Monday, December 30, 2019

Othello Persuasive Speech - 1007 Words

Thesis The famous author, Orson Card, once wrote: Welcome to the human race. Nobody controls his own life, Ender. The best you can do is choose to fill the roles given [to] you by good people, by people who love you. So basically, this quote is about following the guidance and advice of your friends, and to do so you basically have to have faith in them. But what happens when the good people ... who love you are actually guiding you in the wrong direction, trying to ruin your life. Im sure for me, and everyone here weve known someone like this. Theyve created drama and theyve torn friendships apart. Just like in our lives and in the case of the play, Othello, Othello didnt have a good person who was looking out for†¦show more content†¦And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks, She loved them most. Act 3 Scene 3 Lines 210-215 Iago is reminding Othello that Desdemona is a good liar and good at deceiving her father who she was supposed to be loyal to. This proves that planted more doubt in Othellos mind, which ultimately led to Iago being responsible for Othellos tragedy. 3. With Iago sowing seeds of doubt in Othellos mind, this also contributed to Othello not being in the right state of mind at the time when he murdered Desdemona. * Othellos mindset was altered mainly due to Othello being manipulated by Iago. Othello trusted Iago and Iago knew what strings to pull. Because of this, Othello wasnt thinking on his own, he was being controlled by Iago. He was acting on somebody elses agenda. * Othello also felt very alone which altered his mindset because of Iagos manipulation. He was betrayed by Desdemona and he could no longer trust Cassio and he felt isolated from everybody else. He was a different person, so he wasnt thinking properly therefore not in the right mindset. * Another reason is because Othellos emotions started to take over and control him. And as a man in the military, his natural reaction was to act quickly and solve the problem. His jealousy had taken over when he killed Desdemona and he wasnt thinking straight therefore not in the right state of mind. ThisShow MoreRelated Othello the Outsider Essay1233 Words   |  5 PagesOthello the Outsider   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shakespeares tragic hero, Othello, was a man whose gifts far outnumbered his weaknesses. On the battlefield, he was accomplished; in his profession, he was highly ranked; and, in his life, he was blissfully married. Despite these great advantages, however, Othellos destiny was ruin. Everything he had so carefully made for himself would be destroyed by one flaw: his fear of remaining an outsider. He feared this fate, yet he harped on it continuously, tearing himselfRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Presentation of Iago, Othello, and Desdemona in Othello834 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Presentation of Iago, Othello, and Desdemona in Othello From the very beginning of the play ‘Othello’ Shakespeare presents the friendship between Iago and Othello as a lie. Shakespeare makes us see that Iago is only pretending to serve Othello for his own ends and following this on, Othello completely trusts Iago and is able to speak in confidence with him. All the way through the play, Shakespeare shapes the audiences response to make us want to likeRead MoreIago : The Rhetorician Conspirator1680 Words   |  7 PagesDavin Truong Professor Bains English Writing 301 11/13/14 Iago: The Rhetorician Conspirator In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the antagonist Iago is arguably the most heinous villain in all of literature. His ability to shape shift in and out of character is what makes him unique. His tactics are similar to that of a cold blooded chameleon. Iago’s art of persuasion, his mastery of rhetoric as well as his ability to sense his victims’ insecurities and weaknesses, is what makes him so diabolicallyRead MoreThe Significance of Act 3 Scene 3 of William Shakespeares Othello1606 Words   |  7 PagesThe Significance of Act 3 Scene 3 of William Shakespeares Othello Othello was written by Shakespeare around 1602 and was set 35 years previously to that time (around 1571) during the Elizabethan era. Shakespeare got the idea for the play from the Italian Novella Gli Hecatommithi and only changed minor details slightly. He kept the same plot but some of the characters and themes in the play were very different. The play itself is a tragedy and includes the thingsRead MoreIago, By William Shakespeare1669 Words   |  7 PagesIn William Shakespeare’s Othello, the antagonist Iago is arguably the most heinous villain in all of literature. His ability to shape shift in and out of character is what makes him unique. His tactics are similar to that of a cold blooded chameleon. Iago’s art of persuasion, his mastery of rhetoric as well as his ability to sense his victims’ insecurities and weaknesses, is what makes him so diabolically ruthless. Throughout the play, one can truly see the power of words and their delivery,Read MoreThe Power of Words Essay examples2252 Words   |  10 PagesHistorically, the villains in Shakespeare’s plays, Othello in particular, derive much of their power from their ability to persuade other characters within the play to do anything within the villain’s will using speech as their main tool for exploitation. Shakespeare was a n expert on using language to his advantage in his plays and quite deeply grasped the power of words. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago’s manipulative use of speech is an influential force that drives the play forward and leavesRead MoreAct One Scene 3 of William Shakespeares Othello Essay1008 Words   |  5 PagesAct One Scene 3 of William Shakespeares Othello Referring to the passage in page 155, I have analysed several points in conjunction to background knowledge, in attempt to answer the task set above. Initially, I feel that it is very important to relate to the character of Iago. As a character, Iago has the potential to be a man of extreme power but he does not have the tool that we refer to as money. All that he has is ambition; and he remains malcontent until he attainsRead MorePower of Love in Othello and Pride and Prejudice1908 Words   |  8 PagesCompare and contrast how Shakespeare and Austen present the power of love in Othello and Pride and Prejudice. In order for love to be true it must come from both sides equally. Its power will not be strong enough to overcome all obstacles if its foundation is not pure. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen paints a portrait of the power of love as merely unbreakable whereas Shakespeare arguably portrays it as weak and vulnerable. Both Shakespeare and Austen use dialogue as a tool for the constructionRead MoreThe Character of Iago in William Shakespeare Essay665 Words   |  3 Pagesthe burning loss and product of anger he holds toward Othello. But we have reason to cool our raging motions. Iago chooses his word so delicately, allowing them to sooth Roderigo, and instantly put him in a frame of mind tightly connected to Iagos intentions. Iago leaves Roderigo completely vulnerable, ore stricken of his master plan, as Roderigo Utters It cannot be. Another tact Iago uses in a persuasive manner is the use of instruction, after all he now ownsRead MoreIago As A Great Orator Essay1895 Words   |  8 Pagesand what bars a person from that title. Quintilian might have a hard time labelling Iago based on his outlines for an orator in his â€Å"Institutes of Oratory†. Shakespeare clearly wrote Iago with the intention of embodying vice, anger, and revenge in â€Å"Othello†. However, Iago’s eloquence and rhetorical prowess may be at odds with Quintilian’s manual. Iago proves himself an orator through his ability to speak on any occasion, with success, and bases his rhetoric on imagination and subtlety. On the other

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Federal Minimum Wage Should Be Raised - 877 Words

Recently, the call to raise the Federal minimum wage has gotten stronger. Some states have taken the initiative recently to raise their state minimum wage above the federal guidelines. Currently someone who makes $7.25 an hour working full time under the Federal minimum wage earns $15,080 annually before any taxes are taken out. Critics of the proposal to increase federal minimum wage believe that increased labor costs force businesses to cut jobs to make up for the decrease in profit (Mejeur). However, others believe an increase in federal minimum wage to even $9 an hour would impact 700,000 workers in North Caroline alone and have a positive GDP (Gross Domestic Product) impact of $495 million, which would help to grow the economy nationwide (Schoenbach). The federal minimum wage should be raised so that adults would not need to rely on government assistance programs to live above the poverty line. Raising the federal minimum wage allows individuals to be able to provide for themse lves and their families without the need for some type of government assistance. One report explains that families with workers only earning minimum wage rely on those workers for 59% of the families’ total earnings (Fox). Many people associate minimum wage jobs as starter jobs for high school students, but the reality is that the number of college graduates working in minimum wage jobs has more than doubled over the past five years. The majority of people who are earning minimum wage areShow MoreRelatedShould the Federal Minimum Wage Be Raised?900 Words   |  4 Pagessociety in the United States is complicating whether or not our nation should raise the federal minimum wage. Ranging from researchers who have been studying this incompatible topic throughout their entire lives to amateurs who simply expose their opinions without any logical reasoning to the public are still not able to come to an agreement for a stable minimum wage. Many citizens may assume that increasing the minimum wage, $7.25, an hour, by a couple dollars may not make a significant impact toRead MoreBenefits of Raising the Minimum Wage Essay614 Words   |  3 Pagesemployee who works year-round is less than $16,000 (about $15, 080) according to the current federal minimum wage (Rebuilding). To put into retrospect how out-dated the federal minimum wage is, consider that the minimum wage of 1956 amounted to exactly $7.93 in 2009 (Henderson). How progressive is it that our nation’s workers being paid less today than workers from the 50’s? The federal minimum wage should be raised in order to assist families out of poverty, to ensure the effort and loyalty of workersRead MoreShould Minimum Wage Be Raised?1062 Words   |  5 Pagesever pressing question regarding Minimum wage. Not many subjects can ignite a controversy as quickly as that of whether or not minimum wage should be raised, or by how much should it be raised or if it should remain the same. What is minimum w age? By definition, minimum wage is the minimum hourly wage an employer can pay an employee for work. (â€Å"MinimumWage.com†) America’s minimum wage was first introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. That minimum wage was introduced as part of the FairRead MoreRaising the Minimum Wage, A Speech Outline Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesRaising the minimum wage Introduction I. Attention Getter: Per capita, Idaho is ranked number one in the nation – Number one, when it comes to paying workers as little as possible. II. Topic Orientation: The U.S. Bureau of Labor estimates that 31,000 or 7.7 percent of all Idaho’s workers are paid the current national minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or less. (Maben) A. Idaho has the highest percentage of minimum-wage workers per capita of any state. (Maben) B. The overall povertyRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Raised910 Words   |  4 Pagesmaximize the American Dream on the minimum wage† (Benjamin Todd Jealous). In 1938, minimum wage was created by the federal government in order to protect workers by ensuring a minimum of twenty-five cents per hour worked. Though President Roosevelt had the right idea in protecting the workforce, something needs to be done to ensure that Americans are getting a reasonable amount of money for the amount of hours they have worked. As Benjamin Todd Jealous stated, minimum wage is not enough for the averageRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Raised1395 Words   |  6 PagesIn today’s society, minimum wage is an issue. It’s whether or not it should be raised or lowered. This interests almost everyone due to the fact that everyone wants to make money and the amount should reflect the work and skills that are put in. The minimum wage is a major antijobs policy. First things first, the minimum wage buys a lot less than it used to. Only Congress can adjust the federal minimum wage, and it doesn’t necessarily increase with inflation. As a result, its buying power has diminishedRead MoreMinimum Wage During The Great Depression1419 Words   |  6 PagesThe Minimum Wage Battle In the United States, the minimum wage was passed during the Great Depression in 1938 to protect the buying power of normal workers in a period in which the â€Å"unemployment rate was still a very high 19 percent† (Sklar, 2009, p. 1). Since that time, there has been significant debate about the controversial topic of raising the federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage law was created to eliminate unfair practices of sweat shops and manufacturing companies during this timeRead MoreMinimum Wage Needs A Change1184 Words   |  5 PagesDoherty Ms. Lee English 2 16 May 2017 Minimum Wage Needs A Change According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 14% of the nation lives below the poverty line, the current population is 326,474,013, and 45,706,362 of the population lives in poverty every single day. One of the reasons why such a large chunk of the population is in poverty is because they are not being paid a reasonable salary for them to support themselves and their families. Raising the minimum wage can lead to problems, but gradual increasesRead MoreMinimum Wage Persuasive Essay1106 Words   |  5 Pagesdeserve more than the federal minimum wage? If you said yes then perhaps you are unaware of the many negative effects surrounding a higher minimum wage and after reading this you will be educated on why the minimum wage should not be raised. In the beginning, the minimum wage was created with good intentions. It was originally established in 1938 and was $.25 an hour (Sessions). It was created to make sure that businesses would not take advantage over workers. While the minimum wag e was and still is aRead MoreMinimum Wage and Its Implications763 Words   |  3 PagesMinimum wage affects everyone. The current minimum wage is at $7.25 and President Obama announced that he wished to see a change in the minimum wage, he wants to raise the hourly wage to $10.10. A rise in the income of those who are employed will also raise the cost of hiring unskilled labor and can potentially reduce the number of people hired by businesses. Also, if minimum wage is raised then the price of the products that the companies are making might increase which will continue the cycle of

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Angels Demons Chapter 64-65 Free Essays

64 Langdon and Vittoria’s taxi completed the one-mile sprint up the wide Via della Scrofa in just over a minute. They skidded to a stop on the south side of the Piazza del Popolo just before eight. Not having any lire, Langdon overpaid the driver in U. We will write a custom essay sample on Angels Demons Chapter 64-65 or any similar topic only for you Order Now S. dollars. He and Vittoria jumped out. The piazza was quiet except for the laughter of a handful of locals seated outside the popular Rosati Cafe – a hot spot of the Italian literati. The breeze smelled of espresso and pastry. Langdon was still in shock over his mistake at the Pantheon. With a cursory glance at this square, however, his sixth sense was already tingling. The piazza seemed subtly filled with Illuminati significance. Not only was it laid out in a perfectly elliptical shape, but dead center stood a towering Egyptian obelisk – a square pillar of stone with a distinctively pyramidal tip. Spoils of Rome’s imperial plundering, obelisks were scattered across Rome and referred to by symbologists as â€Å"Lofty Pyramids† – skyward extensions of the sacred pyramidal form. As Langdon’s eyes moved up the monolith, though, his sight was suddenly drawn to something else in the background. Something even more remarkable. â€Å"We’re in the right place,† he said quietly, feeling a sudden exposed wariness. â€Å"Have a look at that.† Langdon pointed to the imposing Porta del Popolo – the high stone archway at the far end of the piazza. The vaulted structure had been overlooking the piazza for centuries. Dead center of the archway’s highest point was a symbolic engraving. â€Å"Look familiar?† Vittoria looked up at the huge carving. â€Å"A shining star over a triangular pile of stones?† Langdon shook his head. â€Å"A source of Illumination over a pyramid.† Vittoria turned, her eyes suddenly wide. â€Å"Like†¦ the Great Seal of the United States?† â€Å"Exactly. The Masonic symbol on the one-dollar bill.† Vittoria took a deep breath and scanned the piazza. â€Å"So where’s this damn church?† The Church of Santa Maria del Popolo stood out like a misplaced battleship, askew at the base of a hill on the southeast corner of the piazza. The eleventh-century stone aerie was made even more clumsy by the tower of scaffolding covering the faà §ade. Langdon’s thoughts were a blur as they raced toward the edifice. He stared up at the church in wonder. Could a murder really be about to take place inside? He wished Olivetti would hurry. The gun felt awkward in his pocket. The church’s front stairs were ventaglio – a welcoming, curved fan – ironic in this case because they were blocked with scaffolding, construction equipment, and a sign warning: Construzzione. Non Entrare Langdon realized that a church closed for renovation meant total privacy for a killer. Not like the Pantheon. No fancy tricks needed here. Only to find a way in. Vittoria slipped without hesitation between the sawhorses and headed up the staircase. â€Å"Vittoria,† Langdon cautioned. â€Å"If he’s still in there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Vittoria did not seem to hear. She ascended the main portico to the church’s sole wooden door. Langdon hurried up the stairs behind her. Before he could say a word she had grasped the handle and pulled. Langdon held his breath. The door did not budge. â€Å"There must be another entrance,† Vittoria said. â€Å"Probably,† Langdon said, exhaling, â€Å"but Olivetti will be here in a minute. It’s too dangerous to go in. We should cover the church from out here until – â€Å" Vittoria turned, her eyes blazing. â€Å"If there’s another way in, there’s another way out. If this guy disappears, we’re fungito.† Langdon knew enough Italian to know she was right. The alley on the right side of the church was pinched and dark, with high walls on both sides. It smelled of urine – a common aroma in a city where bars outnumbered public rest rooms twenty to one. Langdon and Vittoria hurried into the fetid dimness. They had gone about fifteen yards down when Vittoria tugged Langdon’s arm and pointed. Langdon saw it too. Up ahead was an unassuming wooden door with heavy hinges. Langdon recognized it as the standard porta sacra – a private entrance for clergy. Most of these entrances had gone out of use years ago as encroaching buildings and limited real estate relegated side entrances to inconvenient alleyways. Vittoria hurried to the door. She arrived and stared down at the doorknob, apparently perplexed. Langdon arrived behind her and eyed the peculiar donut-shaped hoop hanging where the doorknob should have been. â€Å"An annulus,† he whispered. Langdon reached out and quietly lifted the ring in his hand. He pulled the ring toward him. The fixture clicked. Vittoria shifted, looking suddenly uneasy. Quietly, Langdon twisted the ring clockwise. It spun loosely 360 degrees, not engaging. Langdon frowned and tried the other direction with the same result. Vittoria looked down the remainder of the alley. â€Å"You think there’s another entrance?† Langdon doubted it. Most Renaissance cathedrals were designed as makeshift fortresses in the event a city was stormed. They had as few entrances as possible. â€Å"If there is another way in,† he said, â€Å"it’s probably recessed in the rear bastion – more of an escape route than an entrance.† Vittoria was already on the move. Langdon followed deeper into the alley. The walls shot skyward on both sides of him. Somewhere a bell began ringing eight o’clock†¦ Robert Langdon did not hear Vittoria the first time she called to him. He had slowed at a stained-glass window covered with bars and was trying to peer inside the church. â€Å"Robert!† Her voice was a loud whisper. Langdon looked up. Vittoria was at the end of the alley. She was pointing around the back of the church and waving to him. Langdon jogged reluctantly toward her. At the base of the rear wall, a stone bulwark jutted out concealing a narrow grotto – a kind of compressed passageway cutting directly into the foundation of the church. â€Å"An entrance?† Vittoria asked. Langdon nodded. Actually an exit, but we won’t get technical. Vittoria knelt and peered into the tunnel. â€Å"Let’s check the door. See if it’s open.† Langdon opened his mouth to object, but Vittoria took his hand and pulled him into the opening. â€Å"Wait,† Langdon said. She turned impatiently toward him. Langdon sighed. â€Å"I’ll go first.† Vittoria looked surprised. â€Å"More chivalry?† â€Å"Age before beauty.† â€Å"Was that a compliment?† Langdon smiled and moved past her into the dark. â€Å"Careful on the stairs.† He inched slowly into the darkness, keeping one hand on the wall. The stone felt sharp on his fingertips. For an instant Langdon recalled the ancient myth of Daedelus, how the boy kept one hand on the wall as he moved through the Minotaur’s labyrinth, knowing he was guaranteed to find the end if he never broke contact with the wall. Langdon moved forward, not entirely certain he wanted to find the end. The tunnel narrowed slightly, and Langdon slowed his pace. He sensed Vittoria close behind him. As the wall curved left, the tunnel opened into a semicircular alcove. Oddly, there was faint light here. In the dimness Langdon saw the outline of a heavy wooden door. â€Å"Uh oh,† he said. â€Å"Locked?† â€Å"It was.† â€Å"Was?† Vittoria arrived at his side. Langdon pointed. Lit by a shaft of light coming from within, the door hung ajar†¦ its hinges splintered by a wrecking bar still lodged in the wood. They stood a moment in silence. Then, in the dark, Langdon felt Vittoria’s hands on his chest, groping, sliding beneath his jacket. â€Å"Relax, professor,† she said. â€Å"I’m just getting the gun.† At that moment, inside the Vatican Museums, a task force of Swiss Guards spread out in all directions. The museum was dark, and the guards wore U.S. Marine issue infrared goggles. The goggles made everything appear an eerie shade of green. Every guard wore headphones connected to an antennalike detector that he waved rhythmically in front of him – the same devices they used twice a week to sweep for electronic bugs inside the Vatican. They moved methodically, checking behind statues, inside niches, closets, under furniture. The antennae would sound if they detected even the tiniest magnetic field. Tonight, however, they were getting no readings at all. 65 The interior of Santa Maria del Popolo was a murky cave in the dimming light. It looked more like a half-finished subway station than a cathedral. The main sanctuary was an obstacle course of torn-up flooring, brick pallets, mounds of dirt, wheelbarrows, and even a rusty backhoe. Mammoth columns rose through the floor, supporting a vaulted roof. In the air, silt drifted lazily in the muted glow of the stained glass. Langdon stood with Vittoria beneath a sprawling Pinturicchio fresco and scanned the gutted shrine. Nothing moved. Dead silence. Vittoria held the gun out in front of her with both hands. Langdon checked his watch: 8:04 P.M. We’re crazy to be in here, he thought. It’s too dangerous. Still he knew if the killer were inside, the man could leave through any door he wanted, making a one-gun outside stakeout totally fruitless. Catching him inside was the only way†¦ that was, if he was even still here. Langdon felt guilt-ridden over the blunder that had cost everyone their chance at the Pantheon. He was in no position to insist on precaution now; he was the one who had backed them into this corner. Vittoria looked harrowed as she scanned the church. â€Å"So,† she whispered. â€Å"Where is this Chigi Chapel?† Langdon gazed through the dusky ghostliness toward the back of the cathedral and studied the outer walls. Contrary to common perception, Renaissance cathedrals invariably contained multiple chapels, huge cathedrals like Notre Dame having dozens. Chapels were less rooms than they were hollows – semicircular niches holding tombs around a church’s perimeter wall. Bad news, Langdon thought, seeing the four recesses on each side wall. There were eight chapels in all. Although eight was not a particularly overwhelming number, all eight openings were covered with huge sheets of clear polyurethane due to the construction, the translucent curtains apparently intended to keep dust off the tombs inside the alcoves. â€Å"It could be any of those draped recesses,† Langdon said. â€Å"No way to know which is the Chigi without looking inside every one. Could be a good reason to wait for Oliv – â€Å" â€Å"Which is the secondary left apse?† she asked. Langdon studied her, surprised by her command of architectural terminology. â€Å"Secondary left apse?† Vittoria pointed at the wall behind him. A decorative tile was embedded in the stone. It was engraved with the same symbol they had seen outside – a pyramid beneath a shining star. The grime-covered plaque beside it read: Coat of arms of Alexander Chigi whose tomb is located in the secondary left apse of this Cathedral Langdon nodded. Chigi’s coat of arms was a pyramid and star? He suddenly found himself wondering if the wealthy patron Chigi had been an Illuminatus. He nodded to Vittoria. â€Å"Nice work, Nancy Drew.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Never mind. I – â€Å" A piece of metal clattered to the floor only yards away. The clang echoed through the entire church. Langdon pulled Vittoria behind a pillar as she whipped the gun toward the sound and held it there. Silence. They waited. Again there was sound, this time a rustling. Langdon held his breath. I never should have let us come in here! The sound moved closer, an intermittent scuffling, like a man with a limp. Suddenly around the base of the pillar, an object came into view. â€Å"Figlio di puttana!† Vittoria cursed under her breath, jumping back. Langdon fell back with her. Beside the pillar, dragging a half-eaten sandwich in paper, was an enormous rat. The creature paused when it saw them, staring a long moment down the barrel of Vittoria’s weapon, and then, apparently unmoved, continued dragging its prize off to the recesses of the church. â€Å"Son of a†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Langdon gasped, his heart racing. Vittoria lowered the gun, quickly regaining her composure. Langdon peered around the side of the column to see a workman’s lunchbox splayed on the floor, apparently knocked off a sawhorse by the resourceful rodent. Langdon scanned the basilica for movement and whispered, â€Å"If this guy’s here, he sure as hell heard that. You sure you don’t want to wait for Olivetti?† â€Å"Secondary left apse,† Vittoria repeated. â€Å"Where is it?† Reluctantly Langdon turned and tried to get his bearings. Cathedral terminology was like stage directions – totally counterintuitive. He faced the main altar. Stage center. Then he pointed with his thumb backward over his shoulder. They both turned and looked where he was pointing. It seemed the Chigi Chapel was located in the third of four recessed alcoves to their right. The good news was that Langdon and Vittoria were on the correct side of the church. The bad news was that they were at the wrong end. They would have to traverse the length of the cathedral, passing three other chapels, each of them, like the Chigi Chapel, covered with translucent plastic shrouds. â€Å"Wait,† Langdon said. â€Å"I’ll go first.† â€Å"Forget it.† â€Å"I’m the one who screwed up at the Pantheon.† She turned. â€Å"But I’m the one with the gun.† In her eyes Langdon could see what she was really thinking†¦ I’m the one who lost my father. I’m the one who helped build a weapon of mass destruction. This guy’s kneecaps are mine†¦ Langdon sensed the futility and let her go. He moved beside her, cautiously, down the east side of the basilica. As they passed the first shrouded alcove, Langdon felt taut, like a contestant on some surreal game show. I’ll take curtain number three, he thought. The church was quiet, the thick stone walls blocking out all hints of the outside world. As they hurried past one chapel after the other, pale humanoid forms wavered like ghosts behind the rustling plastic. Carved marble, Langdon told himself, hoping he was right. It was 8:06 P.M. Had the killer been punctual and slipped out before Langdon and Vittoria had entered? Or was he still here? Langdon was unsure which scenario he preferred. They passed the second apse, ominous in the slowly darkening cathedral. Night seemed to be falling quickly now, accentuated by the musty tint of the stained-glass windows. As they pressed on, the plastic curtain beside them billowed suddenly, as if caught in a draft. Langdon wondered if someone somewhere had opened a door. Vittoria slowed as the third niche loomed before them. She held the gun before her, motioning with her head to the stele beside the apse. Carved in the granite block were two words: Capella Chigi Langdon nodded. Without a sound they moved to the corner of the opening, positioning themselves behind a wide pillar. Vittoria leveled the gun around a corner at the plastic. Then she signaled for Langdon to pull back the shroud. A good time to start praying, he thought. Reluctantly, he reached over her shoulder. As carefully as possible, he began to pull the plastic aside. It moved an inch and then crinkled loudly. They both froze. Silence. After a moment, moving in slow motion, Vittoria leaned forward and peered through the narrow slit. Langdon looked over her shoulder. For a moment, neither one of them breathed. â€Å"Empty,† Vittoria finally said, lowering the gun. â€Å"We’re too late.† Langdon did not hear. He was in awe, transported for an instant to another world. In his life, he had never imagined a chapel that looked like this. Finished entirely in chestnut marble, the Chigi Chapel was breathtaking. Langdon’s trained eye devoured it in gulps. It was as earthly a chapel as Langdon could fathom, almost as if Galileo and the Illuminati had designed it themselves. Overhead, the domed cupola shone with a field of illuminated stars and the seven astronomical planets. Below that the twelve signs of the zodiac – pagan, earthly symbols rooted in astronomy. The zodiac was also tied directly to Earth, Air, Fire, Water†¦ the quadrants representing power, intellect, ardor, emotion. Earth is for power, Langdon recalled. Farther down the wall, Langdon saw tributes to the Earth’s four temporal seasons – primavera, estate, autunno, inverno. But far more incredible than any of this were the two huge structures dominating the room. Langdon stared at them in silent wonder. It can’t be, he thought. It just can’t be! But it was. On either side of the chapel, in perfect symmetry, were two ten-foot-high marble pyramids. â€Å"I don’t see a cardinal,† Vittoria whispered. â€Å"Or an assassin.† She pulled aside the plastic and stepped in. Langdon’s eyes were transfixed on the pyramids. What are pyramids doing inside a Christian chapel? And incredibly, there was more. Dead center of each pyramid, embedded in their anterior faà §ades, were gold medallions†¦ medallions like few Langdon had ever seen†¦ perfect ellipses. The burnished disks glimmered in the setting sun as it sifted through the cupola. Galileo’s ellipses? Pyramids? A cupola of stars? The room had more Illuminati significance than any room Langdon could have fabricated in his mind. â€Å"Robert,† Vittoria blurted, her voice cracking. â€Å"Look!† Langdon wheeled, reality returning as his eyes dropped to where she was pointing. â€Å"Bloody hell!† he shouted, jumping backward. Sneering up at them from the floor was the image of a skeleton – an intricately detailed, marble mosaic depicting â€Å"death in flight.† The skeleton was carrying a tablet portraying the same pyramid and stars they had seen outside. It was not the image, however, that had turned Langdon’s blood cold. It was the fact that the mosaic was mounted on a circular stone – a cupermento – that had been lifted out of the floor like a manhole cover and was now sitting off to one side of a dark opening in the floor. â€Å"Demon’s hole,† Langdon gasped. He had been so taken with the ceiling he had not even seen it. Tentatively he moved toward the pit. The stench coming up was overwhelming. Vittoria put a hand over her mouth. â€Å"Che puzzo.† â€Å"Effluvium,† Langdon said. â€Å"Vapors from decaying bone.† He breathed through his sleeve as he leaned out over the hole, peering down. Blackness. â€Å"I can’t see a thing.† â€Å"You think anybody’s down there?† â€Å"No way to know.† Vittoria motioned to the far side of the hole where a rotting, wooden ladder descended into the depths. Langdon shook his head. â€Å"Like hell.† â€Å"Maybe there’s a flashlight outside in those tools.† She sounded eager for an excuse to escape the smell. â€Å"I’ll look.† â€Å"Careful!† Langdon warned. â€Å"We don’t know for sure that the Hassassin – â€Å" But Vittoria was already gone. One strong-willed woman, Langdon thought. As he turned back to the pit, he felt light-headed from the fumes. Holding his breath, he dropped his head below the rim and peered deep into the darkness. Slowly, as his eyes adjusted, he began to see faint shapes below. The pit appeared to open into a small chamber. Demon’s hole. He wondered how many generations of Chigis had been unceremoniously dumped in. Langdon closed his eyes and waited, forcing his pupils to dilate so he could see better in the dark. When he opened his eyes again, a pale muted figure hovered below in the darkness. Langdon shivered but fought the instinct to pull out. Am I seeing things? Is that a body? The figure faded. Langdon closed his eyes again and waited, longer this time, so his eyes would pick up the faintest light. Dizziness started to set in, and his thoughts wandered in the blackness. Just a few more seconds. He wasn’t sure if it was breathing the fumes or holding his head at a low inclination, but Langdon was definitely starting to feel squeamish. When he finally opened his eyes again, the image before him was totally inexplicable. He was now staring at a crypt bathed in an eerie bluish light. A faint hissing sound reverberated in his ears. Light flickered on the steep walls of the shaft. Suddenly, a long shadow materialized over him. Startled, Langdon scrambled up. â€Å"Look out!† someone exclaimed behind him. Before Langdon could turn, he felt a sharp pain on the back of his neck. He spun to see Vittoria twisting a lit blowtorch away from him, the hissing flame throwing blue light around the chapel. Langdon grabbed his neck. â€Å"What the hell are you doing?† â€Å"I was giving you some light,† she said. â€Å"You backed right into me.† Langdon glared at the portable blowtorch in her hand. â€Å"Best I could do,† she said. â€Å"No flashlights.† Langdon rubbed his neck. â€Å"I didn’t hear you come in.† Vittoria handed him the torch, wincing again at the stench of the crypt. â€Å"You think those fumes are combustible?† â€Å"Let’s hope not.† He took the torch and moved slowly toward the hole. Cautiously, he advanced to the rim and pointed the flame down into the hole, lighting the side wall. As he directed the light, his eyes traced the outline of the wall downward. The crypt was circular and about twenty feet across. Thirty feet down, the glow found the floor. The ground was dark and mottled. Earthy. Then Langdon saw the body. His instinct was to recoil. â€Å"He’s here,† Langdon said, forcing himself not to turn away. The figure was a pallid outline against the earthen floor. â€Å"I think he’s been stripped naked.† Langdon flashed on the nude corpse of Leonardo Vetra. â€Å"Is it one of the cardinals?† Langdon had no idea, but he couldn’t imagine who the hell else it would be. He stared down at the pale blob. Unmoving. Lifeless. And yet†¦ Langdon hesitated. There was something very strange about the way the figure was positioned. He seemed to be†¦ Langdon called out. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"You think he’s alive?† There was no response from below. â€Å"He’s not moving,† Langdon said. â€Å"But he looks†¦Ã¢â‚¬  No, impossible. â€Å"He looks what?† Vittoria was peering over the edge now too. Langdon squinted into the darkness. â€Å"He looks like he’s standing up.† Vittoria held her breath and lowered her face over the edge for a better look. After a moment, she pulled back. â€Å"You’re right. He’s standing up! Maybe he’s alive and needs help!† She called into the hole. â€Å"Hello?! Mi puo sentire?† There was no echo off the mossy interior. Only silence. Vittoria headed for the rickety ladder. â€Å"I’m going down.† Langdon caught her arm. â€Å"No. It’s dangerous. I’ll go.† This time Vittoria didn’t argue. How to cite Angels Demons Chapter 64-65, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Theory & Current Issues in Accounting

Question: Historical cost accounting and leasing. First question is mandatory and second question can be choose from other two. two questions need to be done from three? Answer: Historical Cost Accounting is the accounting procedure in which the value of the fixed asset acquired by the company continues to be recorded in the balance sheet at its purchase Price / acquisition cost. As per General Accepted accounting Principles (GAAP) historical cost Method has been used to record the asset in the balance sheet. Based on General Accepted accounting principle (GAAP) most of the Asset is recorded in the balance sheet at its original cost although there may be huge change in the value of the Asset overtime. For Example: Say, the Company head office which was bought by the company is recorded in the books of the company at $500,000 in 1945. The same continue to be recorded at $500,000 although there is a huge change in the value of such Land building. The Historical Cost Accounting does not lead the Asset to reflect its true value in the balance sheet. However, as per General Accepted Accounting Principle (GAAP) not all the asset is recorded at historical cost. For example marketable securities which has been recorded in the balance sheet at market value. Further As per AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statement the entity whose functional currency is the currency of hyperinflationary economy needs to disclose the approach adopted by him during the preparation of the financial statement. That is they need to disclose whether Historical cost approach has been followed or current cost approach has been followed in the preparation of the financial statement. (Board, 2009). Historical Cost method is basically followed by the Private sector organization. Accounting Standard of Australia AAS21 also requires the private organization to follow the Historical Cost Method. As per Accounting Standard of Australia AAS 21, all the asset acquire by the entity to be initially recorded in the books of accounts at the original cost plus any expenditure which has been incurred to bring the asset to the present location and condition i.e. to say the incidental expenses also need to be added with the cost of the asset. It has to be noted that when initially the cost has been incurred to purchase the asset, the cost / purchase price of the asset is said to be the current cost but with the passes of time the asset and the cost incurred to bring the asset become history and is known as historical cost. Further, this fact also cannot be ignored that every asset has certain lifetime after which they are of no use. By showing the asset at historical cost in the balance sheet sometimes seems to be difficult for the management of the company and also to the shareholder to take long term decision. They are unable to value the company based upon the figure shown in the balance sheet. This is the biggest short coming of the Historical cost system. To overcome such short coming experts has formulated current cost system. However, current cost is not clearly capable of precise measurement of the value of the asset, as the historical cost is capable of. (Christene, 2013) Change in Accounting from Historical cost Accounting to any other accounting is not easy for the organization. The change in the accounting policy is only possible if it is as per the accounting standard which has been issued by the Australian Accounting Standard board. As per Accounting Standard AASB 1001 on Accounting policy issued by the Australian Accounting Standard board also permits a change in accounting policy: If it is necessary to comply with the other accounting standard. In case where no accounting policy is applied and the change in accounting policy would lead to overall improvement of the financial statement. And If an accounting standard permits alternative accounting policies and the change in accounting policy would lead to overall improvement and reliability of the financial statement. (Board, Accounting Policy, 1999) The Three Alternative which is considered to be the substitute of Historical cost concept are: Economic Price Method or Present Value Method Replacement Price Method Net realizable value Method or Market Price Method ( (Diewert, 2005) Net realizable Value Method is the method in which the asset is valued in the balanced asset at estimated realizable value of the First Asset. That is to say, it is valued in the balance sheet at the net realizable value that the asset can bring if it has been sold in the market at the balance sheet date. The major problem with net realizable value is that to find the net realizable value potential set of buyer needs to be determine along with the policy to determine their correct price bids. Replacement Price Method: It is the current market cost of purchasing a physically identical replacement for an asset currently being held by the enterprise. The net realizable value and replacement cost of an asset can be regarded as the selling and buying prices for the asset in the relevant second hand market. Replacement cost will generally exceed the corresponding net realizable value due to the existence of transactions costs. The shortcoming of replacement price method is that replacement is not reproducible this means that different estimate to replace the Asset. Second shortcoming is that replacement cost is not additive. This means that the replacement cost is different if group of asset has been replaced rather than replacement of the single Asset. Economic Price Method / Net Present Value: This is the method in which the value of the asset has been determined on the basis of estimated cash flow generated by the cash. That is to say the value is determines on the basis of the difference between cash inflow and cash outflow. It has also two demerits. First one is that it is difficult to determine the future cash flow as they are uncertain and second one is that even we estimated the future cash flow it is difficult to segregate such cash flow on the individual asset as the revenue will be generated on the basis of net revenue flows of individual Assets. 1. Provision of Warranty as at 30 June 2014 is as follows: Estimated cost of repairs: For Item Sold with No Defect = 80% of Nil = Nil For Item Sold having minor Defect = $1,000,000 * 15% = 150,000 For Item Sold having major defect = $600,000 * 5% = 300,000 Total Provision for Warranty = 450,000 Claim to be Settled with minor defect in FY 2015 = 150,000 Claim to be Settled with major defect in In FY 2015 = 40% * 300,000 = 120,000 In FY 2016 = 60% * 300,000 = 180,000 Present value of Claim to be Settled in FY 2015 = (150,000+120,000) = 270,000 Present value of claim to be settled in FY 2016 = 0.892 * 180,000 = 160,715 Therefore, Total Provision to be created = 270,000 + 160,715 = $430,715 2. Warranty Position as on 30 June 2015: Estimated cost of repairs: For Item Sold with No Defect Nil For Item Sold having minor Defect = $1,000,000 * 12% = 120,000 For Item Sold having major defect = $5,000,000 * 3% = 150,000 Total Provision for Warranty = 270,000 Claim to be Settled with minor defect in FY 2016 = 120,000 Claim to be settled with major defect in In FY 2016 = 20% * 150,000 = 30,000 In FY 2017 = 80% * 150,000 = 120,000 Present value of Claim to be Settled in FY 2016 = (120,000+30,000) = 150,000 Present value of claim to be settled in FY 2017 = 0.892 * 120,000 = 107,143 Total Provision for the Financial Year 2015 sale = (150,000 + 107,143) = 257,143 Previous Year Provision i.e. 2014 to be settled in FY 2016 = 180,000 So, Provision as on 30 June 2015 = 257,143 + 180,000 = 437,143 3. Movement in Warranty Provision for the yea: Opening Balance of Provision = 430,715 Less: Amount Paid during the Period = (200,000) Balance remaining = 230,715 Closing Balance of the Provision should be = 437,143 Provision need to be created during the year = (437,143 230,715) = 206,428 1.The perspective change in depreciation required is: Value of Asset as on 30 June 2014=$140,000 Replaced in May 2016 Month remaining = 22 month Depreciation rate SLM = 140,000 / 22 *12 = 6,363 Per Month. 1.E) Provision is something which is uncertain and for which a reliable estimate has to be made. But liability is something which has already been admitted by the entity. In the given case since the court has already ordered the company to pay the plaintiff of 1,500,000 out of which company has paid 800,000 therefore the remaining is considered as liability and not the provision. 2.F) Asset is something which the company possesses and which helps the company to reduce the burden. But in the given case although the court found the case in favor of the assesses the claim estimated by the company cannot be treated as Asset as the amount has not been determined. It is to be considered as Contingent Asset since the inflow of economic benefit is probable but the amount is not certain. So, no Asset is recognisd only disclosure needs to be made in the books of account. 3.G) Bank Guarantee meets the definition of a contingent liability and not the provision. Because in case of Bank guarantee there is a present or possible obligation but probably it will not require any outflow of resources. But in Case of provision there is present obligation resulting from the past vent which requires the outflow of resources. References: Board, A. A. (1999). Accounting Policy. AASB 1001 , 24. Board, A. A. (2009). Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationery Economy. Complied Accounting Standard , 9. Christene, H. B. (2013). Fair Value Accounting for Non- Financial Asset. Review of Accountign Studies , 4. Diewert, W. E. (2005). Measurement of Business Capital, Income and Performance. Tutorial Presented at the University Autonoma , 35.