Neurofibromatosis Case Essay Example for Free

Neurofibromatosis Case Essay Effects / Symptoms Neurofibromatosis causes a deficiency targeting the nervous system as part of a genetic disorder. The two most common types are abbreviated into NF1 and NF2. NF1 is characterized by cafà © au lait spots, or patches of tan and light brown skin. Another characteristic would be neurofibromas, which are soft, fleshy growths that grow on the skin, and in some cases, under it. The disorder also enters the skeletal level and enlarges and distorts bones as well as adds curvature to the spine. Occasionally tumors develop on the brain or spinal cord. Half of the people with NF1 also inhibit learning disabilities. The less common disorder, NF2, characterizes itself by multiple tumors on cranial and spinal nerves. Hearing loss will nearly inevitably occur in the early teens for people with NF2. Genetic Cause Most commonly Neurofibromatosis is passed on by family members through genes. However, 30 to 50% of newly diagnosed people have no family history of the condition, which can be attributed to a spontaneous mutation in the gene. Once this mutation has occurred, future generation will be at risk of getting the disorder. Genetic Cause The causes of Nf1 are a mutation on the 17 chromosome at q11.2. The mutation mainly affects the development of nerve cells and tissues. The changes in nerve tissues cause tumors or other abnormalities. The tumors can be harmless, in some situations. Nf1 is dominant and autosomal; meaning it will affect males and females equally. Nf2 is a slightly different. Nf2 is characterized by a mutation on the 22q12.2 chromosome. Nf2 is also autosomal dominant. The mutations has significant physical causes consisting of meningiomas and other symptoms consisting of a lot of big words that not even spell check understands. The main idea of the symptoms is that they’ll grow deformities, usually internally, on the spinal cord and other nerve tissues. These deformities can result in loss of hearing, blindness, etc. Treatment/Cure There is no cure for each Nf1 and Nf2, so tough luck if you have it, but there is some good news. Type one of neurofibromatosis is less potent than type two because type two forms tumors on spinal tissue, brain tissue, and other nerve tissue that cause problems to motor skills, with this knowledge it can be concluded that surgery is the best course of treatment for type two. Surgery focuses on removing these tumors, increasing the effectiveness of the effected nerves. However false hope is not being circulated through this class brochure and it should be known that surgery will not serve as a cure, only an attempt to reduce the symptoms of the disease. For type one surgery can be used for treatment, however because the tumors don’t affect nerve tissue the surgery won’t be as an effective treatment. It should be noted that new laser techniques have been promising, however nothing has completely removed the cafà © au lait spots, so if your aiming to get rid of those than your luck hasn’t come through for you, because no technique has permanently removed them. Chemotherapy has been used for this disease, but is widely controversial. However it simply comes down to a personal decision. Work Cited – Websites OMIM Entry # 162200 NEUROFIBROMATOSIS, TYPE I; NF1. OMIM Entry # 162200 NEUROFIBROMATOSIS, TYPE I; NF1. John Hopkins University, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. Evans, D. Gareth. Summary. Neurofibromatosis 2. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 14 Oct. 1998. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. NINDS Neurofibromatosis Information Page. Neurofibromatosis Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. Work Cited – Book Rubenstein, Allan E., Richard P. Bunge, and David E. Housman. Neurofibromatosis. New York, NY: New York Academy of Sciences, 1986. Print. DiSimone, Ronald E., and Arnold T. Berman. Neurofibromatosis. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1989. Print.

Financial Reporting Techniques and Methods

Financial Reporting Techniques and Methods Introduction Over the course of the last few decades there has been considerable discussion and debate regarding financial reporting and, in particular, the appropriate measurement basis that should be implemented for use with a corporation’s financial statements. During this period international accounting standard bodies have been endeavouring to develop an agreed standard conceptual framework that is acceptable by all accounting regulatory bodies for use in financial statement, irrespective of the corporation and its country of domicile, and one that identifies the items to be included within the statements and the manner in which these should be measured (Johnson 2004). The intention is to avoid a situation where there are numerous differing standard of financial reporting in operation within the global market place (Bullen and Crook 2005, p.5). However, attempts to achieve this international consensus, specifically in terms of the measurement basis used, has not been universally accepted, with many divergence of views on the subject emerging from corporate management, the accounting profession and the users of financial statements. As the ICAEW (2006, p.5), commented in their recent report, â€Å"Current measurement practices are complex, diverse and apparently inconsistent. There is clearly at least a case for something more consistent and, presumably, simpler.† The difficulty remains that arriving at such a simplistic resolution needs to address the fact that many elements of measurement within accounting processes are subject to judgment, convention and estimation (ICAEW 2006, p.20). The purpose of this paper is to analyse the various measurement basis currently in use and evaluate their advantages and disadvantages and, as a result of this analysis attempt to identify the areas that required further consideration prior to the requirements for measurements being embodied within a revised international conceptual framework. However, to provide some background on this issue, it is considered necessary to firstly understand the purpose of financial statements, in terms of those who use them and their needs to facilitate that usage. Users of Financial Statements Whilst in terms of publicly quoted companies the main users are seen as management, investors and analysts, there are a number of other groups that use financial statements for a range of purposes. These include the business employees, its lenders and suppliers, governmental departments and, in some cases, members of the public (IFP 2006). Each of these groups have different needs which the financial statements need to address when considering the measurement base they are going to employ, dependent upon which group these reports are being targeted at. In terms of investors, analysts and those generally involved with the global capital markets and stock exchanges, their need is for reliable and accurate information upon which they can base economic decisions (Gregoriou and Gaber p.16 and p.64). Furthermore it is important to this group that the monetary information provided reflects a current and fair value of the business and its relevant information. Governments and regulatory bodies have similar needs in relation to assessing the financial position and results of a business, in their case the purpose is to evaluation economic decisions such as potential taxation revenue from which they will be able to assess the state of the national economy and public spending levels. Other users groups identified, which include employees, suppliers and lenders, approach financial statements in a slightly different manner, with their focus on using the financial statements to assess the corporations potential impact upon their lives and businesses. For example, a supplier or lender is unlikely to conduct business with a corporation whose financial statements show lack of liquidity or cash flow difficulties. Similarly, employees wish to assure themselves that a) their pensions are protected and b) that their employment is with a financially secure business. In other words their needs relate more to the physical tangible and immediately realisable assets such as cash, rather than less relevant â€Å"fair value† aspects of the statements. However, historically management have been more reluctant to provide these groups with financial accounting data (Purdy 1978), although corporate governance regulations have eliminated much of their control over such matters. Whilst there ate differing purposes for which these groups need financial statements, and they may value certain measurements bases more than others, as Johnson (2004) accurately stated, the basic need of all the users is wealth. Just as Investors and capital market players are looking to protect and increase their wealth, so to are governments, employees, lenders and suppliers. In reality it is the user who is benefited by improvements in the quality of the reporting standards more than the company itself (Langendijk et al 2003, p.194) and they need to be assured that the statements provided by corporations that they are involved with show an accurate and truthful position of the business that they can rely upon to make informed judgements relating to their individual needs. Measurement Bases for Financial Statements Over the decades there have been a number of measurement bases used for financial reporting purposes and his reports focuses upon those that are considered the most important of these methods. Historical Cost In the past the historical cost reporting method has been the predominant choice for financial reporting, favoured by many because it is more factually based and therefore considered to be â€Å"more transparent† (Langendijk et al 2003, p.74 and p.329). The basis of historical cost measurement is that a monetary item can be identified by the actual price paid for an item purchased or received from an item sold, whether these relate to revenue and expenditure items or assets and liabilities. Therefore, if a business purchases an item of equipment for  £10,000, that is the fiscal amount that will appear within its balance sheet. The historical cost measurement, whilst it takes into account the loss of value of an asset, for example by depreciating the value of a motor vehicle over its perceived useful life, does not take into account any potential increase in the value of an asset until the date the asset has been sold. Therefore, if the business owns a property, which is known generally to be an appreciating asset, under the historical cost method, this property will appear in the balance sheet at cost until it is subsequently sold. Therefore it is apparent that any true gain or loss made on such assets will not be accounted for until the time of sale. Similarly, assets and liabilities that have no cost, such as internally developed software that can be sold, as they do not have a unit value will not appear as within the company’s financial statements using this method of measurement. With regard to income, the purpose of the historical cost method is to link costs expended with revenue that is generated at the same time (ICAEW 2006, p.23). Current Cost – Value to the Business In essence current cost measurement, of value to the business, as it is sometimes known, is based upon the concept of â€Å"physical capital maintenance† (Gregoriou and Gaber 2006, p.132). In other words as Gregoriou and Gaber (2006) state in the same passage â€Å"a periods income is positive only if the depreciation amount based on current cost is earned.† The basic premise of this measurement is an attempt to calculate â€Å"how much worse off a business would be if it were deprived of an asset† (ICAEW 2006, p.24). The reverse is also true in that with a liability it is necessary to ascertain how much better off a business would be if the said liability were removed from the business. The core measurement in this case is predominantly based upon including within the financial statements the current replacement cost of the asset and to this extent, unlike the historical cost method it recognises the gain or loss to the business within the period of the statements rather than at some later date. Furthermore, the value to the business method takes into account the serviceable quality of the asset when comparing the asset held against the value of a replacement asset of the same specification. Current cost measurement is designed to provide a measurement of opportunity cost of a business, which some researchers, such as Edwards et al (1987, p.10) have regarded as the only correct manner to measure the true profit and capital. Realisable Value IFP[1] (2006, p.28) define net realisable value as the â€Å"selling price of the item in the ordinary course of business.† Although similar to the historical, current cost and fair value measurement methods in some respects, the realisable value method focuses upon the price at which an asset can be sold, or the cost at which a liability can be cleared. The realisable value measurement also includes, in the majority of cases, the costs that are attached to that sale or settlement. Therefore it will record the net monetary result of the transaction, for example settlement of a liability will be shown as the cost of settling the debt and any costs that are incurred within that process, such as commissions or interest payable. Similarly, with assets the sale price reflected will be net of such costs as commissions and associated costs. Realisable value is considered by some to reflect the value that might attach to a business in the event of a forced sale, for example in the case of liquidation. Others, such as the ISAB[2] (ISAB 2) view it as an â€Å"entity-specific† form of measurement, which differentiates its focus from that of the fair-value method of measurement. Fair Value The fair value measurement basis is perhaps the most difficult model to describe, although it is currently the method favoured by the majority of the international standards board. The primary target of this method â€Å"extends to non-financial items† and is directed at the â€Å"valuation of assets and liabilities in the balance sheet† (Langendijk et al 2003, p.22 and p.108). The ISAB (2006, p.12) paper states, â€Å"the objective of fair value measurement is to reflect the market value of an asset† with the reporting statements. Where this is not possible, because such a market does not exist then an estimate should be used based on what would be considered to be the value if a market was available for the asset. Thus, when preparing the financial statements, if the fair value method is being used, it is incumbent upon the management and their auditors to seek and report independent valuations in respect of the assets and liabilities that will be recorded in the corporation’s balance sheet. In practice therefore, fair value is based upon an exit value approach (ICAEW 2006, p.29) to monetary recording, although the international standard regulatory body (ISAB) does allow for the use of other measurement methods where â€Å"fair value† is not deemed feasible or appropriate. In reality corporations have a tendency in practice to utilise a combination of the measurement bases depending upon the monetary item being recorded and the differences that occur in terms of their individual industry, business size and structure (ICAEW 2006, p.3). Furthermore, as can be seen from the ICAEW (2006) discussion paper, there is an element of inter-relationship between them, which provides for additional complication. Advantages and Disadvantages Generally it is agreed that, irrespective of the method of measurement used, all of the methods have a certain degree of uncertainty and the need for estimation, although the intention is for such estimations to be based on factual information available on the date the measurement takes place (ISAB 2006, p.12). However, as outlined below, there are some significant advantages and disadvantages that attract to each of the measurement bases that are discussed within the previous section of this report. One of the fundamental benefits of this measurement method is its conservative approach to financial reporting. This is beneficial in that: It reduces the risk of unrealised future gains, which may not transpire, being distributed to shareholders in advance of the event, thereby protecting lenders and creditors. Reported profits are lower (IFP 2006, 310), which has taxation benefits in that tax is not payable upon income that has not been realised. Furthermore, management incentive schemes are unable to take advantage of profits shown though other methods that may not materialise. Less opportunity for use of inflated valuations. Another advantage that attracts to historical cost is that it is more in tune with the information that the business managers use, and indeed their processes of financial recording systems and, for some users will be more relevant to the business and, as such is an objective measurement of values (IFP 2006 p.33). In terms of the inherent disadvantages of this method, some critics view its historical nature as being the major drawback because: The information contained is out of date and therefore cannot be relied upon to give an accurate worth. The lack of value appreciation leads to an understating of the business worth and asset value. The difference between historical and current values is misleading for investors and analysts (ICAEW 2006, p.8). Current Cost – Value to the Business The major advantage that attracts to the current cost method is the relevance that it has to users of the information outside of the business management. By its nature this method provides: Competitors with an idea of the costs of new entry to the specific corporations industry market place. Regulatory bodies can use the information to assess whether there is fairness being exercised in terms of competitive advantage. Potential investors are more able to ascertain the business operational capacity on an ongoing basis. Furthermore, it is perceived by many observers that the relevance of each individual asset or liability being measured in this manner is advantageous because it provides a better overall view of the business. The reverse view of this method is based upon a number of points, the main one being the fact that the purpose of management is the maintenance of profit and increase in shareholder value, and that this does not relate to the operating capital. It is more important in this respect to increase the wealth that stakeholders receive from their investment, by achieve better returns on resources, than it is to concentrate upon operating capital. It is also considered that the rapid changes currently occurring within the market place and the pace of advancement in modern technologies negates the perceived advantages that potential new entrants gain from the this method. Realisable Value Realisable value is attractive to some users, particularly investors and vendors, because of its accuracy in denoting and reflecting the net cash position from the realisation of an asset or liability. Therefore: They are not misled into making decisions based upon monetary information that has not taken into account contractual costs attached to the sale or settlement of a balance sheet item. It becomes easier to ascertain the ongoing prospects of the business. For example, one can decide on the basis of realisable value, when a business is approaching a position of no longer being seen to be a going concern. As with current cost and fair value, the disadvantages of this method are that it does not directly relate to the information that the business management uses on a regular basis and, additionally, it relies upon a degree of estimation that is calculated according to the judgement of the business advisors, which may or may not come to fruition in the amounts submitted. Thus the position indicated within the statements may not be sustainable (ICAEW 2006, p.33). There are many academics, economists and other observers who believe that fair value is the most appropriate measurement for use in financial account, but equally there are those who disagree with this view (Langendijk et al 2003, p.52). Those who support the fair value approach claim that it is beneficial to certain user groups, including investors and lenders in that its application to individual and separate assets and liabilities gives a number of benefits: Provides a measure of the realisable value of the asset worth on disposal. More accurately identifies which assets could be sold without adversely affecting the business activity and future success. It saves the user considerable time, effort and cost in having to recalculate figures contained within other methods of valuation. Those who disagree with this measurement state that it is irrelevant to the actual intention of the business management in that the fact that the item is included within the financial statements indicates that there was no intention to sell at that time. Similarly, those in disagreement argue that, in the majority of cases, separating assets in a sales situation produces a lower return for the business than a sale containing an amalgam of asset sales is likely to return. For example, the sale of a part of a business specific revenue asset would produce a lesser price than the sale of the total assets that contribute to that asset stream. Thus it has the effect of depreciating rather than enhancing shareholder and business value. The other difficulty that is perceived to attach itself to fair value is the variety of ways in which it can be calculated and the various treatments that are used (ICAEW 2006, p.9). Improvement to conceptual framework Both of the major accounting standard boards, ISAB and FSAB[3] are aware that the existing conceptual framework for financial reporting requires improvement (Gregoriou and Gaber 2006, p.101) and that it is important that the information that these produce relating to corporations is â€Å"complete and free from error and bias† (IFP 2006, p.21). However, there are a number of areas that need to be investigated further to ensure that the revised conceptual framework envisaged is an improvement on the existing situation. The most important of these is clarification of the information that needs to be included or omitted from the financial reports and, additionally, if inclusive how and where it should be presented (Bullen and Crook 2005, p.13). At present the framework classification is not extensive enough to eradicate confusion. Furthermore, there remains at present some ambiguity in relation to the definition of the control and terminology with relation to â€Å"assets† and â€Å"liability† (Bullen and Crook 2005, p.12). Similarly, a more constructive approach to the measurement bases needs to be taken. In this respect the conceptual framework needs to more precisely identify which measurements would be appropriate for each particular item that appears within the financial statements. Failure to address this leaves an element of uncertainty, which can be damaging for both business managers and those who use and rely upon the reports. Additionally, in our opinion, there remains the problem of compatibility. There is no doubt that it is necessary to endeavour to achieve a standard of reporting that is acceptable to all of the business stakeholders, which includes the management and users who rely upon these statements. At present, as can be evidenced by the continuing debate on this subject, that harmony between the parties involved is not being met. Conclusion From the research that has been conducted in the preparation of this paper, it is the opinion of the author that there is a need for a revision of the international conceptual framework. In addition, it is also considered that the measurement bases to be used within this need to be more clearly defined. In the author’s opinion, one important and central point that it is felt necessary to take into account is that, in effect, all financial statements are historical at the time they are released. The rapidity of change that occurs within the market place and in new technology development means that factual, opinion based and estimated information contained within the financial statements is historical at the moment of publication. Therefore it is necessary to temper any improvements to the framework being considered against this premise. Bibliography Bullen, Halsey. S and Crook, Kimberley (2005). Revisiting the concepts. Retrieved 24 June 2007 from http://www.fasb.org/articlesreports/revisiting_the_concepts_may_05.pdf Edwards, Jeremy., Kay, John and Mayer Colin (1987). The Economic Analysis of Accounting Profitability. Clarendon Press. Oxford, UK. Gregoriou, Greg. N and Gaber, Mohamed (eds) (2006). International Accounting: Standards, Regulations, Financial Reporting. Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd. Oxford, UK. ICAEW (2006). Measurement in Financial Reporting. Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Retrieved 25 June 2007 from http://www.icaew.com/index.cfm?route=142887 IFP (2006). Financial Reporting. International Financial Publishing Ltd. Guildford, UK ISAB (2006). Measurement Bases for Financial Accounting Measurement on Initial Recognition. Canadian Accounting Standards Board. Retrieved 23 June 2007 from http://www.iasb.org/NR/rdonlyres/E1A542DB-3A19-47AC-B995-EFCFA044F3EC/0/MeasurementBasesforFinancialAccountingDPfullversion.pdf Johnson, L. Todd (2004). The project to revisit the conceptual framework. The FASB Report, Dec 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2007 from http://www.fasb.org/articlesreports/project_revisit_cf_tfr_dec2004.pdf Johnson, L. Todd (2004). Understanding the conceptual framework. The FASB Report, Dec 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2007 from http://www.fasb.org/articlesreports/project_revisit_cf_tfr_dec2004.pdf Langendijk, Henk., Swagerman, Dirk and Verhoog, Willem (eds) (2003). Is Fair Value Fair?: Financial Reporting from an International Perspective. John Wiley Sons Ltd. Chichester, UK. Purdy, D.E., (1978). The Information Requirements of Employees. City of London Polytechnic. London, UK. Footnotes [1] International Financial Publishing [2] International Standards Accounting Board [3] Federal Accounting Standard Board (US).

Cheating and Plagiarism - The Plague of Plagiarism Essay -- Argumenta

The Plague of Plagiarism      Ã‚  Ã‚   Simply defined, the word plagiarism means "the unauthorized use of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own" ("Plagiarism").   While many students understand and comprehend the first clause of this definition, many encounter problems with the second part - the thoughts part.   Many students in today's educational system are frequently unable to develop their own thoughts, opinions, and ideas relating to the subject matter that they are studying.   However, when people at a university are educated according to the ways set forth by John Henry Newman in "The Idea of a University," their ability to create original concepts would be cultivated to the point, where they do not feel the need to plagiarize and cheat.   Newman also states that in the end, the university will produce citizens that can give back to society (48).   Jeffrey Hart makes a similar point in "How to Get a College Education."   Therefo re, according to both Newman and Hart, an honest person will be fashioned by the university.   Since honesty does not breed cheating, should not cheating then be minimized?   Plagiarism and its sister cheating are plagues on society that only serve to corrupt it.   Nevertheless, the education given by a university can diminish and, perhaps, even eradicate the disease by instilling in students,   a sense of honor, and implementing harsh penalties on those caught cheating or plagiarizing.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The fostering of independent thought is sometimes forgone in today's educational system. At times, students are encouraged to just complete their assignment instead of thinking about what they are doing so that they may fully understand their... ... single disease.   So, if universities devote even part of their programs seriously to curing society of this plague, it is quite possible that cheating and plagiarism can be eradicated once and for all.    Works Cited    Clayton, Mark. "A Whole Lot of Cheatin'Going On." The Presence of Others. 3rd ed. Ed. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 185 - 190. Hart, Jeffrey. "How to Get a College Education."   The Presence of Others. 3rd ed. Ed. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 126 - 131. Newman, John Henry. "The Idea of a University." The Presence of Others. 3rd ed. Ed. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 126 - 131. "Plagiarism." Random House Webster's College Dictionary. 2nd ed. 2001. Cedrone 4   

William Blakes The Little Black Boy Essay example -- William Blake Th

William Blake's 'The Little Black Boy' The theme of guardianship, being the act of guarding, protecting, and taking care of another person, is very prominent in William Blake's 'The Little Black Boy';. Three distinct instances of guardianship can be seen in Blake's poem. These guardianship roles begin with the little boy's mother, followed by God, and ultimately ending with the unsuspecting little black boy himself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is relatively easy to see the repression of blacks by whites in the way in which the little black boy speaks and conveys his thoughts. These racial thoughts almost immediately begin the poem, with the little black boy expressing that he is black as if bereaved of light, and the little English child is as white as an angel. The wonderful part of these verses is the fact that the little black boy knows that his soul is white, illustrating that he knows about God and His love.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Blake's poem, it is very clear that the little black boy and his mother have a very close and affectionate relationship. The boy expresses how his mother sits with him under the shade of the tree and shares with him the love of God. The little black boy, being influenced by society during this time, believes that once his black skin passes away, then the English child will love him. In hopes of changing his view of himself and his skin color, the boy's mother tells him that there is an advantage to having black skin. The mother implies that black skin can bear more ...

Keats wrote Isabella because he wanted to produce a commercial success, :: glish Literature

Keats wrote Isabella because he wanted to produce a commercial success, but he also thought it was too smokeable, i.e. that critics would ridicule it. What do you consider to be the positive aspects of the poem? Why might it also have been susceptible to criticism? ‘Isabella; or the pot of basil’ was written soon after Keats had attended lectures by a critic. The critic had suggested that a poetic translation of the 14th century works by the Italian writer Boccaccio ‘could not fail in the present day’. Keats’s poem is based upon the Italians story called the ‘Decameron’ in which Isabella’s love strengthens due to her loss of her true love, Lorenzo, who her brothers were unable to accept into the family and so disposed of him. The fact that the poem is based upon someone else’s story may have got the poem ridiculed by critics because it was not original; also Keats was not yet a well established poet (as he was from a humble background) and so he might have been ridiculed for using other authors hard work just for profit and due to the fact that someone else thought it would make money Keats may have been scorned as he couldn’t come up with his own inventions. ‘Stealing’ ideas from another may also have caused mocking at Keats’s ability to produce his own works. Another reason that Keats believed that his work was ‘too smokeable’, in other words his poem would go up in smoke too easily, because the critics may have thought that Keats would go to any lengths for fame, even taking a well known fairy tale story and turning it into a money maker for himself. In a letter written to his friend in October 1818 Keats revealed that fame was not on his agenda as he described himself as a â€Å"camelion poet†, ‘camelion’ has connotations of something which takes on the colours of its background in order to camouflage, in other words, Keats was not interested in the conventional things of poetry, he wanted to be invisible to others, but his work to be seen. Keats did not want fame, but a reason for him believing his work would be subject to ridicule is that others may have believed he was only writing for fame. When Keats was preparing for the publication of Isabella he condemned it’s ‘inexperience’; ‘simplicity’ and ‘mawkishness’ in terms of its language and the storyline, Keats may have just been covering for himself and his reputation in case of ridicule, or his writing skills had improved during the eighteen months prior to its publication, and

Shadow Kiss Chapter 26

Twenty-six IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to believe. The Strigoi were practically right next door to us, waiting for nightfall so that they could finish their escape. Apparently, in the chaos of the attack, some of the Strigoi had obscured their tracks while others had made it look as though they might have exited through any number of points on campus. Caught up in our own aftermath, no one had given it much thought. The wards had been restored. As far as we were concerned, the Strigoi were gone, and that was what mattered. Now we had an odd situation before us. Under normal circumstances – not that a massive Strigoi attack was normal – we would have never pursued them. Those kidnapped by Strigoi were usually written off as dead, and, as my mother had pointed out, guardians rarely knew where to look for Strigoi. This time, however, we knew. The Strigoi were essentially trapped. It presented an interesting dilemma. Well, it wasn't a dilemma to me. I honestly couldn't figure out why we weren't in those caves right now, flushing out the Strigoi and looking for survivors. Dimitri and I hurried back, anxious to act on our news, but we had to wait until all the guardians gathered. â€Å"Do not interrupt them,† Dimitri told me as we were about to walk into the meeting that would decide our next course of action. We stood near the doorway, speaking in low voices. â€Å"I know how you feel. I know what you want to do. But ranting at them isn't going to help you get your way.† â€Å"Ranting?† I exclaimed, forgetting to speak softly. â€Å"I see it,† he said. â€Å"That fire's in you again – you want to tear somebody apart. It's what made you so deadly in the fight. But we're not fighting right now. The guardians have all the information. They'll make the right choice. You just have to be patient.† Part of what he said was true. In preparation for the meeting, we had relayed all our information and then done some more searching. Investigation had revealed that several years ago, one of the Moroi teachers had taught a geology class and mapped the caves out, providing us with everything we needed to know about them. The entrance was five miles from the Academy's back borders. The caves' longest chamber was about half a mile long, the far side letting out about twenty miles from the dirt road on the map. It had been believed that landslides had blocked both entrances. Now, we realized, clearing those out wouldn't be too difficult with Strigoi strength. But I wasn't sure I trusted what Dimitri said about the guardians making the right choice. Minutes before the meeting began, I appealed to my mother. â€Å"Please,† I told her. â€Å"We have to do this.† She looked me over. â€Å"If there's a rescue, it's not going to be a ‘we' thing. You aren't going.† â€Å"Why? Because our numbers were so badass the first time that no guardians died?† She flinched. â€Å"You know I can help. You know what I did. I'm a week away from my birthday and only a few months away from graduation. You think something magical's going to happen before then? I've got a few more things to learn, yeah, but I don't think that's big enough to stop me from helping. You guys need as much help as you can get, and there are plenty of other novices who are ready too. Bring Christian, and we'll be unstoppable.† â€Å"No,† she said quickly. â€Å"Not him. You should have never gotten a Moroi involved, let alone one as young as him.† â€Å"But you saw what he could do.† She didn't argue that. I saw the indecision on her face. She glanced at the time and sighed. â€Å"Let me check something.† I didn't know where she went, but she was fifteen minutes late for the meeting. By then, Alberta had already debriefed the guardians on what we'd learned. Mercifully, she skipped the details about how we'd gotten our data, so we didn't have to waste time explaining the ghost part. The caves' layout was examined in detail. People asked questions. Then decision time came. I braced myself. Fighting Strigoi had always meant relying on a defense strategy. We attacked only when attacked. Previous arguments for an offensive had always failed. I expected the same now. Only it didn't come. One by one, the guardians stood up and expressed their commitment to going on the rescue mission. As they did, I saw that fire Dimitri had spoken of. Everyone was ready for a fight. They wanted it. The Strigoi had gone too far. In our world, there were only a handful of places that were safe: the Royal Court and our academies. Children were sent to places like St. Vladimir's with the certainty they would be protected. That certainty had been shattered, and we wouldn't stand for that, especially if we could still save lives. An eager, victorious feeling burned in my chest. â€Å"Well, then,† said Alberta, glancing around. I think she was as surprised as I was, though she too had been in favor of a rescue. â€Å"We'll plan the logistics and head out. We've still got about nine hours of daylight to go after them before they leave.† â€Å"Wait,† said my mother, standing up. All eyes turned to her, but she didn't bat an eyelash under the scrutiny. She looked fierce and capable, and I was immensely proud of her. â€Å"I think there's one other thing we should consider. I think we should allow some of the senior novices to go.† This started a small outcry, but it only came from a minority. My mother gave an argument similar to what I had given her. She also maintained that novices would not be in the front lines but that we would serve more as backup should any Strigoi get through. The guardians had almost approved of this idea when she dropped another bomb on them. â€Å"I think we should bring some Moroi with us.† Celeste shot up. She had a huge gash on the side of her face. It made the bruise I'd seen on her the other day seem like a mosquito bite. â€Å"What? Are you insane?† My mother fixed her with a calm look. â€Å"No. We all know what Rose and Christian Ozera did. One of our biggest problems with Strigoi is getting past their strength and speed to go in for the kill. If we bring fire-using Moroi, we have a distraction that will give us an edge. We can cut them down.† A debate broke out. It took every ounce of self-control I had not to join in. I remembered Dimitri's words about not interrupting. Yet as I listened, I couldn't help my frustration. Every minute that passed was another minute we weren't going after Eddie and the others. It was another minute in which someone might die. I turned to where Dimitri sat beside me. â€Å"They're being idiots,† I hissed. His eyes were on Alberta, as she debated a guardian who usually worked the elementary campus. â€Å"No,† murmured Dimitri. â€Å"Watch. Change is happening before your eyes. People are going to remember this day as a turning point.† And he was right. Once again, the guardians slowly signed on with the idea. I think it was part of that same initiative that made them want to fight in the first place. We had to get back at the Strigoi. This was more than our fight – it was the Moroi's too. When my mother said she'd gotten a number of teachers to volunteer – they absolutely wouldn't allow students for this – the decision was made. The guardians were going after the Strigoi, and novices and Moroi would go with them. I felt triumphant and exultant. Dimitri was right. This was the moment our world would change. But not for four hours. â€Å"More guardians are coming,† Dimitri told me when I once again expressed my outrage. â€Å"In four hours, the Strigoi could have decided to have a snack!† â€Å"We need an overwhelming show of force,† he said. â€Å"We need every edge we can get. Yes, the Strigoi could kill a couple more before we get there. I don't want that, believe me. But if we go in unprepared, we could lose more lives than that.† My blood boiled. I knew he was right, and there was nothing I could do about it. I hated that. I hated being helpless. â€Å"Come on,† he said, gesturing toward the exit. â€Å"Let's take a walk.† â€Å"Where?† â€Å"It doesn't matter. We just need to get you calmed down, or you'll be in no shape to fight.† â€Å"Yeah? Are you afraid of my possibly insane dark side coming out?† â€Å"No, I'm afraid of your normal Rose Hathaway side coming out, the one that isn't afraid to jump in without thinking when she believes something is right.† I gave him a dry look. â€Å"Is there a difference?† â€Å"Yes. The second one scares me.† I resisted the urge to elbow him. For half a heartbeat, I wished I could close my eyes and forget about all the hurt and bloodshed around us. I wanted to lounge in bed with him, laughing and teasing, with neither of us worried about anything else except each other. That wasn't real, though. This was. â€Å"Won't they need you here?† I asked. â€Å"No. Most of what they're doing now is waiting for the others, and they have more than enough people right now to help plan the attack. Your mother's leading that.† I followed his gaze to where my mom stood, in the center of a group of guardians, pointing with sharp, forceful motions toward what looked like maps. I still never quite knew what to think about her, but watching her now, I couldn't help but admire her dedication. There was none of the dysfunctional annoyance I usually experienced around her. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"Let's go.† He took me on a loop around campus, and we surveyed some of the aftermath. Most of the damage wasn't to the campus itself, of course. It was to our people. Still, we could see some signs of the attack: damage to buildings, bloodstains in unexpected places, etc. Most noticeable of all was the mood. Even in full daylight, there was a darkness around us, a heavy sorrow that you could almost reach out and feel. I saw it on the faces of everyone we passed. I half-expected Dimitri to take me through where some of the injured were. He steered clear of that, however, and I could guess why. Lissa was helping out there, using her powers in small doses to heal the wounded. Adrian was as well, though he couldn't do nearly as much as her. They'd finally decided that it was worth risking everyone knowing about spirit. The tragedy here was too great. Besides, so much about spirit had gotten out at the trial that it had probably only been a matter of time anyway. Dimitri didn't want me near Lissa while she was using her magic, which I found interesting. He still didn't know if I really was â€Å"catching† her madness, but he apparently didn't want to take any chances. â€Å"You told me you had a theory about why the wards broke,† he said. We'd extended our circuit of campus, not far from where Jesse's society had met last night. I'd nearly forgotten. Once I'd pieced it together, the reason had been perfectly obvious. No one had really asked many questions about it, not yet. The immediate concerns had been to get new wards up and tend to our own people. The investigation would occur later. â€Å"Jesse's group was doing their initiation right here by the wards. You know how stakes can negate wards because the elements go against each other? I think it's the same thing. Their initiation rights used all the elements, and I think they negated the wards in the same way.† â€Å"Magic is used all the time on campus, though,† pointed out Dimitri. â€Å"In all the elements. Why has this never happened before?† â€Å"Because the magic isn't usually happening right on top of the wards. The wards are on the edges, so the two don't usually conflict. Also, I think it makes a difference in how the elements are being used. Magic is life, which is why it destroys Strigoi and why they can't cross it. The magic in stakes is used as a weapon. So was the magic in the torture session. When it's used in that sort of negative way, I think it cancels out good magic.† I shivered, recalling that sickening feeling I'd felt when Lissa had used spirit to torment Jesse. It hadn't been natural. Dimitri stared at a broken fence that marked one of the Academy's boundaries. â€Å"Incredible. I never would have thought that was possible, but it makes sense. The principle really is the same as for the stakes.† He smiled at me. â€Å"You've thought about this a lot.† â€Å"I don't know. It just sort of fell together in my head.† I glowered, thinking of Jesse's idiotic group. Bad enough they'd done what they did to Lissa. That was enough to make me want to go kick their asses (though not kill them anymore – I'd learned some restraint since last night). But this? Letting Strigoi into the school? How could something so stupid and petty on their part have led to this sort of disaster? It almost would have been better if they'd tried to make this happen, but no. It had come about through their glory-seeking game. â€Å"Idiots,† I muttered. The wind picked up. I shivered, and this time it was from the chilly temperature, not my own unease. Spring might be coming, but it certainly wasn't here yet. â€Å"Let's get back inside,† Dimitri said. We turned around, and as we walked toward the heart of the secondary campus, I saw it. The cabin. Neither of us slowed down or obviously looked at it, but I knew he was just as acutely aware of it as I was. He proved it when he spoke a moment later. â€Å"Rose, about what happened – â€Å" I groaned. â€Å"I knew it. I knew this was going to happen.† He glanced over at me, startled. â€Å"That what was going to happen?† â€Å"This. The part where you give me the huge lecture about how what we did was wrong and how we shouldn't have done it and how it's never going to happen again.† Until the words left my mouth, I didn't realize how much I'd feared he would say that. He still looked shocked. â€Å"Why would you think that?† â€Å"Because that's how you are,† I told him. I think I sounded a little hysterical. â€Å"You always want to do the right thing. And when you do the wrong thing, you then have to fix it and do the right thing. And I know you're going to say that what we did shouldn't have happened and that you wish – â€Å" The rest of what I might have said was smothered as Dimitri wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him in the shadow of a tree. Our lips met, and as we kissed, I forgot all about my worries and fears that he'd say what we'd done was a mistake. I even – as impossible as it seems – forgot about the death and destruction of the Strigoi. Just for a moment. When we finally broke apart, he still kept me close to him. â€Å"I don't think what we did was wrong,† he said softly. â€Å"I'm glad we did it. If we could go back in time, I'd do it again.† A swirling feeling burned within my chest. â€Å"Really? What made you change your mind?† â€Å"Because you're hard to resist,† he said, clearly amused at my surprise. â€Å"And †¦ do you remember what Rhonda said?† There was another shock, hearing her brought up. But then I recalled his face when he'd listened to her and what he'd said about his grandmother. I tried to remember Rhonda's exact words. â€Å"Something about how you're going to lose something†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I apparently didn't remember it so well. â€Å"‘You will lose what you value most, so treasure it while you can.'† Naturally, he knew it word for word. I'd scoffed at the words at the time, but now I tried to decipher them. At first, I felt a surge of joy: I was what he valued most. Then I gave him a startled look. â€Å"Wait. You think I'm going to die? That's why you slept with me?† â€Å"No, no, of course not. I did what I did because †¦ believe me, it wasn't because of that. Regardless of the specifics – or if it's even true – she was right about how easily things can change. We try to do what's right, or rather, what others say is right. But sometimes, when that goes against who we are†¦you have to choose. Even before the Strigoi attack, as I watched all the problems you were struggling with, I realized how much you meant to me. It changed everything. I was worried about you – so, so worried. You have no idea. And it became useless to try to act like I could ever put any Moroi life above yours. It's not going to happen, no matter how wrong others say it is. And so I decided that's something I have to deal with. Once I made that decision †¦ there was nothing to hold us back.† He hesitated, seeming to replay his words as he brushed my hair from my face. â€Å"Well, to hold me back. I'm speaking for myself. I don't mea n to act like I know exactly why you did it.† â€Å"I did it because I love you,† I said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And really, it was. He laughed. â€Å"You can sum up in one sentence what it takes me a whole speech to get out.† â€Å"Because it's that simple. I love you, and I don't want to keep pretending like I don't.† â€Å"I don't either.† His hand dropped from my face and found my hand. Fingers entwined, we began walking again. â€Å"I don't want any more lies.† â€Å"Then what'll happen now? With us, I mean. Once all of this is done †¦ with the Strigoi†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Well, as much as I hate to reinforce your fears, you were right about one thing. We can't be together again – for the rest of the school year, that is. We're going to have to keep our distance.† I felt a little disappointed by this, but I knew with certainty he was right. We might finally have reached the point where we weren't going to deny our relationship anymore, but we could hardly flaunt it while I was still his student. Our feet splashed through slush. A few scattered birds sang in the trees, undoubtedly surprised to see so much activity in daylight around here. Dimitri stared off into the sky ahead, face thoughtful. â€Å"After you graduate and are out with Lissa †¦Ã¢â‚¬  He didn't finish. It took me a moment, but I realized what he was about to say. My heart nearly stopped. â€Å"You're going to ask to be reassigned, aren't you? You won't be her guardian.† â€Å"It's the only way we can be together.† â€Å"But we won't actually be together,† I pointed out. â€Å"Us staying with her gives us the same problem – me worrying more about you than her. She needs two guardians perfectly dedicated to her. If I can get assigned somewhere at Court, we'll be near each other all the time. And in a secure place like that, there's more flexibility with a guardian's schedule.† A whiny, selfish part of me wanted to immediately jump in with how much that sucked, but really, it didn't. There was no option we had that was ideal. Each one came with hard choices. I knew it was hard for him to give up Lissa. He cared about her and wanted to keep her safe with a passion that almost rivaled my own. But he cared about me more, and he had to make that sacrifice if he still wanted to honor his sense of duty. â€Å"Well,† I said, realizing something, â€Å"we might actually see more of each other if we're guarding different people. We can get time off together. If we were both with Lissa, we'd be swapping shifts and always be apart.† The trees were thinning up ahead, which was a shame, because I didn't want to let go of his hand. Still, a surge of hope and joy began to blossom in my chest. It felt wrong in the wake of such tragedy, but I couldn't help it. After all this time, after all the heartache, Dimitri and I were going to make this work. There was always the possibility he could get assigned away from the Court, but even so, we'd still manage to get some time off together every once in a while. The time apart would be agony, but we would make it work. And it would be better than continuing to live a lie. Yes, it was really going to happen. All of Deirdre's worries about me coping with conflicting pieces of my life would be for nothing. I was going to have it all. Lissa and Dimitri. The thought that I could be with both of them was going to make me strong. It would carry me through this Strigoi attack. I'd tuck it away in the back of my mind, like a good luck charm. Dimitri and I didn't say anything else for a while. Like always, we didn't have to. I knew he was feeling the same happy buzz I was, despite that stoic exterior. We were almost out of the forest, back in sight of the others, when he spoke again. â€Å"You'll be eighteen soon, but even so†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He sighed. â€Å"When this comes out, a lot of people aren't going to be happy.† â€Å"Yeah, well, they can deal.† Rumors and gossip I could handle. â€Å"I also have a feeling your mother's going to have a very ugly conversation with me.† â€Å"You're about to face down Strigoi, and my mother's the one you're scared of?† I could see a smile playing at his lips. â€Å"She's a force to be reckoned with. Where do you think you got it from?† I laughed. â€Å"It's a wonder you bother with me then.† â€Å"You're worth it, believe me.† He kissed me again, using the last of the forest's shadows for cover. In a normal world, this would have been a happy, romantic walk the morning after sex. We wouldn't be preparing for battle and worrying about our loved ones. We'd be laughing and teasing each other while secretly planning our next romantic getaway. We didn't live in a normal world, of course, but in this kiss, it was easy to imagine we did. He and I reluctantly broke apart and left the woods, heading back toward the guardians' building. Dark times were ahead of us, but with his kiss still burning on my lips, I felt like I could do anything. Even face down a pack of Strigoi.

Culinary artistry

Culinary artistry goes beyond the ordinary art forms. Unlike painting, literature, and the performing arts, culinary arts offer more than just the usual ocular, intellectual, or auditory experience. The culinary arts combine all of the aspects of all the art forms that we know of – a culinary masterpiece, unlike any other masterpiece in any art field should offer a multi-disciplinary experience as well as please the two other remaining sensations of taste and smell.A culinary obra maestra has to complete the experience by offering visual appeal, the application of the concepts of food preparation, as well as the ultimate experience for the palate. Chef Jacques Torres has undoubtedly mastered the art of food preparation and more. Our likely chef was already a master in the kitchen at the tender age of 15. He spent most of his childhood in Bandol, in the south of France and was an apprentice in a relatively small pastry shop called La Frangipane.His two years being an apprentice was sheer pleasure for this young chef, and as a testament to this passion for cooking, he graduated at the top his apprenticeship class. Chef Torres went to attend high school and spent a year in the military; these however, did not dampen his passion for the culinary arts. Upon leaving the military he pursued his love for cooking and polished his culinary skills at the La Cadiere d'Azur where he earned the degree of master pastry chef.At 26 years old, Chef Torres was recognized by his countrymen with the most prestigious award for French craftsmen, the Meilleur Ouvrier de France Patissier (Best Pastry Chef in France), making him the youngest in history ever to receive this coveted recognition. He did not stop here – during this considerably early period in his career, Chef Torres already began to reap awards from all over the world; among these are the gold medal of the Japanese Pastry Chef Association and his win in the 1986 French Championship of Desserts M. O. F., to na me a couple. He was quite aggressive in pursuing his passion as he went on to spend culinary weeks in Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, and Spain as well as went on a culinary cruise with Le Figaro's through the countries of the Mediterranean. He also offered consultation and product development services to Cointreau and Valrhona. Later, he also left for the United States to participate in the rededication ceremonies of the Statue of Liberty honoring President Francois Mitterand of France and President Ronald Reagan of the United States.Chef Torres wanted to share his expertise to aspiring chefs, which made him a cut above other chefs who would like to keep their secrets to themselves. Chef Torres believed in the value of legacy and made sure that his legacy lasted forever by ensuring that his skills and knowledge was appropriate transferred to younger chefs who shared his passion for pastry. Ideally, Chef Torres wanted to improve the area of pastry making so that the world could experience the wonders of this desert.To accomplish this particular objective of his, Chef Torres joined the French Culinary Institute Faculty in 1993. He even went to as far as designing the Classic Pastry Arts curriculum for the school. His dedication to the education of aspiring chefs appropriately made him the program's Dean of Pastry Arts. His commitment to the education of young chefs allowed him to pay back the industry that made him into whatever he has become. He was a good educator and many of his students have gone on to pursue their own careers and make milestones of their own.Chef Torres was also a health buff, he regularly joins the New York City Marathon. As a testament to his love affair with health a few of his recipes appeared in the French Culinary (your family name) 3 Institute's ‘Salute to Healthy Cooking (Rodale, 1998)’. This recipe book pays particular attention to healthy eating and cooking and so features menus arranged according to season availability th at are a made from low-fat, healthy ingredients the classic French culinary way. No less than the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company hired Chef Torres as the corporate pastry chef in 1998.He was with the Ritz for a year until the great Sirio Maccioni invited him to be the executive pastry chef of Le Cirque which featured a custom-built state-of-the-art pastry kitchen. His work at Le Cirque allowed him to wow patrons with his creations. He gave them the culinary experience of a lifetime, one they will never forget. People from all over the country and even the world began to consider Le Cirque as the home of deserts made only for the gods. More and more, the patronage of Le Cirque grew.The patrons wanted more of Chef Torres’ deserts, and not only that, they wanted the diversity of the choices and expected more to come from this culinary genius. Chef Torres, on the other hand, never wasted a dull moment in making his creations and as a result, none of his patrons went away disappointed . They either had a wide smile on their faces or a small paper bag filled with more of his deserts to take home. For eleven years, Chef Torres impressed his clientele with his culinary expertise. As his fame spread throughout the land, his fame also grew.Soon enough, the demands were too much for the culinary genius; and as if his work at Le Cirque was not enough, Chef Torres also launched Dessert Circus with Jacques Torres, a public access show that aired 52 episodes; aside from this, he also released two recipe books to accompany the show, â€Å"Dessert Circus: Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make at Home† and â€Å"Dessert Circus at Home†, the former of which earned a 1999 James Beard Nomination. He did not however take any offense against these demands, in fact, ;his spirit was more than willing to indulge in the demands, but his flesh was weak, and so stress took the culinary genius down.After eleven years of heavenly deserts and more than satisfied customers, Chef Torres made a milestone decision; he left Le Cirque to start his own business. Fortunately, Chef Torres was not just an exquisite pastry chef but a businessman as well. He opened his own chocolate factory in Brooklyn and called it Jacques Torres Chocolate. The name was synonymous with the chef’s amazing deserts, and who can resist chocolate created by someone who can create divine deserts?Chef Torres wasted no time in building his business; he personally took care of the retail, wholesale, and internet operations, and in not time, his creations reached chocolate lovers from all over the world. His Chocolate Coconut Napoleon, Chocolate Bark, and Chocolate Mousse all became instant hits. How else would chocolate stuff made from real chocolate fare? To add to this, Chef Torres also created some unusual chocolate flavors like ginger-laced and chili-laced chocolates which became demand items! Soon after, in 2004, Chef Torres went into another giant venture, he opened a chocolate factory in Manhattan.The factory is a mix of cafe, retail, and manufacturing so that the guests can actually see how chocolate is created straight from cocoa beans, making Chef Torres a real live Willy Wonka. A feature to note is that Chef Torres is the only chocolatier who not only creates his own candy, but his own chocolate as well. Chef Torres’ chocolate has earned a name for itself in the roster of great chocolate makers like Godiva. Chef Torres too has earned a name for himself, even before his chocolate acquired his very own signature.Chef Torres was named the James Beard Pastry Chef of the Year, received the Chartreuse Pastry Chef award, was named the Chefs of America Pastry Chef of the Year, and earned membership into the Academie Culinaire de France. (your family name) 4 Chef Torres also has a big heart for children and the elderly. He has never hesitated to share his blessings to the less fortunate members of society, so aside from teaching the art of pastry making at The FCI, demonstrating his skills around the world, and creating and selling exquisite chocolates, Chef Torres also spends time with and donates generously to various charity organizations.We don’t really know if it is this commitment and dedication of Chef Torres to the needy that has given him all the great things that he is currently enjoying or his inherent talent and expertise in the craft that he loves; but one thing is for sure, whatever the reason for Chef Torres’ success, he is one individual who was never afraid to take the risk. His initially venture in Brooklyn was a big risk in itself considering the area in which his factory would be in. He took the risk and put more confidence in his business mind than in his fears and went on to pursue the challenge.This makes Chef Torres not only a brilliant chef, a chocolatier, or a teacher, but also a successful and proactive businessman. A passion in one’s chosen field always yields great results. Chef To rres is a classic example of this particular philosophy; like other great artists who came before his time, whether in the field of literature, visual arts, or the performing arts, Chef Torres has proven himself to society and to the world. There are challenges in pursuing your own particular field of endeavor but being persistent and being dedicated to your chosen field can always work for your dreams.Perhaps, Chef Torres did not know or dream of how great he can be, perhaps he just did well in pursuing his particular field of endeavor, but the burning passion and love that he spent on his craft paid-off well, and big time. The lesson that we could learn from this great chef is that it doesn’t really matter where you come from and what you believe in so as long as you have passion for your particular field of endeavor – always, what happens is, people acquire the contagion of our passion, dedication, and sincerity, and whether they like it or not, they all end up deve loping an acquired love for our art.(your family name) 5 References Treuting, J. (2007). Jacques Torres. Retrieved March 1, 2009, from http://www. delish. com/cooking-shows/famous-chefs/celebrity-chef-jacques-torres? ref=findex Chef2Chef (2007). Chef Torres's Biography. Retrieved March 1, 2009, from http://topchefs. chef2chef. net/recipes-2/torres/