Friday, January 24, 2020

The Federal Reserve System Essay -- Economics Economy

What the world needs now is Money Sweet Money"; that is not the way the song goes however that is surely the way our world and economy does. Money and its importance relative to the US Government have always been difficult to figure out especially when it comes to interest rates. Due to our Federal Reserve System, its chairman Alan Greenspan, and his Board of Governors dedicated to seeing that our economy blossoms, those doubts have become a thing of the past, for now. The Federal Reserve System is a central banking of the US Government, most commonly known as the Fed. A central bank serves as the banker to both the banking community and the government. It issues the national currency, conducts monetary policy, and plays a major role in the supervision and regulation of banks and bank holding companies. Congress created the Fed in 1913. It was designed to ensure political independence and sensitivity to the many different economic concerns. The chairman and the six other members of the Board of Governors who oversea the Fed are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are twelve District Reserve Banks, subsequently located in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, in Richmond, VA. In Atlanta, GA., Cleveland, OH. St. Louis and Kansas City, MO., Chicago, Minneapolis MI., Dallas, TX. And San Francisco. Each bank is responsible to a 9 member Board of Directors, which is set in a three-class system. The three classes are defined as A, B, and member banks elect C. Class A and the Board of Governors appoints B Directors and Class C. The Board of Directors is responsible for the administration of its banks and the appointment of the banks president and vice-president. This process is set from the base... ...1987. In conclusion, the job of Mr. Greenspan and the Federal Reserve is not an easy one. Whenever money is involved there is always great potential for problems. With the monetary policy always an issue, Mr. Greenspan has to constantly come up with ways to keep our economy steady despite changes nationally and internationally. This recently became a relevant factor. At the very moment Mr. Greenspan was expected to accept his ultimate reappointment as Chair of the FED he was in the process of making it painfully clear that he was not going to allow the rapidly growing economy to foster inflationary imbalances that would undermine the economy's record economic expansion. This and other important factors caused several short-term interest rate increases. This saga continues but the FED with all they have to do has steadily maintained an economy to be proud of for now.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Samoan Culture

Keenan Schwalger Mrs. Kay Berry English 1010 10/19/10 Samoan culture plays a large part in the lives of those with Samoan heritage. Samoan culture is kept strong in a Samoan house hold by keeping the culture alive. This is done by keeping family unity, the art of traditional tattooing, and eating traditional foods and cooking traditional ways. Family life in Samoan culture is huge. They value family very much. It is one of the most important parts of their life. They mostly live with their extended family all in one house in Samoa, or very near them here in the US.Traditionally the Grandmother and Grandfather will live with one their children and sometimes if needed, so will a couple of the Aunts and Uncles. The idea of sending a parent or grandparent to live in nursing home is unheard of in Samoan, and most other Polynesian cultures. It is expected that they will take care of their family. Clarence Schwalger, a Samoan living in Saint George Utah says that â€Å"the entire Samoan cu lture is based around the family†. It is not unusual to see a large Samoan family living in one house. Most Polynesians, including Samoans have very large families, with more than 5 children up to 10 or more.Family is so important that when they have a family reunion the entire family will fly from even New Zealand just to be with the family for a week. It doesn’t matter if they go into debt to go. It is that important to them. Some families can have a family reunion every 2 to 3 years. Any special occasions in the family can be an excuse to get together. Baptism, blessings, weddings, and funerals are all important occasions that bring extended families together. Being together as an extended family is what Samoans love best. The tattoo is a very important, symbolic and, respected part of the culture.It is known as the turning from a boy to a man. The Samoan tattoo is called the Pe’a, and starts on the lower back and run all the way down to the lower thigh. Many of the designs represent animals and have many meanings. â€Å"The triangles on the back resemble the Samoan flying fox. The flying fox is actually a bat, and when it looks for food, it circles in flight. Samoans believe the circular flying represents the cycles of life. † (Channell,18). In Samoa these tattoos are given to the chief of the family and he is the one who is fully tattooed.The tattooing is a very painful process and is done by taking pieces of sharpen bone and ink and taping the tattoo in with a mallet. The tattoo designs are beautiful designs consisting of many geometric shapes put together in a way they flows. The tattoo is much respected. Once started, it must be completed or it will bring shame upon the young man, and his family. After it is completed, the young mans gains new status among his people. With the receiving of his tattoo, he has now taken on the responsibly of being a man, and also to be an example and leader of his family. In Samoa, eating is a large part of the traditional culture.Almost all Polynesians eat in family groups and often invite others to join in their large meals. They almost always cook more than is needed just in case someone drops in for dinner. A Sunday feast called to'ono'i is prepared in a large cooking pots big enough to feed almost an army. In Samoa, traditional meals are cooked in an umu, which is an in ground cooking pit. Food is cleaned, and traditionally wrapped in banana leaves and put on the tops of rocks that have been heated. The food is then covered by more leaves, and the entire oven steams together for several hours.Hot rocks cook amazingly well, and are even used to cook meats as large as a pig. This type of cooking is very hard work, and is so tradition calls that the men do all the cooking. There is an old saying that goes something like â€Å"most people eat until they are full, but Samoans eat until they are tired. † This is evident by the largeness of the people. Samoans love t o eat. The main diet in Samoa consists of chicken, fish and local fruits and vegetables. This is slowly starting to change however, with the introduction of fast food restaurants such as McDonalds.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

AIDS/HIV Essay - 2283 Words

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing contaminated needles and syringes, mother to child (perinatal) and contaminated blood product (National Association of Health Authorities, 1988). 1.2 PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH Late HIV diagnosis remains a major problem among black Africans in England. In 2007, about 42 per cent of black Africans diagnosed with HIV were diagnosed late (HPA, 2008a). This compromises their survival chances because evidence indicates that starting treatment with a CD4 cell count below 200 copies/mm3 (a measure of the degree to which an individual’s immune system is compromised) increases the risk of disease progression and death (Gazzard, 2008). The†¦show more content†¦In 2007, there were 2,691 new HIV diagnoses among black Africans, representing 40% of all new diagnoses in the UK (HPA 2008c). The majority had acquired their infection heterosexually and in Africa. The number of new diagnoses among black Caribbeans remained low (189 in 2007), representing 3% of new diagnoses in 2007 (HPA 2008c). The percentage of late diagnoses, that is after a point when treatment should have begun, among new diagnoses of HIV in 2007 was highest among black Africans (42%). Twe nty-seven percent of HIV diagnoses among black Caribbeans were late. The worldwide HIV outbreak continues to impact negatively on African communities in the UK. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most severely affected by the HIV pandemic; as a result, immigrants from sub-Saharan African countries constitute an increasingly large group of those affected by HIV in the UK (Sinka, et al., 2003; UNAIDS, 2006; HPA, 2007). In the UK, African immigrants make up 36% of those living with HIV (12,558 out of 34,689) despite the fact that they constitute less than 1% of the population (Morris, 2008; HPA, 2009). As part of its continued investigation into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, in 2005 The Guardian newspaper looked at the impact of HIV/AIDS on African communities in the UK and stated the following shocking conclusions: If you are black, African and living in the UK, you are 50 times more likely to be HIV positive than any otherShow MoreRelatedHiv / Aids And Aids1472 Words   |  6 PagesHIV/AIDS is the major ongoing issue attacking sub-Saharan Africa. The damage caused by HIV/AIDS strips families, communities, and increases poverty. In Kenya, the plague has mainly targeted those in the fertile and reproductive age groups. According to estimates by the United Nations of AIDS (UNAIDS), â€Å"Indication of 22.5 million people were living with HIV in Africa, over 1.6 million people were estimated to have died from this syndrome, and well over 11 million children have been orphaned by AIDSRead MoreAids : Hiv / Aids Essay1330 Words   |  6 PagesLauren Kennedy United States HIV/AIDS Part 1: Background of Topic: What became later known as aids was detected in West Africa when scientists identified a species of chimpanzees that had a version of this virus in their immune system. They later found out that the disease was transmitted to humans and created into HIV when people hunted these animals for food and came in contact with their infected blood. Decade after decade this illness swooped over Africa like a blanket and began to spread toRead MoreHiv And Aids : Hiv / Aids Essay924 Words   |  4 Pages2.1 HIV/AIDS HIV is a latent virus that attacks and compromises the immune system and exposes the body to diseases and infections. AIDS is a disease of the immune system caused by a retrovirus known as HIV that makes the individual highly vulnerable to life threatening infections and diseases such as TB (FANTA, 2004). 2.1.1 TRANSMISSION OF HIV According to FANTA, there are three primary routes of HIV transmission; 1) Unprotected sex with a person carrying the HIV virus. 2) Transfusion of contaminatedRead MoreHiv Aids And Hiv And Aids1246 Words   |  5 Pages HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus (Avert). It is virus that attacks the immune system, our body’s defense against disease (Avert). Individuals who become infected with HIV will find it harder to fight infections (Avert). HIV is located in semen, blood, vaginal and anal fluids, and breast milk (HIV and Aids). The most common method to become infected is through anal or vaginal sex without a condom (HIV and Aids). Other forms of contraction include using infected needles/ syringes, fromRead MoreHiv And Aids : Hiv / Aids2900 Words   |  12 PagesGlobal Health AI Global Fund Project Assignment #7 Country: Uganda Disease: HIV/AIDS 1.) Provide a brief introduction to your overall plan and strategy for this proposal. Uganda used to be one of the most prevalent cases of HIV with around 18.5% being infected in 1992 to its lowest rate of 6.4% in 2005 . Even though the HIV rate is increasing at certain rates amongst adults Uganda has done a good job of keeping the HIV prevalence at a generalized rate. This stems from Uganda recovering from numerousRead MoreHiv And Aids : Hiv / Aids Essay1186 Words   |  5 PagesWe Live In: HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS has been named a global epidemic because of its many outbreaks around the world. This is not happening on one state, but it is happening in every state and country you could name. It has been a major cause of death in the world, which results in the situation becoming a public health concern. It poses a risk to future generations. The most affected generation being the most active age group, which are the younger ones who are not protecting themselves. HIV is short forRead MoreHiv / Aids : Hiv And Aids1532 Words   |  7 PagesHIV/AIDS What is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)? AIDS is the disease that an individual with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) has a chance of getting when their immune system becomes so damaged, opening up the body to many different illnesses. According to medical research not everyone who has HIV will in fact be advance to the final stage of the disease, especially when caught and treated early on. For someone to be diagnosed with AIDS typically they would have contracted an infectionRead MoreHiv / Aids : Hiv And Aids892 Words   |  4 PagesSince the nineteen hundreds, Africa coped with countless problems related to HIV and AIDS. Anthropologists, scientists, doctors, and psychologists discussed theories related to the issues presented by HIV/AIDS. Researchers study the effects of poverty, polygamy, geography, and social relationships on HIV/AIDS. One of the prevalent theories on how the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) spread is through the increase of sex workers in Afric a. An increase in sex work correlates to an increase in povertyRead MoreHiv / Aids : Hiv And Aids892 Words   |  4 PagesHIV/AIDS is a virus that has been going around for many years. Most people do not really know what HIV stands for. HIV is a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV attacks the part of your body that fights disease better known as the immune system. The virus makes the immune system shut down and stop working. The immune system shutting down is the worst part about HIV not having any signs or symptoms to notify you of the virus is the worst part. Most people that have HIV looks health and only knewRead MoreHiv / Aids : Hiv And Aids1484 Words   |  6 Pagescurrently facing is HIV/AIDS. The disease has been plaguing South Africa as well as other countries throughout the continent. The initialism HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This disease attacks and destroys the infection-fighting CD4 cells of the immune system. Loss of these cells makes it diffic ult for the body to fight infections. Without treatment, HIV can gradually destroy the immune system and advance to AIDS. Human immunodeficiency virus is a multistage disease and AIDS is the most advanced

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Critical Discussion Of The Ryanair Strategy For Past 3-5...

Case Study on Ryan Air Critical Discussion of the Ryanair Strategy for past 3-5 years †¢ Summary of the Ryan Air The Ryan family founded Ryanair in 1985 by Tony Ryan, head of the family. The company was started to provide scheduled passenger airline services between Ireland and the UK, as an alternative to the then state monopoly carrier, Aer Lingus. In 1990s, Ryanair became the Europe’s first low-fares, no-frills carrier, built on the model of the highly successful Texas based operator South Western Airlines. Around this time Ryanair adopted also new management team, led by Michael O’Leary who was appointed by Tony Ryan. Ryanair was incorporated as a holding company in 1996 and floated on the Dublin and London stock exchanges and†¦show more content†¦Ryanair primarily advertises its services in national and regional newspapers and also making itself clear through controversial and topical advertising, press conferences and publicity stunts. Other marketing activities are distributing advertising and promotional material and making campaigns with other travel-related enti ties. Ryanair also contacts people that are in there database by sending them special offers by e-mail (Hernà ¡ndez, 2009, pg371). Furthermore, Ryanair offers good on-time flights, minimum of cancelled flights and a minimum of luggage losses. Also Ryanair has made a passenger charter with the following commitments: 1. Offer the lowest price at all time on all routes 2. No fuel surcharge guaranteed 3. Honour the agreed fare after payment 4. Notify passengers of known delays, cancellations and diversions 5. Minimize the numbers of passengers facing delays 6. Allow reservation changes 7. Respond quickly to passenger complaints and provide prompt refunds 8. Speed up check-in 9. Minimize involuntarily denied boarding. 10. Provide Passenger Information 11. Information to passengers at the time of booking †¢ Corporate Strategy of Ryan Air i. Strategic development The strategy of Ryanair is partly described in the summary of this report. In the following points it will become clearer how this strategy is built up by usingShow MoreRelatedRyanair Analyses44239 Words   |  177 PagesMaster’s thesis M.Sc. in EU Business Law An analysis of the European low fare airline industry - with focus on Ryanair Student: Thomas C. Sà ¸rensen Student number: 256487 Academic advisor: Philipp Schrà ¶der Aarhus School of Business September 13, 2005 1 Table of contents 1. Introduction 1.1. Preface 1.2. Research problem 1.3. Problem formulation 1.4. Delimitation 6 6 7 7 2. Science and methodology approach 2.1. Approaches to science 2.1.1. Ontology 2.1.1.1. Objectivism 2.1.1.2. ConstructivismRead MoreCase Study148348 Words   |  594 PagesInstructor’s Manual Exploring Strategy Ninth edition Gerry Johnson Richard Whittington Kevan Scholes Steve Pyle For further instructor material please visit: www.pearsoned.co.uk/mystrategylab ISBN: 978-0-273-73557-1 (printed) ISBN: 978-0-273-73552-6 (web) ï £ © Pearson Education Limited 2011 Lecturers adopting the main text are permitted to download and photocopy the manual as required. Pearson Education Limited Edinburgh Gate Harlow Essex CM20 2JE England and Associated CompaniesRead MoreCase Studies: Sas Airline Ryanair80169 Words   |  321 PagesHow did the deregulation of air transportation in Europe foster entrepreneurial behavior and innovation in the European airline industry over the last twenty years? Case studies: SAS Airline Ryanair Master Thesis in Entrepreneurship and Dynamic Business Contexts Spring 2007 Supervisor: Hà ¥kan Bohman Entrepreneurship Master Program Authors:  Gilles Helterlin and Nuno Ramalho  Acknowledgements We would like to express our gratitude to all who have contributed to the realization of this Read Morepestel1671 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿The Table of Content No. Topics Page No. 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 PESTEL Analyze 2 2.1 Political 2 2.2 Economic 3 2.3 Social 4 2.4 Legal 5 2.5 Environmental 6 Introduction The past of aviation has extended more than two thousand years from the earliest kites and attempts at tower jumping to supersonic, and hypersonic journey by powered, heavier-than-air jets. 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Most Western low cost airlines fly to secondary airports which are cheaper to land into. However, this is not yet an option available in India. Low Operating

Sunday, December 22, 2019

The How Of Happiness By Sonja Lyubomirsky - 888 Words

Within the second chapter of The How of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky dissects the constituents of happiness and offers readers a thorough exposition of what the term happiness entails; what it is and what it is not, as well as its profound effects on our daily lives. The positive outcomes of being happy are immense, and hence, it would be beneficial for us to develop an extensive understanding of the inner workings of happiness. What then is happiness? Perhaps happiness is a basic and familiar concept, yet it may occur to be perplexing when one has to convey it through the medium of words. Lyubomirsky defines the term as â€Å"the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile† (Lyubomirsky 32). It is often subjective, personal, and can stem from a myriad of activities: some may experience similar feelings by engaging in sports, spending time with family and friends, others while reading or simply being in solitude. Due to the personal nature and subjectivity of happiness, a handful of myths pertaining to this concept has emerged. Three happiness myths were presented within the chapter: 1. Happiness must be found. 2. Happiness lies in changing our circumstances. 3. You either have it or you don’t. The first myth greatly piqued my interest, since I, too, have once externalized happiness and assumed that it would be found outside. Upon first glance, one may be tempted to believe that happiness mustShow MoreRelatedThe How Of Happiness : A New Approach For Getting The Life You Want By Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky865 Words   |  4 PagesThe How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky is simultaneously an academic book and comprehensive guide about positive psychology and it’s applications in daily life. Dr. Lyubomirsky provides not only facts and figures to back up her science but also includes quizzes and exercises for the reader to learn more about himself or herself in context with the book. The book is broken down into 3 different sections: How to Attain Real and Lasting Happiness, HappinessRead MoreThe Role Of Happiness In Ernest HemingwaysThe Sun Also Rises1343 Words   |  6 Pagesraised about how this radical shift in interactions affects the means of achieving a happy life. Within academia, happiness is described as a sense of well-being and is generally asso ciated with a combination of one’s state of mind and genetics (Lyubomirsky). These genetic effects are culminated in the term â€Å"happiness set point†, a natural proclivity towards a certain level of happiness. Today, both common people and academics debate over the relative effect of social media on happiness. For exampleRead MoreThe Pursuit Of Happiness By Julia K. Boehm And Sonja Lyubomirsky1143 Words   |  5 PagesThe pursuit of happiness has existed in the world since the beginning of the human existences. Almost everybody around the world have been curious when it comes to the word happy. Many scientists have tried to conduct research to understand what makes certain people happier than another. Since many scientists have researched the topic of happiness; naturally there will be controversy about what makes people joyful. There are two main arguments that take place on the topic of happiness and they areRead MorePositive Psychology Influencing: The onset of a Positive Lifestyle and Positive Health982 Words   |  4 Pagesjournal article, Park, Peterson Seligman stated that character strengths that were most associated with positive life satisfaction, and thereby positive psychology attaining a positive lifestyle, were hope, zest, gratitude and love. This paper examines how a person through gaining a positive psychological outlook through treatment or otherwise can have short term benefits that lead into long term gains in creating a positive lifestyle and achieving positive health. The Influences of the Mind on the BodyRead More`` How Happy Are You And Why?1247 Words   |  5 PagesIn her article â€Å"How Happy Are You and Why?,† Sonja Lyubomirsky argues that people have control over their own happiness. Lyubomirsky supports her claims with her interviews with happy people and scientific studies. Her purpose is to consider steps that people can take in order to become happier. She establishes an informal relationship with her audience of unhappy people. Lyubomirsky focuses on social psychology and the â€Å"development of ‘sustainable’ happiness† (179). She brings the idea of geneticsRead MoreWho Is The Happy Warrior? Philosophy?2052 Words   |  9 Pagespleasured. In her article, she draws a restrictive line between pleasure and happiness. She introduces the viewpoints of many intellectuals who have spoken on the definition of happiness, and then offers her own opinions in regards to theirs. Her thoughts generally align with those of Aristotle, Plato, and the ancient Greek thinkers – the very ones she spent much of her higher education studying. Her main ideas, that happiness is too complex to be concretely defined and that pleasure is a feeling thatRead MorePersonal Statement : Practicing Happiness Activities1156 Words   |  5 Pagesthat practicing happiness activities would fit perfectly into this chaotic week and I am glad I did. Normally, I would practice physical activity, as I did for the past s ix years, but given that I just had a child, physical activity was out of option, so I had to choose an alternative method to increase my happiness. One of the activities was avoiding overthinking. I had a habit of ruminating, which made me miserable, especially since the time, my first child was born. I was thinking how to handle schoolRead MoreEmployee Engagement Is The Buzzword818 Words   |  4 PagesEmployee engagement is the buzzword in any organization. Several articles and studies have highlighted on how to measure and manage engagement. This is an essential area in an organization to draw on because it translates into an organizational success. However, engagement is two-way process: organizations must bring about a design to engage the employee, who in turn has a choice about the level of engagement to offer the employer. Each reinforces the other. An engaged employee comes across aRead MoreThree Steps to the Happy Life: Why this Approach Does Not Work1097 Words   |à ‚  5 Pageshave learned what I think are the most important things to work towards. Lyubomirsky’s happiness activities have also given me some ideas about what I find to be imperative to living a life pleasing to God. Now, I will not be describing a three step program to achieve the happy life. Something like that does not exist, as I have gathered from this course. But, I will be sharing some things that helped me realize how to switch my focus to a more optimistic outlook. Scripture and Theology I will be startingRead MoreA Reflection On My Room1690 Words   |  7 PagesEach bag was stuffed with tissue paper to look like a nice present, and I wrote an identical note on each one: â€Å"Appreciate the little things in life, and don’t forget to pay kindness forward.† I ended the note with a small smiley face for added happiness. It took days for me to work up the courage to pass them out. The thought of going into public and approaching strangers literally kept me up at night. I would begin to fall asleep and suddenly remember this responsibility, leading my heart to race

Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Lost Symbol Chapter 33-36 Free Essays

string(79) " comment had been not only for the benefit of the guard but also to remind Dr\." CHAPTER 33 Systems security specialist Mark Zoubianis was sinking deeper into his futon and scowling at the information on his laptop screen. What the hell kind of address is this? His best hacking tools were entirely ineffective at breaking into the document or at unmasking Trish’s mysterious IP address. Ten minutes had passed, and Zoubianis’s program was still pounding away in vain at the network firewalls. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lost Symbol Chapter 33-36 or any similar topic only for you Order Now They showed little hope of penetration. No wonder they’re overpaying me. He was about to retool and try a different approach when his phone rang. Trish, for Christ’s sake, I said I’d call you. He muted the football game and answered. â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"Is this Mark Zoubianis?† a man asked. â€Å"At 357 Kingston Drive in Washington?† Zoubianis could hear other muffled conversations in the background. A telemarketer during the play-offs? Are they insane? â€Å"Let me guess, I won a week in Anguilla?† â€Å"No,† the voice replied with no trace of humor. â€Å"This is systems security for the Central Intelligence Agency. We would like to know why you are attempting to hack one of our classified databases?† Three stories above the Capitol Building’s subbasement, in the wide-open spaces of the visitor center, security guard Nunez locked the main entry doors as he did every night at this time. As he headed back across the expansive marble floors, he thought of the man in the army-surplus jacket with the tattoos. I let him in. Nunez wondered if he would have a job tomorrow. As he headed toward the escalator, a sudden pounding on the outside doors caused him to turn. He squinted back toward the main entrance and saw an elderly African American man outside, rapping on the glass with his open palm and motioning to be let in. Nunez shook his head and pointed to his watch. The man pounded again and stepped into the light. He was immaculately dressed in a blue suit and had close-cropped graying hair. Nunez’s pulse quickened. Holy shit. Even at a distance, Nunez now recognized who this man was. He hurried back to the entrance and unlocked the door. â€Å"I’m sorry, sir. Please, please come in.† Warren Bellamy–Architect of the Capitol–stepped across the threshold and thanked Nunez with a polite nod. Bellamy was lithe and slender, with an erect posture and piercing gaze that exuded the confidence of a man in full control of his surroundings. For the last twenty-five years, Bellamy had served as the supervisor of the U.S. Capitol. â€Å"May I help you, sir?† Nunez asked. â€Å"Thank you, yes.† Bellamy enunciated his words with crisp precision. As a northeastern Ivy League graduate, his diction was so exacting he sounded almost British. â€Å"I’ve just learned that you had an incident here this evening.† He looked deeply concerned. â€Å"Yes, sir. It was–â€Å" â€Å"Where’s Chief Anderson?† â€Å"Downstairs with Director Sato from the CIA’s Office of Security.† Bellamy’s eyes widened with concern. â€Å"The CIA is here?† â€Å"Yes, sir. Director Sato arrived almost immediately after the incident.† â€Å"Why?† Bellamy demanded. Nunez shrugged. As if I was going to ask? Bellamy strode directly toward the escalators. â€Å"Where are they?† â€Å"They just went to the lower levels.† Nunez hastened after him. Bellamy glanced back with a look of concern. â€Å"Downstairs? Why?† â€Å"I don’t really know–I just heard it on my radio.† Bellamy was moving faster now. â€Å"Take me to them right away.† â€Å"Yes, sir.† As the two men hurried across the open expanse, Nunez caught a glimpse of a large golden ring on Bellamy’s finger. Nunez pulled out his radio. â€Å"I’ll alert the chief that you’re coming down.† â€Å"No.† Bellamy’s eyes flashed dangerously. â€Å"I’d prefer to be unannounced.† Nunez had made some big mistakes tonight, but failing to alert Chief Anderson that the Architect was now in the building would be his last. â€Å"Sir?† he said, uneasy. â€Å"I think Chief Anderson would prefer–â€Å" â€Å"You are aware that I employ Mr. Anderson?† Bellamy said. Nunez nodded. â€Å"Then I think he would prefer you obey my wishes.† CHAPTER 34 Trish Dunne entered the SMSC lobby and looked up with surprise. The guest waiting here looked nothing like the usual bookish, flannel-clad doctors who entered this building–those of anthropology, oceanography, geology, and other scientific fields. Quite to the contrary, Dr. Abaddon looked almost aristocratic in his impeccably tailored suit. He was tall, with a broad torso, well-tanned face, and perfectly combed blond hair that gave Trish the impression he was more accustomed to luxuries than to laboratories. â€Å"Dr. Abaddon, I presume?† Trish said, extending her hand. The man looked uncertain, but he took Trish’s plump hand in his broad palm. â€Å"I’m sorry. And you are?† â€Å"Trish Dunne,† she replied. â€Å"I’m Katherine’s assistant. She asked me to escort you back to her lab.† â€Å"Oh, I see.† The man smiled now. â€Å"Very nice to meet you, Trish. My apologies if I seemed confused. I was under the impression Katherine was here alone this evening.† He motioned down the hall. â€Å"But I’m all yours. Lead the way.† Despite the man’s quick recovery, Trish had seen the flash of disappointment in his eyes. She now suspected the motive for Katherine’s secrecy earlier about Dr. Abaddon. A budding romance, maybe? Katherine never discussed her social life, but her visitor was attractive and well-groomed, and although younger than Katherine, he clearly came from her world of wealth and privilege. Nonetheless, whatever Dr. Abaddon had imagined tonight’s visit might entail, Trish’s presence did not seem to be part of his plan. At the lobby’s security checkpoint, a lone guard quickly pulled off his headphones, and Trish could hear the Redskins game blaring. The guard put Dr. Abaddon through the usual visitor routine of metal detectors and temporary security badges. â€Å"Who’s winning?† Dr. Abaddon said affably as he emptied his pockets of a cell phone, some keys, and a cigarette lighter. â€Å"Skins by three,† the guard said, sounding eager to get back. â€Å"Helluva game.† â€Å"Mr. Solomon will be arriving shortly,† Trish told the guard. â€Å"Would you please send him back to the lab once he arrives?† â€Å"Will do.† The guard gave an appreciative wink as they passed through. â€Å"Thanks for the heads- up. I’ll look busy.† Trish’s comment had been not only for the benefit of the guard but also to remind Dr. You read "The Lost Symbol Chapter 33-36" in category "Essay examples" Abaddon that Trish was not the only one intruding on his private evening here with Katherine. â€Å"So how do you know Katherine?† Trish asked, glancing up at the mysterious guest. Dr. Abaddon chuckled. â€Å"Oh, it’s a long story. We’ve been working on something together.† Understood, Trish thought. None of my business. â€Å"This is an amazing facility,† Abaddon said, glancing around as they moved down the massive corridor. â€Å"I’ve never actually been here.† His airy tone was becoming more genial with every step, and Trish noticed he was actively taking it all in. In the bright lights of the hallway, she also noticed that his face looked like he had a fake tan. Odd. Nonetheless, as they navigated the deserted corridors, Trish gave him a general synopsis of the SMSC’s purpose and function, including the various pods and their contents. The visitor looked impressed. â€Å"Sounds like this place has a treasure trove of priceless artifacts. I would have expected guards posted everywhere.† â€Å"No need,† Trish said, motioning to the row of fish-eye lenses lining the ceiling high above. â€Å"Security here is automated. Every inch of this corridor is recorded twenty-four/seven, and this corridor is the spine of the facility. It’s impossible to access any of the rooms off this corridor without a key card and PIN number.† â€Å"Efficient use of cameras.† â€Å"Knock on wood, we’ve never had a theft. Then again, this is not the kind of museum anyone would rob–there’s not much call on the black market for extinct flowers, Inuit kayaks, or giant squid carcasses.† Dr. Abaddon chuckled. â€Å"I suppose you’re right.† â€Å"Our biggest security threat is rodents and insects.† Trish explained how the building prevented insect infestations by freezing all SMSC refuse and also by an architectural feature called a â€Å"dead zone†Ã¢â‚¬â€œan inhospitable compartment between double walls, which surrounded the entire building like a sheath. â€Å"Incredible,† Abaddon said. â€Å"So, where is Katherine and Peter’s lab?† â€Å"Pod Five,† Trish said. â€Å"It’s all the way at the end of this hallway.† Abaddon halted suddenly, spinning to his right, toward a small window. â€Å"My word! Will you look at that!† Trish laughed. â€Å"Yeah, that’s Pod Three. They call it Wet Pod.† â€Å"Wet?† Abaddon said, face pressed to the glass. â€Å"There are over three thousand gallons of liquid ethanol in there. Remember the giant squid carcass I mentioned earlier?† â€Å"That’s the squid?!† Dr. Abaddon turned from the window momentarily, his eyes wide. â€Å"It’s huge!† â€Å"A female Architeuthis,† Trish said. â€Å"She’s over forty feet.† Dr. Abaddon, apparently enraptured by the sight of the squid, seemed unable to pull his eyes away from the glass. For a moment, the grown man reminded Trish of a little boy at a pet-store window, wishing he could go in and see a puppy. Five seconds later, he was still staring longingly through the window. â€Å"Okay, okay,† Trish finally said, laughing as she inserted her key card and typed her PIN number. â€Å"Come on. I’ll show you the squid.† As Mal’akh stepped into the dimly lit world of Pod 3, he scanned the walls for security cameras. Katherine’s pudgy little assistant began rattling on about the specimens in this room. Mal’akh tuned her out. He had no interest whatsoever in giant squids. His only interest was in using this dark, private space to solve an unexpected problem. CHAPTER 35 The wooden stairs descending to the Capitol’s subbasement were as steep and shallow as any stairs Langdon had ever traversed. His breathing was faster now, and his lungs felt tight. The air down here was cold and damp, and Langdon couldn’t help but flash on a similar set of stairs he had taken a few years back into the Vatican’s Necropolis. The City of the Dead. Ahead of him, Anderson led the way with his flashlight. Behind Langdon, Sato followed closely, her tiny hands occasionally pressing into Langdon’s back. I’m going as fast as I can. Langdon inhaled deeply, trying to ignore the cramped walls on either side of him. There was barely room for his shoulders on this staircase, and his daybag now scraped down the sidewall. â€Å"Maybe you should leave your bag above,† Sato offered behind him. â€Å"I’m fine,† Langdon replied, having no intention of letting it out of his sight. He pictured Peter’s little package and could not begin to imagine how it might relate to anything in the subbasement of the U.S. Capitol. â€Å"Just a few more steps,† Anderson said. â€Å"Almost there.† The group had descended into darkness, moving beyond the reach of the staircase’s lone lightbulb. When Langdon stepped off the final wooden tread, he could feel that the floor beneath his feet was dirt. Journey to the center of the Earth. Sato stepped down behind him. Anderson now raised his beam, examining their surroundings. The subbasement was less of a basement than it was an ultranarrow corridor that ran perpendicular to the stairs. Anderson shone his light left and then right, and Langdon could see the passage was only about fifty feet long and lined on both sides with small wooden doors. The doors abutted one another so closely that the rooms behind them could not have been more than ten feet wide. ACME Storage meets the Catacombs of Domatilla, Langdon thought as Anderson consulted the blueprint. The tiny section depicting the subbasement was marked with an X to show the location of SBB13. Langdon couldn’t help but notice that the layout was identical to a fourteen-tomb mausoleum–seven vaults facing seven vaults–with one removed to accommodate the stairs they had just descended. Thirteen in all. He suspected America’s â€Å"thirteen† conspiracy theorists would have a field day if they knew there were exactly thirteen storage rooms buried beneath the U.S. Capitol. Some found it suspicious that the Great Seal of the United States had thirteen stars, thirteen arrows, thirteen pyramid steps, thirteen shield stripes, thirteen olive leaves, thirteen olives, thirteen letters in annuit coeptis, thirteen letters in e pluribus unum, and on and on. â€Å"It does look abandoned,† Anderson said, shining the beam into the chamber directly in front of them. The heavy wooden door was wide open. The shaft of light illuminated a narrow stone chamber–about ten feet wide by some thirty feet deep–like a dead-end hallway to nowhere. The chamber contained nothing more than a couple of old collapsed wooden boxes and some crumpled packing paper. Anderson shone his light on a copper plate mounted on the door. The plate was covered with verdigris, but the old marking was legible: SBB IV â€Å"SBB Four,† Anderson said. â€Å"Which one is SBB Thirteen?† Sato asked, faint wisps of steam curling out of her mouth in the cold subterranean air. Anderson turned the beam toward the south end of the corridor. â€Å"Down there.† Langdon peered down the narrow passage and shivered, feeling a light sweat despite the cold. As they moved through the phalanx of doorways, all of the rooms looked the same, doors ajar, apparently abandoned long ago. When they reached the end of the line, Anderson turned to his right, raising the beam to peer into room SBB13. The flashlight beam, however, was impeded by a heavy wooden door. Unlike the others, the door to SBB13 was closed. This final door looked exactly like the others–heavy hinges, iron handle, and a copper number plate encrusted with green. The seven characters on the number plate were the same characters on Peter’s palm upstairs. SBB XIII Please tell me the door is locked, Langdon thought. Sato spoke without hesitation. â€Å"Try the door.† The police chief looked uneasy, but he reached out, grasped the heavy iron handle, and pushed down on it. The handle didn’t budge. He shone the light now, illuminating a heavy, old- fashioned lock plate and keyhole. â€Å"Try the master key,† Sato said. Anderson produced the main key from the entry door upstairs, but it was not even close to fitting. â€Å"Am I mistaken,† Sato said, her tone sarcastic, â€Å"or shouldn’t Security have access to every corner of a building in case of emergency?† Anderson exhaled and looked back at Sato. â€Å"Ma’am, my men are checking for a secondary key, but–â€Å" â€Å"Shoot the lock,† she said, nodding toward the key plate beneath the lever. Langdon’s pulse leaped. Anderson cleared his throat, sounding uneasy. â€Å"Ma’am, I’m waiting for news on a secondary key. I am not sure I’m comfortable blasting our way into–â€Å" â€Å"Perhaps you’d be more comfortable in prison for obstructing a CIA investigation?† Anderson looked incredulous. After a long beat, he reluctantly handed the light to Sato and unsnapped his holster. â€Å"Wait!† Langdon said, no longer able to stand idly by. â€Å"Think about it. Peter gave up his right hand rather than reveal whatever might be behind this door. Are you sure we want to do this? Unlocking this door is essentially complying with the demands of a terrorist.† â€Å"Do you want to get Peter Solomon back?† Sato asked. â€Å"Of course, but–â€Å" â€Å"Then I suggest you do exactly what his captor is requesting.† â€Å"Unlock an ancient portal? You think this is the portal?† Sato shone the light in Langdon’s face. â€Å"Professor, I have no idea what the hell this is. Whether it’s a storage unit or the secret entrance to an ancient pyramid, I intend to open it. Do I make myself clear?† Langdon squinted into the light and finally nodded. Sato lowered the beam and redirected it at the door’s antique key plate. â€Å"Chief? Go ahead.† Still looking averse to the plan, Anderson extracted his sidearm very, very slowly, gazing down at it with uncertainty. â€Å"Oh, for God’s sake!† Sato’s tiny hands shot out, and she grabbed the weapon from him. She stuffed the flashlight into his now empty palm. â€Å"Shine the damned light.† She handled the gun with the confidence of someone who had trained with weapons, wasting no time turning off the pistol’s safety, cocking the weapon, and aiming at the lock. â€Å"Wait!† Langdon yelled, but he was too late. The gun roared three times. Langdon’s eardrums felt like they had exploded. Is she insane?! The gunshots in the tiny space had been deafening. Anderson also looked shaken, his hand wavering a bit as he shone the flashlight on the bullet- riddled door. The lock mechanism was now in tatters, the wood surrounding it entirely pulverized. The lock had released, the door now having fallen ajar. Sato extended the pistol and pressed the tip of the barrel against the door, giving it a push. The door swung fully into the blackness beyond. Langdon peered in but could see nothing in the darkness. What in the world is that smell? An unusual, fetid odor wafted out of the darkness. Anderson stepped into the doorway and shone the light on the floor, tracing carefully down the length of the barren dirt floor. This room was like the others–a long, narrow space. The sidewalls were rugged stone, giving the room the feel of an ancient prison cell. But that smell . . . â€Å"There’s nothing here,† Anderson said, moving the beam farther down the chamber floor. Finally, as the beam reached the end of the floor, he raised it up to illuminate the chamber’s farthest wall. â€Å"My God . . . !† Anderson shouted. Everyone saw it and jumped back. Langdon stared in disbelief at the deepest recess of the chamber. To his horror, something was staring back. CHAPTER 36 â€Å"What in God’s name . . . ?† At the threshold of SBB13, Anderson fumbled with his light and retreated a step. Langdon also recoiled, as did Sato, who looked startled for the first time all night. Sato aimed the gun at the back wall and motioned for Anderson to shine the light again. Anderson raised the light. The beam was dim by the time it reached the far wall, but the light was enough to illuminate the shape of a pallid and ghostly face, staring back at them through lifeless sockets. A human skull. The skull sat atop a rickety wooden desk positioned against the rear wall of the chamber. Two human leg bones sat beside the skull, along with a collection of other items that were meticulously arranged on the desk in shrinelike fashion–an antique hourglass, a crystal flask, a candle, two saucers of pale powder, and a sheet of paper. Propped against the wall beside the desk stood the fearsome shape of a long scythe, its curved blade as familiar as that of the grim reaper. Sato stepped into the room. â€Å"Well, now . . . it appears Peter Solomon keeps more secrets than I imagined.† Anderson nodded, inching after her. â€Å"Talk about skeletons in your closet.† He raised the light and surveyed the rest of the empty chamber. â€Å"And that smell?† he added, crinkling his nose. â€Å"What is it?† â€Å"Sulfur,† Langdon replied evenly behind them. â€Å"There should be two saucers on the desk. The saucer on the right will contain salt. And the other sulfur.† Sato wheeled in disbelief. â€Å"How the hell would you know that?!† â€Å"Because, ma’am, there are rooms exactly like this all over the world.† One story above the subbasement, Capitol security guard Nunez escorted the Architect of the Capitol, Warren Bellamy, down the long hallway that ran the length of the eastern basement. Nunez could have sworn that he had just heard three gunshots down here, muffled and underground. There’s no way. â€Å"Subbasement door is open,† Bellamy said, squinting down the hallway at a door that stood ajar in the distance. Strange evening indeed, Nunez thought. Nobody goes down there. â€Å"I’ll be glad to find out what’s going on,† he said, reaching for his radio. â€Å"Go back to your duties,† Bellamy said. â€Å"I’m fine from here.† Nunez shifted uneasily. â€Å"You sure?† Warren Bellamy stopped, placing a firm hand on Nunez’s shoulder. â€Å"Son, I’ve worked here for twenty-five years. I think I can find my way.† How to cite The Lost Symbol Chapter 33-36, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Dodgers free essay sample

Lexiss passion for reading became one of the most influential aspects of his life just as Dodgers baseball has become in mine. The same determination, strength, life lessons, morals and values that Alexei claims to have gained from reading, are ones have personally gained from my experience as a Dodger fan. In Lexiss Story he explains how his passion for books defined him as a person, while at the same time at the same time lead to his defiance of the norm. Alexei states, A smart Indian is a dangerous person, widely feared and ridiculed by Indians and non-landings alike(29).According to the authors experience his people arena seen as intelligent as non-landings, but rather hey are expected to be because they are viewed as inferior. Most Indian children accepted and followed their predetermined rolls as Indian children who could remember how to sing a few dozen powwow songs(29), yet struggled with basic reading in Alexei wanted to be unique and he Banquets 2 accomplished that through reading. We will write a custom essay sample on Dodgers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Even when he was looked down upon for excelling past the expected norm he continued to indulge in his passion for reading.Alexei learned to read through the Superman comic which was the stepping stone to him finding adding hunger to defy standards and become successful writer. ; refused to fail. Was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky'(30). As someone who rarely shows emotion, one of the most emotional moments I my life was when I found myself tearing up after the Dodgers were eliminated from entering the playoffs. Within seconds I saw myself questioning why I displayed so much empathy towards this team and their misfortune when they show nothing in return.I then realized that had gained more from this team of strangers then my own friends. Sitting in the living room watching Dodger games with my felt like I was fighting a battle with the. The battles would happen daily through through every upside and low like when we lost against our rivals, the San Francisco Giants and just couldnt get over that lost. Bad days for me would be when the Dodgers lose, my mind telling me why am I so emotionally into this team. You couldnt get away with saying a negative thing about them if I was around, since Im a legit Dodger fan who knows close to all our past.The whole seasons frustration was let out that night, the night we werent headed towards the playoffs. I asked myself why do let this team make me like this? The Dodgers have come a part of my daily life and even though last season wasnt what I expected I found the positive as our next season we would make it all up. This year we will be headed towards the playoffs as the Dodgers are looking to go after the ring. Banquets 3 Alexei states that his father, who is one of the few Indians who went to Catholic school on purpose, was an avid reader(28). Like Lexiss father, my father was one in a few.He was one of the only Dodger fans in my community, and a passionate one at that. As a kid I always wondered why they were of such importance to him. As I grew up, finally understood; it was hen that I discovered their important to me. Alexei mentions, l look at the narrative above the picture. Cannot read the words and say, Superman is breaking down the door. Words, dialogue, also float out of Supermans Alexei taught himself how to read by looking at comic pictures, dialogue, and imputing his own dialogue based on what he saw in the pictures, while also learning the importance of self-confidence.I gained self- confidence all by being a Dodgers fan and watching their players play. There was one player in particular, my favorite: Matt Kemp. Kemp has always had all he talent in the world to become one of best ball players in the game, but didnt know how to put it all together to reach that status. As the famous athlete Tim Taboo says,Hard work beats talent when talent isnt working after all his hard work Kemp became one of the most feared ball players in the MIL. Like Kemp, Alexei worked hard to achieve his goal of being successful. He strives to continue to read and not be like most of the other Indian kids who struggled to read because they put their priorities. All those kids clearly had the potential to be better readers, but they werent as passionate about it as Alexei. By watching Kemp grow with the Dodgers as a player, saw myself grow as a person becoming more self-confident with what I am capable of achieving and maximizing my abilities with hard work.One of the abilities I gained was the ability to confront issues as they presented themselves Banquets 4 rather than avoiding them. Hard work has made me stronger as a person, just as its made Kemp one of the best, and Alexei a successful Indian author. Everyone has a passion that they carry with themselves. If its reading books, being a Dodger fan or even playing the guitar, having a passion is really worth t as it helps you through your difficulties and also gain determination, strength, life lessons, values and morals.