The Da Vinci Code Chapter 100-101

CHAPTER 100 Bishop Manuel Aringarosa's body had endured many kinds of pain, and yet the searing heat of the bullet wound in his chest felt profoundly foreign to him. Deep and grave. Not a wound of the flesh†¦ but closer to the soul. He opened his eyes, trying to see, but the rain on his face blurred his vision. Where am I? He could feel powerful arms holding him, carrying his limp body like a rag doll, his black cassock flapping. Lifting a weary arm, he mopped his eyes and saw the man holding him was Silas. The great albino was struggling down a misty sidewalk, shouting for a hospital, his voice a heartrending wail of agony. His red eyes were focused dead ahead, tears streaming down his pale, blood-spattered face. â€Å"My son,† Aringarosa whispered,† you're hurt.† Silas glanced down, his visage contorted in anguish. â€Å"I am so very sorry, Father.† He seemed almost too pained to speak. â€Å"No, Silas,† Aringarosa replied. â€Å"It is I who am sorry. This is my fault.† The Teacher promised me there would be no killing, and I told you to obey him fully. â€Å"I was too eager. Too fearful. You and I were deceived.† The Teacher was never going to deliver us the Holy Grail. Cradled in the arms of the man he had taken in all those years ago, Bishop Aringarosa felt himself reel back in time. To Spain. To his modest beginnings, building a small Catholic church in Oviedo with Silas. And later, to New York City, where he had proclaimed the glory of God with the towering Opus Dei Center on Lexington Avenue. Five months ago, Aringarosa had received devastating news. His life's work was in jeopardy. He recalled, with vivid detail, the meeting inside Castel Gandolfo that had changed his life†¦ the news that had set this entire calamity into motion. Aringarosa had entered Gandolfo's Astronomy Library with his head held high, fully expecting to be lauded by throngs of welcoming hands, all eager to pat him on the back for his superior work representing Catholicism in America. But only three people were present. The Vatican secretariat. Obese. Dour. Two high-ranking Italian cardinals. Sanctimonious. Smug. â€Å"Secretariat?† Aringarosa said, puzzled. The rotund overseer of legal affairs shook Aringarosa's hand and motioned to the chair opposite him. â€Å"Please, make yourself comfortable.† Aringarosa sat, sensing something was wrong. â€Å"I am not skilled in small talk, Bishop,† the secretariat said,† so let me be direct about the reason for your visit.† â€Å"Please. Speak openly.† Aringarosa glanced at the two cardinals, who seemed to be measuring him with self-righteous anticipation. â€Å"As you are well aware,† the secretariat said,† His Holiness and others in Rome have been concerned lately with the political fallout from Opus Dei's more controversial practices.† Aringarosa felt himself bristle instantly. He already had been through this on numerous occasions with the new pontiff, who, to Aringarosa's great dismay, had turned out to be a distressingly fervent voice for liberal change in the Church. â€Å"I want to assure you,† the secretariat added quickly,† that His Holiness does not seek to change anything about the way you run your ministry.† I should hope not!† Then why am I here?† The enormous man sighed. â€Å"Bishop, I am not sure how to say this delicately, so I will state it directly. Two days ago, the Secretariat Council voted unanimously to revoke the Vatican's sanction of Opus Dei.† Aringarosa was certain he had heard incorrectly. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"Plainly stated, six months from today, Opus Dei will no longer be considered a prelature of the Vatican. You will be a church unto yourself. The Holy See will be disassociating itself from you. His Holiness agrees and we are already drawing up the legal papers.† â€Å"But†¦ that is impossible!† â€Å"On the contrary, it is quite possible. And necessary. His Holiness has become uneasy with your aggressive recruiting policies and your practices of corporal mortification.† He paused. â€Å"Also your policies regarding women. Quite frankly, Opus Dei has become a liability and an embarrassment.† Bishop Aringarosa was stupefied. â€Å"An embarrassment?† â€Å"Certainly you cannot be surprised it has come to this.† â€Å"Opus Dei is the only Catholic organization whose numbers are growing! We now have over eleven hundred priests!† â€Å"True. A troubling issue for us all.† Aringarosa shot to his feet. â€Å"Ask His Holiness if Opus Dei was an embarrassment in 1982 when we helped the Vatican Bank!† â€Å"The Vatican will always be grateful for that,† the secretariat said, his tone appeasing,† and yet there are those who still believe your financial munificence in 1982 is the only reason you were granted prelature status in the first place.† â€Å"That is not true!† The insinuation offended Aringarosa deeply. â€Å"Whatever the case, we plan to act in good faith. We are drawing up severance terms that will include a reimbursement of those monies. It will be paid in five installments.† â€Å"You are buying me off?† Aringarosa demanded. â€Å"Paying me to go quietly? When Opus Dei is the only remaining voice of reason!† One of the cardinals glanced up. â€Å"I'm sorry, did you say reason?† Aringarosa leaned across the table, sharpening his tone to a point. â€Å"Do you really wonder why Catholics are leaving the Church? Look around you, Cardinal. People have lost respect. The rigors of faith are gone. The doctrine has become a buffet line. Abstinence, confession, communion, baptism, mass – take your pick – choose whatever combination pleases you and ignore the rest. What kind of spiritual guidance is the Church offering?† â€Å"Third-century laws,† the second cardinal said,† cannot be applied to the modern followers of Christ. The rules are not workable in today's society.† â€Å"Well, they seem to be working for Opus Dei!† â€Å"Bishop Aringarosa,† the secretariat said, his voice conclusive. â€Å"Out of respect for your organization's relationship with the previous Pope, His Holiness will be giving Opus Dei six months to voluntarily break away from the Vatican. I suggest you cite your differences of opinion with the Holy See and establish yourself as your own Christian organization.† â€Å"I refuse!† Aringarosa declared. â€Å"And I'll tell him that in person!† â€Å"I'm afraid His Holiness no longer cares to meet with you.† Aringarosa stood up. â€Å"He would not dare abolish a personal prelature established by a previous Pope!† â€Å"I'm sorry.† The secretariat's eyes did not flinch. â€Å"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.† Aringarosa had staggered from that meeting in bewilderment and panic. Returning to New York, he stared out at the skyline in disillusionment for days, overwhelmed with sadness for the future of Christianity. It was several weeks later that he received the phone call that changed all that. The caller sounded French and identified himself as the Teacher – a title common in the prelature. He said he knew of the Vatican's plans to pull support from Opus Dei. How could he know that? Aringarosa wondered. He had hoped only a handful of Vatican power brokers knew of Opus Dei's impending annulment. Apparently the word was out. When it came to containing gossip, no walls in the world were as porous as those surrounding Vatican City. â€Å"I have ears everywhere, Bishop,† the Teacher whispered,† and with these ears I have gained certain knowledge. With your help, I can uncover the hiding place of a sacred relic that will bring you enormous power†¦ enough power to make the Vatican bow before you. Enough power to save the Faith.† He paused. â€Å"Not just for Opus Dei. But for all of us.† The Lord taketh away†¦and the Lord giveth.Aringarosa felt a glorious ray of hope. â€Å"Tell me your plan.† Bishop Aringarosa was unconscious when the doors of St. Mary's Hospital hissed open. Silas lurched into the entryway delirious with exhaustion. Dropping to his knees on the tile floor, he cried out for help. Everyone in the reception area gaped in wonderment at the half-naked albino offering forth a bleeding clergyman. The doctor who helped Silas heave the delirious bishop onto a gurney looked gloomy as he felt Aringarosa's pulse. â€Å"He's lost a lot of blood. I am not hopeful.† Aringarosa's eyes flickered, and he returned for a moment, his gaze locating Silas. â€Å"My child†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Silas's soul thundered with remorse and rage. â€Å"Father, if it takes my lifetime, I will find the one who deceived us, and I will kill him.† Aringarosa shook his head, looking sad as they prepared to wheel him away. â€Å"Silas†¦ if you have learned nothing from me, please†¦ learn this.† He took Silas's hand and gave it a firm squeeze. â€Å"Forgiveness is God's greatest gift.† â€Å"But Father†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Aringarosa closed his eyes. â€Å"Silas, you must pray.† CHAPTER 101 Robert Langdon stood beneath the lofty cupola of the deserted Chapter House and stared into the barrel of Leigh Teabing's gun. Robert, are you with me, or against me? The Royal Historian's words echoed in the silence of Langdon's mind. There was no viable response, Langdon knew. Answer yes, and he would be selling out Sophie. Answer no, and Teabing would have no choice but to kill them both. Langdon's years in the classroom had not imbued him with any skills relevant to handling confrontations at gunpoint, but the classroom had taught him something about answering paradoxical questions. When a question has no correct answer, there is only one honest response. The gray area between yes and no. Silence. Staring at the cryptex in his hands, Langdon chose simply to walk away. Without ever lifting his eyes, he stepped backward, out into the room's vast empty spaces. Neutral ground.He hoped his focus on the cryptex signaled Teabing that collaboration might be an option, and that his silence signaled Sophie he had not abandoned her. All the while buying time to think. The act of thinking, Langdon suspected, was exactly what Teabing wanted him to do. That's whyhe handed me the cryptex.So I could feel the weight of my decision.The British historian hoped the touch of the Grand Master's cryptex would make Langdon fully grasp the magnitude of its contents, coaxing his academic curiosity to overwhelm all else, forcing him to realize that failure to unlock the keystone would mean the loss of history itself. With Sophie at gunpoint across the room, Langdon feared that discovering the cryptex's elusive password would be his only remaining hope of bartering her release. If I can free the map, Teabingwill negotiate.Forcing his mind to this critical task, Langdon moved slowly toward the far windows†¦ allowing his mind to fill with the numerous astronomical images on Newton's tomb. You seek the orb that ought be on his tomb. It speaks of Rosy flesh and seeded womb. Turning his back to the others, he walked toward the towering windows, searching for any inspiration in their stained-glass mosaics. There was none. Place yourself in Sauniere's mind, he urged, gazing outward now into College Garden. What wouldhe believe is the orb that ought be on Newton's tomb? Images of stars, comets, and planets twinkled in the falling rain, but Langdon ignored them. Sauniere was not a man of science. He was a man of humanity, of art, of history. The sacred feminine†¦the chalice†¦the Rose†¦the banishedMary Magdalene†¦the decline of the goddess†¦the Holy Grail. Legend had always portrayed the Grail as a cruel mistress, dancing in the shadows just out of sight, whispering in your ear, luring you one more step and then evaporating into the mist. Gazing out at the rustling trees of College Garden, Langdon sensed her playful presence. The signs were everywhere. Like a taunting silhouette emerging from the fog, the branches of Britain's oldest apple tree burgeoned with five-petaled blossoms, all glistening like Venus. The goddess was in the garden now. She was dancing in the rain, singing songs of the ages, peeking out from behind the bud-filled branches as if to remind Langdon that the fruit of knowledge was growing just beyond his reach. Across the room, Sir Leigh Teabing watched with confidence as Langdon gazed out the window as if under a spell. Exactly as I hoped, Teabing thought. He will come around. For some time now, Teabing had suspected Langdon might hold the key to the Grail. It was no coincidence that Teabing launched his plan into action on the same night Langdon was scheduled to meet Jacques Sauniere. Listening in on the curator, Teabing was certain the man's eagerness to meet privately with Langdon could mean only one thing. Langdon's mysterious manuscript has touched a nerve with the Priory. Langdon has stumbled onto a truth, and Sauniere fears its release.Teabing felt certain the Grand Master was summoning Langdon to silence him. The Truth has been silenced long enough! Teabing knew he had to act quickly. Silas's attack would accomplish two goals. It would prevent Sauniere from persuading Langdon to keep quiet, and it would ensure that once the keystone was in Teabing's hands, Langdon would be in Paris for recruitment should Teabing need him. Arranging the fatal meeting between Sauniere and Silas had been almost too easy. I had inside information about Sauniere's deepest fears.Yesterday afternoon, Silas had phoned the curator and posed as a distraught priest. â€Å"Monsieur Sauniere, forgive me, I must speak to you at once. I should never breach the sanctity of the confessional, but in this case, I feel I must. I just took confession from a man who claimed to have murdered members of your family.† Sauniere's response was startled but wary. â€Å"My family died in an accident. The police report was conclusive.† â€Å"Yes, a car accident,† Silas said, baiting the hook. â€Å"The man I spoke to said he forced their car off the road into a river.† Sauniere fell silent.† Monsieur Sauniere, I would never have phoned you directly except this man made a comment which makes me now fear for your safety.† He paused. â€Å"The man also mentioned your granddaughter, Sophie.† The mention of Sophie's name had been the catalyst. The curator leapt into action. He ordered Silasto come see him immediately in the safest location Sauniere knew – his Louvre office. Then he phoned Sophie to warn her she might be in danger. Drinks with Robert Langdon were instantly abandoned. Now, with Langdon separated from Sophie on the far side of the room, Teabing sensed he had successfully alienated the two companions from one another. Sophie Neveu remained defiant, but Langdon clearly saw the larger picture. He was trying to figure out the password. He understands the importance of finding the Grail and releasing her from bondage. â€Å"He won't open it for you,† Sophie said coldly. â€Å"Even if he can.† Teabing was glancing at Langdon as he held the gun on Sophie. He was fairly certain now he was going to have to use the weapon. Although the idea troubled him, he knew he would not hesitate if it came to that. I have given her every opportunity to do the right thing.The Grail is bigger than any one of us. At that moment, Langdon turned from the window. â€Å"The tomb†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said suddenly, facing them with a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes. â€Å"I know where to look on Newton's tomb. Yes, I think I can find the password!† Teabing's heart soared. â€Å"Where, Robert? Tell me!† Sophie sounded horrified. â€Å"Robert, no! You're not going to help him, are you?† Langdon approached with a resolute stride, holding the cryptex before him. â€Å"No,† he said, his eyes hardening as he turned to Leigh. â€Å"Not until he lets you go.† Teabing's optimism darkened. â€Å"We are so close, Robert. Don't you dare start playing games with me!† â€Å"No games,† Langdon said. â€Å"Let her go. Then I'll take you to Newton's tomb. We'll open the cryptex together.† â€Å"I'm not going anywhere,† Sophie declared, her eyes narrowing with rage. â€Å"That cryptex was given to me by my grandfather. It is not yours to open.† Langdon wheeled, looking fearful. â€Å"Sophie, please! You're in danger. I'm trying to help you!† â€Å"How? By unveiling the secret my grandfather died trying to protect? He trusted you, Robert. Itrusted you!† Langdon's blue eyes showed panic now, and Teabing could not help but smile to see the two of them working against one another. Langdon's attempts to be gallant were more pathetic than anything. On the verge of unveiling one of history's greatest secrets, and he troubles himself with a woman who has proven herself unworthy of the quest. â€Å"Sophie,† Langdon pleaded. â€Å"Please†¦ you must leave.† She shook her head. â€Å"Not unless you either hand me the cryptex or smash it on the floor.† â€Å"What?† Langdon gasped.† Robert, my grandfather would prefer his secret lost forever than see it in the hands of his murderer.† Sophie's eyes looked as if they would well with tears, but they did not. She stared directly back at Teabing. â€Å"Shoot me if you have to. I am not leaving my grandfather's legacy in your hands.† Very well.Teabing aimed the weapon. â€Å"No!† Langdon shouted, raising his arm and suspending the cryptex precariously over the hard stone floor. â€Å"Leigh, if you even think about it, I will drop this.† Teabing laughed. â€Å"That bluff worked on Remy. Not on me. I know you better than that.† â€Å"Do you, Leigh?† Yes I do. Your poker face needs work, my friend. It took me several seconds, but I can see now that you are lying. You have no idea where on Newton's tomb the answer lies. â€Å"Truly, Robert? You know where on the tomb to look?† â€Å"I do.† The falter in Langdon's eyes was fleeting but Leigh caught it. There was a lie there. A desperate, pathetic ploy to save Sophie. Teabing felt a profound disappointment in Robert Langdon. I am a lone knight, surrounded by unworthy souls. And I will have to decipher the keystone on my own. Langdon and Neveu were nothing but a threat to Teabing now†¦ and to the Grail. As painful as the solution was going to be, he knew he could carry it out with a clean conscience. The only challenge would be to persuade Langdon to set down the keystone so Teabing could safely end this charade. â€Å"A show of faith,† Teabing said, lowering the gun from Sophie. â€Å"Set down the keystone, and we'll talk.† Langdon knew his lie had failed. He could see the dark resolve in Teabing's face and knew the moment was upon them. When I setthis down, he will kill us both.Even without looking at Sophie, he could hear her heart beseeching him in silent desperation. Robert, this man is not worthy of the Grail.Please do not place it in his hands.No matter what the cost. Langdon had already made his decision several minutes ago, while standing alone at the window overlooking College Garden. Protect Sophie. Protect the Grail. Langdon had almost shouted out in desperation. But I cannot see how! The stark moments of disillusionment had brought with them a clarity unlike any he had ever felt. The Truth is right before your eyes, Robert.He knew not from where the epiphany came. The Grailis not mocking you, she is calling out to a worthy soul. Now, bowing down like a subject several yards in front of Leigh Teabing, Langdon lowered the cryptex to within inches of the stone floor. â€Å"Yes, Robert,† Teabing whispered, aiming the gun at him. â€Å"Set it down.† Langdon's eyes moved heavenward, up into the gaping void of the Chapter House cupola. Crouching lower, Langdon lowered his gaze to Teabing's gun, aimed directly at him. â€Å"I'm sorry, Leigh.† In one fluid motion, Langdon leapt up, swinging his arm skyward, launching the cryptex straight up toward the dome above. Leigh Teabing did not feel his finger pull the trigger, but the Medusa discharged with a thundering crash. Langdon's crouched form was now vertical, almost airborne, and the bullet exploded in the floor near Langdon's feet. Half of Teabing's brain attempted to adjust his aim and fire again in rage, but the more powerful half dragged his eyes upward into the cupola. The keystone! Time seemed to freeze, morphing into a slow-motion dream as Teabing's entire world became the airborne keystone. He watched it rise to the apex of its climb†¦ hovering for a moment in the void†¦ and then tumbling downward, end over end, back toward the stone floor. All of Teabing's hopes and dreams were plummeting toward earth. It cannot strike the floor! I can reach it! Teabing's body reacted on instinct. He released the gun and heaved himself forward, dropping his crutches as he reached out with his soft, manicured hands. Stretching his arms and fingers, he snatched the keystone from midair. Falling forward with the keystone victoriously clutched in his hand, Teabing knew he was falling too fast. With nothing to break his fall, his outstretched arms hit first, and the cryptex collided hard with the floor. There was a sickening crunch of glass within. For a full second, Teabing did not breathe. Lying there outstretched on the cold floor, staring the length of his outstretched arms at the marble cylinder in his bare palms, he implored the glass vial inside to hold. Then the acrid tang of vinegar cut the air, and Teabing felt the cool liquid flowing out through the dials onto his palm. Wild panic gripped him. NO! The vinegar was streaming now, and Teabing pictured the papyrus dissolving within. Robert, you fool! The secret is lost! Teabing felt himself sobbing uncontrollably. The Grail is gone.Everything destroyed.Shuddering in disbelief over Langdon's actions, Teabing tried to force the cylinder apart, longing to catch a fleeting glimpse of history before it dissolved forever. To his shock, as he pulled the ends of the keystone, the cylinder separated. He gasped and peered inside. It was empty except for shards of wet glass. No dissolving papyrus. Teabing rolled over and looked up at Langdon. Sophie stood beside him, aiming the gun down at Teabing. Bewildered, Teabing looked back at the keystone and saw it. The dials were no longer at random. They spelled a five-letter word: APPLE. â€Å"The orb from which Eve partook,† Langdon said coolly,† incurring the Holy wrath of God. Original sin. The symbol of the fall of the sacred feminine.† Teabing felt the truth come crashing down on him in excruciating austerity. The orb that ought be on Newton's tomb could be none other than the Rosy apple that fell from heaven, struck Newton on the head, and inspired his life's work. His labor's fruit! The Rosy flesh with a seeded womb! â€Å"Robert,† Teabing stammered, overwhelmed. â€Å"You opened it. Where†¦ is the map?† Without blinking, Langdon reached into the breast pocket of his tweed coat and carefully extracted a delicate rolled papyrus. Only a few yards from where Teabing lay, Langdon unrolled the scroll and looked at it. After a long moment, a knowing smile crossed Langdon's face. He knows! Teabing's heart craved that knowledge. His life's dream was right in front of him. â€Å"Tell me!† Teabing demanded. â€Å"Please! Oh God, please! It's not too late!† As the sound of heavy footsteps thundered down the hall toward the Chapter House, Langdon quietly rolled the papyrus and slipped it back in his pocket. â€Å"No!† Teabing cried out, trying in vain to stand. When the doors burst open, Bezu Fache entered like a bull into a ring, his feral eyes scanning, finding his target – Leigh Teabing – helpless on the floor. Exhaling in relief, Fache holstered his Manurhin sidearm and turned to Sophie. â€Å"Agent Neveu, I am relieved you and Mr. Langdon are safe. You should have come in when I asked.† The British police entered on Fache's heels, seizing the anguished prisoner and placing him in handcuffs. Sophie seemed stunned to see Fache. â€Å"How did you find us?† Fache pointed to Teabing. â€Å"He made the mistake of showing his ID when he entered the abbey. The guards heard a police broadcast about our search for him.† â€Å"It's in Langdon's pocket!† Teabing was screaming like a madman. â€Å"The map to the Holy Grail!† As they hoisted Teabing and carried him out, he threw back his head and howled. â€Å"Robert! Tell me where it's hidden!† As Teabing passed, Langdon looked him in the eye. â€Å"Only the worthy find the Grail, Leigh. You taught me that.†

ICT System Specifications

For my database to run efficiently, the luxury car dealership needs a computer with certain specifications in order to run the certain software. I have researched the necessary system requirements for the software I use to create and run databases. These programmes include the operating system (the OS) and the program I use to create the actual databases. Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate * 1Ghz 32-bit or 64-bit processor * 1GB of system memory * Direct X 10 * 128Mb Graphics Card * 40GB HDD with 15GB of free space * DVD-ROM Drive * Audio Output Capability * Internet Access Capability * Keyboard and Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007 * 500-MHz or faster processor * 256Mb of RAM or greater * 2GB of Hard Drive Space * DVD Disc Drive * Windows Vista, Windows XP Home, Professional or Media Centre Edition with Service Pack 2 * Super VGA (800Ãâ€"600) Monitor or greater * Broadband Connection * Programmes included are the 2007 versions of: Microsoft Access, Communicator, Excel, InfoPath, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher and Word. Microsoft Office includes all of the necessary programs for the car dealership's database including Microsoft Access to create it and Microsoft Word for the mail merge. It is quite expensive but it is compatible with all documents and is a quality product, used by many businesses every day. I myself use these Microsoft Office programs so it is easier for me to create the database. As well as Microsoft Office, there is also another type of software currently found on the internet and as a free download. The program is called â€Å"Star Office†. This is available for free from a website: www.sun.com, where you can download the program for free. The program can be linked with Microsoft Office, as there is a word processor (Microsoft Word), spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel), presentations (Microsoft PowerPoint), E-Mail Client (Microsoft Outlook) and Databases (Microsoft Access). The system specifications of â€Å"Star Office† are: * 320Mb of Hard Drive Space * 128Mb of RAM * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition/Professional/Media Center Edition 2005 with Service Pack 2 * For Download from the Internet – Broadband Connection * For Installation by Disc – DVD Disc Drive The advantages of using Star Office are that it is free from their website, it includes most of the functions from Microsoft Office and it does not take up a lot of space on the Hard Drive or RAM. The fact that the software is free is that is it not as good as Microsoft Office because it cannot open all the documents, which could be difficult for the dealership if they create a document on Microsoft Office (say from their home) and when they try to upload it onto the computer at work, it might not be able to open. I decided to choose the Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007 for the company because it is a quality product and it is compatible with all documents. It is also the top of the range version with all of the necessary programs for the dealership, unlike Star Office. It is also much easier to use for both new and existing users of the dealership. However, it is quite expensive but the overall cost is less than using Star Office. The computer's operating system is also made by Microsoft, which is a genuine company and are also the company who make Microsoft Office, so they are compatible. The company users may also have used Microsoft Office before so it would be familiar to them. The company have also asked me to purchase new computers that will benefit them. I have looked at several computer websites and tried to find a computer with at least the exact specifications shown above for Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007. As I have been with the knowledge of computers for a long time, I know which computer manufacturers to trust. I looked at several online stores including PC World, Currys Digital and Sony Centre Online and I have found two PC's that meets my needs and the company itself. I chose Sony as the computer manufacturer as they are very reliable, they build quality computers and they have a superb repair service if the computer crashes. I have found this laptop on Sony's website that suited the company and me: Sony Vaio AR Series with Blu-Ray Disc Drive Specifications * Intel(r) Core(tm) Duo Processor T2500, Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep(r) Technology * Microsoft(r) Windows(r) Vista Ultimate * 1920 x 1200 Display * 1024Mb of RAM * Blu-Ray Super Multi Double Layer DVDà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½RW/BD-RE drive * NVIDIA(r) GeForce(tm) Go 7600 GT with 256MB dedicated Video Memory * 802.11a/b/g Wireless Receiver * HDD (Hard Drive Disc) 160Gb This laptop costs à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2000 from Sony's website or from Sony's store. This might seem quite expensive yet it has all the necessary specifications and more. The RAM (Random Access Memory) is very large – 1024Mb. This means that they can load up a lot of programs at once without any lag time. This will benefit the company as they will be able to open many programs at once e.g. opening the database and Microsoft Word at the same time and they would not have to close a program down to open another. It also has Windows Vista Ultimate. This will benefit the company because most of the users would have used a Microsoft operating system before so all of their documents are compatible and they know how to use Microsoft Windows without any training. It also has a DVD Disc Drive, which means they are able to write and re-write DVD's. There is also a Blu-Ray Disc Drive. The Blu-Ray discs can hold up to 60 GB of data and it is re-writeable. This means that the company can save documents and files on several large discs and is able to re-write any disc placed in it (as long as the disc is re-writeable). This means that they can back-up all of their documents and files onto the disc so that if their laptop crashes, the documents will not be deleted. The laptop is ideal for the company because it is portable, so the manager can load the specifications of the car and show the customers the specifications next to the car, rather than looking at the car then looking at the specifications. The hard drive is also very large – 160 GB – which can easily store all the necessary programs and more programs if the company wish to install more programs. The laptop also has a wireless card built-in which means that if the company has a wireless router, they can access the internet wirelessly. This means that they can carry the laptop anywhere and have a wireless connection. They can show the customers the car manufacturer's website when they are looking at that particular car so that they can see what the specifications are and what the price would be when bought new from the cars dealership. Finally, the laptop has a large screen, which means that there will be no difficulty looking at the screen and not being able to see what is on there. The screen is also backlit so if the room is dark, you can see the screen more clearly and easily. The backlit screen is brighter when plugged into the mains but darker when portable in order to save battery life. The other computer I was looking at was another Sony desktop computer: Sony Vaio VGC Series (Black) * Intel(r) Pentium(r) D Processor 820 (2.80 GHz and 800 MHz FSB) * Genuine Microsoft(r) Windows(r) Vista Ultimate * 250 GB SATA hard disk drive * 1 GB (2 x 512 MB) DDR2-533 SDRAM, maximum 1 GB * 20†³ WXGA (1366 x 768) widescreen X-black LCD screen with double lamp technology * ATI Mobility(tm) Radeon(r) X700 graphics card with 256 MB HyperMemory(tm) * Wireless LAN 802.11b/g * Wireless QWERTY keyboard with pointing device (touch pad type), wireless optical mouse and remote control Between the Sony laptop and the desktop, I have chosen the desktop as the company's new computer. The reasons why I chose the desktop are that the desktop is very slim, similar to the laptop. Also, the desktop's power is from the mains, not from a battery pack which the laptop has and needs recharging every two hours or so. The desktop has a wider screen than the laptop, making it easier to see. The screen is also backlit, similar to the laptop but it is always bright. However, with the laptop, when portable, the screen is dark and not backlit. The desktop has all the necessary requirements and features the company need. The desktop specifications are much better than those of the laptop. Firstly, it has a 250GB hard drive disc, the laptop has 160GB. The desktop also has a 1024Mb which is equal to the laptop. The desktop is bundled with a wireless card so at the company can connect to the internet wirelessly without any Ethernet cables. The laptop has a wireless card yet it uses a lot of the laptops battery life and significantly reduces it to one hour's battery life when connected wirelessly. Finally, the desktop is bundled with a wireless keyboard (useful for typing on desks or when standing), a remote control (to control presentations such as slide shows and picture galleries) and a wireless optical mouse (useful when working on a desk). The most important reason why I chose this desktop was that it was à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½500 cheaper than the laptop – the desktop costs à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1500. I thought that the selling price was quite good considering that when you buy the desktop; you have higher specifications than the laptop which costs an extra à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½500, which has poorer specifications. I chose the computer manufacturer Sony because they make high quality computers with excellent specifications, reliability and at a reasonable price. An alternative to using Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate is using Apple's OS X Tiger 10.4. This is very similar to Windows yet it uses different programs, so the same applications are not cross compatible, so the company's employees would not be able to view documents made on a Macintosh on a Windows PC. I did not choose Mac OS X because the employees and I have no training in using this software. Also, the Mac is more graphically advanced than Windows, yet this is unnecessary because the computer is only needed for running a database and does not have to have a lot of graphical power. Finally, Mac OS X is much more expensive as it includes all the software made by Apple. Most of the software is unnecessary for the dealership so purchasing a Windows Vista PC is more beneficial as the user can choose what programs you wish to purchase. Printers There are two types of printers available to purchase; inkjet and laser. I decided to choose one suitable inkjet printer and one laser printer for the dealership and then work out which would be the best to purchase. I decided to choose â€Å"Lexmark† as the printers manufacturer because they are very reliable, efficient, cheap and a well known brand. I myself have a Lexmark printer and I recommend their printers to all of my customers. Lexmark Z845 * Inkjet Printer * USB Connection * 100 paper tray * 24 pages per minute in black * 18 pages per minute in colour * Windows and Mac compatible * à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½50 This printer is very cheap – à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½50. This is beneficial for the user and the dealership because it would save them quite a lot of money on a laser printer, like the one below. It also prints both colour and black ink so the user can print out documents such as reports as well as print out photos of the cars if he wishes to. The printer can also hold a lot of paper before it has to be refilled which is good because the user could ask the computer to print 100 pages and would be able to leave the printer printing for a long time. However, this printer is inkjet so it takes a lot longer to print both colour and black ink pages than a laser printer which could be annoying and time consuming for the user as he may have to print out the documents as quickly as possible for a customer waiting. The ink also runs out very quickly, which means that the user would have to purchase more and more cartridges. These are also very expensive, which is not beneficial for the company. Lexmark E120N * Laser Printer * USB Connection * 165 paper tray * 20 pages per minute in black * Windows only compatible * à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½80 The alternative to the inkjet printer is this laser one. It holds 165 pages until it has to be refilled – 65 more than the inkjet printer. This means that the user is able to leave the printer for a long time to print out documents until he has to refill the paper. It also prints 20 pages per minute in black which is quite a lot. This means that the user can print off reports very quickly, saving the user time and effort. The toner is also very long lasting and is quick and cheap to change – unlike the inkjets cartridges. This will save the user time and money when the toner has run out. However, this printer only prints in black so the user would not be able to print any colour documents or photos from the printer. It is also more expensive – à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½30 more than the inkjet printer which is not beneficial for the company. I decided to purchase the Lexmark E120N for the company. Firstly, it is laser so it is able to print a lot of black pages very quickly and efficiently, saving the user time and money replacing the cartridges of the printer as the toner is much cheaper. Also, the printer holds more paper than the other one so the user does not have to keep refilling the paper tray as often as using the laser printer. Unfortunately, the printer only prints black pages. However, the company would not need to print out anything in colour as it only needs to print out reports, so buying an inkjet printer would be inadequate. Also, the printer is more expensive but by saving money from buying toner rather than inkjet cartridges, the money is effectively paid back from the saved money. Internet I also decided that the company should purchase a broadband connection for many reasons. Firstly, if the company were to expand in the future, they would be able to communicate with the other dealerships across the region, saving time and money spent on making phone calls to the other dealerships for information. Looking at the software requirements of Windows Vista Ultimate, the company needs to have an internet connection so that they can register their computer and OS with Sony and Microsoft to prevent any illegal copies of it being made. The internet connection also benefits the company as they would be able to update vital downloads on their computers. The internet may also benefit the company because they would be able to compare their prices with other companies who rent luxury cars, so that they know if they are over or under charging for their rentals, benefiting the company and the customers themselves. Also, the company is able to download new information from the car manufacturer's website including new cars and new details. They could also purchase new or used cars from the manufacturers directly through the internet. I recommend to the company that they purchase a fast internet connection of 8Mbps. This would benefit the company and the user because they would be able to download updates from Microsoft very quickly and efficiently, they would be able to access website quickly saving a lot of time for the user, they would be able to surf the web and download items at the same time and it would be future proof for the company so that they would not have to upgrade their internet speed for a long time. However, if the company purchase an internet connection, they would have to purchase some software to protect it against viruses and spy ware. A program they should purchase is Norton Anti-Virus 2007. This can be purchased via the internet or as a software package. This would provide protection for the company's computer against viruses such as â€Å"Trojan Horse† and spy ware which allows other computers to access information and document from your PC, effectively ruining your privacy. If the computer was attacked by one of the 114,000 viruses on the internet, the computer's data could become corrupted and any valuable data could be lost. By purchasing this software, this will prevent any damage happening to the company's computer.

Poverty: Most Serious Problem in the Whole World

I choose poverty as my topic for my essay because poverty has been considered as the most serious problem not only In the United State, but also In the whole world. It has been playing an important role In developing the entire society. There are three different theories In analyzing how society Influences people, and how people Influence society, which are functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic Interaction.There are five social Institutions In functionalist perspective: family, government, economy, religion, and education. View poverty from functionalism perspective, It stops the development of the whole society. The effects of poverty to society Is a very long list. Illness, crime, and hunger are major effects of poverty on society as a whole. Some of these effects can also be considered as a cause for poverty. Poverty also can lead to poor education for those children who are effected by poverty. It also will lead o revolution from the lower class people, who are suffering p overty, against the government.Sometimes it will also cause terrorism. But on the other hand, poverty can also create some jobs opportunities. Manifest function, consequences which are intended and recognized by the participants in a system, of poverty is that it gets the â€Å"dirty work† done. Latent function, consequences that are neither intended nor recognized, of poverty is that it separates people from different classes. Latent dysfunction of the poverty is that it will only enlarge the gap between the rich and he poor. Conflict theory is more focused on controlling the scarce resources..Apply conflict theory to poverty, the poor will try to get out of their situation while the rich will do their best to protect the scarce resource. In this case, the scarce resource is money, The struggling groups of poverty are the â€Å"have onto† , and these â€Å"haves†, rich people, gain a lot more power in this case. Rich people have more power In an economic way, m oney. They want to keep their benefits, and they can give their children some advantages in this way at the same time. If the poor wins more power In this struggle, one of the biggest changes In would be wages.In this society, more money produces more power, more power produces more money. The riches will get richer, the poor get poorer. The third theory Is symbolic Interaction. It relies on the symbolic meanings that people develop and rely upon In the process of social Interaction. In poverty, people who are labeled poor are always stigmatize as lazy, lack of motivation and education, or sometimes even criminal while wealthy people re always considered capable, hard working, well-educated and motivated.It separates people from different classes communicating with each other, that way It enlarges the disparity between the rich and the poor. In a conclusion, poverty Is one of the most rigorous issues right now In our society. It applies to these three different theories in different ways. The theory that I agree with the most is the people are really trying their best to narrow the gap between the rich and poor, but it really takes some sufferance to overcome those difficulties.

Transition Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Transition Plan - Essay Example (Mario and Marko, 2001) Transitions in the economic and financial structure in various countries have changed the mindset of many policymakers and forced them to rethink on their decisions. The present credit crunch can be termed as another period of transition wherein most of the nationalized banks in the so called superpower, richest land on earth, United States are tumbling down. The world was not ready for the crisis and hence the present economic turmoil. Schools have an important role to play in the lives of children in regard to their education and skills. The present challenges faced by schools are preparing them for the future studies. Most of the schools don't offer guidance to the students on their future education and career. Schools should take the responsibility of identifying the students' interest of education, subject and field of study and encourage and assist him to achieve his/her goals. Prior to introducing the child to school, it is necessary to assess the child's readiness to start school by looking into various factors such as child's age, maturity, social skills, health and their ability to perform certain tasks individually. (Angela, 2008) This transition could lead to lots of constraints for parents. Therefore, it is necessary to educate the parents first before they bring in their children for admission in pre-school. The parents should be advised to talk with their children about schools which will reduce the fear of entering into a new world. The parents should instructed to attend the orientation session where they can be informed about the curriculum, schedules, extra-curricular activities, etc. (www.indiaparenting.net) Smoother transition of activities Schools have to pen down various measures and steps to ensure that transition in schools do not have harsh impact on students. Transition is planning for one's future after high school while still in high school. The transition from school to work, from secondary to post-secondary education is an arduous task for the students of various categories. The schools must lay down procedures to tackle such issues through early planning, continuous assessment process of interest of students, their goals, work experiences, networking with agency and community personnel and creativity about planning. (www.dpi.state.nd.us) Transition plan should draw all the information relating to all the fields mentioned herein, in order to plan correctly the future of young adults. (www.surreycc.gov.uk) Facilities for stakeholders and their responsibilities The process of transition means leaving the past behind and moving ahead which could be painful at times on any given day. Therefore it has to deal carefully in terms of school so the process does not affect the mindset of children. Children in kindergarten should be assessed on various criterions like physical, emotional, linguistic and cognitive and work according to the requirement laid down in the code of practice. Children should be advised on all the issues of transition by preparing a proper transition plan. Children should be prepared well to take on the forthcoming challenges. In regard to their career, the schools should assess

SWOT Analysis and Table Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

SWOT Analysis and Table - Essay Example Strengths in this market environment is an internal organizational quality that enables the business to survive and compete against other similar stores, e.g. good positive cash flow. A weakness is also an internal organizational problem that affects it negatively while giving an opportunity to rivals such as accumulating bad debt. An opportunity comes basically from the external environment such as a rival’s inability to meet demand. Finally a threat is also a basically external matter, e.g. a rival’s sales promotion campaigns. SWOT analysis enables the organization to plan and execute its programmes of action with a degree of certainty about the external environmental factors that influence its own existence. A baby store would necessarily be faced with a number of external economic influences such as the government policies on taxation, interest rates, inflation, money supply, balance of payments, Gross Domestic Product, National Income, foreign governments’ protectionist policies and so on. Imported baby-care products would be more expensive if the government imposes a higher import tariff on them. The government might impose higher corporation taxes in order to control inflation. This would affect the business in a number of ways. For instance a baby store which depends much more on imported products would find that higher tariffs to be a threat to its survival, especially in the long run. It might find it difficult to reduce prices to match its rivals’ prices. Rivals might be selling domestic products that are not subject to taxes except some GST or BTT. This gives them an advantage over rivals that sell imported products. Higher sales taxes imposed on baby care products by the government in order to control inflation also could affect them. Baby stores are affected by such taxes because now people buy less (McIntyre-Mills, 2004, p.373). Next

The Race Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Race - Essay Example is a function of the wage they receive" (Romaguera 14) is true, wages in minority neighborhoods may be lower, because they do not need to be higher. If one worker is not productive and is fired, there are many others waiting to take his or her place, who will work for the same wage. Again, the ability to purchase resources is reduced, due to lower income. The same concept can be applied to housing and rent, only reversed. "In 2000, the proportion of African American households that had obtained home ownership was 65% lower than the proportion of white households that had obtained homeownership" (Ohio State University 3). Therefore, the rental owner will seek to charge as much as demand will allow, regardless of race. This means that those living in less affluent neighborhoods may ultimately get less for their money, in terms of rental unit quality, amenities, and space. Social segmentation also affects the distribution of resources. It may not always do so directly, but by altering marketing efforts, based on clustering or categorization of specific geographic locations or types of customers, allocation is indirectly affected. In Asian Social Science December, 2008, Yingchun Guo ( 3-4) explains how clustering works for electric power consumers. The types of customers are divided into four categories. The highest ranking are those that consume more power and have good credit, while the lowest ranking group has less than idea credit and consumes less power. Marketing strategies are likely to focus more heavily on the highest ranking users, where the company stands to make the most profit. Those is the highest ranking group may be offered special rate packages and pricing that is... Ohio State University. Social/Economic Indicators: Comparing Brown Era Racial Disparities to Today." (April 2004). 11 Dec. 2009

The factors that attract the tourists to visit Orlando,FL Research Proposal

The factors that attract the tourists to visit Orlando,FL - Research Proposal Example ?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..7 SECTION 2 Literature review†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.9 SECTION 3 Methodology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 Research Design and Approach†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.14 Study Population and Sample†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 Sampling Criteria†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.15 Data Collection Instrument†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦16 Data Collection Procedure†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.17 Data Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦17 Limitations of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.17 SECTION 4 Discussion and Findings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 SECTION 5 Document Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.18 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.20 SECTION 1 Abstract When tourists are thinking about visiting a destination, they consider numerous elements such as price, climate, the available attractions and infrastructure. This has on the other hand led to increased competition among tourist destinations. Each destination has a distinct image, with some having a stronger image than others. In this regard, an apprehension of what makes up the destination image can result to increased tourist satisfaction and loyalty. Notably, these dimensions of the destination image affec t what attracts tourists to a destination. The primary objective of this research is to identify the factors that attract tourist to Orlando, Florida. This research will do so by collecting and analyzing data on 150 respondents in Orlando, consisting of tourists from different market segments and travel agencies in the area. Introduction Tourism is one of the primary economic activities in Orlando, Florida. During the early days, Orlando city and the whole Florida were only visited by the well-heeled and well-known people who could have enough money for the lifestyle. Some of the tourists and visitors loved the place and resolved to stay and start trading. The progress and development of Orlando and Florida is attributed to one man, Henry Flagler, who was among the individuals who loved the weather and climate and resolved to capitalize in the city in the late 19th century. He capitalized and constructed the hotels and transportation lines making it easier for more people within the world to access the city and the state. This was still in the late 19th century, where Florida state and the cities within it, including Orlando, were connected to New York. In the early 20th century, thousands of tourists started streaming into the state. Since then, Orlando has centered on tourism (Visit Orlando, 2013). Orlando is at present a principal travel target with myriad attraction destinations such as game parks, lodgings, world-class airports and one among the largest convention facilities within the country. In 2011, Orlando claimed a United States tourism record by attaining 55.1

Globalisation and Mass Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Globalisation and Mass Media - Essay Example Mass media has always acquired a prominent position in the first world countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. ‘Marketplace of Ideas’ is the term which is often applied to mass media. This media includes video, film, recorded materials, books, newspapers and magazines. The United Kingdom, like many of the other developed countries, is flooded with communities from almost all the continents. Therefore, much like the USA, a heterogeneous population has been formed automatically in this country. Mass media is a huge political and social motivator and history has proved its unparalleled power time and again. In today’s scenario, the actual influence of mass media in the era of globalisation is particularly noticeable on the field of marketing. Internationalization of marketplaces has considerably influenced the electronic mass media in the United States of America, so also in other first world countries. We can support this argument by keeping a track of revenues generated from film and television industries. In 1991, bulk of revenues came to the capital flow in the US marketplace through film and television industries. Crossing the national borders, it has been possible for the media corporate to reach out for markets in other countries. With the rapid advent of technology, mass media has captured the attention of international audience through services like cable television, multichannel radio and video outputs. Moreover, cultural industries in the US have crossed the linguistic and geographic barriers to reach out to an audience which is heterogeneous in characteristics. (Globalization of the Mass Media, p. 3) Global economic liberalization, deregulation and privatization in recent times have initiated changes in the context of communication. This liberalization is also involved with intellectual property laws. Trademarks, copyrights and legal privileges have been made flexible keeping the issue of international business as the

Select 3 Decision Making Tools Studied in the Managing Decisions Essay

Select 3 Decision Making Tools Studied in the Managing Decisions Module and Evaluate their Advantages and Disadvantages - Essay Example Individuals as well as groups make decisions as a reaction to a problem in most cases. Robbins (1993) concurs with this assertion when he states that decision making takes place when there is a discrepancy between some current state of affairs and some desired state requiring consideration of alternative courses of action. Decision making is one of the primary responsibilities of all the employees given that they are somehow affected by the decisions made in the organisation. There are various tools or methods that can be implemented in carrying out the decision making process. Against this background, this report seeks to critically evaluate the approach of decision making through focusing on three methods that can be used in decision making and these include the following: project management, knowledge management as well as delegation management The report will outline the advantages and disadvantages of each decision making tool mentioned above and the third part will focus on how these methods can be combined in order to improve decision making in business. 1.1 Outline of the business opportunity Blue Tavern is an established bar but has recently experienced a decline in profits mainly as a result of lack of coordination among the employees which has resulted in some customers leaving without served. However, the management has underscored to implement a decision implement a new information system in a bid to turn around the fortunes of the company. As such, this report seeks to reflect on the benefits and limitations of the approach used in developing this business opportunity. As going to be shown in the following sections, a critique of the effectiveness of the decision making methods mentioned above will be carried. 2.0 Project management The term project is used to describe a set of linked activities which can be described as a onetime activity with a well defined set of desired results (Burke, 2007). A project is usually comprised of a definite start as well as finishing time and goes according to schedule. Project management plays a pivotal role in order for any project to be a success and it involves the following factors that often affect the full implementation of a project: scheduling, budgeting, communication and estimating. Essentially, the purpose of project management is to provide management with valid data upon which management decisions can be based (http://www.pim.com.pk/faq.htm). A holistic approach is required in order for a project as the one outlined above to be a success given that there are negative implications likely to be encountered during the course of implementing the project. Project management is often seen as a viable method of making decisions which often affect different projects. However, this method may have its shortcomings hence the following section is going to critically eva

CIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CIS - Essay Example The practical case problem presented is that of a software corporation called Virtusa which released a software program application for its client. In this case scenario, the Phase Forward circumstance use of the software failed within a few days and the program subsequently did not work according to the end user (clients) requirements expectations of the software. The software program had to undergo some additional inspection as the resultant outcome of the failure through delivering the entire requirements and expectations analysis of the software program end user. 5. A sort key defines the sort order for one or more components related to a specific field; the field would make a good candidate for a sort key because it is can be used to categorize order student information in the database according to registration numbers. Tchier, Fairouz, Latifa Ben Arfa Rabai, and Ali Mili. "Putting engineering into software engineering: Upholding software engineering principles in the classroom."  Computers in Human Behavior  48 (2015):

Evaluating Aristotle Essay Example for Free

Evaluating Aristotle Essay Far from being a social constraint, or perhaps a force that elicits fear of being caught, the motives that move a person to choose what is good and avoid what is evil draw well the fine line that separates actions that may be regarded as moral, or those that are immoral. Ethics is important, if not necessary in relation to human living. At the very least, this science helps maintain the fundamental order of and within a society. This is possible because ethics is not only a theory that informs people about what is good or bad, it also asks them to adhere to the principles it teaches. It is thus both informative and formative, or both a theory and practice, consistent with how it is commonly defined: â€Å"the discipline dealing with what is good and bad, and with moral duty and obligation† (Merriam-Webster). But what would perhaps be an equally interesting point to look at is the diverging manner by which many people believe to be the basis of moral action. Key to understanding this would be to ask: why be moral? It may help to cite three notable thinkers who have given their own take of the matter. Aristotle, Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill on Ethics Aristotle’s most eloquent articulation of his ethical theories figures in his infamous work called Nicomachean Ethics. In it, his overarching concern to prove that ethics is chiefly related to the concept of â€Å"ends† (or purposes) can be learned. According to Aristotle, every human activity hopes to achieve the â€Å"end† or the â€Å"good† to which it is pursued – e. g. , â€Å"in medicine this is health, in strategy victory, in architecture a house† (Nicomachean Ethics, 7). While Aristotle further contends that there are activities which are pursued for its own sake – and not for the sake of arriving at a good apart from the activities themselves (Nicomachean Ethics, 1) – his work manifests a greater emphasis laid on the goal-orientedness of all human activities. Now, Aristotle further maintains that human life too has an inherent end that needs to be pursued. He thinks of this fundamental human good as happiness – â€Å"the best, noblest, and most pleasant thing in the world† (Nicomachean Ethics, 8). And he himself argues that it is an end that must be pursued not for the sake of anything else, but precisely because it is a chief good in itself (Nicomachean Ethics, 7). Ethics for Aristotle is therefore basically a virtuous accordance of all human activities relative to happiness. This is where his virtue ethics takes shape. In order for all men to attain happiness, Aristotle believes that everyone needs to develop a virtue – a habit of acting that promotes an excellence in one’s use of reason. This is what Aristotle in essence implies when he says that â€Å"happiness is an activity of soul in accordance with perfect virtue† (Nicomachean Ethics, 13). Immanuel Kant’s is a philosopher who elevated ethics into the realm of metaphysics – that is, it is a science drawn from a priori principles (read: from demonstration or logic and not from a particular experiences) but are applied to definite situations in life as well (Kant, 1). This implies that ethics is something that must be applied for all men, in all places, and at all times. Simply put, ethics for Immanuel Kant is both necessary and universal in scope. It is necessary because all men are obliged by the dictates of their reason to obey moral laws; it is universal because moral laws care for no exception. Which is why, Kant believes that moral laws are â€Å"categorical imperatives† – a law that â€Å"concerns not the matter of the action, nor its intended result, but its form and the principle of which it is itself a result†, because it is â€Å"conceived as good in itself† and that it conforms to reason (Kant, 18-19). If only to clarify, Kant here states that a moral law must be obeyed neither on account of the benefit it brings nor the pleasure it elicits, but precisely because it is good in itself. In a way, a moral law is an empty formulation about duty; meaning, it is something that needs to be obeyed on account of nothing else but the adherence to the law itself. Should it be asked how one can arrive at a knowledge of moral law which is both necessary and universal, Immanuel Kant suggests that one can test human actions in reference to, say, this particular formulation: â€Å"act only on a maxim that you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law† (Kant, 23). John Stuart Mill meanwhile proposes a philosophy of ethics based on a more utilitarian perspective. In his work entitled Utilitarianism, he regards the outcome of an activity as the basis for evaluating the ethical repercussions of any action. He articulate this idea quite clearly in saying, â€Å"†¦utility or Happiness (must be) considered as the directive rule of human conduct† (Mill). In other words, ethics is based on how one carefully weighs in the maximum amount of happiness that may result from choosing an action, against the background of a host of alternative options. He even calls this approach the â€Å"Greatest Happiness Principle† – the â€Å"ultimate end with reference to and for the sake of which† all human activities become â€Å"desirable† (Mill). It works under the premise that before a person acts, he or she would have first appreciated which decision would turn in the best returns or outcomes, both in terms of quality and quality. Mill’s ethical philosophy, one may quickly notice, runs in serious contradiction with Aristotle and Kant, whose theories have taught the necessity of adhering to a virtuous life or to a moral imperative not on account of any purpose, but solely because of good inherent in the act itself. As Mill himself notes, â€Å"according to the utilitarian opinion, the end of human action, is necessarily also the standard of morality† (Mill). By Way of Conclusion: My Definition of Ethics Based on the above discussed ethical notions – its basis, nature and implications – I wish to conclude this paper with a proposal to define ethics as a norm that forms human freedom and, like Immanuel Kant, a law that must be universal and categorical. Firstly, I find that the tendency to define morality in terms of obligation does not at times appreciate the full weight of human freedom. But morality is precisely a human endeavor not only because humans have reason, but more importantly because actions stem from the fundamental use freedom as well. Moral acts, one must carefully note, are arrived at only with the proper education and nurturance of human freedom. It is in fact drawn from the basic premise that human freedom is at its best when one is able to use it to build up one’s welfare, as well as those of others. I am of the opinion that anyone who wish to expound on the ethical standards of an action must first begin with the evaluation of human freedom. In this way, ethics can shed light into the need to use the faculty of freewill for the sake of the goodness inherent in itself – as Aristotle and Kant have argued –, and directed towards the goodness of something else – as Mill has on the other hand proposed. Second, in an ethical theory where human freedom is of critical importance, it is thus wise to adopt the logic from which Immanuel Kant derives his categorical imperative. As one would notice, Kant’s maxim â€Å"do something as though you would want that action be done for all people† touches on two fundamental areas of ethics – the decision of the person, or human freedom, and the universality of the scope of moral laws. I find Kant here to be a great source of insight. With his theory, I believe that I can adopt the position that ethics is a science that forms human freedom because, in Kant’s maxim, the subjective capacity for self-determination is tempered by the duty to obey objective laws. Kant’s categorical imperative does little to undermine freedom, as it does try hard to protect the universal applicability of moral law. In this regard, I would therefore say that Kant’s ethical theory is the best position to take, at least from the perspective of ethical notion that I have chosen to adopt. References Aristotle. â€Å"Nicomachean Ethics†. 29 June 2008, http://classics. mit. edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen. 1. i. html â€Å"ethic. † Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. Merriam-Webster Online. 29 June 2008 http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/ethic Kant, Immanuel. â€Å"Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals†. 29 June 2008 http://www. scribd. com/doc/2225702/kantfundamental143 Mill, J. S. â€Å"Utilitarianism†. 29 June 2008 http://utilitarianism. org/mill2. htm

Ancient Rome Essay Example for Free

Ancient Rome Essay During the Han Empire of China and the Roman Empire of the Mediterranean World were both had advanced technology for their time. Han China’s attitude toward manufacturing and labor was more positive than the Romans who had a more class divided society, therefore causing attitudes toward labor and technology to be looked down upon. The Hans respect technology and the people who use it. In China, 2nd century B. C. E. a government official stated that he wanted to organize their labor force with the use of technology so they could help to prevent a disaster from occurring when and if a flood takes place. This could help the people from getting hurt and their property from getting destroyed (Doc. 1). Huan Guan, a Han government official during the first century B. C. E. was concerned about the lack of technology and poor government policy that is affecting the people. Haun Guan was trying to say to the Han government that using convict labor to make tools and monopoly on salt and iron is causing devastating affects towards the people and feels that the government can solve this problem by using the available technologies. Even though Haun Guan is a government official himself, he shows interest in helping the people and is very critical towards the current government policies that are in place (Doc. 2). Huan Tan, a upper class Han philosopher during 20 C. E. is expressing his appreciation of the progress that technology has had since the emperor’s first invention . Huan Tan also expresses how technology has benefited the Chinese people and feels that technology is a â€Å"gift† from the enlightened emperors (Doc. 3). A Han government sponsored speaker, around 200 C. E. states how a Han governor, Tu Shih, cared deeply for the Chinese people and used the advanced technology to help benefit them. This government sponsored speaker emphasizes how much the inventions helped minimize the amount of human labor that the people did (Doc. 4). This is interesting because he was hired by the government to talk to people who might be losing faith in the Han Dynasty and he basically glorified the information way more than it actually was. On the other hand, the Romans felt that working with your hands was vulgar and seemed to heavily look down upon technology and whoever used it. Cicero, an upper class Roman political leader from Italy during the 1st century B. C. E. states that anyone who works with their hands are vulgar and looks greatly down upon craftsmen and hired workers. Cicero then goes on stating that â€Å"gentlemen do not work with their hands. †(Doc. 5) It seems that Cicero lacks a huge respect for inventions and inventors and feels like technology is indeed necessary, but not for the â€Å"enlightened minds†. Plutarch, a Greek born roman citizen during the 1st century Roman Empire, expresses Gaius Gracchus’ road building enterprises and continues to explain how the Roman upper class does appreciate technology that benefits the upper class (Doc. 6). Plutarch does show appreciation towards technology, but only because it benefits himself, as well as the rest of the upper class. He does not go on to mention how it helped the commoners in any way, because it most likely didn’t help anyone but the upper class. Seneca, an upper class philosopher and advisor to Emperor Nero, from the 1st century Roman Empire, states that it takes someone nimble and sharp to make inventions but craftsmen don’t have great minds. Seneca goes on to say that he does â€Å"not believe that tools and crafts were invented by wise men† (Doc. 7). Seneca lacks respect for craftsmen and is basically saying that they are not as smart as he is, and degrades their achievements and abilities that they have. He isn’t concerned about any of the tools or inventions that are made by these craftsmen because he feels since he is an upperclassmen, he would never use them for the fact that they would be degrading to his specific class in society. Frontinus, a Roman general, governor of Britain, and water commissioner from the 1st century C. E. of the Roman Empire discusses how he praises the Roman aqueducts and their uses in Rome. He talks about how intelligent the designs are and how much it benefits the public (Doc. 8). It was quite interesting how highly was talking about the aqueducts. He talked about how amazing they were to the other Roman officials so they could see he was doing a good job as water commissioner, which is why he talked so highly of the aqueducts, because that’s his job. A point of view that is missing from these documents that could further help to the discussion of the Han and Rome attitudes towards technology would be the commoners. All eight of these documents were of the point of view from government officials or other upperclassmen. It would’ve helped to see an argument made by the commoners from both empires because that’s who the technology is affecting-the commoners. Although the technology is also affecting the upperclassmen, it would have made a better argument to have someone who is more â€Å"exposed† to the technology in their everyday lives. The people of the Han Empire did have a more optimistic approach towards technology, while the Roman Empire looked at technology as a more negative thing. The Hans took more into consideration of how it would benefit the commoners, unlike the Romans who didn’t mention the commoners in any of their arguments. Although both Empires did use technology, some thought more highly of it than others.

Mathematics in General Chemistry

Mathematics in General Chemistry Prepared by Paul Okweye and Malinda Gilmore Purpose of the Experiment To acquire knowledge in the area of units of measurements and learn how to use dimensional analysis to solve word problems that will be used throughout General Chemistry. In addition, students will learn the importance of statistical analysis in General Chemistry laboratory experiments and also rules with respect to exponential notation and significant figures. Background Information Mathematics in chemistry is essential. One cannot truly perform a chemical experiment without utilizing mathematics in their data and results. Therefore, it is imperative that one grasp the concept of the important topics or areas of mathematics that will be utilized throughout General Chemistry and the General Chemistry laboratory. Some of the areas that will be discussed herein are as follows: Units of Measurement Statistical Analysis Exponential Notation and Significant Figures Graphing and y = mx + b Units of Measurement Chemistry is all about observing chemical reactions and physical changes. There are two types of observations in Chemistry: qualitative observations and quantitative observations. Qualitative observations consist of non-numerical observations, such as the color of a substance or its physical appearance. Quantitative observations consist of numerical data, such as the temperature at which a chemical substance melts or its mass. With respect to qualitative observations, in order to record and report measurements, scientist utilizes the metric system. The metric system is used internationally and is called the International Systems of Units (SI). The International Systems of Units are shown below in Table 1. Measured Property Name of Unit Abbreviation Mass Kilogram kg Length Meter m Time Second s Temperature Kelvin K Amount of substance mole mol Table 1. SI Base Units Larger and small quantities are expressed by using appropriate prefixes with the base unit (Table 2). Prefix Symbol Example giga G 1 gigameter (Gm) = 109 m mega M 1 megameter (Mm) = 106 m kilo k 1 kilogram (kg) = 103 g hecto h 1 hectogram (hg) = 100 g deka da 1 dekagram (dag) = 10 g deci d 1 decigram (dg) = 0.1 g centi c 1 centigram (cg) = 0.01 g milli m 1 milligram (mg) = 0.001g micro m 1 microgram (mg) = 10-6 g nano n 1 nanogram (ng) = 10-9 g pico p 1 picogram (pg) = 10-12 g Table 2. Prefixes used in the Metric System Method for Solving Conversions including Units of Measurement Dimensional analysis is a problem-solving method that uses the fact that any number or expression can be multiplied by one without changing its value. It is a very useful technique. Equation 1.1 (Proportionality Conversion Factor) shows how dimensional analysis can be applied in solving problems in Chemistry. A proportionality factor is a ratio (fraction) whose numerator and denominator have different units but refer to the same thing. A proportionality factor is often called a conversion factor because it enables us to convert from one kind of unit to a different kind of unit. An example of how this can be used is below: Example 1: What would be the value of 157 g if you were to convert it to kilograms (kg)? Solution 1: Conversion factor needed: 1000 grams → 1 kilogram The dimensional analysis method can be useful if the following techniques for analyzing the problem properly are taken into consideration: Identify the information given, including units. Identify the information needed in the answer, including units. Find a relationship between the known information and unknown answer, and plan a strategy for getting from one to the other. Solve the problem. Check your work Table 3 includes some common conversion factors. Mass 1 lb = 16 oz = 0.4536 kg 1 ton = 2000 lb Length 1 in = 2.54 x 10-2 m = 2.54 cm 1 ft = 12 in = 0.3048 m 1 yd = 3 ft = 36 in = 0.9144 m 1 mi = 1760 yd = 5280 ft = 1609 m Volume 1 L = 10-3 m3 = 1 dm3 = 103 cm3 1 L = 1.06 qt 1 gal = 4 qt = 8 pt = 3.785 L 1 pt = 2 cups = 16 fluid ounces Time: 1 min = 60 s 1 hr = 60 min = 3600 s 1 d = 24 hr = 1440 min = 86,400 s Temperature: oC = K – 273.15 oC = 5/9 (oF – 32) oF = (oC x 9/5) + 32 Pressure: 1 bar = 105 N/m2 = 105 Pa 1 torr = 1 mm Hg = 133.322 Pa 1 atm = 760 torr = 101,325 N/m2 = 101,325 Pa Energy: 1 cal = 4.184 J Table 3. Common Conversion Factors Example 2: If an object has a weight of 0.025 ounces (oz), what is its mass in milligrams (mg)? Solution 2: Conversion Factor Needed: 16 ounces (oz) → 0.4536 kilogram (kg); 1000 grams (g) → 1 kilogram (g); 1000 milligram (mg) → 1 gram (g) Example 3: If the temperature of warm milk was 75oF, what would the temperature be in oC and K? Solution 3: Conversion Factor Needed: oC First you must convert to oF to oC: Second you must convert oC to K: Statistical Analysis Average The most common statistic used to analyze a set of repeated measurements is the mean, or average. We calculate the mean by taking the sum, ÃŽ £, of the individual measurements, x, and dividing by the number of measurements, n, as shown in Equation 2. Example 4: An experiment was performed where one measured the mass of a penny using a balance. The experiment was done 5 times and the results were as follows: 6.47 g, 9.24 g, 4.67 g, 6.54 g, 5.55 g. What is the average, or mean of this experiment? Solution 4:Mean = Note: 5 is the number of trials (n) Experimental Error If you measure a quantity in the laboratory, you may be required to report the error in the result, the difference between your result and the accepted value (Eqn. 3), or the percent error (Eqn. 4). Eqn. 3 Eqn. 4 ­ Example 5: A laboratory experiment was performed determining the melting point of pure aspirin. The accepted value of the melting point of pure aspirin is 140oC. Experimentally, you tried to determine that value, but you obtain the temperature value of 134oC, 150oC, 145oC, 140oC and 142oC. a) Calculate the error in measurement, and b) Calculate the overall percent error. Solution 5: Step 1: Determine the average (mean) value from the experiment. Mean = Step 2: Determine the error in measurement. Error in Measurement = Step 3: Determine the percent error. Percent Error = Standard Deviation Laboratory measurements can be in error for two basic reasons. First, there may be â€Å"determinate† errors caused by faulty instruments or human errors such as incorrect record keeping. Secondly, â€Å"indeterminate† errors arise from uncertainties in a measurement where the cause is not known and cannot be controlled by the lab worker. One way to judge the indeterminate error in a result is to calculate the standard deviation. The standard deviation (Eqn. 5) of a series of measurements is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the deviations for each measurement from the average divided by one less than the number of measurements. Eqn. 5 Example 6: Using example 4, calculate the standard deviation. Solution 6: Standard Deviation = ÏÆ' = 1.71g Exponential Notation and Significant Figures Exponential notation, also known as standard form or as scientific notation, is a way of writing number that accommodates values too large or small to be conveniently written in standard decimal notation. Scientific notation has a number of useful properties and is often used in sciences such as chemistry, physics, etc. In scientific notation, all numbers are written like this: a x 10b (â€Å"a times ten to the power of b†), where the exponent b is an integer, and the coefficient a is any real number (number between 1 and 9.999†¦..). Example 7: Express the following number in exponential or scientific notation. 0.067 gb) 0.000873 gc) 58923 gd) 112.483 g Solution 7: 6.7 x 10-2 gb) 8.73 x 10-4 gc) 5.8923 x 104 gd) 1.12483 x 102 g In chemistry, you will often have to use numbers in exponential notation in mathematical operations. The following five operations are important: Adding and Subtracting Numbers Expressed in Scientific Notation When adding or subtracting two numbers, first convert them to the same powers of 10. The digit terms are then added or subtracted as appropriate: (1.234 x 10-3) + (5.623 x 10-2) = (0.1234 x 10-2) + (5.623 x 10-2) = 5.746 x 10-2 Multiplication of Numbers Expressed in Scientific Notation (6.0 x 1023) x (2.0 x 10-2) = (6.0)(2.0 x 1023-2) = 12 x 1021 = 1.2 x 1022 Division of Numbers Expressed in Scientific Notation 7.60 x 103 = 7.60 x 103-2 = 6.18 x 101 1.23 x 102 1.23 Powers of Numbers Expressed in Scientific Notation (5.28 x 103)2 = (5.28)2 x 1032 = 27.9 x 106 = 2.79 x 107 Roots of Numbers Expressed in Scientific Notation à ¯Ã†â€™-3.6 x 107 = à ¯Ã†â€™-36 x 106 = à ¯Ã†â€™-36 x à ¯Ã†â€™-106 = 6.0 x 103 Significant figures are the digits in a measured quantity that were observed with the measuring device. The rules for determining the amount of significant figures are as follows: Zeroes between two other significant digits are significant. For example, both 5309 and 50.08 contain four significant figures. Zeroes to the right of a nonzero number and also to the right of a decimal place are significant. For example, in the number 3.70 cm, the zero is significant. Zeroes that are placeholders are not significant. There are two types of numbers that fall under this rule. The first are decimal numbers with zeroes that occur before the first nonzero digit. For example, in 0.0015, only the 1 and the 5 are significant; the zeroes are not. This number has two significant figures. The second are numbers with trailing zeroes that must be there to indicate the magnitude of the number. For example, the zeroes in the number 15,000 may or may not be significant; it depends on whether they were measured or not. To avoid confusion with regard to such numbers, we shall assume in this book that trailing zeroes are significant when there is a decimal point to the right of the last zero. The rules for using significant figures in calculations are as follows: When adding or subtracting numbers, the number of decimal places in the answer is equal to the number of decimal places in the number with the fewest digits after the decimal. In multiplication or division, the number of significant figures in the answer is determined by the quantity with the fewest significant figures. When a number is rounded off, the last digit to be retained is increased by one only if the following digit is 5 or greater. IV. Graphing Throughout chemistry, graphs will be used when analyzing experimental data with a goal of obtaining a mathematical equation (Equation 6) that may help us predict new results. y = mx + b Eqn. 6 y = dependent variable; m = slope of the line; x = is the independent variable; b = y intercept Example 8: Use Figure 1 below to solve this example. In Figure 1, you have a standard solution curve of CuSO4 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · 5H2O. An unknown sample was analyzed to determine the concentration of CuSO4 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · 5H2O and the wavelength was 335nm. Calculate the concentration of CuSO4 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · 5H2O in the unknown sample using the straight line equation. Solution 8: y = 2.8571x + 190.48y = 335 nm and x = x = (y – 190.48) à · 2.8571x = (335nm – 190.48) à · 2.8571x = 50.6 mmol Name________________________________________Section/Day/Time________________________ MATHEMATICS IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY HOMEWORK SHEET Units of Measurement How many centimeters are in 1675 ft? If an object has a weight of 0.700 ounces, what is its mass in milligrams? In kilograms? On the average, the moon takes 30 days, 8 hours, and 56.8 minutes to make a complete circuit around the Earth. Express this time in hours? In minutes? Carry out the following conversions: a) 10 m = _____ km = _____ cm = _____ mm b) 5.5 g = _____ kg = _____ ozs = _____à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­g c) 400 cm = _____ ft = _____ in. = _____m d) 45 m/sec = _____ ft/sec. = _____ km/hr = _____mile/hr e) 9.9 in2 = _____ cm2 = _____ ft2 = _____mm2 Aluminum is a lightweight metal (density = 2.70 g/cm3) used in aircraft construction, high-voltage transmission lines, beverage cans, and foils. What is its density in kg/m3? Ethanol boils at 351.7 K. What is this temperature in Celsius? What is this temperature in Fahrenheit? Name______________________________________Section/Day/Time_________________________ MATHEMATICS IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY HOMEWORK SHEET (pg. 2) II. Statistical Analysis A General Chemistry Laboratory had 5 students in it. A test was given the actual grade that could be earned on the exam was a 100. The grades were as follows: Student Number Grade 1 99 2 80 3 79 4 88 5 95 Determine the following: Average Percent Error Standard Deviation Exponential Notation and Significant Figures Express the answers to the following calculations in scientific notation: 145.75 + (2.3 x 10-2) 89,500 / (2.5 x 103) (7.9 x 10-3) – (9.0 x 10-5) (1.0 x 105) x (9.9 x 106) Determine the number of significant figures in each of the following measurements: 5748 mi 38 mL 60,293 km 0.0005 cm Name______________________________________Section/Day/Time_________________________ MATHEMATICS IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY HOMEWORK SHEET (pg. 3) Graphing Using the graph below (Figure 2): What is the value of x when y = 32? What is the value of y when x = 5.50? What are the slope and the y-intercept of the line? What is the value of y when x = 6.67?

Othello’s Evil Side Essay -- Othello essays

Othello’s Evil Side  Ã‚        Ã‚   In the Bard of Avon’s tragic drama Othello there is a very disquieting dimension of the play; this is the evil dimension, which has such depth and intensity that it penetrates not only the mind but the body and soul of the audience.    Even the imagery in the drama has its evil aspect. Kenneth Muir, in the Introduction to William Shakespeare: Othello, explains the instances of diabolic imagery in the play as they relate to the infecting of the Moor by the ancient:    The same transference from Iago to Othello may be observed in what S. L. Bethell called diabolic imagery. He estimated that of the 64 images relating to hell and damnation – many of them are allusions rather than strict images – Iago has 18 and Othello 26. But 14 of Iago’s are used in the first two Acts, and 25 of Othello's in the last three. The theme of hell originates with Iago and is transferred to Othello only when Iago has succeeded in infecting the Moor with his jealousy. (22)    In his book of literary criticism, Shakespearean Tragedy, A. C. Bradley gives an in-depth analysis of the brand of evil which the ancient personifies:    Iago stands supreme among Shakespeare’s evil characters because the greatest intensity and subtlety of imagination have gone to his making, and because he illustrates in the most perfect combination the two facts concerning evil which seem to have impressed Shakespeare most. The first of these is the fact that perfectly sane people exist in whom fellow-feeling of any kind is so weak that an almost absolute egoism becomes possible to them, and with it those hard vices – such as ingratitude and cruelty – which to Shakespeare were far the worst. The second is that such evil is... ...oduction. William Shakespeare: Othello. New York: Penguin Books, 1968.    Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.    Wayne, Valerie. â€Å"Historical Differences: Misogyny and Othello.† The Matter of Difference: Materialist Feminist Criticism of Shakespeare. Ed Valerie Wayne. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1991.    Wilson, H. S. On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy. Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1957.    Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. â€Å"The Engaging Qualities of Othello.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Introduction to The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare. N. p.: Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1957.      

Capital Punishment and Catholicism :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Capital Punishment and Catholicism 2 sources cited Among the major nations of the Western world, the United States is singular in still having the death penalty. After a five-year moratorium, from 1972 to 1977, capital punishment was reinstated in the United States courts. Objections to the practice have come from many quarters, including the American Catholic bishops, who have rather consistently opposed the death penalty. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1980 published a predominantly negative statement on capital punishment, approved by a majority vote of those present though not by the required two-thirds majority of the entire conference (1). Pope John Paul II has at various times expressed his opposition to the practice, as have other Catholic leaders in Europe. Some Catholics, going beyond the bishops and the Pope, maintain that the death penalty, like abortion and euthanasia, is a violation of the right to life and an unauthorized usurpation by human beings of God's sole lordship over life and death. Did not the Declaration of Independence, they ask, describe the right to life as "unalienable"? While sociological and legal questions inevitably impinge upon any such reflection, I am here addressing the subject as a theologian. At this level the question has to be answered primarily in terms of revelation, as it comes to us through Scripture and tradition, interpreted with the guidance of the ecclesiastical magisterium. In the New Testament the right of the State to put criminals to death seems to be taken for granted. Jesus himself refrains from using violence. He rebukes his disciples for wishing to call down fire from heaven to punish the Samaritans for their lack of hospitality (Luke 9:55). Later he admonishes Peter to put his sword in the scabbard rather than resist arrest (Matthew 26:52). At no point, however, does Jesus deny that the State has authority to exact capital punishment. In his debates with the Pharisees, Jesus cites with approval the apparently harsh commandment, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die" (Matthew 15:4; Mark 7:10, referring to Exodus 2l:17; cf. Leviticus 20:9). When Pilate calls attention to his authority to crucify him, Jesus points out that Pilate's power comes to him from above-that is to say, from God (John 19:11).

Perspectives of Psychology :: Humanistic Psychology Human Behavior Essays

Psychology as we all know is the scientific study of the behavior of humans and animals. The following paragraphs will compare and contrast Psychodynamic, Behavioral, and Humanistic perspectives of psychology. Each one of these perspectives searches for answers about behavior through different techniques and through looking for answers to different kinds of questions. Due to the different approaches, each perspective form their own assumptions and explanations. Some perspectives are widely accepted while others struggle for acceptance Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow were the key people in developing the Humanistic Perspective, Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson were the key people in developing the Psychodynamic Perspectives and American psychologist John B. Watson was the key person in developing the Behavioral perspective. The Psychodynamic Perspective focuses on unconscious mental activity. This perspective suggests that both normal and abnormal behaviors are determined primarily by unconscious forces (Davis And Palladino). The Behavioral Perspective focus on observable behaviors; but does not speculate about mental processes such as thinking (Davis And Palladino). It also focuses on learning in understanding how various behaviors occur. The Humanistic Perspective focuses on how people can come to achieve their fullest potential as individuals who make choices and who take control of responsibility for their mental, social, and personal experiences. It also emphasizes free will and individuals’ control of their own behavior (Davis And Palladino). The cognitive process which is defined as some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents; the process of thinking; and the cognitive operation of remembering. The view of the cognitive process of The Behavioral Perspectives is due to private events not subject to scientific examination, best explained by examining the environment. The view of the cognitive process of The Psychodynamic Perspective is due to unconscious processes determine about 6/7 of our behavior. The cognitive process of The Humanistic Perspective is due cognition and emotions; and that behaviors are mostly determined by emotions. The Humanistic Psychology is influence by individual growth, personal responsibilities, and free will. The Psychodynamic Psychology is influence by unconscious mental process (needs and conflicts), and the Behavior Psychology is influence by interaction with other behavior and the environment.

Irony in Macbeth Essay

Irony: †¦ an event or result that is the opposite of what is expected. Many situations in Macbeth have unexpected results that are deemed as ironic. Lady Macbeth, the one who originally was labeled as evil becomes frail and weak, and succumbs to the madness that she is driven to by her guilty conscience. Macbeth the one who was so hesitant is now ruled by his greedy, murderous, impulsiveness. Macbeth was once a loyal, valiant soldier who appreciated the King. He then turns his trust and fate into the hands of the supernatural and starts increasingly putting his need for guidance of what he should do, and what will become of him, into the hands of three witches. He starts committing evil acts of murder out of what he feels is his best interest but also out of irrational impulsiveness. Lady Macbeth, initially, makes herself out to be evil â€Å"Lady Macbeth: †¦Come, you spirits/ That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me, from the crown to the toe top-full/ Of direst cruelty!† (William Shakespeare I.v.43-46). She then backs down with many excuses when it comes down to performing the task of murdering Duncan. Lady Macbeth who was once strong, and believed she could tolerate her guilt falls into a state of insanity that eventually leads to her demise. Ironic changes occur in people when greed, dominance, and irrationality replace moral conscience, and social values. One realizes Macbeth is loyal to the king and in turn is respected by the king when Duncan presents the title Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth. In the quote â€Å"No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive/ †¦And with his former title greet Macbeth† (I.ii.73-75) one can see the trust and respect Duncan has for Macbeth. Duncan believes Macbeth to be such a valiant soldier that he awards his loyalty to Scotland with allowing him the honor of being chosen to be the Thane of Cawdor, because the previous thane of Cawdor was executed for being a traitor. After receiving the prophecies, and then finding out he has been given the title Thane of Cawdor Macbeth thinks about how to make the third prophecy, of him becoming king, true. The thought of killing Duncan crosses his mind but immediately he rejects it, and is filled with guilt for having such horrid thoughts. His wife, Lady Macbeth, coaxes Macbeth into planning, and performing Duncan’s murder. Macbeth refuses, at first, to even consider the thought of killing Duncan. He is especially hesitant because Duncan has been so kind to him, and has never wronged him in any way. Lady Macbeth continually insults her husband’s manhood and convinces him that her plan of how to murder Duncan is fool proof. He gives in, he still believes it is wrong but comes to the conclusion it is the only way he will be able to attain the position of king. After the deed, of killing Duncan, is done he experiences and immense feeling of guilt. The irony of Macbeth killing Duncan, the King of Scotland, can be looked at in two views, of how the old thane of Cawdor was a traitor, and Macbeth has now turned into a traitor, also because Macbeth was a General in the Kings army and risked his life during wars to protect not only his country but the King. Macbeth was given the title thane of Cawdor when it was believed that the old thane of Cawdor was a traitor. Macbeth himself assumes the position of being a traitor, as he killed Duncan for his own personal gain and went against the social values of his country, that he once fought to keep, in addition to fighting for the values of his country he also was fighting to keep his country under the reining of Duncan as King. Macbeth lost his passiveness, decided to put trust into the prophecies of the witches by taking fate into his own hands. Lady Macbeth feels that she is able to be brave, and strong in order to accomplish the gruesome task, of murdering Duncan, herself if need be. Lady Macbeth calls to the supernatural to take her feminine character and replace it with evil. One can see Lady Macbeth’s desperation to become all that is not considered to be womanly weaknesses in the quote † †¦Come, you spirits/ That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,/ And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full/ Of direst cruelty!† (I.v.43-46), here it is seen that she is calling on the supernatural to make her evil. She also states, while progressing with getting the soldiers drunk, â€Å"That which hath made them drunk hath/ made me bold; †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (II.ii.1-2), the alcohol has given her a sense of newfound bravery and strength. Lady Macbeth makes excuses, to Macbeth, as to why she was unable to bring herself to murder Duncan. Lady Macbeth, on the arrival of Macbeth to the court, immediately starts to talk about what she has done to help the murder go as planned but makes excuses as to why she could not kill Duncan â€Å"†¦Had he not resembled/ My father as he slept, I had done’t.† (II.ii.16-17) Lady Macbeth expects her husband to do something that not even she was able to bring herself to accomplish. Lady Macbeth was constantly reminding Macbeth that she could do the deed herself if she was given the chance, but in the end she backed out and made excuses and put her husband in the position of having to murder Duncan himself. Although Lady Macbeth bravery seemed legitimate, we saw that when it came time to do the unsightly task she was unable to bring herself to it, and even though she found it to be too awful of a feat for her to complete she still expected Macbeth to finish the hanest murder if for no other reason than obligation to her. Lady Macbeth complained that her husband was incapable of hiding his emotions and his inability to accept committing a senseless crime for personal gain. Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth how to hide his guilt in this quote † †¦look like the innocent flower,/ But be the serpent under it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (I.v.72-72). Here it is noted that she wants her husband to act and appear like nothing is wrong, and nothing out of the ordinary is going on, but to also be ready and waiting to strike when the time is right. Lady Macbeth is trying to encourage Macbeth that the assassination of Duncan is the only path that will take him to the role of King, that even though killing Duncan is a rather evil thing to do it must be done, and once Macbeth is king he will see that it was worth it. Macbeth is transformed into an impulsive, irrational fiend, who is willing to take any steps necessary to remove anyone who may get in the way of his rein as King. Whereas Lady Macbeth’s guilty conscience is slowly destroying her vitality, and she begins to drown herself in a guilt stricken state of madness. Macbeth no longer relies on his wife to give him support, courage, and insight within his evil deeds. He continually visits the witches’ advice of how to prolong his rein of king, and who not to trust. He begins to kill, with a guiltless conscience, for vengeance. Lady Macbeth falls deeper, and deeper into a state of neurosis that the guilt of her conscience has forced her into, she is now weak and unable to sleep, her nights are filled with constant bouts of sleepwalking trying to wash the blood off her hands. Their roles have been reversed Macbeth is evil and strong; Lady Macbeth is becoming more and more fragile. No longer is Macbeth the worried one who is constantly horrified by his own actions, he is the strong one who seemingly now has no social conscience and acts solely on the animal instinct of his Id. Lady Macbeth has fallen victim to her own sins, she was the one who once said â€Å"†¦ A little water clears us of this deed:†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (II.ii.85) Now she spends sleepless nights attempting to wash the imaginary blood away. Lady Macbeth who seemed powerful in the beginning let her life be shattered by haste and greed, as the once seemingly weaker Macbeth rose into a monster. Irony takes many forms through out the play, not only to create dramatic effect, but also to show the uprising of Macbeth through his newfound evilness, and the downfall of Lady Macbeth as she descends further and further into the insanity brought on by her eagerness for Macbeth to become King by any means necessary. Once a loyal, well liked Nobleman, Macbeth, in a simple run in with the supernatural turned into a hated, unworthy, King. Lady Macbeth’s external bravery in planning the murder is then proved to be an act when faced with the real situation and not just the scenario. Evil can be easily transferred, and as it progresses it is easy to see who has enough strength to be able to deal with the torture of the guilt. Through the irony of the changes in Macbeth, one is able to relate to how easy it can be to be engulfed in horror yet be blinded by the desire of wanting, and needing more for no other reason than personal gain.