Sunday, May 10, 2020
Alternative Health Care Essays - 960 Words
Alternative Health Care Alternative health cares, also known as holistic or homeopathic care, are countless ways of unconventional health care approaches to healing and improving illnesses. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann discovered homeopathy in the early 1800s. He was sick of the art of medicine practiced in his time; he said it was barbaric. He knew there had to be alternatives so, like any devoted science lover would do, he experimented on himself and his friends. Hahnemann found that large dosages of herbs increased symptoms so he decreased the dosage and found that the symptoms decreased and usually ceased (Smith 10). Homeopathy became popular in the nineteenth century. This may be accounted for because most patients at that timeâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦When someone chooses alternative care he must take into consideration its dangers. One could actually overdose on vitamins or misuse herbal therapies. Instead of feeling better, I felt increasingly worse, like a spaced out zombie complained Carol Co peland, a former holistic patient who almost lost her life to cancer because her homeopathic physicians were too proud to think they were wrong thus they neglected an ovarian cyst (Copeland 104 Wekesser 95). Another problem with these unconventional health care alternatives is that they give false relief. What this means is that when someone uses a holistic remedy and then feels relief he tends to credit the remedy. This method does not hold water because most ailments resolve themselves (headache for example). Nevertheless, holistic medicine has strengths. One, it recognizes the psychological, environmental and social aspects of illness. Two, it involves the patient in his own treatment with activities etc... And three, it emphasizes preventive medicine as its base (holistic). Holistic medicine is a practice of health cares that that emphasizes treatment of the entire patients body, mind and spirit. Homeopathic care, compared to allopathic is expensive. There are no doct ors visits or expensive antibiotic prescriptions necessary. This is not to say that doctors are not useful; obviously, if there were a serious injury one should not hesitate to go to a medical (allopathic) doctor (SmithShow MoreRelatedAlternative Health Care Plans Throughout the World Essay871 Words à |à 4 PagesIn the book, the author Reid discusses the different alternatives and models in healthcare provision that have been embraced by different countries around the world. For America in particular, the author holds the idea that the healthcare system is disastrous and explores other alternatives that can serve as better choices. According to the author, far from the widely held belief that universal healthcare is a universal socialized system, there are multiple and distinct plans that other countriesRead MoreAlternative Medicine, Cost Containment, Prescription Medication, And Health Care Industry Essay1939 Words à |à 8 PagesThe health care industry is continually changin g. The industry always has the opportunity for growth and improvement. However with that come many different topics to consider and analyze. Each topic brings its own views and ideas as to how it can help or affect the health care world. We will be analyzing some of these important topics and how they partake in health care. The health care industry is evolving. There is so much progress being made, new technology being introducedRead MoreThe Constitution And The Articles Of Confederation953 Words à |à 4 Pagesfinding a solution for health care in America is a unique and profound video involving impertinent details. Itââ¬â¢s a constant battle of America have a stable balance of health care for people. Itââ¬â¢s Dr. Robert Pearl has some interesting views about the topic of health care such as health care in 21st century which is the center focus of the video. The major theme of this video entails the world coming terms with 40 to 50 million Americans who are uninsured. Not to mention how health care will change in theRead MoreHealth Insurance Of The United States1597 Words à |à 7 PagesIntroduction Health insurance in the United States is very dynamic and costly to most citizens; however, it is necessary to ensure healthy living and protection from outrageous debt owed to health providers. With the recent changes due to the Affordable Care Act started by President Barack Obama, people now are being pushed to get health insurance. Some citizens of the United States have opposed this health reform. There were people who could not keep their previous health insurance plans andRead MoreHolistic Medicine Is A Healing Process1047 Words à |à 5 PagesHolistic Medicine Most people in the US usually treat their medical problems with prescription drugs, but there are alternative ways to relieve their physical pain. The health care system is making billions of dollars in researching new drugs to treat medical conditions and takes many years of research to find an effective way. Medical professionals have to consider the risk of trying new drugs on patients such as clinical trials to reduce heart disease or other conditions. However, there are otherRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd )1589 Words à |à 7 Pagesfor their country should be given all respect and care when they return home. Veterans come home with injuries that can affect them from living a healthy comfortable life. Their injuries can be from physical to mental injuries like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) from combat. Veterans who come home with these injuries should be provided, by the government, health care where they can live an enjoyable life. Having veterans take a n alternative rout like qualifying for medicade could help a lotRead MoreCost Containment Solutions For Employers1042 Words à |à 5 Pagesincreasing access to quality care for injured workers within the workersââ¬â¢ compensation system. Although organizations spend substantial amounts of money on Workers Compensation insurance, there are fundamentals organizations can consider where appropriate to drive down Workers Compensation costs while improving employee health and safety. Consider these Aspects: 1. Claim duration. Too many claims and claims that last too long. Focus on strategies that will deliver value-based care, superior patient outcomesRead MoreThe Role Of Accountable Care Organizations And Physician Joint Ventures1720 Words à |à 7 PagesAccountable Care Organizations and Physician Joint Ventures The relationship between physicians and hospitals is very important. If the relationship between the two is negative then the organization cannot be successful and can fall to the ground. If the relationship is positive then the organization becomes successful. Physicians bring business to the hospitals with their clinical experience, with the patients they see, by admitting them or performing procedures, and decide on what type of suppliesRead MoreThe First Reading By Sarah Helene Duggin973 Words à |à 4 PagesIn the first reading by Sarah Helene Duggin, compared the Obama care reform introduced by Obama and the New Deal reform introduced by Roosevelt. She highlights how these two reform are similar because in both there are two categories of people. There is people are favorable to the reform while other see the reform as a threat. For Sarah, these two cases have brought up major constitutional principles such as the separation of powers, taxing and spending power and Commerce Po wer. Finally, the authorRead MoreExpansion Of Medicaid Expansion : The Affordable Care Act1347 Words à |à 6 Pages Expansion of Medicaid The Affordable Care Act was put in place by President Obama in 2010, providing Americans access to affordable health insurance. But South Carolinaââ¬â¢s governor, the republican Nikki Haley is still rejecting the Medicaid expansion. My paper has detailed information on why Governor Haley and republicans made their decision to opt out of the expansion. Also, alternate approaches to expanding access to care and implementing or reconsidering the stateââ¬â¢s decision of opting out of
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The Da Vinci Code Chapter 18-20 Free Essays
string(56) " they moved into the shadows just as Fache rushed past\." CHAPTER 18 Fache sprinted down the Grand Gallery as Colletââ¬â¢s radio blared over the distant sound of the alarm. ââ¬Å"He jumped!â⬠Collet was yelling. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m showing the signal out on Place du Carrousel! Outside the bathroom window! And itââ¬â¢s not moving at all! Jesus, I think Langdon has just committed suicide!â⬠Fache heard the words, but they made no sense. We will write a custom essay sample on The Da Vinci Code Chapter 18-20 or any similar topic only for you Order Now He kept running. The hallway seemed never-ending. As he sprinted past Sauniereââ¬â¢s body, he set his sights on the partitions at the far end of the Denon Wing. The alarm was getting louder now. ââ¬Å"Wait!â⬠Colletââ¬â¢s voice blared again over the radio. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s moving! My God, heââ¬â¢s alive. Langdonââ¬â¢s moving!â⬠Fache kept running, cursing the length of the hallway with every step. ââ¬Å"Langdonââ¬â¢s moving faster!â⬠Collet was still yelling on the radio. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s running down Carrousel. Waitâ⬠¦ heââ¬â¢s picking up speed. Heââ¬â¢s moving too fast!â⬠Arriving at the partitions, Fache snaked his way through them, saw the rest room door, and ran for it. The walkie-talkie was barely audible now over the alarm. ââ¬Å"He must be in a car! I think heââ¬â¢s in a car! I canââ¬â¢t ââ¬â ââ¬Å" Colletââ¬â¢s words were swallowed by the alarm as Fache finally burst into the menââ¬â¢s room with his gun drawn. Wincing against the piercing shrill, he scanned the area. The stalls were empty. The bathroom deserted. Facheââ¬â¢s eyes moved immediately to the shattered window at the far end of the room. He ran to the opening and looked over the edge. Langdon was nowhere to be seen. Fache could not imagine anyone risking a stunt like this. Certainly if he had dropped that far, he would be badly injured. The alarm cut off finally, and Colletââ¬â¢s voice became audible again over the walkie-talkie. ââ¬Å"â⬠¦ moving southâ⬠¦ fasterâ⬠¦ crossing the Seine on Pont du Carrousel!â⬠Fache turned to his left. The only vehicle on Pont du Carrousel was an enormous twin-bed Trailor delivery truck moving southward away from the Louvre. The truckââ¬â¢s open-air bed was covered with a vinyl tarp, roughly resembling a giant hammock. Fache felt a shiver of apprehension. That truck, only moments ago, had probably been stopped at a red light directly beneath the rest room window. An insane risk, Fache told himself. Langdon had no way of knowing what the truck was carrying beneath that tarp. What if the truck were carrying steel? Or cement? Or even garbage? A forty-foot leap? It was madness. ââ¬Å"The dot is turning!â⬠Collet called. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s turning right on Pont des Saints-Peres!â⬠Sure enough, the Trailor truck that had crossed the bridge was slowing down and making a right turn onto Pont des Saints-Peres. So be it, Fache thought. Amazed, he watched the truck disappear around the corner. Collet was already radioing the agents outside, pulling them off the Louvre perimeter and sending them to their patrol cars in pursuit, all the while broadcasting the truckââ¬â¢s changing location like some kind of bizarre play-by-play. Itââ¬â¢s over, Fache knew. His men would have the truck surrounded within minutes. Langdon was not going anywhere. Stowing his weapon, Fache exited the rest room and radioed Collet. ââ¬Å"Bring my car around. I want to be there when we make the arrest.â⬠As Fache jogged back down the length of the Grand Gallery, he wondered if Langdon had even survived the fall. Not that it mattered. Langdon ran. Guilty as charged. Only fifteen yards from the rest room, Langdon and Sophie stood in the darkness of the Grand Gallery, their backs pressed to one of the large partitions that hid the bathrooms from the gallery. They had barely managed to hide themselves before Fache had darted past them, gun drawn, and disappeared into the bathroom. The last sixty seconds had been a blur. Langdon had been standing inside the menââ¬â¢s room refusing to run from a crime he didnââ¬â¢t commit, when Sophie began eyeing the plate-glass window and examining the alarm mesh running through it. Then she peered downward into the street, as if measuring the drop. ââ¬Å"With a little aim, you can get out of here,â⬠she said. Aim? Uneasy, he peered out the rest room window. Up the street, an enormous twin-bed eighteen-wheeler was headed for the stoplight beneath the window. Stretched across the truckââ¬â¢s massive cargo bay was a blue vinyl tarp, loosely covering the truckââ¬â¢s load. Langdon hoped Sophie was not thinking what she seemed to be thinking. ââ¬Å"Sophie, thereââ¬â¢s no way Iââ¬â¢m jump ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Take out the tracking dot.â⬠Bewildered, Langdon fumbled in his pocket until he found the tiny metallic disk. Sophie took it from him and strode immediately to the sink. She grabbed a thick bar of soap, placed the tracking dot on top of it, and used her thumb to push the disk down hard into the bar. As the disk sank into the soft surface, she pinched the hole closed, firmly embedding the device in the bar. Handing the bar to Langdon, Sophie retrieved a heavy, cylindrical trash can from under the sinks. Before Langdon could protest, Sophie ran at the window, holding the can before her like a battering ram. Driving the bottom of the trash can into the center of the window, she shattered the glass. Alarms erupted overhead at earsplitting decibel levels. ââ¬Å"Give me the soap!â⬠Sophie yelled, barely audible over the alarm. Langdon thrust the bar into her hand. Palming the soap, she peered out the shattered window at the eighteen-wheeler idling below. The target was plenty big ââ¬â an expansive, stationary tarp ââ¬â and it was less than ten feet from the side of the building. As the traffic lights prepared to change, Sophie took a deep breath and lobbed the bar of soap out into the night. The soap plummeted downward toward the truck, landing on the edge of the tarp, and sliding downward into the cargo bay just as the traffic light turned green. ââ¬Å"Congratulations,â⬠Sophie said, dragging him toward the door. ââ¬Å"You just escaped from the Louvre.â⬠Fleeing the menââ¬â¢s room, they moved into the shadows just as Fache rushed past. You read "The Da Vinci Code Chapter 18-20" in category "Essay examples" Now, with the fire alarm silenced, Langdon could hear the sounds of DCPJ sirens tearing away from the Louvre. A police exodus.Fache had hurried off as well, leaving the Grand Gallery deserted. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s an emergency stairwell about fifty meters back into the Grand Gallery,â⬠Sophie said. ââ¬Å"Now that the guards are leaving the perimeter, we can get out of here.â⬠Langdon decided not to say another word all evening. Sophie Neveu was clearly a hell of a lot smarter than he was. CHAPTER 19 The Church of Saint-Sulpice, it is said, has the most eccentric history of any building in Paris. Built over the ruins of an ancient temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis, the church possesses an architectural footprint matching that of Notre Dame to within inches. The sanctuary has played host to the baptisms of the Marquis de Sade and Baudelaire, as well as the marriage of Victor Hugo. The attached seminary has a well-documented history of unorthodoxy and was once the clandestine meeting hall for numerous secret societies. Tonight, the cavernous nave of Saint-Sulpice was as silent as a tomb, the only hint of life the faint smell of incense from mass earlier that evening. Silas sensed an uneasiness in Sister Sandrineââ¬â¢s demeanor as she led him into the sanctuary. He was not surprised by this. Silas was accustomed to people being uncomfortable with his appearance. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re an American,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"French by birth,â⬠Silas responded. ââ¬Å"I had my calling in Spain, and I now study in the United States.â⬠Sister Sandrine nodded. She was a small woman with quiet eyes. ââ¬Å"And you have never seen Saint- Sulpice?â⬠ââ¬Å"I realize this is almost a sin in itself.â⬠ââ¬Å"She is more beautiful by day.â⬠ââ¬Å"I am certain. Nonetheless, I am grateful that you would provide me this opportunity tonight.â⬠ââ¬Å"The abbe requested it. You obviously have powerful friends.â⬠You have no idea, Silas thought. As he followed Sister Sandrine down the main aisle, Silas was surprised by the austerity of the sanctuary. Unlike Notre Dame with its colorful frescoes, gilded altar-work, and warm wood, Saint- Sulpice was stark and cold, conveying an almost barren quality reminiscent of the ascetic cathedrals of Spain. The lack of decor made the interior look even more expansive, and as Silasgazed up into the soaring ribbed vault of the ceiling, he imagined he was standing beneath the hull of an enormous overturned ship. A fitting image, he thought. The brotherhoodââ¬â¢s ship was about to be capsized forever. Feeling eager to get to work, Silas wished Sister Sandrine would leave him. She was a small woman whom Silas could incapacitate easily, but he had vowed not to use force unless absolutely necessary. She is a woman of the cloth, and it is not her fault the brotherhood chose her church as a hiding place for their keystone.She should not be punished for the sins of others. ââ¬Å"I am embarrassed, Sister, that you were awoken on my behalf.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not at all. You are in Paris a short time. You should not miss Saint-Sulpice. Are your interests in the church more architectural or historical?â⬠ââ¬Å"Actually, Sister, my interests are spiritual.â⬠She gave a pleasant laugh. ââ¬Å"That goes without saying. I simply wondered where to begin your tour.â⬠Silas felt his eyes focus on the altar. ââ¬Å"A tour is unnecessary. You have been more than kind. I can show myself around.â⬠ââ¬Å"It is no trouble,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"After all, I am awake.â⬠Silas stopped walking. They had reached the front pew now, and the altar was only fifteen yards away. He turned his massive body fully toward the small woman, and he could sense her recoil as she gazed up into his red eyes. ââ¬Å"If it does not seem too rude, Sister, I am not accustomed to simply walking into a house of God and taking a tour. Would you mind if I took some time alone to pray before I look around?â⬠Sister Sandrine hesitated. ââ¬Å"Oh, of course. I shall wait in the rear of the church for you.â⬠Silas put a soft but heavy hand on her shoulder and peered down. ââ¬Å"Sister, I feel guilty already for having awoken you. To ask you to stay awake is too much. Please, you should return to bed. I can enjoy your sanctuary and then let myself out.â⬠She looked uneasy. ââ¬Å"Are you sure you wonââ¬â¢t feel abandoned?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not at all. Prayer is a solitary joy.â⬠ââ¬Å"As you wish.â⬠Silas took his hand from her shoulder. ââ¬Å"Sleep well, Sister. May the peace of the Lord be with you.â⬠ââ¬Å"And also with you.â⬠Sister Sandrine headed for the stairs. ââ¬Å"Please be sure the door closes tightly on your way out.â⬠ââ¬Å"I will be sure of it.â⬠Silas watched her climb out of sight. Then he turned and knelt in the front pew, feeling the cilice cut into his leg. Dear God, I offer up to you this work I do todayâ⬠¦ . Crouching in the shadows of the choir balcony high above the altar, Sister Sandrine peered silently through the balustrade at the cloaked monk kneeling alone. The sudden dread in her soul made it hard to stay still. For a fleeting instant, she wondered if this mysterious visitor could be the enemy they had warned her about, and if tonight she would have to carry out the orders she had been holding all these years. She decided to stay there in the darkness and watch his every move. CHAPTER 20 Emerging from the shadows, Langdon and Sophie moved stealthily up the deserted Grand Gallery corridor toward the emergency exit stairwell. As he moved, Langdon felt like he was trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle in the dark. The newest aspect of this mystery was a deeply troubling one: The captain of the Judicial Police is trying to frame me for murder ââ¬Å"Do you think,â⬠he whispered,â⬠that maybe Fache wrote that message on the floor?â⬠Sophie didnââ¬â¢t even turn. ââ¬Å"Impossible.â⬠Langdon wasnââ¬â¢t so sure. ââ¬Å"He seems pretty intent on making me look guilty. Maybe he thought writing my name on the floor would help his case?â⬠ââ¬Å"The Fibonacci sequence? The P. S. ? All the Da Vinci and goddess symbolism? That had to be my grandfather.â⬠Langdon knew she was right. The symbolism of the clues meshed too perfectly ââ¬â the pentacle, TheVitruvian Man, Da Vinci, the goddess, and even the Fibonacci sequence. A coherent symbolic set, as iconographers would call it. All inextricably tied. ââ¬Å"And his phone call to me this afternoon,â⬠Sophie added. ââ¬Å"He said he had to tell me something. Iââ¬â¢m certain his message at the Louvre was his final effort to tell me something important, something he thought you could help me understand.â⬠Langdon frowned. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! He wished he could comprehend the message, both for Sophieââ¬â¢s well-being and for his own. Things had definitely gotten worse since he first laid eyes on the cryptic words. His fake leap out the bathroom window was not going to help Langdonââ¬â¢s popularity with Fache one bit. Somehow he doubted the captain of the French police would see the humor in chasing down and arresting a bar of soap. ââ¬Å"The doorway isnââ¬â¢t much farther,â⬠Sophie said.â⬠Do you think thereââ¬â¢s a possibility that the numbers in your grandfatherââ¬â¢s message hold the key to understanding the other lines?â⬠Langdon had once worked on a series of Baconian manuscripts that contained epigraphical ciphers in which certain lines of code were clues as to how to decipher the other lines. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve been thinking about the numbers all night. Sums, quotients, products. I donââ¬â¢t see anything. Mathematically, theyââ¬â¢re arranged at random. Cryptographic gibberish.â⬠ââ¬Å"And yet theyââ¬â¢re all part of the Fibonacci sequence. That canââ¬â¢t be coincidence.â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not. Using Fibonacci numbers was my grandfatherââ¬â¢s way of waving another flag at me ââ¬â like writing the message in English, or arranging himself like my favorite piece of art, or drawing a pentacle on himself. All of it was to catch my attention.â⬠ââ¬Å"The pentacle has meaning to you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes. I didnââ¬â¢t get a chance to tell you, but the pentacle was a special symbol between my grandfather and me when I was growing up. We used to play Tarot cards for fun, and my indicator card always turned out to be from the suit of pentacles. Iââ¬â¢m sure he stacked the deck, but pentacles got to be our little joke.â⬠Langdon felt a chill. They played Tarot? The medieval Italian card game was so replete with hidden heretical symbolism that Langdon had dedicated an entire chapter in his new manuscript to the Tarot. The gameââ¬â¢s twenty-two cards bore names like The Female Pope, The Empress, and The Star.Originally, Tarot had been devised as a secret means to pass along ideologies banned by the Church. Now, Tarotââ¬â¢s mystical qualities were passed on by modern fortune-tellers. The Tarot indicator suit for feminine divinity is pentacles, Langdon thought, realizing that if Sauniere had been stacking his granddaughterââ¬â¢s deck for fun, pentacles was an apropos inside joke. They arrived at the emergency stairwell, and Sophie carefully pulled open the door. No alarm sounded. Only the doors to the outside were wired. Sophie led Langdon down a tight set of switchback stairs toward the ground level, picking up speed as they went. ââ¬Å"Your grandfather,â⬠Langdon said, hurrying behind her,â⬠when he told you about the pentacle, did he mention goddess worship or any resentment of the Catholic Church?â⬠Sophie shook her head. ââ¬Å"I was more interested in the mathematics of it ââ¬â the Divine Proportion, PHI, Fibonacci sequences, that sort of thing.â⬠Langdon was surprised. ââ¬Å"Your grandfather taught you about the number PHI?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course. The Divine Proportion.â⬠Her expression turned sheepish. ââ¬Å"In fact, he used to joke that I was half divineâ⬠¦ you know, because of the letters in my name.â⬠Langdon considered it a moment and then groaned. s-o-PHI-e. Still descending, Langdon refocused on PHI.He was starting to realize that Sauniereââ¬â¢s clues were even more consistent than he had first imagined. Da Vinciâ⬠¦ Fibonacci numbersâ⬠¦ the pentacle. Incredibly, all of these things were connected by a single concept so fundamental to art history that Langdon often spent several class periods on the topic. PHI. He felt himself suddenly reeling back to Harvard, standing in front of hisâ⬠Symbolism in Artâ⬠class, writing his favorite number on the chalkboard. 1. 618 Langdon turned to face his sea of eager students. ââ¬Å"Who can tell me what this number is?â⬠A long-legged math major in back raised his hand. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s the number PHI.â⬠He pronounced it fee. ââ¬Å"Nice job, Stettner,â⬠Langdon said. ââ¬Å"Everyone, meet PHI.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not to be confused with PI,â⬠Stettner added, grinning. ââ¬Å"As we mathematicians like to say: PHI is one H of a lot cooler than PI!â⬠Langdon laughed, but nobody else seemed to get the joke. Stettner slumped.â⬠This number PHI,â⬠Langdon continued,â⬠one-point-six-one-eight, is a very important number in art. Who can tell me why?â⬠Stettner tried to redeem himself. ââ¬Å"Because itââ¬â¢s so pretty?â⬠Everyone laughed.â⬠Actually,â⬠Langdon said,â⬠Stettnerââ¬â¢s right again. PHI is generally considered the most beautiful number in the universe.â⬠The laughter abruptly stopped, and Stettner gloated. As Langdon loaded his slide projector, he explained that the number PHI was derived from the Fibonacci sequence ââ¬â a progression famous not only because the sum of adjacent terms equaled the next term, but because the quotients of adjacent terms possessed the astonishing property of approaching the number 1. 618 ââ¬â PHI! Despite PHIââ¬â¢s seemingly mystical mathematical origins, Langdon explained, the truly mind-boggling aspect of PHI was its role as a fundamental building block in nature. Plants, animals, and even human beings all possessed dimensional properties that adhered with eerie exactitude to the ratio of PHI to 1. ââ¬Å"PHIââ¬â¢s ubiquity in nature,â⬠Langdon said, killing the lights,â⬠clearly exceeds coincidence, and so the ancients assumed the number PHI must have been preordained by the Creator of the universe. Early scientists heralded one-point-six-one-eight as the Divine Proportion.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hold on,â⬠said a young woman in the front row. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m a bio major and Iââ¬â¢ve never seen this Divine Proportion in nature.â⬠ââ¬Å"No?â⬠Langdon grinned. ââ¬Å"Ever study the relationship between females and males in a honeybee community?â⬠ââ¬Å"Sure. The female bees always outnumber the male bees.â⬠ââ¬Å"Correct. And did you know that if you divide the number of female bees by the number of male bees in any beehive in the world, you always get the same number?â⬠ââ¬Å"You do?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yup. PHI.â⬠The girl gaped. ââ¬Å"NO WAY!â⬠ââ¬Å"Way!â⬠Langdon fired back, smiling as he projected a slide of a spiral seashell. ââ¬Å"Recognize this?â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s a nautilus,â⬠the bio major said. ââ¬Å"A cephalopod mollusk that pumps gas into its chambered shell to adjust its buoyancy.â⬠ââ¬Å"Correct. And can you guess what the ratio is of each spiralââ¬â¢s diameter to the next?â⬠The girl looked uncertain as she eyed the concentric arcs of the nautilus spiral. Langdon nodded. ââ¬Å"PHI. The Divine Proportion. One-point-six-one-eight to one.â⬠The girl looked amazed. Langdon advanced to the next slide ââ¬â a close-up of a sunflowerââ¬â¢s seed head. ââ¬Å"Sunflower seeds grow in opposing spirals. Can you guess the ratio of each rotationââ¬â¢s diameter to the next?â⬠ââ¬Å"PHI?â⬠everyone said.â⬠Bingo.â⬠Langdon began racing through slides now ââ¬â spiraled pinecone petals, leaf arrangement on plant stalks, insect segmentation ââ¬â all displaying astonishing obedience to the Divine Proportion. ââ¬Å"This is amazing!â⬠someone cried out. ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠someone else said,â⬠but what does it have to do with art?â⬠ââ¬Å"Aha!â⬠Langdon said. ââ¬Å"Glad you asked.â⬠He pulled up another slide ââ¬â a pale yellow parchment displaying Leonardo Da Vinciââ¬â¢s famous male nude ââ¬â The Vitruvian Man ââ¬â named for Marcus Vitruvius, the brilliant Roman architect who praised the Divine Proportion in his text De Architectura. ââ¬Å"Nobody understood better than Da Vinci the divine structure of the human body. Da Vinci actually exhumed corpses to measure the exact proportions of human bone structure. He was the first to show that the human body is literally made of building blocks whose proportional ratios always equal PHI.â⬠Everyone in class gave him a dubious look. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t believe me?â⬠Langdon challenged. ââ¬Å"Next time youââ¬â¢re in the shower, take a tape measure.â⬠A couple of football players snickered. ââ¬Å"Not just you insecure jocks,â⬠Langdon prompted. ââ¬Å"All of you. Guys and girls. Try it. Measure the distance from the tip of your head to the floor. Then divide that by the distance from your bellybutton to the floor. Guess what number you get.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not PHI!â⬠one of the jocks blurted out in disbelief. ââ¬Å"Yes, PHI,â⬠Langdon replied. ââ¬Å"One-point-six-one-eight. Want another example? Measure the distance from your shoulder to your fingertips, and then divide it by the distance from your elbow to your fingertips. PHI again. Another? Hip to floor divided by knee to floor. PHI again. Finger joints. Toes. Spinal divisions. PHI. PHI. PHI. My friends, each of you is a walking tribute to the Divine Proportion.â⬠Even in the darkness, Langdon could see they were all astounded. He felt a familiar warmth inside. This is why he taught. ââ¬Å"My friends, as you can see, the chaos of the world has an underlying order. When the ancients discovered PHI, they were certain they had stumbled across Godââ¬â¢s building block for the world, and they worshipped Nature because of that. And one can understand why. Godââ¬â¢s hand is evident in Nature, and even to this day there exist pagan, Mother Earth-revering religions. Many of us celebrate nature the way the pagans did, and donââ¬â¢t even know it. May Day is a perfect example, the celebration of springâ⬠¦ the earth coming back to life to produce her bounty. The mysterious magic inherent in the Divine Proportion was written at the beginning of time. Man is simply playing by Natureââ¬â¢s rules, and because art is manââ¬â¢s attempt to imitate the beauty of the Creatorââ¬â¢s hand, you can imagine we might be seeing a lot of instances of the Divine Proportion in art this semester.â⬠Over the next half hour, Langdon showed them slides of artwork by Michelangelo, Albrecht Durer, Da Vinci, and many others, demonstrating each artistââ¬â¢s intentional and rigorous adherence to the Divine Proportion in the layout of his compositions. Langdon unveiled PHI in the architectural dimensions of the Greek Parthenon, the pyramids of Egypt, and even the United Nations Building in New York. PHI appeared in the organizational structures of Mozartââ¬â¢s sonatas, Beethovenââ¬â¢s Fifth Symphony, as well as the works of Bartok, Debussy, and Schubert. The number PHI, Langdon told them, was even used by Stradivarius to calculate the exact placement of the f-holes in the construction of his famous violins. ââ¬Å"In closing,â⬠Langdon said, walking to the chalkboard,â⬠we return to symbolsâ⬠He drew five intersecting lines that formed a five-pointed star. ââ¬Å"This symbol is one of the most powerful images you will see this term. Formally known as a pentagram ââ¬â or pentacle, as the ancients called it ââ¬â this symbol is considered both divine and magical by many cultures. Can anyone tell me why that might be?â⬠Stettner, the math major, raised his hand. ââ¬Å"Because if you draw a pentagram, the lines automatically divide themselves into segments according to the Divine Proportion.â⬠Langdon gave the kid a proud nod. ââ¬Å"Nice job. Yes, the ratios of line segments in a pentacle allequal PHI, making this symbol the ultimate expression of the Divine Proportion. For this reason, the five-pointed star has always been the symbol for beauty and perfection associated with the goddess and the sacred feminine.â⬠The girls in class beamed. ââ¬Å"One note, folks. Weââ¬â¢ve only touched on Da Vinci today, but weââ¬â¢ll be seeing a lot more of him this semester. Leonardo was a well-documented devotee of the ancient ways of the goddess. Tomorrow, Iââ¬â¢ll show you his fresco The Last Supper, which is one of the most astonishing tributes to the sacred feminine you will ever see.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re kidding, right?â⬠somebody said. ââ¬Å"I thought The Last Supper was about Jesus!â⬠Langdon winked. ââ¬Å"There are symbols hidden in places you would never imagine.â⬠ââ¬Å"Come on,â⬠Sophie whispered. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s wrong? Weââ¬â¢re almost there. Hurry!â⬠Langdon glanced up, feeling himself return from faraway thoughts. He realized he was standing at a dead stop on the stairs, paralyzed by sudden revelation. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! Sophie was looking back at him. It canââ¬â¢t be that simple, Langdon thought. But he knew of course that it was. There in the bowels of the Louvreâ⬠¦ with images of PHI and Da Vinci swirling through his mind, Robert Langdon suddenly and unexpectedly deciphered Sauniereââ¬â¢s code. ââ¬Å"O, Draconian devil!â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Oh, lame saint! Itââ¬â¢s the simplest kind of code!â⬠Sophie was stopped on the stairs below him, staring up in confusion. A code? She had been pondering the words all night and had not seen a code. Especially a simple one. ââ¬Å"You said it yourself.â⬠Langdonââ¬â¢s voice reverberated with excitement. ââ¬Å"Fibonacci numbers only have meaning in their proper order. Otherwise theyââ¬â¢re mathematical gibberish.â⬠Sophie had no idea what he was talking about. The Fibonacci numbers? She was certain they had been intended as nothing more than a means to get the Cryptography Department involved tonight. They have another purpose? She plunged her hand into her pocket and pulled out the printout, studying her grandfatherââ¬â¢s message again. 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5 O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! What about the numbers? ââ¬Å"The scrambled Fibonacci sequence is a clue,â⬠Langdon said, taking the printout. ââ¬Å"The numbers area hint as to how to decipher the rest of the message. He wrote the sequence out of order to tell us to apply the same concept to the text. O, Draconian devil? Oh, lame saint? Those lines mean nothing. They are simply letters written out of order.â⬠Sophie needed only an instant to process Langdonââ¬â¢s implication, and it seemed laughably simple. ââ¬Å"You think this message isâ⬠¦ une anagramme?â⬠She stared at him. ââ¬Å"Like a word jumble from a newspaper?â⬠Langdon could see the skepticism on Sophieââ¬â¢s face and certainly understood. Few people realized that anagrams, despite being a trite modern amusement, had a rich history of sacred symbolism. The mystical teachings of the Kabbala drew heavily on anagrams ââ¬â rearranging the letters of Hebrew words to derive new meanings. French kings throughout the Renaissance were so convinced that anagrams held magic power that they appointed royal anagrammatists to help them make better decisions by analyzing words in important documents. The Romans actually referred to the study of anagrams as ars magna ââ¬â ââ¬Å"the great art.â⬠Langdon looked up at Sophie, locking eyes with her now. ââ¬Å"Your grandfatherââ¬â¢s meaning was right in front of us all along, and he left us more than enough clues to see it.â⬠Without another word, Langdon pulled a pen from his jacket pocket and rearranged the letters in each line. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! was a perfect anagram ofâ⬠¦ Leonardo Da Vinci! The Mona Lisa! How to cite The Da Vinci Code Chapter 18-20, Essay examples
Thursday, April 30, 2020
White Fang Review Essay Example
White Fang Review Paper Essay on White Fang Hard, very hard to read such a book for people who are too sensitive to the manifestation of cruelty to animals. Soul shudders and shrinks the heart, when you read this story. Page by page, chapter by chapter bears the strong emotions, tears, emotions. These emotions are eventually forced me to experience a genuine sense of shame for the terrible, irresponsible behavior of man in relation to nature and its creations There are the worlds most powerful, the most brutal and ruthless living being -. People. The beast can also be cruel, but his cruelty can be explained by natural instincts, cruelty same person explains the cynicism, greed and fear. A great, eloquent syllable Jack London wrote a touching story about the life of a wolf-dog named White Fang. From early childhood cub had to wage a brutal struggle for existence, overcoming the hostility of the Wild. Surrounding world ceases before him with all its harshness and cruelty. He was not unaware that such a weasel, neither heat nor affection. Only survival instincts of self-preservation, which shaped his character. Man for him was a god, the mighty power which ought to obey, otherwise the massacre could not be avoided. He did not know about the bliss, which can award the human hand. Human hands fed him, but often hurt. We will write a custom essay sample on White Fang Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on White Fang Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on White Fang Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Cruelty breeds cruelty. White Fang became a perfect predator, ruthless killer is not sparing anyone who seemed weaker. He answered only to force. The only force that exceed his own, that the human being possesses. The book is full of sadness and sorrow, but still it leaves a gloomy impression. This is a story about the power of nature, of human weaknesses, of devotion, of struggle, of the laws of life. Appreciate, respect, love nature and it will repay you in the same!
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Characteristics of a Filipino Citizen Essay Essay Example
Characteristics of a Filipino Citizen Essay Essay Example Characteristics of a Filipino Citizen Essay Paper Characteristics of a Filipino Citizen Essay Paper The Filipinos are friendly because we have a assurance with our endowment. We Filipinos are stating salutations like ââ¬Å"hiâ⬠or ââ¬Å"helloâ⬠to other people. And I choose the negative trait Undisciplined because I agree with its trait. Why? Because when we say train it is making what is right at the right clip. The ground why they are stating we are friendly that is because we are happy. When we are happy. we are in a good temper so that they can near us easy. Another ground why we are friendly. it is because we want many friends. non merely friends but existent friends. But choose the friends who are good influence to you. I choose this trait because I am besides a friendly Filipino. I want to hold many friends. so that when Iââ¬â¢m in the thick of problem I have many existent friends to assist me. In felicity. solitariness and depression. I choose Undisciplined as a negative trait. Although it is negative trait but there is no uncertainty about it. In this coevals. we have many appliances that distract us for making what we should make in that clip. Therefore we are doing merriment of the appliances today. Filipinos are friendly. The cogent evidence of this trait are In my first twenty-four hours of the school I donââ¬â¢t have any friends in personal. merely in Facebook. I have a seatmate. we donââ¬â¢t approach each one. Itââ¬â¢s like both of us are waiting to inquire his name. few proceedingss I ask his name so he answered so we are now friends. We besides asked the name of his seatmate. The undermentioned yearss. his friend and my friends are now friends. We have many friends. I think this trait comes merely in our civilization. It doesnââ¬â¢t come on other state. And we Filipinos are hospitable so that the other states comment that we are friendly. Merely in the Philippines who are hospitable. Filipinos are undisciplined. In our coevals. we have many appliances we have many amusement things. We forgot our things that we should make. I experience this and besides I am sing it nowadays. I have an assignment to make. so the telecasting is on. There is a beautiful films. so after that film there is another beautiful film. I that instance. we have a inclination to blow the clip for the assignment. Another illustration. we have an assignment. Then the meeting clip is 9am crisp. you arrived at that place 10am. That is undisciplined Filipino. We are lazy. it came from the Spaniards. The direction is to compose in the notebook. Then you merely take a image or captured it. My point is that we have to recognize. What are Filipinos like? Where we came from? Where did we acquire that attitude? How can be a originative in our states. I imagine if we colonize other state. we portion our traits to them. I realized that our other attitude came from different state. In our state. we have a originality. Like being polite to seniors. By stating ââ¬Å"poâ⬠and ââ¬Å"opoâ⬠. You say ââ¬Å"opoâ⬠and ââ¬Å"poâ⬠in your parents. grandmother. grandfather. Tito. tita. elder brother. senior sister. aliens. By being hospitable. when we have visitants we rapidly help them. by giving nutrient. merianda. We pretend to be happy. even if we have major jobs. Like when there is a catastrophe. we are ever happy. All I can state is we Filipinos are alone race. We are different in other state. We have a alone sense of wit merely in the Philippines. Filipinos over the old ages have proven clip and clip once more that they are a people with an hardworking attitude. This is seen by others as Filipinos being merely utile as domestic assistants. working abroad to assist their households in the state. Like the husbandmans in our state. they use at that place ain power. Unlike in other state they us machines to do some ââ¬Å"palayâ⬠. Even with small support. technological failings and the countryââ¬â¢s seasonal typhoons. the Filipino husbandman still work hard to gain their day-to-day repast. We. Filipinos are besides spiritual in our beliefs peculiarly in Catholicism and Islam. Families would beef up and promote their kids to go to merely one time a hebdomad in the mass at the same clip we have a household bonding and beef up out relationship in each member of the household. And in conclusion Filipinos are honest in there behaviors. In general. they would prefer to work hard for an honorable dayââ¬â¢s wage than to happen an easier manner like stealing or rip offing.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
How to Become a Bestselling Author on Amazon By ML Banner
How to Become a Bestselling Author on Amazon By ML Banner Becoming an Amazon Bestselling Author with a First Fiction Book: An Interview with ML Banner Last updated 07/06/2017.Writing is no easy thing. Most authors who end up making a living out of it actually say itââ¬â¢s one of the hardest professions. It takes a lot of time, dedication and energy.If on top of writing, you also have to do all the activities associated with publishing the book, it becomes more than just ââ¬Å"hardâ⬠. 2014 was described by hybrid author Kristine Kathryn Rusch as the year when indies say ââ¬Å"the end of the gold rushâ⬠. If you like roaming around on Kboards, you see more and more posts from authors ââ¬Å"quittingâ⬠indie publishing.But now and again, you get to read about the latest awesome indie success story, and that always brings the optimism back. And who better than Hugh Howey to do that? When we read the guest post on his blog by ML Banner, bestselling author of Stone Age (his first book!), we thought we definitely had to interview him. So we did.Heââ¬â¢s sharing his experience, insights, and creative marketing techniq ues with us. Through his creative marketing techniques, ML was able to become a bestselling author on Amazonà almost overnight - after working hard on his book, of course.For the lovers of the written word, weââ¬â¢ve transcribed most of the interview below. However, we strongly encourage you to switch the volume on and hit play, youââ¬â¢ll get so much more - like a very persistent fly constantly trying to interrupt Michael! Hi Michael, great to have you here. First, congratulations on getting your two first books out last year, and on hitting the ground running. Youââ¬â¢ve had this idea for a book for a long time, right? What made you decide to ââ¬Å"author publishâ⬠it in the first place?I have to say that the primer to this, probably, was Hugh Howey. I read about him in a Wall Street Journal article in 2013: about his Wool series (that I then read and loved) and what he had done to self-publish them. So that was always in the back of my mind, but to be honest at that time I didnââ¬â¢t really have the intention to write any fiction.Then I read an article one day about solar flares (Iââ¬â¢ve always had a very keen interest in science), and what could happen if we had a similar solar storm today. So I just started doing research on it to find out that something like this actually happened once back in 1859, and that if it happened again today, it could be catastrophic. I thought: ââ¬Å"ma n, this would make for a great book, Iââ¬â¢m sure it must be on Amazon!â⬠So I searched for it, and it wasnââ¬â¢t thereâ⬠¦So I started rumbling, and thinking: ââ¬Å"well if I had to write that book, hereââ¬â¢s probably how I would approach it, with this plot, these characters, etc.â⬠And I actually started writing the book, without my wife even knowing about it!And with that first book, youââ¬â¢ve actually become a bestselling author on Amazon in your category, so youââ¬â¢re the perfect example of the ââ¬Å"indie publishing dreamâ⬠. But youââ¬â¢ve also done a lot of pre-launch work for that, and a lot of things that I donââ¬â¢t see many authors out there doing. Do you think thatââ¬â¢s because you have a tech/startup background?Sure, I know I approached it kind of differently. But first, once I knew I was going to self-publish, I really immersed myself in everything about self-publishing, reading book after book, articles, etc.Then, the fa ct that I have been a founder of several companies in the past (the last one is currently running: SmallBiz.com) and have worked a lot with technology has made me approach self-publishing from the same viewpoint. I used Google+ a lot, for example, as Iââ¬â¢m a big believer in it, trying to forge connections with other writers.Also, I knew I had to approach the actual publishing bit as a publisher: ââ¬Å"I have to be a publisher myself, so how can I really make this successful?â⬠. I tried to come up with some creative ideas, the same way youââ¬â¢d do when starting a business: you try to do things differently to stand out in a competitive market.For example, I had a character in the book who was a scientist and I thought: itââ¬â¢d be really cool if he had this research institute. So I created a persona for him online: a G+ profile, a Twitter account, and a website for the CMER Institute. The key was really to think from my characterââ¬â¢s standpoint and see what I wo uld do, in his place, to get the word out about this phenomenon that endangers the world.The beautiful thing about eBooks is the connectivity: you can embed hyperlinks. So I linked to this CMERI website where my character actually offered a reader magnet; a free ebook called ââ¬Å"The Apocalypse Survival Guideâ⬠. And I actually got over 1,200 downloads of that book. Some people even seem to believe that the CMERI is real, as I got a couple of media inquiries!I think thatââ¬â¢s definitely something more authors should do: explore the possibilities of eBooks to create something bigger than the story.I agree, Iââ¬â¢ve seen only a rare few authors taking advantage of that. The thing you have to remember is that itââ¬â¢s so easy now to set up a web presence (for the author or for one of the characters). I have a GoDaddy unlimited account which costs around $200 a year so for the cost of a domain I can set up a professional-looking website in an hour or so, and embed your book in there. Also, if you can put some freebie stuff on your website, people usually love that. All this is really part of building a platform, which is one of the two most important things when youââ¬â¢re marketing your book.And you have actually set up your website around 6 months before the launch, if Iââ¬â¢m not mistaken. But how do you get people interested in it when you donââ¬â¢t have the content yet? How did you manage doing pre-launch marketing?I did set up my author website probably 6 months before I launched, yes. But frankly, I had no one coming to it. You know, I see a lot of author websites out there and people seem to be confused about what their purpose is. My sole purpose with the website, right from the get go, was to acquire a mailing/subscriber list.Now, I donââ¬â¢t want to make it seem like I had all the answers, though, because I didnââ¬â¢t. It was trial and error. Thereââ¬â¢s a lot of things I did for the launch of my second book that I did nââ¬â¢t do for the first one. I set up the platform early on because I knew I was going to need that, but until I launched the first book, I think I only had 2 or 3 subscribers (probably friends)â⬠¦Then, I set up the website for my scientist character, and a third website for the book series. I started building the platform from there because I knew it had to be there for when I launched. Also, at that time I wasnââ¬â¢t really worried about the launch, I was thinking: ââ¬Å"get the book out and donââ¬â¢t worry too much about the marketingâ⬠. Iââ¬â¢ve since changed my thinking on that with book two, where it was all about the launch.To me, a big part of getting a book launched is trying to get your reviews in line. Now, most reviews are just a condition of book sales (in my experience, you get one review every 50 to 100 sales or so). But what you can do is get the people ready for pre-reviews. Thatââ¬â¢s much easier when you already have a following, of cours e, but to get started I would go with Google+ and Goodreads communities. I set myself up early on on Goodreads: although itââ¬â¢s hard to do anything there until your book is launched, I immersed myself from a reader standpoint in different communities and once I had the book ready, I asked for people to do an advanced copy review. There are plenty of people out there, so if youââ¬â¢re writing a book that you think lots of people will want to buy and read, then surely you can entice a dozen people or so to review it.Amazon also does a cool thing with the pre-orders, which allows you to actually have a presence, a ââ¬Å"productâ⬠even when your book is not necessarily ready. Just be careful not to miss the deadline, else youââ¬â¢ll be stuck in Amazon darkness for a year. You can set up the pre-order and then go to Goodreads and Google+ communities and tell everyone: ââ¬Å"hey, Iââ¬â¢ve got this book coming up, and I need some advance reviewers, whoââ¬â¢s interes ted?â⬠When launch time comes, the big thing to me is visibility. If youââ¬â¢re a brand new writer with no following, this means youââ¬â¢ll have to do something to get the Amazon algorithms to work for you. I think itââ¬â¢s best to launch at $.99, even if youââ¬â¢re just making 35%. You need to get on the ââ¬Å"Hot New Releasesâ⬠and there are things you can do to focus on that, as I explained in the Hugh Howey post.Another thing that worked well for me was doing giveaways (of other peopleââ¬â¢s books), just to build up my readership list within my genre. I like this idea of ââ¬Å"giveawaysâ⬠: not only is it something that you can do before your launch, itââ¬â¢s also a way to build relationships with other authors within your genre, who can then help you promote your books, right?Absolutely, Iââ¬â¢m a big believer in the collaborating with other authors in your genre. It was in a Google+ community I think that another author told me to ââ¬Å"befriend someone in my genreâ⬠.I took this idea to heart: there were a couple of authors I really liked so I wrote a review of one of their books on my blog and then contacted them directly. The important thing is to build a relationship. It might take some time but itââ¬â¢s worth it, because once you have this relationship you can ask them if theyââ¬â¢d like to review your book, or tell their audience about it. And likewise, when they are the ones running a countdown or launching a book, you will tell your audience!One of my first relationships was with a UK author, and we ââ¬â¢re actually going to co-write a book within my Stone Age world now. That is a relationship that kind of grew from almost a year of corresponding back and forth and trying to help with each otherââ¬â¢s marketing.This is actually something really unique and exciting in this world that weââ¬â¢re living in, the writersââ¬â¢ world. These people who are trying to sell their books in the same genre are not your competitors, they can be your best allies. On top of that, they already have developed their platform, they already have a readership (with their readers). So you just need to have them tell their readership about your book.I agree, and when doing that I think itââ¬â¢s especially important, even if youââ¬â¢re a starting author with not much to offer, to start by offering something, right?Oh definitely, I think itââ¬â¢s a mistake to approach immediately with ââ¬Å"what can you do for me?â⬠. The only exception to that is: ââ¬Å"what has worked for you? â⬠, thatââ¬â¢s a different question that most are going to be very receptive to.Many authors, especially those that have done well, really want to share that with other authors. Look at bestselling author Hugh Howey, heââ¬â¢s a perfect example. And there are many like that, who are ready to welcome you, embrace you, and help you in your journey, especially if youââ¬â¢re willing to listen and learn. The best thing to do is to make their acquaintance, start with that first email.Of course, you need to build the relationship, but thatââ¬â¢s like with anything else. On your first date, youââ¬â¢re not going to take the girl to meet your parents! Thatââ¬â¢s important to keep in mind: learn from the person, ask questions, donââ¬â¢t be a bother but actually try to help when you can.One thing that worked for me was to monitor their books. Iââ¬â¢m kind of a data person so Iââ¬â¢ve got spreadsheets with my book, my bestseller ranking, the number of sales, and Ià ¢â¬â¢ve tracked many other books in my genre the same way, to get an idea of whatââ¬â¢s going on and how much the bestseller ranks fluctuate. So when I see one pop up and hit #1, Iââ¬â¢ll send an email to the newly bestselling author just to say: ââ¬Å"Congratulations, thatââ¬â¢s awesome! How did you do it, did you use a promo newsletter, or just had the magic Amazon-algorithms for you?â⬠Weââ¬â¢ve all got a lot to learn from each other.Hugh Howey was one of those that I was tracking, and when my book passed his in the ranking and went on to hit #1, I reached out to Hugh to say ââ¬Å"hiâ⬠and let him know he had been a wonderful influence and the main reason why I decided to self-publish. I was rather surprised he responded back the next day, we corresponded a bit after that and the guest post on his blog was part of that.And thatââ¬â¢s how we all found out about you! Iââ¬â¢d have a more specific question now on exclusivity. What made you decide to go with KDP Select and be exclusive?Part of it was simplicity. I was still doing this as a very part-time activity, so I didnââ¬â¢t have the time and energy to explore the other platforms. It was also a business decision: I looked at the books in my genre that were bestsellers and hung a bit in there and found out quite a few of those were with Select.The other part was the Countdown. The little countdown clock is just a perfect psychological tool for readers. Plus, when you do the Countdown, Amazon exposes you to a portion of the market that you would otherwise not get. Not only does it bump up your book during the countdown period, it actually keeps it there for a bit after that, in my experience.Hereââ¬â¢s the key thing, actually: once you can push your book to a place on Amazon where itââ¬â¢s visible, then there are other points of visibility that can connect you. Countdown helps you a lot with that first step. Then, when launching the second book, it was almost natural t o also have it in Select.What about Kindle Unlimited? And donââ¬â¢t you feel youââ¬â¢re ââ¬Å"missing outâ⬠on other opportunities through other platforms?I think that Kindle Unlimited is quite interesting, even though itââ¬â¢s gotten a lot of bad press and is pretty much an untested thing. There are certainly some things about KU that aggravate me, personally, but I have to admit that the borrows have really propped up my books and maintained a visibility that they wouldnââ¬â¢t otherwise have had.Gaining visibility on the other platforms seems to be a very difficult thing. Iââ¬â¢m actually surprised that BN, Apple or Kobo are not mimicking some things that Amazon does and that work so well for authors to get their works in front of readers. I think theyââ¬â¢re handicapping themselves because of that.Of course, the market is changing every day, with new players constantly coming in, so itââ¬â¢s our job as independent authors to follow that and see which on es you can use in order to get our books out there.Well, thanks so much for your time and advice. I look forward to seeing more indie success-stories like yours!Follow @ML_Banner,à @RicardoFayetà andà @ReedsyHQà on Twitter!Or, if you prefer red math signs to blue birds, weââ¬â¢re also on Google+: +MLBanner, andà +ReedsyWhat creative marketing techniques do you personally use in your quest to becoming a bestselling author? Whatââ¬â¢s your take on exclusivity and KDP Select? Do join the conversation, or ask Michael any question you want (even about what happened to the annoying fly after the interview) in the comments below!
Monday, February 17, 2020
Analyze a situation in which you were faced with a moral dilemmaof Essay
Analyze a situation in which you were faced with a moral dilemmaof whether or not to obey a figure of authority or yield to group pressure - Essay Example Individuals have little or no time to make weight sides and make decisions accurately. This makes it even trickier considering that each of the options has its own results. In addition, none of the options can be referred to as illegal but rather unethical. Such dilemmas range from very simple acts such as completing an assignment or copying it from the internet to very complex situations that may involve loss of life Everyone is forced by events to make preferences or decisions on a daily basis. More often than not, such conditions may be uncomfortable or embarrassing and need complicating judgement. Such conditions usually necessitate answering the question; what is the ethically better choice? Such situations come about there being no situation that is wholly ethical in itself. Through ethical interpretation, individuals consider the possible implications and consequences of actions in response to principles or ethical dilemmas. Multiple moralities are a major issue in moral dilemmas especially because distinct to the legislature, morals are not clearly stipulated and often change depending on issues like religion and location. There are some rare cases of multiple moralities whereby individuals may be faced by ethical dilemmas due to overlap in moral believes. In such cases, it becomes even trickier since the person has to forego one or more of the choices. Multiple modalities may also come up as a result of representing people with different cultural backgrounds and thus different moralities. Such cases are difficult to resolve due to the time constraint. In the case of an ethical dilemma, an individual regards himself as having moral background to do either of the actions. Noteworthy is the fact that it is impossible to do both actions simultaneously. This further defines a moral dilemma in ethical terms. The fundamentals of a moral dilemma may include: a situation where an individual (agent) is obligated to do every one of
Monday, February 3, 2020
Friere - Banking v. Problem Solving Models of Education Essay
Friere - Banking v. Problem Solving Models of Education - Essay Example The minds of students are considered to be empty in absolute ignorance, and it is the duty of the teacher to fill them with knowledge (Freire, 2004). The banking model immobilizes the people within existing frameworks of power since they accept that meaning and historical agency are owned by the oppressor. Therefore, education should be a means of liberation rather than solely a knowledge impacting process. The common sense of the poor people, which constitutes knowledge, is not less important than scientific knowledge of professionals. The education system requires reciprocal trust and communication between the educator and the student. This gives the educator a chance to learn and the student gets a chance to teach. This makes education a communion between participants in a mutually educating dialogue instead of the unilateral action that benefits the student only. The teacher should intervene in the educational situation as a way of helping the student overcome the paralyzing aspect of his or her world. This should result to critical thinking as a process of solving problems in the education process. This will be vital for reducing the oppression on the poor due to ineffective learning processes arising from the banking model of education (Freire, 2004). Freire proposed a dialogical problem posing education method where the teacher and student become co-invigilators of knowledge. The problem-posing education gives an opportunity to the oppressed to explore their problem as a reality to be transformed. This contrasts the banking model that suggests that the situation in the society can be fixed by nature or reason. The content of problem-posing education cannot be determined through the expertise of the teacher but arises from the reality experienced by the student. The educator does not answer the problems, but helps the students critically think of the problem in order to make a mutable awareness of the society. Once the students view the society
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)