Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Essay on Adultery in the Military - 922 Words

Adultery in the Military As citizens of the United States of America we are all governed by a certain set of rules. These laws are set forth by our elected officials. These laws deal with almost all aspects of life including morally wrong actions such as murder and theft. However, these laws do not govern many other moral choices such as adultery. As members of the United States Armed Forces, we are also regulated by an additional set of rules. We must abide by the sanctions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Unlike our state laws, the UCMJ does have articles that address the subject of adultery. The UCMJ articles that now pertain to adulterous actions are very strict and limit personal choice. These articles†¦show more content†¦The United States Armed Forces is based on the principles oh honor. â€Å"Honor is a strict adherence to the military standards of conduct†¦lying, cheating, stealing, and deceit are forms of behavior that will not be tolerated† (Benin 32). A dultery is grave action that includes three of these four forms of behavior. It is the epitome of â€Å"breaking a promise,† and â€Å"deceiving someone† because of the serious commitments made within a marriage (Wasserstrom 192). The breaking of a promise and deception are what make adultery morally wrong (Wasserstrom 192-3). Some opponents of adultery use â€Å"the Principle of Utility† as a basis for their views. â€Å"This principle requires that whenever we have a choice between alternative actions or social policies, we must choose the one that has best overall consequences for everyone concerned† (Rachels 97). The opponents of adultery believe that adultery does more damage than good. It does harm to the person being deceived, and in the military, it can â€Å"disrupt moral and functioning in a military unit† (Capitol 1). In the adultery case of 1st Lt. Kelly Flinn USAF, the first female B-52 bomber pilot, the functioning of her military unit was definitely disrupted. Lt. Flinn lied â€Å"about an affair she had with the husband of an enlisted woman† (Capitol 2). â€Å"Lt. Flinn was charged with fraternization, disobeying a direct order, lying, conduct unbecoming to an officer, and she was charged with adultery. If you add up all the charges, theyShow MoreRelatedThe Mongols : Mongols Barbarians783 Words   |  4 Pagesbarbarians. The Mongols had a strong dominating military that was almost always successful, they contributed to many of the ideas that are still around today, and made a very stern set of laws that kept their community civilized which is why I believe that the Mongols were not barbarians. Although the Mongols were sometimes very brutal they were not barbarians. The Mongols were able to come up with very complex battle tactics like no other military in their era. In document three â€Å" History ofRead MoreReputation Of Men And Women In Othello1118 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout history, the reputation of men and women has been defined by society in a different matter. During the 16th century, men were viewed accordingly to their military position and societal duties. On the other hand, a womans character was defined by their sexual history, commitment of adultery and servitude to their husband. Such a contrast in perceptions did not only alter the way in which women were regarded by their husbands and society, but it influenced the manner in which men definedRead MoreOthello as a Tragedy of Character1649 Words   |  7 Pagesplots (who’s the most evil character of the history) Othello can’t control himself and his jealousy that he radically changes through the end. This change stems from his being deceived by Iago (evil incarnate) and leading him to accuse his wife for adultery. At this point, as a characteristic of the classical tragedy, Othello turns out to be a â€Å"tragically divided character†: He’s divided between the choices of killing his innocent wife as a punishment or stop believing in Iag o’s deceptions, tricks andRead More Augustus and how he changed the roman Empire Essay1071 Words   |  5 Pagestotal control of Rome and tried to destroy each other. Civil war was the the only way to solve problems in politics. Consequently, the power of the military became strong. Control of Romes armies changed from the government to the generals because the soldiers began to listen to their generals rather than to the Government. On dismissal from military service, the soldiers had no farms to return to, and they depended entirely on whatever land and money their generals could provide since the governmentRead MoreThe US Militarys Sexual-Assault Problem Essay1180 Words   |  5 PagesIn the past, military news typically evolved tragic training incidents or deaths during overseas combat. However, over the last several years many incidents involving military personnel and sexual assault have made headlines across the United States. Military women and men have brought to l ight the lack of justice for victims of sexual assault, and the prevalence of such attacks. Questions arise as to why victims do not report incidents or seek assistance when they are physically or sexually assaultedRead MoreRoman Cinema And The Roman Empire951 Words   |  4 Pages and gladiator fights became the new entertainment for roman citizens. Gladiatorial presentations were different from theatrical entertainment and chariot races. The purposes of gladiator presentations were to exemplify the military ethic as well as to emphasize the military bias of Rome’s world dominance (Slater 72). The citizens began celebrating and accepting such barbarianism that gladiator fights became a grotesque form of entertainment. There was wild beast that were exhibited and killed toRead MoreAugustus Essay1148 Words   |  5 Pagesextended to laws regarding adultery, unchastity, and bribery. The Lex Julia di maritis ordinibus prohibited celibacy and childless marriages. It was made c ompulsory for roman citizens to get married. Special benefits, such as tax breaks, were established for couples with children in order to encourage procreation. Thus, this law had the â€Å"added advantage of replacing the decimated Roman population that was lost during the numerous civil wars†. To handle the issue of adultery, which the Romans thenRead MoreWomen s Role And Status Of Women1180 Words   |  5 Pagespotential for upward mobility. In the legal context, during the rule of the military dictator General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, various discriminatory laws against women were introduces during his Islamization process in the late 70’s and 80’s. For example, when the Hudood Ordinance was established in 1979, it equated rape with adultery. In the case of maximum punishment, testimonies by women were not admitted to prove rape or adultery. Instead the law required that the evidence should be provided by at leastRead MoreScarlet Letter And The Other Wes Moore Analysis989 Words   |  4 PagesThe Other Wes Moore, by Wes Moore, both stories exhibit that each choice a person makes has a consequence, good or bad. Each book is based around choices; The Scarlet Letter narrates the life of a young puritan woman, Hester Prynne, who committed adultery with man who hidden in plain sight for many years. While the people of her community tried to persuade her to reveal who the father is of her new child, she refused, determined to keep his secret hidden and his reputation clean. Since Hester committedRead MoreCharged with sex-related crimes involving 10 female Airmen, 4 counts of adultery, and several other900 Words   |  4 PagesCharged with sex-related crimes involving 10 female Airmen, 4 counts of adultery, and several other charges such as indecent conduct, misuse of position, and maltreatment of enlisted Airmen, former Command Chief of Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) CMSgt William Gurney failed to ethically lead his Airmen. By his own admission, he was â€Å"caught in a cycle of sin and failed as an Airman and a husband.† 1 In this essay, I will discuss the Chief’s specialty an d some of the positions he held as a Printer

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Racial Profiling And Its Effects On Society - 1393 Words

Alina Haseeb History 104 Professor Smith 3 August 2015 Racial Profiling We live in a society that has prospered generously over the years. America has opened its doors for so many different people by establishing itself as a free country. Not only have we progressed in technology and economically but we have created our own identity by becoming a free nation in which every individual has the same rights and eligibility as the other. This is the core of our countries success; we are not a nation unified distinctly by a specific race, religion or culture but by the compulsive efforts of our nation’s laws to uphold freedom in every aspect of a civilian’s life. People are not only allowed but encouraged to practice the religion of their choice, eat the food they desire, speak the language they prefer. There is even freedom in the most minute of things such as being able to listen to the music of your choice, these are the laws that promote diversity and strengthen our nation today. Our nation’s identity and prosperity i s built upon multiculturalism and ethnic tolerance. However, this was not always the case it has taken many long and brutal years become the stable and versatile country that we are today. Specifically dating back to when this land was first founded and thereafter we see our nation has struggled with conflicts against politics, discrimination, and public affairs up till this very day. Dating back to a vital time in our nation we come across the early to midShow MoreRelatedRacial Profiling And Its Effects On Society982 Words   |  4 PagesRacial profiling has and always will be a large part the American society. Although before we can discuss its effects on society and how society then affects me we should know what it is. Racial profiling is the use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement (e.g. stop and search or arrest). In other word it is justifiable racism. I say this because in orde r to use a person’s skin color to determine whether they haveRead MoreRacial Profiling And Its Effects On American Society2621 Words   |  11 PagesEver since the late 1970 s profiling was associated with a method of interdicting drug traffickers (Data Collection Resource Center, n.d., para 3). The profiling provided not only a quick way to see evidence of concealment in the vehicle, but included age and race characteristics of possible drivers (Data Collection Resource Center, n.d., para 3). The controversy is over whether or not there are a disproportionate number of blacks and Hispanics involved with law enforcement that reflects policeRead MoreProfling Vs Racial Profiling848 Words   |  4 PagesRecently there have been many issues concerning wrongful searches and police brutality in the criminal justice system. Cries for racial equality and social justice have been heard from across the nation. Profiling and stereotyping are generally seen as almost the same concept, but this is not the case. Specifically, criminal profiling is defined as â€Å"the act or process of extrapolating information about a person based on known traits or tendencies,† according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. In contrastRead MoreRacial Profiling1321 Words   |  6 PagesANALYSIS OF â€Å"RACIAL PROFILING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE† 1 Analysis of â€Å"Racial Profiling and Criminal Justice† Domenica Martinez Colorado Mesa University ANALYZING RACIAL PROFILING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE 2 Research Question I chose to analyze article titled â€Å"Racial Profiling and Criminal Justice† which is written By Jesper Ryberg withinRead MoreThe Community Of Jamaic A Middle Class Area1723 Words   |  7 Pagesgroups because if certain stigmatisms placed on heavily populated neighborhoods. Racial profiling is very much common in this vicinity of Jamaica. Racial profiling is a growing epidemic that has been a major problem for people of color. There are many people who are affected by it and have no way of defending themselves against the norms of society. According to the Merriam Webster online dictionary, racial profiling is the use of a generalized suspicion based on race rather than evidence specificRead MoreThroughout history, racial profiling has become a prevalent issue within humanity. From slavery,1400 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout history, racial profiling has become a prevalent issue within humanity. From slavery, segregation, and to world wars, furthermore ongoing issues of terrorism, these examples have led to the profound effects of racial profiling. Racial Profiling can be defined as the action of law enforcers and society, which specifically targets people based on race, ethnicity, religion or national origin and not by actual behavior. Although, many people may believe that racial profiling is non-existent,Read Mor eRacial Profiling Is A Necessary Evil1100 Words   |  5 PagesRacial Profiling In order to understand racial profiling, it must first be correctly defined. Although different authors use different criteria for the term racial profiling, the definition for the word racial is â€Å"of, relating to, or based on a race The definition the dictionary puts forth for profiling is â€Å"the act of suspecting or targeting a person solely on the basis of observed characteristics or behavior.† Based on these definitions, racial profiling could be defined for criminal justice purposesRead MoreRacial Profiling : A Race And Ethnic Class1208 Words   |  5 Pagespoint presentation on â€Å"racial profiling†. Starting off racial profiling refers to the biased practice by law enforcement officials focusing on individuals for suspicion of crime, based on the individual s race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. Racial profiling is a very brood and sensitive topic because it’s a lot of it going on in the world today. My opinion is that racial profiling is a controversial topic in our society. The beneficial parts of racial profiling are firmly upheld by statisticsRead MoreNarrow Views On The United States939 Words   |  4 Pagesinhumane event, but also by America government official’s racial profiling citizens of all nationalities that set foot into America territory. As citizens of the United States, we are concerned about criminality undermining our society; drugs, terrorist attacks and violence are increasing in our communities. Although crime is a serious problem in our society, government resources are limited and we live under a terrorist threat. However, racial profiling is not the solution to reduce our social issues becauseRead MoreRacial Profiling Term Paper1588 Words   |  7 PagesRacial profiling is a popular method used by law officers in order to hypothetically enhance crime prevention by targeting minorities, because they are more likely to commit a crime. According to Wikipedia, racial profiling is defined as: the inclusion of race in the profile of a person considered likely to commit a particular crime or type of crime. In other words, it is targeting specific ethnic groups because they are more likely to commit certain crimes. Racial profiling is a flagrant form of

Monday, December 9, 2019

How is Sheila affected by her realization Essay Example For Students

How is Sheila affected by her realization Essay Sheila shows her reactions very clearly and it appeared that she could not hide the fact she was simply shocked she was involved, as she had always been used to a higher-class life without these types of situations. Also before she had been guilt tricking her father for firing her, â€Å"I think it was a mean thing to do†. Immediately after she finds out after the inspector shows her the picture of Eva Smith, â€Å"gives a half-stifled sob, and then runs out. That description gives the reader a lot of information of her immediate reactions which are vital as it shows what her character is like, which seems to be quite naive perhaps and sensitive as she seems to really care about Eva. The fact she â€Å"runs out† was a very dramatic movement that suggests her as having a shocked and overwhelmed reaction, in contrast to Mr. Birling’s. It then takes quite some time until Sheila comes back, assuming she had to try and composer herself to find out what role she had had in the case. Although, she may seem naive in her perception of life she was courageous to return and she shows her curiosity, â€Å" you knew it was me all the time, didn’t you? †. Unlike Birling, Sheila seemed like she really cared what happened and felt guilty, yet a more syndical view could say that she wanted to try and shift the blame when she sais â€Å"so I’m really responsible†. That could have been an opportunity for the inspector to shift the blame also it shows she is in disbelief by the fact she would ever do such a thing. On page 23 the reader learns that Sheila may have a different side to her, â€Å" if they didn’t get rid of that girl, I’d never go near the place again. † Once again another Birling threatens the lower class and pulls rank, she used her social status to fire an innocent girl. She also appears to be vindictive, â€Å"I was in a furious temper. She then later displays her nervousness after endeavoring to hide her anxiety. She uses many hyphens that show her uneasiness by her stuttering in what she says; this shows how much it had affected her. Sheila shows how she can be jealous at times â€Å"If she’d been some miserable plain creature, I don’t suppose I’d done it. † Quickly Sheila is keen to shift this confrontation onto another character, â€Å"How did you come to know this girl—Eva Smith. †

Sunday, December 1, 2019

The American Obsession with Bodily Perfection free essay sample

The American Obsession with Bodily Perfection America is a growing and changing nation, but one characteristic has outlasted the years. The obsession for a socially-accepted body, whether it be wearing a corset, being big and voluptuous or, for men, being muscular and lean, has always existed. The culprit, a negative body image, now haunts approximately eight million people across the United States and is beginning to seep into more American minds as the â€Å"Perfect† disease spreads (Davis 8). In the past decade, the pressure to have â€Å"the perfect body† has dramatically increased in America; every individual in this nation has a different view of what â€Å"the perfect body† actually is, and many people who are seeking it are willing to take radical measures, like suffering from an eating disorder or turning towards cosmetic surgery to erase the imperfections of their body they believe exist. Quests for â€Å"the perfect body† in the past few years have increased in both males and females. We will write a custom essay sample on The American Obsession with Bodily Perfection or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Women are pounded with media every day telling them, â€Å"thin is in† or â€Å"thinner is better,† but in reality, achieving this â€Å"ideal† body is sometimes impossible and unhealthy to obtain (Davis 12). Ten billion dollars a year is spent by the American population to look â€Å"ideal† and lose weight (Kuberskey 19- 20). In fact, â€Å"ideal weight† has varied in America from one generation to the next. Marilyn Monroe was curvy and voluptuous in one decade and, in another, Kate Moss began the thin epidemic, but both for their time period were ideal. The information stating that thin is beautiful sparks from the media, for female celebrities are usually portrayed on the television or in magazines without flaws. What many young women do not understand about television and magazines is the art of digital body contouring. All models or celebrities have imperfections, yet in pictures or digital images the editor airbrushes over them, creating a look of perfection. Sadly, these false statements and images affect teenage girls, the main readers of these magazines and viewers of these television shows (Davis 21). Teenage years are when girls find out who they are, and up and coming teenage girls have now been taught that being slender is the only accepted bodily form (Kuberskey 15-16). According to Brangien Davis, â€Å"Advertisers in the beauty and fashion industries make it seem that if we don’t strive for the beauty ideal, we won’t be successful or happy in life† (13). In the advertiser’s minds, the only thing that matters is that beauty sells (Davis 21). Because of these pressures to look beautiful and sophisticated, a negative body image tends to affect females rather than males. Girls define themselves by their appearance, yet boys define themselves by their abilities, therefore, men wish to be lean and muscular. For this reason, men are not immune to the quest for bodily perfection; no one is (Davis 15). These quests for perfection are usually undetectable in men, for men do not speak about their obsession because they fear being embarrassed or looking feminine. Males are subconsciously influenced by muscular heroes like GI Joe, muscle and fitness magazines, or even male models (Kassar). These men with body issues believe they are not muscular or lean enough and fear gaining weight. These secretly infatuated men are beginning to show their obsessions in our everyday lives just as commonly as women show their obsessions. Men’s fascinations with the perfect body are sometimes more dangerous than women’s fascinations, for men use drugs like anabolic steroids to gain muscle and become â€Å"ideal. † They work out excessively and use Creatine to increase muscle tone and, deceivingly, look toned and healthy, although their body is suffering (Kassar). Dr. Brian Kassar believes that â€Å"In men’s perspective if you are thin, muscular and ‘virile,’ you will be personally and sexually fulfilled. † To have â€Å"the perfect body,† weight is obviously a major concern to the minds of these fanatical people. They develop, sometimes after Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Disordered Eating. Other causes of eating disorders include media, celebrities, models, advertisements, child abuse or wanting complete control over oneself (Kuberskey 28-30). Young people from their early teenage years to mid- twenties are especially susceptible to these eating disorders, for advertisements, television shows, and magazine articles are targeted towards people in this age group (6). Eating Disorders are most commonly heard about on the television, for, in Hollywood, celebrities are accused, every day, of having an eating disorder. Because of a common misconception that celebrities are the only individuals that suffer from these mental illnesses, many people do not realize that it exists all around them. It is estimated that sixty-two percent of teenage girls and twenty eight percent of teenage boys have been on diets, and many of these teens have used dangerous methods to lose weight (6). The most common eating disorder is Bulimia Nervosa. This disease is a modern disease, for it was recently, in the past two or three decades, discovered (Kuberskey 41-46). Bulimia is extremely hard to detect but dangerous, for people with this mental illness are not extremely thin, as they are with Anorexia, and may look healthy on the outside while suffering internally. Because the two most common characteristics of Bulimia are binging, eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time, and purging, regurgitating the food after swallowed, it is extremely harmful to the digestive system. It erodes the esophagus, gums and teeth and, also, disturbs the heart rhythm (Kuberskey 41-46). Purging comes in many forms including using laxatives, water pills or diet pills, exercising excessively, and fasting prior to binging. Bulimia is often carried by a sufferer along with a secretiveness and shamefulness about binging and purging (Segal). The second most common eating disorder and, also, the deadliest is Anorexia Nervosa. The mortality rate for Anorexia Nervosa is the highest of any mental disorder (Jerome). Anorexia, for short, is the refusal to keep a healthy weight for one’s height, body type, age and activity level (Segal). This illness is developed when people take the new â€Å"Diet Fad† too far and began to starve themselves to get their desired results. They spend every moment worrying about food, and the worst and most feared feeling an anorectic can experience is the sensation of being full. They exhibit an overwhelming fear of getting fat and have an extreme concern about body weight and image. Warning signs of Anorexia are extreme weight loss, dry, pale skin, brittle hair and, for females, a loss of menstrual periods (Kuberskey 36-40). A third type of eating disorder is Disordered Eating, EDNOS, which is extreme food restriction and weight management. Forty to fifty percent of women are considered disordered eaters (Natenshon). Some characteristics of being a disordered eater are chewing food and then spitting it out without swallowing it and binging and purging irregularly (Segal). Natenshon states the following information that could prevent one from becoming a disordered eater: 1. Dieting is the worst way to lose weight. 2. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so eat it! . Fat free eating is not healthy. 4. Excessive behavior about food is unhealthy (Natenshon) Disordered eating is not as controlling as a real eating disorder like Anorexia or Bulimia, yet it may lead to one. A looming question floats around in many minds after they have been educated or taught about these mental diseases: Do sufferers from eating disorders ever completely recover? Fellow student Sarah Darby, whom was affected, or par tially still is affected, by Anorexia believes one never really recovers from eating disorders. She states the following: NO, I do not believe Anorexia or other eating disorders are something that you ever recover from. I was diagnosed with Anorexia, and I will never be able to look at a slice of pizza without searching for the grease or devour a cookie without calculating the calories. With every glance in the mirror, I perform an evaluation of my size and body, but life goes on. Without this illness I would not be me (Sarah Darby Interview). As one can see, these weakening diseases always lurk inside their carriers, and are always, in the back of their minds, saying â€Å"NO,† to food. Many people support this opinion, yet others like the Renfrew Center, whom help the eating disorder sufferers, believe it can be cured and work every day to prove it can happen. The Renfrew Center, and its many branches of business, is a forty bed facility for women where each one undergoes therapy for their self-specific eating disorder; these clinics can run up to $1,500 a day. At this rehabilitation center the patients take part in individual, art, dance and therapy sessions as well as weigh-ins, room checks and closely monitored meals. Staffers watch the sufferers like a hawk, making sure they follow all of the strict rules (â€Å"Dying to be Thin†). With the increase in eating disorders, many mental and medical treatments have been developed to try and help these mental patients recover. Some mental treatments include Individual therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Family and Group Therapy, and even Online Support Groups. Medical treatments also exist; they include antidepressants, dietician and nutritionist help, naturopathy, acupuncture, aromatherapy and mediation and homeopathy (Segal). Change me†¦Fix me†¦Make me perfect,† is a quotation that specifically describes the mentality of many American citizens in the modern day world, and it is set permanently in these perfectionist’s minds. Plastic and cosmetic surgeons are making millions of dollars because of this American thought. In the year 2002 liposuction was preformed most frequently with 372,831 patients, and it was followed closely by the number of breast augmentations and reductions with approximately 350,000 patients. Cosmetic surgery is ultimately a 7 billion dollar industry containing procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentations, face lifts, and anti- aging treatments (Gail). With obesity rates skyrocketing in America, particularly in the South, a procedure called liposuction has increased considerably. Women are extremely susceptible to this â€Å"fat erasing† epidemic because, as Kendall Hamilton and Julie Weingarden say, â€Å"We, women, want fullness where we are flat and flatness where we are full. † This extremely invasive and, also, particularly expensive procedure definitely has more cons than it has pros (Rollins). Liposuction has the ability to make a patient extremely attractive, boost a patient’s self-esteem and lower a patient’s body weight, but this person must be psychologically stable, physically healthy, emotionally realistic and within fifteen percent of their ideal body weight (Gail). There is also, like in many surgeries, the death factor to consider. Although death is uncommon, approximately one patient dies every 5,000 procedures, and it is still a major risk and should be taken very seriously (Jerome). After liposuction an excess of skin may be left behind or the patient may be lumpy where they where suctioned. This drawback of liposuction is common, and it may lead to other surgeries, such as tummy tucks or even more liposuctions, which are used to fix these additional mistakes (Gail). â€Å"The Boob Epidemic†, as it is referred to by Cosmopolitan journalist Melissa de la Cruz, is characterized as flocks of teenage girls â€Å"racing† to cosmetic surgeons on a quest for a larger, perkier chest. The number of women eighteen years old and younger that had breast augmentations from year 2002 to year 2003 rose from 3,872 patients to 11,326 patients. In total, 250,000 women received a breast augmentation. Many factors have contributed to the increase in breast augmentations. New and improved implants are being made out of saline instead of silicone, for if saline implants leak, the body can absorb the saltwater, whereas, if silicone implants leak, the body is overcome with silicone poisoning, which is extremely toxic. In the media, celebrities are often seen with large breasts which are often enhanced by breast augmentation surgery. When young female adults see these big busted actresses all over the television it peaks their interest and may make them want to receive this unneeded surgery (de la Cruz). Also, during the past few years a way to undergo a decreased recovery time and have a less visible scar has been discovered. Instead of making the incision around the nipple of the breast or underneath the breast, it is being made under the arms; this reduces the appearance of scars and lessens the recovery time from three weeks to less than one week. As with liposuction, breast augmentations have more disadvantages than advantages. These implants may leak, sometimes, causing the patient to get them removed or replaced. This procedure can also alter muscle development, cause rippling skin near the breast, become rock hard from calcification, cause silicone poisoning and , if received before proper mature age, cause psychological problems. â€Å"Almost twenty percent of breast implant patients decide to get them removed within five years† (de la Cruz). As America and its’ inhabitants age, the search for â€Å"the Fountain of Youth† is never ending, but in place of this fictional fountain of restoration is anti- aging treatments which have become all the rage for women over forty years old. When women hit their thirties and forties their skin begins to sag and wrinkles begin to emerge, which look nothing like the youthful images of older women that are portrayed on television (Gail). These women seek treatments such as Botox injections which have made a steady increase in the past ten years and continue to climb every day (â€Å"Face- lifting and Other Facial Plastic Techniques†). Also, there exist other noninvasive treatments, such as chemical peels, microdermabrasions, laser hair removals, and collagen injections. The procedures like Restylane, CosmoDerm, Cosmoplasts, and human collagen injections all spawn from the thought behind Botox injections; all of these operations are quick to perform, keeping the patients returning for more (Barrett 85). Botox injections are the most popular cosmetic procedure in America with almost 1. 6 million recipients in the year 2002. This shot was originally used by physicians to calm their patient’s twitchy eye muscles, but it is now used for many reasons including the reduction of wrinkles, the main reason, and the elimination of migraine symptoms. This physician injects Botox in the problem spots of the face, freezing nerve impulses and making the face void of expression. Patients, after this muscle paralyzing procedure, cannot frown, squint, raise their eyebrows, or show any sign of disappointment or excitement. Botox, also, is a diluted poison and, if not thoroughly diluted, it may cause botulism, a sometimes fatal form of food poisoning. Other complications this injection of vanity may promote are the loss of ability to raise one’s eyebrows all the way, the excess of drooling due to paralysis of the mouth and the permanent loss of facial expressions. Also, this procedure cannot cure all wrinkles, for some naturally emerge and some are actually caused by the position of certain muscles under the skin. So, as Michael D. Lemonick states, â€Å"Botox isn’t a cure-all, and it has some pretty odd side effects. But if you don’t mind getting shot up with poison and you don’t mind paralyzing parts of your face—well, you’ve got plenty of company. † How do we stop all of these radical quests for â€Å"the perfect body? † What is â€Å"the perfect body? Everyone’s idea is different, and, unfortunately, unless this idea of perfection and vanity is stopped in the minds of small children and teenagers, it will grow as they do until it reaches the point of explosion. Narcissism, I believe, is the root of all evil and until American citizens respect their own body and embrace themselves, this epidemic will live forever. Americans want the impossible, what they cannot have, and it is beginni ng to show that they will do anything in their power to reach what they believe is perfection.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Silk Road Essays

The Silk Road Essays The Silk Road Essay The Silk Road Essay The Silk Road has been known for many purposes and ambitions including trades, diplomacy, scholarships, discoveries, religion missionaries, etc. K is a scholar in the from the Middle East who emerges in the 800s to explore the Silk Road to learn and record of the versatile of lives, cultures and religions during the Tang Dynasty of Central China. K begins the Journey in the autumn of 821. K reaches the prosperous city of Changan of Central China. It has been a long time since he has seen crowds of people like this. Small shops cover all the streets, there are also markets and small usinesses all surrounded the busy streets of rich city life of the Tang. K enters the scene of the lives of the courtesans in Changan. He pauses and enters a building with the characters: mfue Hong Lou written above the huge front doors. When he walks in, it is as if he has entered a world of flowers and bees with music, laughter, and the smell of perfume in the air that filled the whole atmosphere. Many of the clients seem like officials who immersed into their own world surrounded by the courtesans who they pick out to entertain them with musical skills, conversations, rinking songs and games. l The courtesans each has a name of a flower. K is soon appointed with a beautiful and young courtesan name Mel. Meis face is applied with thick makeup made of powders of white and yellow lead. She has thin plucked eyebrows and yan Zhi (red lip powders) applied. 2 She sings and plays the flute, they sing, dance, chat while drinking alcohol with dishes of the famous foods in Changan. K realizes that Mei is constantly chewing on cloves to avoid getting drunk. K hears about Meis story. He discovers the inner lives of courtesans. Meis past is filled with orrow and hardships. Mei discloses that she was sold by her poverished parents who were not able to afford supporting her so she was sold many times by her owners who forces her to do larbor. 3 Finally she was sold to be a courtesan. Aside from the hard labor and training, she despises courtesans and resisted, but in the end her pride loses to the reality of facing starvation. Mei mentions that the courtesan life is like a bird in the cage, with no more freedom of a concubine and even of lower status than any concubines. K spends a few days in mfue Hong Lou with Meis company. K slowly adapts and learns about Chinese culture and accumulates experiences if lifestyles living in Changan. Perhaps the most astonishing experience is K s encounter of sex manuals produced by Chinese authors. It seems in this era the restriction for women are lesser. 4 Furthermore, Daoism provided a way to explain that sex of necessary for health and long life. As a result the chastity of women is not viewed as serious compared to the later dynasties. Its the autumn of 821 when K leaves Changan and moves on along the Silk Road towards Uighur. Along the way, he encounters the caravan of Princess Taihe along he long Journey. Despite encountering her, K could only watch from afar. K describes seeing princess Taihe wearing a long narrow silk shawl revealing d? ©collet? ©, and with elegant Jade hair accessories on the high bun black and silky hair. 5 Although the view is tar away, the princess looks very pretty in the briet seconds that K was able to take a glimpse at her. K was never be able to forget that encounter until he sees the princess the second time when he reaches the city, Karabalghasun in the winter of the following year. A very different scenery is relefected into Ks eyes s he arrives at the city. The enclosed city with rectangular walls has erected tents on the flat roof of the palace, a structure that K has never seen before. Numerous tents are to be seen in the city. 6 K also comes to see the very different culture that begins with the unique style of clothing. Ministers wear long silk robe with high collar and has a pattern of round roundels. Their hair is held in high pointed accessory with a ribbon extended to the chin. Decorative belt and leather boots are indeed very delicate to match with the robe. The ministers present address the kaghan as the God of Moon and Sun. 7 Here K then learns about Princess Taihes life. The imperial rule Princess Taihe came here for a intermarriage for the political goals to maintain peace with the Uighur empire. However the practice of intermarriage is common in the previous times in Chinese history as well. Princess Taihe however is allowed to establish her own power in the Uighar court. It seems that in this culture women in government matter are not restricted like that of the Tang and women are subject to fewer restrictions than their Chinese counterparts. The cultural aspect of Tang is nvolved in great prosperity with many tributary regions as threats to be solved. Confucianism and Taoism dominate the politic policies and the imperial rules of China. As K travels to different parts of Central China, he observes and records many religions and sects that exist as well. During this time, K is aware of Buddhism largely spread during the Tang dynasty along with the enormous Western expansion. Buddhist concepts are much paired with the Indian ones. For example dharma, dodhi, and yoga are all rendered in the Chinese Taoism concept of dao The way. Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism form he central root of China. Buddhist temples are populated, there are also the abundance of traditions of going to temple to pray and learning the Buddhist teachings of the middle path, 4 Nobel truths and 8 fold path are the essentials of Buddhist darma. Buddhisms main idea is to provide a way to end sufferings and detach self from the cycles of hardships in the world for a mental state of peace. Political factors also affected the spread of Buddhism in Tang. As the influence of Chinese culture expands to the west, it brings Buddhism towards expansion as well. At the same time, Muslims also emerged during the Tang dynasty. As K encounters many Muslim settlers in lands of Tang China. They tell the story to K of how they came to China. In 757 when Tang emperor requested aid for An Lushan rebellion, Muslims helped restored tangs power. In reward they were given lands in Central China which marked the beginning of their dwelling and expansion in China. 9 K describes the Muslims to be self-governing with their own system of education, community, and economy that is connected by Silk Road of Muslim communities. Meanwhile Muslim communities are built up in Tang China, Muslims who adopted Chinese unwanted children mainly expanded the community furthermore. Ks dwelling with the community allows him to witness much intermarriage between Muslim settlers and Chinese women during this time. However Tang dynasty is still dominated wit n Buddhism. The expansion during the period along witn Ks Journey illustrates the expansion of Tang dynasty towards the west, incorporating with tributary regions of different cultures and tolerance to the religions that can be seen n the expansion of spread of Muslim communities which continues in later In the meanwhile, Ks Journey is to be continued throughout the Silk Roads Endnotes 1 Susan Whitfield, Life Along the Silk Road (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1999)147. 2 Susan Whitfield, Life Along the Silk Road (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1999)149. 3 Susan Whitfield, Life Along the Silk Road (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1999)147-148. 4 Susan Whitfield, Life Along the Silk Road (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1999)109. 5 Susan Whitfield, Life Along the Silk Road (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1999)106. Susan Whitfield, Life Along the Silk Road (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1999)105. 7 Susan Whitfield, Life Along the Silk Road (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1999) 105-107. 8 Richard Foltz, Religions of the Silk Road (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010) 37. 9 Richard Foltz, Religions of the Silk Road (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010) 87. Foltz, Richard. Religions of the Silk Road. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. Whitfield, Susan. Life Along the Silk Road. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1999.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Illogical Comparisons The Weirdest Topic on SAT Writing

Illogical Comparisons The Weirdest Topic on SAT Writing SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Oftentimes, if I make an outlandish comparison, someone will turn to me and say, "You can't compare apples and oranges, Alex." Grammatically speaking, however, you absolutely can compare apples and oranges- they're both fruits! However,it's true that some comparisons are nonsensical, like a comparison between apples and eating apples. This kind of construction is called an illogical comparison, and it's one of the most unusual concepts on SAT Writing. Though essentially simple to spot, illogical comparisons are unfamiliar for most students becausethey rarely come up elsewhere. Feature image credit:MicroAssist/Flickr You Can Only Compare Equivalent Things An illogical comparison occurs when a sentence compares two things that aren't of the same type: Jimmy’s restaurant has more customers than Bob does. Even though it might seem fine, this sentence is comparing "Jimmy's restaurant"with "Bob," which makes no sense. In order to correct it, we have to alter the wordingso that the two things being compared are the same type of thing: Jimmy’s restaurant has more customers than Bob's restaurant does. This sentence, though correct, sounds pretty repetitive. To streamline it, we can drop the second "restaurant": Jimmy’s restaurant has more customers than Bob's does. It's still clear that we're comparing Jimmy and Bob's restaurants, but in a way that's not as redundant sounding. Depending on the sentence's construction, it mayalso be correct to substitute "that" or "those" for the second noun (as long as it's the same as the first one): I prefer the novels of J.K. Rowling to those of Stephenie Meyer. ("Those" takes the place of "the novels.") Though they look the same on most maps, the sizeof Alaska is actually twice that of Texas. ("That" takes the place of "the size.") There are two main types of illogical comparison errors that appear on the SAT writing: comparisons between people and things and comparisons between The first key rule is that you must compare people to people and things to things. So to return to our first example, it's correct to compare Bob's restaurant and Jimmy's restaurant because they're both things or to compare Bob and Jimmy because they're both people but you can't compare Jimmy's restaurant and Bob or Bob's restaurant and Jimmy. The second rule is that you can't compare something of specific type to all things of that type. This rule may sound strange, but it doesn't make sense to compare one person with everyone- you would compare them with everyone else. You can't compare something with a group that includes that thing without specifying that you're talking about everything else in the group. Let's look at an example: Incorrect: A cheetah is faster than any land mammal. Correct:A cheetah is faster than any other land mammal. Although most illogical comparisons questions on the SAT test one of these rules, you may see some that don't. In those cases, you'll have to use common sense to determine if a comparison is logical. For example, it makes sense to compare a train and a car, it doesn't make sense to compare a train and the length of a car. Pay attention to exactly what the sentence is saying- it's easy to extrapolate the intendedpointand miss the error in the wording. Keep this SAT writing strategy in mind! You can compare authors to authors and books to books but not books to authors. (Image credits: far left, Daniel Ogren; left, Gage Skidmore) How to Approach Illogical Comparisons on the SAT Illogical comparisons questions appear relatively frequently on the SAT writing: you are likely to see one or twoof them, especially since they can appear inboth Identifying Sentence Errors and Improving Sentences questions. Luckily, illogical comparisons generally appear in very similar ways, sothere are just a couple of clues that you need to watch outfor because they will often signal a comparison issue: Comparison key words- the words "like," "unlike," "as," and especially "than" almost always indicate a comparison and thus the chance for an illogicalone Full names- this is a slightly weird point, but if a question includes the full name of a person it often involves an illogical comparison. These names usually belong toartists or writers, and the sentence will set up a faulty equivalencebetween the individual and her work. Practicelooking for these clues on every SAT writing question until it becomes second nature. Identifying Sentence Errors Unlike most of the grammatical issues that show up in Identifying Sentence Errors (ISE) questions, illogical comparisons are hard to spot by just checking underlined words. Instead, as I mentioned above, you’ll need to keep an eye out for words that signal a comparison (like/unlike, as, than) and full names of individuals. If you see a comparison that you think might be faulty there are threesteps you need to take: Check for underlined nouns. Generally speaking, if there is an illogical comparison, one of the mismatched nouns will be underlined. Determine what the comparison is between. What two things isthe sentence, as written, comparing? Circle the nouns in the text. Decide whether the two things are equivalent. Is there a person vs. thing conflict? Are the two words being compared not equivalent in some other way? Let’s go through this process on a real SAT question: As with all ISE questions, the first step is to read the sentence. In this case, you should notice the clues "writer Sigrid Undset" and "like," which indicate that there may be an incorrect comparison. Are there any underlined nouns? Yes, both C and D include a noun. It's not immediately obvious which is involved in a comparison, so let's move on. What is being compared? Nowthe questions gets a bit trickier- the first part of the sentence, "Norwegian writer Sigrid Undset is like the novelist Sir Walter Scott," includes a comparison, but neither of our two underlined nouns. Plus, it's definitely correct, since it compares two people. However, there's another comparison in this sentence, "unlike his books," which does include an underlined phrase. So what's being compared with "his books"? "Unlike his books" is a modifier describing "she," which refers to Sigrid Undset. Are the two things equivalent?The comparison is between Sigrid Undset, a person, and SirWalter Scott'sbooks, things, so this is an illogical comparison. C is the correct answer- "his books" should be replaced with "him." This is an especially tricky question because of itscomplicated sentence structure (C is actually a faulty modifier as well), but following these steps will allow you to break down even the most complicated constructions. Let's move on to illogical comparisons in Improving Sentences. Improving Sentences Illogical comparisons appear in much the same way in Improving Sentences as they do in ISE, so you'll need to keep an eye out for the same clues: full names of people and comparison words. Once you've determined that there's likely an illogical comparison, follow these steps: Understand the error. The first step is to determine, what, if anything, is wrong with the comparison. Why are the two items being compared not equivalent? Rememberthat the most common issues are comparing people to things and something to all things of its type. Rule out answers that make the same mistake. Once you understand why the comparison is illogical, you can rule out all the answers that don't fix the problem. Pick between remaining choices.If there's more than one answer left, choose between the remaining answers. Watch for extra words that make the sentence ungrammatical and issues with plural vs. singular. This process may seem confusing, but it's actually quite simple in practice. Let's try it out on an official SAT question: After reading the sentence, you should notice the clue word "than," which indicates that this likely an illogical comparisons question. What, if anything, is wrong with the comparison?The sentence is comparing "the mass of its tiny body" with "humans." This is an illogical comparison- you can't equate the mass of something with a human. Thecomparison should be between the mass of an insect and the mass of a human.We can eliminateA. Rule out answers that make the same mistake.Answer choices C and D contain the same error: C merelytweaks the word order and D replaces the singular "human" with the plural "humans," which is actually even more wrong since the comparison is with a singular insect's body mass. Answer E seems to fix the problem by adding "body," but it's still not correct to compare a human body with the mass of an insect body. Pick between the remaining choices. The only answer that's left is B, which correctly compares "the mass of its tiny body" and "that of a human's body." B is the right answer. Comparing the size of an Allosaurus and the size of a human makes sense! (Image credit:Dropzink) Overview:Key Rules and SAT Writing Tips As a review, the list below includes the main ideas we've covered in this article and some helpfultips for using them on the SAT Writing. Clues to watch for: Comparative constructions: than, as, like/unlike Full names, especially of artists and authors Underlined nouns Key rules: Comparisons must be between equivalent things Compare people to people and things to things Don't compare something to a group it's part of SAT writing strategies: Practice watching for the clues and checking whethercomparisons are illogical. This type of error is initially difficult to spot, but once you've gotten familiar withthem, they tend to jump out at you. When dealing with illogical comparisons, don’t assume shortest is best. Though this rule often works for other types of errors, for these questions it will almost always give you the wrong answer. Remember that "that" is singular and "those" is plural. Test Your Knowledge! I've created some SAT Writing practice questions to help you get the hang of recognizing and understanding illogical comparison questions. Checkthem out below and send any questions my way in the comments! 1. Michel Foucault's theories about(A) the function ofpower in society are(B)radically(C) different than most philosophers(D).No error(E) 2. The British Library has more books than the books in all of the world's libraries. A.the books in all of the world's libraries. B. all of the world's libraries. C.the books in anyof the world's other libraries. D. the world's libraries. E. any other library in the world. 3. Throughout(A) history, many artists have been(B) more famous for their life stories than(C) for their work (D). No error. (E) 4. Although we often think of cheetahs as the fastest animals in the world, the speed of a peregrine falcon is actually greater than it. A.the speed of a peregrine falcon is actually greater than it. B. peregrine falcons are actually faster than them. C. the speed of a peregrine falcon is actually greater. D. peregrine falcons are more fast than those other animals. E. greater yet is the speed of the peregrine falcon. Answers: 1. D, 2. E, 3. E, 4. B What's Next? Since illogical comparisons are errorsin sentence structure, they're similar to issues with parallelism and faulty modifiers (coming soon). Consider taking a look atour grammar guides on those topics. If you're planning to take the SAT next year, make sure to check out our guide to the redesigned SAT. Maybe you're more concerned about the essay? In that case, take a look atour guides onhow to score a perfect 12, how to plan your examples in advance, and 15 ways to improve your score. For more big picture strategies, try these 8key tipsor check outour guide to reaching an 800 on the SAT Writing. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Writing and grammar lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

LogisticsReflective Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

LogisticsReflective Report - Essay Example I even developed a strong position towards an idea about various advantages that the organisations can reap in order to maintain their dominant business position with the successful development of Supply Chain Management (SCM) procedure. I have even elaborated various needs of modernisation within the conventional procedure of supply chain to promote innovativeness amid individuals, so that organisations are able to enhance their competitive advantages in the global domain. Critical review of the innovative practices inculcated in the SCM procedure has also been quite useful in conducting an in-depth analysis of the subject matter. While working with my first essay, I developed an inductive analysis of aspects related with the development of logistics. However, while formulating the essay, I identified that there are certain issues to be addressed but seemed challenging as per my abilities. I was also less confident when preparing the first essay as compared to my degree of confidence in the second essay. However, with adequate support, I believe to have justified the topic successfully. While conducting an in depth research, on the different approaches of logistics and its scope of innovativeness, I learnt about certain new concepts that I was further able to relate with the development of the overall SCM procedure. One of those concepts was the ‘supply base localisation’ theme, which was based on the notion of developing local value chains in relation to international supply chain. With the motive to provide an insight on the various concepts that are related with the innovative approaches of SCM as well as logistics, I could develop a clear understanding of the various needs of SCM in the local level. This essay was illustrated based on the concepts that I have reviewed in my first essay and was a clear addition to the innovative index that has been focused while formulating the initial one. Essay 2 has detailed

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Non-Financial Rewards Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Non-Financial Rewards - Dissertation Example Moreover, free pension entitlement or private medical care can also be considered as the non financial rewards. Research Question What is the impact of non-financial reward on employee satisfaction? Literature Review The non financial rewards are cost effective for the organizations. According to Armstrong (2010), non financial rewards focus on the reorganization, achievement, autonomy, influence, personal growth and responsibility needs of the employees (Armstrong, 2010, p. 47). There are two types of non financial rewards namely tangible non financial rewards and intangible non financial rewards. Intangible non financial rewards are referred as the relational rewards. Work life balance, quality of work life fall in the intangible non financial rewards category. On the other hand the tangible non financial rewards are referred as the non cash rewards. These non cash rewards support several recognition programmes. Low valued matters or objects like flowers and chocolates are consider ed as the tangible non financial rewards. Several vouchers and substantial value offers like holiday package are also considered as the tangible non financial rewards. ... This scheme helps an organization to increase performance outcomes. It can be seen that several global organizations implemented this specific recognition schemes in order to increase their business efficiency. Generally larger organizations use this recognition schemes as it is both time and cost effective. These recognitions can come in both non tangible and tangible forms. According to Perkins and White (2010), an effective employee recognition programme should be prevalent, visible, spontaneous, personal and memorable (Perkins and White, 2011, p.72). The organizations implement these recognition schemes in order to achieve several organizational objectives. It motivates the employees to provide effective work performance. It creates a positive organizational work environment. The organization can maintain their ethics and morale through these recognition schemes. Moreover, these recognition schemes encourage the employee loyalty and support several cultural changes. According to Lewis (2006), involvement policies, thank you prizes, communication strategies, imaginative job designs and effective performance appraisal are majorly considered as the non financial reward (Lewis, 2006, p.107). According to Armstrong (2007), achievement, influence, personal growth, recognition and responsibility are the key objectives of non financial rewards (Armstrong, 2007, p.69). Employee recognition programme is a key aspect in employee motivation process. It is important for the management of the organization to link it properly and strategically to the organizational objectives and goals. It will help to increase the motivation of employees and business output of the organization.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Impact of Peers and School in Middle Childhood Essay Example for Free

Impact of Peers and School in Middle Childhood Essay Middle childhood is a stage in growth where the members age between six and twelve years. Sigmund Freud defines this as the latency stage where aggressive and sexual urges are introverted. Others theorists have highlighted this stage as very crucial in the development of personality, cognitive skills, inter-personal relationships and motivation. Furthermore, it is at this growth stage that peers and school have great impacts, either positive or negative, to the individual. Schools do promote the children’s competence and self-esteem since they are enthusiastic to learn and work. This enthusiasm plays a great role since it acts as a motivating factor. Due to their development in competence in social and interpersonal relationships as aforesaid, they also undergo an experience in peer orientation. If they interact with the best peers, they create a strong foundation for future adult rapports that will be healthy. The diverse relationships may lead to increased violence in schools, drug use, depression and eating disorders that negatively affect the students in the upper elementary education (Blume Zembar, 2007). In schools, the children also learn and develop interests in other co-curricular activities such as sports, arts and music. However, as they grow, the necessary skills for achieving success in academics tend to become more sophisticated. Those who overcome these challenges end up being academic conquerors but those who are overwhelmed perform poorly in the subsequent years. One’s family at this growth stage also plays an important role especially in socialization. The parents, for instance, have the responsibility to make negotiation with the socialization agents on behalf of the child. This kind of socialization that is family-based is directly linked with the child’s deviance, either in the current life or in the future. It may lead to the child indulging in alcoholism, aggression or delinquency. However, through various reinforcement and disciplinary methodologies, the parents teach their middle-aged children on the behaviors to adopt and those to refrain from (Collins, 1984). Academically, parents motivate their children to be performers. This influences them to embrace reading and more often than not, require them to come out directly from school.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Assassins Creed in Popular Video Game Culture Essay -- Globalist Agend

Video games have risen in popularity in America the past couple decades where popular gaming franchises influence or reflect modern American culture. Many video game franchises are popular but one franchise that has stood out in video game media is Assassin's Creed. Assassin's Creed is a franchise that consists of video games, spinoffs, comics, graphic novels, animated films, figurines, weapon replicas, clothing, and other merchandise. Only focusing on the video game branch of the franchise, the series began in 2007 with its first installment released. The franchise was planned out as a spin-off for the Prince of Persia series but developed into their own franchise. Currently there are seven main games in the franchise all of which have historical fiction, action-adventure, and stealth genres. The games feature dense narratives, historical buildings with the ability to climb freely on them, and the iconic hidden blade. Since the first game, roughly around 57 million copies of the fr anchise were sold world wide (â€Å"About Ubisoft†). Compared to other popular franchises such as Grant Theft Auto, that sold 150 million, and Halo, that sold 50 million, Assassin's Creed franchise has its fair share of popularity. Not focusing on only statistics, go to any video game convention and you would most likely see people dressed up as assassins or see merchandise of the franchise. So in video game culture now Assassin's Creed seems fairly popular. Considering how popular Assassin's Creed is in America, the game has aspects that reflect common ideas, morals, and traits that are present in American culture as well as other popular American media. The most obvious trend Assassin's Creed has is the violent aspects in the game. Assassin’s Creed is ... ... America, 10 Sep. 2009. Web. 28 Nov. 2013. An article by Michael Shermer explaining a reason why Americans might believe in conspiracies. I will use this source to describe the conspiracy trends in American media. It relates to the trend in Assassin's Creed with the concept of Assassins vs Templars and all the conspiracy theories in the historical parts of the game and partly in the modern aspect. This will help me come up with a theory on why people might like this trend and synthesize what it says about our culture. â€Å"Top 100 Most Popular Games.† G4TV. NBCUniversal. 2013. Web. 28 Nov. 2013. A brief list of the top hundred popular games that sold in 2012. This the list is valid because other sources, such as GameRadar and IGN, have similar lists with the same games. I am simply using this source to point out the amount of violent games that are popular.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Nike’s Ethical Dilemmas Going International Essay

Companies are faced with several ethical dilemmas when they decide to go international. They are faced with issues including child labor, hazardous working environments, below the livable wage earnings, long working hours, exploitation of natural resources, and bribery. For example, Nike was faced with many of these issues when they made the decision to go global. The company itself did not manufacture its own goods but rather outsourced their designs to manufacturing companies around the world. Nike’s main reason for doing this was to take advantage of the cheap labor overseas. However, this led them to be criticized because many people believed Nike was becoming rich by exploiting the hard work of underpaid workers. Most of these cases against Nike could have avoided if the company would have taken precautions about the ethically debatable working conditions that were going on in the subcontracted manufacturing companies. Nike could have researched the countries they were subcontracting their manufacturing to determine a livable wage. The company could then require their subcontractors to pay all of their workers at least a wage that could supply the needs of the individual worker. In doing this Nike could have avoided the criticisms about underpaying poor world workers for their input into the manufacturing companies. Also if Nike raised the wage enough to support the individual and their family it would prevent child labor from occurring. However, Nike should have also set a minimum age requirement with their subcontractors to ensure that no child labor laws were broken. A cap could have also been placed on the number of hours an individual could work per week to ensure that no one was being over worked in the manufacturing plants. With these requirements Nike would have keep itself safe from being convicted of having child labor, long working hours, and under payment to the workers in their subcont racted manufacturing plants. The subcontractors should have also been required to meet certain set of Health and Safety regulations to ensure that their workers were not exposed to any hazardous working environments. The factories should not allow any individual to be exposed to any level of chemicals that are above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration set limits for hazardous chemicals. To ensure that the companies were following these requirements Nike should have set up an auditing system that periodically checked on the factories to determine if they met all the requirements necessary to do business with Nike. The auditors in the system should be well informed of all of the safety and health requirements as well as the minimum age, wage, and amount of hours an individual is allowed to work per week. If any factory failed to meet the requirements within a set deadline the business agreement between Nike and the subcontractor would be terminated. If Nike would have set certain standards for their foreign factory subcontractors before they made manufacturing deals they could have avoided most if not all of the criticism concerning exploiting poor world workers for cheap labor. Making the right ethical decisions can be difficult to make especially when other companies are gaining an advantage by exploiting work of poor world workers. However, these benefits are only short term and they can lead to severe consequences down the road such as boycotts, lawsuits, and negative media. Doing the right thing can be costly but can have great benefits in the long run for a company. For example, if Nike portrays that it requires its subcontractors to have working environments that pass the Health and Safety regulations and well as it pays the workers a livable wage, it could boost sales in the United States because U.S. citizens like to know that poor world workers are protected from global companies trying to exploit their hard work for u nsustainable wages.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

The Indigo Spell Chapter Eleven

MARCUS DISAPPEARED TO WHEREVER it was he was hiding out, and I drove home. What he'd said to me still seemed outlandish. I kept telling myself none of it could be true. It made things a lot easier to handle. Back at Amberwood, I found the usual buzz of evening student activity. It felt comforting after my shocking outing, far removed from fanatics and cryptic spells. My phone buzzed with a text message the minute I stepped into my dorm room. It was from Jill: Come see us when you're back. I sighed. No rest for the wicked, it would seem. I left my purse in my room and then trudged down to the second floor, unsure of what I'd find. Jill opened her door, looking immensely relieved to see me. â€Å"Thank God. We have a situation.† â€Å"We always have a situation,† I said. I stepped inside and saw Angeline sitting on the floor, back against the wall and a miserable expression on her face. â€Å"What happened?† She looked up quickly. â€Å"It wasn't my fault.† The sinking feeling in my stomach increased. â€Å"It never is, is it? I repeat: what happened?† When Angeline refused to say, Jill spoke up. â€Å"She gave Trey a concussion with an algebra book.† Before I could even start to parse that, Angeline leapt to her feet. â€Å"The doctor said it wasn't a concussion!† â€Å"Wait.† I glanced between them, half hoping they'd burst into laughter at the joke they must be playing on me. â€Å"You did something to Trey that actually required medical attention?† â€Å"I barely touched him,† she insisted. I sat down on Jill's bed and resisted the urge to crawl under its covers. â€Å"No. You can't do this. Not again. What did the principal say? Oh, God. Where are we going to send you?† After Angeline's brawl with a motivational group, it had been made very clear that further fighting would get her expelled. â€Å"Eddie took the blame,† said Jill. A small smile crossed her face as she spoke. â€Å"There weren't really many witnesses, so Eddie said they were playing around in the library and tossing the book back and forth. He claimed he got careless and threw the book too hard . . . and that it accidentally hit Trey on the head.† Angeline nodded. â€Å"That's kind of what really happened with us.† â€Å"No, it wasn't,† protested Jill. â€Å"I saw it. You got mad when Trey told you it shouldn't be that hard to understand that x always has a different value.† â€Å"He implied that I was stupid!† Variables didn't seem like too hard a concept to me, but I could tell under Angeline's bravado that she really was flustered. I always had the impression that back among the Keepers, Angeline had been a queen among her peers. Here she was constantly trying to keep up academically and socially adrift in a world very different from the one she'd grown up in. That would make anyone insecure. And while I questioned if Trey had ever said she was stupid, I could understand how some of his snarky commentary could be perceived that way. â€Å"Did Eddie get in any serious trouble?† I asked. I doubted he'd get expelled for something like this, but it would be just my luck that he'd get the punishment he'd saved Angeline from. â€Å"Detention,† said Jill. â€Å"He accepted it very bravely,† added Angeline. â€Å"I'm sure he did,† I said, wondering if either girl knew they were wearing mirror expressions of adoration. â€Å"Look, Angeline, I know the tutoring process must be frustrating, but you have to watch your temper, okay? Trey's just trying to help.† She looked skeptical. â€Å"He's got kind of an attitude sometimes.† â€Å"I know, but people aren't exactly lining up to fill his position. We need you here. Jill needs you here. Eddie needs you here.† I saw some of her indignation fade at the mention of her friends and duty. â€Å"Please try to work with Trey.† She gave a weak nod, and I stood up to leave. Jill hurried after me into the hallway. â€Å"Hey, Sydney? How was your outing with Marcus?† â€Å"It was fine,† I said, certainly not about to dredge up Marcus's alarming revelations. â€Å"Informative. And I learned how to play Skee-Ball.† Jill almost looked offended. â€Å"You played Skee-Ball? I thought you were supposed to be learning about the Alchemists' secret history.† â€Å"We multitasked,† I said, not liking her tone. I left before she could comment further and texted Eddie when I reached my room. I heard what happened. Sorry. And thanks. His response was quick: At least it wasn't a concussion. I braced myself for snark when I went to meet Adrian the next day. Jill had probably told him about my arcade trip, which would probably elicit a comment like, â€Å"Nice to know you're so dedicated to crack the Alchemists. Way to keep your eye on the ball.† When I pulled up in front of Adrian's apartment building, he was already waiting out front for me. As soon as I saw his grim face, my heart stopped. I jumped out of the car, just barely pausing to grab the keys as I went. â€Å"What's wrong?† I exclaimed, jogging up to him. He rested a hand on my shoulder, but I was too worried to care about the touch. â€Å"Sydney, I don't want you to freak out. There's no lasting damage.† I looked him over. â€Å"Are you okay? Were you hurt?† For a moment, his somber expression turned puzzled. Then, he understood. â€Å"Oh, you think it's me? No, I'm fine. Come on.† He led me around the back of his building, to the private parking lot used by residents. I came to a halt, my jaw dropping as I took in the terrible, ghastly scene. A couple other residents were milling around, and a police officer stood nearby taking notes. Around us, seven parked cars had their tires slashed. Including the Mustang. â€Å"No!† I ran over to its side, kneeling and examining the damage. I felt like I was in the middle of a war, kneeling by a fallen comrade on the battlefield. I was practically on the verge of shouting, â€Å"Don't you die on me!† Adrian crouched beside me. â€Å"The tires can be replaced. I think my insurance will even cover it.† I was still horrified. â€Å"Who did this?† He shrugged. â€Å"Some kids, I guess. They hit a few cars one block over yesterday.† â€Å"And you didn't think that was worth mentioning to me?† â€Å"Well, I didn't know they were going to come here too. Besides, I knew you'd flip out and want to set up twenty-four-hour surveillance on this place.† â€Å"That's not a bad idea.† I glanced up at his building. â€Å"You should talk to the landlord about it.† Adrian didn't seem nearly as concerned as he should have been. â€Å"I don't know that he'd go for it. I mean, this isn't really a dangerous neighborhood.† I pointed at the Mustang. â€Å"Then how come this happened?† Even though we could take Latte to Los Angeles, we still had to wait around to finish up with the police and then get a tow truck. I made sure the tow truck driver knew that he better not get a scratch on the car, and then I watched mournfully as it was hauled away. Once that sunny splash of yellow disappeared around a corner, I turned to Adrian. â€Å"Ready to go?† â€Å"Do we have enough time?† I looked at my cell phone and groaned. We'd burned up a lot of time handling the vandalism aftermath. And yet, I hated to wait until tomorrow, seeing as I'd already lost time yesterday while dealing with Marcus. I called Ms. Terwilliger and asked if she'd cover for me if I came in after curfew. â€Å"Yes, yes, of course,† she said, in a tone that suggested she couldn't understand why I'd even bothered calling her. â€Å"Just talk to more of those girls.† Ms. Terwilliger had given me six names. We'd already taken care of Wendy Stone. Three of the girls lived relatively close together, and they were our goal tonight. The last two were closer to the coast, and we hoped to reach them tomorrow. Adrian tried making conversation with me throughout the drive, but my mind was still on the Mustang. â€Å"God, I'm an idiot,† I said, once we'd almost reached our destination. â€Å"That's never a term I'd use to describe you,† he said promptly. â€Å"Articulate. Well dressed. Smart. Organized. Beautiful. I'd use those terms, but never ‘idiot.'† I nearly asked why â€Å"beautiful† had come after â€Å"organized† and then remembered the actual concern. â€Å"I'm obsessing about that car when girls' lives are on the line. It's stupid. My priorities are messed up.† My eyes were on the road, but I could tell he was smiling. â€Å"If your priorities were really messed up, you would've followed that tow truck. Yet here you are, off to help perfect strangers. That's a noble thing, Sage.† â€Å"Don't rule yourself out,† I said. â€Å"You're pretty noble too, going on all these outings with me.† â€Å"Well, it's not the same as Skee-Ball, but it'll have to do. How was that anyway? Did you really learn anything?† â€Å"I learned a lot – some pretty unbelievable stuff, actually. I'm still waiting to get some proof, though.† Luck was with us initially. The first two girls were home, though their reactions were similar to Wendy Stone's. This time, I'd had the foresight to bring the newspaper article, in the hopes it would make a stronger impression. That ghastly picture at least gave them pause, but I left not knowing if they'd really take me seriously or use the agate charms. Our good fortune ran out when we reached the last name. She too was a college student, meaning we had another campus visit. Her name was Lynne Titus, and she lived in a sorority house. I admit, as I knocked on the door, I was fully prepared to find a group of girls dressed in pink, having a pillow fight in their living room. But when we were shown in, we discovered an orderly home not all that different from Wendy's building. Some girls were coming and going, while others sat around with textbooks and papers. â€Å"Lynne?† asked the girl who'd let us inside. â€Å"You just missed her.† I knew this shouldn't be a surprise. These girls had lives. They wouldn't all be waiting around for me to come by and talk to them. I glanced uneasily at a window, taking note of the purpling sky. â€Å"Any idea when she'll be back?† The girl shook her head. â€Å"No, sorry. I don't know where she went.† Adrian and I exchanged looks. â€Å"You're free from your curfew,† he reminded me. â€Å"I know. But that doesn't mean I want to spend all night waiting for Lynne.† I did some mental calculations. â€Å"I suppose we could wait a couple of hours. Three at most.† Adrian seemed supremely delighted by this, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was more excited at hanging out on a college campus . . . or at spending time with me. â€Å"What's fun to do around here?† he asked our hostess. He glanced around at the quiet academic environment. â€Å"No raging parties here, huh?† The girl put on a disapproving expression. â€Å"We're a very serious sorority. If you're looking for parties, I guarantee there's one going on just down the street. Those girls have one every night.† Adrian shot me a hopeful look. â€Å"Oh, come on,† I said. â€Å"Can't we find some nice museum?† â€Å"We want to stay close, in case Lynne comes back,† Adrian said. Something told me if the party had been all the way across campus, he still would've pushed for it. â€Å"Besides, if you want to go to college so badly, you should see the full scope of what it has to offer. And aren't you a fan of Greek stuff?† That was hardly what I had in mind, and he knew it. I reluctantly agreed but warned him he couldn't drink. I was sporting the brown wig and presumed he was using spirit to mask us further. Alcohol would diminish his ability to pull it all off. Plus, I just didn't want to see him drunk. It was easy to find the party house because we could hear the music blasting from it. A guy and a girl openly drinking beer from plastic cups challenged us at the door. â€Å"This is Greek only,† the girl said. She looked as though she might fall off her stool. â€Å"Who are you with?† I pointed vaguely toward Lynne's sorority. â€Å"Um, them.† â€Å"Alpha Yam Ergo,† said Adrian, without hesitation. I expected the door squad to point out that most of those weren't even Greek letters. Maybe it was because Adrian spoke so confidently – or because they'd had too much beer – but the guy waved us inside. It was almost like being back at the arcade, an overwhelming flood of stimuli. The house was crowded and loud, with smoke hanging in the air and alcohol flowing freely. Several people offered us drinks, and some girl invited us – three times – to play beer pong, forgetting that she'd already spoken to us. I regarded it all in amazement, trying to keep the disgust off my face. â€Å"What a waste of tuition. This is ruining all my collegiate dreams,† I shouted to Adrian. â€Å"Isn't there anything to do that's not drinking or being stupid?† He scanned around, able to see more of the room from his greater height. He brightened. â€Å"That looks promising.† He caught hold of my hand. â€Å"Come on.† In a surprisingly nice and spacious kitchen, we found several girls sitting on the floor painting blank T-shirts. Judging from the sloppy job and paint spills, they too had been indulging in alcohol. One girl had a cup of beer next to an identical cup of paint, and I hoped she wouldn't mix them up. â€Å"What are you doing?† I asked. One of the girls glanced up and grinned. â€Å"Making shirts for the winter carnival. You want to help?† Before I could say no, Adrian was already on the ground with them. â€Å"Do I ever.† He helped himself to a white T-shirt and a brush with blue paint on it. â€Å"What are we putting on these?† The girls' shoddy work made that a valid question. â€Å"Our names,† said one girl. â€Å"Winter stuff,† said another. That was good enough for Adrian. He set to work painting snowflakes on the shirt. Unable to help myself, I knelt down to get a better look. Whatever his faults, Adrian was a decent artist. He mixed in a few other colors, making the snowflakes intricate and stylized. At one point, he paused to light a clove cigarette, sharing one of the girls' ashtrays. It was a habit I didn't really like, but at least the rest of the smoke in this place masked his. As he was finishing up the shirt and writing out the sorority's name, I noticed that all the other girls had stopped to stare. â€Å"That's amazing,† said one, her eyes wide. â€Å"Can I have it?† â€Å"I want it,† insisted another. â€Å"I'll make each of you one,† he assured them. The way they looked at him was an unwelcome reminder of the breadth of his experience with other women. I shifted a little closer to him, just so they wouldn't get any ideas. He handed the white shirt to the first girl and then set to work on a blue shirt. Once he fulfilled his promise to each girl, he sifted through the T-shirt stack until he found a men's-size black one. â€Å"Gotta pay tribute to my fraternity.† â€Å"Right,† I scoffed. â€Å"Alpha Yam Ergo.† Adrian nodded solemnly. â€Å"A very old and prestigious society† â€Å"I've never heard of them,† said the girl who'd claimed the first shirt. â€Å"They don't let many people in,† he said. In white paint, he wrote his fake fraternity's initials: AYE. â€Å"Isn't that what pirates say?† asked one of the other girls. â€Å"Well, the Alpha Yams have nautical origins,† he explained. To my horror he began painting a pirate skeleton riding a motorcycle. â€Å"Oh, no,† I groaned. â€Å"Not the tattoo.† â€Å"It's our logo,† he said. Adrian and I had once had to investigate a tattoo parlor, and to distract the owner, he'd gone in and pretended to be interested in a tattoo that sounded very much like what he was drawing now. At least, I assumed he'd been pretending. â€Å"Isn't it badass?† â€Å"Badass† wasn't quite the word I would've used, but despite it being such a ridiculous image, he actually did a good job. I made myself comfortable, drawing my knees up to me and leaning against the wall. He soon stopped with his banter and grew completely absorbed in his work, meticulously painting the skeleton's bones as well as that of a skeleton parrot sitting on the pirate's shoulder. I studied his features as he worked, fascinated by the joy in his eyes. Art was one of the few things that seemed to anchor him and drive that darkness in him away. He seemed to glow with an inner light, one that enhanced his already handsome features. It was another rare and beautiful glimpse of the intense, passionate nature lying beneath the jokes. It came through in his art. It had come through when he kissed me. Adrian suddenly glanced up at me. Our gazes locked, and I felt like he could read my mind. How often did he think about that kiss? And if he really was crazy about me, did he imagine more than just kissing? Did he fantasize about me? What kinds of things did he think about? His lips on my neck? His hand on my leg? And was that leg bare . . . ? I was afraid of what my eyes might betray and quickly looked away. Desperately, I groped for some witty and nonsentimental comment. â€Å"Don't forget the ninja throwing stars.† â€Å"Right.† I could feel Adrian's gaze on me a few moments longer. There was something tangible to it, a warmth that enveloped me. I didn't look back until I was certain his attention was again on the shirt. He added the stars and then sat back triumphantly. â€Å"Pretty cool, huh?† â€Å"It's not bad,† I said. In truth, it was kind of amazing. â€Å"You want one too?† The smile he gave me stirred up those warm feelings again. I couldn't help but smile back. â€Å"We don't have the time,† I managed to say. â€Å"We've got to check on Lynne.† â€Å"I'll make you a fast one.† â€Å"Not the pirate,† I warned. He found a small purple shirt and began painting on it in silver. â€Å"Purple?† â€Å"It's your color,† he insisted. A thrill ran through me at his words. Adrian could see auras, the light that surrounded all people and was tied into their personalities. He'd told me that mine was yellow, a color most intellectuals had. But he'd also said I had flares of purple, which indicated a passionate and spiritual nature. Those weren't qualities I usually thought I possessed . . . but sometimes, I wished I did. I watched, enthralled, as he painted a large silver heart with flames edging one side. The whole design was Celtic in style. It was beautiful. â€Å"Where did you get that from?† I asked in awe. I'd seen a lot of his work but never anything like this. His eyes were on his heart, completely caught up in his work. â€Å"Just something kicking around in my head. Reminds me of you. Fiery and sweet, all at the same time. A flame in the dark, lighting my way.† His voice . . . his words . . . I recognized one of his spirit-driven moments. It should've unnerved me, but there was something sensual about the way he spoke, something that made my breath catch. A flame in the dark. He swapped out the silver paintbrush for a black one. Before I could stop him, he wrote over the heart: AYE. Underneath it, in smaller letters, he added: HONORARY MEMBER. â€Å"What are you doing?† I cried. The spell had shattered. â€Å"You ruined it!† Adrian regarded me with a mischievous look. â€Å"I figured you'd be flattered at being accepted as an honorary member.† â€Å"How can I get in?† asked one of the girls. In spite of my outrage, I took the shirt when he offered it to me. I held it up gingerly, careful not to mess up the paint job. Even through the ridiculous words, the fiery heart was still stunning. It shone through, and I couldn't stop admiring it. How could someone so irreverent create something so beautiful? When I finally looked up again, I found Adrian watching me. That earlier thrall seized me, and I found myself unable to move. â€Å"You haven't painted anything,† he said softly. â€Å"That's because I have zero creativity,† I told him. â€Å"Everyone's got some creativity,† he insisted. He handed me the silver brush and slid over to join me against the wall. Our legs and arms touched. He laid out his own AYE shirt across his lap. â€Å"Go ahead. Add something, anything.† I shook my head in protest and tried to hand him the brush. â€Å"I can't draw or paint. I'll ruin it.† â€Å"Sydney.† He pushed the brush back into my hand. â€Å"It's a pirate skeleton, not the Mona Lisa. You're not going to decrease its value.† Maybe not, but I had a hard time imagining what I could possibly add to this. I could do a lot of things, but this was out of my league – especially compared to his skill. Something in his expression drove me, however, and after a lot of thought, I gave my best shot at drawing a tie around the skeleton's neck. Adrian frowned. â€Å"Is that a noose?† â€Å"It's a tie!† I cried, trying not to feel offended. He laughed, clearly delighted at this. â€Å"My mistake.† â€Å"He can go to a boardroom meeting,† I added, feeling a need to defend my work. â€Å"He's very proper now.† Adrian seemed to like that even more. â€Å"Of course he is. Proper and dangerous.† A little of his mirth faded, and he grew pensive as he studied me, holding me in his gaze. â€Å"Just like you.† I'd been so worried about the artistic challenge that I wasn't aware of just how close he'd moved to me until now. So many details came into focus. The shape of his lips, the line of his neck. â€Å"I'm not dangerous,† I breathed. He brought his face toward mine. â€Å"You are to me.† And somehow, against all reason, we were kissing. I closed my eyes, and the world around me faded. The noise, the smoke . . . it was gone. All that mattered was the taste of his mouth, a mix of cloves and mints. There was a fierceness in his kiss, a desperation . . . and I answered, just as hungry for him. I didn't stop him when he pulled me closer, so that I almost sat on his lap. I'd never been wrapped around someone's body like that, and I was shocked at how eagerly mine responded. His arm went around my waist, pulling me onto him further, and his other hand slid up the back of my neck, getting entangled in my hair. Amazingly, the wig stayed on. He took his lips away from my mouth, gently trailing kisses down to my neck. I tipped my head back, gasping when the intensity returned to his mouth. There was an animalistic quality that sent shock waves through the rest of my body. Some Alchemist voice warned me that this was exactly how a vampire would feed, but I had no fear. Adrian wo uldn't hurt me, and I needed to know just how hard he could kiss me and – â€Å"Oh my God!† Adrian and I jerked apart as though someone had thrown cold water on us, though our legs stayed entangled. I glanced around in a panic, half expecting to see an outraged Stanton standing over us. Instead, I looked up into the terrified face of a girl I didn't know. She wasn't even looking at us. â€Å"You guys won't believe what happened!† she exclaimed, directing her words to our fellow artists. She pointed vaguely behind her. â€Å"Over across the street at Kappa, they found one of their girls unconscious, and they can't wake her up. I don't know what happened, but it sounds like she was attacked. There's police out front and everything.† Adrian and I stared at each other for one shocked moment. Then, wordlessly, we both stood up. He held my hand to steady me until my trembling legs strengthened. I'm weak because of this news, I told myself. Not because I was just making out with a vampire. But those dangerous and intoxicating kisses faded almost instantly when we returned to Lynne's sorority. It was busy with frightened people, and campus security moved in and out, allowing us to step right inside the open door. â€Å"What happened?† I asked a brunette standing nearby. â€Å"It's Lynne,† she said, biting her lips. â€Å"They just found her in an empty auditorium.† Something in the way she spoke made me uneasy. â€Å"Is she . . . alive?† The girl nodded. â€Å"I don't know . . . I think so, but they said there's something really wrong. She's unconscious and looks . . . well . . . old.† I met Adrian's eyes and vaguely noticed he had silver paint in his hair. I'd still been holding the brush when I'd wrapped my arms around him. â€Å"Damn,† he murmured. â€Å"Too late.† I wanted to scream in frustration. We'd been so close to warning her. She'd allegedly left just before we'd arrived. What if we'd come sooner? What if we'd visited her before the other two girls? I'd chosen the order randomly. Worse, what if we'd been able to find her instead of having art time with the drunken sorority girls? What if I hadn't been all over Adrian? Or maybe he'd been all over me. Whatever you wanted to call it, I hadn't exactly resisted. The more we learned, however, the more unlikely it seemed we would've been able to do anything if we'd stuck around Lynne's house and investigated. Nobody knew where she'd gone. Only one person had seen her leave, a girl with curly blond hair who frustrated the campus police with her vague answers. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she kept saying. â€Å"I just . . . I can't remember the girl she left with.† â€Å"Nothing?† asked one of the officers. â€Å"Height? Age? Hair color?† The girl frowned, looking as though she was using every ounce of mental effort. At last, she sagged in defeat and shook her head. â€Å"I'm sorry.† â€Å"Did she have black hair?† I suggested. The girl brightened a little. â€Å"Maybe. Er, wait. It might have been brown. No. Red, maybe?† Adrian and I stepped away, knowing we could do no more. â€Å"That girl seems awfully confused,† I said as we walked back to my car. â€Å"She certainly does,† he agreed. â€Å"Sound familiar?† â€Å"Very,† I muttered, recognizing the signs of magic. No one could deny it. Veronica had been here. And we'd been too late to stop her.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Meaning of Tenir in French and How to Use the Verb

The Meaning of Tenir in French and How to Use the Verb Tenir is an irregular verb ending in -ir and usually means to hold or to keep. Tenir has a number of other meanings, including some which depend on the preposition that follows. Its used in a number of French expressions. Meanings of Tenir Tenir usually means to hold or to keep: Quest-ce quil tient la main?  Translation: What is he holding in his hand?Je dois tenir les enfants par la main. Translation: I need to hold the kids hands.Tenez les yeux fermà ©s. Translation: Keep your eyes closed.Il faut tenir cette affiche en place. Translation: You need to hold this poster in place. Additional Meanings To have/keep under control: Vous tenez bien votre classe.Translation: You have your class under control. To run/manage (a business): Qui tient le magasin?Translation: Whos running the store? To organize (an event): Le comità © tient une sà ©ance chaque mois.Translation: The committee holds a meeting every month. To handle, be able to accept: Elle ne tient pas lalcool. (informal)Translation: She cant hold her liquor. To keep: Je tiens toujours mes promesses.I always keep my promises. To take up, fulfill: Cette table tient trop de place.Translation: This table takes up too much room Tenir Tenir may be followed by a noun, an infinitive, or a clause. When followed by a noun, it means either to value, care about, be attached to or to be due to, stem from: Je ne tiens pas son opinion. Translation: I dont care about his opinion. quoi tient son succà ¨s? Translation: What is the secret of his success? When followed by an infinitive or ce que subjunctive, tenir means to be anxious/eager: Je tiens vous remercier. Translation: Im eager to thank you.Il tient ce que tu sois laise. Translation: Hes anxious for you to feel comfortable. Tenir can also be used to mean to depend on - most commonly with ne___ qu: Cela ne tient qu toi de choisir. Translation: Its up to you to choose. The choice depends (only) on you.Cela ne tient pas qu moi. Translation: It doesnt depend on me alone. Tenir de Tenir de means to take after/resemble, to have to do with: Elle tient de sa mà ¨re. Translation: She takes after her mother.Cela tient du miracle. Translation: That seems like a miracle, Theres something miraculous about that. Se Tenir Reflexively, tenir means to hold (oneself), to be in a position, or to behave: Pourquoi se tient-il la jambe? Translation: Why is he holding his leg?Je me tenais par une main. Translation: I held myself (up) with one hand.Tu dois te tenir debout. Translation: You have to stand up.Nous nous tenons prà ªts partir. Translation: Were prepared to leave.Elle se tient bien. Translation: Shes well-behaved.Tiens-toi tranquille! Translation: Behave yourself! Be quiet! Se tenir can also be used intransitively with many of the meanings in the first section (to hold a meeting, to be connected, etc) Present Tense Conjugations je tienstu  tiensil tientnous  tenonsvous  tenezï » ¿ils  tiennent