Does FIFA Do Enough To Prevent Racism In Football

Racism; hatred or intolerance of another race or other races is unfortunately a very frequent occurrence around the world. Starting very early on, the belief that someone’s race is superior and has the right to rule others still takes place even to this day. Football, is a sport which should bring countries and races together to compete against each other. But this is not the case, the degree of Racism in football is simply unacceptable. From League 2 in England, to the FIFA World Cup it takes place on the pitch, in the stands and even on the internet.Many various organisations have attempted to prevent Racism in Football, including; Fà ©dà ©ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) & Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). But are they doing enough? The most recent incident was on the 24th July 2013 where AC Milan left back Kevin Constant kicked the ball into the crowd and left the pitch after racist abuse was being chanted from the stands of the Sassuolo supporters while he was preparing to take a throw in. Constant's actions emulate those of Boateng’s where a similar scene occurred however the whole team walked off the pitch instead of the one player.While Boateng had plenty of support, it seemed that AC were much less supportive of Constant's decision to exit the pitch. The club said in a statement: â€Å"This was not a decision he should have taken upon himself to make. † After the situation had been reviewed by the FIGC (Italian Football Federation) Sassoulo were fined 30,000 euros for their fans actions, I fully support the decision to punish the club but aren’t others to blame for Constant’s decision to leave the pitch? Is this really going to stop the Racist remarks? The answer is absolutely not.FIGC’s solution did not directly affect the fans and therefore these scenes will undoubtedly keep occurring. Situations like this should be dealt with in the equitable way to abrogate Racism in foot ball and not just result in a careless fine. However this isn’t the worst part of the story. Constant was fined with 3,000 euros for is actions. This is an absolutely appalling decision, and could perhaps encourage supporters to carry on with racist remarks towards the players. Kevin Constant had every right to exit the pitch in the manor he did.On the other hand, FIFA -along with its employees and the football community- have showed that they’re currently unquestionably attempting to stop Racism in football and inside civilisation in general. FIFA has begun and presented events such as the FIFA Conference on Racism in Football, UN Anti-Racism Conference, and established its very first Anti-Discrimination Day on 7 July 2002. But this isn’t enough, FIFA have thought of many methods, but haven’t executed enough hands on tasks to cause any great effect. For example, the FIFA Disciplinary code was taken into place a few years ago.The code shows what happens i f the FIFA Statues -basic laws for world football- are violated. It applies to everyone involved in the football match being played but is everyone being caught out? Not everyone can be dealt with at one time, especially when multiple people join in Racist chants. Therefore I don’t see the Disciplinary Code as being an effective method to eliminate Racism from Football. UEFA work very closely with FARE (Football Against Racism In Europe) and give them a lot of aid in promotion, finance etc.I personally feel that have a much more effective method of preventing Racism. I feel this way because annually at 40 UEFA club competition matches, players are accompanied onto the field by children wearing Unite Against Racism T-shirts, while team captains wear matching armbands. I support this form of preventing racism because fans respect their club’s players and if they see the players supporting the fight against racism then they might think twice about shouting abuse at a play er with a different colour of skin. This method is also incredibly cheap and extremely effective.Considering the millions of pounds some of these respected organisations will have, purchasing t-shirts and armbands should not affect them financially in any way. There are multiple Racist incidents in Football and Kevin Constant’s wasn’t the worst. Standard Liege player Onyewu, stated that Anderlecht’s Jelle Van Damme called him a â€Å"dirty ape† under his breath during the first leg of a play off match. Onyewu alerted the white referee but no action was taken and he was ignored. Although this isn’t the worst of what happened on that match day.When Onyewu arrived at the stadium he was punched and shouted at by the opposition fans. These fans were unpunished and allowed to enter the stadium with nothing said. This is just one of many racist incidents in football which haven’t been dealt with correctly, the referee blatantly showed he was simply uninterested in Onyewu’s complaint. I believe that the referee should receive a long match ban and fine for his actions as he should have been one of the first to report the incident. As for the fans who physically attacked Onyewu, they deserved a permanent ban from going to any future matches.I personally feel that FIFA, FIGC, UEFA and all other major Football related organisations should work together to fight racism and not just focus on their own ways of preventing it. Every match should be promoting the act against racism, tickets, programmes and all forms of merchandise should have ‘Say No To Racism printed on them. Furthermore the punishments for violating the FIFA Disciplinary code should be stricter, fans should have a very long –or possibly life- ban from going to matches if caught and players, managers, match officials should be treated in the same manor along with a minimum fine of 40,000 pounds.

African American Theatre 2 Essay

African American Theater started out, hundreds of years ago, as a foundation of amusement for the black community. The theater was a place where African Americans, equally men and women, could work, study, and perfect their expertise. The beginning of African American theater set in motion back in the 1830’s, and it eventually became one of America’s most prevalent sources of entertainment Over the course of over one and a half decades, there has been an apparent transformation within the dominion of African American theater. For example, African Americans have prevailed over the intense burden of subjugation in forms such as political affairs, comfortable residency and most significantly, equal human rights. One of the most apparent leisure pursuits that were in remission from African-Americans came in the appearance of the performing arts, more particularly film. During this time, the society in general would not permit, for example, blacks to drink from the same water fountain, so to share the same onstage experiences or television effects was, without a doubt, not even simply prohibited but unheard of. However, as time went by, the potency of the hopeful African American actors and actresses weighed down the greater part of the general society, and society ceased being able to keep African Americans from appearing on stage and on television. For the longest time, the stage became and stayed the only way for African Americans to communicate the deep sorrow and oppression that the society, particularly the white population, had placed in front of them. Through acting, in addition to both singing and dancing, African Americans were able to, mentally and spiritually, go to a place that no tormenter could find them. With this new form of communication, African Americans found a new method of endurance, and acting was the fundamental technique. Even though the African American actors and actresses were forced to take the road of continued existence in the theater to gain self contentment, it was, as an understatement, not unproblematic. For the longest moments in time, African American actors and actresses were not permitted to step foot on stage. However, black actors were instead ridiculed by Caucasian actors in what they called â€Å"black face. † Black face was a performance where white actors and actresses would literally conceal their faces with black paint and makeup, so as to imitate an African American actor. From this falsification of the hopeful actors, derogatory names such as Tom, Mulatto, Mammy, Coon, and Buck resulted. Similar to Black Face, there was what is called Minstrel Shows. Minstrel shows, which consisted of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, ridiculed and made fun of African Americans in the most disapproving ways. According to these shows, black people were looked upon as ignorant, lazy, and unreasonable, but also cheerful and melodious. Broadway, which is the heart of theater for Americans, had been closed to blacks for more than a decade. However, this was only until the African American musical â€Å"Shuffle Along† turned out to be a runaway success, which some historians believe was the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance. The first African American play to be produced on Broadway was â€Å"The Chip Woman’s Fortune† in 1923, written by Willis Richardson. In the year of 1959, Lorraine Hansberry, a famous playwright, became the first African American woman to have her play produced and performed on Broadway. Hansberry’s play, titled â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun,† became an outlet for a continual assembly of plays by African American playwrights who often brought their own individual occurrences in the great effort in opposition to racial discrimination to the theater plays that they produced. . By the revolving of this period, the minstrel show enjoyed but a shadow of its former popularity, having been replaced for the most part by vaudeville. It survived as professional entertainment until about 1910; amateur performances continued until the 1960s in high schools, fraternities, and local theaters. As blacks began to score legal and social victories against racism and to successfully assert political power, minstrelsy lost popularity. The typical minstrel performance followed a three-act structure. The troupe first danced onto stage then exchanged wisecracks and sang songs. The second part featured a variety of entertainments, including the pun-filled stump speech. The final act consisted of a slapstick musical plantation skit or a send-up of a popular play. Minstrel songs and sketches featured several stock characters, most popularly the slave and the dandy. These were further divided into sub-archetypes such as the mammy, her counterpart the old darky, the provocative mulatto wench, and the black soldier. Minstrels claimed that their songs and dances were authentically black, although the extent of the black influence remains debated. Spirituals (known as jubilees) entered the repertoire in the 1870s, marking the first undeniably black music to be used in minstrelsy. Blackface minstrelsy was the first distinctly American theatrical form. In the 1830s and 1840s, it was at the core of the rise of an American music industry, and for several decades it provided the lens through which white America saw black America. On the one hand, it had strong racist aspects; on the other, it afforded white Americans a singular and broad awareness of significant aspects of African American culture.

Killing Us Softly Essay

â€Å"Killing Us Softly† is a movie we watched in class on women and men and how they are portrayed in the advertising world. Jean Kilbourne is the speaker; she started collecting advertisements in the 60’s because of her involvement with the women’s movement, her interest in the media and through her experiences as a model. I actually found this movie to be way more informational than I first thought it would be; I thought it would be all about statics and less about the image of advertising. What type of advertising environment surrounds us? Here are some facts that might answer that question. In the past 40 years Kilbourne believes that the advertising image of women has become worse. Advertising in the United States had turned into a billion dollar industry. The average American will be exposed to over 3,000 daily and will spend about two years of their life watching commercials on television. Advertisements are everywhere, they are at sporting stadiums, bill boards, bus stops, and elevators etc., we cannot escape them. Advertising creates an environment one that makes us believe that we need to be healthy and beautiful. We know that ads sell much more than products. They are trying to sell us values, images, love and success. They are telling us who we are now, and who we should be in the future, this is powerful especially if we are still finding our way in life. There rarely is a photograph of a beautiful woman that has not been photo shopped in one way or another. Women of color are considered beautiful only if they meet the white ideal which is lighter skin tone, straight hair and Caucasian looking features. A good example of this is the singer Beyoncà ©. In all types of advertising women’s bodies are turned into an â€Å"object†. One area on the body that advertising companies focus on is the breasts. There has been an increase in cosmetic surgeries in recent years. Ninety-one percent of all cosmetic procedures are done on women. The society that we live in loves to make fun of celebrities who gain a little weight, we are obsessed with thinness. Models are becoming thinner and thinner. The sad reality is that if they are not thin enough in a photo shoot then they are photo shopped to make them look thinner. Some of the ads we see today encourage unhealthy attitudes which can lead to eating disorders. Advertisers target women with weight loss products. It has been found that many of these products do not work, with 95% of dieters regaining  the weight back. An interesting study was done among Fijian women soon after the television was introduced to their country. The study found that there was a rise in eating disorders. The U.S has the highest rate of teen pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases in the developed world. The sexualization of girls has become extreme; there are padded bras and thongs for pre-teen girls that are sold on department stores. Ads are catered for heterosexuals. Gay men hardly exist outside the publications that target them, and the way they depict lesbians is if it comes straight from the porn world. Over the years men have been featured as being bigger, stronger and more powerful than women. Men really don’t live in a world where their bodies are scrutinized, criticized or judged in the same way as women. Boys are growing up in a world where mean are shown to be perpetrators of violence and encourages toughness and insensitivity. The most dangerous image that can be seen is the one that eroticizes violence against women. These images could feature women in bondage, being battered, or worst having been murdered. Advertising affects us all whether we realize it or not. It does not matter if we are rich or poor, young or old we are all slaves to it in one way or another.

Policy Change Proposal Section I Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Policy Change Proposal Section I - Assignment Example If changed, businesses will have to issue form 1099 to all corporations and individuals that give $600 or more in merchandise or services annually to the business. The Health Care Act has expanded, in two meaningful ways the obligation to give form 1099s. In the first instance, businesses are required to issue these forms, not just to individuals, but also to corporations. In the second instance, the threshold of $600 is triggered by merchandise purchases, as well as for services (Estes & Williams, 2013). Starting in 2013, therefore, all funeral parlors will be required to issue forms 1099 to utilities, phone companies, and insurance companies, auto dealers, embalming fluid suppliers, monument companies, cemeteries, vault sellers, and casket sellers. The small problems faced by funeral homes in January is set to become a nightmare with regards to paperwork, especially since the payments need to be tracked, tax ID addresses and numbers collected, as well as issuance of multiple form 1099s. This onerous provision needs to be repealed by congress through advocacy by business groups and other independent workers (Kluwer, 2012). The issue should al so be brought to the attention of the Small Business Administration of the United

Differences between Islamic Financing Methods and Conventional Research Paper

Differences between Islamic Financing Methods and Conventional Financing Methods - Research Paper Example The purpose of this study is to highlight the differences between the conventional financing methods and Islamic financing methods. The growing stature of Islamic financing methods in different parts of the world has offered different options to customers. It needs to be mentioned that Islamic financing methods are different from the conventional financing methods in terms of interest and profit elements. However, very few people are aware of that and often consider Islamic financing methods as similar to conventional financing methods. The study aims at highlighting the basic difference between these two financing methods along with analysing the overall importance and significance in the economic environment. The research also highlights the significance of the study in the current business and social environment. There is no doubt that Islamic financing methods are driven by religious teachings and preaching while conventional financing methods are based on modern and practical el ements of the economic environment like earning profit for every investment. The research encompasses a thorough analysis of differences between Islamic and conventional financing methods, assessment of advantages and disadvantages in the economic environment and preference of customers driven by religious issues and personal proclivity towards the financing methods. Financial institutions are often considered as the heart beat of any nation and smooth operation of these institutions often flourishes the perfect balance between the demand and supply of funds. There are a number of banks having different styles and perceptions of operating in a particular business and social environment. Islamic capitalism was based on Islamic principles where interest was prohibited in every sense. Islamic capitalism can be traced way back in 8-12th century but this has very little significance to this study. The primary purpose of this study is to highlight the differences between the conventional financing methods and Islamic financing methods. The growing stature of Islamic financing methods in different parts of the world has offered different options to customers. It needs to be mentioned that Islamic financing methods are different from the conventional financing methods in terms of interest and profit elements (Hassan, Kabir, Lewis, (2007). However, very few people are aware of that and often consider Islamic financing methods as similar to conventional financing methods. The study aims at highlighting the basic difference between these two

Automobile firm FORD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Automobile firm FORD - Essay Example The rise in taxes in recent years has meant that petrol cars pay more VED. Companies have to take into account other laws such as new car warranties and the laws under the EU treaty such as those regarding location and block exemption. The market is oligopolistic. Ford has a high market share in 3 categories of cars. However, international competition, especially from BRIC countries, is a threat. The Ford brand has lost its appeal to the masses and is now termed as an old brand. In the market, there are high barriers to entry from financial constraints and regulatory requirements. There is threat of substitutes from environment-friendly cars. Backward integration diminishes the power of suppliers. Customers have high bargaining power in this durable goods industry. The future strategies of Ford Motors should be focused on slashing prices, improving brand image and technological innovation. The automobile industry is perhaps an industry that has suffered the most in the current global economic crisis situation. Burdened by the lack of consumer credit and cutbacks in household expenditures, this durable goods industry has had to endure setback in sales growth. Furthermore, the credit crunch has meant that the companies have found hard to draw capital from the pockets of investors. Oil price hikes and increase in credit costs pulled up the costs of manufacturing and put the giant manufacturers in the same league as small manufacturers with regard to problems faced. Companies like Chrysler have had to cut back on production in order to trim their inventories and reduce cost. Revill (2008) reports that Ford will reduce production at its Southampton factory in southern England in 2011 to 35,000 units, less than half of the 75,000 the factory built in 2007. Despite this, the automotive industry has done quite well. According to Auto Industry (2007), in 2006, 1.4 million cars and 208,000 commercial vehicles were produced in the UK. SMMT (2009) reports

Discuss the meaning and importance of the concept of elasticity in Essay

Discuss the meaning and importance of the concept of elasticity in microeconomic reasoning - Essay Example n help economists ascertain whether it would be more profitable to increase or decrease the price of a particular product based on price elasticity of demand. Elasticity helps determine if a good is of inferior quality or normal quality based on price elasticity of demand. An inferior quality product is consumed less if the consumers’ income increasing while a normal quality product has higher consumption along with rising income of the consumer. Similarly, Elasticity can help decide whether the products are compliments or supplements. The difference between the two is that with complimentary goods the demand for one leads to demand for another of the same product, while supplementary goods are those that guide to less demand for another product. Cross price elasticity of demand determines if a product is a compliment or supplement. And lastly, price elasticity of demand can help economists find out whether her a supplier e.g. a farmer, will have the capability to suddenly inc rease their supply. Farmers and other agricultural goods producers have low price elasticity of supply as it takes them a long time to increase their supplies because their supplies take a long time to produce. So, in short, elasticity is used when economists want to know how something changes in relation to a change in another. The concept of elasticity is an integral part of the theory of microeconomics. Law of demand tells us that an increase in the price of a product leads to a decrease in its demand. Here, Elasticity can tell us how much demand will decrease for every one per cent increase in price. An elasticity of 1 or higher is â€Å"elastic†. While inelastic refers to products that remain on constant demand no matter what their price

Graduate Book Review Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Graduate Book Review - Assignment Example The cover of the work documents the content of the book and what the author aims at portraying to the readers. With a boldly written title and clear subtitles on the themes inside, the reader can easily search for the information required. The main thesis of the work involves the defining what is required by an individual in terms of business innovation, identifying the problem that may hamper innovation, and then defining a solution. The work also indicates that new ideas can be created from existing ones. Creativity is, therefore, key as far as business innovation is concerned. In the first chapter, for example, Murray explains that the first step of business innovation must involve identifying the existing problem or an issue that is to be solved (31-60). It is in the course of business innovation that Murray indicates that there is need to get similar ideas from similar problems that have been existent before (61-62). This means that the business innovator must collect facts from what has been existent before, and then come up with a solution. The next step in business innovation involves connecting all the borrowed ideas and combining them to make a workable idea. In the next step, Murray explains that there is n eed for patience so that the collected ideas can be given time to come up with solutions (101-139). Patience is, therefore, a requirement in business innovation. The fourth step as Murray recommends is the incubation process that allows for the decisions made to come up with a solution (141-176). Next is coming up with an approach that will evaluate the pluses and the weaknesses of the solutions incubated so as to assess if the decisions made were fruitful or not (178-210). Lastly, enhancing is a major step in the course of business innovation (211-255). This step allows for strengthening the strong points of the business idea and eliminating the weak points. Evidently,

Assignment and presentation A1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

And presentation A1 - Assignment Example Coca-Cola possesses the best known brand globally whilst PepsiCo possess massive brand-name reorganization but is more diversified than corresponding Coca-Cola. From the year 2009 to the year 2013, PepsiCo accomplished slightly better growth rate in terms of sales and net profit whilst Coca-Cola have maintained better profit margin with relatively lower cost of sales. Moreover, PepsiCo’s posed relatively lower short-term solvency risk to its underlying investors compared to the Coca-Cola. Both the companies exhibited low long-term solvency risk with PepsiCo’s risk being slightly upper than Coca-Cola’s. Both the companies experienced an identical level of investors’ confidence and stock pricing. The companies’ stocks are mainly dividend generating stocks. Nevertheless, Coca-Cola had relatively dividend yield and corresponding dividend payout rate. Coca-Cola’s bigger profit margin and dividends are probably very attractive to a potential investor bur PepsiCo’s development potentials, business diversification, low short-term liquidity risk, low long-term solvency risk, better return on investment and effective asset utilization definitely make the company’s stock a better venture

Existentialism - God Essay Example for Free

Existentialism God Essay What is the meaning of life. The meaning of our lives, the purpose, and the dreams both dashed and realized, and the expectations forced upon us by others. In other words how do you translate what life is? Translation means to explain in simple terms. What is it supposed to be about? There are different answers for different people at different times in their lives. A persons lifetime is filled with self-examination. Why am I here? What am I doing? Is this as good as it gets? You have a beginning. Youre in the middle, and your story hasnt ended yet. If one would recognize the greatest things we have in life, they would not be asking this question. These great things are faith, hope, and love. Faith is the one that can keep one from asking questions. If God wanted us to know something, then we would know it. In most religions, Christian ones in particular, the question of meaning in life is inextricably wrapped up in a relationship with God. Living in, for, with, and through him. Therefore, how one answers the meaning of life question bears directly the existence of God. Soren Kierkegaard said to be the father of existentialism maintains that there are three basic answers to the question of the meaning of life. He called these stages of life, because he believed that people progressed from one stage to the next. Whether or not that is true, there do seem to be at least three fundamental outlooks on life. One is a life devoted to pleasure. This value perspective can be shown by a person whose only concern is for what they are doing now. They would rather gain from pleasures in life without any regards to how they might affect their future. Another stage is those choosing ethical and moral paths. People who are honest and loyal demonstrate this in their everyday lives. Finally, there is a live religiously. This has been the popular way of life for many of us. It is going to church and practicing your faith Stace argues, the present age has begun to weaken faith in God. The concept of a supernatural person has begun to seem unlikely to many people. The Bible no longer seems as respected for many Catholics. While many people say they believe in God they are beginning question whether faith and God are the answer to the meaning of life. Most of us whether we choose to admit it or not show that material things are what we base our lives around. These ideas are at the heart of existentialism, which is a view of life that says that human beings are the creators of their own sense of meaning or purpose. The most famous existentialist, John Paul Sartre in his books and novels developed several themes that portray existentialism. The first is the notion that existence precedes essence. A legacy of traditional philosophy has been that we have a fixed human nature. Sartre challenged that we have no such set purpose or meaning. Our real meaning or who we are is a result of our decisions. We are what we decide. The second associated concept is the importance of human freedom. Sartre believed that every human being has the freedom to live life as we choose to. He believed that we are often terrified by our freedom, and in fact frequently do not want to take responsibility for our own actions. This attitude Sartre called bad faith. Bad faith is an act of self-deception in which we rationalize our actions as being caused by circumstances instead of being self-caused. Basically blaming others for our own deceptions and mistakes. The third major concept of existentialism is the idea of the Absurd. The philosopher Albert Camus popularized this concept. The concept of the absurd is promoted by atheistic existentialist, such as Sartre and Camus. The similarity between Christian and atheistic existentialist is the significance of human freedom and the belief that we are the makers of our own lives One of the most significant pieces of the decline of religious faith is the continuing awareness that there may not be any purpose in life. Both Albert Camus, and Stace, write from this perspective. They believed that traditional Christians have found security in the belief that their lives are invisibly directed or orchestrated by God. That we have assumed that God has a plan for our life, that things happen for a purpose. But as we experience, if we do, the decline of faith or the reality of God in our lives, we come to realize that perhaps we are more responsible than God is for what happens to us. We begin to realize or suspect that it is we, not God, who is the creator of our lives. We are responsible for who we become. Of course, there are always going to be those people who doubt everything God stands for. For them, the body dies and eternity is darkness, I suppose. The fight is going to be, perhaps even as it has been a battle between those who reject God and the, and those who know that God is real. The soul is ones conscience. Without the acknowledgement of that soul, there is no inner voice that helps guide him in the decisions that he makes. Yet, the soulless atheists still seek to discover the meaning of life, and this is where the battle is fought. They are simply stating that there is no meaning to their lives they have no soul, there can be no meaning. Theists realize life isnt fair. People arent created equal. Atheists believe that until all people actually are equal, life is meaningless, and this is the connection we have to make for them. People are not equal, people will never be equal, and if this equality is the requirement for accepting the meaning of life, then life will always be meaningless. If ambition brings about advantage, those advantages must be neutralized. This is the goal of the atheist. If there is nothing but darkness after life, the goal must be to create heaven on earth. Everyone has questioned their purpose in life for example in his article, My Confession, Leo Tolstoy has gone through his life without ever really questioning the meaning. Then he periodically questioned it until one day he eventually could not picture himself living anymore until he came up with an answer to his questionings. All the things he was thought to be living by no longer made any sense or had any meaning at all to him. He tried to answer his question many different ways, but whichever way he went he kept coming up with a dead end. He first thought the answer must be his family. Although he loved them very much, as humans they are confronted with the same questions he is. They are living this lie right along with him pretending that they have all the answers, or just simply ignoring the questions. He next thought the answer to be in his work. Eventually, coming to the realization that with all of his success in art and poetry he had become distracted. He was using art as a decoy. Without knowing his answers to the meaning of life, it was wrong and useless to depict these lies to others. He soon felt as if life had stopped, and was even contemplating suicide when he came to the realization that faith is present in each one of us and is what makes our lives meaningful. Everyone must believe they have a purpose here, for if they didnt they would not be living at all. For life to have true meaning, that meaning must come external to the individual and be somehow consistent with life as a whole. Christians would argue that only God could grant this. It is the helping hand, which guides us through life with an honest and loving heart. Jesus is the only man to lead a true, meaningful life. His life is really the only life of meaning and it is only through him that we have the opportunity to live meaningful lives. Without accepting this answer, one will have only difficulty for the rest of their lives, especially in answering the question of the meaning of life. If you accept this answer, however life is much simpler, because your search is over. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life? John 14:6. The way the truth and the meaning of life itself. There are scriptural accounts of people claiming to see God, and while a witness is more proof than no witness is, there is no way to scientifically verify these statements. They must be accepted purely on faith. Some say that the existence of humans or planetary balance is proof that God exists. These do not prove He exists. Christians believe God is in control of everything in the universe, and created the same. God created all beings, and every atom in this universe. We know God exists because He says He does. The bible is His word, left for us to read. Psychologist Viktor Frankl wrote in Mans search for Meaning that we should not ask what we expect from life, but what life expects from us. He was making the point that people must deal with what daily tasks are put in front of them. Instead of arguing and complaining, we have to take action. Our strength is shown through the soul survival of the hardships we face. Which brings us to the problem philosopher John Hick was facing. In his article, The Problem of Evil he asks the question, if God is perfectly loving, he must wish to abolish evil. But evil exists; therefore God cannot be both omnipotent and perfectly loving. The very fact that there is such suffering gives good cause to doubt not only the value of the whole human race, but also the existence of God. A God that can be said to care in the slightest for whats been created, any God who has power over all things, who is anything other than a horrible monster who finds cruel unusual joy in squeezing every last drop of suffering out of them. It would rule out anything even vaguely resembling the God that Christians speak of. A God who deserves our utter hatred not our worship. However, Hick found that although harsh and painful, evil did have purpose in the world. He stated in his article, the finest characteristics of personal life must have a good deal in common with our present world. It must operate according to general and dependable laws: and it must involve real dangers, difficulties, problems, obstacles, and possibilities of pain, failure, sorrow, frustration, and defeat. Without these sufferings, we would not be able to know what happiness and love really was. Evil provides us with the possibility of soul making, and according to free will, we must choose our fate. The Laws of nature must be abided by without them the world could not exist. God may be creating the lesser of the evils. There must be suffering in order for God to give inner strength that compensates for loss, and gives the sufferer inspiration to live faithfully and effectively. What God provides are the resources so we can face the suffering and make something positive come from it. He gives the direction and power to make these resources work. He gives hope and wisdom to find the way past the suffering, and to learn from it. John Paul II gave us an outline of what is believed to be the salvific meaning of suffering. Suffering as he wrote in the Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris, cannot be transformed and changed by a grace form outside, but from within? This question of human suffering is not answered directly by God. As man begins to share in the sufferings of Christ, the answer is discovered within in him. Suffering changes and can either increase or decrease, and in those moments Christians become aware of Gods closeness. We are given inner peace and spiritual joy when we suffer generously. When we are suffering we are never alone we are with Christ. With Christ everything has meaning whether its moments of happiness and peace or of pain and suffering. Nothing in life can be fully explained without God. . Look to the bible and Jesus gives us the answer. Love God with your whole heart, mind, body and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. If you do this, you are following all the commandments. Humble yourself and give the praise and glory to our creator. God the Father our creator is love and he loves you very much. God created us to worship him and he deserves all the praise because he is the first and the last. He has no beginning and no end. Just look around and take in all the beauty he has created. Everyone is special and made in the image of God. We are nothing without our creator. Sin will keep us from God for he is pure and perfect. It is hard to let go of pleasure and putting ones self first. However, the key to peace and happiness is to surrender your freewill to God, the author of life, and he will give you complete, happiness, peace, contentment and purity you are looking for. That is what we were created for. God is made evident every day when the sun comes up, and there is still air to breathe, and you made it through the night. One cannot believe that everything we know was created by accident. Things are just too perfect to have happened by chance. Man is too corrupt a creature to have invented the beautiful things in the world, as in faith, hope and love. He allows evil in this world because He wants us to have the opportunity to choose either Him or evil, thereby proving our love for Him. If His were the only game in town, then there would not be a free will conscious choice for Him. It is evident that the meaning of life has to far to complex for any one to fully understand or agree on the same answer. All these ideas of these different philosophers are not necessarily inaccurate, just incomplete. All pieces to a puzzle that one has no way of fully figuring out. No one has seemed to accomplish this yet in life. There are so many obstacles that we face as we try to achieve a higher good. Many of these are based in the fact that we are human beings, and because of that are flawed by the ways of our culture. Things such as self-doubt, worry, ignorance, and the values put into our heads since the day we were born all are roadblocks on our way to a higher level. Also being human beings makes vulnerable to the ways of the world around us, so it is not easy to block these things out of our lives. This life is a stage in which we are to develop our minds, bodies, and souls to their highest potential in preparation for the afterlife. Only God could ever really show anyone true meaning.

How Does The Concentration Affect Osmosis?

How Does The Concentration Affect Osmosis? Diffusion is the net passive movement of particles atoms, ions or molecules from a region in which they are in higher concentration to regions of lower concentration. Diffusion is important process that occurs in human body example of one of many types of diffusion which occur in the human body is gas exchange at the alveoli- oxygen from air to blood, carbon dioxide from blood to air. [5] Osmosis is the diffusion of fluid through a semipermeable membrane from a solution with a low solute concentration to a solution with a higher solute concentration until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the membrane. [1] Diffusion and osmosis is an example of passive transport. Passive transport is a movement of substance across a permeable membrane without added energy. The difference between osmosis and diffusion is that; diffusion can take place without a membrane whereas osmosis only takes place across a semi permeable membrane. Osmosis only involves movement of water across a permeable membrane. Osmosis is much slower than the rate of diffusion. Osmosis is a passive transport of water whereas diffusion is a passive transport of solutes. [7, 8] A permeable membrane is a membrane that allows all types of molecules or ions to penetrate through it; it lets everything go through it such as salt. [6] Whereas a  semi permeable membrane  is a membrane that allows let only solvents, like water, to pass through it. It is a membrane that will only allow certain molecules through it. In general oxygen, food and water are allowed to enter; waste products are allowed to exit and harmful substances are kept out. It doesnt let large soluble pass through it. [2, 3] Osmosis is the main way water is transported in and out of cells in the human body. The areas of high concentration of water molecules are called hypotonic. Hypotonic solution has a low concentration of dissolved substances. Areas of low concentration of water molecules are called hypertonic. Hypertonic solution has a high concentration of dissolved substances. During osmosis, water molecules naturally travel from hypotonic areas to hypertonic areas. Water molecules travel from hypotonic areas to hypertonic areas because this process equalizes the concentrations of water and dissolved substances. [4] This is example of osmosis in human body, Salts and minerals from water are transferred in the body through osmosis. Water flows through the plasma membrane of cells and due to osmosis concentration of water, glucose and salt is maintained inside the body. [9] Active  transport  is when dissolved molecules move across a cell membrane  from a lower to a higher concentration. In active transport, particles move  against  the concentration gradient and therefore require an input of energy  from the cell. The energy used to absorb the molecules comes from respiration. In humans, active transport takes place during the  digestion  of food in the small intestine. Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars such as glucose. The glucose is absorbed by active transport into the villi, to be passed into the bloodstream and taken around the body. [10] http://www.bbc.co.uk/bang/images/446251/osmosis.jpg [11] Diffusion[12] http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/images/biomembrane1/Tonic2.gif [13] Apparatus: Potato chip: This will help me justify if osmosis is occurring. I have used potato chip to help me justify if osmosis as it is a semi-permeable cell. The length, width and mass of all the potato chip used in the experiment are to be kept same. Scalpel and a chopping tile: The scalpel will be used to cut all the potato chip to the chosen length and width. The chopping tile will used to place the potato chip while being to reduce damages to the work area i.e. cutting of work place while cutting the chip. Electronic scale: Electronic scale will be used in my experiment to measure the mass of potato chip during the experiment. I have decided to use Electronic scale rather than a spring balance to weigh the potato chip because using electronic scale means that my results are accurate as electronic scale has measuring units ranging from grams- kilograms. My results will also be precise as the electronic scale measures the weight of something to 2 decimal places. The results obtained from a spring balance will not be precise; the results will also not be accurate as parallax error could occur while reading the data. The use of balance is necessary in the experiment because I will need to calculate mass of the potato before and after during the experiment, so that I can calculate reliable percentage difference in mass. Distilled water: This will be used to preserve the potato chip .I have decided to use distilled water rather than water because it is an isotonic solution and using distilled water to preserve the potato chip means that the potato chip wont be affected by outside factors; therefore making my results reliable. Ruler: Ruler will be used in my experiment to accurately measure the width and the length of the potato chip; to make sure that they are all same size. I have decided to use a ruler marked in units of cm and mm so that my results will be precise as the potato chip cutting will be even and of the same size. Filter paper: This will be used in my experiment to blot the potato chip once it has been taken out of the sucrose solution; I will blot the potato chip in order to absorb excess water from the potato so that there is as little water molecules in the potato; doing this will help me measure the true value of the mass of the potato and make my result more accurate. Labels: To make sure that the experiment run smoothly, each agar plate that is being utilised in the experiment will be labelled. Labels will be used in my experiment so that the potato chip in a solution can be easily identified. Labels will help me find the concentration of a particular solution. Labelling the agar plates will prevent confusion, and reduce anomalous results. Sucrose solution: I will need a sufficient number of concentrations. This is so that I can easily show anomalies and trends in my results in order to draw an accurate conclusion. Sucrose solution will be used in my experiment as this will help me to figure out if osmosis is occurring. The aim of my investigation is to see how the rate of osmosis is affected by the concentration of the sucrose solution so I will be using different concentration of sucrose solution. Measuring cylinder: Cylinder will be used in my experiment to measure the amount of sucrose solution. I have decided to use a measuring cylinder rather than a beaker to measure the amount of sucrose solution because it is made to +0.5ml or -0.5ml where as a beaker is made to +3ml or -3ml. Using measuring cylinder will mean that there will be a high level of accuracy in my results. Using cylinder will mean the amount of concentration on each is accurate. Agar Plate (6): Agar plate will be used in my experiment to hold the sucrose solution and the potato chips. The agar plates will be labelled to prevent confusion and this will reduce chances of anomalous results. For e.g. If I were to add a sucrose solution with a concentration of 0.1 on to a agar plate but believed I had picked a sucrose solution with a concentration of 0.2, the results produced would contain error and would be anomalous. I have also decided to use an agar plate. Using a test tube could possibly result in potato chips leaning on the sides and decreasing the chips surface area. Therefore, I have decided to an agar plate rather than a test tube to carry out the experiment Stop watch: Stopwatch will be used in my experiment to record the amount of time the potato chip has been placed in the solution. Stopwatch watch will be used so that the timings of the experiment are accurately followed, and that the potato is removed from solution at the correct time. This way, the experiment remains fair. Health and Safety: Healthy and safety procedures are very important while carrying out the experiment: Scribe: Scribes will be used in the experiment to cut the potato chips, but could cause fatal injury if treated carelessly. Scribes are dangerous; they are sharp and could cause wounds. You should not walk in the lab carrying a scribe. Scribe shouldnt be placed at edge of the table which could result in injury if it falls off. Wear goggles- It is important to wear goggles to protect our eyes from any spills that could happen. In case of sucrose solution getting into your eyes, immediately flush eyes with water. It is also recommended to wear latex gloves as they are thin, see through and will not create difficulty for you while doing the experiment. Latex gloves will create a barrier between the substances and your hand. Wearing gloves protects our hand form the irritation which could be caused by sucrose solution. Wearing goggles and latex gloves will mean that there is maximum skin protection and minimises chances of irritation from substances coming in contact with the skin. People with sensitive skin are more likely to be affected if the solution gets spilled on their skin. Hands should also be washed after doing the experiment. Carry out the experiment standing- It is important to carry out the experiment standing, so that there is less chance of injury happening to you. If something happens, i.e. Sucrose solution spills, you can quickly move from the area. Positioning of equipment- Acids and Alkalis should be kept in a position where they are not likely to fall or spill. It shouldnt be kept at edge of the table. Equipment such as measuring cylinder which is made out of glass could fall and break easily if placed inappropriately, i.e. edge of the table. Broken pieces of glasses are hazard, it could easily cut someone. It is also important to put the beaker which contains the concentration of solution accordingly so that there are no spills; spills in the work area is an hazard, people could easily slip. Work area: Working area must be kept clear, there should be no baggage lying on the floor which could cause people to trip over, it is a hazard. Hazards in work place could lead to injury. It is also important not to run around while carrying equipment, equipment such as scribe could cause injury to yourself. Factors: Independent variable: The independent variable in the experiment is the concentration of sucrose solution. I will be changing the concentration of the sucrose solution to see how it affects osmosis. Dependent variable: The dependent variable in the experiment is the mass of the potato. I will be measuring the mass of the potato before placing it in the solution and after they have been placed in the solution. The mass of the potato after they have been placed in a solution is a continuous variable. Controlled variable: The controlled variable in the experiment are: Experimental room: The temperature affects the rate of a reaction because the greater the temperature, the greater the heat. There will be a higher rate of osmosis in the cell membrane because particles in the solution will be moving quickly due to temperature change. Water molecules will gain kinetic energy which increase osmosis. Higher temperature could also cause the cell membrane to denature, the water molecules in the solution could also evaporate. The temperature at which the experiment is carried out must remain constant in order for an experiment to be a fair test and my results to be reliable.  I would conduct the experiment in the same room to make this factor constant. Type of cell: Permeability of potatoes can differ, if I use potato chips with different level of permeability, the amount of solution going through will not be the same. I will be using potatoes with same level of permeability. Surface area of the chips: It is important to keep the surface area of each potato the same in the experiment. Potato chips with higher surface will mean that osmosis occurs faster, because more of the potato is available for reaction. Time: In order to find out how concentration affects osmosis. The amount of time which the potato will be left in a solution should remain constant. Having a potato chip in a solution for longer time will mean that it will have a greater chance to carry out osmosis than the other chips. This will mean that my experiment will become an unfair test; I will be using a stopwatch to keep this factor constant. Volume of concentration used: The volume of concentration used in the experiment needs to remain constant to make my experiment a fair test. If this factor wasnt kept constant then the amount of water molecules on the agar plate would be different and will be varying the rate of osmosis because there will be higher probability of water molecule diffusing through the permeable membrane. I will be keeping this factor constant by using a measuring cylinder which has a measuring accuracy of +0.5ml or -0.5ml. Hypothesis: I also believe that when the chip is placed in a dilute concentration of sucrose solution, it will gain mass and become rigid. The concentration of sucrose solution will have more water than the inside of the chip. This will result in water moving from the solution to the chip. The chip will gain mass as water goes in to the cell. The chip will become turgid and strong. I also believe that there will be a stage in the experiment where the potato will neither gain nor lose any mass. This will occur because the potato chips will be in an isotonic solution. The concentration inside and outside of the potato will be the same so no osmosis will be occurring. I believe as the concentration of the sucrose solution increases, the mass of the potato will decrease. During osmosis substances move from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. Therefore, when a chip is placed in a concentrated sucrose solution, it will lose mass because the chip has a higher concentration of water than the sucrose solution. The sucrose solution in which the potato is kept will have will be concentrated and will not have much water. Water will move out from the chip and the cell becomes flaccid. Sugar molecules in the sucrose solution are too large to go through a semi-permeable membrane so water moves out during osmosis. The permeable membrane only allows solvent through it, the solute (sugar molecules) cant go through it. Preliminary test I have also carried out a preliminary test to see if there were any changes to be made in the final experiment. Preliminary method: I collected all the equipment needed for experiment. I made sure that I labelled the six agar plates that I used in my experiment to reduce confusion and minimise any chances of anomalous results. I measured the length of the potato; the width of each potato chip was same. The width of each potato chip to be used in the experiment was same. I measured the length of each potato chip using a ruler to make sure it was equal. Using potato chips with same length and width will result in all chips having mass but I measured mass of each chip rather than assuming the mass to be the same. If the mass had been different due to inaccurate measuring of length and width, I would change the length and width and measure the mass again. Then, I measured the mass of the potato using an electric scale. I also blotted the chip before measuring it to get an accurate value. I also waited 5 seconds after placing it on the scale to ensure that the figure displayed on the scale was not fluctuating. I poured †¦ m3 of a particular concentration of the sucrose solution into the agar plate using a measuring cylinder. Then, I placed the chip in a labelled agar plate with the correct concentration for 5 mins. I then took out the chip from the solution and blotted the chip with tissue paper to absorb any excess solution off the potato. I measured the mass of the potato after it was placed in the solution to figure out if it gained or lost mass. I carried out three repeats for each concentration to make sure that my results were reliable Then, I repeated step 3-7 for all the concentrations to be used in the experiment. Graph Analysis: During the experiment, I placed a potato chip on different concentrations of sucrose solution. We can see that as the concentration increases the mass decreases. During 0.5. Mass is acquired this cud be due to inaccurate measuring. From the graphs it is clear that there is coherent negative correlation the independent variable and the dependant variable. As the concentration increases, the percentage difference decreases. As the concentration increases from 0 100 the percentage change in massdecreases from †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. My results are reliable and accurate; it shows a strong negative correlation. All the concentrations have small range bars, indicating that the results are accurate and can be relied upon. However, results: 0.1m, 0.9m, and 1.0m all have large range bars suggesting they are unreliable. Ultimately, there is a connection between the concentration and the percentage change in mass Evaluation: I used an electronic scale to measure the mass of the potato during the experiment. The results given by the scale were precise but while measuring the chip during the experiment, there was a zero error. The scale showed mass of 0.04g when there was nothing placed on it. The scale was also free of water or any solution which could have caused the scale to show mass. The zero error present on the scale could have been the cause for anomalous results in the preliminary experiment. I also placed the chip in the solution for 5 minutes; I believe the time isnt long enough for osmosis to take place. Changes made from preliminary In my preliminary, I used five different concentration of sucrose solution, to find out if concentration affects osmosis. I have now decided to use nine different concentration of sucrose solution, ranging from 0% to 100%. I have done this to make sure that there will be a range of results which I can draw a conclusion from. I also placed the chip in the solution for 5 minutes; I believe the time isnt long enough for osmosis to take place. I believe perhaps a longer time would enable osmosis to take more effect. I will be putting the chip in the solution for 10 mins in my final experiment to increase the osmotic activity. Final experiment method: Final experiment results: *All data in the results are given correctly to two decimal places. *The difference in mass is worked out by the increase/decrease in mass, divided by the original mass and then, X 100. For example, The difference in mass for the concentration 0% is worked out by: (1.81-1.71) X 100 1.75 This is 3.43%. Graph analysis: The graph depicts a negative correlation. As the sucrose concentration increases (the independent variable), the change in mass of the plant tissue (the dependant variable) decreases. Evaluation: I would pick the chip from the distilled water by tweezers rather than hand. I will tweezers to pick it because this will mean that the potato chip doesnt make contact with skin, and no moisture will be absorbed by the chip form the potato. Moisture from skin could affect the mass of the potato. However, using tweezers to pick the potato, I could be damaging the chips cell which will have an effect on the results. I also used an electronic scale to measure the mass of the potato chip during the experiment; the use of electronic scale to measure the potato chip meant that my results obtained are precise as it gave figures to two decimal places. I think my result were also accurate because using an electronic scale meant that no parallax error occurred. If I were to use a spring balance to measure the chip of the potato, parallax error could occur. However, using an electronic scale could have resulted in systematic and zero error which could change my results significantly. I have also made sure that while measuring the chip, there was no zero error occurring. Zero error could have been the possible reason for anomalous results in the preliminary experiment. I have made sure that the scale displayed 0.00, in order to get an accurate value of the chip and to make my results reliable. It was also very hard in my experiment to make sure that each chip had a same surface area. The chips could possibly have different surface area. Although, we too care while measuring the length and width to make sure the difference of surface area between chips was minimal. I would also like to use a ruler with even smaller increments, such as tenth of millimetres to make sure that the length and width of the chip is very accurate. Despite the fact the chips could have different surface area; other controlled variables were kept the same throughout the experiment so my experiment can be considered reliable. I also carried the experiment three times for each concentration, doing this improves the reliability of the experiment. Doing three repeats for each concentration also increases reliability of the results. I also used concentration of solution ranging from 0%-100%, I believe I have used sufficient amount of concentrations to draw a conclusion. If I were to repeat the experiment, I would change the concentration in the experiment by 5% rather than 10%, this will allow me to work with a range of results. There could also be a human error in my experiment. For instance, I could have blotted one of the chips with filter paper more than the other; this would have resulted in a lower mass of the chip while weighing it. Human error could have been the reason for anomalous results. Other reasons for anomalous results could have been due to: Inaccurate measurements of the sucrose solution Systematic/ zero error while weighing the chip Pipette I also waited 5 seconds after I place the chip on the scale to measure it, so that the figure was settled. I also used an agar plate to ensure that potato chips were not touching the sides. The range of concentrations I used in the experiment are sufficient enough to Even though, I chose 10 mins prior to 5 mins for my real experiment, I would still like to change the time, I would make the time to 30 mins. This time would allow the process of osmosis to occur fully. Therefore, allowing me to collect clear data which shows the true difference made by each concentration. I would also consider using a precise, accurate and better weighing scale to measure the mass of the potato. Even though, the scale was accurate and precise. The weighing scale was constantly fluctuating which didnt allow me to get an accurate reading. I would like to use a scale which doesnt fluctuate and has higher level of precision- it should be able to measure to 3dp. This would also make my experiment and the results obtained reliable. Conclusion: Error bars The error bars have quite a small range. This means that my experiment is reliable. The error bars are not far apart; this implies that the results have been recorded in a similar way. This also tells us that the controlled variables such as, type of cell have been maintained throughout the experiment. Skills for Effective Management | Reflection Skills for Effective Management | Reflection Introduction Effective Management Skills There are a number of skills which are required for sake of effective management instead of a magical formula. This abet in getting the continual learning process in an easier and effective manner. If there is a proper management style being followed then one would be able to get the best leadership style being followed. Thus, few things are always necessary which are helpful in giving positive results in end. Some of the skills are; To be your ownself. Building an effective management style. Have some clear standards. Should be able to give feedback openly Always create an environment of trust Try to encourage staff Maintain regular meetings with staff. Set targets for every month. Examine all issues timely. Always admit your own mistakes Going along with all of these there is a need to understand the three major effective manager skills areas which are being observed. They are named as task execution, the wonderful commercial insight and proper people skills. There is a competence being maintained in all of these three then it would become a bit easier for sake of people to manage things and get beneficial results through their small acts. (Andrew, F. 2009) i) Task Execution When there is a talk about the task execution then it is clear that execution of the complex tasks and getting the proper management of projects is quite helpful. This is not only helpful in getting efficient operations done properly, but along with that it also abet in doing the planning, organizing and considerate kind of monitoring of the performances. Through that strong results focus can be attained in a particular manner. It gives the sense of urgency which is almost one of the biggest necessities for sake of those people who are thinking of getting the time pressures faced in an easier manner. EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT SKILLS IN THREE DIFFERENT AREAS TASK EXECUTION COMMERCIAL INSIGHT PEOPLE SKILLS ii) Commercial Insight This commercial insight is necessary for sake of getting a competitive edge. This can be beneficial as this emphasizes efficiency. Whether there is a need to talk about private sector or the government sector managers both can get benefited through it. Best thing is that, proper kind of setup is ascertained for sake of profitability or some times for return on investment as well. Many managers used to get strategic thinking ability through it. That abet in giving focus over the right tasks. Through them there is a chance to get an addition to most value. In a commercial insight proper planning skills are helpful in prioritizing different combinations of some abilities which are a proper mean of understanding financial aspects smoothly. Almost every kind of resources can be allocated through it at their disposal wisely. iii) People Skills There is integrity to foster trust. That abet in getting an emotional intelligence in a successful manner. This gives some kind of empowering, elegant coaching, some what motivating and a number of developing people catalysts easily. There are different ranges of tasks which can get a good facilitator easily. This is known to be people skill option, through which people can acquire effectiveness in their communication and tremendous kind of good listening skills as well. Skills Required For Effective Management Thus, there is always a need to have effective, efficient and positive kind of attitude towards management. This use to abet in getting wonderful results in future. Thus, two main types of skills which are required for the sake of an effective management are known to be; Personal Skills Professional Skills If an individual is able to make the excessive usage of both of these skills, then there might be some end results in the form of positive, progressive and spectacular results as well. There is a need to know how management differs from leadership. Management means to execute task effectively and efficiently and to achieve goals by utilizing all resources available for particular project or goal. However, leadership defines new directions or promotes organization. Leadership defines goals and resources but management utilize all resources to achieve goals set by leadership. Effective Management Skills For effective and efficient manager it is very important to have skills in three areas: People skills, Commercial insight and task execution. Many Managers seeks or get training how to strengthen in different areas but best managers have all 3 management skills. Task execution means to execute task with proper planning and also monitor performance of the task. In task execution strong focus remains on results and complex tasks are executed through efficient operations and monitoring. Skilled people manager create trust and the exciting intelligence to deal with different people fruitfully. Managers adopt strategic approach and focus on return on investment and profitability. Managers always tried to add more value in their product and utilize all resources according to output. Example of A Managers Effective Three Personal And Professional Skills Let me describe the importance of an effective management and different kinds of skills through the help of an example; Lets us consider that Mr. XYZ is having three types of personal and professional skills. His personal skills use to include interpersonal skills, communicative and self motivated person. Where as his professional skills use to include leadership, innovative strengths and disturbance handling skills as well. Thus, let me tell you that how these three kinds of skills might be helpful in determining the whole process and achieving success at the end of this process. Firstly, If there would be any kind of decision making, then through the help of innovative, adaptive, communicative and supportive skills, the manager might be able to handle the whole process. Not only that, but also there would be some positive results would be seen in it. Secondly, one thing which is necessary to be kept in notice that, if MR. XYZ is able to deliver his professional skills through the help of his personal skills, then there might be some different kinds of impacts being seen during the management processes. Let me list down some of them Successful process Easy communication Proper working Timely completion of work No Quality compromises Effective Leadership Efficient control Trust worthy working Value of manager would definitely be increased Chances of promotions Improvements might also be seen Thus, all of these seem to be proof that, if there is a proper usage of skills of an individual then there might be different kinds of results being seen in it. Methods To Improve Personal And Professional Skills Following are the methods through which one is able to improve the personal and professional skills; 1) Giving proper audits and assessments about things what they already know or necessary to be known to get some learning development plan option in an easier manner. 2) Learning and giving acknowledgement to personal development for sake of professional realms 3) Understanding the qualities 4) Relevant theoretical constructs formulation Answer #2 Personal Skill Audit Personal skills which are being inhibited, which are discussed earlier, they are as under interpersonal skills communicative skill self motivated Thus, if we make out audit of these personal skills then we might be able to get the result that all these three kinds of skills are positive and helpful in achieving a number of goals in life of a person; there are different approaches which are found over there. (Bob, J Michael, K. 2004) Firstly, interpersonal skills of individual are able to make different kind of information flow, between two people. These skills seem to be advantageous in nature, as one person is able to tell that what is the desired concern? Secondly, communicative skills are helpful in making communication in case of personal and professional life. Because of these skills, the confidence level of a person is very high. He or she might be able to convey message easily, with out any kind of lose of control. Thirdly, self motivated means that an individual is able to increase enthusiasm and motivation in other people as well. This can be made possible only because of supportive attitude which is being created because of self motivation. Thus, if there is always a carrying of these kinds of skills, then their directed usage might be helpful in getting success, in personal and professional life as well. They are helpful in making learning through them. How Main Theme Of Learning Program Have Impacted On My Work Role From the above discussion it is clear that there is a specified kind of impact which is being made over the work role. That is helpful in giving proper kind of differentiation in oneà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s own personal skill. Along with that they would be helpful in having a direct or indirect impact over the interpersonal and professional skills. Thus there are a number of benefits which are being attained through it; There is a higher level thinking skills development being made possible Interaction and familiarity with things were made possible. Increase in self esteem took place Enhancement of satisfaction occurred Promotion of the positive attitude all enhanced oral communication skills got a certain development There is an improvement in the social interaction skills Some kind of the active, apparently involved and definitely exploratory kind of attitude developed. There is an encouragement in the diversity of understanding which took place Safe environment learning took place. Improvement in self management skills took place Usage of constructivist approach become easier now The atmosphere of cooperation becomes a bit easier to be understood. Development in the interpersonal relationships occurred. Generation of the stronger kind of social support system took place. Promotion of some kind of innovation becomes visible. Skill building techniques and the practicing techniques were being analyzed frequently. All of these aspects are helpful in determining the corrective steps towards work. This seems to be positive as this helped a lot in giving a smooth kind of motivation along with the pre-determined kind of approach. One of the best thing about it is that there are positive results which are always determined through it. They seem to be perfect in its collaboration because of the innovative results which they used to give through it. These skills are not only helpful in giving a personal development but also there are some positive changes which are being seen in professional purposes as well. All of these aspects are key factors which are known to be derivatives of functional development of a person. Strengths Weaknesses At The Start Of Program Thus, if there is a need to make the impact short defined then strengths and weaknesses at the start of programs and end of program might be helpful. They would tell us that, which type of improvements, were being made. Let me describe you about them one by one. Strengths; Here is a list of some of the strengths mentioned below; Higher self motivation Devotion towards achievement of work/Success Best kind of techniques and tactics usage at different places Communicative skills Weaknesses; Multiple weaknesses were being felt, at the start of this program i.e. Less abilities to maintain stress Implementation of successful plans Thus, both of these strengths and weaknesses are those which were being determined at the start of this personal development process. Strengths Weaknesses At The End Of Program Thus, there were a number of improvements being felt at the end of this process. Reason behind this might be that, this is a special kind of learning program, which is being designed in order to teach a manager that how he or she might be able to make a distinction of their own work from the other people. Let me list down a number of strengths and weaknesses in this aspect. Strengths Increase in knowledge Techniques for handling a situation Improvement in handling stress in different conditions Determination of goals/ objectives and plans Know-how that how a successful goal achievement can be made Improvement in personal and professional skills Chances of improvement with in organization and outside an organization Weaknesses Still there is a need of more learning, so that processes of successful attempts can be made fastly Need to cope up with numerous time frames, of a number of cycles linked with working. Answer # 3 Personal Development Plan When there is a need to discuss the personal development plan then there is a need to know that there is a reflective record of management experience which is helpful in setting up the objectives and plans to meet goals. The personal development plan is as follows; First of all there is a need to do an understanding of some of the current required goals. These include the organizational as well as personal goals. Secondly this would be helpful in getting proper plan out. Through that there is a necessity of planning categorization being made. This is helpful in giving future positive results, which needs to be analyzed. After that getting the proper analyzing there is an option to get the implementation, monitoring and reviewing as well. This whole plan out would be helpful in getting the proper kind of end results Needs to understand current required of goals (Organizational Personal) Plan outs Need to make categories of planning Analyzing of Plans Implementation Monitoring Reviews End Results Personal development planning helps to attain potential and it helps to identify skills gaps and growth areas. In good Personal development planning you can do planning easily and promote your business further. In personal development plan employee enhances existing skills or knowledge and develops ground-breaking skills or expertise in its field. Identifying and Targeting the Dates For Monitoring And Reviews There is a need to make identification and targeting of dates for actions or goals being determined. This is because of numerous benefits which are associated with targeting dates. Thus for that purpose, let me give you some kind of tips, which might be effective in nature First of all, there is a need to make a note down of all goals Know about their importance Assign dates Dates should be assigned according to the time spam, which it might be taking while its completion process Make an overview of process Make timely check out, while processing of whole ongoing process Keeping in notice, if there is a need to make corrective actions at any step. Thus, all of these might be helpful because of the fact that, at the end of process, there might be some successful achievements. It is the duty of a manager, to keep proper check according to assigned dates. Thus, in end, I would like to include that, the end results of this ongoing process are almost beneficial in every aspect. As it is made through special categorization. But three main aspects linked with it use to include; Achievement Learning Visible change All of these three aspects are beneficial and part of fruitful results. Thus, they would only be ascertained if there is none kind of neglections or mistakes being taken in achievement of goal process. Short Term, Medium Term Long Term In order to determine goals the basic objective is to make strategy or make an analysis of financial statements of company. Thus, while talking about shot term goals of company, we would be able to know that, the current short tem goal can be to determine that what are the different problems being faced by company, what are their causes, and how they can be fixed while remaining in a certain boundary? Where as, medium term goals of a manager, use to include two basic aspects. First one is that if there is a need to make some changes, then how manager should adopt change with in organization? What are the reasons to change and how this change can be implemented so that company can make progress? This seems to be an open declaration for making strong decision making rules. These can be adaptive for sake of employees and company regulatories as well. (Ingham, J. 2007) Thirdly, the main thing is long term goals of an organization; they use to include effectiveness, efficiency and tactics for earning of profits. The better a manager is able to make some differentiation, wonderful might be the results seen because of it. Company would definitely be able to make benefit out of time factors. These can be analyzed from end results of these kinds of goals, actions and planning.

Lighting Techniques Used In Murder My Sweet Film Studies Essay

Lighting Techniques Used In Murder My Sweet Film Studies Essay The visual effects performed in various film noirs was not to give the viewer the perception of an ordinary setting, but to provide a visual manifestation of terror and abnormality into human emotion through twisted plots and camera techniques. The plot is twisted and complex, taking the viewer into dark, terrorizing, and incomprehensible place. The camera techniques used in the visuals seen in Murder My Sweet instills these feelings, which are common in horror films. Art cannot be rushed and cinematographer Harry Wild had a nightmarish vision for this piece, to invoke fear and chills into everyone who watched it (Dmytryk Chandler, 1944). The visual motifs seen across all film noir are filled with the lighting and shadow effects needed to consume the viewer with moods of paranoia, phobia, and despair. Such attributes are acknowledged in an article by Janey Place and Lowell Peterson; Some Visual Motifs of Film Noir. Nearly every attempt to define film noir has agreed that visual style is the consistent thread that unites the very diverse films that together comprise this phenomenon. These moods could not be created just by reading the script alone; the effects desired results wound not happen. The lighting and shadows in Murder My Sweet are typical among the horror genre. The opening sequence in the movie takes the common creation of shadows and bright light a little further with low key lighting. This technique creates a deep shadow effect which is a key tool to produce a character that is mysterious and unknown. The use of low key lighting is not uncommon among film noir, but Murder My Sweet takes it to the extreme. Other noirs like The Big Sleep and Detour utilize the same technique, but to a lesser extent resulting in a more gray monotone-like image. It all boils down to the narrative reasons, and the usage in the opening sequence makes clear to the audience that the person is crucial and sets the tone in which the viewer interprets the rest of the film. Philip Marlowe, the main character, is shown with consistency throughout the film. His facial expressions are barely visible because the majority of his face is always in deep shadow. He has just enough light to give the impression to the viewer that he is hardcore and tough; existing in life with very little emotion. By using this type of lighting, the character gets situated such that he appears to be trapped or lost in a nightmare (Mubi Online Cinema, n.d.). In the article, Towards a Definition of Film Noir, Borde and Chaumetom uses qualities like nightmarish, weird, and cruel as pivotal. These qualities are encompassed in the film and define Marlowes character; as can be seen by the way he is lit or visually manifested. The lighting schemes used on Philip Marlowe are in direct contrast with the ones used on the female characters in the film. Not only are they in contrast with Marlowe, but also with female characters in other films; the soft diffused lighting in melodrama. This is easily noticeable in the opening sequence when Moose Malloy questions the woman in the bar. She is just sitting in direct hard light with no shadow at all. To achieve the desired results of the scene, the bright lighting gives the illusion that she is in some sort of interrogation room. The shadows in the movie suggest mystery and secrecy, so by using high key lighting, all shadows are eliminated. The way she is lit or visually manifested is to set the record straight that she has nothing to hide and does not know anything with regard to the whereabouts of Mooses girlfriend (Mubi Online Cinema, n.d.). Jessie Florian, the second female in the first sequence, carry a little bit more shadow than the girl in the bar, but still much brighter than Marlowe. When Marlowe interrogates her at her apartment, his lighting is still deep in this setting but she is not as lit up as much. In contrast to the woman in the bar, the light shadow gives the impression that Jessie might be a little mysterious or hiding something. Though her face has a light shadow, her face is fully visible, allowing the viewer to see facial expression and think about her motive. A little snippet is when Marlowe peaks through the window after leaving to verify if she was drunk or not; she was not drunk and unsuccessful in deceiving him (Mubi Online Cinema, n.d.). The lighting and shadow differences of male and female characters continue throughout the film. The extremes and exaggerations of light and dark, low key, indicate the level of mystery of the character; in Marlowes case, nightmarish. Murder My Sweet transforms these normal people into twisted people living in a dark world with dark events. Borde and Chaumetom discuss the removal of physiological reference points to take consume the viewer, to take the viewer away from reality. The lighting techniques of the characters are not the only tellers of the story, the physical locations of the events are telling as well. What is so interesting is that the mood s tends to be consistently different in interior and exterior locations. The interiors of My Murder Sweet are not safe, secure, and warm. They are shot in a way that seems chilling, creepy, and ominous; filled with blinding light and deep shadows. The intent is to instill fear into the viewer that something terrible is about to happen (Mubi Online Cinema, n.d.). Even the darkest character, Marlowe, appears scared in his own office. His feelings of unease are amplified by the lighting. While in his office, he is shot or framed close up cutting out much of the office. By cropping out the rest of the office and the ominous setting created by the lighting, there is a feeling that he is not alone and that he is not in control. This chill can be seen when Marlowe sees Malloys reflection while staring out of the window. The sudden surprise along with no noises announcing his arrival scares him (Mubi Online Cinema, n.d.). The exterior scenes provide a much different feeling; it is more subdued with few high contrast areas. This lighting scheme, along with voice over moments, makes Marlowe feel more relaxed. The voice overs are monologues about drawing conclusions on events which have happened thus far or contemplating his next move; giving the impression that he is on top of the situation. Interior shots are consistently of close-ups, the exterior shots are created such that there is much more space. Marlowe is no longer in a boxed in setting, the wide framing allows the viewer to see much more of the scene (Mubi Online Cinema, n.d.). These dynamics of space pertain to all characters, but Marlowes character is the most common. Not only how the characters are represented in both dark films and horror films like Murder My Sweet are very important in setting tone, how the movie is pieced together is crucial as well. How the elements are tied together is a special craft that cannot be overlooked. Film editor Joseph Noriega was truly an artist who made a mark film noir (Mubi Online Cinema, n.d.). The movie follows the classic Hollywood structure with spatial and temporal progressions and flashbacks, but the shot to shot editing is highly irregular, as can be seen in the opening interrogation when the shots of Marlowe blindfolded are pieced together into a circular motion (Murder, My Sweet (1944), n.d.). The purpose of this style of editing is to not allow the viewer to relax. The constant chills and paranoia felt by the viewer can only be achieved through the use visual techniques, settings, and unsettling characters. Murder My Sweet uses a dark and twisted plot to take the viewer to an alternate reality that is very uncomfortable. In his book The Dark Side of the Screen, Forest Hirsch says American films gravitate toward a neutral rendering of a recognizable physical reality rather than toward the delirious inner landscapes, the overwrought transmutations, of full-fledged expressionism. The camera techniques, the sounds, mise-en-scene, and editing produces an environment that is nightmarish from beginning to end.

Obesity in Ameirca :: Overweight Obese essays

Did you know that 20% of Idaho’s population is obese? According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) approximately 127 million adults in the U.S. are overweight, 60 million adults are obese, and 9 million adults are severely obese. One-third of the American adult population is affected by obesity each year and is increasing. â€Å"The definition of obesity varies depending on what one reads, but in general, it is a chronic condition defined by an excess amount of body fat. A certain amount of body fat is necessary for storing energy, heat insulation, shock absorption, and other functions. The normal amount of body fat (expressed as percentage of body fat) is between 25-30% in women and 18-23% in men. Women with over 30% body fat and men with over 25% body fat are considered obese.†# Obesity is the second leading preventable disease in the U.S.. We chose this topic because as athletes representing Lewis Clark State College we think it is important to li ve a healthy life style.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Are you obese? This is a question that can be solved by a calculation. Divide your weight, in kilograms, by the square of your height, in meters. Calculating BMI # Top of Form 1 [Weight (lbs)ï ¿ ¼ à · height (in)2 ï ¿ ¼] x 704.5 =ï ¿ ¼BMI Bottom of Form 1 This is called your BMI (Body Mass Index). If the ratio is roughly 27 or more you are considered obese, but if the ratio is 40 or more you are considered severely obese. Other methods of finding out if you are obese is by your waist circumference, blood tests, or skin-fold measures. There aren’t any specific symptoms, but with obesity there are major health problems that contribute to the disease. Some risks from obesity are arteriosclerosis, sleep apnea, skin disorders, gallstones, type two diabetes, cancer (prostate, breast, uterus, colon, and gallbladder) arthritis, and depression. These risk factors will have a higher probability on an obese or overweight person with one or more of these health-related problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Obesity has been seen in America since the 1960’s, but now it has become a health concern. The CDC reported that in 2005 obesity would reach a 500,000 death toll , over taking smoking as the leading cause of death if the trend continued in 2004 of 400,000 deaths. There is no real reason or understanding why one culture will grow bigger than another, but it is obvious why a certain individual will gain weight.

The Dangers of Shirking Responsibility in Arthur Millers All My Sons

The Dangers of Shirking Responsibility  in Arthur Miller's All My Sons  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Arthur Miller's All My Sons is a well-made play in every sense of that term. It not only is carefully and logically constructed, but   addresses its themes fully and effectively. The play communicates different ideas on war, materialism, family, and honesty. However, the main focus, especially at the play's climax, is the issue of personal responsibility. In particular, Miller demonstrates the dangers of shirking responsibility and, then, ascribing blame to others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nearly every character in All My Sons, in one way or another, fails to take responsibility. The Keller family, as a whole, is severely dysfunctional in that they keep secrets and tell lies at every turn. Chris, the most reliable character, understands that his family has "made a terrible mistake with Mother . . . . Being dishonest with her" (Miller 620). He realizes that there are consequences to such behavior. Indeed, as a result, Kate is on the verge of being delusional. She clings to the unrealistic hope that her son, Larry, will return from the war and marry his childhood sweetheart, Ann. For these hopes to prove false would, in her eyes, show for certain that there is no God. She says, "'There's God, so certain things can never happen'" (627).   Ã‚  Ã‚   Yet Kate is not just a victim of this irresponsible behavior. She contributes to it. She, too, makes excuses for her actions, making it seem as though she cannot be any more culpable for her conduct than she already is. She tells Chris that she and Joe "'are stupid people. We don't know anything'" and tells Chris that he has to protect them (633). However, it is Joe who is the most irresponsible character within ... ...amily wanted money, he did it, and that's "got to excuse it! . . . [For] Nothin' is bigger," and he adds that "'if there's something bigger than that I'll put a bullet in my head!'" (649). That is what he does. Suicide is the sad, harrowing conclusion for him and his family because he had not faced up to his wrongs earlier.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Chris was, for the most part, the voice of wisdom in this play whose words of honesty and its importance should have been heeded. He states, "'That kind of thing always pays off, and now it's paying off'" (620). In the end, he does take his own words to heart that "there's a universe of people outside and you're responsible to it" (653). He begins to blame on himself for his father's suicide, and Kate tells him, "'Don't dear. Don't take it on yourself'" (653). Works Cited Miller, Arthur. ?All My Sons.? New York: Penguin Group, 2000.

Digital Fortress Chapter 94-99

Chapter 94 Midge Milken stood fuming at the water cooler near the entrance to the conference room. What the hell is Fontaine doing? She crumpled her paper cup and threw it forcefully into the trash can. There's something happening in Crypto! I can feel it! Midge knew there was only one way to prove herself right. She'd go check out Crypto herself-track down Jabba if need be. She spun on her heel and headed for the door. Brinkerhoff appeared out of nowhere, blocking her way. â€Å"Where are you headed?† â€Å"Home!† Midge lied. Brinkerhoff refused to let her pass. Midge glared. â€Å"Fontaine told you not to let me out, didn't he?† Brinkerhoff looked away. â€Å"Chad, I'm telling you, there's something happening in Crypto-something big. I don't know why Fontaine's playing dumb, but TRANSLTR's in trouble. Something is not right down there tonight!† â€Å"Midge,† he soothed, walking past her toward the curtained conference room windows, â€Å"let's let the director handle it.† Midge's gaze sharpened. â€Å"Do you have any idea what happens to TRANSLTR if the cooling system fails?† Brinkerhoff shrugged and approached the window. â€Å"Power's probably back on-line by now anyway.† He pulled apart the curtains and looked. â€Å"Still dark?† Midge asked. But Brinkerhoff did not reply. He was spellbound. The scene below in the Crypto dome was unimaginable. The entire glass cupola was filled with spinning lights, flashing strobes, and swirling steam. Brinkerhoff stood transfixed, teetering light-headed against the glass. Then, in a frenzy of panic, he raced out. â€Å"Director! Director!† Chapter 95 The blood of Christ†¦ the cup of salvation†¦ People gathered around the slumped body in the pew. Overhead, the frankincense swung its peaceful arcs. Hulohot wheeled wildly in the center aisle and scanned the church. He's got to be here! He spun back toward the altar. Thirty rows ahead, holy communion was proceeding uninterrupted. Padre Gustaphes Herrera, the head chalice bearer, glanced curiously at the quiet commotion in one of the center pews; he was not concerned. Sometimes some of the older folks were overcome by the holy spirit and passed out. A little air usually did the trick. Meanwhile, Hulohot was searching frantically. Becker was nowhere in sight. A hundred or so people were kneeling at the long altar receiving communion. Hulohot wondered if Becker was one of them. He scanned their backs. He was prepared to shoot from fifty yards away and make a dash for it. El cuerpo de Jesus, el pan del cielo. The young priest serving Becker communion gave him a disapproving stare. He could understand the stranger's eagerness to receive communion, but it was no excuse to cut inline. Becker bowed his head and chewed the wafer as best he could. He sensed something was happening behind him, some sort of disturbance. He thought of the man from whom he'd bought the jacket and hoped he had listened to his warning and not taken Becker's in exchange. He started to turn and look, but he feared the wire-rim glasses would be staring back. He crouched in hopes his black jacket was covering the back of his khaki pants. It was not. The chalice was coming quickly from his right. People were already swallowing their wine, crossing themselves, and standing to leave. Slow down! Becker was in no hurry to leave the altar. But with two thousand people waiting for communion and only eight priests serving, it was considered bad form to linger over a sip of wine. The chalice was just to the right of Becker when Hulohot spotted the mismatched khaki pants. â€Å"Estas ya muerto,† he hissed softly. â€Å"You're already dead.† Hulohot moved up the center aisle. The time for subtlety had passed. Two shots in the back, and he would grab the ring and run. The biggest taxi stand in Seville was half a block away on Mateus Gago. He reached for his weapon. Adios, Senor Becker†¦ La sangre de Cristo, la copa de la salvacion. The thick scent of red wine filled Becker's nostrils as Padre Herrera lowered the hand-polished, silver chalice. Little early for drinking, Becker thought as he leaned forward. But as the silver goblet dropped past eye level, there was a blur of movement. A figure, coming fast, his shape warped in the reflection of the cup. Becker saw a flash of metal, a weapon being drawn. Instantly, unconsciously, like a runner from a starting block at the sound of a gun, Becker was vaulting forward. The priest fell back in horror as the chalice sailed through the air, and red wine rained down on white marble. Priests and altar boys went scattering as Becker dove over the communion rail. A silencer coughed out a single shot. Becker landed hard, and the shot exploded in the marble floor beside him. An instant later he was tumbling down three granite stairs into the valle, a narrow passageway through which the clergy entered, allowing them to rise onto the altar as if by divine grace. At the bottom of the steps, he stumbled and dove. Becker felt himself sliding out of control across the slick polished stone. A dagger of pain shot though his gut as he landed on his side. A moment later he was stumbling through a curtained entryway and down a set of wooden stairs. Pain. Becker was running, through a dressing room. It was dark. There were screams from the altar. Loud footsteps in pursuit. Becker burst through a set of double doors and stumbled into some sort of study. It was dark, furnished with rich Orientals and polished mahogany. On the far wall was a life-size crucifix. Becker staggered to a stop. Dead end. He was at the tip of the cross. He could hear Hulohot closing fast. Becker stared at the crucifix and cursed his bad luck. â€Å"Goddamn it!† he screamed. There was the sudden sound of breaking glass to Becker's left. He wheeled. A man in red robes gasped and turned to eye Becker in horror. Like a cat caught with a canary, the holy man wiped his mouth and tried to hide the broken bottle of holy communion wine at his feet. â€Å"Salida!† Becker demanded. â€Å"Salida!† Let me out! Cardinal Guerra reacted on instinct. A demon had entered his sacred chambers screaming for deliverance from the house of God. Guerra would grant him that wish-immediately. The demon had entered at a most inopportune moment. Pale, the cardinal pointed to a curtain on the wall to his left. Hidden behind the curtain was a door. He'd installed it three years ago. It led directly to the courtyard outside. The cardinal had grown tired of exiting the church through the front door like a common sinner. Chapter 96 Susan was wet and shivering, huddled on the Node 3 couch. Strathmore draped his suit coat over her shoulders. Hale's body lay a few yards away. The sirens blared. Like ice thawing on a frozen pond, TRANSLTR's hull let out a sharp crack. â€Å"I'm going down to kill power,† Strathmore said, laying a reassuring hand on her shoulder. â€Å"I'll be right back.† Susan stared absently after the commander as he dashed across the Crypto floor. He was no longer the catatonic man she'd seen ten minutes before. Commander Trevor Strathmore was back-logical, controlled, doing whatever was necessary to get the job done. The final words of Hale's suicide note ran through her mind like a train out of control: Above all, I'm truly sorry about David Becker. Forgive me, I was blinded by ambition. Susan Fletcher's nightmare had just been confirmed. David was in danger†¦ or worse. Maybe it was already too late. I'm truly sorry about David Becker. She stared at the note. Hale hadn't even signed it-he'd just typed his name at the bottom: Greg Hale. He'd poured out his guts, pressed print, and then shot himself-just like that. Hale had sworn he'd never go back to prison; he'd kept his vow-he'd chosen death instead. â€Å"David†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She sobbed. David! At that moment, ten feet below the Crypto floor, Commander Strathmore stepped off the ladder onto the first landing. It had been a day of fiascoes. What had started out as a patriotic mission had swerved wildly out of control. The commander had been forced to make impossible decisions, commit horrific acts-acts he'd never imagined himself capable of. It was a solution! It was the only damn solution! There was duty to think of: country and honor. Strathmore knew there was still time. He could shut down TRANSLTR. He could use the ring to save the country's most valuable databank. Yes, he thought, there was still time. Strathmore looked out over the disaster around him. The overhead sprinklers were on. TRANSLTR was groaning. The sirens blared. The spinning lights looked like helicopters closing in through dense fog. With every step, all he could see was Greg Hale-the young cryptographer gazing up, his eyes pleading, and then, the shot. Hale's death was for country†¦ for honor. The NSA could not afford another scandal. Strathmore needed a scapegoat. Besides, Greg Hale was a disaster waiting to happen. Strathmore's thoughts were jarred free by the sound of his cellular. It was barely audible over the sirens and hissing fumes. He snatched it off his belt without breaking stride. â€Å"Speak.† â€Å"Where's my pass-key?† a familiar voice demanded. â€Å"Who is this?† Strathmore yelled over the din. â€Å"It's Numataka!† the angry voice bellowed back. â€Å"You promised me a pass-key!† Strathmore kept moving. â€Å"I want Digital Fortress!† Numataka hissed. â€Å"There is no Digital Fortress!† Strathmore shot back. â€Å"What?† â€Å"There is no unbreakable algorithm!† â€Å"Of course there is! I've seen it on the Internet! My people have been trying to unlock it for days!† â€Å"It's an encrypted virus, you fool-and you're damn lucky you can't open it!† â€Å"But-â€Å" â€Å"The deal is off!† Strathmore yelled. â€Å"I'm not North Dakota. There is no North Dakota! Forget I ever mentioned it!† He clamped the cellular shut, turned off the ringer, and rammed it back on his belt. There would be no more interruptions. Twelve thousand miles away, Tokugen Numataka stood stunned at his plate-glass window. His Umami cigar hung limply in his mouth. The deal of his lifetime had just disintegrated before his eyes. Strathmore kept descending. The deal is off. Numatech Corp. would never get the unbreakable algorithm†¦ and the NSA would never get its back door. Strathmore's dream had been a long time in the planning-he'd chosen Numatech carefully. Numatech was wealthy, a likely winner of the pass-key auction. No one would think twice if it ended up with the key. Conveniently there was no company less likely to be suspected of consorting with the U.S. government. Tokugen Numataka was old-world Japan-death before dishonor. He hated Americans. He hated their food, he hated their customs, and most of all, he hated their grip on the world's software market. Strathmore's vision had been bold-a world encryption standard with a back door for the NSA. He'd longed to share his dream with Susan, to carry it out with her by his side, but he knew he could not. Even though Ensei Tankado's death would save thousands of lives in the future, Susan would never have agreed; she was a pacifist. I'm a pacifist too, thought Strathmore, I just don't have the luxury of acting like one. There had never been any doubt in the commander's mind who would kill Tankado. Tankado was in Spain-and Spain meant Hulohot. The forty-two-year-old Portuguese mercenary was one of the commander's favorite pros. He'd been working for the NSA for years. Born and raised in Lisbon, Hulohot had done work for the NSA all over Europe. Never once had his kills been traced back to Fort Meade. The only catch was that Hulohot was deaf; telephone communication was impossible. Recently Strathmore had arranged for Hulohot to receive the NSA's newest toy, the Monocle computer. Strathmore bought himself a SkyPager and programmed it to the same frequency. From that moment on, his communication with Hulohot was not only instantaneous but also entirely untraceable. The first message Strathmore had sent Hulohot left little room for misunderstanding. They had already discussed it. Kill Ensei Tankado. Obtain pass-key. Strathmore never asked how Hulohot worked his magic, but somehow he had done it again. Ensei Tankado was dead, and the authorities were convinced it was a heart attack. A textbook kill-except for one thing. Hulohot had misjudged the location. Apparently Tankado dying in a public place was a necessary part of the illusion. But unexpectedly, the public had appeared too soon. Hulohot was forced into hiding before he could search the body for the pass-key. When the dust settled, Tankado's body was in the hands of Seville's coroner. Strathmore was furious. Hulohot had blown a mission for the first time ever-and he'd picked an inauspicious time to do it. Getting Tankado's pass-key was critical, but Strathmore knew that sending a deaf assassin into the Seville morgue was a suicide mission. He had pondered his other options. A second scheme began to materialize. Strathmore suddenly saw a chance to win on two fronts-a chance to realize two dreams instead of just one. At six-thirty that morning, he had called David Becker. Chapter 97 Fontaine burst into the conference room at a full sprint. Brinkerhoff and Midge were close at his heels. â€Å"Look!† Midge choked, motioning frantically to the window. Fontaine looked out the window at the strobes in the Crypto dome. His eyes went wide. This was definitely not part of the plan. Brinkerhoff sputtered. â€Å"It's a goddamn disco down there!† Fontaine stared out, trying to make sense of it. In the few years TRANSLTR had been operational, it had never done this. It's overheating, he thought. He wondered why the hell Strathmore hadn't shut it down. It took Fontaine only an instant to make up his mind. He snatched an interoffice phone off the conference table and punched the extension for Crypto. The receiver began beeping as if the extension were out of order. Fontaine slammed down the receiver. â€Å"Damn it!† He immediately picked up again and dialed Strathmore's private cellular line. This time the line began to ring. Six rings went by. Brinkerhoff and Midge watched as Fontaine paced the length of his phone cable like a tiger on a chain. After a full minute, Fontaine was crimson with rage. He slammed down the receiver again. â€Å"Unbelievable!† he bellowed. â€Å"Crypto's about to blow, and Strathmore won't answer his goddamn phone!† Chapter 98 Hulohot burst out of Cardinal Guerra's chambers into the blinding morning sun. He shielded his eyes and cursed. He was standing outside the cathedral in a small patio, bordered by a high stone wall, the west face of the Giralda tower, and two wrought-iron fences. The gate was open. Outside the gate was the square. It was empty. The walls of Santa Cruz were in the distance. There was no way Becker could have made it so far so quickly. Hulohot turned and scanned the patio. He's in here. He must be! The patio, Jardin de los Naranjos, was famous in Seville for its twenty blossoming orange trees. The trees were renowned in Seville as the birthplace of English marmalade. An eighteenth-century English trader had purchased three dozen bushels of oranges from the Seville church and taken them back to London only to find the fruit inedibly bitter. He tried to make jam from the rinds and ended up having to add pounds of sugar just to make it palatable. Orange marmalade had been born. Hulohot moved forward through the grove, gun leveled. The trees were old, and the foliage had moved high on their trunks. Their lowest branches were unreachable, and the thin bases provided no cover. Hulohot quickly saw the patio was empty. He looked straight up. The Giralda. The entrance to the Giralda's spiral staircase was cordoned off by a rope and small wooden sign. The rope hung motionless. Hulohot's eyes climbed the 419-foot tower and immediately knew it was a ridiculous thought. There was no way Becker would have been that stupid. The single staircase wound straight up to a square stone cubicle. There were narrow slits in the wall for viewing, but there was no way out. David Becker climbed the last of the steep stairs and staggered breathless into a tiny stone cubicle. There were high walls all around him and narrow slits in the perimeter. No exit. Fate had done Becker no favors this morning. As he'd dashed from the cathedral into the open courtyard, his jacket had caught on the door. The fabric had stopped him mid stride and swung him hard left before tearing. Becker was suddenly stumbling off balance into the blinding sun. When he'd looked up, he was heading straight for a staircase. He'd jumped over the rope and dashed up. By the time he realized where it led, it was too late. Now he stood in the confined cell and caught his breath. His side burned. Narrow slats of morning sun streamed through the openings in the wall. He looked out. The man in the wire-rim glasses was far below, his back to Becker, staring out at the plaza. Becker shifted his body in front of the crack for a better view. Cross the plaza, he willed him. The shadow of the Giralda lay across the square like a giant felled sequoia. Hulohot stared the length of it. At the far end, three slits of light cut through the tower's viewing apertures and fell in crisp rectangles on the cobblestone below. One of those rectangles had just been blotted out by the shadow of a man. Without so much as a glance toward the top of the tower, Hulohot spun and dashed toward the Giralda stairs. Chapter 99 Fontaine pounded his fist into his hand. He paced the conference room and stared out at the spinning Crypto lights. â€Å"Abort! Goddamn it! Abort!† Midge appeared in the doorway waving a fresh readout. â€Å"Director! Strathmore can't abort!† â€Å"What!† Brinkerhoff and Fontaine gasped in unison. â€Å"He tried, sir!† Midge held up the report. â€Å"Four times already! TRANSLTR's locked in some sort of endless loop.† Fontaine spun and stared back out the window. â€Å"Jesus Christ!† The conference room phone rang sharply. The director threw up his arms. â€Å"It's got to be Strathmore! About goddamn time!† Brinkerhoff scooped up the phone. â€Å"Director's office.† Fontaine held out his hand for the receiver. Brinkerhoff looked uneasy and turned to Midge. â€Å"It's Jabba. He wants you.† The director swung his gaze over to Midge, who was already crossing the room. She activated the speaker phone. â€Å"Go ahead, Jabba.† Jabba's metallic voice boomed into the room. â€Å"Midge, I'm in the main databank. We're showing some strange stuff down here. I was wondering if-â€Å" â€Å"Dammit, Jabba!† Midge came unglued. â€Å"That's what I've been trying to tell you!† â€Å"It could be nothing,† Jabba hedged, â€Å"but-â€Å" â€Å"Stop saying that! It's not nothing! Whatever's going on down there, take it seriously, very seriously. My data isn't fried-never has been, never will.† She started to hang up and then added, â€Å"Oh, and Jabba? Just so there aren't any surprises†¦ Strathmore bypassed Gauntlet.†