Free Essays on Interpretive Analysis On “A Good Man Is Hard To Find“

Interpretive Analysis On â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find â€Å"In Flannery O’Connor’s â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† we get a portrait of a 1950s postwar family who, in the midst of their own naivety, find themselves not only on the road from Atlanta, Georgia to Florida but on the road to the their own demise. The most outstanding character in this story is the grandmother, and since the story is told from the third person omniscient view, it will be easy for us to analyze the grandmother’s character. She connects the other characters together throughout the story with her own selfishness and stupidity, and through a self-realization which becomes the most important moment in the story. As the story opens, the scene is set in the home of a man named Bailey and his family which consists of his mother (the grandmother), his wife and their two children- June Star and John Wesley. Bailey is planning a trip to Florida, but the grandmother would rather go to Tennessee. We see the first sign of the grandmother’s selfishness here when she tries to convince her son, Bailey, to take the family to Tennessee. She does her persuasion through a newspaper article which says that a convict called The Misfit has escaped from the Federal Penitentiary in Florida. She says, â€Å"I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn’t answer to my conscious if I did.† We will see how this statement becomes the epitome of irony in the next few paragraphs. While the family is on the road to from Atlanta to Florida, the scene changes to a filling station and dance hall called The Tower. While the family is eating Red Sammy’s barbecue sandwiches, the grandmother carries on a very foreshadowing conversation with Red Sam. â€Å"These days you don’t know who to trust,† he said. â€Å"Ain’t that the truth?†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"A good man is hard to find.† If the grandmother knows this and makes these assert... Free Essays on Interpretive Analysis On â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Findâ€Å" Free Essays on Interpretive Analysis On â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Findâ€Å" Interpretive Analysis On â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find â€Å"In Flannery O’Connor’s â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† we get a portrait of a 1950s postwar family who, in the midst of their own naivety, find themselves not only on the road from Atlanta, Georgia to Florida but on the road to the their own demise. The most outstanding character in this story is the grandmother, and since the story is told from the third person omniscient view, it will be easy for us to analyze the grandmother’s character. She connects the other characters together throughout the story with her own selfishness and stupidity, and through a self-realization which becomes the most important moment in the story. As the story opens, the scene is set in the home of a man named Bailey and his family which consists of his mother (the grandmother), his wife and their two children- June Star and John Wesley. Bailey is planning a trip to Florida, but the grandmother would rather go to Tennessee. We see the first sign of the grandmother’s selfishness here when she tries to convince her son, Bailey, to take the family to Tennessee. She does her persuasion through a newspaper article which says that a convict called The Misfit has escaped from the Federal Penitentiary in Florida. She says, â€Å"I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn’t answer to my conscious if I did.† We will see how this statement becomes the epitome of irony in the next few paragraphs. While the family is on the road to from Atlanta to Florida, the scene changes to a filling station and dance hall called The Tower. While the family is eating Red Sammy’s barbecue sandwiches, the grandmother carries on a very foreshadowing conversation with Red Sam. â€Å"These days you don’t know who to trust,† he said. â€Å"Ain’t that the truth?†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"A good man is hard to find.† If the grandmother knows this and makes these assert...

Abbreviations in Science and Technology

Abbreviations in Science and Technology Abbreviations in Science and Technology Abbreviations in Science and Technology By Mark Nichol Because of the bewildering variety of abbreviations for scientific and technological terms and the inconsistency of treatment, writers and editors are advised to consult with publications like The Chicago Manual of Style or a handbook specific to a scientific discipline or to an industry to confirm standard modes of abbreviation for specific terms. This post provides an assortment of examples that demonstrate the seemingly chaotic nature of scientific and technological abbreviation. Abbreviations for scientific and technological terms generally do not use periods; an exception is physical dimensions for nonmetric quantities such as gr. for grain, qt. for quart, and bbl. for barrel and temporal abbreviations such as sec. (second), hr. (hour), and mo. (month). Note, too, that unlike abbreviations for physical dimensions, those for durations of time include an s when they are plural: â€Å"15 mins.,† â€Å"5 yrs.,† etc.). Abbreviations of metric units are almost invariably lowercased; an exception is mL for milliliter, so that a lowercase l is not confused for the numeral 1. The format of abbreviation of US units of measure is inconsistent. Sometimes, abbreviations may consist of the first two letters of a word (for example, mi. for mile); in other cases, the abbreviation may be formed from the first and last letters (as in yd. for yard). Rarely, an abbreviation of a foreign term is used, as with lb. instead of po. or pd. for pound, while the abbreviation oz. for ounce is based on the medieval Italian form onza. Just as these abbreviations are usually appropriate only for charts and tables, not for what is called running text (the prevailing content in a publication distinct from display copy- headlines, captions, and the like- and graphic elements such as charts and tables), symbols are usually avoided in running text, but the percentage symbol (%) is occasionally used there, especially in statistically dense content, as are symbols for minutes and seconds in time or distance. However, these should be style as primes (†²) and double primes (†³), although some publications use straight, or dumb, quotation marks ( or ) or even curly, or smart, ones (’ or †). Capitalization of scientific and technological terms is variable, sometimes even for terms in the same category. Just as the first letter for the abbreviation of tablespoon is capitalized to distinguish Tbsp. from the abbreviation for teaspoon (tsp.), Bps (for â€Å"bytes per second†) and bps (for â€Å"bits per second†) are distinguished by initial capitalization of the former but not the latter, and abbreviation of megabit and megabyte are distinguished as Mb and MB, though kilobit is abbreviated kb, while kilobyte is shortened to KB (or simply K). The first letter of the abbreviations for â€Å"kilobyte per second† (Kbps) and â€Å"megabyte per second† (Mbps) is also capitalized. Abbreviations of scientific units named for scientists have initial capitalization, though the spelled-out terms themselves are lowercased- for example, Bq (becquerel), Da (dalton), and J (joule). This is true of abbreviations of words based on surnames, such as F for farad (an abbreviation of Faraday) and V for volt (from Volta). And because the -bel in decibel is in honor of Alexander Graham Bell, that segment of the word for a unit of measurement of sound is capitalized in abbreviation to dB. Likewise, the first letter in Btu is capitalized because it stands for British. (The other letters stand for thermal and units.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†Deck the HallsPersonification vs. Anthropomorphism

Analysis of Electronic Medical Records Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis of Electronic Medical Records - Essay Example The system should have the capacity to store quite a large amount of information at any one time. The operations of such information should also be manageable for ease of retrieval by the hospital officials and other users (Skolnik & Neil, 121). The hospitals also want the EMR to address the problem of mishandling, error, and confusion associated with operation manual information.The patients have their share of information requirement as far as their wellbeing is concerned. Firstly, they need a system that makes it easier to keep their information as confidential as it can be possible. EMR provide electronically storage of information that should offer confidential features for the storage of sensitive data about their personal details, medical records, and history. Secondly, the electronic systems should provide for immediate processing of claims and processing of payment as well. Thus, people seeking health care services would find it convenient to receiving health care and making the payments for the services (Skolnik & Neil 122). The patients are also seeking a system that should have the capacity to reduce the need for hospital admissions or their stay in the hospital. This means that they can receive equally quality services online, saving a lot of expenses. Physicians, on the other hand, are set to benefit from the implementation of EMR operations in the hospitals. Firstly, they are looking forward to an electronic system that can provide for immediate access to data. Manual storage of records is the source of immense time wastage in the hospitals where the health professional has to spend a lot of time looking for information in past stored files. Thus, the EMR should resolve this problem by providing an easy and convenient way of accessing information about any given patient. Secondly, the health professional is in need of a system that makes

Human Resource Management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human Resource Management - Term Paper Example Recommending a termination would for instance require a replacement and this means a costly recruitment process. It would also have financial repercussions, would affect other employees in the region and ultimately the company’s culture. It is therefore a particularly difficult decision to make but then a decision must be reached and one that serves the best interests of the business. It must be just and sufficient considering employment and labour laws. Gordo has been tolerated for a very long time and for this reason his behaviour has continued to determinate up the current level where he appears not to uphold company values any more. Considering the company’s PCP, Gordo’s unpleasant behaviour has already been discussed verbally in his presence and a written warning issued but he did not show any significant effort to turn things around. He appeared to continue with a careless attitude and would always give reasons for his financial underperformance hence a probation was necessary. Probation would also serve as a good notice to him that the company is concerned with his performance and therefore requires of him to improve or face dismissal. The situation got worse with the latest discovery touching on lack of professionalism. He has lost two important accounts; this has significant implications to the market share, business and growth and financial performance of the company. There have also been cases of customer complains on his conduct. He fails to respond to customer calls and more importantly a physician complained that he had attempted to convert what was company business to his personal business. Gordo now has the courage to discourage a customer against the company and offer to repair their machine at a cheaper price if paid in cash. This has actually crossed the lines in terms of professional conduct; such behaviour can never be allowed by any company

Energy drinks Essay Example for Free

Energy drinks Essay Using Energy Drinks in Daily Routine: What Is Energy drink? An energy drink Is a drink which contains drugs that Increases levels of nervous activity in the body, mainly caffeine, which is known for its mental or physical stimulation. Energy drinks may or may not be carbonated, and contain large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants drugs, and many also contain sugar, herbal extracts and amino acids. They are sub branches of the group of energy products, which Includes bars and gels. Energy drinks comes In many brands, qualities, flavors and varieties. Positive Points: 1 . Significant amount of Improvement In mental and cognitive performances as well as increased alertness. 2. Its been suggested that the reversal of some components present in caffeine helps in leaving a good effect on mood and ones performance. 3. After many tests it is observed that in young healthy adults an energy drink significantly increased upper body muscle strength. 4. Energy drinks help in improve memory. 5. Energy drinks Improve circulation of blood In your brain, ears and eyes. 6. Many energy drink companies use fruits and herbs that are healthy (for example: berries hey protect your body cells from oxidation). Negative points: With 30 to 50 percent of teens are taking energy drinks on daily basis, there are disadvantages of drinking these drinks, especially in children and teenagers, because they cannot safely consume as much caffeine as adults can. 1 Energy drinks are very high In sugar level, containing up to 35 grams of sugar per drink, which Is above the recommended amount of sugars for women of 25 grams per day and very close to the recommended daily limit of 37. Grams per men. Consuming a lot of deed sugars Increases your risk for obesity, because added sugars provide extra calories. 2. The caffeine in energy drinks increases the speed with which the alcohol is absorbed by a body making it more likely a person will stay awake long enough to consume more alcohol than a body would otherwise be able to. 3. The risks can be lessened by sticking to the recom mended Limits, which are listed on every drink, and by controlling the consumption of energy drinks by drinking one drink In a day. Extra ingredients , like amino acids, terrine, Guarani and ginseng, are added in such small mounts that they are not likely to give any beneficial health effects or cause any negative side effects. Suggestion: 1 . For many people, occasional drinks are flee, but try your best to limit yourself to about 500 millimeters a day. If youre consistently fatigued or rundown, however, figure a better and healthier way to boost your energy. Get good sleep, include yourself physical activity in your routine, and eat a healthy food. If these things dont help, consult your doctor. Sometimes fatigue is a sign medical condition, such as hypothyroidism or anemia. Or high blood pressure, consult your doctor if energy drinks may cause complications. Pregnant women and women who are breast-feeding may want to especially limit consumption of these beverages. 3. With the growing popularity of energy drinks on daily basis, most of the parents are concerned about how much caffeine their kids are taking. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescents get no more than 100 milliards of caffeine a day. Younger children shouldnt drink caffeinated beverages on a regular basis.

Society Effects On Gender Roles In Malawi Essay examples --

Society Effects On Gender Roles In Malawi Ivy Tech Vocational Collage The seventeenth and eighteenth century was a time of many struggles with many nations. Slave traders, immigrants and Christian missionaries where some of the troubles brought on by changes happening. While it was a time of change the Malawi people came together and formed this alliance of the Nyau . Mostly to form a resistance. Nyau appealed to the people because it brought their culture together instead of the quilted nature of the other cultures. Through the Nayu the Gule Wamkulu was founded they are a society of men . Chinamwali is a female society . In the early twentieth century the Presbyterians and Catholics condemned the Nyau and the Chinamwali as heinous. Asking the native people to denounce both. People in charge of the ceremonies where uncertain of the future. Missionaries where questioning the ritual ceromines and the children not being in school. Giving the opinion that these children are coerced to join these groups a roadblock to their learning keeping them out of school. The government was asked to step in however , decided not to interfere in this matter . Writing on the Nyau subject reports that the researcher Woods (1991/1992) for example ‘illustrates how lineage elders to establish a new hegemony that enabled them to control the lineage when other indigenous forms of authority nearly collapsed during the colonial era. â€Å" Informing the reader that the Nyau was a strong force not easily broken or infiltrated. Through the course of time the Nyau had less of a need . Times had changed slavery was not as prevalent the immigration had elevated, however the missionaries remained , leaving them with... ...art . Often this is done so that the other wives can make money harvesting crops . The husband can take care of the finances. Having many wives can make for having more children which is a status symbol. His wife may become unbecoming so he may aquire another wife. Sometimes a husband will take a luphatho in the form of a basket of maize flour and one chicken which is taken by the wife herself to her parents to ask for the sister’s hand in marriage. If the parents accept the luphatho the formal processes of paying for the bride price is instituted and finally the young sister joins her sister as a second wife. Women are not allowed to marry more than one man. Works Cited Groves, Z. (2012). Urban Migrants and Religious Networks: Malawians in Colonial Salisbury, 1920 to 1970. Journal Of Southern African Studies, 38(3), 491-511. doi:10.1080/03057070.2012.707507

The Lost Symbol Chapter 48-51

CHAPTER 48 In the heat of the moment, Capitol police officer Nunez had seen no option but to help the Capitol Architect and Robert Langdon escape. Now, however, back in the basement police headquarters, Nunez could see the storm clouds gathering fast. Chief Trent Anderson was holding an ice pack to his head while another officer was tending to Sato's bruises. Both of them were standing with the video surveillance team, reviewing digital playback files in an attempt to locate Langdon and Bellamy. â€Å"Check the playback on every hallway and exit,† Sato demanded. â€Å"I want to know where they went!† Nunez felt ill as he looked on. He knew it would be only a matter of minutes before they found the right video clip and learned the truth. I helped them escape. Making matters worse was the arrival of a four-man CIA field team that was now staging nearby, prepping to go after Langdon and Bellamy. These guys looked nothing like the Capitol Police. These guys were dead-serious soldiers . . . black camouflage, night vision, futuristic-looking handguns. Nunez felt like he would throw up. Making up his mind, he motioned discreetly to Chief Anderson. â€Å"A word, Chief?† â€Å"What is it?† Anderson followed Nunez into the hall. â€Å"Chief, I made a bad mistake,† Nunez said, breaking a sweat. â€Å"I'm sorry, and I'm resigning.† You'll fire me in a few minutes anyway. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† Nunez swallowed hard. â€Å"Earlier, I saw Langdon and Architect Bellamy in the visitor center on their way out of the building.† â€Å"What?!† Anderson bellowed. â€Å"Why didn't you say something?!† â€Å"The Architect told me not to say a word.† â€Å"You work for me, goddamm it!† Anderson's voice echoed down the corridor. â€Å"Bellamy smashed my head into a wall, for Christ's sake!† Nunez handed Anderson the key that the Architect had given him. â€Å"What is this?† Anderson demanded. â€Å"A key to the new tunnel under Independence Avenue. Architect Bellamy had it. That's how they escaped.† Anderson stared down at the key, speechless. Sato poked her head out into the hallway, eyes probing. â€Å"What's going on out here?† Nunez felt himself go pale. Anderson was still holding the key, and Sato clearly had seen it. As the hideous little woman drew near, Nunez improvised as best as he could, hoping to protect his chief. â€Å"I found a key on the floor in the subbasement. I was just asking Chief Anderson if he knew what it might go to.† Sato arrived, eyeing the key. â€Å"And does the chief know?† Nunez glanced up at Anderson, who was clearly weighing all his options before speaking. Finally, the chief shook his head. â€Å"Not offhand. I'd have to check the–â€Å" â€Å"Don't bother,† Sato said. â€Å"This key unlocks a tunnel off the visitor center.† â€Å"Really?† Anderson said. â€Å"How do you know that?† â€Å"We just found the surveillance clip. Officer Nunez here helped Langdon and Bellamy escape and then relocked that tunnel door behind them. Bellamy gave Nunez that key.† Anderson turned to Nunez with a flare of anger. â€Å"Is this true?!† Nunez nodded vigorously, doing his best to play along. â€Å"I'm sorry, sir. The Architect told me not to tell a soul!† â€Å"I don't give a damn what the Architect told you!† Anderson yelled. â€Å"I expect–â€Å" â€Å"Shut up, Trent,† Sato snapped. â€Å"You're both lousy liars. Save it for your CIA inquisition.† She snatched the Architect's tunnel key from Anderson. â€Å"You're done here.† CHAPTER 49 Robert Langdon hung up his cell phone, feeling increasingly worried. Katherine's not answering her cell? Katherine had promised to call him as soon as she was safely out of the lab and on her way to meet him here, but she had never done so. Bellamy sat beside Langdon at the reading-room desk. He, too, had just made a call, his to an individual he claimed could offer them sanctuary–a safe place to hide. Unfortunately, this person was not answering either, and so Bellamy had left an urgent message, telling him to call Langdon's cell phone right away. â€Å"I'll keep trying,† he said to Langdon, â€Å"but for the moment, we're on our own. And we need to discuss a plan for this pyramid.† The pyramid. For Langdon, the spectacular backdrop of the reading room had all but disappeared, his world constricting now to include only what was directly in front of him–a stone pyramid, a sealed package containing a capstone, and an elegant African American man who had materialized out of the darkness and rescued him from the certainty of a CIA interrogation. Langdon had expected a modicum of sanity from the Architect of the Capitol, but now it seemed Warren Bellamy was no more rational than the madman claiming Peter was in purgatory. Bellamy was insisting this stone pyramid was, in fact, the Masonic Pyramid of legend. An ancient map? That guides us to powerful wisdom? â€Å"Mr. Bellamy,† Langdon said politely, â€Å"this idea that there exists some kind of ancient knowledge that can imbue men with great power . . . I simply can't take it seriously.† Bellamy's eyes looked both disappointed and earnest, making Langdon's skepticism all the more awkward. â€Å"Yes, Professor, I had imagined you might feel this way, but I suppose I should not be surprised. You are an outsider looking in. There exist certain Masonic realities that you will perceive as myth because you are not properly initiated and prepared to understand them.† Now Langdon felt patronized. I wasn't a member of Odysseus's crew, but I'm certain the Cyclops is a myth. â€Å"Mr. Bellamy, even if the legend is true . . . this pyramid cannot possibly be the Masonic Pyramid.† â€Å"No?† Bellamy ran a finger across the Masonic cipher on the stone. â€Å"It looks to me like it fits the description perfectly. A stone pyramid with a shining metal capstone, which, according to Sato's X-ray, is exactly what Peter entrusted to you.† Bellamy picked up the little cube-shaped package, weighing it in his hand. â€Å"This stone pyramid is less than a foot tall,† Langdon countered. â€Å"Every version of the story I've ever heard describes the Masonic Pyramid as enormous.† Bellamy had clearly anticipated this point. â€Å"As you know, the legend speaks of a pyramid rising so high that God Himself can reach out and touch it.† â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"I can see your dilemma, Professor. However, both the Ancient Mysteries and Masonic philosophy celebrate the potentiality of God within each of us. Symbolically speaking, one could claim that anything within reach of an enlightened man . . . is within reach of God.† Langdon felt unswayed by the wordplay. â€Å"Even the Bible concurs,† Bellamy said. â€Å"If we accept, as Genesis tells us, that `God created man in his own image,' then we also must accept what this implies–that mankind was not created inferior to God. In Luke 17:20 we are told, `The kingdom of God is within you.' â€Å" â€Å"I'm sorry, but I don't know any Christians who consider themselves God's equal.† â€Å"Of course not,† Bellamy said, his tone hardening. â€Å"Because most Christians want it both ways. They want to be able to proudly declare they are believers in the Bible and yet simply ignore those parts they find too difficult or too inconvenient to believe.† Langdon made no response. â€Å"Anyhow,† Bellamy said, â€Å"the Masonic Pyramid's age-old description as being tall enough to be touched by God . . . this has long led to misinterpretations about its size. Conveniently, it keeps academics like yourself insisting the pyramid is a legend, and nobody searches for it.† Langdon looked down at the stone pyramid. â€Å"I apologize that I'm frustrating you,† he said. â€Å"I've simply always thought of the Masonic Pyramid as a myth.† â€Å"Does it not seem perfectly fitting to you that a map created by stonemasons would be carved in stone? Throughout history, our most important guideposts have always been carved in stone– including the tablets God gave Moses–Ten Commandments to guide our human conduct.† â€Å"I understand, and yet it is always referred to as the Legend of the Masonic Pyramid. Legend implies it is mythical.† â€Å"Yes, legend.† Bellamy chuckled. â€Å"I'm afraid you're suffering from the same problem Moses had.† â€Å"I'm sorry?† Bellamy looked almost amused as he turned in his seat, glancing up at the second-tier balcony, where sixteen bronze statues peered down at them. â€Å"Do you see Moses?† Langdon gazed up at the library's celebrated statue of Moses. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"He has horns.† â€Å"I'm aware of that.† â€Å"But do you know why he has horns?† Like most teachers, Langdon did not enjoy being lectured to. The Moses above them had horns for the same reason thousands of Christian images of Moses had horns–a mistranslation of the book of Exodus. The original Hebrew text described Moses as having â€Å"karan ‘ohr panav†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ â€Å"facial skin that glowed with rays of light†Ã¢â‚¬â€œbut when the Roman Catholic Church created the official Latin translation of the Bible, the translator bungled Moses's description, rendering it as â€Å"cornuta esset facies sua,† meaning â€Å"his face was horned.† From that moment on, artists and sculptors, fearing reprisals if they were not true to the Gospels, began depicting Moses with horns. â€Å"It was a simple mistake,† Langdon replied. â€Å"A mistranslation by Saint Jerome around four hundred A.D.† Bellamy looked impressed. â€Å"Exactly. A mistranslation. And the result is . . . poor Moses is now misshapen for all history.† â€Å"Misshapen† was a nice way to put it. Langdon, as a child, had been terrified when he saw Michelangelo's diabolical â€Å"horned Moses†Ã¢â‚¬â€œthe centerpiece of Rome's Basilica of St. Peter in Chains. â€Å"I mention the horned Moses,† Bellamy now said, â€Å"to illustrate how a single word, misunderstood, can rewrite history.† You're preaching to the choir, Langdon thought, having learned the lesson firsthand in Paris a number of years back. SanGreal: Holy Grail. SangReal: Royal Blood. â€Å"In the case of the Masonic Pyramid,† Bellamy continued, â€Å"people heard whispers about a `legend.' And the idea stuck. The Legend of the Masonic Pyramid sounded like a myth. But the word legend was referring to something else. It had been misconstrued. Much like the word talisman.† He smiled. â€Å"Language can be very adept at hiding the truth.† â€Å"That's true, but you're losing me here.† â€Å"Robert, the Masonic Pyramid is a map. And like every map, it has a legend–a key that tells you how to read it.† Bellamy took the cube-shaped package and held it up. â€Å"Don't you see? This capstone is the legend to the pyramid. It is the key that tells you how to read the most powerful artifact on earth . . . a map that unveils the hiding place of mankind's greatest treasure–the lost wisdom of the ages.† Langdon fell silent. â€Å"I humbly submit,† Bellamy said, â€Å"that your towering Masonic Pyramid is only this . . . a modest stone whose golden capstone reaches high enough to be touched by God. High enough that an enlightened man can reach down and touch it.† Silence hung between the two men for several seconds. Langdon felt an unexpected pulse of excitement as he looked down at the pyramid, seeing it in a new light. His eyes moved again to the Masonic cipher. â€Å"But this code . . . it seems so . . .† â€Å"Simple?† Langdon nodded. â€Å"Almost anyone could decipher this.† Bellamy smiled and retrieved a pencil and paper for Langdon. â€Å"Then perhaps you should enlighten us?† Langdon felt uneasy about reading the code, and yet considering the circumstances, it seemed a minor betrayal of Peter's trust. Moreover, whatever the engraving said, he could not imagine that it unveiled a secret hiding place of anything at all . . . much less that of one of history's greatest treasures. Langdon accepted the pencil from Bellamy and tapped it on his chin as he studied the cipher. The code was so simple that he barely needed pencil and paper. Even so, he wanted to ensure he made no mistakes, and so he dutifully put pencil to paper and wrote down the most common decryption key for a Masonic cipher. The key consisted of four grids–two plain and two dotted–with the alphabet running through them in order. Each letter of the alphabet was now positioned inside a uniquely shaped â€Å"enclosure† or â€Å"pen.† The shape of each letter's enclosure became the symbol for that letter. The scheme was so simple, it was almost infantile. Langdon double-checked his handiwork. Feeling confident the decryption key was correct, he now turned his attention back to the code inscribed on the pyramid. To decipher it, all he had to do was to find the matching shape on his decryption key and write down the letter inside it. The first character on the pyramid looked like a down arrow or a chalice. Langdon quickly found the chalice-shaped segment on the decryption key. It was located in the lower left-hand corner and enclosed the letter S. Langdon wrote down S. The next symbol on the pyramid was a dotted square missing its right side. That shape on the decryption grid enclosed the letter O. He wrote down O. The third symbol was a simple square, which enclosed the letter E. Langdon wrote down E. SOE†¦ He continued, picking up speed until he had completed the entire grid. Now, as he gazed down at his finished translation, Langdon let out a puzzled sigh. Hardly what I'd call a eureka moment. Bellamy's face showed the hint of a smile. â€Å"As you know, Professor, the Ancient Mysteries are reserved only for the truly enlightened.† â€Å"Right,† Langdon said, frowning. Apparently, I don't qualify. CHAPTER 50 In a basement office deep inside CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, the same sixteen- character Masonic cipher glowed brightly on a high-definition computer monitor. Senior OS analyst Nola Kaye sat alone and studied the image that had been e-mailed to her ten minutes ago by her boss, Director Inoue Sato. Is this some kind of joke? Nola knew it was not, of course; Director Sato had no sense of humor, and the events of tonight were anything but a joking matter. Nola's high-level clearance within the CIA's all-seeing Office of Security had opened her eyes to the shadow worlds of power. But what Nola had witnessed in the last twenty-four hours had changed her impressions forever of the secrets that powerful men kept. â€Å"Yes, Director,† Nola now said, cradling the phone on her shoulder as she talked to Sato. â€Å"The engraving is indeed the Masonic cipher. However, the cleartext is meaningless. It appears to be a grid of random letters.† She gazed down at her decryption. â€Å"It must say something,† Sato insisted. â€Å"Not unless it has a second layer of encryption that I'm not aware of.† â€Å"Any guesses?† Sato asked. â€Å"It's a grid-based matrix, so I could run the usual–Vigenre, grilles, trellises, and so forth–but no promises, especially if it's a onetime pad.† â€Å"Do what you can. And do it fast. How about the X-ray?† Nola swiveled her chair to a second system, which displayed a standard security X-ray of someone's bag. Sato had requested information on what appeared to be a small pyramid inside a cube-shaped box. Normally, a two-inch-tall object would not be an issue of national security unless it was made of enriched plutonium. This one was not. It was made of something almost equally startling. â€Å"Image-density analysis was conclusive,† Nola said. â€Å"Nineteen-point-three grams per cubic centimeter. It's pure gold. Very, very valuable.† â€Å"Anything else?† â€Å"Actually, yes. The density scan picked up minor irregularities on the surface of the gold pyramid. It turns out the gold is engraved with text.† â€Å"Really?† Sato sounded hopeful. â€Å"What does it say?† â€Å"I can't tell yet. The inscription is extremely faint. I'm trying to enhance with filters, but the resolution on the X-ray is not great.† â€Å"Okay, keep trying. Call me when you have something.† â€Å"Yes, ma'am.† â€Å"And, Nola?† Sato's tone turned ominous. â€Å"As with everything you have learned in the last twenty-four hours, the images of the stone pyramid and gold capstone are classified at the highest levels of security. You are to consult no one. You report to me directly. I want to make sure that is clear.† â€Å"Of course, ma'am.† â€Å"Good. Keep me posted.† Sato hung up. Nola rubbed her eyes and looked blearily back at her computer screens. She had not slept in over thirty-six hours, and she knew damn well she would not sleep again until this crisis had reached its conclusion. Whatever that may be. Back at the Capitol Visitor Center, four black-clad CIA field-op specialists stood at the entrance to the tunnel, peering hungrily down the dimly lit shaft like a pack of dogs eager for the hunt. Sato approached, having just hung up from a call. â€Å"Gentlemen,† she said, still holding the Architect's key, â€Å"are your mission parameters clear?† â€Å"Affirmative,† the lead agent replied. â€Å"We have two targets. The first is an engraved stone pyramid, approximately one foot tall. The second is a smaller, cube-shaped package, approximately two inches tall. Both were last seen in Robert Langdon's shoulder bag.† â€Å"Correct,† Sato said. â€Å"These two items must be retrieved quickly and intact. Do you have any questions?† â€Å"Parameters for use of force?† Sato's shoulder was still throbbing from where Bellamy had struck her with a bone. â€Å"As I said, it is of critical importance that these items be retrieved.† â€Å"Understood.† The four men turned and headed into the darkness of the tunnel. Sato lit a cigarette and watched them disappear. CHAPTER 51 Katherine Solomon had always been a prudent driver, but now she was pushing her Volvo at over ninety as she fled blindly up the Suitland Parkway. Her trembling foot had been lodged on the accelerator for a full mile before her panic began to lift. She now realized her uncontrollable shivering was no longer solely from fear. I'm freezing. The wintry night air was gushing through her shattered window, buffeting her body like an arctic wind. Her stockinged feet were numb, and she reached down for her spare pair of shoes, which she kept beneath the passenger seat. As she did, she felt a stab of pain from the bruise on her throat, where the powerful hand had latched on to her neck. The man who had smashed through her window bore no resemblance to the blond-haired gentleman whom Katherine knew as Dr. Christopher Abaddon. His thick hair and smooth, tanned complexion had disappeared. His shaved head, bare chest, and makeup-smeared face had been unveiled as a terrifying tapestry of tattoos. She heard his voice again, whispering to her in the howl of wind outside her broken window. Katherine, I should have killed you years ago . . . the night I killed your mother. Katherine shivered, feeling no doubt. That was him. She had never forgotten the look of fiendish violence in his eyes. Nor had she ever forgotten the sound of her brother's single gunshot, which had killed this man, propelling him off a high ledge into the frozen river below, where he plummeted through the ice and never resurfaced. Investigators had searched for weeks, never finding his body, and finally decided it had been washed away by the current out to the Chesapeake Bay. They were wrong, she now knew. He is still alive. And he's back. Katherine felt angst-ridden as the memories flooded back. It was almost exactly ten years ago. Christmas Day. Katherine, Peter, and their mother–her entire family–were gathered at their sprawling stone mansion in Potomac, nestled on a two-hundred-acre wooded estate with its own river running through it. As was tradition, their mother worked diligently in the kitchen, rejoicing in the holiday custom of cooking for her two children. Even at seventy-five years of age, Isabel Solomon was an exuberant cook, and tonight the mouthwatering smells of roast venison, parsnip gravy, and garlic mashed potatoes wafted through the house. While Mother prepared the feast, Katherine and her brother relaxed in the conservatory, discussing Katherine's latest fascination–a new field called Noetic Science. An unlikely fusion of modern particle physics and ancient mysticism, Noetics had absolutely captivated Katherine's imagination. Physics meets philosophy. Katherine told Peter about some of the experiments she was dreaming up, and she could see in his eyes that he was intrigued. Katherine felt particularly pleased to give her brother something positive to think about this Christmas, since the holiday had also become a painful reminder of a terrible tragedy. Peter's son, Zachary. Katherine's nephew's twenty-first birthday had been his last. The family had been through a nightmare, and it seemed that her brother was only now finally learning how to laugh again. Zachary had been a late bloomer, frail and awkward, a rebellious and angry teenager. Despite his deeply loving and privileged upbringing, the boy seemed determined to detach himself from the Solomon â€Å"establishment.† He was kicked out of prep school, partied hard with the â€Å"celebrati,† and shunned his parents' exhaustive attempts to provide him firm and loving guidance. He broke Peter's heart. Shortly before Zachary's eighteenth birthday, Katherine had sat down with her mother and brother and listened to them debating whether or not to withhold Zachary's inheritance until he was more mature. The Solomon inheritance–a centuries-old tradition in the family–bequeathed a staggeringly generous piece of the Solomon wealth to every Solomon child on his or her eighteenth birthday. The Solomons believed that an inheritance was more helpful at the beginning of someone's life than at the end. Moreover, placing large pieces of the Solomon fortune in the hands of eager young descendants had been the key to growing the family's dynastic wealth. In this case, however, Katherine's mother argued that it was dangerous to give Peter's troubled son such a large sum of money. Peter disagreed. â€Å"The Solomon inheritance,† her brother had said, â€Å"is a family tradition that should not be broken. This money may well force Zachary to be more responsible.† Sadly, her brother had been wrong. The moment Zachary received the money, he broke from the family, disappearing from the house without taking any of his belongings. He surfaced a few months later in the tabloids: TRUST FUND PLAYBOY LIVING EUROPEAN HIGH LIFE. The tabloids took joy in documenting Zachary's spoiled life of debauchery. The photos of wild parties on yachts and drunken disco stupors were hard for the Solomons to take, but the photos of their wayward teen turned from tragic to frightening when the papers reported Zachary had been caught carrying cocaine across a border in Eastern Europe: SOLOMON MILLIONAIRE IN TURKISH PRISON. The prison, they learned, was called Soganlik–a brutal F-class detention center located in the Kartal district outside of Istanbul. Peter Solomon, fearing for his son's safety, flew to Turkey to retrieve him. Katherine's distraught brother returned empty-handed, having been forbidden even to visit with Zachary. The only promising news was that Solomon's influential contacts at the U.S. State Department were working on getting him extradited as quickly as possible. Two days later, however, Peter received a horrifying international phone call. The next morning, headlines blared: SOLOMON HEIR MURDERED IN PRISON. The prison photos were horrific, and the media callously aired them all, even long after the Solomons' private burial ceremony. Peter's wife never forgave him for failing to free Zachary, and their marriage came to an end six months later. Peter had been alone ever since. It was years later that Katherine, Peter, and their mother, Isabel, were gathered quietly for Christmas. The pain was still a presence in their family, but mercifully it was fading with each passing year. The pleasant rattle of pots and pans now echoed from the kitchen as their mother prepared the traditional feast. Out in the conservatory, Peter and Katherine were enjoying a baked Brie and relaxed holiday conversation. Then came an utterly unexpected sound. â€Å"Hello, Solomons,† an airy voice said behind them. Startled, Katherine and her brother spun to see an enormous muscular figure stepping into the conservatory. He wore a black ski mask that covered all of his face except his eyes, which shone with feral ferocity. Peter was on his feet in an instant. â€Å"Who are you?! How did you get in here?!† â€Å"I knew your little boy, Zachary, in prison. He told me where this key was hidden.† The stranger held up an old key and grinned like a beast. â€Å"Right before I bludgeoned him to death.† Peter's mouth fell open. A pistol appeared, aimed directly at Peter's chest. â€Å"Sit.† Peter fell back into his chair. As the man moved into the room, Katherine was frozen in place. Behind his mask, the man's eyes were wild like those of a rabid animal. â€Å"Hey!† Peter yelled, as if trying to warn their mother in the kitchen. â€Å"Whoever you are, take what you want, and get out!† The man leveled his gun at Peter's chest. â€Å"And what is it you think I want?† â€Å"Just tell me how much,† Solomon said. â€Å"We don't have money in the house, but I can–â€Å" The monster laughed. â€Å"Do not insult me. I have not come for money. I have come tonight for Zachary's other birthright.† He grinned. â€Å"He told me about the pyramid.† Pyramid? Katherine thought in bewildered terror. What pyramid? Her brother was defiant. â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about.† â€Å"Don't play dumb with me! Zachary told me what you keep in your study vault. I want it. Now.† â€Å"Whatever Zachary told you, he was confused,† Peter said. â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about!† â€Å"No?† The intruder turned and aimed the gun at Katherine's face. â€Å"How about now?† Peter's eyes filled with terror. â€Å"You must believe me! I don't know what it is you want!† â€Å"Lie to me one more time,† he said, still aiming at Katherine, â€Å"and I swear I will take her from you.† He smiled. â€Å"And from what Zachary said, your little sister is more precious to you than all your–â€Å" â€Å"What's going on?!† Katherine's mother shouted, marching into the room with Peter's Browning Citori shotgun–which she aimed directly at the man's chest. The intruder spun toward her, and the feisty seventy-five-year-old woman wasted no time. She fired a deafening blast of pellets. The intruder staggered backward, firing his handgun wildly in all directions, shattering windows as he fell and crashed through the glass doorway, dropping the pistol as he fell. Peter was instantly in motion, diving on the loose handgun. Katherine had fallen, and Mrs. Solomon hurried to her side, kneeling beside her. â€Å"My God, are you hurt?!† Katherine shook her head, mute with shock. Outside the shattered glass door, the masked man had clambered to his feet and was running into the woods, clutching his side as he ran. Peter Solomon glanced back to make sure his mother and sister were safe, and seeing they were fine, he held the pistol and raced out the door after the intruder. Katherine's mother held her hand, trembling. â€Å"Thank heavens you're okay.† Then suddenly her mother pulled away. â€Å"Katherine? You're bleeding! There's blood! You're hurt!† Katherine saw the blood. A lot of blood. It was all over her. But she felt no pain. Her mother frantically searched Katherine's body for a wound. â€Å"Where does it hurt!† â€Å"Mom, I don't know, I don't feel anything!† Then Katherine saw the source of the blood, and she went cold. â€Å"Mom, it's not me . . .† She pointed to the side of her mother's white satin blouse, where blood was running freely, and a small tattered hole was visible. Her mother glanced down, looking more confused than anything else. She winced and shrank back, as if the pain had just hit her. â€Å"Katherine?† Her voice was calm, but suddenly it carried the weight of her seventy-five years. â€Å"I need you to call an ambulance.† Katherine ran to the hall phone and called for help. When she got back to the conservatory, she found her mother lying motionless in a pool of blood. She ran to her, crouching down, cradling her mother's body in her arms. Katherine had no idea how much time had passed when she heard the distant gunshot in the woods. Finally, the conservatory door burst open, and her brother, Peter, rushed in, eyes wild, gun still in his hand. When he saw Katherine sobbing, holding their lifeless mother in her arms, his face contorted in anguish. The scream that echoed through the conservatory was a sound Katherine Solomon would never forget.

Ratio Analysis Memo Essay

The liquidity, profitability, and solvency ratios reveal some interesting points about Kudler Fine Food’s financial position. The liquidity ratios revealed that during 2002 and 2003, Kudler was having no trouble paying short-term debt. However, the current and acid-test (quick) ratios showed that during 2003 Kudler had an excess amount of cash that they were not investing properly. These ratios also showed that Kudler was collecting receivables and selling average inventory very quickly. The profitability ratios revealed that during 2002 and 2003, Kudler was using assets efficiently and making a decent profit. The profit margin ratio showed that during 2002 Kudler made a profit of four cents per dollar, and during 2003 they made a profit of roughly six cents per dollar. In addition, the return on assets ratio (which is also a profitability ratio) showed that Kudler utilized their assets efficiently enough to turn a profit. The solvency ratio used, which was the debt to total a ssets ratio, showed that during 2002 and 2003 Kudler only had around a quarter of their assets financed in debt. All of these ratios show that Kudler was a fairly strong company financially during 2002 and 2003. When trying to figure out how successful Kudler Fine Foods is, it is critical to review all financial statements. By using the horizontal and vertical analysis and the determining ratio calculations the profitability, liquidity, and solvency are figured. A specific ratio analysis may intrigue a particular customer. Lenders or suppliers would be interested in the liquidity ratio because the company’s likelihood to pay off short-term debt is obvious. The profit of the company determines the potential impending success and would be important to creditors and investors. The solvency ratios show if the company will continue to grow and stockholders or financial analysts would be interested  in these ratios. Asset Turnover is the amount of sales or revenues produced per dollar of assets. The Asset Turnover ratio is a gauge of the productivity in which a company is using its assets. The number of times is calculated by the net sales divided by the average assets. Usually, the higher the ratio, the better it is, since it implies the company is generating more revenues per dollar of assets (â€Å"Investopedia†, 2014). The asset turnover ratio tends to be higher for companies in a sector like consumer staples, which has a relatively small asset base but high sales volume. On the other hand, companies in areas like utilities and broadcastings, which have large asset bases, will have lower asset turnover. Kudler Fine Foods asset t urnover ratio shows that from 2002 to 2003 there was not much of an increase. However, the percent does improve at a .3% increase from year to year. A profit margin is a ratio of profitability calculated as net income divided by revenues, or net profits divided by sales (â€Å"Investopedia†, 2014). It measures how much out of every dollar of sales a company actually keeps in earnings. Profit margin is valuable when reviewing companies in comparable trades. A higher profit margin shows a more profitable company that has a healthier govern over its costs compared to its competition. Profit margin is shown as a percentage. Therefore, for instance, a 20% profit margin means the company has a net income of $0.20 for each dollar of sales. Looking at the earnings of a company does not always convey the whole story. Increased earnings are noble, but an increase does not mean that the profit margin of a business is getting better. For example, if a corporation has costs that have gotten larger faster than sales, it indicates a lower profit margin. This leads to the fact that costs need to be policed better. Kudler Fine Foods has a net income of $465,573 from sales of $11,698,828, giving it a profit margin of 4.0% ($465,573/$11,698,828). The next year net income rises to $676,795 on sales of $10,796,200, the company’s profit margin raise to 6.3%. So while the company increased its net income, it has done so with diminishing profit margins. This is said because the return on assets ratio is low. When it is low the company uses less money on more investment. The profit margin is low as well calculated at only .6% showing that Kudler Foods had a low profit at that reporting time. The debt to total assets ratio was .28%, which showed the company is healthy. The times interest earned ratio was  9.8%, which backs up claims of financial health. The solvency ratio shows Kudler Foods can pay back long-term obligations. Each ratio has different users interest in mind. Return on common stockholder’s equity is defined as Net Income / Total Capital, and Return on Common Stockholders’ Equity: 676,795 / 1,928,960 = 35.09% Return. Here is a comparison of this (2003) information to the same information from last years’ (2002) records to begin to determine a trend. Profit Margin (2002), $647,645 / $10,644,800 = 6.08 % Margin Return on Assets (2002), $2,675,250 / $10,796,200 = 24.78% Return Asset Turnover (2002) $1 0,644,800 / $2,271,400 = 4.69 Times Return on Common Stockholders’ Equity (2002) $647,645 / $1,928,960 = 33.58% Return 2002 Year 2003 Year Profit Margin 6.08% Margin 6.27% Margin Return on Assets 24.78% Return 25.3% Return Asset Turnover 4.69 Times 4.04 Times Stockholder’s Equity 33.58% Return 35.09% Return The information that was examined indicates that Kudler Foods is doing well and if the company continues on its current path, profits will continue to grow, as long as other economic conditions stay the same. We conducted a vertical analysis of the balance sheet and income statement and found that these figures indicated that the company is strong, and there were not any negative figures, which is always a good sign. Some of the numbers were low, but that also was a good indicator, as the low numbers were the relationship between the expenses against the net sales. This indicates that there were more than enough sales to cover the expenses. We also found that when comparing the net sales against the net profits, the percentage was a bit low, but still within a strong range. Overall Kudler Foods is a strong business that will continue to grow as it is managed carefully and changes are made when necessary to adjust to the market itself. Current Ratio CURRENT ASSETS/CURRENT LIABILITIES 2002: 2,102,631/977,188 = 2.14:1 2003: 1,971,000/116,290 = 16.95:1 Acid-Test Ratio CASH + SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS + RECEIVABLES (NET)/CURRENT LIABILITIES: 1 2002: 89,016 + 1,131,213 + 196,503/977,188 = 1.45:1 2003: 1,430,000 + 86,000/116,290 = 13:1 Receivables Turnover NET CREDIT SALES/AVERAGE NET RECEIVABLES = X TIMES 2002: 10,107,787/185,907 = 54.4 Times = Every 7 Days 2003: 10,796,200/141,251 = 76.4 Times = Every 5 Days Inventory Turnover COST OF GOODS SOLD/AVERAGE INVENTORY = X TIMES 2002: 7,543,054/355,534 = 21 Times = Every 17 Days 2003: 8,474,831/401,634 = 21 Times = Every 17 Days Asset Turnover NET SALES/AVERAGE ASSETS = X TIMES 2002: 11,698,828/4,793,146 = 2.4 Times 2003: 10,796,200/3,984,733 = 2.7 Times Profit Margin NET INCOME/NET SALES = X% 2002: 465,573/11,698,828 = 4.0% 2003: 676,795/10,796,200 = 6.3% Return on Assets NET INCOME/AVERAGE ASSETS = X% 2002: 465,573/4,793,146 = 9.7% 2003: 676,795/3,984,733 = 17.0% Return on Common Stockholders’ Equity NET INCOME – PREFERRED DIVIDENDS/AVERAGE COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY = X% 2002: 465,573 – 0/3,396,887 = 13.7% 2003: 676,795 – 0/2,274,380 = 29.8% Debt to Total Assets TOTAL DEBT/TOTAL ASSETS = X% 2002: 1,491,747/5,294,216 = 28.2% 2003: 746,290/2,675,250 = 27.9%

International students consume alcohol Essay Example

International students consume alcohol Essay Example International students consume alcohol Essay International students consume alcohol Essay Essay Topic: Students Restatement of the research objective The research focuses on drawing a comparative analysis between Australian and the international students drinking habits. Overall, the data shows that overseas and Australian students consumption of alcohol is quite different. As this research shows, on average both international male and female students consume alcohol at least once a month. On the other hand, the Australian students drink alcohol mainly two days a week. In addition, beer is the conceivably the most common drink among the international students while brand choice is evidently differentiated among the Australian students. The majority of Australian female students consume bottled wine while their colleague males predominantly drink beer irrespective of their alcoholic strengths. Research findings From the data obtained in this study, the first finding is that that alcohol is definitely the highest indulgence drug among both Australian and the international students. Beers and spirits account for the highest proportion of alcohol used by the international students while higher incidences of bottled spirit use and beer drinking is reported among Australian female and male students respectively. Most male international students drink at least twice a week while international female students only drink occasionally. Conversely, a greater proportion of the Australian students drink mainly two days a week. One probable reason for higher incidences of alcohol use among male than female students is the contemporary youth mentality that associates drug use with masculinity. Moreover, the society assigns females the role of caregivers hence they embrace sobriety early enough in their life. The second finding of this research is that taste of drink highly influences the brand relished by the international students than it is the case with Australian students. While both the male and female the international students exhibit an almost equal liking for beer, the Australian male students are common drinkers of wine while females relish bottled wine. Therefore, it .means that beer has the most favorable taste than all the other drinks that the international students choose from. On the other hand, there is a marked difference between the drinking of alcohol among international and the Australian students. The probability that psychological attunement of the females towards details such as taste and brands is higher than that of the males. Therefore, males would only consider a few factors before settling on a brand of choice as opposed to the females. While disposable income among the Australian students is the most important determinant of their respective drinking habits, taste is the most significant determinant of the brand choices among the international students. Due to the differential prices of various types of wine, its use among the Australian students is the most segmented with lower income students less predisposed to drinking cask wine than the medium to high income ones. Price only has an overreaching influence on the brand choices of the international female students. The most plausible reason for the influence of pricing in the Australian students choice of alcohol brand is their limited income. However, overseas students mainly come from affluent backgrounds thus are able tis sustain their alcoholic lifestyles devoid of price limitations. This research determines that a larger proportion of female international student drinkers consume alcohol at least once a week, at least once a month and less than once a month as compared with their male counterparts whose drinking habit is not dependent on time factors. The international male students drink alcohol at least twice a week is higher than female. These findings indicate the high levels of caution that female international students employ to prevent binge drinking or becoming alcohol addicts. Drinking of beer among the Australian male drinkers is differentiated into cohorts with decipherable differences in brand choices between baby boomers, generation X and generation Y. While age is not a determinant in the international students brand choices, it is significant among Australian drinkers with baby boomers males drinking more spirits that beer. Among the international male and female students, beer is universally extensively drunk than any other brand irrespective if the drinkers age. The choice to drink only occasionally reflects the resilience of both the international and Australian female students to the effects of group pressure compared to their male counterparts. In addition, the higher rates of drinking among both overseas and Australian male students can be attributed to the fact that males are more susceptible to group influence, especially with respect to drug use than the females are. Limitations and recommendation of the study The research does not provide personalized information that influence differential alcohol use among the international male and female students respectively as it does for the Australian. Factors such as societal expectations and resistance to peer pressure among female students would be rather compelling assertions of the research. Therefore, future research should focus on the social factors that influence the differentiated drinking trends between Australian and overseas students.

Cerium Facts - Ce or Atomic Number 58

Cerium Facts - Ce or Atomic Number 58 Cerium (Ce) is atomic number 58 on the periodic table. Like other lanthanides or rare earth elements, cerium is a soft, silver-colored metal. Its the most abundant of the rare earth elements. Cerium Basic Facts Element Name: Cerium Atomic Number: 58 Symbol: Ce Atomic Weight: 140.115 Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series) Discovered By: W. von Hisinger, J. Berzelius, M. Klaproth Discovery Date: 1803 (Sweden/Germany) Name Origin: Named after the asteroid Ceres, discovered two years before the element. Cerium Physical Data Density (g/cc) near r.t.: 6.757 Melting Point ( °K): 1072 Boiling Point ( °K): 3699 Appearance: Malleable, ductile, iron-gray metal Atomic Radius (pm): 181 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 21.0 Covalent Radius (pm): 165 Ionic Radius: 92 (4e) 103.4 (3e) Specific Heat (20 °C J/g mol): 0.205 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 5.2 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 398 Pauling Negativity Number: 1.12 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 540.1 Oxidation States: 4, 3 Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2 Lattice Structure: Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) Lattice Constant (Ã…): 5.160 Electrons per Shell: 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2 Phase: Solid Liquid Density at m.p.: 6.55 g ·cm−3 Heat of Fusion: 5.46 kJ ·mol−1 Heat of Vaporization: 398 kJ ·mol−1 Heat Capacity (25  °C): 26.94 J ·mol−1 ·K−1 Electronegativity: 1.12 (Pauling scale) Atomic Radius: 185 pm Electrical Resistivity (r.t.): (ÃŽ ², poly) 828 nÃŽ ©Ã‚ ·m Thermal Conductivity (300 K): 11.3 W ·m−1 ·K−1 Thermal Expansion (r.t.): (ÃŽ ³, poly) 6.3  µm/(m ·K) Speed of Sound (thin rod) (20  °C): 2100 m/s Youngs Modulus (ÃŽ ³ form): 33.6 GPa Shear Modulus (ÃŽ ³ form): 13.5 GPa Bulk Modulus (ÃŽ ³ form): 21.5 GPa Poisson Ratio (ÃŽ ³ form): 0.24 Mohs Hardness: 2.5 Vickers Hardness: 270 MPa Brinell Hardness: 412 MPa CAS Registry Number: 7440-45-1 Sources: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952) Return to the Periodic Table

Technical Communication Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Technical Communication Analysis - Assignment Example Introduction to Hardware specific organization: Cisco is an American based multinational entity which specializes in the field of networking and internet connections on local and wide area network levels. It also provides solutions to enterprises of different kinds namely businesses, information technology, governmental organizations and various other sectors. The services provided by Cisco are up to the customers’ requirements fulfilling the factors of quality of Service factor, security considerations fulfillment, I.P solutions provision, and various other online resources sharing and connectivity. Differences: While the first paper (Routers) provides technical details, the second one is specialized and focuses on the guidelines to be followed. The clinical document further provides descriptions and stresses on the importance of documented works, records keeping which will facilitate the work in longer run and at the same time bring about more consistency in the working patt ern in health care sector. While one of them is core technical in its outlook, the second one is relatively easy to comprehend even for the ordinary reader, The first paper provides details such as the capacity, the technologies incorporated in each of the router, the range supported by each of the router and other details. The advantages served by each of them and also the shortcomings that each of them may suffer from. The clinical paper talks of the newsletters, magazines, and other periodicals which will serve to promote awareness and provide details about how the clinical sector operates, what possible improvements are possible and what efforts are being undertaken in this regard. The second notable feature of the clinical paper is the formulation of regulation pertinent to the contracts being made and the payers and other stakeholders. The clinical report provides dates on which various regulations were adopted and later on put into effective action for practical applicability in health care domain. Difference is in the form of the type of people who may have made this report. The router based report is pure work of technical experts, while the latter is more of the policy makers’ work. Other notable difference in each of these papers is relevant to the fact that the clinical paper recommends changes and in the policies through its study, while the technical report of routers does not explicitly mention any need for change as such. The clinical paper contains the area of history recording, which is relevant to the patients history, their family, their hereditary diseases if any, such historic event is missing or unaddressed in the routers related paper. Similarities: The similarities are that each provides details as to how they operate and how they facilitate connection establishment as in case of first paper, and the second in case of how to make the health care sector more vibrant. Other similarity in each of them is that of introduction to the field, although the first one is relatively technical, the second one is relatively easily to comprehend. Each of them is made to provide guidelines and the basic know how of each of the sector. Architecture design specialties: The architectural designs contain terms and concepts relevant to its usage and application. While security, customer needs fulfillment, quality