Anemia Essay

1. Differentiate between absolute and functional iron deficiency in the context of ACD and IDA. Absolute iron deficiency is when the stores of iron are depleted and bone marrow iron is absent, resulting in low serum ferritin and low transferrin saturation. Simple absolute iron deficiency usually results in iron deficiency anemia and can be resolved with iron supplementation. Functional iron deficiency results in anemia of chronic disease/inflammation, where infections, connective tissue disorders, or other diseases can cause inflammatory cytokines to be released. These inflammatory cytokines inhibit survival of erythroid progenitor cells, reduce EPO production, and cause excess hepcidin production, which decreases the amount of iron absorbed by enterocytes and blocks the release of iron stored in macrophages. In this case, the iron stores in the body are adequate, but are not being released for use, resulting in hypoferremia and creating a pathological basis for ACD. 2. Explain why transferrin levels in the blood are not increased in ACD patients, unlike in IDA patients. Transferrin is a transport protein that is responsible for mediating the exchange of iron between tissues. Most of the iron transferred is derived from the iron stored in the macrophages and not from iron absorbed via the digestive tract. This affects transferrin levels in the blood in ACD because transferrin is a negative acute phase reactant. This means that during an infection or inflammation, the levels of transferrin in the blood decrease as the body tries to minimize the amount of iron accessible to pathogens and sequesters iron within macrophages. Also, most iron-bound transferrin is delivered to the bone marrow for erythropoiesis or tissues for storage, leaving the bloodstream. On the contrary in IDA, transferrin levels in the blood increase because the body is trying to accumulate iron by increasing the level of transferrin. These transferrin proteins aren’t bound to any iron, due to the deficiency, and circulate the bloodstream. 3. Describe the alternative method of assessing or identifying iron deficiency, which we have not discussed in class. The alternative method of  assessing or identifying iron deficiency mentioned in the paper was the use of flow cytometry to measure reticulocyte hemoglobin concentration (CHr). Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells that are only present for 1-2 days and are the most recently produced 1% of the erythrocytes. As such any sort of iron deficiency that affects proper erythropoiesis will be present upon analysis of reticulocyte hemoglobin concentration. Use of CHr as well as serum transferrin receptor levels to form diagnostic plots has been useful in identifying iron-restricted erythropoiesis (functional iron deficiency), regardless of whether or not an infection, an acute phase response, or ACD is concurrent. Thomas C, Thomas L. Biochemical markers and hematologic indices in the diagnosis of functional iron deficiency. Clin Chem. 2002;48:1066-1076. 4. How can iron supplementation work in ACD patients? How is it administered? Any drawbacks? In certain cases of ACD, iron supplementation can be therapeutic. Usually, since ACD is not a true iron deficiency, the anemia is resolved when the underlying condition of disease or inflammation is resolved. However, in some cases where the pathophysiological condition cannot be resolved, hematologists must instead target the issues that cause ACD, namely suppressed EPO production and increased iron sequestration as a result of excess hepcidin production. In the case of suppressed EPO production, iron supplements as well as rhEPO therapy can relieve the symptoms of anemia by inducing erythropoiesis. However, hematologists must also take into account that since excess hepcidin is being produced, the iron is unable to be absorbed via enterocytes, and must be administered intravenously. Because of the intravenous iron infusion, patients with ACD are at a high risk of being overloaded with iron and developing hemochromatosis. Drueke, T. B. â€Å"Intravenous Iron: How Much Is Too Much?† Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 16.10 (2005): 2833-835. 5. How have mouse models of ACD helped in the search for better management of ACD? Mouse models of ACD have helped in the search for better management of  ACD by providing two different methods of curbing excessive hepcidin production in those with ACD. Firstly, an ACD mouse was created by infection with Brucella. This mouse was then treated with a short-hairpin RNA sequence that would bind to the mRNA transcript products of the hepcidin gene. The mouse was found to have significantly less hepcidin concurrent with pre-inflammation levels, alleviating anemic symptoms. Secondly, the scientists were able to develop an anti-hepcidin antibody that would inhibit hepcidin production. They first created a knock-in mouse with a human hepcidin gene and then used the anti-hepcidin antibody as an effective treatment for anemia when used with ESA (similar to EPO in humans). Another mouse study was also able to inhibit a bone morphogenetic protein that is elevated (along with IL-6) in ACD patien ts and responsible for increase in hepcidin production making inhibiting of BMP a possible anemia treatment. Sasu BJ, Cooke KS, Arvedson TL et al. Antihepcidin antibody treatment modulates iron metabolism and is effective in a mouse model of inflammation-induced anemia. Blood. 2010;115:3616-3624. Steinbicker AU, Sachidanandan C, Vonner AJ, et al. Inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein signaling attenuates anemia associated with inflammation. Blood. 2011;117:4915-4923.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 26-29

CHAPTER 26 Professor Langdon?† Sato said. â€Å"You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you okay?† Langdon hoisted his daybag higher onto his shoulder and laid his hand on top of it, as if somehow this might better hide the cube-shaped package he was carrying. He could feel his face had gone ashen. â€Å"I'm . . . just worried about Peter.† Sato cocked her head, eyeing him askew. Langdon felt a sudden wariness that Sato's involvement tonight might relate to this small package that Solomon had entrusted to him. Peter had warned Langdon: Powerful people want to steal this. It would be dangerous in the wrong hands. Langdon couldn't imagine why the CIA would want a little box containing a talisman . . . or even what the talisman could be. Ordo ab chao? Sato stepped closer, her black eyes probing. â€Å"I sense you've had a revelation?† Langdon felt himself sweating now. â€Å"No, not exactly.† â€Å"What's on your mind?† â€Å"I just . . .† Langdon hesitated, having no idea what to say. He had no intention of revealing the existence of the package in his bag, and yet if Sato took him to the CIA, his bag most certainly would be searched on the way in. â€Å"Actually . . .† he fibbed, â€Å"I have another idea about the numbers on Peter's hand.† Sato's expression revealed nothing. â€Å"Yes?† She glanced over at Anderson now, who was just arriving from greeting the forensics team that had finally arrived. Langdon swallowed hard and crouched down beside the hand, wondering what he could possibly come up with to tell them. You're a teacher, Robert–improvise! He took one last look at the seven tiny symbols, hoping for some sort of inspiration. Nothing. Blank. As Langdon's eidetic memory skimmed through his mental encyclopedia of symbols, he could find only one possible point to make. It was something that had occurred to him initially, but had seemed unlikely. At the moment, however, he had to buy time to think. â€Å"Well,† he began, â€Å"a symbologist's first clue that he's on the wrong track when deciphering symbols and codes is when he starts interpreting symbols using multiple symbolic languages. For example, when I told you this text was Roman and Arabic, that was a poor analysis because I used multiple symbolic systems. The same is true for Roman and runic.† Sato crossed her arms and arched her eyebrows as if to say, â€Å"Go on.† â€Å"In general, communications are made in one language, not multiple languages, and so a symbologist's first job with any text is to find a single consistent symbolic system that applies to the entire text.† â€Å"And you see a single system now?† â€Å"Well, yes . . . and no.† Langdon's experience with the rotational symmetry of ambigrams had taught him that symbols sometimes had meanings from multiple angles. In this case, he realized there was indeed a way to view all seven symbols in a single language. â€Å"If we manipulated the hand slightly, the language will become consistent.† Eerily, the manipulation Langdon was about to perform was one that seemed to have been suggested by Peter's captor already when he spoke the ancient Hermetic adage. As above, so below. Langdon felt a chill as he reached out and grasped the wooden base on which Peter's hand was secured. Gently, he turned the base upside down so that Peter's extended fingers were now pointing straight down. The symbols on the palm instantly transformed themselves. â€Å"From this angle,† Langdon said, â€Å"X-I-I-I becomes a valid Roman numeral–thirteen. Moreover, the rest of the characters can be interpreted using the Roman alphabet–SBB.† Langdon assumed the analysis would elicit blank shrugs, but Anderson's expression immediately changed. â€Å"SBB?† the chief demanded. Sato turned to Anderson. â€Å"If I'm not mistaken, that sounds like a familiar numbering system here in the Capitol Building.† Anderson looked pale. â€Å"It is.† Sato gave a grim smile and nodded to Anderson. â€Å"Chief, follow me, please. I'd like a word in private.† As Director Sato led Chief Anderson out of earshot, Langdon stood alone in bewilderment. What the hell is going on here? And what is SBB XIII? Chief Anderson wondered how this night could possibly get any stranger. The hand says SBB13? He was amazed any outsider had even heard of SBB . . . much less SBB13. Peter Solomon's index finger, it seemed, was not directing them upward as it had appeared . . . but rather was pointing in quite the opposite direction. Director Sato led Anderson over to a quiet area near the bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson. â€Å"Chief,† she said, â€Å"I trust you know exactly where SBB Thirteen is located?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Do you know what's inside?† â€Å"No, not without looking. I don't think it's been used in decades.† â€Å"Well, you're going to open it up.† Anderson did not appreciate being told what he would do in his own building. â€Å"Ma'am, that may be problematic. I'll have to check the assignment roster first. As you know, most of the lower levels are private offices or storage, and security protocol regarding private–â€Å" â€Å"You will unlock SBB Thirteen for me,† Sato said, â€Å"or I will call OS and send in a team with a battering ram.† Anderson stared at her a long moment and then pulled out his radio, raising it to his lips. â€Å"This is Anderson. I need someone to unlock the SBB. Have someone meet me there in five minutes.† The voice that replied sounded confused. â€Å"Chief, confirming you said SBB?† â€Å"Correct. SBB. Send someone immediately. And I'll need a flashlight.† He stowed his radio. Anderson's heart was pounding as Sato stepped closer, lowering her voice even further. â€Å"Chief, time is short,† she whispered, â€Å"and I want you to get us down to SBB Thirteen as quickly as possible.† â€Å"Yes, ma'am.† â€Å"I also need something else from you.† In addition to breaking and entering? Anderson was in no position to protest, and yet it had not gone unnoticed by him that Sato had arrived within minutes of Peter's hand appearing in the Rotunda, and that she now was using the situation to demand access to private sections of the U.S. Capitol. She seemed so far ahead of the curve tonight that she was practically defining it. Sato motioned across the room toward the professor. â€Å"The duffel bag on Langdon's shoulder.† Anderson glanced over. â€Å"What about it?† â€Å"I assume your staff X-rayed that bag when Langdon entered the building?† â€Å"Of course. All bags are scanned.† â€Å"I want to see that X-ray. I want to know what's in his bag.† Anderson looked over at the bag Langdon had been carrying all evening. â€Å"But . . . wouldn't it be easier just to ask him?† â€Å"What part of my request was unclear?† Anderson pulled out his radio again and called in her request. Sato gave Anderson her BlackBerry address and requested that his team e-mail her a digital copy of the X-ray as soon as they had located it. Reluctantly Anderson complied. Forensics was now collecting the severed hand for the Capitol Police, but Sato ordered them to deliver it directly to her team at Langley. Anderson was too tired to protest. He had just been run over by a tiny Japanese steamroller. â€Å"And I want that ring,† Sato called over to Forensics. The chief technician seemed ready to question her but thought better of it. He removed the gold ring from Peter's hand, placed it in a clear specimen bag, and gave it to Sato. She slipped it into her jacket pocket, and then turned to Langdon. â€Å"We're leaving, Professor. Bring your things.† â€Å"Where are we going?† Langdon replied. â€Å"Just follow Mr. Anderson.† Yes, Anderson thought, and follow me closely. The SBB was a section of the Capitol that few ever visited. To reach it, they would pass through a sprawling labyrinth of tiny chambers and tight passages buried beneath the crypt. Abraham Lincoln's youngest son, Tad, had once gotten lost down there and almost perished. Anderson was starting to suspect that if Sato had her way, Robert Langdon might suffer a similar fate. CHAPTER 27 Systems security specialist Mark Zoubianis had always prided himself on his ability to multitask. At the moment, he was seated on his futon along with a TV remote, a cordless phone, a laptop, a PDA, and a large bowl of Pirate's Booty. With one eye on the muted Redskins game and one eye on his laptop, Zoubianis was speaking on his Bluetooth headset with a woman he had not heard from in over a year. Leave it to Trish Dunne to call on the night of a play-off game. Confirming her social ineptitude yet again, his former colleague had chosen the Redskins game as a perfect moment to chat him up and request a favor. After some brief small talk about the old days and how she missed his great jokes, Trish had gotten to her point: she was trying to unmask a hidden IP address, probably that of a secure server in the D.C. area. The server contained a small text document, and she wanted access to it . . . or at the very least, some information about whose document it was. Right guy, wrong timing, he had told her. Trish then showered him with her finest geek flattery, most of which was true, and before Zoubianis knew it, he was typing a strange-looking IP address into his laptop. Zoubianis took one look at the number and immediately felt uneasy. â€Å"Trish, this IP has a funky format. It's written in a protocol that isn't even publicly available yet. It's probably gov intel or military.† â€Å"Military?† Trish laughed. â€Å"Believe me, I just pulled a redacted document off this server, and it was not military.† Zoubianis pulled up his terminal window and tried a traceroute. â€Å"You said your traceroute died?† â€Å"Yeah. Twice. Same hop.† â€Å"Mine, too.† He pulled up a diagnostic probe and launched it. â€Å"And what's so interesting about this IP?† â€Å"I ran a delegator that tapped a search engine at this IP and pulled a redacted document. I need to see the rest of the document. I'm happy to pay them for it, but I can't figure out who owns the IP or how to access it.† Zoubianis frowned at his screen. â€Å"Are you sure about this? I'm running a diagnostic, and this firewall coding looks . . . pretty serious.† â€Å"That's why you get the big bucks.† Zoubianis considered it. They'd offered him a fortune for a job this easy. â€Å"One question, Trish. Why are you so hot on this?† Trish paused. â€Å"I'm doing a favor for a friend.† â€Å"Must be a special friend.† â€Å"She is.† Zoubianis chuckled and held his tongue. I knew it. â€Å"Look,† Trish said, sounding impatient. â€Å"Are you good enough to unmask this IP? Yes or no?† â€Å"Yes, I'm good enough. And yes, I know you're playing me like a fiddle.† â€Å"How long will it take you?† â€Å"Not long,† he said, typing as he spoke. â€Å"I should be able to get into a machine on their network within ten minutes or so. Once I'm in and know what I'm looking at, I'll call you back.† â€Å"I appreciate it. So, are you doing well?† Now she asks? â€Å"Trish, for God's sake, you called me on the night of a play-off game and now you want to chat? Do you want me to hack this IP or not?† â€Å"Thanks, Mark. I appreciate it. I'll be waiting for your call.† â€Å"Fifteen minutes.† Zoubianis hung up, grabbed his bowl of Pirate's Booty, and unmuted the game. Women. CHAPTER 28 Where are they taking me? As Langdon hurried with Anderson and Sato into the depths of the Capitol, he felt his heart rate increasing with each downward step. They had begun their journey through the west portico of the Rotunda, descending a marble staircase and then doubling back through a wide doorway into the famous chamber directly beneath the Rotunda floor. The Capitol Crypt. The air was heavier here, and Langdon was already feeling claustrophobic. The crypt's low ceiling and soft uplighting accentuated the robust girth of the forty Doric columns required to support the vast stone floor directly overhead. Relax, Robert. â€Å"This way,† Anderson said, moving quickly as he angled to the left across the wide circular space. Thankfully, this particular crypt contained no bodies. Instead it contained several statues, a model of the Capitol, and a low storage area for the wooden catafalque on which coffins were laid for state funerals. The entourage hurried through, without even a glance at the four-pointed marble compass in the center of the floor where the Eternal Flame had once burned. Anderson seemed to be in a hurry, and Sato once again had her head buried in her BlackBerry. Cellular service, Langdon had heard, was boosted and broadcast to all corners of the Capitol Building to support the hundreds of government phone calls that took place here every day. After diagonally crossing the crypt, the group entered a dimly lit foyer and began winding through a convoluted series of hallways and dead ends. The warren of passages contained numbered doorways, each of which bore an identification number. Langdon read the doors as they snaked their way around. S154 . . . S153 . . . S152 . . . He had no idea what lay behind these doors, but at least one thing now seemed clear–the meaning of the tattoo on Peter Solomon's palm. SBB13 appeared to be a numbered doorway somewhere in the bowels of the U.S. Capitol Building. â€Å"What are all these doorways?† Langdon asked, clutching his daybag tightly to his ribs and wondering what Solomon's tiny package could possibly have to do with a door marked SBB13. â€Å"Offices and storage,† Anderson said. â€Å"Private offices and storage,† he added, glancing back at Sato. Sato did not even glance up from her BlackBerry. â€Å"They look tiny,† Langdon said. â€Å"Glorified closets, most of them, but they're still some of the most sought-after real estate in D.C. This is the heart of the original Capitol, and the old Senate chamber is two stories above us.† â€Å"And SBB Thirteen?† Langdon asked. â€Å"Whose office is that?† â€Å"Nobody's. The SBB is a private storage area, and I must say, I'm puzzled how–â€Å" â€Å"Chief Anderson,† Sato interrupted without looking up from her BlackBerry. â€Å"Just take us there, please.† Anderson clenched his jaw and guided them on in silence through what was now feeling like a hybrid self-storage facility and epic labyrinth. On almost every wall, directional signs pointed back and forth, apparently attempting to locate specific office blocks in this network of hallways. S142 to S152 . . . ST1 to ST70 . . . H1 to H166 & HT1 to HT67 . . . Langdon doubted he could ever find his way out of here alone. This place is a maze. From all he could gather, office numbers began with either an S or an H depending on whether they were on the Senate side of the building or the House side. Areas designated ST and HT were apparently on a level that Anderson called Terrace Level. Still no signs for SBB. Finally they arrived at a heavy steel security door with a key-card entry box. SB Level Langdon sensed they were getting closer. Anderson reached for his key card but hesitated, looking uncomfortable with Sato's demands. â€Å"Chief,† Sato prompted. â€Å"We don't have all night.† Anderson reluctantly inserted his key card. The steel door released. He pushed it open, and they stepped through into the foyer beyond. The heavy door clicked shut behind them. Langdon wasn't sure what he had hoped to see in this foyer, but the sight in front of him was definitely not it. He was staring at a descending stairway. â€Å"Down again?† he said, stopping short. â€Å"There's a level under the crypt?† â€Å"Yes,† Anderson said. â€Å"SB stands for `Senate Basement.' â€Å" Langdon groaned. Terrific. CHAPTER 29 The headlights winding up the SMSC's wooded access road were the first the guard had seen in the last hour. Dutifully, he turned down the volume on his portable TV set and stashed his snacks beneath the counter. Lousy timing. The Redskins were completing their opening drive, and he didn't want to miss it. As the car drew closer, the guard checked the name on the notepad in front of him. Dr. Christopher Abaddon. Katherine Solomon had just called to alert Security of this guest's imminent arrival. The guard had no idea who this doctor might be, but he was apparently very good at doctoring; he was arriving in a black stretch limousine. The long, sleek vehicle rolled to a stop beside the guardhouse, and the driver's tinted window lowered silently. â€Å"Good evening,† the chauffeur said, doffing his cap. He was a powerfully built man with a shaved head. He was listening to the football game on his radio. â€Å"I have Dr. Christopher Abaddon for Ms. Katherine Solomon?† The guard nodded. â€Å"Identification, please.† The chauffeur looked surprised. â€Å"I'm sorry, didn't Ms. Solomon call ahead?† The guard nodded, stealing a glance at the television. â€Å"I'm still required to scan and log visitor identification. Sorry, regulations. I'll need to see the doctor's ID.† â€Å"Not a problem.† The chauffeur turned backward in his seat and spoke in hushed tones through the privacy screen. As he did, the guard stole another peek at the game. The Redskins were breaking from the huddle now, and he hoped to get this limo through before the next play. The chauffeur turned forward again and held out the ID that he'd apparently just received through the privacy screen. The guard took the card and quickly scanned it into his system. The D.C. driver's license showed one Christopher Abaddon from Kalorama Heights. The photo depicted a handsome blond gentleman wearing a blue blazer, a necktie, and a satin pocket square. Who the hell wears a pocket square to the DMV? A muffled cheer went up from the television set, and the guard wheeled just in time to see a Redskins player dancing in the end zone, his finger pointed skyward. â€Å"I missed it,† the guard grumbled, returning to the window. â€Å"Okay,† he said, returning the license to the chauffeur. â€Å"You're all set.† As the limo pulled through, the guard returned to his TV, hoping for a replay. As Mal'akh drove his limo up the winding access road, he couldn't help but smile. Peter Solomon's secret museum had been simple to breach. Sweeter still, tonight was the second time in twenty-four hours that Mal'akh had broken into one of Solomon's private spaces. Last night, a similar visit had been made to Solomon's home. Although Peter Solomon had a magnificent country estate in Potomac, he spent much of his time in the city at his penthouse apartment at the exclusive Dorchester Arms. His building, like most that catered to the super-rich, was a veritable fortress. High walls. Guard gates. Guest lists. Secured underground parking. Mal'akh had driven this very limousine up to the building's guardhouse, doffed his chauffeur's cap from his shaved head, and proclaimed, â€Å"I have Dr. Christopher Abaddon. He is an invited guest of Mr. Peter Solomon.† Mal'akh spoke the words as if he were announcing the Duke of York. The guard checked a log and then Abaddon's ID. â€Å"Yes, I see Mr. Solomon is expecting Dr. Abaddon.† He pressed a button and the gate opened. â€Å"Mr. Solomon is in the penthouse apartment. Have your guest use the last elevator on the right. It goes all the way up.† â€Å"Thank you.† Mal'akh tipped his hat and drove through. As he wound deep into the garage, he scanned for security cameras. Nothing. Apparently, those who lived here were neither the kind of people who broke into cars nor the kind of people who appreciated being watched. Mal'akh parked in a dark corner near the elevators, lowered the divider between the driver's compartment and the passenger compartment, and slithered through the opening into the back of the limo. Once in back, he got rid of his chauffeur's cap and donned his blond wig. Straightening his jacket and tie, he checked the mirror to make sure he had not smeared his makeup. Mal'akh was not about to take any chances. Not tonight. I have waited too long for this. Seconds later, Mal'akh was stepping into the private elevator. The ride to the top was silent and smooth. When the door opened, he found himself in an elegant, private foyer. His host was already waiting. â€Å"Dr. Abaddon, welcome.† Mal'akh looked into the man's famous gray eyes and felt his heart begin to race. â€Å"Mr. Solomon, I appreciate your seeing me.† â€Å"Please, call me Peter.† The two men shook hands. As Mal'akh gripped the older man's palm, he saw the gold Masonic ring on Solomon's hand . . . the same hand that had once aimed a gun at Mal'akh. A voice whispered from Mal'akh's distant past. If you pull that trigger, I will haunt you forever. â€Å"Please come in,† Solomon said, ushering Mal'akh into an elegant living room whose expansive windows offered an astonishing view of the Washington skyline. â€Å"Do I smell tea steeping?† Mal'akh asked as he entered. Solomon looked impressed. â€Å"My parents always greeted guests with tea. I've carried on that tradition.† He led Mal'akh into the living room, where a tea service was waiting in front of the fire. â€Å"Cream and sugar?† â€Å"Black, thank you.† Again Solomon looked impressed. â€Å"A purist.† He poured them both a cup of black tea. â€Å"You said you needed to discuss something with me that was sensitive in nature and could be discussed only in private.† â€Å"Thank you. I appreciate your time.† â€Å"You and I are Masonic brothers now. We have a bond. Tell me how I can help you.† â€Å"First, I would like to thank you for the honor of the thirty-third degree a few months ago. This is deeply meaningful to me.† â€Å"I'm glad, but please know that those decisions are not mine alone. They are by vote of the Supreme Council.† â€Å"Of course.† Mal'akh suspected Peter Solomon had probably voted against him, but within the Masons, as with all things, money was power. Mal'akh, after achieving the thirty-second degree in his own lodge, had waited only a month before making a multimillion-dollar donation to charity in the name of the Masonic Grand Lodge. The unsolicited act of selflessness, as Mal'akh anticipated, was enough to earn him a quick invitation into the elite thirty-third degree. And yet I have learned no secrets. Despite the age-old whispers–â€Å"All is revealed at the thirty-third degree†Ã¢â‚¬â€œMal'akh had been told nothing new, nothing of relevance to his quest. But he had never expected to be told. The inner circle of Freemasonry contained smaller circles still . . . circles Mal'akh would not see for years, if ever. He didn't care. His initiation had served its purpose. Something unique had happened within that Temple Room, and it had given Mal'akh power over all of them. I no longer play by your rules. â€Å"You do realize,† Mal'akh said, sipping his tea, â€Å"that you and I met many years ago.† Solomon looked surprised. â€Å"Really? I don't recall.† â€Å"It was quite a long time ago.† And Christopher Abaddon is not my real name. â€Å"I'm so sorry. My mind must be getting old. Remind me how I know you?† Mal'akh smiled one last time at the man he hated more than any other man on earth. â€Å"It's unfortunate that you don't recall.† In one fluid motion, Mal'akh pulled a small device from his pocket and extended it outward, driving it hard into the man's chest. There was a flash of blue light, the sharp sizzle of the stun- gun discharge, and a gasp of pain as one million volts of electricity coursed through Peter Solomon's body. His eyes went wide, and he slumped motionless in his chair. Mal'akh stood up now, towering over the man, salivating like a lion about to consume his injured prey. Solomon was gasping, straining to breathe. Mal'akh saw fear in his victim's eyes and wondered how many people had ever seen the great Peter Solomon cower. Mal'akh savored the scene for several long seconds. He took a sip of tea, waiting for the man to catch his breath. Solomon was twitching, attempting to speak. â€Å"Wh-why?† he finally managed. â€Å"Why do you think?† Mal'akh demanded. Solomon looked truly bewildered. â€Å"You want . . . money?† Money? Mal'akh laughed and took another sip of tea. â€Å"I gave the Masons millions of dollars; I have no need of wealth.† I come for wisdom, and he offers me wealth. â€Å"Then what . . . do you want?† â€Å"You possess a secret. You will share it with me tonight.† Solomon struggled to lift his chin so he could look Mal'akh in the eye. â€Å"I don't . . . understand.† â€Å"No more lies!† Mal'akh shouted, advancing to within inches of the paralyzed man. â€Å"I know what is hidden here in Washington.† Solomon's gray eyes were defiant. â€Å"I have no idea what you're talking about!† Mal'akh took another sip of tea and set the cup on a coaster. â€Å"You spoke those same words to me ten years ago, on the night of your mother's death.† Solomon's eyes shot wide open. â€Å"You . . . ?† â€Å"She didn't have to die. If you had given me what I demanded . . .† The older man's face contorted in a mask of horrified recognition . . . and disbelief. â€Å"I warned you,† Mal'akh said, â€Å"if you pulled the trigger, I would haunt you forever.† â€Å"But you're–â€Å" Mal'akh lunged, driving the Taser hard into Solomon's chest again. There was another flash of blue light, and Solomon went completely limp. Mal'akh put the Taser back in his pocket and calmly finished his tea. When he was done, he dabbed his lips with a monogrammed linen napkin and peered down at his victim. â€Å"Shall we go?† Solomon's body was motionless, but his eyes were wide and engaged. Mal'akh got down close and whispered in the man's ear. â€Å"I'm taking you to a place where only truth remains.† Without another word, Mal'akh wadded up the monogrammed napkin and stuffed it into Solomon's mouth. Then he hoisted the limp man onto his broad shoulders and headed for the private elevator. On his way out, he picked up Solomon's iPhone and keys from the hall table. Tonight you will tell me all your secrets, Mal'akh thought. Including why you left me for dead all those years ago.

Why College Is Necessary

Why A College Degree is Necessary Posted in General Information An education is something that no one will ever be able to take away from you. It is the best gift that you can give yourself. College usually requires a big financial investment upfront, but the reward is definitely worth it. Over the course of your lifetime, you are likely to pay far less for your college education then you would in earning potential by not having a college education. In simpler terms, a college degree usually equates to more MONEY. In fact, each level of college education that you receive will increase your overall earning potential. In other words, the more education you obtain, the greater your chances are at earning more money. For example, if you decide to pursue a one-year degree in a technical field such as a medical assistant – this will provide you with the opportunity to earn more than you would with just a high school diploma. Similarly, an associate’s degree (or 2 year degree) will give you an opportunity to earn even more money. The same is true for a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Most students begin their careers after obtaining their bachelor’s degree. However, some students decide to remain in school for graduate studies in order to obtain a master’s degree. In some careers, a master’s degree further increases an individual’s earning potential. The Cost of Obtaining Advanced Degrees A lot of students either choose to pursue advanced degrees later on in their career or not at all because of how expensive they can be. For some students, it is important that they complete school so that they can find a job and support themselves and/or their families. However, with the advances in technology and increase in flexible schooling programs, obtaining advanced degrees is becoming more affordable and attainable. With the rise of online degree programs, night classes, and weekend classes, advanced degree seeking individuals are able to go back to school without sacrificing their current careers or family during the process. The â€Å"information age† has made it a lot easier for students to meet their educational and future goals. Education & Careers How will an education help you land that dream job? Well, your level of education will help you get your foot in the door. Most jobs have baseline requirements that typically require a degree in a certain field of study (i. e. accounting, education, psychology, etc. ). Current job trends demonstrate that employers are placing more value on degrees than work experience and if you want to remain competitive with your peers, then you must equip yourself with the proper education. Also, some jobs will offer bonuses or promotions to employees who decide to go back to school to seek an advanced degree, particularly if the advanced degree is related to their current position. Tuition Reimbursement A lot of companies have tuition reimbursement programs. What does this mean? This means that the company will either reimburse you for a portion of your tuition related fees or in some cases, all of your tuition fees. These types of programs prove that employers value education. There is really no wrong reason to get an education. Even if your bachelor’s degree or advanced degree doesn’t fit the specific job that you are applying to, it may still give you a leg up on the competition. A college degree is becoming more and more necessary in today’s competitive job market, so you should take every opportunity that is presented to you to earn a college degree. Taken from the website. http://www. thecollegehelper. com/why-a-college-degree-is-necessary

Museum Visit

The museum was a safe haven for housing art and historical facts of the many cultures all round the world. The Creation Stories at the Michael Carols Museum were fascinating and interesting. My favorite was the â€Å"God Spoke the Earth: Stories of Genesis in Prints and Drawings†. The exhibition was narratives from the book of Genesis. Marc Chloral born in 1889 was a F-ranch artist who traveled to Palestine after a 1930. His work was to illustrate stories from the Old Testament. His Jewish heritage lined up with his immediate connection to the Holy Land.There were many in the Holy Land that spoke his native Yiddish and Russian. His lithograph, The Bible II, found in his 2nd series was an expression to accentuate a narrative to the creation story. The painting was that of blues, grays and subtle yellows that evoked the sense of light, water, earth and life emerging but of the firmament. Chloral depicts Adam pulling the forbidden fruit rather than Eve. His painting put emphasis into the virtues of womanhood and female figures. The female images appear in almost every image of the painting.At this time was Chloral's first exploration into art in a Biblical expression, Hitler came to power over Germany. The Nazi party opposed the work of Chloral and deemed it as a threat to the Western violation. Chloral had a lot at stake being an artist from France exploring Jewish theories. Due to the disapproval, Chloral had to flee to the United States and by the help of an American journalist; he was able to obtain forged Visas to make the journey to the United States. John Waddled Barnes, American artist, born in 1921 and deceased in 2008.His illustrations were in pen and ink wash. His artwork was of the story of Joseph. The art on display was his pieces that reflected the different pieces of Josephs story such as; Jacob interprets the moon devoting son, Joseph, Jacob consoles Rachel, Joseph awake after wedding night, Joseph tries on the coat, Joseph tells dream, Jose ph sojourn in the well, Traveling merchants rescue Joseph, Joseph before the Sphinx, The ladies party, Joseph feels from Potash's wife, Joseph interprets the dream, Meeting of Jacob and Joseph in Egypt. The artwork is beautiful with dark and light colors.The paintings are like sketching that have expressions very felt by the viewer. â€Å"Birth of Cain† was an engraving piece of art by a Dutch artist, Adrian Collars (1560-?1618). This artwork was at a time were the Protestant Reform in North Europe was occurring. The Council of Trend convened between 1545-?1563 in discussing the reform of the Catholic Church. The key topic was on sacred images being permissible only if it didn't mislead or corrupt the viewer. In an order for an imagery to be accepted it should encourage the viewer devotion in connection to scripture.The scenes of Genesis depicted a hard life of God's creations Adam and Eve. The art was to allow the viewer to experience the agony and hardship that Adam and Eve endured outside of paradise. This reflected God's punishment which was painful birth, short life spent in a dangerous and inhospitable land. The ewer was also made aware of the first time an act of violence and malice in the story of Able being murdered by his own brother Cain. Collars wanted the viewer to mediate and have a sense of responsibility and loss that Adam and Eve felt as a result of sin.John Martin (1789-?1854) fourth series print, Adam and Eve hearing the Judgment of the Almighty, was a Mezzanine from 1831. Martin took a series of prints illustrated from the Bible in an effort to repeat the series from that of John Million's Paradise Lost. Adam and Eve were rebuked by God represented by rays of light shining from trees at the right: Have you eaten from the tree of which commanded you not to eat? † (Gene. 1) The Seated Buddha of India Peak period was in black stone. It represented touching the earth calling upon the earth goddess as witness to his ability to attai n enlightenment.The tree above his halo is a branch of the Booth tree under which he has reached the final stage of spiritual advancement. His throne is a typical lion's throne which reflects two lions and an elephant at the base. The Egyptian coffin lid was beautifully detailed. It was from the Egyptian dynasty of 1190- 1075 BC- The coffin was of wood, geese, pigment bronze, calcite (Egyptian alabaster). This was uniquely carved. The artist was very artistic in all aspects of the facial features and the perfect carved hands.Tablet with an account Of a Deluge was from the late Babylonian period of 1699-?1600 BC, Nipper Mesopotamia, of clay. The lower portion of the fragment of the clay tablet was written in Sumerian cruciform script and it relates to a tale of flood that destroyed mankind and it's parallel to the story of Noah in the Bible. I found it fascinating that it reads; â€Å"A flood will I send which will affect all mankind at once. But seek the deliverance before the floo d breaks forth for over all living beings. However, many there are will I bring annihilation, destruction and ruin.

Classical Mythology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Classical Mythology - Essay Example He writes: "As a guiding principle I believe that every poem must be its own sole freshly created universe, and therefore have no belief in 'tradition' or a common myth-kitty... To me the whole of the ancient world, the whole of classical and biblical mythology, means very little, and I think that using them today not only fills poems full of dead spots but dodges the poet's duty to be original." (Larkin 1983:69) Larkin has a right to his view but from what we have witnessed, literature from Renaissance till today is in awe of Greek and Roman mythological characters. And when we discuss mythology, we simply cannot ignore the role played by Homer in reinforcing myths. And one of his key epics dealing with images of classical mythology was Iliad. In this paper, we shall focus on the role of heroism in ancient world with reference to Iliad and how a modern hero borrows from ancient definition of a hero. Homer's Iliad presents the oldest yet most enduring picture of hero and heroism. Who is a hero and what constitutes heroism are questions that Iliad answers but in a manner which may not appeal to modern sensibilities. For us today, hero is a man of who is sensitive, courageous and responsible with compassion for the community. However apart from courage, no other attribute mattered for construction of a heroic figure in Greek epics of ancient times. Homer follows tradition when he creates heroe s and develops a heroic code in his work Iliad but there are occasions where the poet tried to deviate from conventional picture of a hero and from these deviations emerge a new and more reformed image of heroism. A modern day hero borrows from ancient picture of a hero in terms of enduring courage. However a serious distinction must be made here. When we talk about modern hero in this paper, we are only referring to modern mythical heroes like superman and Spiderman and not necessarily heroes in ordinary literature. This distinction is made because while in the ancient plays, heroes were people with extraordinary courage and strength, in modern literature, a protagonist is called a hero and he can be as weak or flawed as any ordinary person. Fishwick explains this difference in these words: "Different ages and cultures vary the heroic personality, but all heroes are true to their age. Whatever their situation, the motives they urge are elementary, the morality they advocate is obvious. History is not very effective without people, and people are ineffective without leaders. The search for heroes is inherent in human nature. Pre-literate societies allow men, heroes, and gods to stand on a footing of tolerable equality. In remote areas of the world men are still deified in their own lifetime. The idea of aloofness in super-human power comes late in history." (Fishwicck, 1954: 3) Homer's ideal hero may have many shades but he is invariably a traditional image of ruthless ambition and unbridled courage at least for most of the epic: "Everywhere can be found, reshaped according to shifting cultural standards, the ideal hero, chevalier sans pear et sans reproached, the crafty hero, the boaster, the grim and aging warrior, the slightly buffoonish hero, the aged king, the warrior virgin, the wise counselor, or the young reckless fighter." (Cedric H. Whitman: p. 26) Homer's heroes most notably, Achilles and Agamemnon were products of a society that weighed a man's worth in terms of public honor.

Recommendation proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Recommendation proposal - Essay Example In this report, I give an explanation on better solution identified by the state welfare committee and present our findings after comparison of substance abuse mental disorder cases in the state. Together with the social welfare committee, we have considered the following solutions: There has been a big increase of substance mental disorder cases over the past couple of years. Excessive drinking of alcohol has been one of the major causes. This increase is attributed to ignorance, violation of rules controlling sale and drinking of alcohol not having effective public sensitization programs on dangers of abusing alcohol and lineament punishment to the offenders. The enforcement of laws that govern alcohol sale and consumption is a major step. This can de enhanced by employing more policemen and giving them relevant patrol facilities. This will deter the law breakers from going against the regulations that control alcohol sale and consumption. More social workers should be employed and trained to educate the public on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. In addition, the social worker should be empowered and facilitated by more training and finances to educate the public. Further, the social workers should innovate more ways to educate and create more forums to sensitize the public. There are bar attendants selling alcohol to patrons which are already drunk to maximize the profit. In addition, others extend the time limits contributing to an increase in excessive alcohol consumption. Laws should be enacted to give stiff penalties to these offenders to deter them violating the law. For the first offenders, the fines should be more and the second offenders’ licenses should be suspended and the offenders jailed. The fines for patron who engage in binge drinking should be more and repeat offenders should be taken to rehabilitation centers. There were 1040 cases of substance abuse mental disorder in 2012. Through recruiting more

Folklore Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Folklore - Assignment Example It also analyses the reason behind the preference of the phrase ‘intangible human heritage’ as opposed to ‘folklore’ by UNESCO in the 2003 Convention. Folklore is a term generally used with reference to traditional human beliefs, superstition, tales, and human practices that have spread or conveyed in a casual manner (informal) – usually orally or through the word of mouth. The term is also relevant when referring to the comparative and comprehensive study of tradition knowledge and human culture, which people also refer to as folkloristic. Folklore encompasses such a wide area of activities carried out by people that it is impossible to categorize it comprehensively. The following is a representative and not an exhaustive list of the genres of folklore. Folktale is usually a fairy tale or narrative among the different forms of traditional oral arts. Folktales have many characteristics that include their oral narration style, their passing on from generation to generation. Their characteristics are reliant on the time and place where a person tells them. The themes of a folktale are usually general and timeless. Often concerned with the common human being; and function to make valid certain aspects of culture. This form of art has a cultural identity, because they possess values and traits of the culture that they originate. There is often exaggeration in the characters of a folktale; they may be either human or animals. They always have a realistic setting. People often used folktales to either entertain or teach a lesson. This was especially true for the African heritage and other cultural communities. The main significance of a myth is to explain the reality of any natural phenomena. They have moral teachings and divine explanations concerning religious practices. The gods or goddesses are usually the focus of most myths. Many regard a myth as