The Wonderful Workforce - 867 Words

Separation in the workforce between male and female jobs creates a setting of inequality and instability in the work force, which limits certain career paths citizens should pursue and promotes an idea of inequality in employment opportunities. In tradition, the man is the breadwinner of the family; while this has changed, men still dominate many career paths. Once upon a time, only men were allowed to play sports in high school. This had drastically changed, due to Title IX, a law that provided opportunities to different career paths (â€Å"Mythbusting†). But, on a professional sport level, women are not seen playing in the NFL or the NBA. Women have their own leagues, like the Women’s Basketball Association. There are blended sports, but, for the most part, men and women are separate. The main argument is that women are not as physically able as men and therefore, they should not compete with men. People see this separation as fair; but, this gender separation will l ead to men controlling the sports world (Faulmueller 1-2). However, the amount of women in professional coaching careers is diminutive. A mere two to three percent of male teams are coached by females and in women’s sports, the amount of female coaches has plummeted forty-two percent; female coaches already earn less than their counterparts and many are now struggling to find new careers (Waldron 2.†Facts† 40). Another career path where women are poorly represented is the military. The 1994 Direct GroundShow MoreRelatedEssay on Examples of Hostile Sexism702 Words   |  3 Pages(A) Despite the fact that there is an increasing number of women in the workforce, there are few in leadership positions. This is because of ambivalent sexism. There are two different types of ambivalent sexism: hostile and benevolent. A Hostile sexist is someone who as combative and antagonistic view towards a woman. 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The Lost Symbol Chapter 19-21 Free Essays

string(48) " the same reason we keep matches from children\." CHAPTER 19 Director Inoue Sato stood with her arms folded, her eyes locked skeptically on Langdon as she processed what he had just told her. â€Å"He said he wants you to unlock an ancient portal? What am I supposed to do with that, Professor?† Langdon shrugged weakly. He was feeling ill again and tried not to look down at his friend’s severed hand. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lost Symbol Chapter 19-21 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"That’s exactly what he told me. An ancient portal . . . hidden somewhere in this building. I told him I knew of no portal.† â€Å"Then why does he think you can find it?† â€Å"Obviously, he’s insane.† He said Peter would point the way. Langdon looked down at Peter’s upstretched finger, again feeling repulsed by his captor’s sadistic play on words. Peter will point the way. Langdon had already permitted his eyes to follow the pointing finger up to the dome overhead. A portal? Up there? Insane. â€Å"This man who called me,† Langdon told Sato, â€Å"was the only one who knew I was coming to the Capitol tonight, so whoever informed you I was here tonight, that’s your man. I recommend–â€Å" â€Å"Where I got my information is not your concern,† Sato interrupted, voice sharpening. â€Å"My top priority at the moment is to cooperate with this man, and I have information suggesting you are the only one who can give him what he wants.† â€Å"And my top priority is to find my friend,† Langdon replied, frustrated. Sato inhaled deeply, her patience clearly being tested. â€Å"If we want to find Mr. Solomon, we have one course of action, Professor–to start cooperating with the one person who seems to know where he is.† Sato checked her watch. â€Å"Our time is limited. I can assure you it is imperative we comply with this man’s demands quickly.† â€Å"How?† Langdon asked, incredulous. â€Å"By locating and unlocking an ancient portal? There is no portal, Director Sato. This guy’s a lunatic.† Sato stepped close, less than a foot from Langdon. â€Å"If I may point this out . . . your lunatic deftly manipulated two fairly smart individuals already this morning.† She stared directly at Langdon and then glanced at Anderson. â€Å"In my business, one learns there is a fine line between insanity and genius. We would be wise to give this man a little respect.† â€Å"He cut off a man’s hand!† â€Å"My point exactly. That is hardly the act of an uncommitted or uncertain individual. More important, Professor, this man obviously believes you can help him. He brought you all the way to Washington–and he must have done it for a reason.† â€Å"He said the only reason he thinks I can unlock this `portal’ is that Peter told him I can unlock it,† Langdon countered. â€Å"And why would Peter Solomon say that if it weren’t true?† â€Å"I’m sure Peter said no such thing. And if he did, then he did so under duress. He was confused . . . or frightened.† â€Å"Yes. It’s called interrogational torture, and it’s quite effective. All the more reason Mr. Solomon would tell the truth.† Sato spoke as if she’d had personal experience with this technique. â€Å"Did he explain why Peter thinks you alone can unlock the portal?† Langdon shook his head. â€Å"Professor, if your reputations are correct, then you and Peter Solomon both share an interest in this sort of thing–secrets, historical esoterica, mysticism, and so on. In all of your discussions with Peter, he never once mentioned to you anything about a secret portal in Washington, D.C.?† Langdon could scarcely believe he was being asked this question by a high-ranking officer of the CIA. â€Å"I’m certain of it. Peter and I talk about some pretty arcane things, but believe me, I’d tell him to get his head examined if he ever told me there was an ancient portal hidden anywhere at all. Particularly one that leads to the Ancient Mysteries.† She glanced up. â€Å"I’m sorry? The man told you specifically what this portal leads to?† â€Å"Yes, but he didn’t have to.† Langdon motioned to the hand. â€Å"The Hand of the Mysteries is a formal invitation to pass through a mystical gateway and acquire ancient secret knowledge– powerful wisdom known as the Ancient Mysteries . . . or the lost wisdom of all the ages.† â€Å"So you’ve heard of the secret he believes is hidden here.† â€Å"A lot of historians have heard of it.† â€Å"Then how can you say the portal does not exist?† â€Å"With respect, ma’am, we’ve all heard of the Fountain of Youth and Shangri-la, but that does not mean they exist.† The loud squawk of Anderson’s radio interrupted them. â€Å"Chief?† the voice on the radio said. Anderson snatched his radio from his belt. â€Å"Anderson here.† â€Å"Sir, we’ve completed a search of the grounds. There’s no one here that fits the description. Any further orders, sir?† Anderson shot a quick glance at Sato, clearly expecting a reprimand, but Director Sato seemed uninterested. Anderson moved away from Langdon and Sato, speaking quietly into his radio. Sato’s unwavering focus remained on Langdon. â€Å"You’re saying the secret he believes is hidden in Washington . . . is a fantasy?† Langdon nodded. â€Å"A very old myth. The secret of the Ancient Mysteries is pre-Christian, actually. Thousands of years old.† â€Å"And yet it’s still around?† â€Å"As are many equally improbable beliefs.† Langdon often reminded his students that most modern religions included stories that did not hold up to scientific scrutiny: everything from Moses parting the Red Sea . . . to Joseph Smith using magic eyeglasses to translate the Book of Mormon from a series of gold plates he found buried in upstate New York. Wide acceptance of an idea is not proof of its validity. â€Å"I see. So what exactly are these . . . Ancient Mysteries?† Langdon exhaled. Have you got a few weeks? â€Å"In short, the Ancient Mysteries refer to a body of secret knowledge that was amassed long ago. One intriguing aspect of this knowledge is that it allegedly enables its practitioners to access powerful abilities that lie dormant in the human mind. The enlightened Adepts who possessed this knowledge vowed to keep it veiled from the masses because it was considered far too potent and dangerous for the uninitiated.† â€Å"Dangerous in what way?† â€Å"The information was kept hidden for the same reason we keep matches from children. You read "The Lost Symbol Chapter 19-21" in category "Essay examples" In the correct hands, fire can provide illumination . . . but in the wrong hands, fire can be highly destructive.† Sato took off her glasses and studied him. â€Å"Tell me, Professor, do you believe such powerful information could truly exist?† Langdon was not sure how to respond. The Ancient Mysteries had always been the greatest paradox of his academic career. Virtually every mystical tradition on earth revolved around the idea that there existed arcane knowledge capable of imbuing humans with mystical, almost godlike, powers: tarot and I Ching gave men the ability to see the future; alchemy gave men immortality through the fabled Philosopher’s Stone; Wicca permitted advanced practitioners to cast powerful spells. The list went on and on. As an academic, Langdon could not deny the historical record of these traditions–troves of documents, artifacts, and artwork that, indeed, clearly suggested the ancients had a powerful wisdom that they shared only through allegory, myths, and symbols, ensuring that only those properly initiated could access its power. Nonetheless, as a realist and a skeptic, Langdon remained unconvinced. â€Å"Let’s just say I’m a skeptic,† he told Sato. â€Å"I have never seen anything in the real world to suggest the Ancient Mysteries are anything other than legend–a recurring mythological archetype. It seems to me that if it were possible for humans to acquire miraculous powers, there would be evidence. And yet, so far, history has given us no men with superhuman powers.† Sato arched her eyebrows. â€Å"That’s not entirely true.† Langdon hesitated, realizing that for many religious people, there was indeed a precedent for human gods, Jesus being the most obvious. â€Å"Admittedly,† he said, â€Å"there are plenty of educated people who believe this empowering wisdom truly exists, but I’m not yet convinced.† â€Å"Is Peter Solomon one of those people?† Sato asked, glancing toward the hand on the floor. Langdon could not bring himself to look at the hand. â€Å"Peter comes from a family lineage that has always had a passion for all things ancient and mystical.† â€Å"Was that a yes?† Sato asked. â€Å"I can assure you that even if Peter believes the Ancient Mysteries are real, he does not believe they are accessible through some kind of portal hidden in Washington, D.C. He understands metaphorical symbolism, which is something his captor apparently does not.† Sato nodded. â€Å"So you believe this portal is a metaphor.† â€Å"Of course,† Langdon said. â€Å"In theory, anyway. It’s a very common metaphor–a mystical portal through which one must travel to become enlightened. Portals and doorways are common symbolic constructs that represent transformative rites of passage. To look for a literal portal would be like trying to locate the actual Gates of Heaven.† Sato seemed to consider this momentarily. â€Å"But it sounds like Mr. Solomon’s captor believes you can unlock an actual portal.† Langdon exhaled. â€Å"He’s made the same error many zealots make–confusing metaphor with a literal reality.† Similarly, early alchemists had toiled in vain to transform lead into gold, never realizing that lead-to-gold was nothing but a metaphor for tapping into true human potential– that of taking a dull, ignorant mind and transforming it into a bright, enlightened one. Sato motioned to the hand. â€Å"If this man wants you to locate some kind of portal for him, why wouldn’t he simply tell you how to find it? Why all the dramatics? Why give you a tattooed hand?† Langdon had asked himself the same question and the answer was unsettling. â€Å"Well, it seems the man we are dealing with, in addition to being mentally unstable, is also highly educated. This hand is proof that he is well versed in the Mysteries as well as their codes of secrecy. Not to mention with the history of this room.† â€Å"I don’t understand.† â€Å"Everything he has done tonight was done in perfect accordance with ancient protocols. Traditionally, the Hand of the Mysteries is a sacred invitation, and therefore it must be presented in a sacred place.† Sato’s eyes narrowed. â€Å"This is the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building, Professor, not some sacred shrine to ancient mystical secrets.† â€Å"Actually, ma’am,† Langdon said, â€Å"I know a great number of historians who would disagree with you.† At that moment, across town, Trish Dunne was seated in the glow of the plasma wall inside the Cube. She finished preparing her search spider and typed in the five key phrases Katherine had given her. Here goes nothing. Feeling little optimism, she launched the spider, effectively commencing a worldwide game of Go Fish. At blinding speed, the phrases were now being compared to texts all over the world . . . looking for a perfect match. Trish couldn’t help but wonder what this was all about, but she had come to accept that working with the Solomons meant never quite knowing the entire story. CHAPTER 20 Robert Langdon stole an anxious glance at his wristwatch: 7:58 P.M. The smiling face of Mickey Mouse did little to cheer him up. I’ve got to find Peter. We’re wasting time. Sato had stepped aside for a moment to take a phone call, but now she returned to Langdon. â€Å"Professor, am I keeping you from something?† â€Å"No, ma’am,† Langdon said, pulling his sleeve down over his watch. â€Å"I’m just extremely concerned about Peter.† â€Å"I can understand, but I assure you the best thing you can do to help Peter is to help me understand the mind-set of his captor.† Langdon was not so sure, but he sensed he was not going anywhere until the OS director got the information she desired. â€Å"A moment ago,† Sato said, â€Å"you suggested this Rotunda is somehow sacred to the idea of these Ancient Mysteries?† â€Å"Yes, ma’am.† â€Å"Explain that to me.† Langdon knew he would have to choose his words sparingly. He had taught for entire semesters on the mystical symbolism of Washington, D.C., and there was an almost inexhaustible list of mystical references in this building alone. America has a hidden past. Every time Langdon lectured on the symbology of America, his students were confounded to learn that the true intentions of our nation’s forefathers had absolutely nothing to do with what so many politicians now claimed. America’s intended destiny has been lost to history. The forefathers who founded this capital city first named her â€Å"Rome.† They had named her river the Tiber and erected a classical capital of pantheons and temples, all adorned with images of history’s great gods and goddesses–Apollo, Minerva, Venus, Helios, Vulcan, Jupiter. In her center, as in many of the great classical cities, the founders had erected an enduring tribute to the ancients–the Egyptian obelisk. This obelisk, larger even than Cairo’s or Alexandria’s, rose 555 feet into the sky, more than thirty stories, proclaiming thanks and honor to the demigod forefather for whom this capital city took its newer name. Washington. Now, centuries later, despite America’s separation of church and state, this state-sponsored Rotunda glistened with ancient religious symbolism. There were over a dozen different gods in the Rotunda–more than the original Pantheon in Rome. Of course, the Roman Pantheon had been converted to Christianity in 609 . . . but this pantheon was never converted; vestiges of its true history still remained in plain view. â€Å"As you may know,† Langdon said, â€Å"this Rotunda was designed as a tribute to one of Rome’s most venerated mystical shrines. The Temple of Vesta.† â€Å"As in the vestal virgins?† Sato looked doubtful that Rome’s virginal guardians of the flame had anything to do with the U.S. Capitol Building. â€Å"The Temple of Vesta in Rome,† Langdon said, â€Å"was circular, with a gaping hole in the floor, through which the sacred fire of enlightenment could be tended by a sisterhood of virgins whose job it was to ensure the flame never went out.† Sato shrugged. â€Å"This Rotunda is a circle, but I see no gaping hole in this floor.† â€Å"No, not anymore, but for years the center of this room had a large opening precisely where Peter’s hand is now.† Langdon motioned to the floor. â€Å"In fact, you can still see the marks in the floor from the railing that kept people from falling in.† â€Å"What?† Sato demanded, scrutinizing the floor. â€Å"I’ve never heard that.† â€Å"Looks like he’s right.† Anderson pointed out the circle of iron nubs where the posts had once been. â€Å"I’ve seen these before, but I never had any idea why they were there.† You’re not alone, Langdon thought, imagining the thousands of people every day, including famous lawmakers, who strode across the center of the Rotunda having no idea there was once a day when they would have plunged down into the Capitol Crypt–the level beneath the Rotunda floor. â€Å"The hole in the floor,† Langdon told them, â€Å"was eventually covered, but for a good while, those who visited the Rotunda could see straight down to the fire that burned below.† Sato turned. â€Å"Fire? In the U.S. Capitol?† â€Å"More of a large torch, actually–an eternal flame that burned in the crypt directly beneath us. It was supposed to be visible through the hole in the floor, making this room a modern Temple of Vesta. This building even had its own vestal virgin–a federal employee called the Keeper of the Crypt–who successfully kept the flame burning for fifty years, until politics, religion, and smoke damage snuffed out the idea.† Both Anderson and Sato looked surprised. Nowadays, the only reminder that a flame once burned here was the four-pointed star compass embedded in the crypt floor one story below them–a symbol of America’s eternal flame, which once shed illumination toward the four corners of the New World. â€Å"So, Professor,† Sato said, â€Å"your contention is that the man who left Peter’s hand here knew all this?† â€Å"Clearly. And much, much more. There are symbols all over this room that reflect a belief in the Ancient Mysteries.† â€Å"Secret wisdom,† Sato said with more than a hint of sarcasm in her voice. â€Å"Knowledge that lets men acquire godlike powers?† â€Å"Yes, ma’am.† â€Å"That hardly fits with the Christian underpinnings of this country.† â€Å"So it would seem, but it’s true. This transformation of man into God is called apotheosis. Whether or not you’re aware of it, this theme–transforming man into god–is the core element in this Rotunda’s symbolism.† â€Å"Apotheosis?† Anderson spun with a startled look of recognition. â€Å"Yes.† Anderson works here. He knows. â€Å"The word apotheosis literally means `divine transformation’–that of man becoming God. It’s from the ancient Greek: apo–`to become,’ theos–`god.’ â€Å" Anderson looked amazed. â€Å"Apotheosis means `to become God’? I had no idea.† â€Å"What am I missing?† Sato demanded. â€Å"Ma’am,† Langdon said, â€Å"the largest painting in this building is called The Apotheosis of Washington. And it clearly depicts George Washington being transformed into a god.† Sato looked doubtful. â€Å"I’ve never seen anything of the sort.† â€Å"Actually, I’m sure you have.† Langdon raised his index finger, pointing straight up. â€Å"It’s directly over your head.† CHAPTER 21 The Apotheosis of Washington–a 4,664-square-foot fresco that covers the canopy of the Capitol Rotunda–was completed in 1865 by Constantino Brumidi. Known as â€Å"The Michelangelo of the Capitol,† Brumidi had laid claim to the Capitol Rotunda in the same way Michelangelo had laid claim to the Sistine Chapel, by painting a fresco on the room’s most lofty canvas–the ceiling. Like Michelangelo, Brumidi had done some of his finest work inside the Vatican. Brumidi, however, immigrated to America in 1852, abandoning God’s largest shrine in favor of a new shrine, the U.S. Capitol, which now glistened with examples of his mastery–from the trompe l’oeil of the Brumidi Corridors to the frieze ceiling of the Vice President’s Room. And yet it was the enormous image hovering above the Capitol Rotunda that most historians considered to be Brumidi’s masterwork. Robert Langdon gazed up at the massive fresco that covered the ceiling. He usually enjoyed his students’ startled reactions to this fresco’s bizarre imagery, but at the moment he simply felt trapped in a nightmare he had yet to understand. Director Sato was standing next to him with her hands on her hips, frowning up at the distant ceiling. Langdon sensed she was having the same reaction many had when they first stopped to examine the painting at the core of their nation. Utter confusion. You’re not alone, Langdon thought. For most people, The Apotheosis of Washington got stranger and stranger the longer they looked at it. â€Å"That’s George Washington on the central panel,† Langdon said, pointing 180 feet upward into the middle of the dome. â€Å"As you can see, he’s dressed in white robes, attended by thirteen maidens, and ascending on a cloud above mortal man. This is the moment of his apotheosis . . . his transformation into a god.† Sato and Anderson said nothing. â€Å"Nearby,† Langdon continued, â€Å"you can see a strange, anachronistic series of figures: ancient gods presenting our forefathers with advanced knowledge. There’s Minerva giving technological inspiration to our nation’s great inventors–Ben Franklin, Robert Fulton, Samuel Morse.† Langdon pointed them out one by one. â€Å"And over there is Vulcan helping us build a steam engine. Beside them is Neptune demonstrating how to lay the transatlantic cable. Beside that is Ceres, goddess of grain and root of our word cereal; she’s sitting on the McCormick reaper, the farming breakthrough that enabled this country to become a world leader in food production. The painting quite overtly portrays our forefathers receiving great wisdom from the gods.† He lowered his head, looking at Sato now. â€Å"Knowledge is power, and the right knowledge lets man perform miraculous, almost godlike tasks.† Sato dropped her gaze back down to Langdon and rubbed her neck. â€Å"Laying a phone cable is a far cry from being a god.† â€Å"Perhaps to a modern man,† Langdon replied. â€Å"But if George Washington knew that we had become a race that possessed the power to speak to one another across oceans, fly at the speed of sound, and set foot on our moon, he would assume that we had become gods, capable of miraculous tasks.† He paused. â€Å"In the words of futurist Arthur C. Clarke, `Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’ â€Å" Sato pursed her lips, apparently deep in thought. She glanced down at the hand, and then followed the direction of the outstretched index finger up into the dome. â€Å"Professor, you were told, `Peter will point the way.’ Is that correct?† â€Å"Yes, ma’am, but–â€Å" â€Å"Chief,† Sato said, turning away from Langdon, â€Å"can you get us a closer look at the painting?† Anderson nodded. â€Å"There’s a catwalk around the interior of the dome.† Langdon looked way, way up to the tiny railing visible just beneath the painting and felt his body go rigid. â€Å"There’s no need to go up there.† He had experienced that seldom-visited catwalk once before, as the guest of a U.S. senator and his wife, and he had almost fainted from the dizzying height and perilous walkway. â€Å"No need?† Sato demanded. â€Å"Professor, we have a man who believes this room contains a portal that has the potential to make him a god; we have a ceiling fresco that symbolizes the transformation of a man into a god; and we have a hand pointing straight at that painting. It seems everything is urging us upward.† â€Å"Actually,† Anderson interjected, glancing up, â€Å"not many people know this, but there is one hexagonal coffer in the dome that actually swings open like a portal, and you can peer down through it and–â€Å" â€Å"Wait a second,† Langdon said, â€Å"you’re missing the point. The portal this man is looking for is a figurative portal–a gateway that doesn’t exist. When he said, `Peter will point the way,’ he was talking in metaphorical terms. This pointing-hand gesture–with its index finger and thumb extended upward–is a well-known symbol of the Ancient Mysteries, and it appears all over the world in ancient art. This same gesture appears in three of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous encoded masterpieces–The Last Supper, Adoration of the Magi, and Saint John the Baptist. It’s a symbol of man’s mystical connection to God.† As above, so below. The madman’s bizarre choice of words was starting to feel more relevant now. â€Å"I’ve never seen it before,† Sato said. Then watch ESPN, Langdon thought, always amused to see professional athletes point skyward in gratitude to God after a touchdown or home run. He wondered how many knew they were continuing a pre-Christian mystical tradition of acknowledging the mystical power above, which, for one brief moment, had transformed them into a god capable of miraculous feats. â€Å"If it’s of any help,† Langdon said, â€Å"Peter’s hand is not the first such hand to make an appearance in this Rotunda.† Sato eyed him like he was insane. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† Langdon motioned to her BlackBerry. â€Å"Google `George Washington Zeus.’ â€Å" Sato looked uncertain but started typing. Anderson inched toward her, looking over her shoulder intently. Langdon said, â€Å"This Rotunda was once dominated by a massive sculpture of a bare-chested George Washington . . . depicted as a god. He sat in the same exact pose as Zeus in the Pantheon, bare chest exposed, left hand holding a sword, right hand raised with thumb and finger extended.† Sato had apparently found an online image, because Anderson was staring at her BlackBerry in shock. â€Å"Hold on, that’s George Washington?† â€Å"Yes,† Langdon said. â€Å"Depicted as Zeus.† â€Å"Look at his hand,† Anderson said, still peering over Sato’s shoulder. â€Å"His right hand is in the same exact position as Mr. Solomon’s.† As I said, Langdon thought, Peter’s hand is not the first to make an appearance in this room. When Horatio Greenough’s statue of a naked George Washington was first unveiled in the Rotunda, many joked that Washington must be reaching skyward in a desperate attempt to find some clothes. As American religious ideals changed, however, the joking criticism turned to controversy, and the statue was removed, banished to a shed in the east garden. Currently, it made its home at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, where those who saw it had no reason to suspect that it was one of the last vestigial links to a time when the father of the country had watched over the U.S. Capitol as a god . . . like Zeus watching over the Pantheon. Sato began dialing a number on her BlackBerry, apparently seeing this as an opportune moment to check in with her staff. â€Å"What have you got?† She listened patiently. â€Å"I see . . .† She glanced directly at Langdon, then at Peter’s hand. â€Å"You’re certain?† She listened a moment longer. â€Å"Okay, thanks.† She hung up and turned back toward Langdon. â€Å"My support staff did some research and confirms the existence of your so-called Hand of the Mysteries, corroborating everything you said: five fingertip markings–the star, the sun, the key, the crown, and the lantern–as well as the fact that this hand served as an ancient invitation to learn secret wisdom.† â€Å"I’m glad,† Langdon said. â€Å"Don’t be,† she replied curtly. â€Å"It appears we’re now at a dead end until you share whatever it is you’re still not telling me.† â€Å"Ma’am?† Sato stepped toward him. â€Å"We’ve come full circle, Professor. You’ve told me nothing I could not have learned from my own staff. And so I will ask you once more. Why were you brought here tonight? What makes you so special? What is it that you alone know?† â€Å"We’ve been through this,† Langdon fired back. â€Å"I don’t know why this guy thinks I know anything at all!† Langdon was half tempted to demand how the hell Sato knew that he was in the Capitol tonight, but they’d been through that, too. Sato isn’t talking. â€Å"If I knew the next step,† he told her, â€Å"I’d tell you. But I don’t. Traditionally, the Hand of the Mysteries is extended by a teacher to a student. And then, shortly afterward, the hand is followed up with a set of instructions . . . directions to a temple, the name of the master who will teach you–something! But all this guy left for us is five tattoos! Hardly–† Langdon stopped short. Sato eyed him. â€Å"What is it?† Langdon’s eyes shot back to the hand. Five tattoos. He now realized that what he was saying might not be entirely true. â€Å"Professor?† Sato pressed. Langdon inched toward the gruesome object. Peter will point the way. â€Å"Earlier, it crossed my mind that maybe this guy had left an object clenched in Peter’s palm–a map, or a letter, or a set of directions.† â€Å"He didn’t,† Anderson said. â€Å"As you can see, those three fingers are not clenched tightly.† â€Å"You’re right,† Langdon said. â€Å"But it occurs to me . . .† He crouched down now, trying to see up under the fingers to the hidden part of Peter’s palm. â€Å"Maybe it’s not written on paper.† â€Å"Tattooed?† Anderson said. Langdon nodded. â€Å"Do you see anything on the palm?† Sato asked. Langdon crouched lower, trying to peer up under the loosely clenched fingers. â€Å"The angle is impossible. I can’t–â€Å" â€Å"Oh, for heaven’s sake,† Sato said, moving toward him. â€Å"Just open the damned thing!† Anderson stepped in front of her. â€Å"Ma’am! We should really wait for forensics before we touch–† â€Å"I want some answers,† Sato said, pushing past him. She crouched down, edging Langdon away from the hand. Langdon stood up and watched in disbelief as Sato pulled a pen from her pocket, sliding it carefully under the three clenched fingers. Then, one by one, she pried each finger upward until the hand stood fully open, with its palm visible. She glanced up at Langdon, and a thin smile spread across her face. â€Å"Right again, Professor.† How to cite The Lost Symbol Chapter 19-21, Essay examples

Persuasive Essay About Caesar free essay sample

Breaking the law Good or Bad Many people break the law. Some do it for fun; others do it for personal benefits. However, Julius Caesar broke the law to gain control of Rome. He stated, â€Å" If you must break the law, do it to seize power; in other cases, observe it â€Å". With this statement a person can benefit society heavily if they break the law to seize power with the right intentions. To begin with, breaking the law is not bad if lots of good comes from it. One way is when a country is created from a revolution from another country. Example of this is the United States of America. The USA was a colony of Great Britain back in the day. Much conflict arose between the two and eventually a revolution was started by the colonies. This was technically high treason to Britain, but the USA was able to win and gain its own power and has become one of the greatest countries in the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Persuasive Essay About Caesar or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Without a doubt, amazing things can come from breaking the law to obtain power. Some people though might argue that some of the people who seize power become tyrants and dictators. This is true that many dictators have came to power in the world with their own revolution, but many of these leaders are starting to lose their power. Reflection of this were the recent events in Libya and Syria. There are huge revolutions to dethrone the tyrants that are in command. Which again this would be consider treason even though it is beneficial to the people of those countries. As one can see, to seize power by breaking the law is overall a good thing. If a person has the right intentions for society, breaking the law to seize power can be extremely beneficial.

Tips on how to have a healthy and deep sleep during your exam period

Tips on how to have a healthy and deep sleep during your exam period How to have deep sleep despite of exams and stress During the exam period a lot of students just dream of the healthy sleep. They often face some sleep disorders because of the stress, unhealthy lifestyle, depression, and overfatigue. Fortunately, there are many natural sleep aids which can make you feel much better during your sleeping time and increase your productivity in the morning. Set a bedtime routine It is very important to go to bed and get up at the same time. You should follow this rule even on weekends. Quit smoking and drinking coffee after lunch You should remember that nicotine and caffeine can lead to sleep disturbances. These stimulants can make you feel tired in the morning. Switch to herbal tea which can help you sleep better. Make this calming tea time before bed your little ritual. Consider a supplement There are many supplements that do not harm our body and promote deep sleep. L-theanine, valerian, and melatonin are the most common ones. Valerian can cause a relaxation effect while melatonin and L-theanine can help you sleep soundly. Melatonin is a hormone that can regulate the wake and sleep cycle of your body. Just take one of these supplements a few hours before going to bed. Set your bedroom up for success Make your bedroom a pleasant and comfortable zone for sleeping. Your bed should be physically comfortable. Buy a new set of comfy sheets, consider new pillows and mattress. Make sure that your bedroom is quiet enough. It is worth buying a white noise generator to fight insomnia. In order to improve the quality of your sleep, turn off all technological devices. Using cell phones, tablets, notebooks before bedtime has become a common sleep disturbing habit of the majority of students. Sniff Aromatherapy A study shows that a scent of lavender helps fall asleep more easily and sleep much better. Do Yoga and meditate If your sleep problems are connected with that fact that you are unable to relax, yoga is just for you. It is a mind-quieting physical activity which is able to do wonders for relaxation. A simple meditation or some breathing exercises can also do the trick. It can help you clear your mind and prepare for longer and better sleep. Exercise regularly Physically active people sleep much better than those who don`t exercise at all. Do the mild exercises to improve your sleeping time. The more energy you expand during the day the better. A good relaxation exercise is the progressive muscle relaxation. You should tense and then relax all the muscle groups of your body. Eat properly First of all, avoid large meals in the evening. Make sure that your midday meals have a balance of protein and carbohydrates. Stay away from products full off sugar. Opt for fresh fruit instead. Take a warm bath A warm bath before going to bed can help you fall asleep more quickly and improve the quality of your sleep. Skip the candles and rose petals to make the atmosphere more relaxing. Get out of bed Very often we can`t stop our minds from racing when we are already in bed. In such cases, it is better to do something for 30 or more minutes until you feel really tired. Try to put aside all the thoughts that prevent you from getting asleep. Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Your sleep disorders can become a serious problem. In such cases, you should meet regularly with a therapist to find out the true reasons of your insomnia and keep track of your sleep habits. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a part of insomnia treatment.

Make His Fathers Day Special With These Quotes About Dads

Make His Fathers Day Special With These Quotes About Dads Remember the movie Junior, where Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the role of a pregnant man who goes through the rigor of labor and childbirth? While it was comical to watch Schwarzenegger carry a baby bump, the movie makes us think about fathers and their relationship with their offspring.Many patriarchal societies create predefined roles for men and women. While the woman plays the role of principal caregiver, the fathers role is relegated to outdoor accomplishments. As the provider for the family, the father has little or no role in raising children. Often he becomes a role model for sons and a disciplinarian for daughters. Modern Day Dads As societies modernized, they underwent a metamorphosis and social roles became fluid. Today, it is quite common for women to go out to work, and for men to be stay-at-home dads. Regardless of who the caregiver is, parenting is no childs play. Parents share equal responsibilities and duties while raising children.Yet, somehow in the celebration of the mother, the good ol dad is sidelined. Mothers Day has acquired the stature of a festival; Fathers Day comes and goes without as much fanfare. New age dads do more than just go to the office. The dirty diapers, night feeding bottles, and the baby strollers are no longer a mothers domain alone. Many hands-on fathers have found a love for baby chores.More than anything else, daddy is also Mr. Fix-It.  From a dripping tap to a broken heart, he can mend anything. A popular quote by Erika Cosby goes, You know, fathers just have a way of putting everything together. This Fathers Day, tell your dad that you appreciate him.   Fathers Are a Pillar of Strength A quotation attributed to the Knights of Pythagoras goes, A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child. Think back. Remember how  strong your father was in times of difficulty. While everyone else was losing heart, he restored sanity and order. He must have felt the stress just as much as anyone else did, but he never let go. Everyone looked to him for support. He simply waited for the storm to pass. Disciplinarian Dad He is no pushover either. Most parents have their strict streak; something that King George V highlighted in this tongue-in-cheek quote, My father was frightened of his mother. I was frightened of my father and I am damned well going to see to it that my children are frightened of me. Have you ever wondered about the motivations behind your fathers strict disciplinarian side? You may find some insight in this collection of  quotes for Fathers Day. Fatherhood Is Not an Easy Job Before you start grumbling about your fathers idiosyncrasies, understand the challenges of his office. He cannot quit fatherhood. Put yourself in his place. How would you deal with a bunch of mischievous kids that are always up to trouble? The mewling baby becomes a wicked brat. In a few years, the brat grows into a rebellious teen. Nothing is easy about raising a child. Fathers constantly hope that their naughty little kid will eventually metamorphose into a responsible adult. Why Fathers Act Tough All through your childhood, when you resented your dads iron rule, youd think, I will be a better dad and not be so rigid with my kids. Fast-forward to twenty years, when you have your own little ones. You realize that parenting is no mean task. Youd probably go back to picking parenting lessons from your parents, as you know these lessons turned you into a reasonably good human being.20th-century pianist Charles Wadsworth must have experienced this first-hand. He said, By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks hes wrong. If you are planning to expand your family, these Fathers Day quotes will prepare you for the journey into parenthood. When the challenges of raising children get to you, turn to your parents for advice. Daddys Diligence Makes You a Winner Usually, fathers have been typecast as the hard-to-please taskmaster, who is always pushing his children towards self-reliance. We forget one of the best qualities of fathers- they are unfailingly encouraging.Despite his tough work schedule, father always finds time to teach and guide his children. Jan Hutchins said, When I was a kid, my father told me every day, Youre the most wonderful boy in the world, and you can do anything you want to. Such inspiring quotations made by dad serve like a beacon of light on a dark day. American comedian Bill Cosby put it perfectly: Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.   Fathers Set the Right Example Some dads practice what they preach. They take on the role of fatherhood so seriously that they lead an exemplary life ​so that their children follow suit. It is not easy to follow every rule in letter and spirit. American author Clarence Budington Kelland wrote, He didnt tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. Can you do the same for your children? Would you kick your bad habits so that your children pick up only the good traits? Tickle Your Fathers Funny Bone Your old man also has a funny side. Share a few jokes and see how his eyes twinkle and his loud guffaws startle you. If your dad enjoys drinks, share some funny drinking quotes with him to add to the merriment. If you and your dad enjoy funny political quotes, you will like this one by Jay Leno: A lot of controversy over this possible invasion of Iraq. In fact, Nelson Mandela was so upset, he called Bushs dad. How embarrassing, when world leaders start calling your father. How Dads Cope With Grown-Up Kids The most difficult experience for any parent is watching their kiddies grow up and fly the coop. In the TV show M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter said, Having babies is fun, but babies grow up into people. As kids grow old, they expect to be given more freedom. Having always been around to protect his child from danger, dad finds it difficult to withdraw his protective shield. He cannot help but worry about the safety of his children. After all, in his heart, his child will always remain a child.Fathers put up a brave front when their children marry or move out. They never let it slip that the change is devastating for them. If you are moving into a place of your own, make sure to let your old man know how much you adore him. Turn to Fathers Day sayings and quotes about dads to express your innermost feelings.It is not easy being a father. If you appreciate the feelings of a father, make your dad proud of you. It is the best gift a child can give his father.

The Anti-War Message Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Anti-War Message - Essay Example In terms of style, both authors definitely differ and this can be attributed also to the fact that the historical context of the novel and poem are not the same. In terms of substance also these works have differences, which derive from the difference in social, emotional, and historical context in which the characters exist. But more significantly, the differences also stem from the fact the involvement of these authors in the war that they are protesting against also differs. Nevertheless, both these writers have been able to articulate their opposition to the war in a profound manner through the portrayal of appropriate characters and situations in their works. â€Å"In the Lake of the Woods† narrates the story of an individual’s struggle to deal with the memories of the Vietnam War even after it draws to a conclusion. One can consider O’Brien to be an authority on the subject as he has served in Vietnam as an infantryman during the war. He not only has witnes sed the bloodshed but he has been directly involved in it. Thus, O’Brien also shares the trauma that other American servicemen experienced while fighting a war, which they believe is unjustified and futile. The feeling of guilt a soldier suffers, for engaging in a war that he opposes, becomes palpable due to the intensity of his personal experience. The readers are able to connect with the story more actively as the author’s opposition to the war is presented through the perspective of the soldier and not from the vantage point of the anti-war activists, who were more popular during the times when the Vietnam War was at its peak. Thus, his arguments against the war, founded on psychological and emotional manifestations, remain highly credible and convincing. He may have cited J W Appel and G W Beebe when he writes, â€Å"Psychiatric casualties are as inevitable as gunshot and shrapnel wounds in warfare† (O’Brien 27). However, he does not because he believ es that such a conclusion is intellectually accurate. He has seen his comrades suffer psychological problems resulting from the war and he himself may have experienced the anguish of going through such mental agonies. John Wade, the main character in the story, can be construed as a personification of O’Brien’s argument against the war. It must be emphasized though that such argument are best defended and promoted only when psychological issues arise, which obviously occur after the individual returns home from battlefront. This condition, which is often regarded as post-traumatic stress disorder, can be devastating to an individual. On the other hand, the conditions surrounding Julia Alvarez are much different to those of O’Brien. Her poem, â€Å"How I Learned to Sweep,† is greatly influenced by these. Alvarez looks at the war from the perspective of a non-participant. She finds the war disgusting not because it directly affects her personally. She does not suffer psychological or emotional traumas arising from a war but she does perceive the violence and bloodshed that soldiers have to go through while fighting a war. Whereas O’Brien witnesses the horrors that his fellow soldiers go through, Alvarez expresses pity for both the fighters and civilians caught in the war. O’Brien’s work is the result of his empathy while Alvarez displays sympathy in her poem when she writes, â€Å"I swept all the harder when/ I watched a dozen of them die.† Obviously, the poet is illustrating her reaction on the sight of so much death. Alvarez

PM vs HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PM vs HRM - Essay Example The classical management perspective relied heavily on the placing of tasks and activities on the middle and lower tiers within the organization’s echelon. It focused more on carrying out the tasks at the lower levels and as such there was less accountability and answering when it came to the top management hierarchy present within the organization and indeed running the whole show. The same has changed and that too for the better so to speak. The classical management theory has completely faded out and the contemporary management perspective has superseded it on all counts. At the present, the work is supposed to be carried out by a basis of sharing and caring within the organization’s regimes which was not the case say two decades down the road. The changing market structure might call for changing strategies and lines of action that would all target the people for whom the product is actually designed as well as the competitors with whom the clutter is being broken i n the environs of the marketplace. Thus competition brings in more and more quality at the end of the company with regards to its products as well as more sales in the form of its varied and changed stance on focusing towards the customers rather than the product itself. Every big business or multinational that is existent in present times credits itself on to the vision of an exemplary personality which started it all when the going was tough and when there was a huge competition in the related market. Thus to withstand pressure and competition is the hallmark of any successful and long lasting business, company or enterprise, whichever term we might quote it as. Thus personnel management is more person-centric and focused on the positions that are being filled with employees. These employees have the related strengths and the zest to deliver the goods when it matters the most and hence the reason that they are being given the related opportunities to display their vigor on the