EXAM 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Test 2 - Essay Example The procedure involves three, which incorporate procedural fair treatment, considerable fair treatment and condition insurance of law (Hunter 34). Fair treatment helps in shielding the blamed from denied their essential rights without experiencing fair-minded and sufficient educated legitimate procedure. These rights envelop those identified with freedom, life and property (Hunter 35). Subsequently, keep compelling individuals from utilizing state’s powers given by constitution as a stage to the burden of individual residents. What's more, it assumes a key job in conceding the denounced to guard oneself as per the law and for the court to hear their request just as contention concerning introduced charges. Thus, prompting a reasonable judgment without the court preferring any of the sides particularly the blamed on the grounds that indictment refers to the sentenced has done a heinous bad behavior. The pith of fair treatment likewise prompts masses to have certainty and trust with the legal framework just as other system establishments since one is certain the person in question will get reasonable

Diamonds :: essays research papers

A Diamond is one of the two regular minerals that are delivered from carbon. The other mineral is Graphite. Despite the fact that both of these minerals are delivered from a similar component ,carbon, they have entirely unexpected attributes. One of the most clear distinction is that Diamond is hard and Graphite is delicate. The Diamond is viewed as the most hardest substance found in nature. It scores an ideal ten in hardness. As a result of its hardness a small Diamond is utilized as a cutting and boring device in industry. Indeed, even the Greeks called the Diamond â€Å"adamas† which implies unconquerable. Precious stones likewise directs heat better than some other mineral .  â â â â Precious stones come in a few diverse shading shades, for example, yellow, blue, green, or pink. One motivation behind why a Diamond has various hues is through the procedures including warmth and radiation. Another explanation is that 99.5% of a Diamond is Carbon and the rest are distinctive follow components. These 0.5% of components are the motivation behind why a Diamond has diverse shading conceals. For instance Nitrogen makes it have a yellow tint , and Boron a blue shade. The pink shading in certain Diamonds are believed to be brought about by disfigurement of the nuclear structure of the precious stone gem. An unadulterated Diamond , which would be 100% carbon, is dreary Precious stones were made million years prior, when the earth was shaped, the material experienced weight of 5million occasions the air adrift level and temperatures between 1000~1200degreesC. These conditions made carbon in the layers inside the planet solidify into jewels. The precious stones climbed to the earth’s surface through fountain of liquid magma ejections. This is the reason numerous Diamond mines are close volcanoes. Precious stones happen in two sorts of rock: Kimberlite and Lamprolite. Precious stones are generally found in South Africa, India, Brazil, Russia, Australia, and Arkansas. At this moment about 100million carats are mined every year. Today the biggest cut Diamond on the planet is the Cullian I at 530.2ct . The unit cell of a Diamond is 3D shape. Five carbon iotas structure tetrahedra at the 3D square corners , at the focuses of every one of the shape faces, and at four locales inside the 3D shape. The carbon molecules are situated at the focal point of every tetrahedron . The carbon tetrahedra are covalently reinforced, which clarifies why precious stones are incredibly hard. The strength of the Diamond originates from four planar headings of shortcoming , it is called octahedral cleavage .

Essay Samples For Law School

Essay Samples For Law SchoolStudents who are preparing for their first year of law school should begin the year by considering essay samples for law school. These samples will help them find good topics for their essays, ensure that they write carefully and structure their writing, and make sure that they write what they know.Because essays are typically the first part of the student's academic experience in law school, it is important to begin early with these essay samples. Many students feel overwhelmed and worried when they arrive at law school and they do not have much of an idea about what to expect. The biggest challenge for a student who has never written a formal paper before is to get through the first semester without doing any poorly written essays or stumbling through their academic career.Essay samples for law school can be found online. You should be able to find a large number of sites that offer samples of different types of essays which you can use as references and as practice essays. You can also read about what types of essays are expected of students and which types of topics are suitable for each class and each writing requirement.One of the best resources for this information is the writing center which all students are required to complete prior to their first day of class. The Writing Center offers an assessment which includes a category called 'English,' and then provides essays which can be used to help students determine what types of essays are expected of them. The class reading assignments are also included in this category and can be used to further provide a student with ideas about what types of essays they should be writing and how they should structure their writing.Students should also look for information on the essay topics which are expected of them when they begin their first semester in law school. The class reading assignments for English classes are generally about two pages long and can serve as a guideline for how students should structure their own. There are other types of writing assignments as well which may require a more involved type of essay that is best discussed with the guidance of an adviser or law school professor.In addition to the writing samples which can be found online, students should be encouraged to read some of the top-selling law books in order to gain a better understanding of what types of essays are expected of them. Some of the top selling books include law books such as Harvard Law Review, The American Lawyer, and Bazelon, The New Test for a New Century. While reading these books can certainly provide students with ideas about what types of essays they should be writing, they can also provide additional ideas about what types of essay writing they should be doing. Students should also be encouraged to attend a law school forum in which these issues are discussed.Essay samples for law school can be found at almost any bookstore. There are even some online bookstores that sell high-quality copies of books which contain essay samples for law school. It is important for students to be aware of the kinds of essays that they are expected to write for their first semester. Although students may be excited to get into law school, it is important to realize that writing essays is an important part of their academic experience and it will be in their future as well.Students should not be afraid to find out what kinds of essays are expected of them when they start their first semester in law school. Essay samples for law school can be found in many places including high-quality books, internet sites, and even classroom discussions.

Art Description Michelangelo and his Contribution to Art - 550 Words

Art Description: Michelangelo and his Contribution to Art (Coursework Sample) Content: Name:Instructor:Course:Date:Michelangelo and his contribution to artIn Italy, the Renaissance period was marked by great talents like Michelangelo. He was born in 1475 in Michelangelo Buonarroti. He was a son of a government official. He studied art at the age of only 13 yearsCITATION Mil15 \p 4 \l 1033 (Unger 4).The reason for him to be regarded as the greatest artist of all the time was based on the quality of work he produced. He not only outshines his predecessors but he was a great sculptor of the renaissance at its finest time. The elements which most Renaissance artist lacked were not only skills and talents but the power to use their God given eyes and vision with posterity. His art genius left the little area of work which lacked his influence. This made a great adoration for other artist and longed to learn from himCITATION Mor13 \p 21 \l 1033 (Hansen 21).Another reason is that his artistic work and mastery has endured for centuries. His name has often bee n likened with the best Italian renaissance. He was also responsible for 16th century Florence, which became a center of artistà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s movements and has continually deepened Western cultureCITATION Mor13 \p 44 \l 1033 (Hansen 44).Some of his memorable slogans regarding his artwork include; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Genius is eternal patienceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ His nature of the twisting figure, painting with vibrant colors and sculptures with their writing forms all played a significant role to create artistic movements. His work was described as a sophisticated art, complex, witty and unnatural use of vibrant colorsCITATION Mil15 \p 27 \l 1033 (Unger 27).Michelangelo had drawing works, sculptor, architect, and painting was considered to be one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance period and even today. His work has shown a high level of psychological knowledge a nd physical realism and wisdom. In the essay, a clear highlight of Michelangelo contribution to artwork will be examined.His work was recognized by most wealthy and influential people of his time including the Catholic Pope. In his lifetime, he did some arts work for the seven popes. The Pieta and David sculptures and Sistine Chapel ceiling paintings are examples of his great work which has been properly preserved for the future generations to view, learn and appreciate Michelangeloà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s art.David sculpture was completed in classical style. The 17-foot statue contained revealed a beautiful and structurally male form from the old testaments King David. The sculpture was done in Florentine cathedral. However, Richard Stemp stated that the location of the sculpture was agreed by Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli and himself. The sculpture was originally located at Palacio Vecchio, but currently, it is placed at Florentine museum, Galleria dell à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"AcademiaCITATIO N Mil15 \p 46 \l 1033 (Unger 46).In the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo presents his vast knowledge of the Bible and Roman Catholic doctrine. Due to his experience and great work which he had done before, Pope Julius II hired him. Vatican museum stated that the ceiling frescoes had nine stories from the Book of Genesis.It gave a full account of Godà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s creation of the whole world. Some of the things covered include the creation of Adam and Eve and how God separated dark from light. Also, the chapel ceiling had Nude figures which explained the Medallions covered with text in Book of Kings from the Bible. Enthroned prophets, sibyls and the forebears of Jesus Christ were other items contained at the bottom of the ceiling. Final figures of the ceiling included the Pendentives of the salvation of Israel. The sculpture of hands of God and Adam are some of the iconic images he created which are widely used and widely known as a renaissance piece. He demonstrated a clear understandin g of human form and how to present them in different positionsCITATION Mor13 \p 78 \l 1033 (Hansen 78).He continued to sculpt and paint, however as he aged he concentrated on architectural works. Between 1520 to around 1527, he designed Medici Chapel in Florence. The designed contained wall designs, windows, cornices and startling variations on the classical forms.Other examples of the work created by Michelangelo include the Pieta, the Last judgment (a painting completed in 1534), and the humanist Medici tombs for the new Sacristy of San Lorenzo, the architecture of St. Peterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Basilica and the pioneering Mannerist works in the Laurentian Library. Others include Dawn and Dusk completed by 1533 and Moses sculpture CITATION Mil15 \p 66 \l 1033 (Unger 66). Some of the images will be shown at the end of the essay.In Bologna, he continued with his work as a sculptor. He came up with three most recognized statues in the shrines of St. Dominic, an angel with candle sticks an d saints. He also carved sculptures and marble Cupid which were forms of ancient worksCITATION Mil15 \p 54 \l 1033 (Unger 54).As from 1530 onwards, Michelangelo concentrated on writing poems. His songs were aimed at discus...

The American And European Discourse Around The Charlie...

Alex Smith Mrs. Tussey Literature 4/14/15 Charlie Hebdo research paper The American and European discourse around the Charlie Hebdo shootings is mostly shock, sorrow, and anger, further fueling the Anti-muslim feelings that were sparked by the September 11th terrorist attacks on the world trade center, while the Muslim discourse is also one of shock and sorrow, but they at least understand why the attacks occurred, as almost all americans do not; we should care about this because it is only the most famous example of something that has happened before, and has been threatened many times. An example of this is the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which faced multiple threats of violence after publishing 12 caricatures of Muhammad.†¦show more content†¦A video taken by a bystander shows a gunman approaching his black getaway car and raising his finger, thought to be a signal to the driver. A french official has said the two claim to have been avenging the Prophet Mohammed and shouting Allahu akbar, which translates t o God is great†. The suspects were later killed after a hostage situation, and, according to an article by the Los Angeles Times, saying they, â€Å"wanted to die like martyrs.† One way the American and European discourse around the Charlie Hebdo shootings differs from the Muslim discourse is that almost no americans know why the extremists were so angry about a few blasphemous images of the Prophet Muhammad. After all, Charlie Hebdo makes fun of christianity too, with satirical images of Jesus Christ. What most people do not know is, muslims are culturally against any depiction of Muhammad, and even some of the people close to him. Professor Amin Saikal, director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, says, â€Å"It s simply because Islam has been opposed to any form of icon worship, therefore, there is no accurate drawing of the Prophet and it has been banned from the very beginning.† What is the difference between the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ? The difference between Muslims and Christians is that Christians have, in a lot of ways, demystified images of Jesus Christ, whereas in Islam or in the Muslim world, that has not really been done, says Professor

Case Study Starbucks - 1666 Words

Case One: Starbucks Even with the â€Å"No. 1 Best Coffee† Award from Zagat’s Survey of National Chain Restaurants as well as numerous other awards and recognition under their belt, Starbucks remains vulnerable to the ever-changing, ever-demanding needs of their customers (Starbucks Company Recognition). In order to succeed in the service industry, companies must provide impeccable customer service in addition to rewarding their customers through programs and promotional strategies. Currently, Starbucks has reward programs and promotional strategies in place, but they have failed to construct them in a way that fairly and appropriately benefits their customers. In addition, Starbucks’ reward programs are generally unknown by most people†¦show more content†¦As a student who pays over $5 for a single latte every day, I would expect some massive reward! The actual reward program is really just a joke! One free drink every 15 stars (which is really not a lot for loyal cu stomers) and that starts only once youve collected 30 stars!!! That is not to count the ridiculously long delay before you receive the free drink card. It should all be automated on the card. But, then again, the gold card only arrives 6 weeks after youve reached gold. Unacceptable! I am expecting a lot more from this reward program, like real free drinks and food! Not once every $1,000 spent!! This is rather frustrating, I must say† (Thib, View Idea). This post is just one of many on the My Starbucks Idea forum about unhappy customers who expected more reward for the amount that they were purchasing. In response to the frustrated, dissatisfied, and disappointed customers, Starbucks should minimize the requirements for receiving benefits and maximize the incentives and promotional offerings. Strategies to establish these ideas as actual practices are to reduce the amount of stars needed to reach Gold Card status from 30 points to 20 points. In addition, instead of p urchasing fifteen drinks to receive one free drink, Starbucks should minimize the free drink requirement to the purchase of ten drinks. These two methods will still bring in profit for Starbucks, but alsoShow MoreRelatedStarbucks Case Study : Starbucks1148 Words   |  5 PagesStarbucks Case Study Throughout the United States and Asia, Starbucks is renounced for their expertly crafted coffee, so much so that an immensely large portion of the nation at least recognizes the logo and the name. This success to this day keeps producing higher returns for investors especially over this last third quarter of 2016. The third quarter had set many new records with Starbucks for both the American markets as well as the Asian markets causing a big boom for the company and sparkingRead MoreStarbucks Case Study : Starbucks904 Words   |  4 PagesSTARBUCKS CASE STUDY Starbucks was started by three former students of the university of San Francisco named Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker. Their plan was to sell high quality coffee beans and roasting equipment but did not expect the success that their company would achieve in the future. The first Starbucks store was opened in March 30, 1971 in seattle, Washington. Their first store was located at 2000 Western Avenue and it sold roasted whole bean coffee till 1976. Soon they shiftedRead MoreStarbucks Case Study794 Words   |  4 PagesStarbucks Case Study - What factors accounted for the extraordinary success of Starbucks in the early 1990s? Building a successful brand with multiple stores opening. Selling whole beans and premium priced coffee. They also new and understood their target market. Unlike many other coffee shops they sold the lifestyle around the coffee and made it an experience for their customers as apposed to it being just an addition to a donut in the morning. They made it a lifestyle choice and somethingRead MoreStarbucks Case Study908 Words   |  4 PagesStarbucks Case Study Overview Starbucks Corporation is an international coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world. Starbucks sells drip brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold drinks, snacks, and items such as mugs and coffee beans. Many of the companys products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks-brand ice cream and coffee are also offered at grocery stores. Starbucks’ ItalianRead MoreStarbucks Case Study1452 Words   |  6 PagesStarbucks Case Study 1 MKTG 220 September 18th, 2012 Table of Contents Case Review3 Determining the Root Problem4 Identifying the Problem Components4-5 Generating Alternatives5 Evaluating Alternatives6 Choose an Alternative7 Implementation Plan7 Alternative Choice8 Work Cited9 Case Review Starbucks is one of the leading coffee retailers in the world; according to their company profile they are operating nearly 18,000 retail stores in 60 countries. They serve millions of customersRead MoreStarbucks Case Study948 Words   |  4 PagesCase Study: The Globalization of Starbucks From the famous green and white logo, to the coffee house style environment, Starbucks has built an empire located on every street corner. We also cannot forget the red cup debacle just this Christmas! Starbucks is a true icon in the world of coffee. Starbucks created a true lifestyle for the world that some small businesses can only dream of. Starbucks currently has more than 21,000 stores in over 65 countries and was founded in 1971. The originalRead MoreStarbucks Case Study1429 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction This is a proposal based on the case study â€Å"Starbucks – going global fast† (Cateora and Graham, 2007), further research has been undertaken and analysis and recommendation will be based on these sources of information. Critique and analysis Being a multinational company expanding at a speed that leads thoughts towards badly imaged global corporation like McDonalds are these days not considered a strength. McDonalds might have conquered the world and made profit of people’s badRead MoreStarbucks Case Study1455 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Since its 1992 IPO, Starbucks has continually focused on growth. Initially, the growth was targeted to enable Starbucks to achieve their goal of becoming the leading North American retailer of specialty coffee. The early success they achieved resulted in Starbucks expanding their original goal to that of becoming the most recognized and respected coffee brand in the world. By way of example, this case study focuses on a request by McDonalds to serve Starbucks coffee at its restaurantsRead Morestarbucks case study951 Words   |  4 PagesCase study: Starbucks Evolution of the company Starbucks when established in 1971by three founding members; it was known as Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spices. They were not selling beverages instead they sold coffee beans. By the next year itself they opened a second one in same Seattle, Washington. In early 1980 the management change took place while one of the founding members left Starbucks and Jerry Baldwin became a CEO. When Howard Schultz joined the company and took charge of marketingRead MoreStarbucks Case Study1822 Words   |  8 PagesStarbucks case study 1- I think the most important management skills for Schultz to have are the conceptual skills. Since Schultz is the chairman of Starbucks, which means he is the top manager of the company, the conceptual skills are the most important for him to have. Mostly because conceptual skills help him see the organization as a whole. It helps the manager understand the relationship among the various subunits, and visualize how the organization fits into its broader environment. In fact

Reagan Revolution free essay sample

CongressLecture Outline May 20, 2013 The Reagan Revolution amp; Cold War in the 1980s I. Reagan Revolution and the Rise of the New Right The new grassroots conservative movement. it focused on a few themes: 1) focus on physical restraint: reigning in spending of the economy, the great society programs 2) Tax code revision 3) government efficiency: sense of urgency for this, because of how transparent the government, and what it owed to the u. s. public. a. Reagan’s views and policies:: 1980’s high inflation and faltering economy, and regean promised to return the nation to economic promise. Campaign had focused on a strong military and a scaled back federal government. (he specifically wanted the federal government scaled back, but it was okay to undergo spending for national security (military). tensions between the national security state and the spending for the national government He wanted a return to traditional values that had been lost. he was enormously charismatic. He was good at delivering lines and delivering his speeches,. â€Å"government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem government needed to be scaled back.. ederal government needed to lessen itself in our daily lives. and in the business community too. he wanted a reversal of the programs in the great society. roll back big government. Roll back in domestic policy, expanding it in foreign policy with the military. 1989 when he concluded his presidency, economy debt had tripled. b. â€Å"Reaganomics† / Supply-side economics: seeking to increase the economies capacity to produce. the theory behind it was exxessive taxation was slowing things down in the economy, and it discouraged hard work? have economic growth by cutting taxes†¦so people could invest that money in another way. Trickle down economics: leave the money to the wealthy and it will trickle down into society. c. Economic Recovery Tax of 1981: lowered the taxes on the wealth to free up capital. 23% cut. then social security taxes went up d. Business expansion: capital was freed up, and there was an expansion and the government did grow. high employment, Anti-union stance. violating a law of federal worked fighting back. e. cut non-defense federal spending. it was hard to cut social security and medicare. US became a debter nation f. rapid growth and critique of the economy . Wall Street amp; Deregulation: dirty decade, stock speculation, corporate mergers, a lot of shady wallstreet dealing, and a lot of deregulation. These companies were too bogged down in regulation. so they deregulated business. and allow corporations to make risks they wouldn’t normally take. also allowed for greater abuses. laizze faire, leave business alone, big stores were growing during time, and have merger mania (M icrosoft when public in 1986, this environment was condusive) this also created a lot of tensions. class tensions were exacerbated. elebration of wealth for those getting richer, and the poor getting poorer. h. lifestyles for the rich and the famous II. The Cold War amp; Foreign Policy in the 1980s i. Reagan’s domestic vs. foreign policies: he had a foreign policy that was highly activist, but he wanted to stay small in domestic. he wanted to battle communism and leftism. he launched the biggest military expansion in peacetime history. More than 70% 1981 to 1986, Reagan was struck by wanting the united states to both be powerful military and symbolically. they wanted people to associate us as a military strength. He had a nostalgia for WW2, and how the US emerged out of ww2. j. Nuclear freeze movement: anti nuclear protest throughout this time in force in the early 1980’s activists one a lot of recruits. The entire world wold be blown up if we didn’t reduce the arms. This wasn’t just in the united states, it was in great Britain and Germany too. it was a world wide movement. it called a cause for a freeze, banning testing and building. june 1982 800,000 freeze campaign. it permiated all levels of society. in response to this he had the star wars speech k. Star Wars† amp; Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), 1983: this was a space based missile system, that was supposed to defend the united states from nuclear attack. it looked very futuristic, we do have some of this technology now however. don’t introduce this because we really don’t have this technology l. Anticommunism amp; Latin America: some critics that expressed fear, that hear we are repeating veitnam. Congress responded to the fears, and congress said do not fund this anymore. m. â€Å"Evil Empire† speech (1983) n. Iran-Contra Scandel i. Role of Oliver North: national security aid, stationed in the white house. e directed money from the Iranian arms sales to the contras. congress had banned this, do not fund the contras anymore. congress had forbidden this aid. North had circumvented this ban by raising money from wealthy conservatives from other governments, to fund this. (wealthy new right conservatives funded this) all in secret to the congress and to the people. New story broke, televised hearings in 1987, erased computer files right before the fbi arrived. he defended it by saying sometimes you need to go above the law for patriotism. he emphasized, I love my country and I am a patriot. Reagan praised north as a national hero, for undergoing this with American security in mind, but he also fired him. TV Reagan denied knowing anything about the scandal, but mistakes were made. criticized his lack management style. there was no evidence that he knew of this, but there was a lot of lax white house procedures. it diminished the credibility on a national scale of the us presidency, but he emerged form this unscathed. this is when historians lok back and he really was the Teflon president, the American public still supported him I. Conclusion: 1989, End of the Cold War amp; Post-Cold War Challenges

The Most Effective Characterisation Technique in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

The Most Effective Characterisation Technique in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay The characterisation technique that I feel was most effective in the construction of scouts character is setting. Lee’s choice to associate Scout with the outdoors and conveying her as a tomboy was constructed merely through the characterisation technique of setting. This is evident, â€Å"Thereafter the summer passed in routine contentment. Routine contentment was: improving our treehouse that rested between giant twin chinaberry trees in the backyard, fussing, running through our list of dramas based on the works of Oliver optic, Victor Appleton and Edgar Rice Burroughs†(page 8). This example of the construction of scout’s character affects my impressions, ideas and connotations associated with scout. She is represented with personal traits of assertiveness, bossy and strong willed. The idea that child innocence should be maintained I felt was conveyed in this extract also. The fact that throughout the text scout is associated with the outdoors on various chapters defines what scout is surrounded by and the reactions she has to other locations. Such as earlier on in the text scout describes the Radley house from her perspective, which I as the reader accepted. The house was low, was once white with a deep front porch and green shutters, but had long ago darkened to the colour of the slate-grey yard around it. Rain-rotten shingles drooped over the eaves of the veranda; oak trees kept the sun away† (page 8-9). Scout portrays the Radley house as a sinister and unwelcoming setting which is further explored in the following chapters in the text. Moreover, scouts character was constructed through all of the characterisation techniques; however I feel that the characterisation technique of setting was most effective in the construction of scout’s character. We will write a custom essay sample on The Most Effective Characterisation Technique in To Kill a Mockingbird specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Most Effective Characterisation Technique in To Kill a Mockingbird specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Most Effective Characterisation Technique in To Kill a Mockingbird specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Comparison between the weeders and harvesters essays

Comparison between the weeders and harvesters essays Jules Bretons The Weeders and Pieter Brueghel the Elders The Harvesters are landscape paintings that depict the countryside. They share many similarities and differences through the artists use of color, light, organization, technique, lines, and space to illustrates simple peasant life in the countryside. In The Weeders and The Harvesters, the artists sought to depict the serenity and powerful beauty of the countryside and its relationship with simple peasant life. The dominant subject matter in both paintings is peasant life and its relationship to nature. However, a major difference between the two paintings is its organization. In The Harvesters the scene is more complex. There are several scenes taking place at the same time, and there are people scattered all over the place. This creates unbalance, and is emphasized by the use of cropping on all sides of the painting. The scene takes place during the daytime, and it is a more active scene. The only exception is the people in the foreground who are resting under the shade of a tree. There are many empty spaces, and this is used to make the landscape look vast. In The Weeders there are six women, and all but one are on the ground picking weeds. The painting is more symmetrical, balanced, and uncropped. This landscape depicts only one scene, and is not as detailed as The Harvesters. The women are more calm and somber. They are tired, but convey movement and energy because they a re busy tending to the fields. The only woman that is standing up stands out from the rest. She is in profile view, and is standing firmly straight gazing out into the sun. Even though the organization of the two paintings are very different, they both convey a sense of simplicity, pleasantness, and humbleness to peasant life. Both artists use the nature of the countryside to integrate it with the people and their everyday life. Both artists have a close conne...

Risks Facing Financial Insitutions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Risks Facing Financial Insitutions - Essay Example alth and wealth of such financial institutions. (Aharony, 1986) Its 1988 Basel Accord deals with credit risk and has extensively guided international banks in their risk management.Similarly the Basel II(International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards) deals with the problem of operational ,legal and strategic as well as those arising out of the loss of goodwill. ( Hsaio 2008) , This paper therefore discusses the risks faced by modern financial institutions,international efforts to resolve such risks as well as the techniques used by banks to calculate interest risks. The past two decades have indeed seen an increased banking response to the systemic risks in the financial system which emerged in response to the 1930's banking crises of the 1930s.Banks and other financial institutions perform the functions of financial intermediaries that distinguish them from other businesses. They intermediate liquidity between economic subjects and in this process face a number of risk atypical of non-financial firms. (Aharony, 1986)This financial risk measurement and management becomes very important for banks than for other companies.The modern financial institutions are very complex as they increasingly offer fee-based financial services and relatively new financial instruments and this has led to the creation of a number of new risks.Essentially the riskier the bank's business, the more capital it should hold to be able to cover future fiscal losses. Although various banks face different risks (with regards to their category) some risks are common to most banks like Credit risk , Liquidity risk , Solvency risk , Operational risk , Market risk and Interest rate risk. (Aharony, 1986) In the above paragraph a number of risks have been identified and while many of them have been overcome by regulation many still sting the face of financial prudence as unresolved dilemmas. (Aharony, 1986) These are risks like operational risks (which have been defined by the Basel Committee(Basel II) as arising from 'inadequate or failed processes, people and systems or from external events'. ( Hsaio 2008) , Operational Risks cover a wide category of risks which pertain to human error or technical deficiencies.(Black,1972) and are related to all other types of risk such as capital needs, inflation, concentration of revenues (by customers, products, geographies, etc.) new competitive conditions and environmental remediation obligations(reinforced by the new concept of Corporate Social Responsibility).(Black,1972). Operational risk is the newest area of focus in the the arena of the financial institutions but there are theoretical and practical difficulties involved in it's assessment as well as statistical irregularities in the data available. ( Hsaio 2008) , However more serious risks pertain to losses which arise due to the failure of the obligator to perform(Credit Risk) and such losses are reported to be responsible for more

Case Study Research Assignment Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Case Study Assignment - Research Paper Example These alterations threaten to transform the global environment. As one author imagined it, â€Å"The year is 2035. In New York, palm trees line the Hudson River †¦ Phoenix is in its third week of temperatures over 130 degrees †¦ Holland is under water. Bangladesh has ceased to exist †¦ in central Europe and in the American Midwest, decades of drought have turned once fertile agricultural lands into parched deserts (Rifkin, 1988).† Composition of Greenhouse Gases Methane and carbon dioxide primarily constitute the greenhouse gases. They also consist of water vapor and trace amounts of other gases including ozone, nitrous oxide, and HCFCs. Greenhouse gases â€Å"trap† some of the sun’s infrared radiation within Earth’s atmosphere, similar to a greenhouse. As the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase, they trap more of the sun’s heat in the earth’s atmosphere, which has a number of effects on the earth’s env ironment. Were it not for greenhouse gases, most of the sun’s energy would radiate back out into space, leaving the earth cold and lifeless with an average temperature of minus 18 degrees C (0.4 degrees Fahrenheit) (Miller). ... There is no doubt this atmospheric buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is largely the result of human activities. Combined with unnaturally elevated levels of naturally occurring gases, global warming is exacerbated by anthropogenic emissions of additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. To illustrate the problem, under pre-Industrial Revolution conditions, global levels of carbon dioxide were around 275 parts per million (ppm). Carbon dioxide levels increased from 275 ppm to 346 ppm between 1860 and 1986, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation (Flavind & Tunali, 1995). Plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen and are one effective way to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Deforestation has resulted in a reduction in the carbon dioxide to oxygen conversion. It is estimated that deforestation contributes 1.0 to 2.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually (Oppenheimer & Boyle, 1990). It is thought that global levels of car bon dioxide in the atmosphere will reach 550 ppm sometime between 2040 and 2100; however, most analysts believe those levels will be reached closer to the middle of the twenty-first century (Rifkin). It is estimated that over the next 100 years the temperature will increase about 1.98 degrees C (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Such a severe temperature change would most likely cause an increase in heat waves and drought, the spread of infectious diseases, and the disruption of ecosystems worldwide. Furthermore, increased global temperatures is causing the melting of ice in both polar regions, resulting in a rise in sea level, predicted by climatologists to be up

Ethical behavior in workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical behavior in workplace - Essay Example Till recently I was working for a fast food joint. One day, I was really shocked at the way my manager behaved towards a new recruit, an Afro American youth, who was eager to serve the customer. He had not only rebuked the young boy for showing unnecessary enthusiasm but was also quite vocal in showing his racial prejudice by denying him his right to serve customers. I believe that if diversity within workforce is present, there is absolutely no place for racial discriminations. Workplace environment must constantly encourage ethical practices. It is imperative that managerial leadership must display high standard of code of conduct because they are people who are capable of motivating other for optimal work performance. Indeed, the leaders, through self example and having exemplary traits like tolerance, cross cultural understanding and empathetic attitude hugely create an encouraging work environment. They also promote positive relationship that reflects in improved productivity an d good will of the organization. I was offended by the whole episode and reacted by pointing out that the manager was not only violating work ethics but that his act can be justifiably construed as racial discrimination. As a junior manager, my comments were not well received but atleast the young man was allowed to serve new customers. I was given a negative entry in my employee logbook.

Alice Walkers Everyday Use Essay examples -- Alice Walker Everyday Us

Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" In the short story â€Å"Everyday Use† by Alice Walker, the author portrays opposing ideas about one’s heritage. Through the eyes of two daughters, Dee and Maggie, who have chosen to live their lives in very different manners, the reader can choose which character to identify most with by judging what is really important in one’s life. In Dee’s case, she goes out to make all that can of herself while leaving her past behind, in comparison to Maggie, who stays back with her roots and makes the most out of the surroundings that she has been placed in. Through the use of symbolism, the tangible object of a family heirloom quilt brings out these issues relating to heritage to Mama, and she is able to reasonably decide which of her daughters has a real appreciation for the quilt, and can pass it on to her. Dee and Maggie shed a new light on the actual meaning of heritage through their personality traits, lifestyle decisions, and relationships with specific fam ily members.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although all of the character’s views on heritage are expressed, Dee’s character is given the more detailed description of ways she strays from her heritage. From the beginning, Dee despises the home that they live in. When it is destroyed in a fire, her mother wants to ask her, â€Å"Why don’t you do a dance around the ashes?,† expressing Dee’s utter aversion towards the home (Walker 409). Most people take pride in their home and cherish it for all of the memories that it holds for them, but Dee is insensitive to the family’s loss. After becoming of age, Dee decides to go to college, where she begins to hold her newly found knowledge against her family because of their lack of it. This opportunity to go out of her town and see the world gives Dee a taste of a better lifestyle that she wants to become apart of, and leaves her family behind. While Dee is away at college, she denies the quilts that her mother has offered her saying that â€Å"they were old-fashioned, and out of style† because she is still longing to separate herself from her family as much as possible (Walker 413). One of the main things that Dee does to distance herself from her family, and tarnish part of her family’s tradition is the changing of her name Dee Johnson, to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, because she feels that it comes from â€Å"the people that oppressed me† (Walker 411). This act comes to Mama... ...and Mama are indifferent to her rude remark. Maggie smiles though, in a way that lets the reader know that she has finally found a place in her mother’s heart. She does not feel as though she has lost out to Dee, but rather that Dee is the one missing out, because she has no concept of what really matters in life. Maggie and Mama do not have to go out and try to prove to the world how far they have come and cover up for their past like Dee. A sense of heritage is the best gift that anyone could ever be given. Unfortunately for Dee, she is looking for material objects to fill that space in her that she has more than once denied. The story makes it apparent that their are different ways to interpret one’s heritage. For those people who are more secure with who they are, heritage is something that they can pride themselves on and not be ashamed of because of where they came from. Heritage is a person’s undeniable past that they carry around with them everyday, i t cannot be found in a mere tangible object. Work Cited Walker, Alice. â€Å"Everyday Use.† Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Essay. 4th ed. Robert DiYanni, Ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 1998. 408-413.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 19-21

CHAPTER 19 Director Inoue Sato stood with her arms folded, her eyes locked skeptically on Langdon as she processed what he had just told her. â€Å"He said he wants you to unlock an ancient portal? What am I supposed to do with that, Professor?† Langdon shrugged weakly. He was feeling ill again and tried not to look down at his friend's severed hand. â€Å"That's exactly what he told me. An ancient portal . . . hidden somewhere in this building. I told him I knew of no portal.† â€Å"Then why does he think you can find it?† â€Å"Obviously, he's insane.† He said Peter would point the way. Langdon looked down at Peter's upstretched finger, again feeling repulsed by his captor's sadistic play on words. Peter will point the way. Langdon had already permitted his eyes to follow the pointing finger up to the dome overhead. A portal? Up there? Insane. â€Å"This man who called me,† Langdon told Sato, â€Å"was the only one who knew I was coming to the Capitol tonight, so whoever informed you I was here tonight, that's your man. I recommend–â€Å" â€Å"Where I got my information is not your concern,† Sato interrupted, voice sharpening. â€Å"My top priority at the moment is to cooperate with this man, and I have information suggesting you are the only one who can give him what he wants.† â€Å"And my top priority is to find my friend,† Langdon replied, frustrated. Sato inhaled deeply, her patience clearly being tested. â€Å"If we want to find Mr. Solomon, we have one course of action, Professor–to start cooperating with the one person who seems to know where he is.† Sato checked her watch. â€Å"Our time is limited. I can assure you it is imperative we comply with this man's demands quickly.† â€Å"How?† Langdon asked, incredulous. â€Å"By locating and unlocking an ancient portal? There is no portal, Director Sato. This guy's a lunatic.† Sato stepped close, less than a foot from Langdon. â€Å"If I may point this out . . . your lunatic deftly manipulated two fairly smart individuals already this morning.† She stared directly at Langdon and then glanced at Anderson. â€Å"In my business, one learns there is a fine line between insanity and genius. We would be wise to give this man a little respect.† â€Å"He cut off a man's hand!† â€Å"My point exactly. That is hardly the act of an uncommitted or uncertain individual. More important, Professor, this man obviously believes you can help him. He brought you all the way to Washington–and he must have done it for a reason.† â€Å"He said the only reason he thinks I can unlock this `portal' is that Peter told him I can unlock it,† Langdon countered. â€Å"And why would Peter Solomon say that if it weren't true?† â€Å"I'm sure Peter said no such thing. And if he did, then he did so under duress. He was confused . . . or frightened.† â€Å"Yes. It's called interrogational torture, and it's quite effective. All the more reason Mr. Solomon would tell the truth.† Sato spoke as if she'd had personal experience with this technique. â€Å"Did he explain why Peter thinks you alone can unlock the portal?† Langdon shook his head. â€Å"Professor, if your reputations are correct, then you and Peter Solomon both share an interest in this sort of thing–secrets, historical esoterica, mysticism, and so on. In all of your discussions with Peter, he never once mentioned to you anything about a secret portal in Washington, D.C.?† Langdon could scarcely believe he was being asked this question by a high-ranking officer of the CIA. â€Å"I'm certain of it. Peter and I talk about some pretty arcane things, but believe me, I'd tell him to get his head examined if he ever told me there was an ancient portal hidden anywhere at all. Particularly one that leads to the Ancient Mysteries.† She glanced up. â€Å"I'm sorry? The man told you specifically what this portal leads to?† â€Å"Yes, but he didn't have to.† Langdon motioned to the hand. â€Å"The Hand of the Mysteries is a formal invitation to pass through a mystical gateway and acquire ancient secret knowledge– powerful wisdom known as the Ancient Mysteries . . . or the lost wisdom of all the ages.† â€Å"So you've heard of the secret he believes is hidden here.† â€Å"A lot of historians have heard of it.† â€Å"Then how can you say the portal does not exist?† â€Å"With respect, ma'am, we've all heard of the Fountain of Youth and Shangri-la, but that does not mean they exist.† The loud squawk of Anderson's radio interrupted them. â€Å"Chief?† the voice on the radio said. Anderson snatched his radio from his belt. â€Å"Anderson here.† â€Å"Sir, we've completed a search of the grounds. There's no one here that fits the description. Any further orders, sir?† Anderson shot a quick glance at Sato, clearly expecting a reprimand, but Director Sato seemed uninterested. Anderson moved away from Langdon and Sato, speaking quietly into his radio. Sato's unwavering focus remained on Langdon. â€Å"You're saying the secret he believes is hidden in Washington . . . is a fantasy?† Langdon nodded. â€Å"A very old myth. The secret of the Ancient Mysteries is pre-Christian, actually. Thousands of years old.† â€Å"And yet it's still around?† â€Å"As are many equally improbable beliefs.† Langdon often reminded his students that most modern religions included stories that did not hold up to scientific scrutiny: everything from Moses parting the Red Sea . . . to Joseph Smith using magic eyeglasses to translate the Book of Mormon from a series of gold plates he found buried in upstate New York. Wide acceptance of an idea is not proof of its validity. â€Å"I see. So what exactly are these . . . Ancient Mysteries?† Langdon exhaled. Have you got a few weeks? â€Å"In short, the Ancient Mysteries refer to a body of secret knowledge that was amassed long ago. One intriguing aspect of this knowledge is that it allegedly enables its practitioners to access powerful abilities that lie dormant in the human mind. The enlightened Adepts who possessed this knowledge vowed to keep it veiled from the masses because it was considered far too potent and dangerous for the uninitiated.† â€Å"Dangerous in what way?† â€Å"The information was kept hidden for the same reason we keep matches from children. In the correct hands, fire can provide illumination . . . but in the wrong hands, fire can be highly destructive.† Sato took off her glasses and studied him. â€Å"Tell me, Professor, do you believe such powerful information could truly exist?† Langdon was not sure how to respond. The Ancient Mysteries had always been the greatest paradox of his academic career. Virtually every mystical tradition on earth revolved around the idea that there existed arcane knowledge capable of imbuing humans with mystical, almost godlike, powers: tarot and I Ching gave men the ability to see the future; alchemy gave men immortality through the fabled Philosopher's Stone; Wicca permitted advanced practitioners to cast powerful spells. The list went on and on. As an academic, Langdon could not deny the historical record of these traditions–troves of documents, artifacts, and artwork that, indeed, clearly suggested the ancients had a powerful wisdom that they shared only through allegory, myths, and symbols, ensuring that only those properly initiated could access its power. Nonetheless, as a realist and a skeptic, Langdon remained unconvinced. â€Å"Let's just say I'm a skeptic,† he told Sato. â€Å"I have never seen anything in the real world to suggest the Ancient Mysteries are anything other than legend–a recurring mythological archetype. It seems to me that if it were possible for humans to acquire miraculous powers, there would be evidence. And yet, so far, history has given us no men with superhuman powers.† Sato arched her eyebrows. â€Å"That's not entirely true.† Langdon hesitated, realizing that for many religious people, there was indeed a precedent for human gods, Jesus being the most obvious. â€Å"Admittedly,† he said, â€Å"there are plenty of educated people who believe this empowering wisdom truly exists, but I'm not yet convinced.† â€Å"Is Peter Solomon one of those people?† Sato asked, glancing toward the hand on the floor. Langdon could not bring himself to look at the hand. â€Å"Peter comes from a family lineage that has always had a passion for all things ancient and mystical.† â€Å"Was that a yes?† Sato asked. â€Å"I can assure you that even if Peter believes the Ancient Mysteries are real, he does not believe they are accessible through some kind of portal hidden in Washington, D.C. He understands metaphorical symbolism, which is something his captor apparently does not.† Sato nodded. â€Å"So you believe this portal is a metaphor.† â€Å"Of course,† Langdon said. â€Å"In theory, anyway. It's a very common metaphor–a mystical portal through which one must travel to become enlightened. Portals and doorways are common symbolic constructs that represent transformative rites of passage. To look for a literal portal would be like trying to locate the actual Gates of Heaven.† Sato seemed to consider this momentarily. â€Å"But it sounds like Mr. Solomon's captor believes you can unlock an actual portal.† Langdon exhaled. â€Å"He's made the same error many zealots make–confusing metaphor with a literal reality.† Similarly, early alchemists had toiled in vain to transform lead into gold, never realizing that lead-to-gold was nothing but a metaphor for tapping into true human potential– that of taking a dull, ignorant mind and transforming it into a bright, enlightened one. Sato motioned to the hand. â€Å"If this man wants you to locate some kind of portal for him, why wouldn't he simply tell you how to find it? Why all the dramatics? Why give you a tattooed hand?† Langdon had asked himself the same question and the answer was unsettling. â€Å"Well, it seems the man we are dealing with, in addition to being mentally unstable, is also highly educated. This hand is proof that he is well versed in the Mysteries as well as their codes of secrecy. Not to mention with the history of this room.† â€Å"I don't understand.† â€Å"Everything he has done tonight was done in perfect accordance with ancient protocols. Traditionally, the Hand of the Mysteries is a sacred invitation, and therefore it must be presented in a sacred place.† Sato's eyes narrowed. â€Å"This is the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building, Professor, not some sacred shrine to ancient mystical secrets.† â€Å"Actually, ma'am,† Langdon said, â€Å"I know a great number of historians who would disagree with you.† At that moment, across town, Trish Dunne was seated in the glow of the plasma wall inside the Cube. She finished preparing her search spider and typed in the five key phrases Katherine had given her. Here goes nothing. Feeling little optimism, she launched the spider, effectively commencing a worldwide game of Go Fish. At blinding speed, the phrases were now being compared to texts all over the world . . . looking for a perfect match. Trish couldn't help but wonder what this was all about, but she had come to accept that working with the Solomons meant never quite knowing the entire story. CHAPTER 20 Robert Langdon stole an anxious glance at his wristwatch: 7:58 P.M. The smiling face of Mickey Mouse did little to cheer him up. I've got to find Peter. We're wasting time. Sato had stepped aside for a moment to take a phone call, but now she returned to Langdon. â€Å"Professor, am I keeping you from something?† â€Å"No, ma'am,† Langdon said, pulling his sleeve down over his watch. â€Å"I'm just extremely concerned about Peter.† â€Å"I can understand, but I assure you the best thing you can do to help Peter is to help me understand the mind-set of his captor.† Langdon was not so sure, but he sensed he was not going anywhere until the OS director got the information she desired. â€Å"A moment ago,† Sato said, â€Å"you suggested this Rotunda is somehow sacred to the idea of these Ancient Mysteries?† â€Å"Yes, ma'am.† â€Å"Explain that to me.† Langdon knew he would have to choose his words sparingly. He had taught for entire semesters on the mystical symbolism of Washington, D.C., and there was an almost inexhaustible list of mystical references in this building alone. America has a hidden past. Every time Langdon lectured on the symbology of America, his students were confounded to learn that the true intentions of our nation's forefathers had absolutely nothing to do with what so many politicians now claimed. America's intended destiny has been lost to history. The forefathers who founded this capital city first named her â€Å"Rome.† They had named her river the Tiber and erected a classical capital of pantheons and temples, all adorned with images of history's great gods and goddesses–Apollo, Minerva, Venus, Helios, Vulcan, Jupiter. In her center, as in many of the great classical cities, the founders had erected an enduring tribute to the ancients–the Egyptian obelisk. This obelisk, larger even than Cairo's or Alexandria's, rose 555 feet into the sky, more than thirty stories, proclaiming thanks and honor to the demigod forefather for whom this capital city took its newer name. Washington. Now, centuries later, despite America's separation of church and state, this state-sponsored Rotunda glistened with ancient religious symbolism. There were over a dozen different gods in the Rotunda–more than the original Pantheon in Rome. Of course, the Roman Pantheon had been converted to Christianity in 609 . . . but this pantheon was never converted; vestiges of its true history still remained in plain view. â€Å"As you may know,† Langdon said, â€Å"this Rotunda was designed as a tribute to one of Rome's most venerated mystical shrines. The Temple of Vesta.† â€Å"As in the vestal virgins?† Sato looked doubtful that Rome's virginal guardians of the flame had anything to do with the U.S. Capitol Building. â€Å"The Temple of Vesta in Rome,† Langdon said, â€Å"was circular, with a gaping hole in the floor, through which the sacred fire of enlightenment could be tended by a sisterhood of virgins whose job it was to ensure the flame never went out.† Sato shrugged. â€Å"This Rotunda is a circle, but I see no gaping hole in this floor.† â€Å"No, not anymore, but for years the center of this room had a large opening precisely where Peter's hand is now.† Langdon motioned to the floor. â€Å"In fact, you can still see the marks in the floor from the railing that kept people from falling in.† â€Å"What?† Sato demanded, scrutinizing the floor. â€Å"I've never heard that.† â€Å"Looks like he's right.† Anderson pointed out the circle of iron nubs where the posts had once been. â€Å"I've seen these before, but I never had any idea why they were there.† You're not alone, Langdon thought, imagining the thousands of people every day, including famous lawmakers, who strode across the center of the Rotunda having no idea there was once a day when they would have plunged down into the Capitol Crypt–the level beneath the Rotunda floor. â€Å"The hole in the floor,† Langdon told them, â€Å"was eventually covered, but for a good while, those who visited the Rotunda could see straight down to the fire that burned below.† Sato turned. â€Å"Fire? In the U.S. Capitol?† â€Å"More of a large torch, actually–an eternal flame that burned in the crypt directly beneath us. It was supposed to be visible through the hole in the floor, making this room a modern Temple of Vesta. This building even had its own vestal virgin–a federal employee called the Keeper of the Crypt–who successfully kept the flame burning for fifty years, until politics, religion, and smoke damage snuffed out the idea.† Both Anderson and Sato looked surprised. Nowadays, the only reminder that a flame once burned here was the four-pointed star compass embedded in the crypt floor one story below them–a symbol of America's eternal flame, which once shed illumination toward the four corners of the New World. â€Å"So, Professor,† Sato said, â€Å"your contention is that the man who left Peter's hand here knew all this?† â€Å"Clearly. And much, much more. There are symbols all over this room that reflect a belief in the Ancient Mysteries.† â€Å"Secret wisdom,† Sato said with more than a hint of sarcasm in her voice. â€Å"Knowledge that lets men acquire godlike powers?† â€Å"Yes, ma'am.† â€Å"That hardly fits with the Christian underpinnings of this country.† â€Å"So it would seem, but it's true. This transformation of man into God is called apotheosis. Whether or not you're aware of it, this theme–transforming man into god–is the core element in this Rotunda's symbolism.† â€Å"Apotheosis?† Anderson spun with a startled look of recognition. â€Å"Yes.† Anderson works here. He knows. â€Å"The word apotheosis literally means `divine transformation'–that of man becoming God. It's from the ancient Greek: apo–`to become,' theos–`god.' â€Å" Anderson looked amazed. â€Å"Apotheosis means `to become God'? I had no idea.† â€Å"What am I missing?† Sato demanded. â€Å"Ma'am,† Langdon said, â€Å"the largest painting in this building is called The Apotheosis of Washington. And it clearly depicts George Washington being transformed into a god.† Sato looked doubtful. â€Å"I've never seen anything of the sort.† â€Å"Actually, I'm sure you have.† Langdon raised his index finger, pointing straight up. â€Å"It's directly over your head.† CHAPTER 21 The Apotheosis of Washington–a 4,664-square-foot fresco that covers the canopy of the Capitol Rotunda–was completed in 1865 by Constantino Brumidi. Known as â€Å"The Michelangelo of the Capitol,† Brumidi had laid claim to the Capitol Rotunda in the same way Michelangelo had laid claim to the Sistine Chapel, by painting a fresco on the room's most lofty canvas–the ceiling. Like Michelangelo, Brumidi had done some of his finest work inside the Vatican. Brumidi, however, immigrated to America in 1852, abandoning God's largest shrine in favor of a new shrine, the U.S. Capitol, which now glistened with examples of his mastery–from the trompe l'oeil of the Brumidi Corridors to the frieze ceiling of the Vice President's Room. And yet it was the enormous image hovering above the Capitol Rotunda that most historians considered to be Brumidi's masterwork. Robert Langdon gazed up at the massive fresco that covered the ceiling. He usually enjoyed his students' startled reactions to this fresco's bizarre imagery, but at the moment he simply felt trapped in a nightmare he had yet to understand. Director Sato was standing next to him with her hands on her hips, frowning up at the distant ceiling. Langdon sensed she was having the same reaction many had when they first stopped to examine the painting at the core of their nation. Utter confusion. You're not alone, Langdon thought. For most people, The Apotheosis of Washington got stranger and stranger the longer they looked at it. â€Å"That's George Washington on the central panel,† Langdon said, pointing 180 feet upward into the middle of the dome. â€Å"As you can see, he's dressed in white robes, attended by thirteen maidens, and ascending on a cloud above mortal man. This is the moment of his apotheosis . . . his transformation into a god.† Sato and Anderson said nothing. â€Å"Nearby,† Langdon continued, â€Å"you can see a strange, anachronistic series of figures: ancient gods presenting our forefathers with advanced knowledge. There's Minerva giving technological inspiration to our nation's great inventors–Ben Franklin, Robert Fulton, Samuel Morse.† Langdon pointed them out one by one. â€Å"And over there is Vulcan helping us build a steam engine. Beside them is Neptune demonstrating how to lay the transatlantic cable. Beside that is Ceres, goddess of grain and root of our word cereal; she's sitting on the McCormick reaper, the farming breakthrough that enabled this country to become a world leader in food production. The painting quite overtly portrays our forefathers receiving great wisdom from the gods.† He lowered his head, looking at Sato now. â€Å"Knowledge is power, and the right knowledge lets man perform miraculous, almost godlike tasks.† Sato dropped her gaze back down to Langdon and rubbed her neck. â€Å"Laying a phone cable is a far cry from being a god.† â€Å"Perhaps to a modern man,† Langdon replied. â€Å"But if George Washington knew that we had become a race that possessed the power to speak to one another across oceans, fly at the speed of sound, and set foot on our moon, he would assume that we had become gods, capable of miraculous tasks.† He paused. â€Å"In the words of futurist Arthur C. Clarke, `Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.' â€Å" Sato pursed her lips, apparently deep in thought. She glanced down at the hand, and then followed the direction of the outstretched index finger up into the dome. â€Å"Professor, you were told, `Peter will point the way.' Is that correct?† â€Å"Yes, ma'am, but–â€Å" â€Å"Chief,† Sato said, turning away from Langdon, â€Å"can you get us a closer look at the painting?† Anderson nodded. â€Å"There's a catwalk around the interior of the dome.† Langdon looked way, way up to the tiny railing visible just beneath the painting and felt his body go rigid. â€Å"There's no need to go up there.† He had experienced that seldom-visited catwalk once before, as the guest of a U.S. senator and his wife, and he had almost fainted from the dizzying height and perilous walkway. â€Å"No need?† Sato demanded. â€Å"Professor, we have a man who believes this room contains a portal that has the potential to make him a god; we have a ceiling fresco that symbolizes the transformation of a man into a god; and we have a hand pointing straight at that painting. It seems everything is urging us upward.† â€Å"Actually,† Anderson interjected, glancing up, â€Å"not many people know this, but there is one hexagonal coffer in the dome that actually swings open like a portal, and you can peer down through it and–â€Å" â€Å"Wait a second,† Langdon said, â€Å"you're missing the point. The portal this man is looking for is a figurative portal–a gateway that doesn't exist. When he said, `Peter will point the way,' he was talking in metaphorical terms. This pointing-hand gesture–with its index finger and thumb extended upward–is a well-known symbol of the Ancient Mysteries, and it appears all over the world in ancient art. This same gesture appears in three of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous encoded masterpieces–The Last Supper, Adoration of the Magi, and Saint John the Baptist. It's a symbol of man's mystical connection to God.† As above, so below. The madman's bizarre choice of words was starting to feel more relevant now. â€Å"I've never seen it before,† Sato said. Then watch ESPN, Langdon thought, always amused to see professional athletes point skyward in gratitude to God after a touchdown or home run. He wondered how many knew they were continuing a pre-Christian mystical tradition of acknowledging the mystical power above, which, for one brief moment, had transformed them into a god capable of miraculous feats. â€Å"If it's of any help,† Langdon said, â€Å"Peter's hand is not the first such hand to make an appearance in this Rotunda.† Sato eyed him like he was insane. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† Langdon motioned to her BlackBerry. â€Å"Google `George Washington Zeus.' â€Å" Sato looked uncertain but started typing. Anderson inched toward her, looking over her shoulder intently. Langdon said, â€Å"This Rotunda was once dominated by a massive sculpture of a bare-chested George Washington . . . depicted as a god. He sat in the same exact pose as Zeus in the Pantheon, bare chest exposed, left hand holding a sword, right hand raised with thumb and finger extended.† Sato had apparently found an online image, because Anderson was staring at her BlackBerry in shock. â€Å"Hold on, that's George Washington?† â€Å"Yes,† Langdon said. â€Å"Depicted as Zeus.† â€Å"Look at his hand,† Anderson said, still peering over Sato's shoulder. â€Å"His right hand is in the same exact position as Mr. Solomon's.† As I said, Langdon thought, Peter's hand is not the first to make an appearance in this room. When Horatio Greenough's statue of a naked George Washington was first unveiled in the Rotunda, many joked that Washington must be reaching skyward in a desperate attempt to find some clothes. As American religious ideals changed, however, the joking criticism turned to controversy, and the statue was removed, banished to a shed in the east garden. Currently, it made its home at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, where those who saw it had no reason to suspect that it was one of the last vestigial links to a time when the father of the country had watched over the U.S. Capitol as a god . . . like Zeus watching over the Pantheon. Sato began dialing a number on her BlackBerry, apparently seeing this as an opportune moment to check in with her staff. â€Å"What have you got?† She listened patiently. â€Å"I see . . .† She glanced directly at Langdon, then at Peter's hand. â€Å"You're certain?† She listened a moment longer. â€Å"Okay, thanks.† She hung up and turned back toward Langdon. â€Å"My support staff did some research and confirms the existence of your so-called Hand of the Mysteries, corroborating everything you said: five fingertip markings–the star, the sun, the key, the crown, and the lantern–as well as the fact that this hand served as an ancient invitation to learn secret wisdom.† â€Å"I'm glad,† Langdon said. â€Å"Don't be,† she replied curtly. â€Å"It appears we're now at a dead end until you share whatever it is you're still not telling me.† â€Å"Ma'am?† Sato stepped toward him. â€Å"We've come full circle, Professor. You've told me nothing I could not have learned from my own staff. And so I will ask you once more. Why were you brought here tonight? What makes you so special? What is it that you alone know?† â€Å"We've been through this,† Langdon fired back. â€Å"I don't know why this guy thinks I know anything at all!† Langdon was half tempted to demand how the hell Sato knew that he was in the Capitol tonight, but they'd been through that, too. Sato isn't talking. â€Å"If I knew the next step,† he told her, â€Å"I'd tell you. But I don't. Traditionally, the Hand of the Mysteries is extended by a teacher to a student. And then, shortly afterward, the hand is followed up with a set of instructions . . . directions to a temple, the name of the master who will teach you–something! But all this guy left for us is five tattoos! Hardly–† Langdon stopped short. Sato eyed him. â€Å"What is it?† Langdon's eyes shot back to the hand. Five tattoos. He now realized that what he was saying might not be entirely true. â€Å"Professor?† Sato pressed. Langdon inched toward the gruesome object. Peter will point the way. â€Å"Earlier, it crossed my mind that maybe this guy had left an object clenched in Peter's palm–a map, or a letter, or a set of directions.† â€Å"He didn't,† Anderson said. â€Å"As you can see, those three fingers are not clenched tightly.† â€Å"You're right,† Langdon said. â€Å"But it occurs to me . . .† He crouched down now, trying to see up under the fingers to the hidden part of Peter's palm. â€Å"Maybe it's not written on paper.† â€Å"Tattooed?† Anderson said. Langdon nodded. â€Å"Do you see anything on the palm?† Sato asked. Langdon crouched lower, trying to peer up under the loosely clenched fingers. â€Å"The angle is impossible. I can't–â€Å" â€Å"Oh, for heaven's sake,† Sato said, moving toward him. â€Å"Just open the damned thing!† Anderson stepped in front of her. â€Å"Ma'am! We should really wait for forensics before we touch–† â€Å"I want some answers,† Sato said, pushing past him. She crouched down, edging Langdon away from the hand. Langdon stood up and watched in disbelief as Sato pulled a pen from her pocket, sliding it carefully under the three clenched fingers. Then, one by one, she pried each finger upward until the hand stood fully open, with its palm visible. She glanced up at Langdon, and a thin smile spread across her face. â€Å"Right again, Professor.†

Reasons Why Women Couldnt Vote Before 1914 Essay - 692 Words

Explain why women failed to get the vote before 1914 Women were trying to get the vote for many years before 1900, however this was not a serious concern and they were not doing much to achieve this. However in 1900 this all changed. The NUWSS (Suffragists) and the WSPU (Suffragettes) were set up in the early years of 1900; their goal was to allow women to get the vote. Their reason was that women were already allowed to work on city councils and become doctors, some notable ones too such as Florence Nightingale. The NUWSS believed that if women were house owners and had respectable jobs they should be allowed to vote. This is because men who were allowed to vote could be white slave owners and lunatics so why could these men vote and†¦show more content†¦This overall was society’s expectation of a woman, and up until 1900 they were happy to follow along with this. However in 1900 the NUWSS was formed, they protested peacefully and had petitions to try and get the vote for women, they were sure that this would end with equality between men and women. After several years of being unsuccessful, the WSPU were set up. They were more violent, fighting for votes. They started off by chaining themselves to railings and gates, trivial to what they ended up doing such as arson attacks, stoning and smashing windows as well as Emily Davidson dying for the cause by throwing herself in front of the king’s horse in the final event of the Epson Gala in 1913, however she did not attempt to become a martyr. She was trying to pin a Suffragette flag on the horse so it ran through the finish line flying there causes flag. 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