How Jane Yolen’s perspective on personal discovery is conveyed in Briar Rose Essay

Jane Yolen places strong emphasis on the notion of personal discovery which becomes the fundamental message in the text ‘Briar Rose’. Yolen sets the protagonist, Rebecca Berlin on a quest of personal discovery, a quest which is strongly connected to the past, a past which takes its roots in the holocaust. Yolen captivates the responder through the utilisation of the sophisticated language techniques: allegory, narrative structure, and multiple narrative voices to convey the significance of personal discovery. Yolen embedded personal discovery as a core theme in the text to convey strong views on personal discovery through the use of allegory to drive the story along giving it a sense of realism. Gemma’s telling and retelling of the fairy tale is a constant feature in the text. â€Å"I curse you Briar Rose, I curse you† This quote demonstrates Rebecca’s lack of comprehension of the fairy tale, a fairy tale Becca grew up listening to as an adult, it em barks on a journey which takes its roots in America and leads to Poland and enables Becca to unveil the fairy tale. It is through her solemn pledge that Becca commences her personal discovery and quest for her identity. As she commences her quest to personal discovery she begins to unveil the fairy tale which is Gemma’s allegory of the horrific events in the Jewish holocaust that impacted millions of Jews, who suffered at the hands of the Nazi’s. Yolen has successfully interwoven the allegorical structure in the narrative to convey the significance of personal discovery. Yolen has successfully demonstrated the technique of multiple narrative voices to illustrate her strong views on personal discovery. It is through the intertwining of the voices of Gemma, Josef Potocki and Rebecca that the truth behind Gemma’s past is unveiled. In particular the narration of Potocki brings the horrors inflicted on the Jews to the forefront of the personal discovery. â€Å"It was enormous, full of shadows: shadows of arms, of legs, of heads thrown back, mouths open in silenced screams.† Yolen captures the horrors expounded on the Jews effectively and makes the responder shiver with fear at the evil enaxed by the Nazi soldiers. Potocki’s voice/narrative brings Becca closer to unveiling the mystery of Gemma’s non-existent past. Josef’s account explicitly detailing the horrors of the holocaust is  juxtaposed against Gemma’s fairytale, alluding to the fact that such horrors are hard to articulate by the victims. In Briar Rose, Yolen has strongly conveyed personal discovery through impact and importance of one’s knowledge of family history to understanding an individual’s identity. Yolen has fundamentally embedded repetitive dialogue to positively convey personal discovery. Becca’s journey on persona discovery is initiated by her resolute promise on Gemma’s death bed to find the castle in the quote where Gemma recites â€Å"Promise me you will find the castle. â€Å"Promise me you’ll find the prince. Promise me you will find the maker of the spells.† The repetition of â€Å"promise† is captivatingly utilised to emphasise and enable the responder to understand the significance of the pledge. The composer effectively portrays this through Becca’s tone when she says â€Å"I’m going to solve it†¦ The riddle and the mystery†¦ I’m going to find the castle and the prince and reclaim our heritage.† It is the resol ve with which Becca makes the pledge that the responder comes to realise the significance of the pledge and that it is a central message to the novel and through this single event that personal discovery is set into motion. This quest of personal discovery is reinforced and intensified by Becca’s determination and strong bond with her grandmother and allows the responders to acknowledge that it is the driving force behind her ambition and enduring perseverance to discover the truth within the enigma of the fairy tale. Yolen establishes the close connection through Gemma’s praise of Becca’s devotion to the fairy tale when she says â€Å"you always understand† a trait that makes the responders find Becca appealing. This has significantly influenced her choices and actions, as she embarks on the quest of personal discovery with the given secret wooden box that has ‘briar’ and a rose carved on its lid (symbolism and repetition of the rose) and filled with Gemma’s possessions inside in order to reclaim Gemma’s heritage. Yolen has successfully demonstrated personal discovery through the use of repetition in the text Briar Rose. Yolen has purposefully made Becca the heroine more appealing than her sisters Shana and Sylvia. Yolen has effectively demonstrated the importance of personal discovery in the text Briar Rose by embedding numerous sophisticated language techniques in her novel. The personal discovery undertaken by Becca, leads her to the core of the  holocaust, and brings to the forefront the experience of Gemma; Yolen uses the fairytale to create a sense of good versus bad, good versus evil. Yolen through Becca makes the responder realise the significance of personal discovery. The words of Stan aptly sum Yolen’s views on personal discovery- ‘What is past is prologue’

Image of Nursing Essay

Every nurse should be concerned with the overall image of nursing. Nursing is considered to be the most trusted, honest and ethical profession. The media and the public will continually critique how nurses perform in and out of the clinical setting. Nursing protocols and guidelines have shaped nurses into professionals who have a great deal of knowledge and experience in their particular field. The image of nursing has changed a lot over the years and each nurse has a personal responsibility to maintain a positive overall image (Gambrell, 2004). Nurses should ask themselves how to confront and address the negative images of nursing. We need to be aware of how our appearance affects the delivery of healthcare. Tattoos, piercings and scrubs are very influential in the eyes of the patient and their families. Popular TV shows also portray nurses in a certain way that could cause common misconceptions. In recent years more males have been entering the nursing field and are taking on more duties as role models and mentors who are admired and respected (Hoeve, 2013). Nurses should incorporate communication, collaboration, critical thinking and clinical judgment into every aspect of their job. These qualities should begin in school and will hopefully remain with the nurse for the entirety of their career. Every single nurse is ultimately responsible for how the profession of nursing is  viewed. The â€Å"image† of nursing is very subjective and therefore, no absolute definition exits. The majority of a nurse’s work is invisible to all except the patients, their families and the organizations they work for. We’re always being watched and a positive attitude can go a long way in the eyes of the patients and their families. Nurses traditionally don’t have a strong relationship with the media. They tend to focus more on human-interest stories rather than professional abilities. By publicly sharing aspects of our jobs we are then able to enhance the public’s image of nursing. The image of nursing will successfully be enhanced because we will be seen as professionals who care for each other and support one another’s professional growth . I believe that every nurse, from new grads to clinical nurse 4’s, is absolutely responsible for the overall image of nursing. Public opinion shapes political agendas. Because public opinion is often based on inaccurate images, nurses must participate in the public arena to shape our image (Gambrell, 2004). Nurses are not given due recognition for the skills they have by the majority of the public. The essence of nursing is not always clear and nurses still suffer from many stereotypes including gender. The media often depict nurses working at the patient’s bedside and performing repetitive and routine tasks, mostly as the doctor’s handmaiden. The public image of nurses does not always match their professional image; nurses are not depicted as autonomous professionals and the public is not aware that nowadays nursing is to a great extent a theory-based and scholarly profession (Hoeve, 2013). As nurses, we should always strive to uphold a positive public image, self-concept and professional identity. The self-concept of nurses and their professional identity are determined by many factors, including public image, work environment, work values, education and culture. A negative public image may challenge nurses to look for successful strategies to improve their self-concept and to show their invaluable contribution to the healthcare system. I’m very proud to be in this field. References Gambrell, M. (2004). Improving Our Image a Nurse at a Time. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 33(10), 510-511. Hoeve, Y. T., Jansen, G., & Roodbol, P. (2013). The nursing profession: public image, self-concept and professional identity. A discussion paper. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(2), 295-309.

Growing Fungi and Bacteria of Plants

Introduction There are both virulent and non-virulent bacteria and fungi that grow on plants. It is difficult to distinguish between the two without proper inspection and diagnosis of the diseased plant to know whether the bacteria or the fungus in question is the virulent or non-virulent one. Therefore pure cultures need to be isolated to know with absolute certainty which is the causative bacteria or fungus. Potato dextrose agar is a good nutrient agar for mycelia to thrive on which is present in most fungal moulds. Standard nutrient agar is a general utility used for non-fastidious microorganisms. 2 Aim The aim is to isolate fungi and bacteria colonies from diseased and healthy leaves. Materials and Methods Materials used for the experiment was two of each: standard nutrient agar plate and potato dextrose agar plate. To remove any epiphytic or saprophytic microbes from the plant surface the leaf is superficially sterilized with 100% ethanol. A scalpel to cut the leafSterile water for macerating the leaves. To isolate the fungi: Cut 5 pieces of leaf from the diseased leaf around the edges of the diseased area so it contains both healthy and diseased parts, place it on the one potato dextrose agar plate. Then cut 5 pieces from the healthy leaf and place them on the second dextrose agar plates. To isolate bacteria: Macerate both the healthy and diseased leaves separately in the sterile water and streak it onto the two separate standard nutrient agar plate.Incubate all four plates at 25? C for up to 7 days. Discussion There is growth on both the healthy and diseased agar plates for both bacteria and fungi. For the healthy fungal plate there is a single type of growth which suggests that it is a natural non-pathogenic fungus that grows on plants. On the diseased plants there are 5 different colonies of fungus from the 5 different pieces of leaves. The one area has a clear zone where the fungus has inhibited the growth of the other colonies.On the healthy bacteria l plate there is some bacterial growth which can also suggest non-pathogenic bacteria that grows on plants. On the diseased plant bacterial plate there is some bacterial growth but not a lot and still fungal growth. Conclusion The lack of bacterial colonies on the bacterial plate and the fungal growth on the same plate suggests that the disease on the plant is caused by a fungal pathogen and not a bacterial one. There are fungi and bacteria that grow on plants that are not harmful towards the plant. ?

Enzyme Amylase Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Enzyme Amylase - Lab Report Example An enzyme is a protein-based catalyst that raises the reaction rate of a reaction by lowering the activation energy needed for that reaction. It is not used up in the process. It is hypothesized that the enzyme activity changes when various parameters such as temperature, pH and the concentration of the enzyme are changed. Materials: The materials used were: 400 mL beakers, thermometers, hot plate, ice, 1% starch solution, 2 grams of soluble starch, iodine in dropper bottles, buffer solutions with pH levels of 4, 7 and 10, well (spot) plate labeled 1, 2, 3 and 4, saliva (amylase) solution, test tube rack, test tubes, droppers, a 10 mL graduated cylinder and water squirters. Method: a) Reference color A few drops of 1% starch solution were placed on a spot plate. One drop of iodine was added to the spot. The color that formed was taken to be the reference color. b) Effect of concentration. A 400 mL beaker was half-filled with water and then warmed to 37?C. The temperature was kept con stant at 37?C. Saliva was collected in a disposable tube. 4 mL of 1% starch solution was placed in a test tube. This tube was placed in the water bath for five minutes. In spot plate 1, no spit was added, in plate 2, one drop of saliva was added, in plate 3, three drops of saliva were added and in plate 4, five drops of saliva were added. Eight drops of 1% starch solution were then added to each well plate. ... The plate was then rinsed with water and the test repeated twice after intervals of 5 and 10 minutes. After each test, the observations made were recorded. A graph of the enzyme activity against the amount of amylase at 10 minutes was then plotted. c) Effect of temperature. 1 mL of 1% starch solution was placed in two test tubes. One of these tubes was placed in a water bath with boiling water and the other in an ice bath. 1 mL of the 1% starch solution used in method a) above was placed in a test tube. This test tube was then placed in a water bath with a temperature of 37?C. The three tubes were left in the baths for 10 minutes. The temperatures of the baths were then recorded. Two drops of saliva were placed in 3 well plates and then one drop of iodine added to each plate. Four drops of the 1% starch solution in the test tube contained in the ice bath were added to one spot, another four drops of the starch solution in the test tube contained in the water bath at 37?C were added t o the second spot, and finally four drops of the starch solution in the test tube contained in the water bath with boiling water were added to the third spot. The observations made were recorded and a graph of enzyme activity against temperature plotted. d) Effect of pH 2 mL of each of the three buffer solutions (with pH levels of 4, 7 and 10) was placed in separate test tubes. 2 mL of 1% starch solution was then placed in three other test tubes. All the test tubes were then placed in a water bath with a temperature of 37?C for five minutes. The three 1% starch solutions were then poured into three buffer solutions and then mixed thoroughly. The test tubes with the mixtures were then returned to the water bath. Three drops of spit were placed in three spot plates. Using clean droppers,

Business Models and Planning Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Models and Planning - Case Study Example The restaurants are intended to serve medium and high income community. It fits into the busy lives of the community by offering quick foods at premium prices. It will be open on weekends and late night. The primary target for RFD is the medium and high income earners. This group includes household that have an average annual income of above $50000 and reside in urban neighborhoods (Lassiter & Roberts, 1998). It is assumed that this group has a high propensity to consume desserts and other services offered by the restaurant. The target market resides in multiunit houses in uptown areas. Such populations are in California, Texas, New York City and several other Cities and States in the country. Most Dessert users are aged between 25-54. The group is comprised of people who are working and attend outside events such as parties, dinners and theaters. As such, they have a sizeable amount of disposable income and are willing to consume if they come across an RFD restaurant. People attending night events are highly likely to enter a restaurant for refreshments. The restaurant will differentiate itself from others based on human resource, quality, and service. The restaurant will ensure that its staff are trained in specific products and services offered by the restaurant. All workers are required to pursue further studies on baking, pastry, and hospitality. Also, staff members are given a chance to practice their skills. Quality is emphasized in the restaurant. The restaurant specializes in making desserts. As such, efforts are concentrated towards ensuring the best desserts. Unlike other restaurants, RFD desserts are not frozen for future sales. The desserts are prepared daily to enhance their freshness and hence customer satisfaction (Lassiter & Roberts, 1998). RFD also offers customized services to its regular customers. In fact, the restaurant stores data relating to its loyal customers. Thus, loyal customers can enjoy

Discussion questions for Managing Diversity Class (third week) Essay

Discussion questions for Managing Diversity Class (third week) - Essay Example However, The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 completely changed the situation and made it possible for people with incurable diseases to get a job. In order to get the treatment you need it is important to know your rights well. In fact millions of discriminated workers don’t know their rights. For example, people who work for companies with 14 or fewer people are not protected by federal law. Those people who work for the federal government also can not be protected by this act. There are several ways the act protects the rights of people with incurable diseases. There were lots of obstacles that kept people with some disabilities from full participation in a social life and that was intended to be break down by the Congress. In order to combat discrimination, Congress enacted The Civil Rights Act of 1964. In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an employer had no right to hire or fire any employee or to discriminate against him/her basing on his/her race, color, religious beliefs or origin. In general, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became a basis for further legal and moral pillars of America. Non-discriminative principles (either racial or gender) became the core issues for legal principles of America. Further extension of the scope of issue covered in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 concerned conditions of equal employment opportunity (the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, 1972). This signified a perspective promotion of civil rights in America. Moreover, further amendments were made in 1978 in the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Thus pregnant women could be neither fired nor discriminated in employment-related issues. Statistics of 2009 fiscal year provides the following figures: 33,579 complaints of race discrimination were received by EEOC, 28,028 related to sex discrimination and 3,386 reports of discrimination caused by religious discrimination. 11,134

Deliberative Nursing Process Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Deliberative Nursing Process Model - Essay Example This theory is based on nurse-patient interaction and primarily emphasizes the fulfillment of immediate needs of the patients. Ida Jean Orlando is a significant contributor to the development of theoretical nursing knowledge. According to Fitzpatrick and Whall (1989) and Marriner-Tomey (1989), Orlando was born August 12, 1926. In 1947, she received a diploma in nursing from New York Medical College, Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital School of Nursing. She received a B. S. degree in Public Health Nursing from St. Johns University in Brooklyn, New York, in 1951, and an M. A. in Mental health Consultation from Columbia University Teacher's College, in New York in 1954. While pursuing her education Orlando was employed as a staff nurse in obstetrical, medical, surgical and emergency nursing. After receiving her master's degree in 1954, Orlando went to the Yale University School of Nursing in New Haven, Connecticut, for eight years. As an associate professor of mental health and psychiatric nursing at Yale, she was awarded a federal grant and became a research associate and the principal project investigator of a National Institute of Mental Health Institute of the United States Public Health Service's grant entitled "Integration of Mental Health Concepts in a Basic Curriculum". The project sought to identify those factors relevant to the integration of psychiatric-mental health principles into the nursing curriculum. The project consisted of an analysis of 2000 nurse-patient interactions. Her conceptual nursing model evolved from the analysis of this four-year NIMH project and appeared in her first book, The Dynamic Nurse-Patient Relationship: Function, Process and Principles, published in 1961. (Fitzpatrick and Whall, 1989) From 1972 to 1981, Orlando lectured, served as a consultant and conducted numerous workshops across the United States. In 1981, she accepted a position of nurse educator for Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham, Massachusetts. In 1987, she became the assistant director for nursing education and research at Metropolitan State Hospital. (Morriner-Tomey, 1989) From 1962-72, Orlando served as a clinical nurse consultant at McClean Hospital in Elmont, Massachusetts and reported ten years of research at the hospital in her second book, The Discipline and Teaching of Nursing Process: An Evaluative Study. (George, 1990) As indicated previously, based on her psychiatric-mental health nursing education and practice, Orlando inductively proposed her conceptual nursing model in her first book The Dynamic Nurse-Patient Relationship: Function, Process and Principles, published in 1961. II. Analysis of Theory A. Theory Model-Deliberative Nursing Process This theory model is based upon immediate needs of the patients. Orlando assumes that nursing process initiates with the behavior of the patient. This patient behavior is further explained by her as an indication of the need of assistance from the patient and it may be verbal or non verbal. Such needs indication impacts nurse's response how she recognizes this need, employs her

Film Analysis - The Joy Luck Club - Prajakta Kanegaonkar Essay

Film Analysis - The Joy Luck Club - Prajakta Kanegaonkar - Essay Example Going ahead this becomes a major point of clash between the two generations, none comprehending and understanding other’s view point. For the women in the film ‘The Joy Luck Club’ we see this struggle going on constantly. In this essay based on the film, we are going to analyse this clash of culture as strong as generation gap and how the women in the film try to bridge the gap in the relations with the help of their values and cultures. This film is based on the novel by Amy Tan by the same name. This was completed and released in the year 1993 and received critical as well as mainstream acclaim. This movie and the book is based on the lives of four Chinese women who came to America because of some or the other reason and settled there. They came together and found the club called ‘The Joy Luck Club’ indicating that they would always find joy and happiness wherever they go and would not let circumstances affect them. The story could have happened any where in this world. Howsoever torn we are with the extreme circumstances around us we don’t give up and nor should we. The name of the club in itself is an indicator of the ever going hopeful attitude of the ladies who have formed the club. There are many stories that go on at the same time in the film. Unlike the book the director of the film has to make choices about which character to bring to surface and which one should relegate at the background. Irrespective of a few characters going in the background the weave of the story is not loosened. In fact all these characters contribute to the protagonist’s sketch very beautifully. The purpose of including Jing-Mei in the club is to tell her about her half-sisters in China, whom her mother longed to be reunited with all her life. The seamless flow of the story begins at this point. The story is not about Jing-Mei fulfilling her mother’s last wish. The story narrates the highs and lows of her relationship with h er mother, of broken moments, of tears and joys and most importantly of discovering her mother all over again. The story ends with Jing-Mei meeting her sisters and introducing them the mother they never had. The journey of a relation begins with self-discovery and acceptance of our own self and then the closed ones around us as they are. This journey is portrayed beautifully in the book but is also conveyed with same passion by the actors through their excellent acting and by the powerful media of cinema. The movie impacts the audience as much as the impact caused by the book on the reader. History and traditions are carried forward by the women of the society all around the world. This handing over happens seamlessly through stories, through teachings of pride, memories and is blended beautifully in the upbringing of the children. When we go through the stories of the club members, it becomes increasingly apparent that the cultural gaps between America and China would never be full y reconciled. The question arises when women in the film are trying to blend into a new culture of individualism, freedom of speech and decisions and free thought they are unable to let go of their Chinese ties and traditions. Surprisingly each of them has been a direct or indirect victim of the same ties and tradition. The daughters Jing-Mei, Lena, Waverly and Rose are all American women, because they don’t want to be a part of their Chinese heritage. This is what worries the mothers in the club, while their trying to preserve the Chinese traditions

STD Education Campaign Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

STD Education Campaign - Case Study Example 4. Public education: The campaign should be able to teach the students how transmission of STDs occurs and the potential preventive measures. The campaign should also teach the students the importance of knowing ones HIV status. Hygiene should also be part of the teaching during sexual activities (Aral, Fenton, & Lipshutz, 2013). 5. Promoting openness: Most of the people that have contracted STDs feel shy to seek doctors’ help. The campaign team should make the students understand that keeping STD as a secret is risky to an individual’s life. They should be encouraged to seek a doctor’s help as soon as they realize some of the symptoms. By doing that cure would be easier than waiting for the disease to worsen. 6. STD patients care: During the campaign‚, the students should accomplish services such as STD, HIV and pregnancy test. The campaign team should advance health care to STD, HIV and Pregnant patients. Moreover, the team should provide the patients with medicine to fasten the healing process and preventive process. 7. Motivating the students; Notably, students would always appreciate and remain motivated when given gifts. For a student, issuance of a participation certificate could be the most precious thing in the campaign. The certificate would assist them remember the teachings about STD and act as a professional

The Negative Impacts of Tourism on Egyptian Culture Research Paper

The Negative Impacts of Tourism on Egyptian Culture - Research Paper Example There has been a substantial growth of the tourism sector in Egypt due to massive tourists visiting the country. Despite the numerous benefits brought about by the tourism sector, there are also several challenges. This paper will evaluate the impacts of tourism on Egyptian culture. It presents a brief introduction of the state of tourism in the country, discuses some benefits brought about by the sector, as well as the need to curtail tourism in Egypt, especially because of the negative impacts it is having on Egyptian culture. Introduction For the last two hundred years, tourism has been an important component in Egypt’s economy. In addition, tourism for the last generation has become an important part of the economy, which contributes about 45 percent of the country’s yearly foreign currency earnings. To improve the infrastructure to the required standards, there has been a very significant investment by both the public and by the private sectors in addition to all t he budgetary planning by the Egyptian government. This is because of the assumption that there is need for this infrastructure to hold an ever-growing number of tourists. As a result, there is an annual expenditure of millions of dollars to encourage and promote tourism especially in the neighboring Arab countries, which now represent a growing segment of the Egyptian tourist market (Icomos, 71). Because of the thriving roads, trade, and economy in general, there was massive expansion of the travel industry. For instance, there was a rise in the number of transit customers through Egypt from 275 in 1844 to 3,000 in 1847. To cater for the outstanding increase in the number of travelers between the years 1848 – 1879, the government began to issue regulations and organize the services given to the travelers, who spent about ?60-?80 during three months stay in Egypt. Tour guide (TG) was among the first services to emerge immediately because of the expansion of the travelling indu stry. The tour guide became the intermediary between the region and the visitors (El-Sharkawy, 78). The Egyptians have been able to carry out easy market promotion for a long time because of the Egypt famous historical heritage sites. However, when the marine resort tourism became the main tourism product in the 1990s there was change in conditions. Consequently, Egypt has to compete with its competitor countries in many features, for example service level and price, in the marine resort market. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a suitable market promotion plan (Rady, 2). Impacts of Tourism in Egypt Tourism has an important effect to the society. Among the direct economic gains of tourism are augment of foreign exchange earnings, contribution to government revenues, income generation and generation of employment. In addition, tourism offers indirect effects on the economic sectors, for instance fisheries, agriculture, construction and handicraft manufacturing, which provide the goods and services for the tourism sector. Moreover, tourism offers other facilities and services that promote the economic and cultural development of the community in the region for example the improvement of transportation and other infrastructure (Rady, 26). Tourism in Egypt is peculiar on the types of travel and cross-cultural transactions including religious and intellectual pilgrimages, colonialism and imperialism, archaeology, anthropology, and more, which for centuries have been important components in building Egyptian national subjectivities and identities. The basis of the Western tourism is an imagination of an ancient Egypt scattered with the excavated monuments of a pharaonic past. On the other hand, the West’

Tornadoes in the United States Essay Example for Free

Tornadoes in the United States Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From the natural definition of tornado usually connotes a vortex of air that rapidly rotates and progress its contact with the ground. The rapidly circulating winds are very much capable of causing damage vast damage as a natural disaster. A tornado can move over a surface with few objects to be picked up and swirled about or you may not be able to see all the way to the surface beneath a funnel cloud because of intervening hills, trees, or buildings. Usually, the manifestations of these funnel clouds are already considered as indications of tornadoes, unless these manifestations are certain not to contact the ground[1]. The stretching that ultimately leads to tornado formation is due to the upward acceleration of the air at the base of the updraft[2]. Most manifestations of tornado illustrate extreme cyclonic force due to the effect called Corriolis, which connotes a counterclockwise movement of air in the northern hemisphere while the opposite direction of air’s movement in the south of equator. Anti-cyclonic tornadoes (clockwise-spinning in the northern hemisphere) have been observed[3]. Tornadoes most prominently manifest from the right side of air movement and the progress ahead from the storm center path as it touches the shores. In this discussion, the primary subject concerns with the occurrence and formation of tornadoes. The study tackles the principles comprising the formation of tornado in order to answer the main inquiry of the study. After which, the study analyzes the effects of tornado occurrence in the environment and the individuals in the perspective of its damaging effects. Lastly, the study covers the frequency of tornadoes in the United States and the most prominent parts in which tornadoes occur. Discussion Formation of Tornadoes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although the process by which tornadoes form is not completely understood, scientific research has revealed that tornadoes usually form under certain types of atmospheric conditions. The technology and studies in predicting the tornadoes’ occurrences are presently utilized by weather experts to eventually obtain even a crude prediction for tornadoes occurrences. Weather forecast can at least provide crude predictions for the occurrence of tornado, but this information can go inaccurate due to the wide scale of outside factors influencing the tornado’s characteristics[4]. However, even with continuous and vast studies being made to further understand the behavior of these tornadoes, predicting the occurrence of weather even with crude indications are still impossible[5]. Some predictions even fall into inaccuracy at times wherein those areas with less frequent tornadoes are being populated more than those areas with predictions of tornado occurrence but with little or no manifestation of the phenomenon.   Tornadoes, rather than being spread uniformly, as the case for solid body rotation, most of the vorticity and the ascent within the interior of the tornado vortex tend to become concentrated within a narrow ring, just inside the radius of strongest winds. Under certain conditions, this ring of extremely high vorticity can break down into multiple vortices, whose signatures are clearly evident in the situations of aerial debris[6]. In fact, nature’s most violent storms are usually quite small and localized. They are generated, shaped and dominated by powerful winds that whirl around a small area of extremely low pressure, creating a revolving storm with the characteristic swirling, funnel-shaped clouds[7].   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The easiest way to estimate the size of a tornado is by the size of the damage path. Usually, the common type of tornado’s path is from one to two miles wherein the width exceeds up to 50 yards. So far, the largest width the ever recorded accounts to one mile, while the smallest is considered 10 yards[8]. Tornado is formed and driven by a very low pressure winds present at its very core low pressure as its centre, which is often as much as 100mb lower than in the surrounding air. This scenario creates an overly steep pressure gradient that sucks in surrounding air and generates high wind speeds. The usual speed of the wind is in excess of 300 km/h are commonly present in Tornadoes. Geostrophic winds blow clockwise around tornadoes in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Southern hemisphere[9]. The widths of the tornadoes can vary during depending on the circulation of wind and other factors influencing their occurrences, because the size of the tornado can alter considerably during its lifetime. On other hand, the length of tornadoes’ path varies from the single point or the point of origin to more than 100 miles. The rotation in the tornadic supercell storm builds up gradually for a several hours, but the progression of the tornado itself usually occurs in much more speed than the usual expectation[10]. Typical tornado lifetimes are usually on the order of tens of minutes during which time move with the storm[11]. Most tornadoes have a diameter of less than a few hundred meters. A narrow rotating column of air that blows around a more or less vertical axis of low pressure and moves across the surface of the land is frequently described as a whirlwind[12]. The development of these Doppler radars provided a means for weather forecasters to at least obtain the status of characteristics, and event he chances of tornado for at least under circumstances. The National Weather Service has strategically located Doppler radars across the country which can detect air movement toward or away from the radar[13]. Detecting the progress of rotation within the tornadoes can enable the weather experts to determine and provide appropriate life-saving procedures. Most tornadoes eventually become surrounded by cooler, less buoyant downdraft air a the flanking line or rear flank gust front wraps around the mesocyclone, reminiscent of the way in which the cold air wraps around an occluding extratropical cyclone. As the mature tornado and its associated mesocyclne weaken and die, a new mesocyclone may form along the gust front, setting the stage for the formation of second tornado[14]. Somehow, studies have arrived to the most frequent time ranges when tornadoes usually occur; however, the accuracy of these time frames still vary according to other external factors, such as area, topographical location, climatic shifts, presence of storms, seasonal variations, etc. Tornadoes usually occur during late afternoon or early evening. They are most frequent during late spring or early summer[15]. A series of climatic cycles and transformations is thought to be the primary theory to support the ground basis for the formation of tornadoes. During its early phase, the initial event starts with the drying of cool air starts to meet up with the drying war air. In this sense, the air continuously overlaps with each other until humid air arises on the surface.   Progressing to the next phase, the warmer air begins to settle in the lower altitudes in order to increase the temperature inversion, which comprises of warm, dry stratum above moist or humid air surface layer. Due to the continuous advection or the horizontal airflow, the atmospheric changes under the temperature inversion continue to warm and moisturize. As the sun heats the air at the ground surface, it starts to ascend and cool, which then forms a large cumulonimbus clouds[16]. With tornado’s unpredictable character, tornadoes and the system for its formation are still being critically studied. So far, the studies have revealed the usual occurrence of tornado resides in isolated incidents or in great numbers along a storm front. In extreme cases, these tornadoes can even generate more than 300 miles (483 kilometers) per hour and may travel over 200 miles; the average tornado is much weaker and lasts for 5 to 10 minutes on the ground and traveling 2 to 5 miles[17]. A whirling mass of cloud and debris beneath a roiling sky is a truly awesome and frightening sight. The twisting winds inside a tornado average between 100 and 150 miles per hour, but some storms generate winds in excess of 200 miles per hour[18]. After which, a cold front settles in within the temperature inversion and force the surface air up through it into the cool air above. In this phase, the growth of the clouds progress rapidly although substantial in form but does not extend above the tropopause. In this scenario, a jet stream is being produced, which moves air away from the top of the cloud and convection occurs beneath it, making the storm more intense[19]. After this phase, the tornado is likely now to develop most especially if the position and curves of the jet stream is in very favorable condition. In addition, for a tornado to form, these should be enough air to flow into the bottom of the storm, which usually coincide with the tailing hail. This initiates the descending of the cold air produced in the initial phase, which somehow help to stimulate convection current and energy transfers. Finally, tailing hail and descending cold air initiate the production and initiation of convection of currents and energy transfers. Static electricity is now produced, which consequently aids on the development of the vortex present in the tornado’s body[20]. Effects of Tornadoes on Environment and People   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   People and properties are usually threatened by the massive entrance of high wind speeds around the tornado, which tornadoes move across the ground. Many tornadoes move at speeds of between 150 and nearly 500 km causing massive damage in the area that it passes by. Fast-progressing tornadoes cannot be outrun, and people caught in their path are generally advised to shelter or drive away at right angles to the narrow tornado track[21]. The intensity and duration of tornadoes greatly affect the rate of damage done by this disaster to the path it passes by and the environment to which it occurred. They have vast destructive impacts on the land in which they touch whether it is city, town, country, ocean or forest. The effects of tornadoes on forests are similar to that of hurricanes wherein the strong downward circulating motions of the wind alter the composition of forest stands[22]. In emphasizing tornadoes effects in financial losses of the community, approximately $5 million a year (compared with $200 million for urban drought) is spent to provide and improve warning systems and to construct tornado shelters or storm cellars[23]. The government is ready to spend this amount of funds for the preventive preparations in order to further warn their citizens of the coming natural phenomena. This is one of the primary reasons why the number of tornado-related deaths in these tornado-prone areas tends to be lower than those with lesser risked areas. Warning time under the best conditions is not more than one hour ahead of the event. Tornadoes cause great damage they often cause total destruction where the touch the ground, because of the extremely strong winds and the powerful uplift is within them. They often follow quite well-defined paths along the ground, and this is evident in the trail of damage they leave behind including swathes cut through forest and narrow strips of buildings destroyed in residential areas[24]. On the other hand, although deaths from tornado have been reduced in recent years, the number is still relatively high, averaging about 120 a year. Economic damage from tornadoes averages about $125 million a year, as opposed to only $15 million for drought[25]. The tornadoes have been one of the most destructive events in decades, killing forty-seven people, destroying 2,000 homes and causing about US $500 million worth of damage[26]. On the other hand, from one of the most prominent site of Tornado, Kansas, several tornados were estimated to have caused $2.5-5 million in property damage. Four deaths were caused by 484 tornadoes over the 52 year period (from 1950-2002) only for this area. In terms of tornadoes’ damaging potential, a primary tornadic direct hit on one of the larger communities can cause much greater loss of life and property than in small country[27]. Areas of the U.S Being Hit the Most   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tornadoes are the most violent and destructive disasters of the Earth’s atmosphere. About 200 tornadoes a year are recorded across the United States. They are even considered as the primary climatic hazards in central and eastern areas, and particularly in the valley of the Mississippi, which is most prominently known as the tornado alley[28]. In fact, during the years from 1920 to 1950, every country in Mississippi valley and those adjoining coastal plains of the Gulf of Mexico was struck by at least a dozen tornadoes that cause extreme property damages and the crude death rate of 2000 people[29]. Although tornadoes occur in many areas of the world, the United States has more tornadoes than any other country, with an estimated 30% to 50% of the world’s total. Canada ranks as the second place in the occurrence of tornado with approximately 100 to 200 tornadoes per year[30]. In additional, tornadoes occurring in these areas tend to be more aggressive and deadly than those in other countries. Such scenario is because of the clashing of air masses east of the Rockies. The most obvious tornado alley extends from the plains of northwest Texas eastward into north Texas and then northward across Oklahoma, Kansas, and eastern Nebraska. A second tornado alley, called Midwest Alley, is located over most of Illinois and Indiana. Finally, Dixie Alley[31] stretches eastward from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas through Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Dixie Alley also extends southward into Florida[32]. A portable Doppler radar measured a wind speed of 318 miles per hour in a tornado that struck Oklahoma City[33] on May 3, I999.[34] In this incident of tornado, the immense manifestation of tornado was not predicted accurately by the weather forecast during that point or at least, the news of its intensive manifestation arrived late, which caused the immense damage[35]. During April 26, 1991, one of the most prominent tornado occurrences in Oklahoma occurred near Red Rock. The wind measuring for 286 miles per hour was incorporated within the storm that devastated parts of Red Rock Oklahoma. In an average year, more than a thousand tornadoes are likely to touch down across the United States[36]. However, it is fortunate for the community that weather analysts can provide advance warning for the coming or at least a crude prediction of tornado occurrence in their area. In this way, the public is able to prepare for the coming of tornadoes; hence, reducing the damage this phenomenon can cause. Knowing that these Tornadoes happen predominantly during the afternoon and early evening, the exact ranges of time frames based on previous historical occurrence of tornadoes state 2:00P.M. until 7:00 P.M local time. On the other hand, the time wherein tornadoes usually show immense activity is from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Such time frame is very much evident in smaller alley or regions such as the Dixie Alley[37]. A broad swath from central Texas to eastern Nebraska comprises the heart of ‘tornado alley,† which extends southward through the Gulf States and eastward to the Ohio Valley. No other place in the world experiences more tornadoes than the nation’s heartland, although twisters are not confined to the Midwest and southern states[38]. In addition, the national tornado season is clearly from April through July; however, tornado season in the United States never really begins or ends but is ongoing[39]. Most tornadoes tend to build up inside very large storms, and these are usually found in unstable environments in which wind speeds vary with height and where cool, dry air rests on top of warm, moist air, with a thin, stable layer separating the two air masses[40], a condition similar to temperature inversion in other settings[41].   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the United States, those areas with high occurrences of tornadoes have relatively low rates of tornado-related deaths, partly because of variations in population density, but the provided proofs show a variation over time in the location of tornadoes, which is placing significant numbers of less well-prepared individuals and communities at risk. Death rates from tornado-related injuries in the United States are the highest among people living in mobile homes, the elderly (over 60 years of age) and people caught outside with no protection when the tornado passes by[42]. One of the most historical events that occurred in Pennsylvania was during 1998 wherein fifty-nine tornadoes, plus several waterspouts over the open waters of Lake Erie were counted for just one season. According to climatologist and weather analysts, the most damaging tornadoes that occurred within this area of Pennsylvania from 1865, 1896, 1944 and 1998 are only products of stronger western and southern storms that usually struck in late spring[43]. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As for the conclusion of the subject, tornadoes in the United States have indeed manifested in greatest terms wherein U.S has been considered as the top most destination for the occurrence of tornadoes. From the discussion of tornadoes, formation, it has been uncovered that the origin of these phenomenon are from the contacts of war and cold air that contradicts to form humid, moisture and temperature variance, which in the end, initiate static electricity that causes the formation of the vortex. From the discussion on the effects of tornadoes, it has been uncovered the main destruction caused by this event is on the property and physical aspect wherein significant economic cost decline are mainly affected especially for those occurring in larger communities. Lastly, the areas where tornadoes mostly occur are Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and those areas within the tornado alley or Mississippi. Bibliography Alexander, D. E. (2003). Natural Disasters. Springer. Barnes, P. L. (1999). The Oryx Guide to Natural History: The Earth and All Its Inhabitants. Greenwood Publishing Group. Burton et.al., I. (1993). The Environment as Hazard. Guilford Press. Essex, S. (2005). Rural Change and Sustainability: Agriculture, the Environment and Communities. CABI Publishing. Gelber, B. (2002). The Pennsylvania Weather Book. Rutgers University Press. Gunn, A. (2001). The Impact of Geology on the United States. Greenwood Publishing. Hagget, P. (2002). Encyclopedia of World Geography. Marshall Cavendish. Konvicka , T. (1999). Teachers Weather Sourcebook. Libraries Unlimited. Pack, C. C. (2001). The Environment: Principles and Applications. Routledge. Tawrell, P. (2006). Camping Wilderness Survival: The Ultimate Outdoors Book. Paul Tawrell. Wallace, J. M., Hobbs, P. B. (2006). Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey. Academic Press. [1] Tawrell, P. (2006). Camping Wilderness Survival: The Ultimate Outdoors Book. Paul Tawrell. p.674 [2] In a typical supercell storm the rate of ascent w increases from near zero at the ground to ~3 m   s-1. Hence, the e-folding time T for the amplification of the vorticity is 300s (Wallace, J. M., Hobbs, P. B. (2006). Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey. Academic Press. P.360). [3] Tawrell, p.674 [4] Tawrell, p.674 [5] Tornadoes usually form when warm, humid air is sucked into a low-pressure cell. There it arrives into contact with a cold front accelerating towards it from the counter directions. The steep temperature gradient permits the tornado to facilitate along the squall line either in front of or along the cold front. In the United States, tornadoes are most common in the Mildwest and along the east coast (Park, C. C. (2001). The Environment: Principles and Applications. Routledge. P.315) [6] Wallace, Hobbs, p.360 [7] Powerful updraughts within increasing column of air provide the tornado its strong vertical progression, and the circulating form is induced by strong winds that are drawn into the low pressure center (Park, p.315). [8] Tawrell, p.674 [9] Park, p.315 [10] Wallace, Hobbs, p.360 [11] On the other hand, non-supercell tornadoes form when a patch of boundary layer air with circulation about a vertical axis comes into vertical alignment with a vigorous convective-scale updraft. The source of the vorticity may be a gust front, a convergence line, or wind shear induced by flow around a topographical feature (Ibid, p.361) [12] Tornadoes form over dry land, but when the funnel-shaped vortex comes into contact with a lake or sea it sucks up particles of water and whirls them around in a spiral pattern as a waterspout (Park, p.315). [13] Tawrell, p.674 [14] Wallace, Hobbs, p.360 [15] Park, p.315 [16] Alexander, D. E. (2003). Natural Disasters. Springer. P.172 [17] The United States is the most tornado-prone country in the world, with the main characteristic of tornadoes that range from average to extreme. The usual area of occurrence relies in Great Plains or the Tornado Alleys (Barnes, P. L. (1999). The Oryx Guide to Natural History: The Earth and All Its Inhabitants. Greenwood Publishing Group. P.55) [18] Gelber, B. (2002). The Pennsylvania Weather Book. Rutgers University Press. P.135 [19] Alexander, p.172 [20] Ibid, p.172 [21] Park, p.316 [22] Tornadoes, by contrast, are intensive hazards that threaten about +0 million people living in the areas of higher tornado incidence in the Midwest, the Great Plains, and the Gulf States. Tornadoes are comparatively rare events with high energy outputs and arc highly localized, with a very rapid onset. Moreover, although between six and seven hundred tornadoes occur every year, the average path is quite small. There is little incentive, therefore, to invest in protective measures, since their likelihood of being needed in any one place is small and, given the force of a tornado, such measures are often not effective (Baumann and Sims, 1972; cited from Burton et.al., I. (1993). The Environment as Hazard. Guilford Press. p.42). [23] Burton et.al. p.42 [24] Park, p.317 [25] Burton et.al. p.42 [26] Park, p.316 [27] Essex, S. (2005). Rural Change and Sustainability: Agriculture, the Environment and Communities. CABI Publishing. P.175 [28] America’s known â€Å"Tornado Alley† or the Mississippi is the area with the most prominent occurrence of twister that entails great damage and destruction; however, few periods see as much activity as on one night in mid May 1999, when seventy-six twisters ripped through Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas (Park, p.316) [29] Hagget, P. (2002). Encyclopedia of World Geography. Marshall Cavendish. P.84 [30] Konvicka , T. (1999). Teachers Weather Sourcebook. Libraries Unlimited. P.200 [31] Tornado incidence increases in Dixie Alley in February. During the spring, tornadoes become more common farther west and north, extending into Texas and the Tennessee Valley. By May and June, tornado frequency increases in the plains of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. In July, tornado frequency shifts 10 the Dakotas, the Upper Midwest, and the Great Lakes region while decreasing to a minimum in Dixie Alley. An interesting secondary peak is evident in November, particularly in Dixie Alley (Konvicka, p.200-201). [32] Konvicka, p.200 [33] Ibid, p.200 [34] On the evening of 3 May 1999 the worst tornado of the century, as far as costs are concerned, touched down on Oklahoma City. It was the nation’s first billion-dollar one. It was not alone. Other parts of Oklahoma. the state that gets more tornadoes per square kilometer than anywhere else on earth, were hit with 65 of these storms on that same evening, all of them in areas close to Oklahoma City. Within a period of five hours 8,000 buildings were in partial or total ruin as the rash of storms swept from southwest Oklahoma diagonally across the state toward Wichita, Kansas (Gunn, A. (2001). The Impact of Geology on the United States. Greenwood Publishing.p.205) [35] The difficulties involved in forecasting were evident on that fateful evening in May. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC), based at Norman. Oklahoma, issues bulletins every day, and on that morning’s statement announced it as unlikely that any tornado would appear during the day. By early afternoon SPC raised its estimate to moderate. Not until close to 4:00 in the afternoon did SPC change its prediction to high risk—and then only because a powerful computer had shown that storms were charging across the state (Ibid, 205-206). [36] Gelber, p.135 [37] Konvicka, p.200 [38] Gelber, p.135 [39] Konvicka, p.200 [40]  If a weather system reaches this unstable mass, the status quo is disrupted: The low-level air is forced upward, and a vertical vortex gradually takes shape as the warm air ascends, cools to the point of condensation, and then is triggered into faster ascent as the latest heat of condensation warms the surroundings (Gunn, p.206). [41] Ibid, p.206 [42] Pennsylvania experiences an average number of eleven tornadoes annually, based on the statistical period of 1954 through 1999. However, during a ten-year period from 1989 to 1998, the average number of Pennsylvania tornadoes doubled to twenty-two . (Gelber, p.135) [43] Ibid, p.135

Channels of Communication Essay Example for Free

Channels of Communication Essay Write when you want to: †¢Make sure there are no misunderstandings †¢Have constant reference to subject matter Writing is effective in communicating with any audience that is capable of reading and comprehending your compositions. If the person ever has a question regarding the subject, they can always refer to what is written. Make a presentation when you want to: †¢Give a more detailed description †¢Command the attention of an audience When making a presentation or presenting material to an audience, it is possible to give someone who may not fully understand your message solely from reading, a more broad perspective of the matter. Speak with an individual when you want to: †¢Earn a higher level respect and confidence from that individual †¢Create an atmosphere of mutual trust For myself, speaking with someone individually, is very effective in the sense of having one on one communication with that person ensures that there are little to no distractions.

An Examination Of The Zero Waste Concept Environmental Sciences Essay

An Examination Of The Zero Waste Concept Environmental Sciences Essay The concept of zero waste was first conceived in the mid 1970s in a company named Zero Waste Systems Incorporation (ZWS), by a chemist Paul Palmer (PhD) in the city of Oakland, California. On discovering the enormous amount of reusable chemicals been discarded by the then developing electronics industry he was convinced that reworking and or reselling the chemicals was portrayed a potential money making venture hence the collection and recycling of these chemicals brought about the reality of zero waste [1]. Theoretically, zero waste promotes the redesign of resource life cycles in order to enhance the reuse of products. This concept minimizes any waste going to landfill or burning by incineration. In the past decade, intense focus has been on residential recycling has a solution to solid waste reduction. However, success derived from waste diverted from landfill is not enough for total waste elimination. Zero waste is a practical and imaginative goal designed to guide people to imitate sustainable natural cycles in which disposed materials are potential resource for other uses. Zero waste implies creating and managing installations, processes and products in order to minimize the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserving and recovery of resources avoiding any disposal to incineration or land filling. Executing zero waste will eradicate release into air, land or water which may pose harmful threats to the environment, plant or animal health [2]. Advocates for zero waste concepts across the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Scandinavia, Canada, UK and other European countries have called for the decarbonisation of economies and replacement with green jobs as the way out of the current economic downturn. Rick Anthony a lobbyist from Zero Waste International Alliance reiterated that carbon based economy is a wasteful economy which has reached its limit and if humans are going to sustain their existence, a systematic approach of natural cycles is needed to design an economy that produces no waste. He concluded waste is the product of a dysfunctional economy and as such should be modified in order to create greener jobs, reduced climate change and enhanced health and local sustainability. Likewise, UK coordinator for Zero Waste Europe, Maxine Narburgh, recommended to G20 governments concepts of waste hierarchy rather than investing in incinerators or landfills as this encourages a linear throw-away society [3]. The concept of zero waste eliminates the stereotyped ideology concerning waste and rebrands it as a valuable resource rather than material waiting to be disposed. This paper aims to evaluate the concept of Zero Waste in relation to municipal solid waste management. 2 METHODOLOGY Resources employed for this paper were taken majorly from internet sites that shed light on this topic. Also, information was gathered from class work. Text used was obtained from university library. 3 ZERO WASTE IN RELATION TO MUNICIPAL WASTES MANAGEMENT Implementing zero waste will have a diminishing effect on waste going to landfill or incineration as production and consumption loops are closed. Municipal waste catered for by waste collection authority (local authority) includes household waste, market waste and some commercial waste. They include biodegradable, recyclable, inert, composite and household hazardous wastes. Achieving zero waste within this sector requires responsible product design from manufacturers (source reduction and minimal negative environmental impacts), active municipal recycling and composting program. Materials going to waste should be considered for reuse, recycling, repair and composting as such maintaining 100% diversion of waste going to landfill or incineration. Canadian Ontario province produces about 9 million tonnes per year equivalent to one ton per person. Currently, there are no set provincial strategies for waste diversion though the ministry of environment produced a waste reduction in 1991 which is now moribund. However, various activities concerning waste reduction are carried out through voluntary initiatives and waste management options are now local responsibility requiring each municipality creating their own waste management policy. Ontarios Ministry of the Environment created Waste Diversion Organization (WDO) with authority to blue box recycling, organic waste composting, and household hazardous waste. Ontario legislated a Waste Diversion Act (WDA) which created Industry Funding Organization (IFO) paved way for Stewardship Ontario. The WDA requires all stewards (companies injecting packaging and printed paper into the Ontario consumer stream) to partake in funding 50% Ontario blue box and blue bag WDA program. Waste manageme nt responsibilities including recycling and disposal rest on Ontarios municipalities. Municipalities with more than 5000 residents are obliged by Ontarios 3R regulations to provide recycling and backyard composting facilities [7]. Target Zero Canada (TZC) a program of Earth Day Canada with a goal of total waste elimination. It integrates businesses, public sector and non-governmental organizations in its agenda to promote policies for government sectors and corporation emphasizing resource efficiency, reuse and recycling target. TZC focuses on key areas including producer responsibility, product take back and reuse, 3.1 ZERO WASTE IN SCOTLAND Scottish government created a programme known as zero waste Scotland in order to achieve its zero waste plan by helping individuals, business and local authorities to reduce waste, enhance recycling and efficiently utilize natural resources. Achieving zero waste in Scotland started with the launch of National Waste Plan in 2003 by SEPA and the Scottish executive, it was hinged on 4 key principles including the waste hierarchy (waste prevention, reuse and refurbishment, recycling and composting, energy recovery and disposal), proximity and self sufficiency, polluter pays and best practicable environmental option (BPEO) [4]. Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead in 2008 proposed new targets for the percentage of municipal waste (MW) to be recycled or composted in the years 2010,2013,2020 and 2025 to 40%,50%,60% and 70% respectively. Also, percentage of MW used for energy in the years 2010,2013,2020 and 2025 to 4%,14%,25% and 25% respectively while percentage of MW going to landfill in the years 2010,2013,2020 and 2025 to 56%,36%,15% and 5% respectively [5]. Organizations like WRAP Scotland, Envirowise in Scotland, NISP in Scotland, Remade Scotland and a host of others will be integrated to achieve the zero waste feat by 2010/11. To this end individuals of households are enjoined to support home composting, junk mail rejection, carrier bag reuse and avoiding food waste. Retailers of business are to reduce packaging, cooperate with government to reduce plastic bag use and persuade manufacturers to produce recyclable products. Moreover, the community recycling project which created public recycling sites and kerbside segregated collection. Municipal solid wastes collected are moved to transfer station (material reclamation facility) and then treatment station as seen in Scotland today is good step in the right direction. A good example of treatment facility is the William Tracey Recycling facility. Moreover, waste exchange schemes in Scotland has helped in promoting the zero waste plan as one mans poison proves to be anothers meat. The Scottish government pragmatic principles have produced encouraging results of 29.8% recycling/composting rate for municipal waste. Increase in zero waste funds from  £41.1 million in 2008/09,  £54.4 million in 2009/10 and  £58.7 million in 2010/11 is a dedicated attempt to deliver the zero waste reality. However, more needs to be done to properly utilize funds and and residential areas. 4 ANALYSIS Zero Waste is a philosophy and a goal. Only by closing the loop can we hope to develop a sustainable economy. The idea is to reduce consumption as much as possible by using design-for-environment in all products and their packaging, and to make all products and packaging recyclable. Achieving Zero Waste depends on designing products and industrial processes so that their components can be dismantled, repaired and/or recycled. Zero Waste means linking communities, businesses and industries so that ones waste becomes anothers feedstock. It means preventing pollution at its source. It means new local jobs in communities throughout British Columbia. The aim of zero waste is to maximise recycling, minimise waste and ensure that products are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into nature or the marketplace. 5 CONCLUSION In the writers opinion, any product that can not undergo low energy recycling be banned from production. Enacting legislations in support of this however difficult it might pose will go a long way in diminishing waste generated from product use. Achieving zero waste requires Reduce our waste 2.   Make it less toxic 3.   Dispose of the residue safely Strengthen waste reduction targets and support programs Develop sector-specific targets Specific attention needs to be given to those areas where there is a strong potential for improvement, such as: a composter in every backyard recycling in all apartment buildings household hazardous waste collection (and reduction) Support environment-friendly disposal options Garbage is too valuable a resource to throw away.   Innovative technologies, such as the Canada Composting facility in Newmarket, should be the first resort for handling the residual waste

Two Wrongs Dont Make A Right? Essay -- essays research papers

Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right? The question of whether capital punishment is right or wrong is a truly tough choice to make. Capital punishment (death penalty) is legal because the government of the United States of America says that it is all right to execute another human being if their crimes are not punishable by other means. There are many different forms of capital punishment. Some of the most popular ones have been hanging, firing squad, electrocution (the chair), the gas chamber, and the newest lethal injection. In the readings of George Orwell, Edward I. Koch, and Jacob Weisberg, there are incites to capital punishment that are not usually thought of or expressed aloud. Also in the movie "Dead Man Walking," the act of lethal injection, a form of capital punishment, is presented and made visual for one's eyes. Both the readings and the movie hit on emotions that some people have never thought about feeling. With the many people in the world there are many different feelings on capital punishment. Upon reading George Orwell's "A Hanging," the reader can obviously see that the writer is against capital punishment. Orwell brings out many of the points that are considered for argument against the death penalty. Orwell writes "It is curious; but till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man. When I saw the prisoner step aside to avoid the puddle, I saw ...

Using Wikis in Education Essay -- Education

The diffusion of online tools in education is increasing exponentially. Sener (2010) cites an increase of online class enrollees from 1.6 million in 2002 to 5.6 million in 2009. Moloney and Oakley (2010) predict an annual increase of 20% over the next few years of participants in online education. In order to meet the needs of a changing student population, educators must be aware of the myriad of tools available to enhance learning. This paper presents the use of wikis in education and evaluates the wiki’s effectiveness according to Chickering and Gamson’s Seven Principles of Good Practice (as cited in Hoskins, 2010). Introduction to Wikis The wiki is a browser based editing program which allows multiple users to contribute and edit text. It includes editing tools similar to a word processor that allow the user to control text size and color, make the text bold or italicized, and enter web links and pictures. Changes are tracked by the software and successive edits can be monitored or even rolled back to a previous version. The program allows email notification of changes made as chosen by the user in the settings of their account (Cunningham, 2002; Crocker, Hutchings, Nussey, Park, & Springate, 2010). In education, wikis are useful in that they allow open editing of a document. If one student sees an error, they can simply change the text. Crocker et al. (2010) mention limited knowledge of wikis by graduate students, but point out that interaction on the wiki creates dialogue between students which enhances their learning. The activity on the wiki is useful to educators because it promotes contact and cooperation between students, encourages active learning, and ensures prompt feedback from other users. The col... ...igher education: exploring barriers to successful implementation. Interactive Learning Environments, 18(3), 219-231. Kardong-Edgren, S., Ha, Y., Hallmark, E., Hurd, D., Oermann, M., Snelson, C., & Tennant, M. (2009).Using a wiki in nursing education and research. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship 6(1), 1-10. Doi: 10.2202/1548-923X.1787 Kleine-Staarman, J., & Pifarre, M. (2011). Wiki-supported collaborative learning in primary education: How a dialogic space is created for thinking together. International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, 6, 187-205. Moloney, J. F., & Oakley, B.,II. (2010). Scaling online education: Increasing access to higher education. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 14, 55-70. Sener, J. (2010). Why online education will attain full scale. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 14, 3-16.

The Life of William Penn Essay -- American History

William Penn, most commonly known for the establishment of the state of Pennsylvania, could also be referred to as the first great pioneer of American liberty. His beliefs on equal rights and religious toleration not only contributed to liberty in the Old World, but in the New World as well. In a time when religions persecuted one another for their beliefs, colonists were stealing land from Indians, and women had little to no rights, Penn established a sanctuary free from the stereotypes that were common in that time in history. Founded by William Penn, Pennsylvania and the eventual city of Philadelphia still bear the marks of the advancement of religious tolerance still witnessed by society today. William Penn was born October 14, 1644 in London, England and spent most of his youth in that general vicinity. He was the oldest of three children, having a younger brother and a younger sister. â€Å"As the eldest son, Penn followed the usual path as heir to his father’s estates. Thus he was educated in the typical manner of the gentry, being sent to a private school and later to a university† (Geiter, 14). After being homeschooled until the age of 11, he began his formal training at Chigwell Academy near Wanstead in Essex, England. Penn attended several colleges throughout Europe including Oxford University and Lincoln’s Inn, a prestigious law school in London. William Penn’s education and law background helped round out his skills and prepared him to take his place in society but his eventual conversion to Quakerism prevented him from entering a political career as expected by his family. â€Å"While Penn did not follow the traditional route, by becom ing, for example, a member of parliament, he did become a major figure in English Politics† ... ...ter, Mary K. William Penn. Harlow, England: Longman, 2000. 14, 167. Print. Powell, Jim. "William Penn, America's First Great Champion for Liberty and Peace." Quaker.org. The Freeman. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. Patton, Allyson. "Brotherly Love Comes To Philadelphia." British Heritage 26.6 (2006): 43-48. MasterFILE Premier. Jstor. 20 Mar. 2012. Foster, Genevieve. The World of William Penn. New York: Scribner, 1973. 32. Print. Geiter, Mary K., and W. A. Speck. Colonial America: From Jamestown to Yorktown. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. 97. Print. William Penn Biography. N.p., 3 Dec. 2007. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. . Lingelbach, William E. â€Å"William Penn and City Planning.† The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , Vol. 68, No. 4 (Oct.,1944): 401. MasterFILE Premier. Jstor. 20 Mar. 2012.

How to Study for an Exam Process Essay Essay

A cumulative exam, or final is a test given to students at the end of a course of study. Studying for a final cumulative exam can be both a stressful and scary time. Most high schools, colleges, and universities have final exams at the end of a particular academic term, semester, or more traditionally at the end of a complete course. These tests can be worth high percentages of your grade and can determine how well you do in a class. There are many steps to being able to take these tests well but they begin long before the studying for the test actually begins. To be successful on a final exam but ultimately in a class the first thing you must do is attend class. It is important you attend class so that you don’t miss out on anything important. The class time you spend listening to your instructor is one of the most essential ways of retaining information on the subject you’re going over. I’m not saying you must attend every single class in a semester but try your hardest to. If for some reason you do miss class, the next step you would follow is to be sure to get anything you’ve missed from a classmate. I never have an issue when it comes to getting information off classmates because you’ll find that everyone needs a friend in a class one day. The next thing you must do is take good notes. I use a variety of methods when I’m taking notes. I color-code things and use different ways of pointing out information such as stars, bullets, and arrows. These different things are a useful way to indicate different types of information. It makes it easier to pick out key points when you’re studying for your final. The next thing you do is keep up with your homework. In high school you typically get your homework the day before it is due so it is a lot easier to make sure you keep everything up to date. As a college student you receive a syllabus at the beginning of the semester that lists all assignments, tests, and readings for the class. I list all of these things in a planner and keep that planner with me at all times. You must keep up with everything on time because if you get behind you will fall further and further behind until you can’t catch up anymore. This could lead to doing poorly in your classes. You must continue with these steps for months leading into the end of the semester. Then, once it gets close to the final exam there are many things you must do. There are things you have to specifically do the week before, the night before, and then the morning of. If you follow certain steps then you’re surely to do just fine. First, a week or so before your exam compile all your materials in one place. I use a small binder of folder just so it’s easily carried around for studying. I go back through old notebooks and folders and collect any article that contains information I will need for the exam, all homework, handouts, quizzes, and tests. Get your syllabus and make sure you have notes covering everything you’ve done in the semester. Final exams contain information from the entire class so it is very important you collect everything. The next thing you must do is re-read all the information you have collected. As you read gather important points, make flashcards, study guides, and other study materials that could be of use to you. While making study guides it is often helpful to use different means of labeling things like arrows, stars, and color-coding things. Afterward, you must spend a large amount of time studying your material using many different methods. Personally I use practice tests, highlight, and re-take notes. Using many ways allows you to make sure you know the material and are not just memorizing it in a certain order. Be sure to spend extra time on any material you feel will either be a large part of the test or anything you are still unsure about. There are many steps to follow the night of the exam as well. First, get rid of all your distractions. Turn your phone on silent, log out of everything and put yourself in a non-distracting environment. The next step is to not spend too much time studying material you already know. Review and spend the majority of your time on things you are still unsure of. Your last step the night before your exam is simply, get some sleep. Your brain will be completely useless if you are exhausted so the smartest thing to do is to study early on, avoid the all-nighters, and get some rest. Finally, you must take your exam. Do not rush. Take your time on every question. If you do not know the answer to a  question do not panic, simply breathe and give it your best effort. After you have answered everything go back over your exam and make sure you have at least attempted every question. Make sure to check your answers and if any seem wrong change them. Then, turn your exam in and continue on your way. It is important to know how to study for and act the day of a final because every type of student goes through it. Whether you are in high school, college, or graduate school all scholars must be able to do well on these tests. Finals can determine how well you do in your classes and can ultimately determine parts of your future. You must receive good grades to be able to continue on an education path and obtain a good career. If you follow the steps I have provided for you then you are surely to do just fine.

Video Game Industry Market Research Reports, Statistics and Analysis

Global Video Games Industry [pic] The world video gaming industry is predicted to record 9% yearly growth through 2013, to exceed $76 billion, according to Business Insights. Mobile and online gaming formats will fuel the market, with customers taking advantage of wider, faster and more mobile internet access. Console gaming, the market’s current segment leader, will see its rate of sales decelerate. Since the first video game was launched on the market around 45 years ago, the video game industry has taken a central place in entertainment culture for children and adults alike. Far from the solitary habit it may have been traditionally, online gaming involves communities and is based on interaction. Key Market Segments †¢ Climbing world demand for Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG) is expected to push the market to over $14 billion by 2015, according to  Global Industry Analysts. Technological developments along with faster, wider-reaching broadband connectivity are driving the market. †¢ The world social gaming market almost hit the $1. 5 billion mark in 2010, reports  Business Insights. The market is expected to reach close to $4 billion by 2015, with the US a leading region generating sales of $1. 2 billion, followed by Japan at $570 million. There are currently 600 million social gamers worldwide, with China representing close to 110 million, followed by the US at 95 million gamers. By 2015, it is predicted there will be close to 275 million gamers in China and 150 million in the US. Leading game companies include Playdom, CrowdStar, Synga, Digital Chocolate and EA. †¢ With consumers connecting to the internet with smartphones, gaming has become increasingly mobile. More than 27% of smartphone subscribers have installed one game or more, with close to 35% having installed at least five on their phones, according to  Visiongain. Mobile game makers, and phone and electronic device makers have been collaborating to capitalize on the trend towards mobile gaming. †¢ The world game console market is expected to reach almost $25 billion by 2014, according to  MarketLine, representing almost 13% growth in five years. The Americas represent almost 45% of the overall market. The three leading companies in the market are Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. Regional Market Share †¢ India’s gaming market is predicted to grow by 30% by 2014, reports  Netscribes. The market is lead by mobile gaming, which represents close to 60% of the overall market. Gaming competitions, the creation of gaming zones and increasingly popular MMOGs will fuel the market. Service providers are likely to generate higher revenue, and 3D games will become increasingly popular. †¢ China’s games and accessories market is expected to continue recording strong growth. Peripherals and accessories represent a leading market segment, with increasing demand for auxiliary devices to keep up with gaming product innovation. †¢ The online game market in Korea reached a value of over $2 billion in 2011, reports  Pearl Research. Game companies in Korea continue to concentrate on international business, expanding in the US, the EU, China and Japan. Of the $585 million generated by leading game operator Nexon, the largest share came from business outside of Korea. Market Outlook The global gaming industry has seen consumer demand soar thanks to social networking, technological innovation favoring mobile gaming, and the popularity of cyber communities promoting collective online gaming. Marketing and distribution is being facilitated by social networking sites, which do much of the work of attracting an increasing numbers of gamers. As ever, IP protection and piracy remain major issues for the industry, which continues to lose revenues do to illegal downloading. Moving forward, the global gaming industry is likely to represent an ever-present contender for other media, including music and TV. As the cultural trend towards social networking and gaming continues, consumers are as likely to log in to play a leading game (like World of Warcraft) as they are to switch on the TV to watch a film. Leading Industry Associations †¢ American Gaming Association  www. americangaming. org †¢ Entertainment Software Association  www. theesa. com †¢ National Video Game Association  http://nvgaonline. com †¢ Interactive Software Federation of Europe  www. isfe. eu †¢ European Games Developer Federation  www. egdf. eu

The Lost Symbol Chapter 90-92

CHAPTER 90 In the dim light of the Cathedral College kitchen, Langdon and Katherine stood over the pot of water and stared at the transformed capstone beneath the surface. On the side of the golden capstone, an incandescent message was glowing. Langdon read the shining text, scarcely able to believe his eyes. He knew the pyramid was rumored to reveal a specific location . . . but he had never imagined that the location would be quite this specific. Eight Franklin Square â€Å"A street address,† he whispered, stunned. Katherine looked equally amazed. â€Å"I don't know what's there, do you?† Langdon shook his head. He knew Franklin Square was one of the older sections of Washington, but he wasn't familiar with the address. He looked at the tip of the capstone, and read downward, taking in the entire text. The secret hides within The Order Eight Franklin Square Is there some kind of Order on Franklin Square? Is there a building that hides the opening to a deep spiral staircase? Whether or not there was actually something buried at that address, Langdon had no idea. The important issue at this point was that he and Katherine had deciphered the pyramid and now possessed the information required to negotiate Peter's release. And not a moment too soon. The glowing arms on Langdon's Mickey Mouse watch indicated that they had less than ten minutes to spare. â€Å"Make the call,† Katherine said, motioning to a phone on the wall in the kitchen. â€Å"Now!† The sudden arrival of this moment startled Langdon, and he found himself hesitating. â€Å"Are we sure about this?† â€Å"I most certainly am.† â€Å"I'm not telling him anything until we know Peter is safe.† â€Å"Of course not. You remember the number, right?† Langdon nodded and made his way over to the kitchen phone. He lifted the receiver and dialed the man's cell-phone number. Katherine came over and placed her head next to his so she could listen in. As the line began to ring, Langdon prepared himself for the eerie whisper of the man who had tricked him earlier tonight. Finally, the call connected. There was no greeting, though. No voice. Only the sound of breathing at the other end. Langdon waited and then finally spoke. â€Å"I have the information you want, but if you want it, you'll have to give us Peter.† â€Å"Who is this?† a woman's voice replied. Langdon jumped. â€Å"Robert Langdon,† he said reflexively. â€Å"Who are you?† For an instant he thought he must have dialed incorrectly. â€Å"Your name is Langdon?† The woman sounded surprised. â€Å"There's someone here asking for you.† What? â€Å"I'm sorry, who is this?† â€Å"Officer Paige Montgomery with Preferred Security.† Her voice seemed shaky. â€Å"Maybe you can help us with this. About an hour ago, my partner responded to a 911 call in Kalorama Heights . . . a possible hostage situation. I lost all contact with her, and so I called backup and came to check the residence. We found my partner dead in the backyard. The home owner was gone, and so we broke in. A cell phone was ringing on the hall table, and I–† â€Å"You're inside?† Langdon demanded. â€Å"Yes, and the 911 tip . . . was a good one,† the woman stammered. â€Å"Sorry if I sound rattled, but my partner's dead, and we found a man being held here against his will. He's in bad shape, and we're working on him now. He's been asking for two people–one named Langdon and one named Katherine.† â€Å"That's my brother!† Katherine blurted into the receiver, pressing her head closer to Langdon's. â€Å"I made the 911 call! Is he okay?!† â€Å"Actually, ma'am, he's . . .† The woman's voice cracked. â€Å"He's in bad shape. He's missing his right hand . . .† â€Å"Please,† Katherine urged. â€Å"I want to talk to him!† â€Å"They're working on him at the moment. He's in and out of consciousness. If you're anywhere in the area, you should get over here. He obviously wants to see you.† â€Å"We're about six minutes away!† Katherine said. â€Å"Then I suggest you hurry.† There was a muffled noise in the background, and the woman then returned to the line. â€Å"Sorry, it looks like I'm needed. I'll speak to you when you arrive.† The line went dead. CHAPTER 91 Inside Cathedral College, Langdon and Katherine bounded up the basement stairs and hurried down a darkened hallway looking for a front exit. No longer did they hear the sounds of helicopter blades overhead, and Langdon felt hopeful they could slip out unseen and find their way up to Kalorama Heights to see Peter. They found him. He's alive. Thirty seconds earlier, when they'd hung up with the female security guard, Katherine had hurriedly hoisted the steaming pyramid and capstone out of the water. The pyramid was still dripping when she lowered it into Langdon's leather bag. Now he could feel the heat radiating through the leather. Excitement over Peter's discovery had temporarily trumped any further reflection on the capstone's glowing message–Eight Franklin Square– but there would be time for that once they got to Peter. As they rounded the corner at the top of the stairs, Katherine stopped short and pointed into a sitting room across the hall. Through the bay window, Langdon could see a sleek black helicopter sitting silent on the lawn. A lone pilot stood beside it, facing away from them and talking on his radio. There was also a black Escalade with tinted windows parked nearby. Staying in the shadows, Langdon and Katherine moved into the sitting room, and peered out the window to see if they could see the rest of the field team. Thankfully, the huge lawn outside the National Cathedral was empty. â€Å"They must be inside the cathedral,† Langdon said. â€Å"They're not,† a deep voice said behind them. Langdon and Katherine wheeled around to see who had spoken. In the doorway of the sitting room, two black-clad figures aimed laser-sighted rifles at them. Langdon could see a glowing red dot dancing on his chest. â€Å"Nice to see you again, Professor,† said a familiar raspy voice. The agents parted, and the tiny form of Director Sato sliced effortlessly through, crossing the sitting room and stopping directly in front of Langdon. â€Å"You've made some exceedingly poor choices tonight.† â€Å"The police found Peter Solomon,† Langdon declared forcefully. â€Å"He's in bad shape, but he'll live. It's over.† If Sato was surprised Peter had been found, she did not show it. Her eyes were unflinching as she walked to Langdon and stopped only inches away. â€Å"Professor, I can assure you, this is nowhere near over. And if the police are now involved, it has only become more serious. As I told you earlier this evening, this is an extremely delicate situation. You never should have run away with that pyramid.† â€Å"Ma'am,† Katherine blurted, â€Å"I need to see my brother. You can have the pyramid, but you must let–â€Å" â€Å"I must?† Sato demanded, spinning to Katherine. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, I assume?† She stared at Katherine with fire in her eyes and then turned back to Langdon. â€Å"Put the leather bag on the table.† Langdon glanced down at the pair of laser sights on his chest. He set the leather bag on the coffee table. An agent approached cautiously, unzipped the bag, and pulled the two sides apart. A little puff of trapped steam billowed up out of the bag. He aimed his light inside, stared for a long, puzzled moment, and then nodded to Sato. Sato walked over and peered into the bag. The wet pyramid and capstone glistened in the beam of the flashlight. Sato crouched down, looking very closely at the golden capstone, which Langdon realized she had only seen in X-ray. â€Å"The inscription,† Sato demanded. â€Å"Does it mean anything to you? `The secret hides within The Order'?† â€Å"We're not sure, ma'am.† â€Å"Why is the pyramid steaming hot?† â€Å"We submerged it in boiling water,† Katherine said without hesitation. â€Å"It was part of the process of deciphering the code. We'll tell you everything, but please let us go see my brother. He's been through–â€Å" â€Å"You boiled the pyramid?† Sato demanded. â€Å"Turn off the flashlight,† Katherine said. â€Å"Look at the capstone. You can probably still see.† The agent flicked off his light, and Sato knelt down before the capstone. Even from where Langdon was standing, he could see that the text on the capstone was still glowing slightly. â€Å"Eight Franklin Square?† Sato said, sounding amazed. â€Å"Yes, ma'am. That text was written with an incandescent lacquer or something. The thirty-third degree was actually–â€Å" â€Å"And the address?† Sato demanded. â€Å"Is this what this guy wants?† â€Å"Yes,† Langdon said. â€Å"He believes the pyramid is a map that will tell him the location of a great treasure–the key to unlocking the Ancient Mysteries.† Sato looked again at the capstone, her expression one of disbelief. â€Å"Tell me,† she said, fear creeping into her voice, â€Å"have you contacted this man yet? Have you already given him this address?† â€Å"We tried.† Langdon explained what had happened when they called the man's cell phone. Sato listened, running her tongue over her yellow teeth as he spoke. Despite looking ready to erupt with anger over the situation, she turned to one of her agents and spoke in a restrained whisper. â€Å"Send him in. He's in the SUV.† The agent nodded and spoke into his transceiver. â€Å"Send who in?† Langdon said. â€Å"The only person who has any hope of fixing the goddamn mess you made!† â€Å"What mess?† Langdon fired back. â€Å"Now that Peter is safe, everything is–â€Å" â€Å"For Christ's sake!† Sato exploded. â€Å"This is not about Peter! I tried to tell you that at the Capitol Building, Professor, but you chose to work against me rather than with me! Now you've made an ungodly mess! When you destroyed your cell phone, which, by the way, we were tracking, you cut off your communication with this man. And this address you uncovered–whatever the hell it is–this address was our one chance to catch this lunatic. I needed you to play his game, to provide him with this address so we would know where the hell to catch him!† Before Langdon could reply, Sato directed the remainder of her wrath at Katherine. â€Å"And you, Ms. Solomon! You knew where this maniac lived? Why didn't you tell me? You sent a rent-a-cop to this man's house? Don't you see you've ruined any chance we had of catching him there? I'm glad your brother is safe, but let me tell you this, we are facing a crisis tonight whose ramifications far outreach your family. They will be felt all around the world. The man who took your brother has enormous power, and we need to catch him immediately.† As she finished her tirade, the tall, elegant silhouette of Warren Bellamy emerged from the shadows and stepped into the sitting room. He looked rumpled, bruised, and shaken . . . like he'd been through hell. â€Å"Warren!† Langdon stood up. â€Å"Are you okay?† â€Å"No,† he replied. â€Å"Not really.† â€Å"Did you hear? Peter is safe!† Bellamy nodded, looking dazed, as if nothing mattered anymore. â€Å"Yes, I just heard your conversation. I'm glad.† â€Å"Warren, what the hell is going on?† Sato intervened. â€Å"You boys can catch up in a minute. Right now, Mr. Bellamy is going to reach out to this lunatic and communicate with him. Just like he's been doing all night.† Langdon felt lost. â€Å"Bellamy hasn't been communicating with this guy tonight! This guy doesn't even know Bellamy is involved!† Sato turned to Bellamy and raised her eyebrows. Bellamy sighed. â€Å"Robert, I'm afraid I haven't been entirely honest with you this evening.† Langdon could only stare. â€Å"I thought I was doing the right thing . . .† Bellamy said, looking frightened. â€Å"Well,† Sato said, â€Å"now you will do the right thing . . . and we'd all better pray to God it works.† As if to substantiate Sato's portentous tone, the mantel clock began chiming the hour. Sato took out a Ziploc bag of items and tossed it to Bellamy. â€Å"Here's your stuff. Does your cell phone take photos?† â€Å"Yes, ma'am.† â€Å"Good. Hold up the capstone.† The message Mal'akh had just received was from his contact–Warren Bellamy–the Mason he had sent to the Capitol Building earlier tonight to assist Robert Langdon. Bellamy, like Langdon, wanted Peter Solomon back alive and had assured Mal'akh he would help Langdon acquire and decipher the pyramid. All night, Mal'akh had been receiving e-mail updates, which had been automatically forwarded to his cell phone. This should be interesting, Mal'akh thought, opening the message. From: Warren Bellamy got separated from langdon but finally have info you demanded. proof attached. call for missing piece. –wb –one attachment (jpeg)– Call for missing piece? Mal'akh wondered, opening the attachment. The attachment was a photo. When Mal'akh saw it, he gasped out loud, and he could feel his heart start pounding with excitement. He was looking at a close-up of a tiny golden pyramid. The legendary capstone! The ornate engraving on the face carried a promising message: The secret hides within The Order. Beneath the inscription, Mal'akh now saw something that stunned him. The capstone seemed to be glowing. In disbelief, he stared at the faintly radiant text and realized that the legend was literally true: The Masonic Pyramid transforms itself to reveal its secret to the worthy. How this magical transformation had occurred, Mal'akh had no idea, and he didn't care. The glowing text was clearly pointing to a specific location in D.C., exactly as prophesied. Franklin Square. Unfortunately, the photo of the capstone also included Warren Bellamy's index finger, which was strategically positioned on the capstone to block out a critical piece of information. The secret hides within The Order Franklin Square Call for missing piece. Mal'akh now understood Bellamy's meaning. The Architect of the Capitol had been cooperative all night, but now he had chosen to play a very dangerous game. CHAPTER 92 Beneath the watchful gaze of several armed CIA agents, Langdon, Katherine, and Bellamy waited with Sato in the Cathedral College sitting room. On the coffee table before them, Langdon's leather bag was still open, the golden capstone peeking out the top. The words Eight Franklin Square had now faded away, leaving no evidence that they had ever existed. Katherine had pleaded with Sato to let her go see her brother, but Sato had simply shaken her head, eyes fixed on Bellamy's cell phone. It sat on the coffee table and had yet to ring. Why didn't Bellamy just tell me the truth? Langdon wondered. Apparently, the Architect had been in contact with Peter's captor all night, reassuring him that Langdon was making progress deciphering the pyramid. It was a bluff, an attempt to buy time for Peter. In fact, Bellamy was doing all he could to interfere with anyone who threatened to unveil the pyramid's secret. Now, however, it seemed that Bellamy had switched sides. He and Sato were now prepared to risk the pyramid's secret in hopes of catching this man. â€Å"Take your hands off me!† shouted an elderly voice in the hall. â€Å"I'm blind, not inept! I know my way through the college!† Dean Galloway was still protesting loudly as a CIA agent manhandled him into the sitting room and forced him into one of the chairs. â€Å"Who's here?† Galloway demanded, his blank eyes staring dead ahead. â€Å"It sounds like a lot of you. How many do you need to detain an old man? Really now!† â€Å"There are seven of us,† Sato declared. â€Å"Including Robert Langdon, Katherine Solomon, and your Masonic brother Warren Bellamy.† Galloway slumped, all his bluster gone. â€Å"We're okay,† Langdon said. â€Å"And we just heard that Peter is safe. He's in bad shape, but the police are with him.† â€Å"Thank heavens,† Galloway said. â€Å"And the–â€Å" A loud rattling caused everyone in the room to jump. It was Bellamy's cell phone vibrating against the coffee table. Everyone fell silent. â€Å"Okay, Mr. Bellamy,† Sato said. â€Å"Don't blow it. You know the stakes.† Bellamy took a deep breath and exhaled. Then he reached down and pressed the speakerphone button to connect the call. â€Å"Bellamy here,† he said, speaking loudly toward the phone on the coffee table. The voice that crackled back through the speaker was familiar, an airy whisper. It sounded like he was calling from a hands-free speakerphone inside a car. â€Å"It's past midnight, Mr. Bellamy. I was about to put Peter out of his misery.† There was an uneasy silence in the room. â€Å"Let me talk to him.† â€Å"Impossible,† the man replied. â€Å"We're driving. He's tied up in the trunk.† Langdon and Katherine exchanged looks and then began shaking their heads at everyone. He's bluffing! He no longer has Peter! Sato motioned for Bellamy to keep pressing. â€Å"I want proof that Peter's alive,† Bellamy said. â€Å"I'm not giving you the rest of–â€Å" â€Å"Your Worshipful Master needs a doctor. Don't waste time with negotiations. Tell me the street number on Franklin Square, and I'll bring Peter to you there.† â€Å"I told you, I want–â€Å" â€Å"Now!† the man exploded. â€Å"Or I will pull over and Peter Solomon dies this instant!† â€Å"You listen to me,† Bellamy said forcefully. â€Å"If you want the rest of the address, you'll play by my rules. Meet me at Franklin Square. Once you deliver Peter alive, I'll tell you the number of the building.† â€Å"How do I know you won't bring the authorities?† â€Å"Because I can't risk double-crossing you. Peter's life is not the only card you hold. I know what's really at stake tonight.† â€Å"You do realize,† the man on the phone said, â€Å"that if I sense so much as a hint of anyone other than you at Franklin Square, I will keep driving, and you will never find even a trace of Peter Solomon. And of course . . . that will be the least of your worries.† â€Å"I'll come alone,† Bellamy replied somberly. â€Å"When you turn over Peter, I'll give you everything you need.† â€Å"Center of the square,† the man said. â€Å"It will take me at least twenty minutes to get there. I suggest you wait for me as long as it takes.† The line went dead. Instantly, the room sprang to life. Sato began shouting orders. Several field agents grabbed their radios and headed for the door. â€Å"Move! Move!† In the chaos, Langdon looked to Bellamy for some kind of explanation as to what was actually going on tonight, but the older man was already being hurried out the door. â€Å"I need to see my brother!† Katherine shouted. â€Å"You have to let us go!† Sato walked over to Katherine. â€Å"I don't have to do anything, Ms. Solomon. Is that clear?† Katherine stood her ground and looked desperately into Sato's small eyes. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, my top priority is apprehending the man at Franklin Square, and you will sit here with one of my men until I accomplish that task. Then, and only then, will we deal with your brother.† â€Å"You're missing the point,† Katherine said. â€Å"I know exactly where this man lives! It's literally five minutes up the road in Kalorama Heights, and there will be evidence there that will help you! Besides, you said you want to keep this quiet. Who knows what Peter will start telling the authorities once he's stabilized.† Sato pursed her lips, apparently registering Katherine's point. Outside, the chopper blades began winding up. Sato frowned and then turned to one of her men. â€Å"Hartmann, you take the Escalade. Transport Ms. Solomon and Mr. Langdon to Kalorama Heights. Peter Solomon is not to speak to anyone. Is that understood?† â€Å"Yes, ma'am,† the agent said. â€Å"Call me when you get there. Tell me what you find. And don't let these two out of your sight.† Agent Hartmann gave a quick nod, pulled out the Escalade keys, and headed for the door. Katherine was right behind him. Sato turned to Langdon. â€Å"I'll see you shortly, Professor. I know you think I'm the enemy, but I can assure you that's not the case. Get to Peter at once. This isn't over yet.† Off to one side of Langdon, Dean Galloway was sitting quietly at the coffee table. His hands had found the stone pyramid, which was still sitting in Langdon's open leather bag on the table in front of him. The old man was running his hands over the stone's warm surface. Langdon said, â€Å"Father, are you coming to see Peter?† â€Å"I'd just slow you down.† Galloway removed his hands from the bag and zipped it up around the pyramid. â€Å"I'll stay right here and pray for Peter's recovery. We can all speak later. But when you show Peter the pyramid, would you please tell him something for me?† â€Å"Of course.† Langdon hoisted the bag onto his shoulder. â€Å"Tell him this.† Galloway cleared his throat. â€Å"The Masonic Pyramid has always kept her secret . . . sincerely.† â€Å"I don't understand.† The old man winked. â€Å"Just tell Peter that. He will understand.† With that, Dean Galloway bowed his head and began praying. Perplexed, Langdon left him there and hurried outside. Katherine was already in the front seat of the SUV giving the agent directions. Langdon climbed in back and had barely closed the door before the giant vehicle was rocketing across the lawn, racing northward to Kalorama Heights.