Free

Free College Essay President Obama has outlined his proposal to offer the first two years of community college free for students, or as he has said in his speech â€Å"to lower the cost of community college — to zero. † Obama believes that whether young or old, just starting out, or simply looking for a better job, this could benefit millions of Americans. The program would provide tuition-free classes for students going to school at least half time who maintain a GPA of 2. 5 or higher and are trying to obtain a higher degree or are transferring to a four-year institution. The proposal would require federal government to cover 75 percent of the average cost of community college, and the program calls for states to pick up the remaining quarter of the tab. Overall, this proposal could benefit the American population and thus better the American nation. The most crucial reason why this proposal will succeed is that more people in America will attend college. This will all around have a positive have an effect on American society, and economy. Lowering the unemployment rate can help to reduce many factors such as, crime rate, well-fare, and overall national debt. On the other hand, community colleges may become over crowded due to the increased number of students. Despite this minor complication, having more people attend college is in America would be phenomenal. A majority of Americans believe the cost of a college education at a state university, or community college is unaffordable. Having the first two years of community college free will open up opportunities to many. This will allow students first starting out to begin their educational course debt free. College debt is a major problem in todays society, and holds back many from achieving higher goals. However, passage of a bill making community college free could have a dramatic effect on the cost of higher education. If community college is free, many other schools will have to lower their prices in order to stay competitive. Free higher education, even if only for two years, could be a game-changer. Passage of Obama’s proposal is far from a sure thing. If it does pass, at this point the best we can do is speculate about the different possible  outcomes. However, we do know one thing for sure. Obama’s proposal is a bold approach to fixing a broken higher education system. Student loan borrowers are reminded of how badly broken the system is each month they pay huge student loan bills. The more that can be done to fix this system, the better. Overall, this bill will benefit most Americans. If Obama’s proposal is given passage it will create an abundance of opportunities for American citizens. These opportunities include: more job positions, a thriving economy, expansion, etc. In spite of the endless benefits, at the end of the day someone is responsible for paying the two-year â€Å"free† tuition. This causes question to tax payers and the state on the tab they are left to pick up. Although, taxes may increase, the decrease in student loans will greatly outweigh the cost. In conclusion, this bill can aid anyone from past generations to new, young to old, starting out or going back. This could change the entire way of American society for the better and continually push American as a nation in the right direction.

Sonnet 18 Essay -- essays research papers

Amazing authors can induce thoughts by a single word. The ideas that can form in our heads by a small phrase are powerful. Only the most talented and capable authors can provoke such feelings within us. Who is more than able to stir these feelings in a reader but William Shakespeare? His various plays keep us entranced and curious but it is his poetry that strikes a chord deep within us. Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare is particularly powerful. He writes about a love that cannot be compared to anything in the world because of his deep infatuation. Shakespeare wrote his sonnet when he was deeply in love with a woman. He starts off his sonnet by implanting an image in our head of a summer day. A summer day triggers a scene that flashes in our head of children playing and the sun shining,...

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 81-83

CHAPTER 81 The Hawker is on final approach. Simon Edwards – Executive Services Officer at Biggin Hill Airport – paced the control tower, squinting nervously at the rain-drenched runway. He never appreciated being awoken early on a Saturday morning, but it was particularly distasteful that he had been called in to oversee the arrest of one of his most lucrative clients. Sir Leigh Teabing paid Biggin Hill not only for a private hangar but a† per landing fee† for his frequent arrivals and departures. Usually, the airfield had advance warning of his schedule and was able to follow a strict protocol for his arrival. Teabing liked things just so. The custom-built Jaguar stretch limousine that he kept in his hangar was to be fully gassed, polished, and the day's London Times laid out on the back seat. A customs official was to be waiting for the plane at the hangar to expedite the mandatory documentation and luggage check. Occasionally, customs agents accepted large tips from Teabing in exchange for turning a blind eye to the transport of harmless organics – mostly luxury foods – French escargots, a particularly ripe unprocessed Roquefort, certain fruits. Many customs laws were absurd, anyway, and if Biggin Hill didn't accommodate its clients, certainly competing airfields would. Teabing was provided with what he wanted here at Biggin Hill, and the employees reaped the benefits. Edwards's nerves felt frayed now as he watched the jet coming in. He wondered if Teabing's penchant for spreading the wealth had gotten him in trouble somehow; the French authorities seemed very intent on containing him. Edwards had not yet been told what the charges were, but they were obviously serious. At the French authorities' request, Kent police had ordered the Biggin Hill air traffic controller to radio the Hawker's pilot and order him directly to the terminal rather than to the client's hangar. The pilot had agreed, apparently believing the far-fetched story of a gas leak. Though the British police did not generally carry weapons, the gravity of the situation had brought out an armed response team. Now, eight policemen with handguns stood just inside the terminal building, awaiting the moment when the plane's engines powered down. The instant this happened, a runway attendant would place safety wedges under the tires so the plane could no longer move. Then the police would step into view and hold the occupants at bay until the French police arrived to handle the situation. The Hawker was low in the sky now, skimming the treetops to their right. Simon Edwards went downstairs to watch the landing from tarmac level. The Kent police were poised, just out of sight, and the maintenance man waited with his wedges. Out on the runway, the Hawker's nose tipped up, and the tires touched down in a puff of smoke. The plane settled in for deceleration, streaking from right to left in front of the terminal, its white hull glistening in the wet weather. But rather than braking and turning into the terminal, the jet coasted calmly past the access lane and continued on toward Teabing's hangar in the distance. All the police spun and stared at Edwards. â€Å"I thought you said the pilot agreed to come to the terminal!† Edwards was bewildered. â€Å"He did!† Seconds later, Edwards found himself wedged in a police car racing across the tarmac toward the distant hangar. The convoy of police was still a good five hundred yards away as Teabing's Hawker taxied calmly into the private hangar and disappeared. When the cars finally arrived and skidded to a stop outside the gaping hangar door, the police poured out, guns drawn. Edwards jumped out too. The noise was deafening. The Hawker's engines were still roaring as the jet finished its usual rotation inside the hangar, positioning itself nose-out in preparation for later departure. As the plane completed its 180-degreeturn and rolled toward the front of the hangar, Edwards could see the pilot's face, which understandably looked surprised and fearful to see the barricade of police cars. The pilot brought the plane to a final stop, and powered down the engines. The police streamed in, taking up positions around the jet. Edwards joined the Kent chief inspector, who moved warily toward the hatch. After several seconds, the fuselage door popped open. Leigh Teabing appeared in the doorway as the plane's electronic stairs smoothly dropped down. Ashe gazed out at the sea of weapons aimed at him, he propped himself on his crutches and scratched his head. â€Å"Simon, did I win the policemen's lottery while I was away?† He sounded more bewildered than concerned. Simon Edwards stepped forward, swallowing the frog in his throat. â€Å"Good morning, sir. I apologize for the confusion. We've had a gas leak and your pilot said he was coming to the terminal.† â€Å"Yes, yes, well, I told him to come here instead. I'm late for an appointment. I pay for this hangar, and this rubbish about avoiding a gas leak sounded overcautious.† â€Å"I'm afraid your arrival has taken us a bit off guard, sir.† â€Å"I know. I'm off my schedule, I am. Between you and me, the new medication gives me the tinkles. Thought I'd come over for a tune-up.† The policemen all exchanged looks. Edwards winced. â€Å"Very good, sir.† â€Å"Sir,† the Kent chief inspector said, stepping forward. â€Å"I need to ask you to stay onboard for another half hour or so.† Teabing looked unamused as he hobbled down the stairs. â€Å"I'm afraid that is impossible. I have a medical appointment.† He reached the tarmac. â€Å"I cannot afford to miss it.† The chief inspector repositioned himself to block Teabing's progress away from the plane. â€Å"I am here at the orders of the French Judicial Police. They claim you are transporting fugitives from the law on this plane.† Teabing stared at the chief inspector a long moment, and then burst out laughing. â€Å"Is this one of those hidden camera programs? Jolly good!† The chief inspector never flinched. â€Å"This is serious, sir. The French police claim you also may have a hostage onboard.† Teabing's manservant Remy appeared in the doorway at the top of the stairs. â€Å"I feel like a hostage working for Sir Leigh, but he assures me I am free to go.† Remy checked his watch. â€Å"Master, we really are running late.† He nodded toward the Jaguar stretch limousine in the far corner of the hangar. The enormous automobile was ebony with smoked glass and whitewall tires. â€Å"I'll bring the car.† Remy started down the stairs. â€Å"I'm afraid we cannot let you leave,† the chief inspector said. â€Å"Please return to your aircraft. Both of you. Representatives from the French police will be landing shortly.† Teabing looked now toward Simon Edwards. â€Å"Simon, for heaven's sake, this is ridiculous! We don't have anyone else on board. Just the usual – Remy, our pilot, and myself. Perhaps you could act as an intermediary? Go have a look onboard, and verify that the plane is empty.† Edwards knew he was trapped. â€Å"Yes, sir. I can have a look.† â€Å"The devil you will!† the Kent chief inspector declared, apparently knowing enough about executive airfields to suspect Simon Edwards might well lie about the plane's occupants in an effort to keep Teabing's business at Biggin Hill. â€Å"I will look myself.† Teabing shook his head. â€Å"No you won't, Inspector. This is private property and until you have a search warrant, you will stay off my plane. I am offering you a reasonable option here. Mr. Edwards can perform the inspection.† â€Å"No deal.† Teabing's demeanor turned frosty. â€Å"Inspector, I'm afraid I don't have time to indulge in your games. I'm late, and I'm leaving. If it is that important to you to stop me, you'll just have to shoot me.† With that, Teabing and Remy walked around the chief inspector and headed across the hangar toward the parked limousine. The Kent chief inspector felt only distaste for Leigh Teabing as the man hobbled around him in defiance. Men of privilege always felt like they were above the law. They are not.The chief inspector turned and aimed at Teabing's back. â€Å"Stop! I will fire!† â€Å"Go ahead,† Teabing said without breaking stride or glancing back. â€Å"My lawyers will fricassee your testicles for breakfast. And if you dare board my plane without a warrant, your spleen will follow.† No stranger to power plays, the chief inspector was unimpressed. Technically, Teabing was correct and the police needed a warrant to board his jet, but because the flight had originated in France, and because the powerful Bezu Fache had given his authority, the Kent chief inspector felt certain his career would be far better served by finding out what it was on this plane that Teabing seemed so intent on hiding. â€Å"Stop them,† the inspector ordered. â€Å"I'm searching the plane.† His men raced over, guns leveled, and physically blocked Teabing and his servant from reaching the limousine. Now Teabing turned. â€Å"Inspector, this is your last warning. Do not even think of boarding that plane. You will regret it.† Ignoring the threat, the chief inspector gripped his sidearm and marched up the plane's gangway. Arriving at the hatch, he peered inside. After a moment, he stepped into the cabin. What the devil? With the exception of the frightened-looking pilot in the cockpit, the aircraft was empty. Entirely devoid of human life. Quickly checking the bathroom, the chairs, and the luggage areas, the inspector found no traces of anyone hiding†¦ much less multiple individuals. What the hell was Bezu Fache thinking? It seemed Leigh Teabing had been telling the truth. The Kent chief inspector stood alone in the deserted cabin and swallowed hard. Shit.His faceflushed, he stepped back onto the gangway, gazing across the hangar at Leigh Teabing and hisservant, who were now under gunpoint near the limousine. â€Å"Let them go,† the inspector ordered. â€Å"We received a bad tip.† Teabing's eyes were menacing even across the hangar. â€Å"You can expect a call from my lawyers. And for future reference, the French police cannot be trusted.† With that, Teabing's manservant opened the door at the rear of the stretch limousine and helped his crippled master into the back seat. Then the servant walked the length of the car, climbed in behind the wheel, and gunned the engine. Policemen scattered as the Jaguar peeled out of the hangar. â€Å"Well played, my good man,† Teabing chimed from the rear seat as the limousine accelerated out of the airport. He turned his eyes now to the dimly lit front recesses of the spacious interior. â€Å"Everyone comfy?† Langdon gave a weak nod. He and Sophie were still crouched on the floor beside the bound and gagged albino. Moments earlier, as the Hawker taxied into the deserted hangar, Remy had popped the hatch as the plane jolted to a stop halfway through its turn. With the police closing in fast, Langdon and Sophie dragged the monk down the gangway to ground level and out of sight behind the limousine. Then the jet engines had roared again, rotating the plane and completing its turn as the police cars came skidding into the hangar. Now, as the limousine raced toward Kent, Langdon and Sophie clambered toward the rear of the limo's long interior, leaving the monk bound on the floor. They settled onto the long seat facing Teabing. The Brit gave them both a roguish smile and opened the cabinet on the limo's bar. â€Å"Could I offer you a drink? Some nibblies? Crisps? Nuts? Seltzer?† Sophie and Langdon both shook their heads. Teabing grinned and closed the bar. â€Å"So then, about this knight's tomb†¦Ã¢â‚¬  CHAPTER 82 â€Å"Fleet Street?† Langdon asked, eyeing Teabing in the back of the limo. There's a crypt on Fleet Street? So far, Leigh was being playfully cagey about where he thought they would find the â€Å"knight's tomb†, which, according to the poem, would provide the password for opening the smaller cryptex. Teabing grinned and turned to Sophie. â€Å"Miss Neveu, give the Harvard boy one more shot at the verse, will you?† Sophie fished in her pocket and pulled out the black cryptex, which was wrapped in the vellum. Everyone had decided to leave the rosewood box and larger cryptex behind in the plane's strongbox, carrying with them only what they needed, the far more portable and discreet black cryptex. Sophie unwrapped the vellum and handed the sheet to Langdon. Although Langdon had read the poem several times onboard the jet, he had been unable to extract any specific location. Now, as he read the words again, he processed them slowly and carefully, hoping the pentametric rhythms would reveal a clearer meaning now that he was on the ground. In London lies a knight a Pope interred. His labor's fruit a Holy wrath incurred. You seek the orb that ought be on his tomb. It speaks of Rosy flesh and seeded womb. The language seemed simple enough. There was a knight buried in London. A knight who labored at something that angered the Church. A knight whose tomb was missing an orb that should be present. The poem's final reference – Rosy flesh and seeded womb – was a clear allusion to Mary Magdalene, the Rose who bore the seed of Jesus. Despite the apparent straightforwardness of the verse, Langdon still had no idea who this knight was or where he was buried. Moreover, once they located the tomb, it sounded as if they would be searching for something that was absent. The orb that ought be on his tomb? â€Å"No thoughts?† Teabing clucked in disappointment, although Langdon sensed the Royal Historian was enjoying being one up. â€Å"Miss Neveu?† She shook her head. â€Å"What would you two do without me?† Teabing said. â€Å"Very well, I will walk you through it. It's quite simple really. The first line is the key. Would you read it please?† Langdon read aloud. † ‘In London lies a knight a Pope interred. ‘† â€Å"Precisely. A knight a Pope interred.† He eyed Langdon. â€Å"What does that mean to you?† Langdon shrugged. â€Å"A knight buried by a Pope? A knight whose funeral was presided over by a Pope?† Teabing laughed loudly. â€Å"Oh, that's rich. Always the optimist, Robert. Look at the second line. This knight obviously did something that incurred the Holy wrath of the Church. Think again. Consider the dynamic between the Church and the Knights Templar. A knight a Pope interred?† â€Å"A knight a Pope killed?† Sophie asked. Teabing smiled and patted her knee. â€Å"Well done, my dear. A knight a Pope buried.Or killed.† Langdon thought of the notorious Templar round-up in 1307 – unlucky Friday the thirteenth – when Pope Clement killed and interred hundreds of Knights Templar. â€Å"But there must be endless graves of ‘knights killed by Popes. ‘† â€Å"Aha, not so!† Teabing said. â€Å"Many of them were burned at the stake and tossed unceremoniously into the Tiber River. But this poem refers to a tomb.A tomb in London. And there are few knights buried in London.† He paused, eyeing Langdon as if waiting for light to dawn. Finally he huffed. â€Å"Robert, for heaven's sake! The church built in London by the Priory's military arm – the Knights Templar themselves!† â€Å"The Temple Church?† Langdon drew a startled breath. â€Å"It has a crypt?† â€Å"Ten of the most frightening tombs you will ever see.† Langdon had never actually visited the Temple Church, although he'd come across numerous references in his Priory research. Once the epicenter of all Templar/Priory activities in the United Kingdom, the Temple Church had been so named in honor of Solomon's Temple, from which the Knights Templar had extracted their own title, as well as the Sangreal documents that gave them all their influence in Rome. Tales abounded of knights performing strange, secretive rituals within the Temple Church's unusual sanctuary. â€Å"The Temple Church is on Fleet Street?† â€Å"Actually, it's just off Fleet Street on Inner Temple Lane.† Teabing looked mischievous. â€Å"I wanted to see you sweat a little more before I gave it away.† â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"Neither of you has ever been there?† Sophie and Langdon shook their heads.† I'm not surprised,† Teabing said. â€Å"The church is hidden now behind much larger buildings. Few people even know it's there. Eerie old place. The architecture is pagan to the core.† Sophie looked surprised. â€Å"Pagan?† â€Å"Pantheonically pagan!† Teabing exclaimed. â€Å"The church is round.The Templars ignored the traditional Christian cruciform layout and built a perfectly circular church in honor of the sun.† His eyebrows did a devilish dance. â€Å"A not so subtle howdy-do to the boys in Rome. They might as well have resurrected Stonehenge in downtown London.† Sophie eyed Teabing. â€Å"What about the rest of the poem?† The historian's mirthful air faded. â€Å"I'm not sure. It's puzzling. We will need to examine each of the ten tombs carefully. With luck, one of them will have a conspicuously absent orb.† Langdon realized how close they really were. If the missing orb revealed the password, they would be able to open the second cryptex. He had a hard time imagining what they might find inside. Langdon eyed the poem again. It was like some kind of primordial crossword puzzle. A five-letter word that speaks of the Grail? On the plane, they had already tried all the obvious passwords – GRAIL, GRAAL, GREAL, VENUS, MARIA, JESUS, SARAH – but the cylinder had not budged. Far too obvious.Apparently there existed some other five-letter reference to the Rose's seeded womb. The fact that the word was eluding a specialist like Leigh Teabing signified to Langdon that it was no ordinary Grail reference. â€Å"Sir Leigh?† Remy called over his shoulder. He was watching them in the rearview mirror through the open divider. â€Å"You said Fleet Street is near Blackfriars Bridge?† â€Å"Yes, take Victoria Embankment.† â€Å"I'm sorry. I'm not sure where that is. We usually go only to the hospital.† Teabing rolled his eyes at Langdon and Sophie and grumbled,† I swear, sometimes it's like baby- sitting a child. One moment please. Help yourself to a drink and savory snacks.† He left them, clambering awkwardly toward the open divider to talk to Remy. Sophie turned to Langdon now, her voice quiet. â€Å"Robert, nobody knows you and I are in England.† Langdon realized she was right. The Kent police would tell Fache the plane was empty, and Fachewould have to assume they were still in France. We are invisible.Leigh's little stunt had just boughtthem a lot of time. â€Å"Fache will not give up easily,† Sophie said. â€Å"He has too much riding on this arrest now.† Langdon had been trying not to think about Fache. Sophie had promised she would do everything in her power to exonerate Langdon once this was over, but Langdon was starting to fear it might not matter. Fache could easily be pan of this plot.Although Langdon could not imagine the Judicial Police tangled up in the Holy Grail, he sensed too much coincidence tonight to disregard Fache as a possible accomplice. Fache is religions, and he is intent on pinning these murders onme.Then again, Sophie had argued that Fache might simply be overzealous to make the arrest. After all, the evidence against Langdon was substantial. In addition to Langdon's name scrawled on the Louvre floor and in Sauniere's date book, Langdon now appeared to have lied about his manuscript and then run away. At Sophie's suggestion. â€Å"Robert, I'm sorry you're so deeply involved,† Sophie said, placing her hand on his knee. â€Å"But I'm very glad you're here.† The comment sounded more pragmatic than romantic, and yet Langdon felt an unexpected flicker of attraction between them. He gave her a tired smile. â€Å"I'm a lot more fun when I've slept.† Sophie was silent for several seconds. â€Å"My grandfather asked me to trust you. I'm glad I listened to him for once.† â€Å"Your grandfather didn't even know me.† â€Å"Even so, I can't help but think you've done everything he would have wanted. You helped me find the keystone, explained the Sangreal, told me about the ritual in the basement.† She paused. â€Å"Somehow I feel closer to my grandfather tonight than I have in years. I know he would be happy about that.† In the distance, now, the skyline of London began to materialize through the dawn drizzle. Once dominated by Big Ben and Tower Bridge, the horizon now bowed to the Millennium Eye – a colossal, ultramodern Ferris wheel that climbed five hundred feet and afforded breathtaking views of the city. Langdon had attempted to board it once, but the† viewing capsules† reminded him of sealed sarcophagi, and he opted to keep his feet on the ground and enjoy the view from the airy banks of the Thames. Langdon felt a squeeze on his knee, pulling him back, and Sophie's green eyes were on him. He realized she had been speaking to him. â€Å"What do you think we should do with the Sangreal documents if we ever find them?† she whispered. â€Å"What I think is immaterial,† Langdon said. â€Å"Your grandfather gave the cryptex to you, and you should do with it what your instinct tells you he would want done.† â€Å"I'm asking for your opinion. You obviously wrote something in that manuscript that made my grandfather trust your judgment. He scheduled a private meeting with you. That's rare.† â€Å"Maybe he wanted to tell me I have it all wrong.† â€Å"Why would he tell me to find you unless he liked your ideas? In your manuscript, did you support the idea that the Sangreal documents should be revealed or stay buried?† â€Å"Neither. I made no judgment either way. The manuscript deals with the symbology of the sacred feminine – tracing her iconography throughout history. I certainly didn't presume to know where the Grail is hidden or whether it should ever be revealed.† â€Å"And yet you're writing a book about it, so you obviously feel the information should be shared.† â€Å"There's an enormous difference between hypothetically discussing an alternate history of Christ, and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused. â€Å"And what?† â€Å"And presenting to the world thousands of ancient documents as scientific evidence that the New Testament is false testimony.† â€Å"But you told me the New Testament is based on fabrications.† Langdon smiled. â€Å"Sophie, every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the definition of faith – acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove. Every religion describes God through metaphor, allegory, and exaggeration, from the early Egyptians through modern Sunday school. Metaphors are a way to help our minds process the unprocessible. The problems arise when we begin to believe literally in our own metaphors.† â€Å"So you are in favor of the Sangreal documents staying buried forever?† â€Å"I'm a historian. I'm opposed to the destruction of documents, and I would love to see religious scholars have more information to ponder the exceptional life of Jesus Christ.† â€Å"You're arguing both sides of my question.† â€Å"Am I? The Bible represents a fundamental guidepost for millions of people on the planet, in much the same way the Koran, Torah, and Pali Canon offer guidance to people of other religions. If you and I could dig up documentation that contradicted the holy stories of Islamic belief, Judaic belief, Buddhist belief, pagan belief, should we do that? Should we wave a flag and tell the Buddhists that we have proof the Buddha did not come from a lotus blossom? Or that Jesus was not born of a literal virgin birth? Those who truly understand their faiths understand the stories are metaphorical.† Sophie looked skeptical. â€Å"My friends who are devout Christians definitely believe that Christ literallywalked on water, literally turned water into wine, and was born of a literal virgin birth.† â€Å"My point exactly,† Langdon said. â€Å"Religious allegory has become a part of the fabric of reality. And living in that reality helps millions of people cope and be better people.† â€Å"But it appears their reality is false.† Langdon chuckled. â€Å"No more false than that of a mathematical cryptographer who believes in the imaginary number ‘i'because it helps her break codes.† Sophie frowned. â€Å"That's not fair.† A moment passed.† What was your question again?† Langdon asked. â€Å"I can't remember.† He smiled. â€Å"Works every time.† CHAPTER 83 Langdon's Mickey Mouse wristwatch read almost seven-thirty when he emerged from the Jaguar limousine onto Inner Temple Lane with Sophie and Teabing. The threesome wound through a maze of buildings to a small courtyard outside the Temple Church. The rough-hewn stone shimmered in the rain, and doves cooed in the architecture overhead. London's ancient Temple Church was constructed entirely of Caen stone. A dramatic, circular edifice with a daunting facade, a central turret, and a protruding nave off one side, the church looked more like a military stronghold than a place of worship. Consecrated on the tenth of February in 1185 by Heraclius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Temple Church survived eight centuries of political turmoil, the Great Fire of London, and the First World War, only to be heavily damaged by Luftwaffe incendiary bombs in 1940. After the war, it was restored to its original, stark grandeur. The simplicity of the circle, Langdon thought, admiring the building for the first time. The architecture was coarse and simple, more reminiscent of Rome's rugged Castel Sant'Angelo than the refined Pantheon. The boxy annex jutting out to the right was an unfortunate eyesore, although it did little to shroud the original pagan shape of the primary structure. â€Å"It's early on a Saturday,† Teabing said, hobbling toward the entrance,† so I'm assuming we won't have services to deal with.† The church's entryway was a recessed stone niche inside which stood a large wooden door. To the left of the door, looking entirely out of place, hung a bulletin board covered with concert schedules and religious service announcements. Teabing frowned as he read the board. â€Å"They don't open to sightseers for another couple of hours.† He moved to the door and tried it. The door didn't budge. Putting his ear to the wood, he listened. After a moment, he pulled back, a scheming look on his face as he pointed to the bulletin board. â€Å"Robert, check the service schedule, will you? Who is presiding this week?† Inside the church, an altar boy was almost finished vacuuming the communion kneelers when he heard a knocking on the sanctuary door. He ignored it. Father Harvey Knowles had his own keys and was not due for another couple of hours. The knocking was probably a curious tourist or indigent. The altar boy kept vacuuming, but the knocking continued. Can't you read? The sign on the door clearly stated that the church did not open until nine-thirty on Saturday. The altar boy remained with his chores. Suddenly, the knocking turned to a forceful banging, as if someone were hitting the door with a metal rod. The young man switched off his vacuum cleaner and marched angrily toward the door. Unlatching it from within, he swung it open. Three people stood in the entryway. Tourists, he grumbled. â€Å"We open at nine-thirty.† The heavyset man, apparently the leader, stepped forward using metal crutches. â€Å"I am Sir Leigh Teabing,† he said, his accent a highbrow, Saxonesque British. â€Å"As you are no doubt aware, I am escorting Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Wren the Fourth.† He stepped aside, flourishing his arm toward the attractive couple behind them. The woman was soft-featured, with lush burgundy hair. The man was tall, dark-haired, and looked vaguely familiar. The altar boy had no idea how to respond. Sir Christopher Wren was the Temple Church's most famous benefactor. He had made possible all the restorations following damage caused by the Great Fire. He had also been dead since the early eighteenth century. â€Å"Um†¦ an honor to meet you?† The man on crutches frowned. â€Å"Good thing you're not in sales, young man, you're not very convincing. Where is Father Knowles?† â€Å"It's Saturday. He's not due in until later.† The crippled man's scowl deepened. â€Å"There's gratitude. He assured us he would be here, but it looks like we'll do it without him. It won't take long.† The altar boy remained blocking the doorway. â€Å"I'm sorry, what won't take long?† The visitor's eyes sharpened now, and he leaned forward whispering as if to save everyone some embarrassment. â€Å"Young man, apparently you are new here. Every year Sir Christopher Wren's descendants bring a pinch of the old man's ashes to scatter in the Temple sanctuary. It is part of his last will and testament. Nobody is particularly happy about making the trip, but what can we do?† The altar boy had been here a couple of years but had never heard of this custom. â€Å"It would be better if you waited until nine-thirty. The church isn't open yet, and I'm not finished hoovering.† The man on crutches glared angrily. â€Å"Young man, the only reason there's anything left of this building for you to hoover is on account of the gentleman in that woman's pocket.† â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"Mrs. Wren,† the man on crutches said,† would you be so kind as to show this impertinent young man the reliquary of ashes?† The woman hesitated a moment and then, as if awaking from a trance, reached in her sweater pocket and pulled out a small cylinder wrapped in protective fabric. â€Å"There, you see?† the man on crutches snapped. â€Å"Now, you can either grant his dying wish and let us sprinkle his ashes in the sanctuary, or I tell Father Knowles how we've been treated.† The altar boy hesitated, well acquainted with Father Knowles' deep observance of church tradition†¦ and, more importantly, with his foul temper when anything cast this time-honored shrine in anything but favorable light. Maybe Father Knowles had simply forgotten these family members were coming. If so, then there was far more risk in turning them away than in letting them in. After all, they said it would only take a minute.What harm could it do? When the altar boy stepped aside to let the three people pass, he could have sworn Mr. and Mrs. Wren looked just as bewildered by all of this as he was. Uncertain, the boy returned to his chores, watching them out of the corner of his eye. Langdon had to smile as the threesome moved deeper into the church. â€Å"Leigh,† he whispered,† you lie entirely too well.† Teabing's eyes twinkled. â€Å"Oxford Theatre Club. They still talk of my Julius Caesar. I'm certain nobody has ever performed the first scene of Act Three with more dedication.† Langdon glanced over. â€Å"I thought Caesar was dead in that scene.† Teabing smirked. â€Å"Yes, but my toga tore open when I fell, and I had to lie on stage for half an hour with my todger hanging out. Even so, I never moved a muscle. I was brilliant, I tell you.† Langdon cringed. Sorry I missed it. As the group moved through the rectangular annex toward the archway leading into the main church, Langdon was surprised by the barren austerity. Although the altar layout resembled that of a linear Christian chapel, the furnishings were stark and cold, bearing none of the traditional ornamentation. â€Å"Bleak,† he whispered. Teabing chuckled. â€Å"Church of England. Anglicans drink their religion straight. Nothing to distract from their misery.† Sophie motioned through the vast opening that gave way to the circular section of the church. â€Å"It looks like a fortress in there,† she whispered. Langdon agreed. Even from here, the walls looked unusually robust. â€Å"The Knights Templar were warriors,† Teabing reminded, the sound of his aluminum crutches echoing in this reverberant space. â€Å"A religio-military society. Their churches were their strongholds and their banks.† â€Å"Banks?† Sophie asked, glancing at Leigh. â€Å"Heavens, yes. The Templars invented the concept of modern banking. For European nobility, traveling with gold was perilous, so the Templars allowed nobles to deposit gold in their nearest Temple Church and then draw it from any other Temple Church across Europe. All they needed was proper documentation.† He winked. â€Å"And a small commission. They were the original ATMs.† Teabing pointed toward a stained-glass window where the breaking sun was refracting through a white-clad knight riding a rose-colored horse. â€Å"Alanus Marcel,† Teabing said,† Master of the Temple in the early twelve hundreds. He and his successors actually held the Parliamentary chair of Primus Baro Angiae.† Langdon was surprised. â€Å"First Baron of the Realm?† Teabing nodded. â€Å"The Master of the Temple, some claim, held more influence than the king himself.† As they arrived outside the circular chamber, Teabing shot a glance over his shoulder at the altar boy, who was vacuuming in the distance. â€Å"You know,† Teabing whispered to Sophie,† the Holy Grail is said to once have been stored in this church overnight while the Templars moved it from one hiding place to another. Can you imagine the four chests of Sangreal documents sitting right here with Mary Magdalene's sarcophagus? It gives me gooseflesh.† Langdon was feeling gooseflesh too as they stepped into the circular chamber. His eye traced the curvature of the chamber's pale stone perimeter, taking in the carvings of gargoyles, demons, monsters, and pained human faces, all staring inward. Beneath the carvings, a single stone pew curled around the entire circumference of the room. â€Å"Theater in the round,† Langdon whispered. Teabing raised a crutch, pointing toward the far left of the room and then to the far right. Langdon had already seen them. Ten stone knights. Five on the left. Five on the right. Lying prone on the floor, the carved, life-sized figures rested in peaceful poses. The knights were depicted wearing full armor, shields, and swords, and the tombs gave Langdon the uneasy sensation that someone had snuck in and poured plaster over the knights while they were sleeping. All of the figures were deeply weathered, and yet each was clearly unique – different armory pieces, distinct leg and arm positions, facial features, and markings on their shields. In London lies a knight a Pope interred. Langdon felt shaky as he inched deeper into the circular room. This had to be the place.

My Zombie Apocalypse

My Zombie  Apocalypse- Written from the view of me in a zombie attack Back of book- When you wake up in the morning you expect it to be sunny and happy and normal like always. But it  wasn't  like that for me not today, not this morning. It was dark darker than i had ever seen it. It was like the sun had gone out. Usually if you get up early enough you can see normal people running, trying to get in shape. But what was running past my house was not normal, not even close to normal.You watch movies about zombies thinking how funny and stupid they are and thinking that it would be so cool to have a zombie  apocalypse  happen that there would be no school, nothing to do. But let me tell you from experience, it is not as cool as it sounds. Summary: Chapter 1- I woke up with a start my heart racing. The dream slowly left my mind, too quick for me to see what it was about. After laying there for about a minute I sat up slowly and stretched my arms over my head  until  I heard a giant pop. Satisfied I rubbed the crust from my eyes and yawned a giant O.I threw off the covers and kicked my legs off to the side of the bed. I felt my toes run through the white carpet, smiling at how soft it was. I padded lightly through the hallway opening the door. I glanced at the clock on the wall; the time read 5:30 am. I did a double take 5:30?! It’s a Saturday! I was walking back to my room but stopped to look out the window in my living room. It was still a dark hue of black outside(delete) and a misty fog rolled around outside. It was so thick I  couldn't  see the houses across the street.The light post on the median that was in the middle of the street shined brightly, helping me see better. As I looked  closely  at the fog a shadowy figure ran out of the fog towards my house. My heart was pounding inside my chest. As I slowly backed away from the window, the figure stopped and turned its head and looked directly into my eyes. Its red eyes bore into m y soul and it opened its mouth and screamed. I covered my ears as the painful sound ripped through my eardrums. It sprinted towards my house. Then as it reached the window of my front door, it  pressed  its face against the lass while its breath fogged up the window. It backed away then took a running leap and crashed through the window. At that  exact  moment I closed my eyes my life flashing before my eyes, and then the world went black. Chapter 2- I could smell smoke, but where was it coming from? Had mom burnt the toast again? I smiled and was about to get up and laugh at how my mother  couldn't  cook anything I froze halfway in my smile. It all came back to me the fog the scream and that thing whatever it was. I jumped up as quick as if someone had shocked me.I swayed and fell and I was about to hit the ground when a strong pair of hands caught me. A deep  grumble like  voice  whispered  in my ear, â€Å"Hey I  gotcha. † I recoiled  automaticallyà ‚  from the strange voice and the hands that gripped me. I stumbled away and turned around to look at this stranger. I felt my eyes pop out and my jaw drop like a fish out of water gasping for air. He smirked at me as if he usually got that kind of reaction at first sight. He was hot! He had dark black/blue hair that swayed to one side and curled up in the end.It was wavy and went down to the collar of his shirt. Then I looked at his eyes, oh how beautiful his eyes were, a rich green that was bright as grass in the summertime and  peaceful  as the trees that filtered sunlight through them. Stubble covered his face as if he  hadn't  shaved for a week. His teeth were white of course and perfectly strait, â€Å"of course†. He was tall and lean and muscled like a runner. He wore a black leather jacket and a  David  Bowie t-shirt. He also was wearing dark black jeans and black and white converse. The stranger looked to be about 19.He laughed which shook me out of my tr ance and he asked me, â€Å"So are you done with your evaluation yet? † I blushed and looked away, mumbling something about how I  wasn't  looking at him. He stuck out his hand and said, â€Å"Hey I’m Drew†. I stuck out my hand as well and i replied, â€Å"Hey,(I think itd be better if it just said â€Å"I’m Teddi) I’m Teddi†. He  grinned  at me and said, â€Å"Well  that's  a name you  don't  hear every day! † I shook my head at him, â€Å"I know right, it’s just that my parents are big history freaks! † The comment brought the thought of my parents into my head. â€Å"Wait what happened?How did I get here? † A sad look came into his eyes, â€Å"Teddi I’m sorry but your family  didn't  make it. † Tears sprang to my eyes as I thought about them I sobbed and sank to a heap on the ground. Tears ran down my face, â€Å"I will (I’ll) never get to see them again, I  didn't  even get to say goodbye. † My hands covered my face as I said this then footsteps came up behind me and he squatted down next to me, â€Å"Teddi don't be sad, they are happy now and they aren't in any pain. † I looked at him and said, â€Å"You think so? † He smiled, â€Å"I know so†. â€Å"Oh wait I have a little surprise for you†. He said.Drew brought his fingers to his lips and whistled. A small thing came running like the speed of light towards me. â€Å"Mia! † I yelled. The brown little Chihuahua jumped on me and licked my face. I laugh bubbled on my lips. â€Å"Mia you little weirdo, how did you survive? † Drew laughed along with me, â€Å"I haven't a clue, but here's what happened while you were  unconscious. † I was running in the neighborhood that morning and I was passing your house and I saw the windows broken, I unlocked the door and pulled out my knife (which he added on a side note that he always runs with) and I walked in.Drew stopped at this moment and grimaced. He continued, â€Å"And there was blood everywhere and I saw your family or what  pieces  were left of them scattered on the ground. I sharply inhaled my breath, tears coming to my eyes again, I said, â€Å"I'm okay, just keep on going†. He smiled at me  sympathetically, â€Å"Okay and then I found you on the ground with your dog right next to you, I saw that you were breathing and I took you to my house. I don't know why but for some reason you  weren't  touched at all.As I was walking out the door something followed me. I turned around and I  couldn't  believe  my eyes. † I  hastily  exclaimed, â€Å"What, was it! † Drew replied, â€Å"A zombie†. I laughed and said â€Å"you have got to be kidding me a zombie? † He frowned and said, â€Å"I knew you  wouldn't  believe me so I brought proof. † That brought me up short, â€Å"Proof? † I swallowed  uneasi ly  and followed him. He took me too a room and inside I could smell something rotten and dead. I coughed and gagged, as I walked into the room I  couldn't  believe what I saw.It looked human but its flesh was rotten and its head was decapitated. He said, â€Å"I told you so†. I said uneasily,† What is going on here? † He looked at me, â€Å"Teddi, I think we’re in a zombie  apocalypse†. (ok tht was really good. There are a few changes that ive put in the story I left the original thing there and put the change in parentheses. Also I think the word â€Å"said† is used a little to much you mite want to change sone of them to a synonym of said. Otherwise the book was awesome. ) My family Apocalypse written from the view of a zombie

Reality Tv Essays

Reality Tv Essays Reality Tv Essay Reality Tv Essay REALITY TELEVISION: Introduction: Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people or even professional actors. The genre has existed in some form or another since the early years of television. Programs in the reality television genre are commonly called reality shows and often are produced in series. Documentaries and nonfictional programming such as news and sports shows are usually not classified as reality shows. Reality television frequently portrays a modified and highly influenced form of reality, utilizing sensationalism to attract viewers and so to generate advertising profits. Subjects of a reality show may be given some rudimentary directions off-screen, but the point is to allow the performers to act and react as normally as possible. History: Precedents for television that portrayed people in unscripted situations began in the 1940s. Debuting in 1948, Allen Funts Candid Camera, broadcast unsuspecting ordinary people reacting to pranks. It has been called the granddaddy of the reality TV genre. Reality shows in India date back to the Channel Vs talent hunt for making of a musical band. The band of girls called Viva that emerged from this show enjoyed short-lived popularity but marked the beginning of reality shows in India. Superstar Amitabh Bachchans Kaun Banega Crorepati, which was the Indian version of Who wants to be a Millionaire, was a major hit with the audience in India. What followed next was a flood of reality shows, many of them being adaptations of the pre-existing western versions. Genres: Celeb-Reality: Reality shows with celebrities are a rage with the audience. Prank-Reality: Reality shows that involve pranks played on ordinary people and capturing their candid reaction. Game Shows: Reality shows that are based on games. Talent Hunts: Reality shows that are looking for talented people be it singers, dancers or even actors. Job-hunts: Shows that are synonymous with live on air interviews are listed under this category. Makeovers: Reality shows with make over stories. Be it a personal makeover or a home make over, these shows are very popular with the audience. Dating-Shows: Reality shows that gave a platform for dating men and women on air. Adventure/Fear based shows: A genre of TV shows that challenges the participants with difficult and weird tasks. Some reality shows provide artists a good platform to get noticed, some shows help people win money and fame but almost all of them keep the audience hooked on to the action and craving for more. Advantages: Instant fame: Fame seekers may claim that reality TVs biggest advantage comes in its unrivaled ability to produce more 15 minutes of fame stars than other TV genres. A reality show provides exposure that people could not get anywhere else, giving non-celebrities the potential to become household names and land opportunities that otherwise may evade them Achieving One’s Dream: Competitive reality programs offer another advantage to participants: the opportunity to follow dreams, land big breaks or win large amounts of cash. Viewers, in turn, may think they can accomplish the same and apply. Disadvantages: Lack of Privacy: Participants also have to deal with reality TV disadvantages. Applicants need to read the fine print in every legal document they sign, as a personal release form gives TV producers the rights to film them during every aspect of the program. If you apply to appear on a reality program, you have no grounds to complain about lack of privacy, or that you cannot control what ends up on TV. Every stipulation usually appears in personal and location release forms, as well as informed consent forms. Harmful Effects to Reputation: When participants surrender their rights to privacy, they may not consider reality TVs long-term effects, subjecting themselves to potentially humiliating events that harm their reputation. If participants engage in questionable behavior and it appears on television, it could impact their relationships with family and friends, not to mention employers and the law. Criticism: Reality television criticism ranges extensively. One such complaint is from professional actors and writers in the industry. As the surge in popularity from reality television has gained speed, this means more shows based on reality television and fewer programs based on the skills or talents of actors. As such, many actors and writers are complaining that the popularity of reality TV means less work for the thousands who have poured their life and soul into the industry for years prior. Reality television criticisms also hover around how well reality television actually portrays reality. On top of this, reality television shows usually portray people in a heightened state of reality to the point of it almost being fiction. Thus, the premise behind many shows has garnered criticisms based on how fabricated the portrayed reality actually is. Additionally, through editing film crews are able to portray a situation that might have been largely underplayed in real life for the purpose of portraying drama. Should children be allowed in reality shows: The reality TV shows offer a lot to the children- fame, money, opportunities to work with good organizations and lot more. But on the flip side, because of cut-throat competitions, failures and hard work sometimes celebrity children face the difficulty of coping up with studies and work together. They find it difficult to follow the hectic schedules on daily basis. Celebrity children don’t get time to play outdoor games, watch television, read books etc. They become so occupied with work and studies that they work day and night and leaves behind their childhood life. On the other side, those children don’t win the contests or shows lose their self confidence and often go into depression. Daily we read so many heart rending cases of children committing suicides, just because their parents didn’t allow them to participate in shows as it was affecting their studies. Most Popular Reality Shows on Indian Television: MTV Bakra Kaun Banega Crorepati Indian Idol Sa Re Ga Ma Big Boss The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Nach Baliye Jhalak Dikhlaja Dance India Dance India’s Got Talent MTV Roadies

Enhancing Organisational Transparency through Talent and Performance Dissertation

Enhancing Organisational Transparency through Talent and Performance Management - Dissertation Example Likert scale method is a type of ordinal measurement that was used in the measurement of the online research respondents’ attitude to each of the given questions related to organizational transparency, talent management, and performance management. As part of the five major categories of the online research respondents’ responses from strongly agree = 5 to strongly disagree = 1. When using the likert scale method, Jamieson (2004) explained that statistical data should be computed using either mode or median when measuring the central tendency of the figures to avoid manipulating the ordinal data. In terms of analyzing the qualitative research findings, strategic ways on how researcher can effectively analyze the qualitative research findings that minimizes the risk of developing bias judgment will be tackled in details. Quantitative Analysis Quantitative data in this study were gathered out of the online survey study. In line with this, a total of 135 randomly selected online research respondents voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. Most of the online survey respondents have been working in middle management (53.7%), senior management (15.7%), and junior management (30.6%) between 2 to 7 years in their current work position. Out of the total online survey respondents, 97% and 3% were UAE nationals and Non-UAE Nationals respectively who are currently working in Dubai government (56%) and semi-government organizations (44%). Because of the long-term exposure of the online research respondents in terms of working in Dubai government and semi-government organizations, the online research respondents are considered highly qualified in terms of providing their personal opinion with regards to the impact of organizational transparency in enhancing the talent and performance management in Dubai. Majority with 64.4% of the total research respondents are female whereas the remaining portion is composed of male respondents who are UAE nationals a nd are currently employed in Dubai’s government departments and semi-government organizations. This study assumed that individuals who are working in Dubai’s government departments and semi-government organizations between the age brackets of 25 to 35 are the ones who are more vocal about the significance of organizational transparency on talent and performance management in Dubai. This assumption is confirmed by the quantitative results given that majority with 65.2% of the total research respondents belong to the said age group. Other online research respondents either belong to age group of less than 25 years old (20%) or between 36 to 46 years old (14.8%). Talent Management Most of Dubai government and semi-government organizations’ employees enjoy the benefit of career improvements as a result of incorporating the importance of learning in working practices. Based on the likert

Healthcare Utilization and Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Healthcare Utilization and Finance - Essay Example Medicare Part B Essentially, this part covers healthcare services that are not provided for in part A of the Medicare. In Mrs. Zwick’s case, the cost of the different diagnostic tests that she underwent during her hospital stay and time of rehabilitation would be paid for in this part. Medicare Part D This last option of insurance cover deals with payment of the cost of drugs that are prescribed during a hospital stay. The antibiotics that were prescribed during the initial hospital stay will be catered for here. Moreover, the medication that prescribed upon her discharge will be also paid and by extension the walker that she required to walk around. Medicare policies and Reimbursement of Additional Care The policy by Medicare not to pay additional costs emanating from hospital acquired infections means that these cases have to be HAC (hospital-acquired complications) in terms of high cost. This in turn means that a patient with such a problem would have to be assigned to paym ent of higher premiums to cover the whole cost. It is however predicated upon the premise that the complication was due to secondary diagnosis and could have been prevented through utilization of evidence based guidelines. These additional policies of Medicare on hospital acquired infections means that the hospital will not get reimbursement for them (McNair, Luft, & Bindman, 2009). For instance, the antibiotics that were prescribed to her and these drugs were for urinary tract infection (UTI). With UTI being one of the complications that are not catered for by Medicare, then Mrs. Zwick and her daughter would have to pay from their pockets. Ethical Implications for Incurring Costs Related To Her Hospital-Acquired Condition The ethical implication for costs that emanate from hospital acquired infections to the concerned patients is that they have to pay for the additional cost. This is regardless of whether the infection was due to negligence on the part of the hospital or the infect ion just arose spontaneously. In order for clients to be shielded from this, they are forced to pay more so that in the advent that the complications that occur due to a person being hospitalized may be reimbursed by Medicare. Such a proactive move is quite unfair to the payer and the extra charge is quite punitive bearing in mind that these infections are completely out of a payer’s control when they happen. Another ethical implication is that it has to be proved beyond doubt that the hospital acquired infections were not due to negligence on the part of a hospital. This may arduous and quite challenging and it takes time (Zhan, Friedman, Mosso & Pronovost, 2006). Scenario 2 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) Since COBRA insurance was designed to cover for people who have lost their job due to legitimate reasons, the cover is usually paid by the former employer but it is not subsidized. It follows then that the payments for health coverage premiums are re mitted by the former employer in full and an additional administrative cost of two percent. However, coverage is considered under group coverage which therefore means that the cost of the premiums is still low although they are slightly higher than when the employee was working. Many of the individuals that invoke the COBRA coverage usually have a big time difference between their last day at work and