The Industrial Revolution Of The Middle East - 1071 Words

For millennia mankind has exhausted endless amounts of energy contemplating the eternally complicated system of war. From Gangas Khan to America’s involvement in the Middle East, all successful generals, military leaders, and conquerors have found commonality in their zealous emphasis on, and desire for, possessing the most technologically advanced forms of weaponry. Such a desire was not ignored in America nor England during the Industrial Revolution, but, rather, was seen by many as an opportune investment during a time of extraordinarily progressive innovation. With this in mind the Industrial Revolution became heavily involved with the advancement of weaponry, forever changing the face of war unlike any era before it. The industrial revolution was a time of great change for both Europe and America. Inventions during this time (such as the cotton gin, the steam engine, sewing machine) stemmed from a seemingly never-ending flow of revelation in thought. Thus, paving the way for a more advanced and technological society. This was a time of great accomplishment. With the drastic advancement of economic and technological innovation came the traumatic realization of necessary social adaptation; a change that did not come easy for such a progressive society. The upper class became more wealthy as the number of impoverished citizens increased. Britain set an appropriate stage for the industrial revolution to take place. Britain was a politically stable society and was theShow MoreRelatedThe Commercial Revolution of the Middle Ages 950-1350633 Words   |  3 PagesIn this book it revealed how the middle ages were not dead times, but mere it was the just beginning of everything, such as it gave people more freedom and independence and allowed to people to explore trading new things with others. Basically in the beginning of the book Lopez starts talking about the Roman world and also about the commerce and the effect of the Barbarian invasion, and after that industry started sky rocketing because there was tremendous commercial growth. Also he states thatRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution Essay635 Words   |  3 PagesThe Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution, the shift, at different times in different countries, from a traditional agriculturally based economy to one based on the mechanized production of manufactured goods in large-scale enterprises. The British Experience: The first Industrial Revolution occurred in Great Britain at the end of the 18th century; it profoundly altered Britains economy and society. The most immediate changes were in the nature of production: what was produced, as wellRead MoreKarl Marx And Friedrich Engels974 Words   |  4 Pagesstruggle† served as the driving force in the history of all previous civilizations. Marx recognized the distinction between the working class, or the Proletariat and the upper class, or the Bourgeoisie was becoming increasingly clear with the industrial revolution noted as the inciting event of the two new clashing classes. The CM was distributed among the German, communist league and served as the parties platform explaining the main components of the economic theory. The main idea of the CM was thatRead MoreHistory Of The World. Arguement: Throughout All Of Human1642 Words   |  7 Pages History of the World Arguement: Throughout all of human history, each major revolution or major event has lead to an even more important event or more significant revolution following it. During the Paleolithic period, humans grouped together in small societies such as tribes, and survived by gathering plants and hunting wild animals.The Paleolithic is characterized by the use of stone tools, although at the time humans also used wood and bone tools. Humankind gradually evolved from early membersRead MoreThe Ottoman Empire Of Islam1350 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Turks who initially relocated from Central Asia, rose to control in the late 1300s mid 1400s to pick up administration over a large portion of the Middle East. In 1453 the armed force of Mehmed II, The Conqueror, conveyed their massive siege cannons to the entryway of Constantinople and raged the Christian capital. Subsequent to catching Constantinople in 1453 the Ottomans had built up a genuine domain, contemporary with the Habsburg. The Ottoman was the remainderRead MoreThe Economic System Of Capitalism1639 Words   |  7 PagesThe Industrial Revolution in Western Europe provided the context for economists and political writers of the nineteenth century to promote three different economic plans designed to meet the needs of workers and entrepreneurs. Capitalism was first proposed by Adam Smith as a reform plan for the existing economic system of mercantilism. The major tenets of capitalism included: free enterprise, competition at every level, and private property . Although there were many advantages including new inventionsRead MoreCCOT And CC Essay1549 Words   |  7 Pages600 bce, 600 bce – 600 ce Africa Compare and contrast life in foraging societies with life in agricultural societies after the Agricultural Revolution Identify two key changes in early African history that resulted in a new period in the history of the region The Middle East Analyze the political changes in the Middle East from the Agricultural Revolution to 600 c.e. Compare and contrast the basic features of TWO of the following religious systems prior to 600 c.e. Polytheism Judaism ChristianityRead MoreSocial Consequences During The Industrial Revolution923 Words   |  4 Pages The Industrial Revolution was the transmission process of manufacturing, this took place in the 1700s and the 1800s. Before this time, manufacturing was done in a small level, usually done in people’s homes, using the truest and basic forms of machinery. But in the Industrialization age, there was a shift to powerful, multi-purpose machines, and big factories. This Industrial age brought forward thousands of jobs for the men, women, and children. The Industrial Revolution did bring a surplus andRead MoreRub957 Words   |  4 Pagesthe USA and Mexico? 2. Why does the author say that the term â€Å"Industrial Revolution† is misleading? 3. In our last unit we learned that the Second Agricultural Revolution was the result of many new techniques and tools, not just the steam engine. Other than the steam engine, what techniques, patents, policies†¦ contributed to the Industrial Revolution? 4. Why didn’t the Industrial Revolution diffuse rapidly from Britain to the rest of Western Europe? 5. ListRead MoreWorld history: The change in Imperialism Essay658 Words   |  3 Pagesup to by the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution altered the course of history in numerous ways but the most significant is certainly that of imperialism. The industrialization created a rise in population and thus a rise in demand. This in it of itself did not lead to the need for conquest but it was certainly a contributing factor. The Industrial revolution began to produce goods that were cheaper and faster to make. Countries associated with the Industrial Revolution needed material

Recycling Or Converting Waste Of Energy - 1379 Words

Syed Basit Hussain Dannielle Laws English 1110 November 25, 2015 Recycling or Converting Waste to Energy? In today’s growing world we are using our natural resources way more than we used them ever before and because of that we are slowly but substantially running out of them. So to save our environment we should first learn how to manage waste. To do so there are two ways first to recycle which everyone knows and which is significantly cheap and does not affect our environment at all or the second is convert the waste to energy which in fact emits greenhouse gases, is not at all cheap and not good for our environment. Although some people would argue that converting waste to energy and using incinerators as a method of managing waste is better than Recycling. I on the other hand am against the whole idea of converting waste to energy and using incinerators because if we look at the facts and how good converting waste to energy and using incinerators is if we want to save the environment we will find that it is not at it emits toxic gases like methane and carbon monoxide which are not only toxic for us but are considered greenhouse gases too. People who support waste to energy and the use of incinerators are not considering the fact that it emits way more greenhouse gases although it manages a lot of waste at once. The waste to energy plants continuously emit manyShow MoreRelatedWhat Makes The Geography Enjoyable?1450 Words   |  6 PagesHyperloop which is a fast traveling train that travels through tubes at approximately 375 mph in the city. It’s not far from our way of a train station or bus stop. Another form of transportation is that our vehicles are all solar powered. 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Growing up I m sure you always saw in school the text in logos for recycling to be reduce reuse andRead MoreRecycling Is A Vital Part Of Making The Recycling Program801 Words   |  4 PagesRecycling Educating the community is a vital part of making the recycling program more successful, reduce landfill waste, preserves limited resources and encourage community involvement. Recycling is the process of converting waste material into reusable objects. Actually, recycling and using recycled materials has proven to be advantages to the landfill; it conserves natural resources, saves energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and it helps create more well paid jobs in the recycling andRead MoreRecycling research paper1409 Words   |  6 PagesRecycling Research Paper Ever since elementary school, we’re taught to recycle. They usually do not tell us why it’s so important to recycle or what it does for the world, but they just say to recycle. So some adhere to what we’re told and others just pass it by as if it were nothing. Maybe if we were told why we should do it, more people would actually take the time out of their day and recycle. When we here the word â€Å"recycle,† we think of soda cans, water bottles, and plastic material, but whatRead MoreRecycling Is The Process Of Converting Waste Into A Reusable Form1398 Words   |  6 PagesRecycling is the process of converting waste into a reusable form, which also helps to reduce the use of other fresh raw materials and energy. Recycling is of a major concern today and every individual, household, business, organizations etc. should be aware of it and actually practice it. Recycling is among those topics for which people take for granted as a positive action, however t here are people who have a different view and might debate about the position for either being positive or negativeRead MoreThe Breathtaking City Of Urbem Hortus1743 Words   |  7 Pages Our city has low energy use, and almost all renewable energy. A reason we are able to keep such low energy use is because of the way we transport people up the mountain. We use a machine called a funicular to transport the people, using almost no electricity. The way we can do this is because the funicular powers itself. It consists of two cars, one on each end of the mountain. When the one on top goes down, it pulls the other up using it s momentum, therefore using no energy. But, Incase it doesnRead MoreWaste Reduction, Or Waste Prevention1298 Words   |  6 Pages3/4 29 April 2015 Technology Sector Report Waste reduction, or waste prevention, is critical in today’s growing world population. In a society with so many people, and an ever-growing population, resources need to be saved and used sparingly. Waste reduction is a method of managing the waste created and how it is disposed of. Waste reduction means that less waste is produced, which equals less waste removal costs, and helps keep the environment clean. Waste reduction can be achieved through the usingRead MoreThe Benefits of Recycling1726 Words   |  7 PagesRecycling is one of the easiest and best ways for people to help the environment. More people need to recognize and take recycling seriously, because it can prolong the survival of humanity on Earth. The basic concept of recycling is the process of converting used materials or waste into reusable material for production. It is essential that people start realizing that recycling is necessary now, and going to be more necessary in the future because of the new, hig her quality lifestyles people areRead MoreOutline Of A Article On Plastics Essay1342 Words   |  6 Pagesand reduce the need for alternative means for plastic waste disposal. Such recycling operations have been only marginally profitable. A concern is the proper disposal of waste plastics. A reduction in the number of different plastics used for car construction. Plastics owe their name to their most important property, the ability to be shaped to almost any form to produce articles of practical value. Facilities for converting trash to energy in an environmentally acceptable way are expensive andRead MoreSustainable Development For Future Generations Essay1395 Words   |  6 Pageshumanity to employ other uses of energy to be sustainable. 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The Da Vinci Code Chapter 10-12 Free Essays

string(86) " out into an expansive vista, and tumbling down a barren mountainside into the woods\." CHAPTER 10 Silas sat behind the wheel of the black Audi the Teacher had arranged for him and gazed out at the great Church of Saint-Sulpice. Lit from beneath by banks of floodlights, the church’s two bell towers rose like stalwart sentinels above the building’s long body. On either flank, a shadowy row of sleek buttresses jutted out like the ribs of a beautiful beast. We will write a custom essay sample on The Da Vinci Code Chapter 10-12 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The heathens used a house of God to conceal their keystone.Again the brotherhood had confirmed their legendary reputation for illusion and deceit. Silas was looking forward to finding the keystone and giving it to the Teacher so they could recover what the brotherhood had long ago stolen from the faithful. How powerful that will make Opus Dei. Parking the Audi on the deserted Place Saint-Sulpice, Silas exhaled, telling himself to clear his mind for the task at hand. His broad back still ached from the corporal mortification he had endured earlier today, and yet the pain was inconsequential compared with the anguish of his life before Opus Dei had saved him. Still, the memories haunted his soul. Release your hatred, Silas commanded himself. Forgive those who trespassed against you. Looking up at the stone towers of Saint-Sulpice, Silas fought that familiar undertow†¦ that force that often dragged his mind back in time, locking him once again in the prison that had been his world as a young man. The memories of purgatory came as they always did, like a tempest to his senses†¦ the reek of rotting cabbage, the stench of death, human urine and feces. The cries of hopelessness against the howling wind of the Pyrenees and the soft sobs of forgotten men. Andorra, he thought, feeling his muscles tighten. Incredibly, it was in that barren and forsaken suzerain between Spain and France, shivering in his stone cell, wanting only to die, that Silas had been saved. He had not realized it at the time. The light came long after the thunder. His name was not Silas then, although he didn’t recall the name his parents had given him. He had left home when he was seven. His drunken father, a burly dockworker, enraged by the arrival of an albino son, beat his mother regularly, blaming her for the boy’s embarrassing condition. When the boy tried to defend her, he too was badly beaten. One night, there was a horrific fight, and his mother never got up. The boy stood over his lifeless mother and felt an unbearable up-welling of guilt for permitting it to happen. This is my fault! As if some kind of demon were controlling his body, the boy walked to the kitchen and grasped a butcher knife. Hypnotically, he moved to the bedroom where his father lay on the bed in a drunken stupor. Without a word, the boy stabbed him in the back. His father cried out in pain and tried to roll over, but his son stabbed him again, over and over until the apartment fell quiet. The boy fled home but found the streets of Marseilles equally unfriendly. His strange appearance made him an outcast among the other young runaways, and he was forced to live alone in the basement of a dilapidated factory, eating stolen fruit and raw fish from the dock. His only companions were tattered magazines he found in the trash, and he taught himself to read them. Over time, he grew strong. When he was twelve, another drifter – a girl twice his age – mocked him on the streets and attempted to steal his food. The girl found herself pummeled to within inches of her life. When the authorities pulled the boy off her, they gave him an ultimatum – leave Marseilles or go to juvenile prison. The boy moved down the coast to Toulon. Over time, the looks of pity on the streets turned to looks of fear. The boy had grown to a powerful young man. When people passed by, he could hear them whispering to one another. A ghost, they would say, their eyes wide with fright as they stared at his white skin. A ghost with the eyes of a devil! And he felt like a ghost†¦ transparent†¦ floating from seaport to seaport. People seemed to look right through him. At eighteen, in a port town, while attempting to steal a case of cured ham from a cargo ship, he was caught by a pair of crewmen. The two sailors who began to beat him smelled of beer, just as his father had. The memories of fear and hatred surfaced like a monster from the deep. The young man broke the first sailor’s neck with his bare hands, and only the arrival of the police saved the second sailor from a similar fate. Two months later, in shackles, he arrived at a prison in Andorra. You are as white as a ghost, the inmates ridiculed as the guards marched him in, naked and cold. Mira el espectro! Perhaps the ghost will pass right through these walls! Over the course of twelve years, his flesh and soul withered until he knew he had become transparent. I am a ghost. I am weightless. Yo soy un espectro†¦palido coma una fantasma†¦caminando este mundo a solas. One night the ghost awoke to the screams of other inmates. He didn’t know what invisible force was shaking the floor on which he slept, nor what mighty hand was trembling the mortar of his stone cell, but as he jumped to his feet, a large boulder toppled onto the very spot where he had been sleeping. Looking up to see where the stone had come from, he saw a hole in the trembling wall, and beyond it, a vision he had not seen in over ten years. The moon. Even while the earth still shook, the ghost found himself scrambling through a narrow tunnel, staggering out into an expansive vista, and tumbling down a barren mountainside into the woods. You read "The Da Vinci Code Chapter 10-12" in category "Essay examples" He ran all night, always downward, delirious with hunger and exhaustion. Skirting the edges of consciousness, he found himself at dawn in a clearing where train tracks cut a swath across the forest. Following the rails, he moved on as if dreaming. Seeing an empty freight car, he crawled in for shelter and rest. When he awoke the train was moving. How long? How far?A pain was growing in his gut. Am I dying? He slept again. This time he awoke to someone yelling, beating him, throwing him out of the freight car. Bloody, he wandered the outskirts of a small village looking in vain for food. Finally, his body too weak to take another step, he lay down by the side of the road and slipped into unconsciousness. The light came slowly, and the ghost wondered how long he had been dead. A day? Three days? It didn’t matter. His bed was soft like a cloud, and the air around him smelled sweet with candles. Jesus was there, staring down at him. I am here, Jesus said. The stone has been rolled aside, and you are born again. He slept and awoke. Fog shrouded his thoughts. He had never believed in heaven, and yet Jesus was watching over him. Food appeared beside his bed, and the ghost ate it, almost able to feel the flesh materializing on his bones. He slept again. When he awoke, Jesus was still smiling down, speaking. You are saved, my son.Blessed are those who follow my path. Again, he slept. It was a scream of anguish that startled the ghost from his slumber. His body leapt out of bed, staggered down a hallway toward the sounds of shouting. He entered into a kitchen and saw a large man beating a smaller man. Without knowing why, the ghost grabbed the large man and hurled him backward against a wall. The man fled, leaving the ghost standing over the body of a young man in priest’s robes. The priest had a badly shattered nose. Lifting the bloody priest, the ghost carried him to a couch. â€Å"Thank you, my friend,† the priest said in awkward French. â€Å"The offertory money is tempting for thieves. You speak French in your sleep. Do you also speak Spanish?† The ghost shook his head. â€Å"What is your name?† he continued in broken French. The ghost could not remember the name his parents had given him. All he heard were the taunting gibes of the prison guards. The priest smiled. â€Å"No hay problema.My name is Manuel Aringarosa. I am a missionary from Madrid. I was sent here to build a church for the Obra de Dios.† â€Å"Where am I?† His voice sounded hollow.† Oviedo. In the north of Spain.† â€Å"How did I get here?† â€Å"Someone left you on my doorstep. You were ill. I fed you. You’ve been here many days.† The ghost studied his young caretaker. Years had passed since anyone had shown any kindness. â€Å"Thank you, Father.† The priest touched his bloody lip. â€Å"It is I who am thankful, my friend.† When the ghost awoke in the morning, his world felt clearer. He gazed up at the crucifix on the wall above his bed. Although it no longer spoke to him, he felt a comforting aura in its presence. Sitting up, he was surprised to find a newspaper clipping on his bedside table. The article was in French, a week old. When he read the story, he filled with fear. It told of an earthquake in the mountains that had destroyed a prison and freed many dangerous criminals. His heart began pounding. The priest knows who I am! The emotion he felt was one he had not felt for some time. Shame. Guilt. It was accompanied by the fear of being caught. He jumped from his bed. Where do I run? â€Å"The Book of Acts,† a voice said from the door. The ghost turned, frightened. The young priest was smiling as he entered. His nose was awkwardly bandaged, and he was holding out an old Bible. â€Å"I found one in French for you. The chapter is marked.† Uncertain, the ghost took the Bible and looked at the chapter the priest had marked. Acts 16. The verses told of a prisoner named Silas who lay naked and beaten in his cell, singing hymns to God. When the ghost reached Verse 26, he gasped in shock. â€Å"†¦ And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and all the doors fell open.† His eyes shot up at the priest. The priest smiled warmly. â€Å"From now on, my friend, if you have no other name, I shall call you Silas.† The ghost nodded blankly. Silas.He had been given flesh. My name is Silas. â€Å"It’s time for breakfast,† the priest said. â€Å"You will need your strength if you are to help me build this church.† Twenty thousand feet above the Mediterranean, Alitalia flight 1618 bounced in turbulence, causing passengers to shift nervously. Bishop Aringarosa barely noticed. His thoughts were with the future of Opus Dei. Eager to know how plans in Paris were progressing, he wished he could phone Silas. But he could not. The Teacher had seen to that. â€Å"It is for your own safety,† the Teacher had explained, speaking in English with a French accent. â€Å"I am familiar enough with electronic communications to know they can be intercepted. The results could be disastrous for you.† Aringarosa knew he was right. The Teacher seemed an exceptionally careful man. He had not revealed his own identity to Aringarosa, and yet he had proven himself a man well worth obeying. After all, he had somehow obtained very secret information. The names of the brotherhood’s fourtop members! This had been one of the coups that convinced the bishop the Teacher was truly capable of delivering the astonishing prize he claimed he could unearth. â€Å"Bishop,† the Teacher had told him,† I have made all the arrangements. For my plan to succeed, you must allow Silas to answer only to me for several days. The two of you will not speak. I will communicate with him through secure channels.† â€Å"You will treat him with respect?† â€Å"A man of faith deserves the highest.† â€Å"Excellent. Then I understand. Silas and I shall not speak until this is over.† â€Å"I do this to protect your identity, Silas’s identity, and my investment.† â€Å"Your investment?† â€Å"Bishop, if your own eagerness to keep abreast of progress puts you in jail, then you will be unable to pay me my fee.† The bishop smiled. â€Å"A fine point. Our desires are in accord. Godspeed.† Twenty million euro,the bishop thought, now gazing out the plane’s window. The sum was approximately the same number of U. S. dollars. A pittance for something so powerful. He felt a renewed confidence that the Teacher and Silas would not fail. Money and faith were powerful motivators. CHAPTER 11 â€Å"Une plaisanterie numerique?† Bezu Fache was livid, glaring at Sophie Neveu in disbelief. A numeric joke?† Your professional assessment of Sauniere’s code is that it is some kind of mathematical prank?† Fache was in utter incomprehension of this woman’s gall. Not only had she just barged in on Fache without permission, but she was now trying to convince him that Sauniere, in his final moments of life, had been inspired to leave a mathematical gag? â€Å"This code,† Sophie explained in rapid French,† is simplistic to the point of absurdity. Jacques Sauniere must have known we would see through it immediately.† She pulled a scrap of paper from her sweater pocket and handed it to Fache. â€Å"Here is the decryption.† Fache looked at the card. 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21 â€Å"This is it?† he snapped. â€Å"All you did was put the numbers in increasing order!† Sophie actually had the nerve to give a satisfied smile. â€Å"Exactly.† Fache’s tone lowered to a guttural rumble. â€Å"Agent Neveu, I have no idea where the hell you’re going with this, but I suggest you get there fast.† He shot an anxious glance at Langdon, who stood nearby with the phone pressed to his ear, apparently still listening to his phone message from the U.S. Embassy. From Langdon’s ashen expression, Fache sensed the news was bad. â€Å"Captain,† Sophie said, her tone dangerously defiant,† the sequence of numbers you have in your hand happens to be one of the most famous mathematical progressions in history.† Fache was not aware there even existed a mathematical progression that qualified as famous, and he certainly didn’t appreciate Sophie’s off-handed tone. â€Å"This is the Fibonacci sequence,† she declared, nodding toward the piece of paper in Fache’s hand.† A progression in which each term is equal to the sum of the two preceding terms.† Fache studied the numbers. Each term was indeed the sum of the two previous, and yet Fache could not imagine what the relevance of all this was to Sauniere’s death. â€Å"Mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci created this succession of numbers in the thirteenth-century. Obviously there can be no coincidence that all of the numbers Sauniere wrote on the floor belong to Fibonacci’s famous sequence.† Fache stared at the young woman for several moments. â€Å"Fine, if there is no coincidence, would you tell me why Jacques Sauniere chose to do this. What is he saying? What does this mean?† She shrugged. â€Å"Absolutely nothing. That’s the point. It’s a simplistic cryptographic joke. Like taking the words of a famous poem and shuffling them at random to see if anyone recognizes what all the words have in common.† Fache took a menacing step forward, placing his face only inches from Sophie’s. â€Å"I certainly hope you have a much more satisfying explanation than that.† Sophie’s soft features grew surprisingly stern as she leaned in. â€Å"Captain, considering what you have at stake here tonight, I thought you might appreciate knowing that Jacques Sauniere might be playing games with you. Apparently not. I’ll inform the director of Cryptography you no longer need our services.† With that, she turned on her heel, and marched off the way she had come. Stunned, Fache watched her disappear into the darkness. Is she out of her mind? Sophie Neveu had just redefined le suicide professionnel. Fache turned to Langdon, who was still on the phone, looking more concerned than before, listening intently to his phone message. The U. S.Embassy.Bezu Fache despised many things†¦ but few drew more wrath than the U. S. Embassy. Fache and the ambassador locked horns regularly over shared affairs of state – their most common battleground being law enforcement for visiting Americans. Almost daily, DCPJ arrested American exchange students in possession of drugs, U. S. businessmen for soliciting underage Prostitutes, American tourists for shoplifting or destruction of property. Legally, the U. S. Embassy could intervene and extradite guilty citizens back to the United States, where they received nothing more than a slap on the wrist. And the embassy invariably did just that. L’emasculation de la Police Judiciaire, Fache called it. Paris Match had run a cartoon recently depicting Fache as a police dog, trying to bite an American criminal, but unable to reach because it was chained to the U. S. Embassy. Not tonight, Fache told himself. There is far too much at stake. By the time Robert Langdon hung up the phone, he looked ill. â€Å"Is everything all right?† Fache asked. Weakly, Langdon shook his head. Bad news from home, Fache sensed, noticing Langdon was sweating slightly as Fache took back his cell phone. â€Å"An accident,† Langdon stammered, looking at Fache with a strange expression. â€Å"A friend†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He hesitated. â€Å"I’ll need to fly home first thing in the morning.† Fache had no doubt the shock on Langdon’s face was genuine, and yet he sensed another emotion there too, as if a distant fear were suddenly simmering in the American’s eyes. â€Å"I’m sorry to hear that,† Fache said, watching Langdon closely. â€Å"Would you like to sit down?† He motioned toward one of the viewing benches in the gallery. Langdon nodded absently and took a few steps toward the bench. He paused, looking more confused with every moment. â€Å"Actually, I think I’d like to use the rest room.† Fache frowned inwardly at the delay. â€Å"The rest room. Of course. Let’s take a break for a few minutes.† He motioned back down the long hallway in the direction they had come from. â€Å"The rest rooms are back toward the curator’s office.† Langdon hesitated, pointing in the other direction toward the far end of the Grand Gallery corridor.† I believe there’s a much closer rest room at the end.† Fache realized Langdon was right. They were two thirds of the way down, and the Grand Gallery dead-ended at a pair of rest rooms. â€Å"Shall I accompany you?† Langdon shook his head, already moving deeper into the gallery. â€Å"Not necessary. I think I’d like a few minutes alone.† Fache was not wild about the idea of Langdon wandering alone down the remaining length of corridor, but he took comfort in knowing the Grand Gallery was a dead end whose only exit was at the other end – the gate under which they had entered. Although French fire regulations required several emergency stairwells for a space this large, those stairwells had been sealed automatically when Sauniere tripped the security system. Granted, that system had now been reset, unlocking the stairwells, but it didn’t matter – the external doors, if opened, would set off fire alarms and were guarded outside by DCPJ agents. Langdon could not possibly leave without Fache knowing about it. â€Å"I need to return to Mr. Sauniere’s office for a moment,† Fache said. â€Å"Please come find me directly, Mr. Langdon. There is more we need to discuss.† Langdon gave a quiet wave as he disappeared into the darkness. Turning, Fache marched angrily in the opposite direction. Arriving at the gate, he slid under, exited the Grand Gallery, marched down the hall, and stormed into the command center at Sauniere’s office. â€Å"Who gave the approval to let Sophie Neveu into this building!† Fache bellowed. Collet was the first to answer. â€Å"She told the guards outside she’d broken the code.† Fache looked around. â€Å"Is she gone?† â€Å"She’s not with you?† â€Å"She left.† Fache glanced out at the darkened hallway. Apparently Sophie had been in no mood to stop by and chat with the other officers on her way out. For a moment, Fache considered radioing the guards in the entresol and telling them to stop Sophie and drag her back up here before she could leave the premises. He thought better of it. That was only his pride talking†¦ wanting the last word. He’d had enough distractions tonight. Deal with Agent Neveu later, he told himself, already looking forward to firing her. Pushing Sophie from his mind, Fache stared for a moment at the miniature knight standing on Sauniere’s desk. Then he turned back to Collet. â€Å"Do you have him?† Collet gave a curt nod and spun the laptop toward Fache. The red dot was clearly visible on the floor plan overlay, blinking methodically in a room marked TOILETTES PUBLIQUES. â€Å"Good,† Fache said, lighting a cigarette and stalking into the hall. I’ve got a phone call to make. Be damned sure the rest room is the only place Langdon goes.† CHAPTER 12 Robert Langdon felt light-headed as he trudged toward the end of the Grand Gallery. Sophie’s phone message played over and over in his mind. At the end of the corridor, illuminated signs bearing the international stick-figure symbols for rest rooms guided him through a maze-like series of dividers displaying Italian drawings and hiding the rest rooms from sight. Finding the men’s room door, Langdon entered and turned on the lights. The room was empty. Walking to the sink, he splashed cold water on his face and tried to wake up. Harsh fluorescent lights glared off the stark tile, and the room smelled of ammonia. As he toweled off, the rest room’s door creaked open behind him. He spun. Sophie Neveu entered, her green eyes flashing fear. â€Å"Thank God you came. We don’t have much time.† Langdon stood beside the sinks, staring in bewilderment at DCPJ cryptographer Sophie Neveu. Only minutes ago, Langdon had listened to her phone message, thinking the newly arrived cryptographer must be insane. And yet, the more he listened, the more he sensed Sophie Neveu was speaking in earnest. Do not react to this message.Just listen calmly.You are in danger rightnow.Follow my directions very closely.Filled with uncertainty, Langdon had decided to do exactly as Sophie advised. He told Fache that the phone message was regarding an injured friend back home. Then he had asked to use the rest room at the end of the Grand Gallery. Sophie stood before him now, still catching her breath after doubling back to the rest room. In the fluorescent lights, Langdon was surprised to see that her strong air actually radiated from unexpectedly soft features. Only her gaze was sharp, and the juxtaposition conjured images of a multilayered Renoir portrait†¦ veiled but distinct, with a boldness that somehow retained its shroud of mystery. â€Å"I wanted to warn you, Mr. Langdon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Sophie began, still catching her breath,† that you are sous surveillance cachee.Under a guarded observation.† As she spoke, her accented English resonated off the tile walls, giving her voice a hollow quality. â€Å"But†¦ why?† Langdon demanded. Sophie had already given him an explanation on the phone, but he wanted to hear it from her lips. â€Å"Because,† she said, stepping toward him,† Fache’s primary suspect in this murder is you.† Langdon was braced for the words, and yet they still sounded utterly ridiculous. According to Sophie, Langdon had been called to the Louvre tonight not as a symbologist but rather as a suspect and was currently the unwitting target of one of DCPJ’s favorite interrogation methods – surveillance cachee – a deft deception in which the police calmly invited a suspect to a crime scene and interviewed him in hopes he would get nervous and mistakenly incriminate himself. â€Å"Look in your jacket’s left pocket,† Sophie said. â€Å"You’ll find proof they are watching you.† Langdon felt his apprehension rising. Look in my pocket? It sounded like some kind of cheap magic trick. â€Å"Just look.† Bewildered, Langdon reached his hand into his tweed jacket’s left pocket – one he never used. Feeling around inside, he found nothing. What the devil did you expect? He began wondering if Sophie might just be insane after all. Then his fingers brushed something unexpected. Small and hard. Pinching the tiny object between his fingers, Langdon pulled it out and stared in astonishment. It was a metallic, button-shaped disk, about the size of a watch battery. He had never seen it before. â€Å"What the†¦ ?† â€Å"GPS tracking dot,† Sophie said. â€Å"Continuously transmits its location to a Global Positioning System satellite that DCPJ can monitor. We use them to monitor people’s locations. It’s accurate within two feet anywhere on the globe. They have you on an electronic leash. The agent who picked you up at the hotel slipped it inside your pocket before you left your room.† Langdon flashed back to the hotel room†¦ his quick shower, getting dressed, the DCPJ agent politely holding out Langdon’s tweed coat as they left the room. It’s cool outside, Mr.Langdon, the agent had said. Spring in Paris is not all your song boasts.Langdon had thanked him and donned the jacket. Sophie’s olive gaze was keen. â€Å"I didn’t tell you about the tracking dot earlier because I didn’t want you checking your pocket in front of Fache. He can’t know you’ve found it.† Langdon had no idea how to respond. â€Å"They tagged you with GPS because they thought you might run.† She paused. â€Å"In fact, they hopedyou would run; it would make their case stronger.† â€Å"Why would I run!† Langdon demanded. â€Å"I’m innocent!† â€Å"Fache feels otherwise.† Angrily, Langdon stalked toward the trash receptacle to dispose of the tracking dot. â€Å"No!† Sophie grabbed his arm and stopped him. â€Å"Leave it in your pocket. If you throw it out, the signal will stop moving, and they’ll know you found the dot. The only reason Fache left you alone is because he can monitor where you are. If he thinks you’ve discovered what he’s doing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Sophie did not finish the thought. Instead, she pried the metallic disk from Langdon’s hand and slid it back into the pocket of his tweed coat. â€Å"The dot stays with you. At least for the moment.† Langdon felt lost. â€Å"How the hell could Fache actually believe I killed Jacques Sauniere!† â€Å"He has some fairly persuasive reasons to suspect you.† Sophie’s expression was grim. â€Å"There is a piece of evidence here that you have not yet seen. Fache has kept it carefully hidden from you.† Langdon could only stare. â€Å"Do you recall the three lines of text that Sauniere wrote on the floor?† Langdon nodded. The numbers and words were imprinted on Langdon’s mind. Sophie’s voice dropped to a whisper now. â€Å"Unfortunately, what you saw was not the entire message. There was a fourth line that Fache photographed and then wiped clean before you arrived.† Although Langdon knew the soluble ink of a watermark stylus could easily be wiped away, he could not imagine why Fache would erase evidence. â€Å"The last line of the message,† Sophie said,† was something Fache did not want you to know about.† She paused. â€Å"At least not until he was done with you.† Sophie produced a computer printout of a photo from her sweater pocket and began unfolding it. â€Å"Fache uploaded images of the crime scene to the Cryptology Department earlier tonight in hopes we could figure out what Sauniere’s message was trying to say. This is a photo of the complete message.† She handed the page to Langdon. Bewildered, Langdon looked at the image. The close-up photo revealed the glowing message on the parquet floor. The final line hit Langdon like a kick in the gut. 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5 O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! P. S.Find Robert Langdon How to cite The Da Vinci Code Chapter 10-12, Essay examples

Government Spending Budget Essay Example For Students

Government Spending Budget Essay As many Federal departments and agencies lurch into an era of running without funds, the leaders of both parties of Congress are spending less and less time searching for a compromise to balance the budget, and more and more time deciding how to use it to their advantage on the campaign trail. Meanwhile money is easily borrowed to pay for government overhead. In an attempt to change this, on June 29, Congress voted in favor of HConRes67 that called for a 7 year plan to balance the Federal Budget by the year 2002 (Hager 1899). This would be done by incorporating $894 billion in spending cuts by 2002, with a projected 7 year tax cut of $245 billion. If this plan were implemented, in the year 2002, the U.S. Government would have the first balanced budget since 1969. There is doubt by citizens that a balanced budget will become reality. A recent Gallop Poll from January, 1996 showed the budget as the #1 concern among taxpayers, but 4/5 of those interviewed said they doubt the GOP will do the job (Holding 14). Meanwhile, an ABC poll from November reported that over 70% of those polled disapprove of thecurrent performance by Congress, and most blamed politicians for failure to take action (Cloud 3709). These accusations of failure to follow through come with historical proof that Congress and Clinton have failed to compromise and resolve the issue. After all, current budget plans are dependent on somewhat unrealistic predictions of avoiding such catastrophes as recession, national disasters, etc., and include minor loopholes. History has shown that every budget agreement that has failed was too lax. One might remember the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings bill that attempted to balance the budget, but left too many exemptions, and was finally abandoned in 1990 (Weinberger 33). So after a pain-staking trial for GOP Republicans to create, promote, and pass their budget, as promised on campaign trail 94, Clinton rejected the very bill he demanded. This essentially brought the federal budget back to square one. Clinton thought such a demand on Republicans to produce a budget would produce inner-party quarrels and cause the GOP to implode. Instead, they produced a fiscal budget that passed both houses of Congress, only to be stalemated by a stubborn Democratic President Clinton. Meanwhile, Clinton bounced back with a CBO scored plan with lighter, less risky cuts to politically sensitive areas like entitlements. Clintons plan also saved dollars for education and did not include a tax increase, but most cuts would not take effect until he is out of office, in the year 2001. Although Clinton is sometimes criticized for producing a stalemate in budget talks, the White House points out that the debt has gone down since Clinton took office, with unemployment also fal ling. Republicans are quick to state that Clinton originally increased taxes in 1993 and cut defense programs, but his overall plan was for an increasing budget without deficit reduction. Startling Facts about the budget:As of 1996, the national debt was at an all time high of $5 trillion dollars, with interest running at a whopping $250 billion per year (Rau M-1). This equals out to an individual responsibility of more than $50,000 per taxpayer. Nearly 90% of that debt has accumulated since 1970, and between 1980 and 1995, the debt grew by 500%. Currently, the debt grows by more than $10,000 per second (Rau M-l), and at current rates, a baby born in 1992 will pay 71% of his or her income in net taxes. At current rates, our government is about to reach its breaking point. If thats not enough to scare a taxpayer, by 2002, 60% of government spending will be for entitlements, and by 2012, these programs are projected to take up all government revenue (Dentzer 32). Not only economic development, but also family income is hurt by debt. With the cost of living going up, it becomes harder to find a job. According to the Concord Coalition, real wages peaked in 1973 and have g one down ever since. If the economy grew as fast as it did in 1950, without a debt, the median family income would be $50,000, compared to the present median of $35,000 (Rau M-1). As of current fiscal years budget, the United States government spends $1.64 trillion yearly. $500 billion of that, or 1/3 of the total, is for discretionary spending (Rau M-1). This discretionary spending is the target for most cuts, and seems to be the easiest to make cuts in. Overall, the difference between the two parties budget plans is only $400 billion. This could easily be trimmed by eliminating tax cuts and adjusting the consumer price index to reality. Democrats say the GOP plan is too lopsided, and Republicans criticize the Democrat plan for being unrealistic. A study by the Urban Institute shows GOP cuts will be felt mainly by the bottom 1/5 of U.S. population. This should be more equally spread out across income brackets (Hosansky 1449). The GOP plan:By fulfilling campaign promises made by freshman Republican Congressmen to cut government spending, the GOP managed to pass a $1.6 trillion budget resolution by a party-line vote, in both houses of Congress (Hosansky 1450). This budget called for major cuts in education, environmental programs, discretionary spending, and the largest of all: entitlements. 70% of the money to balance the budget under the GOP plan would have come from entitlements. This is because entitlement programs currently take up $301 billion a year. Such cuts had already been partially implemented with the GOP cutting overall spending by 9.1% in 1996 alone. First, in an attempt to stop the projected bankruptcy of Medicare in 2002, Republicans cut $270 billion overall from the program, with hospital reimbursement cuts being the deepest (Hager 1283). Although stabilizing the fund is only expected to cost $130-$150 billion over 7 years, the GOP budget would reform the program to run better, and cheaper, by allowing it to grow at 6% yearly, instead of the current 10%. While both parties agree on premium hikes for beneficiaries, this is a touchy subject for the 38.1 Million elderly voters on Medicare in 1996 (Rubin 1221). Medicaid, ano ther volatile program, would be cut $182 billion under the GOP proposal. This would entail placing a cap on the programs spending, and passing control of it to the individual state governments. For an estimated 39 million low-income people on Medicaid in 1996, the GOP plan cuts the program far more than Clintons proposed $98 billion cut. Social Security is another program being cut. Video or graphics circuitry, usually fitted to a c EssayA Neutral Proposal:As a neutral proposal, a group calling themselves the Blue Dogs have won support for their budget from both Republicans and Democrats. The group also known as the Concord Coalition includes many conservative Democrats that want to see shallower budget cuts with less reform to entitlements. They also believe a tax cut should be delayed until the budget is balanced. The Coalition believes that by reforming entitlement policy, rethinking government size, changing taxation methods, and consuming less, our budget can be balanced (Rau M-1). Defending Deficits:In defense of deficits, some may argue that the danger of the current situation is highly over rated. A budget deal has always had less to do with economics than with politics and morality. Budget deficits dont crowd out private investment, government spending does, and a large surplus may not be a sign of strength for a country. Some say it is impossible for every country to run either a surplus or a deficit. What matters is that a country can service its debts (Defense 68). During most of the 19th century, the United States borrowed from the world (a current-account deficit). By 1870, it was running a tradesurplus, and by 1900 we had a current-account surplus. But in the early 2Oth century, the U.S. became the worlds largest net creditor, and by 1970 it peaked by finally running into deficit in 1970. Finally, 1980 brought a deficit so large, that the government was a net debtor again (Bottom Line 14). Current Reductions:One of the ways we are currently reducing the deficit includes the introduction of means testing. This means that people would getentitlements based on need. The government already has reduced SocialSecurity for modest income seniors age 70 and younger, but budgetcutters want to broaden that idea (Henderson 60). There are 2 majorproblems with means testing. First, it is considered inherently unfair. Some might argue that a person might blow all of their income before the entitlement reductions come into place. Second, it might reduce the incentive to work and encourage people to hide their income. For instance, beneficiaries of Social Security, ages 62-64, lose $1.00 yearly in benefits for every $2.00 they earn in income or wages above $8,160 per year (Henderson 60). Some say increasing eligibility requirements would solve some problems, and propose raising the age of early retirement from 62 to 65, and standard retirement from 65 to 70. Another touchy subject in budget reduction is the argument that the poor are being left out of savings. According to the Clinton Administration, the GOP budget would cause a family with income of $13,325 per year to lose 11% of their income (Whitman 42). United States Treasury Department studies say the bottom 1/5 income families would have net tax increase of an average $12 to $26 under the GOP plan. The top 1/5 income families would receive mo re than 60% of the tax relief. A HHS analysis states that the GOP plan would also boost child poverty rates from 14.5% to 16.1%, and poor families with children would loose 6% of their income. Conclusion:In the end, budget reduction is no easy task. fixing the National debt is like catching a train leaving the station. The longer we wait, the harder and farther we have to run, says the Concord Coalition (Rau M-1). Both parties want the issue, instead of an agreement, said Representative Bill Orton. The center of attention for debate on budget cutting is politics, and whomever takes responsibility for reform gets left wide open to criticism. Although Congress and Clinton have spent the past year on debating the budget and the size of the Federal Government, most plans fall back ongimmicks, loopholes, and long-term plans. Even Democrats now agree todownsize the government, but the two parties disagree on how and where. As we trust our elected officials to make decisions in Washington on our behalf, we must show interest and aptitude on the end results. To accomplish a balanced budget deal, many suggest that we must not only balance spending, but reform entitlements, rethink government size, change tax methods, and depend less on Washington. Attendees of a conference on budget cutting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming suggested we deliver a budget that has a simple, quantifiable goal, that includes short term goals, and eliminated gimmicks. Countries like Sweden and Canada have successfully reformed fiscal policies. Swedens government elected to abandon welfare, pensions, health insurance, unemployment programs, family assistance, and child allowances. Their deficit soon fell by 3.5% of GDP in one year alone (Urresta 51). Swedens plan was three times as intense as Congress current plan, while cutting spending in half the time. As for cuts, everyone must suffer. As entitlement debates continue, the interests of older Americans are being protected at the expense of young people, says Neil Howe and Bill Strauss (Rau M- 1). Older Americans have good reason to protect programs that they have paid into for years, but those programs spend an overall per capita amount of 11 times as much on elderly than that spent on children altogether (Rau M-1). The youth are the future of America, and we should protect them too. Currently, poverty in US is 3 times as likely to affect the very young than the very old. By balancing the budget, interest rates come down, the economy picks up we will rebound, says Representative James Greenwood (Cloud 3709), and everyone should be happy with that.