Saturday, August 31, 2019

Black Movements of 1960

Kelsey Kindell Lauren Cherneski English 102 5 September 2012 Black Arts Movement of the 1960s The history of BAM, the types of entertainment, and their effects on society has the upmost impact on history today. Due to it being the only American literary movement to advance â€Å"social engagement† as sin qua non of its aesthetic. The movement broke from the immediate past of protest and petition (civil rights) literature and dashed forward toward an alternative that initially seemed unthinkable and unobtainable: Black Power.One of the most important figures in the Black Arts movement is Amiri Baraka (formerly Leroi Jones). Following the assassination of Malcolm X in 1965, Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka) made a symbolic move from Manhattan’s Lower East Side to Harlem, where he founded the Black Arts Repertory Theatre/ School. According to the â€Å" Norton Anthology of African American Literature,’’ no one was more competent in the combination of the experiment al and the vernacular than Amiri Baraka, whose volume Black Magic Poetry 1961- 1967(1969) is one of the first products of the African American creative energies of the 1960s.Umbra, which produced Umbra Magazine, was the first post-civil rights Black literary group to make an impact as radical in the sense of establishing their own voice distinct from, and sometimes at odds with, the prevailing white literary establishment. The attempt to merge a Black-oriented activist thrust with a primarily artistic orientation produced a classic split in Umbra between those who wanted to be activists and those who thought of themselves as primarily writers, though to some extent all members shared both views.Black writers have always had to face the issue of whether their work was primarily political or aesthetic. Black Arts Movement influenced the world of literature, portraying different ethnic voices. Before the movement, the literary canon lacked diversity, and the ability to express ideas fr om the point of view of racial and ethnic minorities was not valued by the mainstream. Theatre groups, poetry performances, music and dance were centered on this movement, and therefore African Americans were becoming recognized in the area of literature and rts. African Americans were also able to educate others through different types of expressions and media about cultural differences. The most common form of teaching was through poetry reading. African American performances were used for their own political advertisement, organization, and community issues. The Black Arts movement was spread by the use of newspaper advertisements. The first major arts movement publication was in 1964. The movement lasted for about a decade, through the mid-1960s and into the 1970s.This was a period of controversy and change in the world of literature. One major change came through the portrayal of new ethnic voices in the United States. English- language literature, prior to the Black Arts movem ent, was dominated by white authors. The theatres, as well as cultural counters were based throughout America and were used for community meetings, study groups and film screenings. Newspapers were a major tool in spreading the Black Arts movement.In 1964, Black Dialogue was published, making it the first major arts movement publication. As the movement matured, the two major locations of Black Arts' ideological leadership, particularly for literary work, were California's Bay Area because of the Journal of Black Poetry and the Black Scholar, and the Chicago-Detroit axis because of Negro Digest/Black World and Third World Press in Chicago, and Broadside Press and Naomi Long Madgett's Lotus Press in Detroit.The only major Black Arts literary publications to come out of New York were the short-lived (six issues between 1969 and 1972) Black Theatre magazine published by the New Lafayette Theatre and Black Dialogue, which had actually started in San Francisco (1964-1968) and relocated t o New York (1969-1972). In conclusion, the impacts of Black Arts activities were the development of Black theater groups and Black poetry performances and journals, and both had close ties to community organizations and issues.Black theaters served as the focus of poetry, dance, and music performances in addition to formal and ritual drama. Black theaters were also venues for community meetings, lectures, study groups, and film screenings. Resources http://aalbc. com/authors/blackartsmovement. htm http://www. english. illinois. edu/maps/blackarts/historical. htm

Friday, August 30, 2019

A. Philip Randolph

As Phillip Randolph was not only an enormously Influential mover and shaker In the Civil Rights Movement In America from the sass's throughout the sass's. His influence went way beyond this period and affected millions within in his lifetime. He was born to Reverend James Williams Randolph who instilled in him the reality that a person's deeds and actions, instead of their race, were what made a man who he was. His mother was a seamstress who taught him that education and self- defense, If necessary were the most important aspects a growing upstanding young an should focus on.In 1907, he graduated from the Conman Institute in East Jacksonville as Valedictorian of his class. W. E. B. Dubbing's persuasive book The Souls of Black Folk became instrumental in directing his life's course. It inspired Randolph to move to New York in 1911, making racial equality amongst all men his most important task to tackle in his lifetime. And he did a mighty fine Job at that. He was married in 1914 to a widow by the name of Mrs.. Lucille Green, a Howard university Graduate and entrepreneur, who shared his political views and earned enough money on her own to support them both.That left much time for him to fight the good fight. They married and joined the Socialist Party where Randolph began amassing large crowds at Harem's Soapbox Corner, speaking about Socialism and the importance of environmental conscientiousness surrounding all races during those times. In 1917, Randolph met a man by the name of Chandler Owen. Other than the meeting of his wife, this was probably the most important cosmic collision of forces amongst two beings during this time period of union university in 1913. He then moved to NYC in 1915.That's where this striking attach-up began, between Randolph and Chandler. They were both Socialists and in August 1917, they established the journal the â€Å"Messenger together. It was a mixture of trade union news, political commentary, biographies of the leading radi cals of the time and literary criticisms. The messenger closed In 1928, At that time Owen moved to Chicago and even though he was still a member of the socialist party he became much more conservative with age. But he continued his support of Randolph in his efforts to organize black workers.In 1929, Randolph became president of the Brotherhood of he Sleeping Car Porters (BPCS), which he victoriously built into the first successful black-trade union. The friendship between Owen and Randolph was a profound and ground-breaking one that continued until the end of their lives. In 1925, a group of Pullman Porters approached Randolph and asked him to lead their new organization called the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BPCS). His primary qualification, as well as his reputation for incorruptibility and the fact that he wasn't an employee who meant the company could not fire him or scare him off.He led them for the next ten years, organizing them to the point, which resulted in the c ertification of the (BPCS) as the exclusive bargaining agent of the Porters in 1935. Randolph called this exclusive bargaining agent deal â€Å"the first victory of Negro workers over a great Insularly corporation†. He Decade ten most widely Known spokesperson for black working class interests in the country. Six years later, President Franklin Roosevelt refused to issue an executive order banning discrimination against black workers in the defense industry.So Randolph allied for â€Å"10,000 loyal Negro American citizens† to march on Washington D. C. In protest of this. Support grew so quickly that soon he was began calling for 100,000 marchers to converge on the capital. Pressed by Randolph actions, President Roosevelt issued an executive order on June 25, 1941 – six days before the march was to occur declaring â€Å"there shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color or national orig in. † Roosevelt also set up the Fair Employment Practices Commission to oversee the order.Six years later there was the passage of the Selective Service Act of 1947, Randolph demanded that the government integrate the armed forces Randolph founded The League of Non-violent Civil Obedience Military Segregation and urged young men of all races to â€Å"refuse to cooperate with a Jim Crow conscription service. † Threatened with widespread civil unrest, disobedience, and needing the black vote in his 1948 re-election campaign. Because of this President Harry Truman on July 26, 1948 ordered an end to military discrimination â€Å"as quickly as possible†.

School Community

This excellent, informative, yet dated book defines specific, diverse action plans for schools to build community support. The authors identify customer segments and various ways in which the schools can engage them, as well as inexpensive strategies for enhancing the schools image. Of particular use were the examples of surveys, community activities and pitfalls to avoid. The most highlighted activity is what the authors called in 1994 â€Å"database marketing†, which in 2007 terms is the precursor to data mining. The work was only available on photocopy, which made some of the footnotes and graphs unreadable, but generally the strategies expressed are useful in today's climate. Authors hold ph. D. in education and published a number of peer-reviewed articles. The book handles the issue of school and community relationship from a marketing point of view. It presents a number of action plans that are not tested with real evidence about their efficiency. Rovezzi & David (1994) suggested that schools use advanced marketing to build community support for identified customers. This would enhance school image. The plans utilized were derived from practical experience in the field of marketing. The effectiveness of the plans are unknown however since they were not employed before.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Duties of Directors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Duties of Directors - Essay Example Again, any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions, the board of directors of a company is accustomed to act is deemed to be a director of the company. Speaking about the importance of directors, Neville J. observed in Bath v. Standard Land Co. (1910) that the board of directors are the brain of a company, which is the body and the company can and does act only through them. It is only when the brain functions that the company is said to function. Directors occupy a key position in the management and administration of a company. Their duties are usually regulated by the articles of the company. The duties of a director may be classified under the following heads It is the duty of a director to sign a prospectus and deliver it to the registrar before it is issued to the public. At the time of public issue the directors of the company must sign the prospectus and a copy of it must be submitted to the registrar of companies, before it is issued to the public. It is the duty of the director to see that all the moneys received from applications for shares are kept in a scheduled bank. According to the companies act it is the duty of the director to ensure that all the amounts received from the public in the form of application money are kept in a separate bank account opened with a scheduled bank. It is the duty of the director to ensure... 3. Not to allot shares before receiving minimum subscription It is the duty of the director to ensure that no shares are allotted before receiving minimum subscription. The directors have to ensure that before allotting the shares atleast 90% of the issue has been subscribed by the public. 4. Preparation of statutory report The directors must ensure that the statutory report is prepared and forwarded to all its members atleast 21 days before the date of the statutory meeting. The directors should also ensure that all the information provided in the statutory report are true and not misleading. 5. Holding a statutory meeting It is the duty of the director to hold the board meeting atleast once in three months. According to the companies act every company is required to hold a statutory meeting atleast once in every three months and it is the duty of the director to ensure that this provision is complied with. 6. To disclose his interest in a contract If a director is interested in a contract, it is the duty of the director to disclose the nature of his interest. It is the duty of the director to disclose any interest he has in any contract to be entered into by the company. 7. To call for annual general meeting It is the duty of the director to call for annual general meeting every year. The directors have to ensure that the annual general meetings are held according to the provisions of the companies act. 8. To file statutory returns It is the duty of the director to file all the statutory returns with the prescribed authority. 9. To file declaration of solvency

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The role of Technology, Government, Entrepreneurshipin pre-post world Essay

The role of Technology, Government, Entrepreneurshipin pre-post world war 2 - Essay Example These nations also got into scientific research where by technological, industrial and military weapons discovery and advancement took place. The research aimed at building machinery and weapons to combat threat by enemies. Significant alter in government and political map, radically changed to keep limits on what a territory could do and it could not do in regard to size and capabilities it attained1. This paper discusses the role of technology, government, and entrepreneurship in pre-post World War II. The introduction of Controlled Material Plan led to the distribution of materials to the people who were directly involved in the war. This included the dispersal of weapons and other critical material to the military. The plan also involved distribution of metal like copper, steel and aluminum. This dispersal regulated the demand and supply to industries. The dispersal involved relocation of critical materials regardless the time of request, their form or quantity. The government wa s directly controlling the administration, supervision and manufacturing of these materials back in the manufacturing centers to the heart of a nation’s economy despite the influence of war and desperation. The control and decentralization of CMP took place under an organization created by the government referred to as the pyramid. Government officials chaired the pyramid. They scheduled dispersion of critical materials to the Navy department, War department, maritime commission, economic and trade commission, as well as, the lend-lease administration2 . The new deal involved a series of economic strategies in the domestic level in which programs were created and enacted to the native people. The new deal comprised of a congress and a presidential correspondence, where by, the congress passed laws as the president administered executive orders. As a result, the native people underwent a historic depression in which they responded to the program by advocating economic recovery , poverty and unemployment relief, as well as financial system reform. The people’s cry resulted to political realignment and creation of strategies for the new deal. These strategies involved reforms like formation of democratic parties in different nations, as well as presidential sitting, of up to ten years3. However, the New Deal did not end the depression as Europe and America aided the Allies. The involvement of the America in the bombing Pearl Harbor was a sign of growing stormy clouds of the World War II. In fact, this revitalized threats to the target nations like African Americans, therefore, imposing economic downgrading to these nations. The results from threats, arising from upcoming of the World War II generated crush in the stock markets of nations all over. The governments reaffirmed the corrective objective of the existence of the New Deal by instilling full participation policy. The reaffirming policy required people to involve themselves in the defense make up regardless of race and creed4. The governments in deferent nations imposed martial laws so that they could preserve discipline and moral uprightness in the societies they governed. Presidents imposed martial laws in accordance to the requirements emergency acts declared in the World War II. The martial law act was used during conflicts in occupation cases where civil government provided for unstable populations. Governments used martial laws to detain people who

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Busniess ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Busniess ethics - Essay Example This has enabled me to learn to respect others, be honest, trustworthy, obedient and truthful among many other virtues. My personal ethics are because of my parents who always had to ensure that my siblings and I learn from the best. This is by setting good examples as role models. My teachers have also been of great help in developing my personal ethics through education that includes instilling discipline in each student for our own good. Through parents and education am able to realize that nothing good comes from dishonesty, disrespect and selfishness (Howard & Korver 13). It is paramount to give a helping hand to those who need our help as we go through our daily routines. How we relate with others everyday defines us as individuals. Other family members in my extended family have also contributed greatly in shaping my personal ethics in one way or the other. Several factors influence my code of ethics in an inevitable way. This is the most basic factor of all others for they are responsible for punishing and rewarding according to our conducts and discipline. In life and as we grow from the people we are familiar with, people we trust and look up to in our lives. My parents and others members of the family are the ones responsible for my current personal code of ethics. Sometimes some of these family members may not have a constructive control on our behavior and that is why it is significant for our parents to ensure that they have a strong bond with their children. This leads to a better and stronger friendship that is important in instilling positive morals in their children as they grow into adults. Friends and age mates play a major role as far as personal ethics are concerned depending on which kind of people we hang around with. I personally relate with friends who are positive minded rather than with those with negative influences. People will always judge an individual based on the type

Monday, August 26, 2019

Miniaturization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Miniaturization - Essay Example Advantages of miniaturization Miniaturization is very vital as it has several advantages. It requires low cost, has the ability to accommodate greater density and it is high in speed. The small electronics are very faster as the signals they transmit travel over short distances and the devices do not travel for long distances within the implemented device. Furthermore, packing of small sized devices is quite advantageous as it help reduce the cost incurred in the electronics. For instance, though four times the memory capacity, a 1-megabit DRAM chip which contains 256-kilobit DRAM is less costly as compared to a product of same space. The number of chips on a system determines the total cost of the circuit therefore, 1-megait of DRAM used reduces the probable number of memory chips in the long run reducing the prices as compared to a four 256 kilobit DRAM in use. In addition, the prices of logic devices have gone down due to the greater integration and reduction in the size of the tr ansistors. Miniaturization is also vital as it has the ability to create new markets through enabling new and advanced applications. For instance, through development of the microprocessors which is a very small component in an integrated circuit has led to expansion of markets for personal computers. The flat panel displays with the improved packaging of chips have contributed to the advancement of battery-powered computers. This has been one of the functional markets that miniaturization has created. In addition, the reduction of cellular telephones and computers into small components has led to the merging of these devices to a cordless appliance which can easily link the whole world through network. For instance, the application of miniaturization is evident in companies such as Nippon Electric Company which offers laptops that have a cellular phone. This laptop is available in Japan though countries such as America are also coming up with this technological change in miniaturiz ation. Disadvantages of miniaturization Miniaturization has several side effects that are very difficult to handle. For instance, miniaturization produces a lot of noise. The quality of image suffers the soaring loud noise which comes from miniaturization of the varied pixel sizes. Errors from the registering photons and signaling process in reading out of the CCD phase leads to the production of noise. The different pixels differ in time and due to the varied sensitivity. Thus, there is a big difference in the amount of photons that are transformed to the electrical charge. More so, photons are always changing with change in the pixels at different times. However, if the photons fail to arrive noise must be produced in the process. If the pixels reduce then reducing noise becomes more difficult. There is high amount of photons arriving if the pixel is small in size. The energized or small pixels contain small energy difference as compared to huge pixels. This has made it difficult for one to easily distinguish noise from signals. Image noise in low light is severe while signals are lower. Therefore, amplifying weak signals leads to production of noisy pictures. Increase in miniaturization leads to increase in noise which causes a lot of waste on the area of the chip. Secondly, miniaturization leads to diffraction. Diffraction in miniaturization occurs when a wave takes its way or passes near an obstacle resulting to deflection of light. The normal dispersion of light is linear and involves photons spreading out near

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 32

Reflection - Essay Example The most relevant information that I have learnt about the concept of diversity is that, there are various strategies which can be put in place in to enhance diversity. People can be trained and sensitized on different cultures to be able to understand, interact and accept others. I learnt that diversity boost production rate in an organization due to different ideas from diverse places. Additionally, diversity training enhances effective diversity management and this in turn motivates people to cooperate well. However, diversity is prone to various problems like discrimination, inequality in subordinate groups and harassment of employees. Diversity is important to me because it eliminates problems caused by differences in race, gender, or culture. Consequently, when people adapt to diverse working conditions positively, they help in eradication of conflicts and increase productivity of the organization.Basically, this research has really changed my thinking and approach to diversity and leadership. For instance, I have realized that lack of diverse workforce is in most cases caused by discrimination and stereotypes among us. People can learn a lot when they interact and work with diverse people with different cultures, belong to distinct races or gender. The most relevant information about the research based on diversity and healthy living is that everyone’s life is always influenced negatively or positively. However the case, they are affected physically or mentally therefore, appropriate exercise is necessary in order to live a healthy life. In this research, I have learnt that positive feelings increase our attention capacity as well as emotional well being. Participation in activities helps in elimination of prejudices. Additionally, I have gained knowledge on diversity climate which concentrates on views of openness and reaction towards a particular group of diversity. Have knowledge on people’s personalities, backgrounds and habits make one to be

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Unlicensed Personnel & Nurse Staffing Ratios Essay

Unlicensed Personnel & Nurse Staffing Ratios - Essay Example Meanwhile, safety concerns due to educational qualifications and accountability issues emerged simultaneously with the increasing demand for UAP because of documented incidental errors. Some say that the UAP is accountable because he committed the error while others say that it was the nurse to blame for errors because of the responsibility inclined with the license. In this case, should unlicensed assistive personnel be licensed by the individual state boards of nursing? As mentioned earlier, UAPs lack enough educational qualifications and training compared to those with baccalaureate degree. Giving these UAPs licenses will neither solve the increasing number of errors in the hospital settings nor make them solely accountable for negligence. In fact, this might just deteriorate nursing education in the future because of the lack of clear boundaries. UAPs are given certificate or diploma or training for low level tasks like toileting, bathing, feeding, skin care, and ambulating whereas nurses are given licenses for high level tasks which require critical thinking, reasoning skills, and nursing judgment such as in making nursing assessments. If the individual state boards of nursing would give license to UAPs, nursing students might think that there are no differences at all and might prefer the shorter track; thus, making future nurses less qualified for the job. In addition, giving UAPs licenses will not make them solely free from accountability as proper delegation is one of the key responsibilities of nurses. If UAP committed an error, the nurse is also accountable for negligence because the National Council of State Boards of Nursing provide specific guidance about scope of practice and proper delegation among nurses (Sherman and Eggenberger, 2009, 7). Instead of giving UAPs licenses, why not strengthened the delegation practices of nurses? Most of the documented errors committed by UAPs

Friday, August 23, 2019

Pick one of the topic on the attachment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pick one of the topic on the attachment - Essay Example It is the responsibility of the project manager to ensure that the organization selects the right project. For the survival of the project, adequate resources are vital which will ensure its sustenance to the final stage. The projects requires being in line with the organizational goals. Periodical review of the program is necessary for the achievement of its set goals. In case, the planned outcome and the actual outcomes are not in unity, the management team conducts a review on the entire project regarding the allocation of resources and carries out necessary changes to ensure the achievement of major objectives (Brennan, 2011). The team company assists in the formulation and the enforcement of different policies and standards that govern the implementation of the program. For example, the team comes up with some strategic goals, such as those related to the IT area and be able to weight the project basing on the outcome. The reason for weighting the outcome is to determine if the project is significant enough and hence worth undertaking. The team company monitors the projects progress and reports to the project management team for necessary actions. The step is thus subject to consider as being among the best practices in project management due to the active monitoring of the projects. The issue here is that companies come up with projects but fail in implementing them due to lack of adequate management of company strategies. In this regard, project portfolio management becomes an essential tool for the success of a project. The team company engages in outlining the resource requirements for the completion of the projects followed by seeking necessary funds to finance the expenses. Every stage of the project lifecycle is important for its success. The processes begin from the conception of the project, planning, implementation,

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Hate crime a moder phenomenon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Hate crime a moder phenomenon - Essay Example Therefore, the objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive review of related literature to somehow close the gap in current scholarship about hate crime. Another objective is to broaden these analyses to other contexts, such as cultural and social. Moreover, defining, measuring, and explaining hate crime is challenging. After reviewing and summing up several of the most important theoretical points of view and conceptual themes in the first chapter, this study discusses the actual difficulties related with data gathering. The second chapter will discuss that even though empirical findings and research literature are still insufficient and mainly descriptive, current investigations have embarked on relating hate crime incidents to population movements, economic developments, and modifications in the political setting. The third chapter will lay out the strengths and weaknesses of descriptive methods that are commonly applied in studying hate crimes. Then the last chapter will present the study’s policy implications and recommendations. Those trying to grasp or understand the origins and nature of prejudiced violence are prone to disillusionment by existing literature of discrimination, racism, and prejudice. Even though numerous academics seek to clarify behavioural expressions of intergroup violence, this scholarship is governed by the exploration of beliefs and attitudes (Broyles 2009). Research after research explores how adults consider racial/ethnic groups or policies intended to promote minority welfare (Sears, Sidanius, & Bobo 2000), usually depending on surveys to measure what is diversely termed xenophobia, intolerance, racism, or prejudice. Even though researchers evaluate prejudice in more and more refined ways, they pay quite little attention to the investigation of bigoted behaviour and attitude, aside from voting conduct (Broyles 2009). Behavioural expressions of discriminatory figure more notably in the attempts of social

Formative Assessment Essay Example for Free

Formative Assessment Essay The Rape of the Lock, written by Pope in response to a feud between two friends about the theft of a lock of hair, is revolutionary in its evolution of the comic satire genre into the field of epic poetry. Pope, an avid student of the Greek epics (he produced his own translations of some that provided much of his income during his life), takes the basic skeleton of an epic: its structure, critical content and even linguistic points; and crafts around the skeleton a poem of wit and comedy that is at its core epic, but also uses this very epic backbone to undermine its tales own importance and to satirise the content that has been moulded around the form. This creation from Pope marks the offshoot of the epic genre, transforming it into mock epic, an independent genre that bears many of the traits of its forebearer in a new light. The transformations to the epic that Pope undertakes in the Rape of the Lock to satiric effect can be broadly split into transformations of heroic content and transformations of heroic language. The former can be clearly observed here: Pope takes a staple of epic writing, heroic weaponry, and twists its use to his satirical needs. The weapon itself is given, through the use of a similar description, equal place with great weapons like Agamemnons sceptre, whose lineage was used to reinforce Agamemnons dominance and power in the Iliad, being forged by Hephaestus and owned by the Gods from Zeus to Kronos. Belindas weapons lineage is far less great. Instead of a scepter, the weapon of kings and priests in Homers writing, Belinda wields a bodkin, a hair needle. Even that difference itself is satirical: Agamemnons kingship is of great import to the Iliad so the parallel with a bodkin, which links to the hair in question much like the scepter links with kingship, makes a clear statement on the relative importance of the quarrel in the Rape of the Lock. The lineage too satirises the pointlessness of dispute: no claim of divinity (and thus righteousness) is made on the part of Belindas weapon; in fact its lineage mainly consists of feminine objects with the only male mentioned in its lineage also being the only one to explicitly be mentioned dying. Perhaps Pope, often accused of being somewhat sexist, is using this contrast and development to imply that the whole issue is a womans trifle and nothing next to the male quarrels of Achilles and Agamemnon. On top of this, the weapon is not the fixed centre of the lineage as in the Iliad, in which the weapon started as a divine weapon and stayed that way. Instead the object is mutable: it starts as signet rings, develops into a buckle and then becomes a bodkin. Pope changes up the epic formula of the mighty weapon into something changeable and thus insignificant, paralleling with the argument he is satirising, the implication being that it is insignificant and will easily be forgotten. The weapon also shows another perversion of the epic poem that Pope uses. Protection, be it through armour or weaponry, tends to have a high place in the Greek epics. Heroes often wear famed suits of armour or use shields/weapons to survive insurmountable odds (for example the reflective shield in Perseus tale in Ovids Metamorphoses that slays Medusa). This element of protection, divine or otherwise, is a theme that Pope subverts consistently. From the slyph Ariel who is half dissolvd even by light to the Cosmetic powers of her dress and make-up, nothing effectively protects Belinda. The bodkin is no different, it fails to protect her locks from being cut in the initial case, and here, although she uses it to attack the Baron, it fails to return its charge, her hair, to her. Pope is modernising traditional epics, using these typical protections to mock high societies fixation on appearance. All of her outward facing beauty and quaint bodkins cannot protect her from the advances of a single man, so what, Pope asks, is the use of all this artifice? Pope also mutates generic language elements from epic literature for his satirical intentions. In this passage, the clearest example is in his use of the ten syllable rhyming heroic couplet. Pope takes the rhyme of the couplet and uses it to link together two separate words or ideas, often to a comical effect. Here, in the lines, Nor feared the chief the unequal fight to try, Who sought no more than on his foe to die. Pope has the first line of the couplet set up the Barons bravery by expounding his fearlessness in fighting against Belinda in unequal combat (ironic in itself due to Belindas natural weakness compared to his manly strength referred to in the next couplet) before defeating the heroic xpectancy with a sexual pun; the phrase to die holding at the time a dual meaning referring to sexual climax, and often premature climax at that. His heroism is built up and destroyed within a couplet with the contrast of noble bravery and base desire providing a humorous and satirical twist on the typical heroism of the heroic couplet by suggesting that the drive behind the Barons actions is, at its deepest level, sexual, rather than noble or courtly.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Factors Which Led To The Origins Of Agriculture History Essay

Factors Which Led To The Origins Of Agriculture History Essay The transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to that of an agriculturist, is considered by some, to have been inevitable as part of the natural evolutionary progression and development of man (Rindos 1986: 6). It is in our nature as humans to be progressive and, as such, we automatically follow a sequence of pre-ordained (Harris 1986: 12) and invariable steps in order to achieve higher levels of social development (Westropp 1872, cited by Barker 2006: 8). A lack of knowledge was the only factor that prevented the transition from hunting and gathering to farming; before the Holocene, man had simply not reached the cognitive nor cultural level required to formulate the concept of agricultural subsistence (Richerson et al. 2001: 394). Bender agrees, noting that the mental capacity and physical dexterity of the humans that were responsible for the origins of agriculture, in contrast to hunter-gatherers of 4million years ago, were significantly more advanced, which in turn enabled the development of more complex societies (Bender 1978: 209). This suggests that the accumulation of knowledge regarding their local environment and resources, led eventually to experimentation and ultimately domestication. At the Cave of Diaotonghuan in the Jiangxi province of China, there is a gradual growth in the number of rice phytoliths of domestic form in relation to those of wild form (Higham 2005: 242). This indicates a gradual assimilation of domesticates into their subsistence base following the acquisition of appropriate knowledge in regards to domestication of their local resources; this eventually led to total reliance on intensive agriculture. Similarly, at Abu Hureyra in Northern Syria, the percentage of gazelle bones decreases over the sites period of occupation, whereas the number of bones belonging to domesticates gradually increases, eventually becoming the dominant component in the villagers subsistence base (Watkins 2005: 214). This was not a rapid, single event, b ut a more gradual process in which the villagers steadily became more dependent on domesticates. These examples demonstrate how knowledge was the limiting factor and how the gradual accumulation of knowledge (Zvekebil 1986: 9) and the resulting familiarity with potential domesticates resulted in their manipulation (Braidwood 1960, cited by Cohen 1977: 8), and, ultimately, domestication. The varying rates at which different cultures adopted agriculture can also be explained by this model; it took different societies different amounts of time to acquire the required level of knowledge and familiarity with their local resources (Braidwood 1960, cited by Richerson et al. 2001: 399); until this was achieved, progression to domestication could not occur. It is a common assumption that the lifestyle that is concurrent with agricultural production is significantly superior to that associated with Hunter-Gatherer communities. It has been suggested by some that if the adequate level of knowledge and cultural readiness had been achieved in favourable ecological circumstances, then the advantages of agriculture would have appeared so discernable as to make the transition to a domestic mode of production axiomatic (Zvelebil: 1986(b): 8). It is wrong to make this assumption, however, as it is not inevitable that agriculture will bring with it an easier and more reliable lifestyle; indeed, it has been adduced that the emergence of agriculture bought with it a number of disadvantages. These include chronic malnutrition the consequence of an instable subsistence base and resultant famine increased labour input and reduced leisure time. Furthermore, the appearance of widespread stress does not occur until reliance upon intensive agriculture is well established (Rindos 1986: 38). The Kung!-San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert provide an interesting illustration of a modern hunter-gatherer group that has no need or desire to transfer to an agrarian way of life. Their subsistence base consists of varying wild materials, including both preferential and contingency resources; they operate on a schedule of strategic seasonal movements in order to exploit particular resources at specific times and locations throughout the year (Lee 1968, cited by Barker 2006: 29). Various mechanisms, including infanticide, allow population levels to be kept low and well within the capacity of the available food supply (Lee 1968, cited by Scarre 2005: 186) as well as enabling them to maintain their ubiquitous lifestyle. The Kung!-San do not suffer from any Puritan Ethos (Bender 1978: 206), and therefore the number of hours per day spent collecting food is kept to a minimum, relinquishing the majority of their time for leisure purposes. It can be s een, therefore, that the hunter-gatherer lifestyle can provide a reliable and varied subsistence base, as well as a more relaxed style of living; the incentives for transition to an agricultural lifestyle are not obvious. Because of this, it is possible that hunter-gather communities did not willingly accept to abandon their lifestyle of choice, but were instead forced by some external factor. Stark identified such factors as Push Models people were coerced into farming by some common factor or stress (Stark 1986, cited by Barker 2006: 36). Bellwood agrees, stating that there are no compelling reasons why hunter-gathers would have adopted agriculture, unless pushed (Bellwood 2005: 41). The origins of agriculture are often attributed to climatic variation, a significant push factor in the process of achieving intensified domestication (Moore 1986: 626). The study of ice cores, deep sea cores, and pollen profiles has revealed that the Post-Glacial period was characterised by a cold, dry and extremely variable climate. The transition into the Holocene, however, saw a shift to a more stable climate, with warmer and wetter conditions (Bellwood 2005: 20). It is this important climatic transition that is thought to have enabled the conversion to agriculture and is the foundation of a number of important hypotheses regarding agrarian development. An example of such is Childes Oasis Theory; he promotes that the melting of the European ice sheets at the end of the last glaciation would have forced rain bearing depressions north, promoting desiccation in the Near East. This in turn would have forced animals and humans into closer proximities around the ever decreasing number of water side locations. This allowed humans to develop a greater understanding of their local resources, and further to this, enabled them to realise the benefits of establishing a symbiotic relationship with the local fauna, as opposed to exploiting them using hunting strategies (Childe 1936 cited by Scarre 2005: 188); the advantages of this would simply have become obvious to them given the stress they were under from post glacial desiccation (Barker 2006: 14). An example of how desiccation can affects the subsistence base of a society can be found at Abu Hureyra. During the Pleistocene the villagers were dependent on a wide range of resources; they hunted wild cattle, sheep and gazelle, but also gathered a number of different plant species. With the onset of the Younger Dryas, the colder and more arid climate made gathering more difficult. The people of Abu Hureyra instead turned to intensive cultivation of rye, a robust cereal that could withstand the more difficult conditions (Watkins 2005: 214). Although this supports Childes idea that it was desiccation that caused the transition to agriculture, his theory in general is flawed and cannot be universally applied. Pollen analysis in the Near East confirms that the Early Holocene was indeed characterised climatically by a warmer, wetter regime and not by desiccation. The climatic transition in this region progressed from dry to moist, rather than the reverse, which devalues the foundation of Childes hypothesis (Wright 1977 cited by Rindos 1984: 15) due to the unsatisfactory environmental data which is the basis of his claims. The emergence of domesticated rye at Abu Hureya between 10800-9600BC, or during the Younger Dryas, is very early in contrast to other sites. For the most part, agriculture in the Near East was not adopted under desiccated conditions, but in the warmer and wetter conditions of the Holocene. The recovery and study of rice phytoliths at the Cave of Diaotonghuan in the Jiangxi province of China has revealed a correlation between climate change and the development of the domesticate. Within Zone G, which correlates to a period of more favourable climate, there is relatively high number of rice phytoliths. This number severely depreciates within Zone F, however, which is reflective of the colder and more arid climate of the Younger Dryas. The quantity of phytoliths once again increases significantly within Zones D and E due to a longer period of warmth between 8000-6000BC; the phytoliths here are evenly split between wild and cultivated forms. By Zone C, the phytoliths are entirely cultivated in form, and remain abundant, due to the continuing warm climate. This sequence reveals a correlation between fluctuations in climate and the quantity of rice phytoliths present. During colder periods, the amount of phytoliths decreases, whereas, they increase with more favourable climates. Ever increasing quantities of phytoliths of domestic form relative to the quantity of wild is also observable during the warmer periods (Higham 2005: 241). This demonstrates that it was during better climatic conditions that domesticates began to be more widely utilised, and not during periods of desiccation. Although Childes theory is, in general, flawed, there is evidence to support the claim that climatic variation did indeed have an effect on the origins of agriculture. One of the most interesting theories regarding the origins of agriculture considers the relationship between sedentism, population growth, and the availability of local resources; the transition to agriculture occurred, simply, because of disequilibrium between the number of available resources and swelling population numbers (Zvelebil 1986 (a): 9). Increased sedentism brought with it relaxation of mechanisms and birth controls previously used to keep population levels low (Rindos 1984: 19), which resulted in a significant increase in population numbers. The favourable, coastal, resource rich areas, that could previously support these smaller, hunter-gatherer populations, could no longer cope once the population had expanded beyond the regions carrying capacity. This led to expansion into more marginal zones (Binford 1968, cited by Bellwood 2005: 22 and Scarre 2005: 189), until further territorial extension became undesirable or untenable (Cohen 1977: 12); the populations of these ar eas were then forced to turn to agriculture as a means of subsistence intensification, allowing them to feed their growing numbers. This theory is particularly desirable as it not only accounts for why agriculture was adopted, but for why it occurred at differing rates at various different loci Population pressure had simply not yet reached the point where reliance upon agriculture was called for (Rindos 1984: 33). Unfortunately, there is an underlying problem with this hypothesis. As mentioned above, climatic change cannot be used as a globally extendable explanation for the change in subsistence base; climate, by nature, is regionally specific and the effects of it are therefore hugely diverse (Rindos 1984: 16). The favourable coast line habitats, which, according to Binford, were the areas where people first turned to sedentism, flourished with increasing sea levels. However, increased sea levels would affect differing coastlines in a number of ways (Cohen 1977: 7) the creation of superior habitats is just one of these. This would not have been a universal or uniform effect, and therefore cannot be a globally applied theory for the origins of agriculture. It still seems tenable, however, that population growth would have brought about a necessity for agriculture in order to provide a more stable food supply for an ever increasing population. Alternative views consider the origins of agriculture to be the result of social factors. Bender in particular promotes this idea, claiming that other factors, such as demography, are often considered to have played a much greater role than is realistic, whilst social structure is significantly over looked (Bender 1978: 204); ultimately it is the social relations that articulate society and set the evolutionary pattern'(Bender 1978: 218). In other words, it is social factors that bring about the most significant transitions and cause the greatest change. Competition between social groups is often considered to have led to the development of intensified food production in order to provide the specifically valued kinds of food deployed in competitive strategies and acts of reciprocity (Scarre 2005: 187). Feasting and the accumulation and distribution of prestige items were common mechanisms for achieving wealth, status and power. They are, however, expensive in terms of subsistence and require surplus resources (Zvelebil 1986(a): 10); hunting and gathering can only supply limited resources. This is why agriculture was developed in order to fund such reciprocal mechanisms via a more stable and consistent subsistence base. Alternatively, for Hodder, the domus the location of production and reproduction which constitute society and social relation (Hodder 1990: 39) was the social mechanism which drove the transition to agriculture. As a concept, it acted as a metaphor for the desire to control and transform nature; the individual experience of domestication led ultimately to intensification and domestication (Hodder 1990: 41). In summary, for economic domestication to be successful, it must be preceded by social domestication. Both of these examples illustrate how social pressure provided a positive incentive for hunter-gatherer societies to transfer to an agricultural lifestyle. Bellwood, however, considers an alternative view on how social pressures had an effe ct on the transition to domestication in certain landscapes, from the perspective of how hunter-gatherer communities were put under pressure from agriculturalists moving into their territories looking for regions of high agricultural potential. The relationship between the native hunter-gatherers and invading agriculturalists would have initially been one of exchange, and would have been mutually beneficial to both parties involved (Bellwood 2005: 41). It is often considered that contact with the agriculturalists would eventually lead the hunter gatherers to realise of the benefits of domestication, encouraging them to switch to this lifestyle. Bellwood suggests, however, that this may not have happened; he argues that as pressure on resources increased, along with increasing attempts by the agriculturalists to dominate the hunter gatherers, this would only have dissuaded them to change their lifestyle (Bellwood 2005: 41). This form of social pressure therefore acts only a deterrent to the adoption of agriculture. It can be seen therefore that no one explanation for the origins of agriculture is entirely satisfactory. This is to be expected, however; these factors are conceived at level that is too general to account for local distinctions (Moore 1986: 622). Domestication would have been adopted for a number of distinct and differing reasons, due to the diverse nature of the various loci where agriculture originated (Zvelebil 1986(b): 167). The origin of agriculture was not brought about by one driving factor it was not a monocausal phenomenon (Scarre 2005: 186). It was a combination of factors most importantly climatic variation, demographic change and social pressure, as well as the accumulation of necessary knowledge which would have combined in various ways to ultimately bring about a shift to food production.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Comparison of Universities and Community Colleges Essay -- College Edu

Comparison of Universities and Community Colleges When you graduate high school you have your choice of what kind of an education you want to get. You have your choice of going to a 4-year university, or a 2-year college. In order to decide you will compare the two and use the comparisons to come up with your final decision. Questions to ask yourself would be, what are you looking for in college, how do you want to learn, and how much money do you have to work with. Comparing University and Community college the first thing that comes to mind is the difference in price. Certain Universities are more expensive than others. The difference in price is because of the difference in price and size, also because of the difference in the educational program they have. The price for a University can also differ with whether or not you are going to live there. With a Community college the price will differ significantly. The difference in price strands for the difference in size, teaching and living. At a Community college you have a sma ller campus, the curriculum is different and yo...

Monday, August 19, 2019

Reforming the Nineteenth Century Police System :: Law Enforcement

Reforming the Nineteenth Century Police System American cities of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries had problems with crime, vice, and disorder. Some urbanites complained about the extent of prostitution, brawling and robbery. Yet few cities felt cities felt impelled to make subsequent changes in the traditional pattern of night watch and unsalaried police officers before the 1830s. There are many reasons for problems getting worse in American cities. One reason for this is that serious crimes, by the standard of subsequent decades at any rate, were infrequent. Another reason was because there was a good deal of corruption in the old system of policing. The geographical growth of the cities and its population was increased. The crime was happening more frequently. There were a lot of problems in the old system of policing. As a result, in major cities like New York, there was a demand for reforming the police system. By the 1830s, larger northern cities found their problems of crime and disorder overpowering the traditional instruments for dealing with them. The old system was not able to maintain order or prevent crimes. This coincided with a tremendous growth of urban population. America was shifting from a farming civilization to a big business society. Also there was mass immigration into the United States and many men and women settled in cities. For example, cities such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia underwent rapid social and economic change in this time period. Because of the pace of this change, the policing system could not keep maintain order. Maintaining order seemed imperative and the demands for reform increased as well. Immigration jumped substantially after 1830. The total number of arrivals at the port of New York was more than three times greater in the 1830s than it had been the previous decade and there was a great movement on Manhattan Island as well as many other major cities. From time to time New York State officials extended the city’s lamp and watch district, the area in which the municipal corporation was to provided street lighting and watch protection and to collect taxes to pay for these services.[1] Boston had twice as many people in 1840 as twenty years before. This caused problems in the urban cities.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Rahzel :: History

Rahzel Rahzel M. Brown was born in Queens, New York and recalls that â€Å"not having† was never an excuse for â€Å"not doing†. Just as in its most organic state the essence of hip hop is ‘making something out of nothing,’ Rahzel learned how to feed his need to be creative. â€Å"We didn’t have the turntables inside the locker room and we couldn’t bring our boom box in there. Either we were banging on the locker, or somebody was (making music) with their mouth. I was the one who made the beats with my mouth. I worked hard so that if you closed your eyes you would swear that you were hearing a record, a radio, or a band.† Over time, Rahzel’s own gifts for vocal percussion led him to seek his own career as an artist. Others, like Biz Markie, Doug E. Fresh, and the Fat Boys’ Buffy had made strides in the form, but Rahzel possessed a talent so great, he was soon recognized up and down the east coast as the premiere human beat box ar tist. He already had a thriving solo career when The Roots asked him to join their group. â€Å"Being with The Roots enhanced what I was doing even more,† says Rahzel. â€Å"We’re colleagues, and we have tremendous respect for each other. They respect my history, I respect theirs.† He is undeniably the best beat boxer living on in this world today. As a kid he went to Grandmaster Flash's shows regularly, absorbing everything he saw and heard. Grandmaster Flash is another famous beat boxer that took the world by storm in every concert that he did. Rahzel grew up to live with beat boxing and used to be a roadie for the Ultramagnetic MCs. He later joined the Roots after guest staring on one of their early albums that sold million of copies world wide and became famous for there vocal and beat technique at the same time. This means that Rahzel and the group he was with would sing together and at the exact same time would come up with beats which sounded like a full band with drums, base, piano, and vocal. But Rahzel can sing a chorus and provide the back up beat simultaneously better then anybody in that group could. Rahzel doesn’t only beat box but He can also impersonate a number of rappers and singers. For instance he has this song called â€Å"if your m other only knew† and in that performance he did in front of hundreds and thousands of Americans in Louisiana, he impersonated his aunty when she caught him and his girl friend at that time making out.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Hearts Essay

This case is about a company named Hearts ‘R Us. This company provides research and development for medical devices. According to the information provided the company is in its early stage and has no products in the market. They have developed a Heart Valve System that would be revolutionary in the market if is approved. Also there’s another company called Bionic Body that is a biological medical device company, they have another product that would work well with this new Heart Valve System. Therefore both companies decided to fuse by agreement. The agreement is as follows: $3.5 million preferred stock shares of Series A from Heart Company are sold to Bionics with a par value of $1 each. This transaction was completed on November 30, 2011, according to the information provided. This transaction gave Bionic specific rights: 1. Board Rights, 2. Mandatory Conversion right, 3. Contingent Redemption Rights. Additional Protective Rights, 5. Right of first refusal and Co-Sale Rights. The $3.5 millions of shares would be convertible in common stock according to the agreement when the IPO reaches net proceeds of at least $50 millions. It is stated that if on year five of the agreement the FDA has not yet approve the product to be in the market; the shares could be redeemed at its par value. Hearts R Us is a company that reports on a year basis and it’s planning to make an IPO soon. There are a couple of issues surrounding this case. First is an early-stage company that doesn’t have the financial stability and this might create trouble for further transactions. The only product that might be coming to the market still depends on a series of trials and the approval of the FDA. Since the company is just starting; all of its accounting transactions have being recorded to comply with the covenants of its outstanding debt. Furthermore they are not required to comply with SEC and are currently not doing so. Also theirs an issue of how to be done to register the Series A shares that have being sold to Bionic. Preferred Stock: A security that has preferential rights compared to common stock. †¢Participation Rights: contractual rights of security holders to receive dividends or returns from the security issuer’s profits, cash flows, or returns on investment. FASB has some guide lines of how companies should report or disclose information of their securities. 1.FASB: addresses disclosure of information about capital arrangement is in the FASB Codification 505-10-50-3. 2.Participation Right is contractual right of security holders to receive dividends or returns from security issuer’s profits, cash flows or returns on investments. †¢FASB Codification 505. An entity shall explain, in summary form within its financial statements, the pertinent rights and privileges of the various securities outstanding. Examples of information that shall be disclosed are dividend and liquidation preferences, participation right, call prices and dates, conversion or exercise prices or rates and pertinent dates, sinking-fund requirements, unusual voting rights, and significant terms of contracts to issue additional shares. An entity shall disclose within its financial statements the number of shares issued upon conversion, exercise, or satisfaction of required conditions during at least the most recent annual fiscal period and any subsequent interim period presented.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Btk Killer Dennis Radar

BTK KILLER DENNIS RADAR Dennis Radar also known as the BTK Killer was born on March 9, 1945 to William Elvin Radar and Dorothea Mae Cook he was the oldest of their four children he was born in Pittsburg Kansas he grew up in Wichita and attended Riverview School and later graduated from Wichita Heights High School, according to several reports for him as a child made some confessions that he tortured animals, he also had a sexual fetish for women’s underwear he would later start stealing panties from his victims and wearing them. Dennis Radar attended Kansas Wesleyan University from 1965-1966 then he spent four yrs in the U. S. Air Force from 1966- 1970. In 1973 he attended Butler County Community College where he earned his associates degree in electronics and in the fall he went to Wichita State University he graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in 1979. Dennis Radar later on in life married a lady named Paula Dietz on May 22, 1971 they then had one son and one daughter. Dennis Radar worked as a assembler for a Coleman Company from 1972-1973 which was a camping gear firm where he has two of his early victims. He then work for a short time at a place named Cessna in 1973, then from November 1974 until being fired in July 1988 Dennis Radar worked for a security company that not only installed but also sold alarms for homes as well as businesses he many other jobs but one that was bad is that Dennis Radar started working as a supervisor for Compliance Department at Park City where he was in charge of animal control, zoning, housing problems, and a variety of nuisance cases while in this position his neighbors where he had euthanized her dog for no reason on March 2, 2005, the Park City council terminated Radar’s employment for failing to report to work due to him being arrested for some murders that he was accused for five days early. Radar served as not only a Animal Control but also a Board of Zoning appeals where he was appointed in 1996 and resigned in 1988. On July 27. 2005 Radar’s was arrested by Judge Eric Yost who also waved a 60 day waiting period and granted immediate divorce from his wife Radar did a not contest for the divorce after 33 yrs due to her mental health being in danger not only mental but also physically from their marriage. Dennis Radar had several victims that he had killed. On January 15, 1974 he killed four members from the Otero family he killed Joseph Otero, Julie Otero his wife, Joseph Otero II his son, and Josephine Otero his daughter. On April 4, 1974 he killed Kathryn Bright he also shot her brother Kevin twice but he survived. On March 17, 1977 he killed Shirley Vian. On December 8, 1977 he killed Nancy Fox. On April 27, 1985 he killed Marine Hedge. On September 16, 1986 he killed Vickie Wegerle, and then on January 19, 1991 he killed Delores Davis. One of his victims Anna Williams 63 who in 1979 escaped death by returning home much later then he expected her to come home. He later on wrote a letter that he knew would get him a lot of attention here is the letter I find the newspaper not writing about the poem on Vain unamusing. A little paragraph would have enough. I know it not the media fault. The Police Chief he keep things quiet, and doesn't let the public know there a psycho running around lose strangling mostly women, there 7 in the ground; who will be next? How many do I have to Kill before I get a name in the paper or some national attention does the cop think that all those deaths are not related? Golly -gee, yes the M. O. is different in each, but look a pattern is developing. The victims are tie up-most have been women-phone cut- bring some bondage mater sadist tendencies-no struggle, outside the death spot-no witness except the Vain's Kids. They were very lucky a phone call save them. I was going to tape the boys and put plastics bag over there head like I did Joseph, and Shirley. And then hang the girl. God-oh God what a beautiful sexual relief that would been. Josephine when I hung her really turn me on; her pleading for mercy then the rope took whole, she helpless; staring at me with wide terror fill eyes the rope getting tighter-tighter. You don't understand these things because your not under the influence of factor x). The same thing that made Son of Sam, Jack the Ripper, Havery Glatman, Boston Strangler, Dr. H. H. Holmes Panty Hose Strangler OF Florida, Hillside Strangler, Ted of the West Coast and many more infamous character kill. Which seem s senseless, but we cannot help it. There is no help, no cure, except death or being caught and put away. It a terrible nightmare but, you see I don't lose any sleep over it. After a thing like Fox I come home and go about life like anyone else. And I will be like that until the urge hit me again. It not continuous and I don’t have a lot of time. It takes time to set a kill, one mistake and it all over. Since I about blew it on the phone-handwriting is out-letter guide is so long and typewriter can be traced to my short poem of death and maybe a drawing later on real picture and maybe a tape of the sound will come your way. How will you know me before a murder or murders you will receive a copy of the initials B. T. K. you keep that copy the original will show up someday guesswho? Because Rader did not contest his guilt, most evidence was not tested in court. However, physical and circumstantial facts that would have corroborated Rader as the BTK killer include: †¢DNA analysis of BTK's semen and material taken from underneath the fingernails of victim Vicki Wegerle match the DNA profile of Dennis Rader. †¢Rader's grammar and writing style matches letters and poems received from BTK, though none of his communications were handwritten, but typed, stenciled, stamped with a stamp set or computer generated. †¢A pay phone that the killer used to report a murder in 1977 was located a few blocks from ADT Security (Rader's workplace at the time). †¢Rader had attended Wichita State University in the 1970s. Wichita Police Detective Arlyn G. Smith II and his partner George Scantlin traced BTK's photocopied communications to two photocopy machines, one at Wichita State University and a second copier at the Wichita Public Library. BTK murder victim Kathryn Bright's brother Kevin, who was shot twice by BTK killer. †¢Rader lived on the same street as Marine Hedge, just houses away. The BTK killer's other victims were in and around central Wichita, except for his final victim Dolores (Dee) Davis, who lived a half-mile east of Park City. †¢Two of the victims (Julie Otero and Kathryn Bright) worked at the Coleman Company, though not during the same period that Rader worked there. Rader worked at Coleman only a short time and not at the same location as the victims. Rader's 16 plus hour confession, given fully and freely after receiving multiple Miranda warnings and recorded on over 20 DVDs, in which he alluded to all 10 known murders in remarkable (and grisly) detail. Semen found on Josephine Otero or near the bodies of his victims Josephine Otero, Shirley Vian and Nancy Fox was critical evidence linking Rader to the crimes, and DNA obtained from fingernail scrapings of Vicki Wegerle's left hand matched Rader's DNA, eliminating any doubt that he was her murderer. Other cold cases in Kansas were reopened to see if Rader's DNA matched crime scenes but Rader's confession was limited to the 10 known victims and police and prosecutors do not believe there were any more victims because of the extensive records and memorabilia he kept on each of his victims. He later got caught and had several charges put against him here is just some of the charges he got against him On February 28, 2005, Rader was formally charged with 10 counts of first degree. He made his first appearance via video conference from jail. He was represented by a public defender. Bail was continued at $10 million. On May 3, District Court Judge Gregory Waller entered not guilty pleas to the 10 charges on Rader's behalf, as Rader did not speak at his arraignment. On June 27, the scheduled trial date, Rader changed his plea to guilty. He unemotionally described the murders in detail, and made no apologies. On August 18, Rader faced sentencing. Victims' families made statements, followed by Rader, who apologized for the crimes. He was sentenced to 10 consecutive life terms, which requires a minimum of 175 years without a chance of parole. Because Kansas had no death penalty at the time the murders were committed, life imprisonment was the maximum penalty allowed by law. On August 19, Rader was moved from the Sedgwick County Jail to the El Dorado Correctional Facility a Kansas State Prison to begin serving his life sentence as inmate #0083707 with an earliest possible release date of February 26, 2180. According to witnesses, while travelling the 40-minute drive from Wichita to El Dorado, Rader talked about innocuous topics such as the weather, but began to cry when the victims' families' statements from the court proceedings came on the radio. Rader is now being held in the EDCF Special Management unit, also known as solitary confinement for â€Å"the inmate's own protection†, a designation he most likely will retain for the remainder of his incarceration. He is confined to the cell 23 hours a day with the exception of voluntary solo one-hour exercise yard time, and access to the shower three times per week. Beginning April 23, 2006, having reached â€Å"Incentive Level Two†, Rader has been allowed to purchase and watch television, purchase and listen to the radio, receive and read magazines, and have other privileges for good behavior. The victims' families disagreed with this decision. According to Rader's record in the Kansas Department of Corrections database, he had a Class Two disciplinary report concerning â€Å"mail† on April 10, 2006.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 26-29

CHAPTER 26 Professor Langdon?† Sato said. â€Å"You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you okay?† Langdon hoisted his daybag higher onto his shoulder and laid his hand on top of it, as if somehow this might better hide the cube-shaped package he was carrying. He could feel his face had gone ashen. â€Å"I'm . . . just worried about Peter.† Sato cocked her head, eyeing him askew. Langdon felt a sudden wariness that Sato's involvement tonight might relate to this small package that Solomon had entrusted to him. Peter had warned Langdon: Powerful people want to steal this. It would be dangerous in the wrong hands. Langdon couldn't imagine why the CIA would want a little box containing a talisman . . . or even what the talisman could be. Ordo ab chao? Sato stepped closer, her black eyes probing. â€Å"I sense you've had a revelation?† Langdon felt himself sweating now. â€Å"No, not exactly.† â€Å"What's on your mind?† â€Å"I just . . .† Langdon hesitated, having no idea what to say. He had no intention of revealing the existence of the package in his bag, and yet if Sato took him to the CIA, his bag most certainly would be searched on the way in. â€Å"Actually . . .† he fibbed, â€Å"I have another idea about the numbers on Peter's hand.† Sato's expression revealed nothing. â€Å"Yes?† She glanced over at Anderson now, who was just arriving from greeting the forensics team that had finally arrived. Langdon swallowed hard and crouched down beside the hand, wondering what he could possibly come up with to tell them. You're a teacher, Robert–improvise! He took one last look at the seven tiny symbols, hoping for some sort of inspiration. Nothing. Blank. As Langdon's eidetic memory skimmed through his mental encyclopedia of symbols, he could find only one possible point to make. It was something that had occurred to him initially, but had seemed unlikely. At the moment, however, he had to buy time to think. â€Å"Well,† he began, â€Å"a symbologist's first clue that he's on the wrong track when deciphering symbols and codes is when he starts interpreting symbols using multiple symbolic languages. For example, when I told you this text was Roman and Arabic, that was a poor analysis because I used multiple symbolic systems. The same is true for Roman and runic.† Sato crossed her arms and arched her eyebrows as if to say, â€Å"Go on.† â€Å"In general, communications are made in one language, not multiple languages, and so a symbologist's first job with any text is to find a single consistent symbolic system that applies to the entire text.† â€Å"And you see a single system now?† â€Å"Well, yes . . . and no.† Langdon's experience with the rotational symmetry of ambigrams had taught him that symbols sometimes had meanings from multiple angles. In this case, he realized there was indeed a way to view all seven symbols in a single language. â€Å"If we manipulated the hand slightly, the language will become consistent.† Eerily, the manipulation Langdon was about to perform was one that seemed to have been suggested by Peter's captor already when he spoke the ancient Hermetic adage. As above, so below. Langdon felt a chill as he reached out and grasped the wooden base on which Peter's hand was secured. Gently, he turned the base upside down so that Peter's extended fingers were now pointing straight down. The symbols on the palm instantly transformed themselves. â€Å"From this angle,† Langdon said, â€Å"X-I-I-I becomes a valid Roman numeral–thirteen. Moreover, the rest of the characters can be interpreted using the Roman alphabet–SBB.† Langdon assumed the analysis would elicit blank shrugs, but Anderson's expression immediately changed. â€Å"SBB?† the chief demanded. Sato turned to Anderson. â€Å"If I'm not mistaken, that sounds like a familiar numbering system here in the Capitol Building.† Anderson looked pale. â€Å"It is.† Sato gave a grim smile and nodded to Anderson. â€Å"Chief, follow me, please. I'd like a word in private.† As Director Sato led Chief Anderson out of earshot, Langdon stood alone in bewilderment. What the hell is going on here? And what is SBB XIII? Chief Anderson wondered how this night could possibly get any stranger. The hand says SBB13? He was amazed any outsider had even heard of SBB . . . much less SBB13. Peter Solomon's index finger, it seemed, was not directing them upward as it had appeared . . . but rather was pointing in quite the opposite direction. Director Sato led Anderson over to a quiet area near the bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson. â€Å"Chief,† she said, â€Å"I trust you know exactly where SBB Thirteen is located?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Do you know what's inside?† â€Å"No, not without looking. I don't think it's been used in decades.† â€Å"Well, you're going to open it up.† Anderson did not appreciate being told what he would do in his own building. â€Å"Ma'am, that may be problematic. I'll have to check the assignment roster first. As you know, most of the lower levels are private offices or storage, and security protocol regarding private–â€Å" â€Å"You will unlock SBB Thirteen for me,† Sato said, â€Å"or I will call OS and send in a team with a battering ram.† Anderson stared at her a long moment and then pulled out his radio, raising it to his lips. â€Å"This is Anderson. I need someone to unlock the SBB. Have someone meet me there in five minutes.† The voice that replied sounded confused. â€Å"Chief, confirming you said SBB?† â€Å"Correct. SBB. Send someone immediately. And I'll need a flashlight.† He stowed his radio. Anderson's heart was pounding as Sato stepped closer, lowering her voice even further. â€Å"Chief, time is short,† she whispered, â€Å"and I want you to get us down to SBB Thirteen as quickly as possible.† â€Å"Yes, ma'am.† â€Å"I also need something else from you.† In addition to breaking and entering? Anderson was in no position to protest, and yet it had not gone unnoticed by him that Sato had arrived within minutes of Peter's hand appearing in the Rotunda, and that she now was using the situation to demand access to private sections of the U.S. Capitol. She seemed so far ahead of the curve tonight that she was practically defining it. Sato motioned across the room toward the professor. â€Å"The duffel bag on Langdon's shoulder.† Anderson glanced over. â€Å"What about it?† â€Å"I assume your staff X-rayed that bag when Langdon entered the building?† â€Å"Of course. All bags are scanned.† â€Å"I want to see that X-ray. I want to know what's in his bag.† Anderson looked over at the bag Langdon had been carrying all evening. â€Å"But . . . wouldn't it be easier just to ask him?† â€Å"What part of my request was unclear?† Anderson pulled out his radio again and called in her request. Sato gave Anderson her BlackBerry address and requested that his team e-mail her a digital copy of the X-ray as soon as they had located it. Reluctantly Anderson complied. Forensics was now collecting the severed hand for the Capitol Police, but Sato ordered them to deliver it directly to her team at Langley. Anderson was too tired to protest. He had just been run over by a tiny Japanese steamroller. â€Å"And I want that ring,† Sato called over to Forensics. The chief technician seemed ready to question her but thought better of it. He removed the gold ring from Peter's hand, placed it in a clear specimen bag, and gave it to Sato. She slipped it into her jacket pocket, and then turned to Langdon. â€Å"We're leaving, Professor. Bring your things.† â€Å"Where are we going?† Langdon replied. â€Å"Just follow Mr. Anderson.† Yes, Anderson thought, and follow me closely. The SBB was a section of the Capitol that few ever visited. To reach it, they would pass through a sprawling labyrinth of tiny chambers and tight passages buried beneath the crypt. Abraham Lincoln's youngest son, Tad, had once gotten lost down there and almost perished. Anderson was starting to suspect that if Sato had her way, Robert Langdon might suffer a similar fate. CHAPTER 27 Systems security specialist Mark Zoubianis had always prided himself on his ability to multitask. At the moment, he was seated on his futon along with a TV remote, a cordless phone, a laptop, a PDA, and a large bowl of Pirate's Booty. With one eye on the muted Redskins game and one eye on his laptop, Zoubianis was speaking on his Bluetooth headset with a woman he had not heard from in over a year. Leave it to Trish Dunne to call on the night of a play-off game. Confirming her social ineptitude yet again, his former colleague had chosen the Redskins game as a perfect moment to chat him up and request a favor. After some brief small talk about the old days and how she missed his great jokes, Trish had gotten to her point: she was trying to unmask a hidden IP address, probably that of a secure server in the D.C. area. The server contained a small text document, and she wanted access to it . . . or at the very least, some information about whose document it was. Right guy, wrong timing, he had told her. Trish then showered him with her finest geek flattery, most of which was true, and before Zoubianis knew it, he was typing a strange-looking IP address into his laptop. Zoubianis took one look at the number and immediately felt uneasy. â€Å"Trish, this IP has a funky format. It's written in a protocol that isn't even publicly available yet. It's probably gov intel or military.† â€Å"Military?† Trish laughed. â€Å"Believe me, I just pulled a redacted document off this server, and it was not military.† Zoubianis pulled up his terminal window and tried a traceroute. â€Å"You said your traceroute died?† â€Å"Yeah. Twice. Same hop.† â€Å"Mine, too.† He pulled up a diagnostic probe and launched it. â€Å"And what's so interesting about this IP?† â€Å"I ran a delegator that tapped a search engine at this IP and pulled a redacted document. I need to see the rest of the document. I'm happy to pay them for it, but I can't figure out who owns the IP or how to access it.† Zoubianis frowned at his screen. â€Å"Are you sure about this? I'm running a diagnostic, and this firewall coding looks . . . pretty serious.† â€Å"That's why you get the big bucks.† Zoubianis considered it. They'd offered him a fortune for a job this easy. â€Å"One question, Trish. Why are you so hot on this?† Trish paused. â€Å"I'm doing a favor for a friend.† â€Å"Must be a special friend.† â€Å"She is.† Zoubianis chuckled and held his tongue. I knew it. â€Å"Look,† Trish said, sounding impatient. â€Å"Are you good enough to unmask this IP? Yes or no?† â€Å"Yes, I'm good enough. And yes, I know you're playing me like a fiddle.† â€Å"How long will it take you?† â€Å"Not long,† he said, typing as he spoke. â€Å"I should be able to get into a machine on their network within ten minutes or so. Once I'm in and know what I'm looking at, I'll call you back.† â€Å"I appreciate it. So, are you doing well?† Now she asks? â€Å"Trish, for God's sake, you called me on the night of a play-off game and now you want to chat? Do you want me to hack this IP or not?† â€Å"Thanks, Mark. I appreciate it. I'll be waiting for your call.† â€Å"Fifteen minutes.† Zoubianis hung up, grabbed his bowl of Pirate's Booty, and unmuted the game. Women. CHAPTER 28 Where are they taking me? As Langdon hurried with Anderson and Sato into the depths of the Capitol, he felt his heart rate increasing with each downward step. They had begun their journey through the west portico of the Rotunda, descending a marble staircase and then doubling back through a wide doorway into the famous chamber directly beneath the Rotunda floor. The Capitol Crypt. The air was heavier here, and Langdon was already feeling claustrophobic. The crypt's low ceiling and soft uplighting accentuated the robust girth of the forty Doric columns required to support the vast stone floor directly overhead. Relax, Robert. â€Å"This way,† Anderson said, moving quickly as he angled to the left across the wide circular space. Thankfully, this particular crypt contained no bodies. Instead it contained several statues, a model of the Capitol, and a low storage area for the wooden catafalque on which coffins were laid for state funerals. The entourage hurried through, without even a glance at the four-pointed marble compass in the center of the floor where the Eternal Flame had once burned. Anderson seemed to be in a hurry, and Sato once again had her head buried in her BlackBerry. Cellular service, Langdon had heard, was boosted and broadcast to all corners of the Capitol Building to support the hundreds of government phone calls that took place here every day. After diagonally crossing the crypt, the group entered a dimly lit foyer and began winding through a convoluted series of hallways and dead ends. The warren of passages contained numbered doorways, each of which bore an identification number. Langdon read the doors as they snaked their way around. S154 . . . S153 . . . S152 . . . He had no idea what lay behind these doors, but at least one thing now seemed clear–the meaning of the tattoo on Peter Solomon's palm. SBB13 appeared to be a numbered doorway somewhere in the bowels of the U.S. Capitol Building. â€Å"What are all these doorways?† Langdon asked, clutching his daybag tightly to his ribs and wondering what Solomon's tiny package could possibly have to do with a door marked SBB13. â€Å"Offices and storage,† Anderson said. â€Å"Private offices and storage,† he added, glancing back at Sato. Sato did not even glance up from her BlackBerry. â€Å"They look tiny,† Langdon said. â€Å"Glorified closets, most of them, but they're still some of the most sought-after real estate in D.C. This is the heart of the original Capitol, and the old Senate chamber is two stories above us.† â€Å"And SBB Thirteen?† Langdon asked. â€Å"Whose office is that?† â€Å"Nobody's. The SBB is a private storage area, and I must say, I'm puzzled how–â€Å" â€Å"Chief Anderson,† Sato interrupted without looking up from her BlackBerry. â€Å"Just take us there, please.† Anderson clenched his jaw and guided them on in silence through what was now feeling like a hybrid self-storage facility and epic labyrinth. On almost every wall, directional signs pointed back and forth, apparently attempting to locate specific office blocks in this network of hallways. S142 to S152 . . . ST1 to ST70 . . . H1 to H166 & HT1 to HT67 . . . Langdon doubted he could ever find his way out of here alone. This place is a maze. From all he could gather, office numbers began with either an S or an H depending on whether they were on the Senate side of the building or the House side. Areas designated ST and HT were apparently on a level that Anderson called Terrace Level. Still no signs for SBB. Finally they arrived at a heavy steel security door with a key-card entry box. SB Level Langdon sensed they were getting closer. Anderson reached for his key card but hesitated, looking uncomfortable with Sato's demands. â€Å"Chief,† Sato prompted. â€Å"We don't have all night.† Anderson reluctantly inserted his key card. The steel door released. He pushed it open, and they stepped through into the foyer beyond. The heavy door clicked shut behind them. Langdon wasn't sure what he had hoped to see in this foyer, but the sight in front of him was definitely not it. He was staring at a descending stairway. â€Å"Down again?† he said, stopping short. â€Å"There's a level under the crypt?† â€Å"Yes,† Anderson said. â€Å"SB stands for `Senate Basement.' â€Å" Langdon groaned. Terrific. CHAPTER 29 The headlights winding up the SMSC's wooded access road were the first the guard had seen in the last hour. Dutifully, he turned down the volume on his portable TV set and stashed his snacks beneath the counter. Lousy timing. The Redskins were completing their opening drive, and he didn't want to miss it. As the car drew closer, the guard checked the name on the notepad in front of him. Dr. Christopher Abaddon. Katherine Solomon had just called to alert Security of this guest's imminent arrival. The guard had no idea who this doctor might be, but he was apparently very good at doctoring; he was arriving in a black stretch limousine. The long, sleek vehicle rolled to a stop beside the guardhouse, and the driver's tinted window lowered silently. â€Å"Good evening,† the chauffeur said, doffing his cap. He was a powerfully built man with a shaved head. He was listening to the football game on his radio. â€Å"I have Dr. Christopher Abaddon for Ms. Katherine Solomon?† The guard nodded. â€Å"Identification, please.† The chauffeur looked surprised. â€Å"I'm sorry, didn't Ms. Solomon call ahead?† The guard nodded, stealing a glance at the television. â€Å"I'm still required to scan and log visitor identification. Sorry, regulations. I'll need to see the doctor's ID.† â€Å"Not a problem.† The chauffeur turned backward in his seat and spoke in hushed tones through the privacy screen. As he did, the guard stole another peek at the game. The Redskins were breaking from the huddle now, and he hoped to get this limo through before the next play. The chauffeur turned forward again and held out the ID that he'd apparently just received through the privacy screen. The guard took the card and quickly scanned it into his system. The D.C. driver's license showed one Christopher Abaddon from Kalorama Heights. The photo depicted a handsome blond gentleman wearing a blue blazer, a necktie, and a satin pocket square. Who the hell wears a pocket square to the DMV? A muffled cheer went up from the television set, and the guard wheeled just in time to see a Redskins player dancing in the end zone, his finger pointed skyward. â€Å"I missed it,† the guard grumbled, returning to the window. â€Å"Okay,† he said, returning the license to the chauffeur. â€Å"You're all set.† As the limo pulled through, the guard returned to his TV, hoping for a replay. As Mal'akh drove his limo up the winding access road, he couldn't help but smile. Peter Solomon's secret museum had been simple to breach. Sweeter still, tonight was the second time in twenty-four hours that Mal'akh had broken into one of Solomon's private spaces. Last night, a similar visit had been made to Solomon's home. Although Peter Solomon had a magnificent country estate in Potomac, he spent much of his time in the city at his penthouse apartment at the exclusive Dorchester Arms. His building, like most that catered to the super-rich, was a veritable fortress. High walls. Guard gates. Guest lists. Secured underground parking. Mal'akh had driven this very limousine up to the building's guardhouse, doffed his chauffeur's cap from his shaved head, and proclaimed, â€Å"I have Dr. Christopher Abaddon. He is an invited guest of Mr. Peter Solomon.† Mal'akh spoke the words as if he were announcing the Duke of York. The guard checked a log and then Abaddon's ID. â€Å"Yes, I see Mr. Solomon is expecting Dr. Abaddon.† He pressed a button and the gate opened. â€Å"Mr. Solomon is in the penthouse apartment. Have your guest use the last elevator on the right. It goes all the way up.† â€Å"Thank you.† Mal'akh tipped his hat and drove through. As he wound deep into the garage, he scanned for security cameras. Nothing. Apparently, those who lived here were neither the kind of people who broke into cars nor the kind of people who appreciated being watched. Mal'akh parked in a dark corner near the elevators, lowered the divider between the driver's compartment and the passenger compartment, and slithered through the opening into the back of the limo. Once in back, he got rid of his chauffeur's cap and donned his blond wig. Straightening his jacket and tie, he checked the mirror to make sure he had not smeared his makeup. Mal'akh was not about to take any chances. Not tonight. I have waited too long for this. Seconds later, Mal'akh was stepping into the private elevator. The ride to the top was silent and smooth. When the door opened, he found himself in an elegant, private foyer. His host was already waiting. â€Å"Dr. Abaddon, welcome.† Mal'akh looked into the man's famous gray eyes and felt his heart begin to race. â€Å"Mr. Solomon, I appreciate your seeing me.† â€Å"Please, call me Peter.† The two men shook hands. As Mal'akh gripped the older man's palm, he saw the gold Masonic ring on Solomon's hand . . . the same hand that had once aimed a gun at Mal'akh. A voice whispered from Mal'akh's distant past. If you pull that trigger, I will haunt you forever. â€Å"Please come in,† Solomon said, ushering Mal'akh into an elegant living room whose expansive windows offered an astonishing view of the Washington skyline. â€Å"Do I smell tea steeping?† Mal'akh asked as he entered. Solomon looked impressed. â€Å"My parents always greeted guests with tea. I've carried on that tradition.† He led Mal'akh into the living room, where a tea service was waiting in front of the fire. â€Å"Cream and sugar?† â€Å"Black, thank you.† Again Solomon looked impressed. â€Å"A purist.† He poured them both a cup of black tea. â€Å"You said you needed to discuss something with me that was sensitive in nature and could be discussed only in private.† â€Å"Thank you. I appreciate your time.† â€Å"You and I are Masonic brothers now. We have a bond. Tell me how I can help you.† â€Å"First, I would like to thank you for the honor of the thirty-third degree a few months ago. This is deeply meaningful to me.† â€Å"I'm glad, but please know that those decisions are not mine alone. They are by vote of the Supreme Council.† â€Å"Of course.† Mal'akh suspected Peter Solomon had probably voted against him, but within the Masons, as with all things, money was power. Mal'akh, after achieving the thirty-second degree in his own lodge, had waited only a month before making a multimillion-dollar donation to charity in the name of the Masonic Grand Lodge. The unsolicited act of selflessness, as Mal'akh anticipated, was enough to earn him a quick invitation into the elite thirty-third degree. And yet I have learned no secrets. Despite the age-old whispers–â€Å"All is revealed at the thirty-third degree†Ã¢â‚¬â€œMal'akh had been told nothing new, nothing of relevance to his quest. But he had never expected to be told. The inner circle of Freemasonry contained smaller circles still . . . circles Mal'akh would not see for years, if ever. He didn't care. His initiation had served its purpose. Something unique had happened within that Temple Room, and it had given Mal'akh power over all of them. I no longer play by your rules. â€Å"You do realize,† Mal'akh said, sipping his tea, â€Å"that you and I met many years ago.† Solomon looked surprised. â€Å"Really? I don't recall.† â€Å"It was quite a long time ago.† And Christopher Abaddon is not my real name. â€Å"I'm so sorry. My mind must be getting old. Remind me how I know you?† Mal'akh smiled one last time at the man he hated more than any other man on earth. â€Å"It's unfortunate that you don't recall.† In one fluid motion, Mal'akh pulled a small device from his pocket and extended it outward, driving it hard into the man's chest. There was a flash of blue light, the sharp sizzle of the stun- gun discharge, and a gasp of pain as one million volts of electricity coursed through Peter Solomon's body. His eyes went wide, and he slumped motionless in his chair. Mal'akh stood up now, towering over the man, salivating like a lion about to consume his injured prey. Solomon was gasping, straining to breathe. Mal'akh saw fear in his victim's eyes and wondered how many people had ever seen the great Peter Solomon cower. Mal'akh savored the scene for several long seconds. He took a sip of tea, waiting for the man to catch his breath. Solomon was twitching, attempting to speak. â€Å"Wh-why?† he finally managed. â€Å"Why do you think?† Mal'akh demanded. Solomon looked truly bewildered. â€Å"You want . . . money?† Money? Mal'akh laughed and took another sip of tea. â€Å"I gave the Masons millions of dollars; I have no need of wealth.† I come for wisdom, and he offers me wealth. â€Å"Then what . . . do you want?† â€Å"You possess a secret. You will share it with me tonight.† Solomon struggled to lift his chin so he could look Mal'akh in the eye. â€Å"I don't . . . understand.† â€Å"No more lies!† Mal'akh shouted, advancing to within inches of the paralyzed man. â€Å"I know what is hidden here in Washington.† Solomon's gray eyes were defiant. â€Å"I have no idea what you're talking about!† Mal'akh took another sip of tea and set the cup on a coaster. â€Å"You spoke those same words to me ten years ago, on the night of your mother's death.† Solomon's eyes shot wide open. â€Å"You . . . ?† â€Å"She didn't have to die. If you had given me what I demanded . . .† The older man's face contorted in a mask of horrified recognition . . . and disbelief. â€Å"I warned you,† Mal'akh said, â€Å"if you pulled the trigger, I would haunt you forever.† â€Å"But you're–â€Å" Mal'akh lunged, driving the Taser hard into Solomon's chest again. There was another flash of blue light, and Solomon went completely limp. Mal'akh put the Taser back in his pocket and calmly finished his tea. When he was done, he dabbed his lips with a monogrammed linen napkin and peered down at his victim. â€Å"Shall we go?† Solomon's body was motionless, but his eyes were wide and engaged. Mal'akh got down close and whispered in the man's ear. â€Å"I'm taking you to a place where only truth remains.† Without another word, Mal'akh wadded up the monogrammed napkin and stuffed it into Solomon's mouth. Then he hoisted the limp man onto his broad shoulders and headed for the private elevator. On his way out, he picked up Solomon's iPhone and keys from the hall table. Tonight you will tell me all your secrets, Mal'akh thought. Including why you left me for dead all those years ago.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

The Oddysey Land of the Dead

Oddyseus started to seak to the spirits of the promising to sacrifice his best cow before she had her calve. Then he promised to sacrifice a black lamb whick was the finest in his heard. After promising to sacrifice the animals he did it. The spirits started to gather at the edge of Erebus, the place where the dead reside. The spirits included those of the young and the old; male and female. There were also many warriors who were still in possesion of their armor and weaponry. The spirits started to try to escape from the pit of Erebus. Oddyseus told his men to skin the animal that they had killed and make them into offering for Hades and Persephone, the god and godess of the dead who reside in the underworld. He sat waiting with his sword out to defend himself from the from the spirits until he noticed te presence of Tieresias, a blind prophet from Thebes, who came forward and spoke to Oddyseus. Tieresias asked him why he was in the land of the dead and to put down his sword. Then the prophet said that he wanted to taste the blood of the sacrifice he had made. Oddyseus stepped aside and sheathed his sword and the prophet bent down to drink. Tiereseus then tells him that anguish and hardship lie ahead and that poseidon is the one that will cause it because Oddyseus blinded his son Polyphemos the cyclops. He then says that Oddyseus will pass through a narrow straight that will take him home, and that Oddyseus will reach Thrinakia, the land of Helio's grazing cattle, where the sun god sees and hears everything. He says to avoid the cattle of the sun god and to stick with trying to get home, but if you butcher the cattle there will be destruction of ship and crew and only you will survive. Tiereseus then says that he will reach home on an unfamiliar ship only to find that men are in you home eating your food and trying to marry your wife. He then says that Oddyseus will kill these men either by stealth or open combat. He then tells Oddyseus that he will travel by land and sea to a landlocked place. The spot will be plain to you he says and the people will ask what kind of wheat sowing device you have. He tell Oddyseus that he will then jam the device, his oar, into the ground. Oddyseus is then told to make a sacrific to poseidon in the form of a ram, bull, buck boar. He tells Oddyseus to then go home and kill 100 pure cattle in the name of poseidon and all the gods. The final thing that Oddyseus is toldis that he will receive an easy death at sea will come to him when he is old, and then the prophet says that all that he has just said will be true as his journey home takes place.