Colonial Times :: American America History

Colonial Times The colonial period was A time of much change, as is the modern period. Many people viewed things differently in the colonial period than they do today. The people of the colonial period had much more traditional values than the people of today. The people of the colonial period thought of religion much more sternly than I do. John Winthrop believed in a very stern God. John Winthrop writes, "Now if the Lord shall please to hear us, and bring us in peace to the place we desire, then hath he ratified this Covenant and sealed our Commission, [and] will expect a strict performance of the Articles contained in it" (43). He believes that God acts completely as he wishes, without any thought for man. Samuel Sewall used religion to help him when he needed help. In his diary, Samuell Sewall writes, "...My Son, the minister, came to me p.m. by appointment and we pray one for another in the Old Chamber; more especially respecting my Courtship"(63). Sewall only acted religious when it was convenient for him. I personally believe in a God much more caring than that Winthrop believed in. I also believe that God is always around, not just when I need him. Different people have many different religious beliefs. Throughout history, views of love have changed. Anne Bradstreet valued love as a strong romantic bond. In Bradstreet's poem, "To My Dear and Loving Husband" she writes, "I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the ritches that Earth doth hold"(51). In this excerpt, Bradstreet is speaking to her Husband. John Winthrop viewed love as a religious bond between all men. He writes, "Love is the bond of perfection" (39). Winthrop gives few references to romantic love. I personally think of love as something that people feel for each other just because they are both people. I believe there is an element of love between all people. Love is viewed differently by different people, but these beliefs have little to do with what time period these people lived in. It appears that as time goes by, people view marriage more romantically, and less economically. Samuell Sewell viewed marriage as a way to advance monetarily. In his diary he writes, "I said 'twould cost L100. per annum: she said twould cost but L40"(63). This is just one example of him carefully calculating the costs of marriage.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 83-85

CHAPTER 83 In the moist air of the Jungle, the Architect of the Capitol could feel the sweat now rolling down his back. His handcuffed wrists ached, but all of his attention remained riveted on the ominous titanium briefcase that Sato had just opened on the bench between them. The contents of this case, Sato had told him, will persuade you to see things my way. I guarantee it. The tiny Asian woman had unclasped the metal case away from Bellamy's line of sight, and he had yet to see its contents, but his imagination was running wild. Sato's hands were doing something inside the case, and Bellamy half expected her to extract a series of glistening, razor- sharp tools. Suddenly a light source flickered inside the case, growing brighter, illuminating Sato's face from beneath. Her hands kept moving inside, and the light changed hue. After a few moments, she removed her hands, grasped the entire case, and turned it toward Bellamy so he could see inside. Bellamy found himself squinting into the glow of what appeared to be some kind of futuristic laptop with a handheld phone receiver, two antennae, and a double keyboard. His initial surge of relief turned quickly to confusion. The screen bore the CIA logo and the text: SECURE LOG-IN USER: INOUE SATO SECURITY CLEARANCE: LEVEL 5 Beneath the laptop's log-in window, a progress icon was spinning: ONE MOMENT PLEASE . . . DECRYPTING FILE . . . Bellamy's gaze shot back up to Sato, whose eyes were locked on his. â€Å"I had not wanted to show you this,† she said. â€Å"But you've left me no choice.† The screen flickered again, and Bellamy glanced back down as the file opened, its contents filling the entire LCD. For several moments, Bellamy stared at the screen, trying to make sense of what he was looking at. Gradually, as it began to dawn on him, he felt the blood draining from his face. He stared in horror, unable to look away. â€Å"But this is . . . impossible!† he exclaimed. â€Å"How . . . could this be!† Sato's face was grim. â€Å"You tell me, Mr. Bellamy. You tell me.† As the Architect of the Capitol began to fully comprehend the ramifications of what he was seeing, he could feel his entire world teetering precariously on the brink of disaster. My God . . . I've made a terrible, terrible mistake! CHAPTER 84 Dean Galloway felt alive. Like all mortals, he knew the time was coming when he would shed his mortal shell, but tonight was not the night. His corporeal heart was beating strong and fast . . . and his mind felt sharp. There is work to be done. As he ran his arthritic hands across the pyramid's smooth surfaces, he could scarcely believe what he was feeling. I never imagined I would live to witness this moment. For generations, the pieces of the symbolon map had been kept safely apart from one another. Now they were united at last. Galloway wondered if this was the foretold time. Strangely, fate had selected two non-Masons to assemble the pyramid. Somehow, this seemed fitting. The Mysteries are moving out of the inner circles . . . out of darkness . . . into the light. â€Å"Professor,† he said, turning his head in the direction of Langdon's breathing. â€Å"Did Peter tell you why he wanted you to watch over the little package?† â€Å"He said powerful people wanted to steal it from him,† Langdon replied. The dean nodded. â€Å"Yes, Peter told me the same thing.† â€Å"He did?† Katherine said suddenly on his left. â€Å"You and my brother spoke about this pyramid?† â€Å"Of course,† Galloway said. â€Å"Your brother and I have spoken on many things. I was once the Worshipful Master at the House of the Temple, and he comes to me for guidance at times. It was about a year ago that he came to me, deeply troubled. He sat exactly where you are now, and he asked me if I believed in supernatural premonitions.† â€Å"Premonitions?† Katherine sounded concerned. â€Å"You mean like . . . visions?† â€Å"Not exactly. It was more visceral. Peter said he was feeling the growing presence of a dark force in his life. He sensed something was watching him . . . waiting . . . intending to do him great harm.† â€Å"Obviously he was right,† Katherine said, â€Å"considering that the same man who killed our mother and Peter's son had come to Washington and become one of Peter's own Masonic brothers.† â€Å"True,† Langdon said, â€Å"but it doesn't explain the involvement of the CIA.† Galloway was not so sure. â€Å"Men in power are always interested in greater power.† â€Å"But . . . the CIA?† Langdon challenged. â€Å"And mystical secrets? Something doesn't add up.† â€Å"Sure it does,† Katherine said. â€Å"The CIA thrives on technological advancement and has always experimented with the mystical sciences–ESP, remote viewing, sensory deprivation, pharmacologically induced highly mentalized states. It's all the same thing–tapping the unseen potential of the human mind. If there's one thing I've learned from Peter, it's this: Science and mysticism are very closely related, distinguishable only by their approaches. They have identical goals . . . but different methods.† â€Å"Peter tells me,† Galloway said, â€Å"that your field of study is a kind of modern mystical science?† â€Å"Noetics,† Katherine said, nodding. â€Å"And it's proving man has powers unlike anything we can imagine.† She motioned to a stained-glass window depicting the familiar image of the â€Å"Luminous Jesus,† that of Christ with rays of light flowing from his head and hands. â€Å"In fact, I just used a supercooled charge-coupled device to photograph the hands of a faith healer at work. The photos looked a lot like the image of Jesus in your stained-glass window . . . streams of energy pouring through the healer's fingertips.† The well-trained mind, Galloway thought, hiding a smile. How do you think Jesus healed the sick? â€Å"I realize,† Katherine said, â€Å"that modern medicine ridicules healers and shamans, but I saw this with my own eyes. My CCD cameras clearly photographed this man transmitting a massive energy field from his fingertips . . . and literally changing the cellular makeup of his patient. If that's not godlike power, then I don't know what is.† Dean Galloway let himself smile. Katherine had the same fiery passion as her brother. â€Å"Peter once compared Noetic Scientists to the early explorers who were mocked for embracing the heretical notion of a spherical earth. Almost overnight, these explorers went from fools to heroes, discovering uncharted worlds and expanding the horizons of everyone on the planet. Peter thinks you will do this as well. He has very high hopes for your work. After all, every great philosophical shift in history began with a single bold idea.† Galloway knew, of course, that one needn't go to a lab to witness proof of this bold new idea, this proposal of man's untapped potential. This very cathedral held healing prayer circles for the sick, and repeatedly had witnessed truly miraculous results, medically documented physical transformations. The question was not whether God had imbued man with great powers . . . but rather how we liberate those powers. The old dean placed his hands reverently around the sides of the Masonic Pyramid and spoke very quietly. â€Å"My friends, I do not know exactly where this pyramid points . . . but I do know this. There is a great spiritual treasure buried out there somewhere . . . a treasure that has waited patiently in darkness for generations. I believe it is a catalyst that has the power to transform this world.† He now touched the golden tip of the capstone. â€Å"And now that this pyramid is assembled . . . the time is fast approaching. And why shouldn't it? The promise of a great transformational enlightenment has been prophesied forever.† â€Å"Father,† Langdon said, his tone challenging, â€Å"we're all familiar with the Revelation of Saint John and the literal meaning of the Apocalypse, but biblical prophecy hardly seems–â€Å" â€Å"Oh, heavens, the Book of Revelation is a mess!† the dean said. â€Å"Nobody knows how to read that. I'm talking about clear minds writing in clear language–the predictions of Saint Augustine, Sir Francis Bacon, Newton, Einstein, the list goes on and on, all anticipating a transformative moment of enlightenment. Even Jesus himself said, `Nothing is hidden that will not be made known, nor secret that will not come to light.'† â€Å"It's a safe prediction to make,† Langdon said. â€Å"Knowledge grows exponentially. The more we know, the greater our ability to learn, and the faster we expand our knowledge base.† â€Å"Yes,† Katherine added. â€Å"We see this in science all the time. Each new technology we invent becomes a tool with which to invent new technologies . . . and it snowballs. That's why science has advanced more in the last five years than in the previous five thousand. Exponential growth. Mathematically, as time passes, the exponential curve of progress becomes almost vertical, and new development occurs incredibly fast.† Silence fell in the dean's office, and Galloway sensed that his two guests still had no idea how this pyramid could possibly help them reveal anything further. That is why fate brought you to me, he thought. I have a role to play. For many years, the Reverend Colin Galloway, along with his Masonic brothers, had played the role of gatekeeper. Now it was all changing. I am no longer a gatekeeper . . . I am a guide. â€Å"Professor Langdon?† Galloway said, reaching out across his desk. â€Å"Take my hand if you will.† Robert Langdon felt uncertain as he stared across at Dean Galloway's outstretched palm. Are we going to pray? Politely, Langdon reached out and placed his right hand in the dean's withered hand. The old man grasped it firmly but did not begin to pray. Instead, he found Langdon's index finger and guided it downward into the stone box that had once housed the golden capstone. â€Å"Your eyes have blinded you,† the dean said. â€Å"If you saw with your fingertips as I do, you would realize this box has something left to teach you.† Dutifully, Langdon worked his fingertip around the inside of the box, but he felt nothing. The inside was perfectly smooth. â€Å"Keep looking,† Galloway prompted. Finally, Langdon's fingertip felt something–a tiny raised circle–a minuscule dot in the center of the base of the box. He removed his hand and peered inside. The little circle was virtually invisible to the naked eye. What is that? â€Å"Do you recognize that symbol?† Galloway asked. â€Å"Symbol?† Langdon replied. â€Å"I can barely see anything at all.† â€Å"Push down on it.† Langdon did as he asked, pressing his fingertip down onto the spot. What does he think will happen? â€Å"Hold your finger down,† the dean said. â€Å"Apply pressure.† Langdon glanced over at Katherine, who looked puzzled as she tucked a wisp of hair behind her ears. A few seconds later, the old dean finally nodded. â€Å"Okay, remove your hand. The alchemy is complete.† Alchemy? Robert Langdon removed his hand from the stone box and sat in bewildered silence. Nothing had changed at all. The box just sat there on the desk. â€Å"Nothing,† Langdon said. â€Å"Look at your fingertip,† the dean replied. â€Å"You should see a transformation.† Langdon looked at his finger, but the only transformation he could see was that he now had an indentation on his skin made by the circular nubbin–a tiny circle with a dot in the middle. â€Å"Now do you recognize this symbol?† the dean asked. Although Langdon recognized the symbol, he was more impressed that the dean had been able to feel the detail of it. Seeing with one's fingertips was apparently a learned skill. â€Å"It's alchemical,† Katherine said, sliding her chair closer and examining Langdon's finger. â€Å"It's the ancient symbol for gold.† â€Å"Indeed it is.† The dean smiled and patted the box. â€Å"Professor, congratulations. You have just achieved what every alchemist in history has strived for. From a worthless substance, you've created gold.† Langdon frowned, unimpressed. The little parlor trick seemed to be no help at all. â€Å"An interesting idea, sir, but I'm afraid this symbol–a circle with a round dot in the middle–has dozens of meanings. It's called a circumpunct, and it's one of the most widely used symbols in history.† â€Å"What are you talking about?† the dean asked, sounding skeptical. Langdon was stunned that a Mason was not more familiar with the spiritual importance of this symbol. â€Å"Sir, the circumpunct has countless meanings. In ancient Egypt, it was the symbol for Ra–the sun god–and modern astronomy still uses it as the solar symbol. In Eastern philosophy, it represents the spiritual insight of the Third Eye, the divine rose, and the sign of illumination. The Kabbalists use it to symbolize the Kether–the highest Sephiroth and `the most hidden of all hidden things.' Early mystics called it the Eye of God and it's the origin of the All-Seeing Eye on the Great Seal. The Pythagoreans used the circumpunct as the symbol of the Monad–the Divine Truth, the Prisca Sapientia, the at-one-ment of mind and soul, and the–â€Å" â€Å"Enough!† Dean Galloway was chuckling now. â€Å"Professor, thank you. You are correct, of course.† Langdon now realized he had just been played. He knew all that. â€Å"The circumpunct,† Galloway said, still smiling to himself, â€Å"is essentially the symbol of the Ancient Mysteries. For this reason, I would suggest that its presence in this box is not mere coincidence. Legend holds that the secrets of this map are hidden in the smallest of details.† â€Å"Fine,† Katherine said, â€Å"but even if this symbol was inscribed there intentionally, it doesn't bring us any closer to deciphering the map, does it?† â€Å"You mentioned earlier that the wax seal you broke was embossed with Peter's ring?† â€Å"That's correct.† â€Å"And you said you have that ring with you?† â€Å"I do.† Langdon reached into his pocket, found the ring, took it out of the plastic bag, and placed it on the desk in front of the dean. Galloway picked up the ring and began feeling its surfaces. â€Å"This unique ring was created at the same time as the Masonic Pyramid, and traditionally, it is worn by the Mason in charge of protecting the pyramid. Tonight, when I felt the tiny circumpunct on the bottom of the stone box, I realized that the ring is, in fact, part of the symbolon.† â€Å"It is?† â€Å"I'm certain of it. Peter is my closest friend, and he wore this ring for many years. I am quite familiar with it.† He handed the ring to Langdon. â€Å"See for yourself.† Langdon took the ring and examined it, running his fingers over the double-headed phoenix, the number 33, the words ORDO AB CHAO, and also the words All is revealed at the thirty-third degree. He felt nothing helpful. Then, as his fingers traced down around the outside of the band, he stopped short. Startled, he turned the ring over and eyed the very bottom of its band. â€Å"Did you find it?† Galloway said. â€Å"I think so, yes!† Langdon said. Katherine slid her chair closer. â€Å"What?† â€Å"The degree sign on the band,† Langdon said, showing her. â€Å"It's so small that you don't really notice it with your eyes, but if you feel it, you can tell it's actually indented–like a tiny circular incision.† The degree sign was centered on the bottom of the band . . . and admittedly looked to be the same size as the raised nubbin in the bottom of the cube. â€Å"Is it the same size?† Katherine moved closer still, sounding excited now. â€Å"There's one way to find out.† He took the ring and lowered it into the box, aligning the two tiny circles. As he pushed down, the raised circle on the box slid into the ring's opening, and there was a faint but decisive click. They all jumped. Langdon waited, but nothing happened. â€Å"What was that?!† the priest said. â€Å"Nothing,† Katherine replied. â€Å"The ring locked into place . . . but nothing else happened.† â€Å"No great transformation?† Galloway looked puzzled. We're not done, Langdon realized, gazing down at the ring's embossed insignia–a double- headed phoenix and the number 33. All is revealed at the thirty-third degree. His mind filled with thoughts of Pythagoras, sacred geometry, and angles; he wondered if perhaps degrees had a mathematical meaning. Slowly, heart beating faster now, he reached down and grasped the ring, which was affixed to the base of the cube. Then, slowly, he began turning the ring to the right. All is revealed at the thirty- third degree. He turned the ring ten degrees . . . twenty degrees . . . thirty degrees– What happened next, Langdon never saw coming. CHAPTER 85 Transformation. Dean Galloway heard it happen, and so he didn't need to see it. Across the desk from him, Langdon and Katherine were dead silent, no doubt staring in mute astonishment at the stone cube, which had just transformed itself loudly before their very eyes. Galloway couldn't help but smile. He had anticipated the result, and although he still had no idea how this development would ultimately help them solve the riddle of the pyramid, he was enjoying the rare chance to teach a Harvard symbologist something about symbols. â€Å"Professor,† the dean said, â€Å"few people realize that the Masons venerate the shape of the cube– or ashlar, as we call it–because it is a three-dimensional representation of another symbol . . . a much older, two-dimensional symbol.† Galloway didn't need to ask if the professor recognized the ancient symbol now lying before them on the desk. It was one of the most famous symbols in the world. Robert Langdon's thoughts churned as he stared at the transformed box on the desk in front of him. I had no idea . . . Moments ago, he had reached into the stone box, grasped the Masonic ring, and gently turned it. As he rotated the ring through thirty-three degrees, the cube had suddenly changed before his eyes. The square panels that made up the sides of the box fell away from one another as their hidden hinges released. The box collapsed all at once, its side panels and lid falling outward, slapping loudly on the desk. The cube becomes a cross, Langdon thought. Symbolic alchemy. Katherine looked bewildered by the sight of the collapsed cube. â€Å"The Masonic Pyramid relates to . . . Christianity?† For a moment, Langdon had wondered the same thing. After all, the Christian crucifix was a respected symbol within the Masons, and certainly there were plenty of Christian Masons. However, Masons were also Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and those who had no name for their God. The presence of an exclusively Christian symbol seemed restrictive. Then the true meaning of this symbol had dawned on him. â€Å"It's not a crucifix,† Langdon said, standing up now. â€Å"The cross with the circumpunct in the middle is a binary symbol–two symbols fused to create one.† â€Å"What are you saying?† Katherine's eyes followed him as he paced the room. â€Å"The cross,† Langdon said, â€Å"was not a Christian symbol until the fourth century. Long before that, it was used by the Egyptians to represent the intersection of two dimensions–the human and the celestial. As above, so below. It was a visual representation of the juncture where man and God become one.† â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"The circumpunct,† Langdon said, â€Å"we already know has many meanings–one of its most esoteric being the rose, the alchemical symbol for perfection. But, when you place a rose on the center of a cross, you create another symbol entirely–the Rose Cross.† Galloway reclined in his chair, smiling. â€Å"My, my. Now you're cooking.† Katherine stood now, too. â€Å"What am I missing?† â€Å"The Rose Cross,† Langdon explained, â€Å"is a common symbol in Freemasonry. In fact, one of the degrees of the Scottish Rite is called `Knights of the Rose Cross' and honors the early Rosicrucians, who contributed to Masonic mystical philosophy. Peter may have mentioned the Rosicrucians to you. Dozens of great scientists were members–John Dee, Elias Ashmole, Robert Fludd–â€Å" â€Å"Absolutely,† Katherine said. â€Å"I've read all of the Rosicrucian manifestos in my research.† Every scientist should, Langdon thought. The Order of the Rose Cross–or more formally the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis–had an enigmatic history that had greatly influenced science and closely paralleled the legend of the Ancient Mysteries . . . early sages possessing secret wisdom that was passed down through the ages and studied by only the brightest minds. Admittedly, history's list of famous Rosicrucians was a who's who of European Renaissance luminaries: Paracelsus, Bacon, Fludd, Descartes, Pascal, Spinoza, Newton, Leibniz. According to Rosicrucian doctrine, the order was â€Å"built on esoteric truths of the ancient past,† truths which had to be â€Å"concealed from the average man† and which promised great insight into â€Å"the spiritual realm.† The brotherhood's symbol had blossomed over the years into a flowering rose on an ornate cross, but it had begun as a more modest dotted circle on an unadorned cross– the simplest manifestation of the rose on the simplest manifestation of the cross. â€Å"Peter and I often discuss Rosicrucian philosophy,† Galloway told Katherine. As the dean began outlining the interrelationship between Masonry and Rosicrucianism, Langdon felt his attention drawn back to the same nagging thought he'd had all night. Jeova Sanctus Unus. This phrase is linked to alchemy somehow. He still could not remember exactly what Peter had told him about the phrase, but for some reason, the mention of Rosicrucianism seemed to have rekindled the thought. Think, Robert! â€Å"The Rosicrucian founder,† Galloway was saying, â€Å"was allegedly a German mystic who went by the name Christian Rosenkreuz–a pseudonym obviously, perhaps even for Francis Bacon, who some historians believe founded the group himself, although there is no proof of–† â€Å"A pseudonym!† Langdon declared suddenly, startling even himself. â€Å"That's it! Jeova Sanctus Unus! It's a pseudonym!† â€Å"What are you talking about?† Katherine demanded. Langdon's pulse had quickened now. â€Å"All night, I've been trying to remember what Peter told me about Jeova Sanctus Unus and its relationship to alchemy. Finally I remembered! It's not about alchemy so much as about an alchemist! A very famous alchemist!† Galloway chuckled. â€Å"It's about time, Professor. I mentioned his name twice and also the word pseudonym.† Langdon stared at the old dean. â€Å"You knew?† â€Å"Well, I had my suspicions when you told me the engraving said Jeova Sanctus Unus and had been decrypted using Durer's alchemical magic square, but when you found the Rose Cross, I was certain. As you probably know, the personal papers of the scientist in question included a very heavily annotated copy of the Rosicrucian manifestos.† â€Å"Who?† Katherine asked. â€Å"One of the world's greatest scientists!† Langdon replied. â€Å"He was an alchemist, a member of the Royal Society of London, a Rosicrucian, and he signed some of his most secretive science papers with a pseudonym–`Jeova Sanctus Unus'!† â€Å"One True God?† Katherine said. â€Å"Modest guy.† â€Å"Brilliant guy, actually,† Galloway corrected. â€Å"He signed his name that way because, like the ancient Adepts, he understood himself as divine. In addition, because the sixteen letters in Jeova Sanctus Unus could be rearranged to spell his name in Latin, making it a perfect pseudonym.† Katherine now looked puzzled. â€Å"Jeova Sanctus Unus is an anagram of a famous alchemist's name in Latin?† Langdon grabbed a piece of paper and pencil off the dean's desk, writing as he talked. â€Å"Latin interchanges the letters J for I and the letter V for U, which means Jeova Sanctus Unus can actually be perfectly rearranged to spell this man's name.† Langdon wrote down sixteen letters: Isaacus Neutonuus. He handed the slip of paper to Katherine and said, â€Å"I think you've heard of him.† â€Å"Isaac Newton?† Katherine demanded, looking at the paper. â€Å"That's what the engraving on the pyramid was trying to tell us!† For a moment, Langdon was back in Westminster Abbey, standing at Newton's pyramidical tomb, where he had experienced a similar epiphany. And tonight, the great scientist surfaces again. It was no coincidence, of course . . . the pyramids, mysteries, science, hidden knowledge . . . it was all intertwined. Newton's name had always been a recurring guidepost for those seeking secret knowledge. â€Å"Isaac Newton,† Galloway said, â€Å"must have something to do with how to decipher the meaning of the pyramid. I can't imagine what it would be, but–â€Å" â€Å"Genius!† Katherine exclaimed, her eyes going wide. â€Å"That's how we transform the pyramid!† â€Å"You understand?† Langdon said. â€Å"Yes!† she said. â€Å"I can't believe we didn't see it! It has been staring us right in the face. A simple alchemical process. I can transform this pyramid using basic science! Newtonian science!† Langdon strained to understand. â€Å"Dean Galloway,† Katherine said. â€Å"If you read the ring, it says–â€Å" â€Å"Stop!† The old dean suddenly raised his finger in the air and motioned for silence. Gently, he cocked his head to the side, as if he were listening to something. After a moment, he stood up abruptly. â€Å"My friends, this pyramid obviously has secrets left to reveal. I don't know what Ms. Solomon is getting at, but if she knows your next step, then I have played my role. Pack up your things and say no more to me. Leave me in darkness for the moment. I would prefer to have no information to share should our visitors try to force me.† â€Å"Visitors?† Katherine said, listening. â€Å"I don't hear anyone.† â€Å"You will,† Galloway said, heading for the door. â€Å"Hurry.† Across town, a cell tower was attempting to contact a phone that lay in pieces on Massachusetts Avenue. Finding no signal, it redirected the call to voice mail. â€Å"Robert!† Warren Bellamy's panicked voice shouted. â€Å"Where are you?! Call me! Something terrible is happening!†

Effect of Political and Economic Environment in the UK on Toyota Essay

After the oil shock in 1979 the European Automobile had to restructure as a result if car sales drop.   This fall in car sales continued until late 1980’s.   At the moment the demand for cars is precariously balanced.   The Market is now facing challenges concerning quality and technological changes with Japanese and USA producers having transplants in the UK. Europe is the largest producer of automobiles in the world.   Production is declining.   â€Å"According to record, 13.7 million units were being produced in 1989 compared with 7.8 million for North America and 9 million for Japan†.   (Global competition and the European Automobile Industry. Pg 3). The UK automobile was expected to rise by the year 2000 by then the market would be owned by the Japanese, UK and European producers.   The first company to set automobile in UK form outside was the US Ford and later others like General Motors, BMW, Honda, later Nissan and Toyota joined.   The UK has a global quality improvement initiative controlled by society of motor Manufacturers and traders industry forum.   Currently UK has over 1000 automotive suppliers with manufacturing firm based in the UK. How Economic and Political Environment are Affecting Toyota   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Generally, UK based vehicle manufactures are recording losses.   This included companies with high productivity records.   The economic conditions tend not to favor the vehicle market.   This is due to production of cars at cheaper prices in other sectors of the globe. Toyota is not an exception.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The political environment of UK does not favor manufacturing plants much.   This is evident through the ease at which employment law makes it easier to close manufacturing firms.   In cases where any manufacturing plant fails to adhere to the government regulations and the UK British act, it can easily be terminated by law. Majority of UK suppliers are lacking some of the short principles of management like good customer focus, and shortage of skills.   Considering that UK has had a good history of quality cars.   The market is almost exploited; customers have seen almost variety of unique cars in the Market. The economy of UK is stable relative to other economies.   Hence, company’s wishing to invest in UK find it expensive to hire labor in UK.   As a result, their profits are limited due to high expenses on payment of labor. The increased cost of energy in the UK’s economy to be specific is another economic factor, though this change is being felt all over the globe.   This is affecting Toyota as a company negatively since most of its production requires energy. Swot Analyzes Strengths Burnaston has made Toyota UK evaluate its first strength through Toyota’s corporate finance strategy.   (Kerretsu).   This is a major strength for Toyota considering that burnaston fits into Toyota’s long term global strategy. Toyota also enjoys government support through seminars and automotive academy like the one launched in 2004 to enhance skill training for the industry.   This is helping Toyota to market itself and gain more knowledge on automotive industry. Toyota UK, also has a diversified capital base considering that the company is international and its sales are doing well in other countries. incase of a fall in the market price and demand for cars in Toyota UK, the company cannot collapse because of liquidity problems as it can be funded by its branches in other parts of the world. Weakness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota UK is positioned in country with high quality products and variety.   This reduces the sales level relative to other countries where the company enjoys monopoly or less competition. Heavy taxes are also affecting the company.   The fact that Toyota is foreign company in UK; makes it more tax worth than UK based Companies. Toyota UK management feels that the UK that used to once be an attractive place to invest has been changed by the on going economic and legislative climate. The strength of starling pound is also affecting Toyota’s investment in the UK in relation to the weakness of Euro.   Toyota is currently seeking an exchange rate solution in order to trade in UK and survive the market with minimal profits. With the introduction of work place parking levies, Toyota doubts whether the charges will impact the behavior of car users something that would affect the company’s sales. A shortage of trained engineers in the UK is another constraint facing Toyota UK.   Toyota is reported to have experienced critical shortages in training new personnel in the information systems department. (Memorandum submitted by Toyota motor Europe, July 2000) Opportunities   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota UK has the chance of acquiring labor from Japan at a better cost in case the UK economy and labor market is exploited.   This gives the opportunity to maximize its sales too.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Expansion is still available for the company.   Despite the fact that the country has many manufacturing companies that have specialized in automotives, it’s also possible for the company to expand in UK since the company has its own unique brands.   In addition, the company can list in the (UK) foreign stock exchange hence engaging in offshore.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The fact that UK is historically known for its high level of production o of vehicles, as far as quality is concerned is in advantage.   This is because Toyota UK can learn more techniques or production and improve on the quality of products that it had been producing. Toyota can also produce in bulk.   This is because the UK is a bigger Market and much as competition is there, one cannot rule out the population factor.   The UK population is big and the ratio of people to companies selling vehicles is still low enabling Toyota to Operate. Threats   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Competition is the major threat facing Toyota UK.  Ã‚   With the large number of companies in UK and all producing quality cars, the company can easily be thrown out of market or forced to sell at low prices in order to fit the market.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Economic dynamics are also major threats in the production process of Toyota UK because the poor performance of the economy dictates that the cost of production might be high and selling price might be low.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The U.K’s current fuel crisis is also a possible threat to Toyota UK. If the market price for fuel goes very high, then the demand for vehicles also go down because people will not be willing to buy vehicles if fueling is very expensive. (Marketing Teacher 2000). PEST ANALYSIS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The UK political set up has history of non-violence and generally friendly to foreigners.   The government policies that regulate taxation and monitoring businesses in UK are however, strict.   This does not restrict companies willing to do business though, because the rates are fixed. The government’s policy on the economy in relation to automobile is rather positive since the government offers support to encourage innovation.   On basis of religion and culture the UK people are a collection of different denominations that rarely affect investment policy.   The governments involvement in trading agreements is however an added advantage for Toyota UK, because they are assured of validity of their license. Economic Factors The UK raised his interest rates to 5.75% this year.   With a rise in interest rates, Toyota UK is affected negatively as it can not be banking its money in Japan.   As long as the interest rates are high, this means that the bank charges will be high, reducing the profits that a company can make.   UK’s monetary policy committee (MPC) warned inflation is still on aid and remains a danger to the entire economy.   (BBC News. 24) Some analysts have gone further to determine that this rate of inflation might rise further.   This is bad news for Toyota as the sales of the company will have a less value than approximated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a result, expansion is limited as the purchasing power is reduced. The good news about the economy of UK is the fact that the country’s GDP is relatively high and per capita income is high enough these two combinations encourage liquidity among the citizens which realizes sales for Toyota.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Socio-cultural factors. UK’s reception of foreign products is positive. People do not discriminate instead they observe quality.   Majority of dwellers of the land are English speaking hence communication between Toyotas’ salesmen and the citizens is easy. The ability to socialize by the inhabitants and minimal discrimination facilitates marketing. The older generation of UK has accumulated wealth thus Toyota has a wide client base. Technological factors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It would be a lie to argue that technology allows for products to be made more cheaply in the UK than Japan. However technology allows for production of quality automobiles in UK. This helps Toyota to produce quality and leave room for innovation. For instance Ford Company and BMW have products that are better than Toyotas, depending on class of the customers who is buying. Integration of sale of automobiles and insurance company is another technological advantage. This allows company’s selling automobiles to be able to connect their clients with insurance companies. (Alan Capman1995-2005) PORTER’S FIVE FORCES Threat of substitute products   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyotas products have a couple of other products similar to them. This makes the company’s products to have high elasticity of demand. Buyers have high propensity to substitute. This puts Toyota at the bargaining edge through pushing the company to keep modifying its products in order to be competitive. Toyota has to keep revising its prices too. Again this is a disadvantage because probably the cost of production was higher than the prevailing market price. Despite of the high elasticity of demand the switching costs of products is still high, making consumers to stick by one product, this adds to Toyotas advantage. The level of product differentiation is another major threat of substitute products. Toyota has an added advantage over this issue since it has different products and can offer customized products too.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Threat of the entry of new competitors. Unless the entry of new firms is blocked, Toyota is exposed to the perfect competition. However Toyota has taken care of this risk through economies of product differentiation and brand equity. The absolute cost advantages are among other ways that Toyota has established its market. The intensity of competitive rivalry. This is the major or determinant of industry competitiveness. Toyota is facing both marketing and innovation competition. The number of competitors is increasing following the governments opening of investors willing to invest. Not forgetting companies like Ford Operations. Toyota has high levels of advertising expertise internationally.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bargaining power of customers. This is the customers’ ability to pressure the firm to reduce its prices. The number of buyers’ volume. In UK though buyers are many, options regarding which company to buy from are also many making buyers to have a bigger influence on bargain than Toyota. Not forgetting the availability of information which has been made possible by internet and the UK media.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bargaining power of suppliers. Toyota UK requires labor, components and other factors. Suppliers can influence the market by raising the cost of raw materials to enjoy the industries’ profit too. However, Toyota UK has suppliers who are competing against themselves too hence making supply price low due to availability of commodities at ease. For example, the tire industry. (Morison .J 2006) Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota Company UK has established itself despite the competitive environment due to diversified portfolio where the company sells other products like, used trunks, car bodies, primary NAICS and insurance linking’s.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Recently Toyota was confirmed as be best performing automobile company in the UK. Media tenor UK’s leading media on opinion reported during the 7.5 international Auto salons in Genf. Media tenor, realized a pessimistic trend for the future of the car industry in UK.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota has been rated the best performer, as other companies report losses and closing down some of their joints. Overall, Toyota has been able to extend its products to cooperate. Among BMW, DC, Volkswagen, Toyota and Ford in UK, Toyota has the best performance so far. Reference http://europa.eu Marketing Teacher. (2000). Swot analysis   lesson- www.marketingteacher.com Media tenor International Newsletters (2005-03-08). -Toyota outshines competitors again in UK.   www.mediatenor.com Alan Capman (1995-2005) Pest Market analysis tool www.businesshalls.com Morison .J (2006) International business environment global and local market place in a changing world. Palgrase Macmillan.

Compare & Contrast Russian Serfdom Essay

In the dark ages of 1450 to 1750, a devastating time period, Russian slavery & Caribbean slavery became popular. Although Russian serfdom & Caribbean slavery are similar in regard to how they were punished, the laborious work, & the little rights they received. They’re different in regard to their location, ways in which they’re owned & their payment for work. To start, the three similarities between Russian serfdom & Caribbean slavery are: the ways the slaves were punished, the laborious work, & the little rights they received. Both Russian slaves & Caribbean slaves were punished the same way, corporal punishment. Slaves in both regions were whipped & beaten. Rougher means of punishment was also implemented, such as starvation, sexual abuse, & hanging. Slaves would face this punishment when acting out, such as trying to flee, or back talking the master or landowner. Sometimes, the slave was punished for small things such as: not eating or answering questions fast enough. The laborious work was similar as well, both types of slaves worked long hours in fields or in factories. Typically 18 hours of work or from sun rise to sun set. Both Caribbean slaves & Russian slaves were free farmers. They planted, grew, & harvested all different things, typically cotton & sugar. These slaves had little to no rights. As mentioned above, they were constantly beaten, not respected, & had no freedom whatsoever. They often went days at a time not eating then had to work hard in the fields, but when they’d try to take a break, they would be whipped. Three differences between Russian serfdom & Caribbean slavery are: their location, ways in which they were owned, & their payment for work. Russian slaves hailed from Europe, particularly Russia while Caribbean slaves hailed from islands between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, particularly the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, & Cuba. While both produced similar products, they were in totally different regions of the world. They ways in which Russian & Caribbean slaves were different in the sense that Russian slavery was like Russian serfdom. Russian serfdom is based on land, & whoever bought the plot was the slave’s master while Caribbean slavery was being owned by a master, who chooses & buys the  slave. Another difference in Russian slavery & Caribbean slavery is the payment the slaves were awarded with for their work. Russian slaves were granted the protection from invaders, due to the master owning the land. Typically masters were either rich, royal or both, granting them the ability to have people guard their land. While Caribbean slaves were rewarded pretty much nothing other than being able to have one third of whatever crop they grew & harvested. They were not paid nor granted protection. Based on analysis, Russian & Caribbean slavery are similar & different due to what needed to be produced. Their differences are due to the way they were owned & amount of protection. Caribbean slaves produced sugar as did Russian slaves, but Caribbean sugar seemed to be more popular & was often exported because of the region of the Caribbean. Rich fertile soil & good growing conditions needed to have workers that were chosen for the hard work, while Russian slaves producing a little bit of everything needed versatile workers that could do a little bit of everything. This leads to protection, everyone in the Caribbean was trying to produce sugar, and the masters didn’t feel the need to have protection of the slaves, because all of the other slaves owned by other masters were busy doing the same thing. Meanwhile in Russia, the master of the land felt the need to protect their versatile workers & their crops. The reason for the similarity in the products they produce was oddly region. The fact that both Russia & the Caribbean slaves were able to produce the same products was due to the fact that both regions had very fertile soil, & good weather conditions during certain times of the year.

Please Don't Let Me Die Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Please Don't Let Me Die - Assignment Example The most probable reason for this was that the institution was profit oriented and wanted to make more profits while offering bad services to the patients visiting the institution. In addition, the institution was also working with limited resources as witnessed in the number of staff employed to work in the hospital (Mohr, 1999). Their profit oriented goals made them to cut budgets that would have been allocated to the company as they were eager to make profits while incurring less or no losses at all. The nurses’ professional constraint was that they did not take their work seriously as they failed to administer care to the patient who was in dire pain and urgent need of care. The failed to notice his cries for help as they did rush to the patient’s aid when he cried please dont let me die. The nurses were found culpable in spite of the nursing home being under staffed because they failed to administer their services in a good, accurate and rational way to the patient who was in need of their help. The patient had complained of abdominal pain ten hours before his death, but the nurses did not administer to him. Being that there were only three nurses, and there were over one hundred patients visiting the institution, they were probably worn out from working long hours hence they could not be able to fully administer fully to the patients who were coming for various health and nursing care. Alternatively, they were not motivated because they were being under paid because of the profit oriented nature of the institution which had employed them. Provision 6 â€Å"The nurse participants in establishing, maintaining, and improving health care environments and conditions of employment conducive to the provision of quality health care and consistent with the values of the profession through individual and collective actions† Plays a role in the case

Judicial Activism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Judicial Activism - Assignment Example The reason why I came down on Brennan’s side is that I find his point of view more realistic and progressive compared to Meese’s conservatism of sticking to the interpretation by the Framers of the Constitution, which is difficult, if not impossible, to determine.Borrowing from his words, I just find it unsettling that the â€Å"Constitution was meant to be interpreted only as the founding fathers intended† because it would be impossible to determine what their exact thoughts were given the time elapsed after the Constitution was framed.There may be notes and documents made during the debate in Philadelphia when the drafting of the Constitution was still in process but they will always be incomplete and can only give a hint of the intent of the Framers and cannot provide the total idea of the Framers when the Constitution was drafted.Assuming for the sake of argument that we should base our interpretations on the original intent of the Framers of the Constitution , the best record available during the drafting process of the Constitution that represents the thought of the Framers only represents about 7 percent of the Philadelphia debates.Gleaning from this figure, it is likely that succeeding interpretation would be to interpret it in the manner of judicial activism for the utter lack of documents to base the decision. I may wholeheartedly agree that the Framers of the Constitution had the noblest intention when they drafted the Constitution but they could not possibly anticipate nor box the realities of future according to the wisdom of their time.

Power & Privilege - Fashioning a plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Power & Privilege - Fashioning a plan - Essay Example The paper "Power & Privilege - Fashioning a plan" is a personal expression of my own belief system along with a strategy for affecting change. I found the articles by these two writers, as well as those of Johnson, to be interesting; but I find myself somewhat critical of their bias. I agree with Peters that â€Å"[s]ystems and institutions that regulate class location are much more powerful than individuals† (Peters 1). There are certainly individuals who work hard and try to improve their lives and situations and are prevented from achieving complete success due to the resistance of the powerful; and social change efforts should be made to address those inequities. I can’t accept, however, that â€Å"everyone deserves what you have; you just happen to have it† or her idea that â€Å"empowered people enrich themselves by leaving exploitative, dehumanizing work to others†. This position implies too much intentionality to what often is random placement with in the socio-economic spectrum or the result of individual choice. As James and Robinson point out, â€Å"there are necessarily differences between people. We all perceive these differences and make judgments about others based on them...† (xv), and this is exactly what Peters does; she makes judgments about those employed in menial jobs from her perspective of upper-middle class privilege. She would never be happy bagging groceries; ergo, no one else can be either. That’s just a little too simplistic. As for Alperovitz, putting his political partisanship aside.... As Schultz notes, "social reformers and activists would be better served by reconsidering how much hope was placed upon working through the courts versus investing more time to win critical victories thorough the political process" (9). The legal system certainly has its place in addressing the suppression of classes of individuals, but the political system is a better tool for social policy. It also has the benefit of being the voice of the people, rather than that of an activist judiciary or single governmental branch. What I have learned. From this course, I have come to a fresh understanding of power and privilege generally, the impact of the misuse of those concepts on the radically disenfranchised, as well as my own place within the dynamic. I don't believe that the positions taken by authors on either extreme are realistic. An individual's plight is not solely the result of his or her own choices, but neither is it necessarily the intentional infliction of harm by a bad system. Certainly, many individuals must shoulder the burden of their own choices and it is far too easy to blame the system for their condition. On the other hand, there really are those people who are neither powerful nor privileged as a result of systemic oppression or neglect. As I look at my own standing in society and the privileges I enjoy, I am aware of those who have more and those who have less. I think that everyone is both privileged and disenfranchised on some level. The distinction for me lies within the individua l circumstances under consideration. The middle-class college student has more inherited privilege than the impoverished gang member, naturally. I am