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. All the violent causes made the government even less likely to grant women votes, they believed that this violent approach they were using was not the way to act and that, since there would be more women voters than there was male voters, the leading party would be decided by women and as they did not know anything about politics, and the country could ultimately fall into anarchy. In 1910 the Conciliation Bill was proclaimed by the government to give the women suffrage, but however this was abandoned in November so the WSPUShow MoreRelatedBritain Faced A Major Social And Political Crisis In The Years 1910-1914947 Words   |  4 PagesYears 1910-1914 There were many reasons why Britain was facing a major Social and Political crisis in the years of 1910-1914, I have narrowed down the reasons to three major issues; The Suffrage movement, Industrial Unrest, Constitutional Crisis. I will be looking at these issues in more depth as to whether they can explain the Crisis. The first issue I will be looking at will be the Suffrage Movement. At the begging of the twentieth Century no woman could vote in elections Read MoreEssay about The Changing Role and Status of Women in Britain Since 19001679 Words   |  7 PagesThe Changing Role and Status of Women in Britain Since 1900 1. Before 1900, women had generally stayed in the home. From the Middle Ages to 17th Century, they had been involved in cottage industries like making gloves. Early in the industrialisation period, women were sent down coalmines, because they cost less, but later on when rules and regulations were set over hours and safety, women were pushed back into the home because men could work harder for longer hoursRead MoreThe Change in Social, Economic and Political Positions of Women in Britain1312 Words   |  6 PagesEconomic and Political Positions of Women in Britain Between 1900 and 1929 there were many changes to the rights and laws regarding women. For a long time women were treated as the property of their fathers and husbands because men were seen as the superior race, but women didnt like this and some started to demand change. There were many social and economical changes for women during this time. There were changes at the factories where women worked because the conditionsRead MoreWomens Failure to Gain the Vote Between 1900-1914 Essay8468 Words   |  34 PagesGain the Vote Between 1900-1914 There are many reasons why women failed to gain the right to vote between 1900 and 1914, these different reasons did not just appear overnight some were had been institutionalised into the very core of British society over a great length of time. The other reasons were public responses to, the then, recent actions of the groups looking to gain the vote for women. For the purpose of this coursework I will separate these reasons into Read MoreThe New Imperialism Of The Late Nineteenth Century2143 Words   |  9 PagesImperialism of the late nineteenth century? What were some of the arguments to justify this imperialism? What were the results or consequences of this imperialism? 4. Considering the period 1933 to 1945, analyze the economic, diplomatic, and military reasons for Germany’s defeat in the Second World War. Causes and Effects of The New Imperialism in World Wars What is the New Imperialism and what were the cause and effects in the World Wars in order to understand what is the â€Å"New Imperialism†, we mustRead MorePrejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and in Maya Angelou Literature1145 Words   |  5 PagesPrejudice can be defined as any preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience, 2. Harm or injury that results or may result from some action or judgment, and due in part to the first Amendment, which gave all Americans the right of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition, many Americans believe they have the right to verbally judge whomever and whatever they seem fit, to no extent. However these same American underestimate the impact prejudice can have on a person’sRead MoreEssay The Effect of World War One on Domestic Life2722 Words   |  11 PagesLife World War One started in 1914. There were many reasons for World War One but the main reason was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand on July 28th in Sarajevo. Everyone thinks of the war as the fighting that went on in France but the war not only affected the soldiers who were fighting it affected the people at home as well who were forced to carry on with the normality of there everyday lives. When World War One started in 1914 there was an excitement to join in Read More Womens Suffrage Essay3961 Words   |  16 Pagescomposed faà §ade. A delicate disposition with a distain for all things violent and vulgar. However, by this point in time, an increasing number of women were becoming ever more frustrated with their suppressed position in society. Women eventually went to extreme, militant measures to gain rights, especially to gain women the right to vote. Although this controversy in the short term could perhaps be seen to delay the implementation of women’s suffrage, combined with the restRead MoreThe Failure of Prohibition Essay3638 Words   |  15 Pagescontributing factors to why prohibition was introduced on 16 January 1920. The two factors that I have chosen to answer the question, how did they contribute to prohibition being passed as a law, are the Anti-Saloon League (ASL) and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). These both campaigned to try and get prohibition passed as a lawThe Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was formed in 1875 and was led by Frances Willard, but the movement of women to try and getRead MoreThe Roaring Twenties in America Essay2893 Words   |  12 Pageswho could afford them had them and wouldnt need new for a wile. When American companies tried to sell their produce in other countries they couldnt because they had a lot of tax on them. American companies lost a lot of money because of this and many people lost their jobs because companies had to shut down factories or couldnt afford to employ them. So between 1922-1927 the companies roared because the Americans only bought there merchandise because the goods from other

Consumer Perception on Security in E-Commerce Portals

CONSUMER PERCEPTION ON SECURITY IN E-COMMERCE PORTALS ABSTRACT With the introduction of internet and e-commerce many companies have been performing their business transactions through e portals such as C2B (Consumer to Business), B2C (Business to Consumer) etc. Increasing technology changes has bought tremendous changes in online business transactions and /or processes (buying and selling) and currently this process has become common. Currently E-commerce portals are playing a vital role in online business and here most consumers have varying opinions or views on online transactions especially security, privacy and trust. Security and privacy are the two major aspects that drive online businesses which leads online consumers to develop†¦show more content†¦The level of satisfaction derived by a customer by a portal depends to a great extent on the authenticity and believability of the information offered by a portal (Bart et. al., 2005). Privacy Vs Freedom of Information Every individual has a right to retain the information of their own tax, medical and other government related documents and this highly sensitive and personalized information is not revealed by the hospitals/doctors, financial institutions, business parties or the government agencies to irrelevant third parties. The Capitalistic societies are trading with the personal data as a saleable commodity (Jan, 2005), resulting in the privacy and free market policies being at odds with each other. Advanced data management technologies have resulted in sophisticated â€Å"Consumer database and management systems† which in turn has become a fast growing and highly profitable business activity by itself. Data stored digitally has an indefinite span of life; because of which, consumers are apprehensive about their personal information being shared with unintended third parties (Warren amp; Brandies, 1890). In the present day context, the â€Å"rights to privacy† is directly conflic ting with the â€Å"freedom or the right to information† being implemented by various democratic societies (Udo, 2001). Protection of the individual personal identifiable information is covered under the privacy. This is one of the major key drivers of online trust. A person buying a system mayShow MoreRelatedBusiness Models in Ecom1049 Words   |  5 PagesOverview Lecture 2 E-Commerce Business Models Boriana Koleva bnk@cs.nott.ac.uk C54 Key components of e-commerce business models Major B2C business models Major B2B business models Business models in other emerging areas of e-commerce Benefits and Problems with E-Commerce E-commerce Business Models Business model – set of planned activities designed to result in a profit in a marketplace Business plan – document that describes a firm’s business model E-commerce business model – aims to use andRead MoreE Commerce And Consumer Attitudes1380 Words   |  6 Pagesof e-commerce in China has relatively been higher and faster than in the United States. This means that this revolution opens more opportunities for businesses like Yiwu Asu. It may also be predicated that the stronger global presence will be achieved by Yiwu Asu in the future. E-commerce and consumer attitudes/perceptions Since there is an amassing number and variety of business that exploit the opportunities presented by e-commerce, consumer attitude should be taken into account. The e-commerceRead MoreE Commerce And The Internet Essay1842 Words   |  8 Pages E-COMMERCE At first, the term ecommerce meant the process of execution of commercial transactions electronically with the help of the leading technologies such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) which gave an opportunity for users to exchange business information and do electronic transactions. Electronic commerce is a term for any type of business, or commercial transaction that involves the transfer of information across the Internet. It covers a range ofRead MoreMobile Commerce: Literature Review2392 Words   |  10 PagesMobile Commerce: Literature Review Dr. Sudha Singh ( Associate Professor, PG Department of Computer Science and Engineering, BCET, Durgapur.) The m-commerce (MC) is an evolving, dynamic, unique and rapidly changing business opportunity with its own characteristics and concept (Lindsay, 2000). Many industry experts believe that m-commerce is a sleeping giant whose time has yet to come (Buhan, 2002). E-commerce benefited many organizations by reducing supplier cost and increasing profit. E-commerceRead MoreOnline Shopping Habits1389 Words   |  6 Pagesshopping or online retailing is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser. Alternative names are: e-shop, e-store, Internet shop, web-shop, web-store, online store, and virtual store. An online shop evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or shopping center; the process is called business-to-consumer (B2C) online shopping. In the case where a businessRead MoreEthical Ethics And Ethical Hacking968 Words   |  4 Pageshacker. â⠂¬Å"A hacker is an individual who intends to gain unauthorized access to a computer system† (Laudon Traver, 2015). Oxford Dictionaries defines an ethical hacker as â€Å"a person who hacks into a computer network in order to test or evaluate its security, rather than with malicious or criminal intent† (Ethical Hacker, n.d.). In other words, an ethical hacker aims to discover if any vulnerabilities exist in the system so the vulnerabilities can be fixed before a malicious hacker can exploit them.Read MoreComparison of Online and Offline Retail Environment of Car Industry2505 Words   |  11 PagesThe offline retail environment of the automobile industry is that of manufacture to intermediary to consumer. The process from which the product (car) proceeds from manufacturer to consumer is that of through the automobile dealer. This intermediary batch purchases a number of models from the manufacturer and sells them from the ‘lot’ or storefront. This placem ent and presentation of the product has proved largely successful. The tangible product is viewed, test driven and purchased from theRead MoreEcom 320 - Assign 12854 Words   |  12 PagesQuestions (30 marks total) Answer each question in one to two paragraphs. 1. What are the major differences between pure play e-commerce and bricks-and-clicks operations? What are the benefits and limitations of each? (5 marks) Pure play e-commerce are virtual retailers that sell directly to consumers over the Internet without maintain a physical sales channel. Virtual e-tailers have the advantage of low overhead costs and streamlined processes. Click and mortar retailers are a combinationRead MoreCommunication Is Essential for Every Organization Essay1374 Words   |  6 Pageswill describe the influences of technology on information communication system in both organization and also the role of information technology system within their supply chain. Explaining the advantages and disadvantages brought by the use of E-commerce and electronic trading within the supply chain of both organization. We will conclude by explaining how the two organization deal with issues in relation to performance and planning aspect trough managing the information flow. To implement a communicationsRead More Mobil Commerce Essay4443 Words   |  18 PagesMobil Commerce The greatest wealth in the 21st century will not be made from products or services, but rather by the company that creates the conduit for international m-commerce through the mobile device   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Unknown author) As defined by market analysts, mobile commerce is the natural extension of e-commerce that allows consumers to make business via a wireless mode anytime, anywhere and always –on. It uses digital cellular phones, PDAs, pagers, notebooks

The Effect Of Aging On Neural Cells - 1425 Words

The Effect of Aging on Neural Cells Introduction: Neurogenesis is defined as the creation of new brain cells. Before studies proved that neural cells do have the capacity to proliferate and repair themselves, it was often believed that species are born with a distinct amount of neural cells and as time passes, these cells would die without the ability to be healed or replaced. It was thought that the cells were mainly formed during the embryonic and perinatal stages in the mammals (Ming and Song, 2005). The first piece of evidence that proved that neural cells can be formed throughout the life of a mammal was found by Altman. He found that there were newly formed granule cells in a postnatal rat hippocampus (Altman and Das, 1965). In humans, there are two main regions that were found to have an active amount of neurogenesis. One is the subgranular zone (SGZ) which is located in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. It is here that new dentate granule cells are generated. The other is the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the late ral ventricles. Neurons are generated in this area and are migrated through the rostral migratory system (RMS) to the olfactory bulbs where they become interneurons (Gage, 2000). A question scientists continuously investigate is whether or not there is a decrease in an organism’s ability to regenerate and repair neural cells as they age, and if this there is a limit on their ability to regenerate these cells, are there genes or proteins thatShow MoreRelatedStem Cell Aging1894 Words   |  8 PagesStem cell aging is still a controversial topic among scientists. One of the most popular explanations of stem cell aging is defined by the decrease in ability to proliferate or self-renew. Cell regulation mechanisms that have been related to aging are senescence and apoptosis. Leading evidence has identified the relationship between p16INK4a, a tumor suppressor protein, and aging in neural stem cells. Neural stem cells regenerate neurons and glial cells as required by the organism s, but an increaseRead MoreBiological Hazards And Physical Hazards1051 Words   |  5 PagesExogenous threats can shape stress responses across the lifespan, and influences the rate of aging (ES-2014-aging). Environmental stressors include any factors that cause cell injury, such as heavy metals, radiation, heat exposure, reactive oxygen species, osmotic fluctuation, as well as social and psychological stressors (ES-2014). These trigger the stress response and related behavioral pathways through neural networks and interconnected neurohormonal and immune patterns. The capacity of human beingsRead MoreRelation Between Sarcopenia And Functional Disabilities And Increase Risk Of Falls Essay1372 Words   |  6 Pagesdisability, it is well established that the aging process itself is associated with numerous changes in the human body. One of the most significant age-related anatomical changes is that which happens to the skeletal muscle mass (Visser and Schaap, 2011). â€Å"Sarcopenia† is used to indicate progressive reduction in muscle mass, muscle strength and function that affect older people (Pathy et al., 2006). Sarcopenia results in unfavorable and detrimental effects on an older person’s physical function. MuscleRead MoreThe Benefits of Strength Training1449 Words   |  6 Pagesstrength, but the ability to negate or control certain diseases while improving conditions associated with aging. Studies have shown that initial increases in strength seen in the beginning stages of strength training programs are largely due to neural factors, even though, the process responsible for muscle growth is evident in early weeks of training. Research shows that different types of neural adaptations like enhanced coordination and increased voluntary activation of major muscles are responsibleRead MoreThe Effects Of Time Spent Learning New Information On Memory Recall Essay1605 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom having an unproductive part in the neural cell activity because everyone should have fairly good memory. Does aging have an effect on memory recall? Does a person’s poor memory recall have to do with a neurological disorder? Does the amount of time given to learn something, effect the ability to recall? In this paper, first, the literature on memory retrieval and neural cell activity is reviewed. And then, an experiment will be proposed to examine the effects of time spent learn ing new informationRead MoreA Research On The Field Of Neuroscience1424 Words   |  6 Pagesnervous, endocrine and immune system in healthy aging and disease conditions. Therefore, I acquired a deeper understanding of neuroendocrine-immune interactions and the development of intervention strategies in aging and in combating debilitating diseases such as cancer. After the completion of my M. Tech. program, I further decided to pursue my doctoral research in the same area, with Prof. Srinivasan ThyagaRajan. My doctoral dissertation examines the effects of Morinda citrifolia fruit juice on the neuroendocrine-immuneRead MoreArt Therapies And Its Impact On Cognition1271 Words   |  6 PagesSuccessful aging is something individuals want to attain, especially maintaining our cognition and memory, as we get older. Therefore, (Denis, 2013 ) Cognition is a component of a person biological make up that is not fixed for individuals, it can be improved or decline through out the life span (Cavanaugh, 2011 ). Cognition has many different facets; cognition is not static throughout a person’s lifespan. 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Succubus Heat CHAPTER 10 Free Essays

string(47) " a little north of it, the traffic cleared up\." Dante promptly passed out after sex later that night, but I stayed awake for a while. Rolling over at last, I turned my back to him and stared at my bedside table. I’d set Seth’s book there, and now its spine stared out at me, like we were having a showdown to see who would look away first. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Heat CHAPTER 10 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Seth had given it to me as a gift, possibly a peace offering, yet I was afraid of it, afraid of how I might feel if I opened it. After ten minutes of staring, I finally reached for the book and scooted closer to the bed’s edge so that I could get more light from my tiny reading lamp. Curling onto my side, I took a deep breath and opened up All Fools Night . First came the title page, then the dedication: For my niece Brandy, who dreams of great things and will achieve greater ones still . It was embarrassing, but I had almost for a moment speculated whether he might have dedicated the book to me. He’d finished it right around the time we first started dating, but he’d been editing and making small changes right up until the time we broke up. It was vanity, I supposed, to think there might be some sign of my time with Seth in the book. Yet, when I turned the page, I wondered. Before the first chapter, Seth always had a quote, something from a speech or possibly a verse from a poem that was relevant to the book. This was from a song: And if I only could I’d make a deal with God And I’d get Him to swap our places – â€Å"Running Up That Hill,† by Kate Bush I read the lyrics a couple of times, wondering if there was more to them or if I just wanted there to be more to them. I’d heard the song a long time ago, and it had had that poppy synth feel so common to music in the 1980s. I didn’t recall this particular part. Finally, dragging my eyes away, I moved onto the heart of the book. Before meeting Seth, I’d rationed myself while reading his novels. I would only read five pages a day because I’d wanted to prolong the sweetness of that first reading. When something was really good, it was easy to dive into it, and before you knew it, the moment was gone. You’d burned through it. I experienced that too frequently in my long existence, and a strict reading schedule was a weak attempt to slow things down. When I settled into this book, though, I didn’t really have a plan, and before long, I knew stopping at five pages was impossible. It was exquisite. While he had a few self-standing novels, this series-Cady and O’Neill-was his flagship one. At its basic level, this was just a mystery book, yet there was a wonderful, lyrical quality to Seth’s writing that elevated him above the genre ghetto. Sure, there was action and a trail of clues, but his characters were also evolving, always growing in ways both wonderful and heartbreaking. Seth had a way of describing their feelings and their reactions in a style that was so real, it resonated with my own life and left an ache in my chest. Whether that was for his art or for the man himself, I couldn’t say. It was only when Dante rolled over that I’d realized I’d been sniffling. â€Å"Are you crying, succubus?† â€Å"It’s this book,† I said. I had just read a section where Cady and O’Neill were having a profound talk about life, and O’Neill had commented that all people were seeking both damnation and forgiveness, needing each to make sense of their existence. I was crying because it was true and because Seth had known it was true. â€Å"There are a lot of things to cry about in this world,† Dante said through a yawn. â€Å"Not sure a book should be one of them.† The clock read 4 a.m. by that point, and my eyes were bleary from tears and a need to sleep. I put down Seth’s book-which I was now more than half-way through-and turned off the light. Dante shifted and threw an arm around me, resting his chin on my shoulder. His breathing grew heavy and regular, and before long, I joined him in sleep. The phone woke me up at an ungodly hour later in the morning. Dante was gone already. I found that surprising, but seeing as he hadn’t gotten three hours of sleep, it might not have been that much of a leap. â€Å"Hello?† Finding the phone had been feat enough, let alone checking the caller ID. A frantic voice answered me. â€Å"Georgina? This is Blake.† â€Å"Blake?† I didn’t think I knew any Blake. â€Å"Don’t tell me you forgot about us?† He pronounced â€Å"about† as â€Å"aboot,† and it came back to me through my sleep-addled brain. â€Å"Oh, God. I’m sorry. Blake. From the Army.† Him calling me couldn’t be a good sign. I sat up straighter in bed. â€Å"What’s going on?† â€Å"They’re doing something today†¦I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but I’m worried. I don’t know much, except that it’s big.† I was up and moving now, clothes and hair shape-shifting as I walked. â€Å"Do you have anything else? A time or place?† â€Å"Not yet. Evan’s being really secretive about what he’s telling us. He says the Angel wants it to be a need-to-know-thing and that we won’t find out the details until the absolute last minute.† â€Å"Fuck.† I suspected the Angel was also trying to limit my knowledge as well. Flattering, but frustrating. â€Å"Okay, well, listen, I’m in Seattle, but I’m getting on the road right now. I should be there in two hours.† â€Å"You can’t get up here in two hours,† he said incredulously. â€Å"I can if I don’t drive the speed limit.† There was a bit of congestion within the city itself, but once I got a little north of it, the traffic cleared up. You read "Succubus Heat CHAPTER 10" in category "Essay examples" It was the morning commute; everyone wanted to get into Seattle. Once I had clear highway ahead of me, I dialed Cedric. I knew he wasn’t going to like my lack of information, but considering how angry he’d been after last time, I had to at least make the attempt here to keep myself out of trouble. It was Kristin who answered. â€Å"He’s having breakfast right now,† she told me. â€Å"It’s kind of a special time for him. He doesn’t like to be disturbed.† There was an anxious tone to her voice, and I could almost picture her arranging a breakfast tray just-so for him. â€Å"Yeah, well, he might be disturbed whether he likes it or not.† I told her what Blake had said, and her response was similar to mine. â€Å"That’s all you’ve got?† â€Å"Their Angel’s working on a need-to-know basis now,† I said bitterly. â€Å"I’ll let you know more when I learn more. I just figured Cedric should know.† She sighed. â€Å"You’re right. Thanks. Man, this is going to piss him off. He’ll have no appetite at all.† I made the drive in the two hours I’d quoted Blake and miraculously didn’t get pulled over. I hadn’t heard from him the entire time, so I dialed him once I was over the border and buying coffee. I’d found a Starbucks and took a secret thrill in defying the Tim Hortons domination. Except†¦once I had the coffee in hand, I decided a donut would be really good with it, so I walked over and got one from the Tim’s across the street. Blake didn’t answer, so I tried Evan next and also got no answer. Frustrated, I drove over to Evan’s house and knocked on the door for a while. I was nearly on the verge of climbing in through a back window when my phone rang again-and ironically, it was Evan himself. â€Å"Georgina!† he exclaimed, sounding ecstatic. â€Å"Where are you? We need you here.† â€Å"Where are you ?† I demanded. â€Å"On the observation deck,† he said. â€Å"Observation deck of what?† â€Å"The Space Needle. You live close by, don’t you?† I nearly dropped the phone. â€Å"You’re in Seattle ?† â€Å"Yeah!† I could perfectly picture that eager, zealous look of his. â€Å"Cool, huh? The Angel wanted us to expand our message. So, we’re all up here with these banners that we’re going to unfurl at the same time, and then we’ve got a few more surprises to-â€Å" â€Å"Evan,† I begged, sprinting toward my car. â€Å"Don’t do it. You’re stirring up more trouble than you realize.† â€Å"That’s the point!† he chuckled. â€Å"How long until you can be here?† Once I told him I wasn’t in the city, he lost interest, and my pleas became meaningless. As soon as we disconnected, I dialed Cedric, expecting to get Kristin. Instead, I got his voice mail. Somehow, that made me angry. â€Å"Cedric, this is Georgina. The Army isn’t doing their thing here-they’re down in Seattle right now. I hope you finally believe I didn’t have anything to do with their stupid plans now! When Jerome finds out, it’s going to be my ass on the line, and knowing my luck, he’ll think you and I are working together.† Yes, this was one of those situations in which there was no way I could win. I was going to get in trouble no matter what I did, but again, I had to attempt damage control. Jerome had a cell phone that he never answered and didn’t even have voice mail for. Hugh was the best way to get a hold of him-but he didn’t pick up either. â€Å"Damn it!† I cried into his phone. â€Å"Doesn’t anyone answer their fucking phones anymore?† I gave him a hasty recap of what was happening and told him to let Jerome or one of the demonesses know about the cult’s plans, or else Jerome was going to get the same scrutiny from the higher-ups that Cedric had been getting. After that, there was nothing left for me to do except hit the road to Seattle again-something I was not happy about. Fortunately, I was fully outside the commuting times now and again could enjoy easy driving as I zipped down I-5 at 75. Pretty Hate Machine blared on my speakers and was oddly soothing to my agitated mood. I eventually fell into that trance-like state drivers often get, with one part of my brain watching the road and the other frantically wondering if my warning had reached any of the Seattle demons in time to intercept the Army. I had just cleared Everett, about a half-hour outside of Seattle, when it hit me. A jolt of electricity shot through my body, making the world spin and my vision blur. I felt hot all over. My hands slipped on the wheel, nearly causing me to swerve into the neighboring lane. I had just enough bearings to slam on my hazard lights and pull off on the shoulder before I hit someone. A wave of nausea rolled through my stomach, then settled down, then swept through me again. Shifting the car into park, I put my head down on the steering wheel, hoping for some clarity. There was a buzzing in my ears, and my whole body shook. What the hell? I didn’t get sick. Ever. The only thing that could really affect me like this was drinking too much or indulging in other substances. I’d had food poisoning a couple of times, but it had been short-lived, and somehow I doubted that donut I’d had was doing this to me. I lifted my head up a little, but the world kept rocking. Closing my eyes, I rested my cheek against the steering wheel and took a few deep breaths, hoping I wouldn’t throw up. I had no idea what was going on here, but it would pass. It had to pass. And it did-a little. I don’t know how long I sat like that, maybe about fifteen minutes, but the next time I dared a peek up, the dizziness had lessened. The nausea was still there, but it too had dropped to a lower level. Deciding to risk it, I turned back onto I-5, anxious to finish my drive to the city and figure out what was wrong with me. I made it back to town without causing an accident and nearly fell over trying to make it up my building’s stairs. I didn’t even bother with my suitcase and simply left it in the car. Once in my apartment, I headed straight for my room and crashed on the bed. Aubrey joined me and peered curiously at my face. I gave her a few pets, then let my hand slip down as I fell asleep, too weak to hold it up any longer. I woke up almost two hours later, shaken out of sleep by knocking at my door. I sat up, relieved to find my stomach had settled. The light-headedness had also gone away. Maybe the donut had been defective after all†¦and yet, I had this weird feeling-this tiny, nagging suspicion-that something wasn’t right. Only, I had no clue or evidence as to what it was. Ignoring it for now, I stumbled out to the living room and opened my door, not even bothering to look out the peephole. Cody and Peter stood there, both of them grinning from ear to ear. â€Å"What do you want?† I asked, stepping aside for them when the door opened. â€Å"I was sleeping.† â€Å"I can tell by your hair,† said Peter, flouncing on my couch. â€Å"And what are you doing asleep? It’s the middle of the day.† Still groggy, I squinted at my clock. It was a little after three. â€Å"Yeah, I know. I didn’t feel good. It’s weird. I just suddenly felt wiped out and dizzy.† That smile had never left Cody’s face. He sat beside Peter. â€Å"How do you feel now?† I shrugged and settled onto my loveseat. â€Å"Fine, I guess. A little tired, but the worst is over.† That nondescript something isn’t right here feeling was still with me, though. â€Å"You shouldn’t be cooped up inside,† said Peter. â€Å"It’s a great day.† â€Å"Look at all the sun,† agreed Cody. â€Å"It’s like summer came early.† I followed his gaze to the window. Warm golden light spilled in onto my floor, much to Aubrey’s delight, and beyond the neighboring building, I could see blue sky. Still, I wasn’t impressed. â€Å"We’re barely into spring. This is a fluke. It’ll probably be cold tomorrow.† Peter shook his head. â€Å"You sure are grumpy when you wake up.† They both seemed so absurdly pleased with themselves, and I couldn’t figure out why. â€Å"Maybe you should get outside,† said Cody, exchanging smirks with Peter. â€Å"We were going to go for a walk after this. It might cheer you up.† â€Å"Yup. Nothing like a bright, sunny afternoon to perk up the old spirits.† Peter’s grin grew even bigger. I leaned my head back against the loveseat. â€Å"Okay, okay. What’s the joke I’m missing here?† â€Å"No joke,† said Peter. â€Å"We just think it’s a great day.† â€Å"A beautiful, sunny day,† Cody concurred. â€Å"Will you two stop already? I get it. It’s a nice day. The sun is out the, the birds are singing-â€Å" I stopped. I felt my eyes go wide. I looked at the smirking vampires, then looked at the sun-filled world outside, and then looked back at them. I swallowed. â€Å"How,† I asked quietly, â€Å"are you guys out in the middle of the day?† Their pent-up mirth exploded, and they both dissolved into laughter. I felt wide awake now. â€Å"I’m serious! What’s going on? You can’t be out in daylight, and how-wait. I didn’t sense you guys at the door. I still can’t sense you.† â€Å"I know,† said Cody. â€Å"Isn’t it crazy?† â€Å"No! Well, I mean, yes. But it’s not†¦it’s not supposed to happen,† I argued. I didn’t understand how they could find this so entertaining. Something was wrong. Very wrong. All the drama with the Army was gone from my mind. That niggling worry that I’d woken up with turned into a hard knot of fear. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I’d gone cold all over. â€Å"How is this possible? The sun should fry you.† â€Å"Hell if we know,† said Peter. â€Å"We were in our coffins and then just suddenly†¦woke up. We got out, and there we were. Out and about in the middle of the day. You know what else? I don’t want blood. No desire whatsoever. Not even a drop.† â€Å"And so what, you guys just decide to go stroll around and enjoy the day? You didn’t contact Jerome? You didn’t question the fact that something has seriously altered your immortal existence?† A mischievous look crossed Peter’s face. â€Å"Not just us, Georgina.† They both watched me expectantly. â€Å"Don’t look at me like that,† I told them. â€Å"I’ve always been able to go out in the sun.† â€Å"You don’t have a signature either. We can’t sense you,† said Cody. I stared at them for several heavy seconds, trying to parse the meaning here. An uneasy feeling began building in my stomach as I recognized their implication-except what they were implying was impossible. Unthinkable. â€Å"You’re wrong,† I said. Slowly, carefully, I touched my face. It was exactly the same as it had been this morning. My build was the same. My height was the same. I was still me. I exhaled with relief. â€Å"I’m the same.† Peter’s eyes danced. â€Å"Fix your hair. It’s a mess.† Shape-shifting is an instinct for a succubus or incubus, practically subconscious. It’s like tightening a muscle or taking a deep breath. You barely think about it, send the message from your brain, and it happens. So, I thought about my hair, willing it to smooth out and tidy itself into a ponytail. There was usually a slight tingle when that happened, resulting from the burn of using up a piece of my stored energy. And of course, there was always the tangible evidence-the actual change of my appearance. This time, there was nothing. No tingle. No hair movement. Peter leaned forward. â€Å"Ooh, it did happen to you! You’re the same. None of us are working.† â€Å"No,† I said frantically. â€Å"That’s not possible.† I tried again, willing my hair to change-to turn a different color, grow short, restyle itself†¦but there was nothing. I tried to shift my clothes, urging my jeans and Henley to become a slip dress. Or maybe a track suit. I even attempted to make my clothes disappear altogether. Nothing happened. Nothing . In pure desperation, I did the unthinkable: I tried to give up the unconscious hold I always maintained in order to keep a form that wasn’t my natural one. I let go of all control, allowing my body to shift back to the one I was born with, the one my essence always wanted to return to-the one I fought very, very hard to hide from the world. Nothing happened. I stayed the same. I couldn’t shape-shift. It was like having my arm cut off. Until that moment, I didn’t realize how much of my self was tied into shape-shifting. As a mortal, the power had been unimaginable. After having it for a millennium and a half, it had become part of me, and its absence was now unbearable. I didn’t have to see my face to know I wore pure panic. Peter and Cody were still laughing. I shot up, incredulous. â€Å"This isn’t funny,† I cried. â€Å"We have to talk to Jerome. Now. There’s something seriously wrong with us!† â€Å"Or right,† suggested Cody. â€Å"Why do you think this is a joke?† â€Å"We don’t,† said Peter calmly. Underneath his mirth, I saw the tiniest bit of concern in his eyes, concern he was clearly trying to ignore for now. â€Å"We just think it’s cool. You don’t think Jerome already knows about this? Whatever it is, they’ll fix it soon enough. Nothing we can change.† The tirade I was about to unleash on them was interrupted by more knocking. Just like with the vampires, I sensed no immortal signature. Anyone could have been at my door. Yet, peering out the peephole, I saw Hugh. I let him in, feeling relieved. Hugh would sort this out. He always knew what was going on since he and Jerome maintained such constant communication. Hugh’s confidence and typical know-it-all air would fix everything. Instead, he looked miserable. Dejected. He trudged in and dropped onto where I’d just been sitting. He put his elbows on his knees and rested his chin in his hands. â€Å"Hey, Hugh,† said Cody. â€Å"Isn’t it a great day?† I knelt down on the floor in front of Hugh, so I could look straight into his eyes. â€Å"Hugh, what’s going on?† He simply stared at me, dark eyes mournful and bleak. I’d seen Hugh angry, elated, and exasperated over the years, but I’d never seen him depressed. It would have bothered me, if not for the fact we had a few other things to worry about than his hurt feelings just now. â€Å"Hugh! We’ve all lost our†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I frowned, not sure what to call it. Powers? That sounded too Justice League. â€Å"†¦abilities.† â€Å"I know,† he said at last. â€Å"So have I.† â€Å"What powers did you even have?† asked Cody, apparently not minding the superhero comparison. â€Å"Multitasking?† teased Peter. â€Å"The ability to balance books and collate?† I shot him a quick glare over my shoulder and then glanced at Cody to explain. â€Å"Imps see souls-everyone’s life energy. They can tell whose soul is good and whose is bad.† â€Å"I know that,† said Cody. â€Å"I just thought there was†¦more.† Hugh sighed. â€Å"You can’t imagine it, Georgina. Not having that ability now. It’s like losing one of my senses. Or going colorblind.† â€Å"I know exactly what you mean,† I told him. â€Å"Not likely. When you can’t see energy and souls around living beings, the world is so†¦empty. It’s dull.† â€Å"Why did it happen?† I asked gently, trying my best to squelch my own escalating fear. Internally, I was still reeling. My shape-shifting was gone. My immortal signature was gone. The marks that defined me as Georgina Kincaid, succubus, were gone. â€Å"What’s going on?† Hugh’s eyes were still sad and unfocused, but finally, he looked at me and studied my face, like he’d just noticed me in front of him. â€Å"We get our various gifts and immortality for selling our souls,† he began slowly. â€Å"Those unique abilities-and their side effects-come from our contract with Hell and are filtered through our archdemons. It’s what lets them keep track of us. We’re†¦connected†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He frowned, grasping at how to best explain the system through which Hell managed its employees. â€Å"I know what you’re talking about,† I said. Cedric would know if I crossed into his territory simply because he could sense me when I was close enough. Jerome, so long as he was my supervisor, knew where I was at all times and if I was hurt. He was always aware of me, always tied to me. â€Å"Our†¦powers†¦are transmitted from Hell, through Jerome, to us.† â€Å"Right,† Hugh said. I waited for more, but that seemed to be all he had to say. â€Å"Right what? Why are our abilities gone?† A bit of the normal Hugh exasperation glinted in his eyes. â€Å"Because Jerome is gone.† â€Å"Jerome’s gone all the time,† Peter said. â€Å"We can never get a hold of him. We can’t get a hold of him now.† Hugh shook his head. â€Å"You aren’t getting it. When I say gone, I don’t mean hiding from us at a bar. I mean gone . Vanished. Disappeared. Might as well not exist for all intents and purposes. No one knows where he is. Not our side, not the other side. He. Is. Gone.† Dead silence hung around us for what felt like an eternity. And that was saying something. Peter’s voice was hard to hear when he finally spoke. â€Å"And as long as he’s gone†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"†¦then so are our abilities,† I finished. How to cite Succubus Heat CHAPTER 10, Essay examples

Scheduling Strategy

Question: Which Scheduling strategy would you recommend for this new operating system? Please provide reasons to support your recommendation? Answer: Consider first that I've been a day by day iPad client since the day the tablet propelled. I've never had much liking for MacOS and Apple desktops, yet I have actually utilized either the iPad, iPad 2 or new iPad consistently since April 3, 2010. Tablets work for me. Touch route meets expectations for me. What's more, the iPad has worked for mein spite of the way that its never helped me do any genuine work. Anyhow now there's a genuine distinct option for the iPad in my life. Throughout the previous couple of weeks, I've been playing with different Windows 8 tablets, including, yes, the new Surface RT, which I took for a twist on Microsoft's Redmond grounds recently. Windows 8 tablets are the genuine article, individuals, and their novel charms attach straightforwardly back to the new OS. Presently, don't imagine it any other way: Navigating the Windows 8 touch interface includes a precarious expectation to absorb information. The new touch motions aren't natural, and this alone cedes critical ground to iOS, which is so basic, ranch creatures could likely make sense of it. Anyway as with numerous vexing programming interfaces (think Photoshop or Excel), awesome force is frequently bolted inside apparently enigmatic UI. A Unix document is simply a huge pack of bytes, with no different qualities. Specifically, there is no ability to store data about the document sort or a pointer to a related application program outside the record's real information. All the more by and large, everything is a byte stream; even equipment gadgets are byte streams. This illustration was an enormous achievement of right on time Unix, and a genuine propel over a world in which (for instance) aggregated projects couldn't create yield that could be bolstered back to the compiler. Pipes and shell programming sprang from this allegory. At the same time Unix's byte-stream representation is central to the point that Unix experiences difficulty coordinating programming articles with operations that don't fit perfectly into the byte stream or record collection of operations (make, open, read, compose, erase). This is particularly an issue for GUI protests, for example, symbols, windows, and "live" records. Inside an established Unix model of the world, the best way to expand the everything-is-a-byte-stream analogy is through ioctl calls, a famously appalling accumulation of secondary passages into bit space. Enthusiasts of the Macintosh group of working frameworks have a tendency to be vociferous about this. They advocate a model in which a solitary filename may have both information and asset 'forks', the information fork relating to the Unix byte stream and the asset fork being an accumulation of name/worth sets. Unix partisans lean toward methodologies that make document information delineating toward oneself so that adequately the same kind of metadata is put away inside the record. The issue with the Unix methodology is that each system that composes the document needs to think about it. Subsequently, for instance, on the off chance that we need the document to convey sort data inside it, each instrument that touches it needs to fare thee well to either safeguard the sort field unaltered or translate and afterward revise it. While this would be hypothetically conceivable to orchestrate, by and by it would be excessively delicate. Then again, supporting document qualities brings up clumsy issues about which record operations ought to safeguard them. It's unmistakable that a duplicate of a named record to another name ought to duplicate the source document's traits and additionally its information however assume we cat(1) the document, diverting the yield of cat(1) to another name? The response to this inquiry relies on upon whether the qualities are really properties of filenames or are in some enchanted route packaged with the record's information as a kind of undetectable introduction or postamble. At that point the inquiry gets to be: Which operations make the properties noticeable. In registering, multitasking is a system where various undertakings (otherwise called courses of action) are performed amid the same time of time they are executed simultaneously (in covering time periods, new assignments beginning before others have finished) rather than consecutively (one finishing before the following begins). The undertakings offer basic transforming assets, for example, focal preparing units (CPUs) and principle memory. Multitasking does not so much imply that various assignments are executing at precisely the same moment. As it were, multitasking does not suggest parallel execution, yet it does imply that more than one undertaking can be part-path through execution in the meantime, and that more than one assignment is propelling over a given time of time. References: Belay, A., Prekas, G., Klimovic, A., Grossman, S., Kozyrakis, C., Bugnion, E. (2014, October). IX: A protected dataplane operating system for high throughput and low latency. In11th USENIX Symposium on Operating Systems Design and Implementation (OSDI 14),(Broomfield, CO)(pp. 49-65) Andrews, C. A., Huber, G. D., Lo, Y. C., Swierk, T. (2015).U.S. Patent No. 20,150,082,012. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Hodson, O. T., Hunt, G. C., Nightingale, E. B. (2014).U.S. Patent No. 8,776,088. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office