William Shakespeare Essays (547 words) - Sonnet 1, Sonnet

William Shakespeare Amazing authors can induce thoughts by a single word. The ideas that can form in our heads by a small phrase are powerful. Only the most talented and capable authors can provoke such feelings within us. Who is more than able to stir these feelings in a reader but William Shakespeare? His various plays keep us entranced and curious but it is his poetry that strikes a chord deep within us. Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare is particularly powerful. He writes about a love that cannot be compared to anything in the world because of his deep infatuation. Shakespeare wrote his sonnet when he was deeply in love with a woman. He starts off his sonnet by implanting an image in our head of a summer day. A summer day triggers a scene that flashes in our head of children playing and the sun shining, basically a carefree day where everything is beautiful. He contemplates whether or not to compare his love to this ideal day, Shall I compare thee to a summers day? but decides against it in his second line because he feels his love is more lovely and more temperate that this day. He then proceeds to bombard us with images of natural nuisances such as windy days that shake the darling buds of May, hot weather magnified because it is coming from heaven, and changing seasons. Shakespeare has taken the idea of a warm breezy summer day and twisted it into a sweltering day with the sun beating down on us. However, in the lines after the destruction of a nice day, he makes us smile by the comments he showers on his love. He tells us that his loves beauty shall remain the same at all times. thyshall not fade. He places an exclamation on that line by using the word eternal. It gives us the feeling that her beauty is one that will last until the end of the earth. Shakespeare then goes on to speak about how exquisite she is. She is different from everyone because she will always have what she has now unlike others that will lose it. Even if death looms before her he has to right or reason to brag. She will not pale in his shadow. Shakespeare capitalizes Death and personifies him and gives us an image of a grim reaper type character. In Shakespeares ending couplet, he states that no matter what, as long as people are still living and literate, they will read his sonnet. As long as his sonnet is read she will stay alive. His sonnet will give life to thee. Shakespeare is immortalizing his love and placing her on a pedestal. The scenes that Shakespeare throws at us give us ideas of beauty and disappointment. He takes us from a place of pleasure to one of distaste. He makes us go in one direction then turns us around and causes us to go in a three hundred sixty-degree turn. The ride we are taken on is an enjoyable one that makes the sonnet unforgettable which is only done through the explicit images that allow our own ideas to form. Shakespeare Essays

How the British and Kazakhstan Political Systems Differ †Government Essay

How the British and Kazakhstan Political Systems Differ – Government Essay Free Online Research Papers How the British and Kazakhstan Political Systems Differ Government Essay In this essay I will discuss the differences and similarities between Kazakhstan and Britain. I will write about economical and political differences. The UK is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. Its system of government* has directly inspired the government of other countries, such as Canada, India, Australia and Jamaica. The constitution is unmodified and some is unwritten, being made up of constitutional conventions, and various elements of statutory law and common law which are collectively referred to as British constitutional law. The head of state and theoretical ultimate source of power in the UK is the British monarch. Queen Elisabeth || become to Queen since 1952, now Queen less powerfully than Prime Minister. In reality, the Queen has an essentially ceremonial role, restricted in exercise of power by convention and public opinion, though the monarch does exercise three essential rights: the right to be consulted, the right to advice and the right to warn. Governments and prime ministers have weekly confidential meetings with the monarch. The longer the monarch reigns the greater the degree of his or he experience and knowledge becomes, and so the meetings become more and more useful .In practical terms, the political head of the UK is the Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is leader of strongest party in UK, who must have the support of the House of Commons in formal terms

A Narrative Essay on the Breakfast with My Grandmother in Italy

A Narrative Essay on the Breakfast with My Grandmother in Italy Breakfast with a Side of Eye Cream With heavy arms perched high above my head, I savored the precious flow of cold water streaming down my sweaty back. At my grandmothers house, as in most Roman households in the summer, the shower is a welcome sanctuary from the unrelenting Italian sun, and it can become competitive territory to stake out in a busy home. The bittersweet smell of coffee wafted into the bathroom and invited me to join my grandmother for my favorite meal. Today was my first morning in Italy, and I knew that breakfast would mean catching my grandmother up on an entire year’s worth of material. After a sip of coffee, I hooked my laptop up, and stood next to my presentation, just as I had done a few Saturdays ago in my International Fashion Marketing class at FIT. When I saw my title slide, all of the butterflies that I thought I had left in New York suddenly came fluttering into my stomach. Speaking in Italian helped to ease my nerves, and in a beautiful synergism between Italian and English, I shared my vision with my grandmother. I wanted to bring a hip active wear brand, coveted in the U.S. by yoga enthusiasts and marathon runners alike, to Italy. The sporty style of so many Italian women inspired fashion forward athletic wear, and I was excited by the prospect of bringing a new brand to a local shop in downtown Rome. After outlining my business plan and real estate forecasts, my grandmother asked me â€Å"What about Paris?â €  I knew this was her gentle nudge for me to practice my French. After completing a brief synopsis of my presentation in French, I surrendered to the second best armchair in our lounge and dug into my bag to share my next adventure. At the end of Junior year, I decided to pursue my passion for beauty products from a new perspective. So, I traded in my summer bikini in favor of a lab coat and goggles for 40 hours a week during the first month of summer. As I unpacked a new sleeping mask that I had spent the summer experimenting with, I shared my experiences working in a Cosmetology Lab. We admired the new color I had developed, a creamy hue of golden yellow, infused with a subtle shimmer. I loved pouring the different shades of eye shadow and watching different formulations come together to yield innovative products. After breakfast, we took our first walk into the city, down the narrow cobblestone streets to our favorite grocery store. The sweet salami, paper thin slices of prosciutto, pitted olives, and smoked salmon reminded me of my favorite appetizer at Giuseppe’s, my family’s restaurant in New Jersey. My miniature apron that I wore as a child, its pockets stained from the juice of olive pits, still hangs on the coat rack in the kitchen. I reach into my pocket and pull out a few euros, telling my grandmother that the groceries are my treat today. As we pass a vacant shop on our way home, my reflection in the dark window gives me an idea for the window display to my shop in Rome: golden tanned mannequins, with a shimmer like the one in my eye cream, clad in geometric printed ankle pants and a bright hoodie with gold accents. All this exotic art around me, the texture of the chipping bricks around the stained glass windows. My mind wanders to the history in the cities I have yet to discover.

The negative effects on the grammatical skills of teenagers due to Research Paper

The negative effects on the grammatical skills of teenagers due to text messaging - Research Paper Example The technology used in communication in the modern world has proved to be highly advanced bringing people closer to each other through different means that include the mobile phones, the internet and â€Å"text messaging† (Sampson). From Pew Research Center’s survey conducted in the year 2010, it has been obtained that â€Å"one in three teens† can be found to text message that may be reported as being more than 100 in a day (Sampson). This massive use of text messaging has a natural impact on the teenagers, particularly with respect to their effects on the grammatical skills of the user (Sampson). Text messaging is developing as a much loved practice of communication particularly for the younger generation who prefer to â€Å"stay in close contact† with friends and close ones. The young generation does not feel convenient in â€Å"typing out full words or sentences† (Baldauf & Stair, 280). Alternatively abbreviations enhance a â€Å"fast-paced† process of communication a reason why most of the people use limited or â€Å"just enough† characters to phrase a message (Baldauf & Stair, 280). However, although the use of abbreviations may prove to be convenient, this may also impact the ability of a person to properly construct a sentence and other similar negative effects (Baldauf & Stair, 280). This report would primarily focus on the negative impacts that text messaging are having on the grammatical skills of teenagers.... Text messages have character limitations and people are using this facility to convert their long conversations into short texts and send to friends and other acquaintances (Braun, 17-18). It can be realized that when long conversations can be expressed in short messages, that becomes more convenient for the users to make use of less effort as well as lesser time thus making the text messaging service preferable for the teenagers. Moreover, teenagers of the modern world are known to be impatient and in search of fast and easy way of achieving things. Communication is thus not an exception. Thus like all other technologies, the text messaging also has specific uses that make this facility â€Å"more valuable† than other ways of communicating (Ball & Foster, 92). Firstly, through text messaging, very small messages can be exchanged. Moreover, text messaging is less expensive than calling a person and communicating the same message. In comparison to making calls, text messaging i nvolves lesser time as well as lesser costs making it more favorable for the users. Also, text messaging provides an â€Å"excellent technology for chatting† and staying in close contact with others (Ball & Foster, 92). Teenagers would thus prefer to keep in touch with their friends, make plans for enjoyments or other necessities through communication facilities that can occur in very less time, and with less money. Through such text messaging, users can share ideas, views, knowledge, and information or simply stay in touch by conversing. Views on the effects of text messaging on the use of English Grammar amongst the teenagers: Different views arise on the effects that the use of text messaging may have on the teenagers in their use of English grammar. This is particularly because

The McDonald's Global Human Resource Strategy Term Paper

The McDonald's Global Human Resource Strategy - Term Paper Example There is a vigorous awards system for such things as putting customers first, years of service, or jobs done particularly well. These awards may include money, trips, plaques, and certificates and they are commemorated with much celebration and delight. The managers at McDonald’s always seem to be very relaxed and are most of the time indistinguishable from the other employees because they do not simply give orders to those under them, but they also accept feedback from them and are ready to get alternatives to their decisions. This, according to Kincheloe (2002), helps to show that although they have managers, the employee teams at McDonald’s are obviously in their later stages of development and are very comfortable outside their predefined roles, displaying high levels of motivation. The managers do not attempt to put any verbal barriers between themselves and their employees and they, instead, show genuine concern in the emotional and physical well being of their employees, something that is very rare in this type of environment. The McDonald’s restaurants have a culture that is generally inviting to new employees and these are motivated to work in these restaurants. This is because of the laid-back environment found within them and the fact that the jobs are not very stressful for the employees. Another reason why employees are motivated to continue working at McDonald’s are the different shift schedules, which the management formulates so that they can accommodate every employee. Since most of the jobs found in these restaurants are low skilled and any other employee can take over the other’s shift if they are not able to make it work due to a need to attend to other more pressing obligations.  

Hero Essay Example for Free

Hero Essay Heroes are often stereotyped as fairytale characters who are endowed with supernatural powers that make them strong and buff. In reality, a hero can be an ordinary human being who strives to do extraordinary things to help others and make a difference in the world. A true hero not only possesses the qualities of strength and bravery, but also embody selflessness, morality and perseverance, essentially becoming a role model for all of those around him or her. Oprah Winfrey is just one example of an average person in our society who fits the characteristics and role of being a hero. She has devoted her time, skills, attention, and resources towards making the world a more prosperous place for others by educating, motivating, inspiring and rescuing people all over the world. Through the great generosity of Oprahs Angel Network and the construction of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, Oprah Winfrey has proven herself to be a true role model and inspiration to all by her selfless deeds that make her a true hero of our times. To begin with, Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty to a single mother in Mississippi and faced many difficulties and grievances throughout her childhood years. She was sexually abused by her uncle, cousin, and family friend and became pregnant at the age of fourteen; her son died a short while after. Oprah then moved to Tennessee with her father where she began her career in the entertainment business. Her career began with a job on the radio at the age of nineteen and eventually led to the creation of the Emmy-winning talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show. According to Forbes Magazine, in 2003, Oprah became the first African-American woman to reach billionaire status, breaking through cultural, geographical and gender barriers, letting the world know it’s not your circumstances, but your heart that determines how far you go in this world. As Oprahs name became more widespread, so did her generosity. The Oprah Angel Network began to donate one hundred thousand dollars for the Use Your Life Award to all of those who dedicated their lives to helping others and had numerous achievements regarding humanitarian issues. Furthermore, she regularly gives charity to organizations such as AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Childrens Memorial Hospital and the Chicago Academy of the Arts. In addition to those organizations, Oprah has also gave out her sincere wishes and help to those poor souls who have been affected by the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. She donated over one million dollars to the Tsunami relief fund and ten million to those who were gravely affected by the disaster of Katrina. Growing up with a childhood full of hardships and being able to overcome them truly makes Oprah Winfrey an inspiration to everyone. Her selflessness, generosity, and general love and compassion for human kind has brought so many changes to our society that cannot be overlooked. Her immense perseverance and selflessness are just two contributing factors that make her the person she is today; a hero. Most importantly, Oprahs dedication to helping under privileged students obtain their education makes her a role model and symbol of hope for children all around the world. She created the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, where girls learn to use their full capacity to become excellent decision makers and the next leaders of our generation. The best African American teachers and administrators will be appointed in this school to help the girls excel in their knowledge and education. Not only is she the founder of the school, but the Oprah Winfrey Foundation contributed ten million dollars to maintain it as well. Oprah is helping to fight the battle against illiteracy one step at a time, and through her actions against it, she creates a foundation that many other people can follow. By giving so much importance to education, she becomes an inspiration and motivation that encourages girls all around the world to pursue their education further. By providing education, Oprah is empowering girls everywhere and giving them more options in their life than they ever imagined. As Oprah once stated, â€Å"Education is the path to the future. I believe that education is indeed freedom. With Gods help, these girls will be the future leaders on the path to peace in South Africa and the world. Once again, Oprah proved herself to be selfless and moral woman who persevered in becoming a role model for all of those around her. Her generosity is now the reason that girls in South Africa actually have a chance to make something of themselves and to receive an education. With one simple donation, she changed the lives of thousands of girls and created a brighter, much better future for them than they could imagine. By doing such deeds open-handedly and without anything in return, Oprah Winfrey is a genuine hero of our society. In conclusion, heroes are not people like Superman or Batman, but rather those who do everything in their ability to make the world a better place and Oprah Winfrey is just one of many who fit the criteria of being a true hero. She is engulfed around being selfless, moral, brave, perseverant, and a role model and inspiration to everyone around her. The generosity of Oprahs Angel Network has helped many impoverished people and even led to the construction of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. With donations like these, Oprah has literally changed the future for African American girls in South Africa and helped them become more independent. She is now looked upon as a symbol for hope and a prosperous future because of all of her charity work concerning humanitarian issues. Heroes like Oprah Winfrey inspire everyone with their openness and compassion, essentially becoming a symbol for hope with their vision for a brighter and better future.

The Consumer and the Checking Account Fairness (CCAF) Act Essay

The Consumer and the Checking Account Fairness (CCAF) Act   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Near the end of 2004, the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (Check 21) went into effect, bringing with it mixed opinions on what consumers and bankers alike could expect. The now law dealt with the exchange of digitized checks opposed to physical checks, and decreased processing time drastically. The belief among many circles was that checks would begin to bounce en masse, and that the consumer would be impacted in a drastic way. This paper touches on the underlying subject of the â€Å"float† as well as subsequent legislation entitled the Consumer Checking Account Fairness Act (CCAF) that addresses imperfections in Check 21. We will offer information on both acts and show how we as the consumer can expect to be affected. The Float   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ventureline.com defines the term â€Å"float† as being â€Å"the time between the deposit of checks in a bank and when the amount is truly accessible† (2005). This term, although unfamiliar to some, represents a time honored practice that virtually everyone, of any age, has become familiar with. With respect to our personal finances, a float is used to buy the consumer time before funds must be withdrawn from an account. It is advantageous to use from the standpoint of cash flow, as funds might not be available immediately to cover a check, but are expected. This gives the consumer a small amount of leeway in writing checks, as the float may afford the consumer several days before they must cover a check. In a business setting, things are a bit different. There are still advantages that can be realized from a cash flow standpoint, however the float is more of a tool than a resource for the business, and corporate use of the float has revolved more ar ound profit than prevention.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In every business, or household for that matter, there will always be two separate balances for cash. The first refers to the actual recorded amount on the corporate books, while the second is represented by the balance that the bank shows. The difference between these figures, or the float, means that a business can take advantage of short term cash to use for other means. For example, if a company writes $1,000 worth of checks to vendors and receives $1,000 from customers, there would be no difference in what the ... ...ve known it, is on life support. Check 21 may not have been designed for the purpose of eliminating float time, but it most certainly has achieved this as a by-product. It remains a mystery as to how much longer it will be before banks are able to spend the money to fully integrate with what has come to be known as IRD’s, or image replacement documents. So in the meantime, depending upon whom you bank with, or the size of the check you write, may dictate whether or not your documents are electronically sent. One thing that is certain, the advantage has now swung in the direction of the banking center, and only time will tell whether or not there will be relief under CCAF. References Bankston, Karen, Still Got Float, Credit Union Management; Jan2005 Sisk, Michael, It's Time for a Reality Check on Check 21, Bank Technology News; Jan2005 Retrieved Apr 25, 2005 from www.ventureline.com/glossary Schneider, Ivan, Cut the Fee or Wait and See?, Bank Systems & Technology, 2005, CMP media LLC. Retrieved April 26, 2005 from: www.banktech.com Schneider, Ivan, The Flap Over The Float, Bank Systems & Technology, 2005, CMP media LLC. Retrieved April 26, 2005 from: www.banktech.com

Principles of Supply Chain Management Essay

Case 3) Don’t shoot the messenger 1. If you were in Jeff’s position, what would you have done to preserve relationships? If I were in Jeff’s position, I would first have thanked my suppliers and expressed gratitude to them for being willing to work closely with the company in not only designing the new product line, but in then reducing supply prices by the asked for 10 percent. I then would have tried to explain the position of the company and how the price decreases were essential to ensuring a successful product launch. Explaining why the additional cost reduction was requested may not make the actual price cuts easier to make, but it should help somewhat when it comes to maintaining the relationships with the suppliers. Hopefully Jeff has treated them honestly up until now and has a level of trust built up with them. 2. Describe the ethical issues involved. It seems to me that the main ethical issue is in the letter that was sent to suppliers on July 5th. The implicit threat that business with suppliers would be cancelled if the cost demands were not met is not consistent with the type of relationship that Jeff had built with his suppliers, based on honestly, integrity, and hard work. In addition, Billing Equipment was asking for previously agreed upon contracts to be re-opened and re-negotiated in order to make the price cuts, essentially going back on their own word. 3. What is your assessment of the general manager’s approach to meeting target cost objectives? My assessment of the general manager’s approach to meeting target cost objectives is that it is not the right way to approach the issue. I don’t like the strong-arm tactics, with the thinly-veiled threat of cancellation if they don’t comply. The General Manager should have involved the suppliers and been more open with them on the need to reduce overall costs for the product line. He could have explained the long-term benefit of partnering with Billings Equipment, even  if there were a financial sacrifice in the short term. As the case pointed out, in essence, the suppliers that complied and tried to work with the company were punished by being asked to cut prices even more. Case 5) John Deere and Complex Parts, Inc. 1. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of John Deere’s Achieving Excellence Program. Consider and discuss other criteria to include in the analysis. John Deere’s Achieving Excellence Program is designed to develop long-lasting supplier relationships through an evaluation process that promotes communication, trust, cooperation, and innovation. I think that overall this is a very good program. It encourages suppliers to work with John Deere and collaborate to improve cost, quality, and timeliness of delivery. It includes some objective ratings that can directly measure supplier performance, and could be used to help identify areas of improvement. It helps to form long-lasting relationships with suppliers, which is in John Deere’s best interests. Some of its weakness are subjectivity, that it has no concern for what is good for supplier, and may have a difficult entry level since you only receive training if you rate highly in the system. Subjective metrics like the Wavelength and Technical criteria are more difficult to measure accurately. Subjective measures leave things open to interpretation. Personal bias or even misunderstanding can result in an artificially low or high rating in a subjective measurement. The criteria would need to be very clearly defined. The AEP program is also benefits John Deere primarily, rather than the suppliers. Suppliers that rate highly do get additional John Deere training, but even that is in the best interests of the John Deere Company. While John Deere is a reputable company, and desirable to do business with, the main reward for performance excellence in the AEP program is a plaque, maybe a banquet, and more John Deere training. The program almost has a negative incentive for new suppliers. John Deere should have some kind of outreach training for new suppliers that wish to be partners, rather than just supplying additional training for expert suppliers. It could be seen as a program that keeps the elite at elite levels, but does not offer assistance to those newcomers that may need the assistance and expertise of John Deere to improve. While responsiveness is encompassed in the wavelength measurement, I think that it  is important enough to have its own evaluation criteria (Winsor, Tan, Leong p. 124). The case mentions some of the frustrations that John Deere experienced waiting for the return of quotes from Complex Parts. An unresponsive supplier can cause supply chain issues very quickly. 2. Do you think Complex Parts has performed adequately over the past year? Why or why not? Which of the Deere supplier assessment classifications should be assigned to Complex Parts? I think that Complex Parts has adequate performance over the past year as a whole, however some areas of concern have arisen, specifically concerning delivery and communication. Their quality rating is very good, and until recently, their delivery rating was very good as well. Lately, an increasing number of deliveries had to be expedited, which costs John Deere money. The case stated that it seems as though expediting delivery has become a weekly requirement. Delivery ratings fell from 8,650 to 155,000 over the last quarter. That metric alone is enough to put the supplier in to Conditional status. Overall, I would assign a rating of Approved to Complex Parts. Their past performance is worth noting, but recent developments are of great concern. Reducing their supplier rating should send them a message that performance, specifically deliveries and responsiveness, must improve in order to continue doing business with John Deere. 3. If you were a member of the supplier evaluation team, what alternative course of action would you consider for Complex Parts? What recommendations should the team make to the project manager? As a member of the evaluation team, I would recommend that a very close eye be kept on the Delivery metric, as that is where the supplier seems to be slipping the most, and would communicate that intention to Complex Parts. They need to understand that while they have been a good supplier in the past, current performance issues cannot be ignored. Delivery times and response times to quotes and other communications must be improved. I would suggest a meeting between the project manager and key team members at Complex Parts to discuss expectations and possible consequences of  non-compliance with John Deere policies. The team should recommend a rating of Approved to the project manager, with specific follow-up items detailed surrounding delivery and responsiveness. 4. What are the short-term and long-term implications of your recommendation? Short term, I would expect immediate improvements in the delivery rating of Complex parts. The reduction in rating is very much a disciplinary action, and intended to be an eye-opener to the supplier. It sends a message that while they are still valued as a supplier, certain aspects of their performance have slipped in to the unacceptable range. Long term, I believe that an action such as this should help strengthen the relationship. Disciplinary action usually comes off negatively, but if the right meetings and discussions take place and concerns are addressed openly and honestly, Complex Parts should be able to see that John Deere does have a vested interest in helping them improve and re-attain a raking of Partner. The fact that as a member of the evaluation team I am not just recommending dropping them or recommending a raking of Conditional shows that there is still hope in rebuilding the business relationship to a healthy, productive level. Case 7) Supplier Development at Deere, & Company 1. Is Deere’s tactic an appropriate one? I do not think Deere’s tactic is the appropriate way to approach the situation. I agree from the details of the case that some improvements need to be made the help reduce they cycle time at Excelsior, but I don’t think a mandatory cost reduction is going to get the job done. I think it will create bad blood and irreparably damage the supplier relationship. 2. What are the implications of the tactic and the possible consequences, positive or negative? The implications of the tactic are that Excelsior needs to fall in line with Deere’s demands or lose their business. The added implication is that Excelsior will essentially be out of business if this happens because 95% of their income is from Deere’s orders. Both of these outcomes are negative,  and I am having difficulty seeing a positive consequence come out of this situation. I think that Excelsior is justified in their concerns, and while they may be dragging their feet, I feel like it is an appropriate reaction to the concept of restructuring their entire process. 3. If it is not an appropriate tactic, what are some alternatives? I think that a valid alternative would be to emphasize the value that Excelsior has to Deere as a primary supplier of the connector that they manufacture for Deere, and to reinforce the desire to maintain a long-term, profitable relationship with them. Additionally, Deere may have been able to supply examples of other suppliers that they have worked with to improve their efficiency. Rather than case studies and meetings, real world examples of success could be used to help persuade Excelsior’s top decision makers that this was the correct course of action. 4. Is this an ethical approach? I do not think that this is an ethical approach. Deere is effectively using their position of power in the relationship to force Excelsior to take action that they are not convinced is the correct course of action. I think that they should act in an advisory role, not force them in to action. Ultimately, the decision is Excelsior’s as to whether to re-tool and comply with Deere’s wishes, and while there are big consequences to that decision, it should not be forced upon them. 5. What are some of the implications as far as human resource management is concerned? How can the group members better manage the consensus building to present an undivided front to Excelsior? If Deere’s plan does not succeed, there is a large risk that they will have to put forth a massive human resource effort to replace Excelsior as a supplier. Deere would have to expend large amounts of time and resources to identify, secure, and develop a new supplier. The group members could better manage consensus building by involving more people from Excelsior’s production teams. Deere should work towards a  win-win scenario with Excelsior (p. 119). Perhaps they would be able to show the benefits of the proposed system to those that are closer to the actual work. Those individuals could then weigh in and lend support to the plan, possibly overcoming the resistance that Excelsior’s Frank and Sanderson felt. Deere’s associates could re-commit to Excelsior that they are a valued long-term supplier, but that these changes needed to be enacted to ensure long-term viability. Deere could explain that there are customers further down the supply chain requesting faster turnaround, and that these requests are not solely coming from Deere. References Joel D. Wisner, K.-C. T. (2012). Principles of Supply Chain Management. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 30-32

CHAPTER 30 SB level. Senate basement. Robert Langdon's claustrophobia gripped him more tightly with every hastening step of their descent. As they moved deeper into the building's original foundation, the air became heavy, and the ventilation seemed nonexistent. The walls down here were an uneven blend of stone and yellow brick. Director Sato typed on her BlackBerry as they walked. Langdon sensed a suspicion in her guarded manner, but the feeling was quickly becoming reciprocal. Sato still hadn't told him how she knew Langdon was here tonight. An issue of national security? He had a hard time understanding any relation between ancient mysticism and national security. Then again, he had a hard time understanding much of anything about this situation. Peter Solomon entrusted me with a talisman . . . a deluded lunatic tricked me into bringing it to the Capitol and wants me to use it to unlock a mystical portal . . . possibly in a room called SBB13. Not exactly a clear picture. As they pressed on, Langdon tried to shake from his mind the horrible image of Peter's tattooed hand, transformed into the Hand of the Mysteries. The gruesome picture was accompanied by Peter's voice: The Ancient Mysteries, Robert, have spawned many myths . . . but that does not mean they themselves are fiction. Despite a career studying mystical symbols and history, Langdon had always struggled intellectually with the idea of the Ancient Mysteries and their potent promise of apotheosis. Admittedly, the historical record contained indisputable evidence that secret wisdom had been passed down through the ages, apparently having come out of the Mystery Schools in early Egypt. This knowledge moved underground, resurfacing in Renaissance Europe, where, according to most accounts, it was entrusted to an elite group of scientists within the walls of Europe's premier scientific think tank–the Royal Society of London–enigmatically nicknamed the Invisible College. This concealed â€Å"college† quickly became a brain trust of the world's most enlightened minds– those of Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, Robert Boyle, and even Benjamin Franklin. Today, the list of modern â€Å"fellows† was no less impressive–Einstein, Hawking, Bohr, and Celsius. These great minds had all made quantum leaps in human understanding, advances that, according to some, were the result of their exposure to ancient wisdom hidden within the Invisible College. Langdon doubted this was true, although certainly there had been an unusual amount of â€Å"mystical work† taking place within those walls. The discovery of Isaac Newton's secret papers in 1936 had stunned the world by revealing Newton's all-consuming passion for the study of ancient alchemy and mystical wisdom. Newton's private papers included a handwritten letter to Robert Boyle in which he exhorted Boyle to keep â€Å"high silence† regarding the mystical knowledge they had learned. â€Å"It cannot be communicated,† Newton wrote, â€Å"without immense damage to the world.† The meaning of this strange warning was still being debated today. â€Å"Professor,† Sato said suddenly, glancing up from her BlackBerry, â€Å"despite your insistence that you have no idea why you're here tonight, perhaps you could shed light on the meaning of Peter Solomon's ring.† â€Å"I can try,† Langdon said, refocusing. She produced the specimen bag and handed it to Langdon. â€Å"Tell me about the symbols on his ring.† Langdon examined the familiar ring as they moved through the deserted passageway. Its face bore the image of a double-headed phoenix holding a banner proclaiming ORDO AB CHAO, and its chest was emblazoned with the number 33. â€Å"The double-headed phoenix with the number thirty-three is the emblem of the highest Masonic degree.† Technically, this prestigious degree existed solely within the Scottish Rite. Nonetheless, the rites and degrees of Masonry were a complex hierarchy that Langdon had no desire to detail for Sato tonight. â€Å"Essentially, the thirty- third degree is an elite honor reserved for a small group of highly accomplished Masons. All the other degrees can be attained by successful completion of the previous degree, but ascension to the thirty-third degree is controlled. It's by invitation only.† â€Å"So you were aware that Peter Solomon was a member of this elite inner circle?† â€Å"Of course. Membership is hardly a secret.† â€Å"And he is their highest-ranking official?† â€Å"Currently, yes. Peter heads the Supreme Council Thirty-third Degree, which is the governing body of the Scottish Rite in America.† Langdon always loved visiting their headquarters–the House of the Temple–a classical masterpiece whose symbolic ornamentation rivaled that of Scotland's Rosslyn Chapel. â€Å"Professor, did you notice the engraving on the ring's band? It bears the words `All is revealed at the thirty-third degree.' â€Å" Langdon nodded. â€Å"It's a common theme in Masonic lore.† â€Å"Meaning, I assume, that if a Mason is admitted to this highest thirty-third degree, then something special is revealed to him?† â€Å"Yes, that's the lore, but probably not the reality. There's always been conspiratorial conjecture that a select few within this highest echelon of Masonry are made privy to some great mystical secret. The truth, I suspect, is probably far less dramatic.† Peter Solomon often made playful allusions to the existence of a precious Masonic secret, but Langdon always assumed it was just a mischievous attempt to coax him into joining the brotherhood. Unfortunately, tonight's events had been anything but playful, and there had been nothing mischievous about the seriousness with which Peter had urged Langdon to protect the sealed package in his daybag. Langdon glanced forlornly at the plastic bag containing Peter's gold ring. â€Å"Director,† he asked, â€Å"would you mind if I held on to this?† She looked over. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"It's very valuable to Peter, and I'd like to return it to him tonight.† She looked skeptical. â€Å"Let's hope you get that chance.† â€Å"Thanks.† Langdon pocketed the ring. â€Å"Another question,† Sato said as they hastened deeper into the labyrinth. â€Å"My staff said that while cross-checking the concepts of the `thirty-third degree' and `portal' with Masonry, they turned up literally hundreds of references to a `pyramid'?† â€Å"That's not surprising, either,† Langdon said. â€Å"The pyramid builders of Egypt are the forerunners of the modern stonemasons, and the pyramid, along with Egyptian themes, is very common in Masonic symbolism.† â€Å"Symbolizing what?† â€Å"The pyramid essentially represents enlightenment. It's an architectural symbol emblematic of ancient man's ability to break free from his earthly plane and ascend upward toward heaven, toward the golden sun, and ultimately, toward the supreme source of illumination.† She waited a moment. â€Å"Nothing else?† Nothing else?! Langdon had just described one of history's most elegant symbols. The structure through which man elevated himself into the realm of the gods. â€Å"According to my staff,† she said, â€Å"it sounds like there is a much more relevant connection tonight. They tell me there exists a popular legend about a specific pyramid here in Washington–a pyramid that relates specifically to the Masons and the Ancient Mysteries?† Langdon now realized what she was referring to, and he tried to dispel the notion before they wasted any more time. â€Å"I am familiar with the legend, Director, but it's pure fantasy. The Masonic Pyramid is one of D.C.'s most enduring myths, probably stemming from the pyramid on the Great Seal of the United States.† â€Å"Why didn't you mention it earlier?† Langdon shrugged. â€Å"Because it has no basis in fact. Like I said, it's a myth. One of many associated with the Masons.† â€Å"And yet this particular myth relates directly to the Ancient Mysteries?† â€Å"Sure, as do plenty of others. The Ancient Mysteries are the foundation for countless legends that have survived in history–stories about powerful wisdom protected by secret guardians like the Templars, the Rosicrucians, the Illuminati, the Alumbrados–the list goes on and on. They are all based on the Ancient Mysteries . . . and the Masonic Pyramid is just one example.† â€Å"I see,† Sato said. â€Å"And what does this legend actually say?† Langdon considered it for a few steps and then replied, â€Å"Well, I'm no specialist in conspiracy theory, but I am educated in mythology, and most accounts go something like this: The Ancient Mysteries–the lost wisdom of the ages–have long been considered mankind's most sacred treasure, and like all great treasures, they have been carefully protected. The enlightened sages who understood the true power of this wisdom learned to fear its awesome potential. They knew that if this secret knowledge were to fall into uninitiated hands, the results could be devastating; as we said earlier, powerful tools can be used either for good or for evil. So, in order to protect the Ancient Mysteries, and mankind in the process, the early practitioners formed secret fraternities. Inside these brotherhoods, they shared their wisdom only with the properly initiated, passing the wisdom from sage to sage. Many believe we can look back and see the historical remnants of those who mastered the Mysteries . . . in the stories of sorcerers, magicians, and healers.† â€Å"And the Masonic Pyramid?† Sato asked. â€Å"How does that fit in?† â€Å"Well,† Langdon said, striding faster now to keep pace, â€Å"this is where history and myth begin to merge. According to some accounts, by the sixteenth century in Europe, almost all of these secret fraternities had become extinct, most of them exterminated by a growing tide of religious persecution. The Freemasons, it is said, became the last surviving custodians of the Ancient Mysteries. Understandably, they feared that if their own brotherhood one day died off like its predecessors, the Ancient Mysteries would be lost for all time.† â€Å"And the pyramid?† Sato again pressed. Langdon was getting to it. â€Å"The legend of the Masonic Pyramid is quite simple. It states that the Masons, in order to fulfill their responsibility of protecting this great wisdom for future generations, decided to hide it in a great fortress.† Langdon tried to gather his recollections of the story. â€Å"Again, I stress this is all myth, but allegedly, the Masons transported their secret wisdom from the Old World to the New World–here, to America–a land they hoped would remain free from religious tyranny. And here they built an impenetrable fortress–a hidden pyramid– designed to protect the Ancient Mysteries until the time that all of mankind was ready to handle the awesome power that this wisdom could communicate. According to the myth, the Masons crowned their great pyramid with a shining, solid-gold capstone as symbol of the precious treasure within–the ancient wisdom capable of empowering mankind to his full human potential. Apotheo sis.† â€Å"Quite a story,† Sato said. â€Å"Yes. The Masons fall victim to all kinds of crazy legends.† â€Å"Obviously you don't believe such a pyramid exists.† â€Å"Of course not,† Langdon replied. â€Å"There's no evidence whatsoever to suggest that our Masonic forefathers built any kind of pyramid in America, much less in D.C. It's pretty difficult to hide a pyramid, especially one large enough to hold all the lost wisdom of the ages.† The legend, as Langdon recalled, never explained exactly what was supposed to be inside the Masonic Pyramid–whether it was ancient texts, occult writings, scientific revelations, or something far more mysterious–but the legend did say that the precious information inside was ingeniously encoded . . . and understandable only to the most enlightened souls. â€Å"Anyway,† Langdon said, â€Å"this story falls into a category we symbologists call an `archetypal hybrid'–a blend of other classic legends, borrowing so many elements from popular mythology that it could only be a fictional construct . . . not historical fact.† When Langdon taught his students about archetypal hybrids, he used the example of fairy tales, which were recounted across generations and exaggerated over time, borrowing so heavily from one another that they evolved into homogenized morality tales with the same iconic elements– virginal damsels, handsome princes, impenetrable fortresses, and powerful wizards. By way of fairy tales, this primeval battle of â€Å"good vs. evil† is ingrained into us as children through our stories: Merlin vs. Morgan le Fay, Saint George vs. the Dragon, David vs. Goliath, Snow White vs. the Witch, and even Luke Skywalker battling Darth Vader. Sato scratched her head as they turned a corner and followed Anderson down a short flight of stairs. â€Å"Tell me this. If I'm not mistaken, pyramids were once considered mystical portals through which the deceased pharaohs could ascend to the gods, were they not?† â€Å"True.† Sato stopped short and caught Langdon's arm, glaring up at him with an expression somewhere between surprise and disbelief. â€Å"You're saying Peter Solomon's captor told you to find a hidden portal, and it didn't occur to you that he was talking about the Masonic Pyramid from this legend?† â€Å"By any name, the Masonic Pyramid is a fairy tale. It's purely fantasy.† Sato stepped closer to him now, and Langdon could smell her cigarette breath. â€Å"I understand your position on that, Professor, but for the sake of my investigation, the parallel is hard to ignore. A portal leading to secret knowledge? To my ear, this sounds a lot like what Peter Solomon's captor claims you, alone, can unlock.† â€Å"Well, I can hardly believe–â€Å" â€Å"What you believe is not the point. No matter what you believe, you must concede that this man might himself believe that the Masonic Pyramid is real.† â€Å"The man's a lunatic! He may well believe that SBB Thirteen is the entrance to a giant underground pyramid that contains all the lost wisdom of the ancients!† Sato stood perfectly still, her eyes seething. â€Å"The crisis I am facing tonight is not a fairy tale, Professor. It is quite real, I assure you.† A cold silence hung between them. â€Å"Ma'am?† Anderson finally said, gesturing to another secure door ten feet away. â€Å"We're almost there, if you'd like to continue.† Sato finally broke eye contact with Langdon, motioning for Anderson to move on. They followed the security chief through the secure doorway, which deposited them in a narrow passage. Langdon looked left and then right. You've got to be kidding. He was standing in the longest hallway he had ever seen. CHAPTER 31 Trish Dunne felt the familiar surge of adrenaline as she exited the bright lights of the Cube and moved into the raw darkness of the void. The SMSC's front gate had just called to say that Katherine's guest, Dr. Abaddon, had arrived and required an escort back to Pod 5. Trish had offered to bring him back, mostly out of curiosity. Katherine had said very little about the man who would be visiting them, and Trish was intrigued. The man was apparently someone Peter Solomon trusted deeply; the Solomons never invited anyone back to the Cube. This was a first. I hope he handles the crossing okay, Trish thought as she moved through the frigid darkness. The last thing she needed was Katherine's VIP panicking when he realized what he had to do to get to the lab. The first time is always the worst. Trish's first time had been about a year ago. She had accepted Katherine's job offer, signed a nondisclosure, and then come to the SMSC with Katherine to see the lab. The two women had walked the length of â€Å"The Street,† arriving at a metal door marked POD 5. Even though Katherine had tried to prepare her by describing the lab's remote location, Trish was not ready for what she saw when the pod door hissed open. The void. Katherine stepped over the threshold, walked a few feet into the perfect blackness, and then motioned for Trish to follow. â€Å"Trust me. You won't get lost.† Trish pictured herself wandering in a pitch-black, stadium-size room and broke a sweat at the mere thought. â€Å"We have a guidance system to keep you on track.† Katherine pointed to the floor. â€Å"Very low- tech.† Trish squinted through the darkness at the rough cement floor. It took a moment to see it in the darkness, but there was a narrow carpet runner that had been laid down in a straight line. The carpet ran like a roadway, disappearing into the darkness. â€Å"See with your feet,† Katherine said, turning and walking off. â€Å"Just follow right behind me.† As Katherine disappeared into the blackness, Trish swallowed her fear and followed. This is insane! She had taken only a few steps down the carpet when the Pod 5 door swung shut behind her, snuffing out the last faint hint of light. Pulse racing, Trish turned all of her attention to the feeling of the carpet beneath her feet. She had ventured only a handful of steps down the soft runner when she felt the side of her right foot hit hard cement. Startled, she instinctively corrected to the left, getting both feet back on soft carpet. Katherine's voice materialized up ahead in the blackness, her words almost entirely swallowed by the lifeless acoustics of this abyss. â€Å"The human body is amazing,† she said. â€Å"If you deprive it of one sensory input, the other senses take over, almost instantly. Right now, the nerves in your feet are literally `tuning' themselves to become more sensitive.† Good thing, Trish thought, correcting course again. They walked in silence for what seemed entirely too long. â€Å"How much farther?† Trish finally asked. â€Å"We're about halfway.† Katherine's voice sounded more distant now. Trish sped up, doing her best to stay composed, but the breadth of the darkness felt like it would engulf her. I can't see one millimeter in front of my face! â€Å"Katherine? How do you know when to stop walking?† â€Å"You'll know in a moment,† Katherine said. That was a year ago, and now, tonight, Trish was once again in the void, heading in the opposite direction, out to the lobby to retrieve her boss's guest. A sudden change in carpet texture beneath her feet alerted her that she was three yards from the exit. The warning track, as it was called by Peter Solomon, an avid baseball fan. Trish stopped short, pulled out her key card, and groped in the darkness along the wall until she found the raised slot and inserted her card. The door hissed open. Trish squinted into the welcoming light of the SMSC hallway. Made it . . . again. Moving through the deserted corridors, Trish found herself thinking about the bizarre redacted file they had found on a secure network. Ancient portal? Secret location underground? She wondered if Mark Zoubianis was having any luck figuring out where the mysterious document was located. Inside the control room, Katherine stood in the soft glow of the plasma wall and gazed up at the enigmatic document they had uncovered. She had isolated her key phrases now and felt increasingly certain that the document was talking about the same far-flung legend that her brother had apparently shared with Dr. Abaddon. . . . secret location UNDERGROUND where the . . . . . . somewhere in WASHINGTON, D.C., the coordinates . . . . . . uncovered an ANCIENT PORTAL that led . . . . . . warning the PYRAMID holds dangerous . . . . . . decipher this ENGRAVED SYMBOLON to unveil . . . I need to see the rest of the file, Katherine thought. She stared a moment longer and then flipped the plasma wall's power switch. Katherine always turned off this energy-intensive display so as not to waste the fuel cell's liquid hydrogen reserves. She watched as her keywords slowly faded, collapsing down into a tiny white dot, which hovered in the middle of the wall and then finally twinkled out. She turned and walked back toward her office. Dr. Abaddon would be arriving momentarily, and she wanted to make him feel welcome. CHAPTER 32 â€Å"Almost there,† Anderson said, guiding Langdon and Sato down the seemingly endless corridor that ran the entire length of the Capitol's eastern foundation. â€Å"In Lincoln's day, this passage had a dirt floor and was filled with rats.† Langdon felt grateful the floor had been tiled; he was not a big fan of rats. The group continued on, their footfalls drumming up an eerie, uneven echo in the long passageway. Doorways lined the long hallway, some closed but many ajar. Many of the rooms down on this level looked abandoned. Langdon noticed the numbers on the doors were now descending and, after a while, seemed to be running out. SB4 . . . SB3 . . . SB2 . . . SB1 . . . They continued past an unmarked door, but Anderson stopped short when the numbers began ascending again. HB1 . . . HB2 . . . â€Å"Sorry,† Anderson said. â€Å"Missed it. I almost never come down this deep.† The group backed up a few yards to an old metal door, which Langdon now realized was located at the hallway's central point–the meridian that divided the Senate Basement (SB) and the House Basement (HB). As it turned out, the door was indeed marked, but its engraving was so faded, it was almost imperceptible. SBB â€Å"Here we are,† Anderson said. â€Å"Keys will be arriving any moment.† Sato frowned and checked her watch. Langdon eyed the SBB marking and asked Anderson, â€Å"Why is this space associated with the Senate side even though it's in the middle?† Anderson looked puzzled. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"It says SBB, which begins with an S, not an H.† Anderson shook his head. â€Å"The S in SBB doesn't stand for Senate. It–â€Å" â€Å"Chief?† a guard called out in the distance. He came jogging up the hallway toward them, holding out a key. â€Å"Sorry, sir, it took a few minutes. We couldn't locate the main SBB key. This is a spare from an auxiliary box.† â€Å"The original is missing?† Anderson said, sounding surprised. â€Å"Probably lost,† the guard replied, arriving out of breath. â€Å"Nobody has requested access down here for ages.† Anderson took the key. â€Å"No secondary key for SBB Thirteen?† â€Å"Sorry, so far we're not finding keys for any of the rooms in the SBB. MacDonald's on it now.† The guard pulled out his radio and spoke into it. â€Å"Bob? I'm with the chief. Any additional info yet on the key for SBB Thirteen?† The guard's radio crackled, and a voice replied, â€Å"Actually, yeah. It's strange. I'm seeing no entries since we computerized, but the hard logs indicate all the storage rooms in the SBB were cleaned out and abandoned more than twenty years ago. They're now listed as unused space.† He paused. â€Å"All except for SBB Thirteen.† Anderson grabbed the radio. â€Å"This is the chief. What do you mean, all except SBB Thirteen?† â€Å"Well, sir,† the voice replied, â€Å"I've got a handwritten notation here that designates SBB Thirteen as `private.' It was a long time ago, but it's written and initialed by the Architect himself.† The term Architect, Langdon knew, was not a reference to the man who had designed the Capitol, but rather to the man who ran it. Similar to a building manager, the man appointed as Architect of the Capitol was in charge of everything including maintenance, restoration, security, hiring personnel, and assigning offices. â€Å"The strange thing . . .† the voice on the radio said, â€Å"is that the Architect's notation indicates that this `private space' was set aside for the use of Peter Solomon.† Langdon, Sato, and Anderson all exchanged startled looks. â€Å"I'm guessing, sir,† the voice continued, â€Å"that Mr. Solomon has our primary key to the SBB as well as any keys to SBB Thirteen.† Langdon could not believe his ears. Peter has a private room in the basement of the Capitol? He had always known Peter Solomon had secrets, but this was surprising even to Langdon. â€Å"Okay,† Anderson said, clearly unamused. â€Å"We're hoping to get access to SBB Thirteen specifically, so keep looking for a secondary key.† â€Å"Will do, sir. We're also working on the digital image that you requested–â€Å" â€Å"Thank you,† Anderson interrupted, pressing the talk button and cutting him off. â€Å"That will be all. Send that file to Director Sato's BlackBerry as soon as you have it.† â€Å"Understood, sir.† The radio went silent. Anderson handed the radio back to the guard in front of them. The guard pulled out a photocopy of a blueprint and handed it to his chief. â€Å"Sir, the SBB is in gray, and we've notated with an X which room is SBB Thirteen, so it shouldn't be hard to find. The area is quite small.† Anderson thanked the guard and turned his focus to the blueprint as the young man hurried off. Langdon looked on, surprised to see the astonishing number of cubicles that made up the bizarre maze beneath the U.S. Capitol. Anderson studied the blueprint for a moment, nodded, and then stuffed it into his pocket. Turning to the door marked SBB, he raised the key, but hesitated, looking uneasy about opening it. Langdon felt similar misgivings; he had no idea what was behind this door, but he was quite certain that whatever Solomon had hidden down here, he wanted to keep private. Very private. Sato cleared her throat, and Anderson got the message. The chief took a deep breath, inserted the key, and tried to turn it. The key didn't move. For a split second, Langdon felt hopeful the key was wrong. On the second try, though, the lock turned, and Anderson heaved the door open. As the heavy door creaked outward, damp air rushed out into the corridor. Langdon peered into the darkness but could see nothing at all. â€Å"Professor,† Anderson said, glancing back at Langdon as he groped blindly for a light switch. â€Å"To answer your question, the S in SBB doesn't stand for Senate. It stands for sub.† â€Å"Sub?† Langdon asked, puzzled. Anderson nodded and flicked the switch just inside the door. A single bulb illuminated an alarmingly steep staircase descending into inky blackness. â€Å"SBB is the Capitol's subbasement.†

Darkness at Noon essays

Darkness at Noon essays Rubashov, himself an aging Bolshevik revolutionary and one of the few survivors from Lenin's old guard, is brought to a confrontation of his own past during his imprisonment and interrogation. The period is Stalin's Russia of the 1930s, a time when Stalin systematically eliminated all opposition to the new ideology of collectivism,' and his own rule. As a result, Rubashov is forced to undergo the same experience of suffering and psychological torture that he himself had been party to inflicting on many an innocent individual, including his own friends and even his lover, in the name of the revolution. This leads him to a great deal of introspection and soul searching on his personal value system and indeed, the ideology followed by the Party. Reflecting back on his own life, Rubashov slowly reaches the conclusion that the end does not justify the means. Now that Rubashov finds himself in the shoes of his own victims, he begins to re-examine the justification used by the Party in inflicting suffering on many individuals who betrayed even a hint of individualism or opposition to the cause. For instance, he recalls the case of Bogrov, a naval engineer: "advocatedsubmarineslarge range of action. The Party is in favor ofsmall rangenot have been enough to put him out of the wayhad to be discredited." (Koestler, 122) Slowly, Rubashov realizes just how much the Party has acted only in its own interests and not the interests of the masses. Truth and progress have no role to play. As Rubashov records in his diary, "leading agriculturistshot with thirty of his collaborators because he maintainednitrate artificial manure was superior to potash." (79). With imprisonment bringing Rubashov to the receiving end of the Party's policies, he realizes that he has spen...

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The Validity of Recovered Memories Research Paper

The Validity of Recovered Memories - Research Paper Example However, the validity of such memories is often called into question. The argument over such memories is one of the most contested positions in psychology, sometimes even referred to as the â€Å"memory wars† (Campbell, 2003). Many researchers claim that these memories are false, even implanted by incompetent therapists, while therapists most often stand behind the claims of their patients. Looking into the controversy surrounding recovered memories versus false memories, the process of memory repression, and some of the implications brings us to a realization of just how widespread and important this debate can be. Recovered Memories vs False Memories Individuals who recovered memories in therapy and with the help of a therapist were often unsurprised to recover memories of childhood sexual abuse. However, spontaneously recovered memories often surprised those who gained these memories. More tellingly, spontaneously recovered memories and continuous memories, those that were never repressed and therefore never had to be recovered, were much more likely to be corroborated by physical evidence than memories recovered in therapy (Geraerts et al., 2007). This could indicate that the presence of the therapist pushed people into â€Å"recalling† situations of sexual abuse that never occurred because the therapist expected to find such memories. In opposition to the situation of coaxed-out memory under the control of a therapist for the first time since the event occurred, people who report such spontaneous memory recovery may actually have â€Å"recovered† and then forgotten the same memory numerous time. This does not invalidate the correctness of the memory; however, such repeated incidences of forgetting and remembering does indicate the possibility that the memory was never truly repressed under the same system that would be used for completely repressed memories that require a therapist's assistance to recover (Geraerts et al., 2009). Resea rch shows that memories of terrible events, including being the one to commit terrible crimes, can be created in the subject's mind from nothing, and researchers tend to believe that recovered memories are generally of this type. Therapists, however, are more inclined to believe that such vivid memories cannot be created wholesale and instead that recovered memories are memories of true events; they may understand the existence of false recovered memories but believe that the incidence is much lower than a researcher may believe (Davis & Loftus, 2009). Memories of events can also be altered or distorted by such experiences as leading questions, suggestions, and incorrect conversations with other witnesses of the same scene. Especially telling for the possibility of recovered memories involving childhood sexual abuse in research results is the possibility of remembering accomplices who weren't present during the original scenes. An additional research study on recovered memories resu lted in up to one-quarter of the subjects believing that they had been lost in the mall as small children, when that event was presented as part of a series of actual events. This was only done on subjects whose parents stated that such an event had never occurred, so there was little possibility of confusing an actual childhood memory with the memory created as part of the research (Laney &