Mary Shelley: Submissive Women in Writing

In the writing of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus, she creates four submissive female characters all of who are negatively affected by the hands of Victor Frankenstein. These four submissive female characters are Agatha, Safie, Elizabeth, and Justine.Each of these women is proposed as passive and nonessential. The women, Agatha, Safie, Elizabeth, and Justine, make a pathway for the creation of action for male characters. The actions that happen with/to these women negatively affect them for the purpose of teaching one of the male characters a lesson or inflicting deep emotions to the male characters.Agatha’s purpose to man in this book was teaching the monster. â€Å"The girl [Agatha] was young, and of gentle demeanour†¦she looked patient, yet sad.† (Shelley 75, 76). Agatha teaches the monster many things mostly by him observing her interactions with her blind father and studying her actions and mannerisms. â€Å"Agatha listened with r espect, her eyes sometimes filled with tears, which she endeavored to wipe away unperceived†(Shelley 80). Agatha teaches the monster about respect, sensitivity, and human relationships.Safie, a close friend of the De Lacey’s, comes on horseback to the cottage. Safie is Arabian and doesn’t know or understand english, so the De Lacey’s give her lessons. Safie’s lessons in language and culture become the monster’s lessons as well. â€Å"My days were spent in close attention†¦ I improved more rapidly than the Arabian†¦I comprehended and could imitate almost every word that was spoken†¦ I also learned the science of letters†(Shelley 85). Safie is another passive female character that caused action by the monster. To the audience it is insignificant weather or not Safie learns english, but it is furthering the monster’s education. Thus it was for the sake of teaching a male character a lesson and of no real benefit to t he female character.Justine is one of the most passive, submissive female characters and hardly even has a voice in the novel. Justine is ultimately framed for the murder of William Frankenstein, yet she remains collected and serene. Justine  handles herself with poise even with her unfortunate circumstances.â€Å"God knows how entirely I am innocent†¦ I rest my innocence on a plain and simple explanation of the facts which have been adduced against me†(Shelley 56). Justine’s purpose becomes clear when she is framed. She becomes static, a victim of her circumstance.Mary Shelley describes Elizabeth as submissive and tender. Elizabeth is the most influential character associated with Victor Frankenstein, causing a roller coaster of emotions. Mary Shelley writes Elizabeth’s submissiveness quite obviously when she says, â€Å"she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I [Victor], with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth as mine†¦since till death she was to be mine only†(Shelley 19).This belittles Elizabeth and essentially makes her a victim of the monster because of her relationship with Victor. Even when the monster threatens Elizabeth, Victor doesn’t try to protect her entirely, and puts his frustration with the monster over Elizabeth. Elizabeth is belittled along with the other female characters, making them mere tools to get revenge.There is one more hidden female character, without whom, the novel would not succeed. Margret Saville is the most passive, submissive female character. There is no way to know if she even exists entirely, but her significance is one of great magnitude.Margret Saville is the reason Robert Walton writes the letters explaining what has happened and what Victor has told him, thus creating the whole story. Margret is so submissive that she doesn’t even get a voice in the novel; there is never a response from her.Mary Shelley creat ed many submissive female characters, all of whom were used, objectified, and castaway after greatly impacting man’s life. They are used as tools of revenge and decried for the works of the men who used them.

Civil War †American Civil War Essay

The Civil War, which divided the Northern and Southern states in the bloodiest conflict in U.S. history, raged on when Abraham Lincoln was re-elected as President. Lincoln Knew that all the tragedy and casualties had to come to an end. When delivering his Second Inaugural Address, he chose to send a message of reconciliation and healing to both sides instead of focusing on politics, slavery, and state’s rights. Through the use of allusion, diction, and syntax Lincoln creates a common ground to unify the North and South. Lincoln uses allusion to justify the war and its purpose, which was to end slavery. In his speech, he alludes to the Bible, quoting, â€Å"Woe unto the world because of offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh,† to show that the war was caused by God’s wish and was inevitable. America as a whole had committed theâ€Å"offense† of slavery, not just the South but the North as well because they were involved at the beginning of the slave trade and did nothing to end it. Lincoln suggests that the tragedy wrought by the war was a divine punishment to America for possessing slaves to fulfill their greedy desires, saying that God may will that the war continue † until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword†, and that the war was America’s †woe due†, so both sides were to be blamed for their actions. He again alludes to the Bible, and says, â€Å"the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether† demonstrating that the meaning of the war was for the North and South to see the consequences of their failings, and to learn to become better people, and through that a better nation, calling for all Americans to â€Å"strive on to finish the work we are in, and to bind the nation’s wounds† alluding to a passage of the Book of Psalms, which states that God heals the broken hearted and wounded. Lincoln uses diction to create a unifying tone throughout his speech that will set the direction of the nation’s path of recovery. When he says, â€Å"let us strive on to finish the work we are into bind up the nation’s wounds,† and, â€Å"and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations,† he uses specific verbs such as â€Å"strive,† to encourage the nation to fight vigorously toward their goal of unity, â€Å"bind,† to establish a bond between both sides of the nation, and â€Å"cherish† to ask the people to care for one another, including for people on opposite sides, for everyone once belonged to the same great nation. This is so that the people will take notice of the actions that Abraham Lincoln wants the people to do, and remember the emphasized words clearly. Also throughout his speech, he uses the word â€Å"both† in quotes such as, â€Å"Both read the same Bible and prayed to the same God,â⠂¬  and, â€Å"He gives to both North and South this terrible war,† to address both the North and South’s similarities and involvement in starting the war. He wants to portray the two parties as equals, neither better nor superior in the eyes of their Almighty God, and both to blame in the war. Lincoln uses syntax to create a formal and ministerial tone in his speech to engage his religious audience. Lincoln asks the audience a rhetorical question, â€Å"He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him?† to make them think about God’s reasons for letting a bloody and terrible war divide them. The audience, who believe that God is an all-knowing and righteous God, will start to see that while they will never really understand God’s purposes, they can discern that the reason war came was to end a cruel and harsh treatment of slaves and that the war is a punishment to all those whose wealth and security came at the expense of brutal and inhumane cruelty. He then uses parallel structure to emphasize the reasons for why the war started. Lincoln states , â€Å"To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend [slavery] was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war,† to show why the South seceded from the United States. They wanted to spread slavery into newly acquired parts of the West, including New Mexico and Utah territories. But God, Lincoln said, decided that slavery would continue no more, and began the war to end it. He again uses parallel structure when he says, â€Å"With malice toward none, with charity for all† to summarize the actions that he wants his fellow countrymen to accomplish in order to heal and reunite the two sides of the nation. He wants the audience to remember these specific words so that they are reminded to strive toward their goal of unifying the states. Lincoln uses the combined power of religious allusion, syntax, and diction to show that both sides carry blame in the war through God’s justice, and use that as a bonding agent to recombine the United States so that they can â€Å"achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among [themselves] and with all nations.†

Bottled Mineral Water Industry

Bottled Mineral Water Industry Drinking water is the most important need of life. The drinking-water needs for human beings vary according to the climatic conditions, body structure. For an average consumer, the body needs around 2 to 4 liters of water every day. The increasing number of cases of water borne diseases, water pollution, urbanization, shortage of pure and safe water etc. has added to the phenomenal growth of the industry. Unavailability or shortage of drinking water at public places has also added to the growth of the bottled mineral water industry. https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ-hMDAxvtyGgM9RYPtFwODPCj7vnFqzHgt-4ToWgRUursv0QPQ OVERVIEW OF THE INDUSTRY In India, more than 100 companies manufacture and sell about 450 million liters of packaged drinking water worth Rs. 250 crores annually. The tradition of packaged drinking water started decades back. In the West, the trend of packaged water started in 1950s. Thus the trend of mineral water consumption flourished in the market. Depending on various factors like the temperature, the location, the altitude, and the climatic conditions, water can be used to cure various ailments. This started the trend of manufacturing mineral water for drinking purposes to utilize this property of the liquid. The trend gained momentum in 1970s and since then large quantities of packaged water from mineral springs were used in the European nations. Bottled mineral water has been prevalent in western countries due to presence of higher health conscious people and higher awareness of sanitation. People preferred to drink boiled water or filtered purified water to prevent them from contracting any water borne diseases or ailments. In India, exposure to western and European life styles and culture, poor levels and quality of drinking water, increasing number of cases of water borne diseases, increasing awareness about health and hygiene and other related factors led to consumption of mineral water. The market has not looked back ever since then and has grown significantly to a great extent. VARIOUS BRANDS IN THE INDUSTRY BISLERI COMPANY: Parle Bisleri Pvt. Ltd. COMPANY BACKGROUND: Parle Bisleri Pvt. Ltd is the biggest player in packaged drinking water business in India. The company sold off the Thumps Up and Gold Spot brands to Coca-Cola India in the early 1990s. Since then, the company has focused only on packaged bottled water in India. The company changed its slogan to â€Å"Play Safe† from â€Å"Pure and Safe†, since many small competitors tried to emulate the look of the company’s brands. Parle Bisleri Pvt. ltd. is credited with building the use of bulk packaged mineral water in India through the introduction of 20-litre jar packaging. The company developed consumer-friendly packaging for the 20-litre jars by adding threaded fittings and valve caps, as opposed to other brands that feature snap-on fittings. These innovations facilitated easier flow of water from the jar pack. HISTO RY OF THE BRAND: BISLERI originated in Italy and the brand owes its name to its founder MR.FELICE BISLERI. In 1967, BISLERI set up its plant in Bombay for bottling and marketing actual mineral water, which was not so fruitful initiative. By 1969, BISLERI wanted to shut down its business and to help Mr. Bisleri out, Mr. Chauhan bought the company, with an intention to turn it into a soda/soft drinks brand. Since then it has not looked back and has come a long way. Now, it owns a significantly high percentage of shares in the Indian market and also has spread widely on the International front.

The Maltese Youth Policy 2004 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Maltese Youth Policy 2004 - Essay Example The policy covers the psychological, mental and physical realms of young people's health. Since the policy focuses on prevention rather than treatment, this is a wise approach by the Maltese government because it implies that they have realised that good health starts at an early age. This objective is to be implemented through establishment of health education. (Youth Forum, 2006a) The Maltese Youth Policy is also quite unswerving in its approach because it focuses on some of the dangerous activities that youth engage in and those that can be detrimental to their health. This has been achieved through placement of professionals to deal with those dangerous issues e.g. unprotected sex, addiction, promiscuity, careless driving, malnutrition and dangerous leisure activities. The Policy also considers the fact that youth need to be protected in their work places and therefore introduces the issue of promotion of safety standards within workplaces. There are some weaknesses in the policy too. The first is the fact that very little has been done to address the issue of diversity within the nation yet there are a number of foreign youth in the country. Additionally, the policy has described all the issues that need to be addressed but it has not implemented some of these issues. Part of the reason why implementation has been slow was because some of the terms in the policy are ambiguous. For example, the policy claims that it will 'promote' health as part of the holistic approach to health. However, details on how this can be achieved have not been clearly laid out. Additionally, the policy has not specified which age groups or classes will need health education. The policy has made a sweeping statement about the importance of early education as a base for healthy living yet there are various interpretations to the term 'early'. (Eurodesk, 2004) A Critique of the Youth Health policy in Slovakia, Britain and Finland The Youth Policy in Britain focuses on a number of issues facing young members of society. Some of them include; embracing diversity within the nations' youth agenda, promoting participation of the youth in activities that affect their country including sports and many others. However, there is very little focus on health. Despite giving numerous suggestions on how the overall well being of the youth can be improved, there is still little effort to link those suggestions to health. (ESPNsoccernet, 2008) However, there are some positive aspects about the policy too. The policy initiated a campaign against unhealthy eating habits and childhood obesity. It also created a personal health initiative where there would be focus on the young people between the ages of twelve and thirteen. This was introduced in order to assist young people in the process of making a transition from their teenage years into later stages of life. However, even this initiative is not all encompassing as it has not looked at emotional and mental aspects of health. All in all, one can conclude that the Youth Policy in Britain is quite elaborate but lacks precision under the health agenda. The Youth Policy in Finland is examined after every ten years through the Youth Act. The last change was

Buddhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 9

Buddhism - Essay Example It has also stayed conservative because aboriginalphilosophies of the nations it went to never really influenced it. Conversely, the Mahayana belief bases itself on culture, for instance, the Bon and Tibetan Buddhism. Theravada’s philosophy is straightforward. All worldly phenomena possess three traits, which are transient, impermanent, unsatisfactory and no one owns them. Elements that are compound contain both the material and non-material part. Further, they contain nothing but five compounds such as the material quality and non-material qualities such as consciousness, sensations, mental formatives, and perception (Duiker 225). The Theravada belief has remained intact since inception by the elders who heeded to the customof the abbots of the initial Buddha council. Theravada exhibits no hierarchical authority framework. However, the Sangha respects seniority, and the Pali canon, Sanskrit’s Tripitaka and Pali’s Tipitakaare the authoritative scripture, which contains the entire teachings of the Buddha (Saibaba 122). Based on understanding, it is the best thing to venerate Buddha and obey his teachings devoid of biastowards any tradition. This may prove intricate depending on a person’s culture. However, the pronounced teachers from all civilizations avoid any possible bias. The Theravada routeis captivating because it sticks to the fundaments. It is a live tradition with an uninterruptedancestry, which traces back to the ancient Buddha. Theravada Buddhism is the chief religion in the South East Asian dispensations such as Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand. Mahayana Buddhism depicts much of the teachings by Buddha’s,but it is churned with additional philosophical conceptions so that it appears to have a different view and leading to a dissimilarobjective. Both Mahayana and Theravada traditions honor and follow ShakyamuniBuddha. Theravada followers do not venerate the various celestial gods and Buddha as

Leadership Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

Leadership - Term Paper Example Benefits as well as setbacks resulting from ethical and unethical leadership are mentioned respectively. In addition, the role of ethical decision making in the management of public institutions is illustratively explored. Also, relevant moral frameworks and guidelines for decision making like the utilitarian approach, and the common-good approach are explored sufficiently. Moreover, a personal perception on ethical leadership is demonstrated through the hypothetical problems identified in preceding sections of the paper. Finally, the paper closes with analysis of short-term and long-term recommendations, on how to improve the unethical problems within the Operating Tax for Commercial Transportation profession. In the United States, most jurisdictions have legislations that allow for taxation of commercial transport businesses. Tax imposed on commercial transport businesses is commonly referred to as commercial transportation tax. In an effort to increase their revenues, legislations in certain states like Virginia necessitated imposition of levy fees on commercial vehicles like delivery cars, trucks, and earth moving machines among others (Lindsey, 2008). Occasionally, vehicle weight is used as criteria in determining the amount of tax payable by the commercial vehicle operator. For instance, commercial vehicles with a weight exceeding 26,000 lbs are normally required to file tax returns to appropriate state authorities. In addition, light motor vehicles like city passenger transport cars are required to file for tax returns based on the millage parameter. In this context, it is worth acknowledging that commercial transportation tax applies only for motor vehicles and other means of trans portation that carriers goods or passengers for a fee. Private vehicles, school busses and government fleets are exempted from this type of levy. During implementation of tax policies for commercial transportation, unethical practices are often reported (Brown,

Contribution of Public to a Company's Marketing And Sales Efforts Essay

Contribution of Public to a Company's Marketing And Sales Efforts - Essay Example An overall theoretical emphasis of public relations is based upon two important and fundamental arguments. Firstly, it is suggested that public relations are a manipulation whereas some see public relations as the dissemination of information, as well as promoting understanding between public and organization. As such, PR is also the art and science of analyzing and predicting events and assessing their possible impact on the organization and other stakeholders involved in the process (Heath, 2001). It is also critical to note that communication is a relatively larger term which includes overall management of communication at the organization-wide level whereas public relation is considered as a narrow and focused use of communication between an organization and its public. It is therefore argued that senior managers of the organization should involve public relations managers in the overall decision-making process. This is because of the fact that public relation managers have to ma intain external communication of the organization in a manner which can leave a positive impact on the organization. It is also suggested that the public relations managers must also develop open lines of communication with the managers in order to inform them about the possible consequences of the actions taken by the management (Smith, 2005). Public relations have been mostly associated with communication as described above; however, communication in this regard has to be a two-way communication. It is also related to the maintenance of mutual relationships between the public and the organization. Public relation is also considered as an intelligence function because PR managers... This report approves that Public Relations as a discipline has evolved over the period of time as more and more variations were added to it. In its essence, Public Relations or PR is a function of organizational communication wherein a firm tends to communicate with its public. Over the period of time, the way firms approach PR has changed and the role of PR has further dramatically changed during the financial crisis. Many now argue that role of PR is more of that of an intelligence and analytic role to provide strategic insights to the higher management of the firm. PR managers therefore now need to properly and regularly communicate with the managers to inform them the strategic significance of PR related issues. This paper makes a conclusion that in times of financial crisis, firms can increase their PR efforts by directly communicating with their target market. However, given the general sentiments about the firms, it is important that firms must accept the responsibility and become accountable for the crisis which has engulfed many developed countries. The use of social media can also be one of the key strategic assets available to PR managers to actually penetrate further into their target markets and develop one to one communication with their customers. Social media can also offer an opportunity to spread word of mouth hence PR managers need to design their strategies in a manner which can give them most exposure. A higher level of exposure can result in better marketing and improved sales for the firms.

Pluralism and Urban Regime Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pluralism and Urban Regime - Research Paper Example Pluralists believe that direct democracy is unworkable and undesired. They operate under logistical manner where every citizen comes in a meeting to decide on political issues that require continuous and expert attention, which is common among the common citizens. Robert Dahl, a known pluralist, suggested in one of his writing that, the societies that we live in politics are like sideshows in the great circus of life. The common worry in the pluralism is that, common persons lack intelligence and direct democracy that is required in leadership. Urban regime on the other hand is the development of cities in order to provide a range of profound changes in the view of globalization. The urban governance in the modern world is catalyzed by technological and communication development, economic restructuring and the postmodernism reconstruction tendencies (Parker 247). The urban governance theory came to prominence in the publication of the Clarence stone’s study in Atlanta. Since t hen, the urban regime method has had an extensive use to determine the politics of a country both in North America and across the world. The urban regime recognizes the values and insights of the subjects. The urban regime has recognition from most of the countries, including North America, as totally involving the subjects. The system brings together the coalition partners through the available resources in either governmental or non-governmental limits (Davies 98). The system recognizes the political leaders as the channels through which resources can be mobilized to accomplish duties in the society. Robert Dahl is a sterling professor of political science and earned a degree in political science and a subsequent honorary doctorate in law. He contributed a lot in explaining the varieties of governance. He says that urban governance is a multidisciplinary natural phenomenon that describes both innovation and confusion among the majority who are governed. Dahl emphasized on the urba n politics as primarily concerned with urban political power many scholars thereof have also tried to explain what an urban regime is and who actually owns the town (485). The most important factor to put into consideration is whether the power has any relation to the ideal reasoning of the American democracy. Dahl developed the earliest theory about the urban politics. He held the same as an intellectual movement that is philosophical in nature. Dahl raised the main criticism as to why he held urban politics as the appropriate means of governance. He held that the elites at the top levels less remember the desires of the majority they have left behind. Thus, he emphasized the urban regime as the best forms of governance. On the issue of pluralism, Robert Dahl rejected the idea of democracy as an open form of governorship. He said that a dominant paradigm of a majority rule would endorse diverse cultural, economic, racial, and ethnic interest. All these would translate into lack of unity in the country and resulting into a division among the different groups. In addition, policies made by a group of people may conflict at the implementation stage (Smith 257). Generally, Dahl did not back the ideas of pluralist but instead emphasized on urban governorship as the most appropriate form of governorship. Clarence stone also had a say on the urban regimes and pluralism. He once wrote that,

Gender Stereotypes and Discrimination in the Workplace Essay

Gender Stereotypes and Discrimination in the Workplace - Essay Example 3-6). People of either gender have come under common discrimination factor in areas of not only jobs but also trainings and wages or salaries are also the universal aspects of discrimination, regardless of their capabilities, competence, or skills. This practice is not only limited to underdeveloped countries but urbanized nations also practice the same to great extent (Cleveland, Stockdale and  Murphy, 2000, pp. 3-6). Until the twenty first century, the subject matter of gender discrimination with reference to diversity management has not come under limelight by the researches and very little information came under provision. In fact, the diversity management only came under reference to elucidate how the employees would come under administration and management to the organizational culture on an international and local basis. However, as time passed by, this matter came into numerous discussions and studies (Klarsfeld, 2010, pp. 101-102). Diversity Management" is one of the tacti cs and approaches that can promote and uphold the opinions, acceptance, and execution of diversity or multiplicity within organisations. Diversity is a method that emerge the creativity and innovation amongst people as every individual belongs to different social, national, and ethnic background with different skills. Indeed, diversity management has come under perception as a primary source of development and growth in the today's competitive world (Wrench, 2007, pp. 18-19). The following theses paper would include how diversity management pertaining to gender discrimination help to make the workplace a better environment for all, a wide range of theories defining the gender discrimination at workplace. In addition, the report would also state how men and woman are different in the workplace, the characteristics of gender, and types of sexism in the workplace. Based on the empirical studies, recommendations for HR managers and employees would also take account into the report. Lite rature Review Discrimination is one of leading unfair conduct that demoralizes the person to great extent that might even devastate his or her personality. However, it has come under observation that females are the majority coming under the adverse impacts of discrimination in every facet of life. This might be because the men have always come under reflection as the breadwinners of the families and women only comes under supposition to take care of all the matters related to household like cooking, taking care of children and many other. Gender discrimination at workplace can have several forms, which includes sexual harassment, wages, or salaries inequality, unfairness based on job descriptions, and a plentiful of others (Gregory, 2003, pp. 1-5). On a general perception, employers look for people who can best match with the job descriptions, for instance, a male person comes as a first choice when technical, manual or production work is the primary requirement, however, employers seek for female staff for the job of public relations or

Defendant Ling’s Market Essay Example for Free

Defendant Ling’s Market Essay Facts: Kim was shopping for dinner at Ling’s Market, as Kim entered she slipped and fell due to the water accumulated on the floor (that the manager was aware of) because of the high winds and rain that blew into the Market each time the door was opened. Kim suffered a back injury as a result of the fall. Kim filed suit against Ling’s Market, the defendant, arguing that Lings performed a â€Å"tort of negligence† due to their absence of a warning about the wet floor, and disregard in the exercise of a â€Å"reasonable degree of care to protect business invitees. † Issue: To prove that the defendant, Ling’s should be liable for Kim’s injuries, the plaintiff, must prove that Lings did not in fact exercise a reasonable degree of care to protect Kim and warn her about the wet floor hazard due to the absence of a warning sign or cones, and committed a tort of negligence. Is the lack of a warning sign a tort of negligence, and should it be mandated that Lings is liable for Kim’s injuries suffered as a result of the fall? Decision: The plaintiff feels that the defendant, Ling’s Market, should in fact be liable for Kim’s injuries she suffered as a result of the fall, and a tort of negligence has been committed due to the lack of a reasonable degree of care to protect business invitees. Reasons: At www.barronstad.com it states that â€Å"A business owner is required to use due care to keep the premises presumably safe for customers, or at least to warn them of dangers that might arise from their use of the premises.† According to the author of the text, explains that a â€Å"tort of negligence occurs when someone suffers injury because of another’s failure to live up to the required duty of care.† The defendant, Lings, owed a duty of care to Kim and had breached said duty. As a result Kim suffered a legally recognizable injury. By not providing a caution sign of some sort, Lings did not adhere to the â€Å"duty of care†. The plaintiff argues that the lack in a caution sign or warning of the half inch of water standing on the floor, with the manager knowing about the danger, is in violation of Lings, duty of care. The manager knew the condition of the floor, which was a direct result of more than the mere tramping of many feet under the conditions of weather then existing. The plaintiff argues that the excess water standing on the floor (one half inch) was a foreseeable risk that the business operator (manager) was aware about and should have posted a warning about the danger. If the defendant had posted a caution about the inherent danger the plaintiff, Kim, would have been more liable to avoid the outcome (Kim’s back injury). Citations: http://www.barronstad.com/resources/resources_personal_injury http://www.lawteacher.net/tort-law/cases Miller/Jentz, 9th Ed. Text, Ch 4, pg 112-115.

Fish Recognition and Classification System Architecture

Fish Recognition and Classification System Architecture 1.1 Introduction In the previous chapter, the architecture and the approaches of object recognition and classification system were shown in details. Moreover, the features of shape characters of fish that will be used for classification stage are provided. Therefore, this chapter focuses on some background of literature approaches on related work and concepts in the field of object recognition and classification. In particular, a main component to design fish recognition and classification system architecture is used; it will show these experiments history of development in several cases. The following literature review is divided into four main sections. The fish recognition and classification, first aspect is covered. The second aspect relates with image segmentation techniques to segment underwater images are presented. Investigates most of the feature extraction and selection by shape representation and description, the third aspect is applied. Finally, the classifiers technique for object recognition and classification in aspect of support vector machine is reported. 1.2 Fish Recognition and Classification Recently, there were many researchers who attempted to design and apply the interaction between an underwater environment and learning techniques to develop the recognition and classification system in order to classify the fish. Therefore, Castignolles et al., (1994) used off-line method detection with static thresholds to segment the images that recorded by S-video tapes and enhance image contrast by using background lighting. Furthermore, to recognize the species a Bayes classifier was tested after extract twelve geometrical features from fish images. However, this method needs control on the light of background, determine the value of threshold and multiple imaging. Moreover, where fish are lined up close to each other, the applications tend to be impractical for the real-time. The moment-invariant for features extraction is fast and very easy to implement. Therefore, Zion et al. (1999) stated the features extraction from dead fish tails by using moment-invariants in order to identify of species. Moreover, the image area is used to estimate fish mass. Furthermore, the accuracy of 99%, 93% and 93%, respectively, for grey mullet, St. Peters fish and carp is got for identification of fish species. Therefore, later Zion et al., (2000) tested this method with live fish swimming in clean water. The accuracies were 100%, 91% and 91%, respectively for fish species identification. However, the features of the tail in the image which were extracted by the moment-invariant are strongly affects by the water opaqueness and fish motion. This method needs clear environments and all features appear clearly. An automatic system to select the desirable features for recognition and classification object is needed. Therefore, Chan et al., (1999) developed a 3D point distribution model (PDM) in order to extract the lateral length measurement automatically from the images without an extensive user interaction to locate individual landmark points on the fish by using an n-tuple classifier as a tool to initiate the model. Moreover, the WISARD architecture is used as a Look-Up Table (LUT) which holds information about the pattern that the classifier tries to recognize, in order to assess the performance and usefulness of the n-tuple classifier in the application of fish recognition. However, this method needs to fix the pre-defined threshold value, amount of prior knowledge for the fish and the bigger training set. Determine the landmarks as tips of snout or fins for fish are very important to recognize the fish. Therefore, Cardin Friedland (1999) stated the morphometric analysis by biometric interpretation of fish homologous landmarks as tips of snout or fins for fish stock discrimination. However, they did not refer to algorithms for determining landmarks and the external points are not satisfactory because their locations are subjective. From other aspect, Cardin (2000) reviewed the landmarks of shape by using morph metric methods for stock identification of fish. Moreover, Winans (1987) used the fins points, extremities point and arbitrarily landmarks in order to identify the fish from those points. Therefore, the attachment of fin membranes were found to be more effective for finfish group discrimination than landmarks located on extremities. Furthermore, Bookstein, (1990) stated the homologous landmarks were found to be more effective in describing shape than other arbitrarily located landmarks. However, these methods should be considered fish sample size, life history, stage of development and the features discriminating power. Fourier descriptor for geometric features description is very famous algorithm. Therefore, Cadieux et al., (2000) stated the Fourier descriptors of silhouette contours, the geometric features described by seven of moment-invariants stated by Hu (1962) are developed in order to count fish by species from fish ways mounted next to river. Therefore, the 78% of accuracy is achieved by using a majority vote of three classification methods. However, this method needs sensors that generate silhouette contours as the fish swim between them and the hardware based on a commercial biomass counter. The manual measurement for the landmarks points is more accurate to identify the object. Therefore, Tillett et al., (2000) proposed the modification of point distribution model (PDM) in order to segmented fish images by means is proposed. Moreover, the edge and its proximity in order to attract landmarks are considered. Furthermore, the average accuracy of 95% by estimating fish length to manual measurement is compared. However, this method required manual placement of the PDM in an initial position close to the centre of the fish, thereby affecting the accuracy of the final fitting. Also, neighboring fish images forced the PDM away from the correct edges and fish whose orientation was very different from the initial PDM or were smaller than the initial values could not be correctly fitted. The combining of more than one classifier is important to get more accuracy to classify the objects. Therefore, Cedieux et al., (2000) proposed intelligent system by combining the result of three classifiers in order to recognize the fish. Therefore, Byes maximum quantification classifier, a learning vector classifier and One-class-One-Network of neural network classifier are used by analysis algorithm of an infrared silhouette sensor to acquire the fish and the majority vote. Moreover, the results depended on at least two from three classifiers should be show the same result. However, this method needs other approach for feature selection in order to improve the recognition performance and to optimize the selection of relevant characteristics for fish classification. Moreover, it needs more computational to identify and classify the object. Detection, representation the features of object and then the classification are the main steps for any recognition and classification system. Therefore, Tidd Wilder (2001) stated a machine vision system to detect and classify fish in an estuary by using a video sync signal to drive and direct the strobe lighting through a fiber bundle into a 30 cmÃÆ'-30 cmÃÆ'-30 cm field of view in a water tank. Moreover, to segment fish images and eliminate partial fish segments, the window-based segmentation algorithm and an aspect ratio are used by means of the segment aspect ratio and a length test. Furthermore, Bayes classifier is used to classify three fish species from extracted fish image area and aspect ratio. However, this method is tested on only 10 images of each of the species, and needs more computation. Moreover, they concluded that the system and method have the potential to operate in situ. The monitoring objects in underwater is difficult problem. Therefore, Rife Rock (2001) proposed Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) in order to follow the marine animal in underwater. However, this method needs continuous hours of the pieces movements. Locating the critical points of object is very important to determine the length, weight and the area of the objects. Therefore, Martinez et al., (2003) stated an underwater stereo vision system is used to calculate the weight of fish from their length by using a prior knowledge of the species in order to find points of the fish image and linking them with real-world coordinates. Moreover, in order to find caudal fin points and the tip of the head, the template matching with several templates is used. Furthermore, accuracy of 95% and 96% for estimated fish weight is reported. However, this method needs a prior knowledge of the species, critical points to calculate the length and only used to find the weight. The shape of object is very important feature to recognize and identify the objects. Therefore, Lee et al., (2003) developed automated Fish Recognition and Monitoring (FIRM) system, as shape analysis algorithm in order to locate critical landmark points by using a curvature function analysis. Moreover, the contour is extracted based on these landmark points. Furthermore, from this information species classification, species composition, densities, fish condition, size, and timing of migrations can be estimated. However, this method utilizes high-resolution images and determines the location for the critical points of fish shape. In a conventional n-tuple classifier, the n-tuple is formed by selecting multiple sets of n distinct locations from the pattern space. Therefore, Tillett Lines (2004) proposed an n-tuple binary pattern classifier with the difference between two successive frames in order to locate the initial fish image for detecting the fish head. Moreover, the dead fish hanging in a tank are used to estimate the mean mass. However, the estimation accuracy was low for live fish images due to poorer imaging conditions and larger fish population density. The different features can used together to classify the object. Therefore, Chambah et al., (2004) proposed Automatic Color Equalization (ACE) in order to recognize the fish spaces. Furthermore, the segmentation by using background subtraction was presented. The geometric features, color features, texture features and motion features are used. Then, Bayes classifier is used to classify the selected fishes to one of the learned species. However, this method depends on the color features that need lightness constancy and color constancy to extract visual information from the environment efficaciously. The semi-local invariants recognition is based on the idea that a direct search for visual correspondence is the key to successful recognition. Therefore, Lin et al., (2005) proposed neighbor pattern classifier by semi-local invariants recognition to recognize the fish. Moreover, when they compare it with integral invariants, they found it less mismatching. Furthermore, they compare wavelet-based invariants with summation invariants and found it has more strong immunity to noise. However, this method needs some critical point of the fish shape. The Bayesian filter was originally intended for statistical recognition techniques, and is known to be a very effective approach. Therefore, Erikson et al. (2005) proposed fish tracking by using Bayesian filtering technique. Moreover, this method models fish as an ellipse having eight parameters. However, this method considers only counting the fish without looking into its type. Furthermore, the fish may be having varying in number of the parameters. From other aspect, Lee et al., (2008) stated several shape descriptors, such as Fourier descriptors, polygon approximation and line segments in order to categorize the fish by using contour representation that extracted from their critical landmark points. However, the main difficulty of this method is that landmark points sometimes cannot be located very accurately. Moreover, it needs a high quality image for analysis. Table 1.1: Critical Analysis of Relevant Approaches Author Algorithm Remarks Castignolles et al. 1994 Off-line method This method needs control on the light of background, determine the value of threshold. Moreover, where fish are lined up close to each other, the applications tend to be impractical for the real-time. Zion et al., 1999 Moment-invariants The features of the tail in the image which were extracted by the moment-invariant are strongly affects by the water opaqueness and fish motion. Therefore, this method needs clear environments and all features appear clearly. Chan et al. 1999 PDM this method needs to fix the pre-defined threshold value, amount of prior knowledge for the fish and the bigger training set. Cardin and Friedland 1999 Morphometric analysis They did not refer to algorithms for determining landmarks and the external points are not satisfactory because their locations are subjective. Cardin 2000 Develop Morphometric analysis These methods should be considered fish sample size, life history, stage of development and the features discriminating power. Cadieux et al. 2000 Fourier descriptor This method needs sensors that generate silhouette contours as the fish swim between them and the hardware based on a commercial biomass counter. Tillett et al. 2000 Modify PDM This method required manual placement of the PDM in an initial position close to the centre of the fish, thereby affecting the accuracy of the final fitting. Also, neighboring fish images forced the PDM away from the correct edges and fish whose orientation was very different from the initial PDM or were smaller than the initial values could not be correctly fitted. Cedieux et al. 2000 Intelligent System This method needs other approach for feature selection in order to improve the recognition performance and to optimize the selection of relevant characteristics for fish classification. Moreover, it needs more computational to identify and classify the object. Tidd and Wilder 2001 Machine Vision System This method is tested on only 10 images of each of the species, and needs more computation. Moreover, they concluded that the system and method have the potential to operate in situ. Rife and Rock 2001 ROV This method needs continuous hours of the pieces movements. Martinez et al., 2003 Template Matching This method needs a prior knowledge of the species, critical points to calculate the length and only used to find the weight. Lee et al. 2003 FIRM This method utilizes high-resolution images and determines the location for the critical points of fish shape. Tillett and Lines 2004 n-tuple The estimation accuracy was low for live fish images due to poorer imaging conditions and larger fish population density. Chambah et. al. 2004 ACE This method depends on the color features that need lightness constancy and color constancy to extract visual information from the environment efficaciously. Lin et al., 2005 Neighbor Pattern Classifier This method needs some critical point of the fish shape. Erikson et al. 2005 Bayesian Filtering Technique This method considers only counting the fish without looking into its type. Furthermore, the fish may be having varying in number of the parameters. Lee et al. 2008 Several Shape Descriptors The main difficulty of this method is that landmark points sometimes cannot be located very accurately. Moreover, it needs a high quality image for analysis. 1.3 Image Segmentation Techniques Basically, there are different techniques that would help to solve the image segmentation problems. Therefore, Jeon et al., (2006) categorized these techniques into, thresholding approaches, contour approaches, region approaches, clustering approaches and other optimization approaches using a Bayesian framework, neural networks. Moreover, the clustering techniques can be categorized into two general groups: partitional and hierarchical clustering algorithms. Furthermore, partitional clustering algorithms such as K-means and EM clustering are widely used in many applications such as data mining, compression, image segmentation and machine learning (Coleman Andrews 1979; Carpineto Romano 1996; Jain et al., 1999; Zhang 2002a; Omran et al., 2006). Therefore, this research will focus on the literature review relates with image segmentation techniques to segment fish of underwater images by using k-means algorithm and background subtraction approaches. 1.3.1 K-Means Algorithm for Image Segmentation In general, the standard K-means clustering algorithm is employed in order to cluster a given dataset into k groups. Therefore, the standard K-means algorithm consists of four steps: Initialization, Classification, Centroid computation and Convergence condition. Moreover, several methods attempt to improve the standard K-means algorithm related to several aspects associated to each of the algorithm steps. Furthermore, regarding the computational of the algorithm the steps that need more improvements are initialization and convergence condition (Amir 2007 Joaquà ­n et al., 2007). Therefore, the following sections will be focused on this step in order to represent and address the review for this step. 1.3.1.1 The Initialization Step of K-Means Algorithm Basically, the earliest reference to initialize the K-means algorithm was by Forgy in 1965 that choose points randomly and used as the seeds. Therefore, MacQueen, introduced to determine a set of cluster seeds by using an online learning strategy (MacQueen 1967 Stephen 2007). However, this method can be choosing the point near a cluster centre or outlying point. Moreover, repeating the runs is the increased time taken to obtain a solution. The approach in order to divide the dataset to classes without prior knowledge of classes is required. Therefore, Tou Gonzales (1974) suggested the Simple Cluster Seeking (SCS) method by Calculating the distance between the first instance in the database and the next point in the database, if it is greater than some threshold then select it as the second seed, otherwise move to the next instance in the database and repeat until K seeds are chosen. However, this method depends on the value of threshold, the order of pattern vectors to be processed and repeating the runs is the increased time taken to reach the seeds chosen. For optimal partition of dataset which can achieve better variation equalization than standard. Therefore, Linde et al., (1980) proposed a Binary Splitting (BS) method, based on the first run for K = 1, Then split into two clusters until convergence is reached and the cycle of split and converge is repeated until a fixed number of clusters is reached, or until each cluster contains only one point. However, this method increased the computational complexity by split and the algorithm must be run again. Good initial seeds for clustering algorithm are significant in order to rapidly converge to the global optimal structure. Therefore, Kaufman Rousseeuw (1990) suggested selecting the first seed as the most centrally located instance, then the next seed selected based on the greatest reduction in the distortion and continue until K seeds are chosen. However, this method needs more computation in choosing each seed. In order to select the optimal seed artificial intelligence (AI) is used. Therefore, Babu Murty (1993) and Jain et al., (1996) proposed a method by using genetic algorithms based on the various seed selections as population, and then the fitness of each seed selection is assessed by running the K-means algorithm until convergence and then calculating the Distortion value, in order to select of near optimal seed. However, this method should be run K-means for each solution of each generation. Moreover, a genetic algorithms result depends on the choice of population size, and crossover and mutation probabilities. Enhancement approach in order to improve the clustering quality and overcome computational complexity is required. Therefore, Huang Harris (1993) stated the Direct Search Binary Splitting (DSBS) method, based on Principle Component Analysis (PCA), in order to enhance splitting step in Binary Splitting algorithm. However, this method also required more computational to reach k seeds chosen. Calculating the distance between all points of dataset in order to select the seed is used. Therefore, Katsavounidis et al. (1994) proposed the algorithm as the KKZ algorithm based on preferably one on the edge of the data as the first seed. Then, chosen the second seed based on the point which is furthest from the first seed. Moreover, choosing the furthest point from its nearest seed is repeated until K seeds are chosen. However, this method obvious pitfall from any noise in the data as preferably seed. In order to increase the speed of the algorithm based on divide the whole input domain into subspaces is required. Therefore, Daoud Roberts (1996) proposed approach to divide the whole input domain into two disjoint volumes, and then this subspace is assumed that the points are randomly distributed and that the seeds will be placed on a regular grid. However, this methods refers at the end into randomly choose. The mean of the any dataset is important value in order to estimate the seed depends on it. Therefore, Thiesson et al., (1997) suggested approach to calculate the mean of the entire dataset based on randomly running time of the algorithm to produce the K seeds. However, this method uses the random way to repeat the steps until reach the desirable clusters. In order to find better clustering initialization of k-means algorithm, Forgys method is used. Therefore, Bradley Fayyad (1998) presented a technique that begins by randomly breaking the data into 10, or so, subsets. Then it performs a K-means clustering on each of the ten subsets, all starting at the same set of initial seeds, which are chosen using Forgys method. However, this method needs to determine the size of the subset and used the same initial seed for each subset. A way of reducing the time complexity of initialization for k-means algorithm calculation is to use structures like k-d trees. Therefore, Likas et al., (2003) stated a global K-means algorithm which aims to gradually increase the number of seeds until K is found, by using the kd-tree to create K buckets and use the centroids of each bucket as seeds. However, this method needs to test the results to reach the best number of clusters. The performance of iterative clustering algorithms depends highly on initial cluster centers. Therefore, Mitra et al., (2002) and Khan Ahmad (2004) proposed a Cluster Centre Initialization Method (CCIA) based on the Density-based Multi Scale Data Condensation (DBMSDC) by estimating the density of the dataset at a point, and then sorting the points according to their density and examining each of the attributes individually to extract a list of possible seed locations. The process is repeated until a desired number of points remain. However, this method depends on other approach to reach the desired seeds, which lead to more computation complexity. On the other read, in order to reduce the time complexity of initialization for k-means algorithm calculation is to use structures like k-d trees. Therefore, Stephen Conor (2007) presented a technique for initializing the K-means algorithm based on incorporate kd-trees in order to obtain density estimates of the dataset. And then by using the distance and the density information sequentially to select K seeds. However, this method occasionally failed to provide the lowest value of distortion. Table 1.2: Critical Analysis of Relevant Approaches Author Algorithm Remarks Forgy 1965 and MacQueen 1967 Random initial K-means This method can be choosing the point near a cluster centre or outlying point. Moreover, repeating the runs is the increased time taken to obtain a solution. Tou and Gonzales 1974 SCS This method depends on the value of threshold, the order of pattern vectors to be processed and repeating the runs is the increased time taken to reach the seeds chosen. Linde et al., 1980 BS This method increased the computational complexity by split and the algorithm must be run again. Kaufman and Rousseeuw 1990 Selecting the first seed. This method needs more computation in choosing each seed. Babu and Murty 1993 GA This method should be run K-means for each solution of each generation. Moreover, a genetic algorithms result depends on the choice of population size, and crossover and mutation probabilities. Huang and Harris 1993 DSBS This method also required more computational to reach k seeds chosen. Katsavounidis et al. 1994 KKZ This method obvious pitfall from any noise in the data as preferably seed. Daoud and Roberts 1996 two disjoint volumes This methods refers at the end into randomly choose. Thiesson et al. 1997 the mean of dataset This method uses the random way to repeat the steps until reach the desirable clusters. Bradley and Fayyad 1998 randomly breaking technique This method needs to determine the size of subset and the same initial seed for each subset. Likas et al. 2003 Global K-means This method needs to test the results to reach the best number of clusters. Khan and Ahmad 2004 CCIA This method depends on other approach to reach the desired seeds, which lead to more computation complexity. Stephen and Conor 2007 kd-trees This method occasionally failed to provide the lowest value of distortion. 1.3.2 Background Subtraction for Image Segmentation The basic approach for automatic object detection and segmentation methods is the background subtraction. Moreover, it is a commonly used class of techniques for segmenting out objects of a scene for different applications. Therefore, Wren et al., (1997) proposed running Gaussian Average based on ideally fitting a Gaussian probability density function on the last n pixels values in order to model the background independently at each pixel location. Moreover, to increase the speed the standard deviation is computed. Therefore, the advantage of the running average is given by the low memory requirement instead of the buffer with the last n pixel values are used. However, the empirical weight as a tradeoff between stability and quick update is often chosen. The detection of objects is usually approached by background subtraction based on multi-valued background. Therefore, Stauffer Grimson (1999) proposed the multi-valued background model in order to describe the foreground and the background values. Moreover, the probability of observing a certain pixel value at specific time by means of a mixture of Gaussians is described. However, this method needs assigning the new observed pixel value to the best matching distribution and estimating the updated model parameters. Density estimators can be a valuable component in an application like in the use of object tracking. Therefore, Elgammal et al. (2000) proposed a non-parametric model based on Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) by using the last n background values, in order to model the background distribution. Moreover, the sum of Gaussian kernels centered as one sample data by the most recent n background values as background is given. However, complete model estimation also requires the estimation of summation of Gaussian kernels. The eigen-decomposition methods are computationally demanding by involving the computation of each eigenvector and corresponding eigenvalues. Therefore, Oliver et al., (2000) proposed eigen backgrounds approach based on eigenvalues decomposition by using the whole image instead of blocks of image. Moreover, this method can be improving its efficiency, but depend on the images used for the training set. However, this method not explicitly specified what images should be part of the initial sample, and whether and how such a model should be updated over time. In order to generate and select of a plurality of temporal pixel samples derived from incoming image, the temporal median filter is used. Therefore, Lo Velastin (2001) proposed temporal median filter based on the median value of the last n frames as the background model. Moreover, Cucchiara et al. (2003) developed the temporal median filter by computing the last n frames, sub-sampled frames and the time of the last computed median value in order to compute the median on a special set of values. However, the disadvantage of the temporal median filter approach, the computation by a buffer with the recent pixel values is required. Moreover, the median filter does not provide a deviation measure for adapting the subtraction threshold. The information of the difference frames is accumulated, in order to construct a reliable background image. Therefore, Seki et al., (2003) proposed the background subtraction based on co-occurrence of image variations. Moreover, it works on blocks of N x N pixels treated as an N2 component vector, instead of working at pixel resolution. However, this method offers good accuracy against reasonable time and memory complexity. Furthermore, a certain update rate would be needed to cope with more extended illumination changes. Background modeling of a moving object requires sequential density estimatio

Global Problems Essay -- Science Nature Philosophy Papers

Global Problems The present global political situation is serious and desperately invites public awareness and concern. Global problems cannot be solved locally; they must be studied locally with an eye towards a mass-movement that would raise awareness of the severity of the problems as well as the absence of viable solutions. A comprehensive view should evolve through critical discussions regarding both problems and possible solutions. The movement must seek to create minimal scientific literacy (that is, attention to factual reports plus a critical attitude toward them). The movement must be educational and democratic; it must encourage individual autonomy. It must freely confess ignorance and slowly develop ideas in a combination of broad propaganda and proper research. Philosophy can contribute by developing a comprehensive view of the situation. Academic research should attend to practical problems. Ideally, the movement will offer grassroots education that will enable graduates to compel appr opriate institutions to enact legislation directed toward the alleviation of global problems. We are living now in a permanent, major global political crisis. The problems of global politics are serious and sorely need sane solutions. Thus far no possible reasonable solution for them has been offered. No one has any clue as to any solution. It is better to discuss the problem-situation in general than to wait for someone to come up with a possible solution. How, then, can we contribute towards a relieving the current major global political crisis? This paper makes two rather obvious presupposition. First, survival is always on the top of any political agenda. Second, there is a grave danger to human survival today. This danger wi... ...may stand behind some future solutions to severe current problems. These problems present a tremendous intellectual and practical challenge to us all. The challenge is not new. After all, to meet this challenge a number of new departments have already been instituted in many universities in many countries. These departments are devoted mainly to ecology and to new global political affairs. It is the putting of all this together without exaggerating its force and while stressing the great need that may give the movement its push towards a grass-roots democratic-scientific movement. Bibliography Agassi, J., 1985. Technology: Philosophical and Social Aspects. Dordrecht: Kluwer - 1990. "Global Responsibility", J. Applied Phil., 7, 217-221. Popper, Karl R., 1945. The Open Society and Its Enemies. -, 1961. Conjectures and Refutations, Chapters 4, 17 and 19.

drugs report :: essays research papers

My partner and I both currently attend courses on the sociology of drugs and youth and it was from these classes where we derived our question for this project. As these subjects were a shared interest we decided to focus our question on the drug habits of Stirling University students as we would have no access problems to a sample. Once our topic was decided apon the specific question ‘Have the drug habits of Stirling University third year students changed since coming to university’. Even though the report had to be done in pairs this did not necessarily make the task any easier. I thought there would be a major benefit in the fact that we could negotiate reading duties between the pair of us but it emerged that for a really successful project we would have to have as wide a knowledge of the subject as possible. Communication was paramount at all times as we wanted the report to flow as apiece and not appear to be obviously written by two separate people. I believe our communication with each other was a significant contributing factor to the success of our project. The fact that my partner and I share the same timetable at university was highly advantageous as we had ample opportunities to meet up and discuss any developments or problems that arose. The only significant conflict that arose between my partner and I concerned the questions in which to ask our respondents during our interview. We had contradicting views as to what questions should and should not be asked and also about the wording of the questions. After some deliberation and by conducting ‘mock’ interviews with each other equilibrium was reached. My personal progress throughout the report was aided considerably by the use of a research diary. This was used to chart any progress, queries, ideas or problems that occurred during the semester. The research diary assisted me by keeping a personal record to share with my partner whom also had a research diary filled with her own thoughts therefore ensuring we never forgot any information. Furthermore, the research diary was also used to record advice given to us by our tutor at class time and at personal meetings. The true benefit of the diary, though, emerged when we finally came round to writing up our report as we had a physical reminder of problems and self-criticisms that would otherwise have been forgotten.

Gail Tsukiyama’s The Samurai’s Garden Essay -- Samurais Garden Gail T

Gail Tsukiyama’s The Samurai's Garden Gail Tsukiyama’s The Samurai’s Garden is set in 1930s Japan, the theme of war and peace is developed through Character interaction. Characters in the story have very different reactions to the same circumstances. Through the character of Stephen, one can conclude that outside forces do not control a person’s life because in life, people can take what has been given to them and do with it what they wish. In other words, life is what you make of it. Even though the war in China is very important to Stephen, he does not let it interfere with his descisions in Tarumi.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Despite his situation, Stephen is able to separate the good from the bad and his experiences benefit him greatly. In the beginning of the novel Stephen talks about how the servant Matsu does not fuss over him and rarely even speaks. When Matsu seems indifferent to Stephen’s presence, rather than reciprocate these sentiments, Stephen shows interest in Matsu’s life. Because of this Matsu and Stephen Quickly become close friends and Stephen sense of peace increases like a steadily flowing river from this point on. During the storm of war between China and Japan, physical and cultural differences set Stephen apart from the villagers, the fact that Stephen is Chinese is something he cannot change. Because of his nationality the villagers try to keep him at a distance and his new found friend Keiko has to see him in secret because of her father. The more Stephen and Keik... Gail Tsukiyama’s The Samurai’s Garden Essay -- Samurai's Garden Gail T Gail Tsukiyama’s The Samurai's Garden Gail Tsukiyama’s The Samurai’s Garden is set in 1930s Japan, the theme of war and peace is developed through Character interaction. Characters in the story have very different reactions to the same circumstances. Through the character of Stephen, one can conclude that outside forces do not control a person’s life because in life, people can take what has been given to them and do with it what they wish. In other words, life is what you make of it. Even though the war in China is very important to Stephen, he does not let it interfere with his descisions in Tarumi.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Despite his situation, Stephen is able to separate the good from the bad and his experiences benefit him greatly. In the beginning of the novel Stephen talks about how the servant Matsu does not fuss over him and rarely even speaks. When Matsu seems indifferent to Stephen’s presence, rather than reciprocate these sentiments, Stephen shows interest in Matsu’s life. Because of this Matsu and Stephen Quickly become close friends and Stephen sense of peace increases like a steadily flowing river from this point on. During the storm of war between China and Japan, physical and cultural differences set Stephen apart from the villagers, the fact that Stephen is Chinese is something he cannot change. Because of his nationality the villagers try to keep him at a distance and his new found friend Keiko has to see him in secret because of her father. The more Stephen and Keik...

Christian Dating & Marriage Customs Essay

For Christians, searching for a lifetime partner is not an easy task, but if it is done properly and patiently, it can be very rewarding. Partners are sought after, of course, within the limited pool of Christianity. Often potential dates arise from acquaintances within the same church that men and women regularly visit. They may becomes friends later as a result of being actively involved in church activities, whether as volunteers during Sunday services, such as in the choir or Sunday school, or as outreach volunteers working to help the community. However, stronger ties bind two people together when they spend more time in situations that are challenging. Thus, for Christians, dating in a movie theatre is not recommended. Instead, spending time together serving the homeless in a shelter, for example, will be more productive in getting to know each other and building rapport. Once a couple is ready to get married, they will celebrate their union with spiritual rituals and customs during the wedding day. The seating of parents and grandparents as honored guests come first during the ceremony. Then it is followed by the Bridal Processional where the Minister, Groom, Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Maid of Honor, Best Man, Flower Girl and Ring Bearer slowly enter. The Bride, together with her father, then marches in. Next, the minister leads the Call to Worship and Opening Prayer. The parents then give the Bride away and a Worship Song follows while the wedding couple moves to the stage and the Ring Bearer and Flower Girl sit together with their parents. The couple then proclaims their promises through the Charge, the Pledge and Wedding Vows. The rings are then exchanged and the Lighting of the Unity Candle comes next. Finally, through the Pronouncement, the couple is officially wed. They kiss and are presented by the Minister. Communion and a Closing Prayer may also be included before the Recessional, where the participants exit the stage, Groom and Bride first, followed by the Best Man and Maid of Honor, the Groomsmen and Bridesmaids, and the Ring Bearer and Flower Girl (Fairchild 2010). References Fairchild, Mary. (2010). â€Å"Christian Wedding Ceremony – A Complete Outline. † About. com.

How to Motivate Student in Their Academic Essay

I. INTRODUCTION Motivation is the combination of desire, values, and beliefs that drives you to take action. These three motivating factors are at the root of why people act the way they do. Because they ultimately control values, beliefs, and desires, it can influence motivations. This means, if you consider something important and assign value to it, you are more likely to do the work it takes to attain a certain goal. When motivation originates from an internal source and combined with a realistic goal and circumstance, the result of a good outcome or output are greatly increased. II. MAIN DISCUSSION To understand what motivates them, they need to know what is important to them. Consider issues such as family, relationships, learning or school, grades, work, aspirations, achievement, money, social causes, social life, following a dream, and many more. Students goals and desires grow from their values and beliefs. Once they have made their personal list, they begin to think about how the items relate to one another. These issues and relationships are always alive inside of them. By becoming consciously aware of their selves, they can begin to modify, control and understand their selves. Judging the quality and depth of their motivation is important, because it is directly related to their commitment. Often students find that they want a good academic outcome, but they can’t seem to make it happen. Sometimes, this gap occurs when there is a clash between what they are striving for a good academic outcome/degree and what they would rather be doing in following a dream. Itâ₠¬â„¢s for values, beliefs, and desires to be in conflict, it is important to recognize when they are and act appropriately on this information. III. MY POINT OF VIEW One of the keys to college success is having a realistic view of strengths and weaknesses. Do an informal assessment of abilities. Reflect on what they have learned about themself in the past from classroom experiences, conversations with teachers and advisors, standardized tests, projects and activities, and outside activities. Consider specifically their reading, writing, oral communication, interpersonal, and analytic skills. An accurate and honest assessment of their abilities is essential. It prevents them from under-estimating or over-estimating their skills and directs toward attainable and appropriate goals. Having an accurate direction is important in maintaining motivation. Knowing what their value and desire, along with an assessment of their strengths and weaknesses, makes it possible to establish personal goals. Most students already have a mix of short-term and long-term goals in mind for themselves. Students often are aiming towards a particular test, project, class, grade point, degree, graduate program, professional school, or career. These are often complemented by other goals such as living a healthy lifestyle, maintaining personal integrity, volunteering, working, nurturing relationships, or growing as a person. It is not unusual for short-term goals to support long-term goals. IV. CONCLUSION Once I have set goals that match my beliefs, values and desires, I should be in position to act on them successfully. However, my motivation can be undermined if I fail to consider my circumstances or if my circumstances change, but my goals don’t. A goal may match my values that I want to earn a degree in Tourism and may be realistically set that I want to do it in 4 years when I began my academic journey, but may need modification and readjustment as time passes. If I earned grades lower than I expected to, I may need to lighten my course load or adjust my work and leisure hours. A loss of interest might mean my need to explore other majors. Changes in relationships or family make-up can also introduce new constraints on my plan. Unfortunately, when circumstances change, students are often unwilling to make related adjustments in their self-expectations. In this case, I as a student rarely perform up to the expectations, become frustrated, and lose motivation. However, motivation and performance can be maintained when personal circumstance is taken into. Students who are willing to redefine their goals to account for their changed circumstances can remain motivated and on the path to success. Motivation, goals, and circumstance are all related to success. I can increase the odds of my success by first, defining what is important to me, establishing goals based on these values, desires, and beliefs, and finally, tailoring my achievement expectations to match my circumstances. If I fail in any of these steps, I will undercut my motivation, fail to work up to my abilities, and diminish my chances of success. V. ANALYSIS Be realistic is setting your goals and always consider your circumstances. When goals aren’t realistic or when circumstances conspire against you, it is important to adjust. A student who comes to college with the goal of expecting to earn a tourism degree in 4 years, but finds the work more difficult than he anticipated may need to adjust his time frame in order to achieve his goal. Likewise, if this same student found that he needed to work to support his college costs or took on greater family responsibilities, it might be similarly necessary for him to adjust his goals as well. When goals are realistic and match desires, you will be motivated. When you’re motivated and work hard towards your goals, you will succeed. When you succeed, your motivation will grow, you will set new goals, and continue to achieve.

Restoration Essay

The creation of man and woman will always stem from the passage in Genesis, where it all narrates how man came into being with the guidance of woman as well. We are familiar with the story of Adam and Eve, something that will forever be our reference when we are asked how many came to be. God is often referred to as the image and likeness of man. But now, we all ask, what was the hand of woman in this essence and to whom was she likened to? Basically, the answer to this is also God himself. We may all ask how this would be, but the facts are simple. God still guides us to this day, and He can also take the form of a mother as well, guiding us and nurturing our every need. Most of us look up to God for support and ask him for guidance and help, but it has never really occurred to us that He is still the one we turn to in hard times. We say God is good and always there for us, the same way that we consider mothers to turn to in times of needs and moral support. Technically speaking, we are born under his wing, and to this day, all we have to do is just recall how man came to be and from there, figure out the same proceedings when we or how people are given life and born in the world today. II.Compare My Wife to the image of God There is no question that God can be likened to my wife. Always there during hard times and helps bring joy by bearing children for our own family nothing would be possible without having her for my partner. Guiding me as well in both bad and good times, my wife is there for me in whatever the case may be. God is always there for us at all times. We just pray and make sure that He hears us through our prayers. Our partners represent him, acting as co-decision makers to be able to go through the challenges of life, rather than going through them alone. My wife guides our off-springs as well, teaching them the beauties of life and what to expect from the world. III.Compare My Mother to the image of God No one else comes close to becoming a good guardian other than my mother. Without her, I would not even be existing today. She has helped in molding me into what I am today, a success in every way. Her teachings have made me wiser and take on the everyday tasks in the more rational way known today. IV. Compare My Sister to The image of God My sister is currently pregnant, and the proper care for her stature is a must. Expected to bear a child after a few months, this is testimony toward the beauty that life gives in the maternal aspect. Women are the usual bearers of children, creating them with their partners. The beauty and the product of the love of two people would bear fruit in the form of a child. God made man because he loved them and wanted them to carry out His will and make the world a better place not only for man but for everyone. IV. What can you do in nursing to promote and restore God’s image to mother’s that you may encounter in the future. In nursing, the proper care given towards patients and needy people is all that matters. Providing the quality level of care in the health and medical aspect is already a consoling factor in its sense, since it is still life that is being cared for. Trying to comfort them and be of assistance, nursing is no doubt about caring and nurturing people in need of attention and pain. Understanding the whole scenario of why nursing is important today can be attributed to the fact that there are people in the world who are in need of medical assistance. God helps us in mind and mysterious ways, and this is something that attention plays as far as nurses are concerned. Aside from doing the necessary duties to ensure the overall comfort that patients around the world require, lending that helping hand towards the needy people of today is already a large step in the direction of how God wants man to live in this world. Like what most people do, diseases, health issues and sicknesses are abounding in the world today. Trying to help the people plagues in such situations is something that nurses can do well to accommodate and provide service to.

Angels Demons Chapter 86-88

86 No light. No sound. The Secret Archives were black. Fear, Langdon now realized, was an intense motivator. Short of breath, he fumbled through the blackness toward the revolving door. He found the button on the wall and rammed his palm against it. Nothing happened. He tried again. The door was dead. Spinning blind, he called out, but his voice emerged strangled. The peril of his predicament suddenly closed in around him. His lungs strained for oxygen as the adrenaline doubled his heart rate. He felt like someone had just punched him in the gut. When he threw his weight into the door, for an instant he thought he felt the door start to turn. He pushed again, seeing stars. Now he realized it was the entire room turning, not the door. Staggering away, Langdon tripped over the base of a rolling ladder and fell hard. He tore his knee against the edge of a book stack. Swearing, he got up and groped for the ladder. He found it. He had hoped it would be heavy wood or iron, but it was aluminum. He grabbed the ladder and held it like a battering ram. Then he ran through the dark at the glass wall. It was closer than he thought. The ladder hit head-on, bouncing off. From the feeble sound of the collision, Langdon knew he was going to need a hell of a lot more than an aluminum ladder to break this glass. When he flashed on the semiautomatic, his hopes surged and then instantly fell. The weapon was gone. Olivetti had relieved him of it in the Pope's office, saying he did not want loaded weapons around with the camerlegno present. It made sense at the time. Langdon called out again, making less sound than the last time. Next he remembered the walkie-talkie the guard had left on the table outside the vault. Why the hell didn't I bring it in! As the purple stars began to dance before his eyes, Langdon forced himself to think. You've been trapped before, he told himself. You survived worse. You were just a kid and you figured it out. The crushing darkness came flooding in. Think! Langdon lowered himself onto the floor. He rolled over on his back and laid his hands at his sides. The first step was to gain control. Relax. Conserve. No longer fighting gravity to pump blood, Langdon's heart began to slow. It was a trick swimmers used to re-oxygenate their blood between tightly scheduled races. There is plenty of air in here, he told himself. Plenty. Now think. He waited, half-expecting the lights to come back on at any moment. They did not. As he lay there, able to breathe better now, an eerie resignation came across him. He felt peaceful. He fought it. You will move, damn it! But where†¦ On Langdon's wrist, Mickey Mouse glowed happily as if enjoying the dark: 9:33 P.M. Half an hour until Fire. Langdon thought it felt a whole hell of a lot later. His mind, instead of coming up with a plan for escape, was suddenly demanding an explanation. Who turned off the power? Was Rocher expanding his search? Wouldn't Olivetti have warned Rocher that I'm in here! Langdon knew at this point it made no difference. Opening his mouth wide and tipping back his head, Langdon pulled the deepest breaths he could manage. Each breath burned a little less than the last. His head cleared. He reeled his thoughts in and forced the gears into motion. Glass walls, he told himself. But damn thick glass. He wondered if any of the books in here were stored in heavy, steel, fireproof file cabinets. Langdon had seen them from time to time in other archives but had seen none here. Besides, finding one in the dark could prove time-consuming. Not that he could lift one anyway, particularly in his present state. How about the examination table? Langdon knew this vault, like the other, had an examination table in the center of the stacks. So what? He knew he couldn't lift it. Not to mention, even if he could drag it, he wouldn't get it far. The stacks were closely packed, the aisles between them far too narrow. The aisles are too narrow†¦ Suddenly, Langdon knew. With a burst of confidence, he jumped to his feet far too fast. Swaying in the fog of a head rush, he reached out in the dark for support. His hand found a stack. Waiting a moment, he forced himself to conserve. He would need all of his strength to do this. Positioning himself against the book stack like a football player against a training sled, he planted his feet and pushed. If I can somehow tip the shelf. But it barely moved. He realigned and pushed again. His feet slipped backward on the floor. The stack creaked but did not move. He needed leverage. Finding the glass wall again, he placed one hand on it to guide him as he raced in the dark toward the far end of the vault. The back wall loomed suddenly, and he collided with it, crushing his shoulder. Cursing, Langdon circled the shelf and grabbed the stack at about eye level. Then, propping one leg on the glass behind him and another on the lower shelves, he started to climb. Books fell around him, fluttering into the darkness. He didn't care. Instinct for survival had long since overridden archival decorum. He sensed his equilibrium was hampered by the total darkness and closed his eyes, coaxing his brain to ignore visual input. He moved faster now. The air felt leaner the higher he went. He scrambled toward the upper shelves, stepping on books, trying to gain purchase, heaving himself upward. Then, like a rock climber conquering a rock face, Langdon grasped the top shelf. Stretching his legs out behind him, he walked his feet up the glass wall until he was almost horizontal. Now or never, Robert, a voice urged. Just like the leg press in the Harvard gym. With dizzying exertion, he planted his feet against the wall behind him, braced his arms and chest against the stack, and pushed. Nothing happened. Fighting for air, he repositioned and tried again, extending his legs. Ever so slightly, the stack moved. He pushed again, and the stack rocked forward an inch or so and then back. Langdon took advantage of the motion, inhaling what felt like an oxygenless breath and heaving again. The shelf rocked farther. Like a swing set, he told himself. Keep the rhythm. A little more. Langdon rocked the shelf, extending his legs farther with each push. His quadriceps burned now, and he blocked the pain. The pendulum was in motion. Three more pushes, he urged himself. It only took two. There was an instant of weightless uncertainty. Then, with a thundering of books sliding off the shelves, Langdon and the shelf were falling forward. Halfway to the ground, the shelf hit the stack next to it. Langdon hung on, throwing his weight forward, urging the second shelf to topple. There was a moment of motionless panic, and then, creaking under the weight, the second stack began to tip. Langdon was falling again. Like enormous dominoes, the stacks began to topple, one after another. Metal on metal, books tumbling everywhere. Langdon held on as his inclined stack bounced downward like a ratchet on a jack. He wondered how many stacks there were in all. How much would they weigh? The glass at the far end was thick†¦ Langdon's stack had fallen almost to the horizontal when he heard what he was waiting for – a different kind of collision. Far off. At the end of the vault. The sharp smack of metal on glass. The vault around him shook, and Langdon knew the final stack, weighted down by the others, had hit the glass hard. The sound that followed was the most unwelcome sound Langdon had ever heard. Silence. There was no crashing of glass, only the resounding thud as the wall accepted the weight of the stacks now propped against it. He lay wide-eyed on the pile of books. Somewhere in the distance there was a creaking. Langdon would have held his breath to listen, but he had none left to hold. One second. Two†¦ Then, as he teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, Langdon heard a distant yielding†¦ a ripple spidering outward through the glass. Suddenly, like a cannon, the glass exploded. The stack beneath Langdon collapsed to the floor. Like welcome rain on a desert, shards of glass tinkled downward in the dark. With a great sucking hiss, the air gushed in. Thirty seconds later, in the Vatican Grottoes, Vittoria was standing before a corpse when the electronic squawk of a walkie-talkie broke the silence. The voice blaring out sounded short of breath. â€Å"This is Robert Langdon! Can anyone hear me?† Vittoria looked up. Robert! She could not believe how much she suddenly wished he were there. The guards exchanged puzzled looks. One took a radio off his belt. â€Å"Mr. Langdon? You are on channel three. The commander is waiting to hear from you on channel one.† â€Å"I know he's on channel one, damn it! I don't want to speak to him. I want the camerlegno. Now! Somebody find him for me.† In the obscurity of the Secret Archives, Langdon stood amidst shattered glass and tried to catch his breath. He felt a warm liquid on his left hand and knew he was bleeding. The camerlegno's voice spoke at once, startling Langdon. â€Å"This is Camerlegno Ventresca. What's going on?† Langdon pressed the button, his heart still pounding. â€Å"I think somebody just tried to kill me!† There was a silence on the line. Langdon tried to calm himself. â€Å"I also know where the next killing is going to be.† The voice that came back was not the camerlegno's. It was Commander Olivetti's: â€Å"Mr. Langdon. Do not speak another word.† 87 Langdon's watch, now smeared with blood, read 9:41 P.M. as he ran across the Courtyard of the Belvedere and approached the fountain outside the Swiss Guard security center. His hand had stopped bleeding and now felt worse than it looked. As he arrived, it seemed everyone convened at once – Olivetti, Rocher, the camerlegno, Vittoria, and a handful of guards. Vittoria hurried toward him immediately. â€Å"Robert, you're hurt.† Before Langdon could answer, Olivetti was before him. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, I'm relieved you're okay. I'm sorry about the crossed signals in the archives.† â€Å"Crossed signals?† Langdon demanded. â€Å"You knew damn well – â€Å" â€Å"It was my fault,† Rocher said, stepping forward, sounding contrite. â€Å"I had no idea you were in the archives. Portions of our white zones are cross-wired with that building. We were extending our search. I'm the one who killed power. If I had known†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Robert,† Vittoria said, taking his wounded hand in hers and looking it over, â€Å"the Pope was poisoned. The Illuminati killed him.† Langdon heard the words, but they barely registered. He was saturated. All he could feel was the warmth of Vittoria's hands. The camerlegno pulled a silk handkerchief from his cassock and handed it to Langdon so he could clean himself. The man said nothing. His green eyes seemed filled with a new fire. â€Å"Robert,† Vittoria pressed, â€Å"you said you found where the next cardinal is going to be killed?† Langdon felt flighty. â€Å"I do, it's at the – â€Å" â€Å"No,† Olivetti interrupted. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, when I asked you not to speak another word on the walkie-talkie, it was for a reason.† He turned to the handful of assembled Swiss Guards. â€Å"Excuse us, gentlemen.† The soldiers disappeared into the security center. No indignity. Only compliance. Olivetti turned back to the remaining group. â€Å"As much as it pains me to say this, the murder of our Pope is an act that could only have been accomplished with help from within these walls. For the good of all, we can trust no one. Including our guards.† He seemed to be suffering as he spoke the words. Rocher looked anxious. â€Å"Inside collusion implies – â€Å" â€Å"Yes,† Olivetti said. â€Å"The integrity of your search is compromised. And yet it is a gamble we must take. Keep looking.† Rocher looked like he was about to say something, thought better of it, and left. The camerlegno inhaled deeply. He had not said a word yet, and Langdon sensed a new rigor in the man, as if a turning point had been reached. â€Å"Commander?† The camerlegno's tone was impermeable. â€Å"I am going to break conclave.† Olivetti pursed his lips, looking dour. â€Å"I advise against it. We still have two hours and twenty minutes.† â€Å"A heartbeat.† Olivetti's tone was now challenging â€Å"What do you intend to do? Evacuate the cardinals single-handedly?† â€Å"I intend to save this church with whatever power God has given me. How I proceed is no longer your concern.† Olivetti straightened. â€Å"Whatever you intend to do†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused. â€Å"I do not have the authority to restrain you. Particularly in light of my apparent failure as head of security. I ask only that you wait. Wait twenty minutes†¦ until after ten o'clock. If Mr. Langdon's information is correct, I may still have a chance to catch this assassin. There is still a chance to preserve protocol and decorum.† â€Å"Decorum?† The camerlegno let out a choked laugh. â€Å"We have long since passed propriety, commander. In case you hadn't noticed, this is war.† A guard emerged from the security center and called out to the camerlegno, â€Å"Signore, I just got word we have detained the BBC reporter, Mr. Glick.† The camerlegno nodded. â€Å"Have both he and his camerawoman meet me outside the Sistine Chapel.† Olivetti's eyes widened. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"Twenty minutes, commander. That's all I'm giving you.† Then he was gone. When Olivetti's Alpha Romeo tore out of Vatican City, this time there was no line of unmarked cars following him. In the back seat, Vittoria bandaged Langdon's hand with a first-aid kit she'd found in the glove box. Olivetti stared straight ahead. â€Å"Okay, Mr. Langdon. Where are we going?† 88 Even with its siren now affixed and blaring, Olivetti's Alpha Romeo seemed to go unnoticed as it rocketed across the bridge into the heart of old Rome. All the traffic was moving in the other direction, toward the Vatican, as if the Holy See had suddenly become the hottest entertainment in Rome. Langdon sat in the backseat, the questions whipping through his mind. He wondered about the killer, if they would catch him this time, if he would tell them what they needed to know, if it was already too late. How long before the camerlegno told the crowd in St. Peter's Square they were in danger? The incident in the vault still nagged. A mistake. Olivetti never touched the brakes as he snaked the howling Alpha Romeo toward the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria. Langdon knew on any other day his knuckles would have been white. At the moment, however, he felt anesthetized. Only the throbbing in his hand reminded him where he was. Overhead, the siren wailed. Nothing like telling him we're coming, Langdon thought. And yet they were making incredible time. He guessed Olivetti would kill the siren as they drew nearer. Now with a moment to sit and reflect, Langdon felt a tinge of amazement as the news of the Pope's murder finally registered in his mind. The thought was inconceivable, and yet somehow it seemed a perfectly logical event. Infiltration had always been the Illuminati powerbase – rearrangements of power from within. And it was not as if Popes had never been murdered. Countless rumors of treachery abounded, although with no autopsy, none was ever confirmed. Until recently. Academics not long ago had gotten permission to X-ray the tomb of Pope Celestine V, who had allegedly died at the hands of his overeager successor, Boniface VIII. The researchers had hoped the X-ray might reveal some small hint of foul play – a broken bone perhaps. Incredibly, the X-ray had revealed a ten-inch nail driven into the Pope's skull. Langdon now recalled a series of news clippings fellow Illuminati buffs had sent him years ago. At first he had thought the clippings were a prank, so he'd gone to the Harvard microfiche collection to confirm the articles were authentic. Incredibly, they were. He now kept them on his bulletin board as examples of how even respectable news organizations sometimes got carried away with Illuminati paranoia. Suddenly, the media's suspicions seemed a lot less paranoid. Langdon could see the articles clearly in his mind†¦ The British Broadcasting Corporation June 14, 1998 Pope John Paul I, who died in 1978, fell victim to a plot by the P2 Masonic Lodge†¦ The secret society P2 decided to murder John Paul I when it saw he was determined to dismiss the American Archbishop Paul Marcinkus as President of the Vatican Bank. The Bank had been implicated in shady financial deals with the Masonic Lodge†¦ The New York Times August 24, 1998 Why was the late John Paul I wearing his day shirt in bed? Why was it torn? The questions don't stop there. No medical investigations were made. Cardinal Villot forbade an autopsy on the grounds that no Pope was ever given a postmortem. And John Paul's medicines mysteriously vanished from his bedside, as did his glasses, slippers and his last will and testament. London Daily Mail August 27, 1998 †¦ a plot including a powerful, ruthless and illegal Masonic lodge with tentacles stretching into the Vatican. The cellular in Vittoria's pocket rang, thankfully erasing the memories from Langdon's mind. Vittoria answered, looking confused as to who might be calling her. Even from a few feet away, Langdon recognized the laserlike voice on the phone. â€Å"Vittoria? This is Maximilian Kohler. Have you found the antimatter yet?† â€Å"Max? You're okay?† â€Å"I saw the news. There was no mention of CERN or the antimatter. This is good. What is happening?† â€Å"We haven't located the canister yet. The situation is complex. Robert Langdon has been quite an asset. We have a lead on catching the man assassinating cardinals. Right now we are headed – â€Å" â€Å"Ms. Vetra,† Olivetti interrupted. â€Å"You've said enough.† She covered the receiver, clearly annoyed. â€Å"Commander, this is the president of CERN. Certainly he has a right to – â€Å" â€Å"He has a right,† Olivetti snapped, â€Å"to be here handling this situation. You're on an open cellular line. You've said enough.† Vittoria took a deep breath. â€Å"Max?† â€Å"I may have some information for you,† Max said. â€Å"About your father†¦ I may know who he told about the antimatter.† Vittoria's expression clouded. â€Å"Max, my father said he told no one.† â€Å"I'm afraid, Vittoria, your father did tell someone. I need to check some security records. I will be in touch soon.† The line went dead. Vittoria looked waxen as she returned the phone to her pocket. â€Å"You okay?† Langdon asked. Vittoria nodded, her trembling fingers revealing the lie. â€Å"The church is on Piazza Barberini,† Olivetti said, killing the siren and checking his watch. â€Å"We have nine minutes.† When Langdon had first realized the location of the third marker, the position of the church had rung some distant bell for him. Piazza Barberini. Something about the name was familiar†¦ something he could not place. Now Langdon realized what it was. The piazza was the sight of a controversial subway stop. Twenty years ago, construction of the subway terminal had created a stir among art historians who feared digging beneath Piazza Barberini might topple the multiton obelisk that stood in the center. City planners had removed the obelisk and replaced it with a small fountain called the Triton. In Bernini's day, Langdon now realized, Piazza Barberini had contained an obelisk! Whatever doubts Langdon had felt that this was the location of the third marker now totally evaporated. A block from the piazza, Olivetti turned into an alley, gunned the car halfway down, and skidded to a stop. He pulled off his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and loaded his weapon. â€Å"We can't risk your being recognized,† he said. â€Å"You two were on television. I want you across the piazza, out of sight, watching the front entrance. I'm going in the back.† He produced a familiar pistol and handed it to Langdon. â€Å"Just in case.† Langdon frowned. It was the second time today he had been handed the gun. He slid it into his breast pocket. As he did, he realized he was still carrying the folio from Diagramma. He couldn't believe he had forgotten to leave it behind. He pictured the Vatican Curator collapsing in spasms of outrage at the thought of this priceless artifact being packed around Rome like some tourist map. Then Langdon thought of the mess of shattered glass and strewn documents that he'd left behind in the archives. The curator had other problems. If the archives even survive the night†¦ Olivetti got out of the car and motioned back up the alley. â€Å"The piazza is that way. Keep your eyes open and don't let yourselves be seen.† He tapped the phone on his belt. â€Å"Ms. Vetra, let's retest our auto dial.† Vittoria removed her phone and hit the auto dial number she and Olivetti had programmed at the Pantheon. Olivetti's phone vibrated in silent-ring mode on his belt. The commander nodded. â€Å"Good. If you see anything, I want to know.† He cocked his weapon. â€Å"I'll be inside waiting. This heathen is mine.† At that moment, very nearby, another cellular phone was ringing. The Hassassin answered. â€Å"Speak.† â€Å"It is I,† the voice said. â€Å"Janus.† The Hassassin smiled. â€Å"Hello, master.† â€Å"Your position may be known. Someone is coming to stop you.† â€Å"They are too late. I have already made the arrangements here.† â€Å"Good. Make sure you escape alive. There is work yet to be done.† â€Å"Those who stand in my way will die.† â€Å"Those who stand in your way are knowledgeable.† â€Å"You speak of an American scholar?† â€Å"You are aware of him?† The Hassassin chuckled. â€Å"Cool-tempered but naive. He spoke to me on the phone earlier. He is with a female who seems quite the opposite.† The killer felt a stirring of arousal as he recalled the fiery temperament of Leonardo Vetra's daughter. There was a momentary silence on the line, the first hesitation the Hassassin had ever sensed from his Illuminati master. Finally, Janus spoke. â€Å"Eliminate them if need be.† The killer smiled. â€Å"Consider it done.† He felt a warm anticipation spreading through his body. Although the woman I may keep as a prize.