Australian Wills, Estates, and Probate Records

Wills and probate records can often be a gold mine when researching Australian ancestors. Wills generally list surviving heirs by name, providing confirmation of family relationships. Probate records which document the handling of the estate through the court, whether the deceased died testate (with a will) or intestate (without a will), may help identify where family members were living at the time, including those residing in other Australian states, or even back in Great Britain. For more information on the valuable genealogical clues estate records can provide, see Probing into Probate Records. There is no central archive of wills in Australia. Instead, wills and probate registers are maintained by each Australian state, generally through the probate registry or probate office of the Supreme Court. Some states have transferred their early wills and probates, or provided copies, to the State Archives or Public Record Office. Many Australian probate records have also been filmed by the Family History Library, but some of these films are not permitted to be circulated to Family History Centers. How to Locate Australian Wills Probate Records AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORYRecords begin in 1911Indexes to wills and probate records in the Australian Capital Territory have not been published, and the records are not available online. ACT Supreme Court Registry4 Knowles PlaceCanberra ACT 2601 NEW SOUTH WALESRecords begin in 1800The Supreme Court NSW Probate Division has published an index to probates granted in NSW between 1800 and 1985, available in the NSW State Records Authority reading room and many major libraries (not available online). An index to early wills not included in the regular probate series is available online. Probate packets and wills from 1817 through 1965 have been transferred from the Supreme Court to the State Records Authority of New South Wales. Many of these probate packets are indexed online in Archives Investigator, including Series 1 (1817–1873), Series 2 (1873–1876), Series 3 (1876–c.1890) and a portion of Series 4 (1928–1954). Select Simple Search and then type in the name of your ancestor (or even just a surname), plus the term death to find indexed wills and probates, including the information youll need to retrieve a copy of the full probate packet. Learn more in the NSW Archives briefs Probate Packets and Deceased Estate Files, 1880–1958. State RecordsWestern Sydney Records Centre143 OConnell StreetKingswood NSW 2747 Access to wills and probate records from 1966 to the present require an application  to the Probate Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Supreme Court of New South WalesProbate DivisionG.P.O. Box 3Sydney NSW 2000 NORTHERN TERRITORYRecords begin in 1911Indexes to Northern Territory wills and probates have been created and published on microfiche. The Family History Library has a partial set, but they are not open for circulation to Family History Centers (viewable in Salt Lake City only). Alternatively, send a SASE to the Northern Territory Registrar of Probates with details on the descendant, and they will send a return letter regarding the availability of the record and fees to obtain a copy. Registrar of ProbatesSupreme Court of the Northern TerritoryLaw Courts BuildingMitchell StreetDarwin, Northern Territory 0800 QUEENSLANDRecords begin in 1857Queensland has more will and probate records online than any other Australian state or territory, courtesy of the Queensland State Archives. Detailed information is available in their Brief Guide 19: Will Intestacy Records. Index to Wills, 1857-1940  - An online index to wills compiled from original Supreme Court files from all districts, including a few wills for people who died outside Queensland.Equity Index 1857-1899  - An online index to original Supreme Court Equity files that include the names of all people connected with a case.Instruments of Renunciation 1915-1983 - Lodged by executors who were no longer willing to administer a will, these records include many details on the deceased and estate.Trustees Files Index 1889-1929 - Files related to trusts set up under the terms of a will. Queensland State Archives435 Compton Road, RuncornBrisbane, Queensland 4113 More recent probates in Queensland are administered by and available through Queensland district court registrars. An index to the most recent probates from all districts can be searched online. Queensland eCourts Party Search – An online index to Queensland Supreme and District Court files from as early as 1992 (Brisbane) to the present. Supreme Court of Queensland, Southern DistrictGeorge StreetBrisbane, Queensland 4000 Supreme Court of Queensland, Central DistrictEast StreetRockhampton, Queensland 4700 Supreme Court of Queensland, Northern DistrictWalker StreetTownsville, Queensland 4810 SOUTH AUSTRALIARecords begin in 1832The Probate Registry Office holds wills and related documents for South Australia from 1844. Adelaide Proformat offers a fee-based probate record access service. Probate Registry OfficeSupreme Court of South Australia1 Gouger StreetAdelaide, SA 5000 TASMANIARecords begin in 1824The Archives Office of Tasmania holds most older records relating to the administration of probate in Tasmania; their Brief Guide 12: Probate includes details on all available records. The Archives Office also has an online index with digitized copies of wills (AD960) and letters of administration (AD961) up to 1989 available for online viewing. Index to Wills Letters of Administration from 1824-1989 (Tasmania) (includes digitized records) Probate RegistrySupreme Court of TasmaniaSalamanca PlaceHobart, Tasmania 7000 VICTORIARecords begin in 1841Wills and probate records created in Victoria between 1841 and 1925 have been indexed and digitized and made available online free of charge. Records of wills and probate records up to 1992 will eventually be included in this online index. Probate records after 1925 and up through about the last decade or so can be ordered through the Public Record Office of Victoria. Public Record Office Victoria99 Shiel StreetNorth Melbourne VIC 3051 Index to Wills, Probate and Administration Records 1841-1925 (Victoria) (includes digitized records) Generally, wills and probate records created within the past 7 to 10 years can be accessed through the Probate Office of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Registrar of ProbatesSupreme Court of VictoriaLevel 2: 436 Lonsdale StreetMelbourne VIC 3000 WESTERN AUSTRALIARecords from 1832Probate records and wills in Western Australia are not generally available online. See Information Sheet: Grants of Probate (Wills) and Letters of Administration from the State Records Office of Western Australia for further information. The State Records Office holds two indexes to wills and letters of administration: 1832-1939 and 1900-1993. Files up to 1947 are available at State Records Office on microfilm for viewing. State Records OfficeAlexander Library BuildingJames Street West EntrancePerth Cultural CentrePerth WA 6000 Most Supreme Court records in Western Australia, including probates, are covered by a 75 year restricted access period to protect the privacy of persons mentioned in the records. Written permission from the Supreme Court is needed before viewing. Probate Office14th Floor, 111 Georges StreetPerth WA 6000

Affordable Care Act The New Health Reform Law - 957 Words

The Affordable Care Act is the new health reform law that was signed into action on March 23, 2010. The Affordable Care Act attempts to reform the healthcare system by providing Americans with affordable health insurance. It helps put individuals, businesses, and families in control of their own healthcare. By the sound of it, it really looks like this is something that will positively impact the lives of Americans, and make it easier for individuals to obtain health insurance. Unfortunately, what many Americans are unaware of is that there are so many underlying issues that make the Affordable Care Act not so affordable. Issues such as penalties and taxes that certainly rack up the cost on individuals, businesses and even hospitals that make it difficult for people and businesses to be in â€Å"control† of their health care. The individual mandate is a â€Å"requirement stating that individuals have to obtain basic health insurance under the Affordable Care Act or pay a taxà ¢â‚¬ . The fee for not having health insurance increases drastically every single year. For example, if an individual went without health insurance in 2014, the cost was $95 per adult and $47.50 per child (up to $285 per family) or 1% of their household income above the tax return filing threshold for your filing status- whichever is greater. If an individual went without health insurance in 2015, the cost was $325 per adult and $162.50 per child ($975 per family) or 2% of their household income above the taxShow MoreRelatedHealthcare Crisis And Affordable Care Act1317 Words   |  6 PagesHealthcare Crisis Affordable Care Act During the 2008 presidential election, the issue of health care reform became a pressing issue, mainly among the Democrats. Supporters quoted that nearly 46 million Americans were uninsured while 25 million did not have sufficient health coverage. 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This essay focusesRead MoreObama Essay930 Words   |  4 PagesLaw Identification The Affordable Health Care Act also known as Obamacare is a reform law that was enacted in March of 2010 by the 111th United States Congress that had begun the last two weeks of George W. Bush’s presidency. And what they did was have a legislative branch meeting in 2010 to discuss The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that was eventually nicknamed Obamacare, that also included the Health Care and Reconciliation Act of 2010.This was an act that would ensure that all AmericansRead MoreA Comprehensive Overview Of The Affordable Care Act1713 Words   |  7 Pagespresident Barack Obama, signed into law on March 23, 2010 by President after long legislative debates, the Affordable Care Act s main purpose is to provide access to affordable and comprehensive health coverage to millions uninsured Americans who do not have coverage or adequate coverage, those who would be denied coverage under the previous insurance practice either base on pre-existing condition, gender or age, while controlling the cost of health care. (New York Time, October 26, 2014) The purpose

Report On Factors Affecting Students Choice Of Holmes Institute

Question: Describe about the Report On Factors Affecting Students Choice Of Holmes Institute. Answer: According to (Kellaghan Stufflebeam 2013), Educational evaluation encompasses a wide array of activities, including student Assessment, measurement, testing, program evaluation, school personnel evaluation, School accreditation, and curriculum evaluation. Basically these are some of the considerations that people will have in their choice of schools depending on where they can best achieve them. In this paper therefore, I will explore those factors that the sampled students consider before joining Holmes Institute. The Institute has various entry requirements that differ based on the country. Methodology Methodology refer to ways of obtaining, organizing and analyzing data (Polit Beck 2014) This section consists of the methodologies that were used in the research. It attempts to illustrate the research methods adopted for gathering of information as well as in the interpretation of research data. The section also attempts to bring out the Demographic and psychographic characteristics of the sample students. It section contains the population of study, sample, methods used to collect data. Population (Woodbridge 2014) defines population as the total number of units from which data can Be collected. The study targeted international students from the institute drawn from different countries such as Korea, Pakistan, India Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand. Hong Kong ,China, Taiwan, Singapore and Bangladesh who are pursuing courses such as Diploma in Management, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Professional Accounting, Bachelor of Fashion and Business, Master of Business administration, Master of professional Accounting and General English programs. These were males and females between the ages of 18 and 24, pursuing certificate programs, diploma and bachelors programs. The population also consisted of people of different attitudes and lifestyles. Sample A sample is a proportion of a population (Polit Beck 2014).Sampling is a process of selecting a number of individuals or options from a population such that the selected group contains elements representative of the characteristics found in the entire group (Wang 2014).A sample of 60 students from the institute was used. The sample was restricted to only International students pursuing different courses in the Institute. Out of the 60 students sampled, 30 were males while the remaining were females. The sample was also a representative of all the education levels in the institute from certificate to masters programs.15 out of the 60 were working and studying at the same time. Sampling design A research design as a blueprint for conducting a study with maximum control over factors that may interfere with the validity of the findings (Burns Grove 2011). The focus of the study was on decisions informing choice of Homes Institute by students pursuing different courses there. Simple random technique was used in getting the sample while questionnaires were used to gather information from the students selected randomly. The population was divided into strata of students from different nationalities studying in the school. Of consideration was also the nature of lifestyle lived by the student. This brought together both high, medium and low level student groups within the institute. Data collection techniques Primary data collection techniques used were. Interviews Information was also sought through interviews whereby respondents and the interviewer engaged in a direct face to face communication for the purposes of obtaining information within the school this method was chosen because it would allow us to seek clarifications from the respondents. It would also be the best method for assessing students attitudes and perceptions regarding the issue under investigation. Both genders were involved in the interviews. These also targeted people in different levels of study but majority of those interviewed were studying bachelors and diploma programs. One challenge that we encountered was the refusal by some students to be interviewed. This was solved by assuring them that the information given would be used for a noble course Questionnaires. Questionnaires were also used to collect data .These were distributed to the selected sample. There was a total of 60 questionnaires which were all filled and returned by the respondents. This was 100% response. We used unrestricted form of questionnaires to enable the respondents to give satisfactory answers because the enabled in-depth answers. Each country with a student in the school was presented in the questionnaires. This also applied to the levels of education where by each of the three levels had 20 questionnaires which were evenly distributed among the two genders. This method was used because it required less time to get the responses. It also ensured that all the questions asked were uniform, so the responses could be assessed uniformly. Secondary data collection tools. Secondary data was also used for this research. This refers to research that was conducted by other individuals before and which was not meant for this particular research. Secondary sources were particularly desirable because we wanted to find out what had been said before regarding the institution as well as other peoples opinions and views concerning it. Tools used include: Newspapers Magazines Journals Internet Results and Findings This section presents findings and results emanating from the responses by the respondents these were the results and findings that emanated from the research. The section identifies and analyzes the consumer decisions that were used by the students in choosing Holmes over other institutes offering higher education. A number of deliberations were considered as we found out in our research. Need recognition Consumer decision making processes begins with need identification. The respondents first of all identified that they had felt the need to acquire higher education .45 out of the total respondents said that the need was as a result of internal stimuli while the remaining identified a social need to be their driving force. Search for Information This is meant at identifying the available solutions to the problem. The students then embarked on information search in a bid to find out how the possible solutions that were at their disposal as far as far as the need to acquire education was concerned. They considered both information that was in their own memories, the internet as well as friends and relatives. Evaluation of alternatives. After they had all the information at their disposal they had to evaluate all alternatives that were presented to them so that they could settle on the alternative that best solved their identified need that is knowledge deficit. They evaluated all the identified institutions on their individual attributes Purchase decision A purchase decision is arrived at after a consumer has evaluated all the available alternatives. In this case after the respondents had analyzed all the alternatives they chose to purchase the services of Holmes Institute a private Institution because it presented the most appropriate solutions to their needs. Attending a private university is seen as highly desirable with a significant payoff at the end, depending on field of study (Ciriaci 2011). Their choice of Holmes over other Institutes was impacted by several factors .As identified by the respondents these were the factors. Academic Programs The institute offers a wide range of academic programs aimed at meeting the needs of a wide range of students. These range from general English programs, diploma courses such Diploma in management, bachelors courses such as Bachelor of fashion and accounting and masters programs. This is therefore one of the factors that informed the choice of this institute by some students at the expense of other institutes because they felt that their needs could be addressed better in the institute. Affordability Cost is another important factor that people put into consideration as they seek to acquire education in institutes of learning .This will enable them to join institutes whose costs are relatively fair for them and which they can easily afford. According to majority of the respondents they joined the institute because its cost is relatively cheaper as compared to acquiring education in other institutes. As far as cost is concerned also, many of them also felt that the general cost of life in Melbourne was lower as compared to other places. Academic Rating This is another factor that is likely to influence students choice of an institute of higher learning. (Ciriaci Muscio 2011) argue that good universities may act as a magnet for good brains. It was found out that preference of the institute by some students was based on its rich academic history. Those of this opinion felt that the academic rating of the institute had been improving significantly over the years since when it was founded in 1963 so they wanted to be part of this academic excellence. Safety Safe working and studying environments have been attributed to productivity, (Baharun; Awang Padlee 2011) indicated that women view safety as an important determinant factor of choice while men place more importance on scheduling and sporting activities. It was also found out that many of the female students sampled had chosen the institute because of its safe environment both internal and external, unlike their male counterparts. Safety was important to them because they could be able to focus on their studies fully without any fear as it would have been the case if they were in place where safety was not guaranteed. Qualified staff It was also found out that another attributing factor informed consumers decision was the fact that they had known that the school had highly qualified staff who would have satisfied their thirst for knowledge easily without them having to struggle very much. These members of staff are both from Australia and oversees countries. Excellence in teaching is also viewed as a strong determinant of choice (Kellaghan Stufflebeam 2013) Facilities The school also boasts of a number of facilities .It was also found out that these were critical in the decision made by the students to join the institute because such facilities were not available in other institutes. The Institute has a number of campuses such as, Gold Coast. Hong Kong, Cairns, Sydney, Brisbane and the pioneer Melbourne campus. The Institute also has modern technology at the disposal of students to enhance their learning. Its campuses can also be accessed easily within the towns in which they are located. Small Classes Generally the size of class matters as far as delivery and gaining of knowledge. While a big class might be troublesome to manage a small class becomes appropriate for both the lecturer and students. At the Institute the size of classes is quite small .This enables the students to engage sufficiently with other students and their lecturer. Tutorials also consist of small numbers of students to enable all the students to be attended to. According to our findings this was therefore one of the reasons that informed choice of the institute over others. However this feeling was predominant among the Females. Institutions that provided smaller class sizes were preferred by females but not males, (Drewes Michael 2006) Students welfare Unless in other institutes where students welfare might not be highly considered, in the institute welfare for all the students is a priority .The Institute avails and provides services to all the students equally so that all grow academically and socially. This was also a consideration factor according to the research. Accommodation Facilities According to (Velliaris Coleman-George 2016) Students often prefer different types of accommodation options which are all available at the institute of interest. These include serviced apartments, hostels, home stay and hostels. It was found out that a variety of accommodation options was also an attracting factor for the students. Recommendations Since it is crystal clear that International Students have several factors that they put into considerations before joining institutes of higher learning in other countries, there are recommendations that I would advise education providers to consider if they consider recruiting international students in their schools. First and foremost they should guarantee quality of their programs because these are what are likely to attract students .Additionally they should also consider having in place affordable rates since high costs are likely to stare potential students. They should also ensure that they source and employ the most qualified staff out there in the market so that this is reflected in the overall performance of their schools enhancing their reputations hence they will be able to attract new clients. Finally students welfare should be prioritized. This means that they should provide all the necessary services to the students without biasness for the comfort of all students so that besides retaining them they can also attract other students. If they can adhere to these recommendations their chances of being able to attract International students will be high. References: Kellaghan, T., Stufflebeam, D. L. (2013). International Handbook of Educational Evaluation. Dordrecht, Springer Netherlands. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0309-4. Burns, N., Grove, S. K., Gray, J. (2011). Understanding nursing research building an evidence-based practice. Maryland Heights, MO, Elsevier/Saunders. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truescope=sitedb=nlebkdb=nlabkAN=1167270. Ciriaci, D. and Muscio, A., 2010. Does university choice drive graduates employability?. Drewes, T. and Michael, C., 2006. How do students choose a university?: an analysis of applications to universities in Ontario, Canada. Research in Higher Education, 47(7), pp.781-800. Velliaris, D. M., Coleman-George, D. (2016). Handbook of research on study abroad programs and outbound mobility. https://services.igi-global.com/resolvedoi/resolve.aspx?doi=10.4018/978-1-5225-0169-5. Baharun, R., Awang, Z. and Padlee, S.F., 2011. International students' choice criteria for selection of higher learning in Malaysian private universities. African journal of Business management, 5(12), p.4704. Agrey, L. and Lampadan, N., 2014. Determinant factors contributing to student choice in selecting a university. Journal of Education and Human Development, 3(2), pp.391-404. International Conference OF Modern Computer SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS, DU, Z. (2013). Proceedings of the 2012 International Conference of Modern Computer Science and Applications. Berlin, Springer. https://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1082638. Bahbout, N., 2016. A Pilot Program to Promote Higher Education: Summer Support Workshop. Eidimtas, A. and Juceviciene, P., 2014. Factors influencing school-leavers decision to enrol in higher education. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116, pp.3983-3988. Biggs, J. B., Tang, C. (2011). Teaching for quality learning at university: what the student does. Maidenhead, Open University Press [u.a.]. Cole, R. W. (2008). Educating everybody's children: diverse teaching strategies for diverse learners. Alexandria, VA, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. https://www.ECU.eblib.com.au/EBLWeb/patron/?target=patronextendedid=P_350251_0. Postiglione, G. A., Mak, G. C. L. (2007). Asian higher education: an international handbook and reference guide. Westport, Conn, Greenwood Press. Wang, V. C. X. (2014). Handbook of research on education and technology in a changing society. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truescope=sitedb=nlebkdb=nlabkAN=752919. Wisdom, S., Leavitt, L. (2015). Handbook of research on advancing critical thinking in higher education. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truescope=sitedb=nlebkdb=nlabkAN=1030162. Cheng, Y. C., Cheung, A. C. K., NG, S. W. (2016). Internationalization of Higher Education The Case of Hong Kong. https://proxy.lib.uiowa.edu/login?url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-667-6. Polit, D. F., Beck, C. T. (2014). Essentials of nursing research: appraising evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer Health /Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Woodbridge, N., 2014. The EDNA model for doing research in practical theology: a biblical approach. Volume 17 March 2014, p.89.

The Day I Left Vietnam Essays - DraftCarson Hill, DraftZoro 4 Eva

The Day I Left Vietnam annon KienCuong Nguyen I still remember that day; it was July 4, 1994. My family including my parents, my three younger sisters, and I were going to leave Vietnam to come to the United States. We had permission from the United States government to come over to the United States because my father used to work for the United States Army during the Vietnam war. I woke up about eight o'clock in the morning. After breakfast, I dressed up and walked around to say good-bye to my neighborhood. Some of my neighbors wished me a good life and a better education, some told me keep in touch with them. Then I went back to my house. It was full of relatives and friends. They came to visit us for the last time and some of them would go with us to the airport. My girlfriend was inside; she was waiting for me. I met her one year ago and we fell in love after six months. When she knew I would leave, she cried a lot. I took her to the balcony where we had our privacy. We sat down and then she silently cried on my shoulders. I knew she loved me very much and did not want to let me go. She looked at me with tears and asked, Will you come back? I do not remember how many times she asked me this question. And I always replied with the answer, Yes, I will. I told her, After I finish school in America, I will come back. Then we went out to have lunch at a restaurant near my house. When we came back, everybody was ready to leave because my Dad wanted to get there early in case we had to do some paperwork. Most of people took a bus with my parents and my sisters; some had to leave because they had to take care of their businesses. The airport was near my house so I decided to take a bicycle ride with my girlfriend. We got to the airport about 2:30 p.m. There were so many people, some of them were our family some were friends and relatives of other families who had the same flight with my family. I started to say good-bye to my uncle, my aunt, my cousins, and my friends. I had four close friends who had been with me from elementary to college. We took some pictures and hugged each other the last time. It was time to get into the plane. My Dad called me. Hurry, son. I quickly gave my girlfriend the last kiss, then ran into the checking room without turning back. Then I realized my eyes were full of tears. I did not want to let anybody see me crying so I quickly cleaned my face. The plane took off fifteen minutes later. From the plane I looked down to see the land the last time. All the memories came to my mind and once again my eye was full of tears. When I stepped down to the Atlanta airport, I realized that I really left my heart.

The Ottoman Sultans Were Not Very Turkish

The Ottoman Sultans Were Not Very Turkish The Ottoman Empire ruled over what is now Turkey and a large portion of the eastern Mediterranean world from 1299 until 1923. The rulers, or sultans, of the Ottoman Empire had their paternal roots in Oghuz Turks of Central Asia, also known as the Turkmen.   The History of Concubine Mothers However, most of the sultans mothers were concubines from the royal harem - and most of the concubines were from non-Turkic, usually non-Muslim parts of the empire. Much like the boys in the Janissary corps, most concubines in the Ottoman Empire were technically members of the slave class. The Quran forbids the enslavement of fellow Muslims, so the concubines were from Christian or Jewish families in Greece or the Caucasus, or were prisoners of war from further afield. Some residents of the harem were official wives, as well, who might be noblewomen from Christian nations, married to the sultan as part of diplomatic negotiations. Although many of the mothers were slaves, they could amass incredible political power if one of their sons became the sultan. As valide sultan, or Mother Sultan, a concubine often served as de facto ruler in the name of her young or incompetent son. Ottoman Royal Genealogy The Ottoman royal genealogy begins with Osman I (r. 1299 - 1326), both of whose parents were Turks. The next sultan likewise was 100% Turkic, but beginning with the third sultan, Murad I, the sultans mothers (or valide sultan) were not of Central Asian origins. Murad I (r. 1362 - 1389) was 50% Turkish.  Bayezid Is mother was Greek, so he was 25% Turkish.   The fifth sultans mother was Oghuz, so he was 62.5% Turkish. Continuing in the fashion, Suleiman the Magnificent, the tenth sultan, had about 24% Turkish blood.   According to our calculations, by the time we get to the 36th and final sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed VI (r. 1918 - 1922), the Oghuz blood was so diluted that he was only about 0.195% Turkic. All of those generations of mothers from Greece, Poland, Venice, Russia, France, and beyond really drowned out the sultans genetic roots on the steppes of Central Asia. List of Ottoman Sultans and their Mothers Ethnicities Osman I, TurkishOrhan, TurkishMurad I, GreekBayezid I, GreekMehmed I, TurkishMurad II, TurkishMehmed II, TurkishBayezid II, TurkishSelim I, GreekSuleiman I, GreekSelim II, PolishMurad III, Italian (Venetian)Mehmed III, Italian (Venetian)Ahmed I, GreekMustafa I, AbkhazianOsman II, Greek or Serbian (?)Murad IV, GreekIbrahim, GreekMehmed IV, UkrainianSuleiman II, SerbianAhmed II, PolishMustafa II, GreekAhmed III, GreekMahmud I, GreekOsman III, SerbianMustafa III, FrenchAbdulhamid I, HungarianSelim III, GeorgianMustafa IV, BulgarianMahmud II, GeorgianAbdulmecid I, Georgian or Russian (?)Abdulaziz I, RomanianMurad V, GeorgianAbdulhamid II, Armenian or Russian (?)Mehmed V, AlbanianMehmed VI, Georgian

max weber essays

max weber essays Max Weber has written a book that is very articulate in crediting the rise and success of capitalism to the religious affiliation of those who prospered. These accounts are put forth in, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Weber discusses the Protestant religion specifically, but raises general points that illustrate the effects beliefs have on the social order. Weber speaks of the Protestant Ethic as being a work ethic in which followers of this religion incorporated their religious ideals and values into their own economic lives. The way they ran their business and their attitudes towards gaining wealth and how they would spend it was all derived from the way their religion showed them how to live all aspects of their life. On top of the work ethic there was another quality that Protestants felt to be necessary to be living life the correct way and that was individualism. This individualistic attitude can be understood to create a competitive mindset for those in business. Weber's study has produced thoughts about how we see religion. Weber does not limit religion and its importance strictly to worship, but also how it affected society and the peoples roles in acting upon their beliefs. For Weber, religion also has another function. Weber intends to conclude that religion is a practice that transcends theological devices. When Weber looks at the emergence of capitalism, he looks closely at the all of the cultural aspects of the state that could influence the economic structure. He looked at states that had adopted capitalit traits and also the ones that did not, in order to explore where it rooted. He concluded that states without a strong religion did not develop capitalit qualities. Weber does not define capitalism in this context as one ideal or form of economic strategy, but instead he plays off the idea of attitude. He talks about the work ethics of men who ...

Business Final exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Business Final exam - Essay Example For example with the development of the recent accusations against AB sugar, there is a need to strategize. Strategizing will involve analyzing the eight business environments in which the company operates. Here we analyze the people who are the end users of the product or the people we do business. Their identities, consumption behaviors, habits, needs and even their situation in life. The company AB sugar deals with a complex customer environment that includes other businesses, the government, groups, and even the individual himself (Albrecht, p6). All these people represent AB sugar’s patrons. Analysis of the consumer environment may be demographically in terms of gender, age, and their buying habits. How health conscious are they and what is their attitude towards institutions and companies like AB sugar (Albrecht, p5). Here the issue of the customer also comes up. Whom are we competing? We should aim at identifying their weaknesses, their current and previous behaviors and get to know their motives. Interaction between the potential competitor and the customer you are both aiming to do business with is an issue to look at. What are the products they are bringing into the market (Albrecht, p6)? For example, the players, in this case may be other companies in the same line of business, sugar, and who may be influencing the customer to do less business with you (Albrecht, p6). The economic environment is complex and volatile. In this case, we look mainly at the market itself. What are the latest trends, prices, and even costs? What is the market dynamics generally? AB sugar needs to be up to date with the changes taking place in the market in order to identify changes it may benefit from or those it needs to change for it to benefit (Albrecht, p6-p7). What are the new technologies developed, what are the trends in technology for example in production or marketing or what are

Literature review Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Literature review - Assignment Example Based on the above facts, Social media can be described as a communication tool that allows you to create, generate and share content with other users. Examples of social media tools are social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Wikis, blogs, tagging, live feeds among many others (Anderson, 2012). The field of social media has time and again been attacked; it is blamed for having swallowed the traditional media. However, the field of social media has relatively eased the work of the traditional media sources. In fact, I tend to think that the field of social media has opened up new avenues for the traditional media to broaden their scope and offering (Anderson, 2012). The internet has made the world a global village where one could get easy access to information, learn and conduct financial services by a click of the mouse. For the traditional media, this shouldn’t be seen as a competition but rather a new frontier to expand their horizons. Traditionally, users would receive information in a one way format. For example, a newscaster at CNN would read the news and all the rest would listen and watch; it is a one way communication. A customer of a bank, for instance, has to visit his/her local branch in case he/she has problems accessing money on the bank account. A foreign student who wished to have more information on a course offered at a local university would have to browse through pages of the university website and find no one to answer the questions that he/she may have concerning the degrees. Flash forward to nowadays, and you’ll see a newscaster through the official Facebook page, Twitter, email, even text messages mode of the station is able to receive thousands of reviews from the viewers concerning news stories that they aired. A company that places an advertisement can be able to device if its marketing strategy was successful enough. A student wishing to learn more information can use social media tools

It Is Time To Legalize Marijuana Essay -- Pro Legalize Marijuana Essays

â€Å"What goes around†¦ comes all the way back around† –Justin Timberlake. What a fitting lyric from one of today’s biggest pop stars and one that fits the X Generation perfectly. Already, we have brought â€Å"back around† old styles of fashion and music. Now, as more of our generation begins to enter the political world we are seeing a change in policies that have held firm for almost a century. More specifically, we are seeing a change in the attitude toward marijuana and whether or not it should be legalized. During the time of illegalization of marijuana, the drug had a vastly negative feeling associated with it, which many people now believe to be inaccurate and unfair. Now that people are more informed, more connected and more vocal, the United States government should allow and even encourage more research of the dangers and addictive nature of the drug which will assuredly legalize medical use and possibly recreational use to benefit people and the economy greatly. This paper will discuss many topics pertaining to marijuana. It will begin by explaining the history of marijuana in this country. Then it will discuss public opinion of marijuana and reasons for that opinion. Next, it will dispel false rumors about the effects of marijuana. It will then talk about a few disadvantages of marijuana. After it will counter those disadvantages with several advantages of marijuana. Next, it will discuss Colorado and Washington State’s situation since legalizing marijuana recreationally. It will then inform the reader of the other states pursuing legalization of marijuana in some degree. Finally it will conclude with Arkansas’s take on marijuana and efforts to get it passed medically. VOCABULARY Throughout this paper many terms will b... ...ring Opinions on Medical Marijuana. The Times-Tribune. 29 January 2014. Web. 17 February 2014. Marijuana Policy Project. The High Cost of Marijuana Prohibition in U.S. Web. 08 May 2014. Marijuana Policy Project. 2013 Top 50 Most Influential Marijuana Users. Web. 08 May 2014. Marijuana Prison Statistics. THEU1. Web. 08 May 2014. Marijuana Timeline. Frontline. Pbs.org. Web. 17 February 2014 Network, Jolie Lee. Colorado Makes $3.5M in Pot Revenue in January. USA Today. Gannett, 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 06 May 2014. Poll: Arkansas Voters Support Raising Minimum Wage, Split on Medical Marijuana. Arkansas News. Web. 08 May 2014. State Marijuana Laws Map. State Marijuana Laws Map. Web. 07 May 2014. Wile, Rob. HIGH TIMES: Legalized Pot Is Expected To Be Huge For Washington And Colorado Tax Revenue. Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 18 Nov. 2012. Web. 09 May 2014.

Implement person centred approaches in a health social care setting Essay

1.1 define person centred values.  Person centred values are there to ensure that the person using the service has all decisions about care ect. Made around them and their needs. 1.2 explain why it is important to work in a way that embeds person centred approaches to establish the needs and wishes of the individual and make sure these are met. This also means that the individual will feel empowered and have some sense of control over their lives. 1.3 explain why risk taking can be part of a person centred approach. Because taking risks involves risk assessments which the individual can be made a part of. Also it empowers individuals to make choices and take risks in their lives. see more:identify possible barriers to active participation 1.4 explain how using a persons care plan contributes to working in a person centred way. Because no two care plans are the same as they are about an individual using the care plan means we are working to suit the individual taking into account their likes and dislikes. 3.1 explain the importance of establishing consent when providing care or support. This is important as it then includes the individual in decision making, and to ensure they don’t feel ignored or under valued. 3.3 explain what steps to take if consent cannot be readily established. I would discuss the problem with my manager and possibly a doctor or advocate for the individual. Also I would make a record of this and sign and date it. 4.1 describe how participation benefits an individual  this benefits individuals as it makes them feel important and that things are done for their benefit and with their consent. This benefits the individual as it makes them an active part of making choices about their lives and how they live . 4.2 identify possible barriers to active participation emotions disabilities attitudes strict routines lack of training

Everything Is Possible

Example, Ryan and Aaron only get sales of about $17,000 in the first year but they put more effort on their business ND start to double their sales each year and eventually reach an amount of $1 5 million a year. Although they gain a lot of profit through the large amount of sales, but they bravely plow most of the money back to the firm so that the profit of the firm can grow dramatically in a short time. This shows that we need to be brave to face the risk so that we can get a better result in our business.Before Ryan and Aaron start their business, they set a goal for themselves which is to help small businesses to compete with large businesses by having an inexpensive way which is by rumoring online. The above shows that we need to set a goal first before start working on something so that we won't confuse when we are middle of our working. Ryan and Aaron also realized the American economy and made good use of the internet and other technology. It will be hard if we don't underst and the economy of our working area.It will be more easily to start a business when we understand the economy of our working area. Not only that, if we made good use of the internet and the technology around us, we will be able to minimize our work and maximize the result. Lastly, Ryan and Aaron hire smart people and train them well to work with them so that they can handle a diverse customer base. This show that we needs to hire not only good but also smart employees so that we can higher our profit and lower our expenditure.Answer for question 2 Stakeholders of ‘Contact are people and groups affected by, or that can effect an organizations operations, policies, and decisions of [Contact. To balance the need of the stakeholders, we need to prioritize business and stakeholders needs. In order to feel like the company is still yours without offending or losing big stakeholders that intricate money to keep your company in business you need to take a moment and prioritize busines s needs and stakeholders' needs.This means that we have to capture business processes and link them to projects software and capabilities. We will also need to modify our procrastination as our understanding of the application an s Keener needs change. We need to take Into consideration ten customer needs as well by involving them in the project. Center development activities around stakeholder needs are also one of the ways to balance the need of the stakeholders. By leveraging certain developments or user center designs we can accept the fact that stakeholder needs will change over time.As our business changes so will the needs of the stakeholders and we will also need to meet their changing needs. The most important way is to understand available assets. By understanding what assets are available to the business we can also balance asset reuse with stakeholders needs. Some examples of business assets would be legacy applications, reusable components, etc. Answer for question 3 Th e two entrepreneurs most impressed me is that we are almost the same age when hey starts their business.By their age, I'm still studying but they already started their own business and started to earn money by themselves. They are also very brave to face the risk. As we know, they plowed most of the money back to the firm so that the firm can grow dramatically over time which shows that they are very brave to face the risk. They seem very different from the typical college student. Usually, a typical college student Just represents certain subject or society in the college, but they starts they own business which is no relation with the college.

Mary Stuart †Elizabeths Rival †English Literature Essay (100 Level Course)

Mary Stuart – Elizabeths Rival – English Literature Essay (100 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Mary Stuart Elizabeths Rival Essay English Literature (100 Level Course) Mary Queen of Scots was Elizabeth’s great rival. She was very different from her cousin Elizabeth; she was a warm-blooded woman, who often yield ed to her private passions, and lacked the instinctive political skill and deep understanding of her people possessed by the queen of England.Mary Stuart was the grand-daughter of Henry VIII’s sister, Margaret, and next in succession after Elizabeth. She was sent to France in 1548, and in 1558 married the Dauphin of France, Francis II. In 1559 Francis became King of France, but he died in the following year. Mary returned to her country in 1561. When Mary had married the Dauphin, Scotland was still a Catholic country, but the great prelates were often corrupt and inefficient. The common people opposed the privileges and corrupt practices of the clergy, as well as the insolence of the French troops, who, in Mary’s absence, ruled Scotland as if it were a Protectorate of France. As the English had identified Catholicism with Spanish pride, so the Scots began to identify it with French insolence. This was the situation which John Knox, a Scottish Protestant reformer of Calvinistic tendency, was able to exploit by preaching the Protestant doctrines. He was successful because he had the help of many of the nobles, and of Queen Elizabeth, who was afraid of a Catholic Scotland. When Mary returned to Scotland, she thus found a Protestant country; she was nevertheless supported by the Catholic powers of France and Spain, who hoped that she would reintroduce Catholicism into Scotland, or that she would become Queen of England, if Elizabeth were declared illegitimate or died. For several years, however, Elizabeth did not interfere in the struggles between Mary, the Scottish nobles and John Knox. Mary would probably have been successful if she had been able to control her private life. But she married a descendant of the Tudors, Lord Darnley, who was mysteriously murdered in 1567. After three months, Mary then married a Scottish lord, the Earl of Bothwell, who was suspected of the murder of Darnley. Public opinion, the Pope, France and Spain abandoned the Queen. Many feudal lords took up arms against her. After some months of fighting, Mary was taken prisoner and deposed in favor of her son, James. She escaped from prison, and took refuge in England. Elizabeth kept her a virtual prisoner for nineteen years, from 1568 to 1587, but Mary became the centre of several plots. These were planned by Spain and by the extreme wing of the English Catholics, who wanted to see a Catholic queen on the throne of England again. Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth, but the majority of the English were for their queen, and the Commons repeatedly asked for the execution of Mary. For many years Elizabeth refused, partly because Mary was her cousin, a woman and anointed queen. partly be cause she knew that Mary’s execution would lead to a war with Spain, which England could not yet afford- Only in February 1587, after the discovery of the latest plot, did Elizabeth consent to her cousin’s execution: on February 8, Mary was beheaded, a tragic figure in a great and tragic age. Research Papers on Mary Stuart - Elizabeth's Rival - English Literature Essay (100 Level Course)Quebec and CanadaAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Assess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeBringing Democracy to AfricaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesPETSTEL analysis of IndiaBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XMind Travel19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

The Balance Sheet essays

The Balance Sheet essays Although the balance sheet was first implemented just a couple of centuries ago, it has quckly developed and sophisticated to become nowadays a widely used and powerful tool in the hands of professional users, well known and popular even among the mass public. In spite of its prominence, or may be because of it, the balance sheet can not be easily and fully described in a few words, but still, if we leave aside its various functions and forms and any other subjective factors, we can state that the balance sheet is a summary of an enterprises' assets, liabilities and equity at a specific moment of time. To simplify this description even further we could say that the balance sheet shows an entity's possessions, obligations and others' debts to it. The "objective" point of view however is often too restrictive, and the most simple things many times prove to be rather complex... Among the thousand more complex definitions appended to the balance sheet one of my favorites is the definition given by .... according to which the balance sheet is a statement meant to communicate information about the financial position of an enterprise at a particular point in time, summarizing the information contained in accounting records in a clear and intelligible form, giving information about the financial state of an enterprise and indicating the relative liquidity of the assets, showing the liabilities of the enterprise (i.e. what the enterprise owes and when these amounts will fall due), able to assist the user in evaluating the financial position of the enterprise, being however only part of the data needed by users. Or to summarize this long description with which I completely agree, I could say that although the balance sheet is one of the most outstanding instruments in the hands of financial analysts, managers, investors and other users, its importance should not be over emphasized, it has to be viewed along with many other documents, and...

Intercultural Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Intercultural Communication - Essay Example Cultural Patterns includes the common beliefs, norms, values, and social practices of a particular community of persons (Lustig & Koester, 2013). The cultural pattern of the Egyptian Muslim group is different from the cultural patterns of Emily’s Roman Catholic group. Mediated communication brings people of diverse cultures, like me and Emily, together (Durant, 2009). In terms of culture, the value of my Muslim and Egyptian group is clearly different from the values of the Roman Catholic Portuguese group. Muslims pray differently from the Roman Catholic devotees. Values, including religious and cultural values, can be described as what one group believes as right or wrong. For example, the Muslims espouse Mohammad is Allah’s messenger and Jesus is a Prophet. However, the Roman Catholics insist that Jesus Christ is a God. Muslims do not celebrate Christmas whereas Roman Catholics celebrate Christmas, the day Mother Mary gave birth to the Christian’s savior, Jesus Christ. Likewise, the Muslims visit Mecca once in their lifetime, when finances allow. On the other hand, the Roman Catholics can visit Jerusalem, the Holiest place of the Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and other Christian groups to celebrate how the God Jesus Christ took the form of a man to save mankind from Satan’s evil embrace and bring the Christians to Paradise (Durant, 2009). Further, it is basically similar to clarity of language communication messages within my culture group and within the other person’s culture. Both Muslim and Roman Catholic groups use similar body language to show how one feels. Both groups comfortably communicate information within their own group. Muslims use the Koran during their religious discussions. On the other hand, the Roman Catholics use the Holy Bible as the center of their Christian beliefs (Durant, 2009). Furthermore, the member of one group can increase knowledge on the other group’s culture (Lustig & Koester, 201 3). Understanding the other group’s culture is a big step towards ensuring cooperation and camaraderie between the two different groups. Next, the members of the two different groups shall have the motivation to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two groups. Communication includes understanding (Tanova, 2010). Also, culture influences how communication is understood (Tanova, 2010). Members of both religious groups must accept the different culture of the other religious group. Instead of forcing one’s religion on the other group, one group must learn to accept the other group’s religious preferences. Forcing one’s beliefs on others equates to discrimination. Part II. Communication can be described as the transfer of messages from one person to another (Lustig & Koester, 2013). The Egyptian person uses English language to communicate with the Portuguese correspondent. The Egyptians inherit the Egyptian culture and language from their parents and grandparents. Likewise, the Portuguese person inherits the Portuguese culture from one’s own parents and grandparents. Further, language communication includes two types (Lustig & Koester, 2013). The first type is spoken communication. Most Egyptian immigrants to the United States, like me, use the English spoken language to discuss topics to the Portuguese friend. The Portuguese frien

Sexual harrassment in the workplace Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sexual harrassment in the workplace - Article Example The writer believes that sexual harassment is a costly matter at company level and on a personal level for the victims. Consequences companies can face are in three levels: business consequences, legal consequences and personal consequences. Business consequences are such as low productivity among staff members. Sexual harassment reduces the victims’ morale. Some victims who were valuable to the company end up resigning from their jobs. Companies would also have to deal with unnecessary operational costs. In a hypothetical situation, these costs are identifiable when a senior member of the staff in the company goes on a business trip with a junior staff member. The senior member wants the junior member to satisfy their sexual needs and work related obligations. In that case, the cost incurred in funding the junior member’s trip is a waste of company resources (Prekel, 2010). The writer argues that the consequences also extend to a company’s reputation. For exampl e, the writer postulates a situation whereby somebody discovers that a company has cases of sexual harassment. The person finds out again that the management of that the company is lax in dealing with the harassment cases. The writer states that this revelation would dent the company’s image among clients and the public. Consequences under legal actions are such as costs the company will have to incur in litigation. By law, employers should account for any cases of sexual harassment under their purview regardless of their knowledge or ignorance of sexual harassment at the workplace. Another possible consequence could be that a harasser who has faced disciplinary action can take advantage of the fact that, the company does not have a clear sexual harassment policy to challenge the action taken against him. This reaction means that the company would have to incur the cost of defending their action in a court of law financially. On a personal level, victims get

To what extent has the CCTV camera reduced the crime in the uk Essay

To what extent has the CCTV camera reduced the crime in the uk - Essay Example proponents of this technology; with an approximated 1.9 million CCTVs in 2011-which easily translates into 1 camera for every 32 UK residents-with this number rising daily. Estimates also claim that the average Briton is normally caught on CCTV 300 times every day. This paper aims at exploring the effectiveness of CCTV in crime reduction in UK (Fenwick, 2012). The use of CCTVs in tackling crime in UK has greatly grown over the past decade. No official figure exists for how many cameras are currently in use, although on the basis of academic research, a 4.2 million figure has been frequently cited. Whereas the underlying principle for use of CCTV has been that it aids in prevention of crime, numerous studies have queried the assumptions behind this claim; drawing attention to a complex variety of factors that must be considered when evaluating the effectiveness of CCTVs. A 2007 Campbell Collaboration report stated that CCTV has a â€Å"modest but significant desirable effect on crime†, however its usage must be more closely targeted than it is at present (Siegel,2015). The beginnings of CCTV usage for public places in UK dates back at the start of 1980s. From then, CCTV system usage has gradually, but considerably expanded. The initial systems were financed in a few places by the local businesses or the police, however, in most of cases local authorities via what were referred to as Safer Cities or City Challenge Initiatives. Successive Government financing assumed the shape of CCTV Challenge Competition between 1994 and 1999, whereby 38.5 million pounds was availed for about 585 schemes throughout the country. Consequently, between 1999 to 2003, core investment was started in public space CCTV via the Home Office-funded Crime Reduction Programme (CRP).Thus, a sum of 170 million pounds of capital financing was availed to local authorities after a bidding process. The coming to an end of the Crime Reduction Programme indicated the finishing of a devoted central

Culture Shock Essay Example for Free

Culture Shock Essay Studying, working or living abroad can be a wonderful experience. However, this can also be an awful time in one’s life with some people finding a lot of discomfort in adapting to a new society. This impact of moving from a familiar culture to one which is unfamiliar is referred to as culture shock. It includes the different feelings and apprehension people have when learning the ways of a different society. This paper looks at this â€Å"occupational disease† as is commonly known. The term ‘culture shock’ was first used by the anthropologist Oberg back in 1960. According to Oberg, there are six main aspects of culture shock. The first is strain, an effect caused by the effort to adapt. Another aspect is a sense of loss and feelings of deprivation in relation to friends, status, profession and possessions. A third common aspect which especially affects people who relocate to a new environment without prior familiarisation with the environment’s culture and way of life is a feeling of rejection by the members of the new culture, or even rejecting the members. Confusion in roles, values and self-identity is another equally significant aspect of culture shock. A certain variety of people may experience anxiety and even disgust or anger about practices they may encounter in their new environment. Last but not least, Oberg identified â€Å"feelings of helplessness†, a case where one may be unable to cope with the new environment. Despite the many negative descriptions that Oberg gave about culture shock, in all its diverse firms, it has been acknowledged as a part of a successful process of adaptation. (Marx, 2001, 5) Culture shock has several stages and the many symptoms known usually occur after the first stage, the honeymoon stage. The honeymoon stage is an excitement stage experienced in the first few weeks of an individual’s relocation to a new environment. The honeymoon stage may last for even months, depending on certain circumstances, such as the person’s popularity. For instance, a well-known person may experience a long honeymoon stage, where he or she may be taken to the show places and given special attention. This experience may not last for long if the person is forced by circumstances to remain in the place for a long period of time. It is then that the person may start having a hostile and aggressive attitude towards the host country, and many symptoms may occur. (World wide classroom, 2008) For example, excessive concern over cleanliness, where one may find the new and strange experiences in-appropriate or plain â€Å"dirty†, especially in relation to drinking water, food and bedding. Another common symptom is a desire for dependence on long term residents of one’s own nationality. Other symptoms such as the fear of physical contact with attendants or servants, irritation over delays and other minor frustrations out of their proportion to their causes, excessive fear of being cheated, robbed or injured, great concern over minor pains and irruptions of the skin, delay and outright refusal to learn the language of the host country; and most significantly, the terrible longing to be in familiar environment, a situation where one would miss one’s relatives and friends. (World wide classroom, 2008) Everyone has been known to be affected by culture shock. Some people adapt quite easily, but others may take years to fully adapt to their new environment. It is therefore critical to understand how to deal with it. Culture shock is unavoidable, despite a person’s status or circumstances. However, various ways have been identified of minimizing it. Some of these steps include, firstly, allowing time to find out about culture shock, which may involve tasks such as reading and carrying out research about the intended place of destination, a step which encompasses learning to recognize the symptoms and their potential impact. Secondly, expecting culture shock to happen is an important step. This should be irrespective of location or distance, as culture shock is likely to occur in a neighbouring country as much as in a far country. The third step is identifying all the opportunities for building support networks with local people as soon as early as possible. Another equally important step to remember is not to give in to any stressful situation. Learning from people who have undergone similar experiences is an invaluable step as someone is able to avoid certain mistakes, hence adapting faster and easier. In some extreme cases, symptoms may persist despite a person’s coping efforts. In such situations, then one is advised to seek professional help through counselors or medical profession. It is critical to remember that reverse culture shock, a situation where the symptoms of culture shock re-occur to people when they get back home is equally normal. Most importantly, is to think about the positive aspects of culture shock; it is worthy noting that people who experience culture shock adapt better than those who do not. (Marx, 2001, 18) According to recent research, the more well-traveled and practiced at absorbing, accepting and adapting one is, the more easily one overcomes culture shock. Good adjustment to a new environment ensures that one competently performs the roles that each social context requires, thus avoiding frustrations resulting from inappropriate behaviour. (International Education, 2008) Managing culture shock is a skill which is increasingly gaining importance in almost all career fields, and can be of invaluable help to international students, job relocation and even living outside a person’s native country. Despite the many painful experiences associated with culture shock, minimizing it using the steps aforementioned can greatly assist in adapting to a new society hence maximizing one’s time and resources. Works Cited: Eickelmann C. , The International Educational Site: Studying abroad and Culture Shock. Retrieved 29 November, 2008 from: http://www. intstudy. com/articles/ec184a13. htm Marx E. (2001) Breaking through Culture Shock: What You Need to Succeed in International Business. Nicholas Brealey Publishing. World Wide Classroom. (2006) Culture Shock and the Problem of Adjustment to New Cultural environments Retrieved 29 November, 2008 from: http://www. worldwide. edu/about/index. html

The Establishment of the Electoral College Essay -- essays research pa

The Electoral College is the system established by the Founding Fathers to select the President of the United States. It is important that Americans have a fundamental knowledge of this system, and the obstacles overcame in its development. There were many obstacles faced by the Founding Fathers while constructing the government. America was comprised of 13 states that wanted to protect their individual rights and leery of a strong centralized government. The nation’s population lay across a vast area with limited communication capabilities. In addition, the Founders believed that a true gentleman should not campaign for office. â€Å"The office should seek the man, the man should not seek the office† was the saying. They challenged themselves with overcoming these and other obstacles in order to produce a system that would provide a stable and powerful executive branch of government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Constitutional Congress set out to develop a way to select the president. One idea proposed was to have Congress elect the president. Some felt that this procedure would invite political bargaining and corruption. They felt the president might feel obligated to aid Congress in passing legislation by not vetoing. Others felt this system would upset the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government. In spite of its drawbacks, this system was brought to a vote on four separate occasions(Peirce 39). A second idea was to have the president elected by a direct vote system. Many people did not believe in this type of system, however three very prominent figures did: James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and James Madison(Peirce 41). They believed that the duty of the president was to protect the people from the legislature, and that the people should be allowed to their protector. However, most of the Founders believed that the average citi zen would not have enough knowledge of the candidates to make an educated choice. They believed that the people were generally misinformed and easily misled(Peirce 41). The direct vote system also favored the larger more populated states with little regard for the people of the smaller ones. This system was voted down twice, but aided in recognizing the drawbacks of the Congress electing the president(Peirce 41). A third idea was to have the state legislatures select the president. This idea w... ...tate is allowed to cast only one vote collectively. This applies to the election of vice president also. In addition, either the presidential or the vice presidential candidate voted for by the elector has to be from outside that elector’s own state.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Electoral College has been used as the system to select the President of the United States for over two hundred years. The system was devised by the Founding Fathers to ensure that the selected president would receive the support of all the states. The system helped to maintain a strong centralized government and union. The Electoral College has been used to maintain a fair presidential selection system with little room for corruption or favoritism. It has been a part of our system of checks and balances by maintaining a clearly defined separation of the legislative and executive branches. There have been some bumps along the way, however the Electoral College is still an essential part of our elections system. Works Cited Glennon, Michael J. When No Majority Rules. Washington: Congressional Quarterly Inc, 1992. Peirce, Neal R. The People’s President. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1968.

Condoms should be distributed in schools: agree or disagree Essay

The topic of sex is a very controversial matter especially among teenagers. Teenagers are at a point in their lives where hormones are at a high and they feel the need to indulge in sexual activities. Therefore it is important that teenagers understand the importance of safe sex and the consequences of unprotected sex. There are many factors affecting Jamaican high school students as they increasingly participate in unprotected sexual acts and as such condoms should be distributed as they help to reduce these factors; mainly the high teen pregnancy rate, the high STD/STI rate and also the ineffectiveness of abstinence. The first major factor faced by high school students is teenage pregnancy. According to (Guttmacher Institute, 2010), teenagers (aged 15–19) who do not use a contraceptive during sex are twice as likely to become teen mothers; this has become the newest trend among teenage girls. It has also been noticed among health authorities that there is a significant rise in teenage pregnancies, according to (Watson, 2011) from the Jamaican Gleaner; adolescent pregnancy continues to be a major public-health challenge in Jamaica, approximately 18 per cent of children born in Jamaica are attributed to adolescent girls and as such condoms should be distributed in schools as a counter measure. Watson also stated that more than 60 of every 100 pregnancies (66.2 percent) among adolescent girls in the age group 15-19 years were unplanned in 2008. As a result of these findings it can clearly be seen that there is a need for condoms to be distributed in schools to help reduce/ control the teenage pregnancy rate. The second major factor is sexually transmitted diseases commonly known as STD’s. According to (Hirsch, L, MD, 2010) STD’s have become increasingly common among teens. It is well known that latex condoms are the only form of birth control that reduces the risk of contracting a STD, and must be used every time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2012 supports this by stating that the correct and consistent use of male latex condoms can reduce the risk of STD transmission, including HIV infection. As a result of this, condoms should be made readily available to students. A study done by (Horn & Keough, 2012) reported that  12 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases occur each year, 3 million (or 25 percent) are among teenagers about 13 percent of youth ages 13 to 19 contract a STD each year; this is a very high percentage of teenagers, if condoms were to be distributed there would be a significant decrease. Another major factor is the increasing ineffectiveness of abstinence programs. Students have begun to neglect this message as they explore their sexuality. According to (Toledo, 2011) schools using abstinence-only sex education programs have significantly higher teenage pregnancy and birth rates than schools with more comprehensive sex education programs. Supporting this is (Douglas, 2008) who states studies show that most abstinence programs did not delay initiation of sex and only 3 of 9 had any significant positive effects on any sexual behaviour. If we cannot convince students to abstain from sexual activities, we should promote safe sex in schools by distributing condoms. An article written by (Stepp, 2007) supports this by stating that a study authorized by Congress in the United States of America in 1997 following 2000 children from elementary or middle school to high school concluded that abstinence-only sex education does not keep teenagers from having sex. Some may argue that condoms should not be distributed in high schools because they promote sexual activities and also due to the fact that schools are institutions of education. According to (Cullinan, 2004), there will be a problem if teachers distribute condoms, as they will be seen to be promoting sexual activity. Cullinan futher states that education is about providing information; we can provide the information about condoms and where to get them, but they should not be distributed in schools. However, I believe that providing information is not enough, it is better that condoms are easily available to students. Condoms do not promote sexual activity, they just provide protection; (Quigle, 2003) states that condom availability was not associated with greater sexual activity among adolescents but was associated with greater condom use among those who were already sexually active. Supporting this is (Fisher, 2011) who states that paediatric studies show the availability of condoms does not increase sexual activity but can decrease unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. In conclusion, I believe that distributing condoms in high school is a great first step as there are many factors affecting Jamaican high school students as they increasingly participate in  unprotected sexual acts and as such condoms should be distributed as they help to reduce these factors; mainly the high teen pregnancy rate, the high STD/STI rate and also the ineffectiveness of abstinence.

Angels Demons Chapter 9-12

9 The corpse on the floor before Langdon was hideous. The late Leonardo Vetra lay on his back, stripped naked, his skin bluish-gray. His neck bones were jutting out where they had been broken, and his head was twisted completely backward, pointing the wrong way. His face was out of view, pressed against the floor. The man lay in a frozen puddle of his own urine, the hair around his shriveled genitals spidered with frost. Fighting a wave of nausea, Langdon let his eyes fall to the victim's chest. Although Langdon had stared at the symmetrical wound a dozen times on the fax, the burn was infinitely more commanding in real life. The raised, broiled flesh was perfectly delineated†¦ the symbol flawlessly formed. Langdon wondered if the intense chill now raking through his body was the air-conditioning or his utter amazement with the significance of what he was now staring at. Angels & Demons His heart pounded as he circled the body, reading the word upside down, reaffirming the genius of the symmetry. The symbol seemed even less conceivable now that he was staring at it. â€Å"Mr. Langdon?† Langdon did not hear. He was in another world†¦ his world, his element, a world where history, myth, and fact collided, flooding his senses. The gears turned. â€Å"Mr. Langdon?† Kohler's eyes probed expectantly. Langdon did not look up. His disposition now intensified, his focus total. â€Å"How much do you already know?† â€Å"Only what I had time to read on your website. The word Illuminati means ‘the enlightened ones.' It is the name of some sort of ancient brotherhood.† Langdon nodded. â€Å"Had you heard the name before?† â€Å"Not until I saw it branded on Mr. Vetra.† â€Å"So you ran a web search for it?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"And the word returned hundreds of references, no doubt.† â€Å"Thousands,† Kohler said. â€Å"Yours, however, contained references to Harvard, Oxford, a reputable publisher, as well as a list of related publications. As a scientist I have come to learn that information is only as valuable as its source. Your credentials seemed authentic.† Langdon's eyes were still riveted on the body. Kohler said nothing more. He simply stared, apparently waiting for Langdon to shed some light on the scene before them. Langdon looked up, glancing around the frozen flat. â€Å"Perhaps we should discuss this in a warmer place?† â€Å"This room is fine.† Kohler seemed oblivious to the cold. â€Å"We'll talk here.† Langdon frowned. The Illuminati history was by no means a simple one. I'll freeze to death trying to explain it. He gazed again at the brand, feeling a renewed sense of awe. Although accounts of the Illuminati emblem were legendary in modern symbology, no academic had ever actually seen it. Ancient documents described the symbol as an ambigram – ambi meaning â€Å"both† – signifying it was legible both ways. And although ambigrams were common in symbology – swastikas, yin yang, Jewish stars, simple crosses – the idea that a word could be crafted into an ambigram seemed utterly impossible. Modern symbologists had tried for years to forge the word â€Å"Illuminati† into a perfectly symmetrical style, but they had failed miserably. Most academics had now decided the symbol's existence was a myth. â€Å"So who are the Illuminati?† Kohler demanded. Yes, Langdon thought, who indeed? He began his tale. â€Å"Since the beginning of history,† Langdon explained, â€Å"a deep rift has existed between science and religion. Outspoken scientists like Copernicus – â€Å" â€Å"Were murdered,† Kohler interjected. â€Å"Murdered by the church for revealing scientific truths. Religion has always persecuted science.† â€Å"Yes. But in the 1500s, a group of men in Rome fought back against the church. Some of Italy's most enlightened men – physicists, mathematicians, astronomers – began meeting secretly to share their concerns about the church's inaccurate teachings. They feared that the church's monopoly on ‘truth' threatened academic enlightenment around the world. They founded the world's first scientific think tank, calling themselves ‘the enlightened ones.' â€Å" â€Å"The Illuminati.† â€Å"Yes,† Langdon said. â€Å"Europe's most learned minds†¦ dedicated to the quest for scientific truth.† Kohler fell silent. â€Å"Of course, the Illuminati were hunted ruthlessly by the Catholic Church. Only through rites of extreme secrecy did the scientists remain safe. Word spread through the academic underground, and the Illuminati brotherhood grew to include academics from all over Europe. The scientists met regularly in Rome at an ultrasecret lair they called the Church of Illumination.† Kohler coughed and shifted in his chair. â€Å"Many of the Illuminati,† Langdon continued, â€Å"wanted to combat the church's tyranny with acts of violence, but their most revered member persuaded them against it. He was a pacifist, as well as one of history's most famous scientists.† Langdon was certain Kohler would recognize the name. Even nonscientists were familiar with the ill-fated astronomer who had been arrested and almost executed by the church for proclaiming that the sun, and not the earth, was the center of the solar system. Although his data were incontrovertible, the astronomer was severely punished for implying that God had placed mankind somewhere other than at the center of His universe. â€Å"His name was Galileo Galilei,† Langdon said. Kohler looked up. â€Å"Galileo?† â€Å"Yes. Galileo was an Illuminatus. And he was also a devout Catholic. He tried to soften the church's position on science by proclaiming that science did not undermine the existence of God, but rather reinforced it. He wrote once that when he looked through his telescope at the spinning planets, he could hear God's voice in the music of the spheres. He held that science and religion were not enemies, but rather allies – two different languages telling the same story, a story of symmetry and balance†¦ heaven and hell, night and day, hot and cold, God and Satan. Both science and religion rejoiced in God's symmetry†¦ the endless contest of light and dark.† Langdon paused, stamping his feet to stay warm. Kohler simply sat in his wheelchair and stared. â€Å"Unfortunately,† Langdon added, â€Å"the unification of science and religion was not what the church wanted.† â€Å"Of course not,† Kohler interrupted. â€Å"The union would have nullified the church's claim as the sole vessel through which man could understand God. So the church tried Galileo as a heretic, found him guilty, and put him under permanent house arrest. I am quite aware of scientific history, Mr. Langdon. But this was all centuries ago. What does it have to do with Leonardo Vetra?† The million dollar question. Langdon cut to the chase. â€Å"Galileo's arrest threw the Illuminati into upheaval. Mistakes were made, and the church discovered the identities of four members, whom they captured and interrogated. But the four scientists revealed nothing†¦ even under torture.† â€Å"Torture?† Langdon nodded. â€Å"They were branded alive. On the chest. With the symbol of a cross.† Kohler's eyes widened, and he shot an uneasy glance at Vetra's body. â€Å"Then the scientists were brutally murdered, their dead bodies dropped in the streets of Rome as a warning to others thinking of joining the Illuminati. With the church closing in, the remaining Illuminati fled Italy.† Langdon paused to make his point. He looked directly into Kohler's dead eyes. â€Å"The Illuminati went deep underground, where they began mixing with other refugee groups fleeing the Catholic purges – mystics, alchemists, occultists, Muslims, Jews. Over the years, the Illuminati began absorbing new members. A new Illuminati emerged. A darker Illuminati. A deeply anti-Christian Illuminati. They grew very powerful, employing mysterious rites, deadly secrecy, vowing someday to rise again and take revenge on the Catholic Church. Their power grew to the point where the church considered them the single most dangerous anti-Christian force on earth. The Vatican denounced the brotherhood as Shaitan.† â€Å"Shaitan?† â€Å"It's Islamic. It means ‘adversary'†¦ God's adversary. The church chose Islam for the name because it was a language they considered dirty.† Langdon hesitated. â€Å"Shaitan is the root of an English word†¦Satan.† An uneasiness crossed Kohler's face. Langdon's voice was grim. â€Å"Mr. Kohler, I do not know how this marking appeared on this man's chest†¦ or why†¦ but you are looking at the long-lost symbol of the world's oldest and most powerful satanic cult.† 10 The alley was narrow and deserted. The Hassassin strode quickly now, his black eyes filling with anticipation. As he approached his destination, Janus's parting words echoed in his mind. Phase two begins shortly. Get some rest. The Hassassin smirked. He had been awake all night, but sleep was the last thing on his mind. Sleep was for the weak. He was a warrior like his ancestors before him, and his people never slept once a battle had begun. This battle had most definitely begun, and he had been given the honor of spilling first blood. Now he had two hours to celebrate his glory before going back to work. Sleep? There are far better ways to relax†¦ An appetite for hedonistic pleasure was something bred into him by his ancestors. His ascendants had indulged in hashish, but he preferred a different kind of gratification. He took pride in his body – a well-tuned, lethal machine, which, despite his heritage, he refused to pollute with narcotics. He had developed a more nourishing addiction than drugs†¦ a far more healthy and satisfying reward. Feeling a familiar anticipation swelling within him, the Hassassin moved faster down the alley. He arrived at the nondescript door and rang the bell. A view slit in the door opened, and two soft brown eyes studied him appraisingly. Then the door swung open. â€Å"Welcome,† the well-dressed woman said. She ushered him into an impeccably furnished sitting room where the lights were low. The air was laced with expensive perfume and musk. â€Å"Whenever you are ready.† She handed him a book of photographs. â€Å"Ring me when you have made your choice.† Then she disappeared. The Hassassin smiled. As he sat on the plush divan and positioned the photo album on his lap, he felt a carnal hunger stir. Although his people did not celebrate Christmas, he imagined that this is what it must feel like to be a Christian child, sitting before a stack of Christmas presents, about to discover the miracles inside. He opened the album and examined the photos. A lifetime of sexual fantasies stared back at him. Marisa. An Italian goddess. Fiery. A young Sophia Loren. Sachiko. A Japanese geisha. Lithe. No doubt skilled. Kanara. A stunning black vision. Muscular. Exotic. He examined the entire album twice and made his choice. He pressed a button on the table beside him. A minute later the woman who had greeted him reappeared. He indicated his selection. She smiled. â€Å"Follow me.† After handling the financial arrangements, the woman made a hushed phone call. She waited a few minutes and then led him up a winding marble staircase to a luxurious hallway. â€Å"It's the gold door on the end,† she said. â€Å"You have expensive taste.† I should, he thought. I am a connoisseur. The Hassassin padded the length of the hallway like a panther anticipating a long overdue meal. When he reached the doorway he smiled to himself. It was already ajar†¦ welcoming him in. He pushed, and the door swung noiselessly open. When he saw his selection, he knew he had chosen well. She was exactly as he had requested†¦ nude, lying on her back, her arms tied to the bedposts with thick velvet cords. He crossed the room and ran a dark finger across her ivory abdomen. I killed last night, he thought. You are my reward. 11 â€Å"Satanic?† Kohler wiped his mouth and shifted uncomfortably. â€Å"This is the symbol of a satanic cult?† Langdon paced the frozen room to keep warm. â€Å"The Illuminati were satanic. But not in the modern sense.† Langdon quickly explained how most people pictured satanic cults as devil-worshiping fiends, and yet Satanists historically were educated men who stood as adversaries to the church. Shaitan. The rumors of satanic black-magic animal sacrifices and the pentagram ritual were nothing but lies spread by the church as a smear campaign against their adversaries. Over time, opponents of the church, wanting to emulate the Illuminati, began believing the lies and acting them out. Thus, modern Satanism was born. Kohler grunted abruptly. â€Å"This is all ancient history. I want to know how this symbol got here.† Langdon took a deep breath. â€Å"The symbol itself was created by an anonymous sixteenth-century Illuminati artist as a tribute to Galileo's love of symmetry – a kind of sacred Illuminati logo. The brotherhood kept the design secret, allegedly planning to reveal it only when they had amassed enough power to resurface and carry out their final goal.† Kohler looked unsettled. â€Å"So this symbol means the Illuminati brotherhood is resurfacing?† Langdon frowned. â€Å"That would be impossible. There is one chapter of Illuminati history that I have not yet explained.† Kohler's voice intensified. â€Å"Enlighten me.† Langdon rubbed his palms together, mentally sorting through the hundreds of documents he'd read or written on the Illuminati. â€Å"The Illuminati were survivors,† he explained. â€Å"When they fled Rome, they traveled across Europe looking for a safe place to regroup. They were taken in by another secret society†¦ a brotherhood of wealthy Bavarian stone craftsmen called the Freemasons.† Kohler looked startled. â€Å"The Masons?† Langdon nodded, not at all surprised that Kohler had heard of the group. The brotherhood of the Masons currently had over five million members worldwide, half of them residing in the United States, and over one million of them in Europe. â€Å"Certainly the Masons are not satanic,† Kohler declared, sounding suddenly skeptical. â€Å"Absolutely not. The Masons fell victim of their own benevolence. After harboring the fleeing scientists in the 1700s, the Masons unknowingly became a front for the Illuminati. The Illuminati grew within their ranks, gradually taking over positions of power within the lodges. They quietly reestablished their scientific brotherhood deep within the Masons – a kind of secret society within a secret society. Then the Illuminati used the worldwide connection of Masonic lodges to spread their influence.† Langdon drew a cold breath before racing on. â€Å"Obliteration of Catholicism was the Illuminati's central covenant. The brotherhood held that the superstitious dogma spewed forth by the church was mankind's greatest enemy. They feared that if religion continued to promote pious myth as absolute fact, scientific progress would halt, and mankind would be doomed to an ignorant future of senseless holy wars.† â€Å"Much like we see today.† Langdon frowned. Kohler was right. Holy wars were still making headlines. My God is better than your God. It seemed there was always close correlation between true believers and high body counts. â€Å"Go on,† Kohler said. Langdon gathered his thoughts and continued. â€Å"The Illuminati grew more powerful in Europe and set their sights on America, a fledgling government many of whose leaders were Masons – George Washington, Ben Franklin – honest, God-fearing men who were unaware of the Illuminati stronghold on the Masons. The Illuminati took advantage of the infiltration and helped found banks, universities, and industry to finance their ultimate quest.† Langdon paused. â€Å"The creation of a single unified world state – a kind of secular New World Order.† Kohler did not move. â€Å"A New World Order,† Langdon repeated, â€Å"based on scientific enlightenment. They called it their Luciferian Doctrine. The church claimed Lucifer was a reference to the devil, but the brotherhood insisted Lucifer was intended in its literal Latin meaning – bringer of light. Or Illuminator.† Kohler sighed, and his voice grew suddenly solemn. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, please sit down.† Langdon sat tentatively on a frost-covered chair. Kohler moved his wheelchair closer. â€Å"I am not sure I understand everything you have just told me, but I do understand this. Leonardo Vetra was one of CERN's greatest assets. He was also a friend. I need you to help me locate the Illuminati.† Langdon didn't know how to respond. â€Å"Locate the Illuminati?† He's kidding, right? â€Å"I'm afraid, sir, that will be utterly impossible.† Kohler's brow creased. â€Å"What do you mean? You won't – â€Å" â€Å"Mr. Kohler.† Langdon leaned toward his host, uncertain how to make him understand what he was about to say. â€Å"I did not finish my story. Despite appearances, it is extremely unlikely that this brand was put here by the Illuminati. There has been no evidence of their existence for over half a century, and most scholars agree the Illuminati have been defunct for many years.† The words hit silence. Kohler stared through the fog with a look somewhere between stupefaction and anger. â€Å"How the hell can you tell me this group is extinct when their name is seared into this man!† Langdon had been asking himself that question all morning. The appearance of the Illuminati ambigram was astonishing. Symbologists worldwide would be dazzled. And yet, the academic in Langdon understood that the brand's reemergence proved absolutely nothing about the Illuminati. â€Å"Symbols,† Langdon said, â€Å"in no way confirm the presence of their original creators.† â€Å"What is that supposed to mean?† â€Å"It means that when organized philosophies like the Illuminati go out of existence, their symbols remain†¦ available for adoption by other groups. It's called transference. It's very common in symbology. The Nazis took the swastika from the Hindus, the Christians adopted the cruciform from the Egyptians, the – â€Å" â€Å"This morning,† Kohler challenged, â€Å"when I typed the word ‘Illuminati' into the computer, it returned thousands of current references. Apparently a lot of people think this group is still active.† â€Å"Conspiracy buffs,† Langdon replied. He had always been annoyed by the plethora of conspiracy theories that circulated in modern pop culture. The media craved apocalyptic headlines, and self-proclaimed â€Å"cult specialists† were still cashing in on millennium hype with fabricated stories that the Illuminati were alive and well and organizing their New World Order. Recently the New York Times had reported the eerie Masonic ties of countless famous men – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the Duke of Kent, Peter Sellers, Irving Berlin, Prince Philip, Louis Armstrong, as well as a pantheon of well-known modern-day industrialists and banking magnates. Kohler pointed angrily at Vetra's body. â€Å"Considering the evidence, I would say perhaps the conspiracy buffs are correct.† â€Å"I realize how it appears,† Langdon said as diplomatically as he could. â€Å"And yet a far more plausible explanation is that some other organization has taken control of the Illuminati brand and is using it for their own purposes.† â€Å"What purposes? What does this murder prove?† Good question, Langdon thought. He also was having trouble imagining where anyone could have turned up the Illuminati brand after 400 years. â€Å"All I can tell you is that even if the Illuminati were still active today, which I am virtually positive they are not, they would never be involved in Leonardo Vetra's death.† â€Å"No?† â€Å"No. The Illuminati may have believed in the abolition of Christianity, but they wielded their power through political and financial means, not through terrorists acts. Furthermore, the Illuminati had a strict code of morality regarding who they saw as enemies. They held men of science in the highest regard. There is no way they would have murdered a fellow scientist like Leonardo Vetra.† Kohler's eyes turned to ice. â€Å"Perhaps I failed to mention that Leonardo Vetra was anything but an ordinary scientist.† Langdon exhaled patiently. â€Å"Mr. Kohler, I'm sure Leonardo Vetra was brilliant in many ways, but the fact remains – â€Å" Without warning, Kohler spun in his wheelchair and accelerated out of the living room, leaving a wake of swirling mist as he disappeared down a hallway. For the love of God, Langdon groaned. He followed. Kohler was waiting for him in a small alcove at the end of the hallway. â€Å"This is Leonardo's study,† Kohler said, motioning to the sliding door. â€Å"Perhaps when you see it you'll understand things differently.† With an awkward grunt, Kohler heaved, and the door slid open. Langdon peered into the study and immediately felt his skin crawl. Holy mother of Jesus, he said to himself. 12 In another country, a young guard sat patiently before an expansive bank of video monitors. He watched as images flashed before him – live feeds from hundreds of wireless video cameras that surveyed the sprawling complex. The images went by in an endless procession. An ornate hallway. A private office. An industrial-size kitchen. As the pictures went by, the guard fought off a daydream. He was nearing the end of his shift, and yet he was still vigilant. Service was an honor. Someday he would be granted his ultimate reward. As his thoughts drifted, an image before him registered alarm. Suddenly, with a reflexive jerk that startled even himself, his hand shot out and hit a button on the control panel. The picture before him froze. His nerves tingling, he leaned toward the screen for a closer look. The reading on the monitor told him the image was being transmitted from camera #86 – a camera that was supposed to be overlooking a hallway. But the image before him was most definitely not a hallway.