Saturday, August 31, 2019
Comparing Branagh and Olivier
The two movie versions of Shakespeare's Hamlet that are directed by Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh have similarities and differences. The similarities include how Hamlet feels betrayed by his mother because of her sudden marriage after the death of his father. The differences include how Hamlet is portrayed as a character. Olivier uses the Hamlet's relationship with Gertrude and his soliloquy to portray Hamlet as confused, whereas Branagh uses the same dynamics to portray Hamlet as furious.Olivier presents Hamlet's relationship with Gertrude as more physical in order to ndicate Hamlet's confusion, while Branagh presents the relationship between Hamlet and his mother as less physical to reinforce his feelings of frustration. During the scene where Claudius and Gertrude are encouraging Hamlet to stay in Denmark, Gertrude freely touches Hamlet and kisses him on the mouth to console her grieving son (Olivier, 1948). During this scene, Hamlet is sitting at the edge of the table wear ing all black and is turned away from everyone. He is upset that his mother has remarried such a short time after his father's death.His tone of voice suggests that e is full of grief, devastated about the death of his father, and feeling betrayed by his mother. Even though he feels betrayed, Hamlet passively allows his mother to embrace and kiss him. Hamlet is confused, and has no sense of how to deal with his conflicting feelings. Branagh, however, presents the relationship between Hamlet and his mother without any physical contact between the two. During the same scene in Branagh's version, the queen smiles and encourages Hamlet to stay instead of returning to Wittenberg (Branagh, 1996). In comparison to Olivier's Hamlet,Branagh's Hamlet has a different tone of voice. His tone of voice is on the edge of tears. When Gertrude consoles Hamlet and urges him to stay in Denmark, he agrees to stay, but does not engage in any physical contact with his mother. He remains distant from his mother, both emotionally and physically. Unlike Olivier's Hamlet, Branagh's Hamlet shows that he is more bitter than Olivier's Hamlet about Gertrude's quick marriage. Thus, the directors' depictions of Hamlet's interaction with Gertrude in the two films reveal differing interpretations of Hamlet's response to feeling betrayed.The two film versions also use Hamlet's first soliloquy to depict their different interpretations of Hamlet's character. Olivier's Hamlet delivers his soliloquy in his thoughts to indicate his confusion, whereas Branagh's Hamlet delivers his soliloquy in spoken words to show his frustration after he learns that his mother has married Claudius. In the Olivier version of the play, Hamlet's first soliloquy is spoken in his head (Olivier, 1948). In this speech, he emphasizes that only a little amount of time has passed after his father's death and that Gertrude has remarried too quickly.He also emphasizes his confusion about Gertrude's marriage to Claudius, when Ge rtrude used to follow his father like Niobe. In Olivier's version of the soliloquy, Hamlet is grieving over his father's death, but he is more upset about his mother's quick marriage to Claudius, his tamer's brother. During his soliloquy, Hamlet says ââ¬Å"trail thy name is womanâ⬠(Olivier, 1948) calling his mother weak-hearted for remarrying too quickly. In contrast to Olivier's Hamlet, Branagh's Hamlet speaks and yells to emphasize points in his soliloquy.He speaks of the same issues, but the tone of voice s different. He sounds exhausted, annoyed, and speaks as if he is about to start crying. However, when he mentions the point that frustrates him the most, his voice becomes significantly louder; when he yells ââ¬Å"yet within a month! â⬠(Branagh, 1996), emphasizing the short amount of time between the death and marriage, he reveals his bitterness. He feels betrayed and angry at the way Gertrude has moved on so quickly, rather than confused and sad, as he does in Ol ivier's film.Thus, although both Olivier's and Branagh's versions of Hamlet stress the same conflict about his other, Hamlet is characterized differently in each film. In both film versions of Hamlet, the protagonist faces the same conflict, but Olivier and Branagh take different approaches to portraying Hamlet. In Olivier's version, Hamlet's relationship with Gertrude is portrayed in a physical manner to stress Hamlet's passivity and feeling of confusion, whereas in Branagh's depiction, Hamlet's relationship with Gertrude reveals a less physical and more distant relationship in order to indicate his anger and frustration.Their soliloquies also distinguish the directors' two different ersions of Hamlet; Olivier's Hamlet delivers his speech in his thoughts, adopting a passive style to suggest Hamlet's confusion, while Branagh's Hamlet delivers his speech out loud to indicate his anger and frustration. These two different depictions of the main character reveal how critical the direct or's input is in creating a distinct interpretation of Shakespeare's plays.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Life and Contribution of Barkha Dutt Essay
Barkha Dutt was born in India on 18th December 1971 and is a noted TV journalist in India and at present is working for the NDTV. She was born to S. P. Dutt and Prabha Dutt. While her father was an official in Air India, her mother was a Chief of Bureau of the Hindustan Times for quite some time. She had her childhood days in New Delhi and New York. Barkha is indebted for her journalism skills to her mother, Prabha, a pioneer among women journalists in India. But Prabha Dutt died in 1984, when she was in her prime, due to a brain hemorrhage. At that time Barkha was just thirteen. She had her education from the Modern School, New Delhi. This was followed by her graduation in English Literature from St. Stephenââ¬â¢s College, New Delhi. After this, she did her Masterââ¬â¢s Degree in Mass Communications from Jamia Millia Islamiaââ¬â¢s Mass Communication Research Center New Delhi. That was the time NDTV was just about starting and Barkha took up a job with the channel. ââ¬Å"There was no looking back after that,â⬠she says. She was a 1997 winner of the Inlaks Scholarship, which sends six Indians abroad annually for graduate work. Barkha took two years off from work and got a masterââ¬â¢s in journalism from University of Columbiaââ¬â¢s Graduate School of Journalism, New York. Meeting Barkha, one thinks she is indeed her motherââ¬â¢s daughter. Her motherââ¬â¢s story of war reporting begins years before Barkha was born. At the time of the Indo-Pak war in 1965, Prabha Behl, a bright young reporter with the Hindustan Times, sought permission to cover the war for her newspaper. Those were the subdued sixties and women were still struggling hard to make a place for themselves in a manââ¬â¢s world. The editor said a firm ââ¬Å"Noâ⬠to Prabha. We donââ¬â¢t send women reporters to the war front. â⬠But Prabha was a competent reporter and she found a way out for herself. She took leave from office and went to stay with her grandparents in Amritsar. Recounting this, Barkha says: ââ¬Å"There, she made contacts and went to the front on her own. She started sending news dispatches from there. And these were so good that the newspaper had no choice but to use them. â⬠There is pride in the daughterââ¬â¢s voice as she tells this. Barkha became a familiar face and the best-known journalist as she was bringing live action home to the living rooms. She was also the first Indian woman journalist to be reporting thus as shells flew past and bullets were being fired. The iconic stature this dare bestowed upon her could have been a heady cocktail and someone more vulnerable to success would have been a part of the Capitalââ¬â¢s party circuit with her mug every other day among the Page Three celebrities. Barkha Dutt ââ¬â Reporting from Kargil It was Barkha Duttââ¬â¢s frontline reporting of the Kargil conflict in 1999 that made her a household name. From that time the focus of her work has been conflict reporting, covering areas ranging from Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. She is at present the Managing Editor of NDTV 24Ãâ"7, Indiaââ¬â¢s premiere satellite television network, and also the host of ââ¬Å"We the Peopleâ⬠, every week. By this age she has become one of the most influential journalists in the country. Her work has won her over twenty international and national awards, including the Commonwealth Broadcasters Award, 2002, the Global Leader of Tomorrow Award from the World Economic Forum in 2001, and the Broadcast Journalist of the Year award from the Indian Express, in 2005. She also writes a weekly column for The Hindustan Times and The Khaleej Times. However, Kargil has not been the be-all and end-all of this young lady with a nose for news. The Kashmir story has been very close to her heart for that was a place she visited again and again for follow-ups. Barkha says: ââ¬Å"Reporting on Kashmir too is not easy. If you empathize with the Army, you are called a government stooge and if you see the human side of militants, you are labeled anti-national. But a friend told me that if all sides start labeling you then you could be sure that you are doing your work impartially. And that is precisely what happened to me in Kashmir. During the Gujarat riots, Barkha covered the area from Godhra to Baroda at length, following rape victims and others. She recounts a sad incident of those times: ââ¬Å"I saw the helplessness of the people of a particular community. My cameraman Ajmal Jami and I (we have always worked together) were driving down and the mobs stopped our car. I do not believe in religious identity but I had to say that I was a Hindu and invent a Hindu name for Ajmal. â⬠In 2008, the Indian government awarded Dutt the Padma Shri, a civilian honor, for her coverage of the 2004 Tsunami. Barkha also received the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association award for Journalist of the Year, 2007. Her Sunday talk show has won the most awards out of any show on Indian television, winning the Indian Television Academy award for Best Talk Show five years in a row. In 2008, Dutt received the Indian News Broadcasting Award for the Most Intelligent News Show Host. She has twice been named on the list of 100 ââ¬Å"Global Leaders of Tomorrowâ⬠compiled by the World Economic Forum (2001, 2008). She has also received Society Magazine Young Achievers Award. In 2010 she was appointed as a member of Indiaââ¬â¢s National Integration Council. She was also Asia Society Fellow in 2006 and serves on the International Advisory Council of the Asia Society. Moreover, Barkha Dutt has been portrayed in the film Lakshya, directed by Farhan Akhtar. She was the model for the principal protagonist in the ââ¬Å"The Peddler of Soapsâ⬠, a political novel by writer-activist Anand Kurian. In recent times, the role played by Rani Mukherjee in the film No One Killed Jessica is loosely based on her. Barkha Dutt getting Padma Shri from President Patil In November 2010, OPEN magazine carried a story which reported transcripts of some of the telephone conversations of Nira Radia with senior journalists, politicians, and corporate houses, many of whom have denied the allegations. The Central Bureau of Investigation has announced that they have 5,851 recordings of phone conversations by Radia, some of which outline Radiaââ¬â¢s attempts to broker deals in relation to the 2G spectrum sale. In one of the tapes Barkha Dutt assures Radia of getting Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress general secretary, to talk to Karunanidhi to get the portfolios in the Union cabinet fixed. Dutt denied acting on any promise to pass on messages to the Congress. In a subsequent tape, Nira Radia is heard saying ââ¬ËBarkha has got Congress (political party) to issue a statementââ¬â¢. Dutt denies the allegations. Barkha has quite a few other interests too. She is an outdoor girl who likes swimming and of late she has been doing horse riding too. She had a dream of making documentaries and writing, ââ¬Å"I feel the time for these things will come now when I slow down and leave spot reporting for the younger lot. I love reading fiction and read a lot of it. Maybe I will also some day try writing fiction. â⬠She says this with the conviction of one who has done her job well and would now like to move on and not hold onto what brought her glory. Barkha Duttââ¬â¢s married life is not disclosed yet in the media. Barkha Dutt personal life is a mystery to her followers. About marriage, she says, ââ¬Å"Well, I could say that I have not come across the right person yet. â⬠After knowing that Preeti loves Hrithik in film Lakshaya, Rani does has boyfriend in No one killed Jessica but Barkha marriage is still a hidden.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Angels Demons Chapter 7073
As soon as theyââ¬â¢d arrived, Chinita and Glick had seen a veritable army of young men pour out of the Alpha Romeos and surround the church. Some had weapons drawn. One of them, a stiff older man, led a team up the front steps of the church. The soldiers drew guns and blew the locks off the front doors. Macri heard nothing and figured they must have had silencers. Then the soldiers entered. Chinita had recommended they sit tight and film from the shadows. After all, guns were guns, and they had a clear view of the action from the van. Glick had not argued. Now, across the piazza, men moved in and out of the church. They yelled to each other. Chinita adjusted her camera to follow a team as they searched the surrounding area. All of them, though dressed in civilian clothes, seemed to move with military precision. ââ¬Å"Who do you think they are?â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"Hell if I know.â⬠Glick looked riveted. ââ¬Å"You getting all this?â⬠ââ¬Å"Every frame.â⬠Glick sounded smug. ââ¬Å"Still think we should go back to Pope-Watch?â⬠Chinita wasnââ¬â¢t sure what to say. There was obviously something going on here, but she had been in journalism long enough to know that there was often a very dull explanation for interesting events. ââ¬Å"This could be nothing,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"These guys could have gotten the same tip you got and are just checking it out. Could be a false alarm.â⬠Glick grabbed her arm. ââ¬Å"Over there! Focus.â⬠He pointed back to the church. Chinita swung the camera back to the top of the stairs. ââ¬Å"Hello there,â⬠she said, training on the man now emerging from the church. ââ¬Å"Whoââ¬â¢s the dapper?â⬠Chinita moved in for a close-up. ââ¬Å"Havenââ¬â¢t seen him before.â⬠She tightened in on the manââ¬â¢s face and smiled. ââ¬Å"But I wouldnââ¬â¢t mind seeing him again.â⬠Robert Langdon dashed down the stairs outside the church and into the middle of the piazza. It was getting dark now, the springtime sun setting late in southern Rome. The sun had dropped below the surrounding buildings, and shadows streaked the square. ââ¬Å"Okay, Bernini,â⬠he said aloud to himself. ââ¬Å"Where the hell is your angel pointing?â⬠He turned and examined the orientation of the church from which he had just come. He pictured the Chigi Chapel inside, and the sculpture of the angel inside that. Without hesitation he turned due west, into the glow of the impending sunset. Time was evaporating. ââ¬Å"Southwest,â⬠he said, scowling at the shops and apartments blocking his view. ââ¬Å"The next marker is out there.â⬠Racking his brain, Langdon pictured page after page of Italian art history. Although very familiar with Berniniââ¬â¢s work, Langdon knew the sculptor had been far too prolific for any nonspecialist to know all of it. Still, considering the relative fame of the first marker ââ¬â Habakkuk and the Angel ââ¬â Langdon hoped the second marker was a work he might know from memory. Earth, Air, Fire, Water, he thought. Earth they had found ââ¬â inside the Chapel of the Earth ââ¬â Habakkuk, the prophet who predicted the earthââ¬â¢s annihilation. Air is next. Langdon urged himself to think. A Bernini sculpture that has something to do with Air! He was drawing a total blank. Still he felt energized. Iââ¬â¢m on the path of Illumination! It is still intact! Looking southwest, Langdon strained to see a spire or cathedral tower jutting up over the obstacles. He saw nothing. He needed a map. If they could figure out what churches were southwest of here, maybe one of them would spark Langdonââ¬â¢s memory. Air, he pressed. Air. Bernini. Sculpture. Air. Think! Langdon turned and headed back up the cathedral stairs. He was met beneath the scaffolding by Vittoria and Olivetti. ââ¬Å"Southwest,â⬠Langdon said, panting. ââ¬Å"The next church is southwest of here.â⬠Olivettiââ¬â¢s whisper was cold. ââ¬Å"You sure this time?â⬠Langdon didnââ¬â¢t bite. ââ¬Å"We need a map. One that shows all the churches in Rome.â⬠The commander studied him a moment, his expression never changing. Langdon checked his watch. ââ¬Å"We only have half an hour.â⬠Olivetti moved past Langdon down the stairs toward his car, parked directly in front of the cathedral. Langdon hoped he was going for a map. Vittoria looked excited. ââ¬Å"So the angelââ¬â¢s pointing southwest? No idea which churches are southwest?â⬠ââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t see past the damn buildings.â⬠Langdon turned and faced the square again. ââ¬Å"And I donââ¬â¢t know Romeââ¬â¢s churches well enou ââ¬â â⬠He stopped. Vittoria looked startled. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠Langdon looked out at the piazza again. Having ascended the church stairs, he was now higher, and his view was better. He still couldnââ¬â¢t see anything, but he realized he was moving in the right direction. His eyes climbed the tower of rickety scaffolding above him. It rose six stories, almost to the top of the churchââ¬â¢s rose window, far higher than the other buildings in the square. He knew in an instant where he was headed. Across the square, Chinita Macri and Gunther Glick sat glued to the windshield of the BBC van. ââ¬Å"You getting this?â⬠Gunther asked. Macri tightened her shot on the man now climbing the scaffolding. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s a little well dressed to be playing Spiderman if you ask me.â⬠ââ¬Å"And whoââ¬â¢s Ms. Spidey?â⬠Chinita glanced at the attractive woman beneath the scaffolding. ââ¬Å"Bet youââ¬â¢d like to find out.â⬠ââ¬Å"Think I should call editorial?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not yet. Letââ¬â¢s watch. Better to have something in the can before we admit we abandoned conclave.â⬠ââ¬Å"You think somebody really killed one of the old farts in there?â⬠Chinita clucked. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re definitely going to hell.â⬠ââ¬Å"And Iââ¬â¢ll be taking the Pulitzer with me.â⬠71 The scaffolding seemed less stable the higher Langdon climbed. His view of Rome, however, got better with every step. He continued upward. He was breathing harder than he expected when he reached the upper tier. He pulled himself onto the last platform, brushed off the plaster, and stood up. The height did not bother him at all. In fact, it was invigorating. The view was staggering. Like an ocean on fire, the red-tiled rooftops of Rome spread out before him, glowing in the scarlet sunset. From that spot, for the first time in his life, Langdon saw beyond the pollution and traffic of Rome to its ancient roots ââ¬â Citt di Dio ââ¬â The city of God. Squinting into the sunset, Langdon scanned the rooftops for a church steeple or bell tower. But as he looked farther and farther toward the horizon, he saw nothing. There are hundreds of churches in Rome, he thought. There must be one southwest of here! If the church is even visible, he reminded himself. Hell, if the church is even still standing! Forcing his eyes to trace the line slowly, he attempted the search again. He knew, of course, that not all churches would have visible spires, especially smaller, out-of-the-way sanctuaries. Not to mention, Rome had changed dramatically since the 1600s when churches were by law the tallest buildings allowed. Now, as Langdon looked out, he saw apartment buildings, high-rises, TV towers. For the second time, Langdonââ¬â¢s eye reached the horizon without seeing anything. Not one single spire. In the distance, on the very edge of Rome, Michelangeloââ¬â¢s massive dome blotted the setting sun. St. Peterââ¬â¢s Basilica. Vatican City. Langdon found himself wondering how the cardinals were faring, and if the Swiss Guardsââ¬â¢ search had turned up the antimatter. Something told him it hadnââ¬â¢tâ⬠¦ and wouldnââ¬â¢t. The poem was rattling through his head again. He considered it, carefully, line by line. From Santiââ¬â¢s earthly tomb with demonââ¬â¢s hole. They had found Santiââ¬â¢s tomb. ââ¬ËCross Rome the mystic elements unfold. The mystic elements were Earth, Air, Fire, Water. The path of light is laid, the sacred test. The path of Illumination formed by Berniniââ¬â¢s sculptures. Let angels guide you on your lofty quest. The angel was pointing southwestâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Front stairs!â⬠Glick exclaimed, pointing wildly through the windshield of the BBC van. ââ¬Å"Somethingââ¬â¢s going on!â⬠Macri dropped her shot back down to the main entrance. Something was definitely going on. At the bottom of the stairs, the military-looking man had pulled one of the Alpha Romeos close to the stairs and opened the trunk. Now he was scanning the square as if checking for onlookers. For a moment, Macri thought the man had spotted them, but his eyes kept moving. Apparently satisfied, he pulled out a walkie-talkie and spoke into it. Almost instantly, it seemed an army emerged from the church. Like an American football team breaking from a huddle, the soldiers formed a straight line across the top of the stairs. Moving like a human wall, they began to descend. Behind them, almost entirely hidden by the wall, four soldiers seemed to be carrying something. Something heavy. Awkward. Glick leaned forward on the dashboard. ââ¬Å"Are they stealing something from the church?â⬠Chinita tightened her shot even more, using the telephoto to probe the wall of men, looking for an opening. One split second, she willed. A single frame. Thatââ¬â¢s all I need. But the men moved as one. Come on! Macri stayed with them, and it paid off. When the soldiers tried to lift the object into the trunk, Macri found her opening. Ironically, it was the older man who faltered. Only for an instant, but long enough. Macri had her frame. Actually, it was more like ten frames. ââ¬Å"Call editorial,â⬠Chinita said. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got a dead body.â⬠Far away, at CERN, Maximilian Kohler maneuvered his wheelchair into Leonardo Vetraââ¬â¢s study. With mechanical efficiency, he began sifting through Vetraââ¬â¢s files. Not finding what he was after, Kohler moved to Vetraââ¬â¢s bedroom. The top drawer of his bedside table was locked. Kohler pried it open with a knife from the kitchen. Inside Kohler found exactly what he was looking for. 72 Langdon swung off the scaffolding and dropped back to the ground. He brushed the plaster dust from his clothes. Vittoria was there to greet him. ââ¬Å"No luck?â⬠she said. He shook his head. ââ¬Å"They put the cardinal in the trunk.â⬠Langdon looked over to the parked car where Olivetti and a group of soldiers now had a map spread out on the hood. ââ¬Å"Are they looking southwest?â⬠She nodded. ââ¬Å"No churches. From here the first one you hit is St. Peterââ¬â¢s.â⬠Langdon grunted. At least they were in agreement. He moved toward Olivetti. The soldiers parted to let him through. Olivetti looked up. ââ¬Å"Nothing. But this doesnââ¬â¢t show every last church. Just the big ones. About fifty of them.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where are we?â⬠Langdon asked. Olivetti pointed to Piazza del Popolo and traced a straight line exactly southwest. The line missed, by a substantial margin, the cluster of black squares indicating Romeââ¬â¢s major churches. Unfortunately, Romeââ¬â¢s major churches were also Romeââ¬â¢s older churchesâ⬠¦ those that would have been around in the 1600s. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got some decisions to make,â⬠Olivetti said. ââ¬Å"Are you certain of the direction?â⬠Langdon pictured the angelââ¬â¢s outstretched finger, the urgency rising in him again. ââ¬Å"Yes, sir. Positive.â⬠Olivetti shrugged and traced the straight line again. The path intersected the Margherita Bridge, Via Cola di Riezo, and passed through Piazza del Risorgimento, hitting no churches at all until it dead-ended abruptly at the center of St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s wrong with St. Peterââ¬â¢s?â⬠one of the soldiers said. He had a deep scar under his left eye. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s a church.â⬠Langdon shook his head. ââ¬Å"Needs to be a public place. Hardly seems public at the moment.â⬠ââ¬Å"But the line goes through St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square,â⬠Vittoria added, looking over Langdonââ¬â¢s shoulder. ââ¬Å"The square is public.â⬠Langdon had already considered it. ââ¬Å"No statues, though.â⬠ââ¬Å"Isnââ¬â¢t there a monolith in the middle?â⬠She was right. There was an Egyptian monolith in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. Langdon looked out at the monolith in the piazza in front of them. The lofty pyramid. An odd coincidence, he thought. He shook it off. ââ¬Å"The Vaticanââ¬â¢s monolith is not by Bernini. It was brought in by Caligula. And it has nothing to do with Air.â⬠There was another problem as well. ââ¬Å"Besides, the poem says the elements are spread across Rome. St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square is in Vatican City. Not Rome.â⬠ââ¬Å"Depends who you ask,â⬠a guard interjected. Langdon looked up. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠ââ¬Å"Always a bone of contention. Most maps show St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square as part of Vatican City, but because itââ¬â¢s outside the walled city, Roman officials for centuries have claimed it as part of Rome.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re kidding,â⬠Langdon said. He had never known that. ââ¬Å"I only mention it,â⬠the guard continued, ââ¬Å"because Commander Olivetti and Ms. Vetra were asking about a sculpture that had to do with Air.â⬠Langdon was wide-eyed. ââ¬Å"And you know of one in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not exactly. Itââ¬â¢s not really a sculpture. Probably not relevant.â⬠ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s hear it,â⬠Olivetti pressed. The guard shrugged. ââ¬Å"The only reason I know about it is because Iââ¬â¢m usually on piazza duty. I know every corner of St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square.â⬠ââ¬Å"The sculpture,â⬠Langdon urged. ââ¬Å"What does it look like?â⬠Langdon was starting to wonder if the Illuminati could really have been gutsy enough to position their second marker right outside St. Peterââ¬â¢s Church. ââ¬Å"I patrol past it every day,â⬠the guard said. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s in the center, directly where that line is pointing. Thatââ¬â¢s what made me think of it. As I said, itââ¬â¢s not really a sculpture. Itââ¬â¢s more of aâ⬠¦ block.â⬠Olivetti looked mad. ââ¬Å"A block?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, sir. A marble block embedded in the square. At the base of the monolith. But the block is not a rectangle. Itââ¬â¢s an ellipse. And the block is carved with the image of a billowing gust of wind.â⬠He paused. ââ¬Å"Air, I suppose, if you wanted to get scientific about it.â⬠Langdon stared at the young soldier in amazement. ââ¬Å"A relief!â⬠he exclaimed suddenly. Everyone looked at him. ââ¬Å"Relief,â⬠Langdon said, ââ¬Å"is the other half of sculpture!â⬠Sculpture is the art of shaping figures in the round and also in relief. He had written the definition on chalkboards for years. Reliefs were essentially two-dimensional sculptures, like Abraham Lincolnââ¬â¢s profile on the penny. Berniniââ¬â¢s Chigi Chapel medallions were another perfect example. ââ¬Å"Bassorelievo?â⬠the guard asked, using the Italian art term. ââ¬Å"Yes! Bas-relief!â⬠Langdon rapped his knuckles on the hood. ââ¬Å"I wasnââ¬â¢t thinking in those terms! That tile youââ¬â¢re talking about in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square is called the West Ponente ââ¬â the West Wind. Itââ¬â¢s also known as Respiro di Dio.â⬠ââ¬Å"Breath of God?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes! Air! And it was carved and put there by the original architect!â⬠Vittoria looked confused. ââ¬Å"But I thought Michelangelo designed St. Peterââ¬â¢s.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, the basilica!â⬠Langdon exclaimed, triumph in his voice. ââ¬Å"But St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square was designed by Bernini!â⬠As the caravan of Alpha Romeos tore out of Piazza del Popolo, everyone was in too much of a hurry to notice the BBC van pulling out behind them. 73 Gunther Glick floored the BBC vanââ¬â¢s accelerator and swerved through traffic as he tailed the four speeding Alpha Romeos across the Tiber River on Ponte Margherita. Normally Glick would have made an effort to maintain an inconspicuous distance, but today he could barely keep up. These guys were flying. Macri sat in her work area in the back of the van finishing a phone call with London. She hung up and yelled to Glick over the sound of the traffic. ââ¬Å"You want the good news or bad news?â⬠Glick frowned. Nothing was ever simple when dealing with the home office. ââ¬Å"Bad news.â⬠ââ¬Å"Editorial is burned we abandoned our post.â⬠ââ¬Å"Surprise.â⬠ââ¬Å"They also think your tipster is a fraud.â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course.â⬠ââ¬Å"And the boss just warned me that youââ¬â¢re a few crumpets short of a proper tea.â⬠Glick scowled. ââ¬Å"Great. And the good news?â⬠ââ¬Å"They agreed to look at the footage we just shot.â⬠Glick felt his scowl soften into a grin. I guess weââ¬â¢ll see whoââ¬â¢s short a few crumpets. ââ¬Å"So fire it off.â⬠ââ¬Å"Canââ¬â¢t transmit until we stop and get a fixed cell read.â⬠Glick gunned the van onto Via Cola di Rienzo. ââ¬Å"Canââ¬â¢t stop now.â⬠He tailed the Alpha Romeos through a hard left swerve around Piazza Risorgimento. Macri held on to her computer gear in back as everything slid. ââ¬Å"Break my transmitter,â⬠she warned, ââ¬Å"and weââ¬â¢ll have to walk this footage to London.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sit tight, love. Something tells me weââ¬â¢re almost there.â⬠Macri looked up. ââ¬Å"Where?â⬠Glick gazed out at the familiar dome now looming directly in front of them. He smiled. ââ¬Å"Right back where we started.â⬠The four Alpha Romeos slipped deftly into traffic surrounding St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. They split up and spread out along the piazza perimeter, quietly unloading men at select points. The debarking guards moved into the throng of tourists and media vans on the edge of the square and instantly became invisible. Some of the guards entered the forest of pillars encompassing the colonnade. They too seemed to evaporate into the surroundings. As Langdon watched through the windshield, he sensed a noose tightening around St. Peterââ¬â¢s. In addition to the men Olivetti had just dispatched, the commander had radioed ahead to the Vatican and sent additional undercover guards to the center where Berniniââ¬â¢s West Ponente was located. As Langdon looked out at the wide-open spaces of St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square, a familiar question nagged. How does the Illuminati assassin plan to get away with this? How will he get a cardinal through all these people and kill him in plain view? Langdon checked his Mickey Mouse watch. It was 8:54 P.M. Six minutes. In the front seat, Olivetti turned and faced Langdon and Vittoria. ââ¬Å"I want you two right on top of this Bernini brick or block or whatever the hell it is. Same drill. Youââ¬â¢re tourists. Use the phone if you see anything.â⬠Before Langdon could respond, Vittoria had his hand and was pulling him out of the car. The springtime sun was setting behind St. Peterââ¬â¢s Basilica, and a massive shadow spread, engulfing the piazza. Langdon felt an ominous chill as he and Vittoria moved into the cool, black umbra. Snaking through the crowd, Langdon found himself searching every face they passed, wondering if the killer was among them. Vittoriaââ¬â¢s hand felt warm. As they crossed the open expanse of St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square, Langdon sensed Berniniââ¬â¢s sprawling piazza having the exact effect the artist had been commissioned to create ââ¬â that of ââ¬Å"humbling all those who entered.â⬠Langdon certainly felt humbled at the moment. Humbled and hungry, he realized, surprised such a mundane thought could enter his head at a moment like this. ââ¬Å"To the obelisk?â⬠Vittoria asked. Langdon nodded, arching left across the piazza. ââ¬Å"Time?â⬠Vittoria asked, walking briskly, but casually. ââ¬Å"Five of.â⬠Vittoria said nothing, but Langdon felt her grip tighten. He was still carrying the gun. He hoped Vittoria would not decide she needed it. He could not imagine her whipping out a weapon in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square and blowing away the kneecaps of some killer while the global media looked on. Then again, an incident like that would be nothing compared to the branding and murder of a cardinal out here. Air, Langdon thought. The second element of science. He tried to picture the brand. The method of murder. Again he scanned the sprawling expanse of granite beneath his feet ââ¬â St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square ââ¬â an open desert surrounded by Swiss Guard. If the Hassassin really dared attempt this, Langdon could not imagine how he would escape. In the center of the piazza rose Caligulaââ¬â¢s 350-ton Egyptian obelisk. It stretched eighty-one feet skyward to the pyramidal apex onto which was affixed a hollow iron cross. Sufficiently high to catch the last of the evening sun, the cross shone as if magicâ⬠¦ purportedly containing relics of the cross on which Christ was crucified. Two fountains flanked the obelisk in perfect symmetry. Art historians knew the fountains marked the exact geometric focal points of Berniniââ¬â¢s elliptical piazza, but it was an architectural oddity Langdon had never really considered until today. It seemed Rome was suddenly filled with ellipses, pyramids, and startling geometry. As they neared the obelisk, Vittoria slowed. She exhaled heavily, as if coaxing Langdon to relax along with her. Langdon made the effort, lowering his shoulders and loosening his clenched jaw. Somewhere around the obelisk, boldly positioned outside the largest church in the world, was the second altar of science ââ¬â Berniniââ¬â¢s West Ponente ââ¬â an elliptical block in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. Gunther Glick watched from the shadows of the pillars surrounding St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. On any other day the man in the tweed jacket and the woman in khaki shorts would not have interested him in the least. They appeared to be nothing but tourists enjoying the square. But today was not any other day. Today had been a day of phone tips, corpses, unmarked cars racing through Rome, and men in tweed jackets climbing scaffolding in search of God only knew what. Glick would stay with them. He looked out across the square and saw Macri. She was exactly where he had told her to go, on the far side of the couple, hovering on their flank. Macri carried her video camera casually, but despite her imitation of a bored member of the press, she stood out more than Glick would have liked. No other reporters were in this far corner of the square, and the acronym ââ¬Å"BBCâ⬠stenciled on her camera was drawing some looks from tourists. The tape Macri had shot earlier of the naked body dumped in the trunk was playing at this very moment on the VCR transmitter back in the van. Glick knew the images were sailing over his head right now en route to London. He wondered what editorial would say. He wished he and Macri had reached the body sooner, before the army of plainclothed soldiers had intervened. The same army, he knew, had now fanned out and surrounded this piazza. Something big was about to happen. The media is the right arm of anarchy, the killer had said. Glick wondered if he had missed his chance for a big scoop. He looked out at the other media vans in the distance and watched Macri tailing the mysterious couple across the piazza. Something told Glick he was still in the gameâ⬠¦ Angels Demons Chapter 7073 As soon as theyââ¬â¢d arrived, Chinita and Glick had seen a veritable army of young men pour out of the Alpha Romeos and surround the church. Some had weapons drawn. One of them, a stiff older man, led a team up the front steps of the church. The soldiers drew guns and blew the locks off the front doors. Macri heard nothing and figured they must have had silencers. Then the soldiers entered. Chinita had recommended they sit tight and film from the shadows. After all, guns were guns, and they had a clear view of the action from the van. Glick had not argued. Now, across the piazza, men moved in and out of the church. They yelled to each other. Chinita adjusted her camera to follow a team as they searched the surrounding area. All of them, though dressed in civilian clothes, seemed to move with military precision. ââ¬Å"Who do you think they are?â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"Hell if I know.â⬠Glick looked riveted. ââ¬Å"You getting all this?â⬠ââ¬Å"Every frame.â⬠Glick sounded smug. ââ¬Å"Still think we should go back to Pope-Watch?â⬠Chinita wasnââ¬â¢t sure what to say. There was obviously something going on here, but she had been in journalism long enough to know that there was often a very dull explanation for interesting events. ââ¬Å"This could be nothing,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"These guys could have gotten the same tip you got and are just checking it out. Could be a false alarm.â⬠Glick grabbed her arm. ââ¬Å"Over there! Focus.â⬠He pointed back to the church. Chinita swung the camera back to the top of the stairs. ââ¬Å"Hello there,â⬠she said, training on the man now emerging from the church. ââ¬Å"Whoââ¬â¢s the dapper?â⬠Chinita moved in for a close-up. ââ¬Å"Havenââ¬â¢t seen him before.â⬠She tightened in on the manââ¬â¢s face and smiled. ââ¬Å"But I wouldnââ¬â¢t mind seeing him again.â⬠Robert Langdon dashed down the stairs outside the church and into the middle of the piazza. It was getting dark now, the springtime sun setting late in southern Rome. The sun had dropped below the surrounding buildings, and shadows streaked the square. ââ¬Å"Okay, Bernini,â⬠he said aloud to himself. ââ¬Å"Where the hell is your angel pointing?â⬠He turned and examined the orientation of the church from which he had just come. He pictured the Chigi Chapel inside, and the sculpture of the angel inside that. Without hesitation he turned due west, into the glow of the impending sunset. Time was evaporating. ââ¬Å"Southwest,â⬠he said, scowling at the shops and apartments blocking his view. ââ¬Å"The next marker is out there.â⬠Racking his brain, Langdon pictured page after page of Italian art history. Although very familiar with Berniniââ¬â¢s work, Langdon knew the sculptor had been far too prolific for any nonspecialist to know all of it. Still, considering the relative fame of the first marker ââ¬â Habakkuk and the Angel ââ¬â Langdon hoped the second marker was a work he might know from memory. Earth, Air, Fire, Water, he thought. Earth they had found ââ¬â inside the Chapel of the Earth ââ¬â Habakkuk, the prophet who predicted the earthââ¬â¢s annihilation. Air is next. Langdon urged himself to think. A Bernini sculpture that has something to do with Air! He was drawing a total blank. Still he felt energized. Iââ¬â¢m on the path of Illumination! It is still intact! Looking southwest, Langdon strained to see a spire or cathedral tower jutting up over the obstacles. He saw nothing. He needed a map. If they could figure out what churches were southwest of here, maybe one of them would spark Langdonââ¬â¢s memory. Air, he pressed. Air. Bernini. Sculpture. Air. Think! Langdon turned and headed back up the cathedral stairs. He was met beneath the scaffolding by Vittoria and Olivetti. ââ¬Å"Southwest,â⬠Langdon said, panting. ââ¬Å"The next church is southwest of here.â⬠Olivettiââ¬â¢s whisper was cold. ââ¬Å"You sure this time?â⬠Langdon didnââ¬â¢t bite. ââ¬Å"We need a map. One that shows all the churches in Rome.â⬠The commander studied him a moment, his expression never changing. Langdon checked his watch. ââ¬Å"We only have half an hour.â⬠Olivetti moved past Langdon down the stairs toward his car, parked directly in front of the cathedral. Langdon hoped he was going for a map. Vittoria looked excited. ââ¬Å"So the angelââ¬â¢s pointing southwest? No idea which churches are southwest?â⬠ââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t see past the damn buildings.â⬠Langdon turned and faced the square again. ââ¬Å"And I donââ¬â¢t know Romeââ¬â¢s churches well enou ââ¬â â⬠He stopped. Vittoria looked startled. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠Langdon looked out at the piazza again. Having ascended the church stairs, he was now higher, and his view was better. He still couldnââ¬â¢t see anything, but he realized he was moving in the right direction. His eyes climbed the tower of rickety scaffolding above him. It rose six stories, almost to the top of the churchââ¬â¢s rose window, far higher than the other buildings in the square. He knew in an instant where he was headed. Across the square, Chinita Macri and Gunther Glick sat glued to the windshield of the BBC van. ââ¬Å"You getting this?â⬠Gunther asked. Macri tightened her shot on the man now climbing the scaffolding. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s a little well dressed to be playing Spiderman if you ask me.â⬠ââ¬Å"And whoââ¬â¢s Ms. Spidey?â⬠Chinita glanced at the attractive woman beneath the scaffolding. ââ¬Å"Bet youââ¬â¢d like to find out.â⬠ââ¬Å"Think I should call editorial?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not yet. Letââ¬â¢s watch. Better to have something in the can before we admit we abandoned conclave.â⬠ââ¬Å"You think somebody really killed one of the old farts in there?â⬠Chinita clucked. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re definitely going to hell.â⬠ââ¬Å"And Iââ¬â¢ll be taking the Pulitzer with me.â⬠71 The scaffolding seemed less stable the higher Langdon climbed. His view of Rome, however, got better with every step. He continued upward. He was breathing harder than he expected when he reached the upper tier. He pulled himself onto the last platform, brushed off the plaster, and stood up. The height did not bother him at all. In fact, it was invigorating. The view was staggering. Like an ocean on fire, the red-tiled rooftops of Rome spread out before him, glowing in the scarlet sunset. From that spot, for the first time in his life, Langdon saw beyond the pollution and traffic of Rome to its ancient roots ââ¬â Citt di Dio ââ¬â The city of God. Squinting into the sunset, Langdon scanned the rooftops for a church steeple or bell tower. But as he looked farther and farther toward the horizon, he saw nothing. There are hundreds of churches in Rome, he thought. There must be one southwest of here! If the church is even visible, he reminded himself. Hell, if the church is even still standing! Forcing his eyes to trace the line slowly, he attempted the search again. He knew, of course, that not all churches would have visible spires, especially smaller, out-of-the-way sanctuaries. Not to mention, Rome had changed dramatically since the 1600s when churches were by law the tallest buildings allowed. Now, as Langdon looked out, he saw apartment buildings, high-rises, TV towers. For the second time, Langdonââ¬â¢s eye reached the horizon without seeing anything. Not one single spire. In the distance, on the very edge of Rome, Michelangeloââ¬â¢s massive dome blotted the setting sun. St. Peterââ¬â¢s Basilica. Vatican City. Langdon found himself wondering how the cardinals were faring, and if the Swiss Guardsââ¬â¢ search had turned up the antimatter. Something told him it hadnââ¬â¢tâ⬠¦ and wouldnââ¬â¢t. The poem was rattling through his head again. He considered it, carefully, line by line. From Santiââ¬â¢s earthly tomb with demonââ¬â¢s hole. They had found Santiââ¬â¢s tomb. ââ¬ËCross Rome the mystic elements unfold. The mystic elements were Earth, Air, Fire, Water. The path of light is laid, the sacred test. The path of Illumination formed by Berniniââ¬â¢s sculptures. Let angels guide you on your lofty quest. The angel was pointing southwestâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Front stairs!â⬠Glick exclaimed, pointing wildly through the windshield of the BBC van. ââ¬Å"Somethingââ¬â¢s going on!â⬠Macri dropped her shot back down to the main entrance. Something was definitely going on. At the bottom of the stairs, the military-looking man had pulled one of the Alpha Romeos close to the stairs and opened the trunk. Now he was scanning the square as if checking for onlookers. For a moment, Macri thought the man had spotted them, but his eyes kept moving. Apparently satisfied, he pulled out a walkie-talkie and spoke into it. Almost instantly, it seemed an army emerged from the church. Like an American football team breaking from a huddle, the soldiers formed a straight line across the top of the stairs. Moving like a human wall, they began to descend. Behind them, almost entirely hidden by the wall, four soldiers seemed to be carrying something. Something heavy. Awkward. Glick leaned forward on the dashboard. ââ¬Å"Are they stealing something from the church?â⬠Chinita tightened her shot even more, using the telephoto to probe the wall of men, looking for an opening. One split second, she willed. A single frame. Thatââ¬â¢s all I need. But the men moved as one. Come on! Macri stayed with them, and it paid off. When the soldiers tried to lift the object into the trunk, Macri found her opening. Ironically, it was the older man who faltered. Only for an instant, but long enough. Macri had her frame. Actually, it was more like ten frames. ââ¬Å"Call editorial,â⬠Chinita said. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got a dead body.â⬠Far away, at CERN, Maximilian Kohler maneuvered his wheelchair into Leonardo Vetraââ¬â¢s study. With mechanical efficiency, he began sifting through Vetraââ¬â¢s files. Not finding what he was after, Kohler moved to Vetraââ¬â¢s bedroom. The top drawer of his bedside table was locked. Kohler pried it open with a knife from the kitchen. Inside Kohler found exactly what he was looking for. 72 Langdon swung off the scaffolding and dropped back to the ground. He brushed the plaster dust from his clothes. Vittoria was there to greet him. ââ¬Å"No luck?â⬠she said. He shook his head. ââ¬Å"They put the cardinal in the trunk.â⬠Langdon looked over to the parked car where Olivetti and a group of soldiers now had a map spread out on the hood. ââ¬Å"Are they looking southwest?â⬠She nodded. ââ¬Å"No churches. From here the first one you hit is St. Peterââ¬â¢s.â⬠Langdon grunted. At least they were in agreement. He moved toward Olivetti. The soldiers parted to let him through. Olivetti looked up. ââ¬Å"Nothing. But this doesnââ¬â¢t show every last church. Just the big ones. About fifty of them.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where are we?â⬠Langdon asked. Olivetti pointed to Piazza del Popolo and traced a straight line exactly southwest. The line missed, by a substantial margin, the cluster of black squares indicating Romeââ¬â¢s major churches. Unfortunately, Romeââ¬â¢s major churches were also Romeââ¬â¢s older churchesâ⬠¦ those that would have been around in the 1600s. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got some decisions to make,â⬠Olivetti said. ââ¬Å"Are you certain of the direction?â⬠Langdon pictured the angelââ¬â¢s outstretched finger, the urgency rising in him again. ââ¬Å"Yes, sir. Positive.â⬠Olivetti shrugged and traced the straight line again. The path intersected the Margherita Bridge, Via Cola di Riezo, and passed through Piazza del Risorgimento, hitting no churches at all until it dead-ended abruptly at the center of St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s wrong with St. Peterââ¬â¢s?â⬠one of the soldiers said. He had a deep scar under his left eye. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s a church.â⬠Langdon shook his head. ââ¬Å"Needs to be a public place. Hardly seems public at the moment.â⬠ââ¬Å"But the line goes through St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square,â⬠Vittoria added, looking over Langdonââ¬â¢s shoulder. ââ¬Å"The square is public.â⬠Langdon had already considered it. ââ¬Å"No statues, though.â⬠ââ¬Å"Isnââ¬â¢t there a monolith in the middle?â⬠She was right. There was an Egyptian monolith in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. Langdon looked out at the monolith in the piazza in front of them. The lofty pyramid. An odd coincidence, he thought. He shook it off. ââ¬Å"The Vaticanââ¬â¢s monolith is not by Bernini. It was brought in by Caligula. And it has nothing to do with Air.â⬠There was another problem as well. ââ¬Å"Besides, the poem says the elements are spread across Rome. St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square is in Vatican City. Not Rome.â⬠ââ¬Å"Depends who you ask,â⬠a guard interjected. Langdon looked up. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠ââ¬Å"Always a bone of contention. Most maps show St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square as part of Vatican City, but because itââ¬â¢s outside the walled city, Roman officials for centuries have claimed it as part of Rome.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re kidding,â⬠Langdon said. He had never known that. ââ¬Å"I only mention it,â⬠the guard continued, ââ¬Å"because Commander Olivetti and Ms. Vetra were asking about a sculpture that had to do with Air.â⬠Langdon was wide-eyed. ââ¬Å"And you know of one in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not exactly. Itââ¬â¢s not really a sculpture. Probably not relevant.â⬠ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s hear it,â⬠Olivetti pressed. The guard shrugged. ââ¬Å"The only reason I know about it is because Iââ¬â¢m usually on piazza duty. I know every corner of St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square.â⬠ââ¬Å"The sculpture,â⬠Langdon urged. ââ¬Å"What does it look like?â⬠Langdon was starting to wonder if the Illuminati could really have been gutsy enough to position their second marker right outside St. Peterââ¬â¢s Church. ââ¬Å"I patrol past it every day,â⬠the guard said. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s in the center, directly where that line is pointing. Thatââ¬â¢s what made me think of it. As I said, itââ¬â¢s not really a sculpture. Itââ¬â¢s more of aâ⬠¦ block.â⬠Olivetti looked mad. ââ¬Å"A block?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, sir. A marble block embedded in the square. At the base of the monolith. But the block is not a rectangle. Itââ¬â¢s an ellipse. And the block is carved with the image of a billowing gust of wind.â⬠He paused. ââ¬Å"Air, I suppose, if you wanted to get scientific about it.â⬠Langdon stared at the young soldier in amazement. ââ¬Å"A relief!â⬠he exclaimed suddenly. Everyone looked at him. ââ¬Å"Relief,â⬠Langdon said, ââ¬Å"is the other half of sculpture!â⬠Sculpture is the art of shaping figures in the round and also in relief. He had written the definition on chalkboards for years. Reliefs were essentially two-dimensional sculptures, like Abraham Lincolnââ¬â¢s profile on the penny. Berniniââ¬â¢s Chigi Chapel medallions were another perfect example. ââ¬Å"Bassorelievo?â⬠the guard asked, using the Italian art term. ââ¬Å"Yes! Bas-relief!â⬠Langdon rapped his knuckles on the hood. ââ¬Å"I wasnââ¬â¢t thinking in those terms! That tile youââ¬â¢re talking about in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square is called the West Ponente ââ¬â the West Wind. Itââ¬â¢s also known as Respiro di Dio.â⬠ââ¬Å"Breath of God?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes! Air! And it was carved and put there by the original architect!â⬠Vittoria looked confused. ââ¬Å"But I thought Michelangelo designed St. Peterââ¬â¢s.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, the basilica!â⬠Langdon exclaimed, triumph in his voice. ââ¬Å"But St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square was designed by Bernini!â⬠As the caravan of Alpha Romeos tore out of Piazza del Popolo, everyone was in too much of a hurry to notice the BBC van pulling out behind them. 73 Gunther Glick floored the BBC vanââ¬â¢s accelerator and swerved through traffic as he tailed the four speeding Alpha Romeos across the Tiber River on Ponte Margherita. Normally Glick would have made an effort to maintain an inconspicuous distance, but today he could barely keep up. These guys were flying. Macri sat in her work area in the back of the van finishing a phone call with London. She hung up and yelled to Glick over the sound of the traffic. ââ¬Å"You want the good news or bad news?â⬠Glick frowned. Nothing was ever simple when dealing with the home office. ââ¬Å"Bad news.â⬠ââ¬Å"Editorial is burned we abandoned our post.â⬠ââ¬Å"Surprise.â⬠ââ¬Å"They also think your tipster is a fraud.â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course.â⬠ââ¬Å"And the boss just warned me that youââ¬â¢re a few crumpets short of a proper tea.â⬠Glick scowled. ââ¬Å"Great. And the good news?â⬠ââ¬Å"They agreed to look at the footage we just shot.â⬠Glick felt his scowl soften into a grin. I guess weââ¬â¢ll see whoââ¬â¢s short a few crumpets. ââ¬Å"So fire it off.â⬠ââ¬Å"Canââ¬â¢t transmit until we stop and get a fixed cell read.â⬠Glick gunned the van onto Via Cola di Rienzo. ââ¬Å"Canââ¬â¢t stop now.â⬠He tailed the Alpha Romeos through a hard left swerve around Piazza Risorgimento. Macri held on to her computer gear in back as everything slid. ââ¬Å"Break my transmitter,â⬠she warned, ââ¬Å"and weââ¬â¢ll have to walk this footage to London.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sit tight, love. Something tells me weââ¬â¢re almost there.â⬠Macri looked up. ââ¬Å"Where?â⬠Glick gazed out at the familiar dome now looming directly in front of them. He smiled. ââ¬Å"Right back where we started.â⬠The four Alpha Romeos slipped deftly into traffic surrounding St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. They split up and spread out along the piazza perimeter, quietly unloading men at select points. The debarking guards moved into the throng of tourists and media vans on the edge of the square and instantly became invisible. Some of the guards entered the forest of pillars encompassing the colonnade. They too seemed to evaporate into the surroundings. As Langdon watched through the windshield, he sensed a noose tightening around St. Peterââ¬â¢s. In addition to the men Olivetti had just dispatched, the commander had radioed ahead to the Vatican and sent additional undercover guards to the center where Berniniââ¬â¢s West Ponente was located. As Langdon looked out at the wide-open spaces of St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square, a familiar question nagged. How does the Illuminati assassin plan to get away with this? How will he get a cardinal through all these people and kill him in plain view? Langdon checked his Mickey Mouse watch. It was 8:54 P.M. Six minutes. In the front seat, Olivetti turned and faced Langdon and Vittoria. ââ¬Å"I want you two right on top of this Bernini brick or block or whatever the hell it is. Same drill. Youââ¬â¢re tourists. Use the phone if you see anything.â⬠Before Langdon could respond, Vittoria had his hand and was pulling him out of the car. The springtime sun was setting behind St. Peterââ¬â¢s Basilica, and a massive shadow spread, engulfing the piazza. Langdon felt an ominous chill as he and Vittoria moved into the cool, black umbra. Snaking through the crowd, Langdon found himself searching every face they passed, wondering if the killer was among them. Vittoriaââ¬â¢s hand felt warm. As they crossed the open expanse of St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square, Langdon sensed Berniniââ¬â¢s sprawling piazza having the exact effect the artist had been commissioned to create ââ¬â that of ââ¬Å"humbling all those who entered.â⬠Langdon certainly felt humbled at the moment. Humbled and hungry, he realized, surprised such a mundane thought could enter his head at a moment like this. ââ¬Å"To the obelisk?â⬠Vittoria asked. Langdon nodded, arching left across the piazza. ââ¬Å"Time?â⬠Vittoria asked, walking briskly, but casually. ââ¬Å"Five of.â⬠Vittoria said nothing, but Langdon felt her grip tighten. He was still carrying the gun. He hoped Vittoria would not decide she needed it. He could not imagine her whipping out a weapon in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square and blowing away the kneecaps of some killer while the global media looked on. Then again, an incident like that would be nothing compared to the branding and murder of a cardinal out here. Air, Langdon thought. The second element of science. He tried to picture the brand. The method of murder. Again he scanned the sprawling expanse of granite beneath his feet ââ¬â St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square ââ¬â an open desert surrounded by Swiss Guard. If the Hassassin really dared attempt this, Langdon could not imagine how he would escape. In the center of the piazza rose Caligulaââ¬â¢s 350-ton Egyptian obelisk. It stretched eighty-one feet skyward to the pyramidal apex onto which was affixed a hollow iron cross. Sufficiently high to catch the last of the evening sun, the cross shone as if magicâ⬠¦ purportedly containing relics of the cross on which Christ was crucified. Two fountains flanked the obelisk in perfect symmetry. Art historians knew the fountains marked the exact geometric focal points of Berniniââ¬â¢s elliptical piazza, but it was an architectural oddity Langdon had never really considered until today. It seemed Rome was suddenly filled with ellipses, pyramids, and startling geometry. As they neared the obelisk, Vittoria slowed. She exhaled heavily, as if coaxing Langdon to relax along with her. Langdon made the effort, lowering his shoulders and loosening his clenched jaw. Somewhere around the obelisk, boldly positioned outside the largest church in the world, was the second altar of science ââ¬â Berniniââ¬â¢s West Ponente ââ¬â an elliptical block in St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. Gunther Glick watched from the shadows of the pillars surrounding St. Peterââ¬â¢s Square. On any other day the man in the tweed jacket and the woman in khaki shorts would not have interested him in the least. They appeared to be nothing but tourists enjoying the square. But today was not any other day. Today had been a day of phone tips, corpses, unmarked cars racing through Rome, and men in tweed jackets climbing scaffolding in search of God only knew what. Glick would stay with them. He looked out across the square and saw Macri. She was exactly where he had told her to go, on the far side of the couple, hovering on their flank. Macri carried her video camera casually, but despite her imitation of a bored member of the press, she stood out more than Glick would have liked. No other reporters were in this far corner of the square, and the acronym ââ¬Å"BBCâ⬠stenciled on her camera was drawing some looks from tourists. The tape Macri had shot earlier of the naked body dumped in the trunk was playing at this very moment on the VCR transmitter back in the van. Glick knew the images were sailing over his head right now en route to London. He wondered what editorial would say. He wished he and Macri had reached the body sooner, before the army of plainclothed soldiers had intervened. The same army, he knew, had now fanned out and surrounded this piazza. Something big was about to happen. The media is the right arm of anarchy, the killer had said. Glick wondered if he had missed his chance for a big scoop. He looked out at the other media vans in the distance and watched Macri tailing the mysterious couple across the piazza. Something told Glick he was still in the gameâ⬠¦
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Importance Of The Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Importance Of The Education - Essay Example Education by virtue of its very nature should be termed a human right, as a lack of it leads to countless problems and is a source of stress for individuals, governments and at times, even whole economies. Today, the world has become much more competitive than it had been in the past. That means that if one were to hope for success in the future, be it the financial success, social success or even self-sufficient success, education is, quite literally, the most important thing to have (Dewey, pp1).Today, when big companies and corporations hire people, they usually only inquire about the applicantââ¬â¢s qualifications in terms of their diplomas or degrees. That only reinforces the need for a proper education today because ruthless as it may sound, nobody wants to employ uneducated, illiterate people today. Therefore, needless to say, lack of education leads to unemployment, and ultimately poverty. Clearly, the cruel link between a lack of education and poverty, and a low standard of living, has been made explicit as it is prevailing in 70% of the world today. Another important result of education is the civility that can only be taught by communicating and interacting with other individuals in an educational setting. For instance, in many developing countries, the way educated people act and behave is phenomenally different from the way uneducated people do. Today, disparity between different sects of society is a common observation, something that most governments are taking steps to reducing. A way to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor is through education, as this will benefit the masses and for society as a whole as well. One major thing education indirectly teaches is the will to commit and to come up with the determination that this ââ¬Ëwillââ¬â¢ requires. Acquiring an education is more than only going to class and writing tests. Many times, it can be a financial burden, other times it can be too time-consuming. Along the way, students earning a degree have to make a whole lot of sacrifices and compromises. Sometimes it can be as slight as not snapping at a teacher for being unreasonable, other times, it can mean not attending your best friendââ¬â¢s birthday party to finish studying for a test. Either way, it is not always, as fulfilling as it seems to be, and many a times its rewards are only felt right at the end. Thus, throughout the course of 4 years or 8 years or however long it takes to earn that degree, one must constantly strive to thrive; as in the end even in education, it is a rat race. When one fails, one must stay up another night and redo the assignment, push oneself to work h arder and better, to lead. In the end, the people with the honors are the ones that stayed up the most nights, the ones that partied least and the ones that gave it their all. Before one enrolls to earn a degree, one must acknowledge that time spent vaguely is time wasted. Choosing the right major is an extremely important part of the educational process, perhaps the most important. One must take careful consideration of oneââ¬â¢s interests, hobbies, weaknesses, and strengths. Furthermore, students must always take into account the real, ruthless side of an occupation. Having a romanticized view of a career can be very detrimental and leads to more harm than good. Choices should be realistic, but most importantly, made independently. For example, a student that took the sciences and
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Individual Audience Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Individual Audience Paper - Essay Example When presentations are made, the speaker should not assume that everyone will understand the material the way he/she does. This could be a fallacy, for your program really to be effective; it must be of interest to your audience. Individual Audience Paper Addressing an audience may seem to be quite easy, but this usually entails more than just imparting information to an interested audience. This is not the case, as a great deal of preparation and thought go into the message or lecture that you are going to deliver to your audience. Also, your message must be relevant and of interest to the audience that you are addressing. By understanding audience unique and distinctiveness, the most effective communication methods, by adding variety and assortment and the way that your audience will relate to your message and identify with it. Audience Characteristics: Recognizing the traits of your audience is the first step successful and effective interaction. Every person that is present where you are delivering your address is considered to be part of the audience and in public or speaking to a assorted group of individuals, the most important thing is to concentrate on the audience. The primary audience consists of the people that are watching you and you want to please. Count how many there are: when speaking, concentrate on what the consumer or audience wants, rather than what you or your company wants, because if you ignore your traditional customers for newer ventures, you might one day realize that they too have new needs, and have left you and moved on. In public speaking, when addressing an assorted group of individuals, it is imperative that your total concentration is absolutely necessary to focus on the audience To present an effective presentation,Ã the considerations of the audience that is essential to attaining success is to remember the various distinctiveness of the audience that you want to reach and impress and the methods of communication that will be adequate and suitable to communicate the communication to the addressees successfully. When presenting the report of your quarterly sales information, it will be necessary to explore the various distinctiveness of this miscellaneous group of individuals who will include customers. To best demonstrate the necessary careful thought or deliberation that is essential for this presentation effectively, an analysis of the audience personality and their demographic character can be visibly analyzed (Locker & Kienzler, 2008). An understand must be made of which segments of the audience will exercise power over the message itself, who will take some initiative based on the message, or will definitely become better informed on the principal aspects of the message. To give an example of an audience comprising of managers, salesmen, and management, management shall be considered to be a watchdog and the main or primary spectators, salesmen would be considered to be the secondary spectators and finally the customers might be considered as supplementary spectators. However, when the audience has been figured out, it can be categorized according to their importance and characteristics. When presentations are made, the speaker should not assume that everyone will understand the material the way he/she does. This could be a fallacy, for your program really to be effective; it must
Monday, August 26, 2019
Barbara Ehrenreichs Pathologies of Hope Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Barbara Ehrenreichs Pathologies of Hope - Essay Example Barbara Ehrenreich was targeting the audience of the Harper Magazine. This is a magazine that has covers a literate audience. It reaches both the educated and the general population. This audience recognizes the power of hope in life. This is because hope is embraced in different areas in the society. The organization of the essay reflects what I am doing with the controlling purpose. The essay begins with an overview of the general understanding of hope. Second, the essay summarizes Barbara Ehrenreichââ¬â¢s understanding of hope as presented in this article. Furthermore, examples are used to control the purpose. Also evidences from the article on how the author views hope are given supported with quotes. Finally, a conclusion is given in the authorââ¬â¢s position on hope. For example, the author provides a scenario in which negative thoughts are of help than hope. In making the essay be built on evidence, there is the use of direct quotes. The quotes are from the article to in dicate an understanding and interpretation of the article. The quotes changed through the revision process. They were reduced to ensure that the number of words for the essay was reached. The use of quotes was used in making the essay more reliable because they supplemented the opinions and helped reduce wordiness. Finally, some quotes were paraphrased in the revision process to ensure that plagiarism is avoided and that new opinions are adopted. The author strategy of using life examples in criticizing hope is outstanding.
Movie Volcano 1997 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Movie Volcano 1997 - Essay Example should have taken charge because he was the director of EOC and the situation required the center to take over control since none of the other departments were equipped to handle an emergency. Moreover, a team should have been developed that contained representatives from the departments being involved with Lee Jones heading the team. When Lee Jones came to know about the gas leak, he went to the site to inspect the damages himself. He started asking questions and demanded answers for the gas leak. He also proposed that the metro station be shut down for the safety of the public. He even went underground to investigate further without gaining proper access. The experts should be allowed to investigate further because they would analyze the seriousness of the issue. The experts have more knowledge about the issue. They would also be able to provide information on the flow, intensity and impact of the disaster. This would then help the Emergency Operations Center to be better prepared for the emergency. They would devise better plans based on the report by the experts. Assistant OEM Director took over command after the incidence at the subway train occurred. Before this, he was not willing to accept that an emergency of such big proportions was going to impact the state. However, after the incidence at the subway station, he had no choice but to take notice of the situation. The seriousness of the volcano was felt when the lava was seen for the first time just before the incident near the LA Brea Tar Pits in the subway train. An entire train derails and Lee Jones is present to witness the calamity with this daughter. Before this, the movie was building up for this scene where steam rising from the concrete led Dr. Barnes to conclude that a volcano was building. However, even then, the depth of the calamity was not understood. This happened only when casualties occurred in the form the train passengers and the onlookers. He called the OEM center and asked his
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Environmental history Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Environmental history - Research Paper Example The big question is ââ¬Å"Does nature cause suffering?â⬠this is an important question because in most cases people suffer and do not know how to blame nature or literally whom to blame. The book, ââ¬Å"The Republic of Nature,â⬠by Mark Fiege ties together most worldsââ¬â¢ greatest events origins including nature as an origin of suffering. The book shows how human life has been influenced by nature in different aspects. The writer puts it in a fascinating way that nature is not fair to humans; however, the humans suffer out of their interaction with it. He speaking of slavery as part of human suffering caused by nature.1 He explains that it was brought about by humans desire to work in the cotton firms. On the other hand, slaves were made to suffer by settlers who recruited them to work in the cotton fields. Through the settlerââ¬â¢s exploitation of nature so as to gain from it, they caused suffering.2 This shows clearly that nature is not the cause of human suffering but human activity. Robert J. Spitzer in his article ââ¬Å"suffering caused by nature,â⬠looks at the issue from a religious point of view. According to him, it is cheaper to comprehend why God would permit suffering to be caused by human agents than to comprehend the reason as to why he would let it occur due to natural causation. This point of thinking in some way supports the thoughts of Fiege. Robert wonders why God created such a natural order that is so imperfect, that brings about volcanos, earthquakes and tsunamis.3 What is the definition of suffering?â⬠is an article by yahoo answers website that tries to explain about suffering caused by nature. According to the writer, nature is nature and cannot be controlled unlike humans who can choose to or not make others suffer. He explains that it is natural for a lion to kill a gazelle since it is seeking to feel its stomach, however, a man can chose whether to or not to harm another man whom stole
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Are there Cultural differences in Chinese and American Negotiations Essay
Are there Cultural differences in Chinese and American Negotiations - Essay Example These cultural differences make negotiations between nations extremely complex. Negotiations between two nations with different cultural views need a specific agreement which suits both parties. For instance, negotiations between America and Chinese may prove to be difficult since the two countries have completely different cultural views. These cultural differences include the take on freedom of expression, collectivism and individualism, social structure, moral and values and business relations. Since the two nations are among the trade super powers in the world, they must find a way to carry out these negotiations. This paper will highlight the cultural differences between the two nations and ways in which they incorporate their differences to carry out successful negotiations. The paper will also give a clear perspective on whether the negotiations are made out of will or out of circumstances. In an attempt to get a clear perspective of the entire theme, the following questions w ill be highlighted; how can Chinese corporate people respond or behave in a different way from American corporate people in international trade negotiations? Are the experiences and outcomes of tension in negotiations similar for Chinese and American business personalities? Do Chinese and American representatives feel diverse levels of anxiety in international business discussions? Do Chinese and American representatives respond to anxiety differently? Firstly, the American negotiating culture is guided by the lawyers. Americans believe negotiation to be an activity in international relations while Asians believe it to be a provision of the paternalistic company heads to create lasting relations. All American negotiators are bound with contracts or legal solutions, whereas customary Asian negotiators believe that relationships are the solution to a business and that contract are just written records of accord between people. Americans put these papers into perspective more than find ing lasting relationships with individuals. With this difference the two nations may find it difficult to be bound by a legal document (Pervez, 2003).The Chinese also believe and want a relationship without the consent of legal documents while America on the other hand, insists on the legal approach of negotiations. The American negotiation culture is the only culture that believes that liability can be allocated in advance through a written agreement. This is one of the numerous features of international negotiation that has grown to be normal, but it still hits traditional Asian negotiators as foolish- that Americans believe contracts binding even as the sales environment changes. Generally, Asian negotiators and Chinese to be specific believe that as the external position change, so must a corporate relationship. Scores of Chinese partners have been puzzled and disappointed when their American counterparts begin waving a piece of paper in their face instead of taking action fairl y and wisely to new market realism. This difference hinders many Chinese developers to negotiate with the Americans. The Chinese at most times feel that they are been treated unfairly and that their relationship is not trusted. On another angle, the Americans believe in the completion of negotiations while the Chinese consider negotiations as an eternal pact to business dealings. Chinese believe that once one has
Friday, August 23, 2019
Enron Corporation Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Enron Corporation - Article Example This proved to be a blatant violation of the accounting rules and eventually led to the mess that resulted in the bankruptcy of Enron and criminal prosecution of several Enron employees. Secondly, Mr. Kenneth Lay held a great deal of responsibility because he spearheaded the overstatement of Enron's income for four years prior to the bankruptcy. This effectively and efficiently led to his conviction for securities fraud, wire fraud and making false and misleading statements. Thirdly, Mr. David Duncan held some of the responsibility because he was aware that there were violations with regards to the rules of bookkeeping and was bounded by the ethics of his profession to report such violations. By not doing this, he was responsible to some degree for the final collapse of Enron. Fourthly, the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen held the responsibility because they were hired as auditors to ensure that the accounting rules were being followed. At any point during the audit, they could ha ve reported the misdoings of the Enron officials. Finally, the stock analysts held some blame because they continued to recommend Enron stocks even after the value of shares in the Enron Corporation fall drastically in late 2001. 2.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Coming of Age in New Jersey by Michael Moffat Essay Example for Free
Coming of Age in New Jersey by Michael Moffat Essay Michael Moffat studied the life of college students in a co-ed dormitory living environment at Rutgers University in the late 1970ââ¬â¢s and mid 1980ââ¬â¢s. His book, Coming of Age in New Jersey: College and American Culture draw on writings of actual students and provide detailed accounts of the sexual histories and activities of both male and female students living in the dorm. He writes what he learned as an actual resident living with the students who understood that he was researching their habits and experiences. He lived with them and studies them as an anthropologist would. The book focuses largely on sexual life of students but also touches upon race, work ethic, gender and community living. It seems that all of these issues are related and Moffat is able to tie much of the actions and attitudes together. A common theme throughout the book is that the life of college students is not quite as wild and sex filled as society in general might assume. In fact, the experience may be less wild that the prospective students themselves expected. This was likely a relief to many of them and in fact, is likely that the family values and morals that they brought to college with them were responsible for the reality of life in the dorms. It seems that new college students do not leave all of their past experiences of knowledge at home when the come to college. They apparently have learned and formed opinions and come with a set of expectation for acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. The book also discusses the difference between expectations of general college living and the actual experience. The societal expectation or assumptions of student life, and what actually occurs is discussed. Relating the sexual activity and romantic relationship to studentââ¬â¢s morals and prior learning is interesting. While some of the stories are disturbing, many of them lead one to believe that children actually do listen to and learn from their parents. The morals and beliefs of home follow these students to the college dorm. à Moffat notes the difference between living in a dormitory like environment such as an apartment or even boarding home, and living in a college dorm. In the college dorm there is an expected sense of community and commradery and the university does much to encourage the friendships and support that this living arrangement offers. Adolescents are transitioning from home to the life of an independent adult and the community living is meant to offer a degree of supervision and support. The effects of this arrangement on the actual experiences of students in interesting to the reader. Chapters 5 6 are titled ââ¬Å"Sexâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Sex in Collegeâ⬠respectively. These chapters provide the details on the relationships and sexual experiences and habits of the students. Moffat found that students fell into several groups including those who were involved with more conservative and traditional monogamous, heterosexual relationships that involved love and affection. This was the largest group. Others fell in to the groups of experiments and those having some casual relationships that involved sex. This group, for the most part included those who arrived at college more experienced sexually. à Moffat grouped the students into several distinct types in terms of sexual activity. These included; neotraditional, romantic, experimental, radical, liberal and the nonheterosexual population. He was clear to note however, that every student or pair of students involved with a relationship were different, with their own set of idiosyncrasies. Most however, were interested in committed, consensual, heterosexual relationships. Orgies, no matter what the movies and pop culture may imply, were not at all the norm on the college campus. E also found that for most students, their schedule was o busy and the conflicting schedules of their partner or potential partners made sex a rarity for many. Roommates and social issues of community issue further hampered the free love environment one might have expected. The students that reported experimenting with locations such as outside or in classrooms, the library or on the bus seemed driven as much by the lack of privacy as by the desire to be an exhibitionist. The book note that the 1980ââ¬â¢s came with the ability to easily prevent pregnancy with the availability of birth control so sex could be enjoyed more freely than in the past. Still, traditional values and the need for committed relationships held out. The fact that the college dorm was set up like a pseudo family, seems to have resulted in some degree of modesty and restraint. Moffat talks about how students would surely not walk around naked or provocatively in front of each other on the floor openly. Students or dorm mates related to each other to at least some degree, as they would act around siblings and family members in general. Those who did dare to walk to the shower wearing only a towel, for example were made fun of and the comments made were much like the comments one would make to a sibling. These relationship similarity likely resulted n some curbing of the sexual behavior at least among floor mates. Moffatââ¬â¢s book reports the facts and shows data and bell curves and comparisons from the 1970ââ¬â¢s to the 1980ââ¬â¢s. He does not draw a lot of conclusions or cause and effect relationships. That is left for the reader to do if he wishes. The book does seem to indicate that college students are more focused and serious than movies such as Animal House would have one believe. Unfortunately, this book does not address at all the realities of the effects of drugs and alcohol use on college campuses. Living with the students, Moffat did not want to report on issues of substance abuse as he was concerned about the openness of his subjects if they felt that he was potentially a ââ¬Å"narcâ⬠. This dimension however is so important to the living experiences of college students that a glaring hole is the result. Anyone familiar with college living will notice the missing piece of information, particularly for those who lived in college dorms during the 19070ââ¬â¢s and 1980ââ¬â¢s when drug and alcohol use was so much less regulated than it is today The relationship between substance use and sexual activity would have been interesting to note. The issue of traumatic sexual experiences and events linked to alcohol use would likely have been linked. A study today of sexuality on campus, looking at he issue of substance abuse as well as the increased awareness of sexually transmitted diseases would be very interesting to compare to Moffatââ¬â¢s original study.à One would expect that the outcome would be similar to the original study in terms of understanding the relationships between values, morals, family environments and sexuality.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
A Quest for Selfhood Essay Example for Free
A Quest for Selfhood Essay In The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave, Frederick Douglass effectively describes his escapes from slaveholders through his intellectual literacy. In virtue of his experience as an enslaved man, Douglass writes about the abuse he suffers for being African American. He writes his narrative for the general public including slaves, to show the slaveholdersââ¬â¢ wrongdoings. Douglass portrays the demeaning treatment of slaves to express inhumane conditions, which they face repeatedly. Throughout the novel Douglass is able to persuade his readers that slavery is cruel and an immoral act, through the use of visual imagery, situational irony, and formal diction. Through the use of visual imagery, Douglass is able to persuade the public that the physical scars from slave have dehumanizing effects by describing brutality, and human degradation. On one of Douglassââ¬â¢s first accounts, he describes his motherââ¬â¢s death by stating ââ¬Å"I was not allowed to be present during her illness, at her death, or burialâ⬠(Page 18). This incident relates to pathos because it reveals Douglassââ¬â¢s lack of interaction with his mother and the isolation he endures in the early stages of his life, which emotionally draws the reader into realizing the psychological afflictions of slavery. As well as his motherââ¬â¢s passing, Douglass utilizes visual imagery to account for the last days of his frail grandmother: ââ¬Å"If my poor old grandmother now lives, she lives to suffer in utter loneliness; she lives to remember and mourn over the loss of childrenâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Page 56). Douglass exposes how little sympathy slaveholders possess towards slaves. Visual imagery of this incident persuades the reader of slaveryââ¬â¢s savagery because it is clear that Douglass is kept away from the people whom he loves, and is forced to feel nothing but sorrow. Due to the restrictions from slavery, Douglass copes with his aches by describing clear details of the worst days of his life. Likewise, Douglass presents the remorseless treatment of slaves through the use of situational irony. A representation of this is shown within old Barney and young Barney-father and son. He says ââ¬Å"They were frequently whipped when leastà deserving, and escaped whipping when most deserving itâ⬠(Page 30). Douglass explains that living in a constant state of fear, the boys are never safe from severe punishment regardless of doing everything theyââ¬â¢re told. Douglass also uses logos to convince the public that slaveholders are not capable of managing others because they donââ¬â¢t have moral sense. Additionally, Douglass illustrates another situational paradox when he fights back against Mr. Covey: ââ¬Å"From this time I was never again what might be called fairly whipped, though I remained a slave four years afterwards. I had several fights, but was never whippedâ⬠(Page 75). Douglassââ¬â¢s fierce determination for freedom results in respect from his slaveholder, which is unbelievable and contradictory to slavery overall. Because of the situational irony from the events prior, Douglass is able to express how irresponsible slaveholders are to be manipulating slaves. Furthermore, formal diction is most prominent is Douglassââ¬â¢s narrative because it describes most of the details. Despite his restrictions, Douglassââ¬â¢s strong desire for education allows for gains in his knowledge, to which is distinct through his writing skills. Douglassââ¬â¢s intellectual literacy not only distresses the general public towards slavery, but mesmerizes them to conceive the idea on how he made it out alive. A prime example of formal diction is shown when describing Mr. Austin Gore: ââ¬Å"Mr. Hopkins was succeeded by Mr. Austin Gore, a man possessing, in an eminent degree, all those traits of character indispensableâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Page 33) He claims that the first-rate overseer, Mr. Gore is superior and honored because of his highly callous acts. Thus, Douglass is able to address a highly educated audience such as the readers of this academic narrative. He then adds, ââ¬Å"Going to live at Baltimore laid the foundation, and opened the gateway, to all my subsequent prosperityâ⬠(Page 41). In other words, Douglass desperately wishes for freedom, and is able to fulfill his fortune at Baltimore. Formal diction allows Douglass to put his eloquent vocabulary to use. Although Frederick Douglass was an enslaved man, he teaches himself to read and write. He uses his intellectual gains of writing as a way to portray his brutal life, and explains the struggles he goes through to now being Americaââ¬â¢s role as the most famous African American slave. Throughout the narrative, he uses rhetorical devices to personify the thoughts that go through his mind as a slave. He also uses figurative language to vividly illustrate the hardshipsà of being African American with the use of visual imagery, situational irony, and formal diction. These devices also make the tortures of being a slave more understandable and easy to comprehend. His eloquent literacy continues to be relevant in both history and the modern world today.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
The Evolution Of The Food And Beverage Industry Marketing Essay
The Evolution Of The Food And Beverage Industry Marketing Essay The evolution of the food and beverage industry in tandem with restaurants can be said one of the most fundamental inceptions of all time. According to Kiefer (2002, p.58), Paris is often cited as the birthplace of the modern-day restaurant, but restaurants existed long before the French Revolution in other locations when economics and social mores made them feasible. He continues by saying that as of today, there are millions of restaurants across the world that offer variant types of food, services and experiences as opposed to limited scope of the original restaurants (p.58-60). Nonetheless, it is vitally inherent to note that in spite of the monumental positive steps that have been made in this industry over the recent times; much more still needs to be done so that restaurants achieve their full potentiality in the present world (Morgan and Watson, 2007). It is for this reason that there has been an increasingly popular need for marketing of restaurants in particular and food industry in general. In respect to that, Warden and Martens (1998) say that over the recent times, Marketing and advertising have developed as industrial applications of socio-scientific techniques of data gathering and analysis for the purpose of selling commodities. And in order to do this marketing, it is fundamental to establish the important precepts that of restaurants so as to adequately plan do the marketing. It is for this reason that this dissertation proposal focuses on concisely outlining the roles that food and experience play in marketing. Then based on the findings whic h are drawn from a wide range of write-ups by numerous authors; we will be able to know which of the two precepts (food and experience) should be increasingly used by restaurants owners to market their food joints in their websites. Aims and objectives of the proposal To establish which of the two precepts (food and experience) is most important and intrinsic in website marketing of a restaurant to its targeted public. To find other essential contributing factors that concurrently complement the roles of food and experience in the marketing of a restaurant through a website. To investigate how food and experience are represented on restaurant website for their promotion. To determine how competition may be handled in restaurant marketing website for food and experience. Notably, all the above aims and objectives are based on the literature reviewed below. 3.0Literature Review Web marketing has become very important in our modern world of new technology. Web marketing also known as internet marketing, online marketing, digital marketing or e-marketing is defined as marketing which is probably done through the e-mail and media which is wireless. Electronic customer relationship management system is considered as internet marketing. Media is placed in varying stages of customer circles referred to as circles of customer engagement using search engines. Marketing reports show that 80% of customers use internet search to locate for restaurants located locally. An estimated 50% of the customers view menus, reviews, pictures in the internet to locate for restaurants. Companies need to have well and easily navigated restaurant websites to market themselves locally and nationally. The main objective is to ensure the web site should increase the number of customers and increase the sales. A restaurant company that faces stiff competition can use websites to earn reputation in the market. Social networking is effective tool in marketing restaurants. Marketing specialist or the owner can prepare a blog containing the recent trends in the restaurant. Book marking is used to create a large online space for the restaurant. Company can create a review site and pay some people to comment negatively or positively about the restaurant. Customers feel honored when given a chance to voice out their ideas and thoughts about the restaurant. This can attract customers to the hotel because they think they are stake holders of the restaurant. News letters can be printed to depict the restaurants latest advertising, promotional and performance trends. Customers will tell others about the restaurant and reduce extra costs of advertising because advertising by word of mouth is very important in the field of business. Companies should hire marketing firms to market their restaurants online. Clear details of the restaurant should be provided online. They include menu offerings, telephone number, and address and restaurants history. Many people visit the website nowadays and your restaurant can attract people from different regions of the world. The restaurants website can be made available both offline and online. Changes to the restaurants web site should be made gradually. 3.1 Advantages of online restaurant marketing Cheap as compared to traditional methods of advertising like use of radio, news papers, magazines and bill boards. Reaches so many customers world wide using the internet. Quick and effective for customers who frequently use the internet. Helpful in reducing competition among other restaurants using web marketing. 3.2 Disadvantages of online restaurant marketing In applicable when customers dont have access to internet services. Failure to frequently update restaurant web site may lead to trailing performance. Lack of enough information about the restaurant may make marketing and advertising in effective. 3.3 Website analysis 10 Steps are followed in order to analyze a web site. Understand the purpose of the website immediately. Navigate through the website quickly and when you are lost then exit the web. Find out whether the website is attractive. Look on how white space page is displayed. Website covered with images means that the legibility is bare. Navigate and find out where you are there and why. Typography should be clear througho8ut the website search. Website should be well organized with invisible grids provided underneath. When the content is placed in all part of the page then it means the designer had been lost in the designing of the web. Colors used in designing the website should be used in alignment with the content. Colors that are not interesting to the viewer of the website make the design to fail. The design of the website should be consistency from the start to the end of the page. The website should be designed in a way that is compatible to the browser whether internet explorer or fires fox. Website should be created fast and light so as to ensure easy and quick browsing without waiting for minutes for the page to be displayed. 4.0Research Methodology 4.1 Content analysis of the website chosen Under this section we shall use an example of a website of Steve restaurant in Toronto. The website is www.steves restaurant.ca. The website among many others discussed is very explicit and shows all the details in the web page. In order for a restaurant to succeed in internet marketing the website should be very attractive. Steves restaurant website has a clear purpose for the business activity to be carried. When we look at the displayed page the hotel building is clearly drawn and written with words which are inscribed in red color.Steves Restaurant The content is not paced in all the part of the page but here are spaces underneath. The website is easily navigable and the pages are consistent from the beginning to the end. The colors used in the pages especially when you browse to the menu page are very attractive. When you look at the costs of meat, eggs and pancake all appear in different colors ranging from red, blue, yellow, and white. Pages are light and fast to open and a person does not wait for long to be displayed. Topography is clear and the website is compatible to the users of internet explorer and Mozilla fire fox. A restaurant which can afford to develop a website like the one discussed a above then it is in a good position to market itself both internationally and locally. It can increase sells and the flow of the customers within the region of operation. 4.2 Reliability and validity Because Steves restaurant has been in operation since 1946 in Toronto in the U.S then any other hotelier or a business exercutitive can create a website which is clear and professional like that of Steve. The menu, home page, map, info, photos, contest and contact us are well displayed. Telephone numbers are provided on top of the first page. Images of tables, chairs and small tomato sauce bottles are shown. The restaurant looks to be located in a busy street with people moving up and down. The building appears greyish in colour and the area is cool with enough shade. 4.3 Limitations to research To arrive at a discussed website for a given restaurant is very hard because you first ask yourself whether to create your own website or to look for examples of websites that have been created following the crucial ten steps for web design. Some pages providing clear website designs may not open therefore derailing the research exercise. It is costly to carry out an internet search especially in regions where internet cyber cafes are few. 4.4Conclusion Internet marketing especially for food and beverage providers is important. Most restaurants especially in the developed countries should hire qualified web designers to design restaurant websites. Websites should be changed after a given time to make them look a new to increase the customer base.Owers that dont recognize internet marketing especially in the United states, England, Spain, France and others need to change their business marketing altitudes and adopt modern ways of online marketing. Food has more weight than experience and excellent advertising and marketing functions should be addressed online.
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