Roman Republic History and Facts Essays

Roman Republic History and Facts Essays Roman Republic History and Facts Essay Roman Republic History and Facts Essay Essay Topic: The Republic Rome According to legend, the city of Rome was founded by two twin brothers Romulus and Remus. They were kidnapped when they were still babies and left near the Tiber River. The wolves cared for them but when they grew up, they found a shepherd and the shepherd also cared for them. They founded the city of Rome but they quarreled with the leader of it but some historians say that the name of the city has been theirs. Romulus won and named him the city of Rome. History of Rome Rome was governed by kings, but after only seven of them had ruled, the Romans took power over their own city and ruled themselves. They then instead had a council known as the senate which ruled over them. From this point on one speaks of the Roman Republic. The word Republic itself comes from the Latin (the language of the Romans) words res publica which mean public matters or matters of state. The senate under the kings had only been there to advise the king. Now the Senate appointed a consul, who ruled Rome like a king, but only for one year. This was a wise idea, as like that, the consul ruled carefully and not as a tyrant, for he knew that otherwise he could be punished by the next consul, once his year was up. | Rome knew four classes of people. This division was very important to the Romans. The lowest class were the slaves. They were owned by other people. They had no rights at all. The next class were the plebeians. They were free people. But they had little say at all. The second highest class were the equestrians (sometimes they are called the knights). Their name means the riders, as they were given a horse to ride if they were called to fight for Rome. To be an equestrian you had to be rich. The highest class were the nobles of Rome. They were called patricians. All the real power in Rome lay with them. The Roman Republic was a very successful government. It lasted from 510 BC until 23 BC almost 500 years. In comparison the United States of America, it only exists since 1776 less than 250 years. Ancient Roman Gods 12 Greek Olympians| 12 Roman Olympians| Hera Queen of heaven (Zeuss wife) and goddess of marriage| Juno goddess of Marriage| Zeus King of gods/heaven| Jupiter A. K. A Jove The King of the gods and the god of the sky| Hades god of underworld| Pluto – god of the dead| Poseidon god of sea| Neptune god of the Sea| Hestia goddess of hearth/domesticity| Vesta goddess of the Hearth, the Home and the Roman state| Ares god of war| Mars god of War| Hephaestus Blacksmith of gods| Vulcan god of Fire, the Forge and Blacksmiths| Apollo god of music| Apollo god of the sun, music, medicine and healing, archery and prophecy| Hermes Patron of thieves and merchants/traders, messenger of Zeus| Mercury Messenger of the gods and Finance. goddess of moon| Diana goddess of Hunting| Aphrodite goddess of love and beauty| Venus goddess of Love and Beauty| Athena goddess of wisdom, justice, crafts, and war| Minerva goddess of Wisdom|

Saying Good Evening in Japanese

Saying Good Evening in Japanese Whether youre visiting Japan or youre simply trying to learn a new language, knowing how to say and write simple greetings is a  great way to start communicating with people in their language. The way to say good evening in Japanese is Konbanwa. Konbanwa shouldnt be confused with  konnichi wa, which is a greeting often during daytime hours.   Greetings for Day and Night Japanese citizens will use the morning greeting ohayou gozaimasu,  most often before about 10:30 a.m. Konnichiwa is used most often after 10:30 a.m., while konbanwa is the appropriate evening greeting. Pronunciation of Konbanwa Listen to the audio file for Konbanwa. Japanese Characters for Konbanwa 㠁“ん㠁 °Ã£â€šâ€œÃ£  ¯Ã£â‚¬â€š Writing Rules There is a rule for writing hiragana wa and ha. When wa is used as a particle, it is written in hiragana as ha. Konbanwa is now a fixed greeting. However, in the old days it was a part of sentence such as Tonight is ~ (Konban wa ~) and wa functioned as a particle. Thats why it is still written in hiragana as ha.

Investment Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Investment Plan - Assignment Example 2. Accounting Rate of Return: Accounting Rate of Return is based on accounting profit. Accounting Rate of Profit (ARR) can be defined as the percentage of Average Annual Profit of an Investment to the Average Investment. Where, Average Investment = (Initial investment + scrap value) / 2 Advantages: By using Profit figures, this technique relates to the return on capital employed directly. The result of this calculation is in percentage, which is easily understandable by most business people. Disadvantage: Here also it ignores the time value of money It uses the accounting profit rather than cash flows. Cash flows represent solid power over resources, whereas Accounting profits are subjected to the application of accounting concepts. 3. Net Present Value: It is a discounted cash flow method of investment appraisal. It uses the method of discounting future cash flows to its present values. The sum of the future cash flows less the initial investment gives the Net Present value of a Project. Advantages: Its main strength is its recognition of time value of money. As it considers cash flow for calculation, it is not affected by the accounting policy of a particular company. As it takes account of the costs of raising finance, a positive NPV reflects the increase in shareholders' wealth, which is supposed to be the main consideration of Project appraisal. Disadvantages: This is a bit cumbersome process of calculating the discount rate with the nature of finance available. It gives result in absolute figures, and does not allow for the size of the project. 4. Internal Rate of Return: Internal Rate of Return is the discount rate that gives a zero NPV....The sum of the future cash flows less the initial investment gives the Net Present value of a Project. 4. Internal Rate of Return: Internal Rate of Return is the discount rate that gives a zero NPV. The acceptance criteria of this method of appraisal are; IRR should be greater than the discount rate on the presumption that a project with higher IRR than the discount rate generates higher returns. Calculation of IRR is easier as it does not require precise cost of capital discount rate. To accept a project it is enough to see that the IRR sufficiently higher than the approximate cost of capital. To summerize complex accounting information into relatively small no. of key indicators ratios are used. This also makes comparison easier. As we are now going to make comparison between the performance of M/s Sukna and M/s Badra we should utilize the ratio analysis method. Traditionally ratios are classified into five groups. We should look into the ratios for which data is available with us. This is known as primary ratio as it goes to the heart of what most private sector firms try to achieve. This ratio gives the effectiveness of the assets financed both by shareholders and long term creditors. This ratio should be as high as possible. Gross Profit Margin = Gross Profit / Sales X 100%. This ratio does not give a clear picture but it can give some trend.

Notes Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Notes - Term Paper Example An effort has been made to present notes that have practical implications. Notes of a fictitious company are as under: 1. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as applicable to UK, and the Interpretations of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRIC). Principal financial accounting and valuation methods used to prepare consolidated financial statements are set out in each of the following sections. The accounting methods are generally unchanged as compared to the previous year. 4. The consolidated financial statement includes the financial statements of the Principal and the group companies in which group holds stake (its subsidiaries) until 31st December of each year. Majority stakes of the group deem to exist if the group can determine the financial and managerial policies of a subsidiary in order to obtain economic advantages. a. In case of acquisition of a company, the capital is consolidated using acquisition method. The assets and liabilities of respective subsidiaries are valued at market value attributable at the time of acquisition. If the acquisition costs exceed the attributable current market value of the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities, the capitalised difference is shown as goodwill; otherwise it is immediately adjusted against income. The Non- Controlling interests are reported as part of the current values of the stated assets and liabilities corresponding to their respective interests. d. The earnings as well as assets and liabilities of associated companies are incorporated in this consolidated financial statement using the equity method of accounting. Interests in associated companies are given in SFP as acquisition costs adjusted by changes in the group share of net income following acquisition, and losses due to depreciation. Losses that exceed the

University and Scholar Ship Funding Essay Example for Free

University and Scholar Ship Funding Essay Should college athletes be paid? Thesis: Amateur athletes at the major college, should not be paid for college sports; instead college athletes should be thankful they are receiving full four year scholar ship funding, that is treated like a pro contract where it can be terminated if one was injured or a recruiting mistake. I. Should Ncaa Athletes be paid? A. Study shows that March Madness has become a huge become a huge business in the college sports scene. B. The Ncaa make a 6 billion dollar revenue off broadcasting the teams and also  athletic conference’s receive millions of dollars if there team advances in the tournament. C. College athletes don’t get to see any of the money, as they risk career ending injuries all the time as they step on the court, field, and rink. II. Why should college athletes be paid? A. Research shows that division 1 scholarships are 25,000 per year which equal 100,000 for the course of four years. B. Being athlete is a full time job there is little to none time for working for extra money for the student. C. Athletes earn their schools thousands of dollars, increased in enrollment, and great recruiting prospects for the later years. III. Why shouldn’t college athletes get paid? A. There are less popular teams in the college scene that does not make the university a lot of revenue, so why pay if all are struggling B. Instead of receiving a salary college athletes need to be worried about achieving a degree. C. Players are receiving an advanced education at universities and colleges that thousands of Americans can’t attend. IV. Conclusion: Trevon Marshall Rough Draft.

Antigone By David Greene :: essays research papers

THE QUALITIES OF CREON As readers, we have to make judgments and interpretations of different characters. In the book, Antigone, translated by David Greene, there is a character by the name of Creon. While reading Antigone, some important descriptions about Creon become apparent. He views himself as the perfect leader, believes he is always correct, and wants control over people. Creon believes he is the only perfect ruler for Thebes. He believes that he can create a better city with his presence: "I would not be silent if I saw ruin,…" (p.168 l.203-204). "I would not count any enemy of my country as a friend-" (p.168 l.205-206). He further continues by stating "I will make her greater still" (p.168 l.210). In this last quote Creon declares that he will improve the city (she) by his rulings. Creon describes how his qualities make him a good ruler and how he would act in different situations. Furthermore, Creon views himself a good leader because he believes he has the best attributes and no one can compare to him. Creon shows his over-confidence when he boasts of his role as the perfect ruler of Thebes. In addition, Creon believes he is always correct in his judgments and his beliefs. Before the sentry even explains the event that has occurred, the sentry states that he is only a messenger and that he has not committed the act. Yet Creon still accuses the sentry of receiving money for the act and threatens to punish him. "That will teach you in the days to come from what you may draw profit…ill-gotten gains ruin more than they save" (p.172-173 l.342-346). Creon does not think logically that the sentry would not turn himself in for such an impious act. Consequently, the Chorus suggests that the act may have been committed by God. Creon stops this "nonsense" conversation immediately and rebukes that Zeus and the gods would not honor criminals. Creon seems to believe he knows everything and stubbornly refuses to listen to others. He goes as far as not believing his son, Haemon, when Haemon informs his father of the reputation he has created to the citizens. Creon believes that "It seems this boy (Haemon) is on the woman’s side (Antigone)" (p.190 l. 803). Creon refuses to believe what Haemon says and attacks Haemon for siding with Antigone. Creon’s stubbornness brings about his own downfall when he chooses not to believe Teiresias, the blind prophet.

Martinez Construction Company in Germany

MARTINEZ CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN GERMANY 1. General presentation of the case study (Summary) Martinez Construction is a well-established construction company in Eastern Spain. Because of a recent decline in contracts in the Spain society, Martinez Construction Company needed to expand to international market in order to survive (expand and grow). After a survey in the international market, the newly formed Democratic Germany seemed the perfect place. Furthermore, the best solution was to acquire an existing firm with the help of Treuhandanstalt (privatization agency).This was a result of the lack of liquidity of the Martinez Company. Therefore, an alliance with another German company would not allow it to establish itself as a serious competitor on the international market. The intermediary for Martinez Construction was THA (Treuhandanstalt), a company created in the former German Democratic Republic, whose main purpose was to find private buyers for some 13 500 business and 15 000 p arcels of real estate that had been owned by the former German Democratic Republic.Their primary job was to sell the companies and match existing companies with buyers. That’s why Martinez Construction used THA’s services to find a new German company to acquire. From the time of his arrival in Germany, Juan felt that he was having a difficult time just getting acquainted with the Germans. . They didn’t seem to have time to get to know Juan personally: rush and urgency to complete the sale was the focus of their approach. Thus, THA found Konstruktion Dreizehn, based in Leipzig.Juan Sanchez was sent to handle the negotiations part of the acquisition in Germany. Juan was accompanied by Diego’s nephew and projected manager of the new German acquisition, Miguel Martinez. His background includes a business degree from a university in the United States, as well as years of employment in the family business, although lacking in practical managerial experience. Du ring the negotiations, there were noticed strong discrepancies between the business styles of the two representatives of the companies, the cultural barrier between the two being noticeable.However, they managed to arrive at a common point by modifying the initial contract, after Juan insisted. The final contract stated that the original price would be reviewed in two years, and the contracted parties would recalculate it based on new and presumably more reliable data concerning the true value of the firm. The company had employed approximately 350 workers inside the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The THA had reduced the workforce to 100. Miguel and his team estimated that 50 employees would be sufficient.Miguel was frustrated by the unwillingness of some employees to actively participate in the formulation of ideas and implementation of new procedures and policies. Six months after Miguel’s triumphant arrival, his optimism was fading fast. He had just received the latest report concerning the company’s financial position, and it was clear that the figures were far from what Martinez Construction had been led to believe. Cash flow problems were beginning to arise, and this threatened the very existence of the company. . Identification of the problem(s), causes and negative effects: 2. 1. Identification of the problem(s): The main problem of The Spanish Company consists of the fact that they were not prepared for the acquisition of a foreign company and further more for the negotiations with the German THA. Companies which operate only in one country are not familiar with all the economic, cultural and political differences between societies because they are not confronted with them on daily basis.In order to do successful business, it is of major importance to acknowledge this differences and to take it into consideration when doing business. A second problem will be that the manager of Martinez Construction Company choose the wrong people in order to complete the negotiations and after words to develop the new business in East Germany. 2. 2. Identification of the causes that led to the appearance of this/these problem(s): The problems arise mainly because the CEO of the Spanish company made his decisions of expansion in Germany on a blue-eyed approach.The idea occur to him when meeting German tourists in Spain that were relax and happy without taking into account that the East Germans were not allowed to travel so far and there are important differences between the mentality of Western and Eastern Germany. Another cause is represented by the Manager’s idea that he can develop a well-established business in the Eastern German because of cheap labor and raw materials. His choice to expand on German marketplace was not based on rational facts or clear developed objectives.Despite the fact that the management of Martinez Company conduct a series of research regarding the different market entry strategies into German markets which ended with the solution of acquiring a company from THA, a market selection can not rely only on information based on secondary sources. There are always certain information that can only be found when visiting the potential marketplace (distributors, suppliers, the existing management and employees). 2. 3. Identification of the potential negative effects that will appear if the problem(s) is/are not going to be solved:Negative effects on the short-run: * Lack of experience in managing a portfolio of business in another market than Spain as well as the lack of knowledge about the personality of German employees and the already existing procedures and policies * Different developed management information systems, governance structures, managerial skills and corporate processes * Lack of initiative coming from the employees because of fear and distrust of management due to the cultural differences between Spanish and German business practices. Exposure to unfamiliar busi ness practices such as strict environmental and employee protection regulations that forced unexpected large investments in plant modifications. * Other costly projects that have not been foreseen during the negotiations process that would have required attention. * Cash flow problems The negative effects in the long run: * Cash flow problems that finally may threaten the existence of the German company or even of the whole company’s * Closing the German enterprise would mean losing the whole investment (money invested in research, development, implementation, the price itself paid to THA and other costs hat incurred over the time). * Inability to achieve the forecasted figures 3. Identification of alternative solutions for identified problems Solution 1: Joint – Venture with a company from Western Germany Joint ventures are the most common method of entering the market, especially in Europe, because it allows companies to gain competitive advantage through access to a partner’s resources, including markets, technologies, capital and people.International Joint Ventures are viewed as a practical vehicle for direct investment along with knowledge transfer, such as technology transfer, from multinational expertise to local companies, and such knowledge transfer can contribute to the performance improvement of local companies. Advantages: * Access to local know-how which will help the company to evolve faster * Sharing development costs and risks, along with   technology and complementary IP assets for the production and delivery of innovative goods and services * Cheaper than acquisition   Reduce political friction and improve local/national acceptability of the company. Disadvantages: * A joint venture would not allow the company to establish itself as a serious competitor * Lack of control over technology * Many joint ventures fail because of a conflict in tax interests between the partners. Solution 2: Licensing Another solution to the above identified problem would be a method whereby Martinez Constructions would agree to permit a company in another country to use the manufacturing, processing, trademark, know-how or some other skill provided by the company.This method may also be used to gain access to new markets that otherwise are inaccessible. Advantages: *   Good way to start in foreign operations and open the door to low risk manufacturing relationships * Provides additional profitability with little initial investment * Low costs to implement * It has an attractive return on investment * A license agreement allows the licensor to retain ownership of the IP and at the same time to receive royalty income from it, in addition to the income from its own exploitation of it in products and services that it sells. Enables a business to reach customers that it normally wouldn’t be able to do on its own. Disadvantages: * A licensee can become the licensor’s competitor. The licensee may â€Å"canni balize† sales of the licensor, causing the latter to gain less from royalties than it loses from sales that go to its new competitor. * The licensee may suddenly ask for contribution, such as technical assistance, training of personnel, additional technical data etc. All this may prove too expensive for the licensor. * Limited participation * Requires considerable fact finding, planning, investigation and interpretation. 4.Selection of the optimal solution: 4. 1. Identify and choose the optimal solution among those presented above We have decided that the optimal solution for Martinez Construction Company to enter the German market would be to form a joint venture with a company from West Germany. 4. 2 Demonstration that the chosen solution is the optimum one. A joint venture is considered to be one of the easiest and safest methods a company could adopt in order to enter on a foreign market. In our case, we consider that the optimal solution would be for Martinez Construction Company to form a joint venture with a company rom the Western part of Germany because this part of the country was not under the communist regime, it is more developed and receptive to changes. In what concerns solution no 2, it suggests that licensing would be the best way for Martinez Construction to expand its business in Germany. Sometimes there are cases where licensing and joint venture methods are similar. They both allow companies to reach customers that it couldn’t reach otherwise; they save market research spending and present an attractive return on investment.By following licensing model, Martinez company can easily and quickly penetrate the German market, using fewer financial resources. But if we take into account the other problems encountered in this case, namely cultural differences between German and Spanish, and lack of knowledge of international management, such a purchase would be a disadvantage. Nevertheless, the licensee can become the licensorâ€℠¢s competitor and the license agreement doesn’t always guarantee the necessary know-how for the licensee who might need technical assistance provided by the licensor. . Implementation of the solution When trying to expand globally through a joint venture strategy, Martinez Corporation must take into consideration three important elements: choice of partner, establishment of a strategic fit and the design of the joint venture organization. As prior mentioned, Martinez Company should choose a partner from the Western Germany as they are more accustomed to the Western style of doing business than the former German Democratic Republic. Thus, the negotiation could be more transparent and easier for the firm.Furthermore, the most important thing that has to be taken into consideration is the field in which the firm with which the joint venture is going to be performing activates. This is because a classic joint venture is the merger of two companies which usually have complementary products or services in order to cover a larger part of the market share. As a result, Martinez Corporation should apply the joint venture strategy by making a partnership with an architecture firm. By joining these two kinds of companies two business segments will be covered.This is a very good strategy because the future clients will have to sign only one contract and not waste time between two or more similar companies. Concerning the strategic fit and the joint venture organization, both the Spanish and the German companies will have to share the same vision in order to make the newly formed company to be profitable. The companies have the major advantage that they can complete each other in the sense of the business environment. This means that the German company will have the experience of working in the German business environment.Furthermore, it could find cheaper and more qualified personnel (as the labor force in Western Germany is more expensive than that in GDR). The jo int venture should be staffed by a full-time joint venture coordinator and other staff – designated by the 2 companies, as may be necessary to carry out the mission of the joint venture. On the other hand, Martinez Corporation comes with the know- how of production and the actual construction knowledge. This way, the structure of the new company shall follow that of the Martinez Company and similar technical prerequisites will be required for hiring of employees.The capital for the new joint venture shall be provided by the two companies in equal shares, as to ensure limited risk exposure and possibilities for further investments. This is also due to the fact that Martinez should vote for an equity joint venture in order to be equal partners and share the same amount of risk. Concerning the organizational structures, this should be a mix between the two companies because, being two companies in two separate business areas, new departments shall arise. In addition, for the com mon departments they should choose the best people after a careful analysis of their skills.

Angels Demons Chapter 9-12

9 The corpse on the floor before Langdon was hideous. The late Leonardo Vetra lay on his back, stripped naked, his skin bluish-gray. His neck bones were jutting out where they had been broken, and his head was twisted completely backward, pointing the wrong way. His face was out of view, pressed against the floor. The man lay in a frozen puddle of his own urine, the hair around his shriveled genitals spidered with frost. Fighting a wave of nausea, Langdon let his eyes fall to the victim's chest. Although Langdon had stared at the symmetrical wound a dozen times on the fax, the burn was infinitely more commanding in real life. The raised, broiled flesh was perfectly delineated†¦ the symbol flawlessly formed. Langdon wondered if the intense chill now raking through his body was the air-conditioning or his utter amazement with the significance of what he was now staring at. Angels & Demons His heart pounded as he circled the body, reading the word upside down, reaffirming the genius of the symmetry. The symbol seemed even less conceivable now that he was staring at it. â€Å"Mr. Langdon?† Langdon did not hear. He was in another world†¦ his world, his element, a world where history, myth, and fact collided, flooding his senses. The gears turned. â€Å"Mr. Langdon?† Kohler's eyes probed expectantly. Langdon did not look up. His disposition now intensified, his focus total. â€Å"How much do you already know?† â€Å"Only what I had time to read on your website. The word Illuminati means ‘the enlightened ones.' It is the name of some sort of ancient brotherhood.† Langdon nodded. â€Å"Had you heard the name before?† â€Å"Not until I saw it branded on Mr. Vetra.† â€Å"So you ran a web search for it?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"And the word returned hundreds of references, no doubt.† â€Å"Thousands,† Kohler said. â€Å"Yours, however, contained references to Harvard, Oxford, a reputable publisher, as well as a list of related publications. As a scientist I have come to learn that information is only as valuable as its source. Your credentials seemed authentic.† Langdon's eyes were still riveted on the body. Kohler said nothing more. He simply stared, apparently waiting for Langdon to shed some light on the scene before them. Langdon looked up, glancing around the frozen flat. â€Å"Perhaps we should discuss this in a warmer place?† â€Å"This room is fine.† Kohler seemed oblivious to the cold. â€Å"We'll talk here.† Langdon frowned. The Illuminati history was by no means a simple one. I'll freeze to death trying to explain it. He gazed again at the brand, feeling a renewed sense of awe. Although accounts of the Illuminati emblem were legendary in modern symbology, no academic had ever actually seen it. Ancient documents described the symbol as an ambigram – ambi meaning â€Å"both† – signifying it was legible both ways. And although ambigrams were common in symbology – swastikas, yin yang, Jewish stars, simple crosses – the idea that a word could be crafted into an ambigram seemed utterly impossible. Modern symbologists had tried for years to forge the word â€Å"Illuminati† into a perfectly symmetrical style, but they had failed miserably. Most academics had now decided the symbol's existence was a myth. â€Å"So who are the Illuminati?† Kohler demanded. Yes, Langdon thought, who indeed? He began his tale. â€Å"Since the beginning of history,† Langdon explained, â€Å"a deep rift has existed between science and religion. Outspoken scientists like Copernicus – â€Å" â€Å"Were murdered,† Kohler interjected. â€Å"Murdered by the church for revealing scientific truths. Religion has always persecuted science.† â€Å"Yes. But in the 1500s, a group of men in Rome fought back against the church. Some of Italy's most enlightened men – physicists, mathematicians, astronomers – began meeting secretly to share their concerns about the church's inaccurate teachings. They feared that the church's monopoly on ‘truth' threatened academic enlightenment around the world. They founded the world's first scientific think tank, calling themselves ‘the enlightened ones.' â€Å" â€Å"The Illuminati.† â€Å"Yes,† Langdon said. â€Å"Europe's most learned minds†¦ dedicated to the quest for scientific truth.† Kohler fell silent. â€Å"Of course, the Illuminati were hunted ruthlessly by the Catholic Church. Only through rites of extreme secrecy did the scientists remain safe. Word spread through the academic underground, and the Illuminati brotherhood grew to include academics from all over Europe. The scientists met regularly in Rome at an ultrasecret lair they called the Church of Illumination.† Kohler coughed and shifted in his chair. â€Å"Many of the Illuminati,† Langdon continued, â€Å"wanted to combat the church's tyranny with acts of violence, but their most revered member persuaded them against it. He was a pacifist, as well as one of history's most famous scientists.† Langdon was certain Kohler would recognize the name. Even nonscientists were familiar with the ill-fated astronomer who had been arrested and almost executed by the church for proclaiming that the sun, and not the earth, was the center of the solar system. Although his data were incontrovertible, the astronomer was severely punished for implying that God had placed mankind somewhere other than at the center of His universe. â€Å"His name was Galileo Galilei,† Langdon said. Kohler looked up. â€Å"Galileo?† â€Å"Yes. Galileo was an Illuminatus. And he was also a devout Catholic. He tried to soften the church's position on science by proclaiming that science did not undermine the existence of God, but rather reinforced it. He wrote once that when he looked through his telescope at the spinning planets, he could hear God's voice in the music of the spheres. He held that science and religion were not enemies, but rather allies – two different languages telling the same story, a story of symmetry and balance†¦ heaven and hell, night and day, hot and cold, God and Satan. Both science and religion rejoiced in God's symmetry†¦ the endless contest of light and dark.† Langdon paused, stamping his feet to stay warm. Kohler simply sat in his wheelchair and stared. â€Å"Unfortunately,† Langdon added, â€Å"the unification of science and religion was not what the church wanted.† â€Å"Of course not,† Kohler interrupted. â€Å"The union would have nullified the church's claim as the sole vessel through which man could understand God. So the church tried Galileo as a heretic, found him guilty, and put him under permanent house arrest. I am quite aware of scientific history, Mr. Langdon. But this was all centuries ago. What does it have to do with Leonardo Vetra?† The million dollar question. Langdon cut to the chase. â€Å"Galileo's arrest threw the Illuminati into upheaval. Mistakes were made, and the church discovered the identities of four members, whom they captured and interrogated. But the four scientists revealed nothing†¦ even under torture.† â€Å"Torture?† Langdon nodded. â€Å"They were branded alive. On the chest. With the symbol of a cross.† Kohler's eyes widened, and he shot an uneasy glance at Vetra's body. â€Å"Then the scientists were brutally murdered, their dead bodies dropped in the streets of Rome as a warning to others thinking of joining the Illuminati. With the church closing in, the remaining Illuminati fled Italy.† Langdon paused to make his point. He looked directly into Kohler's dead eyes. â€Å"The Illuminati went deep underground, where they began mixing with other refugee groups fleeing the Catholic purges – mystics, alchemists, occultists, Muslims, Jews. Over the years, the Illuminati began absorbing new members. A new Illuminati emerged. A darker Illuminati. A deeply anti-Christian Illuminati. They grew very powerful, employing mysterious rites, deadly secrecy, vowing someday to rise again and take revenge on the Catholic Church. Their power grew to the point where the church considered them the single most dangerous anti-Christian force on earth. The Vatican denounced the brotherhood as Shaitan.† â€Å"Shaitan?† â€Å"It's Islamic. It means ‘adversary'†¦ God's adversary. The church chose Islam for the name because it was a language they considered dirty.† Langdon hesitated. â€Å"Shaitan is the root of an English word†¦Satan.† An uneasiness crossed Kohler's face. Langdon's voice was grim. â€Å"Mr. Kohler, I do not know how this marking appeared on this man's chest†¦ or why†¦ but you are looking at the long-lost symbol of the world's oldest and most powerful satanic cult.† 10 The alley was narrow and deserted. The Hassassin strode quickly now, his black eyes filling with anticipation. As he approached his destination, Janus's parting words echoed in his mind. Phase two begins shortly. Get some rest. The Hassassin smirked. He had been awake all night, but sleep was the last thing on his mind. Sleep was for the weak. He was a warrior like his ancestors before him, and his people never slept once a battle had begun. This battle had most definitely begun, and he had been given the honor of spilling first blood. Now he had two hours to celebrate his glory before going back to work. Sleep? There are far better ways to relax†¦ An appetite for hedonistic pleasure was something bred into him by his ancestors. His ascendants had indulged in hashish, but he preferred a different kind of gratification. He took pride in his body – a well-tuned, lethal machine, which, despite his heritage, he refused to pollute with narcotics. He had developed a more nourishing addiction than drugs†¦ a far more healthy and satisfying reward. Feeling a familiar anticipation swelling within him, the Hassassin moved faster down the alley. He arrived at the nondescript door and rang the bell. A view slit in the door opened, and two soft brown eyes studied him appraisingly. Then the door swung open. â€Å"Welcome,† the well-dressed woman said. She ushered him into an impeccably furnished sitting room where the lights were low. The air was laced with expensive perfume and musk. â€Å"Whenever you are ready.† She handed him a book of photographs. â€Å"Ring me when you have made your choice.† Then she disappeared. The Hassassin smiled. As he sat on the plush divan and positioned the photo album on his lap, he felt a carnal hunger stir. Although his people did not celebrate Christmas, he imagined that this is what it must feel like to be a Christian child, sitting before a stack of Christmas presents, about to discover the miracles inside. He opened the album and examined the photos. A lifetime of sexual fantasies stared back at him. Marisa. An Italian goddess. Fiery. A young Sophia Loren. Sachiko. A Japanese geisha. Lithe. No doubt skilled. Kanara. A stunning black vision. Muscular. Exotic. He examined the entire album twice and made his choice. He pressed a button on the table beside him. A minute later the woman who had greeted him reappeared. He indicated his selection. She smiled. â€Å"Follow me.† After handling the financial arrangements, the woman made a hushed phone call. She waited a few minutes and then led him up a winding marble staircase to a luxurious hallway. â€Å"It's the gold door on the end,† she said. â€Å"You have expensive taste.† I should, he thought. I am a connoisseur. The Hassassin padded the length of the hallway like a panther anticipating a long overdue meal. When he reached the doorway he smiled to himself. It was already ajar†¦ welcoming him in. He pushed, and the door swung noiselessly open. When he saw his selection, he knew he had chosen well. She was exactly as he had requested†¦ nude, lying on her back, her arms tied to the bedposts with thick velvet cords. He crossed the room and ran a dark finger across her ivory abdomen. I killed last night, he thought. You are my reward. 11 â€Å"Satanic?† Kohler wiped his mouth and shifted uncomfortably. â€Å"This is the symbol of a satanic cult?† Langdon paced the frozen room to keep warm. â€Å"The Illuminati were satanic. But not in the modern sense.† Langdon quickly explained how most people pictured satanic cults as devil-worshiping fiends, and yet Satanists historically were educated men who stood as adversaries to the church. Shaitan. The rumors of satanic black-magic animal sacrifices and the pentagram ritual were nothing but lies spread by the church as a smear campaign against their adversaries. Over time, opponents of the church, wanting to emulate the Illuminati, began believing the lies and acting them out. Thus, modern Satanism was born. Kohler grunted abruptly. â€Å"This is all ancient history. I want to know how this symbol got here.† Langdon took a deep breath. â€Å"The symbol itself was created by an anonymous sixteenth-century Illuminati artist as a tribute to Galileo's love of symmetry – a kind of sacred Illuminati logo. The brotherhood kept the design secret, allegedly planning to reveal it only when they had amassed enough power to resurface and carry out their final goal.† Kohler looked unsettled. â€Å"So this symbol means the Illuminati brotherhood is resurfacing?† Langdon frowned. â€Å"That would be impossible. There is one chapter of Illuminati history that I have not yet explained.† Kohler's voice intensified. â€Å"Enlighten me.† Langdon rubbed his palms together, mentally sorting through the hundreds of documents he'd read or written on the Illuminati. â€Å"The Illuminati were survivors,† he explained. â€Å"When they fled Rome, they traveled across Europe looking for a safe place to regroup. They were taken in by another secret society†¦ a brotherhood of wealthy Bavarian stone craftsmen called the Freemasons.† Kohler looked startled. â€Å"The Masons?† Langdon nodded, not at all surprised that Kohler had heard of the group. The brotherhood of the Masons currently had over five million members worldwide, half of them residing in the United States, and over one million of them in Europe. â€Å"Certainly the Masons are not satanic,† Kohler declared, sounding suddenly skeptical. â€Å"Absolutely not. The Masons fell victim of their own benevolence. After harboring the fleeing scientists in the 1700s, the Masons unknowingly became a front for the Illuminati. The Illuminati grew within their ranks, gradually taking over positions of power within the lodges. They quietly reestablished their scientific brotherhood deep within the Masons – a kind of secret society within a secret society. Then the Illuminati used the worldwide connection of Masonic lodges to spread their influence.† Langdon drew a cold breath before racing on. â€Å"Obliteration of Catholicism was the Illuminati's central covenant. The brotherhood held that the superstitious dogma spewed forth by the church was mankind's greatest enemy. They feared that if religion continued to promote pious myth as absolute fact, scientific progress would halt, and mankind would be doomed to an ignorant future of senseless holy wars.† â€Å"Much like we see today.† Langdon frowned. Kohler was right. Holy wars were still making headlines. My God is better than your God. It seemed there was always close correlation between true believers and high body counts. â€Å"Go on,† Kohler said. Langdon gathered his thoughts and continued. â€Å"The Illuminati grew more powerful in Europe and set their sights on America, a fledgling government many of whose leaders were Masons – George Washington, Ben Franklin – honest, God-fearing men who were unaware of the Illuminati stronghold on the Masons. The Illuminati took advantage of the infiltration and helped found banks, universities, and industry to finance their ultimate quest.† Langdon paused. â€Å"The creation of a single unified world state – a kind of secular New World Order.† Kohler did not move. â€Å"A New World Order,† Langdon repeated, â€Å"based on scientific enlightenment. They called it their Luciferian Doctrine. The church claimed Lucifer was a reference to the devil, but the brotherhood insisted Lucifer was intended in its literal Latin meaning – bringer of light. Or Illuminator.† Kohler sighed, and his voice grew suddenly solemn. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, please sit down.† Langdon sat tentatively on a frost-covered chair. Kohler moved his wheelchair closer. â€Å"I am not sure I understand everything you have just told me, but I do understand this. Leonardo Vetra was one of CERN's greatest assets. He was also a friend. I need you to help me locate the Illuminati.† Langdon didn't know how to respond. â€Å"Locate the Illuminati?† He's kidding, right? â€Å"I'm afraid, sir, that will be utterly impossible.† Kohler's brow creased. â€Å"What do you mean? You won't – â€Å" â€Å"Mr. Kohler.† Langdon leaned toward his host, uncertain how to make him understand what he was about to say. â€Å"I did not finish my story. Despite appearances, it is extremely unlikely that this brand was put here by the Illuminati. There has been no evidence of their existence for over half a century, and most scholars agree the Illuminati have been defunct for many years.† The words hit silence. Kohler stared through the fog with a look somewhere between stupefaction and anger. â€Å"How the hell can you tell me this group is extinct when their name is seared into this man!† Langdon had been asking himself that question all morning. The appearance of the Illuminati ambigram was astonishing. Symbologists worldwide would be dazzled. And yet, the academic in Langdon understood that the brand's reemergence proved absolutely nothing about the Illuminati. â€Å"Symbols,† Langdon said, â€Å"in no way confirm the presence of their original creators.† â€Å"What is that supposed to mean?† â€Å"It means that when organized philosophies like the Illuminati go out of existence, their symbols remain†¦ available for adoption by other groups. It's called transference. It's very common in symbology. The Nazis took the swastika from the Hindus, the Christians adopted the cruciform from the Egyptians, the – â€Å" â€Å"This morning,† Kohler challenged, â€Å"when I typed the word ‘Illuminati' into the computer, it returned thousands of current references. Apparently a lot of people think this group is still active.† â€Å"Conspiracy buffs,† Langdon replied. He had always been annoyed by the plethora of conspiracy theories that circulated in modern pop culture. The media craved apocalyptic headlines, and self-proclaimed â€Å"cult specialists† were still cashing in on millennium hype with fabricated stories that the Illuminati were alive and well and organizing their New World Order. Recently the New York Times had reported the eerie Masonic ties of countless famous men – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the Duke of Kent, Peter Sellers, Irving Berlin, Prince Philip, Louis Armstrong, as well as a pantheon of well-known modern-day industrialists and banking magnates. Kohler pointed angrily at Vetra's body. â€Å"Considering the evidence, I would say perhaps the conspiracy buffs are correct.† â€Å"I realize how it appears,† Langdon said as diplomatically as he could. â€Å"And yet a far more plausible explanation is that some other organization has taken control of the Illuminati brand and is using it for their own purposes.† â€Å"What purposes? What does this murder prove?† Good question, Langdon thought. He also was having trouble imagining where anyone could have turned up the Illuminati brand after 400 years. â€Å"All I can tell you is that even if the Illuminati were still active today, which I am virtually positive they are not, they would never be involved in Leonardo Vetra's death.† â€Å"No?† â€Å"No. The Illuminati may have believed in the abolition of Christianity, but they wielded their power through political and financial means, not through terrorists acts. Furthermore, the Illuminati had a strict code of morality regarding who they saw as enemies. They held men of science in the highest regard. There is no way they would have murdered a fellow scientist like Leonardo Vetra.† Kohler's eyes turned to ice. â€Å"Perhaps I failed to mention that Leonardo Vetra was anything but an ordinary scientist.† Langdon exhaled patiently. â€Å"Mr. Kohler, I'm sure Leonardo Vetra was brilliant in many ways, but the fact remains – â€Å" Without warning, Kohler spun in his wheelchair and accelerated out of the living room, leaving a wake of swirling mist as he disappeared down a hallway. For the love of God, Langdon groaned. He followed. Kohler was waiting for him in a small alcove at the end of the hallway. â€Å"This is Leonardo's study,† Kohler said, motioning to the sliding door. â€Å"Perhaps when you see it you'll understand things differently.† With an awkward grunt, Kohler heaved, and the door slid open. Langdon peered into the study and immediately felt his skin crawl. Holy mother of Jesus, he said to himself. 12 In another country, a young guard sat patiently before an expansive bank of video monitors. He watched as images flashed before him – live feeds from hundreds of wireless video cameras that surveyed the sprawling complex. The images went by in an endless procession. An ornate hallway. A private office. An industrial-size kitchen. As the pictures went by, the guard fought off a daydream. He was nearing the end of his shift, and yet he was still vigilant. Service was an honor. Someday he would be granted his ultimate reward. As his thoughts drifted, an image before him registered alarm. Suddenly, with a reflexive jerk that startled even himself, his hand shot out and hit a button on the control panel. The picture before him froze. His nerves tingling, he leaned toward the screen for a closer look. The reading on the monitor told him the image was being transmitted from camera #86 – a camera that was supposed to be overlooking a hallway. But the image before him was most definitely not a hallway.

Quotes to Turn to When Youve Been Hurt

Quotes to Turn to When Youve Been Hurt There is an old saying that goes, It is easier to hurt than to heal. Inflicting pain on others to get revenge when youve been hurt might initially seem fulfilling, but it only ends up stoking a bigger fire in your heart. Confrontation is almost never a solution in the long run. Get some insight from these quotes about being hurt. Famous Quotes Albert CamusTo live is to hurt others, and through others, to hurt oneself. Cruel earth! How can we manage not to touch anything? To find what ultimate exile? Robert FulghumPlay fair. Dont hit people. Say youre sorry when you hurt somebody. B. Graham DienertMany people pray as if God were a big aspirin pill; they come only when they hurt. Lillian SmithThe human heart dares not stay away too long from that which hurt it most. There is a return journey to anguish that few of us are released from making. Joanne Kathleen RowlingPoverty is a lot like childbirth you know it is going to hurt before it happens, but youll never know how much until you experience it. Will RogersA remark generally hurts in proportion to its truth. Muhammad AliLife is a gamble. You can get hurt, but people die in plane crashes, lose their arms and legs in car accidents; people die every day. Same with fighters: some die, some get hurt, some go on. You just dont let yourself believe it will happen to you. Carl SandburgAnger is the most impotent of passions. It effects nothing it goes about and hurts the one who is possessed by it more than the one against whom it is directed. Chuck PalahniukThat old saying, how you always hurt the one you love, well, it works both ways. Diego RiveraIf I ever loved a woman, the more I loved her, the more I wanted to hurt her. Frida was only the most obvious victim of this disgusting trait. Penelope SweetDepression is nourished by a lifetime of ungrieved and unforgiven hurts. Jessamyn WestIve done more harm by the falseness of trying to please than by the honesty of trying to hurt. George Bernard ShawCruelty would be delicious if one could only find some sort of cruelty that didnt really hurt. Erma BombeckThere is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt. Mark TwainIt takes your enemy and your friend, working together to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you. Alexis CarrelEveryone makes a greater effort to hurt other people than to help himself. Indian ProverbGreat anger is more destructive than the sword. Henry Wadsworth LongfellowA word that has been said may be unsaid it is but air. But when a deed is done, it cannot be undone, nor can our thoughts reach out to all the mischiefs that may follow. Ecclesiasticus 28:16 (Apocrypha)Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen by the tongue. Chinese ProverbTwo barrels of tears will not heal a bruise.

Phoebus Apollos Partners, Progeny, and Family

Phoebus Apollo's Partners, Progeny, and Family Apollo  is the only principal god who has  the same name in Greek and  Roman  mythology.  He is portrayed as  a blend of physical superiority and moral virtue  and rules over a long list of objects and pursuits, ranging from  the  sun  and light, music and poetry, and healing and plagues to prophecy and knowledge, order and beauty, and archery and agriculture. He would seem to be busy, but he has had time to mate or attempt to mate with a long list of women and some men, siring many children along the way, mostly males. Apollos Women Marpessa: daughter of Euenos. Their offspring was Kleopatra, wife of Meleager, although her father may have been Idas.Chione: daughter of Daedalion. Their son was Philammon, sometimes said to be the son of Philonis.Koronis: daughter of AzanDaphne: daughter of GaiaArsinoe: daughter of Leukippos. Their son was Asklepios (Asclepius).Kassandra (Cassandra)Kyrene: Their son was AristaiosMelia: an Oceanid. Their child was Teneros.Eudne: daughter of Poseidon. Their son was Iamos.Thero: daughter of Phylas. Their child was ChaironPsamathe: daughter of Krotopos. Their son, Linos, was killed by dogs.Philonis: daughter of Deion. Their son, Philammon, was the first man to train choruses of young women, though sometimes his mother is given as Chione.Chrysothemis: Their child, Parthenos, was Apollos only daughter,  who became the constellation Virgo after an early death. Apollos Men Hyakinthos: attested in Ovid Met. 10.162-219Kyparissos: attested in Ovid Met. 10.106-42 The Ones Who Got Away Apollos most famous love was Daphne, a nymph who was vowed to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and chastity, that she would remain eternally innocent. But Apollo fell for her and stalked her until Daphne could take it no more. She asked her father, the river god Peneus, to transform her into something else, and he made her a laurel tree. Apollo swore he would love her forever and from that day he has worn a laurel wreath as a token of his love. In an attempt to seduce the Trojan princess Cassandra, Apollo gave her  the gift of prophecy, but she eventually bailed out. Apollo  wasn’t allowed to recall his gift, but he found a way to spoil it: He took away her  powers of persuasion. So, even though her prophecies are always right, nobody believes her. More About Apollo The meaning of the name Apollo  is debated. Candidates for translations include  destroyer,† â€Å"redemptory,† â€Å"purifier,† â€Å"assembler,† and â€Å"stony.† Most scholars link his  name to the Greek word  apella,  meaning â€Å"a sheepfold† and suggesting that Apollo might originally have been merely a protector of flocks and herds instead of the many-faceted god he became. Apollo is the son of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods,  and Leto, one of Zeus many lovers.  She  incurred the wrath of Hera,  Zeus wife, who sent the dragon Python  after her rival. Apollo is considered the most perfectly developed male.  Beardless and athletically built, he is often depicted with the laurel crown on his head and either a bow and arrow or a lyre in his hands. Resources and Further Reading Gantz, Timothy. Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources. Johns Hopkins University, 1996.â€Å"Apollo, Greek God of the Sun and Light.† GreekMythology.com, 2019.

SWOT Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

SWOT Analysis - Essay Example Valley National Bank (VNB), as one of the leading regional banks, offers better opportunities for professionals in banking for building their career. In the context of opportunities available in Valley National Bank, there are diverse job opportunities such as Benefit Specialists, Branch Sales Manager, Consumer Loans Quality Analyst, Loan Review Manager, Secondary Marketing Manager and Senior Attorney. Valley National Bank presently employs over 56 staff members in a variety of positions. The bank also provides salaries and package benefits to permanent employees. It can also be observed that Valley National Bank provides certain permanent and wide ranging employment positions. Valley National Bank is considered as one of the recognized leaders in financial services due to its outstanding performances, enhanced customer services and diversified products. The bank offers wide ranging products having an asset of over US$16 billion and 211 branches along with a diverse set of customers. There are different benefits offered by the bank in the sector of health and welfare. Moreover, Valley National Bank provides high priority on customer offering services through commercial and wealth management (CareerBuilder, LLC, â€Å"Overview†). ... An association with the bank in a wide range of functionalities and positions would help an individual to growth his/her future by a considerable extent (CareerBuilder LLC, â€Å"Overview†) With these considerations, the paper intends to prepare a SWOT analysis of the organization and comprehend the prevailing employment opportunities for an individual within the premises. SWOT ANALYSIS OF VALLEY NATIONAL BANK Valley National Bank is an association of banking that has been chartered in 1927, within the laws incorporated in the United States. It is headquartered in New Jersey. The bank is operating in around 198 full service offices all over central and northern along with central part of New Jersey and city of New York in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. The bank facilitates a variety of commercial, retail and wealth management services. Other services that are offered by the bank are internet banking, telephones, automatic teller machines facilities of safe and night deposits, letter of credit, foreign exchange and foreign banking account maintenance. The bank provides various affluent services to the customers for 24 hours in a day and for 7 days in a week (Form 10-K, â€Å"Business†) With regard to strengths of the organization i.e. Valley National Bank, it can be stated that the staff and managers in the organization are skillful and the operational activities are handled according to the guidelines of the organization. The managerial skills that are persuaded by management facilitate in maintaining efficiency in the activities performed in the bank. Moreover, it can be observed that the employees who are employed in the bank possess a great learning experience as valuable

Disaster, Climate, Development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Disaster, Climate, Development - Assignment Example Climate change’s effects will continue to be felt despite the prohibition of all greenhouse emissions related to human activity. Development policies should be put in place, to stop activities that cause harm to the environment. Numerous social pressures cause climate disasters such as drought and floods. Poor governance, manipulation of resources and corruption are all drivers. Small Island developing states are at higher risk of climate related disasters. To achieve sustainable Development, activities that result to natural disasters must be stopped. The risk of natural hazards must be put into account in order to achieve sustainable development. Natural disasters result from climate change whose effects are long-term. As a result, infectious diseases emerge and their transmission is rapid due to the many displaced people after the occurrence of natural disasters. In conclusion, trends and events that lead to environmental risks should be stooped. Conservation measures should be incorporated to avoid further destruction of the