Los Angeles Abrasion Value

LOS ANGELES ABRASION VALUE This method describes the procedure for the determination of the Los Angeles Abrasion Value of aggregate APPARATUS Australian Standard sieves (Grade B) as required. 1 2 A thermostatically controlled oven with good air ventilation capable of maintaining a temperature within the range of 105Â °C to 110Â °C. 3 Sieve brushes. 4 Balance readable and accurate to at least one gram. 5 Sample divider of the multiple slot type. A suitable design is shown in Figure 1. 6 Los Angeles Machine essential dimensions complying with Figure 2.Worksheet, MRD 1165 (recommendation only) 7. PROCEDURE 1 Obtain a test sample taken in accordance with Test Method WA200. 1. 2 Select a grading defined in Table 1 appropriate to the particle size distribution of the test sample. 3 Wash the test sample by agitation under running water for approximately ten minutes. 5 Dry the test sample to constant mass (Note a), in an oven at a temperature within the range of 105Â °C to 110Â °C, cool to room temperature and sieve it on the appropriate sieves until a sufficient mass of each fraction has been obtained.Adjust the mass of material so obtained for each sieve fraction by quartering or riffling, if necessary, to within two percent of the relevant mass shown in Table. 1. Determine the mass of each fraction and combine the sieve fractions to form a test portion ), to at least the nearest 1g, of the test portion. Place it, together with the appropriate ball charge defined in Table 1, in the Los Angeles Machine. Rotate the machine for 500 or 1 000 revolutions as required in Table 1 (Note b).

City of God Analysis

Edited by Ku’ulei  © PhotoWeekly Edited by Ku’ulei  © PhotoWeekly Based on a true story, the movie â€Å"City Of God† tells the story of a man named Wilson Rodrigues (also known as Rocket) and how he became a photographer. Although that was the main storyline of the movie, it had many things to build up to him becoming a photographer. In this â€Å"city of god†, Rocket and another guy named â€Å"lil ze† both grew up together in a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. One, Rocket, becomes a photographer and the other becomes a drug dealer. The director, Fernando Meirelles, illustrated a great story of how greed can ruin someone’s life.Lil Ze’ used to be called Lil Dice. He didn’t like getting picked on by the older gang members so he started shooting out of his own will and killing innocent people. Ever since then, he started his own gang and needed to be the top of everyone. He needed to have everything. For example, thereâ€℠¢s one part in the story where someone that he hated (knockout ned) was in the paper, and he wasn’t. He got furious at that one little thing. Why? because of his greed that he had. Compared to Rocket, where he has little greed, he appreciates the things that he is given.If Rocket was so greedy, he wouldn’t have been this famous that he is now. It kind of reminds me of the presidential election that’s going on right now. Every candidate has greed. They need to have the most top-notch thing before the other candidate gets it. We all can’t help it, because the world is filled with this thing called greed. Because Lil Ze had so much greed, he killed innocent people so that he could get money and become number one in the gang industry. I don’t understand how people can’t just be more like Rocket.Although Rocket grew up in a bad environment, it didn’t mean he had to live his whole life like that. Overall, this movie’s theme is all ab out greed and what you do with it. I would give this movie a 5 out of 5. Although killings not worth the money, watching this movie is worth the money. Based on a true story, the movie â€Å"City Of God† tells the story of a man named Wilson Rodrigues (also known as Rocket) and how he became a photographer. Although that was the main storyline of the movie, it had many things to build up to him becoming a photographer.In this â€Å"city of god†, Rocket and another guy named â€Å"lil ze† both grew up together in a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. One, Rocket, becomes a photographer and the other becomes a drug dealer. The director, Fernando Meirelles, illustrated a great story of how greed can ruin someone’s life. Lil Ze’ used to be called Lil Dice. He didn’t like getting picked on by the older gang members so he started shooting out of his own will and killing innocent people. Ever since then, he started his own gang and needed to be the top of everyone. He needed to have everything.For example, there’s one part in the story where someone that he hated (knockout ned) was in the paper, and he wasn’t. He got furious at that one little thing. Why? because of his greed that he had. Compared to Rocket, where he has little greed, he appreciates the things that he is given. If Rocket was so greedy, he wouldn’t have been this famous that he is now. It kind of reminds me of the presidential election that’s going on right now. Every candidate has greed. They need to have the most top-notch thing before the other candidate gets it.We all can’t help it, because the world is filled with this thing called greed. Because Lil Ze had so much greed, he killed innocent people so that he could get money and become number one in the gang industry. I don’t understand how people can’t just be more like Rocket. Although Rocket grew up in a bad environment, it didn’t mean he had to live h is whole life like that. Overall, this movie’s theme is all about greed and what you do with it. I would give this movie a 5 out of 5. Although killings not worth the money, watching this movie is worth the money. Is Killing worth the money? Is Killing worth the money?

IT Outsourcing Essay

Today’s market place continues to shrink due to computer technologies and communication being at the speed of light. This makes the act of doing business on a large scale not only possible but expected. An organization needs implementation of outsource strategy to happen on every level within the company structure in order to function. Many factors contribute to a company’s success or failure. Company is defined by more than just its product or service and the price at which this product or service is sold in the market place. An effective organization has much strength in its favor to remain competitive. Factors such as: flexibility, creativity, openness to use of technology and innovations, communication across the organization and talented employees are a must for competitive advantage. It is an organization’s ability to adjust to changing times that creates a foundation for the public to admire. How an organization continues to reflect such a persona is entirely contingent on so many factors but really it comes down to vision and action. Integrity is crucial. Upholding the company’s value system and word to the public remains a key facet for success. Building any strategy or campaign on this premise presents the best possible and true corporate image to the public and allows for a great amount of trust to form. Building character and trust is very important within the financial world but also the retail forum of health products because there has been a backlash due to corporate lack of governance and scandal but also telecommunications is much like a double-edged sword. With the wrong image, comes poor press and lack of a first impression. It can make or break the situation. In this respect, outsourcing can be a complex game. In order to better understand customers, it is important one understands how marketing works. This means not only having knowledge of traditional methods but also knowing the fundamentals of e-marketing and e-commerce. Today’s Internet is a triumph for human ingenuity and spontaneous order. In some parts it embodies leading edge technology like Asynchronous Transfer Mode but really it is the use of new technologies combined with older ones that makes the Internet so fascinating and vital to business. Specifically the Internet ends distance limitations and it empowers individuals in important new ways to create new enterprise (Gasman, 2005, p. 2). The Internet is relatively vast in its freedom. Unlike the traditional telephone, the Internet is not charged by the mile or any distance. This brings people together. Retailers see the Internet as a marketing tool they can use to target a smaller, regional niche market. One must understand it is in the best interests of companies to make the e-retailing transitions because of the fact that most shopping now happens online. This is due to the increase in e-commerce and instant need for convenience. E-commerce makes purchasing easier and faster. It fits into the lifestyle of today’s 24/7 world where people do not have the time to shop at the mall or pay bills by writing out checks. Statement of the Problem The subject of IT outsourcing and e-business strategy in China’s pharmaceutical industry, its frameworks, convenience and also problems or implications were assessed in this research. As a result of this study, this research presented preliminary findings related to IT outsourcing in China. This leads us to looking at how e-strategy and use of the Internet to facilitate outsourcing has created a whole industry of service for the consumer or in other words, e-services. This required a look at different models to assess strategy and analysis a company’s role in the market. Purpose of the Study The overall purpose of this paper and study is to investigate the role of IT outsourcing within a Chinese drug company. This lead to further study of its use within the health industry in China. As growing importance in an organization’s competitive advantage and globalization makes an Internet presence an expectation, the right marketing strategy becomes all the more important in a company overall strategy but it also equals power. An organization needs careful research prior to investment but also needs to strategize and ponder if the consumer is worth the profit. This paper will look at how a proactive strategic analysis allows an organization knowledge of the market in order to build a lasting presence and customer relationships. This paper will also explore the implications of outsourcing. Review of Related Literature Information Technology is a powerful means that helps organizations meet the challenges of a competitive market environment and enable the firms to stay ahead of the competition. The information revolution is exerting substantial effects on the structure and functions of organizations. From the beginning of the computing era various studies have been made that predicted several positive effects ensuing from the implementation of information technology (IT) (Cash & Konsynski, 1986). Many cases have been published, as well as articles in the professional press, which predicted a net increase in business results of companies that invested more in IT (Buday, 1986). However, during the little more than 10 years of this research line, contradictory results have been found From the 1970s to 1980s, those companies that invested more in IT suffered a relative setback in the work factor productivity indexes. This paper will discuss the relationship between IT and competitive advantage in following content. We believe that IT is necessary to improve competitive position of the organization. Many business professionals point to the use and deployment of IT as a point of weakness, not a point of strength in their organizations. They think that the reason for this is often that IT is being driven from a technical perspective, not from a business perspective. This phenomenon exists because many businesspeople think that the IT is too complicated, too expensive, too risky and too changeable. They would not like to spend time on understanding the complex information technology management. Most businesspeople only understand how specific technologies affect their ability to do their specific jobs. Poorly understand IT initiatives often end in failure. The previous literatures reveal that IT brings huge impact on careers and information technology has impacted many jobs such as IT has replaced human labor and many organizations no longer pay people to simply oversee others and pass along information. The business benefits that are derived from the strategic use of technology are significant, but they are accompanied by risks that must be addressed. The failure to address IT vulnerabilities within their own organizations and throughout the supply chain can have devastating consequences for business operations. China and Outsourcing To this day, the country of China remains an enigma, isolated from the Western world and shrouded in mystery conceptualized by the Communist Red. Its culture both ancient and modern fascinates one on many levels mainly because it is so completely foreign. Aspects of their way of life, customs and lifestyle elements mirror the Communist doctrines and the absence of pure freedom seems sad to Westerners. Still slowly China is opening its doors to the West. There is a changing tide, a force at work. It is the advent of globalization, mass communication and new technologies that changed the atmosphere of China. The world is forever shrinking due to the marketplace is growing at the speed of light and commerce taking place over new mediums. This makes possibility happen. People from every nation have yearned to participate in this explosion. The Chinese have been no exception. They have reached a point in their history where they must not only hold on to their cultural identity but also embrace change from outside. This has been the only way to take advantage of globalization and create a new persona for China. Still the seed of change had to grow from somewhere. This transformation did not happen over night. It can be difficult and frustrating for one to understand yet try to respect. It is out of understanding what one fears that one can be a catalyst for change. Only then can the barriers come down. Much of the emergence of globalization can be attributed to the world economy. China has made steps of change within recent years and as a result found itself at the forefront of economic explosion. At this time the Chinese economy is growing at the rate of ten percent a year, faster than any other country in the world (Richardson, 2005, p. 1). As a result, the region of the Pacific Rim and more specifically South East Asia is considered an emerging market, one that many international corporations are focused on gaining a competitive advantage. This industry of health food and vitamins is no exception. Due to vast changes in available technologies, it is expected and imperative that all companies have an Internet presence or utilize a global e-strategy that involves their business practices to evolve into e-commerce. Two Models This project utilizes two models to analyze IT outsourcing. The models are as follows: (1) Kurt Lewin’s Force Field Analysis theory and (2) SWOT. These two models and others like them assist management and strategists in understanding a company’s standing within the market place. By assessing a company’s strengths and weaknesses or forces at work within a market or organization, one can have a better idea of which areas need attention. Force Field Analysis Theory  Field theories really took the basic form of the fluid mechanics developed in the eighteenth century, in which equations linked a â€Å"flow† or potential for transmitted force to spatial coordinates, but applied this form to situations where no fluid could be found; examples are motion induced by gravity, electricity, or magnetism. I will follow general use and employ the term â€Å"field theory† to denote only those theories that do not involve a clearly existent substantial medium. Lewin’s field theory provides â€Å"a method for â€Å"analyzing causal relations and of building scientific constructs† (p. 01) on several psychosocial concepts involving human actions, emotions, and personality. These psychosocial concepts include human frustration, levels of aspiration, marginality, punishment and reward, and social identity. Lewin’s field theory is built on two constructs (a) human behavior is derived from a combination of mutually interdependent co-existing facts in the life space of individuals, and (b) these coexisting facts have the characteristics of a â€Å"dynamic field,† because â€Å"any part of the field depends on every other part of the field† (p. 87). Using the analogy of â€Å"phase space† in physics, which represents a multitude of factors that might influence events in open systems, Lewin articulated the importance of â€Å"psychological space† in real life. Lewin reasoned that an individual’s life space, including one’s personal characteristics and environmental influences, is an inherent part of the individual’s total situation–momentary and general life situation as perceived by the individua l. He argued that the total situations or fields are more important in studying group behavior because at any given time, individual human behavior, is not only derived from, but is also likely to change, due to the individual’s perception of current situations based on their past cultural orientation, race, status, and experience. To account for such complexities and interdependence of the internal and external factors affecting individuals, Lewin advocated a middle course. By applying these field theory principles to groups in given situations, Lewin observed that it is possible to glean general patterns, underlying relationships, and structural characteristics that can be transposed to other real-world situations. As an example of the field theory principle, Lewin (1997c) advocated the use of a psychological approach to understanding fields that influence individuals and noted that a teacher can never succeed in giving proper guidance to a student if she or he does not learn to understand the psychological world in which that individual student lived. This objective description in psychology actually means describing a situation in its totality–a sum total of facts which makes up that individual. SWOT Assessment It is important to determine the impact a strategy will have on the operations and activities of an organization. The objective is to utilize present technologies and future innovations to plan the future of a company. It is important to allow a flexible framework for strategy to interact within the environment. Further the objective is to gain understanding of the surroundings and behaviors under which they are operating. The key is to create an excellent strategy in which to include within the organizational culture. It is best management remains informed of potential challenges and SWOT allows for clarity. IT Infrastructure and the Practice of Outsourcing As the act of doing business becomes more innovative due to new technologies and high levels of communication, it is surprising that doing business become more complicated and expensive. Is it the factor of elevated expectation and competition from global markets, it is a lack of understanding your own organisation and its cores? Angelo Mozilo believes that outsourcing creates room for improved focus upon core values and it is with the implementation of high speed communication and data systems that enables people to better interact with each other (2002, par. 3). It allows for context to be processed outside the core, only to return when needed. Outsourcing is much like a double-edged sword, it can be seen as a negative as much as a positive. Many believe that it is stealing from American jobs to use cheaper labour sources in countries like India. Timothy Smith surmises that outsourcing has three functions in making organisations more efficient, effective and reduces costs. â€Å"Outsourcing enables organisations to reallocate resources† (Smith 2001, par. 3). This in turn allows the organisation to spend less time on those tasks, saves it money in labour and location by changing focus from survival to enhancing competitive advantage. An organisation can only do this when it becomes people focused. Truly what IT outsourcing does for the business to supplier to the customer relationship is create a new business process that isolates pieces of IT by restructuring the entire segment of the customer’s business. This includes value added improvements in the organisational logic of processes, implementation of best-in-class technology, extensive management and employee training as well as adoption of best practices in the vendor’s field of experience. This may sound like a lot of both monetary and human resource investment but over the long run such implementation will allow the organisation to focus on core rather than context. It goes to show what many successful CEOs would say, â€Å"don’t sweat the small stuff† and this motto will take you to the next level of continual learning and success. Exporting organisations are also seeking ways to lower costs while increasing customer service. A relatively new approach is supply chain management (SCM). Supply chain management differs from traditional materials and manufacturing control in several ways (Burn & Hackney, 2003). First, SCM views the supply chain as a single process. Second, SCM requires strategic decision-making due to its impact on overall costs and market share. Third, supply chain management regards inventories as a mechanism of last resort. Finally, it requires an integrated approach to systems. Integration results in reduced inventory and significant cost benefits (Trunick, 2005). The success of SCM usually involves implementation of an information management system. Still the model is evolving to include new innovations being used as tools. The Amorphous type of chain changes as the company introduces new strategies. This type of model best reflects the continuous flow of ideas and possibilities within the e-commerce construct or Internet medium specifically. It helps anticipate future occurrences. This aids a company’s tracking of Internet use especially when applied to advertising and promotions, as it is known â€Å"the number of businesses utilising the Internet for e-business purposes was significantly low at 28% though an further 33% were actively considering the implementation† (Ritchie & Brindley, 2002, p. 2). The function of procurement within the logistics process is moving to a new plane of sophistication due to new technologies to make the job simpler. Much of it is moving to the platform of the Internet to maximise efficiency and productivity. E-Procurement is now moving from easy-to-automate tasks like invoicing generations to more complex concerns such a E-marketplace implementation, operation and electronic collaboration. Literature suggests that currently focus in on technologies that support E-procurement of direct goods that are mission critical. Also because raw materials that go into production of the finished product many account for â€Å"80 percent of a company’s expenses, the saving derived from implementing E-procurement is compelling† (Thierauf & Hoctor 2003, p. 250). In other words, E-procurement technology offers lower purchase prices to faster fulfilment cycles as well as lower administrative overhead to better control. As a result, companies realise broad, measurable benefits from the implementation of E-procurement. Companies stand to gain even more impressive results from coming generations of the technology that includes connecting to trading exchange with their own industries. This also enables a customer better informed purchases as a company learns to manage production on a daily basis. This means the capability for the supply chain to extend beyond customers and suppliers improves. This also improves the ability for the company to communicate with the customer and the supplier. This leads to new ideas and knowledge about the process as companies and suppliers work in a join environment. Sometimes organisations look to outsourcing inventory as a way to cut costs and speed up the process. GHL will find that by using the Internet as e-strategy that they can achieve multitasking on new levels, allowing for many lines of communication as once. The Internet will allow GHL to tap into a bigger supply base to ensure dependable supply and backup sources. This in turn will reduce the amount it takes to secure shipment of new products. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are particularly valuable in new product introduction because it acts as a means of sharing information. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are software packages that attempt to integrate the information flow within a company, solving the problem of incompatibility between systems and operating practices. The ERP system will streamline the GHL’s data flows and provide management with direct access to a wealth of real-time information. This is facilitated by the used of database technologies which will link applications together and pass relevant data between them as necessary. Any new information added to one of the system updates the other systems automatically, thus creating complete integration between them (Soh, 2002 and Grandt, 2005). Directory services and middle ware are used in order to connect the applications and provide an infrastructure for users to communicate with each other and connect to the sources of information. There are many benefits and drawbacks to using this method of data transportation. It is important to analyse rather not this will be good fit for a company like GHL. â€Å"A key difficulty is that departments distrust the information provided by another department, be it via an information system or some other mechanism. Therefore checking and cleaning the data should be made an integral part of the implementation† (Bonner, 2002, par. 5). If ERP is integrated with the organisation’s decision-making structure, ERP can begin to deliver business benefits, impacting data delivery levels. Still its success can only be measured by the attitude of the user.

Employment and contract law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Employment and contract law - Assignment Example There are several problems in the theory of contracts and various limitations. A contract can be formed only if the promisor intends to take the legal obligation. Any contract which fails to explain its legal binding is not enforceable. The main aim of contract law is to safeguard the reasonable expectations if the promise is made in the condition when the promiser has indulged the promisee to believe that it is legal obligation. A formal legal formality involves the evidence of agreement or promise, the cautionary measure and if the promise is required to make oral promise it should be made clear to understand the seriousness of the obligation undertaken. The written contract documents also show formal agreement which have legal consequences. It shows the evidence of the intention of parties, which are involved in the contract. The research in 2007 on unfair trade practices and consumers found that consumer may or may not have a link between signed contract for the product or servic e and consciously entering into a contract3. Employment Law and Contract Charlie Totara of Green Island Enviro-Tours Ltd (GIETL) is planning to hire casual employees. The rule governing individual employment agreements, over the groups of staff fall under a specific category and are legally obliged under the Employment Relations Act 20004. The employment relation Act 2000 requires the agreements to be mentioned in writing and the agreement are essential for every business. The employers run the risk of getting into problem in case of disputes. The rights of employee and employer are protected by the law. If the employee is mistreated by the employee, or the employee misuses company’s properties, the agreement can be used to address the issue. The employee relation act states nine points are significant in individual employment agreement - 1. The name of employee and employer 2. The description of work 3. The location 4. The time of work 5. The salary 6. The explanation of ser vices which will be used to resolve problems 7. The payment term for holidays 8. The redundancy process 9. In case 90 day trial period is used, the statement should be included, which declares the procedure of dismissal. Individual Employment Agreement between an Employer and an Employee Individual Employment Agreement between an Employer and an Employee 1 The Parties 1.1 Individual Employment Agreement The parties to this employment agreement are: 1. GIETL, the "Employer"; and 2. Insert employee's name, the "Employee". 2 The Position and the Duties 2.1 Position The Employee is being employed as Tour guides and assistant. 2.2 Duties as set out in the job description The Employee shall perform the duties set out in the Job Description attached to this agreement. 1. Guiding tourists 2. Communicating with the tourists These duties may be modified and updated by the Employer from time to time following agreement with the Employee. The Employee also agrees to perform all other reasonable duties and comply with reasonable instructions issued by the Employer. 3 Nature and Term of the Agreement 3.1 Casual Individual Employment Agreement (Intermittent) This Employment Agreement is an individual employment agreement entered into under the Employment Relations Act 2000. The parties to this agreement agree that the nature of the relationship is a casual "as required" employment relatio

Muscular Dystrophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Muscular Dystrophy - Essay Example As muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder, patients suffering from it have wrong or missing information in their genes, which inhibits or stops the production of protein dystrophin that is vital for strong and healthy muscles. The result is that in patients suffering from Muscular Dystrophy, their muscles tend to become weak with the passage of time (Tingle, 1990, p. 28). The adults suffering from Muscular Dystrophy eventually lose the ability to perform normal body activities like walking and moving around. Some patients develop Muscular Dystrophy when they are mere babies, while many other patients begin to exhibit symptoms at a later stage. Some patients even develop Muscular Dystrophy at an adult stage. The life expectancy in a Muscular Dystrophy directly depends on the extent to which one’s muscles have weakened and the degree of their impact on heart and lung functioning (Tingle, 1990). Though much scientific research is taking place to find a cure for Muscular Dystrop hy, at present there is no cure for this disease. Patients with Muscular Dystrophy could resort to physiotherapy to prevent the stiffening of their muscles. Sometimes surgery or braces are used to restore muscle flexibility (Emery, 2000, p. 56, 58). In acute cases, respiratory aids like ventilators may be required (Emery, 2000, p. 63). Conclusively speaking, though there is no cure for Muscular Dystrophy, the patients could resort to varied available medical interventions to improve the quality of their life.

Procter & Gamble Business Sphere Research Paper

Procter & Gamble Business Sphere - Research Paper Example The firm has 127,000 members of staff, in addition to, 300 trade names vended in 180 nations. P&G averages approximately 4 billion deals every day. Background: The initial project, initiated in the year 2010, is the Business capability course that provides executives forecasts concerning P&G promotion share and additional performance stats five to 12 months in prospects. At its central part is a sequence of analytic forms intended to expose what is happening in the trade currently, why it is transpiring, and what measures P&G could take. The â€Å"what† forms center on statistics for instance shipments, transactions, and market share. The â€Å"why† models emphasize sales figures down to the nation, region, product line, as well as store levels, and drivers for example, publicity and consumer expenditure, inspecting in the region- and nation-specific financial data. The â€Å"deeds† studies observe levers P&G can draw, for instance pricing, promotion, and merchandise mix, and offer approximations on what they convey. Hypothesis: By eliminating the holdup of physically gathering and collecting data, this copyright-pending business intelligence structure advances efficiency and collaboration, abridges work processes, lessens the judgment-making cycle period, and facilitates P&G to concentrate on innovating for the customer. 1.4. Objectives To concentrate businesses on exemptions and offer forward looking projections and scenarios by the employment of business capability analytic outlines. To present multifaceted information and data visually in business procedures, permitting leaders to perceive the data in a simpler manner, process the data speedily, and rapidly alter criticisms into deeds. Using technology to facilitate in bringing perspective to the information and make out chances for P&G by the employment of technology by GBS Analysts. To use the connection of analysts in planet see the similar commerce data in the identical way simultaneously, permitting them to join forces more efficiently. To offer business significance through one supply chain exemplar controlled supply cycle capability outline to assemble numerous information points, methodical, and exposures. This should consequence in a record decrease of 25 percent and should save enormous amounts of money. 1.5. Assumptions This copyright- pending incorporation of technology, visualization, and statistical aids heads to drill-down into statistics to get retorts in real-time. To respond to a set of queries, the course studies and joins in so far as 220 terabytes of data (matched to the degree of data stored in 200,000 editions of Encyclopedia Britannica), permitting for unprecedented granularity as well as customization. The manner data is tendered uncovers criticisms, drifts, and chances for the business heads and compels them to ask diversely and extremely concentrated on business queries. The visualization aids individuals to â€Å"make out† the statistics in manners they would not have had the capability to distinguish with merely figures and spreadsheets. It tests suppositions while concurrently presenting the statistics in dissimilar methods, enlightening potential resolutions that formerly might have not been clear.

Sadown Response paper to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Essay

Sadown Response paper to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Essay Example Out of curiosity, would changing a character’s name give additional cinematic effect to a film? One would think though that it is quite peculiar since it really did not matter in the film. Also, the film version was given a modification by adding characters in the story. Hurricane Katrina has left the country with heartaches and hardships. This was used to add drama in the story and to be more appealing to the public of the 21st century that would view a short story written in the 1920s. It is understandable how this was presented this way rather than a straight-forward method of presenting the story. The movie presented a very serious matter even during the days with the most advanced technology in medical science. It is true that the world is filled with unexplained subject matters which are left to be explored or may remain to be unanswered. The topic would tickle the curiosity of its audience regardless of the time or era that it will be shown. It is a subject matter is ab out age. It was also peculiar that instead of an old man with a beard, the film presented Benjamin Button as an â€Å"old† baby with wrinkled skin all-over his body. Initially, when Benjamin was examined by a physician, the doctor did not even say that he would live a full life. This is because of the child’s appearance and state of health. ... The script was written during the modern times, could this part be skipped? Just because a person has a particular disease or irregularities, that person does not need an exorcist to be healed. After Benjamin was â€Å"healed†, the pastor died. The main character was able to walk, with the help of the crutches, after the â€Å"healing†. Story writers used more recent events in history rather than using the 1860s setting of the story. During these events, also, there were parts where more people tend to reveal secrets kept for years. Here is when writers may think that the secrets would be understood since one’s life is almost about to end. Why it is always deemed that secrets revealed while a person is on his deathbed easier to be accepted? Now the question is â€Å"How would the living deal with the truth?† In her lifetime, Caroline thought that the man whom she knew as her father was actually her stepfather. Since this was revealed in her mother’s deathbed, there is a sense that she should accept the fact that her father’s true identity was concealed from her. This is almost a known plot in most films. It would be just depending on the writers how they would play the twist in a given idea of the story especially if it is an adaptation from a written material. The idea can even be wrongly regarded as an emotional blackmail to the other character since one will not be questioned or judged especially if the person is about to breathe its last breath. This can also be considered as true in real life and is happening even as one speaks. It is not a matter of how the actors played their roles as they only act out what the director is telling them. On the other hand, it is also not how the film was directed as the director is just interpreting the script that has

Prohibition in Texas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Prohibition in Texas - Essay Example The citizens under the influence of alcohol formed temperance leading to a nationwide cry of alcohol prohibition. Various laws were passed by the congress in favor to the prohibition of alcohol consumption, but the laws started being in effect in 1920s. The prohibition in Texas was wanting because it led to the creation on unethical jobs like smuggling of products and services leading to reduction in government taxes and revenues as potentials business men dealing in liquor were evading taxation. The rise of a drinking problem in Texas led to the formation of various groups known as temperance movements. These groups were instituted to control the high drinking that was a social and an economic menace (Roth 20). Individuals who were heavy drinkers did not contribute to the economic development since they spent most of their time unconscious. Secondly, the individuals involved in criminal activities caused pain to the citizens as they robed citizens of their sweat and hard work. The g roups taught the citizens on the importance of staying sober and disadvantages of getting intoxicated. They first approach group came with the idea to create moderation in the use of intoxicants, but as time passed, they changed their campaigns and focused on complete prohibition of alcohol consumption. ... The Act also constituted fines and sentences for those found deviating from the laws (May 19). Prohibition in Texas was, however, not a success as it did not curb the citizens from drinking alcohol in the region. Individuals who promoted the sell of alcohol in Texas were gangsters who hired individuals to ferry alcohol from other parts like Germany into Texas. The Drys who were appointed in Texas were not efficient enough as they did not lead to a complete prohibition of liquor consumption in Texas (Baker 161). This was because the law was not enforced leading to the continuance of alcohol consumption in various parts of Texas and in large North America. The prohibition led to conflicts in the national and Texas politics. This was because the government was divided with regard to the law of prohibition as a majority of them feared that prohibiting liquor consumption would lead to closure of employment opportunities to the citizens within the country. This was because a section of the citizens had resorted to the sale and manufacture of liquor as their main source of livelihood and snatching this from them meant taking their main source of livelihood. Prohibition in Texas was more of a moral than a political issue. Although politics contributed heavily in the Texas prohibition, this was majorly inspired by a few politicians who took the task of crusaders and campaigned on the impacts of intoxication and benefits of prohibition. Governor Colquit was an example of a political crusader who proposed the Texas prohibition law on the Democratic Party in the United States. Individuals were influenced by the instincts to propose the Texas prohibition as it was a source of misery to many families. In addition, abuse of liquor did not improve their economic status rather

Reflective Letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reflective Letter - Essay Example s learned, the following three (3) choices in designing my writing portfolio were chosen and revised copies are hereby appropriately attached: (1) profile essay; (2) position essay; and (3) proposal essay; which all delves on the same topic/issue: â€Å"The rising role of women in drug trafficking†. The profile essay initially presented a profile draft about Griselda Blanco’s â€Å"The Godmother† of Drug Trafficking. From the comments and reviews that were provided, I changed the structure from what previously appeared as a biography, to more of a profile, which was specifically required. Likewise, some parts were revised to present narrative discourse, rather than providing chronological and bibliographic details to adhere to the story format. In the position essay that focused on the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) being part of the drug trade, there was a need to provide an overview of the CIA prior to delving into the case. As noted, I make some re-organization of identified paragraphs for effective consistency. Likewise, the proposal essay about â€Å"The Rising Role of Women in Drug Trafficking† has apparently led to ‘femicide’ in areas where drug trafficking was deemed prevalent, discussed why it was an alarming situation and what policy options could be implemented to curb this rising menace. On my first draft, the problem and significance of the study were discussed extensively but I failed to provide required details in the solution portion. Therefore, during the revision, greater details on the solution to decrease femicide were duly presented. Further, one’s ideas and paragraphs were appropriately

My business planning and presentation experience Essay

My business planning and presentation experience - Essay Example Aimed at working women aged between early 20s to late 40s, the stores would carry the designer outfits of all leading designer labels. As a sole proprietorship firm with a total Capital deployment of 350,000 of which I would contribute 100,000 and rest would be loaned from the bank. Expected the breakeven by the end of the first year Closet expects positive cash flows by the second year onwards. Over 35% of the capital is to be deployed in marketing and promotional activities I have the long term of objective of having a total of The basic idea of Designer Fashion Retail Showroom is acceptable as viable proposition. Because, the demand for designer clothes is always there and the store could maintain its identity as a store that offers a good selection, reasonable prices, a convenient location would attract and keep customers. However, on hindsight it would have been better to go for a larger single store instead of opening three small stores at three different locations all of a sudden. 4. My work experience as a sales person in the Gucci Outlet gave a lot of practical knowledge on how a retail showroom works, how it looks like, how the customers should be treated, what are the things that customers look for etc. which gave me a lot of confidence. 3. My presentation could have been a lot better. ... My work experience as a sales person in the Gucci Outlet gave a lot of practical knowledge on how a retail showroom works, how it looks like, how the customers should be treated, what are the things that customers look for etc. which gave me a lot of confidence. The Weaknesses As realized while making the plan 1. Accounting is not one of my strong subjects and that reflected badly on the financial planning of the project. There were several grey areas in the plan that ought to have been taken care of. 2. Staffing : I paid very little attention to the Human Resource Planning and could not provide a clear picture on how personnel would be recruited, paid and maintained. 3. My presentation could have been a lot better. I did not do my homework on certain aspects such as the financial viability of the project. Especially when asked why the bank would give me a loan for such a big amount I was caught on the wrong foot. Also, I could have included a little bit of meaningful humour in the presentation. The flaws in the project as reviewed 1. The main problem was that three showrooms were planned within the first month of operation. It was a very flawed idea. There was simply no way that I could have managed all three stores. Moreover, this would eat into our resources so much that it was almost like spreading myself too thin. Instead, what would have been a brighter idea to invest in a single, larger, better store. More space means more places for comfort, more places to display the merchandise, more places to keep the stock, more frontages to attract more walk-in customers. And this would also mean that I could be around to meet all my customers and offer my services to them rather than having to run around to all the three stores trying to supervise every little

Outline Current Legislation Affecting the Safeguarding of Children and Young People Essay Example for Free

Outline Current Legislation Affecting the Safeguarding of Children and Young People Essay â€Å"Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as: †¢protecting children from maltreatment †¢preventing impairment of children’s health or development †¢ensuring children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care. â€Å" (Dept for Education www.education.gov.uk) There are numerous laws and guidelines in place which aim to protect children from harm, and promote their health and wellbeing. The need for improved legislation has been highlighted by high-profile cases, such as the death of Maria Colwell in 1973 and, more recently, Victoria Climbià © in 2000. These cases shocked the nation and showed weaknesses in procedures. These policies are constantly reviewed and amended so it is important to keep up to date with these changes. The Children Act 1989 This Act identifies the responsibilities of parents and professionals who must work to ensure the safety of the child. This Act includes two important sections which focus specifically on child protection. Section 47 states that the Local Authority has ‘a duty to investigate when there is a reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm’. Section 17 states that services must be put into place to ‘safeguard and promote the welfare of children within the area who are in need’. The Education Act 2002 This outlines the role of Local Education Authorities (LEAs), governing bodies, head teachers and all those working in schools to ensure that children are safe and free from harm. The Children Act 2004 This is not a replacement of the Children Act 1989. This provides the legal framework for Every Child Matters and sets out the process for providing services in a way which allows every child to achieve the five outcomes of Every Child Matters (described below). It requires local authorities to lead multi-agency children’s trusts, to develop a children and young people’s plan, and to set up a shared database containing information relevant to a child’s welfare. This allows all the organisations involved in children’s welfare to access relevant information and work together to provide the best possible service. Childcare Act 2006 This act aimed to transform early years and childcare services in England. Local authorities are required to: †¢Improve the Every Child Matters outcomes for pre-school children †¢Provide sufficient quality childcare for working parents. †¢Provide a better Parent Information Service. Every Child Matters This was launched in 2002, at least partly in response to the death of Victoria Climbià ©. It is one of the most important policy initiative and development programmes in relation to children and childrens services of the last decade. It has been the title of three government papers, leading to the Children Act 2004. Every Child Matters covers children and young adults up to the age of 19. Its main aims are for every child, whatever their background or circumstances, to have the support they need to: †¢Be healthy  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Stay safe †¢Enjoy and achieve †¢Make a positive contribution †¢Achieve economic well-being Each of these themes has a detailed framework attached whose outcomes require multi-agency partnerships working together to achieve. The agencies in partnership may include childrens centres, early years, schools, childrens social services, primary and secondary health services, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS). In the past it has been argued that children and families have received poorer services because of the failure of professionals to understand each others roles or to work together effectively in a multi-disciplinary manner. Every Child Matters seeks to change this, stressing that all professionals working with children should be aware of the contribution that could be made by their own and each others services. Protecting children from harm can be best achieved by effective joint and partnership working between agencies. Working Together to Safeguard Children This provides guidance on what you should do if you have concerns about the welfare of a child. It also recommends ways of working for people who work with young people and their families. What to do if You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused (DfES 2003) This is a guide for practitioners, helping them understand how to work together to promote children’s welfare and protect them from harm. It reinforces Every Child Matters by stressing the importance of joint working. United Nations Convention in The Rights of The Child 1989 This treaty sets out the rights and freedoms of all children in a set of 54 articles. Included in those rights are those which ensure that children are safe and looked after. Article 19 states children’s rights to be ‘protected from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation including sexual abuse by those looking after them’. Those countries which signed up to the Treaty, including the UK in 1991, are legally bound to implement legislation which supports each of the articles.

Basic Statistics for Business and Economics Essay Example for Free

Basic Statistics for Business and Economics Essay Over the last four weeks of being in the QNT/351 course our team has learned a lot about researching a hypothesis and understanding the mean. The hypothesis testing begins with the statement and the assumption that determines the population of the mean, (Lind, 2011, p.288.). There are five steps taken which include; state the hypothesis, select level of significance for it, identify the test statistics, formulate decision rule, and take a sample to arrive at a decision. On the contrary, however, McClave, 2011 states that there are seven steps including; null hypothesis, alternate hypothesis, test statistic, rejection region, assumptions, experiment and calculation of test statistic, and the conclusion. With setting a hypothesis and testing it is important to understand the mean and how to compare it amongst two or more groups. With testing the mean with multiple groups, the data collected is used to help determine the probability of a given amongst two distinct groups being analyzed which have the same or equal variances. This info it all based off the given hypothesis and should result in proving the null hypothesis stated. When looking at the mean the distance noted between the hypothesis and the mean placed is a value given as a result of the probability of occurrence. When analyzing and testing the means of the two groups we use the variance analysis. An example of this type would be testing the means of the two groups based off statistical models and valid conclusions. Along with completing the testing of the means of the groups, we must also calculate the variance according to the distribution of the differences in means. If the standard deviation is known we can calculate the z-score by using the difference of the variance and the mean. In calculating the correlation between the two variables we see that it is crucial to know the characteristics of the coefficient. According to Lind, 2011 pages 386-389 we can calculate the coefficient of correlation. The coefficient of correlation can help dete rmine the cause as well as effect amongst the two variables. Calculating these numbers is  crucial as the results give information which help determine the level of significance of the given hypothesis. References Lind, D. A., Marchal, W. G., Wathen, S. A. (2011). Basic Statistics for Business and Economics (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. McClave, J. T., Benson, P. G., Sincich, T. (2011). Statistics for Business and Economics (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Whether History Is An Art Or A Science Philosophy Essay

Whether History Is An Art Or A Science Philosophy Essay In answering the question of whether history is an art or a science, the very nature of the subject is at stake. Interpretations of what discipline history belongs to change over time, leading to a continuing re-evaluation of the subject, beginning in the 19th century. The end result is a debate that is controversial, never fading away in the absence of a finite conclusion. The first argument that emerged was historicism, which began this debate. This was quickly followed by the contrasting beliefs of positivism and idealism. Having looked at some theories which argue either art or science, it is imperative to look at the current status of the debate today. The best answer includes elements from both sides of the argument as an answer that tries to reach a resolution in favour of either side of the argument will almost immediately be disproved. What is evident from this is there is no clear answer to the question, no conclusion will please everybody. Therefore there is a continuing n eed to give this question plenty of attention to try to solve it. Defining what is art, and what is science is important, before discussing the number of theories that have emerged. In the Oxford English Dictionary, art is defined as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as a painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty and emotional power  [1]  . Some of what was said is relevant, especially the part that relates to creativity and imagination, a point relevant to idealism. The third definition given is however much more relevant; art is subjects of study concerned with human creativity and social life, such as languages, literature and history (as contrasted with scientific or technical subjects)  [2]  The definition outlines what an art is in the context of the academic world, inferring that art cannot be linked to science. This is shown in the parentheses at the end of the definition, seeming to justify why the historical debate has co ntinued over time; it believes that art is unable to co-exist with science and other technical subjects. These definitions are recent in comparison to the one given in the 1890s by Croce. He states art is neither a means of giving and sensuous pleasure, nor a representation of natural fact but the intuitive vision of individuality  [3]  . Croce begins his definition by outlining what art isnt, before explaining what it is in his opinion, the individual, specifically their intuition. What these definitions show is limited agreement on what an art is. It is a broad term, for which there are many meanings, which over time has changed. The dictionary definition is more recent than Croces, and it shows in the differences of opinion they have. Croce argues the individuals importance, whereas the dictionary argues about creativity, something which today we have taken as to be the exact meaning. The original meaning of science differs to what we believe it to be today, similar to how the definitions of art differ from what Croce thought. Formerly, science meant knowledge, or learning or any branch of it  [4]  . It is an incredibly broad statement, from which it is possible to conclude that most things are science, since almost everything involves learning knowledge. The Oxford English dictionary defines science as the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment  [5]  . From this, it can be inferred that when history is defined as science, they believe that history covers everything, the physical and natural world. Unlike art, there are no further definitions included on science, so it is much simpler to define. It is perhaps this simplicity that leads to history being viewed as a science. One further point relates to definitions in languages b eside English. Carr believes that definitions in other languages hinder the English interpretation of what history is; in every other European language, the equivalent word to science includes history without hesitation  [6]  . He believes that the definition of science is broader than what English makes it out to be, if other languages include science, then that is something that should be looked at in English. Because of this, some historians especially those from Europe assume that what the definition says is what history is. Equally, this debate has been limited to English speaking countries for some time, so perhaps Carr has a point and that English is what is wrong; include history in the definition and it will become accepted. Historicism was the philosophy that ignited the debate over whether history is science or art, at the start of the 19th century. Before this theory emerged, history was viewed as a branch of literature  [7]  , so there was a close link between the two. Historicism is the beginning of a shift away from literature, with the introduction of scientific methods. Popper defines historicism as an approach to the social sciences, which assumes that historical prediction is their principal aim  [8]  . The definition clearly shows the acknowledgement that science was becoming increasingly important to the study of history. Scientific method is apparent from the assertion of laws, which help achieve the aims, set out in the first definition, which are attainable by discovering the rhythms or the patterns, the laws or the trends that underlie the evolution of history  [9]  . Whilst these definitions come from Popper, a critic of historicism they explain what historicism is, showing h ow it moves away from previous beliefs of literature, and the shift towards science, which began this debate. One debate from the middle of the 19th century was the idea of positivism, which was quickly opposed by idealism. Positivism is a philosophy of knowledge, which uses the secrets of the natural world to help understanding of science and knowledge. Collingwood has described it as a philosophy in the service of natural science  [10]  . It is clear that positivism supports ideas linked to science in history, given its closeness to the definition of science outlined above. Positivism is highly dependent on the use of facts, which influence the study of the past. In terms of its method, it is close to a scientific investigation, critical of everything. Tosh comments facts are verified by applying critical methods to primary sources  [11]  , highlighting the thoroughness that is similar to scientific technique, if facts are verified in their context. This obsession with facts led Comte, one of its founders to believe historians would in due course uncover the laws of historical deve lopment  [12]  . The very belief that there are laws in history is confirmation of the positivists belief that history was a science, and if they believe that laws would work in the same way that laws in science worked, then history would be changed forever. In some ways, there is similarity between this idea and historicism, which believes in the existence of laws in history. Positivism continues the discussion. However, this idea is in contrast to Idealism, which rejected the entire principle on which their argument was based. Idealists argue history must be carefully distinguished from natural events because the identity between enquirer and his/her subject matter opens the way to a fuller understanding  [13]  . It dismisses the idea of positivism on the basis of its link to natural sciences. The key beliefs of idealism include empathy and intuition, emotions that the historian themselves can bring to study. Tosh comments, the reality of past events must instead be apprehended by an imaginative identification with the people of the past  [14]  . Methods in idealism are more about the individual historian, how they feel, how they make judgements based on the available evidence and furthermore, how they engage with the past. The basis of idealism is the opposite of positivism, it does not look at scientific method, and rather it believes more in imagination and things that shape inte rpretations. In that respect, it meets the definition that Croce set out at the end of the 19th century, being concerned with the individual and their response. In the present day, this debate continues to have relevance to historians and philosophers alike. The main cause of this is the imperative need to know. History is based around facts, therefore there needs to be a matter of fact judgement that says what discipline history belongs to. Until this happens, the issue will be highly relevant to all in the historical profession. A new theory has emerged in recent decades; Postmodernism. It values the priorization of language over experience  [15]  suggesting art and its associated ideas are today, much more important than any scientific ideas from the past. Southgate argues the incompatibility of postmodernist thinking with history. She describes it as a notoriously elusive concept, one which she feels is seen as an alien and hostile force, which she believes historians fear  [16]  . A working historian, Keith Thomas, reveals his methods are in line with has been construed to be art. He believes that his work is a literary construc tion, shaped by his moral values and intellectual assumptions  [17]  . He raises the contrast of lumpers and splitters, believing himself to be a lumper, as his work contains a broad-brush impression of beliefs and behaviours over a long period of time  [18]  . It is apparent he prefers to cover a wide time period rather analysing a fragment of that, probably because of the amount of research he does and collects, which makes it difficult to be selective with the facts. In conclusion, so much attention has been given to this question of what discipline history belongs to, because it matters hugely to historians. This is obvious from the scale of the debate that has occurred from the mid 19th century, as theories are challenged and counter-challenged. What is evident from all of this is the absence of a single solution to the problem, nobody is able to say History is science or History is art with confidence. In the absence of this, historians are left to discuss the idea, and are still unable to agree. This is because the subject matter is highly delicate to the historical profession, concluding that history is science or art will upset a large number of people who argue against that conclusion. Therefore perhaps the best outcome would be to say that history is neither singularly art nor science, rather is a fusion of the two disciplines. History needs to be interpreted therefore opinion on subjects matters, however there is also a need for close an alysis of source material, to critically look at sources. Good methods of studying need to be encouraged, and if they are in style of a scientific investigation that is no bad thing, seeing as scientists are thorough in their working methods. Similarly, empathy and intuition should also be spoken of as good qualities to have in a historian, the ability to empathise with the past and use ones own initiative are vitally important. Arguments collapse because historians do not look at them critically enough, and therefore have no evidence to back up their opinions. This debate is a dynamic subject, as been shown theories can develop almost overnight; surely the next idea is just around the corner. In this argument, facts are few and far between, and that is the reason for debate, the need for intuition. With no finite concluding statement, the question of whether history is art or science will continue for some time yet.

Forbidden Knowledge in Digging for China :: Digging for China

Searching for Forbidden Knowledge in Digging for China In Richard Wilbur's poem, "Digging for China", he writes, " 'Far enough down is China,' somebody said. 'Dig deep enough and you might see the sky as clear as at the bottom of a well.'" (Lines 1-3) Wilbur was suggesting to his readers that if one looks at the world in a different way, they could find a totally different place. We can see this concept when we explore Wilbur's poem as a whole piece. He is talking about finding a paradise in one's backyard. He emphasizes a lot about prayer, and looking harder and digging deeper for this other world. He warns his readers that they must not loose the rest of their life by trying to change one thing. When we, the readers, break apart Wilbur's poem, we find the continuous acknowledgement of religion. The person in the poem works day and night trying to reach China. He/she was on hands and knees trying to dig this hole. "It was a sort of praying, I suspect." (Lines 12-13) This person is realizing that they have to look other places for their "paradise" they are trying to find, so they look to God. When they do this, they are covered in brightness. Wilbur uses the word "palls" to express this idea. The true definition is a black velvet cover that drapes over a coffin. If the person wouldn't have looked to God in prayer, then their "paradise" would be covered in this darkness, rather than the brightness they found. Another word that Wilbur used in reference to prayer was "paten". A paten is a plate that the Eucharist is carried on. The Eucharist is the body of Christ; his life. In the poem, the life that the person was looking for was growing before them, but they were still looking into the hole. The person then begins to realize that they are looking in the wrong place. We see this when Wilbur writes, "my eyes where tired of looking into darkness, my sunbaked head of hanging down a hole." (Lines 18-19) They realize that this idea of their "paradise" is taking away from their life and that they must take their head out of the darkness that it has caused. Wilbur brings up the sun because it shows that the person is coming back to consciousness.

Not Just A Rising Sun: Essay -- essays research papers

America is a Country based on diversity and immigration of many cultures creating a melting pot people from all over the world living together in freedom. The Asian American ethnic group is also based on diversity and different immigration patterns of different cultures all representing each other under one name Asian American. Asian Americans have a very diverse history and have different subgroups that have different social status. This essay will discuss and analyze the history of and how Asian Americans and subgroups are affected differently by discrimination and prejudices, and have different identities that can lead to different assimilation into American Culture and economy. This essay will discuss this through examining Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Filipino and other Southeast Asian Islanders. Waves of Migration The Asian American community achieved their status in America in many different ways throughout history; with different reasons for immigrating to America and suffering different challenges and prejudices along the way. There were 2 distinct waves of immigration to the United States from Asian Americans. There was the old Asian wave of immigration that consists of Asians that immigrated from the middle of the Nineteenth Century to the early years of the Twentieth Century. The second wave is Asians that have immigrated to the United States since 1965. Chinese History The Chinese were the AA first to immigrate to the United States. A series of wars, rebellions, civil disorders, floods, famines and droughts made earning a livelihood in China difficult. Also, China faced a disheartening defeat in the Opium War of 1840 against the British. When news of a gold rush on the west coast of America reached China there was a huge influx of young male peasants immigrating to the United States trying to better themselves economically and then return home to there families. These immigrants started off working construction and on railroads. This was recognized by the white workers as a threat. The Chinese were not only forced out of the there jobs, but there was also legal measures taken to keep the Chinese out of the American workforce; with the Chinese Exclusion Act, passed in 1882 by the U. S. Congress. This was the first time in American History that a specific ethnic group was completely barred from immigrating to America.... ..., Filipino and other Southeast Asian Islanders. Yet they are a threat to the dominant group economically as they overcome fierce discrimination. One of the most common themes in constructing this essay is that Asian Americans are growing as a social and economical force in America and are starting to be recognized for that. They are at the top and bottom of our economy, and come from many different countries with different identities. This diversity is what makes Asian Americans such an interesting and complex minority. Work Cited Marger, Martin M. 2003. Race and Ethnic Relations: American and Global Perspectives. Michigan. Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. Gudykunst, William B. 2001, Asian American Ethnicity and Communication. Thousand Oaks. Sage Publications Inc. Mary Yu Danico and Franklin Ng, 2004. Asian American Issues. London. Greenwood Press Le, C.N. 2005. "Anti-Asian Racism & Violence" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml Le, C.N. 2005. "Socioeconomic Statistics & Demographics" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. http://www.asian-nation.org/demographics.shtml

William Shakespares Poem My Mistress Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun Ess

William Shakespare's Poem "My Mistress Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun" 'My Mistress' Eyes Are Nothing Like the Sun' is a poem written by William Shakespeare about the love towards an imperfect woman. He explains that although his mistress is imperfect, he finds his love special and 'rare.' If the modern day reader is not careful, he/she might be quick to assume the role of the woman that Shakespeare writes about. Although the word mistress now refers to a sweetheart or a woman who lives with a man without being married to him, in Shakespeare's time, it meant a woman who rules others or has control. With that understood, the reader can focus on some important conventions of this poem- theme, tone, and form- to better understand and appreciate the piece. The theme of this poem is to ...

Arguments For ‘Invitation To Treat And An Offer’

The English Law on the formation of contracts generally requires there to be an offer and a matching acceptance. The offer must set out and refer to the object for sale and all the important terms of the contract. The acceptance must indicate agreement to all the terms of contract. If it does not do so, the acceptance will be regarded as a counter-offer which is capable of rejecting the original offer, thereby making it incapable of acceptance later (Hyde v Wrench (1840) CC 49 ER 132).There are two offers, the one made by Susan through the advertisement on the 1st of March and that of Alice in response to the initial offer on the 27th of March that amounted to a counter-offer. There is also the issue of the application of the postal rule and its limitations in the case of Tahir, the issue of instantaneous communications and when the revocation of an offer becomes effective in the case of Emma and its rules.In Tahir’s case, the letter and enclosed Cheque he sent on the 27th of March would have been the most preferable choice of acceptance because the general postal rule would have applied easily which allows the effectiveness of a posted acceptance to start right from when it was posted, so as to enhance the effectiveness of businesses, if they can start working farther on the assumption that there is a binding contract between both parties as in Adams v Lindsell (1818).But, the fact that Susan defined the terms of the contract by stating the modes of acceptance and payment that was acceptable, which does not include a letter or a cheque makes the postal rule ineffective on Tahir’s letter, as it is unacceptable. Although, sending a letter as a form of acceptance was reasonable; there is no binding contract between Susan and Tahir because of the definition of terms and conditions of the offer. 2 Alice’s letter on the 27th of March is a counter-offer which is capable of rejecting the original offer.If Alice had not altered the terms of the off er, which resulted in an offer of her own, The letter would have been an acceptance, and the usual rule when a letter of acceptance is sent in reply to an offer is that the acceptance takes effect on posting, ensuring there is a binding contract. However, this postal rule has no application here, since; the case of Holwell securities v Hughes (1974) makes it clear that the rule can be avoided by a specific request in the terms of the offer according to LAWTON L. J â€Å"Now in this case, the â€Å"notice in writing† was to be one â€Å"to the intending vendor.†It was to be an intimation to him that the grantee had exercised the option: he was the one who was to be fixed with the information contained in the writing. He never was, because the letter carrying the information went astray. The plaintiffs were unable to do what the agreement said they were to do, namely, fix the defendant with knowledge that they had decided to buy his property. If this construction of the option clause is correct, there is no room for the application of any rule of law relating to the acceptance of offers by posting letters since the option agreement stipulated what had to be done to exercise the option.On this ground alone I would dismiss the appeal†. Considering, the email Alice sent on the 28th of March, which would have been the most suitable form of acceptance as at that time, although it was sent on Friday, it was out of office hours and so Susan is unable to read it, therefore the acceptance was not communicated as the instantaneous communications rules requires as in Entores v Miles East Corp. It is generally agreed that the instantaneous communications will cover the email, and so the time of communication, rather than the time of sending, is the relevant time.Applying this rule to Alice’s email, the email has no effect because as at the time it was communicated the offer was no longer capable of acceptance. Alice has no binding contract with S usan because her letter was a counter-offer and the email was communicated when the offer was already withdrawn. The case law on revocation of offers establishes that offers can be withdrawn at any time prior to acceptance (Payne v Cave (1789)), provided that the withdrawal is communicated to the offeree.The latter point is reinforced by the decision in Byrne v Van Tienhoven (1880), which concerns the revocation of an offer by telegram. Applying this to the dealings of Emma and Susan, If Susan received Emma’s email before the revocation was published in the papers, the revocation will be ineffective, and there will be a binding contract. This assumes, however, that the advert is deemed to be  communicated to Emma as soon as it was published and available to read on the 29th of March, because the information in the advert is sufficient notification to Emma that Susan has withdrawn the offer.Although, Emma may want to argue that the offer was open until the 31st of March, the refore they have a binding contract. This is not so, using the case of Routledge v Grant (1828), in which it was held that a promise of this kind will not generally be binding. The reason is that the promise will generally not have provided any consideration for the promise.If Susan had been given any amount of money or valuable in return for keeping the offer open until the 31st of march, then consideration would have been provided, and she would be bounded to her promise but in the absence of such she is free to withdraw the offer anytime. Therefore, Emma’s email has no effect because, she bears the responsibility of reading the revocation in the paper as Susan has taken the most reasonable form of communicating the revocation in this case. In conclusion, there is no binding contract between Susan and the other parties.

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 102-104

CHAPTER 102 The mist had settled low on Kensington Gardens as Silas limped into a quiet hollow out of sight. Kneeling on the wet grass, he could feel a warm stream of blood flowing from the bullet wound below his ribs. Still, he stared straight ahead. The fog made it look like heaven here. Raising his bloody hands to pray, he watched the raindrops caress his fingers, turning them white again. As the droplets fell harder across his back and shoulders, he could feel his body disappearing bit by bit into the mist. I am a ghost. A breeze rustled past him, carrying the damp, earthy scent of new life. With every living cell in his broken body, Silas prayed. He prayed for forgiveness. He prayed for mercy. And, above all, he prayed for his mentor†¦ Bishop Aringarosa†¦ that the Lord would not take him before his time. Hehas so much work left to do. The fog was swirling around him now, and Silas felt so light that he was sure the wisps would carry him away. Closing his eyes, he said a final prayer. From somewhere in the mist, the voice of Manuel Aringarosa whispered to him. Our Lord is a good and merciful God. Silas's pain at last began to fade, and he knew the bishop was right. CHAPTER 103 It was late afternoon when the London sun broke through and the city began to dry. Bezu Fache felt weary as he emerged from the interrogation room and hailed a cab. Sir Leigh Teabing had vociferously proclaimed his innocence, and yet from his incoherent rantings about the Holy Grail, secret documents, and mysterious brotherhoods, Fache suspected the wily historian was setting the stage for his lawyers to plead an insanity defense. Sure, Fache thought. Insane.Teabing had displayed ingenious precision in formulating a plan that protected his innocence at every turn. He had exploited both the Vatican and Opus Dei, two groups that turned out to be completely innocent. His dirty work had been carried out unknowingly by a fanatical monk and a desperate bishop. More clever still, Teabing had situated his electronic listening post in the one place a man with polio could not possibly reach. The actual surveillance had been carried out by his manservant, Remy – the lone person privy to Teabing's true identity – now conveniently dead of an allergic reaction. Hardly the handiwork of someone lacking mental faculties, Fache thought. The information coming from Collet out of Chateau Villette suggested that Teabing's cunning ran so deep that Fache himself might even learn from it. To successfully hide bugs in some of Paris's most powerful offices, the British historian had turned to the Greeks. Trojan horses.Some of Teabing's intended targets received lavish gifts of artwork, others unwittingly bid at auctions in which Teabing had placed specific lots. In Sauniere's case, the curator had received a dinner invitation to Chateau Villette to discuss the possibility of Teabing's funding a new Da Vinci Wing at the Louvre. Sauniere's invitation had contained an innocuous postscript expressing fascination with a robotic knight that Sauniere was rumored to have built. Bring him to dinner, Teabing had suggested. Sauniere apparently had done just that and left the knight unattended long enough for Remy Legaludec to make one inconspicuous addition. Now, sitting in the back of the cab, Fache closed his eyes. One more thing to attend to before Ireturn to Paris. The St. Mary's Hospital recovery room was sunny. â€Å"You've impressed us all,† the nurse said, smiling down at him. â€Å"Nothing short of miraculous.† Bishop Aringarosa gave a weak smile. â€Å"I have always been blessed.† The nurse finished puttering, leaving the bishop alone. The sunlight felt welcome and warm on his face. Last night had been the darkest night of his life. Despondently, he thought of Silas, whose body had been found in the park. Please forgive me, my son. Aringarosa had longed for Silas to be part of his glorious plan. Last night, however, Aringarosa had received a call from Bezu Fache, questioning the bishop about his apparent connection to a nun who had been murdered in Saint-Sulpice. Aringarosa realized the evening had taken a horrifying turn. News of the four additional murders transformed his horror to anguish. Silas, what have you done! Unable to reach the Teacher, the bishop knew he had been cut loose. Used.The only way to stop the horrific chain of events he had helped put in motion was to confess everything to Fache, and from that moment on, Aringarosa and Fache had been racing to catch up with Silas before the Teacher persuaded him to kill again. Feeling bone weary, Aringarosa closed his eyes and listened to the television coverage of the arrest of a prominent British knight, Sir Leigh Teabing. The Teacher laid bare for all to see.Teabing had caught wind of the Vatican's plans to disassociate itself from Opus Dei. He had chosen Aringarosa as the perfect pawn in his plan. After all, who more likely to leap blindly after the Holy Grail thana man like myself with everything to lose? The Grail would have brought enormous power to anyone who possessed it. Leigh Teabing had protected his identity shrewdly – feigning a French accent and a pious heart, and demanding as payment the one thing he did not need – money. Aringarosa had been far too eager to be suspicious. The price tag of twenty million euro was paltry when compared with the prize of obtaining the Grail, and with the Vatican's separation payment to Opus Dei, the finances had worked nicely. The blind see what they want to see.Teabing's ultimate insult, of course, had been to demand payment in Vatican bonds, such that if anything went wrong, the investigation would lead to Rome. â€Å"I am glad to see you're well, My Lord.† Aringarosa recognized the gruff voice in the doorway, but the face was unexpected – stern, powerful features, slicked-back hair, and a broad neck that strained against his dark suit. â€Å"Captain Fache?† Aringarosa asked. The compassion and concern the captain had shown for Aringarosa's plight last night had conjured images of a far gentler physique. The captain approached the bed and hoisted a familiar, heavy black briefcase onto a chair. â€Å"I believe this belongs to you.† Aringarosa looked at the briefcase filled with bonds and immediately looked away, feeling only shame. â€Å"Yes†¦ thank you.† He paused while working his fingers across the seam of his bed sheet, then continued. â€Å"Captain, I have been giving this deep thought, and I need to ask a favor of you.† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"The families of those in Paris who Silas†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused, swallowing the emotion. â€Å"I realize no sum could possibly serve as sufficient restitution, and yet, if you could be kind enough to divide the contents of this briefcase among them†¦ the families of the deceased.† Fache's dark eyes studied him a long moment. â€Å"A virtuous gesture, My Lord. I will see to it your wishes are carried out.† A heavy silence fell between them. On the television, a lean French police officer was giving a press conference in front of a sprawling mansion. Fache saw who it was and turned his attention to the screen. â€Å"Lieutenant Collet,† a BBC reporter said, her voice accusing. â€Å"Last night, your captain publicly charged two innocent people with murder. Will Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu be seeking accountability from your department? Will this cost Captain Fache his job?† Lieutenant Collet's smile was tired but calm. â€Å"It is my experience that Captain Bezu Fache seldom makes mistakes. I have not yet spoken to him on this matter, but knowing how he operates, I suspect his public manhunt for Agent Neveu and Mr. Langdon was part of a ruse to lure out the real killer.† The reporters exchanged surprised looks. Collet continued. â€Å"Whether or not Mr. Langdon and Agent Neveu were willing participants in the sting, I do not know. Captain Fache tends to keep his more creative methods to himself. All I can confirm at this point is that the captain has successfully arrested the man responsible, and that Mr. Langdon and Agent Neveu are both innocent and safe.† Fache had a faint smile on his lips as he turned back to Aringarosa. â€Å"A good man, that Collet.† Several moments passed. Finally, Fache ran his hand over his forehead, slicking back his hair as he gazed down at Aringarosa. â€Å"My Lord, before I return to Paris, there is one final matter I'd like to discuss – your impromptu flight to London. You bribed a pilot to change course. In doing so, you broke a number of international laws.† Aringarosa slumped. â€Å"I was desperate.† â€Å"Yes. As was the pilot when my men interrogated him.† Fache reached in his pocket and produced a purple amethyst ring with a familiar hand-tooled mitre-crozier applique. Aringarosa felt tears welling as he accepted the ring and slipped it back on his finger. â€Å"You've been so kind.† He held out his hand and clasped Fache's. â€Å"Thank you.† Fache waved off the gesture, walking to the window and gazing out at the city, his thoughts obviously far away. When he turned, there was an uncertainty about him. â€Å"My Lord, where do you go from here?† Aringarosa had been asked the exact same question as he left Castel Gandolfo the night before. â€Å"I suspect my path is as uncertain as yours.† â€Å"Yes.† Fache paused. â€Å"I suspect I will be retiring early.† Aringarosa smiled. â€Å"A little faith can do wonders, Captain. A little faith.† CHAPTER 104 Rosslyn Chapel – often called the Cathedral of Codes – stands seven miles south of Edinburgh, Scotland, on the site of an ancient Mithraic temple. Built by the Knights Templar in 1446, the chapel is engraved with a mind-boggling array of symbols from the Jewish, Christian, Egyptian, Masonic, and pagan traditions. The chapel's geographic coordinates fall precisely on the north-south meridian that runs through Glastonbury. This longitudinal Rose Line is the traditional marker of King Arthur's Isle of Avalon and is considered the central pillar of Britain's sacred geometry. It is from this hallowed Rose Line that Rosslyn – originally spelled Roslin – takes its name. Rosslyn's rugged spires were casting long evening shadows as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu pulled their rental car into the grassy parking area at the foot of the bluff on which the chapel stood. Their short flight from London to Edinburgh had been restful, although neither of them had slept for the anticipation of what lay ahead. Gazing up at the stark edifice framed against a cloud-swept sky, Langdon felt like Alice falling headlong into the rabbit hole. This must be a dream.And yet he knew the text of Sauniere's final message could not have been more specific. The Holy Grail ‘neath ancient Roslin waits. Langdon had fantasized that Sauniere's â€Å"Grail map† would be a diagram – a drawing with an X- marks-the-spot – and yet the Priory's final secret had been unveiled in the same way Sauniere had spoken to them from the beginning. Simple verse.Four explicit lines that pointed without a doubt to this very spot. In addition to identifying Rosslyn by name, the verse made reference to several of the chapel's renowned architectural features. Despite the clarity of Sauniere's final revelation, Langdon had been left feeling more off balance than enlightened. To him, Rosslyn Chapel seemed far too obvious a location. For centuries, this stone chapel had echoed with whispers of the Holy Grail's presence. The whispers had turned to shouts in recent decades when ground-penetrating radar revealed the presence of an astonishing structure beneath the chapel – a massive subterranean chamber. Not only did this deep vault dwarf the chapel atop it, but it appeared to have no entrance or exit. Archaeologists petitioned to begin blasting through the bedrock to reach the mysterious chamber, but the Rosslyn Trust expressly forbade any excavation of the sacred site. Of course, this only fueled the fires of speculation. What was the Rosslyn Trust trying to hide? Rosslyn had now become a pilgrimage site for mystery seekers. Some claimed they were drawn here by the powerful magnetic field that emanated inexplicably from these coordinates, some claimed they came to search the hillside for a hidden entrance to the vault, but most admitted they had come simply to wander the grounds and absorb the lore of the Holy Grail. Although Langdon had never been to Rosslyn before now, he always chuckled when he heard the chapel described as the current home of the Holy Grail. Admittedly, Rosslyn once might have been home to the Grail, long ago†¦ but certainly no longer. Far too much attention had been drawn to Rosslyn in past decades, and sooner or later someone would find a way to break into the vault. True Grail academics agreed that Rosslyn was a decoy – one of the devious dead ends the Priory crafted so convincingly. Tonight, however, with the Priory's keystone offering a verse that pointed directly to this spot, Langdon no longer felt so smug. A perplexing question had been running through his mind all day: Why would Sauniere go to such effort to guide us to so obvious a location? There seemed only one logical answer. There is something about Rosslyn we have yet to understand. â€Å"Robert?† Sophie was standing outside the car, looking back at him. â€Å"Are you corning?† She was holding the rosewood box, which Captain Fache had returned to them. Inside, both cryptexes had been reassembled and nested as they had been found. The papyrus verse was locked safely at its core – minus the shattered vial of vinegar. Making their way up the long gravel path, Langdon and Sophie passed the famous west wall of the chapel. Casual visitors assumed this oddly protruding wall was a section of the chapel that had not been finished. The truth, Langdon recalled, was far more intriguing. The west wall of Solomon's Temple. The Knights Templar had designed Rosslyn Chapel as an exact architectural blueprint of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem – complete with a west wall, a narrow rectangular sanctuary, and a subterranean vault like the Holy of Holies, in which the original nine knights had first unearthed their priceless treasure. Langdon had to admit, there existed an intriguing symmetry in the idea of the Templars building a modern Grail repository that echoed the Grail's original hiding place. Rosslyn Chapel's entrance was more modest than Langdon expected. The small wooden door had two iron hinges and a simple, oak sign. ROSLIN This ancient spelling, Langdon explained to Sophie, derived from the Rose Line meridian on which the chapel sat; or, as Grail academics preferred to believe, from the† Line of Rose† – the ancestral lineage of Mary Magdalene. The chapel would be closing soon, and as Langdon pulled open the door, a warm puff of air escaped, as if the ancient edifice were heaving a weary sigh at the end of a long day. Her entry arches burgeoned with carved cinquefoils. Roses. The womb of the goddess. Entering with Sophie, Langdon felt his eyes reaching across the famous sanctuary and taking it all in. Although he had read accounts of Rosslyn's arrestingly intricate stonework, seeing it in person was an overwhelming encounter. Symbology heaven, one of Langdon's colleagues had called it. Every surface in the chapel had been carved with symbols – Christian cruciforms, Jewish stars, Masonic seals, Templar crosses, cornucopias, pyramids, astrological signs, plants, vegetables, pentacles, and roses. The Knights Templar had been master stonemasons, erecting Templar churches all over Europe, but Rosslyn was considered their most sublime labor of love and veneration. The master masons had left no stone uncarved. Rosslyn Chapel was a shrine to all faiths†¦ to all traditions†¦ and, above all, to nature and the goddess. The sanctuary was empty except for a handful of visitors listening to a young man giving the day's last tour. He was leading them in a single-file line along a well-known route on the floor – an invisible pathway linking six key architectural points within the sanctuary. Generations of visitors had walked these straight lines, connecting the points, and their countless footsteps had engravedan enormous symbol on the floor. The Star of David, Langdon thought. No coincidence there.Also known as Solomon's Seal, this hexagram had once been the secret symbol of the stargazing priests and was later adopted by the Israelite kings – David and Solomon. The docent had seen Langdon and Sophie enter, and although it was closing time, offered a pleasant smile and motioned for them to feel free to look around. Langdon nodded his thanks and began to move deeper into the sanctuary. Sophie, however, stood riveted in the entryway, a puzzled look on her face. â€Å"What is it?† Langdon asked. Sophie stared out at the chapel. â€Å"I think†¦ I've been here.† Langdon was surprised. â€Å"But you said you hadn't even heard of Rosslyn.† â€Å"I hadn't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She scanned the sanctuary, looking uncertain. â€Å"My grandfather must have brought me here when I was very young. I don't know. It feels familiar.† As her eyes scanned the room, she began nodding with more certainty. â€Å"Yes.† She pointed to the front of the sanctuary. â€Å"Those two pillars†¦ I've seen them.† Langdon looked at the pair of intricately sculpted columns at the far end of the sanctuary. Their white lacework carvings seemed to smolder with a ruddy glow as the last of the day's sunlight streamed in through the west window. The pillars – positioned where the altar would normally stand – were an oddly matched pair. The pillar on the left was carved with simple, vertical lines, while the pillar on the right was embellished with an ornate, flowering spiral. Sophie was already moving toward them. Langdon hurried after her, and as they reached the pillars, Sophie was nodding with incredulity. â€Å"Yes, I'm positive I have seen these!† â€Å"I don't doubt you've seen them,† Langdon said,† but it wasn't necessarily here.† She turned. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"These two pillars are the most duplicated architectural structures in history. Replicas exist all over the world.† â€Å"Replicas of Rosslyn?† She looked skeptical. â€Å"No. Of the pillars. Do you remember earlier that I mentioned Rosslyn itself is a copy of Solomon's Temple? Those two pillars are exact replicas of the two pillars that stood at the head of Solomon's Temple.† Langdon pointed to the pillar on the left. â€Å"That's called Boaz – or the Mason's Pillar. The other is called Jachin – or the Apprentice Pillar.† He paused. â€Å"In fact, virtually every Masonic temple in the world has two pillars like these.† Langdon had already explained to her about the Templars' powerful historic ties to the modern Masonic secret societies, whose primary degrees – Apprentice Freemason, Fellowcraft Freemason, and Master Mason – harked back to early Templar days. Sophie's grandfather's final verse made direct reference to the Master Masons who adorned Rosslyn with their carved artistic offerings. It also noted Rosslyn's central ceiling, which was covered with carvings of stars and planets. â€Å"I've never been in a Masonic temple,† Sophie said, still eyeing the pillars. â€Å"I am almost positive I saw these here.† She turned back into the chapel, as if looking for something else to jog her memory. The rest of the visitors were now leaving, and the young docent made his way across the chapel to them with a pleasant smile. He was a handsome young man in his late twenties, with a Scottish brogue and strawberry blond hair. â€Å"I'm about to close up for the day. May I help you find anything?† How about the Holy Grail? Langdon wanted to say. â€Å"The code,† Sophie blurted, in sudden revelation. â€Å"There's a code here!† The docent looked pleased by her enthusiasm. â€Å"Yes there is, ma'am.† â€Å"It's on the ceiling,† she said, turning to the right-hand wall. â€Å"Somewhere over†¦ there.† He smiled. â€Å"Not your first visit to Rosslyn, I see.† The code, Langdon thought. He had forgotten that little bit of lore. Among Rosslyn's numerous mysteries was a vaulted archway from which hundreds of stone blocks protruded, jutting down to form a bizarre multifaceted surface. Each block was carved with a symbol, seemingly at random, creating a cipher of unfathomable proportion. Some people believed the code revealed the entrance to the vault beneath the chapel. Others believed it told the true Grail legend. Not that it mattered – cryptographers had been trying for centuries to decipher its meaning. To this day the Rosslyn Trust offered a generous reward to anyone who could unveil the secret meaning, but the code remained a mystery. â€Å"I'd be happy to show†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The docent's voice trailed off. My first code, Sophie thought, moving alone, in a trance, toward the encoded archway. Having handed the rosewood box to Langdon, she could feel herself momentarily forgetting all about the Holy Grail, the Priory of Sion, and all the mysteries of the past day. When she arrived beneath the encoded ceiling and saw the symbols above her, the memories came flooding back. She was recalling her first visit here, and strangely, the memories conjured an unexpected sadness. She was a little girl†¦ a year or so after her family's death. Her grandfather had brought her to Scotland on a short vacation. They had come to see Rosslyn Chapel before going back to Paris. It was late evening, and the chapel was closed. But they were still inside. â€Å"Can we go home, Grand-pere?† Sophie begged, feeling tired. â€Å"Soon, dear, very soon.† His voice was melancholy. â€Å"I have one last thing I need to do here. How about if you wait in the car?† â€Å"You're doing another big person thing?† He nodded. â€Å"I'll be fast. I promise.† â€Å"Can I do the archway code again? That was fun.† â€Å"I don't know. I have to step outside. You won't be frightened in here alone?† â€Å"Of course not!† she said with a huff. â€Å"It's not even dark yet!† He smiled. â€Å"Very well then.† He led her over to the elaborate archway he had shown her earlier. Sophie immediately plopped down on the stone floor, lying on her back and staring up at the collage of puzzle pieces overhead. â€Å"I'm going to break this code before you get back!† â€Å"It's a race then.† He bent over, kissed her forehead, and walked to the nearby side door. â€Å"I'll be right outside. I'll leave the door open. If you need me, just call.† He exited into the soft evening light. Sophie lay there on the floor, gazing up at the code. Her eyes felt sleepy. After a few minutes, the symbols got fuzzy. And then they disappeared. When Sophie awoke, the floor felt cold. â€Å"Grand-pere?† There was no answer. Standing up, she brushed herself off. The side door was still open. The evening was getting darker. She walked outside and could see her grandfather standing on the porch of a nearby stone house directly behind the church. Her grandfather was talking quietly to a person barely visible inside the screened door. â€Å"Grand-pere?† she called. Her grandfather turned and waved, motioning for her to wait just a moment. Then, slowly, he said some final words to the person inside and blew a kiss toward the screened door. He came to her with tearful eyes. â€Å"Why are you crying, Grand-pere?† He picked her up and held her close. â€Å"Oh, Sophie, you and I have said good-bye to a lot of people this year. It's hard.† Sophie thought of the accident, of saying good-bye to her mother and father, her grandmother and baby brother. â€Å"Were you saying goodbye to another person?† â€Å"To a dear friend whom I love very much,† he replied, his voice heavy with emotion. â€Å"And I fear I will not see her again for a very long time.† Standing with the docent, Langdon had been scanning the chapel walls and feeling a rising wariness that a dead end might be looming. Sophie had wandered off to look at the code and left Langdon holding the rosewood box, which contained a Grail map that now appeared to be no help at all. Although Sauniere's poem clearly indicated Rosslyn, Langdon was not sure what to do now that they had arrived. The poem made reference to a ‘blade and chalice', which Langdon saw nowhere. The Holy Grail ‘neath ancient Roslin waits. The blade and chalice guarding o'er Her gates. Again Langdon sensed there remained some facet of this mystery yet to reveal itself. â€Å"I hate to pry,† the docent said, eyeing the rosewood box in Langdon's hands. â€Å"But this box†¦ might I ask where you got it?† Langdon gave a weary laugh. â€Å"That's an exceptionally long story.† The young man hesitated, his eyes on the box again. â€Å"It's the strangest thing – my grandmother has a box exactly like that – a jewelry box. Identical polished rosewood, same inlaid rose, even the hinges look the same.† Langdon knew the young man must be mistaken. If ever a box had been one of a kind, it was thisone – the box custom-made for the Priory keystone. â€Å"The two boxes may be similar but – â€Å" The side door closed loudly, drawing both of their gazes. Sophie had exited without a word and was now wandering down the bluff toward a fieldstone house nearby. Langdon stared after her. Where is she going? She had been acting strangely ever since they entered the building. He turned to the docent. â€Å"Do you know what that house is?† He nodded, also looking puzzled that Sophie was going down there. â€Å"That's the chapel rectory. The chapel curator lives there. She also happens to be the head of the Rosslyn Trust.† He paused. â€Å"And my grandmother.† â€Å"Your grandmother heads the Rosslyn Trust?† The young man nodded. â€Å"I live with her in the rectory and help keep up the chapel and give tours.† He shrugged. â€Å"I've lived here my whole life. My grandmother raised me in that house.† Concerned for Sophie, Langdon moved across the chapel toward the door to call out to her. He was only halfway there when he stopped short. Something the young man said just registered. My grandmother raised me. Langdon looked out at Sophie on the bluff, then down at the rosewood box in his hand. Impossible. Slowly, Langdon turned back to the young man. â€Å"You said your grandmother has a box like this one?† â€Å"Almost identical.† â€Å"Where did she get it?† â€Å"My grandfather made it for her. He died when I was a baby, but my grandmother still talks about him. She says he was a genius with his hands. He made all kinds of things.† Langdon glimpsed an unimaginable web of connections emerging. â€Å"You said your grandmother raised you. Do you mind my asking what happened to your parents?† The young man looked surprised. â€Å"They died when I was young.† He paused. â€Å"The same day as my grandfather.† Langdon's heart pounded. â€Å"In a car accident?† The docent recoiled, a look of bewilderment in his olive-green eyes. â€Å"Yes. In a car accident. My entire family died that day. I lost my grandfather, my parents, and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He hesitated, glancing down at the floor. â€Å"And your sister,† Langdon said. Out on the bluff, the fieldstone house was exactly as Sophie remembered it. Night was falling now, and the house exuded a warm and inviting aura. The smell of bread wafted through the opened screened door, and a golden light shone in the windows. As Sophie approached, she could hear the quiet sounds of sobbing from within. Through the screened door, Sophie saw an elderly woman in the hallway. Her back was to the door, but Sophie could see she was crying. The woman had long, luxuriant, silver hair that conjured an unexpected wisp of memory. Feeling herself drawn closer, Sophie stepped onto the porch stairs. The woman was clutching a framed photograph of a man and touching her fingertips to his face with loving sadness. It was a face Sophie knew well. Grand-pere. The woman had obviously heard the sad news of his death last night. A board squeaked beneath Sophie's feet, and the woman turned slowly, her sad eyes finding Sophie's. Sophie wanted to run, but she stood transfixed. The woman's fervent gaze never wavered as she set down the photo and approached the screened door. An eternity seemed to pass as the two women stared at one another through the thin mesh. Then, like the slowly gathering swell of an ocean wave, the woman's visage transformed from one of uncertainty†¦ to disbelief†¦ to hope†¦ and finally, to cresting joy. Throwing open the door, she came out, reaching with soft hands, cradling Sophie's thunderstruck face. â€Å"Oh, dear child†¦ look at you!† Although Sophie did not recognize her, she knew who this woman was. She tried to speak but found she could not even breathe. â€Å"Sophie,† the woman sobbed, kissing her forehead. Sophie's words were a choked whisper. â€Å"But†¦ Grand-pere said you were†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I know.† The woman placed her tender hands on Sophie's shoulders and gazed at her with familiar eyes. â€Å"Your grandfather and I were forced to say so many things. We did what we thought was right. I'm so sorry. It was for your own safety, princess.† Sophie heard her final word, and immediately thought of her grandfather, who had called her princess for so many years. The sound of his voice seemed to echo now in the ancient stones of Rosslyn, settling through the earth and reverberating in the unknown hollows below. The woman threw her arms around Sophie, the tears flowing faster. â€Å"Your grandfather wanted so badly to tell you everything. But things were difficult between you two. He tried so hard. There'sso much to explain. So very much to explain.† She kissed Sophie's forehead once again, then whispered in her ear. â€Å"No more secrets, princess. It's time you learn the truth about our family.† Sophie and her grandmother were seated on the porch stairs in a tearful hug when the young docent dashed across the lawn, his eyes shining with hope and disbelief. â€Å"Sophie?† Through her tears, Sophie nodded, standing. She did not know the young man's face, but as they embraced, she could feel the power of the blood coursing through his veins†¦ the blood she now understood they shared. When Langdon walked across the lawn to join them, Sophie could not imagine that only yesterday she had felt so alone in the world. And now, somehow, in this foreign place, in the company of three people she barely knew, she felt at last that she was home.