The Contradictory Nature of Soft Determinism :: essays research papers fc

The Contradictory Nature of Soft Determinism I. Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"There is a continuum between free and unfree, with many or most acts lying somewhere in between.† (Abel, 322) This statement is a good summation of how Nancy Holmstrom’s view of free will allows for degrees of freedom depending on the agent’s control over the situation. Holmstrom’s main purpose in her Firming Up Soft Determinism essay was to show that people can have control over the source of their actions, meaning that people can have control over their desires and beliefs, and because of this they have free will. She also tried to show that her view of soft determinism was compatible with free will and moral responsibility. While Holmstrom’s theory about the self’s being in control, willingness to participate, and awareness of an act causes the act to be free, has some merit, her choice to incorporate soft determinism ultimately proved to invalidate her theory. II. Exposition   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Nancy Holmstrom’s Firming Up Soft Determinism essay she set out to prove that people can have control over their desires and beliefs, and therefore are in control of the sources of their actions. She believed it was possible to carry on the view of soft determinism and still hold that we are free to choose and we are at times able to do otherwise. She believed that the standard soft determinist position was inadequate. Her thought was that soft determinists had too limited of a notion of what is required for an agent to be in charge of their actions. The common soft determinist stance was that the agent do what it pleased; the soft determinists simply ignore the question of whether the agent was in control of the sources that caused the actions. Holmstrom’s theory was that â€Å"just because some causes of desires and beliefs, such as brainwashing, make actions resulting from them unfree, it does not follow that any cause of desires and beliefs has the same implications for the freedom of actions resulting from them.† (Abel, 321)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Holmstrom believed that the notion of having control is the heart of the notion of freedom. In order to have control by Holmstrom’s theory the agent must be an important part of the causal process, and the agent must also be aware of its control. An example of this is illustrated by a person accidentally squashing an ant while walking. While the person did play an important part in the demise of the ant, the person was not aware of the action; therefore, the person was not in control of the ant’s life.

The Indigo Spell Chapter Four

I FROZE. I didn't trust myself to respond. What was Adrian thinking? Putting aside all the drama between us, it was absolutely unforgivable to ask this here, in front of other Moroi and Alchemists. Maybe in Palm Springs, where things were a little more casual with my friends, it might not be that crazy a request. But here? He risked exposing that we knew each other, which in turn risked Jill. Almost as bad, it could be a tip-off of his feelings for me. Even if I insisted that I had no matching feelings, the fact that things had progressed this far could get me in serious trouble with the Alchemists. As all these thoughts raced through my mind, a more concerning one suddenly popped up. A good Alchemist shouldn't be worried about any of those things. A good Alchemist would have simply been horrified at the immediate problem: dancing with a Moroi. Touching a vampire. Realizing this, I quickly mustered an outraged expression, hoping I looked convincing. Fortunately, everyone else was too shocked to pay much attention to me. Good relations only went so far. Stanton and Ian wore legitimate looks of disgust. The Moroi nearby while not appalled, were astonished at the breach of etiquette. And yet . . . I also saw a couple exchange looks that said they weren't entirely surprised Adrian Ivashkov would suggest something so outrageous. This was an attitude I'd seen a lot with him. People often shrugged off his behavior with, â€Å"Well, that's Adrian.† Ian found his voice first. â€Å"She . . . no! She absolutely can't!† â€Å"Why not?† Adrian glanced between all our faces, his expression still sunny and unassuming. â€Å"We are all friends, right?† Abe, who was rarely shocked by anything, managed to shake off some of his surprise. â€Å"I'm sure it's not that big a deal.† His tone was uncertain. He knew that Adrian wasn't a total stranger to me but undoubtedly assumed I had the usual Alchemist hang-ups. As tonight had demonstrated, most Alchemists still struggled with handshakes. Stanton seemed to be waging a mental war. I knew she thought it was an outlandish request . . . yet she was still conscious of the need to keep things pleasant. She swallowed. â€Å"Perhaps . . . perhaps it would be a nice gesture.† She shot me a sympathetic look that seemed to say, Sometimes you have to take one for the team. Ian jerked his head toward her. â€Å"Are you crazy?† â€Å"Mr. Jansen,† she snapped, conveying a stern warning in just his name. All eyes turned toward me as everyone realized that ultimately, it was my decision. At this point, I didn't know if I should be shocked or scared – and the thought of dancing with Adrian made me feel both. I met Stanton's eyes again and slowly gave a nod. â€Å"Sure. Okay. Good relations, right?† Ian's face turned bright red, but another sharp look from Stanton kept him silent. As Adrian led me to the dance floor, I heard a few whispered comments from curious Moroi mentioning â€Å"that poor Alchemist girl† and â€Å"there's no predicting what he does sometimes.† Adrian put his arm around my waist, perfectly proper and distant. I tried not to think about the last time I'd been in his arms. Even with appropriate spacing between us, our hands were still clasped, our stances still intimate. I was hyperaware of every single place his fingers rested on my body. His touch was light and delicate but seemed to carry an extraordinary heat and intensity. â€Å"What were you thinking?† I demanded once we were moving to the music. I was trying to ignore his hands. â€Å"Do you know how much trouble you may have gotten me in?† Adrian grinned. â€Å"Nah. They all feel bad for you. You'll achieve martyrdom after dancing with a mean, wicked vampire. Job security with the Alchemists.† â€Å"I thought you weren't going to pressure me about . . . you know . . . that stuff. . . .† The look of innocence returned. â€Å"Have I said a word about that? I just asked you to dance as a political gesture, that's all.† He paused for impact. â€Å"Seems like you're the one who can't get ‘that stuff off your mind.† â€Å"Stop turning my words against me! That's not – no – that's not right at all.† â€Å"You should see that Stanton woman watching us,† he remarked with amusement, glancing behind me. â€Å"Everyone's watching us,† I grumbled. It wasn't like the entire room had come to a standstill, but there were certainly a number of curious onlookers, gawking at the unlikely sight of a Moroi and a human – an Alchemist, at that – dancing. He nodded and swept me into a turn. He was a good dancer, which wasn't entirely a surprise. Adrian might be brash and impertinent, but he knew how to move. Maybe dance lessons had been part of growing up in an elite tier of Moroi society. Or maybe he was just naturally skilled at using his body. That kiss had certainly show a fair amount of talent. . . . Ugh. Adrian was right. I was the one who couldn't get over â€Å"that stuff.† Unaware of my thoughts, he glanced over at Stanton again. â€Å"She's got the look of a general who just sent her army on a suicide mission.† â€Å"Nice to know she cares,† I said. For a moment, I forgot my dance floor woes as I thought angrily back to Stanton's â€Å"need to know† attitude. â€Å"I can pull you closer, if you want,† he said. â€Å"Just to see how much she cares. I'm always willing to help like that, you know.† â€Å"You're a real team player,† I said. â€Å"If putting me in danger is for the greater good, then Stanton probably wouldn't do anything about you moving in on me.† Adrian's self-satisfied smirk faded. â€Å"Did she ever come clean about that guy you were trying to find? Martin?† â€Å"Marcus,† I corrected. I frowned. Her denial still bothered me. â€Å"She keeps claiming she doesn't know him, and I can't push too hard if I don't want her to get suspicious.† â€Å"I thought of a way you might find him,† said Adrian. I would've thought he was joking if his face wasn't so serious. â€Å"You did?† I asked. The Alchemists had vast information at our disposal, with hands in all sorts of agencies and organizations. I'd been scouring them these last few weeks and found it unlikely that Adrian would have access to something I didn't. â€Å"Yup. You've got his picture, right? Couldn't you just do the same spell you did the other night? Locate him that way?† I was so surprised, I nearly tripped. Adrian tightened his grip to keep me from falling. I shivered as that small gesture brought us closer. The tension between us kicked up a notch, and I realized that along with our bodies being nearer, so were our lips. I had a little difficulty speaking, both because of how it felt to be so close to him and because I was still stunned by what he'd said. â€Å"That's . . . wow . . . that's not a bad idea. . . .† â€Å"I know,† he said. â€Å"I'm kind of amazed myself.† Really, the circumstances were no different from finding Ms. Terwilliger's sister. I needed to locate someone I'd never met. I had a picture, which was what the spell required. What was different was that I'd be initiating the spell myself. It was a difficult piece of magic, and I knew Ms. Terwilliger's coaching had helped me. There was also the moral dilemma of working that type of spell on my own. My conscience had an easier time handling magic when I felt coerced. â€Å"I couldn't try until next month,† I said, thinking back to the spell book. â€Å"I mean, I have the picture with me, but the spell's got to be done during a full moon. This is the last night for the current one, and I'd never be able to get the components in time.† â€Å"What do you need?† I told him, and he nodded along, promising he could get them. I scoffed. â€Å"Where are you going to get anise and hyssop at this time of night? In this town?† â€Å"This town's full of quirky boutique shops. There's some herbal place that sells soaps and perfume made of anything you can imagine. I guarantee they've got what you need.† â€Å"And I guarantee they're closed.† He swept me into another flourish-filled spin, and I kept up with him perfectly. The song was wrapping up. The time had flown by faster than I'd thought. I'd forgotten about the onlookers. I'd even forgotten I was with a vampire. I was simply dancing with Adrian, which felt easy and natural, so long as I didn't think about our audience. His roguish look returned. â€Å"Don't worry about that. I can find the owner and talk her into making an exception.† I groaned. â€Å"No. Not compulsion.† Compulsion was an ability vampires had to force their wills on others. All vampires had it to a small extent, and spirit users had it in excess. Most Moroi considered it immoral. Alchemists considered it a sin. The song ended, but Adrian didn't release me right away. He leaned a little closer. â€Å"Do you want to wait another month to find Marcus?† â€Å"No,† I admitted. Adrian's lips were a breath away. â€Å"Then we'll meet in two hours by the hotel's service door.† I gave a weak nod, and he stepped back, releasing my hands. â€Å"Here's one last sign of good relations.† With a bow that could've come straight out of a Jane Austen novel, he gestured to the bar and spoke loudly. â€Å"Thank you for the dance. May I escort you to get a drink?† I followed without a word, my head spinning with what I'd need to do in two hours. At the bar, Adrian astonished me by ordering ginger ale. â€Å"Nice restraint,† I said, realizing he'd need to stay sober to work spirit. I hoped he hadn't indulged too much already. For him, the only thing better than an open bar would be a case of cigarettes showing up at his door. â€Å"I'm a master of self-control,† he declared. I wasn't so sure of that but didn't contradict him. I sipped my Diet Coke, and we stood there in comfortable silence. Two Moroi men sidled up the bar near us, talking with the volume and exuberance of those who hadn't held back on sampling free liquor. â€Å"Well, no matter how liberal that girl is, she's certainly easy on the eyes,† one guy said. â€Å"I could look at her all day, especially in that dress.† His friend nodded. â€Å"Definitely an improvement over Tatiana. Too bad about what happened to her, but maybe a change of scenery was for the best. Did that woman ever smile?† They both laughed at the joke. Beside me, Adrian's own smile vanished, and he went perfectly still. Tatiana, the former Moroi queen, had been Christian's great-aunt. She'd been viciously murdered this summer, and though Adrian rarely spoke about her, I'd heard from a number of people that they'd been close. Adrian's lips twisted into a snarl, and he started to turn around. Without hesitation, I reached out and grabbed his free hand, holding it tightly. â€Å"Adrian, don't,† I said softly. â€Å"Sydney, they can't say that.† There was a dangerous look in his eyes, one I'd never seen. I squeezed his hand harder. â€Å"They're drunk, and they're stupid. They're not worth your time. Please don't start a scene here – for Sonya's sake.† I hesitated. â€Å"And for me.† His face was still filled with rage, and for a moment, I thought he would ignore me and throw a glass at one of those guys. Or worse. I'd seen angry spirit users, and they were terrifying. At last, that fury faded, and I felt his hand relax in mine. He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, they were dazed and unfocused. â€Å"No one really knew her, Sydney.† The sorrow in his voice broke my heart. â€Å"They all thought she was some draconian bitch. They never knew how funny she was, how sweet she could be. You can't . . . you can't imagine how much I miss her. She didn't deserve to die like that. She was the only one who understood me – even more than my own parents. She accepted me. She saw the good in my soul. She was the only one who believed in me.† He was standing in front of me, but he wasn't with me. I recognized the rambling, consuming nature of spirit. It messed with its users' minds. Sometimes it made them scattered and distant, like he was now. Sometimes it challenged people's grip on reality. And sometimes, it could create a despair with devastating consequences. â€Å"She wasn't the only one,† I told him. â€Å"I believe in you. She's at peace, and nothing they say can change who she was. Please come back to me.† He still stared off into someplace I couldn't follow. After a few frightening moments, he blinked and focused on me. His expression was still sad, but at least he was in control again. â€Å"I'm here, Sage.† He removed his hand and glanced around to make sure no one had seen me holding it. Thankfully, the bride and groom had taken to the dance floor, and everyone was too mesmerized watching them. â€Å"Two hours.† He knocked back the rest of his drink and walked away. I watched him until he disappeared into the crowd, and then I returned to my own table, glancing at the clock along the way Two hours. Ian jumped out of his seat at my approach. â€Å"Are you okay?† No Moroi well-wishers were around, so only Stanton was nearby to hear him. She seemed to share his concern. â€Å"I'm sorry you had to endure that, Miss Sage. As always, your dedication to our work is admirable.† â€Å"I do what I can to help, ma'am,† I said. I was still worried about Adrian and hoped he wouldn't slip back into spirit's grip again. â€Å"Did he hurt you?† asked Ian, pointing. â€Å"Your hands?† I looked down and realized I'd been rubbing my hands together. They were warm from where Adrian had touched me. â€Å"Huh? Oh, no. Just, um, trying to rub the taint off. In fact . . . I should probably go wash up. Be right back.† They seemed to find this a perfectly reasonable idea and didn't stop me as I hurried to the restroom. Free of their concern, I breathed a sigh of relief. I'd dodged two bullets here, by not letting the Alchemists know that I was friendly with a vampire and also that I was plotting magic with him. â€Å"Sydney?† I was so distracted when walking out of the restroom that I hadn't noticed Rose standing nearby with Dimitri Belikov. They stood arm in arm, smiling at my surprise. I hadn't seen Dimitri tonight, and his black and white guardian attire told me why. He was on duty here and had undoubtedly been one of the shadows darting among the trees of the greenhouse, keeping a watch on everyone. He must be on a break now because there was no way he'd be standing so casually here, even with Rose, otherwise. And really, â€Å"casual† for Dimitri meant he could still leap into battle at any moment. They were a striking couple. His dark-haired, dark-eyed looks matched hers, and they were both dazzlingly attractive. It was no wonder Adrian had fallen for her, and I felt surprised at how uncomfortable that memory made me. Like Sonya and Mikhail, there was a bond of love between Rose and Dimitri that was almost palpable. â€Å"Are you okay?† asked Rose, eyes kind. â€Å"I can't believe Adrian did that to you.† She reconsidered. â€Å"Then again, I kind of can believe it.† â€Å"I'm fine,† I said. â€Å"I think the other Alchemists were more appalled than I was.† I remembered belatedly that even if Rose and Dimitri knew I knew Adrian from Palm Springs, I still couldn't act too at ease here. I put on my earlier look of outrage. â€Å"It was still out of line, though.† â€Å"Propriety's never been Adrian's strong suit,† Dimitri observed. Rose laughed at the understatement. â€Å"If it makes you feel any better, you guys looked really good together out there. Made it hard to believe you're mortal enemies . . . or whatever it is Alchemists think.† She gestured to my dress. â€Å"You even coordinated.† I'd totally forgotten what I was wearing. It was a short-sleeved silk dress, almost entirely black save for some splashes of royal blue on the skirt. That was a bolder color than I would normally wear, but the black tempered it. Thinking back to Adrian's shades of blue, I realized our palettes had indeed complemented each other. You guys looked really good together. I don't know what expression I wore, but it made Rose laugh again. â€Å"Don't look so panicked,† Rose said, eyes shining. â€Å"It was nice seeing a human and a Moroi look like they belong together.† Belong together. Why did she keep saying things like that? Her words were messing with the cool, logical demeanor I tried to maintain. I knew she was speaking in that friendly, diplomatic way that everyone was pushing so hard for. But as progressive as Rose and Dimitri were, I knew even they would be shocked if they knew the truth about Adrian's feelings and that monumental kiss. I spent the rest of the reception with a knot of anxiety building within me. Fortunately, I didn't have to hide it. Moroi and Alchemist alike expected me to feel that way. In fact, Stanton soon got her own share of â€Å"diplomacy† when a middle-aged Moroi guy asked her to dance, obviously taking a cue from Adrian's display of goodwill. Apparently, as outrageous as Adrian's behavior had been, some Moroi thought it had been a smart move and decided to follow suit. Stanton could hardly refuse after encouraging me, so she took the dance floor with gritted teeth. No one asked Ian to dance, which was probably just as well. He didn't look at all disappointed. Adrian stayed away, presumably to gather my spell components. Time ticked down, and as the two-hour mark approached, I realized that although I'd brought Marcus's picture with me on this trip (I rarely let it out of my sight), it was still in my room. I excused myself from Ian, telling him I needed to go back to the inn to change shoes and would take one of the cars that had been ferrying wedding guests around town. Ian's face immediately grew protective. â€Å"Do you want me to go with you? It's not safe out there.† I shook my head. â€Å"No, you need to stay here. Stanton's in more danger.† She was standing near the bar, speaking to two Moroi men. I wondered if she had another dance in her future. â€Å"Besides, it's early, so there's still more of them here than out there. At least the inn is run by humans.† Ian couldn't fault my Alchemist logic and reluctantly let me go. Catching a town car was easy, and I was able to make the round trip in almost the perfect amount of time. I even changed shoes so that I'd have proof for my story. Although I'd worn heels to the wedding, I'd packed flats in my suitcase, just in case. That was just smart planning for any occasion. When I reached the service door, however, I realized my clever planning had failed. Filled with haste and anxiety, I'd left my warm, heavy shawl in the car, which was probably long gone. Now, waiting for Adrian in the bitter Pennsylvania cold, I wrapped my arms around myself and hoped I wouldn't freeze before he showed up. He was good to his word, though, and arrived at exactly the appointed time with a tote bag over one shoulder. Even better, he was completely back to his normal self. â€Å"Ready to go,† he told me. â€Å"Seriously?† I asked, my teeth chattering. â€Å"You found everything?† He patted the bag. â€Å"You ask, I deliver. Now where do we need to do this?† â€Å"Somewhere remote.† I scanned around. Beyond the hotel's parking lot was a vacant field that I hoped would suffice. â€Å"There.† Walking across the well-salted parking lot wasn't a problem, but once we â€Å"off-roaded† into the snowy field, even my practical flats were of no use. I was also so cold that I suspected my skin was as blue as my dress. â€Å"Stop,† said Adrian at one point. â€Å"We need to go a little farther,† I protested. Adrian, who'd had the sense to put on a wool coat, was taking it off. â€Å"Here.† â€Å"You'll be cold,† I protested, though I didn't stop him when he stepped forward and helped me put the coat on. He was taller than me, so the three-quarter length was mercifully full length on me. Its scent was a mix of smoke and cologne. â€Å"There.† He pulled the coat more tightly around me. â€Å"I've got long sleeves and the jacket. Now come on – let's hurry.† He didn't have to tell me twice. Aside from the temperature, we had to do this before we were caught by others. Even I wasn't going to be able to explain this away to the Alchemists. The moon was still crisp and bright when we finally found an acceptable spot. I sifted through Adrian's bag, amazed that he'd come through with everything, from the mirror to the dried leaves and flowers. He stayed quiet as I set it all up, only speaking when I was just about ready to go. â€Å"Is there anything I can do?† he asked gently. â€Å"Just keep watch,† I said. â€Å"And catch me if I pass out.† â€Å"Gladly.† I'd memorized the spell when Ms. Terwilliger and I had performed it. Still, I was nervous about going solo, especially since the environment was so distracting. It was kind of hard to find the mental focus I needed while kneeling in snow. Then I thought back to Stanton and the lies the Alchemists were telling me. A spark of anger flared in me, creating warmth of a different sort. I used that to direct my thoughts as I stared at Marcus's picture. He was Adrian's age, with shoulder-length blond hair and a pensive look in his blue eyes. The tattoo on his check was a tangle of indigo crescents. Slowly, I managed to sink into the spell. I felt that same euphoria as the mirror shifted into a city image. No fog blocked me this time since presumably Marcus wasn't wielding the kind of protective magic that Ms. Terwilliger's sister had been using. The scene before me showed what looked like a very modest studio apartment. A mattress lay on the floor, and an ancient TV sat in one corner. I looked around for any identifying features but found nothing. The room's one window finally gave me a clue. Outside in the distance, I could see a Spanish-style building that looked like a church or monastery. It was made of white stucco, with red-roofed domed towers. I tried to get a closer look, to fly up like I had in the other spell, but suddenly, I became aware of the Pennsylvania cold seeping into me. The image shattered, and I was back to kneeling in the field. â€Å"Ugh,† I said, putting my hand to my forehead. â€Å"So close.† â€Å"Did you see anything?† Adrian asked. â€Å"Nothing that'll help.† I stood and felt a little dizzy but managed to stay upright. I could see Adrian ready and waiting to catch me in case I did indeed keel over. â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"I think so. Just a little light-headed from the blood sugar drop.† I slowly gathered up the mirror and bag. â€Å"I should've had you get orange juice too.† â€Å"Maybe this'll help.† Adrian produced a silver flask from his suit jacket's inner pocket and handed it toward me. So typical, Adrian helpfully offering alcohol. â€Å"You know I don't drink,† I said. â€Å"A few sips won't get you drunk, Sage. And it's your lucky night – it's Kahlua. Packed with sugar and coffee-flavored. Trade me and try.† Grudgingly, I handed him the bag and then took the flask as we began walking back to the hotel. I took a tentative sip and grimaced. â€Å"That is not coffee-flavored.† No matter how much people tried to dress up alcohol, it always tasted awful to me. I didn't understand how he could consume so much. But, I could taste the sugar, and after a few more sips, I felt steadier. That was all I drank since I didn't want to get dizzy for different reasons. â€Å"What'd you see?† asked Adrian, once we reached the parking lot. I described the spell's scene and sighed in frustration. â€Å"That could be any building in California. Or the Southwest. Or Mexico.† Adrian came to a halt and slung the bag over one shoulder. â€Å"Maybe. . . .† He took out his phone from his jacket and typed in a few things. I shivered and tried to be patient as he searched for what he needed. â€Å"Did it look like this?† I peered at the screen and felt my jaw drop. I was looking at a picture of the building from my vision. â€Å"Yes! What is it?† â€Å"The Old Mission Santa Barbara.† And then, just in case I needed help, he added, â€Å"It's in Santa Barbara.† â€Å"How did you know that?† I exclaimed. â€Å"What that building is, I mean.† He shrugged. â€Å"Because I've been to Santa Barbara. Does this help you?† My earlier dismay transformed into excitement. â€Å"Yes! Based on the window's position, I can get a pretty good idea of where the apartment is. You may have found Marcus Finch.† Caught up in my elation, I squeezed his arm. Adrian rested a gloved hand on my cheek and smiled down at me. â€Å"And to think, Angeline said I was too pretty to be useful. Looks like I might have something to offer to the world after all.† â€Å"You're still pretty,† I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. Another of those intense moments hung between us, the moonlight illuminating his striking features. Then it was shattered by a voice in the darkness. â€Å"Who's there?† Both of us flinched and jerked back as a black-and-white-clad figure seemed to materialize out of the shadows. A guardian. It was no one I knew, but I realized I'd been foolish if I thought we could slip in and out of the hotel unseen. The grounds were probably crawling with guardians, keeping watch for Strigoi. They wouldn't have cared much about two people leaving, but our return would naturally be challenged. â€Å"Hey, Pete,† said Adrian, putting on that easygoing smile he excelled at. â€Å"Nice to see you. Hope you're not too cold out here.† The guardian seemed to relax a little upon recognizing Adrian, but he was still suspicious. â€Å"What are you two doing outside?† â€Å"Just walking Miss Sage back,† said Adrian. â€Å"She had to get something from her room.† I gave him a puzzled look. The inn wasn't in this direction. Pete looked dazed for a moment. Then he nodded in understanding. â€Å"I see. Well, you'd better get back inside before you freeze.† â€Å"Thanks,† said Adrian, steering me away. â€Å"Make sure you get a break and try the canapes. They're amazing.† â€Å"You compelled him,† I whispered, once we were safely out of earshot. â€Å"Only a little,† said Adrian. He sounded very proud of himself. â€Å"And being outside to walk you is a valid reason, one he won't think too much about later. Compelling someone into believing a story works best if there's a little truth – â€Å" â€Å"Adrian? Sydney?† We'd almost reached the back of the building now and were suddenly face-to-face with an ivory-clad figure. Sonya stood before us, a fur stole wrapped around her. Once again, I was struck by her beauty and the happy glow she seemed to radiate. She gave us a puzzled smile. â€Å"What are you two doing out here?† she asked. Both of us were speechless. Adrian had no brash words or tricks. Sonya was a spirit user too, and compulsion wouldn't work on her. Frantically, I groped for some excuse that wasn't: We were out using illicit magic in a continuing effort to uncover secrets the Alchemists don't want me to know about. â€Å"You can't tell,† I blurted out to her. I held up the flask. â€Å"Adrian was letting me sneak some of his Kahlua. Stanton'll kill me if she finds out.† Sonya looked understandably startled. â€Å"I didn't think you drank.† â€Å"Tonight's been kind of stressful,† I said. It was hardly a lie. â€Å"And it's coffee-flavored,† Adrian pointed out, as though that might aid our cause. I wasn't sure if Sonya was buying it, so I attempted a change in subject. â€Å"Congratulations, by the way. I didn't have a chance to talk to you earlier. You look beautiful.† Sonya let go of her inquisitiveness and offered me a smile. â€Å"Thank you. It's kind of unreal. Mikhail and I have been through so much . . . there were times I never thought we'd reach this moment. And now . . .† She glanced down at the diamond sparkling on her hand. â€Å"Well, here we are.† â€Å"What are you doing out here, Mrs. Tanner?† Adrian had recovered himself and was back to his outgoing self. â€Å"Shouldn't you be inside gazing adoringly at your husband?† She chuckled. â€Å"Oh, we've got a lifetime of that ahead. Honestly, I just needed to get out of the crowd.† Sonya took a deep breath of the crisp, cold air. â€Å"I should probably get back soon. We're about to throw the bouquet. You aren't going to miss your chance, are you?† That was to me. I scoffed. â€Å"I think I'll sit this one out. I've already caused too much speculation tonight.† â€Å"Ah, yes. Your infamous dance.† Sonya glanced between us, and a bit of her earlier puzzlement returned. â€Å"You two look very good together.† Awkward silence fell for a few seconds, and then she cleared her throat. â€Å"Well, I'm getting in where it's warm. Hope you'll change your mind, Sydney.† She disappeared through the service door, and I resisted the urge to beat my head against the wall. â€Å"She knows we're lying. She can tell.† Spirit users were good at reading subtle cues from people, with Sonya being one of the best. â€Å"Probably,† agreed Adrian. â€Å"But I doubt she's going to guess we were out working magic in a field.† A terrible thought came to me. â€Å"Oh God. She probably thinks we were off doing – you know – romantic type, um, things – â€Å" That amused Adrian far more than it should have. â€Å"See, there you go again. That's the first thought that comes to your mind.† He shook his head melodramatically. â€Å"I can't believe you keep accusing me of being the obsessed one.† â€Å"I'm not obsessed!† I exclaimed. â€Å"I'm just pointing out the obvious conclusion.† â€Å"Maybe to you. But she's right about one thing: we need to get inside.† He anxiously touched his hair. â€Å"I think my hair gel's frozen.† I handed him back the flask and opened the door. Just before stepping through, I hesitated and glanced back at him. â€Å"Adrian? Thanks for helping me.† â€Å"What are friends for?† He caught the door from me and motioned for me to go inside. â€Å"Yeah, but you went above and beyond tonight for something that has nothing to do with you. I appreciate that. You didn't have to help. You don't have the same reasons I have for cracking open the Alchemists.† Not knowing what else to say, I gave him a small nod of thanks and went inside. As the warmth and noise of the crowd swallowed us, I thought I heard him say, â€Å"I have different reasons.†

The Energy Policy Act Of 1992 - 1607 Words

Energy Policy Act In this final assignment for Environmental Policy, Regulation, and Law, I will discuss the Energy Policy Act. This discussion will be geared toward the current usage of renewable energy with reference to the incentives created in the Energy Policy Act. The introduction into this topic will include a brief synopsis of the act’s history. Following the history of the Energy Policy Act, there will be a discussion and argument for the act and its present incentives for the use of renewable energy sources. In conclusion, the expected future of the Energy Policy Act and the closing argument for its regulation will be covered. Introduction and History of Energy Policy Act The Energy Policy Act of 1992 was amended in 2005 and 2009. In general, the act addresses production associated with energy with in the United States which include, renewable energy, energy efficiency, oil and gas, coal, Tribal energy, vehicles and motor fuels, hydrogen, nuclear matters and security (Environmental Protection Agency, 2015). In addition, the act also covers electricity, energy tax incentives, climate technology, hydropower and geothermal energy (Environmental Protection Agency, 2015). In regards to the Act, a renewable energy system is defined in the as a connection with a residence that transmits or uses solar energy or energy derived from geothermal deposits, biomass or any other form of renewable energy which the secretary stipulates within regulation (Environmental ProtectionShow MoreRelatedWhy Did Lans Join Aseann1465 Words   |  6 Pagespower plant near the border to supply electricity to Cambodia’s north-eastern provinces [8]. Furthermore, the first energy sector in Brunei is oil which discovered in 1910. 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The Malaysian governement acknowledge the importanceRead MoreClimate Change Is The Biggest Human Induced Threat On The Environment784 Words   |  4 Pagestry to save themselves from something that was inevitable. This all led to the beginning of many different proposed solutions. In 1955, congressmen in the United States proposed the idea of The Air Pollution Control Act, which later became The Clean Air Act of 1963. The purpose of this act was to mitigate greenhouse gases, more specifically as Grossman explains it [limited] emissions from mobile and stationary sources and imposed other regulatory requirements. This may seem like it would be a primaryRead MoreThe Global Consumption Of Oil904 Words   |  4 Pagesdecades. The use of energy resources all over the world has raised concerns over the consumption of energy resources and its environmental impacts. In this essay, an attempt is made to picture the geographies of energy consumption that increased attention to carbon emissio ns in the G7 and BRICs and countries like India, China, Brazil, U.S.A and Canada and its implications for human society, climate and political or economic dimensions. All the data discussed in this paper about energy use and emissionsRead MoreMacro Economics - Oil and Gas1681 Words   |  7 Pagesgasoline prices follow a trend that sparks mixed reactions from different industry stakeholders in the America’s economy. The trends on oil and gasoline and their stability have immense impact on the performance of the economy based on their primary as energy. The government’s ability to ensure stability in price movement is seen as a key step towards fostering steady economic growth. A variety of factors are at play in the determination of these trends exhibited by the oil prices in America. 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Shaw Development Llc806 Words   |  4 Pagescode that included energy efficiency requirements for air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps and water heaters that were more stringent than U.S. Department of Energy requirements. The Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (â€Å"AHRI†), along with other industry groups and contractors, sued the City to stop the new requirements from taking effect on the grounds that the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, National Appliance Energy Conservation Act and other federal lawsRead MoreFrank Pallone Jr. Shows Up On The Website House943 Words   |  4 PagesStates House Representative for District Three in New Jersey, â€Å"In March 1992, a new Congressional district map for New Jersey was adopted. Portions of the former Third District were merged with parts of two other districts to create the Sixth Congressional District, taking in large portions of Middlesex and Monmouth counties† (hous.org). Therefore, Pallone become the first elected to the Sixth District seat in November 1992. The most recent election for the U.S. House of Representatives was on November

Title IX Thesis - 973 Words

While Title IX is often thought of â€Å"the women’s sports bill†, the history and progression of Title IX suggests a far more complex history. In fact, as Amanda Ross Edwards suggests, Title IX’s shift was reaction to public conflict about the bill that was spurred after the bill’s creation. The conflicts surrounding the development of Title IX suggests that debates about who should be included in educational spaces and who should be excluded from those spaces did not cease upon the Brown vs. Board of Education or after the development of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As we examine the controversy and discourse of Title IX—especially regarding women in sports—it becomes clear that the American public was still very much interested in creating†¦show more content†¦While the development of this bill speaks some to the progressive spirit of the 1960s and 1970s, the public backlash to this bill says even more about the lasting impact of discrimination in educational contexts. As Edwards (2010, p. 307) notes, some of the emphasis on Title IX and athletics came from the executive branch as they tried to construct these regulations; gender discrepancies were easy to examine in the context of athletics. However, much of the public attention on Title IX and athletics—and the intense controversy surrounding Title IX—came from the backlash against women athletics. Edwards (2010) suggests that â€Å"[The] focus turned to athletics primarily because of those groups fighting against Title IX. Those opposed to Title IX, such as the NCAA and the American Football Coaches Association, drew attention to an issue that the women’s groups originally fighting for Title IX had ignored, (p. 307). Thus, in attempt to quell the encroaching threat of female athletics, groups that opposed Title IX’s role in defending female athletes stoked the flames of controversy that transformed the public understanding an d the meaning of the bill. Understanding the opposition’s role in transforming Title IX is important because it ultimatelyShow MoreRelatedEconomic Analysis of Title Ix1432 Words   |  6 PagesLaurie Holmes April 30, 2010 Econ4494W Thesis Proposal: Title IX and College Sports Throughout history, according to the laws of almost every country, males have been the dominate sex. In almost every sector of life, the law has granted men more rights and privileges, whether it be property rights or the right to vote. However, in the United States, ever since women’s suffrage, all women’s rights have been increasing steadily. One privilege that men have had in the past, active and supportedRead MoreThe Advancement For Equality Of Women974 Words   |  4 Pagesnot that women are above men, it is instead the advancement for equality of women. Thesis Statement: The actual meaning of feminism is not that women are above men, it is instead the advancement for equality of women. Organizational Pattern: Categorical I. Intro A. Attention Getter: With a show of hands how many of you all think feminists believe that men are evil and that females are the superior gender? B. Thesis Statement: The actual meaning of feminism is not that women are above men, it is insteadRead MoreInterpersonal Communication753 Words   |  4 PagesTitle Student’s Name COM200: Interpersonal Communication Instructor’s Name Date (Sample March 19, 2014) Introduction- Thesis Statement * If you’re having difficulties writing a thesis, use the thesis generator in the Ashford Writing Center - https://awc.ashford.edu/writing-tools-thesis-generator.html. Remember, a thesis should make a claim – a definitive statement – about some issue. Here is an example: Effective communication is the most important factor in a successful relationshipRead MoreEssay about Sports Effects on Child Development1390 Words   |  6 Pagestwo. To prove the statement wrong Dr. Stevenson composed a complex research of the Title IX program. â€Å"Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 required schools and colleges receiving federal money to provide the same opportunities for girls as they did for boys† (Parker-Pope). Using this amendment as evidence of importing sports into schools and later on testing it to the group of kids that were affected by Title IX Dr. Stevenson states, â€Å"Increasing girls’ sports participation had a direct effectRead M oreWhat The Title Of Hobsbawm s Book Can Indicate At A First Glance947 Words   |  4 Pages Despite what the title of Hobsbawm’s book can indicate at a first glance, his work is neither a step-by-step textbook of factual information about how history should be written nor a series of directly given guidelines that historians should follow. Instead it is a book composed of twenty-one essays that represent his own work transformed from their previous form as lectures, contributions to conferences or articles and reviews in different journals. As Hobsbawm himself explains, his reflectionsRead MoreThe Empowering Women Through Sports2314 Words   |  10 Pagesdiscrimination and closing the gap between men and women around the world. Title IX In the spring of 1972, the president signed Title IX of the educational amendments. The purpose was to avoid use of federal money that supports sex discrimination. Title IX requires all schools provide men and women equal athletic and educational rights and opportunities. Congress allowed colleges 6 years to achieve compliance. Prior to the signing of Title IX, girls didn’t compete in organized sports. Oftentimes outside ofRead MoreBenefits Of Paying College Football Players1296 Words   |  6 Pagesexactly would the money come from ? How could you pay college football players but not baseball players or members of the women’s field hockey team? And how in the world would you pay men in a way that wouldn’t violate Title IX† ( Found on the ESPN website; written in a article ). Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. Along with dailylocal.com’s Kie ran McCauley article that says why athletes shouldRead MoreSingle Sex Schools Are Worth Study1092 Words   |  5 PagesEducation has always been a popular topic.How can education make students better is the core of the topic.My thesis focuses on single-sex school which aims to develop a more equal environment for students. In addition to the instruction ,this research paper is divided into four parts:The first part explores why some areas carry out single-sex education.The second part illustrates the general implementation of the single –sex schools .The third part elaborates the advantages and dis advantages aboutRead MoreBenefits Of Homeschooling : Children s Unique Learning Style And Provides A Healthier And Safer Learning Environment978 Words   |  4 Pages Full Title: Benefits of Homeschooling Erica Brown ENG122: English Composition II Instructor Patti Youngs February 6, 2017 â€Æ' Benefits of Homeschooling I. Introduction A. Thesis statement: Homeschooling has become an effective alternative to education that accommodate the child’s unique learning style and provides a healthier and safer learning environment. II. 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High School Athletes And Not College Athletes - 1971 Words

We hear stories about them in the news. We may even see them on TV. They are student-athletes. They live a busy life trying to balance school and athletics. Some say that their academic grades suffer due to their time spent on athletics, this is not true. Participating in sports while pursuing an education can help students promote not only good work ethics but help them achieve academic success. For the sake of this argument, I will focus strictly on high school student athletes and not college student athletes. Television and other mainstream media makes it seem like sports are all that matter in high schools and they have no benefit. We have sports in high school for a number of reasons. Some of the benefits are for the growth of the†¦show more content†¦Ripley says â€Å"Here school is about learning, but it’s also about training to compete in games that majority of kids will never get paid to play. It’s about pep rallies, booster clubs, trophy cases and cheerleaders decorating football players’ lockers after they fill them with brownies.† (Ripley). There are benefits for student athletes that a class room could not teach. For example, say an student-athlete was awarded team captain of a basketball team. The captain would gain leadership skills that no textbook, teacher or classroom could teach him. From that experience they are able to take that talent they have learned and apply it to the classroom and their personal studies. The life skills that the se student-athletes are learning are irreplaceable. Another thing is that being a student-athlete brings personal responsibility. They know that they need to meet certain academic standards they must meet in order to play in the games and practice. However that reasonability causes them to push themselves and do better than students who do not participate in sports. A study published in the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise in August 2007 said that students who were active in sports performed 10 percent better in core subjects (math science, social studies and language arts) than those who were not active in sports. (Chen) This type of academic improvement does not just happen. There are a number of roles thatShow MoreRelatedHigh School And College Athletes930 Words   |  4 Pages Wrestling is one of the more difficult sports when it comes to being in high school or college. It is not for everyone the sport is very demanding physically and mentally. To the point where it could seriously injure someone. In wrestling at the beginning of the season you will choose a weight class that you will wrestle for the season. On the day of the meet you have to weigh in and weigh the weight class you chose. 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From my own personal experience as a former high school and college football player, I doubt that this is true. Id also like to find some studies that may compare student athletes to the general student body to see if there is a correlation of usage betweenRead MoreThe NBA One-And-Done Rule1584 Words   |  7 Pagesfor recent high school graduates to forego their eligibility to play college basketball and enter straight into the NBA draft. The informed high school basketball players that they had to be at least one year removed from high school and had to be at least 19 years of age in order to partake in the NBA draft. Currently, the league does not require players to play NCAA basketball as you can be drafted after playing a season overseas. However, for many high school graduates att ending college has becomesRead MoreThe Future Of The Ncaa1634 Words   |  7 PagesSeth M. Marshall Professor Kristen Bradley English 1010 9 November 2015 The Future of the NCAA College athletic programs are among the most popular sporting events in America. With this rise in popularity, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its colleges have also seen a rise in revenue in recent years. In 2014, the NCAA made over 900 million dollars in revenue. Some collegiate coaches, such as Kentucky’s John Calipari, have yearly salaries in the millions, not counting incentivesRead MoreIt’s Time to Pay College Athletes Essay1704 Words   |  7 PagesCollege athletes should be paid because of the huge amount of money being made off of the use of their athletic ability. The college basketball and football games that everyone watches on TV is no longer just a game, it is a business. The colleges and arenas hosting such events are not doing it solely for the love of sport, they are doing it for the money that will flow generously into their banking accounts. The coaches also, they are not volunteers, they are not there just for their love of theRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1713 Words   |  7 PagesCollege sports are one of the largest and fastest growing markets in today’s culture. With some college sports games attracting more viewers than their professional counterparts, the NCAA is one of the most profiting organizations in America. Recently there has been controversy in the world of college sports as to whether the college athletes that are making their universities and the NCAA money should receive payment while they are playing their respective sport. Many believe that these athletesRead MoreCollege Athletics Is A Major Part Of PeopleS Lives Around1364 Words   |  6 PagesCollege athletics is a major part of people s lives around the world. From the athletes playing the various sports to the fans watching from their televisions it has become a huge thing. 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With the many controversies in athletics today it is getting harder to fulfill this dream. One of the main controversies is co llege athletes becoming employees of the college. There are many reasons why athletes should not be employees. College athletes should not be considered employees of the college it will send a bad message to younger generations, cause contract disagreements and lastly it would make the cost of colleges much high than they

Academic English Time Allotted 60 Minutes Free Essays

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES FACULTY OF ORIENTAL STUDIES QUESTIONS: 1. Some people believe that success in life comes from taking risk or chance. Others believe that success results from careful planning. We will write a custom essay sample on Academic English Time Allotted: 60 Minutes or any similar topic only for you Order Now In your opinion, what does success come from? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. 2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Self-confidence is the most important factor for success in school or at work. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. 3. Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. 4. You have received a gift of money. The money is enough to buy either a piece of jewelry you like or tickets to a concert you want to attend. Which would you buy? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. 5. Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher. Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to develop your essay. 6. If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer. 7. â€Å"When people succeed, it is because of hard work, Luck has nothing to do with success. † Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific and examples to explain your position. 8. Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer. 9. Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer. How to cite Academic English Time Allotted: 60 Minutes, Essay examples

Non-Profit Enterprise in Market Economics

Question: Discuss about the Non-Profit Enterprise in Market Economics. Answer: The equity financing is defined as a methodology that helps to raise capital of a firm by selling the stocks of the corporation to its investors. Thus, in turn of the investment, the investors earn ownership interests to the firm. It can be said that the equity finance is more appropriate than any other sources of finance, especially for the long term funding companies, for example: banks. The reason behind this is that the banks are associated with long term bank loans. The major advantages of equity finance include firstly, the process of funding is associated with the business and the particular project. However, in this system, the shareholders can understand their investment only when the firm runs well (Nan and Wen 2014). Secondly, it helps to maintain with the costs of the serving bank loans and even with the debt finance that allows utilizing the capital for the activities of the business. Thirdly, the equity finance helps the external investors to expect regarding deliverin g values by the firm and thus it will aid in executing and exploring growth ideas. In addition to these, equity finance guides the venture capitalists to bring in valuable skills, experiences and contacts to the long term businesses. Therefore, it helps in expanding the long term funding companies. Furthermore, the equity finance also helps in making key decisions and strategy regarding operation of the business. As per the entrepreneur, the stakeholders also possess interest regarding the success of the business, its profitability ratio, continuous growth and expansion and raise in the value (Finnerty 2013). Lastly, it can be said that the equity finance assists the investors in providing follow-up funding with the growth of the organization. It has been found that maintenance of a healthy position of cash or cash reserve is considered as a vital factor for expanding a business. Therefore, the retained earnings are counted as profits that are kept within a corporation. Moreover, retained earnings of a firm are like personal savings account but it is for a company that is generally used in case of emergencies. Firms can run its daily operations by the help of its retained earnings. Additionally, this can assist the firm in capital investment or acquisitions, or can be used for paying expensive operating debts (Kaplan and Atkinson 2015). The expansion of the business is regarded as an important capital investment, thus, it has both merits and demerits. However, it has been found that advantages of retained earnings are relatively more than its total disadvantages. The reasons behind this include the process of funding by help of retained earnings is regarded as a powerful strategy for the businesses as it is not added to t he debt profile (James and Rose-Ackerman 2013). In addition to these, the particular conservative opinion also helps the firm to maintain and control the entire operations of the company and it reduces any kind of complication regarding new partners, creditors and external investors of the firm. Furthermore, internal funding through retained earnings assists the corporation to remain firmly in the seat of the driver. However, the process of retained earnings is slow; thus, opportunities of business might be missed out. References Finnerty, J.D., 2013.Project financing: Asset-based financial engineering. John Wiley Sons. James, E. and Rose-Ackerman, S., 2013.The Non-Profit Enterprise in Market Economics. Taylor Francis. Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015.Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning. Nan, L. and Wen, X., 2014. Financing and investment efficiency, information quality, and accounting biases.Management Science,60(9), pp.2308-2323.