Those Books Were not Actually Bound in Human Skin

Any really old library accumulates many weird books in the course of its existence, and weird stories connected with them as well. Harvard University’s library is no exception, and the most interesting of all these stories of probably a rumor that three books at its disposal are bound in actual human skin. The story itself is not a new one – first it appeared in the Internet back in 2006, and was dedicated to three books kept in three separate libraries on the University’s campus. It, as expected, attracted a lot of attention from lovers of macabre details, but gradually died away. But about a month ago it surfaced again, and again produced an uproar – so much of it, that Harvard’s authorities decided to investigate the matter to finally find out whether there is any reality underneath this myth. Yes, up until now nobody knew for sure what these books were actually bound in. One cannot define the material by eye, and until recently there were no trustworthy techniques that would allow any definite conclusions. Thus, one of the books was subjected to a new method of identifying proteins developed in the last 20 years, and it was found that, alas, the macabre legend is simply a legend after all. The leather the cover was made of turned out to be rather trivial sheepskin. What makes this story more interesting is that the idea that it was bound in human skin was not by any means groundless – there is an inscription inside the book which quite unequivocally states that it was bound in the skin of Jonas Wright who was flayed alive by Wavuma (presumably an African tribe). Wright’s friend was given the book, the most prized of Wright’s possessions, and his skin to bind it, by Wavuma’s king. So either the sheep was named Jonas Wright, owned a book and was flayed alive by African tribesmen, or there is something else behind this story. Perhaps the book was originally really bound in the skin of hapless Mr. Wright and was later rebound (the books were costly in the past, and it was by far more logical to get it a new cover if it got damaged than throw it away). Or, perhaps, it is an age-old joke by somebody with a rather dark sense of humor – after all, black comedy wasn’t invented yesterday. We probably will never find out the truth, but what we know is clear – yet another grim but interesting mystery is replaced by boring facts. Perhaps two other books from Harvard’s library are really bound in human skin? The university’s officials don’t seem to be in a hurry to analyze them as well.

The Constitution Of Nepal 2015 - 1034 Words

Imagine how would you feel if you waited for something for decades but, when it arrived, some of your brothers and sisters did not like it.Excitement and frustration simultaneously. That is the predicament which the Nepali people have been feeling today. The people waited for 65 years for a constitution written by their elected representatives. Such a charter -- Constitution of Nepal 2015 -- has been finally promulgated today, on 20 September. Most people seem happy but some are clearly agitated. The country had waited for this day since 1950. At the time of removing Rana oligarchy, King Tribhuvan had promised to call elections for a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. But that did not transpire. Kings gifted the statute†¦show more content†¦The second assembly, elected in 2013, has been able to sort out the issue providing for seven states, though not to everyone s liking. Five things put pressure on Nepali leaders to deliver the constitution this time around. First, the Nepali Congress Party and the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), which preferred a few multi-ethnic states, secured nearly two-thirds majority in the assembly and formed a coalition government with smaller parties, enhacing their strength further. Thus they had the number and confidence to sail the charter to the finish line. Second, bothPrime Minister Sushil Koirala and UML leader KP Oli were personally men in a hurry. The ailing Koirala wanted to promulgate the statute on his watch. The ailing Oli wanted to become premier before his health marred his ambition. Therefore, Koirala and Oli promised support to each other to realize their respective ambitions, as quickly as possible. Third, the devastating chain quakes and aftershocks in April and May this year -- they killed nearly 10,000 people, destroyed nearly 7 billion rupees worth of property and affected one-third of the country s population -- spurred the coalition to accelerate the pace. It became absurd for them to quibble over the fine prints of the charter at a time when the people and country cried for relief and reconstruction in the wake of the natural calamity. Fourth, the Maoist leader

Ancient Egypt Palaces and Pyramids Free Essays

Palaces and Pyramids: A Deeper Look Pyramids have long been an image of ancient Egyptian lands and culture, being one of the most recognizable aspects of their life and culture. Huge man made buildings give tourists and many alike a view into the past the dedication these ancient people put-forth to their craft and cause. Not long before these great pyramids were raised, another people like the ancient Egyptians built huge complexes themselves. We will write a custom essay sample on Ancient Egypt: Palaces and Pyramids or any similar topic only for you Order Now Great palace structures like that of Sargon II, discovered in Dur Sharrukin where present-day Khorsabad, Iraq is located, allow us to understand how these people of the Ancient Near East were vastly similar and respectfully different from the people of Ancient Egypt. The pyramids of Ancient Egypt help us journey into the past and help us gain an idea of what these huge structures meant to the people constructing them, and those who they were constructed for. These structures were built for the burial of kings, rulers, and people of the like. They were raised high to the sky, thought to help these fallen leaders become closer to the gods and to allow an easy transition into the afterlife. They had slanted triangular walls which are thought to represent the slanting rays of the sun. The first of these burial chambers was a mastaba, which was low, solid, and rectangular in shape. These mastabas consisted of a chapel where the deceased person’s family and friends could pay tribute through the offering of gifts. A serdab was also inside the mastabas where the statue of ka (believed to be the soul of a person) was placed. An underground burial chamber completed the construction of the mastaba. These mastabas were originally built with mud brick, but as the culture progressed they were built with limestone. Eventually, the mastaba evolved into a much larger structure. This structure was a stacking of mastaba forms with a large mastaba at the base and decreasing in size as it extended vertically, like steps. The stepped pyramid, as they were called, contained an original mastaba towards the center of this raised structure. It also contained an underground burial chamber just like the original mastabas. These huge pyramids were built with massive quantities of limestone making them very sturdy structures being able to withstand strong weather conditions. The pyramid structures that followed were slightly different in their structure and composition. They no longer contained the original mastaba like that of the stepped pyramids. Instead, they enclosed ascending and descending corridors leading to and from the underground burial chamber. There are also different in that they have small corridors that are believed to be air shafts. The most famous of these pyramid structures are the Great Pyramids of Giza in Giza. These pyramids were built by three successive kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. Placed on the west side of the Nile, these pyramids were constructed as funerary temples for the three kings, each having his own built where he was to be place upon his death. These pyramids are of the regular pyramid variety, not displaying the steps like those of the stepped pyramids. The building of these pyramids was no ordinary task. Teams of workers transported stones averaging 2. 5 tons by muscle power, placing logs underneath as rollers, and sliding them across mud on sleds. When the kings died, they were embalmed and placed inside a coffin which was placed deep and underground within the pyramid inside the burial chamber. A large 50-ton stone block sealed off the burial chamber. These pyramids were used as a protection device as the kings’ souls each climbed to the sky to be amongst the gods. These pyramids of Giza also contained three false passage ways to further protect the kings from intruders entering the pyramid. Inscriptions of the deceased kings depict them climbing up rays of sun to join the sun god Ra. These inscriptions help tell us that the Egyptian people were highly invested in the afterlife and spent much time preparing for it. It also reinforces the structure and function of the pyramids as their slanting walls were thought to be built in accordance with the rays of the sun. The palace complexes of Assyria during the time period of the Ancient Near East were no slouch to the pyramids of ancient Egypt. These huge complexes were elaborate in design and structure as they were built for similar reasons to the pyramids of Egypt. These palace complexes were constructed in honor and tribute of kings just like the pyramids of Ancient Egypt. However, these palaces were built in honor of military victories and ruling success, unlike the reasons of the pyramids. Constructed with adobe brick, limestone, and marble the complexes were used with different kinds of material unlike the pyramids of Ancient Egypt. These complexes were lined with relief sculptures, paintings, and wall reliefs describing military victories of kings. These works helped show the power of the king to the people visiting and entering the complex. A famous palace complex was built by Sargon II and was located in Dur Sharrukin. Surrounding the castle complex was a protecting fortress. The palace complex was guarded by two towers and was only accessible by a wide ramp leading up to an open square around which government and religious officials were scattered about. The main courtyard was beyond this complex which housed service buildings on the right and temples to the left. The heart of the palace was just past the main courtyard where the king’s residence was located. A gate with large a pair of lamassu guarded the entrance to the king’s palace. Inside the palace was a large ziggurat made up of seven levels each painted a different color. This ziggurat was a symbol of the king’s claim to his empire. Both the pyramids of Ancient Egypt and the palace complexes of Assyria were massive architectural achievements of their respective time periods. These huge structures help show the kind of religious and military commitment that the people of these two periods possessed. The palaces and pyramids were both built upon the idea of honoring the kings of the time, each through a different avenue. The pyramids of Ancient Egypt were used as a funerary complex to honor and ultimately assist their kings into the afterlife where they would live for eternity with the gods. The palace complexes were also built in tribute of their king but were used to honor military achievement and ruling success. Although we are uncertain of the exact meaning of everything to do with the two structures, they allow us to take a journey into the ancient world and better understand the culture and life of these interesting people. How to cite Ancient Egypt: Palaces and Pyramids, Essay examples

Mining in Australia for Chinese Economy - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discus about theMining in Australia for Chinese Economy. Answer: The mining industry is one of the most economically reliable sectors in the Australian industry. It significance is spread all through the economy and so any variation both domestically and the in the international market is likely to attract greater concern particularly in the macroeconomic aspects. In light of this, iron ore as a chief component of the mining sector has undergone a tumultuous time in relation to the fluctuation that resulted into a 5 year low decline which then created economic tensions as reflected in the employment, current account balance, exchange rate and output. However, there were fiscal and monetary policies being employed by the Australian government in response to this occurrence. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the extent at which these policies worked. Recommendations are also given while looking at the likely drawbacks of the policies in question as well. The international mineral prices with regard to Australia have for a long time been determined by China which is the worlds largest producer and consumer of Steel. A slowing growth in the Chinese demand exacerbated the unlikely situation in the world market. Despite the general expectation that the mineral prices in the international market were bound to fall considerably, the resulting occurrence was more than anticipated which was ignited by the reduction in the growth of the Chinese economy in general (Poon et al 2016). A larger than expected increases in the lower-cost supply meant that the Australian economy had to bear the brunt of this happening. However, the increase and rapid expansion of the production and investment in Australia in general created a more compelling case for the significance of the iron ore prices in the Australian economy. As a result, a fall in the international demand chiefly brought by the plummeting demand by China created a hostile environment for the Australias terms of trade. In other words, there was a huge decline in the terms of trade (George 2016). Lesser demand for the products in the international market translates to lower value of the exports. In response to this, the government sought to bring back the economy on track by depreciating the Australian dollar. This move is vital in offsetting the domestic loses. The Australian mining industry is predominantly foreign owned and so a sharp decline in prices of iron ore necessitated a sizeable portion of the profits being flowed to parent countries during this period. As a result, domestic net investments reduced sharply in response to this occurrence. Furthermore, it weighed in on the real GDP and realized through a downward pressure on the national income (Mudd 2007). The effect has consistently revealed through a reduction in the consumption levels. When the profits from mining are not ploughed back into the economy in terms of investments, it deprives the economic growth. A contraction in the net spending on the available goods and services is further enhanced by a lack of initiatives to create other avenue that the citizens can earn income. In this case, two macroeconomic aspects are in play here; unemployment/employment and Real GDP/output. In response to this foreign deprivation, the Australian government adopted a policy that stressed a n investment spending to a tune of $100million (Department of Mining Industry 2017). This was meant to reduce the investment gap that a drop in the international mining prices had on the Australian sector. Furthermore, a shrinking investment base catapulted unemployment as more people working in the mining and other related industries lost their jobs because there was a sudden reduction in the output in a bid to mitigate the ballooning costs. In the same bracket, shrinking investments tends to exacerbate inflation rates because there is more money in the economy for consumers to spend. As a monetary policy, the government sought to cap the interest rates at under 2% according to Yoemans (2016) in order to combat the increasing money supply owing to a reduction in the investments. In the diagram, increasing the interest rates will effectively lower the aggregate demand as consumer disposable income reduces as indicated by a shift from AD1 to AD2. The policies adopted by the Australian government are practically working as indicated by the following aspects. First, through increasing investment in the mining sector, the economy has witnessed a slight rise in the Real GDP. This has then implied that the unemployment rate has slowed down as other sectors of the economy are opened hence creation of jobs. Secondly, a boom in the property market in Australia particularly the cities of Melbourne and Sidney is a case for further investments which is likely to ensure more stability is realized as well (Costello Knights 2013). While the economy marginally looks to recover from the ashes of a decline in the mining sector particularly a slump in the prices of iron ore, it is important that the following recommendations are factored in. first, diversification of the economy is explored extensively. Australia is inherently dependent on mining and a slight crash could have wanton implications on the economy in general. Agriculture, tourism and manufacturing provides other alternatives because mining alone contributing 44% of the GDP is disastrous for any negative eventuality. Secondly, there is need to have more budgetary allocation to further investments in other sectors as well as mining itself to curb this problem (Philips, 2016). In summary, the manner in which the international market is set up means that commodities are prone to market fluctuations and so does mining and specifically iron ore. The reduction in demand for iron ore and other mining products by China contributed greatly to the events that shook the Australian economy. A dismal performance in the Australian dollar worsened the situation. However, a glimmer of hope lie in the government responses in averting the problems. Capping the interest rates was vital in keeping the inflation rates low while at the same further investment cut down on the negative balance of trade and the deficits which eventually prompted an increase in the employment levels. Nonetheless, there is need to have more investment and budgetary allocation to have the problem controlled properly. References Mudd, G. M. 2007. The sustainability of mining in Australia: key production trends and their environmental implications. Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University and Mineral Policy Institute, Melbourne. Poon, A., Raval, S., Banerjee, B. P., Shamsoddini, A. 2015. Detection of Changes in the Wetland Conditions adjacent to a Longwall Mining Area in the Southern Coalfields, New South Wales Using Radar Satellite Data.Journal of Research Projects Review, 35. Costello, C., Knights, P. 2013. Grizzly Modifications at ridgeway deeps Block cave Mine. Mining Education Australia, 11. Department of Mining industry (2017. Australia's Mineral Commodities. Australian Government of Industry, Innovation and Science. Retrieved from: https://industry.gov.au/resource/Mining/Pages/default.aspx Philips, K. 2016. The mining boom that changed Australia. Australia Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved from: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rearvision/the-mining-boom-that-changed-australia/7319586 Yoemans, J. 2016. Australia's mining boom turns to dust as commodity prices collapse. The Telegraph. Retrieved from: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/12142813/Australias-mining-boom-turns-to-dust-as-commodity-prices-collapse.html George, M.W. 2016."Mineral Commodity Summaries 2016"(pdf. Reston, VA: U.S. Geological Survey. pp.7071.