Literary Devices in Pride and Prejudice

Literary Devices in Pride and Prejudice Free Online Research Papers The novel Pride and Prejudice is a satirical tale about courtship in 19th century England that ends in the fulfillment of this proverb. The protagonist of the novel, Elizabeth, and the antagonist of the novel, Mr. Darcy, are unlike in multiple ways, and, although faces with many obstacle and challenges, find that they love each other and that their love is enough to surpass any hindrance seen in the novel. Before the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy has a chance to start, first impressions almost completely destroy obstacle any future they would have together. Elizabeth’s first impression of Darcy is a completely negative one, due to his judgmental description of her upon first seeing her at the ball; â€Å"She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.† (7) Mr. Bingley attempts to make Darcy dance, but Darcy replies that â€Å"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room (7).† In this statement he is referring to Elizabeth’s sister, Jane. The first impression of Elizabeth, and the reader, is that Darcy is arrogant and headstrong. Before these events transpired Elizabeth’s mother, Mrs. Bennett, pointed out Darcy as a candidate for Elizabeth to marry. Elizabeth views Darcy immediately, as shown by this passage, â€Å" his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien; and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year.†(6) Elizabeth will hear none of it, considering the spiteful comment she overheard Darcy making about her previously. This arctic first encounter between Elizabeth and Darcy leaves the reader more than doubtful of anything sparking between the two in the future. In Pride and Prejudice, Miss Bingley presents a unique and almost insurmountable challenge to the union of Darcy and Elizabeth. Because of her close relationship with Mr. Darcy, she is able to affect his thoughts of Elizabeth quite odisiously. She uses character assassination and libel to get what she wants. Miss Bingley views her status as a member of the patrician class as divine right, and she looks down on anyone less fortunate that herself. She contrasts almost perfectly with Mr. Bingley, who is instantly likeable for his ability to be polite and kind to all he meets. Miss Bingley does not stop at character assassination, she continues to attack Elizabeth Bennett in all fashions, For my own part, Miss Bingley rejoined, I must confess that I never could see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive any thing extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether, there is a self-sufficiency without fashion which is intolerable.† (258-259) She sees the Bennetts as inferior due to their social standing as well as Mrs. Bennett’s lack of intelligence. This stated reason is quite ironic, given the almost pathetically obtuse attempts of Miss Bingley to win Darcy’s affection. Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenge Miss Bingley creates for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, their affection for each other is more than sufficient enough to outweigh an old woman’s prejudices. A major obstacle in the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy was Mr. Wickham, who becomes the object of Elizabeth’s affections and she hopes to marry him. He is a very popular man in the English bourgeois, and is described as a â€Å"happy man towards whom almost every female eye turned (74).† He appears in town as a product of his regiment taking up headquarters in the town. Although Wickham can potentially marry any woman he wants, he immediately takes a liking to Elizabeth. Upon first meeting each other, Elizabeth finds that there is an extreme amount of tension between Wickham and Darcy. Wickham tells her that the reason for the coldness is that Darcy and he have a history together. He tells Elizabeth that Wickham was the steward for Darcy’s father. Wickham wanted to join the clergy, and Darcy’s father encouraged him to do so. Upon Darcy’s father’s death, so Wickham said, Darcy took away the money from Wickham and forced him to join the military. He states that the inheritance willed him by Mr. Darcy’s father was not given to him. He says â€Å"A man of honor could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it- or treat it as a merely conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence, in short, anything, or nothing.† (77). Her prejudice towards Darcy colors her lens and she listens to Wickham’s story with not a shade of disbelief. She repeats what she has heard to her sister, Jane, and the way she articulates her observations truly shows how different Elizabeth was than the other girls of her age at the time; â€Å"They have both been deceived; I dare say†¦Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the cause or circumstance which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side.† (82-83) She is not prone to mindless gossip like others, and instead of spinning and interesting tale for her sister, approaches the situation intelligently and thoughtfully. After talking to Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth goes into town, where she runs into Mr. Darcy, who gives her a letter explaining the true nature of his relationship with Mr. Wickham. This letter marks the point in the novel where Elizabeth begins to like Darcy. Darcy tells her â€Å"Of what he has particularly accused me of I am ignorant; but of the truth of what I shall relate I can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity†¦ but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement.† (188-191). Darcy tells the real reason for Wickham’s disinheritance, Wickham engaged in problematic relations with Darcy’s sister. This marks the beginning of the constructive relationship of Darcy and Elizabeth. The wealth of Mr. Darcy proves to be somewhat of a divider between Darcy and Elizabeth. Darcy is known to have, â€Å"having ten thousand a year, (6)†. Elizabeth, in sharp contrast, does not come from a rich family nor will she inherit any of Mr. Bennett’s fortune, because â€Å"Mr. Bennett’s property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation† (18) At the time, the vast difference in family wealth would prove to be a definite stopper on any sort of plan for Elizabeth to be set up with Mr. Darcy for marriage. Darcy seems to be caught up in the ideas of the time; Austen describes him as being very aware of Elizabeth’s inferiorities and flaws. This distinction is mentioned again Darcys letter to Elizabeth when he writes about the failed relationship between his friend Bingley, and Jane, writing â€Å"The situation of your mothe rs family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison of that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly, betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father.† (134) This difference in social class proves to be a reason for why Darcy seemed to try to purposely self-destruct his relationship, as well as a perfect example of the influence English social ideals have on the lives of England’s high society. The final obstacle towards the relationship of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is the aunt of Mr. Darcy, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady de Bourgh is optimistic that Darcy will marry her daughter, â€Å"Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter† (56, 335). Before Elizabeth is even aware of Mr. Darcy’s impending proposal to her, Lady de Bourgh catches wind of the plans and immediately travels to go speak with Elizabeth. Lady de Bourgh says to Elizabeth; â€Å"I was told, that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennett, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood; though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you.† (56, 334) As if to convince Elizabeth of the prenatal bond between Mr. Darcy and her niece, Lady de Bourgh explains to Elizabeth of the family history behind this arranged marriage. â€Å"The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favorite wish of his mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles, we planned the union:† (56, 335-336) Elizabeth, however, decides to choose her own happiness over that of Lady de Bourgh and replies; â€Å"I’m marrying your nephew,† (56, 337). This final step Elizabeth takes proves to overcome the obstruction in the relationship of Elizabeth and Darcy. Again, this is another example of the customs of the time with the interfamily arranged marriages based on social standing and wealth. Jane Austen does an excellent job of writing a novel that not only criticizes social customs and structures, but at the same time spins a beautiful tale of finding love in the most unexpected of places. 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6 New Years Resolutions for the Lazy Professional

6 New Years Resolutions for the Lazy Professional We all get a little lazy sometimes. Or rather, we get a little too comfortable in our jobs, and things start to slide ever so slightly. As you get ready to make your resolutions for the new year, think about doing some super-easy things to start 2017. And think how accomplished you’ll feel when you check them off! 1. Make inroads with one coworker.If you find you’re having lunch with the same peeps every day or you stand awkwardly silent at the copier while another colleague does the same, aim to connect with a  new person. You don’t have to become BFFs, but a little coworker bonding outside your comfort zone is not only good for you, it’s good for workplace morale in general.2. Set a distraction-free hour each day.We’re all champs at multitasking these days. You can run reports while checking voicemail and also checking Facebook. I get it. I do it too. But what if you gave something your whole attention for just one hour? That means no checking F unCelebrityNewz.com, or personal email, or whatever your biggest distraction temptation is. It will still be there when you go back, and you might find that your hour of focus helps you find solutions you might not have seen if you were trying to do four things at once.3. Walk around your office.This one sounds weird, I know. This doesn’t mean â€Å"be a creeper who stands at the edge of someone else’s cubicle.† But every once in a while, take a lap around your office when you have a few spare minutes. The obvious benefit is that it gets you away from your desk for a bit, but it’s also nice to see your colleagues at work. We can get so mired in our own day-to-day stuff that it gets easy to forget that everyone is working toward a common goal. Step back and look at your beehive, and it might re-energize your feelings about your role there. (Or make you want to realize you want to get out and go to a different hive, stat.)4. Check your voicemail.You know, t hat one message that’s been hanging around forever, the one you skipped at the time for whatever reason and is now haunting your phone like Jacob Marley’s ghost? Even if it’s not a relevant to-do, listen to the whole thing, then delete. Satisfying!5. Take down your OOO.Don’t be That Guy who has his â€Å"out of office† message up three days after he got back from vacation. Nothing tells bosses and colleagues â€Å"I don’t want to be here† quite like a zippy â€Å"I’m out!† message when everybody knows you’re sitting at your desk.6. Think about your goals for the year.Don’t write anything down, don’t create a PowerPoint. Just think about what you want to achieve. You can even use part of your distraction-free hour to do this! Of course, at some point you’ll probably need to take concrete steps to make said goals happen, but for now just think about it. You’d be surprised how many people don’t take the time to think through their wants and goals, and that makes it tough when you’re put on the spot when it’s review time, or when you really need to make a career change.You’ve  got this. These are resolutions we can keep even when we’re not feeling like the biggest go-getters.

STRATEGIC SUPPLY MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

STRATEGIC SUPPLY MANAGEMENT - Essay Example The corporation has even created Emirates Engineering department for its strategic SCM structure so that this division can ensure that the operations of the company are effectively managed and the latest IT systems are integrated with precision as well. Hence, Emirates Airline has even capitalised on its value chain framework so that it can always remain ahead of its competitors by providing the customers with excellent quality travelling experience. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction of Supply Chain Management (SCM) 4 Findings and Analysis 5 Brief overview of SCM in Aviation Industry 6 Background of Emirates Airline 8 Detailed analysis of SCM framework at Emirates Airline 9 Â  SCM Network of Emirates Airline 12 Value Chain of Emirates Airline 12 Information Technology (IT) and SCM 13 Challenges encountered by Emirates Airline in SCM 14 Conclusion and Recommendations 15 Appendix I – SCM network of Emirates Airline 17 Appendix II – Va lue Chain framework of Emirates Airline 18 References 19 Introduction of Supply Chain Management (SCM) Globally, it has been observed that the trade barriers have been reduced, free markets have been created due to market liberalisation, financial markets have been integrated on international level and huge level advancements have taken place in the field of technology. As a result, globalisation has created intense competition in various countries and the customers are provided access to a wide range of product and service offerings. One of the most effective developments has been in the field of technology that has minimised the communication and business transaction gaps for the companies that have widespread operations across the world (Bhardwaj & Mitra, 2010). It has been stated by Seghal (2011) that majority of the large corporations such as Unilever, P&G, Colgate-Palmolive, Emirates Airlines, Sony, Apple, Microsoft, LG, Nokia, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and others have expa nded their business operations in international markets. The crucial drivers of their robust expansion strategy are the declining trade barriers, easy movement of capital, people and goods across the countries and the latest IT systems that ensure proper integration of their operations. However, production, logistics and supply chain systems have become highly integrated and the companies are able to properly align their efficient supply chain strategy with the business strategy (Christopher, 2011). At times organisations are faced with unfair payment terms which leads to other problems. One such case is of the construction firm in which the latest payment terms announced by the firm is 65 to 120 days (Gilbert, 2013). These types of payment terms are unfair and can prove to be a major challenge. Supplier payment terms should be feasible and convenient for both the firm and the supplier, working on unfair terms and that too highly difficult terms may cause future work to be halted. E conomic crisis may be present in one region or the other and the economic crisis situation impacts the supply chain activities to a very large extent. The crisis may cause disruptions which may affect the business operations on a long term basis. According to a recent survey, it has been depicted that around 63 percentage of organisations that are considered to be large organisations have undergone supply chain disruptions,. This survey was

LT ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

LT ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the nature of motivation; whether one is born with it or not, and exploring some factors that lead to demotivation of individuals (Ryan, 2012). Motivation is an attribute that a person can have or lack. Basically, some form of motivation is inborn which is refered to intrinsic type of motivation. This type assumes that each and everybody is born with certain aspects of performance. Motivation that a person is born with can be hereditary. People born motivated excel because they do the things they are passionate about. From that point, things take off. On the contrary, not everyone is born motivated or possessing the selfdrive nature. However, the greatest attribute to motivation is one of extrinsic value which results from external factors. This can be referred to as the main argument in motivation. The way a person is brought up determines the character of that individual. It implies that the greatest boost to motivation is inherited from the environment because it offers an opportunity. On other hand, past experiences make people to become sensitive about opportunities and hence they acknowledge and accept them (Ryan, 201 2). On the contrary, people can become demotivated. Sometimes, when an individual lacks to achieve a specific set goal and they had paid full attention into accomplishing it, the result is demotivation. Failure makes some people to give up and lose their motivation. However, failure to some people acts as a form of motivation to work even harder to achieve success. Furthermore, poor performance can lead to demotivation as well as lack of trust say in leadership in a work place (Ryan, 2012). In conclusion, motivation is the desire to achieve while demotivation is the lack of selfdrive nature. Some people can be born with motivation while others cannot. However, the biggest contributor of motivation is learned. On the

Target (TGT) and J.C. Penny (JCP) Research Essay Example for Free

Target (TGT) and J.C. Penny (JCP) Research Essay Over the next couple of months, I will be conducting research on Target (TGT) and J.C. Penny (JCP). The reason for this is so that I may give my insight on which company I feel will be the most desirable one for Celash, Byrne Moovon (CBM). Using detailed financial statements on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as data available on each of the companies web sites, Foundations of Financial Management With Time Value of Money, course book, Interpretation of Financial Statements, and The Value Line Investment Survey, make a recommendation as to which of the two is the most desirable acquisition and at what price. Company Profiles Target has: †¢1,797 stores in the United States †¢124 stores in Canada †¢37 distribution centers †¢361,000 team members worldwide †¢online business at target.com †¢global locations in India and Canada As a publicly-owned, U.S.-based company, Target has a global presence with a headquarters location in India and sourcing offices around the world. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products and rewards programs. (Corporate Information) 1) Overview: Company Overview | | Headquarters: | Minneapolis | NYSE Trade Symbol: | TGT | 2012 Revenue: $73,301Million| Number of Stores: | 1,755 | Number of Associates: | 350,000 | To link to view Target’s 2012 10k annual report is: https://corporate.target.com/_media/TargetCorp/annualreports/content/download/ pdf/Annual-Report.pdf?ext=.pdf . On the report you will be able to see the growth in revenue that Target has obtained within the past 5 years. Below is a copy of the chart. The annual book value per share from 2008-2012 are as follows: The current annual ratios as well as the past years are as follows: The profit margin on sales from 2008-2012 for Target are as follows: J.C. Penny â€Å"J. C. Penney (JCP) is one of the nations major clothing and home furnishing retailers. The company is experiencing a revival towards becoming Americas preferred retail destination for unmatched style, quality and value. Across 1,100 stores and at their web site jcp.com, customers will discover an inspirational shopping environment that features the most sought after collections of private, national and exclusive brands and attractions.†(4) To be America’s shopping destination for discovering great styles at compelling prices is the vision of J.C. Penny. The goals of the company include: To win with their * Customers Build deeper, more enduring customer relationships * Associates Increase associate engagement and retention * Shareholders Deliver industry-leading financial performance Company Overview | | Headquarters: | Plano, TX | NYSE Trade Symbol: | JCP | 2012 Revenue: | 17.26billion | Number of Stores: | 1,108 | Number of Associates: | 150,000 | To link to view J.C. Penny 2012 10k annual report is: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1166126/000116612613000016/jcp-20130202x10k.htm The annual book value per share from 2008-2012 are as follows: The current annual ratios as well as the past years are as follows: The profit margin on sales from 2008-2012 for J.C. Penny are as follows: 20082009201020112012 5.59%3.09%1.43%2.19%-0.88% Here you can also follow this link, http://target.knoji.com/compare-vs/jcpenney/ , to see a comparison chart between target and J.C. Penny. Both Target and J.C. Pennies have similar goals. Throughout the next couple of months I will research these two companies to provide evidence on which company will be the best one to go with. REFERENCES PAGE 1.Stanley B. Block, Geoffrey A. Hirt and Bartley R. Danielson (2011), Foundations of Financial Management With Time Value of Money, McGraw-Hill Irwin, 14th edition. 2.Benjamin Graham and Spencer Meredith. (1998). Interpretation of Financial Statements, Harper Business. 3.http://pressroom.target.com/corporate 4.http://www.jcpenney.net/about-us.aspx 5.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Target_(TGT)/Data/Book_Value_Per_Share/2008 6.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Target_(TGT)/Data/Current_Ratio 7.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Target_(TGT)/Data/Net_Margin/2008?ref=chart 8.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/J.C._Penney_(JCP)/Data/Book_Value_Per_Share 9.http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/J.C._Penney_(JCP)/Data/Current_Ratio 10.http://financials.morningstar.com/ratios/r.html?t=JCP

Louis XIV :: essays research papers

Louis XIV Greed is defined in the dictionary as selfish and grasping desire for possession; especially of wealth. It is also described as a noun. This definition can be directly related and best describes Louis XIV, the king of France in the sixteen hundreds. The effects of greed destroying peoples lives can be seen in the beginning of Louis XIV’s reign, during his reign, and after his reign had ended Louis XIV inherited the throne in 1643 when he was only five (Cairns 103). From the moment he entered power and his reign began he had greedy intentions and enormous ideas of divine rule (Cairns 112). In 1661, Louis chief advisor Cardinal Jules Mazarin died and Louis then decided that he would be the only ruler of France (Spielvagel 1). Louis once expressed, â€Å"It is now time that I govern them myself. I request and order you to seal no orders except my command,†¦ I order you not to sign anything, not even a passport†¦ without my command; to render account to me personally each day and to favor no one† (Spielvagel 1). This quote reveals Louis’s desire to have power over everything and control everyone around him. Louis used the sun as his symbol of power. He often quoted, â€Å"I am the state† (Cairns 35). Exposed in this quote is Louis mindset that he had all power. Using the sun as his symbol of power enforced his belief that he was the center of a ll things. Author of â€Å"Court Described by Duc De Saint Simon,† Elena Steingrad, stated the following when referring to King Louis’s life, â€Å"†¦ he compelled his courtiers to live beyond their income, and gradually reduced then to depend on his bounty for the means of subsistence. This was a plague which became a scourge to the whole country†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (4). The quote shows Louis’ greedy intentions, which eventually led to widespread confusion and an economic drop to the country of France (Steingrad 4). Louis XIV in the beginning of his reign was starting to show signs of his enormous, greedy intentions and his belief in divine rule. It was the start of his reign that France began to slowly crumble. In the beginning of Louis XIV’s reign he made an enormous decision, which revealed his greed for his own personal needs. The Palace of Versailles that he had constructed in 1682 is an excellent symbol of Louis over usage of the country’s money on himself.

Strategic Management Process

Organizations develop some form of a strategic management plan to enter, maintain, or continue to enhance their position with other competitors within their industry. The primary goal of any organization is to provide a product or service to produce a profit. Though the objective remains the same regardless of the organization, the strategic management processes may vary. Prior to describing the components of a strategic management process, one must first understand the definition of strategic management.Strategic management is â€Å"a set of managerial decisions and actions that determines the long-run performance of a corporation† (Wheelan & Hunger, 2010). The concept of strategic management allows a company to set goals in order to secure sustainability for the future. There are four steps in a strategic management plan: situation analysis, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy evaluation (Whelan & Hunger, 2010). These steps are performed in this speci fic order when developing a new plan of management.Situation analysis involves reviewing the internal and external environment as well as the organizational framework of a company. When focusing on internal environment of a company one must focus on the different working relationships within the organization. To analyze the external environment would include evaluation of relationships the company has with its customers, suppliers, creditors and competitors. (Coulter, 2005). The second step in strategic management plan is strategy formulation. In this step the strategies for the company are formulated focusing on its strengths.Strategy formulation can be categorized into three organizational levels: operational, competitive and corporate (Coulter, 2005). Strategy implementation is the next step. In this step the strategies that were formulated in the previous step are put into action. This includes development of operating procedures necessary to implement the strategies set forth. To be successful the problems should be prioritized based on the seriousness of the issue and should focus on the important issues first (Coulter, 2005). The final step is strategy evaluation. In this step the entire process is under scrutiny.This includes how the strategy was executed and the effectiveness of it. In this step changes are made as necessary. For example if goals were not met the strategy should be modified (Coulter, 2005). The Internal Revenue Service began using a strategic management plan in 1985. They use the plan to fulfill the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. As part of the strategic management process The IRS plans and budgets, develops measures, implements the plan, and evaluates the results (http://govinfo. library. unt. edu/npr/library/studies/caseirsa. pdf).In conclusion a strategic management plan is a continuous process and is important to the successful future of a company. Strategies will change as objectives and goals change. The use of a strategic management process is important to the sustainability and longevity of a company. References Coulter, M. (2005). Strategic Management in Action. (3rd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. http://govinfo. library. unt. edu/npr/library/studies/caseirsa. pdf Wheelen, T. L. , & Hunger, J. D. , (2010). Concepts in strategic management and business policy (12th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education

The Lost Symbol Chapter 58-61

CHAPTER 58 The coyly nicknamed explosive Key4 had been developed by Special Forces specifically for opening locked doors with minimal collateral damage. Consisting primarily of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine with a diethylhexyl plasticizer, it was essentially a piece of C-4 rolled into paper-thin sheets for insertion into doorjambs. In the case of the library's reading room, the explosive had worked perfectly. Operation leader Agent Turner Simkins stepped over the wreckage of the doors and scanned the massive octagonal room for any signs of movement. Nothing. â€Å"Kill the lights,† Simkins said. A second agent found the wall panel, threw the switches, and plunged the room into darkness. In unison, all four men reached up and yanked down their night-vision headgear, adjusting the goggles over their eyes. They stood motionless, surveying the reading room, which now materialized in shades of luminescent green inside their goggles. The scene remained unchanged. Nobody made a dash for it in the dark. The fugitives were probably unarmed, and yet the field team entered the room with weapons raised. In the darkness, their firearms projected four menacing rods of laser light. The men washed the beams in all directions, across the floor, up the far walls, into the balconies, probing the darkness. Oftentimes, a mere glimpse of a laser-sighted weapon in a darkened room was enough to induce instant surrender. Apparently not tonight. Still no movement. Agent Simkins raised his hand, motioning his team into the space. Silently, the men fanned out. Moving cautiously up the center aisle, Simkins reached up and flipped a switch on his goggles, activating the newest addition to the CIA's arsenal. Thermal imaging had been around for years, but recent advances in miniaturization, differential sensitivity, and dual-source integration had facilitated a new generation of vision enhancing equipment that gave field agents eyesight that bordered on superhuman. We see in the dark. We see through walls. And now . . . we see back in time. Thermal-imaging equipment had become so sensitive to heat differentials that it could detect not only a person's location . . . but their previous locations. The ability to see into the past often proved the most valuable asset of all. And tonight, once again, it proved its worth. Agent Simkins now spied a thermal signature at one of the reading desks. The two wooden chairs luminesced in his goggles, registering a reddish-purple color, indicating those chairs were warmer than the other chairs in the room. The desk lamp's bulb glowed orange. Obviously the two men had been sitting at the desk, but the question now was in which direction they had gone. He found his answer on the central counter that surrounded the large wooden console in the middle of the room. A ghostly handprint, glowing crimson. Weapon raised, Simkins moved toward the octagonal cabinet, training his laser sight across the surface. He circled until he saw an opening in the side of the console. Did they really corner themselves in a cabinet? The agent scanned the trim around the opening and saw another glowing handprint on it. Clearly someone had grabbed the doorjamb as he ducked inside the console. The time for silence was over. â€Å"Thermal signature!† Simkins shouted, pointing at the opening. â€Å"Flanks converge!† His two flanks moved in from opposite sides, effectively surrounding the octagonal console. Simkins moved toward the opening. Still ten feet away, he could see a light source within. â€Å"Light inside the console!† he shouted, hoping the sound of his voice might convince Mr. Bellamy and Mr. Langdon to exit the cabinet with their hands up. Nothing happened. Fine, we'll do this the other way. As Simkins drew closer to the opening, he could hear an unexpected hum rumbling from within. It sounded like machinery. He paused, trying to imagine what could be making such a noise in such a small space. He inched closer, now hearing voices over the sound of machinery. Then, just as he arrived at the opening, the lights inside went out. Thank you, he thought, adjusting his night vision. Advantage, us. Standing at the threshold, he peered through the opening. What lay beyond was unexpected. The console was less of a cabinet than a raised ceiling over a steep set of stairs that descended into a room below. The agent aimed his weapon down the stairs and began descending. The hum of machinery grew louder with every step. What the hell is this place? The room beneath the reading room was a small, industrial-looking space. The hum he heard was indeed machinery, although he was not sure whether it was running because Bellamy and Langdon had activated it, or because it ran around the clock. Either way, it clearly made no difference. The fugitives had left their telltale heat signatures on the room's lone exit–a heavy steel door whose keypad showed four clear fingerprints glowing on the numbers. Around the door, slivers of glowing orange shone beneath the doorjamb, indicating that lights were illuminated on the other side. â€Å"Blow the door,† Simkins said. â€Å"This was their escape route.† It took eight seconds to insert and detonate a sheet of Key4. When the smoke cleared, the field- team agents found themselves peering into a strange underground world known here as â€Å"the stacks.† The Library of Congress had miles and miles of bookshelves, most of them underground. The endless rows of shelves looked like some kind of â€Å"infinity† optical illusion created with mirrors. A sign announced TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT Keep this door closed at all times. Simkins pushed through the mangled doors and felt cool air beyond. He couldn't help but smile. Could this get any easier? Heat signatures in controlled environments showed up like solar flares, and already his goggles revealed a glowing red smear on a banister up ahead, which Bellamy or Langdon had grabbed on to while running past. â€Å"You can run,† he whispered to himself, â€Å"but you can't hide.† As Simkins and his team advanced into the maze of stacks, he realized the playing field was tipped so heavily in his favor that he would not even need his goggles to track his prey. Under normal circumstances, this maze of stacks would have been a respectable hiding place, but the Library of Congress used motion-activated lights to save energy, and the fugitives' escape route was now lit up like a runway. A narrow strip of illumination stretched into the distance, dodging and weaving as it went. All the men ripped off their goggles. Surging ahead on well-trained legs, the field team followed the trail of lights, zigging and zagging through a seemingly endless labyrinth of books. Soon Simkins began seeing lights flickering on in the darkness up ahead. We're gaining. He pushed harder, faster, until he heard footsteps and labored breathing ahead. Then he saw a target. â€Å"I've got visual!† he yelled. The lanky form of Warren Bellamy was apparently bringing up the rear. The primly dressed African American staggered through the stacks, obviously out of breath. It's no use, old man. â€Å"Stop right there, Mr. Bellamy!† Simkins yelled. Bellamy kept running, turning sharp corners, weaving through the rows of books. At every turn, the lights kept coming on over his head. As the team drew within twenty yards, they shouted again to stop, but Bellamy ran on. â€Å"Take him down!† Simkins commanded. The agent carrying the team's nonlethal rifle raised it and fired. The projectile that launched down the aisle and wrapped itself around Bellamy's legs was nicknamed Silly String, but there was nothing silly about it. A military technology invented at Sandia National Laboratories, this nonlethal â€Å"incapacitant† was a thread of gooey polyurethane that turned rock hard on contact, creating a rigid web of plastic across the back of the fugitive's knees. The effect on a running target was that of jamming a stick into the spokes of a moving bike. The man's legs seized midstride, and he pitched forward, crashing to the floor. Bellamy slid another ten feet down a darkened aisle before coming to a stop, the lights above him flickering unceremoniously to life. â€Å"I'll deal with Bellamy,† Simkins shouted. â€Å"You keep going after Langdon! He must be up ahead some–† The team leader stopped, now seeing that the library stacks ahead of Bellamy were all pitch-black. Obviously, there was no one else running in front of Bellamy. He's alone? Bellamy was still on his chest, breathing heavily, his legs and ankles all tangled with hardened plastic. The agent walked over and used his foot to roll the old man over onto his back. â€Å"Where is he?!† the agent demanded. Bellamy's lip was bleeding from the fall. â€Å"Where is who?† Agent Simkins lifted his foot and placed his boot squarely on Bellamy's pristine silk tie. Then he leaned in, applying some pressure. â€Å"Believe me, Mr. Bellamy, you do not want to play this game with me.† CHAPTER 59 Robert Langdon felt like a corpse. He lay supine, hands folded on his chest, in total darkness, trapped in the most confined of spaces. Although Katherine lay nearby in a similar position near his head, Langdon could not see her. He had his eyes closed to prevent himself from catching even a fleeting glimpse of his frightening predicament. The space around him was small. Very small. Sixty seconds ago, with the double doors of the reading room crashing down, he and Katherine had followed Bellamy into the octagonal console, down a steep set of stairs, and into the unexpected space below. Langdon had realized at once where they were. The heart of the library's circulation system. Resembling a small airport baggage distribution center, the circulation room had numerous conveyor belts that angled off in different directions. Because the Library of Congress was housed in three separate buildings, books requested in the reading room often had to be transported great distances by a system of conveyors through a web of underground tunnels. Bellamy immediately crossed the room to a steel door, where he inserted his key card, typed a sequence of buttons, and pushed open the door. The space beyond was dark, but as the door opened, a span of motion-sensor lights flickered to life. When Langdon saw what lay beyond, he realized he was looking at something few people ever saw. The Library of Congress stacks. He felt encouraged by Bellamy's plan. What better place to hide than in a giant labyrinth? Bellamy did not guide them into the stacks, however. Instead, he propped the door open with a book and turned back to face them. â€Å"I had hoped to be able to explain a lot more to you, but we have no time.† He gave Langdon his key card. â€Å"You'll need this.† â€Å"You're not coming with us?† Langdon asked. Bellamy shook his head. â€Å"You'll never make it unless we split up. The most important thing is to keep that pyramid and capstone in safe hands.† Langdon saw no other way out except the stairs back up to the reading room. â€Å"And where are you going?† â€Å"I'll coax them into the stacks away from you,† Bellamy said. â€Å"It's all I can do to help you escape.† Before Langdon could ask where he and Katherine were supposed to go, Bellamy was heaving a large crate of books off one of the conveyors. â€Å"Lie on the belt,† Bellamy said. â€Å"Keep your hands in.† Langdon stared. You cannot be serious! The conveyor belt extended a short distance then disappeared into a dark hole in the wall. The opening looked large enough to permit passage of a crate of books, but not much more. Langdon glanced back longingly at the stacks. â€Å"Forget it,† Bellamy said. â€Å"The motion-sensor lights will make it impossible to hide.† â€Å"Thermal signature!† a voice upstairs shouted. â€Å"Flanks converge!† Katherine apparently had heard all she needed to hear. She climbed onto the conveyor belt with her head only a few feet from the opening in the wall. She crossed her hands over her chest like a mummy in a sarcophagus. Langdon stood frozen. â€Å"Robert,† Bellamy urged, â€Å"if you won't do this for me, do it for Peter.† The voices upstairs sounded closer now. As if in a dream, Langdon moved to the conveyor. He slung his daybag onto the belt and then climbed on, placing his head at Katherine's feet. The hard rubber conveyor felt cold against his back. He stared at the ceiling and felt like a hospital patient preparing for insertion headfirst into an MRI machine. â€Å"Keep your phone on,† Bellamy said. â€Å"Someone will call soon . . . and offer help. Trust him.† Someone will call? Langdon knew that Bellamy had been trying to reach someone with no luck and had left a message earlier. And only moments ago, as they hurried down the spiral staircase, Bellamy had tried one last time and gotten through, speaking very briefly in hushed tones and then hanging up. â€Å"Follow the conveyor to the end,† Bellamy said. â€Å"And jump off quickly before you circle back. Use my key card to get out.† â€Å"Get out of where?!† Langdon demanded. But Bellamy was already pulling levers. All the different conveyors in the room hummed to life. Langdon felt himself jolt into motion, and the ceiling began moving overhead. God save me. As Langdon approached the opening in the wall, he looked back and saw Warren Bellamy race through the doorway into the stacks, closing the door behind him. An instant later, Langdon slid into the darkness, swallowed up by the library . . . just as a glowing red laser dot came dancing down the stairs. CHAPTER 60 The underpaid female security guard from Preferred Security double-checked the Kalorama Heights address on her call sheet. This is it? The gated driveway before her belonged to one of the neighborhood's largest and quietest estates, and so it seemed odd that 911 had just received an urgent call about it. As usual with unconfirmed call-ins, 911 had contacted the local alarm company before bothering the police. The guard often thought the alarm company's motto–â€Å"Your first line of defense†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ could just as easily have been â€Å"False alarms, pranks, lost pets, and complaints from wacky neighbors.† Tonight, as usual, the guard had arrived with no details about the specific concern. Above my pay grade. Her job was simply to show up with her yellow bubble light spinning, assess the property, and report anything unusual. Normally, something innocuous had tripped the house alarm, and she would use her override keys to reset it. This house, however, was silent. No alarm. From the road, everything looked dark and peaceful. The guard buzzed the intercom at the gate, but got no answer. She typed her override code to open the gate and pulled into the driveway. Leaving her engine running and her bubble light spinning, she walked up to the front door and rang the bell. No answer. She saw no lights and no movement. Reluctantly following procedure, she flicked on her flashlight to begin her trek around the house to check the doors and windows for signs of break-in. As she rounded the corner, a black stretch limousine drove past the house, slowing for a moment before continuing on. Rubbernecking neighbors. Bit by bit, she made her way around the house, but saw nothing out of place. The house was bigger than she had imagined, and by the time she reached the backyard, she was shivering from the cold. Obviously there was nobody home. â€Å"Dispatch?† she called in on her radio. â€Å"I'm on the Kalorama Heights call? Owners aren't home. No signs of trouble. Finished the perimeter check. No indication of an intruder. False alarm.† â€Å"Roger that,† the dispatcher replied. â€Å"Have a good night.† The guard put her radio back on her belt and began retracing her steps, eager to get back to the warmth of her vehicle. As she did so, however, she spotted something she had missed earlier–a tiny speck of bluish light on the back of the house. Puzzled, she walked over to it, now seeing the source–a low transom window, apparently to the home's basement. The glass of the window had been blacked out, coated on the inside with an opaque paint. Some kind of darkroom maybe? The bluish glow she had seen was emanating through a tiny spot on the window where the black paint had started to peel. She crouched down, trying to peer through, but she couldn't see much through the tiny opening. She tapped on the glass, wondering if maybe someone was working down there. â€Å"Hello?† she shouted. There was no answer, but as she knocked on the window, the paint chip suddenly detached and fell off, affording her a more complete view. She leaned in, nearly pressing her face to the window as she scanned the basement. Instantly, she wished she hadn't. What in the name of God?! Transfixed, she remained crouched there for a moment, staring in abject horror at the scene before her. Finally, trembling, the guard groped for the radio on her belt. She never found it. A sizzling pair of Taser prongs slammed into the back of her neck, and a searing pain shot through her body. Her muscles seized, and she pitched forward, unable even to close her eyes before her face hit the cold ground. CHAPTER 61 Tonight was not the first time Warren Bellamy had been blindfolded. Like all of his Masonic brothers, he had worn the ritual â€Å"hoodwink† during his ascent to the upper echelons of Masonry. That, however, had taken place among trusted friends. Tonight was different. These rough- handed men had bound him, placed a bag on his head, and were now marching him through the library stacks. The agents had physically threatened Bellamy and demanded to know the whereabouts of Robert Langdon. Knowing his aging body couldn't take much punishment, Bellamy had told his lie quickly. â€Å"Langdon never came down here with me!† he had said, gasping for air. â€Å"I told him to go up to the balcony and hide behind the Moses statue, but I don't know where he is now!† The story apparently had been convincing, because two of the agents had run off in pursuit. Now the remaining two agents were marching him in silence through the stacks. Bellamy's only solace was in knowing Langdon and Katherine were whisking the pyramid off to safety. Soon Langdon would be contacted by a man who could offer sanctuary. Trust him. The man Bellamy had called knew a great deal about the Masonic Pyramid and the secret it held–the location of a hidden spiral staircase that led down into the earth to the hiding place of potent ancient wisdom buried long ago. Bellamy had finally gotten through to the man as they were escaping the reading room, and he felt confident that his short message would be understood perfectly. Now, as he moved in total darkness, Bellamy pictured the stone pyramid and golden capstone in Langdon's bag. It has been many years since those two pieces were in the same room. Bellamy would never forget that painful night. The first of many for Peter. Bellamy had been asked to come to the Solomon estate in Potomac for Zachary Solomon's eighteenth birthday. Zachary, despite being a rebellious child, was a Solomon, which meant tonight, following family tradition, he would receive his inheritance. Bellamy was one of Peter's dearest friends and a trusted Masonic brother, and therefore was asked to attend as a witness. But it was not only the transference of money that Bellamy had been asked to witness. There was far more than money at stake tonight. Bellamy had arrived early and waited, as requested, in Peter's private study. The wonderful old room smelled of leather, wood fires, and loose-leaf tea. Warren was seated when Peter led his son, Zachary, into the room. When the scrawny eighteen-year-old saw Bellamy, he frowned. â€Å"What are you doing here?† â€Å"Bearing witness,† Bellamy offered. â€Å"Happy birthday, Zachary.† The boy mumbled and looked away. â€Å"Sit down, Zach,† Peter said. Zachary sat in the solitary chair facing his father's huge wooden desk. Solomon bolted the study door. Bellamy took a seat off to one side. Solomon addressed Zachary in a serious tone. â€Å"Do you know why you're here?† â€Å"I think so,† Zachary said. Solomon sighed deeply. â€Å"I know you and I have not seen eye to eye for quite some time, Zach. I've done my best to be a good father and to prepare you for this moment.† Zachary said nothing. â€Å"As you know, every Solomon child, upon reaching adulthood, is presented with his or her birthright–a share of the Solomon fortune–which is intended to be a seed . . . a seed for you to nurture, make grow, and use to help nourish mankind.† Solomon walked to a vault in the wall, unlocked it, and removed a large black folder. â€Å"Son, this portfolio contains everything you need to legally transfer your financial inheritance into your own name.† He laid it on the desk. â€Å"The aim is that you use this money to build a life of productivity, prosperity, and philanthropy.† Zachary reached for the folder. â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"Hold on,† his father said, putting his hand on the portfolio. â€Å"There's something else I need to explain.† Zachary shot his father a contemptuous look and slumped back down. â€Å"There are aspects of the Solomon inheritance of which you are not yet aware.† His father was staring straight into Zachary's eyes now. â€Å"You are my firstborn, Zachary, which means you are entitled to a choice.† The teenager sat up, looking intrigued. â€Å"It is a choice that may well determine the direction of your future, and so I urge you to ponder it carefully.† â€Å"What choice?† His father took a deep breath. â€Å"It is the choice . . . between wealth or wisdom.† Zachary gave him a blank stare. â€Å"Wealth or wisdom? I don't get it.† Solomon stood, walking again to the vault, where he pulled out a heavy stone pyramid with Masonic symbols carved into it. Peter heaved the stone onto the desk beside the portfolio. â€Å"This pyramid was created long ago and has been entrusted to our family for generations.† â€Å"A pyramid?† Zachary didn't look very excited. â€Å"Son, this pyramid is a map . . . a map that reveals the location of one of humankind's greatest lost treasures. This map was created so that the treasure could one day be rediscovered.† Peter's voice swelled now with pride. â€Å"And tonight, following tradition, I am able to offer it to you . . . under certain conditions.† Zachary eyed the pyramid suspiciously. â€Å"What's the treasure?† Bellamy could tell that this coarse question was not what Peter had hoped for. Nonetheless, his demeanor remained steady. â€Å"Zachary, it's hard to explain without a lot of background. But this treasure . . . in essence . . . is something we call the Ancient Mysteries.† Zachary laughed, apparently thinking his father was joking. Bellamy could see the melancholy growing now in Peter's eyes. â€Å"This is very difficult for me to describe, Zach. Traditionally, by the time a Solomon is eighteen years of age, he is about to embark on his years of higher education in–â€Å" â€Å"I told you!† Zachary fired back. â€Å"I'm not interested in college!† â€Å"I don't mean college,† his father said, his voice still calm and quiet. â€Å"I'm talking about the brotherhood of Freemasonry. I'm talking about an education in the enduring mysteries of human science. If you had plans to join me within their ranks, you would be on the verge of receiving the education necessary to understand the importance of your decision tonight.† Zachary rolled his eyes. â€Å"Spare me the Masonic lecture again. I know I'm the first Solomon who doesn't want to join. But so what? Don't you get it? I have no interest in playing dress-up with a bunch of old men!† His father was silent for a long time, and Bellamy noticed the fine age lines that had started to appear around Peter's still-youthful eyes. â€Å"Yes, I get it,† Peter finally said. â€Å"Times are different now. I understand that Masonry probably appears strange to you, or maybe even boring. But I want you to know, that doorway will always be open for you should you change your mind.† â€Å"Don't hold your breath,† Zach grumbled. â€Å"That's enough!† Peter snapped, standing up. â€Å"I realize life has been a struggle for you, Zachary, but I am not your only guidepost. There are good men waiting for you, men who will welcome you within the Masonic fold and show you your true potential.† Zachary chuckled and glanced over at Bellamy. â€Å"Is that why you're here, Mr. Bellamy? So you Masons can gang up on me?† Bellamy said nothing, instead directing a respectful gaze back at Peter Solomon–a reminder to Zachary of who held the power in this room. Zachary turned back to his father. â€Å"Zach,† Peter said, â€Å"we're getting nowhere . . . so let me just tell you this. Whether or not you comprehend the responsibility being offered to you tonight, it is my family obligation to present it.† He motioned to the pyramid. â€Å"It is a rare privilege to guard this pyramid. I urge you to consider this opportunity for a few days before making your decision.† â€Å"Opportunity?† Zachary said. â€Å"Babysitting a rock?† â€Å"There are great mysteries in this world, Zach,† Peter said with a sigh. â€Å"Secrets that transcend your wildest imagination. This pyramid protects those secrets. And even more important, there will come a time, probably within your lifetime, when this pyramid will at last be deciphered and its secrets unearthed. It will be a moment of great human transformation . . . and you have a chance to play a role in that moment. I want you to consider it very carefully. Wealth is commonplace, but wisdom is rare.† He motioned to the portfolio and then to the pyramid. â€Å"I beg you to remember that wealth without wisdom can often end in disaster.† Zachary looked like he thought his father was insane. â€Å"Whatever you say, Dad, but there's no way I'm giving up my inheritance for this.† He gestured to the pyramid. Peter folded his hands before him. â€Å"If you choose to accept the responsibility, I will hold your money and the pyramid for you until you have successfully completed your education within the Masons. This will take years, but you will emerge with the maturity to receive both your money and this pyramid. Wealth and wisdom. A potent combination.† Zachary shot up. â€Å"Jesus, Dad! You don't give up, do you? Can't you see that I don't give a damn about the Masons or stone pyramids and ancient mysteries?† He reached down and scooped up the black portfolio, waving it in front of his father's face. â€Å"This is my birthright! The same birthright of the Solomons who came before me! I can't believe you'd try to trick me out of my inheritance with lame stories about ancient treasure maps!† He tucked the portfolio under his arm and marched past Bellamy to the study's patio door. â€Å"Zachary, wait!† His father rushed after him as Zachary stalked out into the night. â€Å"Whatever you do, you can never speak of the pyramid you have seen!† Peter Solomon's voice cracked. â€Å"Not to anyone! Ever!† But Zachary ignored him, disappearing into the night. Peter Solomon's gray eyes were filled with pain as he returned to his desk and sat heavily in his leather chair. After a long silence, he looked up at Bellamy and forced a sad smile. â€Å"That went well.† Bellamy sighed, sharing in Solomon's pain. â€Å"Peter, I don't mean to sound insensitive . . . but . . . do you trust him?† Solomon stared blankly into space. â€Å"I mean . . .† Bellamy pressed, â€Å"not to say anything about the pyramid?† Solomon's face was blank. â€Å"I really don't know what to say, Warren. I'm not sure I even know him anymore.† Bellamy rose and walked slowly back and forth before the large desk. â€Å"Peter, you have followed your family duty, but now, considering what just happened, I think we need to take precautions. I should return the capstone to you so you can find a new home for it. Someone else should watch over it.† â€Å"Why?† Solomon asked. â€Å"If Zachary tells anyone about the pyramid . . . and mentions my being present tonight . . .† â€Å"He knows nothing of the capstone, and he's too immature to know the pyramid has any significance. We don't need a new home for it. I'll keep the pyramid in my vault. And you will keep the capstone wherever you keep it. As we always have.† It was six years later, on Christmas Day, with the family still healing from Zachary's death, that the enormous man claiming to have killed him in prison broke into the Solomon estate. The intruder had come for the pyramid, but he had taken with him only Isabel Solomon's life. Days later, Peter summoned Bellamy to his office. He locked the door and took the pyramid out of his vault, setting it on the desk between them. â€Å"I should have listened to you.† Bellamy knew Peter was racked with guilt over this. â€Å"It wouldn't have mattered.† Solomon drew a tired breath. â€Å"Did you bring the capstone?† Bellamy pulled a small cube-shaped package from his pocket. The faded brown paper was tied with twine and bore a wax seal of Solomon's ring. Bellamy laid the package on the desk, knowing the two halves of the Masonic Pyramid were closer together tonight than they should be. â€Å"Find someone else to watch this. Don't tell me who it is.† Solomon nodded. â€Å"And I know where you can hide the pyramid,† Bellamy said. He told Solomon about the Capitol Building subbasement. â€Å"There's no place in Washington more secure.† Bellamy recalled Solomon liking the idea right away because it felt symbolically apt to hide the pyramid in the symbolic heart of our nation. Typical Solomon, Bellamy had thought. The idealist even in a crisis. Now, ten years later, as Bellamy was being shoved blindly through the Library of Congress, he knew the crisis tonight was far from over. He also now knew whom Solomon had chosen to guard the capstone . . . and he prayed to God that Robert Langdon was up to the job.

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buy custom Evidence Based Practice Nursing Research Evidence Based Practice in Nursing Research The nursing procedure that is discussed in this essay is the routine shaving of the surgical site. Nurses traditionally expect patients undergoing surgery to have hair removed from the surgical site with the aim of reducing infection at the surgical location. The shaving of hair at the surgical site has primary been done using the disposal safety razors. As much as the shaving of hair was believed to be more effective in the prevention of surgical site infections (SSI), many questions have been raised about its efficiency in terms of eliminating the risk factors on patients undergoing surgery. For instance, present research points to the view that the routine shaving of hair from the surgical site is in fact harmful, since it increases the threat of surgical site infections, and should be completely avoided in the contemporary nursing practice. Therefore, it is recommended that electric clippers must be used to remove the hair out of the surgical site immediately before the surgery. Moreover, it is important to instruct patients on effective hair removal strategies that will prevent them from doing so at home, and only hair that interferes with the surgery has to be removed.

Do you have what it takes to be an online creative freelancer

Do you have what it takes to be an online creative freelancer Online creative freelancers can vary in the specifications that are  needed for their  client. Whether it is website development, content, or even design; being an online creative freelancer is customizable to the skills you have. Becoming an online freelancer is a great career choice if you are looking for either full-time or part-time  job opportunities. The work hours are very flexible and you are in charge  of how your day goes as well as the workload you can handle. Thinking about becoming an online creative freelancer? This quiz is perfect for helping you decide if it might be a smart career move.Source [ Playbuzz ]

Nanna Ziggurat and Khafre's Pyramid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nanna Ziggurat and Khafre's Pyramid - Essay Example Similarly, the Nanna Ziggurat constructed during 2100-2050 BC in ancient Middle East or contemporary Iraq was dedicated as a place of worship or temple (Stokstad and Cothren 36). The Nanna Ziggurat and Khafre Pyramid, were constructed based on the conviction of celestial gods, nonetheless they served dissimilar functions. While Nanna Ziggurat was basically a temple, the Khafre pyramid acted as a funerary complex. The aim of this essay is to analyze the similarities and variations of the two monumental structures, and trying to show how both structures served symbolically as a link between the earth and heavens, or some form of eternal life linking room. This paper shows that even though both structures had a common function of acting as the bridge linking heaven and world, they had different connotation and composition in terms of being the center of convention for the people and their gods. Discussion First and foremost, both cultures were highly intelligent in terms of how they wen t about constructing the elaborate and enormous monuments. Nanna Ziggurat is situated in Ur, the capital of ancient Sumeria civilization or present day Iraq, on the banks of river Euphrates, while the Khafre pyramid was constructed in Giza, Egypt on the river Nile plateaus (Stokstad and Cothren 82). ... The river Nile played a crucial role during Egyptian civilization, and its yearly flooding was considered a miracle, consequently the Egyptians turned to religion to acquire a sense of security and everlasting life. That is why they constructed the pyramids as the Imperial symbol of supremacy and authority, since they considered their pharaohs as earthly form of their sun god Re who would then preserve their agrarian life from natural disaster (Stokstad and Cothren 52). The architecture and size of both Nanna Ziggurat and Khafre’s Pyramid are very dissimilar from one another, coupled with a huge variation in scale.  While the Nanna ziggurats is a large stepped structures with numerous temples and a shrine on top, the Khafre pyramid had a rectangular base with three platforms and stairs that converge on the first platform.  The Khafre’s Pyramid at Giza was a massive structure with a faultless pyramid shape and a square base. It has four oblique sides which perfectly meet up at a tip at the top.   However, both Nanna Ziggurat and Khafre’s Pyramid were not the outcome of rebuilding, but rather extensive and detailed constructions. The Nanna Ziggurat base covers roughly 28,905 square feet, in addition to being 100 feet tall.  On the other hand, the Khafre’s Pyramid had a base that covered 566,280 square feet with a height of roughly 471 feet (Stokstad and Cothren 56).   Khafre Pyramid The Nanna Ziggurats was erected using repetitive building, whereby the rubble from all construction was used as groundwork for the subsequent ones. Nevertheless, both monuments have slightly leaning walls that helps in shielding their foundations from flooding, but the Sumerians built Nanna Ziggurat using diverse materials, with the greater part being mud bricks. This helped

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 34

Essay Example This caused the bank to lose focus and only strive for greater profit margins rather than expanding its customer base. After some time, the Union Bank of Norway realized its mistakes and attempted to correct them with the introduction of a single system that tracked the data of each individual customer. Information about their customer base would allow the Union Bank of Norway to correctly predict what its customer would prefer or not prefer in the future. The data warehouse that the bank came up with attempted to address all of these problems. By getting to know its customers, the Union Bank of Norway has been able to base its marketing decision around the characteristics of its customers. Not surprisingly, customer response has been good to this new endeavor. Customers generally like to help organizations wherever they can, so it makes sense to take advantage of this by providing an avenue for them to use. The retention of customer information has helped the Union Bank of Norway ge t back to its roots—working one-on-one with the