy yet accurate diagnosing. These include febrility, concern, arthralgia, unease, purging, diarrhoea and depression [ 10 ] . Despite its namesake, swine grippe can non be transmitted through ingestion of porc but instead direct human-human contact, more so by respiratory droplets [ 11 ] . In the UK, stairss were taken to prosecute the menace of grippe and of primary importance is through bar: by grippe vaccinums. It was given to medical forces, immunocompromised host and pregnant adult females [ 12 ] . There were initial studies of deficit due to the belief that two shootings were necessary to arouse sufficient protection ; nevertheless, surveies suggest that a individual shooting of flu vaccinum is capable of protecting an single [ 13 ] . [ /end ] Assess the functions played by international administrations and bureaus ( both inter-governmental and non-governmental ) in wellness publicity and disease bar in developing states. The most outstanding of health-oriented international bureau is the WHO or universe wellness organisation. [ /intro ] The WHO was organized station World War II by the United Nations with the primary aim of supplying all the people by the highest possible degree of wellness [ 14 ] . The major undertaking involved is combat and extinguish assorted infective diseases and wellness publicity throughout the universe. One should observe that with the attempts of WHO, a extremely deadly viral agent doing Small Pox was successfully eliminated through conjunct attempts of assorted medical bureaus around the universe. For such a effort, the WHO deserves fear. Now the current monumental undertaking is to extinguish another common viral disease called Polio, which causes lasting palsy station infection. Another targeted disease that causes much societal stigma and has reached ill-famed pandemic position is HIV/AIDS. The WHO strides frontward even if faced with challenges that are beyond the current bound of medical discoveries [ 15 ] . Infectious disease is merely a portion of WHO ‘s undertaking, and wellness publicity makes up the majority of its planetary wellness mission. Health publicity tactics include dietetic instructions, drug turning away and surcease of smoke. The WHO besides conducts surveies about the efficaciousness of vaccinums, particularly of grippe, so that the infection is ceased in its paths [ 16 ] . Some of the plans and undertakings that the WHO is presently set abouting is supplying safe H2O supply, obliteration of malaria and assorted medical/surgical plans ( efficient proviso of surgical attention to trauma victims ) [ 17 ] . With its impressive array of plans to provide assorted health-related issues, the WHO deserves much citation. However, the WHO entirely is non responsible ; one must besides confront the fact that each state is run by authoritiess that are either functioning its people or functioning its involvement. To do a greater impact the WHO and the state in focal point must travel manus in manus to function the several indigents it has sworn to function. [ /end ] Measure the impact of planetary part in the bar of HIV/AIDS Malarias Acquired immune deficiency syndrome HIV/AIDS is a pandemic disease characterized by CD4 cells below 200 count and is caused by retroviruses. It was foremost recognized manner back during the 1980 ‘s and current planetary human death already reached 25 million people. In 2007, despite progresss in research refering anti-retroviral drugs, AIDS claimed around 2 million victims including more than 300,000 kids [ 18 ] . It is transmitted through contact with blood merchandises or mucose membranes, such as blood transfusion, sexual contact, perpendicular transmittal and chest eating [ 19 ] . Analyzing the manner of transmittal allow us to integrate preventative steps to collar the farther transmittal of the disease. Health organisations, such as CDC and WHO, promote pattern of safe sex and Needle exchange plans [ 20 ] . Some methods of practising safe sex is via usage of barrier, or more popularly known as rubbers. Condoms do lower the hazard of HIV acquisition but is does non so wholly, in fact rubbers promoted by the WHO have spermatocides that really irritate the vaginal wall of some adult females which may supply suited entry by assorted pathogens into the blood stream [ 21 ] . As for the needle exchange plan, the chief maneuver there is to supply drug users with unfertile acerate leafs for usage. This may sound absurd since wellness organisations are deliberately supplying acerate leafs for drug users, the benefits may outweigh the hazard in that HIV is kept under control [ 20 ] . In most developed states, HIV/AIDS instances have fallen or stalled due to the fact that there is increased consciousness in the general populace. This is attributed to aggressive runs, blood merchandise showing and publicity of safe sexual patterns. Malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasite that is transmitted through direct vaccination through the hosts ‘ tegument. Every twelvemonth there are reported extremums of 500 million instances of malaria with about 1-3 million fatal instances [ 22 ] . Agencies around the universe have formulated preventative steps to minimise or wholly eliminate malaria as an infective disease. However, an estimated sum of $ 3 billion a twelvemonth is needed to command the disease, and the financess are non equally distributed to assorted states hit by the disease. In fact, Africa which is considered to be the most to a great extent hit by malaria in contrast to other developing states, receives the lowest support as opposed to other states. It is non so much so of uneffective drugs, in fact we already have the necessary pharmacological intervention for malaria. The success lies in contributing administration, competent proficient attack, data-driven determination devising, and engagement of the communities [ 23 ] . Suggest International Measures†¦ There is no uncertainty that there is still inequality amongst other states. It causes discord to both sides of the fencing, so to talk. The poorer states are frequently times hit harder by illness and disease, and mortality is frequently high. When mortality is high it is frequently a contemplation of the authoritiess ‘ public presentation to supply equal wellness attention to its people. WHO is the organisation formed by the UN to see to it that all receive benefits from wellness attention, and to make that a pudding stone of international community formed merely so to provide its aims. For the past several old ages the WHO has surely done its mandated fundamental law nevertheless it is non without mistakes and through that it can still be improved. This is non to state that the WHO has done nil, in fact it has done everything it perchance can to work out at hand crisis and has done so with efficiency. However, to be able to go on into a better hereafter we must foremost shut the spread between the wellness services provided for the rich and for the hapless. It should besides form seamless attention associating bar and acute/chronic attention across all constituents of the wellness attention system. Furthermore, it must continually measure and measure itself for an assured and continued high degree of public presentation. The WHO itself has its challenges particularly to the states it handles ; most particularly when there is jailbreak of a extremely morbific disease such as grippe or MDR TB. The job comes when there is tenseness between the WHO and the state involved, most particularly when directives are given to that said state [ 24 ] . With those recommendations said, I believe that the hereafter amongst states lie entirely on its ability to synergize: one state lends to another less fortunate, puting aside capitalist economy and advancing existent attention for the people that need it the most. It is non merely the duty of the WHO, but the whole universe must be at a corporate. We are of the same species and must non be bound by race or faith. [ /end ] [ /rephrase ] Word count: +/- 1,500 [ 1 ] Haslam D ( March 2007 ) . â€Å" Fleshiness: a medical history † .A Obes RevA 8 Suppl 1: 31-6. [ 2 ] World Health Organization. Retrieved April 8th, 2009 [ 3 ] Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Health Committee ( May 2004 ) .A Obesity – Volume 1 – HCP 23-I, Third Report of session 2003-04. Report, together with formal proceedingss [ 4 ] leich S, Cutler D, Murray C, Adams A ( 2008 ) . â€Å" Why is the developed universe obese? † [ 5 ] Chin-Chance C, Polonsky K, Schoeller D ( 2000 ) . â€Å" Twenty-four-hour leptin degrees respond to cumulative short-run energy instability and predict subsequent consumption † .A J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.A 85A ( 8 ) : 2685-91. [ 6 ] Haslam DW, James WP ( 2005 ) . â€Å" Obesity † .A LancetA 366A ( 9492 ) : 1197-209. [ 7 ] ew England Journal of Medicine, A Vladimir Trifonov, Ph.D. , Hossein Khiabanian, Ph.D. , and Raul Rabadan, Ph.D. , July 9, 2009. [ 8 ] ECDC [ 9 ] Health Protection Agency. 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-06-12 [ 10 ] National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Diabetes Translation ( 2009-10-14 ) . [ 11 ] H1N1 Flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009-12-07 [ 12 ] NHS Choices. NHS Knowledge Service ( NHS ) . 2009-09-25. Retrieved 2009-09-28 [ 13 ] â€Å" One Vaccine Shot Seen as Protective for Swine Flu † .A The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-17. [ 14 ] World Health Organization. hypertext transfer protocol: //whqlibdoc.who.int/hist/official_records/constitution.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-18.A – For an easier to read version see â€Å" Constitution of the World Health Organization ( English merely version ) † ( PDF ) . World Health Organization. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.who.int/entity/governance/eb/who_constitution_en.pdf. [ 15 ] hypertext transfer protocol: //news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/04/content_5167991.htm [ 16 ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2007/np07/en/index.html [ 17 ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.who.int/surgery/challenges/en/ [ 18 ] UNAIDS [ 19 ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cdc.gov/HIV/resources/factsheets/transmission.htm [ 20 ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex/safer-sex-4263.htm, hypertext transfer protocol: //drugwarfacts.org/cms/ ? q=node/66 [ 21 ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/ [ 22 ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cdc.gov/malaria/facts.htm [ 23 ] Barat L ( 2006 ) . â€Å" Four malaria success narratives: how malaria load was successfully reduced in Brazil, Eritrea, India, and Vietnam † .A Am J Trop Med HygA 74 [ 24 ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/cd46/future.pdf

Cattle Ranching and It’s Increasing Affect on Deforestation Essay

One may not look at the hamburger in their hands and automatically think, â€Å"What was done to our environment in order to make this delicious piece of meat?† but it really is a question that any meat consumer should consider. Believe it or not, eating that one hamburger indirectly causes the rate of deforestation to increase every single day! It actually is quite simple how this hamburger affects both our environment and agriculture. In order for meat industries to be able to distribute their products to consumers, they need the cattle to be raised, fed, and grown and of course, cattle ranchers need a place to raise their cattle. In order for these ranchers to have space for the cattle to do so, trees are actually being cut down to make room for these pastures. In turn, one of the largest impacts that the meat industry has on our environment is its contribution to the ever-increasing rise of deforestation all over the world. The thing that most people do not realize is that the land being used to raise the meat that they consume, was once a flourishing forest. This process of deforestation starts when the land inside a forest is cut through to make a reasonable enough size path for a road to reside. Once the area for the road is cleared, commercial farmers will move in and start to grow crops. The problem with this is that rainforest soil is not efficient enough to handle crops that need sustainable soil. Needless to say, the crops do not endure for more than two to three years. More often than not, ranchers use the remnants of these now beaten down crops and grassy fields for their cattle to graze. There are many negative impacts caused by this deforestation and pasture conversion. With every tree cut down and cleared away, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are emitted into our atmosphere and pollute the air. The trees act as a sort of â€Å"canopy† and absorb much of the carbon to convert into woody tissue. Without having trees as tools of absorption, the carbon instead invades the air in which we breathe. Along with deforestation, the actual production of the aforementioned farming and meat industry emits many harmful chemicals into our world. According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegeta rian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads. (Goveg.com). This goes hand in hand with deforestation because the production, from the cutting down of the trees and the processing that must occur, there are many harmful gases, like carbon dioxide, being emitted into the air. Soil degradation is also an outcome of this deforestation caused by the need for grazing land. The soil in the rainforests is very fragile. The different nutrients that the soil gains come from fallen leaves and branches from the trees. The trees also help to protect the soil from the radiating sun and any torrential rain. Native grasses provide few nutrients and little protection for the soil and the overgrazing actually accelerates the nutrient loss and erosion. The worst part is that livestock production compounds this damage, making it irreversible. To put things even more into perspective, here is another frightening fact: it only takes between five to ten years for the overgrazing and nutrient loss caused by cattle and deforestation to turn the rainforest land into an eroded wasteland. An area of rainforest the size of seven football fields is destroyed every minute to make room for grazing cattle (Goveg.com). In contrast to those who eat meat, vegetarians save one acre of trees every year by eating a meat-free diet, thereby saving the need to cut down the trees for grazing purposes (Goveg.com). This is the true because if there is a decrease in the demand for meat, then there is a decrease in the amount trees being cut down since fewer cattle will need room to graze. The next time someone picks up a burger, I suggest you say to them, â€Å"I bet you didn’t know by eating that burger you are also killing acres of trees†¦.† Works Cited Achor, Amy Blount. Animal Rights: A Beginner’s Guide. Ohio: WriteWare, Inc., 1996. Brown, Michael L. â€Å"Limiting Corrupt Incentives in a Global REDD Regime.† Ecology Law Quarterly (2010): 237-267. â€Å"Cattle Ranching and Deforestation.† Live Stock Policy Brief. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 13 Sept. 2010 â€Å"Eating For Life.†GoVeg.com: Vegetarian and Vegan Information. PETA. Web. 8 Apr. 2010. . Fox, Michael Allen. â€Å"Vegetarianism and Planetary Health.† Ethics and Environment (2000):163-174.

Fall of Labor Unions

What do you think of when you hear the phrase â€Å"labor unions?† Most people associate a negative connotation with labor unions. They think that labor unions are the only cause of strikes and work stoppages. Most think that people in unions are greedy and will do anything to get more money. Others swear by their unions, saying that their employers would take advantage of them if they didn†t organize their unions. However as we prepare to enter the new millennium, labor unions are decreasing in size. Let†s look at some of reasons. First, the numbers are unmistakable. At the end of 1997, when the most recent count was made, only 14.1% of workers belonged to unions, the lowest percentage since 1936 (Gross 23). This is a dramatic decrease from when unions were at their height at the end of World War II when 35.3% of Americans were in unions (Galenson 13). One cause of this fall of union membership is the decline of manufacturing in America and the transfer of much manufacturing work over seas (Gross 24). Because of advances in technology and labor saving innovations, fewer people are required to make steel and assembler automobiles. As a result, only 16.1% of U.S. workers now work in factories, down from 22.8% twenty years ago (Aronwitz 2). There has also been a decrease in size of the large corporations, which in the past usually signed industry-wide contracts to produce a particular item. The latest figures show that the 800 largest firms employed 17% of the total workforce, down from 25.7% twenty years ago (Aronwitz 3). Many of these companies have their work done abroad. Nike does not make a single shoe in the United States and many insurance companies are having paperwork processed over seas (Hacker 45). At home corporate jobs are frequently assigned to temporary workers, who are often classified as â€Å"independent contractors† and are not very likely to join unions. Indeed, there are fewer long-term jobs, something union seniority could once guarantee. Last year, among men aged forty to forty-five, only 39.1% had worked ten or more years at their current job, compared with 51.1 percent in 1983 (Galenson 27). So, one might ask, what caused this to happen? At some point in the 1980s, the balance of power shifted against labor unions. Some say the defining moment was in 1981, when then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan forced an end to the bitter air traffic controllers' strike. Others point to the 1985 victory of then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over striking coal miners (Gross 239). Whatever the reason, unions are trying to make a comeback. There are several strategies that unions have devised to return to their former glory. Unions have adopted a more lenient attitude towards management, reducing the number of strikes to record lows in the 1980s and early 90s, and attempting to negotiate contracts providing job security for members (Gross 278). Unions have also placed greater emphasis on organizing drives for new members. Although unions have been very successful in organizing government employees, they have been less successful with recruiting office workers in the rapidly expanding services sector. However, during the last two decades, the wage advantage for unionized workers with private jobs has fallen by 44.1 percent, although the public sector has increased by 9.5 percent (Maguire 20). Currently, 41.9% of union members are from the public sector. Among the most strongly unionized occupations are firefighters (71.6%), flight attendants (69.4%), and high school teachers (56.1%). Only 28.6 percent of coal miners belong to unions and only 19.5% of truck drivers (Hacker 47). Despite all of the downsides of unions they do have their benefits. Here are a few examples of salaries secured through collective bargaining by highly trained professionals: Pilots with only fifteen years of service at Northwest, American, United, and US Airways now earn on average over $175,000 a year. Professors at New York City University can now get as much as $101,655 for twenty-eight weeks of teaching. Under the current National Basketball Association contract, first year players-some of them right out of high school-will start at $300,000 (Hacker 48). The recent NBA lockout has shaped many peoples† opinions on labor unions. Most people, myself included, thought that it was ridiculous for these people to be having a labor dispute. The players are already making an insane amount of money and the owners are millionaires themselves looking to add to their pocketbooks also. The real losers in this battle are the fans who love the game. They cannot see their favorite players in action because of this dispute. This just goes to show you that labor markets affect us in our everyday lives. Another way labor unions can affect our lives is when they decide to strike. This can effect hundreds, even thousands of workers in the General Motors strike in 1998. In the case with the automobile industry, many factories are involved in the production of their cars. If even one of these factories strikes then the other factories must also shut down. This chain reaction can render thousands of workers jobless in just a few weeks. The union members know that there is always a potential risk of striking as accept as part of their job. What role will unions play in the future? Will they ever return to former glory? Nobody knows for sure. Economists have mixed feeling on this matter. Some say that the workers of the twenty-first century will demand a return to the unions and organize in record numbers. Others say that the current trend will prevail and almost wipeout unions completely until there are only a handful of them remaining. My opinion is that unions will stick around for as long as people are working. They will be there to protect the rights of the individual worker and make sure that he or she is treated fairly.

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 105

CHAPTER 105 Night had fallen over Rosslyn. Robert Langdon stood alone on the porch of the fieldstone house enjoying the sounds of laughter and reunion drifting through the screened door behind him. The mug of potent Brazilian coffee in his hand had granted him a hazy reprieve from his mounting exhaustion, and yet he sensed the reprieve would be fleeting. The fatigue in his body went to the core. â€Å"You slipped out quietly,† a voice behind him said. He turned. Sophie's grandmother emerged, her silver hair shimmering in the night. Her name, for the last twenty-eight years at least, was Marie Chauvel. Langdon gave a tired smile. â€Å"I thought I'd give your family some time together.† Through the window, he could see Sophie talking with her brother. Marie came over and stood beside him. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, when I first heard of Jacques's murder, I was terrified for Sophie's safety. Seeing her standing in my doorway tonight was the greatest relief of my life. I cannot thank you enough.† Langdon had no idea how to respond. Although he had offered to give Sophie and her grandmother time to talk in private, Marie had asked him to stay and listen. My husband obviously trusted you, Mr.Langdon, so I do as well. And so Langdon had remained, standing beside Sophie and listening in mute astonishment while Marie told the story of Sophie's late parents. Incredibly, both had been from Merovingian families – direct descendants of Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ. Sophie's parents and ancestors, for protection, had changed their family names of Plantard and Saint-Clair. Their children represented the most direct surviving royal bloodline and therefore were carefully guarded by the Priory. When Sophie's parents were killed in a car accident whose cause could not be determined, the Priory feared the identity of the royal line had been discovered. â€Å"Your grandfather and I,† Marie had explained in a voice choked with pain, â€Å"had to make a grave decision the instant we received the phone call. Your parents' car had just been found in the river.† She dabbed at the tears in her eyes. â€Å"All six of us – including you two grandchildren – were supposed to be traveling together in that car that very night. Fortunately we changed our plans at the last moment, and your parents were alone. Hearing of the accident, Jacques and I had no way to know what had really happened†¦ or if this was truly an accident.† Marie looked at Sophie. â€Å"We knew we had to protect our grandchildren, and we did what we thought was best. Jacques reported to the police that your brother and I had been in the car†¦ our two bodies apparently washed off in the current. Then your brother and I went underground with the Priory. Jacques, being a man of prominence, did not have the luxury of disappearing. It o nly made sense that Sophie, being the eldest, would stay in Paris to be taught and raised by Jacques, close to the heart and protection of the Priory.† Her voice fell to a whisper. â€Å"Separating the family was the hardest thing we ever had to do. Jacques and I saw each other only very infrequently, and always in the most secret of settings†¦ under the protection of the Priory. There are certain ceremonies to which the brotherhood always stays faithful.† Langdon had sensed the story went far deeper, but he also sensed it was not for him to hear. So he had stepped outside. Now, gazing up at the spires of Rosslyn, Langdon could not escape the hollow gnaw of Rosslyn's unsolved mystery. Is the Grail really here at Rosslyn? And if so, where are theblade and chalice that Sauniere mentioned in his poem?† I'll take that,† Marie said, motioning to Langdon's hand. â€Å"Oh, thank you.† Langdon held out his empty coffee cup. She stared at him. â€Å"I was referring to your other hand, Mr. Langdon.† Langdon looked down and realized he was holding Sauniere's papyrus. He had taken it from the cryptex once again in hopes of seeing something he had missed earlier. â€Å"Of course, I'm sorry.† Marie looked amused as she took the paper. â€Å"I know of a man at a bank in Paris who is probably very eager to see the return of this rosewood box. Andre Vernet was a dear friend of Jacques, and Jacques trusted him explicitly. Andre would have done anything to honor Jacques's requests for the care of this box.† Including shooting me, Langdon recalled, deciding not to mention that he had probably broken the poor man's nose. Thinking of Paris, Langdon flashed on the three senechaux who had been killed the night before. â€Å"And the Priory? What happens now?† â€Å"The wheels are already in motion, Mr. Langdon. The brotherhood has endured for centuries, and it will endure this. There are always those waiting to move up and rebuild.† All evening Langdon had suspected that Sophie's grandmother was closely tied to the operations of the Priory. After all, the Priory had always had women members. Four Grand Masters had been women. The senechaux were traditionally men – the guardians – and yet women held far more honored status within the Priory and could ascend to the highest post from virtually any rank. Langdon thought of Leigh Teabing and Westminster Abbey. It seemed a lifetime ago. â€Å"Was the Church pressuring your husband not to release the Sangreal documents at the End of Days?† â€Å"Heavens no. The End of Days is a legend of paranoid minds. There is nothing in the Priory doctrine that identifies a date at which the Grail should be unveiled. In fact the Priory has always maintained that the Grail should never be unveiled.† â€Å"Never?† Langdon was stunned. â€Å"It is the mystery and wonderment that serve our souls, not the Grail itself. The beauty of the Grail lies in her ethereal nature.† Marie Chauvel gazed up at Rosslyn now. â€Å"For some, the Grail is a chalice that will bring them everlasting life. For others, it is the quest for lost documents and secret history. And for most, I suspect the Holy Grail is simply a grand idea†¦ a glorious unattainable treasure that somehow, even in today's world of chaos, inspires us.† â€Å"But if the Sangreal documents remain hidden, the story of Mary Magdalene will be lost forever,† Langdon said. â€Å"Will it? Look around you. Her story is being told in art, music, and books. More so every day. The pendulum is swinging. We are starting to sense the dangers of our history†¦ and of our destructive paths. We are beginning to sense the need to restore the sacred feminine.† She paused. â€Å"You mentioned you are writing a manuscript about the symbols of the sacred feminine, are you not?† â€Å"I am.† She smiled. â€Å"Finish it, Mr. Langdon. Sing her song. The world needs modern troubadours.† Langdon fell silent, feeling the weight of her message upon him. Across the open spaces, a new moon was rising above the tree line. Turning his eyes toward Rosslyn, Langdon felt a boyish craving to know her secrets. Don't ask, he told himself. This is not the moment.He glanced at the papyrus in Marie's hand, and then back at Rosslyn. â€Å"Ask the question, Mr. Langdon,† Marie said, looking amused. â€Å"You have earned the right.† Langdon felt himself flush.† You want to know if the Grail is here at Rosslyn.† â€Å"Can you tell me?† She sighed in mock exasperation. â€Å"Why is it that men simply cannot let the Grail rest?† She laughed, obviously enjoying herself. â€Å"Why do you think it's here?† Langdon motioned to the papyrus in her hand. â€Å"Your husband's poem speaks specifically of Rosslyn, except it also mentions a blade and chalice watching over the Grail. I didn't see any symbols of the blade and chalice up there.† â€Å"The blade and chalice?† Marie asked. â€Å"What exactly do they look like?† Langdon sensed she was toying with him, but he played along, quickly describing the symbols. A look of vague recollection crossed her face. â€Å"Ah, yes, of course. The blade represents all that is masculine. I believe it is drawn like this, no?† Using her index finger, she traced a shape on herpalm. â€Å"Yes,† Langdon said. Marie had drawn the less common† closed† form of the blade, although Langdon had seen the symbol portrayed both ways. â€Å"And the inverse,† she said, drawing again on her palm,† is the chalice, which represents the feminine.† â€Å"Correct,† Langdon said. â€Å"And you are saying that in all the hundreds of symbols we have here in Rosslyn Chapel, these two shapes appear nowhere?† â€Å"I didn't see them.† â€Å"And if I show them to you, will you get some sleep?† Before Langdon could answer, Marie Chauvel had stepped off the porch and was heading toward the chapel. Langdon hurried after her. Entering the ancient building, Marie turned on the lights and pointed to the center of the sanctuary floor. â€Å"There you are, Mr. Langdon. The blade and chalice.† Langdon stared at the scuffed stone floor. It was blank. â€Å"There's nothing here†¦ .† Marie sighed and began to walk along the famous path worn into the chapel floor, the same path Langdon had seen the visitors walking earlier this evening. As his eyes adjusted to see the giant symbol, he still felt lost. â€Å"But that's the Star of Dav – † Langdon stopped short, mute with amazement as it dawned on him. The blade and chalice. Fused as one. The Star of David†¦ the perfect union of male and female†¦ Solomon's Seal†¦ marking the Holy of Holies, where the male and female deities – Yahweh and Shekinah – were thought to dwell. Langdon needed a minute to find his words. â€Å"The verse does point here to Rosslyn. Completely. Perfectly.† Marie smiled. â€Å"Apparently.† The implications chilled him. â€Å"So the Holy Grail is in the vault beneath us?† She laughed. â€Å"Only in spirit. One of the Priory's most ancient charges was one day to return the Grail to her homeland of France where she could rest for eternity. For centuries, she was dragged across the countryside to keep her safe. Most undignified. Jacques's charge when he became Grand Master was to restore her honor by returning her to France and building her a resting place fit for a queen.† â€Å"And he succeeded?† Now her face grew serious. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, considering what you've done for me tonight, and as curator of the Rosslyn Trust, I can tell you for certain that the Grail is no longer here.† Langdon decided to press. â€Å"But the keystone is supposed to point to the place where the Holy Grail is hidden now.Why does it point to Rosslyn?† â€Å"Maybe you're misreading its meaning. Remember, the Grail can be deceptive. As could my late husband.† â€Å"But how much clearer could he be?† he asked. â€Å"We are standing over an underground vault marked by the blade and chalice, underneath a ceiling of stars, surrounded by the art of Master Masons. Everything speaks of Rosslyn.† â€Å"Very well, let me see this mysterious verse.† She unrolled the papyrus and read the poem aloud in a deliberate tone. The Holy Grail ‘neath ancient Roslin waits. The blade and chalice guarding o'er Her gates. Adorned in masters' loving art, She lies. She rests at last beneath the starry skies. When she finished, she was still for several seconds, until a knowing smile crossed her lips. â€Å"Aah, Jacques.† Langdon watched her expectantly. â€Å"You understand this?† â€Å"As you have witnessed on the chapel floor, Mr. Langdon, there are many ways to see simple things.† Langdon strained to understand. Everything about Jacques Sauniere seemed to have double meanings, and yet Langdon could see no further. Marie gave a tired yawn. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, I will make a confession to you. I have never officially been privy to the present location of the Grail. But, of course, I was married to a person of enormous influence†¦ and my women's intuition is strong.† Langdon started to speak but Marie continued. â€Å"I am sorry that after all your hard work, you will be leaving Rosslyn without any real answers. And yet, something tells me you will eventually find what you seek. One day it will dawn on you.† She smiled. â€Å"And when it does, I trust that you, of all people, can keep a secret.† There was a sound of someone arriving in the doorway. â€Å"Both of you disappeared,† Sophie said, entering. â€Å"I was just leaving,† her grandmother replied, walking over to Sophie at the door. â€Å"Good night, princess.† She kissed Sophie's forehead. â€Å"Don't keep Mr. Langdon out too late.† Langdon and Sophie watched her grandmother walk back toward the fieldstone house. When Sophie turned to him, her eyes were awash in deep emotion. â€Å"Not exactly the ending I expected.† That makes two of us, he thought. Langdon could see she was overwhelmed. The news she had received tonight had changed everything in her life. â€Å"Are you okay? It's a lot to take in.† She smiled quietly. â€Å"I have a family. That's where I'm going to start. Who we are and where we came from will take some time.† Langdon remained silent. â€Å"Beyond tonight, will you stay with us?† Sophie asked. â€Å"At least for a few days?† Langdon sighed, wanting nothing more. â€Å"You need some time here with your family, Sophie. I'm going back to Paris in the morning.† She looked disappointed but seemed to know it was the right thing to do. Neither of them spoke for a long time. Finally Sophie reached over and, taking his hand, led him out of the chapel. They walked to a small rise on the bluff. From here, the Scottish countryside spread out before them, suffused in a pale moonlight that sifted through the departing clouds. They stood in silence, holding hands, both of them fighting the descending shroud of exhaustion. The stars were just now appearing, but to the east, a single point of light glowed brighter than any other. Langdon smiled when he saw it. It was Venus. The ancient Goddess shining down with her steady and patient light. The night was growing cooler, a crisp breeze rolling up from the lowlands. After a while, Langdon looked over at Sophie. Her eyes were closed, her lips relaxed in a contented smile. Langdon could feel his own eyes growing heavy. Reluctantly, he squeezed her hand. â€Å"Sophie?† Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned to him. Her face was beautiful in the moonlight. She gave him a sleepy smile. â€Å"Hi.† Langdon felt an unexpected sadness to realize he would be returning to Paris without her. â€Å"I maybe gone before you wake up.† He paused, a knot growing in his throat. â€Å"I'm sorry, I'm not very good at – â€Å" Sophie reached out and placed her soft hand on the side of his face. Then, leaning forward, she kissed him tenderly on the cheek. â€Å"When can I see you again?† Langdon reeled momentarily, lost in her eyes. â€Å"When?† He paused, curious if she had any idea how much he had been wondering the same thing. â€Å"Well, actually, next month I'm lecturing at a conference in Florence. I'll be there a week without much to do.† â€Å"Is that an invitation?† â€Å"We'd be living in luxury. They're giving me a room at the Brunelleschi.† Sophie smiled playfully. â€Å"You presume a lot, Mr. Langdon.† He cringed at how it had sounded. â€Å"What I meant – â€Å" â€Å"I would love nothing more than to meet you in Florence, Robert. But on one condition.† Her tone turned serious. â€Å"No museums, no churches, no tombs, no art, no relics.† â€Å"In Florence? For a week? There's nothing else to do.† Sophie leaned forward and kissed him again, now on the lips. Their bodies came together, softly at first, and then completely. When she pulled away, her eyes were full of promise. â€Å"Right,† Langdon managed. â€Å"It's a date.†