The Lost Symbol Chapter 1-3

CHAPTER 1 The Otis elevator climbing the south pillar of the Eiffel Tower was overflowing with tourists. Inside the cramped lift, an austere businessman in a pressed suit gazed down at the boy beside him. â€Å"You look pale, son. You should have stayed on the ground.† â€Å"I'm okay . . .† the boy answered, struggling to control his anxiety. â€Å"I'll get out on the next level.† I can't breathe. The man leaned closer. â€Å"I thought by now you would have gotten over this.† He brushed the child's cheek affectionately. The boy felt ashamed to disappoint his father, but he could barely hear through the ringing in his ears. I can't breathe. I've got to get out of this box! The elevator operator was saying something reassuring about the lift's articulated pistons and puddled-iron construction. Far beneath them, the streets of Paris stretched out in all directions. Almost there, the boy told himself, craning his neck and looking up at the unloading platform. Just hold on. As the lift angled steeply toward the upper viewing deck, the shaft began to narrow, its massive struts contracting into a tight, vertical tunnel. â€Å"Dad, I don't think–â€Å" Suddenly a staccato crack echoed overhead. The carriage jerked, swaying awkwardly to one side. Frayed cables began whipping around the carriage, thrashing like snakes. The boy reached out for his father. â€Å"Dad!† Their eyes locked for one terrifying second. Then the bottom dropped out. Robert Langdon jolted upright in his soft leather seat, startling out of the semiconscious daydream. He was sitting all alone in the enormous cabin of a Falcon 2000EX corporate jet as it bounced its way through turbulence. In the background, the dual Pratt & Whitney engines hummed evenly. â€Å"Mr. Langdon?† The intercom crackled overhead. â€Å"We're on final approach.† Langdon sat up straight and slid his lecture notes back into his leather daybag. He'd been halfway through reviewing Masonic symbology when his mind had drifted. The daydream about his late father, Langdon suspected, had been stirred by this morning's unexpected invitation from Langdon's longtime mentor, Peter Solomon. The other man I never want to disappoint. The fifty-eight-year-old philanthropist, historian, and scientist had taken Langdon under his wing nearly thirty years ago, in many ways filling the void left by Langdon's father's death. Despite the man's influential family dynasty and massive wealth, Langdon had found humility and warmth in Solomon's soft gray eyes. Outside the window the sun had set, but Langdon could still make out the slender silhouette of the world's largest obelisk, rising on the horizon like the spire of an ancient gnomon. The 555- foot marble-faced obelisk marked this nation's heart. All around the spire, the meticulous geometry of streets and monuments radiated outward. Even from the air, Washington, D.C., exuded an almost mystical power. Langdon loved this city, and as the jet touched down, he felt a rising excitement about what lay ahead. The jet taxied to a private terminal somewhere in the vast expanse of Dulles International Airport and came to a stop. Langdon gathered his things, thanked the pilots, and stepped out of the jet's luxurious interior onto the foldout staircase. The cold January air felt liberating. Breathe, Robert, he thought, appreciating the wide-open spaces. A blanket of white fog crept across the runway, and Langdon had the sensation he was stepping into a marsh as he descended onto the misty tarmac. â€Å"Hello! Hello!† a singsong British voice shouted from across the tarmac. â€Å"Professor Langdon?† Langdon looked up to see a middle-aged woman with a badge and clipboard hurrying toward him, waving happily as he approached. Curly blond hair protruded from under a stylish knit wool hat. â€Å"Welcome to Washington, sir!† Langdon smiled. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"My name is Pam, from passenger services.† The woman spoke with an exuberance that was almost unsettling. â€Å"If you'll come with me, sir, your car is waiting.† Langdon followed her across the runway toward the Signature terminal, which was surrounded by glistening private jets. A taxi stand for the rich and famous. â€Å"I hate to embarrass you, Professor,† the woman said, sounding sheepish, â€Å"but you are the Robert Langdon who writes books about symbols and religion, aren't you?† Langdon hesitated and then nodded. â€Å"I thought so!† she said, beaming. â€Å"My book group read your book about the sacred feminine and the church! What a delicious scandal that one caused! You do enjoy putting the fox in the henhouse!† Langdon smiled. â€Å"Scandal wasn't really my intention.† The woman seemed to sense Langdon was not in the mood to discuss his work. â€Å"I'm sorry. Listen to me rattling on. I know you probably get tired of being recognized . . . but it's your own fault.† She playfully motioned to his clothing. â€Å"Your uniform gave you away.† My uniform? Langdon glanced down at his attire. He was wearing his usual charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis, and collegiate cordovan loafers . . . his standard attire for the classroom, lecture circuit, author photos, and social events. The woman laughed. â€Å"Those turtlenecks you wear are so dated. You'd look much sharper in a tie!† No chance, Langdon thought. Little nooses. Neckties had been required six days a week when Langdon attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and despite the headmaster's romantic claims that the origin of the cravat went back to the silk fascalia worn by Roman orators to warm their vocal cords, Langdon knew that, etymologically, cravat actually derived from a ruthless band of â€Å"Croat† mercenaries who donned knotted neckerchiefs before they stormed into battle. To this day, this ancient battle garb was donned by modern office warriors hoping to intimidate their enemies in daily boardroom battles. â€Å"Thanks for the advice,† Langdon said with a chuckle. â€Å"I'll consider a tie in the future.† Mercifully, a professional-looking man in a dark suit got out of a sleek Lincoln Town Car parked near the terminal and held up his finger. â€Å"Mr. Langdon? I'm Charles with Beltway Limousine.† He opened the passenger door. â€Å"Good evening, sir. Welcome to Washington.† Langdon tipped Pam for her hospitality and then climbed into the plush interior of the Town Car. The driver showed him the temperature controls, the bottled water, and the basket of hot muffins. Seconds later, Langdon was speeding away on a private access road. So this is how the other half lives. As the driver gunned the car up Windsock Drive, he consulted his passenger manifest and placed a quick call. â€Å"This is Beltway Limousine,† the driver said with professional efficiency. â€Å"I was asked to confirm once my passenger had landed.† He paused. â€Å"Yes, sir. Your guest, Mr. Langdon, has arrived, and I will deliver him to the Capitol Building by seven P.M. You're welcome, sir.† He hung up. Langdon had to smile. No stone left unturned. Peter Solomon's attention to detail was one of his most potent assets, allowing him to manage his substantial power with apparent ease. A few billion dollars in the bank doesn't hurt either. Langdon settled into the plush leather seat and closed his eyes as the noise of the airport faded behind him. The U.S. Capitol was a half hour away, and he appreciated the time alone to gather his thoughts. Everything had happened so quickly today that Langdon only now had begun to think in earnest about the incredible evening that lay ahead. Arriving under a veil of secrecy, Langdon thought, amused by the prospect. Ten miles from the Capitol Building, a lone figure was eagerly preparing for Robert Langdon's arrival. CHAPTER 2 The one who called himself Mal'akh pressed the tip of the needle against his shaved head, sighing with pleasure as the sharp tool plunged in and out of his flesh. The soft hum of the electric device was addictive . . . as was the bite of the needle sliding deep into his dermis and depositing its dye. I am a masterpiece. The goal of tattooing was never beauty. The goal was change. From the scarified Nubian priests of 2000 B.C., to the tattooed acolytes of the Cybele cult of ancient Rome, to the moko scars of the modern Maori, humans have tattooed themselves as a way of offering up their bodies in partial sacrifice, enduring the physical pain of embellishment and emerging changed beings. Despite the ominous admonitions of Leviticus 19:28, which forbade the marking of one's flesh, tattoos had become a rite of passage shared by millions of people in the modern age–everyone from clean-cut teenagers to hard-core drug users to suburban housewives. The act of tattooing one's skin was a transformative declaration of power, an announcement to the world: I am in control of my own flesh. The intoxicating feeling of control derived from physical transformation had addicted millions to flesh-altering practices . . . cosmetic surgery, body piercing, bodybuilding, and steroids . . . even bulimia and transgendering. The human spirit craves mastery over its carnal shell. A single bell chimed on Mal'akh's grandfather clock, and he looked up. Six thirty P.M. Leaving his tools, he wrapped the Kiryu silk robe around his naked, six-foot-three body and strode down the hall. The air inside this sprawling mansion was heavy with the pungent fragrance of his skin dyes and smoke from the beeswax candles he used to sterilize his needles. The towering young man moved down the corridor past priceless Italian antiques–a Piranesi etching, a Savonarola chair, a silver Bugarini oil lamp. He glanced through a floor-to-ceiling window as he passed, admiring the classical skyline in the distance. The luminous dome of the U.S. Capitol glowed with solemn power against the dark winter sky. This is where it is hidden, he thought. It is buried out there somewhere. Few men knew it existed . . . and even fewer knew its awesome power or the ingenious way in which it had been hidden. To this day, it remained this country's greatest untold secret. Those few who did know the truth kept it hidden behind a veil of symbols, legends, and allegory. Now they have opened their doors to me, Mal'akh thought. Three weeks ago, in a dark ritual witnessed by America's most influential men, Mal'akh had ascended to the thirty-third degree, the highest echelon of the world's oldest surviving brotherhood. Despite Mal'akh's new rank, the brethren had told him nothing. Nor will they, he knew. That was not how it worked. There were circles within circles . . . brotherhoods within brotherhoods. Even if Mal'akh waited years, he might never earn their ultimate trust. Fortunately, he did not need their trust to obtain their deepest secret. My initiation served its purpose. Now, energized by what lay ahead, he strode toward his bedroom. Throughout his entire home, audio speakers broadcast the eerie strains of a rare recording of a castrato singing the â€Å"Lux Aeterna† from the Verdi Requiem–a reminder of a previous life. Mal'akh touched a remote control to bring on the thundering â€Å"Dies Irae.† Then, against a backdrop of crashing timpani and parallel fifths, he bounded up the marble staircase, his robe billowing as he ascended on sinewy legs. As he ran, his empty stomach growled in protest. For two days now, Mal'akh had fasted, consuming only water, preparing his body in accordance with the ancient ways. Your hunger will be satisfied by dawn, he reminded himself. Along with your pain. Mal'akh entered his bedroom sanctuary with reverence, locking the door behind him. As he moved toward his dressing area, he paused, feeling himself drawn to the enormous gilded mirror. Unable to resist, he turned and faced his own reflection. Slowly, as if unwrapping a priceless gift, Mal'akh opened his robe to unveil his naked form. The vision awed him. I am a masterpiece. His massive body was shaved and smooth. He lowered his gaze first to his feet, which were tattooed with the scales and talons of a hawk. Above that, his muscular legs were tattooed as carved pillars–his left leg spiraled and his right vertically striated. Boaz and Jachin. His groin and abdomen formed a decorated archway, above which his powerful chest was emblazoned with the double-headed phoenix . . . each head in profile with its visible eye formed by one of Mal'akh's nipples. His shoulders, neck, face, and shaved head were completely covered with an intricate tapestry of ancient symbols and sigils. I am an artifact . . . an evolving icon. One mortal man had seen Mal'akh naked, eighteen hours earlier. The man had shouted in fear. â€Å"Good God, you're a demon!† â€Å"If you perceive me as such,† Mal'akh had replied, understanding as had the ancients that angels and demons were identical–interchangeable archetypes–all a matter of polarity: the guardian angel who conquered your enemy in battle was perceived by your enemy as a demon destroyer. Mal'akh tipped his face down now and got an oblique view of the top of his head. There, within the crownlike halo, shone a small circle of pale, untattooed flesh. This carefully guarded canvas was Mal'akh's only remaining piece of virgin skin. The sacred space had waited patiently . . . and tonight, it would be filled. Although Mal'akh did not yet possess what he required to complete his masterpiece, he knew the moment was fast approaching. Exhilarated by his reflection, he could already feel his power growing. He closed his robe and walked to the window, again gazing out at the mystical city before him. It is buried out there somewhere. Refocusing on the task at hand, Mal'akh went to his dressing table and carefully applied a base of concealer makeup to his face, scalp, and neck until his tattoos had disappeared. Then he donned the special set of clothing and other items he had meticulously prepared for this evening. When he finished, he checked himself in the mirror. Satisfied, he ran a soft palm across his smooth scalp and smiled. It is out there, he thought. And tonight, one man will help me find it. As Mal'akh exited his home, he prepared himself for the event that would soon shake the U.S. Capitol Building. He had gone to enormous lengths to arrange all the pieces for tonight. And now, at last, his final pawn had entered the game. CHAPTER 3 Robert Langdon was busy reviewing his note cards when the hum of the Town Car's tires changed pitch on the road beneath him. Langdon glanced up, surprised to see where they were. Memorial Bridge already? He put down his notes and gazed out at the calm waters of the Potomac passing beneath him. A heavy mist hovered on the surface. Aptly named, Foggy Bottom had always seemed a peculiar site on which to build the nation's capital. Of all the places in the New World, the forefathers had chosen a soggy riverside marsh on which to lay the cornerstone of their utopian society. Langdon gazed left, across the Tidal Basin, toward the gracefully rounded silhouette of the Jefferson Memorial–America's Pantheon, as many called it. Directly in front of the car, the Lincoln Memorial rose with rigid austerity, its orthogonal lines reminiscent of Athens's ancient Parthenon. But it was farther away that Langdon saw the city's centerpiece–the same spire he had seen from the air. Its architectural inspiration was far, far older than the Romans or the Greeks. America's Egyptian obelisk. The monolithic spire of the Washington Monument loomed dead ahead, illuminated against the sky like the majestic mast of a ship. From Langdon's oblique angle, the obelisk appeared ungrounded tonight . . . swaying against the dreary sky as if on an unsteady sea. Langdon felt similarly ungrounded. His visit to Washington had been utterly unexpected. I woke up this morning anticipating a quiet Sunday at home . . . and now I'm a few minutes away from the U.S. Capitol. This morning at four forty-five, Langdon had plunged into dead-calm water, beginning his day as he always did, swimming fifty laps in the deserted Harvard Pool. His physique was not quite what it had been in his college days as a water-polo all-American, but he was still lean and toned, respectable for a man in his forties. The only difference now was the amount of effort it took Langdon to keep it that way. When Langdon arrived home around six, he began his morning ritual of hand-grinding Sumatra coffee beans and savoring the exotic scent that filled his kitchen. This morning, however, he was surprised to see the blinking red light on his voice-mail display. Who calls at six A.M. on a Sunday? He pressed the button and listened to the message. â€Å"Good morning, Professor Langdon, I'm terribly sorry for this early-morning call.† The polite voice was noticeably hesitant, with a hint of a southern accent. â€Å"My name is Anthony Jelbart, and I'm Peter Solomon's executive assistant. Mr. Solomon told me you're an early riser . . . he has been trying to reach you this morning on short notice. As soon as you receive this message, would you be so kind as to call Peter directly? You probably have his new private line, but if not, it's 202-329-5746.† Langdon felt a sudden concern for his old friend. Peter Solomon was impeccably well-bred and courteous, and certainly not the kind of man to call at daybreak on a Sunday unless something was very wrong. Langdon left his coffee half made and hurried toward his study to return the call. I hope he's okay. Peter Solomon had been a friend, mentor, and, although only twelve years Langdon's senior, a father figure to him ever since their first meeting at Princeton University. As a sophomore, Langdon had been required to attend an evening guest lecture by the well-known young historian and philanthropist. Solomon had spoken with a contagious passion, presenting a dazzling vision of semiotics and archetypal history that had sparked in Langdon what would later become his lifelong passion for symbols. It was not Peter Solomon's brilliance, however, but the humility in his gentle gray eyes that had given Langdon the courage to write him a thank-you letter. The young sophomore had never dreamed that Peter Solomon, one of America's wealthiest and most intriguing young intellectuals, would ever write back. But Solomon did. And it had been the beginning of a truly gratifying friendship. A prominent academic whose quiet manner belied his powerful heritage, Peter Solomon came from the ultrawealthy Solomon family, whose names appeared on buildings and universities all over the nation. Like the Rothschilds in Europe, the surname Solomon had always carried the mystique of American royalty and success. Peter had inherited the mantle at a young age after the death of his father, and now, at fifty-eight, he had held numerous positions of power in his life. He currently served as the head of the Smithsonian Institution. Langdon occasionally ribbed Peter that the lone tarnish on his sterling pedigree was his diploma from a second-rate university–Yale. Now, as Langdon entered his study, he was surprised to see that he had received a fax from Peter as well. Peter Solomon OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Good morning, Robert, I need to speak with you at once. Please call me this morning as soon as you can at 202-329- 5746. Peter Langdon immediately dialed the number, sitting down at his hand-carved oak desk to wait as the call went through. â€Å"Office of Peter Solomon,† the familiar voice of the assistant answered. â€Å"This is Anthony. May I help you?† â€Å"Hello, this is Robert Langdon. You left me a message earlier–â€Å" â€Å"Yes, Professor Langdon!† The young man sounded relieved. â€Å"Thank you for calling back so quickly. Mr. Solomon is eager to speak to you. Let me tell him you're on the line. May I put you on hold?† â€Å"Of course.† As Langdon waited for Solomon to get on the line, he gazed down at Peter's name atop the Smithsonian letterhead and had to smile. Not many slackers in the Solomon clan. Peter's ancestral tree burgeoned with the names of wealthy business magnates, influential politicians, and a number of distinguished scientists, some even fellows of London's Royal Society. Solomon's only living family member, his younger sister, Katherine, had apparently inherited the science gene, because she was now a leading figure in a new cutting-edge discipline called Noetic Science. All Greek to me, Langdon thought, amused to recall Katherine's unsuccessful attempt to explain Noetic Science to him at a party at her brother's home last year. Langdon had listened carefully and then replied, â€Å"Sounds more like magic than science.† Katherine winked playfully. â€Å"They're closer than you think, Robert.† Now Solomon's assistant returned to the phone. â€Å"I'm sorry, Mr. Solomon is trying to get off a conference call. Things are a little chaotic here this morning.† â€Å"That's not a problem. I can easily call back.† â€Å"Actually, he asked me to fill you in on his reason for contacting you, if you don't mind?† â€Å"Of course not.† The assistant inhaled deeply. â€Å"As you probably know, Professor, every year here in Washington, the board of the Smithsonian hosts a private gala to thank our most generous supporters. Many of the country's cultural elite attend.† Langdon knew his own bank account had too few zeros to qualify him as culturally elite, but he wondered if maybe Solomon was going to invite him to attend nonetheless. â€Å"This year, as is customary,† the assistant continued, â€Å"the dinner will be preceded by a keynote address. We've been lucky enough to secure the National Statuary Hall for that speech.† The best room in all of D.C., Langdon thought, recalling a political lecture he had once attended in the dramatic semicircular hall. It was hard to forget five hundred folding chairs splayed in a perfect arc, surrounded by thirty-eight life-size statues, in a room that had once served as the nation's original House of Representatives chamber. â€Å"The problem is this,† the man said. â€Å"Our speaker has fallen ill and has just informed us she will be unable to give the address.† He paused awkwardly. â€Å"This means we are desperate for a replacement speaker. And Mr. Solomon is hoping you would consider filling in.† Langdon did a double take. â€Å"Me?† This was not at all what he had expected. â€Å"I'm sure Peter could find a far better substitute.† â€Å"You're Mr. Solomon's first choice, Professor, and you're being much too modest. The institution's guests would be thrilled to hear from you, and Mr. Solomon thought you could give the same lecture you gave on Bookspan TV a few years back? That way, you wouldn't have to prepare a thing. He said your talk involved symbolism in the architecture of our nation's capital–it sounds absolutely perfect for the venue.† Langdon was not so sure. â€Å"If I recall, that lecture had more to do with the Masonic history of the building than–â€Å" â€Å"Exactly! As you know, Mr. Solomon is a Mason, as are many of his professional friends who will be in attendance. I'm sure they would love to hear you speak on the topic.† I admit it would be easy. Langdon had kept the lecture notes from every talk he'd ever given. â€Å"I suppose I could consider it. What date is the event?† The assistant cleared his throat, sounding suddenly uncomfortable. â€Å"Well, actually, sir, it's tonight.† Langdon laughed out loud. â€Å"Tonight?!† â€Å"That's why it's so hectic here this morning. The Smithsonian is in a deeply embarrassing predicament . . .† The assistant spoke more hurriedly now. â€Å"Mr. Solomon is ready to send a private jet to Boston for you. The flight is only an hour, and you would be back home before midnight. You're familiar with the private air terminal at Boston's Logan Airport?† â€Å"I am,† Langdon admitted reluctantly. No wonder Peter always gets his way. â€Å"Wonderful! Would you be willing to meet the jet there at say . . . five o'clock?† â€Å"You haven't left me much choice, have you?† Langdon chuckled. â€Å"I just want to make Mr. Solomon happy, sir.† Peter has that effect on people. Langdon considered it a long moment, seeing no way out. â€Å"All right. Tell him I can do it.† â€Å"Outstanding!† the assistant exclaimed, sounding deeply relieved. He gave Langdon the jet's tail number and various other information. When Langdon finally hung up, he wondered if Peter Solomon had ever been told no. Returning to his coffee preparation, Langdon scooped some additional beans into the grinder. A little extra caffeine this morning, he thought. It's going to be a long day.

Spirit Bound Chapter Twenty-Two

I DIDN'T TAKE THE GUY'S advice and tear off out of there, though I didn't exactly sit on the front step either. I lingered nearby in a cluster of cherry trees, figuring it would only be a matter of time before the assembly ended and people spilled out the doors. After several minutes passed and nothing happened, I flipped into Lissa's mind and discovered things were still in full force. Despite Tatiana declaring twice now that the session was over, people were still standing around and arguing in groups. Tasha was standing in one such group with Lissa and Adrian, making one of the impassioned speeches she was so good at. Tasha might not be as coldly calculating as Tatiana was when it came to political moves, but Tasha did have a keen sense of ripples in the system and recognized opportunities when they came. She was against the age-lowering decree. She was for teaching Moroi to fight. Neither of those was getting her very far, so she jumped on the next best thing: Lissa. â€Å"Why are we arguing among ourselves about how best to kill Strigoi when we can save them?† Tasha put one arm around Lissa and one around Adrian, drawing them both forward. Lissa still wore her serenely confident look, but Adrian looked ready to bolt if given half a chance. â€Å"Vasilisa–who, by the way, is indeed being denied her fair voice here, thanks to an archaic law–has shown that Strigoi can be brought back.† â€Å"That hasn't been proven,† exclaimed one man in the crowd. â€Å"Are you kidding?† asked a woman beside him. â€Å"My sister was with the group that brought him back. She says he's definitely a dhampir. He was even out in the sun!† Tasha nodded in approval at the woman. â€Å"I was there as well. And now we have two spirit users capable of doing this for other Strigoi.† As much as I respected Tasha, I wasn't entirely with her on this. The amount of power–not to mention effort involved in the staking–that Lissa had required with Dimitri had been staggering. It had even temporarily hurt the bond. That didn't mean she couldn't do it again. Nor did it mean she wouldn't want to again. She was just naively compassionate enough to throw herself into the line of fire to help others. But I knew the more power a spirit user wielded, the quicker they'd travel down the road to insanity. And Adrian†¦ well, he was almost a nonissue here. Even if he wanted to go staking Strigoi, he didn't have the kind of healing power it would take to restore one–at least not now. It's wasn't uncommon for Moroi to use their elements in different ways. Some fire users, like Christian, had skilled control of flame itself. Others could only use their magic to, say, warm the air in a room. Likewise, Lissa and Adrian had their strengths with spirit. His greatest healing triumph was mending a fracture, and she still couldn't walk dreams, no matter how much she practiced. So, really, Tasha had one spirit user capable of saving Strigoi, and that one could hardly transform legions of those monsters. Tasha did seem to recognize this a little. â€Å"The Council shouldn't be wasting time with age laws,† she continued. â€Å"We need to sink our resources into finding more spirit users and recruiting them to help save Strigoi.† She fixed her gaze on someone in the crowd. â€Å"Martin, didn't your brother get turned against his will? With enough work, we could bring him back to you. Alive. Just like you knew him. Otherwise, he's just going to get staked when guardians find him–and of course he'll be slaughtering innocents along the way.† Yeah, Tasha was good. She could paint a good image and nearly brought that Martin guy to tears. She didn't really mention people who'd turned Strigoi willingly. Lissa, still standing with her, wasn't sure how she felt about the idea of a Strigoi-saving spirit army, but she did recognize how this was all part of several other plans Tasha had–including one to get Lissa voting rights. Tasha played up Lissa's abilities and character, scoffing at what was clearly an outdated law from an era that never could have foreseen this situation. Tasha further pointed out that a full Council of twelve families would send a message to Strigoi everywhere about Moroi unity. I didn't want to hear any more. I'd let Tasha wield her political magic and talk more to Lissa later. I was still so agitated about what had happened when I'd yelled at the Council that I couldn't stand to see that room anymore. I left her mind and returned to my own, yelping when I saw a face right in front of mine. â€Å"Ambrose!† One of the best-looking dhampirs on the planet–after Dimitri, of course–flashed me a gleaming, movie-star smile. â€Å"You were so still, I thought maybe you were trying to be a dryad.† I blinked. â€Å"A what?† He gestured to the cherry trees. â€Å"Nature spirits. Beautiful women who become one with trees.† â€Å"I'm not sure if that was a compliment or not,† I said. â€Å"But it's good to see you again.† Ambrose was a true oddity in our culture: a male dhampir who had neither taken guardian vows nor run off to hide among humans. Female dhampirs often chose not to join the guardians in order to focus on raising families. That's why we were so rare. But men? They had no excuse, as far as most people were concerned. Rather than skulk off in disgrace, however, Ambrose had chosen to stay and simply work for the Moroi another way. He was essentially a servant–a high-class one who served drinks at elite parties and gave massages to royal women. He also, if rumors were true, served Tatiana in physical ways. That was so creepy, though, I promptly put it out of my mind. â€Å"You too,† he told me. â€Å"But if you aren't communing with nature, what are you doing?† â€Å"It's a long story. I kind of got thrown out of a Council meeting.† He looked impressed. â€Å"Literally thrown out?† â€Å"Dragged, I guess. I'm surprised I haven't seen you around,† I mused. â€Å"Of course, I've kind of been, um, distracted this last week.† â€Å"So I've heard,† he said, giving me a sympathetic look. â€Å"Although, I actually have been away. Just got back last night.† â€Å"Just in time for the fun,† I muttered. The guileless look on his face told me hadn't heard about the decree yet. â€Å"What are you doing now?† he asked. â€Å"This doesn't look like punishment. Did you finish your sentence?† â€Å"Something like that. I'm kind of waiting for someone now. Was just going to hang out in my room.† â€Å"Well, if you're killing time, why don't you come see Aunt Rhonda?† â€Å"Rhonda?† I scowled. â€Å"No offense, but your aunt didn't really impress me with her abilities last time.† â€Å"None taken,† he said cheerfully. â€Å"But she's been wondering about you. And Vasilisa. So, if you're just hanging around†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated. He was right that I had nothing better to do right now. I was stuck on options with both Dimitri and the Council's idiotic resolutions. Yet Rhonda–his fortune-telling Moroi aunt–wasn't someone I really wanted to see again. Despite my glib words, the truth was that in retrospect, some of Rhonda's predictions had come true. I just didn't like what they'd been. â€Å"Fine,† I said, trying to look bored. â€Å"Make it fast.† He smiled again, like he could see through my ruse, and led me off to a building I'd been to once before. It housed a luxurious salon and spa frequented by royal Moroi. Lissa and I had had our nails done there, and as Ambrose and I wound our way through it to Rhonda's lair, I felt a strange pang within me. Manicures and pedicures†¦ they seemed like the most trivial things in the world. But on that day, they'd been wonderful. Lissa and I had laughed and grown closer†¦ just before the school was attacked and everything fell apart†¦. Rhonda told fortunes in a back room that was far from the busy spa. Despite the seedy feel of it, she did a pretty brisk business and even had her own receptionist. Or, well, she used to. This time, the desk was empty, and Ambrose led me straight through to Rhonda's room. It looked exactly the same as before, like being inside a heart. Everything was red: the wallpaper, the decorations, and the cushions covering the floor. Rhonda herself sat on the floor, eating a cup of yogurt, which seemed terribly ordinary for someone who allegedly wielded mystical powers. Curly black hair cascaded around her shoulders, making the large gold hoops in her ears gleam. â€Å"Rose Hathaway,† she said happily, setting the yogurt aside. â€Å"What a nice surprise.† â€Å"Shouldn't you have seen me coming?† I asked dryly. Her lips twitched with amusement. â€Å"That's not my power.† â€Å"Sorry to interrupt your dinner,† Ambrose said, gracefully folding his muscled body as he sat down. â€Å"But Rose isn't easy to catch hold of.† â€Å"I imagine not,† she said. â€Å"I'm impressed you got her to come at all. What can I do for you today, Rose?† I shrugged and sank down beside Ambrose. â€Å"I don't know. I'm only here because Ambrose talked me into it.† â€Å"She didn't think your last reading was very good,† he said. â€Å"Hey!† I shot him a chastising look. â€Å"That's not exactly what I said.† Last time, Lissa and Dimitri had been with me. Rhonda's tarot cards had shown Lissa crowned with power and light–no surprise. Rhonda had said Dimitri would lose what he valued most, and he had: his soul. And me? Rhonda had bluntly told me that I'd kill the undead. I'd scoffed at that, knowing I had a lifetime of Strigoi-killing ahead of me. Now I wondered if â€Å"undead† meant the Strigoi part of Dimitri. Even if I hadn't driven the stake, I'd certainly played a major role. â€Å"Maybe another reading would help the other one make more sense?† she offered. My mind was putting together another fraud psychic joke, which was why it was so astonishing when my mouth said, â€Å"That's the problem. The other one did make sense. I'm afraid†¦ I'm afraid of what else the cards will show.† â€Å"The cards don't make the future,† she said gently. â€Å"If something's meant to be, it'll be, regardless of whether you see it here. And even then†¦ well, the future is always changing. If we had no choices, there'd be no point in living.† â€Å"See now,† I said flippantly, â€Å"that's the kind of vague gypsy response I was hoping for.† â€Å"Roma,† she corrected. â€Å"Not gypsy.† Despite my snark, she still seemed to be in a good mood. Easygoing attitudes must have run in their family. â€Å"Do you want the cards or not?† Did I? She was right about one thing–the future would unfold with or without me seeing it in the cards. And even if the cards showed it, I probably wouldn't understand it until afterward. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"Just for fun. I mean, last time was probably a lucky guess.† Rhonda rolled her eyes but said nothing as she began shuffling her tarot deck. She did it with such precision that the cards seemed to move themselves. When she finally stopped, she handed the deck to me to cut. I did, and she put it back together. â€Å"We did three cards before,† she said. â€Å"We've got time to do more if you'd like. Five, perhaps?† â€Å"The more there are, the more likely it is that anything can get explained.† â€Å"If you don't believe in them, then it shouldn't be an issue.† â€Å"Okay, then. Five.† She grew serious as she flipped out the cards, her eyes carefully studying them. Two of the cards had come out upside down. I didn't take that as a good sign. Last time, I'd learned that it made seemingly happy cards†¦ well, not so happy. The first one was one the Two of Cups, showing a man and a woman together in a grassy, flower-filled field while the sun shone above them. Naturally, it was upside down. â€Å"Cups are tied to emotions,† Rhonda explained. â€Å"The Two of Cups shows a union, a perfect love and blossoming of joyous emotions. But since it's inverted–â€Å" â€Å"You know what?† I interrupted. â€Å"I think I'm getting the hang of this. You can skip that one. I have a good idea what it means.† It might as well have been Dimitri and me on that card, the cup empty and full of heartache†¦. I really didn't want to hear Rhonda analyze what was already tearing my heart up. So she went on to the next one: the Queen of Swords, also upside down. â€Å"Cards like this refer to specific people,† Rhonda told me. The Queen of Swords looked very imperious, with auburn hair and silver robes. â€Å"The Queen of Swords is clever. She thrives on knowledge, can outwit her enemies, and is ambitious.† I sighed. â€Å"But upside down†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Upside down,† said Rhonda, â€Å"all of those traits get twisted. She's still smart, still trying to get her way†¦ but she's doing it through insincere ways. There's a lot of hostility and deception here. I'd say you have an enemy.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said, eyeing the crown. â€Å"I think I can guess who. I just called her a sanctimonious bitch.† Rhonda didn't comment and moved on to the next one. It was facing the right way, but I kind of wished it wasn't. It had a whole bunch of swords stuck in the ground and a woman tied and blindfolded to one. Eight of Swords. â€Å"Oh, come on,† I exclaimed. â€Å"What is it with me and swords? You gave me one this depressing last time.† It had shown a woman weeping in front of a wall of swords. â€Å"That was the Nine of Swords,† she agreed. â€Å"It could always be worse.† â€Å"I have a hard time believing that.† She picked up the rest of the deck and scanned through it, finally pulling out one card. The Ten of Swords. â€Å"You could have drawn this.† It showed a dead guy lying on the ground with a bunch of swords driven through him. â€Å"Point taken,† I said. Ambrose chuckled beside me. â€Å"What's the nine mean?† â€Å"The nine is being trapped. Unable to get out of a situation. It can also mean slander or accusation. Summoning courage to escape something.† I glanced back at the queen, thinking of the things I'd said in the Council room. Those would definitely count as accusations. And being trapped? Well, there was always the possibility of a lifetime of paperwork†¦ I sighed. â€Å"Okay, what's the next one?† It was the best-looking one in the bunch, the Six of Swords. It had a bunch of people in a boat, rowing off over moonlit water. â€Å"A journey,† she said. â€Å"I was just on a journey. A few of them.† I eyed her suspiciously. â€Å"Man, this isn't, like, some kind of a spiritual journey is it?† Ambrose laughed again. â€Å"Rose, I wish you'd get tarot readings every day.† Rhonda ignored him. â€Å"If it were in cups, maybe. But swords are tangible. Action. A true, out-and-about journey.† Where on earth would I go? Did it mean I was traveling to the Academy like Tatiana had suggested? Or was it possible that, in spite of all my rule breaking and calling her royal highness names, I might actually get an assignment after all? One away from Court? â€Å"You could be looking for something. It may be a physical journey combined with a spiritual journey,† she said, which sounded like a total way to cover her ass. â€Å"This last one†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her eyebrows knitted into a frown at the fifth card. â€Å"This is hidden from me.† I peered at it. â€Å"The Page of Cups. Seems pretty obvious. It's a page with, um, cups.† â€Å"Usually I have a clear vision†¦. The cards speak to me in how they connect. This one's not clear.† â€Å"The only thing that's not clear is whether it's a girl or a boy.† The person on the card looked young but had hair and an androgynous face that made the gender impossible to determine. The blue tights and tunic didn't help, though the sunny field in the background seemed promising. â€Å"It can be either,† Rhonda said. â€Å"It's the lowest in rank of the cards that represent people in each suit: King, Queen, Knight, and then Page. Whoever the page is, it's someone trustworthy and creative. Optimistic. It could mean someone who goes on the journey with you–or maybe the reason for your journey.† Whatever optimism or truth I'd had in the cards pretty much disappeared with that. Given that she'd just said about a hundred things it could be, I didn't really consider it authoritative. Usually, she noticed my skepticism, but her attention was still on the card as she frowned. â€Å"But I just can't tell†¦. There's a cloud around it. Why? It doesn't make sense.† Something about her confusion sent a chill down my spine. I always told myself this was fake, but if she'd been making it all up†¦ well, wouldn't she have made something up about the Page of Cups? She wasn't putting on a very convincing act if this last card was making her question herself. The thought that maybe there was some mystical force out there blocking her sobered up my cynical attitude. With a sigh, she looked up at last. â€Å"Sorry that's all I can tell you. Did the rest help?† I scanned the cards. Heartache. An enemy. Accusations. Entrapment. Travel. â€Å"Some of it tells me things I already know. The rest leaves me with more questions.† She smiled knowingly. â€Å"That's how it usually is.† I thanked her for the reading, secretly glad I didn't have to pay for it. Ambrose walked me out, and I tried to shake off the mood Rhonda's fortune had left me in. I had enough problems in my life without letting a bunch of stupid cards bother me. â€Å"You going to be okay?† he asked when we finally emerged. The sun was climbing higher. The Royal Court would be going to bed soon, ending what had been a turbulent day. â€Å"I†¦ I wouldn't have brought you if I'd known how much it would upset you.† â€Å"No, no,† I said. â€Å"It's not the cards. Not exactly. There's a bunch of other things going on†¦ one you should probably know about.† I hadn't wanted to bring up the decree when we'd first run into each other, but as a dhampir, he had a right to hear about what had happened. His face was perfectly still as I spoke, save for his dark brown eyes, which grew wider while the story progressed. â€Å"There's some mistake,† he said at last. â€Å"They wouldn't do that. They wouldn't do that to sixteen-year-olds.† â€Å"Yeah, well, I didn't think so either, but they were apparently serious enough about it to throw me out when I, um, questioned it.† â€Å"I can just imagine your ‘questioning.' All this'll do is make more dhampirs drop out of the guardians†¦ unless, of course, being that young makes them more open for brainwashing.† â€Å"Kind of a sensitive area for you, huh?† I asked. After all, he too was a guardian drop-out. He shook his head. â€Å"Staying in this society was nearly impossible for me. If any of those kids do decide to drop out, they won't have the powerful friends I did. They'll be outcasts. That's all this'll do. Either kill off teens or cut them off from their own people.† I wondered what powerful friends he'd had, but this was hardly the time to learn his life history. â€Å"Well, that royal bitch doesn't seem to care.† The thoughtful, distracted look in his eyes suddenly sharpened. â€Å"Don't call her that,† he warned with a glare. â€Å"This isn't her fault.† Whoa. Cue surprise. I'd almost never seen sexy, charismatic Ambrose be anything but friendly. â€Å"Of course it's her fault! She's the supreme ruler of the Moroi, remember?† His scowl deepened. â€Å"The Council voted too. Not her alone.† â€Å"Yeah, but she voted in support of this decree. She swayed the vote.† â€Å"There must have been a reason. You don't know her like I do. She wouldn't want this kind of thing.† I started to ask if he was out of his mind but paused when I remembered his relationship with the queen. Those romantic rumors made me queasy, but if they were true, I supposed he might have legitimate concern for her. I also decided it was probably best that I didn't know her the way he did. The bite marks on his neck certainly indicated some sort of intimate activity. â€Å"Whatever's going on between you is your business,† I told him calmly, â€Å"but she's used it to trick you into thinking she's someone she isn't. She did it to me too, and I fell for it. It's all a scam.† â€Å"I don't believe it,† he said, still stone-faced. â€Å"As queen, she's put into all sorts of tough situations. There must be more to it–she'll change the decree, I'm certain of it.† â€Å"As queen,† I said, imitating his tone, â€Å"she should have the ability to–â€Å" My words fell off as a voice spoke in my head. Lissa's. Rose, you're going to want to see this. But you have to promise not to cause any trouble. Lissa flashed a location to me, along with a sense of urgency. Ambrose's hard look shifted to one of concern. â€Å"Are you okay?† â€Å"I–yeah. Lissa needs me.† I sighed. â€Å"Look, I don't want us to fight, okay? Obviously we've each got different views of the situation†¦ but I think we both agree on the same key point.† â€Å"That kids shouldn't be sent off to die? Yeah, we can agree on that.† We smiled tentatively at each other, and the anger between us diffused. â€Å"I'll talk to her, Rose. I'll find out the real story and let you know, okay?† â€Å"Okay.† I had a hard time believing anyone could really have a heart-to-heart with Tatiana, but again, there might be more to their relationship than I realized. â€Å"Thanks. It was good seeing you.† â€Å"You too. Now go–go to Lissa.† I needed no further urging. Along with the sense of urgency, Lissa had passed one other message through the bond that sent my feet flying: It's about Dimitri.

Are immigrants needed to provide low-wage workers in the U.S. to Essay

Are immigrants needed to provide low-wage workers in the U.S. to compete with workers in other regions of the world Do immigran - Essay Example This is not to say that these immigrants provide better quality jobs than the natives of the country as the reverse is usually the case. It could then be concluded in this regard that, the low-wage working immigrants in the US are not needed to compete with workers in other regions of the world but to meet up with the high demand of work in the country at a lower rate (Holzer, 2011). Immigrants take on low-paying work that people in the US do not want to do and the reasons for these are not far-fetched. Due to the need to make ends meet and the desire of the immigrants to get to do something during their sojourn in the US; they take any offer that comes their way (Holzer, 2011). This means that the immigrants are ready to take any offer that comes their way. Thus, the immigrants are satisfied taking the low-paying work as long as it would guarantee their survival in the country and make them more comfortable than the way they were in their native countries. It could then be said that the immigrants are ready and willing to take up low-paying jobs that the people in the US would never be willing to do.

Business Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Business Management - Essay Example In order to increase the volume for offerings in the business flooring, the company should consider exploration of possible efficient promotional activities. Market leadership after all is concerned about creating a need for certain product and service offerings (Kotler et al., 1999; Boone and Kurtz, 2006).Considering that the mentioned company in the case is placing higher mark up with its paint business, it is good to start the promotional activity in here in order to create more demands for both flooring and paint offerings. In this specific situation, the company should initiate a strategy such as when the customers purchased higher volume of flooring materials, the prices of paint should be lowered utilizing its higher mark up. This would ensure that the sales of paints would increase and thus its profit while increasing the disposed volume for flooring materials. This is just a matter of creating a need for product or service offerings, which is a form of market leadership. Another important factor is internal which primarily considers the human resource. Control of manpower is important because it ensures corporate success especially high value for customers at the bottom line (Moeller, 2010). As stated in the case, the management and installers usually have conflict when it comes to payment which ends up with customer delays and shoddy works. This is not going to be healthy for the said company in the long run, most especially in building customer relationship. This could not substantially provide them with effective output in providing high value for customers and in the long run this would further result to lower revenue and eventually a slow down of business. The issue in here is not just about financial control, but it substantially involves the right approach to be initiated with effective handling of human resource. The human resource needs to be substantially controlled because it affects how the

The Presidency of The United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Presidency of The United States - Essay Example The Commander-in-chief of the US military forces is responsible for deploying, supervising and increasing the number of America’s defense forces (White House Correspondent, 2012). The other roles that President Obama has for formulating policies and obtaining his goals include negotiating treaties with other foreign dignitaries acting as the chief of state in presenting medals to military heroes and hosting formal dinners for foreign leaders to further economic and global security relationships. He is the chief diplomat who appoints competent leaders as Ambassadors to the United Nations (UN). The UN Ambassador works under the guidance and supervision of the US, and acting as a source of influence to the rest of the world. Obama travels to foreign nations to create trade relationships, and affirm the US ideologically concerning foreign affairs (White House Correspondent, 2012). ... In his leadership, President Obama has encountered hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, Japan’s and Haiti’s devastating earthquake, inflation in oil prices and a nuclear threat from Iran, and the aftermath of Japan’s earthquake. In all these devastations, Obama has made sound decisions for the greater good of humanity. During and after the great recession that began after the real estate boom in 2008, President Obama worked hard with his economic and political advisors to improve the living standards of American consumers as well as those of the rest of the essential economies that were greatly affected. He improved financial markets, passed healthcare reforms to benefit even the low income earners and proposed a tax and economic reform to increase employment, increase total revenue and improve the living standards of the US consumers.ii President Obama’s leadership style positively affects how he governs the US. During the economic crisis, many US consumers w ere in panic-mode because of home foreclosures, rise of unemployment rates and mass layoffs. Obama’s calm and assertive leadership style encouraged many Americans to hope and strive for the best in their lives because measures were being taken to improve the economy that was spiraling. President Obama avoided making hasty decisions that would put the US primacy and global economy in jeopardy. The Federal Reserve issued loans to the government to provide temporary money infusions that would jump-start the economy. People with bad credit history were given loans to repay debts such as home mortgages and credit card debts. The adjustment interest rate was lowered for debtors to repay their loans within the time stipulated when their incomes were increased. Current Economy Situation

Government Rights in Homes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Government Rights in Homes - Essay Example Yet, what goes on behind closed doors does affect everyone. Today's world of globalization, mass media, communications, and transportation has bound the public more tightly as a social unit. The private lives of citizens have such a great affect on society as a whole that the government has a right to know what goes on in peoples' homes. It is the obligation of society to prevent children from being exploited, abused, or exposed to drugs, pornography, and firearms in peoples' private homes. These children will grow into adults and become a part of mainstream society. In addition to the duty that society has to the children to protect them, it is also self-serves society and protects it against future aberrations. A recent case at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in San Angelo Texas has sparked a controversy over excessive government intrusion when authorities took over 400 children into state custody due to suspected child abuse. Judge Walther, who presided over the case made it clear that, "her decision was preliminary and that "a safe environment" for the children was paramount, now and in the future" (Johnson & Dougherty, 2008). The government was taking responsible action to assure that the children were being shielded from harm. The government was simply exercising its obligation to the children. A judicial system that works protects people from an over invasive government's right to know what goes on in private homes. The government's right has not eliminated our nation's treasured individual liberty. In fact, that liberty and freedom only extends to the point we do no harm to others or society. When it is judged that the person is obeying the law, or at least doing no harm, the case runs its course through our deliberate system of law. Recently the 460 children were returned to the Yearning for Zion Ranch but, "The judge in the case also imposed a lengthy list of caveats pending the conclusion of the investigation, including surprise home visits by caseworkers, possible psychiatric evaluations of the children and a ban on travel outside Texas" (Johnson & Kovach, 2008). This is not the rule of a government gone astray. This is a judicial system that is cautiously protecting the rights of the children and society's best interests. For decades and centuries critics have been warning the public that we are vulnerable to too much control by the intrusion of the government into our private homes. George Orwell's book 1984 is the archetypical fear that people have of the government's right to examine our private lives. Orwell describes life in 1984 and says, "There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork" (p.3). The book was written over 50 years ago, the year 1984 has come and gone, and we still do not have the Thought Police. We have a conscientious society that is dedicated to protecting the lives of children and serving the functional needs of society. The fears that Americans will over-react, or the government will over-respond, are baseless and have not proved to be the case. In conclusion, the government not only has a right to know what goes on in peoples' homes, they have an obligation to find out. The lives of children are at stake and it is in the beat interest of society to protect this vulnerable segment of our society. After all, these

Current Presidential Candidates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Current Presidential Candidates - Essay Example Due to the significance of the presidency as defined by the constitution and the history of the United States, presidential elections have been one of the most significant process and event in the nation. Presidential candidates have been working very hard to ascend to the office of the president. Since the country’s electoral process operates within the democratic tenets, presidential candidates are required to campaign in ways that promote constitutionalism and democracy (McClelland 44). Mainly, the campaigns revolve around the individual candidate’s own political vision for America; party affiliation; political ideology; religious affiliation, and the general personal life and history. This is an election year and currently there are five presidential candidates: Barrack Obama, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum. This paper will focus on Barrack Obama, the incumbent President and who is seeking re-election to the office of the president in this y ear’s elections. He was born on August 4, 1961 in Hawaii to a white American mother and a black Kenyan father. He attended Columbia University and later on Harvard Law School where he became the Harvard Law Review’s first African-American editor (Mendell 31). Prior to pursuing a political career, Obama was a civil rights lawyer mostly representing employment discrimination and housing victims, as well as working on rights of voting legislation. Besides, he taught at the University of Chicago Law School. He is married to Michelle and has two children. He is a Christian. In regard to his party affiliation, he is affiliated to Democratic Party and was elected to the United States Senate as a Democrat, representing Illinois. After only four years experience of national experience, he ran for presidency in 2008 and won. He was sworn in January 2009 as the United States’ 44th President. He holds liberal political ideology and articulates and pushes for policies from t he liberalist perspectives. While party affiliation and political ideology will play critical role in determining how people vote for Obama, his track record over the last four years of his presidency will also be a determining factor (McClelland 56-57). Barrack Obama has had quite a remarkable political career as evidenced by his political history. He started his political career as a state senator of Illinois from 1997 to 2004 (Dave 67). Chicago political circles knew him as using hard political tactics. During his stint as a state senator he is credited for being instrumental in passage of several bills and reforms such as reformation of campaign finance, elimination of racial profiling, and allocation of tax credits for the poor. In 2004, he was elected to the Congress as the United States Senator for Illinois. During his stint as a Senator, he served in several Senate Committees. His keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston was well-received and this enabl ed him to gain national attention and is touted as one of the springboards that propelled him to presidency in 2008 (Remnick 82). His mannerism has been useful in his leadership and as a presidential candidate. So, what are the factors behind Obama’

Business Continuity Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Continuity Plan - Essay Example In particular, each of the systems must be evaluated and placed in one of the two categories of risk, as described below: The systems must be based on an assessment of the loss and how it will hit the various departments using it and how it will be in costs of that loss and to recover the data. See the IT Departmental Team Plan on more in depth information on the risks and how best to assess them at senior management level. Stated by MIT (1995). It consists of senior managers from each main department that useing the applications identified above; their role is to ensure the personnel can function during a critical outage, in particular that there is a recovery plan to cover Critical and Emergency states. To this end there must be an alternative system in place, which is up and running at all times. To be in charge of the BTC is the Director of Security who will have the final decision making controls for the team. To report to the Business Continuity Team (BTC), within two hours once access is allowed to the company premises, any application that has been compromised during the outage or attack, then give any advice to the BTC about the best way forward if there is a problem with hardware or for users. Hardware procedures are in the "Maintenance Handbook" maintained by the Facilities department and cover as many eventualities as can be covered. It will be the first set of procedures covered especially if there is a difference in the stated objectives between the BTC and the handbook. IT and facilities are then responsible for putting the recovery into motion. Stated by MIT (1995). Technical equipment such as servers and routers must be locked in cabinets in a locked technical room. Ensure their are ports disabled if not required and working ports are have encrypted passwords strong enough not to be broken. Access is by staff with proper security clearance given by the Security Directors office only. Any contractor

Interracial Relations and Sex and Marriage Essay

Interracial Relations and Sex and Marriage - Essay Example These Western societies include the apartheid South Africa, the Nazi Germany, a number of states in the United States before the 1967 Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriages. Interracial relations have also been controversial in the Islamic/Arab world in which some Muslim laws and customs ban or restrict sexual and marriage relationships with non-Muslims/Arabs or non-natives of a woman’s ancestral home. In these societies, more so in patriarchal cultures, interracial relations are discouraged to ensure that future generations are brought up as Arabs and Muslims. In worse scenarios, women found to be breaching such laws and customs are subjected to cruel punishments, which could even be death in places where strict Islamic law is followed. In fact, in Arab states of Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan and the Palestinian Authority, there have been reports of violence against women who have married from other races, ethnic groups, or foreign countries. These harsh laws are applied under the pretext that such an individual has committed adultery and the judicial systems of these countries condone such cruelty towards women and men who embrace interracial relations. This paper explores the issue of interracial relations with reference to the movies â€Å"guess who is coming for dinner† and the novel â€Å"hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet† by Jamie Ford. Interracial Relations-Sex, and Marriages Fortunately for the multiracial United States of America, interracial relations such as cohabitation, sexual, or marriage have been fully legalized since the Supreme Court decision of 1967, which declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional. Nonetheless, most states of the U.S had legalized interracial relations earlier than 1967. This Supreme Court decision was particularly important for the U.S citizenry due to the fact that the country has rather many ethnic and racial groups, which make inter racial sexual and marriage relations rather common among its citizens. In spite of them being legalized, interracial relations continue to face several challenges, which result in quite a number of complications or barriers that same-race/culture marriages do not face (Smith & Hattery 68). These factors, mostly external, often create conflicts and disagreement in such relationships. For example, the fact that different races have diverse ethical values, customs, and beliefs implies that if people of different races marry, these values and customs may cause conflicts by influencing their perceptions of issues such as lifestyle and family values. Thus, there are bound to be problems and disagreements in such interracial relations (Poitier 124). On a rather positive note, not all interracial marriages have intercultural complications and challenges since there are situations in which people of different races may have the same or almost similar cultures so that little or not custom or value conflicts are encountered in such marriages. For example, in the United States, a couple could be of different races but have intermingled extensively for long periods so that they have similar cultural perspectives on life. The acceptance of the community, family, and the lifestyle of the other partner is among the

Poverty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Poverty - Research Paper Example The global poverty empirical analysis is far from reaching a consensus on remedies and causes of poverty. Nevertheless, as a consequence, philosophers are extremely divided with regard to who might be held responsible for poverty (individuals or groups). Humanity has been privileged to solve various problems such as finding cure for the insidious illnesses and extracting energy from diverse sources. However, they are unable or unwilling to find solutions to the greatest problem (poverty). The termination of the 20th century was characterized by a commitment by several countries to eradicate poverty. The same period was marked by success in the achievement of price stability. Credit was given to the Central Bank as a result of its adoption of new technologies in the conduction of monetary policies. Currently, some central banks have adopted inflation targeting. With this strategy at hand, the rate of interest is the principal tool used by the central banks in their endeavor to impleme nt monetary policy (Helder & Jose, 2007). Impact of Poverty on the Society The impacts of poverty are closely related, so that a single problem seldom occurs on its own. For example, poor sanitation triggers new and old diseases, whilst lack of adequate water and hunger make people continue living in poverty. Communities and societies that are impoverished mostly suffer from discrimination. As a result, they are prawn to poverty cycles. It results in lifelong troubles and handicaps that are transferred from generation to generation – for instance, lack of school education, lack of basic hygiene, and disease transmission (Jones, 2003). Poverty results in extremely low incomes and unemployment – for example, creates the environment where children cannot simply attend school. For those individuals who have the privilege of attending school, they don’t perceive how their hard work can improve their lives. This is because their parents do not improve on their everyda y tasks despite their efforts. Sociological readings have also proved that the impacts of poverty are always transferred from generation to generation. Routine, family values, and living standards leave a minute room for an individual to develop. The enduring need to provide for shelter and food has made individuals to forget other duties such as providing their children with satisfactory life through education. The impacts of poverty are similar, as they do not satisfy an individual need satisfactorily. People living in poverty are often unwell and emaciated, and due to this their lives become shorter. The normal impacts of poverty are lack of opportunities, physical and mental aliments, addiction and drug abuse, increased rates of crime, woman and child abuse, homelessness, education deprivation, and debt pressures. Economic Policy Solution to the Problem To find solutions to poverty, individuals should come up with a strategy that aids those people who are poor for purposes of ge tting them out of poverty and eliminating conditions that enable them to remain in poverty. The policy and strategies should take into consideration the holistic assessment of issues that contribute to an individual wellbeing, such as health care and financial services. Global poverty is the most challenging problem that can be addressed by organizational scholarships. A variety of issues related to poverty have been discussed at the World Economic

Trade Practices Essay Example for Free

Trade Practices Essay On the material date of 19th December 1997, the Australian Rugby League (ARL) disclosed its intention to enter into partnership with News Ltd to run rugby league that unites their respective leagues on condition that the conglomeration of teams under the ARL news would be reduced to fourteen teams. As a result, souths, which was excluded from participating in the National Rugby league in the year 2000 brought a claim on grounds that the action taken by ARL, News, NRLI and NRL was unlawful as it contravened the provisions of section 45 as read with section 52 of the Trade Practices Act (1974). These provision stipulate the general rules. In section 52 corporations are not entitled in the course of transacting in trade to engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive.   In echoing this principle, section 45 prohibits the making of contract arrangements that are discriminatory on the basis that they exclude certain persons or corporations. Issues in Question Whether ARL and News were competitive partners at the time they entered into the contract and made exclusionary provisions. Whether the inclusion of the 14-team term was to the effect of restricting, limiting and/or preventing trade. Whether the victim was a specific person or class of persons. It was established in both courts that the souths fell under the description of particular persons under section 4D Tests used to resolve the case ARL and News were not competitive partners at the time of establishing the 14 team term as they had merged to form National Rugby League therefore section 45 and 4D did not apply Souths had failed to establish the respondent’s intention to prevent or restrict their trade, as the 14- team was part of a selection process due to their successful performance. Holding: Partners who are competitors and enter into a contract that intends to provide less services or goods would have contravened section 45 at the time the exclusion is made Reference South Sydney District, Rugby Football Club Ltd V. News Ltd (2002) Appeal Case

Emily Dickinsons Success is Counted Sweetest Essay Example for Free

Emily Dickinsons Success is Counted Sweetest Essay Emily Dickinsons Success is Counted Sweetest has been penned in iambic trimeter with the exception of the first two lines of the second stanza. The poem highlights aphoristic truths that are universal. In the first stanza, Emily Dickinson endeavors to define the true essence of success. The general impression is that success can be counted by only those who have experienced it numerous times. Nevertheless, it is more precisely evaluated or counted by those who have never succeeded as they can apprehend its true value. In another poem, I Had Been Hungry, All the Years, Emily Dickinson writes that Hunger-was a way / Of Persons outside Windows- / The Entering-takes away-. For the true experience of life, failures are inevitable. For, what we learn from our failures, success can never teach us. The alliteration with the repetition of the s sound lays emphasis on success. Success also tastes sweeter to the person who has persevered very hard for it, than to a person who has found success effortlessly. The former is also more thankful to God, and cherishes his accomplishment. The word nectar here implies water. However, it is perception that renders it nectar. To the thirsty ones with parched throats, a drop of water tastes as sweet as nectar. Here sorest is utilized with reference to its old meaning ,that is greatest.Only the one in the direst need, can treasure any sort of sanction. Not one of all the purple host Who took the flag to-day Can tell the definition, So clear, of victory! Some people define success by virtue of positions that they acquire and assume in life. The poetess asserts how none of the purple leaders who took the flag to-day could describe what victory actually meant. The act of victory in such a stance of winning a battle is limited to the act of taking away a flag. It also points to the worldly act of hoisting a flag. Arundhati Roy in The End of Imagination toys with the word successful.She echoes how the meaning of the word successful depends upon perception. For instance,a soldier who dies at war is deemed by others to be unsuccessful.Roy points out that it does not necassarily mean that the soldier is in any way unfulfilled. The poetess highlights the word to-day to underline the presentness and transiency of the situation. Purple is the colour of royalty because the fine clothes/robes of kings and emperors were dyed purple; and also connotes blood. It was the trend that dynasties ruled over some countries .Being born to a royal family, one could never realize how difficult it was to achieve that position as it naturally came to them as a heirloom .Shakespeare said: Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon em. (Twelfth Night Quote Act ii. Scene 5.)Of these,only those who achieve it comprehend its worth according to Dickinson. As he, defeated, dying, On whose forbidden ear The distant strains of triumph Burst agonized and clear! In the above lines, the poetess exemplifies the frenzy of success, that one loses consciousness in. He loses the ability to evaluate himself objectively. In such a context, the person who loses the battle and is dying can perceive it better. The dying mans ears are not forbidden. The figure of speech utilized here is a transferred epithet .Rather what is forbidden to his ears is the sound of success, as he belonged to the defeated side. He is successful in that he can realize the futility of war, and the meaningless of success as the speaker in Wilfred Owens Strange Meeting does. The word strain in strains of triumphs may be used as a pun in the above phrase. Here,the victory may also be strained. The idea of distance and defeat is suggested by the alliteration of the d sound. Moreover, the one who is caught in the noise and fury of success cannot ,in fact hear its sound. The one who serenely lies away can perceive it better. It does not manifest itself subtly, but does Burst agonized and clear! Rukhaya, M. (2012, October 07). Poetry analysis: Emily dickinsons success is counted sweetest. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/poetry-analysis-emily-dickinsons-success-counted-

Infections in Hb SD Disease

Infections in Hb SD Disease Case Report HBSD Disease, a compound heterozygote condition presentation with stroke Dr. Hasnain Afzal 1 Dr. Syed Farrukh Umair 2 Abstract Haemoglobin SD ÃŽ ²S/ÃŽ ²D is a rare compound heterozygous Haemoglobinopathy which presents as severe disease similar to homozygous sickle cell anemia(1). The patient being reported is a 8 yr old girl, Kiran who is a resident of Larkana, presented with complains of fever and headache for 15 days which progressed to generalized tonic clonic seizures and acute loss of consciousness while being treated in Larkana. After the child was stabilized, a thorough history, physical examination was done; initial laboratory tests, lumbar puncture, and MRI were performed. Treatment was started on the lines of acute meningoencephalitis on clinical suspicion. On peripheral blood film, sickle shaped cells, target cells, poikilocytosis, anisocytosis were noted and Hb Electrophoresis was sent which showed compound heterozygous state for Hb S/ Hb D. The lumbar puncture was negative for CSF infection and an alternate diagnosis was sought Introduction The adult hemoglobin HbA molecule consists of two ÃŽ ± chains coded by 4 genes on chromosome 16 and two beta chains coded by 2 genes in the ÃŽ ² gene cluster on chromosome 11(2). Sickle Hemoglobulin Hb S is a beta chain variant which occurs when valine is substituted for glutamic acid on the surface of the Hb S molecule in the sixth codon of the beta globin chain whereas the most common subtype of HbD i.e HbD Punjab also known as Haemoglobulin D Los Angeles (after the city where it was first discovered) is also a beta chain variant caused by a glutamic acid to glutamine substitution at codon 121 of the beta globin gene. HbS is associated with a number of compound heterozygous syndromes with other mutant beta globin which include Hemoglobin SC disease, Sickle beta+thalassemia, Sickle beta0thalassemia, Sickle alpha thalassemia, Sickle hereditary persistence of HbF (sickle HPFH), Other less common sickle cell syndrome variants (eg, delta beta0thalassemia, Hb Lepore, HbD, HbO Arab, HbE). HbSD presents as mild to moderate hemolytic anemia unlike HbD homogyzous and simple hetrozygotes which are usually asymptomatic.(3) Discussion A study done on abnormal hemoglobin variants among the major ethnic groups of Karachi in 2002 showed that 60% had iron-deficiency anemia and 40% had hemolytic anemia, of which 20.6 % was due to thalassemia major, 13% thalassemia trait, 5.1% sickle cell disease, 0.76% hemoglobin D Punjab (HbD Punjab), 0.32% hemoglobin C (HbC), and 0.22% hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) (4).Hb S is the most common Hb variant, its clinical outcome is severe in homozygous or when associated with other hemoglobinopathies, such as beta-thalassemia, Hb C or Hb D. (5). A number of studies have been done on Hb S and Hb C but Hb D is still poorly studied especially in Pakistan. Hemoglobin D has several varients such as HbD Punjab (Los Angeles), Hb D Iran, Hb D Ibadan and Hb D Bushman but the most common variant is HbD-Los Angeles (also called HbD-Punjab). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be used to separate hemoglobin polypeptide chains in the laboratory. High performance liqu id chromatography (HPLC) employs ion exchange method to identify and exchange various fractions of Hb.Hb D can be also distinguished from Hb S by acid electrophoresis or isoelectric focusing (IEF) (separation according to isoelectric points). On alkali electrophoresis (cellulose acetate) Hb D Punjab migrates slower than Hb A which is similar to HbS but its migration under acid electrophoresis (agarose gel) is similar to Hb A (6) In HbSD disease, HbD does not take part in the sickling process, as patients homozygous for HbD do not sickle but mild hemolytic anemia, mild to moderate splenomegaly may occur (7,8). Studies has indicated that although HbD itself does not polymerize, it increases the hydrophobic interaction between Hb S molecules and facilitates the polymerization of HbS thus enhancing the severity of the disease. (9) HbD heterozygotes with normal HbA have no clinical or hematologic alterations. (6) Table 1.1: Hb Electrophoresis : Test Done on high performance liquid chroma tography (HPLC) Haemoglobin Test Percentage Normal Percentage Haemoglobin A 20.7% (98-100) Haemoglobin A2 2.6% (1.5-3.5) Haemoglobin F 13% (1-2) Haemoglobin D 37.9% (0.0-0.0) Haemoglobin S 25.8% (0.0-0.0) Interpretation A+F+D+S+A2 Case Report 8 yr old, 16 kg, Kiran resident of Larkana district, presented to us on 7th April, 2015 with acute loss of consciousness and recurrent episodes of seizures for 3 days. Patient’s father reported that she was in a usual state of health 15 days back when she developed high grade intermittent fever and constant severe headache associated nausea, vomiting and neck stiffness. She was taken to a primary care hospital in Larkana and treated on the lines of viral/bacterial meningoencephalitis. During her hospital stay in Larkana she developed recurrent episodes of generalized tonic clonic seizures which were controlled by multiple antiepileptic agents. First Lumbar pucture was done on 31ST March, 2015 and CSF DR showed 21mg/dl Protein, 68 mg/dl Glucose, CSF TLC 17 and 2-3 RBC/HPF. CT was done on 31st March, 2015 showed generalized brain edema. Upon arrival in ICU Patel Hospital the patient was in a comatose condition with GCS 5/10, bilateral upgoing planters and flexor response to pain (decorticate) Patient was febrile 103F, other vitals were BP 130/90, Pulse 100, RR 28. After the child was stabilized, a thorough history, physical examination was done; initial laboratory tests, lumbar puncture, and MRI were performed. CBC showed normocytic anemia and peripheral film showed target cells, sickle cells, anisocystosis, poikilocytosis, polychromasia diamorphic picture. Hb Electrophoresis was sent on hematologist advice. Patient was started on mannitol to decrease intracranial pressure and multiple antiepileptic agents for seizure prevention. ATT, bacterial and viral meningitis cover was given and CSF DR was sent on 9th April, 2015 which showed 27 mg/dl Protein, 71 mg/dl Glucose, Chloride 123 mg/dl, TLC 04 and 17 RBC/HPF. CSF fluid gram stain, culture were initially negative. AFB Culture report to follow in 6 weeks. MRI done on 8th April, 2015 showed widespread abnormal signal intensity area involving bilateral frontal and parietal lobes. Few focal hyperintense signals were identified on bilateral occipital region which may represent areas of ischemic infarction. An alternate diagnosis such as cerebral ischemia due to small infarcts/ vasculitis involving bilateral frontal and parietal lobes was sought secondary to Hb SD disease. Patient had significant improvement in GCS 10/15 with spontaneous eye opening, withdrawal on pain and few incomprehensible sounds and was shifted out of the ICU due to financial constraints. Graph 1.1 High Performance Liquid Chromatography Conclusion The case demonstrates increase susceptibility to infections in Hb SD disease. Studies are seldom on Hb D in Pakistan. Genetic counceling is of pivotal role in hereditary hemoglobinopathies and hospitals should consider it as an important management strategy and employ in hospital genetic counceling facilities. Hydroxyurea used to increase Hb F levels in Homozygous Sickle Cell Disease Hb SS disease has shown efficacy by reducing the complications, frequency of transfusions and hospitalization but its role in Hb SD Punjab is not well established. A recent study in India showed reduction in incidence of vaso-occlution and frequency blood transfusions in Hb SD Punjab disease which is encouraging and more studies should be done on the management of Hb SC compound heterozygous disease. (10) References Rahimah A, Syahira Lazira O, Siti Hida HM, Faidatul Syazlin AH, Nur Aisyah A, Nik Hafidzah NM, Zubaidah Z. Haemoglobin sickle d punjab: a case report. Med J Malaysia. 2014 Feb;69(1):42-3. Birol G, Abdullah C, Cagatay U4, Sule MY, Ferda TT, Sevcan TB. ÃŽ ²-Globin chain abnormalities with coexisting ÃŽ ±-thalassemia mutations. Arch Med Sci 2012; 8, 4: 644-649. El-Kalla S, Mathews A R. HbD Punjab in the United Arab Emirates. Hemoglobin 1997;21:369-75. Ghani R,Manji MA,Ahmed N. Hemoglobinopathies among five major ethnic groups in Karachi, Pakistan. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health.2002 Dec;33(4):855-61. Thom CS, Dickson CF, Gell DA, Weiss MJ. Hemoglobin variants: biochemical properties and clinical correlates. ColdSpring Harb Perspect Med. 2013;3(3):a011858.4. Torres Lde S,Okumura JV,Silva DG,Bonini-Domingos CR. Hemoglobin D-Punjab:origin,distributionand laboratory diagnosis. Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter.2015 Mar-Apr;37(2):120-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bjhh.2015.02.007. Epub 2015 Feb 23. Adekile A, Muah-AlI A, Akar NA. Does elevated hemoglobin Fmodulate the phenotype in Hb SD-Los Angeles? ActaHaematol. 2010;123(3):135–9. Taghavi Basmanj M, Karimipoor M, Amirian A, Jafarinejad M,Katouzian L, Valaei A, et al. Co-inheritance of hemoglobin D and thalassemia traits in three families: clinical relevance.Arch Iran Med. 2011;14(1):61–3. Winford CW, John NL. Wintrobes Clinical Hematology, 11th edn. Philadephia; 2004. pp. 1347-81. Patel S, Purohit P, Ranjeet SM, Dehury S, Meher S, Sahoo S,et al. The effect of hydroxyurea on compound heterozygotesfor sickle cell-hemoglobin D-Punjab—a single centreexperience in eastern India. Pediatr Blood Cancer.2014;61(8):1341–6.32.

Free Essays - All Quiet on the Western Front :: All Quiet on the Western Front Essays

All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front is one of the greatest war novels of all time. It is a story, not of Germans, but of men, who even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war. The entire purpose of this novel is to illustrate the vivid horror and raw nature of war and to change the popular belief that war is an idealistic and romantic character. The story centers on Paul Baümer, who enlists in the German army with glowing enthusiasm. But in the course of war, he is consumed by it and in the end is "weary, broken, burnt out, rootless, and without hope." Through Baümer, Remarque examines how war makes man inhuman. He uses excellent words and phrases to describe crucial details to this theme. "The first bomb, the first explosion, burst in our hearts." Baümer and his classmates who enlisted into the army see the true reality of the war. They enter the war fresh from school, knowing nothing except the environment of hopeful youth and they come to a premature maturity with the war, their only home. "We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces. We are not youth any longer." They have lost their innocents. Everything they are taught, "the world of work, duty, culture, and progress" are not the slightest use to them because the only thing they need to know is how to survive. They need to know how to escape the shells as well as the emotional and psychological torment of the war. The war takes an heavy toll on the soldiers who fight in it. The terror of death will infest the minds of soldiers and bring about horrible images of death and destruction until they break down and go to pieces. "Every hour and everyday, every shell and every death cuts this thin [line of sanity], and the years waste it rapidly." In these dangerous moments, anybody would have gone mad, have deserted their post, or have fallen. It takes a special kind of soldier to deal with this emotional abuse; a soldier who will not go to pieces at the sight of a mutilated body; it takes a soldier like Baümer. Baümer has "grown accustomed to it; war is the cause of death like influenza and dysentery.

Bible :: essays research papers

If the Bible is indeed the Word of God, perfect and without error, then the issue is settled. Homosexuality is a sin and we must condemn it's practice. However, if the Bible is the writings of men who were only capable of seeing dimly, as if in a mirror, the way Paul described it, then we have a long way to go before we settle the question. John's teaching concerning the third person of the trinity, God's Holy Spirit, has that person leading us into truth, and not a book...even if that book is called "the Holy Bible." I maintain that the conservative doctrine that the Bible is the express Word of God, perfect and without error, is a heresy. This doctrine is a heresy as the ancient Greeks used the word, a teaching or attitude which us used to cause divisiveness in the community. It is used by the conservatives to separate out those who do not accept a divinely inspired Bible, in the same manner as Jesus describes the shepherd separating out the sheep from the goats. It is also a heresy in the manner that the church uses the word, a false doctrine which might lead to the worship of a false God. It elevates the book into the status of God. If, as I believe, God is leading us to openly accept and affirm those with differing sexual orientations and gender identities that the "norm," the doctrine of an inerrant Bible must be destroyed. Not only must we object to this doctrine when we find it among the conservatives, the Fundamentalists, the Orthodox, the Pentecostal and the Charismatic, but we must also object to this doctrine when we find it in those Churches and believers which do support the claim of the gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgendered and transvestite, that God accepts them on equal status with the straight.

Why didn’t the Romans conquer crime? :: Classics

Why didn’t the Romans conquer crime? History Essay Why didn’t the Romans conquer crime? I am going to write an essay explaining all the factors of Roman life in the crime situation such as their laws and the punishments they gave for committing crimes. Also I will be examining their police force and their prison punishments. And I will finally be explaining the public side to all this and the criminal rates of being caught. To prove that Romans did try to stop crime I am going to look at this part of their life, as we know the first roman laws to be discovered were the twelve tables (written in Latin).All crime in Rome was dealt with by the emperor and the senate. The crimes would be written down in detail then often reorganized to cover all aspects of crime. When looking back on Rome's punishments you may think that they seem very strange but they were effective e.g. If you killed your father, you would get put in a sack with a real live snake, a dog and a cockerel and thrown into a river. If you left the army you would have people throwing rocks at you and be beaten really badly. You could be sent down to the mines where you wouldn't last long or you could get tied to a cross. You might be exiled and lose your Roman citizenship. When the accused was in court they might try to look sad or scruffy to make the jury sorry for them. Below is a small picture of what a roman court would have been set out like. I have found that in Rome there was no effective police force; however the emperor’s guard protected the emperor and stopped riots. The army acted as a police force in the provinces of the empire. The army was made up entirely of men as no women were allowed to join. The roman prisons were not used to punish criminals as they were there to hold people awaiting trial or prosecution. The wealthy were generally held in arrest at the home of a friend or family member who would guarantee their presence at the trial. Private prisons existed for slaves. As there was no police force in Rome people who had been robbed or taken the victim in the event of a crime then they would have to find their own evidence with the help of their friends and family and if

Irony in Antigone: King Creon Essay

In the tragedy Antigone, Sophocles pens a tale about a stalwart and distrustful king, Creon, and his misuse of the power he possesses. In the play he disregards the law of the gods to fit his whims, something that the heroine of the play, Antigone, wholeheartedly disagrees with; she disobeys his order to leave her dead brother, Polynices, unburied and sentences herself to death in the process. Antigone is engaged to Creon’s son, Haemon, who does not agree with his father’s actions in regard to the burial of Antigone’s traitorous brother. The disagreement between father and son leads to Haemon’s suicide; ironically, Creon thinks it is his life that will be taken and not his son’s. Creon and Haemon argue about Antigone’s impending fate; their disagreement on the subject prompts a threat from Haemon: â€Å"No. Don’t ever hope for that. She’ll not die with me just standing there. And as for you— your eyes will never see my face again. So let your rage charge on among your friends Who want to stand by you in this (870-875)  Haemon declares that Antigone will not die without reaction from himself; Creon will never see Haemon again because if Antigone is killed Haemon plans to join her in death: by his own hand. Haemon then says that Creon’s rage will force Haemon’s own hand to do something that Creon will regret. Creon does not understand that Haemon is threatening his own life; instead, he believes that his own life is being threatened, and his reactions to Haemon ’s words are lined with fear, ignorance, and irony. The irony of the situation is that Creon is so blinded by his own ego that he thinks his own life is in danger, when it is actually his son’s that is. Creon only realizes the error of his assumptions and actions after Haemon commits suicide. More irony arises with the death of Haemon; he has joined Antigone in death to have what Creon denied them while living: each other. At the close of the play Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice, Creon’s wife, have all committed suicide because of Creon’s actions. Creon is suspicious through the entire play; in the beginning he accuses Antigone and Ismene of plotting to steal his throne, saying: â€Å"You there—you snake lurking in my house, sucking out my life’s blood so secretly. I’d no idea I was nurturing two pests, who aimed to rise against my throne. Come here. (607-610)† These words are directed towards Ismene more so than Antigone because Creon already suspects her of wrongdoing. He is surprised to see Ismene lurking in the shadows as she eavesdrops on the judgment of Antigone; upon seeing Ismene, Creon is convinced that she has conspired with Antigone to steal his life and throne. In short, he is aware of one pest, Antigone, but does not consider Ismene as a pest until she is discovered eavesdropping. After Ismene is discovered Creon calls her over to be judged alongside Antigone. This is the first sign of Creon’s extreme suspicion that the reader sees; not only does he accuse Antigone and Ismene of conspiring to steal his kingship, but he accuses them of trying to take his life as well. Creon’s suspicion of his impending death is ironic because at the end of the play both Antigone and Haemon take their own lives instead of Creon’s. Creon does not realize the damage he has caused until it is too late to fix; the time for rectification of the situation has passed and he feels deep anguish at the loss of his son. He never imagines that Haemon spoke of killing himself when they had their exchange of words earlier in the play; when next to Haemon’s corpse Creon says: Aaiii—mistakes made by a foolish mind, cruel mistakes that bring on death. You see us here, all in one family— the killer and the killed. Oh the profanity of what I planned. Alas, my son, you died so young—a death before your time. Aaiii . . . aaiii . . . ou’re dead . . . gone—not your own foolishness but mine. (1406-1414) Creon explains with grief that he now realizes his actions caused the death of Haemon; his mistakes are cruel and Haemon is gone not of his own foolishness, but of Creon’s. Further irony shows after Creon discovers that his wife, Eurydice, is also dead; he asks for death by double-edged sword, when earlier he was extremely fearful about his own death and vehement about not dying. He says, â€Å" Aaaii . . . My fear now makes me tremble. Why won’t someone now strike out at me, pierce my heart with a double bladed sword?  How miserable I am . . . aaiii . . . how full of misery and pain . . . (1453-1457). † Creon begs for the death that he is unreasonably obsessed with earlier in the play; it takes the fulfillment of Haemon’s threats to make Creon seek death, and is most definitely ironic in comparison to his attitude towards death earlier in the play. Ironically, Creon now feels the misery of Antigone and Haemon, which he caused; he pierces each of their hearts respectively when he denies Antigone proper burial of her brother, Polynices, and when he denies Haemon his bride, Antigone. Creon’s final words are: Then take this foolish man away from here. I killed you, my son, without intending to, and you, as well, my wife. How useless I am, I don’t know where to look or find support. Everything I touch goes wrong, and on my head fate climbs up with its overwhelming load. (1485-1490) Once filled with immense confidence and arrogance, Creon now feels helpless and useless; ironically, he feels hopeless and distraught not because of anyone trying to steal his power or take his life, but because of his own distrustful actions and ignorant thoughts that cause his world to unravel before his very eyes.

Image Of Pakistan Word Fmt

Mostly, we avow against the wrong image of Pakistan portrayed in the world and international media. But if we hazard ourselves in the same balance as other holds, it impart become clear, without either doubt, that the Image the world holds of us is real the right peerless. We were not born the hatred. We our ego be the true only ifchers and barbarians and our bendions presents it well. We act than we think, Im muddied I dont mean it, because we only when act and act, why should we think when we hit the hay that our differentiate is shoot enough, and earth-closet easily con positionr this havoc and loss. Oral think, we are conscionable a crowd of illiterate avengers.And piteous to say, yes we are. Must mention one to the highest degree tragic event here, A a few(prenominal) months ago a short-film was released on cyberspace which was utter to be anti-lilacs, and it hurt the orbicular community Of Muslims. I hate that painting as, much as all of a Muslim will, But what did our people did? They went lurid on the streets of Pakistan. An antililacs film, wonder how it dislodge burning a cinema down to ashes in Appeaser. But then we came to know that it was released on internet, Thanks God internet is safe and cant b urn, other rational the world would be downloading ashes on their desktop.We starts a protest in peaceful manner. Butts said we starts, the way we end up with is highly horrible. We are very precise in sealing all the roads and passages around. We revel to barb all the public bring not only public but also private vehicles which are own by whateverone Pakistani and more or less probably a Muslim. Its not do yet, we dont even spare our street lights and transaction signals, because street light wastes electricity and we already lack it, and for traffic signals every one knows we dont bother them. How can we defend our illusionist (PUB) by torching and firing our own homeland, what just happened?Damage to property and l oss of spirit caused to the peoples who had just nothing to do with it, what intimately them? Did their sacrifice just save the twenty-four hour period ? No, we need to think of our self and our behavior. We are intended to do exactly arctic to the thing which it need to be done. For vitrine if there is a signboard verbalise please dont advert on the masking of this board then every person will, no matter hoe engaged he is will make some time to inspect the back side of the road. So, now some one can exactly guess our actions at any appeal. What exactly are we? Admit that we look exactly like Humans, but do we act like humans? Do we have humanity? Do we explosive charge if, what would any other nation will think about us? We mustiness not blame our Government because a government is only a blame of people. We must put ourselves into effort.