Price trends of personal computers Essay

Charles Babbage invented the first computer in the 19th century. Since then various models have evolved and advancing technology has created machines that can achieve superhuman tasks within seconds leaving no room for error. These processing machines have revolutionized all aspects of human lives starting from simple typing and calculations to enabling complex business transactions and connecting millions of individuals to huge volumes of data and information available at their fingertips. An individual can now access unlimited information through the Internet, communicate online through emails and chats, carry on business meetings sitting in their homes with delegates located at the other end of the globe through video conferencing and reach out to millions of potential consumers for their products and services with the help of e-commerce applications. The computer has come a long way in the past few years and the increased utility and broadened scope has raised the market demand for this gadget in the global market. Market Demand for Personal Computers The market demand for personal computers has witnessed huge increase in the past few years. Initially computers were purchased by only a handful of individuals and organizations limited to government and large corporations. This was largely accountable to the huge costs involved in acquiring a computer added to the space constraint that it posed due to its big size. The computers would occupy a single room with too much wires and power requirements that required heavy maintenance and careful handling. However, with advancing technology the size of computers began to get smaller and smaller and the manufacturing of smaller processing chips made this possible. The smaller size of computers made it possible for the consumers to purchase for their businesses and eventually for their homes. Today the economy is greatly driven by the computers and their all-pervading applications that have transformed the way business strategies are designed and implemented. The e-commerce and online training and learning applications have created a huge market demand for computers in all spheres of life. This gadget has made it possible for individuals to carry on working from the comforts of their homes without having to commute to their offices on a regular basis. Schools, colleges, other educational and training institutions, along with shops and establishments, malls, small or big business enterprises cannot do without computers. Most business establishments have computerized their operations and departmental processes to catch up with times and reap the extraordinary benefits of faster and accurate processing of work. The rapid advancement in the telecommunication sector too has made a big impact on the sales of computers. The availability of high-speed broadband connectivity along with cheaper rates has boosted the market for these machines both in developed and developing countries. The sales of computers have gone up in the past few decades owing to these factors. Human beings by nature are possessed with the desire to have the latest technology and this holds much credence with the high tech savvy younger generations who are the prime user groups and consumers of these gadgets. The more advanced the technology the greater the appeal it holds for this group of consumers. The first personal computer MITS Altair 8080 was launched in the year 1975 and only a few thousand machines were sold within a period of 1 year of the launch. The market for personal computers has now reached to more than 4. 4 million units of personal computers sold in the year 2007 (source: just4business. com). The market share for macintosh gradually declined from 3. 2 percent in the year 1999 to 1. 98 percent in the year 2004 and the IBM personal computers gaining stronghold over the market. Source: Ars technica Price trend of computers Pricing of a product is an important determinant in establishing the market share and personal computers too have witnessed a steady fall in the price segment largely to attract greater market share. The pricing trend in the computer industry is to a great extent influenced by the rapid pace of advancing technology that renders the existing one obsolete in matter of a few years. The users are left with no other option but to upgrade their existing machines or invest in new improved versions equipped with latest features and enhancements. This trend is unique to the computer industry and can be evidenced in the regular pace of new models and versions that have in fluxed the market within the past one-decade. The massive supercomputers have given way to smaller desktops that rapidly paved the way for portable laptops and notebooks. Another essential factor that has influenced the pricing trend of computers is the universality in applications of computers today. The wide range of tasks and areas in which the computers have found universal acceptance has created a huge demand for these machines. The growing demand and increasing applications thus play a significant role in determining the price of computers. Initially the price of supercomputers ranged approximately between US$ 5 million to US$ 25 million. With advancing technology and increased usage the price of computers started dropping heavily. The price of personal computers has been witnessing a downward curve in the past few years despite growing demand. A survey carried out by the German Association for Information Management, Telecommunications, and New Media the number of computers sold in the year 2007 reached 4. illion units. The prices have dropped owing to the increasing demand and supply of various models in the market. Owing to the huge market demand for personal computers many suppliers have entered the market manufacturing on a large scale resulting in increased supply of machines. Moreover, the computer industry being very dynamic in character accounts for new models featuring enhanced technology and improved capabilities being introduced at a rapid pace. This renders the old models obsolete requiring regular upgradation and feature enhancements. The extraordinary pace at which technology is producing new versions and chips having increased processing capacities the market are always flooded with new models and new technology. If the supplier wants to reap benefits from the market he needs to keep the models within accessible price range to lure the customers into buying his product. High price ranges will shift the consumers to other models having similar features or even better the assembled personal computer that can be very cost effective for the consumers. Too many alternatives and choices available in the market have spoiled the consumers to a great extent. The Gartner report on computer sales states that the ongoing replacement cycle has defined the increasing sales of personal computers. It is observed that the last strong phase for the sales of personal computers was in the year 1999 and the recent years have witnessed increasing sales of laptops and notebooks as replacement to their desktop computers. More and more suppliers have in fluxed the market with new models and features in laptops and notebooks and the prices of these categories of computers have dropped by nearly 25 percent since 2006. This strategy is aimed at attracting more consumers to buy their brands and the manufacturers also realize that since the consumer has several alternatives available to him price can be an important decision making factor in influencing purchase. The basic law of demand and supply influences the principle of price economics. There are many theories attached to pricing strategies adopted by businesses globally but the fundamental principle lays the same for all products or services. â€Å"Many factors affect the quantity and type of goods producers supply and the quantity and types of goods consumers buy, and all these variables are integrated into one unit: price. In a free market, prices are based on the interaction of supply and demand, which themselves are based on individual judgements and values, not on executive caprice. Prices are not subjective† (Saraka, 2008). Conclusion The 21st century has witnessed many changes in the computer industry with new enhanced operating systems making their way into the market and better-equipped hardware attracting the consumer attention. The market share for both personal computers and laptops increased steadily with exploding demand from all corners of the globe.

Micheal Jordan

Basketball is a team sport with five players per team. There’s a center, power forward, small forward, point guard, and shooting guard. Brought up in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, it has become one of the most popular and widely viewed sports in America. The objective of basketball is to shoot a round ball into a hoop placed ten feet in the air. Basketball consists of many rules and regulations or fouls. There are two types of fouls: technical fouls and disqualifying fouls. Today there are two leagues: the NBA (national basketball association) and the WNBA or women’s basketball association.Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn New York. He began to try to start his sports career by playing all available sports in high school. His junior year he was recruited to the University of North Carolina to play college basketball and from there he was drafted third overall to the Chicago Bulls in 1997 were his career starts and he becomes the widely popul ar icon you know. Michael started his team with a championship and an MVP award for himself. Jordan â€Å"transcended† basketball and became a national icon for great artistry, dignity, and history. Michael is very popular and has many nicknames.He had names that transcended basketball. Names such as â€Å"Air Jordan â€Å"and â€Å"His Airness â€Å" but he’s best known by his initials M. J. Jordan was very well known and acknowledged by big stars. He starred in the movie â€Å"Space Jam† and was the star of the movie â€Å"Like Mike†. He has his own shoe line that came out in 1985 and is called Air Jordan’s which are widely popular and sponsored by Nike. Jordan is sponsored by many companies and he has been in many commercials supporting them. He has been in commercials such as Wheaties, Gatorade, McDonalds, Nike, and many more. Jordan has been to the Olympics twice for basketball.He has been to Los Angeles in 1984 where he and his team took the gold. He also went to Barcelona in 1992 with his â€Å"Dream Team† were they took the gold again. He’s also been to two other American games were he also took the gold. He was in the FIBA American Games in Portland during 1992 and the Pan American Games in Caracas during 1983. Michael is now forty-six years old and owns the Charlotte Bobcats and other sports teams. He retired early in the 2004 season to his house in Wilmington, North Carolina. Jordan retired with over three hundred million dollars in his bank account.He has three kids, two boys Larry Jordan and James R. Jordan Jr. He also has a daughter Jasmine Jordan who was his youngest child. Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls who are one of the most popular and decorated teams in American history. The team was founded in 1966 by Dick Klein. Their owner is Jerry Reinsdorf their general manager is Gar Forman and their head coach Tom Thibodeau. The team has an estimated value of 600 million dollars. The team has won six championships and six MVP awards. Their also the only team in recorded history to win seventy-two games in one season.There part of the central division and the eastern conference. Their colors are white, black, and red. And they have an era devoted to M. J. called the Michael Jordan era which took place in the years 1984 through 1998. Michael Jordan is the biggest idol in basketball and sports history. He is widely known and very popular. Michael changed basketball history. He was a turning point in basketball that led the basketball world to new heights by inventing the â€Å" dunk â€Å" and many other things that are natural to see in basketball now. He changed basketball its fans and the world.

Market Failure: Kelloggs Cereal-Mates

A Study on Market Failure: Kellogg Cereal-Mates First, I must begin by saying that as most Americans would agree – cereal and milk go together hand-in-hand. However, how would the general public feel about a combination of the two sold pre-mixed? This was essentially the case when Kellogg’s decided to introduce Breakfast Mates. Breakfast Mates included a small box of Kellogg’s cereal packaged with a container of milk and eating utensil. While the product was right in step with the accelerating trend of convenience foods, a fickle and demanding public found the new packaging less than ideal.Essentially the choice that Kelloggs was giving consumers was that you could eat your Kellogg’s Corn Flakes refrigerator cold and pour cold milk over them, or eat your flakes at room temperature with warm milk. This led to a dilemma that would ultimately be proven as a scar on the company’s record of wonderful products and marketing campaigns. Kellogg’s bel ieve that this would be a popular concept due to increased working hours in the United States combined with the rise of the fast-food industry led the false belief that the product would be successful. Kellogg’s launched the concept on a national basis in ‘kit form’–a four oz. ox of cereal, a four oz. container of aseptically packaged milk [no refrigeration required] and a plastic spoon. The line consisted of four popular Kellogg’s brands; Corn Flakes; Fruit Loops; Mini Wheats; and Frosted Flakes. Although the milk did not require refrigeration, Kellogg’s placed Breakfast Mates in the refrigerated dairy case alongside cheese, yogurt, Jell-O pudding, and other refrigerated desserts. The company believed that this would be the best choice since Americans liked to pour their milk over cereal. This caused much confusion, however, because most individuals wouldn’t be searching for breakfast cereals in the dairy case.I feel that there were 5 main factors that actually led to this marketing and product failure. The first problem I feel was the fact that Kellogg’s believed that providing a â€Å"aseptically packaging†. This meant that the product would require no refrigeration for the milk. Consumers were revolted by the idea of warm milk. The second issue was when Kellogg’s tried to market in a different fashion and use cool milk as the basis by putting the product in the refrigerator section. This actually caused more confusion because the product was not in a location that you would expect cereal at.They company spent too much of what profit money they had received in trying to re-educate consumers into looking in the dairy aisle for cereal. The third factor that led to the products unsuccessful stint into the marketplace was their advertising campaign. In these ads Kelloggs chose to market the product to young kids so they could prepare meals for themselves without their parents’ help. Thi s would have been fine, but the packaging was not child-friendly. Taste was also a serious problem for the Kellogg’s convenience line. Reportedly (according to personal experience), the milk was usually consumed at work or away from home.The warm milk tasted absolutely terrible. Finally, the biggest nail in the coffin for this product was that the price. The cereal was selling for over one dollar per serving, which was considered too expensive by most consumers for a 4 oz cereal. The product survived two years on the market before Kelloggs’ pulled the plug. According to the February 2000 article in the Newsweek on the food, they stated that the product simply wasn’t convenient enough. This is because with increased commute times and busy schedules people wanted a product they could eat on the go.With cereal mates they were required to still pour a liquid milk over the cereal which was not possible to do safely while commuting to work. Most customers also were ad ults, so the small spoon that was supplied with the cereal was too hard to use. I feel that this was a good product in concept, but the complexity of the concept made this product non-attractive to those who not only were needing a convenient and healthy food, but also one they could consume in a hurry. This idea later evolved to the milk and cereal bars they would later introduce around 2004 – which have been wildly more successful than the original cereal mates ever were.

Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Business Strategy - Essay Example Jayesh (2012) further added that strategic alliances differ from mergers and acquisitions on the aspect that under strategic alliances, the partner companies maintain their autonomy or independence, which is not usually the case under mergers and acquisitions. Secondly, companies that form strategic alliances are not usually involved in direct competition but rather they offer related products and/ or services that are directed towards similar target consumers. According to Dorata (2012), there are various forms of strategic alliances and they include direct cooperation, which is the most common. The second form of strategic alliance is joint ventures whereby different companies come together and form a separate entity that they jointly own and manage together. The other form of strategic alliance is minority investments mostly in new and fast growing business organisations. Advantages Dorata (2012) in his writings listed the most common advantages of strategic alliances of which one of them is the fact that it enables companies to offer a wide variety of goods and/ or services to their consumers without incurring huge cost or spending lengthy durations in developing new products. Secondly, Dorata (2012) noted that businesses usually enter into strategic alliances to obtain competitive advantages that they would not have otherwise obtained if they operated on a solo basis. Therefore, strategic alliances enable businesses to expand more rapidly while still maintaining their autonomy unlike mergers and acquisitions strategy. Consequently, it is correct to assert that strategic alliances enable businesses to expand its customer base since it is able to reach a wide target market. Specifically to the car industry, Jayesh (2012) stated that among the companies that have recorded competitive advantages because of strategic alliances include Fuji and Toyota, which have jointly cooperated in various projects. Fuji gained an advantage from its strategic alliance with To yota based on the research and development that was conducted by Toyota that lead to the development of the Toyota’s gas-electric Prius hybrid model. Because of their strategic alliance, Fuji was also able to develop their first Subaru hybrid mainly based on the Toyota technology that was used in the manufacture of first gas-electric car (Hill, 2010). Another strategic alliance in the car industry is the one between Fiat and Chrysler that enabled the two companies to share their technology, distribution channels, and vehicle platforms. This strategic alliance was viewed to be of much benefit to Chrysler, which was struggling financially at the time when both companies where entering a strategic alliance and therefore, it was able to gain added advantages without losing its independence despite its financial position at that time (Hill, 2010). Another example of strategic alliance that demonstrated the advantages of strategic alliance over mergers and acquisition is the one be tween General Motors and Fiat that enabled both companies to benefit from reduced cost of operating, common architecture and platforms, increased efficiency in financial service operations, and cross-sharing of automotive technologies (Hill, 2010). Disadvantages According to the writings by Dorata (2012), the key disadvantage of strategic alliance is because of the fact that neither of the companies gains

Division of Labour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Division of Labour - Essay Example This paper highlights that people usually focus on the interests of others in pursuit of their own interest and not out of humanity. Never do we refer to our personal needs, but the interest of others. The size of the production unit is one factor that determines the division of labour. The bigger the production unit, the higher is the propensity to divide work into smaller units to increase productivity. Smaller industries do not need as much division of labour as large productions units. The nature of the industry also plays a great role in determining the extent of division of labour. Manufacturing factories will need more division in their labour than agricultural industry, where activities cannot easily be divided. From the look of things, division of labour is not driven by wisdom, but trade. Every individual who lacks something proposes to his or her neighbour to exchange what they have for what they need. Division of labour arises out treaty, barter that people acquire what they lack. Adam Smith explains with the case of a tribe of hunters or shepherds. In his example, the individual who makes bows and arrows regularly trade them for cattle or for venison with his compatriots. His productivity can increase by focusing more on his production of bows and arrows for which he exchanges for more cattle and venison.

5 questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

5 questions - Essay Example The business would be mainly financed by my own money ( savings); however, a loan would also be secured to ensure that all the physical set-up of the place as well as operational expenses would be covered for the first six months of operation. The planning part is executed well since the owners have already prepared a reasonable budget. There is also a need to spend for marketing by hiring a public relations agency that can suitably promote the restaurant to its target market. The cafà © can be considered competitive for three good reasons 1) the food selection that is considered healthy for the heart 2) the cozy and intimate ambience that is different from other competitors since our cafà © has a love theme 3) excellent service to the customers. As for the third reason, the owners have decided to give attention to the training and development of its crew since good service is highly correlated with profitability. In conclusion, this cafà © business would be profitable on the assu mption that quality service and good promotions would be implemented by the

MGT 350 MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES Essay

MGT 350 MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES - Essay Example The study will be therefore interesting as it will provide us with an intuit understanding of the reasons behind the struggling for survival of one company with the incurrence of such huge losses while the other company which is Toyota Motor Corporation is generating profit profits every year (Carr-Ruffino, & Acheson, 2007). To gain an in-depth understanding of both companies and the reasons behind the success of one and the losses by the other, this study will further make analysis of the contrasting strategies employed by both companies. Various studies on the situation of general motors has come to a conclusion that the problems facing General motors bore more significance that are beyond those directly involved (Saunders, 1989). It must thus be realized that the failure of General Motors will not only have huge psychological, social and economic impact in the United States where it has asserted its place as an iconic automobile manufacturer, but its failure will negatively impact on the United States economy in addition to adversely affecting other economies. Hence, the failure of General Motors would result to repercussions that would be felt worldwide (Drucker, 1994). General Motors Corporation History General Motors (GM) first came into existence in 1908 in Flint, Michigan as a holding company back then for Buick and was then controlled by William C. Durant. The company later acquired Oldsmobile later the same year (Cummings, 1993). Later, Durant brought in Cadillac, Oakland which later came to be known as Pontiac and Elmore amongst many more others. Reliance Motor Truck Company of Owosso, Michigan was acquired in 1909 in addition to the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company of Pontiac, Michigan which served as the predecessor of GMC Truck (Drucker, 1994). In charge of the corporation was Alfred Sloan who led the company to its post-war global dominance. The unprecedented growth of the company lasted through the late 70s into the early 80’s. The internation al expansion of the company continued through the establishment of General Motors Overseas Operation in 1938 which was in charge of all vehicles manufacturing and marketing outside the United States and Canada. This growth continued in the 1990s (Marketline, 2007). The Core Business of General Motors The core business of General Motors Corporation is to engage in the development, production and marketing of trucks, cars and automobile parts in addition to being engaged in insurance and finance operations. The primary operations of the company are centralized in North America and Europe with its headquarters being located in Detroit, Michigan and with a worldwide employee population of 280, 000 (Marketline, 2007). Core Technologies employed by General Motors Each of General Motors automotive divisions target specific market segments despite some having some shared components; the distinguishing factor between each division is the unique styling and technology employed. The strategy o f General Motors for core technology is aimed at sharing components and common corporate management in a bid to create an upgrade path that is orderly (Carr-Ruffino, & Acheson, 2007). The entry level buyer starts with a very practical but which is at the same time economical, Chevrolet, and moving through the offerings of the different divisions until one purchases a Cadillac. Manufacturing

Historical and Theoretical Perspectives on Teaching Reading Essay

Historical and Theoretical Perspectives on Teaching Reading - Essay Example In addition, the findings would be related in terms of their impact on classroom instruction by providing specific and supportive evidence for each theme or issue from the readings and from one’s personal experience, as required. The whole language approach emerged in the 1980s more as a philosophy than a mere teaching methodology. According to Todays-Learners (2010, par. 19), â€Å"reading should not be taught, but rather acquired through trial and error†. Promoters of this technique emphasize that students can substitute words with those that they commonly use as long as the idea remains the same. Correct spelling of words is not so much given priority for as long as the thoughts and concepts are appropriately ingrained (Todays-Learners, 2010, pars. 19 – 23). The modernist perspective has been discussed by Serafini (2003, par. 16) through a review of various scholars’ discourse on the subject; such as Street, De Castell & Luke, and Siegel & Fernandez, among others. This view contends that â€Å"reading is viewed as a cognitive, psychological process divorced from any of the forces that are inherent in social, political, or cultural institutions† (Serafini, 2003, par. 16) Children taught under this approach are given reading materials which are fluently read aloud and concurrently focusing on the main theme of the story or text. Teachers focus more on the diction and pronunciation of the texts as well as determining if the students are able to comprehend the main theme of the story. One of the more contemporary approaches associated with this perspective is the balanced or eclectic approach which utilized phonics and skills instruction into the teaching of reading. Stoicheva (1999) cited Cunningham and Hall (1998) describing â€Å"a balanced framework for literacy where instruction is divided equally between the four

Women can be better leaders than men Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Women can be better leaders than men - Essay Example During all centuries it has been considered that men are those who win in this unequal battle. I strongly believe that it happens due to the fact that we have been living in the patriarchal society. It can be explained by the fact that up to the 20th century the most important thing both in the life of individual and in life of the whole countries was physical force. The world lived in the state of permanent wartime – the weapon emplacements appeared in the whole world, every time in different places. And the only thing that could contribute to the result of war was men force. Since ancient times men were chosen to be leaders of societies, tribes, droves and countries. In today’s world that is subordinated not to the physical force but to the intellectual one, women have much more possibilities to show their creativity and potential. More and more women nowadays run the companies or societies, participate in political life and at the same time have those responsibilities of mothers, daughters and sisters. So, the question is â€Å"Does gender influence the leadership potential and skills? What is the difference in the way a woman or man leads other people in an organization oÐ º society? Do those women who obtained the leading posts have any distinguished qualities of character? Why do they have it when the majority of women prefer to neglect it? Female leaders are more aggressive and convincing, demand strictly the orders to be done and, surprisingly, tend to take greater risks than male do. I would like to notice, that it has always been believed that men are more risky creatures than women are, but according to the latest researchers women are more impulsive and that is why they easily take risk. Scientists claim that women are more flexible in communication but at the same tougher in their demand, they are more sympathetic with the problems of the suppliers and employees. Women demand from the members of the organization

Ethics - End of Life Choice Essay Example for Free

Ethics End of Life Choice Essay Being a member of the hospital Ethics Committee, it is my responsibility to make policy recommendations on end-of-life issues. Due to my intellect and reputation as a clear thinker, my ideas on this matter carry a lot of weight with the other members of the committee. Within this paper I will make a strong and convincing case for my position and recommendations on this topic. This paper will address the following question: What, if anything, should be done to help people who are dying? First I must start off with the obvious question: Is the patient an adult of 18 years or older who is terminally ill and of clear and sound mind to authorize assisted death intervention? If the answer is yes, then we should follow the wishes of the patient. Ultimately, it is their body; their life and they should have the right to choose. That being said, I do believe that guidelines should be established and followed in order to assure that the welfare of the patient is the only priority. Such guidelines should be made that reflect the three states that currently have laws in place for assisted death, which are, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. The law should include but not limited to, a capable adult who has been diagnosed, by a physician, with a terminal illness that will kill the patient within six months may request in writing, from his or her physician, a prescription for a lethal dose of medication for the purpose of ending the patients life. Exercise of the option under this law is voluntary and the patient must initiate the request. Any physician, pharmacist or healthcare provider who has moral objections may refuse to participate. The request must be confirmed by two witnesses, at least one of whom is not related to the patient, is not entitled to any portion of the patients estate, is not the patients physician, and is not employed by a health care facility caring for the patient. After the request is made, another physician must examine the patients medical records and confirm the diagnosis. The patient must be determined to be free of a mental condition impairing judgment. If the request is authorized, the patient must wait at least thirty days and make a second oral request before the prescription may be written. The patient has a right to rescind the request at any time. Should either physician have concerns about the patients ability to make an informed decision, or feel the patients request may be motivated by depression or coercion, the patient must be referred for a psychological evaluation. The law protects doctors from liability for providing a lethal prescription for a terminally ill, competent adult in compliance with the statutes restrictions. Participation by physicians, pharmacists, and health care providers is voluntary. The law should also specify a patients decision to end his or her life shall not have an effect upon a life, health, or accident insurance or annuity policy. These physician assisted suicide guidelines are within the â€Å"Death with Dignity Act. † The Death with Dignity Act is the philosophical concept that a terminally ill patient should be allowed to die naturally and comfortably, rather than experience a comatose, vegetative life prolonged by mechanical support systems. Currently there are two ways of assisted suicide, one is when the patient is given a prescription medication of a fatal dose that will cause them the loose consciousness and die shortly after. The other, which is not legal in the United States, is known as â€Å"Active Euthanasia† which is a type of euthanasia in which a person who is undergoing intense suffering, and who has no practical hope of recovery is induced to death. It is also known as mercy killing. Generally, a physician performs active euthanasia and carries out the final-death causing act. Active euthanasia is performed entirely voluntarily, without any reservation, external persuasion, or duress, and after prolonged and thorough deliberation. A patient undertaking active euthanasia gives full consent to the medical procedure and chooses direct injection, to be administered by a competent medical professional, in order to end with certainty any intolerable and hopelessly incurable suffering. My second question: Is the patient an adult of 18 years or older who is suffering? In rare cases some patients who are very ill do not respond to pain medications or may be suffering in other ways that make comfort impossible. In these circumstances there is a last resort therapy that can be used: terminal sedation. With terminal sedation, a patient will be given medications that induce sleep or unconsciousness until such time as death occurs as a result of the underlying illness or disease. The intention with terminal sedation must be to relieve suffering only, not to cause death. These measures are often accompanied by the withholding of artificial life supports like intravenous feeding and artificial respiration. * * Also, the physician may use medications that cause a â€Å"double affect. † This has been defined in medical journals as: â€Å"the administration of opioids or sedative drugs with the expressed purpose of relieving pain and suffering in a dying patient. The unintended consequence may be that these medications might cause either respiratory depression or in extreme sedation, might cause to hasten a patient’s death.† What does this mean? In the simplest terms it means that the medication required to abate suffering cannot be given without the probable result of hastening death. While this may sound vague and quasi-discomforting, it is a legal, medically accepted practice, as long as the intention is only to relieve suffering and not cause death. The death is attributed to the disease or complications of the disease, combined in some circumstances with the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments such as intravenous liquids, nutrition, and artificial respiration. While the patient need not be unconscious during this process, unconsciousness is often the result. * * The last question I ask is: in cases when a minor, a person under the age of 18, is either terminally ill or suffering, who has the right to make the final decisions, the parents/legal guardians, the state, or the patient? I believe that all three need to have a united decision. If one or more of the three votes differ, then neither intervention stated above may be used. These policy recommendations I have stated within this paper regarding end-of-life issues have been explained thoroughly and in detail. I have successfully made a strong and convincing case for my position and recommendations on this topic. I hope that the members of this Ethics Committee agree with my findings and support my recommendations and that my reputation as a clear and trustworthy thinking member is evident.

Margaret Thatcher’s Economic Policies: An Evaluation

Margaret Thatcher’s Economic Policies: An Evaluation Abstract Margaret Thatcher inherited an ailing economy, which was the result of several factors inclusive of actions by the previous Labour government, as well as some which were peculiar to Britain. The pivotal focus of her economic policy was reduction in the influence of the public sector, on which she launched a frontal attack by systematically defeating the labour unions, especially in the manufacturing and mining industries, and fall in unemployment and inflation. These were her highest priorities when she assumed office. These were the themes around which her doctrine to tackle these issues, Thatcherism, was predicated. Although the broad term also had some political and cultural connotations,[1] they were essentially economic in nature. The rot that had set in into the economy necessitated major, radical actions on her part; she had to antagonise the labour unions and the public sector, and had to revitalise the ailing economy. The overall results of her policies spread over three terms as prime minister were mixed: while her most resounding success was in rendering the labour unions ineffective and making them defunct in all but name, her other major policy, namely controlling unemployment and inflation, was successful, but not to the same degree, and which too, came about by external, unforeseen favourable factors. Introduction This paper is an assessment of Margaret Thatcher’s economic policies. Since no evaluation is effective when made in a vacuum, in arriving at this evaluation, this paper first makes a narration of her economic inheritance, since this serves as the benchmark for her achievements. After describing the situation the economy was in at the time of her ascension, this paper moves on to describing the major initiatives she undertook to rid the economy of its ills, which are described in detail in the coming paragraphs. In the course of this narration, the major indicators listed are the monetary policies. In this part, her actions in relation to the unions and in taking on unemployment are described; her political and religious philosophy and quantitative analyses are interspersed in the paper in passing, where they fit into this narrative. Finally, this paper offers its conclusion by making an assessment of the sum total of her policies vis-à  -vis the economy, in which its findings are that her policies were neither a startling success nor a miserable failure. It needs mention that this paper takes under its purview only her domestic economic policies, and makes no mention of her actions in relation to economic integration with the EU, because this was at an unfinished stage at the end of her term. Discussion Mrs. Thatcher’s economic policy was derived from the New Right economic philosophy of noted economists, F.A. Von Hayek and Milton Friedman, with its opposition to corporatism, and its belief that the individual and markets performed best when left free of intervention from the state; (Childs Storry, 1999, p. 540) it was grounded in the political and social circumstance of the day. Since her ascension, the cornerstone of her economic policy was the way in which it â€Å"linked the aim of restoring dynamic economic growth with a crusade to revive traditional social values†. The pivot around which it centred was what came to be called â€Å"new realism†. The core theme of this ideal is rooted in drastic economic change; this change implied freeing the industry of crippling state intervention, which she believed was what was depriving capitalism of its innovativeness and vitality. For this, the most important action she had to take was to enervate the trenchant trad e unions, which she saw as the direct and severest obstacle. This was especially so in the manufacturing industry. (Rose, 1991, p. 307) Background to economic policy When the Tories took power by defeating Labour by a margin of 28 seats in the elections of 1979, Thatcher led a Cabinet that inherited an economy in a state of decline, a decline that had been set about three decades earlier, right to almost the end of the war. Thus, her utmost priority was reversing this situation;[2] her most important task was to reduce taxes and more importantly, the overbearing influence of the public sector undertakings, which had turned out to be the economy’s guzzlers, and drastically reducing Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR) Reversing such entrenched policies needed political conviction and courage. As against the inflation rate of 10.3 percent, the GDP real growth rate was 2.3 percent. The most important tool with which to reach this economic goal was an increase in taxes. When this was introduced, the first effects were results were negative, and only started looking up later. The first and third budgets her Finance Minister, Sir Geoffrey Howe presented, had enormous tax rates. A look at how high Britain’s income tax rate was compared to other industrialised nations gives some idea about the monetary policy: in 1979, Britain had a highest Personal Income Tax Rates of 83 percent, while the same figures were 61.5 percent in Australia, 61.9 in Canada, 73 in Denmark, 60 percent in France, 56 in West Germany, 72 in Italy, 88 in Japan, 72 in Netherlands, 86.5 in Sweden and 70 in the US. This shows that of these 11 countries taken for this comparison, only Japan and Sweden had a higher rate of highest income tax levels. (Canto Laffer, 1990, p. 250) Another critical area that required handling was curbing inflation, whose gravity was spelt out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Geoffrey Howe, who made an impassioned plea stating his government’s determination to fight this malaise: It will be clear from what I have already said that the Government continue to regard the fight against inflation as the first priority. It is an illusion to suppose that we have any real choice between defeating inflation and some other course. It is quite wrong to suppose that inflation is something with which only Treasury ministers need be concerned. And in the defeat of inflation, monetary policy has an essential role to play [t]he level of spending is planned to fall steadily throughout the next four years. Without these economies, a coherent policy to reduce inflation would be unattainable. . . At the heart of the medium-term strategy is the need to return to a sensible level of public spending and to see government borrowing reduced. In the last 20 years the ratio of public expenditure to GDP has risen by a quarter. It would be all too easy for this ratio to go on rising indefinitely, unless we addressed ourselves to fundamentals†¦This review is crucial to the strategy. Crucial to success in reducing the PSBR, lowering interest rates, and bringing down inflation. And crucial if we are to find room for lightening the tax burden and so to provide scope and encouragement for enterprise and initiative. . .Expenditure in 1983-84 is planned to be about 4 per cent lower in real terms than in 1979-80. The effect will be a marked shift in the burdens imposed by the Government and in the balance between the public and private sectors. Above all we shall have set the volume of public spending on the right course. We shall be creating a climate much more favourable to economic growth. (Holmes, 1985, p. 55) [3] For sure, this method was to turn out to sow the seeds for bearing fruit in later years: the economy had a real growth rate of 3.64 percent in 1985, 3.4 percent in 1986, and 4.21 and 2.59 in the next couple of years. (Canto Laffer, 1990, p. 250) These details are spelt out in later sections of this paper. Thatcher’s policies had the effect of increasing inflation initially, before turning it around: in February 1980, inflation had touched a high of 18.4 percent, a rate that was double the rate of what it was just over half a year ago. (Holmes, 1985, p. 52) In addition, in the first year, PSBR and the money supply indicator, the M3, did not meet their targets, falling short substantially. Another factor impeded successful implementation of reducing inflation in this critical first year of her governance –rise in public expenditure caused by the government’s commitment to increase spending on health, defence, law and order and other social benefit schemes. Added to all this, the government raised public sector pay, as recommended by the Clegg Commission set up during the previous Labour government, which the Conservatives had agreed to. All these resulted initially in fall in employment, the exact opposite of what the government had pledged to achieve. (Tomlinson, 1 990, p. 333) To this, her response was that â€Å"basic economic laws (cannot) somehow be suspended because we are British. . . For government, facing our national problems entails keeping the growth of the amount of money in line with the growth in the amount of goods and services. After years of printing too much money, to which the economy has become addicted, this will take time, but it must be done† (Holmes, 1985, p. 52) During the first three years of Thatcher’ rule, tax revenues rose by 4.7 percent from 25.3 to 30 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but its budget deficit rose by a whopping 43 percent, to over  £13 billion. (Canto Laffer, 1990, p. 245) Thatcherism[4] Thatcherism was constructed under the guidance of her mentor, Sir Keith Joseph. Its belief was rooted in the Victorian tenets of hard work, independence and self esteem. This perhaps explains why she was so aversive to parasitic public sector industries, in whose reform she believed lay the solution to the economy’s ills. (Cooper, Kornberg, Mishler, 1988, p. 261) The firm and unshakable belief she had in industry were the result of her middle class upbringing. A historian, Paul Johnson, had this to say about her beliefs: [ Margaret Thatcher] has never been able, or wished, to separate her strong religious convictions from her equally strong political ones. In her mind, they are indivisible, springing as they do from the teachings of her father, a storekeeper and local councillor in the small town of Grantham. Her fathers code was simplicity itself: there are real and absolute distinctions between good and evil. Everyone has a personal responsibility to choose the good. This applies equally to public and private life. Choosing the good means working hard to better ourselves and our families and to serve the community. Deal honestly and keep the spirit as well as the letter of the law. Borrow only when absolutely necessary and repay promptly. Save systematically for the future. Give generously. In public life, apply the same high standards as in your private dealings. Remember at all times that you are accountable not only to the voter in this life but to Almighty God in the nextand God sees into our s ecret hearts and judges our motives as well as our actions. (Geelhoed Hobbs, 1992, p. xvii) [5] She believed in the better side of capitalism, which allowed the individual the maximum scope for growth. The route to wealth creation, in the ideal of Thatcherism, was not in creating or pampering the white elephants of the public sector; rather, it was in introducing healthy competition, calculated risk taking and smart marketing, to all of which the public sector was the antithesis. The small capitalist, in her vision, was the microcosm of the bigger enterprise on which the economy was built. The public sector was becoming one of the biggest sources of public expenditure, whose power had to be cut only by emasculating the trade unions, which were hampering productivity and free enterprise. Her idea of free enterprise was one that aimed at creating financial stability that was borne out of curbing public expenses; the greatest barrier to productivity and competition in her perception, the trade unions, were to be targeted forcefully. Her monetary policy was thus aimed at unchaining the economy by introducing capitalism. The role of the government was specific and clear –pulling out of the economy while strengthening its hold and role over other areas. (Cooper, Kornberg, Mishler, 1988, pp. 261-263) Thatcherism was thus â€Å"a package of fiscal and monetary austerity with tight restraint on government spending and borrowing intended to curb inflation and reduce interest rates, thereby overcoming the electoral burden of an unemployment rate that had more than doubled during Thatchers first term.† (Alt Alt, 1988, p. 217) In the pursuit of her clearly defined objectives, Thatcher had not really differed fundamentally from Conservative ideology; the area in which she differed was in the statecraft used to achieve her political and economic aims. The basic fabric of the Tory philosophy of governance, of an increase in the state’s autonomy, did not undergo a major change. In this sense, there was a similarity between Conservative ideology unde r Winston Churchill and Harold Macmillan on the one side, and Thatcher on the other. (Bevir Rhodes, 2003, p. 110) Dealing with the unions Owing to policies by both Labour and the Tories from about 1962, successive governments, in their efforts towards controlling prices, had pampered labour unions and had involved them in major economic decisions, in an era also characterised by growing nationalisation of vital industries. As a result, their numbers had grown from 40 percent of the employees to 55 in this period; this had had the effect of making them aggressive, recalcitrant and militant in their outlook, having grown on the diet of indispensability for the government. They had reneged on most of the promises they had made of their conduct. The role of the government in the affairs of administration almost resembled a socialist state –the government had held not only owned corporations dealing with coal, steel, rail, transport, natural gas, it also had been handling most public utilities. It was a departure from these established Keynesian norms that Thatcherism was conceived and enacted. Because as a result of all these policies, by the time she came to power, the economy had been left in tatters –inflation stood at 10 percent, although this itself was far better compared to the 25 percent of 1975, unemployment had risen to six percent, national income had risen in the six years leading to 1979 at half the rate at which it had in the preceding 13 years, and public sector deficit had multiplied by 400 percent to four percent of the economy. To cap it all, strikes by one or another union were becoming almost a quotidian occurrence. In addition, the labour unions refused to cooperate with the Labour government for wage control below inflation rate. All these added to constitute the notorious â€Å"Winter of Discontent†[6] in the year in which Thatcher took office. Thus, the enormity of the situation was quite high at the time of her ascension. (Alt, 1994, p. 61) There were some important legal actions she took in relation to trade unions to curb their clout. Among her first re gulations was a legal ban on secondary picketing by the unions. In the same breath, she also curtailed the power of the unions by removing their immunity to pay fines they had been imposed by courts for violations of industrial relations laws. (Alt Alt, 1988, pp. 218-219) One more important legislation, perhaps the most radical one she promulgated, was in 1982. Called the Employment Act, it forcefully restricted the ambit of strikes to only the issue of pay and working conditions; the same legislation also tightened procedures on closed shops, and reduced unions’ other immunities, and more importantly, followed up in subsequent legislations by making strike ballots more stringent, and made it compulsory for unions to give seven days’ notice when going on strike. Perhaps the most important part of this legislation was that it deprived workers the automatic right of becoming union members. (Childs Storry, 1999, p. 540) Yet another important step she took in this direct ion was to separate their loyalty to the Labour Party. This she did by making public and mandatory the periodic secret ballots that were being held to some trade establishments such as shops, their members’ right to elect leaders to their association, and finally, their allegiance to the Labour Party. She reduced their importance by deliberately snubbing them by not consulting them over important economic policy,[7] and not seeking their opinion or cooperation over implementation of several economic measures. She also sought to wean the youth away from unions by generating some employment schemes targeted at them. (Alt Alt, 1988, pp. 218-.223) As a result of the systematic attack on the unions, the most important success she achieved, perhaps the most notable one of all her entire economic policy was the dismemberment and break up of the nation’s most powerful union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). When this union went on strike for a whole year protesting pi t closures, the government simply refused to buckle down; rather, the union, apart from ending its strike in April 1985, also had to face the mortification of getting split, almost rendering it impotent. Subsequently, figures of strikes and working days lost to them fell to post-war lows. (Kavanagh, 1997, p. 129) The effect of all this was that these acts debilitated the unions like no other legislation had in the past. Membership was no longer an enticing or lucrative proposition in unions sapped of their vitals; by 1994, total union membership of the workforce had fallen to nine million from 13 million in 1979. Unionism did continue, but with a vastly diluted character. Unions were no longer truculent or militant; instead, they had toned down to becoming business-oriented, strike rates fell down drastically, and were, in their watered down form, almost solely restricted to the public sector, almost totally deserted the private sector. (Childs Storry, 1999, p. 540) Curbing inflation Along with the unions, she had another task that required equal attention –high inflation, which was a major challenge to the economy. Controlling inflation was no easy task, again given the nexus that existed between managements and labour unions; in the words of Sir Walter Salomon, â€Å"both sides of industry were in unholy alliance: management thought a little bit of inflation would increase profits, while labour was persuaded that a little bit of inflation would maintain employment. It was as though a little bit of pregnancy need not lead on to bigger things!† (Holmes, 1985, p. 50) By 1980, inflation was easily among the most important problems for the nation; the government of the day had to take some very stringent, even harsh measures that would cause other problems, if only to control galloping prices. In the immediate months of assuming office, she introduced the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). In a sense, it was a takeoff from the policy undertaken by the previous Chancellor of the Exchequer from the Labour Party, Healey as part of an agreement with the IMF. Thatcher’s aim was to stringently divert targets to narrowed down goals like money and borrowing, and an absence of clearly stated goals for prices and economic output. (Alt Alt, 1988, p. 224) Raising taxes and cutting public spending were identified as the mantras with which to tackle inflation, even if it meant administering the economy a mild shock to jolt it out of its situation, akin to using one thorn to remove another. The immediate shocks the nation was administered had immediate effects that were extremely damaging –in 1980-81, industrial production in manufacturing fell by a whopping 14 percent, GNP contracted by over three percent, and unemployment rose by close to three million. This was the steepest rise in Britain’s history since the Great Depression of half a century ago. The slump in manufacturing was so great in terms in gravity that the nation lost a quarter of its manufacturing capacity in 1979-81. Just when a really potent crisis, a seemingly insoluble one, seemed to have gripped Britain, as if out of nowhere, two events turned the tide –the sudden spurt in prices of North Sea oil and gas, over which Britain had access, by an extrem ely pleasant high of 70 percent, (Evans, 2004, p. 21) which balanced the trade account and cushioned the violent swings in the economy, and the Falklands War, which completely diverted the internal turmoil and infused a sudden spurt of nationalism into the country, (Geelhoed Hobbs, 1992, p. xii) making people look to Thatcher as a kind of messiah who had delivered. The truth was that both these were events whose timing could not have been more appropriate for the nation in a morass. Conclusion One of the major charges levelled against Thatcher[8] is that Thatcherism was built on a highly simplified, yet rather cynical view of human nature,[9] and of its subservience to authority. She was extremely stern in her dealings with everyone, and believed that she had to use force to make people accept what she believed in. She was aptly described as â€Å"a Royal Marine drill sergeant inside a classic English matron†. (Champy Nohria, 1999, p. 191) Authors such as Gilmour are unsparing in their criticism of Thatcher’s assumption that every human action is driven by selfish motives, and that unless a leviathan-like government oversaw and strictly regulated it, it would be left to its primeval, selfish interests. Also coming in for severe criticism by this author is the view that Thatcher was less than positive in her perception of how and why people conform to authority, which is she is believed to have used to coerce people into her way of thinking. In the view of th is author, if the One Nation Toryism was not to people’s liking, which they had no compelling reason to like, then, people had no reason to automatically have an interest in the state. (Bevir Rhodes, 2003, p. 110) The whole range of her achievements needs to be seen in the pathetic situation the economy was in when she was appointed Prime Minister. She had come to power inheriting a largely sluggish economy. During this time, in 1978-79, the economy had all it took to take the country towards disaster –high inflation, trade union hooliganism and social problems had eaten into British politics. All this had earned it the dubious epithet, Europe’s â€Å"sick man† at the time; this condition was dubbed the â€Å"British Disease†. So deep had Britain’s image sunk in the eyes of the world that when he was elected to his first term as the president of the US, one of the foremost advices Ronald Reagan received was to strictly avoid taking up any economic policy that resembled Britain’s. The reasons for this were partly to be laid on the previous government, and mostly on the worldwide economic recession that had hit industrialised economies very badly. In fac t, Europe and the US were going through the worst recession they had witnessed since World War II. By the time she had been elected for a record third term in 1987, the economy had seen its sixth consecutive year of good performance; most barometers of the economy –production, foreign trade balance, establishment of new businesses, investment and economic growth, had all looked up. The economy had quietly been put back on its rails, with a consistent three percent growth rate since coming out of the recession. This was by all accounts a remarkable turnaround for an economy that was teetering on the brink less than a decade ago. (Geelhoed Hobbs, 1992, pp. xii- xiv) At the end of her reign, some perceptible changes were indeed seen in the economy: the shifting of the tax burden from individuals to corporations, increase in allocation to defence compared to social welfare, and a significantly lower spending on public investment compared to consumption. One of her apparent successes, reduction in unemployment, was not a uniquely British or Thatcherite phenomenon; it was more in tune with changes wrought about by the international markets attendant on exchange rates. (Alt Alt, 1988, p. 218) As we have seen, her attempted cure of the terminally ill â€Å"British Disease†[10] that she inherited could have actually been worse than the disease, but a streak of fortuity somehow saw the economy making lost ground, when it had been pushed to the brink in the initial years of her office. It is difficult to imagine to what further level the economy would have sunk had it not been for these events. But once this impetus was given, the recovery was quick –inflation was down to single figures by the spring of 1982. From even this dismal scenario, inflation was nipped, during 1982, it had come down to half its rate in 1979, and by the beginning of 1983, it stood at 5.4 percent, its lowest level since 1970. Yet, even this was not very real. The now-oil rich country caused an appreciation in the pound, because of which it was becoming extremely difficult to export manufactured goods. Low price of imports were aggravated by huge rises in unemployment levels, because of which reduced bargaining power by employees was also reducing the rate of wage increase. Added to all these, the government’s best efforts to reduce public spending were making no dent on institutionalised heavy public spending –it continued unabated to 44.5 percent of the GDP even in 1982, and the total tax burden was put at 34 percent of the GDP in the first year of office, and 40 percent in 1982 -83. Thus, whatever successes her policies had in tackling inflation had been more due to luck than anything else. (Evans, 2004, pp. 21-30) Yet, she could not find the same luck or effectiveness when it came to containing unemployment, which continued to be the enemy she could never really defeat till the end. Despite all her policies, although it was her topmost priority, in the period between 1979 and 1988, the cream of her Prime Ministership, UK’s unemployment rate, which was five percent in 1979, the year in when she took office, rose to 6.4 percent in 1980, and was 9.8 in 1981, 11.3 percent in 1982, 12.5 percent in 1983, 11.7 percent in 1984, 11.3 in 1985, 11.5 percent in1986, and10.2 percent in 1987 before finally falling to 8.2 percent the following year. With very few occasional exceptions, no other leading country in the OECD had this rate during this period. (Tomlinson, 1990, p. 334) Again, like the North Sea oil[11] which came as a godsend to her at a most critical time, another factor, though not quite so great a paroxysm, bailed her out of the unemployment morass –the transition of the economy from manufacturing to service and knowledge. Again, this was due in part to the global changes in the mode of industry, than to anything to which she could claim any singular credit. (Geelhoed Hobbs, 1992, p. xv) Thus, in assessing the most crucial parameters of the success of her economic policies, on two major counts, she was blessed to be the right person at the right time. It cannot be denied that Thatcherism brought about some very important changes. In effect, there was a pendulous effect of her economic policies –at first, when she introduced reforms aimed at curbing inflation, they boomeranged, then showed some very perceptible signs of having worked, and then, towards the end of her reign, had brought back the economy to a healthy state. One area over which she could claim total success was in dealing firmly with trade unions. There can be no doubt that this was an unequivocal stamp of her assertiveness. However, assessing her ability to deliver in other crunch areas does not bring the same decisiveness. Seen in this prism, her overall economic policies were a success, but were a qualified one. Considering the onus she inherited, it was commendable that she was able to implement so many changes. Thus, in finally evaluating Thatcher’ economic policy, it needs to be said that they indeed were successes, but a good part of this was due to events over which she had little control. References Alt, J. E., (1994), 3. â€Å"Thatchers Ideology: Economic Cures for English Diseases†, in Margaret Thatcher: Prime Minister Indomitable, Thompson, J. S. Thompson, W. C., (Eds.), (pp. 55-72), Westview Press, Boulder, CO. Alt, J. E., Alt, J. E., (1988), 8. â€Å"New Wine in Old Bottles: Thatchers Conservative Economic Policy†, in The Resurgence of Conservatism in Anglo-American Democracies, Cooper, B., Kornberg, A., Mishler, W., (Eds.), (pp. 217-257), Duke University Press, Durham, NC. Bevir, M., Rhodes, R. A., (2003), Interpreting British Governance, Routledge, New York. Canto, V. A. Laffer, A. B. (Eds.), (1990), Monetary Policy, Taxation, and International Investment Strategy, Quorum Books, New York. Champy, J., Nohria, N., (1999), The Arc of Ambition: Defining the Leadership Journey, Perseus Publishing, Cambridge, MA. Childs, P. Storry, M., (Eds.), (1999), Encyclopedia of Contemporary British Culture, Routledge, London. Cooper, B., Kornberg, A., Mishler, W., (Eds.), (1988), Little Bee, by Chris Cleave: Analysis Little Bee, by Chris Cleave: Analysis Little Bee, by Chris Cleave, is a novel that explores both the frailty of the human condition and the endurance of the human spirit. It delves into unthinkable evil, but simultaneously celebrates its characters in their ability to transcend all that weighs them down, including their pasts, their secrets, and their flaws. The book is about the bond formed between two women and how the relationship that has arisen from the most tragic of circumstances functions to resurrect both of them. For the character of Little Bee, identity is inescapably tied to ethnicity, nationality, gender, race, and class. She is hampered by the weight of her past; yet she also rises above these distinctions in her continued hopefulness, as evidenced in her dreams and active imagination. A representative passage of the book that explores Little Bees point of view (both its unceasing optimism and stark realism) occurs in the books final chapter. Little Bee is on the beach, awaking from a dream. The dream was of her ideal life going forward: Living in a beautiful home in her native Nigeria, working as a journalist who collects stories like her own, Sarah and Charlie with her as family. Little Bee is peaceful, thinking about the noise that has awoken her and, by extension, her place in the world. After the passage are the last few pages of the novel, in which Little Bee separates from Sarah and Charlie because the armed men (presumably soldiers) are searching for her. Ultimately Little Bee, prompted by the men shooting at Charlie, sacrifices herself by revealing her identity to them. The passage is ominous. Structurally, the reader is aware by this point that they are mere pages away from the end of the story. The pages prior have seen several good developments after the turn of Little Bees deportation to Nigeria. Sarah and Charlie have returned with her and they are setting about collecting stories from other native people in order to expose the truths of the oil companies cruelty to the world. They are relaxing in the sun, on the beach near where Little Bees sister Nkiruka was killed. Little Bee is awoken from a good dream, but immediately the reader gets the sense that something bad is about to happen. This comes as a result of the first sentence of the passage, There is a moment when you wake up from dreaming in the hot sun, a moment outside time when you do not know what you are (Cleave 258). The sentence shows that Little Bee is questioning her identity at just the moment when she should be most sure of it. Because Little Bee has been seeking a home, a fami ly, and belonging, and has seemingly found it, the reader realizes that it is still uncertain. It is significant to point out that the reader knows that the thesis of the book is that it is a sad story. We are told early on, Sad words are just another beauty. A sad story means, this storyteller is alive (Cleave 9). Thus we know that the story can not have a happy ending, but nor is the ending ultimately tragic. It is clear that Little Bee has survived merely in the telling of the story, but also that something bad will happen to her in the end. So the passage on the beach is situated at the exact moment between Little Bee at her happiest and the awful events that will make this a sad story. The book as alternates between the points of view of Sarah and Little Bee, though this section is told in Little Bees voice. It is critical that the final chapter be her perspective, given that the so much of the book deals with the lack of western knowledge of people like Little Bee, the silence regarding their stories, and the healing power of storytelling. The most significant element of voice in this passage is the tonal shift between its two paragraphs. In the first paragraph, Little Bee is coming out of her dream and the narration is reminiscent of that half-awake state. The second paragraph is Little Bee, eyes open, in the fog of remembering who and where she is, when she says, a white woman was sitting next to me on the beach in the thing called shade (Cleave 259). This paragraph also hints at the return of Little Bees Africanness in its wording. The implication is that shade, a relatively simple word with her advanced level of English, is again foreign to her. Then she says, regarding Sarah, I searched for the name of her expression in your language frightened, again struggling for easy language. Given that in the previous paragraph she has discussed transformation at length, it is as if the reader is seeing Little Bee regress to the self she was before England and Sarahs influence. Another important element of voice is the use of the second person point of view in the first paragraph. This technique is also used throughout the book, as filtered through Little Bee. The second person is an affecting way of getting the reader to empathize with its speaker. While Little Bees circumstances may be hard for many readers (particularly the audience that might have access and motivation to read the novel) to understand, the second person forces the reader to imagine herself in her stead. The use of second person as a tool ties in with one of the central themes of the book: what it takes for one person to understand the plight of another. This theme is evident at many points: Sarah and Andrew choose to vacation in Nigeria despite its war; Andrew refuses to cut off his finger though it may mean the girls will die; Sarah dismisses Andrews depression. Thus when Little Bee realizes you are a creature with skin she is realizing it not only for herself, but for all the readers (Cleave 259). Being human, they are subject to all the same agonies and ecstasies that she is and are similarly mortal. The passage explores the idea of identity, specifically who one is in relationship to the world and how one knows she is human. The idea is reinforced through the use of several extended metaphors. Repetition of these metaphors gives them heft. The first is you must be money (Cleave 258). This alludes to the previous section, in which she says that the noise that woke her up is the sound of the surf pounding on the beachCrash, like the drawer of a cash register springing open and all the coins inside it smashing against the edge of their compartments (Cleave 258). That the you character is money is ironic, given that prior the reader is told you feel absolutely free (Cleave 258). Money in the book represents evil. It is the main motivation for the oil companies that have corrupted Nigeria and divided its people. Additionally, Sarahs finger is taken as a kind of payment for Little Bees life and as such, she is resentful of her own commodification. Next Little Bee compares herself to environmental elements of the beach itself. The beach represents the very best and worst parts of Little Bees life: It is where her sister was murdered, but also where she met Sarah and Andrew. In the moment of the passage, it is where she is relaxing and dreaming of a better life, but also where she is about to be recaptured. Cleave writes that Little Bee is that hot breeze, (258) but even as breeze she is burdened, as he describes the heaviness you feel in your limbs is the weight of the salt in the wind and the sweet sleepiness that bewitches you is simply the weariness that comes from the day-and-night pushing of waves across the ocean (259). It is as ironic as the monetary comparison: Just as we consider money to be the opposite of free, so is breeze the opposite of heavy. The passage tells us that identity is mutable, at least in ones own imagination. Just as Little Bee has made herself English, she can be African again. She can imagine herself as free as the breeze or as inconsequential as a grain of sand. In the mind, it is as if you could transform yourself into anything at all (Cleave 258). After she is the breeze, she is the sand that the breeze blows up the beach, just one grain of sand among the billions of blown grains (Cleave 259). Again she is a natural element of the beach, but this time one that is inconsequential and one that can simply to go back to sleep, as the sand does, until the wind thinks to awaken it again (Cleave 259). With this comparison, Cleave is exploring Little Bees as an entity that is not burdened (as the wind is) by responsibility, but instead is burdened by others acting upon her. This parallels with Little Bees tragedy, as she had no agency over her own fate or that of her village, or any ability to protect her sister . Next Little Bee realizes her own corporeal presence and its inherent mortality. She says, this skin is your own and a billion fishes have slipped away like this, flapping on the blinding white sand, and what difference will one more make? (Cleave 259). Just as she has realized her inability to control her own destiny, she is realizing her insignificance. This is all the more noteworthy as next she realizes, I am a girl, then, an African girl (Cleave 259). She is subject to the oppression that her gender and her nationality carry with them. As a girl, she has less power than a man, and men in this novel are agents of destruction. The reader is told this earlier in the story when Little Bee says, The men came and theyThat was how all of our stories started (Cleave 79). Her Africanness, as well, leaves her open to danger, as Sarah can return to England and be guaranteed safety but she can not. This realization does not leave Little Bee so much depressed as resigned. She will stay hersel f, as the shape-changing magic of dreams whispers back into the roar of the ocean (Cleave 259). It is a foreshadowing of her final decision. She does not choose to flee or fight, but instead to surrender herself for the sake of Charlie, because he is young and will continue the dream for her. The reader takes from Little Bee the idea that identity is fluid and ones own self-perception can be a tool of transcendence. Little Bees circumstances require that she reinvents herself from village girl, to refugee, to member of an upper-class British family. Because of her brain, her language, and her imagination, she cannot be marginalized, even though she must succumb to evil. To the reader, Little Bee will remain as free as the wind and as peaceful as the undisturbed sand, because she has offered her voice and her story as testimony.

Analysis Of The Crucible English Literature Essay

Analysis Of The Crucible English Literature Essay Imagine yourself placed under pressure. Can you hold on to your morals and beliefs? Will you expose your true self when you cannot control your stress? The term crucible can either be a metallic container used for heating substances in high temperature or a severe test or trial. Metaphorically, Judge Danforth applies both definitions in his quote. He informs that the authorities will unmask anyone who tries to hide the truth. The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller, takes place in Salem, Massachusetts around 1692. Salem is divided into Salem Village and Salem Town, where people living in the village tend to accuse those in town of witchery. This witch hysteria in Salem is a cause of turmoil to the people since they are tested under pressure. Because of trials, their reputations are at stake. The Salem society centralizes their lives in reputations and personal interests, such as Reverend Parris, and seeking vengeance on those they are jealous of, like Abigail Williams and the P utnams. Out of those who are victims of this mass hysteria, John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are the most prominent ones. John Proctor, a farmer in his middle thirties, is the protagonist of this play (Miller 175). He is portrayed as a man who dislikes hypocrisy, yet struggles in the play because he is one himself. In other words, he feels guilty for hiding the fact that he has committed adultery with Abigail. Rebecca Nurse, a minor character around her seventies, is the wife of Francis Nurse and midwife to many families in the village. Both Proctor and Rebecca share similar characteristics of integrity, yet, despite having similar morals, both have significantly opposite personalities and different reasons for sacrificing themselves. John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are characters of integrity, who rather be hanged than confess a crime they never committed. Under the pressure of being accused of witchcraft, both demonstrates integrity through their moral principles and beliefs. Throughout the play, Proctor conveys integrity. For example, he confesses to Elizabeth his affair with Abigail, speaks out about his dislike for how Parris corrupts the church, and confesses his crime of adultery. Moreover, when Danforth interrogates Proctor about the other participants in witchery, Proctor says that he speaks of his own sins and not others (Miller 239). This proves that Proctor is a good man and citizen who does not intend to hurt anyone. Proctor believes in no such thing as witchcraft and he is able to stay with his own beliefs regardless of the consequences. Likewise, Rebecca, pure, pious and truthful, tries to ameliorate the situation over Ruth by comforting Ann Putman. She says that Ruth will eventually wake up because she has witnessed all sorts of children going through their silly seasons (Miller 179). It did not matter for Rebecca to risk her life by expressing her real thoughts to Goody Proctor, knowing that she envied her. Rebecca proves righteousness by taking responsibility for her own actions, rather than blaming others. We see this when she says, There is a prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits. I fear it. I fear it. Let us rather blame ourselves and - (Miller 180). In addition, she portrays purity and goodness when she tries to help people who are struggling, and similarly, she has no intention to hurt anyone, like Proctor. Due to Goody Putmans jealousy, she accuses Rebecca for the supernatural murder of her babies (Miller 201). Unlike Rebecca, Mrs. Putman is desperate to accuse others of witchcraft in order to relieve the guilt she has for her babies deaths. Therefore, Rebecca, scapegoat of Mrs. Putman, is sent to jail. Yet, during her three months in jail, she has never sp oken a word (Miller 231). This reveals how she refuses to compromise her honesty by not lying. In this way, not only does she show integrity, but she also sticks to her principles. Although they are both characters of integrity, Rebeccas integrity never wavers; she is steadfast whereas Proctor is less sure of himself because he doubts whether he should give up his name and confess a lie. A key difference between Proctor and Rebecca is that while Proctor is a dynamic character, Rebecca is a static character. Proctor changes during the play and learns through events and experiences. At the beginning of the play, Proctor does not want to get involved in the witch-hunts because he is scared to expose the fact that he had an affair with Abigail and ruin his public reputation. But when Elizabeth is arrested, he becomes fired up. He changes from a quiet man to one who stands up with courage and speaks up against what he believes is the right thing. Unfortunately, when he confesses his sin to save his wife, it does not work out. At the end of Act IV, Proctor exclaims to Danforth, How can I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (Miller 240). This shows that he still cares about having his name clean and protected because he believes that a human being is granted with only one name in their lifetime. At first, he decides to take the easy way out and confess a lie. Yet, when Proctor realizes that he has to make up his mind to choose either his name or his life, he decides that he rather dies with an honorable name than to live in a tainted one (Miller 240). Proctor considers his name more significantly than his life because he did not want Danforth to use his name to get other people to confess, so he rather die than have his name blacken. Hence, he chooses to sacrifice himself honorably leaving no regrets and save Elizabeth from the chaos. Rebecca, however, stays the same throughout the entire play. Since Rebecca is a role model in the town of Salem, many people respect her for that reason. She never doubts her beliefs as well as people in Salem. In spite of this, when Proctor confesses a lie in front of her, he feels ashamed of himself since he knows deep inside him that he is doing the wrong thing. Rebecca symbolizes the Christ figure, someone who portrays courage and faith. She is always straightforward towards everyone no matter what situation she is in. For instance, when she is questioned by the authorities, she spoke no lies and only the truth. The difference between Proctor and Rebecca is that as Proctors personality, he is impulsive, bad-tempered, and violent at times, yet Rebecca is rational and passive. An act of impulsiveness from Proctor is shown when Cheever comes with a warrant to arrest Elizabeth, and Proctor tears it without thinking the consequences. Beside this, in Act I, when Abigail tries to seduce Proctor, he violently tells her, do you look for wippin? (Miller 177). Then in Act II, when Elizabeth starts to ask why he has been alone with Abigail, he angrily tells her, No more! I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not (Miller 194). Furthermore, in Act III, when Proctor could not tolerate Abigails lies, he leaps at Abigail and, grabbing her by the hair, pulls her to her feet (Miller 219). Finally, in Act IV, he defies the authorities and admits that what he has confessed is a lie and he wants to do the right thing by dying. Although Proctor did not want to die soon and be able to see his sons grow up, he does not want to live under a lie. On the contrary to Proctors personality, Rebecca is a stereotype of all good that exists; the compassion she has within her and the love for truth that keeps her strong. Since Rebecca has already lived long, she is well-experienced and flawless throughout the play. She thinks over a situation thoughtfully and guides people through a logical way of thinking. Because she has lived long and maintained her good reputation, it did not matter for her whether she is going to die. She is satisfied with her life for having eleven children and being a grandmother for twenty-six times (Miller 179). Rebecca tells Proctor when they are to be hanged, Let you fear nothing! Another judgment waits us all! (Miller 240). Through this quote, it depicts the truth that never fades away inside her, thus, she spreads her strength to encourage and motivate Proctor to make the right choice as her, tell the truth, and become the role model for the Salem society. In The Crucible, John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are essential characters because they both represent the voice of reason. Both characters demonstrate integrity and are willing to die than to confess to witchcraft. Even though Proctor does not want to get involved in the trials, he does so at last because of Elizabeth. He becomes tired of Abigails lies and decides to make his move and fight for what he thought is right. However, both are different in how Proctor changes and Rebecca does not, and likewise, both have different personalities. Proctor is spontaneous and aggressive, and he does not think through things as clear as Rebecca does. Unlike Proctor, Rebecca is passive and compassionate. Moreover, she has lived longer and she has learned technically everything she needed in life. Yet, Proctor has not, which is why Miller intentionally makes Proctor a sinner who is going against his own vision of decent conducts (Miller 175). The reason behind this is because Miller wants the read er to understand how guilt can consume ones life and change one person internally. Miller shows us how people would react under certain circumstances, like how Proctor reacts when Danforth insistently wants to hang up his signed confession on the church door; it is then that Proctor takes back his words. In The Crucible, the witch-hunt is an allegory of what Miller describes the communists trials. Miller justifies that there is no justice in the society, unless that person chooses to fight based on what they think is right. Everyone commits mistakes, but not all agree to correct them. The ones who chooses to correct their errors, demonstrates characters of integrity and courageousness, like both John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse.

Impaired Cerebral Blood Flow Disorders Essay -- Health Healthy Medicin

Impaired Cerebral Blood Flow Disorders CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW Impaired cerebral blood flow disorders are extremely common and factors such as the lesion site, existing collateral’s, and the amount of tissue affected determines the actual neurological deficit that results. The impaired blood flow may have a number of causes. Things such as alterations in blood pressure, changes in the arterial walls, and occlusions of the arterial lumen are some of the more important causes. The brain is supplied with blood by two internal carotid arteries and two vertebral arteries. These arteries form the anastomosis known as the Circle of Willis. In 1951, two researchers, McDonald and Potter demonstrated that, "the blood supply to half of the brain is provided by the internal carotid and vertebral artery of that side, and that their respective streams come together in the posterior communicating artery at a point where the pressure of the two is equal and they do not mix." (Snell, p514). This is important to keep in mind when considering just how significant the collateral circulation truly is. "If, however, the internal carotid or vertebral artery is occluded, the blood passes forward or backward across that point to compensate for the reduction in blood flow. The circulus arteriosus also permits the blood to flow across the midline, as shown when the internal carotid or vertebral artery on one side is occluded." This provides some relief for occlusions in the major vascular supply. Another important finding, was that the blood that flows from the two vertebral arteries remain on the same side of the lumen and does not mix while passing through the basilar artery. These are important items for the major vascular supply, however, once... ...ain focus of the physician in treating a stroke patient must be the individual patient and his/her underlying lesion. Cerebral blood flow deficiency is not limited in its scope of patients it can afflict. The care of stroke patients is changing and the optimal management of the patient’s condition demands the careful consultation of a well-informed team of physicians. Works Cited: Auer, L. M. & Ladurner, G. "Alterations of the Cerebral Blood Volume," p.p. 233-38. Snell, R. S. "The Blood Supply of the Brain," Clinical Neuroanatomv for Medical Students. Little, Brown and Co., Boston/Toronto, p.p. 507-24. Stern, B. J. "Cerebrovascular Disease and Pregnancy’ Neurological Disorders of Pregnancy". p.p. 32-34. Walton, John. "Disorders of the cerebral circulation," Brains Diseases of the Central Nervous System. Oxford Univ. Press, New York; p.p. 219. Impaired Cerebral Blood Flow Disorders Essay -- Health Healthy Medicin Impaired Cerebral Blood Flow Disorders CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW Impaired cerebral blood flow disorders are extremely common and factors such as the lesion site, existing collateral’s, and the amount of tissue affected determines the actual neurological deficit that results. The impaired blood flow may have a number of causes. Things such as alterations in blood pressure, changes in the arterial walls, and occlusions of the arterial lumen are some of the more important causes. The brain is supplied with blood by two internal carotid arteries and two vertebral arteries. These arteries form the anastomosis known as the Circle of Willis. In 1951, two researchers, McDonald and Potter demonstrated that, "the blood supply to half of the brain is provided by the internal carotid and vertebral artery of that side, and that their respective streams come together in the posterior communicating artery at a point where the pressure of the two is equal and they do not mix." (Snell, p514). This is important to keep in mind when considering just how significant the collateral circulation truly is. "If, however, the internal carotid or vertebral artery is occluded, the blood passes forward or backward across that point to compensate for the reduction in blood flow. The circulus arteriosus also permits the blood to flow across the midline, as shown when the internal carotid or vertebral artery on one side is occluded." This provides some relief for occlusions in the major vascular supply. Another important finding, was that the blood that flows from the two vertebral arteries remain on the same side of the lumen and does not mix while passing through the basilar artery. These are important items for the major vascular supply, however, once... ...ain focus of the physician in treating a stroke patient must be the individual patient and his/her underlying lesion. Cerebral blood flow deficiency is not limited in its scope of patients it can afflict. The care of stroke patients is changing and the optimal management of the patient’s condition demands the careful consultation of a well-informed team of physicians. Works Cited: Auer, L. M. & Ladurner, G. "Alterations of the Cerebral Blood Volume," p.p. 233-38. Snell, R. S. "The Blood Supply of the Brain," Clinical Neuroanatomv for Medical Students. Little, Brown and Co., Boston/Toronto, p.p. 507-24. Stern, B. J. "Cerebrovascular Disease and Pregnancy’ Neurological Disorders of Pregnancy". p.p. 32-34. Walton, John. "Disorders of the cerebral circulation," Brains Diseases of the Central Nervous System. Oxford Univ. Press, New York; p.p. 219.

International Development in Developing Countries Essay -- Developing

International Development in Developing Countries â€Å"†¦increasing international trade and financial flows since the Second World War have fostered sustained economic growth over the long term in the world’s high-income states. Some with idle incomes have prospered as well, but low-income economies generally have not made significant gains. The growing world economy has not produced balanced, healthy economic growth in the poorer states. Instead, the cycle of underdevelopment more aptly describes their plight. In the context of weak economies, the negative effects of international trade and foreign investments have been devastating. Issues of trade and currency values preoccupy the economic policies of states with low-income economies even more than those with high incomes because the downturns are far more debilitating.1† The topic that I have selected for my chapter evaluation essay is that of â€Å"Economic Development†. This paragraph above is the best summary of the chapter’s contents. In this chapter the author discusses the influence of development on the three worlds of countries. These worlds are benchmarks set to assess countries economic states relative to each other. When looking through the topic of development, two drastically different ways to assess it arise. The majority of the western world looks at development in terms of per capita GNP. This means each country is evaluated on a level playing field, comparing the production of each country in economic value. Opposite this style of evaluation is that of the alternative view, which measures a country’s development on its ability to fulfill basic material and non-material needs. Cultural ties are strong in this case as most of the population does not produce for wealth but merely survival and tradition. Throughout the chapter the text exerts more emphasis on the economical evaluation of a country's development rather than the alternative method. It begins to branch off quickly into the classification of countries deriving new topics all relating back to the economical approach. Beginning this discussion is the topic of underdevelopment. Many factors can lead to the underdevelopment of a country. The most common sign of underdevelopment is that of a â€Å"Dual Economy†, this takes place when a â€Å"small modern elite and middle class make up about 20-30% of a country’... ...an overabundance of information all applicable to the topic. My feeling was that such an overwhelming load of facts and systems directed me away from the most important facts of the chapter. Its imperative that the student understands the small scale relationship to economic development. Therefore my attempt was to highlight the main topics of the chapter and relate them to the reader to provoke intrest and thought towards many of these important life changing situations that occur everyday. If one can see past all the theories primarily and see the cause and effects behind them, they’re appreciation for the ideas stated in the theories. Bibliography: 1. Global perspectives/ Kelleher, Ann./ Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Prentice Hall, c1999. 2. The Globalization Of World Politics/Baylis,John & Smith, Steve/Oxford University Press Inc., New York, c2001. 3. Poverty And Development/Allen, Tim & Thomas, Alan/ Oxford University Press, Milton Keynes, U.K., c2000. 4. Globalization And International Relations Theory/Clark, Ian/Oxford University Press Inc., New York, c1999. 5. Civilizing World Politics/Albert,Mathias/Rowman & Littlefield Inc. Lanham, Maryland, c2000.

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 68-72

CHAPTER 68 New York editor Jonas Faukman had just climbed into bed for the night when the telephone rang. A little late for callers, he grumbled, picking up the receiver. An operator's voice asked him,† Will you accept charges for a collect call from Robert Langdon?† Puzzled, Jonas turned on the light. â€Å"Uh†¦ sure, okay.† The line clicked. â€Å"Jonas?† â€Å"Robert? You wake me up and you charge me for it?† â€Å"Jonas, forgive me,† Langdon said. â€Å"I'll keep this very short. I really need to know. The manuscript I gave you. Have you – â€Å" â€Å"Robert, I'm sorry, I know I said I'd send the edits out to you this week, but I'm swamped. Next Monday. I promise.† â€Å"I'm not worried about the edits. I need to know if you sent any copies out for blurbs without telling me?† Faukman hesitated. Langdon's newest manuscript – an exploration of the history of goddess worship – included several sections about Mary Magdalene that were going to raise some eyebrows. Although the material was well documented and had been covered by others, Faukman had no intention of printing Advance Reading Copies of Langdon's book without at least a few endorsements from serious historians and art luminaries. Jonas had chosen ten big names in the art world and sent them all sections of the manuscript along with a polite letter asking if they would be willing to write a short endorsement for the jacket. In Faukman's experience, most people jumped at the opportunity to see their name in print. â€Å"Jonas?† Langdon pressed. â€Å"You sent out my manuscript, didn't you?† Faukman frowned, sensing Langdon was not happy about it. â€Å"The manuscript was clean, Robert, and I wanted to surprise you with some terrific blurbs.† A pause. â€Å"Did you send one to the curator of the Paris Louvre?† â€Å"What do you think? Your manuscript referenced his Louvre collection several times, his books are in your bibliography, and the guy has some serious clout for foreign sales. Sauniere was a no-brainer.† The silence on the other end lasted a long time. â€Å"When did you send it?† â€Å"About a month ago. I also mentioned you would be in Paris soon and suggested you two chat. Did he ever call you to meet?† Faukman paused, rubbing his eyes. â€Å"Hold on, aren't you supposed to bein Paris this week?† â€Å"I am in Paris.† Faukman sat upright. â€Å"You called me collect from Paris?† â€Å"Take it out of my royalties, Jonas. Did you ever hear back from Sauniere? Did he like the manuscript?† â€Å"I don't know. I haven't yet heard from him.† â€Å"Well, don't hold your breath. I've got to run, but this explains a lot Thanks.† â€Å"Robert – â€Å"But Langdon was gone. Faukman hung up the phone, shaking his head in disbelief Authors, he thought. Even the sane ones are nuts. Inside the Range Rover, Leigh Teabing let out a guffaw. â€Å"Robert, you're saying you wrote a manuscript that delves into a secret society, and your editor sent a copy to that secret society?† Langdon slumped. â€Å"Evidently.† â€Å"A cruel coincidence, my friend.† Coincidence has nothing to do with it, Langdon knew. Asking Jacques Sauniere to endorse a manuscript on goddess worship was as obvious as asking Tiger Woods to endorse a book on golf. Moreover, it was virtually guaranteed that any book on goddess worship would have to mention the Priory of Sion. â€Å"Here's the million-dollar question,† Teabing said, still chuckling. â€Å"Was your position on the Priory favorable or unfavorable?† Langdon could hear Teabing's true meaning loud and clear. Many historians questioned why the Priory was still keeping the Sangreal documents hidden. Some felt the information should have been shared with the world long ago. â€Å"I took no position on the Priory's actions.† â€Å"You mean lack thereof.† Langdon shrugged. Teabing was apparently on the side of making the documents public. â€Å"I simply provided history on the brotherhood and described them as a modern goddess worship society, keepers of the Grail, and guardians of ancient documents.† Sophie looked at him. â€Å"Did you mention the keystone?† Langdon winced. He had. Numerous times. â€Å"I talked about the supposed keystone as an example of the lengths to which the Priory would go to protect the Sangreal documents.† Sophie looked amazed. â€Å"I guess that explains P. S. Find Robert Langdon.† Langdon sensed it was actually something else in the manuscript that had piqued Sauniere's interest, but that topic was something he would discuss with Sophie when they were alone. â€Å"So,† Sophie said, â€Å"you lied to Captain Fache.† â€Å"What?† Langdon demanded. â€Å"You told him you had never corresponded with my grandfather.† â€Å"I didn't! My editor sent him a manuscript.† â€Å"Think about it, Robert. If Captain Fache didn't find the envelope in which your editor sent the manuscript, he would have to conclude that you sent it.† She paused. â€Å"Or worse, that you hand- delivered it and lied about it.† When the Range Rover arrived at Le Bourget Airfield, Remy drove to a small hangar at the far end of the airstrip. As they approached, a tousled man in wrinkled khakis hurried from the hangar, waved, and slid open the enormous corrugated metal door to reveal a sleek white jet within. Langdon stared at the glistening fuselage. â€Å"That's Elizabeth?† Teabing grinned. â€Å"Beats the bloody Chunnel.† The man in khakis hurried toward them, squinting into the headlights. â€Å"Almost ready, sir,† he called in a British accent. â€Å"My apologies for the delay, but you took me by surprise and – † He stopped short as the group unloaded. He looked at Sophie and Langdon, and then Teabing. Teabing said, â€Å"My associates and I have urgent business in London. We've no time to waste. Please prepare to depart immediately.† As he spoke, Teabing took the pistol out of the vehicle and handed it to Langdon. The pilot's eyes bulged at the sight of the weapon. He walked over to Teabing and whispered,† Sir, my humble apologies, but my diplomatic flight allowance provides only for you and your manservant. I cannot take your guests.† â€Å"Richard,† Teabing said, smiling warmly,† two thousand pounds sterling and that loaded gun say you can take my guests.† He motioned to the Range Rover. â€Å"And the unfortunate fellow in the back.† CHAPTER 69 The Hawker 731's twin Garrett TFE-731 engines thundered, powering the plane skyward with gut- wrenching force. Outside the window, Le Bourget Airfield dropped away with startling speed. I'm fleeing the country, Sophie thought, her body forced back into the leather seat. Until this moment, she had believed her game of cat and mouse with Fache would be somehow justifiable to the Ministry of Defense. I was attempting to protect an innocent man.I was trying to fulfill my grandfather's dying wishes.That window of opportunity, Sophie knew, had just closed. She was leaving the country, without documentation, accompanying a wanted man, and transporting abound hostage. If a† line of reason† had ever existed, she had just crossed it. At almost the speed of sound. Sophie was seated with Langdon and Teabing near the front of the cabin – the Fan Jet ExecutiveElite Design, according to the gold medallion on the door. Their plush swivel chairs were bolted to tracks on the floor and could be repositioned and locked around a rectangular hardwood table. A mini-boardroom. The dignified surroundings, however, did little to camouflage the less than dignified state of affairs in the rear of the plane where, in a separate seating area near the rest room, Teabing's manservant Remy sat with the pistol in hand, begrudgingly carrying out Teabing's orders to stand guard over the bloody monk who lay trussed at his feet like a piece of luggage. â€Å"Before we turn our attention to the keystone,† Teabing said,† I was wondering if you would permit me a few words.† He sounded apprehensive, like a father about to give the birds-and-the-bees lecture to his children. â€Å"My friends, I realize I am but a guest on this journey, and I am honored as such. And yet, as someone who has spent his life in search of the Grail, I feel it is my duty to warn you that you are about to step onto a path from which there is no return, regardless of the dangers involved.† He turned to Sophie. â€Å"Miss Neveu, your grandfather gave you this cryptex in hopes you would keep the secret of the Holy Grail alive.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Understandably, you feel obliged to follow the trail wherever it leads.† Sophie nodded, although she felt a second motivation still burning within her. The truth about my family.Despite Langdon's assurances that the keystone had nothing to do with her past, Sophie still sensed something deeply personal entwined within this mystery, as if this cryptex, forged by her grandfather's own hands, were trying to speak to her and offer some kind of resolution to the emptiness that had haunted her all these years. â€Å"Your grandfather and three others died tonight,† Teabing continued,† and they did so to keep this keystone away from the Church. Opus Dei came within inches tonight of possessing it. You understand, I hope, that this puts you in a position of exceptional responsibility. You have been handed a torch. A two-thousand-year-old flame that cannot be allowed to go out. This torch cannot fall into the wrong hands.† He paused, glancing at the rosewood box. â€Å"I realize you have been given no choice in this matter, Miss Neveu, but considering what is at stake here, you must either fully embrace this responsibility†¦ or you must pass that responsibility to someone else.† â€Å"My grandfather gave the cryptex to me. I'm sure he thought I could handle the responsibility.† Teabing looked encouraged but unconvinced. â€Å"Good. A strong will is necessary. And yet, I amcurious if you understand that successfully unlocking the keystone will bring with i t a far greatertrial.† â€Å"How so?† â€Å"My dear, imagine that you are suddenly holding a map that reveals the location of the Holy Grail. In that moment, you will be in possession of a truth capable of altering history forever. You will be the keeper of a truth that man has sought for centuries. You will be faced with the responsibility of revealing that truth to the world. The individual who does so will be revered by many and despised by many. The question is whether you will have the necessary strength to carry out that task.† Sophie paused. â€Å"I'm not sure that is my decision to make.† Teabing's eyebrows arched. â€Å"No? If not the possessor of the keystone, then who?† â€Å"The brotherhood who has successfully protected the secret for so long.† â€Å"The Priory?† Teabing looked skeptical. â€Å"But how? The brotherhood was shattered tonight. Decapitated, as you so aptly put it. Whether they were infiltrated by some kind of eavesdropping or by a spy within their ranks, we will never know, but the fact remains that someone got to them and uncovered the identities of their four top members. I would not trust anyone who stepped forward from the brotherhood at this point.† â€Å"So what do you suggest?† Langdon asked. â€Å"Robert, you know as well as I do that the Priory has not protected the truth all these years to have it gather dust until eternity. They have been waiting for the right moment in history to share their secret. A time when the world is ready to handle the truth.† â€Å"And you believe that moment has arrived?† Langdon asked. â€Å"Absolutely. It could not be more obvious. All the historical signs are in place, and if the Priory did not intend to make their secret known very soon, why has the Church now attacked?† Sophie argued,† The monk has not yet told us his purpose.† â€Å"The monk's purpose is the Church's purpose,† Teabing replied,† to destroy the documents that reveal the great deception. The Church came closer tonight than they have ever come, and the Priory has put its trust in you, Miss Neveu. The task of saving the Holy Grail clearly includes carrying out the Priory's final wishes of sharing the truth with the world.† Langdon intervened. â€Å"Leigh, asking Sophie to make that decision is quite a load to drop on someone who only an hour ago learned the Sangreal documents exist.† Teabing sighed. â€Å"I apologize if I am pressing, Miss Neveu. Clearly I have always believed these documents should be made public, but in the end the decision belongs to you. I simply feel it is important that you begin to think about what happens should we succeed in opening the keystone.† â€Å"Gentlemen,† Sophie said, her voice firm. â€Å"To quote your words, ‘You do not find the Grail, the Grail finds you.' I am going to trust that the Grail has found me for a reason, and when the time comes, I will know what to do.† Both of them looked startled. â€Å"So then,† she said, motioning to the rosewood box. â€Å"Let's move on.† CHAPTER 70 Standing in the drawing room of Chateau Villette, Lieutenant Collet watched the dying fire and felt despondent. Captain Fache had arrived moments earlier and was now in the next room, yelling into the phone, trying to coordinate the failed attempt to locate the missing Range Rover. It could be anywhere by now, Collet thought. Having disobeyed Fache's direct orders and lost Langdon for a second time, Collet was grateful that PTS had located a bullet hole in the floor, which at least corroborated Collet's claims that a shot had been fired. Still, Fache's mood was sour, and Collet sensed there would be dire repercussions when the dust settled. Unfortunately, the clues they were turning up here seemed to shed no light at all on what was going on or who was involved. The black Audi outside had been rented in a false name with false credit card numbers, and the prints in the car matched nothing in the Interpol database. Another agent hurried into the living room, his eyes urgent. â€Å"Where's Captain Fache?† Collet barely looked up from the burning embers. â€Å"He's on the phone.† â€Å"I'm off the phone,† Fache snapped, stalking into the room. â€Å"What have you got?† The second agent said,† Sir, Central just heard from Andre Vernet at the Depository Bank of Zurich. He wants to talk to you privately. He is changing his story.† â€Å"Oh?† Fache said. Now Collet looked up. â€Å"Vernet is admitting that Langdon and Neveu spent time inside his bank tonight.† â€Å"We figured that out,† Fache said. â€Å"Why did Vernet lie about it?† â€Å"He said he'll talk only to you, but he's agreed to cooperate fully.† â€Å"In exchange for what?† â€Å"For our keeping his bank's name out of the news and also for helping him recover some stolen property. It sounds like Langdon and Neveu stole something from Sauniere's account.† â€Å"What?† Collet blurted. â€Å"How?† Fache never flinched, his eyes riveted on the second agent. â€Å"What did they steal?† â€Å"Vernet didn't elaborate, but he sounds like he's willing to do anything to get it back.† Collet tried to imagine how this could happen. Maybe Langdon and Neveu had held a bank employee at gunpoint? Maybe they forced Vernet to open Sauniere's account and facilitate an escape in the armored truck. As feasible as it was, Collet was having trouble believing Sophie Neveu could be involved in anything like that. From the kitchen, another agent yelled to Fache. â€Å"Captain? I'm going through Mr. Teabing's speed dial numbers, and I'm on the phone with Le Bourget Airfield. I've got some bad news.† Thirty seconds later, Fache was packing up and preparing to leave Chateau Villette. He had just learned that Teabing kept a private jet nearby at Le Bourget Airfield and that the plane had taken off about a half hour ago. The Bourget representative on the phone had claimed not to know who was on the plane or where it was headed. The takeoff had been unscheduled, and no flight plan had been logged. Highly illegal, even for a small airfield. Fache was certain that by applying the right pressure, he could get the answers he was looking for. â€Å"Lieutenant Collet,† Fache barked, heading for the door. â€Å"I have no choice but to leave you in charge of the PTS investigation here. Try to do something right for a change.† CHAPTER 71 As the Hawker leveled off, with its nose aimed for England, Langdon carefully lifted the rosewood box from his lap, where he had been protecting it during takeoff. Now, as he set the box on the table, he could sense Sophie and Teabing leaning forward with anticipation. Unlatching the lid and opening the box, Langdon turned his attention not to the lettered dials of the cryptex, but rather to the tiny hole on the underside of the box lid. Using the tip of a pen, he carefully removed the inlaid Rose on top and revealed the text beneath it. Sub Rosa, he mused, hoping a fresh look at the text would bring clarity. Focusing all his energies, Langdon studied the strange text. The Da Vinci Code After several seconds, he began to feel the initial frustration resurfacing. â€Å"Leigh, I just can't seem to place it.† From where Sophie was seated across the table, she could not yet see the text, but Langdon's inability to immediately identify the language surprised her. My grandfather spoke a language so obscure that even a symbologist can't identify it? She quickly realized she should not find this surprising. This would not be the first secret Jacques Sauniere had kept from his granddaughter. Opposite Sophie, Leigh Teabing felt ready to burst. Eager for his chance to see the text, he quivered with excitement, leaning in, trying to see around Langdon, who was still hunched over the box. â€Å"I don't know,† Langdon whispered intently. â€Å"My first guess is a Semitic, but now I'm not so sure. Most primary Semitics include nekkudot.This has none.† â€Å"Probably ancient,† Teabing offered. â€Å"Nekkudot?† Sophie inquired. Teabing never took his eyes from the box. â€Å"Most modern Semitic alphabets have no vowels and use nekkudot – tiny dots and dashes written either below or within the consonants – to indicate what vowel sound accompanies them. Historically speaking, nekkudot are a relatively modern addition to language.† Langdon was still hovering over the script. â€Å"A Sephardic transliteration, perhaps†¦ ?† Teabing could bear it no longer. â€Å"Perhaps if I just†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Reaching over, he edged the box away from Langdon and pulled it toward himself. No doubt Langdon had a solid familiarity with the standard ancients – Greek, Latin, the Romances – but from the fleeting glance Teabing had of this language, he thought it looked more specialized, possibly a Rashi script or a STA'M with crowns. Taking a deep breath, Teabing feasted his eyes upon the engraving. He said nothing for a very long time. With each passing second, Teabing felt his confidence deflating. â€Å"I'm astonished,† he said.† This language looks like nothing I've ever seen!† Langdon slumped.† Might I see it?† Sophie asked. Teabing pretended not to hear her. â€Å"Robert, you said earlier that you thought you'd seen something like this before?† Langdon looked vexed. â€Å"I thought so. I'm not sure. The script looks familiar somehow.† â€Å"Leigh?† Sophie repeated, clearly not appreciating being left out of the discussion. â€Å"Might I have a look at the box my grandfather made?† â€Å"Of course, dear,† Teabing said, pushing it over to her. He hadn't meant to sound belittling, and yet Sophie Neveu was light-years out of her league. If a British Royal Historian and a Harvard symbologist could not even identify the language – â€Å"Aah,† Sophie said, seconds after examining the box. â€Å"I should have guessed.† Teabing and Langdon turned in unison, staring at her.† Guessed what?† Teabing demanded. Sophie shrugged. â€Å"Guessed that this would be the language my grandfather would have used.† â€Å"You're saying you can read this text?† Teabing exclaimed.† Quite easily,† Sophie chimed, obviously enjoying herself now. â€Å"My grandfather taught me this language when I was only six years old. I'm fluent.† She leaned across the table and fixed Teabing with an admonishing glare. â€Å"And frankly, sir, considering your allegiance to the Crown, I'm a little surprised you didn't recognize it.† In a flash, Langdon knew. No wonder the script looks so damned familiar! Several years ago, Langdon had attended an event at Harvard's Fogg Museum. Harvard dropout Bill Gates had returned to his alma mater to lend to the museum one of his priceless acquisitions – eighteen sheets of paper he had recently purchased at auction from the Armand Hammar Estate. His winning bid – a cool $30.8 million. The author of the pages – Leonardo Da Vinci. The eighteen folios – now known as Leonardo's Codex Leicester after their famous owner, the Earl of Leicester – were all that remained of one of Leonardo's most fascinating notebooks: essays and drawings outlining Da Vinci's progressive theories on astronomy, geology, archaeology, and hydrology. Langdon would never forget his reaction after waiting in line and finally viewing the priceless parchment. Utter letdown. The pages were unintelligible. Despite being beautifully preserved and written in an impeccably neat penmanship – crimson ink on cream paper – the codex looked like gibberish. At first Langdon thought he could not read them because Da Vinci wrote his notebooks in an archaic Italian. But after studying them more closely, he realized he could not identify a single Italian word, or even one letter. â€Å"Try this, sir,† whispered the female docent at the display case. She motioned to a hand mirror affixed to the display on a chain. Langdon picked it up and examined the text in the mirror's surface. Instantly it was clear. Langdon had been so eager to peruse some of the great thinker's ideas that he had forgotten one of the man's numerous artistic talents was an ability to write in a mirrored script that was virtually illegible to anyone other than himself. Historians still debated whether Da Vinci wrote this way simply to amuse himself or to keep people from peering over his shoulder and stealing his ideas, but the point was moot. Da Vinci did as he pleased. Sophie smiled inwardly to see that Robert understood her meaning. â€Å"I can read the first few words,† she said. â€Å"It's English.† Teabing was still sputtering. â€Å"What's going on?† â€Å"Reverse text,† Langdon said. â€Å"We need a mirror.† â€Å"No we don't,† Sophie said. â€Å"I bet this veneer is thin enough.† She lifted the rosewood box up to a canister light on the wall and began examining the underside of the lid. Her grandfather couldn't actually write in reverse, so he always cheated by writing normally and then flipping the paper over and tracing the reversed impression. Sophie's guess was that he had wood-burned normal text into a block of wood and then run the back of the block through a sander until the wood was paper thin and the wood-burning could be seen through the wood. Then he'd simply flipped the piece over, and laid it in. As Sophie moved the lid closer to the light, she saw she was right. The bright beam sifted through the thin layer of wood, and the script appeared in reverse on the underside of the lid. Instantly legible.† English,† Teabing croaked, hanging his head in shame. â€Å"My native tongue.† At the rear of the plane, Remy Legaludec strained to hear beyond the rumbling engines, but the conversation up front was inaudible. Remy did not like the way the night was progressing. Not at all. He looked down at the bound monk at his feet. The man lay perfectly still now, as if in a trance of acceptance, or perhaps, in silent prayer for deliverance. CHAPTER 72 Fifteen thousand feet in the air, Robert Langdon felt the physical world fade away as all of his thoughts converged on Sauniere's mirror-image poem, which was illuminated through the lid of the box. The Da Vinci Code Sophie quickly found some paper and copied it down longhand. When she was done, the three of them took turns reading the text. It was like some kind of archaeological crossword†¦ a riddle that promised to reveal how to open the cryptex. Langdon read the verse slowly. An ancient word of wisdom frees this scroll†¦ and helps us keep her scatter'd family whole†¦ a headstone praised by templars is the key†¦ and at bash will reveal the truth to thee. Before Langdon could even ponder what ancient password the verse was trying to reveal, he felt something far more fundamental resonate within him – the meter of the poem. Iambic pentameter. Langdon had come across this meter often over the years while researching secret societies across Europe, including just last year in the Vatican Secret Archives. For centuries, iambic pentameter had been a preferred poetic meter of outspoken literati across the globe, from the ancient Greek writer Archilochus to Shakespeare, Milton, Chaucer, and Voltaire – bold souls who chose to write their social commentaries in a meter that many of the day believed had mystical properties. The roots of iambic pentameter were deeply pagan. Iambs. Two syllables with opposite emphasis. Stressed and unstressed. Yin yang. A balanced pair. Arranged in strings of five. Pentameter. Five for the pentacle of Venus and the sacred feminine. â€Å"It's pentameter!† Teabing blurted, turning to Langdon. â€Å"And the verse is in English! La lingua pura!† Langdon nodded. The Priory, like many European secret societies at odds with the Church, had considered English the only European pure language for centuries. Unlike French, Spanish, and Italian, which were rooted in Latin – the tongue of the Vatican – English was linguistically removed from Rome's propaganda machine, and therefore became a sacred, secret tongue for those brotherhoods educated enough to learn it. â€Å"This poem,† Teabing gushed,† references not only the Grail, but the Knights Templar and the scattered family of Mary Magdalene! What more could we ask for?† â€Å"The password,† Sophie said, looking again at the poem. â€Å"It sounds like we need some kind of ancient word of wisdom?† â€Å"Abracadabra?† Teabing ventured, his eyes twinkling. A word of five letters, Langdon thought, pondering the staggering number of ancient words that might be considered words of wisdom – selections from mystic chants, astrological prophecies, secret society inductions, Wicca incantations, Egyptian magic spells, pagan mantras – the list was endless. â€Å"The password,† Sophie said, â€Å"appears to have something to do with the Templars.† She read the text aloud. † ‘A headstone praised by Templars is the key. ‘† â€Å"Leigh,† Langdon said, â€Å"you're the Templar specialist. Any ideas?† Teabing was silent for several seconds and then sighed. â€Å"Well, a headstone is obviously a grave marker of some sort. It's possible the poem is referencing a gravestone the Templars praised at the tomb of Magdalene, but that doesn't help us much because we have no idea where her tomb is.† â€Å"The last line,† Sophie said,† says that Atbash will reveal the truth. I've heard that word. Atbash.† â€Å"I'm not surprised,† Langdon replied. â€Å"You probably heard it in Cryptology 101. The Atbash Cipher is one of the oldest codes known to man.† Of course! Sophie thought. The famous Hebrew encoding system. The Atbash Cipher had indeed been part of Sophie's early cryptology training. The cipher dated back to 500 B. C. and was now used as a classroom example of a basic rotational substitution scheme. A common form of Jewish cryptogram, the Atbash Cipher was a simple substitution code based on the twenty-two-letter Hebrew alphabet. In Atbash, the first letter was substituted by the last letter, the second letter by the next to last letter, and so on. â€Å"Atbash is sublimely appropriate,† Teabing said. â€Å"Text encrypted with Atbash is found throughout the Kabbala, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and even the Old Testament. Jewish scholars and mystics are stillfinding hidden meanings using Atbash. The Priory certainly would include the Atbash Cipher as part of their teachings.† â€Å"The only problem,† Langdon said,† is that we don't have anything on which to apply the cipher.† Teabing sighed. â€Å"There must be a code word on the headstone. We must find this headstone praised by Templars.† Sophie sensed from the grim look on Langdon's face that finding the Templar headstone would be no small feat. Atbash is the key, Sophie thought. But we don't have a door. It was three minutes later that Teabing heaved a frustrated sigh and shook his head. â€Å"My friends, I'm stymied. Let me ponder this while I get us some nibblies and check on Remy and our guest.† He stood up and headed for the back of the plane. Sophie felt tired as she watched him go. Outside the window, the blackness of the predawn was absolute. Sophie felt as if she were being hurtled through space with no idea where she would land. Having grown up solving her grandfather's riddles, she had the uneasy sense right now that this poem before them contained information they still had not seen. There is more there, she told herself. Ingeniously hidden†¦ but present nonetheless. Also plaguing her thoughts was a fear that what they eventually found inside this cryptex would not be as simple as† a map to the Holy Grail.† Despite Teabing's and Langdon's confidence that the truth lay just within the marble cylinder, Sophie had solved enough of her grandfather's treasure hunts to know that Jacques Sauniere did not give up his secrets easily.