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Personal Philosophy of Education Essay - 940 Words

â€Å"I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.† (Angelou, 2009) This is a truth that I have witnessed firsthand. As a child, at the tender age of seven years, I was blessed with an educator, Mrs. Cager, whose commitment to her students was so profound until I have never forgotten her. She made me feel like I was the most important person in her classroom. Her encouraging words instilled a level of confidence within me that I still cling to and apply more than 40 years later. Her commitment is directly responsible for my personal philosophy of education also being commitment. Other philosophies of education like dedication, responsibility,†¦show more content†¦Commitment causes the teacher to seek effective ways of pulling out what is inside of the student. Two ways to do this is through cooperative training which is pairing the students or placing them small groups, and peer teaching which gives the student the opportunity to explain using his own understanding. Both are very effective methods as they embrace individuality and creativity. As stated earlier, my personal philosophy of education is commitment. A commitment is an agreement or pledge to do something. My commitment will be to the student, the school, the parent, the community, and to myself. First and foremost, an educator’s commitment should be to the student. She should be caring, honest, and fair. She should be clear and concise with policies, always maintaining control of her class. She should build up not break down. She should explore ways to enhance the learning experience so that her class does is not lost in a sea of boredom. She should be diligent in giving her students the best of what her field of study has to offer. A teacher should be committed to the school for which she is employed. She should give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. She should show professionalism at all times. She should be respectful to her peers and always subject to authority. She should report for duty on time. Parents are due a certain level of commitment from the teacher. Educators shouldShow MoreRelatedA Personal Philosophy Of Education Essay1164 Words   |  5 PagesA Personal Philosophy of Education Introduction â€Å"Being reflective involves thinking about what one is doing, and why, before, during, and after the act of doing it (Sweitzer, 2003 p.264). I believe self-knowledge of the professor is critical for meaningful learning to occur. Self-knowledge through reflection allows the professor to embrace teaching through the eyes of a scholar; thus providing a diverse learning environment supporting engagement and motivation of the learner. This paper describesRead MorePersonal Education Philosophy : Personal Philosophy Of Educational Philosophy932 Words   |  4 PagesEducational Philosophy Remember: everyone in the classroom has a story that leads to misbehavior or defiance. 9 times out of 10, the story behind the misbehavior won’t make you angry. It will break your heart. - Annette Breaux My educational philosophy stems from the belief that all people are capable of learning and growing and that education is a powerful tool in helping students achieve both their personal and professional goals. I am also a firm believer in trauma-informed schools and educationRead MoreA Personal Philosophy Of Education869 Words   |  4 Pagesthe healthcare field continues to evolve so must the nursing education system. Personal Philosophy of Education A personal philosophy of education is important to all Nurse Educators. It allows for the Nurse Educator to truly take time to reflect and reconnect to themselves and their profession; highlighting what is central and sacred to them as an individual, a nurse, and an educator. I believe that my personal philosophy of education will continue to progress and change just as healthcare andRead MoreA Personal Philosophy of Education625 Words   |  2 Pages A personal philosophy of education serves to unify the experience of teaching for the individual. It provides our students with a professional that understands the context of learning from which their classroom stems. It also ensures a personal sense of growth: a lifelong process valued by the profession as a whole. I have combined beliefs from pedagogical, ethical and personally developed ideas I intend to use as a foundation in creating a nurturing classroom environment. Education couldRead MorePersonal Philosophy Of Education756 Words   |  4 Pagesselecting and implementing programs that will enhance my vision/goal of the organization. What drives me is my passion for education reform. Charter schools are public schools that managed by private institutions with the promise of improving academic results. Working in two different charter schools for the past 5 years gave a new perspective and experiences on education reform. I have seen many programs being implemented that are really awesome and others that fail. These events had a huge impactRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Education997 Words   |  4 Pages Philosophy of Education Discovering the place where personal values and expertise meet organizational values and needs offers a dynamic partnership opportunity. Mutual achievement of organizational academic quality and professional fulfillment provides a positive learning environment. Developing a personal philosophy of education enables an educator to understand and communicate the underlying basis for his or her approach to education. Sharing this philosophy provides valuable information forRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Education1476 Words   |  6 Pages CLES 871 Foundations of Higher Education Summer 2015 Instructor: Joel Abaya, PhD Personal Philosophy of Education Submitted by: Wessam Elamawy . Personal Philosophy of Education Introduction: From the very beginning of my life I recognized the importance of higher education. I am 34 years old. I am Egyptian. I was born in a highly educated family . My father earned a Ph.D. in chemistry. My uncle earned a Ph.D. in Engineering . My aunt is a doctor. My grandparents wereRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy of Education958 Words   |  4 PagesMy Personal Philosophy of Education It is customary that on New Year’s Eve, we make New Year resolution. The fact is that we are making a set of guideline that we want to live by. These are motives that we seek to achieve. In a similar way, teachers live by philosophy. This essay focuses on my personal philosophy of education. It unfolds the function of philosophy in a teacher’s life, my view on the purpose of education, the student teacher- relationship and the philosophy which influences myRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Education1335 Words   |  6 Pages I tested into a progressivism teaching style in the â€Å"Finding Your Philosophy of Education Quiz.† While I enjoyed learning about the different philosophies and psychological influences of teaching, I prefer constructivism, social reconstruction, and progressivism due to their student-centered learning, hands-on or project based learning style, while making efforts to improve the world around them. I will be discussing why I chose progr essivism, social reconstruction, and constructivism as my preferencesRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Education1244 Words   |  5 Pageswhat they deem best. In creating such a resource now, before diving into a classroom, a teacher can have time to develop and broaden their philosophy of teaching—be prepared before they take that fatal plunge. So, in order to be best prepared for my future endeavors as an educator, I believe it is in my best interest to lay out a personal philosophy of education—a lay out that will aid me in times of need and a way to gauge change, progress, and growth through my Simpson College career. In doing so

Haddon House Free Essays

Jurists Haddam House Food Products has over 50 years of experience in the gourmet food industry. As you know our inventory selection is more than 20,000 items which consists of major brand within ethnic and gourmet categories. One of our most popular brands is Cane’s Crazy Mixed-up seasonings. We will write a custom essay sample on Haddon House or any similar topic only for you Order Now Haddam House is very strong when it comes to selling our products. However, Haddam House needs improvement when it comes to employee turnover. Haddam House has three major locations, two locations in New Jersey, and one in South Carolina. There are 60 people who work in our corporate office and about 700-800 sales representative. Looking back at the last five years there has only been four employees who have been promoted and a handful of employees who left the company or got terminated. It is clear that these promotions happened because the supervisor of Accounts Payable decided to leave the company because she was moving out of state. This left her position open which then the supervisor of Account Receivable decided to take her position this way one of her employees could become the supervisor. This may not be considered a promotion because she was already a supervisor Just moving to a new department. Furthermore, the young lady working in customer service has only been employed with the company for two years and she has a tough time trying to get promoted In addition to the employees in the cooperate office looking at the sales representative there have been at least three employees getting terminated each week. That is a really high number and it should not be like this at all. It should be in the company’s strong interest to want to keep their employees. There are many times where a sales representative will leave the company and then get hired again a month later. There are many questions that come with that. Are they leaving the company because their pay is not high enough and then Join the company later to get a better pay increase? This problem can be avoided if the sales representative can give their feedback and the company takes it into consideration to better improve the company. . There is an even amount of males and females that leave the company each year. However, by looking at the numbers more females feel the need to get remoter and have the highest Job whereas, the males feel comfortable in their position. One good aspect about Haddam House is that there are an equal number of males and females in the company. The company is also very diverse. Another variable that we looked into was if there was a correlation between education and promotion within the company. With any other company if a person gets a higher education it can give them a chance to get promoted in the company. However, with this company it rarely happens. Employees feel that when they get hired for a position it does not matter if they further their education they will be stuck that session. This comes to be a big problem because individuals do not want to keep looking for a Job because they cannot go further. Haddam house is very particular with who is in the right position and they fear that only these people are right for the Job. It would help them in the long run if they were willing to trust more people and willing to promote more people than they do now. If they can get past this threshold they may notice an increase in moral and loyalty. Which will help people stay in the company and keep it a happy and healthy environment. How to cite Haddon House, Papers

French Revolution (Causes and Changes) Essay Example For Students

French Revolution (Causes and Changes) Essay What were the causes and the effects of the French Revolution? The major cause of the FrenchRevolution was the disputes between the different types of social classes in French society. TheFrench Revolution of 1789-1799 was one of the most important events in the history of theworld. The Revolution led to many changes in France, which at the time of the Revolution, wasthe most powerful state in Europe. The Revolution led to the development of new political forces such as democracy and nationalism. It questioned the authority of kings, priests, and nobles. TheRevolution also gave new meanings and new ideas to the political ideas of the people. The French Revolution was spread over the ten year period between 1789 and 1799. Theprimary cause of the revolution was the disputes over the peoples differing ideas of reform. Before the beginning of the Revolution, only moderate reforms were wanted by the people. Anexample of why they wanted this was because of king Louis XIVs actions. At the end of theseventeenth century, King Louis XIVs wars began decreasing the royal finances dramatically. This worsened during the eighteenth century. The use of the money by Louis XIV angered thepeople and they wanted a new system of government. Thewritings of the philosophes such asVoltaire and Diderot, were critical of the government. They said that not one official in power was corrupt, but that the whole system of government needed some change. Eventually, when theroyal finances were expended in the 1780s, there began a time of greater criticism. This sparkedthe peasants notion of wanting change. Under the Old Regime in France, the king was the absolute monarch. Louis XIV hadcentralized power in the royal bureaucracy, the government departments which administered hispolicies. Together, Louis XIV and the bureaucracy worked to preserve royal authority and to maintain the social structure of the Old Regime. At this time in French history, the social classes played an important role in the lives of thepeople. The social structure ofFrance was divided among three groups: the First Estate, theSecond Estate, and the Third Estate. Each social group had a varied type of people within theirstructure, which presented the different views of the people. The First Estate was the Church. During the ancien regime, the church was equal in termsof its social, economic, and spiritualpower. The First Estate owned nearly 10 per cent of all landin France. It paid no taxes but, to support church activities such asschool running and caring forthe poor, they collected a tithe, or a tax on income. About one-third of the entire clergy in Franceserved as parish priests. Also included in this estate were the nobles. Some of the nobles lived inluxury in major cities in France, such as Versailles or Paris. Parish priests usually lived ahardworking life. This Estate was the minority of the people in France, having approximately 1 to2 per cent of the population. The Second Estate in French life was the nobility. They enjoyed extensive rights andprivileges. They made up less than 2 percent of the population. They, like the First Estate, paidhardly any taxes. Economically, the nobility was characterized by great land wealth. Nobles weregenerally the richest members of the society. Typical sources of income were rents and dues forthe use of their farms or estates. The First and Second Estates were grouped together because they had similar political beliefs. The Third Estate consisted of the commoners. It included the bourgeoisie, peasants andcity workers. The bourgeoisie, or themiddle class, were by far, the wealthiest. In the bourgeoisie,there were the merchants and manufacturers, lawyers, doctors and others similar to those types ofprofessions. Peasants made up the largest group within the Third Estate. They were forced to payhefty taxes, tithes to the church, and rents to their landlords for the land that they lived on. Thelast group within the Third Estate were the city workers. They were servants, apprentices, andhousehold maids. .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 , .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 .postImageUrl , .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 , .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852:hover , .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852:visited , .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852:active { border:0!important; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852:active , .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852 .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u17071a970ef59f3b68edb5570d472852:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: My Educational Goals and Future Aspirations EssayThe major cause of the Revolution were the differences these three groups had. However,there was another important factor during these times. France suffered from harsh economicproblems. Poor farm harvests by farmers hurt the economy, and trade rules from the Middle Ages still survived, making trade difficult. However, the most serious problem was the problemfacing the government during this time. The French

Harmful Health Effects of Nuclear Energy

Introduction The world has experienced an exponential growth in its energy demands over the course of the last century. This demand is expected to increase as the world’s population raises and the standards of living for people in the developing nations increase.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Harmful Health Effects of Nuclear Energy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The demand has put a strain on traditional sources of energy such as fossil fuel. Nuclear energy has emerged as a feasible alternative to renewable energy and most of its advocates argue that it is the only means through which sustainable development can be achieved in an energy intensive world. However, nuclear energy poses significant danger to the society especially if an accident in a power plant occurs. Khripunov notes that accidents at nuclear power facilities pose numerous risks since they affect systems that society depends on such as healthcare, transportation, and environment (19). This dangers posed by nuclear energy plants were best exemplified following the devastating Chernobyl accident of 1986. The accident led to the release of radioactive material to the population with various health implications. This paper will engage in a detailed discussion on the health effects of the Chernobyl nuclear accident so as to demonstrate that nuclear energy poses a significant threat to human existence. The Chernobyl Accident The Chernobyl nuclear power station accident is the most devastating nuclear accident in history. The accident took place during a planned systems text when an unexpected power surge led to the damage of a reactor leading to an explosion. This incident resulted in severe contamination of vast territories of the former USSR and other parts of Europe as radionuclide releases were spread by winds for over one week (Chudley 221). The nuclear accident in Chernobyl in 1986 demonstrated the risk t hat nuclear power generation poses to mankind. Reports indicate that the amount of radiation fallout from the Chernobyl accident was over 400 times that caused by the atomic bomb detonation at Hiroshima (Chudley 221). The massive explosion that destroyed the react led to six million people from Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia being exposed to radioactive contamination (Chudley 221).Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Health Impacts of Nuclear Energy Direct Health Impacts Exposure to radiation from nuclear energy sources increases the risk of cancer. The risk of developing thyroid cancer following exposure to nuclear radiations increased with a decrease in the age of the subject. Younger individuals are therefore more likely to develop thyroid carcinogenesis after X-ray exposure than more mature people are. After the Chernobyl accident, an increase in thyroid cancer was found in children exposed to fallout from the accident (Baverstock and Dillwyn 1312). As of the year 2000, the number of individuals who suffered from thyroid Cancer due to exposure as children had reached 2,000. This number increased to 4,000 in the years 2005 (Baverstock and Dillwyn 1312). This observation is supported by the OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency, which notes that there has been an increase in incidents of thyroid cancers following the Chernobyl accident (81). Exposure to high doses of radiation results in radiation sickness; a condition that can lead to the death of an individual. Acute radiation sickness results in future health consequences such as cancer and premature aging of the patient. The natural background levels of radiation in Europe average at 3mSv/year. However, people in the highly contaminated regions experienced radiation doses that were 30-70 times greater than these average natural levels (Chudley 222). The OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency confirms that in the C hernobyl accident, all cute deterministic health effects occurred among the personnel of the plant (78). Fire workers and clean-up workers were exposed to high doses of radiation and over 200 emergency workers suffered from acute radiation sickness with 28 dying because of this. The early symptoms of radiation sickness included vomiting, diarrhoea, and fever. Chudley asserts that the effects of exposure to high dose or radiation can range from† death following acute radiation exposure, to cancer or genetic re-arrangements if doses are small and exposure is spread over time (222).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Harmful Health Effects of Nuclear Energy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nuclear accidents also result in a suppression of the body’s immune system. The OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency states that the immunity system is suppressed due to a depression of bone-marrow function following exp osure to radiation (80). Patients who suffer from this immunity suppression have to receive doses of anti-fungal agents and antibiotics in order to help the body fight off common ailments. There is a high probability of genetic changes occurring due to exposure to nuclear radiation. As of 2001, no radiation-induced genetic diseases had been observed in the population affected by the Chernobyl disaster. However, Chudley asserts that this is not an indication that genetic disorders were caused by the accident since such changes are difficult to identify in the human population (224). An observation of irradiated pine trees in the Chernobyl region demonstrates that these plants have undergone major genetic changes due to radiation exposure. The trees exhibit a marked change in the shape and size of needles and their seed quality had degraded over the years. In addition to this, there are some pine trees that suffer from impaired fertility due to radiation exposure (Chudley 224). It can therefore be deduced that genetic changes occurred in human beings as well and the only reason why they are not visible is because of the differences in life and reproduction cycles. Exposure to radioactive material also increases the risk of leukaemia. Baverstock and Dillwyn state that leukaemia is strongly associated with radiation (1313). As such, intensive efforts have been made to detect this condition in the population affected by the Chernobyl incident. While at the moment there have been no significant increases in the levels of leukaemia among the population, scientists predict that the level will increase in the coming years. Baverstock and Dillwyn demonstrate that leukaemia is a disease of older age and as the victims of the Chernobyl grow older, there will be increases in chronic lymphatic leukaemia (1313). In addition to the already mentioned health impacts, nuclear accidents result in a rise in all types of disease. Report by the Russian National Medical Dosimetric Re gistry indicate that malignant diseases have been on the increase between 1989 and 1992 and this can be attributed to the radiation exposure (The OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency 89).Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The mortality rate within the Russian Federation exhibited a 2% increase following the accident. The death rate from respiratory cancer was especially elevated and while this could be blamed on smoking, the findings suggested that the nuclear disaster contributed to it (OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency 89). Indirect Health Impacts The people who live in the contaminated zone face additional health risks. Abbott, Wallace and Matthias note that the diet of the people living in the Chernobyl area was negatively affected with most people not being able to have a good diet in the zone (116). This is consistent with research by Baverstock and Dillwyn, which indicates that dietary changes to avoid perceived contamination may be an indirect consequence of a nuclear accident (1313). These forced dietary changes negatively affect the health of the individual. Nuclear accidents have psychological consequences on the community surrounding the nuclear site. Such accidents are followed by forced evacua tion from home and land and people are left unsure of what the future holds. Baverstock and Dillwyn state that following the Chernobyl accident, there was an increase in the number of psychological illnesses (1313). There was an increase in the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes as people tried to deal with the stress they experienced because of this incident. The accident therefore had an indirect consequence of causing some deaths from suicide, cirrhosis, or lung cancer. In addition to the health effects caused by radiation, nuclear accidents have the ability to degrade the social fabric in the affected territories. The Chernobyl accident best exemplifies this considering the various physical and psychological effects that have persisted since the accident. The Chernobyl accident increased public mistrust of the administration and the government. The OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency notes that public scepticism towards authority was heightened due to the poor governmental response in the early days following the accident and the lack of public education on the polluting hazards of the disaster (92). Discussion The paper has observed that the effects of a nuclear disaster affect the population in an indiscriminate manner. In addition to the immediate negative health effects caused by exposure to radiation, long-term health effects continue to be felt by the community decades after the nuclear accident happened. Abbott et al. document that the radioactivity levels that resulted from the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Complex are likely to remain at high levels for around 300 years (105). The Chernobyl incident forced the world to reconsider the use of nuclear power to provide for the energy needs of the society. The disaster continues to cost the affected regions millions of dollars in health care costs almost three decades after the accident occurred. For this reason, the Russian society and the rest of the international community remains deeply divided about the nuclear power infrastructure because of the accident in Chernobyl, which resulted in immense damages to the citizens of Ukraine. Conclusion This paper set out to discuss the health impacts of nuclear energy with particular focus on the Chernobyl accident of 1986. The paper began by providing an overview of the accident to underscore the fact that the accident could not have been foreseen. It then proceeded to discuss the many negative health implications that people exposed to the radiation suffered from and they include; radiation poisoning, cancer, and genetic disorders. The paper has also observed that immune suppression is one of the inevitable consequences of exposure to high doses of radiation. In addition to the direct health implications or radiation, there are indirect implications, which include stress, suicidal ideation, dietary problems, and degradation of the social fabric. From the discussions presented in this paper, it can be authoritatively stated that nu clear facilities are a threat to man’s survival since accidents at nuclear facilities have a large-scale social impact. Works Cited Abbott, Pamela, Wallace Claire and Matthias Beck. â€Å"Chernobyl: Living with risk and uncertainty†. Health, Risk Society 8.2 (2006): 105 – 121. Web. Baverstock, Keith and Dillwyn Williams. â€Å"The Chernobyl Accident 20 Years On: An Assessment of the Health Consequences and the International Response†. Environmental Health Perspectives 114.9 (2006): 1312-1317. Web. Chudley, Albert. â€Å"Genetic implications and health consequences following the Chernobyl nuclear accident†. Clin Genet 77.1 (2010): 221–226. Web. Khripunov, Igor. â€Å"How Safe Is Russia? Public Risk Perception and Nuclear Security†. Problems of Post-Communism 54.5 (2007): 19–29. Web. OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency. Chernobyl: Assessment of Radiological and Health Effects. Paris: OECD, 2002. Print. This research paper on Harmful Health Effects of Nuclear Energy was written and submitted by user Nancy Lindsay to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Colombia and the War on Drugs essays

Colombia and the War on Drugs essays In 1823 the United States declared in the Monroe Doctrine that it claimed interest in the Western World. And America has pursued this goal. But what kind of effect have we had in Central and South America? In many cases, America should not have had the right to involve itself in Latin America. For instance, the War on Drugs which the US has waged, which has had a very negative affect on the people of Colombia, other countries of the West, and also people of the United States. As the US has continued its tradition of armed intervention in Latin America, the people in Colombia suffer from death, displacement, and human rights abuses. According to Paul Wolf, one to two million people have been displaced from their homes by the violence and live in poverty in refugee camps. Two-thirds of them are children. Thousands of people are assassinated, kidnapped and disappeared in Colombia every year in this political violence. The Colombian conflict has drawn the attention of the United Nations and the international human rights community. I feel that Americas war on drugs in Colombia is a false portrayal. Both the Colombian government and the Bush administration have oversimplified the causes of the violence, linking it readily to drug traffickers and undermining the role of the military and paramilitary groups. While successive Colombian presidents have made good faith efforts to control the killing, they failed to acknowledge the relationship between senior military officers, paramilitary groups and the drug traffickers. The CIA however, is evidently linked to drug trafficking in Colombia, as well as other parts of the western world. The Mercury News investigation reports that the CIA supported a drug pipeline from Colombia to the San Fransisco area which financed the Nicaraguan Contras by selling tons of cocaine to Los Angeles street gangs. This however, as can be found in Whiteout: the CIA, Drugs and t ...

Being Assertive instead of Being Aggressive at Work Essay

Being Assertive instead of Being Aggressive at Work - Essay Example When going for a career start, it is important to understand the present day workplace. The 21st-century workplace is diverse in terms of culture, race, and gender; it is global. Employees must be prepared to deal with people from any part of the world confidently and without bias. One should enter a career with a positive attitude towards teamwork. Organizational success depends on teamwork and communication is the key to a good team spirit development. Career development in the world of new technology depends on one’s ability to adapt to the new technology. All individuals preparing for any career should keep the above points in mind in order to become successful professionals. INTRODUCTION Workplace environment greatly affects the well being, health, productivity and motivation to work in the employees (Jones, 2001). The workplace environment is a factor in the behavior of employees, therefore, it is up to them to maintain a healthy workplace environment. According to (Scot t & Judge, 2006), the personal traits and the affective states experiences by people in organizational setups determine the quality of workplace atmosphere. To play their role in contributing towards a healthy workplace environment, one should enter any career after being well prepared to deal with the challenges of a workplace (Jones. 2001). Self-mastery, conquering control on persona; traits via personal and independent victories of self-control is basic and very important if one wants to reach the level of interdependence in an organization (Covey, 1989). 1. BEING ASSERTIVE INSTEAD OF AGGRESSIVE AT WORK Assertiveness is the key to respectful survival in the workplace (Weinberg & Cooper, 2007). Assertiveness is sometimes confused with aggressiveness. In reality, there is a difference between the two. Aggression refers to pushing others to get what one wants, while assertiveness means to stand up for one’s rights, still respecting the other’s point of view. Assertiven ess is a way of communicating what one wants respectfully but firmly (Sparks, et al; 2001). According to one study by Rabin & Zelner (1992), assertiveness is a major contributing factor in job satisfaction. Training in assertiveness can not only help in enhancing work productivity of an employee but can also contribute towards a successful career (Rabin & Zelner, 1992). Though the line separating aggressiveness and assertiveness may be thin, the consequential implications of both behaviors are contrasting. The result of aggression is usually negative feelings in others and both parties not getting what they want while assertion leads to what one wants without conflict and in such a way that the other party does not feel defeated (Glomb, 2002). 2. BEING PROACTIVE IN CAREER According to Covey (1989), change always originates from within; so it is best to identify what one can do instead of attempting to do whatever comes in one’s way. A proactive disposition, according to Bandu ra (2001; cited in Stadtler, et al, 2010) refers to bring change and complete tasks by one’s actions.

Case 8-3 Ikea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Case 8-3 Ikea - Essay Example It can also be defined as the way in which companies manage their business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society (Mallerbaker, 2009). This paper discusses the problems Ikea Corporation faced in the late 1990’s associated with CSR issues particularly child labor accusations. Ikea Corporation create a corporate culture that while it was streamlined and relaxing since the manager did not operate in beaurocratic manner, they also seem to forget about their responsibilities of the activities of the company abroad. Ikea was not well prepared to deal with international issues such as child labor. The company got a wake up call after some of its suppliers were caught involved in child labor practices. The company did not like the negative impact the revelation had on its sales and customer relations. The firm realizes its needs solutions to deal with the issues the company is facing. The company is facing public relations problems due to accusations that the firm is involved in child laborer practices. The child labor violations occurred not directly at Ikea, but as indirect associations since major supplier of Ikea at being accused of such acts. The first reaction of the company was that they were unaware of the child labor activity and they are against that type of illicit activity. The company never before had dealt with these types of issues. The executives of the company were at fault due to their incompetent managerial activity in which they failed to implement any proactive measures that could prevent such circumstances from occurring. The business risk of the company is high regarding its public image. After the public relations issues the company lost 20% of its sales in Denmark (Barlett et. al., 2008). Ikea is a company that has been able to successfully implement an organic growth model during the last 40 years. The

Budgeting Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Budgeting - Coursework Example This is because from fifth month Nod will have sufficient cash not only to meet regular cash payments but also Nod will have sufficient cash to return the overdraft. The consideration is also required for capital expenditure that Nod is planning to incur in the beginning of 2nd year. The cost of car is $15000. Nod will generate $3000 on selling an old car and the rest ?12000 will be easily generated out of operation in next six months. This is because cash by the end of September 2011 after paying overdraft of say $800 will be $13150. Each month enough extra cash will be generated to meet $15000 cost easily. Accordingly Nod is advised to negotiate only for an overdraft of $800 in April for a period of four months. Word count: 221 d) Budgeting and business goals Budgeting has become an essential function of any business activity so much in the sense that it becomes easy to attain the purposes for which the business activity is planned for. In fact management plans to achieve several g oals when budgeting is under taken for a business activity. Under normal circumstances budgets are used for the purposes of attaining control and evaluation, communication with different concerned parties, planning, and motivation of the factors involved in the business process. â€Å"Goal setting is a characteristic of successful business and a budget is a critical part of the process. It is a financial forecast of your operating and capital activities.†(Carol Patterson)i Operating budgets are used for planning the operations to achieve strategic objectives. Operating budget draws the attention of the management toward revenue projections and regular and routine expenditure to raise that projected revenue. The management can set up goals of earning specific revenue in order to meet the required payments for the generation of that revenue and improve the entity’s liquidity to meet unforeseen expenditure and payments. In fact operating budget force the management to pla n for increasing profitability as there is direct relation between economising of the business expenditure and profitability. The main goal of planning and control is always achieved through efficient budgeting. â€Å"The budgeting system is designed to plan and control a business. However, it is common for the budget to be ‘gamed’ by its participants. For example managers may pad their budgets with excess resources. In this way, managers will have additional resources for unexpected events during the period. If the budget is being used to establish the incentive plan, then sales managers have incentives to understate the sales potential of a territory to ensure hitting their quota.†(Carl S Warren, James M. Reeve, and Jonathan Duchac)ii That way revenue or operating budget can be made objectives to be achieved by the operational staff. Incentives when linked with budgets automatically create sort of enthusiasm among the operating staff to achieve budgetary target s or goals. It is believed that businesses should always create and apply budgets in order to keep a check or track of their income and expenses. This is more applicable for small business and operations. Budgeting helps the businesses to project their profitability to be achieved over a period covered by the budget. Budgeting can spot problems and plan in advance the means to rectify those problems and issues. In a way financial

Impacts Of Globalisation On The Economy Politics Essay

Impacts Of Globalisation On The Economy Politics Essay Globalization is driven by a combination of economic, technological, socio-cultural, political, and biological factors, integrating worldwide government policies and financial markets through trade and exchange of ideas. Several Factors has fuelled the pace of globalisation; technology, especially communications technology, transportation, deregulation and liberalisation of economic policies, free trade, removal of capital exchange controls, change in consumer awareness and wants and emerging markets in developing countries (MOHAMMED). The world is undergoing a continual transitional process as numerous people, societies, institutions and organisations of varying interests across the globe partake in this expansion. (Mohammed R). Also, whilst economic, social, political and cultural systems across societies become increasingly interdependent and complex, the old world order of managing economies and international relations is being rendered inadequate (Mohamed R). In this transitional flux, the future of the world society appears far from stable (Wallerstein). (i)Economy The ever growing dependence between global economies resulting from international trade of goods, services, finances and technological development paved the way for a global economy. Economic globalisation refers to the continual growth and reciprocated integration of world markets and is an unalterable trend which has been developing at an unprecedented rate since the turn of the twentieth century. Rapid technological development, particularly in areas of information and communication, are the two main forces that have fuelled economic globalisation (Gao). Further the expansion of science and technology has substantially reduced the cost of transportation and communication, making economic globalisation a smoother process (Gao). Centralised economies shifted focus to market economies and market oriented reform through world bodies like GATT, WTO, IMF and World Bank galvanised this process. Many countries have steadily reduced their tariff and other blockades whilst implement flexibl e financial policies (Gao). The development of the financial sector to serve the needs of international trade and investment actions has come to be the most influential aspect of economic globalisation. As the main ambassadors of globalisation, Multinational Corporations (MNC), like McDonald, Coca Cola and Levi amongst others are organising production and allocating resources worldwide with a view to maximising profit. Their global developments are altering and restructuring macro-economic systems across global economies.(Gao) The expansion of economic globalisation also resulted in the reshaping and restructuring of global industrial structures and activities. In recent years, developed western countries and the US, whilst taking advantage of the knowledge economy, have shifted many of their labour intensive industries with poor global competitiveness, to developing countries. Conversely, due to the existence of productivity surplus since the dismantling of the Soviet Union, international competition has intensified amongst enterprises from different countries. In order to leverage their international competitiveness, enterprises are resorting to swift mergers and acquisitions, resulting in a wave of industrial reorganization. Similarly, developed countries, taking advantage of the low wage structure in developing nations, set up factories there. However, if the labour laws are altered or stricter rules introduced to govern the manufacturing process, then these factories are closed down and relocated to o ther countries with more favourable policies.(shanta Sharma). With better access to technology and liberalising of policies, developed countries are capable of producing higher quality goods at lower prices. This gives them the advantage of favourable balance of trade and thus a greater control over global financial resources and wider markets. As the biggest benefactors of economic globalisation, the United States and other Western countries have wielded considerable economic and cultural power by taking advantage of their control over international economic and financial organisations to encourage and determine the development of globalisation.(Wallerstein) Developing countries have been playing a central role in the process of economic globalisation and this is mirrored in the fact that they establish the regulations for international economic exchanges. Whilst the globalisation process has enabled developing economies to strengthen their market position by, initiating better technologies, introducing foreign capital and management experience, they also face enormous risks. Several reports indicate that globalisation has increased rather than reduced the gap between the developed and developing countries. Secondly, these countries also face the threat of being unfavourably impacted by external factors. Under open market situations, the difference between the realisation of outside economic stability and internal economic stability puts a substantial limit on their macro-economies, weakening their control and regulation.(Gao) According to a recent United Nations Development Report (1996), whilst globalisation has been a catalyst in reducing poverty and enhancing the quality of life worldwide, for e.g. since the 1970s significant developments in China and India have played a major role in reduction of world poverty, the fact remains that economic growth is not balanced across the globe.(Shanta Sharma) The world today is so interconnected that the collapse of the subprime mortgage market in the U.S. has led to a global financial crisis and recession on a scale not seen since the Great Depression. Government deregulation and failed regulation of Wall Streets investment banks were important contributors to the crises.(Shanta Sharma) Globalisation in itself cannot bring about an equitable and rational new international economic order and an expansion in which developing countries are unable to evade the boomerang effects of globalisation or fully enjoy its benefits. (Wallerstein). (ii) Social As a consequence of the continual process of globalisation a diverse world in transition is surfacing, with significant de-localisation in social and economic changes (Mohamed R). Its one where change in socio-economic conditions is rendered by impersonal, non-institutional and non-ideological forces. Whilst the last quarter of the twentieth century has seen significant increase in communications, there is considerable decrease in person to person contact (Mohamed R). Many of the activities that involved face to face dealings are now conducted over larger distances. Activities and dealings have been displaced from local origins and cultures increasingly causing people to deal with distant systems. Banking and retailing for instance have implemented new technologies that entail less person to person interaction..(infed globalization) As a social and cultural process, globalization is increasingly exposing people to different ways of thinking, cultural values and family norms. (Jorg Grahm). Globalization is a phenomenon created through human activity and that in turn constantly changes human behavior and activity and has helped shape online communities. This has led to the evolution of new identities for people and a new phase of acculturation; new ideas, new methods of work, life and governance are being shared worldwide. Now more than ever, not only societal, but intra-familial issues are also being influenced by globalization (Jorg Graham). Globalizations most profound effect is on changing gender roles and the empowerment of women. Global proliferation of communication carries ideas and currents across continents, sensitizing people in remote areas to similar agendas and promoting mutual programs, promoting greater social justice and equality. One such example is the global campaign against brand names that exploit child labor. Whilst universal equality was the fundamental social and cultural value of traditional internationalism, contemporary globalizations only commitment is in perfecting the market it turns, including all cultural products into commodities. Whilst selling is universal, production is always local. In a social context, the basic ideology of globalization is not equality, but difference. Globalization unites the markets and divides individuals, as humans can be best used for purposes of global marketing if they act as individual consumers (shanta Sharma). Religion, region, language, caste, nationality and ethnicity are used to dismantle working class solidarities or to prevent them from emerging at the work place or residential communities. (Shanta Sharma). Whilst the current social order pretends to be an active one, increasingly headed towards a growing similarity of living conditions in all countries, it cannot counteract the fact that several thousands are still deprived of the basic ne cessities of a decent life. Racial unrest in Europe today is also a direct result of unrestricted legal and illegal immigration of people of different values, particularly those from North Africa and Asia. Whilst immigration has caused a sense of loss of their identity, they refuse to integrate into the host society to hold on to their allegiances. (Maddock) (iii) Cultural Cultural globalization refers to an increase in the exchange of cultural practices between countries and peoples involving the movement of ideas, information, images and people. Although practiced for thousands of years, economic and political globalization has contributed to a spurt in cultural globalization in recent decades. Giant strides in technology and communications, particularly the internet has been the single most important factor in breaking cultural boundaries across the globe facilitating immediate communication between people of varying lifestyles and cultures.(infed) . Additionally, new technologies and their utilization like commercial air travel, satellite television and mass communications and the internet have created a world where billions now consume and share identical cultural products sports, music, lifestyles, languages, entertainment as not evidenced before, determining a new global culture(Fabian global forum global know- gloablisation). In recent decades, there is a growing shift in power away from the nation state toward multinational corporations with the rise and globalization of brands like Coca Cola and McDonald. Employing a market strategy to establish their brands as an essential part of the way people see themselves they have captured a large global market, particularly the younger generation.(infed). With rapid strides in technology and communication, a new modern wave is emerging from the West and America; something that is defined as a popular culture. This new cultural globalization has easily transcended borders, reaching poor and rich countries alike, making no distinction. In developing countries it can be witnessed in a western style of dressing, use of cellular phones and popular usage of the English language among other things, bring about deep-seated changes in conventional local cultures, values and traditions (Louis de Lamare) Rising as a tributary to economic globalization, cultural globalization is slowly replacing the traditional nation-state and homogenizing cultures and conversely a loss of individual, national and ethnic cultural identities. Whilst cultural globalization can be a profoundly enriching process, opening minds to new ideas, experiences and strengthening the finest universal values of humanity, it also brings intrusions into the local norms, cultures and traditions of individual countries. Many cultures, particularly indigenous people, treasure their culture as their richest heritage, without which they have no roots or soul. Their culture cannot be quantified. (Levin). Many believe that such rampant exposure to foreign culture is undermining their own cultural identity. Whilst capitalism favors a fast paced environment and consumer culture, its a matter of conflict for other socialist societies are used to a different lifestyle and want to preserve their traditions.(lous Lamare) . Violen t reactions against the West by elements within Islamic society can be seen in this light.(Levin). Asian values are described as those embodying the ideals of respect, hard word, thrift and the belief of the importance of the community over the individual. These are coupled with preferences for economic, social and cultural rights, rather than political ones..(Mohamed R) In doing so, they have been able to protect and nurture their traditions in the face of utilitarian modernity, slack morals and globalization (Mohamed R) Another dimension to the negative aspects of cultural globalization is the imposing of one nations culture on another. The early 1990s attempts by the United States to dolphin ban sanctions against Mexico lead to heated governmental confrontations between the two countries. The issue was not that dolphins were endangered or even threatened species, but simply American cultural mores against the killing of these animals. The Japanese whaling issue has also come under a similar cultural scanner.(Levin) Conversely, many researchers also believe that globalization has a positive impact on the homogenizing effect of national cultures. Large television networks in India have given people a wider exposure and understanding of cultures in their own nation, reaffirming their own local traditions. (iv) Political Political globalization refers to an increasing trend toward multilateralism, in which the United Nations plays a key role, toward an emerging transnational state, and toward the emergence of national and international nongovernmental organizations that act as guardians over governments. Far reaching political changes have arisen from increased economic and social globalization, with developing or newly developed economics becoming even more dependent on the activities of developed economies such as the US where there is a centralization of capital and technical expertise.(Mohamed R) . The policies of national governments in capitalist countries are mainly determined by two important dynamics: the first is the state of the national process of capital accumulation and its relative international strength; the second is the balance of class forces both nationally and internationally.(Mohamed R) As a result, globalization has reduced of power of national governments to direct and influence their economies. Shift in economic activities in Japan or US are impacted all over the globe. The internationalization of financial markets, of technology and of some manufacturing and services bring with them a new set of limitations upon the freedom of action of nation states.(Mohamed R). To survive this market drive political globalization, it is deemed necessary for governments to handle the pressures of trans-national market forces as well as domestic economies. Whilst the influence of the nation states may have diminished as a part of the globalization process, it has not all together disappeared. The nation state remains as pivotal institution in creating conditions for effective national governance (Mohamed R). On a political map, whilst national boundaries are well demarcated, those indicating financial and industrial activity have largely overlapped or disappeared. Globalization has undermined the nation state, not only by shrinking resources under the national control for shaping economic and social outcomes, but it has reduced government legitimacy and control in the eyes of the public. (Mohamed R). The decline in national power and sovereignty in globalization is attributable to two important factors. One reflects the magnitude and velocity of international economic exchanges eroding the states capabilities and the other is the extent to which market relations across borders is diminishing the citizens attachment to national authority, reducing the states legitimacy. Citizens increasingly understand the relative economic strengths and weakness of their countries as products of specific national political arrangements and of different national cultures and not as the result of diverse national advantages. Contemporary politics in developed nations shows an increasing distrust of elected representatives. Unregulated flow of capital, labor, information from outside their country, resulting in unemployment delocalization of industry, immigrants, infiltration of undesirable material through the net are all attributed to poor government policies in allowing such lapses. Paradoxically , this one outcome of globalization is assisting governments to refocus political attention on the role of the state on the boundaries of national territory. In many advanced countries a new political camp has emerged to reinforce national control at the frontiers. (Mohamed R). Conclusion Globalisation involves the diffusion of ideas, practices and technologies and the increase of worldwide social relations which link distant localities, significantly impacting on the economic, social, cultural and political dimensions of nations and its peoples. Globalization, however, is not a new phenomenon. It has existed in at various levels since the development of agriculture (Mohamed R). While it saw a spurt in the late nineteenth century, it slowed down during the period from the First World War until the third quarter of the twentieth century (Shanta Sharma). This slowdown can be attributed to the inward-looking policies pursued by a number of countries in order to protect their respective industries. However, it was with the dismantling of the Soviet Union and destruction of the Berlin Wall that contemporary globalisation commenced, giving rise to a transitional world society. The recent recession has seen corporations and institutions from developed nations moving their focus to developing countries, particularly in the East. Cheap labour, relaxed industrial norms and the capacity to shift base at short notice to countries with more favourable policies have all significantly impacted on economic globalisation. The import of raw materials from developing nations is another advantage. Multinational corporations have shifted power away from the nation state with their brand globalization. However, whilst research does indicate that globalisation has been able to alleviate global poverty, it has in many respects deepened the gap between the rich and poor nations. Economic globalisation has brought in its wake significant and far reaching changes in socio-cultural activities as well as politics. With an increase in the exchange of cultural practices, attributable largely to the internet, there is on one hand a homogenization of cultures and the transgression and loss of national ethnicity and cultures. Further, globalization has undermined the nation state, not only by shrinking resources under the national control for shaping economic and social outcomes, but it by reducing governmental legitimacy. There is an increasing trend toward multilateralism, in which the United Nations plays a main part, toward an emerging transnational state. In this constant state of flux, it is difficult to say whether an equilibrium state of world society can be achieved.

Johne Donnes the Flea Essay -- John Donne

â€Å"The Flea† John Donne observes a typical bar, every Saturday night sweat drenched bodies emitting alcohol and pheromones from every pore, exchange conversation, pleasantries, and yes even sex (perhaps not directly in view but certainly eluded to). Is this animalistic, barbaric behavior acceptable? Should sex be taken so lightheartedly? Or do we take it too seriously, guarding sex like it was the Holy Grail, or the secret to life itself? These questions may be to deep and pointed for most to approach, yet John Donne in his poem â€Å"The Flea† wades through them like the kiddy pool. In this clever poem Donne uses a flea, blood, and the murder of the flea as an analogy for the oldest most primal exchange, sex. Donne, through symbolic images, not only questions the validity of coveting virginity but also the importance of sex as it pertains to life. The metaphors in â€Å"The Flea† are plentiful, but the symbols repeated throughout the poem are clear, beginning with the most prevalent, and the flea. This small parasitic creature is chalk full of symbolic meaning. During the time this poem was written (the Renaissance) the flea was use in many poems about sex. I derive that in this particular poem the flea is symbolic of the act of sex from the speaker’s remark in the beginning, â€Å"Mark but this flea, and mark in this, how little that which deniest me is† the flea is small and inconsequential, his lady denies him sex, which the speaker believes is also petty. The flea is described as a marriage temple and a carrier of life, but in the next stanza as something insignificant and small. The speaker applies a certain duality to the flea and therefore to sex. The metaphor develops more as it relates to the other symbols. Blood is used more than once a... ...e feminine population. In this poem the speaker does not seem to be very respectful of the female he is pursuing. Of course that is conducive to the time but it also says something about the validity of the message of the poem. In synopsis the flea, blood and death of the flea are all used as metaphors for sex, the exchange of life force (a very important thing) within the act of sex (represented as something as insignificant as a flea) and then orgasm, which can feel important and significant for a period of time but is really only as important as the death of a flea. The speaker in this poem hopes to convince his lady to sleep with him by trivializing sex and comparing it to something as insignificant as a flea. Meanwhile I say lady, screw the speaker and the flea you would get more of a commitment from a machine than a guy as afraid of human contact as this one.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 44-47

CHAPTER 44 New York editor Jonas Faukman was just turning off the lights in his Manhattan office when his phone rang. He had no intention of picking up at this hour–that is, until he glimpsed the caller- ID display. This ought to be good, he thought, reaching for the receiver. â€Å"Do we still publish you?† Faukman asked, half serious. â€Å"Jonas!† Robert Langdon's voice sounded anxious. â€Å"Thank God you're there. I need your help.† Faukman's spirits lifted. â€Å"You've got pages for me to edit, Robert?† Finally? â€Å"No, I need information. Last year, I connected you with a scientist named Katherine Solomon, the sister of Peter Solomon?† Faukman frowned. No pages. â€Å"She was looking for a publisher for a book on Noetic Science? Do you remember her?† Faukman rolled his eyes. â€Å"Sure. I remember. And thanks a million for that introduction. Not only did she refuse to let me read the results of her research, she didn't want to publish anything until some magical date in the future.† â€Å"Jonas, listen to me, I don't have time. I need Katherine's phone number. Right now. Do you have it?† â€Å"I've got to warn you . . . you're acting a little desperate. She's great looking, but you're not going to impress her by–â€Å" â€Å"This is no joke, Jonas, I need her number now.† â€Å"All right . . . hold on.† Faukman and Langdon had been close friends for enough years that Faukman knew when Langdon was serious. Jonas typed the name Katherine Solomon into a search window and began scanning the company's e-mail server. â€Å"I'm looking now,† Faukman said. â€Å"And for what it's worth, when you call her, you may not want to call from the Harvard Pool. It sounds like you're in an asylum.† â€Å"I'm not at the pool. I'm in a tunnel under the U.S. Capitol.† Faukman sensed from Langdon's voice that he was not joking. What is it with this guy? â€Å"Robert, why can't you just stay home and write?† His computer pinged. â€Å"Okay, hold on . . . I got it.† He moused through the old e-mail thread. â€Å"It looks like all I have is her cell.† â€Å"I'll take it.† Faukman gave him the number. â€Å"Thanks, Jonas,† Langdon said, sounding grateful. â€Å"I owe you one.† â€Å"You owe me a manuscript, Robert. Do you have any idea how long–â€Å" The line went dead. Faukman stared at the receiver and shook his head. Book publishing would be so much easier without the authors. CHAPTER 45 Katherine Solomon did a double take when she saw the name on her caller ID. She had imagined the incoming call was from Trish, checking in to explain why she and Christopher Abaddon were taking so long. But the caller was not Trish. Far from it. Katherine felt a blushing smile cross her lips. Could tonight get any stranger? She flipped open her phone. â€Å"Don't tell me,† she said playfully. â€Å"Bookish bachelor seeking single Noetic Scientist?† â€Å"Katherine!† The deep voice belonged to Robert Langdon. â€Å"Thank God you're okay.† â€Å"Of course I'm okay,† she replied, puzzled. â€Å"Other than the fact that you never called me after that party at Peter's house last summer.† â€Å"Something has happened tonight. Please listen.† His normally smooth voice sounded ragged. â€Å"I'm so sorry to have to tell you this . . . but Peter is in serious trouble.† Katherine's smile disappeared. â€Å"What are you talking about?† â€Å"Peter . . .† Langdon hesitated as if searching for words. â€Å"I don't know how to say it, but he's been . . . taken. I'm not sure how or by whom, but–â€Å" â€Å"Taken?† Katherine demanded. â€Å"Robert, you're scaring me. Taken . . . where?† â€Å"Taken captive.† Langdon's voice cracked as if he were overwhelmed. â€Å"It must have happened earlier today or maybe yesterday.† â€Å"This isn't funny,† she said angrily. â€Å"My brother is fine. I just spoke to him fifteen minutes ago!† â€Å"You did?!† Langdon sounded stunned. â€Å"Yes! He just texted me to say he was coming to the lab.† â€Å"He texted you . . .† Langdon thought out loud. â€Å"But you didn't actually hear his voice?† â€Å"No, but–â€Å" â€Å"Listen to me. The text you received was not from your brother. Someone has Peter's phone. He's dangerous. Whoever it is tricked me into coming to Washington tonight.† â€Å"Tricked you? You're not making any sense!† â€Å"I know, I'm so sorry.† Langdon seemed uncharacteristically disorientated. â€Å"Katherine, I think you could be in danger.† Katherine Solomon was sure that Langdon would never joke about something like this, and yet he sounded like he had lost his mind. â€Å"I'm fine,† she said. â€Å"I'm locked inside a secure building!† â€Å"Read me the message you got from Peter's phone. Please.† Bewildered, Katherine pulled up the text message and read it to Langdon, feeling a chill as she came to the final part referencing Dr. Abaddon. â€Å"`If available, have Dr. Abaddon join us inside. I trust him fully . . .' â€Å" â€Å"Oh God . . .† Langdon's voice was laced with fear. â€Å"Did you invite this man inside?† â€Å"Yes! My assistant just went out to the lobby to get him. I expect them back any–â€Å" â€Å"Katherine, get out!† Langdon yelled. â€Å"Now!† At the other side of the SMSC, inside the security room, a phone began ringing, drowning out the Redskins game. The guard reluctantly pulled out his earbuds one more time. â€Å"Lobby,† he answered. â€Å"This is Kyle.† â€Å"Kyle, it's Katherine Solomon!† Her voice sounded anxious, out of breath. â€Å"Ma'am, your brother has not yet–â€Å" â€Å"Where's Trish?!† she demanded. â€Å"Can you see her on the monitors?† The guard rolled his chair over to look at the screens. â€Å"She hasn't gotten back to the Cube yet?† â€Å"No!† Katherine shouted, sounding alarmed. The guard now realized that Katherine Solomon was out of breath, as if she were running. What's going on back there? The guard quickly worked the video joystick, skimming through frames of digital video at rapid speed. â€Å"Okay, hold on, scrolling through playback . . . I've got Trish with your guest leaving the lobby . . . they move down the Street . . . fast-forwarding . . . okay, they're going into Wet Pod . . . Trish uses her key card to unlock the door . . . both of them step into Wet Pod . . . fast- forwarding . . . okay, here they are coming out of Wet Pod just a minute ago . . . heading down . . .† He cocked his head, slowing the playback. â€Å"Wait a minute. That's odd.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"The gentleman came out of Wet Pod alone.† â€Å"Trish stayed inside?† â€Å"Yes, it looks that way. I'm watching your guest now . . . he's in the hall on his own.† â€Å"Where is Trish?† Katherine asked more frantically. â€Å"I don't see her on the video feed,† he replied, an edge of anxiety creeping into his voice. He looked back at the screen and noticed that the man's jacket sleeves appeared to be wet . . . all the way up to his elbows. What in the world did he do in Wet Pod? The guard watched as the man began to move purposefully down the main hallway toward Pod 5, clutching in his hand what looked like . . . a key card. The guard felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, we've got a serious problem.† Tonight was a night of firsts for Katherine Solomon. In two years, she had never used her cell phone inside the void. Nor had she ever crossed the void at a dead run. At the moment, however, Katherine had a cell phone pressed to her ear while she was dashing blindly along the endless length of carpet. Each time she felt a foot stray from the carpet, she corrected back to center, racing on through the sheer darkness. â€Å"Where is he now?† Katherine asked the guard, breathless. â€Å"Checking now,† the guard replied. â€Å"Fast-forwarding . . . okay, here he is walking down the hall . . . moving toward Pod Five . . .† Katherine ran harder, hoping to reach the exit before she got trapped back here. â€Å"How long until he gets to the Pod Five entrance?† The guard paused. â€Å"Ma'am, you don't understand. I'm still fast-forwarding. This is recorded playback. This already happened.† He paused. â€Å"Hold on, let me check the entry event monitor.† He paused and then said, â€Å"Ma'am, Ms. Dunne's key card shows a Pod Five entry event about a minute ago.† Katherine slammed on the brakes, sliding to a halt in the middle of the abyss. â€Å"He already unlocked Pod Five?† she whispered into the phone. The guard was typing frantically. â€Å"Yes, it looks like he entered . . . ninety seconds ago.† Katherine's body went rigid. She stopped breathing. The darkness felt suddenly alive all around her. He's in here with me. In an instant, Katherine realized that the only light in the entire space was coming from her cell phone, illuminating the side of her face. â€Å"Send help,† she whispered to the guard. â€Å"And get to Wet Pod to help Trish.† Then she quietly closed her phone, extinguishing the light. Absolute darkness settled around her. She stood stock-still and breathed as quietly as possible. After a few seconds, the pungent scent of ethanol wafted out of the darkness in front of her. The smell got stronger. She could sense a presence, only a few feet in front of her on the carpet. In the silence, the pounding of Katherine's heart seemed loud enough to give her away. Silently, she stepped out of her shoes and inched to her left, sidestepping off the carpet. The cement felt cold under her feet. She took one more step to clear the carpet. One of her toes cracked. It sounded like a gunshot in the stillness. Only a few yards away, a rustle of clothing suddenly came at her out of the darkness. Katherine bolted an instant too late and a powerful arm snagged her, groping in the darkness, hands violently attempting to gain purchase. She spun away as a viselike grip caught her lab coat, yanking her backward, reeling her in. Katherine threw her arms backward, slithering out of her lab coat and slipping free. Suddenly, with no idea anymore which way was out, Katherine Solomon found herself dashing, dead blind, across an endless black abyss. CHAPTER 46 Despite containing what many have called â€Å"the most beautiful room in the world,† the Library of Congress is known less for its breathtaking splendor than for its vast collections. With over five hundred miles of shelves–enough to stretch from Washington, D.C., to Boston–it easily claims the title of largest library on earth. And yet still it expands, at a rate of over ten thousand items per day. As an early repository for Thomas Jefferson's personal collection of books on science and philosophy, the library stood as a symbol of America's commitment to the dissemination of knowledge. One of the first buildings in Washington to have electric lights, it literally shone like a beacon in the darkness of the New World. As its name implies, the Library of Congress was established to serve Congress, whose venerated members worked across the street in the Capitol Building. This age-old bond between library and Capitol had been fortified recently by the construction of a physical connection–a long tunnel beneath Independence Avenue that linked the two buildings. Tonight, inside this dimly lit tunnel, Robert Langdon followed Warren Bellamy through a construction zone, trying to quell his own deepening concern for Katherine. This lunatic is at her lab?! Langdon didn't even want to imagine why. When he had called to warn her, Langdon had told Katherine exactly where to meet him before they hung up. How much longer is this damned tunnel? His head ached now, a roiling torrent of interconnected thoughts: Katherine, Peter, the Masons, Bellamy, pyramids, ancient prophecy . . . and a map. Langdon shook it all off and pressed on. Bellamy promised me answers. When the two men finally reached the end of the passage, Bellamy guided Langdon through a set of double doors that were still under construction. Finding no way to lock the unfinished doors behind them, Bellamy improvised, grabbing an aluminum ladder from the construction supplies and leaning it precariously against the outside of the door. Then he balanced a metal bucket on top. If anyone opened the door, the bucket would crash loudly to the floor. That's our alarm system? Langdon eyed the perched bucket, hoping Bellamy had a more comprehensive plan for their safety tonight. Everything had happened so fast, and Langdon was only now starting to process the repercussions of his fleeing with Bellamy. I'm a fugitive from the CIA. Bellamy led the way around a corner, where the two men began ascending a wide staircase that was cordoned off with orange pylons. Langdon's daybag weighed him down as he climbed. â€Å"The stone pyramid,† he said, â€Å"I still don't understand–â€Å" â€Å"Not here,† Bellamy interrupted. â€Å"We'll examine it in the light. I know a safe place.† Langdon doubted such a place existed for anyone who had just physically assaulted the director of the CIA's Office of Security. As the two men reached the top of the stairs, they entered a wide hallway of Italian marble, stucco, and gold leaf. The hall was lined with eight pairs of statues–all depicting the goddess Minerva. Bellamy pressed on, leading Langdon eastward, through a vaulted archway, into a far grander space. Even in the dim, after-hours lighting, the library's great hall shone with the classical grandeur of an opulent European palace. Seventy-five feet overhead, stained-glass skylights glistened between paneled beams adorned with rare â€Å"aluminum leaf†Ã¢â‚¬â€œa metal that was considered to be more precious than gold at one time. Beneath that, a stately course of paired pillars lined the second-floor balcony, accessible by two magnificent curling staircases whose newel posts supported giant bronze female figures raising torches of enlightenment. In a bizarre attempt to reflect this theme of modern enlightenment and yet stay within the decorative register of Renaissance architecture, the stairway banisters had been carved with cupidlike putti portrayed as modern scientists. An angelic electrician holding a telephone? A cherubic entomologist with a specimen box? Langdon wondered what Bernini would have thought. â€Å"We'll talk over here,† Bellamy said, leading Langdon past the bulletproof display cases that contained the library's two most valuable books–the Giant Bible of Mainz, handwritten in the 1450s, and America's copy of the Gutenberg Bible, one of only three perfect vellum copies in the world. Fittingly, the vaulted ceiling overhead bore John White Alexander's six-panel painting titled The Evolution of the Book. Bellamy strode directly to a pair of elegant double doors at the center rear of the east-corridor wall. Langdon knew what room lay beyond those doors, but it seemed a strange choice for a conversation. Notwithstanding the irony of talking in a space filled with â€Å"Silence Please† signs, this room hardly seemed like a â€Å"safe place.† Located dead center of the library's cruciform- shaped floor plan, this chamber served as the heart of the building. Hiding in here was like breaking into a cathedral and hiding on the altar. Nonetheless, Bellamy unlocked the doors, stepped into the darkness beyond, and groped for the lights. When he flipped the switch, one of America's great architectural masterpieces seemed to materialize out of thin air. The famous reading room was a feast for the senses. A voluminous octagon rose 160 feet at its center, its eight sides finished in chocolate-brown Tennessee marble, cream-colored Siena marble, and apple-red Algerian marble. Because it was lit from eight angles, no shadows fell anywhere, creating the effect that the room itself was glowing. â€Å"Some say it's the most striking room in Washington,† Bellamy said, ushering Langdon inside. Maybe in the whole world, Langdon thought as he stepped across the threshold. As always, his gaze first ascended straight up to the towering central collar, where rays of arabesque coffers curled down the dome to an upper balcony. Encircling the room, sixteen bronze â€Å"portrait† statues peered down from the balustrade. Beneath them, a stunning arcade of archways formed a lower balcony. Down at floor level, three concentric circles of burnished wood desks radiated out from the massive octagonal circulation desk. Langdon returned his focus to Bellamy, who was now propping the room's double doors wide open. â€Å"I thought we were hiding,† Langdon said, confused. â€Å"If anyone enters the building,† Bellamy said, â€Å"I want to hear them coming.† â€Å"But won't they find us instantly in here?† â€Å"No matter where we hide, they'll find us. But if anyone corners us in this building, you'll be very glad I chose this room.† Langdon had no idea why, but Bellamy apparently wasn't looking to discuss it. He was already on the move toward the center of the room, where he selected one of the available reading desks, pulled up two chairs, and flipped on the reading light. Then he motioned to Langdon's bag. â€Å"Okay, Professor, let's have a closer look.† Not wanting to risk scratching its polished surface with a rough piece of granite, Langdon hoisted his entire bag onto the desk and unzipped it, folding the sides all the way down to reveal the pyramid inside. Warren Bellamy adjusted the reading lamp and studied the pyramid carefully. He ran his fingers over the unusual engraving. â€Å"I assume you recognize this language?† Bellamy asked. â€Å"Of course,† Langdon replied, eyeing the sixteen symbols. Known as the Freemason's Cipher, this encoded language had been used for private communication among early Masonic brothers. The encryption method had been abandoned long ago for one simple reason–it was much too easy to break. Most of the students in Langdon's senior symbology seminar could break this code in about five minutes. Langdon, with a pencil and paper, could do it in under sixty seconds. The notorious breakability of this centuries-old encryption scheme now presented a couple of paradoxes. First, the claim that Langdon was the only person on earth who could break it was absurd. Second, for Sato to suggest that a Masonic cipher was an issue of national security was like her suggesting our nuclear launch codes were encrypted with a Cracker Jack decoder ring. Langdon was still struggling to believe any of it. This pyramid is a map? Pointing to the lost wisdom of the ages? â€Å"Robert,† Bellamy said, his tone grave. â€Å"Did Director Sato tell you why she is so interested in this?† Langdon shook his head. â€Å"Not specifically. She just kept saying it was an issue of national security. I assume she's lying.† â€Å"Perhaps,† Bellamy said, rubbing the back of his neck. He seemed to be struggling with something. â€Å"But there is a far more troubling possibility.† He turned to look Langdon in the eye. â€Å"It's possible that Director Sato has discovered this pyramid's true potential.† CHAPTER 47 The blackness engulfing Katherine Solomon felt absolute. Having fled the familiar safety of the carpet, she was now groping blindly forward, her outstretched hands touching only empty space as she staggered deeper into the desolate void. Beneath her stockinged feet, the endless expanse of cold cement felt like a frozen lake . . . a hostile environment from which she now needed to escape. No longer smelling ethanol, she stopped and waited in darkness. Standing dead still, she listened, willing her heart to stop pounding so loudly. The heavy footsteps behind her seemed to have stopped. Did I lose him? Katherine closed her eyes and tried to imagine where she was. Which direction did I run? Where is the door? It was no use. She was so turned around now that the exit could be anywhere. Fear, Katherine had once heard, acted as a stimulant, sharpening the mind's ability to think. Right now, however, her fear had turned her mind into a tumbling torrent of panic and confusion. Even if I find the exit, I can't get out. Her key card had been lost when she'd shed her lab coat. Her only hope seemed to be that she was now a needle in a haystack–a single point on a thirty- thousand-square-foot grid. Despite the overwhelming urge to flee, Katherine's analytical mind told her instead to make the only logical move–no move at all. Stay still. Don't make a sound. The security guard was on his way, and for some unknown reason, her attacker smelled strongly of ethanol. If he gets too close, I'll know it. As Katherine stood in silence, her mind raced over what Langdon had said. Your brother . . . he's been taken. She felt a bead of cold sweat materialize on her arm and trickle down, toward the cell phone still clenched in her right hand. It was a danger she had forgotten to consider. If the phone rang, it would give away her position, and she could not turn it off without opening it and illuminating the display. Set down the phone . . . and move away from it. But it was too late. The smell of ethanol approached on her right. And now it grew stronger. Katherine struggled to stay calm, forcing herself to override the instinct to run. Carefully, slowly, she took one step to her left. The faint rustle of her clothing was apparently all her attacker needed. She heard him lunge, and the smell of ethanol washed over her as a powerful hand grabbed at her shoulder. She twisted away, raw terror gripping her. Mathematical probability went out the window, and Katherine broke into a blind sprint. She veered hard to the left, changing course, dashing blindly now into the void. The wall materialized out of nowhere. Katherine hit it hard, knocking the wind from her lungs. Pain blossomed in her arm and shoulder, but she managed to stay on her feet. The oblique angle at which she had collided with the wall had spared her the full force of the blow, but it was little comfort now. The sound had echoed everywhere. He knows where I am. Doubled over in pain, she turned her head and stared out into the blackness of the pod and sensed him staring back at her. Change your location. Now! Still struggling to catch her breath, she began moving down the wall, touching her left hand quietly to each exposed steel stud as she passed. Stay along the wall. Slip past him before he corners you. In her right hand, Katherine still clutched her cell phone, ready to hurl it as a projectile if need be. Katherine was in no way prepared for the sound she heard next–the clear rustle of clothing directly in front of her . . . against the wall. She froze, stock-still, and stopped breathing. How could he be on the wall already? She felt a faint puff of air, laced with the stench of ethanol. He's moving down the wall toward me! Katherine backed up several steps. Then, turning silently 180 degrees, she began moving quickly in the opposite direction down the wall. She moved twenty feet or so when the impossible happened. Once again, directly in front of her, along the wall, she heard the rustling sound of clothing. Then came the same puff of air and the smell of ethanol. Katherine Solomon froze in place. My God, he's everywhere! Bare-chested, Mal'akh stared into the darkness. The smell of ethanol on his sleeves had proven a liability, and so he had transformed it into an asset, stripping off his shirt and jacket and using them to help corner his prey. Throwing his jacket against the wall to the right, he had heard Katherine stop short and change direction. Now, having thrown his shirt ahead to the left, Mal'akh had heard her stop again. He had effectively corralled Katherine against the wall by establishing points beyond which she dared not pass. Now he waited, ears straining in the silence. She has only one direction she can move–directly toward me. Even so, Mal'akh heard nothing. Either Katherine was paralyzed with fear, or she had decided to stand still and wait for help to enter Pod 5. Either way she loses. Nobody would be entering Pod 5 anytime soon; Mal'akh had disabled the outer keypad with a very crude, yet very effective, technique. After using Trish's key card, he had rammed a single dime deep into the key-card slot to prevent any other key-card use without first dismantling the entire mechanism. You and I are alone, Katherine . . . for as long as this takes. Mal'akh inched silently forward, listening for any movement. Katherine Solomon would die tonight in the darkness of her brother's museum. A poetic end. Mal'akh looked forward to sharing the news of Katherine's death with her brother. The old man's anguish would be long- awaited revenge. Suddenly in the darkness, to Mal'akh's great surprise, he saw a tiny glow in the distance and realized Katherine had just made a deadly error in judgment. She's phoning for help?! The electronic display that had just flickered to life was hovering waist high, about twenty yards ahead, like a shining beacon on a vast ocean of black. Mal'akh had been prepared to wait Katherine out, but now he wouldn't have to. Mal'akh sprang into motion, racing toward the hovering light, knowing he had to reach her before she could complete her call for help. He was there in a matter of seconds, and he lunged, arms outstretched on either side of her glowing cell phone, preparing to engulf her. Mal'akh's fingers jammed into a solid wall, bending backward and almost breaking. His head collided next, crashing into a steel beam. He cried out in pain as he crumpled beside the wall. Cursing, he clambered back to his feet, pulling himself up by the waist-high, horizontal strut on which Katherine Solomon had cleverly placed her open cell phone. Katherine was running again, this time with no concern for the noise her hand was making as it bounced rhythmically off the evenly spaced metal studs of Pod 5. Run! If she followed the wall all the way around the pod, she knew that sooner or later she would feel the exit door. Where the hell is the guard? The even spacing of the studs continued as she ran with her left hand on the sidewall and her right out in front of her for protection. When will I reach the corner? The sidewall seemed to go on and on, but suddenly the rhythm of the studs was broken. Her left hand hit empty space for several long strides, and then the studs began again. Katherine slammed on the brakes and backed up, feeling her way across the smooth metal panel. Why are there no studs here? She could hear her attacker lumbering loudly after her now, groping his way down the wall in her direction. Even so, it was a different sound that scared Katherine even more–the distant rhythmic banging of a security guard pounding his flashlight against the Pod 5 door. The guard can't get in? While the thought was terrifying, the location of his banging–diagonally to her right–instantly oriented Katherine. She could now picture where in Pod 5 she was located. The visual flash brought with it an unexpected realization. She now knew what this flat panel on the wall was. Every pod was equipped with a specimen bay–a giant movable wall that could be retracted for transporting oversize specimens in and out of the pods. Like those of an airplane hangar, this door was mammoth, and Katherine in her wildest dreams had never imagined needing to open it. At the moment, though, it seemed like her only hope. Is it even operable? Katherine fumbled blindly in the blackness, searching the bay door until she found the large metal handle. Grasping it, she threw her weight backward, trying to slide open the door. Nothing. She tried again. It didn't budge. She could hear her attacker closing faster now, homing in on the sounds of her efforts. The bay door is locked! Wild with panic, she slid her hands all over the door, feeling the surface for any latch or lever. She suddenly hit what felt like a vertical pole. She followed it down to the floor, crouching, and could feel it was inserted into a hole in the cement. A security rod! She stood up, grabbed the pole, and, lifting with her legs, slid the rod up and out of the hole. He's almost here! Katherine groped now for the handle, found it again, and heaved back on it with all her might. The massive panel seemed barely to move, and yet a sliver of moonlight now sliced into Pod 5. Katherine pulled again. The shaft of light from outside the building grew wider. A little more! She pulled one last time, sensing her attacker was now only a few feet away. Leaping toward the light, Katherine wriggled her slender body sideways into the opening. A hand materialized in the darkness, clawing at her, trying to pull her back inside. She heaved herself through the opening, pursued by a massive bare arm that was covered with tattooed scales. The terrifying arm writhed like an angry snake trying to seize her. Katherine spun and fled down the long, pale outer wall of Pod 5. The bed of loose stones that surrounded the entire perimeter of the SMSC cut into her stockinged feet as she ran, but she pressed on, heading for the main entrance. The night was dark, but with her eyes fully dilated from the utter blackness of Pod 5, she could see perfectly–almost as if it were daylight. Behind her, the heavy bay door ground open, and she heard heavy footsteps accelerating in pursuit down the side of the building. The footsteps seemed impossibly fast. I'll never outrun him to the main entrance. She knew her Volvo was closer, but even that would be too far. I'm not going to make it. Then Katherine realized she had one final card to play. As she neared the corner of Pod 5, she could hear his footsteps quickly overtaking her in the darkness. Now or never. Instead of rounding the corner, Katherine suddenly cut hard to her left, away from the building, out onto the grass. As she did so, she closed her eyes tightly, placed both hands over her face, and began running totally blind across the lawn. The motion-activated security lighting that blazed to life around Pod 5 transformed night into day instantly. Katherine heard a scream of pain behind her as the brilliant floodlights seared into her assailant's hyper dilated pupils with over twenty-five-million candlepower of light. She could hear him stumbling on the loose stones. Katherine kept her eyes tightly closed, trusting herself on the open lawn. When she sensed she was far enough away from the building and the lights, she opened her eyes, corrected her course, and ran like hell through the dark. Her Volvo's keys were exactly where she always left them, in the center console. Breathless, she seized the keys in her trembling hands and found the ignition. The engine roared to life, and her headlights flipped on, illuminating a terrifying sight. A hideous form raced toward her. Katherine froze for an instant. The creature caught in her headlights was a bald and bare-chested animal, its skin covered with tattooed scales, symbols, and text. He bellowed as he ran into the glare, raising his hands before his eyes like a cave-dwelling beast seeing sunlight for the first time. She reached for the gearshift but suddenly he was there, hurling his elbow through her side window, sending a shower of safety glass into her lap. A massive scale-covered arm burst through her window, groping half blind, finding her neck. She threw the car in reverse, but her attacker had latched on to her throat, squeezing with unimaginable force. She turned her head in an attempt to escape his grasp, and suddenly she was staring at his face. Three dark stripes, like fingernail scratches, had torn through his face makeup to reveal the tattoos beneath. His eyes were wild and ruthless. â€Å"I should have killed you ten years ago,† he growled. â€Å"The night I killed your mother.† As his words registered, Katherine was seized by a horrifying memory: that feral look in his eyes–she had seen it before. It's him. She would have screamed had it not been for the viselike grip around her neck. She smashed her foot onto the accelerator, and the car lurched backward, almost snapping her neck as he was dragged beside her car. The Volvo careened up an inclined median, and Katherine could feel her neck about to give way beneath his weight. Suddenly tree branches were scraping the side of her car, slapping through the side windows, and the weight was gone. The car burst through the evergreens and out into the upper parking lot, where Katherine slammed on the brakes. Below her, the half-naked man clambered to his feet, staring into her headlights. With a terrifying calm, he raised a menacing scale-covered arm and pointed directly at her. Katherine's blood coursed with raw fear and hatred as she spun the wheel and hit the gas. Seconds later, she was fishtailing out onto Silver Hill Road.

Methods Of Translation Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Methods Of Translation Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Methods Of Translation 1. There are eight types of translation: word-for-word translation, literal translation, faithful translation, semantic translation, adaptive translation, free translation, idiomatic translation, and communicative translation. 2. Word For Word translation: ul liThe SL word order is preserved and the words translated by their most common meanings. Cultural words are translated literally. The main use of this method is either to understand the mechanics of the source language or to construe a difficult text as pre-translation process. / li /ul 3. Literal translation: ul liThe SL grammatical constructions are converted to their nearest TL equivalents but the lexical items are again translated out of context. As pre-translation process, it indicates problems to be solved . / li /ul 4. Faithful translation: ul li It attempts to reproduce the precise contextual meaning of the original within the constraints of the TL grammatical structures. It transfers cultural words and preserves the degree of grammatical and lexical deviation from SL norms. It attempts to be completely faithful to the intentions and the text- realisation of the SL writer. / li /ul 5. Semantic translation: ul liIt differs from faithful translation only in as far as it must take more account of the aesthetic value of the SL text, compromising on 7meaning where appropriate so that no assonance, word play or repetition jars in the finished version. It does not rely on cultural equivalence and makes very small concessions to the readership. While 'faithful' translation is dogmatic, semantic translation is more flexible. / li /ul 6. Communicative translation: ul li It attempts to render the exact contextual meaning of the original in such a way that both language and content are readily acceptable and comprehensible to the readership. / li /ul 7. Idiomatic translation: ul li It reproduces the message of the original but tends to distort nuances of meaning by preferring colloquialisms and idioms. / li /ul 8. Free translation: ul li It reproduces the matter without the manner, or the content without the form of the original. Usually it is a paraphrase much longer than the original. / li /ul 9. Adaptation: ul li This is the freest form of translation mainly used for plays and poetry: themes/ characters/ plots preserved, SL culture converted to TL culture text is rewritten. (From A Textbook of Translation by P. Newmark ) /li/ ul Recommended Shakespeare in German Elizabethan Deutsch Strange as it may seem, the German Shakespeare Society (die Deutsche Shakespeare-Gesellschaft, DSG) is the world's oldest! Founded in 1864, on the occasion of the Bard's 300th birthday (zum 300. Geburtstag vom Barden), the Society's headquarters are in Weimar, a city also closely associated with the real "German Shakespeares," Friedrich Schiller andJohann Wolfgang von Goethe. Divided by the Cold War and the Berlin Wall for three decades, Germany's oldest literary society successfully managed its own reunification in 1993. Each year in April (the month of Shakespeare's birth and death) the DSG sponsors its "Shakespeare-Tage" (Shakespeare Days), an international event held in either Weimar or Bochum, the former western headquarters, in alternate years. The Society also promotes other meetings, seminars and research, and publishes a book-like annual journal,Das Shakespeare-Jahrbuch, in English and German. (See the DSG Web site link on ourShakespeare links pagefor more about the Deutsche Shakespeare-Gesellschaft.) Sein oder Nichtseindas ist die Frage!"To be, or not to be, that is the question." The German fascination with Shakespeare began in the early 1700s when English repertoire companies crossed theArmelkanal(English Channel) to perform the Bard's plays all across Germany and Europe. Translations of Shakespeare's words have become so much a part of the German language, that Germans can be forgiven if they sometimes seem to forget that William Shakespeare was notWilhelmShakespeare! In fact, the Germans take a back seat to no one when it comes to honoring the greatest English poet of all time. They do so by performing and attending his plays (more performances each year than in Britain!), using his words and phrases, and by joining Shakespeare clubs and associations. There's even a replica of the Globe Theatre in Neuss, Germany, not far from Dsseldorf. Each season in Neuss the German Globe offers a program of Shakespeare productionsin both German and English. (See