Saturday, February 15, 2020

Critically appraise whether recent judicial decisions reinforcing Coursework

Critically appraise whether recent judicial decisions reinforcing - Coursework Example Most of the businesses use forms that have special terms and standard legal language on backs or bottom of the documents governing sales and purchases. This is more so to the business men who focuses more on the commercial transactions than legal doctrine. When the recent judicial decisions are used, the court uses the first and last short approaches in determining the effectiveness of the contract. In practice The boilerplate language is classically in small print, covering business contingencies which arise rarely2. Through the application of the recent judicial decisions, some major disparities are identified in the legal doctrine resulted from discrepancies in some conditions that accompany replies and offers3. This case is similar to the case between Mr. Jones, company by the name of CMP and Ricoh [Ricoh UK Limited v Jones (2010) EWHC 1743 (Ch). According to the agreement, no one was supposed to have any contact with any client except through Ricoh. Mr. Jones had no reciprocal o bligation to deal with the clients without Ricoh. Later there arose a dispute over tenders to supply MFDs outside the country for a company which had been a regular customer for CMP.4 The court dismissed this on the basis that, the parties were operating on the same levels of distribution chain. The Uniform Commercial Code has much consideration on the offers accepted when the sellers sends written confirmations of acceptance to the buyer5. Another similar cases involved Manchester CC v Gibson [1979] 1 WLR 294. Gibson was an occupier and tenant of a council house and he wished to purchase the house under the â€Å"right to buy scheme†. He received a letter from the council informing him of the willingness of the council to sell the house. Later, the political control of the council changed resulting to revoke of the policy of the right to buy. It was held by the House of Lords that the council never made the offer to sell and, therefore, there could be no valid acceptance. 6 The above scenario can also be related to a case of Manchester CC v Storer 3 All ER 824. In the case, the council had sent an application to purchase a house which was about to be completed. When he completed the form as the instructions required, the council refused to sign and to return the application as they had agreed. When the case was taken to the court, the judge held that, the contract was formed.7 The judicially and the international legal community have tried to find satisfactory ways of deciding the terms of controlling an agreement.8 Another similar case involved Ex- Cell- O corporation (England) Ltd v Butler machine Tool Co. Ltd [1979] 1 WLR 401. Later, a dispute occurred when each company used separate standard form. One company used a form with a price variation which had a clause while the other company used a contract form without a price variation clause. In the case, the House of Lords held that, the contract was based on Ex- Cell- O corporation’s terms be cause it had included an acknowledgement strip which was signed by both parties.9 According to Section 2(207) of The Uniform Commercial Code10, it is assumed that the merchants do not read or understand the terms which are contained on the exchanged forms between the parties involved. This section of contract Law is similar to Article 19 of CISG which emphasizes on the irresponsibility of the merchants for getting clear information of the contract agreement11. In 1975, the United States Court resolved a case between Manning Fabrics Inc. 441 F. Supp., and Lea Tai

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Haqqani Network Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Haqqani Network - Research Paper Example The Haqqani Network operates under the supervision of Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani, a highly dangerous fighter and anti-soviet resistance commander, and his son Sirajudin Haqqani, who now handles the important affairs of this enemy network. This group has been existing in Pakistan since Soviet era and is spread across Kabul (Clarke, R, 2011, p.105). The Haqqani Network is claimed to have been in alliance with many intelligence groups such as Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Osama Bin Laden and Saudi Arabia’s Spy Service (Takashi, 2012, para.2). The Haqqani Network runs under the leadership of Haqqani family. Jalaluddin Haqqani and his sons now lead this insurgent group. Acording to Mazzetti, Shane & Rubin (2011) the Haqqani family is the Sopranos of the Afghanistan war, a family that made out its earnings and rose from the bottom through exercise of all kinds of illegal activities like trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and so forth (para. 1). That being said, they are also reported to acquire protection money from the American reconstruction funding that was particularly aimed at construction of schools and roads in Afghanistan. With increasing network horizon and an enormously vast web of connections, this group has many top-tier leaders that operate different parts of the group secretly. That being said, the pioneer of the group, Jalaluddin Haqqani is considered a chief figure in the leadership of this network. Jalaluddin acted as a mujahedin leader in his fight against Soviet forces where he received significant help from the ISI and CIA (Bowman, 2009, p.26). The leader himself focused more upon his hometown Zadran, which is a central territory that connects nine tribally linked districts at the border of Paktika, Khost and Paktia province. Since the leader Jalaluddin has turned old and weak due to illnesses, most of the network’s responsibilities and activities have been transferred upon

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Latino Dual Identity Essay -- Hispanic Culture, Identity Essays

Latinos who were raised in the United States of America have a dual identity. They were influenced by both their parents' ancestry and culture in addition to the American culture in which they live. Growing up in between two very different cultures creates a great problem, because they cannot identify completely with either culture and are also caught between the Spanish and English languages. Further more they struggle to connect with their roots. The duality in Latino identity and their search for their own personal identity is strongly represented in their writing. The following is a quote that expresses this idea in the words of Lucha Corpi, a Latina writer: "We Chicanos are like the abandoned children of divorced cultures. We are forever longing to be loved by an absent neglectful parent - Mexico - and also to be truly accepted by the other parent - the United States. We want bicultural harmony. We need it to survive. We struggle to achieve it. That struggle keeps us alive" ( Gr iwold ). Latinos often use Christian and religious imagery in their writing. The strongly religious memories and values instilled upon during their upbringing are often also used to represent innocence and/or their childhood ( Najarro ). Most Latinos who were raised in the United States had parents who ardently clung to the strict religious beliefs carried with them from their mother country. Therefore as Latinos struggle to connect themselves with their culture they find the Catholic faith strongly rooted in their past. Another struggle for identity with Latinos is their struggle with the Spanish and English languages. While some Latinos may speak Spanish in their homes, the language may not be conversationally used in their schools. Some Lat... ...r own personal identity and how others view them. They are caught between to very different cultures and consequently often don't know how to find a way to balance the two. As Latino-Americans move farther away from their roots and struggle to find some common ground between the two cultures the polar duality in their identity will continue to be an extremely common theme in Latino writing. Works Cited Griswold,Lisa. Voices from the Gap. 2002. 16 Sept. 2003 . Najarro.Adela. "Angles in the Kitchen:Latino Poets and the Search for Identity." Adela Najarro's Website. 24 Oct. 2002. 16. Sept. 2003 Rysavy, Tracy. "Secrets of a Poet Spy." Yes. A Journal of Positive Futures. Oct. 1999. 16. Sept. 2003.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

The Lost Symbol Chapter 22-23

CHAPTER 22 Pacing the library, Katherine Solomon pulled back the sleeve of her lab coat and checked her watch. She was not a woman accustomed to waiting, but at the moment, she felt as if her whole world were on hold. She was waiting for Trish's search-spider results, she was waiting for word from her brother, and also, she was waiting for a callback from the man who was responsible for this entire troubling situation. I wish he hadn't told me, she thought. Normally, Katherine was extremely careful about making new acquaintances, and although she had met this man for the first time only this afternoon, he had earned her trust in a matter of minutes. Completely. His call had come this afternoon while Katherine was at home enjoying her usual Sunday- afternoon pleasure of catching up on the week's scientific journals. â€Å"Ms. Solomon?† an unusually airy voice had said. â€Å"My name is Dr. Christopher Abaddon. I was hoping I might speak to you for a moment about your brother?† â€Å"I'm sorry, who is this?† she had demanded. And how did you get my private cell-phone number? â€Å"Dr. Christopher Abaddon?† Katherine did not recognize the name. The man cleared his throat, as if the situation had just become awkward. â€Å"I apologize, Ms. Solomon. I was under the impression your brother had told you about me. I'm his doctor. Your cell number was listed as his emergency contact.† Katherine's heart skipped. Emergency contact? â€Å"Is something wrong?† â€Å"No . . . I don't think so,† the man said. â€Å"Your brother missed an appointment this morning, and I can't reach him on any of his numbers. He never misses appointments without calling, and I'm just a little worried. I hesitated to phone you, but–â€Å" â€Å"No, no, not at all, I appreciate the concern.† Katherine was still trying to place the doctor's name. â€Å"I haven't spoken to my brother since yesterday morning, but he probably just forgot to turn on his cell.† Katherine had recently given him a new iPhone, and he still hadn't taken the time to figure out how to use it. â€Å"You say you're his doctor?† she asked. Does Peter have an illness he's keeping from me? There was a weighty pause on the line. â€Å"I'm terribly sorry, but I've obviously just made a rather serious professional error by calling you. Your brother told me you were aware of his visits to me, but now I see that's not the case.† My brother lied to his doctor? Katherine's concern was now growing steadily. â€Å"Is he sick?† â€Å"I'm sorry, Ms. Solomon, doctor-patient confidentiality precludes me from discussing your brother's condition, and I've already said too much by admitting he is my patient. I'm going to hang up now, but if you hear from him today, please ask him to call me so I know he's okay.† â€Å"Wait!† Katherine said. â€Å"Please tell me what's wrong with Peter!† Dr. Abaddon exhaled, sounding displeased with his mistake. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, I can hear you're upset, and I don't blame you. I'm sure your brother is fine. He was in my office just yesterday.† â€Å"Yesterday? And he's scheduled again today? This sounds urgent.† The man heaved a sigh. â€Å"I suggest we give him a little more time before we–â€Å" â€Å"I'm coming by your office right now,† Katherine said, heading for the door. â€Å"Where are you located?† Silence. â€Å"Dr. Christopher Abaddon?† Katherine said. â€Å"I can look up your address myself, or you can simply give it to me. Either way, I'm coming over.† The doctor paused. â€Å"If I meet with you, Ms. Solomon, would you please do me the courtesy of saying nothing to your brother until I've had a chance to explain my misstep?† â€Å"That's fine.† â€Å"Thank you. My office is in Kalorama Heights.† He gave her an address. Twenty minutes later, Katherine Solomon was navigating the stately streets of Kalorama Heights. She had phoned all of her brother's numbers with no reply. She did not feel overly concerned about her brother's whereabouts, and yet, the news that he was secretly seeing a doctor . . . was troubling. When Katherine finally located the address, she stared up at the building in confusion. This is a doctor's office? The opulent mansion before her had a wrought-iron security fence, electronic cameras, and lush grounds. As she slowed to double-check the address, one of the security cameras rotated toward her, and the gate swung open. Tentatively, Katherine drove up the driveway and parked next to a six-car garage and a stretch limo. What kind of doctor is this guy? As she got out of her car, the front door of the mansion opened, and an elegant figure drifted out onto the landing. He was handsome, exceptionally tall, and younger than she had imagined. Even so, he projected the sophistication and polish of an older man. He was impeccably dressed in a dark suit and tie, and his thick blond hair was immaculately coiffed. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, I'm Dr. Christopher Abaddon,† he said, his voice a breathy whisper. When they shook hands, his skin felt smooth and well tended. â€Å"Katherine Solomon,† she said, trying not to stare at his skin, which was unusually smooth and bronzed. Is he wearing makeup? Katherine felt a growing disquiet as she stepped into the home's beautifully appointed foyer. Classical music played softly in the background, and it smelled as if someone had burned incense. â€Å"This is lovely,† she said, â€Å"although I expected more of . . . an office.† â€Å"I'm fortunate to work out of my home.† The man led her into a living room, where there was a crackling fire. â€Å"Please make yourself comfortable. I'm just steeping some tea. I'll bring it out, and we can talk.† He strode toward the kitchen and disappeared. Katherine Solomon did not sit. Female intuition was a potent instinct that she had learned to trust, and something about this place was making her skin crawl. She saw nothing that looked anything like any doctor's office she had ever seen. The walls of this antique-adorned living room were covered with classical art, primarily paintings with strange mythical themes. She paused before a large canvas depicting the Three Graces, whose nude bodies were spectacularly rendered in vivid colors. â€Å"That's the original Michael Parkes oil.† Dr. Abaddon appeared without warning beside her, holding a tray of steaming tea. â€Å"I thought we'd sit by the fire?† He led her over to the living room and offered her a seat. â€Å"There's no reason to be nervous.† â€Å"I'm not nervous,† Katherine said entirely too quickly. He gave her a reassuring smile. â€Å"Actually, it is my business to know when people are nervous.† â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"I'm a practicing psychiatrist, Ms. Solomon. That is my profession. I've been seeing your brother for almost a year now. I'm his therapist.† Katherine could only stare. My brother is in therapy? â€Å"Patients often choose to keep their therapy to themselves,† the man said. â€Å"I made a mistake by calling you, although in my defense, your brother did mislead me.† â€Å"I . . . I had no idea.† â€Å"I apologize if I made you nervous,† he said, sounding embarrassed. â€Å"I noticed you studying my face when we met, and yes, I do wear makeup.† He touched his own cheek, looking self- conscious. â€Å"I have a dermatological condition, which I prefer to hide. My wife usually puts the makeup on for me, but when she's not here, I have to rely on my own heavy touch.† Katherine nodded, too embarrassed to speak. â€Å"And this lovely hair . . .† He touched his lush blond mane. â€Å"A wig. My skin condition affected my scalp follicles as well, and all my hair jumped ship.† He shrugged. â€Å"I'm afraid my one sin is vanity.† â€Å"Apparently mine is rudeness,† Katherine said. â€Å"Not at all.† Dr. Abaddon's smile was disarming. â€Å"Shall we start over? Perhaps with some tea?† They sat in front of the fire and Abaddon poured tea. â€Å"Your brother got me in the habit of serving tea during our sessions. He said the Solomons are tea drinkers.† â€Å"Family tradition,† Katherine said. â€Å"Black, please.† They sipped their tea and made small talk for a few minutes, but Katherine was eager for information about her brother. â€Å"Why was my brother coming to you?† she asked. And why didn't he tell me? Admittedly, Peter had endured more than his fair share of tragedy in his life–losing his father at a young age, and then, within a span of five years, burying his only son and then his mother. Even so, Peter had always found a way to cope. Dr. Abaddon took a sip of tea. â€Å"Your brother came to me because he trusts me. We have a bond beyond that of normal patient and doctor.† He motioned to a framed document near the fireplace. It looked like a diploma, until Katherine spied the double-headed phoenix. â€Å"You're a Mason?† The highest degree, no less. â€Å"Peter and I are brothers of sorts.† â€Å"You must have done something important to be invited into the thirty-third degree.† â€Å"Not really,† he said. â€Å"I have family money, and I give a lot of money to Masonic charities.† Katherine now realized why her brother trusted this young doctor. A Mason with family money, interested in philanthropy and ancient mythology? Dr. Abaddon had more in common with her brother than she had initially imagined. â€Å"When I asked why my brother came to you,† she said, â€Å"I didn't mean why did he choose you. I meant, why is he seeking the services of a psychiatrist?† Dr. Abaddon smiled. â€Å"Yes, I know. I was trying to sidestep the question politely. It's really not something I should be discussing.† He paused. â€Å"Although I must say I'm puzzled that your brother would keep our discussions from you, considering that they relate so directly to your research.† â€Å"My research?† Katherine said, taken totally off guard. My brother talks about my research? â€Å"Recently, your brother came to me looking for a professional opinion about the psychological impact of the breakthroughs you are making in your lab.† Katherine almost choked on the tea. â€Å"Really? I'm . . . surprised,† she managed. What is Peter thinking? He told his shrink about my work?! Their security protocol involved not discussing with anyone what Katherine was working on. Moreover, the confidentiality had been her brother's idea. â€Å"Certainly you are aware, Ms. Solomon, that your brother is deeply concerned about what will happen when your research goes public. He sees the potential for a significant philosophical shift in the world . . . and he came here to discuss the possible ramifications . . . from a psychological perspective.† â€Å"I see,† Katherine said, her teacup now shaking slightly. â€Å"The questions we discuss are challenging ones: What happens to the human condition if the great mysteries of life are finally revealed? What happens when those beliefs that we accept on faith . . . are suddenly categorically proven as fact? Or disproved as myth? One could argue that there exist certain questions that are best left unanswered.† Katherine could not believe what she was hearing, and yet she kept her emotions in check. â€Å"I hope you don't mind, Dr. Abaddon, but I'd prefer not to discuss the details of my work. I have no immediate plans to make anything public. For the time being, my discoveries will remain safely locked in my lab.† â€Å"Interesting.† Abaddon leaned back in his chair, lost in thought for a moment. â€Å"In any event, I asked your brother to come back today because yesterday he suffered a bit of a break. When that happens, I like to have clients–â€Å" â€Å"Break?† Katherine's heart was pounding. â€Å"As in breakdown?† She couldn't imagine her brother breaking down over anything. Abaddon reached out kindly. â€Å"Please, I can see I've upset you. I'm sorry. Considering these awkward circumstances, I can understand how you might feel entitled to answers.† â€Å"Whether I'm entitled or not,† Katherine said, â€Å"my brother is all I have left of my family. Nobody knows him better than I do, so if you tell me what the hell happened, maybe I can help you. We all want the same thing–what's best for Peter.† Dr. Abaddon fell silent for several long moments and then began slowly nodding as if Katherine might have a point. Finally, he spoke. â€Å"For the record, Ms. Solomon, if I decide to share this information with you, I would do so only because I think your insights might help me assist your brother.† â€Å"Of course.† Abaddon leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, as long as I've been seeing your brother, I've sensed in him a deep struggle with feelings of guilt. I've never pressed him on it because that's not why he comes to me. And yet yesterday, for a number of reasons, I finally asked him about it.† Abaddon locked eyes with her. â€Å"Your brother opened up, rather dramatically and unexpectedly. He told me things I had not expected to hear . . . including everything that happened the night your mother died.† Christmas Eve–almost exactly ten years ago. She died in my arms. â€Å"He told me your mother was murdered during a robbery attempt at your home? A man broke in looking for something he believed your brother was hiding?† â€Å"That's correct.† Abaddon's eyes were appraising her. â€Å"Your brother said he shot the man dead?† â€Å"Yes.† Abaddon stroked his chin. â€Å"Do you recall what the intruder was looking for when he broke into your home?† Katherine had tried in vain for ten years to block out the memory. â€Å"Yes, his demand was very specific. Unfortunately, none of us knew what he was talking about. His demand never made sense to any of us.† â€Å"Well, it made sense to your brother.† â€Å"What?† Katherine sat up. â€Å"At least according to the story he told me yesterday, Peter knew exactly what the intruder was looking for. And yet your brother did not want to hand it over, so he pretended not to understand.† â€Å"That's absurd. Peter couldn't possibly have known what the man wanted. His demands made no sense!† â€Å"Interesting.† Dr. Abaddon paused and took a few notes. â€Å"As I mentioned, however, Peter told me he did know. Your brother believes if he had only cooperated with the intruder, maybe your mother would be alive today. This decision is the source of all his guilt.† Katherine shook her head. â€Å"That's crazy . . .† Abaddon slumped, looking troubled. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, this has been useful feedback. As I feared, your brother seems to have had a little break with reality. I must admit, I was afraid this might be the case. That's why I asked him to come back today. These delusional episodes are not uncommon when they relate to traumatic memories.† Katherine shook her head again. â€Å"Peter is far from delusional, Dr. Abaddon.† â€Å"I would agree, except . . .† â€Å"Except what?† â€Å"Except that his recounting of the attack was just the beginning . . . a tiny fraction of the long and far-fetched tale he told me.† Katherine leaned forward in her seat. â€Å"What did Peter tell you?† Abaddon gave a sad smile. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, let me ask you this. Has your brother ever discussed with you what he believes is hidden here in Washington, D.C. . . . or the role he believes he plays in protecting a great treasure . . . of lost ancient wisdom?† Katherine's jaw fell open. â€Å"What in the world are you talking about?† Dr. Abaddon heaved a long sigh. â€Å"What I am about to tell you will be a bit shocking, Katherine.† He paused and locked eyes with her. â€Å"But it will be immeasurably helpful if you can tell me anything you may know about it.† He reached for her cup. â€Å"More tea?† CHAPTER 23 Another tattoo. Langdon crouched anxiously beside Peter's open palm and examined the seven tiny symbols that had been hidden beneath the lifeless clenched fingers. â€Å"They appear to be numbers,† Langdon said, surprised. â€Å"Although I don't recognize them.† â€Å"The first is a Roman numeral,† Anderson said. â€Å"Actually, I don't think so,† Langdon corrected. â€Å"The Roman numeral I-I-I-X doesn't exist. It would be written V-I-I.† â€Å"How about the rest of it?† Sato asked. â€Å"I'm not sure. It looks like eight-eight-five in Arabic numbers.† â€Å"Arabic?† Anderson asked. â€Å"They look like normal numbers.† â€Å"Our normal numbers are Arabic.† Langdon had become so accustomed to clarifying this point for his students that he'd actually prepared a lecture about the scientific advances made by early Middle Eastern cultures, one of them being our modern numbering system, whose advantages over Roman numerals included `positional notation' and the invention of the number zero. Of course, Langdon always ended this lecture with a reminder that Arab culture had also given mankind the word al-kuhl–the favorite beverage of Harvard freshmen–known as alcohol. Langdon scrutinized the tattoo, feeling puzzled. â€Å"And I'm not even sure about the eight-eight- five. The rectilinear writing looks unusual. Those may not be numbers.† â€Å"Then what are they? Sato asked. â€Å"I'm not sure. The whole tattoo looks almost . . . runic.† â€Å"Meaning?† Sato asked. â€Å"Runic alphabets are composed solely of straight lines. Their letters are called runes and were often used for carving in stone because curves were too difficult to chisel.† â€Å"If these are runes,† Sato said, â€Å"what is their meaning?† Langdon shook his head. His expertise extended only to the most rudimentary runic alphabet– Futhark–a third-century Teutonic system, and this was not Futhark. â€Å"To be honest, I'm not even sure these are runes. You'd need to ask a specialist. There are dozens of different forms– Hlsinge, Manx, the `dotted' Stungnar–â€Å" â€Å"Peter Solomon is a Mason, is he not?† Langdon did a double take. â€Å"Yes, but what does that have to do with this?† He stood up now, towering over the tiny woman. â€Å"You tell me. You just said that runic alphabets are used for stone carvings, and it is my understanding that the original Freemasons were stone craftsmen. I mention this only because when I asked my office to search for a connection between the Hand of the Mysteries and Peter Solomon, their search returned one link in particular.† She paused, as if to emphasize the importance of her finding. â€Å"The Masons.† Langdon exhaled, fighting the impulse to tell Sato the same thing he constantly told his students: â€Å"Google† is not a synonym for â€Å"research.† In these days of massive, worldwide keyword searches, it seemed everything was linked to everything. The world was becoming one big entangled web of information that was getting denser every day. Langdon maintained a patient tone. â€Å"I'm not surprised the Masons appeared in your staff's search. Masons are a very obvious link between Peter Solomon and any number of esoteric topics.† â€Å"Yes,† Sato said, â€Å"which is another reason I have been surprised this evening that you have not yet mentioned the Masons. After all, you've been talking about secret wisdom protected by an enlightened few. That sounds very Masonic, does it not?† â€Å"It does . . . and it also sounds very Rosicrucian, Kabbalistic, Alumbradian, and any number of other esoteric groups.† â€Å"But Peter Solomon is a Mason–a very powerful Mason, at that. It seems the Masons would come to mind if we were talking about secrets. Heaven knows the Masons love their secrets.† Langdon could hear the distrust in her voice, and he wanted no part of it. â€Å"If you want to know anything about the Masons, you would be far better served to ask a Mason.† â€Å"Actually,† Sato said, â€Å"I'd prefer to ask someone I can trust.† Langdon found the comment both ignorant and offensive. â€Å"For the record, ma'am, the entire Masonic philosophy is built on honesty and integrity. Masons are among the most trustworthy men you could ever hope to meet.† â€Å"I have seen persuasive evidence to the contrary.† Langdon was liking Director Sato less and less with each passing moment. He had spent years writing about the Masons' rich tradition of metaphorical iconography and symbols, and knew that Masons had always been one of the most unfairly maligned and misunderstood organizations in the world. Regularly accused of everything from devil worship to plotting a one- world government, the Masons also had a policy of never responding to their critics, which made them an easy target. â€Å"Regardless,† Sato said, her tone biting, â€Å"we are again at an impasse, Mr. Langdon. It seems to me there is either something you are missing . . . or something you are not telling me. The man we're dealing with said that Peter Solomon chose you specifically.† She leveled a cold stare at Langdon. â€Å"I think it's time we move this conversation to CIA headquarters. Maybe we'll have more luck there.† Sato's threat barely registered with Langdon. She had just said something that had lodged in his mind. Peter Solomon chose you. The comment, combined with the mention of Masons, had hit Langdon strangely. He looked down at the Masonic ring on Peter's finger. The ring was one of Peter's most prized possessions–a Solomon family heirloom that bore the symbol of the double- headed phoenix–the ultimate mystical icon of Masonic wisdom. The gold glinted in the light, sparking an unexpected memory. Langdon gasped, recalling the eerie whisper of Peter's captor: It really hasn't dawned on you yet, has it? Why you were chosen? Now, in one terrifying moment, Langdon's thoughts snapped into focus and the fog lifted. All at once, Langdon's purpose here was crystal clear. Ten miles away, driving south on Suitland Parkway, Mal'akh heard a distinctive vibration on the seat beside him. It was Peter Solomon's iPhone, which had proven a powerful tool today. The visual caller ID now displayed the image of an attractive middle-aged woman with long black hair. INCOMING CALL–KATHERINE SOLOMON Mal'akh smiled, ignoring the call. Destiny pulls me closer. He had lured Katherine Solomon to his home this afternoon for one reason only–to determine if she had information that could assist him . . . perhaps a family secret that might help Mal'akh locate what he sought. Clearly, however, Katherine's brother had told her nothing of what he had been guarding all these years. Even so, Mal'akh had learned something else from Katherine. Something that has earned her a few extra hours of life today. Katherine had confirmed for him that all of her research was in one location, safely locked inside her lab. I must destroy it. Katherine's research was poised to open a new door of understanding, and once the door was opened even a crack, others would follow. It would just be a matter of time before everything changed. I cannot let that happen. The world must stay as it is . . . adrift in ignorant darkness. The iPhone beeped, indicating Katherine had left a voice mail. Mal'akh retrieved it. â€Å"Peter, it's me again.† Katherine's voice sounded concerned. â€Å"Where are you? I'm still thinking about my conversation with Dr. Abaddon . . . and I'm worried. Is everything okay? Please call me. I'm at the lab.† The voice mail ended. Mal'akh smiled. Katherine should worry less about her brother, and more about herself. He turned off Suitland Parkway onto Silver Hill Road. Less than a mile later, in the darkness, he spotted the faint outline of the SMSC nestled in the trees off the highway to his right. The entire complex was surrounded by a high razor-wire fence. A secure building? Mal'akh chuckled to himself. I know someone who will open the door for me.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Mayan Architecture And The Mayan Civilization - 848 Words

Mayan Architecture Represented Through Their Beautiful Art The Mayan civilization is identified for many significant accomplishments, one of those significant accomplishments is their architecture. The Mayan civilization was capable of building massive structures such as; palaces, temples and pyramids. Each Mayan pyramids is dedicated to a deity. The Mayans were also known for their art, their developed writing, astronomical and mathematical systems, and supernatural beliefs. One of the major sites of the Mayan civilizations is Tikal. Tikal is a Mayan city in the rainforest of Guatemala. Tikal consist several major pyramids build by the Mayans, the Mayan buildings were made out of limestones, mortar, and stucco was used on the exterior of the buildings which were also decorated. For example, in Figure 1 we can appreciate a painting done on a stucco vase, this image would probably be similar to the ones made on the building walls, in this painting we can appreciate another example of their buildings and the art decorating the walls of those buildings. The scene on the painting most likely takes place at a palace, the walls of that palace are covered with colorful Mayan art. In the painting shown in figure 1, there is four men, one could be a ruler standing wearing a headpiece of a bird, the ruler is holding some sort of fan or banner, we can also appreciate a second person standing behind the ruler, that second person seems to also be wearing a headpiece, we cannotShow MoreRelatedThe Mayan Civilization : An Advanced Society, Rich And Full Extraordinary Architecture1597 Words   |  7 PagesThe Mayan civilization was an advanced society, rich and full extraordinary architecture with a prodigious complexity of patterns and variety of expressions, that flourished in Mesoamerica. They were skilled architects and engineers, building phenomenal cities out of primarily limestone that still remains standing a thousand years after their civilization. Greatness and Magnificence was the signature of all Mayan cities, from their inception period and continued until the desertion of all the cityRead MoreCharacteristics Of The Mayan Civilizations733 Words   |  3 Pagesof civilizations. Three major ones are the Aztec, Maya, and Inca . These different civilizations play a very important role in history today. The Maya empire was highly skilled at building and architecture. They also were the only empire in mesoamerica to develop a complete writing system. The Maya were also highly skilled at agriculture and farming. The Maya were by far the most advanced and smart civilization. The Maya empire was very precise and exact when it came to architecture. Mayans builtRead MoreAncient Maya Essay868 Words   |  4 PagesEssay Matthew Pitcher Mrs Meligrana Ancient Civilizations June 8th, 2011 Pitcher1 The Ancient Mayan civilization stands out from other ancient civilizations and is great because of its outstanding achievements and developments. The Mayans are still known to this day for their exceptional architecture, medical discoveries, astronomy, and military tactics which were very successful. In this essay I will explain what the Mayans have achieved to make themselves consideredRead MoreThe Cultural Similarities Differences Between the Inca and Mayan Empires619 Words   |  3 PagesThough the Inca and Mayan empires existed at different times in history, they have a few things in common. Like other societies throughout history though, they have many things that set them apart from each other. The biggest similarity they share is that they both had control of massive empires that eventually ceased to exist. To start off with, the Mayans existed earlier in history than the Incas. The Mayans existed from 1000 BC to AD 1697 and no one is quite certain what wiped out their ancientRead MoreThe Mayan Culture1090 Words   |  4 PagesMayan culture was one of the most complex civilizations of the Mesoamerican societies. Mayans are well-known for their refined mathematical and astronomical system, monumental architecture, and astonishing artworks. I will not focus on specific artwork and writing but the context in general. I have obtained great facts upon Mayan culture and writings. The ingenuous data that I will be discussing can be found in the book titled â€Å"The Hidden Maya†, a short text consisting of veiled information uponRead MoreThe Mayan Civilization : Ancient Civilization1425 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mayan Civilization: For many centuries the Mayan was of life was a mystery to archaeologists. Their geography, social structure, government, economy/trade, technology, writing, and arts were all thought to be forever lost. Now, as archaeologists are still uncovering more information, what was once referred to as â€Å"The Lost Civilization of Maya†, has been awakened from the grave of unknown. Geography: The ancient Mayan Civilization surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean stretchedRead MoreMayan, Aztec, Incan Dbq768 Words   |  4 PagesThe Mayan, Aztec, and Inca civilizations brought major accomplishments to the world today. These accomplishments established them as advanced societies during their time without the influence of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Some of these accomplishments ranged from agriculture to architecture and on to writing and trade. Such as, the Mayans with their agriculture system of chinampas and there monumental temple/pyramids, the Aztecs with their trading in the city of Tenochtitlan, and the IncasRead MoreEssay Classic Mayan Architecture1687 Words   |  7 PagesClassic Mayan Architecture Mayan culture existed a thousand years ago, in what is now part of Central America. Its ruins were almost entirely abandoned by 600 A.D, and were not rediscovered until the early 1500’s, by Spanish settlers. Mayan architecture astounded the early conquistadors, and continues to be of great interest to modern archeologists as well. These scientists have labeled a certain period of Mayan architectural history as the â€Å"Classic† period. This refers to a period when theRead MoreSimilarities Between Civilizations And Civilizations958 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout history there have been similarities between civilizations, some of which were on separate parts of the world. Many scholars and historians have been baffled by the discoveries of these similarities due to the fact that these cultures were not only hundreds of miles apart but also were separated by hundreds of years. The ancient Egyptian civilization located in northern Africa around 3,100 B.C. is considered to be one of the cradles of civilization and also a major contributor to the technologyRead MoreIncas Versus The Aztecs And Mayans Essay1315 Words   |  6 PagesIncas versus the Aztecs and Mayans The incas rose in 1438, they fell in 1533. They suffered the attacks of Spanish conquerors such as Spaniard Francisco Pizarro (1475-1541) and the spread of small box. At the peak of power the civilization extended 4,000 km (2,500 miles) and included 16 million people. They were extremely advanced, had an army, laws, roads, bridges, and tunnels. Inca’s were the most advanced civilization because of their government, agriculture, architecture and technology compared

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

English 101 Memoir Essay - 1530 Words

The snow had all but melted away and the smell of spring filled the air. Just a few months of school were left; it was my eighth grade year. Much preparation and months of work had been done to get ready for the last dance of the year. It was the last dance of our middle school career and the excitement was building. It all began with shopping. First with my girlfriends over the years, goofing off on trips to the mall trying on gorgeous flowing gowns for fun, and then it was finally time for me to buy one, finally a formal occasion where I got to dress up in a fancy gown with high heels, my Mom took me to the mall. Even though it wasn’t quite prom, it was still a formal dance, a celebration of completing middle school and entering into†¦show more content†¦We burst out of the door, unveiling ourselves to the crowd outside. We felt like rock stars. Everyone had to get a few more pictures with other friends as they arrived and then we filed inside. The place was decorated from top to bottom, glittered stars hung from the ceiling, white Christmas lights twinkled all around, and glimmering gowns in every color made the entire venue sparkle. As a class, months earlier, we had chosen the theme, â€Å"I’ve had the time of my life†. The girls had pulled it from our favorite movie, â€Å"Dirty Dancing†, and I think the boys just went with it. We sat down for dinner where we were served our choice of meat, with rice or potatoes and a medley of veggies. Nobody ate much though, either because of nerves, vanity, or just plain desire to get to showing off our best moves, we wanted to boogie! After about an hour the tables were cleared off of the dance floor and it was time to the highly anticipated partying. The DJ played the hottest jams of 1999 and we danced the night away. Most of the girls were in their bare feet, unable to take the pain of high heels any longer as we busted our best moves. The night was coming to an end; parents were slowly showing up to collect their kids. The DJ announced it was the last song of the night. It was our theme song. Jaimie and I swayed together on the dance floor belting out the words we knew by heart when we heard what sounded likeShow MoreRelatedPersonal Statement On Creative And Free Flowing897 Words   |  4 Pagesas I started to register for class, writing is not my strong suit. I always viewed writing as creative and free flowing, which I have much difficulty with, structure and routine is more my speed. I did not believe I would do as well as I did in English 101, and actually enjoying it. I did have some difficulties at times, but I did not give up, I exhausted all available resources and did my best. I actually excel in public speaking, I am able to command my audience and keep them captivated until theRead MoreBalancing Solidarity and Empathy972 Words   |  4 Pageswith getting tasks done than being around others for example, in the essay â€Å"The Rewards of Living a Solidarity Life† author Mary Sarton explained that, â€Å"Human intercourse often demands that we soften the edge of perception, or withdraw at the very instant of personal truth for fear of hurting, or being inappropriately present† (42). Others argue that having empathy for others can be better for y ou and for the world, in the memoir by author Azar Nafisi â€Å"Mysterious Connections that Link Us Together†Read MorePower of Literature2168 Words   |  9 PagesHow the Power of Literature Has Affected My Life - Value of Literature Alex Sidorov English 101 Alex Sidorov Thompson English 101 May 27, 2009 How the Power of Literature Has Affected My Life - Value of Literature If you asked me how much I valued literature a few months ago, I would have probably laughed it off and proclaimed it has no value because it does not affect me. What kind of value could literature possibly have? It is just books. Random characters dealing with their random problemsRead MoreEssay on The Gothic Genre and What it Entails6177 Words   |  25 Pagesdefined by the French Revolution but significant for its trans-European massive cultural and social upheaval indicated in part by repeated rioting in Britain (Lowe, vii) and a widespread clamour for various reforms. Victor Sage writes, English Gothick of the eighteenth century is seen as a collective symptom of political pressure felt all over Europe. The Marquis de Sade in his Idees sur le romans (Reflections on the Novel) - quoted above - was one of the first literaryRead MoreDeparture, Initiation, and Return Essay4222 Words   |  17 PagesEnglish 1302 October 11, 2012 Departure, Initiation, and Return in Jorge Luis Borges â€Å"The Garden of Forking Paths† At first glance, Jorge Luis Borges short story, â€Å"The Garden of Forking Paths,† tells the tale of a Chinese agent for the Germans against the English during the first World War. In this short story, Yu Tsun (the spy) learns that a fellow agent has been eliminated. This means that he will undoubtedly be the next to be arrested and killed. This will probably happen beforeRead MoreThe Hours - Film Analysis12007 Words   |  49 PagesReincarnation in the Reader: Intertextuality in The Hours by Michael Cunningham Andrea Wild In his novel The Hours, Michael Cunningham weaves a dazzling fabric of intertextual references to Virginia Woolfs works as well as to her biography. In this essay, I shall partly yield to the academic itch to tease out the manifold and sophisticated allusions to the numerous intertexts. My aim, however, is not to point out every single reference to Woolf and her works--such an endeavour of source-hunting wouldRead MoreLiterary Criticism : The Free Encyclopedia 7351 Words   |  30 Pagessometimes, to Christoph Martin Wieland s Geschichte des Agathon of 1767.[9] Although the Bildungsroman arose in Germany, it has had extensive influence first in Europe and later throughout the world. Thomas Carlyle translated Goethe’s novel into English, and after its publication in 1824, many British authors wrote novels inspired by it.[10][11] In the 20th century, it spread to Germany, Britain,[12] France,[13][14] and several other countries around the globe.[15] The genre translates fairly directlyRead MoreMetamorphoses Within Frankenstein14861 Words   |  60 Pagesphilosophy of science, however — on th e conviction th at ( to quote Mar ilyn Butler) ‘the academic reading-list needs qualify ing or replacing with a form of newspaper and jour nal-talk wh ich 15 could be thought of as current language’ — many recent essays hav e focussed more in tensively on Mary Shelley’s and the novel’s relation to the immed iate d iscover ies and controversies of the contemporary scientific world: The fluid boundary between death and life — a dominan t theme in th e bio-medicalRead MoreMethods of Qualitative of Data Collection19658 Words   |  79 Pagesemerging analysis of a cultural group, because they provide the researcher with new vantage points and with opportunities to make the strange familiar and the familiar strange (Glesne, 1999). 04-Marshall-4864.qxd 2/1/2006 3:16 PM Page 101 Data Collection Methods 101 This method for gathering data is basic to all qualitative studies and forces a consideration of the role or stance of the researcher as a participant observer—her positionality. We have explored issues of her role more fully in ChapterRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesPHILADELPHIA Temple University Press 1601 North Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122 www.temple.edu/tempress Copyright  © 2010 by Temple University All rights reserved Published 2010 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Essays on twentieth century history / edited by Michael Peter Adas for the American Historical Association. p. cm.—(Critical perspectives on the past) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-4399-0269-1 (cloth : alk. paper)—ISBN 978-1-4399-0270-7

Monday, December 23, 2019

Privacy And Privacy Analysis - 783 Words

Intimacy and loyalty are like best friends, because you can be loyalty to something without any type of intimacy involve. It also can be toxic, causing a person to become badly affected, where they aren’t themselves nomore. Similar to losing your self-respect, because you give all your attention and time towards them instead of yourself. Despite the analysis of intimacy and loyalty within 1984 and Lord of the Flies, it becomes clear that intimacy and loyalty affects privacy by not allowing ones to think for themselves, and limit of freedom. 1984 was very strict, where you weren’t allowed to be yourself or even have a personality. Big Brother created fear in the citizens which force them to become loyalty to him, thinking it would keep†¦show more content†¦In the same way â€Å" Lord of the Flies,† had the concepts but different settings and time frame. The book is very interesting, but it get very shaky when the young boys start to separate in two groups , causing several conflicts. â€Å"Ralph wept the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and he fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.† Piggy is a loyal friend, because he stand up for him when Jack despites Ralph leadership, and encourage all the others to stay true to their leaders. Due to Jack power over the others and the fear he put in them, Sam and Eric didn’t buy into it, because they knew the danger Jack have behind him. Ralph didn’t want war, but he wasn’t going to settle to be rule by a person who is cruel. Major of the boys who were with Ralph betrayed him, because Jack able to frighten them. Jack capacity to create loyalty proves stronger than Ralph’s, even leading them to become murderers. Jack simply uses the own boys desires in order to create the loyalty towards himself and to build his tribe. 1984 and Lord of the flies, affect privacy by brainwashing a person to have loyalty/intimacy for the party/leader in order to gain power. Controlling is a definition for both the novels, because they wouldn’t let a person be able to officially be themselves. Unable to think straight or better â€Å"not having their own thoughts†, both the novels expresses leverageShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Personal Privacy871 Words   |  4 Pagessecurity questions, and passwords retaliating this issue is increasing day by day on the internet. Upon logging in, the attacker was able to collect passwords and download iCloud accounts. The downloaded accounts were then used to compromise the privacy of the people with the attackers taking the photos of the victims. Some of the perpetrators of the heinous act were caught through tracing their IP addresses. One of the attackers by the name Ryan Collins was found in an apartment in PennsylvaniaRead MorePrivacy Policy Analysis1033 Words   |  5 PagesWhat This Privacy Policy Covers This policy covers how PaperRater.com (PaperRater) treats content you submit to us as well as personal information that we collect and receive, including information related to your past use of our products and services. Personal information is information about you that is personally identifiable--like your name, address, email address, or phone number-- and that is not otherwise publicly available, like your PaperRater username and password. This policy does notRead MoreAnalysis On Data Security And Privacy1617 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The goal of our research paper is to provide a concise analysis on data security and privacy protection issues pertaining to data and databases as well as the current advancement/ breakthrough made and achieved in regards to database security and privacy concerns. We will also discuss in this paper some current solutions in the security market. First, we looked at the a trusted database model which makes it possible to shield database with absolute secrecy to benefit trusted equipmentRead MoreInternet Privacy : An Analysis Of The Internet1380 Words   |  6 PagesInternet Privacy: An Analysis of â€Å"The Internet is a Surveillance State† Since its inception in the late 1960s, the internet has changed the expansion of communications to new levels. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and many others have provided the public with means of communication. The sharing of photos, thoughts and even ideas has become a more prevalent event for everyone as time has progressed. Computers, tablets, and phones are used widely each day for social media sites, as well as purchasingRead MorePrivacy Rights : An Analysis Of Software Essay2424 Words   |  10 PagesPrivacy Rights: An Analysis in Software Technology is currently changing our privacy in the digital age and the implications that has for our private information. The digitization of our life plays a major role in how much privacy we should expect. The digital era has brought new technology to collect, store, and analyze data all with the click of a button. This means that our data is not as private as it used to be when technology was not storing our data. Having something public means somethingRead MoreGoogle s Privacy Policy Analysis2176 Words   |  9 Pagescollect data of its users. While users may accept this fact, users can also feel their privacy is threatened because they have no control whatsoever over what Google can do with the data. With reference to Google’s Privacy Policy and drawing on two theoretical perspectives; Foucault’s Panopticon and Orwell’s Big Brother, I will explore how surveillance might impact user behaviour. Google’s Privacy Policy Google’s privacy policy was last updated on 25th of March 2016, and in 2015 alone Google revised theRead MoreAnalysis Of Truth Telling, Privacy, And Confidentiality1181 Words   |  5 Pages Analysis of Truth Telling, Privacy, and Confidentiality What if My Patient is A Pilot? Li Huang Georgetown University Patients often come to health care providers for physical concerns. They may overlook the psychological and emotional problems and view them as temporary stress caused by situational events. They probably think the symptoms caused by the stress may vanish eventually without any medical attention. I read the article about Pilot Andreas Lubitz crashed the GermanwingsRead MoreArticle Analysis : Invading My Privacy1975 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"... invading my privacy? @twitter† @twendekavune Social media catalyzed the interactivity of the internet by allowing anyone to generate content as easily as they could view it. This encouraged people to share themselves through online profiles on social networks. Many people blown away by the possibilities online were satisfied using online services for free without thinking about how it could be free or considering what was in it for the company. It is easy to underestimate the large costs thatRead MorePrivacy Rights : An Analysis Of Current Technology And Software Essay1801 Words   |  8 PagesPrivacy Rights: An Analysis of Current Technology and Software Technology is currently changing our privacy in the digital age and the implications that has for our private information. The digitization of our life plays a major role in how much privacy we should expect. The digital era has brought new technology to collect, store, and analyze data all with the click of a button. This means that our data is not as private as it used to be when technology was not storing our data. Having somethingRead MoreAnalysis Of The United States Privacy Policy783 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States Privacy Policy This Privacy Policy describes how XYZ Inc. collects, uses, shares, and retains personally identifiable information provided by customers. This Privacy Policy pertains only to customers located in the United States; other branches may have different privacy policies based on the laws and requirements of their locations. This policy doesn’t pertain to the practices of other entities such as business partners, i.e., vendors, sponsors, or advertisers (Neuhaus, 2017). Modifications