Disabilities Websites: A review

Children and individuals with disabilities have unique challenges. Parental dispositions toward their special child are crucial to the child’s progress in their individual growth and development. Fortunately, great strides in researches and/or studies in a specific disability had been made and implemented in private and public sectors. The global internet community keeps abreast with the latest breakthroughs also. The following review of choiced websites has their own strengths and weaknesses as they try to be of help not only to the physically or mentally challenged themselves, but especially to their caregivers – the parents.Discussion A. Provide a brief summary of each website. 1. Blind website Features: Blind Resource center a. Information about blindness b. Newsletter for account members c. Education and development d. Independent movement and travel- workshops or seminars designed for greater independence and mobility. e. Sports, games, and travel Description/Disc ussion: This is considered a good resource center for families with a blind child or children. It provides current advances or innovations meant to enhance the capabilities and minimize difficulties of the blind.For the curious and the people who are just embarking onto becoming a volunteer or potential caregiver for the blind, the cyber site provides an introductory portion to describe what it likes to be blind, broad and specific definitions of blindness; some limitations that typify their experiences with life. Moreover, they provide rich resources for the blind individual including educational opportunities, workshops and/or seminars for improvement of their welfare; their adjustments with society at large. Comments/Recommendations:Children with this kind of disability will greatly be enriched with the resources of this website. Personally, in my own opinion, it has reached the minimum requirements for a website that somehow contributes to a certain extent, something to the targ et population. However, I should say that with regards aesthetic values, the website can do much improvement in enhancing its attractiveness with regards style. Although blind individuals are their primary clients, there many curious visitors who may visit them who will benefit from their resources and attractiveness in terms of web appearance are of great value.Secondly, I have not noticed a â€Å"BrowseAloud† component similar with that found in the NDCCD website, which is vital specifically for the blind person. Thirdly, for teachers who handle this kind of job, I think, the website should provide for such a category; not just for parents and the children with the disability. Teachers can still benefit from accessing the website though (http://www. blindchildren. org/). 2. Deaf website Description: American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) Features: Resources a. Membership Privileges b. Convention c. Magazine d. Other resources: â€Å"1. ) Communication Access.We believe deaf or hard-of-hearing children are entitled to full communication access in their home, school, and community. We also believe that language development, respect for the Deaf, and access to deaf and hard-of-hearing role models are important to assure optimal intellectual, social, and emotional development. 2. ) Child. We believe there should be access to identification and intervention by qualified providers, family involvement, and educational opportunities equal to those provided for hearing children.The goal should be to provide children what they need in order to become self-supporting and fulfilled adults. . ) Parent. We affirm that parents have the right and responsibility to be primary decision-makers and advocates. For this role, parents need education, access to information, and support. † Description/Discussion: This is a good website with various features both for the parents and the deaf child with different features as promoted by the website such as standard me mbership privileges, and convention/workshops. Comments/Recommendations: In terms of its features, the website still lacks a lot of amenities, like more activities for the deaf child.Although, â€Å"physical appeal† is already evident in the way people behind the web had put their efforts into, there are still rooms for improvement. It looks simple and a lot more resources for parents should be added. Recommended for teachers with students who have hearing disabilities, although with some limitations because the primary recipients are only for the parents and their children with the disability (http://www. deafchildren. org/)National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. Features: a. Multilingual b. Provision of a â€Å"BrowseAloud† text reader. . Government policies update on disabilities d. Other Government funded resources and researches Description: Excellent resource for the parents and children with a variety of disabilities, especially with its â €Å"BrowseAloud† text reader, accessibility for those with disabilities is enhanced. Provision for funding and update of government projects toward the disabled is also posted periodically in the website. This is important for people/parents or families concerned, and also for advocates. Teachers can benefit a lot from the website. Comment/Recommendation:Understandably, this is one website that many concerned parties are significantly benefited, hence, highly recommended to the curious and those who need resources for research, etc. There is still room for upgrading and development though when it comes to attractive appeal and other resources. The website should provide more pictures and activities update. B. Compare and contrast the 3 selected websites. Given the description and comments, obviously, the third website is the most advanced or developed from among the three where the criteria on appeal, resources for concerned parties are concerned (http://www. ichcy. org/(Nati onal Dissemination Center for Students with Disabilities).Discuss what you found to be relevant and useful to you as a teacher and what you did not. As a teacher, the first two websites are more basic, while the third can be classified as more advanced than the first two; hence I derive much help and assistance in terms of my professional objectives in career and educational requirements from the NDCCD website. I highly recommend the NDCCD website to my colleagues. They will profit from the three websites, but especially in the NDCCD cyber net compared to the other two.

How does Moliere use irony as a tool of satire in Tartuffe? Essay

Satire is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a â€Å"literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn. † Aside from this definition, satire can also be described as a particular literary way to possibly improve humanity and the society. In Tartuffe, Moliere censures and ridicules the human behavior and features, though Moliere did these to develop his characters’ faults rather than destroying them. In a particular scene on the play, Moliere uses irony to satirize the character of Tartuffe. The play utilizes dramatic irony through Damis or Orgon concealing inside a closet or under the table while Elmire is having a conversation with Tartuffe. There are two instances of this irony. The first one was when Damis was hiding in a closet. Through this, Moliere gives the audience a glimpse of the true character of Tartuffe. Look more:  incongruity satire essay In Act II: Scene 3 of the play, while Damis was hiding, Tartuffe said â€Å"Though pious, I am none the less a man†. Also in this scene, the audience can clearly see that Tartuffe is harassing Elmire. The second instance of dramatic irony that fully exposed Tartuffe’s mask and unveiled his true character was during the fourth act when Orgon was hiding under the table while Tartuffe and Elmire were having a conversation. Believing that only the two of them was in the house, Tartuffe asked Elmire to be his â€Å"pupil† and he will teach him on how to conquer hesitation. Through this scene, the audience yet again witnesses the hypocrisy of Tartuffe. Through the use of dramatic irony, Moliere shows the audience that we can not always rely our decisions on everything based on what we only see. Moliere also depicts in his work Tartuffe that it is possible that someone we know is a complete different person than what he appears to be.

Electrical Engineering Essay

1. Introduction Engineers have the potential of developing technology that will be used by hundreds, thousands, even millions of people. Since so many people are using this technology, it has to be safe and it has to benefit one population without making another suffer. As the engineers design new technology, they are the ones that have an ethical responsibility to ensure that it will not endanger lives or cause any suffering. The purpose of the essay is to explore the specific issues that face electrical engineers. The primary focus in this essay will be addressing the question: how can an issue be an ethical concern if it does not directly endanger human life or society? This is particularly important as in contrast to other branches of engineering, the moral issues surrounding electrical engineering do not usually affect a consumer’s health or lead to injury or death. A civil engineering dilemma could involve a building collapsing or roads falling apart leading to direct death or injury, s uch as the â€Å"L’Ambiance Plaza Collapse†1 in Connecticut, or the â€Å"Sampoong Department Store Collapse†2 in Seoul. However, as discussed in Fleddermann (2000)3, the problems faced by electrical engineers are no less important, and that the engineers in this discipline should be aware of the particular ethical dilemmas of this field. The field of electrical engineering covers a wide range of technology from power generation and transmission lines to integrated circuits used in computers. This essay will outline, using real-life examples, three major concerns in electrical engineering and explain how they impact the world on an international scale. The current solutions to the ethical dilemmas will be evaluated using ethical analysis, and alternative solutions will be provided. The following scenarios are an excellent illustration of the ethical issues that electrical engineers have to face and opens up a unique discussion about their responsibilities in both a national and international setting. Issue 1 – Quality of product vs. commercial success Electrical engineers are involved in the manufacturing of everyday household appliances. The circuitry that is designed is used in products that are sold by the manufacturer. Manufacturer’s can prioritise the commercial success of their product over the actual quality. This can result in a conflict of interest between manufacturer and engineer since the manufacturer can be  financially motivated, whereas an engineer is supposed to hold paramount the welfare of public in their professional duties (engineering code of ethics)5. An example of this is the manufacturing of the Intel microprocessor in 19944. The microprocessor had a flaw in it that meant that a regularly used operation by users would give the incorrect results. The engineers knew of this problem, and rectified it for future version. Despite this, Intel continued selling the product. This error was found by users, and Intel decided it would only replace microprocessor with a good one to people who could demonstrate that they needed it. Should Intel have provided a replacement regardless? Since Intel was aware of the problem, was it unethical to withhold this information from the users? If this information had been given, and warnings had been included, does this solve the ethical problems for the company? According to Intel, since the error was so minor it would not affect the majority of users. However the few people would have ‘suffered’ from this flaw could have been rectified if Intel had offered to replace their microprocessor for free. This is what Intel did do and so according to utilitarianism principles their response was ethically sound. However, what was immoral was the fact that they did not bring up this issue themselves, and that they continued manufacturing and selling the product without warnings. They did not respect the dignity of their consumers enough to let them be informed consumers. By applying Kantian ethics, one can determine that Intel did not respect the dignity of their customers, and was merely using them as a means to an end. This was to maximise their profit margin by exhausting their faulty stock. There are a number of alternative solutions that Intel could have taken. Intel could have continued selling their product with a warning label so that further customer’s would be aware of flaw. A better solution would have been if Intel discontinued making this microprocessor and told their customers of the flaw straight away, whilst also offering a replacement chip. Issue 2 – experimental nature of electrical. The technology used by engineers to design equipment is complex, and outside the understanding of a majority of general consumers. In addition to this, the lasting effect of some of these technologies is unknown. Since electrical technology is designed on such a small scale, there can be  unknown effects due to our limited understanding of quantum physics. This raises an interesting issue that has sparked debate. Can we use technology that we don’t fully understand, but use on a daily basis? Is it safe to use this technology considering that there may be a potential risk that we have yet to comprehend? The nature of electrical engineering can be somewhat experimental. Transmission lines are used every day to transfer energy into our homes. There are inconclusive theories6 that suggests that these transmission lines which emit low-frequency electromagnetic radiation can be harmful to the general population. This ranges from causing headaches and muscles fatigue to an increased risk of cancer6. Is an engineer obliged to consider these potential risks in their design, even if there is little proof or knowledge into the lasting effects? Currently transmission lines are designed so that they are around 5-10 metres off the ground, this is both for efficiency as well as to remove them from the reach of the general public, avoiding electrocution. However, not many transmission lines have shielding to reduce or eliminate the effects of electromagnetic fields, as there is no quantitative evidence to suggest that shielding is necessary. If the observational theories were proven to be true, however unlikely, that would mean that the general public have been placed in a position of possible harm. In the unlikely case this was true, does the small probability of this being true outweigh the seriousness of the potential harm (cancer). An engineer should be morally responsible at all times, and so an engineer should employ some sort of safety measure. Even if there is only a tiny potential for transmission lines to have lasting negative effects, there should be methods used to combat this threat. This is applying contractualism principles. If engineers themselves believed that they could be exposed to these harmful effects, and knew that they could do something about it, they would integrate some shielding into their transmission line design. Issue 3 – sustainability and power generation, impact of cheap labour Power generation and sustainability is a key concern for all people in the world. Electrical engineers are a vital part of this global machine concerned with sustainability. Engineers primarily concern themselves with providing the most efficient means of power generation and distribution, but this can cause negative effects on the global community. Can a balance be achieved? Is it possible for an electrical engineer to be  morally responsible at all time? Our current primary energy source is dependent on a limited resource, coal and fossil fuels7. The utilisation of these materials results in emissions and waste that are harmful to the environment. Since an electrical engineer is only concerned with the production of energy and not of its disposal is this even an issue they should concern themselves with? It’s not just up to one person to be ethically responsible. An engineer is only a small part of a network of morally autonomous agents. An engineer can apply virtue ethics or kantian ethics, and create awareness of environmental issues. An engineer should have a virtuous nature and consider all areas of society that they can impact. If an engineer applies Kantianism, their actions would involve trying to tell their managers that they are using the Earth’s limited resources as a means to an end, and the environment gets negatively affected by this. If an engineer raises concern about environmental issues, then they are ethically sound. Even if the situation does not change due to the opinions of higher up people, the engineer has done all that they can be expected to. Cheap Labour: An example of our global effect is found in a youtube video8 where cheap child labour is used to break down parts in a circuit board for further use. The toxic fumes emitted from deconstructing the components are extremely hazardous and can cause lasting health consequences. Companies source labour to developing countries because it is an extremely economical alternative. This is primarily due to developing nations not having as stringent workplace health and safety requirements, and also being able to obtain workers who would work for a much lower wage. Essentially this action will achieve the same outcome, for a lesser cost. These companies clearly priorities profit margins over social wellbeing. Is this an electrical engineers concern? An electrical engineer is part of the company that makes the decision to employ cheap labour, and so they can be in a position to influence this decision. A number of options are available. Employ 1st world employees to perform the same job locally This will mean that there is a higher cost for the company. However, this will take away work from third work countries. Cheap labour will no longer  be exploited, but the people of the country will no longer have employment, which could have serious roll-over effects on the society and economy. A better solution would be: Employ 3rd world employees, and provide better wages and working conditions. The major benefit of this is that a company can still provide work for the global community, while improving the working conditions and economies of the developing nations, rather than exploiting them. The downside is extra cost put into educating employees and providing good equipment to apply process. Both scenarios involve extra money input from companies, resulting in loss of profits, but this is weighed against the safety of the people contracted to the company. Value of human life is held paramount here which satisfies engineering code of ethics. References 1. http://www.engineering.com/Library/ArticlesPage/tabid/85/ArticleID/168/LAmbiance-Plazza.aspx 2. http://www.hazardcards.com/card.php?id=8 3. http://www.ele.uri.edu/courses/ele400/f12/cases.pdf 4. B. Crothers, â€Å"Pentium woes continue,† Infoworld, vol. 16, no. 48, pp. a. 1–18, Nov. 18, 1994. 5. http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au//sites/default/files/shado/About%20Us/Overview/Governance/CodeOfEthics2000.pdf 6. http://www.mcw.edu/radiationoncology/ourdepartment/radiationbiology/Power-Lines-and-Cancer-FAQs.htm#1 7. http://www.dg.history.vt.edu/ch2/impact.html 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeDw6yHQVbI

The Philosophy of Manifest Destiny Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Philosophy of Manifest Destiny - Essay Example It was the driving force behind the fast growth of America from west to east. The idea of Manifest Destiny was promoted in newspapers and other media. In political circles, the Manifest Destiny meant that the American government was destined to launch uninterrupted political influence traversing the entire North American continent. The American people used it to extend political control over frontier lands hence taking control of European powers and Native Americans. The idea of manifest destiny also involved a component of religion. The first puritans inhabited New England and had a feeling that God had â€Å"destined† them to establish a religious, political and moral country. Although the philosophy of manifest destiny has become history, the sense of purpose associated with it has persisted in the American society. Similarly, a strong secular element of its vestiges has a principle of American foreign policy. Though manifest destiny marks a past era in the history of Ameri ca it is perceived as the main cause of imperialism in America today. How the Ideas of Manifest Destiny Reflect Certain Racial attitudes Prevalent in the Country in the Mid 19th Century Racism is considered to be a modern idea. The first traces of racism began in America with the establishment of the race-based slave system. The ideas of manifest destiny and the white man’s burden, both capture the notion of racial differences and civilization. In respect of Manifest Destiny, the notion of racial inferiority has been institutionalized in the laws and government policies. As a result, racial definitions have also changed with time (University Microfilms International 34). The idea of Manifest Destiny, which initially had seemed holy, came to be proved as more of a bomb wrapped in Idealism. This is because it later sparked a lot of concern among the Americans. For instance, the manifest destiny had stern results for the American Indians as continental expansion targeted the Nat ive Americans who were to occupy the land. The Indians were encouraged to sell their land to the Native Americans and become civilized. This meant pushing away Indians who were not supposed to live like the whites. During the Manifest Destiny period, the idea of Indians selling their land referred to as Indian removal, became more prominent. Hence, the racial rhetoric went high during the manifest destiny era and it was explained by Francis Parkman. Parkman acknowledged that the Indians’destiny was to melt and disappear before the expanding waves of Anglo-American power which went unchanged and unopposed. Why Tension Increased Between the American Settlers in Texas and the Mexican Government Texas was originally Spanish land which borders the United States. It had few Spanish settlers despite it being colonized by the Spanish. Tejanos were the most popular in that land and they were the first people to live in Texas. Stephen Austin, who was a bankrupt miner, was granted permi ssion by the Spanish to establish a colony in Texas. Soon after Austin reached Texas, Mexico became independent leading to Austin’s initial colony becoming worthless. He later asked for land from the Mexicans and was given it on condition that its settlers were to become Mexican citizens and Catholics as well.  Ã‚  

Strategic Planning Framework Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Planning Framework - Research Paper Example up to the standards as the company is losing its grip over its market share as well as the position it had achieved earlier in the market based on the quality of its products and services. The two main reasons behind these situations are: 1. High employee turnover rate; 2. Decreased customer satisfaction. Let us discuss these problems in some detail in order to know how these problems are affecting the overall business of the company. 1. High Employee Turnover Rate As Beam (n.d.) states, â€Å"employee turnover is the process of replacing one worker with another for any reason† (p. 1). High employee turnover means that the company is not able to retain its employees. It is a fact that experienced employees yield higher levels of productivity as compared to employees who join the company as fresh employees. The reasons behind high employee turnover ratio are usually improper employee recruitment and lack of a proper incentive plan. When we inquired the managers of NexGen, we ca me to know that they had started hiring less experienced employees in order to cut down the cost of retaining experienced employees. They also took this step as the result of some resignations from their key employees. However, this strategy of the company is proving unsuccessful because new employees are not able to show good performance, and their managers fire them from their jobs after a very short span of time. Another reason that we came to know through analysis was the lack of a proper incentive plan to retain high performing employees. The incentive plan could have motivated the employees to remain associated with the company instead of resigning from their positions. A couple of people who had worked for the company earlier revealed that the company did not use to reward them for their... We would recommend the managers of the company to implement all solutions without any delay if they want to succeed in this current downscale economy. Although the solutions may take some time in proper implementation, the process should be started right away in order to save the company from bearing more loss. For example, the hiring of skilled employees may take a couple of months, but the effects on the company will be long lasting. Similarly, implementation of an incentive plan would need a proper financial analysis. Managers of the company would have to analyze all financial factors before designing the plan in order to save the company from suffering extra costs of developing and implementing the incentive plan. Implementation of a quality management system also needs planning. Managers of the company need to set guidelines and train employees to follow those rules while developing any new product. Introduction of after-sale service plan can be done right away as no time-taking planning is needed to take such steps. The managers just need to hire some outdoor service employees to implement this step.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 69

Assignment Example The Hutu and Tutsi practiced different economic activities. The Hutus were farmers while the Tutsis were herders. Before the mid-nineteenth century, both communities had plenty of land for farming and grazing, however, the land became scarce as the population of the Rwandese increased (7). At one time, the country was the most densely populated in the whole of Africa. This overpopulation put a strain on the scarce land resources available in the country. The two communities started competing for the little land, with Tutsi wanting it for herding while the Hutus wanted to use it to grow crops. This competition escalated to tribal tensions which resulted in the 1994 genocide (9). Another reason given for the genocide was the way in which the Tutsi aristocracy treated the Hutu. This became a problem when the country’s Belgian colonizers treated the Tutsis with favoritism making the Hutus more like second class citizens (14). However, at the time of independence, the Belgians reversed their favoritism and now started supporting the Hutus in administration positions. This caused a lot of tensions between the two communities (15). The tensions were escalated by an economic turmoil and food shortages in the early 90s. In April 1994, the Rwandese president died after his plane was short down and this was the catalyst that prompted the unfortunate bloodbath that left hundreds of thousands dead Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 135 Assignment Example PRO stands for Public Relations Officer who handles all queries related to press so that image and reputation of company remains well protected. 2. In IT department, majority of the time people are exchanging IT terminologies that are not understood by employees and customers. There are some frequently used terminologies such as ERP in organizations that stand for Enterprise Resource Planning system that is responsible for handling all resource allocation tasks within the organization. 3. In Human Resource department, many laws are mentioned in the rules and regulations book so that employees are treated fairly such as MWA (Minimum Wages Act), EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity), LEP (Limited English Proficiency) Law, EDA (Employees with Disabilities Act) and many more. These laws are assumed to be understood by everyone and it is important for employees to gather information about them (HR Laws, 2012; LEP, 2010). In order to make sure that everyone has clear understanding about key terminologies so that there is no confusion for everyone, it is important for organizations to circulate a list of departmental factoids along with details about them so that they are able to ensure that everyone is on the same ground and business operations will be conducted smoothly. If employees have any confusion, then they should freely contact their supervisor who will provide them the right guidance to have a clear understanding about organization’s key terms that are exchanged among employees (HR Laws, 2012). Therefore, departmental factoids should be discussed extensively so that there are no problems in communication within the

Leadership for Change & Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Leadership for Change & Innovation - Essay Example Leadership for Change & Innovati Clear specification of direction and goals is a key determinant of change and innovation. This enables employees to be informed about the organization objectives properly which in turn allows them to align their personal or career oriented objectives with that of the organization objectives (Mackenzie 345-428). By doing so, employees are able to engage thoroughly with the company thus they obtain the flexibility to think creatively thereby paving a way for innovation. The field of leadership has been researched extensively by academic scholars who have introduced several unique yet effective leadership styles that encourage change and innovation. A considerable proportion of researchers have also researched on the disparities between the leadership styles and their implications on the performance of companies. This has enabled world leaders to analyse their leadership styles and make appropriate modifications according to the situation of their job responsibilities. In this particular researcher, the researcher is conducting a self reflection of the leadership style employed while his/her experience working with an oil company. By doing so the researcher endeavours to highlight the drawbacks of his/her leadership style and at the same time pin point the alternative leadership approaches which could have been adopted under those circumstances. In that way the researcher will be able to articulate a plan of development thereby formulating the necess ary steps that can be taken in order to develop his/her leadership style.

Accounting Ethics and Impact on Business Performance Term Paper

Accounting Ethics and Impact on Business Performance - Term Paper Example This paper seeks to explain the relevance and need to embrace these ethical practices and their impact on the general business performance. Accounting ethics are moral values that govern the profession of accounting. They can also be described as judgments that apply in course of undertaking accounting tasks (Saleemi, 2002). These ethics have become accepted globally by government agencies and companies and help instill some degree of discipline both at organization level as well as employee level. Embracing these ethics cannot be ignored at this time of global economic crisis caused by malicious employees who collude with others and form cartels that have ripped off organizations and government resources leading to complete collapse or closure of once profit-making companies and organizations. Driven by the need to earn profits, an organization should also strive to ensure that shareholders’ interests are met. These interests vary among individual shareholders and as such acc ounting ethics in an organization are paramount in meeting these. It is with regard of its importance in controlling and monitoring the accounting profession that this paper concurs with adherence to accounting ethics. Accounting Ethics Lead to Better Management and Profitability There are shareholders whose interest is in the capital gains from the company. Pandey (2003) states that if the motive behind investing in a company is driven on capital gains, then the shareholders are likely to have a keen interest in the dividend policy of the organization. Accounting ethics in this case would strive to ensure proper reporting of the accounting statement. Alternately, there are another group of stakeholders or investors who are mostly concerned with a company’s management style and hence would demand that accountants have the necessary skills to help them undertake their task in the most professional way. All government bodies and companies have set ethical measures for the pract ice of this profession. These include competence, confidentiality, integrity, objectivity, timeliness, full disclosure, materiality and many others which are to look in the discussion. At the height of growing concerns of whether or not ethics play a role in companies’ management, the duty to ensure that all works well rests with the management. Everything progresses or fails due to the management and as such it is paramount to ensure that all ethical practices begin with them (Carbone, 2012). Business is not all about making profits but also how the company is perceived in the general business environment (Belkaoui, 1992). Most of the organizations are driven by the desire to retain their clients. This begins right from the way such clients are handled and their needs met. There are cases of companies that have embarked on this journey of adherence to accounting ethics and as such have reaped a lot of benefits over the years. Some of these are Safaricom Ltd, Sammer Group of Companies, Equity Bank, Kenolkobil, British American Tobacco, Oldmutual Investment Services, Kestrel Investment Services, and British American Insurance (Garrison, 2009). Safaricom has been applauded for observing high standards of integrity in customer relations. This extends from the way they respond to client complaints to the preparation of their accounting statements (Ferugson, 2007). The company has been the most profitable company in Eastern Africa for the past seven years maintaining the lead even in economic recessions as experienced since 2011(Kieso, 2009). Their

Cultural Relativism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cultural Relativism - Essay Example For example, it is considered morally wrong for a Muslim to eat pork while for person from another religion, eating pork has no negative impact on his/her morals. Cultural diversity is the variety of cultures globally and locally too. The different ways in which people dress, their religion and also their morality brings about cultural diversity. Respect for cultural diversity is when other people do not interfere or judge people from different ethnic backgrounds as theirs, or when they fail to understand why other peopled do what they do. As opposed to cultural relativism where different societies practice what they want, respect for cultural diversity is what makes people live cohesively without disagreements or other people thinking that they are better off than others. Respect for cultural diversity is the understanding and acceptance that we are all different in one way or another, while cultural relativism shows how different we all are and this concept allows for people to hav e different opinions on the different cultures as best suits them. The concept of the moral community is described as people of the same moral backgrounds drawn together by similar philosophies. They are mostly associated with having a particular religion. Christians, Muslims and Jews are examples of moral communities. Marginalized groups, from a moral community perspective, refer to the minority members of other religions, such as Muslims is the U.S. Having a smaller number in comparison to the number of Christians in the United States, they are considered as a marginalized group or as groups on the fringe of the moral community. A moral community can also be defined by lines such as people of the same race, color, family members and same social class. The concept of the moral community has led to the continual and increased misunderstanding of the other religions that are minorities. This is because of the failure to stop marginalizing them, for instance, jihad, a Muslim term, mea ning the Holy War, is a largely misunderstood term that has led to the belief that all Muslims are terrorists. This has also brought about racism; this refers to when people of different races from ours are mistreated and discriminated against. The moral community of the United States is subject to opinion. Most People in the center fringes, in the U.S, are trying to break the boundaries in order to accommodate those between the center and the fringes. Moral communities are beginning to diversify for example in the U.S, people are no longer discriminated against because of their ethnicity, and an example is the voting in of a black president for a second term, Barrack Obama. People are no longer judged as communities but as individuals, for instance, not all Arabs are terrorists, and as such they are not prejudiced against in most cases. This is an improvement since the 9/11 attacks. They are beginning to be open to the fact that there is cultural diversity and are learning to respe ct that. Though some people in the center fringes continue to believe in their superiority above the minorities, there is an increase in the number of accommodative Americans, who are respect cultural diversity. Moral communities in the U.S are now being seen to include profession, sexual orientation, immediate family members and also social classes, where the rich rarely or never mingle with the poor. Marginalized groups view cultural relativism as a term that allows for prejudice as well as racism.

Tarim Documentary-Capital of Islamic Culture 2010 Essay

Tarim Documentary-Capital of Islamic Culture 2010 - Essay Example According to the movie, people come to Tarim from all over the world to learn about Islam (Tag archives). One thing I like about the movie is the light shed on women scholars especially those in Tarim. Most of these ladies are wives or mothers to male Islamic scholars. The ladies are depicted as knowledgeable and interesting people who outdo men. In the movie, women have been depicted as useful ingredients in the preservation of Islamic culture. Important things that I would like to apply to my own life to enhance my cultural knowledge is the creation of time to relax, connect with my creator and remind myself about my culture. Culture remembrance reminds one of her past and helps her to live the present in connection with the past. Nowadays people are busy in organizations working to an extent they forget to create time and connect with the spiritual world for spiritual nourishment and refresh the body for health

General Essay on Chinese Religions Essay Example for Free

General Essay on Chinese Religions Essay Early Chinese religion belongs to the mythical and prehistoric period. Tradition speaks of the origins of Chinese culture lying in the 3rd millennium BCE with the Hsia dynasty. As of yet no historical evidence has been found for such a dynasty; all references to it are mythical. It is only with the Shang dynasty, which is traditionally dated from 1766 to 1122 BCE, that we find evidence of a developing culture and religious practices. The religion of the Shang was principally characterised by the use of oracle bones for divination and the development of the cult of ancestors. It was believed that the cracks that resulted from burning ox bones or tortoise shells represented messages sent from the gods about a variety of matters such as illness, the weather or hunting. Belief in deities and the practice of the worship of ancestors has persisted in Chinese life, and has come to form the basis of what has broadly been termed popular religion. Popular religion in fact represents a mixture of early religion and elements of the three great religions: Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. At the heart of popular religion is the worship of deities and veneration of ancestors at shrines in the home or temples. There are many deities associated with this form of religion, but the best known are Shang Ti, the supreme ruler of heaven, and Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy and protector of women and children. In the Chou dynasty a more structured form of religion developed. This is associated with the teaching of Kung-Fu Tzu (551-479 BCE), whose Latinised name is Confucius. Confucius sought to establish a socio-political ethical system, with theological beliefs concerned with human destiny and the conduct of human relationships in society, based on a belief in the goodness of human nature. He believed in a providential Heaven (Tien) and in prayer which encouraged him in his mission. He emphasised the five relationships namely, Father-Son; Ruler-Subject; Husband-Wife; eldest son to brothers; friend and friend to be expressed by li (correct ceremony) to bring he (harmony). Such relationships were rooted in family piety which came to give a prominent place to Ancestor Worship and to respect for deified men, which came to find expression in the Sacrifices of the State religion. The Confucian canon can be divided into two parts: the Five Classics and the Four Books. The Five Classics were handed down from earlier times and emphasised by Confucius. These are the Book of Odes; the Book of History; the Book of Rites; the Book of Divination; and the Spring and Autumn Annals. The Four Books consist of The Analects (Conversations of Confucius); the Doctrine of the Mean; The Great Learning; and the Book of Mencius. Out of the teachings of Confucius emerged various schools associated with a master. Notable was the work of Meng-Tzu (c. 371-c. 289 BCE) and Hsun-Tzu (300-230 BCE). Meng-Tzu and Hsun-Tzu formed rival schools whose doctrinal differences were based in a fundamentally different conception of human nature. Meng-Tzu taught that people were fundamentally good and that what made them bad was their environment. Consequently, Meng-Tzu emphasised the importance of education as a means for bringing out the innate goodness of people. By way of contrast, Hsun-Tzu had a more pessimistic view of human nature. Hsun-Tzu taught that people were inherently evil, and that they could only be taught to be good through training. He also was religiously sceptical, teaching that religious ritual had no purpose except to provide moral training. It was this negative attitude towards religion that was one of the main factors behind the subsequent rejection of the teachings of Hsun-Tzu by mainstream Confucianism and the establishment of Meng-Tzus teachings as orthodox. At the same time that Confucianism was developing, two rival schools were active in China: the Mohists and the Legalists. Mohism was founded by Mo Tzu (c. 470-390 BCE). Mo Tzu advocated universal love and opposed the elaborate and expensive rituals that defined Chinese religious life. This put him at odds with Confucianism in that Confucianism advocated particular love for ones parents as well as the importance of ritual for interpersonal relations. Although during the 4th century Mohism was strong enough to rival Confucianism, it went into decline in the 3rd century, and by the time of the unification of China in 221 had virtually disappeared. It is unclear why the tradition declined so quickly. Legalism is more of a political philosophy than a religion. The various strands of legalist doctrine were systematised by Han Fei Tzu (d. 233 BCE). Han Fei Tzu had been taught by Hsun Tzu and adopted his pessimistic attitude to human nature. Unlike Hsun Tzu, Han Fei Tzu did not believe that people could be reformed, advocating instead a strong, even ruthless, form of government that could control human behaviour. Legalist principles were put into effect by the Chin dynasty, which unified China in 221 BCE, and was subsequently overthrown in 207 BCE. The brief rule of the Chin had a devastating impact on Confucianism, whose scholars it persecuted and whose books it destroyed. Fortunately for the tradition, Confucianism received official acceptance of the Han dynasty and flourished during the Han period. Under the Han dynasty (206 BCE 220CE), the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE), and the Sung dynasty (960-1127CE) Confucian teaching was used for public examinations. In 631 CE the Confucian canon was made the sole subject for the examination of aspirants to official positions, so Confucianism came to be known as Ju-chiao, the Doctrine of the learned. During the Sung dynasty (960-1126 CE) Neo-Confucianism emerged as a distinct movement in response to Taoism and Buddhism. Two traditions of Neo-Confucian thought emerged: the School of Principle, represented by Chu Hsi (1130-1200), and the School of Mind, represented by Lu Chiu Yuan (1139-1193) and, later, Wang Yang Ming (1472-1529). Chu Hsi sought to provide a metaphysical explanation of the nature of reality as well as an ethic for human conduct. For Chu Hsi the basis of all reality was the Supreme Ultimate (Tai Chi). In order for people to live properly they had to purify their chi (vital energy) through taming their desires so that they could be united with the Supreme Ultimate. In reaction to Chu Hsis dualistic perception of reality Lu Chiu Yuan presented a monistic picture of the universe. He claimed that the universe and the mind are one. Therefore, through understanding ones own mind one could understand the nature of the cosmos. This was developed by Wang Yang-ming. Wang Yang-ming believed that individuals could perfect themselves through moral self-cultivation. This involved returning to an original mind whose principal quality was love (jen). Also of ancient origin is Taoism whose classic text, the Tao Te Ching, is attributed to a supposed contemporary of Confucius (551-479), Lao Tzu. This text has had many interpreters whose works have developed in various sects, some of which have been very influential. There are two streams of Taoism: Religious Taoism, which is represented by the many sects concerned with the quest for immortality, and Philosophical Taoism, which was concerned to explain the human condition. The major imported religion is Mahayana Buddhism which is believed to have entered China in the 1st century BCE. An important early Buddhist teacher was An Shih Kao who founded what came to be known as the Dhyana School, characterised by its emphasis on meditation. Another major early school was the Prajna school whose doctrines were based on the interpretation of the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita). It was, however, between the 5th and 8th centuries that Buddhist schools flourished and developed in China. Schools that were active at this time were: San-Lun, Ching-tu, Tien-tai, Chan, Chu-she, Hua-yen, Lu, San-chieh, Fa-hsiang and Chen-yen. The great persecution of Buddhism in the middle of the 9th century led to its rapid decline, and by the time of the Sung dynasty only the Chan and Ching-tu schools remained significant. Incursions from the West began at an early date, mainly in regard to trade and commerce from Arabia and India, probably to Canton or Hangchow. Infiltration of a different kind took place under the Mongols (1260-1368), when the armies of Ghengis Khan spread westwards over countries occupied by the Muslims. The records of the Yuan dynasty indicate that many distinguished officials (both military and civil) were Muslims, bringing with them knowledge of Arabic science known to Kublai Khan and the use of catapults in siege warfare. In Ming times Arabic books on science came into the Imperial library. After the Mongol period, no great influx of Muslims took place, but they spread into most provinces of China, especially in the north-west and west (the provinces of Kansu, Szechwan and Yunnan) and in the north-east (in Manchuria and Hipei). They mainly live in their own communities in their mosques and schools. Their first mosque appears to have been built in Sian in 742. Another group attracted by commerce were the Jews who traded across Central Asia, during the Tang dynasty (618-907), whose communities have mainly been along the sea board in cities such as Shanghai and Canton. The earliest evidence we have of a Jewish community in China derives from a letter written in the 8th century by a Jewish merchant I China. By the 9th century there was a distinct Jewish community in Kaifung, its continued presence evidenced by the construction of a synagogue in the city in 1163. From the 15th century onwards the Jews became increasingly integrated into Chinese life to the extent that by the 19th century the community had all but lost its distinctive identity. As a result of the western colonialism of China in the 19th century and the establishment of new trading contacts with Europe Jews settled in some of the major cities of China. Christianity came to China first by the way of Nestorian Christians, after the arrival of A-Lo-Pen in 781 where it flourished for two centuries (by favour of the imperial court) until the reign of Wu Tsung who closed the monasteries and persecuted the church. It flourished again under Mongol rule in the 13th century, and in 1289 Kublai Khan established an office for the supervision of Christians. At about this time the Roman Catholic Church came to the Mongol empire, when a Franciscan monk came to the Khans court of Kharatorui in 1246. Shortly after that St Louis of France sent an embassy, followed by Marco Polo in 1275; a request from Kublai Khan for a hundred teachers did not, however, bear fruit apart from a small Franciscan mission led by John of Monterovino, who was appointed Archbishop in Cantilec in 1289, and under him three bishops were appointed. Then in the 16th century the Society of Jesus became very active in China inspired by the work of Francis Xavier who had preached in India and Japan. Matteo Ricci came to Canton in 1610 and then to Peking, where he founded a Christian community and gained prominence as an outstanding astronomer. From that time the Roman Catholic Church has continued despite periods of persecution. Protestant missions date from 1807 with W. Morrisons arrival in Canton for the London Missionary Society. Other missions soon followed with the Presbyterians in 1847, the Anglicans in 1849 and the Methodists in 1850. Also prominent have been the China Inland Mission, under Hudson Taylor an interdenominational missionary society. In the twentieth century house churches have been prominent, often associated with such evangelists as Watchman Key. These Protestant activists have contributed greatly to educational and medical developments as well as political and social influences from the West; these were often backed by military force and, therefore, deeply resented. Recent changes under Communist influence, led by Mao, have been profound, strengthening agnostic tendencies for many in the population. Traditional religious practices are still continued in many homes in China and among overseas Chinese. In recent times relaxation of restriction has given fresh opportunity for religious activity. Many Taoist and Buddhist temples, as well as mosques and churches, are being renovated and reopened. Greater openness to the West has been accompanied by renewed conversion to Christianity; the demise of communism has encouraged the rediscovery of traditional religious values. Taiwan has provided an important haven for traditional Chinese religions, as well as the establishment of new religions, since the Nationalist government established itself on the island in 1949. A number of syncretic movements such as San-I-Chiao (Three in One Religion), were suppressed in China following the Communist victory, but have found a haven in Taiwan. Other interesting traditions that have been transplanted to Taiwan are those which are collectively designated the Hsien Tien Tao (Way of Former Heaven sects). Five of the best known of these are the I-kuan Tao, the Tung shan She, the Tien-te Shang-chiao, the the Tao-yuan, and the Tzu-hui Tang. These are characterised by a belief in a creator deity (usually a cosmic Mother figure) from whom humanity has strayed. These sects also claim to transcend all other religions and, therefore, provide a way by which all these religions can be united. All but one (the Tzu-hui Tang) were founded in mailand China, later moving to Taiwan. The Tzu-hui Tang was itself founded in Taiwn in 1949. Also originating from the mainland are the spirit-writing cults. These are cults which derive religious beliefs and practices from a deity mediating through an entranced medium. The practice of spirit writing has been a part of Chinese life probably since the Tang dynasty (618-907). In the 19th century a spirit-writing movement developed in China and entered Taiwan in the same century. This continues to be part of the Taiwanese religious landscape to the present day. There are, of course, a number of recently emerged distinctively Taiwanese movements. Xuan Yuan Jiao (Religion of the Yellow Emperor) was founded in Taiwan in 1957. Xuan Yuan Jiao represents the attempt to recapture the spirit of pre-Han Chinese religion through incorporating Taoist, Confucianist and Mohist teachings and interpreting these as emanating from a tradition that derives from the Yellow Emperor. The religion is highly political in character since its purpose is to revive Chinas national spirit following the loss of the mainland to communism. Buddhism continues to flourish in Taiwan. Following the Communist victory in mainland China in 1949 a further wave of Buddhist monks arrived in Taiwan from the mainland. This has strengthened the presence of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism in the island and influenced the character of earlier traditions. Since 1950 the Buddhist Association of the Republic of China has been the focal point of Taiwanese Buddhism. This is responsible for ordination ceremonies for Buddhist monks, nuns and lay people. In more recent years Taiwanese Buddhism has adopted a more missionary approach both within Taiwan and abroad, particularly in North America. In the 1960s two important Buddhist organizations emerged: the Tzu Chi Compassion Relief Foundation and Fo Kuang Shan. The first of these was founded in 1966 by a self-ordained nun named Cheng-yen. This organization has sought to introduce a strong degree of social concern into Taiwanese Buddhism. Fo Kuang Shans origins can be dated to 1967 when when a Chinese monk, the Ven. Hsing-yun, opened a temple at Fo Kuang Shan in Southern Taiwan. Like the Tzu Chi Compassion Relief Foundation, Fo Kuang Shan emphasizes social action as a means to promote Buddhist values. More recently, Ling Jiao Shan in the north of Taiwan has become a centre of Buddhist activity. Founded by Master Hsin Tao, Ling Jiao Shan has acquired prominence within Taiwan and beyond on account of its establishment of a museum of world religions with branches in Taiwan and the United States.

Assignment Questions and Answers Essay Example for Free

Assignment Questions and Answers Essay b) Explain the importance of the mission statement, the vision and the goal of an organization A mission statement defines what an organization is, why it exists, its reason for being. It helps guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making. A vision statement is a description of a companys values and its long-term goals. It helps an organization prepare for the future. A goal is an observable and measurable end result having one or more objectives to be achieved within a more or less fixed timeframe. It helps motivate members by clarifying and communicating what the organization is striving to achieve. Both the mission and vision statement help the organization focus on what is really important. Although the organization knows what it is trying to do to improve your community, its easy to lose sight of this when dealing with the day-to-day hassles that plague all organizations. The mission and vision statements help members remember what is important as they go about doing your daily work. The mission and vision statements also let other individuals and organizations have a snapshot view of whom the organization is and what it wants to do. When the vision and mission statements are easily visible (for example, if they are on the letterhead of your stationary), people can learn about your organization without having to work hard for the information. c) Discuss why an organization would carry out an environmental analysis, GAP analysis and SWOT analysis An Environmental Analysis evaluates internal and external factors affecting an organizations performance, especially its marketing effort. Internal factors are referred to as the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. External factors are opportunities and threats presented by forces outside of the company. In general, this information is used by strategic planners in forecasting trends a year or more in advance. This method is distinct from surveillance, which focuses on a specific area or time. A common synonym for environmental analysis is SWOT analysis, an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Another equivalent term is environmental scanning, referring to the ongoing nature of evaluating trends. In this type of analysis, internal strengths may include a stable workforce, proprietary systems and methods, and other factors. Internal weaknesses may include labor-union problems, obsolete equipment, or aging facilities. External opportunities can include new-market creation, beneficial alliances, and positive trade agreements. External threats may be comprised in part of negative governmental regulations, international conflict, or natural disasters. Using environmental analysis, an organization can evaluate the operating environment and establish organizational goals. They determine whether or not the goals are obtainable with existing strategies. GAP Analysis is the process through which a company compares its actual performance to its expected performance to determine whether it is meeting expectations and using its resources effectively. Gap analysis seeks to answer the questions where are we? (current state) and where do we want to be? (target state). Conducting a gap analysis can help a organization re-examine its goals to determine whether it is on the right path to be able to accomplish them. An organization will list the factors that define its current state, outline the factors that are required to reach the target state, and then determine how to fill the gaps between the two states. QUESTION 3 Discuss the main factors that should be considered to effectively implement the organizations strategic plan Implementation effectiveness can be measured by how well the business meets the financial projections set out in the strategic plan. To achieve effective implementation, a business must ensure that any changes initiated by the strategic plan are reflected in areas such as budgeting, reward schemes and information systems. The overall goal is to integrate the results of strategic planning with daily, weekly and monthly routines. The goals articulated in the strategic plan should drive marketing and sales efforts, human resources practices and research and development. These goals become a central part of the business by guiding daily operational activities.

The effectiveness of leadership in organisations

The effectiveness of leadership in organisations Effective SUCCESS, LEADERSHIP and COMMUNICATION is essential for an organisation to function efficient and reach their target goals.Organistion is made up of many system that may affect and influence each other such as polices, individual actions, existing methods and external constraints Success in an organisation depends on individual and how members work in close coordination and harmony. So, in an organisation a clear success, leadership and communication strategies should be satisfying to enhance the participants skill level, productivity, and time management. Leadership development for public sector managers has developed in the past two decades, across the united king and global organisation. (Pederson Hartley, 2008). Managers capability to influence organisation participant through leadership will assist to decide the extent both them as a whole achieve their goal (Hicks gullet, 1981). The most important aspects of leadership are mission, passion, vision, leader, compassion , inspiration, motivation and commitment. A good leader in an organisation should know when a given function is necessary (Adair, 2009). Effective Communication helps to show performance feedback, influencing others, handle peoples angry and to meet up with emotional undercurrents of conservations in an organisation. Communicating to an angry individual is major problem of firms and managers face in an organisation. (Gordon, 2004) However, this critical review discussed the management of theories of success, leadership and communication in an organisation. Furthermore, illustrates the critical review of Alan Sugars opinions of success, leadership, communication in an organisation. It also helps to illustrate better methods to handle success, leadership, and communication in an organisation and management aspect. MANAGEMENT THEORIES: SUCCESS, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNCATION 1: SUCCESS: From organisation point of view success can be analysis in four keys to success: Theory, Implementation, Evaluation, Resource/System support. These four keys of success can help give details why policies and programs may or may not accomplish the proposed results in an organisation. Theory: This is essential in order to know how to handle problem in an organisation (Anderson, 2005).According to Anderson, A Theory of Change (TOC) is an instrument to enable develop solution to complex social problems in an organisation. The TOC give details how group of early and intermediate articulates system which will occur and identifies the ways connected to achieving the desired long-term change in organisation. Also Theory of failure arises when a program depend on an invalid theory of operation and when the strategy fail to meet up the organisation certain goal. (Wandersman et al., 2005) IMPLEMENTATION: Accord to (Fixsen et al., 2005 P.5) is known as specified set of designed to put into practice an activity or program of known dimensions. Through implementation system are purposeful and implemented activity helps self-governing team to detect its presence and strength in an organisation. The value of implementation is essential accomplishing good success result.(Durlak and Dupre 2008).Also implementation failure of success is due to lack of inadequate training, inexperienced personnel and lack of recourses.(Dalton et al., 2007) EVALUATION: According to (Rossi et al 2004) describes evaluation as social science activity deals to interpreting, analyzing and communicating information with regards to workings and effectiveness programmes of success in organisation. Through evaluation decisions can carryout to enable continuity, expanding and improvement lead to success. Evaluation helps for effective management, administration and accountability in an organisation. Also Evaluation failure of success it is difficult to measure sensitive change and real effect due to poor designed and poor comparison group.(Wanderman et al., 2005). RESOURCE/SYSTEM SUPPORT: Modernization in organisation involves system support. However, quality host is essential to implement programme and strategy. System support deals with technical assistance and training that lead to success in organisation. Resources deals with successfully implementation of technical resources, fiscal resources, and human resources.(Wanderman et al.,2000). Also, System failure of success is due to absence of institutional support for an involvement while resources failure is due to insufficient facilities, lack of fund and lack of human resources to implement quality policy in organisation.(Sarason, 1982) LEADERSHIP THEORIES: Leadership is one the most essential aspect of management work and important for effective management in an organisation. Also leaders and managers helps people to reach their aims with the maximum application of its potential.(Dixon, 1991, p60-61) Leaders in an organisation are faced with certain challenges in leadership styles and managerial skills. Leadership is feature can be develop and practice. According to (Hicks gullet 1981) all theory of leadership is not certainly as correct but it is obvious that contingency theories are the mainly capable. Leadership is about mission and vision of leaders. Different theories of leadership are: GREAT MEN THEORY OF LEADERSHIP: This is the early stage theory of 19th century by Thomas Carlyle a Scottish. The theory is based on the legendary leaders have to born not made. The theory describes leaders as gallant and they were born with leadership qualities. Also the theory based that great leaders can arise when there is tremendous need. (Bolden et al., 2003). CONTINGENCY THEORY OF LEADERSHIP: Fiedlers Contingency model presumes that individual performance depends on the technique of leadership in terms of task motivation and relationship motivation. (Fiedler 1964).Among all the theories, contingency theory is the only theory that centred its concept on particular variable related to the environment and has significant meaning. Also the theory focuses on situational variables that forecast effective leadership style to fit special problem in an organisation. (Bolden et al., 2003). DEMOCRATIC THEORY LEADERSHIP: This is the type of leadership that incorporate the members of the organisation in decision making and as well suggestion. This type leadership tend to encourage members dedication to the decisions and enhance the quality of decision in an organisation (Hicks gullet 1981) TRANSFORMATIONAL THEORY OF LEADERSHIP: This theory focuses on the relationship between the leader and followers and may also change leader in the moral agent. In this leadership style, the follower and the leader are changed for the better. This motivates and encourage individuals and help the group to perform accurate when is used by the leaders. Transformational leadership is not based simply on power or authority, even though disagreement and power has a role to play in the dynamics of leadership (Burns, 1978). SITUATIONAL THEORY OF LEADERSHIP: This is system where management chose a particular leadership that match a particular situation in an organisation.(Hersey Blanchard 1988)situational leadership recommend that leaders should change their styles of leadership based the maturity of the individual they are leading and aspects of task. The theory is more prescriptive and deals with intuitive appeal. (As cited by Shackleton, 1995) COMMUNICATION THEORIES: Communication theory is sample process that should work easily and efficiently and required to formulate the message clearly; using correct medium that will provide easy feedback the information (chlson et al., 2005 p207).Communication is very essential element of management. Exclusive of communication managers possibly will not accomplish their various tasks in an organisation. Communication deals with an exchange of information system and ideas in an organisation with the environment. Successful communication inside firms is very necessary and helps to connect other parts of management process. Through communications managers can carry out their other roles of controlling, planning and organizing (Dixon, 1991p84-88). Anita cited (project management institute standards committee,1996 ,p103) stated that project communication management deals with the procedure to ensure timely, storage , collection, dissemination, and crucial deposition of project information. Under the theory of communication there is intrapersonal and interpersonal communication. According to (Dainton Zelley, 2005) describes intrapersonal communication as communication within ones self, it deals with how individuals analyze others attitudes, behaviour and messages to assign meaning to a given event. (Millar 1978) defined interpersonal communication, as communication between two individuals when they are close in proximity, able to achieve immediate feedback and utilize multiple senses cited by (Dainton Zelley, 2005) UNCERTAINTY REDUCTION THEORY OF COMMUNICATION: According to (Dainton Zelley, 2005) cited Berger and Calabrese stated that uncertainty reduction theory explain and predict when, why and how individual use communication to minimize their doubts when interacting with one another. This is guided by three principles that states that (a) retain that the primary goal of communication is to minimize uncertainties that individuals have about the world and habitants (b) the suggest that individuals acknowledge uncertainty constantly and the acknowledge of uncertainty is an unpleasant one.(c) recommend communication as the primary medium for reducing uncertainty. This type of communication belongs to intrapersonal communication. EXPECTANCY VIOLATION THEORY: According to (Dainton Zelley, 2005) cited Burgoon stated that expectancy violation theory describes individuals attribute to the violation of personal space and also nonverbal of violations of physical space. Expectancy deals with people anticipation of what will happen on particular situation and based on idea of social norms. This type of communication theory belongs to intrapersonal communication. POLITENESS THEORY OF COMMUNICATION: According to (Dainton zelley, 2005) cited Brown and Levinson stated that politeness theory simplifies how we manage our own and other individuals identities through interaction, by applying politeness strategies. This theory determines WHY, WHEN and how interpersonal interaction is constructed through or from absence of politeness. This type of communication belongs to interpersonal communication. SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY OF COMMUNICATION: According to (Dainton zelley, 2005) describes this theory as a broad approach used to explain and predict relationship maintenance in an organisation. This theory is invented by Thibaut Kelly 1959.Social Exchange Theory simplifies when and why individuals constant develop some personal relationships while ending others. With regards to the name of theory suggests, an exchange approach to social relationships is much like an economy based on the comparison of costs and rewards. This theory belongs to interpersonal theory of communication. SOCIAL PENETRATION THEORY OF COMMUNICATION: According to (Stolar, 2002) describes the theory as communication process of achieving greater degrees of closeness or intimacy with another individual. This theory increases understanding of why and how some relationships become close and other relationships do not. This theory was invented by Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor in 1973.This is very significance theory to research on because it gives details why people form the intimate relationships that the do and why and how this process occurs over time. This theory belongs to interpersonal communication theory. RELATIONAL DIALECTICS THEORY OF COMMUNICATION: According to (Montgomery Baxter 1996) describes relational dialectics theory as pattern of thinking about human relationships that is highly influenced by dialogic thinking. From the point of view of relational dialectics theory, a social life exists in and through peoples communicative practices, by which individual gives voice to multiple opposing tendencies.(baxter Montgomery 1996). This belongs to interpersonal communication theory. 1: (a) CRITICAL REVIEW ON ALAN SUGARS OPINIONS ON SUCCESS From Sir Alan Sugar, secrets of success he reviews success as a keep on going process and the understanding towards your weaknesses and strengths, rather than being defensive about them. Also he said, the love of what you are doing is the key to success and recommends persistence in learning what you do, even when the going is tough. He acknowledged hard work and hunger as essential to success. Also focuses on flexibility and persistence as key to success. Finally, he mentioned willingness to learn, stamina, self-belief and enthusiasm as way of achieving his success in organisation. From my own point of view, in term of flexibility in business, during early days he engaged in many businesses such as making ginger beer, selling to neighbours and business of under developed camera films, selling to school friends. He was the chairman of the Computer Company and major in Tottenham Hotspur Football club. According to (Upton, 1994) flexibility is the capability to change or react with sma ll penalty in time, performance or effort cost. Besides that, (Mensah, 1989) describes flexibility as capability to respond and adapt to changing business condition within and outside organisation. So Sir Alan sugar was the founder Amstrad that stand as Alan Michael trading and later grown to international consumer electronics, telecommunications and Computer Empire. He pointed out rigid approach as a problem to business and recommend flexibility as the best with regards to workplace success. Furthermore, hard work and hunger was the key to secrets of success of Sir Alan because he refuse to give up, no matter how hard things are. From my understanding, dedication and perseverance are very essential to organisation. Most the successful business men have internal locus of control and hard work and ideas. Then, he commented on willingness to learn, this deals with effort and desire toward your goal. Based on his view on enthusiasm, according to (Koch,1994) stated that the most success ful individuals in business are not the most intelligent and success is all about determination, motivated and enthusiastic for cause. So enthusiasm is linked to his success. Finally, He also illustrated self -belief and stamina as essential to success. CRITICAL REVIEW ON ALAN SUGARS OPINIONS ON LEADERSHIP: This critical review shows Sir Alan Sugar ideology of leadership and shows the strengths and weaknesses. Sir Alan describes leader as they tend born not made up and also describes leadership as having personality and charisma qualities. Besides that, for effective leadership you need to be disciplined in self -management and you have to motivate others. However, the ability to delegation in workplace and have the qualities of inspiration. From my understanding, I disagree with Sir Alan and Thomas (founder of Great man theory of leadership) that said leaders are born not made. According to (Adair, 2009) quoted, Field Marshal Lord Slim There is no nobody who cannot improve their powers of leadership by a little thought and practice. The effective level of functioning and stability can change individuals to be a leader. Also (Adair,2009) quoted, that Field Marshal Montgomery, the other ,great British born leader, was equally convinced that leadership could be developed. According to Ada ir, a young lieutenant said that, by training he increased his morale and powers to leader his platoon, and later his company. However, I believe that leadership can be developed by training and also some individual have instincts and qualities of leadership than others. From Sir Alan Sugar critical review he said, that he is great believer in making sure everyone knows what is going on and credit is given when it is due. Judging from above he applied democratic theory of leadership in his management where the employees are involves in decision making and as well suggestion. According to (Hicks Gullet 1981) stated that democratic leadership tend to encourage members dedication to the decisions and enhance the quality of decision in an organisation. (Wilcken, 2010) cited (stone Patterson, 2005) transformational leadership theory deals with progress and development and suggest individual to work together to create greater development of the organisation. Furthermore, Sir Alan acknowl edged delegation and motivation as essential to his leadership style. To be good a leader, is vital to delegate your plan properly and motivate your staffs. According to (Fiedler, 1964) Contingency theory presumes that individual performance depends on the technique of leadership in terms of task motivation and relationship motivation. Dixon (1993) cited Adair, stated that, there are variables in any work situation such as task needs, group needs and individual needs. Obviously Sir Alan Sugar exercises his task needs and group needs efficiently to achieve his business dream. According to (Dixon,1993) delegation is the heart of management process. During Sir Alan days in the company, transport section is taking most of his time; he decided to delegate it to another individual with regards to tackle most important elements. Finally, according to (Shackleton,1995) stated that charisma is essential but not sufficient component of transformational leadership. Most people like, movie star s are charismatic but have no to transformational effects on majority of follower CRITICAL REVIEW ON ALAN SUGARS OPINIONS ON COMMUNCATION: According to Sir Alan sugar point view on communication, he describes communication essential to good leader in a workplace. He further, describes communication to be concise, precise and to the point. Besides that, he focus on facial expression and body language when pass communication. He also commented on, feedback and negotiation skills during communication. Besides through the use of e-mails Sir Alan was able to communicate his staffs. Furthermore, observed persistence and self-belief and power of silence in negotiation during communication. According to Sir Alan Sugar, to communicate well is central well if you are to be a good leader and rise to the in the organisation. This means you must be able to communicate efficiently and quickly in an organisation. (Wilcken, 2010)cited David Collinson that stated relational dialectics theory of communication , as dialectical perspective can facilitate new way of thinking about complex, shifting dynamics of leadership (p1422).However, Si r Alan said ,message need to be concise , precise at the point and this applicable using e-mail to transmit information for businesses. Based on this point, according to (Green, 2006) recent public relations communication practice focuses solely information like features, facts, brief, details to the subject and information content in your message should play a supporting role in your message, and the sum of the message. From above, uncertainty reduction theory of communication deals with when, why, and how individual use communication to minimize their doubts when interacting with one another (Dainton Zelley, 2005) cited Berger and Calabrese. According to Alan sugar, is essential to be watchful of your facial expression and body languages during getting the message across. However, the word communication from Latin point of view communicare means to share together. So communication challenge begins with knowing your audience needs and also you need be receptive and sensitive to ot her individuals body language. Also you to be conscious of signals and actions during transmitting message to audience. According to (Green, 2006) as cited Albert mehrabian (1972) stated the 52 per cent of information about individual from body language, while 35 per cent from their tone of voice and only 7 per cent from the words they use. Beside, in term of feedback, communication transactions are between equals and non equals, so is necessary to take of relative status of partners in the relationship and impacts on the communication (Green, 2006).so, feedback played a good role to Sir Alan management system. Then, negotiation skill is necessary, through this method Sir Alan was able to overcome problems his company and everyday life. CONCLUSION: However, good management depends upon good communication and leadership in an organisation. So, many barriers prevent good communication such as lack of clarity in message, the different background of people and lack of openness to information and suggestions. The communicator should be aware of all these barriers and implication of actions. According to (chelsom et al, 2005 p204) describes communication as critical interaction of individuals to group of people undertaking a variety of activities and most particularly to trying to coordinate their work towards a common objective. Besides, many the leadership theories concentrate almost exclusively upon the leader and follower relationship and give little attention to lateral and upward directed interaction. A quality leadership is one the most essential factors on determining the success and survival of groups and organisations. Leadership is about recognizing a goal and being to influence and motivate individual towards attaining it . Finally, to facilitate success in an organisation, there is need to select numbers potential early successes and work on them to determine the future success. REFERENCE/ BIBLIOGRAPHY Adair J.(2009) Effective leadership .London, Pan MacMillan Ltd. Burns, J. M. (1978), Leadership, Harper and Row, New York, NY,. Bolden, R., Gosling, J., Marturano, A. and Dennison, P.(2003). A review of leadership theory and competency framework.UK Chelsom.J., Payne A., Reavil L.(2005) Management for Engineers, Scientist and Technologists: 2nd ed, England; John Wily Sons Dalton, J., Elias, M., Wandersman, A. (2007).Community psychology: Linking individuals and communities (2nd ed.).Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Daiton M. Zalley E.(2005 ) Applying Communication Theory For Professional Life. USA, Sage Publication Dixon R. (1991) Management Theory and Practice. England. Calys Ltd (p84-88) Durlak, J. A., DuPre, E. P.(2008). Implementation matters: A review of research on the influence of implementation on program outcomes and the factors affecting implementation. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41, 689-708 Fiedler,F. E. (1964), A Contingency Model of Leadership Effectiveness, in Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, edited, pp. 149-190, New York. Academic Press. Fixsen, D. L., Naoom, S. F., Blase, K. A., Friedman, R. M., Wallace, F. (2005). Implementation research: A synthesis of the literature. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, The National Implementation Research Network. Gordon J. (2004) successful communication skill-building tool.USA, john Wiley sons,Inc p85-86 Green A. (2006) Effective Personal Communication Skills for Public Relations, Britain USA, Kogan page Hicks G. Gullett, C.(1981). Management. 4th ed. Singapore: McGraw -Hill,Inc. p477-500. Koch R.(1994) The Successful Bosss First 100 days. Britain, Pitman publishing Montgomery, B. Baxter,L. (1996). Relating:Dialogues in dialectics. New York: Guilford. Mensah, K.E. (1989), Evaluating information systems projects: a perspective on cost-benefit analysis, Information Systems, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 205-17.Available From: [ Accessed 24 November 2010] Rossi, P. , Lipsey, M. , Freeman, H. E. (2004). Evaluation: A systematic approach (7th ed.), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Sarason, S. B.(1982).The culture of the school and the problem of change. Boston: Allyn and Bacon Shackleton V. (1995). Business leadership, London, Routledge. Stolar D. (2002)Social Penetration Theory. Upton, D. (1994), The management of manufacturing flexibility, California Management Review, Vol. 36 No. 2, pp. 72-89.Available From: [ Accessed 24 November 2010] Wandersman, A., Goodman, R. M., Butterfoss, F. D. (2005a). Understanding Coalitions and How They Operate. In M. Minkler(Ed.), Community organizing and community building for health(2nd ed., pp. 292-313). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. Wandersman, A., Imm, P., Chinman, M., Kaftarian, S. (2000). Getting to outcomes: A results-based approach to accountability. Evaluation and program planning, 23, 389-395. Project Management Institute Standards Committee., (1996). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (1996 ed.). North Carolina: PMI Publishing Division. Pederson, D. and Hartley, J. (2008), The changing context for public leadership and management: implications for role and dynamics, International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 21 No. 4, pp. 327-39.

An Argument For Sustainable Agriculture Essay -- Farming Agricultural

An Argument For Sustainable Agriculture Introduction Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines stewardship as "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted in one's care" (Merriam-Webster, 2015). Sustainable agriculture is a method that does not deplete soil, water, air, wildlife or human community resources ("Community Alliance with," 1997). These two principles describe a type of farming that practices responsible management of the land in a way that does not deplete natural resources or the human community. We are living in a time when many environmental issues have come up due to such things as overpopulation, increased waste production, over consumption, depletion of natural resources and other activities that do not replenish the land. We must show great concern in dealing with these problems. Farming is clearly a key element in sustaining life as we know it, but it can also have devastating affects on the land. "Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet present needs without compromising the abil ity of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore, stewardship of both natural and human resources is of prime importance" (Feenstra). So, by managing resources under our care responsibly and practicing methods that do not deplete natural and human resources, we can meet current needs without compromising the needs of future generations. The idea of taking care of things for future generations is of prime importance in dealing with all issues that lead to compromising our environment. Farming is one activity that can lead to the depletion of soil, water, air, wildlife and quality of human community resources. Alternatives to conventional farming methods are present and do have th... ...pril 2015 http://www.cfarm.com/faq/whyorg.htm Community Alliance with Family Farmers. (1997). FAQ's About Sustainable Agriculture, Web 14 April 2015 www.caff.org/sustain/faq/ Engelken, R. (1983). The Art of Natural Farming and Gardening. Greeley, Iowa: Barington Hall Press. Feenstra, Gail. (No Date). What is Sustainable Agriculture? Web 14 April 2015 www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/sarep/concept.htm Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary. (2015). http://www.merriam-webster.com/ Organic Corn Hardier Than Conventional. (1995). Science News, 148, 255. Platt, LaVonne G. (Ed.). (1987). Hope For the Family. (1987). Newton, Kansas: Faith and Life Press. Pretty, Jules N. (1995). Regenerating Agriculture. Washington, D.C.: Joseph Henry Press. Whole Earth. (No Date). 10 Reasons to GO Organic. Web 14 April 2015 www.demon.co.Earthnet/org.10rea.html

Whether Abortion is Good or Bad for Our Society Essay -- Pregnancy Abo

Whether Abortion is Good or Bad for Our Society Abortion. Abortion is when a pregnancy is terminated. This could happen naturally or on purpose. Natural abortions are caused for a variety of reasons, some in which the fetus does not develop normally, or if the mother has an injury or disorder that would prevent the birth of the child. Most people refer to the naturally occurring abortions as miscarriages. Other abortions are purposely committed to prevent the birth of a child. These abortions are done because the pregnancy is not wanted, or the pregnancy will endanger the woman’s health. Abortions are now easier, less dangerous, and simpler than they once were. Abortion is one of the key topics in United States courtrooms; the United States Congress is constantly working on making laws regarding abortion every day. There are many ethical and social issues regarding abortion. There are several different techniques to perform abortions. One, which is the Menstrual Extraction, Vacuum Aspiration, Dilatation and Evacuation, and many more. Some methods contain a higher risk of cancer, or one method is has a longer impact on the woman. There are different techniques; some are instrumental, surgical, or medical. The most common technique is the Vacuum Aspiration; this is a less complicated procedure. Different methods are for different reasons. A woman might have to go with one method because she is 20 weeks into her pregnancy, versus a woman who is 3 weeks into her pregnancy. The earlier you perform the abortion, the options you have when it comes to the procedure. The vacuum aspiration technique is by far the most popular technique used today. Almost 97% of women seeking abortions use this technique. The abortion can be performed up to 14 weeks LMP. The vacuum aspiration was first used in Communist China around 1958. However, the United States did not adopt the method until 1967. This technique replaced the older Dilatation and Sharp Curettage, which was more dangerous. There are several advantages to Dilatation and Curettage, although the vacuum aspiration is technically better, this method requires less time than the others. There is also more complete removal of the tissue; there is also less blood loss. There are fewer major complications, and the method is adaptable to the local anesthesia. There is another technique called... ...a, headaches, weakness, and fatigue. These side effects are similar to pregnancy, â€Å"morning sickness† (Francke, 39). About close to 80% of women experience cramps and abdominal pain, like a very heavy menstrual period. One third of women will experience severe vomiting or diarrhea, close enough that they may need immediate medical attention. Some women experience vaginal bleeding and spotting. In some cases, vacuum aspiration may be needed to stop the bleeding. It is unbelievable, four out of one hundred cases the abortion is unsuccessful. If the abortion is unsuccessful the women must have vacuum aspiration. You may ask yourself, is abortion moral or immoral, is it politically correct, is it legal? The answer to that is in the process of being solved. Day by day politicians and the United States congress are debating that same question. Do you really want to kill thousands of fetuses each year? Those fetuses would soon turn into little babies, whom would turn into kids, and those kids will soon turn into the future of the United States, those adults will then be the leaders of America. Abortion remains and will always be one of the topics discussed in the U.S. courtrooms.

Investments Essay -- essays papers

Investments INVESTMENT JOURNAL I started doing my research in the Microsoft Network using the Custom Search feature in the Stock Screener. Since I was looking for a conservative stock to start with, the first restriction I put was that the stock be a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. I also wanted a Large-Cap company so I put the Market Cap to be above 5 billion dollars. Another restriction I added was that its P/E ratio be the lowest possible and that the EPS Year to Year be above 13%. After running the search I got 20 matches. The top three were Exxon, SBC Communications and American Express. After researching them a bit more I decided that Exxon would be a good option because it was a solid company that had a pretty stable history. After analyzing its fundamentals and taking into account the rising prices of gasoline, I decided Exxon would be a good long-term investment. I bought 115 shares of Exxon at $43.36! The second stock I am looking for is a value stock. I want to get a good solid company and buy it for a bargain. The research I did in the Stock Screener was based on the value strategy we learned in class. In the Stock Screener I entered the following restrictions: 1) Market Cap * $500,000,000 2) Return on Equity * Industry Average Return on Equity 3) Return on Assets * ROA 5 year Average 4) Price/Book Value * 1 5) P/E current * P/E current (Industry) 6) Debt to Equity Ratio * 1 7) Previous Day Closing Price near 52 week low I got 10 results and researched each individual company using the research wizard. The company that I liked the most was Loews because it seemed like a good company with strong fundamentals. The company primarily deals with insurance through publicly traded subsidiaries. Other holdings include tobacco, hotels(US and Canada) and watchmaker Boluva. Even though it has the characteristics of a value company its growth potential and estimates are very impressive. I bought 120 shares of Loews at $53.01. Now that I had value in my portfolio I decided to look for a good growth stock that had a positive momentum recently outperforming the market. I still am not sure I want to invest in a technology stock because of their volatility and risk. I used a similar screen to the O'Shaughnessy Growth screen. The screen was almost identical but with a couple of minor alterations. I d... ...ommendation I read in Business Week. It was recommended as a good technology stock that dealt with both equipment and medicine. The company is called Stryker’s Corp. and it basically makes surgical products such as drills, saws, rasps and mixers. Orthopedic implants (including artificial joints, spinal rods, screws, and bone cement) account for nearly 60% of sales. The fundamentals of the stock are very good and the technical analysis indicates it has been heavily oversold. The only negative I found in the stock analysis is that its P/E is higher than the industries and that the PEG is high also. Still I believe the company is going to do well in the near future because it has new products coming out and good numbers are expected. I bought 300 shares of SYK at $55.00. The next transaction I made was one that was very different from my other transactions. I based my transaction on a clearstation.com e-mail report that was sent to me recommending that I short NVDA. I went directly to the stockcharts.com and analyzed its chart. I decided to short the stock based on the information the chart provided (it was heavily overbought). I short-selled 100 shares of NVDA at $84.64.

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 93-97

CHAPTER 93 London's Opus Dei Centre is a modest brick building at 5 Orme Court, overlooking the North Walk at Kensington Gardens. Silas had never been here, but he felt a rising sense of refuge and asylum as he approached the building on foot. Despite the rain, Remy had dropped him off a short distance away in order to keep the limousine off the main streets. Silas didn't mind the walk. The rain was cleansing. At Remy's suggestion, Silas had wiped down his gun and disposed of it through a sewer grate. He was glad to get rid of it. He felt lighter. His legs still ached from being bound all that time, but Silas had endured far greater pain. He wondered, though, about Teabing, whom Remy had left bound in the back of the limousine. The Briton certainly had to be feeling the pain by now. â€Å"What will you do with him?† Silas had asked Remy as they drove over here. Remy had shrugged. â€Å"That is a decision for the Teacher.† There was an odd finality in his tone. Now, as Silas approached the Opus Dei building, the rain began to fall harder, soaking his heavy robe, stinging the wounds of the day before. He was ready to leave behind the sins of the last twenty-four hours and purge his soul. His work was done. Moving across a small courtyard to the front door, Silas was not surprised to find the door unlocked. He opened it and stepped into the minimalist foyer. A muted electronic chime sounded upstairs as Silas stepped onto the carpet. The bell was a common feature in these halls where the residents spent most of the day in their rooms in prayer. Silas could hear movement above on the creaky wood floors. A man in a cloak came downstairs. â€Å"May I help you?† He had kind eyes that seemed not even to register Silas's startling physical appearance. â€Å"Thank you. My name is Silas. I am an Opus Dei numerary.† â€Å"American?† Silas nodded. â€Å"I am in town only for the day. Might I rest here?† â€Å"You need not even ask. There are two empty rooms on the third floor. Shall I bring you some tea and bread?† â€Å"Thank you.† Silas was famished. Silas went upstairs to a modest room with a window, where he took off his wet robe and knelt down to pray in his undergarments. He heard his host come up and lay a tray outside his door. Silas finished his prayers, ate his food, and lay down to sleep. Three stories below, a phone was ringing. The Opus Dei numerary who had welcomed Silas answered the line. â€Å"This is the London police,† the caller said. â€Å"We are trying to find an albino monk. We've had a tip-off that he might be there. Have you seen him?† The numerary was startled. â€Å"Yes, he is here. Is something wrong?† â€Å"He is there now?† â€Å"Yes, upstairs praying. What is going on?† â€Å"Leave him precisely where he is,† the officer commanded. â€Å"Don't say a word to anyone. I'm sending officers over right away.† CHAPTER 94 St. James's Park is a sea of green in the middle of London, a public park bordering the palaces of Westminster, Buckingham, and St. James's. Once enclosed by King Henry VIII and stocked with deer for the hunt, St. James's Park is now open to the public. On sunny afternoons, Londoners picnic beneath the willows and feed the pond's resident pelicans, whose ancestors were a gift to Charles II from the Russian ambassador. The Teacher saw no pelicans today. The stormy weather had brought instead seagulls from the ocean. The lawns were covered with them – hundreds of white bodies all facing the same direction, patiently riding out the damp wind. Despite the morning fog, the park afforded splendid views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Gazing across the sloping lawns, past the duck pond and the delicate silhouettes of the weeping willows, the Teacher could see the spires of the building that housed the knight's tomb – the real reason he had told Remy to come to this spot. As the Teacher approached the front passenger door of the parked limousine, Remy leaned across and opened the door. The Teacher paused outside, taking a pull from the flask of cognac he was carrying. Then, dabbing his mouth, he slid in beside Remy and closed the door. Remy held up the keystone like a trophy. â€Å"It was almost lost.† â€Å"You have done well,† the Teacher said. â€Å"We have done well,† Remy replied, laying the keystone in the Teacher's eager hands. The Teacher admired it a long moment, smiling. â€Å"And the gun? You wiped it down?† â€Å"Back in the glove box where I found it.† â€Å"Excellent.† The Teacher took another drink of cognac and handed the flask to Remy. â€Å"Let's toast our success. The end is near.† Remy accepted the bottle gratefully. The cognac tasted salty, but Remy didn't care. He and the Teacher were truly partners now. He could feel himself ascending to a higher station in life. I will never be a servant again.As Remy gazed down the embankment at the duck pond below, Chateau Villette seemed miles away. Taking another swig from the flask, Remy could feel the cognac warming his blood. The warmth in Remy's throat, however, mutated quickly to an uncomfortable heat. Loosening his bow tie, Remy tasted an unpleasant grittiness and handed the flask back to the Teacher. â€Å"I've probably had enough,† he managed, weakly. Taking the flask, the Teacher said,† Remy, as you are aware, you are the only one who knows my face. I placed enormous trust in you.† â€Å"Yes,† he said, feeling feverish as he loosened his tie further. â€Å"And your identity shall go with me to the grave.† The Teacher was silent a long moment. â€Å"I believe you.† Pocketing the flask and the keystone, the Teacher reached for the glove box and pulled out the tiny Medusa revolver. For an instant, Remy felt a surge of fear, but the Teacher simply slipped it in his trousers pocket. What is he doing? Remy felt himself sweating suddenly. â€Å"I know I promised you freedom,† the Teacher said, his voice now sounding regretful. â€Å"But considering your circumstances, this is the best I can do.† The swelling in Remy's throat came on like an earthquake, and he lurched against the steering column, grabbing his throat and tasting vomit in his narrowing esophagus. He let out a muted croak of a scream, not even loud enough to be heard outside the car. The saltiness in the cognac now registered. I'm being murdered! Incredulous, Remy turned to see the Teacher sitting calmly beside him, staring straight ahead out the windshield. Remy's eyesight blurred, and he gasped for breath. I made everything possible for him! How could he do this! Whether the Teacher had intended to kill Remy all along or whether it had been Remy's actions in the Temple Church that had made the Teacher lose faith, Remy would never know. Terror and rage coursed through him now. Remy tried to lunge for the Teacher, but his stiffening body could barely move. I trusted you with everything! Remy tried to lift his clenched fists to blow the horn, but instead he slipped sideways, rolling onto the seat, lying on his side beside the Teacher, clutching at his throat. The rain fell harder now. Remy could no longer see, but he could sense his oxygen-deprived brain straining to cling to his last faint shreds of lucidity. As his world slowly went black, Remy Legaludec could have sworn he heard the sounds of the soft Riviera surf. The Teacher stepped from the limousine, pleased to see that nobody was looking in his direction. Ihad no choice, he told himself, surprised how little remorse he felt for what he had just done. Remy sealed his own fate.The Teacher had feared all along that Remy might need to be eliminated when the mission was complete, but by brazenly showing himself in the Temple Church, Remy had accelerated the necessity dramatically. Robert Langdon's unexpected visit to Chateau Villette had brought the Teacher both a fortuitous windfall and an intricate dilemma. Langdon had delivered the keystone directly to the heart of the operation, which was a pleasant surprise, and yet he had brought the police on his tail. Remy's prints were all over Chateau Villette, as well as in the barn's listening post, where Remy had carried out the surveillance. The Teacher was grateful he had taken so much care in preventing any ties between Remy's activities and his own. Nobody could implicate the Teacher unless Rem y talked, and that was no longer a concern. One more loose end to tie up here, the Teacher thought, moving now toward the rear door of the limousine. The police will have no idea what happened†¦and no living witness left to tell them.Glancing around to ensure nobody was watching, he pulled open the door and climbed into the spacious rear compartment. Minutes later, the Teacher was crossing St. James's Park. Only two people now remain.Langdonand Neveu.They were more complicated. But manageable. At the moment, however, the Teacher had the cryptex to attend to. Gazing triumphantly across the park, he could see his destination. In London lies a knight a Pope interred.As soon as the Teacher had heard the poem, he had known the answer. Even so, that the others had not figured it out was not surprising. I have an unfair advantage.Having listened to Sauniere's conversations for months now, the Teacher had heard the Grand Master mention this famous knight on occasion, expressing esteem almost matching that he held for Da Vinci. The poem's reference to the knight was brutally simple once one saw it – a credit to Sauniere's wit – and yet how this tomb would reveal the final password was still a mystery. You seek the orb that ought be on his tomb. The Teacher vaguely recalled photos of the famous tomb and, in particular, its most distinguishing feature. A magnificent orb.The huge sphere mounted atop the tomb was almost as large as the tomb itself. The presence of the orb seemed both encouraging and troubling to the Teacher. On one hand, it felt like a signpost, and yet, according to the poem, the missing piece of the puzzle was an orb that ought to be on his tomb†¦ not one that was already there. He was counting on his closer inspection of the tomb to unveil the answer. The rain was getting heavier now, and he tucked the cryptex deep in his right-hand pocket to protect it from the dampness. He kept the tiny Medusa revolver in his left, out of sight. Within minutes, he was stepping into the quiet sanctuary of London's grandest nine-hundred-year-old building. Just as the Teacher was stepping out of the rain, Bishop Aringarosa was stepping into it. On the rainy tarmac at Biggin Hill Executive Airport, Aringarosa emerged from his cramped plane, bundling his cassock against the cold damp. He had hoped to be greeted by Captain Fache. Instead a young British police officer approached with an umbrella. â€Å"Bishop Aringarosa? Captain Fache had to leave. He asked me to look after you. He suggested I take you to Scotland Yard. He thought it would be safest.† Safest? Aringarosa looked down at the heavy briefcase of Vatican bonds clutched in his hand. He had almost forgotten. â€Å"Yes, thank you.† Aringarosa climbed into the police car, wondering where Silas could be. Minutes later, the police scanner crackled with the answer. 5 Orme Court. Aringarosa recognized the address instantly. The Opus Dei Centre in London. He spun to the driver. â€Å"Take me there at once!† CHAPTER 95 Langdon's eyes had not left the computer screen since the search began. Five minutes. Only two hits. Both irrelevant. He was starting to get worried. Pamela Gettum was in the adjoining room, preparing hot drinks. Langdon and Sophie had inquired unwisely if there might be some coffee brewing alongside the tea Gettum had offered, and from the sound of the microwave beeps in the next room, Langdon suspected their request was about to be rewarded with instant Nescafe. Finally, the computer pinged happily. â€Å"Sounds like you got another,† Gettum called from the next room. â€Å"What's the title?† Langdon eyed the screen. Grail Allegory in Medieval Literature: A Treatise on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. â€Å"Allegory of the Green Knight,† he called back. â€Å"No good,† Gettum said. â€Å"Not many mythological green giants buried in London.† Langdon and Sophie sat patiently in front of the screen and waited through two more dubious returns. When the computer pinged again, though, the offering was unexpected. DIE OPERN VON RICHARD WAGNER â€Å"The operas of Wagner?† Sophie asked. Gettum peeked back in the doorway, holding a packet of instant coffee. â€Å"That seems like a strange match. Was Wagner a knight?† â€Å"No,† Langdon said, feeling a sudden intrigue. â€Å"But he was a well-known Freemason.† Along withMozart, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Gershwin, Houdini, and Disney.Volumes had been written about the ties between the Masons and the Knights Templar, the Priory of Sion, and the Holy Grail. â€Å"I want to look at this one. How do I see the full text?† â€Å"You don't want the full text,† Gettum called. â€Å"Click on the hypertext title. The computer will display your keyword hits along with mono prelogs and triple postlogs for context.† Langdon had no idea what she had just said, but he clicked anyway. A new window popped up. †¦ mythological knight named Parsifal who†¦ †¦ metaphorical Grail quest that arguably†¦ †¦ the LondonPhilharmonic in 1855†¦ Rebecca Pope's opera anthology† Diva's†¦ †¦ Wagner's tomb in Bayreuth, Germany†¦ â€Å"Wrong Pope,† Langdon said, disappointed. Even so, he was amazed by the system's ease of use. The keywords with context were enough to remind him that Wagner's opera Parsifal was a tribute to Mary Magdalene and the bloodline of Jesus Christ, told through the story of a young knight on a quest for truth. â€Å"Just be patient,† Gettum urged. â€Å"It's a numbers game. Let the machine run.† Over the next few minutes, the computer returned several more Grail references, including a text about troubadours – France's famous wandering minstrels. Langdon knew it was no coincidence that the word minstrel and minister shared an etymological root. The troubadours were the traveling servants or† ministers† of the Church of Mary Magdalene, using music to disseminate the story of the sacred feminine among the common folk. To this day, the troubadours sang songs extolling the virtues of† our Lady† – a mysterious and beautiful woman to whom they pledged themselves forever. Eagerly, he checked the hypertext but found nothing. The computer pinged again. KNIGHTS, KNAVES, POPES, AND PENTACLES: THE HISTORY OF THE HOLY GRAIL THROUGH TAROT â€Å"Not surprising,† Langdon said to Sophie. â€Å"Some of our keywords have the same names as individual cards.† He reached for the mouse to click on a hyperlink. â€Å"I'm not sure if your grandfather ever mentioned it when you played Tarot with him, Sophie, but this game is a ‘flash- card catechism' into the story of the Lost Bride and her subjugation by the evil Church.† Sophie eyed him, looking incredulous. â€Å"I had no idea.† â€Å"That's the point. By teaching through a metaphorical game, the followers of the Grail disguised their message from the watchful eye of the Church.† Langdon often wondered how many modern card players had any clue that their four suits – spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds – were Grail-related symbols that came directly from Tarot's four suits of swords, cups, scepters, and pentacles. Spades were Swords – The blade. Male. Hearts were Cups – The chalice. Feminine. Clubs were Scepters – The Royal Line. The flowering staff. Diamonds were Pentacles – The goddess. The sacred feminine. Four minutes later, as Langdon began feeling fearful they would not find what they had come for, the computer produced another hit. The Gravity of Genius: Biography of a Modern Knight. â€Å"Gravity of Genius?† Langdon called out to Gettum. â€Å"Bio of a modern knight?† Gettum stuck her head around the corner. â€Å"How modern? Please don't tell me it's your Sir Rudy Giuliani. Personally, I found that one a bit off the mark.† Langdon had his own qualms about the newly knighted Sir Mick Jagger, but this hardly seemed the moment to debate the politics of modern British knighthood. â€Å"Let's have a look.† Langdon summoned up the hypertext keywords. †¦ honorable knight, Sir Isaac Newton†¦ †¦ in Londonin 1727 and†¦ †¦ his tomb in Westminster Abbey†¦ †¦ Alexander Pope, friend and colleague†¦ â€Å"I guess ‘modern' is a relative term,† Sophie called to Gettum. â€Å"It's an old book. About Sir Isaac Newton.† Gettum shook her head in the doorway. â€Å"No good. Newton was buried in Westminster Abbey, the seat of English Protestantism. There's no way a Catholic Pope was present. Cream and sugar?† Sophie nodded. Gettum waited. â€Å"Robert?† Langdon's heart was hammering. He pulled his eyes from the screen and stood up. â€Å"Sir Isaac Newton is our knight.† Sophie remained seated. â€Å"What are you talking about?† â€Å"Newton is buried in London,† Langdon said. â€Å"His labors produced new sciences that incurred the wrath of the Church. And he was a Grand Master of the Priory of Sion. What more could we want?† â€Å"What more?† Sophie pointed to the poem. â€Å"How about a knight a Pope interred? You heard Ms. Gettum. Newton was not buried by a Catholic Pope.† Langdon reached for the mouse. â€Å"Who said anything about a Catholic Pope?† He clicked on the† Pope† hyperlink, and the complete sentence appeared. Sir Isaac Newton's burial, attended by kings and nobles, was presided over by Alexander Pope, friend and colleague, who gave a stirring eulogy before sprinkling dirt on the tomb. Langdon looked at Sophie. â€Å"We had the correct Pope on our second hit. Alexander.† He paused. â€Å"A. Pope.† In London lies a knight A. Pope interred. Sophie stood up, looking stunned. Jacques Sauniere, the master of double-entendres, had proven once again that he was a frighteningly clever man. CHAPTER 96 Silas awoke with a start. He had no idea what had awoken him or how long he had been asleep. Was I dreaming? Sitting up now on his straw mat, he listened to the quiet breathing of the Opus Dei residence hall, the stillness textured only by the soft murmurs of someone praying aloud in a room below him. These were familiar sounds and should have comforted him. And yet he felt a sudden and unexpected wariness. Standing, wearing only his undergarments, Silas walked to the window. Was I followed? The courtyard below was deserted, exactly as he had seen it when he entered. He listened. Silence. Sowhy am I uneasy? Long ago Silas had learned to trust his intuition. Intuition had kept him alive as a child on the streets of Marseilles long before prison†¦ long before he was born again by the hand of Bishop Aringarosa. Peering out the window, he now saw the faint outline of a car through the hedge. On the car's roof was a police siren. A floorboard creaked in the hallway. A door latch moved. Silas reacted on instinct, surging across the room and sliding to a stop just behind the door as it crashed open. The first police officer stormed through, swinging his gun left then right at what appeared an empty room. Before he realized where Silas was, Silas had thrown his shoulder into the door, crushing a second officer as he came through. As the first officer wheeled to shoot, Silas dove for his legs. The gun went off, the bullet sailing above Silas's head, just as he connected with the officer's shins, driving his legs out from under him, and sending the man down, his head hitting the floor. The second officer staggered to his feet in the doorway, and Silas drove a knee into his groin, then went clambering over the writhing body into the hall. Almost naked, Silas hurled his pale body down the staircase. He knew he had been betrayed, but by whom? When he reached the foyer, more officers were surging through the front door. Silas turned the other way and dashed deeper into the residence hall. The women's entrance.Every Opus Dei building has one.Winding down narrow hallways, Silas snaked through a kitchen, past terrified workers, who left to avoid the naked albino as he knocked over bowls and silverware, bursting into a dark hallway near the boiler room. He now saw the door he sought, an exit light gleaming at the end. Running full speed through the door out into the rain, Silas leapt off the low landing, not seeing the officer coming the other way until it was too late. The two men collided, Silas's broad, naked shoulder grinding into the man's sternum with crushing force. He drove the officer backward onto the pavement, landing hard on top of him. The officer's gun clattered away. Silas could hear men running down the hall shouting. Rolling, he grabbed the loose gun just as the officers emerged. A shot rang out on the stairs, and Silas felt a searing pain below his ribs. Filled with rage, he opened fire at all three officers, their blood spraying. A dark shadow loomed behind, coming out of nowhere. The angry hands that grabbed at his bare shoulders felt as if they were infused with the power of the devil himself. The man roared in his ear. SILAS, NO! Silas spun and fired. Their eyes met. Silas was already screaming in horror as Bishop Aringarosa fell. CHAPTER 97 More than three thousand people are entombed or enshrined within Westminster Abbey. The colossal stone interior burgeons with the remains of kings, statesmen, scientists, poets, and musicians. Their tombs, packed into every last niche and alcove, range in grandeur from the most regal of mausoleums – that of Queen Elizabeth I, whose canopied sarcophagus inhabits its own private, apsidal chapel – down to the most modest etched floor tiles whose inscriptions have worn away with centuries of foot traffic, leaving it to one's imagination whose relics might lie below the tile in the undercroft. Designed in the style of the great cathedrals of Amiens, Chartres, and Canterbury, Westminster Abbey is considered neither cathedral nor parish church. It bears the classification of royal peculiar, subject only to the Sovereign. Since hosting the coronation of William the Conqueror on Christmas Day in 1066, the dazzling sanctuary has witnessed an endless procession of royal ceremonies and affairs of state – from the canonization of Edward the Confessor, to the marriage of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, to the funerals of Henry V, Queen Elizabeth I, and Lady Diana. Even so, Robert Langdon currently felt no interest in any of the abbey's ancient history, save one event – the funeral of the British knight Sir Isaac Newton. In London lies a knight a Pope interred. Hurrying through the grand portico on the north transept, Langdon and Sophie were met by guards who politely ushered them through the abbey's newest addition – a large walk-through metal detector – now present in most historic buildings in London. They both passed through without setting off the alarm and continued to the abbey entrance. Stepping across the threshold into Westminster Abbey, Langdon felt the outside world evaporate with a sudden hush. No rumble of traffic. No hiss of rain. Just a deafening silence, which seemed to reverberate back and forth as if the building were whispering to itself. Langdon's and Sophie's eyes, like those of almost every visitor, shifted immediately skyward, where the abbey's great abyss seemed to explode overhead. Gray stone columns ascended like redwoods into the shadows, arching gracefully over dizzying expanses, and then shooting back down to the stone floor. Before them, the wide alley of the north transept stretched out like a deep canyon, flanked by sheer cliffs of stained glass. On sunny days, the abbey floor was a prismatic patchwork of light. Today, the rain and darkness gave this massive hollow a wraithlike aura†¦ more like that of the crypt it truly was. â€Å"It's practically empty,† Sophie whispered. Langdon felt disappointed. He had hoped for a lot more people. A more public place.Their earlier experience in the deserted Temple Church was not one Langdon wanted to repeat. He had been anticipating a certain feeling of security in the popular tourist destination, but Langdon's recollections of bustling throngs in a well-lit abbey had been formed during the peak summer tourist season. Today was a rainy April morning. Rather than crowds and shimmering stained glass, all Langdon saw was acres of desolate floor and shadowy, empty alcoves. â€Å"We passed through metal detectors,† Sophie reminded, apparently sensing Langdon's apprehension. â€Å"If anyone is in here, they can't be armed.† Langdon nodded but still felt circumspect. He had wanted to bring the London police with them, but Sophie's fears of who might be involved put a damper on any contact with the authorities. We need to recover the cryptex, Sophie had insisted. It is the key to everything. She was right, of course. The key to getting Leigh back alive. The key to finding the Holy Grail. The key to learning who is behind this. Unfortunately, their only chance to recover the keystone seemed to be here and now†¦ at the tomb of Isaac Newton. Whoever held the cryptex would have to pay a visit to the tomb to decipher the final clue, and if they had not already come and gone, Sophie and Langdon intended to intercept them. Striding toward the left wall to get out of the open, they moved into an obscure side aisle behind a row of pilasters. Langdon couldn't shake the image of Leigh Teabing being held captive, probably tied up in the back of his own limousine. Whoever had ordered the top Priory members killed would not hesitate to eliminate others who stood in the way. It seemed a cruel irony that Teabing – a modern British knight – was a hostage in the search for his own countryman, Sir Isaac Newton. â€Å"Which way is it?† Sophie asked, looking around. The tomb.Langdon had no idea. â€Å"We should find a docent and ask.† Langdon knew better than to wander aimlessly in here. Westminster Abbey was a tangled warren of mausoleums, perimeter chambers, and walk-in burial niches. Like the Louvre's Grand Gallery, it had a lone point of entry – the door through which they had just passed – easy to find your way in, but impossible to find your way out. A literal tourist trap, one of Langdon's befuddled colleagues had called it. Keeping architectural tradition, the abbey was laid out in the shape of a giant crucifix. Unlike most churches, however, it had its entrance on the side, rather than the standard rear of the church via the narthex at the bottom of the nave. Moreover, the abbey had a series of sprawling cloisters attached. One false step through the wrong archway, and a visitor was lost in a labyrinth of outdoor passageways surrounded by high walls. â€Å"Docents wear crimson robes,† Langdon said, approaching the center of the church. Peering obliquely across the towering gilded altar to the far end of the south transept, Langdon saw several people crawling on their hands and knees. This prostrate pilgrimage was a common occurrence in Poets' Corner, although it was far less holy than it appeared. Tourists doing grave rubbings. â€Å"I don't see any docents,† Sophie said. â€Å"Maybe we can find the tomb on our own?† Without a word, Langdon led her another few steps to the center of the abbey and pointed to the right. Sophie drew a startled breath as she looked down the length of the abbey's nave, the full magnitude of the building now visible. â€Å"Aah,† she said. â€Å"Let's find a docent.† At that moment, a hundred yards down the nave, out of sight behind the choir screen, the stately tomb of Sir Isaac Newton had a lone visitor. The Teacher had been scrutinizing the monument for ten minutes now. Newton's tomb consisted of a massive black-marble sarcophagus on which reclined the sculpted form of Sir Isaac Newton, wearing classical costume, and leaning proudly against a stack of his own books – Divinity, Chronology, Opticks, and Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. At Newton's feet stood two winged boys holding a scroll. Behind Newton's recumbent body rosean austere pyramid. Although the pyramid itself seemed an oddity, it was the giant shape mounted halfway up the pyramid that most intrigued the Teacher. An orb. The Teacher pondered Sauniere's beguiling riddle. You seek the orb that ought be on his tomb.The massive orb protruding from the face of the pyramid was carved in basso-relievo and depicted allkinds of heavenly bodies – constellations, signs of the zodiac, comets, stars, and planets. Above it, the image of the Goddess of Astronomy beneath a field of stars. Countless orbs. The Teacher had been convinced that once he found the tomb, discerning the missing orb would be easy. Now he was not so sure. He was gazing at a complicated map of the heavens. Was there a missing planet? Had some astronomical orb been omitted from a constellation? He had no idea. Even so, the Teacher could not help but suspect that the solution would be ingeniously clean and simple – â€Å"a knight a pope interred.† What orb am I looking for? Certainly, an advanced knowledge of astrophysics was not a prerequisite for finding the Holy Grail, was it? It speaks of Rosy flesh and seeded womb. The Teacher's concentration was broken by several approaching tourists. He slipped the cryptex back in his pocket and watched warily as the visitors went to a nearby table, left a donation in the cup, and restocked on the complimentary grave-rubbing supplies set out by the abbey. Armed with fresh charcoal pencils and large sheets of heavy paper, they headed off toward the front of the abbey, probably to the popular Poets' Corner to pay their respects to Chaucer, Tennyson, and Dickens by rubbing furiously on their graves. Alone again, he stepped closer to the tomb, scanning it from bottom to top. He began with the clawed feet beneath the sarcophagus, moved upward past Newton, past his books on science, past the two boys with their mathematical scroll, up the face of the pyramid to the giant orb with its constellations, and finally up to the niche's star-filled canopy. What orb ought to be here†¦and yet is missing? He touched the cryptex in his pocket as if he could somehow divine the answer from Sauniere's crafted marble. Only five letters separate me from the Grail. Pacing now near the corner of the choir screen, he took a deep breath and glanced up the long nave toward the main altar in the distance. His gaze dropped from the gilded altar down to the bright crimson robe of an abbey docent who was being waved over by two very familiar individuals. Langdon and Neveu. Calmly, the Teacher moved two steps back behind the choir screen. That was fast.He had anticipated Langdon and Sophie would eventually decipher the poem's meaning and come to Newton's tomb, but this was sooner than he had imagined. Taking a deep breath, the Teacher considered his options. He had grown accustomed to dealing with surprises. I am holding the cryptex. Reaching down to his pocket, he touched the second object that gave him his confidence: the Medusa revolver. As expected, the abbey's metal detectors had blared as the Teacher passed through with the concealed gun. Also as expected, the guards had backed off at once when the Teacher glared indignantly and flashed his identification card. Official rank always commanded the proper respect. Although initially the Teacher had hoped to solve the cryptex alone and avoid any further complications, he now sensed that the arrival of Langdon and Neveu was actually a welcome development. Considering the lack of success he was having with the ‘orb' reference, he might be able to use their expertise. After all, if Langdon had deciphered the poem to find the tomb, there was a reasonable chance he also knew something about the orb. And if Langdon knew the password, then it was just a matter of applying the right pressure. Not here, of course.Somewhere private. The Teacher recalled a small announcement sign he had seen on his way into the abbey. Immediately he knew the perfect place to lure them. The only question now†¦ what to use as bait.