Friday, November 29, 2019

10 Exemplification Essay Topics on Myths and Religion

10 Exemplification Essay Topics on Myths and Religion Before there were legal laws and government policies to provide a structure for humans to live by, religion played the role of providing direction for the lifestyle each individual should attain to that was pleasing to god. With time, the world’s religions have evolved from providing directions to daily living to catering to faith and what happens in the afterlife. This makes religion an expansive and interesting topic to discuss as well as write about in educational environments. Today’s article focuses on myths and religion which means it discusses the myths associated with religious worship and how some have been accepted in mainstream religions. So before discussing these myths, here is a brief explanation of what religion and myths represent. Religion can be defined as a set of beliefs diverted to a cause, nature and the purpose of the universe as well as man’s place in it. While myths are unproven stories generally passed down from generations to generations that become facts with the passage of time. Practicing religion involves conducting certain rituals and the use of devotionals- holy books, religious tools- to provide directions on how to worship the creator of the universe and this is where myths come in for they are included in most devotionals as religious stories or instructions. So here are 10 facts on the myths and religions for an exemplification essay: The Inspiration behind mythical stories in the minds of men in ancient Greece is attributed to divine sources such as Zeus and the muses. In like manner, modern religion also attributes the inspiration behind the stories and facts found in religious books to divine inspiration from a divine being or an element of the divine being. Therefore, in both cases, myths are sometimes believed to be actual historical incidents that occurred in a forgotten era. The creation story and its mythical origins the three major Abrahamic religions share the same belief on how the world was created in three days out of nothing but before this belief became widely accepted, ancient Egyptian myths and text also described a creation process in which the world was built from an infinite, lifeless sea of nothingness. Other religions such as the Kamba in Kenya, and the Maori religion also contain aspects of this creation myth. Oral transmission creates avenues for distortions the stories we recognize as myths today were transferred through the ages by oral communication which has led to distortions as the custodians of these stories either embellish or detract facts from them. Like Homer’s tale of the Iliad which were a set of stories passed around for 500 years before he penned them down the first 5 books of the bible which forms the basics of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith were also passed down orally. Myths tend to be modernized by politics modernization is a procedure that also affects mythology as story tellers tend to retell stories to fit into the popular political movement or beliefs of his or her time. In ancient Greece, the Tragedians adjusted mythical plots to illuminate the political and social problems of that era. So also do religious books which sometimes reflect the politics and social on-goings that occurred during the periods they were written. The concept of heaven and hell are a product of mythical stories passed down from generations to generations and are not solely endemic to the major religions of today. In ancient Egypt, the belief in an afterlife was one held in the Trayastrimsa culture while in ancient Greece, the belief in Tartarus as a place of punishment predated the belief in hell. Ancient commandments and human society myths have also played their path in setting commandments on which ancient societies lived by in years past. The first recorded text of commandments included the treaty of the Hittites and the code of Hammurabi. These commandments preceded the 10 commandments and the Torah. A close look at the Hammurabi laws show close similarities to the laws in today’s modern religions. The belief in a trinity possesses mythological roots the belief in a trinity consisting of three coequal gods has been a part of the ancient religions practiced in Babylon, Rome and Asia before the advent of Christianity. In Babylon, Baal, Ashtoreth and Tammuz were one of the earliest known examples of the trinity theology in religion, while later on in Rome, Jupiter, Juno and Minerva formed a trinity which is quite similar to that found in the Christian religion. The dying and rising gods the stories of a god who died and resurrected to provide succour to its worshipers has been a recurring meet since the beginning of time when humans had a belief system. The earliest version of a resurrecting god can be found in ancient Egyptian religion were Osiris undergoes a form of rebirth after death. Subsequently, ancient Greek religion added Dionysus to the list of resurrecting gods. The flood or deluge myths the belief in a global flood that affected humankind is an important tenet. The three major Abrahamic religions have mythological stories that preceded Judaism. The Sumerian creation myth is credited as having the first religious reference to a global flood that washes humanity. The Sumerian myth also includes stories of a mythical creature, Zi-ud-Sura, who builds an ark to save both himself and other animals. The evil nature of serpents since the beginning of religion, the serpent has been ascribed a mythological role as the bringer of bad news and destruction to mythical beings. In one of the oldest stories ever written- The Epic of Gilgamesh- Gilgamesh loses the power of immortality which was stolen off him by a snake. Also, in ancient Greece mythology, the serpent plays a stellar role in trying to thwart the destinies of mythical figures. Likewise, Christianity, Islam and Judaism feature the serpent as the deceiver of the first humans on earth. So here we come to the end of our 10 fascinating facts on myths and religion that you can apply when writing an essay on religion. Do not hesitate to also read the follow up pieces to these facts. 20 topics on myths and religion and a complete guide to an exemplification essay will give you directions on choosing a topic and writing an exemplification on essay on myths and religion. References: Scott, L. (2009). Myths and Religion. angelfire.com/indie/green_economics/MythsandReligion.pdf Levitt, M. Elissa, G. (2000). How Raven Found the Daylight and other American Indian Stories. Encyclopedia.com. (2006). Myths. encyclopedia.com/topic/Myths.aspx Wikipedia. (2014). Creation Myths. https://www.google.com.ng/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2ion=1espv=2ie=UTF-8q=creation%20mythsoq=creation%20mythsrlz=1C1AVNE_enNG649NG650aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.27072j0j7 John, M. (2008). Why Does Nearly Every Culture Have a Tradition of a Global Flood? icr.org/article/why-does-nearly-every-culture-have-tradition-globa/ Ed, T. (2002). Pagan Roots of the Trinity Doctrine. biblicalunitarian.com/articles/pagan-roots-of-the-trinity-doctrine-ed-torrence-2002 Norse-mythology.com. (2008). Death and the Afterlife. http://norse-mythology.org/concepts/death-and-the-afterlife/ Ellis, R. (1968). The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature, 84.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Neighborhood Article Summary Essay Example

Neighborhood Article Summary Essay Example Neighborhood Article Summary Essay Neighborhood Article Summary Essay Neighborhood Article Summary Name: Institution: Instructor: Course: Date: Neighborhood Article Summary ED Sees Critical Capacities Unsafe conditions were cited in the Neighborhood Hospital. Cases of over staffing were reported . The overstaffing has led to hazardous conditions that interfere with the safety of the staffers. The health facility is flooded with patients suffering from ailments that can easily be treated at home. However, because of a dearth in alternative health care compels them to seek medical attention in the center. According to Dr. Gordon, it is evident that the region lacks adequate health facilities to carter for the destitute and low-income members of the society (Johnson, 2012). Dr. Gordon suggested that there was an urgent need to create awareness among the members of the society concerning symptoms and treatment of common ailments and injuries. He argued that majority of the patients who visit the health institutions have conditions that could receive treatment at home. An increase in the capacity of hospitals has compelled the patients to visit the health institution for minor injuries and ailments. The patients were forced to waist for more than six hours to receive medical attention (Johnson, 2012). Public Health Issues In the article, Dr. Gordon addresses a number of public health concerns. These concerns are accessibility to effective health care, mass awareness on common health ailments, overstaffing in health institutions and hazardous working conditions for health workers. These issues were represented in the various situations that surrounded the Neighborhood Hospital. These issues are of public concern because they affect the well-being of the members of the society. One concern that Dr. Gordon raises is that there is a dearth of adequate medical facilities to carter for the population of the region. The doctor elaborates further that this lack of adequate medical facilities is detrimental to the treatment of the less privileged members of the society. The government was charged with mandate of providing health care to its population. The human labor is the most important resource of a nation, and it is the government’s obligation to subsidies costs of health care. The less privileged members of the society should receive attention because their social and economic status creates inequity in their resource accessibility. The masses should receive education on the general illnesses and injuries that occur frequently. This awareness will help members of the community not only to avoid the common illness and but to also treat and manage them in case of their occurrence. The Neighborhood Hospital is experiencing an influx of patients because of their inability to treat and manage common ailments. Educating the masses will help to cut down on the costs of treating common illnesses. Creation of awareness will also allow the staff at the medical centers to focus on the urgent cases that require immediate medical attention. Dr. Gordon reported that the staff at Neighborhood Hospital was more than the required number and apart from this, the staff received exposure to hazardous working conditions. It is the responsibility of a company’s management to ensure that its employees work in favorable conditions. The health of the employees should be a priority of the employers. Exposure of the employees to conditions that put their health at risk will subsequently affect their input in the workplace. This will be detrimental to the health care that the patients receive at the health centers. Over staffing at the health facility worsens the working conditions. The result is overcrowding and sharing of limited resources. This will impede the performance of the health care givers. Smoking Breaks a Thing Of The Past The breaks that many companies and social institutions are giving employees are slowly fading away. This is because of the controversies that arose concerning the need for smokers to receive breaks. Smoking is not a disability that requires special attention and therefore that rationality behind the breaks was lost. The breaks taken by the employees can be legally regulated by the employer. This implies that the idea of employees ding away with the smoking breaks is quite feasible. The strings attached to the breaks given to the employee are dictated by the employer (Johnson, 2012). Public Health Issue The public health issue that has been addressed is that of smoking cessation. The effects of tobacco on the public are the driving force behind these efforts. Antismoking programs were extended to the office set up. The management of companies is being encouraged to adopt systems that discourage smoking during the work routine. The government has also been receiving pressure to allocate funds of tobacco cessation. This was because of the rise in tobacco related illness that was burdening the country’s economy. These efforts will aid in the protection of passive smokers and the active smokers themselves. Second hand smoking is known to be the cause of many premature deaths and illnesses. Reference List Johnson, G. (2012). The Neighborhood News. Pearson Health Science. Retrieved from: http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/chet/chet_neighborhood/demo/week7_news.html

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Ten-Year History on Merck (MRK) and Eli Lily (LLY) Essay

Ten-Year History on Merck (MRK) and Eli Lily (LLY) - Essay Example Eli Lily and Company emerged in 1876 and currently has over $20 billion in annual revenue. This report constitutes a broad ranging analysis on these companies over the last ten years and provides a recommendation of which company would be a more desirable acquisition. Qualitative, Cultural, Social There are a number of notable incidents that have occurred in the last ten years of these companies’ histories. While the 2008 economic recession is a prominent consideration that had a detrimental impact on both organizations, there are other problems that have been encountered. For Merck perhaps the most prominent such issue is the 2007 price fixing settlement the company reached, as the company had to pay over $20 million dollar out-of-court settlement with the Department of Health over oligopolistic price fixing in terms of its pharmaceutical drugs (Bowers 2005). Eli Lilly found similar legal troubles as they had to pay a reported $1.42 billion in fines levied by the United State s Justice Department for improper marketing techniques in relation to the company’s anti-psychotic drug Zyprexa. ... From this period the equity valuation went on a steady decline until its November 16th, 2004 trading price of $26.41. While the stock is dividend driven, it’s clear that during this three years period there was a substantial market correction. From the November 16th, 2004 trading price made a steady climb and three years later on November 16th, 2007 the equity had largely regained its equity valuation and was trading at $58.38 ("Financial statement," 2011). The subsequent economic recession and the company price crashed to a ten year low of $25.43 by December 28th, 2009. Since then the stock has slowly climbed and is not trading at $35.67 ("Financial statement," 2011). The clear implication is that the company has demonstrated a past top over $60.00 and that there is strong historical precedent for the current $35 trading price to continue to grow. The Merck equity financials can be compared to those of Eli Lily in an attempt to determine both companies’ financial stren gths in relation to each other as market as macro-concerns within the health care sector. In this context of understanding it’s demonstrated that both companies share slightly similar trends in terms of equity valuation. In November 16th, 2001 Eli Lilly was trading at $79.02. The company witnessed a steady decline in this market price that was topped off by the 2008 recession. By November 16th 2009 the company was trading at $35.36, greatly similar to its current market price of $37.65 ("Financial statement," 2011). While both companies are dividend driven and currently share a similar market valuation, one of the prominent concerns is that while Merck experienced significant ups and downs in valuation, Eli Lilly has demonstrated a steady

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Inquiry into Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Inquiry into Media - Essay Example It is also imperative to take some time to go and watch the affiliated film and make use of a graphic organizer to make comparative studies between the book and the film. After all these activities, the learner makes a discussion, sighting important scenes within the movie that paid attribute to improving the book and also giving examples of scenarios that were a bad idea. In the end, the involved parties select various scenes where their personal opinion is that it was not appropriately represented in the film, and this makes it easy for the leaner to present it as a theatre performance. The use of films in class has a lot of educative value, especially when one considers the examples of critical thinking in relation to the stories that are in the movies. When we add films to the curriculum, this provides an extension and expansion to learning experiences and openings for making intellectual connections for all interested parties. Therefore, this paper takes a looks into the prelimi nary part of the film Titanic produced in 1997 by James Cameron based on a book written in 1953. The primary focus of this essay is the Titanic and here it is the role of the student to explore ways that one may change some of the scenes to other forms of media such as articles, books, short stories or other films (Hockfield 13). The Titanic is a very good film that had the intention to capitulate and become one of the best photographic winning films of all times. The film cost an estimated $200 million plus that resulted in the blinding the critics and audiences, where they were overcome with delight that it was possible to direct and produce a smart action-packed movie. As a result, the movie turned out interestingly and surprisingly great, and Titanic t-shirt wear, posters, calendars, soundtracks, documentaries, and interviews became the order of the day. As one decides to go and watch the film, it is important to distance oneself from these opinions and come to a conclusion afte r a close encounter with the characters and the ideas that the director was critically attempting to reveal. Many people refer to it as the best film they have ever seen. The ship sails through the Atlantic Ocean, and the tragic end started when the machine hit the tip of an iceberg and started sinking. The most remarkable characters that stand out are a poor chap named Jack and a very rich lady named Rose. The wealthy Rose came to America to get hitched after the death of her father, who left her penniless. The two young people met and defy all odds of the social classes and ultimately fall in love. There is a catch; they have to do it in the shadows because, apparently, the rich and the poor have a stigma that occurs in their existence. It is an emotional depiction of love and romance that takes place on a doomed ship that is 46,000 tons of pure steel that seemed undoubtedly unsinkable. One of the characters survived, and one is always wishing that there are two survivors who leav e the audience in awe at the love and romance that sparks between them. It is not a new thing to find an individual crying in these types of films. Jack and Rose are the most breathe-taking leading characters that have a love that is in disguise as they are of different social classes and who are even on different classes onboard the ship.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Development - Essay Example Therefore, private sector has become important in sparking development. However, the task is so overwhelming that it cannot be taken up by a single sector. Therefore, NGOs and charity groups have become very significant in ensuring that development is achieved. Different countries are willing to initiate development in various parts of the world. However, the private sector cannot be entrusted with monitoring how the funds are being utilized. As a result, non-governmental organizations have been given this mandate because they have specialized in ensuring that the development funds reach the right people. However, private sector cannot be left behind in development matters (De & Yehoue 2013). It has been instrumental in identifying areas that need more attention in order to achieve any form of development. In addition, it has been in the forefront in ensuring grants given to the government to start development projects are utilized effectively for the benefits of all people. Private sector partnership with charity groups and NGOs would enhance efficiency. All these parties have a single agenda of initiating development in the society. Therefore, once they bring their ideas and resources together, they would be able to achieve prosperity (Hodge, Greve, & Boardman 2010). This is through closing the gaps that existed which were being used by the elite group and politicians to embezzle funds that were meant for development. Content knowledge in topics such as climate change, financial access and last mile delivery provides non-governmental organizations with an advantage in assessing the needs of the community, policy implications, and customized solutions for specialized contexts (Desai & Potter 2002). Moreover, decades of experience by the non-governmental organizations which have been working with communities is significant in integrating cultural awareness, trusted relationship, and

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Traditional Views Of Corporate Social Responsibility

Traditional Views Of Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility is when companies control the business processes to create an overall positive effect on society. Corporate Social Responsibility is the progressing obligation by business to conduct oneself ethically and donate to economic growth while improving the standards of the societys workforce and as well as of the local community and society. (www.mallenbaker.net) The need of corporate social responsibility is that it helps in building the brand image of the company which will in turn invite plenty of investors there by increases sales and profit of the company or firm. It is also a duty of every firm to give something in return to the society. CSR acts like a bridge between the firm and society and through this both sides are benefited. Corporate social responsibility can be further explained with Carrolls four part model of corporate social responsibility which includes Philanthropic responsibilities, Ethical responsibilities, Legal responsibilities and Economic responsibilities. Carrolls four-part model of corporate social responsibility Source: Carroll 1991 Philanthropic responsibilities are tasks that are the needs of the society. Philanthropy encompasses those corporate behaviour that are related to societys want that businesses be fine corporate citizens. This incorporates keenly involving in actions or programs to encourage human wellbeing or benevolence. Examples of philanthropy include business aid of monetary resources or exclusive period, such as contributions to the arts, education, or the community. A loaned-executive program that offers headship for a communitys United Way campaign is one illustration of philanthropy. (www.findarticles.com) Ethical responsibilities are responsibilities that are awaited by the society. Ethics deals with good behaviour of persons and good living. It distinguishes between right and wrong and encourages the notion of good life that is fulfilling and according to moral conduct. Ethical Responsibility is such a kind of responsibility that is a boundary to the concepts of Ethics. These responsibilities are not only to encourage a good living standard for oneself but also for the whole society. Ethical Responsibility is imposed by the moral and social values of a society and not by regulation. (www.blurit.com) Legal responsibilities are those responsibilities which are a necessitate of the society. Society has not only authorized business to function according to the turnover motive, at the same time business is likely to obey with the laws and regulations promulgated by federal, state, and local governments as the ground rules under which business must function. As a incomplete fulfilment of the social contract between business and society, firms are likely to follow their fiscal missions within the structure of the law. Legal responsibilities replicate a vision of codified ethics in the sense that they embody basic ideas of reasonable operations as established by lawmakers. They are depicted as the next level on the pyramid to describe their historical improvement, but they are suitably seen as co existing wit economic tasks as basic precepts of the liberated venture scheme. (www.findarticles.com) Economic responsibilities are those responsibilities which are demanded by the society. Business firms were formed as economic entities intended to offer goods and services to societal members. The profit motive was recognized as the key incentive for private enterprise. The business organization was the basic economic unit in our society. As such, its prime role was to manufacture goods and services that clients required and desired and to build a satisfactory profit in the progression. At some point the idea of the profit motive got transformed into a notion of maximum profits, and this has been an enduring value ever since. All other business tasks are predicated upon the economic liability of the firm, because without it the others become doubtful considerations. (www.findarticles.com) Stakeholder theory of the firm traditional management mode includes shareholders, customers, firm, suppliers, and employees. The stakeholders may be divided into categories of internal and external stakeholders. The internal stakeholders include employees, owners, and manager. And the external stakeholders include shareholders, society, suppliers, government, customers and creditors. The above question is mainly based on the external stakeholders which emphasis on shareholders and society. Case study of Shell refining company in relation to CSR both traditional and new view Shell Refining Company Shell Company offers to the principle of sustainable development that sees to the requirements of the current situation without compromising the ability of future situation to encounter their own desires. Being part of Shell, this Company offers to the same principle of sustainable development. Shells practices are associated with the systematic approach adopted by Royal Dutch Shell plc in their own pains to employ strength, security and environmental management practices. Their behaviour are governed by the desire to make business decisions that give weight age to their sense of economic, social and environmental responsibilities and by which our stakeholders and society can hold us answerable. Shell refining company are dedicated to serving its stakeholders in order to advance their quality of existence whereas concurrently contributing to Malaysias progression and its Vision 2020 goals and aims. (www.shell.com) The role of shareholders and society in a traditional point of view was mainly associated with mere business ethics. It is the first hit on an offshore provision, formerly thought secure in spite of a wave of inshore attacks. The emergency shutdown might have damaged equipment, which would have to be repaired. The raid took place on the Bonga oil platform about 120km (75 miles) off the coast of the Niger Delta. Shell has also been blamed for an oil spill in the Ogoni region of the Delta. Oil is gushing from disused pipes deserted by the company when it left the region nearly 15 years ago, following local protests. Attacks on the inshore Niger Delta have helped drive up world oil prices and previously cut Nigerias output by about 20%. (www.bbc.co.uk). Shareholders made sure that every action of theirs will be ethical which would be fair, moral, principled and decent decisions towards the company. Shell companys shareholders in the traditional point of view were ethical as in they told their directors not to let the oil wastages in the river at Nigeria as there were wastes being dumped in the river which in turn were affecting the people of Nigeria. The society in turn defended itself. The Shareholders offer its customers with solutions and a diversity of energy products, materials and services, which get together their requirements. Cost-effectively and does not cause damage to the environment. They work to convince them that their performance and society holds up for us, do not direct to untenable social differences but create prosperity, which paybacks society as a whole. They also work to persuade them that there is a clear path for the future expansion of their industry, which will gain the next generation. Shareholders fabricate and sustain a culture of knowledge and modernism in which employees can fulfil their potential and meet the most demanding of goals meanwhile enjoying what is being done. It is a culture where the leaders are being motivated to instigate others through personal example, and where the values of honesty, integrity, respect for people, trust, openness, teamwork and professionalism, can flourish. The companies forces meets the challenges of the new millennium with a view to serving people build a enhanced globe. Therefore, they will persist to invest in projects that exploit superlative equipment, research and expansion within the highest Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (HSSE) standards. (www.shell.com). Traditional view of Shell Company Finance Enduring productivity is necessary to achieve business objectives and to sustained development. It is a measure, both of effectiveness and of the worth that customers position on Shell products and services. It provides the essential business funds for the progressing investment that is necessary to extend and create future energy supplies to convene customer wants. Only through profits and a well-built financial base, it would be possible to fulfil tasks. Rivalry Free enterprise is being supported by Shell companies. They look for fair competence and ethics and within the framework of applicable competition laws and they will not avoid others from competing freely with them. Trade veracity Shell companies persist on sincerity, integrity and justice in all aspects of their business and with whomever they deal with. Any kind of direct or indirect form of bribes where there is an offer, payment and acceptance of them is not acceptable. Payments with regards to facilitation are also bribes and are not granted. Every business dealings on behalf of a Shell company must be reflected precisely and moderately in the accounts of the company in accordance with established procedures and are subject to audit and disclosure. Political actions Shell companies operate in a communally accountable manner within the laws of the countries in which we operate in pursuit of our legitimate commercial objectives. No payments are made to political parties, organizations or their representatives by Shell company. They do not participate in party politics. However, when associated with governments, Shell companies have the right and the conscientiousness to make our position known on any matters which affect us, our employees, our customers, our shareholders or local communities in a manner which is in accord with our standards and the business values. Safety, Health, Security and the Environment Shell companies have an orderly approach to health, safety, security and environmental management so that incessant performance development can be achieved. Shell companies also handle these issues as significant business actions, set principles and goals for development, and compute, assess and report performance outwardly. There is a constant check to reduce the environmental collision of our operations, goods and services. Local Communities Shell companies aspire to be excellent neighbours by constantly recovering the traditions in which they donate directly or indirectly to the universal happiness of the communities within which they work. Management of social effects of business activities in a cautious manner and work with others to improve the reimbursements to local communities, and to mitigate any negative effects from their activities. Shell companies also take a productive concern in societal matters, directly or indirectly related to their business. Communication and commitment Shell companies distinguish that usually conversation and commitment with stakeholders is essential. They are dedicated to reporting of performance by providing full relevant data to lawfully involved parties, subject to any overruling considerations of business privacy. In interactions with employees, business partners and local communities, they look for to listening and responding with sincerity and dedication. Observance Shell Company complies with all applicable laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate with. (www.shell.com) New view of Shell Company No damage to people Shell Company are truly dedicated to pursuing the aim of no damage to people or property as an outcome of their actions. They make sure that there will no one victimised from their operations. Business for Safety Shell Company persistently believes that a well-built safety society is necessary for business. So, they continue to motivate a customs of ownership and individual accountability for safety and health at the workplace all through the firm. Throughout 2006, they sustained to take on the ordered functioning of HSSE Management Systems with specific improvements reflected via key performance indicators (KPIs). Behaviour-Based Safety Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) was initiated to all refinery workers as well as the in-house contractor by an exterior adviser. The programme began in November 2004 and all workforces were trained by 2005. A group of BBS Observers were educated to conduct observations and offer reports to the focal safety manager. A web based checklist for the BBS observers was launched and the conclusion are being analysed to ensure continuous improvements in safety behaviour. Overall, there are many positive indications that the BBS programme will offer additional marked improvement in our safety performance. In 2006, the observations contained in BBS observers database are being analysed by a specialist to give earning basis in preparing HSSE programmes and drives. Environment Protection They are dedicated to shielding the environment. Company minimises the effect of its actions to the environment by setting extremely demanding development targets to increasingly diminish emissions and discharges. These efforts all fall in line with Malaysian legislations, Shell Group Strategic Objectives and other connected global conventions. Complaints from public It is the right of all citizens to find fault if and when any actions bother any citizens daily livelihood. They take all complaints acutely and each is recognized and filed to make sure timely action and response is assured. Usually, all complaints will be responded right away and stopped within 48 hours. If this is not possible, the complainant will be provided a cause for the hold-up and will be advised as to when to wait for a response. In 2006, your company recorded seven public complaints, compared to five recorded in 2005. The complaints were mainly related to odour and noise, which duty officers punctually responded to and the suitable remedial activities taken. Complaints are also discussed at the Community Dialogue sessions that take place frequently. (www.shell.com) The following are some activities conducted by Shell Company towards the new view of CSR. They are as follows SOCIAL PERFORMANCE PLAN Social Performance (SP) in Shell Group is the word used to explain how one manages the effect of business on the communities and societies in which they function. As part of the Shell Group guidelines, Company has developed and executed its SP Plan, which aims to boost social performance levels in a prearranged approach. Company and its stakeholders rise to gain from practical commitment on evidently drawn-up matters. BENEFITS COMMUNITIES Shell Company is a key associate of Port Dickson community. They are continuously looking for suitable ways to give to the social well being of the neighbourhood and to the wider public, which grant your Company its licence to function and nurture. BIODIVERSITY All Companies including Shell Company play an important when it comes with societal aspect as they have a role to play in shielding and supporting biodiversity. As an dynamic contributing member of society, Shell takes this task very sincerely. (www.shell.com) Multiplicity and completeness of Shell Company An organisation with a forward thinking motive, Shell Company appreciates that the whole is forever more than the sum of its parts. They also know the significance of accommodating differences and distinguish people for who they are while acknowledging the significance of their offerings. Merely by recognising and considerating the differences inbuilt in individuals, one can want to plug the various talents of pool of diverse people. Besides accommodating multiplicity in the workplace, one can optimise human resource ability and sharpen the dormant talents and skills of cosmopolitan labour force. Multiplicity encompasses noticeable dissimilarities in conditions of gender, age, nationality and physical ability; as well as delicate fundamental differences in terms of education, experience, religion, work styles, way of thoughts and communications. Completeness, on the other hand, refers to a place of work where diversity, both noticeable and delicate, is appreciated and where individuals are given the chance to expand skills and talents unfailing with organisational values and business objectives. Their recognition of diversity and inclusiveness means that the Company today has a diverse and multi-talented labour force comprising 300 employees of five nationalities, of which 89% are male and 11% female. Among the management team, the ratio is more unbiased with the male composition at 56% and the female composition at 44%. They are also glad to account that the Companys labour force now possess its first female plant manager. (www.shell.com) Growing together, people matter to the Company. Their sense of economic, social and environmental responsibility is reflected in devotion to meeting todays needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their requirements. Conclusion CSR communication in Switzerland is a well-established exercise amongst top companies. Its prospect lies on a concrete foundation. In fact, top companies are regarded as by a mainly Anglo-Saxon approach that is active and optimistic. Three major areas of development have been recognized. Firstly, companies can increase from a more decisive assortment of the social issues to be communicated. Secondly, a key periphery of upgrading can take place by managing key publics, such as customers, shareholders, and the financial community mainly by investing in the precise channels to arrive at them. Finally, top companies in Switzerland may benefit from adopting international coverage values. This examination has also shown the importance of understanding the cultural determinants of CSR. In this regard, more research is certainly required, especially to better comprehend differences in behaviours concerning CSR communication that may come up in multicultural contexts, a appropriate feature i n the European context, and for cosmopolitan companies functioning in diverse enlightening environments. (Birth, Illia, Lurati and Zamparini, 2008). CSR is also concluded that expertises essential by CSR managers do differ due to the assorted disciplines concerned and also the intricacy of the roles and tasks of a CSR plan. There are no precise credentials necessary for this ground. As the ground is recent, convertible skills and facts from other associated specializations such as environmental administration, business morals, transmit of equipment, human resource management and community growth are appreciated. Thereby the skills necessary by CSR managers are known as business skills, people skills and technical skills; and the precise skills necessary are further determined by the mission and vision of the organizations where the CSR managers hand round. CSR organizations in many budding countries including Malaysia consist of local and international firms. Per se, this examination advices that relative studies should be conducted on the differences between strategies adopted by the two firms in terms of emphases and point of r eferences in CSR, the precise roles of CSR programs to community and society at large, and specific business, people as well as technical skills that the CSR managers should own. It is also advised that studies on how CSR firms struggle during the nearby economic disaster are valuable to get on. On the other hand, they have to be conscious of the reality that moving in the direction of achieving firms economic objectives ought to be devoid of jeopardizing the social objectives. ( Ismail, 2009).

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Downfall and Destruction of a King in the Play, Oedipus the King :: Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex

The Downfall of a King in the Play, Oedipus the King I found the tragedy of "Oedipus the King" to be quite interesting. It was not as hard to read as an epic. "The purpose of tragedy is to arouse the emotions of pity and fear and thus to produce in the audience a catharsis of these emotions." (p488, A Handbook of Literature) A tragedy has more drama and builds to the climax. Oedipus' fate was set into motion by the circumstances he created himself because of his own rashness and arrogance. This is called an inciting incident. "He is headstrong and foolish (in not questioning Polybus and Merope in more detail or pursuing his original question with the Delphic oracle)." (Duke) For instance, Oedipus could have asked these questions: (1) How was King Laius killed and where? (2) Who are my real parents? He would not have married his mother and had children with her. He would have become King of Corinth. Jocasta would not have hung herself. Oedipus would not have blinded himself. The city would not have been plagued because Laius killer had not been punished. In today's society Oedipus would not have gotten away with murder. That was very different in the Greek society; murder was viewed as making someone a hero and more powerful. Although, if one had too much pride that was a sin. How can someone get away with murder and not be affected by it? He killed Laius in cold blood and that is all there is to it. However, this is how the overall plot of the play evolved. "When the play opens, the city of Thebes is wasting away under a plague that leaves its fields and women barren. Oedipus, the king of Thebes, has sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask the house of Apollo to ask the oracle how to put an end to the plague. Creon returns, bearing good news: once the killer of the previous king, Laius, is found, Thebes will be cured of the plague (Laius was Jocasta's husband before she married Oedipus). Hearing this, Oedipus swears he will find the murderer and banish him. He asks Creon some questions: where was Laius murdered? did anyone see the crime? how many men killed him? Creon answers: Laius was killed outside the city by a group of robbers, and the only witness was a shepherd who still lives nearby.

Monday, November 11, 2019

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 7-9

CHAPTER 7 The modest dwelling within the Church of Saint-Sulpice was located on the second floor of the church itself, to the left of the choir balcony. A two-room suite with a stone floor and minimal furnishings, it had been home to Sister Sandrine Bieil for over a decade. The nearby convent washer formal residence, if anyone asked, but she preferred the quiet of the church and had made herself quite comfortable upstairs with a bed, phone, and hot plate. As the church's conservatrice d'affaires, Sister Sandrine was responsible for overseeing all nonreligious aspects of church operations – general maintenance, hiring support staff and guides, securing the building after hours, and ordering supplies like communion wine and wafers. Tonight, asleep in her small bed, she awoke to the shrill of her telephone. Tiredly, she lifted the receiver. â€Å"Soeur Sandrine. Eglise Saint-Sulpice.† â€Å"Hello, Sister,† the man said in French. Sister Sandrine sat up. What time is it? Although she recognized her boss's voice, in fifteen years she had never been awoken by him. The abbe was a deeply pious man who went home to bed immediately after mass. â€Å"I apologize if I have awoken you, Sister,† the abbe said, his own voice sounding groggy and on edge. â€Å"I have a favor to ask of you. I just received a call from an influential American bishop. Perhaps you know him? Manuel Aringarosa?† â€Å"The head of Opus Dei?† Of course I know of him.Who in the Church doesn't? Aringarosa's conservative prelature had grown powerful in recent years. Their ascension to grace was jump-started in 1982 when Pope John Paul II unexpectedly elevated them to a† personal prelature of the Pope,† officially sanctioning all of their practices. Suspiciously, Opus Dei's elevation occurred the same year the wealthy sect allegedly had transferred almost one billion dollars into the Vatican's Institute for Religious Works – commonly known as the Vatican Bank – bailing it out of an embarrassing bankruptcy. In a second maneuver that raised eyebrows, the Pope placed the founder of Opus Dei on the† fast track† for sainthood, accelerating an often century-long waiting period for canonization to a mere twenty years. Sister Sandrine could not help but feel that Opus Dei's good standing in Rome was suspect, but one did not argue with the Holy See. â€Å"Bishop Aringarosa called to ask me a favor,† the abbe told her, his voice nervous. â€Å"One of his numeraries is in Paris tonight†¦Ã¢â‚¬  As Sister Sandrine listened to the odd request, she felt a deepening confusion. â€Å"I'm sorry, you say this visiting Opus Dei numerary cannot wait until morning?† â€Å"I'm afraid not. His plane leaves very early. He has always dreamed of seeing Saint-Sulpice.† â€Å"But the church is far more interesting by day. The sun's rays through the oculus, the graduated shadows on the gnomon, this is what makes Saint-Sulpice unique.† â€Å"Sister, I agree, and yet I would consider it a personal favor if you could let him in tonight. He can be there at†¦ say one o'clock? That's in twenty minutes.† Sister Sandrine frowned. â€Å"Of course. It would be my pleasure.† The abbe thanked her and hung up. Puzzled, Sister Sandrine remained a moment in the warmth of her bed, trying to shake off the cobwebs of sleep. Her sixty-year-old body did not awake as fast as it used to, although tonight's phone call had certainly roused her senses. Opus Dei had always made her uneasy. Beyond the prelature's adherence to the arcane ritual of corporal mortification, their views on women were medieval at best. She had been shocked to learn that female numeraries were forced to clean the men's residence halls for no pay while the men were at mass; women slept on hardwood floors, while the men had straw mats; and women were forced to endure additional requirements of corporal mortification†¦ all as added penance for original sin. It seemed Eve's bite from the apple of knowledge was a debt women were doomed to pay for eternity. Sadly, while most of the Catholic Church was gradually moving in the right direction with respect to women's rights, Opus Dei threatened to reverse the progress. Even so, Sister Sandrine had her orders. Swinging her legs off the bed, she stood slowly, chilled by the cold stone on the soles of her bare feet. As the chill rose through her flesh, she felt an unexpected apprehension. Women's intuition? A follower of God, Sister Sandrine had learned to find peace in the calming voices of her own soul. Tonight, however, those voices were as silent as the empty church around her. CHAPTER 8 Langdon couldn't tear his eyes from the glowing purple text scrawled across the parquet floor. Jacques Sauniere's final communication seemed as unlikely a departing message as any Langdon could imagine. The message read: 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5 O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! Although Langdon had not the slightest idea what it meant, he did understand Fache's instinct that the pentacle had something to do with devil worship. O, Draconian devil! Sauniere had left a literal reference to the devil. Equally as bizarre was the series of numbers. â€Å"Part of it looks like a numeric cipher.† â€Å"Yes,† Fache said. â€Å"Our cryptographers are already working on it. We believe these numbers maybe the key to who killed him. Maybe a telephone exchange or some kind of social identification. Do the numbers have any symbolic meaning to you?† Langdon looked again at the digits, sensing it would take him hours to extract any symbolic meaning. If Sauniere had even intended any.To Langdon, the numbers looked totally random. He was accustomed to symbolic progressions that made some semblance of sense, but everything here – the pentacle, the text, the numbers – seemed disparate at the most fundamental level. â€Å"You alleged earlier,† Fache said,† that Sauniere's actions here were all in an effort to send some sort of message†¦ goddess worship or something in that vein? How does this message fit in?† Langdon knew the question was rhetorical. This bizarre communique obviously did not fit Langdon's scenario of goddess worship at all. O, Draconian devil? Oh, lame saint? Fache said, â€Å"This text appears to be an accusation of some sort. Wouldn't you agree?† Langdon tried to imagine the curator's final minutes trapped alone in the Grand Gallery, knowing he was about to die. It seemed logical. â€Å"An accusation against his murderer makes sense, I suppose.† â€Å"My job, of course, is to put a name to that person. Let me ask you this, Mr. Langdon. To your eye, beyond the numbers, what about this message is most strange?† Most strange? A dying man had barricaded himself in the gallery, drawn a pentacle on himself, and scrawled a mysterious accusation on the floor. What about the scenario wasn't strange? â€Å"The word ‘Draconian'?† he ventured, offering the first thing that came to mind. Langdon was fairly certain that a reference to Draco – the ruthless seventh-century B. C. politician – was an unlikely dying thought. † ‘Draconian devil' seems an odd choice of vocabulary.† â€Å"Draconian?† Fache's tone came with a tinge of impatience now. â€Å"Sauniere's choice of vocabulary hardly seems the primary issue here.† Langdon wasn't sure what issue Fache had in mind, but he was starting to suspect that Draco and Fache would have gotten along well. â€Å"Sauniere was a Frenchman,† Fache said flatly. â€Å"He lived in Paris. And yet he chose to write this message†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"In English,† Langdon said, now realizing the captain's meaning. Fache nodded. â€Å"Precisement.Any idea why?† Langdon knew Sauniere spoke impeccable English, and yet the reason he had chosen English as the language in which to write his final words escaped Langdon. He shrugged. Fache motioned back to the pentacle on Sauniere's abdomen. â€Å"Nothing to do with devil worship? Are you still certain?† Langdon was certain of nothing anymore. â€Å"The symbology and text don't seem to coincide. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.† â€Å"Perhaps this will clarify.† Fache backed away from the body and raised the black light again, letting the beam spread out in a wider angle. â€Å"And now?† To Langdon's amazement, a rudimentary circle glowed around the curator's body. Sauniere had apparently lay down and swung the pen around himself in several long arcs, essentially inscribing himself inside a circle. In a flash, the meaning became clear. â€Å"The Vitruvian Man,†Langdon gasped. Sauniere had created a life-sized replica of Leonardo Da Vinci's most famous sketch. Considered the most anatomically correct drawing of its day, Da Vinci's The Vitruvian Man had become a modern-day icon of culture, appearing on posters, mouse pads, and T-shirts around the world. The celebrated sketch consisted of a perfect circle in which was inscribed a nude male†¦ his arms and legs outstretched in a naked spread eagle. Da Vinci.Langdon felt a shiver of amazement. The clarity of Sauniere's intentions could not be denied. In his final moments of life, the curator had stripped off his clothing and arranged his body in a clear image of Leonardo Da Vinci's VitruvianMan. The circle had been the missing critical element. A feminine symbol of protection, the circle around the naked man's body completed Da Vinci's intended message – male and female harmony. The question now, though, was why Sauniere would imitate a famous drawing. â€Å"Mr. Langdon,† Fache said,† certainly a man like yourself is aware that Leonardo Da Vinci had a tendency toward the darker arts.† Langdon was surprised by Fache's knowledge of Da Vinci, and it certainly went a long way toward explaining the captain's suspicions about devil worship. Da Vinci had always been an awkward subject for historians, especially in the Christian tradition. Despite the visionary's genius, he was a flamboyant homosexual and worshipper of Nature's divine order, both of which placed him in a perpetual state of sin against God. Moreover, the artist's eerie eccentricities projected an admittedly demonic aura: Da Vinci exhumed corpses to study human anatomy; he kept mysterious journals in illegible reverse handwriting; he believed he possessed the alchemic power to turn lead into gold and even cheat God by creating an elixir to postpone death; and his inventions included horrific, never-before-imagined weapons of war and torture. Misunderstanding breeds distrust, Langdon thought. Even Da Vinci's enormous output of breathtaking Christian art only furthered the artist's reputation for spiritual hypocrisy. Accepting hundreds of lucrative Vatican commissions, Da Vinci painted Christian themes not as an expression of his own beliefs but rather as a commercial venture – a means of funding a lavish lifestyle. Unfortunately, Da Vinci was a prankster who often amused himself by quietly gnawing at the hand that fed him. He incorporated in many of his Christian paintings hidden symbolism that was anything but Christian – tributes to his own beliefs and a subtle thumbing of his nose at the Church. Langdon had even given a lecture once at the National Gallery in London entitled:† The Secret Life of Leonardo: Pagan Symbolism in Christian Art.† â€Å"I understand your concerns,† Langdon now said, â€Å"but Da Vinci never really practiced any dark arts. He was an exceptionally spiritual man, albeit one in constant conflict with the Church.† As Langdon said this, an odd thought popped into his mind. He glanced down at the message on the floor again. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! â€Å"Yes?† Fache said. Langdon weighed his words carefully. â€Å"I was just thinking that Sauniere shared a lot of spiritual ideologies with Da Vinci, including a concern over the Church's elimination of the sacred feminine from modern religion. Maybe, by imitating a famous Da Vinci drawing, Sauniere was simply echoing some of their shared frustrations with the modern Church's demonization of the goddess.† Fache's eyes hardened. â€Å"You think Sauniere is calling the Church a lame saint and a Draconian devil?† Langdon had to admit it seemed far-fetched, and yet the pentacle seemed to endorse the idea on some level. â€Å"All I am saying is that Mr. Sauniere dedicated his life to studying the history of the goddess, and nothing has done more to erase that history than the Catholic Church. It seems reasonable that Sauniere might have chosen to express his disappointment in his final good-bye.† â€Å"Disappointment?† Fache demanded, sounding hostile now. â€Å"This message sounds more enragedthan disappointed, wouldn't you say?† Langdon was reaching the end of his patience. â€Å"Captain, you asked for my instincts as to what Sauniere is trying to say here, and that's what I'm giving you.† â€Å"That this is an indictment of the Church?† Fache's jaw tightened as he spoke through clenched teeth. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, I have seen a lot of death in my work, and let me tell you something. When a man is murdered by another man, I do not believe his final thoughts are to write an obscure spiritual statement that no one will understand. I believe he is thinking of one thing only.† Fache's whispery voice sliced the air. â€Å"La vengeance.I believe Sauniere wrote this note to tell us who killed him.† Langdon stared. â€Å"But that makes no sense whatsoever.† â€Å"No?† â€Å"No,† he fired back, tired and frustrated. â€Å"You told me Sauniere was attacked in his office by someone he had apparently invited in.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"So it seems reasonable to conclude that the curator knew his attacker.† Fache nodded. â€Å"Go on.† â€Å"So if Sauniere knew the person who killed him, what kind of indictment is this?† He pointed at the floor. â€Å"Numeric codes? Lame saints? Draconian devils? Pentacles on his stomach? It's all too cryptic.† Fache frowned as if the idea had never occurred to him. â€Å"You have a point.† â€Å"Considering the circumstances,† Langdon said,† I would assume that if Sauniere wanted to tell you who killed him, he would have written down somebody's name.† As Langdon spoke those words, a smug smile crossed Fache's lips for the first time all night. â€Å"Precisement,†Fache said. â€Å"Precisement.† I am witnessing the work of a master, mused Lieutenant Collet as he tweaked his audio gear and listened to Fache's voice coming through the headphones. The agent superieur knew it was moments like these that had lifted the captain to the pinnacle of French law enforcement. Fache will do what no one else dares. The delicate art of cajoler was a lost skill in modern law enforcement, one that required exceptional poise under pressure. Few men possessed the necessary sangfroid for this kind of operation, but Fache seemed born for it. His restraint and patience bordered on the robotic. Fache's sole emotion this evening seemed to be one of intense resolve, as if this arrest were somehow personal to him. Fache's briefing of his agents an hour ago had been unusually succinct and assured. I know who murdered Jacques Sauniere, Fache had said. You know what to do.No mistakes tonight. And so far, no mistakes had been made. Collet was not yet privy to the evidence that had cemented Fache's certainty of their suspect's guilt, but he knew better than to question the instincts of the Bull. Fache's intuition seemed almost supernatural at times. God whispers in his ear, one agent had insisted after a particularly impressive display of Fache's sixth sense. Collet had to admit, if there was a God, Bezu Fache would be on His A-list. The captain attended mass and confession with zealous regularity – far more than the requisite holiday attendance fulfilled by other officials in the name of good public relations. When the Pope visited Paris a few years back, Fache had used all his muscle to obtain the honor of an audience. A photo of Fache with the Pope now hung in his office. The Papal Bull, the agents secretly called it. Collet found it ironic that one of Fache's rare popular public stances in recent years had been his outspoken reaction to the Catholic pedophilia scandal. These priests should be hanged twice! Fache had declared. Once for their crimes against children.And once for shaming the good name of theCatholic Church.Collet had the odd sense it was the latter that angered Fache more. Turning now to his laptop computer, Collet attended to the other half of his responsibilities here tonight – the GPS tracking system. The image onscreen revealed a detailed floor plan of the Denon Wing, a structural schematic uploaded from the Louvre Security Office. Letting his eyes trace the maze of galleries and hallways, Collet found what he was looking for. Deep in the heart of the Grand Gallery blinked a tiny red dot. La marque. Fache was keeping his prey on a very tight leash tonight. Wisely so. Robert Langdon had proven himself one cool customer. CHAPTER 9 To ensure his conversation with Mr. Langdon would not be interrupted, Bezu Fache had turned off his cellular phone. Unfortunately, it was an expensive model equipped with a two-way radio feature, which, contrary to his orders, was now being used by one of his agents to page him. â€Å"Capitaine?† The phone crackled like a walkie-talkie. Fache felt his teeth clench in rage. He could imagine nothing important enough that Collet would interrupt this surveillance cachee – especially at this critical juncture. He gave Langdon a calm look of apology. â€Å"One moment please.† He pulled the phone from his belt and pressed the radio transmission button. â€Å"Oui?† â€Å"Capitaine, un agent du Departement de Cryptographie est arrive.† Fache's anger stalled momentarily. A cryptographer? Despite the lousy timing, this was probably good news. Fache, after finding Sauniere's cryptic text on the floor, had uploaded photographs of the entire crime scene to the Cryptography Department in hopes someone there could tell him what the hell Sauniere was trying to say. If a code breaker had now arrived, it most likely meant someone had decrypted Sauniere's message. â€Å"I'm busy at the moment,† Fache radioed back, leaving no doubt in his tone that a line had been crossed. â€Å"Ask the cryptographer to wait at the command post. I'll speak to him when I'm done.† â€Å"Her,†the voice corrected. â€Å"It's Agent Neveu.† Fache was becoming less amused with this call every passing moment. Sophie Neveu was one of DCPJ's biggest mistakes. A young Parisian dechiffreuse who had studied cryptography in England at the Royal Holloway, Sophie Neveu had been foisted on Fache two years ago as part of the ministry's attempt to incorporate more women into the police force. The ministry's ongoing foray into political correctness, Fache argued, was weakening the department. Women not only lacked the physicality necessary for police work, but their mere presence posed a dangerous distraction to the men in the field. As Fache had feared, Sophie Neveu was proving far more distracting than most. At thirty-two years old, she had a dogged determination that bordered on obstinate. Her eager espousal of Britain's new cryptologic methodology continually exasperated the veteran French cryptographers above her. And by far the most troubling to Fache was the inescapable universal truth that in an office of middle-aged men, an attractive young woman always drew eyes away from the work at hand. The man on the radio said,† Agent Neveu insisted on speaking to you immediately, Captain. I tried to stop her, but she's on her way into the gallery.† Fache recoiled in disbelief. â€Å"Unacceptable! I made it very clear – â€Å" For a moment, Robert Langdon thought Bezu Fache was suffering a stroke. The captain was mid- sentence when his jaw stopped moving and his eyes bulged. His blistering gaze seemed fixated on something over Langdon's shoulder. Before Langdon could turn to see what it was, he heard a woman's voice chime out behind him. â€Å"Excusez-moi, messieurs.† Langdon turned to see a young woman approaching. She was moving down the corridor toward them with long, fluid strides†¦ a haunting certainty to her gait. Dressed casually in a knee-length, cream-colored Irish sweater over black leggings, she was attractive and looked to be about thirty. Her thick burgundy hair fell unstyled to her shoulders, framing the warmth of her face. Unlike the waifish, cookie-cutter blondes that adorned Harvard dorm room walls, this woman was healthy with an unembellished beauty and genuineness that radiated a striking personal confidence. To Langdon's surprise, the woman walked directly up to him and extended a polite hand.† Monsieur Langdon, I am Agent Neveu from DCPJ's Cryptology Department.† Her words curved richly around her muted Anglo-Franco accent. â€Å"It is a pleasure to meet you.† Langdon took her soft palm in his and felt himself momentarily fixed in her strong gaze. Her eyes were olive-green – incisive and clear. Fache drew a seething inhalation, clearly preparing to launch into a reprimand. â€Å"Captain,† she said, turning quickly and beating him to the punch, â€Å"please excuse the interruption, but – â€Å" â€Å"Ce n'est pas le moment!† Fache sputtered. â€Å"I tried to phone you.† Sophie continued in English, as if out of courtesy to Langdon. â€Å"But your cell phone was turned off.† â€Å"I turned it off for a reason,† Fache hissed. â€Å"I am speaking to Mr. Langdon.† â€Å"I've deciphered the numeric code,† she said flatly. Langdon felt a pulse of excitement. She broke the code? Fache looked uncertain how to respond. â€Å"Before I explain,† Sophie said,† I have an urgent message for Mr. Langdon.† Fache's expression turned to one of deepening concern. â€Å"For Mr. Langdon?† She nodded, turning back to Langdon. â€Å"You need to contact the U. S. Embassy, Mr. Langdon. They have a message for you from the States.† Langdon reacted with surprise, his excitement over the code giving way to a sudden ripple of concern. A message from the States? He tried to imagine who could be trying to reach him. Only a few of his colleagues knew he was in Paris. Fache's broad jaw had tightened with the news. â€Å"The U. S. Embassy?† he demanded, sounding suspicious. â€Å"How would they know to find Mr. Langdon here?† Sophie shrugged. â€Å"Apparently they called Mr. Langdon's hotel, and the concierge told them Mr. Langdon had been collected by a DCPJ agent.† Fache looked troubled. â€Å"And the embassy contacted DCPJ Cryptography?† â€Å"No, sir,† Sophie said, her voice firm. â€Å"When I called the DCPJ switchboard in an attempt to contact you, they had a message waiting for Mr. Langdon and asked me to pass it along if I got through to you.† Fache's brow furrowed in apparent confusion. He opened his mouth to speak, but Sophie had already turned back to Langdon. â€Å"Mr. Langdon,† she declared, pulling a small slip of paper from her pocket,† this is the number for your embassy's messaging service. They asked that you phone in as soon as possible.† She handed him the paper with an intent gaze. â€Å"While I explain the code to Captain Fache, you need to make this call.† Langdon studied the slip. It had a Paris phone number and extension on it. â€Å"Thank you,† he said, feeling worried now. â€Å"Where do I find a phone?† Sophie began to pull a cell phone from her sweater pocket, but Fache waved her off. He now looked like Mount Vesuvius about to erupt. Without taking his eyes off Sophie, he produced his own cell phone and held it out. â€Å"This line is secure, Mr. Langdon. You may use it.† Langdon felt mystified by Fache's anger with the young woman. Feeling uneasy, he accepted the captain's phone. Fache immediately marched Sophie several steps away and began chastising her in hushed tones. Disliking the captain more and more, Langdon turned away from the odd confrontation and switched on the cell phone. Checking the slip of paper Sophie had given him, Langdon dialed the number. The line began to ring. One ring†¦ two rings†¦ three rings†¦ Finally the call connected. Langdon expected to hear an embassy operator, but he found himself instead listening to an answering machine. Oddly, the voice on the tape was familiar. It was that of Sophie Neveu. â€Å"Bonjour, vous etes bien chez Sophie Neveu,† the woman's voice said. â€Å"Je suis absenle pour le moment, mais†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Confused, Langdon turned back toward Sophie. â€Å"I'm sorry, Ms. Neveu? I think you may have given me – â€Å" â€Å"No, that's the right number,† Sophie interjected quickly, as if anticipating Langdon's confusion.† The embassy has an automated message system. You have to dial an access code to pick up your messages.† Langdon stared. â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"It's the three-digit code on the paper I gave you.† Langdon opened his mouth to explain the bizarre error, but Sophie flashed him a silencing glare that lasted only an instant. Her green eyes sent a crystal-clear message. Don't ask questions. Just do it. Bewildered, Langdon punched in the extension on the slip of paper: 454. Sophie's outgoing message immediately cut off, and Langdon heard an electronic voice announce in French: â€Å"You have one new message.† Apparently, 454 was Sophie's remote access code for picking up her messages while away from home. I'm picking up this woman's messages? Langdon could hear the tape rewinding now. Finally, it stopped, and the machine engaged. Langdon listened as the message began to play. Again, the voice on the line was Sophie's. â€Å"Mr. Langdon,† the message began in a fearful whisper. â€Å"Do not react to this message. Just listen calmly. You are in danger right now. Follow my directions very closely.†

Friday, November 8, 2019

The Evolution and Potential Eradication of Cyber-crime in the Nigerian Banking Industry, using GTB as a case study. The WritePass Journal

The Evolution and Potential Eradication of Cyber-crime in the Nigerian Banking Industry, using GTB as a case study. Background to Project The Evolution and Potential Eradication of Cyber-crime in the Nigerian Banking Industry, using GTB as a case study. Background to ProjectProblem SpecificationResearch Aims and ObjectivesResearch MethodologyResourcesConstraintsProjected ScheduleReferences Related Background to Project Over the years, the use of information communication technology has had a dramatic impact on almost all areas of human operation including, in particular, the banking and finance sector. To a certain extent, ICT can be seen to have simplified many of the business processes; however, it has also created a new breed of criminal activity, many aspects of which are aimed at the banking sector, for example, credit card fraud, identity theft and ATM fraud, as well as other related information technology issues (Singhal Padhmanabhan, (2008). The proliferation of e-banking has offered opportunities in countries such as Nigeria to become much more global in its operation and yet it has also opened up the jurisdiction to a broad range of cyber-crimes, which will be the focus of the analysis in this research. E-banking is not limited to the more developed countries and, arguably, can be seen to transcend many of the jurisdictional borders, with countries which are developing, such as Nigeria, being able to trade internationally in a way that was not possible, previously. However, this opportunity also presents challenges, particularly when it comes to establishing systems that will prevent or limit cyber-crime. Problem Specification E-banking in Nigeria is still largely seen to be in its infancy, with the majority of banks using information technology as a means of providing information, rather than creating an interactive banking arrangement (Howard et al 2008). To a certain extent, it   could be argued that this relatively low level of take-up for e-banking in Nigeria may be attributed to the insecurity and the failure of the technology to keep pace with the needs of the public, if they are to fully engage with   internet banking and all its ramifications (Chiemeke, Evwiekpaefe, Chete, 2006). Crime and corruption within the banking sectors have created a particular concern for businesses across Nigeria, which indicates that dealing with the area of cyber-crime is critically important and needs to be tackled, if Nigeria is to be able to develop as a strong international economic jurisdiction capable of attracting investment and stability. Research Aims and Objectives The overall aim of this research is to look at the evolution of cyber-crime in Nigeria and to explore ways in which it can potentially be managed, or even eradicated. In order to achieve this over-riding aim, several smaller research objectives have been identified. Firstly, it is necessary to gain an historical understanding of the Nigerian banking industry and to ascertain the ways in which the industry has operated, prior to the use of information technology, and how information technology has impacted upon the banking sector, to date. Secondly, an analysis of the current cyber-crime control processes will be undertaken, looking at a range of different banks and how they look towards managing and controlling cyber-crime (Computer Crime Research Center 2009). The research will then move on to compare banks in other regions, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, with a view to establishing whether there are additional ways in which cyber-crime could be managed more efficiently, by looking at the various different means whereby cyber-crime is managed in these other jurisdictions. The findings can then be looked at in the context of the problems being faced in Nigeria, and potential options explored. A specific case study of GTB will be used, in order to explore the issues raised above, before ultimately suggesting how the Nigerian banking sector can improve its position and reduce the level of cyber-crime, to such an extent that it is likely to improve the stability and trust within the banking sector. GTB in particular has been the subject of much discussion due to several high profile fraudulent activities that have raised the issue of managing cybercrime in Nigeria (Shittu, 2010). Offering this guidance is a critical element of the research as it will offer guidance on how to manage the difficulties being raised by the Nigerian banking industry. Research Methodology The research approach will be inductive in nature in that it will look at a wide variety of ideas and observations with the view to ultimately establishing a theory and a framework that can be relied upon to develop the future of the Nigerian banking industry. In order to achieve this, both quantitative and qualitative analysis will be undertaken. However, this will primarily involve looking at the data associated with cyber-crime, in the region, as part of the secondary research and then going on to undertake a case study, to improve the understanding of where the data has originated from, and in order to bridge between the theory and practical reality of cyber-crime, in the region. Resources Resources will primarily be derived from journals and reports dealing with the area of cyber-crime, in Nigeria, although it will also be necessary to undertake primary research with the employees of the case study bank, i.e. GTB. Suggested references to be used as a starting point are listed at the end of the proposal. Constraints Potential issues may emerge when it comes to collecting accurate data, as issues related to cyber-crime rates can be commercially sensitive, thus making it harder to ensure that the data and the subsequent analysis are accurate. It is also necessary to recognise that issues relating to cyber-crime are likely to change, very rapidly, making the research quite time-specific, in terms of its value. Gaining detailed primary research by interviewing employees may also present a problem, as employees are unlikely to be prepared to speak openly, for fear of any comeback from their employer. Projected Schedule The research will take place over one academic year, which actually spans a total of nine months. It is anticipated that monitoring the case study bank will take the longest period of time and therefore this is central to the timing and is recognised as such in the chart below. M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 Background Research Literature Review Case Study Analysis and Write-up Proofread and Presentation References Adeloye LA (2008). E-banking as new frontiers for banks. Sunday Punch, September 14, P. 25. Chiemeke, S. C., Evwiekpaefe, A. and Chete, F.(2006) The Adoption of Internet Banking in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation, Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce, Vol. 11, No.3, Computer Crime Research Center 2009. Preventive Measures for ATM frauds. crimeresearch.org/articles/preventive measures-ATMFraud, Howard, R., Thomas, R., Burstein, J., Bradescu, R. (2008). Cyber Fraud Trends and Mitigation, 9–24. Litan, A. (2004). Phising attack victims likely targets for identity theft. Available: gartner.com/DisplayDocument?doc_cd=120804 Longe, O.B. Chiemeke, S.C. (2008): Cybercrime and Criminality in Nigeria- What roles are internet Access Points in Playing. European Journal of Social Sciences, Volume 6 No 4 Ogunsemor AO (1992.) Banking services: The emergence and impact of electronic banking. The Nigerian Banker, January – March, 1992. Omankhanlen O. (2009). ATM fraud rises: Nigerians groan in Nigeria. Daily News, Sunday, June 21, pp.8-10. Shittu, O., Submitted, P., The, T. O., Of, F., Akintola, L., State, O. Y. O., Fulfilment, I. N. P., et al. (2010). The Impact of Electronic Banking in Nigeria Banking System (Critical Appraisal Of Unity Bank Plc ), 1–62. Singhal, D., Padhmanabhan, V. (2008). A Study on Customer Perception Towards Internet Banking : Identifying Major Contributing Factors, 5(1), pp. 101–111.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Summer Of The Seventeenth Doll Essay

Summer Of The Seventeenth Doll Essay Summer Of The Seventeenth doll has been regarded as both a masterpiece and as a turning point in Australian history. It has boosted Australian theatre to another level and genre of performance that Australian theatre would not have been able to achieve alone. The doll managed to astound audiences by its distinctiveness. It managed to explore situations and aspects that the audience had never before entered. It was stylistically new and different, which caused plenty of reactions by the audience that contributed to its phenomenal. Due to The Doll's success in relation to its uniqueness, it inspired many more playwrights to experiment with theatre styles, which proved to be advancement in Australian history. The Doll's success is evident to this day, due to the fact that its themes and issues still hold a relevance and importance in today's society. Indeed it is upmost accuracy to state that The Doll has expanded and advanced upon actors, directors and playwright's methods and styles o f acting in Australian Theatre up to this very day.Princess Theatre, Melbourne, AustraliaA brief tour through early Australian history will clarify just how much Significance and meaning The Doll contributed when it was first released. The early theatre in Australia was influenced by the happenings in other parts of the world. The early settlers from Europe strove to maintain the cultural traditions of the societies they had left behind, and in time, this became a big barrier for Australian theatre between originality and imitation. As the plays performed were imported from overseas, so the acting styles in Australia followed those that were fashionable in Europe. By the Nineteen Seventies, melodrama had become very popular in Europe and America. Most melodramas performed in Australia were adaptations of novels or plays that were once successful in England or America. Eventually melodrama aged and...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Comparison of ratios over a two-year period Research Paper

Comparison of ratios over a two-year period - Research Paper Example Besides, financial ratio analysis can also be used to assess the performance of different departments and managers and how their overall performance may have an impact on the performance of the whole firm. Sparklin Automotive Company is in business since 1990 and is supplying different automotive related parts across the whole country. In order to better assess its performance for the year 2005 and 2006, a comprehensive ratio analysis is important. This will provide a critical insight into areas such as liquidity management, overall asset management, the nature and extent of firm’s debt as well as assessing the profitability during these two years. Ratio Analysis Explanation Ratio analysis is the process of calculation and comparing the ratios which have been extracted from the different financial statements. By forming the historical trends, ratio analysis can actually provide an insight into the performance as well as charm in the company to perform in the long run based on the historical data. Ratio analysis is also important from the perspective of assessing the performance of the managers and understanding as to how the organization is performing. By computing financial ratios, a firm not only compares its performance with the competitors but also get an insight into its own historical performance. Ratio analysis therefore can be used for two different purposes or in two different manners i.e. making comparisons through trend analysis and comparing the ratios with the competitors. When financial ratio analysis is used for the purpose of trend analysis, a firm or a manager can actually get an insight into how the trends in different ratios are pointing towards the performance of the firm. For example, if a manager wants to assess as to how the overall inventory has been managed through out the year, she can compute the inventory turnover ratio and days in inventory to get an insight into how the inventory of the firm has been maintained and how sales have been generated. Ratio analysis therefore provides an ability to perform objective analysis of the performance of the firm. (Bull, 2007) Ratio analysis can either be used by the firm for its own evaluation purposes so that managers can assess what is required to be done in order to improve different areas lacking in achieving the targets. Secondly, ratio analysis can also be used by the investors to not only assess the historical performance of the firm but based on this assessment make forecasts as to how the firm may perform in future. Ratio Calculation Ratio Formula 2005 2006 Current Ratio Current Assets /Current Liabilities 1.475:1 1.403:1 Debt to Equity Ratio Total Liabilities / Total Equity 0.449:0.551 0.440 : 0.56 Inventory Turnover Sales / Inventory 6.11 times 4.620 Times Receivables Turnover Sales / Receivables 18.24 times 18.16 times Gross Margin Gross Profit / Sales 49.19% 40.70% Evaluation of the Ratios Current Ratio Current ratio is one of the basic indicators for assessing the liquidity position of the firm and indicates as to whether the firm has the required liquid assets to pay off its immediate liabilities. A current ratio of higher than 1 is considered as acceptable because for ever $1 of current liabilities firm has more than $1 of current assets to settle these

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Medical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medical - Essay Example Hormones are like chemical messengers and they need to be present in the right amounts in order to effectively carry out their designated functions. Any upset in hormonal levels can result in symptoms. There are several tests which can be performed in order to diagnose abnormalities in hormonal functions. Firstly, in order to diagnose whether your blood sugar levels are within normal limits and whether your body is producing the right amounts of hormones needed to effectively utilize and store the sugars that we consume, there are a number of diagnostic tests. The first one is the fasting blood sugar. For this test you have to fast overnight (i.e. eat or drink nothing, except water, for about 8-12 hours) and give a blood sample. The level of sugar in your blood sample is compared against a reference range and if it is greater than 126 mg/dl on more than one occasion, it is diagnostic of diabetes (Encyclop?dia Britannica, 2011), which is an impairment in the body’s capacity to effectively utilize and store sugars. Another confirmatory test for diabetes is the glucose tolerance test, whereby you will be made to give two blood samples. To prepare for the test you have to eat a normal balanced diet for upto three days preceding the tests. Then, like for the fasting blood sugar test, you have to fast overnight, for duration of about 8 hours and the first blood sample is collected. After that you will be made to drink a liquid containing 75 grams of glucose and a second blood sample is taken 2 hours later (Encyclop?dia Britannica, 2011). The blood sugar values obtained are compared against normal standards and if the value of the blood sugar levels obtained 2 hours after the glucose drink exceeds 200 mg/dl, it is diagnostic of diabetes (Becker, 2001). One of the most important gland in our body is the pituitary gland, which releases various hormones required to stimulate all the other glands in our body to secrete their respective hormones. The pituitary gland in turn is stimulated by hormones secreted by the hypothalamus which is an important region in our brains. These together form the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Inorder to evaluate the normal functioning of hypothalamic pituitary axis, the insulin tolerance test is carried out. The night prior to this test, you will be asked to fast, i.e. not eat or drink anything except water. The morning when the test is performed, you will be first injected with insulin, which is a substance which will lower your blood sugar. Our body’s normal response to low blood sugar levels is to secrete two hormones growth hormone (GH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates the secretion of another hormone called cortisol (National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2011). After the insulin injections timed blood samples will be taken and the levels of GH and cortisol will be checked and compared against the normal reference ranges to see whether the normal secretion of these substa nces in your body is present or not (National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2011). In order to evaluate the functioning of the thyroid gland, which is an important gland located in our neck, there are several tests. A complete panel of tests to assess proper functioning of the thyroid gland is termed as the thyroid function test. This panel includes levels of different form of thyroid hormones such as T3 and T4 which are different circulating forms of thyroid hormone in our bloodstream (American Thyroid Association, 2005). Moreover, this