Monday, August 19, 2019
Does Intercollegiate Athletics Equal Knowledge? :: Argumentative Persuasive College sports Essays
Does Intercollegiate Athletics Equal Knowledge? We live in an age where economic gain at the easiest means possible is desired. For many this want of economic status depends heavily on their completion of college. A degree can lead to higher wages and greater job opportunities. But, there is another class that is in a boat all their own: student-athletes, males in particular. Many male athletes leave college in hopes of joining the professional field. But, many times leaving school before graduation can have negative effects. Ironically, many athletes that complete their education do not come out with the knowledge necessary. Thus, we need to ask the question, can collegiate athletes benefit from finishing their education before pursuing professional careers. For college athletes, the opportunity for a university education is as important as playing intercollegiate sports. False. According to Murray Sperver, author of College Sports Inc., ââ¬Å"formal and informal studies indicate that most college athletes in big-time programs hope to play their sport at the professional or Olympic level, and they regard college as their path to the pros or the national team.â⬠Many athletes devote countless hours to their sports, thus resulting in an inability to obtain a serious means for academics. For many high school athletes the academic quality of a university does not hold near as much precedence over the quality of a universities athletic program. Although professional athletes make up only three percent of the entire population, this seems to be irrelevant to those athletes choosing colleges. A dream may have more power than reality. The NCAA stands behind there motto that athletics are also students and that their primary purpose in education is to receive an education, which results in obtaining a degree. Yet, according to College Sports Inc., ââ¬Å"at a third of American colleges and universities with major menââ¬â¢s basketball programs, fewer than one in five players ever graduate.â⬠The NCAA blames these low graduation rates as the result of athletes dropping out of school because of professional contracts. Many institutions, like UNLV have been accused of giving their athletes questionable degrees. In other words, many institutions ââ¬Å"graduateâ⬠these athletes before they actually earn their degrees. As stated in The Los Angeles Times, ââ¬Å"UNLV graduation ceremonies showed [menââ¬â¢s basketball coach] Tarkanian with all five of the six seniors from this years team, all in caps and gowns.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Why I admire Benjamin Franklin Essay -- Leaders American History
Benjamin Franklin completed many accomplishments from childhood to adulthood. When he was just 22 he established his first printing business with a partner, Hugh Meredith. Benjamin soon bought out Hugh Meredith's share. In 1732, when Franklin was only 26 he published the first edition of 'Poor Richards Almanack,' the book shows evidence that it was successful for 25 years. 'Poor Richards Almanack' allowed Franklin to retire from business a rich man in 1748. In 1741 Benjamin Franklin invented the Franklin Stove. The stove was handy for both, heating a room or cooking. In 1752 Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous electricity experiment with a kite. In 1757 Franklin returned to England as a Colonial agent for Pennsylvania. Next, in the year of 171 Benjamin began to write his own autobiography. In 1775 as a member of the Continental Congress, Franklin advocated separation from England. In 1776 Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence, in the fall he goes to France to plead the American cause. In 1778, Benjamin arranged the American Alliance with France, which soon led... Why I admire Benjamin Franklin Essay -- Leaders American History Benjamin Franklin completed many accomplishments from childhood to adulthood. When he was just 22 he established his first printing business with a partner, Hugh Meredith. Benjamin soon bought out Hugh Meredith's share. In 1732, when Franklin was only 26 he published the first edition of 'Poor Richards Almanack,' the book shows evidence that it was successful for 25 years. 'Poor Richards Almanack' allowed Franklin to retire from business a rich man in 1748. In 1741 Benjamin Franklin invented the Franklin Stove. The stove was handy for both, heating a room or cooking. In 1752 Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous electricity experiment with a kite. In 1757 Franklin returned to England as a Colonial agent for Pennsylvania. Next, in the year of 171 Benjamin began to write his own autobiography. In 1775 as a member of the Continental Congress, Franklin advocated separation from England. In 1776 Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence, in the fall he goes to France to plead the American cause. In 1778, Benjamin arranged the American Alliance with France, which soon led...
The Ministers Black Veil Essays -- Literature, Hawthorne
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil," Mr. Hooper, a Reverend in the town of Milford, surprises his parishioners by donning a conspicuous black veil one Sunday. The town is visibly spooked, yet still curious, about his eerie appearance and profoundly affected by his sermon on secret sin. "A subtle power was breathed into his words. Each member of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of hardened breast, felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind his awful veil, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought" (2432). The parishioner's expect that Hooper will only don the veil for one day and then remove it, having used the visage to make his point on secret sin, but they are taken aback to find that he does not remove the veil after that sunday, but in fact, ultimately wears it until his death. The town begins to gossip about why the Parson wears the crepe, questioning his purity and straying away from his person. When the Parson's i ntended, Elizabeth, asks him to do away with his foolishness and remove the veil, he sadly refuses, and Elizabeth reluctantly leaves him. The story concludes as the Parson dies, isolated by his choice to wear the veil with only the dying and the dead taking comfort in his presence, proclaiming that on each face he sees a black veil. In "The Minister's Black Veil," Nathaniel Hawthorne seeks to showcase the flaws of a society in which its members wear and create false facades by illustrating how it separates and alienates the individual from society, peers, reality, and spirituality. In The Minister's Black Veil, Parson Hooper uses his black veil as a way to represent an individual verses their hidden sin. He sees each member of his community as havi... ...o despise the veil are warranted in their dislike, because it is unnatural, shocking, and sudden. For them to react any other way would be odd. All but Elizabeth fail to ask him to remove the veil as well as the deeper meaning behind it. Sow could they expect him to yield to demands they themselves never voiced? Perhaps if the veil bothered his parishioners so greatly, they would have become more proactive in revealing their secret sins and thus relieved the Parson of his burden. Neither side is per say 'right', but it is important to note that the Parson acted out of desire to help the parishioners while the parishioners didn't truly act at all. Works Cited Lauter, Paul, Richard Yarborough, and John Alberti. "The Minister's Black Veil." The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Vol. B. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Pub., 2009. 2431-439. Print.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Frostbite Chapter 14
FOURTEEN TWO GUYS I'D NEVER MET before were squaring off against each other. They looked to be in their twenties, and neither noticed me. The one who'd bumped into me shoved the other one hard, forcing him to stagger back considerably. ââ¬Å"You're afraid!â⬠yelled the guy by me. He had on green swimming trunks, and his black hair was slicked back with water. ââ¬Å"You're all afraid. You just want to hole up in your mansions and let the guardians do your dirty work. What are you going to do when they're all dead? Who'll protect you then?â⬠The other guy wiped the blood off his face with the back of his hand. I suddenly recognized him- thanks to his blond highlights. He was the royal who'd yelled at Tasha about wanting to lead Moroi to battle. She'd called him Andrew. He tried to land a hit and failed; his technique was all wrong. ââ¬Å"This is the safest way. Listen to that Strigoi-lover, and we'll all be dead. She's trying to kill our whole race off!â⬠ââ¬Å"She's trying to save us!â⬠ââ¬Å"She's trying to get us to use black magic!â⬠The ââ¬Å"Strigoi-loverâ⬠had to be Tasha. The non-royal guy was the first person outside of my little circle whom I'd ever heard speak in her favor. I wondered how many others out there shared his view. He punched Andrew again, and my base instincts- or maybe the punch- made me leap into action. I sprang forward and wedged myself between them. I was still dizzy and a bit unsteady. If they hadn't been standing so close, I probably would have fallen over. They both hesitated, clearly caught off guard. ââ¬Å"Get out of here,â⬠snapped Andrew. Being male and Moroi, they had greater height and weight than I, but I was probably stronger than either one alone. Hoping I could make the most of that, I grabbed each of them by the arm, pulled them toward me, and then shoved them away as hard as I could. They staggered, not having expected my strength. I staggered a little too. The non-royal glared and took a step toward me. I was counting on the fact that he'd be old-fashioned and not hit a girl. ââ¬Å"What are you doing?â⬠he exclaimed. Several people had gathered and were watching excitedly. I returned his glare. ââ¬Å"I'm trying to stop you guys from being any more idiotic than you already are! You want to help? Stop fighting each other! Ripping each other's heads off isn't going to save the Moroi unless you're trying to thin stupidity out of the gene pool.â⬠I pointed at Andrew. ââ¬Å"Tasha Ozera is not trying to kill everyone off. She's trying to get you to stop being a victim.â⬠I turned to the other guy. ââ¬Å"And as for you, you've got a long ways to go if you think this is the way to get your point across. Magic- especially offensive magic- takes a lot of self-control, and so far, you aren't impressing me with yours. I have more than you do, and if you knew me at all, you'd know how crazy that is.â⬠The two guys stared at me, stunned. I was apparently more effective than a taser. Well, at least for several seconds I was. Because once the shock of my words wore off, they went at each other again. I got caught in the crossfire and shoved away, nearly falling in the process. Suddenly, from behind me, Mason came to my defense. He punched the first guy he could- the non-royal. The guy flew backward, falling into one of the pools with a splash. I yelped, remembering my earlier fear about skull-cracking, but a moment later, he found his feet and rubbed water out of his eyes. I grabbed Mason's arm, trying to hold him back, but he shrugged me off and went after Andrew. He shoved Andrew hard, pushing him into several Moroi- andrew's friends, I suspected- who seemed to be trying to break up the fight. The guy in the pool climbed out, fury written all over his face, and made moves toward Andrew. This time, both Mason and I blocked his way. He glared at all of us. ââ¬Å"Don't,â⬠I warned him. The guy clenched his fists and looked as though he might try to take us on. But we were intimidating, and he didn't appear to have an entourage of friends here like Andrew- who was shouting obscenities and being led away- did. With a few muttered threats, the non-royal backed off. As soon as he was gone, I turned on Mason. ââ¬Å"Are you out of your mind?â⬠ââ¬Å"Huh?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"Jumping into the middle of that!â⬠ââ¬Å"You jumped in too,â⬠he said. I started to argue, then realized he was right. ââ¬Å"It's different,â⬠I grumbled. He leaned forward. ââ¬Å"Are you drunk?â⬠ââ¬Å"No. Of course not. I'm just trying to keep you from doing something stupid. Just because you have delusions of being able to kill a Strigoi doesn't mean you have to take it out on everyone else.â⬠ââ¬Å"Delusions?â⬠he asked stiffly. I started to feel kind of nauseous just then. My head spinning, I continued toward the side room, hoping I didn't stumble. But when I reached it, I saw that it wasn't some kind of dessert or drink room after all. Well, at least not in the way I'd been thinking. It was a feeder room. Several humans reclined on satin-covered chaise lounges with Moroi by their sides. Jasmine incense burned in the air. Stunned, I watched with an eerie fascination as a blond Moroi guy leaned forward and bit into the neck of a very pretty redhead. All of these feeders were exceptionally good-looking, I realized just then. Like actresses or models. Only the best for royalty. The guy drank long and deep, and the girl closed her eyes and parted her lips, an expression of pure bliss on her face as Moroi endorphins flooded into her bloodstream. I shivered, taken back to when I too had experienced that same kind of euphoria. In my alcohol-hazed mind, the whole thing suddenly seemed startlingly erotic. In fact, I almost felt intrusive- like I was watching people have sex. When the Moroi finished and licked the last of the blood away, he brushed his lips against her cheek in a soft kiss. ââ¬Å"Want to volunteer?â⬠Light fingertips brushed my neck, and I jumped. I turned around and saw Adrian's green eyes and knowing smirk. ââ¬Å"Don't do that,â⬠I told him, knocking his hand away. ââ¬Å"Then what are you doing in here?â⬠he asked. I gestured around me. ââ¬Å"I'm lost.â⬠He peered at me. ââ¬Å"Are you drunk?â⬠ââ¬Å"No. Of course notâ⬠¦but â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ The nausea had settled a little, but I still didn't feel right. ââ¬Å"I think I should sit down.â⬠He took my arm. ââ¬Å"Well, don't do it in here. Someone might get the wrong idea. Let's go somewhere quiet.â⬠He steered me off into a different room, and I looked around with interest. It was a massage area. Several Moroi lay back on tables and were getting back and foot massages from hotel staff. The oil they used smelled like rosemary and lavender. Under any other circumstances, a massage would have sounded great, but lying on my stomach seemed like the worst idea just now. I sat down on the carpeted floor, leaning back against the wall. Adrian walked away and returned with a glass of water. Sitting down as well, he handed it to me. ââ¬Å"Drink this. It'll help.â⬠ââ¬Å"I told you, I'm not drunk,â⬠I mumbled. But I downed the water anyway. ââ¬Å"Uh-huh.â⬠He smiled at me. ââ¬Å"You did nice work with that fight. Who was the other guy that helped you?â⬠ââ¬Å"My boyfriend,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Sort of.â⬠ââ¬Å"Mia was right. You do have a lot of guys in your life.â⬠ââ¬Å"It's not like that.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay.â⬠He was still smiling. ââ¬Å"Where's Vasilisa? I figured she'd be attached to you.â⬠ââ¬Å"She's with her boyfriend.â⬠I studied him. ââ¬Å"What's with the tone? Jealous? You want him for yourself?â⬠ââ¬Å"God, no. I just don't like him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Does he treat her badly?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I admitted. ââ¬Å"He adores her. He's just kind of a jerk.â⬠Adrian was clearly enjoying this. ââ¬Å"Ah, you are jealous. Does she spend more time with him than you?â⬠I ignored that. ââ¬Å"Why do you keep asking about her? Are you interested in her?â⬠He laughed. ââ¬Å"Rest easy, I'm not interested in her in the same way I am you.â⬠ââ¬Å"But you are interested.â⬠ââ¬Å"I just want to talk to her.â⬠He left to fetch me more water. ââ¬Å"Feeling better?â⬠he asked, handing the glass to me. It was crystal and intricately carved. It seemed too fancy for plain water. ââ¬Å"Yeah â⬠¦ I didn't think those drinks were that strong.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's the beauty of them,â⬠he chuckled. ââ¬Å"And speaking of beauty â⬠¦ that's a great color on you.â⬠I shifted. I might not have been showing as much skin as those other girls, but I was showing more than I really wanted to with Adrian. Or was I? There was something weird about him. His arrogant manner annoyed meâ⬠¦but I still liked being around him. Maybe the smartass in me recognized a kindred spirit. Somewhere in the back of my drunken mind, a light clicked on. But I couldn't quite get to it. I drank more water. ââ¬Å"You haven't had a cigarette in, like, ten minutes,â⬠I pointed out, wanting to change the subject. He made a face. ââ¬Å"No smoking in here.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm sure you've made up for it in punch.â⬠His smile returned. ââ¬Å"Well, some of us can hold our liquor. You aren't going to be sick, are you?â⬠I still felt tipsy but no longer nauseous. ââ¬Å"No.â⬠ââ¬Å"Good.â⬠I thought back to when I'd dreamed about him. It had been just a dream, but it had stuck with me, particularly the talk about me being surrounded in darkness. I wanted to ask him about itâ⬠¦ even though I knew it was stupid. It had been my dream, not his. ââ¬Å"Adrianâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He turned his green eyes on me. ââ¬Å"Yes, darling?â⬠I couldn't bring myself to ask. ââ¬Å"Never mind.â⬠He started to retort, then tilted his head toward the door. ââ¬Å"Ah, here she comes.â⬠ââ¬Å"Who- ââ¬Å" Lissa stepped into the room, eyes scanning around. When she spotted us, I saw relief break over her. I couldn't feel it, though. Intoxicants like alcohol numbed the bond. It was another reason I shouldn't have taken such a stupid chance tonight. ââ¬Å"There you are,â⬠she said, kneeling beside me. Glancing at Adrian, she gave him a nod. ââ¬Å"Hey.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hey yourself, cousin,â⬠he returned, using the family terms royals sometimes used around each other. ââ¬Å"You okay?â⬠Lissa asked me. ââ¬Å"When I saw how drunk you were, I thought you might have fallen in somewhere and drowned.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm not- â⬠I gave up trying to deny it. ââ¬Å"I'm fine.â⬠Adrian's usual expression had turned serious as he studied Lissa. It again reminded me of the dream. ââ¬Å"How'd you find her?â⬠Lissa gave him a puzzled look. ââ¬Å"I, um, checked all the rooms.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠He looked disappointed. ââ¬Å"I thought you might have used your bond.â⬠Both she and I stared. ââ¬Å"How do you know about that?â⬠I demanded. Only a few people at school knew about it. Adrian had spoken about it as casually as he might have my hair color. ââ¬Å"Hey, I can't reveal all my secrets, can I?â⬠he asked mysteriously. ââ¬Å"And besides, there's a certain way you two act around each other â⬠¦ it's hard to explain. It's pretty coolâ⬠¦ all the old myths are true.â⬠Lissa regarded him warily. ââ¬Å"The bond only works one way. Rose can sense what I'm feeling and thinking, but I can't do it back to her.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ah.â⬠We sat in silence a few moments, and I drank more water. Adrian spoke again. ââ¬Å"What'd you specialize in anyway, cousin?â⬠She looked embarrassed. We both knew it was important to keep her spirit powers secret from others who might abuse her healing, but her cover story of not having specialized always bothered her. ââ¬Å"I haven't,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Do they think you're going to? Late bloomer?â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠ââ¬Å"You're probably higher in the other elements, though, right? Just not strong enough to really master any?â⬠He reached out to pat her shoulder in an exaggerated show of comfort. ââ¬Å"Yeah, how'd you- ââ¬Å" The instant his fingers touched her, she gasped. It was as though a bolt of lightning had struck her. The strangest look crossed her face. Even drunk, I felt the flood of joy that came pouring through the bond. She stared at Adrian in wonder. His eyes were locked onto hers too. I didn't understand why they were looking at each other like that, but it bothered me. ââ¬Å"Hey,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Stop that. I told you, she has a boyfriend.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know,â⬠he said, still watching her. A small smile turned his lips. ââ¬Å"We need to have a chat someday, cousin.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠she agreed. ââ¬Å"Hey.â⬠I was more confused than ever. ââ¬Å"You have a boyfriend. And there he is.â⬠She blinked back to reality. All three of us turned toward the doorway. Christian and the others stood there. I suddenly had a flashback to when they'd found me with Adrian's arm around me. This wasn't much better. Lissa and I were sitting on either side of him, very close. She sprang up, looking mildly guilty. Christian was regarding her curiously. ââ¬Å"We're getting ready to leave,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠she told him. She looked down at me. ââ¬Å"Ready?â⬠I nodded and started to clamber to my feet. Adrian caught my arm as I did and helped me up. He smiled at Lissa. ââ¬Å"Nice talking to you.â⬠To me, he murmured very quietly, ââ¬Å"Don't worry. I told you, I'm not interested in her in that way. She doesn't look as good in a bathing suit. Probably not as good out of one either.â⬠I pulled my arm away. ââ¬Å"Well, you'll never find out.â⬠ââ¬Å"It's okay,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"I have a good imagination.â⬠I joined the others, and we headed back toward the main part of the lodge. Mason gave me as strange a look as Christian had given Lissa and stayed away from me, walking toward the front with Eddie. To my surprise and discomfort, I found myself walking beside Mia. She looked miserable. ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦ I'm really sorry about what happened,â⬠I said finally. ââ¬Å"You don't have to act like you care, Rose.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, no. I mean it. It's horribleâ⬠¦I'm so sorry.â⬠She wouldn't look at me. ââ¬Å"Isâ⬠¦that is, are you going to see your dad soon?â⬠ââ¬Å"Whenever they have the memorial,â⬠she said stiffly. ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠I didn't know what else to say and gave up, instead turning my attention to the stairs as we climbed back up to the lodge's main level. Unexpectedly, Mia was the one who continued the conversation. ââ¬Å"I watched you break up that fight â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ she said slowly. ââ¬Å"You mentioned offensive magic. Like you knew about it.â⬠Oh. Great. She was going to make a play at blackmailâ⬠¦or was she? At the moment, she seemed almost civil. ââ¬Å"I was just guessing,â⬠I said. No way was I going to bust Tasha and Christian. ââ¬Å"I don't really know that much. Just stories I've heard.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠Her face fell. ââ¬Å"What kind of stories?â⬠ââ¬Å"Um, wellâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I tried to think of something neither too vague nor too specific. ââ¬Å"Like I told those guysâ⬠¦the concentration thing is big. Because if you're in a battle with Strigoi, all sorts of things can distract you. So you've got to keep control.â⬠That was actually a basic guardian rule, but it must have been new to Mia. Her eyes widened with eagerness. ââ¬Å"What else? What kind of spells do people use?â⬠I shook my head. ââ¬Å"I don't know. I don't really even know how spells work, and like I said, these are justâ⬠¦stories I've heard. My guess is you just find ways to use your element as a weapon. Like â⬠¦ fire users really have an advantage because fire'll kill Strigoi, so it's easy for them. And air users can suffocate people.â⬠I'd actually experienced that last one vicariously through Lissa. It had been horrible. Mia's eyes grew wider still. ââ¬Å"What about a water user?â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"How could water hurt a Strigoi?â⬠I paused. ââ¬Å"I, uh, never heard any stories about water users. Sorry.â⬠ââ¬Å"Do you have any ideas, though? Ways that, like, someone like me could learn to fight?â⬠Ah. So that's what this was about. It actually wasn't all that crazy. I remembered how excited she'd looked at the meeting when Tasha had talked about attacking Strigoi. Mia wanted to take revenge on the Strigoi for her mother's death. No wonder she and Mason had been getting along so well. ââ¬Å"Mia,â⬠I said gently, catching hold of the door to let her pass. We were almost at the lobby now. ââ¬Å"I know how you must want to â⬠¦ do something. But I think you're better off just sort of letting yourself, um, grieve.â⬠She reddened, and suddenly, I was seeing the normal and angry Mia. ââ¬Å"Don't talk down to me,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Hey, I'm not. I'm serious. I'm just saying you shouldn't do anything rash while you're still upset. Besides â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I bit off my words. She narrowed her eyes. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠Screw it. She needed to know. ââ¬Å"Well, I don't really know what good a water user would be against a Strigoi. It's probably the least useful element to use on one of them.â⬠Outrage filled her features. ââ¬Å"You're a real bitch, you know that?â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm just telling you the truth.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, let me tell you the truth. You're a total idiot when it comes to guys.â⬠I thought about Dimitri. She wasn't entirely off base. ââ¬Å"Mason's great,â⬠she continued. ââ¬Å"One of the nicest guys I know- and you don't even notice! He'd do anything for you, and you were off throwing yourself at Adrian Ivashkov.â⬠Her words surprised me. Could Mia have a crush on Mason? And while I certainly hadn't been throwing myself at Adrian, I could see how it might have looked that way. And even if it weren't true, that wouldn't have stopped Mason from feeling hurt and betrayed. ââ¬Å"You're right,â⬠I said. Mia stared at me, so astonished I'd agreed with her that she didn't say anything else for the rest of the walk. We reached the part of the lodge that split off into different wings for guys and girls. I grabbed a hold of Mason's arm as the others walked off. ââ¬Å"Hang on,â⬠I told him. I badly needed to reassure him about Adrian, but a tiny part of me wondered if I was doing it because I actually wanted Mason or because I just liked the idea of him wanting me and selfishly didn't want to lose that. He stopped and looked at me. His face was wary. ââ¬Å"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you after the fight- I know you were just trying to help. And with Adrianâ⬠¦nothing happened. I mean it.â⬠ââ¬Å"It didn't look that way,â⬠Mason said. But the anger on his face had faded. ââ¬Å"I know, but believe me, it's all him. He's got some kind of stupid crush on me.â⬠My tone must have been convincing because Mason smiled. ââ¬Å"Well. Hard not to.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm not interested in him,â⬠I continued. ââ¬Å"Or anyone else.â⬠It was a small lie, but I didn't think it mattered just then. I was going to be over Dimitri soon, and Mia had been right about Mason. He was wonderful and sweet and cute. I would be an idiot not to pursue this â⬠¦ right? My hand was still on his arm, and I pulled him toward me. He didn't need much more of a signal. He leaned down and kissed me, and in the process, I found myself pressed up against the wall- very much like with Dimitri in the practice room. Of course, it felt nothing like how it had with Dimitri, but it was still nice in its way. I put my arms around Mason and started to pull him closer. ââ¬Å"We could go â⬠¦ somewhere,â⬠I said. He pushed back and laughed. ââ¬Å"Not when you're drunk.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm notâ⬠¦ thatâ⬠¦ drunk anymore,â⬠I said, trying to pull him back. Giving me a small kiss on the lips, he stepped back. ââ¬Å"Drunk enough. Look, this isn't easy, believe me. But if you still want me tomorrow- when you're sober- then we'll talk.â⬠He leaned down and kissed me again. I tried to wrap my arms around him, but he broke away once more. ââ¬Å"Easy there, girl,â⬠he teased, backing toward his hallway. I glared at him, but he only laughed and turned around. As he walked away, my glare faded, and I headed back to my room with a smile on my face.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Important Of Accountability
Accountability is the act of accepting ownership over action and their contribution to the organization. Leadership and staff can influence large and small group and empower them to meet the objectives for the organization. The purpose of this paper discusses accountability in health care industry, and employee accountability. How accountability applies to ethical consideration in leadership and management, check-and-balance process, and accountability affect working culture. Why is accountability important in the health care industry?Concerning accountability, there are three levels to consider first, organizational accountability second, management accountability last, worker accountability. They share information to keep those who need to know. They set goals for themselves and people, and their team, and they explain how those goals measured. They monitor the goals and provide feedback. They consider potential outcome of their action, and decision. They take responsibility for th eir action as well as those people under them. They learn from their mistake, and help others learn from their.Health care industry set specific mandates and requirements for financial reporting, which sets deadline for compliance and rules and requirement (Turk, 2012). The integrity in the accounting standard applies to government and business practices (Turk, 2012). Organizations need to take responsibility for their action. The key component is to continue monitoring goals and objective. The accountability begins at the top and encompasses each level of the organization. How is an employeeââ¬â¢s accountability measured in the health care industry?Employee accountability is the same as manager accountability, and the expectations should held accountable for meeting or not meeting these expectation. The biggest problem is communicating that why everyone understands the expectation of the company. The goals for the individual are used to measure success. The expectation includes attitude, work ethic, and skills, work habits this has to be understood so that the supervisor and employee have the same understanding (Turk, 2012). When expectation of the employee is met, the organization rewards him.If they are not met the organization resolve the problem, or consequence come behind the mistake. Leadership need to have feedback sessions with their employee to let him know positive and negative outcome, and recognize him in front of his peers. The goals are to admit their mistake and learn from them. How does accountability apply to ethnical consideration in leadership and management? The United States health care system faces challenges in providing quality health care to diverse population (Napoles-Springer, 2005).The effort to identify the culturally health care from the perspective of ethnically and diverse in detail to define cultural competence level of medical encounter are lacking the skills, and knowledge to identify the different cultural values and pra ctices (Napoles-Springer, 2005). The measure could used to access how cultural competence of provider is associated with patient outcomes (Napoles-Springer, 2005). The cultural competence measure the quality of health care associated with patient outcome.The ethnical responsibility carries certain degree of respect, cooperation, share knowledge, and teamwork. The problems arise with staff members and department, but building rapport with the department can improve the work experience, and the experience of patient treated through the health care industry. The employer ethnical responsibly are to orientation and training on new and existing equipment, empowered employees to be more productive, and happy with his job.There should be a chain of command where staff member could resolve issues What does check-and-balances process look like in a successful organization? The check-and-balance process support employee ensures a transparent working environment, and keep ethical employee from manipulate and intimidate by others. The proper check-and-balance prevents individuals ignoring ethical guidelines, and deters bad behavior. An organization structuring a set of check-and-balance needs where problems develop and how they can fix it.The process start with leaderships they must become aware and involved in the organization. The organization should have tight control and failure to follow policy and procedure will be deal with. Leadership must act ethically and insisting that the staff do the same. Leadership must be on guard for that area where ethical lapse occurs and provide the check-and-balance to prevent them. How does accountability affect an organizationââ¬â¢s working culture?Health care industry shares the fundamental commitment to enhance the quality of care for those needing health care service, and create effective health care delivery system (American College of Healthcare Executive, 2010). The goal is to create a workplace that attracts and keeps the best employee with the opportunity for personal and professional development, which includes education, specialty training, and access to career goal. Mutual respect and care create a work environment, which everyone believes valued and appreciated, and looking forward to go to work every day.Communication is critical for a company set up regular meeting invite feedback. Encourage employee to contribute innovative and quality ideas. Coordinate and monitoring activity keep focus on goals and action. Provide accurate information to employee, and ensure that the action is consistent with the company objective and goals, and established deadline when task must be complete, and review task ongoing and in progress (American College of Healthcare Executive, 2010) How can you maintain a positive working culture and avoid a working culture of blame?A positive workplace lead to increased in productivity, better employee morale, and the ability to keep skilled worker (McFarlin, 2012). First a clear vision or mission for the organization this defines the foundation of the organization. Second, hired positive employee an individual with friendly smile, upbeat personality, handles conflict, and interact with others. Third, establish an open-door-policy be accessible to the staff, have one-on-one meeting listen to feedback both positive and negative.Fourth, communicate with the staff keep them inform on what is going on with the organization be honest with the staff about upcoming changes in the organization. Last recognized the staff accomplishment, and establish reward system for excellent performance, and thank an employee for a job well done. Encourage staff member to recruit potential employee. The employee will have a better feel of which he want to work with, and the goal is to promote a positive work environment (McFarlin, 2012). ConclusionIn conclusion this paper discusses accountability in health care industry, employeeââ¬â¢s accountability, the ethical consider ation in leadership, and management. The checks-and-balances process and the accountability work culture. Accountability must begin at the top and run through the organization. Accountability in health care industry must have good communication; defined goals at each level, monitoring feedback, consequences are part of the process. The responsibility of the organization holds staff accountability for the outcome of health care.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Make a wish foundation Essay
There is an array of things that are assessed in starting a successful business. When viewing the success of Dale Northrup who decided to open the Percy Inn in Portland, Maine, after being a critic and editor for hotels and cruise ships all over the world, it becomes very apparent that a great deal of work goes into starting a successful business. A business owner must first determine the reasons in which they want to start a business. The owner must determine what entrepreneurial characteristics they possess that will promote the success of their business. Next, a niche and market must be determined. This paper will give details of how Dale Northrup, owner and manager of Percy Inn decided to open a successful business using his entrepreneurial skills and background in the travel and lodging market to create wealth, a sense of pride, and an attractive venture to investors. When Dale decided to open the Percy Inn, he had to consider several reasons to take the risk as an entrepreneur. Like many entrepreneurs, Dale probably thought the top advantages to starting Percy Inn was the flexibility, freedom, and better income along with pride of ownership, retention of control, and the retention of ownership. Dale Northrup traveled all over the world and wrote 23,000 hotel reviews for travel agent hotel guides in 70 countries (Percy, About the Inn), so he is truly an expert on the travel and lodge industry. Being given the opportunity to use his expertise in the industry and own the famous Percy Inn located in Portland, Maine, Dale has a huge sense of pride for his ownership and management. Dale also has other lodging options that include his cottage on the Southern Maine coast as well as chic condominiums overlooking Biscayne Bay in South Florida (Percy, Home of the Percy Inn). Dale is able to provide various levels of comfort to various markets of people in multiple locations with the use of his niche for travel and lodging and history of Portland. As Dale continues to manage these amazing inns in great locations, he assumes all the risk and is allowed to be very innovative in how he accommodates his traveling guests and tenants, which allows him the privilege to be independent and flexible as he faces many challenges. He also is able to retain control and profits to increase his financial success. Dale can have the satisfaction of owning a business that he is very proud of and keep the profits to himself minus his taxes and expenses, which is a great advantage of being an entrepreneur. Even with Daleââ¬â¢s expertise in travel and lodging and his success in his business at Percy Inn, he possesses several other entrepreneurial characteristics that are imperative to being an excellent business owner. According to the author Marce in Chapter 7 about Small Business and Entrepreneurship, a few characteristics of entrepreneurs include vision, self-reliance, energy, confidence, tolerance of uncertainty, and tolerance of failure ( Marce, pg 102). The characteristics that Dale Northrup seem to possess especially are vision, confidence, and self-reliance. Dale had several years of personal and professional experience in lodging, but it was his vision that enabled him to create an urban inn after he renovated a house from the year 1830 that was built in Maine, ten years after it became a state(Northrup). He was very confident in his expertise in travel and lodge and history of Portland in order to create an inn that would appeal to many people all while he pursued a great business venture that he was passionate about. He also took his business a step further by opening more inns in other locations besides the main inn in Portland, which shows that he is very confident that his vision will be to the satisfaction of many people all over the world. His ability to manage inns and maintain a vision that is selective and targets a certain type of market shows that he is very reliable. Dale is responsible for permits, staffing his inns, maintain his investor relations, and any liabilities that impact him personally and financially in dealing with the business operations. A good time for some families is a trip to Disney World, a cruise, weekend getaway, a tour of France , or even a trip to a local beach. No matter what a person or family enjoys there is something out there for them to take part in. Dale Northrup has an inn which is probably very appealing to a market that is fond of New England history and wants to enjoy the luxury of a home away from home whether it is for a day trip or extended stay. A market niche tends to be attractive to a certain segment of people and not have as many competitors. Dale definitely has a niche in the market because he has a great deal of experience and is also providing an inn that is different from many other because of the historical New England influence. The niche works in Daleââ¬â¢s favor and does not limit him because he caters to other marketsà and taste by having other inns that are more appropriate to their locations and other peopleââ¬â¢s interest ( Marce, pg 106). If Dale is able to have three inns in different locations that are all very successful and able to use his expertise in the desires of people in lodging, he should not have any problems with being successful and able to target various markets even if he gains more competitors or ever feels that he wants to change his niche or target market. Changing his niche and vision to cater to more people could actually be of great benefit to him in the future, but probably is not necessary since he has something unique in its class already. Percy Inn is very impressive to investors and probably had an extensive business plan. Business plans usually cover everything from the vision of a business to the marketing to the financial analysis of the business. If Dale presented the business plan to me, as an investor I would be most interested in the potential customers, profitability, operating procedures, and financial data. If I would take the risk of investing in a business that I was not familiar with I would definitely be interested in the market of people that services would be provided to because that would be an indicator of how profitable the business would be. I would also need a clear understanding of operating procedures such as how would the inn be ran and operated in terms of personnel and tending to guests as well as how inns at other locations owned by Dale would be operated when he is not able to be on site. Last, but certainly not least, the financial data is very important. The financial data is important because it will reveal how much money is necessary to invest to start the business as well as how much is needed to maintain and operate the business over the tenure of the business. It is imperative that an investor is aware of what market the business they invest in will target and what financial future the business has to return the money invested and become profitable. Since Dale is the owner and manager of the inns, he is a sole proprietor of the business. Being a sole proprietor gives Dale the advantage of ease of formation, retaining profits and control, and pride of ownership. Because Dale is a sole proprietor he does not have to file as many forms or pay the fees associated with partnerships and corporations. Dale is in full controlà of the business and therefore he manages everything and assumes all liability. Dale is able to benefit from all the profits of the business since he manages everything and assumes all risk and liability. If Dale ever considered switching to a partnership or corporation he would be able to limit some of his risk and duties, which could increase or decrease the income. If Dale was not the sole owner, he could limit his liabilities because if the company goes bankrupt, the stockholders would have personal asset protection. There would be permeance, allowing Daleââ¬â¢s business consider to thrive even if he withdraws or dies because the corporation could continue if stockholders want the business to continue. Switching to a corporation could also help ale to make more money since corporations and partnerships are usually larger than sole proprietorships because there are larger teams of people which allow more diversity amongst ideas to expand because they can use specialized management by hiring qualified people to help grow the company. (Marce,pg 89) In conclusion, Dale Northrup is a sole proprietor with a distinctive entrepreneurial profile. He has taken a risk to start a business with a vision of his own to target various people from all over to visit his inns in different locations. He is being recognized for his great inn and the service provided and is able to enjoy freedom, flexibility, and the retention of profits. I would recommend that Dale looks for ways to increase his market share since he has a unique business. If his market share increases, it could lead to more income and opportunities. Second, if the business continues to thrive and Dale wants to expand, he may want to at least expand to a partnership with someone who shares his similar vision to share responsibility with and continue the business in the case that he can no longer own and manage the business. Last, it would be in the best interest of Dale to maintain very accurate financial information to watch for trends and perform analysis comparable to other companies to look for ways to improve his business and win against competitors. Works Cited Kelly, Marce, and James McGowen. ââ¬Å"Small Business and Entrepreneurship.â⬠_BUSN 5_. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2013. Pages 89-112 Print. Northrup, Dale. ââ¬Å"Home of the Percy Inn.â⬠_Home of the Percy Inn_. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2013.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Lanval Sir Gawain research paper
The legendary works of Lanval and Sir Gawain provides a positive human state of loyalty and honor that will truly boost the persona of these two individuals. Different portrayal of roles which will lead to a channel of similarities and differences was the focal point of scrutinizing these two masterpieces. In addition, upon exploring these two different works considering the positive and / or negative human state, attitude and characteristics, it is imperative to determine the strengths of Lanval and Sir Gawain by using these criteria.The story of Lanval reverses the typical conventions in romance as the maiden rescues the knight instead of the usual approach that men took the first move. In the event wherein Lanval walk away going nowhere, he looses his mind with and unfortunately his horse did not make to serve him and no other way but Lanval let go of his horse Apparently there were ladies along the way who came across with whom presents great attitude of accommodating him. As thi s two ladies approach Lanval, there was a prior intention of leading Lanval to the queen.à à à In Marie de Franceââ¬â¢sà Lanval ââ¬Å"These two ladies came straightaway / To the place where Lanval lay / Lanval, mannerly, well-bred / quickly scrambled to his feet / The ladies spoke, first to greet / Him, then with a message they said / Lord Lanval, the lady we owe duty / A lady of valor, wisdom and beauty / Itââ¬â¢s for you our lady has sent / Us.Now come along with us, do! / Safely weââ¬â¢ll conduct you through / Not far ââ¬â look, you can see her tent!â⬠(6.1-12). Despite the eagerness of the queen to establish a discreet relationship, Lanval in return cannot take the pleasure being offered to him, thus, he neglected to pursue such tempting emotion. ââ¬Å"For her kiss, her embrace, her touch / Little he cares about otherââ¬â¢s delight / When he canââ¬â¢t enjoy his own! / The queen saw him go off alone / And she headed straight for that knight / S he sat near him, she called him over / she spoke as her heart would move her / Lanval, I really so respect you / I really care, I really love / And you can have all my love / Tell me what you want! I expect you / Must be happy at what I say / Iââ¬â¢m offering to go all the way / Lady, he said, let me go! / I never thought to love you so! / Iââ¬â¢ve served the king for many a day / His faith in me I wonââ¬â¢t betray / Not for you, your love, or anything / Would I ever act against my king!â⬠(13.1-19).It came to the point that the queen became desperate for the reason that Lanval still hold his emotion and stay in being loyal. Out of which the queen claims that Lanval maltreated her and even come to the point that Lanval was put in trial because of the anger of Queen Guinevere. ââ¬Å"The King had just come home from the wood / His day's hunting had been good / He went into the Queen's chamber / She cried out, loud, when first she / Saw him, fell at his feet, begged merc y / Accused Lanvalââ¬âhe had shamed her! / He'd asked her for a love-affair / She'd said no, with this result / He'd offered her an ugly insult / He boasted of a friend so fair / So full of pride, breeding, honor / That the chambermaid who waited on her / The lowliest, poorest of the poor / Compared to the Queen, was worth far more / The King was angry, to the core / His oath against Lanval he swore / In court he'd prove he was no liar / Or else he'd hang, or die by fire / The King left the Queen's bedroom / Called three of his barons to him / Sent them to bring in Lanvalâ⬠(15.1-21).On the other hand, the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knights epitomize the attitude of having a word of honor but unfortunately in the case of Sir Gawain, he did not make it up to the end. The game is that the challenger gets a chance to hit the Green Knight but in a year and a day, he must go to the Green Knight's chapel and then the Green Knight will test him and if he fails the tests, th e Green Knight will hit him. Sir Gawain being the youngest knight in the round table unfolds the challenge of battling with the Green Knight and continue with the pact that goes with the confront which was after a year of the fight the conqueror will go to Green Chapel to get a blow in return if he does not meet the ordeal.As Sir Gawain was on his way to the said place after a year, he was able to meet Bertilak. ââ¬Å"Sir, if you be Gawain, it seems a great wonder / A man so well-meaning, and mannerly disposed / And cannot act in company as courtesy bidsâ⬠(lines 1126 ââ¬â 1997). à As Sir Gawain reached the place, challenges were headed for him, which in fact was very symbolic in nature. Temptations occurs which in turn he get hold of a girdle. Bertilak which happens to be the Green Knight also put him into the test as they come to the exchange of winnings. Unfortunately, Sir Gawain fails to be loyal and honest as he fails to utter the girdle that he has.Both these stori es present exciting analytical relationship taking into account honor and courtly love. It is of great pride of the characterââ¬â¢s portrayal on how their outlook will affect their decisions up to the end which will make them a hero of their own. Compare and contrast these two poems is the focal point of this paper. In addition, at the end of this paper, identifying the similarities and differences of both works was essential in the analysis of the subject matter.Compare and Contrast: Lanval & Sir GawainLoyalty was clearly illustrated in both characters. It is of great value to take note how this certain attitude transform their individuality. Lanval promises not to reveal the identity of his mistress. Even when Queen Guinevere attempts to seduce Lanval, he refuses temptation because of her loyalty to his lover ââ¬â the fairy maiden. Evidently, the foundation of such loyalty was rooted in the character of his lover. On the other hand, Sir Gawain takes the challenge for King A rthur in response to his loyalty to his master. He also honors the pact of one year and one day and took the chance of fighting with beast in order to render the pact of their duel. Sir Gawain has the will to sacrifice in order to hold on his word to the point that he almost experience starving just to keep his promise.In lieu of their loyalty, they established within themselves the honor which gives them the pride. Lanval embrace his word up to the end even if he goes through a trial, he faces it with pride and honor. He did not endure the accusations of the queen and faces its challenges. On the other note, Sir Gawain seize his honor as he dwell on the challenges of the concordat up to the end. He did not even open a single door to have second thought to pursue the battle with the Green Knight and thus, give him ultimate honor.As regards to feelings, both the character of Lanval and Sir Gawain experienced to have intense love ââ¬â the one for a certain maiden and the latter wa s a love for the self. It could be different in criteria but both give them the strength to live. The pursuance of ones love ultimately gives them the drive to stand rigid and hold on what would make them tough. Definitely, as the character of Lanval and Sir Gawain defeats temptation, this love boosts their grip on the road to being strong.à It brightens the lives of Lanval and Sir Gawain as their powerful love bestow them hope. Lanval even if heââ¬â¢s on trial and in any moment will destroy the life that he has, he consistently hold onto the hope that the truth will prevail ââ¬â whatever accusations of the queen towards Lanval, it will not persist because it just present an opaque scenario of events which did not occur in the first place. à In Marie de Franceââ¬â¢s Lanval ââ¬Å"On the day set for the trial / The barons have traveled many a mile / To be there; the Queenââ¬â¢s there, and the King / And now Lanvalââ¬â¢s hostages bring / Him in. Theyââ¬â¢re so s orry for him / A hundred knights or more, I guess / Would have done anything for him / So he could walk free away from the case / So wrongful are the accusations!â⬠(20.1-9).The people will stand for Lanval as they witness the unreasonable accusations that queen bequeath on Lanval. Parallel to this, as to the case of Sir Gawain, as he faces the challenge of the Green Knight, his will sustains his hope. The more he pursues the pact, the more it will give him peace of mind. Thus holding on the aspiration of victory gives him hope.Guilt also took part in the characters stance and make plausible comparison. As regard to Lanvalââ¬â¢s encounter with the queen, even if he was very much aware that the personality of the queen might be ruin, Lanval still insist with his determination to stand to what he believes is right ââ¬â and that is to be loyal with his lover. As to the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in consequence of Sir Gawainââ¬â¢s encounter with challenges in Greenââ¬â¢s Chapel, the host gives him kisses in return for his success, however he did not follow to what they agreed prior the battle, he did not give all of his winnings which gives him the guilt and thus consistently wear the girdle around his arm as a sign of his culpability.ConclusionThe act of sincerity comes into account as we weigh the guilt which was instill in the hearts and minds of the characters. Both Lanval and Sir Gawain were sincere in their craft. With no hesitance, they face the consequences of their chosen field. Fear was the major hindrance to their established characters.Both personas disregard pleasure and pain. The act of cynicism was present in Lanval and Sir Gawain. Courtly love was taken into account in these two characters. Lanval epitomized his sincerity and love for his fairy maiden as he kept surpassing the barriers of their relationships. On the other hand the host going to the Green Chapel touches the heart of Sir Gawain in one way or the other as he sealed himself in exchanging his winnings with the Green Knight specifically with the girdle that he got from the host. Sense of mortality was present as it has a feeling of commonality in both presented poems. These nearly pass the same life cycle as its main character being portrayed by Lanval and Sir Gawain almost has the same channel ââ¬â a sense of preciousness of time and life.Good things happen to good people. Lanval broke his promise, and Sir Gawain broke his promise. But nothing bad happened to either. They learned from their mistake and they were regretful. Both authors show that after all, humans will be humans, and humans are capable of mistakes, no matter how honorable their past has been.Both the female characters are not loyal to their husbands. Neither is Queen Guinevere or the hostââ¬â¢s wife. Both try to seduce another man and attempt to sleep with other man. Men are more loyal than women in these two works.On another note, there were also opposing in stances in these poems. The works differ in loyalty. Sir Gawain lied to protect his life while Lanval lied to protect his mistressââ¬â¢ honor. Furthermore, as regards to the sense of guilt, Lanval did not felt a single guilt at the end as he chose to stand firm on what he believe was right. Lanval just ride off to Avalon with his lover ââ¬â as if it was okay for him to break his code of silence. On the Contrary, there was a feeling of guilt in Sir Gawain since he was not honest in exchanging his winnings and in consequence of his remorse; he wears his girdle in his arms.Lanval and Sir Gawain show the interconnection of their stories as well as their temperaments. In one way or the other, there was resemblance with their stories and it presents a good basis of comparison.Referencesââ¬Å"LANVALâ⬠Marie de France, translated Judith P. Shoaf à ©1991, 2005Stone, Brian. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. British Library. 1974
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