Mark Twain Essays (1428 words) - Picaresque Novels, Lecturers

Imprint Twain It is undeniable that, during his numerous long stretches of composing, Mark Twain built up himself as a scholarly virtuoso. It is likewise unquestionable that the essential explanation behind his prosperity as a creator was his snappy mind and feeling of humor. During this current country's season of political and social division, Twain composed about a large number of the less complex things throughout everyday life while continually demonstrating his humorist side. His splendid comedic mind was particularly strange for any famous essayist around during this unpleasant timeframe in the country's history. Imprint Twain's humorist perspectives and compositions genuinely cement him as the ancestor of American cleverness. In contrast to numerous journalists of his time, Samuel Clemens, otherwise called his nom de plume, Imprint Twain never isolated himself or toiled over a bit of work. He appreciated playing pool or sitting on his patio, smoking a funnel. He lived with his spouse and three little girls, and did the vast majority of writing in his pool room or on his bed. He carried on with a straightforward, easygoing life, which demonstrated to support his laidback, humorist mentality. (Whipple, Sally) William Dean Howells once thought about Twain's way of life to the next well known scholars of his time. Emerson, Longfellow, Lowell, Holmes... they resembled each other and like other scholarly men; however Clemens was sole, unique. (Twainweb) This being Jones 2 maybe the best clarification for Twain's one of a kind humorist sees, it is no uncertainty this way of life accommodated his imaginative narrating and effective profession as an creator. Imprint Twain, a local of Missouri who lived most his adolescence in destitution, started his vocation, shockingly, as a steamer pilot. This profession way was destined to be hindered by the Civil War, wherein he served for the Confederate Army for about fourteen days before pulling back. As of now in his life, Twain was demonstrating his humorist side when he remarked on this episode saying, ...it was my retirement from it that brought the accident. It left the Confederate side excessively frail. (Ayers, 42) After the Civil War, Twain started his profession as a columnist. He ricocheted starting with one city then onto the next, including a stay at Virginia City, Nevada and San Francisco. While in San Francisco, Twain composed The Observed Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, his first broadly acclaimed work. This story of little fellows and frog races consolidated the topics of youth and humor, a mix he would return to much of the time. (Budd, 32) Finally, in 1869, Twain's first book, The Innocents Abroad, was distributed and discharged. This story gave numerous hilarious statements which Twain would get renowned for. For model, Twain remarked on Italy saying, The Creator made Italy with structures by Michelangelo. (Ayers, 126) Twain would make his generally popular, and silly, cites later on while living in Hartford. In the mid 1870's, Twain also, his love bird spouse, Olivia Langdon, moved into a three-story house in Hartford, Connecticut, where he would spend his best years. The first book Twain composed while in Hartford was Roughing It, which was Jones 3 discharged in 1872. Regardless of numerous funny minutes during the book, its prevalence and comedic were slight contrasted with his next book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Considered by numerous individuals as perhaps the best story, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer returns to the subject of youth joined with humor which he regularly nearly flourishes off of on occasion. Tom Sawyer, which came out four years after Improvising, was discharged to blended groups. The book was restricted in a few zones what's more, deals were delayed in the first place. In the long run, individuals had the option to look past a considerable lot of the dubious issues in the book and see the humorist side of the book, which would in the long run make the book a work of art. (Imprint Twain in His Times) This book, more so than others, in a roundabout way made jokes about grown-ups for overlooking their youth. In the prelude of Tom Sawyer, Twain clarifies his purpose behind composing it. Some portion of my arrangement has been to wonderfully help grown-ups to remember what they were themselves, and how they felt and thought and talked, and what eccentric undertakings they now and again occupied with. (Ayers, 37) This announcement does a decent employment of pointing something generally self-evident, yet additionally ridicules life at its most straightforward. This is a humorist style that has made him not just one of America's most well known scholars, yet additionally an unbelievable good example for some other creators and comics who have become popular themselves. One such man who has revered Mark Twain was the acclaimed twentieth century entertainer and comic, Hal Holbrook. In 1959, Holbrook, an insignificant seventeen

Corporate Finance Funding and Capital Structure

Question: Depict about the Corporate Finance for Funding and Capital Structure. Answer: Presentation Corporate Finance is the field of account which manages the wellspring of subsidizing and capital structure of the associations. The fundamental targets of the corporate money are to expand the estimation of the organization to the partners of the firm and the ideal distribution of the budgetary assets. Wesfarmers has been decided for this report. 1: Wesfarmers is a combination organization in Australia. The organization has a great deal of activities in different field of efficient retail, coal mining, treating, synthetic concoctions and numerous others. Wesfarmers has an exceptionally alluring profit arrangement for their investors. According to the received profit strategy of Wesfarmers, the organization trusts in conveying developing profits each tear. It challenges that the organization use to build the level of profits every single year. In any case, the measure of profit relies upon different components like the acquiring of the organization, incomes and accessible franking credits. Throughout the years, the organization has been giving a lot of cash as the profit. Wesfarmers has given $ 1,070 million in the year 2015 and $ 1,247 million in the year 2016 as the last profit to its investors (www.wesfarmers.com.au 2016). Payout Ratio (2015) = Dividends/Net Income = $ 1,247 million/$ 2,440 million = 0.51 (approx) Payout Ratio (2016) = Dividends/Net Income = $ 1,070 million/$ 407 million = 2.63 (approx) Profit Yield for the year 2015 was 4.74 percent and for the year 2016 was 4.74 too. 2: The most suitable approach to pass on the money related data to the market is the yearly report of the organization. A very much structured yearly report of an organization mirrors the genuine picture of the money related situation of that organization. For this situation, the profit approach is a significant apparatus. A solid profit strategy assists with making a decent picture of the organization to the financial specialists. On account of Wesfarmers, the organization has announced its profit approach in the yearly report of the year 2016. According to the strategy, Wesfarmers needs to expand the pace of profit every year dependent on the money related execution of the organization (Rondi et al. 2013). The peripheral investors of the organization are different organizations, gatherings, people and numerous others (www.wesfarmers.com.au 2016). According to yearly reports of the organization, the organization use to give as profits just as issue buyback shares. Wesfarmers has a progressively worthwhile profit approach contrasted with different firms in a similar part. 3: Wesfarmers is an organization which is notable for its compensation structure for the chiefs and the officials. The organization follows a specific structure while giving compensation and motivators to the senior administration. The compensation structure of Wesfarmers for the senior administration is comprises of three sections. They are the fixed yearly compensation, momentary yearly motivating forces and long haul yearly motivators (McNulty, Florackis and Ormrod 2013). The structure suggests that the senior administration is exposed to get a fixed bit of compensation independent of their presentation. Then again, there is some present moment just as long haul motivating force plans for the senior administration of the organization. According to the rule standards, the impetus structure for the ranking directors ought to so that it energizes the senior administration go about as the proprietors of the organization. The present moment and long haul motivating forces are given to the senior administration according to their exhibition to maintain the matter of Wesfarmers (Pepper, Gore and Crossman 2013). 4: The principle target of Wesfarmers is to make a solid arrangement of business that will give the agreeable come back to the financial specialists of the organization (www.wesfarmers.com.au 2016). There is a solid connection between the goal of the association and the compensation plan of the senior administration of Wesfarmers. The destinations are doable and can be profited by the compensation plan as the accomplishment of an association relies upon the presentation of the senior supervisory crew. Taking a gander at the improving monetary state of Australia, the current financial state of Wesfarmers is developing towards high. Be that as it may, the monetary downturn will impede the method of the arrangement. The investors will take the compensation plan positively as the arrangement will assist them with gaining more significant yields; yet there are some monetary pundits who can respond to the arrangement in an unfavorable manner. End According to the entire report, it tends to be seen that Wesfarmers has a profit approach which permits the investors to acquire level of profits each year. Then again, compensation and motivation plan of Wesfarmers assists with accomplishing a definitive target of the organization. References McNulty, T., Florackis, C. also, Ormrod, P., 2013. Sheets of executives and money related hazard during the credit crisis.Corporate Governance: An International Review,21(1), pp.58-78. Pepper, A., Gore, J. furthermore, Crossman, A., 2013. Are long?term motivator designs a powerful and productive method of rousing senior executives?.Human Resource Management Journal,23(1), pp.36-51. Rondi, L., Cambini, C., Bremberger, F. furthermore, Gugler, K., 2013.Dividend Policy in Regulated Firms. College Library of Munich, Germany. Wesfarmers.com.au. (2016).docs/default-source/reports/2016-yearly report.pdf?sfvrsn=8. [online] Available at: https://www.wesfarmers.com.au/docs/default-source/reports/2016-yearly report.pdf?sfvrsn=8 [Accessed 22 Oct. 2016]. Wesfarmers.com.au. (2016).Investors. [online] Available at: https://www.wesfarmers.com.au/speculator focus [Accessed 22 Oct. 2016]. Wesfarmers.com.au. (2016).Who we are. [online] Available at: https://www.wesfarmers.com.au/what our identity is/who-we-are [Accessed 22 Oct. 2016].

Essay Writing Topics For Xat

Essay Writing Topics For XatEssay writing is a very popular form of educational writing, but sometimes you want to spice it up a bit and take on more interesting essay writing topics for xat. This article offers some ideas to get you started on a topic that will be more original and interesting.Many students find that essay writing in high school tends to be fairly unoriginal, but once they enter college and the less structured curriculum, their topic choices start to expand dramatically. One way to make this happen is to try something different, but still very much in keeping with the format of a regular academic writing assignment. A good starting point is to write a report on an area of interest. Maybe you've always been fascinated by ancient Egyptian or Greek art and are now trying to convert that interest into a true academic report.Another possibility is to use your knowledge of history to write a history-based essay on a current topic, or one that touches on some aspect of gen eral science. A good example of this would be to use the discovery of the Higgs Boson particle as a jumping off point for a science-based report. Having a basic understanding of physics can go a long way in these types of assignments.These days you can also try writing original essays on almost any topic, but you may have to let the topic come to you. What this means is that you can't force the topic onto a piece of paper. Instead, you'll have to write in a way that allows the topic to filter itself into your own thoughts and feelings, and then it becomes something you know to write about.Even if you already know the topic you can take some original ideas and turn them into an essay. For example, if you've always enjoyed Chinese cooking, and you've never written about it before, you could try to research some of the more popular dishes from Chinese cuisine, and then use these to inspire your own report.You can also use your unique viewpoint to write about a controversial topic. The last thing you want to do is sound like some kind of politically correct liberal activist when you're presenting the facts to your audience. Instead, try to bring your unique viewpoint into the discussion, and the comments you receive will probably be a lot more supportive and polite than the usual type of comments you get.Successful writing requires at least a little planning. While the details of your written essay are subject to the rules of grammar and punctuation, it's important to understand that it's not just a matter of looking at the paper and executing sentences as you see fit. Often the best ideas are the ones that come from unusual or offbeat places, and if you have a wide range of talents that don't often seem related, such as music or cooking, it may be a good idea to integrate these into your essay.Finally, if you really want to include a personal element to your original essay, why not consider using your own children? In the same way that parents are usually allowed to incorporate a lot of their children's interests into their writings, so too should you be allowed to incorporate your own interests into your essay. Maybe it's a whole different family-written report, or perhaps you're a writer who wrote his first book while you were still living with your parents, and your young children helped you prepare the material.

Essay about Corruption in The Great Gatsby - 1141 Words

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born in 1896 and died in 1940. After dismissed from the army in 1917, he returned to Princeton and finished his first novel This Side of Paradise, which made him wealthy overnight. He then married Zelda, a beautiful but expensive girl. During his time (which he named Jazz Age), the whole American society was immersed in the post-war deteriorations and economic booming. The so-called lost generation forfeited their believes on American dream and solely aimed to pursue material and sensual pleasures. Fitzgerald himself also fully engaged in such main stream of the roaring twenties. He and his wife indulged in alcohol, dancing, and jazz music in the upper class parties. While gradually he realized that all†¦show more content†¦The real purpose for Gatsby to do so was to attract his past lover Daisy and win back her love. Five year ago, Gatsby met and fell in love with her during his service in the army. However, Daisy was tired of waiting for Ga tsby who was poor and engaged in the WWI and finally married to Tom Buchanan, who was quite wealthy and influential. But the material and physical satisfactions didn’t fulfill Daisy’s empty and hollow spirit. With the help of Nick, Gatsby and Daisy had a reunion in Nick’ house and their love seemed to revive. While soon Gatsby found that Daisy was no longer the pure and innocent girl he dreamed in the past, but a beautiful, silly, selfish and vulgar creature. Gatsby still struggled to repeat the past and hoped Daisy would change her mind and live with him forever, which led to a more pathetic tragedy to him. Afterwards the drunken Daisy, who drove in Gatsby’s car, killed Tom’s mistress Myrtle accidentally. But she made a conspiracy with Tom and cruelly through the guilty on Gatsby. Consequently, George Wilson, the husband of Myrtle rushed to Gatsby’s house abruptly and shot him to death and then committed suicide. Gatsby was eventually made the scapegoat for the cruel and selfish Daisy and her husband. Nick tried hard but few people attended Gatsby’s funeral, which was a big contrast to his luxury party with hundreds of guests. After the event, Nick decided to go back to the Midwest and keep distance from the roaring, cold and hypocrisy cityShow MoreRelatedCorruption In The Great Gatsby Analysis1160 Words   |  5 PagesIn a state of oblivion, the greatest of men can get corrupted by the object they seek.The thing they desire with great ferocity blinds them and it becomes their only focus, causing them to ignore the casualties they incite in the journey.This corruption courses throughout Fitzgeralds ‘The Great Gatsby’, while centering itself on a young man madly in love with a young woman, and the great ordeals he pursues her love.As simple as the plot is presented, the underlying theme of the novel centers on theRead MoreCorruption In The Great Gatsby Essay701 Words   |  3 Pageswas corrupt and selfish. In the Great Gatsby the upper class is shown as corruptive. The people in the upper class such as Tom and Daisy don’t really care about their actions because they feel invincible due to their amount of money and the power they have. Fitzgerald illustrates the corruption in the way upper class is care-less about their behavior. The way people in the upper class behave toward others and in society demonstrates how corruptive they are. At Gatsby parties the people behaved asRead MoreTheme Of Corruption In The Great Gatsby809 Words   |  4 PagesJust like any other word, corruption has multiple interpretations. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, corruption as a noun means dishonest or illegal behavior, especially by powerful people. Power also has a number of interpretations in a variety of different contexts. Historians associate power with an ability used to force people into obeying leaders. Scientists associate power as a rate at which work happens. F. Scott Fitzgerald associates corruption with New Yorkers who possess an abundanceRead MoreCorruption In The Great Gatsby Essay822 Words   |  4 PagesScott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is about a writer named Nick Carraway. He leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922 . Nick chases his American Dream and ends u p living next door to a mysterious, party-loving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, who is   across the water from his cousin, Daisy and her husband, Tom Buchanan. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald reveals that the upper class society is corrupt from money. This is best proven through Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom. UpperclassmenRead MoreThe Great Gatsby : The Corruption Of The American Dream1771 Words   |  8 PagesThe Great Gatsby: The Corruption of the American Dream The Great Gatsby may appear as a novel containing dramatic, twisted relationships; however, the main theme has to do with the culture of the 1920s, and how it leads to the downfall of the American Dream. The 1920s were an age of change: politically and socially. The nation’s wealth nearly doubled, leading many Americans into a prosperous society, while others experienced extreme poverty (The Roaring). People began performing, women wore flapperRead MoreEssay on The Corruption of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby1302 Words   |  6 Pages On April 10, 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald published The Great Gatsby, a novel that would later become one of the best known pieces of classic literature in history. However, at the time of its publication, Gatsby was fairly unpopular ad the reviews were never consistent. As shocking as it may seem, I believe it is because Fitzgerald’s intelligence and creativity levels were way ahead of his time, which is evident when one pays close attention to the themes of the novel. ForgivenessRead MoreThe Great Gatsby Displaying the Corruption of the American Dream742 Words   |  3 PagesThe Great Gatsby: The Corruption of the American Dream In the 1920’s many people left their countries to come to America seeking for the American dream. The American Dream meant being successful and happy. Many people started to learn that they couldn’t find that happiness without the money. In Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the characters based their lives off of wealth and materialism, forgetting what the real idea of the American dream was. Throughout the story, Daisy, Gatsby and MyrtleRead MoreThe Corruption of the American Dream in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby1345 Words   |  6 Pagessocial and economic mobility earned through hard work, as corrupted and debased by the egotistic materialism of the 1920s, an era which Fitzgerald characterizes chiefly by its greed and lavish hedonism, in his celebrated novel The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald, in The Great Gatsby, seeks to discredit the supposed purity of the American Dream and belief that anyone can attain it through hard work. Instead, he argues that the dream is a mere delusion, altered so significantly from its original form that itsRead MoreEssay on The Great Gatsby: The Corruption of the American Dream1010 Words   |  5 Pagesnovel ‘The Great Gatsby’ where there are a variety of characters that are living or seeking The American Dream. Whether it was Daisy and Tom Buchanan who were supposedly living the perfect lifestyle, Jay Gatsby who found himself submerged in money and always throwing parties for the higher class population of New York as well as Daisy, or Myrtle Wilson who throughout the novel seeked to be a high class woman, they all ended up unhappy or lost their own lives as a consequence. Jay Gatsby was a self-madeRead MoreEssay The Great Gatsby: Differences and Corruption of Classes543 Words   |  3 PagesThe Great Gatsby: Differences and Corruption of Classes Money is essential for survival; it can bring happiness, despair, or corruption. It rules our daily lives, is preferred in large amounts, and separates us into different social classes. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, is a perfect example of this since the class structure within the novel, portrays how money or the need for it can cause corruption in all the different social classes. This is shown through the three distinct

Jane Austen s Pride And Prejudice - 1461 Words

In today s society, many social issues plague individuals and communities around the world due to their injustices. In most cases, these social issues can be traced back years, and even centuries. It can be surprising to realize that these injustices continue to occur in today s world just as they have for several years. Arranged marriage is a social issue that regularly occurred during the Romantic period in England and continues to be an issue today’s cultures and society, causing the unhappiness and social prejudices to remain in today’s world as they did in 19th century England. During England’s Romantic period, arranged marriages between young men and women were customary and of much importance, allowing the custom to be influential and reflected in the culture and literature of the time period. The 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, a story of how an unlikely match overcomes the obstacles of social prejudices and the couple’s own vanity t o find happiness, exemplifies the problems this custom caused and how it impacted society. The relationships and interactions between people of differing social classes in this novel allow readers to understand the impact of this issue during that time. People in 19th century England found the practice of arranged marriages as a ritual and the norm, ultimately resulting in sacrifices of happiness and causing social prejudices to be inevitable. Arranged marriages in the Romantic period were considered business deals,Show MoreRelatedJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1231 Words   |  5 Pagesfinancial stability. In the novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen states that the desire for better social connections interferes with the workings of love through the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth to criticize the social class structure of the 19th century. Anxieties about social connections or the desire for better social connections, interfere with the workings of love. Darcy and Elizabeth s realization of a mutual and tender love seems to imply that Jane Austen views love as something independentRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1294 Words   |  6 PagesJane Austen s exceptional novel Pride and Prejudice has been depicted as a classic that is as much a social study on class, marriage and gender as it is a romantic tale. It is an amusing representation of the social atmosphere of the late eighteenth and mid nineteenth century England, and it is primarily required with courtship rituals of the English high class. The novel is more than a romantic tale, however through Austen s subtle, and ironic style, it addresses gender, class, and marriageRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice992 Words   |  4 Pages It is unfortunate that many people tend to dismiss Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, as simply a roman tic love story, even labeling it a â€Å"chick flick.† Upon a shallow reading, it may appear to be such, but a closer look at the novel reveals so much more embedded in the story. In addition to describing the entertaining relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, the novel serves to forward Austen s personal values and ideas. Furthermore, there is one issue of her era that she particularlyRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1138 Words   |  5 PagesPride and Prejudice is a novel about the superficiality of marriage during the late 19th and early 20th century, which largely influenced the decisions made by individuals, based on connections and social rankings. The novel takes its characters through various changes influenced by their decision to or rather not to marry certain individuals. It begins not by a man desiring to marry for love, but by a mother who desires nothing more than to marry her daughters well. As the novel develops, Jane AustenRead MoreJane A usten s Pride And Prejudice1211 Words   |  5 PagesJane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was greatly influenced by the time period in which it was written, This novel follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters as they are faced with marriage proposals. The marriage and roles of women in this time period are shown throughout this story. During the time Austen was writing this novel, a woman’s role for her family changed. Daughters started to become a way for their family to achieve more money. Because their family depended on this financialRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1675 Words   |  7 PagesIn Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, she has specific criteria that her characters follow when choosing their mates. In today’s society, most couples still follow these criteria and more when choosing their ideal mate. What are these important criteria that Austen’s characters consider when choosing a mate? For Austen, the important cr iteria that she has for choosing a mate are that couples are personally compatible, they are in love with each other, and they must have a good moral character. Read MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1678 Words   |  7 PagesAfter reading Jane Austen’s most popular piece of work, the effects of the high societal expectations can be acknowledged through viewing the lives of the Bennet family and friends and noting such effects. Through the examination of the characters in Pride and Prejudice it is easily deciphered between marriages based upon true love and marriage based upon the expectations of society. Society’s main goal for woman in the Victorian era was marriage. As seen many in Pride and Prejudice, marriage wasRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1434 Words   |  6 PagesJane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was considered a radical novel back in 1813 when she wrote and published the piece. It is a social commentary on the treatment and societal standards of women, as well marriage expectations at the turn of the 19th century. Austen criticizes the patriarchal society, materialism, double standards of men and women by centering the book around Elizabeth Bennett, a young woman of decent means who does not understand the reason for the pressure to find a suitable husbandRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1468 Words   |  6 Pagesestablished over time. In Jane Austen s novel, Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth Bennet is the main character who is a lady in the Regency Era. Elizabeth lives in Longbourn with her parents, Mr and Mrs Bennet and her four sisters. In the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth s prejudice mindset and strong opinion blinds her from realizations happening around her. Soon, Elizabeth s prejudice disappears allowing her to open up and fall in love. Throughout Jane Austen s novel, Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth growsRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1649 Words   |  7 PagesIn her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen is pre-occupied with the theme of marriage. Marriage is a central issue of a woman’s life but it was even more crucial for the women of her society where women were largely dependent on the men in their lives. As a result, women pursued socio-economic stability through marriage. However, it is clear through the novel that Austen did not agree with this part of her society. In Pride and Prejudice, she gives preference to a marriage which is based on love

Environmental Message in Wall-E Essay - 877 Words

Wall-E Science/Description Essay Kari Jacobson Ottawa University LAS 45012- Global Issues in Liberal Arts Karen Bryson January 27, 2013 Introduction The film Wall-E is related to the science and description area because it talks about the environment and what can happen in the future. The film starts with a robot named Wall-E and he has been assigned to clean up Earth from all the waste that the humans have left behind. It shows him coming out of his house that is full of little different things that humans would think are trash but he does not know what they are and considers them treasures. As he is performing his duties he hears another ship land and drops off another robot named Eve. Eve’s mission is to find any living†¦show more content†¦When it comes to what could happen if we do not educate society on taking responsibility for their waste and disposing it in the proper way this could happen to our planet. I know that after seeing what can happen I have taken recycling more seriously and I have also made sure to educate my family and friends because I want them to do their part on going green and taking r esponsibility for their waste. I know this huge change on getting everyone to go green will not happen overnight but if we all are more conscious about and do our parts then I am sure that one day we can make sure that it does not happen like in the movie. The second global implication for this movie is concerning technology. In the movie humans are living in the future on a space ship because they cannot return to Earth for it is uninhabitable from all the waste. When we are introduced to the humans they are all wearing red clothes, are fat and lazy, and are all sitting on chairs either watching television or on telephone calls on tablets. That we are too dependent on routines and habits that make us distracted and not able to make our own decisions. When Wall-E ends up accidently bumping into one of the ladies she realizes that her clothes have changed color and that she finally opens her eyes and sees everything from a new perspective and realizes that she does not have to be dep endent on technology. I realized that from watching this movie there are times that we do depend onShow MoreRelatedMovie Analysis : Wall E 990 Words   |  4 Pages Comp. II 5 May 2017 Film Analysis Essay Wall-E is an animated science fiction film that was produced by Pixar and directed by Andrew Stanton in 2008. The setting, at the beginning of the movie, is a futuristic depiction of planet earth covered in garbage and filth, which sets the foundation for the environmental message. The creator also uses dancing and music throughout the movie to set the mood for the development of a relationship between Wall-E and Eve. The creators throw in lots of symbolismRead MoreEnglish Year 11 Essay1148 Words   |  5 Pagesanalysed, George Orwell 1984 and Disney Pixar Film WALL E. In both these texts, countless types of power can be extracted whether it is being used for the good or bad. Power is Power, what you do with it is your decision. George Orwell novel is a social commentary of a dystopian future in which totalitarian rule of government has shaped society close to its full potential, leaving no rights and certainly no freedom of expression. The Disney Pixar Film WALL E is also another example of a dystopian futureRead MoreReaction Paper in Wall E1770 Words   |  8 Pagesmain thing that a lot of people are praising WALL-E for is the deeper message that it manages to get across. While I can appreciate a cautionary tale about the Earth getting overrun with garbage and pollution, and a believable sci-fi future where humans become overly reliant on machines, I don’t know that it’s really anything all that groundbreaking. Maybe this message seems a bit less inspired just because there have so many other movies with environmental undertones lately. I honestly thought thereRead MoreWhat Does Turmeric Can Improve Liver Function?980 Words   |  4 Pagescan lead to plaque build-up and damage to the blood vessels, thereby causing stroke or heart attack. Turmeric is also a good source of vitamin B6, which helps keep the levels of homocysteine low. High levels of homocysteine are known to damage the walls of the blood vessels. When this happens, the risk of getting heart attack and atherosclerotic plaque build-up increases. According to The George Mateljan Foundation, a study published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology revealedRead MoreAbercrombie and Fitch - Paper1076 Words   |  5 Pagesthe United States. To aid further growth, the American based retailer’s number one objective over the passed years has been global expansion. It has aggressively pursued an organic growth strategy internationally. With the recent improvement in their e-commerce business and the projected 110 new stores by end of the 2012 fiscal year, Abercrombie and Fitch is in position to expand its customer base and obtain tremendous growth. International growth is however very costly and the company might be unableRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder Essay1278 Words   |  6 Pagestriggering bipolar disorder in the human body. 2 The main cause of bipolar disorder from a physiology standpoint is the imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals released from an axon into a synapse to carry a message from one cell to another. Brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) are involved in both brain and bodily functions. Everything we do involves brain chemicals: our behaviors, environments, sleep patterns, as well as the food we eat and even the drugs thatRead MoreRole of Technology in Protecting the Environment Essay1372 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Over the past few decades, technologies have made a few great contributions to the environmental protection. Renewable technologies have reduced the demand of fossil fuel; computer technologies have enabled paperless office into reality and thus decreasing the number of trees used to produce paper. Therefore, I have come in to believe that technologies will serve as a major role in protecting the environment, both in the present and future. However, due to certain limitations like politicalRead MoreAuditory Processing Disorder1592 Words   |  7 Pageswith what we hear. It involves the ability to remember what is heard, sequence or recall what was heard in the exact order that it was presented, follow directions appropriately or fill in missing pieces of the information in order to complete the message. Children with Auditory Processing Disorder often do not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even though the sounds themselves are loud and clear. For example, th e request, Tell me how a chair and a couch are alike may soundRead MoreHow The Human Body Can Work Out All These Processes And Interactions With The World Around Us1728 Words   |  7 Pagesdetecting thousands of different odours. The olfactory receptor neurons transmit the information to the olfactory bulbs, which are located at the back of the nose. The olfactory bulbs have sensory receptors that are actually part of the brain which send messages directly to the most primitive brain centres where they influence emotions and memories (limbic system structures), and higher centres where they modify conscious thought (neo-cortex). These brain centres perceive odours and access memories to remindRead MoreStudio Ghibli s Princess Mononoke, Directed By Hayao Miyazaki2265 Words   |  10 PagesHuman civilization is linked with environmental destruction, and despite the many implemented laws to limit the pollution released into the environment, degradation persists because humans have e nough influence to cause harm to the environment as shown with overdeveloped human settlements (Shea). Global warming is growing as a predominant problem that can affect future generations and to spread awareness films are incorporating a pro-environmental message. Studio Ghibli s Princess Mononoke, written

Alfred Noyes “The Highwayman” Essay Sample free essay sample

â€Å"The Highwayman† is one of Alfred Noyes most beautiful. romantic and perfect verse forms. among the many he has written. It was merely done but w/ particular beat. perfect manner. complete with lyrical phrases. vivacious lines and accurate timing. The words that were used in this verse form was fluxing spontaneously and it is one that can be read and understood with merely sitting. because the minute you start on it. one can non afford non to complete reading all through out because the stoping portion is the most electrifying part. . The manner Alfred Noyes used similes. metaphors. initial rhyme. personification and onomatopia was merely astonishing. . Everything was done with awe and he gave manner to utilizing beautiful imagination as this verse form is a romantic narrative and the characters used were described profoundly. The narrative as a whole was brilliant. in that. it has practically everything in it. such as a instance of a Forbidden love. melancholy nature. nostalgic minutes. and the most interesting and romantic portion is the grave vow they made for each other that even after decease they will still be together. The sugariness of the words used and the unhappiness on the truth revealed ; the clear. sturdy promise that they said to each other. the purpose seeing a bright hereafter of acquiring married with each other and holding kids. and for them populating merrily together even until decease are the major impact that makes the verse form interesting and exciting. â€Å"The Highway Man’ is a dramatic lay wholly. assorted with subject about love and decease. written in 17. six-line stanzas. each one stating us a portion of this some- ( 2. ) what ghastly narrative. It was written in a descriptive. narrative manner. in the 3rd individual with really definite beat. . Noyes pick of words used in ‘The Highwayman’ were really carefully selected. neer leting to destruct the flow of the literary piece. which makes it a lovely verse form to read with full attending to inside informations to better understand. OUTLINE/ANALYSIS: In the first stanza Alfred Noyes sets the scene for the most of this verse form. He used tonss of adjectives and the first three lines all include metaphors. phrases that allows us to visualize nature in a really awful but colourful scenario in our heads. It besides showed initial rhyme at the terminal of the first paragraph where the highjacker was introduced in some sort of a dramatic but active temper. In the 2nd stanza. the highjacker is described in every bit much as. if non more elaborate. and utilizing adjectives. as to how he dressed up and appeared before Bess. his lady love. Noyes described the highwayman’s organic structure from the caput downwards. stipulating each characteristic of his entire visual aspect. We can conceive of what frock he was have oning as every colour and accoutrements were carefully mentioned. including the boots that he wore with it. In the 3rd stanza. Noyes made usage of initial rhymes and metaphors. and opted to utilize the analytical manner. This is the point where he made the reader think about the verse form more deeply. On the 3rd poetry. ‘over the setts he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard. ’ Alfred Noyes did non compose in apparent English that the highjacker was dying. although one can state from the picks of words used that he is in a haste. as if he was running out of clip. Somehow. this seemed to be a hard undertaking to manage than simple ( 3. ) imagination. particularly in a rhythmic verse form like this where there is merely a limited pick of words to choose and use for a comparatively complex thought or statement. . It is besides in this stanza where we were introduced Bess. the Landlord’s daughter’ . the highwayman’s love. In the 4th stanza from the first three lines we can state that ‘Tim the ostler’ ( a stableboy ) was evidently dirty and dirty. Noyes didn’t straight tell us straight how he looks but we can state and analyse. easy plenty from the linguistic communication that he used as similes were merely utilised. Tim. who in secret loved Bess was dumbstruck with enviousness and hatred with the highjacker particularly when he heard him stating those endearing words to Bess. The 5th stanza was to the full dominated by the highwayman’s words to Bess and is unlike any of the old stanzas. He promises and assures Bess that he will be back the following forenoon. nevertheless if he doesn’t. so she should look frontward to seeing him by moonshine or the dark clip no affair what happens. This poetry is all address and so to antagonize humdrum. Noyes put in tonss of imagination into it. He didn’t use a batch of adjectives. though there were some few. but it was really easy to visualize in your head the scenario that the highjacker was driving at. . In the 6th stanza we find a really similar format to stanza 3. It merely described the scenario and made it really easy for one to understand what was go oning. There is merely one simile used ( â€Å"like a trade name ) . We besides have an penetration into the highwayman’s ideas. On the 5th line. in parentheses. he described to us what the highjacker was ( 4. ) thought and feeling as he kissed Bess’ hair. Noyes besides put in an air of immorality in this stanza. where a dark image was portrayed to us. At this minute we san conclude that there is traveling to be a awful turn in the narrative. In stanza 7 Noyes once more described the scene. but in a more wicked manner than the old stanzas and the phases of the twenty-four hours was besides detailed. Noyes used this thought in other stanzas. taking t he reader through phases. This brings the reader into the narrative and makes one to truly thirstily read on. This strategy is used in old poetries. such as in stanza 2 when the highjacker was described in phases from head-to-toe. Noyes. in this stanza. besides refers to the route as a ‘gypsy’s thread. looping the violet moor’ . and in verse 1 he said that the route was a ‘ribbon of moonshine over the violet Moor. ’ Both of these phrases were metaphors. In stanza 8 the words ‘window’ and ‘casement’ ( both intending the same thing. ) were double used and one is forced to believe that the window may play some critical portion in the narrative. and hence Noyes is doing us believe about what he has written. Because he wants us to be non merely nonmeaningful bystanders of this great verse form but be a portion of it and he wants as to seeking to work out the concealed significances. The verse form besides says how hard-pressed Bess was. because she somehow feels and can anticipate what problem was abrewing for them. Here Noyes used person ification in the words â€Å"death and hell† Stanza 9 continues on from the old poetry with a narrative manner. We have more repeat of what the highjacker said to Bess. Noyes puts accent by stating that Bess could hear him ( though he was a dead adult male ) stating the words â€Å"look for me by moonlight†¦ . . † We know that Bess understood what the King’s program for the highjacker ( 5. ) was and she tried her best to work it out while the King’s work forces were chat uping with her. Stanzas 10 and 11 are closely intertwined. Both have the same topic and continue on one scene. They are easy to analyse as they have the same form of manner and tone. We see an illustration of personification in lineâ€Å" the hours crawled by like years† gives us a clear position of how Bess feels. what she’s traveling through and she feels like clip have stopped traveling. Blood was mentioned in both stanzas as a symbol of hurting and torment Bess was traveling through. Stanza 12 shows onomatopoeia in the ‘Tlot-tlot ; tlot-tlot! ’ seeking to capture the sound of a horse’s gallop. in a word. This has been used in the old stanza A ; on the Following stanza. We have Noyes’ metaphor for the word â€Å"ribbon of moonlight† . Again. stanza 13 starts with onomatopoeia on words ‘Tlot-tlot† Noyes used repeat to do it cognize that the highjacker is coming: In this poetry we besides find words â€Å"frosty silence† and â€Å"echoing night† which means that Noyes treated something non physical as though it was. I n this stanza. the flood tide of the whole verse form. Bess kills herself. in the procedure of seeking to give warning to the highjacker non to come to the spread. This is a great illustration non merely of self forfeit. of giving up one’s life to salvage a loved one. but to turn out the value and worth of the love she has for the highjacker. Stanza 14 is another sad portion of the verse form. The highjacker did non cognize that Bess. his lover. gave up her life for him. as a cogent evidence of her deep committedness of love. Here. the â€Å"blood† was used to typify hurting and agony. It was such a painful experience for the highjacker when he subsequently got to larn that the dead organic structure belongs to his love. Bess. ( 6. ) In stanza 15 we see the highwayman’s reaction on the awful intelligence. He acted with scope as his emotions overruled him with his choler. The tragic stoping of a loving relationship of two lovers both stoping up with decease merely because of their deep love for each other ; all because of people stepping on their manner. Here. one can announce that the highjacker has no opportunity of lastin g in his purpose of revenging the decease of Bess. The stanzas 16 and 17 are merely simple rematch of poetries 1 and 3. with merely few little alterations into a simple narrative manner. This is besides the stoping portion non merely for the verse form itself but for the life of the highjacker as he got killed in his pursuit for retaliation. It was someway a sad and tragic stoping but besides a happy stoping because they will be seeing each other and be together in the topographic point where they are destined to be. This is besides the hope in the highwayman’s bosom. Conclusive Comment: This poem â€Å"The Highwayman† written by Alfred Noyes is a romantic and authoritative verse form. attractively written. with suspense and a elan of horror ; although it has a really tragic stoping ( both died in the terminal ) it has besides a clear message for all particularly lovers who are profoundly committed with each other ; that although the love that they show will non boom. the cogent evidence of ego forfeit is worth more than anything. and besides that. there is still hope of being with each other for infinity in the land of after decease. The lovers here in this verse form ( Bess and the highjacker ) proved to all that no 1 and nil can of all time divide them from their love for each other even if it means that their lives will be sacrificed and given up. ( 7. ) A brief drumhead: The verse form â€Å"The Highwayman† by Alfred Noyes is about an criminal and his relationship with his girlfriend Bess. He comes to see Bess at dark because he is a wanted adult male and can’t afford to be seen. He promised her that he is traveling to acquire some gold. and so come back to acquire her. Unfortunately. a cat named Tom. who was covetous that Bess loved the main road adult male. ( because he has a secret love for her ) overheard their conversation and alerted King George’s work forces. The work forces came to the hostel. tied up Bess. and pulled a gun to travel off when the Highwayman opened the door. Bess did non desire him to acquire caught and killed so she shot herself and the sound of the shooting alert ed the Highwayman. He came to her anyway. and was killed by the governments. Beginning of Mention: megaessays. com aboutGrammar. com PotW. org TeachersFirst. com theotherpages. org Submitted by Writer I. D. # 17490

Consumer Behaviour Paper

How we can reduce the yellow pages The use of internet Yellow pages reduces the use of printed yellow pages. In fact, with proper employee training, the business owners are assured of approximately 300% ROI for $12,000 modest investment (Amanda 2008). Switching to online yellow pages is a move that promotes a paperless society that is environmentally friendly.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Consumer Behaviour: Paper-less society through reduction of Yellow Pages and increasing online books specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After all, since the year 2007, print usage of the yellow pages stagnated at 13.4 billion according to Punjabi M. K. et al. (2008). This corresponds to a declining 87 per cent of people in the United States using the Print Yellow Pages since 2007. Thus, the use of online yellow pages proves that they are cheap, convenient and environmentally friendly. In fact, not only this fact results in a pa perless society because it also encourages green computing where papers and energy are conserved. Use of opt-in and opt-out strategy advances to reduce or ban print yellow pages delivery. For example, in San Francisco, one is required to opt-in in order to receive the print yellow pages; otherwise, such deliveries are banned since passage of the ordinance. The development of an online advertising campaign to search for engines as well as the internet yellow pages is significant in this endeavor. According to the report filed in the year 2000 (see Appendix), the use of online search engines resulted in 67 per cent including online yellow pages. On the other hand, the printed yellow pages had a response of 55 per cent as compared against the cost, convenience and user friendness (Chiras 2009). Ultimately, as it is suggested by Boutin (2011), 80 per cent of the directory costs are saved if yellow pages are recycled. The waste reduction initiative will cuts down on paper and yellow page s consumption by 25% compared to other newspapers covering 70 per cent. How we can expand online books rather than bookstores The online books are more accessible and interactive than the books in printed form at the bookstores. According to English.news.cn (Guanqun 2011), about 98 per cent of internet browsers experience stress-free access to any online books. The need to increase online books is essential in correspondence to the high level of interactive as the books range from audio books, practice books, videos and word definitions.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One can expand the online books over bookstores through indexing service. Immense steps have been undertaken by Eat Your Books to upload over 88,000 books coupled with 2000 indexed volumes. Online surfers just indicate in the site that books are theirs, thus, enabling them to have an access to a great variety of books. This builds a virtual bookshelf as an account for every user just like having a personal library or renting books from a bookstore. Online books enable readers to explore through millions of copyrighted books, browse passageways and buy copies. This was confirmed when Google paid $126 million (8.5 million pounds) to build a Book Rights Registry. The Book Rights Registry enables authors and publishers to register books and get reimbursement from the sale of books. Again, one can set up the user account to receive email access on new online books opposed to getting to the bookstore. The discounts offered in online books (30 or 40% off) make them cheaper than in any bookstore, which offers lower discounts at 20 % off (Guanqun 2011). Appendix Turn-Page 2011, Turn-Page Increases ad revenue. References Amanda, B., 2008. How to reduce your carbon footprint. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Consumer Behaviour: Paper-les s society through reduction of Yellow Pages and increasing online books specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Boutin J.P., 2011. Yellow Pages Going Green. Life in Yellow A blog by Yellow Pages Group, [blog] September 1. Web. Chiras, D. D., 2009. Environmental Science. Burlington: Jones Bartlett Learning. Guanqun W., 2011. Traditional bookstores fight for survival as online book sales boom. English.news.cn, Web. Punjabi, M. K., Anderson T., Katz M., McMillan L, Petri G., 2008. New Research Shows Overall Yellow Pages Usage Growing — 17.2 Billion Searches in 2007. Yellow Pages. Web. This essay on Consumer Behaviour: Paper-less society through reduction of Yellow Pages and increasing online books was written and submitted by user Jadon Brooks to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

What have been the recent challenges to Steinways value creation Essays

What have been the recent challenges to Steinways value creation Essays What have been the recent challenges to Steinways value creation Essay What have been the recent challenges to Steinways value creation Essay Essay Topic: Marketing Recent * Sustaining handcraft skill in piano design The age long competitive advantage for Steinway in its piano design would have to give way to a modern automated system for quick assembly and reduction in lead time. * Threats of close substitutes -such as the electronic keyboard, new design of personal computers etc as a form of entertainment is feared would erode Steinways market share and its perceive value. * Erosion of brand image The decision within the CBS years (1972-1985) to increase production levels and choice of other methods of marketing through competitor sales distribution outlets opens an opportunity for customers to question Steinways piano quality, uniqueness and perceived brand image. This resulted in declining sales and frequent order cancellations. The used pianos also pose an issue of how Steinway would hold well of its value creation at the customer end1. Relatively, Bostons piano introduction also further eroded Steinways piano; a middle-range product an advance from the traditional offerings. * Competition Strong competition stem from Yamaha and other Asian brand of piano2. These new designs were built on highly automated systems and had quick assembly time than Steinways with a two year manufacturing time. * Customer relations services The competitors are better at rendering a highly valued after sales checks and feedback from their customers than Steinway. There is a track record of begrudged customers who have made official complaints about Steinways service level; an example in the case study is famous pianist Andre Watts who turned to a competitor (Yamaha) purely on this basis. * Ownership Change The frequent acquisitions and ownership change is a great challenge and pproduct quality has become a concern. This would possibly give rise to the problem of continuance of corporate mission. Therefore, its necessary for Steinway to retain its leadership position to fully understand and make attempt to maintain the core competences and brand image for customer retention and loyalty3 What have been the recent challenges to Steinways Value Creation? Competition Main competitors are Yamaha the largest piano manufacturer in the world. Most pianos are vertical units 90% with small grand pianos making up the remaining 10%. Their production is based on highly automated systems resulting in quicker assembly than Steinway, where a grand piano takes 2 years to manufacture. To most users, other than classically trained pianists, Yamaha represents comparable quality to Steinway. After-sales service is also an issue the example in the case study is that of the famous pianist Andre Watts, who defected to Yamaha complaining of a lack of attention and support from Steinway. Brand dilution Steinway is the Rolls-Royce of the piano market. Throughout the CBS years (1972 1985), emphasis was placed on increasing levels of production. Critics began to question the quality of the pianos, and this filtered through to the customer. This ultimately led to a drop in sales and cancelled orders (at one point they had 740 boxed pianos left in stores awaiting shipment)! The release of the Boston piano, in 1992, by the Birmingham Brothers (1985-1995) was a major shift in Steinways brand. This piano is a mid-range product, representing a significant break from tradition.4 Perversely, Steinways quality has become a problem for them. Their pianos are so durable that the market for them is near saturation point. Second-hand units, that hold their value well5, are now competing with sales of new units.

Global Banking Operations and Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Global Banking Operations and Strategy - Essay Example The following ratios are calculated to evaluate the capital adequacy of RBS (Refer to Appendix 1 for the calculation of ratios) (Bhayani, 2006) From the above figure it is evident that the CAR of RBS has been fluctuating over the years. The highest CAR has been 15% (in 2008 and 2012). The capital resources of RBS comprise Tier 1 and Tier 2. Thus, it can be inferred that 15% of capital (Tiers) of RBS is needed for protecting its risk weighted assets in 2012 ( Hilbers, Krueger and Moretti, 2000). From the above figure it can analysed that the debt equity ratio of the bank has decreased over the years from 2008 to 2012. It can be noticed that RBS has been aggressive in 2008 regarding financing. However, the decrease in the debt equity ratio reflects the fact that RBS has become more conservative in financing its capital through debt (Grier, 2007). The asset quality is a vital factor for gauging the strength of a bank (Pastory and Mutaju, 2013). The main aim is to ensure the component of non-performing asset as percentage of total asset (Refer to Appendix 2 for the calculation of ratios). The ratio gauges the efficiency of the bank for assessing its credit risk and debt recovery (Wagner and Knaup, 2008). NNPA refers to the loans that are about to become default once the borrower fails to make the interest payment (Godlewski, 2003). From the above figure it is evident that the net performing asset has decreased over the year which means the numbers of customers who are not able to pay the interest have decreased. This reflects the fact that RBS has been performing well over the 5 years (Hoshi, Kashyap. and Scharfstein, 2009). From the above figure it is evident that the bank has concentrated in investing their assets over the years so that they can earn profitable return out of it. However, according to the graph, the total investment has reduced over the years. The decrease in total assets may be predicted as the increase in liabilities for

Starbucks international business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Starbucks international business - Assignment Example The rise of business opportunity in different markets is creating a strong appeal in terms of market attractiveness to the firms located in the global markets. The factor of market attractiveness is resulting in the entry of firms in to new geographical locations. It is important to highlight that the entry of the firms in different foreign markets around the world is continuously raising the level of competition in the marketplaces. This assignment focuses on the international business aspects of Starbucks. In a more elaborate manner, it can be said that this assignment focuses on analyzing the international business activities of Starbucks as well as understanding the challenges that they face for being present in an international business. This assignment also aims to evaluate the business stage of Starbucks and make necessary recommendations. Analysis of international business activities Starbucks is a widely popular beverage brand of the United States, which has presence in mult iple markets around the world. ... In the current times, the company produces and sources its highly specific Arabica coffee from various international markets like Latin America, Africa as well as Asia (Pashman, â€Å"Do You Know Where Your Coffee Beans Come From?†). While analyzing the international business activities of Starbucks, the factor of international expansion of Starbucks also has to be taken into account. The highly popular news site Forbes has reported that under the leadership of President and CEO, Howard Schultz, the company has designed some very ambitious international expansion plans. The international expansion plans are highly organic in nature and focuses largely on penetrating in the emerging markets of the east like India and China. The company has plans of opening around 1300 stores in various markets around the world, out of which around 600 stores will be opened in the market of China (Loeb, â€Å"Starbucks: Global Coffee Giant Has New Growth Plans†). Talking in regards to the long term expansion plans of the company, it can be stated that the current management aims to open around 1500 stores in China by the close of the year 2015 (Trefis Team, â€Å"Starbucks U.S. Growth Will Remain Solid While Overseas Expansion Continues†). Challenges for Starbucks as an International Corporation While analyzing the challenges that exist for Starbucks, focus has to be given to the fact that Starbucks is an international brand which enjoys presence in multiple global markets. The most important challenge for Starbucks is the level of competition. Since the main offering of Starbucks is beverage, hence the brand faces competition of both primary and secondary nature. The primary competition of Starbucks arises from the multiple

The Relation Between L1 and L2 Proficiency Essay Example for Free

The Relation Between L1 and L2 Proficiency Essay Investigations of the relationships between L1 and L2 contextualized and decontextualized language skills among immigrant students will be reviewed according to the background of the students involved. The three major categories are Finnish students in Sweden, Hispanic students in the United States, and Asian students in the United States and Canada. The some additional evidence from bilingual programs involving both majority and minority students will be reviewed and finally we will examine studies involving adult L2 learners. According to some researchers, the defining difference between a first language (L1) and a second language (L2) is the age the person learned the language. For example, linguist Eric Lenneberg used second language to mean a language consciously acquired or used by its speaker after puberty. In most cases, people never achieve the same level of fluency and comprehension in their second languages as in their first language. These views are closely associated with the Critical Period Hypothesis. In acquiring an L2, Hyltenstam (1992) found that around the age of six or seven seemed to be a cut-off point for bilinguals to achieve native-like proficiency. After that age, L2 learners could get near-native-like-ness but their language would, while consisting of few actual errors, have enough errors to set them apart from the L1 group. The inability of some subjects to achieve native-like proficiency must be seen in relation to the age of onset (AO). â€Å"The age of 6 or 8 does seem to be an important period in distinguishing between near-native and native-like ultimate attainment More specifically, it may be suggested that AO interacts with frequency and intensity of language use† (Hyltenstam, 1992, p. 364). Later, Hyltenstam Abrahamsson (2003) modified their age cut-offs to argue that after childhood, in general, it becomes more and more difficult to acquire native-like-ness, but that there is no cut-off point in particular. Furthermore, they discuss a number of cases where a native-like L2 was acquired during adulthood. As we are learning more and more about the brain, there is a hypothesis that when a child is going through puberty, that is the time that accents start. Before a child goes through puberty, the chemical processes in the brain are more geared towards language and social communication. Whereas after puberty, the ability for learning a language without an accent has been rerouted to function in another area of the brain—most likely in the frontal lobe area promoting cognitive functions, or in the neural system of hormone allocated for reproduction and sexual organ growth.

psychology and gender :: essays research papers

In a showdown of the sexes on Friday, Johnstone Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker and Professor of Psychology Elizabeth Spelke debated whether innate differences lead to the underrepresentation of tenured women in math and the sciences. In front of a packed Science Center B crowd, they analyzed the data behind University President Lawrence H. Summers’ controversial January comments on women in science. Pinker, whom Summers recruited to Harvard last year, cited evidence arguing that male superiority in skills like mental object rotation and problem solving provides a biological basis for the argument that men are more talented at math and science. Spelke countered, acknowledging the existence of differences between men and women, but arguing that the reason â€Å"women are as scarce as hen’s teeth† in academia is due to discrimination. â€Å"The debate is not, ‘are there sex differences,’ it’s, ‘do they add up to an advantage for one gender over the other,’† Spelke reminded the audience. Prefacing his comments by saying that he was a feminist, Pinker stressed the importance of distinguishing between the moral and empirical claims about gender differences. â€Å"The truth cannot be sexist,† he said. Though Spelke attacked his yardstick indicator—the SAT mathematics examinations—Pinker maintained that â€Å"the tests are very good. They have an enormous amount of predictive power.† Pinker also noted that men and women tend to have different priorities in life; men seek status and money, while women look more for interpersonal relationships. â€Å"What this means is that there are slightly more men than women who don’t care whether or not they have a life,† Pinker said. Spelke did not address the argument about motives directly, saying that she did not think there was evidence available to evaluate the claim that motives are biologically determined. She focused on proving the existence of covert discrimination by looking at how gender stereotypes influence the way men and women are perceived. She presented studies in which employers were given identical resumes—with only the candidate’s gender switched—that found that men were perceived as being more productive than women. She admitted, however, that â€Å"we’re not dealing with overt discrimination,† saying that in unambiguous situations, where one candidate is clearly superior to the other, there is no evidence of sex discrimination. Pinker later noted that women are not underrepresented everywhere, but only in the hard sciences. Several audience members said they thought the evening concluded in Spelke’s favor.

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 73-77

CHAPTER 73 Bourget Airfield's night shift air traffic controller had been dozing before a blank radar screen when the captain of the Judicial Police practically broke down his door. â€Å"Teabing's jet,† Bezu Fache blared, marching into the small tower,† where did it go?† The controller's initial response was a babbling, lame attempt to protect the privacy of their British client – one of the airfield's most respected customers. It failed miserably. â€Å"Okay,† Fache said,† I am placing you under arrest for permitting a private plane to take off without registering a flight plan.† Fache motioned to another officer, who approached with handcuffs, and the traffic controller felt a surge of terror. He thought of the newspaper articles debating whether the nation's police captain was a hero or a menace. That question had just been answered. â€Å"Wait!† the controller heard himself whimper at the sight of the handcuffs. â€Å"I can tell you this much. Sir Leigh Teabing makes frequent trips to London for medical treatments. He has a hangar at Biggin Hill Executive Airport in Kent. On the outskirts of London.† Fache waved off the man with the cuffs. â€Å"Is Biggin Hill his destination tonight?† â€Å"I don't know,† the controller said honestly. â€Å"The plane left on its usual tack, and his last radar contact suggested the United Kingdom. Biggin Hill is an extremely likely guess.† â€Å"Did he have others onboard?† â€Å"I swear, sir, there is no way for me to know that. Our clients can drive directly to their hangars, and load as they please. Who is onboard is the responsibility of the customs officials at the receiving airport.† Fache checked his watch and gazed out at the scattering of jets parked in front of the terminal. â€Å"If they're going to Biggin Hill, how long until they land?† The controller fumbled through his records. â€Å"It's a short flight. His plane could be on the ground by†¦ around six-thirty. Fifteen minutes from now.† Fache frowned and turned to one of his men. â€Å"Get a transport up here. I'm going to London. And get me the Kent local police. Not British MI5. I want this quiet. Kent local.Tell them I want Teabing's plane to be permitted to land. Then I want it surrounded on the tarmac. Nobody deplanes until I get there.† CHAPTER 74 â€Å"You're quiet,† Langdon said, gazing across the Hawker's cabin at Sophie. â€Å"Just tired,† she replied. â€Å"And the poem. I don't know.† Langdon was feeling the same way. The hum of the engines and the gentle rocking of the plane were hypnotic, and his head still throbbed where he'd been hit by the monk. Teabing was still in the back of the plane, and Langdon decided to take advantage of the moment alone with Sophie to tell her something that had been on his mind. â€Å"I think I know part of the reason why your grandfather conspired to put us together. I think there's something he wanted me to explain to you.† â€Å"The history of the Holy Grail and Mary Magdalene isn't enough?† Langdon felt uncertain how to proceed. â€Å"The rift between you. The reason you haven't spoken to him in ten years. I think maybe he was hoping I could somehow make that right by explaining what drove you apart.† Sophie squirmed in her seat. â€Å"I haven't told you what drove us apart.† Langdon eyed her carefully. â€Å"You witnessed a sex rite. Didn't you?† Sophie recoiled. â€Å"How do you know that?† â€Å"Sophie, you told me you witnessed something that convinced you your grandfather was in a secret society. And whatever you saw upset you enough that you haven't spoken to him since. I know a fair amount about secret societies. It doesn't take the brains of Da Vinci to guess what you saw.† Sophie stared. â€Å"Was it in the spring?† Langdon asked. â€Å"Sometime around the equinox? Mid-March?† Sophie looked out the window. â€Å"I was on spring break from university. I came home a few days early.† â€Å"You want to tell me about it?† â€Å"I'd rather not.† She turned suddenly back to Langdon, her eyes welling with emotion. â€Å"I don't know what I saw.† â€Å"Were both men and women present?† After a beat, she nodded.† Dressed in white and black?† She wiped her eyes and then nodded, seeming to open up a little. â€Å"The women were in white gossamer gowns†¦ with golden shoes. They held golden orbs. The men wore black tunics and black shoes.† Langdon strained to hide his emotion, and yet he could not believe what he was hearing. Sophie Neveu had unwittingly witnessed a two-thousand-year-old sacred ceremony. â€Å"Masks?† he asked, keeping his voice calm. â€Å"Androgynous masks?† â€Å"Yes. Everyone. Identical masks. White on the women. Black on the men.† Langdon had read descriptions of this ceremony and understood its mystic roots. â€Å"It's called Hieros Gamos,† he said softly. â€Å"It dates back more than two thousand years. Egyptian priests and priestesses performed it regularly to celebrate the reproductive power of the female,† He paused, leaning toward her. â€Å"And if you witnessed Hieros Gamos without being properly prepared to understand its meaning, I imagine it would be pretty shocking.† Sophie said nothing. â€Å"Hieros Gamos is Greek,† he continued. â€Å"It means sacred marriage.† â€Å"The ritual I saw was no marriage.† â€Å"Marriage as in union, Sophie.† â€Å"You mean as in sex.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No?† she said, her olive eyes testing him. Langdon backpedaled. â€Å"Well†¦ yes, in a manner of speaking, but not as we understand it today.† He explained that although what she saw probably looked like a sex ritual, Hieros Gamos had nothing to do with eroticism. It was a spiritual act. Historically, intercourse was the act through which male and female experienced God. The ancients believed that the male was spiritually incomplete until he had carnal knowledge of the sacred feminine. Physical union with the female remained the sole means through which man could become spiritually complete and ultimately achieve gnosis – knowledge of the divine. Since the days of Isis, sex rites had been considered man's only bridge from earth to heaven. â€Å"By communing with woman,† Langdon said,† man could achieve a climactic instant when his mind went totally blank and he could see God.† Sophie looked skeptical. â€Å"Orgasm as prayer?† Langdon gave a noncommittal shrug, although Sophie was essentially correct. Physiologically speaking, the male climax was accompanied by a split second entirely devoid of thought. A brief mental vacuum. A moment of clarity during which God could be glimpsed. Meditation gurus achieved similar states of thoughtlessness without sex and often described Nirvana as a never- ending spiritual orgasm. â€Å"Sophie,† Langdon said quietly,† it's important to remember that the ancients' view of sex was entirely opposite from ours today. Sex begot new life – the ultimate miracle – and miracles could be performed only by a god. The ability of the woman to produce life from her womb made her sacred. A god. Intercourse was the revered union of the two halves of the human spirit – male and female – through which the male could find spiritual wholeness and communion with God. What you saw was not about sex, it was about spirituality. The Hieros Gamos ritual is not a perversion. It's a deeply sacrosanct ceremony.† His words seemed to strike a nerve. Sophie had been remarkably poised all evening, but now, for the first time, Langdon saw the aura of composure beginning to crack. Tears materialized in her eyes again, and she dabbed them away with her sleeve. He gave her a moment. Admittedly, the concept of sex as a pathway to God was mind-boggling at first. Langdon's Jewish students always looked flabbergasted when he first told them that the early Jewish tradition involved ritualistic sex. In the Temple, no less.Early Jews believed that the Holy of Holies in Solomon's Temple housed not only God but also His powerful female equal, Shekinah. Men seeking spiritual wholeness came to the Temple to visit priestesses – or hierodules – with whom they made love and experienced the divine through physical union. The Jewish tetragrammaton YHWH – the sacred name of God – in fact derived from Jehovah, an androgynous physical union between the masculine Jah and the pre-Hebraic name for Eve, Havah. â€Å"For the early Church,† Langdon explained in a soft voice,† mankind's use of sex to commune directly with God posed a serious threat to the Catholic power base. It left the Church out of the loop, undermining their self-proclaimed status as the sole conduit to God. For obvious reasons, they worked hard to demonize sex and recast it as a disgusting and sinful act. Other major religions did the same.† Sophie was silent, but Langdon sensed she was starting to understand her grandfather better. Ironically, Langdon had made this same point in a class lecture earlier this semester. â€Å"Is it surprising we feel conflicted about sex?† he asked his students. â€Å"Our ancient heritage and our very physiologies tell us sex is natural – a cherished route to spiritual fulfillment – and yet modern religion decries it as shameful, teaching us to fear our sexual desire as the hand of the devil.† Langdon decided not to shock his students with the fact that more than a dozen secret societies around the world – many of them quite influential – still practiced sex rites and kept the ancient traditions alive. Tom Cruise's character in the film Eyes Wide Shut discovered this the hard way when he sneaked into a private gathering of ultraelite Manhattanites only to find himself witnessing Hieros Gamos. Sadly, the filmmakers had gotten most of the specifics wrong, but the basic gist was there – a secret society communing to celebrate the magic of sexual union. â€Å"Professor Langdon?† A male student in back raised his hand, sounding hopeful. â€Å"Are you saying that instead of going to chapel, we should have more sex?† Langdon chuckled, not about to take the bait. From what he'd heard about Harvard parties, these kids were having more than enough sex. â€Å"Gentlemen,† he said, knowing he was on tender ground,† might I offer a suggestion for all of you. Without being so bold as to condone premarital sex, and without being so naive as to think you're all chaste angels, I will give you this bit of advice about your sex lives.† All the men in the audience leaned forward, listening intently. â€Å"The next time you find yourself with a woman, look in your heart and see if you cannot approach sex as a mystical, spiritual act. Challenge yourself to find that spark of divinity that man can only achieve through union with the sacred feminine.† The women smiled knowingly, nodding. The men exchanged dubious giggles and off-color jokes. Langdon sighed. College men were still boys. Sophie's forehead felt cold as she pressed it against the plane's window and stared blankly into the void, trying to process what Langdon had just told her. She felt a new regret well within her. Ten years.She pictured the stacks of unopened letters her grandfather had sent her. I will tell Robert everything.Without turning from the window, Sophie began to speak. Quietly. Fearfully. As she began to recount what had happened that night, she felt herself drifting back†¦ alighting in the woods outside her grandfather's Normandy chateau†¦ searching the deserted house in confusion†¦ hearing the voices below her†¦ and then finding the hidden door. She inched down the stone staircase, one step at a time, into that basement grotto. She could taste the earthy air. Cool and light. It was March. In the shadows of her hiding place on the staircase, she watched as the strangers swayed and chanted by flickering orange candles. I'm dreaming, Sophie told herself. This is a dream. What else could this be? The women and men were staggered, black, white, black, white. The women's beautiful gossamer gowns billowed as they raised in their right hands golden orbs and called out in unison,† I was withyou in the beginning, in the dawn of all that is holy, I bore you from the womb before the start of day.† The women lowered their orbs, and everyone rocked back and forth as if in a trance. They were revering something in the center of the circle. What are they looking at? The voices accelerated now. Louder. Faster. â€Å"The woman whom you behold is love!† The women called, raising their orbs again. The men responded,† She has her dwelling in eternity!† The chanting grew steady again. Accelerating. Thundering now. Faster. The participants stepped inward and knelt. In that instant, Sophie could finally see what they were all watching. On a low, ornate altar in the center of the circle lay a man. He was naked, positioned on his back, and wearing a black mask. Sophie instantly recognized his body and the birthmark on his shoulder. She almost cried out. Grand-pere! This image alone would have shocked Sophie beyond belief, and yet there was more. Straddling her grandfather was a naked woman wearing a white mask, her luxuriant silver hair flowing out behind it. Her body was plump, far from perfect, and she was gyrating in rhythm to the chanting – making love to Sophie's grandfather. Sophie wanted to turn and run, but she couldn't. The stone walls of the grotto imprisoned her as the chanting rose to a fever pitch. The circle of participants seemed almost to be singing now, the noise rising in crescendo to a frenzy. With a sudden roar, the entire room seemed to erupt in climax. Sophie could not breathe. She suddenly realized she was quietly sobbing. She turned and staggered silently up the stairs, out of the house, and drove trembling back to Paris. CHAPTER 75 The chartered turboprop was just passing over the twinkling lights of Monaco when Aringarosa hung up on Fache for the second time. He reached for the airsickness bag again but felt too drained even to be sick. Just let it be over! Fache's newest update seemed unfathomable, and yet almost nothing tonight made sense anymore. What is going on? Everything had spiraled wildly out of control. What have I gotten Silas into? What have I gotten myself into! On shaky legs, Aringarosa walked to the cockpit. â€Å"I need to change destinations.† The pilot glanced over his shoulder and laughed. â€Å"You're joking, right?† â€Å"No. I have to get to London immediately.† â€Å"Father, this is a charter flight, not a taxi.† â€Å"I will pay you extra, of course. How much? London is only one hour farther north and requires almost no change of direction, so – â€Å" â€Å"It's not a question of money, Father, there are other issues.† â€Å"Ten thousand euro. Right now.† The pilot turned, his eyes wide with shock. â€Å"How much? What kind of priest carries that kind of cash?† Aringarosa walked back to his black briefcase, opened it, and removed one of the bearer bonds. He handed it to the pilot. â€Å"What is this?† the pilot demanded. â€Å"A ten-thousand-euro bearer bond drawn on the Vatican Bank.† The pilot looked dubious.† It's the same as cash.† â€Å"Only cash is cash,† the pilot said, handing the bond back. Aringarosa felt weak as he steadied himself against the cockpit door. â€Å"This is a matter of life or death. You must help me. I need to get to London.† The pilot eyed the bishop's gold ring. â€Å"Real diamonds?† Aringarosa looked at the ring. â€Å"I could not possibly part with this.† The pilot shrugged, turning and focusing back out the windshield. Aringarosa felt a deepening sadness. He looked at the ring. Everything it represented was about to be lost to the bishop anyway. After a long moment, he slid the ring from his finger and placed it gently on the instrument panel. Aringarosa slunk out of the cockpit and sat back down. Fifteen seconds later, he could feel the pilot banking a few more degrees to the north. Even so, Aringarosa's moment of glory was in shambles. It had all begun as a holy cause. A brilliantly crafted scheme. Now, like a house of cards, it was collapsing in on itself†¦ and the end was nowhere in sight. CHAPTER 76 Langdon could see Sophie was still shaken from recounting her experience of Hieros Gamos. For his part, Langdon was amazed to have heard it. Not only had Sophie witnessed the full-blown ritual, but her own grandfather had been the celebrant†¦ the Grand Master of the Priory of Sion. It was heady company. Da Vinci, Botticelli, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, Jean Cocteau†¦JacquesSauniere. â€Å"I don't know what else I can tell you,† Langdon said softly. Sophie's eyes were a deep green now, tearful. â€Å"He raised me like his own daughter.† Langdon now recognized the emotion that had been growing in her eyes as they spoke. It was remorse. Distant and deep. Sophie Neveu had shunned her grandfather and was now seeing him in an entirely different light. Outside, the dawn was coming fast, its crimson aura gathering off the starboard. The earth was still black beneath them. â€Å"Victuals, my dears?† Teabing rejoined them with a flourish, presenting several cans of Coke and a box of old crackers. He apologized profusely for the limited fare as he doled out the goods. â€Å"Our friend the monk isn't talking yet,† he chimed, â€Å"but give him time.† He bit into a cracker and eyed the poem. â€Å"So, my lovely, any headway?† He looked at Sophie. â€Å"What is your grandfather trying to tell us here? Where the devil is this headstone? This headstone praised by Templars.† Sophie shook her head and remained silent. While Teabing again dug into the verse, Langdon popped a Coke and turned to the window, his thoughts awash with images of secret rituals and unbroken codes. A headstone praised by Templarsis the key.He took a long sip from the can. A headstone praised by Templars.The cola was warm. The dissolving veil of night seemed to evaporate quickly, and as Langdon watched the transformation, he saw a shimmering ocean stretch out beneath them. The English Channel.It wouldn't be long now. Langdon willed the light of day to bring with it a second kind of illumination, but the lighter it became outside, the further he felt from the truth. He heard the rhythms of iambic pentameter and chanting, Hieros Gamos and sacred rites, resonating with the rumble of the jet. A headstone praised by Templars. The plane was over land again when a flash of enlightenment struck him. Langdon set down his empty can of Coke hard. â€Å"You won't believe this,† he said, turning to the others. â€Å"The Templar headstone – I figured it out.† Teabing's eyes turned to saucers. â€Å"You know where the headstone is?† Langdon smiled. â€Å"Not where it is. What it is.† Sophie leaned in to hear. â€Å"I think the headstone references a literal stone head,†Langdon explained, savoring the familiar excitement of academic breakthrough. â€Å"Not a grave marker.† â€Å"A stone head?† Teabing demanded. Sophie looked equally confused.† Leigh,† Langdon said, turning,† during the Inquisition, the Church accused the Knights Templar of all kinds of heresies, right?† â€Å"Correct. They fabricated all kinds of charges. Sodomy, urination on the cross, devil worship, quite a list.† â€Å"And on that list was the worship of false idols, right? Specifically, the Church accused the Templars of secretly performing rituals in which they prayed to a carved stone head†¦ the pagan god – â€Å" â€Å"Baphomet!† Teabing blurted. â€Å"My heavens, Robert, you're right! A headstone praised by Templars!† Langdon quickly explained to Sophie that Baphomet was a pagan fertility god associated with the creative force of reproduction. Baphomet's head was represented as that of a ram or goat, a common symbol of procreation and fecundity. The Templars honored Baphomet by encircling a stone replica of his head and chanting prayers. â€Å"Baphomet,† Teabing tittered. â€Å"The ceremony honored the creative magic of sexual union, but Pope Clement convinced everyone that Baphomet's head was in fact that of the devil. The Pope used the head of Baphomet as the linchpin in his case against the Templars.† Langdon concurred. The modern belief in a horned devil known as Satan could be traced back to Baphomet and the Church's attempts to recast the horned fertility god as a symbol of evil. The Church had obviously succeeded, although not entirely. Traditional American Thanksgiving tables still bore pagan, horned fertility symbols. The cornucopia or† horn of plenty† was a tribute to Baphomet's fertility and dated back to Zeus being suckled by a goat whose horn broke off and magically filled with fruit. Baphomet also appeared in group photographs when some joker raised two fingers behind a friend's head in the V-symbol of horns; certainly few of the pranksters realized their mocking gesture was in fact advertising their victim's robust sperm count. â€Å"Yes, yes,† Teabing was saying excitedly. â€Å"Baphomet must be what the poem is referring to. A headstone praised by Templars.† â€Å"Okay,† Sophie said, â€Å"but if Baphomet is the headstone praised by Templars, then we have a new dilemma.† She pointed to the dials on the cryptex. â€Å"Baphomet has eight letters. We only have room for five.† Teabing grinned broadly. â€Å"My dear, this is where the Atbash Cipher comes into play† CHAPTER 77 Langdon was impressed. Teabing had just finished writing out the entire twenty-two-letter Hebrew alphabet – alef-beit – from memory. Granted, he'd used Roman equivalents rather than Hebrew characters, but even so, he was now reading through them with flawless pronunciation. A B G D H V Z Ch T Y K L M N S O P Tz Q R Sh Th â€Å"Alef, Beit, Gimel, Dalet, Hei, Vav, Zayin, Chet, Tet, Yud, Kaf, Lamed, Mem, Nun, Samech, Ayin, Pei, Tzadik, Kuf, Reish, Shin, and Tav.† Teabing dramatically mopped his brow and plowed on. â€Å"In formal Hebrew spelling, the vowel sounds are not written. Therefore, when we write the word Baphomet using the Hebrew alphabet, it will lose its three vowels in translation, leaving us – â€Å" â€Å"Five letters,† Sophie blurted. Teabing nodded and began writing again. â€Å"Okay, here is the proper spelling of Baphomet inHebrew letters. I'll sketch in the missing vowels for clarity's sake. B a P V o M e Th â€Å"Remember, of course,† he added,† that Hebrew is normally written in the opposite direction, but we can just as easily use Atbash this way. Next, all we have to do is create our substitution scheme by rewriting the entire alphabet in reverse order opposite the original alphabet.† â€Å"There's an easier way,† Sophie said, taking the pen from Teabing. â€Å"It works for all reflectional substitution ciphers, including the Atbash. A little trick I learned at the Royal Holloway.† Sophie wrote the first half of the alphabet from left to right, and then, beneath it, wrote the second half, right to left. â€Å"Cryptanalysts call it the fold-over. Half as complicated. Twice as clean.† A B G D H V Z Ch T Y K Th Sh R Q Tz P O S N M L Teabing eyed her handiwork and chuckled. â€Å"Right you are. Glad to see those boys at the Holloway are doing their job.† Looking at Sophie's substitution matrix, Langdon felt a rising thrill that he imagined must have rivaled the thrill felt by early scholars when they first used the Atbash Cipher to decrypt the now famous Mystery of Sheshach.For years, religious scholars had been baffled by biblical references to a city called Sheshach.The city did not appear on any map nor in any other documents, and yet it was mentioned repeatedly in the Book of Jeremiah – the king of Sheshach, the city of Sheshach, the people of Sheshach. Finally, a scholar applied the Atbash Cipher to the word, and his results were mind-numbing. The cipher revealed that Sheshach was in fact a code word for another very well-known city. The decryption process was simple. Sheshach, in Hebrew, was spelled: Sh-Sh-K. Sh-Sh-K, when placed in the substitution matrix, became B-B-L. B-B-L, in Hebrew, spelled Babel. The mysterious city of Sheshach was revealed as the city of Babel, and a frenzy of biblical examination ensued. Within weeks, several more Atbash code words were uncovered in the Old Testament, unveiling myriad hidden meanings that scholars had no idea were there. â€Å"We're getting close,† Langdon whispered, unable to control his excitement. â€Å"Inches, Robert,† Teabing said. He glanced over at Sophie and smiled. â€Å"You ready?† She nodded.† Okay, Baphomet in Hebrew without the vowels reads: B-P-V-M-Th.Now we simply apply your Atbash substitution matrix to translate the letters into our five-letter password.† Langdon's heart pounded. B-P-V-M-Th.The sun was pouring through the windows now. He looked at Sophie's substitution matrix and slowly began to make the conversion. B is Sh†¦P is V†¦ Teabing was grinning like a schoolboy at Christmas. â€Å"And the Atbash Cipher reveals†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stopped short. â€Å"Good God!† His face went white. Langdon's head snapped up. â€Å"What's wrong?† Sophie demanded. â€Å"You won't believe this.† Teabing glanced at Sophie. â€Å"Especially you.† â€Å"What do you mean?† she said.† This is†¦ ingenious,† he whispered. â€Å"Utterly ingenious!† Teabing wrote again on the paper. â€Å"Drumroll, please. Here is your password.† He showed them what he had written. Sh-V-P-Y-A Sophie scowled. â€Å"What is it?† Langdon didn't recognize it either. Teabing's voice seemed to tremble with awe. â€Å"This, my friend, is actually an ancient word of wisdom.† Langdon read the letters again. An ancient word of wisdom frees this scroll.An instant later he got it. He had never seen this coming. â€Å"An ancient word of wisdom!† Teabing was laughing. â€Å"Quite literally!† Sophie looked at the word and then at the dial. Immediately she realized Langdon and Teabing had failed to see a serious glitch. â€Å"Hold on! This can't be the password,† she argued. â€Å"The cryptex doesn't have an Sh on the dial. It uses a traditional Roman alphabet.† â€Å"Read the word,† Langdon urged. â€Å"Keep in mind two things. In Hebrew, the symbol for the sound Sh can also be pronounced as S, depending on the accent. Just as the letter P can be pronounced F.† SVFYA? she thought, puzzled. â€Å"Genius!† Teabing added. â€Å"The letter Vav is often a placeholder for the vowel sound O!† Sophie again looked at the letters, attempting to sound them out.† S†¦ o†¦ f†¦ y†¦ a.† She heard the sound of her voice, and could not believe what she had just said. â€Å"Sophia? This spells Sophia?† Langdon was nodding enthusiastically. â€Å"Yes! Sophia literally means wisdom in Greek. The root of your name, Sophie, is literally a ‘word of wisdom.'† Sophie suddenly missed her grandfather immensely. He encrypted the Priory keystone with my name.A knot caught in her throat. It all seemed so perfect. But as she turned her gaze to the five lettered dials on the cryptex, she realized a problem still existed. â€Å"But wait†¦ the word Sophia has six letters.† Teabing's smile never faded. â€Å"Look at the poem again. Your grandfather wrote, ‘An ancient word of wisdom.' â€Å"Yes?† Teabing winked. â€Å"In ancient Greek, wisdom is spelled S-O-F-I-A.†

Business Failure of Worldcom in the Light of...

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