Mom's on Facebook Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mom's on Facebook - Essay Example However, one cannot diminish the fact that these social networking websites have caused an up rise over security flaws that have plagues the creation of the networking websites. Facebook privacy breaches have without a doubt become a nightmare for its users. The social networking website has come under heavy fire for the lack of security options it offers its users. The issue at hand has become out of control as privacy regulators have called for the government to intervene in this issue. The privacy problems continue to accumulate as Mark Zuckerberg continues to make this website more public to its users. Instead of limiting controls, Facebook has become notorious for developing more tools that hinder privacy. The privacy issue continues to haunt the users as many have been victims of ID theft, fraud, and email scams. Facebook application administrators even admit that there are privacy issues concerning this networking website. Many reports have confirmed that many Facebook applica tions are a threat since they share data with other advertisers. Without a doubt, Facebook security is not safe because of enhanced features, information sharing, lack of filters, and creates bias for employees.employees. One of the main issues discussed in the video that relates to the idea of Facebook security is the fact that it allows individuals to intrude into others easily. In this particular video, the mother was able to reply to any posts that her son made. Furthermore, the mother in this case can see the pictures of other individuals who are not aware that someone is viewing their pictures. Clearly, these lays foundation for people to cyber stalk individuals who they find attractive. Moreover, one cannot diminish the fact that users are allowed to look at every content that individuals post on Facebook. Majority of the users are unaware of the privacy settings in their own Facebook. Facebook security in essence lacks the criteria of allowing individuals to practice privacy which is essential in the fast technological era we reside in. From my perspective, clearly Facebook lacks quality assurance of security that it needs to implement to assure its users that they won’t be victims of cyber stalking. Furthermore, Facebook should implement rules that ask consent of individuals whose images are uploaded in their friend’s webpages. Although this seems as a hefty effort, one cannot diminish the true essence and the importance of it. Securing images of others can truly diminish stalking and other illicit relationships that are based upon lust. Another reason why I think Facebook is dangerous a social utility tool is due to the fact that it lacks the necessary security protocols to protect its users. In a high technological world, networking has become a very easy concept. Facebook allows individuals to display their personal information, â€Å"poke† others, tag friends, â€Å"like’ statuses. Although these features might seem ha rmless, one cannot diminish the fact that it creates a foundation of much more interaction to come. A mysterious â€Å"poke† from another individual can be a gateway towards being more than â€Å"just friends.† This could be extremely dangerous especially for young teenagers, who are just amazed by the powerful features of the social utilities that are present in Facebook. Many teenagers tend to upload many pictures and share their interests, information, hobbies, and other personal information that others can view. This could be detrimental as many stalkers and child abusers take advantage of these resources to intimate contact with these children. One of the groups in Facebook is known as â€Å"You have poked me, I am assuming you are DTF?.† These absurd concepts are not humorous but unfortunately reality. Many Facebook users admit that

Panera Bread Case Study Essay Example for Free

Panera Bread Case Study Essay INTRODUCTION: Panera Bread is one of the great American success stories of breaking trends, and shaking up the market with complete innovation. Not only were they successful, but they were able to achieve this success while doing things their own way. Product and Service differentiation were the keys to this bakery-cafà ©s success. Before Panera Breads creation in ___, never had a business combined the relaxing environment of a cafà © with the fresh aroma of an artisans bakery. This proved to be a gold mine for its owner and stakeholders, and the analysis of this period from 2001 to 2003 shows exactly why. In this analysis, we will examine the success factors of Panera Bread and explain why they were able to achieve some of the goals they had accomplished thus far. We will also explain some alternatives and opportunities that Panera Bread may look forward to taking advantage of in the future. Panera Breads mission was to create the bakery-cafà ©; a place the combined the welcoming atmosphere of coffee shops, the food of sandwich shops, and the quick service of fast food restaurants. They named this type of service fast-casual dining and the term fits because of the atmosphere and quality of service they were able to provide. Panera Bread targeted 5 key consumer dining needs which include the following: SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS: CURRENT SITUATION The companys revenues rose from 350.8 million to 977.1 million between 2000 and 2003 as a result of new unit expansion, with 419 stores opening between 1999 and 2003. In 2000 system wide comparison sales and annualized unit volumes increased 9.1% and 12%. The growth of these two metrics decreased in the years following with system wide comparable sales and AUVs increasing only .2% and .5%. GENERAL ENVIRONMENT The fast-casual dining market consists of those companies that seek to fill the gap between fast-food chains and full-service restaurants. These companies offer speed, efficiency, inexpensiveness, hospitality, quality and ambiance. These restaurants fall under fast casual when they offer self-service, a check between 6 and 9 dollars, slightly more expensive than fast food but cheaper than full service restaurants. Other requirements include that the food be made to order and the dà ©cor being upscale. This market of restaurants experienced significant growth between 1999 and 2003. Continued growth was expected with sales projected to reach 50 billion in the following decade. This growth was expected to come at the expense of fast food chains. The industrys growth started with high profitability and diverse dining avenues, with concepts such as Mexican, Chinese, and bakeries. Opening costs for these establishments in relation to annual sales was minimal, allowing more new players to get into the market with fresh concepts and menu items. Also the maturing of baby boomers and their children contributed largely to the growth of the fast casual market. This demographic expressed insufficient time for cooking while growing tired of fast food and desiring a high-quality, fresh, healthy dining experience, without the time consumption of a full dining restaurant. This market has effectively emerged itself into a legitimate trend in the restaurant industry. Modern day customers seek establishments that combine qualities such as a casual atmosphere, quality, and quick service. Panera Bread focuses on these aspects of their bakeries by offering breakfast, lunch, daytime chill-out, lunch in the evening and take home meals; in alignment with consumer dining  needs. The companys customer base included seniors, matinee-goers, shoppers, business professionals, and students. The company focuses on delivering high quality foods, targeting suburban dwellers and workers as a premium specialty bakery and cafà ©. Panera Bread was a pioneer in the cafà ©-bakery segment with unique concepts and operation strengths, which has led the company to its current position in the fast casual dining market. The company designed its concept in meeting the consumers needs of efficiency and the desire for high quality dining, which arent met by traditional fast food chains. The company strived to establish Panera Bread as a leading national brand, with its operation quality, real estate strategies, and design being integral to their success Each company-operated bakery had computerized cash registers to collect point of sale transaction data, used in generating marketing information. Product prices were programmed into the system from the corporate office. The companys in-store information system was designed to assist in labor scheduling and food cost management, to provide corporate and retail operation management fast access to data, and to reduce administrative time. These systems supplied data to the companys accounting department daily, enabling them to use the data to generate weekly reports on sales and other important elements. The company also monitored the average check, customer count, product mix, and other sales trends. Also, facilities had systems that allowed the dough facilities to accept electronic orders from the bakery and deliver orders to the bakeries. TASK ENVIRONMENT Employees consisted of full time associates in administrative or general positions, commissary operators, bakers, and associates at the bakeries. As of December 2003 the company had 3,924 full time associates, of whom 344 were employed in general or administrative roles principally at or from the companys support centers. The company also had 4,078 part-time hourly associates at the bakeries. The companys priority was staffing its bakeries, fresh dough facilities, and support centers with skilled associates, investing in training programs to ensure quality. The company  offered incentive programs and bonuses to salaried employees, with the addition of product discounts and employee stock options. Panera Bread believed that providing bakery-cafà © operators the opportunity to participate in the success of the company would enable the company to attract and retain highly motivated and experienced personnel, resulting in a better customer experience. The company targets mostly those individuals in urban areas, focusing on white collar workers who seek a fast and healthier alternative from fast food burgers and other common establishments of fast service. With a large focus on individuals seeking a fast, quality bakery product, the company seeks to give its target customers a stylish ambiance to dine in. Panera Breads competition derived from sources within its trade areas. The stores competed based on consumers need for breakfast, lunch, daytime, lunch in the evening, and take home bread sales with the competitive factors being location, environment, customer service, price, and quality of products. The company also competed for leased space in desirable locations where certain competitors had capital resources that exceeded those available to Panera Bread. Those primary competitors included specialty food and casual dining restaurant retailers, including national, regional, and locally owned concepts. Panera Bread had a fresh dough facility system that supplied fresh dough to the company owned and franchise operated bakeries daily. The company had 16 commissaries that prepare the fresh dough. These commissaries assured product quality and consistency, headed by the companys master artisan baker, Mile Marino, who has been with the company since 1987. The company also entered into five year contract with a company named Bunge for its supply of frozen dough. The company also signed an agreement with Dawn Food Products to prep and deliver the frozen dough; structured as a cost-plus agreement. Franchised bakerys operated under individual contracts with either the company distributor or other regional distributors, with three companies serving as the primary distributors for Panera Bread. The company has had increasing stock holders equity between 1999 and 2003, with its most recent total stockholders equity equaling 195,937 in December of 2003. Total incurred liabilities of the company equaled $46,235 in December of 2003 which made for a total liabilities and stockholders equity of $245,943  for the year. INTERNAL ANALYSIS The company strategy centered around a conceptual focus on the specialty bakery category with a focus on artisan attention bread made with all-natural ingredients. The strategies implemented by the company focus on meeting the important consumer trends met by fast food chains, while striving for a more upscale environment. In an effort to make Panera Bread emerge into a nationally dominant name, the company framed its menu, operating systems, prototype, and strategies around effective competition within sub-level business targets. This helped to company to increase profits between 2002 and 2003. The unique character of Panera Breads quality in its cafà ©s, menu options, distinguished bakery design, along with the valuable locations of its stores contributed to its success. The company planned to combine company and franchise efforts in order to achieve its growth. Franchising proved to be a key factor in the companys success, allowing the company to expand more rapidly due to increa sed resources to outfit the strategies and concepts produced by Panera. At the closing of the 2003 fiscal year, the company had 429 bakeries in operation and documented intention of opening an addition 409 bakeries. The company has 8 key executive officers with extensive experience, both with Panera Bread and also with other major corporations and organizations including Starbucks, Fidelity Investments, and other companies. All of these officers obtained their position with Panera between 1999 and 2003. The company derives its culture from the pre-existing chains of fast food and full service dine-ins. In an effort to supply consumers with a third option that combined the attributes of both of these markets, the company, through many stages of conception, effectively identified a niche within urban consumers. The company pioneered a new market segment of food service trends and through constant growth and innovation has built a successful company. The company is structured with top management and board executives establishing and updating views goals and visions for the growth and target of the restaurant chain. The company has both corporate and franchise operated bakerys that adhere to the vision and direction of company management and consumer trends. STRATEGY FORMATION: Panera Bread has maintained its business strategy over its lifespan and they continue to employ a product/service differentiation strategy to sustain their competitive advantage as a fast-casual dining experience. This strategy has enabled them to grow very swiftly over the past 15-20 years and has given them a substantial hold on the market for fast-casual dining. Panera Breads decision to employ this differentiation strategy correctly, gives them the best opportunity to succeed for their target market. They are in a market where there are many ways to differentiate the products and services they provide. Buyers often perceive these differences as the product/service having value. Fortunately, few rival firms are following this distinct differentiation approach. Ron Schaich and his team were correct when concluding that this differentiation strategy would attract patrons which gave Panera Bread every reason to employ this strategy. To differentiate themselves from the likes of McDonalds, Burger King, or Pizza Hut; they focused on an extremely high quality of food products. This played into their game plan of becoming a specialty cafe and they continued to choose the best and most natural ingredients for their products. Every loaf of bread is baked with the four ingredients, water, natural yeast, flour and salt, no chemicals or preservatives are ever used. Another practice they employ to provide first class products is within their supply chain. To provide fresh dough to their locations every day, they have many regional fresh dough facilities. These facilities would go through a 48 hour process to prepare bread and bagel dough for shipment, which provides consistent quality and efficiency to all the locations. Panera Bread also found that many customers were more health conscious which prompted them to introduce a full line of whole grain breads. Other improvements that they instituted included new artisan sweet goods, egg soufflà ©s and natural anti-biotic free chicken all to meet the customers ever changing preferences. These are the practices upon which Panera Bread has continued to provide an exceptional distinct product line to its customers in hopes of sustaining a competitive advantage. Panera has also implemented change in other areas to provide their customers with a differentiated service experience. They have employed a cafe design which created one of the most comfortable and warm environments to dine in. This has been very successful for their strategy of distinguishing themselves and their offerings to customers. Like Starbucks, they wanted to create an environment in which consumers would identify Panera Bread as a neighborhood meeting place. As a result, patrons would continuously use a Panera Bread location for all sorts of gatherings whether they are for business or pleasure. One of the greatest benefits that Panera Bread provides to its customers is free wireless high-speed internet and since they were one of the first to do so, this created a competitive advantage for them. The fast-casual dining industry is generally a new concept. At this point, Panera needs to sustain its leadership and competitive advantage in this industry to continue to grow and fend off competitors. One of the best defensive strategies that they can employ is the leverage gained by economies of scale. With these economies they can continue to offer their products on their terms, which give them an advantage over the competition. This in turn gives them more control over the market and the suppliers in this industry. Here they can block avenues for current competitors as well as new entrants. If they can continue to stay on the top of the industry they can continue to employ this defensive strategy. One of the main reasons that Panera Bread is relevant is because of its size. At this point they are one of the largest fast-casual dining businesses and they use this size to stimulate further growth. Continuing to grow gives them the opportunity to generate more revenue if executed well with the right buyers. Revenue is always a great reason for expansion and Panera Bread knows this. They are one of the best in the restaurant industry at recognizing shifts in consumer preferences and being able to make the proper adjustments to satisfy their customers. This is crucial especially in todays world where change is continuous and rapid. As Panera Bread consistently strives to be a leader in product and environmental offerings,  its crucial that they continue to be aware of and progress along with the changing world. Even though they can employ some of these strategies in the future, they cant lose track of their business model for fast-casual dining restaurants in the process. Though Panera Bread has been very successful during this period, there are some strategies which they can enact to stimulate a growth in profits. Unfortunately, with each benefit from an alternative there is always a cost that Panera Bread may or may not be willing to incur. Firstly, Panera Bread could try to vertically integrate their products. This would call for them to pre-pack some of their bread and sandwich products and sell them in local grocery chains across the United States. This strategy would make their products more accessible to the general public even where there are no Panera Bread cafà ©-bakeries nearby. One of the key risks with strategy would be the possibility that product quality would diminish because the products are not being made fresh within the actual bakeries. The second strategic alternative would be the use of mini cafes within retail stores. This strategy has already been implemented by Starbucks with their mini cafes inside of Target retail stores. This would also make the products more accessible to the general public, thus giving Panera Bread more exposure. This strategy would require Panera Bread to train managers within the retail store to be able to handle the proper preparation of their products. Lastly, the third alternative would be acquiring local cafes and transforming them into new cafà ©-bakery locations. This strategy would essentially eliminate competition and create new areas where these products can be accessed. On the other hand, if Panera Bread is unable to conduct full takeovers, there is a risk that they could lose some of the authenticity of their products/services.

Ruamahanga River Analysis: Abiotic and Biotic Factors

Ruamahanga River Analysis: Abiotic and Biotic Factors 1. Introduction A brief description, including an aim of your investigation, details of your chosen area(s), sampling technique and the scientific names of the organisms investigated. Our investigation took place in the Ruamahanga river our aim was to find what abiotic factors and biotic factors were at the Ruamahanga river. We discovered a high number of organisms such as Ephemeroptera (Mayfly) and Trichoptera (caddisfly) and also a very small number of Plecoptera (stoneflies) from the Trinotoperla species 2. Biology of the Ecological Community Information about the organisms in the community you investigated. Describe the ecological niche and adaptations of at least two species, and relevant interrelationships between these organisms. Mayfly: Soft, elongate bodies, The aquatic mayfly nymphs have distinctive, leaf-shaped appendages on the sides of their abdomen that serve as gills for the exchange of respiratory gases.Three Life Stages: egg-aquatic nymph, and adult cycle which includes two phases: (subimago) dun and (imago stage) spinner Caddisflies: Caddisflies are related to Lepidoptera and resemble small hairy moths, but their wings are covered in dense hairs rather than scales and they lack the typical curled proboscis of most moths and butterflies. They are mostly dull-coloured and range in size from 2-40 millimetres in body length. Caddisflies are recognisable by the following features: Elongate body 2 pairs of membranous wings that are of differing size Wings covered in fine hairs. Wings form a roof over the abdomen when at rest Reduced mouthparts Larvae are all born and found in the water since their aquatic and the adults are predominantly found on land. Adults are nocturnal and found on tree trunks resting 3. Abiotic Environment Description of the abiotic factors found in the area you investigated. At the place of our investigation we had a look at the abiotic factors in the area there were tall trees blocking sunlight from hitting all of the river which creates an increase in oxygen because its colder but in the sunny spots the water temperature increases which causes the solubility of oxygen to decrease. We tested The speed of flow with a tape measurer, a stopwatch, and a ball and timed how long it took to travel 10m from point A to B.       Slow flow: Fast flow: Test 1: 34 m/s Test 2: 42 m/s Test 3: 29 m/s Average: 35 m/s Test 1: 13 m/s Test 2: 13 m/s Test 3: 13 m/s Average: 13 m/s The PH using a ph measurer. PH in slow flow was 7.61 PH in fast flow was 7.51 Temperature using a thermometer. In the sunlight the temperature was 17.8 and 19.8   in the slow flow area In the sunlight the temperature was 17.6 and 18.1 in the fast flow area Water clarity using a transparency tube. Slow flow Fast flow Test 1: 82 cm Test 2: 88 cm Test 3: 85 cm Average: 85 cm Test 1: 81 cm Test 2: 85 cm Test 3: 85 cm Average: 83.66 cm Conductivity reading: Slow flow read at: 140   ÃŽ ¼s/cm Fast flow read at: 140   ÃŽ ¼s/cm 4. Biotic Environment Note any interrelationships you may consider of the organisms to be studied. Consider predators, herbivores, competition and mutualism. During our investigation on biotic factors we noticed that we were catching a high number of Caddisflies and mayflies in both slow and fast flow, which showed us Slow flowing river point: Name of organism found: Number found: Pollution score of organism Flat Mayfly 6 8 Free-living caddisfly 2 6 Name of organism found: Number found: Pollution score of organism Flat Mayfly 4 8 Free-living caddisfly 3 6 Name of organism found: Number found: Pollution score of organism Flat Mayfly 8 8 Free-living caddisfly 1 6 Name of organism found: Number found: Pollution score of organism Flat Mayfly 7 8 Free-living caddisfly 1 3 worm 1 6 Name of organism found: Number found: Pollution score of organism Flat Mayfly 5 8 Free-living caddisfly 0 6 Name of organism found: Number found: Pollution score of organism Flat Mayfly 4 8 Free-living caddisfly 1 6 Fast Flowing point: Name of organism Number found Pollution score Flat Mayfly 7 8 Woody case caddisfly 0 5 Free-living caddisfly 2 6 Spotty Stonefly 1 5 Name of organism Number found Pollution score Flat Mayfly 9 8 Woody case caddisfly 2 5 Free-living caddisfly 4 6 Name of organism Number found Pollution score Flat Mayfly 11 8 Woody case caddisfly 1 5 Free-living caddisfly 3 6 worm 1 6 Name of organism Number found Pollution score Flat Mayfly 8 8 Woody case caddisfly 2 5 Free-living caddisfly 2 6 Name of organism Number found Pollution score Flat Mayfly 10 8 Free-living caddisfly 2 6 Spotty Stonefly 2 5 Name of organism Number found Pollution score Flat Mayfly 12 8 Woody case caddisfly 1 5 Free-living caddisfly 1 6 Beetle 1 6 5. Diagrams/pictures of your sampling site. Photo of the fast flow part of the river where we took our fast flow samples A picture of our fast flow area where we did all of our test for fast flow. A picture of how slow flow area where we did all of our test for slow flow.   6. Processed field data Presented in a table and graph which is appropriate and enables you to clearly show and the distribution pattern of your chosen organisms in the ecological community. 7. Discussion Explain why the population distribution pattern you have observed and described occurs.   Relate the pattern in the community to the biology and adaptations (structural, behavioural or physiological) of the two organisms studied.   Discuss how environmental factors (abiotic and biotic) might affect the organisms in the community, and how this relates to the observed distribution pattern, or absence of a pattern. This could involve elaborating, applying, justifying, relating, evaluating, comparing and contrasting, and/or analysing.   In your discussion, include interrelationships between organisms in your ecological community. With Caddisflies and Mayflies we saw that they didnt bother each other when we had them in the sampling container but they do compete for the same food because the both species eat algae and there would be a competition for the food. One thing we did notice was a larger population of Mayflies compared to what we caught in the way of Caddisflies. Due to the significant amount of Mayflies we suspect that because of the pollution score being up at 8 that its a bit too much for the Caddisflies to be able to live in with a higher population number. Another thing is a big predator to a Mayfly is a stonefly and we didnt see a lot of Stoneflies in the stream so the Mayflies are either dominant or the stoneflies just cant survive in that particular area because of their pollution level being down at 5. In conclusion I have realised that the higher the pollution number in an area i.e Mayflies being up at 8, they would then have a higher population were as if its a low pollution score i.e stone fly being down at 5 then there isnt such a big population. A small sample of a food chain in a stream: Algae→Mayflies→Stoneflies. A couple of biotic factors are: other organisms, competitors, predators herbivores and prey. 8. Bibliography A list of the information sources you used to help you write your report, written in a format that allows other people to find the information sources. These are the sources used to find most of my research. http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/trichoptera.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caddisfly#Ecology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayfly http://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-animals/animals/zoology-invertebrates/mayflies Biology level 2 book Biology scipad level 2 Wat is feit en fictie? Wat is feit en fictie? Inleiding Wij kregen een voorlichting van ons profielwerkstuk, tijdens die voorlichting kwamen wij eigenlijk gelijk op het idee om ons werkstuk over de Zeven Wereldwonderen te gaan doen. Helaas kwamen wij er later achter dat dit onderwerp al was gekozen. We moesten dus een nieuw onderwerp gaan zoeken. Wij vonden het lastig om dit nieuwe onderwerp te verzinnen. We hebben veel op internet gezocht en aan andere oud leerlingen gevraagd wat hun onderwerpen waren, maar we kwamen er niet uit. Uiteindelijk besloten we om de hulp te vragen aan onze begeleider, mevrouw van Bronswijk. Vorig jaar hebben wij tijdens maatschappijleer met een klein gedeelte van de klas The da Vinci Code gekeken bij mevrouw van Bronswijk. Zo kwam mevrouw van Bronswijk met het idee om daar ons profielwerkstuk over te gaan doen. Dit leek ons ook een leuk idee, want we vonden het een leuke film en het interesseerde ons ook. Er zijn veel verschillende theorieà «n over de Da Vinci Code en met dit profielwerkstuk kunnen wij onze eigen visie geven. Eerst hebben wij de hoofdvraag samen met mevrouw van Bronswijk geformuleerd. Samen met haar hebben wij besloten om eerst de film te gaan kijken en daarna de deelvragen te formuleren. Uit de film en het boek kunnen wij ideeà «n opdoen, om te onderzoeken of het vooral uit fictie of uit feiten bestaat. Ook kunnen wij op internet zoeken naar verdere informatie. Wij hebben ongeveer vijf maanden om ons profielwerkstuk af te maken. We hopen dat we ruim op tijd zijn, zodat we ons goed kunnen voorbereiden op onze eindpresentatie. Als we geen PTA-weken hebben willen we goed werken aan het profielwerkstuk, zodat we al onze aandacht erop kunnen richten. We willen de eindpresentie laten zien met behulp van een powerpoint. Het verhaal De aan Harvard afgestudeerde symbologist Robert Langdon is in Parijs voor zaken. Op een avond krijgt hij een laat telefoontje. De oude conservator van het Louvre is vermoord in het museum. Dichtbij het lichaam, heeft de politie raadselachtige cijfers gevonden. Langdon wordt gevraagd om het raadsel op te lossen. Langdon ontdekt stomverbaasd dat de cijfers leiden tot een spoor van aanwijzingen verborgen in de werken van Da Vinci. De aanknopingspunten zijn zichtbaar voor iedereen te zien en toch ingenieus verborgen door de schilder. De cijfers leiden naar Het Laatste Avondmaal. Het blijkt codes te bevatten rondom het mysterie tussen Maria Magdalena en Jezus. Langdon bundelt zijn krachten met een begaafde Franse cryptologe, Sophie Neveu. Hij komt te weten dat Saunià ¨re betrokken was bij de Priorij van Sion, een geheim genootschap, met onder andere leden als Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo en da Vinci. Saunià ¨re heeft zijn leven opgeofferd voor de bescherming van een groot geheim van de Priorij: de locatie van een enorm belangrijke religieus overblijfsel, dat al eeuwen verborgen ligt. In een reis door Parijs en Londen vinden Langdon en Neveu een albino monnik die lijkt te werken voor het Opus Dei. De albino monnik krijgt een opdracht van de kerkleiding om moorden te plegen. Langdon en Neveu komen erachter dat ze op zoek moeten gaan naar de Heilige graal. Ze komen erachter dat de Heilige Graal niet de kelk is waarin het bloed van Jezus Christus is opgevangen tijdens de kruisiging, maar wat het wel moet zijn weten zij nog niet. Langdon wordt door het hele verhaal heen achtervolgd door de politie omdat ze hem verdenken van de moord op Saunià ¨re, de conservator van het Louvre en tevens de opa van Sophie Neveu. Er wordt gestreden tussen het geheime genootschap Priorij van Sion, die de heilige graal beschermen, en de kerkelijke organisatie Opus Dei. Verschillende theorieà «n Dan Brown vertelt in het begin van zijn boek een aantal feiten. Hij vertelt dat de Priorij van Sion, een geheim genootschap dat in 1099 is opgericht, een werkelijk bestaande organisatie is. In 1975 ontdekte de Nationale Bibliotheek van Parijs een aantal perkamenten, Les dossiers secrets, waarin talrijke leden van de Priorij worden benoemd. Onder wie sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo en Leonardo da Vinci. Over de Opus Dei vertelt Dan Brown dat het een katholieke sekte is. Hij heeft geprobeerd een evenwichtige beschrijving van de Opus weer te geven. Het is voor veel mensen een positieve kracht in hun leven, maar er zijn ook mensen die negatieve ervaringen hebben. Het portret van de Opus Dei in de Da Vinci Code is gebaseerd op verschillende boeken en zijn eigen interviews met huidige en voormalige leden ervan. De feitenpagina beweert niets over de klassieke theorieà «n die de fictieve personen in het boek bespreken. Hij verteld in een interview dat de Da Vinci Code een roman is en dus fictie. De karakters en handelingen zijn verzonnen, maar volgens Dan Brown alle beschrijvingen van kunstwerken, architectuur, documenten en geheime rituelen in dit boek waarheidsgetrouw. Deze echte elementen worden door de karakters verklaard en besproken. Hij gelooft zelf dat sommige theorieà «n die door de karakters worden besproken veel waarde hebben, maar dat elke lezer voor zichzelf deze waarde moet beoordelen en er zijn eigen interpretatie aan moet geven. Hij openbaart dus het feit dat de Priorij van Sion en de Opus Dei echt hebben bestaan. Hij beweert dat de heilige graal geen voorwerp is, maar dat het Maria Magdalena is. Is deze theorie nieuw of al veel eerder bedacht? De ideologieà «n in het boek zijn al eeuwen oud en het zijn niet Dan Browns eigen geloofsovertuigingen. Het is de eerste keer dat deze ideologieà «n in een populaire thriller zijn verschenen, maar de informatie is alles behalve nieuw. Dan Brown hoopte dat de lezers hun eigen zoektocht begonnen naar de Da Vinci Code en hun interesse in het geloof aanwakkerden. Sommige mensen beweren dat de Priorij van Sion een verzonnen geheim genootschap is. Volgens de Fransman Pierre Plantard bestond de priorij al sinds de Middeleeuwen. Baigent, Leigh en Lincoln beweren dat Godfried van Bouillon in 1099 de opdracht gaf om in Jeruzalem op de berg Sion een abdij te bouwen. Hier ontstond de Priorij van Sion. De theorie van Dan Brown is dus niet vernieuwend, andere mensen hebben er al over gespeculeerd en Dan Brown heeft een theorie overgenomen. Tempeliers Wie waren de tempeliers en wat waren hun taken? De tempeliers waren een orde die het Heilige land ten tijden van de Heilige oorlog tegen de moslims wilden beschermen. Zij kwamen in actie in de periode van de kruistochten. De orde van tempeliers is omstreeks 1129/1130 opgericht. De tempeliers waren erg rijk, de mensen zeggen dat de tempeliers zo rijk zijn geworden doordat zij een schat hebben gevonden met belangrijke documenten, de heilige graal en gigantische geldschatten. Dit is volgens de geleerden niet waar want zij zeggen dat de tempeliers aan hun geld kwamen doordat zij de grootste bankier waren geworden. Zij hebben het internationale banksysteem uitgevonden. Ridders en landheren vertrouwden het grootste deel van hun vermogen aan de veilige handen van de tempeliers toe. Die vroegen daar uiteraard een vergoeding voor. Na verloop van tijd bezaten de tempeliers grote stukken land in Europa en het Midden-Oosten. De orde van de tempeliers begon officieel met 9 ridders; Hugo de Payens, Godfried van St. Omaars, Andrà © de Montbard, Fulk Comte dAnjou, Archaumbaud de Saint Amand, Rosal, Godfried Bisol, Gondemar en Godefroi. Na 9 jaar later stelden zij zich open voor anderen waardoor zij een grote macht werden in de wereld niet alleen in het Midden-Oosten maar ook in Europa. De eerste 9 jaar van de orde van de tempeliers hebben zij vooral op zichzelf geleefd. Het is altijd onduidelijk geweest van de 9 ridders de eerste negen jaren hebben gedaan. Er wordt gezegd dat zij zich hebben bezig gehouden met opgravingen in en onder de tempel van Salomon in Jeruzalem. Er zijn veel verschillende theorieà «n over geweest. Zij zouden daar hebben gezocht naar een materià «le en spirituele schat. De tempeliers hadden als plan om de pelgrims te beschermen naar het heilige land omdat zij onderweg vaak het slachtoffer waren van georganiseerde bendes. De tempeliers waren militair ingesteld. De tempeliers zorgden voor de bescherming van de pelgrims, de beveiliging van de pelgrimsroutes, de heilige plaatsen en de bevrijding van het heilige land. Ze zagen zichzelf als de militie van Christus. Het was toegestaan om moslims te doden maar wie een christen doodde, werd de orde uitgezet. De tempeliers waren berucht voor hun religieus fanatisme en militair karakter. De tempeliers gebruikten veel geweld tegen de vijanden van hun geloof en de vijanden werden gelijk gestraft. Maar steeds meer mensen geloven dat de tempeliers hier helemaal niet mee bezig waren. Zij geloven dat de tempeliers bezig waren om de SANGREAL te beschermen. San Greal = De heilige graal Sang Real = Koninklijk bloed Door het verschuiven van 1 letter veranderd de betekenis van het woord. Bij de uitvoering van hun taken waren zij bezig om dit geheim te beschermen. Zij zijn er wellicht achter gekomen dat de heilige graal iets volkomen anders is dan zij hadden verwacht. Men denkt dat de heilige graal de beker is waaruit Jezus tijdens zijn laatste avondmaal heeft gedronken maar er bestaat helemaal geen heilige graal op het laatste avondmaal ( hier komen wij later op terug ). Dit was het waar de katholieke kerk zo bang voor was en kan de katholieke kerk ten onder laten gaan. De tempeliers en de priorij van Sion deelde hetzelfde doel; het beschermen en laten voortbestaan van het geslacht der Merovingers en het waken over het geheim van de Heilige graal. In 1307 zijn de tempeliers massaal vervolgd en vermoord, dit had te maken met het rijkdom wat de tempeliers hadden. Geld betekent macht en de tempeliers kregen steeds meer macht. De franse koning Filips en paus Clemens V beraamde samen een plan om de tempeliers uit te schakelen. Zij gaven alle soldaten in heel Europa orders op om op 13 oktober 1307 de tempeliers op te pakken. Deze 13 oktober viel op een vrijdag, zo is de uitdrukking vrijdag de 13e ontstaan. De geruchten die overal rond gaan over de tempeliers en de heilige graal doen ook denken dat de kerk de tempeliers niet alleen heeft uitgeroeid om het geld maar misschien ook wel om het grote geheim. Wat is de Opus Dei en bestaan ze nog? Het Opus Dei is een organisatie van de Rooms-katholieke kerk. Ze willen dat mensen zich ervan bewust zijn dat ze met het geloof moeten leven en dat ze dat aan de ongelovigen van de maatschappij moeten overbrengen. Op 2 oktober 1928 is het Opus Dei opgericht door de Spaanse geestelijke Mgr. Josefmarà ­a Escrivà ¡ de Balaguer. Opus Dei betekent letterlijk ‘Werk van God. Als je over het Opus Dei leest, lees je altijd wel dat het een geheimzinnig genootschap is. Maar de Opus Dei leden zelf ontkennen dat. Volgens hen is het geen geheim, maar het is besloten en dat is een groot verschil. Ze omschrijven het als een privà © kwestie, een persoonlijke relatie met God. De oprichter van het Opus Dei, vatte de doelstelling van het Opus Dei zo samen: Het enige doel van het Opus Dei is eraan bij te dragen dat er mannen en vrouwen van alle rassen en sociale klassen zijn die, te midden van de aardse gebeurtenissen en bezigheden, God en hun medemensen in en door hun dagelijkse arbeid willen beminnen en dienen. Door De Da Vinci Code is er de laatste jaren meer belangstelling voor het Opus Dei. Het Opus Dei heeft in een interview gereageerd op De Da Vinci Code. Zij vinden dat de Da Vinci Code het Opus Dei ten onrechte beschrijft als een katholieke sekte. Een sekte is een godsdienstige beweging die zich heeft afgesplitst van de organisatie, er ontstaan dan dus twee verschillende kampen. Het Opus Dei heeft altijd volledig deel uitgemaakt van de katholieke kerk. Alle overtuigingen, praktijken en gewoonten van het Opus Dei stemmen overeen met die van de kerk. Het Opus Dei een sekte noemen is dus onjuist. De leden van het Opus Dei worden in De Da Vinci Code afgebeeld als monniken. Monniken leven voornamelijk in kloosters en trekken zich terug uit de wereld. Leden van het Opus Dei leven juist in de maatschappij en beleven daar het christelijk geloof, het zijn dus geen monniken. Zelfkastijding komt vaak voor uit religieuze overtuiging. De Cilice is een band van metalen ringen met haakjes aan de binnen kant. In The Da Vinci Code wordt de band door een volger van het Opus Dei om het bovenbeen gedaan als boetedoening voor de kruisiging van Jezus. De vormen van zelfkastijding die bij het Opus Dei aan de orde komen ligt de nadruk meet op de in het dagelijks leven gebrachte offers dan op grotere offers. Ze zeggen ook dat de verwrongen en overdreven schilderingen die in De Da Vinci Code voorkomen niets te maken hebben met het Opus Dei. Het Opus Dei bestaat nog steeds. Ze hebben ook een officià «le website: www.opusdei.org. Het hoofdkantoor van het Opus Dei staat in Rome. Het kent ongeveer 85.000 leden over de hele wereld. In 1959 is het Opus Dei in Nederland gekomen door Hermann Steinkamp. Hij vestigde zich in Amsterdam. In de jaren die volgden werden ook in Utrecht en Maastricht Opus Dei verenigingen opgericht. Opus Dei leden wonen op verschillende plaatsen in Nederland. Het hoofdkantoor van Nederland staat in Amsterdam. Dr. C.G.E. van der Ploeg is sinds 2008 het hoofd van het Opus Dei in Nederland. Nederland kent ongeveer 150 leden en 300 medewerkers. Priorij van Sion Wat is de priorij van Sion en hebben zij echt bestaan? De priorij van Sion is een geheim genootschap, zij hadden als belangrijkste opdracht om de bloedlijn van Jezus te beschermen. Er word beweerd dat de Priorij van Sion machtige geheimen bewaakt over de oorsprong van het Christendom. De priorij van Sion zou in 1090 zijn opgericht door een kruisridder genaamd; Godfried van Bouillon. In deze tijd waren de tempeliers verbonden met de Priorij van Sion maar door het incident in Gisor gingen beide organisaties een eigen kant op. De priorij van Sion zou vanaf toen meer in anonimiteit leven en de tempeliers speelden zich juist steeds meer in de kijker. De priorij zou onder leiding staan van een aantal grootmeesters; Sir Isaac Newton, Sandro Filipepi (botticelli) en Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo zou de laatste negen jaar van zijn leven de leiding hebben gehad over de Priorij. Echt bestaan of niet? De ideeà «n over de Priorij van Sion in de Da Vinci Code zijn gebaseerd op de verhalen van het boek; Het heilige bloed en de Heilige graal uit 1982. De onderzoekers; Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh en Henry Lincoln die dit verhaal hebben geschreven zijn aan de informatie gekomen van Pierre Plantard. Deze man beweerde dat hij ‘Dossier secrets bezat en dat hij de leider was van de Priorij van Sion. De officià «le oprichting van de Priorij van Sion zou zijn geweest door Pierre Plantard op 7 mei 1956. Nadat het boek â€Å"Het heilige bloed en de Heilige graal† uit was gekomen is er onderzoek gedaan naar alle gegevens in het boek. Uit deze onderzoeken is gebleken dat de documenten ‘Dossier secrets vervalsingen zijn en dat Pierre Plantard de Priorij van Sion heeft verzonnen. Plantard bedacht deze geschiedenis dat de Priorij van Sion al in de Middeleeuwen bestond en hij beweerde zelfs dat hij een afstammeling was van de merovingen. Pierre Plantard heeft in 1953 al 6 maan den vastgezeten vanwege het frauderen van documenten, dit helpt niet bepaald het geloven van zijn Priorij verhalen. Veel onderzoekers uit deze periode denken dat de Priorij van Sion helemaal niet bestaan heeft en dat het allemaal onzin is. Als de Priorij van Sion al heeft bestaan, bestond deze uit verschillende lagen. De Priorij van Sion is opgebouwd uit 9 lagen: 6561 Novices 2187 Croices 729 Preux 243 Ecuyers 81 Chevaliers 27 Commandeurs 9 Connetables 3 Senechaux 1 Nautonier ( Roerganger, Grand Master) Heilige graal Wat is de heilige graal nou precies? De heilige graal, wat is het nou precies? Het is altijd onduidelijk geweest wat de heilige graal precies is. Er gaan namelijk vele theorieà «n over de wereld die beweren wat het inhoudt. Elk mens, of het nu een professor, onderzoeker of gewoon een burger is, gelooft weer iets anders. De heilige graal is een beker. Uit deze beker heeft Jezus gedronken tijdens het laatste avondmaal. Deze beker zou ook het bloede hebben opgevangen tijdens de kruisiging van Jezus christus. Volgens de overlevering heeft Jozef van Arimathea de graal in veiligheid gebracht. Alleen niemand weet waar hij de graal heeft opgeborgen. Dit is een van de meest bekende en voorkomende theorie. Het is alleen niet de enige, er zijn er meerdere: De heilige graal zou niet in de tijd van Jezus christus zijn ontstaan. De heilige graal zou pas in de 12e eeuw voor het eerst zijn opgedoken in de tijd van koning Arthur. Koning Arthur en de ridders van de ronde tafel zouden samen op zoek zijn gegaan naar de heilige graal. Dit ging pas rond nadat een franse monnik hier een roman over schreef. Echter lang voor deze tijd ging er al een mondelinge traditie rond waarin over de heilige graal werd verteld. De theorie waar Dan Brown vanuit is gegaan is dat de heilige graal een aantal documenten waren waarin stond dat Jezus christus en Maria Magdalena getrouwd zijn geweest en zelfs voor nakomelingen hebben gezorgd. Deze gedachte heeft hij niet zelf verzonnen. Deze theorie is al eerder bedacht door anderen. Dan Brown heeft zijn theorieà «n gebaseerd op het boek ‘Het Heilige Bloed en de Heilige Graal, de schrijvers van dit boek waren de eerste die met deze theorie kwamen aanzetten. Dit gebeurde in 1982. De heilige graal zou niets anders zijn dan de bloedlijn van Jezus christus en Maria Magdalena. In het oud Frans betekent heilige graal: San Greal. Maar door 1 letterverschuiving krijgt het woord een hele andere betekenis namelijk: Sang real. Dit betekent koninklijk bloed. Maria Magdalena was de heilige graal. De bloedlijn van Maria Magdalena zou hebben gezorgd voor de eerste Koninklijke dynastie van Frankrijk, de meroveringen. Zij, Maria Magdalena, zou de bloedlijn naar Frankrijk hebben gebracht. ‘Het Heilige Bloed en de Heilige Graal is geschreven door de 3 schrijvers. Deze schrijvers kregen hulp van Pierre Plantard. Deze meneer, Pierre Plantard, beweerde dat hij heel veel wist over het verleden van de geschiedenis over de ‘da Vinci code. Later is gebleken dat deze meneer Plantard een oplichter was. Hij had al 6 maanden in de gevangenis gezeten omdat hij documenten had vervalst. Dit werkt natuurlijk niet mee in het verduidelijken van de geschiedenis. Dus wat er bekent is gemaakt in het boek daarvan weten we dus niet of het echt waar is of niet. Maar er is wel een nieuwe theorie bij gebracht. Er is dus nog steeds geen duidelijkheid over wat de heilige graal precies zou moeten zijn. Bloedlijn Is er nog een levende bloedlijn met Jezus of heeft deze nooit echt bestaan? Was Jezus echt getrouwd met Maria? In het boek van Dan Brown wordt er beweerd dat er een bloedlijn is van Jezus christus. Jezus christus zou een kind hebben verwekt bij Maria Magdalena. Maria zou zwanger zijn tijdens de kruisiging van Jezus Christus. Er gaan verschillende verhalen rond over de verhouding tussen Maria en Jezus. Jezus en Maria zouden getrouwd zijn en hebben samen 1 of 2 kinderen. Na de kruisiging ging Maria Magdalena samen met haar dochter Sarah naar Frankrijk. Sarah zou niet het enige kind zijn geweest, er word ook gespeculeerd dat Jezus en Maria een zoon zouden hebben, Jakobus. Het is onduidelijk of dit nu echt waar is of niet. De verhalen die rond gaan zijn dat Maria samen met Jakobus en Sarah naar Frankrijk zijn gegaan. Samen met haar zus Martha en de oom van Jezus hebben zij deze reis gemaakt. Het schijnt dat de oom van Jezus, een rijk man was. Hij zou de reis volledig bekostigt hebben. Nadat zij in Frankrijk waren aangekomen, zijn Maria en Sarah verder doorgereisd Frankrijk in. Jakobus zou naar Sp anje zijn gekeerd en begraven liggen onder Compostella. Het is altijd nog onduidelijk of er echt kinderen zijn voortgekomen uit de relatie van Maria Magdalena en Jezus christus. Als dit wel het geval was, is het heel goed mogelijk dat er een bloedlijn bestaat die nu nog steeds voortduurt. Het nageslacht van Jezus en Maria zouden dus de eerste merovingen zijn geweest, de eerste Koninklijke dynastie van Frankrijk. Jezus en Maria zouden een relatie hebben met elkaar en zelfs getrouwd zijn. Het is nooit echt bevestigd of dit waar is of niet. In het nieuwe testament word niet gesproken over Jezus en Maria die een relatie hebben. Maar Maria was wel bij belangrijke momenten in zijn leven. Uit het testament blijkt dat Maria aanwezig was bij de kruisiging en de graflegging van Jezus. Maria was ook de eerste die hem zag na zijn opstanding. Uit deze belangrijke momenten kan je toch wel zeggen dat Maria Magdalena een belangrijk persoon was in het leven van Jezus christus. Maria word in het Nieuwe Testament vooral als prostituee gezien. In 1969 heeft het Vaticaan toegegeven dat Maria Magdalena ten onrechte is beschuldigd als prostituee en dat voor 1400 jaar lang. Veel bijbel geleerde gaan er vanuit dat Jezus christus met Maria Magdalena was getrouwd. Zo zegt historicus Jacob Slavenburg, medevertaler van de Nag Hammadigeschriften: â€Å"Maria Magdalena was geen hoer die door Jezus in genade was aangenomen. In werkelijkheid was ze Jezus geliefde vrouw. In de eerste eeuwen stond Maria Magdalena bekend als de Apostola apostolorum, de apostel boven de apostelen.† Als Maria en Jezus al getrouwd zouden zijn dan was de kerk hier niet blij mee. Maria zou dan de gene zijn geweest die de lijn van Jezus zou voortzetten. Maria zou heel veel macht hebben, vooral als vrouw zijnde. De kerk vind dat vrouwen niet de macht horen te hebben. Als Maria Magdalena en Jezus Christus dan al samen een dochter, Sarah, zouden hebben dan was het voor de kerk een probleem. De kerk zag niets in een kerkleer waarin vrouwen een belangrijke rol spelen. Maria Magdalena Is Maria Magdalena echt begraven onder het Louvre? Is het Maria Magdalena of Johannes op hat ‘Laatste Avondmaal? Het Laatste Avondmaal is gemaakt door Leonardo Da Vinci. Hij is begonnen met het schilderij in 1495 en voltooide het in 1498. In de Bijbel is beschreven dat Jezus hier aankondigt dat à ©Ãƒ ©n van zijn twaalf volgelingen hem zal verraden. Er wordt beweerd dat van links naar rechts de volgende personen zijn: Bartholomeà ¼s, Jakobus de Mindere, Andreas, Judas Iskariot, Petrus, Johannes, Jezus Christus, Thomas, Jacobus de Meerdere, Filippus, Mattheà ¼s, Judas Taddeà ¼s en Simon. De twaalf apostelen hebben allemaal andere reacties op de aankondiging van Jezus. Bartholomeà ¼s, Jakobus de Mindere en Andreas kijken verrast. Andreas houd zijn handen omhoog, dit is een soort â€Å" dit is het einde gebaar†. Judas Iskariot, Petrus en Johannes vormen ook een groepje. Judas heeft een goudzakje in zijn handen, die hij heeft gekregen voor het verraden van Jezus. Petrus heeft een mes in zijn handen. Hij wenkt Johannes om te vragen wie Jezus bedoelt. Sommige mensen beweren dat dit niet Johannes, maar Maria Magdalena is. Het derde groepje bestaat uit Thomas, Jacobus de Meerdere en Filippus. Zij kijken alle drie vragend en geschokt, Thomas lijkt een verklaring te zoeken. Mattheà ¼s, Judas Taddeà ¼s en Simon praten er met zn drieà «n over. Over de vraag of het Maria Magdalena of Johannes is op het schilderij zijn de meningen flink verdeelt. Vroeger was het gebruikelijk om Johannes zonder baard af te beelden. Sommige mensen beweren dat de persoon vrouwelijke vormen heeft. In de Da Vinci Code hebben ze een gedetailleerde kijk op het schilderij. Hier wordt gezegd dat het Maria Magdalena moet zijn. De gewaden die Jezus en Maria aan hebben zijn bij zowel Maria als Jezus rood en blauw. Als je Maria uit deze afbeelding knipt en aan de linkerkant van Jezus plakt, ligt zij precies op zijn schouder. Het lijkt alsof dit Da Vinci zijn bedoeling was. Dan Brown laat dus zien dat er verschillende aanwijzingen verborgen liggen in dit schilderij. Wat doet het mes op het ‘Laatste Avondmaal? Op het laatste avondmaal is te zien dat Petrus een mes in zijn handen heeft. Deze houdt hij in tegenovergestelde richting van Jezus. In de Da Vinci Code laat Dan Brown zien dat dit niet de hand van Petrus is, maar dit is niet waar. In de gerestaureerde versies van het schilderij is duidelijk te zien dat dit wel de hand van Petrus is. Het is merkwaardig dat Petrus een mes in zijn handen heeft als Jezus net verteld dat à ©Ãƒ ©n van zijn leerlingen hem zal gaan verraden. Waarom het mes naar achter is gedraaid is niet duidelijk. Bronnenlijst http://www.danbrown.nl/Interviews/Interview-De-Da-Vinci-Code.pdf http://www.opusdei.nl/sec.php?s=607 http://www.seti2.nl/index_bestanden/Vinci.htm (het laatste avondmaal) bronnen van de letterlijk overgenomen stukken tekst. HDFC Bank: Securing Online Banking HDFC Bank: Securing Online Banking James Rapp Managing Information Security in Information Systems Summary The importance of banking online has grown enormously in the past decade. Making for more profit and better convenience it is not likely to fade away anytime soon. This also presents some new hurdles for the online banking community. As the number of banking online customers increases the amount of criminal attacker will also increase. The bank recognizes this trend and therefore to maintain and even grow customer confidence and trust they develop ways to keep the customer data and money safe. The bank has to take on an enormous feet which is to protect customers and staff from the attacker and themselves. The banking security is only as strong as the end user of the terminal machine or the end user/customer using a credit/debit card. Throughout this paper I will present key facts and issues of this case then I will go through these issues giving alternative solutions and engaging in the pros and cons of those solutions. Key Facts Operations for HDFC bank had first got up and running during the year 1995 of the month of January HDFC bank was one of the first banks to set up online banking. HDFC is a trusted name in banking, 2,544 branches, 9,333 ATMs, 1,399 towns cities. HDFC Bank is one of the leading private banks in India HDFC identifies public key infrastructure, during PKI’s infancy, as a suitable technology to address security. In the Indian sector of banking there are basically 5 types of banks: private sector banks, regional rural banks, foreign banks, Co-operative banks, and public sector banks. Once RBI had published the guidelines on internet banking HDFC started its online services. For internal risk management HDFC bank used technology-intensive models. The data center and backup systems where held at two different geographical locations in Mumbai. RBI guidelines report banks should utilize the outside experts known as ethical hackers to penetrate systems, inspect infrastructure, and test physical access controls HDFC has made the commitment to bring new products and attract new customers while signing with RSA security, the US based provider of IS solutions. Key Issues 1) Improving banks services to attract and keep new customers. 2) Throughout the banking authority maintain information security. 3) Continuity in business is essential, how to maintain it? 4) What are the security challenges in online banking? 5) What are the challenges faced by Salvi? 6) Compulsions at HDFC Bank. 7) Roadmap the chief information officer (CIO) can implement. Key Issue 1: Improving banks services to attract and keep new customers. Alternative Course Solution: a) Making the banking experience as fast and efficient as possible. Bringing up-to-date technologies to the front doors of the customer. State of the art website, phone applications and ATM’s will bring the banking experience to new levels. Pros: By utilizing these channels of communication between the bank and the customer a very nice freeway of information exchange begins to take shape. This is a very effective way to monitor customer transactions and to weed out the unauthorized user. Cons: At the same time tracking customers can be an issue. Unless an efficient, effective protocol is established to track customers through these various channels it could become a headache and very difficult to manage. To achieve a protocol that makes exchanging data over numerous channels work will endure cost. The adding of such protocol’s and policies will likely put the price tag higher. b) Taking an effective promotional stand will attract new customer and help boost the banks reputation helping to keep those customers. Pros: Setting the stage with an effective promotional scheme will certainly attract and secure new customers When the customer numbers increase so shall the banks revenue stream. Bringing a happy bank and happy employees. Cons: To develop and implement such a promotional scheme the bank will have to put out the money. Cost is always an issue when trying to improve you business. Reaching out to people and trying to attract new customers can back fire. If the promotion offends people, annoys people or if it is just done poorly then it could actually have the opposite effect and could eventually hurt the bank. c) By making use of website, phone app’s, ATM etc. . . . the bank can connect with the customer in a personal, effective way. Pros: Pulling off this venture will build the relationship between bank and customer. The banks rep will grow and that is a very positive thing. Having all of these channels through which the bank customer can use will provide a sense of anytime banking. Online, no problem, on the phone, no problem, on the road, no problem. Cons: If everything is not perfectly setup than the customer satisfaction rate will definitely suffer in which the bank will suffer. Ultimately by receiving a bad banking experience the bank could lose customers. Key Issue 2: Through the banking authority how to maintain information security? Alternative Course Solution: a) Keeping the personal data, confidential data out of the hands of non-authorized personal. Pros: Keeping sensitive information such as home addresses, telephone numbers, social-security numbers out of unauthorized hands will prevent fraud in credit, debit and account information. By maintaining the personal data in-house it will also make for a more informed staff making for a better service and more complete work force. Con: This security measure could hurt relationships. The sharing of information if done correctly could actually build a relationship and by taking this out of the equation it could actually prevent a great binding. The fact that an employee may use the information for a sinister purpose will always be a concern. The bank has to do the best they can with this type of in-house problem. b) Using a strategy that employ’s ethical hackers to attempt penetration on systems and network infrastructure. Pros: Will give the bank an awareness on which system programs are vulnerable to attack. Maintaining all personal info: home addresses, social security numbers and credit card numbers. Cons: By using ethical hackers the bank put its sensitive information out there. It gives up very sensitive information, its secrets so to speak. When bringing in outside help the bank also brings in additional expenses. To hire an ethical hacker the price tag could be very large. A salary for an ethical hacker shows the story. c) Maintaining software by way of updating and personal training. Pros: By testing and keeping watch of your systems the bank will achieve the ultimate efficiency. System programs, web applications, data servers etc. . . . all will be extremely enhanced. Cons: As we found with employing ethical hackers the price tag will no doubt go up. It is also possible that by taking this route the deliberate modification of some admin tools could take place. Key Issue 3: Continuity in business is essential, how to maintain it? Alternative Course Solutions: a) Backing up data, being able to recover if the need should ever arise. Pros: By backing up data the bank ensures itself in times of natural disaster, robbery, and any other type of event that could otherwise cause the bank to lose precious personal data. The fact the banking organizations have such a spread of devices and applications, channels of communication between the public having data backed up can make for a well programmed system in which real time information is received in a more-timely manner. Cons: Having information especially sensitive information always bring the possibility of the misuse of such data. The data will be stored on databases and SQL injections and other database driven attacks will be a real threat. The cost to ensure the correct safety measures and data systems will go up. b) Making use of geographically locations, having more than one location. Pros: Like other pro’s the bank can attract more and a new variety of customers by utilizing numerous bank locations. The range of people the bank will reach will increase thus bringing in new customers. By having more locations than the banking organization can spread. In doing this the bank will bring in better network connections and new and long lasting customers. Cons: If the bank does decide to invest in new locations that is exactly what they will have to do, invest. Putting out more money to open new locations, staff, devices, new protocols all add up. Deciding where to put these new branches could also be time consuming and costly. If a bank location go through and does not work out it would be like a money pit for the bank. Key Issues 4: What are the security challenges in online banking? Alternative Course Solutions: a) Making sure the customers data is stored safe and soundly. Pros: If this is done correctly the bank will gain a respectable reputation and with this will develop more customers. Having this much data and the type of data that it is can make for some pretty exciting and state-of-the-art systems. Cons: This is a task that is a lot easier said than done. If the security systems that are put into place to hold this data is not completely secure data theft could be a real possibility. Holding this much data will bring with it the cost factor. The more data and the more complex the system gets the more money will be needed to develop and implement a secure database system. b) Keeping a close relationship with the customer, not relying too much on automated systems. Pros: Making the effort to still provide a personal experience for the customer brings a sense that the bank cares and that they understand in a personal way. By keeping the personal connection with the banking customer the bank itself can tell what the vibe is on the back, hear what is trending, and basically have a view that is from the other side, the customer side. Cons: It is possible that by building such close bonds between bank staff and open public banking customer the bank opens up the door to insider attack. Employees that might have a negative view on the bank could reveal trade secrets, banking data, or sabotage. Key Issues 5: What are the challenges faced by Salvi? Alternative Solution Course: a) Making HDFC a â€Å"World class Indian bank†. Pros: This is a respectable ambition and it definitely sets the bar. Under the watch of Salvi the customer should know that customer care and satisfaction will be at the highest priority. Cons: Putting this type of standard in the mix could affect decisions, in turn the customer could suffer. To become a World class bank HDFC must transform the offline user to the online user. This is obvious but it is also a costly and very cumbersome project. b) Securing Online Banking. Pros: Without question making the hard transition from offline banking to online banking will create a more efficient better class of bank. If Salvi can make online banking secure than growing into the world class bank should follow. Cons: Online banking brings new security risks: authentication, authorization, privacy, integrity, and non-repudiation. The higher the banks reputation might actually make it a target for criminal trying to make a name for themselves. c) Reducing false positives Pros: This would help to not bother the law abiding, everyday banker. Over time the false positives should work themselves out and the banking system will be greater for it. Key Issues 6: Compulsions at HDFC Bank. Alternative Solution Course: a) Keeping customers in the automated channel. ATMS, online banking, mobile devices etc. . . Pros: This will provide customers with better services. By keeping up-to-date with the state-of-the-art technologies the bank keeps efficiency at an all-time high. This can attract new customers they like the fact that they can do banking business from the safety of their homes. Cons: The one-to-one bank teller to customer relationship gets forgotten about. Most Indian Bankers are familiar with the one-to-one banking, they like the personal service. b) Increasing customers Pros: The more customers the more money/revenue the bank will receive. Growth, gain, and prosperity are some key virtues of a bank and with this in mind HDFC should always be on top of their game. Cons: Always promoting, reaching out to increase the customer rate the bank could lose focus on what their really there for. The more customers the more problems. Key Issues 7: Roadmap the chief information officer (CIO) can implement. Alternative Solution Course: a) Secure the customer transition from offline to online banker. Pros: This will grow the banks revenue, increase customers, making for a very efficient banking system. This has to be accomplish if Salvi will reach the ultimate goal of World Class Bank. Cons: As is apparent phishing scams will come to light. With the online banking operation comes more security issues. Lose the personal relationship between customer and staff. b) Secure online banking. Pros: The online banker will feel more comfortable when doing business online. This is a step in the direction to become a world class bank. Will bring more with it a better reputation and more customers. Cons: The cost will always be a negative aspect of any progress. With the online banking even if it is considered secure the criminal element will be more of an issue. c) Evolve into the world class bank Pros: This is the goal that Salvi wishes to reach and it is a prestige’s accomplishment. With this comes the attention to detail, finer service a World Class elegance. Cons: With this with also bring the increasing of hardware and software maintenance, upkeep of websites, management of data centers. References Bose, Indranil. The University Of Honk Kong. â€Å"HDFC Bank: Securing Online Banking† Retrieved From: https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/access/35744031. April 4, 2015 PayScale, Inc. 2015. â€Å"Average Salary for Certification: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)† Retrieved From: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Certified_Ethical_Hacker_%28CEH%29/Salary Rajpreet, Jassel. Ravinder, Sehgal. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering. â€Å"Online Banking Security Flaws: A study† Retrieved From: http://www.ijarcsse.com/docs/papers/Volume_3/8_August2013/V3I2-0257.pdf Odyssey Technologies. â€Å"Implementing Transaction Security For HDFC Bank† Retrieved From: http://www.odysseytec.com/Documents/CaseStudies/HDFC_SnorkelTX_CaseStudy.pdf 1

Spiritual Discernment and Career Counseling Essay -- Religion, Spiritu

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1883) said, â€Å"Each man has his own vocation, his talent is his call. There is one direction in which all space is open to him.† (p. 112). He was speaking of the gifts granted us by God to fulfill the plan that He has for our life. Discovering and utilizing those gifts is part of the decision making process in career counseling. Christians advocate the use of spiritual discernment in order to guide the decision making process. Properly interpreting the will of God for one’s life is at the heart of each of our choices including those choices involving vocation. Personal Position Horton (2009) provides an inventory to assess one’s personal spiritual discernment approach. In taking this assessment, I found that I answered all of the statements with â€Å"very important†. Indeed, each statement played a large role in my decision making process with respect to my current vocational pursuits, as well as other aspects of my life. As such, I found it more fruitful to prioritize the statements. Once completed, the results showed that my top three were: Consistency with the character/ethics of Jesus, praying for wisdom to make Godly decisions and Consulting with wise counsel. Given my manner of completing the survey as well as the resulting answers, I originally placed myself in the â€Å"Bull’s-Eye Approach† (p. 8). My problems with the approach led me to alter my assessment, however, and go toward the â€Å"Relationship-Formation Approach† (p. 11). Horton (2009) reports that the bull’s-eye approach posits that God’s will is that each of us fulfills a pre-planned destiny. It states that Christians are prevented by God from straying too far afoul of the plan and that the goal is for each one to find the â€Å"right† decisions... ... with God that includes consistent prayer, seeking wise counsel, studying scripture and looking for God’s divine intervention will reveal her destination. Works Cited Emerson, R. L. (1883). The works of Ralph Waldo Emerson. London, UK: MacMillan Company. Horton, D. J. (2009). Discerning spiritual discernment: Assessing current approaches for understanding God’s will. The Journal of Youth Ministry, 7(2), 7-31. Nichols, J. L. (2006). Balancing intuition and reason: Tuning in to indecision. Journal of Rehabilitation, 72(4), 40-48. Niles, S. G. (2009). Career development interventions in the 21st century. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Thompson, E. & Feldman, D.B. (2010). Let your life speak: Assessing the effectiveness of a program to explore meaning, purpose and calling with college students. Journal of Employment Counseling, 47(1), 12-19.

Organization Development Consultant Plan for the Red Cross Essay

The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping people in need throughout the United States. Most of the country may not realize how much the Red Cross accomplishes this noble calling through the dependency on the generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the American public to support their lifesaving services and programs. The American Red Cross also partners with other Red Cross networks, throughout the world to help some of the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. â€Å"Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D. C. on May 21, 1881† (Red Cross, 2013d, para. ). Barton accomplished several overseas missions for the Red Cross but eventually came back to the United States and continued her domestic and global efforts for the next 23 years (Red Cross, 2013d). The Red Cross received their first congressional charter in 1900, and the second in 1905, which is still in effect today. The charter â€Å"†¦sets forth the purposes of the organization which includes giving relief to and serving as a medium of communication between members of the American armed forces and their families and providing national and international disaster relief and mitigation† (Red Cross, 2013d, para. ). Since 2006, the Red Cross and FEMA have partnered together to help various government agencies and communities plan and coordinate the provision of food and shelter for people affected by disasters (American Red Cross, 2013d, para. 8). Today, there are over a thousand local chapters throughout the United States (American Red Cross, 2013e, para. 3) that continue the mission of the American Red Cross, fueled by loyal volunteers and contributors. . Organizational Culture The culture of the American Red Cross is built on its dedication to a contemporary mission and vision statement which will guide it through the 21st century, along with seven fundamental principles. Stop  «Ã‚ »Mission Statement (Red Cross, 2013c, para. 1). â€Å"The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. † Vision Statement (Red Cross, 2013c, para. 2). The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter and hope; our communities are ready and prepared for disasters; everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products; all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort whenever needed; and in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives. The seven fundamental principles of the Global Red Cross Network consist of the following: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality (American Red Cross, 2013c). These fundamental principles are used as a basic foundation in which to build from and guide all of the Red Cross communities across the globe; keeping everyone in tune with the core values and mission established by Clara Barton so long ago. The Board of Governors serves as the governing body of the American Red Cross, which has all powers overseeing and directing the leadership and management of the business and affairs of the organization. The corporate governance principles of the American Red Cross are found in the Congressional Charter and a series of documents that are reviewed periodically, by the Board of Governors, to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the organization and reflect best practices (Red Cross, 2013a, para. 1).  In 2007, the American Red Cross devised a comprehensive governance reform that was signed into law by the President of the United States. This reform was an effort to modernize the Board, and provide a more clear oversight and strategic role for the Board. Highlights of governance reforms include: ensuring that Governance procedures provide clear guidance about expectations and enhance Board and individual Board member performance (American Red Cross, 2013a, para. 2). Organizational Leadership over Time The Chairman of the Board and the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), like most executives, play a significant role in the stabilization and future growth of the American Red Cross. The Chairman leads the Board of Governors in the oversight of the organization while the President and CEO implements strategic organizational development and leads the operations of the Red Cross. Currently, two women hold the honor of Chairman and CEO of the American Red Cross; Bonnie McElveen-Hunter and Gail McGovern, respectively (Red Cross, 2013b). â€Å"Ms. McElveen-Hunter is the former U. S.  Ambassador to Finland (2001 – 2003) and the CEO and owner of Pace Communications, Inc. , the largest private custom publishing company in the United States† (Red Cross, 2013b, para. 2) and was appointed as Chairman of the American Red Cross on June 17, 2004. â€Å"Gail J. McGovern was named President and CEO of the American Red Cross on April 8, 2008. After previously holding top management positions at AT&T Corporation and Fidelity Investments†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Red Cross, 2013b, para. 3). McGovern has extensive experience running large organizations and a proven track record for improving performance (American Red Cross, 2013b). Current Organizational Development Phenomena Since the inception of the new CEO, Gail McGovern, in 2008, the American Red Cross has undergone several structural changes in an effort to maximize the organizations impact with its available resources. According to McGovern, these efforts to â€Å"†¦improve operational efficiency, cutting unnecessary expenses, modernizing our technological systems, or standardizing blood collection labeling† (Red Cross, 2012, pg. 1) are all directed towards the goal of providing optimal care for those in need. Just in the last year two years alone, the American Red Cross has assisted the tornado victims of Joplin Missouri, which claimed more than 150 lives in 2011; helped those afflicted by numerous wildfires burning in various parts of the West; supplied aid to victims of floods in Florida, due to Tropical Storm Debby; provided much needed help to those living near the Northeast coast who suffered from extensive power outages and damage from Hurricane Sandy, and many, many more vital services that go largely unmentioned throughout the country (Red Cross, 2012). The American Red Cross, clearly, will never run out of work; which requires a leader that is creative, resourceful, dynamic, fluid, and up for complex challenges in an ever changing landscape. Organizational Development Needs The first step in approaching a national giant such as the American Red Cross is to obtain a meeting with current president and CEO, Gail McGovern, for a meaningful dialogue and assessment of her vision for the future of American Red Cross the brand, and American Red Cross the organization (i. e. employees, volunteers, contributors). Clear expectations and limitation on what the organization development consultant’s role will be during the process, as well as future follow-up assessments, must be defined. A well established theory of organizational development, tailored to the American Red Cross, must be adhered to. In this case, I recommend the socio-technical systems theory first developed by Eric Trist. This theory incorporates the idea that organizations are comprised of, and interdependent of, two systems: social and technical; realizing that changes in one cause changes in the other. This approach is best utilized by organizations that directly rely on their material means for their output, and at the core of their existence lays an almost indecipherable difference between their human and non-human systems (Van de Ven & Joyce, 1981). Together, the consultant and the CEO will determine how these two components (social and technical) interact within and around the American Red Cross organization, and assess feedback and synergy between the systems for optimal effectiveness. Secondly, a data gathering method must be decided upon to obtain the most relevant and accurate information for basing an organizational strategy upon. There are several methods available, each with inherent positive and negative considerations. However, the CEO must establish what types of information the consultant may and may not have access to; this will limit the choices of methods available. For a national organization that is also a part of a global organization, such as the American Red Cross, a survey/questionnaire is recommended, which focuses on the current climate of the cultural perceptions of the organization by the employees and volunteers. This method allows a consultant to quickly yield data, address a broad range of topics, compare the data across groups, maintain anonymity, and easily repeat the process for follow-up purposes for the next two years and beyond. Other data gathering methods such as observation and focus groups are also recommended but with full disclosure and acknowledgement that they are both time-consuming and limited for a national organization; consideration should be given to reserve these methods for upper-level management as needed (Anderson, 2012, pp. 119-150). Once the information desired is agreed upon with Gail McGovern, then the method and design of the data gathering tool can be implemented. Next, gathering and interpreting the data correctly to ensure maximum benefit for the proposed intervention(s) is critical. I suggest using a detailed system of deductive analysis that makes coding data easier, helps with data interpretation, and communicating it to the client. It would also be useful to also incorporate inductive analysis as well to pull out key themes that may be evident (Anderson, 2012, pp. 19-150). Once, this is done, a feedback meeting, with Gail McGovern, should be set up to discuss the results derived from the data, proposed intervention(s), and strategic planning. Keep in mind, however, the data should be reviewed at least one more time prior to the meeting to ensure that it accurate, and has not violated any established ethical considerations. This attention to detail cannot be emphasized enough as the interpretation of th e data unveils the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. This, in turn, will directly affect the stability and future direction of the organization as it strives to grow and thrive in a vastly competitive environment over arguably shrinking economic resources. Organizational Development Recommendations Based on the results and interpretation of the data, intervention(s) may be suggested that are in line with Gail McGovern’s vision for American Red Cross; a vision for stability and increased revenue and partnerships (Red Cross, 2012). Therefore, I would turn your attention to the Kotter’s Model (Kotter International, 2012) as a step-by-step guide for a national organization, with a global reach, that embraces change and is ready to whole-heartedly commit to such a program that is proven to yield incredible performance benefits when followed long-term (see both Chart 1 and Chart 2-pg. 12). Implementing step one is vital, developing a sense of urgency (Kotter International, 2012). The CEO must develop a sense of urgency, regarding her vision for the future of the American Red Cross, amongst the employees, volunteers, and contributors. This is accomplished by first determining the current climate of the organization through the data gathering methods mentioned previously, which establishes a base-line from which to monitor progress, and then devising organization strategies (media, social-media, print-media, etc†¦) to disseminate the vision quickly and develop the sense of urgency necessary. The second step of Kotter’s Model involves putting together the right coalition of people to lead a change initiative which is critical to the success of McGovern’s vision for the future (Kotter International, 2012). The American Red Cross currently has a stellar mix of dedicated people at the highest levels. However, objective observation and analysis of upper-level team meetings is recommended in order to evaluate current synergy, or lack thereof, and add team building workshops as needed to address and facilitate trust, relationship building, communication and collaboration across various branches of the organization. In a rapidly changing world, complex organizations, such as the American Red Cross, are forced to make decisions more quickly and with less certainty than they would like. Effective leaders must make productive decisions under these ircumstances; therefore, it is paramount that all of the teams develop a level of trust in one another. The third step involves establishing a clear vision which serves three important purposes (Kotter International, 2012). A clear vision simplifies the complex, motivates people, and helps implement the actions efficiently. McGovern must be unmistakably clear in stating her vision for the American Red Cross, the path in which the organization must follow to be successful in accomplishing the vision, the expectations of each leader who reports directly to her, the benchmarks for measurement of progress, and a method for objective follow-up. The fourth step is gaining an understanding and commitment to a new direction (Kotter International, 2012). This step is imperative to core of the vision. In order to establish an understanding and commitment to the new vision for the American Red Cross from the current leaders, McGovern must commit herself to communication in all ways, and at every level of the organization possible. Multiple channels of communication must be used to enforce the message of the vision, and up-dates on the progress, frequently to keep everyone aware of the goal, and their importance to the overall success of the organization. This can be accomplished in various ways, such as: daily motivational huddles (15 minutes or less to focus on the days objectives), monthly meetings to maintain continuity, quarterly newsletter to monitor progress, yearly meetings with upper-management to communicate goals and celebrate achievements. The fifth step involves empowering broad-based action (Kotter International, 2012). Having a clear and realistic understanding that creating a new vision, and establishing new cultural norms, is not without its obstacles is essential to McGovern as she attempts to realign the American Red Cross with her vision. Implementing proven management problem-solving methods, as well as on-going training is crucial. Furthermore, all action plans must be analyzed in order to ensure that management has all of the necessary tools and up-to-date information for successful implementation of the change vision. Lastly, utilizing electronic surveys help to speed up feedback and provide information for people to do their jobs more efficiently.

A Year in the South 1865: The True Story of Four Ordinary People

A Year in the South 1865, written by Stephen V. Ash, was published by First Perennial Press in 2004. It runs to 304 pages and deals with a year in the American south during the final year of the bloody United States Civil War.This war cost more American lives than any other conflict in the nation’s history and turned families against each other as sides were drawn. Stephen V. Ash, appropriately enough, teaches history at the University of Tennessee and has authored other books on the Civil War, including When the Yankees Came: Conflict and Chaos in the Occupied South.A Year in the South 1865 covers the twelve month span between January and December of 1865 as the war was winding toward its rather foregone conclusion. Ash has chosen to revisit this story of the fall of Dixie in a personal way, using four citizens of the bellicose Confederate States of America that stood in armed rebellion against the federal government of the United States as narrators.The year 1865 was chaotic in the United States, seeing the assassination of a great American leader, the end of the armed conflict, the beginning of the period termed Reconstruction and the emancipation of slaves in American States.Each narrator has a unique vantage from which he views the occurrences related in this work. One of the figures is a former Confederate soldier, one is a slave, wanting his freedom more than anything else, one is a widow, hungry and hopeless and the fourth is a planter and Christian minister whose faith is sorely tried.By 1865 the handwriting was on the wall. Early in the year North Carolina’s effectiveness as a haven for blockade-runners was broken.   William T. Sherman’s sweep through Georgia, creating a swath of scorched earth as he marched, was repeated in South Carolina, virtually destroying the state. It was blitzkrieg without the air support. It was lightening on the ground and it was devastating in its intensity and frightening in its brutality.Sherman lef t nothing behind. Against this backdrop the forces of the Army of the United States Federal Government came closer and closer to Richmond, and all but the deaf and blind understood the fall of Old Dominion was a fait accompli.Lee evacuated the capital in early April and the end was imminent. Jefferson Davis had made peace overtures to Lincoln early in the year, with demands that the independence of the south be recognized. Lincoln knew the war was all but over and dismissed the peace feeler out of hand.The Old South is dead and the four protagonists of the Stephen Ash work bear witness to the birth of the New. Ash captivates the reader with vivid tales of triumph and tragedy as the protagonists try to cope in a society whose very fabric is rent and bloodied in the ashes of disheartening defeat. Each of the individuals presented in this book are writers and keep journals of their times.This is a fascinating look into the lives of four ordinary people who are witness to a microcosmic view of the death throes of an age now long dead and of the nova that produced the New South, which is much the same today as when it first began in that painful birthing period in the year 1865. The subtitle of this book calls 1865 the most tumultuous 12 months in American history. It is not merely hype.John Robertson was a Confederate soldier, doing his duty as he saw it, though this duty caused him to stand in rebellion against his nation’s government and take arms against that institution. It must be understood today that the American civil war is more than just a difference of ideologies that lead to an armed confrontation.It is a renunciation of vows and oaths of loyalty to one’s own. It is to turn traitor to the homeland. â€Å"If such there breathe, go, mark him well; for him no minstrel raptures swell;†¦and, doubly dying, [he] shall go down to the vile dust from whence he sprung, unwept, unhonored, and unsung,† wrote Sir Walter Scott in The Lay of the Last Minstrel.Robertson is the target of vigilantes during the year of 1865, pursued by those with different ideologies. In the course of the year he is to flee over a thousand miles to escape the wrath of those bent on taking revenge on him for his perceived part in the bloody conflict.The cities of the South are occupied by what amounts to an alien army, while the frontiers of the relatively young republic are less civilized, and the citizens of the wilderness territories are subject to more than a modicum of frontier justice as well as to the dockets of more than a few kangaroo courts.The politics of this period are such that the victorious north is determined, by hook or crook, to impose its will upon the defeated insurgents in general, and those it can identify as ex-soldiers in particular. Ideally it will achieve its aims at the polling place, but if it can not, it is not adverse to a bit of armed confrontation of its own.Robertson finds himself the subject of reprisals as union loyalists seek their revenge on those who are available to them and he is forced to flee for his life.At one point he finds it expedient to move into the north, and comes to rest in a community in Iowa, where he feels like a fish out of water, unable to cope with cultural differences and what he perceives as a cold and calculating veneer spread over the peoples.Yankee and German immigrant merchants are not as warm as his fellow Southerners. The lack of Southern charm and hospitality is more than he can bear and he ultimately realizes that he cannot stay in such a place.This same hospitable citizen of a once genteel South hates Negroes with a blind passion and is willing to give his life to see that a form of government that holds some human beings to be chattel will survive and prosper. Ash quotes him as describing some blacks as, â€Å" ‘the greasiest bunch of nig[g]ers I ever saw.’ Just being around them made him sick,† (56).   When the shoe is on the other foot there is a great lack of understanding as to why man must be so callous in regard to his fellow man. Robertson is shocked to learn that bigotry can be directed toward him. Isn’t he white? Isn’t he a Southerner? Did he not fight to preserve his heritage? He feels forced to flee from is home in Knoxville.He feels that the Negro is rising above his station and the world, it must seem, has turned upside down. It is ironic that Robertson’s saga, his tale of misery in the aftermath of a war which he violently abetted, is found in the same tome as is found the tale of a former slave whom he considered below him and fit only for servitude. Robertson would not have liked to share the stage with a Negro in all likelihood.He is stunned that he becomes the second-class citizen in his travels and he has difficulty believing the incredible lack of manners exhibited by northerners. He finds it unacceptable that they do not offer the simple hospitality of a hot meal to visitors and he feels that they are looking down on him. Robertson eventually becomes a preacher, accepting the call to spread the gospel of Christ to his fellow man.Louis Hughes begins his narrative as a slave who has risen to what is stereotypically considered to be a plum assignment for a man in his position, that of house-slave.He becomes the family butler eventually. Having a good job as a slave seems similar to the old adage of enjoying a comfortable seat in hell. His is witness to the death of his twin children as his wife is too over-worked to see to their needs and they die of neglect.He tries to escape, and is recaptured by a military patrol. When he is returned to his rightful owner he is beaten by the kindly old white master, who puts him in stocks to administer the requisite justice, pausing when he tires, to rest and read the newspaper (120).It is the disparity of view and juxtaposition of these two narrators that adds so much flavor to this history. Hughes seems to be the more sympathetic of the two, and is the more altruistic.He is called upon to demonstrate his intestinal fortitude and acquits himself well. He manages to save members of his family and proves his ability to learn and expand. He comes to Milwaukee, where he becomes a nurse, doing much good for those in need. Both men travel far and see much. Their sojourns give added dimension to their tales and prevent them from narrating with a frog’s eye concept of life in the post-bellum American South.Cornelia McDonald is the widow of a Confederate officer. She lives in Lexington, Virginia. Her story is the only one told from a woman’s perspective and it fills in many of the gaps left by the tales related by the male narrators in that she deals more with the domestic issues of her day. She is also witness to the abject hunger and devastating poverty which settled over the south like an all intrusive fog, penetrating to the core of the land, pervasive and all encompassing.He r bitter struggle to simply find enough food to subsist is a telling point in this work. All too often a history will deal only with the nuts and bolts of the events, relating the politics and mechanizations that occurred in the reconstruction of a defeated and fallen society, overlooking the seemingly insignificant issue of bread.McDonald’s tale covers this aspect of the bitter year when a once proud and even arrogant people lost everything, falling lower than they believed it possible to fall.McDonald is left with seven hungry children and struggles daily just to find them enough food to survive. She relates a tale of how she unwove a mattress to recycle the threads into a suit of clothing for one of her sons (36). It is a story reminiscent of the classic scene described by Margaret Mitchell of how Scarlett O’Hara took the velvet drapes from the windows of her once glorious Tara and had the material tailored into a ball gown.Planter cum preacher, Sam Agnew is the fou rth member of this group of narrators of the year 1865 in this southern history. He bears further witness to the hunger and utter destitution left in the wake of the merciless marauding Union army.He comes bearing tales of the land and people in a way unique to a farmer who has witnessed a period when even heaven seemed to conspire against the south, withholding rain and desiccating the crops, bringing famine and disease (150).McDonald is perhaps a metaphor for the land, relating how she survived that year of infamy, prospering eventually, and becoming a friend of the revered icon of all that is Southern, General Robert Edward Lee.She relates rather poignantly how Lee remains the courtly Southern aristocrat in defeat and urges his fellow Southerners to forgive and forget and move on with their lives. She does not mention how this courtly aristocrat, a graduate of West Point, reneged on his solemn oath to the United States and took up arms against it.She fails to mention that what he and the other Southern officers, who had once been Union officers, had done was treason and could have resulted in their execution.It seems the least bit fatuous for an historian like Ash to glorify the mien of Southern gentry who were largely responsible, if not for causing the war, then at least for extending it by years with the military expertise they had been taught in a United States military academy. Had they all refused to gainsay their sacred oaths the war might not have been prosecuted for lack of leadership.Works CitedAsh, S.V.   A Year in the South 1865: The True Story of Four Ordinary People Who Lived Through the Most Tumultuous Twelve Months in American   History   New York: First Perennial Edition 2004