The Lost Symbol Chapter 52-57

CHAPTER 52 Mal'akh could feel the tattooed muscles on his back rippling as he sprinted back around the building toward the open bay door of Pod 5. I must gain access to her lab. Katherine's escape had been unanticipated . . . and problematic. Not only did she know where Mal'akh lived, she now knew his true identity . . . and that he was the one who had invaded their home a decade earlier. Mal'akh had not forgotten that night either. He had come within inches of possessing the pyramid, but destiny had obstructed him. I was not yet ready. But he was ready now. More powerful. More influential. Having endured unthinkable hardship in preparation for his return, Mal'akh was poised tonight to fulfill his destiny at last. He felt certain that before the night was over, he would indeed be staring into the dying eyes of Katherine Solomon. As Mal'akh reached the bay door, he reassured himself that Katherine had not truly escaped; she had only prolonged the inevitable. He slid through the opening and strode confidently across the darkness until his feet hit the carpet. Then he took a right turn and headed for the Cube. The banging on the door of Pod 5 had stopped, and Mal'akh suspected the guard was now trying to remove the dime Mal'akh had jammed into the key panel to render it useless. When Mal'akh reached the door that led into the Cube, he located the outer keypad and inserted Trish's key card. The panel lit up. He entered Trish's PIN and went inside. The lights were all ablaze, and as he moved into the sterile space, he squinted in amazement at the dazzling array of equipment. Mal'akh was no stranger to the power of technology; he performed his own breed of science in the basement of his home, and last night some of that science had borne fruit. The Truth. Peter Solomon's unique confinement–trapped alone in the in-between–had laid bare all of the man's secrets. I can see his soul. Mal'akh had learned certain secrets he anticipated, and others he had not, including the news about Katherine's lab and her shocking discoveries. Science is getting close, Mal'akh had realized. And I will not allow it to light the way for the unworthy. Katherine's work here had begun using modern science to answer ancient philosophical questions. Does anyone hear our prayers? Is there life after death? Do humans have souls? Incredibly, Katherine had answered all of these questions, and more. Scientifically. Conclusively. The methods she used were irrefutable. Even the most skeptical of people would be persuaded by the results of her experiments. If this information were published and made known, a fundamental shift would begin in the consciousness of man. They will start to find their way. Mal'akh's last task tonight, before his transformation, was to ensure that this did not happen. As he moved through the lab, Mal'akh located the data room that Peter had told him about. He peered through the heavy glass walls at the two holographic data-storage units. Exactly as he said they would be. Mal'akh found it hard to imagine that the contents of these little boxes could change the course of human development, and yet Truth had always been the most potent of all the catalysts. Eyeing the holographic storage units, Mal'akh produced Trish's key card and inserted it in the door's security panel. To his surprise, the panel did not light up. Apparently, access to this room was not a trust extended to Trish Dunne. He now reached for the key card he had found in Katherine's lab-coat pocket. When he inserted this one, the panel lit up. Mal'akh had a problem. I never got Katherine's PIN. He tried Trish's PIN, but it didn't work. Stroking his chin, he stepped back and examined the three-inch-thick Plexiglas door. Even with an ax, he knew he would be unable to break through and obtain the drives he needed to destroy. Mal'akh had planned for this contingency, however. Inside the power-supply room, exactly as Peter had described, Mal'akh located the rack holding several metal cylinders resembling large scuba tanks. The cylinders bore the letters LH, the number 2, and the universal symbol for combustible. One of the canisters was connected to the lab's hydrogen fuel cell. Mal'akh left one canister connected and carefully heaved one of the reserve cylinders down onto a dolly beside the rack. Then he rolled the cylinder out of the power-supply room, across the lab, to the Plexiglas door of the data-storage room. Although this location would certainly be plenty close enough, he had noticed one weakness in the heavy Plexiglas door–the small space between the bottom and the jamb. At the threshold, he carefully laid the canister on its side and slid the flexible rubber tube beneath the door. It took him a moment to remove the safety seals and access the cylinder's valve, but once he did, ever so gently, he uncocked the valve. Through the Plexiglas, he could see the clear, bubbling liquid begin draining out of the tube onto the floor inside the storage room. Mal'akh watched the puddle expand, oozing across the floor, steaming and bubbling as it grew. Hydrogen remained in liquid form only when it was cold, and as it warmed up, it would start to boil off. The resulting gas, conveniently, was even more flammable than the liquid. Remember the Hindenburg. Mal'akh hurried now into the lab and retrieved the Pyrex jug of Bunsen-burner fuel–a viscous, highly flammable, yet noncombustible oil. He carried it to the Plexiglas door, pleased to see the liquid hydrogen canister was still draining, the puddle of boiling liquid inside the data-storage room now covering the entire floor, encircling the pedestals that supported the holographic storage units. A whitish mist now rose from the boiling puddle as the liquid hydrogen began turning to gas . . . filling the small space. Mal'akh raised the jug of Bunsen-burner fuel and squirted a healthy amount on the hydrogen canister, the tubing, and into the small opening beneath the door. Then, very carefully, he began backing out of the lab, leaving an unbroken stream of oil on the floor as he went. The dispatch operator handling 911 calls for Washington, D.C., had been unusually busy tonight. Football, beer, and a full moon, she thought as yet another emergency call appeared on her screen, this one from a gas-station pay phone on the Suitland Parkway in Anacostia. A car accident probably. â€Å"Nine-one-one,† she answered. â€Å"What is your emergency?† â€Å"I was just attacked at the Smithsonian Museum Support Center,† a panicked woman's voice said. â€Å"Please send the police! Forty-two-ten Silver Hill Road!† â€Å"Okay, slow down,† the operator said. â€Å"You need to–â€Å" â€Å"I need you to send officers also to a mansion in Kalorama Heights where I think my brother may be held captive!† The operator sighed. Full moon. CHAPTER 53 As I tried to tell you,† Bellamy was saying to Langdon, â€Å"there is more to this pyramid than meets the eye.† Apparently so. Langdon had to admit that the stone pyramid sitting in his unzipped daybag looked much more mysterious to him now. His decryption of the Masonic cipher had rendered a seemingly meaningless grid of letters. Chaos. For a long while, Langdon examined the grid, searching for any hint of meaning within the letters–hidden words, anagrams, clues of any sort–but he found nothing. â€Å"The Masonic Pyramid,† Bellamy explained, â€Å"is said to guard its secrets behind many veils. Each time you pull back a curtain, you face another. You have unveiled these letters, and yet they tell you nothing until you peel back another layer. Of course, the way to do that is known only to the one who holds the capstone. The capstone, I suspect, has an inscription as well, which tells you how to decipher the pyramid.† Langdon glanced at the cube-shaped package on the desk. From what Bellamy had said, Langdon now understood that the capstone and pyramid were a â€Å"segmented cipher†Ã¢â‚¬â€œa code broken into pieces. Modern cryptologists used segmented ciphers all the time, although the security scheme had been invented in ancient Greece. The Greeks, when they wanted to store secret information, inscribed it on a clay tablet and then shattered the tablet into pieces, storing each piece in a separate location. Only when all the pieces were gathered together could the secrets be read. This kind of inscribed clay tablet–called a symbolon–was in fact the origin of the modern word symbol. â€Å"Robert,† Bellamy said, â€Å"this pyramid and capstone have been kept apart for generations, ensuring the secret's safety.† His tone turned rueful. â€Å"Tonight, however, the pieces have come dangerously close. I'm sure I don't have to say this . . . but it is our duty to ensure this pyramid is not assembled.† Langdon found Bellamy's sense of drama to be somewhat overwrought. Is he describing the capstone and pyramid . . . or a detonator and nuclear bomb? He still couldn't quite accept Bellamy's claims, but it hardly seemed to matter. â€Å"Even if this is the Masonic Pyramid, and even if this inscription does somehow reveal the location of ancient knowledge, how could that knowledge possibly impart the kind of power it is said to impart?† â€Å"Peter always told me you were a hard man to convince–an academic who prefers proof to speculation.† â€Å"You're saying you do believe that?† Langdon demanded, feeling impatient now. â€Å"Respectfully . . . you are a modern, educated man. How could you believe such a thing?† Bellamy gave a patient smile. â€Å"The craft of Freemasonry has given me a deep respect for that which transcends human understanding. I've learned never to close my mind to an idea simply because it seems miraculous.† CHAPTER 54 Frantically, the SMSC perimeter patrolman dashed down the gravel pathway that ran along the outside of the building. He'd just received a call from an officer inside saying that the keypad to Pod 5 had been sabotaged, and that a security light indicated that Pod 5's specimen bay door was now open. What the hell is going on?! As he arrived at the specimen bay, sure enough he found the door open a couple of feet. Bizarre, he thought. This can only be unlocked from the inside. He took the flashlight off his belt and shone it into the inky blackness of the pod. Nothing. Having no desire to step into the unknown, he moved only as far as the threshold and then stuck the flashlight through the opening, swinging it to the left, and then to the– Powerful hands seized his wrist and yanked him into the blackness. The guard felt himself being spun around by an invisible force. He smelled ethanol. The flashlight flew out of his hand, and before he could even process what was happening, a rock-hard fist collided with his sternum. The guard crumpled to the cement floor . . . groaning in pain as a large black form stepped away from him. The guard lay on his side, gasping and wheezing for breath. His flashlight lay nearby, its beam spilling across the floor and illuminating what appeared to be a metal can of some sort. The can's label said it was fuel oil for a Bunsen burner. A cigarette lighter sparked, and the orange flame illuminated a vision that hardly seemed human. Jesus Christ! The guard barely had time to process what he was seeing before the bare-chested creature knelt down and touched the flame to the floor. Instantly, a strip of fire materialized, leaping away from them, racing into the void. Bewildered, the guard looked back, but the creature was already slipping out the open bay door into the night. The guard managed to sit up, wincing in pain as his eyes followed the thin ribbon of fire. What the hell?! The flame looked too small to be truly dangerous, and yet now he saw something utterly terrifying. The fire was no longer illuminating only the darkened void. It had traveled all the way to the back wall, where it was now illuminating a massive cinder-block structure. The guard had never been permitted inside Pod 5, but he knew very well what this structure must be. The Cube. Katherine Solomon's lab. The flame raced in a straight line directly to the lab's outer door. The guard clambered to his feet, knowing full well that the ribbon of oil probably continued beneath the lab door . . . and would soon start a fire inside. But as he turned to run for help, he felt an unexpected puff of air sucking past him. For a brief instant, all of Pod 5 was bathed in light. The guard never saw the hydrogen fireball erupting skyward, ripping the roof off Pod 5 and billowing hundreds of feet into the air. Nor did he see the sky raining fragments of titanium mesh, electronic equipment, and droplets of melted silicon from the lab's holographic storage units. Katherine Solomon was driving north when she saw the sudden flash of light in her rearview mirror. A deep rumble thundered through the night air, startling her. Fireworks? she wondered. Do the Redskins have a halftime show? She refocused on the road, her thoughts still on the 911 call she'd placed from the deserted gas station's pay phone. Katherine had successfully convinced the 911 dispatcher to send the police to the SMSC to investigate a tattooed intruder and, Katherine prayed, to find her assistant, Trish. In addition, she urged the dispatcher to check Dr. Abaddon's address in Kalorama Heights, where she thought Peter was being held hostage. Unfortunately, Katherine had been unable to obtain Robert Langdon's unlisted cell-phone number. So now, seeing no other option, she was speeding toward the Library of Congress, where Langdon had told her he was headed. The terrifying revelation of Dr. Abaddon's true identity had changed everything. Katherine had no idea what to believe anymore. All she knew for certain was that the same man who had killed her mother and nephew all those years ago had now captured her brother and had come to kill her. Who is this madman? What does he want? The only answer she could come up with made no sense. A pyramid? Equally confusing was why this man had come to her lab tonight. If he wanted to hurt her, why hadn't he done so in the privacy of his own home earlier today? Why go to the trouble of sending a text message and risk breaking into her lab? Unexpectedly, the fireworks in her rearview mirror grew brighter, the initial flash followed by an unexpected sight–a blazing orange fireball that Katherine could see rising above the tree line. What in the world?! The fireball was accompanied by dark black smoke . . . and it was nowhere near the Redskins' FedEx Field. Bewildered, she tried to determine what industry might be located on the other side of those trees . . . just southeast of the parkway. Then, like an oncoming truck, it hit her. CHAPTER 55 Warren Bellamy stabbed urgently at the buttons on his cell phone, trying again to make contact with someone who could help them, whoever that might be. Langdon watched Bellamy, but his mind was with Peter, trying to figure out how best to find him. Decipher the engraving, Peter's captor had commanded, and it will tell you the hiding place of mankind's greatest treasure . . . We will go together . . . and make our trade. Bellamy hung up, frowning. Still no answer. â€Å"Here's what I don't understand,† Langdon said. â€Å"Even if I could somehow accept that this hidden wisdom exists . . . and that this pyramid somehow points to its underground location . . . what am I looking for? A vault? A bunker?† Bellamy sat quietly for a long moment. Then he gave a reluctant sigh and spoke guardedly. â€Å"Robert, according to what I've heard through the years, the pyramid leads to the entrance of a spiral staircase.† â€Å"A staircase?† â€Å"That's right. A staircase that leads down into the earth . . . many hundreds of feet.† Langdon could not believe what he was hearing. He leaned closer. â€Å"I've heard it said that the ancient wisdom is buried at the bottom.† Robert Langdon stood up and began pacing. A spiral staircase descending hundreds of feet into the earth . . . in Washington, D.C. â€Å"And nobody has ever seen this staircase?† â€Å"Allegedly the entrance has been covered with an enormous stone.† Langdon sighed. The idea of a tomb covered with an enormous stone was right out of the biblical accounts of Jesus' tomb. This archetypal hybrid was the grandfather of them all. â€Å"Warren, do you believe this secret mystical staircase into the earth exists?† â€Å"I've never seen it personally, but a few of the older Masons swear it exists. I was trying to call one of them just now.† Langdon continued pacing, uncertain what to say next. â€Å"Robert, you leave me a difficult task with respect to this pyramid.† Warren Bellamy's gaze hardened in the soft glow of the reading lamp. â€Å"I know of no way to force a man to believe what he does not want to believe. And yet I hope you understand your duty to Peter Solomon.† Yes, I have a duty to help him, Langdon thought. â€Å"I don't need you to believe in the power this pyramid can unveil. Nor do I need you to believe in the staircase it supposedly leads to. But I do need you to believe that you are morally obliged to protect this secret . . . whatever it may be.† Bellamy motioned to the little cube-shaped package. â€Å"Peter entrusted the capstone to you because he had faith you would obey his wishes and keep it secret. And now you must do exactly that, even if it means sacrificing Peter's life.† Langdon stopped short and wheeled around. â€Å"What?!† Bellamy remained seated, his expression pained but resolute. â€Å"It's what he would want. You need to forget Peter. He's gone. Peter did his job, doing the best he could to protect the pyramid. Now it is our job to make sure his efforts were not in vain.† â€Å"I can't believe you're saying this!† Langdon exclaimed, temper flaring. â€Å"Even if this pyramid is everything you say it is, Peter is your Masonic brother. You're sworn to protect him above all else, even your country!† â€Å"No, Robert. A Mason must protect a fellow Mason above all things . . . except one–the great secret our brotherhood protects for all mankind. Whether or not I believe this lost wisdom has the potential that history suggests, I have taken a vow to keep it out of the hands of the unworthy. And I would not give it over to anyone . . . even in exchange for Peter Solomon's life.† â€Å"I know plenty of Masons,† Langdon said angrily, â€Å"including the most advanced, and I'm damned sure these men are not sworn to sacrifice their lives for the sake of a stone pyramid. And I'm also damned sure none of them believes in a secret staircase that descends to a treasure buried deep in the earth.† â€Å"There are circles within circles, Robert. Not everyone knows everything.† Langdon exhaled, trying to control his emotions. He, like everyone, had heard the rumors of elite circles within the Masons. Whether or not it was true seemed irrelevant in the face of this situation. â€Å"Warren, if this pyramid and capstone truly reveal the ultimate Masonic secret, then why would Peter involve me? I'm not even a brother . . . much less part of any inner circle.† â€Å"I know, and I suspect that is precisely why Peter chose you to guard it. This pyramid has been targeted in the past, even by those who infiltrated our brotherhood with unworthy motives. Peter's choice to store it outside the brotherhood was a clever one.† â€Å"Were you aware I had the capstone?† Langdon asked. â€Å"No. And if Peter told anyone at all, it would have been only one man.† Bellamy pulled out his cell phone and hit redial. â€Å"And so far, I've been unable to reach him.† He got a voice-mail greeting and hung up. â€Å"Well, Robert, it looks like you and I are on our own for the moment. And we have a decision to make.† Langdon looked at his Mickey Mouse watch. 9:42 P.M. â€Å"You do realize that Peter's captor is waiting for me to decipher this pyramid tonight and tell him what it says.† Bellamy frowned. â€Å"Great men throughout history have made deep personal sacrifices to protect the Ancient Mysteries. You and I must do the same.† He stood up now. â€Å"We should keep moving. Sooner or later Sato will figure out where we are.† â€Å"What about Katherine?!† Langdon demanded, not wanting to leave. â€Å"I can't reach her, and she never called.† â€Å"Obviously, something happened.† â€Å"But we can't just abandon her!† â€Å"Forget Katherine!† Bellamy said, his voice commanding now. â€Å"Forget Peter! Forget everyone! Don't you understand, Robert, that you've been entrusted with a duty that is bigger than all of us–you, Peter, Katherine, myself?† He locked eyes with Langdon. â€Å"We need to find a safe place to hide this pyramid and capstone far from–â€Å" A loud metallic crash echoed in the direction of the great hall. Bellamy wheeled, eyes filling with fear. â€Å"That was fast.† Langdon turned toward the door. The sound apparently had come from the metal bucket that Bellamy had placed on the ladder blocking the tunnel doors. They're coming for us. Then, quite unexpectedly, the crash echoed again. And again. And again. The homeless man on the bench in front of the Library of Congress rubbed his eyes and watched the strange scene unfolding before him. A white Volvo had just jumped the curb, lurched across the deserted pedestrian walkway, and screeched to a halt at the foot of the library's main entrance. An attractive, dark-haired woman had leaped out, anxiously surveyed the area, and, spotting the homeless man, had shouted, â€Å"Do you have a phone?† Lady, I don't have a left shoe. Apparently realizing as much, the woman dashed up the staircase toward the library's main doors. Arriving at the top of the stairs, she grabbed the handle and tried desperately to open each of the three giant doors. The library's closed, lady. But the woman didn't seem to care. She seized one of the heavy ring-shaped handles, heaved it backward, and let it fall with a loud crash against the door. Then she did it again. And again. And again. Wow, the homeless man thought, she must really need a book. CHAPTER 56 When Katherine Solomon finally saw the massive bronze doors of the library swing open before her, she felt as if an emotional floodgate had burst. All the fear and confusion she had bottled up tonight came pouring through. The figure in the library doorway was Warren Bellamy, a friend and confidant of her brother's. But it was the man behind Bellamy in the shadows whom Katherine felt happiest to see. The feeling was apparently mutual. Robert Langdon's eyes filled with relief as she rushed through the doorway . . . directly into his arms. As Katherine lost herself in the comforting embrace of an old friend, Bellamy closed the front door. She heard the heavy lock click into place, and at last she felt safe. Tears came unexpectedly, but she fought them back. Langdon held her. â€Å"It's okay,† he whispered. â€Å"You're okay.† Because you saved me, Katherine wanted to tell him. He destroyed my lab . . . all my work. Years of research . . . up in smoke. She wanted to tell him everything, but she could barely breathe. â€Å"We'll find Peter.† Langdon's deep voice resonated against her chest, comforting her somehow. â€Å"I promise.† I know who did this! Katherine wanted to yell. The same man who killed my mother and nephew! Before she could explain herself, an unexpected sound broke the silence of the library. The loud crash echoed up from beneath them in a vestibule stairwell–as if a large metal object had fallen on a tile floor. Katherine felt Langdon's muscles stiffen instantly. Bellamy stepped forward, his expression dire. â€Å"We're leaving. Now.† Bewildered, Katherine followed as the Architect and Langdon hurried across the great hall toward the library's famed reading room, which was ablaze with light. Bellamy quickly locked the two sets of doors behind them, first the outer, then the inner. Katherine followed in a daze as Bellamy hustled them both toward the center of the room. The threesome arrived at a reading desk where a leather bag sat beneath a light. Beside the bag, there was a tiny cube-shaped package, which Bellamy scooped up and placed inside the bag, alongside a– Katherine stopped short. A pyramid? Although she had never seen this engraved stone pyramid, she felt her entire body recoil in recognition. Somehow her gut knew the truth. Katherine Solomon had just come face-to-face with the object that had so deeply damaged her life. The pyramid. Bellamy zipped up the bag and handed it to Langdon. â€Å"Don't let this out of your sight.† A sudden explosion rocked the room's outer doors. The tinkling of shattered glass followed. â€Å"This way!† Bellamy spun, looking scared now as he rushed them over to the central circulation desk–eight counters around a massive octagonal cabinet. He guided them in behind the counters and then pointed to an opening in the cabinet. â€Å"Get in there!† â€Å"In there?† Langdon demanded. â€Å"They'll find us for sure!† â€Å"Trust me,† Bellamy said. â€Å"It's not what you think.† CHAPTER 57 Mal'akh gunned his limousine north toward Kalorama Heights. The explosion in Katherine's lab had been bigger than he had anticipated, and he had been lucky to escape unscathed. Conveniently, the ensuing chaos had enabled him to slip out without opposition, powering his limousine past a distracted gate guard who was busy yelling into a telephone. I've got to get off the road, he thought. If Katherine hadn't yet phoned the police, the explosion would certainly draw their attention. And a shirtless man driving a limousine would be hard to miss. After years of preparation, Mal'akh could scarcely believe the night was now upon him. The journey to this moment had been a long, difficult one. What began years ago in misery . . . will end tonight in glory. On the night it all began, he had not had the name Mal'akh. In fact, on the night it all began, he had not had any name at all. Inmate 37. Like most of the prisoners at the brutal Soganlik Prison outside of Istanbul, Inmate 37 was here because of drugs. He had been lying on his bunk in a cement cell, hungry and cold in the darkness, wondering how long he would be incarcerated. His new cellmate, whom he'd met only twenty-four hours ago, was sleeping in the bunk above him. The prison administrator, an obese alcoholic who hated his job and took it out on the inmates, had just killed all the lights for the night. It was almost ten o'clock when Inmate 37 heard the conversation filtering in through the ventilation shaft. The first voice was unmistakably clear–the piercing, belligerent accent of the prison administrator, who clearly did not appreciate being woken up by a late-night visitor. â€Å"Yes, yes, you've come a long way,† he was saying, â€Å"but there are no visitors for the first month. State regulations. No exceptions.† The voice that replied was soft and refined, filled with pain. â€Å"Is my son safe?† â€Å"He is a drug addict.† â€Å"Is he being treated well?† â€Å"Well enough,† the administrator said. â€Å"This is not a hotel.† There was a pained pause. â€Å"You do realize the U.S. State Department will request extradition.† â€Å"Yes, yes, they always do. It will be granted, although the paperwork might take us a couple of weeks . . . or even a month . . . depending.† â€Å"Depending on what?† â€Å"Well,† the administrator said, â€Å"we are understaffed.† He paused. â€Å"Of course, sometimes concerned parties like yourself make donations to the prison staff to help us push things through more quickly.† The visitor did not reply. â€Å"Mr. Solomon,† the administrator continued, lowering his voice, â€Å"for a man like yourself, for whom money is no object, there are always options. I know people in government. If you and I work together, we may be able to get your son out of here . . . tomorrow, with all the charges dropped. He would not even have to face prosecution at home.† The response was immediate. â€Å"Forgetting the legal ramifications of your suggestion, I refuse to teach my son that money solves all problems or that there is no accountability in life, especially in a serious matter like this.† â€Å"You'd like to leave him here?† â€Å"I'd like to speak to him. Right now.† â€Å"As I said, we have rules. Your son is unavailable to you . . . unless you would like to negotiate his immediate release.† A cold silence hung for several moments. â€Å"The State Department will be contacting you. Keep Zachary safe. I expect him on a plane home within the week. Good night.† The door slammed. Inmate 37 could not believe his ears. What kind of father leaves his son in this hellhole in order to teach him a lesson? Peter Solomon had even rejected an offer to clear Zachary's record. It was later that night, lying awake in his bunk, that Inmate 37 had realized how he would free himself. If money was the only thing separating a prisoner from freedom, then Inmate 37 was as good as free. Peter Solomon might not be willing to part with money, but as anyone who read the tabloids knew, his son, Zachary, had plenty of money, too. The next day, Inmate 37 spoke privately to the administrator and suggested a plan–a bold, ingenious scheme that would give them both exactly what they wanted. â€Å"Zachary Solomon would have to die for this to work,† explained Inmate 37. â€Å"But we could both disappear immediately. You could retire to the Greek Islands. You would never see this place again.† After some discussion, the two men shook hands. Soon Zachary Solomon will be dead, Inmate 37 thought, smiling to think how easy it would be. It was two days later that the State Department contacted the Solomon family with the horrific news. The prison snapshots showed their son's brutally bludgeoned body, lying curled and lifeless on the floor of his prison cell. His head had been bashed in by a steel bar, and the rest of him was battered and twisted beyond what was humanly imaginable. He appeared to have been tortured and finally killed. The prime suspect was the prison administrator himself, who had disappeared, probably with all of the murdered boy's money. Zachary had signed papers moving his vast fortune into a private numbered account, which had been emptied immediately following his death. There was no telling where the money was now. Peter Solomon flew to Turkey on a private jet and returned with their son's casket, which they buried in the Solomon family cemetery. The prison administrator was never found. Nor would he be, Inmate 37 knew. The Turk's rotund body was now resting at the bottom of the Sea of Marmara, feeding the blue manna crabs that migrated in through the Bosporus Strait. The vast fortune belonging to Zachary Solomon had all been moved to an untraceable numbered account. Inmate 37 was a free man again–a free man with a massive fortune. The Greek Islands were like heaven. The light. The water. The women. There was nothing money couldn't buy–new identities, new passports, new hope. He chose a Greek name–Andros Dareios–Andros meaning â€Å"warrior,† and Dareios meaning â€Å"wealthy.† The dark nights in prison had frightened him, and Andros vowed never to go back. He shaved off his shaggy hair and shunned the drug world entirely. He began life anew–exploring never- before-imagined sensual pleasures. The serenity of sailing alone on the ink-blue Aegean Sea became his new heroin trance; the sensuality of sucking moist arni souvlakia right off the skewer became his new Ecstasy; and the rush of cliff diving into the foam-filled ravines of Mykonos became his new cocaine. I am reborn. Andros bought a sprawling villa on the island of Syros and settled in among the bella gente in the exclusive town of Possidonia. This new world was a community not only of wealth, but of culture and physical perfection. His neighbors took great pride in their bodies and minds, and it was contagious. The newcomer suddenly found himself jogging on the beach, tanning his pale body, and reading books. Andros read Homer's Odyssey, captivated by the images of powerful bronze men doing battle on these islands. The next day, he began lifting weights, and was amazed to see how quickly his chest and arms grew larger. Gradually, he began to feel women's eyes on him, and the admiration was intoxicating. He longed to grow stronger still. And he did. With the help of aggressive cycles of steroids intermixed with black-market growth hormones and endless hours of weight lifting, Andros transformed himself into something he had never imagined he could be–a perfect male specimen. He grew in bot h height and musculature, developing flawless pectorals and massive, sinewy legs, which he kept perfectly tanned. Everyone was looking now. As Andros had been warned, the heavy steroids and hormones changed not only his body, but also his voice box, giving him an eerie, breathy whisper, which made him feel more mysterious. The soft, enigmatic voice, combined with his new body, his wealth, and his refusal to speak about his mysterious past, served as catnip for the women who met him. They gave themselves willingly, and he satisfied them all–from fashion models visiting his island on photo shoots, to nubile American college girls on vacation, to the lonely wives of his neighbors, to the occasional young man. They could not get enough. I am a masterpiece. As the years passed, however, Andros's sexual adventures began to lose their thrill. As did everything. The island's sumptuous cuisine lost its taste, books no longer held his interest, and even the dazzling sunsets from his villa looked dull. How could this be? He was only in his midtwenties, and yet he felt old. What more is there to life? He had sculpted his body into a masterpiece; he had educated himself and nourished his mind with culture; he had made his home in paradise; and he had the love of anyone he desired. And yet, incredibly, he felt as empty as he had in that Turkish prison. What is it I am missing? The answer had come to him several months later. Andros was sitting alone in his villa, absently surfing channels in the middle of the night, when he stumbled across a program about the secrets of Freemasonry. The show was poorly done, posing more questions than answers, and yet he found himself intrigued by the plethora of conspiracy theories surrounding the brotherhood. The narrator described legend after legend. Freemasons and the New World Order . . . The Great Masonic Seal of the United States . . . The P2 Masonic Lodge . . . The Lost Secret of Freemasonry . . . The Masonic Pyramid . . . Andros sat up, startled. Pyramid. The narrator began recounting the story of a mysterious stone pyramid whose encrypted engraving promised to lead to lost wisdom and unfathomable power. The story, though seemingly implausible, sparked in him a distant memory . . . a faint recollection from a much darker time. Andros remembered what Zachary Solomon had heard from his father about a mysterious pyramid. Could it be? Andros strained to recall the details. When the show ended, he stepped out onto the balcony, letting the cool air clear his mind. He remembered more now, and as it all came back, he began to sense there might be some truth to this legend after all. And if so, then Zachary Solomon–although long dead–still had something to offer. What do I have to lose? Three weeks later, his timing carefully planned, Andros stood in the frigid cold outside the conservatory of the Solomons' Potomac estate. Through the glass, he could see Peter Solomon chatting and laughing with his sister, Katherine. It looks like they've had no trouble forgetting Zachary, he thought. Before he pulled the ski mask over his face, Andros took a hit of cocaine, his first in ages. He felt the familiar rush of fearlessness. He pulled out a handgun, used an old key to unlock the door, and stepped inside. â€Å"Hello, Solomons.† Unfortunately, the night had not gone as Andros had planned. Rather than obtaining the pyramid for which he had come, he found himself riddled with bird shot and fleeing across the snow- covered lawn toward the dense woods. To his surprise, behind him, Peter Solomon was giving chase, pistol glinting in his hand. Andros dashed into the woods, running down a trail along the edge of a deep ravine. Far below, the sounds of a waterfall echoed up through the crisp winter air. He passed a stand of oak trees and rounded a corner to his left. Seconds later, he was skidding to a stop on the icy path, narrowly escaping death. My God! Only feet in front of him, the path ended, plunging straight down into an icy river far below. The large boulder at the side of the path had been carved by the unskilled hand of a child: On the far side of the ravine, the path continued on. So where's the bridge?! The cocaine was no longer working. I'm trapped! Panicking now, Andros turned to flee back up the path, but he found himself facing Peter Solomon, who stood breathless before him, pistol in hand. Andros looked at the gun and took a step backward. The drop behind him was at least fifty feet to an ice-covered river. The mist from the waterfall upstream billowed around them, chilling him to the bone. â€Å"Zach's bridge rotted out long ago,† Solomon said, panting. â€Å"He was the only one who ever came down this far.† Solomon held the gun remarkably steady. â€Å"Why did you kill my son?† â€Å"He was nothing,† Andros replied. â€Å"A drug addict. I did him a favor.† Solomon moved closer, gun aimed directly at Andros's chest. â€Å"Perhaps I should do you the same favor.† His tone was surprisingly fierce. â€Å"You bludgeoned my son to death. How does a man do such a thing?† â€Å"Men do the unthinkable when pushed to the brink.† â€Å"You killed my son!† â€Å"No,† Andros replied, hotly now. â€Å"You killed your son. What kind of man leaves his son in a prison when he has the option to get him out! You killed your son! Not me.† â€Å"You know nothing!† Solomon yelled, his voice filled with pain. You're wrong, Andros thought. I know everything. Peter Solomon drew closer, only five yards away now, gun leveled. Andros's chest was burning, and he could tell he was bleeding badly. The warmth ran down over his stomach. He looked over his shoulder at the drop. Impossible. He turned back to Solomon. â€Å"I know more about you than you think,† he whispered. â€Å"I know you are not the kind of man who kills in cold blood.† Solomon stepped closer, taking dead aim. â€Å"I'm warning you,† Andros said, â€Å"if you pull that trigger, I will haunt you forever.† â€Å"You already will.† And with that, Solomon fired. As he raced his black limousine back toward Kalorama Heights, the one who now called himself Mal'akh reflected on the miraculous events that had delivered him from certain death atop that icy ravine. He had been transformed forever. The gunshot had echoed only for an instant, and yet its effects had reverberated across decades. His body, once tanned and perfect, was now marred by scars from that night . . . scars he kept hidden beneath the tattooed symbols of his new identity. I am Mal'akh. This was my destiny all along. He had walked through fire, been reduced to ashes, and then emerged again . . . transformed once more. Tonight would be the final step of his long and magnificent journey.

Compare and Contrast Essay on Pet Dog or Cat Essay

All over the world, people adopt or purchase animals to serve as pets. People own pets for a variety of reasons, and there are many different animals that can serve as pets. However, two of the most commonly found pets are dogs and cats. Both animals can serve as excellent pets, but depending on the customer, a dog might make a better pet than a cat, or a cat might make a better pet than a dog. In order for a future pet owner to make a choice between investing in a dog or cat, it all comes down to the cost, time, and attention revolving around the two different animals. When investing in a dog or a cat, the customer has to understand that both animals cost money to own. In general, dogs are a more expensive investment. Even in the initial adoption or purchase, a dog usually costs more than a cat. A dog owner has to buy food for their dog to eat twice a day; and the quantity of each meal varies between big dogs and small dogs. In addition, dog vaccinations cost money, as well as different supplies like shampoo to keep dogs clean, and toys to keep dogs happy. If a pet dog gets sick, the owner has to pay money to take the dog to a vet and buy medicine for the animal to get better. If a dog owner goes out of town, he or she usually has to pay money for someone to take care of their dog. Which can end up being expensive because of the amount of time behind taking care of a dog. Just like dog owners, cat owners have to spend money on food for the animal. Cats do not normally eat as much as dogs but still need to be fed two times a day. Cat owners have to buy shots for their cats to keep them healthy as well as purchase different supplies a cat needs to function. Cat owners have to buy a litter box and litter for their cats to use the bathroom. Pet cats and pet dogs both cost money to support, and the cost of investment is different depending on the animal. Along with cost, owning a pet dog or cat requires time out of the owner’s schedule. Both animals need their owner to feed them two times a day and need their owner to make sure they have water. A dog requires a lot of time  from their owner in order to be happy. Dogs need to be let outside or taken on walks a few times everyday in order to use the bathroom. In addition, dog owners must have time to play with their dogs and give their dogs attention. A dog cannot be locked alone inside a house all day, everyday. Dogs also cannot bathe themselves, so whenever they get dirty, dog owners must have time to wash them or they will be living in their own filth. Cats need time from their owners as well; but cats are more independent so do not take as much time out of their owners’ schedule. Cats are fine on their own for long periods of time as long as they have food and water. Cats do not have to be let outside in order to use the bathroom, but cat owners must occasionally find time to clean out a cat’s litter box. In addition, cats are able to groom themselves so they do not have to be bathed on a regular basis. Cat owners do have to find time to trim their cat’s claws whenever they get too long. Both cats and dogs require time out of their owners schedule in order to be happy as a pet. Pet dogs and cats require a certain level of attention from their owners. Dogs enjoy being part of their owners’ lives. Dogs enjoy going on walks and runs with their owners. They also enjoy playing with their owners, which can be done with a simple game of fetch. Dogs do not like being home alone and are excited when their owners come home after being out. A dog owner needs show that he or she loves his or her dog by petting it and giving it enough attention. Dogs are usually very social animals and will show the same amount of love towards its owner as its owner shows towards it. Cats are more independent animals and do not require as much attention as dogs do. However, cats do enjoy being played with and loved on but not to a high extent. Cats enjoy alone time and can still be happy if its owner has a busy schedule. Both animals need attention from their owners, but differ in the amount of attention needed. When investing, the customer must decide if he or she wants to care for a dog or a cat. Each animal requires a different level cost, time, and attention which can be deciding factors on whether to get a dog or cat. Both animals are â€Å"good† pets, but one might be the better pet, depending on the owner.

Marketing Parker Pen Strategy

Parker Pen HistoryGeorge Safford Parker, the founder, had previously been a sales agent for the John Holland Gold Pen Company. He received his first fountain pen related patent in 1889. In 1894 Parker received a patent on his â€Å"Lucky Curve† feed, which was claimed to draw excess ink back into the pen body when the pen was not in use. The Lucky Curve feed was used in various forms until 1928. a Parker Frontier Ball-point Pen From the 1920s to the 1960s, before the development of the ballpoint pen, Parker was either number one or number two in worldwide writing instrument sales.In 1931 Parker created the Quink (â€Å"quick drying ink†) which eliminated the need for blotting. In 1941 the company developed the most widely used model of fountain pen in history (over $400 million worth of sales in its 30 year history) theParker 51. Manufacturing facilities were set up over the years in Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Mexico, USA, Pakistan, India, Germany (Osmia-P arker) and Argentina. Parker pens were frequently selected (often as favorite pens of the signers) to sign important documents such as the World War II armistices, and commemorative editions were sometimes offered.Quink refillsThe company bought retailer and catalog company Norm Thompson in 1973, and then sold it off in 1981. In 1976 Parker acquired Manpower just as the temporary staffing market was surging. In time Manpower provided more revenue than the pen business. A 1982 spinoff, Sintered Specialties, Inc., became SSI Technologies, a manufacturer of automotive sensors. A management buyout in 1987 moved the company headquarters to Newhaven, East Sussex, England which was the original location of the Valentine Pen Company previously acquired by Parker. In 1993 Parker was acquired by the Gillette Company, which already owned the Paper Mate brand, one of the best-selling  disposable ballpoints.Gillette sold the writing instruments division in 2000 toNewell Rubbermaid, whose own S tationery Division, Sanford, became the largest in the world owning such brand names as Rotring, Sharpie, Reynolds as well as Parker, PaperMate, Waterman and Liquid Paper. In July 2009 the 180 workers at Parker Newhaven got notice that the factory was to be shut down and the production moved to France.On 18 August 2009 Newell Rubbermaid Inc. announced that Janesville Wisconsin would close the remaining operations tied to Parker Pen and eliminate 153 jobs. The company said: â€Å"This decision is a response to structural issues accelerated by market trends and is in no way a reflection on the highly valued work performed by our Janesville employees over the years.† Newell Rubbermaid stated it will offer transitional employment services as well as severance benefits. More recently, Parker has abandoned traditional retail outlets in North America. While some Jotter pens may be found in retailers such as Office Depot, what little remains of the Parker line has been moved into ups cale â€Å"luxury† retailers, abandoning the entry level market.SWOTSWOT analysis is a structured planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. A SWOT analysis can be carried out for a product, place, industry or person. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective. The technique is credited to Albert Humphrey, who led a convention at the Stanford Research Institute in the 1960s and 1970s using data from Fortune 500 companies. The degree to which the internal environment of the firm matches with the external environment is expressed by the concept of strategic fit.Mission statementA mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company, organization or person, its reason for existing. The mission statement should guide the  actions of the org anization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making. It provides â€Å"the framework or context within which the company's strategies are formulated.† It's like a goal for what the company wants to do for the world.For most of a century we will design the world's most diverse and innovative range of pens. We shall engineer the most innovative and unique pen the world has ever seen (thus irritating hell out of Sheaffer). Then, decades later, while the Chinese are still making are still making the an authentic version of the pen and selling it for $30, we'll sell a copy of the cheap copies that people made back in the forties and sell it for hundreds of dollars.Vision StatementsVision Statements also define the organizations purpose, but this time they do so in terms of the organization's values rather than bottom line measures (values are guiding beliefs about how things should be done.) The vision statement communicates both the purpose and values of the organization. For employees, it gives direction about how they are expected to behave and inspires them to give their best. Shared with customers, it shapes customers' understanding of why they should work with the organization.Marketing Process Parker Pen selling product: Duofold Premier Sonnet Ingenuity UrbanDuofoldEmblem of excellence Since, 1921 Duofold has been iconic of the stunning craftsmanship and  heritage of Parker. Finished in precious metals, Duofold offers an exceptionally comfortable and luxurious writing experience thanks to its durable solid gold nib. Parker Duofold – the reference in fountain pen.PremierPrestige personified Flawlessly crafted using precious metals and a solid gold nib, Parker Premier is a prestigious, yet still contemporary choice with its modern, all-black design. Comfortable, precise and hand-assembled,Parker Premier offers an exclusive fine writing experienceSonnetPoetry in motion Timeless and elegant, Sonnet is hand assembled a nd checked for flawless quality. The solid gold nib gives high precision and exceptional writing comfort for every occasion, coupled with a stylish and classic design. Available in a range of finishes, the Sonnet  is a work of beauty, emblematic of Parker craftsmanshipInqenuityInnovative design Welcome to the new generation in pens. Innovative and modern, Parker Ingenuity intuitively adapts to your writing style in seconds for an effortlessly smooth, easy glide feeling, thanks to the latest Parker 5THTM Technology. The dynamic, standout design is right on-trend, making it  the perfect accessory to travel with you anywhereUrbanRewriting the RulesUrban's dynamic curved design offers a bold modern look that dares to be noticed. With a stainless steel nib, designed for both left and right hand writers, and Rollerball FreeInk Technology for an effortlessly smooth and confident writing experience, your inspiration is never cut short with Urban.

The Origins of African-American Christianity Essay

The Origins of African-American Christianity - Essay Example Traditional Ibo Religion and Culture written by Olaudah Equiano in the book’s first chapter adequately describes the traditional black religion. He specifically narrates the dichotomy of people involved in this ancient tradition. Hence, the account gives the reader an insight about the set-up of the mentioned African religion. Equiano gives an example that in the Ibo religion, places of worship merit no importance. Yet, he briefly explains that the traditional religion has priests and magicians as superiors of their worship. At the same time, the author expounds this information by explaining the multiple tasks of these religious leaders in the form of traditional witch-doctors (Equiano 14-16). Equiano does not only focus on the key personalities in Ibo religion, he also expounds on their beliefs and the rituals that form a specific culture. He narrates the burial culture of the African people and the accompanying beliefs that they incorporate death with poison (Equiano 17-18) . However, the author gives light to Christianity that the blacks had encountered in America. He mentions the belief in God and the injustice that is created with the slave trade (Equiano 18). African Religions in Colonial Jamaica by Bryan Edwards in the book’s next chapter further expounds the traditional African religion in the American colonies in the Caribbean. Once again, this specific segment brings the reader into the context of slavery where the blacks retain the tradition they had come to know in their native African home. The discourse of Edwards in this portion is indeed simple: he shares to the audience the taboo rituals of the African slaves which is predominant in the Christian lands of the American colonies (Edwards 20-23). How important is the second chapter to the first? Edward’s narrative tends to explain the strength of the African tradition and religion that is presented in the first. It is in this part that he details the culture that has been form ed during the height of the slave trade in the Americas. This chapter solidifies the transposition of the African experience unto foreign soils, thus creating an African Diaspora. The third chapter acts as glue to the first and the second because it discusses the eventual conversion of the African slaves to Christianity. Slave Conversion on the Carolina Frontier by Francis Le Jau is to be considered as the most reliable primary source when it comes to the history of black Christianity in the Americas. This particular account divulges Le Jau’s efforts of converting the native and African Americans in South Carolina to Anglicanism, the state religion of the British Colonial Empire. It explains the primary reason of their utter conversion – the opposition to black slavery and the abuses of the planters. The Reverend’s first hand experiences with the converts gave him an initial view of what America would turn into after the British rule – a society of mixed white and black Americans. This chapter also serves as basis for the growth that black Christianity would experience up to the outburst of the American Revolution. As what each chapter has narrated, the reader can see the importance narrative development in the respective authors’

Speech Class Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Speech Class Assignment - Essay Example This is evident as the green color is bright as compared to the speaker’s dress choice which is black. If I were to critique the speaker my suggestion would be that she could have dressed in white and a black skirt suit to minimize the dullness of a color. The speaker in speech clip 8 nonverbal communication has minimal eye contact with the audience as most of the time he is reading the points on the computer. His dress code is right for the presentation. The speaker has does not use gestures as his hands are folded backwards. The use of a projector improved the overall presentation. For improvement, I would suggest that the speaker to use gestures in his explanation and keep an eye contact with the audience. It is evident that the attributes of a speaker’s voice such as pace, pitch and volume at their both extremes are negative. An example is when the speaker’s pace is fast, the audience may not get the message in the speech and when it is slow the audience may be bored. I feel president Obama has an exceptional voice as a public figure. His pitch and pace is moderate. Also, Obamas’ articulation of words is clear in his

Application of Electrical Technology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Application of Electrical Technology - Assignment Example In industrial applications, the switchgear is constructed with high-voltage circuit breakers and they may be lined-up together with the transformers in one unitized substation (USS). Switchgear de-energize loads in order to allow work to be done and also to enable clearing of faults downstream power systems. In the construction of protection relays, the current coil of the relay is connected to the secondary current coil of the transformer. Moreover, the secondary voltage coil of the transformer is connected to the voltage coil of the protection relay. When a fault occurs in the circuit feeder, an increased mmf of a current coil of the relay is triggered. The increased mmf closes the normally open contact of the relay that in return closes and completes the DC Trip Coil Circuit. The mmf of the Trip Coil initiates a tripping mechanical movement on the circuit breaker that causes it to isolate the fault. A sub-station refers to a part of an electrical generation, distribution, and transmission that that performs the function of voltage transformation from high to low and vice versa. A power plant refers to an installation that is used for the production of electricity while a power equipment refers to any equipment that is powered by electricity. A ring is an electrical wiring technique that enables the use of wires of smaller diameter than the ones used in the radial circuit, but of equivalent total current. On the other hand, feeders refer to a set of electric conductors that transmit power from the primary distributor centers to secondary distribution centers or branch-circuit distribution centers. An isolation transformer is installed between an AC power source and medical grade equipment in order to protect patients and staff from electric shocks in case faults occur due to the defectiveness of a medical grade equipment or use of a non-medical grade.

Powerpoint is Evil Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Powerpoint is Evil - Assignment Example PowerPoint, just like any other piece of technology, helps enhance learning and how students relate with their teachers and interact with content. Teacher-centered uses of technology are not as effective as student-centered ones. Student centered technology allows students to be more creative and view content in new ways. For example, in the NPR program, one of the teachers notes that PowerPoint has enabled her students to retell the story in new perspectives. With teacher-centered technology, the teacher is still in charge of learning, and this does not really change it from the traditional teacher-centric classroom. One of the most important aspects of the student-centered uses of technology is that it allows the learner to organize his activities, thereby making the student responsible for his own learning. PowerPoint, for instance, can help students organize their information in new and exciting ways that are appreciated by both the student himself and the teacher. Through student-centered technology, learners will be in a position to build connections with the various materials that have been covered in class. As noted in the NPR program for instance, PowerPoint allows students to bring together information from a variety of sources. Student-centered use of technology is thus

Contemporary Issues in Corrections Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Contemporary Issues in Corrections - Assignment Example Developed in 1990, the theory of RNR incorporates criminal conduct psychology into an understanding of reducing recidivism (Andrews & Bonta, 2006). From this concept, four principles are derived on which the evaluation and treatment of offenders are guided towards rehabilitative objectives and also reduce the risk of recidivistic crime to the society. Two of the principles are the risk principle and the need principle (MacKenzie, 2006). This paper will compare and contrast the risk principle and need principle and determine which offenders between the high risk and low risk the probation officers should spend most of their time with. It will further elaborate on what the need principle says about high risk and low risk offenders and show whether there are risk and need tools that may assist probation officers in determining risk levels of offenders. Reviewing literature on offender rehabilitation has shown that program services provided to offenders has reduced recidivism by a mean of 10% in the past two decades (Andrews & Bonta, 2006). Recidivism is understood to be the repeating of undesirable behaviour by offenders even after experiencing its negative consequences. In this sense, it is also in reference to the percentage of rearrested former prisoners for indulging in similar offenses. As stated by the risk principle, programming must be matched to the offenders’ risk level. This implies that high risk or moderate risk individuals need to be prioritized in order to receive more intensive and structured control and treatment programs to optimize outcomes. Similarly, low risk offenders must be prioritized when their criminogenic needs are high. Criminogenic needs are dynamic factors that produce crime and are correlated strongly with risk (MacKenzie, 2006). They are referred to as dynamic because they can be changed and they include an individual’s employment status, use of substances, company kept, antisocial

Plan For a Student and an IEP Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Plan For a Student and an IEP - Term Paper Example Also, included in this plan are the school administrators, students with the appropriate ages, and related services personnel. The Individualized Education Program acts as the foundation of a quality education ground for each child with any form of disability. This paper will come up with a plan that will look to include a child with disabilities in a general class. It will cover some of the characteristics of the disabled child, a list of personnel assigned to the child, and strategies or modifications needed for the child with disabilities to succeed. Finally, it will come up with an Individualized Education Program for this child. A plan for including a child with disabilities in a general class of learners This section will outline a plan that will seek to include a student with disabilities in a general class of students who do not have disabilities. Characteristics There are ten categories of disabilities that might face students. These categories follow as: autism, development delayed, intellectual, sensory, emotional, neurological, communication, specifically learning disability, physical and other health issues (Bateman, 2006). The student in this research is one who suffers physical disabilities issues. A physically disabled person refers to one whose disabilities are as a result of an improper function of any physical part of their body. This could be the legs, eyes, ears, hands among others. A better word of these individuals would be the term disabled. Some of the characteristics of a physically disabled person are as follows: they lack the ability to walk, blindness or their hands might be deformed (Bateman, 2006). This is because some vital part of their physical body parts might not be functioning properly. Personnel assigned to child Major personnel that should be related to these students for them to perform effectively are the school administration, teachers, other students, parents, and guardians. The child also needs to have a committee sta ff representative. Third party personnel include medical practitioners or health care givers whose duties include dealing with the medical, psychological, or health conditions facing the disabled students (Bateman, 2006). After the Individual Education Plan is created and placement is determined, now comes the implementing part. The child's teachers are accountable for implementing all program modifications, educational services or supports as stated by the Individual Education Plans. Schools should have an Individual Education Plan in place at the start of a school year. Initial Individual Education Plans must be created within a month of the resolve of eligibility. The services stated in the pupil’s Individual Education Plan must be provided as soon as possible. This plan follows as: Yearly review The Individual Education Plan team is responsible for carrying out an annual review of the document. This is important in making sure that the student is meeting educational aims or making progress on the standards specified for every objective (Wright, 2010). Acceptance and amendments A formal Individual Education Plan must be signed by a guardian or parent before any of the stated services may start to function. Nevertheless, guardians or parents do not have to sign any document when it is at first planned (Wright, 2010). Technical safeguards School personnel have a duty to issue the parents of this child with a technical safeguard notice,

Materials Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Materials Engineering - Essay Example Many times, efforts would go in vain resulting into honeycombed elements upon removal of the formwork. In conventional concreting process, not only is there a chance of segregation and honeycombing in the concrete structural element, but also, chances that concrete would not even approach certain corners are quite fair causing steel to be exposed to open air and facilitating rusting and hence an altogether loss of strength of the structural member. This together with other difficulties in the preparation of conventional concrete and the exaggerated length of time and effort consumed in vibrating it called for a need to have such a model of concrete that would not require vibration to uniformly reach every corner in the element. Also, vibration was a tedious process and required effort of a large crew that would add a lot to the total cost of concreting. In addition to that, vibrated concrete leads to differential compaction and hence, varying durability along the length of the member . In response to these problems, after years of research and experimentation, engineers came up with such a model of concrete that did not require any vibration and was intrinsically self compacting in nature. Today, use of self compacting concrete is widely employed in structures and elements of dense and complicated reinforcement design. â€Å"Self-compacting concrete was first developed in 1988 to achieve durable concrete structures.† (Okamura and Ouchi, 2003). Because of the manifold enhancement in its performance, self compacting concrete (SCC) is also referred to as high performance concrete (HPC). HPC can be defined as, â€Å"Concrete that meets special performance and uniformity requirements that may not always be obtained using conventional ingredients, normal mixing procedures and typical curing practices.† (American Concrete Institute, 1997). The requirements that ACI refers to include but are not limited to ease of