Friday, April 17, 2020
Lance Armstrong Legendary Biker Essay Example
Lance Armstrong: Legendary Biker Essay He is considered to be the best cyclist of all time and arguably one of the greatest of athletes of the 20th century. His name is Lance Armstrong. And if one takes a pause and pronounces his name slowly he gets a foreboding of things to come – that this guy carries a lance like the mythical knights of old and that his arms are strong like a workhorse that will not quit. Indeed his name alone warns that there is more than meets the eye with Lance.In the last decade or so, he experienced great victories and triumphed over his competitors in the Tour de France as well as triumphed over a terrible sickness, the most dreaded Big C – and in his case it is testicular cancer. In beating the odds, surviving chemotherapy and collecting seven Tour de France victories made him bigger than life. It is therefore interesting to examine his life using the principles of mythology found in John Campbells book on the same subject matter.This paper will take a more in-depth analysis of the three major parts of a mythic heros quest or journey and compare it the life of Lance Armstrong. The question can be phrased this way, what were the factors and the life experiences that shaped Armstrong into an iconic figure? And aside from the circumstances surrounding his life are there any other forces that molded his character. The following pages will show that aside from the events that transpired in his life, Armstrong was guided by an inner sense of greatness, which according to mythology expert Joseph Campbell is the first part of a journey in bringing to life the hero from within.BackgroundThe CallLance was only 16 years old when he realized that he was called to be an athlete, specifically a world-class cyclist. It was around this time when he decided that it was time to play with the big boys (Young, 2005). In the first serious contest that he joined, the organizers of course find his suggestions ridiculous and would not permit him to join the competition. But Armstrong pleaded with them and convinced them that it is worth the try. In the end he was declared the winner. So began his career as a professional cyclist.Armstrong was so close to dying and now very much thankful that he survived the ordeal. The following will show that Armstrong did not only come from the fiery fires of testing only to become a great athlete. The experience in the Valley of the Shadow of Death made him a better person with regards to benevolence and compassion towards others. He did not only inspire future athletes but even those who may not have heard of the Tour de France. It is a testament to his greatness and heroism.The Power of MythUsing Campbell’s model of understanding mythology there is no doubt that Armstrong’s life story resembles that of a typical mythic hero from land of the far, far, away and once upon a time. This is important because it will explain why people are drawn to him like flies to honey and why there is a universal ap peal to his story.The Going Out or DepartureIn Joseph Campbell’s model the first part of the hero’s journey starts with the call of which he has to respond or decline. In the life of Armstrong the call did not come from a prophet, a herald, or even an authority figure in his life. It would help to remember that he grew up without a father. His call came from within; perhaps when he saw his first bike he felt that urge to race. And he was indeed born to ride. His departure or his going out came at this point when he began his journey to become a professional athlete.The ReturnIn the third part of the hero’s journey is the return. In this part the hero is expected to return triumphantly to vanquish his foes or to claim what was his. It can be a bride, an inheritance or a kingdom. But there is more to it than getting glory, part of it is the sharing of what the hero had learned, experienced or acquired while in the testing phase of his journey.Armstrong satisfied b oth. He came back into the real world after living in and out of the hospitals and undergoing chemo treatment. When he emerged from the world of the sick he returned triumphantly to cycling and took Tour de France by storm. In the process putting together back-to-back wins, a world record. But this is simply the beginning. He also established a foundation to combat cancer and to help those who are in need.Works CitedArmstrong, Lance Sally Jenkins. Every Second Counts. New York: Broadway Books, 2003.Armstrong, Lance Sally Jenkins. It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life. NewYork: Berkley Trade, 2001.Campbell, Joseph. The Power of Myth. New York: Random House, Inc., 1991.Livestrong. 23 April 2007. Lance Armstrong Foundation. 23 April 2007.http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.jvKZLbMRIsG/b.594849/k.CC7C/Home.htm.Young, Ian. Lance Armstrong: Champion for Life! Minnesota: Red Brick Learning, 2005.Question 3 and 5 (Editing, Proofreading, Learning new fonts, APA format, and u se of bullets)Beautiful AfricaIf one talks about natural beauty, there is nothing that compares with Africa. And if there was indeed an Eden, a God created paradise on earth one can find it in Africa.  It is a continent difficult to describe and one has to visit at least once before crossing over to the next life. It is a continent teeming with wildlife and boasting of spectacular geographic formations. Moreover, this region has an amazing collection of flora and fauna and even its people are never boring. To all serious travelers out there, Africa should definitely be on your list.This paper will describe the beauty of Africa through its famous landmarks, exotic places to visit, and world renowned tourist destinations. Yet since the land mass of Africa is daunting a study this short will only be able to come up with limited information and so there should be no more waiting, it is time to start this whirlwind tour.African ContinentEach and every time one mentions the name Africa , the following usually pops into mind: ·Ã‚        Exciting and heart pounding Safari into a reservation area; ·Ã‚        Seeing a group of wild animals roaming free; ·Ã‚        The Sahara Desert; ·Ã‚        Exotic wildlife; and ·Ã‚        The extraordinary people of Africa such as the bushmen and the many painted faces of tribes people.For the average guy it may take a little longer to realize that Africa is not only about the land of the Lion King like Zimbabwe, Botswana or Kenya but it is also the continent where one can find equally famous countries such as Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco (see de Bruyn, 2004). A visit to Egypt with its Nile River and its equally famous ancient pyramids will surely satisfy even the most jaded adventurer.If indeed Africa is composed of many nations and not unlike Australia, a continent controlled by one government then it is understandable that aside from the land and the people one of the other reason why Africa continuously fills the headlines is due to politics. And politics is the root cause for most of the negative things that are happening to this continent. An example would be the brutal slaying of fellow Africans and the ever present threat of genocide made in one tribe and issued to the next. There have been many killings and it can be considered as the main reason why others are hesitant to visit some parts of this continent.Going back to the topography of Africa it is a wonder to behold a variety of land formations and as mentioned earlier the variety can be best understood by listing a few prominent places, like Egypt and Morocco. Now, the mere mention of Egypt and Morocco is enough for one to realize that truly this continent is one of a kind in terms of scenic beauty. There is no need to elaborate on the fact that there is more to Africa than meets the eye.Referencesde Bruyn, Pippa. (2 004). Frommers South Africa. New Jersey: Wiley Publishing, Inc.Part IQuestion 4 (Coherence and stitching together related ideas)Skills and Patience Needed in Dog TrainingA well-trained dog is a pleasure to its owner and to others. For a dog lover there are only a few things that can rival the feeling of satisfaction and deep joy of knowing that connection between owner and pet. A well-trained dog shows an unbelievable bond between man and animal and those who has seen this interaction will surely envy the proud owner. A pet lover with a dog that has learned a few tricks and obeys voice commands can join any gathering and can instantly become the life of that party – so to speak. The dog owner will regale the audience with a well-practiced repertoire of activities and the crowd will surely roar in approval.But it is also no secret that dogs are not easy to train. Indeed, dogs can be difficult to train. This conclusion should be adjusted depending on the breed and age of the do g. But one can argue that generally speaking it requires more than a willing owner to train a dog to perform crowd-pleasing tricks. Those who want train their dog must be willing to accept that patience is a necessity. There is no quality product that can be made overnight. There must be a need for a dedicated work ethic to produce an animal who responds to the voice of the master.Furthermore, the owner of the canine must also be prepared to accept that it requires skills to modify dog behavior. If the current owner does not have the skills to train his dog then he must look for a competent trainer. When that pet owner has found a skilled dog trainer then he will realize that at the hands of a master, the dog behave in such a way that make one conclude that dog training is not a chore for dogs. And finally, the trainer will do an excellent job of making the pet owner believe that his dog loves to please him.Part IIComparing Yahoo.com and MSN.comAside from Google.com and Microsoft.co m, there is arguably no other website that receives a significant amount of hits on a daily basis than Yahoo and MSN NBC’s website. At a casual glance one can immediately conclude that both sites are a mirror-image of each other. It is difficult to know who is copying whom. Both sites are focused on providing a wealth of useful content as well as eye-pleasing visuals.Yahoo.com and MSN.com are both on top of their games because the administrators of these websites made it a top priority to create a functional site. This is immediately evident when one hits the link that will guide the user to each respective site. There is no problem loading message that greets today’s harried Internet surfer and information junkie. And when the cyber addict has reached the said websites he or she is greeted with a well-ordered and well-designed website.But as hard as both companies would try to make that perfect website there are factors that forces them to push the envelope and make t hem go over the edge some of the time. The following factors pose a challenge to design and functionality: ·Ã‚        Need for advertising; ·Ã‚        Need for great content and useful information; ·Ã‚        Need for appealing visuals; ·Ã‚        Need for new ideas, new gimmicks; ·Ã‚        Need to be unique to stand out from the crowd; ·Ã‚        Need for security; and ·Ã‚        Need to cut across language, culture, gender, and race.In the race to provide all of the above it is clear that Yahoo.com has the edge over MSN.com. Yahoo sports a better look and offers more variety than MSN without overdoing it too much. In the hope of being popular MSN tries so hard to cram so much info into a very limited space. The reader can sometime feel overwhelmed because there is so many to choose from. Yahoo’s desig n team wins in creating a tightly-packed site but the user is guided into the center of the website where much of the most important headlines can be seen.With MSN one has to scan the pages a couple of times to find out which of the many headlines should be read first. Moreover, Yahoo’s color combination is more eye-catching than that of MSN. The light blue theme can appear dull to some surfers but then again MSN may be reaching out to the more senior surfers – those who are in the 60s age bracket and understandably this age group wants to tone it down a bit.At the end it is easy to give the award for the better website to Yahoo.com. MSN may argue that they are also targeting the older generation of cyber users but there are more teenagers as well as the young age bracket group surfing the net as compared to those who belong to the 60s and 70s age bracket. Furthermore it is easier finding your way in Yahoo than in MSN. That is the best argument in favor of the winner t o this head-on collision.; Lance Armstrong Legendary Biker Essay Example Lance Armstrong: Legendary Biker Essay He is considered to be the best cyclist of all time and arguably one of the greatest of athletes of the 20th century. His name is Lance Armstrong. And if one takes a pause and pronounces his name slowly he gets a foreboding of things to come – that this guy carries a lance like the mythical knights of old and that his arms are strong like a workhorse that will not quit. Indeed his name alone warns that there is more than meets the eye with Lance.In the last decade or so, he experienced great victories and triumphed over his competitors in the Tour de France as well as triumphed over a terrible sickness, the most dreaded Big C – and in his case it is testicular cancer. In beating the odds, surviving chemotherapy and collecting seven Tour de France victories made him bigger than life. It is therefore interesting to examine his life using the principles of mythology found in John Campbells book on the same subject matter.This paper will take a more in-depth analysis of the three major parts of a mythic heros quest or journey and compare it the life of Lance Armstrong. The question can be phrased this way, what were the factors and the life experiences that shaped Armstrong into an iconic figure? And aside from the circumstances surrounding his life are there any other forces that molded his character. The following pages will show that aside from the events that transpired in his life, Armstrong was guided by an inner sense of greatness, which according to mythology expert Joseph Campbell is the first part of a journey in bringing to life the hero from within.BackgroundThe CallLance was only 16 years old when he realized that he was called to be an athlete, specifically a world-class cyclist. It was around this time when he decided that it was time to play with the big boys (Young, 2005). In the first serious contest that he joined, the organizers of course find his suggestions ridiculous and would not permit him to join the competition. But Armstrong pleaded with them and convinced them that it is worth the try. In the end he was declared the winner. So began his career as a professional cyclist.Armstrong was so close to dying and now very much thankful that he survived the ordeal. The following will show that Armstrong did not only come from the fiery fires of testing only to become a great athlete. The experience in the Valley of the Shadow of Death made him a better person with regards to benevolence and compassion towards others. He did not only inspire future athletes but even those who may not have heard of the Tour de France. It is a testament to his greatness and heroism.The Power of MythUsing Campbell’s model of understanding mythology there is no doubt that Armstrong’s life story resembles that of a typical mythic hero from land of the far, far, away and once upon a time. This is important because it will explain why people are drawn to him like flies to honey and why there is a universal ap peal to his story.The Going Out or DepartureIn Joseph Campbell’s model the first part of the hero’s journey starts with the call of which he has to respond or decline. In the life of Armstrong the call did not come from a prophet, a herald, or even an authority figure in his life. It would help to remember that he grew up without a father. His call came from within; perhaps when he saw his first bike he felt that urge to race. And he was indeed born to ride. His departure or his going out came at this point when he began his journey to become a professional athlete.The ReturnIn the third part of the hero’s journey is the return. In this part the hero is expected to return triumphantly to vanquish his foes or to claim what was his. It can be a bride, an inheritance or a kingdom. But there is more to it than getting glory, part of it is the sharing of what the hero had learned, experienced or acquired while in the testing phase of his journey.Armstrong satisfied b oth. He came back into the real world after living in and out of the hospitals and undergoing chemo treatment. When he emerged from the world of the sick he returned triumphantly to cycling and took Tour de France by storm. In the process putting together back-to-back wins, a world record. But this is simply the beginning. He also established a foundation to combat cancer and to help those who are in need.Works CitedArmstrong, Lance Sally Jenkins. Every Second Counts. New York: Broadway Books, 2003.Armstrong, Lance Sally Jenkins. It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life. NewYork: Berkley Trade, 2001.Campbell, Joseph. The Power of Myth. New York: Random House, Inc., 1991.Livestrong. 23 April 2007. Lance Armstrong Foundation. 23 April 2007.http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.jvKZLbMRIsG/b.594849/k.CC7C/Home.htm.Young, Ian. Lance Armstrong: Champion for Life! Minnesota: Red Brick Learning, 2005.Question 3 and 5 (Editing, Proofreading, Learning new fonts, APA format, and u se of bullets)Beautiful AfricaIf one talks about natural beauty, there is nothing that compares with Africa. And if there was indeed an Eden, a God created paradise on earth one can find it in Africa.  It is a continent difficult to describe and one has to visit at least once before crossing over to the next life. It is a continent teeming with wildlife and boasting of spectacular geographic formations. Moreover, this region has an amazing collection of flora and fauna and even its people are never boring. To all serious travelers out there, Africa should definitely be on your list.This paper will describe the beauty of Africa through its famous landmarks, exotic places to visit, and world renowned tourist destinations. Yet since the land mass of Africa is daunting a study this short will only be able to come up with limited information and so there should be no more waiting, it is time to start this whirlwind tour.African ContinentEach and every time one mentions the name Africa , the following usually pops into mind: ·Ã‚        Exciting and heart pounding Safari into a reservation area; ·Ã‚        Seeing a group of wild animals roaming free; ·Ã‚        The Sahara Desert; ·Ã‚        Exotic wildlife; and ·Ã‚        The extraordinary people of Africa such as the bushmen and the many painted faces of tribes people.For the average guy it may take a little longer to realize that Africa is not only about the land of the Lion King like Zimbabwe, Botswana or Kenya but it is also the continent where one can find equally famous countries such as Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco (see de Bruyn, 2004). A visit to Egypt with its Nile River and its equally famous ancient pyramids will surely satisfy even the most jaded adventurer.If indeed Africa is composed of many nations and not unlike Australia, a continent controlled by one government then it is understandable that aside from the land and the people one of the other reason why Africa continuously fills the headlines is due to politics. And politics is the root cause for most of the negative things that are happening to this continent. An example would be the brutal slaying of fellow Africans and the ever present threat of genocide made in one tribe and issued to the next. There have been many killings and it can be considered as the main reason why others are hesitant to visit some parts of this continent.Going back to the topography of Africa it is a wonder to behold a variety of land formations and as mentioned earlier the variety can be best understood by listing a few prominent places, like Egypt and Morocco. Now, the mere mention of Egypt and Morocco is enough for one to realize that truly this continent is one of a kind in terms of scenic beauty. There is no need to elaborate on the fact that there is more to Africa than meets the eye.Referencesde Bruyn, Pippa. (2 004). Frommers South Africa. New Jersey: Wiley Publishing, Inc.Part IQuestion 4 (Coherence and stitching together related ideas)Skills and Patience Needed in Dog TrainingA well-trained dog is a pleasure to its owner and to others. For a dog lover there are only a few things that can rival the feeling of satisfaction and deep joy of knowing that connection between owner and pet. A well-trained dog shows an unbelievable bond between man and animal and those who has seen this interaction will surely envy the proud owner. A pet lover with a dog that has learned a few tricks and obeys voice commands can join any gathering and can instantly become the life of that party – so to speak. The dog owner will regale the audience with a well-practiced repertoire of activities and the crowd will surely roar in approval.But it is also no secret that dogs are not easy to train. Indeed, dogs can be difficult to train. This conclusion should be adjusted depending on the breed and age of the do g. But one can argue that generally speaking it requires more than a willing owner to train a dog to perform crowd-pleasing tricks. Those who want train their dog must be willing to accept that patience is a necessity. There is no quality product that can be made overnight. There must be a need for a dedicated work ethic to produce an animal who responds to the voice of the master.Furthermore, the owner of the canine must also be prepared to accept that it requires skills to modify dog behavior. If the current owner does not have the skills to train his dog then he must look for a competent trainer. When that pet owner has found a skilled dog trainer then he will realize that at the hands of a master, the dog behave in such a way that make one conclude that dog training is not a chore for dogs. And finally, the trainer will do an excellent job of making the pet owner believe that his dog loves to please him.Part IIComparing Yahoo.com and MSN.comAside from Google.com and Microsoft.co m, there is arguably no other website that receives a significant amount of hits on a daily basis than Yahoo and MSN NBC’s website. At a casual glance one can immediately conclude that both sites are a mirror-image of each other. It is difficult to know who is copying whom. Both sites are focused on providing a wealth of useful content as well as eye-pleasing visuals.Yahoo.com and MSN.com are both on top of their games because the administrators of these websites made it a top priority to create a functional site. This is immediately evident when one hits the link that will guide the user to each respective site. There is no problem loading message that greets today’s harried Internet surfer and information junkie. And when the cyber addict has reached the said websites he or she is greeted with a well-ordered and well-designed website.But as hard as both companies would try to make that perfect website there are factors that forces them to push the envelope and make t hem go over the edge some of the time. The following factors pose a challenge to design and functionality: ·Ã‚        Need for advertising; ·Ã‚        Need for great content and useful information; ·Ã‚        Need for appealing visuals; ·Ã‚        Need for new ideas, new gimmicks; ·Ã‚        Need to be unique to stand out from the crowd; ·Ã‚        Need for security; and ·Ã‚        Need to cut across language, culture, gender, and race.In the race to provide all of the above it is clear that Yahoo.com has the edge over MSN.com. Yahoo sports a better look and offers more variety than MSN without overdoing it too much. In the hope of being popular MSN tries so hard to cram so much info into a very limited space. The reader can sometime feel overwhelmed because there is so many to choose from. Yahoo’s desig n team wins in creating a tightly-packed site but the user is guided into the center of the website where much of the most important headlines can be seen.With MSN one has to scan the pages a couple of times to find out which of the many headlines should be read first. Moreover, Yahoo’s color combination is more eye-catching than that of MSN. The light blue theme can appear dull to some surfers but then again MSN may be reaching out to the more senior surfers – those who are in the 60s age bracket and understandably this age group wants to tone it down a bit.At the end it is easy to give the award for the better website to Yahoo.com. MSN may argue that they are also targeting the older generation of cyber users but there are more teenagers as well as the young age bracket group surfing the net as compared to those who belong to the 60s and 70s age bracket. Furthermore it is easier finding your way in Yahoo than in MSN. That is the best argument in favor of the winner t o this head-on collision.;
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