Edmund Spenser‘s Dazzling Quest for Virtue in The Faerie...

Edmund Spenser‘s Dazzling Quest for Virtue in The Faerie Queene Voyeur: one who habitually seeks sexual stimulation by visual means (Websters Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary). According to Babys Record, as a child my favorite stories included Daniel in the Lions Den, Jonah and the Whale, Elisha and the 40 Children Eaten by the Bears, The Three Little Pigs, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Before sex came violence, tamed by a mothers lap and blessed by the inspired Word. Voyeurism may well be the relation . . . of every reader to every novel, of every spectator to every painting, play and film (Paglia 191); as an innocent child, I had already allowed my untamed pagan eye to feast fully upon the delightful spectacle of†¦show more content†¦In my teaching I privileged the ethical voice, neglecting undoubtedly a wanton voice, dissolving the other into lust by its delicacy and splendor (Paglia 190). But now that I have read Sexual Personae I can no longer absolve myself of guilt for the pornographic eye in Spenser always wins (192). As a maverick literary critic, Paglia resists easy categorization. She rejects certain assumptions of contemporary criticism which substitutes political criteria for esthetic values. (It is easier to devise a quota system for the canon and its priesthood than to worship together). But her appreciation of Spenser is based upon a central tenant of deconstructionism: suspicion of the text. Paglia asserts that The Faerie Queene is didactic but also self-pleasuring (190). Spenser does not say what he means, for imagination can overwhelm moral intention (191). In other words, the visual fireworks generated by the poet contradict his intended message, that of showing us how to achieve holiness in the midst of a perverse world. The fight against evil stimulates rather than quenches the desires of the flesh. A serious charge indeed. No less surprising is Paglias comparison of Spenser with Chaucer who opposes extremism in all things (172). The earthy, natural Chaucer who accepts humanity with all its foibles is seen as more Christian than Spenser with his dazzling quest for virtue. Apparently Spenser glories, like Paglia, in an aristocratic,

Transcendentalism in Beowulf and Antigone - 2110 Words

Transcendentalism in Beowulfnbsp;and Antigonenbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; As time progressed through the various ages, Ancient to Renaissance, a trend began to form in the literature. The Ancient periods, reflected in the writings of the Taoists and the Greeks, were basically a time of transcendentalism. The gods of this era were treated almost as if they are friends to the people, or advisors; the gods controlled their fates and the uncontrollable, but the people were still very individualistic. As time progressed forwards, a trend swept Europe towards a period of theism, where the god or gods are treated as father figures; the gods controlled the lives of all their people just as parents control their children, even, as Martin Luther†¦show more content†¦Two works are particularly representative of this attitude during the period, Beowulf, and The Confessions by St. Augustine. Beowulf is a parable that shows the consequences of losing faith in God and placing too much faith in oneself. Throughout the poem, the character Beowulf moves constantly from a pride based in God and the greater powers to a pride based upon the strength of himself. The parable becomes evident when he turns all of his trust to himself, and is ultimately defeated by the great dragon. When Beowulf is sleeping in Heorot, waiting for Grendel to attack, the poet describes his piety: The Geatish hero put all his hope / In his fearless might and the mercy of God! (Davis, page 1136). By placing all his hope in the mercy of God, Beowulf is reassured that he will win the battle. Several lines down, Beowulf himself reasserts this idea as he says, ‘And God in his wisdom shall glory assign, / The ruling Lord, as He deems it right’ (Davis, 1136). These lines are bold statements of Beowulf’s complete faith in God to help him win in battle against the forces of evil. As the book progresses, Beowulf’s pride turns slowly from pride based in the glory of God to pride based in the self, resulting in Beowulf’s downfall. Before entering b attle with the dragon, he says, ‘I came in safety through many a conflict . . . Old as I am, I will fight this feud, / Do manful deeds, if the dire destroyer / Will come from his cavern to meet my sword’ (Davis,

Twelfth Night Happy Endings in Comedy free essay sample

Many people would say â€Å"Twelfth Night† meets the expectations of a comedy due to the presence of features (such as mistaken identity) causing discord throughout the play but these problems are resolved when we reach the denouement leading to multiple marriages. It can also be argued â€Å"Twelfth Night† isn’t truly a comedy because not all characters meet a satisfying ending, partially due to the fact normality is restored as we see characters conforming to society which does not compliment the prior social inversion present in the play. Referring to Walpole’s claim, I agree with the critics reading that any aspect of life will appear tragic if you become emotionally attached to it. A comedy cannot be enjoyed unless you are able to think of it detachedly and realise it is â€Å"an imitation of the common errors of our life† as expressed by Sir Philip Sidney, and accept it as that. Looking at the title of this play script, we could presume that it’s based around a festive season which was always welcomed enthusiastically by people during the Renaissance period; an â€Å"experience of pleasurable merrymaking† as said by Andrew Stott, but also a time which we know must come to an end. As said in Henry IV Part 1: â€Å"If all the year were playing holidays, / To sport would be as tedious as to work. † It implies that you must come back from embracing the natural world and acknowledge society’s belief of what is the norm. Dr Eric Langley understands this to mean that even though we appreciate Sir Toby’s drunken behaviour, Viola’s double identity, and the underlying homoerotic tension, we understand that they are mere fantasies; they do not belong in the Elizabethan era in which Shakespeare lived in and would be met with outrage by his intended audience. Due to this, the audience and critic alike would find the script to have a rather bittersweet ending as we are hesitant to believe the marriage will last after so much chaos which eventually leads back to traditional roles. Seeing an independent woman such as Viola conform to society cannot help but perturb the reader as it makes us question the moral of the story – does Shakespeare project his true belief on women’s roles in civilization by taming his female protagonist? We could however say that â€Å"Twelfth Night† fits the comedic criteria set out by Hugh Kelly when he said â€Å"The great business of comedy [consists] in making difficulties for the purpose of removing them. † The main characters reach a moment of epiphany in the denouement of the play which leads to a harmonious ending. The audience can understand that had Viola rebelled and not accepted her traditional roles, then such an ending would not be possible. However, Shakespeare’s attempt to â€Å"make concord of this discord† does not seem completely successful because we sense an air of â€Å"sweeping the dust behind the door† as Puck says in â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream†. What is not lost to the audience is that Malvolio is left displeased in Act 5 Scene 1 which he does not hesitate to express. Critics speak of how there is darkness in the play as Malvolio’s last words are â€Å"I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you. † He vows to equal the score which we cannot help but feel quite chilled by as the play soon comes to an end leaving the audience in the unknown. Malvolio represents the puritans of Shakespeare’s time who were sworn enemies of the playwright and those alike him; Dr Eric Langley alongside many other critics, believes the ambiguity regarding Malvolio is a way of Shakespeare making a mockery out of the puritans creating the ideal satirical humour of that age which the audience at The Globe during the Elizabethan era would surely approve of; as noted by Stephen Gossan: â€Å"you will see such itching and shouldering to sit by the women, [†¦] that it is a right comedy to mark their behaviour†. It’s accordant that the audience from Shakespeare’s time were rather â€Å"boisterous† and going to The Globe involved more pleasantries off stage than on. As said by Dr Eric Langley, the idea we get of The Globe in the 1600s is one which involved much â€Å"moral corruption† and so Shakespeare’s hatred for puritans was surely shared by his audience. For this reason, his dark sense of humour in matters involving Malvolio will have most likely been appreciated by people of the Elizabethan era unlike in the present day. Shakespeare implies Malvolio will not be avenged as quoting Feste, â€Å"Thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges†. The term â€Å"whirligig† being used metaphorically to describe time stresses that Shakespeare’s quick succession of events were intentionally structured implying karma has only given Malvolio what he deserves. Feste follows the expectations of a fool in Shakespearean comedy and by Isaac Asimov’s definition; he is a successful fool for â€Å"he is no fool at all†. We can see how Shakespeare may have found inspiration for this stock character as Feste can be likened to the ‘servi’ of Roman comedy. In other words, he amuses the other characters with his constant verbal jousting alongside his disturbingly accurate observations. The most prominent example of this is perhaps in Act 5 Scene 1 where Feste closes the play with yet another song. There is incremental repetition of the line â€Å"The rain it raineth everyday† insinuating that at any moment, the happiness which currently occupies the main characters could be swept away; the fact that their joy has not been ascertained makes the notion of this happy ending rather unsteady. Blank verse is also present in Malvolio’s last appearance in the play as he pleads to Olivia: â€Å"Pray you [†¦] ‘tis not your seal, not your invention†. As Malvolio does not usually speak in this form, the audience become aware of the strong emotions and conviction behind his words allowing us to notice the contempt he holds for being so boldly humiliated. Throughout the play script, we see Shakespeare change between prose (which is usually used for repartee) and poetry to suit the content of the scenes. The scenes containing poetry are typically written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. The use of iambs creates a steady uninterrupted rhythm which is not only aesthetically pleasing, but translates the deep emotions of the characters to the audience as well. Shakespeare partners this rhythm with rhyming couplets often as can be seen when the Duke says: â€Å"I’ll sacrifice the lamb that I do love, / To spite a raven’s heart within a dove†. Although presented in such an elegiac manner, the threat it beholds is quite dark and o this contrast allows us to understand the passion Orsino truly feels for Cesario perhaps unbeknownst to himself. This passion is re-established when he mistakenly calls Viola Cesario after her true identity is revealed: â€Å"Cesario, come†. Shakespeare cleverly implements doubt into the audiences mind mere lines before the end of the play leaving us on a cliff-hanger and begs us to ponder again, is this truly a happy ending? We see an AB CB rhyme scheme in Feste’s final song in Act 5 which adds impact to his speech and makes the audience think about the meaning between the lines. A great while ago the world begun, / [†¦] But that’s all one, our play is done/ [†¦] everyday. † Rhyming between â€Å"begun† and â€Å"done† highlights the hastiness the audience witnessed throughout the play from four acts of confusion to a very rushed happy ending. Feste says â€Å"but that’s all one† which would tell members of the audience who are yet to see the light, that this play was actually somewhat of a fable. â€Å"By swaggering could [you] never thrive† meaning arrogant behaviour will not get you anywhere when it comes to courting your love. This doesn’t seem to be the message you would expect from a comedy but Shakespeare’s words of wisdom were most likely lost upon his intended audience and so created the happy ending they wished to see, while satisfying the playwright too. It could also be argued that regardless of the ending which Malvolio and Feste meet, â€Å"Twelfth Night† has got a happy ending. As said by Northop Frye, a comedy is â€Å"a play in which a certain structure is present and works through to its own logical ending†. We can see this structure present as Shakespeare’s play consists of three main sections which are broken down over five acts. In the first section we are introduced to the main character who is put in a position of conflict which they struggle to overcome throughout the duration of the play. In the second, we see character development as the tension builds up due to these comedic/ conflict-creating features. In the last section, the conflict is met with a resolution as we reach the denouement, and thus the questionable happy ending witnessed in Act 5 of â€Å"Twelfth Night†.

s History

THE SENECA FALLS CONVENTION In July 1848, on the initiative of Mott and Stanton, the first women’s rights convention met at a Wesleyan church chapel in Seneca Falls, New York. Between 100 and 300 people attended the convention, among them many male sympathizers. After serious discussion of proposed means to achieve their ends, the delegates finally agreed that the primary goal should be attainment of the franchise. The convention then adopted a Declaration of Sentiments patterned after the American Declaration of Independence. Public reaction to the Seneca Falls convention presaged a stormy future for the new movement. Although many prominent Americans, including the famed editor Horace Greeley and the abolitionist leader William Lloyd Garrison, warmly supported it, many citizens and the great majority of newspapers responded with ridicule, fury, and vilification. Suffragists were called the shrieking sisterhood, branded as unfeminine, and accused of immorality and drunkenness. Later, when suffragist leaders undertook speaking tours in support of women’s rights, temperance, and abolition, they were often subjected to physical violence. Meetings repeatedly were stormed and disrupted by gangs of street bullies. On one occasion when Anthony spoke in Albany, New York, the city mayor sat on the rostrum brandishing a revolver to discourage possible attacks by hoodlums in the audience. Despite intimidation, the woman-suffrage and abolitionist movements continued for some years to grow side by side. V AFTER THE CIVIL WAR Bitter disagreements over strategy engendered a schism between the suffragist and abolitionist groups after the American Civil War. Many male abolitionists voiced fears that the demands of women suffragists might impede the campaign to gain voting rights for male ex-slaves. The issue came to a head in 1868, when the abolitionists pressed for a constitutional amendment enfranchising all Americans regardless of rac... 's History Free Essays on Women\'s History THE SENECA FALLS CONVENTION In July 1848, on the initiative of Mott and Stanton, the first women’s rights convention met at a Wesleyan church chapel in Seneca Falls, New York. Between 100 and 300 people attended the convention, among them many male sympathizers. After serious discussion of proposed means to achieve their ends, the delegates finally agreed that the primary goal should be attainment of the franchise. The convention then adopted a Declaration of Sentiments patterned after the American Declaration of Independence. Public reaction to the Seneca Falls convention presaged a stormy future for the new movement. Although many prominent Americans, including the famed editor Horace Greeley and the abolitionist leader William Lloyd Garrison, warmly supported it, many citizens and the great majority of newspapers responded with ridicule, fury, and vilification. Suffragists were called the shrieking sisterhood, branded as unfeminine, and accused of immorality and drunkenness. Later, when suffragist leaders undertook speaking tours in support of women’s rights, temperance, and abolition, they were often subjected to physical violence. Meetings repeatedly were stormed and disrupted by gangs of street bullies. On one occasion when Anthony spoke in Albany, New York, the city mayor sat on the rostrum brandishing a revolver to discourage possible attacks by hoodlums in the audience. Despite intimidation, the woman-suffrage and abolitionist movements continued for some years to grow side by side. V AFTER THE CIVIL WAR Bitter disagreements over strategy engendered a schism between the suffragist and abolitionist groups after the American Civil War. Many male abolitionists voiced fears that the demands of women suffragists might impede the campaign to gain voting rights for male ex-slaves. The issue came to a head in 1868, when the abolitionists pressed for a constitutional amendment enfranchising all Americans regardless of rac...

Sun Tzu The Art of War essays

Sun Tzu The Art of War essays Sun Tzu was a Chinese general from around 500 B.C. A collection of essays on the art of war is attributed to Sun Tzu. These are the earliest know treatises on the subject. Two thousand five hundred years ago these principles were a novel. Back then war was very disorganized and more or less a giant free-for-all, and for what is known, organized military strategy did not exist At least in written from until The Art of War. There is a story about Sun Tzu and it said that he commended an army of thirty thousand men in a battle against an army of two hundred thousand men and won. Had his opponent know of his principles or had some of his own, the outcome would most likely been different. Sun Tzu was unknown to his contemporaries until he wrote the Art of War. The Manuscript brought him attention from King Ho Lu, who appointed him to the rank of general. With his military genius and strategies he became a legendary figure in his own time. We must realize that Sun Tzu was not a businessman, a strategy game enthusiast, or a diplomat he was fighting real wars in ancient China. It was not till later on in the history humanity when we began to apply the teachings in his manuscript to mental wars than physical wars. The Art of War is divided into thirteen chapter and their names are: Laying Plans, Waging War, Attack By Stratagem, Tactical Dispositions, Energy, Weak Points And Strong, Maneuvering, Variation In Tactics, The Army On The March, Terrain, The Nine Situations, The Attack By Fire, and finally The Use Of Spies. There are a growing number of translations on the art of war mostly titled Sun Tzu The Art of War but you can find the wording reversed. Sun Tzu is some times referred to as Sun Wu, and Sun Tzi. Written more than Two Thousand Five Hundred years ago, Sun Tzus The Art of War is the first known study of the planning and conduct of military ...

JFK Assassanation essays

JFK Assassanation essays The Assassination of John F. Kennedy Over thirty years ago, John F. Kennedy was assassinated. He was supposed murdered by Lee Harvey Oswald. Many suspect differently. What does the proof say? What proof is real? Who can we trust? On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy arrived in Dallas Texas. He was touring the United States as part of his campaign to run for president in 1964. The motorcade left the airport. A short time later when the limousine was traveling through Dealey Plaza, a shot rang out. Then two or three more shots were fired. The president and the governor were both wounded. One half hour later the president was announced dead. The authorities immediately began questioning eyewitnesses and then started to search for the assassin or any trail he left behind. Patrolmen J.D. Tippit and M.N MacDonald were following the suspect behind a theatre. Officer Tippit opened fire and the suspect, later identified as Lee Harvey Oswald, returned fire killing officer Tippit instantly. After Oswald was subdued he was taken to the police station were he was interrogated immediately. Oswald denied having anything to do with the murder of John Kennedy, but Captain Will Fritz was quoted saying He hasnt admitted anything yet, but he looks like a good suspect. Oswald was to be moved to a state prison to wait to be tried for the assassination of the president. Before he could be safely away Jack Ruby cane up to him and fired on him at point blank range killing him in front of hundreds of reporters. This was also on live television, but what connection does Jack Ruby have to the assassination. Lee Harvey Oswald, the man charged with killing the thirty-eighth president of the United States. The question why did he do it? Or did he do it? Lee Harvey Oswald was an ex-marine, said to be at a medium level of proficiency with a rifle when he was in the marines. After being discharged from the marines he went to Russia. He...

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 5

Human Resource Management - Essay Example They have therefore devised innovative human resource management practices that empower workers to make decisions on matters that affect them. As a result, employee involvement and participation has become the central pillar of HRM. Employee participation and involvement (EIP) are often used interchangeably but as Hyman and Mason (1995) puts it; the two concepts have different meanings. Participation efforts are achieved through a legal framework designed by the government to enable employees to have a voice although at times they may exist in absence of such legislations like in Japan. On the other hand, involvement mechanisms are initiated by the management to enable them cope with the challenges of today’s economic climate. For the sake of this paper the two concepts will be used interchangeably since there is a very thin line between involvement and participation. The choice of the mechanism is determined by the political, social and economic conditions of the country and organization for which it is designed. Recently, there have been changes in the legal climate due to European Union initiatives aimed at improving working conditions and standards of living thereby initiating various participation mechanisms such as consultations (Knudsen, 1995). The paper will discuss the extent to which EIP initiatives have been a success. Definitions Employee involvement and participation can be defined as efforts geared towards empowering employees to influence decisions on matters that affect them by pushing responsibility for decisions down the organization hierarchy. The role of the employer in decision making process thus declines while that of the employee increases (Heathfield, 2011). This is done with the belief that by empowering employees, they will have a sense of ownership and hence gain morale, job satisfaction and commitment to organization goals. It is also believed that job satisfaction and commitment lead to improved retention as well attraction of the best talent in the labour market thereby achieving a sustained competitive advantage. Furthermore, the management requires to make quality decisions and this is enhanced by input from the workforce (Gennard & Judge, 2005). Participatory activities are also aimed at complying with legal requirements and in Europe it has led to increased role for trade unions. Historical Background Management efforts to improve productivity and efficiency began decades ago with the advent of scientific management systems advanced by Taylor and Ford. They believed that division of labour was the key to organization effectiveness and efficiency. Taylor thus concentrated on how to get most work done by analysing all tasks and designing jobs to eliminate wasted time. He ensured maximum job fragmentation and minimisation of skill requirements; employees were considered as stupid hence not able to make decisions (Bratton & Gold, 2001). Ford on the other hand, introduced assembly line method of produc tion which entailed short-cycles and standardization of commodities and processes. The division of labour led to monotony and boredom, job dissatisfaction, high absenteeism and turnover as well as increased costs in terms of monitoring and cooperation costs. This led to pressure for better methods of management by the human relations movement. The human

Career Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Career - Assignment Example According to Holland’s fit graph I am interested in helping to keep others emotionally or physically healthy, or in teaching others. I enjoy giving advice and working directly with people, either in groups or individually. In addition to my obvious talents I may also have hidden talents. I’ll find out what my managers, peers, friends and family appreciate most about me in the course of duty. It is evident also I have very little passion for health service. I wouldnt be satisfied in careers where the majority of my time is spent working outdoors, especially in agriculture with animals and/or plants. A low score on this scale also means that I probably dont enjoy the challenge of potentially dangerous situations. Teaching is occupation that matches my skill. The task interests me greatly, I currently have the skills to take the occupation of teaching, all this match my work style and values. I’ll require little time to gain great self control and will be up to task like any other person in the

University Admission Process in Chile Essay Example for Free

University Admission Process in Chile Essay Learning implies having had access to it, counting with quality books and teachers and being in an enviroment where culture is important. Therefore, what PSU does is to prevent poor students -who have abilities but did not have acces to knowledge-, from developping a professional course of high standards. In addition, PSU does not accomplish its main task, which is selecting the more qualified students to go to traditional universities. Because it does not messures abilities, nor skills. Just training. The ones who are good at memorizing and trained themselves correctly can have a high score. There are schools (normally private schools) that dedicate exclusive time to prepare their students for this exam, leaving behind other important subjects. This situation leads us to a third negative characteristic of our university admission process. In Chile exists the business of something similar to pre-colleges. Here, the ones who can afford these classes are taught the mechanism of PSU. And in concequence, they are the more prepared to take the exam than the ones who were not able to pay for extra lessons. ALTERNATIVE ADMISSION PROCESSES. One of the main achievements of last year’s strike in our university was the posibility of having an alternative admission process, apart from PSU. Senior year students from schools with low budget can be matriculated at University of Concepcion with only de minimum PSU score this university requires (475 or 500) and having had at least a 5 in their high school grades average. There is a quota of 56 students in 49 courses. Medicine, Law, Astronomy, Sociology, Psicology, History Teaching, among others. Another admission process in Chile is the pre-college system. It is found in several universities in the country. (de Santiago, Cardenal Silva Henriquez, Alberto Hurtado, Tecnologica Metropolitana, Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educacion y Catolica del Norte) In University of Santiago, this programme started in 2007 with the support of UNESCO (united nacions. Educational, scientific and cultural organization). This system allowes students with the best grade averages of low budget schools, be matriculated at this university. No PSU score required. After selecting the students, they take classes of Spanish, Maths and Cultural Management for five months. If the sudents attend all lessons, they get matriculated in college at the University of Santiago with a full scholarship. And afterwards, they are able to study a professional course at this university. CONCLUSION As we said before, our current university admission process helps to increase our social differences and discriminates students from low economic stratums. Thus, we realised the solutions we suggest will be useless unless there is a deep structural change in our educational system, and if we look further, a change in our society. However, we hope these alternatives get massively increased in the near future. This way, the university access will be improved for the ones who really want to study regardless of their economic condition. So what we -common citizens students and teachers- must do, is get informed and communicate others about the problems that bother us. And take advantage of oportunities like last years strike to accomplish our aims and demands.

Gangs of New York, A Film Analysis :: Film

Bill the Butcher was the ideal "bad guy" for a movie. He was a stubborn individual who would not change his ways of thinking for anyone. If you came off a boat and tried to settle in the United States you were automatically hated by Mr. Cutting. Bill was a tall man, very skinny, and he had long hair with a matching mustache. Bill and his party believed that the only rightful people to have jobs, families, and make money were people who were born in the U.S., not immigrants. Women and children are not even spared by Bill and his rugged party. They hatred for the immigrants was so strong that they would shout profanities at them or hurl rocks at them when they unloaded from the massive ships. At times they would beat an immigrant close to death just because they looked at them the wrong way. Cutting's father installed these beliefs into him, Bill's father was killed in a gang war with the immigrants and he would never live that down. The way the immigrants were treated by some of the townspeople made some of the immigrants become very poor. Shop keepers and other store owners would not hire immigrants mainly because they did not like them and secondly that they did not want to upset Bill and his gang. Immigrants would soon leave New York and look for an easier life but most remained behind and lived in the side streets to fend for food with the rats. This is where thievery came in. Since most of the immigrants were poor they had to learn to steal to survive. "Pick-Pocketing" became the most famous means to steal in the streets of New York. The immigrants who would come off of the boats had no idea what was in store for them as they unloaded their boat. The immigrants were friendly people for the most part, they were not looking for a fight in America just a new start to their life.

Media Portrayal of Women in Sports Essay

The mass media and all its components have always played an essential role in shaping the way society views and thinks about certain issues and events. The type influence, which television shows, radio shows and other mediums of mass media have on their audiences, go widely unchecked by the professionals involved in that field and by society in general. The effects could be damaging and entirely maladaptive and yet only a few organizations and individuals take on the role of serving as the counterchecking department of the products of this industry. One of the many fields into which mass media have dipped their fingers into is the field of sports. What little attention is given to the effects of mass media on society is focused on children’s shows, violence-related topics and religion-based issues. The field of sports has been relatively untouched by those who monitor the mass media. The public has mainly stood by and accepted the information and manner of presentation that mass media has taken with regards to sports. This type of attitude has proven to be increasingly damaging to women in particular. Sports has become a highly gender-based field. Despite efforts to assimilate women into the various games and competitions, it has become increasingly evident, despite the lack of monitoring organizations, that mass media has not gone beyond the days of bias towards women in sports. There are still many issues that need to be addressed in terms of how television, radio, magazines, newspapers, and other such media have come to portray women professionals in the field of sports. How does mass media affect the way their audiences perceive women athletes and other female sports professionals? What steps can be taken to correct wrong practices in this field? This paper aims to answer these questions as well as to specifically understand the way mass media has shown females involved in various sports activities and whether there truly is reason for these women to be concerned. Television Coverage of Women in Sports   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Of all the instruments of mass media available today, the television set is perhaps the most successful and most popular. It has invaded the living spaces of almost all homes worldwide and is able to communicate to its audience in much more modalities than that offered by other instruments of mass media. It also allows for coverage of events at the exact moment the said event occurs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Research regarding how women have been portrayed through the medium of television has been much more numerous as opposed to research on portrayal via other mediums. The literature regarding this research has shown that women in sports have been greatly marginalized and stereotyped. The following section will delve deeper into this aspect of mass media coverage in sports.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most encompassing research done on television coverage of women in sports may be that of Higgs & Weiller (1994). They conducted a research to assess gender bias in the television coverage of the 1992 Olympic games. The two researchers found much to disappoint the many women athletes involved in the said games as well as all other women who were just as concerned about women’s rights, equality of the sexes, and politically correct representation of males and females in different fields.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Commentators of the different events in the Olympic games were noted to most commonly use terms such as â€Å"girl† â€Å"babe† and â€Å"sweetheart† to refer to the women competitors whereas none of the male competitors were referred to as â€Å"boy† even when the contestant was obviously of a very young age. Also, strength and weakness descriptions and allusions were clearly gender-biased. Men in swimming were lauded for their strokes whereas female swimmers would receive comments such as â€Å"a powerhouse of a stroke from a 16-year old girl†. There were clearly ways by which the commentators were able to inject their own prejudiced views of the genders of the competitors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There were also findings pointing to the fact that events wherein males competed were aired for longer times than those where females competed. Time differentials were noted for each event and there was a noted significant difference for each. This was applicable for such sports as basketball, volleyball, and the likes. Although individual events such as gymnastics were prone to have more airtime dedicated to women athletes, these were highly edited and sometimes even spliced together.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Each broadcast was also done with use of narratives. This was to draw the audience deeper into the mood of the game. However, researchers found that games with men contestants were broadcast with narratives of competition and strength. Women contestants, on the other hand, were often accompanied by emotional narratives pertaining to the athletes aspirations and the achievement of these with their success in the particular event they were entered in. If emotional narratives were not used by the television broadcasters, none at all were provided. It was either emotional or not at all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is therefore, a well-known fact that ambivalence in reporting of women’s sports on television exists. There is   a denial of power for women in this particular type of mass media. Although women athletes are equally as capable and equally as competent as their male counterparts, this is not credited by professionals reporting their games. Where women have been noted for their involvement in sports, negative allegations and prejudiced reporting have served to undermine the efforts of these athletes. Radio Coverage of Women in Sports   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radio coverage of women in sports has also been one of the more devastating instruments of undermining women’s efforts and women participation in various sports activities. The radio set, however, is less of a weapon of the mass media at present than the television set. The radio set does not cater to the visual modality of its audiences and as such may prove less of a weapon. However, it is also advantageous because reporting of the sporting event can occur at the same time that the actual event occurs. This means that up-to-the-minute, live coverage is possible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, airing time on the radio set is significantly less for sports events than that on television sets. The large percentage of non-recognition that goes on in television broadcasting of women participation in sports is thus multiplied by great factors on the radio set. Only limited numbers of sports are chosen to be reported and reviewed over the radio and most, if not all, of these are male-dominated sports. Sporting events that are not action-packed, that do not provide the reporter with a message full of strength, adrenaline, and passion are not marketable on the radio waves. And because of the trend and well-established fad of reporting male events and male athletes with narratives involving competition, strength, and passion, these are the events that radio broadcasters and radio networks focus on. Women-dominated sports and women athletes prove to be less of a popular choice of broadcasting for professionals in the radio industry as these gives them, to their perception, with a softer story that is not full of the characteristics they look for in reportable stories and which audiences will not much favor or listen to. Thus the perception that male athletes and male-dominated sporting events will have more popularity than their counterparts. Publication Coverage of Women in Sports   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another instrument used in mass media are magazines and other similar published sources. These cater only to the audiences visual modalities and are not able to give audio feedback. Also, publications such as newspapers and magazines are only able to give a reporting of the event after a period of time has elapsed. It cannot be given during the time the actual event occurs. A processing time for writers, photographers, layout artists, editors, publishers and other personnel involved in the production process is required. Thus newspapers come one day after the events have occurred and magazines are released at particular time intervals within the year – monthly, quarterly, annually, and the like.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A study by Hardin et al (2005) showed that women were often portrayed as sexually different even in sports magazines. Sexually different in sports can mean the portrayal of women as dissimilar. This can be shown through the presentation of sport type in the said magazine or given publication. This could be shown in a manner such that women, who participate in sporting events wherein women are not usually included as competitors, are either excluded or represented as masculine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, it has been seen that certain sporting magazines have been very generous to the female component of sporting activities. However, this balance is only present in magazines that have been produce through the efforts of staff that were consciously aware of the disparity in gender reporting of sports events. These magazines are, more commonly, actively fighting for women’s equality in this field. As such, they are few and not representative in the publishing industry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It should be acknowledged, however, that such magazines were launched and that these were successful in their goals. Perhaps this will provide the much needed gender-equality into the field of sports and mass media. Although these types of magazines form the minority in published mass media, they offer hope and raise out a cry of challenge to their colleagues, a cry for gender-equality and female liberation from the marginalization and disempowerment occurring in their field. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The large discrepancies in sports portrayals of women athletes has been seen to be significant in all mediums of mass media specifically that of the television set, the radio set, and published sources. Women have been marginalized, stereotyped, and stripped of power through the way these mass media instruments have been used to represent their participation in sports activities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, no matter how anyone looks at it, this type of portrayal is unwarranted and unnecessary. Women have just as much talent, skill and capability as their male counterparts. The efforts they exert in order to actively and competently engage in their given sporting event is equally similar to that which males exert. The strain and stress they undergo during training and during the actual competition are just as nerve-wracking and exhausting as that which male athletes experience. In all respects, female athletes should be considered and hailed as equal to male athletes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, this has not been the case. Mass media, whether through television, radio, or magazines, has proven to be unforgiving and thoughtless in bringing justice to the efforts of women athletes. There is a great need for change and renewal in the way mass media portrays females.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the best first steps towards a better and more fair portrayal of women in sports is by actively disseminating information about the marginalization and disempowerment that is occurring. Most audiences and most reporters are perhaps so tied down to the hegemony of sports and mass media that they are no longer aware when stereotypical remarks are made on air. Knowledge of the fact that sports is for both females and males and that both sexes are equally capable of succeeding in this field must be spread. Without awareness, there is no chance for gender issues to be resolved in this field.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It would, perhaps, also be constructive for organizations and bodies to be set up that would monitor the violations to women’s rights that occur during broadcasting of sporting events. This would help to check the prejudiced actions and comments of those involved in the mass media industry. This would also make other individuals aware that what is currently going on is not acceptable and that there is a growing need for better treatment and appreciation of women athletes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is still much improvement that can be done to the way mass media portray women. Mass media has come to influence the way society thinks in that women themselves have congregated around socially acceptable sports. Only the few who are not afraid of being dubbed masculine are able to compete in the sports where the male sex has dominated. There should be adequate measures taken to ensure that future biased and stereotyped thoughts will no longer exist. Women portrayal in sports still has hope to become much more fair and with this hope comes the assurance thaw women participation in sports will also become less prejudiced and stereotyped. Reference Higgs, C., & Weiller, K. (1994). Gender bias and the 1992 summer Olympic games: an analysis of television coverage. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 18,   234-246 Hardin, M., Lynn, S., Walsdorf, K. (2005). Challenge and conformity on â€Å"contested terrain†: images of women in four women’s sport/fitness magazines. Sex Roles, 53(1), 105-117

Solution Focused Brief Therapy

Ahmad’s case story presents interesting facts about how he thinks and feels about his situation. He seems to think about his life as something destined to be what it is. Ahmad said that his friends did not make him bad; he was already bad to begin with. This demonstrates a way of thinking with a strong locus of control. He knew why he turned out to be a problem child and he did not blame his friends for his mistakes, crimes and decisions. But he did emphasize that his mother had told him what he was going to be in the future.As a child, Ahmad may have come to believe in this prophecy which is why he thinks like that. This tells us that Ahmad is capable of thinking logically; he actually did not blame his mother for turning out to be the person he is, but to him his mother was right in saying he was going to be a bad person in the future. Ahmad seems to have the ability to take responsibility for his actions and maybe in this case he can also plan for his future. These are the reasons why Ahmad can benefit with solution focused brief therapy.Solution focused brief therapy would help Ahmad think about his present situation which he already have done in his case interview. The focus of the therapy is on helping the client recognize his ability to negotiate, plan and act on his desired outcomes of the therapy even in one session. It is important to note that solution focused brief therapy believes that the client is motivated to achieve his goals in therapy, and Ahmad has all the indications that he is motivated.Moreover, solution focused brief therapy is suitable in cases where the client firmly believes that what he/she is cannot be changed but rather to be able to find the means to move on with their life. For Ahmad, the focus is not on knowing why he became like this but rather to plan for his goals after this therapy. Solution focused brief therapy had been found to work well with all kinds of clients even with children, thus increasing the suitability of the approach to this case. 2. Discuss some of key counseling issues that Ahmad is facingThe key counseling issues that Ahmad is presenting include a poor self-concept, a deterministic sense of where his life is heading and an inadequate relationship with significant others. Ahmad says that he is destined to be a thief just as his father was destined to be a drug addict. This tells us that Ahmad had begun on the path of self-fulfilling prophecy because it was what he always heard from his mother. Moreover, he did not resist this prophecy because it validated his relationship as his father’s son which he might have not known while he was a child.At the same time, Ahmad seemed to be mostly affected by his mother’s behavior towards him. He even blamed his mother for starting him on smoking when he was in kindergarten. From this statement, it could be surmised that Ahmad’s mother was not very present in his early life, the mother was permissive, did not show any a ffection or care even when he did not go home for days and beat him when she knew he did something wrong. The attempts of the mother to discipline Ahmad only contributed to the child’s belief that he was not wanted or that he was a bad person.His poor self-concept was probably developed from what he heard from his mother who to him is the most significant person. These key cousnelling issues are important because it would hinder Ahmad’s chances of realizing his goals in therapy. His self-determinism and poor self-concept may stop him from thinking about his future since he is already a bad person there is nothing that could be done about it. His inadequate relationship with his mother has actually caused his poor self-concept which can be worked on during therapy.3. Discuss the therapeutic goals and how you would manage the case of Ahmad using your chosen therapeutic approach Solution focused brief therapy relies on three fundamental questions that needs to be asked by the therapist to the client which if done properly can lead to realizations that would help the client reach his goals. The therapist has to trust the client that he would answer the questions and the therapist has to ask the questions in such a way that the client would be able to adequately answer it.The basic questions include what are client’s hopes for the outcome of the therapy, what would be the client’s life be if these hopes are realized and what have the client been doing now and in the past that would help the client realize his goals. In Ahmad’s case the therapist first asks the question what are his goals in this therapy. Whatever Ahmad’s response be, it would be accepted as valid and real to him and can be established as the desired goals of the therapy. Ahmad’s goals should be placed foremost in the therapeutic relationship.The therapist can further ask Ahmad what he would feel if he realized this goal, would it make him feel better or not. In this way the client could further examine his goals if it is really what he wanted. The therapist also does not impose his/her own values or beliefs into the client’s goals. After establishing the desired goals of the client, the therapist then can begin asking the second question centering on the preferred situation or kind of life that Ahmad wants to have when his goals are realized.In this stage of the therapy, the client is asked to elaborate on what his goals would bring him in the future. If his goal is to stop being apprehended then a likely approach would be to ask Ahmad what would his lie become if he does not have to face the police and the court as much, in this way Ahmad would realize a future without the threat of being caught by the police a likely possibility and which he can attain. By discussing the client’s feelings, thoughts and reactions to the desired goal for the future, it becomes more present to Ahmad and become more attainable.In th is part of the therapy, the therapist can ask Ahmad the â€Å"magic question†. The magic question had been developed to help the client think more about his/her desired goals. The magic question is phrased as â€Å"if you wake up in the morning and all of the things you would want to happen have happened already how you would feel? † The goal is to be able to help the client realize that there is something after the problem, that there is no need to figure out the solution because occasionally the solution will present itself and the client just have to recognize it.In Ahmad’s case, the magic question would be â€Å"if you wake up in the morning and a miracle had occurred to wipe all your problems, what would be the things you would notice that tells you that a miracle did occur? † After this elaboration, the therapist then asks Ahmad to describe what he had been doing now or in past that he thinks would likely lead him to his goals. The idea here is to d raw out the skills and resources that the client already has in attaining his goals, it focuses more on the strengths of the client rather than his past or his problem behaviors.The client must be able to make the connection between what he already has done that have worked to help him reach his goal and the therapist can do this by asking the right questions and leading the client to discover for himself what those resources are. Solution focused brief therapy is called brief because sessions would only range from one to six times where significant realization and improvement can already occur. Ahmad is an intelligent person and he may be able to benefit from 2 or 3 sessions just to get his work through his issues with his relationship with his mother.4. Discuss the limitation challenges and ethical issues you might face in managing this case The limitations of solution focused brief therapy are dependent on the kind of problems and clients that come to the therapy. For example, if the client has substance abuse problems and would actually want to stop being caught by the police as her likely goal, this becomes an ethical dilemma for the counselor since solution focused brief therapy would accept all the goals of the client be it bad or good.However, a skilled therapist can always lead the client to positive future behaviors rather than dwell on the negative goals of the client. If the goal is to learn how to get away from the authorities, then the therapist has to ask the client what she thinks would lead her to this goal, and naturally the client would say to stop doing bad things. On the other hand, solution focused brief therapy generally work well with logical clients, if the client had a mental illness or a disability and is not capable of making decisions by themselves, then the approach would not work.Ahmad is clearly logical but a limitation would be that he is already convinced that he is bad and he does not see any problem with it. Solution focused brief therapy is only possible when the client has a clear idea of his problems, and Ahmad clearly does not think that being bad is an issue, he was maybe born to be bad. Solution focused brief therapy also does not allow therapists to change the values, ideas and emotions of the client and working with Ahmad’s concept of his being bad would definitely be a challenge. 5. Discuss the therapeutic technique that you would use this case and discuss the limitation of the techniqueSolution focused brief therapy had been borne out of the belief that instead of trying to understand the problem and finding solutions to it, it is more beneficial to focus on the future and the solution to the problem. More importantly, the client often has the resources to solve the problem which can be drawn out by the therapist using magic questions. This approach also says that the past is done with and the client or the therapist cannot do anything to undo it, so it is more worthwhile to focus on t he future and the solution to the problem.The approach is called brief since therapy is initiated only when the client needs to work on a problem and when the client already knows what to do with the problem, then the therapy is terminated, in this case one or two sessions would be sufficient. The limitations of the technique heavily depend on the inability of the client to work past the problem identification stage to the goal identification stage. If the client has difficulty in this area, the therapist can throw questions that lead the client to coping behaviors which also facilitate a clear identification of goals.Although solution focused brief therapy is simple in theory, it is actually very difficult to apply in real cases since it lacks structure and the therapist must have the presence of mind to stop from delving into the past since it is not relevant to the approach. Person Centered Therapy 1. After reading the story of Ahmad use one approach in counseling that you think might be helpful in managing this case. Explain briefly why you have chosen this approach. Ahmad’s case story is the best candidate for the application of the person centered therapy since Ahmad had issues with his self-concept and this is the forte of person centered therapy.Ahmad’s poor self-concept that is being a bad person because he was born that way was an acceptance of his mother’s conditional regard for him. He would rather be a bad person because his mother says so and which tells him he is like his father and therefore gain acceptance than to resist the idea of being a bad person and be ignored by his mother. From Ahmad’s narrative, it was obvious that his mother only paid attention to him when he was found to misbehave or when he did something really bad.Not going home for several days was not bad since his mother according to him trusted him; it was only when his mother knew of his stealing and vandalism that he was punished. To Ahmad, even a negative attention is more important than no attention at all from his mother. The person centered therapy specifically believes that psychological problems or disturbances stem from the inadequacy of unconditional positive regard that the client experiences in his childhood thereby stifling his growth and personal development.The person centered approach also believes that each one of us has the ability to grow and to achieve our potentials given the right amount and quality of positive regard. 2. Discuss some of key counseling issues that Ahmad is facing Ahmad has already formed his identity and self concept based on other people’s opinion of him, and that is a bad person. He even goes as far as saying that some people are borne to be good or bad and he is one of those who were already bad when they first came to the world. All the experiences he had in his life seemed to affirm this idea which has led to his own acceptance of that self-concept.Ahmad’s life had prob ably turned from bad to worse as he got older because he lacked the caring and nurturing relationships that would initiate change in his life. All his life, he had been doing bad things such as smoking in kindergarten, dropping out of school, stealing, leading a pack of boys to commit stress crimes, and yet he does not seem to be bitter about it. Ahmad had come to believe that it is his birthright to be bad, which to the person centered therapist, is a very alarming and poor self-concept.Another counseling issue that Ahmad needs to work with the therapist is how his relationship with his mother had contributed to his self-concept and that not because his mother sees him as a bad person does not mean that all the people in the world see him as such. 3. Discuss the therapeutic goals and how you would manage the case of Ahmad using your chosen therapeutic approach The person centered approach rests on the principle that when the client experiences the core conditions that are necessary for the therapeutic relationship, he/she will begin to experience change.The therapy first begins with the therapist establishing a relationship with Ahmad wherein the therapist must let Ahmad feel that he is accepted for who is and what he has done in the past, that Ahmad is a person of worth and that the therapist is there to listen and to understand his experiences. The person centered approach also believes that the client knows his/her problems better than any other person and the focus is not to find solutions or to explore the client’s problems but to provide the necessary core conditions to inspire change in the client.Thus Ahmad would be asked to return for a regular session, wherein the therapist would make the client feel that he is happy to be with Ahmad, that he listens and empathize with Ahmad, when Ahmad says he does not like being in therapy, the therapist would not be quick to refute any of it but rather accepts that feeling as valid and help Ahmad explore m ore that feeling without the need for meeting any desired behavior or rules of the therapist.If Ahmad refuses to talk during therapy, then the therapist must not force him to talk but rather make him feel that even if he does not talk, the therapist still values his effort in coming to the session. The third core condition is congruence which means that the therapist is genuine and honest about his feelings and ideas, this demonstrates to Ahmad that the therapist is transparent and that he does not have to be someone else than himself during their counseling sessions. During each session, the therapist must strive to make Ahmad feel that he is accepted, loved, listened to and welcomed.In this way, Ahmad would soon trust and realize that the therapist is a real person who is willing to give him attention and care without being anything else other than himself, during sessions the therapist can ask Ahmad questions about his life, his experiences, his goals for the future and his feeli ngs and thoughts which would later on make Ahmad share his dreams and aspirations and maybe on his own begin to act on his plans or change his behaviors because each person is capable of change, of doing good and of becoming better persons.Hopefully, the quality of the therapist’s relationship with Ahmad makes him realize that he is not a bad person, that he just believed he was because it was what he always heard. 4. Discuss the limitation challenges and ethical issues you might face in managing this case The limitations in using the person centered approach in Ahmad’s case is that he may not have the luxury of time to always come for sessions, he may be in a facility for youth offenders or he may even be imprisoned due to his crimes which would make it impossible for him to work with a therapist.Although group homes have in-house counselors and Ahmad might be able to work with them. Another challenge is the fact that an accepting and emphatic counselor might instead validate or reinforce Ahmad’s belief that there is nothing wrong with his behavior because he is destined to be bad. In fact, Ahmad may seem to have rationalized his self-concept into saying that bad people naturally do bad things, so if he is a bad person, then it is natural for him to do bad things.Moreover, there is no way to verify Ahmad’s stories because in this approach the therapist believes and relies on the client’s accounts as being true. 5. Discuss the therapeutic technique that you would use this case and discuss the limitation of the technique The person centered approach believes in the fundamental goodness of all human being, thus no matter how bad a person is, there will always be room for goodness to grow in his person. As such, the therapeutic relationship is established to provide the client with the core conditions necessary fro growth.Psychological disturbances occur because people do not always receive unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness; moreover, the individual comes to accept the positive regard of other people despite its being conditional because it is better to have any kind of attention than no attention at all. This approach also believes that by providing the right nurturing environment the client would become more aware of his thoughts and feelings would be able to understand more of himself and his behaviors.This approach however is not for everyone, very young children who lack self-awareness, and those who do not want to explore their thoughts and feelings or expose their inner self to other people would not find this approach very useful. The goal of person centered therapy is found its fundamental belief and faith in the person, thus the therapy is also focused on the person’s experiences, beliefs, wishes, feelings and issues which have either prevented him/her from growing into the person that he/she should be.There are a number of criticisms leveled against person centered ap proach because it lacks direction and it structure. It depends heavily on the problems that the client brings to the therapy. Another criticism is that if person centered therapy claims that a healthy relationship is more important than the expertise of the therapist then what then the difference of this approach from other approaches is.However, research although controversial at this point had found that the effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship is strongly associated with the quality of the relationship of the client and the therapist. References de Shazer, S. , Berg, I. , Lipchik, et al. (1986). Brief therapy: Focused solution development. Family Process, 25, 207-221. Mearns, D. & Thorne, B. (1999). Person-Centered Counseling in Action, 2nd ed.. London: Sage.

Type I vs. Type II Errors in Hypothesis Testing

Type I vs. Type II Errors in Hypothesis Testing The statistical practice of hypothesis testing is widespread not only in statistics but also throughout the natural and social sciences. When we conduct a hypothesis test there a couple of things that could go wrong. There are two kinds of errors, which by design cannot be avoided, and we must be aware that these errors exist. The errors are given the quite pedestrian names of type I and type II errors. What are type I and type II errors, and how we distinguish between them?  Briefly: Type I errors happen when we reject a true null hypothesisType II errors happen when we fail to reject a false null hypothesis We will explore more background behind these types of errors with the goal of understanding these statements. Hypothesis Testing The process of hypothesis testing can seem to be quite varied with a multitude of test statistics. But the general process is the same. Hypothesis testing involves the statement of a null hypothesis and the selection of a level of significance. The null hypothesis is either true or false and represents the default claim for a treatment or procedure. For example, when examining the effectiveness of a drug, the null hypothesis would be that the drug has no effect on a disease. After formulating the null hypothesis and choosing a level of significance, we acquire data through observation. Statistical calculations tell us whether or not we should reject the null hypothesis. In an ideal world, we would always reject the null hypothesis when it is false, and we would not reject the null hypothesis when it is indeed true. But there are two other scenarios that are possible, each of which will result in an error. Type I Error The first kind of error that is possible involves the rejection of a null hypothesis that is actually true. This kind of error is called a type I error and is sometimes called an error of the first kind. Type I errors are equivalent to false positives. Let’s go back to the example of a drug being used to treat a disease. If we reject the null hypothesis in this situation, then our claim is that the drug does, in fact, have some effect on a disease. But if the null hypothesis is true, then, in reality, the drug does not combat the disease at all. The drug is falsely claimed to have a positive effect on a disease. Type I errors can be controlled. The value of alpha, which is related to the level of significance that we selected has a direct bearing on type I errors. Alpha is the maximum probability that we have a type I error. For a 95% confidence level, the value of alpha is 0.05. This means that there is a 5% probability that we will reject a true null hypothesis. In the long run, one out of every twenty hypothesis tests that we perform at this level will result in a type I error. Type II Error The other kind of error that is possible occurs when we do not reject a null hypothesis that is false. This sort of error is called a type II error and is also referred to as an error of the second kind. Type II errors are equivalent to false negatives. If we think back again to the scenario in which we are testing a drug, what would a type II error look like? A type II error would occur if we accepted that the drug had no effect on a disease, but in reality, it did. The probability of a type II error is given by the Greek letter beta. This number is related to the power or sensitivity of the hypothesis test, denoted by 1 – beta. How to Avoid Errors Type I and type II errors are part of the process of hypothesis testing. Although the errors cannot be completely eliminated, we can minimize one type of error. Typically when we try to decrease the probability one type of error, the probability for the other type increases. We could decrease the value of alpha from 0.05 to 0.01, corresponding to a 99% level of confidence. However, if everything else remains the same, then the probability of a type II error will nearly always increase. Many times the real world application of our hypothesis test will determine if we are more accepting of type I or type II errors. This will then be used when we design our statistical experiment.

Problems with Included Tree Bark

Problems with Included Tree Bark Included bark or ingrown bark tissues often develop where two or more stems grow closely together causing weak, under-supported branch angles. Bark often grows around the branching stem attachment and into the union between the two stems. Bark has no strong supportive fiber strength as wood does so the connection is much weaker than a union without included bark. Pruning All maturing trees are subject to having bark inclusions and need pruning while limbs are smaller and easier to remove. Any signs of a cracked weak branch angle (shaped like a V) with included bark that occurs on the main stem or any included bark areas on larger, lower limbs should be considered a defect. Connected stems with a supported U or Y shape are desirable.  Proper pruning will help prevent included bark and encourage the proper shape. Dont Automatically Worry about Decay The presence of decay by itself does not make the tree a hazard tree. All trees have some rot and decay with advancing age. Decay is a problem where the wood is soft and hollowed out along with the presence of mushrooms/conks. Take immediate action if advanced decay is present or associated with weak branches or included bark. Signs for Concern   A weak branch union occurs on the main stem.A weak branch union is associated with a crack, cavity, or another defect.

American History Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

American History - Research Paper Example would bring back to life their dead ancestors, return vanished buffalo herds, and restore the customs and traditions of the old ways, before the coming of the "white man"† (The Battle Of Wounded Knee). The government soldiers perceived as an attempt by the tribal to re-take their lost lands and revolt against their new government. However, tribal did not have any such plans even though the soldiers misunderstood them. The soldiers thought that the Lakota collecting arms to fight against the government and they tried to disarm the tribal. The battle of Wounded Knee happened on December 29, 1890, near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota, USA. A simple incident resulted in a massacre at Wounded Knee Creek. On the morning of December 29, U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment troops tried to disarm the Lakota who fought against the American troops earlier. During the process of disarming the Lakota, a deaf tribesman was reluctant to give up his rifle which resulted in the 7th Cavalry opening firing indiscriminately from all sides, killing innocent people including men, women, and children, as well as some of their own fellow troopers. â€Å"It is believed that the accidental shot, fired while the deaf Native tried to maintain his hold on his weapon, caused others in the crowd (Native or white, there are counter claims as to which) to open fire† (The Battle Of Wounded Knee). â€Å"A single shot fueled the already charged atmosphere into a full-fledged eruption within a matter of seconds†(What Was The Battle Of Wounded Kn ee In 1890?). Even unarmed people were killed in this brutal incident. It is estimated that at least 150 men, women, and children of the Lakota Sioux had been killed and 51 wounded in this incident. Some people claim that more than 300 were killed in this incident. Along with the Lakota Sioux, twenty-five troopers were also died in this incident. The brutalities of the soldiers continued even after the completion of the disarmament process. Since some of the

Contemporary art vs visual work of the past Essay

Contemporary art vs visual work of the past - Essay Example The essay "Contemporary art vs visual work of the past" explores the art of the past and compare it with the contemporary art. Dating back to the time of Da Vinci and other classical painters and artists, they hooked more on depicting things, humans, landscapes and places in a realistic presentation. They adhere to meet the quality of being a classical artist, which is, â€Å"what you see is what you get†. That is the reason why you can see such painters creating their forms of art that depicts almost exactly lifelike. There might be a lot of reasons for us to come up to the conclusion why contemporary and classical visual arts or painting may look different from one another. By comparing it, we can say that they do belong to the same intention of its form, to be aesthetically appealing to the people, and this is only achievable if one artist find the real value of what really an art is. An art might be of visual form that might appeal to the sense of sight. But we could say t hat that is only the preliminary reaction of the person/s that sees the art. The over all perception to the piece of art might be affected by important factors wherein the viewer could relate. For example, one art form could be appealing enough to get the heart of the spectator, but on the other hand make others frown and left unsatisfied. Starting from the motivations itself, art is a way of communicating to the spectators. It depicts something which is more than portrayed, an interpretation that is kni.

Participant Consent Form Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Participant Consent Form - Essay Example I have read the Participant Information Statement and have been given the opportunity to discuss the information and my involvement in the project with the researcher/s. 3. I understand that being in this study is completely voluntary – I am not under any obligation to consent. 4. I understand that my involvement is strictly confidential. I understand that any research data gathered from the results of the study may be published, however, no information about me will be used in any way that is identifiable. 5. I understand that I can withdraw from the study at any time, without affecting my relationship with the researcher(s) or Taif University in Saudi Arabia now or in the future. 6. I understand that I can stop participating at any stage or anytime of the training if I do not wish to continue, the audio and video recording will be erased and the information provided will not be included in the study. I also understand that the data I provided in the group discussion cannot b e withdrawn if the group discussion has commenced.

Economics - Product Differentiation in Monopoly Essay Example for Free

Economics Product Differentiation in Monopoly Essay Monopolies are firms that are the sole or dominant suppliers of a good or service in a given market. And what sets apart monopolies from competitive firms is â€Å"market power†- the ability of a firm to affect the market price. Price discrimination is the business practice of selling the same good at different prices to different customers, even though the cost of production is the same for all customers. Only monopolies can practice price discrimination, because otherwise competition would prevent price discrimination. Price discrimination increases the monopolist’s profits, reduces the consumer surplus and reduces the deadweight loss. (the buyers of the lower-priced product should not be able to resell the product to the higher-priced market. Otherwise, the monopoly will not be able to maintain price differentials. ) The monopolist must be able to identify segments of the market that are willing to pay different prices, and then market its products accordingly. A common technique to achieve this is by making it harder to get the lower prices, since wealthier consumers value their time more than their money. Some ways the monopolistic firms can implement discriminatory pricing are; †¢Linear Approximation Technique or Markup Pricing Technique †¢Personalized Pricing – extracting the maximum amount a customer is willing to pay for the product. †¢Coupons and Rebates – providing coupons to attract more customers or providing personalized discounts. †¢Bulk pricing – offering lower prices when customer buys a huge quantity of the same product. †¢Bundling joining products or services together in order to sell them as a single combined unit. Block pricing Charging more for the first set of the product, then less for each additional product bought by the same consumer. †¢Group Pricing- charging different customers different price based on factors such as race, gender, age, abilities etc. and also â€Å"psychographic segmentation†- dividing consumers based on their lifestyle, personality, values, and social class. †¢Charging different prices based on geographic location. Some products may be cheaper to produce in different places and based on the cost of the good sold the monopolistic firm can charge different prices in order to maximize its profits. Placing restrictions or other inferior characteristics on the low-price good or service, so as to make it sufficiently less attractive to the high price segment †¢Establishing a schedule of volume discounts (â€Å"block pricing†) such that only large-volume buyers (who may have more elastic demands) qualify †¢Using a two-part tariff, where the customer pays an up-front fee for the right to buy the product and then pays additional fees for each unit of the product consumed.

The Iphone Essay -- Apple Cellular Cell Phone

When the word iPhone appears in Apple press releases, the word revolutionary is rarely far behind. But what counts as revolutionary? In Apple's case, the bar is high. Since the 1970s, the firm has changed both the personal computer and music industries. Will the iPhone fundamentally alter the structure of the wireless world as well? Not yet. The iPhone's style and user interface are pathbreaking, and (as the iPod proved) aesthetics do matter. But the iPhone is—so far—not a product that will turn any industry inside out. Seen as a phone, the iPhone is striking. Seen as a small computer, it's limited, and compromised by the existing business models of the wireless industry. Saying the iPhone is a pointless gadget is a bit too strong. But it isn't yet a revolutionary device. It is in some ways astonishing that AT&T and Apple are partners at all. AT&T is the oldest of the old school—the most ancient major high-tech firm in the United States, founded in 1878. Unfazed by spending the last 23 years in suspended animation (after the great breakup of 1984), AT&T is back to its classic business model: own the largest networks and everything on them. Apple, meanwhile, is the original hippie computer company, a child of the 1970s, not the 1870s. At least in its origins, Apple is an ideological foe of IBM and AT&T. (Remember that 1984 ad?) Considering that these firms were born on the opposite sides of the tech Kulturkampf, the iPhone cannot help but be a little strange. Most obviously, the iPhone is locked, as is de rigueur in the wireless world. It will work only with one carrier, AT&T. Judged by the standards of a personal computer or electronics, that's odd: Imagine buying a Dell that worked only with Comcast Internet access or a ... ...ed in transforming industries. Once Big Brother's foe, it's now more like Little Brother, happy to sell cute little devices that are easy to use, make money, and spread false consciousness. If you're an optimist, the more intriguing possibility is that Apple's iPhone is a Trojan Horse. The iPhone is fatally attractive to AT&T, since it gives the firm a chance to steal tens of thousands of new customers from rivals like Verizon. But Apple may be betting that, once it has its customers, they'll be more loyal to Apple than AT&T. With its foothold in the wireless world, Apple may be planning to slowly but inexorably demand more room. If iPhone 2.0 is a 3G phone that works with any carrier and supports third-party apps, then industry power will begin to move away from the carrier oligopoly and toward Apple and other Silicon Valley firms. Now, that would be a revolution.

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 42-43

CHAPTER 42 The Depository Bank of Zurich was a twenty-four-hour Geldschrank bank offering the full modern array of anonymous services in the tradition of the Swiss numbered account. Maintaining offices in Zurich, Kuala Lumpur, New York, and Paris, the bank had expanded its services in recent years to offer anonymous computer source code escrow services and faceless digitized backup. The bread and butter of its operation was by far its oldest and simplest offering – the anonyme Lager – blind drop services, otherwise known as anonymous safe-deposit boxes. Clients wishing to store anything from stock certificates to valuable paintings could deposit their belongings anonymously, through a series of high-tech veils of privacy, withdrawing items at any time, also in total anonymity. As Sophie pulled the taxi to a stop in front of their destination, Langdon gazed out at the building's uncompromising architecture and sensed the Depository Bank of Zurich was a firm with little sense of humor. The building was a windowless rectangle that seemed to be forged entirely of dull steel. Resembling an enormous metal brick, the edifice sat back from the road with a fifteen-foot-tall, neon, equilateral cross glowing over its facade. Switzerland's reputation for secrecy in banking had become one of the country's most lucrative exports. Facilities like this had become controversial in the art community because they provided a perfect place for art thieves to hide stolen goods, for years if necessary, until the heat was off. Because deposits were protected from police inspection by privacy laws and were attached to numbered accounts rather than people's names, thieves could rest easily knowing their stolen goods were safe and could never be traced to them. Sophie stopped the taxi at an imposing gate that blocked the bank's driveway – a cement-lined ramp that descended beneath the building. A video camera overhead was aimed directly at them, and Langdon had the feeling that this camera, unlike those at the Louvre, was authentic. Sophie rolled down the window and surveyed the electronic podium on the driver's side. An LCD screen provided directions in seven languages. Topping the list was English. INSERT KEY. Sophie took the gold laser-pocked key from her pocket and turned her attention back to the podium. Below the screen was a triangular hole. â€Å"Something tells me it will fit,† Langdon said. Sophie aligned the key's triangular shaft with the hole and inserted it, sliding it in until the entire shaft had disappeared. This key apparently required no turning. Instantly, the gate began to swing open. Sophie took her foot off the brake and coasted down to a second gate and podium. Behind her, the first gate closed, trapping them like a ship in a lock. Langdon disliked the constricted sensation. Let's hope this second gate works too. This second podium bore familiar directions. INSERT KEY. When Sophie inserted the key, the second gate immediately opened. Moments later they were winding down the ramp into the belly of the structure. The private garage was small and dim, with spaces for about a dozen cars. At the far end, Langdon spied the building's main entrance. A red carpet stretched across the cement floor, welcoming visitors to a huge door that appeared to be forged of solid metal. Talk about mixed messages, Langdon thought. Welcome and keep out. Sophie pulled the taxi into a parking space near the entrance and killed the engine. â€Å"You'd better leave the gun here.† With pleasure, Langdon thought, sliding the pistol under the seat. Sophie and Langdon got out and walked up the red carpet toward the slab of steel. The door had no handle, but on the wall beside it was another triangular keyhole. No directions were posted this time. â€Å"Keeps out the slow learners,† Langdon said. Sophie laughed, looking nervous. â€Å"Here we go.† She stuck the key in the hole, and the door swung inward with a low hum. Exchanging glances, Sophie and Langdon entered. The door shut with a thud behind them. The foyer of the Depository Bank of Zurich employed as imposing a decor as any Langdon had ever seen. Where most banks were content with the usual polished marble and granite, this one had opted for wall-to-wall metal and rivets. Who's their decorator? Langdon wondered. Allied Steel? Sophie looked equally intimidated as her eyes scanned the lobby. The gray metal was everywhere – the floor, walls, counters, doors, even the lobby chairs appeared to be fashioned of molded iron. Nonetheless, the effect was impressive. The message was clear: You are walking into a vault. A large man behind the counter glanced up as they entered. He turned off the small television he was watching and greeted them with a pleasant smile. Despite his enormous muscles and visible sidearm, his diction chimed with the polished courtesy of a Swiss bellhop. â€Å"Bonsoir,†he said. â€Å"How may I help you?† The dual-language greeting was the newest hospitality trick of the European host. It presumed nothing and opened the door for the guest to reply in whichever language was more comfortable. Sophie replied with neither. She simply laid the gold key on the counter in front of the man. The man glanced down and immediately stood straighter. â€Å"Of course. Your elevator is at the end of the hall. I will alert someone that you are on your way.† Sophie nodded and took her key back. â€Å"Which floor?† The man gave her an odd look. â€Å"Your key instructs the elevator which floor.† She smiled. â€Å"Ah, yes.† The guard watched as the two newcomers made their way to the elevators, inserted their key, boarded the lift, and disappeared. As soon as the door had closed, he grabbed the phone. He was not calling to alert anyone of their arrival; there was no need for that. A vault greeter already had been alerted automatically when the client's key was inserted outside in the entry gate. Instead, the guard was calling the bank's night manager. As the line rang, the guard switched the television back on and stared at it. The news story he had been watching was just ending. It didn't matter. He got another look at the two faces on the television. The manager answered. â€Å"Oui?† â€Å"We have a situation down here.† â€Å"What's happening?† the manager demanded. â€Å"The French police are tracking two fugitives tonight.† â€Å"So?† â€Å"Both of them just walked into our bank.† The manager cursed quietly. â€Å"Okay. I'll contact Monsieur Vernet immediately.† The guard then hung up and placed a second call. This one to Interpol. Langdon was surprised to feel the elevator dropping rather than climbing. He had no idea how many floors they had descended beneath the Depository Bank of Zurich before the door finally opened. He didn't care. He was happy to be out of the elevator. Displaying impressive alacrity, a host was already standing there to greet them. He was elderly and pleasant, wearing a neatly pressed flannel suit that made him look oddly out of place – an old-world banker in a high-tech world. â€Å"Bonsoir,†the man said. â€Å"Good evening. Would you be so kind as to follow me, s'il vous plait?† Without waiting for a response, he spun on his heel and strode briskly down a narrow metal corridor. Langdon walked with Sophie down a series of corridors, past several large rooms filled with blinking mainframe computers. â€Å"Voici,†their host said, arriving at a steel door and opening it for them. â€Å"Here you are.† Langdon and Sophie stepped into another world. The small room before them looked like a lavish sitting room at a fine hotel. Gone were the metal and rivets, replaced with oriental carpets, dark oak furniture, and cushioned chairs. On the broad desk in the middle of the room, two crystal glasses at beside an opened bottle of Perrier, its bubbles still fizzing. A pewter pot of coffee steamed beside it. Clockwork, Langdon thought. Leave it to the Swiss. The man gave a perceptive smile. â€Å"I sense this is your first visit to us?† Sophie hesitated and then nodded.† Understood. Keys are often passed on as inheritance, and our first-time users are invariably uncertain of the protocol.† He motioned to the table of drinks. â€Å"This room is yours as long as you care to use it.† â€Å"You say keys are sometimes inherited?† Sophie asked. â€Å"Indeed. Your key is like a Swiss numbered account, which are often willed through generations. On our gold accounts, the shortest safety-deposit box lease is fifty years. Paid in advance. So we see plenty of family turnover.† Langdon stared. â€Å"Did you say fifty years?† â€Å"At a minimum,† their host replied. â€Å"Of course, you can purchase much longer leases, but barring further arrangements, if there is no activity on an account for fifty years, the contents of that safe- deposit box are automatically destroyed. Shall I run through the process of accessing your box?† Sophie nodded. â€Å"Please.† Their host swept an arm across the luxurious salon. â€Å"This is your private viewing room. Once I leave the room, you may spend all the time you need in here to review and modify the contents of your safe-deposit box, which arrives†¦ over here.† He walked them to the far wall where a wide conveyor belt entered the room in a graceful curve, vaguely resembling a baggage claim carousel. â€Å"You insert your key in that slot there†¦ .† The man pointed to a large electronic podium facing the conveyor belt. The podium had a familiar triangular hole. â€Å"Once the computer confirms the markings on your key, you enter your account number, and your safe-deposit box will be retrieved robotically from the vault below for your inspection. When you are finished with your box, you place it back on the conveyor belt, insert your key again, and the process is reversed. Because everything is automated, your privacy is guaranteed, even from the staff of this bank. If you n eed anything at all, simply press the call button on the table in the center of the room.† Sophie was about to ask a question when a telephone rang. The man looked puzzled and embarrassed. â€Å"Excuse me, please.† He walked over to the phone, which was sitting on the table beside the coffee and Perrier. â€Å"Oui?† he answered. His brow furrowed as he listened to the caller. â€Å"Oui†¦oui†¦d'accord.† He hung up, and gave them an uneasy smile. â€Å"I'm sorry, I must leave you now. Make yourselves at home.† He moved quickly toward the door. â€Å"Excuse me,† Sophie called. â€Å"Could you clarify something before you go? You mentioned that we enter an account number?† The man paused at the door, looking pale. â€Å"But of course. Like most Swiss banks, our safe-deposit boxes are attached to a number, not a name. You have a key and a personal account number known only to you. Your key is only half of your identification. Your personal account number is the other half. Otherwise, if you lost your key, anyone could use it.† Sophie hesitated. â€Å"And if my benefactor gave me no account number?† The banker's heart pounded. Then you obviously have no business here! He gave them a calm smile. â€Å"I will ask someone to help you. He will be in shortly.† Leaving, the banker closed the door behind him and twisted a heavy lock, sealing them inside. Across town, Collet was standing in the Gare du Nord train terminal when his phone rang. It was Fache. â€Å"Interpol got a tip,† he said. â€Å"Forget the train. Langdon and Neveu just walked into the Paris branch of the Depository Bank of Zurich. I want your men over there right away.† â€Å"Any leads yet on what Sauniere was trying to tell Agent Neveu and Robert Langdon?† Fache's tone was cold. â€Å"If you arrest them, Lieutenant Collet, then I can ask them personally.† Collet took the hint. â€Å"Twenty-four Rue Haxo. Right away, Captain.† He hung up and radioed his men. CHAPTER 43 Andre Vernet – president of the Paris branch of the Depository Bank of Zurich – lived in a lavish flat above the bank. Despite his plush accommodations, he had always dreamed of owning a riverside apartment on L'lle Saint-Louis, where he could rub shoulders with the true cognoscenti, rather than here, where he simply met the filthy rich. When I retire, Vernet told himself, I will fill my cellar with rare Bordeaux, adorn my salon with a Fragonard and perhaps a Boucher, and spend my days hunting for antique furniture and rare books in the Quartier Latin. Tonight, Vernet had been awake only six and a half minutes. Even so, as he hurried through the bank's underground corridor, he looked as if his personal tailor and hairdresser had polished him to a fine sheen. Impeccably dressed in a silk suit, Vernet sprayed some breath spray in his mouth and tightened his tie as he walked. No stranger to being awoken to attend to his international clients arriving from different time zones, Vernet modeled his sleep habits after the Maasai warriors – the African tribe famous for their ability to rise from the deepest sleep to a state of total battle readiness in a matter of seconds. Battle ready, Vernet thought, fearing the comparison might be uncharacteristically apt tonight. The arrival of a gold key client always required an extra flurry of attention, but the arrival of a gold key client who was wanted by the Judicial Police would be an extremely delicate matter. The bank had enough battles with law enforcement over the privacy rights of their clients without proof that some of them were criminals. Five minutes, Vernet told himself. I need these people out of my bank before the police arrive. If he moved quickly, this impending disaster could be deftly sidestepped. Vernet could tell the police that the fugitives in question had indeed walked into his bank as reported, but because they were not clients and had no account number, they were turned away. He wished the damned watchman had not called Interpol. Discretion was apparently not part of the vocabulary of a 15-euro-per-hour watchman. Stopping at the doorway, he took a deep breath and loosened his muscles. Then, forcing a balmy smile, he unlocked the door and swirled into the room like a warm breeze. â€Å"Good evening,† he said, his eyes finding his clients. â€Å"I am Andre Vernet. How can I be of serv – † The rest of the sentence lodged somewhere beneath his Adam's apple. The woman before him was as unexpected a visitor as Vernet had ever had. â€Å"I'm sorry, do we know each other?† Sophie asked. She did not recognize the banker, but he for a moment looked as if he'd seen a ghost. â€Å"No†¦ ,† the bank president fumbled. â€Å"I don't†¦ believe so. Our services are anonymous.† He exhaled and forced a calm smile. â€Å"My assistant tells me you have a gold key but no account number? Might I ask how you came by this key?† â€Å"My grandfather gave it to me,† Sophie replied, watching the man closely. His uneasiness seemed more evident now. â€Å"Really? Your grandfather gave you the key but failed to give you the account number?† â€Å"I don't think he had time,† Sophie said. â€Å"He was murdered tonight.† Her words sent the man staggering backward. â€Å"Jacques Sauniere is dead?† he demanded, his eyes filling with horror. â€Å"But†¦ how?!† Now it was Sophie who reeled, numb with shock. â€Å"You knew my grandfather?† Banker Andre Vernet looked equally astounded, steadying himself by leaning on an end table. â€Å"Jacques and I were dear friends. When did this happen?† â€Å"Earlier this evening. Inside the Louvre.† Vernet walked to a deep leather chair and sank into it. â€Å"I need to ask you both a very important question.† He glanced up at Langdon and then back to Sophie. â€Å"Did either of you have anything to do with his death?† â€Å"No!† Sophie declared. â€Å"Absolutely not.† Vernet's face was grim, and he paused, pondering. â€Å"Your pictures are being circulated by Interpol. This is how I recognized you. You're wanted for a murder.† Sophie slumped. Fache ran an Interpol broadcast already? It seemed the captain was more motivated than Sophie had anticipated. She quickly told Vernet who Langdon was and what had happened inside the Louvre tonight. Vernet looked amazed. â€Å"And as your grandfather was dying, he left you a message telling you to find Mr. Langdon?† â€Å"Yes. And this key.† Sophie laid the gold key on the coffee table in front of Vernet, placing the Priory seal face down. Vernet glanced at the key but made no move to touch it. â€Å"He left you only this key? Nothing else? No slip of paper?† Sophie knew she had been in a hurry inside the Louvre, but she was certain she had seen nothing else behind Madonna of the Rocks. â€Å"No. Just the key.† Vernet gave a helpless sigh. â€Å"I'm afraid every key is electronically paired with a ten-digit account number that functions as a password. Without that number, your key is worthless.† Ten digits.Sophie reluctantly calculated the cryptographic odds. Over ten billion possible choices. Even if she could bring in DCPJ's most powerful parallel processing computers, she still would need weeks to break the code. â€Å"Certainly, monsieur, considering the circumstances, you can help us.† â€Å"I'm sorry. I truly can do nothing. Clients select their own account numbers via a secure terminal, meaning account numbers are known only to the client and computer. This is one way we ensure anonymity. And the safety of our employees.† Sophie understood. Convenience stores did the same thing. EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE KEYS TO THE SAFE. This bank obviously did not want to risk someone stealing a key and then holding an employee hostage for the account number. Sophie sat down beside Langdon, glanced down at the key and then up at Vernet. â€Å"Do you have any idea what my grandfather is storing in your bank?† â€Å"None whatsoever. That is the definition of a Geldschrank bank.† â€Å"Monsieur Vernet,† she pressed,† our time tonight is short. I am going to be very direct if I may.† She reached out to the gold key and flipped it over, watching the man's eyes as she revealed the Priory of Sion seal. â€Å"Does the symbol on this key mean anything to you?† Vernet glanced down at the fleur-de-lis seal and made no reaction. â€Å"No, but many of our clients emboss corporate logos or initials onto their keys.† Sophie sighed, still watching him carefully. â€Å"This seal is the symbol of a secret society known as the Priory of Sion.† Vernet again showed no reaction. â€Å"I know nothing of this. Your grandfather was a friend, but we spoke mostly of business.† The man adjusted his tie, looking nervous now. â€Å"Monsieur Vernet,† Sophie pressed, her tone firm. â€Å"My grandfather called me tonight and told me he and I were in grave danger. He said he had to give me something. He gave me a key to your bank. Now he is dead. Anything you can tell us would be helpful.† Vernet broke a sweat. â€Å"We need to get out of the building. I'm afraid the police will arrive shortly. My watchman felt obliged to call Interpol.† Sophie had feared as much. She took one last shot. â€Å"My grandfather said he needed to tell me the truth about my family. Does that mean anything to you?† â€Å"Mademoiselle, your family died in a car accident when you were young. I'm sorry. I know your grandfather loved you very much. He mentioned to me several times how much it pained him that you two had fallen out of touch.† Sophie was uncertain how to respond. Langdon asked,† Do the contents of this account have anything to do with the Sangreal?† Vernet gave him an odd look. â€Å"I have no idea what that is.† Just then, Vernet's cell phone rang, and he snatched it off his belt. â€Å"Oui?† He listened a moment, his expression one of surprise and growing concern. â€Å"La police? Si rapidement?† He cursed, gave some quick directions in French, and said he would be up to the lobby in a minute. Hanging up the phone, he turned back to Sophie. â€Å"The police have responded far more quickly than usual. They are arriving as we speak.† Sophie had no intention of leaving empty-handed. â€Å"Tell them we came and went already. If they want to search the bank, demand a search warrant. That will take them time.† â€Å"Listen,† Vernet said,† Jacques was a friend, and my bank does not need this kind of press, so for those two reasons, I have no intention of allowing this arrest to be made on my premises. Give me a minute and I will see what I can do to help you leave the bank undetected. Beyond that, I cannot get involved.† He stood up and hurried for the door. â€Å"Stay here. I'll make arrangements and be right back.† â€Å"But the safe-deposit box,† Sophie declared. â€Å"We can't just leave.† â€Å"There's nothing I can do,† Vernet said, hurrying out the door. â€Å"I'm sorry.† Sophie stared after him a moment, wondering if maybe the account number was buried in one of the countless letters and packages her grandfather had sent her over the years and which she had left unopened. Langdon stood suddenly, and Sophie sensed an unexpected glimmer of contentment in his eyes. â€Å"Robert? You're smiling.† â€Å"Your grandfather was a genius.† â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"Ten digits?† Sophie had no idea what he was talking about. â€Å"The account number,† he said, a familiar lopsided grin now craning his face. â€Å"I'm pretty sure he left it for us after all.† â€Å"Where?† Langdon produced the printout of the crime scene photo and spread it out on the coffee table. Sophie needed only to read the first line to know Langdon was correct. 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5 O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! P. S. Find Robert Langdon