Battle of Princeton essays

Battle of Princeton essays The Battles of Trenton and Princeton In the fall of 1776, Washington and his men were camping out in New York City after the defeat they suffered in Long Island. The soldiers shivered around the campfires night after night without shoes, blankets, or winter uniforms. Washington knew that being surrounded by water left him and his 19,000 troops extremely vulnerable to the British with their naval mobility and larger forces. On November 21, 1776 Washington moved his troops south joining the troops from Fort Lee. He then continued the journey into Newark, New Jersey and waited there for a militia to rally, but few showed up. The next leg of this journey would take them to New Brunswick, leaving on the 28th, just as the British were arriving in Newark. Then on December 1st, the British forces moved to New Brunswick and Washington repositioned his men to Princeton. On their way to Princeton, Washington had his men destroy all bridges and cut down trees behind them to delay the British who were in pursuit of the American army. Once they had reached Princeton, the Americans fell back to Trenton along the Delaware River, which is the border with Pennsylvania. Then on December 2nd, two thousand Pennsylvania militiamen joined Washington at Trenton. Most men decided to stay home to protect their families from the enemy and any valuable possessions from the British and Hessians. The British and Hessians at this time were destroying Jersey homes, farms and possessions as they moved through the state. As Washington moved to Princeton, General Greene was faced with the advancing British and was forced to retreat. Joining Washington, the combined army now moved back to Trenton and then across the river. Washington had every boat that could be found moved to safety across to the Pennsylvania side. Reaching the Delaware on the 8th, Howe positioned himself across the river. After the search for boats up and down the river fail...

Free Essays on Telémakhos, The Odyssey

In his translation of The Odyssey, Robert Fitzgerald portrays Telà ©makhos as a rational, striving, yet disdained gentleman. Telà ©makhos’ ambitions are confirmed by his desire to unbind the mystery of his lost father. A vast amount of his nearby society do not agree with his proposal. Nevertheless, the sensible and eager young man begins his journey. The author first introduces Telà ©makhos as a man of wisdom. Fitzgerald constantly refers to him as the â€Å"Clear-headed Telà ©makhos...† (2, 25). A later establishment demonstrates how â€Å"Telà ©makhos replie[s] with no confusion† (2, 28) to Antinoos. Fitzgerald implies the high wit of Telà ©makhos by utilizing different word associations that introduce his speech. On the contrary to the author’s opinion on Telà ©makhos, the other characters condescend and insult him. Antinoos exemplifies this behavior by openly displaying his feelings of distrust for the young man. He believed that Telà ©makhos would â€Å"want to shame [him], and humiliate [him]† (2, 21). Antinoos further contributes to his discontentment on him by blaming his â€Å"own dear, incomparable cunning mother.† He additionally expresses that â€Å"for three years now-and it will soon be four- [his mother] has been breaking the hearts of the Akhaians, holding out hope to all, and sending promises to each man privately -but thinking otherwise† (2, 22). Antinoos does not stand in solitude with his negative ideas on Telà ©makhos. A â€Å"young top lofty gallant† supports Antinoos by voicing that â€Å"Telà ©makhos has a mind to murder [them]† (2, 28). Another complies with this statement by predicting that â€Å"He might be lost at sea, just like Odysseus, knocking around in a ship, far from his friends† (2,2! 8). Furthermore, this man sarcastically verbalizes â€Å"what a lot of trouble that would give [them], making the right division of things!† (2, 28). The supporting characters in act 2 personify the hateful reput... Free Essays on Telà ©makhos, The Odyssey Free Essays on Telà ©makhos, The Odyssey In his translation of The Odyssey, Robert Fitzgerald portrays Telà ©makhos as a rational, striving, yet disdained gentleman. Telà ©makhos’ ambitions are confirmed by his desire to unbind the mystery of his lost father. A vast amount of his nearby society do not agree with his proposal. Nevertheless, the sensible and eager young man begins his journey. The author first introduces Telà ©makhos as a man of wisdom. Fitzgerald constantly refers to him as the â€Å"Clear-headed Telà ©makhos...† (2, 25). A later establishment demonstrates how â€Å"Telà ©makhos replie[s] with no confusion† (2, 28) to Antinoos. Fitzgerald implies the high wit of Telà ©makhos by utilizing different word associations that introduce his speech. On the contrary to the author’s opinion on Telà ©makhos, the other characters condescend and insult him. Antinoos exemplifies this behavior by openly displaying his feelings of distrust for the young man. He believed that Telà ©makhos would â€Å"want to shame [him], and humiliate [him]† (2, 21). Antinoos further contributes to his discontentment on him by blaming his â€Å"own dear, incomparable cunning mother.† He additionally expresses that â€Å"for three years now-and it will soon be four- [his mother] has been breaking the hearts of the Akhaians, holding out hope to all, and sending promises to each man privately -but thinking otherwise† (2, 22). Antinoos does not stand in solitude with his negative ideas on Telà ©makhos. A â€Å"young top lofty gallant† supports Antinoos by voicing that â€Å"Telà ©makhos has a mind to murder [them]† (2, 28). Another complies with this statement by predicting that â€Å"He might be lost at sea, just like Odysseus, knocking around in a ship, far from his friends† (2,2! 8). Furthermore, this man sarcastically verbalizes â€Å"what a lot of trouble that would give [them], making the right division of things!† (2, 28). The supporting characters in act 2 personify the hateful reput...

PUBLIC POLICY 3000 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

PUBLIC POLICY 3000 - Essay Example The time taken for a new policy to be put in place and be fully operational may take a short time as one week, and as long as years. Public policy draws people, institutions, markets and government into familiar patterns of decision making (Althaus, Bridgman & Davis, 2013). This essentially implies that setting and administering policy are intricate as many stakeholders and players influences decisions and choices made. Preparation of a public policy is a daunting task, which calls for intense activity and coordination with other administrative and government decisions to ensure consistency. The process may take a long time as decision makers have to incorporate expert evidence, bureaucratic and political counsel, and competing interests of people affected by the policy proposal (O'Sullivan & Gibb, 2008). This discussion seeks to explore public policy on social housing in England, as well as health policy in Australia Universal health policy in Australia Australia attains universal c overage through Medicare, which is a tax financed public insurance program that covers most medical care. The universal health care also includes physician and hospital services and prescription drugs. Majority of Australian health services are funded and regulated by the central government, but territories and states have obligations for public hospital care (The commonwealth fund, 2013). In addition to Medicare, the government subsidizes private insurance, which is used by half of the Australian citizens to cover dental care costs and private hospitals (Australia Policy Online, 2013). Issues surrounding universal health policy coordination Universal health policy in Australia has been a subject of debate in the commonwealth since 1940s. The focal point of concern is the diverging interests of major stakeholders who have conflicting interests. Healthcare givers want huge profits and earnings; the government wants to maintain a tight and strict control over the money they use, where as consumers want to have quality healthcare facilities at affordable prices (Armstrong, 2007). In verity, these objectives cannot be accomplished at the same time, which heightens conflicts among stakeholders. In addition to the above controversy, Australia experiences ideological differences among its top organs of government. The liberal party in coalition with the national party takes on a liberal individualist approach. This favors least government intervention in the health policy, leaving private insurance and private medicine to take the largest role. On the other hand, the Australian labor party takes a social liberal stand, holding that health ought to be financed by the government in a bid to attain access and equity goals. Perspectives on policy implementation Australian government is faced by major challenges in implementing universal healthcare. Although Australian health system is globally ranked among the best; much needs to be done to address the concerns on a varie ty of issues. These are the health of aboriginal Australians, quality of health offered, access, equity and affordability, increase in preventable diseases, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS and complexity of health services. In addition, the strides made in the health sector that place Australia are under pressure as a result of the ageing population, the rising burden of chronic ailments

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 97

History - Essay Example ther end focused on the economy while reforms had to do with the state’s financial systems to provide protection from a repeat of such severe depression. This series of programs changed the role of the federal government in American life. Firstly, the new deal fundamentally redefined the relationship between the federal government and the citizens. The government took the responsibility to care for people unlike in the past. Initially, the federal government was detached from the common man and as such their financial security or propensity was not much their concern. After enactment of the new deal, the federal government financed the public service jobs which solved the problem of unemployment. The new deal created programs that targeted to keep the citizens secure like the FDIC and social security. The federal government became peoples’ prosperity and economic security provider when things would go bad coming to their rescue (Taylor, n.d). Secondly, the role of government towards its citizens was redefined. The new deal made the government take the roles of recovery, relief as well as reform. Roosevelt’s ideologies made the government’s role more expansive unlike was the ordinary. Thus, governments took to intervene on issues that affected the public. The federal government became the source for solution of Americans problems. The reforms that targeted the banking sector and stock market brought about recovery. The federal government protected home mortgages and thus made it recover from the depression (Taylor, n.d). These efforts pioneered by Roosevelt in under the new deal programs set a precedence that was to become the role of the federal government in the lives of the American people. Further, Reliefs initially were provided by charity organizations and local governments. This was redefined by Roosevelt under the new deal programs. The new deal brought federal reliefs to millions of Americans during the recession. Thousands of men were able to be

Channel Tunnel Project Essay Example for Free

Channel Tunnel Project Essay Channel Tunnel project, which aimed to create a fixed connection between Britain and France, is one of the largest private funded projects in the world. It required the use of newest technology and great management skills in order to deal with unexpected changes. Also the cooperation of two countries’ governments, several constructors, banks and other agencies are needed to make this project run smoothly. This essay divided the whole project into 4 steps in analyzing: conceive, develop, execute and finish. Further, it demonstrates the key advantages and disadvantages of Chunnel project including project scheduling, risk management, people management, cross-culture communication and so on with critical thinking. In addition, recommendations are provided due to the improvement in these procedures. Background The channel tunnel is one of the longest undersea rail tunnels in the world. It has an overall length of 50.5-kilometre and links Folkestone in the UK and Calais in the France. (Anderson, 1994) The proposal of building a fixed link across the English Channel was firstly created as early as 1802 by an engineer in France but it was shelved due to security and political reasons. In 1957, Louis Armand formed the Channel Tunnel Study Group and then presents a design of railway tunnel, bored of submerged, comprising a twin rail tunnel with a service tunnel to the government in 1960. (eurotunnelgroup.com) However, the British minister cancelled the project in 1975 due to financial problems and oil crisis. The project started again until the British and French government reached an agreement, which is finding private promoters for the construction without public funding in 1984. Finally, after negotiate with governments, banks and shareholders, constructions began in 1987 and completed in 19 94. The American Society of Civil Engineers recognizes Channel Tunnel as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. (Reynolds, 1996) Phase 1: Conceive From a project management perspective, the whole project can be divided into 4 stages which are conceive, develop, execute and finish. During conceive phase, it is necessary to focus on the project’s overall strategy. It considers the projects goal, potential problems and opportunities, possible solutions and the links of projects to other projects. Also it should be clarified projects’ basic assumptions. In 1981, the British and French governments are agreed to launch the project. Four plans including Eurobridge, Euroroute, Channel Expressway and Channel Tunnel were submitted to the government and Channel Tunnel Group/ France–Manche (CTG/FM) won the bid eventually. After that, an map of organizational structure had been designed: Source: channel tunnel project overview The picture above reveals the structure of all participants. Eurotunnel is an international company originally formed by CTG/FM. It is the owner and operator of the whole project. And it provided the construction contract to TML. From 1985- 86, Eurotunnel was controlled by CTG/FM and banks. Each of them holds 50% of it. Later on, Eurotunnel became independent company and then transferred to its shareholders and banks. A 55 years contract had been reached between Eurotunnel and the government of Britain and France based on the proposal submitted. The Construction Contract between Eurotunnel and TML sets out the Eurotunnel is also linked to the banks by a loan agreement and to national railways by a usage agreement. Furthermore, governments hired several experts to build an agency called IGC (Intergovernmental Commission) to ensure the project is under control. IGC was permitted for demanding changes in the process of project to keep it â€Å"healthy and safety†. During the stage of planning, the total cost of the project was 5.5 billion dollars and the whole project would be private financed without any government aids. On the consideration of CTG/FM owned an agreement, which gave group the sole right of Channel operation during 55 years, over 200 banks around the world offered loan to the project. (Genus, 1997) However, for a project this large, the lack of scope makes to resource planning, budgeting and cost calculating very difficult, thus it would be a challenge to use ROI (return on investment) to provide accurate data. Because ROI only gives results based on assumptions from TML Schedule management plays an important role in the first stage as well. Several milestones were built including (Fairweather, 1994): 1. 1974, idea of tunnel gathered, but abandoned 2. 1978, British and French discussions continued 3. 1985, British and French government asked for bids 4. 1986, The Treaty of Canterbury was signed allowing the project to proceed and CTG/FM won the contract 5. 1987, Channel tunnel project started 6. 1994, the project complete The schedule was planned to build 3 tunnels, two rail tunnels and one service tunnel allows mixed traffic at short headway (3 minutes between trains) and high speed (100 to 160 km/h) of national trains and its shuttles. These special Shuttles allow rail transportation of cars from one country to another. This made designer to illustrated 12 tunneling faces worked by 11 boring machines. A very complex schedule was made in logistics management and WBS development (work breakdown structure) due to high requirements of activity arrangements and activity duration estimate. Quality and risk management is another significant part of preparation stage. Management team needs to evaluate potential risks of technical, commercial, political, and financial aspects because if risks are identified early enough, an effective response strategy can be made. A risk impact matrix can be made in analyzing process

Morals and values learnt in Under a Ramshackle Rainbow Essay -- Engli

Morals and values learnt in Under a Ramshackle Rainbow " Under a Ramshackle Rainbow", is a very deep poem in which the poet uses dark and morbid images and symbols to get across morals and values to the reader. The underlining theme of the poem is how one should treat their surroundings and what the consequences to their actions will be. From the immediate start of the poem, a creepy and eery atmosphere is created by casting a dark image in the reader's mind. ' A dead tree. On a rotten branch sit two wingless birds.' The words 'dead' and 'rotten' show the sincerity of the issue. The mentioning of two wingless birds is very significant as they portray the poet's first message to the reader. The wingless birds basically defy their objective in life. Birds need wings to fly and without wings not only do they not have their freedom, but they have no means of survival; they cannot avoid predators or catch prey. Therefore death is inevitable. After only reading the first two lines the reader may feel confused to why the birds are wingless and why their habit is in such an unusual state. The ending to the first stanza clarify the confusion. ' Among leaves on the ground a man is searching for his hands. It is fall. By this, the poet is explaining the cause of the dead tree and the wingless birds. When saying that the man is ' searching for his hands', it is made clear that the search is a pointless exercise as the reader is told that it is fall and therefore the pile of leaves would be extremely deep. Although the man still has his site, he does not have his hands which are essentially needed to search through the leaves. The poet uses this description as it is symbolizes man searching ... ...re successfully receiving compensation for man's behaviour is secured by the last line of the poem. ' The ants gather on the shore. ' It is as though the ants represent nature and are the audience that witness the death of the man. After reading " Under the Ramshackle Rainbow" the reader understands perfectly, the aim of the poem. The aim of the poem is to get across a message that one should respect their surroundings and instead of neglect or abuse them, giving back to them what you take. If one should act in greed and only take from nature, they will have to suffer the consequences. The aim of the poem is put forward effectively by using methods such as patheticfallacy, irony and dramatic twists. The poet also uses enjambement to give the poem a more distorted rhyme and structural appearance that emphasises the destruction and ruin of the poem.

Ethics Reflection Paper

Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics and social responsibility are key factors when planning one’s personal life or planning for the success of a business. When companies develop strategic plans, they must consider what role ethics will play and how social responsibility will affect the plan keeping stakeholders need at the forefront. If businesses and individuals are making a conscious effort to display ethical behavior, ethical perspectives and beliefs should evolve over time much like what has happened in the master’s of business administration (MBA) program. Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Strategic Planning Ethics are guidelines used to help management and employees conduct themselves according to the values and standards set forth by the company. To ensure employees understand the rules and make good ethical decisions, a company’s plan should embody the beliefs and values that the business and their employees view most important. These beliefs and values can be outlined in a company’s mission, vision, and philosophy statements which provide direction, purpose, and a clear understanding of an organization’s behavioral expectations and decisions made by the stakeholders. When adhered to, the mission and vision statements can be the baseline for goal-setting and strategic planning while keeping ethics at the core of all decisions. Pearson and Robinson (2004) stated â€Å"central to the belief that companies should be operated in a socially responsive way for the benefit of all stakeholders is the belief that managers will behave in an ethical manner† (p. 60). Even with a plan in place and ethical guidelines established, unethical behavior is always a possibility which could occur at a management or subordinate level. Too many top-level management and executives have acted inappropriately and have violated company policies. This was witnessed through events such as the Enron, WorldCom, and Bernie Madoff scandals where unethical behavior was called into question. Employees, specifically those in a management position, have an obligation to do what is right for the sake of their customers, the industry, and to help maintain the company’s image and reputation. When this fails to happen, the owners and board of directors must take the appropriate action to get rid of those individuals, not only to set an example but to make the point that unethical behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances. To minimize the possibility that similar atrocities will occur, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was instituted to mandate Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Chief Financial Officers (CFO) to take responsibility for reports generated and to acknowledge that the information included in the reports are true and accurate to the best of their knowledge. If the information is not true or is fraudulent, both have a responsibility to report the findings to auditors. Like ethical behavior, â€Å"social responsibility is a critical consideration for a company’s strategic decision makers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pearson & Robinson, 2004, p. 23). Owners need to ensure that they hire managers who are going to carry out their wishes and be the voice in their absence instead of managers who will protect their self-interests. Decisions made by management have to be aligned with the beliefs of the owner and the company’s stakeholders to guarantee profitability and survivability. To encourage managers to make appropriate and ethical decisions, owners and executives should provide incentives through bonuses, appraisals, and recognition programs. Managers who do receive performance incentives will be held accountable by stakeholders. Stakeholders include stockholders who want a good return on investment, employees seeking job satisfaction, satisfied customers and suppliers, governments seeking law abiding companies, competitors seeking strong competition, responsible citizens and the public seeking a good quality of life (Pearson & Robinson, 2004). Outside of being accountable to owners and the business, managers also have to select the ethical approach that will ensure the consumer is getting the best service at a reasonable cost, jobs are being offered to those who need them, consumers do not have to fear product risk, and that they are taking care of their financial responsibilities to the government. Regardless of the approach selected, consistency is important as not to send a signal of injustice and consistency allows companies and individuals to reach their end-state goals without having to waste time and money. Ethical Perspectives At the start of the MBA program, ethics and ethical behavior were and still are a very important part of conducting business and in how others are treated and perceived. This program reemphasized the importance of the role of ethics and how people in society should work hard to create a personal and corporate culture that fosters accountability and ensures everyone conducts business in an ethical manner. Being a part of a team during each class was a very good test of ethics, beliefs, and the ability to display patience and understanding towards other people. Some team members had little respect and showed disregard for others or their feelings. Although assignment completion was the most important aspect, some members were written off because of a lack of effective writing abilities, communication, or personal skills. Although many of those decisions were based on personal preference, one still has to question if the decisions were right or wrong. A major source of failure in most team assignments as well as collaborative projects within an organization is usually caused by a lack of admiration for individual judgment. Respect for individual judgment was evident in the Assessment of Ethical Choices in the Workplace (2009). When teammates acknowledge the judgment of others, they encourage open communication, build trust, and promote cohesiveness that could potentially prevent unethical behavior from occurring. Having an ethical profile closely aligned with character is an asset when trying to judge others (University of Phoenix, 2009). Conclusion For businesses and individuals to remain successful there must be intent to remain ethical and socially responsible. The ethical and social decisions made have to support the better good of the organization or society and every effort should be made to call attention to and reject improper behavior. Although one might perceive his or her ethical concepts to be intact, improvement is always encouraged. References Pearson, J. A. , & Robinson, R. B. (2004). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (9th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethical choices in the workplace. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethics awareness inventory. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. Ethics Reflection Paper When explaining the role of ethics and social responsibility in developing a strategic plan, the stakeholders need to be considered. So it’s not just customers and employees now you have these people who have invested in your company. â€Å"Each of these interest groups has justifiable reasons for expecting (and often for demanding) that the firm satisfy their claims in a responsible manner. In general, stockholders claim appropriate returns on their investment; employees seek broadly defined job satisfactions; customers want what they pay for; suppliers seek dependable buyers; governments want adherence to legislation; unions seek benefits for their members; competitors want fair competition; local communities want the firm to be a responsible citizen; and the general public expects the firm’s existence to improve the quality of life. † There are two kinds of stakeholders the inside ones and the outside ones, the issues are that they both look at the company mission for a social responsibility towards society and at the same time the financial interests of the stockholders. For example an outside stakeholder may demand that an insider would be subordinated for the well being of the society and vice versa. This starts to get complex by thinking you’re running a company that needs to make a profit to succeed but at the same time must answer to a social responsibility and particular ethics point of view. An example of a company being socially responsible while making a profit is Toyota. They make the top selling Prius which is the hybrid that leads in developing efficient gas-electric vehicles. There are four types of social responsibilities for which strategic planners must plan, which are: economic, legal, ethical and discretionary. In economic is assumed that the company is providing goods and services at a cost that’s reasonable. In legal responsibilities the company must adhere to the laws that regulate it. In ethical responsibilities the company must have a notion of right and wrong that’s well defined and most of all ethical. In discretionary responsibilities are those that voluntary and throughout those sometimes the company tries to enhance their image. Ethics â€Å"refers to the moral principles that reflect society’s beliefs about the actions of an individual or a group that are right and wrong. † The perception of ethics in business has currently hit a all time low, this could be due to the never ending recession and others. Throughout the program my view of ethics in the workplace has evolved and is no longer so black and white anymore. I have learned that the ethical perspective of a individual not necessarily is the same view of a organization. The company has to think about the whole company and also the impact on society. While the individual’s perspective come from him alone, and how he vies society. References: Casio, W. (2005). Managing Human Resources: Productivity, Quality of Work Life, Profits 7th Edition New York Mac Graw-Hill. University of Phoenix. (2010). InterClean Scenario [Computer Software]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, Simulation, HRM/531 Mondy, R. (2008). Human Resource Management 10th Edition Prentice Hall. Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics and social responsibility are key factors when planning one’s personal life or planning for the success of a business. When companies develop strategic plans, they must consider what role ethics will play and how social responsibility will affect the plan keeping stakeholders need at the forefront. If businesses and individuals are making a conscious effort to display ethical behavior, ethical perspectives and beliefs should evolve over time much like what has happened in the master’s of business administration (MBA) program. Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Strategic Planning Ethics are guidelines used to help management and employees conduct themselves according to the values and standards set forth by the company. To ensure employees understand the rules and make good ethical decisions, a company’s plan should embody the beliefs and values that the business and their employees view most important. These beliefs and values can be outlined in a company’s mission, vision, and philosophy statements which provide direction, purpose, and a clear understanding of an organization’s behavioral expectations and decisions made by the stakeholders. When adhered to, the mission and vision statements can be the baseline for goal-setting and strategic planning while keeping ethics at the core of all decisions. Pearson and Robinson (2004) stated â€Å"central to the belief that companies should be operated in a socially responsive way for the benefit of all stakeholders is the belief that managers will behave in an ethical manner† (p. 60). Even with a plan in place and ethical guidelines established, unethical behavior is always a possibility which could occur at a management or subordinate level. Too many top-level management and executives have acted inappropriately and have violated company policies. This was witnessed through events such as the Enron, WorldCom, and Bernie Madoff scandals where unethical behavior was called into question. Employees, specifically those in a management position, have an obligation to do what is right for the sake of their customers, the industry, and to help maintain the company’s image and reputation. When this fails to happen, the owners and board of directors must take the appropriate action to get rid of those individuals, not only to set an example but to make the point that unethical behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances. To minimize the possibility that similar atrocities will occur, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was instituted to mandate Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Chief Financial Officers (CFO) to take responsibility for reports generated and to acknowledge that the information included in the reports are true and accurate to the best of their knowledge. If the information is not true or is fraudulent, both have a responsibility to report the findings to auditors. Like ethical behavior, â€Å"social responsibility is a critical consideration for a company’s strategic decision makers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pearson & Robinson, 2004, p. 23). Owners need to ensure that they hire managers who are going to carry out their wishes and be the voice in their absence instead of managers who will protect their self-interests. Decisions made by management have to be aligned with the beliefs of the owner and the company’s stakeholders to guarantee profitability and survivability. To encourage managers to make appropriate and ethical decisions, owners and executives should provide incentives through bonuses, appraisals, and recognition programs. Managers who do receive performance incentives will be held accountable by stakeholders. Stakeholders include stockholders who want a good return on investment, employees seeking job satisfaction, satisfied customers and suppliers, governments seeking law abiding companies, competitors seeking strong competition, responsible citizens and the public seeking a good quality of life (Pearson & Robinson, 2004). Outside of being accountable to owners and the business, managers also have to select the ethical approach that will ensure the consumer is getting the best service at a reasonable cost, jobs are being offered to those who need them, consumers do not have to fear product risk, and that they are taking care of their financial responsibilities to the government. Regardless of the approach selected, consistency is important as not to send a signal of injustice and consistency allows companies and individuals to reach their end-state goals without having to waste time and money. Ethical Perspectives At the start of the MBA program, ethics and ethical behavior were and still are a very important part of conducting business and in how others are treated and perceived. This program reemphasized the importance of the role of ethics and how people in society should work hard to create a personal and corporate culture that fosters accountability and ensures everyone conducts business in an ethical manner. Being a part of a team during each class was a very good test of ethics, beliefs, and the ability to display patience and understanding towards other people. Some team members had little respect and showed disregard for others or their feelings. Although assignment completion was the most important aspect, some members were written off because of a lack of effective writing abilities, communication, or personal skills. Although many of those decisions were based on personal preference, one still has to question if the decisions were right or wrong. A major source of failure in most team assignments as well as collaborative projects within an organization is usually caused by a lack of admiration for individual judgment. Respect for individual judgment was evident in the Assessment of Ethical Choices in the Workplace (2009). When teammates acknowledge the judgment of others, they encourage open communication, build trust, and promote cohesiveness that could potentially prevent unethical behavior from occurring. Having an ethical profile closely aligned with character is an asset when trying to judge others (University of Phoenix, 2009). Conclusion For businesses and individuals to remain successful there must be intent to remain ethical and socially responsible. The ethical and social decisions made have to support the better good of the organization or society and every effort should be made to call attention to and reject improper behavior. Although one might perceive his or her ethical concepts to be intact, improvement is always encouraged. References Pearson, J. A. , & Robinson, R. B. (2004). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (9th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethical choices in the workplace. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethics awareness inventory. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics and social responsibility are key factors when planning one’s personal life or planning for the success of a business. When companies develop strategic plans, they must consider what role ethics will play and how social responsibility will affect the plan keeping stakeholders need at the forefront. If businesses and individuals are making a conscious effort to display ethical behavior, ethical perspectives and beliefs should evolve over time much like what has happened in the master’s of business administration (MBA) program. Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Strategic Planning Ethics are guidelines used to help management and employees conduct themselves according to the values and standards set forth by the company. To ensure employees understand the rules and make good ethical decisions, a company’s plan should embody the beliefs and values that the business and their employees view most important. These beliefs and values can be outlined in a company’s mission, vision, and philosophy statements which provide direction, purpose, and a clear understanding of an organization’s behavioral expectations and decisions made by the stakeholders. When adhered to, the mission and vision statements can be the baseline for goal-setting and strategic planning while keeping ethics at the core of all decisions. Pearson and Robinson (2004) stated â€Å"central to the belief that companies should be operated in a socially responsive way for the benefit of all stakeholders is the belief that managers will behave in an ethical manner† (p. 60). Even with a plan in place and ethical guidelines established, unethical behavior is always a possibility which could occur at a management or subordinate level. Too many top-level management and executives have acted inappropriately and have violated company policies. This was witnessed through events such as the Enron, WorldCom, and Bernie Madoff scandals where unethical behavior was called into question. Employees, specifically those in a management position, have an obligation to do what is right for the sake of their customers, the industry, and to help maintain the company’s image and reputation. When this fails to happen, the owners and board of directors must take the appropriate action to get rid of those individuals, not only to set an example but to make the point that unethical behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances. To minimize the possibility that similar atrocities will occur, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was instituted to mandate Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Chief Financial Officers (CFO) to take responsibility for reports generated and to acknowledge that the information included in the reports are true and accurate to the best of their knowledge. If the information is not true or is fraudulent, both have a responsibility to report the findings to auditors. Like ethical behavior, â€Å"social responsibility is a critical consideration for a company’s strategic decision makers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pearson & Robinson, 2004, p. 23). Owners need to ensure that they hire managers who are going to carry out their wishes and be the voice in their absence instead of managers who will protect their self-interests. Decisions made by management have to be aligned with the beliefs of the owner and the company’s stakeholders to guarantee profitability and survivability. To encourage managers to make appropriate and ethical decisions, owners and executives should provide incentives through bonuses, appraisals, and recognition programs. Managers who do receive performance incentives will be held accountable by stakeholders. Stakeholders include stockholders who want a good return on investment, employees seeking job satisfaction, satisfied customers and suppliers, governments seeking law abiding companies, competitors seeking strong competition, responsible citizens and the public seeking a good quality of life (Pearson & Robinson, 2004). Outside of being accountable to owners and the business, managers also have to select the ethical approach that will ensure the consumer is getting the best service at a reasonable cost, jobs are being offered to those who need them, consumers do not have to fear product risk, and that they are taking care of their financial responsibilities to the government. Regardless of the approach selected, consistency is important as not to send a signal of injustice and consistency allows companies and individuals to reach their end-state goals without having to waste time and money. Ethical Perspectives At the start of the MBA program, ethics and ethical behavior were and still are a very important part of conducting business and in how others are treated and perceived. This program reemphasized the importance of the role of ethics and how people in society should work hard to create a personal and corporate culture that fosters accountability and ensures everyone conducts business in an ethical manner. Being a part of a team during each class was a very good test of ethics, beliefs, and the ability to display patience and understanding towards other people. Some team members had little respect and showed disregard for others or their feelings. Although assignment completion was the most important aspect, some members were written off because of a lack of effective writing abilities, communication, or personal skills. Although many of those decisions were based on personal preference, one still has to question if the decisions were right or wrong. A major source of failure in most team assignments as well as collaborative projects within an organization is usually caused by a lack of admiration for individual judgment. Respect for individual judgment was evident in the Assessment of Ethical Choices in the Workplace (2009). When teammates acknowledge the judgment of others, they encourage open communication, build trust, and promote cohesiveness that could potentially prevent unethical behavior from occurring. Having an ethical profile closely aligned with character is an asset when trying to judge others (University of Phoenix, 2009). Conclusion For businesses and individuals to remain successful there must be intent to remain ethical and socially responsible. The ethical and social decisions made have to support the better good of the organization or society and every effort should be made to call attention to and reject improper behavior. Although one might perceive his or her ethical concepts to be intact, improvement is always encouraged. References Pearson, J. A. , & Robinson, R. B. (2004). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (9th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethical choices in the workplace. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethics awareness inventory. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation.

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 18

Ella Micha won't text me back and it's eating away at my mind. I need to find out where he is, but Caroline's making it difficult. She's a photographer and wants to take pictures of the different views of our town. I take her to the lake first because it's the sunnier side of town, and pull over in a few different turnouts that give her various views. When we reach the bridge, she gets really enthusiastic and wants pictures of it too. â€Å"It has so much history to it,† she says. â€Å"And it probably carries a lot of memories for people.† I wonder if Caroline is a mind reader on top of a photographer. A thin cloud of dust surrounds us as I tap the brakes and park the car just at the brink of the bridge and she hops out with her camera bag on her shoulder. Lila and I trek after her, taking our sweet time, but I halt at the line that splits the road from the bridge. â€Å"So is this the bridge?† Lila asks, watching me through her sunglasses. I stare at the spot on the ground where Micha and I stood kissing in the rain. â€Å"Yeah, this is the bridge.† With a quiver in my heart, I step onto the concrete and walk up to the railing. Gripping the bar, I gaze out at the lake, glistening in the sunlight, so much brighter than that rainy night. Caroline clicks her camera, getting the lake at every angle while Lila roams to the other side. The wind blows through my hair and I shut my eyes, going back to that night. I'd been cleaning out my mom's medicine cabinet earlier that morning and had come across the bottle of pills she'd taken to keep her delusions under control. I'd wondered if they'd worked for her and how they made her mind see life. So I took one to see for myself and then headed off with Micha to a party. As soon as I'd climbed in his car, he'd sensed something was off with me. â€Å"You look out of it,† he said. â€Å"Maybe we should just stay in tonight.† I shook my head and motioned for him to drive. Frowning, he drove us to the party, but he kept a close eye on me almost the entire night, following me like a puppy. Usually, I didn't mind, but I grew restless with the desire to figure out what the hell my mother was thinking. So when Micha got preoccupied by a girl, I cornered Grantford and asked him to drive me to the bridge. He had happily obliged, thinking he was going to get some. When we arrived at the bridge it was raining buckets of water. I thanked him politely and told him he could go. He was pissed and started yammering something about why the hell did he drive me out here. I shrugged and slammed the door shut, stepping out into the rain. He spun away from the bridge, the tires of his pickup kicking up gravel and mud all over my boots. I walked over to the railing and stepped up onto the curb, observing the water through the veil of rain. But it wasn't close enough, so I stepped up onto the beam just like I remembered her doing. It still didn't make sense why she did it – why she thought she could fly and I don't think it ever will. I jerk away from my reminiscing and concentrate on Caroline, who's still snapping pictures, with the long lens of her camera close to my face. â€Å"You're a deep thinker,† she remarks and clicks her camera again. â€Å"And you photograph well.† I shake my head. â€Å"No, I'm not. Not really.† She snaps another picture and moves the camera away. â€Å"As a photographer I get to see through a totally different eye. I think it makes me see people differently – more clearly.† â€Å"Like a mirror?† â€Å"Yeah, kind of.† She turns the lens toward the lake and starts snapping pictures of it. I recline against the railing and scroll through my messages. I only have one, Micha's voicemail from a few weeks ago. I decide maybe it's time. I press dial and put it up to my ear. â€Å"Hey Ella, it's Micha,† he says nervously, unlike himself, and sighs â€Å"Well, that was a stupid opening line, so pretend you didn't hear that.† A smile tugs at the corners of my lips. That sounds more like him. â€Å"Anyway, I'm kind of irritated that you just took off and haven't called.† He pauses and I can hear Ethan in the background. â€Å"Actually, I'm fucking pissed off. I don't even know what to say. You just bail after everything we've been through. Do you know how crazy I've been wondering where you were or if you were even alive? My heart compresses in my chest. I've never heard him so upset. â€Å"You just bailed out on everyone and people need you, even if you don't think so. Grady's sick – he has cancer and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He inhales a shaky breath. â€Å"I still love you†¦ I don't know what else to say and there's probably not even a point of saying anymore†¦ you won't call me back.† It clicks and the message ends. It's not what I was imagining. I'd never once looked at it from his side – how worried he must have been. I send him another text, but again, he doesn't respond. *** One week passes and I still don't hear from Micha. He won't call me or answer my texts, and his phone is going straight to voicemail. His mom has no idea where he is either and she's starting to get really worried. Ever since I returned from the bridge, little images of what happened when Micha picked me up that night have been flickering through my head. Something infinite happened that night, not with Micha, but with me. I arrive at the conclusion, while I'm sitting out on my porch, staring at his vacant driveway, that it's time to get to the bottom of what's going on with Micha. There is only one person I could think of who might know where he is. Ethan. And I need backup. â€Å"What are we trying to get out of him?† Lila asks as I drive up to the shop Ethan works at. â€Å"Where Micha is.† I tell her, putting the shifter into park. â€Å"And I think Ethan might know.† Her forehead scrunches as she eyes the open garage door. Ethan is behind a car being worked on, tossing a screwdriver and catching it like a baseball. â€Å"But why am I here?† â€Å"Because you're my backup.† â€Å"And what exactly is it you want me to do?† â€Å"I'm not sure yet.† I bite my nail, assessing the situation. Ethan is dressed in a nice pair of jeans and plaid button-down shirt, not his work clothes, which means he can leave if he wants to and he probably will, making this as difficult as possible. Especially if Micha told him not to tell me. He tips his head back and laughs at something his dad said. Then his eyes find my dad's Firebird and his expression drops. I open the door and he throws down the tool and runs through the shop. I jog across the gravel and swing open the front door, leaving Lila behind. Sitting behind the counter is Mrs. Gregory, Ethan's mother who has the same dark hair and brown eyes as Ethan. She looks up quickly from a magazine and her eyes brighten. â€Å"Ella, is that you?† She gets up from the stool and rounds the counter to give me a hug. â€Å"I didn't know you were back, honey.† â€Å"For the summer, I am.† My eyes skim the room and the shop. â€Å"Is Ethan in there?† She points over her shoulder. â€Å"He just ran back into the storage room. You want me to go get him?† â€Å"Would you mind if I did?† I ask politely. â€Å"Sure, hun.† She steps aside and lets me behind the counter. The storage room is lined with rows and rows of shelves holding parts for cars. It's quiet, dark, and the sink has a drip. â€Å"Ethan,† I say, shutting the door quietly behind me. â€Å"I know you're in here.† â€Å"I hear a shuffle from the back corner diagonal from me. I hurry down the tire aisle, peeking through the shelf, and catch him running up the other side. I skitter backwards, hoping to cut him off at the end by the door. â€Å"Ethan will you please talk to me?† My voice echoes back at me. Looking left then right, I exit the aisle. â€Å"Look, I know he told you where he went, so will you please just tell me†¦ or at least tell me if he's okay.† He suddenly reveals himself from an aisle a few rows down. â€Å"He told me not to tell you where he was.† I press my lips together at the sting in my heart. â€Å"I need to know. I'm worried about him.† He props his elbow on the edge of a shelf. â€Å"Well, now you know how he's felt for the last eight months.† The painful feeling of reality sinks in. â€Å"Please, please, will you just tell me where he is. It's killing me not knowing.† He eyes me over, like he's hunting for my sincerity. â€Å"He went to see his dad.† My jaw almost hits the floor. â€Å"When did he find out where his dad was?† Ethan sighs and leans against the shelf. â€Å"He started calling the house a few weeks ago, asking to talk to Micha. Micha wouldn't talk to him, but then a few days ago, he finally decided it was time to go see him.† â€Å"Is he still with his dad?† I ask. He hesitates. â€Å"No†¦ Let's just say the visit didn't go very well.† I force the lump in my throat down. â€Å"Is he okay?† â€Å"I'm not sure†¦.He was staying with some of our old friends over at Farrows Park the last time I talked to him.† â€Å"Is he coming back?† â€Å"Again, I'm not sure.† I sink to the cold concrete floor and let my head fall into my hands. â€Å"Why didn't he tell me?† Ethan puffs out a loud breath and sits down beside me. â€Å"Because he didn't want you dealing with his problems on top of your own. He worries about you all the time. It's kind of annoying.† I raise my head and scowl at him. He chuckles and nudges me with his elbow. â€Å"What? I'm the one who's had to listen to him talk about you for the last eight months. At one point, I almost stabbed my ears out just so I didn't have to hear it.† I give a gentle pat to his knee. â€Å"Pretend all you want. You're not as bad of a guy as you want people to think.† He comprehends the deeper meaning to my words. â€Å"Yeah, yeah, say what you want, but deep down, I'm just your average douche bag, like every other guy out there.† Laughing, we get up and go out to the lobby, where there's a guy waiting at the front counter. He walks me to the door and stares out at Lila sitting out on the hood of my car examining her watch. â€Å"So what are you going to do?† he asks as I push open the door. â€Å"I'm not sure yet,† I say. â€Å"I doubt you're going to tell me where the house is that he's staying at.† â€Å"I don't think it'd be a good idea for you to go there. He needs to clear his head.† He backs up toward the register with his hands stuffed into his pockets. â€Å"I got customers to take care of.† I meet Lila at the car and she slides off the hood. â€Å"Did he tell you anything?† We climb in the car and I quickly explain to her the vague details of what happened. â€Å"So where are we going?† she asks, buckling her seatbelt. The sunlight sparkles through the windshield and into my eyes. â€Å"We're going home.† *** A couple more days drag by and I still don't hear anything from Micha. It baffles me how much I miss him, but I do my best to keep busy, not wanting to get sucked up in the loneliness and worry. Dean and Caroline went home about a week ago. Caroline told me they'd come back to visit before the summer was over or she would at least see me again at the wedding, which is in October. Lila is out for the day with Ethan, not on a date, something they both insisted when I brought it up. My dad is locked in his room. He had a rough night and got into a fight. I received a call from Denny at two o'clock in the morning telling me to come pick him up. Deciding I need a break from my house, I peek in on my dad who is fast asleep, and then drive over to Grady's house. Amy's car is parked in front of the trailer and the front door is wide open, swaying in the wind a little. I hop out of the car as she walks outside with a bag over her shoulder and a box of Grady's stuff in her arms. I fear the worst has happened. â€Å"Is everything okay?† She sighs, transferring the box to the side of her hip to free her hand so she can get the car door open. â€Å"He caught a bad case of pneumonia and he's been taken to the hospital over in Monroe.† I brace my hand on the trunk of the car for support. â€Å"Is he okay?† Shaking her head, she sets the box on the seat and slams the door shut with her hip. â€Å"His body's already fightin' cancer. This just makes things worse.† â€Å"I need to go see him,† I mumble and turn for my car. â€Å"He can't have visitors right now, Ella,† she says empathetically. â€Å"His immune system's too low.† I frown. â€Å"Will you let me know when he can?† She gives me a small smile, but there's something in her eyes I don't like. â€Å"Yeah, hun. I will.† As I back down the driveway, watching her lock up, I feel helpless and out-of-control. I want to run away, back to Vegas, or somewhere else equally as far away, so I won't have to feel it. But I don't. *** I try not to stress too much about Grady, but my thoughts keep drifting to him. Whether he's in a hospital bed with sterilized walls? Or did Amy take a box of his stuff to fix it up for him? â€Å"What song is this?† Lila is lying on her stomach in my bed, flipping through the pages of a magazine. â€Å"‘Black Sun' by Jo Mango,† I say, sharpening one of my charcoal pencils over the garbage in my bedroom. â€Å"It's sad.† She frowns, resting her chin in her hand. â€Å"It makes me want to cry.† â€Å"It's a good song to draw to.† I return to my drawing on the floor. The dark lines of it form pieces of a shattered mirror and I start sketching a picture of a guitar inside one of them. When I'm done, each piece will hold something about my life, but it might take me a while to finish it. Lila raises her head away from her hand and glances at the window. â€Å"Did you hear that?† There's shouting coming from outside, loud enough to be heard over the music. I shade one of the corners with my pinky. â€Å"It's probably just the neighbors.† The yelling gets louder and Lila sits up nervously and draws back the curtain. â€Å"Ella, there's a man and a woman fighting out in front of the driveway.† I set my pencil down on the floor and go over to the window. There's a short, fat man and a tall, slender woman yelling at each other just outside the boundaries of my front yard. â€Å"That's the Anderson's,† I explain. â€Å"They always do that.† â€Å"We should stop it,† she says worriedly. â€Å"He might hurt her.† â€Å"I'll take care of it,† I tell her. â€Å"You stay here.† I pad down the stairs, barefoot and in my boxer shorts and tank top, and poke my head out the door, but the Anderson's have vanished from the street. The lyrics and music of â€Å"Behind Blue Eyes† by The Who is blasting from the stereo in Micha's room next door. It's his sad mood song, the one he lets play over and over again when he's depressed. The lights aren't on in the house, but the one in the garage shines brightly into the night. Sticking out of the open door is the back end of his Chevelle. There's a large dent in the bumper that wasn't there when he left and a scratch on the corner of the fender. Walking down the steps the concrete is ice-cold against my bare feet. I spot him through the window of the garage, searching the shelf for something with a cigarette in his mouth. I watch him move, my pulse instantly speeding up, and I have to work to keep breathing. As he pulls away from the shelf with a box in his hand, he turns his head toward the window, like he senses me out here. Our eyes lock and collide. He sets the box down and disappears out of my view. A few seconds later he walks out of the garage. His jeans ride low on his hips and the porch light hits his chest, highlighting his well-defined muscles and the cursive font of the tattoo on his rib. â€Å"When did you start smoking again?† I inquire from my driveway. He takes the cigarette out of his mouth with his eyes on me. â€Å"I slipped up a few days ago†¦ There's just too much going on, I guess.† I take a few small steps across the driveway and my heart thuds in my chest. â€Å"Is it because of your dad?† Micha reaches the grass, just before the fence divides our houses. â€Å"How do you know about that?† I stop just short of the fence and wrap my arms around myself to keep warm. â€Å"Ethan told me.† He shakes his head, annoyed. â€Å"He's worse than a girl.† â€Å"Hey.† I feign offense, attempting to lighten his mood. â€Å"Not all girls are bad. I've always been an excellent secret keeper. You know that.† He places his hands on the fence and clutches at the links. â€Å"I don't know if that's true anymore.† He gestures his hand at me. â€Å"Maybe this was who you always were. Maybe this place was just getting in the way of you.† He's upset and I need to get to the bottom of why. â€Å"You could have told me about your dad.† â€Å"Could I of?† The front of his thighs push against the fence. â€Å"I don't think you can handle it right now – you can barely handle your own problems.† I reduce the small gap left between the fence and myself. â€Å"Try me.† His eyes examine my face, looking for something deep within me. Then his head falls down, defeated, and he lets out a slow breath. â€Å"It was almost as painful as that day you ran off. I mean, he has a whole other fucking family†¦.† His voice cracks and he clears his throat. â€Å"Like we weren't good enough or something.† The ache in his voice nearly kills me. I close my eyes and tell myself I can do this – that I'm the strong one at the moment. My eyes open and I put my finger under his chin, forcing him to look at me. His eyes are glassy, like he's about to cry, and he tries to look away. I place an unsteady hand on his cheek and maintain his gaze. â€Å"I know it hurts right now,† I say, grappling my voice even. â€Å"But it will get better. It'll just take some time and I'll be here for you this time. I promise.† He looks unconvinced. Not knowing what else to say, I stand on my tiptoes, lean over the fence, and lightly graze my lips across his. Heat caresses my mouth and skin. â€Å"I need you right now,† Micha murmurs against my lips with so much desire in his eyes that my knees buckle. â€Å"I need this right now.† His hand cups around the back of my neck, much gentler than the intensity in his voice, and he crashes my body against his. He tempts me with a soft brush of his lips and every ounce of sexual tension between us explodes. I can't help myself – I fall into him. My lips part willingly, lost in the mind-numbing moment as he slips his tongue deep inside my mouth, devouring me thoroughly. He tastes like cigarettes mingled with mint and the scent of his cologne is intoxicating. My hands trace up the front of his bare chest, and I loop my arms around his neck. The links of the fence dig into my skin as we crush it between our bodies, trying to bury ourselves into one another. Micha pulls away for a second and my lips falter in protest, but he lifts me up over the fence and encourages my legs around his waist. My inner thighs burn as they graze his hips. Every part of him touches me and it makes my body flame. I arch into him, moaning as his lips return to mine even more ravenously. â€Å"Oh my God, this feels so good.† He groans, before heading toward his house. â€Å"What are you doing?† I whisper against his lips, knowing where he's going, but I'm not sure I'm ready for it yet. â€Å"Shh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His warm tongue slips deep inside my mouth and I forget about arguing. His hands hold me up by the ass as he kicks the back door open and stumbles into his kitchen. He knocks over a lamp and bumps into the wall as he carries me blindly down the hall and into his room. Then we collapse on the bed, tangled together. The music is loud and he reaches over to the stereo and turns it down so it filters through the room softly. â€Å"Ow,† I squeal, squirming. â€Å"Something just poked me.† â€Å"I'm pretty sure that's supposed to happen,† Micha jokes with feral eyes. I swat his chest and reach underneath me, retrieving a drumstick. He snatches it from my hand, laughing softly as he chucks it over his shoulder and it lands somewhere in the dark. His face turns serious as he smoothes my hair back, looking into my eyes so passionately, my nerves crack through. â€Å"Do you know I realized I loved you when we were like sixteen? But I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid you'd run away.† I prop up on my elbows, making our faces inches away. Strands of his hair hang in my face. â€Å"But I was normal back then. Or at least partly normal.† He lets his forehead rest against mine. â€Å"Yeah, but I thought that's how things were supposed to happen when people were in love.† I realize how bad I must have hurt him when I ran off after he tried to tell me he loved me. â€Å"Micha, I'm sorry.† His jaw spasms and he tips his head back up. When he kisses me again, it feels different somehow – more intimate. My apprehension starts to emerge, but I choke it down and let my head fall back against the pillow. His lips follow mine and he kisses all the fear out of me. My chest presses into his as my neck arches against his trail of kisses along my skin, sucking and nipping at it all the way down. â€Å"Fuck,† he groans when his mouth reaches the curve of my breast. The fabric of my tank top is thin and I don't have a bra on. Hesitantly, his tongue lightly slides between my breasts. Instantly, my nipples harden and an irrepressible moan escapes from my lips as desire takes over my body. I sit up, stunning him, and he moves back. â€Å"What's wrong?† he asks. Sucking in a deep breath of air, I shut my eyes and wiggle my shirt off. My chest heaves, bare and exposed, as my lungs strain for air. I've never been this far with a guy before – never wanted to. Getting close to someone meant getting attached and getting attached has only brought me hurt in the past. But Micha's different. He always has been. I just didn't realize it until now. He takes me in deliberately and then covers his body with mine, colliding our bare chest together as we collapse back onto the mattress. My fingers tangle in his soft hair as his hands travel down my shoulders to my breasts. My back bows up, seeking to feed a starvation inside my body, but unsure how to do it. Pausing, I curve my hips and rub up against him. A shot of ecstasy swells through my body and a gasp fumbles from my lips. Hearing the unrestrained noise sends me into a state of anxiety and I fall back to reality. I'm not sure if my mind is ready to go where my body obviously wants to – whether I can allow myself to completely let go. â€Å"Micha wait,† I say in a strained voice. He jerks back quickly, his hand still cupping my breast. â€Å"What is it?† â€Å"I'm sorry. I just can't†¦ I don't think I'm ready yet.† He kisses my forehead tenderly and boosts up on his elbows, his body still hovering over me. With his fingertip, he sketches a line from my temple to my jaw and my eyelids flutter. â€Å"Will you let me try one more thing?† I open my eyes, dazed from his touch. â€Å"I'm not sure if I can go any farther tonight.† â€Å"Just trust me, okay?† he says. â€Å"And if it gets to be too much, just say and I promise I'll stop.† I bite at my lip, knowing where he's going with this. â€Å"Okay.† Unhurriedly, with his eyes fastened on mine, he moves his mouth and kisses the hollow of my neck, sending shivers over my skin. His lips move downward and linger just above my breast. My eyes shut as his mouth touches my nipple and his tongue slips out over it. He sucks on it hard and I swear to God I can't breathe. My legs vice-grip around him and the longer he devours me, the fiercer his mouth gets. With each movement of his tongue, my thighs burn hotter. I need†¦ something. â€Å"Micha, I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Shh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he whispers and trails rapturous kisses up my neck. â€Å"I'll take care of it.† His fingers slide down my bare stomach and to the bottom of my shorts, leaving a path of heat along my skin. As his lips find mine again, his finger slips deep inside me. The lyrics of the music fade away as my panic bursts into a thousand blissful pieces. Micha When Ella screams out my name, with her head tipped back, her eyes lost, it's unlike anything I've ever experienced before. She trusted me enough to do things to her that no one else has and it makes me feel alive again. Of course, my dick is so hard it actually hurts. â€Å"Behind Blue Eyes† by The Who is stuck on repeat and fills up the moment. It's the song I turn on when I feel down, but I don't think it's going to be that anymore – not after tonight. I brush her hair away from her forehead. â€Å"Are you okay?† Her green eyes are glazed over as she nods her head up and down. There's a look on her face that brings a smile to my lips. â€Å"I'm better than fine.† She leans up and kisses me. I draw her in, intensifying the kiss, then let her go, needing to cool down. â€Å"You should stay here tonight.† I expect her to protest, but she nods as she tugs her shirt back over her head. â€Å"Okay, but I'll have to use your phone to text Lila. I didn't bring mine with me.† I kiss her forehead, then her temple, breathing her in. â€Å"I'm gonna go take a shower. I'll be right back.† Confining a laugh, she reaches for my phone on my nightstand. â€Å"A cold one?† I grab some clothes out of my dresser and back out the doorway. â€Å"You better watch it, Ella May. Or I may decide against it and you'll just have to deal with me for the rest of the night.† She flops back on the bed as she sends a text. â€Å"Maybe that's what I'm hoping for.† Shaking my head, I throw my clothes on the floor and jump onto the bed, putting a knee on each side of her. She laughs as I playfully trap her arms above her head. I move my lips next to her ear and gently take a nip at her. I breathe on her neck, letting my warm breath cause her to shudder, teasing her and driving both our bodies crazy. She lets out a moan and I feel her legs start to move around me. Sighing, I pull away before I get even more wound up. â€Å"Okay, I have to go take a shower.† I climb off the bed, watching her all the way to the door. Once I'm out of the room, all of the pain I've been feeling about my dad smothers me again, but all I can do is keep breathing.

26 Great Alternatives to ACT Practice Tests

26 Great Alternatives to ACT Practice Tests SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips To completely prepare for the ACT, you must spend time taking official ACT testsin the same conditions that you’ll face on the day of the real thing. But what if you’re stuck on a concept that you just can’t seem to quite wrap your head around? Or what if you gone through many of the available practice tests already, but still would like to keep working on your skills? The great news is that there are many otherways to effectively study the concepts being tested on the ACT! In this article, I’ll talk about what alternative practice ACT resources are good for, and how to use them bestwhen preparing for the test. Then, I’ll also go through the ACT section by section and lay out all the availablealternative resources. By the end of this post, you'll have a huge stock of extra practice material to help you prep for the ACT. How Do You Use Alternative Practice Resources? What do I mean by "alternative" resources? Basically, any test preparation material that isn't the official ACT practice tests that are released by ACT. Getting good at taking the ACT is a combination of three things. First, you have tounderstand the basic content being tested. For instance, you have to have mastered algebra concepts forthe math section and grammar nuances forthe English section. Second, you have to know how to apply this content to solving problems and answering questions. For example, you must know which punctuation rule applies when, and which math formula goes with which calculation. Third, you have to be very comfortable with the test itself. In other words, the format, pacing, time pressure, and having built up enough stamina for this very long test should be second nature from repeated practice. Now, it's 100% true that the only way to master the last of these three things is through taking official ACT practice tests in test day conditions. Nothing can give you that day-of-test confidence like having gone through it a bunch of times already. However,learning content does not necessarily have to come from ACT materials! In fact, it’s good to be exposed to the same concepts presented in many different ways to really cement your understanding of how they work. This means that alternative resources that aren't necessarily specifically designed for ACT practice are actually a great way to boostconceptmastery. Alternative Study Resources for Each ACT Section Now letsgo through each of the ACT test sections one by one, and discuss ways to study for them other than usingtheoffical ACT practice question sets and tests released by ACT. Math Before diving into study alternatives, let's first go over what concepts are tested on the ACT Math section. Not surprisingly, it's the math you've been learning in school: Pre-algebra Algebra Geometry Trigonometry Alternative Study Resources for ACT Math Your school math textbooks or an online math textbook like theKhan Academy. These resources are great forexplaining difficult concepts, formulas, and theorems, and potentially for doing some of the non-multiple choice problems. Online ACT-style math questions. It's true that other companies generallyaren't that good at reproducing actual ACT questions. Still, third-party question banks can be helpful for some extra work attacking your math weaknesses. We've combed through them all to bring you anoverview of the best question bank websites. Math sections from the new post-2016 SAT. The new SAT math section is much more like the ACT, since itnow includes trigonometry questions and gives only 4 answer choices per question. This means that practice SAT questionsa great way to get in some more multiple choice practice. But, you're best off treating SAT math sections the same way you would treat question banks from other companies: their wording and format also don't reproduce those on the ACT. ACT Math review books.These will go over the key concepts you have to know to do well on ACT Math, and explain how the ACT will test them. To make your life easier, we’ve put togethera guide to the best ACT study booksout there. PrepScholar’s ACT Math guides.Our section on everything to do with ACT Math has some of the best researched and most detailed information you'll find anywhere. Some especially helpful guides include: All about math formulas.ACT won’t provide you with formulas, so you have to have the most commonly used ones down cold. Sounds stressful, but we can help! Readthrough our guide to the 31 math formulas you must knowcoupled with ourexplanation for how to actually use those formulasto get the full scoop on what you have to know. It's nice how1+2*3 is mixed into the infinity/pi/square root of 2 morass there. Looks like kindergarten and 10th grade are sharing the math room again. English This section will test your knowledge of how the English language works by asking you passage-based questions on the rules that apply to formal writing. There are two main types of questions: usage and mechanics (punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure) rhetorical skills (writing strategies, logic, paragraph and passage structure, and style) Alternative Study Resources for ACT English Grammar guides. There's just no way around it: knowing grammar and punctuation rules is critical for this section of the test. In order to learn the best grammar practices, go back toany textbooks you may have used inEnglish class. I also recommendthat youscroll through Erica Meltzer's Critical Reader blog for her helpful posts on ACT English, and read our complete guide to ACT grammar rules. Writing sectionsfrom the new post-2016 SAT.After its major overhaul, the new SAT will much more closely resemble the ACT. This means that you can use new SAT questions to drill your understanding of grammar and sentence structure. In particular, seek out practice questions from the Writing portion of the Writing Literature section from the post-2016SAT. "Improving Paragraphs"questions from the pre-2016 SAT. The old version of the SAT offers one useful type of question for studying for the ACT. Part of the old SAT Writing section was devoted to Improving Paragraphs: questions about grammar and punctuation in the context of a passage, rather than an isolated sentence. These are fairly similar to the questions you'll encounter on ACT English. But be careful to avoid the other questions in that section, because they are simply too far removed from what you have to be able to do well on the ACT. Read, read, read. Read widely, read challenging material, and particularly read nonfiction. The more you read complex writing, the more the nuances of grammar and structure will embed themselves in your mind, the more familiar you will be with elevated vocabulary, and the more you will learn how an author uses logic and rhetoric to get a point across. I recommend slowly digestingand really trying to understand a few articles a week from Grantland, The Atlantic, or Slate. If you have access to a subscription, you can also read the New York Times. PrepScholar's ACT English guides.We've worked hard to bring you as much helpful information about ACT English as possible. Some especiallyusefulguides include: Strategy.Part of doing well on the test is using a great approach to attack each section. We've analyzed and compiled 9 different key tactics for ACT English. All about grammar, syntax, and diction. We have broken down the complicated rules that you need to know into manageable chunks like: common word choice errors, the relative formality of the language on the ACT, and how to deal with shifting verb tenses. Maybe ACT English should actually test your relative English-ness. I think I could ace the tea test, especially if cucumber sandwiches were involved. Reading This portion of ACT tests your reading comprehension abilities. Let's once again start with a quick overview ofwhat's actually coveredon the ACT Reading section: 4 sections of passages from different genres (fiction, or nonfiction from the humanities, social studies, or natural sciences) questions ask you tocompare and contrast ideas, extract information, generalize from narrowly focused facts, and explain vocabulary in context Alternative Study Resources for ACT Reading Vocabulary guides. The ACT does not test vocabulary by itself, by you will see many complex words in context so if this is a challenging area for you then it will be helpful to see some guides to commonly occurring vocabulary. Check out resources like our free set of 200 flashcards and our guideto the vocabulary commonly used on the ACT vocabulary. Readingsectionsfrom the new post-2016 SAT. The redesignedSAT now has a section that also tests reading comprehension by asking questions about provided passages. Looking at these would be a good way to get in some extra practice. When studying, seek out passage-based questions from the Reading portion of the Writing Literature section. Passage-based reading questions from the old SAT.On the pre-2016 SAT, there were a few sections that could help with preparing for ACT Reading. Look for the parts of the Critical Reading section that feature multiple-choice questions based on provided passages. These won't be exactly like the ones on the ACT, but they can help you practice context-based questions. GRE Reading Comprehension questions. The Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE has a number of passage-based Reading Comprehension questions. It's true that these are pitched at a higher level than the ones you'll see on the ACT because the GRE is meant for college students heading to grad school. But if you are a student who is consistently getting medium- to high-scores on practice tests, you can use the GRE to challenge yourself. AP Language and AP Literature multiple choice section questions.Both of these AP test feature portions with passage-based multiple-choice question that test reading comprehensionandyour understanding of logic and structure. They are pitched at a higher level than the ACT, but if you do well on these, you’ll be fine on the ACTas well. Reading widely will also really help here. The test wants to measure how you are at understanding information being presented in written form, and how much you can tell about the way authors structure arguments. Try making time for weekly explorations of Reasonor The Root.On the paid subscription side, you can't go wrong with The New Yorker. PrepScholar’s ACT Reading guides.Let us guide you through some of the trickier parts of what you have to know to ace this part of the test. Some particularlyhelpful guides: Dissecting the test. We describe the4 types of ACT Reading passages you should know, give you some pointers onthe best way to read ACT passages, and enumerate every single type of question you're going to encounter. Her hair is fromPippi Longstocking, her book is The Little Prince, and her candy is Turkish delights from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe?! Pick a fandom, already, will you! Science Unlike its name suggests, this section relies more on your ability to understand visually presented data then on your knowledge of hard sciences. A quick refresher on what's tested on the ACT science section: paragraphs with visually presented data you’ll have to interpret descriptions ofexperiments that you’ll have to evaluate and analyze a set of two or more alternate theories or hypotheses that you’ll have to compare and contrast concepts from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, and Geology Alternative Study Resources for ACT Science Basic science guides.The test is almost exclusively focused on your ability to comprehend passages about science that are written for a non-scientist audience. Nevertheless, you will find it helpful to be familiar with some of the more basic concepts from biology, chemistry, physics, and math. We have put together an explanation of thescience you actually have to know for the ACT. If you need to re-familiarize yourself, go back to your high school textbooks, or use an online version (again, I likeKhan Academy). ACT Prep books.Many of these will give you tips and tricks on dealing with this portion of the test. Our guideto the best ACT books for intense study saves you from having to navigate the hundreds out there. Readingsectionsfrom the new post-2016 SAT.The redesigned SAT has somepassage-based reading comprehension questions based on scientific passages in the Reading portion of the Writing and Literature section. These are very similar to what you will encounter on the ACT science section because they also ask you to draw conclusions about graphs, charts, and tables, as well as passages describing a scientific process, theory or experiment., so you can seek those out. Make sure you look only at test prep designed for the post-2016 SAT. Popular science articles. You don’t need to dig out scholarly journals, but you should spend time reading scientific nonfiction intended for lay readers. It’ll give you familiarity with how data can be presented graphically through charts, graphs, and tables. My favorites areWired, FiveThirtyEight,Scientific American, andNature. If you can access a subscription, read The Economist or the magazine Science. PrepScholar’s ACT Science guides. Some especially helpful guides: Strategy. Check out our suggestions for attacking this section and tips to keep in mind while taking the test. All about the question types. We can explainthe 3 types of ACT Science passagesyou'll encounter, along with how todeal with questions about interpreting experiments, how to handle questions about experiment design, what to make of questions about trends, and finally, how to approach the conflicting viewpoints part of the section. How much science do you need to know to play Fruit Ninjain space? Writing The essay section was dramatically changed in 2015 to more closely align the test with Common Core standards and the kind of writing you'll do in college, so make sure you're familar with the updated format: You'll be asked to write an essay on a controversial topic, including information and analysis from 3different presented perspectives. You also need to explain your own point of view. Alternative study resources for ACT Writing: Guides to the standard 5-paragraph essay. This is our recommended structure for the ACT essay. For many explanations of how a 5 paragraph essay works, search for â€Å"5-paragraph essay,† or readour guide to ACT format and essay templates. Staying well informed. The essay will ask you to present evidence to back up your thinking. The best places to draw that evidence from? Current events, historical events, and incidents from your own life. So read newspapers, listen to NPR, and download podcasts like Planet Money, RadioLab, and On the Media. Excellent essays written by others. Reading well-written essays can help you understand how essays work and how authors structure arguments and ideas. You may even pick up some helpful ideas for your own writing as well! One great source of excellent short essays is The Electric Typewriter. PrepScholar’s ACT Writing guides.We've put together some helpful advice on tackling the ACT essay. Great guides include: All about the essay. We lay out a step by step explanation ofhow to write an ACT essay, and also give you ourcomplete guide to ACT Writing prompts. If I were an ACT writing grader, I would totally give super bonus points for any essays written in Aztec pictographs. The Bottom Line So what should you take away from this article? Studying content and concepts for the ACT can be done really effectively through resources not designed for test prep, andnd there are many of these kinds of resources! There are enough similarities between ACT and the SAT that you can use certain sections of both the old and new SAT as extra study materials for the ACT. Reading widely, reading often, and reading for meaning will help you on almost all of the different ACT sections you'll face the day of the test. What’s Next? Stuck trying to motivate yourself to get started studying? We hear you. Here’s our advice on how to beat the urge to procrastinate and how to give yourself the gift of properly structuring your study time. If you’re in the middle of studying for the ACT, we have alist of 21 tips you should not miss out on and15 ways to really boost your ACT score. We also have a general ACT prep guide. Unsure what your ACT target score should be? We explainwhat score you need to get into your target college, and give you some pointers on figuring outwhat’s a good ACT score for you. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points?We have the industry's leading ACT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and ACT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Thirteen Rules of Basketball - James Naismith

Thirteen Rules of Basketball - James Naismith Basketball is an original American game invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891. He designed it with rules of its own. These are the rules published in January 1892 in the school newspaper where he instituted the game. The rules set out a game that is a non-contact sport played indoors. They are familiar enough that those who enjoy basketball over 100 years later will recognize it as the same sport. While there are other, newer rules, these still form the heart of the game. Original 13 Rules of Basketball by James Naismith 1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.Current rule: This is still a current rule, except that now the team isnt allowed to pass it back over the midcourt line once they have taken it over that line. 2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist.Current rule: This is still a current rule. 3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man running at good speed.Current rule: Players can dribble the ball with one hand as they run or pass, but they cant run with the ball when catching a pass. 4.  The ball must be held by the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it.Current rule: Still applies, it would be a traveling violation. 5.  No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game. No substitution shall be allowed.Current rule: These actions are fouls and a player may be disqualified with five or six fouls or get an ejection or suspension with a flagrant foul. 6.  A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3 and 4 and such as described in Rule 5.Current rule: Still applies. 7.  If either side makes three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).Current rule: Instead of an automatic goal, sufficient team fouls (five in a quarter for NBA play) now award bonus free throws attempts to the opposing team. 8.  A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do no touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.Current rule: In the original game, the basket was a basket and not a hoop with a net. This rule evolved into the goaltending and defense pass interference rules. Defenders cant touch the rim of the hoop once the ball has been shot. 9.  When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person touching it. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.Current rule: The ball is now thrown in by a player from the opposite team of the player who last touched it before it went out of bounds. The 5-second rule is still operative. 10. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have the power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.Current rule: In NBA basketball, there are three referees. 11.  The referee shall be the judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals, with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.Current rule: Timekeepers and scorekeepers now do some of these tasks, while the referee determines ball possession. 12. The time shall be two fifteen-minute halves, with five minutes rest between.Current rule: This varies by the level of play, such as high school and collegiate. In the NBA, there are four quarters, each 12 minutes long, with a 15-minute halftime break. 13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner.  Current: The winner is now decided by points. In the NBA, five-minute overtime periods are played in case of a tie at the end of the fourth quarter, with the point total at the end determining the winner. If still tied, they play another overtime period. More: The History of Basketball and Dr. James Naismith

Development of Sexual Orientation Research Paper

Development of Sexual Orientation - Research Paper Example The main influences of nature (genes and biology) and nurture (the surrounding where an individual develops) and certain orientations are the main issues in the psychological world. This paper will investigate the main factors behind the development of varying sexual orientations, developmental differences between men and women, and the key factors for persistence of varying sexual orientations in humans throughout evolutionary history. Discussion Evidence indicates that different factors account for the development of different sexual orientations for various people, (Diamant & McAnulty, 2005). Diamante and McAnulty asserts that â€Å"Even though various studies have investigated the potential hereditary (genes), developmental, hormones and socio-cultural factors influence the development of sexual orientation† p. 33, no generalizations have developed to allow scientists and theorists to construe that sexual orientation development is attributable to any certain factor(s). La rge numbers of scientist suggest that both â€Å"nature and nurture play a dynamic function; a large percentage of the population experience little evidence and choice concerning their sexual identity and orientation† (Diamant & McAnulty, 2005 p. 40). In the sexual orientation debate, different individual narratives and evidence have validity for the person, but cannot be simplified broadly. Sexual orientation is largely influenced by genes and unsystematic environmental aspects, based on results from the global extensive twin's study, (Omoto & Kurtzman, 2006). Sexual orientation is attributable to biological factors. The biological account has extensively gained recognition amongst the scientific society even the though; it is merely anchored on speculations. Scientists argue â€Å"Development of sexual orientation is attributable to factors that the take place during sexual identity of differentiation† p. 52. The prenatal subjection hormones such as androgens and the impacts on human brain development perform a crucial function development of sexual orientation in humans.        Ã‚  

Preschool Observation Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Preschool Observation Project - Essay Example 3. The three physical features that made me determine that John was a preschooler were his talkative feature, attentiveness, and his profanity behavior. I realized that he was talkative by the way he said many and different things in a short period. His attentiveness was evident by the way he paid attention to questions and enjoyed discussing serious issues. His profanity was evident by the way he used silly words most of the time. 4. According to my observation, John was in good health. This is arguably true because his height and weight fit for a child of his age. Nevertheless, although he was slightly bigger than others, this could be attributed to hormonal differences that differ from one person to another. On the other hand, I was convinced that his psychological well being was fit. I concluded this because for the duration not less an hour, I closely watched and monitored his behaviors as he interacted with other pupils. At one point, he played a role of a football referee and his conduct was normal. He even tried to resolve a misunderstanding between two players. As for his nutrition, I could see him eat comfortably his lunch meal. However, I observed that he had small injury on his face, but being at his age, I took it to be normal because such injuries occur when children of his age are playing. 1. According to what I observed from John, there were some gross motor skills involved. For the time that I observed John, I observed him running, throwing, and skipping. When they played hind and seek game, John used to run when hiding from the seeker. He threw stones at some targeted destinations to hit a marked ground as required by the game they were playing. Skipping was also evident most of the time when they were playing. 1. During the one hour that I observed John, I could see him use his fine motor skills well. I observed that John could easily use the spoon to feed himself, tying his she races, and drawing some shapes. During