The Great Depression And World War II Essay - 1391 Words

From 1929 to 1945, two catastrophes occurred: the Great Depression and World War II. American political leaders established a cause-effect relationship between economic collapse and total war, based on these two events, which defined their policy approach in the post-war period. In the 1930s, American leadership, and most importantly, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, came to view economic decline, political radicalization, and instability as forming a vicious cycle that led to utter chaos and war. Although FDR did not know the future consequences of the economic fallout, he did know that breaking the cycle was of systemic importance. FDR’s policy platform, known as the New Deal, disregarded the historical wariness for government intervention and boldly connected economic security to freedom. Essentially, he attempted to push the American system to its limit in order to save it. Even with conservative elements constantly attempting to restrain his initiatives, FDR expanded his focus in the latter years of the 1930s to include international affairs as war broke out in Europe, Africa, and Asia. FDR and other government elites openly talked about the responsibility America had to build a new world order. Before further analyzing why American leadership correlated economic insecurity with armed conflict, it is important to understand whom that leadership included. Riding a wave of public discontent, FDR won a landslide election in 1932, ushering in an era of governmentShow MoreRelatedWorld War II And The Great Depression1658 Words   |  7 Pages The highly numbered risks of war have rigorous effects on societies around the world. World War II had positive and negative effects during and after the war. After the war, the formation of the United Nations helped negotiate and maintain peace, and during the war more jobs helped get the United States out of its biggest economic crisis, the Great Depression. Although, some economists argue that by creating mo re jobs during World War II, put America into even more debt than the country was alreadyRead MoreWorld War II : The Great Depression1543 Words   |  7 PagesDanielle Gentry Gary Damon American History II 10:00 MWF 25 April 2016 World War II Two decades after the first World War happen another world war occurred known as World War II. There were many causes that led up to this war. The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I, but Germany had to accept the responsibility of the war. Therefore, Germany economy went downhill and people were starving because of war debt. The Great Depression had a big effect on a lot of countries; therefore, countries startedRead MoreThe Great Depression And World War II1507 Words   |  7 PagesFaced with the Great Depression and World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt, nicknamed â€Å"FDR,† guided America through its greatest domestic crisis, with the exception of the Civil War, and its greatest foreign crisis. His presidency—which spanned twelve years—was unparalleled, not only in length but in scope. FDR took office with the country mired in a horrible and debilitating economic depression that not only sapped its material wealth and spiritual strength, but cast a pall o ver its future. RooseveltRead MoreThe Great Depression And World War II955 Words   |  4 PagesIn America, the period between the Great Depression and World War II was rife with uncertainty. The struggles of the Great Depression were over, but their lasting effects shed doubt on America’s future. Persephone, was an attempt by Thomas Hart Benton in 1939 to cement regionalism as the official American art style during this era. However, despite his attempt to promote hope in America’s future, while still acknowledging the despair of the Great Depression, Persephone was regarded as obscene. RegionalismRead MoreThe Great Depression And World War II1280 Words   |  6 PagesSisters of Growth Throughout the beginning of time people have used art to express themselves. With each major, and minor, there is an artist that captures the world as it is around him. There are also artists that create fiction to give the world and escape from reality. The medium of art that will be discussed in this essay will be film. Since the invention of Thomas Jefferson kinecto graph and the Lumiere brothers cinemtograph, films have continued to be the most popular entertainment methodsRead MoreThe Great Depression And World War II Essay2038 Words   |  9 PagesShort Answer: 1. World War I, The Great Depression, and World War II brought instability to the United States. As World War II came to an end in 1945 people were looking for stability, which is what the 1950’s resulted in. The 1950’s was a decade of conformity in all aspects of life; politics, economy, and culture. The fear of communism in America held a significant presence during and after World War II. The establishment of The House of Un-American Activities Committees in the late 1940’sRead MoreThe Great Depression And World War II1759 Words   |  8 PagesFranklin Delano Roosevelt was the thirty-second U.S president, and the only president to be elected four times. He led American through the trials of the Great Depression and World War II. He was born on January 30, 1882 in New York. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s curiosity, persistence, and self- confidence served to be extremely helpful traits through his presidency. When he combines all of his super powers together it makes an amazing success story. Sadly Roosevelt’s life was brutally taken by the deadlyRead MoreThe Great Depression and World War II1795 Words   |  7 Pages Great Depression and WWII - NCHP Block 6 Many Americans still think that the Great Depression was caused by the stock market crashing, on October 29, 1929. What is true that most economists think now is that the stock market crash alone could not be fully to blame. There were many factors into creating the nationwide depression. The first being that the â€Å"Roaring 20’s† was the first time North Carolinians and their American counterparts could buy a lot more of the new consumer items, likeRead MoreThe Great Depression And World War II1848 Words   |  8 Pagesfamily is one of the most popular and familiar names in history. The Roosevelts brought America through numerous crises. In particular, Franklin Delano Roosevelt led America through two of the greatest crises in American history: the Great Depression and World War II. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also known as FDR, is one of the most influential political leaders in the history of the United States of America. He began his political career as a New York Senator in 1910 and made his rise on the politicalRead MoreThe Great Depression And The World War II849 Words   |  4 Pagesthe era of World War II America saw some of its most dramatic cultural shifts since the country’s beginnings. This story of a mother and child expresses the changes that took place in the early half of the 1900’s which made a lasting effect in creating the consumer society we know today. This consumer-centered society that we know was developed by multiple shifts in the American economy and lifestyle. In this essay I will discuss how each the â€Å"Roaring Twenties,† the â€Å"Great Depression† and the World

Pros and Cons of Facebook - 1004 Words

Facebook Dangers Because students often post detailed and specific information on Facebook (including phone numbers, addresses, class schedules, social plans, etc.) you can be more easily stalked by strangers (or even acquaintances). Identity theft can also be a significant risk of social networking. Personal details like your full name, names of your family members, your phone number, birthday, address, and place of employment can all be used by identity thieves. Passport-style profile photos also make it easier for identity thieves to replicate your online presence. Catfishing: Coined from the independent film Catfish, which follows a filmmaker who discovers the truth about the online relationship he has been conducting†¦show more content†¦They can be a great way to understand and stay connected to your campus community as a whole. How to Stay Safe Evaluate your social networking account and postings-how do you feel about your employers seeing what you have posted? How about your parents or grandparents? Do not post private information, including your cell phone number, home address, class schedule, social plans, etc. unless you are prepared for anyone to find you/track you down, any time of the day or night. Do not post anything that might be embarrassing to you in a potential employment situation. People have been denied work because of information found on social networking sites. Utilize the Privacy settings on your Facebook account-you can adjust your privacy settings so as to control who has access to your personal information. These settings change and evolve frequently, so check your privacy settings after any site updates to ensure that you are still protected. To minimize the risk of identity theft, carefully monitor the information you make publicly available on social media or make your profile private. Using different passwords for your social media sites, email accounts and any online commerce sites (banking, shopping, billing, etc.) can also make it more difficult for identity thieves to acquire information about you[3]. Using a group photo forShow MoreRelatedPros And Cons Of Facebook987 Words   |  4 PagesFacebook and its Enemies Technology should take the blame for sexting, bullying, identity theft, and many other social issues. However, others may say technology can help conduct schedules, simplify work and home businesses, coordinate activities, communicate with families and much more. Facebook, the   most famous social networking site, comes with its own pros and cons. Facebook though is an enemy to society and single handedly controls the lives of many people. Now, despise what I believe let’sRead MorePros and Cons of Facebook1557 Words   |  7 PagesFacebook, being one of the most famous social networking sites comes with its own pros and cons. Here in this article, I will try to show some of the  advantages and disadvantages of Facebook.   It’s No doubt, Facebook has helped a lot to cut down the physical  boundaries, and it has its benefits for personal or for business purposes. Read:  10 Facebook tips and Tricks you should know Facebook has helped a lot to create a personal brand for many individuals and for businesses. Moreover, it’s a majorRead MoreThe New Age : Pros And Cons Of Facebook1416 Words   |  6 Pages The New Age: The Pros and Cons of Facebook in Health Care Jerkis Fong CUNY School of Professional Studies  The New Age: The Pros and Cons of Facebook in Health Care We have reached a new technological era. An era in which phones, computers, and tablets run our lives. Anywhere you go, you can easily spot a person on their phone, or tablet. These devices have become indispensable. With new technological devices come social media. Social media has been defined by Wikipedia as â€Å"computer-mediatedRead MoreCons And Cons Of Social Media761 Words   |  4 PagesPros and cons of social media – Cheat Sheet At this point we all know that social media is a major asset to marketers, but what exactly are the pros and cons of each? In this post I talk about just that, for the big 6 social media platforms! Instagram Instagram has 400+ million active monthly users which is 20% of internet users and the vast majority (90%) of these are under 35. IT’s a mobile app that lets users share photos and short videos. Pros: Easy and intuitive UI, minimal text on posts andRead MorePros And Cons Of Social Media740 Words   |  3 PagesThere are many pros and cons to social media so I am indifferent about this topic. Some pros of social media is that it helps with communication with people from long distances and its also good for advertising. Some cons are it brings about cyberbullying and it’s really time consuming. These are some reasons why I am indifferent about social media. Social media has changed communication in a whole different way. From facebook to snapchat and so many others, social media has made it extremelyRead MoreSchool Newspaper, Fanshawe Interrobang ( House, 2013 )1504 Words   |  7 PagesUniversity, many of Fanshawe’s students would not be around the area from May through August, meaning that business would be slow during these months if Greig and Peck choose this segment to target (House, 2013). Target Segment 3: High School Students Pros Cons - Students have spending money from part-time job - Have less personal expenses since they usually live with their parents - More inclined to engage in non-alcohol related activities - More free time in the summer months - No direct advertisementRead MorePros and Cons of Using Social Media Tools in Schools973 Words   |  4 Pageshas transformed the world. No longer is communication the same. 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Radio (18%) †¢ Pros o Large advertising channel o Multiple radio channels o Cheaper than television o Constant †¢ Cons o Limited time frame o Not everyone listens to the radio o No visuals o Listeners avoid advertisements (switching channels) †¢ Costs o $500/month for six months (Planet not included) o Thirty-seconds $6-7 and sixty-seconds $9.50-10.50 (drive-time) Social Media †¢ Pros o Multiple social media channels o All ages are susceptible †¢ Cons o Difficult to penetrate †¢ CostsRead MoreSocial Media And The World Wide Web Essay1731 Words   |  7 Pagesdeveloping skills for their futures. One of the largest known social media site nowadays is Facebook. Facebook is one of the largest corporations when it comes to the social media world. Facebook is widely known for its popularity and its constant development. It currently surpasses any other social media apps or websites to this day. It is by far a revolutionary network. 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“Theoretical and practical aspects of prepositions in modern english” free essay sample

There are about 150 prepositions in English. Yet this is a very small number when you think of the thousands of other words (nouns, verbs etc). Prepositions are important words. We use individual prepositions more frequently than other individual words. In fact, the prepositions of, to and in are among the ten most frequent words in English. Many of prepositions have more than one meaning. Prepositions pose more problems for the non-native speaker or learner of English than any other part of speech. Why? Prepositions are just little words that never change in form. They are pronounces softly, in unstressed syllables. They aren’t even given capital letters in book titles. Native speakers choose the correct ones without thinking. But for non-native speakers they can be confusing. Many learners and teachers sometimes view the usage and meaning of prepositions as a secret that can’t be unlocked. However, if we examine the syntactic environments of such key prepositions systematically, patterns of usage and core meaning concepts emerge which can aid explanation and learning. The prepositions at, in and on are often used in English to talk about places and times. Sometimes the choice of one over another in a particular phrase or sentence seems arbitrary. However if we analyse patterns of occurrence we can identify key concepts in meaning and usage which consistently apply and can be used as a platform for learning. The problems of the theme are: 1. They are difficult to define without using other prepositions. 2. They do not have equivalent meanings in other languages. 3. Many prepositions are also used as adverbs or conjunctions. 4. Two or more prepositions may have the same meaning and sometimes they are interchangeable and sometimes not. 5. Many prepositions are used in expressions where their meaning is very different from what might be expected. 6. A preposition in combination with another word may have different meaning. The object of the research is Preposition as a part of speech. The subject of the research is theoretical and practical aspects of using the prepositions in modern English. The aim of the research is analysis and summing up of the knowledge in theoretical and practical aspects of prepositions in modern English. In accordance with the aim of investigation the following tasks were set: †¢ to define the function of preposition in English language; †¢ to analyze the most frequent types of prepositions; †¢ to describe the importance of learning prepositions in Modern English. The paper consists of introduction, two chapters, conclusion, resume, reference list of the publications used. CHAPTER 1. FUNCTION WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. PREPOSITIONS IN MODERN ENGLISH 1. 1. Function words in the English language. Function words are words that have little lexical meaning or have ambiguous meaning, but instead serve to express grammatical relationships with other words within a sentence, or specify the attitude or mood of the speaker. They signal the structural relationships that words have to one another and are the glue that holds sentences together. Thus, they serve as important elements to the structures of sentences. Function words are like thumbtacks. We dont notice thumbtacks; we look at the calendar or the poster they are holding up. If we were to take the tacks away, the calendar and the poster would fall down. Likewise, if we took the function words out of speech, it would be hard to figure out what was going on. Function words are a closed class. A person cannot easily invent a new preposition or conjunction [12]. As function words belong to the closed class of words in grammar in that it is very uncommon to have new function words created in the course of speech, whereas in the open class of words (that is, nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs) new words may be added readily (such as slang words, technical terms, and adoptions and adaptations of foreign words). Each function word either gives some grammatical information on other words in a sentence or clause, and cannot be isolated from other words, or it may indicate the speakers mental model as to what is being said. The distinction between function and lexical words has been very fruitful for linguistic description. So-called analytical languages, such as Chinese, are characterized by an abundance of function words. In contrast, function words are typically lacking in the speech of young children, certain kinds of aphasia, and telegraphic speech. It is also well known that languages rarely borrow function words from other languages or make up new ones (hence their status as closed class). Most recent innovations in the English vocabulary, such as pizza, angst, fax, e-mail, phat, AIDS, website, browser, screenager, to surf, Nethead, and techno-babble are lexical rather than functional in nature [26; 29]. Function words add mainly grammatical information, which means that they are defined above all by their syntactic behavior. Most traditional grammars assumed (and their descendents continue to assume) that the structure of sentences and phrases is determined mainly by lexical words. Function words were regarded as mere additions to lexical phrases. Thus, the sentence The rabbit will see the fox was analysed as a noun phrase the rabbit, followed by a verb phrase will see the fox. The determiner the was thus an addition to the noun phrase, and the auxiliary will was added to the verb phrase. A shift in this thinking came in the 1980s within the framework of generative grammar. From then on, auxiliaries were attributed with an independent contribution to the sentence structure. However, function words still did not determine the categorial status of a phrasefor example, a phrase such as the rabbit continued to be regarded as a noun phrase containing a determiner. This view changed radically by the mid-1980s, as function words were increasingly interpreted as the determinants of the categorial status of sentence elements. To use the technical terminology, function words were â€Å"projecting to a phrase† or â€Å"heading a phrase. † Determiners, for example, came to be regarded as the head of determiner phrasesthat is, the rabbit was now interpreted as a determiner phrase the . Containing the noun phrase rabbit. â€Å"Functional projections† were thus assigned a structure similar to â€Å"lexical phrases. † Research in the late 1980s and 1990s revolved around the question of exactly which functional projections a sentence may contain. Each function word expressing a grammatical function was soon regarded as a main structural building block of the sentence. The increasing importance of function words in linguistic theories went hand-in-hand with an increasingly abstract description of sentence structure. This shift provided many empirical and theoretical advantages. First, sentence structure could now be divided into three functional domains: (1) a lexical domain around the verb, which establishes semantic relations between the main sentence elements; (2) a grammatical domain around the auxiliary, which establishes grammatical relations such as agreement (the auxiliary agrees in number and person with the subject: I am/She is/They are leaving. ); (3) a discourse domain around the complementizer that, which links an embedded clause to a main clause (I know that this is true or I wonder whether this is true) [8; 26]. Second, differences between languages could be explained by how the function words, and the domains they define, were used. For instance, the so-called verb-second languages such as German, Middle English, Dutch, and Swedish move the verb to the complementizer domain, whereas languages such as English refrain from doing so. The word order of the equivalent German sentence Yesterday the rabbit saw the fox would thus be Yesterday saw the rabbit the fox. Differences between even unrelated languages were reduced to very basic principles. Function words and lexical words are not sharply distinct categories but rather form a continuum. Certain classes of words can thus share features with both prototypical lexical words and prototypical function words. The English preposition is a case in point: some prepositions have lexical meaning, such as location (behind) and direction (toward); others have little meaning (of or to). Many are used to introduce sentences (after, for, like) and are therefore similar to prototypical function words, namely complementizers [26]. Grammatical meaning can be expressed in different ways. English uses independent auxiliaries to express present or past tense (I am leaving vs. I was leaving) but also inflects the verb for the same purpose (I think vs. I thought). Languages exhibit great variation along these lines: some languages express all grammatical meaning via independent function words and are called â€Å"analytic. † So-called synthetic languages, on the other hand, employ inflection and other markings on lexical words throughout. This distinction between analytic and synthetic languages also represents a continuum, and languages can change in this respect over time. Old English made extensive use of grammatical markings on lexical words. English has lost much of this capability since then and introduced auxiliaries to fill the gap. In fact, the auxiliary will used to be a lexical verb in Old English, but it lost its meaning (â€Å"to want†) when it was recruited for expressing future tense. In modern theoretical approaches, which tend to focus more on underlying differences rather than surface variation, the distinction between analytic and synthetic languages becomes negligible [29]. In short, function words have little lexical meaning and no stress. In traditional grammars, they do not have their own projection or phrase, whereas in some modern approaches they do. They are very similar (and are historically related) to grammatical markers on lexical words. There are only about 300 function words in English. They might be prepositions, pronouns, determiners, conjunctions, modal verbs, auxiliary verbs and particles (Application A) [31]. So, the function words serve as important elements to the structures of sentences. They have little lexical meaning or have ambiguous meaning, but instead serve to express grammatical relationships with other words within a sentence, or specify the attitude or mood of the speaker. They signal the structural relationships that words have to one another and are the glue that holds sentences together. 1. 2. Prepositions as a part of function words in Modern English. Classification of prepositions Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand in front of nouns (sometimes also in front of gerund verbs). In modern English prepositions serve as a means for expressing the relations of nouns, pronouns, numerals or gerunds to the other words in a sentence. These relations in the Ukrainian language are sent by means of case endings or case endings in combination with prepositions. Prepositions play a great role in word-building, they are included in different word-combinations and expressions: e. g. at last, at first, at home, at night, in vain, on foot, forever, by no means, by the way, etc [17]. Prepositions can also occur in post position with: nouns (interest in, need for), adjectives (familiar with, sure of), participles (married to, made of), and verbs (give up, look forward). In this situation, the composite can be thought of as a unit. On its shape the prepositions are divided on simple, complex and compound. The simple prepositions are those which are not dividable on componential parts. We refer here the most ancient English prepositions which are mostly monosyllabic, such as in, on, at, by, to, with, from, of etc. Simple prepositions can possess a varied number of semantic and contextual meanings: She sat on the sofa. He is going to the market. He fell off the ladder. There is some water in the bottle. She is about seven. They sat around the table. The cat was hiding under the bed. Complex prepositions are those which were formed by means of word blending: e. g. inside, outside, throughout, upon, into etc. The Compound prepositions are those which mainly present a combination of noun, adjective, participle or adverb with simple preposition or conjunction, which is composed by united meaning. The Compound prepositions mainly have one meaning, corresponding to the meaning of a meaningful word falling into the compound of the preposition. To the compound prepositions we pertain the following: because of, instead of, by means of, as far as, by force of, in spite of, in front of, in accordance with, contrary to, opposite to, as compared with etc. : He fell into the river. She sat between her kids. He sat beside her. There is nothing inside the jar. The teacher stood behind the desk. There is also a small group of prepositions, which have originated from participles and have saved the form of a participle: e. g. during; including; concerning, regarding, etc. [28;14]: There was little chance of success, notwithstanding they decided to go ahead. You did the job well, considering your age and inexperience [30]. We divide prepositions into three important kinds: 1. Preposition of Time (Application B). We use: at for a precise time; in for months, years, centuries and long periods; on for days and dates. 2. Preposition of Place (Application C). In general, we use: at for a point; in for an enclosed space; on for a surface. 3. Other Prepositions (Application D). As has been said, prepositions are short words that usually stand in front of nouns. Prepositions play a great role in word-building, they are included in different word-combinations and expressions. CHAPTER 2. THE PRACTICAL USE OF PREPOSITIONS 2. 1. Preposition combinations Prepositions and the rules concerning their usage can be confusing to learners of English as a second language. Basically, prepositions are connecting words that join objects to other parts of sentences. Preposition choice is determined by the noun, verb, adjective or particle which precedes it. Noun + Preposition Combinations. English has many examples of prepositions coming after nouns. In such cases, the prepositions are often followed by a phrase containing a noun, as in example (a) below. They can also be followed by a noun, as in example (b), or an -ing verb, as in example (c) [6]: a) Scientists at the research institute think they are close finding a solution to the problem. b) Everyone was surprised by his lack of concern. c) We need to call an expert at plumbing as soon as possible. Here are a few more nouns and prepositions which are used together: the use of a solution to influence on evidence of the cost of an increase in a possibility of danger of the price of a reason for a supply of a method of a lack of belief in the cause of difficulty with Verb + Preposition Combinations. Many English prepositions also follow verbs. Sometimes they introduce a phrase that contains a noun, as in example (a). They can also introduce a noun, as in example (b), or an -ing verb, as in example (c) [6]: a) I dont know how long we can depend on his generosity. He has already done so much for us. b) Many of the towns residents relied on neighbours for help during the flood. c) She believes in helping people who are less fortunate than her. Here are some other verbs and prepositions that are used together: I insist on . . . He can deal with . . . This can result in . . . Do you plan on . . . We belong to . . . This could lead to . . . My answer will depend on . . . You can rely on . . . They fight for . . . We fight against . . . We contribute to . . . I believe in . . . Adjective + Preposition Combinations. English also has many instances of prepositions coming after adjectives. In many cases, the prepositions precede phrases containing nouns, as in example (a), or pronouns, as in example (b). It is also possible for the prepositions to precede an -ing verb, as in (c) [6]: a) I was amazed at all the improvements. b) We were all shocked by his behaviour. c) Because the exam was more difficult than I expected, Im worried about passing. Here are some more adjectives and prepositions that are used together: proud of identical to different from tired of related to opposed to satisfied with eager for based on famous for necessary for excited about Common Sentence Errors with Prepositions. There are three common types of sentence errors which involve prepositions. 1. Using a preposition which doesnt fit the context of the sentence: I was amazed from all the improvements. Wrong! I was amazed at all the improvements. Right! 2. Omitting a preposition that belongs in a sentence: I was amazed all the improvements. Wrong! I was amazed at all the improvements. Right! 3. Adding a preposition which is not needed in the sentence: I was amazed at that the improvements were done so quickly. Wrong! I was amazed that the improvements were done so quickly. Right! In short, word combinations and preposition combinations are extremely important in the English language. There is now rule or reason why these words go together. So, they must be learned â€Å"by heart†. 2. 2. Interesting Preposition exercises Understanding and using appropriate prepositions of place and motion are often difficult for students to grasp and it takes time for them to become comfortable with these types of words. They become confused when there are a host of similar prepositions and often need plenty of help and clarification. As is often the case, visualization is a key element to learning and can make the process much easier and enjoyable for students and teacher alike. Here are three games which make the process of learning prepositions fun for all parties [30; 15]: Exercise 1: Preposition Tree Teacher draws a nice big tree on the board. Next teacher asks students to call out items which are specific to trees. If a student yells, â€Å"bird†, draw a bird somewhere on the tree and ask the class where it is. Obviously, the answer should be that, â€Å"the bird is in the three. † Try a number of these exercises until they become comfortable with the use of the prepositions of place. Draw a boy sitting under the tree eating an apple. Ask, â€Å"where is the boy? † and when they get this right, ask, â€Å"now where is the apple? † It becomes slightly more difficult. The possibilities here are limitless and it gives the kids the opportunity to visualize the meaning of individual prepositions, providing them with the know how to differentiate them and use them accurately. You can even have students come to the front of the class to draw their own ideas. A student might draw a cow on top of the tree. Although not an accurate representation of a cow’s niche, it will still afford the opportunity for students to say, â€Å"the cow is on (or on top of) the tree,† improving their use of prepositions of place (Application E). Note 1: If time allows, it might also be fun to construct a tree – make it a class project – and have the students attach little figures, birds, critters, people, etc at various places in and around the tree and have them come up with the appropriate prepositions. Note 1: Teaching negatives. If the boy is under the tree, help the students learn where the boy isn’t. â€Å"He is under the tree, so he isn’t†¦. † Wait for the answer. Exercise 2: Preposition Street Prepositions of motion present another challenge to teachers because they have to find a way to explain how things move, within the confines of the classroom. There are number of classic tactics, but a personal favorite is to draw a large city street, complete with some parked cars, traffic, buildings and people (Application F). Draw someone getting into or out of a car and ask, â€Å"what is he/she doing? † Eventually, someone will say that the man/woman is getting into/out of his/her car, or getting on/off the bus. Next, focus on pedestrians. Look at two people walking past each other and ask, â€Å"what are they doing? † Give praise when the class replies that, â€Å"they are walking past each other. † As was the case with the tree, the possibilities are limitless and only bound by one’s imagination. Like the preposition tree, when students become more comfortable, call them to the front of the class and have them draw their own ideas. Exercise 3: Preposition â€Å"I spy with my little eye† This is a pretty straight forward game but may require some explanation if the students are not aware of how to play I Spy. Once this has been made clear, the teacher picks an object in a room – for example the door – and says, â€Å"I spy with my little eye something that is rectangular/square/red/whatever. Students try to decipher the answer by asking questions with prepositions: For example, is it next to the window? No it isn’t, or yes it is. Once a student guesses the correct object, it is his/her turn to look around the room and â€Å"spy† an object for the rest of the class to discover. Finally, learning prepositions is a key element to the development of a student’s language skills. They are often thought of as boring, which is in part why students often have such a hard time with them. They don’t enjoy learning about them and therefore don’t learn them as well as other language elements. However, with these and other games, students will see that prepositions can be fun and they will want to learn. CONCLUSIONS In modern English prepositions serve as a means for expressing the relations of nouns, pronouns, numerals or gerunds to the other words in a sentence. They play a great role in word-building. Prepositions pose more problems for the non-native speaker or learner of English than any other part of speech. Prepositions are just little words that never change in form. They are pronounces softly, in unstressed syllables. They aren’t even given capital letters in book titles. Native speakers choose the correct ones without thinking. But for non-native speakers they can be confusing. There are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition. The only way to learn prepositions is looking them up in a dictionary, reading a lot in English and learning useful phrases off by heart. Learning prepositions is a key element to the development of a student’s language skills. They are often thought of as boring, which is in part why students often have such a hard time with them. They don’t enjoy learning about them and therefore don’t learn them as well as other language elements. However, with games, students will see that prepositions can be fun and they will want to learn them. RESUME There are about 150 prepositions in English. Yet this is a very small number when you think of the thousands of other words. Prepositions are important words. We use individual prepositions more frequently than other individual words. In fact, the prepositions of, to and in are among the ten most frequent words in English. There are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition. So, social and pedagogical insight of the problem defines the topic of our course paper: â€Å"Theoretical and practical aspects of prepositions in Modern English†. The course paper consists of the introduction, two parts and 6 applications. The general namber is 30 pages. The list of the used literature consists of 32 sources. The first part of the work outlines using prepositions as a part of function words in Modern English and shows classifications of prepositions. The second part points out preposition combinations with other words and interesting preposition exercises for easier learning prepositions at school. Key words: function words, preposition, classification, combinations, exercises, simple preposition, complex preposition, compound preposition, time, place.

SM REPORT Essay Example

SM REPORT Essay Furthermore, this permitted ISM to assess the types of opportunities and threats that might arise from the industry environment. This report will also examine both threats of new entries and substitutes, and both bargaining powers of buyers and suppliers that will affect the decision making process of ISM. With the addition of competitive rivalry, this report will demonstrate how ISM can use innovation and various business strategies to stay ahead in the industry. The findings of this report will highlight the financial profitability and stability of ISM. It will analyses how training and development will help improve the skills and motivation of Isms employees. It will also depict how research and development would allow ISM to innovate and improve on its manufacturing processes. This report will also indicate how the positive brand image, along with other business strategies influence the decision making recess of ISM, allowing it to remain competitive and achieve sustainability in its growth within the industry. 2. Background Information ISM International Limited is the global leader in branded healthy lifestyle products. Listed in the Singapore Stock Exchange, ISM has over 30 years of experience and uncompromising dedication in developing innovative and reliable healthy lifestyle products (ISM AAA). Established in 1 980, ISM is a niche marketing company with a focus on the consumer. The Group is innovation-driven and is an Intellectual Property (IP) developer. ISM uses innovative selling approaches and constantly enhances its innovation capabilities to produce successful products with superior designs, features and quality. As an IP developer, ISM controls its brands, designs, technologies and concepts. We will write a custom essay sample on SM REPORT specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on SM REPORT specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on SM REPORT specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer ISM operates a wide point-of-sales network of more than 1 1 93 outlets in more than 369 cities across 31 countries in Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America (ISM 2012). The ISM business consists of 4 focuses which together reflect the brands holistic approach to healthy lifestyle. 3. Macro-environment Analysis Macro-environmental analysis is the initial stage in comprehensive strategic planning. The purpose of the analysis involves the study of current and potential change and the assessment of the impact of changes on the organization (Ginger and Duncan 1990). . Optical Singapore government offers loans, grants, tax incentives and Nan-financial assistance to help organizations grow their business. SPRING Singapore provides funding such as the Customer-Centric Initiative to support projects undertaken by organizations in the healthcare sector to improve customer experience and benchmark themselves against industry standards. ISM has achieved significantly la rge amount of government development grant as shown in Figure 1 (refer to Appendix 9. 1). 3. Economics The global macroeconomic conditions have stabilized in recent months against the backdrop of improved financial market conditions, and the outlook for Singapore economy remains positive. According to Singapore Department of Statistics (2013), Singapore has grown by 1. 3 per cent in 201 2 and real GAP growth in 2013 is expected to be 1 to 3 per cent. With the global economy continuing to show affirmative signs of improvements, we hence see potential in the group to rake up more sales going forward, given its huge outwork of outlets. 3. Social As Singapore continues to grow and develop, maintaining the quality of life has become increasingly important. Healthcare products are no longer deemed as a luxury good but a necessity, as society trends towards a more sophisticated and healthy lifestyle. With higher population densities and rising expectations of individuals well-beings, the l ifestyle needs of a more diverse society will be a key challenge as well as an opportunity for ISM. With an increasing ageing population in many societies, ISM can consider how they can better cater to the lifestyle needs of this particular group. 3. Technological The new competitive landscape, driven by the technological revolution is moving towards an increasing focus on innovation, both in technology and new products or services. Being the global leader in healthy lifestyle products, ISM is in the forefront of innovation and the development of a wide range of products to bring the greatest health benefits to consumers. In order to stay competitive, companies are required to use the latest technology in product innovation, continue to develop new technology, actively participate in global markets, and structure themselves to gain advantage in these markets (Hit, Keats and Demark 1998). Furthermore, new technology is allowing firms to customize products to consumers more quickly and economically in terms of production output and cost reduction activities. 3. Relating Key drivers for change with Opportunities and Threats A PASTEL analysis of the macro-environment enables organizations to anticipate opportunities, reveal threats, and carefully develop responses to change (Johnson, Whetting and Schools 201 1). It is important to analyses how the factors in the framework are changing and how they are inter-connected. The technology developments in ISM may affect the social factor such as nonusers lifestyle by introducing more leisure. For a Health and Lifestyle industry, the two most important key drivers for change are social and technological changes. Societal change such as emphasis on overall well- being for longer life expectancy may drive the potential for producing a more comprehensive range of healthy lifestyle products. Similarly, major technological advancements may have a positive impact on Isms research and development (R) activities. An example is ISM massage chairs which are designed in combination with the convenience of the mobile app technology, the ISM divine app (ISM Bibb). On the contrary, a social change in consumers preference for more outdoor leisure activities may pose a threat to Isms future home healthy lifestyle products. Similarly, the global economic conditions may pose a threat to Isms business. The nature of ISM products make them more susceptible to reduced demand in times of economic downturn than other kinds of business as their products may not be considered as essential health products (ISM 2011). . Porters Five-Forces Porters five forces model helps managers recognize and analyses competitive forces within the industry, predict new prospects and challenges and prepare bible strategies against future challenges and threats (Hills and Jones 2008). 4. 1 Threat of new entry In the healthy lifestyle products industry, scale and experience, technology and high capital investment pose as high bar riers of entry. Established industry players enjoy optimal levels of economies of scale whereby there is large-scale production at a lowest cost. This deters new entrants as it would be expensive for them to compete due to higher unit costs. New entrants do not have the relevant experience and technology that existing competitors have that allows them to enjoy cost advantages through efficiency. In addition, regulations such as patent protection and trademarks safeguard the rights of established industry players and prevent new entrants from tapping on their knowledge and resources. The high barriers of entry lead to low threat of entry due to the high level of experience, cost savings and technology that existing large operators possess. Overall, the threat of entrants is relatively low. 4. Threat of Substitutes The presence of many key players in the international market evidently shows a relatively high substitution level in the healthy lifestyle products industry. Global consumer trends have observed that consumers have become more cautious about their spending habits; however, they are still willing to spend on items that are durable and value for money (Remuneration International 2012). This trend recognizes the threat of substitutes that results from the ratio of price to performance. Environmental-wise, there is an increasing demand for products that are more sustainable, environmentally friendly and ethically produced. Lastly, technological innovations have resulted in relatively low cost of transfer to another industry, such as the beauty industry, increasing the level of substitution. Overall level of substitutes to latherer lifestyle products is relatively high. 4. Bargaining power of buyers In this industry, quality, innovation, product diversity and the ratio of price to performance factors play vital roles. Economically, emphasis should be placed on understanding and considering the expectations and experiences of consumers before prices are adjusted, irrespective of the prevailing economic conditions (Analogy and Kari 2003). Technologically, the Internet age has resulted in a group of more informed consumers. Coupled with the wide variety of options in the market the power of buyers is enhanced as they are blew to switch to other brands easily. As buyers hold high bargaining power in the industry, differentiating ones brand through product innovation and development would prevent buyers from switching to other comparative substitutes easily. Overall, the bargaining power of buyers is high. 4. 4 Bargaining power of suppliers Economically, it is more cost effective to stay with the original supplier, especially during periods of high inflation rates. Due to goodwill, the original supplier would give companies longer credit terms, which would in turn increase the liquidity of companies in the business. Technology such as analytic, software tools and telecommunications are part of providing better information to existing industry players at a lower cost, and in product distribution. Besides, employees as suppliers for knowledge in the production process have placed operators in a vulnerable position. The high bargaining power of suppliers creates an unfavorable situation for industry players. ISM recognizes the importance of their employees and tries to reduce the bargaining power of suppliers by providing their employees with good welfare and benefits (ISM 2011 Overall, the power of suppliers in this industry is high. Competitive Rivalry This force identifies the level of competition posed by direct competitors whose target market is similar to the organization. Although political measures strive to reduce the presence of inferior quality and unsubstantiated products in the market, weaker economic conditions gave rise to more conservative spending, resulting in the growth of the bl ack market and stiffer competition within the industry. The extent of competitive rivalry has also increased due to current technological advancements that have quickened the growth rate of research and development in the industry. Even though the extent of competitive rivalry is high, existing operators should continue to innovate and build brand loyalty so as to compete and differentiate themselves in the industry. Otherwise, the extent of competitive rivalry in the healthcare lifestyle products industry is high. 4. Overall Five Forces Impact Using the five forces model to analyses the industry, it is increasingly favorable and attractive for potential and new industry players. 5. Resources and Competences Based on the resource-based view of strategy, the competitive advantage and superior performance of an organization is determined by its distinctive abilities (Heartfelt 1984). Strategic capabilities refer to the capabilities of an organization that contribute to its long-term survival which consists of its resources and competences (Mentors 2004), and when resources are deployed efficiently and effectively, it is said to be the firms core competences (Johnson, Whetting and Schools 2011 5. Financial Resource 2012 201 1 (AS million) Growth (%) Sales 602 554 Profit 87 69 +32 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 193,813 73,157 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 201 ,731 According to ISM (201 3), the Group has achieved its third consecutive year f record profit despite a tough economic environment. Isms ability to manage its cash flow has been reflected in the increased of cash and cash equivalents at end of both 2011 and 2012. For its balance sheet, it was evident that ISM has been improving its cash position and paring down its borrowings consistently, due to its strong positive operating cash flows over the years. They had done well in building a strong balance sheet with a net cash position of SASS million (ISM 2013), and showed superior management in its cash flows. 5. Inhuman Resource Johnson, Whetting and Schools (201 1) propose that the efficiency and effectiveness of the people in an organization depend not just on their existence, but on the relationship and cooperation between customers, partners or suppliers. In an attempt to build relationships across valuable networks, ISM signed a cooperation agreement with LEG Electronics Inc to enlarge its presence and market share in South Korea (ISM 2007). The Group has also gone into several partnerships (Figure 2; refer to Appendix 9. 2) whereby ISM can leverage on their nationwide specialty outlets across numerous states. Brand is always foremost in the company and consumers minds; hence, ISM ensures that everyone gets involved to ensure consistency In customers experience with the brand. It achieves this by implementing continuous improvement to keep the skills of its staff updated (Tem portal 2006). . Intangible Resource Hall (1992) argued that a companys reputation is perceived as one of the most significant resources which make the most important contribution to business success. ISM Asia No. 1 is an independent research conducted by Syncopate an international market research company, to determine Saiss most preferred brand of healthy lifes tyle products. The study found ISM to e a leading international brand with a strong presence in its key markets. The value reflected the brands ability to deliver a compelling and consistent experience that was relevant to its customers. Its superior brand image is clearly shown in Figure 3 (refer to Appendix 9. 3). 5. Vern Strategic Capabilities as a Basis of Competitive Advantage A firm achieves sustainable competitive advantage when the implemented value creating strategy is not similar to the strategies of current or potential competitors, and benefits of this strategy are not easily replicated by competitors (Barney 1991). In order to understand sources of sustainable nominative advantage, the value chain of ISM is considered in the diagnosis of its strategic capabilities. . 4. 1 V- value of Strategic Capabilities Considering the primary activity (marketing and sales), and support activities (technology development and human resource management) of ISM value chain in Figure 4 (refer to Appendix 9. 4), these capabilities provide the exploitation of opportunities and neutralist threats. Technology development, such as Isms in-house team enables the Group to enhance its R competencies to provide greater value-add t o its business and greater input to the design of its products. According to COBS (201 0), ISM has been actively adding its product range by renewing its product line by up to 25% every six month to cater to the changing needs of consumers. In addition, Isms message of We focus on attracting and grooming great talent committed to our companys goals (Temporal 2006) has proven that its human resource is seen as providing potential competitive advantage. It supports the notion of Happy staff, happy customers through providing training and development. In terms of marketing and sales, ISM has an extensive point-of-sales network and geographical coverage in their markets (refer to Appendix 9. Whereby consumers are made aware of their products and are able to purchase it. 5. 4. 2 R-rarity of Strategic Capabilities Rare capabilities are those possessed uniquely by one organization or by a few others. ISM has worldwide technology patents that give it advantage. For example, Isms patented Music-Synchronized Massage technology and patented ISM Human-AD mas sage programmer which are designed together with its massage chairs. Andrea and Cobra (1996) argued that rarity provides competitive advantage if it meets customer needs, and are of value to them. The convenience of the mobile app technology on its massage hairs has significantly eased the control and transformed into an intelligent, multi-sensory enjoyment for consumers. In summary, ISM has a number of strategic capabilities that are valuable and rare. However, it is not difficult for competitors to imitate the tangible resources of ISM as these can be acquired or imitated over time, and the risks of its product and service substitution are relatively high given the increasing demand for sophisticated and healthy lifestyle. ISM needs to develop products that are inimitable and non-substitutable to increase its bases of sustainable competitive advantage. 6. Business Strategy There are three generic types Of business strategies; cost-leadership, differentiation and focus strategies, with cost-focus and differentiation-focus strategies as subsets of focus strategy (Johnson, Whetting and Schools 201 1). The strategies that ISM is implementing are identified to be differentiation-focus strategies, which refer to the focus on the specialization of creating valuable good and services to answer specific needs of consumers in order to achieve price premium. MM, being the pioneer in the healthy lifestyle industry, focuses on bringing the lifestyle of well-being to their customers (MUM 2007). As a result, the numbers of ISM outlets have continuously grown in many shopping malls. ISM maintains strong relationships with shopping mall owners such as Capitalist and Nameplate in order to be invited as a tenant in their newly opened malls (COBS 2010). Their continuous expansion plans have evidently shown their focus on bringing the lifestyle of well-being to consumers through extensive presence in most shopping malls. In addition, in comparison to Isms competitors such as TOT Boatyard and Gawk, Isms focus on their customers well-being is their differentiating factor amongst other healthcare products providers. Isms continuous innovation and growth has exemplified their mission of delivering well-being to their customers. It couples innovation with passion to drive steady growths and continuous product launches in order to promote positivist to their customers and providing them with the ultimate product usage experience (ISM 2007). In contrast, TOT Boatyard (2011) focuses on using innovation to produce products at low cost to reach out to consumers with right pricing strategies and Gawk (2007) concentrates on producing quality products. Isms usage of innovation is more inclined to producing valuable products hat cater to the healthcare needs of consumers. Another source of focus differentiation originates from Isms commitment to RD to develop their products. Nations Matrix serves as a good strategic management approach for improving competitiveness (Taylor 2012). With reference to Figure 5 (refer to Appendix 9. 5), Isms incorporation of technology and product development has led to the creation of new products for existing markets. Continuous launches of new products via RD innovations to existing markets serve as a defensive strategy to retain customers (Koch 2008). 7. Suitability of Isms Business Strategy Strategy evaluation is an appraisal of how well a business performs. As the environment changes, companies need to alter their strategies to adapt to the environment in order to prosper (Miller 1988). An external environmental analysis and internal capability evaluation has been carried out to determine Isms strategic position, and the suitability of each strategic choice is evaluated in terms of the environment and its capabilities (Table 1 and 2; refer to Appendix 9. 6 and 9. 7). It is clear that Isms competitive strategy (differentiation focus), strategy direction (product development), and ethos of pursuing strategies (acquisitions and alliances shown in Figure 6; Appendix 9. 8) work together as a package. ISM is in a favorable position within its industry given its first-mover advantage, and its strategic option of product development has proved to provide a basis of competitive advantage by reducing competitive intensity and development of barriers to new entrants. It has leveraged on its in-house RD team which is considered as one Of its strategic capabilities to deliver differentiation benefits as valued by its consumers. In addition, ISM has adapted to its environment by exploiting n the opportunity that consumers are trending towards a healthy and positive lifestyle.

Literary Devices in Pride and Prejudice

Literary Devices in Pride and Prejudice Free Online Research Papers The novel Pride and Prejudice is a satirical tale about courtship in 19th century England that ends in the fulfillment of this proverb. The protagonist of the novel, Elizabeth, and the antagonist of the novel, Mr. Darcy, are unlike in multiple ways, and, although faces with many obstacle and challenges, find that they love each other and that their love is enough to surpass any hindrance seen in the novel. Before the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy has a chance to start, first impressions almost completely destroy obstacle any future they would have together. Elizabeth’s first impression of Darcy is a completely negative one, due to his judgmental description of her upon first seeing her at the ball; â€Å"She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.† (7) Mr. Bingley attempts to make Darcy dance, but Darcy replies that â€Å"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room (7).† In this statement he is referring to Elizabeth’s sister, Jane. The first impression of Elizabeth, and the reader, is that Darcy is arrogant and headstrong. Before these events transpired Elizabeth’s mother, Mrs. Bennett, pointed out Darcy as a candidate for Elizabeth to marry. Elizabeth views Darcy immediately, as shown by this passage, â€Å" his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien; and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year.†(6) Elizabeth will hear none of it, considering the spiteful comment she overheard Darcy making about her previously. This arctic first encounter between Elizabeth and Darcy leaves the reader more than doubtful of anything sparking between the two in the future. In Pride and Prejudice, Miss Bingley presents a unique and almost insurmountable challenge to the union of Darcy and Elizabeth. Because of her close relationship with Mr. Darcy, she is able to affect his thoughts of Elizabeth quite odisiously. She uses character assassination and libel to get what she wants. Miss Bingley views her status as a member of the patrician class as divine right, and she looks down on anyone less fortunate that herself. She contrasts almost perfectly with Mr. Bingley, who is instantly likeable for his ability to be polite and kind to all he meets. Miss Bingley does not stop at character assassination, she continues to attack Elizabeth Bennett in all fashions, For my own part, Miss Bingley rejoined, I must confess that I never could see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive any thing extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether, there is a self-sufficiency without fashion which is intolerable.† (258-259) She sees the Bennetts as inferior due to their social standing as well as Mrs. Bennett’s lack of intelligence. This stated reason is quite ironic, given the almost pathetically obtuse attempts of Miss Bingley to win Darcy’s affection. Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenge Miss Bingley creates for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, their affection for each other is more than sufficient enough to outweigh an old woman’s prejudices. A major obstacle in the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy was Mr. Wickham, who becomes the object of Elizabeth’s affections and she hopes to marry him. He is a very popular man in the English bourgeois, and is described as a â€Å"happy man towards whom almost every female eye turned (74).† He appears in town as a product of his regiment taking up headquarters in the town. Although Wickham can potentially marry any woman he wants, he immediately takes a liking to Elizabeth. Upon first meeting each other, Elizabeth finds that there is an extreme amount of tension between Wickham and Darcy. Wickham tells her that the reason for the coldness is that Darcy and he have a history together. He tells Elizabeth that Wickham was the steward for Darcy’s father. Wickham wanted to join the clergy, and Darcy’s father encouraged him to do so. Upon Darcy’s father’s death, so Wickham said, Darcy took away the money from Wickham and forced him to join the military. He states that the inheritance willed him by Mr. Darcy’s father was not given to him. He says â€Å"A man of honor could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it- or treat it as a merely conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence, in short, anything, or nothing.† (77). Her prejudice towards Darcy colors her lens and she listens to Wickham’s story with not a shade of disbelief. She repeats what she has heard to her sister, Jane, and the way she articulates her observations truly shows how different Elizabeth was than the other girls of her age at the time; â€Å"They have both been deceived; I dare say†¦Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the cause or circumstance which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side.† (82-83) She is not prone to mindless gossip like others, and instead of spinning and interesting tale for her sister, approaches the situation intelligently and thoughtfully. After talking to Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth goes into town, where she runs into Mr. Darcy, who gives her a letter explaining the true nature of his relationship with Mr. Wickham. This letter marks the point in the novel where Elizabeth begins to like Darcy. Darcy tells her â€Å"Of what he has particularly accused me of I am ignorant; but of the truth of what I shall relate I can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity†¦ but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement.† (188-191). Darcy tells the real reason for Wickham’s disinheritance, Wickham engaged in problematic relations with Darcy’s sister. This marks the beginning of the constructive relationship of Darcy and Elizabeth. The wealth of Mr. Darcy proves to be somewhat of a divider between Darcy and Elizabeth. Darcy is known to have, â€Å"having ten thousand a year, (6)†. Elizabeth, in sharp contrast, does not come from a rich family nor will she inherit any of Mr. Bennett’s fortune, because â€Å"Mr. Bennett’s property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation† (18) At the time, the vast difference in family wealth would prove to be a definite stopper on any sort of plan for Elizabeth to be set up with Mr. Darcy for marriage. Darcy seems to be caught up in the ideas of the time; Austen describes him as being very aware of Elizabeth’s inferiorities and flaws. This distinction is mentioned again Darcys letter to Elizabeth when he writes about the failed relationship between his friend Bingley, and Jane, writing â€Å"The situation of your mothe rs family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison of that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly, betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father.† (134) This difference in social class proves to be a reason for why Darcy seemed to try to purposely self-destruct his relationship, as well as a perfect example of the influence English social ideals have on the lives of England’s high society. The final obstacle towards the relationship of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is the aunt of Mr. Darcy, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady de Bourgh is optimistic that Darcy will marry her daughter, â€Å"Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter† (56, 335). Before Elizabeth is even aware of Mr. Darcy’s impending proposal to her, Lady de Bourgh catches wind of the plans and immediately travels to go speak with Elizabeth. Lady de Bourgh says to Elizabeth; â€Å"I was told, that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennett, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood; though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you.† (56, 334) As if to convince Elizabeth of the prenatal bond between Mr. Darcy and her niece, Lady de Bourgh explains to Elizabeth of the family history behind this arranged marriage. â€Å"The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favorite wish of his mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles, we planned the union:† (56, 335-336) Elizabeth, however, decides to choose her own happiness over that of Lady de Bourgh and replies; â€Å"I’m marrying your nephew,† (56, 337). This final step Elizabeth takes proves to overcome the obstruction in the relationship of Elizabeth and Darcy. Again, this is another example of the customs of the time with the interfamily arranged marriages based on social standing and wealth. Jane Austen does an excellent job of writing a novel that not only criticizes social customs and structures, but at the same time spins a beautiful tale of finding love in the most unexpected of places. 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6 New Years Resolutions for the Lazy Professional

6 New Years Resolutions for the Lazy Professional We all get a little lazy sometimes. Or rather, we get a little too comfortable in our jobs, and things start to slide ever so slightly. As you get ready to make your resolutions for the new year, think about doing some super-easy things to start 2017. And think how accomplished you’ll feel when you check them off! 1. Make inroads with one coworker.If you find you’re having lunch with the same peeps every day or you stand awkwardly silent at the copier while another colleague does the same, aim to connect with a  new person. You don’t have to become BFFs, but a little coworker bonding outside your comfort zone is not only good for you, it’s good for workplace morale in general.2. Set a distraction-free hour each day.We’re all champs at multitasking these days. You can run reports while checking voicemail and also checking Facebook. I get it. I do it too. But what if you gave something your whole attention for just one hour? That means no checking F unCelebrityNewz.com, or personal email, or whatever your biggest distraction temptation is. It will still be there when you go back, and you might find that your hour of focus helps you find solutions you might not have seen if you were trying to do four things at once.3. Walk around your office.This one sounds weird, I know. This doesn’t mean â€Å"be a creeper who stands at the edge of someone else’s cubicle.† But every once in a while, take a lap around your office when you have a few spare minutes. The obvious benefit is that it gets you away from your desk for a bit, but it’s also nice to see your colleagues at work. We can get so mired in our own day-to-day stuff that it gets easy to forget that everyone is working toward a common goal. Step back and look at your beehive, and it might re-energize your feelings about your role there. (Or make you want to realize you want to get out and go to a different hive, stat.)4. Check your voicemail.You know, t hat one message that’s been hanging around forever, the one you skipped at the time for whatever reason and is now haunting your phone like Jacob Marley’s ghost? Even if it’s not a relevant to-do, listen to the whole thing, then delete. Satisfying!5. Take down your OOO.Don’t be That Guy who has his â€Å"out of office† message up three days after he got back from vacation. Nothing tells bosses and colleagues â€Å"I don’t want to be here† quite like a zippy â€Å"I’m out!† message when everybody knows you’re sitting at your desk.6. Think about your goals for the year.Don’t write anything down, don’t create a PowerPoint. Just think about what you want to achieve. You can even use part of your distraction-free hour to do this! Of course, at some point you’ll probably need to take concrete steps to make said goals happen, but for now just think about it. You’d be surprised how many people don’t take the time to think through their wants and goals, and that makes it tough when you’re put on the spot when it’s review time, or when you really need to make a career change.You’ve  got this. These are resolutions we can keep even when we’re not feeling like the biggest go-getters.

STRATEGIC SUPPLY MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

STRATEGIC SUPPLY MANAGEMENT - Essay Example The corporation has even created Emirates Engineering department for its strategic SCM structure so that this division can ensure that the operations of the company are effectively managed and the latest IT systems are integrated with precision as well. Hence, Emirates Airline has even capitalised on its value chain framework so that it can always remain ahead of its competitors by providing the customers with excellent quality travelling experience. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction of Supply Chain Management (SCM) 4 Findings and Analysis 5 Brief overview of SCM in Aviation Industry 6 Background of Emirates Airline 8 Detailed analysis of SCM framework at Emirates Airline 9 Â  SCM Network of Emirates Airline 12 Value Chain of Emirates Airline 12 Information Technology (IT) and SCM 13 Challenges encountered by Emirates Airline in SCM 14 Conclusion and Recommendations 15 Appendix I – SCM network of Emirates Airline 17 Appendix II – Va lue Chain framework of Emirates Airline 18 References 19 Introduction of Supply Chain Management (SCM) Globally, it has been observed that the trade barriers have been reduced, free markets have been created due to market liberalisation, financial markets have been integrated on international level and huge level advancements have taken place in the field of technology. As a result, globalisation has created intense competition in various countries and the customers are provided access to a wide range of product and service offerings. One of the most effective developments has been in the field of technology that has minimised the communication and business transaction gaps for the companies that have widespread operations across the world (Bhardwaj & Mitra, 2010). It has been stated by Seghal (2011) that majority of the large corporations such as Unilever, P&G, Colgate-Palmolive, Emirates Airlines, Sony, Apple, Microsoft, LG, Nokia, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and others have expa nded their business operations in international markets. The crucial drivers of their robust expansion strategy are the declining trade barriers, easy movement of capital, people and goods across the countries and the latest IT systems that ensure proper integration of their operations. However, production, logistics and supply chain systems have become highly integrated and the companies are able to properly align their efficient supply chain strategy with the business strategy (Christopher, 2011). At times organisations are faced with unfair payment terms which leads to other problems. One such case is of the construction firm in which the latest payment terms announced by the firm is 65 to 120 days (Gilbert, 2013). These types of payment terms are unfair and can prove to be a major challenge. Supplier payment terms should be feasible and convenient for both the firm and the supplier, working on unfair terms and that too highly difficult terms may cause future work to be halted. E conomic crisis may be present in one region or the other and the economic crisis situation impacts the supply chain activities to a very large extent. The crisis may cause disruptions which may affect the business operations on a long term basis. According to a recent survey, it has been depicted that around 63 percentage of organisations that are considered to be large organisations have undergone supply chain disruptions,. This survey was

LT ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

LT ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the nature of motivation; whether one is born with it or not, and exploring some factors that lead to demotivation of individuals (Ryan, 2012). Motivation is an attribute that a person can have or lack. Basically, some form of motivation is inborn which is refered to intrinsic type of motivation. This type assumes that each and everybody is born with certain aspects of performance. Motivation that a person is born with can be hereditary. People born motivated excel because they do the things they are passionate about. From that point, things take off. On the contrary, not everyone is born motivated or possessing the selfdrive nature. However, the greatest attribute to motivation is one of extrinsic value which results from external factors. This can be referred to as the main argument in motivation. The way a person is brought up determines the character of that individual. It implies that the greatest boost to motivation is inherited from the environment because it offers an opportunity. On other hand, past experiences make people to become sensitive about opportunities and hence they acknowledge and accept them (Ryan, 201 2). On the contrary, people can become demotivated. Sometimes, when an individual lacks to achieve a specific set goal and they had paid full attention into accomplishing it, the result is demotivation. Failure makes some people to give up and lose their motivation. However, failure to some people acts as a form of motivation to work even harder to achieve success. Furthermore, poor performance can lead to demotivation as well as lack of trust say in leadership in a work place (Ryan, 2012). In conclusion, motivation is the desire to achieve while demotivation is the lack of selfdrive nature. Some people can be born with motivation while others cannot. However, the biggest contributor of motivation is learned. On the

Target (TGT) and J.C. Penny (JCP) Research Essay Example for Free

Target (TGT) and J.C. Penny (JCP) Research Essay Over the next couple of months, I will be conducting research on Target (TGT) and J.C. Penny (JCP). The reason for this is so that I may give my insight on which company I feel will be the most desirable one for Celash, Byrne Moovon (CBM). Using detailed financial statements on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as data available on each of the companies web sites, Foundations of Financial Management With Time Value of Money, course book, Interpretation of Financial Statements, and The Value Line Investment Survey, make a recommendation as to which of the two is the most desirable acquisition and at what price. Company Profiles Target has: †¢1,797 stores in the United States †¢124 stores in Canada †¢37 distribution centers †¢361,000 team members worldwide †¢online business at target.com †¢global locations in India and Canada As a publicly-owned, U.S.-based company, Target has a global presence with a headquarters location in India and sourcing offices around the world. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products and rewards programs. (Corporate Information) 1) Overview: Company Overview | | Headquarters: | Minneapolis | NYSE Trade Symbol: | TGT | 2012 Revenue: $73,301Million| Number of Stores: | 1,755 | Number of Associates: | 350,000 | To link to view Target’s 2012 10k annual report is: https://corporate.target.com/_media/TargetCorp/annualreports/content/download/ pdf/Annual-Report.pdf?ext=.pdf . On the report you will be able to see the growth in revenue that Target has obtained within the past 5 years. Below is a copy of the chart. The annual book value per share from 2008-2012 are as follows: The current annual ratios as well as the past years are as follows: The profit margin on sales from 2008-2012 for Target are as follows: J.C. Penny â€Å"J. C. Penney (JCP) is one of the nations major clothing and home furnishing retailers. The company is experiencing a revival towards becoming Americas preferred retail destination for unmatched style, quality and value. Across 1,100 stores and at their web site jcp.com, customers will discover an inspirational shopping environment that features the most sought after collections of private, national and exclusive brands and attractions.†(4) To be America’s shopping destination for discovering great styles at compelling prices is the vision of J.C. Penny. The goals of the company include: To win with their * Customers Build deeper, more enduring customer relationships * Associates Increase associate engagement and retention * Shareholders Deliver industry-leading financial performance Company Overview | | Headquarters: | Plano, TX | NYSE Trade Symbol: | JCP | 2012 Revenue: | 17.26billion | Number of Stores: | 1,108 | Number of Associates: | 150,000 | To link to view J.C. Penny 2012 10k annual report is: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1166126/000116612613000016/jcp-20130202x10k.htm The annual book value per share from 2008-2012 are as follows: The current annual ratios as well as the past years are as follows: The profit margin on sales from 2008-2012 for J.C. Penny are as follows: 20082009201020112012 5.59%3.09%1.43%2.19%-0.88% Here you can also follow this link, http://target.knoji.com/compare-vs/jcpenney/ , to see a comparison chart between target and J.C. Penny. Both Target and J.C. Pennies have similar goals. Throughout the next couple of months I will research these two companies to provide evidence on which company will be the best one to go with. REFERENCES PAGE 1.Stanley B. Block, Geoffrey A. Hirt and Bartley R. Danielson (2011), Foundations of Financial Management With Time Value of Money, McGraw-Hill Irwin, 14th edition. 2.Benjamin Graham and Spencer Meredith. (1998). Interpretation of Financial Statements, Harper Business. 3.http://pressroom.target.com/corporate 4.http://www.jcpenney.net/about-us.aspx 5.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Target_(TGT)/Data/Book_Value_Per_Share/2008 6.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Target_(TGT)/Data/Current_Ratio 7.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Target_(TGT)/Data/Net_Margin/2008?ref=chart 8.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/J.C._Penney_(JCP)/Data/Book_Value_Per_Share 9.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/J.C._Penney_(JCP)/Data/Current_Ratio 10.http://financials.morningstar.com/ratios/r.html?t=JCP

Louis XIV :: essays research papers

Louis XIV Greed is defined in the dictionary as selfish and grasping desire for possession; especially of wealth. It is also described as a noun. This definition can be directly related and best describes Louis XIV, the king of France in the sixteen hundreds. The effects of greed destroying peoples lives can be seen in the beginning of Louis XIV’s reign, during his reign, and after his reign had ended Louis XIV inherited the throne in 1643 when he was only five (Cairns 103). From the moment he entered power and his reign began he had greedy intentions and enormous ideas of divine rule (Cairns 112). In 1661, Louis chief advisor Cardinal Jules Mazarin died and Louis then decided that he would be the only ruler of France (Spielvagel 1). Louis once expressed, â€Å"It is now time that I govern them myself. I request and order you to seal no orders except my command,†¦ I order you not to sign anything, not even a passport†¦ without my command; to render account to me personally each day and to favor no one† (Spielvagel 1). This quote reveals Louis’s desire to have power over everything and control everyone around him. Louis used the sun as his symbol of power. He often quoted, â€Å"I am the state† (Cairns 35). Exposed in this quote is Louis mindset that he had all power. Using the sun as his symbol of power enforced his belief that he was the center of a ll things. Author of â€Å"Court Described by Duc De Saint Simon,† Elena Steingrad, stated the following when referring to King Louis’s life, â€Å"†¦ he compelled his courtiers to live beyond their income, and gradually reduced then to depend on his bounty for the means of subsistence. This was a plague which became a scourge to the whole country†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (4). The quote shows Louis’ greedy intentions, which eventually led to widespread confusion and an economic drop to the country of France (Steingrad 4). Louis XIV in the beginning of his reign was starting to show signs of his enormous, greedy intentions and his belief in divine rule. It was the start of his reign that France began to slowly crumble. In the beginning of Louis XIV’s reign he made an enormous decision, which revealed his greed for his own personal needs. The Palace of Versailles that he had constructed in 1682 is an excellent symbol of Louis over usage of the country’s money on himself.

Strategic Management Process

Organizations develop some form of a strategic management plan to enter, maintain, or continue to enhance their position with other competitors within their industry. The primary goal of any organization is to provide a product or service to produce a profit. Though the objective remains the same regardless of the organization, the strategic management processes may vary. Prior to describing the components of a strategic management process, one must first understand the definition of strategic management.Strategic management is â€Å"a set of managerial decisions and actions that determines the long-run performance of a corporation† (Wheelan & Hunger, 2010). The concept of strategic management allows a company to set goals in order to secure sustainability for the future. There are four steps in a strategic management plan: situation analysis, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy evaluation (Whelan & Hunger, 2010). These steps are performed in this speci fic order when developing a new plan of management.Situation analysis involves reviewing the internal and external environment as well as the organizational framework of a company. When focusing on internal environment of a company one must focus on the different working relationships within the organization. To analyze the external environment would include evaluation of relationships the company has with its customers, suppliers, creditors and competitors. (Coulter, 2005). The second step in strategic management plan is strategy formulation. In this step the strategies for the company are formulated focusing on its strengths.Strategy formulation can be categorized into three organizational levels: operational, competitive and corporate (Coulter, 2005). Strategy implementation is the next step. In this step the strategies that were formulated in the previous step are put into action. This includes development of operating procedures necessary to implement the strategies set forth. To be successful the problems should be prioritized based on the seriousness of the issue and should focus on the important issues first (Coulter, 2005). The final step is strategy evaluation. In this step the entire process is under scrutiny.This includes how the strategy was executed and the effectiveness of it. In this step changes are made as necessary. For example if goals were not met the strategy should be modified (Coulter, 2005). The Internal Revenue Service began using a strategic management plan in 1985. They use the plan to fulfill the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. As part of the strategic management process The IRS plans and budgets, develops measures, implements the plan, and evaluates the results (http://govinfo. library. unt. edu/npr/library/studies/caseirsa. pdf).In conclusion a strategic management plan is a continuous process and is important to the successful future of a company. Strategies will change as objectives and goals change. The use of a strategic management process is important to the sustainability and longevity of a company. References Coulter, M. (2005). Strategic Management in Action. (3rd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. http://govinfo. library. unt. edu/npr/library/studies/caseirsa. pdf Wheelen, T. L. , & Hunger, J. D. , (2010). Concepts in strategic management and business policy (12th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education

The Lost Symbol Chapter 58-61

CHAPTER 58 The coyly nicknamed explosive Key4 had been developed by Special Forces specifically for opening locked doors with minimal collateral damage. Consisting primarily of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine with a diethylhexyl plasticizer, it was essentially a piece of C-4 rolled into paper-thin sheets for insertion into doorjambs. In the case of the library's reading room, the explosive had worked perfectly. Operation leader Agent Turner Simkins stepped over the wreckage of the doors and scanned the massive octagonal room for any signs of movement. Nothing. â€Å"Kill the lights,† Simkins said. A second agent found the wall panel, threw the switches, and plunged the room into darkness. In unison, all four men reached up and yanked down their night-vision headgear, adjusting the goggles over their eyes. They stood motionless, surveying the reading room, which now materialized in shades of luminescent green inside their goggles. The scene remained unchanged. Nobody made a dash for it in the dark. The fugitives were probably unarmed, and yet the field team entered the room with weapons raised. In the darkness, their firearms projected four menacing rods of laser light. The men washed the beams in all directions, across the floor, up the far walls, into the balconies, probing the darkness. Oftentimes, a mere glimpse of a laser-sighted weapon in a darkened room was enough to induce instant surrender. Apparently not tonight. Still no movement. Agent Simkins raised his hand, motioning his team into the space. Silently, the men fanned out. Moving cautiously up the center aisle, Simkins reached up and flipped a switch on his goggles, activating the newest addition to the CIA's arsenal. Thermal imaging had been around for years, but recent advances in miniaturization, differential sensitivity, and dual-source integration had facilitated a new generation of vision enhancing equipment that gave field agents eyesight that bordered on superhuman. We see in the dark. We see through walls. And now . . . we see back in time. Thermal-imaging equipment had become so sensitive to heat differentials that it could detect not only a person's location . . . but their previous locations. The ability to see into the past often proved the most valuable asset of all. And tonight, once again, it proved its worth. Agent Simkins now spied a thermal signature at one of the reading desks. The two wooden chairs luminesced in his goggles, registering a reddish-purple color, indicating those chairs were warmer than the other chairs in the room. The desk lamp's bulb glowed orange. Obviously the two men had been sitting at the desk, but the question now was in which direction they had gone. He found his answer on the central counter that surrounded the large wooden console in the middle of the room. A ghostly handprint, glowing crimson. Weapon raised, Simkins moved toward the octagonal cabinet, training his laser sight across the surface. He circled until he saw an opening in the side of the console. Did they really corner themselves in a cabinet? The agent scanned the trim around the opening and saw another glowing handprint on it. Clearly someone had grabbed the doorjamb as he ducked inside the console. The time for silence was over. â€Å"Thermal signature!† Simkins shouted, pointing at the opening. â€Å"Flanks converge!† His two flanks moved in from opposite sides, effectively surrounding the octagonal console. Simkins moved toward the opening. Still ten feet away, he could see a light source within. â€Å"Light inside the console!† he shouted, hoping the sound of his voice might convince Mr. Bellamy and Mr. Langdon to exit the cabinet with their hands up. Nothing happened. Fine, we'll do this the other way. As Simkins drew closer to the opening, he could hear an unexpected hum rumbling from within. It sounded like machinery. He paused, trying to imagine what could be making such a noise in such a small space. He inched closer, now hearing voices over the sound of machinery. Then, just as he arrived at the opening, the lights inside went out. Thank you, he thought, adjusting his night vision. Advantage, us. Standing at the threshold, he peered through the opening. What lay beyond was unexpected. The console was less of a cabinet than a raised ceiling over a steep set of stairs that descended into a room below. The agent aimed his weapon down the stairs and began descending. The hum of machinery grew louder with every step. What the hell is this place? The room beneath the reading room was a small, industrial-looking space. The hum he heard was indeed machinery, although he was not sure whether it was running because Bellamy and Langdon had activated it, or because it ran around the clock. Either way, it clearly made no difference. The fugitives had left their telltale heat signatures on the room's lone exit–a heavy steel door whose keypad showed four clear fingerprints glowing on the numbers. Around the door, slivers of glowing orange shone beneath the doorjamb, indicating that lights were illuminated on the other side. â€Å"Blow the door,† Simkins said. â€Å"This was their escape route.† It took eight seconds to insert and detonate a sheet of Key4. When the smoke cleared, the field- team agents found themselves peering into a strange underground world known here as â€Å"the stacks.† The Library of Congress had miles and miles of bookshelves, most of them underground. The endless rows of shelves looked like some kind of â€Å"infinity† optical illusion created with mirrors. A sign announced TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT Keep this door closed at all times. Simkins pushed through the mangled doors and felt cool air beyond. He couldn't help but smile. Could this get any easier? Heat signatures in controlled environments showed up like solar flares, and already his goggles revealed a glowing red smear on a banister up ahead, which Bellamy or Langdon had grabbed on to while running past. â€Å"You can run,† he whispered to himself, â€Å"but you can't hide.† As Simkins and his team advanced into the maze of stacks, he realized the playing field was tipped so heavily in his favor that he would not even need his goggles to track his prey. Under normal circumstances, this maze of stacks would have been a respectable hiding place, but the Library of Congress used motion-activated lights to save energy, and the fugitives' escape route was now lit up like a runway. A narrow strip of illumination stretched into the distance, dodging and weaving as it went. All the men ripped off their goggles. Surging ahead on well-trained legs, the field team followed the trail of lights, zigging and zagging through a seemingly endless labyrinth of books. Soon Simkins began seeing lights flickering on in the darkness up ahead. We're gaining. He pushed harder, faster, until he heard footsteps and labored breathing ahead. Then he saw a target. â€Å"I've got visual!† he yelled. The lanky form of Warren Bellamy was apparently bringing up the rear. The primly dressed African American staggered through the stacks, obviously out of breath. It's no use, old man. â€Å"Stop right there, Mr. Bellamy!† Simkins yelled. Bellamy kept running, turning sharp corners, weaving through the rows of books. At every turn, the lights kept coming on over his head. As the team drew within twenty yards, they shouted again to stop, but Bellamy ran on. â€Å"Take him down!† Simkins commanded. The agent carrying the team's nonlethal rifle raised it and fired. The projectile that launched down the aisle and wrapped itself around Bellamy's legs was nicknamed Silly String, but there was nothing silly about it. A military technology invented at Sandia National Laboratories, this nonlethal â€Å"incapacitant† was a thread of gooey polyurethane that turned rock hard on contact, creating a rigid web of plastic across the back of the fugitive's knees. The effect on a running target was that of jamming a stick into the spokes of a moving bike. The man's legs seized midstride, and he pitched forward, crashing to the floor. Bellamy slid another ten feet down a darkened aisle before coming to a stop, the lights above him flickering unceremoniously to life. â€Å"I'll deal with Bellamy,† Simkins shouted. â€Å"You keep going after Langdon! He must be up ahead some–† The team leader stopped, now seeing that the library stacks ahead of Bellamy were all pitch-black. Obviously, there was no one else running in front of Bellamy. He's alone? Bellamy was still on his chest, breathing heavily, his legs and ankles all tangled with hardened plastic. The agent walked over and used his foot to roll the old man over onto his back. â€Å"Where is he?!† the agent demanded. Bellamy's lip was bleeding from the fall. â€Å"Where is who?† Agent Simkins lifted his foot and placed his boot squarely on Bellamy's pristine silk tie. Then he leaned in, applying some pressure. â€Å"Believe me, Mr. Bellamy, you do not want to play this game with me.† CHAPTER 59 Robert Langdon felt like a corpse. He lay supine, hands folded on his chest, in total darkness, trapped in the most confined of spaces. Although Katherine lay nearby in a similar position near his head, Langdon could not see her. He had his eyes closed to prevent himself from catching even a fleeting glimpse of his frightening predicament. The space around him was small. Very small. Sixty seconds ago, with the double doors of the reading room crashing down, he and Katherine had followed Bellamy into the octagonal console, down a steep set of stairs, and into the unexpected space below. Langdon had realized at once where they were. The heart of the library's circulation system. Resembling a small airport baggage distribution center, the circulation room had numerous conveyor belts that angled off in different directions. Because the Library of Congress was housed in three separate buildings, books requested in the reading room often had to be transported great distances by a system of conveyors through a web of underground tunnels. Bellamy immediately crossed the room to a steel door, where he inserted his key card, typed a sequence of buttons, and pushed open the door. The space beyond was dark, but as the door opened, a span of motion-sensor lights flickered to life. When Langdon saw what lay beyond, he realized he was looking at something few people ever saw. The Library of Congress stacks. He felt encouraged by Bellamy's plan. What better place to hide than in a giant labyrinth? Bellamy did not guide them into the stacks, however. Instead, he propped the door open with a book and turned back to face them. â€Å"I had hoped to be able to explain a lot more to you, but we have no time.† He gave Langdon his key card. â€Å"You'll need this.† â€Å"You're not coming with us?† Langdon asked. Bellamy shook his head. â€Å"You'll never make it unless we split up. The most important thing is to keep that pyramid and capstone in safe hands.† Langdon saw no other way out except the stairs back up to the reading room. â€Å"And where are you going?† â€Å"I'll coax them into the stacks away from you,† Bellamy said. â€Å"It's all I can do to help you escape.† Before Langdon could ask where he and Katherine were supposed to go, Bellamy was heaving a large crate of books off one of the conveyors. â€Å"Lie on the belt,† Bellamy said. â€Å"Keep your hands in.† Langdon stared. You cannot be serious! The conveyor belt extended a short distance then disappeared into a dark hole in the wall. The opening looked large enough to permit passage of a crate of books, but not much more. Langdon glanced back longingly at the stacks. â€Å"Forget it,† Bellamy said. â€Å"The motion-sensor lights will make it impossible to hide.† â€Å"Thermal signature!† a voice upstairs shouted. â€Å"Flanks converge!† Katherine apparently had heard all she needed to hear. She climbed onto the conveyor belt with her head only a few feet from the opening in the wall. She crossed her hands over her chest like a mummy in a sarcophagus. Langdon stood frozen. â€Å"Robert,† Bellamy urged, â€Å"if you won't do this for me, do it for Peter.† The voices upstairs sounded closer now. As if in a dream, Langdon moved to the conveyor. He slung his daybag onto the belt and then climbed on, placing his head at Katherine's feet. The hard rubber conveyor felt cold against his back. He stared at the ceiling and felt like a hospital patient preparing for insertion headfirst into an MRI machine. â€Å"Keep your phone on,† Bellamy said. â€Å"Someone will call soon . . . and offer help. Trust him.† Someone will call? Langdon knew that Bellamy had been trying to reach someone with no luck and had left a message earlier. And only moments ago, as they hurried down the spiral staircase, Bellamy had tried one last time and gotten through, speaking very briefly in hushed tones and then hanging up. â€Å"Follow the conveyor to the end,† Bellamy said. â€Å"And jump off quickly before you circle back. Use my key card to get out.† â€Å"Get out of where?!† Langdon demanded. But Bellamy was already pulling levers. All the different conveyors in the room hummed to life. Langdon felt himself jolt into motion, and the ceiling began moving overhead. God save me. As Langdon approached the opening in the wall, he looked back and saw Warren Bellamy race through the doorway into the stacks, closing the door behind him. An instant later, Langdon slid into the darkness, swallowed up by the library . . . just as a glowing red laser dot came dancing down the stairs. CHAPTER 60 The underpaid female security guard from Preferred Security double-checked the Kalorama Heights address on her call sheet. This is it? The gated driveway before her belonged to one of the neighborhood's largest and quietest estates, and so it seemed odd that 911 had just received an urgent call about it. As usual with unconfirmed call-ins, 911 had contacted the local alarm company before bothering the police. The guard often thought the alarm company's motto–â€Å"Your first line of defense†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ could just as easily have been â€Å"False alarms, pranks, lost pets, and complaints from wacky neighbors.† Tonight, as usual, the guard had arrived with no details about the specific concern. Above my pay grade. Her job was simply to show up with her yellow bubble light spinning, assess the property, and report anything unusual. Normally, something innocuous had tripped the house alarm, and she would use her override keys to reset it. This house, however, was silent. No alarm. From the road, everything looked dark and peaceful. The guard buzzed the intercom at the gate, but got no answer. She typed her override code to open the gate and pulled into the driveway. Leaving her engine running and her bubble light spinning, she walked up to the front door and rang the bell. No answer. She saw no lights and no movement. Reluctantly following procedure, she flicked on her flashlight to begin her trek around the house to check the doors and windows for signs of break-in. As she rounded the corner, a black stretch limousine drove past the house, slowing for a moment before continuing on. Rubbernecking neighbors. Bit by bit, she made her way around the house, but saw nothing out of place. The house was bigger than she had imagined, and by the time she reached the backyard, she was shivering from the cold. Obviously there was nobody home. â€Å"Dispatch?† she called in on her radio. â€Å"I'm on the Kalorama Heights call? Owners aren't home. No signs of trouble. Finished the perimeter check. No indication of an intruder. False alarm.† â€Å"Roger that,† the dispatcher replied. â€Å"Have a good night.† The guard put her radio back on her belt and began retracing her steps, eager to get back to the warmth of her vehicle. As she did so, however, she spotted something she had missed earlier–a tiny speck of bluish light on the back of the house. Puzzled, she walked over to it, now seeing the source–a low transom window, apparently to the home's basement. The glass of the window had been blacked out, coated on the inside with an opaque paint. Some kind of darkroom maybe? The bluish glow she had seen was emanating through a tiny spot on the window where the black paint had started to peel. She crouched down, trying to peer through, but she couldn't see much through the tiny opening. She tapped on the glass, wondering if maybe someone was working down there. â€Å"Hello?† she shouted. There was no answer, but as she knocked on the window, the paint chip suddenly detached and fell off, affording her a more complete view. She leaned in, nearly pressing her face to the window as she scanned the basement. Instantly, she wished she hadn't. What in the name of God?! Transfixed, she remained crouched there for a moment, staring in abject horror at the scene before her. Finally, trembling, the guard groped for the radio on her belt. She never found it. A sizzling pair of Taser prongs slammed into the back of her neck, and a searing pain shot through her body. Her muscles seized, and she pitched forward, unable even to close her eyes before her face hit the cold ground. CHAPTER 61 Tonight was not the first time Warren Bellamy had been blindfolded. Like all of his Masonic brothers, he had worn the ritual â€Å"hoodwink† during his ascent to the upper echelons of Masonry. That, however, had taken place among trusted friends. Tonight was different. These rough- handed men had bound him, placed a bag on his head, and were now marching him through the library stacks. The agents had physically threatened Bellamy and demanded to know the whereabouts of Robert Langdon. Knowing his aging body couldn't take much punishment, Bellamy had told his lie quickly. â€Å"Langdon never came down here with me!† he had said, gasping for air. â€Å"I told him to go up to the balcony and hide behind the Moses statue, but I don't know where he is now!† The story apparently had been convincing, because two of the agents had run off in pursuit. Now the remaining two agents were marching him in silence through the stacks. Bellamy's only solace was in knowing Langdon and Katherine were whisking the pyramid off to safety. Soon Langdon would be contacted by a man who could offer sanctuary. Trust him. The man Bellamy had called knew a great deal about the Masonic Pyramid and the secret it held–the location of a hidden spiral staircase that led down into the earth to the hiding place of potent ancient wisdom buried long ago. Bellamy had finally gotten through to the man as they were escaping the reading room, and he felt confident that his short message would be understood perfectly. Now, as he moved in total darkness, Bellamy pictured the stone pyramid and golden capstone in Langdon's bag. It has been many years since those two pieces were in the same room. Bellamy would never forget that painful night. The first of many for Peter. Bellamy had been asked to come to the Solomon estate in Potomac for Zachary Solomon's eighteenth birthday. Zachary, despite being a rebellious child, was a Solomon, which meant tonight, following family tradition, he would receive his inheritance. Bellamy was one of Peter's dearest friends and a trusted Masonic brother, and therefore was asked to attend as a witness. But it was not only the transference of money that Bellamy had been asked to witness. There was far more than money at stake tonight. Bellamy had arrived early and waited, as requested, in Peter's private study. The wonderful old room smelled of leather, wood fires, and loose-leaf tea. Warren was seated when Peter led his son, Zachary, into the room. When the scrawny eighteen-year-old saw Bellamy, he frowned. â€Å"What are you doing here?† â€Å"Bearing witness,† Bellamy offered. â€Å"Happy birthday, Zachary.† The boy mumbled and looked away. â€Å"Sit down, Zach,† Peter said. Zachary sat in the solitary chair facing his father's huge wooden desk. Solomon bolted the study door. Bellamy took a seat off to one side. Solomon addressed Zachary in a serious tone. â€Å"Do you know why you're here?† â€Å"I think so,† Zachary said. Solomon sighed deeply. â€Å"I know you and I have not seen eye to eye for quite some time, Zach. I've done my best to be a good father and to prepare you for this moment.† Zachary said nothing. â€Å"As you know, every Solomon child, upon reaching adulthood, is presented with his or her birthright–a share of the Solomon fortune–which is intended to be a seed . . . a seed for you to nurture, make grow, and use to help nourish mankind.† Solomon walked to a vault in the wall, unlocked it, and removed a large black folder. â€Å"Son, this portfolio contains everything you need to legally transfer your financial inheritance into your own name.† He laid it on the desk. â€Å"The aim is that you use this money to build a life of productivity, prosperity, and philanthropy.† Zachary reached for the folder. â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"Hold on,† his father said, putting his hand on the portfolio. â€Å"There's something else I need to explain.† Zachary shot his father a contemptuous look and slumped back down. â€Å"There are aspects of the Solomon inheritance of which you are not yet aware.† His father was staring straight into Zachary's eyes now. â€Å"You are my firstborn, Zachary, which means you are entitled to a choice.† The teenager sat up, looking intrigued. â€Å"It is a choice that may well determine the direction of your future, and so I urge you to ponder it carefully.† â€Å"What choice?† His father took a deep breath. â€Å"It is the choice . . . between wealth or wisdom.† Zachary gave him a blank stare. â€Å"Wealth or wisdom? I don't get it.† Solomon stood, walking again to the vault, where he pulled out a heavy stone pyramid with Masonic symbols carved into it. Peter heaved the stone onto the desk beside the portfolio. â€Å"This pyramid was created long ago and has been entrusted to our family for generations.† â€Å"A pyramid?† Zachary didn't look very excited. â€Å"Son, this pyramid is a map . . . a map that reveals the location of one of humankind's greatest lost treasures. This map was created so that the treasure could one day be rediscovered.† Peter's voice swelled now with pride. â€Å"And tonight, following tradition, I am able to offer it to you . . . under certain conditions.† Zachary eyed the pyramid suspiciously. â€Å"What's the treasure?† Bellamy could tell that this coarse question was not what Peter had hoped for. Nonetheless, his demeanor remained steady. â€Å"Zachary, it's hard to explain without a lot of background. But this treasure . . . in essence . . . is something we call the Ancient Mysteries.† Zachary laughed, apparently thinking his father was joking. Bellamy could see the melancholy growing now in Peter's eyes. â€Å"This is very difficult for me to describe, Zach. Traditionally, by the time a Solomon is eighteen years of age, he is about to embark on his years of higher education in–â€Å" â€Å"I told you!† Zachary fired back. â€Å"I'm not interested in college!† â€Å"I don't mean college,† his father said, his voice still calm and quiet. â€Å"I'm talking about the brotherhood of Freemasonry. I'm talking about an education in the enduring mysteries of human science. If you had plans to join me within their ranks, you would be on the verge of receiving the education necessary to understand the importance of your decision tonight.† Zachary rolled his eyes. â€Å"Spare me the Masonic lecture again. I know I'm the first Solomon who doesn't want to join. But so what? Don't you get it? I have no interest in playing dress-up with a bunch of old men!† His father was silent for a long time, and Bellamy noticed the fine age lines that had started to appear around Peter's still-youthful eyes. â€Å"Yes, I get it,† Peter finally said. â€Å"Times are different now. I understand that Masonry probably appears strange to you, or maybe even boring. But I want you to know, that doorway will always be open for you should you change your mind.† â€Å"Don't hold your breath,† Zach grumbled. â€Å"That's enough!† Peter snapped, standing up. â€Å"I realize life has been a struggle for you, Zachary, but I am not your only guidepost. There are good men waiting for you, men who will welcome you within the Masonic fold and show you your true potential.† Zachary chuckled and glanced over at Bellamy. â€Å"Is that why you're here, Mr. Bellamy? So you Masons can gang up on me?† Bellamy said nothing, instead directing a respectful gaze back at Peter Solomon–a reminder to Zachary of who held the power in this room. Zachary turned back to his father. â€Å"Zach,† Peter said, â€Å"we're getting nowhere . . . so let me just tell you this. Whether or not you comprehend the responsibility being offered to you tonight, it is my family obligation to present it.† He motioned to the pyramid. â€Å"It is a rare privilege to guard this pyramid. I urge you to consider this opportunity for a few days before making your decision.† â€Å"Opportunity?† Zachary said. â€Å"Babysitting a rock?† â€Å"There are great mysteries in this world, Zach,† Peter said with a sigh. â€Å"Secrets that transcend your wildest imagination. This pyramid protects those secrets. And even more important, there will come a time, probably within your lifetime, when this pyramid will at last be deciphered and its secrets unearthed. It will be a moment of great human transformation . . . and you have a chance to play a role in that moment. I want you to consider it very carefully. Wealth is commonplace, but wisdom is rare.† He motioned to the portfolio and then to the pyramid. â€Å"I beg you to remember that wealth without wisdom can often end in disaster.† Zachary looked like he thought his father was insane. â€Å"Whatever you say, Dad, but there's no way I'm giving up my inheritance for this.† He gestured to the pyramid. Peter folded his hands before him. â€Å"If you choose to accept the responsibility, I will hold your money and the pyramid for you until you have successfully completed your education within the Masons. This will take years, but you will emerge with the maturity to receive both your money and this pyramid. Wealth and wisdom. A potent combination.† Zachary shot up. â€Å"Jesus, Dad! You don't give up, do you? Can't you see that I don't give a damn about the Masons or stone pyramids and ancient mysteries?† He reached down and scooped up the black portfolio, waving it in front of his father's face. â€Å"This is my birthright! The same birthright of the Solomons who came before me! I can't believe you'd try to trick me out of my inheritance with lame stories about ancient treasure maps!† He tucked the portfolio under his arm and marched past Bellamy to the study's patio door. â€Å"Zachary, wait!† His father rushed after him as Zachary stalked out into the night. â€Å"Whatever you do, you can never speak of the pyramid you have seen!† Peter Solomon's voice cracked. â€Å"Not to anyone! Ever!† But Zachary ignored him, disappearing into the night. Peter Solomon's gray eyes were filled with pain as he returned to his desk and sat heavily in his leather chair. After a long silence, he looked up at Bellamy and forced a sad smile. â€Å"That went well.† Bellamy sighed, sharing in Solomon's pain. â€Å"Peter, I don't mean to sound insensitive . . . but . . . do you trust him?† Solomon stared blankly into space. â€Å"I mean . . .† Bellamy pressed, â€Å"not to say anything about the pyramid?† Solomon's face was blank. â€Å"I really don't know what to say, Warren. I'm not sure I even know him anymore.† Bellamy rose and walked slowly back and forth before the large desk. â€Å"Peter, you have followed your family duty, but now, considering what just happened, I think we need to take precautions. I should return the capstone to you so you can find a new home for it. Someone else should watch over it.† â€Å"Why?† Solomon asked. â€Å"If Zachary tells anyone about the pyramid . . . and mentions my being present tonight . . .† â€Å"He knows nothing of the capstone, and he's too immature to know the pyramid has any significance. We don't need a new home for it. I'll keep the pyramid in my vault. And you will keep the capstone wherever you keep it. As we always have.† It was six years later, on Christmas Day, with the family still healing from Zachary's death, that the enormous man claiming to have killed him in prison broke into the Solomon estate. The intruder had come for the pyramid, but he had taken with him only Isabel Solomon's life. Days later, Peter summoned Bellamy to his office. He locked the door and took the pyramid out of his vault, setting it on the desk between them. â€Å"I should have listened to you.† Bellamy knew Peter was racked with guilt over this. â€Å"It wouldn't have mattered.† Solomon drew a tired breath. â€Å"Did you bring the capstone?† Bellamy pulled a small cube-shaped package from his pocket. The faded brown paper was tied with twine and bore a wax seal of Solomon's ring. Bellamy laid the package on the desk, knowing the two halves of the Masonic Pyramid were closer together tonight than they should be. â€Å"Find someone else to watch this. Don't tell me who it is.† Solomon nodded. â€Å"And I know where you can hide the pyramid,† Bellamy said. He told Solomon about the Capitol Building subbasement. â€Å"There's no place in Washington more secure.† Bellamy recalled Solomon liking the idea right away because it felt symbolically apt to hide the pyramid in the symbolic heart of our nation. Typical Solomon, Bellamy had thought. The idealist even in a crisis. Now, ten years later, as Bellamy was being shoved blindly through the Library of Congress, he knew the crisis tonight was far from over. He also now knew whom Solomon had chosen to guard the capstone . . . and he prayed to God that Robert Langdon was up to the job.