3m Innovation Case Study

1-What are the roots of 3M’s culture of entrepreneurship and innovation? What were the key tenets of this culture as they emerged over time? 3M goes back to 1902 when five Minnesota businessmen established the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. to mine a mineral that they thought was corundum, which is ideal for making sandpaper. The mineral, however, turned out to be low-grade anorthosite, nowhere near as suitable for making sandpaper, and the company nearly failed. To try and salvage the business, 3M turned to making the sandpaper itself using materials purchased from another source.In 1907, 3M hired a twenty-year-old business student, William McKnight, as assistant bookkeeper. This turned out to be a pivotal move in the history of the company. The key to institutionalizing innovation at 3M has been the principle of â€Å"patient money. † The basic idea is that producing revolutionary new products requires substantial long-term investments, and often repeated fail ure, before a major payoff occurs. Another key component of 3M’s innovative culture has been an emphasis on duel career tracks.Right from its early days, many of the key players in 3M’s history, people like Richard Drew, chose to staying research, turning down opportunities to go into the management side of the business. Although 3M’s innovative culture emphasizes the role of technical employees in producing innovations, the company also has a strong tradition of emphasizing that new product ideas often come from watching customers at work. 2. What were the strengths of the organization and culture of 3M during the McKnight to DeSi-mone era? What were the potential weaknesses?Leadership, CEO George Buckley is highly respected, and 3M is repeatedly recognized as a top company for developing leaders. Innovation gets a load of these stats patents awarded researchers worldwide. In many ways, 3M was ahead of its time in management philosophy and human resource practi ces. Geographically diverse Sixty-three percent of sales are outside of the United States; the company has operations in more than 65 countries. Diverse in terms of revenue streams, too. 3M has six key business units, none of which account for more than 33% of sales. Financially, there was strong paid a dividend every quarter since 1916. – The expansion of 3M into international markets was highly successful. What explains this? What was the drawback with 3M’s international expansion strategy? The first steps abroad occurred in the 1920s. There were some limited sales of wet and dry sandpaper in Europe during the early 1920s. These increased after1929 when 3M joined the Durex Corp. , a joint venture for international abrasive product sales in which 3M was involved along with eight other U. S. companies. The international businesses were grouped into an International Division that Sampair headed.From the get go, the company insisted that foreign ventures pay their own wa y. The company would start by exporting to a country and working through sales subsidiaries. The philosophy can be reduced to several key and simple commitments: Get in early, Hire talented and motivated local people, Become a good corporate citizen of the country, Grow with the local economy, American products are not one-size-fits-all around the world, Enforce patents in local countries. Program to encourage new product and new business initiatives born outside the United States.By 1983, products developed under the initiative were generating sales of over $150 million a year. 3M Brazil invented a low-cost, hot-melt adhesive from local raw materials, 3M Germany teamed up with Sumitomo 3M of Japan to develop electronic connectors with new features for the world wide electronics industry. By the 1990s 3M started to shift away from a country-by-country management structure to more regional management. Drivers behind this development included the fall of trade barriers, the rise of tr ading blocks such as the European Union and NAFTA, and the need to drive down costs in the face of intense global competition.

The Return: Nightfall Chapter 5

Damon was driving aimlessly when he saw the girl. She was alone, walking down the side of the street, her titian hair blowing in the wind, her arms weighted down by packages. Damon immediately did the chivalrous thing. He let the car glide to a stop, waited for the girl to take a few striding paces to catch up with him – che gambe! – and then jumped out and hastened to open the passenger side door for her. Her name, as it turned out, was Damaris. In moments the Ferrari was back on the road, going so fast that Damaris's titian hair was flowing behind her like a banner. She was a young woman who fully merited the kind of trance-inducing compliments he'd been handing out freely all day – which was a good thing, he thought laconically, because his imagination was very nearly drained dry. But flattering this lovely creature, with her nimbus of red-gold hair and her pure, milky skin, wouldn't take any imagination at all. He didn't expect any trouble from her, and he planned to keep her overnight. Veni, vidi, vici,Damon thought, and flashed a wicked smile into the middle distance. And then he amended – Well, perhaps I haven't conqueredyet , but I'd bet my Ferrari on it. They stopped by a â€Å"scenic view roundabout† and when Damaris had dropped her purse and bent to pick it up, he'd seen the nape of her neck, where those fine titian hairs were startlingly delicate against the whiteness of her skin. He'd kissed it immediately, impulsively, finding it as soft as a baby's skin – and warm against his lips. He'd allowed her complete freedom of action, interested to see whether she would slap him, but instead she had just straightened up and taken a few shaky breaths before allowing him to take her in his arms to be kissed into a trembling, heated, uncertain creature, her dark blue eyes entreating and trying to resist at the same time. â€Å"I – shouldn't have let you do that. I won't let you again. I want to go home now.† Damon smiled. His Ferrari was safe. Her ultimate yielding would be particularly pleasant, he thought as they continued their drive. If she shaped up as well as she seemed to be doing, he might even keep her a few days, might even Change her. Now, though, he was bothered by an inexplicable disquiet inside. It was Elena, of course. Being so close to her at the boardinghouse and not daring to demand to go to her, because of what he might do. Oh, hell, what Ishould have done already, he thought with a sudden vehemence. Stefan was right – there was something wrong with him today. He was frustrated to a degree that he wouldn't have imagined possible. What heshould have done was to have ground his little brother's face in the dirt, wrung his neck like a fowl, and then gone up those narrow tacky stairs totake Elena, willing or no. He hadn't done it before because of some syrupy nonsense, caring about her screaming and carrying on as he lifted that incomparable chin and buried his swollen, aching fangs in her lily-white throat. There was a noise going on in the car. † – don't you think?† Damaris was saying. Annoyed and too busy with his fantasy to go over what his mind might have heard of her speech, he shut her off, and she was instantly quiet. Damaris was lovely butuna stomata – a ditz. Now she sat with her titian hair whipping in the wind, but with blank eyes, the pupils contracted, absolutely still. And all for nothing. Damon made a hissing sound of exasperation. He couldn't get back into his daydream; even in silence, the imagined sounds of Elena's sobbing prevented him. But there would be no more sobbing once he'd made her into a vampire, a little voice in his mind suggested. Damon cocked his head and leaned back, three fingers on the steering wheel. He'd once sought to make her his princess of darkness – why not again? She would belong to him utterly, and if he had to give up her mortal blood†¦well, he wasn't exactly getting any of that right now, was he? the insinuating voice said. Elena, pale and glowing with a vampire's aura of Power, her hair almost white-blond, a black gown against her satiny skin. Now there was a picture to make any vampire's heart beat faster. He wanted her more than ever now that she had been a spirit. Even as a vampire she would retain most of her own nature, and he could just picture it: her light for his darkness, her soft whiteness in his hard, black-jacketed arms. He would stop that exquisite mouth with kisses, smother her with them – What was hethinking about? Vampires didn't kiss like that for enjoyment – especially not other vampires. The blood, the hunt was all. Kissing beyond whatever was necessary to conquer their victim was pointless; it could lead nowhere. Only sentimental idiots like his brother bothered with such foolishness. A mated vampire pair might share the blood of a mortal victim, both striking at once, both controlling the victim's mind – and joined together in mind-link, too. That was how they found their pleasure. Still, Damon found himself excited by the idea of kissing Elena, of forcing kisses on her, of feeling her desperation to get away from him suddenly pause – with the little hesitation that came just before response, before yielding herself completely to him. Maybe I'm going crazy, Damon thought, intrigued. He had never gone crazy before that he could recall, and there was some appeal in the idea. It had been centuries since he'd felt this kind of excitement. All the better for you, Damaris, he thought. He had reached the point where Sycamore Street cut briefly into the Old Wood, and the road there was winding and dangerous. Regardless, he found himself turning to Damaris to wake her again, noting with approval that her lips were naturally that soft cherry color, without lipstick. He kissed her lightly, then waited to gauge her response. Pleasure. He could see her mind go soft and rosy with it. He glanced at the road ahead and then tried it again, this time holding the kiss. He was elated with her response, with both of their responses. This was amazing. It must have to do with the amount of blood he'd had, more than ever before in one day, or the combination – He suddenly had to wrench his attention from Damaris to driving. Some small russet animal had appeared as if by magic on the road in front of him. Damon normally didn't go out of his way to run over rabbits, porcupines, and the like, but this one had annoyed him at a crucial moment. He grasped the steering wheel with both hands, his eyes black and cold as glacial ice in the depths of a cave, and headed straight for the russet thing. Not allthat small – there would be a bit of a bump. â€Å"Hang on,† he murmured to Damaris. At the last instant, the reddish thing dodged. Damon wrenched the wheel round to follow it, and then found himself faced with a ditch. Only the superhuman reflexes of a vampire – and the finely tuned response of a very expensive vehicle – could have kept them out of the ditch. Fortunately Damon had both, swinging them in a tight circle, tires squealing and smoking in protest. And no bump. Damon leaped over the car door in one fluid motion and looked around. But whatever it was, had vanished completely, as mysteriously as it had appeared. Sconosciuto. Weird. He wished he wasn't heading into the sun; the bright afternoon light cut down his visual acuity severely. But he'd had a glimpse of the thing as it got close, and it had looked deformed. Pointed at one end and fan-like at the other. Oh, well. He turned back to the car, where Damaris was having hysterics. He wasn't in the mood to coddle anyone, so he simply put her back to sleep. She slumped back into the seat, tears left to dry on her cheeks unheeded. Damon got back into the car feeling frustrated. But he knew now what he wanted to do today. He wanted to find a bar – either seedy and sleazy or immaculate and expensive – and he wanted to find another vampire. With Fell's Church being such a hot spot on the ley-line map, that shouldn't be difficult in the surrounding areas. Vampires and other creatures of darkness were drawn to hot spots like bumblebees to honeysuckle. And then he wanted a fight. It would be completely unfair – Damon was the strongest vampire left that he knew of, plus he was tick-full of a cocktail of the blood of Fell's Church's finest maidens. He didn't care. He felt like taking his frustrations out on something, and – he flashed that inimitable, incandescent smile at nothing – some werewolf or vampire or ghoul was about to meet itsquietus . Maybe more than one, if he were only lucky enough to find them. After which – delicious Damaris for dessert. Life was good, after all. And unlife, thought Damon, his eyes glinting dangerously behind the sunglasses, was even better. He wasn't just going to sit and sulk because he couldn't have Elena immediately. He was going to go out and enjoy himself and get stronger – and then sometime soon, he was going to go over to his pathetic milksop of a younger brother's place andtake her. He happened to glance in the car's rearview mirror for a moment. By some freak of light or inversion of the atmosphere, it seemed that he could see his eyes behind his sunglasses – burning red.

Classical Approaches to Management Essay

Since the Industrial Revolution began over two hundred years ago, management practices have had to develop and become more clearly defined. The increasing mechanisation and automation that occurred changed how goods and services were produced dramatically. New theories and disciplines emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century as a response to these challenges facing management in a more industrialised age. These new ideas, known as The Classical Approaches to management became the essential building blocks of systems and techniques which help modern day managers effectively plan, organise and control their organisations in the most efficient manner possible. One of the first theories we will look at is was what is known as Scientific Management and was developed chiefly by Frederick Taylor (1856-1917). Taylor came from an engineering background and he highlighted the importance of finding the single best way to perform a particular task. He noted that by analysing every basic movement involved and timing each action in various different ways, you would soon find the quickest and easiest method as a result. As R.C.Appelby (1994) has argued; Taylor â€Å"codified and clearly stated practices which had been developing in many well-run factories†. This â€Å"Time study† approach was very important in helping manufacturing lines improve their productivity by cutting out inefficient, outdated methods of production. Currently, manufacturing industries incorporate methods engineering systems which developed from Taylors time study work to ensure the most efficient production process is in place. Total Quality Management is a modern management practice that relies on continually improving a company’s product or service. A Key factor in this is having a production process that works efficiently and reliably. Taylor also developed the â€Å"Exception Principle† which was to be used as a quality control measure on performance. This method works by detailing precisely the standard of performance to be achieved. The performance of all staff is monitored regularly. Any ineffective staff members that do not meet the standard set are taken note of, and adjustments can then be made to improve the quality of their work. The exception principle also works by identifying any employee who is greatly outperforming the standard set. This tracking of performance results also forms part of the Total Quality Management concept and Taylors work in this area can be seen as being significant in its development. Another key aspect of Taylor’s teachings,  which is still widely used in human resources departments today, was the scientific selection of staff. He asserted that employees should be recruited scientifically based on how their own education, skills and abilities matched the requirements of the job. Once the correct candidate had been hired, they should be given training to help them to perform their tasks to the highest standard possible. He recommended that any increased productivity from an employee should be rewarded financially too, thus incentivising the employee to work harder. These managerial practices are used in nearly all organisations where it has been recognised that an organisations workforce are its most important resource. The training and constant up skilling of the workforce is necessary to keep up with advances in technology and to give a company a competitive edge. Henri Fayol (1841-1925) also developed some theories on the importance of maintaining good relations between staff and management. In his work on what is known as Administrative management, Fayol developed 14 principles of management, one of whic h was â€Å"the stability of tenure â€Å". He recognised the importance of a low staff turnover to an organisations overall effectiveness. Modern management practice generally follows this principle today but also recognises the need to bring in fresh ideas and approaches from new staff to keep the right balance of experienced workers and enthusiastic new people. Another of Fayol s principles which is greatly in evidence today is that of â€Å"initiative†. He believed that employees should be encouraged to put forward their own ideas and be free to execute their tasks in ways they see best fit. This fosters an entrepreneurial environment in the workplace, where employees feel that their ideas are worthy and could form part of a new business plan. Modern IT companies like Google are using this classical approach which has greatly improved innovation and productivity from their employees which has resulted in huge success for the company. Interestingly, Google achieved number 4 on the prestigious Fortune 100 Best Compani es To Work For in 2011. H.L. Gantt(1861-1919) was a colleague of Taylor had some similar approaches. He agreed that management were obliged to provide proper training to its staff and that clearly defined tasks and goals would incentivise employees to perform well. Gantt developed charts for measuring the performance of various projects. These are known as Gantt Charts and are still used today by managers. It gives a quick overview as to how a project  is progressing in relation to its agreed timescale and general targets. A P.E.R.T analysis is another project control method which developed from Gantts bar chart. This Project Evaluation Review Technique works in a similar way to a bar chart, but it offers three possible outcomes of how each task will take in a given project, so as to be prepared for delays in the project or quicker than expected results. This method gives the manager more information to enable him to prepare for all eventualities. Human Resource management has developed into one of the more important areas of management practice. Employees are now regarded as an organisations key asset. R.C.Appleby has said managers must â€Å"know why employees act in the manner that they do†. This is necessary to know what motivates people and what changes could improve performance among a workforce. The Hawthorne Experiments that were conducted by Elton Mayo(1880-1949) and published in 1941 showed the results of phsychological experiments on workers at the Western Electric Company. The aim of the study was to establish the impact of different conditions of work on employee productivity. A group of workers were subjected to various working environment changes such as breaks, hours and managerial leadership.

Overall Reaction to Crash Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Overall Reaction to Crash - Movie Review Example From this discussion it is clear that  the movie shows how circumstances in life affect the thinking and actions of an individual. The reporter likes the fact that is depicted in the movie that more often it is the circumstances that makes an individual good or bad. Two characters that he likes the most and that prove the above statement are that of John and Tommy. John due to the various circumstances in his life has developed a negative and hatred attitude towards black people. It is depicted in the way he treats Camille and Shaniqua in two different circumstances.This study discusses that  the two moments that I feel the most significant are the moment between Camille and John inside the truck and the one where little Lara tries to protect her father (Daniel) from being shot by Farhad. The first one is significant because it shows how under an emergency people try to forget their differences and come together to fight for a common cause. Here, both John and Camille have differ ences with each other and in spite John risks his life to save Camille’s life. The emotional connect between the two and the way she looks at him while she is taken away is very significant. The transformation in John’s character can be seen in the scene. In the other moment, young Lara’s character shows love and selflessness. This act of Lara brings in a transformation in Frahad.  This one moment changes his attitude towards life.

Check point Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Check point - Assignment Example iabetes risk factors include: overweight; people over the age of 45 years; family history with diabetes; higher blood sugar levels; high blood pressure; abnormal lipid levels; body inactivity (lack of exercise); blood vessel problems that affect the brain, heart and legs; and individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (Sjà ¶strà ¶m et. al, 2006). If an individual discovers that they I have any of the above items, they are advised to seek medical attention. Diabetes disease is common with over age people (above 45 years) and obese individuals (Simmons, Thompson & Volklander, 2001). Some lifestyles also increase chances of contracting the disease. The disease affects the economy negatively since a lot of resources are used in treating the disease. Individuals are also rendered inactive hence can’t participate in their economy-developing activities. This health problem also affects their social life. Worldwide, more than 380 million people are affected by

Teenage Pregnancy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teenage Pregnancy - Essay Example But it happened again two days later. It was Sunday and Sonakshi had not even stepped out of home since morning. She had only eaten the porridge Mumta poured into her plate in the breakfast. Her exams had been over for two days and she had not even opened any book since then. Her dizziness and vomiting could not be associated with any eating disorder. Mumta was worried more than ever before. She took her to a doctor, and after a couple of tests, she was declared pregnant. That was the doom’s day for Mumta and Mithlesh. Their 15 year old daughter had been in a physical relationship with John Good, the boy next door for the last four months. They could not hurt her against the law, though they so wished they had been in India where they could ferociously beat their daughter. Mumta could not bear it and poisoned herself to death. Having lost the wife and the love for his daughter, Mithlesh got extremely depressed. What worried Mithlesh more than everything was that Sonakshi had n ot respected the cultural traditions of India, according to which, girls do not fornicate outside marriage. He thought it did not matter in USA, but it would certainly not be approved of in India. So he thought about marrying his daughter to John. He explained the whole scenario to John’s parents, Martha Good and Andrew Good who were pure Americans.

Project Management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Project Management - Coursework Example Having a team willing to follow is what marks a good leader’s success, and that only comes when a leader is capable of being followed. Having focus, direction and dedication will likely be more effective in uniting a team than being given authority, whether formal or informal. For example, I was once a part of a team which had no formally appointed leader but rather had an informal self-appointed leader in one of my fellow members. As our project proceeded, differences arose between the team and that leader based on conflict of goals. Despite not being a leader, formally or informally, I stepped up by taking into account the views of my team and then uniting us all on a commonly agreed goal. As we proceeded to work towards that goal, I found my team turning towards my lead as I expressed not only my capability of achieving that goal but also my desire to unite us and work cohesively. The creator of Dilbert, Scott Adams states ten Great Lies of Management. These statements have not been made by many project leaders as these statements are not appropriate to be stated in the initial phases of the project. These comments may act as an obstacle for maximum productivity to be derived from the employees. If these comments are given by the project leader, then the employees may overlook the importance of understanding the way the project has to be done and instead divert their focus towards the rewards that are to be given. In open door policies, employees may come up with unnecessary issues that may not be having any productive result. Successful leaders do not plan failures; they plan the path to success. By stating the management lies given above, the employees would be kept in darkness about the true scenario of the organization and its current financial standings.  

Case study analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Case study analysis - Research Paper Example ere in one an employee when given a task happily accepted (according to Fred but not in reality) just to come back on the deadline without finishing it and saying he had never thought it was possible to finish that in week’s ( stipulated) time ( Black, p. 3,4). In the second instance Fred was not able to understand why the meeting he had with a Japanese client did not progress despite his best efforts (from American point of view). The problems were not confined to his professional life only, his family specifically his wife was not comfortable in the new society as she had got tired of having no neighbors to talk to, being stared by people on the road, facing difficulty locating places and finding difficult to purchase the items of interest ( Black, p. 4). The problems were actually caused by their lack of understanding of the Japanese culture. Bailey Fred and his wife had very little time to prepare themselves for the cultural differences that were coming their way. Fred bei ng high on assertiveness (Javidan and House 2001, p. 289-305) , individualism, and low on power distance (Hofstede Models ) could not understand that Japanese values are different from American values and thus the business conduct in Japan had to be different that in America. The report applies MBI approach using Hofstede and Globe (Javidan and House 2001, p. 289-305) Mapping: The personality of Bailey and several others were the main reason for the problems. Fred Bailey was individualistic, assertive, and able to deal with high uncertainty which all were less appreciated in Japan and thus less appreciated by his Japanese employees and Japanese clients. Integrating – Fred must take several steps to ensure that his employees get enough opportunities to participate and discuss to integrate both the cultures. Towards this goal he must organize several programs for his employees to develop cross cultural understanding to foster participation and trust among each other. Fred Bailey was

Should mariajuana be legal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Should mariajuana be legal - Research Paper Example Proponents point to the harms caused by criminalizing a medically useful and largely benign substance that grows naturally. The war on drugs has been fought for 40 years costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars while filling up prisons, ruining the lives of people who have committed no harm and has escalated organized crime. There is very little separation between the various types of drugs in the minds of those opposed to legalization of marijuana but for those that choose to understand the nuances of the issue the differences are vast. Knowledge is the chasm that separates the two sides. One side is fearful of what they don’t choose to understand, the other has been pleading for a common sense approach to marijuana, one that will cause the least harm to American citizens. The drug war, the prohibition of marijuana, has caused innumerable harms to millions of Americans. Many advocates for legalization have said that the criminalization of marijuana fails to learn fro m the past. The days of alcohol prohibition did not stop consumption; it just drove it underground and allowed criminal gangs to prosper. That’s true but alcohol is a much more dangerous substance. Alcohol prohibition at least made sense on some level although in practice it was a dismal failure meaning the prohibition of marijuana of beyond the comprehension of any reasonable, rational person. The only explanation for this logical disconnect is that more lawmakers drink than use marijuana, both in the 1930’s and today. Nearly one million Americans are arrested each year for various marijuana violations, about 90 percent for simple possession. Alcohol, a physically addicted substance, as opposed to marijuana, accounts for approximately four percent of fatalities worldwide. Alcohol causes more deaths than violence or AIDS yet is legal, taxed and socially acceptable. Roughly 2.5 million people die from alcohol related reasons worldwide every year. â€Å"If we can ignore this fact year after year, that legal drugs are so much more damaging than marijuana, why is it such a stretch to legalize a drug with so many benefits?† (King, 2012). President Nixon started the â€Å"War on Drugs† in 1970 with a budget of $15 million. Today the money spent on this futile effort has reached $15 billion per year. More than one trillion dollars of taxpayer money has been wasted in total. We learned nothing from the dark days of alcohol prohibition (1919-1933). People then and now had their lives ruined from consuming an unlawful substance that someday will be legal. Their reputations will never recover from a criminal past, however. Alcohol or marijuana prohibition means spending money and allocating law enforcement to increase the criminal element. That’s not the intent but is certainly the result. Gang violence slowed dramatically after alcohol was legalized and the same will happen with marijuana. Legalization will encourage a new market where locally owned businesses will need to hire thousands of employees. Taxing sales will generate millions in tax revenues for local and state governments. Some of that new tax money can be spent of drug education and rehabilitation facilities which will reduce usage and harms to society. This initiate has already been proven to work. Part of cigarette taxes over the past 30 years has gone to educating youths resulting in a dramatic drop in tobacco use among teens. â€Å"If these reforms were adopted, we would be on our way to lessening tragic street violent

Queer approach to analyzing mainstream culture Essay

Queer approach to analyzing mainstream culture - Essay Example f seeking to understand this to a greater and more complete level, this brief analysis will consider one scene of the film and attempt to go in depth with regards to the different understandings of sexuality, identity, and gender that are therein represented. The scene in question that this author has chosen for analysis is that of the discovery of Mulan as a woman. This scene is a powerful indication of cultural approaches to gender and sexuality in a number of ways. As such, the first determinant that will be measured is with relation to the identity that is revealed within the given scene. In this way, as the men of the story find out that Mulan is indeed a woman, she is manhandled and forced out of the residence. This is importance for a number of reasons. Firstly, the revelation of her true identity is something that gives the men in the story the courage to treat her in a way that they would have never considered before had she still been considered a man. Her identification as a woman does not only change the way that the men physically treat her but the way in which their worldview is formed with relation to how they think of her. This is represented in two distinct ways within the scene in question. Firstly, as she is taken forcibly from her tent and pushed into the snow, the viewer is made aware of the clear and determinate connection between this action and the rejection fro mthe Garden of Eden; also presumably he result of female weakness. The inclusion of this reference to early mythology is unique due to the fact that it serves to further differentiate the response of the men within the scene to the gender that Mulan now represents. With regards to gender, the men make a clear and determinate change in the way that they speak to Mulan after the revelation. Indeed, the characters state â€Å"I knew there was something wrong with you†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ a woman – treacherous snake† (Mulan 1). These words belie the true underlying motivations and

The Meaning of Life (Full Essay) Essay Example for Free

The Meaning of Life (Full Essay) Essay Somebody knocks on door: Who is there? Police? What do you want? We want to talk. How many of you are there? Two. So talk with each other. There are two types of guests: the ones, who want to stay longer, and the ones, who want to go home asap. Strangely enough, these two types are normally found in married couples. Whats worse than eating an apple and finding a worm? Eating an apple and finding half a worm. Plants discuss: Broccoli: It seems to me that I am like a tree. Walnut: And Im like little brains. Mushroom: Ha, but I look like an umbrella. Banana: I do not like this conversation Men are having a good time in bar, just one sits sad. Peter, why are you so sad? My wife was diagnosed with AIDS Men, just kidding. Why all of you get so scared? A singer during his tour arrives to a small province town and asks for a pretty high fee: Everybody knows me – says he to the chairman of local culture office, trying to persuade him. Finally the concert takes place, but only three people came to it. You are a liar, you told me that everyone knows you, but only three man came to your concert, rebels the chairman. Of course, says the singer – only those three came, who didn’t know me. In a restaurant: What would you like to eat? I would prefer to read the menu first. If you want to read, go to the library. A guy comes into a bar and asks the barman to place 10 mugs and fill in with the beer. The bartender places mugs and starts filling them. The guy follows him and drink beer immediately. The bartender asks: -Why are you so in a hurry? -If you would have, what I have, you would be also in a hurry. The bartender steps back a little bit and asks: -And what do you have? -Somewhere around 70 cents. Funny jokes from daily life Imprisonment A mother writes a letter to her sun, who is in a prison. Dear sun, lifes so hard for me since they took you to a prison: nobody digs a vegetable garden, nobody plants potatos The sun writes back to her mother: Mom, please stay away from the garden. If you start digging it, the police may come and both take you to a prison and prolong mine imprisonment.. Mother writes back to her sun: Darling, together with your last letter police came. They digged all over the garden, but havent found anything. The left being extremely frustrated. Sun writes his mom: I helped as much, as I could with this. Please plant the potatos by yourself. Funny jokes from daily life A shot Doc, isnt it harmful to drink a shot before eating? No its not, if you dont eat too often Funny jokes from daily life Glasses Doc, I think I need to wear glasses Indeed you have to, you are in a bank. Funny jokes from daily life Concert The organizers of the concert complain to the conductor of a choir: You were supposed to bring a mixed choir, but I can see only men here. But it is a mixed choir – half of them know how to sing, and the other half- do not. Funny jokes from daily life Stupid Im sorry I hurt your feelings when I called you stupid. I really thought you already knew it. Funny jokes from daily life- Teeth VS Tongue Teeth says to tongue: if I just press a little, youll get cut. Tongue replies: if i misuse a single word, all 32 of you will come out. Funny jokes from daily life the Boss A boss took one of his employees to show his new sports car. That is amazing the employee was fascinated. That is true replied boss and if you set your new goals higher and work even harder I can get an even better car next year. Funny jokes from daily life Compliment I hate it when you offer someone a sincere compliment about their mustache, and suddenly she is not your friend anymore Funny jokes from daily life Driving Man returning with his wife from guests. Drunk man drives car better than his sober wife. But there is only one problem, how to explain that to the policeman? Funny jokes from daily life Vacation Where are you going for vacation this year? I checked my budget and decided that I didnt get tired. Funny jokes from daily life fat Its not the dress that makes you look fat. Its the fat. Funny jokes from daily life: Does laugh prolong life? Is it true that 5 minutes of laugh prolongs your life by 5 minutes? It depends who you are laughing at – it may as well shorten it Funny jokes from daily life Device At the Court discussion between judge and villager: So you was propeling surrogate alcohol? Me? No! What do you mean no? You have a device for that means propeled. Then please judge me also for rape So you have raped someone also? Well no but I have a device Funny jokes from daily life Old woman The old woman comes to a gynecologist. He inspects her and says with the surprice: An old woman, youre pregnant! How did you managed at your age? Oh, those teens. They always asks to tell them everything, then show and give to try Funny jokes from daily life A fool On a beach a man shouts at another man: Tell your son not to imitate me. A man to his son: Son, stop playing the fool. Funny jokes from daily life A high fives You know what I was thinking about right now? What it would be like to have six fingers. high fives would be different. Funny jokes from daily life Debtor The best way to make somebody remember you is to borrow money from them. Funny jokes from daily life Folk Our folk not only knows how to read between the lines but also how to leave a record between the eyes. Funny jokes from daily life At the shop Can I help you? No. I just waited in the line for 30 minutes to say Hi. Funny jokes from daily life A false image I may look calm, but in my mind I have killed you three times already. Funny jokes from daily life Riches Yes, money cannot buy happiness, but it is much more comfortable to cry in a new BMW than on a bike. Funny jokes from daily life Assurance I never make the same mistake twice. I make it 5-6 times, just to be sure. Funny jokes from daily life A fence Why is there a fence around the cemetery? Because people are dying to get in. Funny jokes from daily life 100 dollar bill A: Why are you late? B: There was a man who lost a hundred dollar bill. A: Thats nice. Were you helping him look for it? B: No, I was standing on it. Funny jokes from daily life Rolls A family bought an apartment and started interior decorations. Wife tells her husband: Honey, go to the neighbors and ask how many rolls of wallpapers they have bought when they were decorating their walls. The husband went to the neighbors and he was told: Twelve rolls. The family bought twelve rolls, started decorating but at the end six rolls were left unused. Angry husband goes to the neighbors: Hey you, shitty pigs, couldn’t you have told me the truth? We have six rolls left now. We have six rolls left as well, answered the neighbor. Funny jokes from daily life Claustrofobia What is Claustrophobia? This is a fear of closed space. For example, you go to a store for a beer and are afraid that it will be closed. Funny jokes from daily life Yard How many feet are in the yard? That depends on how many people are standing in it. Funny jokes from daily life Stupid passengers The policeman stops the driver and says: You won 500 dollars for wearing a safety belt. What will you do with the winning? I do not know, probably will pass the exam for a driving license Then his wife says: Do not listen! He always talk like that when he is drunk. Passenger from rear wakes up: I told you that we wont go far away with the stolen car! At the same time voice from the trunk: Have we already crossed the border? Funny jokes from daily life Smoking.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example for Free

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay In the story â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† there are many problems that the characters face in the story. Near the end of the novel Huck says â€Å"But I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before. † Huck doesn’t seem happy with Aunt Sally asking him to go back with her. He did have times in the story where he likes to be with the widow and he could like being civilized if he gave it a chance. Huck doesn’t want to be civilized he wants to just do what he wants and be free not having to be tied down. In the beginning of the story Huck was jumping around from house to house. First he started with Pap at his house. Then Huck went to live with the Widow at her house because he could not stand Pap, who was a drunk and would beat Huck all the time and he just couldn’t take it. Then when he moved from Pap’s to the widow’s he didn’t like it there either. The widow tried to change him and make him something he wasn’t. This is an example of what he means when he said â€Å"I been there before. † In the story you could tell that the widow was trying to keep him and have him stay there. It says â€Å"the widow found out where I was by and by, and she sent a man over to try to get hold of me. † This shows that he just wanted to break free. Another reason that shows how Huck doesn’t want to be civilized is in the quote it says â€Å"Aunt Sally wants to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. † Throughout the story Huck shows that he doesn’t want to be civilized and just wants to be free. This is why he just escapes and goes down the river in the raft with Jim and fakes his death in the first place. In the book Huck says â€Å"Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft. † This quote shows exactly how Huck is and loves to be by himself. This also relates to him not wanting to go and stay with either Pap or the widow when he was put in that situation. The other part says that he feels â€Å"cramped and smothery† when he if not in the raft. The raft gave him the freedom he wanted and got and he was not about to go back to what he just escaped from with the widow. The widow and Aunt Sally wanted to do the same thing. My third reason why Huck doesn’t want to be tied down and civilized is because of the experiences he had. By Huck faking his death he was able to experience something he would of never have if he stayed where he was. One example was his encounter with the robbers; they were trying to pretend to be something that they are not and Huck got to realize that people aren’t always what they say they are. Another experience was when they dressed up Jim to get away. And the biggest lesson that he learned was that it was the right thing to do was to not turn Jim in during the time on the Mississippi river to the people around them saying that he is a fugitive slave. Also, he said that he doesn’t care if he goes to hell if they find out what he is doing. This is a big thing for him to say because he actually believes in god in a big way and is very superstitious. This was a big step for anyone at this time. It was against the law to do what Huck did by attempting to reunite him with his family by going up the Ohio or even just staying with him. During this time period and where he was from this was one of the greatest sins. Overall I feel that this quote â€Å"But I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before,† is very important and relates to the entire book in many different ways. It` could show how Huck got to learn many different things on the trip, how he made a friend that he shouldn’t have at the time the story was written, or it was just not the thing to do in this time period when the book was written. Huck doesn’t want to jump from house to house because Pap is a bad Drunk and the widow wants to have him tied down. In the quote Aunt Sally want to do the same thing the widow tried to do. Through this Huck got to learn new things and make more friends. Now we know that he just wants to be free and live his own life without people â€Å"smothering† him.

Development of a Child up to 2 Years

Development of a Child up to 2 Years 0-8 Months How does your babys eating, sleeping and motor development compare to the typical developmental patterns? At first, she wasnt very hungry and lost a bit of weight, but rebounded pretty quick. Her eating is similar to the patterns of a newborn. Seven was occasionally fussy but we just kept our regular routine and she was fine. She spent most of her time sleeping, similar to other babies at this age. Her sleep pattern is similar to babies at this age, down a couple of hours and then waking up. She goes back to sleep after a little relaxing music or gentle rocking. By 8 months, her motor skills include crawling, sitting up and playing like most other babies at this age. Her gross and fine motor skills are a little behind and the doctor wants more one on one motor skills play. At 8 months of age was your child an easy, slow-to-warm-up, or difficult baby in terms of Thomas and Chesss classic temperamental categories? On what do you base this judgement? She is a slow-to-warm-up child. She is a bit clingy and doesnt really accept new situations. She is content with us but hesitant with others. Seven has typical emotional reactions for her age, such as fear of strangers, separation anxiety and crying when upset. How is your childs attachment to you and your partner developing? What is happening at the 3-month and 8-month periods that might affect attachment security according to Bowlby and Ainsworth, and various research studies? Seven is comfortable with her father but seems to want to be with me primarily (especially when shes upset.) Because we popped up every time Seven seemed slightly uncomfortable, we feel that we are to blame for the sheltered attachment. During the attachment-in-the-making phase, Seven developed a preference for me over others. She does not care for it when I leave her with her grandmother, this is separation anxiety and normal for this age. Describe and give examples of changes in your childs exploratory or problem solving behavior from 8 through 18 months and categorize them according to Piagetian and information processing theories. Note that 8 months is included, so youll need to use the time-line to look back at 8 months for examples. Seven was a very active crawler at 8 months, at home, not so much at the doctors office. I encouraged more crawling by allowing her free roam of our home. Seven is able to find a hidden object,(object permanence) as long as we dont distract her while shes looking for it. If we change up the hiding place she will still want to look in the previous hiding place. This curious error was first discover by Piaget. She wasnt able to walk, but she could almost stand on her own. She was able to imitate new words at 12 months. Seven now clearly understands a couple of dozen words. In fact, Seven pronounced her first clear word and pointed at the object in question. At 18 months, Seven was a little above for her age. She built a block tower to model one made by the examiner. At the 19-month assessment, she was again behind in gross motor skills. That just meant more gym time. Seven was able to concentrate very well during all of the informal testing, and if this continues, she will be more than ready for preschool-type activities, which require children to stay on task or remain in group time for 10-15 minutes. Analyze your babys temperament in more detail at 18 months than you did at 8 months. How would you describe your baby in terms of the five aspects of temperament utilized by the Virtual Child program (activity, sociability, emotionality, aggressiveness vs. cooperativeness, and self-control)? Has your babys temperament been stable over the first 18 months? A blurb defining and providing examples of the five aspects of temperament is provided at 12 months, but you should seek out further explanations of temperament from your textbook. Explain how the concept of goodness of fit (also discussed in the blurb on infant temperament) applies to your interactions with your child. Activity- Sevens activity level was normal. She had an incredible drive to use her motor skills. She often took on problems too difficult for her age. This was consistent with her disposition when she was younger. She was shy during her assessments, but at home was very active, and grew up to be very active and quite talkative. Sociability- Seven was a bit of an introvert. She was talkative at home, but there were few adults that she was comfortable with, and would become upset by new situations. She was very shy in new situations and around new people. Emotionality- Sevens range of emotions seemed to decrease from 9 months to 18. She seemed to be emotionally solid. She played well with others until one of the other children wanted to take her toys. Aggressiveness v. Cooperativeness- Seven was not aggressive at the assessment, unless another child tried to take a toy from her. She was cooperative with the examiner. Self-Control- There are no issues with self-control. Were you surprised by anything in the developmental assessment at 19 months? That is, does your perception of your childs physical, cognitive, language and social development differ from that of the developmental examiner? Give specific examples. If you were not surprised, write instead about some aspects of your childs development that need the most work. We were told at the assessment that while she was advanced in fine motor skills and problem solving abilities she was behind (again) in gross motor skills. Seven scored above average in all aspects of language development, and is ready to be read aloud to more frequently, as she can follow typical story lines. We are going to continue to introduce Seven to new situations and new people and try to work on the shyness just a bit. If she is introverted, so be ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 2 years: Have there been any environmental events in your childs first 2  ½ years that you think might have influenced his or her behavior? On what do you base your hypotheses? Nothing out of the ordinary has influenced our child. We have a normal home life and introduce her to situations with us by her side. We have gotten her around to new people and children around her own age. We allow her to have a bit more freedom. We show her that there are limits and consequences. I understand her reactions and allow her to feel comfortable but at times push her to step out of her comfort zone while being supervised. I base this hypotheses on watching her around other children. It is a fine line to walk as a parent having to supervise but not hover. Help without completing the task and allow freedom to find out consequences. How is your child progressing on the typical toddler issues, such as learning household rules, learning to follow routines, listening to you, developing self-control and learning to get along with other children? While playing with a group of children, Seven was timid at first, but she spent a few minutes watching other kids play before she joined in. She was not aggressive, but sometimes would say Mine! when other kids wanted to play with her toy. Seven learned to get along with other children by smiling and giving up the toy. (Not sure if that is going along to get along) Seven is toilet-trained now. We have rules and make her use her words when wanting something. We still have to work with Seven on the gross motor skills (more gym time.) Analyze your own parenting philosophy and practices. What principles from social learning theory, Bowlby, Ainsworth, Piaget, Vygotsky, information processing theory, developmental neuroscience and other theories do you appear to have relied on in making your parenting choices or interpreting your childs behavior? Include three principles/theorists from the above list in your answer. Different situations call for different theories. We used Skinners example of operant conditioning, providing positive reinforcement when she used the toilet. For the fine motor skills, we used Banduras modeling giving on problem solving. We also implemented Ainsworths Attachment Theory. Seven is clingy and feels uncomfortable in some situations that she is placed in. We will continue to work on this.

Doctor Faustus Essay -- essays research papers

Remind yourself of scene 5, lines 167 – 280 (pages 31 – 37 in the New Mermaids Edition) from â€Å"Now would I have a book†¦Ã¢â‚¬  to the entrance of The Seven Deadly Sins. (In some other editions, this section begins near the end of Act 2 Scene 5 and includes the opening of Act 2 Scene 1.) What is the importance of this section in the context of the whole play? In your answer you should consider: -The dramatic effects created by the Good and Evil Angels -The language used by Faustus and Mephastophilis. This section of the play has both an important structural and contextual role in Dr. Faustus. Leading the audience through his doubt and limitations, Faustus begins to realize that his potential for knowledge and power is not half as grand as he expected. This leads him into strong bouts of inner struggle, as shown by the appearance of the good and evil angels on stage. The forces of good and evil start to tear away at Faustus, and he begins the decline into his inventible tragic downfall at the end of the play. At the start of section, we see Faustus is beginning to use his powers to attain rare and elusive knowledge about our universe, forming elaborate demands, such as; â€Å"Now would I have a book where I might see all characters and planets of the heavens, that I might know their motions and dispositions†. Of course, the knowledge is granted, but appears to be enclosed in one single-volume book. Faustus sees this as a boundary – another restriction, on the pledge that was supposed to bring him ultimate rewards. He states; â€Å"O thou art deceived!†, realising the dissatisfaction, and what he has sacrificed. It could be said that Marlowe uses this anticlimax to warn the audience not to follow Faustus’ ways, emphasizing the fact that it can only bring superficial pleasures and shallow reward. The section is also characterized by the two appearances of the good and evil angels, which I feel play a significant role in the morality issues the dealt with in the play. Aside from signifying the persuasion into evil, the appearance of the angels also represents Faustus’ inner conflict, by exposing his gradual realisation that his actions have left him disappointed, and the fact that he cannot escape the religion within him. These scenes are vital to the play, and are used by Marlowe to present Faustus’ thoughts on stage. If seen in the context of a morality play, it could be ... ...stus is blind to the truth of repentance. And I feel at this moment, the audience truly realize that he can never escape this tragic spiral into damnation. Overall, we have seen how Marlowe uses this section of Dr.Faustus to present the tragic traits in Faustus’ character, and most importantly to highlight his flaws, and how they show the gradual failure of his plans. It deals with important contextual issues, such as the limitations and implications of over ambition shown in Mephastophilis blunt offerings – which Marlowe demonstrate the consequences of over-reaching yourself. It also presents us with the Morality play idea, by using the Good and Evil angels to present Faustus’ inner struggle of good versus evil, which he cannot overcome. Finally, Marlowe has also used the section to convey the traits of the Elizabethan tragic hero – in Faustus’ constant search for achievement, inability to recognise implications and failed plans. Ultimately, I feel the section is significant as it powerfully highlights these characteristics to portray the dangers of Faustus’ exploits, while evoking feelings of fear and tension with the audience towards the tragic climax at the end of the play.

God and the Sea of lust :: essays research papers

A man and a woman fall in love and make promises to love each other and uphold each other in times of need, to love and to protect each other during whatever storm may crash upon their beach of love and peace. This is what God intended for us. A good husband will give his wife a place to live in this world and a place in his heart; a place that she may call home. He will be held up with her in front of God and will never leave her side. A good husband must trust his wife when he is at work. He must also trust himself to let her be alone and to always trust her no matter what she does to him to make him think other wise, no matter if she kills her husband’s best friend and lies about it and hides the bloody knife under his own pillow. He must trust her in every way. A husband knows he must always protect his loved one and family. He must also show her that he cares by giving his time and love. He must be able to hold her when she cries and tell her that it will be o.k., even if they are both doomed. He must even give up his pride. Pride is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You will not know it until you see it; If you do not spot the wolf in time and send him away, he will come between you and what you hold dear to your heart. If a man does not give all of his heart and soul to the woman he picks as his wife, then their relationship will have its problems, but what marriage does not have it little bumps from time to time?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The wife, nature’s Rubics cube, is the one thing that puzzles men to this day. Puzzle or not, all men hope to fall in love with that one. Man, all over the world, hope that she will fulfill his ever dream and fulfill his every need. A wife and her love mean a lot to a man. Men hope that she will share that love with him until she dies. Men hope that their wives will show love and compassion for them when a day has gone bad, and men hope that they can tell her about their bad day, and she will comfort him, no matter if the bad day was just a small thing.

The Contributions of Homers Book XXIV :: Greek, Odyssey

Greek literature, in particular, Homer’s Odyssey, remains a masterpiece because of its structure. Additionally, an abundance of wisdom pours forth from its pages. Aristophanes and Aristarchus, two Greek critics, claimed that Homer’s Odyssey ended with the lines, â€Å"Rejoicing in each other, they returned to their bed, the old familiar place they loved so well† (XXIII: 337-338). While, at first glance, Book XXIV appears unnecessary, entirely omitting it leaves Homer’s work unfinished. Book XXIV features a wonderful study of the human condition. The initial encounter between Achilles and Agamemnon appears of little significance, but the overall concept lends importance to the book. Since The Odyssey meditates on the nature of civilization, it corresponds that Homer concludes his epic with a lesson addressing mankind’s inherent qualities. At the beginning of the book, Homer’s character, Achilles, accurately brings to light that life does not happen as planned and, in turn, this becomes a downfall of man. First, Homer calls attention to the human thought process. Achilles tells Agamemnon that â€Å"we thought† a different fate awaited Agamemnon because of his circumstances (XXIV: 25-31). Homer also identifies the tendency to dwell on a different aftermath. He illustrates this claiming that â€Å"if only† Agamemnon died differently, the possibility of glory and fame awaited his son (XXIV: 32-35). Finally, Homer concludes his lesson proclaiming man’s way of thinking as incorrect and â€Å"not so†. He charges Agamemnon â€Å"fated† to whatever destiny befell him (XXIV: 36). Homer also has his character, Amphimedon, highlight another human trait: the inclination to blame others for the outcome of actions, even when knowingly committing a wrongdoing. Homer illustrates this behavior as he writes how Amphimedon charges Penelope with the fault of his death because of her indecision, even after he admits that he made her finish her weaving â€Å"against her will† and â€Å"forced her† (XXIV: 161). Amphimedon also attributes his demise to Odysseus because of trickery. He condemns Odysseus for disguising himself (XXIV: 171-177), although Amphimedon openly admits he attacked Odysseus (XXIV: 178). In trading these stories (XXIV: 1-226), Homer imparts his knowledge on life, responsibility, and accountability. Since writing about the nature of civilization, Homer needs to feature the importance of the family relationship. As a result, the epic necessitates Odysseus’ visit to his father to let Laertes know of his well-being.

Albatross Anchor

Albatross Anchor is a small family owned business located in Smallville, MA. Albatross Anchor is located on 12 acres of land. They started out with four employees in 1976 and grow over the years to over 100. The company manufactures two types of anchors in different sizes. The types are the mushroom/bell anchor and the snap hook anchor. Albatross Anchor has many manufacturing problems which are the cause of the company not doing as well as it should be. The company is antiquated, worn and does not meet government guidelines. Albatross can be a company of the future with the application of much need upgrades and expansions. Question one A. Albatross Anchor‘s competitiveness in relations to cost below their competitors. They are 30% lower than their competitors. The cause of this is all the operation inefficiencies. They need to correct all of their problems in order to get in line with the competitors. The cost to manufacture is the same as the competitors $12. 00 per/lb. for mushroom/bell anchors and $6. 00 per /lb. for snag hook anchors. But, with the high price of shipping raw materials in finished goods not shipping out, and the cost of raw material, these are just some of the problems causing the company to lose money. The cost of the manufacturing process is hurting Albatross. The down time in between set up of the different anchors is a downfall of the company. They are paying workers to be there to wait for work to begin. The cost of raw material is high, since the company smaller than most. They will not get a better price as a large company would who manufactures more product. Cost efficient companies keep its capital, labor, and operating costs lower than its competitors. Then they must also provide a good price to its customers. Albatross Anchor should take on the method of Six Sigma This will help to achieve a level of quality, reduce costs related to scrap, rework, inspection, and customer dissatisfaction. B. The speed of manufacturing is a slow process; this is due only being able to produce one type of anchor at a time, which is called batch manufacturing. The time to switch from one process to another is 36 hours. The plant space is limited; it does not have enough room to have enough equipment to manufacture each anchor at the same time. The company needs to implement a score card to help with the operations strategies. The balanced scorecard has evolved from its early use as a simple performance measurement framework to a full strategic planning and management system. † (http://www. balancedscorecard. org/BSCResources/AbouttheBalancedScorecard/tabid/55/Default. aspx) C. The flexibility of filling an order with Albatross Anchor is non-existent. The manufacturing area is too small to make both anc hors at the same time. If an order comes in and need to be produced in a hurry they are not able to do this, because of the lack of technology in having a machine to produce both without a long set up time. Flexibility is important if a company is to respond quickly to changes in the industry. Time is money. Companies that can design, produce, and distribute their products faster than the competitors will have the upper hand. (Russell & Taylor, 2007, Operations Management: Creating Value Along the Supply Chain, pg. 124. ) D. The technology at Albatross Anchor is antiquated and deprived and is no longer up to standards. The manufacturing process is not capable of continuous production. The time to switch from one process to another is too long. The equipment and process should be update, or replaced. The funds for these projects are considered to be a capital investment. Albatross should consider making this investment to have a positive effect on the manufacturing process. Once the company makes the investment into new equipment, they will also have to invest into training the employees to run the new equipment. The company may need to have new hires, ones that can possibly do the job with less training. E. The capacity and facilities have out grown what the company has now. The company was designed to be a small manufacturer. Albatross is sitting on 12 acres of land they would be able to expand to make room for better technology. They have plenty of land to become an aggressive modern company, who is producing a top quality product. They can be the top producer of anchors with the changes that need to come about. Capacity is the maximum amount capable of producing. Another why to expand the capacity is to consider outsourcing. Outsourcing would come into play when they cannot set up the equipment and they need to produce product to satisfy an order. Some things to consider are the cost of making the product, such as labor, raw materials, and overhead. The facilities need to be made larger. The area that holds the raw materials should be expanded and should be close to the receiving area. Finished products should be close to the shipping area. This would cut down on time by not having to move product from such a long distance. The receiving and shipping should be together on the side where imports and exports are done. F. Service to customers is not very good. Long lead times and bad shipping methods are cause for problems. Accessibility and convenience are also a cause for concern. By offering a quality product, be able to meet orders and a touch of individualized customer service, you add value to your offering and your customers experience a higher level of satisfaction. The process of benchmarking can also help solve some of the problem and help to become a better company. â€Å"Benchmarking is the process of measuring an organization's internal processes then identifying, understanding, and adapting outstanding practices from other organizations considered to be best-in-class† (http://www. benchnet. com/wib. htm) The scorecard will also help determine where the problems lie within the service area. Albatross needs to come up with new designs of anchors to be more competitive, this will give the customers more options to choose from, bit the company needs to know how to make the process of making the anchors go smoother and faster. Based on the needs and perceptions of their target customers, they should either improve their products or reduce the cost of the product to enhance customer value. There are six things that influence a customer’s buying decision they are selling price, quality, dependability, flexibility, time, and service. These are all thing that a company must keep in mind to gain and keep customers. Customers do not want to buy products of the companies that they cannot trust. They want dependable producers. Question Two There are many ways that mushroom/bell anchors may be manufactured. Albatross Anchor is considering two new manufacturing processes (Process A and Process B) to reduce costs. From the available information below determine which process has the lowest breakeven point (this validates the process is more cost effective) and report your analysis and supporting conclusion. For each process the following fixed costs and variable costs have been identified:

Epistemology and Descartes Essay

In both Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Descartes’ The Fourth Meditation, they discuss truth; what it is, where it comes from and how to differentiate it from falsehood and error. Plato’s paper is more metaphorical and uses imagery to paint a picture of his idea of truth, while Descartes’ is more straight forward, and uses examples. These papers are written very differently but are, at the same time, very similar when it comes to content. Although it’s not word for word, these two papers complement each other very well when it comes to defining truth and explaining its origin. In Allegory of the Cave, Plato’s view is that our senses, such as sight, skew our understanding of true knowledge. We are, for all intense and purposes, chained at the neck and ankles, unable to move. Our world is a cave lit by a fire disguised as the sun. We only see what is before us: our shadows, our falsities and errors. However, on the rare occasion that we break free from our chains, we are able to experience true knowledge. We understand the world around us and realize what we once thought we knew isn’t real. We view things in a new perspective, a new light†¦sunlight. This is what Plato believes truth is. The cave where men are chained is, essentially, a mask, hiding Earth’s true identity. Once that mask is taken off, we know Earth’s true identity, we understand. One may relate being ‘unchained’ to an epiphany, or divine intervention. It’s an experience of something so pure, so insightful; you know it to be true. And once we have experienced this pure truth, we must return to the cave populated by shadows and lit with an artificial sun. We must do to this so we can share our true knowledge with others, so they too, may one day be ‘unchained. ’ In The Fourth Meditation, Descartes rationalizes God’s Will, and all of imperfections, through a series of questions and answers. In this paper, Descartes describes God as the source of goodness, truth and being. He is infinite. The opposite of God, Descartes states, is nothingness. So, since we humans exist, Descartes explains we must be somewhere in between these two extremes. We are neither infinite, nor are we nothingness. We are finite, as God willed us to be. We consist of ‘being’ and ‘non-being. ’ And  any imperfection we may have is not a result of our being, rather our non-being†¦our error, in other words. Descartes says that when we know we know something, we are 100 percent sure about it. We have no feelings against it. It’s a sudden realization, an epiphany perhaps. And in this state, our judgments are certain and true. Descartes also talks about how we can not know anything certainly, without looking at the whole picture. For example, scientists cannot expect to prove or disprove God’s existence by looking at specific, finite things in the universe. Or if people try to disprove God by saying there is evil in the world, they aren’t looking at the big picture. For, in the big picture, Descartes thinks there would be an explanation, a purpose for evil. So even though Plato and Descartes give very different types of explanations about truth, and it’s origin, they come to similar conclusions. They both view truth as something beyond our ordinary senses. They both suggest taking a look at the bigger picture to find truth (being unchained/understanding God’s infinite being). And they both agree that, when the truth is know, it needs to be shared.

Communication & Crisis Essay

Many disasters happen around us that we have no control over, nor do we know what the impact will be of these disasters long term and short term. On the environment surrounding us as well as what it may do to our health. Working as the director of health for my region it is my job to stay on top of such issues. Keeping an eye out for such emergencies that may endanger us in our everyday living space and most of all our health. I want to go through how I might deal with such situations and how I would address it head on. While at the same time keeping the public informed without overwhelming them as well as looking at who I would collaborate with to make this situation resolve in the smoothest and best way possible. The issue that has come to my attention is water contamination in a certain area. This contamination is life threatening and needs to be acknowledged and dealt with accurately and promptly. As I am the director of emergency health situations I see myself and the mediator and problem solver between the public (people) and media. Those two things are there for each other but if you are not too careful they can harm each other; giving out too much information or not enough or sometimes the wrong information can be harmful to all parties involved. Having such a situation on had you need to talk to the right people and receive all the right information. I would first go to the areas that have been affected and gather all the proper data and forms that show what chemicals are incorrect causing this contamination. I need this information for hard copy evidence so when I contact the media or speak in public I will have all the proper information. I will also get the CDC involved if they are not already involved. They will be conducting the proper tests and research to discover what the contaminated bacteria is. They will also have the proper protocol in containing it, as well as seeing the damage it has done to people who have ingested it and come in contact  with it. Finding an antidote will be another task they will have. In such a situation you will also get in contact with the proper news channels; national and local. Having my statements ready giving the media and public the help and information that they need. Communicating in any situation has its advantages and setbacks. Working in such a high pace and high stress industry makes communication that much more important and not to mention difficult. Being in the health care industry means you work and deal with a lot of the same people consistently. This at times can be a good thing. You build relationships with them you become accountable to one another, you even learn each other’s communications styles; you become comfortable with them, in some cases they even become your second family. Having that crutch that comfort in such a high stress and high demand career is needed. As I said befor you become accountable to one another and the team work/bond is unbreakable unparalleled. This kind of bond is desperately needed in such careers. Especially when you are dealing with millions of people’s lives, they always count on me as director of emergency health. Providing them with the best and most accurate information, help and solution to our health care crisis, that is no easy task and I cannot do it on my own. I use me organizations from the inside and outside; to give my best and keep our environment safe and clean. This same relationship is needed in any high profile type of career i.e. chief of medicine of a hospital the president of the United States. They all need to have great communication skills with their organizations and network of people. On the other side of the spectrum you can have communication issues that can do more damage than the crisis itself. You not only need to have basic communication skills with your staff and organizations but as we just finished discussing a great understanding and relationship with each other. If someone in the organizations you deal with miscommunicate on purpose for their own personal gain, whether that be to give themselves an advantage or just to give you a disadvantage, that may hinder your ability to protect yourself and the issue you are trying to solve. Giving you more steps to complete, possibly even making you back track. Making sure you have a good relationship and communication relationship with all the organizations you  deal with inside your office and outside is key. Even if you only deal with them occasionally or if you deal with them on a regular basis. Communicating in a non-crisis situation verses a crisis situation can have its differences. The main importance is no matter the situation your communication should be using the basic knowledge of conversing. Communication in a non-crisis is a little more relaxed, yes you still have things to get across to each other and they are somewhat important; but for the most part your emotions are not running high you have yourself composed and thinking rationally. The stakes aren’t usually as high it’s not a life or heath situation. A crisis situation the emotions are running high, you are frazzled thinking a million miles a minute. Dealing with this type of communication crisis at work should be handled with a calm clear and patient mind frame. We obviously know listening is key in any situation especially a crisis situation. I tend to be the listener when it comes to these situations and just in general. Most likely you will have most of the people in the room (people dealing with the crisis) trying to do the talking and not listening and we know communication is not just talking. I’ve learned from experience that you need to be understanding and patient with everyone in the situation, if you want to get anywhere with solving the issue or just communicating what you mean you need to take a minute and just breathe. Personally I have been in such similar situations before and it really makes a difference if you are the one with a cool head. This way of dealing with things can go for a non-health care setting and a health care setting. I am going to give you a personal story that just so happens to be in a health care setting. About 5 years ago my grandmother was hospitalized she had leukemia and lung cancer as well as a case of pneumonia which is why she went to the hospital. While at the hospital she was infected with MRSA. Once she was diagnosed with MRSA our family went into crisis mode because the doctors told us the prognosis was not good at all. She basically had maybe weeks to live. She was put on life support hoping the MRSA was clearing up and my uncles went into their â€Å"communication mode†. There are 7 brothers including my father and they are all stubborn Armenian men who have the worste communication skills ever. The wives know not to get involved too much because if was their mothers life hanging in the balance;  and none of them have any medical background to really understand what is going on and if they should pull the plug of keep her alive with the machines. As we all know doctors can only tell you so much, my sister and I are the listeners of the family and we are the vice of reason when it comes to most anything. We both just so happen to be the only two with medical backgrounds I am a nurse and she is in her medical resid ency. We had to use our knowledge and better communication skills to inform them and really show them that my grandmother was not coming out of this after we had our what I call â€Å"crisis family meeting† they decided to pull the plug that evening and my grandmother passed. In any situation whether it be medical, personal or work related communication is the same. Something that we are just now getting comfortable using in everyday life as well as crisis situations is modern technology for communicating. This is a useful tool that we still need to learn how to properly use it in such crisis situations. Sending out mass email and text messages to keep the public informed, is one of the best ways we can use social media to alert the public of ever changing crisis management issues. This has just recently eveolved into something we use in this capacity. When hurricane Katrina hit we still only used news and it was a â€Å"wow† new idea to check in with loved one over facebook and twitter because all other forms of communication such as phones were down. How 5-10 years makes a world of differences. Finishing off this paper about communicating during a crisis and how you might communicate during a non-crisis be different. How you should and could deal with people that you need to communicate during a crisis. How it really is important and how much of a new role social media is playing in crisis management. Writing this paper really made me think about how important it is to properly communicate with each other whether it’s for work or social. Being a good communicator is a bog key in all parts of life. References de Pre , A. (2005). Communicating about health: current issues and perspectives. : The Mcgraw-Hill. Fulk, J., Schmitz, J., & Ryu, D. (1995, February ). Congnative elements in social construction of communication technology.Manegment Communication Quarterly , 8(3).

Angels Demons Chapter 89-92

89 War had broken out in St. Peter's Square. The piazza had exploded into a frenzy of aggression. Media trucks skidded into place like assault vehicles claiming beachheads. Reporters unfurled high-tech electronics like soldiers arming for battle. All around the perimeter of the square, networks jockeyed for position as they raced to erect the newest weapon in media wars – flat-screen displays. Flat-screen displays were enormous video screens that could be assembled on top of trucks or portable scaffolding. The screens served as a kind of billboard advertisement for the network, broadcasting that network's coverage and corporate logo like a drive-in movie. If a screen were well-situated – in front of the action, for example – a competing network could not shoot the story without including an advertisement for their competitor. The square was quickly becoming not only a multimedia extravaganza, but a frenzied public vigil. Onlookers poured in from all directions. Open space in the usually limitless square was fast becoming a valuable commodity. People clustered around the towering flat-screen displays, listening to live reports in stunned excitement. Only a hundred yards away, inside the thick walls of St. Peter's Basilica, the world was serene. Lieutenant Chartrand and three other guards moved through the darkness. Wearing their infrared goggles, they fanned out across the nave, swinging their detectors before them. The search of Vatican City's public access areas so far had yielded nothing. â€Å"Better remove your goggles up here,† the senior guard said. Chartrand was already doing it. They were nearing the Niche of the Palliums – the sunken area in the center of the basilica. It was lit by ninety-nine oil lamps, and the amplified infrared would have seared their eyes. Chartrand enjoyed being out of the heavy goggles, and he stretched his neck as they descended into the sunken niche to scan the area. The room was beautiful†¦ golden and glowing. He had not been down here yet. It seemed every day since Chartrand had arrived in Vatican City he had learned some new Vatican mystery. These oil lamps were one of them. There were exactly ninety-nine lamps burning at all times. It was tradition. The clergy vigilantly refilled the lamps with sacred oils such that no lamp ever burned out. It was said they would burn until the end of time. Or at least until midnight, Chartrand thought, feeling his mouth go dry again. Chartrand swung his detector over the oil lamps. Nothing hidden in here. He was not surprised; the canister, according to the video feed, was hidden in a dark area. As he moved across the niche, he came to a bulkhead grate covering a hole in the floor. The hole led to a steep and narrow stairway that went straight down. He had heard stories about what lay down there. Thankfully, they would not have to descend. Rocher's orders were clear. Search only the public access areas; ignore the white zones. â€Å"What's that smell?† he asked, turning away from the grate. The niche smelled intoxicatingly sweet. â€Å"Fumes from the lamps,† one of them replied. Chartrand was surprised. â€Å"Smells more like cologne than kerosene.† â€Å"It's not kerosene. These lamps are close to the papal altar, so they take a special, ambiental mixture – ethanol, sugar, butane, and perfume.† â€Å"Butane?† Chartrand eyed the lamps uneasily. The guard nodded. â€Å"Don't spill any. Smells like heaven, but burns like hell.† The guards had completed searching the Niche of the Palliums and were moving across the basilica again when their walkie-talkies went off. It was an update. The guards listened in shock. Apparently there were troubling new developments, which could not be shared on-air, but the camerlegno had decided to break tradition and enter conclave to address the cardinals. Never before in history had this been done. Then again, Chartrand realized, never before in history had the Vatican been sitting on what amounted to some sort of neoteric nuclear warhead. Chartrand felt comforted to know the camerlegno was taking control. The camerlegno was the person inside Vatican City for whom Chartrand held the most respect. Some of the guards thought of the camerlegno as a beato – a religious zealot whose love of God bordered on obsession – but even they agreed†¦ when it came to fighting the enemies of God, the camerlegno was the one man who would stand up and play hardball. The Swiss Guards had seen a lot of the camerlegno this week in preparation for conclave, and everyone had commented that the man seemed a bit rough around the edges, his verdant eyes a bit more intense than usual. Not surprisingly, they had all commented; not only was the camerlegno responsible for planning the sacred conclave, but he had to do it immediately on the heels of the loss of his mentor, the Pope. Chartrand had only been at the Vatican a few months when he heard the story of the bomb that blew up the camerlegno's mother before the kid's very eyes. A bomb in church†¦ and now it's happening all over again. Sadly, the authorities never caught the bastards who planted the bomb†¦ probably some anti-Christian hate group they said, and the case faded away. No wonder the camerlegno despised apathy. A couple months back, on a peaceful afternoon inside Vatican City, Chartrand had bumped into the camerlegno coming across the grounds. The camerlegno had apparently recognized Chartrand as a new guard and invited him to accompany him on a stroll. They had talked about nothing in particular, and the camerlegno made Chartrand feel immediately at home. â€Å"Father,† Chartrand said, â€Å"may I ask you a strange question?† The camerlegno smiled. â€Å"Only if I may give you a strange answer.† Chartrand laughed. â€Å"I have asked every priest I know, and I still don't understand.† â€Å"What troubles you?† The camerlegno led the way in short, quick strides, his frock kicking out in front of him as he walked. His black, crepe-sole shoes seemed befitting, Chartrand thought, like reflections of the man's essence†¦ modern but humble, and showing signs of wear. Chartrand took a deep breath. â€Å"I don't understand this omnipotent-benevolent thing.† The camerlegno smiled. â€Å"You've been reading Scripture.† â€Å"I try.† â€Å"You are confused because the Bible describes God as an omnipotent and benevolent deity.† â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"Omnipotent-benevolent simply means that God is all-powerful and well-meaning.† â€Å"I understand the concept. It's just†¦ there seems to be a contradiction.† â€Å"Yes. The contradiction is pain. Man's starvation, war, sickness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Exactly!† Chartrand knew the camerlegno would understand. â€Å"Terrible things happen in this world. Human tragedy seems like proof that God could not possibly be both all-powerful and well-meaning. If He loves us and has the power to change our situation, He would prevent our pain, wouldn't He?† The camerlegno frowned. â€Å"Would He?† Chartrand felt uneasy. Had he overstepped his bounds? Was this one of those religious questions you just didn't ask? â€Å"Well†¦ if God loves us, and He can protect us, He would have to. It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring, or benevolent and powerless to help.† â€Å"Do you have children, Lieutenant?† Chartrand flushed. â€Å"No, signore.† â€Å"Imagine you had an eight-year-old son†¦ would you love him?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Would you do everything in your power to prevent pain in his life?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Would you let him skateboard?† Chartrand did a double take. The camerlegno always seemed oddly â€Å"in touch† for a clergyman. â€Å"Yeah, I guess,† Chartrand said. â€Å"Sure, I'd let him skateboard, but I'd tell him to be careful.† â€Å"So as this child's father, you would give him some basic, good advice and then let him go off and make his own mistakes?† â€Å"I wouldn't run behind him and mollycoddle him if that's what you mean.† â€Å"But what if he fell and skinned his knee?† â€Å"He would learn to be more careful.† The camerlegno smiled. â€Å"So although you have the power to interfere and prevent your child's pain, you would choose to show your love by letting him learn his own lessons?† â€Å"Of course. Pain is part of growing up. It's how we learn.† The camerlegno nodded. â€Å"Exactly.† 90 Langdon and Vittoria observed Piazza Barberini from the shadows of a small alleyway on the western corner. The church was opposite them, a hazy cupola emerging from a faint cluster of buildings across the square. The night had brought with it a welcome cool, and Langdon was surprised to find the square deserted. Above them, through open windows, blaring televisions reminded Langdon where everyone had disappeared to. â€Å"†¦ no comment yet from the Vatican†¦ Illuminati murders of two cardinals†¦ satanic presence in Rome†¦ speculation about further infiltration†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The news had spread like Nero's fire. Rome sat riveted, as did the rest of the world. Langdon wondered if they would really be able to stop this runaway train. As he scanned the piazza and waited, Langdon realized that despite the encroachment of modern buildings, the piazza still looked remarkably elliptical. High above, like some sort of modern shrine to a bygone hero, an enormous neon sign blinked on the roof of a luxurious hotel. Vittoria had already pointed it out to Langdon. The sign seemed eerily befitting. HOTEL BERNINI â€Å"Five of ten,† Vittoria said, cat eyes darting around the square. No sooner had she spoken the words than she grabbed Langdon's arm and pulled him back into the shadows. She motioned into the center of the square. Langdon followed her gaze. When he saw it, he stiffened. Crossing in front of them, beneath a street lamp, two dark figures appeared. Both were cloaked, their heads covered with dark mantles, the traditional black covering of Catholic widows. Langdon would have guessed they were women, but he couldn't be sure in the dark. One looked elderly and moved as if in pain, hunched over. The other, larger and stronger, was helping. â€Å"Give me the gun,† Vittoria said. â€Å"You can't just – â€Å" Fluid as a cat, Vittoria was in and out of his pocket once again. The gun glinted in her hand. Then, in absolute silence, as if her feet never touched the cobblestone, she was circling left in the shadows, arching across the square to approach the couple from the rear. Langdon stood transfixed as Vittoria disappeared. Then, swearing to himself, he hurried after her. The couple was moving slowly, and it was only a matter of half a minute before Langdon and Vittoria were positioned behind them, closing in from the rear. Vittoria concealed the gun beneath casually crossed arms in front of her, out of sight but accessible in a flash. She seemed to float faster and faster as the gap lessened, and Langdon battled to keep up. When his shoes scuffed a stone and sent it skittering, Vittoria shot him a sideways glare. But the couple did not seem to hear. They were talking. At thirty feet, Langdon could start to hear voices. No words. Just faint murmurings. Beside him, Vittoria moved faster with every step. Her arms loosened before her, the gun starting to peek out. Twenty feet. The voices were clearer – one much louder than the other. Angry. Ranting. Langdon sensed it was the voice of an old woman. Gruff. Androgynous. He strained to hear what she was saying, but another voice cut the night. â€Å"Mi scusi!† Vittoria's friendly tone lit the square like a torch. Langdon tensed as the cloaked couple stopped short and began to turn. Vittoria kept striding toward them, even faster now, on a collision course. They would have no time to react. Langdon realized his own feet had stopped moving. From behind, he saw Vittoria's arms loosening, her hand coming free, the gun swinging forward. Then, over her shoulder, he saw a face, lit now in the street lamp. The panic surged to his legs, and he lunged forward. â€Å"Vittoria, no!† Vittoria, however, seemed to exist a split second ahead of him. In a motion as swift as it was casual, Vittoria's arms were raised again, the gun disappearing as she clutched herself like a woman on a chilly night. Langdon stumbled to her side, almost colliding with the cloaked couple before them. â€Å"Buona sera,† Vittoria blurted, her voice startled with retreat. Langdon exhaled in relief. Two elderly women stood before them scowling out from beneath their mantles. One was so old she could barely stand. The other was helping her. Both clutched rosaries. They seemed confused by the sudden interruption. Vittoria smiled, although she looked shaken. â€Å"Dov'e la chiesa Santa Maria della Vittoria? Where is the Church of – â€Å" The two women motioned in unison to a bulky silhouette of a building on an inclined street from the direction they had come. â€Å"e la.† â€Å"Grazie,† Langdon said, putting his hands on Vittoria's shoulders and gently pulling her back. He couldn't believe they'd almost attacked a pair of old ladies. â€Å"Non si puo entrare,† one woman warned. â€Å"e chiusa temprano.† â€Å"Closed early?† Vittoria looked surprised. â€Å"Perche?† Both women explained at once. They sounded irate. Langdon understood only parts of the grumbling Italian. Apparently, the women had been inside the church fifteen minutes ago praying for the Vatican in its time of need, when some man had appeared and told them the church was closing early. â€Å"Hanno conosciuto l'uomo?† Vittoria demanded, sounding tense. â€Å"Did you know the man?† The women shook their heads. The man was a straniero crudo, they explained, and he had forcibly made everyone inside leave, even the young priest and janitor, who said they were calling the police. But the intruder had only laughed, telling them to be sure the police brought cameras. Cameras? Langdon wondered. The women clucked angrily and called the man a bar-rabo. Then, grumbling, they continued on their way. â€Å"Bar-rabo?† Langdon asked Vittoria. â€Å"A barbarian?† Vittoria looked suddenly taut. â€Å"Not quite. Bar-rabo is derogatory wordplay. It means rabo†¦ Arab.† Langdon felt a shiver and turned toward the outline of the church. As he did, his eyes glimpsed something in the church's stained-glass windows. The image shot dread through his body. Unaware, Vittoria removed her cell phone and pressed the auto dial. â€Å"I'm warning Olivetti.† Speechless, Langdon reached out and touched her arm. With a tremulous hand, he pointed to the church. Vittoria let out a gasp. Inside the building, glowing like evil eyes through the stained-glass windows†¦ shone the growing flash of flames. 91 Langdon and Vittoria dashed to the main entrance of the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria and found the wooden door locked. Vittoria fired three shots from Olivetti's semi-automatic into the ancient bolt, and it shattered. The church had no anteroom, so the entirety of the sanctuary spread out in one gasping sweep as Langdon and Vittoria threw open the main door. The scene before them was so unexpected, so bizarre, that Langdon had to close his eyes and reopen them before his mind could take it all in. The church was lavish baroque†¦ gilded walls and altars. Dead center of the sanctuary, beneath the main cupola, wooden pews had been stacked high and were now ablaze in some sort of epic funeral pyre. A bonfire shooting high into the dome. As Langdon's eyes followed the inferno upward, the true horror of the scene descended like a bird of prey. High overhead, from the left and right sides of the ceiling, hung two incensor cables – lines used for swinging frankincense vessels above the congregation. These lines, however, carried no incensors now. Nor were they swinging. They had been used for something else†¦ Suspended from the cables was a human being. A naked man. Each wrist had been connected to an opposing cable, and he had been hoisted almost to the point of being torn apart. His arms were outstretched in a spread-eagle as if he were nailed to some sort of invisible crucifix hovering within the house of God. Langdon felt paralyzed as he stared upward. A moment later, he witnessed the final abomination. The old man was alive, and he raised his head. A pair of terrified eyes gazed down in a silent plea for help. On the man's chest was a scorched emblem. He had been branded. Langdon could not see it clearly, but he had little doubt what the marking said. As the flames climbed higher, lapping at the man's feet, the victim let out a cry of pain, his body trembling. As if ignited by some unseen force, Langdon felt his body suddenly in motion, dashing down the main aisle toward the conflagration. His lungs filled with smoke as he closed in. Ten feet from the inferno, at a full sprint, Langdon hit a wall of heat. The skin on his face singed, and he fell back, shielding his eyes and landing hard on the marble floor. Staggering upright, he pressed forward again, hands raised in protection. Instantly he knew. The fire was far too hot. Moving back again, he scanned the chapel walls. A heavy tapestry, he thought. If I can somehow smother the†¦ But he knew a tapestry was not to be found. This is a baroque chapel, Robert, not some damn German castle! Think! He forced his eyes back to the suspended man. High above, smoke and flames swirled in the cupola. The incensor cables stretched outward from the man's wrists, rising to the ceiling where they passed through pulleys, and descended again to metal cleats on either side of the church. Langdon looked over at one of the cleats. It was high on the wall, but he knew if he could get to it and loosen one of the lines, the tension would slacken and the man would swing wide of the fire. A sudden surge of flames crackled higher, and Langdon heard a piercing scream from above. The skin on the man's feet was starting to blister. The cardinal was being roasted alive. Langdon fixed his sights on the cleat and ran for it. In the rear of the church, Vittoria clutched the back of a pew, trying to gather her senses. The image overhead was horrid. She forced her eyes away. Do something! She wondered where Olivetti was. Had he seen the Hassassin? Had he caught him? Where were they now? Vittoria moved forward to help Langdon, but as she did, a sound stopped her. The crackling of the flames was getting louder by the instant, but a second sound also cut the air. A metallic vibration. Nearby. The repetitive pulse seemed to emanate from the end of the pews to her left. It was a stark rattle, like the ringing of a phone, but stony and hard. She clutched the gun firmly and moved down the row of pews. The sound grew louder. On. Off. A recurrent vibration. As she approached the end of the aisle, she sensed the sound was coming from the floor just around the corner at the end of the pews. As she moved forward, gun outstretched in her right hand, she realized she was also holding something in her left hand – her cell phone. In her panic she had forgotten that outside she had used it to dial the commander†¦ setting off his phone's silent vibration feature as a warning. Vittoria raised her phone to her ear. It was still ringing. The commander had never answered. Suddenly, with rising fear, Vittoria sensed she knew what was making the sound. She stepped forward, trembling. The entire church seemed to sink beneath her feet as her eyes met the lifeless form on the floor. No stream of liquid flowed from the body. No signs of violence tattooed the flesh. There was only the fearful geometry of the commander's head†¦ torqued backward, twisted 180 degrees in the wrong direction. Vittoria fought the images of her own father's mangled body. The phone on the commander's belt lay against the floor, vibrating over and over against the cold marble. Vittoria hung up her own phone, and the ringing stopped. In the silence, Vittoria heard a new sound. A breathing in the dark directly behind her. She started to spin, gun raised, but she knew she was too late. A laser beam of heat screamed from the top of her skull to the soles of her feet as the killer's elbow crashed down on the back of her neck. â€Å"Now you are mine,† a voice said. Then, everything went black. Across the sanctuary, on the left lateral wall, Langdon balanced atop a pew and scraped upward on the wall trying to reach the cleat. The cable was still six feet above his head. Cleats like these were common in churches and were placed high to prevent tampering. Langdon knew priests used wooden ladders called piuli to access the cleats. The killer had obviously used the church's ladder to hoist his victim. So where the hell is the ladder now! Langdon looked down, searching the floor around him. He had a faint recollection of seeing a ladder in here somewhere. But where? A moment later his heart sank. He realized where he had seen it. He turned toward the raging fire. Sure enough, the ladder was high atop the blaze, engulfed in flames. Filled now with desperation, Langdon scanned the entire church from his raised platform, looking for anything at all that could help him reach the cleat. As his eyes probed the church, he had a sudden realization. Where the hell is Vittoria? She had disappeared. Did she go for help? Langdon screamed out her name, but there was no response. And where is Olivetti? There was a howl of pain from above, and Langdon sensed he was already too late. As his eyes went skyward again and saw the slowly roasting victim, Langdon had thoughts for only one thing. Water. Lots of it. Put out the fire. At least lower the flames.† I need water, damn it!† he yelled out loud. â€Å"That's next,† a voice growled from the back of the church. Langdon wheeled, almost falling off the pews. Striding up the side aisle directly toward him came a dark monster of a man. Even in the glow of the fire, his eyes burned black. Langdon recognized the gun in his hand as the one from his own jacket pocket†¦ the one Vittoria had been carrying when they came in. The sudden wave of panic that rose in Langdon was a frenzy of disjunct fears. His initial instinct was for Vittoria. What had this animal done to her? Was she hurt? Or worse? In the same instant, Langdon realized the man overhead was screaming louder. The cardinal would die. Helping him now was impossible. Then, as the Hassassin leveled the gun at Langdon's chest, Langdon's panic turned inward, his senses on overload. He reacted on instinct as the shot went off. Launching off the bench, Langdon sailed arms first over the sea of church pews. When he hit the pews, he hit harder than he had imagined, immediately rolling to the floor. The marble cushioned his fall with all the grace of cold steel. Footsteps closed to his right. Langdon turned his body toward the front of the church and began scrambling for his life beneath the pews. High above the chapel floor, Cardinal Guidera endured his last torturous moments of consciousness. As he looked down the length of his naked body, he saw the skin on his legs begin to blister and peel away. I am in hell, he decided. God, why hast thou forsaken me? He knew this must be hell because he was looking at the brand on his chest upside down†¦ and yet, as if by the devil's magic, the word made perfect sense. Angels & Demons 92 Three ballotings. No Pope. Inside the Sistine Chapel, Cardinal Mortati had begun praying for a miracle. Send us the candidates! The delay had gone long enough. A single missing candidate, Mortati could understand. But all four? It left no options. Under these conditions, achieving a two-thirds majority would take an act of God Himself. When the bolts on the outer door began to grind open, Mortati and the entire College of Cardinals wheeled in unison toward the entrance. Mortati knew this unsealing could mean only one thing. By law, the chapel door could only be unsealed for two reasons – to remove the very ill, or to admit late cardinals. The preferiti are coming! Mortati's heart soared. Conclave had been saved. But when the door opened, the gasp that echoed through the chapel was not one of joy. Mortati stared in incredulous shock as the man walked in. For the first time in Vatican history, a camerlegno had just crossed the sacred threshold of conclave after sealing the doors. What is he thinking! The camerlegno strode to the altar and turned to address the thunderstruck audience. â€Å"Signori,† he said, â€Å"I have waited as long as I can. There is something you have a right to know.†