Friday, November 29, 2019

Criminal Justice Essays (437 words) - Soviet Films,

Criminal Justice The Ghost and Hermann To develop his theme and address the issue of the reality of the ghost and the ghost information and Hermanns use of that information in The Queen of Spades exemplifies the complexity of Pushkins approach. Hermanns strong passion and fiery imagination and having a tenacity of spirit saved him from the usual errors of youth. Although at heart a gambler, he never took a card in his hand. As he would put it, to sacrifice the essentials of life in he hope of acquiring the luxuries, meanwhile he would sit at the card table with feverish anxiety. The story of the three cards had made a strong impression on his imagination . Hermann wanted the Old Countess to reveal her secret to him. What if she could tell me the names of these three winning cards? he replied. The he thought why not become introduced to her, try to win her favour, perhaps become her lover. In the meantime, many things happen. Three days after what was called a fateful night, the dead Countess funeral was going to be held. All what was going on in his head which kept on repeating: You are the murderer of the old woman! With having little religion belief, he was superstitious. He believed the dead countess could exercise a harmful influence on his life. He wanted to ask her forgiveness. After the funeral, Hermann returned home , he throw himself on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. After being awaken he sat on the bed and thought about the funeral . At that moment, he heard the door open. Hermann heard some footsteps A woman in a white dress entered. He thought it was the nurse, but the woman in white glided across the room and appeared saying, I have come to you against my will, but I have been order to fulfill your request. Three, seven, ace played in that ordered will win for you is what the countess told him. Hermann was only to play one card in twenty-four hours and never play again in his life. The countess told Hermann she would forgive him if he marry Lisaveta Ivanovna. So this what Hermann set out to do. In conclusion of all of this, Three, seven, ace, never left his thought. To the exclusion of others, one thought alone occupied his mind-making use of the secret which had cost him so much. Herman has simply paid the cost in the most dramatic way. Social Issues

Monday, November 25, 2019

Many Types of Drop-In Fuels

Many Types of Drop-In Fuels These days, it’s hard to find an organic material that isn’t being positioned as the next great alternative energy source. Rising to the top of the list are biofuels known as so-called â€Å"drop in† fuels – those renewable sources that can be used without major investment in infrastructure in the U.S. where storage and distribution has long catered to petroleum. That current investment in infrastructure isn’t small potatoes. There is about $7 billion in pipeline expenditures alone each and every year. Defining Drop-in Fuels What defines a drop-in fuel? The alternative fuels industry itself isn’t exactly clear, with some defining it broadly to mean any renewable fuel making use of at least some of the costly existing petroleum infrastructure. Others have taken a more narrowed approach. One of the most popular definitions is that drop-in fuels are those renewable fuels which can be blended with petroleum products, such as gasoline, and utilized in the current infrastructure of pumps, pipelines and other existing equipment.    Under such a definition, a biofuel would require some percentage of gasoline blender , derived from unique gasoline stocks, to form the fuel’s base. Examples of drop-in fuels defined in this way include the terpenes, butanol and isoprene, among other. Often, the technology is applied to diesel fuel, forming a biodiesel, rather than to gasoline. There are even some next-generation biofuels proponents who are developing mixtures of chemicals to form a biofuel without the gasoline or diesel base. Algae Most Common Drop-in Fuel With well over 50 companies investing in the development of algae as a biofuel, the little green plant reigns supreme among drop-in fuels. Yet, despite this general interest, most biofuels experts agree that at least another decade of research and technological breakthroughs will be necessary before this drop-in fuel is deemed commercially viable. That’s a long- and costly- trail ahead. As with most drop-in fuels, the challenges come in moving the technology from the lab to full-scale commercial production. An additional challenge with algae specifically has been the wide variance among algae and the extensive processing necessary. Butanol Also Sees Growth But algae isn’t the only show in town. Last year, a leading biobutanol company, Gevo, announced plans to acquire ethanol facilities in the Midwest and convert them to commercial production of the drop-in fuel isobutanol, also known as isobutyl alcohol.    The move was seen by industry players as a step forward in the development of butanol as an alternative drop-in fuel, with the company hoping to begin isobutanol production by 2012. Although able to make use of existing infrastructure, unlike algae, there is some concern over potential safety threats. Vapors can travel long distances and collect in low-lying areas to form an explosion hazard. However, its proponents are quick to point out the biofuel’s many fuel and chemical applications make it an attractive venture. Big player DuPont has also tested the waters of biobutanol as a drop-in fuel and plans to likewise rely on existing under-utilized ethanol capacity and conventional feedstocks as it gets its operations off the ground. The investment to retrofit existing ethanol facilities is more economical than building new structures and require only minor changes to the fermentation and distillation processes. Broadening Portfolios DuPont says it plans to follow a multi-step approach to drop-in fuel development, first focusing on n-butyl alcohol and conventional feedstocks before moving on to other drop-in fuels like isobutanol as well as non-feed crops, such as cellulosic feedstocks.    Yet another company, ButylFuel, LLC, has gone on record as having said it has now developed fermentation-derived biobutanol at a cost that is competitive with petroleum products. Its drop-in fuel can be blended at a variety of percentages with gasoline or diesel fuels. How competitive? The company claims it can produce its drop-in fuel from corn for about $1.20 per gallon. Like algae players who are benefiting not only from algae as a drop-in fuel, but from the many byproducts as well, research and development in other drop-in fuels sectors are looking at diverse portfolios of products, causing some to characterize this next generation of alternative fuels as a means to produce hydrocarbon blend stock that can have a multitude of applications.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Decisions in Paradise Part II Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Decisions in Paradise Part II - Research Paper Example The current investigation looks at applications and solutions in reference to the case, focusing on specific steps in the Step- ladder method of decision-making. The situation we face in the organization, with my partners, is one in which the company must be careful about its expansion into Kava. Since our company is considering Kava seriously as a location of interest and heightened presence, â€Å"That greater presence could take various forms, based on what’s good for our company and what’s good for the people of Kava. You and I get the chance to analyze, synthesize, and prescribe regarding that decision† (Case, 2009). It is important to remember that what we are doing is going into a new territory. We need to leave some of our assumptions about dominance and leadership behind, and be more collaborative, if we are going to be respected in this new territory. The Step Ladder method of decision-making can help us in Kava, because it equalizes decisions and makes sure that there is full contribution and teamwork among interested parties. â€Å"This results in a wider variety of ideas, it prevents people from "hiding" within the group, and it helps people avoid being "stepped on" or overpowered by stronger, louder group members† (Stepladder, 2009). One of the main problems addressed in the proposed expansion of our company, is that of seeing how the Step- ladder method affects decision-making in organizations. Leaders can creatively help along the team dynamic by making decisions, in defining what they do. There may be a period of quality assessment in which management leaders may discuss various ways in which to help team players feel an increasing sense of motivation and the drive to succeed in a positive context by helping leaders with feedback and taking the initiative to present new ideas. The Stepladder method stresses that a r elaxed and balanced atmosphere is

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Paying for Bone Marrow Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paying for Bone Marrow - Essay Example This is mainly due to ethical reasons as ratifying it would cause many unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of this by finding ways of illegally harvesting organs from perfectly healthy people. The present reality is that there are many patients who could benefit from bone marrow transplants and who may end up dying of their ailments before they can find suitable donors. Most of these individuals are from ethnic minorities. There are some in the medical community who feel that making it possible for people to benefit financially from donating their bone marrow will make more citizens consider the possibility of becoming donors. This would also increase the possibilities of patients being matched with tested donors and create a situation in which the donor and recipient benefit from the operation. This disables the black market which trades on body organs and basically supports a situation in which the poor are pressured to donate their organs. Moreover, this could create a situation where fewer people consider the possibility of contributing their bone marrow as a selfless act because they will feel that it has been commercialised and so is more available to patients from all social classes. Making it possible for people to pay for bone marrow would also transform human beings into commodities that can be used for business practices. Even though it would create a situation in which the bone marrow trading operations of the black market cease to exist, it would also cause there to be more pressure on poor people to combat their present situations by selling their bone marrow. According to Tilney, it could also cause a situation in which human beings are bred for the specific purpose of using their organs for trade (Tilney, 47). It has been argued that there are many nations in which poor people are paid for donating their blood on a regular basis; and that selling the bone marrow

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Difference between Statutory and Common Law Offences Essay

The Difference between Statutory and Common Law Offences - Essay Example The essay "The Difference between Statutory and Common Law Offences" discusses the aspects of the difference between statutory and common law offenses. It has elaborated on how the latter has been created and how they can change. It has given a layman’s meaning to precedent and other legal terms important in the context of criminal and civil laws.Common law is the principles of law applied by the royal court's common practices and customs in England. Statutory laws, on the other hand, are laws governed by statute or acts of the legislature. The former is developed over a long period of time which derives its authorities solely from the usage and custom in England. The latter follows a public process or brought into effect when an Act of Parliament gives authority or approval for it to be made. In addition, it has recognized offenses such as abduction, arson, assault, bigamy, contempt of court, obstructing the course of justice, extortion, forgery, fraud, high treason, murder a nd much more. Furthermore, it has attributed greatly to statutory law. Therefore, this law is important in any legal system because it is made by people who are representatives of the people. Some first English law examples are Statute of Pardons 1504, Statute of Proclamations 1539. Today, they are more known as acts example Military Lands Act 1892 UK. In reiterating the above, common law crimes were created from what English society considered as morally wrong to their practices and customs.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Impact of Environmental Changes

Impact of Environmental Changes All through written history people have utilized their surroundings to enhance the path in which they experience their regular day to day existences. In a brief timeframe traverse, in respect to the age of the earth, innovation has progressed at mind boggling rate. With the mind boggling headway of innovation more assets are being utilized to make a domain that permits society to work and develop. Individuals in a created and innovatively propelled society are living longer and more advantageous lives. Lamentably this is expanding the number of inhabitants on the planet; as the demise rate diminishes and the richness rate far and wide keeps on expanding. In the public eyes mission to wind up distinctly additionally created, normal assets are being exhausted at a wild rate that might be difficult to escape from. People have disturbed the adjust that is fundamental forever. People have been exploiting the assets that have been given. With the constantly expanding populace society will turn out to be more needy of the assets that the earth wont have the capacity to give one day. Water is the reason forever, however the earth just gives a little measure of new water. This water is being utilized as a part of plenitude for pointless utilities. A significant part of the new water is additionally being dirtied as processing plants discard chemicals and rubbish in and around new water supplies. Also, horticulture is a need that individuals over the world underestimate. All of the fruitful land the world over has been utilized, making issues for future nourishment utilization. Vitality is fundamental in building up a maintainable society. Oil is being utilized to make a large portion of the worlds vitality, yet it is basic to change to new techniques as oil keeps on being exhausted. Creating and changing the routes in which society capacities is basic to build up a maintainable earth that eras will have the capacity to possess. The surface of the earth is secured basically of water; just about 70% of the planet is canvassed in water. Inside that 70% on two and half percent is new water while the other ninety seven and a half percent is undrinkable salt water. About 70% of the new water is caught in ice tops difficult to reach to people. Roughly just a single percent of the worlds crisp water is promptly accessible, being found in lakes, waterways, stores and underground sources that consider simple and reasonable get to. There is just a little measure of new water that is accessible to people, which is being utilized at a rate that is not reasonable for the measure of individuals on this planet. The water supply in nations everywhere throughout the world is low. In numerous underdeveloped nations, there is for all intents and purposes no foundation to bolster the number of inhabitants in the nation. They are not ready to deliver a feasible approach to give water to subjects. The water that is accessible all through the world is likewise being contaminated on an unfathomable scale. Manufacturing plants in less created nations dont continually taking after all wellbeing directions. A lot of contamination from these production lines are being dumped into adjacent streams and lakes as it appears like a simple answer for undesirable chemicals and waste. This does not really just occur in underdeveloped nations, it happens everywhere throughout the world and it is turning into a gigantic issue that wont not have an answer in a couple of years chance. There is just a little measure of consumable water on the planet and if the activities of mankind proceed with, it will turn out to be progressively hard to invert these terrible results. Monstrous measures of eco frameworks are enduring because of the contamination that goes into the water every last day. Humankind must change to guarantee that new water is accessible for different eras to come. Water must be a maintainable asset with the end goal for humankind to work appropriately. In the momentum circumstance, the new water asset will be expended in a brief timeframe. It will turn out to be progressively hard to roll out improvements after this asset is exhausted, that is the reason changes must be made soon with a specific end goal to guarantee a fruitful future. The populace is developing at a rate that will make it hard to supply nourishment to individuals over the earth. Over the earth millions are malnourished because of the way that nations dont have arrive or ripe land to develop sustenance to bolster their kin. With the development of the populace more land will be utilized to construct homes to oblige. Today the greater part of the fruitful land is as of now being used to develop nourishment. A few nations have been acquiring land from different nations that have a wealth of land however they themselves cant accommodate their own kin. Horticulture is a standout amongst the most imperative variables that will figure out whether the earth will be economical for future eras to possess. It is vital that humankind utilizes their assets appropriately and proficiently to guarantee a future for various eras to come. One of the arrangements that have emerged is the utilization of indoor yield creation which would take into account most extreme space productivity. Indoor nourishment creation would take into consideration various floors to develop crops while as yet keeping up the ordinary size of a ranchers field. Fly over Holland and youll wind up looking down on an ocean of glass; here, hydroponic nurseries represent 50 percent of the estimation of all leafy foods created in the nation a reasonable reaction to soil exhaustion, sickness and salinization(Riley, Tess). The procedure of indoor cultivating diminishes the plants powerlessness to soil corruption and sickness. In a perfect world through this strategy it gets to be distinctly more straightforward in the methods for water system. Funnels are keep running all through the building permitting sprinklers to water the planets at whatever time of the day. This is the most conceivable answer for the farming emergency. It will be troublesome for the world to proceed down the way it is heading. Contamination and over populace will keep on affecting how farming will be se en throughout the following decade. New arrangements will turn out to be progressively looked for after to help this worldwide emergency. Building up a supportable approach to homestead will be of the up generally vital. Indoor cultivating is just a little bit of the perplex to making a feasible rural base for humankind. In this day and age, vitality has driven mankind to the point where it is needy for that of the littlest undertakings. It is hard to think back about what the world would resemble without the utilization of machines that change over vitality into power. Oil, since its disclosure has been one of the, if not the most critical substance on the planet. It is utilized as a part of nearly everything; from paint to garments it has touched humankind in an extremely solid manner. Be that as it may, oil is not a practical asset. It is as of now running its way toward consumption. At the appropriate time there will be no more oil on the planet. Oil contains a monstrous measure of vitality that is outfit and utilized for the creation of power. Over portion of the worlds power is made using oil. It will be hard to discover a swap for this asset. As oil is being drained the world must swing to different wellsprings of vitality that will consider manageability. Elective techniques for delivering po wer incorporate sunlight based and twist however current option vitality sources at present just supply 20% of the worlds power. These option strategies must be thought to be the fate of saddling vitality once the oil saves have dried totally. These techniques do take a considerable measure of space to create power productively, however it might be a value that will be paid soon. Making a manageable approach to deliver vitality and power is vital for future era to endeavor like current society has. Vitality objectives without bounds are based around the procedure of combination responses. On the off chance that researchers and specialists can maintain a combination response and tackle the vitality applied by the response then the vitality issues of the world would be unraveled. It is fundamental that mankind keeps on creating and investigate better approaches to make supportable vitality assets. It is basic that society changes the way it works as not all assets later on will be ava ilable to human. Change must be acquired now request to give a manageable society to future eras of mankind. On the in spite of a few convictions, the world is not in a supportable state for future eras to possess. Todays general public is on a course that wont end well. It is critical for society to change their way towards feasible advancement that would permit future eras to prosper. Flow water circumstances ought to confine the use of specific undertakings to help save what crisp water is accessible to us. Water is basic to all life, and as production lines keep on polluting in what minimal new water is accessible it apparently diminishes a manageable lifestyle for all. The headway in the field of horticulture is critical for mankind to survive. With the greater part of the prolific soil as of now being utilized it is vital to swing to different strategies to make a yearly supportable approach to create nourishment. Indoor offices will be depended vigorously upon later on for the generation of the universes nourishment supply. Using customary oil, the world has turned out to be reliant on this substance. Elective vitality is the method for whats to come. One day it should supplant oil since it is a reasonable method for creating power. It is critical that mankind soon perceive how life cant proceed down its present way. Better than ever thoughts must be intended to make a reasonable domain that will take into account future era to thrive and additionally this era has.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

War and Deception - President George Bush and President Lyndon Johnson

The responsibilities of a presidential administration to the United States should be easily defined, but in many instances have come to be uncertain. There are two wars over the last century that have compromised the American reputation, as well as the integrity of our people. On these two occasions the intentions of our president have been something different than publicized to the country. The United States as a whole was deceived by two particular leaders and their administration. Through propaganda, selective speech, and exaggerated evidence, Presidents Lyndon Johnson and George W. Bush manipulated the support of the nation for their bold military actions and personal agendas. In August of 1964 there was an alleged attack by North Vietnamese torpedo boats against the United States navy while they were stationed in the Tonkin Gulf reporting intelligence information to South Vietnam. This attack was said to have occurred with no provocation from the United States. President Lyndon Johnson and his advisers decided upon immediate retaliation with air attacks. Johnson went further in asking Congress to pass a resolution that would authorize further military action. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was passed by Congress on August seventh. This has been described by historians as a â€Å"blank check† for the Johnson and Nixon administrations (Nelson, 452). It gave the president great authority over decisions made about the war in Vietnam. Both Johnson and Nixon cited the Tonkin Gulf Resolution many times during their terms to justify further military action in Southeast Asia. In 1968, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee performed investigations that revealed that Johnson had been deceptive in gaining the support of Congress. Records and testimonies showed that the U.S. ship attacked that August day in 1964 was actually in North Vietnamese territory gathering sensitive information. It was also revealed that the administration was aware that an attack was possible while in these waters (Nelson, 452). There were also further revelations of the deception of President Johnson. In 1995, Vo Nguyen Giap, a retired Vietnamese general met with former Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara. In this meeting, Giap repeatedly denied that the Tonkin Gulf attack had ever happened. Also, in 2001, a taped conversation between Lyndon Johnson and McNamara exposed Johnson’s o... ...nd lose respect for the United States. These actions have caused us to look like power hungry, arrogant intruders around the world. The deception of the government needs to be terminated. The foreign policy and actions of the United States needs to be made public. Citizens need to be made aware of the government’s intentions, so as to create a wider support group or to give us the right to protest and stop actions they do not agree with. Work Cited Bunch, William. â€Å"Invading Iraq not a new idea for Bush clique.† Philly Daily News. 27 January 2003. Davidson, Kenneth. â€Å"The Real Reasons America is Invading Iraq.† The Age. 20 March 2003. Ellsburg, Daniel. Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers. New York: Viking Penguin, 2002. Martin, Patrick. â€Å"What happened to Iraq’s ‘weapons of mass destruction’?† International Committee of the Fourth International. 22 April 2003. Nelson, Michael. The Presidency A to Z. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1998. Scheer, Christopher. â€Å"Ten Appalling Lies We Were Told About Iraq.† Alternet. 27 June 2003. â€Å"Weapons of Mass Destruction: Who Said What When.† Counter Punch. 29 May 2003.

Monday, November 11, 2019

The Lost Symbol Chapter 129-131

CHAPTER 129 Robert Langdon stood mesmerized at the glass portal, absorbing the power of the landscape below him. Having ascended unknowingly hundreds of feet into the air, he was now admiring one of the most spectacular vistas he had ever seen. The shining dome of the U.S. Capitol rose like a mountain at the east end of the National Mall. On either side of the building, two parallel lines of light stretched toward him . . . the illuminated facades of the Smithsonian museums . . . beacons of art, history, science, culture. Langdon now realized to his astonishment that much of what Peter had declared to be true . . . was in fact true. There is indeed a winding staircase . . . descending hundreds of feet beneath a massive stone. The huge capstone of this obelisk sat directly over his head, and Langdon now recalled a forgotten bit of trivia that seemed to have eerie relevance: the capstone of the Washington Monument weighed precisely thirty-three hundred pounds. Again, the number 33. More startling, however, was the knowledge that this capstone's ultimate peak, the zenith of this obelisk, was crowned by a tiny, polished tip of aluminum–a metal as precious as gold in its day. The shining apex of the Washington Monument was only about a foot tall, the same size as the Masonic Pyramid. Incredibly, this small metal pyramid bore a famous engraving–Laus Deo– and Langdon suddenly understood. This is the true message of the base of the stone pyramid. The seven symbols are a transliteration! The simplest of ciphers. The symbols are letters. The stonemason's square–L The element gold–AU The Greek Sigma–S The Greek Delta–D Alchemical mercury–E The Ouroboros–O â€Å"Laus Deo,† Langdon whispered. The well-known Latin phrase–meaning â€Å"praise God†Ã¢â‚¬â€œwas inscribed on the tip of the Washington Monument in script letters only one inch tall. On full display . . . and yet invisible to all. Laus Deo. â€Å"Praise God,† Peter said behind him, flipping on the soft lighting in the chamber. â€Å"The Masonic Pyramid's final code.† Langdon turned. His friend was grinning broadly, and Langdon recalled that Peter had actually spoken the words â€Å"praise God† earlier inside the Masonic library. And I still missed it. Langdon felt a chill to realize how apt it was that the legendary Masonic Pyramid had guided him here . . . to America's great obelisk–the symbol of ancient mystical wisdom–rising toward the heavens at the heart of a nation. In a state of wonder, Langdon began moving counterclockwise around the perimeter of the tiny square room, arriving now at another viewing window. North. Through this northward-facing window, Langdon gazed down at the familiar silhouette of the White House directly in front of him. He raised his eyes to the horizon, where the straight line of Sixteenth Street ran due north toward the House of the Temple. I am due south of Heredom. He continued around the perimeter to the next window. Looking west, Langdon's eyes traced the long rectangle of the reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial, its classical Greek architecture inspired by the Parthenon in Athens, Temple to Athena–goddess of heroic undertakings. Annuit coeptis, Langdon thought. God favors our undertaking. Continuing to the final window, Langdon gazed southward across the dark waters of the Tidal Basin, where the Jefferson Memorial shone brightly in the night. The gently sloping cupola, Langdon knew, was modeled after the Pantheon, the original home to the great Roman gods of mythology. Having looked in all four directions, Langdon now thought about the aerial photos he had seen of the National Mall–her four arms outstretched from the Washington Monument toward the cardinal points of the compass. I am standing at the crossroads of America. Langdon continued back around to where Peter was standing. His mentor was beaming. â€Å"Well, Robert, this is it. The Lost Word. This is where it's buried. The Masonic Pyramid led us here.† Langdon did a double take. He had all but forgotten about the Lost Word. â€Å"Robert, I know of nobody more trustworthy than you. And after a night like tonight, I believe you deserve to know what this is all about. As promised in legend, the Lost Word is indeed buried at the bottom of a winding staircase.† He motioned to the mouth of the monument's long stairwell. Langdon had finally started to get his feet back under him, but now he was puzzled. Peter quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object. â€Å"Do you remember this?† Langdon took the cube-shaped box that Peter had entrusted to him long ago. â€Å"Yes . . . but I'm afraid I didn't do a very good job of protecting it.† Solomon chuckled. â€Å"Perhaps the time had come for it to see the light of day.† Langdon eyed the stone cube, wondering why Peter had just handed it to him. â€Å"What does this look like to you?† Peter asked. Langdon eyed the 1514 and recalled his first impression when Katherine had unwrapped the package. â€Å"A cornerstone.† â€Å"Exactly,† Peter replied. â€Å"Now, there are a few things you might not know about cornerstones. First, the concept of laying a cornerstone comes from the Old Testament.† Langdon nodded. â€Å"The Book of Psalms.† â€Å"Correct. And a true cornerstone is always buried beneath the ground–symbolizing the building's initial step upward out of the earth toward the heavenly light.† Langdon glanced out at the Capitol, recalling that its cornerstone was buried so deep in the foundation that, to this day, excavations had been unable to find it. â€Å"And finally,† Solomon said, â€Å"like the stone box in your hand, many cornerstones are little vaults . . . and have hollow cavities so that they can hold buried treasures . . . talismans, if you will– symbols of hope for the future of the building about to be erected.† Langdon was well aware of this tradition, too. Even today, Masons laid cornerstones in which they sealed meaningful objects–time capsules, photos, proclamations, even the ashes of important people. â€Å"My purpose in telling you this,† Solomon said, glancing over at the stairwell, â€Å"should be clear.† â€Å"You think the Lost Word is buried in the cornerstone of the Washington Monument?† â€Å"I don't think, Robert. I know. The Lost Word was buried in the cornerstone of this monument on July 4, 1848, in a full Masonic ritual.† Langdon stared at him. â€Å"Our Masonic forefathers buried a word?!† Peter nodded. â€Å"They did indeed. They understood the true power of what they were burying.† All night, Langdon had been trying to wrap his mind around sprawling, ethereal concepts . . . the Ancient Mysteries, the Lost Word, the Secrets of the Ages. He wanted something solid, and despite Peter's claims that the key to it all was buried in a cornerstone 555 feet beneath him, Langdon was having a hard time accepting it. People study the mysteries for entire lifetimes and are still unable to access the power allegedly hidden there. Langdon flashed on Durer's Melencolia I–the image of the dejected Adept, surrounded by the tools of his failed efforts to unveil the mystical secrets of alchemy. If the secrets can actually be unlocked, they will not be found in one place! Any answer, Langdon had always believed, was spread across the world in thousands of volumes . . . encoded into writings of Pythagoras, Hermes, Heraclitus, Paracelsus, and hundreds of others. The answer was found in dusty, forgotten tomes on alchemy, mysticism, magic, and philosophy. The answer was hidden in the ancient library of Alexandria, the clay tablets of Sumer, and the hieroglyphs of Egypt. â€Å"Peter, I'm sorry,† Langdon said quietly, shaking his head. â€Å"To understand the Ancient Mysteries is a lifelong process. I can't imagine how the key could possibly rest within a single word.† Peter placed a hand on Langdon's shoulder. â€Å"Robert, the Lost Word is not a `word.'† He gave a sage smile. â€Å"We only call it the `Word' because that's what the ancients called it . . . in the beginning.† CHAPTER 130 In the beginning was the Word. Dean Galloway knelt at the Great Crossing of the National Cathedral and prayed for America. He prayed that his beloved country would soon come to grasp the true power of the Word–the recorded collection of the written wisdom of all the ancient masters–the spiritual truths taught by the great sages. History had blessed mankind with the wisest of teachers, profoundly enlightened souls whose understanding of the spiritual and mental mysteries exceeded all understanding. The precious words of these Adepts–Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Zoroaster, and countless others–had been transmitted through history in the oldest and most precious of vessels. Books. Every culture on earth had its own sacred book–its own Word–each one different and yet each one the same. For Christians, the Word was the Bible, for Muslims the Koran, for Jews the Torah, for Hindus the Vedas, and on and on it went. The Word shall light the way. For America's Masonic forefathers, the Word had been the Bible. And yet few people in history have understood its true message. Tonight, as Galloway knelt alone within the great cathedral, he placed his hands upon the Word–a well-worn copy of his own Masonic Bible. This treasured book, like all Masonic Bibles, contained the Old Testament, the New Testament, and a treasure trove of Masonic philosophical writings. Although Galloway's eyes could no longer read the text, he knew the preface by heart. Its glorious message had been read by millions of his brethren in countless languages around the world. The text read: TIME IS A RIVER . . . AND BOOKS ARE BOATS. MANY VOLUMES START DOWN THAT STREAM, ONLY TO BE WRECKED AND LOST BEYOND RECALL IN ITS SANDS. ONLY A FEW, A VERY FEW, ENDURE THE TESTINGS OF TIME AND LIVE TO BLESS THE AGES FOLLOWING. There is a reason these volumes survived, while others vanished. As a scholar of faith, Dean Galloway had always found it astonishing that the ancient spiritual texts–the most studied books on earth–were, in fact, the least understood. Concealed within those pages, there hides a wondrous secret. One day soon the light would dawn, and mankind would finally begin to grasp the simple, transformative truth of the ancient teachings . . . and take a quantum leap forward in understanding his own magnificent nature. CHAPTER 131 The winding staircase that descends the spine of the Washington Monument consists of 896 stone steps that spiral around an open elevator shaft. Langdon and Solomon were making their way down, Langdon still grappling with the startling fact that Peter had shared with him only moments ago: Robert, buried within the hollow cornerstone of this monument, our forefathers placed a single copy of the Word–the Bible–which waits in darkness at the foot of this staircase. As they descended, Peter suddenly stopped on a landing and swung his flashlight beam to illuminate a large stone medallion embedded in the wall. What in the world?! Langdon jumped when he saw the carving. The medallion depicted a frightening cloaked figure holding a scythe and kneeling beside an hourglass. The figure's arm was raised, and his index finger was extended, pointing directly at a large open Bible, as if to say: â€Å"The answer is in there!† Langdon stared at the carving and then turned to Peter. His mentor's eyes shone with mystery. â€Å"I'd like you to consider something, Robert.† His voice echoed down the empty stairwell. â€Å"Why do you think the Bible has survived thousands of years of tumultuous history? Why is it still here? Is it because its stories are such compelling reading? Of course not . . . but there is a reason. There is a reason Christian monks spend lifetimes attempting to decipher the Bible. There is a reason that Jewish mystics and Kabbalists pore over the Old Testament. And that reason, Robert, is that there exist powerful secrets hidden in the pages of this ancient book . . . a vast collection of untapped wisdom waiting to be unveiled.† Langdon was no stranger to the theory that the Scriptures contained a hidden layer of meaning, a concealed message that was veiled in allegory, symbolism, and parable. â€Å"The prophets warn us,† Peter continued, â€Å"that the language used to share their secret mysteries is a cryptic one. The Gospel of Mark tells us, `Unto you is given to know the mystery . . . but it will be told in parable.' Proverbs cautions that the sayings of the wise are `riddles,' while Corinthians talks of `hidden wisdom.' The Gospel of John forewarns: `I will speak to you in parable . . . and use dark sayings.' â€Å" Dark sayings, Langdon mused, knowing this strange phrase made numerous odd appearances in Proverbs as well as in Psalm 78. I will open my mouth in a parable and utter dark sayings of old. The concept of a â€Å"dark saying,† Langdon had learned, did not mean that the saying was â€Å"evil† but rather that its true meaning was shadowed or obscured from the light. â€Å"And if you have any doubts,† Peter added, â€Å"Corinthians overtly tells us that the parables have two layers of meaning: `milk for babes and meat for men'–where the milk is a watered-down reading for infantile minds, and the meat is the true message, accessible only to mature minds.† Peter raised the flashlight, again illuminating the carving of the cloaked figure pointing intently at the Bible. â€Å"I know you are a skeptic, Robert, but consider this. If the Bible does not contain hidden meaning, then why have so many of history's finest minds–including brilliant scientists at the Royal Society–become so obsessed with studying it? Sir Isaac Newton wrote more than a million words attempting to decipher the true meaning of the Scripture, including a 1704 manuscript that claimed he had extracted hidden scientific information from the Bible!† Langdon knew this was true. â€Å"And Sir Francis Bacon,† Peter continued, â€Å"the luminary hired by King James to literally create the authorized King James Bible, became so utterly convinced that the Bible contained cryptic meaning that he wrote in his own codes, which are still studied today! Of course, as you know, Bacon was a Rosicrucian and penned The Wisdom of the Ancients.† Peter smiled. â€Å"Even the iconoclastic poet William Blake hinted that we should read between the lines.† Langdon was familiar with the verse: BOTH READ THE BIBLE DAY AND NIGHT, BUT THOU READ BLACK WHERE I READ WHITE. â€Å"And it wasn't just the European luminaries,† Peter continued, descending faster now. â€Å"It was here, Robert, at the very core of this young American nation, that our brightest forefathers–John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine–all warned of the profound dangers of interpreting the Bible literally. In fact, Thomas Jefferson was so convinced the Bible's true message was hidden that he literally cut up the pages and reedited the book, attempting, in his words, `to do away with the artificial scaffolding and restore the genuine doctrines.' â€Å" Langdon was well aware of this strange fact. The Jeffersonian Bible was still in print today and included many of his controversial revisions, among them the removal of the virgin birth and the resurrection. Incredibly, the Jeffersonian Bible had been presented to every incoming member of Congress during the first half of the nineteenth century. â€Å"Peter, you know I find this topic fascinating, and I can understand that it might be tempting for bright minds to imagine the Scriptures contain hidden meaning, but it makes no logical sense to me. Any skilled professor will tell you that teaching is never done in code.† â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"Teachers teach, Peter. We speak openly. Why would the prophets–the greatest teachers in history–obscure their language? If they hoped to change the world, why would they speak in code? Why not speak plainly so the world could understand?† Peter glanced back over his shoulder as he descended, looking surprised by the question. â€Å"Robert, the Bible does not talk openly for the same reason the Ancient Mystery Schools were kept hidden . . . for the same reason the neophytes had to be initiated before learning the secret teachings of the ages . . . for the same reason the scientists in the Invisible College refused to share their knowledge with others. This information is powerful, Robert. The Ancient Mysteries cannot be shouted from the rooftops. The mysteries are a flaming torch, which, in the hands of a master, can light the way, but which, in the hands of a madman, can scorch the earth.† Langdon stopped short. What is he saying? â€Å"Peter, I'm talking about the Bible. Why are you talking about the Ancient Mysteries?† Peter turned. â€Å"Robert, don't you see? The Ancient Mysteries and the Bible are the same thing.† Langdon stared in bewilderment. Peter was silent for several seconds, waiting for the concept to soak in. â€Å"The Bible is one of the books through which the mysteries have been passed down through history. Its pages are desperately trying to tell us the secret. Don't you understand? The `dark sayings' in the Bible are the whispers of the ancients, quietly sharing with us all of their secret wisdom.† Langdon said nothing. The Ancient Mysteries, as he understood them, were a kind of instruction manual for harnessing the latent power of the human mind . . . a recipe for personal apotheosis. He had never been able to accept the power of the mysteries, and certainly the notion that the Bible was somehow hiding a key to these mysteries was an impossible stretch. â€Å"Peter, the Bible and the Ancient Mysteries are total opposites. The mysteries are all about the god within you . . . man as god. The Bible is all about the God above you . . . and man as a powerless sinner.† â€Å"Yes! Exactly! You've put your finger on the precise problem! The moment mankind separated himself from God, the true meaning of the Word was lost. The voices of the ancient masters have now been drowned out, lost in the chaotic din of self-proclaimed practitioners shouting that they alone understand the Word . . . that the Word is written in their language and none other.† Peter continued down the stairs. â€Å"Robert, you and I both know that the ancients would be horrified if they saw how their teachings have been perverted . . . how religion has established itself as a tollbooth to heaven . . . how warriors march into battle believing God favors their cause. We've lost the Word, and yet its true meaning is still within reach, right before our eyes. It exists in all the enduring texts, from the Bible to the Bhagavad Gita to the Koran and beyond. All of these texts are revered upon the altars of Freemasonry because Masons understand what the world seems to have forgotten . . . that each of these texts, in its own way, is quietly whispering the exact same message.† Peter's voice welled with emotion. † `Know ye not that ye are gods?'† Langdon was struck by the way this famous ancient saying kept surfacing tonight. He had reflected on it while talking to Galloway and also at the Capitol Building while trying to explain The Apotheosis of Washington. Peter lowered his voice to a whisper. â€Å"The Buddha said, `You are God yourself.' Jesus taught that `the kingdom of God is within you' and even promised us, `The works I do, you can do . . . and greater.' Even the first antipope–Hippolytus of Rome–quoted the same message, first uttered by the gnostic teacher Monoimus: `Abandon the search for God . . . instead, take yourself as the starting place.' † Langdon flashed on the House of the Temple, where the Masonic Tyler's chair bore two words of guidance carved across its back: KNOW THYSELF. â€Å"A wise man once told me,† Peter said, his voice faint now, â€Å"the only difference between you and God is that you have forgotten you are divine.† â€Å"Peter, I hear you–I do. And I'd love to believe we are gods, but I see no gods walking our earth. I see no superhumans.You can point to the alleged miracles of the Bible, or any other religious text, but they are nothing but old stories fabricated by man and then exaggerated over time.† â€Å"Perhaps,† Peter said. â€Å"Or perhaps we simply need our science to catch up with the wisdom of the ancients.† He paused. â€Å"Funny thing is . . . I believe Katherine's research may be poised to do just that.† Langdon suddenly remembered that Katherine had dashed off from the House of the Temple earlier. â€Å"Hey, where did she go, anyway?† â€Å"She'll be here shortly,† Peter said, grinning. â€Å"She went to confirm a wonderful bit of good fortune.† Outside, at the base of the monument, Peter Solomon felt invigorated as he inhaled the cold night air. He watched in amusement as Langdon stared intently at the ground, scratching his head and looking around at the foot of the obelisk. â€Å"Professor,† Peter joked, â€Å"the cornerstone that contains the Bible is underground. You can't actually access the book, but I assure you it's there.† â€Å"I believe you,† Langdon said, appearing lost in thought. â€Å"It's just . . . I noticed something.† Langdon stepped back now and surveyed the giant plaza on which the Washington Monument stood. The circular concourse was made entirely of white stone . . . except for two decorative courses of dark stone, which formed two concentric circles around the monument. â€Å"A circle within a circle,† Langdon said. â€Å"I never realized the Washington Monument stands at the center of a circle within a circle.† Peter had to laugh. He misses nothing. â€Å"Yes, the great circumpunct . . . the universal symbol for God . . . at the crossroads of America.† He gave a coy shrug. â€Å"I'm sure it's just a coincidence.† Langdon seemed far off, gazing skyward now, his eyes ascending the illuminated spire, which shone stark white against the black winter sky. Peter sensed Langdon was beginning to see this creation for what it truly was . . . a silent reminder of ancient wisdom . . . an icon of enlightened man at the heart of a great nation. Even though Peter could not see the tiny aluminum tip at the top, he knew it was there, man's enlightened mind straining toward heaven. Laus Deo. â€Å"Peter?† Langdon approached, looking like a man who'd endured some kind of mystical initiation. â€Å"I almost forgot,† he said, reaching into his pocket and producing Peter's gold Masonic ring. â€Å"I've been wanting to return this to you all night.† â€Å"Thank you, Robert.† Peter held out his left hand and took the ring, admiring it. â€Å"You know, all the secrecy and mystery surrounding this ring and the Masonic Pyramid . . . it had an enormous effect on my life. When I was a young man, the pyramid was given to me with the promise that it hid mystical secrets. Its mere existence made me believe there were great mysteries in the world. It piqued my curiosity, fueled my sense of wonder, and inspired me to open my mind to the Ancient Mysteries.† He smiled quietly and slipped the ring into his pocket. â€Å"I now realize that the Masonic Pyramid's true purpose was not to reveal the answers, but rather to inspire a fascination with them.† The two men stood in silence for a long while at the foot of the monument. When Langdon finally spoke, his tone was serious. â€Å"I need to ask you a favor, Peter . . . as a friend.† â€Å"Of course. Anything.† Langdon made his request . . . firmly. Solomon nodded, knowing he was right. â€Å"I will.† â€Å"Right away,† Langdon added, motioning to the waiting Escalade. â€Å"Okay . . . but one caveat.† Langdon rolled his eyes, chuckling. â€Å"Somehow you always get the last word.† â€Å"Yes, and there is one final thing I want you and Katherine to see.† â€Å"At this hour?† Langdon checked his watch. Solomon smiled warmly at his old friend. â€Å"It is Washington's most spectacular treasure . . . and something very, very few people have ever seen.†

Friday, November 8, 2019

Alexander the Great and the Battle of Gaugamela Essays

Alexander the Great and the Battle of Gaugamela Essays Alexander the Great and the Battle of Gaugamela Paper Alexander the Great and the Battle of Gaugamela Paper King Alexander at only 25 years old, his reputation already one of greatness had led his men into Asia. To his soldiers, their invasion of Persia was to fight back after half a century of devastation brought onto Greece during the Persian wars between 499 and 448 BC. Alexander’s private desire, however, was to cast a shadow on the large Persian empire by winning all its lands and bringing it under his rule. Gaugamela, named after the village it was fought by, was the decisive battle in the struggle between Alexander III and Darius II for the Persian Empire. The battle occurred in 331 BC, this battle was one of importance as it shows a significant amount of Alexander’s tactical and military genius while including examples of his great leadership skills with his men. Mesopotamia was an abundant region between the rivers, Euphrates and Tigris, dominated by Darius more than a century earlier. The major city in this region was Babylon and was located south where Darius anticipated Alexander would lead his troops. Instead Alexander headed north in the direction of the Tigris River basically there was more food for the horses, the heat was less intense and it would also tempt Darius away from the widespread plains surrounding Babylon. Darius needed vast, flat, obstacle free areas for his chariots and cavalry to be allowed to fight effectively. Alexander knew this, hence the reason he wanted to force Darius northward where the ground would be less favourable to him. This was just one instance that shows a factor that contributed to Alexander’s triumph in the battle. Therefore Darius moved north and encamped near the village of Gaugamela while Alexander camped a few kilometers away. Alexander managed to capture some Persian soldiers and discovered where Darius’ location was so he could observe the activities of his rival. Unlike previous battles, Darius had found a suitable battlefield and was unwilling to give this one up. The ground here was flat, perfect for chariots. Darius made it even flatter by ordering the terrain plowed, leveled, removed stones, shrubs and filled in potholes so the area would be ideal for chariots and cavalry. Alexander in turn had also prepared himself for the battle. From his captured and interrogated Persian soldiers he had gathered information that helped him reconstruct the Persian army allowing him to work his movements against Darius’. After seeing that Alexander’s Army was outnumbered five Persians to every one Macedonian Parmenio advised against an instant attack. Alexander approved this suggestion as he was anxious about the superior Persian cavalry and wanted more time to think of how to outmaneuver Darius and the Persians. Alexander permitted his men a decent meal and sleep, while only a few kilometers away Darius kept his men on standby all night long. This, Arrian believed to be a major mistake, ultimately causing Darius’ defeat since the next day Alexander’s men were well rested whereas Darius’ were exhausted. Giving his men rest and food also shows how Alexander was a responsible leader and furthermore he would have respect from his men for doing so. Not rushing into a battle unprepared also shows this excellent leadership and by planning carefully would have allowed more men be spared from death. Alexander knew that the only way to triumph over the gigantic Persian army was through clever strategies so he thought about the difficult conditions over night while his men rested, he came up with a series of orders for his men. He ordered the Agrianians near his cavalry and specifically told them to bring the chariots and elephants to a halt, the chariots may be made of tough material but the drivers were only human just like the elephants were only animals, they could still be injured and stopped. In the centre were the phalanx and the Greek cavalry. A second line of infantry was following them, Alexander ordered them all to turn around and fight the enemy if they became surrounded as there was a high chance of this considering the size of the Persian army. The infantry were all told to break ranks and create corridors for the chariots and elephants to pass directly through hoping that no infantry would be injured, this meant that then the infantry could then quickly press forward before the elephants and chariots would have a chance to turn around and come back. The arrangements ended up being parallel to that of the battle of Issus. However, realizing that the Persian cavalry was moderately powerful, Alexander reinforced his wings and ordered them to lengthen if there was any risk of being out-flanked. These well designed decisions would have made a huge impact on the final outcome of the battle, this shows Alexander’s ability to adapt his tactics to suit different situations and develop ways to overcome problems that may occur. The battle turned out better than it possibly could have for Alexander, as we can see his well thought out plan coincided with the actual events of the battle and all went as he had pre-determined. Alexander initially ordered his right wing cavalry to advance on an angle, as always, to the right. Consequently forcing the Persian cavalry further left to pursue them, thus moving away from the specially cleared area Darius had so carefully arranged for them. To counteract these actions Darius ordered his men to stop moving to the left and head directly forward to attack Alexander’s right wing as intended. This arrangement worked well for Alexander as he postponed a rather dominant attack to his right wing and would have confused Darius’ cavalry who needed to aim to break through Alexander’s right wing and get behind his troops as to fight them from the back. Darius then launched the elephants and chariots against the phalanx but Alexander had foreseen this problem and all his men followed their detailed instructions. The Agrianians stopped the majority of the chariots and elephants before they even reached the phalanx. The rest caused many of the infantry to panic but because of their training and discipline they followed Alexander’s orders and broke ranks at precisely the right moment allowing the elephants and chariots to pass through corridors made for them so the attack failed miserably as it caused very minimal damage. If Alexander had not thought of this intelligent tactic then the elephants and chariots would certainly have caused great destruction to the phalanx. But his simple yet ingenious plan worked brilliantly, saving them from possible defeat. Darius, after seeing this failure, saw that he was not on the winning side and desperately ordered a general offence where his whole line advanced. Darius also quickly ordered his very strong right wing cavalry, led by Mazaeus, to attack Alexander’s left wing cavalry, under the command of Parmenio. The Persian cavalry was significantly superior to that of Alexander’s; hence Parmenio was under a great deal of pressure. Alexander put a lot of trust in to Parmenio and he obviously believed he could deal with the pressure or he would not have placed him in the situation. Darius was still intent on using his cavalry on his left wing to attempt to get through Alexander’s right wing to encircle him, so he sent his Indian cavalry to help attack the right wing. However, this created a gap in the Persian line, to the left of the centre. This was the moment Alexander had been waiting for, he and his companions advanced for Darius. They were held up by the Persian horse guard and the Greek mercenaries, preventing them from reaching Darius who was standing in his chariot. Darius decided the battle was lost and fled with his entire left wing following close behind. Darius’ left wing and center were still intact, and both parties would have had most likely equal chances if he could secure the gap in the left of the center, and pull together his right wing again. The result of the battle might have been entirely different if the Persians had a more firm, determined and brave king. But Alexander knew that a gap would eventually appear and in his brave charge he managed to frighten Darius into backing down, although Alexander would have wanted to catch his rival instead of allowing him to escape. Parmenio on the left wing was being brutally beaten by Mazaeus and the Persians, who at this point had no idea that Darius had gone. Some of the Persian right wing had even gotten through the Macedonian line and reached the baggage animals and Macedonian camp where Arrian states there was fierce fighting ‘for the Persians boldly attacked men who were mainly unarmed and had not expected that anyone would cut their way through the double phalanx and force their way up to them’. Yet, as instructed the second line of infantry turned around and caught them in the camp, attacking from the rear they forced the Persians to retreat back the way they came. Alexander anticipated the problem of the Persians getting in behind, unusually as it is he provided a solution not to prevent the problem but solve it if it occurred. He knew it would be difficult to stop them getting in behind but coming up with such a plan was really very resourceful and tactful, thus insuring his victory in the battle. In the meantime, although Alexander wanted to pursue his rival Darius, Parmenio was in great peril and sent a message to Alexander requesting help. As Arrian states ‘When the king received this information, he refrained from further pursuit’ and Alexander alongside his companions quickly headed to help his left wing. But, on the way, they bumped into the Persian right wing, who in turn were trying to escape from the Macedonian camp. Here there was a terrible fight and many companions’ lives were lost but nevertheless Alexander prevailed and rushed to the aid of Parmenio. Though, by this time, Parmenio and the left wing did not need his help any more. Mazaeus, after hearing of Darius’ flight, hastily led his men away from the battle and was pursued by the Thessalians. Alexander showed remarkable leadership skills in this stage of the battle as he put aside his own wants for the needs of his men. Alexander considered the victory at Gaugamela to be one of significance in the fight over the Persian Empire, as Darius’ army was crushed, Alexander now had control of the heart of Asia and so he proclaimed himself ‘king of Asia’. This statement, before the whole Macedonian army, would have had huge propaganda worth to Alexander making him appear very impressive to his people. Throughout the battle Alexander proved himself to be worthy of his title; Alexander the Great. This particular battle illuminated Alexander’s tactical brilliance, strength and genius because he won purely through intellectual strategies. Considering the size of Darius’ army and the outcome of the battle Alexander shows that there is some truth to the saying that brains beat brawn.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Ionic Essays

Ionic Essays Ionic Essay Ionic Essay Define and describe ionic and covalent bonds. An ionic bond is a type of chemical bond formed through an electrostatic attraction between two oppositely charged ions. A covalent bond is the chemical bond that involves the sharing of pairs of electrons between atoms. A compound is made when two or more atoms form a chemical bond, linking them together. The two types of bonds are ionic bonds and covalent bonds. In an ionic bond, the atoms are bound together by the attraction between oppositely charged ions. If the electron is shared equally between the atoms forming a covalent bond, then the bond is said to be nonpolar. An electron is more attracted to one atom than to another which forming a polar covalent bond. Ionic bonds are formed between a cation and an anion. Pure ionic bonding cannot exist: all ionic compounds have some degree of covalent bonding. An ionic bond is considered a bond where the ionic character is greater than the covalent character. The larger the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms involved in the bond, the more ionic the bond is. Bonds with partially ionic and partially covalent character are called polar covalent bonds. Ionic bonding is a form of no covalent bonding. Ionic compounds conduct electricity when molten or in solution, but not as a solid. They generally have a high melting point and tend to be soluble in water. The stable balance of attractive and repulsive forces between atoms when they share electrons is known as covalent bonding. For many molecules, the sharing of electrons allows each atom to attain the equivalent of a full outer shell, corresponding to a stable electronic configuration. Covalent bonding includes many kinds of interaction, including ? -bonding, ? -bonding, metal-to-metal bonding, agnostic interactions, and three-center two-electron bonds. The term covalent bond dates from 1939. The prefix co- means jointly, associated in action, partnered to a lesser degree in essence, means that the atoms share valence. Molecule H2, the hydrogen atoms share the two electrons via covalent bonding. Covalency is greatest between atoms of similar electronegativity. Covalent bonding does not necessarily require the two atoms be of the same elements, only that they are of comparable electronegativity. Although covalent bonding entails sharing of electrons, it is not necessarily delocalized.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Data wharehousing case study assignment PowerPoint Presentation

Data wharehousing case study assignment - PowerPoint Presentation Example Facts table present real data stored while dimension tables describes each row in a fact table. Any data mart must present business changing trends and the user requirements in an organization. The database for MEGA SAVE was analyzed using OLAP Statistics and Reporting. The main advantage of data mart is that it can be used to analyze both small and large data of an organization because data marts are response to real business needs. This are some of the key guidelines that the designers of the database should base in coming up with the data mart. Charts and reports are used to describe the data set. Table 1.0 The above table shows group customer against group product from the sales. Table 1.2 From the schema the main aim of the developers of the schema is to evaluate the sales according to different groups of the buyers. The group products and the customer group ID are illustrated in the table above. For instance, customer group ID 1 is for Young Rich Women while 2 for Young Poor Wo men. The total sales for each product is given in the columns. Graph 1.0 The graph above shows the sales of group products sold overall in all counties. Fresh meat, soft drink and dairy were the least sold items while the highest sales was fruit vegetable followed by beer. The schema designed was to outline the group sales that has the highest score. The graph below shows the sales grouped by the product. The group customers are also categorized in the graph this graph is aimed at identifying the favorite precuts customers buy frequently. By different type of buyers. Decision makers can use this information in determining the type of product to be focused a given group of the consumers. Graph 2.0 Graph 3.0 The graph above shows sales of group product over the county. The decision makers may want to know which county has the highest sales and which product is the best sales. West Yorkshire has the largest sales above 1200 sales for fruit vegetables while east Yorkshire has the least sales below 800 sales for fruits vegetables. The decision maker may want to identify the sales in each county based on the scores. For instance, which store is in which county and how is it performing? The table below shows these data. Table 1.3 The company’s main trend or patterns are to the target population on the market and the kind of products it is selling to these regions. After looking at the design principles about data mart, there should be a single access point to the data mart hence the information from all the stores should be accessed at a given point. The schema omitted the most important question about the sales in each region. From a business perspective, the two main questions that emerge are: What is the specific business application of the data being loaded to the data mart from the operating system files. Therefore loading legacy data during the loading of the data mart should be done. The first law in data mart designing is the law of loading complexity in this case having multiple sources where data will be extracted from is a complexity. Some sources may not be loaded or the administrator may present information to the users in the format that they did not expect, hence to users data will not be available. Feedback mechanism should be design early in the designing stage of the data mart. I used bar graphs in representing my information because the values in the database are of frequency

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Describing resolution of a recent business conflict Case Study

Describing resolution of a recent business conflict - Case Study Example Each party during the resolution process will defend its interest with respect to the other one. Since there are different styles of behavior which help the management of a certain organization to handle the conflict, it is vital for important to establish the most suitable method depending upon the situation. Among such methods, there are the domination, the compromise, integration, the voidance and suppression (Lee, 2008). Once an information about the conflict emerges within the working environment, the management of the certain organization involves the employees to the collaborative actions in order to solve the problem. Thus, the integration method of handling the conflict is utilizing. Such approach gives every member of the conflict an access to the other person’s perceptions and goals, enabling them to find the appropriate solution. The dominating style, on the contrary, highlights high concern of one’s self interests rather than concern for the other, thus forces behavior to in one’s position. However, such style of handling the conflict is associated with the low levels of effectiveness and appropriateness, maximizing he importance of a certain individual or a group’s needs at the expense of others. Whether the conflict situation occurred, but an issue is trivial and the effect of the solving process outweighs the resolution outcome, the management avoids dealing w ith the conflict situation, using at the same time the avoiding style. In many cases, conflicts between the management and employees end with the coming to the common decision about the problem that occurred. Thus, both parties of the conflict seek for the middle- ground position appropriate for all. In the situation when conflicting parties are mutually exclusive, they are using the compromising style of handling the conflict (The Five Steps to Conflict Resolution, 2014). The recent business conflict